Chapter 7: Decisions and Tests.

28th of October 1996

Harry sat in the garden of Gryffindor's Castle, thinking back to the decade he had spent with Salazar and Rowena. He missed Salazar's sarcasm, Rowena's musical laugh, Godric's jokes, and Helga's cheerful character. A cough brought him out of his musing and he turned to see Bellatrix and Blaise standing behind him, observing him quietly.

"Hi"

Bellatrix avoided his eyes, which made Blaise confused since she was oblivious to what happened between Harry and the older witch. Harry smiled a little and got up, taking a deep breath and turned to face his guests.

"Hello Blaise," Harry greeted the girl softly before saying what was on his mind the past few days. "I will be going to Hogwarts in a few days, whether in disguise or not, it is yet to be determined. I want to know what both of you would like to do with your life."

Bellatrix paled as thoughts of Harry telling her to get herself out of his house because of the kiss, began to enter her mind. Blaise sat thinking about her decision, as Harry had already told her that she was welcome in his house until she wants to move out. What made up her decision was that after her parents' death, she did not feel secure except beside Harry, knowing that he was there to protect her.

Harry noticed Bellatrix's pale face and explained softly, "Bellatrix, I have a few options for you that may help you decide what you want to do with your life."

"I am a murderer, Harry. My life was already over since they started giving me the potion, and nothing would ever remedy that," Bellatrix said softly, a tear sliding down her face. Harry wiped the tear with his thumb and lifted her chin so that she looked at him in the eye.

"Bella, Voldemort is the murderer. No one is able to overcome the Imperius potion, not even Dumbledore or Voldemort himself." It was a lie. Salazar had taught him how to overcome most of the mind controlling potions, a few truth serums, and how to manipulate his magic to sustain a poison long enough to find an antidote. When it came to potions, Salazar was definitely the most knowledgeable and creative Potions Master in the history of magic.

He was amazed and in awe of his blood brother's brilliance in potions, which surpassed anyone he ever met. To be able to create a potion in a month for the vampires, enabling them to reproduce, was nothing short of brilliance from the wizard. Potion masters would spend their lifetime trying to come up with a potion that Salazar would create in his free time.

Therefore, it was not a surprise when Salazar was able to overcome any potion applied to him long enough to brew the antidote. It was a useful skill, which would prevent anyone from forcing him against his will or forcing something out of him.

"Bella, these are the options that I am capable of coming up with for you to live a normal life. I have a de-aging elixir that you could take and attend Hogwarts under another name. Moreover, with enough care and food, you will not be recognizable. The second option is that you can use permanent transfiguration spells and change how you look, your identity and so on. The last option is that you live as a Muggle for the rest of your life, work in the Muggle world, and marry someone and spend the rest of your life happy.

For me, I will go to Hogwarts, since I have a war to fight with the Riddle, and will not de-age myself, at least for the time being," explained Harry his options and waited for Bellatrix to think. Meanwhile, Blaise had decided on her course of action and voiced her action to the waiting wizard in front of her.

"I will go to Hogwarts with you but I don't want to be a student," said Blaise thoughtfully. Harry raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting until Bellatrix decided on her course of action.

It was hard for Bellatrix to decide on what she wanted to do, as she never had the option to choose before in her life. From when she was young until they applied the potion at the age of sixteen, her family always decided for her. After that, the Imperius potion took what was left of her will, so it presented a problem for her to be faced with options that would decide her life. She dismissed the third option, since she loved doing magic and living in the magical world, so marrying and living as a Muggle did not agree with her. Her beauty was something she cared about since she was a teen and changing her looks permanently was something she did not want to do.

"I will take the de-aging elixir and attend Hogwarts," replied Bellatrix, smiling for the first time in many years. Harry nodded his head and looked at Blaise, deciding on something that he never thought he would do.

"Blaise, would you like to become my apprentice?" Blaise's eyes widened as Harry asked the question. She saw what Harry was capable of, and what Harry would teach her would be invaluable. She almost jumped with joy when Harry asked her, knowing that the spells and experience and his skill with a wand, which he would pass to her if she accepted.

"Yes," she was almost jumping with joy. Harry raised an eyebrow, making Blaise blush and mumble, "the sorting hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw," Harry chuckled softly while Bella had a jealous look on her face and a hurt expression. Harry stopped laughing when he noticed the expression and emotions on Bellatrix's face and decided to elaborate.

"Bella, I did not extend the same offer since you are already a fully grown witch, with vast knowledge taught to you by one of the most powerful and knowledgeable wizards alive. Blaise will not finish her Hogwarts education with Voldemort still alive and looking for her. He needs her for a ritual that would require a virgin pureblood, something which is rare these days with the existence of the astronomy tower and broom closets at Hogwarts," Harry said grinning. Bellatrix nodded and blushed making Harry raise an eyebrow and Bella blush harder.

