Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power

Usual Disclaimers apply, folks – but you know that don't you.

AN: Please review and thanks especially to those of you who have reviewed every chapter and added this story to your favorites list.

Contest: Help me name Salazar and Helga's baby. We know it's a boy. Last chapter for the contest. The next chapter is in rough draft and I will use the best entry as the baby's name.

AN: Thanks to the over 12,000 hits on this story, and double thanks to the 90+ who have reviewed! Here's the second half of the chapter that would not end. Enjoy folks and remember to review please.

Chapter 12: More Lessons with the Founders

Merlin had quietly talked to Severus while Harry was in Herbology class with Artemus about what he thought had happened to make Harry's magical core grow so much stronger. He believed that Harry had been forced to produce so much magic to replace what Voldemort drained off, that he had been powerful since he was an infant, but that he had never had the power available for his own use. Merlin did not believe that the strange, half alive conglomeration of spells and potions that had made up Voldemort's shadow had been capable of producing much magic or physical life on its own, so he had been taking enough from Harry to keep himself 'alive' until his rebirth six months ago. After that event, he tied all of the death eaters to him through the dark mark to feed off their life energy and magical power, as well as draining Harry through the curse scar connection.

Severus confirmed that Voldemort was, indeed, a very powerful wizard, so if he had stolen enough to make himself such a powerful wizard, the amount he had drained from Harry must have been phenomenal. And now Harry had all that plus the amount he had formerly been left with. Severus asked Merlin, "If Voldemort is using Harry's magic and physical strength to keep himself alive, won't the break in their connection cause him to die without us doing anything?"

"It might have before he tied himself to every one of his followers through the brand you wore on your arm. He can simply drain more magic and physical strength from each one, or he can recruit more followers to make up for the lack. It will take him some time to regain his power, but regain it he will. From what you have told me, he also knows dark magic and potions that will help him that I know nothing about. It would not do to assume that he will be weaker when you next meet him. And that will be the last time they meet, either Harry must destroy him or he will destroy Harry and then the world."

Merlin clasped Severus' shoulder in support and comfort, "Rowena has seen it, and as you know she is a true seer. But remember, she has not said that he must be alone, or do it without your help. You are also regaining power each day that you are no longer connected to the evil one. I believe you will play a pivotal role in Harry's success. He must believe with all his mind and soul that he can succeed; and you know with his background, that will be the hardest battle that he will face, but he will win it with your help and guidance. I firmly believe that it will take both of you bonded in familial love to vanquish the evil one once and for all."

Severus felt much better, knowing he had an important role in the upcoming battle made the knowledge of Harry's growing power much more palatable. He was trying not to feel; well jealous was too strong of a word, maybe left out fit, but his magic seemed to be so powerful and effortless that he wished he could share the experience with him.

Severus had not had an opportunity to ask Merlin for lessons on his own. He had been too busy exercising with Harry, teaching his classes, working with Harry on controlling his magic, flying every afternoon with Harry and the other students, and trying to stifle Sal's insatiable curiosity about modern potions; that he fell into bed each night in exhaustion. He made sure that he spent a good portion of each evening, just talking to Harry about both of their pasts, reassuring him when he missed his friends, and talking through his fears and doubts about handling that much power and having to kill Voldemort.

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After three weeks of Harry learning control in the shielded work room, the day came that Merlin and Severus were ready to see how much power Harry really had. In a clearing far away from the castle, Merlin flicked his hand, conjuring a trio of targets for Harry to aim spells at. The horses they had ridden were safely tied a good distance behind them and shielded by a wall that Severus had conjured with his wand.

"Now Harry, I want you to conjure and send arrows at the straw target on the far left. Take a moment and picture them in your mind, then picture them hitting the target. Whenever you are ready, son."

Harry took a deep breath to center himself as Artemus had taught him, visualized his arrows, picturing them fletched with eagle feathers and metallic green in color. Next he saw them clustering tightly in the center of the target. He opened his eyes, slightly curled his fingers and straightened them. Four arrows appeared at once, seeming to fly out of the ends of Harry's fingers, they flew straight and steady and thunked into the direct center of the bull's-eye, making a precise small diamond. Harry looked at his master and grinned cheekily, "Like that?"

Merlin messed up Harry's hair and laughed at him, "Well, I expected one arrow at a time, but I guess that works just as well. Now, the next target is made of stone. Curl your fingers a little more, flick them slightly and send balls of fire at it. Probably one at a time would work best."

