Harry Potter and the Rings of the Founders

Disclaimer: Don't try to tell me I own anything. I'm certain I don't. To legally own something, don't you have to pay for it… with money… with legal tender of some sort?

To everyone who thinks this sounds LOTR-ish:
There is a reason for that, although I don't think it's anything like LOTR besides the fact that there are rings in it. I could probably think of more stories this is like. I mean, for starters, they don't have a ring, they're going to find the rings. There are only four of them whereas in LOTR there are nine of them. They're all people, no dwarves, hobbits, elves etc. Definitely no Ents. And well, I can't think of anything else. Anyway, you may think it sounds LOTR-ish because I came up with the idea while reading 'The Fellowship of the Ring', which I think should be renamed 'The Company'. Although that's just not as magical. =)

Thanks to Bill Weasly, tora, Emmy (not really), kat, nessa (why don't you guys capitalise your names?) and Villain.

Have fun reading… if not, just go away. One last thing, this will eventually contain that thing that sometimes goes by the name *SLASH*. I'm not telling you who, though because that would be ruining the story, but if you're smart, I'm sure you've already figured it out.

~*~

In the morning, Harry woke with Ron and Hermione's faces hovering above his face.

"Wassamatta?" he yawned.

"Nothing," they said together.

"Unless there's something you haven't told us yet," Ron said, looking at him.

"What?" Harry said inquisitively. "Oh, that. Sure, I'll tell you. Let me get changed and I'll meet you down in the common room."

A few minutes later, Harry met his two worried best friends in the Gryffindor common room.

"Do you have 'Hogwarts, A History'?" Harry asked Hermione. Hermione and Ron just stared at him as if he was a madman. "It'll help explain it." He said, Hermione nodded, understanding how a book could help explain something. Ron was still puzzled but Hermione ran off to get the book.

"What do you want that for, Harry?" Ron asked.

"I'll show you when Hermione comes back," Harry said. Hermione returned a moment later. She'd obviously been pondering what exactly Harry could want with the book.

"There you go, Harry," Hermione said.

"Thanks," Harry replied, taking the heavy book in his hands. He sat on a chair and opened up the table of contents. He turn the pages until he found the prophecy. "There," Harry said, pointing to it. Ron read it over his shoulder and Hermione skimmed.

"What's this got to do with what Dumbledore wanted with you last night?" Ron asked.

"Everything," Harry said seriously, using the cliched line. "The prophecy is about the four rings that the founders wore while the built the school. They hid them around the school to protect it. Around a hundred years ago, four students found the rings, kept them and then lost them. They were related to the four of us he called to his office last night. That's why we have to find them. To protect the school," Harry said.

Hermione and Ron were speechless once again.

"We'd better get to breakfast," Harry said. The other two stared at him as he left through the portrait hole. He didn't seem worried about it at all.

~*~

All day, Hermione, Ron and Harry avoided the topic of rings and school founders. Their classes were all with the Ravenclaws because there were only four of them left. That afternoon, Harry had to go to his special DADA class. On the way, he spotted Amy talking to a portrait.

"Hello Amy," Harry said.

"Hullo Harry," she replied. "I'm lost. And this man doesn't seem to be able to help very much. He doesn't know what Dark Arts are, let alone where they teach defence against them."

"Come on," Harry said. "We'll go together."

"How on earth do you remember how to get around this place?" Amy asked.

"Plenty of practice. In our first year, my friend Ron and I got caught by Filch trying to open a forbidden door. He wouldn't believe that we were lost."

"That hasn't happened to me yet," Amy said. "But I'm sure it will happen soon, knowing my luck. I met Peeves when I was late for Transfiguration."

"The trick with Peeves," Harry said. "Is to mention the Bloody Baron. He's the only thing Peeves is afraid of. Works better if you can throw your voice." Harry added the last bit as an afterthought, grinning.

Amy smiled. "I'll keep that in mind. Although, I'm horrible at throwing my voice, and Peeves probably wouldn't fall for it. I'd be all 'Peeves, Peeves'," she said, making her voice high and squeaky - the complete opposite of the Bloody Baron's gravelly voice.

They laughed together. Harry pushed open the door to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Inside was the third year girl. Malfoy hadn't shown yet but Harry knew that Slytherins and Hufflepuffs had just had potions in the dungeons.

"Hi," Harry greeted her. "Since we'll be doing this often, what's your name?"

"I'm Rachel Overduin," she said. "And I know you're Harry Potter."

"That's right," Harry said. "And this is Amy Fairbanks."

"What's the other boy's name?" Rachel asked.

"That's Malfoy," he paused, seeing their looks. "Draco Malfoy." Harry smiled to himself remembering the time Draco had introduced himself on the train.

"I've heard of the Malfoys," Amy said. "My uncle works for the ministry and he said that-"

"That my father's a Death Eater?" Malfoy asked, stepping in from outside.

"No," Amy said, suddenly shy. "He didn't say anything like that at all."

"I've heard that," Rachel said, looking at Malfoy straight in the eye with a cold look. Malfoy ignored her.

"What did your uncle say?" Malfoy asked Amy.

"That your parents were killed by You-Know-Who."

