Disclaimer: I don't own HP or any of Rowling's characters. The plot and original characters are mine.
A/N: Okay... First off, for those who have already read this chapter, I'm sorry. I wasn't happy with where it ended and I made a big mistake with who calls out to Harry in the Leaky Cauldron. It didn't make sense for it to have been Tonks. She was already part of the Dumbledore thing. So, needing to correct that issue (TY Merelan Harper) I decided to finish the chapter as originally intended. Hope it makes a little more sense now...
Thought Processes
Harry left Draco at Malfoy Manor and went back to the Leaky Cauldron. Instead of transporting himself there, he decided to take the Knight bus to give himself some time to think. So, he found himself sitting in a squashy armchair on the upper deck of the bus staring out the window. As he watched the scenery fly by, Harry thought long and hard on his situation.
He had defied Dumbledore. He had thrown away his old friendships. He had even left the one place that was supposedly safe for him to live. Now, he was allied with the Malfoys and Snape. He had found out that he should have a very large inheritance. He also had his own castle. How he wished he could find a way to go back to Avalon and speak with Merlin and Lady Morgana. Harry felt the silver mist rising around his ankles and pushed the wish to the back of his mind. No matter how badly he wanted to go "home", now was not the time. He needed to make plans..
First, he had to get back into Hogwarts. He knew that Dumbledore couldn't refuse him entry without expelling him. So far, Harry hadn't done anything to get expelled. Unless of course, Dumbledore decided to bring up the sorcerer's stone, the chamber of secrets, Sirius, the invisibility cloak, or especially the Marauder's Map. If that were the case, Harry was in deep dung. He didn't know if it were too late for the old man to use those events against him, but he was pretty sure that the fool would try.
Perhaps he should let Dumbledore think he was coming back to him. He should be able to fool the old man. Harry had gotten quite good at occlumency over the summer. He could even confide to the fool something about his new powers. Yes, this would work. Making his decision about how to handle Dumbledore, Harry's thoughts moved on to the Malfoys and Snape.
Lucius Malfoy was a decent guy when he wasn't trying to get you or your friends killed by the dark lord. He truly cared about his son and was willing to do anything to keep the boy happy. Even if it meant turning his back on his own beliefs and going to the light side. Harry knew all of this from a brief conversation he had had with Draco while at Stonehenge. Harry concluded that Lucius wasn't a bad guy and he could easily help Harry with his own goals in life.
Snape. Severus. Harry still wasn't sure how to handle that one. The man was completely different away from Dumbledore and Hogwarts. For one, he was quite gorgeous without that ugly glamour he insisted on wearing. Two, he wasn't as hateful as he would like everyone to think. His sarcasm and snarky humor were definitely real, though. All in all, Harry knew he could trust him, and that's what really mattered.
Draco was a different story altogether. Harry's thoughts were suddenly interrupted.
The Knight bus came to a screeching halt, and Stan screamed out, "Leaky Cauldron, London!"
Harry stood up and made his way off the retched bus. He was feeling a bit queasy from the ride, but he had had time to think a bit.
Upon entering the wizarding pub, Harry approached the barkeep. He noticed the wary glance sent his way from several of the other patrons. They must have been here when Dumbledore decided to show up.
"I don't want any more trouble here, Harry." Tom said quietly.
"Of course not, Tom. I just came by to make sure I got everything from my room and to return your key."
"Right." Tom said, looking behind Harry.
Harry glanced over his shoulder and sighed. There was a group of people sitting at a table in the corner. From what he could see, it was a group of the Order of the Phoenix members. He should have known that they would still be here. Harry looked at Tom and turned to leave the pub. He made it as far as the door to the alley that led to Diagon Alley before anyone noticed him.
"Harry!" A woman with dark hair called out. Harry only rushed through the door into the alley and towards the stone archway. He could hear feet running behind him, but he didn't even turn around. He saw a wand raised in his direction as he felt his magic gather around him and transport him back to the manor.
