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batsutousaiTitle: Gelosaþ in Écnesse
Chapter: 7 of 18
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: Teen
Pairings: Harry/Salazar, Harry/OFC (Original Female Character)
Warnings: OCs, OoC, original character death, minor cliché-age, homophobia, racist actions and slurs (from secondary character), time travel
Summary: Caught in the backlash of Voldemort's Killing Curse, Harry is thrown through time to a world so very different from his own.
A/N: Okay, you know what, NO. FUCK YOU ALL, NO. It is a damn good thing I already finished this fic, because the slew of anti-Ramona hatred I got last chapter – most of which I woke up to, you assholes – would have made me throw up my hands and walk away. And I am completely unapologetic about the nasty response some of you got back from me.
Let me make this perfectly clear: I like Ramona. She is my OC and I made her with the intention of keeping her around. She is epic. She is important in so many ways to this fic.
Any further bitching about Ramona may or may not get a bitchy response, depending on how done I am with everyone at that point, but will absolutely get blocked, if that's possible at whichever site you're bitching on. I am not going to sit here and listen to your anti-het, misogyny-bred bitching. You can take that shit and shove it up your assholes where it bloody well belongs.
In other news...
I should probably make a warning for some pretty insane Salazar angst. I wanted to get into his head a bit, and then I did. And his story isn't happy. And then I sort of read it back over and wanted to cuddle him SO BAD. OMG, SALAZAR! I'M SORRY!! *wibble*
Heart Worth Breaking
-0-0-
Harry thought courting was a lot like being really good friends, except with a lot more holding hands and the occasional kiss on the cheek. (Okay, there'd been one kiss on the lips, but their noses had banged together and they ended up breaking apart to laugh.) Harry still whittled her the occasional badger while they relaxed by the lake – as well as a few birds, at her request – and they continued to sit together at meals and while they were doing their morning reading. They also had a friendly rivalry, being the only two students over the summer who used knives; Ramona was more comfortable with her knives, having wielded them longer, but Harry was faster and had better aim at greater distances.
About a week after Harry and Ramona were officially a couple, while they were heading in to the Great Hall a little early for dinner, they found Godric and Helga in the most intense argument Harry had seen between any of the Founders:
"You'd put the children at risk for some...some monster?" Godric snarled.
"Godric, maybe–" Bernia tried but he waved a silencing hand at her.
Helga's eyes narrowed and Harry recognised the look in her eyes from the same one Ramona had sported just before she'd smacked him. "No child," she said in a quiet voice, "deserves to be called a 'monster', Godric."
"It's not a proper child," Godric snarled.
"Who are they talking about?" Harry whispered to Ramona. The girl just shook her head, watching the unfolding row with the same mix of horror and interest that someone of Harry's time would stare at a nasty accident on the motorway.
"She is very much a normal child, no matter her curse," Helga insisted. "You can't go around refusing her humanity just because–"
"Because it turns into a blood thirsty monster once a month?" Godric finished, disgusted.
"Oh," Harry breathed, connecting the dots. He gave Ramona's hand in his a squeeze, then let go to move forward; if the Founders trusted him to keep an eye on and protect the younger children, they trusted him enough to let him have his say, as far as he was concerned. "Are you fighting over a werewolf?" he asked.
"Harry," Ramona tried, reaching out to stop him.
"They're vile creature–" Godric started.
"My uncle is – was – a werewolf," Harry snapped, thinking of Lupin. Maybe 'uncle' wasn't quite the word he'd use for his parents' friend and his ex-professor, but it was the word that would get through Godric's disgust quickest.
There was a moment's silence as everyone stared at Harry's frown. Godric finally broke it to say, "I'm sure there are some werewolves who can be trusted–"
"Like this child you're vilifying?" Harry wondered coolly and Godric's jaw clenched. The teen sighed and glanced over his shoulder at where Rowena's Christian-based calendar was tacked to the wall next to the doors. "We've got, what, thirty days until the students are due?" he asked.
"Thirty-one," Rowena corrected.
