Chapter Fifteen

There were preparations to be made before the seven left for the future once more. Aside from showing Helena, Théo, and Emrys how to run the school and teach the classes they'd be teaching, the Founders had to put their wills in the Chamber as well as a detailed description of what had happened since the trio had arrived and other important documents. Some additional protections against Dumbledore, they told the trio, as well as Voldemort.

More than preparing the school for their departure, they refused to leave until the year let out, simply for the fact that Rowena didn't want to cut Helena's education short. No one had many issues with that, especially as the year was almost finished and it gave them time to review what they'd learned before heading back to the future.

It was how they found themselves in what they thought was a bit like exams, wandering around the castle between founders and showing off the skills they'd learned.

"Ah, shit," Ron hissed, ducking to avoid the curses rapidly flying at him. "Protego!" When his shield came up and successfully blocked the curses, he began casting silently. First, he threw a jet of water at the floor and almost immediately froze it. Not only did Helena slip, but her shoes froze to the floor as well, and he took the opportunity to disarm her and press his wand to her victoriously.

"Good job," Godric praised, unfreezing the floor and releasing his niece.

"Yes, and perhaps you can do it next time with fewer profanities," Helena joked, imitating her mother. Ron let out a small laugh and handed her wand back over before he looked at his Head of House.

"So?"

"You did well, just as you did with muggle weaponry," the man assured him. "You've passed my tests."

"I'll see you later, uncle," Helena said, kissing the man on the cheek before slipping out of the room. Ron knew her schedule was packed tighter than ever before and she was running around like a gnome with its head cut off.

"How did Harry do?" Ron asked, tucking his wand back his pocket for the moment. Godric handed him a rag and he took it gratefully, wiping his brow.

"Well," Godric assured him. "This was your last test, Ron. How are you feeling?"

The question made the boy pause. He'd been so focused on making it through the experience that he'd tried not to think too hard on how he felt, regardless of how poorly he'd done. How did he feel now that they were about to leave?

"Worried," he said softly, thinking it over. "I don't… there's a lot to do when we get back. I want to be able to help Harry."

"He will always want your help," Godric assured him. "As strong as my friendship is with Salazar, your friendship is with Harry."

"I know," Ron nodded quickly, picking at non-existent lint on his shirt. "I dunno. What if I'm not… what if I can't handle what happens in the future? What if I'm not brave enough?"

Godric's eyes softened and he wrapped an arm around his student's shoulders. "Ron, you were sorted into my house and I stand by that. You are one of the bravest students I've known, and you're loyal to a fault. I have no doubt in my mind that no matter what, you'll stand by your friend's side."

"Yeah?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, Professor."

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The tests, in the end, consisted of nine things in total. Healing, Defense, curses and hexes, charms, warding, mastering their animagus forms, their muggle weapons, and general strategy. Some things that they'd learned on their own were finally revealed to one another, one of those things being their animagus forms.

"Another Grim," Godric said, looking at Ron. The boy only sighed and turned back to himself.

"Sorry, mate," he said to Harry, who shrugged it off, though he was tenser than before.

"Not like you could exactly control it," he reminded Ron. "My turn?"

"Your turn."

He sucked in a deep breath and let himself transform into the beautiful creature he knew he was. Hermione let out a gasp and rushed forward, looking at him with wide eyes.

"A phoenix!"

He turned back and nodded at her. "We suspect it has something to do with the whole… dying and coming back thing."

"Makes sense," Ron accepted quickly, though Hermione looked more thoughtful than that. With a nudge from her redheaded friend, she nodded and backed up to shift. "Holy shit."

"A dragon," Harry stared. "That's definitely more impressive than me."

"An Antidopean Opaleye," Rowena told them. "They're not around at this time. Hermione told us when we described her to her."

Hermione shifted back and gave them a sheepish smile. "Don't make fun of me."

"That's so cool!" Ron exclaimed. "You're a dragon!"

She rolled her eyes. "And you're a Grim."

"Hey, I can die and come back," Harry added in. Salazar pinned his son with a firm look.