"Harry, how are you going to take an apprentice when you did not even take your N.E.W.T.S?" voiced Blaise her question.

"I've already sent an application to the ministry of magic to schedule N.E.W.Ts exams. I am supposed to be there in," said Harry looking at his watch and cursed, "20 minutes."

Harry jumped and ran towards his room to change into suitable robes. He changed, holstered his wands and apparated to the phone booth and dialed the number. He entered the ministry after taking the badge and checking his wand at the entrance. He let the man examine his original wand, and released a confundus charm with the other. The result was very amusing.

"11 ½ inches yew with eagle feather, used for 6 years?"

Harry nodded his head and proceeded to the elevator after lifting the confundus charm of the wizard with a flick of his wrist. The ministry worker knew his wand very well since he examined it before the trial last summer and Harry wanted to avoid the news of his survival until he was ready.

He pressed on the level of Magical education. The elevator opened in the Department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office and a tired Arthur Weasley entered and nodded to him. Harry almost panicked and held his breath until Arthur Weasley left the elevator to department of Magical transportations. He was not ready to face any of them and almost felt guilty for making them sad.

The elevator finally opened in the Department of Magical Education and Harry left. He went to the secretary and spoke to her. "I'm here for the N.E.W.Ts Exams"

"Name?" asked the Secretary. Knowing that he must tell his real name in order to get a legal license, he replied.

"Lord Harry Potter-Black." The secretary almost screamed if not for the silencing charm that Harry cast on her.

"Look lady, I don't want anyone to know of me being alive, especially Voldemort. So hush it up or believe me I am able to make you do so," Harry's threat appeared to be working as the woman paled and nodded. She tapped a sheet with her magic, making it disappear and pointed at the door to her left.

Harry nodded to the woman and headed towards the door, checking to see if anyone was in the room. He decided to play safe, pointed his wand at the woman, and whispered "occulto memoria."

It was a charm to lock away a certain memory. The person it was cast on would remember the memory but would not be able to speak about it. Harry entered the room to find the two of the professors who examined his O.W.L exams, Tofty and Marchbanks.

"Hello young sir. We will ask you questions instead of having a written exam for your subjects and we will have the practical afterwards. Agreed?" said Professor Tofty. Harry nodded his head and the two examiners began to question him.

They began with transfiguration, asking definitions and wand motions for spells from every single year at Hogwarts. Harry performed admirably in his opinion, answering the questions clearly and as accurate as he remembered from the books. Then came the practical part of the Transfiguration, where Harry was very good.

"Please transform the cup in front of you into a bird."

"Anything specific?" asked Harry.

"Eagle," Harry waved his wand and the cup transformed into a regal looking eagle, which flew and settled on Harry's shoulder.

"Transform the Eagle into a snake, please." It was a harder aspect of transfiguration to change a predator like an Eagle to a snake.

Harry waved his wand in a complicated wave, the Eagle transformed into a black Anaconda. Harry hissed and the snake settled on his shoulder, to the amazement of both examiners. He was asked to change Tofty to a bird and back, which he did, transforming the old wizard to a raven and back.

"Amazing. Change the snake into 20 various items and animals of your choice," said Marchbanks. Harry waved his wand several times and the snake changed to a ferret, raven, pocket watch, table, chair, dog, cat, pig, rat, fridge, plate and a few other animals and items until it settled back to a cup, but to the amazement and awe of the ancient looking examiners in front of him, it was a silver cup.

"Bravo, outstanding. Manipulating silver is a rare and powerful skill. We will be moving to charms now," said Tofty clapping. They questioned Harry on every charm from a levitation charms to charms that enlarge a room. Harry was more of a practical wizard so his definitions were a little off. It came finally to the practical part where he was handed a cup again.

"Make this cup fly and move in circles," Harry did as he was asked with ease. They tested him on every charm, from cheering to animating and enlarging, which he performed successfully, earning himself bonus by performing anti-apparation jinx.

They moved after that to Defense against the Dark arts, where Harry excelled. He succeeded in performing every counter hex, disabling dark curses, dark enchantments and creating a mild dark-arts detector. The examiners were in awe at the skill and knowledgebase of the young wizard in front of them.

"What's your name young man?" asked Tofty.

"Harold Martin," Harry lied skillfully. It would do him no good if Voldemort discovered that Harry was alive, and Harry needed the element of surprise.

"You are very skilled Mr. Martin. I'm impressed with your skill and knowledge," said Tofty and Marchbanks nodded. Harry grinned and thanked both examiners.

He was proud of himself, since he worked hard to reach this level. Since Harry was not going to be an Auror, he did not take a potions exam. He took an ancient runes exam, since he studied it with Salazar in the past, along with Arithmancy.

