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. I wasn't going to update this until tomorrow, since I am working on Ch. 17 right now and I am a little stuck. I know where I want to go, but am having a bit of a problem getting there without making it 25 pages long. But after those lovely reviews, I just have to post today!

AN: For those who missed it, I apologized for the error in the first chapter. I had Sirius dead and that had not happened yet at the point where I split from the original book. So, Sirius Black is alive! Thanks again for continuing to read.

Chapter 15: Power of the Elementals

Merlin decided by late afternoon, that Harry was the most curious child he had ever met, even worse than Godric and Helga had been. He was also remarkably mature and intelligent, frequently asking questions for which Merlin had to struggle to answer, and some he could not answer at all. Merlin felt he learned almost as much as the child he was teaching; as he had to clarify and ponder his own thoughts before he could formulate a coherent answer for Harry. Merlin gave up and stopped early for the night at a pleasant glade next to the river that flowed out of the 'Lake of the Innocents' so he could have time to discuss all the different topics Harry had brought up as they had ridden that day.

With a single wave of his hand, their small tent was standing and their gear was stowed. Harry grinned impishly, mimicked Merlin's wave and a small fire with a cauldron full of beef stew was simmering with a pot of tea beside it. A second wave produced a large plate full of slabs of warm bread with freshly churned butter and a pot of marmalade appeared, all having been summoned from the kitchens in the castle. Merlin just chuckled, "Hungry were we, son?"

Harry sat down while nodding and dished himself a generous helping of everything. "I'm a growing boy. I need my food."

Merlin agreed while dishing his own supper. "I have noticed that you are now as tall as Severus and have filled out muscularly as well. Are you shifting your shape, or are you just catching up in growth after the connection was severed, and you no longer rely upon your relatives for nourishment?"

"This is all me, the height is natural, the filling out and getting stronger is a combination of good food and the merciless way Lord Godric pushes us in exercising and dueling! It's nice not to be the shortest and skinniest any more. I don't think I want to have to keep up a false appearance though, at least not yet. I still have to concentrate too much on keeping myself totally shifted. You were going to teach me about shifting to animals, can we start now?"

"Certainly. But this is not shape shifting; this is your godfather's way, an 'animagus' if I remember correctly."

"But a wizard can only shift into one animal, and the magic within you chooses which animal. You told me several animals, how can that be?"

"You are an elemental, Harry, not a wizard, and as soon as you are trained you will be a mage just as I am. You will have one form for each of the elements that you control, plus one non-magical form and one magical one because of the strength of your magical core. Most wizards have the potential to shift to both a magical and a non-magical, they simply do not have the magical strength to shift into magical creatures, and most do not have the mental willpower and intense concentration to shift into any animal at all. But I know you will not have any difficulty, and I suspect that Severus will soon be able to also. Both of my grandchildren and their spouses can also shift to a magical as well as a mundane animal, as can Artemus. The difference between this shifting and the type you have been doing is; you actually become the animal. Whatever physical and magical properties that animal has, you also have. When you shape shift, it is still you inside, you merely rearrange the exterior. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir, I think so. My Dad was a stag, so he could run and leap like a stag. People who become birds can actually fly, where when I shape shift, I can't do anything that I couldn't do as myself, I just look different."

"Correct, child. Remember the first time I looked inside your mind, when I first saw the evil connection, I saw that your soul was pure. I told you that you were as pure as a phoenix or a unicorn. I believe I said that, because I saw those two creatures as your elementals for fire and earth. Now we should begin with your air element, because that is the strongest element you control, that's why you took to a broom like you were born on one. You must choose a magical beast; and it must have the capacity to fly to be an air elemental shape.

You could choose something like a dragon, a Pegasus, or a griffin. We also know that you will be able to control fire because of the bolts of fire you threw in the clearing, as well as the lightening bolt upon your forehead which represents both air and fire elements; and also earth because of the shield of stone you made in the cave, though I don't suspect that you remember that one, and the way you can ride any horse better than those who have been riding since before they could walk.

So for fire I would suggest a phoenix as the first try. If the air doesn't accept that choice we can decide on something else later. Earth can be any of the magical animals that don't fly or swim; we will select a unicorn first because I believe I saw that one within your core already. I can't see you as a centaur or a thestral. Unless you can think of something else you would rather try?"