Hestia Jones stood there in the alley with her wand pointed at Harry when the silver mist engulfed him and he disappeared. She had never seen anything like that before. She hadn't been there when Dumbledore and the others had first confronted Harry and the Slytherins. She had to inform Dumbledore.
Harry found himself standing in the same room he had first seen of his new home at Camelot. He was a bit confused because he expected to end up at Malfoy Manor. Oh well. This was better anyway. He could sit and chat with the portraits of his ancestors and hopefully glean a little advice on how to handle Dumbledore.
He took his time wandering through the halls of the most magnificent castle in history. He was still unfamiliar with how to find his way through the winding corridors and many rooms. So far, he had passed several doors that opened as he approached them. He took a few minutes in each room noting how they were all differently decorated. Obviously, the inhabitants throughout time had had varying ideas on what was fashionable. But, that was to be expected.
Harry entered one room that really caught his attention. He couldn't help but think that Draco would love it. It was a circular room with plush gray carpeting that looked quite soft and comfortable to lay down upon. There was a large fireplace with a black and green veined mantle. It resembled what the floor of the Forbidden Forest looked like during early spring when the snow melted and the sprouting plants poked up through the rich black soil. The fireplace was flanked by two squishy armchairs, not unlike the muggle Laz-E-Boy recliner. They were both upholstered in the deepest of green leather that when touched proved to be softer than any suede. There was a small cherry wood table placed between the two chairs set with a gleaming silver teapot.
The furnishings of the room were amazing, but it was the walls that really took his breath away. They were covered in floor to ceiling bookshelves. The wood of the shelves was of the same cherry wood as the lonely table in the room, but they seemed to glow with an ethereal light. Harry stood there, mouth dropped open, for an indeterminable amount of time. He had never seen a room look so beautiful. He had also never seen such an assortment of books on so many different subjects. There were some on potions, arithmancy, transfiguration, charms, alchemy, runes, and many other magical subjects. Not to mention the whole section on muggle cooking, cleaning, electronics, psychology, art, mechanics, and even romance novels.
Harry just wanted to grab a volume of something and sit in one of the squishy chairs by the warmly burning fireplace and forget. He wished that he could bury his mind in someone else's adventures or read about how a certain spell had been created, but he reluctantly made his way back to the door. As he walked further down the corridor, he could hear the door click shut softly.
It took some time for him to find the hall with the portraits of Lady Morgana, Merlin, and his parents. He stopped in front of his parents first.
"Hi Mum and Dad," He said softly while staring at his feet. For some reason he felt a little guilty that he hadn't even thought of asking them for advice about Dumbledore. His first thought had been of Merlin and Lady Morgana.
"Hello, Harry!" Lily answered with a smile. "You made it back! I was so afraid that you wouldn't be able to get back."
"Why wouldn't I be able to get back?" Harry said confusedly.
"Um, well. Not all of the heirs ever gain access after their first time here. I was unsure if it would happen to you as well."
"Oh."
"Hiya, Harry!" James shouted from a few portraits down. "How's old Dumbledore doing?"
"I wouldn't know." Harry answered his jubilant father stiffly. He was still a bit perturbed with James's denial that Dumbledore would have misled and manipulated Harry as he had.
"Oh."
"It was good seeing you Mum. I have a few things to discuss about my heritage with Merlin and Lady Morgana." Harry said with a slight smile. He hoped that his mum would understand. Lily just smiled sadly as she watched the man she had given her life for walk away. What had happened to her baby that made him so unhappy and lost? Could it be true that Albus had left him with her wretched sister? Why would her most loved mentor go against her wishes and leave her special baby unprotected in that muggle madhouse? Lily had many questions, and being a portrait, she had no-one but Harry and the other portraits to ask.
Harry continued walking down the hall toward where Merlin and Lady Morgana were hung. He could hear his Mum and Dad whispering vehemently. He glanced back at them and was surprised to notice that his mum had her back turned to his dad and looked as if she refused to speak to him. Shrugging, he figured it was just a married couple thing and continued on to the reason he came here.
