The Fifth House

by Erposhio

An ancient power awakens, one whose help Harry will need to face his destiny. Follow Harry and his new Housemates as he takes up his destiny to right wrongs and set the magical world on the correct path. HHR. Assorted bashing, although with hope of redemption.

2. Chapter 2 And So It Begins

Chapter 2: The Fifth House

"Well this is different" said Harry aloud as he took in the hallway they were standing in. Hermione was pressing her lips together hard, with that look Harry was well acquainted with: she was about to launch into a rant!

"There is no apparating in Hogwarts!" she yelped. "What we just did is impossible! It says so in Hogwarts: A History! We just got beamed to a part of the castle that I bet even Fred and George here have never seen!"

"Beamed?" asked George.

"A mugglism, essentially apparating" answered Harry.

"Does anyone, beside me, feel more curious about where we are rather than how we got here" asked a slightly frightened Daphne.

"Relax, Daphne, Hogwarts says we are safe. She would never put us in any danger" answered Luna.

"Hogwarts says?" asked Daphne.

With an airy look, Luna looked at the former Slytherin and nodded her head. "You'll see."

So, as one, they examined their surroundings. It was just a long hallway, seemingly with only the one exit. Double doors at one end. Large, very thick looking, double doors. The other end was a solid brick wall.

"George, you didn't happen to grab something to take down the doors, did you?"

"Sorry, brother mine, I had not foreseen the need for high explosive at dinner tonight" answered Fred.

"Quite right. We should plan for that in the future." replied George.

"Nev, you alright there, mate? You look like you've seen a ghost" asked Harry.

"Did we just…how did we…how do we…" Neville stuttered, wide eyed.

"Well said, Nev" grinned Harry.

Everyone looked at him, mouths agape, before all of them broke out in gales of laughter. It took a few minutes for them all to compose themselves. "Well, seeing as the door is the only way forward, shall we go take a peek?" Hermione said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Where did Lord Godric go? Shouldn't he be here with us?" asked Blaise.

"I'm guessing he's a bit of a joker. He had that look Padfoot gets just before he pranks you. My guess, we have to figure this out on our own. Come on, I'm a bit hungry, and I don't see Godric being a poor host. I kind of missed dinner tonight."

"Padfoot?" asked Tracy.

"My godfather, and a story for another time. George, Fred, you guys do the honors?"

"Sure Harry. Let us be the ones to open the creepy ass door!" replied the twins.

They approached the doors with a little trepidation, and as George was getting ready to raise the bronze knocker, the door opened. Godric stood there, a smile on his face and said "Well…I'm waiting. What took you people so long?"

As they all entered, they were astonished at what they were seeing. An immaculately appointed common room, done in dark woods, with royal purple and gold accents throughout. Comfortable furniture was spread haphazardly among the room, but in such a way as to be inviting. An enormous fireplace was the main and central piece of the whole room. Warm and cozy, with couches in front of the roaring fire that looked too comfortable to exist. Above the fireplace, the coat of arms of House Pendragon was displayed.

"Come, sit, and let us get to know one another. Dobby!" said Godric.

Dobby appeared with a pop, snapped his fingers, snacks and drinks appearing. "Lord Harry Potter sir, good it is to see you again." gushed Dobby.

"Good to see you as well, Dobby. I hope you've been well?"

"I has, Harry Potter sir!" and the small elf, with a wide smile on his face, popped away.

"Sit, sit, everyone. No need to stand on ceremony. I know you noticed that the hall outside the door has no exit. That is as it is intended. Later on tonight I will be showing you the method to reach the common room. From what I've heard the ghosts telling me, you're familiar with Salazar's Chamber of Secrets, aren't you Harry? Well, this, in actuality is MY Chamber of Secrets." stated Godric.

"Wait, are you telling me that the gossip from second year is true? That Potter here found the Chamber?" asked an astonished Tracy.

"Tracy, I know we don't know each other well, but please call me Harry. And to answer your question, yes, I did find the Chamber. I did fight and defeat a basilisk. I did battle Voldemort. As there is only a few of us, I'll take you guys down to the chamber someday. I was a bit busy dying to actually explore the chamber, and have always wondered if there was more to the place."

"Lord Godric, if I may?" asked Hermione.

"Miss Granger, please, ask away. My intention tonight is to explain some of what is going on. My main goal is to correct problems we didn't foresee way back when, and, to see if we all can make magical Britain a better place for everyone." answered Godric.

"Why are we here? Why are we chosen to be in this new House? Why have we never heard of House Pendragon? How is it possible that you are sitting before us?" Hermione had ran out of breath at this point, and blushed a little at the awe she saw in Harrys face.

