Authors Note: Thanks for favoring of following the story. I'm hope you like the next chapter. Also I'm going to skim over few years.
Lost in time
Chapter 2
A few days later after talking it through everyone is decided to go along with the idea to build a school, and Salazar is exited. Godric insists that he will not get to have any say in it until he's more refined and Harry and Salazar are both getting lessons from the others while Harry is teaching them what little he knows about the workings of the school as well as spells. They actually take a few years to just plan or in Harry's and Salazar's case they learn. At some point Harry manages to be about as good as Salazar just in different subjects. Salazar really does seem to have a knack for creatures and by now get's along splendidly with Basily without the ability to talk to the snake, Salazar also is very good in Transfiguration. Funnily enough, his Potions skills are mediocre at best.
The most exciting thing in that time is an extended Visit from Merlin. At first Harry is awed by him even without a beard. The historians were, or rather will be, partly right about him since he already seems very wise whenever he wants to be that way. He can say really smart and meaningful things but he also teaches Harry and Salazar a great deal of new pranks. He also turns out to be the best defense teacher Harry ever had and has a vast knowledge about healing and potions. By the time he leaves he promises Harry to send everything he learns about time travel, Horocrux and ways to cause or cure insanity his way.
Harry also enjoys to help in building the school, including getting rid of the remaining boggarts. The most fun is when his boggart changes after a particularly tough fight with Helga during his Muggle defense lessons with a sword. As usual Harry has more than his fair share of bruises while Helga actually seems to enjoy beating him up. In a friendly and teaching kind of way and Harry is improving in leaps and bounds and even managed to give her a bruise by now but still. After that fight, the boggart is Helga and Harry has to do something else to make it funny and turns her into a Valkyrie with Snape's hock nose and have Rowena's favorite Pudding dropped over her head. After that Godric offers to take over his Muggle defense class and Harry is grateful since Godric doesn't hit quiet as hard with his sword as Helga does.
It is also rather great to get a sword presented to him by no one else then Merlin himself, and not just any but a very special sword that he was sure will be useful in the future. Luckily the man visits a few more times to help with Harry's and Salazar's lessons even though most seem to focus on Harry towards the end, probably because Salazar is older by then.
It also fascinates Harry that elves are treated differently. More like an excitable family member or even a child that just loves to help. They are working a lot and nearly constantly but the wizards owning them usually treat them kindly and dresses them in borrowed clothing since that doesn't free them. Only one gifted would, not a loan.
Harry with the help of Godric who is surprisingly enough a potions master, and the help of Helga and Godric as well as Merlin becomes not only a very capable potion master but also a better defense master then either of them.
During that time Salazar is nearly constantly with Harry and becomes one of his best friends and is even there for Harry when he misses his past, or rather, future friends. Together they get into a lot of mischief and Harry finds out, to his greatest surprise yet, that Salazar loves pranks even more then the Weasley twins, if that is at all possible which Harry didn't used to think but is now reconsidering.
Salazar also is asking him all kinds of questions about his time and friends and life in that time as well as his family there. Harry sometimes wonders why Salazar still hangs around so much since he's a few years older and could at least try to get more involved in the planning of the school he wanted to have made in the first place but instead he stays as close to Harry as he can.
Harry does notice not only Merlin during his visits but Godric as well grin at Harry and Salazar sometimes when Salazar is talking a mile a minute asking Harry all kind of stuff hardly giving him time to reply.
Harry is nearly 17 and starts to wonder if he'll ever find a way home when Godric who by now is in his early 30's shows up next to him by the lake while Salazar is still in bed. The youngest of the founders usually sleeps in longer than the rest while Harry still hasn't gotten out of the habit of getting up early and sometimes even expects Aunt Petunia to knock on his cupboard door to awaken him.
"You're up early again." Godric replies. He used to be the first before Harry appeared and liked to be by the lake to think as well.
"I'm used to that." Harry replies, "I was just thinking, about the houses in my time and how that doesn't work with how you guys really are."
"I think I've figured that out already." Godric replies.
"Really? How?" Harry asks.
"Because what you told us fits better than you think." Godric replies. "Brave is not rushing into something blind but to be afraid of something and know that something else is more important. In 'my house' so to speak will be those that protect. That's why I know so much about healing and defense. To protect when needed. Not to rush into a battle and prove my bravery. But over time it might be misunderstand that way."
