Chapter Nine

Hermione smiled softly after her friend as he spoke with his adoptive father. She'd always wished Harry could just be her brother. She'd even explained the situation to her parents once, and they'd gone to Dumbledore and asked him about it, but the batty old man had just said that Harry already had a family.

At least that was finally true.

She couldn't think of anyone better for Harry. As much as he cared for Sirius and Remus, she knew they weren't the same. They had too many of their own demons to battle to help Harry battle his. Salazar, however, would put his entire world aside if it meant Harry would be safe. She could see it in his eyes.

She also saw the same fierce protectiveness in Godric, which didn't surprise her. He was now also Harry's godfather, and he was proud of her friend. She knew he was proud of all of them, and now he had just another link to them – to Harry.

Harry also had Rowena and Helga. They cared deeply for the trio as well, and they would most definitely act as aunts to him, Hermione had no doubt. She turned her thoughts from them before she could get angry again the way she had been often since the test they'd been given.

And then there was Helena and Théophile. Harry had friends in them – siblings, even. They were kind and caring, and they never pushed too far. Even Théo, who didn't know of their truth, had been careful and avoided pushing when he saw he was going too far. They were good friends, and most definitely invaluable.

Finally, Harry had herself and Ron. They were family. They were the closest of siblings. They'd been so since their first year when Quirrel had let in the troll. They'd kept the Stone safe and they'd taken care of the basilisk – even if Harry had to fight it himself in the end.

So, Harry had a wonderful family and Hermione couldn't have been happier for him. He was practically shining with joy. But she couldn't help but worry about the day they had to go back and leave it all in the past.

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"Why can't I heal it magically?" Harry frowned at Helga, who looked honestly apologetic, but she wasn't backing down.

"It has to do with the magic sent into your core," she explained. "If you heal it magically, it will be much easier to remove, and the bond can break. I am sure it will heal quickly enough the muggle way."

Harry resisted the urge to throw his head back and sigh, but nodded instead and dropped his injured arm. "Then why am I here?"

"We have found the source of the magic in your scar," Salazar whispered. Harry frowned when the man wouldn't meet his gaze. "I am sorry."

Harry's eyes widened. "Why? What is it?"

"Harry," Rowena said quietly. "what do you know of Horcruxes?"

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Harry fidgeted nervously with his new robes and pulled at the green coat he was wearing. He was sat two tables away from his best friends, and the only person he even knew – and was luckily friends with – was Théo. The other boy gave him a reassuring nod before turning back to listen to the Hat singing his song. Harry's lips twitched at the sight. It looked like some things didn't change over time.

When the song was over, students began to be sorted. Many went to Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, with fewer to Ravenclaw and even less to Slytherin. Harry knew his father's House was the most selective and took closer looks at not only your mind but also your heart. And beyond that, Harry suspected the Hat was charmed to look into someone's future somehow.

When all of the new children were sorted, each Founder stood and gave their own short speech. Hufflepuff went first, telling her students and others the importance of unity and loyalty and how important it was to be kind. Harry noted that she looked troubled and realized that she, and likely the others, made their speeches thinking about the coming trouble Ron had predicted.

Ravenclaw stood next and told her students that it was important to read and learn and to remember to apply that knowledge for fear it should fade away. She promised them that, should they need help, they should always come to find one of them, be it home or school trouble.

After her was Gryffindor, who gazed out at all of the students proudly and happily. He promised them first that they were safe, a promise that made Harry's gut twist. He knew they couldn't say that for sure. Next, the man told them that, should they be brave and smart and courageous, they will be successful in life, but only if they remember to be smart.

Finally, Salazar stood and moved to the very podium where he'd adopted his son. He stared at the wood for a long second before speaking, gazing across the large room and letting his eyes settle on the black-haired boy he called his son for a few seconds longer than everyone else.

"My friends are correct," he began. "If you follow their suggestions and speak to us and voice your concerns, you will be successful not only here, but in life as well. I have no doubt of that. You were all admitted here for a reason, never forget that.

"But there is something coming that we cannot prevent. Something that we, your head teachers, cannot protect you from. You see, a month ago, a student of ours had a vision. I will only tell you that, because of this vision, we saw the need to find you more protection in case of our unfortunate unavailability.