"Let start from the beginning, shall we? Sal, Helga, Ro, and I had a vision for the kind of world we wanted to leave behind. Our legacy, if you will. Those days were fraught with danger. Muggle against muggle, magical beings against other magical beings, muggle against wizard kind, everyone against everyone. A small group of us ventured into what you know now as Scotland, looking for a place to build a refuge and found an area that inspired us with its beauty. It was here we decided to lay the foundation of Hogwarts. Our intent at the time was as a safe harbor for those of us who were tired of the constant fighting. The idea of converting the castle to a school didn't occur to is until later, as the number of children in our midst increased. As the castle grew so did the school, as did our reputation in the world outside of Hogwarts as well. It was then that families from across the country began to send us their children for not only an education, but also for protection. We erected wards to keep the danger far from our doors, changed the barracks and armories into classrooms and dorms. We then enlisted the help of witches and wizards from far and wide to turn our school into the eighth wonder of the world. Rowena taught charms and runes. Helga taught what we back then referred to as the druidic studies: plants and animals, magical creatures, astronomy. Salazar taught potions and history. And I taught transfiguration and weapons. It was an amazing time. As the magical output of the students grew, the magic of the castle itself grew. Sal and I were having a drink in the Great Hall one evening, when the castle spoke to us. Scared the shit out of me! Knocked Sal on his ass too! I kept thinking to myself "I can't be this drunk, can I?" But no, she was real. She had, for lack of a better term, 'awakened.' She told us of her hopes and dreams regarding the future of Hogwarts. And so we planned."

"As for house Pendragon, that tradition did not start until several decades after the founding of the school. By then the House system was in its infancy. Warriors and generals came out of Gryffindor, scholars and teachers came from Ravenclaw, healers and druids came from Hufflepuff, and businessmen and alchemists came from Slytherin. But we noticed an odd thing occurring. Several times, the child being sorted would sit there, hat on head, for what seemed to us an inordinately long time. As it turned out, Sebastian was having an extremely hard time sorting certain children. What would you do if you had a child, blessed with intelligence, loyalty, ambition, courage, and all in equal measure? Assigning them to an individual House seemed to us like it would be curtailing any progress the child could make. So we thought of Merlin, and Arthur, and his Knights of the Round Table, and were inspired by them. And House Pendragon was born. It was a small House, always had been and always will be. Never more than thirteen members at any one time. In the school, they served the function that your prefects, headboy and headgirl have. Patrolling the castle to insure the safety of its students, being mentors to those who needed it, tutoring as the chance arose. You see? It was a House of, what's the word, chivalry. Yes, in all their glory, Pendragons were the most chivalrous people one could ever hope to meet. Pendragons were the Lords and Ladies of their time. They might not have all been titled, but they were nobles nonetheless. It also helped that they were magically all very powerful, and also physically gifted. All capable warriors in their own right. Membership fluctuated, as those that graduated moved on, no new student would be selected. Some years, Pendragon held one or two students at most. And when several years passed without a single student being sorted there, Hogwarts sealed the House."

"Now, I've been told that it has been several centuries since anyone has been selected. But why were each of you selected? Because you all have, individually, each attribute required. You are all intelligent. You are all ambitious, and courageous, and loyal as well. You will all learn from each other. You will all rely on each other. Mistress McGonagall told you "your House is your family", and that will be true in Pendragon as well. You will be family. I know that there is a lot of mistrust amongst you all, but believe me when I say, all your mistrust will vanish in time as you all get to know each other better. Most of you have had a life of hardship. Be it as an orphan living with abusive relatives. Or living in a house where your family was the definition of bigotry and hate, or being bullied incessantly by those who did not understand you. Fred and George here are the exception to this as they grew up in a house full of love, but meager of means. My guess is that you two were chosen because of your uniqueness, being a pair from a large family, it is a means of standing out from a crowded family."

"Now, as to the blood aspect of the house, most of you are what ferret boy and his ilk would term dirty blood. I knew your forbears, taught their children. You want some truth? There is no such thing as pureblood! Oh sure, there are exceptions of course. Ferret boy being a glaring example. Without introducing some new blood into your family tree, it should have withered by now. Blaise, Tracy, Daphne, Twins, I know it's hard to hear, being not only from what are considered pureblood families but also for the doctrine of hate that some of those that are purebloods have been espousing. But somewhere in your family tree are a muggleborn or half-blood. Wait…how come you three don't look surprised?"

"My Lord, my mother is muggleborn, but raised by a pureblood family. She didn't know her own history until she found out about it a few years ago when her adoptive mother, my grandmother, told her on her deathbed. My father is a death eater, and him finding out about her blood status was not…pleasant" answered an ashamed Tracy. "You have no idea what it's like to grow up like that, in that hate filled environment.

