Adrian and Viktor had come into the room, and were a bit surprised to see the other. But they knew enough to guess why the other one was there. They were both founder's heirs but would never have known the other one till now. Both had let enough slip to Fleur for her to guess. Well she didn't know the founder's parts but she knew they were elementals. Fleur had known the Krums long before the tri-wizard tournament. She knew his family had a connection with the birds they had on their estate. And Adrian had mentioned to Draco once why he had a cat and not an owl. He had never been able to bond with an owl in the same way he had the cat.

The two of them knew what chances they took coming here. They had spoken with their families who all agreed this was a chance to be taken. The potion Severus had brought with him they would use first.

Nick took the potion and he had no idea what to expect. "Will I set the room on fire, or drown you all or something?"

Adrian laughed. "Even for an elemental it takes times for our powers to grow. No dangers here."

Lucius took a deep intake of breath. "I guess that answers our question."

Nick was confused at what was happening. "I don't feel flames or water or something."

Viktor picked up a plant from the table and put Nick's hand to it. "Feel the flowers? This plant was not in bloom moments ago."

Lucius confirmed. "It is a winter bloomer, it didn't even have any buds on it yet."

Nick was stunned when he realized what they were saying, he was an Earth elemental. They told him that meant he was a Hufflepuff heir. Helga was the one who took all the kids who didn't fit into other houses, into hers. She was a healer, and had a big heart, who reached out to all people. Earth didn't mean soil, it meant the animals and plants, the life that came from earth, the idea of mother earth. It seemed Nick had known Nagini was there, and thinking of Voldemort before he fell asleep, his mind had sought an animal to connect with.

The other two had their suspicions. They had it narrowed down, to either Nick was a water element or he was earth. The fact was they were pretty confident Harry was a water element, he was an heir to Salazar.

Nick looked. "If I am an heir, could Voldemort really be after me?"

Adrian shook his head. "No. The other founders' heirs, even Godric's, didn't have the power needed. He went after Harry to reclaim his title."

Lucius had to ask. "Reclaim his title?"

Viktor sighed. "My family looked into the records. It seems Merope's brother had a child, a daughter, who was adopted when he went to prison."

Adrian finished for him. "Catherine Potter, or so our families seem to believe."

Lucius thought it made sense. "Merope would not be heir to pass it on to her son, if her older brother had a child."

Voldemort was a half blood and hated it. He had magic which had nothing to do with being a half blood, and he would not lose his powers. But he became Lord Voldemort, because he claimed the title of Lord Slytherin. The family name had changed for safety over the generations, his grandfather had used the name Gaunt, but he the name Voldemort. As long as James and his son were alive, they had the right to the title. Viktor knew it could be speculation, but it was said when two elementals of the same element faced off, they canceled out each other's powers. It was what saved Harry, not his mother's love, but his powers in the end.

Viktor explained through his father he was Rowena's heir. The Gray Lady had a baby abroad, and when she was killed by the Bloody Baron, the baby was adopted. Rowena found her grandson just before she died, and the story passed on.

Nick turned his mind to Adrian. "You are a Gryffindor then? But you were in Slytherin."

Adrian laughed. "And you were a Gryffindor when one of your dads was obviously a Hufflepuff. It isn't always in the family you know."

Lucius had to ask. "My father had a bond with the cat, but would I have to have some powers for my brother to as well?"

Adrian shook his head. "My powers come from my mother's family. Neither of my older brothers have the powers. I am her heir because of it."

It was in the family code, that the title of Lord or Lady of the founder's house could only be claimed by an elemental. Lucius would still be entitled, if true to the Malfoy name and title, but not the Hufflepuff estate or title. Voldemort could be Lord Slytherin, if Catherine and her descendants did not have the magic. It could skip generations, and they were not sure if Catherine or James were elementals. Voldemort had the right to call himself Lord Slytherin but not Lord Gaunt, even with Catherine and James alive. But as soon as a new elemental was born, he lost that right, and he was now not only a half blood but one with no title. Gaunt he didn't care about, but Slytherin he did.

Lucius didn't know if it was his father or not. The cat had belonged to Regulus, and his dad may have been so attached due to it. Abraxas may very well have been trying to tell Lucius that his husband and their son had the powers. Regulus would want their son to know.

Viktor thought. "My father took me to the bank when I showed my powers, and the bank spoke to me of the heritage. It is tradition."

