Disclaimer: Nope, do not own HP.

A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for being patient with me. As I stated on my tumblr, I was able to rewrite the plot/outline and I'm much happier with what I have now. If I stick with what I've figured out, RTT will have 31 chapters and an Epilogue.

I've deleted the "Short Hiatus" Announcement as well. So let's get back to it!

Reminder that this story updates on Mondays and that I make announcements and stuff over on my tumblr: Ethrildragon

Reaching Through Time

Chapter 24: A Little Mystery Goes a Long Way

The new dampening charm on Harry's pendant worked perfectly. Both he and Tom were constantly adjusting the charm until they found a happy medium for Harry. On good days Harry was even able to lower the strength of the dampening charm until it was barely there. On bad days Tom would insist on making it strong enough to block out almost everything.

By mid November they were only making minor adjustments in the mornings and right before Harry would go into Transfiguration.

Training with Sir Leighleas went well for both Tom and Harry. Harry would go first most days and would begin his meditation. Once he was calm and focused on his sensitivity, the mediwizard would work with Tom on the various spells the 5th year Slytherin wanted to learn.

Once Harry was done meditating, Sir Leighleas would begin teaching them how to duel.

Between classes, homework, and lessons with Sir Leighleas, Tom and Harry had very little time to be with each other or with their friends. The only time Harry really got to be with his friends was whenever Tom had a meeting with his followers or when they were in the library studying.

Despite their busy schedules though, Tom and Harry found time after Dinner to sneak down to the Chamber for a couple hours before curfew.

"Hey Tom."

Currently the two of them were in Salazar's library reading through various Parselscript tomes.

Tom stopped and glanced up from the book he was setting back onto the bookshelf to look over at Harry, who was partially curled up on the sofa with a battered and worn book in his hands.

"I think...I think this is Salazar's journal."

That pulled Tom away from the books he had been intending on reading next and he hurried over to the sofa to look at the book in Harry's hands.

Most of the books in the old library were handwritten in parselscript with graceful letters and straight lines of words, but the book in question looked like it had been written quickly with slanted English words followed up with a few illustrations here and there. On each page the writing was accompanied by notes on the sides and hastily drawn room layouts or small quick drawings of landscapes.

Harry handed the journal over to Tom for the older Slytherin to get a closer look.

Slowly Tom turned each page as he read over the parselscript. The journal detailed the early days of the founding of Hogwarts. There were rune diagrams here and there and cryptic references to various spells that were to be used.

"Go to the last few pages."

With a huff of annoyance, Tom flipped through the book closer to the end. His brows came up in surprise as he found what Harry had wanted him to see.

Large sections of the handwritten text were blacked out or had been scribbled out as if the writer had been upset about something.

The majority of the text spoke in riddles about guardians that were meant to protect and power the school. The last few lines of the journal alluded to the castle becoming more than any of the founders had ever predicted.

"What do you think it all means?" Harry asked as he looped his arms together over the back of the sofa. "The guardians?"

Tom frowned and read through the last few pages again. The notes and scribbled drawings along the edges of the pages were almost illegible and were almost childish.

"Probably ancient magic meant to protect the castle from danger." Tom snapped the journal closed. He hesitated to hand it back to Harry, who seemed overly eager to get back to reading the little book. There was a gleam there, a twinkle in those light green eyes that Tom didn't quite feel comfortable with.

"And the part about the castle? You read that right? I wonder what Salazar meant about it being 'more' than they planned." Harry was watching the journal even though Tom was still holding onto it.

With a huff Tom slipped the little book onto a nearby table. "I don't know Harry, but I don't think you should worry about it." The last thing he needed was for Harry to go running around the castle trying to figure out what the old founder had been talking about.

Harry pouted a little and then frowned. "But...aren't you at least a little curious? I mean, what if it has something to do with that prophecy I said?"

"Stop it Harry." Tom snapped quickly. He and Abraxas were still trying to figure out what had caused Harry to speak the prophecy, but they were trying to keep the younger teen out of the research. They both agreed that Harry had enough going on in his life.

"But-"

"Whatever this is about," Tom waved towards the journal still sitting on the table. "It's not important right now."

Harry frowned at Tom, but he didn't press it. He knew Tom had other things on his mind, which meant if Harry wanted to know more he would have to it on his own.

But when would he have time?

"I'm going to go hang out with Senestra for awhile." Harry got up off the sofa and hurried out of the library before Tom could stop him.

Harry normally spent the last hour or so with the ancient basilisk anyway. Tom would get a little more time in the private library without Harry bothering him with questions or boredom.