"And I'm not surprised at all, My Lord. My father is a braggart, and a liar. A conman without equal, my family has built up its fortune on the suffering of others. If I'd had anywhere else to go, I would have grabbed my mother and sisters and dragged them out of that cesspool." said Blaise with a hint of shame on his face.

"That is hard to take in, My Lord" answered an astonished Daphne. "My whole entire family believes that we are the epitome of being pureblooded. How can I equate years of family history to what you are telling me about my family?"

"Daphne, what I'm saying is that before you were born, perhaps a dozen generations or more ago, someone in your tree was a muggle, or half-blood, or a muggle-born. It does not detract from the accomplishments of your family. And in the eyes of all here, it makes not a whit of difference. You are an immensely talented and powerful witch.

"Forge, does it make a difference to us?"

"Don't think so, Gred. At least this way I'm sure we won't be contracted to marry a one of our cousins"

They looked at each other with horror, before shuddering theatrically.

"Hermione, you are a special case. If I had to guess, I would say that one of your parents is a squib, or one of your grandparents could have been. But, beyond that, definitely someone in your family tree was a wizard."

"As for Luna, your great-grandmother Selene, was a muggle. But I knew a couple of Lovegoods way back when, powerful too. And Harry, you of course know your parents were a pureblood and a muggleborn. The Potter family was an old family when I was around, but that is a story for another time."

"As to why I am here, well that is a bit of a long story. I was almost two hundred years old. Sal and Helga had passed on decades ago, and Rowena was close to her time as well. We had heard a prophecy, regarding the birth of the savior of Britain and decided to do something to make sure that He would have guidance he needed when he made His presence known. And so Ro and I came up with a spell that was two-fold. First, it would make the body of the recipient regress in age to a time where they were in peak condition both physically and mentally. Secondly, it placed them in a time bubble, a bubble that would only collapse when terms we had placed in the spell had been met. Namely, the birth of the savior but also the reemergence of the Dark One. Both Rowena and I had chosen her to be the one to come forward. Regrettably, she passed away a couple of days before I cast the spell. And as such, it is up to me to insure that He of the prophecy is up to the challenge" finished Godric.

"It's me, isn't it?" asked a white-faced Harry. "It's always me." Harry stood up, gently releasing Hermione's hand that had begun to dig in to his with fierceness. He slowly walked to the fireplace, his hands clenching and unclenching. His first emotion was anger. Anger at being thrust once again into a position that his life was in danger. He usually didn't care too much about whatever danger he got himself into, but it always seemed that his friends ended up in danger as well. The thought of Hermione being in any kind of danger saw him start to lose control of his magic. Raw energy poured out of him in waves, astonishing those watching him. The power put forth by this young man was both terrifying and inspiring.

Hermione stood, and with great deliberation made her way to Harry. She, without any fear, tenderly took Harrys hand in hers. His magic didn't die down, but seemed to envelop her. It was an awesome feeling. She knew Harry was powerful, but this…this was amazing.

Harry felt Hermione put her hand in his. The feeling of dread was replaced by a feeling of hope. He let the feeling of hope echo in his magic as the magic slowly retreated. The look of wonder on Hermione's face was something he was likely never to forget. He slowly brought his magic under control. "Forgive me please, My Lord, everyone. The news, while not unexpected, is a bit upsetting."

"Are you kidding? That. Was."

"Wicked!" replied the twins.

"Yes, Harry, it was. If I ever upset you like that, please don't do that magical hurricane around me. It would be likely, at the very least, to require a change of underwear!" said an amazed Daphne.

"Harry, please hear my words and understand what I am saying to you. You are not alone. To begin with, that lovely young witch by your side is not likely to ever let you be alone. A Longbottom has stood by the side of a Potter for centuries. As you would give your life for hers, Luna would willingly do so for you. Fred and George here will never, ever, leave a brother behind. As for your new friends, earn their trust. Let them earn yours. And remember that Hogwarts herself will stand beside you, always. There are a few more people that will be joining our company, as well. You lot need a Head of House, for starters. And remember I told you that House Pendragon can have thirteen members? You have the space to add four more to your House. It requires a unanimous vote to do so, but that option is available to you if need be. You will never walk alone again."

With tears in his eyes, Harry nodded. "Thanks everybody. It's comforting to know I will have you on my side."

"Harry, could I ask you something, please?" asked Tracy.

"Ask away. I promise to answer as honestly as I can, although I might not answer every question asked." replied Harry.

"How many times have you faced the Dark Lord?"

