A/N: I hope all my readers are well, and I hope they will reward me my work in writing by writing a review. Press the green button on the bottom and type it's not hard. This chapter has some bad language, be prepared.

Disclaimer: Silverfawkes: Gandalf do you know how I can claim this as mine? There is no magic that can achieve that silverfawkes, I'm afraid you must admit that this world you write in belongs to J.K. Rowling. Darn it I was hoping...

Harry Potter and the Speaker of Truth

Chapter 21 Confrontations and Comfort

When Yuki got back to her quarters, she quickly changed into some of her casual witches wear. While she had been teaching them geography this morning they had said a few things regarding her questions about the charter and after having thought about it at various moments during the day she wasn't happy with her conclusions. She wanted to make sure her conclusions were correct. She went to talk with the founders.

She didn't even get a chance to ask them when the barrage of questions started.

"So who is on the Wizards Council?"

"I don't know."

"Who's in charge of the wizarding world then?"

"I don't know."

"What laws are in place?"

"I'm not sure."

"The Hat had to have made a mistake, no one this ignorant could possibly know enough about magic to be an apprentice. Do you know anything of use to us? Or should we just consign you to the kitchens for the next seven years." Salazar hissed menacingly.

"I may not know squat about the wizarding world, I only officially joined it three days ago. But knowing how to find out what we want to know? You'd better believe it. In fact I would love to go right now and get started. With your permission?"

"YOU are a DISGRACE," Salazar shouted.

Rowena and Godric looked troubled but said nothing. Helga said, "Salazar you are being cruel she is our apprentice."

"But what possible use is she? She doesn't attend us, and she doesn't know enough to tell us anything."

"Attend you? I have frigging been in class, and have been doing what I am supposed to do. Maybe I don't follow the model of apprentices of your day, but the world is very different now"

"So you keep saying, but you don't say how."Godric stated.

"Apprenticeships that are basically indentured servitude are no longer legal in the muggle world, at least in civilized prosperous countries. They're regarded as being a little to close to slavery. Which by the way is also outlawed. Something the wizarding world has yet to embrace. I lived a life very out of touch with magic in the States. My mom was famous for her potions but didn't like the prejudice of the wizarding world, so we lived as muggles with my dad. Who, oh my, was a muggle. I am an empath so when I was little, I knew all of six people all of whom are dead now. I have lost or left behind just about everything I hold please excuse me for not kowtowing to you, oh esteemed founders. I'm still trying to balance myself."

"You dare address us in that manner. I should..." Salazar snarled.

"Shut the fuck up,"yelled Yuki as she raised her hand towards the painting.

"Yesterday, I had a vision. My vision showed two paths that lie before us. This vision is actually a continuation of a vision I had two years ago. Two years ago my choices were staying with the man who is effectively my godfather when my parents died, or leaving the familiar and coming here. The difference? Staying I damned the magical world and seventy percent of the rest of the world population to death, leaving all I hold dear, means a chance, just a chance mind you, to save them. The vision yesterday leads me to one conclusion I need to learn as much as I can as fast as I can so I can make sense of it. The world is a much different place than it was when you last had contact with it and I'm willing to teach you everything I learn. But goddamnit, you need to give me a chance to learn it first. You were the best, smartest, savviest, wizards and witches of your age, having you here could be the best thing possible or if you try to hang onto what used to be, the worst; the end of magic and us all. Maybe hearing of an apocalyptic vision doesn't bother you, but having them sure as hell bothers me.

"Salazar, between what my vision showed me and what Aunt Min told me yesterday. Your heir is one of the movers and shakers behind all this. Thirteen years ago he was stopped but apparently he had some Dark Magic to preserve himself. He's planning to start things again. Harry Potter is the linchpin. He's the sole fucking hope of the blinking world. The Headmaster of Hogwarts needs to be training him but instead he's keeping him in the dark. I don't know why. This whole situation is on a razor's edge of going FUBAR and I bloody well don't have enough frigging intell to know what to do.

"So instead of sitting here listening to an old stupid painting ask me questions I don't know answers to and insult me. I'm taking my cat and my books outside where I can study in peace and hopefully start accomplishing something towards saving the bloody world. I suggest you four pull your heads out of your...wizarding pride and decide what is truly important. I'll talk to you... later."

Yuki took her book bag and emptied it. She jumped when Barney popped in front of her. "Miss Yuki wanted to speak with Barney."

Yuki took a deep breath."Oh yes, Barney I almost forgot. I was hoping to ask the elves to stock my kitchenette with some staples so I can make my own breakfasts and snacks." Yuki saw Barney's eyes well up with tears and winced."Barney the house elves make wonderful English food. I'm just used to a greater variety of cuisine and I'm used to eating more than three times a day. I don't want to make more work for the kitchen elves. I'm positive they're busy if my visit to the kitchen today is anything to go by. I'm just one person and I know how to take care of myself. So I'd really appreciate it if my kitchenette could get stocked. I'll write out my list and you elves could just add it to your shopping for the school okay?"

"You don't have what you need."

"Yes I do. There's still one trunk I haven't unpacked. It has the stuff from my kitchen back home."

