So I really need a Beta. Once again these characters do not belong to me, if they did i would hog them and not share with anyone. Also to clarify, Dumbledore, while being a manipulative git, is not a bad guy. He simply cannot fathom that he could be wrong. He has been left to his own devices for far to long and forgets that someone else may have a valid opinion. So there is my soapbox, enjoy.
Harry woke early the next morning after only a few hours of sleep. He was cocooned in between Fred and George, his limbs tangled with their own. He needed to get up so he could speak with those who would be leaving for Hogwarts in a few hours but if he moved to much he would wake his mates. It couldn't be helped he supposed but he regretted waking them after only a few hours of sleep. Maybe they would be able to go back to sleep after he left, they were not able to in his last life but maybe they would be able to now.
He began trying to untangle his limbs from theirs. His progress was impeded when Fred spoke.
"Harry go back to sleep it is too early."
"But Fred I need to get up. It is a very busy day ahead of me."
"Whazzit you two saying, shh go sleep. I'm tired" George grumbled, wrapping his arms around Harry and drawing him in close.
"Ugh George let me up" Harry whined. Fred smirked and cuddled closer, effectively trapping Harry in the bed. Harry kept wiggling and eventually was let up to bathe and dress. The twins unable to go back to sleep joined him in his morning ablutions. Once ready they headed to the dining room and met with everyone else. Most everyone was fine but if one looked at Fleur they could see her eyes were red no doubt from crying and poor Bill looked like someone had kicked his puppy.
Harry confirmed that the three who were leaving were packed and ready to go, reminding them of the change in the uniforms, then they all flooed to Kingscross station. The three leaving all said goodbye and headed off to find a compartment on the train. Everyone headed back to the Lair or to their own homes. Harry on the other hand flooed straight to the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts so that he could attend the last student free staff meeting before the students would arrive for the year.
He tumbled out on to the floor in front of the fire gracelessly and coughing on soot. Harry stood and dusted himself off all the while grumbling about 'stupid wizard traveling' and 'hateful green fire', his tirade was stopped by the amused chuckle of the Headmaster sitting behind his desk. Harry offered the man a glare and sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. They chatted for a short time with Dumbledore trying to get Harry to tell him where he lived and Harry refusing. Dumbledore did however manage to cause Harry to yell that 'no he did not want a blasted sherbet lemon, thank you very much'. He was sure he would later be forced to pensive the memory for Severus, but for now he simply could not bring himself to give a damn. Dumbledore made another play to get Harry to ignore his titles and let him make his votes until he came of age and to stop influencing politics and keep out of public eye, he was shot down by a smirking Harry.
They finally headed to the staff room for the annual last student free meal of the year. He was very interested however as they neared the room and he could hear them arguing over the new rules he had demanded. They were apparently divided fairly evenly on whether they liked the new rules or not. On one hand it took time and added to their work load, but on the other side it would enable the students to learn better. Most of them had been banned from teaching a flat out basics class for the last several years because the board was under the false impression it was simple common knowledge. That might be true for most purebloods but even some of them did not know, because they were not taught at home. They were also arguing about the new mandatory courses that would be taught on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Flitwick could be heard excitedly supporting the chance to learn new or rather old things.
The argument began to get out of hand as they reached to door to the staff room. Dumbledore quickly entered causing them all to quiet down. No one noticed the small boy slip in just before the door closed and hide himself in a corner. Dumbledore asked if everyone had gotten their new updated lesson plans with what they were now required to teach. Oddly enough it was McGonnagal who spoke up voicing her complaints.
"Headmaster, some of these new things do not need classroom time wasted on them. The students should know the basics before they ever start school. I give an overview in class but to spend my entire first lesson on it not only wastes my time but my students. I will not allow it. And this wizarding basics class every Friday evening cuts into their homework time and teaches them things they can learn from their peers. It is pointless." she huffed. Harry stepped forward at that point catching the eye of everyone in the room. When he spoke it was quiet but everyone one of them heard.
"Madam you forget, just because you were raised in a home where magic was the norm does not mean that it is in everyone else's home. Those ridiculous pamphlets that are sent out with the yearly letters to muggleborns do not give all of the fine points that most wizard raised children pick up on. As for the wizarding basics class, tell me did you know the difference between a bonding and a wedding before you attended the Lord's Malfoy-Black ritual yesterday. You did not even come dressed in the proper attire so do not tell me you learned what you needed to know from your peers while still in school. With the students learning the old ways, if the muggleborns choose to they can find a place in our society. If they are signed with an old family they will not be passed over for jobs in lieu of less talented persons blood being purer because they will be seen as first generation pure bloods instead of muggleborns. They can learn about our history and practices that should never have been lost in the first place. You will do your duty as you promised when you signed on as a part of Hogwarts staff and provide a well rounded education for the students, or you will be replaced with someone who will. Do I make myself clear?" He asked in a no nonsense tone.
"Now, now my boy no need to threaten" the headmaster said.
"Headmaster I am not simply giving idle threats, I am serious. The standard of our educations has fallen greatly over the last few hundred years. I have said it before and I will say it again, Voldermort" there was a collective shudder through the room at the name "Oh don't be babies, Voldermort would never been able to gather more than a handful of followers if he had not played on peoples want for tradition. He went around getting what he wanted with the wrong actions and eventually lost sight of his goal and became bent on torture and destruction. I will not let him dupe more people to his cause when he regains a body by using these wants against them."
"Did you say he would regain a body Lord Potter, that does not make sense you killed him five years ago." Filius Flitwick spoke.
"No Professor he is not dead, he is simply without a body at the moment. He will eventually gain one back. My seer says it will likely happen during the years I am attending this very school. At most we have maybe ten years. I implore you not to fall into complacency, we have peace now but it will not last." Harry said.
"There is no proof that child is a true seer, and divination is useless and inexact. We should not allow you to spread such lies child." Septima Vector sneered, looking down at Harry as though he was scum.
"Septima Vector, age thirty-six, widowed eight years ago. Your husband died in a raid on Diagon Alley if my sources are correct. It was rumored he was hit with a curse and barely apperated out. He was tended by a private healer and passed away at home, to bad he did not go to St. Mungoes he probably would have made it, if he had not had that horrible little mark that would have given him away if it was seen by a healer." Harry asked.
"Mr. Potter that is highly inappropriate. You need to respect your elders and not spread such vicious rumors." Mcgonnigal scolded.
"I am simply stating facts Madam, another lesser known fact is that Septima there has the Dark Mark on her forearm under a parselmagic glamor."
Vector sucked in a sharp breath and immediately began to deny his claim while several of the other professors began speaking over each other. Dumbledore shot a loud bang from his wand to restore order.
"Mr Potter..."
"My title is Lord, address me correctly or not at all." Harry interrupted coldly, his eyes glinting with ice.
"My apologizes Lord Potter, but as I was saying we have all seen Mrs. Vector's forearm several times and she has been a member of this staff since not long after she graduated. Also as far as I know there is no such thing as parselmagic and if there were there is no one left that speaks the language. It is a dark wizard trait and Lord Voldermort was the last person able to speak it due to his blood heritage. I am afraid your claims are highly unfounded and slanderous, I must ask that you not repeat them." Dumbledore said, his characteristic twinkle missing from his eyes.
"Ah but Headmaster, you forget, I too am descended from Salazar Slytherin. I also must destroy your misconceptions about parseltounge being the mark of a dark wizard for I do not feel particularly dark. I give you one chance Mrs. Vector, you may willingly bare your arm and let me cast the revealing spell, or you may refuse a prove my accusations true."
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what Vector's reaction would be. If she let him cast the spell and he was proved wrong then they would know better than to listen to the young founders heir. If she refused his claim might have merit. Vector stood and addressed him coldly.
"I do not have to stand for this. You are just a child, why should we listen to you. I am going back to my office I will see you all at the feast." she spun on her heal a stalked towards the door. As she reached for the door she was hit with a stunner and crumpled to the floor. They were all shocked to see Flitwick with his wand aimed at her crumpled form.
"What, her refusal seems suspicious. Lord Potter if you will do your test I am sure it would set our minds at ease." He asked Harry. Harry gave him a small smile and once Vector was levitated to a chair that was visible through out the room, he stepped up to her. He quickly moved the sleeve from her arm and pulled out his wand. He turned and faced the group of gathered teachers.
"Headmaster just to prove that I am not marking her myself can you do a detection spell on her forearm to prove if there is any magic present or not."
"Of course simply give me a little room." Dumbledore said and waved him away. "Detectus" he intoned with a flick of his wrist.
Her arm glowed a sickly yellowish-gray. Shocked noises were heard, it was obvious that some had not expected any reaction. Once everyone had quieted Harry stepped forward and raised his wand. All they heard was a short sibilant hiss, a silver light shot from his wand to Vector's forearm. The glamor covering the tacky mark began to break apart and within just a few moments fell completely. The looks in several of the professors eyes were disappointment, shock, outrage, and anger. They never would have believed it without proof, but it had been placed directly in their way and they had no choice but to acknowledge the fact that they had been betrayed by someone they never would have expected.
"She was a plant during the last war. She has been a spy since she started here. I have a professor already hired to fill her place. He will be here by breakfast time in the morning, he has a masters in arithmancy, he was home schooled, he passed his mastery two years ago. His name is Alexander McVade, he is a second son, so you need not worry about any heir duties getting in the way of him teaching. He does, however, have a second goal. He will be scouting out unaffiliated muggleborn students to recommend to his father, so if he asks around about any specific students it is not for any nefarious purposes. More about this will be explained tonight, so you will know what I mean soon enough. Now are there any other issues we need to discuss?" Harry asked. Several of the teachers looked curious while a few, including Flitwick, seemed to have realized what he was talking about. Sprout spoke up then.
" Young Lord, about the crops. I know we will be doing Samhain and Beltain, and that specific classes on Fridays will go over the holiday aspects of it, but am I allowed to take the students there and do small classes and tending, or is all that to be left to the house-elf's until the actual holidays?" She inquired pleasantly.
"Madam Sprout, I believe it will do them good to see the fields as lessons. In a private ritual field owners and participants often go out every few days and sing simple songs and do general tending to help enhance the base magic they wove on May day. Since the Hogwarts fields are so large and meant to help feed so many I believe it would be best is at least one Class a week took place out there and any student who might want extra credit or house points be offered the chance to gain it by helping in the field or in one of the other things that will be done to help prepare for Samhain and later for Beltain." Harry said kindly.
"What types of other things are you speaking of Young Lord Potter." Mcgonnical asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Madam, tradition is that during the planting and the harvest people also come together to celebrate the day. They are generally attended by several people. Back when they were regularly practiced they were not only to celebrate but they did things like bartering and trading. Housewives made preserves, canned foods, woven blankets and cloths. They traded livestock and weapons, and other items for either something they wanted or needed. The bards and gypsies, and priests and fortune tellers, and others of high standing or that provided entertainment were given gifts for their stories or songs. A true story teller would tell history and tell stories to children that would have hidden meanings about morals and life lessons. If the priest preformed a ritual for you, then you gave them a gift of some sort, to have your future told or your palm read the seer's were paid with herbs or some other implement of their trade. Some would bring bags of things to trade or if they were wealthy they would simply give things away. Most children left with a corn husk doll, or wooden sword. It was simply custom. The children at the school need to be taught this. You were all sent lists of charms or spells you were to incorporate in to your lessons. Be they sewing charms, or how to turn simple sticks into weaving looms and so on. These spells will be put to use in making things for the celebrations. They are also very useful for later in life. Most of them had been removed from the curriculum some time ago because they too were seen as common knowledge. Several of the Friday night seminars this year will cover simple wizarding life charms that are taken for granted. Next year when we finally have the classes all sorted out there will be a wizarding life class that covers it but I ask that you help begin with integrating them in your course work for the time being. Next question?"
"Yes I am Antonov Krum, and the new Potions Master. I have a question about the land that is being cleared on the side of the castle near the gamekeepers hut. I was told they would be stables, will they be for teachers as well and may we bring our own Stallion if we own one."
"Professor Krum, it is nice to meet you. I have spoken with your older brother about his youngest son attending Hogwarts and possibly joining my study group before he is old enough for school. As to your question yes they will be stables. Over three hundred horses have been purchased for Hogwarts for both the staff and students. The stables will be finished within the month. You are certainly welcome to bring your own mount when they are ready. Stable hands have been hired and I have no doubt that they will also be aided by students serving detentions. You will have to transport you horse here on your own but it is certainly welcome. Anyone else?"
A man towards the back with salt and pepper hair and a gray goatee spoke next.
"Yes, I am Corvus Rossi, the new history professor. I know that there will be weekly seminars on tradition and other such things but several of them are an important part of history. I have looked over the notes from what has been taught here for the last several years and found the curriculem woefully lacking. Some of what I will be teaching will cover several traditions and rituals, is it going to be a problem if I do not teach them in the order the seminars are?"
"Professor Rossi, I have heard several good things regarding you. You learned under Adriano De Luca or so I have been told. You would know of the old ways. As to your question no, it will not upset the seminars. As long as you answer any relevant questions concerning the subjects then it is fine." Harry smiled at him.
"Lord Potter, I have a question concerning the Merlin house. You have specified that no one who has not been a member of Merlin House may be the house master or mistress, obviously no one alive has been a member of this house, how then are we supposed to take any problems we are having with a student from that house up with their head of house. Further more they do not have an hourglass for us to remove or give points from or to. How do we discipline them if we cannot give or take points." Mcgonnagal asked.
"Madam if you have any issue with one of the students from Merlin then you take it up with one of the founders portrait or you come to me. I will be in the castle often and if you bring a serious enough offense to the portrait's they can reach me at any time. The frames that you have here are simply extra frames that have been made so they can visit Hogwarts. There will always be at least one of the founders here in the castle at all times. I have already spoken with the hat and know of at least three students who will be in Merlin and can assure you they would do anything in their power to not cross me. Any others will learn that lesson as well. Their punishment's will be different than most students. All of Merlin house is required to physically be in good shape. If they are not when they are first sorted I can assure you by the end of the first month of school they will be. Their detentions will not be so mundane as simply scrubbing a few cauldrons or writing lines. They will have extra laps and when Sensai and I get through with them on Saturdays they will never want to break another rule again."
"Who is Sensai and please tell me you will not be using corporal punishment on the students." Professor Sprout said worriedly.
"Sensai is a martial arts and self defense master. He will arrive every Friday evening and on Saturday mornings, and Sundays he will be offering a physical fitness class. They will do thing like run laps and learn basic martial arts stances. He will be working together with Master Delacroix, one of the best swordsmen of the age to teach self defense. The classes will be open to all students to learn weaponry and physical fitness. It is not mandatory this year but starting next year the students will be required to take the class for at least one term a year. There will be several classes that will only be required for one term, that is not to say that they can only take one term of the class but they must take at least one term of a certain class each year. A fitness class will be mandatory every year but something like equestrian studies for horse back riding will be a first semester class for every incoming first year. They may choose to take the class every term they reside at Hogwarts but it will only be required first year. Does that make sense to everyone."
"Yes but you did not answer if you would be using corporeal punishment on Merlin house." Poppy Pomfrey stated.
"Oh, sorry I was sidetracked. No it will not be anything like them being caned or chained in the dungeons. Sensai is a rather exacting task master and for those in Merlin, they will be require to have weekly sessions with him in sparring. They will have a regular fitness routine every day that will include running laps and doing other body training exercises, but they will also meet with Sensai. If one of them is not behaving or is getting a big head or inflated ego then they will have a longer session with Sensai. He will spar with them. He is basically unbeatable to anyone not of master level so it will do a good job of putting them in their place. He will, for lack of better terms, beat them into submission. I understand that sounds harsh but it is necessary. The students in Merlin are all going to be exceptionally powerful and highly influential persons one day. They are literally the next leaders of our world. The other students will look up to them and with that status they will have greater responsibilities than other students. They will need to be shown that there is always someone who can beat them every so often so that they do not become to full of them selves. They will not be to hurt but I can assure you that after a session with Sensai when he is disappointed with you, you are definitely sore for a day or two. Does that alleviate your concerns?" Harry finished.
The teachers asked a few more questions and then everyone was dismissed but for the headmaster and the heads of houses. Sprout, Flitwick, Mcgonnagal, and Rossi, who had taken over for Severus, were left in his presence. He sat with them and slowly began to out line his plans for Hogwarts over the next few years.
"The Fates have tasked me with a destiny that try as I might I cannot fulfill on my own. I can start the movement but it must be carried on by several others. I understand that you may think me an immature child who has ideals above my station. I am not trying to make your lives more difficult or undermine your authority but I need you to understand that you must not judge me by my age. I have knowledge well beyond my years, in fact several students you will encounter over the next few years will be as I am. The students in Merlin House may start out as uninformed but I can guarantee within a month they will show their worth. The sorting hat will be looking through the students heads very throughly tonight. Do not be surprised if some students take more than five or even ten minutes. Also some of the older students will be resorted. Not many of them will go to Merlin House either. The Sorting hat has allowed itself to sort student where they wanted to go based on skewed perceptions of the houses, that ends tonight. There are at least ten students who will be resorted this night. I imagine that there will be several parents who are upset over this event. They will simply have to deal with it." Harry stated firmly.
"Young Lord Potter, do you know the names of the students who will be resorted this night?" Dumbledore asked.
"I know the names of three but I will not give them. The three that I know will be put in Merlin, they may be joined by one or two others but there will likely not be more than six in Merlin house this year. Another thing I want to cover is the new uniform. I know that a letter was sent out telling them that we will now be wearing boots, fitted trousers, or if the girls prefer they may have dresses, and long sleeved tops. They were all informed if they had already been to the alley and were not able to return in time to exchange their robes for proper attire that they could exchange them when they arrived at school for fair traded. I worked out a deal with Madam Malkins and Twilfit and Tattings to exchange the outfits for no cost.
Each student is to have, for the girls, either five floor length dresses, in either white for unsorted first years or the colors of their house, or they may have well fitting soft leather breeches in black and then well fitting long sleeved shirts in one of their two house colors. The dress style has already been given to both clothiers as have the other options. If they have dresses they must have black satin slippers to gpo with them. The guys have the uniform of soft black leather breeches with a well fitting long sleeved shirt in the appropriate colors. Merlin house's colors are black and white so their tops or in the girls cases, should they choose, dresses will be black or white. The were also ordered to have two cloaks in each of their house colors. So every student should have four cloaks. All of the clothing is to have been made with temperature runes stitched in the hems so there is no need to worry about them being too hot or becoming ill because they were too cold. You need to go through you houses tonight or tomorrow morning and ensure that each student has at least five outfits. Any student that does not have appropriate attire is to see one of the clothiers that will be arriving tomorrow. They will be able to exchange their robes for suitable attire. Each student is also to have at least one pair of black leather, knee high boots. If they do not have them then they are to visit the cobbler tomorrow as well. Dragon hide is fine but it must be leather or dragon hide only. I have been informed that more than three fourths of the students will have the correct clothing but you must make sure."
"But what about the students who come form families that are not so well off. They surely cannot afford all of that clothing?" Rossi asked.
"I already thought of that. The students began paying a higher rate back when the school stopped participating in Samhain and Beltain, so that we could afford to pay for the vegetables that we did not grow along with paying for the meat. Now that Hogwarts is going back to being more self-sufficient that money was not going to be used. I took that extra money and paid for the time and supplies of the seamstresses. The students who bought clothes before they arrived here were only charged for half of their order, it was actually cheaper for them than if they had bought all second hand robes. Instead of lowering the price of admission for each student it will continue to be used in this manner. If all goes as planned, next year they will not have to pay anything out of pocket. They will receive a voucher for their uniforms in their letters. Even if it does not work out with the school funds you need to realize that the interest on a single founders vault alone in one year would clothe all of the Hogwarts students for five years, so if necessary I will cover it." Harry informed them.
"Alright, that is wonderful news young Lord Potter. We only have a hour left till the students arrive was there anything else?" Flitwick asked.
"Yes there was. The house rivalries have reached a ridiculous level. I have discussed this fact with the founders and the only viable solution we could find was to force the houses to interact more and if necessary give harsher punishments for fighting. As of the feast tonight the four house tables are no more."
There was an immediate negative reaction at that notice.
"But where will they sit?"
"The Lions and Snakes are enemies. If you force them together there will be blood shed."
"But the tables are tradition. How do you plan on seating them."
Harry finally regained their attention after making a loud bang with his wand.
"If you would have let me finish that would have been easier. Now after the sorting I will have all of the students stand and move to the walls, I will then do away with the four long tables. In there place will be several round tables that will seat eight persons. At each table there will be two spots for each house. They will be color coded and no two persons from a house will be sitting by another. This is not up for discussion. Now if students are caught defaming or attacking another house off of the quidditch pitch they will not be given lines, they will have the option of a Saturday morning session with Sensai or a detention cleaning stalls in the stables. If any student is caught in a fight or duel they are no longer allowed to have their injuries healed. I do not mean broken bones or anything that will distract them form classwork or cause permanent harm, but black eyes and splits lips will have to allow to heal on their own. They will be escorted to the hospital wing and given something to prevent infection and a bandage but nothing else, they will then be assigned a detention. I have already sent notice of this to Madam Pomphrey and she has agreed with me. Any questions?"
"Yes actually, as the history professor I have not got any physical punishments so I would be forced to send a student to Filch or the stables, I do not agree with that. I was taught that if you assign a punishment you delivered the punishment, how can I do this here?" Rossi asked. Harry though it over for a bit and then smirking evilly answered.
"Professor Rossi, do you happen to know the sensitizing spell?"
"Do you mean 'Sensoro'. Isn't that an odd form of punishment. From what I know of it it is used most often behind closed doors. I do not see how that is appropriate for children, I am not a pedophile." Rossi stated harshly.
"I have not accused you of being one. I would suggest using the spell for a localized reaction, such as on a students hands. Then you could have them write lines, or preform it on their mouth right before supper and not remove it till the next morning before breakfast. I know that several potions ingredients are prepared by hand instead of magic. You could offer to have your students prepare ingredients for professor Krum and cast it when they begin. My personal tutor uses that method on myself when I do not listen to him. I can assure it is rather effective. It is also on of Sensai Muzuki's favorite methods for when he is angry with me. He casts the spell on my whole person then makes me spar with him. They worst part of the spell is that no matter how many times it is used on you, it is impossible to become immune to."
"Is that not like torture my boy?" Dumbledore queried. He did not look very happy.
"If you cast the spell then cause pain while it is active it is torture but for the methods I just described it is not painful it is merely highly uncomfortable. I can assure no damage will be caused but they will definitely remember the lesson." Harry assured him.
"Thank you, that seems to be a reasonable compromise." Rossi agreed.
After a few more announcements and questions the group made their way to the great hall for the welcoming feast. They had just been seated with Harry Directly in the middle in the seat normally reserved for the headmaster, with the headmaster on his right, when the students began trickling in. He received several questioning and awed looks from the students as they walked to their seats. Once all of the upper years were seated the main doors opened and Mcgonnagal led in the first years. Before she began the sorting Dumbledore addressed the group.
"Welcome and well met to you all my young pupils, today is an important day for you all. Now I must beg of you to hear me out. Before our first years a sorted we are going to be witness to an historic event. Never before in the history oh Hogwarts has this occurred. I suggest you pay attention to this moment, for it shall go down in history. The sorting hat has something to say to you all so I turn this moment over to the hat."
"Welcome young minds to Hogwarts. I have a confession to make my young charges. I have allowed myself to make a grave error. When I was created by the founding four I was new in cloth and seam. I was full of knowledge that was not mine and ideals that were not mine and I was given a task. My task was to sort students in to one of the houses, depending on each students personality. For Gryffindor, the brave and true. For Ravenclaw, those who prized knowledge. Slytherin wanted those with ambition and cunning, and the Lady Huffelpuff wanted those who were willing to work hard for what they got. Somehow over time my mission changed. New faces and ideal arrived. Slytherin was no longer for the cunning but through lies and false pride became for those of pure blood and noble ancestry, no matter how crass. Strong Huffelpuff some how went from those who value hard work and earning your bread willingly to those who must work hard for they've no other option. Gryffindor's idea of bravery was twisted to ridiculous acts of heroism, and Lady Ravenclaw's desire for knowledge so that we may better our world became lost in simply acquiring knowledge for knowledge's sake. I held fast to my original task until obstinate youth came. I say before you now that this is at an end. There are forty -two persons who I have sorted in this hall that are not where they belong. Tonight no matter your opinion you shall be resorted. And for the new students who have been told I will place you where you ask, know this, that is not how it will happen. You will go where you belong so that you may find peace with who you are. When I call your name come forward."
And so it went, all forty-two. Some were willing and others not. When the first muggleborn was sorted into Slytherin there was almost a riot until in a fit of desperation Harry unveiled the portrait of the founders early. Slytherin himself informed his house that the ridiculous notion he hated Muggleborn's and Half-bloods could not possibly be true because he, himself, was a first generation, or a muggleborn. That shut everyone up quickly. The only other snag came when Matt Rathbone, a second year Slytherin was resorted into Merlin. Since they had been going alphabetically he was the first to be sorted into Merlin. He was simply instructed to stand off to the side. He was joined shortly by Tonks, with Grace at her side. Bill and Charlie and Steel and Ian joined them shortly. The first year students were sorted quickly with only one small first year girl named Belle Martin was placed in Merlin. Harry remembered her name from the werewolf cure list. She had been told she would not be able to attend Hogwarts because of the curse. The cure had changed her life. She had been infected when she was three years old and her parents had been desperate for something to help their only child. Harry remembered her receiving the cure. Where the others, both older and younger had been over happy and broke down in tears or danced around she had simply given a soft smile and left with her family. He was happy she was one of his.
Finally it was his turn. He made his way around the table and to the podium after Mcgonnagal took the hat away. Bill kindly transfigured a fork from the table into a step stool. Harry climbed up and faced the crowd.
"Welcome and well met, my friends. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Lord Harry James Potter, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Huffelpuff. I am, as you may have guessed from the name, the heir to all four founders. That means you will be seeing quite a bit of me over the next year. Now I know that you are hungry but I have something I need to speak with you about before the feast begins. As you can see behind me is a portrait of the four Founders. Over the past summer I have been able to spend a large amount of time with the portrait's and we have discussed several issues in Hogwarts and the modern wizarding world in general. Now the world is probably going to take several years to fix but we decided that one of the main ways to help jump-start a change was to help end the house rivalries. We have a few ways we are going to go about that and I am about to show you the first. If everyone will do me the favor of standing and moving to the sides of the room please. Quickly now, hurry." he said
The students made their way to the sides of the room looking confused. Once they were out of the way he waved his hand and the long tables disappeared. There were several gasps heard through the room. Just a few moments later several large round tables popped up throughout the hall. They were followed by high backed chairs with armrests and padded seats. The place settings quickly followed and Harry finally spoke.
"If you look around at the plates on the table you will see that on each plate is carved the mascot form one of the houses. There is a spot for two persons from each house at each of the tables. The only table that is different is the smaller six person table in the middle with the Hogwarts crest on the plates. That table is for Merlin House only. Now you will each find a seat at one of the tables in a spot that is marked for a member of your house, and yes that means that Gryffindor will be sitting with Slytherin and so on. I warn you now there are new punishments in place for those of you who fight and you will not like them." With that said Harry allowed them to make there way to a seat. It took a few moments but slowly, one by one, they found seats. There was quite a bit of mumbling and whining involved but they all sat eventually.
Dumbledore took over from their and made the food appear and everyone quieted down to eat. After everyone was finished eating the headmaster went on to introduce the new professors and then to cover what all had been sent out in the late letter, the one that had informed them of the new uniforms and weekly Friday evening classes. He informed them that if they had questions they could go to their heads of house and finally after everything was finished. After the other houses had cleared out Harry stood and motioned for the five new students and three animals to follow him.
The Merlin house was located on the second floor behind a shield of the Hogwarts crest. After speaking the password of unity Harry led them into their new common room. The room was smaller than the Gryffindor common room and square. It had large windows looking out over the lake and forest. There were several squashy armchairs and couches in black leather with white pillows and trows. There was a large fireplace that could easily hold ten people. Along one whole wall were book cases filled with books on every subject. There were a few small work tables and one large table that looked familiar to Harry. Going on instinct he tapped the table and it swiftly showed a map of Hogwarts and her grounds. It even showed the current production of the stables so it was obviously self updating. There were two bath rooms, one for girls and boys and the tubs were as large as swimming pools. At either side of the common room there was a spiral metal staircase that led up to the dorm rooms. There was a single room for each person in the Merlin colors of black and white.
After everyone had found their room Harry called them all back down. He questioned everyone to insure they had the appropriate uniforms. Tonks had only gotten one dress and she was wearing it. Belle had two dresses and three other outfits. Both girls had appropriate satin slippers for when they wore their dresses. All of the boys had correct uniforms as well. Once the trivialities were covered such as curfew and basic school rules Harry got to the Merlin house rules.
"Now you two, Matt and Belle. I am Harry. There are somethings you need to know. When the hat sorted you he explained that you would be under oath correct?"
"Yes, the silly thing even made me give the oath before it sorted me." Matt sneered.
"Yes it did. Not to be rude but why are you here. You are just a child correct?" Belle asked, her voice soft and smooth like trickling water.
"I am here because it is my destiny. I will be here almost every weekend and will often come by during the week for one reason or another. The reason you were required to make an oath was because you will be learning some very private things about me and the others that will be in this house. Firstly let me tell you that while I am physically six years old, my soul is twenty-one. I was sent back in time to save the wizarding world."
And so he told them. He told them of not knowing about the wizarding world until he was eleven, and of facing Quirril and a basilisk. He told them about the dementors and the tournament,Umbridge, and the battles with Voldermort. He told them of betrayal and pain and loss. And when it seemed like they would not believe he made an oath. They could not help but believe then. He told them of the things they would be able to learn and about putting them on warp time on Saturday afternoons, and them living a month in a day. They listened and agreed. Yes they would stand by his side and fight for peace. He could depend on them they swore. Finally he let them sleep. The next day was a Monday and even though there was no class so that the staff could insure everyone had proper clothing and was settling in well the Merlin House had to be up early for an early morning run. Once they were all in their rooms Harry made his way to his permanent room in the Merlin House and went to sleep dreaming of twin smiles and laughter.