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. Sorry about the cliff hangers, but they are such fun! I hate to sound like all those other authors, but maybe I should update less often in hopes of getting more reviews, hmmm?
AN: Just a little rant, they upgraded so not only could I not access it for all of today, I lost all 14,000+ hits so now it says I have 104 reviews but only 10 people have read it. Thanks to you diligent 10 people! Also, we had no power yesterday for over 9 hours so I really didn't get any writing done. Ah, done with ranting, on with reading…
Chapter 14: Hogwarts? What's a Hogwarts?
Rowena stood, stunned and speechless, clutching a very young Harry Potter, draped in his robes. He was squirming, trying to get down and reach his daddy. Godric held an unconscious Severus Snape in his arms, crouched on the floor with an identical bemusedand befuddled expression as his wife. Merlin took Harry out of Rowena's arms and placed him on Severus' chest. At the soft pat of the child's hands on his face, Severus opened his coal black eyes directly into Harry's sparkling green ones. "Dada. Eat, now!" Harry was adamant and demanding. Severus automatically reached up his arms and clutched the toddler tightly to his chest. He looked up at Merlin with one eyebrow raised almost to his hairline, as if to say, 'What now?'
Merlin merely motioned the three to follow him out of the cave. With Harry perched on one hip, 'How in the world do I know how to do that?' Severus thought bewildered asthey made a silent trek through the woods back to where the horses were calmly eating grass. Rowena fished a soft roll out of a pack and handed to the baby. Harry cooed and stuffed the bread into his mouth, gumming it all over Severus' shoulder. After starting a small magical fire and putting stew and tea on to heat they all sat down unconsciously watching the happy child munching away on his gummy bread.
"What happened?" Severus was the first to ask Merlin, though the others quickly joined in.
"Well, we wondered if Harry was a shape shifter after talking about his hair in the clearing the other day. What I think you called a 'metamorphmagus'? Harry has just proved that he is indeed one. And very dramatically I might add. Severus, how old was Harry when he parents were killed and he was sent to live with his abusive Uncle?"
'About fifteen months old, I believe. Yes, almost exactly, fifteen months old. Why?"
"Harry has reverted to the age when he last felt safe and loved. It is obvious that he needed to escape and this was how his mind chose to deal with the overwhelming panicbrought on by the combination of the potion's hallucinations, the overwhelming darkness in the cave, and the man mimicking his uncle's words. We will need to reach his sixteen year old mind, which is currently trapped inside, andencourage himto shift back to his real form. It is usually easier to start with smaller transformations, but I don't think Harry does anything normally. Congratulations, Severus, it's a boy!" Severus wanted nothing more than to hex the man; his eyes were twinkling like the old coots as the others laughed so hard they had tears running down their cheeks.
"Well, I understand that, but what are we supposed to do with him now?"
Rowena sniggered, "I suggest you conjure a bottle of milk, clothes that fit, and some nappies. Though I think you better worry about the nappy first!"
"Argggh! Too late. The miserable brat just peed on my lap!" Severus' tone and the look in his eyes didn't match the words he had just spoken. He lay Harry down on his robe, waved his wand to 'scourgify' his trousers, and with a flick, he conjured a clean nappy and a small set of wizard robes on the boy. With another flick, he placed the newly conjured bottle of warm milk into the boy's mouth, picked him up, cradled him in the crook of his arm and rubbed his untidy black hair.
It was well past midnight when the tired party managed to enter the courtyard of the castle and wearily headed off to their chambers for some well deserved rest. Unfortunately for Severus, Harry had been sleeping off the effects of the potion all the way home, rocked by the motion of the horse and comforted by the strong arms of his daddy holding him the whole way. It was time to eat and play! But daddy wasn't the Head of Slytherin House for nothing. He called a house elf for a warm bottle, added several drops of sleeping potion and had both of them dead to the world in less than thirty minutes.
