Chapter 22
Harry Potter sitting at the Slytherin table was truly a sight to see. Everyone was talking about it and Draco enjoyed every whisper and stare. His scotch eggs tasted exquisite with a side of other people's envy and Harry seemed to be obliviously enjoying his full fry up.
A glance at the head table showed several things that he would need to mention to his boyfriend...or perhaps he should call him his mate? He made a mental note to talk about it with the boy in question later. For the moment, Professor Slughorn looked a little too interested in Harry's activities but then, other staff members seemed interested too.
As he moved his eyes strategically around the room, Draco listened to Harry converse with his friends. The Gryffindor Golden Boy seemed to be holding his own with both Blaise and Pansy. Draco had no idea what to make of it but, since his new goal was to protect Harry and his elemental powers from being used for nefarious purposes, two allies would be appreciated. Pansy said something that made Harry smirk at Draco but, before the blond could reply, the doors of the great hall swung open to reveal that Professor Snape had returned from London.
Draco took note of his godfather's eyes as they settled on Harry. He watched the older man approach their group and wasn't surprised to hear the deep voice ask him for a word. Standing up, Draco moved off to the side and asked what he wanted.
"Why...is Potter at our table?" Severus asked with a pained sigh.
"I'm sure Father told you that we're officially dating." Draco smirked. "Harry has joined me and my friends to break our fast and then we're going to the Slytherin common room to search for Salazar's secret quarters."
Severus stared for a moment and swept away; his robes billowing as he walked over to the head table.
Draco struggled not to show his amusement as he returned to his seat just in time for the dishes to disappear.
"Are you still hungry?" Harry asked, offering him several slices of an apple after popping one in his mouth.
Draco nodded shyly. "They're my favorite fruit ...apples."
Harry grinned. "I know. It's the only fruit I see you eat."
Draco blushed and stood up to suggest that they follow the planned schedule only to sit back down when he saw Professor Sprout move toward the podium with a letter in her hand.
"Quiet please!" Sprout called out. "I have an announcement!"
The students fell silent and looked up at her in curiosity.
"Most of you will know by now that Lord Potter is searching for the founders' secret quarters." She explained. "So far, all but Slytherin's have been found and explored."
Everyone broke out in applause but quieted down at her signal.
"Treasures were found inside each one!" She said excitedly.
"Many lovely old books which are no longer in print were found in Ravenclaw!" Flitwick chimed in. "Even library equipment that is still in extremely good condition!"
"Gryffindor's rooms held an ancient armory with training equipment and related reading materials." Mcgonagall added.
"The latest was Hufflepuff's quarters. A fair sized cachet of very special plants were preserved under stasis spells in one of the rooms." Sprout grinned at them all. "I've just received news that a team of experts is being assembled by Lord Potter's agents over the next few months to study the plants because several of them belong to species that are on the endangered list and there are even a couple which were previously believed to be extinct. Collectively, we've agreed to give one hundred points to Gryffindor for Lord Potter's philanthropic efforts!"
Draco's gaze was drawn to Harry who was quite placid. Every house had a claim on Harry's actions. He had bravely ventured into the unknown corners of the school to pursue knowledge and now he was going to share the knowledge and resources he'd found without regard for house affiliation. While each of those actions were recognizably from their houses, the credit Harry would get for all of it would add to the reputation he already held of being a chivalrous respectful smart friendly young man ...and that was quite cunning.
"I'd like to invite several students to work with the experts." Sprout continued. "They will each receive fifty points per term to care for the plants in order to eventually bring them back to the world. The following students will please see me by the end of the day - Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Cedric Diggory, Taylor Littletree, Cho Chang, Jaden Primrose, Theodore Nott, and Adrian Pucey. Thank you."
"Those are the top two herbology students in each house." Blaise commented quietly as the professor left the room with several other staff members.
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "I'd assume that she's trying to be fair. If anyone turns her down, she'll probably move down the list or allow others to apply. Shall we go about our day?"
"HARRY!" Neville called, excitedly as he ran over from the Gryffindor table. "Is it true? Professor Sprout told me you specifically requested for me to be on the team!"
"Of course!" Harry nodded with a grin. "Nev, you're the best with plants! You're the 'Newt Scamander' of herbology."
Neville blushingly protested but assured Harry that he'd already accepted before rushing off.
Harry turned to Draco. "He's also my friend and that means he'll tell me what other people might hold back."
Draco smirked. "There's the touch of cunning I was looking for. Let's go."
Harry chuckled and followed the others to the dungeons. He used his password to gain entry and walked in confidently while visually scanning the walls.
Round arches lined the large room. Some were actual alcoves but most were simply artful architectural points. Two armchairs sat below a portrait with a chess set. A couple of sofas sat near the fireplace with a coffee table between them. The rest of the room was littered with desks and chairs. Two bookcases sat between the three windows which looked out onto the lake bed.
"It's just how I remember it from second year, Draco." Harry murmured with a mischievous smirk as he sat on the sofa in exactly the spot he'd occupied on his previous visit.
This startled Blaise but Draco glared as he plopped down into his previous position as well. "And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"You've been here?" Pansy gasped.