Harry smirked at him and repeated his centering and then pictured the balls of fire in his mind. He opened his eyes; he curled his fingers as if he was holding a medium sized ball. Then straightening his fingers as he twitched his hand toward the large stone column, a flashing stream of burning balls of red and gold flames flew rapidly and accurately down the clearing. They hit with an explosion of fire and a burst of flame that made the target invisible for several seconds. Harry waved his hand and extinguished the flames revealing his initials neatly burned into solid rock. He turned to his flabbergasted teacher and mentor and gave a small bow towards them. "Is that what you wanted, sir?"

He was delighted to see that he had rendered both men speechless. But he was not prepared for Severus' reaction. The man leaped at him, grabbed him around the middle, threw him to the grass, and started to tickle him. But Harry involuntarily flashed back to his Uncle. Harry screamed, curling tightly into a ball with his arms protecting his head, his body wracked with uncontrollable shudders. Severus immediately let go of him, crouching down on the grass next to him and talking softly to him without touching him.

"Harry, child, it's Severus, you know I won't hurt you. I am so sorry, child, I didn't mean to frighten you. Harry, Harry, calm down, your Uncle isn't here; he can't hurt you ever again. I'm here son, and I love you. I won't ever hurt you, please believe me." He chanted over and over again.

After a couple of minutes, Harry started to uncurl. Severus reached hesitantly to rub Harry's back. Harry shuddered once and then leaned back into the soft caress. His breathing evened out as the flashback left him. Severus pulled Harry into his lap still murmuring apologies to the terrified boy.

Harry grabbed him in a hug and held him as if he would never let him go. Severus noticed that Harry was calming, but that he was still as white as could be. "I'm sorry, Harry, did I cause you to flashback to your relatives? I was just really happy and surprised at what you could do. Do you not want me to play like that again with you?"

Harry was shaking his head at Severus, "No, just start slower so I can see your face before you touch me. If I could have seen you smiling, I would have known you weren't upset or angry at me and then I think I would have been okay! I haven't had a flashback since we locked up the memories of the Dursleys and put parseltongue passwords on all the books and the door."

Severus held the boy tight to his chest and ran his fingers through his short, unruly hair for several more minutes. He wondered idly to himself if Harry's hair might be more manageable if he grew it longer. In a startled thought he realized that in the five weeks that he had been caring for Harry, his hair had not grown an inch. It was exactly as it always was. In fact, thinking back, he never remembered Harry's hair ever looking different! "Harry" he asked, "When was the last time you had a haircut?"

Harry laughed ruefully, "My aunt tried to shave my head when I was about eight, and my hair grew back just like it always was overnight. And that's the last time it was cut. She gave up on it and I never have been able to do anything with it. It just won't lay flat no matter what I put on it."

"Harry, you do realize that your hair should reach down to your ankles if that is the last time you cut it. I have to trim my hair about every three or four weeks to keep it the same length. Do you know what a metamorphmagus is?"

"Yeah, Tonks told me all about it. Why?"

"When we are done here, we need to explore your talents. It is not normal to never cut your hair and for it to never grow, child."

"Oh great, just another way to not be normal." Muttered Harry to himself.

"Oh child, I am so very glad that you are not 'normal'. And I love you no matter what you can or can't do, child." Severus wasn't sure that Harry would accept the fact that he had told him he loved him. But Severus was regretting more every day that they continued to remain in the past, that he had never told Albus that he loved him, even though he suspected that the old man knew it, but he didn't want the opportunity to tell Harry that he was loved to slip away.

The child in his arms just hugged him tight once again and murmured against his chest, "I love you too, Severus." Harry then pushed himself up and moved away to stand in front of Merlin.

Merlin was pleased that the two had made such progress in such a short time, though he knew it was in great part due to the ritual that they had shared. It was one of the major reasons that he and Artemus would not participate in the ritual with Harry. It would have been too hard on the boy to have formed that strong an emotional bond with either of them and then had to leave them behind when he returned to his own time. He and Artemus had agreed that in order to defeat the evil one, they would not tell the two the reason the ritual was most often cast between parent and child or lovers only. Once the bond was in place and the two were comfortable and accepting of it, then they could explain why they had neglected to inform them of the parent/child bond that would most likely form. No, he certainly wasn't going to tell them yet that they were bonded because of the magical ritual they had shared; let them continue to develop and expand it naturally until it was so strong that the knowledge that it began artificially would not be a hardship.

Merlin pretended he had not witnessed the touching moment between the two who were fast becoming father and son, and directed Harry back to their lesson. "Well, despite, or maybe because of your showing off, I grant that both those exercises were very well controlled and that you received the exact results that you intended, am I correct?"