Just past sunrise the next morning, Severus and Harry were pounding on Merlin's chamber door. Well, Severus was pounding; Harry was busy tying daddy's hair into pretty knots. "Yes, Severus, I can't say I didn't expect you. Perhaps not this early, but please join me for some breakfast, then we can convince Harry to shape shift back. I don't think it will take too long, hopefully." Severus wished Merlin sounded a lot surer of himself.
After breakfast, Severus scourgified both Harry and himself and then turned on Merlin, "Well, where do we begin?"
Merlin had Severus sit in a comfy armchair with Harry settled, half asleep on his lap. Merlin pulled up an identical chair close enough to Severus' knees to easily reach a hand to both 'men' in front of him. "Relax; I will help you reach into Harry's memories. I just believe he is in the room with his parents and once we have his mind aware of his correct age, we can help him change his physical body to match. He's already accomplished the hardest part all by himself. Transforming back is much easier." Merlin reassured the worried man.
"Harry, child, I need you to come out and talk to us. It's safe here you're back in the castle. You are sitting on Severus' lap and no one can reach you here." The door of the room marked 'Mum and Dad' creaked open a crack. A small face of about four years old peeked out and looked at the figure of Merlin in his outer hall. "Merlin, Severus is here?" Severus joined Merlin in Harry's mind. His figure knelt down with his arms open wide, beckoning to Harry to come out. With a squeal of delight, Harry ran out of the door and into Severus' arms. He had grown with each step so that he was once again sixteen when he reached Severus. In fact, he seemed to be several inches taller and much more muscular than Severus or Merlin remembered. Severus just barely managed to catch Harry before he stood them both up, holding the teen tightly against his chest as Harry shuddered in remembered fear. He was startled to realize he no longer towered over the boy and almost looked him eye to eye; with Harry resting his head on Severus' shoulder, not his chest as he had done only last week.
"Harry, you have managed to metamorph your physical body back into a baby. You need to concentrate on morphing back into your normal self. Unless you really want Severus to keep changing your nappies?" Merlin joked with the teen. Harry turned beet red, closed his eyes in deep concentration and, after about ten minutes, morphed slowly larger. His arms and legs were first, then his torso, and finally his head. Severus suddenly had a much larger Harry sitting on his lap in real life. He quickly conjured suitable clothes for Harry, though he contemplated leaving the nappy in place. He gave Harry a tight hug, and asked him, "Are you all right? I remember your ribs were sore and your head was bleeding."
Harry thought for a moment, "No, I seem to be just fine now. Maybe shifting took care of those injuries, since I wouldn't want to keep them in my original form. Hey, this is what you meant about fixing my eyesight, isn't it?" He asked of Merlin. The old wizard beamed at him and nodded, explaining that shifting would only remove minor injuries and that the child should never shift when he was injured; as it could be very dangerous and deplete his magical reserves. The kidnapping and then the stress of transforming had taken a toll on Harry's physical status, so both Merlin and Severus insisted that he go to the infirmary to be checked out, and then back to his room to take a nap. He was so tired that he didn't complain once when the head apprentice healer gave him a clean bill of health and sent him out to go rest in his quarters.
He leaned tiredly on Severus, appreciating the support of his guardian's arm around his waist. Severus helped him change into pajamas and climb under the covers of his warm bed. When he was sure the boy was asleep, Severus leaned down, brushed the hair off his forehead and kissed him. He stood watching his 'son' sleep for long minutes as he contemplated how broken hearted, and full of despair he had felt when he thought that Harry was dead. He turned resolutely out of their chambers and went to find Merlin for some important business and to plan a slightly delayed birthday party.
Harry slept straight through lunch and awoke in time to bathe and change into clean robes just in time for supper. He was surprised and slightly disappointed not to find Severus in their chambers. But he supposed that there was a lot of work to catch up after everyone had been gone to rescue him. But even if his mind understood; his heart was still a little hurt. He gave himself a mental shake, firmed his resolve and left to climb the stairs to Merlin's tower chambers.
