Harry Potter and all related Characthers belong to JK Rowling
Prologue - The Return
It was raining hard in Diagon Alley on a cool July evening as the hooded figure made it's way down the cobbled street. A few people were coming out of or going to the Leaky Cauldron but no-one noticed the figure as it stuck to the shadows as it made it's way to it's destination, a large oak door with a iron knocker.
A gloved hand now emerged from the cloak and seized the knocker and banged it three times before the door opened and a young woman with light green hair opened the door and immediately shoved her wand in the general direction of the figures face.
"Yeah?" snapped the woman.
"Dammit Nymphadora," snapped back a male voice from within the cloak while the gloved hand grabbed the wand and shoved it out the figures face. "Watch were your pointing that thing!"
Not many people got away with calling Nymphadora Tonks by her given name but the voice was one that could and the colour now drained from Tonks face and even her hair turned to a normal shade of brown as she swallowed hard.
"Pro…professor? Oh Merlin, I'm sorry," mumbled the witch mournfully as she jumped aside and let the figure step into the hallway before closing and bolting the door behind them. The figure now reached up and pulled back it's hood to reveal a man of who appeared to be about sixty with grey hair marked with some black streaks which age hadn't caught yet and greyish-blue eyes and a roguish smile as he took in his surroundings.
"Been a while," he murmured before turning to Tonks who was shuffling her feet and looking at the man with a nervous expression. "Relax Tonks, it's me."
"Well then, you won't mind proving that would you?!" growled a guttural voice from behind him and the man felt another wand being shoved into his back.
"Nice to see you too Alastor," he sighed. "Let me guess, anti-polyjuice?"
"Damn straight," growled Alastor `Mad-Eye' Moody as Tonks fumbled in her robes for a vial, which she now handed to the man.
"I don't suppose you've improved the flavour have you?" said the man wrinkling his nose at the pungent odour of the mix as he removed the stopper.
"Just get it down yer throat!" growled Mad-Eye hoarsely. The man shot a look over his shoulder then shrugged before taking swallowed the potion in one gulp and immediately screwed up his face in disgust.
"Merlin's beard, that's foul!" he growled as he wiped the back of his had across his mouth. He then glanced over his shoulder with a broad grin on his face. "So are you going to use that thing or what?"
"Nah," said Moody lowering the wand while his scared face broke into what could almost be called a grin. "It's been a while Emric."
"Too long," said the man pulling Mad-Eye into a brief hug which Moody returned whole-heartedly before the pair separated.
"You're late…as usual, everyone else is already here," growled the former Auror with a chuckle. At this Emric gave a shrug.
"You know me, always once for dramatic entrances," he now glanced down the corridor leading to a large set of doors. "Whose in there?"
"Well Albus of course, most of you're lot and Minerva."
"Ah," said the man with a frown. "This could be awkward!"
"Why? They know you're still alive," growled Moody frowning slightly.
"Snuffy, Munch and Brambles all do but unless Albus has told her Minerva doesn't!"
"Ah," said Moody. "This should be interesting."
"Sure you don't want to come in?" said Emric nodding towards the door.
"Tempting but I'll stay out here thanks," chuckled Moody. At this Emric turned and looked over at Tonks who was stood in the corner with a nervous grin.
"Nymphadora? You don't want to come and give me some back up?"
"Uh, no thanks Professor," said Tonks. "I'm not exactly in Professor McGonagall's good books at the moment?"
"Why, what have you done now?" said Emric with a raised eyebrow. At this Tonks winced before replying.
"I stood on her tail!" At this Moody sniggered while a look of horror crossed Emric's face.
"By all the powers! Have you got a death wish girl?!"
"I didn't mean too!" wailed Tonks before fleeing in a flood of tears leaving the two men on their own.
"She really does remind me of her Great-Grandmother," sighed Emric with a shake of his head while Moody nodded agreement.
"Yup, Esme was always putting her foot right in it," he growled before turning to Emric. "Anyway, you'd better get in there, their waiting for you."
"Right," said Emric tugging his robes and taking a deep breath before heading down the corridor until he came to the door of the study. At this distance he could hear muffled voices that were reassuring familiar including the deep wise tones of Albus Dumbledore, his friend and mentor for over fifty years.
"Oh well old man," muttered Emric to himself. "Here we go." And with that he reached up and knocked. The voices on the other side of the door fell silent before Dumbledore's voice filled the air.
"Come in."
Taking a deep breath Emric turned the doorknob and pushed it open and stepped through into the study he'd last stood in sixteen years previously. Around the fire place stood six chairs, five of which were occupied. In the one closest to the fire sat Albus Dumbledore, his fingers steeped in front of him while his face wore a broad smile that held a hint of mischief. In the three chairs opposite Dumbledore sat three of his oldest friends, all of whom were grinning broadly as Emric made his way across the room while beside the Professor was seated Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts who was now looking at Emric with a look of stark disbelief as she rose slowly to her feet.
"Emric?" she said with a trembling voice. "But…but your…your dead! I went to your funeral," she stammered before looking around the room. "We…we all did!"
At this the other three men had the grace to look guilty whilst Dumbledore gave a small cough as he rose from his seat.
"I'm afraid I must take responsibility for this duplicity Minerva," he said softly. At this McGonagall snapped around, her face red with fury.
"YOU KNEW HE WAS ALIVE!!!!" the level of her voice caused Emric to jump while the other three men all stiffened in theirs seats. Dumbledore himself winced; he might be one of the most powerful wizards ever but even he didn't relish taking on an angry Minerva McGonagall.