Harry nodded in agreement, "Yes sir. What would you like me to do now?"

"Well Harry, there is only one more thing we need to find out while we are here and then I will permit you to join classes with the other apprentices, although I doubt there will be much that they can teach you except in potions, Arithmancy, healing, and herbology. I suspect Godric and Rowena will have a difficult time finding things you can't do on the first try in transfiguration and charms."

"But I still need to learn to duel with Godric and Rowena has promised to test to see if the visions I used to get were just because of the scar or because I have a little seer ability. Not that I want that."

"That is true, child. I suppose they can still teach you much in those subjects. Though if it is all right with you I would like to attend your first transfiguration and charms classes. I can't wait to see the expressions on their faces."

Severus piped up, "I think I need to observe those classes too. I need to bring back ideas for teaching those subjects in our time. I wouldn't miss it for the world. In fact I can't wait to see McGonagall and Flitwick when we return also. And I will help you to prank the Headmaster, Harry. The old man needs to be speechless once in a while, don't you think?"

Harry gulped back his laughter, 'Was Severus actually offering to help him prank his Headmaster and his Professors?' "What about Sirius and Remus, too. I understand they pranked you all the time."

"Yes, but without the unreasonable hatred that old Tom fed me, I can admit I pranked them equally. Don't worry, we'll get them too, brat. Now, back to your lesson, child."

Merlin was chuckling at the interplay between the two, was it only five short weeks ago that they were awkward and self-conscious around each other. He was happy to see the two lonely men become a family. "Now Harry, I want you to aim, full blast at the last boulder. Curl your hand completely into a fist, bend your elbow and fling your arm while straightening your fingers."

"Are you sure, sir? I don't know how much power that will release."

"Yes, young Harry. I will cast a strong shield around us so that we cannot be injured. Close your eyes, center yourself, and let your magic flow."

Harry stepped away, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and imagined a bolt of lightening coming from his outstretched fingers. He curled his hand into a fist, waited a moment for the power to pool in his hand, drew his arm across his chest and opened his eyes. He saw a glimmer of gold surrounding the clearing, holding in his power. He nodded at Merlin, simultaneously flinging his arm straight while he opened his fingers and flung his power out in a white bolt of energy. There was a mighty boom, and everything was obscured in a cloud of dust. When the dust cleared, the boulder was completely gone. It had been pulverized into a fine grey powder that had been contained by Merlin's global shield.

Merlin and Severus both had their mouths open just staring at the not quite 16 year old. Severus recovered first, "And you say his power will increase on his birthday? Are you sure?"

"Child, never get angry with me please. And yes Severus, his power will increase but perhaps into other areas, such as elemental, though I think we just witnessed an air elemental spell being cast. I think I saw lightening form in midair and join into the power of his spell. Tell me Harry, what did you visualize before you released your magic?"

"I thought of a bolt of lightening coming from my hand and hitting the rock." Harry was very subdued. How was he ever going to use that amount of power? He was very afraid he would loose his temper and hurt someone, or maybe a lot of someones.

"I thought so, child. You unknowingly added the power of lightening to your spell. I thought you had the potential to be an elemental, the first time I touched your mind. And you have just confirmed that you are an air elemental. Though with the lightening bolt on your forehead there really wasn't much doubt. I believe you used the power of air to throw the evil one's spell back upon himself when you were just a baby also. It would make sense. After all, there are too many mothers who die protecting their child for that to be the only reason that you survived."

Merlin continued while holding onto Harry's shoulder, "Harry, remember when I told you after the ritual that you would be unable to lose your temper and hurt another living being? This is what I meant. You will be unable to use that power against another living person unless you are defending yourself or others and then only the amount that is necessary. The power within you will only be truly accessible for the good of people. And you are too pure of heart to want to hurt others. That will keep people safe. I never use the full amount of power available to me, ever. It just means you will never run out of power, no matter how long you cast spells, that you will never exhaust your magical reserves. We just have to find a way to channel your energy into constructive endeavors."

It was a very quiet group that rode back to the castle that afternoon, each lost in their own thoughts. What would happen to Harry on his birthday in only two more days?

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After dinner that evening, Harry was sitting comfortably curled next to Severus on the couch. He loved feeling the older man's arm as a comfortable warm weight on his shoulders, reminding him of the care and now the love the other gave to him. They were just watching the fire in a companionable silence deep in their own thoughts, when Harry spoke, "Severus, may I see your magical core? Or is that too personal? I don't know what wizards think about that."

