Authors Note: Thanks for the support and reviews.
Lost in time
Chapter 3
It is closer to sunrise then sunset when they finally hear the crack from apparation and turn as one to see Salazar. "Help" The new arrival says and falls forward with a child in his arms. Harry an Godric are there in a moment and Harry just about manages to catch Salazar while Godric grabs the child that fell and picks him up.
"Take care of Sal. I'll take the child." Godric orders hectic and carries the child into the castle.
Harry picks up the slightly older man happy that he got some muscle from the muggle defense training he got and carries him into an empty room. Once inside he transfigures the first thing he sees into a bed and places the man onto it as gentle as he can and starts to heal him. He's got sever burns and Harry isn't sure if he can heal all without scaring but hardly cares for that since he even fears that Salazar might not make it through the rest of the night.
He works frantically and is glad to always carry healing potions and that Godric and Merlin insisted that a good defense master has to be an even better healer to make sure that he and his comrades stay in fighting condition. It's close to sunrise when Salazar opens his eyes and holds out a hand and lifts it towards Harry before opening it. In the hand is a Medallion with a Owl sitting on an hourglass and Harry has to smile before opening it and seeing a picture inside. A picture of a weasel in a book. There even is a tiny worm eating through the book and Harry has to grin at the memory of explaining a bookworm to Sal and he looks up and smiles towards Sal before he whispers "Remind me to explain what dating means." After that he gives Salazar a little kiss on his lips before he whispers "And now rest a little my love, and know that I'm only yours."
Harry spells him asleep to make sure that the man rests before he continues to heal some of the more minor wounds. He's still working on those when Godric enters the room asking "How is my little brother?"
"He'll make it." Harry replies a little more calm and sounding exhausted. "He might keep some scars, though I'll try to keep it to a minimum. Any tip for the one in his face?"
Half of Salazar's face is badly burned. It's healing nicely with the burn balm and the spells Harry used before that but he fears there will be scares. Godric sighs before he says, "I assume his chances to win you are decreasing?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Harry chides him. "I don't care about a scar or two especially not when it only makes him look fierce which I like. The most important thing is how someone is on the inside and look what he got me. He had it in his hand and held it out for me when he woke up for a moment."
Harry shows him the medallion and Godric looks at it inside and out. "Why is there a worm in a book?"
"Hermione." Harry replies, "I once told him that she's as much of a book worm as Rowena. He didn't get what I meant but when someone reads a lot we call them a book worm. It's partly an insult really but I do find it endearing about her."
"I get the weasel since you mentioned your friend Ron and that other boy always calling each other names and that Ron was insulted with that one right?" Godric says and after confirming nod he adds, "I also get the hourglass, but the owl?"
"That's because of Hedwig." Harry tells him. "She was mine, a snow owl, she even looked just like the one on that medallion. I miss her a lot and mentioned her to Sal the day before you left and that I wish I could draw so I could draw them and have something more solid to remind me of my friends."
"I take it you're going to accept this?" Godric asks. "Did you decide whom you'll introduce as family and he'll have to ask for a courtship request?"
"No one." Harry tells him. "Even though you're all like family to me by now. After all I've been living with you guys for about 5 years now. But I want to choose whom I'll be with. I know this time is different and don't worry, I won't start kissing him in front of you." Harry chuckles seeing him blush again, "But I'll be the only one he'll have to ask for anything to get me. It's my choice and no one else has any right to interfere."
"If you say so." Godric replies. "We sill need to organize some things."
"I know." Harry sighs, "But first, whats with the child that was with him?"
"The boy is about 2 and too young to stay here and learn but Helga knows some people that might take him in and contacted them already. They are good people and wanted to have a child for years but never managed to conceive one and aren't all that sure if they have the time for an infant. They did ask around their friends before, if they knew of a child in a similar situation because they wanted to take such a child in. They might already have found one and be unwilling to take in more but we'll find some other family then."
"So he wasn't to badly hurt?" Harry asks glad that he won't have any bad news for Sal.
"Some minor things." Godric replies. "He was under a sleeping spell and I assume it was Sal's doing. But now, the kids are arriving tomorrow, those that will be Sal's responsibility will as well."
"He won't be up for it for at least a week." Harry says, "Possibly longer."
"I understand and assumed as much." Godric replies. "Helga, Rowena and I already talked about it. We'll divide them between the tree of us until Salazar is feeling better that way you're also free to care for him. Tomorrow we'll show the kids around the castle and the area and just give them some time to get used to their new surrounding and get to know each other. After that classes will start as planned with the exception of all the lessons you two would teach which will be canceled until such a time that you feel able to start them or think him well enough to do his. The children can use that time to get to know each other better."
