Arrival of the International Confederation of Wizardry

In the highlands of Scotland, the idyllic village of Hogsmeade is peaceful with the morning sky just beginning to hint at light. Two identical men depart from their homes and on foot traverse the village. The two men are tall and muscular. Their skin is dark with thick dark woven braids streaming down their heads. Their woven braids gently sway according to their stride.

Identical twins, Trevor and Gary Peterson felt no need to converse. Often, they didn't have to. They could have entire conversations with a flicker of their head or eyes.

The two brothers enjoyed the climb uphill as it allowed them time to collect themselves in peace. They loved their children, but sometimes it did them good to have a bit of silence. Up the cobbled path, they went until they passed the great ironed wrought gates that held a winged boar on each side of the gate.

Hogwarts loomed in the distance, enormous and majestic. Even now, Trevor and Gary felt a childlike wonder every time they saw the castle. It was a place they thought they would never enter in their lifetime and yet here they were. It was a blessing they would forever be grateful for.

Approaching the front entrance, they see a slightly pasty man, their coworker/boss, and friend, Argus Filch. Argus Filch had a slight hunch, but he tended to straighten his back more often now that he was married. He is dressed well, and his thin grey hair is combed back. His nose though bulbous is not quite startling now that it is not a horrible shade of purple.

Sitting alertly at Argus Filch's side is a scrawny cat with dust-colored hair. Mrs. Norris's bulging yellow lamp-like eyes remain alert. There were many guests present, and she took her job of patrolling Hogwarts very seriously.

Mrs. Norris permits the two identical two-legged men to pat her behind the ears. Her pink little nose twitches happily. She let out a purr, before pulling away. She had work to do, she had no time for distractions! With a firm meow and her tail high, she sets off to complete her rounds.

 Greeting his two friends/co-workers, Argus grins and says, "Irmy baked Victoria sponges for the three of us to enjoy with a cup of tea. She said we would need the extra fortification."

 "That's mighty good of her, tell her thank you, will you?" Trevor Peterson rumbled, while Gary made a grateful gesture as well.

"I will," Argus beamed as the three men in quiet tones began to chat.

During the course of the night, hundreds of witches and wizards from around the world had arrived. They had been settled by staff members in the four house quarters of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The majority had been settled in only three of the houses since Hufflepuff's entry of crawling through a barrel was not kind on the knees of the middle-aged or elderly. Though the most physically active or masochist members of the Council agreed to settle in the Hufflepuff quarters.

The three men pass the Great Hall which is bursting with sleepy wizards and witches still tired from the prior day's travel. The wizards and witches wear robes over traditional garments. There are fancy headdresses to more exotic garments.

In the Great Hall, the professors sit at the staff table along with the new Headmaster of Hogwarts, Master Linnaeus. Still half asleep, the angelic face of Professor Eponine Mortimer fiercely scowls at her caramel brulee latte. She made a note to write down the drink's name and have the house elves prepare it for her during her office hours.

 Sitting next to her is her good friend, Professor Elias Murphy, the professor of Muggle Studies. Elais Murphy had been a normal person working an 80-hour work week. Then one day he decided to go for a hike and got lost. Unfortunately for him, he was bitten by what appeared like a rabid enormous wolf. Yet wolves had been extinct in the UK for several hundred years….

Tragically, for Elias, as it had turned out he had been bitten by a werewolf. The only reason he didn't go on a killing spree during the first full moon was because he lived in a basement apartment. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened had he done out in the middle of London!

 Forced to quit his job, Elias had to move to the countryside and seek other employment. He barely had enough to feed himself and keep a roof over his head. Thankfully, another werewolf recognized him for what he was and took him under his wing. Not long after the cure for Lycanthropy was released and he was introduced to the whole world of magic. A blessing and a curse at times, but he found his place again at Hogwarts teaching muggle studies or as he likes to privately call it, "lessons on common sense that all young witches and wizards ought to know."

Taking a sip of his latte, Elias's spectacles become steamed, and he pulls them down to wipe them clean with his sleeve. The smarting of freckles across his nose is revealed. He slides his spectacles in place and tugs a loose lock of ginger hair behind his ear.

"So, I heard you went to dinner with Ondine Ponce last night," Elias innocently asked causing their friend, Benjamin Buchanan from his seat next to them to loudly snort in his seat.

"Where did you hear that!" Eponine sputtered with a light pink flush on her face.

"Oh, so it's true?" Benjamin Buchanan wildly smirked the professor of Wizarding Etiquette, and descendant of the famous Angus Buchanan, a Scottish squib rugby player.

 "I don't know what you are talking about," Eponine coolly responded attempting not to show her fluster.

 "Well, I heard it from Morticia, who heard it from Professor Flitwick that they saw you at the Broomstick having a meal and a pint with the new Mermish Professor," Elias firmly pointed out.

 "Balderdash," Eponine gripped the cup of her latte tightly, before downing it in a single gulp. "I have plenty of things to do," she set the cup loudly on the table, before storming away with her robes flapping behind her.

"Huh, who would have guessed," Benjamin knowingly said glancing further down the table at the olive-skinned mermish professor with green-blonde hair. He teasingly wagged his eyebrows, "It had to be the fish who would bring down the hawk."

"I believe it is typically the other way in nature," Eliphas drily pointed out.

"I may be a squib," Benajmin put his hand on his chest. "However, I have a high emotional intelligence, I will have you know that I most certainly did not see wrongly."

"It's not like it's any of our business," Eliphas shrugged, before taking a bit of toast. "Besides, he doesn't seem that bad, if you know what I mean. And well, out of the two of them, I would argue to say he would be the one in most danger, not Eponine."

Benjamin shuddered at picturing Eponine tossing fireballs from her hands when enraged. "You're probably right." Changing the subject he says, "So what about you? I thought you were seeing that girl from your hometown now that you could safely visit your folks."

 "I was," Elias gloomily sighed, "but we broke up during my last visit."

"Eh, how come?" Benjamin mumbled in surprise as he stabbed a sausage with his fork before taking a bite.

"Well, for one I'm working out here," Elias plainly pointed out. "And most importantly, I can't talk to her about magic. I mean," he rubbed the back of his ginger head with his hand. "Magic is a part of me now. I can't just pretend it doesn't exist."

"Well, I can't help you there, mate," Benjamin consolingly patted his friend on his back. "Though I got myself a lovely girlfriend, who happens to be a squib. We met at the Whispers of the Meow meeting." His face paused and brightened up. "Why don't you come to the next meeting with me? You might just meet someone there!"

 "You think?" Elias positively brightened up at the suggestion.

"You're in luck! There's even a meeting this upcoming weekend," Benjamine excitedly said. "It's bound to be great!"

 "Well, I guess, I'll just have no choice but to take you up on your offer, Ben," Elias cheerfully grinned feeling much more hopeful than before.

 "Glad to see you so chipper, Elias," Benjamin returned the wide grin, before the two men resume eating. They had better hurry up before they get kicked out. The council meeting was to be held in the Great Hall. The Great Hall would be completely sealed off until the meeting was over. It could be days! It had happened before….