Avian Anarchy
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling or Disney, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.

"The Sams?" everyone asked, simultaneously, looking around with curiosity. While the iglu looked fairly small from the outside, they found themselves in what seemed to be a large entrance hall, leading into multiple smaller corridors.

Merlin chuckled at their stunned expressions. "The SAMS is the 'Selective Academy of Magical Sciences', an elite school for only approximately ten students from all over the world. These do not necessarily have to be humans, and they will remain exactly one school year, from 1 September to 31 May. I have already hired five teachers from September next year onwards, one yeti, one goblin, one elf, one dwarf and one human." He pointed at Remus. "Cassiopeia here has agreed to become the academy's mascot. She will be here for the students to calm them, cuddle with them and supervise them without giving them a feeling of being controlled. I still need one or two human teachers, and I am going to be the owner and headmaster of the academy."

Harry listened with interest, thinking that it was a brilliant idea for Merlin to run such an academy. 'On the North Pole at that. The students who are able to attend are really lucky,' he thought.

=How are the students going to be chosen? Is there a way to apply for it?=

Harry translated Hedwig's question, and Merlin nodded in understanding. "My older self uses to watch the screen all day long and has been doing so for almost a millennium. He will choose ten adequate students for us every year. Same as with the teachers, they don't have to be humans. They can be goblins, elves, yetis, humans or else. Magic will help everyone understand each other. They can also be of all ages. They just have to be brilliant." He chuckled in apparent anticipation.

"Wow, that sounds amazing." Annika spoke out what they all thought.

=The students who are allowed to study here are really lucky.=

'That's true.' Harry fully agreed with his mother's assessment. He quietly followed Merlin and the others through the newly built school building, which – in contrary to its outer appearance – was large and somehow reminded him of a modern version of Hogwarts. There was a large dining room with walls completely made of glass that allowed the view onto the snowy grounds. 'Some of the walls have to be charmed, so that we can see the grounds on each side. Otherwise, we'd simply see the entrance hall here on the right side,' he realised. The ceiling was charmed to look like the sky, similar to the Great Hall at Hogwarts. There were approximately twenty apartments for students and teachers as well as about ten large classrooms with adjacent offices as well as a dozen laboratories for multiple purposes. Merlin's office and living quarters were on the second floor with an adjacent room for puppies to play and rest.

"Absolutely gorgeous," Harry blurted out at the sight of Merlin's office, which was also completely surrounded by glass.

"The sight is beautiful," Annika added, as they stared out into the snow, where the puppies were just playing around.

"Well, the building is not finished yet. We still need furniture and such, but I believe that we'll be able to open the academy on the first of September." Merlin smiled in apparent happiness. "Please do not tell anyone about it. No one but the permanent residents of the North Pole, the teachers and the students should know about this place."

HP

=I'm sorry, but as I don't know where the founders' quarters are, I can't flash there, let alone with the two of you in tow= Hedwig said, when Alicia and Harry talked to her about travelling to the Chamber of Secrets together.

Alicia nodded in apparent understanding. =Oh, all right, that's fine then. We can ask Merlin, considering that he is a phoenix Animagus as well and knows the founders' quarters. He'll even be able to speak with Amaterasu together with Harry.=

=Is he a Parselmouth, too?= Harry stared at the ancient witch turned puppy in disbelief.

=Yes. Where do you think Salazar got it from?= Alicia asked, smirking. =He was Merlin's grandson after all. It's one of the specific traits of the Clause-Slytherin family.=

=Is Santa a Parselmouth, too then?= Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

=No, not all family members have the ability.=

=And why do I have it? I am not a descendant of either of them.=

=Are you certain?= Alicia shook herself in apparent confusion. =I am not sure. Perhaps, you should once check out your ancestors.=

=I'll do that.= Harry nodded in determination, just when Paws approached them and buried them in a huge cloud of snow. 'Perhaps, I could go and speak with Buckbean during the summer holidays,' Harry thought, as he shook his canine body to get rid of the snow.

HP

Two days later, Merlin transformed into his phoenix form and flashed Harry and Alicia into the founders' quarters at Hogwarts. Harry looked around in surprise. 'These rooms are large,' he thought, wondering where exactly they were situated.

They found themselves in what seemed to be a living room, which was dominated by a life-size portrait of all four founders of Hogwarts.

=Harry, come and translate. I want to introduce you to my friends.= Alicia brought him back to reality, while Merlin engrossed himself in an eager conversation with Godric and Salazar in their portrait.

"There is no need for Harry to translate," Helga spoke up from the portrait. "For some reason, I am able to understand you."

=That's because we must be magically connected. I was you in my former life.= Alicia eagerly waggled her tail, as she spoke to her former self.

Helga, who seemed completely shocked by the revelation, translated for Rowena, Godric and Salazar and introduced Harry, before Harry informed the founders about the reason for their visit.