"The lessons we two would teach?" Harry questions. "You never mentioned that I'll be teaching."
"I guess Sal got sidetracked. He was supposed to ask you and let us know if you aren't willing to teach magical defense." Godric says with an eye roll, he had noticed that Salazar tended to forget things as soon as he started to talk to Harry.
"Don't you think I'm too young?" Harry asks. "I'm just 17."
"Nearly 18." Godric replies.
"Which is the same as the nearly 13 that you pointed out when I was still 12. And anyway, I just got 17." Harry grins.
"Touche." Godric laughs. "I still think you'll be fine. Most of the time you act older and I'm sure that you can handle any situation in a class room. You are also the best in a duel of all of us. Also, we decided on 9 subjects for the start with you taking one it would leave two for each of us."
"Fine." Harry replies with a sigh. "What will Sal be teaching and the rest of you?"
"Sal will teach spell-work, a combination of what you told us will be Charms and Transfiguration. He'll also teach Magical Creatures, where to find them and how to care for them. We'll leave the defense against them out since we thought it more fitting to your subject area." Godric starts to explain. "Helga will teach muggle defense to help the kids blend in when they leave here and healing."
"Which they are sure to need after her muggle defense class." Harry mumbles knowing that while not being the best of their group her healing abilities are adequate enough to teach the basics enough that students that are very talented can read up the rest with books.
"Rowena will teach definition for those interested in it and gifted in the art as well as history." Godric goes on.
"I take it you'll teach potions and Herbology?" Harry questions.
"Of course," Godric replies, "I have to ensure that the best potion students know how to grow the main ingredients, I have no idea how people can call themselves potion masters when they don't know the first thing around a normal muggle garden never mind a magical one. Anyway, will you take the position?"
"I guess." Harry sighs before looking still a little worried towards Salazar. "It might even be fun to work with him."
"He'll be fine." Godric insists. "You said so yourself and you're the best healer of us."
"I know." Harry says with yet another sigh, "I'm just not sure if it's fair to do this when I know I'll have to leave him again."
"I'd say you have a point." Godric agrees, "But there is one thing that is dreadfully wrong with your logic."
"And what would that be?" Harry questions watching Salazar's face the whole time.
"He knows that you'll leave just as certain as you do and he loves you very much." Godric replies, "He knows as much about the situation as you. Why is it so hard to believe that he wants to make the most of what time you two have, just like you do. But for now, I'll leave you to care for my little brother. I know no one would or could do more for him then you Harry."
"I just wish Merlin was here." Harry whispers. "He might be able to do more."
"He taught you everything he knows about it." Godric tells him. "What should he be able to do?"
"I don't know." Harry says sighing again. "But he's Marlin. He's so much more powerful then I am."
"You defeated him in your last duel with him." Godric points out.
"That was luck." Harry says, "Or he let me win or something. I'm not that powerful and not special at all."
Godric just smiles sadly towards the young man and says, "I still wish I could repay that Uncle of yours for the way he treated you. Trust me Harry, you are more powerful then you believe."
Harry just shrugs and sits next to Salazar feeling helpless. Most of the wounds are either healed or healing and all he can do for the moment is wait for the other man to wake up again. The potions and spells probably will keep him resting for about a day.
Harry stays with Salazar the whole day not even touching his food and just stating that he doesn't feel hungry. All of the other founders stop by occasionally and during dinner Godric is there and tries to talk Harry into eating something, with no success. Later that night when Godric is already gone to prepare for the next day and maybe already for his first class the day after. Harry's exhaustion finally wins over and he falls asleep in the chair next to Salazar's bed.
The first ray of the sun wake him up to find an empty bed. Harry jumps up and looks around frantically and terrified until he sees Salazar standing in front of a mirror. "Why in the bloody hell are you out of bed you moron?"
Salazar turns around, and looks sadly towards Harry before slowly moving back to the bad. Seeing a slight limp Harry quickly walks up to him and tries to support the man but Salazar pushes Harry's helpful hand away saying, "Don't touch me. I look like a monster."
"Stop being a drama queen." Harry orders and grabs the man, ignoring the weak attempts to avoid it. "Get back to bed you idiot and stop freaking out over a few little scars. If you really hate them that much I promise that I'll find a way to heal it eventually but I honestly don't see the problem."
"I can't stop being a drama queen since I have no idea what that is." Salazar grumbles sitting back down on the bed. Harry helps him to settle back on the bed with his legs up but in a nearly sitting position. "And the problem is that I look like a monster."
