Resolving the, who is who predicament…

Later Harry woke up to someone moving against him. Not used to this comfortable warmth he opened his eyes and stared at the beauty next to him. Black hair cascaded down her face onto his chest and her shoulders. Moving the covers up to her shoulders again he started making small circles on her back. The bit of the face that was visible was in serious need of a tan though. As if he was one to talk.

She smelled of books, rose and something he could not identify but the overall smell was quite appealing. Lifting his head slightly he kissed her crown. He was perfectly willing to stay like this for a long time.

As he absently stroked her hair he started thinking of a predicament that they were involved in.

Lifting his left arm under his head he stared at the ceiling while trying to comprehend the situation. Not just the situation but the path that was followed as well.

At that moment the body half on him started to come to life as well. He felt a leg moving up his leg and come to rest below his midsection. And suddenly he knew why it stopped there. He had what some calls "mans morning sickness".

A horrible term but still relevant. At least the feeling was good. Feeling his face flush with heat after the thought he simply laid still.

He felt a hand move up his abdomen and onto his chest where a rhythm of up and down was commenced. "Sleep well?" Harry asked to start the conversation.

The figure in turn lifted her head until their eyes met. She stopped there and kept staring into his impossible green orbs.

Harry was doing the same only difference is her eyes were a pale blue.

Leaning forward Harry did something that he never knew he would do. Something so out of character that it simply did not fit into the big of things. As their mouths met she opened her mouth.

She had a severe case of morning breath however he knew that his was possibly worse. For some reason it did not matter to him. As the kiss broke she said words to him that he never heard before.

"I love you." Three words, so simple but it has the most stories, poems and songs dedicated to it, three words that Harry found foreign. These three words was his undoing.

As she resumed her position on his chest she never saw the tear running from his eye. Red started cascading down his face. In an effort to hide it he wiped it with his hand.

After doing that he moved his hand next to his leg.

He never thought that in some cases the difference between red and white is greater than the difference in black and white.

As his hand was still in motion it was caught. He saw the beauty stare for a moment and then look back up at him. He felt a bit of heat on his face and hand where the tear was smeared. This indicated that now it was gone.

The concern on her face was something strange to him as well. This was usually only kept by those he once thought friends. Bringing the hand that was rubbing his chest up the beauty cupped his cheek. Moving closer Harry accommodated her by doing the same.

As they kissed again she started murmuring words of comfort that he lapped up. A few minutes passed in which they just kept comfortable.

"I love you too." Harry said at long last. The words that came from his mouth was something that he reserved for Sirius but now it was hers.

"I know. Your actions speak louder than your words." She answered condensed, yet diluted.

"What is bothering you?" She asked after another moment. Thoughtful he asked the bugging question. "How are you going to go in public?"

She smiled at him and started to grow and change her hair color. He smiled at her. "Oh, I forgot about that." He replied.

She continued. "Unfortunately they will soon enough start placing guards at the regular hang a rounds. They are always equipped with recognition talismans."

"We can always use the ritual to change your magical signature to that of someone else." Harry said. She frowned before asking "What ritual?"

Harry thought for less than a second before answering. "If we use the ashes of the dead we can ask Magic to change your magical signature to that of the deceased. If she allows it then you take the magical essence of that person and whatever other abilities she might have while retaining your own. The problem lies in the convincing though." Harry explained.

At that moment they heard a reply in their minds. 'Before you asked me to tell you of all the dreams you have there was this one where Tom and his followers wiped out a whole family. They had a daughter that was Harry's age. I think she would be perfect.'

"Show us the dream." Harry said.

Soon enough the dream started playing in their minds eye.

Dream Sequence…

Harry found himself in a small yet elegantly furnished house. The most colors were blue and white. He was in the living room where a family of four was enjoying a meal. The son and daughter were sitting on one settee while the mother and father were utilizing another. A third settee was placed across from them. There was an on going discussion which they were not privy to.

The fireplace was roaring with a cool blue flame. Above the mantel piece there were a few photos and they were not all magical.

On the pale blue walls there were a few magical portraits as well. One looked like the mother so you could assume it was her mother.

While they were enjoying a peaceful meal the conversation started on the parents work.

It did not take long to realize that the job included rituals. Harry realized soon enough that it was the reason for the dream as well.

A moment passed and Harry saw the fireplace die out. Without pause the father dropped his plate on the floor and ran from the room. The mother crossed the room to the children and grabbed their hands. She pulled them form the room. Harry followed them. They reached another room where Harry could actually see the wards.

Another fireplace was in evidence but it was dead as well. On the mantel piece there were necklaces hanging from a knob. The family gathered there as the father ran in as well.

Each grabbed a necklace and placed it around their necks. Feeling the magic in the air Harry knew they contained some form of protection as well as being a Portkey.

Each placed a hand around their necklace the father said clearly. "Activate Portkeys."

Nothing happened.

The mother stared at the father. The father looked at the rest locking eyes with each. "I am sorry." The mother nodded. "We always knew this was a possibility." She stated with silent tears cascading down her face.

