Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.
A/N: Dun dun dun! Seventh year, at your service! By our behest. And at your request. Served up nice and piping hot. For your enjoyment. *chuckles* Enjoy!
Chapter 22 – I Can't Lie"POTTER!!!!!!!"
"What did you do this time?" asked Ethan as Harry broke out into a wide grin.
"That charm we used on the seventh years."
"Ah. I wonder what sort of snake he shall be…"
A dark gray snake suddenly came sliding down the staircase, a mop of white-blond hair atop its head identifying it as Draco. It landed awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, its body twisted around and the top of its head against the floor.
The snake flicked out a long, forked tongue and hissed, "You are going to pay for this, Potter."
"I have no doubt," said Harry. "And don't worry, you'll be back to normal in a minute or so."
"And I am so going to kill you."
"Try me. I've been practicing."
Draco the Snake frowned (as well as a snake could frown) and hissed, "Practicing what? 'How To Defeat a Madman in Forty Minutes?'"
Ethan snorted lightly at the joke whilst Harry scowled and replied, "No, Malfoy. Practicing with Ethan and Salazar. I still have to ask the Sorting Hat about the Founder's weaponry…"
"We could go do that know," said Ethan. "I'm certain Minerva would be willing to help us."
"The Founder's what?" cried Draco the Snake.
Harry ignored him and said, "But would she really allow us to keep a sword – as that's probably what it is – in the dorm? I mean, she likes me but she doesn't like me that much."
"Good point. So now Minerva…"
"Is Dumbledore out today? If he's not, we're blowing the whole plan off."
Ethan grinned ferally and replied, "He's at the Ministry all day. Overheard it from Aubrey…I mean, Flitwick."
"Aubrey Flitwick!" shrieked Draco before he began to laugh.
Ethan ignored the shriek and asked, "We going?"
Harry grinned in a such a way that the Cheshire Cat would be jealous and confirmed, "We're going."
"Three cheers to us. You know the password?"
"Nope. But I bet the Marauder's Map does." Harry pulled the yellowed scrap of parchment out of the back pocket of his jeans with a grin and waggled it.
"Good show."
"What exactly are you two doing this time?" asked Draco as he stumbled down the stairs, finally back to normal.
"Welcome back to the land of humanity," quipped Ethan. "As to what we are doing, we are going to break into Albus' office and kindly ask the Sorting Hat to hand over the rest of the Founder's weaponry."
"Or at least Salazar's," injected Harry.
"Or perhaps just that.
Draco looked from one dark-haired boy to the other then stated, "You both are completely bonkers."
Ethan and Harry both bowed from the waist, grinning foolishly as they said in perfect unison, "Thank you, thank you."
Draco simply groaned at that and looked at Medusa, who was sitting on the back of Harry's chair.
"Help?"
"Mrow?" replied the cat.
"Oh bugger off."
* * * *
"Bonkers. Absolutely-bloody-crackers the both of you."
"Y'know," said Harry as they approached Dumbledore's office, "you didn't have to come."
Draco looked appalled at the thought.
"And miss the two of you getting in trouble? Not on my life."
"I feel so reassured," deadpanned Ethan.
"Heng," remarked Harry, unfolding the Marauder's Map as they reached the gargoyle. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good!"
"What are you babbling about, Potter," growled Draco before he trailed off after peering over Harry's shoulder. "Slytherin's Serpent…where'd you get that?!"
Harry smirked at Ethan and replied, "Family heirloom." He then turned to the statue and barked, "Canary Cream!"
The gargoyle shifted aside and Harry grinned at the other two boys as the moving spiral staircase was revealed. "Here we go," remarked he, as he shoved the Map back into his pocket and stepped onto the staircase.
"How about I just stay here?" said Draco as Ethan stepped onto the staircase. Both dark-haired boy scowled at him and he winced. "Okay, okay…I'm coming."
The staircase carried the three boys up to Dumbledore's door, which Harry gently pushed open, sending Medusa inside in front of them to scout things out. When the tiny black cat meowed, the three boys entered the circular office.
"And what might you three be doing in here?" came a raspy voice from atop a bookshelf.
"Ah!" yelped Draco and stumbled back over a chair, falling onto the floor.
Harry shook his head at him while Ethan located the Sorting Hat, which was peering down at them with its 'eyes'. "We wanted to talk to you," he replied.
"Ah," said the Hat, "Severus. Or should I say, Ethan?"
"Severus Snape is dead," said Ethan with a little bit of a growl in his voice.
"I see. What exactly do you three wish of me?"
"We wanted to know if any of the other Founder's besides Gryffindor put a piece of weaponry into you," said Harry, peering up at the Hat.
The Hat turned its gaze on him and started slightly.
"So I was not mistaken," it murmured as though to itself. "You are a Slytherin!"
"By blood only, I assure you," quipped Harry darkly. "Can you answer the question?"
The Hat tutted and said, "As testy as Salazar ever was. Tell me first, young Slytherin, how is the old bugger? Still calling Riddle an imp?"
Harry nodded and the Hat laughed.
"Ah, so he has not changed over the years. Very good. And yes, young Slytherin, there are other weapons besides Godric's sword hidden in my depths. Why do you want them? Only the descendants of the Founder's can handle the weapons."
"Well, do you know who they are?" asked Harry. "Besides me, I mean."
The Hat seemed to smirk and replied, "I do. But I cannot tell you exactly."
"And why not?" exclaimed Draco, finally scrambling to his feet, looking rather pink.
"Because, young Dragon, that is my choice. I will give you a riddle to solve."