"You are just like Godric he also said that you'll have less chances to get me." Harry says with a grin and notices the mans hand move to his lips and he blushes. Harry is nearly sure that he heard the man mumble something about a dream but it is to quiet to be sure so Harry just smiles at him and says, "I really don't see why he should think that, the scar makes you look fierce. Like you battle dragons just for fun. I really like it."
"You don't have to lie to me." Salazar grumbles.
"I don't you moron." Harry tells him. "And I still have to thank you properly for the beautiful gift you brought back for me."
"You mean..." Salazar mumbles, "You really accept it?"
"Do you remember that I told you, to remind me, to explain dating to you right?" Harry says and sees the other mans eyes widen in surprise while his cheeks color and Harry knows that he must remember the whole thing including the kiss. "Dating is what we do in my time instead of courtships. So if I want to date someone I just start doing things with them, or rather asking them to do them with me. Like asking them to go outside for a walk like we did a few times. And then I'll let them know that I love them. Either by saying I love you or calling them my love. I think I did that too even though you were a little out of it at the time. Anyway, if the person in this case you, shows me that they return those feelings, like by giving a very thoughtful gift or returning those words, then I'd be dating that person, as I said in this case you. Oh and there is another big change to courtship then how the whole thing starts. In my time people are really fond of kissing the person they date." After having said that Harry leans in closer and kisses him again.
Nearly two years have past since Harry started to date Sal and by now he's used to teaching and enjoys it greatly. Just like he loves to date Salazar and kiss him whenever no one is around. Sal also seems to like it a lot even though he never tries to go further and Harry wonders sometimes if he could but never dared to. He's still 18 when Salazar starts to ask him constantly who he'd have picked to be asked for a courtship request and Harry wonders why he want's to know but Sal just refuses to tell him and just says that he's curious when Harry asks about it.
After nearly six weeks of that Harry is thoroughly fed up with it and makes sure to find Godric when he should be alone. Once he finds Godric some afternoon outside in the gardens he walks up to him. "Hey Godric." Harry replies, "How are things with you and Helga?" Harry asks mostly to be polite. Godric and Helga have married just two month ago and Helga Hufflepuff is now Helga Gryffindor leaving Harry to wonder how that got lost in History.
"Great actually." Godric replies and notices the sour look on Harry's face. "And what is it that brings you out to find me?"
Unwilling to pretend that it's otherwise and knowing that he won't be able to fool Godric even if he tried Harry just asks, "Why does Sal want to know who he would have had to ask for a courtship if I hadn't insisted on dating instead?"
Godric blushes a little. So far, even though Harry has been very good and refrained from kissing publicly, he has hinted discreetly towards Godric that privately that was another matter on several occasions. He really enjoys making the older man blush so easily. "He wants to marry you." Godric replies, "And since there is no father to ask for permission he'll have to ask the same person that replaced him during the courtship. I know that he already told father about his intention and has his blessing to try."
This time Harry blushes and mumbles, "But I'm just 18."
"That is the average age for marriage." Godric tells him "Helga and I were rather late and Rowena, well I doubt she'll ever marry."
"Well in my time people don't marry with 18 unless they're knocked up." Harry points out.
"And what would that mean?" Godric asks.
Harry just grins certain that he might get to see the brightest red on Godric's face yet and says, "Pregnant of course or did you think that we stay virgins while dating in my time?" With a pleased smile Harry notices that he was right. Godric's face is positively glowing and Harry adds in a chuckle "Don't worry, I know this time is different and didn't do anything untoward to your baby brother."
The glare Godric sends the younger man just makes Harry chuckle until Godric replies, "Then just don't answer his question until your ready because he will ask for permission to marry you and he will get it no matter who of us he'll ask. So you better be prepared for the question when you answer this one."
"Oh I'll answer it for him." Harry grumbles and walks of to find his boyfriend. He finds him with Rowena in the new library and just says, "Sal, we need to talk NOW."
"It doesn't sound like he's in the mood for pudding." Rowena sighs, "What a pity."
Salazar walks over to him and towards a more quiet corner for now and asks, "What's wrong love?"
"What's wrong is that Godric told me why you pester me about whom to ask." Harry grumbles. "If you want to marry me, ask me and no one else. I didn't like the thought of anyone giving permission for a courtship what makes you think marriage is any different?"
"You mean it?" Salazar asks, "I mean, you wouldn't tell me if you'd say no when I ask would you?"
Harry sighs and eyes Rowena who's looking into a book as usual and since no one else is around he quickly sneaks a kiss from his boyfriend and says, "Normally, I think I'm too young but, I really love you. And I really want you."
"In that case I have to think of something romantic." Salazar mumbles.
