<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">August 25th, 2018</span></span></div></span><br/>A week before classes started for the upcoming school year in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, things seemed to be peaceful. The last War had ended twenty years ago, with several casualties that had been sorely felt by the wizarding community. But the sacrifice had not been in vain. With the loss of many precious lives, had come victory. The wizard who had renamed himself Lord Voldemort had finally been defeated, putting an end to his reign of terror.<br/><br/>It took the wizarding society as a whole some time to start feeling at ease again. It had been a very long and destructive war, and it was hard to fall back in a routine without the threat of a Dark Lord looming over everyone’s heads all the time.<br/><br/>But it had finally come. Peace, calm and the regular life style every respectable wizard or witch craved. They could leave their houses and be sure they were going to return. It was probably even more of a change for half-bloods and muggle-borns, as they were the main target for those who called themselves Death Eaters.<br/><br/>Of course, as everyone knows, forgetting history was risking repeating it. And as that was a part in history nobody cared to repeat, everyone was in full alert. A team of aurors was kept constantly ready for the moment they needed to spring into action. Everyone hoped it wouldn’t be necessary, but it was better to be safe than sorry.<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #FF00FF">Bernice Carmody Kerry</span></div></span><br/>While the world at large lived in peace, in that small cottage outside London, a couple lived the life of those prepared for any eventual change in scenery. Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Kerry had every reason to be on alert. He was an auror, one of the members of the team the Ministry of Magic kept fully ready for the event of a new war. She was a Hogwarts Professor, and had the events occurred in the school fresh in her mind, as probably the entire staff did.<br/><br/>It was a constant concern that the school might be targeted in a future conflict, which was why the protection barrier around it was kept in prime condition at all times. That was a task every adult wizard or witch was welcome and even required to help with. Aid on that was mostly voluntary, but calls for help could be issued if needed. For Bernice Kerry, a call was unnecessary. With her usual concern for others, Professor Kerry did her best to use her free time reinforcing the protective spells whenever she saw the need to do so.<br/><br/>The rest of Bernice’s time was devoted to Astronomy classes and counseling for troubled students. It was a good life, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her door was always open for anyone who needed her, and Prof. Kerry tried to keep good relations with everyone else around the school. <br/><br/>Right now, she didn’t need to think about the other members of staff, as she was home. Sitting on her favorite chair with a cup of tea, Bernice smiled as she heard her husband telling her how much he missed her already.<br/><br/>“Poor you”, she replied to his words, blowing the man a kiss. “I will miss you terribly too. But we will meet in Hogsmeade every weekend, even if just for dinner, right? It will be like our dates when we were students”.<br/><br/>Jonas smiled and nodded at his wife. “I think you have a point”, he agreed. Bernice was always so optimistic, always seeing the bright side of everything. Crossing the small living room, Jonas sat on the couch and gestured for Bernice to come sit with him. She did so, resting her head against his arm. “I worry so much about you, Bernie”, he said, now more seriously. “You think everyone is as good and kind-hearted as you”.<br/><br/>Bernice smiled and shook her head on a negative. “No, I don’t. I know not everyone is a good person, and that I can’t trust everyone. I just choose to give most people the benefit of doubt”. Jonas sighed and kissed his wife’s hair. He nodded afterwards. “That is good, Bernie. But please, be careful. Don’t… I don’t know. Just be careful”.<br/><br/>Bernice’s smile faded at Jonas’ apparent hesitation. Her gaze went up to his gaze with a concerned expression. She didn’t know exactly what he was talking about, but it had to be acknowledged that there was something strange in the air. At least for those sensitive enough to realize it. It was like the calm before a storm. And storms were never a safe thing. “I know”, Bernice replied softly after a moment of silence. Standing up, the woman kissed the man’s lips. “Now, let us get out of here. We don’t want you getting late for work, and I want you to see me off at the station”.<br/><br/>With these words, the Kerrys prepared to leave the house for the closest train station, through which they would go to King's Cross.<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000FF">Angus Peters McAllister</span></div></span><br/>Unlike the other professors, the Headmaster was already in the school. Most of Professor McAllister's time was passed inside the castle, even during the summer. The man was single, had no living relatives, and was not involved in any sentimental relationship. His was not a lonely life, though. Prof. McAllister was the kind of man who made friends easily, and the free time he had between obligations was liberally shared with them.<br/><br/>That summer, he had visited some of them for a few weeks back at his home town in Scotland, not too far away from the castle, and taken a trip to Russia for some research. The rest of the summer, he had spent back in the school, resting and making sure everything was safe and ready for when classes finally started.<br/><br/>At the moment, the man was in his office, reading. He was keeping an eye on the wall clock, as was his intention to go out to the platform and welcome the professors as they arrived. A meeting with professors and staff would be held, as usual, but that would wait for next morning after breakfast.</div>