"Thirty-one days, then," Harry allowed. "Assuming her pack is okay with it, let her come a bit early. Let her stay until the other students get here and see how she is with the rest of us."
"And the full moon?" Godric demanded.
Harry paused for a moment, then said, with care, "My uncle was always locked in a cage for the full moon, strengthened with magic to keep him in. My godfather and Dad were both animagi, and they said he was always calmer if they spent the night next to his cage." Okay, not the complete truth, but close enough for this time period. "We can ward one of the dungeon rooms and put her in there; she'll have room to run around and there won't be a chance of her hurting anyone." 'Except herself,' Harry thought and fought back a wince.
"This sounds like a fair solution," Rowena commented, nodding to Harry before looking between Helga and Godric. "Do both of you agree?"
"Yes," Helga breathed, clearly relieved.
"Very well," Godric acquiesced grudgingly, knowing when he'd lost.
"Good. Helga, why don't you go back to this pack after dinner and invite this girl for the rest of the holiday?" Rowena suggested.
"I'll go now, if it's all the same," Helga replied, smiling. "Her pack doesn't have much in the way of food, and I can't refuse her a good meal because I was hungry."
"Of course."
Helga stopped next to Harry as she made to leave the Great Hall and drew him into a quick hug. "Thank you," she breathed in his ear before rushing past him.
Ramona came up at Harry's side as her mother slipped through the doors of the Great Hall and past the other children that had congregated there, watching the drama unfold with wide eyes. "You're amazing," Ramona told Harry quietly and he ducked his head, embarrassed.
"I just couldn't see someone refused because of a curse they didn't ask for," Harry whispered back, thinking of Lupin, who hated for being a werewolf; Hermione, who was looked down on for having non-magical parents; the Weasleys, who were poor in a world where money mattered; and himself, a Parselmouth and Voldemort's number one target.
Ramona squeezed his hand in silent support and they all trickled over to the single table they ate at during the holiday.
They were just serving themselves when Helga returned, a girl with shaggy brown hair and oddly gold eyes following her. "Everyone, this is Wilda Wolcott," the woman announced.
There was a moment's stillness, no one quite sure how to act around the girl. Finally, Harry slipped off the bench and walked over, smiling. "I'm Harry," he said. "It's good to meet you."
Wilda blinked at him for an uncertain moment before taking his offered hand to shake, being careful of her long nails. "Hello," she whispered, voice scratchy.
"Come on over," Harry suggested, motioning with his head back towards the table, but not forcing her; he knew well the fears of rejection, having long stood in Dudley's hateful shadow.
"Okay," Wilda agreed and Harry led her over to the table.
"Hello," Ramona offered with a smile as they reached her. "I'm Ramona Hufflepuff. Here, sit." She patted what had been Harry's seat, smile widening when the other girl slid into the spot. Harry settled in on Wilda's other side without complaint.
"I'm Conrad Hufflepuff!" Conrad said from his sister's other side as Helga took the open space between her son and husband.
"And I'm Kenny Gryffindor!" Kenric announced from between his parents, not to be outdone.
Introductions went around the table, everyone relaxing in the presence of their new addition. Godric remained stiff, and when he gave his name, his tone was unfriendly, but otherwise everyone was as welcoming as they always were.
When dinner was over and everyone was rising to head for their commons for the night, Godric called, "Harry, a word?"
Harry glanced towards Ramona, who frowned, then shrugged and nodded. "One moment, Godric," he called back before slipping around Wilda and kissing Ramona's cheek. "I'll see you in the morning," he promised.
"In one piece, if you please," Ramona requested, looking uncertainly towards where Godric was waving his wife, son, and Duana on.
"I think Godric's not so foolish as to want to cross wands with Salazar and you," Harry teased, smiling. Then he looked over at Wilda. "Good night, Wilda."
"Oh! Uhm, g-good night," the girl whispered.
"I leave her in your capable hands," Harry said to Ramona, who laughed, then left them both to go over to Godric, blanking his expression as he did so. "Yes?" he asked quietly, trying not to sound hostile or defensive.
Godric pressed his mouth into a thin line. "It–She," he corrected when Harry's expression darkened, "is your new charge. Keep your eyes on her."
