Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and The Elder Scrolls belongs to Bethesda/Zenimax.

"Normal Speech"

"Thoughts"

Chapter 2 - The Grandmaster

Hogwarts School, Scotland (U.K.)

The outcome of his arrival had not been as Harry had expected. Chaos had ensured as people realized that Cedric Diggory was dead, together with his claims regarding the return of Voldemort. Not to mention Alastor Moody was not Alastor Moody, but the Death Eater Voldemort had mentioned before. The real Moody had been locked inside an enchanted chest, kept alive as a source of hair for Polyjuice Potion.

Barty Crouch Junior had been the Death Eater, and that was a surprise for everyone, as the man was supposed to be dead. He had been the only reliable source to confirm Voldemort's return, and then he was kissed by a dementor. Not only that but Fudge himself was refusing to believe that Voldemort had returned. If the Minister for Magic himself was against them, then things were not looking well for the future of the Wizarding World.

He still had to hear from Nott, and the silence was unnerving him. Yet… he was certain that certain students were looking at him differently. Perhaps it was because of the whole tournament and the claims of Voldemort's return… but the fact that Theodore Nott was amongst them did nothing but increase his suspicions that it was Dragonguard related. The man did say they had eyes and ears everywhere.

"You're alright mate?" asked Ron. "You seem… paranoid."

"Is it about You-Know-Who?" said Hermione.

"I'm not paranoid!" he protested. "And no, it's not about him."

Harry looked up as the owls entered the Great Hall, the last day they would do so this school year. None came his way, and most of them were carrying copies of the Daily Prophet. Apparently, most families found it to be a waste of time to write to the students the day before they returned home.

He quickly finished his breakfast, leaving the Great Hall to return to the common room, knowing that Ron and Hermione would join him there. They all had to pack up things, and meticulously making sure nothing remained behind was crucial.

There were very few students outside the Great Hall, and as he climbed the Entrance Hall's stairs, he heard someone calling him.

"Potter!"

Turning around, he saw that it had been Theodore Nott, who had also left the Great Hall, apparently in his pursuit. He felt his heartbeat become faster, nervousness taking hold of him. The uncertainty of what was to come was unnerving.

"I need to speak with you," said Nott.

"Is this about... that thing with your father?"

"Subtle, Potter. And yes, it's about that. Follow me," commanded Theodore.

Harry reluctantly followed Theodore into a corridor near the stairs, one rather familiar to Harry, for it lead to the kitchens. Walking past a lone student, the two turned around a corner, finding a spot empty of portraits.

"Father sent me a message. Tomorrow, an agent of the order shall escort you from London to the headquarters."

"Tomorrow? I don't think…"

But Theodore stopped him. "I would not worry about needing to go to your muggle family. Everything's been taken care of."

"And Dumbledore?"

Nott's expression changed. "That's… a whole other situation. But father says that the Grandmaster has everything solved."

Despite all this, Harry was rather interested in meeting this Grandmaster. For someone to outmanoeuvre Dumbledore in such a way… it certainly was not a common individual.

"Ok… I suppose. By the way Nott, how many of you are there at Hogwarts?"

The smirk in Theodore's face was enough to tell Harry that he was not the only one.

"Did you see the other students in the Entrance Hall?"

Harry nodded.

"Each one is a junior agent of the Dragonguard, positioned at every exit of the Entrance Hall so that depending on which way you went, they would approach you," revealed Theodore. "I got to you first."

"Full members?" he asked alarmed.

"Erm… not exactly. Apprentices, to be exact, like me," said Nott. "Some are Hogwarts recruits, others have family connections to the order."

"How many members does your order have?"

"Don't know. They're all over the world. Wizards, muggles, squibs… Too many to count," the Slytherin replied. "Don't give me that look Potter. The Dragonguard has existed for over a thousand years. It would not keep itself to just a few dozen members."

"I suppose not…" he mumbled. "So... Who's the agent?"

Nott shrugged. "Don't know. The letter didn't say."

So he had to wait until tomorrow to learn not only the identity of the Grandmaster of the Dragonguard, but also that of this mysterious agent which would escort him.

This was going to be a long day.

London, England (U.K.)

The voyage from Hogwarts to London had been awfully slow for Harry. There was the usual confrontation with Malfoy and his gang, which ended rather badly for Malfoy. He also learnt what was the deal between the Weasley Twins and Bagman, and eventually decided to give them the award from the tournament. He really had no need of it, and from what he had seen, he was certain that those two would do incredible things with that money.

Finally, when all that was done, and he was beyond the barrier of the platform, the only figure that stood out there was a rather… "familiar" one, if that was the correct word to use here.

