Eclipse of Time by lilausty

by CNG25

Dumbledore is dead, Voldemort is strong, and Harry is in an abusive household. Could things get much worse? Despair grips Harry as he realises that he now has to complete his task without a guide. What magic could he possibly invoke during a full solar eclipse that could turn the tide of the war? Watch as Harry completes his final year and prepares for the war that he was born for.

24. Chapter 24 - Return to Hogwarts

Disclaimer: All charcters and world concepts are property of J.K. Rowling

Disclaimer: This is not the work of CNG25 but that of Lilausty, originally published on harrypotterfanfiction-dot-com.

Chapter 24: Return to Hogwarts

The last few days of the holidays sped by, Harry learning the basics of Occlumency while Ginny spent more time perfecting her animagus form with Rowena. Harry was not enjoying his lessons as they reminded him to much of Snape's training.

Before their first practical lesson, Salazar had sat Harry down and explained in depth how Occlumency was supposed to work and was very apologetic about the fact that Legimency would have to be used to test him, which made Harry feel a little better.

Salazar had then asked Helga if she would be the one to intrude on his thoughts, as she was almost certainly the most gentle. However, when she had (easily) broken through, the memories that she had seen of his childhood had disturbed her so badly that she refused to do so again, stating that if she was forced to see Harry being beaten every time she used Legimency, she would hunt down the Dursley's and kill them.

Knowing better than to ask the other two for help, Salazar then took the unpleasant task on himself. While certainly painful to re-live the memories over and over, Harry was consoled by the furious looks and angry mutters that Salazar gave the wall each time he pulled out of Harry's head.

However, he was learning, and had developed a kind of fog in which he hid certain memories from plain view. He had also developed an 'alert' system which informed his conscious that an attack on his mind was happening. Unfortunately, he had hit a sort of wall and could not seem to increase his shields past what he had already done.

Salazar was not disheartened however, continually saying that to truly master Occlumency, one must spend years refining the shields and that Harry was doing an acceptable job.

They were sitting in the main lounge after the last lesson before returning to Hogwarts when Ginny walked in looking slightly perturbed, "Harry?"

He turned tired eyes to her, "Yes Gin? What's up?"

"How are we going to stop my mother from pulling me out of Hogwarts once we return? I am still underage and therefore she can order me around. She is going to be furious enough at me for skipping out on her over these holidays."

Harry frowned, having not considered the issue. He turned to Salazar, "My brain is fried, can you come up with something?"

He rolled his eyes, "You're brain is fried! Mine still feels like there are too many memories in there." He sighed and looked at the somewhat stressed red head, "Honestly, no, I cannot think of anything, and I have been trying for a couple of days now. Aside from placing her under the imperious curse and getting her to leave you alone, there is not much one can do against and angry and fearful parent. One of the strongest forces in the universe I am afraid."

Ginny's eyes widened, "You mean I am going to have to leave? No! I won't do it! She cannot make me! I- I'll live in Phoenix's Nest if I have to!"

Harry pulled her onto his lap and hugged her, "Cheer up Gin, she may decide that you should stay where it is safe."

Incredulous brown eyes met exhausted green, "You are kidding aren't you?" she asked.

He shrugged but before he could answer there was a crack, "Dobby is wishing to know if Master Harry Potter wants Dobby to pack his and Miss Wheazy's trunks!"

Harry focused his eyes onto the loyal elf, "Yes please Dobby that would be very nice of you to do that."

"Right away Harry Potter sir!"

As the little elf disappeared the other three founders walked into the room, Helga frowning slightly at Harry's obvious exhaustion, "Salazar! Please tell me you didn't have an Occlumency lesson now, when Harry needs to be as alert as possible for returning to the school!"

His eyebrows rose, "Alright, I won't tell you then."

She scowled and conjured a goblet, shoving it in the black haired teen's hands, "Drink that, it'll perk you up a bit."