"What are you afraid of? That she'll suddenly turn around and start biting everyone in daylight?" Harry wondered drily. When Godric opened his mouth to snap a reply, Harry said, "I'll watch her, but not because I think she'll do anything to one of us." Then he turned. "Good night, Godric."
The next morning, Harry made a dash up to the seventh floor to summon a book on animagi from the changing room, thinking it might be nice to learn, and he wasn't too keen on forcing Wilda to spend the entire night alone every full moon. When he got into the Great Hall, Wilda was in his seat again, next to Ramona. Harry smiled at them and settled into the open spot next to the werewolf, dropping his book into the spot that Salazar would take, if the man ever showed his face again. "Good morning, ladies," he said to them both as he set about getting himself something to eat.
"Good morning, Harry," Ramona replied, smiling with a hint of relief.
"Good morning," Wilda said, looking uncertainly towards Harry.
"So, Ramona, I was thinking we could spend the day with your brother and his lot," Harry commented casually.
"Oiy! What do you mean, 'his lot'?" Duana demanded from across the table. "I'm the oldest! That makes it my lot."
"Apologies," Harry said, inclining his head. "Duana's lot, then." He glanced over at Ramona.
"That sounds fine," the eldest Hufflepuff child agreed with a smile. "Wilda, would you like to join us? Harry's not allowed to play whatever game the others get up to, but you and I certainly can."
"You're not allowed to play?" Wilda asked Harry, brow furrowed.
"He's a big cheater," Kenric declared.
"If you did more studying and less playing, you could be just as good as Harry," Bernia informed her son.
Kenric made a face, then declared, "You're only young once!"
"Exactly!" Conrad and Duana agreed loudly.
"Why study when they can simply corner me and demand I teach them the best spells in my collection?" Harry added, amused.
"Knowing you, you're only teaching them the second-best spells," Bernia commented.
"Harry would never do that!" Kenric insisted. Then he paused and looked hopefully towards Harry. "Right?"
"Correct," Harry agreed. When Kenric grinned, Harry added, "I only teach you the third-best."
"No fair!"
Wilda let out a quiet giggle, then covered her mouth, startled. Harry winked at her, smiling, and she offered a small smile in return.
Godric was difficult when they all trooped outside for their non-magical training, as Harry had expected. Thankfully, Bernia had quickly taken things in hand, ushering Wilda away from her husband and asking what sort of weapons knowledge the girl had. As luck would have it, she had training with knives, so Bernia got her a set, then set her up with Harry and Ramona, staying nearby to make sure there weren't any problems.
For their morning reading, Harry started in on the animagi book. Normally, he would be given a book to read by Salazar, but since the man had been so scarce, Harry had taken to reading whatever caught his fancy. Usually, that meant he had a book with defensive and offensive spells, but since he wanted to learn about animagi...
After lunch, the children all wandered outside and started up a game of tag. Harry hoisted himself up into a tree next to the lake that had a fairly good view, then settled in to read some more. Helena, kicked out by her mother, curled up just under Harry to read her own book.
The days continued this way for the next week, with Harry keeping one eye on the other children while he read up on animagi, going through about one book every two days.
One such day, when Helena had been talked into playing a game with the others, Harry's reading was interrupted by a dry voice commenting, "Well, Godric's in a foul mood."
Harry looked over his book and winced at the slashes in Salazar's tunic that the Founder was closing with his wand. "That might be my fault," he admitted. When Salazar raised an eyebrow at him, Harry added, "Though, to be fair, he's been pretty angry with you for leaving all the time."
"Like it's any of his business what I do with my free time," Salazar said with a sniff as he closed the last slash. "Why is Godric angry with you?"
"Mmm... Helga found a werewolf she wanted to invite to the school."
"This isn't going to end well," Salazar muttered.
Harry rolled his eyes. "We came upon them in the middle of a row about it. I sort of got involved–"
"Why?" Salazar demanded. "Shouldn't you know better than to anger Godric by now?"
