"Salazar, can you stop trying to belittle the muggleborn students? Telling them they are worse than pureblood will only cause resentment," Godric moaned. Slytherin had infernos blazing in his eyes as he fingered his wand.

"I've had it with your complaints about my teaching. I have told you that I shall teach as I see fit, and that involves telling the muggleborns that they will forever be inferior and subservient to the purebloods. Power is passed down by lineage, and they are simply the weakest, and often the most dim witted. I will take charge for those with enough ambition to listen to me! House Slytherin shall rise and crush its opposition!"

"Very well, I shall take the brave," Godric said heatedly. "Only the most noble and pure hearted shall be in my house. At least then some children will be safe from your indoctrination." Harry scoffed inwardly, he himself had seen many deplorable Gryffindors act like children-with no finesse or subtlety, though having met their founder he supposed they could not be blamed. It seemed that history was following through on its course, and with the founders of the two houses themselves having a rivalry Harry did not find it surprising their followers had continued the feud for generations to come.

"In that case I shall take the witty and the wise, someone ought to protect and appreciate the talents of the intellectuals," Rowena declared. Harry couldn't smile slightly at the declaration, she had finally begun to assert her place as one of the founders.

"I shall take the hard working and the loyal," Helga said dreamily, as if Salazar had not just gone on a tirade about murdering all magical children not born to magical parents. Harry sighed inwardly, for he knew Hufflepuffs, whether rightfully or not, would become the laughing stock of the wizarding world. They were treated as second class Gryffindors by most others, at least Ravenclaw had maintained some of their dignity by remaining neutral.

"What of you Harry, shall you have your own house, you are as much an original founder as the rest of us," Godric said gesturing to Harry. Salazar seemed agreeable to the idea as well, though Harry wondered what he could possibly take, seeing as Helga had scooped up the leftovers of the other founders. Perhaps the leaders, people with visions for a fuller picture. Slytherins craved power, Ravenclaws studied it, Hufflepuffs shared their power and Gryffindors used it. A house for those who could control it would be fitting, a blend of the best of the four houses. But just as quickly as the thought entered his mind he dismissed it. Children would be children, and he wanted no part in their segregation.

Outwardly, Harry merely smiled as he said, "I shall take no part in this house system. I can only foresee division and conflict down this path, and I shall act as an impartial force that all can turn to." It had been one year, and the arguments had continued, but Harry knew it would come to a head, and it seemed the time was now. "How shall students be sorted anyways?"

"I have a hat, we can each imbieu a part of our spirit into it, let it judge each student by their minds and sort them. Harry, if we imbiew your spirit as well then it will be impartial!" Godric announced. Even if Salazar was skeptical, the founders all agreed on using the hat, which Godric pulled out of his hat with a smile. It was a large brown hat not unlike those of wizards and witches in storybooks and legends. It's surface was lined with brown creases, and Harry could imagine the mouth and eyes that would be animated onto it, remembering fondly when he had a very interesting discussion with the hat, and being forever grateful that it was unable to spill his secrets.

Godric cast a strange charm, and five beams escaped from the hat, hitting each of them before it glowed a different colour. Rowena's beam was blue, while Godric's was red. Helga admired her yellow beam while Salazar seemed happy with his green. Harry observed his own beam, which was a deep and rich purple. He felt his mind tingling, a gentle probing force against his occlumency shields. Tentatively, he lowered them, and felt a presence reach in, learning, mimicking him.

It took several seconds before the feeling faded away, and when he opened his eyes the other founders were all staring at him. The purple beam still connected the hat and him strong as ever, though now the hat had eyes and a mouth.

"Harry Potter, much darkness and much light, you are perhaps the best of the four founders. You seek power, but do no allow it to consume you, you wield power, but do not become complacent, you learn about power, but do not fear or prejudice it, you share power to those who are worthy, but you do not empower the evil. What a shame you decided not to have your own house, it would truly make a force of history."

"Thank you, you dignify me. However as I said, I shall act as an impartial force for all students to seek. Besides, one could argue the scales are balanced right now. Hufflepuffs lean more to Gryffindor while Ravenclaws to Slytherin."