Nodding gratefully, Harry drank it in one gulp, trying to ignore the disgusting taste working its way into his stomach. While disgusting, the potions that Salazar kept brewed were much more potent then those of Madam Pomfrey. The effect was immediate, and Harry felt refreshed and smiled at the woman, "Cheers, Helga, I needed that."

She smiled back, "You're welcome Harry, I am just surprised he didn't give you one!" she replied, gesturing at Salazar.

He put his hands up in surrender, "Look, I forgot ok? We were talking about keeping Ginny from being taken from the school, and it slipped my mind."

Rowena snorted, "Salazar, forgetting something? Wow, that's a shock! Looks like age is catching up with him eh?"

He glared at her, "My dear lady, I am younger than you! Granted only by a couple of years, but I am still in my, well, late 30's!"

She gave a wry smile, "Very late thirties my dear Salazar, you turn 40 in what, 2 weeks?"

He shrugged, "Around that, because we are at a different time to our own, I maintain that my age is frozen until we return."

Ginny giggled, "That's probably not to far from the truth."

Harry meanwhile was looking at them with newfound respect, "You guys are still young then!"

Helga laughed, "Oh he is a charmer! You say that to a woman and she will be eating off your hand in minutes."

"No I mean it! You guys are so talented at yet you are still young, at least for magical people. You are more advanced then Dumbledore was, and he was nearing 150 years old!"

Rowena patted him on the shoulder, "Harry, you are not even 20 yet, and you yourself are almost as advanced."

He raised an eyebrow, "That is different! Firstly Voldemort transferred some of his power to me, and secondly I have been trained by you four. My level of ability is not due to my own intelligence!"

Godric laughed, "Not due to your own intelligence? Harry, if you weren't intelligent you could never have learnt what we have taught you. It would have gone in one ear and out the other! The same goes for Ginny, you both have exceptional ability which has now been cultivated. I think I can speak for everyone here when I say that the Death Eaters should be afraid of you now."

Hope flared in Harry's eyes, "Do you think I could best Voldemort then?"

Immediately sober, the founders shared a glance and Salazar answered, "No, honestly, I do not think you could match wands with him yet. You could almost certainly hold him off for a bit, but not actually defeat him. But it doesn't matter, for we are here with you, and if for some reason we cannot aid you, Ginny has your back, and she is formidable."

The red haired witch gave a grin and poked Harry in the ribs, "and don't you forget it!"

Harry however, was looking disappointed, "So I still have a long way to go then."

Rowena snorted, "Considering we haven't even found a single horcrux yet, I think that musing about facing Voldemort is a little premature."

Helga shook her head in disagreement, "No, for we do not know if and when they will attack. Someone is going to have to face him while the others escape."

Salazar shrugged, "Well, I am pretty sure we four can whoop his ass. Granted underestimating him could prove fatal, but if Dumbledore could match him, I think we have a fair chance. Any one of us would certainly struggle, but banding together has always served us well."

Harry interrupted, "yeah but I-"

"Yes Harry, we know that you have to face him. We have been over this! You need help and we are offering it. Do you not want us to fight him with you?" Godric sighed.

That question caught him off guard, after all, no one had actually asked him what he wanted and he hadn't thought about it. Looking at the mixture of faces surrounding him he eventually nodded, "Yes, I do. I don't think I could best Voldemort in a duel, but I refuse to dam the world because I was too stubborn to ask for help."

Rowena laughed, "Oh keep your pride Harry. You aren't asking, we are offering!"

Helga nodded in agreement, "Besides, I still have a bone to pick with that bitch that calls herself his lieutenant."

Harry smirked, "You mean Bellatrix?"

"Yes, I am most looking forward to seeing her again. She is going to regret ever threatening you!" Helga growled.

Shocked that that was the reason why she hated the evil witch Harry's eyebrows rose. Rowena giggled, "Helga is extremely protective of those she loves. You are like another son to her, well, to the rest of us as well though Salazar would never admit it. Anyway, the day Bellatrix threatened you in front of her was the day she wrote her own death warrant. Helga won't stop until she is six feet under."

The male founders nodded in agreement and Ginny giggled, "Remind me never to threaten Harry in your hearing then!"