"But us elves..."

"Make wonderful meals for hundreds of people and do the laundry and help Mr. Filch clean the whole castle. I don't want to make more work for you."

"But us elves loves work!" Barney wailed.

Yuki stopped and considered. "I'll make you a deal. I promise to eat lunch and dinner in the Great Hall and breakfast on the weekends if you'll let me make my own during the week, or I could just make arrangements to make all my meals myself."

Barney stopped wailing and considered. He knew from helping her unpack two days ago Miss Yuki was more stubborn than most wizards. Hogwarts, herself had changed the configuration of the rooms to Miss Yuki's wishes. Taking the first option would certainly not make the elves happy. But Button the elf in charge of the kitchen would prefer it to Miss Yuki depriving herself of their services altogether; something she was stubborn enough to do if provoked. "All right we stocks the kitchenette, we cleans up after you cooks, and you shares your recipes with Button. You show me you haves what you needs, and I make sure you is being truthful. Has Miss Yuki been in a magic kitchen before?

Sensing victory Yuki didn't want to lose ground. "I can't say I have but I'm sure I can figure it out."

"Barney is showing Miss Yuki since she's being a bad, stubborn witch. Because she is usually nice and kind to elves.

"Okay." Yuki hid her amusement as Barney gave her the promised tutorial and unpacked her kitchen paraphernalia. She was even more amused when everything fit in her small kitchenette when it had filled a kitchen four times the size back in the States.

Barney was reluctant to admit it but Miss Yuki did indeed have everything she could need to cook for herself."You was being truthful about having what you need. Saturday morning early you come to kitchen with your list and recipes and Button will talk to you."

"Thank you, Barney."

"You isn't welcome, Miss Yuki." He popped out.

Yuki grinned at her victory. Then she frowned at the painting over the mantle. She resumed her earlier plan. She loaded History of Magicand her Ancient Civilization text into her book bag along with a spiral notebook and some pencils. She called Yvaine and left her quarters. On their way outside Yuki noticed Yvaine eying a student's pet rat. Before she let Yvaine down she cast a charm that would compel Yvaine not to hunt any creature that smelled of people. Yuki kept a eye on her cat as they wandered down to Hagrid's. Tristan, Sorsha, and Phoebe cheerfully greeted their feline companion and the four of them started playing something like tag. Yuki found a tree to lean against and started studying. She soon lost herself in the rhythm of reading, marking, questioning and note taking. The next thing she knew her pets were pouncing on her as the sun set.

She quickly gathered her belongings and her pets and returned to the castle. She fed her pets and went down for dinner carefully avoiding even a glance at the painting above the mantle. At dinner she sat with Hannah and Susan again. The dinner conversation was relaxed, Yuki answered some questions the girls had on their potions homework and the girls shared school gossip about who liked who. Yuki didn't participate but she listened closely as after all you never knew where vital information would come from. After dinner she gladly met Aunt Min near the door and followed her to her quarters.

"So Yuki how was your first day?"

"Some good some bad. The worst is I think I'm in trouble with the founders especially Salazar. I feel utterly incompetent at the classes I had today. And there's something off about Professor Moody, don't know what though. Up side is I think I've found at least three potential friends so I think I can manage."

"I'll help you with transfiguration, come see me Saturday morning."

"What time? I'm supposed to meet with Button in the kitchen early."

"Ten o'clock work?"

"Should. Oh and I've been meaning to ask can you get permission from the Headmaster for me to swim in the lake?"

"But it's cold."

"I'll wear my wet suit. I haven't been swimming in a week, I'm going into withdrawal. I may die of deprivation only you can save me," she grinned. "Save me, Aunt Min save me."

"Aye I'll save you, you saucy minx. Why are the founder's mad at you?"

"To start with I ignored them the first day."

"They're a portrait."

"Funny that was my same reaction, but there's a lot more to it than that. How aware are you of what being an Apprentice of the Four really means?"

"I skimmed the relevant sections of the charter before the meeting that first day."

"Did you notice I'm basically an indentured servant for the next seven years?"

"What?!? No I didn't, that's..."

"Archaic, perhaps? This morning I started teaching the founder's what I knew of today's world starting with something I knew, geography. While I taught them I asked some questions I had about the more Obscure parts of the charter especially the parts relating to the Apprentices. It took a while but at lunch it finally sank in, my life until I'm twenty belongs to Hogwarts. Literally. I have to have the permission of my masters to leave school grounds or to do anything other than my work. The portrait holds my masters at least most of them. It is loosely connected to Hogwarts herself. The Hat is my other master. In theory Hogwarts is my ultimate master and in two or so years I should be connected enough to the castle that she can use me to speak. Joyful, joyful right. It gets better, I am 100 % answerable to them. My penance for ignoring them yesterday I have to bring them up to speed on the world. That wouldn't be too bad except Salazar is an impatient...I don't think I should finish that. Anyway I came in this afternoon and they basically attack me because I can't answer the questions they asked. I blew it and I ranted at them about yesterday's vision. Rowena had asked about it but I doubt very much they wanted me swearing at them, which I kinda did. Hardly the even temper I'm known for. But the stakes are so high and Salazar was such a ...."

