Disclaimer: still don't own anything recognisable as JKs (or another author's I guess?)
AN: several reviewers asked about the time chamber so I'm going against my original inclination which was to just wave my hands and say 'its timey wimey stuff' but if it gets a bit wordy let me know
Slytherins Secret
Chapter sixteen: Time Warp
The previous night, or 6 and a half days from now Harry had activated the time ward and sent both himself and Bill back to the previous Tuesday. He had then promptly collapsed in bed, as tired as he had been during his first time through this week, since he needed to a rest to having his magical reserves divided all over again. Thankfully the time wards used in the Chamber of Secrets did not actually draw their power directly from the user, but Harry's reserves were still committed to maintaining the ward. His magic as current head of the Slytherin line (any acknowledged Heir of the founders would do) allowed him to act as a sort of key in the lock that was on the ley-lines beneath Hogwarts, but this required that his magic constantly act a conductor for the giant ritual ward that maintained the week of time displacement. If he had tried to activate it without being keyed into the ley line he would have found himself very, very dead as the magic required was vastly more than a wizard's core could contain at any time.
Bill casually studied the wards for an hour or so whilst Harry slept, he didn't really want to risk doing anything more than looking at the active runes since even an amateur curse breaker would see the massive power drain inherent in the design. He'd been horrified when Harry activated the ward, sure the boy would die, but thankfully there was some sort of external power, Bill couldn't see by the activated scheme what it was but he was content so long as Harry was safe. It was a fiendishly clever piece of magic, seeming to use residual energy alignment from druidic ritual with something that took the distortion of reality caused by any large source of magic and did…something to it, he really wasn't sure how that resulted in an exact week of time displacement but then if he'd had a head for the mind bending arithmancy that must have been involved he'd have been a spellcrafter to rival well… the founders!
Content that he understood a t least the basics of the alien magic being used around him Bill waited for Harry to wake up. He sat contentedly hugging his knees and mulling over yesterday's revelations, there was still more detail to go over in some places but he'd had a good overview and Merlin even after a night's sleep his mind was still reeling. How the small, nearly delicate, child sleeping next to him had survived everything that had happened to him, especially whilst remaining the kind considerate person little Ron always described in his infrequent letters was really beyond him, the poor kid was younger even than Ronnie!
Bill ran a frustrated hand through his long hair (charmed to blunt any scissors that came into contact with it) and grimaced as he thought about everything Harry had told him the previous night, he was dredging up all his knowledge on biological spell residue, but he figured he'd be in for an extended study session before he could say anything conclusive, mostly he dealt with curses on inorganics and occasionally undead. He figured the number one priority and probably the most important thing he could do to help repay the debt was the kid's scar, after all the very idea of a taint from you-know-who being anywhere on his person made his skin crawl, it must be all Harry could do not to claw his own skin off to escape the sensation. Decision made, he sat contentedl,y lost in thought until he heard Harry stir about half an hour later and semi-audible muttering come from his obscured form.
"Urgh I'm, planning to do this all summer? What was I thinking, bloody magical exhaustion!" Bill thought he heard Harry mutter irritably.
"Harry?" he queried gently, "you all right?"
Harry yawned hugely before answering "Bill? Yeah I'm ok, Salazar did warn me, just don't like the feeling of my reserves dividing and being drained slightly, doesn't need much magic to maintain though so I'll be ok soon."
Bill frowned "that reminds me, either of you, what is that ward? I nearly fainted when Harry activated the damn thing, it looks like it ought to have sucked him dry!"
Harry looked slightly startled at this especially when Salazar agreed "Yes indeed if he were anyone else it would have, very astute young William."
He then proceeded to wait until Bill's impatient "well?" before actually explaining. "Harry's magic is acting as a key, a key to the locks we placed on the ley lines beneath Hogwarts. We blood bound the magic of this area to our lines until all trace of our blood is gone from this world, it's one reason I went through the Paterfamilias ritual and created the Slytherin legacy after my wife's death, I wanted a check on who could access that power. It takes an initial surge of magic to prime the connection or turn the key if you will and then a small trickle is dedicated to holding them open. It is one reason we decided to set the ritual for seven days, any astronomically or arithmetically significant number would have done, but seven days does not require more priming or maintenance than a weak wizard at about half strength can provide without harm. We never intended children to do this but this also means that young Harry is safe although if he were less powerful he might have felt the strain due to having three more maturations before his majority. What the wards actually do? Well I think I shall discuss that with young William another time, but only if you are prepared for some rather tricky cross disciple concepts young man."
Bill grinned weakly, "I might take you up on that though I find Arithmancy terrible difficult, I had a lot of tutoring to pass my NEWT, I'm glad Harry is ok, is there a warning before a non-heir can go too far?
Theoretically a non-heir beast-speaker cannot get past the main chamber to access these side rooms, speaking of which be careful when you go without him, the elf and phoenix are tied to him and so any wards will allow them though.
Smiling Bill agreed and they both went away to do their morning rituals, Harry had performed his various exercises and they had both eaten before they really talked again.
So Harry, I agree with you that the tasks you have in mind should cover the debt how do you want the repayment formalised? Bill asked as they sat down to talk over an hour later.
Harry replied a little wearily, "I'm not really sure, I do know that I've a few options; the set time span, set tasks or declaration of intent yes?