"Draco led me and Ron right in." Harry nodded with a devilish grin.
"I did not!" Draco protested.
"Well, I suppose we'd best begin." Harry said, ignoring the indignation on Draco's face. "If I'm going to let you two in on a pretty big secret of mine, I'll need an oath."
"Wait just a moment, Potter! You can't just say something like that and expect to move on without explanations, Harry!" Draco vehemently objected. "I would've never done such a thing! Not that year!"
Harry nodded. "I'll have that oath before the explanation... and in return, they may forgo the title."
Draco huffed but agreed and motioned to the others who dutifully swore themselves to secrecy about the rest of their adventures that day.
Harry, in turn, confessed to the polyjuice potion incident of his second year.
Pansy was gobsmacked. "Granger really made functional polyjuice...? At twelve years old?"
Harry grinned. "Yup."
"Hmmm... I admit it... I'm impressed. Hey, what's up with her this year?" She asked. "I was shocked by her being so distant with you and Weasley."
"We're shocked too. It was quite sudden and entirely unexplained." Harry admitted sadly as he suddenly noticed something. Frowning in confusion, he asked the question in his mind. "I wonder why there's so few people here. It's not yet a Hogsmeade weekend."
"Draco...? Would you like to answer that question?" Blaise smirked.
"Before breakfast I may have made it clear that the common room was to be empty for your visit." Draco shrugged. "I didn't want anyone here that didn't have to be and I didn't want anyone to overhear things meant to be secret. They're outside or in their dorms or the library."
"Who knows? Who cares?" Pansy shook her head in disdain. "They're not here."
"Now, let's see if you can figure out what to make of my theory, Milord." Blaise smirked. "I assume Draco told you?"
"Don't forget I said you didn't need to use the title, Blaise." Harry laughed and nodded as he stood up. Making his way across to the easternmost wall, he took note of the Slytherin symbol around the room. "In answer to your question...yes. He did let me in on your theory. I think it's interesting and entirely plausible."
"You do?" Blaise asked, eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes." Harry nodded. "Which window is it that shows the ruin?"
"I'd say the center window has the best view of it." Pansy pointed out.
Harry was very serious as he approached the windows. After looking out onto the lake bed through the center window for a moment, he went to the other two. Harry suddenly noticed something and spun quite dramatically on his heel and began to speak. "The fireplace mantle holds the largest house symbol in here just like the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room."
"Does that mean something?" Pansy wanted to know.
"I'm not sure." Harry frowned. "In each of the other two houses the largest item in the room was different. In Ravenclaw, it was a statue of Rowena... in Hufflepuff, the colors were more dominant than the symbol and there wasn't a physical representation of Helga herself at all."
"What about Gryffindor?" Blaise asked.
"Gryffindor's common room has loads of portraits but none of them are of Godric himself and the only house symbol is on the fireplace mantle, which is where the entrance to his quarters is." Harry looked around again to confirm his original findings. "Slytherin is quite different. Here we have the symbol scattered around the room with the largest one on the mantle. I have a feeling that, if we check the stones around the base of the fireplace, they will all be secure."
"Blaise." Draco commanded him wordlessly as Harry continued to scrutinize the room.
"Technically the largest thing in this room is the windows... which show the lake bed and the possible ruin." Harry met Draco's gaze. "This suggests to me that Salazar and Godric valued their elemental powers more than the other two founders did."
"Elemental powers?" Pansy's eyes widened.
"Blaise?" Draco called, glancing toward the other boy. "How are those stones?"
"Secure. Just like he said they'd be." Blaise returned to his friend's side.
"You're about to find out why I needed your oaths." Harry told them as he walked over to the bookcase and lifted each book but nothing happened so he moved over to the other bookcase and tried again.
"Potter?" Draco called. "There's another house symbol I think you missed."
Harry turned around but didn't see what Draco was talking about. The blond was pointing toward his feet so Harry looked down and there it was. Walking around it, he saw a single large octagonal tile with the Slytherin crest embedded in the floor. He looked closer and noticed that it was not precisely the same as the usual crest. Rather than a snake, it was a mosaic letter S. The young lord nodded grimly, acknowledging that he was sure this was it. "I wonder...is it triggered by water...no, I think this founder would seek confirmation of the merged bloodline."
"Should you get the sword?" Draco asked carefully.
"Sword?" Blaise echoed, sounding mildly alarmed.
Harry shook his head. "The dagger will do. Dobby?"
"Dagger?" Pansy gasped and looked at Blaise. "Dobby?"
"Yes, Master Harry Potter, sir?" The elf asked once he'd arrived and bowed low.
"Bring me the dagger I found in Gryffindor's quarters, please." Harry told him firmly.
Dobby nodded and popped away. A moment later he was back with the requested item and solemnly giving it over.
Harry thanked his little friend and looked at the Slytherins. "This dagger is one of two interesting things I found in Gryffindor's secret quarters. I'll only make a small cut so there's no need to worry." He'd barely finished speaking when he moved the dagger across his fingertip and allowed a single drop of blood to fall on the tile.
