Midnight found Harry at the top of the Astronomy Tower. He may have been brought back a thousand years but the spot where Dumbledore took his last breaths looked none the different. The pain clenched tightly in his chest as he continued to stare at it as he had been doing for the last few hours.
No one had come looking for him yet, at least he was quite certain. Salazar Bloody Slytherin probably told them everything though.
In truth Harry was more upset with the fact that this man he had believed to be a monster knew all his secrets than he was at the discourteous comment he made about brushing his emotions aside. Not to say that it didn't hurt, because it did, but he knew that it held some credence.
Feeling his stomach rumble for the hundredth time Harry decided to once more make his way to the kitchens.
As he made his way down he took note that the castle wasn't much different than it was during his time period. There were definitely not as many paintings, and the suits of armor had yet to be added, but it certainly produced the same warm feeling of being home.
Stepping into the kitchen Harry was glad to see that the founders weren't lingering about.
"Can Zazzy help you young sir?" a house elf asked spotting him as he enter the room.
The house elves of this time weren't much different than the ones of his time, he noted, other than the fact they were wearing better cloths. Looking at the house elf that spoke to him Harry scratched the back of his head. "Err, do you think I could have something to eat?"
Zazzy nodded and immediately set about getting the young man some food.
Once the house elf had placed a small meal of stew in front of him Harry cautiously took a bite. When he realized it didn't taste like mud he readily filled his mouth with another spoonful.
After there was none left Harry called the house elf over again.
"Yes young Sir?" Zazzy asked.
"Well, I was wondering if you could perhaps help me with my sleeping arrangements?"
Eyeing the young wizard Zazzy should his head. "Zazzy is sorry Sir, but you'll have to speak to one of my masters."
Sighing Harry nodded and once again left the kitchen, only this time it was a much calmer pace. He had no intention of talking to one of the founders just yet, and with that in mind he quietly made his way back to the Room of Requirement.
Dragging a large hand across his face Godric sighed. With the help of Rowena, Helga, and, although he wasn't a huge contribution to the planning, Salazar, they had come up with a rough lesson plan for young Harry.
Helga was willing to teach him charms, healing, and herbology. Rowena would go forward and teach him transfiguration, potions, and Hogwarts itself. Salazar was a bit standoffish, saying the boy wouldn't want to be left alone in a room with him for even a second, would teach him oclumency and legilimency.
Godric himself grinned, excited to teach the boy how to duel, along with how to use and fight with a sword, and if he could, how to become an animagus.
"Yes," Godric thought, "Harry will be ready to take on anyone once they were done with him."
Salazar, seeing the grin, coughed a laugh. "He hasn't even come to us yet, and we're planning on what to teach him? He's probably holed himself away somewhere trying in vain to find a way back!"
"Oh Salazar," Helga said. "He'll come to us, you said it yourself. He's just not ready."
Eyeing the woman Salazar shook his head. "You didn't see the things I saw."
"What there was more?" Rowena asked sharply. If she were being honest she wasn't exactly happy with the man. Not only had he run the poor lad off, but ever since he had told Harry's story, he had been a bit more snarky than usual.
"Rowena he had no shields," Salazar snapped. "I didn't just see his life's events, I felt some of them as well. It's a wonder the boy is even totally sane!"
With a big sigh Godric turned to one of the many portraits lining the study's wall. "Has anyone caught a glimpse of him yet?"
The man in the portrait had just come back from another painting. Tilting his head in acknowledgement to the founder he nodded. "He was in the kitchens for a time, then he made his way up the stairs to the seventh floor. My guess is he'll be in the Come and Go room."
Thanking the portrait for it's help Godric turned back to his friends. "So who wants to go fetch the boy?"
Glaring at his friend Salazar shook his head. "Has it already slipped your mind that he's to come to us! We can't push the boy, it's bad enough that we're planning all of his lessons and we don't even know if he'll be willing to take them! Merlin save me, but we don't even know what his skill level is!"
Settling into his chair once more Godric frowned. It hadn't really slipped his mind, he was just excited. And Salazar had said he was in Gryffindor! He just wanted to meet the bloke!
"Men, calm down," Rowena spoke gaining their gazes, or Godric's gaze and Salazar's glare. "When he does come to us we'll just test him. And if he's not willing to train, we'll work with him to help him find his way back. Now, I'm going to head off to bed. Tomorrow we'll see if the boy is ready or not, and if not, the next day perhaps."
The next day started off with a groan for Harry. He was not only in a different time period, he was without his friends, the people he needed the most. "At least," he thought, "the Dursley's aren't around."
Getting out of the bed the Room had set up for him Harry silently asked if it would give him some food. When nothing appeared his frown deepened. He would have to go down to the kitchens.
He also realized that he didn't have a change of clothes, and with that thought the room did provide him with something.