"One of my parents' friends is a werewolf," Harry snapped. "He got to go to Hogwarts, why shouldn't Wilda?"
"Ah." Salazar rested against the trunk of the tree just to one side of Harry, his head on level with the teen's hip. "So you put your lot in behind Helga."
"Yes," Harry agreed, relaxing back against the trunk himself. "I made a suggestion that we give her a bit of a trial run; let her spend the next month of the holiday here and see that she's no threat to anyone."
"And the full moon?"
"Lu– Remus," Harry corrected, grimacing at the odd taste of his ex-professor's first name in his mouth, "sort of locks himself up for the full moon. I mean, there's a potion to help calm the wolf, but it's not widely available. Sirius told me he and my dad became animagi to keep L–Remus company. 'Cause the wolf was calmed by other animals being there, and he couldn't infect them while they weren't human."
"Hm." Salazar glanced over at the book resting in Harry's lap, one finger marking his place. "And you intend to follow in their steps?"
Harry shrugged. "It's not a bad skill to have, really. Sirius and Wormtail both evaded the law, back home, by being animagi, and you can listen in on all sorts of conversations as an animal."
"Only if it's an unobtrusive animal," Salazar corrected. "Being a bear, for example, wouldn't allow you much unobserved snooping."
"Let's hope I'm not a bear, then," Harry replied, flipping his book back open. "Go back to your search."
Salazar watched Harry silently for a long moment, until the teen let out a sigh and looked over at him again. "I might remain until term," the Founder commented neutrally.
Harry frowned at that. "Why the sudden change?"
Salazar's gaze flickered towards the castle. "Best not to add to Godric's wrath."
"You're worried he might do something to me?" Harry asked, his expression lightening. "Really, Salazar, I'll be fi–"
"You are remarkably capable of staying alive," Salazar interrupted drily, "but that's no reason to tempt fate. I should spend a week or so finishing the preparations in my classroom, anyway."
"Oh. Right." Harry shrugged. "Well, as you please, then. I can hardly dictate your actions." He returned to his book.
:You're far more capable of dictating my actions than you think,: Salazar hissed before pushing back against the tree trunk and making for the castle.
Harry watched the Founder leave with a faint frown, wondering what he'd meant by that. 'How can I dictate his actions?'
"Harry?" Ramona said, coming to a stop under Harry's branch.
Harry cleared his expression and smiled at her. "Hello. Something wrong?"
"No, not really," Ramona replied, looking after Salazar. "What did he want?"
"To ask why Godric's in a darker mood than usual," Harry explained, rolling his eyes. "Like Godric wouldn't have cursed him eventually for always vanishing, especially after being gone for almost two weeks this time."
Ramona smiled up at him. "Maybe now he's got it out of his system, things will calm down around here?"
"One can only hope," Harry agreed, shrugging. "At any rate, he said he's going to stick around until the students get back."
"To protect you from Godric?" Ramona guessed, tone odd.
Harry snorted. "Like I really need him hovering around. He said something about preparing his classroom." He sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice as he said, "He'll be gone again soon enough, I'm sure."
Ramona touched his leg and smiled up at him. "He might stick around for a while, you never know."
"Maybe," Harry replied, unconvinced.
Ramona shook her head, then returned to their game, leaving Harry to his reading.
Salazar and Helga had spent the day of the full moon warding one of the dungeon rooms – Harry had only insisted a little bit that they use what he knew would one day be Snape's office – and Wilda was led inside after an early, light dinner, looking rather like a condemned woman.
Before they shut her in, Helga asked, "Do you want one of us to sit outside the door? We could keep you company–"
"No," Wilda replied, quiet but firm. "You'll only enrage her. I will be fine on my own." When Helga looked upset by that, Wilda smiled and said, "But, thank you. It is...appreciated."
Once the door had closed her off, Salazar and Harry firmly ushered Helga and Ramona out of the hallway. They had just reached the end and were turning towards the staircase upstairs when there was the sound of something slamming against the door down the hall. The two Hufflepuffs froze, looking back over their shoulders.
"There's nothing you can do for her," Salazar pointed out coolly. "Staying will only cause her further difficulty."