Harry was overwhelmed with the staggering amount of animals he could become. He knew for his non-magical one he wanted something that could keep Professor Lupin company on the full moon. It would be wonderful to run with Padfoot and Moony like his father had. Perhaps he should be a stag like his father, James, or even a big dog like his godfather, Sirius?

"I would like to be a phoenix because that would be dead useful, especially in escaping or just going from one place to another, most of the other magical birds have major drawbacks like the fwooper; I would hate to drive people insane with my song. I wouldn't mind being a unicorn, it's certainly much better than most of Hagrid's pets or class projects. I would hate to be a bowtruckle or a blast ended skrewt for instance! I don't like Centaurs and it's too creepy to be a thestral. I don't know about a dragon or a Pegasus. They are both really large, maybe to big to be truly useful? And are there any other choices, I certainly want to stay with purely light creatures, imagine being a dementor or a lethifold, yecch! But I am a Gryffindor; so it would be kind of cool to be a griffin." Harry was so delighted he was babbling in hisexcitement.

"Well, since your air element is strongest, let's try a griffin and if it doesn't accept it we will move on to another option. Since the air chooses this, it is different than a regular animagus transformation. If it is accepted, it will be painless and almost instantaneous. Clear your mind, focus on calling the lightening like you did in the clearing and picture a golden griffin in your mind. We'll try that one first since it is the smallest griffin species."

Harry thought hard on the pictures he had seen of griffins, and of how much he would love to fly without a broom. To soar above the clouds, free of the confiningstrictures of gravity. He called the lightening into him and experienced a surge through his body as he 'felt' acceptance of the offering. He was light headed, and somehow his bones felt hollow. His shoulders grew, he fell onto all fours as his legs shrank and his arms stretched. He shifted his shoulders to release the sudden cramp and felt the soft brush of feathers creating a breeze that wafted down his back to his tail. He opened his mouth, shouting acry of pure joy that sounded like a cross between the call of an eagle and a hawk.

He opened his eyes, it was strange to be able to see in two different directions at one time, but somehow it seemed right. His shoulders were even with Merlin's waist and his head only reached to the top of Merlin's shoulders. He thought he should be much bigger; maybe he was a different species of griffin? He carefully stretched his wings, careful not to hit Merlin with them. Instinctively he took a short run along the river's edge, pushed off with all four feet, followed by a mighty shove of his powerful hind legs and leaped into the air, pumping madly with his wings.

A feeling of great joy and peace nearly overwhelmed him. He had only felt this free before while riding on his broomstick. But this was true freedom, no broomstick, no Buckbeak, nothing between himself and the air, as he beat his wings effortlessly. He felt totally free for the first time in his life; he never wanted this feeling to stop. He soared and wheeled as if he was flying on his broom for over half an hour. But his muscles were unused to moving in this fashion and they were starting to tire so he knew he must return soon to Merlin.

He glanced down at the earth below him, and gloried in the crystal beauty of the 'Lake of the Innocents' that flashed in the afternoon sun below him. He thought about how the lake had changed his life and that of his new father. He wished that the lake still existed in his own time, so that he could free Ginny of Tom's touch from her first year; when he had possessed her, and petrified those students. He knew she still had nightmares and felt guilty, just as he had about Cedric's death. With thoughts like these running through his head, he glided in for a landing. Unfortunately, he had never had a gliding landing with four legs, wings, and a tail before. He just barely managed not to wind up face down in the dirt as he stumbled and fell. He transformed back into Harry still sprawled on the ground, and glared at Merlin who was laughing about his landing.

"Come Harry and rest. You must master all aspects of each animal before trying to transform to another animal. We started with air, since that is your strongest elemental power, next will be fire after you are completely in control of your griffin. I have some hot tea ready and I am sure you are ready for some more food after the exertion of your first flight. You did a wonderful job!"

Harry couldn't stop grinning and told Merlin, "I want to tell Severus now, okay?" At Merlin's nod, Harry opened the link to his father, 'Dad, Dad, can you hear me? Are you there?' He called full of excitement and joy that he finally had a parent to share his triumph with.