"Here." Draco murmured, taking the brunet's hand and healing it with a spell while the ground rumbled and the air whipped around them.
The window lit up as it seemed to swing into the lake. Harry took a few steps and pointed to the starfish in the center of the path. "You see? The center window isn't actually a window at all. It's a door. Look at the starfish."
"They're spaced out quite a bit...and-" Blaise cut off.
"They're glowing!" Pansy whispered in awe.
"Draco?" Blaise was staring cautiously at the blond.
"You were right, Blaise. " Draco murmured; his shock was evident. "It's underwater! Will it be safe for us to join you, Harry?"
"Definitely." Harry smiled at Draco's friends as he waved for them to follow. Harry placed his hand on the barrier between the pathway and the water of the lake. "It's not wet." He smirked as he showed them it was dry.
Draco touched it as well and felt stone. "It's just a well camouflaged stone tunnel!"
"Talk about cunning." Harry laughed. "All the Slytherin students that ever attended Hogwarts have seen this pathway! They just didn't realize it!"
"But how?" Pansy asked as she grabbed Blaise's hand. "And how did you know?"
"Remember how I looked through all three of the windows?" Harry answered her as soon as Draco once again took his hand. "Well, I noticed that there didn't seem to be any wildlife beyond the line of starfish going out through the center. Then on the left side I saw a fish swim up to avoid something and then down the other side...of nothing. It had to be an object that fish can see but is invisible to humans."
They followed the path, and it seemed to stretch quite far. Starfish lined it the whole way, until they reached a circle of stones that resembled the ones they knew of on land.
"A druid circle?" Harry frowned. "This makes no sense."
"It does if Merlin was involved." Draco took a deep breath. "Merlin was a descendant of the druids."
Harry's eyes met Draco's. "That's weirdly coincidental..."
Draco nodded and then they reached the first stone of the circle. He placed his hand on it and the path behind them lowered into a downward staircase leading back in the direction they'd come. Nobody said a word as they descended the stairs, but when they reached the bottom and found a large oddly shaped chamber, Blaise let out a long low whistle.
The ceiling was apparently charmed to be transparent because they could see the fish and merpeople going about their lives. The bed was luxurious but so was the rest of the matching furniture which included a desk, a large wardrobe, a nightstand, and a bookcase. Torches lit up when they detected movement.
When the staircase blocked itself, Harry sighed. "I think we're safe to walk around."
Blaise followed Draco to the bookcase while Pansy sat on the bed and opened the drawer to the nightstand.
While they were doing that, Harry walked over to the desk, sat in the cushy chair, and began opening drawers. "The top desk drawer has a set of antique quills. The inkpot is dry but that seems perfectly reasonable for one that's several centuries old. Hmm... how interesting!"
"What's interesting?" Draco asked, coming to see.
Harry held up two seals and a bar of wax.
"Is that...?" Draco murmured as he took the seals and looked closely at the symbols. "Oh dear Merlin! That's an oak tree with a Welsh dragon! It's the symbol that's on a book in my father's library, Harry; a book that was supposedly written by Merlin himself."
"Supposedly? Nevermind that, the other is Slytherin's." Harry's head was spinning with all of this intertwining. "Obviously, Merlin and the founders were more than just connected."
"Perhaps they - at least one of them - were more than friends with him?" Blaise offered.
"No. Merlin's blood only joined with that of the founders' when my Uncle Xeno married Persephone Lovegood. Our family keeps very good records of such things. Perhaps Merlin foresaw his line joining with that of the founders." Draco said, reminding them all that Merlin had been a seer.
"I don't think so, boys." Pansy's face was nearly white as she held out a book very similar to the one Harry had found in Gryffindor's rooms.
"Is that a journal?" Harry asked, his eyes lighting up. "I found one just like it in the Gryffindor rooms which - incidentally - is how I guessed Draco's family secret. There were sketches inside that clued me in."
She nodded in understanding. "There's an entry inside this one that references an ancient, evil spell that must not ever be performed. It enslaves all of human-kind - wizard and muggle alike... slowly draining the life force of muggles and squibs."
"So you think Merlin foresaw this evil spell being used and what...orchestrated the founders' bloodlines merging as a super wizard to stop it?" Blaise asked sarcastically.
"Well, no because the super wizard would be Harry's and Draco's bloodlines merging which isn't really possible until they get married and brew the potion." Pansy turned to explain her words to the young lord. "The potion that allows same sex couples to have children takes eight months to brew and one month to sit and you must be of age to acquire the ingredients."
"Actually, Pansy, since I accepted the Earldom, I'm considered an adult." Harry smirked.
"Actually...since I'm part succubus, things are even easier." Draco confessed, a blush tinging his cheeks. "I just found out a few days ago, Pansy. Anyway, that means it can happen without the potion because succubi can bear young no matter their gender."
Pansy fainted. Blaise picked her up and laid her on the bed.
"I can..." Harry stared at his boyfriend. "We can have babies... without a potion that takes months to brew?"
"Yes." Draco's blush deepened. "As a partial succubus, any of my powers depend on my being with my mate. I can only walk your dreamscape ...and I can only bear children with you. All it requires is a particular bonding ceremony which includes a fertility ritual."