The female founder smiled at the red haired teen, "Oh Ginny dear that is different. Being his love it is your right to threaten his life every time you see fit."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Oh thanks! And here was me thinking I had a protector from everything!"

Ginny's head suddenly shot up, "Hang on a sec." she faced Rowena, "You said she loves Harry like another son, as in she already has one?"

Rowena looked confused for a second before her face cleared, "Oh of course, you don't know do you! All of us have families back in our own time."

Ginny was obviously shocked and Godric laughed, "It shouldn't be that much of a surprise, after all, Harry is descended from all of us. We were all betrothed to people by the time we were 10, and married by 21."

"So you all have kids?" she asked, amazed.

Salazar nodded, "Indeed, and it would seem that some betrothal contracts will need to be written between us if history is to play out the way it should!"

Harry looked alarmed, "But what if you get the wrong children together?"

Rowena patted him on the arm, "Not to worry, we found the tree you were talking about. We now know who marries who, and won't mix it up. Although I must say I was surprised when I found out that Isobel of all people would marry Adam."

Ginny looked even more confused, "But, if it is a betrothal, wouldn't they have no choice in the matter?"

Salazar looked insulted, "My dear Gin, do you think we would force our children to marry someone they detested? No, we draw up the betrothal and then at age 16 the children decide if they wish to honour it."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "That sounds quite different to the way the muggles arranged betrothals. The father made all the decisions and the children had to obey whether they liked it or not!"

Godric smirked, "Well, I like to think we are a little more progressed than the muggles of our time."

"Do you miss them much?" Ginny asked softly.

Helga smiled sadly, "Of course we do. But even at home we are often away for lengthy periods of time, both for school and the war. Besides, we are counting on the fact that we will be returned at the same moment we left, that way they won't think we ever were gone."

Harry looked at his watch and nearly jumped, "Eek, we really need to get going or else Ginny and I are going to miss the feast. Not that I would mind, but if we don't turn up McGonagall will absolutely flip, plus I want to hear her speech. I have no doubt she will be lying out some pretty tough rules."

The others agreed and after a hasty goodbye to the elves of the castle, returned through the portal to Phoenix's Nest.

Ginny turned to the founders, "Are you going to listen in at the feast or just stop here?"

Godric grinned, "'course we are going to listen. I want to hear the outcry's of disgust from the student body when she tries to ban the DA!"

Ginny sighed, "You think it'll go that far then?"

Salazar nodded, "Beyond any doubt. The DA is outside of her control and she won't like that, particularly now she knows where Harry stands."

"And not being able to track my movements within the castle has got to be bugging her enough." Harry agreed. He stood up and held out his hand for Ginny, "Alright, well, we'll see you later then. Come on Gin, let's go face the music that we started!"

Running out of the Nest, they made their way quickly to the Great Hall, where most of the students were just walking in. Quickly spotting Neville, they made their way over and greeted him enthusiastically, receiving one in return.

"Hey you two! Its good to see you, especially considering the last time was in the middle of a battle. I wish you could have told me before you disappeared, nearly gave me and Luna a heart-attack!" He said, nudging Harry slightly.

Harry grinned apologetically, "Sorry 'bout that, but McGonagall rode our backs pretty badly and we felt it was better if we just left then try and fight our way out."

Neville looked sad, "I guess she doesn't agree with your methods? I mean about the killing and everything?"

Harry winced, looking around at the table to see if anyone had heard, "We probably shouldn't discuss it here Nev, but no, suffice to say as Dumbledore once stated, a parting of the ways has occurred, and I think tonight will prove to be interesting to say the least."

Neville looked confused, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Let's just say we don't expect McGonagall's welcoming speech to be all that welcoming." Ginny explained, "We think she is going to be clamping down pretty hard on the student body, to try and exercise a bit more control."

"What? Like Umbridge?" Neville asked, looking horrified.

"Oh I doubt very much that she will torture the students. She has too good a heart for that. But she can still make life quite difficult, especially for me and Ginny. In fact, we are unsure how long Ginny will be with us if her mother has any say in the matter."