"So far, four times I think. Once as a child, the story most of you know. Twice in first year, the Forbidden Forest and Quirrel incidents. Once more in second year, the time with the basilisk. Listen, I don't know what the stories you've heard mentioned. Most are probably exaggerated in the extreme. Yes, I have faced Tom on multiple occasions. Yes, I've walked away from them. Luckily with my life and very little physical damage."

"Harry, who's Tom" wondered Neville.

"Hermione?" said Harry looking at the young witch.

Nodding her head she began "Tom Marvolo Riddle. Slytherin Head Boy back in the 1940's. He was the person responsible for opening the Chamber of Secrets the first time around. If you take his name and mix the letters up a bit you get…"

"I am Lord Voldemort" said a frightened Daphne.

"Very nicely deduced, Daphne! What you don't realize is that Tom is neither a Lord nor a pureblood. He is a half-blood like Harry here. His father was a muggle, his mother a witch. He was left in an orphanage, the father having abandoned him after his mother's death. When he was older he exacted retribution on his family by murdering them all." explained Hermione.

"Not a pureblood? How is it that the Death Eaters are following him, then? If any of them ever realized the truth…"

"I don't think it would matter too much. They are so focused on their superiority, having a leader that wants the same things they do would do a lot to blind them to the truth. That Riddle is a half-blood would probably mean little to most of them. They want their world to be a certain way, and in Tom, they see the leader that will lead them to their pureblood Nirvana." intoned Godric. "What the magical community doesn't realize is that blood, as such, means very little when it comes to magical power. There are exceptions, of course. But take Mr. Ferret for example, pureblood, correct? I will wager anything that he is less powerful, magically, than his father. Any children he should have would probably be less powerful than him."

"It's a common sight in Slytherin. Crabbe, Goyle, Bulstrode, Parkinson, they all are significantly less powerful than their parents. When their families started marrying cousins and such, inbreeding was, and is, the outcome."

"Alright everyone, this subject can be discussed more at a later time. The hour is late, and I'd like to take this time to show you all about your rings."

"Rings, My Lord? What rings?"asked Luna politely.

"Why, the rings on your fingers of course, Miss Lovegood!" said a smiling Godric.

And yes, there they were. On the ring finger of their right hand, appeared a golden ring with the Pendragon coat of arms on its face. "Now, these rings are special, and only worn by those of this House. It will allow you to travel anywhere within the wards of Hogwarts. All you need do is think of the destination, and the ring will do the rest! Shall we practice? How about we all head to the Groundskeepers home? I shall await you all there" said a vanishing Godric.

"Portkeys?" asked Hermione.

"'Mione, don't…"said Harry.

"But you can't portk…"

"We know!" said everyone, "it's in Hogwarts: A history!"

Blushing, Hermione said "…I'm just saying."

Harry grabbed her hand gently and looking at everyone said "Listen guys, tonight has been a night of impossibilities. We have to keep an open mind about it all. I'm sure Godric will it explain everything to us in time. He doesn't seem on to keep information to himself, unlike some whiskered bastard I can think of!"

"Harry? What do you mean?" asked Hermione.

"Anyone else notice Godric calling me Lord? I have no idea why. But, and that's a big if, what if I am a Lord? Why has that been kept from me? Shouldn't I know more about these things?"

"You should Harry. I'd like to apologize to you, also." said Neville.

"Nev, what do mean?" asked Harry.

"I knew you were a Lord. Half the people in Slytherin probably do as well." Daphne and Tracy both nodded at that.

"And you didn't tell me because…?"

"Because we, at least I, were warned by Dumbledore to not bring it up in your presence. Something about it being for "the greater good". For some reason he didn't want you to know about that side of your life"

"Guys, let's do this later! Godric is probably wondering if we got lost or something" said Hermione.

Agreeing that that was probably true, they looked at each other and one by one they all popped away.

Godric stood at the edge of the Black Lake, staring out in wonder at the world he had left so long ago. The group headed down towards him, silently, not wanting to disturb the man who seemed deep in contemplation. "Ah, finally! I figured you all needed a couple of minutes to compose yourselves. Now, Miss Lovegood, if you'd join me over her, please?"

He leaned over the young witch and whispered in her ear. Nodding, Luna looked at her housemates with a smile on her face and popped away.

"Now, I want you all to think of young Luna. Bring her up in your mind. Can you feel her? When you can I want you to go to her. We'll meet you there." and Godric, once again, popped away.

"How are we supposed to know how to feel her? All I know about her is her name!" pointed out Blaise.

"True, but we are all joined by our new house, and also by these rings. How about if we go searching for her "signature"?