"Wow." Harry smiled. "Even though I know it's pretty far in the future, that makes me so happy."
Blaise sighed at the touching sight. "A little help here, boyos?"
Draco looked over and began laughing. "I can't believe she fainted!"
Blaise smirked. "I guess it's pretty shocking that she almost got betrothed to you."
Draco nodded. "Good thing that never happened."
"Alright!" Harry sighed. "Shall we move on? We've got to wake her if we want to finish searching the room."
"I'm a bit disappointed that this little room is all there is." Blaise commented glumly as a low moan sounded from the bed.
"Mmm." Pansy's eyes fluttered and snapped open. "Oh, lord!"
"Welcome back, Pansy!" Draco teased. "You had perfect timing! If you've finished with your nap, you can help with the bookcase. I want to put anything interesting on the bed and we can call Harry's elf to bring it to his office."
Pansy sat up and glared at the blond for the amount of fun he was taking from her little fainting spell. "I suppose that's fine."
"While I have you under the secrecy oath, I want to let you in on the big secret if you haven't guessed yet." Harry told them matter of factly. "The rumours of my ancestors having elemental magic are true and because I have all four of their bloodlines combined, I have it too."
Draco was waiting to see which of his friends would flip out first.
Harry was confused. Neither of the Slytherin students were reacting to this news. "I can make a candle light itself or freeze a glass of water."
Pansy stared at him. She was blinking rapidly and nodding slowly. "I see."
"The air rushes to open doors when I want it to!" Harry told them. "The ground rumbles when I'm angry!"
"Yes, we get the picture, Potter." Blaise nodded calmly to the young lord and turned toward his friend. "He's clearly delusional, Draco. Where does this put you with your uncle?"
"I've seen him freeze water, Blaise. He's not delusional." Draco frowned. "As for my uncle, I'm not really sure. He's gotten a lot less crazy since he came back. He might not want total world domination anymore. If he does, Harry can't join forces with him."
"You're serious about this." Blaise seemed doubtful.
Draco shrugged but he patted his pouting boyfriend's shoulder. "It's true."
"We'll find out what's really going on with Tom." Harry sighed as he gave up trying to convince them. Sooner or later his powers would be needed and then they would see and believe.
Draco only nodded as he moved back over to the bookcase. A book on basilisks soon sat on the bed instead of the shelf, along with one on aquatic animals and husbandry of them and several more on aquatic plants. He held one up to show the others. "This one looks interesting, Harry."
The young lord looked over at the book Draco was holding out. "Ancient relics and artifacts of the magical world." He took it and flipped to the table of contents. "Light and dark uses for objects of shadow...rituals to enchant objects... hmmm... I agree. Put it with the others."
"Potter?" Blaise called softly. "I think you need to see this."
Harry handed the book back to Draco and walked over to the wardrobe which was against a small segment of wall. "What is it?"
Blaise pointed to the door he'd just opened. "A portrait."
Harry looked and found a lovely portrait of Salazar Slytherin standing between three lovely witches. The younger two females were obviously his daughters and the third was holding his arm in a much different fashion.
"His wife wasn't much younger than him." Pansy pointed out as she and Draco joined them.
"The daughters look like firsties." Harry commented. "Were they twins?"
"I'm not sure." Draco answered. "It would've been an interesting tidbit if they had been."
"What's that?" Harry asked, pointing to the necklace Salazar's wife was wearing.
Pansy replied offhand. "Looks like a locket."
"Lockets were the epitome of pureblood culture at the time." Draco told him, squinting to see it better. "Depending on the details during the forging, it can show anything from a simple respect for tradition to possibly being a token of affection."
Harry felt a tingle down his spine. "That's the Slytherin puzzle piece."
"You're sure...aren't you?" Draco looked at Harry's face. "You seem very certain."
"I don't have proof." Harry nodded slowly. "It's just a feeling I got when you said 'epitome of pureblood culture'."
"We'll find out soon enough." Draco said, unconsciously echoing Harry's earlier sentiment to him.
"You're kidding, right?" Pansy stared at the picture. "That's the same crest that's on the floor of the common room. The one that opened the pathway!"
Startled, Harry turned to face her just as Blaise walked over to the nearby door.
"Think this is a closet?" Blaise asked as he turned the doorknob. "Let's see some of the ancient robes he wore!"
The entire wall segment moved in response, startling everyone and making Harry dizzy enough to grab someone's arm. When they turned around they were in a much different room which was lit by charmed glow-panels.
Draco hadn't minded Harry grabbing onto him but now he felt the need to stay close because he was undeniably creeped out by the room.
"What is this place?" Harry murmured as he looked around.
"Can we get back? Pansy whispered to Blaise. "We left all those books!"
"It looks...weirdly enough... like the inside of a hen house." Draco muttered in disdain and feeling everyone's eyes upon him, he shrugged. "My Uncle Xeno has chickens."
"I hope the door is reversible..." Blaise cringed as he looked around. "Bones...and frog specimens? Well, at least they're dead."