"And Rowena?" Harry asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Have you EVER seen her without a book?" Godric asks, "She might seem a little unusual, but she does have a vast knowledge and is interested in everything she comes across. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah." Harry grins, "I already thought a few times that they should have just mentioned her extreme interest in all things Pudding."
Godric laughs a little before he adds, "And Helga might seem like a warrior, but she's also as loyal as you can get and she would do anything for her friends."
"Yeah I guess that's true but Sal?" Harry asks, "You don't know what he's told to be apart from sneaky."
"Which he is." Godric replies, "I mean honestly, I probably will never know how you two managed to sneak a hair removal cream into my shower and just am glad I could reverse it and don't bother stating that you will deny being involved I know you deny it just as much as I know that it was the two of you which proves that you both are sneaky."
"People think he's a muggle hating muggleborn murderer." Harry replies. "I don't want people to remember him as such when he is everything but that. He's kind and funny and so good to me. I don't know what I'd do without him. I'd be lost in this time without him around."
"I know." Godric replies with a smile. "Which is by the way, the main reason I came out this morning. We four will be leaving for two months."
"What? Why? Can't I come along?" Harry asks.
"We need you here." Godric replies. "We'll be searching for children as well as scrolls and such with information to start a library and maybe get some people to help us with that endeavor in the future as well, at least the less distant future then yours. I hope that we'll stumble across something to help you with your problems as well."
"Do I really have to stay though?" Harry questions, "Maybe I could go with Sal and help him? He's the youngest of you four and might need some added protection."
Godric smiles indulgently and replies, "And who will protect the castle and the children we might send ahead of time? We're all looking to find muggleborn children and offer them protection when needed. Some might need it immediately. Who will watch over them until our return?"
Harry looks over the lake sadly knowing that there is no argument against it. Making them travel along until they return after a possibly already traumatic event from which they need the rescuing might only make matters worse. "I'm really gonna miss you guys."
"We're all going to miss you as well." Godric replies with a smile. "But maybe it's good for all of us when a little more life comes into this building. It does get kind of tedious with just us five."
"I like it." Harry replies, "I don't like it crowded."
Godric smiles a little and points out, "But maybe you'll find someone to love when more people surround you. Aren't you getting lonely?"
"No more then you I'm sure." Harry states, "And you don't seem to mind."
"I'm courting Helga." Godric replies and Harry looks surprised, "And Rowena, well she always insists that there are too many... I forgot the name, some imaginary creatures are around her and stop her from finding the right one at the moment."
Harry grins and then says, "Sal is older than me and your brother so try and hook him up before you mess with me."
"That will be impossible." Godric replies. "He'll never look for someone else while he's still hoping that you'll notice his advances enough to give him a straight sign if you appreciate his courting."
"His what?" Harry frowns towards the older man, "You're pulling my leg!"
"Why would I pull on your leg?" Godric questions assuming from the context and his voice and facial expressions that it means that Harry doubts him being serious but he does enjoy to pretend not to understand Harry's strange phrases.
"You're kidding me." Harry says, "You're not serious about this I mean Sal? Come on. I'm more like a kid brother to him."
Godric laughs a little and then tells Harry, "Trust me, if I swoon over Salazar like you do, our dear Helga would have my head since I'm officially courting her and not him."
"But, he's older than me." Harry points out.
"Only by four years." Godric says. "Helga is six years my younger. Or are you bothered by those four years?"
"No I mean he's hot." Harry replies, "But that's the point, he's freaking HOT!"
Godric frowns this time unsure if hot is supposed to be a compliment or an insult. "I fail to see what his body temperature has anything to do with things but it's usually average."
"No, that means that he's like," Harry hesitates thinking of how to explain, "Well someone that looks like Sal does."
"You mean someone with blue eyes brown hair and advantage height and built?" Godric asks confused what that might have to do with heat.
"No I mean." Harry sighs, "Hot has nothing with an actual temperature to do as you probably figured by now, but with how someone feels when looking at someone. When you look at Helga you might feel it and Sal is like drool worthy and he could get everyone and I'm just, me. Just Harry. With hair like a bird's nest, blind as a mole and not just small but scrawny too."
"Trust me, that is not what he thinks." Godric reassures. "And he's just waiting for a simple sign that you're not opposed to him trying to get into a courtship with you."
"And just hypothetically, how would I go about that." Harry asks curiously. "I mean we don't have anything like that anymore. We date and trust me, that looks completely different to you and Helga."
