Homecoming
Hogwarts welcomed them enthusiastically. When they passed the wards, which also welcomed them, and gave them back their power over them without alerting Dumbledore, she had demanded that they hurry up, sensing that all four of her creators where there once again. She hugged them tightly in her own way, almost refusing to let go, forcing them to stop walking while they promised that they wouldn't be going anywhere. Salazar especially got a desperate hug. Even the other students seemed to notice the air of excitement with the castle and the way the enchantments in the Great Hall, when they finally reached it, changed into bright colors and the symbols for each house appeared where a sky should've been.
Salazar was smiling, loving the way the castle felt like the mother that he had never had. It was only then that he realized how the castle had helped him over the years. When he asked, she told him that she hadn't known that he would turn into Salazar, but that she had liked him anyway and had decided to help.
When they got to the Great Hall, the four friends separated to the four different houses, Salazar trying his best to find a seat away from any of his former friends. Seraphina hissed comfortingly at him, able to pick up on his agitation when Ron and Hermione sat in front of them and started to ask about what had happened earlier on the train and trying to apologize about their behavior at the end of last year. He ignored them.
When all of the little firsties were sorted, Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome back for another wonderful year! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer holiday. Now, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Lucius Malfoy." He clapped politely as Godric's father stood up from his spot next to Snape. This declaration stunned many, including Lucius's own son, who looked just as surprised as everyone else when Salazar looked over to him.
"This year, we are going to have a special contest that only happens every fifty years or so. The contest is only for Sixth and Seventh years, however"—most everyone else started complaining, but Dumbledore silenced them before going on—"The contest is this, four lucky people will get to the chance to pretend to be one of the Founders. Anyone from any house can sign up to be any of the Founders. If you are picked, you will have to do several tasks, but before you start to panic, this is nothing like the Triwizard Tournament. These tasks will simply teach us more about our school's history. If you are picked, you will have to share quarters with the other 'Founders', but the boys will not be able to enter the girls' rooms, and vice versa. During free time, there will be a sign up sheet here in the Great Hall, if you wish to sign up to be one. Winners will be picked in two weeks."
He went on with his normal announcements, but Salazar wasn't paying attention. He smiled amusedly at Godric when he looked his way. This would be a very interesting year.
-S-
After the feast, the four of them met up, Godric telling another prefect that he had to do something. Rena was bursting with excitement.
"This is an excellent idea! It's a perfect way to teach the history of this castle!"
Salazar grinned at her. "This will be fun. At least, it will be if I can get Granger and Weasley off my back."
Godric laughed. "You did look a bit annoyed there."
"I looked a bit annoyed? I was about to go on a rampage if Granger didn't stop apologizing and Weasley didn't stopped telling me that we should both sign up for Godric Gryffindor."
"What, you don't want to be me?"
Sal let his eyes run up and down his lover's body, scowling mockingly. "Why would I ever?"
Ric growled, swiping at him.
"It would make it easier, wouldn't it? If we all won. We would have quarters all to ourselves," Hel said, sounding very happy.
"He really should make sure that no one could enter anyone else's room, if he's worried about the winners taking advantage of not being in a normal dorm. What if they like their same gender?"
"Shh!" Sal said, glaring at her. "Don't bring it up with him. I rather like him not blocking me from Ric's room should we win."
"You could probably get through them, anyway, Sal."
"It's too much work."
The four of them walked around the school, bickering about random things that came up and just enjoying being in the castle with their memories, and with each other, again. Eventually, however, they walked by the DADA classroom.
"Draco."
They turned to see Lucius Malfoy standing in the doorway, his eyes apprising the company his son was apparently keeping. He did not sneer at Salazar, as had expected him to, instead he smiled softly.
"You did not tell me that you were friends with Harry Potter. Did you think I would have gotten mad? I wouldn't have, I assure you."
Godric shook his head. "It's not that. We weren't really friends until we met earlier on the train. We talked things over, and came to a friendship."
He nodded. "And who are these lovely ladies?"
Rena smiled dreamily, back in her Luna personality, while Helga blushed slightly.
"This is Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones."
Lucius inclined his head. "A pleasure to meet all of you." All three replied in kind, Salazar a bit in surprise. This was a side he had never seen, nor known about, in Lucius Malfoy.
"Father, why didn't you tell me that you were going to be teaching?"
He smiled amusedly at his son. "I wanted to surprise you."
Godric grumbled, "Certainly worked."
"Now, I believe you four should be getting to bed. Wouldn't want you to be out after curfew, even if you are a prefect, Draco."