Harry was the first to pop away. Hermione frowned a bit at that, not sure whether to be jealous that he'd accomplished the task first or because he'd easily found the pretty young blonde. So she concentrated a bit more. Neville and the twins were next to pop away, leaving four perplexed Dragons standing on the shore of the lake. "Oh my..!"said Daphne with a pop. Blaise and Tracy finally vanished, leaving Hermione angry and frustrated.

"'Mione?" asked Harry with concern. "Everything ok?"

"I don't get it Harry. Why was everyone able to do it but me?"

"You might be over thinking it a bit. Now, do me a favor, look into my eyes and focus on them. There you go. Reach for your magic, include your ring, and search Hogwarts for Luna."

Hermione was staring into her best friend's eyes. 'Dammit' she thought. 'Here I am, staring into the deep green and all I can really think about is planting a kiss on those lips!' But she did as Harry asked, broke eye contact as she closed her eyes and tried to imagine Luna in her mind. As her magic scanned the area, she felt a bit of relief when she detected her presence in the Great Hall. "Thank you Harry." she said honestly. "I couldn't do it without you." and she popped away.

He stood there for a moment or two, trying to collect himself. Having those brown eyes look deeply into his had melted his insides. His knees felt ready to buckle, so he steadied himself before popping out to the great hall. When he arrived, the Dragons were congregating around Luna. "Well done, ladies and gentlemen…not you two though!" he said with a mock glare at the twins.

"Who…"

"Us…?"

"We haven't even…"

"…done anything yet!"

Daphne glanced from one twin to the next, astonishment on her features "You two are going to give us all headaches, aren't you?"

"NO!" said both in unison.

"Alright, back to the common room people" Godric said sternly. "Time to bring this night to a close."

ooOOooOO

Minerva sat at her desk, a snifter of port sat untouched by her elbow. Tear tracks glistened on her cheeks, as she wondered where she'd gone wrong. And she thought she'd narrowed it down to that wicked night back in 1981.

James and Lily had been her favorite students. After graduation they'd even taken to calling her "Aunt Minnie" when she visited their home. They'd become more than students, as friendship blossomed between them. The look of pride and adoration on James' face when Harry was born gladdened her heart. The devotion that Lily showed her newborn was something inspiring to behold. To have let their only son be left at the door of those detestable muggles was something that she'd never forgiven herself for. She knew that Sirius was the designated guardian, but as he'd just murdered his best friends, Harry had to be kept away from him. In that, she did agree with Albus.

But Alice Longbottom was the next designated guardian. She loved Harry almost as much as James and Lily did, and with baby Neville to take care, she knew the Longbottoms would provide a loving home for Harry. But Albus had quashed that idea. And she never understood why. That the Longbottoms were attacked a few days later made Albus appear almost prescient.

So in the end, Minerva had agreed to leave the boy in the care of the muggles. She'd spent a whole day watching them in her cat form. They were loud, rude, opinionated, bigoted, and many more words that she could think of. The prospect of Harry growing up in a happy home became something that grew less likely as she watched them. But Albus had been insistent. Harry must grow up protected, and the best protection possible could only happen at the home of these people.

And so she'd acceded to his wishes, knowing in her heart it was the wrong decision, but allowing herself to believe that Albus would never willingly be a part of something that could harm Harry. In the ensuing years, her headstrong determination had lessened. Gone, slowly and over time, were the days that she put the needs of the students over the needs of the Headmaster. She'd allowed the standard of education to slip. She'd allowed that greasy bastard death eater run rampant over her students, especially those of her own House. And she'd permitted it. To her utter shame, she had allowed it to occur.

And now, in a stunning turn of events, Lord Gryffindor himself had appeared. A vision of truth and honesty she'd held so dear for so long, ever since the time a little eleven year old Minerva had been sorted into Gryffindor. And he'd scolded her, like a misbehaving two year old, for allowing these things to continue.

No longer was Hogwarts the bastion of enlightenment. Gone were the days when Hogwarts was the premiere institute of magic in the world. And it had been her fault. She'd let everyone run roughshod over her, she'd put the students second, and she'd placed Hogwarts last.

"Forgive my intrusion, Mistress McGonagall, might I have a moment of your time?" asked Godric as he popped in to McGonagall's office.

"Please, My Lord, sit. Port?" queried McGonagall.

"That would indeed be pleasant. It has been a trying evening." answered Godric.

"And how may I be of service, Lord Godric?"

"Tell me of Harry, please? I wish to get to know him, and as you were his Head of House I thought I'd come to you first."

