Fore note: Lots of thank you-s and a lot of hugs to Seldes Katne for beta-reading Hearts and Hourglasses before it's posted on Sugar Quill! She's a wonderful person and a fantastic beta-reader!

Chapter Three: Dragons and Wagers

"I don't understand," Harry said to Rowena. He was sitting in one of the armchairs in front of Dumbledore's desk with Lady Ravenclaw sitting in the other chair in front of him.

"How did the four of you get here?" Harry swallowed, nervously glancing at Salazar examining the silver instruments on the tables, at Godric staring at his sword in its glass case (Fawkes was perched on his shoulder) and at Helga looking at the portraits of previous Hogwarts headmasters and mistresses still dozing in their picture frames. Nothing seemed to wake them.

He felt a light touch on his hand and looked back at Rowena who gave him a reassuring smile. "It's not your fault," she said gently, "so don't be worried."

Harry stared at her. How did she know he was feeling guilty about all of this? It was true he was blaming himself for causing even more trouble at Hogwarts. He dreaded having to explain to Dumbledore how he pulled the Four Founders from the Sorting Hat. He didn't want to think about the consequences of what he had done.

"But," Harry blurted, "the four of you shouldn't be here!" He stopped himself from saying they had lived and died more than a thousand years ago. That really wasn't a polite thing to say. A most horrid thought suddenly occurred to Harry. If he pulled the Hogwarts Founders here into the present, then they weren't in the past. He had ruined history!

"Please be calm, Harry," Rowena said soothingly, placing a cool hand on Harry's sweaty and feverish forehead. Harry felt her pause; her fingers gently traced the lightning scar Voldemort had given him. "This is a very powerful curse," she said softly, and Harry jerked his head away from her hand. He had the suspicion that she could read minds, and he definitely didn't want her reading what was in his head.

Slowly, Rowena lowered her hand and placed it back on her lap. "It's all right, Harry, we're not the real Founders so you haven't changed history."

"... Huh?"

Rowena gestured at herself and at her companions. "We're just memories of the real Founders," she explained.

And suddenly, it all made sense to Harry. "Like a diary?" He questioned quickly, looking at Godric, who was holding the decrepit Sorting Hat in his hand, then back to Rowena. They had put some brains in it, didn't they? Putting their memories in the Hat would be child's play to them. Tom Riddle had done the same as a student at Hogwarts.

Rowena smiled at him brilliantly and nodded. Wonderful relief spread quickly through Harry, who collapsed back in his chair and felt so much better. Tampering with time was a very serious offense within and out of the Wizarding World. So much more was kidnapping people from the past, especially very important people like the Hogwarts Four.

"But if you are memories," Harry asked, "how come the four of you are solid?" This level of magic was so much more advanced then Voldemort's diary. These people looked and felt wholly like flesh and blood individuals.

It was Salazar who answered Harry, looking very pleased and proud. "The Phoenix feather," he explained in a quick and excited voice, "gave form to our memories. Any Source would do, like your wand, Harry. But pure and freshly harvested magical substances works better since it will last longer."

Harry blinked at him. "You mean, the four of you will vanish?" He asked, disappointed. As much as their sudden appearance had caused him a great deal of panic, Harry didn't like the idea they would be gone. He found the Founders interesting and actually fun, especially Salazar Slytherin whose personality was so different from what Harry had expected.

Salazar winked at Harry. "We'll be around quite a while, Young Harry," he said with an impish grin, "Fawkes gave us his third feather, I believe."

"How did you know?" Asked Harry curiously.

"Because it's a very strong Source. Only the first three feathers that a Phoenix gives has its full power." Harry was glad that Salazar was elaborating about the topic. He hadn't known that how many times a Phoenix gave a feather mattered.

Salazar continued talking about Sources, keen about the subject matter. "The first twelve hairs plucked from a unicorn's tail are also powerful Sources. Mind its horn, of course. Then, a dragon heartstring is as good as any dragon heartstring since-"

"Salazar," Helga interrupted with an amused smile, "I'm sure Harry doesn't need a lecture on Sources. It's very basic knowledge." Harry fought not to look embarrassed. He hadn't even known what a Source was when Salazar had written on the Hat's inside if Harry had a Source.

For a moment, he thought Salazar was going to tell the others about it, but then he shrugged, inclining his head at Helga. "Sorry," he said, looking a little guilty, "You know, I do get easily carried away."

"Obviously," rumbled Godric, sounding like he, unlike Salazar, would never be carried away by anything. Rowena glanced at him and smiled slightly, murmuring, "Both of you share the same penchant for dangerous beasts."

Godric had the grace to look embarrassed while Salazar chuckled merrily. Helga exclaimed, "Don't remind me, Rowena! I have lost count of how many youngsters I have to mend and put back together in just one week." She aimed her eyes at Harry and said sharply, "Please tell me there are no more dragons on Hogwarts grounds."