When he reached the two portraits he had so longed to see, Harry was slightly disappointed. Neither Merlin nor Morgana were there. He walked up and down the hall looking to see if they had gone visiting, but to no avail. He did see Godric Gryffindor though.
"Hello there, Godric." Harry said shyly. He was a bit intimidated by the huge man in the portrait.
"Ah, hello there Young Heir!" Godric bellowed loudly. "What brings you home so soon?"
"I needed advice. I was hoping to talk to your parents, but they seem to be missing from their portraits."
"Ah, I see! Fret not, Young Heir! Mother and Father have simply gone into the elven world. They should return sometime within the next few years."
"Next few years?! But I need help now." Harry was at a total loss. He was sure that the greatest wizard in history and the most stunning sorceress in time could help him. If they were gone, what was he to do?
"Settle yourself child. A few years is nothing to a wizard, and time stops here in Camelot. Avalon is hidden away in the mists of time. Therefore, a few years is a very short time indeed."
"You sound like a riddle book." Harry said grumpily.
"Perhaps I can assist you with whatever it is that troubles you so deeply." Godric offered.
"Can you explain to me how Dumbledore seems to know everything that goes on inside of Hogwarts? Or how I can claim my inheritance without turning the wizarding world against me? Or how about I can handle a manipulating old fool that has kept every ounce of my history from me?" Harry asked sarcastically. He figured that Godric was just what all the Slytherins had always claimed. All brawn and no brain.
"Of course I can help you! I helped build Hogwarts! She tells whoever the current headmaster is what goes on within her walls and on her grounds." Godric replied haughtily.
Harry felt utterly stupid at that point. Of course Godric would know about Hogwarts!
"Okay, wait. Hogwarts speaks to the headmaster?"
"Yes, she does. Helga and Rowena stored a part of their souls within her walls. Salazar and I stored ours in bits of the forbidden forest. It made sense at the time. Helga and Rowena made Hogwarts like a mother to the children who attended, and Salazar and I we made the Forest like a father and protector of Hogwarts and her children. So yes, Young Heir, Hogwarts is a she." Godric explained proudly.
"You stored your souls? Like a horcrux?" Harry asked curiously. Thoughts began tumbling through his mind a mile a minute. Is there information at Hogwarts on how to make a horcrux? Is that how Tom Riddle had discovered it?
"Exactly! We even left instructions for future heirs to be able to do the same. Unfortunately, none of the heirs have done so. I'm sure that Hogwarts is feeling a little lonely. Rowena, Helga, and Salazar are not always at the castle. They travel between their horcruxes to their own kingdoms in time."
"What?! You mean you split your soul more than once?" Harry was astounded. No wonder it had been so easy for Riddle to get the information on the horcruxes. It was probably sitting right there in the Hogwarts library!
"Of course. We couldn't leave our kingdoms unattended for long. So, we stored half of our souls at Hogwarts and her Forest and half in our own homes for future generations."
"And you said that the information about the horcruxes were left at Hogwarts for the heirs?"
"Yes. There is this lovely room on the seventh floor. We called it the-"
"Room of Requirement?" Harry interrupted in awe.
"Yes, exactly! I see that you have found it! It really is such a wonderful room! Helga and I spent many lovely evenings there." Godric said wistfully.
"Ewww. Please, no details on that one." Harry said curling his lip.
"Did I answer your questions?" Godric asked with a grin.
"Yes, you did. Now, I need to know how to claim my inheritance without everyone saying I'm a liar. Let alone how to deal with the manipulating headmaster right now." Harry answered thoughtfully.
"Well, Young Heir. I can help you there as well. In the library here, there is a scroll that lists every descendant of Merlin and the royal family. You simply need to call for it when you enter the room. It will come to you. As for the meddling headmaster, I suggest you stake your claim on Hogwarts. Please tell Helga I will see her this fall by the lake."