"Harry is, without a doubt, the kindest soul I've ever met. He places the well-being of his friends above his own. Shy, even introverted to some extent. His ability on a broom is unmatched. His bravery knows no bounds. He fought and defeated a mountain troll as an eleven year-old, has defeated he-who-must-not-be-named numerous times, and single-handedly defeated a basilisk! And you know what his main concern was? That he'd not done enough! That others had suffered because he wasn't good enough, or quick enough, or smart enough! His…friendship…with Miss Granger has seen him emerge from his shell a bit."

"You see it too? His relationship with Hermione?" asked Godric.

"Honestly, I don't know what I see. That they love each other is obvious. That they don't acknowledge those feelings for each other is baffling. It's almost as if they'd been…no, no, and no! I don't want to believe it! My Lord, could someone have been manipulating them?"

"It is indeed a question I have been asking myself since I've met them both. And not just them! All those in House Pendragon show signs of being influenced. I've heard around the school that young Neville was akin to a squib in his magical ability, and yet nothing could be farther from the truth. Miss Lovegood, Miss Greengrass, and Miss Davies show obvious signs of obliviation. Someone has been keeping the Weasleys down, and Mr. Zabini's criminal family probably meant he was overlooked by whoever is doing these things. You suspect..?"

"Albus bloody Dumbledore! That's it! I am submitting my resignation tomorrow!" growled Mcgonagall.

"Minerva, be at ease, and don't do something hasty in your anger toward the Headmaster. His time is coming to an end. What you need to do is concentrate on bringing the school back up to the standards of the rest of the world. I was surprised to learn that we are a laughingstock to academia. It if wasn't for our quidditch teams, we'd probably already have been forgotten! Did you know that in my time as Headmaster, children came to school from all over the world? Well, Europe, anyway. But you see what I'm saying, right? We need to be that again. Standards need to be raised, not lowered to accommodate the few who have family in positions of power. How is it that the ministry has any say in what goes on in this school? We are a separate and sovereign entity. They have no say, whatsoever, in how we run things here!"

"Sovereign? But…that's not possible. Education standards come directly from the ministry, even the professors must be vetted by the ministry before they are allowed to teach at Hogwarts."

"When was the last time you read the Hogwarts Charter, Minerva? I think if you and I put our heads together, we can find a way to cut off all ministerial interference. The purebloods will just have to find somewhere else to get their schooling. We are not a school of exclusivity, we were never meant to be. If a goblin child showed a propensity for magic, I would have gladly accepted him into our midst. Might I ask, when did Dumbledore lose his way?" said a contemplative Godric.

"Hmm, let me think…Right after his defeat of Grindewald, the previous Dark Lord, Headmaster Dippet stepped down and Albus took his place. During a short span of years, the school flourished. He really is a great teacher when he sets his mind to it. It was 1980, our divination professor had retired and he went to interview a prospect for the vacant position. After that interview, Dumbledore changed. A year later saw the deaths of the Potters, and Harry being placed with those damnable muggles. He was also selected as Chief Mugwump of the ICW, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot."

"Wait, what? Are you telling me that along with being Headmaster he also holds two other positions of power? That can't happen!" raged Godric.

"What do you mean, My Lord?" asked Minerva.

"It's in the Charter, a Headmaster may ONLY be the Headmaster, and if he is offered another position he must choose between being Headmaster or the other position. He can't be both! Well, it looks like I have a starting point with which to hinder he who I think is causing most of the problems in our school." said Godric with a grin.

"You'd make him choose?"

"Minerva, he is the Headmaster! How many times do you think he's read the Charter? He knows this rule! He just chooses to ignore it! And if the happenings around the country are any indication, I believe that it is he who is the cause of most of the problems facing us at the moment. Minerva, I will deal with him in due course. Your new goal it to set Hogwarts again on the right path. Now that that is settled for the moment, I have a few more questions regarding Harry. Where are Lord Black or Lady Longbottom? Why was Harry not in either of their care?"

"Lady Longbottom, along with Lord Longbottom, they were attacked a few days after the murder of Harrys parents. They were tortured into insanity, and not in any condition to take over care of a child. The Lady Augusta raised young Neville on her own."

"And Lord Black?"

"My Lord, it was Lord Black that was the cause of the Potters death! He betrayed them to he-who-must-not-be-named, and they lost their lives because of him!" said Minerva with tears freely falling down her cheeks.

"You know that's not possible, correct?"

"My Lord? What do you mean?"

"Lord Black could not have betrayed Harry's parents. It just wouldn't have been possible. Lord Black, Sirius, is Harrys blooded godfather, as was the Lady Longbottom. You know the spell. Betrayal, of any kind, is not possible through that ritual. He would have died if even the thought had crossed his mind."

"Are you telling me that that poor man had been in Azkaban for over ten years even though he was innocent?" she cried openly.

