It was another couple of days when the owl that had come with their cards came back with a letter from Ragnok. "Draco!"

"What?!" Draco screamed back, from the third floor.

"The owl's back! Ragnok says we're welcome to check the vault as they aren't allowed in and don't know what exactly is in there!" Harry yelled, hearing footsteps coming nearer.

"Merlin, Potter, why are we shouting when we can talk in our heads!" Draco said, coming into the living room on the second floor.

"Because it's fun this way," Harry responded, beaming and handing the letter to Draco. Now that they had learned to block emotions, Harry could prank him without him expecting it from the mischievousness he would feel through the bond. Harry had learned this last few days that he really was a Marauder's son, now that he didn't have the threat of being killed hanging over his head.

"POTTER!" Draco screamed, lunging toward him, looking like a wet cat from the jinx Harry had put on the letter.

"AH-It's funny Dray, admit it!" Harry yelled, running from the room and up the stairs, Draco on his heals.

"NO, NO IT IS NOT!"

Harry got upstairs just in time to slam his bedroom door in Draco's face, giggling like a schoolgirl the whole time.

"I'll get you back for this Potter, just you wait!" He heard Draco's bedroom door close and sagged against his own. They had stopped using magic as much lately when it came to fighting each other. Draco, apparently, knew some martial arts and had started teaching Harry. They found it was more fun, and satisfying when they beat one another up physically than doing it with magic. The bruises healed quickly, anyway.

Harry relaxed against the door, knowing Draco would be in the bathroom for ages, fixing his hair. It wouldn't be as long as when Harry had but pink hair dye in his shampoo, though, so the retribution won't be as bad as it was then. He shuddered. Food still tasted like ash to him.

Suddenly, Harry couldn't see. It was pitch black, and he couldn't feel himself in his room anymore. It was like the visions he used to have when he was stuck in Voldie's head. Oh gods, please not again. He was sure Riddle was dead, so what now?

He began to make out shapes. A living room, a man sitting in a high winged chair.

"Hullo?"

"Hello, Harry," the man answered. "Do you know who I am?"

"Death?"

"Yes."

Harry looked at Death. The first time he saw him, he had been distracted. Now, he saw Death clearly. It was not what he expected him to look like. He wore an all black suit, with a blood red tie, and had short, spiky pitch black hair with eyes to match. He looked to be Harry's age.

"Do you look like that to everyone?" Harry asked.

Of course not, Death replied. I look like you want me to look. I look un-opposing to everyone who sees me so they do not fear Death when I come to ferry them into the next world.

"That makes sense, I guess. Why am I here?"

Death smirked. "That is something you will have to find out for yourself. You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Sure I would," Harry cheekily answered, with a grin. "You're Death. The only reason you would lie is to amuse yourself. But I think you find watching Draco and I far more amusing."

Death merely looked regal once more, hiding his emotions like a natural born Slytherin. "Perhaps."

There was silence. Then-

"It's important Harry, you being here. You'll see. I will give you a hint," Death whispered when the vision started fading. "A riddle, of sorts. When is magic not magic?"

"That's bollocks. I hate riddles, you know that!"

"Yes, I do," Death replied, amused while Harry felt his vision return.

You okay? Draco asked. I felt your vision. I can't seem to follow you when it happens.

I'm fine.

"What was it about?" Draco asked through the door. Harry got up and opened it.

"It was short. Death just wanted to show me some living room. It looked familiar but I don't know why. He said I would see it again, that it was important. He also gave me a riddle."

Draco groaned as he plopped down onto Harry's bed. "I hate riddles!"

"Me too," Harry grumbled, sitting down next to him. "He said: When is magic not magic?"

"Oh!" Draco exclaimed, shooting up. "I know that one. Some Muggleborns who join leave the Wizarding world and get higher Muggle education. They come back claiming all sorts of rubbish like that. That magic isn't magic, it's science and genetics- whatever that is."

"Well, that was easier than the last riddle I got. Bloody sphinx."

Draco glanced at him. He knew Harry was thinking about Cedric and the tournament. "Well, we should go check and see if the Founders painting exist, then be on our way," He changed the subject and Harry gratefully accepted the transition.

"Of course, let's go."

They went down to the ground floor, telling Kreacher, who they passed on the way, that they were going out and would not be coming back. Harry promised to call for him once they got to where they were going, but not to expect them to come back to Grimmauld Place any time soon. Harry and Draco had already packed days ago when they decided where they would be going first. When they stepped out onto the front step, and apparated away, they went not to the Leaky Cauldron, but instead to a place Ragnok had said would get them into Gringotts unseen. It was the employees-the human ones, at least- entrance. Few but the curse-breaker trainers and Ragnok knew it existed, therefore Griphook had not known about it when they were planning the break-in.

When they got there, Ragnok was waiting for them. "Come quickly. I will take you personally. I have already arranged to have Urg meet you in Egypt, where you will learn curse-breaking, though I can't see why you would want to. It's a very dangerous profession."

Ragnok seemed more human around them. Even all those weeks with Griphook, he was never like this. It's probably because we're the richest men on Earth.

Harry nodded at that, agreeing with Draco. The ride to the Hogwarts vault was a long one. Harry thought it was most likely so far down, the dragon once protected it. When they got there, pale and queasy, Ragnok told them to stay in the cart until he had opened the vault.

"Think they'll be in there?" Draco asked Harry.