As soon as Harry was in the flooded chamber, he was scrambling up onto Senestra to scratch at spots just below her horns. She squirmed happily and hissed in pleasure Harry's little fingers worked at spots that Senestra couldn't itch by rubbing against a wall.

"Hey Senestra," Harry had waited a few minutes before speaking. He knew the basilisk was exceptionally old and had been Salazar's familiar. It made sense that she would have been around for the founding of Hogwarts. "Were you here while Hogwarts was being built?"

The ancient snake stopped in her wriggling and she turned her head slowly to look at Harry without dislodging him.

"Why do you ask such things little hatchling? Rarely did anyone ask her about things; especially about when she had been young and with her first master.

Harry shrugged but then sighed after a minute. "I found Salazar's journal. There was a lot there about the founding of Hogwarts. I just...I was curious."

For several long minutes Senestra just silently watched Harry, her deadly gaze covered by the foggy transparent eyelid that kept her eyes from drying out and her killing gaze from working. There was a subtle golden glow under the lids that Harry always found enchanting.

Senestra sighed after flicking her tongue out several times towards Harry. "So that's what this is about. I should have known." Her hissed words were almost too soft for Harry to pick up.

"Senestra? "

With a small shake of her head Senestra went back to looking at the tunnel opposite of her. "I was newly hatched when my master and his companions began work on Hogwarts. "

Harry was instantly silent as the ancient basilisk began telling her story.

"The lands here were perfect. They were fae lands first and foremost and were given to the founders only after they agreed to make pacts with magical creatures that would act as guardians for the school." The fae were always eccentric and their deals always mad some sort of caveat that didn't make sense.

For awhile after that Senestra fell silent. Harry had to bite his bottom lip to keep himself from prodding the basilisk for more info. He had learned that she only told her stories at her pace and that asking and prodding for more just made the giant snake clam up.

"The Guardians would always be here. Even after our masters were gone."

"You're a guardian?" It was less a question and more of a statement of fact. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Senestra was more than just Salazar Slytherin's familiar he had left in the Chamber of Secrets.

"Our masters placed some of their magic within us. So long as we are dedicated to the protection of Hogwarts, we will remain. Only the magic from another founder could end a guardian."

Senestra shook her head sadly at that. The only founder magic left, that she was aware of, could only be found within the other guardians and a few artifacts that Hogwarts guarded closely.

"The journal said...it said Hogwarts became 'more'. What did Salazar mean?" Harry asked slowly.

What sounded like a laugh escaped Senestra. "That is one way to put it, but it is not something I can tell you much about." The basilisk hissed to herself for a moment. "But...what was done brought the castle to life."

"Hogwarts is alive?"

"Are you surprised? " If Senestra had brows one would be lifted in question.

Harry shook his head quickly. It made sense really. Sometimes Harry felt like he was being watched even when nothing was around. The staircases would sometimes move randomly, other times they moved to be helpful. Things just happened in the castle that Harry couldn't explain.

"Harry, it's time for us to go." Tom had finished up with the book he'd been reading and had gone to join Harry and Senestra in the flooded chamber.

As much as Harry wanted to stay with Senestra to hear more, he knew Tom wouldn't be happy with him. Tom had been upset when Harry had shown interest in what had been in the journal, so it wasn't difficult for Harry to think that Tom wouldn't be at all happy if he knew Harry was talking to Senestra to learn more.

"Goodnight Senestra." Harry slipped off of the basilisks back and went to join Tom at the hall leading up to the Slytherin dorms.

"Be safe little hatchling, Master." Senestra bowed her head a little respectfully. She would go hunting once they were gone.

Both Tom and Harry were silent as the walked up the stone steps out of the Chamber. Tom's black eyes would dart over to Harry now and then in concern.

"Do you understand why I don't want you to get involved with whatever that journal was talking about?" Tom asked a little worriedly. Harry didn't seem upset, but he was also rather quiet.

Harry nodded at Tom's question and he smiled a little to show he wasn't upset. "Because I'm a trouble magnet and I already have a lot to do."

Tom sighed through his nose and shook his head at the smirk Harry was giving him. "Harry..." he couldn't be mad with the younger Slytherin, not with how he was grinning up at Tom. "As interesting as it would be to learn more about the castle," Tom started to explain. "It's not important. We have enough to worry about as it is."

They both knew what Tom was talking about, and it wasn't school work. Dumbledore had taken a more aggressive approach to getting close to Harry. The older man had even cornered Harry a couple times only for Harry to be saved by one of his friends, Tom, or Abraxas.