"This protection consists of a few students," he explained, locking eyes with Harry. He saw his son nod slightly, giving him the okay to give their names. "If you ever find yourselves in danger and cannot reach us, find them.

"Harry James Potter-Slytherin," he said, nodding at the nervous boy, who straightened up and erased all doubt from his eyes. The entire school turned to look at him, and there were some gasps at his name. The man heard a few children shout in confusion, but he put his hand up to silence them. "My son."

"Hello," Harry greeted, waving lamely but with a large, Marauder grin on his face.

"Théophile," Salazar said next, waving at him. He left out any last name for the simple fact that the boy hated it and had refused to even tell the Founders his last name.

The school turned to scrutinize him next before watching the Founder again. "Hermione from Gryffindor House."

The girl in question stood for a moment and nodded at them firmly before sitting again and blushing furiously.

"Ronald from Gryffindor House," Salazar continued. Everyone turned to the redhead, who gave them a sideways grin, before looking at the man for the next person. "And finally, Helena Ravenclaw."

That, however, did not come as a shock to the group. Helena had been someone everyone turned to for a very long time already.

"We are not sure when this vision shall come to pass, but always be careful. Stay on guard, and stay armed. Protect yourselves. Older students, protect the younger. Younger students, make sure you are safe before looking for your friends."

And then he stepped back, and the feast began, leaving the students as ruffled as they were in the trio's time after one of Dumbledore's speeches.

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"Won't it just cause panic?" Harry wondered.

"Probably not," Salazar replied with a shrug as he moved the last of the books back to the shelves. Harry had sat on a desk across from his father as the man cleaned up the room for the night. There had been House meetings before the students had been sent to bed. "They will be cautious now. They trust us, and by extension, now you as well."

"Really?"

"Yes," Salazar nodded seriously and sat across from Harry. "We are trusted to keep them safe. They are our students. We'd do anything for them."

Harry was quiet after that, pondering his father's words. He supposed that, technically, that's what a Headmaster would do. They'd keep their students safe and happy and in a place where they can learn securely. Harry's problem with the idea was that it was nothing like what Dumbledore did. The man was so caught up in his Greater Good and his Plans that the students, the little pawns that they were, they were shoved out of thought until they could be used. Dumbledore let people be hurt and attacked until Harry himself was forced to stop it, and he'd almost died doing so. The most Dumbledore had done was sent his bird, and even then-

"Harry!" Salazar said loudly. Harry shook himself from his thoughts and blinked. His father was standing directly in front of him, looking very concerned, with his hands on Harry's shoulders. "Harry, you cannot think like that. We do not know all of his reasons for acting the way he did."

"It seems pretty obvious to me," the teenager sighed bitterly.

"Yes, from your point of view. Now, using the limited information that we have, put yourself into his shoes," Salazar instructed. Harry made a face but did as he was told. "You have a prophecy made about your previous students' child. You inform them of it and suggest a way of keeping them safe, which they agree to.

"Then, they die suddenly, which leaves you to believe the only possible choice: that Sirius Black was the Secret Keeper and that he was working for Voldemort. And so, the child's godfather is gone, as well as his godmother and her husband. You find out that, when Lily was dying, she set up wards around the child to save his life. They are connected to blood, and so the child goes to Lily's Muggle sister.

"The child has someone watching him, albeit not well. He is removed from Wizarding society for ten years for his own safety, and so no one is to know that he is being attacked by the very Muggles he lives with.

"When he reaches Hogwarts and is placed in your own House, you are pleased. He looks like his father, too, but he has his mother's eyes. Everyone can recognize him, and you are assured that your decision to have him raised in the Muggle world was a good one.

"And then you begin to see signs of a Horcrux in the boy. You begin to worry, and so you set a trap for him, as well as Voldemort, who you are sure is alive by now and likely possessing the DADA teacher. Both fall for it, and they confront each other.

"Voldemort cannot stand to be touched by the boy, and it leaves you wondering whether he is a Horcrux or rather if it was just the wards keeping him safe from the monster. You give him a few placating words and send him back to the Muggles for the summer. Do those decisions make enough sense?"

"No," Harry huffed. "He should've just told me what he was thinking."

"Would you have wanted to know, at eleven years old, that you possibly held a piece of the soul of the man who murdered your parents?"

