The Return Of The King

Sal sat at his desk in the tower, quill poised over parchment as he carefully penned his letter to the headmaster. The view from his window overlooked the vast expanse of Albion, a land of ancient magic and deep history. He had only been back a short time, yet his mind was still tethered to the events unfolding in the wizarding world.

Headmaster,

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to update you on the Ministry's current situation and how we plan to use the recent events to stabilize things.

As expected, the fallout from last year's incidents has pushed the Ministry to make a desperate attempt at recovering their lost goodwill. They are willing to give Remus an early release from Azkaban, framing it as a gesture of reform and progressiveness. My mother will follow up with a public announcement regarding the funding we promised to Hogwarts, ensuring that they maintain a positive narrative.

Two major sessions are planned:

Changes: This will focus on reviewing Hogwarts' faculty, likely to pacify those who still have concerns over the handling of recent events. I suspect Umbridge will attempt to use this as a platform for more influence, though my mother and I have already prepared countermeasures.

' Appointment to the Gryffindor Seat: This will be our major political move. By giving him an official place on the Wizengamot, we not only secure an ally but also force the Ministry's hand in continuing to support our reforms. They need this PR win, which means they will have no choice but to comply. If all goes well, Remus will be in a position where he can ensure real change within the system.

With these moves in place, I am cautiously optimistic that we might actually have a year without disaster—though, given our history, I won't hold my breath.

I look forward to returning to Hogwarts soon. Until then, I will continue my work here in Albion.

Sincerely,

Salazar Cross

Sal let the ink dry before rolling up the parchment and sealing it with his crest. He called for his owl, who hooted softly before extending its leg. As the bird flew off toward Hogwarts, Sal leaned back in his chair.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, rereading Sal's letter for the second time. The young man's sense of strategy was, as always, impressive—far beyond his years. His ability to maneuver the Ministry into a position where they had no choice but to comply with reforms was nothing short of masterful. And yet, something about the letter unsettled him.

Sal had laid out his plans in careful detail, but he had made no mention of Julius wanting to speak with him. That, more than anything, gave Albus pause. He had already responded to Julius' request for a meeting, unaware at the time that Sal had left it out of his own report.

Albus stroked his beard in thought. He knew that Sal operated with a level of independence, but withholding something as significant as Julius' involvement suggested that the young wizard had his own reasons for keeping that particular detail quiet.

Before he could dwell on it further, the enchanted gargoyle at his office entrance shifted aside, signaling a visitor. Moments later, Minerva McGonagall entered, looking mildly perplexed.

"Albus, we have some… visitors."

Albus rose from his chair, his curiosity piqued. He made his way to the castle entrance, where he found himself face to face with two imposing figures.

Standing at the entrance of Hogwarts, Julius Novachrono surveyed the castle with the keen eye of a man who had seen countless strongholds in his time. Beside him stood Captain Yami Sukehiro of the Black Bulls, looking unimpressed as he took a long drag from his cigarette.

"This is Hogwarts?" Yami muttered, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Not bad."

"Yes," Julius replied with a small smile, his gaze tracing the ancient architecture. "This is what the founders created as a sanctuary."

"It's awfully quiet," Yami remarked, stretching.

"It's a school, and the students are away for the summer," Julius reminded him.

Albus stepped forward, his expression one of polite curiosity. "Welcome. I must say, I wasn't expecting a visit."

Julius turned, offering Albus a warm smile. "I thought it was about time we finally met, given everything that has been happening over the past couple of years."

"And let me introduce Captain Yami of the Black Bulls," Julius added, gesturing to the gruff swordsman beside him.

Yami gave Albus a once-over, then grunted. "You're the old man running things here?"

Albus chuckled. "I suppose I am."

Yami smirked. "Hmph. I've seen worse."

Julius, ever the diplomat, cleared his throat. "We have much to discuss, Headmaster."

Albus nodded. "Indeed, we do. Shall we?"

With that, he led them inside, aware that whatever was about to be discussed would likely be as unconventional as the visitors themselves.

Albus listened intently, his sharp mind processing every word Julius spoke. This revelation was more than just a history lesson—it was a carefully calculated strategy that had been in motion for decades. The pieces were moving into place, and Sal was at the center of it all.

"Well, I suppose I should start by saying that Sal doesn't know we're here," Julius admitted, his usual composed expression carrying the hint of a smile.

"The prince is gonna have a fit when he finds out," Yami muttered, taking another drag of his cigarette.

Albus raised an eyebrow. "I see. I do hope nothing has happened?"

"Nothing I can't handle," Julius reassured. "But there are things you need to know. Did you know that Sal's father and I were old friends before he died?"

"No, I didn't," Albus said, intrigued. It was rare for Julius to speak so personally, and this conversation was quickly proving to be far more significant than he had anticipated.

Julius clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze momentarily distant. "He saw life as a chessboard, always thinking five steps ahead. Together, we came up with a plan to create unity between nobility and the Wizard King. The problem was, the balance of power was shifting. The nobility clung to their traditions, while the Magic Knights were growing into a force that could no longer be ignored. The only way to bridge the gap was to put a Wizard King on the throne."

Albus nodded slowly, seeing the logic in such a move. "I assume Sal's grandfather opposed this?"

Julius let out a short chuckle. "Sal's grandfather was a buffoon of a king, too blinded by tradition to see the cracks forming in his kingdom. But his son—Sal's father—was different. He understood that change was necessary. When he met Lindsey and had Sal, it finally looked like we'd done it. The perfect unification between the noble line and the power of the Wizard King."

"But then he died," Albus finished, realization settling in. "During the war against Tom Riddle."

Julius nodded. "His death nearly unraveled everything. With the Queen refusing to remarry and Sal too young to rule, I had to step in. I led in his stead, kept the peace, and ensured the kingdom didn't fracture. But the truth is, I'm not the king. Sal is."

"That's his way of saying we need to keep the kid safe if war is coming," Yami added, his tone gruff but sincere.

Albus leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in thought. "If Voldemort's influence begins to rise again, Sal will be a target."

"Exactly," Julius said. "And that's why I'm here. It's time for Sal to start thinking like a king, not just a strategist. I am going to step down and give him the title of Wizard King next summer."

Albus' eyes flickered with understanding. "Does Sal know this?"

Julius smirked. "Not yet."

Yami let out a chuckle. "Oh, he's gonna love this."

Albus sighed, a small smile playing at his lips. "I suspect we'll all need to prepare for what's to come. But I agree—Sal's time is approaching faster than even he realizes."

Julius nodded. "Then we make sure he's ready."