Helga nodded and continued on, though she kept looking over her shoulder. "Maybe I could stay in your common–"
"No," Salazar said, firm. "You'll spend the night with your family, in your common, and I will bring Wilda by after the sun has risen." He glanced back at Harry and Ramona, ensuring the two were following without any fuss and refusing to look too long at Harry's arm around her shoulders.
Once everyone had settled in for their dinner, Godric cleared his throat and asked, "She's secure?"
"She's– Godr–" Helga started, tears in her eyes. Next to her, Roscoe reached an arm around her shoulders, quietly hushing her.
Salazar raised an unimpressed eyebrow at Godric, who was glowering around at the frowns directed at him. "It appears, Godric, that you are in the minority; everyone else likes Wilda. Perhaps it's time to move past your narrow-minded hatred of werewolves?"
Godric clenched his jaw and turned his focus to his food, the only person who hadn't cared to try liking their resident werewolf.
The students had come to like Wilda during the previous three weeks of playing, and the adults, while they hadn't interacted with her much, had found her to be quiet and surprisingly clever, given her lack of formal education previously. Wilda had explained that one of her pack mates had come from a fairly well-to-do family before the curse, and had taught everyone else how to read and write.
It seemed that dinner couldn't go quickly enough, everyone teetering between starting a fight with the red-haired Founder and worrying about Wilda. Finally, the house-elves snapped the table clean and everyone rose, Bernia motioning Godric out ahead of her while she gathered Kenric and Duana.
"I suppose Salazar won't let me stay with you tonight," Ramona said to Harry as they walked towards the doors of the Great Hall together.
"I'm lucky he's letting me stay down there," Harry replied drily.
Ramona let out a strained laugh. "Well, you know where I am if he kicks you out."
"So I do," Harry agreed. He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it, saying, "Good night, fair maid."
Ramona's expression lightened and she kissed his cheek. "Good night, Harry," she replied before they separated to head for their commons.
Once they were past the stairwell, Salazar commented, "I trust I won't have to drug you to make sure you behave?"
Harry shook his head. "I know how to sit on my hands and ignore the urge to check on Wilda," he replied with a quick smile. "Though I make no promises about the likelihood of me sleeping."
"We can keep each other awake, then," Salazar decided.
Once in the common, Harry slipped down the hall to his room long enough to grab a block of wood and his animagi book, then returned to curl up on one of the couches. Salazar joined him shortly after, shoving at Harry's feet. "Move."
"There's another couch, you know," Harry pointed out, but he moved his feet all the same.
"This one's more comfortable."
"You're so full of it." Harry snorted and rolled his eyes, then cracked his book open.
"Haven't you read every book on animagi, yet?" Salazar wondered.
Harry raised an eyebrow at him. "Not according to that room on the seventh floor."
Salazar snorted. "With our luck, it's stealing books from the future because it's got access to your mind."
"Possible," Harry allowed. "I've been careful about using it around other people for that reason. Figure the last thing any of us need is me dreaming up a room with a bloody motor car or whatever in it."
Salazar sighed. "I'm sure that's some future concept I cannot begin to grasp."
Harry laughed. "Motor cars? Yes. Sorry, Salazar, but I think that one's beyond even Rowena at this point."
"Good to know," Salazar decided and they fell quiet to read the books they'd both brought.
After a couple hours, Harry set his book aside and pulled out his wooden block. He stared at it for a long moment, uncertain what to make. He could make another bird for Ramona's growing collection, or a wolf for Wilda.
Salazar shifted next to him and Harry glanced over. The Founder was still reading, but he glanced towards Harry and raised an eyebrow when he found the teen watching him. "Yes?"
"Snake or phoenix?" Harry asked before he could fully consider it.
Salazar blinked. "Excuse me?"
Harry held up the block. "Snake or phoenix?" he asked again, deciding he might like to make something for the man.
Salazar blinked again. "Oh. I don't... Surprise me?" he suggested.
Harry chewed the inside of his mouth for a moment, thinking, then nodded and got to work on making a phoenix. It was hardly a real one, which is what Salazar really wanted, he was sure, but it was the thought that counted, right?