A tiny sigh left Harry as Tom went on to tell him that maybe next year, when Tom wasn't worried about his OWL's and they weren't as busy as they were, they could explore and learn more about Hogwarts.

It was better than Tom outright telling Harry 'no' at least.

Still, Harry couldn't stop thinking about the castle and what he had learned from the journal and from Senestra all through his classes the next day.

He was so distracted by the time lunch rolled around that Myrtle had left her Ravenclaw table to sit down next to him after being waved over by Eileen.

"You could ask for help you know."

Harry had been so distracted with his thoughts that he had failed to notice Myrtle switching tables. Both Orion and Eileen looked relieved that Harry was finally paying attention.

"What do you mean Myrtle?"

Eileen rolled her eyes and gestured towards Harry as she met Myrtle's eyes. The girls had a silent conversation for a split second before Myrtle stood up and took Harry with her.

"Eileen and Orion said you've been distracted all day." Myrtle commented as she mostly dragged Harry out of the Great Hall and towards the closest empty classroom. "And being your closest Ravenclaw friend they requested my help to figure out what exactly is on your mind."

Harry chewed at his lip even as Myrtle closed the door and adjusted her glasses. "Well? Are you going to talk to me or do I need to ask silly probing questions until I have my answer?" Her words were clipped short as she crossed her arms over her chest in irritation.

Tom had told Harry to lave the information he had learned in the journal alone, but he just couldn't stop the nagging feeling that it was important. It was like an itch beneath his skin that he couldn't quite get to or ignore. So Harry told Myrtle, albeit a very abridged version, about the journal and about the Hogwarts Guardians.

"I know it's just a bunch of Slytherin rumors," He had elected to tell Myrtle how the everything he had told her were just rumors that had been circulating in the Slytherin dorms for years. "But I just can't stop thinking about it."

For what felt like an eternity Myrtle was silent. Harry fidgeted with his hands and tugged at the sleeves of his robe as he waited.

"Did you ever read Hogwarts: A history?" She finally asked with a slight tilt of her head.

"Well yeah, it would be stupid not to." Harry huffed and frowned at the Ravenclaw second year. "I think I would remember if it mentioned a bunch of almost immortal creatures guarding the school though."

That got Myrtle to crack a smile at Harry. "You are right that the book doesn't talk about any creature guardians, just the golem gargoyles and various defensive wards. But if you read between the lines you'll notice that a lot of information was left out."

If there was one thing Harry disliked about Myrtle, and most Ravenclaws for that matter, it was that they were often cryptic when giving information about something.

"The book mentions the school having protections, but other than the wards it doesn't elaborate. It has almost every room listed and mapped out, and yet we all know there are secret passageways and rooms that you can only get too when the circumstances are right."

The Room of Requirement came to Harry's mind.

"The school has 23 towers listed in the book, and yet the school has 24. Sometimes a 25th tower appears and vanishes around midnight on nights of the new moon. There are 142 staircases in the entire school, and yet some lead to the middle of nowhere with no rooms, doors, or exits, and others move on their own and change locations seemingly at random."

"Your point Myrtle?" Harry asked a little quickly. What was the point of listing things that almost every student knew?

"The school is magic, but how? This large of a castle with so many moving parts and extra structures would require constant magical support from every magical being within it at all times. I don't know about you, but I don't remember ever giving my magic to the school. The magic of Hogwarts should have failed decades after the Founders had died, unless..." She reached up to adjust her glasses again.

"Unless the school has its own magical core." Harry said slowly as all the hints Myrtle had left finally connected.

"At least that's the theory Ravenclaw students have been discussing for years."

Myrtle took a moment to shrug her shoulders and nod. She shook her head and sighed softly as if having an internal argument before finally looking up at Harry with a huff. "There's an inscription in Ravenclaw tower at the base of Rowena's statue. No one can read it, but the rumors state it's an inscription about Hogwarts itself."

"Could I-" Harry didn't even get to finish his question when Myrtle grabbed him and began dragging him out of the empty classroom and through the hall.

"I'll show it to you, but don't be too upset when you get nothing out of it."

Myrtle felt excitement buzzing under her skin. The theories about Hogwarts and the magic powering Hogwarts were the most discussed ones in Ravenclaw. There was even an ongoing bet between all the years over it. If she were the one to find the answers all the Ravenclaws had been dying to learn for years, she'd never be bullied or teased again!

And she somehow knew Harry would be the key to finding the truth.

Harry was dragged part of the way, Myrtle moving faster than he could, before he was finally able to right himself to walk alongside the older girl.

"If the school does have its own core," Harry began to say. It wasn't going to be a short walk to the Ravenclaw Tower so he might as well discuss things further. "Then what does that have to do with the guardians I read about?"

