HARRY POTTER AND THE PRINCES OF HOGWARTS

A/N: Hello everyone! As promised, here is the second upload for this week. It is a little shorter, but I had to stop it there so it made sense in the next chapter. I really hope you guys like it! If you do, make sure to let me know in the reviews or by favouriting/following this story. That would literally make my day :) Alright, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: This story is written for fun and profit and I make no claim to rights and ownership of Harry Potter.

Chapter 7- Meet the Founders (2)

"I-", Salazar Slytherin tried to say. "I don't understand. How is that even possible?"

Harry had just broken the news of his time-travel incident with them, and judging by their impressions, they not only found it absolutely crazy but also quite unbelievable. First, they had thought it was a joke the students were playing on them, trying to fool them into thinking that a kid had just appeared in the middle of Hogwarts from the future. When they had first seen him, they had thought it was a boy from the village that had gotten lost or tried to visit their older sibling. But that notion turned out to be a false one since all of them ran multiple spells over him, which did indeed confirm his birth date to be in 1980, almost a thousand years in the future.

So then they had tried convincing him out of the whole time-travel thing since none of them had ever heard of a power that could turn time. That changed as well as they looked over at the man that still hadn't introduced himself, the man with the long white beard, though if Harry really was in a room with all the Founders, the real, alive version, not the portraits, then he had a good idea of who that was: Merlin Le Fay (He had taken over his wife's name because she found his old one too complicated and not exactly a song to the ears). He had not said a word since Harry had shared his crazy hypothesis, and he was becoming redder by the second from trying to stifle his laughter.

Salazar's eyes narrowed dangerously. The other three spun around to face him, crossing their arms and silently demanding an explanation.

"What have you done now, old man?", he growled.

Merlin threw his head back and laughed while the adults shared a look of annoyance and Salazar sighed impatiently.

As they all just stared at him laughing, Rowena, being helpful as always, suggested, "I think Harry really doesn't need this right now. It has to be overwhelming. Sal, Rick, why don't you get him some lunch downstairs and we'll get him to talk." She looked at Merlin, who was practically rolling around on the floor with tears in the corner of his eyes. "Which might take a while", she added grimly.

Helga called after them, "Remember to disguise him!"

Harry tried to protest, but Godric took his hand and led him through the door, and then shook it.

"Hi, I'm Godric Gryffindor, but you, of course, can call me Rick. Nice to meet you."

Harry smiled. He never would have dreamt that he was actually going to meet any of them since Merlin knew that was impossible. Suddenly, that phrase had a whole new meaning, especially since he had just met the legendary wizard.

"And I am Salazar Slytherin, and I'm not exactly a fan of", his face turned sour as if he was eating something gross, "nicknames." Harry had the feeling that the last part was directed more at Rick than at him.

"Pleasure to meet you both", he responded politely.

After making a few minor changes to Harry's features, they started to descend the long staircases, Godric asking him all kinds of questions, from his age to his favourite food to who raised him so far. Harry answered all of them, and he had to admit that Godric was very fun to be around, even though it had started off a little overwhelming. He sort of reminded him of Sirius.

Lucius and Snape, on the other hand, were almost exactly like the silent and intimidating Salazar, which had also asked a few questions of his own, and he had been pleased to hear that Harry had had tuition. He liked raising powerful wizards, which was one of the reasons he helped found Hogwarts and had become a teacher in the first place.

They entered a huge hall, with big chandeliers and four wooden tables facing a lifted platform where another table was placed. It didn't take a genius to figure that the four were for the students of each house and that the one on the stage was where the staff was seated. As Harry looked up, he gasped in wonder. The ceiling had been enchanted to replicate a big window, and he could see the sky speckled with clouds and the bright sun.

Since all the students had the day off and were either outside playing in the grass and swimming in the lake or inside reading and studying, Godric waved his wand and the four houses vanished, replaced by one normal-sized table, where all of them took a seat. Another wave of his wand created a slight jingle, and barely a few moments later, the table was set and filled with all kinds of foods: mashed potatoes. roast chicken, fried broccoli, ….