"This looks like bits of chicken eggs." Pansy whispered, quickly becoming grossed out.
Something poked Harry's subconscious sharply. "Oh, shit!"
"What?" Draco asked, suddenly tense.
"Those aren't dead frog specimens, Draco. They're dead toad specimens..." Harry trailed off hoping the blond would be able to connect the dots without making him speak the dreaded words.
"What's the difference?" Pansy asked in confusion.
"All toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads, Pansy." Harry spoke frankly. "Some jobs require a toad..."
Draco got it first. "Toads and chicken eggs... Oh Merlin! We have to get out of here!"
Pansy whined. "The way you said that, it sounds dire."
"Second year." Draco growled at her. "The books on that bed? Is anything ringing a bell?"
"Second year? Books?" Pansy echoed and then shot Harry a look. "That bit about you fighting a basilisk was true?!?"
It was Harry's turn to sigh. "Yes. Let's hope I don't have to fight another one." He looked over at Draco. "Do you think I could call Dobby here?"
"Master Harry Potter, sir, requires Dobby?"
"I would presume so, Harry." Draco gave a strained laugh. "Dobby, is it possible for you to take us back to the other side of this wall?"
"Is the door not working, Mister Draco?" The elf asked, titing his head curiously.
"We were afraid to try in case it took us somewhere else." Harry informed him.
"Master Harry Potter, sir." Dobby replied with a long-suffering sigh. "House elves is being able to see magical machinery and magical creature pests. Dobby is able to see that this door goes between only two places."
Harry looked at his little friend. "Can you also see if there's a live basilisk somewhere in these rooms?"
"There is being no living beings or creatures between these rooms and the castle or the lake, Master Harry." Dobby assured him before pointing to an oddly shaped piece of wall. "But there is being a well preserved basilisk corpse through that door."
Harry held up a hand, gritted his teeth and growled. "No."
"Yes, Master Harry Potter, sir."
"No." Harry shook his head slowly as his anger grew. "Because if that were true, then Voldemort found Salazar's secret room."
"No, Master Harry Potter, sir! This door is not being in use for centuries! You is thinking of the other door." Dobby tugged his ears. "You is thinking of the beast's lair!"
Abruptly, the steam was let out of Harry's temper. "You're saying that this is a different way into the Chamber of Secrets?"
Dobby nodded enthusiastically.
"And the basilisk is still there and well preserved?" Harry asked, shocked.
Again the elf nodded happily.
"Draco, would..." Harry paused as he turned to find his three companions staring at him in several degrees of shock. "W-What?"
"The ground rumbled." Pansy murmured.
"The lights flared." Blaise whispered. "The air whipped up."
Harry stared at them. "You believe me?"
"They believe you...and Harry, I felt your magic. It was fascinating..." Draco smiled oddly. "I'm sorry. Were you about to ask me something?"
Harry felt his face become flush. "Uhm, yeah. I was wondering if your godfather might help me harvest the basilisk. Would he know how?"
Draco grinned. "If he doesn't, then he'll know someone who does."
"Would you like to see it?" Harry asked lightly.
"You really know how to impress a man, Harry." Draco nervously smirked at him. "I mean, offering to show me the corpse of the snake you killed. Should I swoon now or later?"
Harry snorted; he hadn't thought of it like that. "Dobby, please make copies of every book in that bedroom. In fact, the same goes for the other founders' rooms. I'll curate a special founders' library collection. Only their private journals should remain private." Harry directed the elf. "Keep the originals in the rooms but put the copies in my office along with items like the quills and seals. Anything else that seems important can be brought to my office too. Thank you."
Draco watched Harry approach the door and hiss. Parseltongue sounded so different from Harry's lips than his uncle's.
The door opened into a tight tunnel that led to a short staircase and when Harry pushed on the wall it swung open to show a horrific sight.
"That's a really big snake, Potter." Blaise said softly, holding a scared Pansy's hand as Draco walked right up to the corpse. "And an even bigger sculpture of someone's head!"
"It's Salazar's head." Harry muttered to Blaise as he waited for his boyfriend's reaction. "Draco ...are you going to say something?"
Draco nodded slowly, sounding numb. "As soon as I can decide what to say, I'll say it."
"Right. Ok. Yeah." Harry murmured, nodding awkwardly. "Good."
"Alright. I think I've found some words for this occasion." Draco mumbled breathlessly as he stared at the thing that could've left him floundering as a simple wizard rather than a mate-less part succubus Dragonlord. "You fought this thing? At twelve years old?"
Harry nodded sadly.
"I will make my father view this moment in a pensieve. You couldn't have been as tall as my shoulders at that age." Draco had quiet anger in his voice. "Dumbledore should've sent the students home and gone hunting it!"
"Yes. The abstract idea of a beast should've been enough to send the students home." Harry quietly agreed. "If I'd had control of my lordship at the time I would've insisted. On the other hand, nobody knew what the monster was and hunting it under such conditions would've been difficult and dangerous for anyone who undertook such a task as that."
Blaise protested weakly. "There's no telling how long it would've taken them without a parselmouth."