"Do tell," said Ethan, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
The Hat coughed lightly then intoned, "Find Serpent hidden in Lion's heart, with Lion wrought in Serpent's bain. Raven will dwell in Dragon's fire, and Badger will hold court in Brilliance's reign."
"That's it?" cried Draco. "That's all your going to…"
Harry clapped his hand over Draco's mouth then turned to the Hat and said, "Thank you."
"My pleasure, young Slytherin," replied the Hat.
"What about the weapons?" asked Harry, casting a slightly glance at Ethan as the boy paced back and forth, muttering.
The Hat frowned and said, "Salazar's weaponry I have to give but the others must wait until the other's are found. Godric's sword is there behind you. I know you have used it once before, young Slytherin."
"Yeah," said Harry before he turned sharply towards Ethan. "What are you muttering about?"
Ethan looked up in surprise at being addressed and breathed, "I think I solved the riddle."
"That was fast," remarked Draco in a disbelieving tone.
"Do tell," said the Hat, bouncing slightly.
Ethan smiled and said, "The Serpent hidden in Lion's heart is obviously Harry. And the Raven dwelling in Dragon's fire has to be Draco."
"WHAT?!" exclaimed Draco as the Hat nodded enthusiastically.
Ethan grinned at his success and continued, "The Lion wrought in Serpent's bain has to be me, being as I was one of Voldemort's bain's. And the Badger holding court in Brilliance's reign…"
Harry suddenly looked up in shock and his eyes met Ethan's.
"You're not saying…"
Ethan nodded.
"I am…"
"Hermione?" gasped Harry.
"Correct!" cried the Hat. "Your brilliant mind never ceases to amaze me, young Gryffindor."
"Thank you," said Ethan, looking a little unnerved at being called 'Gryffindor'.
"You must be joking," gasped Draco. "Me? A descendant of Ravenclaw? No possible way…"
"Over a thousand years between then and now?" said the Hat, arching what eyebrows it had. "I assure you there was a way, young Dragon."
"Why do I keep getting called that?" grumbled Draco.
"Because that is what you are," replied the Hat. "Gryffindor is a unicorn, Hufflepuff is a phoenix, and Slytherin…"
"Let me guess," grumbled Harry. "A basilisk? Or perhaps a chimera? No! A Runespoor!"
"Wrong on all accounts, young Slytherin," said the Hat in an amused tone. "But good guesses nonetheless."
"What then?" asked Harry, spreading his arms wide.
"What creature of the Dark Forest has cast its protection upon you?"
Harry's jaw dropped at the same time Ethan and Draco turned to stare at him. The dark-haired teen touched his right wrist, rubbing his thumb along the dark scars there.
"A Thestral?" he gasped in disbelief.
"Don't sound so amazed, boy!" cried the Hat. "They sensed it in you! One of their own in need. Why else would they have come to your aid?"
"I wondered that myself," remarked Ethan.
"And didn't say anything about it, I see," quipped Draco, earning a dark scowl from the other boy. He ignored it and turned towards the Hat. "So what exactly do these things that we are entail? Can we turn into them?"
"Of course," replied the Hat. "With the proper training. Animagus training."
"Those are their Animagi forms!" exclaimed Ethan. "But there haven't been magical Animagi forms since…since…"
"Merlin himself," said the Hat. "And he had four forms. Phoenix, dragon, unicorn, and gryphon."
"Bloody hell," remarked Ethan. "We've got to tell Minerva. Cripes, you've all got to get pointers from Minerva! Harry, where's that book Remus sent?"
"The Animagi one?"
"No, the other book he sent. Yes, the Animagi one!"
"In my trunk."
"Dig it out the second we get back. I need to refresh my memory."
"What do you mean 'refresh your memory?'" demanded Draco. "You mean, you knew you're an Animagus?"
"Was," corrected Ethan. "And you're wrong, Hat. I'm the most recent proprietor of a magical Animagus form."
"Then why were you surprised?" asked Harry.
"Because I thought I was the only one," replied Ethan. "Now I've got to learn everything over again. Blast and bugger. If only I'd found that book of Potter's a few years earlier."
"You stole my dad's book?" gasped Harry.
"Stole is such a strong word," grumbled Ethan.
"What happened to it?"
"I returned it. I may have been a Slytherin but I was no thief. Besides, your mother would have killed me if she'd found out."
"Time to go, younglings," said the Hat suddenly. "The Headmaster returns."
"Crap," spat Ethan. "We've got to hurry."
"The weaponry!" hissed Harry.
"We'll come back!" snapped Draco, grabbing the other boy's arm and getting set to pull him.
"No need," said the Hat. "Take it. And be gentle with Helga's old staff. It will be volatile in your hands."
"We'll remember that," remarked Ethan, watching as the air shimmered between them and a staff etched with ancient runes clattered to the ground, followed by a longbow (also etched with runes) complete with a full quiver of arrows, and what appeared to be a katana. Harry picked up the sheathed katana and slung it over his shoulder, motioning Draco to picked up the bow and quiver. The blond did this with reluctance until he straightened, bow in hand. Then he slung the quiver across his back in a sure motion and gently plucked the taunt bowstring. It twanged and echoed softly through the office.
Ethan gingerly picked up the staff, upon which the runes glowed for a moment with pale blue light before fading away. He then grabbed Gryffindor's sword from its place in the office and held it loosely in one hand.
"Let's go," said Harry, pulling out the map as they turned to leave.
"Be careful, younglings," called the Hat as they stepped out onto the staircase. "Be careful…"