"What would that involve?" Godric asks never having head that and even Salazar seems to have failed to find out if those rules still apply in Harry's time. It was just assumed they do. "You're dating I mean?"
"I asked first." Harry grumbles.
"Fine." Godric sighs, "He already gives you certain looks and now you would only have to think of something he could get you and drop a hint like, I don't know, I think my socks are itching I think I need new ones. Though admittedly socks aren't the best of things to request in such a manner."
Harry chuckles and Godric smiles indulgently glad that he managed to get a smile on Harry's face.
"And then?" Harry asks after his amusement calms. "What would I have to do then?"
"Then you just have to accept what he gets you and show that you appreciate it." Godric replies, "Normally you'd also have to introduce him to a family member like father or such to whom he would request permission to court you but since you have no one in this time you can just mention that someone else you know here is like family to you so he can ask that person instead. I would warn that person but at least Helga, Rowena and I would all love to be considered family by you."
"You are." Harry smiles, "I mean to me you all are like an older brother and sisters. I thought Sal is too but, seems like at least he doesn't think that and he does look great but I don't know. What if it doesn't work out?"
"A courtship is no marriage." Godric replies, "Not even an engagement, you can end it any time you like just please explain your reasoning gently to him should you ever need to. And now, I'll warn Rowena and Helga that Sal might come and ask one of us for permission to court you and once he did that and has permission you'll be informed and then you are officially allowed to spend time together."
"We already spend time together." Harry points out.
"Yes, but he might try to touch your hand when you're alone, and if he's daring he might even steal a kiss from your cheek when no one is around." Godric explains with a blush. "Now how does that dating work?"
"Easier that's for sure." Harry replies, "But you'd need to be a little braver but then again I guess a gift could be returned unappreciated right? Anyway, if a guy wants to date someone or a girl really doesn't matter we just say it or write a letter or such and ask them out. You know to go for a walk or have some dinner or a pick-nick together. And that's all, that's already going on a date and when you have some more and both said that they like the other then they're dating each other until one of them wants to end it. Oh and holding someone's hands nearly constantly is a given especially at the start and there is also kissing and such involved but trust me, we don't sneak them. Some prefer to do that in private but most kiss rather openly and not just on a cheek." Harry nearly laughs again at the tomato red on Godric's face and refrains from pointing out that staying a virgin until marriage is definitely the exception to the rule.
Godric takes a deep breath and then replies, "I think I won't point out to him that you weren't aware of the functioning of a courtship and that I informed you I fear he'll want me to explain the workings of the equivalent in your time if I rather not have to do so."
"Fine by me Gody." Harry replies using Rowena's nickname for the man knowing that he dislikes it and usually only lets her get away with it because she'll just ignore all complain. But right now Harry is rather sure the man just wants to get away and will let it slight.
"I think I will go inside and let you think of possible, requests and an appropriate, parental figure." With that Godric leaves and Harry is fighting his laughter until he's out of earshot.
Once his laughter died down Harry wonders if Godric has been serious and in the end decides that it wouldn't harm to find out. As long as he just drops the hint hidden well enough to be coincidence Sal might not even think that Harry wants to be courted and just assume that he really wishes for something. That way it will be really up to the other man to show if he wants to court Harry or not.
It's past noon when Salazar comes out and sits down close to him while Harry is drawing in the sand. Only now, thanks to that little chat with Godric, does Harry notice that the guy really never touched him before and he grins. Ron and Hermione have both hugged him many times and never even thought about it. "What are you drawing?" Salazar asks after a moment of silence.
"Hedwig." Harry sighs and adds, "But it's really a poor drawing."
"Who's Hedwig?" Salazar wants to know and Harry looks towards the hardly recognizable bird. There is no way to even know it's an owl.
"She's my owl from my time." Harry explains. "A snow owl and she somehow always knew when I felt lonely and was there when I was. Just there. I really do miss her nearly as much as my friends Ron and Hermione. I wonder how they'll react when I get back much older than I was just moments before to them. Ron was with me when we went down to that chamber."
"Why was he there and Hermione wasn't?" Salazar questions.
"She was turned into stone by Basily." Harry explains, "He had to, to keep the time line the way I now know it will have to happen. There was also a writing on a wall. More than one really but the last one said that a girl was taken down there and the name of said girl was Ginny. Ron's little sister."
"Was she hurt?" Salazar asks worriedly.
