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It seemed to Harry that he fell for a long time. At some points he felt like he wasn't just falling but going up and sideways too. Just when he thought there must be no end, he felt weightless for a moment, and then floated to the ground.
The room was dark, but as soon as he looked up it filled with light. He was blinded for a moment, and then he was able to observe his surroundings. It looked like a sitting room of some kind. There were four arm chairs, each in a different color, but it was hard to tell what their original color had been. The chairs, and everything else in the room Harry noted, were completely covered in a thick layer of dust. Cobwebs were strewn about everywhere and the air smelled musty and dank. Harry coughed, his landing had kicked up possibly centuries worth of dust.
He looked around the room. Bookshelves lined the walls and, Harry noticed with surprise, they were massive, reaching up maybe three stories. In the middle of each of these four walls was an ornate wooden door. The ceiling showed the night sky, but after a moment the view shifted, and a spiral galaxy could be seen. Harry wondered with awe if it showed a real galaxy as it was right now.
After gazing for a moment he turned his attention back to the room. What was this place exactly? And why had no one been here for so long? Why was it even hidden? And, a more important question, how was he going to out?
He walked to one of the doors at random. On the door was the letter H, done in beautiful decorative calligraphy. He reached for the door knob, and bit his lip in frustration when it didn't open. He stepped back and took out his wand.
"Alohamora!" he cried, but nothing happened. He went through every unlocking spell he knew, but none had any effect. He paused for a moment and tried to figure out what his next step should be. He was about to try another door when he heard a man's voice.
"You'll never get in that way," the voice said, sounding amused.
Harry jumped. "Who's there?" he demanded, looking frantically around.
Another voice, a woman's, tutted. "Look, you frightened him."
"I'm not frightened!"
There was a light chuckle. "He must be one of yours Godric," a different woman said cheerily.
Godric?
"Yes it would seem that way," another man replied.
"Wait...you guys...you aren't the..." Harry hesitated.
The first voice laughed again. "Look, he's finally figured it out." He paused. "But yes, we four are the founders of this school."
Harry gaped. After a moment he asked, "But where are you talking from?"
The second woman, Hufflepuff Harry wondered,laughed again. "Silly boy look to your left."
Harry looked over and saw a portrait he hadn't noticed before. Inside were the four faces of the founders. He walked over and looked at it curiously. The other woman, Ravenclaw, started to explain.
"This is Helga's portrait, we just stopped in to see what you were up to." She pushed a strand of dark hair out her face
"How did you find this place anyway?" the first man asked. He had an aloof expression but his eyes were fierce and cunning.Slytherin no doubt, Harry thought.
"Well," he started, "I was just walking through one of the hallways when the floor fell out beneath me. The next thing I knew I was here. What is this place anyway?" Slytherin looked unsatisfied with the answer but said nothing.
Gryffindor answered his question though, "This is our private sitting room. And the rooms behind each door are our personal chambers. We hid them so we could have a little privacy."
"But why haven't the house elves kept them clean over the years? And why are your portraits in a place where no one can find them?" Harry continued.
"Not even the house elves knew the location of our chambers," Hufflepuff explained, her yellow curls bouncing slightly, "We had cleaning charms on them, put they wore out centuries ago. And we don't just stay here. These portraits are connected to the other ones in the castle. We go and visit some times."
"It's almost morning Harry, don't you think you'd better be getting back to your dorm?" Slytherin asked with a bit of a smirk.
"Yea, I should be getting back, but..." he paused, "How did you know my name?" Harry looked at Slytherin curiously.
"We've heard a bit about you from the other portraits," answered Gryffindor. "You get yourself into a lot of trouble."
"I don't get into trouble, trouble finds me," Harry answered defensively.
Gryffindor smiled. "I can understand that."
Slytherin rolled his eyes. "You always go looking for trouble," he scoffed "Your world would end if you weren't doing something stupid and brave." He smirked at Gryffindor and seemed very pleased with the peeved looks he was receiving. Gryffindor was about to retort but Ravenclaw interrupted.
"You really must be going to your dorm. Your roommate's will be awakening shortly." And answering his questioning look told him, "If you just go over to that bookshelf over there," she pointed to one on his left, "and pull on the big red book on the fourth shelf it will open up a passage to take you to one of the main corridors."
"It was nice meeting you," Hufflepuff said warmly, "I hope you come back soon."
"Indeed," Gryffindor said, "I am curious to hear about some of the going ons of the wizarding world. Visit again soon."
"If you can figure out how," remarked Slytherin dryly.
"I'll come back," Harry promised as he headed to the bookshelf. "It was nice meeting you all."