He was quiet for a beat. "No. But he could've listened to me about the Dursley's! I did try to tell him, but he just said that they're my family and I should be with them! There have to be stronger wardings than what my mum put on me! He could've set up another Fidelius and made himself the Secret Keeper!"

"I will agree with you on that," Salazar said, nodding. "Shall we keep going, or do you understand me?"

"I… I guess I get it," he admitted. "I just hate it. He shouldn't have ever had so much… so much…"

"Control over your life?" Harry nodded. "You are right. But he did. All we can do is make sure he does not have that control in the future… your future, I mean."

"You're sure we can do that?"

Salazar gave him a serious look and nodded. "I promise you, Harry. You will not be under his thumb any longer."

Harry watched his eyes to make sure he was being honest – more out of habit than distrust – before nodding slowly.

"Now, it is getting late. I will escort you back to your rooms tonight – I need to meet with your Uncle before he tries to impress his first years by blowing up their common room."

"He doesn't," Harry wondered with wide eyes as they headed toward the door. Salazar nodded with an eye roll.

"Every year. He seems to find it amusing, and Helga usually has to get the first years hot chocolate afterward. I do not know why he still believes it is a good idea," the man shrugged.

"Does anyone ever get hurt?" the boy frowned. "It doesn't sound very… safe."

"Not usually," Salazar assured him. "One boy was hurt once when his older brother teased him and he ran where he should not have run, but otherwise, it is generally safe."

Harry blinked. "You mean he doesn't just set up wards around the explosion? That would keep the smoke confined, as well."

"I did try to suggest that, but he just said he had it handled. How, I have no clue."

"Well…" Harry looked up at his father, smirking slightly. "I was a Gryffindor. Maybe I could sneak up there and watch and put up a couple of wards if the smoke gets bad or any first years wander off?"

Salazar smiled proudly at the teenager. "You are a Slytherin as well, that much is clear." He nodded as they changed directions, now heading toward the Gryffindor common rooms.

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"Bloody hell…" Harry muttered quietly as he made his way into the room during his uncle's welcome speech. He used some of his training and felt around the room for any wards with his magic. Aside from the typical Hogwarts wards, he didn't feel anything. With a frown, he made his way to the back while his father disillusioned himself and stood a ways away and behind Godric.

He was so focused on the warding that he only noticed the body coming down the steps when it slammed into him. His left foot went behind him to steady himself as he reached out with both arms to steady the person in front of him. "Are you okay?"

"I am so sorry," the girl gasped as she righted herself, blushing furiously. Her arms were on his, and she was gripping so tight that her nails drew just a bit blood – to which both Harry and Salazar gasped, though she didn't seem to notice or hear it. "I was not looking – I just wanted to see Professor Gryffindor blow it up again."

"I'd heard about that," Harry hummed. "Personally, I think he's being reckless, but I was assured only one person-," he paused when he saw his father, through the disillusionment, shake his head. "er, only one student has been hurt before."

"Really?" She asked, eyebrows raised. "I thought he was just lucky the past few years."

"No," Harry shrugged a little. "But I am extremely curious how he does it."

"Warding?"

"Apparently not. I felt around- there's none there," he sighed and watched his uncle grin stupidly at his students, shooting a wink at his nephew.

"You felt it?" her eyes were wide as she looked at him. "That's really advanced magic."

"I had a great teacher," he shrugged. "who gave me no choice but to do well. Have you ever not wanted to disappoint someone so badly that you'd work harder than you ever have in your life?"

"No," she said honestly, tilting her head at him. "but I wish I did. It sounds like a beautiful person to have."

He smiled softly at her. "What's your name? You never said."

"Oh!" She blinked. "I am so sorry. I am Aariah."

"I'm Harry," he said. She looked surprised, and like she wanted to reply, but Godric had finished his speech and had his wand out, so Harry pointed at him and she quieted.

Godric looked intimidating with his wand out. He was tall and large and his hair was pulled back by a strap of leather. He held his wand out and, casting silently, waved it at the common room. The first years, as well as any other students that had snuck down from their dorms, were pushed back against the left wall.

Nervously, Harry and his father cast, hoping to protect any curious students.

"Protego Maxima!"

"Repello Inimicum!"