As he opened the door, a flash of movement startled him, but before he could react, he realized that his 'father' stood directly in front of him beaming and with his arms open wide in invitation. From the comforting circle of Severus' arms, he looked around and noticed the Founders, Merlin, Galen and Bella, and several of the apprentices were all waiting for him beneath a banner that read, 'Happy 16th Birthday, Harry!'. He whispered only loud enough for Severus to hear, "Thank you for letting me see you so I knew I was safe." And with another brief but fierce hug, he turned to greet the people he now thought of as his 'family'.
After being stuffed with all of his favorite foods including a massive chocolate cake, Merlin led him over to a comfortable couch and a pile of presents. Unlike modern presents, these were not wrapped in any way, but Harry didn't care. This was his first real birthday party and he was going to enjoy every minute of it, if only his friends could be there too. Severus noticed the flash of pain flicker briefly across Harry's face and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. "We will be returning as soon as we can. Rowena and Merlin have been working on the problem and are close to developing the solution. Have patience, and enjoy today. We will celebrate with them again, don't worry!"
Harry flashed him his thanks and started to read the tags on his presents. Most were small gifts of clothes, jewelry and even several hand-written books. Harry knew he would have to hide the four books that Sal had given him that encompassed his personal research into forgotten potions. Merlin's gift was a beautiful robe that would make Professor Dumbledore green with envy, though the superb embroidery of a dragon on the left shoulder with flames swirling up and around the neck was tasteful as well as beautiful. And the emerald green silk was the exact color of Harry's eyes.
Severus had given him a hand carved box the size of his school trunk on the outside, but magically expanded on the inside that was full of potion ingredients that were no longer available in their time, and a marble mortar and pestle set that were carved to look like the mortar was being held in a dragon's arms. It was almost too beautiful to use. There was also a short note that said his best present would be in their chambers that night. Harry glanced quizzically over his shoulder at Severus but only received a contented smirk in return. Harry idly wondered why the man's usually neat hair looked like he had been in a cat fight, especially on the bottom.
It was late when the two trudged back down the tower staircase towards their quarters on the fourth floor. Harry realized that if this had been Hogwarts, their quarters would be where the hospital wing was. Again the feeling of familiarity and yet strangeness about the castle swept over Harry. He shook off the feeling and followed Severus in to sit comfortably together on the couch in front of a soothing fire. Harry looked at Severus and demanded, "We're back in our quarters. What's my other present?"
Severus just smiled inscrutably, waved one finger and summoned a sealed parchment from his bedroom. Harry grinned, "You've been practicing, and you're almost as good as I am, now! I'm going to have to work to keep ahead of you, I can tell! Is that my present?"
Severus nodded his head and without saying a word, he handed the parchment to Harry.
Harry didn't notice Severus biting his lip and the fearful and yet hopeful look on his guardian's face. Harry scanned the words and then stopped, looked at Severus, and read them again. He hugged Severus and told him "Yes!" The parchment was formal adoption papers for Harry and only needed his signature to become valid. Of course they both realized they would have to do it again when they returned to their own time, how would they explain that the presiding authority was Merlin who had signed the document himself, and it had been witnessed by all four of the Founder's of Hogwarts, let alone try to explain the date when it was signed; July 31, 994!
By the time Lord Salazar and Lady Hufflepuff's baby was ten days old, the castle was filled top to bottom with family and guests all come for the naming ceremony and the blessing of the child. Severus was extremely pleased that he had been asked to participate in the 'Ritual of Blessings' ceremony for the boy, but he was very nervous. He had heard of the ceremony before, but he had never actually witnessed one, let alone participated in one. Harry kept reassuring him that everything would be all right, but Severus was still nervous.
The Great Hall had been magically expanded until it was even larger than the one at Hogwarts, and it was full of wizards and witches dressed in finery that bedazzled Harry with every glance in any direction. Too bad the wizarding world had lost all of these ceremonies, the two modern men thought. Perhaps they could convince Dumbledore to start a class in wizarding culture for at least the muggle born and the ones like Harry who had known nothing of the society to which he rightfully belonged. They had Muggle Studies; it would only make sense to have Wizard Studies also.
