Chapter Forty-Two

"It's nice to see you again, Harry," Salazar said, holding out his hand. Harry stared at it for a moment, and then looked up.

"It's a pity I can't say the same," Harry answered coolly, his face carefully blank. Salazar sighed and dropped his hand.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but we really cannot prevent this," he said. The three other ghosts behind him nodded in agreement.

"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but to me it seems as if you haven't even tried," Harry replied, and this time there was a dangerous edge to his tone. His hands tightened on the book again, and then slowly relaxed.

"Of course, there's nothing that can be done about it now, even if you didn't try. The past can't be changed without consequences that aren't usually worth it, isn't that right? So perhaps you'd like to explain to me why you've decided to take up stalking me as a hobby?"

"We were…testing you, I suppose you could say," Salazar said, apparently having taken up the role of spokesperson for the ghostly group. "We needed to make sure that you wouldn't break under great pressure, and that you could look after yourself without having to rely on the people around you. To that end we planted ideas and thoughts in the heads of people who weren't exactly sure how they should act around you, and encouraged them to find fault with you."

"So you were controlling Ron."

"To a certain extent. Your cousin we also utilised, although I must admit that he put up far less of a fight against our suggestions."

"What about the mark on his hand?" Hermione asked. "Did you put that there?"

"No, that was beyond our control. We were expecting it to happen, but we thought it would occur much later," One of the female ghosts spoke up. She was a sturdy woman, not thin but certainly not fat, and gave the impression of great strength tempered by a good nature.

"Excuse me for asking this, but who are you?" Hermione was watching her curiously. "I think I've seen your picture somewhere before…"

"I think I would have to be offended if you didn't recognise me," The ghost smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "After all, I did help to build this school. Helga Hufflepuff, at your service. These are my co-founders, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor." The other lady ghost waved and gave a faint smile, and Godric sketched a small bow out, clearly annoyed at Helga's theatrics. Salazar simply smiled.

"Why were you testing Harry?"

"Because he is needed to defend our school and our beliefs, and to fight for both wizards and muggles. That is why we were testing him," Rowena said, reaching out a hand and attempting to tuck a strand of hair behind Hermione's hair. She sighed when her fingers passed through it.

"I keep forgetting that we can't touch things anymore," She murmured.

"Harry." Godric was staring at the boy as he stared at Ron, who was staring at the floor.

Harry looked up at Godric, eyes questioning.

"You have the mark now Harry, and no matter how hard you try you can't avoid what must be done. Blood will always be thicker than water, and blood demands that you complete what is asked of you. The Book of Founders was written to guide you in this. It holds the answers to most of your questions. There is only one thing left for us to do, and then we will go until you on call us."

"And that one thing is?"
"Your gifts. You already have Slytherin's, and mine is lying on the floor over there." Godric pointed to the sword that lay where Harry had kicked it. Helga stepped forward and cupped her hands. A glow formed in the air above them, and a set of cards appeared. She laid them down on the bed beside Harry.

"They're my old tarot deck," She said. "They're special, Harry. They don't just feed off your magic; they have some of their own. The book will tell you what they're capable of."

"My gift," Rowena said, bringing her hand together and forming the glow about them just as Helga had, "Is my Necromancy Bells. They'll be very useful later on, Harry, but they're very dangerous. Please, if there is anyway you can avoid it, never use the largest bell. It's just too dangerous to even think about unless the circumstances are extreme." She laid the leather belt and bells on the bed carefully, then stepped back. "The book will explain why I ask this of you. Please take care, Harry." As she said this she and the other four founders began to fade away.

"Remember that you cannot avoid this, Harry, no matter how hard you try." Godric's voice echoed around the room as they disappeared.

"What did he mean about blood being thicker than water?" Hermione asked, her expression saying that she suspected what he had meant but that she didn't believe it.

"He means that I have to do what they want because I'm related to them," Harry said. He sighed and raised his hand to touch his scar gently, as if it were hurting him. "My father was a direct descendant of Slytherin and Hufflepuff, and my mother was related to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. That's why Voldemort wanted me dead when I was a baby, and part of the reason why he wants me dead now."