"Something we must hope you will not experience again," he said firmly. "Are we done with the excitement?"

"I think so," Hermione assured him. "You said there was more to be discussed."

"We did," Helga confirmed. "You are all very well trained. You learn extremely quickly and are all talented at different things. Godric is of the mind, however, that it is not enough to train you with swords and the like."

"Not more training," Harry complained.

"Not more training, no," Godric grinned at his godson. "Tell me, Harry, what weapon do you perform best with?"

"A longsword," Harry said with a frown. "Right?"

"Right," Godric confirmed, turning to Hermione. "And you?"

"Daggers," she said quickly. She'd refused to explain why or how long she'd trained with the weapon, and it had come as quite the surprise to her friends to find she already knew how to handle herself around them. She'd only received refreshers from Godric, quickly moving on from the course.

"Ron?"

"The greatsword," he said with a frown. The boys had found the difference between swords difficult to remember, but figuring out which was best for them was the easy task. Mastering it in such a short time was near impossible, but by that point, they'd trained enough with them to do well, especially when supported by pure magic channeled through the weapons themselves instead of their wands.

"Quit being dramatic and just give it to them," Rowena laughed. Godric gave a small pout but summoned the weapons in question and handed them over, along with sheaths for them. Harry got his sword, Hermione received two daggers, and Ron was given a sword as well.

"We're- seriously?" Harry asked, as eloquent as ever.

"We trust you to be careful with them and only use them if necessary," Salazar nodded. "We did place some charms on them for you, as well as blood wards that need to be activated."

"What does that mean?" Hermione wondered, looking over her beautifully forged daggers. "Blood wards?"

"It means that once the wards are activated, only you will be able to use your weapons," Helga explained. "Important in battle. Your weapons will also return to their sheaths if you throw or otherwise lose them, which means you will not need to take time to retrieve them, which can mean precious moments in battle."

"And you already know to cast spells as you use them," Godric reminded the children. "Fighting the muggle way is all well and good, but be as powerful as you can. Your weapons will act as wands if you require them to."

"They were also infused with basilisk venom," Salazar spoke up. "Which means they will destroy a Horcrux if it becomes necessary that you do so. The venom will only release with intent, so you must wish to release it. This way you will not kill every person you attack with your weapons."

"Thank you," Ron grinned at the founders. Harry and Hermione added their thanks and the trio sheathed their weapons, their wands already in holsters on their arms.

"Now," Salazar looked between the kids. "You should all get a good night of sleep. Tomorrow is the day."

Nervous energy passed through all seven witches and wizards in the office. Not one of them was sure they were ready, but putting the monumental task ahead off seemed worse than going ahead with it.

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The next morning began just as any other morning had. The trio woke, dressed, and dragged themselves down to breakfast. School had let out three days earlier, which left the trio, the founders, Helena, Théo, and Emrys there to eat together in relative peace. Breakfast was a quiet affair with few words exchanged. Everyone present, save for Emrys, was nervous of what was to come.

Still, there was one conversation left that Hermione had been putting off since the founders had informed them they'd be joining the trio to the future.

When breakfast let out, Hermione pulled Helena and Théo aside, tapping her foot nervously.

"Is everything alright?" Helena asked, placing a hand on the girl's arm. Hermione offered her a soft smile.

"Yes, it's just that… do you remember when we met, the conversation you overheard?"

"Of course," Helena agreed. "Why?"

"Well," she sighed, biting her lip. "I think that you both lied to the entire school for… many years."

"Both of us?" Théo asked in surprise. He'd been filled in on where they were from and why they were all leaving and had handled it well. He'd not asked about himself since they were so far in the future and was shocked that they knew who he was. "What about?"

"In the future, in my time, you are known as the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin house ghost," she told him. "And Helena is the Grey Lady, the Ravenclaw house ghost."

"Okay," he frowned. "I'll admit I am troubled over how I came to receive such a name."

She let out a slow breath, unsure how to tell them. "The story goes that you were in love with Helena, and she didn't return your feelings. One day, she steals her mother's diadem and runs away, and Professor Ravenclaw sends you after her to bring her back. She refuses and… Merlin. You kill her and then yourself when you realize what you've done."