"I hope so. We can ask about the riddle as well."

"Good idea."

Ragnok turned back to the distracted pair. They had completely missed what he was doing. "The vault is now open. I cannot go in. You will walk back up. Goodbye."

They clammered out of the cart while Ragnok got in. Harry watched him speed away, before turning to the door. "Shall we?"

They walked in together. Harry's jaw dropped as he heard a gasp next to him. They were in a room so large, it looked like the inside of a hollow castle. In fact, it looked like a room one would find in Hogwarts. The stone walls and floors look exactly like the ones in Hogwarts. That wasn't what made them gap, though. It was the painting that took up the far wall. It was Hogwarts, from the viewpoint of across the lake. And on the shore of the lake, were four people, playing around with balls of light and laughing. They weren't using wands, either.

"Merlins beard, Harry, you were right," Draco said, no where near composing himself.

"Who's there?" Was heard from the painting as the four stopped playing and looked out into the vault.

"Harry Potter, sir."

"Draco Malfoy."

"What are you doing here? No one is allowed in here unless-" The man with the dirty blond hair that looked like a mane said, before the black haired studious looking woman interrupted.

"Godric, you daft sod, that unless is the reason they are here, of course."

"Hullo," said the other woman, who looked not unlike Mrs. Sprout.

The man who spoke first had no hair but a short beard only on his chin and a mustache that were both grey. He asked again, "Who's there?"

"I'm Harry Potter, sir. I just came of age and the goblins told me this vault was mine."

"I'm Draco Malfoy, his soul-bonded," Draco said, regally. "You are Salazar Slytherin."

They looked surprised at his words. "I did not think soul-bonds worked. One or both of the parties always perished when attempted." The woman, who could only be Rowena Ravenclaw, said.

"It is very rare, yes. But given that it's Potter and I, I can't say I'm surprised at it's development."

"Tell us everything," Helga Hufflepuff said, looking keen for a tale of the new world. So they did, starting with what they knew of Grindelwald and the start of Voldemort and into the Second Wizarding War that they were a part of. The Founders, though gasping several times, said nothing as they talked. It was hours later, when Harry was feeling drained and could feel Draco was as well, that they finished with learning of Harry's Master of Death status and the riddle Death had given them. They hadn't talked about the War and their parts in it before this, and getting it all out was like a weight off their shoulders. There was still more to talk about, more to get over, but that they would do together.

"You killed my basilisk?" Slytherin is the first to speak. "In your second year, no less!"

"Well, of course! He's a Gryffindor, through and through! He's only related to you through magic given to him as a baby. Blood is thicker!" Gryffindor boomed, a proud gleam in his eyes.

"Enough of your petty squabbles, boys," Ravenclaw cut off Slytherin before he could retort. "I have just learned of my daughters fate. We now know the fate of the outside world. Now is not the time. We must help our heir in any way we can."

Hufflepuff simply beamed at them, happy that they seemed less burdened than when they had walked in.

"Merlin, they're worse than us!" Harry whispered to Draco.

"No matter," Ravenclaw said. "The ring you asked about, it is true I placed a charm on it. It was much like the one I place on my diadem." She paused, looking distraught, before continuing. "I hoped it would help my heir. I made sure it would only work if the rings were place together, as they are now, in the hope that the new owner of Hogwarts would use the power wisely. You will find that it is easier to do things like reading, learning a new language, and learning in general. There are no other enchantments on the rings."

"Wicked," Harry muttered. "And the riddle?"

"I am afraid that I do not know. It is beyond my time," Ravenclaw looked disappointed she couldn't help more. "However, know that if you trace the family history of a Muggleborn back several generations, there is a witch or wizard that married into the family. Perhaps that is what Death meant. That it isn't magic, because it is passed down through the family. The squibs marry squibs or Muggles and it dilutes the blood until it becomes strong again for whatever reason and thus Muggleborns are created."

Harry nodded. "We'll look into it, thanks."

They got up to leave, having what they came for. Hufflepuff called to them as the left. "Don't forget to visit, dearies! I so love your stories!"

"Okay!" Harry yelled back from the vault door. He was tired, and he just wanted to get to Egypt as soon as possible. The walk back to the surface took ages, however, and by the time they got back to the top, all he wanted was a large bottomless glass of water and a warm bed to collapse into. Ragnok could be seen coming toward them from the end of the long hallway, and Harry wasn't sure he would be awake by the time he reached them.

"Merlin Harry, we need to get you working on endurance. How did you survive on the run so long if you can't even walk?"

"Shut it, Malfoy," Harry breathed as Ragnok finally reached them.

Ragnok peered at Harry before looking to Draco, who was barely breathing hard. "I have your portkey. It will sent you directly to the camp in Egypt we train curse-breakers in."

He handed Draco a small button from a coat and said, "Follow me outside so you can use it." Then walked back toward the way he came. Harry and Draco followed slowly, both tired from the day they'd had.

"Don't think I forgot about your jinx this morning, Potter," Draco hissed at him suddenly. "I'll get you back for it, you know that."

"I know," Harry sighed. "I'm looking forward to what you come up with. My hair's a lost cause so it's not like you mess with that. Plus, we'll be learning all sorts of new things soon and I can't wait to learn how to apply them to pranks."

Even tired, and a little hungry now he thought about it, Harry was always thinking of pranks. Once a Marauder, alway a Marauder.