"I have to admit, I've never thought about it Harry. I have seen Albus' and he has seen mine, because he taught me Occlumency when I became a spy. I believe both would have to be proficient at Occlumency, but since we both are, I can't see why not. I don't mind, and I admit to being curious to see yours if you don't mind?"

Harry turned so they were facing each other and looked deeply into the mind of the man he was hoping would soon let him call, 'Father'. They locked eyes and Harry found himself looking at a glowing magical core of cool greens, silvers, and sapphire blues. An image of a slightly taller, older Harry appeared standing in Severus' mind. He spoke in a slightly older voice, 'Severus, can I show you how to draw your magic out to be accessible for wandless magic? Would you like that?'

Severus just took Harry's hand in his mind and thought, 'Lead the way, son.' Harry showed him how to separate a gleaming silver strand, pull it gently without breaking to his hand and attach it magically there. Then he left Severus' mind with a soft, 'I love you, Dad.' And eye contact was broken.

"Now, think of what you want to accomplish, it helped me to say the incantation aloud the first few days. Take your time and breath deep and center yourself first. Now try a 'Lumos'." Severus closed his eyes, centered himself and said loudly, "Lumos!" Just as Harry's hand had glowed in the infirmary, Severus' entire hand lit with a bright silver glow. "You did it!" Exclaimed Harry. Severus laughed as Harry had done, then shouted "Accio pillow" and removed the pillow that Harry was sitting on. Harry retaliated with a flung pillow and the fight was on. It took only a few minutes before the sitting room looked like a battlefield with pillows and books strewn about and the two engaged in a tickle fight in the middle of the floor. They both flopped, exhausted and still slightly giddy and out of breath on the floor, when Harry swept his hand in a slow movement with his fingers pointed straight out and everything was returned to its rightful place.

"Harry, you are dead useful, I won't need a house elf with you in the house!"

"Yeah, but I demand clothes and wages, and days off, and tickle fights and ice cream sundaes at Fortescue's and Quidditch tickets, and…"

"Enough, enough, a house elf would be cheaper and less demanding. But I will keep you around just because I like you." Severus pulled Harry up off the floor and with a quick hug and a swat on the behind he sent him off to bed.

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The next morning was Harry's first transfiguration class with Godric. He smiled to see both Merlin and Severus sneak into the back of the classroom. Godric was explaining how to transfigure an inanimate object into an animal by having the class turn a quill into a bird. The other 8 apprentices in the classroom were having varied success, but no one had yet managed a complete transformation. Godric came to Harry and was patiently going over the steps necessary for him to catch up to the class.

"Now, Harry, have you learned about inanimate to animal transfiguration in your classes before? Or should I have you start on inanimate to inanimate first?"

"No, I haven't had that yet, that is next years stuff, but your directions seemed really clear, I'd like to try it if I may, sir." At Godric's nod, Harry pictured a bird that he knew really well in his mind, took a clearing breath, curled just one finger and flicked. A phoenix just like Fawkes appeared where Harry's quill had sat. With a short trill, the phoenix took off and flew around the room, trilling happily and landing back on Harry's shoulder. Merlin and Severus were choking with laughter in the back of the classroom as Godric stood stunned. The other apprentices were crowded around and trying to pet Harry's phoenix. Godric opened his mouth, shut his mouth, opened it again and said, "Good job, Harry. I don't think I need to help you any more with that." He then turned away and walked up to Merlin who was having a hard time staying on his seat.

"Grandfather, you could have warned me, couldn't you?" Then he smacked him along side his head and without another word, he returned to the front of the room, called his class to order and returned to his lesson.

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The next lesson was charms with Rowena. She was trying without much success to have her four first year students do 'Wingardium Leviosa' on fluffy pillows that they were to put into several large wooden crates. She welcomed Harry to class, and motioned Merlin and Severus to sit in the back and admonished them to remain quiet so as not to disturb her students. She bent over Harry and was asking him where his wand was and if he already knew this spell. Harry assured her he knew the spell really well and that he didn't use a wand.

"So Harry, tell her about what you did with this spell when you were eleven." Severus called from the rear of the room, smirking behind his hand and whispering to Merlin as if they were eleven themselves.

"Yes, Harry, what did you do with a levitation spell, at eleven you say? My, that's young to be able to effectively levitate something."

"Well, my two classmates and I used 'Wingardium Leviosa' to elevate a mountain troll's own club over his head, and then we dropped it on him and knocked him out until the teachers could come to save us." Harry shyly said.

Rowena looked shocked at Severus, "A mountain troll? Surely he's joking!"