"Let's not forget that it took Hermione's obsessive researching, my ability to hear and understand snakes and Ron's sister being involved for us to figure out what it was." Harry nodded to the other boy. "The polyjuice incident led to many conversations with Myrtle which led us to figure out where it was hiding and how it was getting around. The trick at that point was to get the adults to listen to a bunch of twelve year olds."
"What adult is willing to listen to kids?" Pansy scoffed.
Harry nodded. "Exactly. We were constantly told not to worry our pretty little heads and let the adults handle things."
"But they weren't handling anything!" Draco said, utterly appalled.
"And that, my friends, is what I learned here at Hogwarts." Harry replied sarcastically. "I can honestly say that I've had very little positive adult influence in my few years of life and even less of an example of favorable Slytherin influence. I find myself in desperate need of it now. Will you help me?"
"Well..." Draco faced his friends. "My family and I are already a given since he's my mate but I hope we have your cooperation, too."
"I'm loyal to you, Draco." Blaise declared. "As far as I'm concerned, he's the Dragonlord's consort."
Draco glanced back at his boyfriend. "Is that good enough?"
"For now, perhaps." Harry nodded.
"I'm not really sure about Pansy. Her parents have always been loyal to-" Blaise began.
"Excuse me!" Pansy said, loudly becoming indignant. "How dare you presume to speak for me?"
All three boys swung their shocked gazes in her direction.
"This is hardly the place for a conversation like this one." She lifted her chin and tossed her hair. "Lord Potter, might we adjourn to your office or something?"
"Sure." Harry nodded and cleared his throat. "Ziva? Roody?"
The elves appeared and took the group to the sitting room in Harry's suite.
"I suppose, here is fine." Pansy said as she sat down on the sofa.
"Tea and sandwiches, please Ziva." Harry quietly requested as Draco and Blaise took seats near her.
"Contrary to popular belief, my parents do not make every decision for me." She glared at the boys. "Make no mistake, many of the big picture decisions are made by them but I have been steadily moving toward taking control of my life."
"Really?" Blaise asked as he took the cup Ziva offered him as well as a sandwich.
"Yes." Pansy replied quietly. She thanked Ziva for her tea but declined the offer of food before continuing. "I knew from a young age that marrying well was an heiress's place in the world and my original plan was to rebel only if they tried to make me a marriage I didn't want."
"How young were you when they told you?" Draco frowned at his teacup.
"They never did." She confessed with a glint in her eye. "My brother told me."
"Your brother died before you were two years old!" Draco scoffed and finally took a sip of tea.
"Thank you, Mister Tactful." She turned to her host. "You see, Potter, on my eleventh birthday, I not only received my Hogwarts letter, but also a letter from my deceased brother. It informed me of the pertinent facts of my life - namely that we, the Parkinson Family, were powerful... wealthy... and pureblood. It warned me that young witches in my position were often used to make marriage alliances for their families and that he had made arrangements for me in case of emergency."
"That's strange." Zack broke into the conversation. "If he was raised anything like I was, he wouldn't have thought twice about seeing his sister married off for such a reason."
Harry jumped up, dropping his plate as he aimed his wand. "What are you doing here? I thought the suite was empty!"
"Relax. I'm unarmed." Zack held his hands up in surrender, and watched the elves clean up the mess before replacing Harry's food. "I didn't hear anything that constitutes top secret ...as far as I know."
"No." Pansy glared at him. "It's no secret that pureblood culture isn't concerned with the desires of their children."
Zack looked at her. "At least they'll take some of your preferences into account... no?"
"Thank Merlin for small favors." She hummed.
"Swear a secrecy oath or leave, Zack." Harry insisted.
The blond Hufflepuff took a moment to decide but finally he took out his wand and made the oath.
"If you want to continue the story, Pansy, I'd like to know more." Harry encouraged her as he lifted his cup again.
She eyed Zack but ultimately decided it didn't matter if he knew, as long as he was under the oath. "Unfortunately, I know nothing of his change of heart." She confessed and set down her empty cup. "My brother was sixteen when he died in the first war and I was clearly an infant but something must have made him doubt the way he was raised because he set things up in case I was ever at odds with my parents and I needed to get out."
This was news to Draco. "Are you really thinking of going against them over Harry?"
"Oh, Draco!" Pansy looked over at her dear friend. "Am I really going to side with someone else over the next Dragonlord and an Elemental wizard? I think you're already seeing the direction I'm leaning toward."
Blaise was shocked and staring at her while Zack was just gobsmacked. "D-Dragonlord?"
"I'll explain everything later, Zack." Harry said soothingly. "Secrecy spells are a new type of magic for me and I think I can tell you some things now that I couldn't before."
Zack nodded in a stunned daze.
Harry could see that she was processing her thoughts. "I don't want you to lose family members over this, Pansy."
"My plan to rebel against an unsuitable match may be worth rethinking." Pansy looked down sadly. "I'm sorry, Draco. I need time."
"That's completely understandable, Pansy." Draco replied, patting her hand.