The wards were cast at the same time. They were bright, brighter than the explosion Godric had created. Both father and son felt the gentle, warm prod at the small cuts on their arms. Their blood fell to the ground, touching the stone floor of the common room.

The Gryffindor common room erupted in the golden-green light that made up the bond of Harry and Salazar. When it touched the explosion, it was immediately put out, the only evidence left being Godric with his wand up.

The father-son duo felt their bond tingling as they were tied into Hogwarts and Harry stumbled while Salazar held tightly onto the chair in front of him. The man's disillusionment fell abruptly as the light settled down, leaving only the typical visual bond between the pair.

"…Hello, Sal, Harry," Godric muttered, looking between father and son.

"Hey, Uncle Godric," Harry said quietly. "I'm a lil tired. Maybe I could just… lie down…?" He blinked once and tried to stumble over to his uncle, only to find Aariah dropping an arm around him and helping him over. He tried to deny needing help but when he found his words dancing out of his brain, he let her help.

"Harry?" Salazar asked, blinking away the blinding light. It took him a moment before he saw a student helping Harry over toward Godric and himself, and the man shot over to his son. "Harry?"

"'M fine," the boy slurred. "Jus' tired."

"You burnt out your core," Salazar hissed after waving his hand over him for a few moments. "Harry, you could've died!"

"Not till you," the boy muttered firmly, glaring up at him. Salazar started at how serious he was and realized that his son truly meant it. He didn't want to leave him.

"Let us get you to your rooms, yes?" He offered. Harry shrugged lightly.

"Uncle Godric shouldn't blow anything else up in here," the teenager said in a detached voice. "won't go well."

"I will not," Godric promised, frowning softly at Harry in concern. "if you do not do… that again."

"Can't," was Harry's only reply before he lost consciousness, and the girl supporting him grunted, only able to help him gently to the ground.

Salazar blinked as he finally realized again that someone had been helping the boy up. "Fifty points to Gryffindor. Thank you for your help, Aariah." With only a small look between the two founders more, Salazar picked Harry up and carried him out of the room and to the Infirmary to let Helga and Rowena fuss over the pair.

They could worry about what had happened after some rest.

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"Harry, do you know why we are considered the safest place for magicals?" Rowena asked the teenager, who just blinked and shrugged. His head was hurting and he didn't want another history lesson. "It is because we have the most collective knowledge. We are the only magical school in the world right now."

"What about-,"

"No," she said before he could suggest another school. "Whatever it is, it has not been made yet."

"So… why is it still the safest place in my time? I mean, there's other schools now, at least three others. Is it the wards?" Harry asked.

"No," Helga replied, before tilting her head in consideration. "Well… yes, sort of."

"That's… not very helpful," the teenager frowned.

"What she means, is that there were no special wards – none that other magical schools would not have. Not until last night," Rowena explained. Harry just blinked at her. "Last night, you and Salazar created blood wards in the Gryffindor common room-,"

"We didn't!" Harry denied hotly. He knew full and well that blood wards were illegal. He'd discussed the ones his mother had made with Salazar before knowing that she could've been arrested for what she'd done. He would never make them himself, especially not in the future where the Ministry was looking for any excuse to arrest him.

"You did not mean to," Helga soothed. "But you did. When you cast those spells – spells which we have never seen combined before – it mixed with the blood that both of you were letting fall, and the bond that you already shared."

"So… all of that made… blood wards in the common room?" Harry frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Harry, can you do a favor for me?" Rowena asked.

"That depends," he said. "What is it?"

"I need you to quiet your mind, the way you do for Occlumency and listen. Once your mind is silent, listen for any whispers that are not your own."

Harry frowned at the odd request, but he did as he was asked. He'd been practicing enough and it only took him a moment to silence his mind. Once it was done, he was surprised to find the whisper that Rowena had suggested would be there.

Hello, My Protector.

Hello?

I am glad to meet you once more.

We- we've met?

Yes, in my future. It is in your past now.

What do you mean?

Are you not from the future? Did you not travel here to find your family and renew the World?

My coming here was an accident.

That is what you believe, My Protector. Do you not think that your Athair would disagree?

My- he- it was just a broken Time Turner.

Exactly.

Who are you? How are you talking to me?

Is it not obvious? I am your Home. I am the Home for the Lost.

What do you mean?

I am Hogwarts, My Protector. I am Home.

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