"Had been?"

"He escaped last year; we all assumed that he had escaped to finish the job that his 'master' hadn't. To kill Harry. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he didn't escape just to protect Harry from Albus and Voldemort" she shuddered as she said that infernal name.

"Dobby?"

"Yes My Lord sir, how may Dobby help?"

"You can find Harry's family, correct?"

"Yes, My Lord sir. I can."

"Excellent. The children?"

"Exploring the House, My Lord sir. Signs of sleepy do be showing in their faces. They will be in bed soon."

"Very well, thank you Dobby. Inform me if any problems or questions arise. We will talk to Harry soon about your bond with him."

"Very well, My Lord sir!" said Dobby bowing deeply before popping away.

"You intend to use the bond to bring Sirius to Harry?"

"I have the feeling that our Harry has a good idea of where Sirius is. He'll speak of it when I have earned his trust. This is something that you will have to repair with him as well. And by extension, Miss Granger too. Harry has a burden to carry, one which we all will have to share if he is to succeed. He must be able to trust adults. He doesn't at the moment, and it is only Miss Granger that keeps him from lashing out at Snape and Dumbledore. Harry is powerful. More powerful that anyone in the castle. And I include Dumbledore and myself in that statement. If you'd seen him releasing his magic this evening you would have been amazed!" said an impressed Godric.

"More powerful than you, My Lord?"

"Minerva, please, in private call me Godric. I believe we have established a need for change. We can only accomplish this together. It may take some time, but I think that eventually we will become friends. And yes, definitely more powerful than I ever was."

"Are there any more professors at school that you trust?"

"Filius Flitwick, the charms professor. One of the best men I know. Half-goblin. At one point wanted to poach Hermione and Harry from me. Pomona Sprout is also someone I value highly. She's a 'Puff through and through. She would be a good addition to our team."

"Very well. Arrange a time one evening in the near future where we can discuss the future of our school and the future of our world."

"Godric, you do realize that you've stolen the best seeker this school has ever had from my Lions? As well as the most intelligent witch it has been my privilege to teach"

"Stolen? Appropriated, perhaps. But it is something we can discuss later. I don't imagine you like losing the twins either, stories place them as he best beaters around."

"You've stolen half my team!"

"Well, yes, I guess I kind of did. But don't worry. As Pendragon has no team, Gryffindor may invite them to play once quidditch start up again."

"Very well, My Lord. Anything more this evening? It is getting rather late, and one of us has to teach in the morning" said the stern Scot

Chuckling, Godric replied "Of course, I bid you a good evening. Inform me when we shall meet the other professors. Relay a message to me through Dobby if you can't find me."

"My Lord, where exactly is House Pendragon located"

The devilish grin he gave her made her smile as he popped away.

ooOOooOO

The nine were back in the common room, enjoying the late night snacks that Dobby had laid out for them. Godric had excused himself some time ago, citing a meeting of some sort with Professor McGonagall.

Harry sat on a couch, Hermione at his side, when an idea struck him. He stood casually, winking at Hermione as he did so, and walked over to the ex-Slytherins.

"Hi there, Harry Potter, nice to meet you" he said, extending his hand to Blaise.

Blaise looked at Harry's outstretched hand, and grinned.

"Blaise Zabini, Harry. May I introduce you to Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis?"

"Ladies, a real pleasure. My friend here is Hermione Granger. Of the two of us, she the one with the brain."

"Does that mean you're the brawn, Harry?" asked Daphne.

"Nah, comic relief." he answered with aplomb.

They all laughed at that. Hearing the laughter, Neville and the twins approached and offered their greetings as well. Luna came behind them, and soon, the nine found themselves seated and getting to know each other.

"It's been quite the night, don't you think?" asked Tracy.

"Not at all, hang with Harry long enough…"

"…and all sorts of misadventure will find you!" spoke the twins. Everyone laughed at their joke, but catching the frown on Harrys face had everyone laughing even harder.

"Harry, I know there is real loathing between Slytherin and Gryffindor, much of it caused I think by misunderstanding, misinformation, and fear. The three of us" said Daphne gesturing to her ex-Slytherin housemates, "were not pleased being put into Slytherin. I thought I was a Ravenclaw for sure. Tracy was convinced it was Hufflepuff. Blaise landed were he thought he would though. We found each other in our first year. We three became close because we were afraid for our lives in that House."

"And Slytherins just accept that?" wondered Harry.

"They do if they want to survive. Life in that House is all about politics, blood, Voldemort. Disagreeing with any of the dogma sees your life in real danger. More, your family also becomes a target as those with death eaters in the family become spies at school. We only survived by keeping our heads down, pretending to be loyal, and watching each other's back."