Harry took a deep breath and offered a bit more information. "Would it help you with your decision if I were to tell you that... not only is Voldemort planning to meet with me in order to assist with my solution to the sorting hat's prophecy, but he was the one who made me realize that Dumbledore was 'not himself' in the first place."
Pansy stared at him. "You're joking."
"He isn't joking about the meeting." Draco shook his head. "I'm not sure about the other."
"I know Zack's going to learn occlumency with me and the Weasley kids but how are your mental defences?" Harry smiled at the Slytherin students and, after being assured that they were practiced in occlumency, told them what happened in the graveyard.
"He's not joking..." Pansy sat back in her seat. "And what's going on with Professor Dumbledore?"
"Pansy, I would've never known to look into my bloodlines and find out about all the meddling he did if not for the goblins at Gringotts, who contacted me against Dumbledore's wishes..." Harry paused to allow that to sink in. "But Voldemort gave me a big hint when he spoke the way he did in June. I told Dumbledore that there were Death Eaters and a duel and his reaction told me everything I needed to know - I can't trust him. That in turn made me question why owls were approaching my house but not delivering any letters directly to me and so on."
Everyone in the room was shocked.
"The goblins had to heal me and search for a proper magical guardian when they discovered that Dumbledore wasn't acting in my best interests." Harry told them matter of factly. "This in turn revealed the lordship which put me in control of my money, my properties, my elves and, ultimately, my future."
"As you said to my father, Dumbledore made some critical errors in judgment that are unforgivable." Draco comforted him while glancing over at his friends. "Do you want to stick around while Harry fills Zacharias in on several topics?"
Blaise smirked. "I feel like you want us to say no but I kind of do."
"Blaise, trust me... if we become as good friends as I hope, you'll find out all my secrets sooner or later." Harry joked. "Friends of my...erm, Draco? Are we boyfriends or...I don't know. What should we call each other?"
Draco was pleased that he didn't have to be the one to bring it up. "We can call it whatever you want. Boyfriends... partners... mates."
"Yeah. Great!" Harry grinned at Blaise. "My partner's friends are my friends."
It was nearly dinnertime when Harry finished talking things through with Zack and Draco. It was then that he'd realized the Malfoy heir had quickly become his most trusted ally...in a strictly personal sort of way. He winced as it occurred to him that Ron would need to have the matter spelled out for him - he would still be needed and Draco wasn't taking his place.
"Zack went to lie down. He's asked the elves to bring him a plate rather than go to the feast." Draco told Harry as he joined him in the office.
Harry only nodded as he stared at the new annex to his office space. An alcove with bookshelves had formed on the wall facing the desk. The books he'd asked Dobby to copy sat on the shelves.
"Did he make the connection?" Harry asked, looking over at the blond. "Dragonlord to Merlin's descendant?"
"If he has, he didn't ask." Draco smirked. "I think he's afraid to think in that direction because then our mutual cousin is a much more powerful witch than he thought."
"I haven't had a chance to speak with the hat and I promised Dumbledore that I'd give it back tonight." Harry said as he walked over to the desk. "Want to see if it will talk to us?"
"Sure." Draco nodded and sat in the chair beside the desk.
After an hour, talking to the unresponsive hat had tired them out, Harry sighed. "Guess he's not going to say anything. I'll return him to Dumbledore's office after dinner."
"There's something I think you need to know, Harry." Draco said carefully. "I don't know how much attention you paid this morning but Slughorn was watching you at breakfast."
Harry grinned. "So was the old man."
"Slughorn is a little too interested in Slytherin's secret quarters." Draco told him, glad he was aware of their teacher's creepy behavior.
"He's why I felt the need for the secrecy oaths." Harry confided. "I didn't want you or your friends having the possible bounty tempted out of you. With the oaths, none of you can divulge the information."
"You protected us." Draco murmured with a smirk. "Let's go eat." He, then, led the way to the great hall and sat down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table.
About halfway through the meal an owl swooped in and dropped a letter onto the table next to Harry. Careful to show surprise, Harry picked up the letter and read the meticulously chosen words that informed him of his cousin's illness. He showed it to Draco and stood up, making his way to the head table. "Headmaster, my cousin has become ill. As he is under my protection in the wizarding world, I have a responsibility to see to his health. Under the bylaws, I don't need permission but I do need access to a floo since I can't apparate yet." Harry could see the man's mental gymnastics and predicted that he was planning something.
"I'm sure Remus can handle things, my dear boy." Dumbledore's smile was oily. "There's no need to worry."
"The very fact that he wrote to me about it means that isn't true, Headmaster." Harry said quite seriously. "I insist on seeing him myself. I'll be at your office in twenty minutes with the hat and I expect to be in London shortly afterwards."
"Why not floo-call in the morning?" The old man attempted. "I'm sure he'll be feeling much better by then. If he isn't, I'll go to St. Mungo's myself."
"That would be kind of you, Headmaster, but you are needed here. My cousin isn't your student nor is he your responsibility - in fact, he's a squib." Harry gritted his teeth in frustration. "You being who you are, you should know better than anyone that, due to his recent admission to the wizarding world, there are rules in place commanding that he's not to have any direct contact with Hogwarts' headmaster."