'Yes, Harry, I am in our quarters getting cleaned up for dinner. I admit I am excited about the new school year, but it is a lot of work setting up everything. I guess I am spoiled by the systems and supplies already in place in our Hogwarts!'

Harry cut him off before he could continue; talking so quickly he was having a hard time keeping the thoughts clear, he 'spoke', 'Dad, Dad, I got my first form, I'm a golden griffin, and I flew, and it was so-o-o cool, and I…' Harry could hear Severus chuckle across their bond, 'Slow down, son. So the 'Golden Gryffindor' is actually a golden griffin, seems kind of appropriate somehow? And you flew already, wow; I'm a bit jealous, but so proud of you!'

'Merlin says that you are powerful enough to have a magical animagus too, Dad. He says he'll train you after school gets started and things settle down. That would be so-o-o cool if we could fly together! I never asked, are you an animagus?'

'I'll tell you but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Don't laugh Harry, but I really am a bat. Oh, just shut up, that's why I never shift unless I absolutely have to! But it has helped me get out of some very serious situations. It's much more helpful than some other forms if you need to escape from somewhere without anyone noticing you!'

Harry was laughing so hard he had tears running down his face. It was a good thing they were mind calling because Harry would never be able to catch his breath to speak. 'Oh, please, let me tell my friends, especially Neville and Ron. They've been calling you the 'old bat of the dungeons' for years! Let me guess, a vampire bat?'

'No, a fruit bat. Stop laughing, brat! Humph, twenty points from Gryffindor for lack of respect towards a teacher!'

'Not my Professor now; … my Dad! Good-bye for now, I'm going to go eat some more stew and talk to Merlin. Bye, Dad, I miss you!'

Severus felt his eyes moisten, such a simple phrase that meant so much to him. Something he hoped he would never take for granted, and something he never thought he would ever have. He smiled and continued to clean up his private potions lab before heading into their bathing chamber to clean up and don fresh robes for dinner.

As Merlin and Harry sat around a small fire, sipping tea in companionable silence, Harry thought of the lake just to the north of them and asked his Master, "Merlin, is lycanthropy a disease or a curse? I've heard it described both ways."

"Interesting question, Harry, I can't say I've really thought about it much." Merlin sat in quiet thought, looking into the fire as he contemplated his answer. "It is a blood curse; that is cast wandless and soundless as it combines the caster's blood with the victim's blood. If it was a disease, it would not matter if the person was in werewolf shape or not to transmit it. A disease would be transferred by a bite at any stage of the moon and so would equally infect someone and it doesn't. Why do you ask?"

"A very good friend of first my parents and godfather, and now me, is afflicted with it. He is a wonderful, kind person, and was the best defense teacher we ever had. But as soon as the parents found out he was a werewolf, he had to quit. He has a hard time finding a job or a place to live, and I know he is in terrible pain around the full moon. I just hate seeing him so sick so much of the time. I thought if it was a curse, and not a disease, that if we brewed the Wolfsbane potion with water from the 'Lake of the Innocents' that it would drive the werewolf out of the man. What do you think?"

"That is a very good question, but since I know very little about the potion, I cannot comment with much certainty. Perhaps you could ask Severus, we could bring some water back with us if he wanted to try?"

'Severus, are you busy?' Harry mind called once again. Severus answered back, 'We are just settling down for dinner. I'm happy to talk to you at any time though, Harry. What do you need, son?'

'I was talking with Merlin and he doesn't know the answer to my question, so he told me to ask you. I wanted to know if you brewed the Wolfsbane potion with the water from the 'Lake of the Innocents' would that cure Professor Lupin? I mean if lycanthropy is a curse, it should drive out the wolf curse just like it drove Voldemort out of my head and removed your dark mark. Do you think that would work? Merlin said we could bring back some water if you wanted to experiment.'

Harry could feel Severus' excitement over their bond. 'Yes, I think that might work, if they took it right at the rise of the full moon, it should drive the wolf out completely. I will get to work on a formula immediately. Bring back all the water that you can. Bye Harry, I need to go…Sal, a question…' Severus' mind was instantly turned to the problem at hand. He loved to solve puzzles, and this was a puzzle that had needed to be solved for a long time. His steak and kidney pie completely forgotten, he turned to Sal and began to discuss the suggestion excitedly.