Harry nodded immediately, Helga beamed, and Godric's and Salazar's faces fell.

"No more dragons?!" Salazar protested before Godric could. "Why?!"

"Keeping dragons and breeding them was outlawed by the Warlock's Convention of 1709," said Harry meekly.

"But this is Hogwarts," Godric declared, "we've always have dragons!" Harry was glad he wasn't a student when Godric and Salazar were in charge. Seeing how enthusiastic they were about dragons, Harry wondered why they didn't use dragons for their House symbols.

"Because each House had to have a unique animal to represent it." Harry looked to Rowena, who smiled at his startled face and continued explaining, "There wouldn't be any peace if either of them got to have a dragon symbol so Helga and I insisted that neither of them use a dragon for their House insignia." There was now no more doubt about it. Rowena Ravenclaw could read minds.

Helga added with an irritated look, "You should have seen those designs they proposed. Little dragons all around the borders. Dragon patterns for the backgrounds." Harry laughed at that.

Rowena giggled. "In the end, I had to design Salazar's House symbol while Helga did Godric's."

"Well," said Godric, his face ruddy with embarrassment, "dragons are wonderful creatures."

"Yes," agreed Salazar, his eyes glazed over with dragon worship, "Fascinating beasts they are, dragons."

"Hopeless." Helga shook her head.

Harry could barely stop laughing. They were just like Hagrid, loony over dragons. He should really introduce them to Hagrid. Suddenly, Harry sobered abruptly. What was he thinking, chatting with them all this time. He had to tell Dumbledore!

"Fawkes!" Harry stood up quickly, surprising them. "Go find the Headmaster quickly, please!" Fawkes seemed to have been waiting for Harry's command for he immediately unfurled his wings and vanished from Godric's shoulder with a piping note.

"I'm sorry," Harry said to them, feeling quite sheepish, "I've wasted too much of your time." They had waited more than a thousand years after all to see Hogwarts.

"Not at all, Harry," said Godric warmly. He went around the desk and stood near Harry, who sat down back in his chair when Rowena urged him to sit down.

"We enjoy talking with you, Harry," said Rowena with affection, making Harry blushed red again. She was really very pretty.

Harry's mouth dried, and he tried desperately to think of something to say. "W-what was that wager you mentioned about?" He directed the question to Salazar.

Salazar's face lit up, and he smiled smugly at Godric, who glowered at him. "It's like this, Harry," Salazar began with a very mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "I came up with the idea of storing memories, which was very simple, and the Doppelganger spell, a bit more complicated."

Harry paid rapt attention to him as did the other three Founders. (Reluctant attention on Godric's part.)

"What I wanted though was a way for the two spells to work in the distant future, so I needed a vessel for the spells which I would be sure would still exist after a long passage of time."

"The Sorting Hat?" Queried Harry.

"Correct! It was perfect. It was the something I was sure that would still be around and in use as long as Hogwarts stands. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of being polite and asking Godric, here, for permission to experiment with it."

Salazar paused dramatically, eyes lifting from Harry's, and Harry glanced warily at Godric behind him. "Uhm...," Harry ventured hesitantly, "he refused?"

"Damn right I did," grumbled Godric.

"Spoilsport," commented Salazar.

"You were toying with dangerous magic, Salazar!"

"Oh please! You label every spell you can't do as dangerous magic!"

Harry's chair skittered forward suddenly and dumped him into Rowena's lap. Godric had bumped into his chair when he lunged at Salazar.

"Are you saying I'm inept at spell casting?!" Godric shouted furiously.

"I didn't say that, you did!" yelled Salazar.

"Oh, stop it!" Helga shrieked.

His face beet red, Harry looked up just in time to see the diminutive form of Helga Hufflepuff rush in between Godric and Salazar grappling with each other. A moment later, both men were forced apart violently. Godric smashed into the wall, knocking down portraits while Salazar crashed into tables, turning them over. Harry stared at Helga, who did a remarkable impression of a bristling badger whose precious store of honey had been broken into.

"You moronic imbeciles! Behave yourselves!" Both Godric and Salazar actually looked cowed by the much smaller woman, and Harry couldn't blame them. She reminded him of Mrs. Weasley on the warpath.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves! Brawling like children and in front of a student!"

"Calm down, Helga-"

"Be silent, Godric, and pick up those paintings! Salazar-"

"Yes, Mother," said Salazar with a straight face before scrambling to rearrange tables and replacing the silver objects on top of them.

It was hilarious to see Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin falling over each other to cool down Helga Hufflepuff's hot temper. Harry smiled widely, then remembered he was in Rowena Ravenclaw's lap.

Cheeks stinging hot, Harry quickly pushed himself up, kept his eyes away from Rowena to find Helga looking at him with an amused and sympathetic smile. He ducked his head down, utterly embarrassed and went over to help Godric and Salazar clean up the mess.

