Chapter Seven
"Hold your wand!" Salazar instructed, yelling to Harry. "Yes, that's it. Keep it steady. Remember to focus. It's stronger the more you focus, Harry."
Harry did as he was told and felt his magic flow around him. It formed the shield around his body and he muttered the words he made sure to remember, and the shield sunk into his skin. He could hear his friends doing the same and smiled softly. They had another protection, even if it wouldn't last forever.
When he saw Salazar nod proudly, he grinned and closed his eyes, focusing on pulling his magic in and calming it down again. "That was… incredible. I've never used my magic like that."
"It is not something you should do often," Salazar told him. "But it can be very helpful. It gives you more ability to will your magic to do whatever you need. There is less need to use a spell."
"Is that how people create new spells?" Hermione asked, wandering over with Ron.
"Sometimes," the Founder replied. "Not often. It is hard to make accurate spells with this method."
"Can you teach us to make new spells?" Ron wondered. Salazar shrugged.
"We can try. That is one of my areas of expertise, but it is not easy."
"What else are we doing today?" Harry asked, impatient.
"You've got Healing, potions, and then more Occlumency," Salazar informed him. "As a matter of fact, you should leave for the hospital wing now or you'll be late."
"Alright," Harry sighed. "Thanks."
Salazar nodded and smiled as they made their way out of the room. Once they were gone, he leaned back in his chair and sighed. It had been easier than it should've been for Harry to access his magic in the way he did, and it worried him. No one was meant to have that sort of control over their magic in that form.
As he rubbed his head, he felt Hogwarts inform him that the trio had made it to the infirmary. Sending thanks back to the castle, he stood and turned, disapparating. He needed to get things set up before Helga finished with the trio. It was going to be a long night.
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The trio learned a lot about Healing that day. For the first, they learned that it was not all potions and sleep. They learned that there was often copious amounts of blood and that it was infinitely more complicated than any of them had imagined.
Next, they learned that it usually took a very steady hand and that if it shook at all, it could very possibly mess everything up and, possibly, kill the person they're trying to heal.
Lastly, they learned that healing doesn't always work. That talk sobered them up very quickly.
From Healing, they went back to Salazar for Potions and found him meditating on his table.
"Um," Ron said smartly.
"Professor?" Hermione called. When there was no response, Harry sighed.
"Professor, we're here for potions," the teenager said. The man still didn't move, and Ron frowned.
"Is he- is he breathing?" Ron stepped forward hesitantly, and Hermione rushed over, placing two fingers on his arm, which was lying beside him. After a few seconds, her hand flew to her mouth.
"No, he's not."
Hermione and Harry rushed into action while Ron ran to get the adults, something which they all agreed would be best, though the redhead was reluctant to leave his friends.
Hermione began CPR while Harry ran diagnostic charms, but it felt like they weren't being fast enough. The man had already been… his heart was already stopped when they'd gotten there.
It was ten minutes of constant CPR and spells before Ron ran back into the room, looking nervous. "I can't find them!"
"You have to!" Hermione snapped. "He's- Ron, he's not waking up! His heart won't start again!"
"Well, maybe if you'd stop hitting it, then he would!" He snapped back. Hermione narrowed her eyes, and Harry stepped in, not looking up from what he was doing but speaking in a quiet voice that gained their attention.
"Shut up. Both of you. Ron, Hermione is using a muggle technique of starting a stopped heart. Hermione, he just doesn't know. Now stop what you're doing because he's dead."
They were all quiet after that. Hermione refused to quit, but she stared at Harry as she pressed on the man's chest.
"How did this happen?" Ron asked suddenly. "He was sitting on his desk like he was meditating."
"I- I don't know. The spell says he's been dead since… since a little after we left him," Harry replied, his voice breaking a little. If he was honest, he was a little angry. Salazar had offered to adopt him and to be like a father, and he had promised he wasn't like Sirius, and now he was… dead.
"How did he die?" Hermione asked, slamming her fist down on their professor's chest.
"Not sure. I can't find a cause of death," Harry sighed and lowered his wand arm. "What would happen that would leave no cause of death? Even if it were natural, it should tell me that. That's what Professor Hufflepuff said, at least."
Hermione gasped, eyes wide, and her hand flew to her mouth. "Harry, there's only one thing that can do that…"
"What?"
"The Killing Curse," Ron whispered, staring at Hermione. She nodded slowly, and Harry tensed, pulling his wand back up.
"In that case, we need to go find Helena and Théo. Make sure they're safe and then go make sure no one is in the castle," the raven-haired teenager said firmly. His friends, as usual, agreed to his plan. Hermione pulled the Marauder's Map from her bag, and they spotted Helena and Théo together in the library, so they ran there as fast as they could.