Salazar returned his attention to his book, looking up occasionally to peek at Harry's work. Having never been capable with any art other than potions, he was a little awed to watch the plain block take on the shape of a bird in flight. Eventually, he gave up reading as a bad job and shifted on the couch so he could better watch Harry work. The teen flashed him a faint smile, used to having Ramona watch him work, and continued without pausing.
When Harry finished, he held the figure up and looked it over. "Not too terrible," he decided and held it out to Salazar.
"Not too terrible?" Salazar demanded, taking the figure like he feared he might break it. "Harry, this is amazing."
Harry laughed and rubbed at the back of his head, cheeks stained a faint pink. "If you say so. Could have done better if the block was bigger. Needed more room for the tail and wings." He frowned. "It's not really to scale."
Salazar wrapped his hands around the figure, hiding it from the teen. "Like I can tell the difference," he pointed out, tone only a little bitter.
Harry's expression softened and he held out his left hand for the figure, his right flexing to call his wand. "Let me see it for a minute. I promise not to destroy it or anything," he added when Salazar narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
"I expect it back," Salazar said as he handed it over.
Harry rolled his eyes and touched his wand to the main body of the phoenix. "Coloro coccine," he murmured and the wood took on a deep crimson colour. He then touched his wand, in turns, to the tail, claws, and beak, murmuring, "Coloro aureus," turning them a glittering gold. Finally, he touched his wand to the tiny eyes, murmuring, "Coloro niger," and they shone black in the torch light. "Here," he said, handing the figure back to Salazar.
Salazar stared at the little phoenix, awed. "Thank you," he whispered past a mysterious block in his throat.
Harry smiled, touched by Salazar's honest reaction. "Of course." After watching Salazar turn the figure over in his hands a few time, Harry picked his book back up off the floor and flipped it open to where he'd left it. After a bit, Salazar left to put the phoenix in his room, then returned to the couch and his own book.
A few hours before sunrise, Harry's eyes started drooping and he realised he couldn't focus on the words of the page. He debated between calling a house-elf for some tea and taking a power nap, then decided the nap sounded the less miserable of the two options and set his book on the floor. He shifted a few times, trying to find a comfortable position, and ended up resting his head on Salazar's shoulder.
"Harry?"
"Mm."
"You're sleeping?"
"Nap," Harry agreed, voice already heavy with sleep. "S'ok?"
"Yes, it's fine," Salazar agreed quietly.
Salazar managed another ten minutes or so of attempting to read as Harry dropped into dreamland. Once the teen was breathing deeply, though, Salazar set his book to the side and shifted both himself and Harry until the younger wizard was resting against Salazar's chest, his longer legs stretched out on either side of Harry's. "This is a bad idea," he whispered to himself as he ran his fingers through Harry's hair. "I shouldn't do this to myself, I'm only going to get hurt again." But it was hard not to hold onto the teen when he had the chance, just as it had been so very impossible not to get drawn in by him.
It wasn't the first time Salazar had been drawn in by a charismatic wizard so full of life; eleven years ago, having just lost his second master to raging non-magicals and wandering, lost, Salazar had come across the slightly older Godric Gryffindor, who'd had such ideas, such plans, for the betterment of magicals everywhere. Salazar had fallen head-over-heels for him and Godric, happy to offer safety to a lonely boy, brought him home to meet his betrothed, Bernia.
Bernia hadn't been put off by Salazar's cold reaction to her, but had rather welcomed him with the same open arms as Godric, feeding him and making sure he was happy. Over the months spent in her company, Salazar came to, grudgingly, like her, in spite of his jealousy of her place at Godric's side.
Two days before Bernia and Godric's formal bonding ceremony, a couple women came into their village, clutching at each other and running from horrors they dare not speak of. Bernia and Godric welcomed them with open arms, quietly enlarging their home to fit the extra guests. Salazar thought little of them until, the day after the bonding, Godric caught the two women kissing and kicked them out, snarling about their being impure and against nature. A "symbol of the devil's treachery," he'd called them.