Pulling on the garments he could no longer deny that he was in a different time. The shirt felt scratchy against his skin, he had no pants to put under his trousers and that alone was an entirely different feeling for Harry.
Once he was all dressed he headed off towards the kitchens. When he got close he peered to see if the founders were there and was surprised when a voice sounded from behind him.
"Well go on in dear, we won't hurt you." It was the Hufflepuff founder and she had nothing but a sympathetic smile on her round face.
With another sigh Harry quietly made his way into the kitchen and sat at the far end of the table. It was weird for him, he knew, to be so antisocial but he couldn't let himself warm to these people. Not when it was inevitable that they would disappear from his life.
As the rest of the founders came into the room breakfast appeared on the table. There were plenty of slices of bread, along with dishes of butter, a nice full bowl of fruits including apples, pears, and even a couple of plums. Also on the menu were a couple platters of eggs.
Harry poured himself a cup of juice, and was pleasantly surprised it was pumpkin. He watched the founder's hands as they pulled food onto their plates.
Realizing the boy wasn't eating anything Salazar opened his mouth but quickly shut it when he caught Rowena's glare. After another minute passed and the boy still hadn't grabbed anything Salazar just spoke. "No need to starve yourself boy, eat."
Snapping his head to attention he looked at the founder briefly before casting his gaze down to the table once again.
A few seconds of silence passed before Harry was once again surprised when a plate of food appeared in front of him.
Looking up again he noticed the pleasant smile on Helga Hufflepuff's face and gave her his own grateful one. Tentatively he started eating and the founders all turned to each other to discuss their plans for the day.
He was glad that they weren't trying to include him in the conversation but he didn't miss the curious glances Rowena Ravenclaw would give him, or the peering gaze of Godric Gryffindor. Helga Hufflepuff would look at him once in a while but for the most part she let him be.
Salazar Slytherin on the other hand was much more open about looking at the boy. For more than half the meal he could be caught watching the boy. Either to make sure he was still in the room, or that he was in fact eating, Harry wasn't sure.
With the last bite of his breakfast in his mouth Harry got up to leave. He was quite certain that Salazar was going to say something to try and stop him, but he realized as he got to the door that wasn't the case and he was free to just go.
Harry spent the better part of the day in the library looking at books that he knew were classified as restricted during his own time period. He wasn't quite sure why they were restricted because most of the information he got out of the text was theory. He supposed it was to discourage anyone from trying to make their own portkey.
After setting the second book aside he realized that nothing in these books was going to help him. And with that in mind he made his way back to the kitchens for some lunch and to hopefully find one of the founders. He would have to accept some help if he ever wanted to get back to his own time.
When he did reach the kitchens he was, not exactly happy but not disheartened, to find Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff finishing up their own lunch.
Hesitantly he made his way towards the table and sat down in the same spot he had earlier in the morning. Not sure exactly how to start the conversation he decided on asking them what he would call them. "Um, excuse me," he said bringing their full attention to him. "What exactly should I call you?"
A warm smile spread across Helga Hufflepuff's face as she answered him. "Our names of course!"
Rowena too smiled and nodded in agreement. "And what would you like us to call you, Mr. Potter?"
A blush tinted his cheeks and he bowed his head a little. "Harry's fine," he answered.
"Well Harry, is there something we can help you with?" Helga asked her smile not wavering in the least. She really was as cheerful as the books said she was.
"Um, well," he mumbled. "I was in the library," he started, looking towards Rowena, "and I was reading some of the books about portkeys, but they were all just theory, and I was wondering if someone could help me get back to my own time." At this point he was talking towards the table feeling embarrassed for having mumbled more than half of his speech.
"Of course we'll help you dear," Helga said putting a comforting hand on his forearm. "We'll figure it out together."
Looking up he gave a halfhearted smile and looked over to see that the two male founders had joined the table as well.
"So," Godric spoke a broad smile on his face. "You're in Gryffindor huh?"
Seeing how proud Godric was about the sorting Harry decided to come out of his shell a little and gave his first real smile since he got here. "Well," he said glancing over at Salazar, "the hat originally wanted to put me in Slytherin."
Three of the four founders laughed heartily at that and Godric sat looking between his friend and the boy of the future gaping like a fish out of water. Finally once the laughter had died down some Godric shook his head and muttered something about a hat having jurisdiction over where new students got placed to which Harry continued to burst the man's bubble by telling him that he was the one that had created the hat.
A little while later Harry was once again in the library only this time he was joined by Rowena whose vast knowledge would definitely help the young man. They pondered over the books for hours when Helga stuck her head in to call them to dinner.
At the end of the day Harry was tucked into his own room in the staff corridors. He still didn't plan to get close to any of the founders but it was just the first day and he had who knew how long until he could get back to his own time if ever. With that thought Harry closed his eyes and let himself drift to sleep.
