Chapter 3: Doomed To Repeat Or Break

"I can't change history, I don't want to change history. I can only change the future. I'm working on that." -Boris Becker

Helena Ravenclaw.

It was a surprise for all of them as they followed Padma in the dead of night to go seek out the ghost. While they walked to where the ghost could be, Padma explained how Helena was connected to the founders. Apparently, she was the only child of Rowena Ravenclaw. Hence, she could be their only chance that could have known why the founders were back beside the obvious reason, is that an enemy is threatening Hogwarts.

They found her in the empty courtyard, only the full moon as her companion. They stepped forward as she slowly turned around. She seemed to have recognized Padma but not the others, which was obvious considering Padma was a Ravenclaw student.

"What do you want?" She asked coldly. Padma swallowed nervously. "We've come to ask you about the founders. You see, we're their reincarnations." She motioned to the rest of the group that stood beside her. Helena raised a ghostly eyebrow. For a moment, Padma feared that she wouldn't believe them, that she might have insulted the ghost. Instead, she gave them an amused smile.

"So," She said. "They've all come back."

Padma gaped at the ghost. Harry sputtered behind her. "What- Wait, hold on. Did you know this would happen?" Harry asked. Helena nodded solemnly.

"Hogwarts in times of danger, as my mother once told me, would always call back their champions-meaning the founders. I suppose that is all of you?" She asked looking at each of the teens. Helena nodded approvingly as if each of them held something that reminded the ghost of the old founders. Padma didn't know if there was anything that reminded the ghost of her dead mother in Padma Patil. "Then, it is up to all four of you to right the wrongs that your reincarnations did. Especially Godric and Salazar." She sharply said pointing to Harry and Draco.

It clicked in Padma that both houses were the biggest influence in Hogwarts, that if Gryffindor called to arms, the school would heed to it, even if that meant shutting out Slytherin in the process for the latter's house reputation. They did not want to repeat history, not now if Hogwarts needed to survive. Draco and Harry would have to take steps to stop the rivalry between their houses, starting with each other.

"Do not make the mistakes that they all did. Stop this cycle, fix it so that Hogwarts can live in peace. Remember what came before you and don't let it happen again, Hogwarts cannot fall into despair, not again."

Both boys nodded at the ghost's words.

Helena seemed pleased with how this went, or it seemed to Padma at least. Without another word or glance, the Grey Lady floated away from the teens.

But there was still that question that each of them had, why them?

Harry met up with Hermione and Ron in the morning. He was glad that today was a Saturday, he was tired from his rendezvous with the ghost of Ravenclaw he wouldn't be surprised if the other three were just as tired as he was. It still felt like some hallucinated dream that he would wake up from. It wasn't because it was real. He still could hear Helena Ravenclaw's warning.

Do not make the mistakes that they all did.

The mistakes, Harry thought. It must have been the fighting between Gryffindor and Slytherin about the muggle children, maybe Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tried staying neutral until the breaking point, made them take a side. Wouldn't be surprised if it was Gryffindor's side that they took, Harry mused to himself.

The founders of Hogwarts were complex beings just like their reincarnations at the moment who were just trying to put it back together, well trying to.

The great hall was loud as students walking or out, chatting away. Hermione chatted about how awful Umbridge is, something that Harry could get behind. That woman was awful in her own sickening way. He must have zoned out because Ron waved a hand in his face getting his attention back to his two friends.

"Harry, you alright?" Hermione looked concern. He groaned internally, the last thing he needed was a mother hen in Hermione over his sleep schedule. "Ron told me that you haven't been in bed these past couple days." That made Harry tensed. This was bad, very bad.

He could already hear Malfoy's voice yelling at him for having Hermione and Ron figure out what they were up too-if they even believed him in the first place. He really did not want another heir of Slytherin fiasco all over again. He looked at his friends, both having looks of concern on their faces that made Harry feel guilty. He knew that they just worried about him, especially since that detention with Umbridge, the Ministry calling him a liar along with the rest of Hogwarts etc. They just wanted to help, Harry knew that.

Hermione picked a piece of fruit from her plate, her eyes scanning Harry like a book. "Where have you been going, Harry? You know that if you get caught by Umbridge or Snape you'll be in detention or... worse. Umbridge would give this as an excuse to expel you." She whispered.