Théo stared at her. "By the gods."

"I know," she nodded. "And after knowing you for five minutes, I knew it could never be true. The thing is, that's what time says. So… I'm sorry, but when you die, you two need to tell students it's what happened. Maybe not immediately, but once they've forgotten your true stories."

"How sad," Helena sighed. "That's a horrible story."

"I know it is," she agreed before pausing. "Although it does leave me to wonder why you told Tom Riddle where the diadem really was."

"Perhaps because I knew I would, as you just told me."

Hermione winced and nodded at Helena. "I suppose you probably must have."

"Do not worry, Hermione," Théo told her with a kind smile. "We will protect the future. Do you know when you'll be returning?"

She considered the question and tried to remember the exact date she'd left. "I think it was sometime in June. I can't quite remember, honestly."

"And the year?" Helena asked, amused. Hermione blushed.

"That would be 1996."

"We will look out for you."

"Thank you."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"And are we sure we have everything?" Godric asked, looking at his friends. Rowena shook her head rapidly, and he raised an eyebrow.

"I don't want them to find my library," she explained. "If Dumbledore is this horrible, I can't imagine how horrible others may have been. We all know I have some rather dark, rare things in there."

"Is anyone against locking it to our signatures, set to destroy itself should anyone force their way in?" Godric asked.

"I think it's a good idea," Helga said hesitantly. "But what of Hermione?"

Rowena paused. "You have a point. The cure might be in there. I'd rather not put those books at risk if they may help her."

"Then we don't set it to destroy itself," Salazar looked between his friends. "But attack whoever is breaking in."

To his surprise, no one argued.

The spells were quick and easy for them, and once placed, they regrouped and went over their checklist.

"Wills, diaries, and proof in the Chamber?" Godric asked.

"Done," Salazar assured him.

"Weapons on our persons?"

"Done," they all said.

"Priorities when we arrive?"

Helga spoke first. "Harry has told us that Sirius will likely react strongly, so we calm him. Then we see about getting him a mind healer so he can take up the seat of Lord Black."

"Take care of Umbridge the first chance we get," Rowena added. "Although Hermione said it may be difficult to get to her if we have to prove our identities and we cannot do that without entering the castle."

"Which leaves it up to them," Godric said, hating it just as much as the rest of them. "To get her out of the castle."

"Are we prepared for the possibility of injuries upon arrival?" Salazar asked, looking to Rowena. The woman nodded once in response and he let out a short sigh. "This will be an uphill battle for some time. You are all sure you want to do this?"

"It isn't just Harry, Ron, and Hermione in danger," Godric told his friend. "It is the future of all of our students. I wish we could get to them to help sooner, but I am grateful that we get this chance at all."

"I won't abandon them," Helga told him with a firm look.

"I can't turn back now," Rowena whispered. "Helena would never forgive me for it. I would never forgive myself."

"Okay," Salazar looked around the room. "I think… we are ready."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The four Founders of Hogwarts and the Golden Trio stood in the Great Hall, six of them forming a circle around Hermione. They each had a hand on her, be it her head, her shoulders, her arms, or her hands, and she sucked in a deep breath.

"Suscipe me ad verum custos, custos animae meae, sumo mihi: in domum suam," she whispered. "Suscipe me ad verum custos, custos animae meae, sumo mihi: in domum suam."

A bright light lit her up and extended outward to her friends and the founders, enveloping them completely. They stood there for a long minute, eyes closed and waiting, as magic fought to bring Hermione to her magical guardian.

She felt a rip at her core and let out a scream as they were all suddenly thrown off balance, and she collapsed to the ground, her head hitting the now carpeted floor with a thud.

"What the fuck?" Sirius screamed, jumping to his feet. The six remaining separated and Harry ran to hug his godfather while Rowena dropped to her knees to heal the girl in front of them. Unfortunately, Sirius let out a groan. "Oh… shit, pup, what the fuck did you do?"

"Sirius?" Harry asked, stepping back to look at him. "Are you okay?"