Bill nodded agreement, "Yep, we can agree that I am at your disposal for a set period of time and that after that fixed point the debt is paid whether we are done or not. We can agree set tasks, but it can get complicated if somebody else does some or if it takes 20 years or proves impossible. Alternatively there is a declaration of intent, which can range from very varied to nearly as specific as the set task method. Mostly this is so that the Potter and Weasley family magics know that the acknowledged debt is being resolved; also I suppose politically it would look bad even if all that is known is that you saved Ginny in some way and were injured in the process but our family did nothing to reward or repay you."
"Ok so a declaration of intent that allows a decent amount of flexibility sounds best to me?" Harry replied and Bill nodded his agreement. They spent the rest of the morning working on phrasing and content to ensure that the magic would be properly resolved. After all nobody wanted to know what would happen to Ginny with an unresolved debt, even in the short term; if it hadn't already been acknowledged that a debt was between them she'd likely have become totally obsessed with Harry, but it could still get ugly.
At Dobby's insistence they took a long break over lunch and Harry napped for a bit afterwards having determinedly forgotten how drained he had been at the start of the past week. When he woke up Bill had managed to draft up a wording that they both agreed on and so both positioned themselves for the 'ritual of declaration'.
Bill bowed on one knee in front of Harry, who stood hand on his sword, with his wand and Bill's crossed at Bill's eye level. "Heir Potter, last survivor of the Ancient and Nobel house of Potter and the Arcane house of Slytherin; I come before you with a petition for repayment of a debt held by house Weasley to thine own self, acknowledged three days past and three days forward from this point by my mine own father, Head of house Weasley, Arthur Billius Weasley.
"Heir Weasley on the matter of the life debt own to my houses by yours for the rescue of it youngest child and only daughter, heir to house Prewett you may speak. First let the magics of our houses know that, though I have suffered for the life of Ginevra Weasley, I acknowledge that I have also gained, in magic, health, wealth and status thought the events pertaining to this debt."
Bill looked startled for a moment but continued on "As Heir Weasley I stand in place of the minor member of my House by whom the debt is owed, the debt between us cannot be resolved quickly and you will always bear our gratitude. To repay what is owed I offer my services to your house, we have discussed many areas in which my talents may be of service, and I offer my aid in these matters until the magic of our houses considers the matter closed. Accepting magic's judgement in all things I acknowledge the danger that may become inherent in these tasks and state that, were I asked, many of these actions I would perform without my oath, due to the debt of gratitude and because they are what is right. Therefore further to this, I offer my oath of Personal Fealty Wizard to Wizard I offer Trust for Trust Protection for Protection, aid when needed support when wanted and the love of a family when lacking." Bill added winking at Harry when he decided to one up his previous little ad-libbing session.
Harry was shocked when Bill told the magic that he wanted to help regardless of the debt, but he felt tears in his eyes when Bill offered his fealty, somehow the personal pledge was so much more important than anything else. The life debts were about family honour, a personal pledge meant that Bill felt him admirable enough to stand by now and forever declaring his support for Harry personally not House Potter, not the boy who lived, just Harry. The magic seemed to thicken for a moment then Harry replied "Gladly do I accept you pledge and service, let magic decide when the debt between us is cleared, glad I am to call you pledge brother!" The magic swirled the gold and green of Harry's aura meshing with the copper and sapphire of Bill's until it condensed around their wand hands, leaving a tiny intricate braid of runes invisible to all but them unless they willed otherwise. The pledge was sealed, Harry had Bill's help and could trust him completely, more he had his willing support ; when the magic had settled he found himself pulled into a hug and for the second time in a week burst into tears, although this time they were of relief and happiness. Finally the tears stopped and Harry giggled "it's a good thing my magic's not really unstable, otherwise all of these oaths, bindings and lessons would be a bit of a problem!"
Bill's laugh rumbled through his chest where it was pressed against Harry is the hug, "that it is pledge brother, that it is."
After the busy and emotional day they had had they agreed mutually not to discuss anything difficult all evening and so Harry and Bill got to know each other a little batter, laughing over their mutual nobility and sneakiness, each of them having planned to make sure the other wasn't exploited in the bond.
Nothing as exciting happened during the rest of the week, mostly the week just gave them both time to go over everything that they knew or planned to do looking for holes or problems. Harry had the benefit of Bill's experience and human presence when he studied, Salazar gained a more knowledgeable conversationalist and by the end of the week expressed his delight that such a talented young man should be pledged to his heir and Bill gained enough time to come up with both a cover story and to work out which aspects of his service could be told to whom. Both Harry and Bill had been reluctant to do so, but for now it had been decided that keeping Molly out of the loop was probably for the best. She was still a staunch supporter of Dumbledore, despite having received plenty of opportunities to see his faults (Ginny only being the most recent), besides, even if they could convince her to see the dangers inherent in Dumbledore's obsession with Harry she wasn't the most stable woman when in a temper. Bill would tell his father nearly everything, in part because as his head of house it was his responsibility to ensure the debt was honourably discharged, but also because his oath to Harry showed that he was more aware than his affable exterior bellied.
They had decide that in order to visit Harry semi-openly next year Bill would be 'checking the spirit was gone and that the chamber is secure' as a part of his debt, this should provide a decent cover for Harry's request. If severely pressured he would mention researching why Voldemort wasn't dead but not express much hope, they hoped that this might knock loose some hints from Dumbledore who undoubtedly knew something (thus his certainty in Voldemort's continued existence prior to Harry's first year). Hopefully this could wait a little while so that Bill could get a better idea of what was involved which in turn should give him a hand in deciphering the cryptic hints that were sure to come his way.
Finally on the seventh day they waited until both of them felt Fawkes flame into the chamber with their earlier selves before he quickly flamed the 'older' versions back to the meeting room.