"Minerva please!" he pleaded but McGonagall wasn't done yet.
"You knew he was alive and you didn't tell me?! And what about that poor boy?"
"Dammit Minerva!" snapped Emric causing McGonagall to jump herself. "Do you think I wanted to leave him with those damn Muggles? He's all I've got left!"
"But…" started McGonagall but the wind had been take out of her sails by Emric's sudden interruption and Dumbledore quickly stepped in.
"I know you are upset Minerva, truly I do, but if you would take your seat I promise I will explain everything."
McGonagall looked around the room and saw the sympathetic smiles from the others before returning to her seat before Dumbledore turned to Emric with a smile. "Would you care to be seated Emric."
With a nod Emric took the empty seat before Dumbledore turned to McGonagall.
"Firstly Minerva, I owe you an apology. I should have told you a long time ago that Emric was still alive but there was never a good time and now apart from Rhys, Hywel and Abercrombie the only other person who knew that Emric was still alive was Alastor."
"And now Tonks," said one of the men at which Dumbledore glanced over his shoulder.
"Indeed," he agreed. "But I doubt that will be for long. Alastor will see to that."
At this a look of shock crossed McGonagall's face.
"Albus, surely you're not talking about a memory charm?"
"Indeed," said Dumbledore turning back to McGonagall. "I wish it weren't necessary but we must maintain secrecy for reasons that will become clear shortly." He now glanced at Emric and then back to McGonagall. "Do you recall what Emric did at the Ministry before his `death' Minerva?"
"Of course," said McGonagall sounding slightly annoyed as if Dumbledore was questioning her intelligence. "He worked in the Department of Ancient Artefacts with Algernon!"
"Indeed," said Dumbledore. "Therefore, when he was `killed' it gave us an opportunity that we could not turn down." He now turned to one of the bookcases and raised a hand.
"Accio!"
A book shot out off the shelf and flew straight into Dumbledore's hand before the Professor licked and finger and flicked through the book until a small smile crossed his face and he now offered the book to McGonagall whose face wore a slightly bemused expression as she looked down at the book before her head snapped back up to look at Dumbledore then turned to Emric with a look of shook on her face before looking back at the book.
"It exists?"
"Very much so," said Emric. "Where it is we're still not sure but thanks to these guys and Algie's help we've narrowed it down to somewhere in Eastern Europe."
"But hopefully by the time we've completed the training we should know where it is," said Dumbledore.
"Whose training?" enquired McGonagall although she had an idea.
"My Grandson's of course," said Emric with a chuckle. "You don't think I came back for any old reason do you?"
"Plus we will be training Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, his sister and Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood," added Dumbledore. "I seriously doubt they will not wish to accompany Harry on his quest, their friendship is stronger than any bond I have ever seen…including all of the former Marauders." At this Emric cast a look over to his three friends opposite and exchanged wry smiles.
"But why now?" said McGonagall. "Surely it can wait until Harry's older. It's not as if Vol…Voldemort's in any position to attack at the moment."
"You are correct that Voldemort and his forces are currently in disarray Minerva but Severus believes the Dark Lord will soon have enough control of the Dementors to attempt to release his followers from Azkaban and then intends to come after Harry. However, while Harry is at Hogwarts he is safe. But as last summer proved Privet Drive may no longer be. Plus I believe Voldemort wishes to dispose of Harry before he reaches seventeen and this summer would be his last real chance of doing so." McGonagall now nodded slowly as the realisation set in.
"Alright, I see your point there Albus but surely six is too many for one person to train. Even someone with Emric's skill." At this a snigger came from one of the chairs while Emric gave a soft cough and looked up at Dumbledore.
"You have told her haven't you?" Dumbledore gave a small shrug and folded his hands together.
"The opportunity has not presented itself until now," he admitted. McGonagall meanwhile was casting a suspicious look around at the five men.
"If someone doesn't tell me what's going on I'm going to start hexing people!" she growled menacingly. At this Dumbledore quickly raised a hand to calm his deputy.
"It is quite simple Minerva. The plan is for Emric to join the staff this term, under a false name of course, and to conduct the training needed. However as you correctly pointed out this is not a task to be carried out by a single person, no matter how skilled. That's why he will be aided by our other two new Professors," and with that he waved at hand in the direction of two of the chairs opposite. "Abercrombie and Hywel will be joining us as well while Rhys continues to work at the Ministry with Algernon." At this McGonagall's eyes widened in concern as she looked at two of the men opposite her and remembered back some thirty years previously when they taught at Hogwarts previously and another twenty years before that when they'd been students.
"Albus, no!" she cried in alarm. "Not those two! They make the Weasley twins look like rank amateurs!"
"Did she just insult us?" said one of the men looking at his two colleagues while Dumbledore and Emric both looked on with broad smiles. McGonagall meanwhile just shot the trio a dark look before turning back to Dumbledore.
"Surely you can persuade the Ministry to let Remus or Alastor to teach DADA again?"
"Oh, I imaging I could," agreed Dumbledore. "The only problem is that both are needed elsewhere. Currently Remus is helping to guard Azkaban along with some of the finest Patronus experts we have while Alastor has been assigned to help train new Aurors."
"So that means you're stuck with us Min!" chirped one of the trio happily. At this McGonagall slumped in her chair and pulled a hand across her face.
"Merlin have mercy!" she muttered softly under her breath. This year was going to be interesting!
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