"He is not," Rowena called. "His guardian bond is tearing."

"Why?" Sirius asked, looking over in a panic. "What's wrong with her?"

"We had to," Harry told the man before he could move over to his friend. "We were stuck- you wouldn't believe me."

"I'll believe just about anything," Sirius denied. "But for now…" the man trailed off and promptly passed out, dropping to the floor across from Hermione.

"What's happening?" Harry asked in a rush, looking down at his godfather in a panic. "Professor?"

"A guardian bond connects souls, cores," Salazar explained for Rowena, moving over to his son. "That is what he and Hermione have. Hermione is… not well, and while she will be alright, it is a strain on Sirius. When she is unwell, she pulls on his core for help healing just as you would with me. She is simply pulling a little too hard for him to handle so suddenly."

"Harry?"

Harry looked at the door to find Lupin staring at him in confusion, his eyes sweeping over the others in the room.

"Oh, Merlin," Harry muttered. "I didn't know you'd be here."

"She is stabilizing," Rowena breathed in relief. "The strain of moving us all here is lessening. I'd say she will wake in a few minutes at most. Sirius should as well."

Lupin's eyes met Godric's and he froze. "Harry, who did you bring to Grimmauld Place?"

"Um… the Founders of Hogwarts?"

Lupin let out a slow, careful breath and turned to Harry. "Did you take up pranking? I appreciate you following in your dad's footsteps, but…"

"No, they're really here," he assured the man. "It's kind of a long story."

"And Salazar Slytherin?"

Harry took a deliberate step in front of his adoptive father. "He's not- they got it all wrong, Professor."

Lupin shook his head, looking like he had a headache. "It's not- I'm no longer your professor, Harry. Please, call me Remus."

"Mm?" Hermione mumbled quietly, blinking her eyes open with a groan of pain. "Ow."

"That's okay," Rowena smiled down at her. "You're alright. Just a headache, I'd guess."

"We made it?" Hermione asked, looking around. Her eyes landed on Lupin and widened dramatically. "Oh!"

"Hello, Hermione," Lupin raised an eyebrow. "I am staying very calm right now. Would you three like to explain what happened?"

"Fuck," Sirius hissed as he, too, woke.

"Now we know why you always curse," Godric let out a laugh. Sirius's eyes moved over to the man and he paused.

"Am I dead? Did it finally happen? Why do I get to meet Godric fucking Gryffindor before James? Oh… this is hell. Where's my mother?"

"Sirius," Hermione interrupted, getting his attention. He looked confused for a moment before he remembered what he'd seen before passing out.

"You okay, kitten?" he asked, looking her over carefully. She nodded quickly.

"I'm sorry. But we had to pull on you because of me since Dumbledore isn't Harry's guardian anymore and Mrs. Weasley would've just yelled at us so much and-,"

"Slow down," he told her, looking between the large group. "What happened?"

And Harry, Hermione, and Ron began speaking at the same time, garnering exhausted looks from all six adults in the room. When they stopped, Harry and Ron turned to Hermione, making her roll her eyes at them.

"Fine, you absolute toerags," she said, repeating a word she'd heard from Lily Evans all those months ago. Sirius's eyes lit up, his mouth turning to a small smile, and she didn't blame him. Lily had really used the insult quite a bit, and it was one she'd never heard before.

"Start from the beginning," Lupin requested, and she nodded.

"Okay. So, we were at school and Harry and Malfoy got into a sort of a duel. Harry made the mistake of wearing the time turner, and Ron and I were trying to get to him, so when we touched him and the spell hit the time turner, it sent us… far back in time."

"You're kidding," Sirius said, looking at the Founders. "That's impossible, Hermione."

"It's impossible to break out of Azkaban," she retorted, and he conceded the point, quieting again. "We went back to the Founders' time and they sort of… took us in. We told them what's happening here in our time and they said they'd help us."

"Salazar Slytherin?" Sirius asked, interrupting her once more. To his surprise, it was Harry who came to the man's defense.

"History got a lot wrong, Sirius," the boy insisted. "He's not like that at all."