"Ah. Yes." Dumbledore nodded sadly. "I had forgotten. Alright, you may use my floo. I will meet you there."
Harry nodded crisply and turned to leave. He was gratified to find that Draco was waiting at the doors.
As they walked toward the suite, Draco whispered to him. "I'll speak with Uncle Severus directly after dinner. We'll be meeting with my uncle in no time."
Harry allowed himself a brief grin. "Can't wait."
Draco left him at the door and Harry quickly grabbed the hat from his office before placing the founders' journals and his own in his rucksack. He also took his seal and credit card, one change of clothes, and Gryffindor's dagger with him. He figured that the elves could get him anything he'd forgotten so he should be on his way.
He arrived at the Headmaster's office to find the old man waiting for him.
"Harry, before you go..." Albus said. "There's something I need to discuss with you."
Harry put the sorting hat where he'd gotten it and sat. He was certain this would be another ploy to gain access to Dudley or the Potter properties or something.
"In thinking about the hat's prophecy, one thing stands out for me, dear boy." He said. "I keep hearing it in my mind over and over."
"What's that, Professor?" Harry asked innocently, having anticipated the possibility of such a topic. "The lost sun? I was thinking it referred to the darkness coming. You know like they call Voldemort the Dark Lord?"
"Actually I was thinking about the puzzle pieces and the crumbling... but, yes, I suppose that could be something to look into, Harry." Dumbledore frowned.
"The puzzle pieces?" Harry asked.
"Yes, you see a long time ago, the founders left objects that were supposed to remain here in the castle." Dumbledore told him with a smile. "The objects were meant to embody the houses, you see. I believe that when they were stolen from the castle, a decaying process began and the prophecy is warning us of that."
"What can we do to stop it, Professor?" Harry asked, showing as much concern as he could. "Is it just a matter of returning the objects?"
"It could be, dear boy." The older man nodded sadly.
"Do you know who took them?" Harry frowned.
"I don't know for certain, Harry. I can only speculate." He sighed. "However, I fear that it was Voldemort as the objects were still here when he began attending and the third one vanished around the time of his graduation."
Harry gasped, staring at the Headmaster.
"I have thoroughly examined the diary you left with me after your second year." Albus told him carefully. "It held some pretty serious dark magic, Harry, and if it was indeed Voldemort... Tom Riddle... I think he might've done something similar to the founders' objects."
"I see." Harry glared at the wall. "What kind of dark magic?"
"Have you ever heard the word 'horcrux', Harry?" The older man asked.
Harry shook his head.
"A horcrux is an object in which a person hides a piece of their soul. It is a means of keeping oneself from dying. I believe that the diary was a horcrux and I think there are more out there." Dumbledore said; his voice was an impassioned plea. "We must find them if you are to defeat Voldemort. If they are, as I suspect, the founders' objects, then it serves two purposes. Return them to the castle and we save the school."
"Such a horrible thing - to take apart your soul." Harry looked at the Headmaster sadly.
"You can probably guess what must be necessary to rip the soul, Harry, but I shall tell you." The old man whispered. "Murder."
Harry gave a theatrical shudder. "We should find them and destroy them!"
"No!" Albus protested. "Destruction of the horcruxes causes the one who created them to feel it. We cannot allow him to know that you know about them. If you find them, bring them to me and I will use the spell to release the horcrux."
"I understand, Headmaster." Harry told him. "Sir? I feel l must ask - you're usually not so open with information. Why are you telling me this?"
"Well, my boy, you are legally an adult... you are a Lord... you're finding many interesting things inside the castle... I suppose, I thought that perhaps you could help me." Albus smiled down at him. "You have done so before, after all."
Harry took a deep breath and heaved a big sigh. "What are the founders' objects, sir? I won't know if I find them because I don't know what they are."
"I have a file with detailed descriptions of them. The sword is the only one that has remained in the castle." Dumbledore smiled at him. "You go on and handle your family emergency and I'll give you a look when you return."
Harry nodded, having finally figured out that what Dumbledore really wanted was a guarantee that Harry was coming back. "I'm sure this will only take a day or so. Thank you for your floo."
"Oh, my floo is actually malfunctioning, my boy. Professor Mcgonagall will let you use hers." The older man glared at his fireplace and waved him out.
Harry left and growled as he walked the halls to his head of house's office. He explained the situation and was quickly given access to the floo powder. He was also assured that she would send his assignments ahead, if there were any.
It wasn't long before he was in his London townhouse, hugging Sirius.
Draco knocked on his godfather's door and was immediately allowed in.
"Your father has informed me of the meeting, Draco. During breakfast you will be informed that your arithmancy class is canceled. You will go to your Potions class and then have lunch with me in Hogsmeade." Severus told his godson quickly. "We will 'run into' your father while there and floo from a safehouse to the manor. Your father will call the school just before the dinner feast and tell them some story or other and we will return in time for your first class on Tuesday."
"Yes, Professor. Have a good night." Draco grinned and bowed his head respectfully before leaving the room. He went to his dorm and settled in. "Think I'll do some arithmancy homework before bed." He mumbled to his roommates.