AUTHORS' NOTE Hey, we just thought that we'd let you know that there are a few characters introduced in this chapter who we created. They are as follows:

Lovette Longbottom – We made up the first name but this is Neville's grandmother

Amil Patil – Parvati and Padma's grandfather

Macy Abbott – Hannah's great aunt

Edward Knott – the Death Eater

Bathilda Crouch – the sister of Barty Sr.

Coyne Lockhart – Gilderoy's brother

Genevieve McGonagall – Minvera's sister

Sod Parkinson – Pansy's father

Caprice Delacour – Fleur and Gabrielle's grandmother

Sacratus Malfoy – Draco's grandfather

Acarin Ollivander – We gave him the first name of "Acarin" which is an old Elvish word. This is to imply that Ollivander is old.

Hapirious Snape – Severus' cousin

Auriga Sinistra – This is an homage to She's a Star's "Lamentations of a Starry Eyed Twit." It may be her canon name, but we weren't sure.

Barclay Lovegood – Luna's daddy

DISCLAIMER We don't own JK's characters, but we do own the mentioned above with the exception of Longbottom, Knott, Parkinson, Delacour, Ollivander, Sinistra, and Lovegood.

He stood still, not believing his eyes. The real, live Merlin was talking to him. Merlin who was worshipped and revered by all wizard kind. Merlin who had been the greatest wizard of all time. Merlin who was supposed to be dead.

"Uh," Harry began, his throat dry. "Thank you?"

A knowing smile warmed Merlin's face. "Do not fear us. You know in your heart that you belong here."

"Right." Harry found the initiative to look around. The walls were solid stone, cast with shadows from flickering torches. Empty chairs far outnumbered those with occupants. What most intrigued him, however, were the dark archways behind each chair, empty or filled. Each seemed to be made of thick, black glass and bore a crest identical to the one that adorned the chair or robe of the person before it. "Where is here exactly?"

But Merlin only motioned to a chair. "Please sit down, Harry." Harry did as he was told, briefly noticing that the crest on the back of his chair and the glass arch behind him matched the one on his breast. Merlin stayed on his feet as he began speaking.

"As called by the earliest tongues of the Men who built it, this city was known as Minas Anor, or Tower of the Sun. The world was a different place then, full of evils incomprehensible to the minds of the present. When these evils waged war on the Men of Minar Anor, they fortified their homes and the city became Minas Tirith, the Tower of the Guard.

"The Gondorians who resided here lived thousands of years without ever knowing the secret that lay within: this chamber." Merlin gestured to the room in which they were seated. "I am not a mortal wizard, Harry, as I'm sure you have surmised by now. I am a child of two of the great Valar – powerful, spiritual beings that resided in the Undying Lands known as Valinor and lorded over the people of the world that was then called Middle Earth. Vána the Ever Young and Oromë, Hunstman of the Valar, gave life to me and raised me alongside them in Valinor. Oromë, my father, was taken with Middle Earth and was the first to discover life. He would often allow me to accompany him, but I shared his great love for the green lands. I left Valinor to reside among the Elves and mortals.

"When the great Istari wizards arrived from the Undying Lands centuries later, they sensed my presence. I had spent years watching the Men of Gondor fight each other for power, completely unaware of the secret that their city held. This room was created by the construction of the citadel. It was not built nor planned. The Gondorians knew nothing of it or its importance. Here, I led the five Istari and we held the first meeting of the Istari Council.

"The five went on to hold their own council and became swept up in the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron. Here I remained alone, watching over the chamber that would one day hold the descendents of the first five great Wizards called by Men Pallando, Alatar, Radagast, Gandalf, and Saruman. I sensed the birth of each child of the five lines and when they came of age, led them here."

At that point, Merlin smiled. "You have now listened to an old Valar prattle on for quite some time. Here I turn the table over to the five heads of the lines."

Merlin sat down. Harry was surprised to see Neville's grandmother in dark blue robes standing at her seat around the table. "I, Lovette Longbottom, of the House of Longbottom, am head of the Line of Pallando the Blue."

Harry watched as she introduced each of the other Council members dressed in dark blue. "Sybil Trelawney of the House of Trelawney." Harry suppressed a smile when he noticed that, even dressed in the regal blue robes of her ancestor, Trelawney looked as ridiculous as ever.