"Well I don't know." Myrtle snipped a bit back. "But if you find the answer to one question, then inevitably you will find the answer for another."

"Or more questions." Harry groaned in reply. He almost felt annoyed when Myrtle just giggled at him. He would have been upset, but he couldn't blame Myrtle for her enthusiasm; she was a Ravenclaw after all.

Getting Harry into the Ravenclaw tower wasn't nearly as difficult as Harry had feared it would be. He knew that the Ravenclaw students had to answer a riddle to get inside, but even he knew the answer to the riddle that was asked.

No, Harry had been worried about other Ravenclaw students making a fuss.

He was rather surprised when he found not only Ravenclaw students hanging out in their common room, which was stacked full of books and had several curtained off areas for private studying, but also a couple Hufflepuff students and an older Slytherin.

Harry was sure he recognized the Slytherin student, a 7th year that was good at noticing things with his quick and calculating gaze. Lament? Carrow? He couldn't be sure.

"You let other houses into your common room?"

"Knowledge is power Harry." Myrtle just rolled her eyes at him and smirked. "If you ban knowledge you're just asking to be torn down."

The younger Slytherin didn't have time to ask questions when Myrtle just grabbed him again to drag him towards a large statue of whom Harry assumed was Rowena Ravenclaw set in a large alcove lined with even more books.

"There's the inscription."

Harry hadn't even had time to look down at the base of the statue, so consumed with taking in the entire statue. Myrtle's pointing finger pulled his attention downward.

What he saw looked similar to the runic circles that Tom had shown him during the older teens 3rd year, but instead of the recognizable runes that Harry had memorized he found elegantly scrawled words.

Words in Parselscript.

It was no wonder that no one had ever been able to translate the words there. Parseltongue was a distinctly Slytherin trait in the British Isles.

"Well?" Myrtle prompted as Harry slowly walked around the statue to read the entire inscription. He pretended to be puzzled and even traced the words there to make it seem like he had no idea what he was reading.

When he and Myrtle had first approached the statue, several of the students in the common room had stopped to observe. Most of the Ravenclaw students lost interest after a moment, but the 7th year Slytherin covertly continued to watch Harry.

Some lines fade, some never end

Some branch like roots, but never do they bend

A safeguard made, a secret of the core

Four can become five, but never more

Two bound to the earth, two take to the air

Two unseen, two have a magical stare

When trouble is near, and guardians found

The castle will speak, an heir will be bound

It took Harry reading the inscription a few times, circling the statue with an expression of wonder, before he had the words memorized.

Of course it was a riddle. It was always a blasted riddle! He was starting to doubt the words Gothrack had spoken all those years ago; this sure as hell felt like a blasted fantasy book where Harry had to go on some ridiculous adventure to find his happy ending.

The longer Harry took, fingering the strange symbols carved into the stone, the more Myrtle began to become disheartened.

"Can you read it?"

For a moment Harry was tempted to tell Myrtle yes, but that voice in the back of his head told him to wait. The voice, of feeling, had never led Harry astray so he was keen to listen to it. Still though, Harry didn't feel right lying to Myrtle.

Instead Harry shrugged a little with a frown.

"Well darn." Myrtle went to the open seat nearest to the statue and sat down with a grumpy sigh. "I guess you being able to read it would have been too easy." She wasn't too upset though. With the rumors that Harry had given her Myrtle at least had something to add to the theories that the Ravenclaw students discussed on a regular basis.

Harry stood next to the statue a little awkwardly until Myrtle finally told him to sit down.

Shortly after Harry made himself comfortable several of the other first years, and a few second years, came over to join them. After awhile of discussing various books and assignments, Myrtle seemed to have forgotten about the mystery Harry had given her.

A few days later Harry was finally able to sneak down into the Chamber without Tom. He had made sure to tell Abraxas where he was going so that no one would worry though.

"Senestra?" Harry called out even before he entered the flooded chamber where Senestra could often be found.

"Hello little hatchling. "

Harry rolled his eyes at the moniker. He'd given up getting the giant snake to call him something else some time ago.

"I found something in Ravenclaw tower."

Senestra let out a long sigh. She should have known Harry wouldn't let the whole guardian thing go. It was in his nature; and there was the magical factor that she knew was pushing him to learn more.

"What did you learn little one?" She couldn't outright give him the answers, the magic of Hogwarts kept her from doing so, but if he made the right guesses she could take the final steps and reveal the truth to him.

Harry recalled the riddle he had translated and repeated it to the basilisk that he had climbed up onto as he usually did.

