Disclaimer – I own none of the characters (sadly) I just like to play with them :)

Prologue

A Growing Unease

"Ah, Severus. You wished to speak with me?" Dumbledore greeted the Potions Master as he entered his office. Snape closed the heavy door behind him and leant upon it a moment to organise his thoughts.

"Have a seat my boy. This isn't you're classroom; there is no need for you to hover over me as though I'm one of your misbehaving students." Snape slipped into the offered chair but not before throwing the amused wizard before him a look that would cause most students to tremble. In annoyance he noted the old man's eyes merely sparkled more.

Severus' own eyes; dark as his elders were light, moved slowly around the familiar room. Fawkes the phoenix was still growing after playing his part in the fight at the ministry three weeks prior. The soon to be Defence Against the Dark Arts professor had always been fascinated with the creature. Not simply for the experiments he could conduct when the pompous poultry deigned to let him collect a sample of his ashes, nor even with his unwavering loyalty, to probably numerous masters over the years. He often found himself wondering whether the old bird ever got tired of being reborn. He imagined his own horror if, believing he had departed this life having to start again. And again. And again. The fledgling phoenix clicked his beak reprovingly at him, as though he knew exactly what the wizard was thinking. Severus sighed and returned his gaze to the Headmaster, who seemed to have become more amused by the silent conversation that appeared to pass between his staff member and companion. He decided to cut straight to the chase.

"The Dark Lord is up to something, Albus."

The elderly Headmasters eyes twinkled as though wanting to reply 'when isn't he?' but for once allowed Severus' glare to silence him.

"This is different. After the fiasco at the ministry, I thought he would be in an awful temper. He tries to act like emotions are below him, but really he can strop as good as any Gryffindor caught causing trouble." He stopped to let his words settle. Albus merely raised his eyebrows but did not rise to the bait, as Snape knew he wouldn't. He continued, "He was furious with Bella for a few days, she being the only one left not in Azkaban. However she won him around eventually, using ways only she ever can." Severus snorted "I doubt even Lucius, obsessed as he is, would stoop to that."

"Quite" Albus replied, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"The Dark Lord not only failed to hear the full," he hesitated for the fraction of a heartbeat "prophecy, he also lost many of his recently freed servants, this time including Lucius who had managed to maintain an air of nobility all these years. I expected him to be fuming for weeks, yet he is not. He is acting most curiously. It is... unnerving. I can tell he is controlling someone; by the way he is spending hours at a time in deep thought. The Imperius Curse no doubt. Still it is unusual for it to be the Dark Lord doing it himself. Forcing people to do his bidding is what his Death Eaters are for. Years ago, it was him, but why should he do all the work now when he has willing idiots who will do it for him?" Snape lapsed into thought again, before adding "he is excited. He likes to think he is mysterious, but sometimes his emotions are plain on his face for anyone able to read them. And at the moment he is like a child who's been given the keys to Honeydukes." He looked up from his lap and was pleased to see that whatever reason the Dark Lord had to be happy about, Dumbledore was clearly not. "I just thought I should tell you."

"Thank you Severus." He murmured. Albus deeply regretted using the young man the way he knew he had. Nevertheless, he also knew there would have been no other way to gain access to Voldemort's inner circle without convincing the disillusioned wizard he should do it out of the love he still held for Lily Potter. Times like this, when Severus appeared whole and calm in front of him, he could squash the voice in the back of his mind telling him that it was blackmail with a gentler spin on it. Other times though, when Poppy had to call him to help heal the boy after feeling the rougher side of Voldemort's temper Albus could not hide from the fact that it was he who had sent him there. Sent him there by using the biggest regret of the boy's life to make him feel compelled to go. Severus had already stood to leave when Dumbledore said "You will inform me, straight away, if you get an inkling as to what he is up to this time?" Severus simply bowed his assent and left the room.

Albus sent word to the rest of the Order, warning them to be watchful of anyone high up in the Ministry, or in any position of power, showing signs of the Imperius Curse. When Voldemort was powerful last time he must have had hundreds of people under his control, either willingly or not. Now though, for him to seem extremely satisfied with cursing some new poor soul, it had to be a big catch. The Aurors in the Order often rubbed shoulders with those high up at the Ministry, including the Minister, or soon to be new Minister, himself. If it was someone else, well they would just have to keep their eyes and ears close to the ground and hope Severus worked it out soon.

Dumbledore tried to occupy his mind with some paperwork. He had all the last years OWL and NEWT exam results, and was supposed to be transferring them into a stuffy old book for results that held the last fifty years grades. It was tedious work, but something he would find hard to complete once the new school year started. Minerva usually did this, and he knew she used magic to complete it quickly. In spite of this, he had decided to do it by hand, after sending his worn out Transfiguration professor on a much needed holiday. She may have been released from St Mungo's after being attacked by Umbridge and her colleagues but she really needed some time away from the school after the last year, time not spent in a hospital that is.

He smiled when he looked down at the Gryffindor OWL results. Miss Granger had outperformed nearly the whole year in every exam she had taken. Her only Exceeds Expectations was in Defence Against the Dark Arts, which he was not surprised to see that Harry had been awarded the top grade for. As rightly he should be, Dumbledore mused to himself, seeing as he was teaching half the school Defence this past year. Ah James, you would be proud of how far he has come. Especially in light of recent circumstances. And Lily, I think you would be both horrified at what Harry had done in setting up his Defence group, but also proud that he was able to help others. As you so often did. He smiled again when he saw Harry had only failed two subjects. One was understandable, as Voldemort had picked that moment to plant his trap and the other; well he was sure Harry would be thrilled at the thought of giving up Divination this year.

At the opposite end of the country, Harry Potter was lying on his bed watching the sun set through the window. He knew it would be about half an hour until his aunt delivered his dinner through the cat flap in his bedroom door. The first two days back from Hogwarts he had been free to wander around the house if he wished to, not that he had as the loss of his godfather seemed to make wanting to do anything that didn't involve lying down feel impossible. However Uncle Vernon had come home from work on his third evening back and announced that he would be confined to his bedroom for the rest of the summer again. As Harry had no wish to interact with his family, or venture outside the change hadn't bothered him, although he did vaguely wonder what he was supposed to have done to warrant isolation this time. The small part of his mind that wasn't drowning in guilt and grief also questioned why Vernon had insisted that his school trunk with his books, robes but most importantly his wand were also to be locked in his room with him making them easily accessible. Then he remembered that his relatives did not know that his supposed convicted murderer of a godfather was around no more to threaten them. He briefly considered if, were they to find out, his belongings would be relocated to his old cupboard downstairs before he was once more swept away by the misery that swam on the tail of thoughts of Sirius.

Outside, Vernon Dursley seemed to shudder then stumble for a moment whilst trying to cross the pavement to the path leading to number four and unknowingly the boundary set out by Albus Dumbledore when he visited almost fourteen years previously. For a moment he thought perhaps the last Brandy he'd ordered had been a double by mistake before the memory of the stumble was smothered in darkness and he forgot all about it. Instead he concentrated on entering his house where his wonderful wife would have dinner waiting for him and his Dudders.

There was also the thought that soon he would have a little something to add to the food Petunia delivered to the Boy. He knew it would be nothing dangerous, just something to make the little freak's summer that much more uncomfortable. He momentarily realised that he wasn't sure exactly what it was, or where it was coming from, before that thought was also smothered in darkness until all he knew was that he was greatly anticipating something. Must be the Surrey County under eighteen's Boxing Championship, Dudley's sure to win!

This is the prologue for one of the longer stories I'm trying to write. As I haven't posted anything other than one chaptered ones before, any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks :)