A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone! Married life is very fun! That, and I have to go to a friend's house to use their Wi-Fi as I don't have internet yet.
I got my dear mother to join me in all my fangirling on FanFiction just to beta my work. That being said, we have gone back and made minor changes to previous chapters to allow the story to flow more and hopefully be more understandable to you.
If you haven't already, please reread the story (or just skim the chapters to find the changes). Like I said, they are minor in the plot as a whole but they are details that may come up later and I don't want to cause any confusion.
Enjoy the next chapter!
"Dear children of Hogwarts, we are pleased to inform you that each founder of this institute has accepted you into our familial lines. We recognize you as our children, even if you are many generations into the future.
If you hadn't known, Helga Hufflepuff is a Seer and she has seen what has come to pass in your time. While we do not understand why or how her inner eye saw you, so far in the future, we are pleased with the forewarning.
She has foreseen an age of darkness will descend the halls of Hogwarts in your time. An evil unthinkable will shake our precious school to her core, and this, we cannot stand for. What no one, but each of our sworn headmasters, knows, is that Hogwarts is a sentient being. She has a heart and a semblance of thought. We flooded each and every stone of her walls with our combined magic to give her life, so that she may protect those within her. Only we founders and our loyal headmasters have been able to communicate with her. However, if you focus your magic and clear your mind you may speak with her as well.
Every year without us, Hogwarts grows weaker, our magic waning within her. This is how you two will use the powers that we have given you. As the children of Hogwarts, it is your destiny to continue our work and to sustain Hogwarts before she falls completely. You must perform a ritual, flooding Hogwarts' heart with the magic that we gave you. This must be done before the First Millennial Birthday of Hogwarts.
Do the ritual correctly and all Hogwarts' protections will be restored to full magical power, as well as her heart. Fail in this task and our beloved Hogwarts will fall forever.
We have given both of you the powers to accomplish this. Leonada has received her abilities from Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw. Blaise has received his abilities from Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff. Use them wisely and they will help you on your journey.
In order to read the next entry of this journal, you will have to master all of your abilities. Be warned, once you have finished your training, you will have to prove your mastery by performing four trials together. The first trial will appear in the next entry, and once you accomplish that task, the next will appear, and so on. These trials will lead you down the path to reviving our great institute."
Wow. I just can't believe this shit." Leo said as she collapsed onto her bed.
"I know, it seems like a fairytale," answered Blaise.
"Oh, I was talking about how I've wrapped up in some bloody prophecy again. It was gods damned painful and difficult the first time!" Leo responded. Blaise and Draco exchanged pitying looks.
After reading from the Founders' journal in Dumbledore's office, they decided that this prophecy, power change, and, most importantly, the imminent collapse of Hogwarts must be kept a secret for as long as possible from the general public. It would cause quite a few problems, not to mention widespread panic, if people knew what could happen to the famous and beloved school.
Of course, certain people will have to know, mainly the Order members and the school's staff. Their parents were being told, as well. In fact, Dumbledore and Snape were telling the Zabini and Malfoy parents right now in the sitting room.
"I wonder how everyone will take it." Draco chimed in. He was worried about the school, of course, it has been his home away from home for so many years, but, he was worried about the twins more. Learning about this after all that has happened to them, especially to Leo, was a hard pill to swallow. He could still remember the look on her face as she read aloud from the journal, a mixture of sorrow and terror.
"They will be confused for a bit, but jump right in to help in any way they can." Leo said with a smile. "Knowing all of them the way I do, they won't have absolute trust in you two for a while, even if I vouch for you." she sighed. "That's another problem in itself. If Dumbledore wants them involved, they will have to know who I am, or was. I realize that it won't be a secret forever, but I was hoping I would be anonymous for a little while longer. I'm not ready to be the Great Heroin of the Dark War again. I just hope that, for all our sakes, that old coot knows what he is doing."
"Ok, we can worry about that later. What I want to figure out is what our special abilities are." Blaise said. He was pacing in front of Leo's balcony doors, a thoughtful frown marred his face. "We know that we each got two gifts. I got Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, you got Slytherin and Ravenclaw. What were they known for being good at?" he questioned. "I know Gryffindor was known for his courage, strength and mischievous pranking. He also had a talented memory. He could remember anything, even before the use of memory charms. What do you think Leo?" turned to his sister for help.
"Well, he was skilled in a lot of things really. His education was quite well rounded. Hmm... Hogwarts; A History says that he was good at spells, the creation, and casting of them. Maybe you can create some truly amazing spells?" Leo said.
"Maybe. Draco? What do you think?" Blaise asked.
"Um... I know that Gryffindor was an amazing flier. You are pretty great on the broom mate, that might be one of your abilities."
"I'm going to start writing these down on the chalkboard, so we can keep track," Leo said, walking over to the board. At the top of the board she wrote 'special powers', under that she wrote Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Next, to Gryffindor, she wrote memory, spells, and flying.
"Alright, can you think of anything else for Gryffindor?" she asked, turning back to the boys.
"No, but I think I might have one for Hufflepuff!" Draco announced excitedly. "It was said that she was great at food magic! Most of the recipes the house elves use at Hogwarts are hers. He might have inherited that!"
"Great idea Draco! I'll put it on the list. I know that she was gifted when it came to handling magical creatures. You might have that ability too." she added.
"I could. I used to do well in that class. What about herbology? She was good at that too, wasn't she?" he asked.
"I think so, but I'm not positive. I'll put it on the list anyway." Leo said as she was writing it down. She continued on by writing down Slytherin's name as well as Ravenclaw's. "Ok, so what about the possible powers I have?"
"I know Slytherin was an accomplished potions master, much like our Head of House," said Blaise.
"That's not the only thing he has in common with Snape, he was a legilimens too," mentioned Draco.
"Well, we should just call Severus 'Salazar Jr.' then. The only other trait I can think I might have is Slytherin's wand-less capabilities. Another ability they both share." Leo said smirking at her own joke, as she wrote everything down.
"Ok, now what about Ravenclaw? She was pretty smart. She came up with the charms that make the staircases move, maybe that's it. You can make and cast complex charms!" Draco said, practically bouncing in his seat.
"We already know you have a talent for Transfiguration. Maybe you got that from her. She was an animagus too, wasn't she?" Blaise mentioned.
"Yeah! She and Hufflepuff were the only ones who mastered it. Ravenclaw was an eagle while Hufflepuff was a badger. That's why those animals represent their houses!" Leo said excitedly. "She was also gifted in Runes, though I don't know how they can tie into a special power, anything is worth a shot. Right?"
"I'll say. We should start testing these theories right away. There is no telling what you guys can do!" Draco said, getting up and walking over to Leo. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed up her neck. "I might very well be dating the smartest, most beautiful, and powerful witch of our time!"
"Thanks, Drake," Leo said, turning around to give him a quick appreciative kiss.
"Oi, you two lovebirds cut that out. We need to figure out how we are going to test these talents to find out which ones are right." Blaise interrupted a small smirk on his face. Although he didn't like it when they would randomly snog in front of him, he was happy for them. It seemed Leo had Draco, as well as everyone else, wrapped around her finger.
What he found hilarious; she didn't even try. She was just generally a nice person. She didn't even realize how much people loved her and that any one of her friends would give up the world for her. The most amazing thing about her was that she would do the same for them.
She almost died in that damnable war so Harry Potter wouldn't have to face it all by himself. She silently suffered at the hands of Ron Weasley so Harry wouldn't be distracted from his goals.
She is the strongest person he had ever met. He knew that if anyone was going to save Hogwarts from collapsing it would be his sister. He would be there to help in any way he could, and he had a feeling that Draco wouldn't let them try anything without him.
Just then Miny popped out of nowhere and bowed to Leo. "Your parents and your professors and waiting at your door Mistress. May Miny let them in?" she squeaked.
"Oh! Yes, of course. Let them in right away." Leo responded. The three teens stood in front of the balcony doors as the adults filed through from the hall.
"Well, I must say, Leo, this is the perfect room for you." Severus chuckled as he looked around.
"Yes, I was ecstatic when I saw it. Blaise chose the room but Draco chose the colors and decorations," she responded, smiling fondly at her boyfriend. Draco gave a sheepish grin to his godfather, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. Severus did nothing but raise an eyebrow at him, the corner of his lips twitching.
"As you know, your parents have been informed of what has occurred this afternoon. Tonight Severus and I will call a meeting of the Order and tell them, as well. You must decide at this point in time on how much is to be told. I understand that others have been told your previous identity. Do you wish it to be a secret from the Order for now, or, for them to be told as well?" Dumbledore questioned.
Leo looked startled at the thought of the others being told about her previous identity so soon but realized that they would all find out eventually. Being told now and getting everything out into the open would be best. She only hoped that a certain red-headed family would understand and that their youngest son wouldn't be there.
"Very well Professor. You can tell the Order who I was. They will all find out eventually and it would be better to just get it out of the way now. However, I reserve the right to tell who I want, when I want, about what happened to me in the regards of Ron." she responded.
"Excellent, my dear. I also wish that you all come to this meeting. Your parents are welcome to join the Order as well as you boys. I assure you that there will be no fighting tonight. A fair warning to you Leo, most of the Order will be there. All of the Weasleys will be at headquarters tonight, however, I will not allow Ronald to attend the meeting. Harry will be there, as well as the Lupins, Kingsley, Alistair, and most of the Hogwarts staff." Albus looked at her. His face read full understanding on how she was feeling. Leo had always respected the great leader. He thought only of others and how he could help them.
"Alright. We will be there. Just make sure they don't attack us on site. I know how they can get, especially Moody." Leo sighed. "It's going to be a long night." she thought.