"Say Voldemort," Harry said. The other three looked at him. "Fear of a name increases fear of that thing itself."

"I'm not afraid of Voldemort," Rachel said.

"You should be," Harry, together with another voice, said. Harry turned and saw that it was Professor Hadyn.

"Fear teaches us to be wary. If we are not afraid, we will be under prepared," he explained.

"Are you afraid of You-sorry-Voldemort, Harry?" Rachel asked.

"I fear what he may do," Harry said. Malfoy rolled his eyes at him.

"You four," Professor Hadyn began. "As the last of your names have the duty to retrieve what has been lost by students like yourselves.

"Only you four may do this as it is in your blood. It is my duty as your DADA teacher to prepare you. Lord Voldemort's servants will know of your quest and will try to prevent you from reaching your goal. Although they cannot go ahead of you, they will spy on you and attempt to kill you.

"In this special class, you will learn how to avoid curses, deflect them, decrease the effects on you and recover from them as well as some basic physical self defense.

"This week, we shall be learning how to avoid curses. Today's lesson will be evasiveness. We will be learning the speed charm. Say it with me. Celeritas. This spell must be performed quickly or will be of almost no use to you."

"Celeritas," they all said.

Both Harry and Draco said it almost lazily and immediately felt something. A mere glance at each other sent the two running for the edge of the room and back again. They ran in step both accelerating at the same time, keeping in line together throughout the entire run. It was a race that neither of them would win.

"Well done Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Hadyn said.

The two girls had watched in awe. Neither had been able to perform the charm successfully. Neither boy was out of breath or showed any sign of physical exertion.

By the end of the lesson, the girls had mastered the speed charm and were working on the evasiveness charm. This gave them increased agility. Both Harry and Draco had manage this charm on the first try as well. Professor Hadyn was talking to them about the possibility of teaching them to apparate. It was obvious that both boys would be able to master it. But there was one problem.

"But you can't apparate on Hogwarts grounds," Harry and Draco both said at the same time. They then both turned to look at each other and give identical glares. Professor Hadyn almost laughed at them. If they weren't enemies they would work well together. Neither would have to say anything and they'd still know exactly what the other was going to do.

"That is why on Sundays we shall be leaving Hogwarts' grounds."

Both Harry and Draco were astounded but Draco said nothing.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Harry asked.

Draco immediately hid his fear. "Scared, Potter?" he smirked.

Harry frowned at him. "Not of you, Malfoy. I'm scared for you, though."

Draco bit his tongue and snarled.

"We will be going far away from the Dark Lord and his men. And we will still have the protection of Hogwarts. Even more so."

Harry nodded, wondering where this place was. The four of them were dismissed and they walked to the Great Hall for dinner in silence. Surprisingly, Malfoy walked with the other three until he sped up so he wouldn't be seen entering the Great Hall with the others.

"How was your first lesson?" Hermione asked as Harry slid into a seat across from her.

"Basically we just learnt the speed and agility charms."

"You mean re-learnt, right?" Ron said. They'd done those simple charms in third year.

"Yes I mean re-learn," Harry said. "I told Professor Hadyn after the lesson. I was surprised Malfoy didn't say anything. I thought he'd be above re-learning a spell."

"Haven't you noticed that Malfoy's been a little different this term?" Hermione asked.

"It's only the first day, Hermione," Ron said. "He's proll'y just plotting."

"He didn't come with Crabbe and Goyle to pester us on the train yesterday. He's more pensive. Instead of smirking at us he scowls or sneers. The looks are filled with more venom. When he talks to us, he doesn't insult, he challenges. He's got something to prove."

Ron looked at Hermione incredulously and Harry let the words sink in.

"What are you going to say, Hermione? You feel sorry for him?" Ron asked, soothingly.

"Ron," Hermione said, looking at him. She honestly did feel sorry for Malfoy. "He's just lost his parents. Look at him. Don't see the Draco Malfoy that you love to hate. If he weren't Draco Malfoy, would you be thinking like you are now?"

Ron found it hard to see past the insults. He turned from Hermione to Malfoy. Harry could see that Ron was having an internal struggle. He looked like he was about to implode.

Malfoy looked across the room at Ron's subconscious struggle. He scowled at him. Why was he staring at him? Why didn't the stupid Gryffindor go back to eating?

Ron blinked and stared at the ceiling. It was hard. For Ron, it was almost impossible. How could he see past the torment, the jeers, the sneers, the taunts, the smirks, the laughs? But when he's stared at Malfoy, he'd realised something. Sitting amongst the Slytherins wasn't the Draco Malfoy Ron knew. This Draco Malfoy seemed depressed. Although his face gave away no emotion. It was more a subconscious realisation. Ron could almost feel the pain.

"You're right Hermione," Ron said, his internal battle fought.

"He is different," Harry said. "But most of him is the same. Although he doesn't seem as into insulting as much as he used to be. His outlook has changed. Maybe for the better."

Hermione and Ron nodded in unison and all three erased memories of the old Draco Malfoy.

~*~

A/N: well, that was pretty crappily written by my standards… especially the last bit. OOCness is one of my strong points. =).