Merlin stood on a platform with all the invited participants in a half circle behind him. To the right of his grandfather-in-law was Lord Salazar standing proudly beside Lady Helga who held their son, swathed in beautiful pure white wizard's robes, with delicate gold embroideryembellishing the neck, sleeves, and hem. Merlin's dark blue silk robes shimmered in the firelight, making the gold embroidery on his robes glisten and seem almost alive. Salazar was dressed in deep green and silver and Lady Helga was glorious in soft yellow, trimmed with white silk that matched her son's robes. Harry thought Severus lookedpowerful dressed in dark green, so dark it was almost black, until the firelight caught highlights that almost glowed. He would have to talk the man into wearing colors when they returned. He could just imagine the shock in the Great Hall. He choked back a laugh and ran his hands down his own beautiful robes that had been a present from Merlin for his birthday last week.
Merlin raised his hands and, starting to glow in pure energy, invoked the powers of the elements, much as he had for the Purification Ritual; to bless the child. After he placed his hands on the boy's head he intoned, "I name this boy child, Deaglan Brocc Severus Harold Slytherin! I bless you my child, as a grandfather to a grandson, with power and wisdom, from now to forever. So mote it be." Severus looked just as stunned as Harry did. Neither could believe that Salazar Slytherin and Helga Hufflepuff had named their first son after them!
Salazar then leaned forward, placed his hands on his infant son's head and spoke, "I bless you, my child, with love and protection from a father to a son, from now to forever. So mote it be."
Helga handed Deaglan to Sal, placed her hands on his head and said, "I bless you, my child, with health and strength, from a mother to a son, from now to forever. So mote it be."
Artemus blessed the child with powerful mind magic, Rowena gave knowledge and intelligence, Godric gave physical strength and cunning, and then it was Severus' turn. "I bless you my child, from an uncle to a nephew, with grace and courage, from now to forever. So mote it be."
Sal had asked the fellow potion's master to be his son's honorary Uncle. They both knew it would mean little once Severus had returned to his own time, but they had become incredibly close during their time together. They were closer than many brothers, and both Sal and Severus had missed the close relationship of having a brother, since they were both only children and Sal's parents had been killed when he was much younger and Severus' parents had been mostly uninterested in their child. And between the love for potions and the sarcastic, snarky sense of humor they both had in abundance, they could have been twins.
The two day long feast and celebration when the ceremony concluded rivaled the feasts for the Tri-Wizard tournament, but Harry and Severus enjoyed this one much more, since they had each other and their 'family' to celebrate it with.
It took several days for the castle to return to normality, and then it was time for the apprentices to return home for six weeks. They had all stayed to enjoy the celebration of Deaglan's ceremony and then helped return the castle to normal, so school was two weeks late getting out. Three of the original nineteen were graduating, two were expelled and had been turned over to the sheriff for the attack on Harry, but the fourteen remaining would be returning on the 15th of September to begin their classes once again. Most of them had parents who came to the castle to pick them up but several of the older ones were going to each other's houses for the holiday.
Merlin called all four of the founders, Artemus, Severus and Harry to his office the morning after the apprentices had left to discuss the future of the school. After settling everyone with a cup of tea,(Harry had an almost uncontrollable urge to offer Severus a 'sherbet lemon') Merlin began to speak, "I know that we have all realized that we must build the school that Severus and Harry come from. The time is right, the knowledge is here, and it is necessary to separate magical from muggle to save our civilization from destruction. The attacks on witches and wizards continue to escalate; it is no longer safe to train our children at home. For the safety and education of the magical community we must begin at once. Artemus, I would like you to use Harry and Severus' memories to redesign this castle into the Hogwarts that they know. And I need you two to tell every bit of knowledge on the running of the school to all of us so that we can begin. I am afraid we will need to include the bad as well as the good in order to not change recorded history. Since Hogwarts exists and these are the Founders, it must be that you were meant to return to this time. We must make sure that no mention of Severus or Harry, or for that matter, myself, make it into Hogwarts: a History, or any other permanent works."