Salazar, already disheartened by the knowledge that Godric's heart could never be his, was further horrified to see this side of a man he thought of as his friend. Worse still was when, a few hours after kicking the women out, Godric announced a stoning and happily invited Salazar along. Salazar had refused, then packed his few things and left to the chorus of the women's screams.
He spent the next five years travelling alone, pausing and offering work where he could, but never stopping to stay anywhere long. Eventually he'd come across Helga, who spoke of starting a magical school, where everyone could have the chance to learn away from danger and without needing to make deals with local masters. Salazar had thought the idea a wonderful one and joined her and Rowena, who'd used her dowry to buy a broken-down fortress in the north. Godric, having heard about the school through a mutual friend of Helga's, agreed to come and offer his services as a master of defensive magics.
Salazar had been wary around Godric – would always be wary – and confused by the spark of attraction he still felt for a man that would see him dead if given half the chance. Salazar resigned himself to forever suffering his love in silence and swore to avoid falling for another man again; it was too dangerous and would only end with his heart broken. Again.
"I was right," Salazar whispered, closing his eyes in regret. Despite knowing that Harry couldn't stay, and the fact that the boy was his student and over a decade his junior, he'd found himself falling for the quietly charismatic boy in much the same way as he'd once fallen for Godric's loud-mouthed ideals. And Harry, like Godric, had fallen in love with a woman, not him. Never him.
Salazar's saving grace, if it could be said there was one, was that he wouldn't run into Harry again, once he was gone. He would find a way to get Harry home and they would never see each other after that, because Salazar would be long dead by the time Harry resurfaced. And maybe Salazar would be miserable for a while, once Harry was gone, as he'd been miserable when he fled Godric's home all those years ago, but he would manage. He could bury himself in his alchemy studies and watch over his students, like he should be doing now. It would work out.
Somehow.
Godric still didn't like having a werewolf at Hogwarts, but after a month's trial run with no one hurt – unless you counted the wounds Wilda had inflicted on herself during her captivity, most of which had healed away without a hint of a scarring thanks to Salazar's talents – he couldn't refuse her, not unless he wanted an uproar from his fellow Founders, their spouses, and the children who resided in the castle. With Godric's grudging agreement, Wilda was given a permanent place in the Hufflepuff dorms, sharing a wall with Ramona, who had made it her and Harry's duty to ensure Wilda was able to find her way around the castle without question and knew how to use the magical room on the seventh floor.
The returning students arrived on the last day of September, joining the group in front of the fireplace with tales of their holiday and all the fun things they did. It wasn't until they were separating to go to their tables that Nuala realised, "Where's Mavis?"
"Mavis and her family were killed by their villagers after the first harvest," Salazar informed them grimly. "We'll remember her in the common room, after lunch. For now, eat."
Lunch was quiet, none of the Houses untouched by the grim reality that one of their own was dead. They left the Hall in silence and retired to their commons. There, everyone put their things in their rooms, then joined their Heads of House in the common room and spent a few hours remembering the girl who had died.
In the Slytherin common, Harry had curled up on one of the couches between a quietly crying Nuala and a stiff Morgan, pain sharp in his eyes. Fane and Vail sat together on the other couch while Salazar brought a chair over from the table to sit on. Their time together lasted longer than the other Houses, as they'd known her best. Harry admitted to making a figurine for Mavis, and Morgan had looked over and requested to see it.
Once Harry had summoned it and handed it over, Morgan stared at it for a moment, then asked, "Can I keep this for a couple days? I'd like to paint something for her, but I need something to base it on."
Harry, remembering a painting he'd once seen in his time of a flying bird with red-brown feathers and the most striking green eyes, immediately nodded. "Of course."
"Maybe we should all make something for her," Fane commented quietly.
"It's not a bad idea," Salazar agreed, nodding his thanks towards his student. "You don't even have to show it around, if you would rather not, but make something."
The Slytherins all nodded, then dispersed to finish putting their things away or get started on their tribute to their dead Housemate.
"You were supposed to warn them about Wilda," Harry pointed out quietly once the others were out of sight.