When they reached the silent library, Hermione shook her head. "They're just quiet because it's a library."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, believing himself as much as Hermione believed herself. They walked quietly along until they reached the area the Map said their friends resided. When they turned the corner, Hermione gasped and turned back around, throwing herself at Ron, who instinctively wrapped his arms around her. When he looked at the table, he understood what had her upset.
"They're dead," Harry whispered after waving his wand at them. "They- they've been dead for ten minutes."
"But that's how long it took us to get here!" Ron said with wide eyes. "Which means… whoever did this… they could still be here."
"And we're in danger," Harry confirmed, nodding gravely. He touched Hermione's arm softly. "Mione, we've got to go. We're not safe."
"The elves," Hermione gasped, shaking her head. "They're probably still here. And are we sure there's no more students?"
The boys shared a look, but neither of them could say she was wrong. They didn't truly know how many people were in the castle, and they couldn't leave if there was anyone else there.
"What about the Map?" Harry suggested. "We could just check it for anyone else."
"That's the thing, Harry," Hermione sighed. "I looked at it before we met Helena or Théo. They didn't show up on the Map – just us and the Founders. I have a theory."
Harry looked at her wearily but waved her on.
"Technically, this Map hasn't been invented yet. It won't be for a long time. So, it relies on our knowledge of who's here. We didn't see any intruder on the Map when we looked for Helena and Théo, did we? But they- they're-,"
"Okay," Harry nodded, cutting her off. "I see your point. We have to know them back here for them to show up. So we won't see any threats on the Map."
"And we won't see anyone else that might need help," she finished in a shaky voice.
"So," Ron sighed. "We have to stay and search for other people."
"Right," Harry straightened, shifting into the natural leader he'd always been. "Hermione, you take the top three floors. Ron, you take the middle two. I'll take the bottom three and the dungeons. Lock rooms with that Auror spell Mrs. Weasley uses in Grimmauld Place after you clear them."
"I can take one if you need," Ron frowned.
"That's alright," Harry shrugged. "I want you in the middle, just in case. If you hear someone screaming, go to them. Up or down, either way."
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to hear through floors?"
"Hermione?"
The girl sighed and dug her arm in her bag again before digging out three extendable ears and passing them out. "They're the only ones I have on me, so be careful with them."
"Got it," Harry flashed her a thankful smile. "Keep your Patronus out and walking with you, just in case. If you see something, send the Patronus to tell us and we'll get there as fast as possible. Disillusion yourselves, too. If you find someone, ensure they're not a threat before becoming visible."
"Got it," Ron said, plucking his wand from his pocket. "And if we… if we're not going to make it?"
Harry paused, considering the question. "Send the Patronus anyway and destroy anything from the future you have on yourself." He blinked. "Actually, let's just give everything we have from the future to Hermione right now, just in case."
The boys gave Hermione their things, except for the ears, and the trio shared a look for a moment before Hermione nodded firmly. "Let's go. Meet up in the Great Hall by the doors when you're done. Stay disillusioned until we're all there."
The three cast their Patronus before they left, and then split up, running in different directions.
It was already a bad day. All of them could tell it would only get worse.
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"What is that?" Helga frowned, staring at the trio they were all watching.
"Hermione had that when she disappeared the other day," Godric said, tilting his head. "I do not believe she wished me to see it."
"It is a map," Salazar sighed. "Be patient next time."
"What sort of- oh my!" Helga gasped as the map in question filled out with Hogwarts. After looking closer, she and her friends noticed names on it.
Helena Ravenclaw – library; soul section
Théophile – library; soul section
Harry Potter – dungeons; potions room
Hermione Granger – dungeons, potions room
Ronald Weasley – dungeons; potions room
Salazar Slytherin? – dungeons; potions room
"I wonder why my name has a question mark next to it," Salazar muttered. Rowena hummed her agreement.
They watched the trio rush to the library, and Salazar felt another pang of regret rush through him. He knew this was necessary, but it was not fun. The look of horror on Hermione's face broke his heart. It was obvious she'd never seen a corpse before, and now she'd seen three in a fifteen-minute period.
"That's the thing, Harry," he heard Hermione say. Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he watched them reason out the Map.
"So they didn't create it, then," Rowena hummed. "That is too bad. I had hoped to ask how they did it."
The friends were quick to come up with a good plan, but there was one thing that stopped the Founders.
"You can send messages with the Patronus?" Godric's eyes were wide as he spoke. No one responded as they watched the grim looking friends split up to do their jobs.
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Hermione paused, staring at the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy and tapping her foot anxiously. She glanced at her otter and sighed. "To Harry. I'm at the Room. Is it here yet? Should I check it? I don't want to get the Room of Hidden Things and be forced to search the entire thing." The otter swam off, disappearing into the walls. The girl ran her hands along the castle walls sadly, pushing back the tears that threatened to fall.
It was barely a minute before her best friend replied. "Check it. Just in case."