"How could so many people be wrong?"

"How could so many people think you betrayed my parents?" Harry shot back. He didn't care that he'd purposely hit Sirius where it hurt - he needed to make his point and make it quick. Sirius was known to have a short fuse with Slytherins, and he didn't want his godfather taking his pent up anger out on the only man he'd ever considered a father. "He's a good person, Sirius. Just like you."

"I trust you, pup," Sirius said after a long minute of silence. Harry nodded in relief and stood back to let Hermione continue.

"There's a lot they want to help us fix, and it all piled up and… I don't know," she looked to her teachers. "Why did you end up deciding to help?"

"Because we felt the future of our school was in danger," Helga told her gently. "You are no longer being taught the things you should be. You are all taught divination, which should only be for Seers like Godric or Ronald. Healing is no longer being taught at all, nor is strategy. Your curriculum is in danger and so are you. We can reclaim the school once we rid it of Ministry control, and help to correct these things."

"Beyond that," Salazar said. "We do have seats in your Wizengamot. We can regain those and help to take control politically, something that we will need your help for, Sirius."

Sirius looked surprised to be addressed by the man. "My help."

"You are Lord Black, or you should be," Salazar confirmed. "If it doesn't go to you, you will be giving the seat up to Draco Malfoy when he comes of age."

"How the hell do you know this?"

Hermione blushed. "You spent so much time showing me your family tree when I asked during the summer."

"I was bored!" he exclaimed. "You weren't supposed to use it against me, traitor!"

"Stop being so dramatic, Padfoot," Lupin rolled his eyes. "I've been trying to get you to take up your seat for weeks, if not anonymously."

"We will work to get your name cleared," Godric assured Sirius. "You were a loyal, brave friend. You do not deserve this."

"Are you sure I'm not just really drunk?" Sirius asked no one in particular. Still, Lupin, Hermione, and Harry all shook their heads. "Fine. So what the fuck happened to get you back here?"

"Ah," Rowena spoke up. "I found a ritual that would bring one of the kids and whoever they touched back to their magical guardian regardless of time or space."

"That's why Hermione passed out," he gathered, nodding. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "I hope you don't all plan on crashing here."

Godric let out a laugh. "No, we have somewhere we can go. Unfortunately, the plan is to sneak the children back into school so they can get rid of Umbridge. We hate the plan more than they do, but until she is removed, we cannot return and we cannot reclaim our place there."

"No more Dumbledore?" Sirius asked.

"No," Salazar said sharply. "He will never step foot in our school again."

"Thank fuck," Sirius breathed out in relief. Harry looked at him in surprise. "Look, pup, he was the best for you while I'm stuck on house arrest but he's a right arsehole. It's his fault I'm here, to begin with."

"Why didn't you tell me?" his godson asked, somewhat hurt that he once again hadn't been trusted.

"Because I didn't want to make things harder at school," Sirius sighed. "There isn't anything you could've done about it, anyhow."

"He's right," Lupin added. "We don't like keeping things from you, Harry, but you're too much like your father. Furious at any injustices and ready to put yourself in danger if you think it means fairness."

"I think I would have liked your father," Godric grinned. "He was in my house?"

"We all were," Lupin nodded.

"Hey," Hermione interrupted with a frown on her face. "We know that Malfoy sent us away, right?"

"Of course," Rowena nodded.

"How long has it been? And what does he think happened?"

No one had an answer to that, leaving the question in the air as they moved on.

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Draco Malfoy rushed through the castle as fast as he could without obviously looking distressed. He was stopped by no one, and he gratefully attributed that to the Inquisitorial Squad badge he wore next to his prefect badge on his robes. He pushed his way past some first years as he ran into the common room, his eyes settling on Theo and Blaise, who sat by themselves in the room. It was unusually empty for a Saturday, and he rushed over to them, letting the panic he felt show for barely a second before his mask was replaced.

"What happened?" Theo asked, jumping to his feet. Draco was never one to openly display his emotions, even for a second. "Shit, Draco. What did you do?"

"I killed Potter!"

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