The hat chuckled, "You already put Gryffindor and Slytherin on pedestals, but I have seen your mind, and I cannot fault you."

"You can read my mind without being put on?" Harry queried. The hat chuckled mischievously.

"Only because you allowed me to, believe me if you used even a fraction of your occlumency I would not be able to. How else am I supposed to make sure the houses are evenly split if I haven't seen all the students before I start sorting them? Do you really think that there are just coincidentally around the same number for each house every year, I may a magical hat but even I have limits you know?"

"Indeed," Harry said with mirth. "Perhaps we should save our conversation for another time, for the other founders are growing suspicious. Rowena in particular is looking at us hungrily, I could imagine her carving you open trying to figure out how you work."

"You jest at your mate's expense! How unbecoming of you!" the hat jokingly chided. "But indeed, I fear for my safety if we do not end this conversation. I look forward to our next."

Harry put back his occlumency shields in place and the purple beam faded. "Well well well, we're all done and done, would you all not agree that it has been fun, the things that I gleam from you all I would rather not know, be glad that secrets are kept and your visions I cannot show."

"Alright, I think that is enough, seeing as it is already near Sunday morning we might well wait for the students to wake and sort them," Godric said with a yawn before taking a sip out of a mug of tea.

The other founders followed suit, sipping on the tea in companionable silence besides a roaring flame. "Should we divide up the students, after the new tax and sponsorships we now have over a hundred students, classrooms have become cramped," Helga mused.

"Great idea my dear!" Godric shouted and Helga blushed as Salazar snorted. Harry and Rowena merely exchanged amused looks as the courageous founder continued, "We should split up lessons so that each house has one lesson at a time."

But with the addition of students, wouldn't it make sense to split them by year. Afterall, having different abilities would be a godsend for lessons," Rowena interjected. Salazar nodded in agreement, and the other two founders reluctantly agreed.

"I propose that we name each house after ourselves, seeing as we will be responsible for the charges. Besides, we are building a legacy," Salazar announced slightly arrogantly. To Harry's surprise, the others nodded their agreement, settling on using their last names.

"But back to the subject at hand, I propose that my students join with Rowena's and your two student groups join together for classes," Helga proposed. Godric looked as though he had been betrayed, while Salazar snorted even louder this time.

"Please tell me you're joking, my students would wilt away from the idiotic nature of Godric's followers. I insist that my students are paired with Ravenclaw, at least then Slytherin wouldn't not suffer from a deficit in intelligence."

"My students aren't groceries for you to pick and choose Salazar," Rowena chided, "my Ravenclaws will be working with the Hufflepuffs. I might not agree with how you run Slytherin, but don't you dare try and run my house!" By the end of her tirade Rowena was standing up staring down at Salazar. If the man was intimidated he did not show it, as he simply scoffed.

"As if anyone cares what you think. Godric, surely you cannot agree to this foolishness!"

"You will not insult the woman who controls your precious potions budget!" Harry said angrily before Godric could respond. "Rowena organizes all the funding at Hogwarts, so the least you could be is grateful." He felt slightly bad shouting at his mentor for over a decade, but Salazar was really different ot how the portrait taught him, and he had developed quite the soft spot for Rowena.

"Insolent brat, you are nothing compared to me! I can speak to snakes, can you boast of that feat? I have created a new branch of magic? Can you boast the same? Rowena is just a book reading antisocial, I hope you enjoyed the pixies, I hear they are quite friendly, would probably teach you a lesson in practical magic too."

Harry's fist balled angrily, and Rowena put a calming hand over him as she replied curtly, "Well unfortunately someone is petty enough to try and hinder others to prove that which does not exist. Boast and brag to reveal a hollow and empty husk."

"Why you-"

"Slytherin!" Harry said, eyes boring onto him. "You will apologize to Rowena, she has done far more for Hogwarts than you."

"Oh, forgive me if I don't bed her in appreciation," he said slyly. Rowena gasped and Salazar had the audacity to laugh, "So you did manage to get into the bookworm's dress, my congratulations. No wonder she was so supportive of you becoming a teacher. Also makes one wonder whether you really gave the gold for the land or just to buy her off."