Harry just laughed to himself and knew he wouldn't get a coherent conversation out of his father for a very long time. He was happy he was out of the castle, Lady Helga would have his head since he started Lord Salazar and Severus into a long potions discussion just as they sat down to dinner. He wondered if he would have to call his father Lord Severus as he had to do the other teachers. He had just gotten used to calling him Severus and then Father, heaven help him if he had to use another name! Maybe it would be Professor Snape again; he could handle that one as long as Severus didn't revert back to his former behavior to go along with the name.

Harry told Merlin about his conversation with Severus and asked if the lake could exist in their own time any more, since he had never heard of it before. Merlin explained that he had no way of knowing for sure, but he thought it should still exist but perhaps it had gone underground to escape exploitation. He assured Harry that he would work to find a way to help him rediscover it once they returned. The two settled down to sleep, and as Harry shut his weary eyes he wondered if Severus would even try to sleep at all that night.

The two elementals had been working together on the mountaintop for only three days when Harry felt the call of his familiar. He had successfully transformed into a glacier phoenix just the day before. It was rarer than a fire phoenix like Fawkes, and was a beautiful silvery white, with black wingtips and tail feathers. It also had glowing green eyes rather than the black ones Fawkes had. Harry hadn't thought anything would beat the feeling of flying as a griffin, but he was wrong. A phoenix could flash instantaneously and do aerial feats of daring that were impossible for the much larger griffin.

Harry was floating on updrafts over the crest of the mountain, enjoying the calm beauty of the sunrise when he felt a pull in his mind to land on a shallow ledge just below the north crest of the peak. He landed, unconsciously mimicking Fawkes' head turned stance. He heard a melodious voice trilling in his mind, 'Fire child, I have felt your goodness and purity and wish to show honor to you and help you on your quest. Please take my egg and bond with my young one. She shall be your companion and familiar and join you on your journey to defeat the evil one that threatens you.'

Harry's green eyes in his phoenix form met sparkling ice blue ones inside a deep crevice at the back of the ledge. A beautiful glacier phoenix was sitting on a protected nest containing a large glowing, silver white egg almost as big as a quaffle ball. Harry morphed into a teen and stroked the mother bird gently on her head. He kept his phoenix voice and trilled his acceptance of the great honor that she bestowed upon him.

She told him how to care for the unhatched egg, how to keep it warm and safe, and told him it would be another ten days before it would hatch. He would then need to hand feed itsoft fruitsandground nuts for only a couple of days until she was able tofeed on her own, as phoenixes matured very quickly into fully grown status, much like they did after a burning day. Harry carefully took the entire nest and tied it securely into his robe, transformed back into his phoenix and flew back, his robe and its precious cargo carefully grasped tightly in his claws, to share his excitement with Merlin and Severus.

When the time came several days later for Harry and Merlin to return to the castle, neither of them wanted to leave. They had become very close and enjoyed the peaceful often deep discussions on subjects ranging from wizarding customs, to the ethics of using great amounts of power, to house elf and other magical peoples being subverted by wizards, to their favorite foods and hobbies.

They both enjoyed Harry's rapidly growing control over his elements, and Merlin was delighted to see something of the childish delight that Harry had apparently never been allowed to show, though he hadn't been particularly fond of Harry changing his robes bright lime green, with his beard and hair to match! And it had taken him half an hour to notice and only then because Harry had been unable to control his laughter any longer.

Severus had been very forthcoming about the way Harry had been treated both by his abusive family and the fickleness of the wizarding community as they alternately adored and despised the boy. Merlin thought the time here away from all his past was doing a very good job of healing the boy's mind and psyche, but he still was too old for his years at most times; so the flashes of joy and childishness were good to see.

Harry had managed to successfully control air, fire, and earth elements, but both of them conceded that he would never have much control over water unless he was very desperate and was able to call up wild magic to help control it. His elemental forms turned out to be a small golden griffin, a glacier phoenix, and a beautiful silver unicorn with black mane, tail, and hooves. He could shift effortlessly and instantaneously into all of these.