It took almost four full weeks of dawn to dusk work, but the castle had been magically expanded, the rooms had been furnished, the curriculum set and Rowena had enchanted a magical quill to send an invitation to start classes at Hogwarts on October 1st, to every magical child between the ages of 11 and 17 that resided in what would be Great Britain. And Merlin had enchanted Godric's favorite hat to sort the new students into the four houses.
Merlin had also spent at least two hours each morning and each afternoon, helping Harry to learn to shape shift into different people and to identify and control his elements. He was strongest in air and fire. He could do some in earth as he had shown making the solid granite shield that had protected him from his kidnapper, but he was very weak in controlling water. At least he got good at 'aguamenti' spells when his control of his fire elemental got out of hand. Merlin had him only working on metamorphing into other human shapes, but he promised to teach him how to shift into several animals after they had the castle completed.
It was decided that the current apprentices would become student teachers for the younger students and the Founders would teach the upper grades. Harry would still be Merlin's apprentice and he and Severus would help out in any way that they could. Their quarters had been magically moved to the third floor corridor on the right hand side, an inside joke since that was where Fluffy lived during Harry's first year. Their old quarters were now part of the expanded hospital wing.
By the end of the fourth week of holiday, each of them had an assignment crucial for the beginning of the school. Helga would of course stay at Hogwarts with Deaglan and set up the infirmary. Rowena would seek and duplicate as many books as she could find to begin the library and their student curriculum. Artemus was in charge of finding and convincing the house elf community to relocate to Hogwarts for their own safety. More and more of the wizard families were being attacked and killed; their house elves suddenly freed not knowing how to survive without being bonded, so there was a large group of about 40 or 50 who had banded together for survival that were living in a nearby forest. Merlin knew they would be much happier with a castle's protection and the work which they delighted in.
Severus would be setting up the potion's classroom and labs, gathering ingredients, and stocking the infirmary for Helga. He would also be writing sample lesson plans for the younger students, since the Founders had only taught older apprentices in small groups. Godric would be traveling to invite several friends and former apprentices to become professors, and Merlin and Harry would be traveling to find his familiar(s) and perhaps the materials for his staff so that he and Merlin could set the first wards on the castle.
It would take the power the two could call as elementals to set the base for the other wards that could be cast by future headmasters. Merlin and Harry would be traveling to the top of the mountain so that Harry could be alone without distractions and able to meditate to call his familiar(s) to him. Merlin knew the snow capped peak was the best place to be completely alone with all four elements present. They planned on taking three days to reach it; that would allow them plenty of time to talk, meditate, and plan the wards together. They would be able to practice the wards without putting anyone in danger or being observed by any muggles.
By the time Merlin and Harry were prepared to leave, Rowena was already being flooded with acceptance letters. The Founders were all pleased by the response and wondered why they hadn't thought of expanding their school before now. It seemed that the time truly was right to separate from the muggle world for their safety and everyone wanted a quality education for their children to help keep them safe. As Rowena kissed her Grandfather good-by she happily told him, "We're up to 271 students, in addition to our fourteen apprentices. I will owl several more of your friends to see if they will consent to become professors. Any suggestions; please send me a thought, especially if you know where they are!"
Merlin just hugged her and told her they would return as soon as possible to help, while Harry and Severus were saying goodbye themselves. The only time they had been apart since being flung into the past was when Harry had been kidnapped. They were both a little worried and hesitant about leaving the other, but it needed to be done. And Severus didn't want Harry to become too dependant upon him, just in case something happened. Merlin chuckled and reminded them, they could always talk to each other over the bond, and that they could never be separated unless they really wanted to be. Harry groaned, scowled and dropped his head into his hands. "What's wrong, Harry?" Severus was concerned.
"I just realized that you will always know where I am and if I ever lie to you!" Harry looked at his father in abject horror.
Severus just laughed at the horror stricken teen and swatted him on the behind in affection. "And don't you ever forget it, son!"