Instead of answering the question, Harry blurted out. "Do you guys think it's time to unite?" He wished someone would have taped his mouth shut. Ron looked confused as Hermione frowned. "What'd you mean mate? Ron asked.

"I mean, what if it's time to put this stupid feud between our house and Slytherin behind us? Let bygones be bygones?" He braced himself for something as Ron and Hermione stayed silent, even Neville and Ginny who were mere inches close by who listened to what Harry was saying. Now he really wished he just kept quiet.

It was Neville who spoke up. "Maybe?" He looked at Harry. "I mean, it can't just be us, it has to be Slytherin as well who would want to end this house fighting as well." Ginny nodded in agreement.

"But even with that, how do we even know that those blokes won't double-cross us? They are Slytherin, just look at You-Know-Who." She pipped in looking at Harry.

"What's got you interested in ending this fight anyway? Did you and Malfoy finally have a truce?" Ron asked, joking at the end.

If only you knew what was really going on mate, Harry thought. Well, I could tell them half the truth, that could count, right? Yeah, that could be better than just springing it onto them. Satisfied with his mental bickering, Harry answered them.

"Well," He paused looking at Ron who's smile was slowly becoming more of a frown and Hermione who's eyebrows rose in surprise. He didn't even dare look at Ginny, Neville and his other classmates who decided to eavesdrop into their conversation. Here goes nothing.

"We had a chat, no fighting," He added quickly as Hermione's mouth opened. The last thing he wanted was to make it seem that he and Malfoy were throwing spells at each other, which would opposite of the plan that they wanted to achieve. He wondered how Malfoy was doing proposing this truce to his Slytherin classmates. They must just as skeptical as Harry's housemates. Harry continued, "We talked and came to an agreement. Found some common ground to stand on at the moment and we'll be talking again once we've got everyone's opinion on this. Hence why I asked."

A beat of silence passed, Harry eyed the Slytherin table where Malfoy seemed in deep conversation with the rest of the house. They seemed to be arguing, growing louder and louder until- "Draco." All eyes seemed to look towards the table where Snape hovered over a scowling looking Malfoy.

"Wonder what Malfoy did to get that reaction from Snape?" Hermione wondered aloud. Harry echoed, "Yeah. I wonder."

Harry's eyes looked from the Slytherin table to the Ravenclaw table. He caught Padma's eyes, she jerked her head to the side which meant that she probably wanted to have a quick meeting. This should be interesting.

He abruptly got up and briefly told his friends that he had a study session with Padma. Before Hermione or Ron could say anything, Harry quickly left the Great Hall. He waited until Susan and Padma were close by before taking off to an empty classroom. They needed to find a place to talk.

"Do you think he's in trouble?" Padma asked. Harry shrugged, "Dunno but by the way, Snape was looking at Malfoy, he's in hot water for something. Question is why?"

They finally found a classroom and got inside, closing the door behind them.

Harry stood up pacing around. "Maybe he was asking the Slytherins about unification between the houses? That's what I was doing with the Gryffindors today." Both girls looked rather intrigued. "Really? What'd they say?" Susan asked.

"They said that if we really want this feud to end, that the Slytherins have to want it as well. It can't be half given and half took. There won't be support unless we both come to an agreement and hash out our differences between the houses."

Padma nodded. "Right now we need to get to Draco, find out what happened."

They found him later in the Room of Requirement, blasting practice dummies with ferocity. His usual slicked back blonde hair was ruffled as he threw spells after spells at the targets.

"Draco!" Susan yelled. He turned around, breathing heavy. She noticed his eyes were cold and angry, giving the notion that something happened.

He sat down along with the rest of them on the couch. With Susan sitting next to him and Harry sitting next to Padma, all eyes on the Slytherin.

"Draco, what happened at the Great Hall? What did Snape pull you aside for?" Susan asked cautiously. Draco looked blankly at the floor for a moment. He answered her a minute later, muttering. "Umbridge, her Inquisitorial Squad, the fact that some of the Slytherins think that I'm becoming a traitor ever since I had that fight with my dad."

"What fight?" Harry asked.