"I think I've figured out most of the riddle. I just..." The need he had been feeling to find the answer had gone away at all since he had first read the journal. "I just wanted to run it all past you. Since you're a guardian and all."

The hissing sound that Harry had learned was Senestra's laugh sounded and he grinned. She wasn't telling him 'no' at least.

"The first part of the riddle talks about lines. I think it means bloodlines or family lines. They can fade and end when heirs aren't born. Family lines can branch away from the main line as people take each others names. But family lines can't really bend. Broken and remade? Sure. But they can't bend."

When the snake didn't say anything to contradict Harry's theory the boy took it as a good sign.

"I'm not really sure about the next part. I understand the 'safeguard' part, that's rather straight forward. If the castle really is alive then it would have a core, which would be secret. But four becoming five? I have no clue about that?"

Harry went silent as he went over those two lines mentally. Did it mean there would be five guardians? Five houses? What could grow from four to five, but not more than that?

"The third part of the riddle is a clue as to what the guardians are. Since you're a guardian, you're one of the two bound to the earth and you have a magical stare."

The fact that Harry had figured out all of that, allowed Senestra to speak further.

"A safeguard was put into place in the event that a founder's line died out." Senestra spoke up before Harry could go into his theory on the final part of the riddle. "Each heir can access the magic of the castle left by their ancestor. It is their inheritance that they can claim. If danger were ever to come to Hogwarts, the heirs could empower the castle, awaken all its defenses, and order the guardians to battle.

"But humans are fragile creatures. They can be easily killed and we guardians can not leave Hogwarts to protect them." Senestra signed regretfully at that. "And it is not like we can force an heir to stay at Hogwarts." Though she would have loved to do so with her Master and her little hatchling.

"As long as a Founders bloodline was alive, no matter how distant, the magic of Hogwarts would remain strong. Do not ask me how; it has something to do with ancient blood magic and not something I am versed in." Senestra warned when she heard Harry's intake of breath.

"The Founders knew this plan was flawed though. They lived in a time when non magical humans were killing each other and hunting down magical humans. Families were being wiped out. The Founders knew there was a possibility their own descendants could be killed and their lines ended.

"They did not know what to do. For years they did not have a solution. That was until the Castle Spoke."

For a long time Senestra was silent. She was an ancient basilisk, she knew a great many things, but that didn't mean she knew how magic worked. To her magic was so intrinsically linked to nature that she had no reason to question 'why'. That was a wizard's job.

"The Founders had never anticipated the Castle growing its own magical core nor coming to life. They thought maybe being built on Fae lands had something to do with it. What mattered though was that the castle came up with a solution."

"An heir will be bound." Harry whispered.

"The castle has chosen heirs in the past, but none have ever claimed their inheritance. There has never been a need." Senestra's tongue flicked out, tasting the air around Harry. "The Founders bloodlines had always been alive and there has never been any real danger near Hogwarts."

"How does someone become the Castle's heir then?"

If Senestra had shoulders she would shrug. "I know not. Hogwarts chooses her possible heirs, but never actively tries to claim an heir. If all the guardians are found and spoken to though, Hogwarts will speak to her heir."

"Am I the heir? " Harry asked with a wild smile. "It would be my luck. I mean everything always seems to happen to me." It would also explain why Harry felt such a strong need to solve this mystery.

Senestra hissed out a laugh again. "I do not know if you are the heir, little hatchling. The castle can choose several people as possible heirs and anyone can speak to the Guardians, but the castle will only ever speak to one potential heir."

"So...who are the other guardians then? Can I talk to them?" Harry was less interested in the whole heir thing and more interested in talking to such old and magnificent magical creatures. If anyone could talk to them then he definitely wanted to.

For several long minutes Senestra simply flicked her tongue out scenting the air. It took Harry prodding her a few times before she finally hissed softly and gave him an answer.

"I can not outright tell you, hatchling. Hogwarts will not allow it. But..." She looked around the chamber for a moment. "With Master claiming his Slytherin inheritance, the other Guardians will have awoken. If you truly desire to speak with them, you will find them eventually."

A large smile stretched across Harry's lips. He really did want to meat the other Guardians. Senestra knew so many things, it only made sense that the others would know even more.

Harry was sure that he could find the other Guardians. With the hints from the riddle he could at least narrow down the list of possible creatures; which could only help in the long run.

The only question Harry to ask himself though was if he should tell Tom about all of this. He knew he should, but he knew Tom would be very unhappy about it.

Special thanks to: Louise to, Maurey, and Deb

A/N: I hope this chapter was satisfactory. Thanks for being understanding about my two week break and I am glad to be back!