Ginny glowered, "And I have said, I am not going to go!"

"But we aren't going to just roll over to her are we?" Neville asked.

Harry just grinned and winked causing the other Gryffindor to sigh with relief. A clearing of a throat marked the entrance of Hermione and Ron, the latter looking stonily at Harry and his sister.

A tense silence occurred until Harry sighed and asked, "Hi you two, did you have a good Christmas?"

Ron snorted, "Oh yeah, between the Ministry being attacked and Grimmauld Place being over run, yeah, it was bloody-fantastic. But of course you wouldn't know any of that would you? Not since you ran away!"

"Ron!" Hermione hissed, "Not here, please! You promised me."

Her pleas obviously reached him and he huffed and plonked down. Neville looked completely flayed by Ron's obvious hostility but didn't say anything. Ginny meanwhile bristled, "Of course we knew. How could we not when Harry owns Grimmauld Place?"

Hermione looked startled, "How did you find out?"

Harry sighed, "Fawkes kept us updated on everything that was happening, particularly the situation at the Ministry."

Ron scowled, "I didn't see him anywhere."

Harry smiled gently, "He can choose to remain unseen by human eyes. Quite a useful talent, and it makes him a brilliant spy."

"So you were spying on us then!" Ron spat.

Harry shrugged, "If that is what you want to call it then. Personally I would think it would be better termed as keeping an eye on my family."

"Family? Since when are we your family!" Ron glared.

"Since I realised that I loved your sister, if not before. We may have our differences Ron, but that has not changed my feelings about you and your family. The same goes for Hermione." Harry explained patiently.

The bushy haired witch's eyes filled with tears and she flung her arms around him, "Oh Harry, I am glad that you do not hate me! I couldn't bear to lose you! You are my brother."

He patted her on the back gently, "of course I do not hate you Herm. After everything we have been through in our lives, how could I?"

She looked him in the eyes, "I-I need to talk to you sometime tonight. I had a long conversation with Remus and the holidays gave me a chance to think about what you said. I am not saying I agree with it, yet, but I am willing to listen to your reasoning."

Harry grinned brightly at her, "Oh Herm, that means more to me then you could ever understand. I honestly do not care if you disagree with my techniques, but the fact that you are willing to listen is more important."

Ginny meanwhile was looking at her brother, "Ron? Are you of the same opinion? Or are you still being your pigheaded self?"

He glared at her, "Harry may have to kill, but I don't understand why you do as well. You are my baby sister, you should not have to do this."

She snorted, "Ron, I don't have to. I am doing this because I want to, because I love Harry and I have suffered just as much as anyone here. Tom bloody Riddle tortured me when I was only 11 years old, and I say it is payback. He and his followers have been allowed to gain a foothold simply because there haven't been enough people willing to stand up to them. Well, I may only be a single person, but I will do my part. I only wish you could understand that I am not a little girl who needs protecting."

Ron stared at her for a second before sighing, "Whatever my views on the situation are, it doesn't really matter as it is too late. You-Know-Who must know what you did, so you are a target no matter what you do from now on."

Harry looked surprised, "That was a quick turn around."

Ron glared at him, "Oh don't think that I have forgiven you for dragging her into this."

"He didn't drag me anywhere!" Ginny protested.

"Nevertheless, you wouldn't have gotten involved if it wasn't for him. I could have kept you hidden if he chose, but he didn't and now you are in true danger." Ron replied.

Ginny sighed, "Have you not read the local paper lately Ron? We are blood traitors, we are in 'true' danger whether we support Harry or not. I choose to help because I can, and I do not care about the consequences."

Neville, who had been trying to keep the Gryffindors around them from hearing the conversation cleared his throat, "Um, McGonagall is about to start her speech."

Harry looked up and was immediately aware of a pair of furious eyes locked on his own. McGonagall had obviously not lightened her opinion over the holidays, and he knew straight away that all hell was about to break loose at Hogwarts.