"Amil Patil of the House of Patil. Ludo Bagman of the House of Bagman." Bagman nodded a greeting.

Harry's blood ran cold when he heard Neville's grandmother say coolly, "Rudolphus Lestrange of the House of Lestrange." He stared shocked at the Death Eater before leaping to his feet.

"What is he doing here?" he cried.

"Mr. Potter, sit down!" Dumbledore thundered. The anger in his voice caused Harry to sit right away. "You will not interrupt again."

Mrs. Longbottom continued calmly. "Macy Abbot of the House of Abbot. Edward Knott of the House of Knott." Harry glared at the other Death Eater. "Bathilda Crouch of the House of Crouch." Mrs. Longbottom sat down.

Harry had trouble wrapping his mind around the idea of Mrs. Longbottom so calmly introducing the man who'd tortured her son and daughter-in-law. She had barely given Lestrange a second look. Harry couldn't help glaring coldly at the Death Eater across the table.

A blonde-haired wizard in light blue robes stood as Mrs. Longbottom retook her seat. His voice was pleasant and soft as he introduced himself. "I, Coyne Lockhart, of the House of Lockhart, am head of the Line of Alatar the Blue."

'Lockhart?' Harry asked himself. 'Like, Gilderoy Lockhart?'

It was not the time for such questions, however. Just as Mrs. Longbottom had done, Lockhart introduced each witch or wizard who wore the same light blue robes as he did. "Amos Diggory of the House of Diggory." Harry nodded hello to the father of his late friend. "Amelia Bones of the House of Bones. Genevieve McGonagall of the House of McGonagall."

Harry looked at the stern, tight-laced elderly witch who nodded curtly and suppressed a smile. She was quite obviously related to the dear Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts.

"Alistair Moody of the House of Moody." Mad Eye's mechanical eye swiveled erratically and Harry swore that it almost winked at him. "Sod Parkinson of the House of Parkinson." Again, Harry glowered at the third Death Eater in the room. "Caprice Delacour of the House of Delacour." Nervously, Harry smiled at the elegant, beautiful old Veela.

Coyne Lockhart retook his seat and Harry was shocked to see Viktor Krum, dressed in long brown robes, stand up. "I, Viktor Krum, of the House of Krum, am head of the Line of Radagast the Brown."

There were only two for Krum to introduce and Harry could not imagine two people who probably hated each other more. "Sacratus Malfoy of the House of Malfoy." The old wizard, who Harry assumed had to be Draco's grandfather, stood regally with white hair that fell gracefully on the shoulders of his brown robes. "Arthur Weasley of the House of Weasley." Arthur grinned at Harry.

Krum sat down and Mr. Ollivander, of Ollivanders in Diagon Alley, stood wearing robes of gray. "I, Acarin Ollivander of the House of Ollivander, am head of the Line of Gandalf the Gray." He too had only two members of the circle to introduce. "Hapirious Snape of the House of Snape. Auriga Sinistra of the House of Sinistra." Harry smiled slightly at his Astronomy teacher and looked curiously at this relative of Snape's, who seemed completely normal.

Finally, Dumbledore himself rose from his chair to introduce the last Council member. "I, Albus Dumbledore, of the House of Dumbledore, am head of the Line of Saruman the White." He gestured to the only other wearing white besides Harry. The middle-aged wizard smiled as Dumbledore introduced him as, "Barclay Lovegood of the House of Lovegood."

Merlin once more retook his place at the head of the room and Harry only then noticed that he alone wore robes of sparkling gold and silver. "You, Harry, are now the head of your house. You are also of the line of the great wizard Saruman the White. Your family's history is locked safely away in a volume that can be found through the archway behind you. However, first two Council members not of your line must recognize you as the head of the House of Potter. Once the proper rituals have been completed, you may enter your family chamber."

"How am I recognized, sir?" Harry asked.

"I will recognize Harry as the head of the House of Potter," Arthur said immediately, standing at his chair. He shot another grin at Harry.

There was quiet for an instant before Mr. Ollivander slowly rose from his seat. "I too will recognize Harry as the head of the House of Potter."

Merlin smiled broadly. "Very well. Young Harry has received recognition of his line. Harry, you are now an accepted member of the Istari Council, bound by the laws that have been set down for thousands of years." Harry nodded nervously. "You are now ready for entry into your family chamber."