Grabbing her children in a huge hug the father joined them.

Bending to the floor he hooked his nails in the floor board and said "Open Sesame." The board came lose. Removing a few book small books, obviously shrinked, he placed them beneath the floor board and replaced it.

Thinking to himself Harry knew that it would be easy to get. The amazing thing is that the magic surrounding the board disappeared.

Harry nodded at this. He wanted to know.

The father joined the rest of the family in the hug.

They stayed like that for a while. There was a sound inside the house. Something was knocked over.

"The wards are activating. I will see you later." He stated. Now some people would think that they would meet somewhere momentarily. Harry knew better. The Wards activated and the whole place was in flames.

Harry was transported outside. He saw death eaters trying to douse the flames with huge amounts of water coming form their wands. Even Tom tried to no avail.

The flames licked for an hour before they stopped at their own accord.

The death eaters all went inside. There was nothing left.

While outside Harry saw that there was nothing nearby anywhere.

The dream sequence ended.

Harry looked down at Bella. There is our answer.

Bella nodded.

Harry shifted from under her. "No time like the present."

Thinking "Accio" and picturing the robes he received from his double they appeared on the bed.

Harry got out from under the covers. Then a feeling of bareness struck him.

He was naked. Feeling quite exposed he looked at Bella and saw that she was in the same state of dis-dress.

She smiled at him. Harry feeling the awkwardness drifting away returned the smile.

She lifted the covers to get up. Harry looked at her and marveled at her beauty. Because of the connection they shared Harry knew what she looked like but it was not the same a seeing her in the flesh.

She started laughing. He closed his mouth and joined her.

"I think I will get dressed now." Harry said. She had other ideas.

Walking up to him she removed the robes from his hands. "Let me."

Harry nodded and swallowed, hard. She turned and with swaying hips she moved to his dresser. At the top she found the boxers. She selected a black one. In the next drawer she found his socks. She selected black again.

She turned to face him. She saw the lust in his eyes. Slowly she walked up to him. Grabbing him in a rough embrace she started kissing him. Harry returned it and placed his hands around her hips pulling her closer.

She moved her hands down his chest onto his stomach.

Harry grabbed her hand and withdrew from the kiss. Looking her in the eyes he said.

"I will not be able to stop." She nodded and said. "I don't want you to. But it can wait until you are back." Harry nodded with a bit of relieve.

She bent down and spread the boxers. Harry accommodated her by lifting his legs one at a time. After the boxers were on she pushed him back on the bed.

She playfully dressed him painfully slowly. At the end she said. "Later we will consummate our love. Then you will see what is magic."

She knew that after the experience in the core centers had shifted the magic to majestic constitutions. When he relieved her of the master slave predicament the magic was once again shifted to exponential proportions. What she felt for him and her to him could only be achieved in the years enjoyed by the Flamels. It would take at least five hundred years to achieve this status.

After a goodbye kiss Harry apparated to the sight.

When he arrived he found it strange that there was no change to the site as according to his dreams. He felt the wards were left by Tom's followers. Walking into the house he saw that the walls remained as they were. He walked to the room and looked for the floor board. He found it easily enough. Checking the surrounding the floorboard he saw that it was connected to some crystal that was buried in the back yard.

Following the link he came to a patch of ground where a rosebush was planted.

Accioing the crystal the earth parted out of its way. A yellowish crystal in the form of a ball with a diameter of two inches landed in his hand.

Cupping it Harry started to drain the crystal. Once it was empty he apparated to the room. As the wards to the house were connected to the crystal as well he felt them as they disappeared into nothingness. He did not know it but it was quite a piece of magic he achieved here. Usually you had to bombard the magic with violence until such a time as the crystal was empty of any magic. However the apparition wards were still in effect.

Once back Harry said the password and summoned the board. He swept his hand away from him and the board followed the path to crash into the wall.

Scooping the numerous book volumes in his hands he pocketed them with the acquired crystal.

Then remembering his actual purpose for being here he conjured three copper urns.

Seeing the father in his minds eye he Acciod his remains which was only ashes.

He did the same for the rest of the family.

Walking through the house he tried to feel for any other foreign magic. Feeling none he went outside.

Looking for the anchor of wards Harry found that it was some tree. Leaving it be, he turned to the house. He conjured the dark mark on the wall. Immediately it started floating against it. Knowing that it was impossible to get his signature, because of wandless magic he apparated home.

Half an hour passed before any Aurors arrived on site.

Back at home…

Harry went directly to their bedroom where he found Bella conversing with the elves. As they became aware of him Bella got up and welcomed him back. He slipped from the robes until the only thing remaining was the boxers.

Feeling comfortable he sat next to Bella who was wearing one of his shirts. Did you get it?" She asked him. Harry nodded in reply.

The elves disappeared and reappeared with faint pops. Food was spread on a stands conjured on the bed. The snakes momentarily joined them. A good morning was exchanged and all started eating.

Once sated Harry sat back and looked his companions over. They all seamed happy and for that Harry was happy as well.

Once the food was gone they sat in compensative silence waiting for someone to break the spell.