They had continued on for a few more feet, only to be stopped once again, except this time it was by a scowling Snape. The potions professor didn't look necessarily happy to see them, and they could see a confused light in his eyes as he examined them.
After a few minutes, Snape finally turned to Salazar. "Potter, the Headmaster would like to see you. Perhaps you could explain where you were this summer, since you decided that you were too good to stay at your house, where you were safe from any … unwanted visitors."
Sal looked over at his friends, motioning to them to go on, that he would be fine. When they started down the hallway, he turned back to Snape. "Lead the way, professor."
-S-
Fawkes had been just as happy to see him as his friends and the castle had been. As soon as he stepped into the office, the phoenix had landed on his shoulder and hugged his head with his wings. Snape had given him a weird look when he finally got Fawkes' wing out his face. Dumbledore only smiled in his grandfatherly way, perhaps looking a bit more pleased by his phoenix's actions than anything.
"Ah, Harry. Good to see you, my boy. Lemon drop?"
Salazar shook his head, absently wondering what his obsession with the candies were. "No, sir."
Dumbledore nodded, popping one into his own mouth. "I was very worried about you this summer, Harry. Would you like to tell what you were doing?"
Salazar plastered a sheepish and ashamed look on his face and looked down, making sure that his Occlumency shields were up and strong, just in case. "I just wanted to see a bit of the world. I never get to go anywhere. I figured that I would be fine as long as no one knew that I was out of the house."
When he looked up, Dumbledore gave him a disappointed look, and he felt a nudge at his mind. He mentally snorted, only a baby wouldn't be able to feel that intrusion. How he had never noticed the old coot looking into his mind before was beyond him.
Dumbledore looked faintly surprised, probably at the fact that he couldn't get into his mind, but covered it. "Well, I must say that I am disappointed that you would do that without at least telling me. If you had asked, I'm sure anyone in the Order would have loved to take you on a day trip somewhere."
Sal nodded. "I promise I won't do it again." Not.
"Now, my boy, I was wondering what you thought about this year's events?"
"They sound interesting. Perhaps I will sign up. But, sir, how are the winners chosen?"
Dumbledore smiled. "The winners are chosen by the Sorting Hat randomly from the list that it is given."
Sal nodded, suppressing the urge to smirk to himself. This might just be too easy. "Are we done, sir? I would like to get a good night's sleep before class tomorrow."
The Headmaster nodded. "Yes, Harry, you may go."
Salazar walked away, only stopping at the doorway when Fawkes had yet to leave his shoulder. The phoenix only dug his talons into his shoulder at his attempts to dislodge him.
Dumbledore laughed. "It seems that he would like to stay with you for a while, Harry. Don't worry, perhaps it would be good for him to go with you for a while."
Salazar nodded, then continued to walk out the door, rolling his shoulder to get the damn bird to release his tight grip.
-S-
Dumbledore smiled. Fawkes reaction to Harry had pleased him. It told him that his weapon was still Light, despite his little impromptu road trip. And the fact that the bird wanted to stay with him, told the Headmaster that his familiar had been just as worried about Harry as he had been. Wouldn't do for his weapon to get hurt or change sides. Or worse, completely turn against him.
It had surprised him when he had been unable to get into Harry's mind, but he supposed that this was a good thing. Voldemort wouldn't be able to get in and start to control him. But, still, it would be easier if he knew what his weapon was thinking. He wasn't entirely convinced that that had been the only reason that Harry had left his home. If it had been, he would have told someone.
And there was still the fact that he needed to get his trio back together. Ron and Hermione hadn't put up much of a fuss when he asked them to be friends with Harry still, but Harry had seemed to be ignoring them at the feast. And he had left with Draco Malfoy, of all people. Sure, Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones had been there as well, but Dumbledore still planned to break Harry and Luna apart.
At the moment, he wanted to know why Harry had suddenly become friendly with Draco. Sure, he had hired the boy's father, but it still wouldn't be good for his weapon to be friendly with a Death Eater's son.
"Was it really wise to let Fawkes go with him," Severus drawled.
"Fawkes will make sure that Harry stays on the side of the Light. Perhaps it will keep people from questioning him until he comes to his senses and stops being friendly with the Malfoy boy."
Severus clenched his jaw to keep from defending his godson, he knew it would look suspicious and would do no good anyway. He accepted the answer without further question and walked out.
-S-
Salazar walked away from the Headmaster's office, absently switching between stroking Fawkes' feathers and Seraphina's scales, already planning how he and his friends would take over this little competition and turn it into something that could help them get their school back. And change his reputation.