Godric eyed the food greedily and rubbed his hands together. "All right, who's hungry?"

As soon as Harry had gone with the guys, Rowena turned to Merlin, who now sat comfortably in his chair drinking fire-whisky, her lips in a thin line, arms crossed, eyes fiery.

"Out with it, Merlin. What did you have to do with this?"

He broke into another fit of laughter, wiping the tears from his eyes. They always did seem to be able to tell when he meddled. And in the end, he always told them. Today was no different.

As the ladies and Merlin arrived at the table and helped themselves vigorously, he sat down opposite Harry and started to explain to everyone what had happened.

"Morgana, my wife, had a vision. She is a very gifted Seer and truly believes that she is not to meddle with anything, as the gift she has comes with great responsibility. Her words, not mine. I'd just try to prevent everything, which would probably cause chaos, which is why I'm not the Seer. Anyways, for the first time in what felt like forever, she told me a part of the prophecy with very precise instructions I had to follow so I don't mess it up. And might I say, I executed it perfectly. Proof being Harry sitting here in front of me. I sadly can't tell you anything about the prophecy, but I will try to explain why it's important you stay here, Harry. At the end of the day, it is your choice but listen first, please.

"The Dursleys, your Aunt and Uncle, would have treated you horribly. I'm talking about child abuse, physical and mental. Your potential would have been wasted and that would have been a tragedy, especially with the amount of power you can achieve. You've already achieved so much that there is no doubt in my mind that you can become the wizard that saves our world."

"Save our world?", Harry asked. He had not signed up for this.

Merlin's eyes widened and he clamped his hand to his mouth. Annoyed, he rolled his eyes, "This is why Morgana handles this part of the job! But no, that hair salon appointment was more important."

Rowena cleared his throat and after staring at her in a confused manner for a couple of seconds, he got the message. "Right! Yeah, so Harry, we have a proposal for you. Me, Sal, Rick, Ro and Gaga can teach you all we know. You would kind of be a student here, though I don't think we need to disguise you or anything. We'll just change your name and you'll try not to make any marriage contracts or blood pacts. We would split the classes and you'd stay with us here at Hogwarts until you're ten, which is when you'll go back to your time period. It's your choice, Harry."

Helga leaned in and gave him a gentle squeeze on the shoulder, smiling warmly.

"Stay with us or go back?"

Harry thought about it. It was a great offer, a once in a lifetime opportunity. But what about Sirius? About Draco? About Fleur? And what about Lucius and Evelyn and your brother that you still haven't met? nagged a small voice in his mind. Sirius would be devastated, but he was a grown man, he could get over it, right? Of course not, it's SIRIUS. Draco had banished him in the first place, and if he had made it official as the Malfoy Heir, Harry probably couldn't get back into the mansion anyways. Fleur was in France, and he would visit her as soon as he got back. She always travelled lots, so she probably wouldn't have time for him anyway. Lucius and Evelyn had their own son to take care of, they would not have a problem with him gone. But even that thought made his heart ache in sadness. They had been like parents to him. Sirius was more like his fun older brother. And Adrian, well, as said, he had never met him. How could you miss someone you've never met? Or how could they miss you?

At the end of the day, he had been gone for 48 hours before Dumbledore had left him at the doorstep and no one had come, no one had said anything. And if he had the chance to learn from the best, why not take the chance? He would miss all of his friends, family and the Malfoys terribly, but they would understand. I hope so. If not, you're doomed when you go back. That voice was really not helping.

He found himself nodding slowly.

"Yes," he said quietly. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Yes, I'll stay." Grinning, he added, "Couldn't have the world destroyed now, could I?"

Merlin clapped him on the back, then started looking around nervously. He muttered, "Really shouldn't have let that slip. Morgana is going to kill me."

Harry laughed. These were going to be a very fun and interesting few years.

A/N: Well, that is it. Harry has arrived at the Founder's Castle and is going to train with them. Make sure to follow this story to not miss out on next week's chapter, where Harry- Well, you'll find out next week. Wouldn't want any spoilers, right? ;)

I hope you have a great week and stay safe,

~Meghan B.