As he bend over to help Salazar with a table, the older man flashed him a bright smile and murmured loudly, "Now you can boast to your friends of having known the lovely Lady Ravenclaw up close and personal."

"Sir!" When Rowena laughed, Harry wished the floor would open up and swallow him. Helga's light, "Don't tease the poor boy, Salazar," didn't help at all; and neither did Godric's, "He has excellent taste and timing."

Salazar guffawed and placed his arm around Harry's shoulder comradely. Automatically, Harry buried his red face against the cool silk of Salazar's deep forest green robes. This was another thing he would never imagine doing.

"Sorry that you have to take the brunt of our jokes, Harry," said Salazar to him softly, he sounded worried. After a while, Harry withdrew himself from him and smiled, looking composed. "Thank you, Sir," he said, then added firmly, cheeks flaring again, "And I do consider myself very fortunate."

Salazar looked at him with delight, and Harry felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned to Rowena, smiling at him warmly. He allowed himself to be guided back into the chair in front of her. He felt another warm touch on his shoulder and tilted his head up to see Helga looking down at him with a motherly expression.

Joy bubbled inside Harry. The reticence he felt being with the Founders melted away in their acceptance of him. Did they always treat people they have just met the way they treated Harry? That seemed so unlikely yet Harry felt that there was no secrets between and amongst them.

"Now," said Salazar thoughtfully, "where was I before Godric so impolitely interrupted me..." Harry grinned and glanced over to Godric, who was glaring again at Salazar. Helga sighed, her fingers playfully tugging at Harry's hair.

"Ah yes! Godric refused to let me store the spells in his precious hat, so I had to find something else to suit my purpose. However, Godric started to hound me, insisting that I do not go through with it. Now, really... that was very unfair and selfish of him."

Before Godric could defend himself, Rowena intervened, "Godric was worried for Salazar, Harry."

Salazar smirked, "He was worried I would wreck disaster in the future!"

"And you would," said Godric sharply, turning to Harry, "when he stubbornly refused to give up on his project, I reluctantly decided to let him enchant my hat instead on the condition that was the only thing he would use."

Harry could understand Godric's concern. The thought of more than one Salazar Slytherin popping up in the future (one was more than enough) struck Harry as disasters just waiting to happen.

Helga tugged Harry's hair, attracting his attention to her. "It wasn't long before Godric decided it was too dangerous for Salazar to go alone," she said.

Harry grinned at Helga. "I bet you then decided it was too dangerous for just the two of them to go by themselves."

She smiled at him. "Correct, Harry. I insisted to go as well to make sure they behaved."

"Of course," Rowena said graciously, "since the three of them were going, I decided to join in."

Salazar grinned. "The more the merrier!" Then he grimaced. "It almost didn't go through though. Godric was starting to convince me that it was dangerous."

"I did?!" Exclaimed Godric; Salazar ignored him, continuing, "Everything was set and ready. Godric's archaic sword was going to be the Source for the timed Doppelganger spell."

"My sword is still around to this day-"

"Shush, Godric, don't interrupt. It then occurred to me that it would never work if by chance someone managed draw out Godric's sword and didn't return it into the Hat. I insisted on countermeasures."

"Of which Godric, of course, protested," said Helga.

"Of course, I protested," Godric said, "it was dangerous magic and foolhardy in the first place. It would be best for all if it never worked."

"Salazar insisted on adding more spells," Rowena told Harry.

"But Godric was bull-headed." Insulting Godric seemed as natural to Salazar as breathing. "I finally convinced him to let me include a spell that would allow me to communicate to someone in this time, but Godric, eager as always to darken my path, allowed it only if I communicated in Parseltongue. I jumped at the chance before Godric could change his mind (which he often did)."

"Salazar," growled Godric.

"Well, it's true!" Salazar said, looking challengingly at Godric, "You probably never let me set one finger on the Hat after that day, and you were so confident it would never work. You wagered a hundred galleons."

"And he accepted," said Helga nonchalantly, tracing patterns in Harry's hair, "even though both of them knew neither of them would ever collect."

"It was a matter of principle," said Salazar, smiling at Harry, "Now you know how all of this came about, Harry."

Slowly, Harry nodded at him, digesting in his mind all that he had heard. It all sounded incredible and unbelievable, but they were here. Helga Hufflepuff patting Harry's head in an absent-minded fashion. Rowena Ravenclaw was singing softly. Godric Gryffindor was examining his sword, which he had removed from the glass case while Salazar Slytherin was looking at Harry expectantly.

As Harry looked into Salazar's friendly green eyes, he was suddenly overwhelmed by all that had just happened. He would never ever have imagined that he would meet the Founders when he decided a little over an hour ago to come here to talk to Dumbledore.

And where was the Headmaster? He should have been here already.

Author's note: I'm worried about Salazar Slytherin. Suddenly, he seems too much to handle

Chapter 3 has ended. Please go on to the next chapter.

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