Minerva was concerned, Yuki was right she didn't usually blow up. The vision she had yesterday, what little Minerva had managed to pry out of her, was undoubtedly traumatic. Then to find herself virtually a slave added to the general stress Yuki was under from her parents death and suddenly changing homes it was a surprise she wasn't under heavy sedation at St. Mungo's. Minerva fought with a sudden strong desire to go yell at a certain painting. She decided distraction might do wonders for both their tempers."Enough about that. Tell me about these new friends. I noticed You with Luna Lovegood last night..."

"Yeah I hit it off with her at dinner, she's different but cool. Neville Longbottom has agreed to tutor me in return for my tutoring him in potions. We're set to meet after History of Magic tomorrow and on Tuesday afternoon. I'm thinking of inviting Luna to join us if her schedule permits."

"Do that, Luna's transfiguration is better than Neville's. And the third potential friend?"

"Daphne Greengrass"

"She's a Slytherin."

"Yeah so?"

"Well..."

"Well what, Aunt Min." seeing her aunt's expression Yuki could sense a struggle."I know from something Daphne said, that the Slytherins have an unsavory reputation. But you must remember Aunt Min I am all four. Cunning and ambition serve a purpose. The trick is to not let them be twisted to evil, because they are among the easiest emotions to twist. Dislike and fear from others could drive some of those in Slytherin house towards evil, especially if it has it's roots in stereotypical prejudice. Besides I liked Daphne she's more than what you see on th surface."

"You think so? She never seemed...She always struck me as a rather Hufflepuffish Slytherin. She toes the pureblood line her father spouts rather well. He's the biggest pureblood bigot I've ever had the misfortune to meet, he's minor nobility and I've never seen Daphne put a toe anywhere he didn't approve first.

"I don't think that alone would get Daphne into Slytherin. She's more than she seems, she just needs to wake herself up."

"Well if you're certain I'll try to give her opportunities. It's eight fifteen. A couple of things then you should go, I don't want you out after curfew because of the dogs."

"A bit late for that Aunt Min."

"What?"

"I ran late last night and almost got in trouble with Mr. Filch."

"Almost? There is no almost, when it comes to Argus and students out after curfew."

"Phoebe turned Mrs. Norris up sweet. From what I overheard at the Hufflepuff table this evening, she's regarded as a demon incarnate. I doubt Mr. Filch likes anyone who dislikes his cat and vice versa."

"No doubt." Minerva's lips twitched as Yuki continued.

"Of course it probably helped I commiserated about his workload and promised if I played a prank that made a mess I would clean it up."

"I see, Mrs. Norris wasn't the only one turned up sweet."

"Aunt Min are you implying something?" Yuki grinned. "Like I, your poor sweet orphaned niece, would ever do anything?"

"I notice you didn't claim innocence. Maybe if you hadn't reminded me a bit ago there's some Slytherin in you, you could persuade me but I know better. Albus wanted me to tell you your potion classes start next week. I have something for you, here's a syllabus showing all the transfigurations taught up through OWLs and a listing of books that show the theory behind each. Hopefully that will help you. How are your online classes?"

"I started working on one of them today. The Ancient Civilizations class I'll have two papers and three tests to do, I figure if I'm studying history it makes sense for me to study muggle concurrent with magical. Aunt Min thanks for tonight I needed it."

"Give me a hug and off with you. Take your dogs out and then write your uncle."

Yuki felt happier after her evening with her aunt and decided writing the folks back home was an excellent idea. After taking the dogs out and getting ready for bed she took her laptop into the bedroom. She opened it and started composing an email.

Hi everyone,

I write to you from the wilds of Scotland. Aunt Minerva and I got here safe and sound. Tristan, Sorsha, Phoebe and Yvaine were fine when we picked them up from quarentine. The school here is a bit different than I expected. I got roped into being an assistant chemistry teacher, which had the side benefit of quarters large enough for the pets. It was fate! Student dorms would have been dire. I'm now living in a castle next to a loch. Everything I shipped here that I thought I would store, has been placed in my quarters so it is starting to feel like home. I'm starting to make friends but I definitely miss all my old ones so you can't get out of writing. It's good I set up my laptop for comsat access or there would only be snail mail. Hogwarts is remote. Speaking of snail mail here's how you send stuff to me:

Yuki-himme Carson at Hogwarts School Hogsmeade, Scotland

c/o: Bennington's Mail Service

7542 Coventry Lane

Edinburgh, Scotland

The weather here is colder than I expected so warm stuff for Christmas. I have a great run round the loch and the views are spectacular. I'll send pictures next time. I still need to find my camera. The only drawback to this place is its remoteness. I think I'm adjusting well. Love to you all I miss you. Yuki

When Yuki finished she sent it and then shut down her computer. She hoped for a better day tomorrow and fell asleep.

A/N: I don't know how it happened Yuki and the founders hijacked the story at the beginning of this chapter. My Slytherin says Yuki probably has PMS.