"What a horrible way to live." said a concerned Hermione. "I couldn't imagine anything worse."

"Couldn't you, 'Mione? And I'm only speaking for myself here. You try being shunned by an entire House. When it's not enough that I faced Voldemort in first year? When I was ostracized for being the Heir of Slytherin? Hexed in the hallway, spat upon. The highs and lows in that House were like a roller-coaster. I never knew from one day to the next whether I was loved or hated. Catch the snitch, hero! Have your name shoot out a bloody cup, zero! I may not have feared for my life, but if I could have changed Houses at any time, I probably would have."

"I never thought of it that way, Harry. And I'm sorry about that."

"'Mione, don't. You were…are…the oases of my life." Harry said gazing into her eyes.

Daphne raised an eyebrow at that, and looking at the twins, she had to smile. In perfect synchronization they rolled their eyes after hearing that. She held George's eyes, 'or was it Fred's?' and he winked at her, as if saying 'yes, this is what they are like all the time'.

Luna stood, grabbed Neville by the hand and said "how about we go explore a bit? I'm dying to see our House!" Everyone agreed with her, and following, let the little blonde witch lead them around. It was interesting that the rooms were singles. Harry already had his things put in there, probably by Dobby. It was larger than any room he'd ever had. Four poster bed, desk, walk-in closet, private bathroom with a huge tub, yeah, he was going to like living here.

A large laboratory occupied one corner, just off the common room. Potion ingredients and supplies lined the walls. Cauldrons of varying sizes and thickness were ready to be used.

Hermione almost fainted when she walked into the library. Actually, all the girls had almost fainted! The look of longing in their eyes told the boys that they'd better get them out of there quick. Neville grabbed Luna and gently guided her away. Blaise needed the help of the twins to get Daphne and Tracy to leave. Harry let Hermione get her fill, though. He gently reached out and took her hand. It took her moment to notice, but when she did, she gave his hand a light squeeze before allowing herself to be led from the library.

The boys were almost in the same state when they came to the dueling arena. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls. Training dummies looked ready for action. The girls were laughing at the sight before them. Five boys doing their best to imitate Dobby, as their eyes had grown to the size of grapefruits. Luna grabbed Neville, Tracy and Daphne grabbed Blaise and the twins. Hermione walked up to Harry, and stood in front of him, looking into his eyes. With his vision blocked by a pair of brown eyes, Harry had soon broken from his reverie. "Don't worry; neither the library nor the dueling arena are going anywhere. I'm sure they will both still be here in the morning. Besides, it's Thursday; we've got the weekend to look forward too, and then we can explore, right?" Harry grinned at her, took hold of her hand, and walked out of the room.

He was surprised when he noticed everyone standing at the entrance of another room. "What's going on, guys?"

"Why is this here, are we not going to be eating in the Great Hall?" asked George "It's not like Mom is going to come over here and make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of us!"

Harry looked into the room and was surprised to find a fully stocked kitchen. Grilling pit, two six-burner stoves, walk in fridge, ovens, pots, pans, utensils, plates… This put the dueling arena to shame, as Harry had found his paradise. He loved cooking, and now he had the space and the inclination to give in to this side of himself. He'd only ever cooked for the Dursleys. But that was now going to change. 'Just wait until breakfast tomorrow' thought Harry.

Finally, exhaustion started claiming everyone. Silently, and yawning, they all made their way to find their beds. Their adventure could continue tomorrow. Harry gave Hermione a tender hug, spun her around, and gently pushed her towards her room.

Godric smiled as he watched those final moments. Dobby had told him that Harry had a love for cooking, and was a very grateful elf when he was allowed to design and construct this kitchen for his 'Harry Potter sir.'

He sighed tiredly. The storm clouds were on the horizon, quickly approaching. But he had found his warriors. They did not yet possess the skills, but they soon would. Harry needed to come into his own. Heavy was the head that wore the crown, and although Harry had no crown, Godric felt ill at ease at placing such a burden on one so young. 'He will succeed though' he mused. It was not in the nature of Harry Potter to lose, or to quit, or to give up. And with the help of friends, and the love of one amazing witch, Harry would have the tools necessary to vanquish the dark.

A/N

And so another chapter hot off the presses. You know it amazes me sometimes; I have been out of college for almost asdjfbsdjkfb years, and I can't remember writing anything longer than a tweet in a long while, so finding myself grinding this story out is kind of cool!

Recommendation for this, anything by Robst. Although if I had to choose one I would say that "Banking on Her" is my favorite. I'm halfway through "Harry Crow" at the moment, and am enjoying the heck out of that one.