It seemed whatever was eating Draco Malfoy up alive finally came out. "I have an aunt that I never knew about. My mother never talked about her, father used to say that she was a traitor to the Black family. I never asked why, until I was rummaging around the attic, found out my aunt Andromeda went off and married a Muggle-born." He said the words slowly as if trying to stop himself from uttering 'Mudblood'. He continued. "I contacted her and kept up a conversation. I kept asking myself 'why am I doing this, she's a traitor' but the more I got to know her, the more I started to peel back what I was believing from my parents. I started to change and then they just decided to have some of Voldemort's old followers-"

"What?" Harry cried out. Susan hushed him, they could get back to that later.

"Yeah, my reaction as well," He laughed bitterly. "Ever since that stupid fight, Parkinson and the others have been slowly icing me out. Blaise is probably one of the only ones that haven't along with Tori. The fight, it was just about me contacting my aunt. He found out and tried to deny me the right to contact her, but I have my ways. He's been threatening me to disown me but I know he won't do it, I'm the only heir to the Malfoy line." He snorted.

They were quiet at the end of Draco's breakdown of his problems. Something seemed to have clicked in Harry's brain as Susan noticed his eyes widen a tiny bit. "That's who you sent the letter to, that day I cornered you in the Owlery." Draco nodded, not trying to deny it.

Susan looked at this different version of Draco Malfoy, someone who was not the same boy that she hadn't gotten used to hearing or seeing about in Hogwarts. This young man was different, trying to messily right the wrongs of his house, not knowing how. This same boy who was also just understanding the destructiveness of what his father has done along with those 'friends' of said father. It was a change in Malfoy and Susan could see it would be a change in Slytherin, one that would be given to the house of ambition.

He was changing, for the good.

Silence surrounded the teens, not knowing what to say. They had no idea how to help one another let alone an entire castle. They were strangers with the memories of their school founders.

"I might know someone that can help you get some contact with your aunt," Harry said slowly. Draco narrowed his eyes, not believing a word that just came out of Harry's mouth. He seemed rather nervous to tell and wondered if he was making it up.

"Sirius Black." That was something Susan was not expecting to come out of Harry Potter's mouth. He continued on, "He was my godfather. Long story short, he didn't betray my parents, someone else did but he can get you in contact with your aunt."

Nobody spoke, Susan's mouth was hanging open with shock. Harry looked at her, with pleading eyes. "Please, don't tell your aunt. I can't have him locked away, he's innocent." She nodded, but her mind was filling with questions.

"Harry, if he's innocent, then who told on Black?" Padma asked. "Peter Pettigrew. Cut off his finger, turned into a rat and lived as Ron's old pet for years. Framed Sirius for murder."

Draco instantly swore loudly. "What does he look like?" Harry blinked making Draco even more frustrated. "Potter! What does Pettigrew look like as a rat?!"

"A bit brown, with a missing toe. Why?" Harry told him. Draco continued to swear quietly.

Speaking in a monotone voice, "He's the guest that my father has. That rat has been living with us since the end of the last term, in my home. I'm telling you this now, they're planning something because my father mentioned there would be more guests coming soon."

Draco turned much paler than Susan had ever seen him before. Harry looked angry as if he was ready to storm Malfoy manor and take Peter back. "This is not something we can do but my aunt can," Susan spoke up. "If you can tell me where Peter is exactly, my aunt can ambush him before he could have enough time to escape."

"Okay."

The tension slowly left the room, Harry swore them to secrecy over Sirius Black just as Draco did the same for his family problems. They discussed the topic of the unification plans, Harry talked it out with some of his Gryffindors but still, there were roadblocks. Draco said the same thing.

Draco walked back to the Slytherin common room alone. Inside waiting for him were his year mates and some of the older Slytherins.

"What's going on?" Draco asked. Flora Carrow, who was a year older than Draco looked at him. Her eyes were serious, lips in a thin line. "Is it true, that Potter wants to end the feud between our house and his?"

He nodded, causing murmuring among the snakes.

Flora hushed them. "What say you Draco?"

"They won't trust us at first but they will. Just like we'll trust them, I'll meet with Potter and get a meeting for both houses to meet." On the inside, Draco was breathing a sigh of relief. They wanted this, this was good.

If it all went well, it would be smooth sailing for them.

It had to be, right?