Medusa was the first to speak When are you going to do the ritual? she asked. Harry looked at Bella. She thought for a moment before she answered. "As soon as possible..."

Harry nodded and called his book to himself. "Magical signature. Life force transfer."

A moment later a scroll appeared. He quickly read through it.

He started explaining. "The ritual will need the remains of the person you need to become. It calls that person the victim. The aggressor, in this case you, needs to be covered with the victims ashes or blood in certain patterns. Once done you simply state the following Latin dictum. "Give me your life force to rectify the mistakes in my life." The combination and outlay of the candles will lock you in a magical contract with the victim. She will then give magic the go ahead or not. If she agrees then your magical signature will change and some other things as well. Mostly good, you will look like her and have her magical signature. She will decide to give you any other abilities she had. As she had not reached maturity yet you will need to exercise these. The bad thing is that you will lose three abilities of yourself. I need a few hours to change this so that it won't happen." He ended.

The group nodded collectively in a compensative manner.

Remembering Merlin's words about the trunk and the castle he thought now would b e a good time to do it. He exchanged the idea with the group who nodded in agreement.

As they left the trunk Harry shrunk it and together they left for the ward room of the castle.

The castle guided him down the hallway. They followed the route until they reached a dead end. Harry walked up to the wall and touched it. As the castle recognized him a door formed and opened.

Harry walked into the room and stared at the biggest emerald he had ever seen.

The emerald shaped in the form of a hexagon was emitting a magical brilliance that he had only seen in his core. What surprised him was that the emeralds magic level was full. The castle answered by stating in is mind that griffons are enormously magical and because of the grand griffin mates the magic was more tranquil. Each side of the emerald was a foot long. He walked up to it and touched it.

A feeling of elation spread through him. He looked at the roof and saw that there were magical lines connecting it to the roof. Levitating himself up he saw that it was a small group of griffins connected to the emerald supplying it with magic.

He felt the magic connection and knew it was accepting their excess magic.

Returning to the ground he removed the trunk and placed it on top of the emerald.

The emerald and the trunk flashed and the trunk was gone. Looking closer Harry said. "The trunk is in the emerald.

Here he indicated the trunks outline inside the emerald. A soft tremor went through the castle. Harry felt the connection to his trunk change and saw the new connection to the castle formed on both the roof and the floor.

Nodding in acceptance he questioned the castle what it changed.

The reply was that the castle was in the normal time continuum while the bedrooms was now in the slower time as well as the new exercise, dueling room, library, study was there as well. His book was now separated into all the books it consisted of with the small volume separate to acquire the books. All the rooms except for the bedrooms were one big room. The living arrangements of the elves were set in the normal time continuum as they requested.

All this happened subconsciously. Harry accepted this with a mere nod.

"Let's head to the study." He said to them. Together they headed their. As they walked they realized that the castle changed itself again to suit Harry.

As they arrived at the study it looked the same as the one in the trunk. Only difference was that there were five generously sized tables with space for ten.

Counting quickly he thanked the castle for her thoughtfulness.

One wall was completely covered with books, scrolls and the like while the other wall was covered with armaments. In both cases there was space for a lot more.

Harry and Bella made them comfortable at a couch that was supplied. The rest joined them on various couches. Talking to each other they enjoyed some small talk until they were interrupted.

Merlin came walking through the door and all conversation stopped.

He walked to Harry's couch and sat on the end. "Good afternoon. You all look in high spirits." Merlin stated.

Harry nodded and said. "I believe we are. See you have the run of the castle as well." Merlin nodded slightly before continuing.

"Yes she is rather generous with me. About the brooms that you must still make..." Harry nodded. Merlin continued. "I think it will be a waist of time. Rather use the time to study more. Do the ritual and then please collect Morgan. Once you have her I will depart with her. The castle is currently assisting me with magic to remain sentient. However my time is up. Your future self still wants a training session with you before he leaves as well." "Okay." Harry answered. "Is it the one who I did not know who it was?" Harry asked. Merlin nodded a confirmative.

Harry in an effort to order all things outstanding said. "First of all I need to research ways to customize this ritual if you will. Then we need to perform it. Then collect Morgan. I need to collect Ginny and Luna and they will start their training with Bella." Harry looked at the elves and added. ", Dobby and Winky as well." The elves beamed at him.

"The snakes…" Medusa made an outcry of rage at him. Harry immediately corrected himself. "Serpents need to start researching ways to better their companionship with humans. They need to start doing magic as often as possible. We need to open the connection between Bella and Poseidon. Then we need to see if Medusas sons will be companionable with Ginny and Luna." Taking a breath Harry continued.

"We need to create a stronger bond between Ginny and Luna as well as between them and us. Of course that is if that is what they want." The last part was added as an after thought.

"You still need to put Isabella's live in order after that." Merlin said. Frowning Harry asked "Who is that." Merlin simply pointed at Bella. "Oh, but why do you call her Isabella?" "Because that is the name of the witch she will take on." Merlin answered.

"Anyway, you all know what to do. I will go and research the ritual.