He pulled the pulled the red book out and part of the bookcase vanished, showing the way to a tunnel. He turned around and yelled goodbye, and then walked into the tunnel.
The tunnel was dark and narrow. He walked for about ten minutes before coming to a dead end. He walked up to the wall in front of him and pushed. It swung open and Harry found himself near the stairs leading up to Gryffindor common room. He run up the stairs, hoping to get to his dorm before the other boys woke up.
It took Harry several day before he was able to find the spot where he had fallen through the floor. And several more before he was able to get in again. But eventually Harry kept his promise and returned to the sitting room of the Founders. And after that he went regularly. He talked mostly to Gryffindor, who was curious about his various adventures. In return, Gryffindor told him about his own exploits (of which there had been many). Sometimes the others joined in and told him about their own lives. Actually, Slytherin seemed to just poke fun at Gryffindor's tales. But he was interested in what his heir had been doing. And Harry couldn't tell if he approved or not. He considered telling them about his visions of Tom and getting their opinion on whether they were real or not. He decided to wait a little longer and see if anything of real importance happened in the dreams.
And so these visits continued on pleasantly until Harry told Gryffindor that Dumbledore hadn't been teaching him advanced magic, and as far as he knew, didn't plan to. Gryffindor wasn't pleased with this.
"What is Dumbledore thinking? Voldemort has obviously made you a prime target, how does he expect you to defend yourself?" he asked annoyed. He then thought to himself for a moment. "I guess I'll just have to teach you some things."
Harry could hardly contain his excitement. Finally, finally, he would be getting some real instruction! He quickly showed Gryffindor what he had been practicing as far as wandless magic.
Gryffindor smiled, "Impressive for being so young. You already know how to conjure your magic wandlessly. Now you just have to learn how to use it."
For the next hour Harry tried to use the magic he summoned to do a simple levitating spell on a book. He managed to shake the book and rustle the pages, but not lift it up. Gryffindor assured him that it was just a matter of practice and discipline.
"Soon you'll levitate it," he assured him.
After Gryffindor had sent him to his dorm for the rest of the night, Harry got into his bed exhausted. He hoped that he would have a dreamless sleep tonight. Not a chance.
Harry entered the dream and looked around. He was in one of the hallways between the Slytherin common room and the Great Hall. No one was there, but it wasn't long before Harry heard approaching footsteps. He looked to his right and saw Tom Riddle approaching with his school bag slung over his shoulder. He looked a few years older, probably a third year or so. His face was serious and contemplative. He walked quickly, but stopped when he heard a yell coming from behind him. Harry looked over and saw a group of Slytherin students coming. They had smug smirks plastered on their faces and reminded Harry unpleasantly of Malfoy and his gang.
One of the boys, obviously the leader of the pack, stepped forward and addressed Tom. "Well, well, half-blood, what do you think you're doing?" His expression was haughty and he looked at Tom as if seeing something unpleasant.
Tom's face darkened and he replied evenly, "I'm going to class John, stay out of my way."
John (Harry remembered him now as the boy from the previous dream) looked annoyed at being talked to in such a way. But then he gave an ugly smile and the Slytherins behind him snickered. He slowly took out his wand.
"I think I'm going to have to remind you of your place, blood traitor," he said as he stepped towards Tom. But before he could mutter the first syllable Tom had his wand out and he quickly cast a spell Harry didn't recognize.
It hit John squarely in the chest and for a moment nothing happened. John smirked, thinking the spell had failed, but then he started to scream. The other Slytherins rushed forward as he fell to the ground thrashing and shrieking. Tom hadn't moved, but he watched the scene with cold eyes.
One of them made a move as if to attack Tom, but he too was hexed before he could attack. The other Slytherins just stared and him with frightened eyes.
After a moment of watching the Slytherins he finally he addressed the group. His voice was like ice and never wavered for a moment.
"Tell that weakling that if he or any of you ever attacks me again you will pay dearly." The look in his eyes was frightening. It was the determined, ruthless look of someone who was taking control. The other Slytherins watched with wide eyes as he walked away.
Harry watched the scene fascinated. He tried to resist waking up, but after a brief struggle he found himself lying in his bed awake. He stared at the top of his canopy bed for awhile thinking. It was impossible that these dreams were just dreams; they had to be related to his connection with Voldemort. Harry rolled over on his side. Today he would start looking for answers.
Man this chapter was long. I was going to end it after Harry left the founders, but I needed to include some Tom in there. Anyway, you guys know the drill. Please review and make me very happy. Having only two of the 150 people who read the second chapter review makes me nervous. It makes me think that 148 people didn't like it ;. I think my writing's getting better, but there are still some things I don't like about it.