Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

"Not only that, the stars foretell the attacks of the Dark Lord will soon begin. Harry Potter, Phoenix Lord, I hope that this time you are well prepared to defend Hogwarts. Good luck, child." With that, the Centaur turned and galloped away, leaving Harry deep in his thoughts.

Soon, as Harry walked down the stairs, deep in his thoughts when he collided with Cho. "Oh! I'm sorry, Cho!"

The flying instructor smiled at Harry and replied, "Not at all, James. I see that you are...a little distracted."

Harry smiled ruefully and shook his head. With the sudden increase of Dark activities, he was at a loss about the situation until the Centaur reminded him of his role in this up coming war. "Sorry about that, Cho. But with the recent up rising Dark activities, I need to prepare a more aggressive practical lesson for the students. I never believe that with all of Hogwart's fame around the world, such inexperienced wizards and witches in the defense of Dark Arts are allowed in Hogwarts."

At this, Cho's face darkened. "We once had one most outstanding student who score top in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He managed to master the Patronus Charm at the age of thirteen."

Harry knew that Cho refers to him but now he is in the appearance of James Marrow, not Harry Potter. To keep up his disguise, he replied, "Oh? Really? I must meet this outstanding young man."

"He was imprisoned at Azkaban."

"Was?"

"He escaped from the prison a few months ago, don't you know?" asked Cho, surprised.

"You mean, the famous Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"I would rather call him infamous," retorted Cho. Harry merely raised an eyebrow in respond. "He killed the famous Peter Pettigrew who challenged the right hand man of You-Know-Who, Sirius Black."

"How did you know Pettigrew dueled the first Azkaban escapee?"

"It was all over the Daily Prophet when they honoured all the war heroes a year ago."

"I see..."

"You don't sound convinced," Cho observed.

"Perhaps, I'm very sure that Harry didn't kill Pettigrew for no reasons. The Dark Lord kills to remove oppositions. Aurors also kill to prevent Dark wizards to overrunning the world and revealing our world to the muggles."

Cho laughed at this, "My! I didn't expect you to be such philosopher, James. And such a serious one too."

Harry smiled ruefully and replied, "I'm never a philosopher, I just stating my views."

"Ah...James!"

Another voice called out from behind him. Harry whirled around and found himself looking at Dumbledore. Harry looked at the aged wizard with a questioning look. Dumbledore smiled and beckoned Harry to follow him. Bidding the ex-Ravenclaw good bye, Harry silently followed his Headmaster through Hogwarts. What seems to Harry that he had walked for the longest time of his life until Dumbledore stopped. Harry looked around and was stunned. He had discovered that he currently in the place where no other student, not even the Marauders had ever been for none of his surrounding is familiar.

A large stone lies before him. An aura of pure, unbridled magic pulsed from the stone. Harry looked at the aged mage, quizzed. However the wizard had disappeared. Harry looked around and was stunned. The place was sealed off completely. There was not sign of any door and any form of entrance into this room. Suddenly, a soft feminine voice entered his mind.

"Welcome, Harry Potter, Phoenix Lord."

Harry spun round trying to locate any sign of the speaker.

"I'm Lady Rowena."

Suddenly, three other voices entered his mind.

"I'm Sir Godric."

"I'm Lady Helga."

"And I'm Baron Salazar."

Harry frowned for a while before understanding dawned upon him.

"You are the Founders of Hogwarts School and Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Indeed, Harry."

"Where am I?" asked Harry.

"You are at the Heart of Hogwarts Castle, Harry."

At this proclamation, Harry reeled back with shock. Looking around, Harry tried to find something to prove to himself that he is still sane. The Heart of Hogwarts was not known to any Headmaster of Hogwarts, let alone a teacher like himself. However, all the room held was the stab of stone.

"Panic not, Harry," the voice of Godric. "We had used the form of the current Headmaster of Hogwarts to lead you here."

"How do speak with me?" asked Harry.

"The stone which you see before you had been imbued with our powers, thus also with part of our spirit. We are using our thoughts voice to speak with you."

"Honourable Founders, why did you brought me here?"

"Phoenix Lord, the battle between you and my Heir is about to start. Who wins, will define how the world will be shaped within the next hundred years. Should my Heir, Tom Marvolo Riddle, triumph over you, this will be what the world will become!"

Immediately, Harry found the world dissolving in a riot of colour. Then, Harry noticed the surrounding had changed. He couldn't recognize where he was. It seems that a great battle had taken place in this very location. Rubbles of building and mangled steels littered across the horizon. Terrified cries of women and children could be heard easily. At the edge of the horizon, a fiery red glow was barely visible. The acrid smell of burnt wood violently assaulted his nose. Harry found the very smell of it very repulsive. The atmosphere was tense. He could feel the fear, panic, shock and the pain around him.

The figure of Salazar Slytherin appeared and said, "This is what the world will become should you fail to defeat my Heir. Harry Potter! Look at what your beloved world will become!"