"Salazar, what Rowena and I have between us is private," Harry hissed dangerously. Switching to parseltongue, he continued, "Besides, we wouldn't want to see what dark secrets you have, would we? You're hardly around a wife, and you have never introduced us, perhaps something go wrong? Malcom starts Hogwarts this year, though I'm sure you've been teaching him, do you really think you can protect him?"

His words were chosen carefully and its effects were twofold. One, he wanted to stave off Salazar from further antagonizing Rowena. Two, he hoped that Salazar might stave off his dark path. He had suddenly grown much more hostile since last Yule, and Harry hoped that the man had not gone down the dark path he seemed fated for. Salazar paled and hastily left the room, swishing his cape as he left without another word, Rowena following.

"Harry?" Rowena asked slightly timidly as she struggled to catch up, and his face softened.

"Just a private chat, Row, nothing for you to worry about. Come, join me in my quarters before breakfast, we might be able to finish decrypting the next section of the tome."

She seemed to brighten at the idea, and accepted his extended hand, leaning her head onto his shoulder as they left the staffroom and headed up Ravenclaw tower.

"I guess that you wanted to discuss something other than the tome Harry," Rowena mused as they began ascending the staircase.

"You know me too well, my love," Harry replied, reaching out and touching her cheek gently. He smiled when she blushed at the contact but didn't stop him, in fact leaning closer and planting a kiss on his lips before pulling back slightly, breathing softly and allowing each warm breath to tease him.

"Harry, you know you can tell me anything, ever since you've come into my life I've finally regained the will to continue on. There is nothing on this world that could make me any less thankful for what you have given me."

"But you might love me less for it," he countered sadly, holding a finger gently to her lips when she opened them to protest. "There are many things that I have not told you, some I am not sure if I can ever bring myself to, but I have little doubt we would not be the same."

"You insult my love for you with these statements Harry. Try me, please, I swear on my life that I will love you all the same. I don't care what you did in the war against the dark lord, if this is what it's about. All I care about is the Harry in front of me, so please, open up to me."

"You always know what to say to cheer me up, my raven," Harry cooed softly. She giggled as he pulled her closer and began leading her up the staircase. "I am merely thinking about Salazar, he has gotten more temperamental ever since last Christmas."

"He...has just hid it better in the past I suppose, he is truly a great man in his own right, but he has allowed himself to become corrupted by his views," she lamented sadly. This struck a chord with Harry, and he realized that he had been too late, that the horcrux was already made and that he could only hope that he would be there in time to stop it. "Your mind wanders again love, tell me what you think," she beseeched.

Harry sighed, rubbing his temples. It was still refreshing to know someone genuinely cared for him. He had been little more than a lost an empty soul when he had first arrived to his new time, and from her confiding he knew she had been little better than he had been as well. He was...sympathetic towards her, especially after remembering that countless history books would go on to romanticize her work at Hogwarts. In his hunt for the dark lord's horcruxes, he had also learnt of the Grey Lady, Rowena's daughter who betrayed her, and he could only imagine the suffering that Rowena had gone through in the original timeline.

But perhaps two lost souls could heal each other when they met, and as they entered his quarters he pulled her into a kiss while wandlessly closing and locking it, trying to convey how much she now meant to him. And somehow, he knew she understood as she moaned gently into him, snaking her hand around him. The only pulled away from each other several minutes, staring intently at each other.

"Better?" she asked cheekily, cocking her head.

"Better," he affirmed with a smile.

"The students will be waking up soon, we still need to get ready for the sorting," she said hesitantly, putting a finger between them when he leaned in again. He gave her a pout before pulling back, fixing his robes with a straightening charm before checking himself in the mirror.

"So who do you think will be in your house?" Harry asked curiously.

"I don't know, haven't thought about it." Harry raised an eyebrow, and after several seconds she admitted sheepishly, "Alright, maybe I did think about it for a bit...alright, I've made a list of everyone I think will be in my house, now stop looking at me like that!"

He ignored her, continuing to straighten out his robes while she cast a cleaning charm on herself. Accepting her hand as they made their way back down the staircase and towards the main hall, Harry mused, "So it begins."