"Just ask me now." Harry tells him with a grin. "I bet you already have a ring and all and I want to see it."
Salazar just grins and takes out a little box from his robe and opens it asking, "Will you marry me?"
"Of course." Harry replies and steals another kiss before letting Salazar put the ring on his finger.
"Congratulation." Rowena replies without looking up. "I hope you'll serve pudding on your wedding."
Harry just rolls his eyes and then walks with Salazar towards Godric to let him know about it. And of course makes sure that there is pudding at the reception. Merlin is also there and doing the ceremony for them much to Harry's pleasure.
Another year passes in which Harry is teaching and learning as well. Scrolls and books are sent to them by most parents of the children. Clearly with the intention that the children will be taught those spells and some of them the founders didn't know. Harry learns a lot about time and the magic surrounding it and protecting the time line. As it turns out, Dumbledore had been wrong. It wasn't love that had saved Harry. Not that he is still surprised. Many mothers must have died to protect their children and non of those ever had any protection that could stop an Avada Kedavra. What really saved him was time magic. At least that's what Harry assumes. Harry went back in time and was part of the reason the school was created. He's changed the time line's natural flow and since time is protected by magic, whether it has magic itself or is protected by magic surrounding it Harry isn't sure of but to keep the line the way Harry knows it is in his own time, he couldn't die before he went back. It also explains why Harry sometimes after or during a really bad beating from his Uncle felt a rush of magic healing him at least partly. It seams Vernon and Petunia would have killed him otherwise many times over.
Harry is in his bed next to Salazar reading a new book that came in that morning and is about soul magic when he fells Salazar's back tighten next to him and he moves with a groan. "My back's sore." Salazar mumbles whiny as usual about any little ache, "Can I have a pain potion?"
"Sure." Harry mumbles and pulls his wand without removing his eyes from the page. He moves his wand for a diagnostic spell just to make sure that it's nothing else then the usual sore back due to a wrong move or something like that. He eyes the spells result quickly and already summons the potion before looking at the result again just now noticing what he saw a moment ago. The result is already gone and Harry recasts the spell staring at the result until it is gone again.
He's just about to recast it when Salazar asks, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Harry replies, "Just one more time." Harry does the spell a third time and then sends the potion back where it came from before summoning another one.
"Okay, now I know that something is wrong." Salazar replies with a frown. "Tell me what's going on."
"We have to get a message to Merlin." Harry replies with a grin. "He should know that he's going to be a granddad."
"Didn't know that Helga's pregnant." Salazar replies "And now stop to change the topic, why the change of potion?"
"Helga isn't pregnant." Harry replies grinning like a loon. He had learned while he studied healing a few years ago that powerful wizards could have a child with each other but only if they were both far above average. Normally a potion would be needed and a strict regiment of further potions to support the pregnancy. Since they hadn't planned a child knowing that Harry would have to abandon it he hadn't wanted one but now he still feels happy about it and grins like a loon when he says, "And I didn't change the topic."
Salazar stares at him for a moment before he sits up and says, "Not possible. I didn't take any potions."
"I know." Harry insists, "But the spell said the same every time. You're pregnant. Maybe it's this time protecting itself that I mentioned before I told you that this Tom fella was supposed to be your heir and that Basily hinted he is mine instead which fits the snake language but maybe he's both of our heir. I hadn't even thought about that until now."
"You mean," Salazar asks smiling more brightly then ever before. "We'll have a baby?"
"Yeah." Harry grins, "Like I said, we should let your dad know and Godric and the others and everyone and I'll be a father soon." Harry hardly can imagine going back into his own time by now and just tries to ignore the thought and prays that the centaur were wrong about the time when he'll leave. After all, it's not that much longer until then.
The next month go past in a blur to Harry. The pregnancy goes without any problems and they have a beautiful little boy they name after Harry's father and Salazars grandfather. James Balthazar Slytherin. Harry still reads a lot to be prepared in case he has to return to his own time in a rush but once he finds a ceremony that could get him back he refuses to even mention it to the others. After all he still isn't sure about how Tom got crazy even though he found out about being a Horocrux himself the day he found out Salazar was pregnant. The summer while Salazar is pregnant Sal stays behind when the others go to find more children for their school as well even though this time they are looking for more teachers as well.
There hadn't been any problems during the last years apart from Sal's first return but the year after his son is born, Salazar is going again and James stays with Harry and about 12 other kids in the castle. Some of them old enough to mind the younger ones and give Harry a hand with James should he need it too. Harry is still looking through the books and has many ideas about how Tom could have gotten crazy and how to heal it for everyone of those possible causes but he has no idea for sure nor how to find out. He tried to find out with the soul piece in himself. Since the Tom from the diary was still crazy, it must at least effect a soul. But he hasn't gotten worse unlike the real one so it appears reasonable to assume the cause to be in the body and only having imprinted on the soul.