Harry looked around and suppressed a shudder. The world which he knew of will become like this? Although Harry hated the wizarding world for turning against him just because he remove one loyal Death Eater whom in their eyes are another Hero of the wizarding world, he could not let the muggle to be pulled into this war. This is his war! This is his fight! And no one is to interfere!

"Good, Phoenix Lord," whispered Rowena Ravenclaw. "I understand now why Destiny and Fate have chosen you to become the Phoenix Lord. You have courage and a certain sense of honour which will not permit you to see innocent people at the side line to get hurt."

"How I wish that I could you my Heir, Harry," sighed Godric Gryffindor. "A pity."

"Your Heir, Dumbledore is already the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Godric. What more could you expect from Albus?"

"Be like Harry?" asked Godric hopefully.

Harry turned and asked Salazar. "Will this be what the becomes?"

"It depends. Whether you are going to fight for what is right. My Heir had caused much trouble. The wizarding world fears to speak his name. What I did was wrong, I admit. But times have changed. Our world is so much part of the modern Muggle society. We suffer few if not none muggle persecution. By percentage, muggle-born wizards and witches are much higher. Very few wizards or witches are pureblood. If Voldemort, "the name was spoken with much disgust and spite, "was to succeeded in his quest. This will be the end of humanity."

Harry shuddered at the thought that the whole of humanity will be destroyed by one man.

'Have we evolved so high that we became obsessed with the purity of our blood? Will this be the end of us, human, as the supreme race on earth?'

"This has nothing to do with our evolution, Harry!" Harry turned and saw one old man. This old man was dressed in sky-blue cloak. An elegantly crafted staff was held in his hand. His beard could easily put Dumbledore's to shame. His eyes sparked with a radiance, valor, and vitality. See the man, Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff stepped aside respectfully.

"Who are you, sir?" asked Harry politely. The man gave Harry a look which uncannily similar to Dumbledore's. Slowly, he opened and replied.

"Well, Harry, I am known to all as Merlin."

"The Merlin as in the Father of Modern Magic? As in the advisor of King Arthur Pendragon?"

"Indeed, young Harry. Although you had forgotten that I'm also the teacher and guardian of Arthur."

At this Harry smiled.

"Ah, Merlin. I wonder did you help create Hogwarts?"

"No, my dear boy. Why did you ask?"

"This is the Heart of Hogwarts, Merlin. If you didn't help set up this school, how did you appear here?"

At this, the Founders looked distinctively uncomfortable. Merlin chuckled at this. "Do you know where Hogwarts is being built on?"

"No sir."

"Hogwarts was built on my resting place. Somehow these four managed to break through my wards and built this castle here. The lake you see before you belongs to the Lady of the Lake. By building Hogwarts on my resting place, they unwitting let me become part of the school. None of them knew, of course. But one good came out of this, my wards was created to protect my resting place now also protects this school. Few people knew about this. The Dark Lord must have stumped across some documents on my resting place. That is why he fears to attack this school. Along with Dumbledore's power, this place will be impenetrate. However, as Albus Dumbledore's age catches up with him, the Dark Lord will soon be able to lead his foul army into this school."

"However, Fate and Destiny have a way of changing events. By having you in Hogwarts, the Dark Lord will never be able to destroy this school. However, he knew nothing of your existence. He thought that you have die as you morphed into your current form, you connection with him will be totally severed. There will be a void of your existence to him. Misleading him, Harry, and you have an upper hand in this war. Use it well." With that, the silhouette of Merlin disappeared.

Looking around the barren place, Harry asked the Founders, "Where is this exactly?"

Giving Harry a hard look, Salazar Slytherin replied, "This was known as London."

TBC...

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A note from your Author:

Finally, another chapter is completed! I know, I know. Many of you hate me for taking so long but I'm still stuck. Anyway, a word of thanks to all my reviewers! They are:

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Mr. Happy Java Man: I don't I Harry will forgiven the Weasleys. And for your question, God will never know what chicken taste like for God was never hungry and therefore he/she never eat. *Smile!*

Bukama: People changes when they marry. For your second Q, look above. And no, Ron Weasley is currently the keeper for the Cannons, and very much alive. I hope that I don't get much writer's block for this story...and no, I haven't abandoned this story. It would utterly ruin my follow through my commitments believe.

Persona non grata: Thank you!

Naia: the most logical person can also be the person who loves to backstab others for other will find it hard to believe it is them to do such an illogical thing.

Serena24: Harry had not exactly trained...Dementors had rippled away Harry's idea of how magic work. He basically created a new way for him to use is power. He currently knows 3 ways to use his powers. The Ancient way, modern way and his own way.

Jeni Black: See above!

Chicken Stars: Thanks!

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That's all folks!

So long!

Until next time!

Yours truly,

BloodRedSword.