"Professor Moody?"

"Wasn't much of a Professor, was I?" said the man, wearing a hat in such a way that it hid the magical eye. "I was told to get you Potter."

"Erm, actually, I'm waiting for…"

"For me. Grandmaster's orders."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. When he had seen Moody, he thought that he had been here at the orders of Dumbledore.

"You're with them?"

The man nodded, beckoning Harry to follow him. The teen did so, the two stopping at an empty bench. Moody sat down, Harry doing the same thing.

"That whole mess with Crouch was an embarrassment. We're lucky that he found nothing about us."

"You had nothing about them in your home?" asked Harry curious.

"You think I keep that sort of thing in my home, Potter?"

"I guess not. Didn't they use… the Imperius or that truth potion?"

Moody shrugged. "The trick about that, is not never reveal anything beyond what you're asked. And keep yourself silent when they're not specific enough. Works all the time. Any more questions Potter?"

"Why are there so many of you at Hogwarts? I mean… it's a school."

"It's also a recruiting ground," revealed the former Auror. "Pick the ones with most potential before anyone else gets their hands on them. It also ensures loyalty. You'll learn more when you meet the Grandmaster. By the way Potter… don't make any drama when meeting him."

"Drama? Do I know him?"

That had to be the only reason why Moody made such a warning.

"Technically no. But I'll say no more," he said, getting up from the bench and heading towards a car which had parked near them. "Put your stuff in there. Don't get in the car."

Harry put his trunk inside the car, as well as Hedwig's cage. He did not look at the driver, and as soon as he closed the door, the car left, leaving him with alone with Moody once more. The ex-auror led him into a nearby alley, and took out his hat, revealing the magical eye.

"Portkey to the headquarters," he explained. "Will activate in a few moments."

Remembering his experience with the boot portkey, Harry grabbed the hat. And true to Moody's words, the two wizards were gone from London moments later.

Fort Cyrodiil, Scotland (U.K.)

Upon arrival and recovery, Harry noticed the two had landed in a rather secluded area. All around him was forest, and there was nothing which really screamed "headquarters" about this area.

"Potter, read this," said Moody, handing to him a piece of paper.

Harry took hold of it, reading the small text.

The headquarters of the Dragonguard is in Fort Cyrodiil, located in the Rhinns of Galloway, in Scotland

As soon as he read the paper, the trees in front of him seemed to part, revealing a small and very old looking castle.

"Welcome to Fort Cyrodiil, Potter."

As he followed Moody, the guards inside the structure took notice of them, opening the gates for the two. As he stepped inside the fort, Harry was certain he had entered a completely different world. The people inside were not wearing neither modern nor wizard clothes, but a a very strange and foreign looking armour. Some were training in the courtyard, while others were simply guarding the castle.

Moody went towards a large door, opening it to reveal a stairway which led downward, meaning there was more of this structure underground. The hallways were of made of stone, and illuminated by both torches and braziers. There were more guards inside, as well as people who did not wear armour, but normal clothing instead. Well… normal to the place. He would certainly see no one wearing that in the middle of London, or any other city.

Finally, they reached a closed door, an ornate rhombus carved on it.

"These are the Grandmaster's quarters. You will meet him alone, and make sure to remember what I said."

Harry nodded, nervousness taking hold of him. "Ok."

"Good. I'll have to go now. Dumbledore needs help with his projects."

Moody left, leaving Harry alone in the corridor. He approached the door, and knowing how thick they were, he banged the door three times, upon which he heard a voice from the inside.

"Enter."

He opened the door, and as he entered the room, he saw that behind a desk, and reading a book, was a figure he had seen a few times. But only in paintings.

"Y-You…"

The man looked at Harry, a sly smile on his face.

"Welcome Harry Potter," he said. "This meeting has been long delayed."

Harry could not yet believe what he was seeing. "You're the Grandmaster of the Dragonguard?"

"Surprised?"

There was nothing but amusement in the man's voice.

"But you're…"

"I'm who, Mister Potter? Do tell me my name."

Harry's emotions shifted from surprise to outrage, and from outrage to confusion, and from confusion back to surprise. He had indeed seen that man in paintings before. In two specific locations.

One in the Headmaster's Office, and the other in the Dungeons.

"You're… you're Salazar Slytherin."

Author's Note:

As stated in the previous chapter, the Dragonguard has members everywhere. Alas, even the best have embarrassing moments which could ruin centuries of secrecy. To their luck, the secrecy remains. Also, Slytherin's "aliveness" will be explained in the next chapter, alongside many other things.

The ending of the words is ALMSIVI.