He passed through both exams with excellence and exited the room with a big smile on his face. He looked at his watch to find that he spend 5 hours inside the room and waited to get his results. It took 30 minutes for him to get his scores.

N.E.W.T results:

Subject Written Practical

DADA O O

Charms O O

Transfiguration E O

Ancient Runes E O

Arithmancy E E

Overall result: 9 N.E.W.Ts

Harry was ecstatic as he read the results. He was officially a fully-fledged wizard now, with the proof between his fingers. He headed for the department of Magical Transportation where he took an apparation test and got his license. It was with a smile on his face that he appeared back in Gryffindor Castle and that was how the two girls found him.

"How did the exams go?" asked Bella eagerly. Harry's grin widened and he showed her his results. Both girls squealed and hugged him when they saw the results and he told them about the exams.

"We will be going to Hogwarts in two days, prepare your things for the stay there. We will perform the ritual for apprenticeship and the de-aging potion tomorrow afternoon." Both girls nodded and Harry headed for his room to sleep after five hours of continues use of magic.

The next two days passed quickly with Harry performing the apprenticeship ritual. It tied the apprentice to the master with a bond until such time the apprenticeship is finished.

Blaise had a tattoo on her back of a Dragon holding a sword and a snake wrapped around it. It was Harry personal tattoo, which would have been his banner as the fifth founder of Hogwarts had he not spoke the truth to the other founders.

Bella took drops of the potion until she was 17 years old. Harry was amazed at the beautiful woman Bellatrix was at the age of 17. However, the thought of Rowena stopped him from pursuing any relationship with Bellatrix.

"Are you ready, Bella? Blaise?" asked Harry as both girls appeared in front of him. Bellatrix was dressed in a beautiful violet robe that brought out her eyes and Blaise was in a dark blue apprentice robes.

Both of them nodded and Harry took out a Portkey to Dumbledore's office and tapped his wand with it. As Harry was keyed to the wards of Hogwarts and as Hogwarts herself knew the signature of one of her masters and creators, it was easy to land in the office of Albus Dumbledore.


A few minutes earlier…

Albus Dumbledore was finishing a few papers before the Halloween feast when the walls of the castle began to hum. A twinkle and a full smile appeared on his face and his smile widened when the sword of Gryffindor began to glow.

It was still a mystery to him as why the castle would hum or the sword would glow when Harry arrive at Hogwarts. He felt a magic shift in the air and took out his wand in precaution. He raised his wand as three people appeared in his office; again, it was impossible since he controlled the Portkey wards around the castle.

Harry appeared in the circular office, which he visited too many times a year in his first five years of education at Hogwarts, to find a wand pointed at him by none other than his old mentor, Albus Dumbledore.

"Who are you and how did you get a Portkey to my office?" asked Dumbledore firmly. Harry laughed and replied, pulling his hood down.

"Is that how you treat your guests, Headmaster?" said Harry "I'm the prophecy child, the boy-who-won't-die- normally, the Dursley's house-elf, slayer of basilisks, trouble-magnet extraordinaire Harry bloody scar head Potter," Harry finished grinning at his headmaster, who lowered his wand and with a surprising speed, moved from his chair and next to Harry. He did something Harry never thought Albus Dumbledore would do, which was hugging him.

"I've missed you my dear boy. What happened to your looks? Why are you looking like James? What happened since the explosion?" it was not a Dumbledore-like thing to ask questions all at once. Harry decided that he did not need the girls to know all about what he did so he decided to solve their problem first.

"The first thing Professor is my two friends here," said Harry pointing at the two girls who still had their hoods up. Dumbledore looked up sharply as he remembered the two figures that appeared with Harry. Harry proceeded to explain the dream he had, the Imperius potion, the circumstances behind Snape's death and the rescue. Dumbledore's expressions varied as the conversation flowed, from sad to angry to happy to relieved. He was sad to learn what Bellatrix had to endure and Harry told him about his plan for Bellatrix and Blaise.

"Apprenticeship?" asked Dumbledore in shock "what are you a master of, Harry?" Harry told him about his N.E.W.Ts exams and results. To say that Albus Dumbledore was proud of his former pupil and surrogate grandson was an understatement. However, he was sad to see the man in front of him grow too fast.

"I'm sorry for my mistakes, Harry. I can't even begin to imagine what you had to endure because of my mistakes," Dumbledore said sadly. Harry shook his head and replied.

"I have thought a very long time about it, Professor, and there is nothing to forgive. I know that you had my best interest at heart, although it was put into action the wrong way. You are only human, headmaster and you tried your best," Harry replied softly. Salazar and Rowena helped him understand that life was too short to hold grudges and that everyone could make mistakes.