"I don't think so." Harry replies, "The crazy Tom said that she was somewhere else hidden and only used to lure me down. He sounded sane when he spoke but I'm not sure if it's true."
"I hope it will be." Salazar replies and still just looks at him.
"You know, I wish I could draw better." Harry mumbles looking at the snow owl, "Then I could at least draw Hedwig or one of my friends. I just wish I had something a little more solid to remember them by. But guess that's not possible since I can't draw."
Salazar watches him for another moment and then decides to change his sombre mood and says, "How about we prank Rowena?"
"And how?" Harry asks looking at the brunet young man.
"Something simple but good." Salazar explains excitedly. "I thought we sneak into the kitchens, take all the Pudding for desert and freeze it before putting it under stasis. That way it will be frozen when the elves send it up after dinner."
Harry looks at him and then mumbles, "Frozen Pudding?" After that he quickly gets up and screams, "I scream for ice cream!"
"You what?" Salazar asks confused.
"I tell you at the end of dinner let's go I want ice cream!" Harry replies and runs towards the castle.
"Hey wait!" Salazar shouts after the youth and runs after him smiling happily that he could improve the sombre man's mood.
The next morning Salazar is still grumbling about the prank actually working in everyone's favor since even though Rowena still prefers her normal Pudding, everyone just loves ice cream as Harry called the frozen desert that he had immediately started to dig in after it was served much to the surprised of everyone else who thought it impossible to eat until it defrosted and heating it would only make the pudding warm and none of them liked that.
The real reason behind his grumbling though is the fact that he has to leave Harry for two months. What if someone else shows up and manages to court Harry. He constantly fears that but he knows that Harry will be happy to help children. And at least he has an idea for a gift for Harry. He isn't sure if Harry intended to hint for this reason or if it was just an errant thought. Either way, he'll have to find something to remind Harry of his time. Something solid to hold on to, maybe then the young man will notice him more and actually let him court the boy.
Once they are gone Harry feels lonely. Even though Basily is around. The snake tends to fend for himself and just check in with Harry every few days with information he heard around. He likes to listen in and while he was still recovering and with Harry those first few days, he quickly learned to understand English from listening to the boy talk with others and asking what he said.
Harry has learned a lot from that. The centaur herd nearby knows about him and think that he'll leave in five years. Harry wonders if it be fair to date Salazar knowing that he'll leave. On the other side is it fair to take the experience away from either of them?
Two months pass with hardly anything noteworthy. A few half beaten or starved kids show up by port key and Harry tends to them and explains some more about the wizarding world then, whatever founder send the child, has gotten around to do. Soon they all love Harry and adore the quirky man with the strange words that likes to talk to a Snake that seems to reply to him.
Godric is the first founder to return the morning after exactly two months have past. The day after tomorrow the students that didn't need to be sent in an emergency will arrive. "Are the others back? And how are things here?"
"No one else is back yet." Harry replies with a sigh. "And there are six kids here at the moment."
"I take it you could handle them?" Godric questions.
"Easily." Harry sighs. "Did you see one of the others on the way?"
"Helga and I had arranged to meet once and I ran into my father who found a scroll about a theory of time but isn't sure if it'll help at all." He tells the younger and sees him deflate. He grins a little hopping for his brother that he'll find some happiness with the boy before he leaves which might take ages anyway.
During noon Rowena returns with a lot of books she found in a Christian house that copies them by hand and gave her permission to keep some if she copies some more for them. Some even were given without the need for a copy since they were forbidden ones about witchcraft.
She was lucky that some of the younger members were open minded and sneaked her in to do their work.
Helga arrives by dinner and by then Harry is worried and unable to eat. Instead he stays outside to wait for Salazar. The six kids that found refugee with them are already asleep and Rowena is with them while both Godric and Helga stay with Harry and wait. All of them worried by now though none as much as Harry.
Authors Note: Will Salazar return soon and healthy and will he have a good gift for Harry? Will they get together and what will it be like for Harry to be courted when he still knows very little about it and was exposed to more open and active relationships in his youth? How will Harry get back, and when? Are the Centaur right or wrong about that? Will he have learned enough about healing and curing insanity by then to cure Voldemort? Will he know enough to even find the spirit or will he have to wait? How will Ron and Hermione react should Harry return so much older and will they manage to stay friends? And why is that sword Merlin got him so special? Will he ever need a sword in his own time? And most importantly will I ever get a review?