Adrian nodded. "My mother died before I came into her powers. But she had told my father, and he took me to the bank as well."

Nick understood. "If you took me to the bank, they may be able to tell me which side of my family the powers come from?"

Lucius thought it sounded fine. "I can arrange for us to have a portkey straight into the bank. We would be safe enough."

Both the Malfoys and Blacks had been Slytherins for so long, but obviously the generations had changed one family. Perhaps the Hufflepuff blood of the Blacks and the Slytherin tendencies of Malfoys, created Nick the lion. Nick had the sly cunning side of a snake, but he had the amazing heart of a Hufflepuff, blended together for a lion. He realized it meant he might be a natural healer. Adrian confirmed as well as being able to manipulate fire, he was able to see possible futures, though not well trained. And Victor was able to create optical allusions to trick opponents, he could admit he used a bit in the tournament, with the dragon. It didn't work as well with non-humans though.

Nick was hit with the realization. "Even when I said I wanted to be an auror, I never really wanted to fight. Maybe I am meant to heal instead."

Harry had no idea how but he knew the two girls were on to him. He kept going over his head what he could have said to Luna to set her off. Unfortunately the little rat Ron didn't seem to be a big fan of hers at all. He hadn't seemed to think Harry and Luna were close, but that seemed wrong. It seemed the decoy may have hid his respect and friendship with Luna from Ron. He had wondered why Albus was so confident this plan would work. He was certain the decoy must have had secrets even from Ron, and it was proving true.

It was the day before his birthday and he was sitting up in his room. He had claimed to have a migraine and need a chance to lie down. Even Molly seemed to be looking at him in a way, as if she thought or at least felt something was off about him.

He sat up when the door opened. "I am trying to rest."

Fred popped his head into the room. "We need to talk."

George came into the room. "Good thing we're here and all."

He was about to say something when Hermione and Luna both appeared. "What are they doing here?"

Fred shrugged. "You can tell them if you choose, won't force you. But they both guess, and these two are more dangerous if they snoop."

Hermione and Luna tried to look hurt by that or were hurt by that. Harry knew the twins were right, at least from what he had seen. He had come to trust them. They had ulterior motives but everyone did, and at least theirs Harry knew. They wanted the war to end but they also wanted their baby brother back. Their Harry was the kid in hiding, and they made that loud and clear whenever they had the chance

With the doors warded, he made the girls take an oath to never reveal what he said to them. He saw their shock when he told them the truth, everything the twins knew already of course. He could see shock on Hermione's face, Luna was a bit odd.

Luna smiled. "I knew I was not wrong. I knew you were not Harry. It wasn't simply the stories you forgot, you don't feel right."

Harry ground his teeth. "I wish people would stop saying that. I know you loved the decoy, but I am Harry. I was just as much a pawn in this."

Fred calmed the things down as best as he could. "He is right, Nick wants us to help him. Nick even sent him his cloak."

Hermione was stunned. "The cloak? He loved that thing. It was one of his most precious belongings."

George reminded her. "It belongs to the Potter family, and he said as long as Albus didn't get his hands on it, it belonged here."

There was a spell on the cloak so even Albus could not tell what it was. Nick had kept the marauder's map and his broom, and some of the photos from the album. He had sent all of those of James and Lily alone, and with Harry, and the photos he had no connection to. He couldn't see yet, but he hoped to one day see the photos he kept. They were of the marauders, minus Peter, one his Uncle and the other his honorary godfather. And the pictures of him with his friends, like Hermione and Luna.

Hermione agreed with the twins. "I'm willing to help since Nick wants us to. But you're not my best friend."

Harry sighed. "I hope perhaps we can be friends, but I can understand why your loyalty is with Nick."

Luna actually hugged him. "I can tell you're a good person, I know these things. We will be friends."

The twins assured the girls they would come up with a safe way for them to write Nick. For now they would forward on the letters for them. Nick had a quick quotes quill which would both write and in fact read letters for him. He didn't need anyone to help him.

Hermione snarled when she found out about Ron. "I suddenly feel like finding the biggest spider, and putting it in his bed, for starters."

An: So slight change from the original. Nick was the Gryffindor heir last time, and Abraxas was definitely the source of his powers. I have yet to decide if it will continue to be Abraxas, or if it will come from his Black side.

Yes, for any who haven't clued in, Viktor Krum and Adrian Pucey, the only two by those names in the books.