His animagus forms turned out to be a tawny gold and black striped kneazle for his magical form, though he couldpass as a non-magical cat by using his metamorphmagus skills to shrink some,and a gorgeous silver wolf with a black blaze on his forehead for his non-magical one. He was still having problems shifting into them and would need to continue to practice once they returned home. Merlin wondered if Harry had noticed that all of his forms wereprimarily gold or silver and their abilities and natures all matched the purity of his magical core.

Every time Harry managed to transform into the wolf, he felt sadness at the continued separation from Sirius and Remus, but anticipation at the joy of baying at the moon with them when he returned at least until they could cure Moony. Several times each day he would think; 'Wait until I tell Ron' or 'I can't wait to share this with Hermoine.' And he was afraid that Ginny wouldn't want to become better friends with him, like he hoped she would. Merlin would quietly take notice of the flash of loneliness across his face, and patiently waited each time for Harry to recover and go on again.

They camped again beside the river that flowed from the 'Lake of the Innocents' again on their trip back to Hogwarts, and had a quiet meal before turning in to bed early. The return to the bustle of starting a new school was bittersweet for them both and they hadn't had much conversation during their meal and both turned in early, still deep in their own thoughts.

Merlin awoke to total quiet wondering what had awoken him; when he realized that Harry wasn't in the tent with him anymore. He pushed out his senses to feel Harry's aura but couldn't find it close to their camp. Starting to get a little worried, he cast his senses further and 'felt' Harry's presence almost a half hours walk up the river. By the distance, Harry must be clear to the lake. But he felt no danger, just curiosity. Quickly shifting into his own golden lion form he loped quickly to where he had sensed the boy. Harry stood looking at the waterfall glistening in the bright light of the full moon. He appeared to be in a trance or sleep walking. Merlin shifted back and just watched to see what the boy would do.

Harry stripped down completely, bowed to the moon and waded into the water. He walked through the waterfall and disappeared from view. Merlin still sensed no danger to the boy so he kept his silent watch. Harry re-emerged after about five minutes with several items in his hands. He waded back to where his clothes were and climbed out of the water, shook his head and awoke. He looked dazedly around until he saw Merlin and asked, "How did we get here? What's going on?"

Merlin conjured a warm towel for the teen and a blanket for them to sit on. Harry laid the items in his arms down without really paying much attention to them, dried off and dressed without saying a word. He came back over and sat beside Merlin while they looked at the things he had brought from behind the waterfall. There was a sparkling crystal glowing with the colors of the rainbow in the light from the full moon, perfectly round, and about the size of a plum; a straight piece of holly the size of Harry's wrist and almost as tall as his six feet, that was as white as ivory and weathered smooth as glass by the flow of the water, and a piece of amber with a perfectly preserved dragonfly within it's depths.

Harry told his Master that the wood and crystal would be the base of his staff along with a feather from his own phoenix form, a tail hair from his unicorn and a crown feather from his griffin. He was 'told' by the guardian of the lake that the inclusion of items from his own forms would make the staff the most powerful, and completely under his control, since they would already be a part of him and that no one else would be able to use it except people from his direct bloodline. He was also told that the cure he proposed for lycanthropy would indeed work, and that the lake would hide in some way and wait for him to return. When the time was right he would once again be called to the lake so that others could be healed, including people who had been cursed into insanity, like Neville's parents.

But what was most surprising was the knowledge that the key to destroying Voldemort's hold on the wizarding world would be found by studying and using the principles of the amber, but they would have to reason the answer out for themselves. The spirit of the lake also informed Harry that they couldn't return to their own time until they had developed the solution, and that time flowed much faster in the past than it did in the future and to have peace about his friends who waited for him there.

Harry shifted to his griffin form, had Merlin pack up his precious items from the guardian of the lake and told him to climb on and hold tight as he would fly them back to their camp. Harry fell asleep to dreams of a certain red haired young witch and how she might be 'waiting for him' to return.

Early the morning after they returned, all the inhabitants of the castle were required to be outside before breakfast for Merlin and Harry to set the wards. The first casting would cement the castle to the bedrock and provide the foundation for all the succeeding wards to be built upon. As the only two earth elementals, the two mages were the only ones capable of setting wards that would last over 1,000 years without falling. Harry made a mental note to himself to recast the ward when they returned to their own time, he felt almost certain that Professor Dumbledore was also an elemental though he wasn't sure what his elements were.