Harry still has no idea what to do and knows that according to the centaurs that are still talking about it, it might be time for him to return any day now. He's 22 by now and even though he just turned 22 a few weeks before, that was the case when he was 17 and first heard their assumption about him leaving in 5 years too. Meaning that five years have come and gone. Every founder already has a painting made and while it moves already it won't speak until they are dead. The on of Sal is down in the chamber he build for Basily who already likes to go down and explore and dig through the earth which seems to be something a Basilisk is very able to do. The others still have them around and will leave them in a different hiding space later, one they already told Harry about so he can find and reunite them later. The others will float not touching the wall to make sure that they can't go into other paintings and Sal's can't get out of the chamber since it is technically not part of the castle.
A week before the others planned to return Harry hears an alarm indicating that a port key came. He assumes another child to have been send as still happens every summer they go to look for children. Harry runs to meet the child in the headmasters office where the port key should go and stares at what he finds. A sobbing Godric with a bloody body in his arms. The size is too big to be a child and the body doesn't move. Not even to breath. Harry hardly dares to walk closer to see the face that is covered by Godric. But after one steadying breath he does walk around and is glad that James is in his bed and doesn't hear the scream coming from his own lungs before he can stop himself. Godric turns to look at him and Harry just runs towards Salazar trying to use healing spells over and over again until Godric pulls him out of the room leaving the dead body of Harry's husband behind.
It takes a while before Harry calms enough to ask, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure. I got a patrons massage from him asking for help and where he was but I couldn't get there right away because I didn't know the area and had to apparate a good bit away. By the time I got there he was already dead. They wanted to burn him too." Godric replies. "There was a dead child too and I just saw them throwing the smaller body into the already burning flames first. It was a christian house that wasn't vary tolerable to magic. They called me a demon for using it. I don't know how they defeated him."
Harry takes a big breath and then says as calmly as he can, "Message the others to return as soon as possible and prepare the funeral please. You should also ask Merlin if he an take over for Sal and me. I have other things to do now. And ask Helga to take care of James for me when she returns."
"Where are you going Harry?" Godric just asks. "You can't just leave your son."
"I have to." Harry replies, "We knew that I would leave and it has to be soon now. There were hints that point to it, I didn't want to understand them or believe them, but the longer I wait now, the harder it will be to leave my baby boy. Please Godric, promise me that he'll never know what it was like for me with my Uncle."
"Of course Harry." Godric promises with a somber face, "I swear to you that he'll be loved."
"Thank you Godric." Harry mumbles with a tear running down his face. "I have to prepare everything."
"Will I see you before you leave?" Godric asks.
Harry sighs again and then nods, "I'll leave after the funeral."
The next few days Harry avoids everyone but James. He tries to have his son around him as much as he can and make those few days last a lifetime. Once Harry is in his own time, his son will be long gone.
The funeral is two days after Salazar's death and Harry just stands there not even crying. He feels like his heart died with his husband. Right after the ceremony Harry walks up to Helga and holds out his son assuming that Godric told them that he's leaving. "You don't have to go now." Helga tells him, "Just a few more days until you recovered."
"I can't Helga." Harry replies, "It's already so hard to leave my little James, but he has to stay." After that Harry gives his son one last look before he turns to Godric, "Don't forget your promise."
"Never Harry." Godric says and his tone shows that he considers it an insult to have that doubted, "I'll love him like my own son and make sure he'll knows that you two loved him more then life itself and that leaving him was one of the hardest things you did."
"The hardest Godric." Harry sighs, "Trust me, it's the hardest thing I ever did." After that he just turns and runs into the castle and down towards the chamber to start the ceremony. Now that everything is prepared it doesn't take long until everything goes dark again.
Authors Note: I hope you're not to disappointed that the past part is gone so fast but as I mentioned I skipped over a few years and mostly in the past because most things there were pretty straight forward while Harry will have to deal with a lot more now that he returned. Like how will he save Tom and will others be able to forgive him and believe that he wasn't exactly himself. And who was responsible for his insanity and why did he do it? Is Tom the only one or were more affected in a similar way? Will Harry get over the loss of his friends and love in the past? Or will he stay a widower at the age of 22? How long will it take him to get over his lost love from the past? Will he have another child? How will Dumbledore react seeing him again and how will his friends? How will people react that the Basilisk that turned Hermione to stone and killed Myrtle is his? This and a lot more is still to come.