Harry Potter

The Founders Four

By JadedofMara

Chapter Two: Hogwarts Immortal

Albus Dumbledore looked absolutely flabbergasted.

+Good+ smirked Harry Potter telepathically to Ron. +Now we've ensured that he'll talk to us privately. We need to find out what's happened.+

+You're telling me+ said Ginny from Harry's right. +I swear, if I'd known that we'd end up face to face with a dead person, I never would have gone into that PrioriIncantatem bubble.+

Ron sent Ginny the mental equivalent of a sarcastically sweet grin. +If I remember correctly, sister dear, you were the one who convinced us to break their connection…+

+Shut up, Ron!+

+My god!+ whispered Hermione. +Could it be possible?+

Ron huffed. +My darling wife, you sound like Dumbledore. Could what be possible, Hermione?+

+Never you mind, Ronald+ Hermione sniffed. +Just let me do the talking.+

The whole exchange had taken less than a second. Ah the wonders of telepathic communication, thought Harry to himself. Just one of the many benefits of being Salazar Slytherin reincarnated.

Now Hermione leant forward from Ron's side, stroking Raethiel, her gyrfalcon. "Dear, I believe you've upset him," she scolded laughingly. She turned to Dumbledore, a conspiratorial smile in her eyes. "Forgive my brother-in-law. He tends to be rather tactless."

"Excuse me!" interjected Harry mock self righteously, narrowing his eyes at Hermione. "You seem to be describing your husband, not your brother-in-law. Haven't I always been perfectly diplomatic? It's your husband who has the 'emotional range of a teaspoon', as you so wonderfully—"

"Silencio!"said Ginny, silencing her husband with a sharp jab of her wand. Harry shrugged it off, casting the counter-charm non-verbally. He glared at Ginny slightly, and retreated back behind Ron, muttering to himself all the while in parseltounge.

/Not tactless at all. Completely barmy. Honestly, no idea what's gotten into Hermione. It's all bloody brainless if you ask me. Really, me—Harry Potter—tactless? What is she thinking?/

Sshycien, Harry's familiar, started laughing. /Shut up, Salazar. The old man is staring./

Harry looked up. So he was.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Headmaster," said Ginny, winking. "My husband gets like that sometimes, and only Schiizyin can settle him down."

"It's 'Sshycien', not 'Schiizyin'," muttered Harry sulkily from behind Ron. "Sshycien is a noble Parsel name—it means 'he who keeps his friends forever'. Schiizyin, on the other hand, means something usually not said in polite company. I would appreciate it if you pronounced my familiar's name correctly, please."

"Sorry, love," said Ginny, secretly wondering what her mispronunciation of her husband's familiar's name had meant this time around—for some strange reason, she could never seem to get it right. "Carry on, dear," she said to Hermione

Hermione smiled back at the Headmaster, who now looked rather similar to one of the large trout that Geiror—Ron's griffin—had eaten for breakfast the morning before. "Might I suggest that we continue this conversation elsewhere? Somewhere that we can ensure privacy?"

"Of course, Lady Ravenclaw," Dumbledore said, stumbling ever so slightly over the name. "If you will all follow me up to my office, I'm sure we can arrange something…"

"Sounds lovely," said Ron, offering his arm to Hermione. As they started off, Raethiel flew down and landed on Geiror's back, who didn't notice and continued to stalk after his master.

"So," said Ginny, leaning close to Harry's ear and stroking Sshycien lightly. "What did I accidentally call your viper this time. It was 'Wooly Mammoth' last time, wasn't it?"

Harry shook his head. "That was two months ago. Last time you called him a palm tree. This time, however…"

He trailed off. Ginny's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Something not usually said in polite company?" she prompted, poking him in the ribs.

Harry grinned, and leaned down to whisper in his wife's ear.

"How 'bout them Chudley Canons?" asked Ron loudly.