So, with that advice, the bushy-haired girl paced back and forth in front of the wall, asking for a place where hidden things were revealed. It only took one try for the room to show up, and Hermione wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed that it was there.
Opening the door slowly, she steeled herself for what could be inside.
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Silence sat amongst the Founders.
Hermione Granger had just opened a door to a room that was not only hidden, but not one they knew had existed.
It looked like surprises were in store for all of them.
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Harry had cleared the first three floors quickly and easily, which left him only the dungeons. He was mostly worried about that. He wasn't sure he could go back down there, but it felt wrong for anyone else to check it. So, taking a deep breath, the boy headed down the steps and found himself in the dungeons he hated for four years.
The first place he cleared and locked was the Slytherin common room and its dorms. It was smaller than he expected, and he had to remind himself that they weren't exactly spilling with students. The school was full, yes, but nothing like it was in his time.
Next, he went through all the stock rooms full of potions ingredients. All of them were empty and, usually, smelled nasty. He locked them quickly and pushed onto the office. It was empty, thankfully. He passed through there to Slytherin's rooms. He sighed. He didn't want to be there. "Homenum Revelio." When the spell came up empty, he quickly left the room and locked it. He then made his way back into the hall, locking the office itself, and made his way toward the one room he'd been avoiding.
As it turned out, he didn't need to worry about the classrooms. He needed to worry about the hallway near the classrooms.
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Ron waved his wand aggressively at the large door and watched it close. He wasn't sure how to lock it the way Dumbledore had in their third year when Sirius got into the castle, so he had to do his best with what he did know. When he locked it with the spell his mother locked their bedrooms with while they were cleaning, he placed himself with his back against the statue facing the stairs and waited.
He'd finished his floors too quickly and had gone to secure the rest of the castle. Some more of the doors to the outside had been closed and locked, and he'd made sure to secure everything he could in the hospital wing.
He waved his wand at the lights and put them out, dimming the area. He pulled out the ear and waited, listening for his best friends.
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"He's smart," Godric nodded with a grin.
"I still don't understand where Hermione went," Rowena frowned. "How did we not know about that room?"
"Perhaps we did not need to know about it," Helga suggested calmly.
Salazar remained silent as he watched Harry fight. None of them would be severely injured, but it was designed to test their dueling and their strategy. So far, Ron had been careful enough that he wouldn't be attacked, but Salazar was sure it would happen eventually. Hermione had disappeared into a room they didn't know about or how to get into, so she couldn't be tested or attacked. They could only hope the room was safe.
With a quiet sigh, Salazar leaned back and continued to watch Harry fight.
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It was almost too dark to see in the Room, but Hermione managed. She was used to reading in the dark at night. She glanced around the room and frowned. It looked exactly like it did in her time when she'd stumbled upon stacks and stacks of lost and hidden items. She even recognized a Muggle telephone.
"That's not possible," she whispered to herself. She glanced at her otter again. "To Harry and Ron. I'm in the Room of Hidden things… it is exactly like it was in-," she cut off. If there was anyone with them, which she had to admit was a complete possibility with what they were doing, they couldn't know where they were from. "the last visit. Something is… I don't know. I'm concerned."
She watched her otter swim away and shook her head. It was impossible. None of this – or almost none of it – had been placed there yet. With a sigh, she pulled her camera from her bag and took some pictures.
When she went to leave, she had an idea. She moved to a stack she knew she could easily recognize and removed an item – an oddly shaped box. After stuffing it in her bag, she ran out of the room with her wand drawn and ready to fight.
Which was, coincidentally, what she had to do not even a minute later.
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It had taken him barely ten minutes of fighting before he'd won and had a chance to actually look at the person that attacked him. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax as his eyes cleared of the high of fighting. He glanced down slightly and threw himself back, putting at least five paces between himself and his attacker. Blinking hard, he tried to look again, but the man in front of him stayed the same.
He'd just fought Lord Voldemort and won.
Upon realizing that, he promptly fell to the ground, his eyes closing.
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Hermione ducked a punch and threw another spell before kicking at the man she was fighting. She almost recognized the man, but his name escaped her. She thought it was odd, his mixture of muggle and Wizard fighting, but she knew she'd have done the same, and she was.
It wasn't until she froze the floor and the man took a step and fell that she knew she'd won. She stunned him and put him in a body bind before moving to him, grabbing his wand, and snapping it. Maybe it was an intense reaction, but she wasn't willing to take any risks. Not when her friends were dead.
Taking a deep breath, she moved to the man and took a closer look. She frowned heavily at his arm. The Dark Mark was on it.
And then she, too, fell to the ground as her eyes closed.
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Ron, the smart boy he was, sat in the Great Hall waiting. He couldn't hear anything. Anything. He should've been able to hear his friends. But before he could go find them, he felt his eyelids growing heavily. And soon, he too had given into the feeling.
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