"Is it really that simple? I just take the scroll to the ministry of magic and make my claim? Then go to Hogwarts and fire Dumbledore?" Harry sounded a bit unbelieving that his problems could be solved so easily.
"No, no. You simply call the scroll to you. It does the rest."
"And about 'staking my claim' on Hogwarts? Will she accept me?"
"You are the heir to the entire wizarding world. Why would she refuse you?" Godric answered smoothly.
"Well, I guess I go back now. Thank you, Godric. When Merlin and the Lady return, tell them I miss them, will you?" Harry said from his silky silver mist.
"Yes, Chosen One. I will tell them" Godric replied to the now quiet hall. He chuckled softly to himself. The wizarding world was in for a rude awakening with this one.
Harry was definitely more than any of them had ever bargained for. He had obviously inherited more of Morgana than Merlin. Gods knew that woman was as intelligent and sneaky as she was beautiful. He would never forget the day he found out just how sneaky she truly had been.
Morgana had given up her rightful place as an Elven Princess to be with her soul mate, Merlin. They had just about given up hope on ever having children together, assuming that their combined magic wouldn't allow them to bear offspring that would undoubtedly be almost like super wizards or witches, when they were blessed with a child.
Two hours after the birth of that child, a very magical little boy with extraordinary strength, was whisked away from Morgana while Merlin was out tending to Arthur. Arthur was not Morgana's child, but he was the result of a wicked night that Merlin would never live down. Morgana's son was taken from her by her elven father, Illidrael, the king of elves. Morgana knew of the abduction, but told Merlin the child had died of magical distress. In short, she said that the combination of their magic was too much for the child's body to bear.
After some time, Morgana conceived again. She knew how desperately Merlin wanted another child that he could openly claim as his own. However, Merlin was afraid after what had already happened to their first son. So, she seduced her step-son, Arthur. Never telling Merlin the truth. He had always believed it to be magic's way of granting his lifelong wish.
It was many years after the building of Hogwarts that the two half brothers ever met. One having been raised to be loyal, honest, brave, and how to use his magnificent strength for the good of all. The other being taught to be cunning, ambitious, and how to utilize his transcendent intelligence for his own ends. Upon his majority, the elves released the gryffin into the wild to make his mark upon the world, and make his mark he surely did. The other child, quiet and somewhat withdrawn, slithered into adulthood coaxed by his beautiful mother with a strong dislike of any race other than the pureblooded wizard. Unknown to both, they would become great friends and build the first school of witchcraft and wizardry in history.
Godric and Salazar were the best of friends with Helga and Rowena. It wasn't until some few years after Hogwarts was open and they had stored their souls within her and her forest, that Godric and Salazar learned the truth of their births. It was upon their first visit to Camelot as the heirs of Merlin that forced their mother to confess. Merlin was away and Morgana admitted her treachery. She had promised her first born son to her father to gain permission to marry Merlin. She never regretted her decision and told her children as much. She was beside herself with worry when the split happened between Salazar and Godric. If the two greatest wizards began a war between them, they would inevitably destroy both the magical and muggle kingdom.
Salazar was jealous that Godric had been given such an opportunity to learn from the elves, while he had none other than his own bitter mother and distracted father to teach him how to control his own exceptional magic. Godric was jealous that Salazar was the rightful ruler over both the muggle and magical worlds. It was this knowledge that drove a wedge between the founders of Hogwarts. Rowena loved Salazar deeply, and would never take another's side against him. Rowena watched her love storm away from the castle into the Forbidden Forest to never be seen again. She never did forgive Godric for being the cause of Salazar's leaving. She locked herself in her rooms at Hogwarts and never came out again.
Helga and Godric had plans to marry and built a little cottage out on the grounds of Hogwarts expansive lawns. They lived there for many years and had a child before a great storm blew in causing Godric to enter the Forbidden Forest after one of the children of the school. Helga never saw him again. She took their child into the castle to live and on his seventeenth birthday, Helga was no more.