"What? Those imbeciles!" Salazar sounded extremely angry. "Amaterasu would never willingly harm anyone. Grandfather and Harry, please go and talk to her to find out what's happening. Whoever forces her out into the school must be stopped instantly. I will also teach you a spell, which you can cast from a certain spot to secure the whole school from her deadly glare, just to make sure that no one can force her to kill people."

Harry felt very much reassured, when Merlin conjured a small photo frame and Salazar slipped into it to accompany them to meet his familiar. Together with Alicia, he followed Merlin through what he explained had been Helga's and Salazar's bathroom in the past.

They descended a few steps only to end up in a large room. It was fairly dark, and with a flick of his wand, Merlin lit the torches along the wall.

"Amaterasssu!" Salazar called out from the photo frame in Merlin's hands. "Come out pleassse and close your eyesss. It'sss me, Sssalazzzar."

Harry heard something large slither over the stone floor, before something really huge came into sight. It was an enormous snake.

"Who issss it? Are you friendsss or foesss? My Salazzzzar is not here anymore, so it cannot be him."

"I know you can't see ussss, but it'ssss Grandfather Merlin with me, Sal, in a photo frame along with Harry, who isss a student in thissss time. Later today, they will cast the spell on the groundssss, which I alwayssss cast, while I wasss still alive."

"Yesss please. There wassss thisss ghost, and she forced me out into the school."

Even if Harry had only met the basilisk for the first time, he felt that the large snake sounded absolutely miserable.

He decided to ask in Parseltongue. "Salazzzar, should we not go and cassst the spell firssst, so that Amaterasssu can open her eyesss and see usss?"

"You are very kind, young Ssspeaker. Yesss, pleasssse do ssso."

"I know the spell," Merlin spoke up. "We can't take Harry out onto the grounds, or the headmaster would be alerted by the wards. But I can go. Let him wonder who Merlin was if he gets to know about it." He chuckled before adding, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

While Merlin was gone, Amaterasu told them everything about a ghost who had forced her to go into the school and kill the muggleborn students. "She told me that she was my bosssss."

"Do you know who thisss ghossst isss?"

Amaterasu shook her large head. "No, I don't know that. I only remember that she came before. A long time ago. At that time, a girl died looking at me." Large tears were leaking from her almost closed eyes. "I will never let that happen again. Can you do something about the ghossst?"

"Wasss it a blue ghosssst?"

The basilisk shook her head. "What isss blue?"

Just then, Merlin returned and informed the basilisk that she could open her eyes. Harry felt slightly anxious, however, quickly relaxed, when they looked into large, yellow eyes and nothing happened.

Merlin cleared his throat. "Asss Harry issss the only one currently residing at Hogwartsss, I suggest that you bond with him. That way, you will be able to inform him, when the ghossst bothersss you again."

'Oh well, I already have three familiars, what does a fourth matter?' Harry thought with a combination of annoyance and amusement, when he agreed for Amaterasu to bond with him.

"Assss soon asss we return to the school in January, I will bring my phoenixss familiar here and show her the chamber. She will be able to flash me here quickly, whenever you need me."

"Thank you so much." The basilisk slithered closer and carefully licked his cheek in apparent appreciation. "May I assssk another favour?"

"Of courssse." Harry nodded, smiling.

"Can you switch on the fire pleassse? It issss cold here. Salazzzar alwayssss made it warm for me."

They talked with the basilisk for a while and switched on the fireplace for her, before they took their leave. When they returned to the founders' quarters, Salazar instructed Harry to visit Amaterasu from time to time and also check out his chamber, revealing that he had a huge library and potions lab that was worth exploring.

"You simply need to follow the corridor in front of the hospital wing," Merlin informed him. "I'll show you on the screen later on. I believe that it's not used anymore. Just behind the entrance to the hospital wing is the portrait of the four founders."

"As we all know you now, you're always welcome to visit. We will let you in." It was Alicia as Helga who gave Harry a gentle smile.

"Thank you very much. I will visit Amaterasu at least once a week, perhaps on Sundays," Harry resolved. 'She really is a cutie. I wonder who is that ghost and why he or she is forcing Amaterasu to kill students. I also wonder if it's the same ghost whom we saw at Aberforth Dumbledore's place.'

HP

During the remaining days of the holidays, Harry, Annika and Dudley took turns watching the screen and the basilisk in her chamber. However, no one entered the chamber, not even a ghost. Harry was almost sure that it was the blue ghost from Aberforth's place, considering that Merlin had seen him – or her as Amaterasu had said – at Hogwarts.

Upon their return to Hogwarts, Dumbledore confirmed at the welcoming feast that the Aurors had not found anything.

'Of course not, as no one knows where the Chamber of Secrets is let alone how to enter it. It is only by chance that I know Alicia and Merlin, Salazar's closest relatives,' Harry thought, staring at the old wizard in annoyance.

"Therefore, no one is allowed to be alone in the halls," the headmaster concluded his speech and tapped his wand against the table for the food to appear. "Let the feast begin."