"No, and I don't know who was more stunned when we found three little eleven year olds standing over an unconscious fully grown mountain troll, the students themselves or the teachers who came to 'rescue' them. Professor McGonagall gave them five points for 'sheer dumb luck' as I recall." Severus was smiling at the memory while everyone else looked rather horrified.

Rowena recovered quickly, "Well then Harry, why don't you demonstrate your knowledge of this spell for us?"

Harry thought about what he wanted to happen, pictured it clearly in his mind, curled one finger, opened his eyes and looked at Severus and Merlin who were still giggling like children in the back of the room. With a look of utter mischief, Harry blinked, flicked open his finger and both Merlin and Severus found themselves neatly floated and placed into the big crates. Rowena and the rest of the class burst out in laughter at the shocked expressions on the two wizards. Harry just smirked and said, "That's what you get for making fun of me, you two!" Rowena motioned him to have a seat and continued on with her class, after she could get the students to stop laughing that is.

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That afternoon, every one of Harry's teachers came to Merlin's office demanding a staff meeting to determine what, if anything, they could teach his new apprentice.

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Severus was awakened about two in the morning by a sharp rapping on the door to their quarters. One of Helga's healer apprentices motioned for him to follow her, telling him, "Lady Helga's in labor and Lord Slytherin wants you to be with him in case any potions are necessary. They are in the infirmary, Master Severus."

Severus pushed open the infirmary doors to find Merlin, Artemus and Godric trying to calm down a frantic Salazar Slytherin. "Sal, I've been through this twice, it's okay, she knows what she's doing, she's a healer. How many babies has she delivered?"

Salazar looked at his brother-in-law like he had two heads, "But none of them were hers!"

Merlin looked at Severus and smiled, "You wouldn't happen to have a calming draft for the new father would you?" Severus just reached into one of his robe pockets, pulled out several vials, selected one and handed it to Sal, who opened it and swallowed it without even looking at it. Sal promptly passed out and the other men laid him down on another infirmary bed and shook their heads. They conjured comfortable chairs and sat down to talk quietly and wait. They all knew a first baby might take a while, even though magical births were much easier and faster that muggle ones.

By six, Salazar had rejoined the waiting men, much calmer and able to carry on a conversation, though his mind and gaze tended to wander to what was happening beyond the curtains at the other end of the room. They couldn't hear anything through the silencing spell that Rowena had cast so they were all startled when Rowena pushed back the curtain to display a beaming but exhausted and sweaty Helga holding her new son in her arms. Sal jumped up, knocking the chair he had been sitting in down, and ran to hug his wife and new son. After a round of congratulations and best wishes, the others left the new parents alone to get to know their new son.

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Severus felt a new wave of love filling his heart. He had never thought he could have a son and now he had Harry. Since he was no longer a death eater or a spy, and his heart was no longer filled with bitterness and hatred, perhaps he might find love for himself, and maybe even have children. He thought Harry would love to have younger brothers and sisters. He was so good with Galen and Bella.

His thoughts were interrupted at the sight that greeted him when he opened the door to their quarters. The table was tipped over, a breakfast platter was spilled onto the floor and a goblet had been dropped halfway to the door. Severus scooped up the goblet and smelled it, he couldn't identify the foreign potion hidden in his son's pumpkin juice, but there was certainly one there. Carefully cupping the goblet so as to not spill any of its precious residues, he fled through the halls to return to Salazar, hoping he was still in the infirmary. He yelled at a passing servant to bring Merlin and the others back to the infirmary. He crashed through the doors, shouting to Sal, "Harry's been poisoned and he's gone. I don't recognize this potion. Help me, help Harry, please."

Sal rushed to Severus' side and carefully took the goblet from his shaking hands. He smelled it, dipped his little finger into the residue and touched it to his tongue. "It's a powerful hypnotic; whoever took Harry has rendered him unconscious for at least two days. And when he wakes he will be weak, disoriented and subject to hallucinations. I know how powerful that child is, we have to find him before he wakes to give him the antidote or there is going to be mass destruction when his magic goes wild with no control."

Merlin and the others had entered as Sal began speaking and they all went white. Merlin started issuing orders to organize search parties, Rowena went to go scry and see if she could find a location for them while Sal left to begin brewing the antidote so every search team could have it with them. Godric left to go to the village to find volunteers to search and Artemus began questioning the servants and other apprentices to find out if they had seen or heard anything.

It was less than an hour when they all met up in the Great Hall to find out that no one Artemus had questioned had seen or heard anything; they had no clues to follow. Severus was frantic to find his boy. He tapped Merlin on the shoulder and quietly reminded him, "Tomorrow is Harry's 16th birthday."