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A/N: Thanks for the reviews. With a request to bring up a new chapter so soon, I decided to put Labyrinth of Shadows on hold until I get a stronger footing in this story. Probably won't be up until some time in June. Now, here's the next chapter.

Chapter Eight: The Heir of the Founder

Harry sat down into a comfortable chintz chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Moody, McClaggan, and Lupin all stationed themselves around the back of the office, also settling in for the story.

"Harry, as you know, the four Founders built Hogwarts one thousand years ago in order to teach the magical youth of England. When Slytherin left the school, a war broke out between his pureblood army and the rest of the Founders. Slytherin was a notorious supporter of the Dark Arts, and taught his followers these arts. As a Founder, Slytherin was able to break through the wards on the school, and he led a charge against the castle.

"Each of the four Founders had had a special item created that they were able to channel their magical energy through. Rowena Ravenclaw had a scepter, Helga Hufflepuff carried a crystal ball, Slytherin wore a ring, and Gryffindor formed a sword that he transferred part of his magical aura into.

"At one point during the battle, Slytherin and Gryffindor met on the battle grounds. They dueled for two hours, neither one giving the other quarter. Gryffindor had watched as Helga had fallen, slain by a young wizard who seemed to lead his own army that was separate from the pureblood wizard army. The same young wizard had later slain Rowena. After another hour of battle, Godric spotted a weak point in Slytherin's defenses, and struck the first Dark wizard down.

"Thinking the battle won, Gryffindor didn't realize that he had been surrounded by the secondary army unit. He fought gallantly, but in the end, he fell, taking out the army's leader, the young wizard who had slain the other two Founders.

"Watching from the tower of the school was Gryffindor's grandson, who was a seventh year, and Head Boy. He gathered the students into a secret room, and they hid there for two days, before the young man, Phillip, finally left the room, leaving the room guarded by the Head Girl and fifth year prefects. He and the sixth year prefects went out onto the battlefield to see that all were either dead or gone. Phillip signaled out for the students to exit, and he got the carriages rounded up to take the students home.

"Soon after, Hogwarts was turned into an official school, with funding coming from the Ministry, and a board of governors set up to watch over the school. Phillip went on to become the Minister of Magic, but not before marrying a young red headed girl by the name of Jennifer Parker. The two had three children. Twin boys, who they named Gregory and Godfrey, and a daughter, who also had bright red hair, named Angela.

"The two boys both married, and Gregory had a boy, who was born a squib. The next two children were both miscarriages, and Gregory and his wife eventually gave up trying. The line of Gregory Gryffindor ended there, because his son died before he could get married.

"Godfrey went into the work of a mage, the early form of an Auror. During this time, he was killed by a witch-hunting party.

"However, Angela's story was a different case. She married a man named Lorenzo Bernaut, and the two of them had five children. One of them was a boy named Erick. Erick dreamed of being an architect, and designed a whole village that he named Godric's Hollow, after his great-grandfather. He became rich and successful, and married a young woman with the last name of Evans.

"The Bernaut-Evans line continued for five hundred years, until 1657, when Eli Bernaut-Evans was forced to drop the Bernaut from his name to avoid suspicion as a wizard, who were being persecuted during that time. Three hundred and fifty years later, a descendant of Eli, Brian married and fathered two boys, both of whom were squibs. It looked as though the Gryffindor line was ending. The eldest boy fathered a son, named Brian, and never shared his magical background with Brian.

"Brian married a muggle woman, and both led perfect muggle lives, until their youngest daughter, Lily, received a letter from a school in the hills of Scotland, called Hogwarts. This was your mother.

"You may wonder why no one ever told Lily that she wasn't a muggleborn witch, and that she was actually just the first child to manifest magical powers in three generations. That was because no one ever told her. The parents were proud, but they couldn't say anything while Lily was at school, and after Lily's graduation, they were killed by Death Eaters.

"You see Harry, you are the indirect descendent of Godric Gryffindor. Also, Erick was the oldest son, so the birthright went to him, and it passed on through his family line, naming you as the true heir of Gryffindor, which means you are entitled to Gryffindor's sword."

"But Professor, how do you know all this?"

"Harry, I too am a descendent of Godric's. Erick's youngest sibling was a woman named Linda. She married a Dumbledore, and generations later, I was born. I traced back the family history after you pulled Gryffindor's sword from the Sorting Hat, and discovered all of these facts. The sword was placed inside Godric's hat by Phillip, and magically charmed to sort the students until such time as the heir would need it to defeat the darkness.

"Harry, I realize that this is a lot to take in, but you have a right to know. I suspected early in your second year, but then, I also suspected you of being Slytherin's heir when it was discovered that you could speak Parseltongue. I held back, but I told you at the end of term last year that I wouldn't hide things from you anymore, and I intend to make good on that promise."

Harry watched as Dumbledore stood up, and walked over to the shelf that held Dumbledore's pensieve and Gryffindor's sword. He opened up the magical case, and wrapped his hands in protective dragon hide gloves before reaching in to pull it out of the case. He turned to hand it to Harry.

"Will I need to wear gloves too?"

"No. The sword will respond to you, and a bond should be made. You started to form one in your second year, but this time, with your advanced magic training, a bond should be made sooner. Now, take up your destiny, and begin your training to defeat Voldemort."

Harry reached out, and took the hilt of the sword from the wizened old wizard. He grasped the handle, and gave it a experimental flick. The blade began to glow a soft gold, while the rubies on the hilt began to shine brighter. The sword began to radiate a soft heat onto Harry's hand. What Dumbledore had said was true. This sword was his destiny, and he knew that it was time for him to begin the training that would save the wizarding world.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but there wasn't a whole lot of information I wanted to throw out there. I had originally planned for Harry's heritage to come from his father's side, but I decided that that was cliché. Also, it explores Harry's heritage on his maternal side, something that isn't seen in most fan fics. I hope everyone likes this chapter. Even if you hate it, please tell me. I know some of the stuff Harry's going through is happening fast, but the sooner he's learned about something like his heritage, the faster he can begin preparing for his battle.