HP

During the following weeks, nothing happened, and everyone slowly began to relax. Every Sunday morning, Harry went to see Amaterasu. Hedwig flashed him to the founders' quarters, from where they entered the chamber together. Occasionally, Paws also accompanied him; however, the canine seemed to not be overly fond of the basilisk and preferred to remain in the common room, where all the girls used to fawn over him.

Harry had only told his friends about the basilisk, instructing them to keep the matter a secret.

'Perhaps I should tell Minerva and Severus as well,' he thought; however, decided to leave it for the time being. 'If something happens again, I will tell them,' he resolved.

HP

It was on a Saturday evening at the beginning of March that Harry could feel through the bond that Amaterasu seemed strangely agitated.

'Amaterasu, what's wrong?' he urgently thought to his oversized familiar.

'The ghost,' Amaterasu thought back, causing Harry to look around for Hedwig in shock. He found his parents cuddling in front of the fireplace.

'Hedwig, please take me right into the Chamber of Secrets. Quickly. Something is happening right now.'

One of the puppies jumped up and swiftly transformed into a phoenix, only to flash right in front of Harry.

An instant later, they found themselves in Salazar's chamber, where indeed a ghost was hovering right in front of the basilisk, uttering something in a voice that was too low for Harry to understand. The ghost seemed lightly blueish just like the one they had seen on the screen, when they observed Aberforth's place.

"What are you doing to my basilisk?" he demanded, sternly, glaring at the ghost, who slowly turned around to view him.

"Your basilisk?" the ghost scoffed. "I've already been talking to him fifty years ago."

"I know and you murdered a student at that time. You will not murder anyone this time."

Before Harry knew what happened, the ghost raised her right arm. "Crucio."

He could only feel pain. Unable to keep himself upright anymore, he curled up on the floor, trying to get his shaking limbs into grip.

All of a sudden, a large flame of fire exploded over the ghost engulfing the blue figure in it.

'Thank Merlin,' Harry thought, as he felt the pain recede, although his limbs were still shaking, uncontrollably.

"That hurt," the ghost uttered, before she left right through the next wall.

"Thank you ssso much for coming to my help. I am sorry that you were hurt. Are you all right?" Amaterasu leaned forward and gently licked Harry's face.

"Yesss." Seeing that Hedwig invitingly hovered in front of him, he added, "Call me if she comessss again."

To Harry's surprise, Hedwig flashed him right in front of Severus' office door. She proceeded to sit on the door frame to the adjacent Potions classroom. #Knock and tell him what happened.#.

"Why?" Harry stared at the phoenix in annoyance. "It's all right now. No need to alert the professor. He doesn't even know about Amaterasu."

#No, it's not okay. Tell him or I'll flash right into his lab and send him to the common room to check on you.#

Harry glared at his mother. "You wouldn't."

#Oh, dare me.#

Knowing that his mother was too stubborn to give in, Harry mentally prepared himself to knock at the door, when it suddenly was flung open.

"What is all the ruckus here?"

"I'm sorry, Professor, may we please come in for a moment?"

The Slytherin head gave him a short nod and motioned them inside, before he firmly closed the door behind them. He noticed that Hedwig cast a silencing charm at the door and told the professor as much, before Harry began to tell him everything about Amaterasu and the Chamber of Secrets.

Severus listened patiently and did not interrupt Harry as much as once. When he finished his explanation, the professor excused himself for a moment and left the office through a connecting door that Harry assumed was leading into his private quarters. When he returned, he was carrying a small phial with a light red concoction, which he handed it to Harry.

"Drink. It's the Anti Cruciatus potion."

When Harry did not immediately react, Hedwig instructed him, #Take the potion. It'll help.#

Harry complied and immediately felt the effect. He profusely thanked the professor, before he took his leave, grinning when Severus invited Hedwig to remain for a little while to discuss an experimental potion.

'She must have been really good at Potions, when Severus still values her advice, even though she's a phoenix now,' he thought, as he returned to the common room, where his friends were waiting for him.

HP

On Sunday evening at dinnertime, the headmaster rose from his chair and addressed the students.

Harry inwardly groaned. 'What does he want now?' he wondered, feeling extremely annoyed at the old wizard.

"Dear students," Dumbledore began to speak. "Today, I have good news for you all. The culprit for causing several students and Professor Trelawney to become petrified has been found. It will not happen again. All restrictions have been lifted. The second good news is that Professor Sprout has just handed over the harvested mandrakes to Professor Snape. The potion to cure the victims will be ready next weekend, so that everyone can be cured by then."

'If Hermione wasn't petrified, she'd ask what happened,' Harry thought, wondering if the Potions Master had talked to the headmaster about what he had told him the previous evening.

He looked up, smiling, when one of the Hufflepuff students rose from her chair. "Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore, but what exactly happened?"

"That's Susan Bones," Neville whispered. "She's in our year in Hufflepuff."

tbc...

Thank you for your kind comments on the previous chapter. Please tell me what you thought about this chapter and what you expect from this story. My muse really appreciates the feedback.

Next chapter: "The Purple Crested King Thestral".