Dumbledore smiled and patted the younger wizard on the back. He was proud of the man that Harry had become and knew now that Harry will be the victor in the final battle between both sides.

"Headmaster, I don't want anyone to know that I'm still alive yet. You can tell Hermione and Ron but no one else," Harry said softly. He hated having to hide from his best friends but he did not want Voldemort to have his eyes on the students more than it was required. Dumbledore nodded his head and turned to Bellatrix.

"Now, Bellatrix, which name are you going to go by?" asked Dumbledore gently, the twinkle in his eyes full force. He was happy when Harry told him that she was forced to be on the dark side by the potion and not her free will and that she was free from Voldemort's control. In addition, he was relieved yet saddened to know what happened behind Severus Snape's death.

"Isabelle Evans," replied Bella softly. Dumbledore nodded and wrote the name on a parchment and tapped it with his wand several times. Harry knew what Dumbledore was doing and was grateful.

Dumbledore created a new identity for Bellatrix along with a fake history with her original O.W.L scores to go by and sent them to the ministry archives with a spell. He also took the sorting hat from its place and placed it on Bella's head. It sat down for a few minutes and shouted "Ravenclaw."

She was relieved and sat down next to Harry with a smile. Harry walked and placed the hat on his head and said mentally, "Hello William."

"Master Harry?" replied the hat back in shock, "You're Harry Potter? The Black Prince? Fifth Founder of Hogwarts?"

"Yes William, it is me. I would appreciate if you would keep quiet about my titles, since no one knows about them."

"Of course, Master Harry. Godric, Helga, Rowena, and Salazar told me you had left and spelled me not to mention the fact that you are the fifth founder. I wondered why, but now I understand. It would be only you who would time travel and build Hogwarts, Master Harry," the hat said sarcastically.

"Nice to know that you are still the same sarcastic old hat," Harry replied with a chuckle, oblivious to the staring of Dumbledore and the two girls.

"I need to know one thing, William. Did they leave?" Harry asked carefully.

"All I know is that they disappeared a year after you had left. I don't know the circumstances behind it but I heard that Salazar is a dark lord," replied the hat.

Harry knew that his blood brother would not be a dark lord, not while he was still bonded to Harry. The bond was still in place, though inactive. They were powerful bonds that stayed through time and space, something that Harry was grateful about.

"Farewell for now, old friend. Don't mention anything of my time-travel, nothing," said Harry and removed the hat from his head.

"What were you talking about, Harry? You've been talking for a while now," Dumbledore asked curiously. Harry shrugged and replied, "Just saying hello."

"Harry, I would like to extend an invitation for you to teach DADA. I was currently teaching it until I find a suitable replacement. What do you say?" asked Dumbledore cheerfully.

"I can't be Harry Potter, headmaster," replied Harry thoughtfully.

"You will be posing as my grandson, Simon Dumbledore. You studied at the Egyptian Academy of Sorcery and graduated as a top student, excelling in DADA," said Dumbledore excitedly. Harry groaned, making the girls giggle and Dumbledore chuckle.

"Whatever old man," replied Harry sighing. Obviously, the headmaster had thought about it. Dumbledore's twinkle hit full force and corrected him, "that's grandfather to you, young man." Harry glared at Dumbledore, making him laugh harder.

"Too cheerful for your own good," mumbled Harry.

"The Halloween feast will start in a few minutes. Why don't we all go down and have fun?" asked Dumbledore cheerfully standing up and the group followed him.

"We will talk tomorrow, grandfather," said Harry (Simon) carefully, as he saw Dumbledore looking at him with interest and curiosity. The entered the Great Hall and Harry's eye instantly tracked down his two best friends.

Ron seemed to have grown a few inches, some muscles, and more freckles. Hermione seemed to have evolved into a beautiful young woman with her hair tied in a ponytail and not bushy for once. They had expressions of sadness on their faces that caused Harry to feel guilty inside. Dumbledore, Blaise, and Harry headed to the head table while Bella Evans headed for the Ravenclaw table, earning a few stares from the other students. The hall went silent as Dumbledore stood up.

"Good evening," Dumbledore began. "First, I would like to wish you a happy Halloween. I also have a few announcements to make before you continue with your festivities. I have finally found a Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. His name is Simon Dumbledore, and he is my grandson.

He is a very capable and knowledgeable young man, graduated from the Egyptian Academy of Sorcery with top scores and excelled in the field. I would like you to show him the respect he deserves. Second, it is my pleasure to announce that Isabelle Evans transferred to Hogwarts from London Private Witchcraft School. Isabelle will enter her seventh year and the sorting hat had sorted her into Ravenclaw. Please make her feel at home," Dumbledore finished and sat down, talking to his new DADA teacher and surrogate grandson.