With the castle completely empty, Harry stood at the North end, Merlin on the South with Godric providing a stabilizing base on the east, and Severus the same on the west. They would assist but could not actually cast the ward. At the first glow of sunrise, Harry raised his arms above his head calling upon the powers of the four elements to grant him strength and power to accomplish his task of protection. He knew that Merlin would be doing exactly the same ceremony on the South; he could feel him through their mental bond, even though he couldn't see him at all. They had practiced setting this ward and all the others they would do over the next couple of days, on the mountain and Harry was secure and confidant that everything would go all right. After all, these wards already existed in the future so they must have done them correctly in the past!

Harry began to glow pure silver as the power of the elements gathered with his own magical core, he lowered his hands toward the ground, shooting a beam of light that disappeared into the ground, spread around the sides of the castle until it met Godric and Severus who blended it with the golden glow coming from Merlin. The powers merged until a thick river of silver and gold surrounded the entire castle, merging deep down to the bedrock and up through the foundation of the castle, shimmering in the glorious sunrise.

Harry then raised his hands slowly; bringing the river up and up until it was above the tallest tower of Hogwarts. The two mages then brought their hands together over their heads and the sides of the ward curved and flowed over the roof of the castle in a perfect oval. With a last flash of power, the ward snapped into place and disappeared into the stones of Hogwarts. The entire castle shuddered and seemed to shimmer in place, and then the stones themselves appeared brighter, as if they were bathed in magic themselves. Harry and Merlin thanked the elements, dismissed them and sank to the ground. Godric helped Merlin into the castle to eat and rest just as Severus was doing for Harry. But the instant they crossed the threshold, both stood tall and refreshed and somewhat astonished. Merlin waved everyone into the Great Hall and said he would explain as they ate.

"I think we had an unexpected side effect to the powerful wards we just set. It seems that Harry and I awoke the castle; she is aware of us and somewhat sentient. Severus, is this something you are aware of in your Hogwarts?"

Severus nodded and explained, "Yes, I have always thought so, you can feel the power radiating off of the castle, and Albus always says the castle tells him what is going on and when something needs repairing or attention. But I thought that was due to over 1,000 years of magic being performed in it. I didn't realize it was there from the very beginning."

Harry was lost in thought, searching for the awareness of the castle. Perhaps because no one had ever told him what magic could and couldn't do, he had no preconceived ideas or limitations on what he could achieve. He found the 'mind' of Hogwarts just below the level of consciousness and 'spoke' to it. 'Hello, my name is Harry. Your name is Hogwarts and you are a wonderful magical castle. It is your job to keep hundreds of students safe so they can learn magic in safety and non-magical people and evil wizards can't harm them. Do you understand me?'

#Yes, Master Harry, I am aware of my mission and I accept it. I will keep the students safe and secure. Who should I tell if there is something wrong?# Hogwart's 'voice' was deep and mellow, it caressed and filled Harry with a feeling of deep peace and comfort. It felt like 'home'.

'Well, you could tell any of us, but after we are gone, you should tell the current headmaster or headmistress whoever that is.'

#Rest now, Master Harry and I will keep you safe. As you set more wards, come inside and I can replenish your magic from the earth of my foundation. Peace be with you and with your kind.#

With that, Hogwarts fell silent and Harry opened his eyes to find everyone staring at him. Harry pulled his breakfast towards him and stated matter-of-factly, "I talked with Hogwarts and she agreed to keep the students safe, she also said if we get tired setting more wards to come inside and she will replenish us with magic from the earth of her foundation." He dug into his plate with all the relish that only a growing teenage boy can muster, completely oblivious of the incredulous looks the adults were giving him and each other. Merlin just shrugged finally and began to eat his own breakfast, though much slower than Harry was.

Throughout the rest of the day, the eight powerful wizards raised wards and set muggle repelling and notice me not charms, interspersed with meal breaks and replenishing their magic with Hogwarts help. They had thought it would take several days to set all the wards, but with the castle's help they had completed all of them by that evening. After a final meal that had most of them barely awake enough to eat, they all just managed to reach their quarters before they each fell into sleep. And Harry had a dream of the castle caressing him and declaring she would shield her Master Harry from all danger and care for him always, but he remembered nothing of it the next day.