Salazar shrugged. "Let them have their time to mourn. I'll tell them about Wilda before we leave for dinner. With any luck, none of them will be difficult."
Harry considered his Housemates; when he'd first met him, he would have sworn Morgan would have a fit about a werewolf, but the boy had mellowed after a term with those of a lower class and he didn't, honestly, think he'd make a big deal of it. He might grumble a bit, but he would keep his grievances private, and Harry could handle those behind closed doors, if need be.
As for the others... "They shouldn't be," he decided. "I can't say anything for Merlin and that other boy. What was his name?"
"Alexander Ronson."
"Him," Harry agreed, nodding. "Can't say anything about them, but these four should be fine."
"I'll just continue to leave everything to do with my students in your capable hands, then," Salazar said drily.
Harry grinned at him. "You do that. Are you planning to vanish as soon as classes let out for the 'weekend'?" he asked, barely resisting the urge to move his fingers in a manner to show the quotes he put around the word.
Salazar sighed. "I believe I'll stay this break, but I'll be leaving next one." He paused in thought for a moment, then asked, "Will I need to be around if one of our breaks falls during the full moon, or can you handle looking after Wilda yourself?" He'd been grateful to have Harry along when they'd freed the werewolf from her prison after the full moon, and he trusted Harry's skills with the healing magic he knew, which should be enough to deal with the self-inflicted wounds Wilda came out with, but he wouldn't leave Harry to handle it alone if he wasn't comfortable with it.
Harry thought about that for a moment, frowning. "I..." He sighed. "How many full moons until then?"
"Not this one, but the one after that lands on the last day of classes," Salazar said with certainty. "The one following that falls in the middle of the break, but I believe we're letting everyone go home for Yule that day. If Wilda intends to return to her pack, it won't be a concern."
Harry nodded. "Uhm, let's see how I feel after this next full moon, okay?"
"Certainly," Salazar agreed.
They fell into a comfortable silence, then, Harry summoning one of his animagi books while Salazar closed his eyes to, for all Harry could tell, take a nap. When the others came out of the rooms, Salazar told them about Wilda and there was some uncertainty, but Harry was able to soothe everyone with the promise that the girl was really very nice. And they had all sort of met her, while they'd been waiting for everyone to arrive.
"So, what should we expect from these new students?" Fane wondered as the other Slytherins followed Harry up to the Great Hall to watch the incoming. They hadn't been required to go – and Salazar had remained to discuss things with the other Founders after breakfast, kicking the students out – but Harry had promised he'd be there to collect the two new Slytherins when they arrived and show them to the common.
"How should I know?" Harry replied, rolling his eyes.
"Harry, you know everything," Vail informed him with a grin. "Proven fact."
"Your 'fact' is full of more holes than Swiss cheese," Harry retorted.
"What cheese?" Vail asked, frowning.
Harry sighed and switched to English to mutter, "One of these days, I'll remember not to use modern terminology."
Ramona met them in the entrance hall, slipping her arm through Harry's as they turned to enter the Great Hall. "Hello, Harry."
Harry smiled at her. "Hello, princess."
"Kill me now," Morgan muttered, then let out a yelp as Nuala hit him.
"I think they're cute," Nuala declared.
Fane rolled his eyes and demanded, "Harry. New students?"
"You can wait ten minutes," Harry informed him. To Ramona, he asked, "Helga's getting two more, plus Wilda, right?"
"Yes. And Rowena and Godric both have one. How many did Salazar get again?"
"Two. Both male," Harry answered, smirking.
"I knew it! You do know stuff about the new students!" Fane crowed.
Harry rolled his eyes and they made their way over to the poufs in front of the cheerfully burning fireplace, Fane begging for more hints behind him. A couple other students were already there, including the other children of the Founders and Duana, and they made room for the Slytherins and Ramona with smiles.
The first of the new students arrived shortly after they'd taken seats. The student was greeted by the Founders, then waved over to where Ollivander, who had shown up that morning, was sitting with his wands. Kenric jumped up and greeted the new child as soon as he'd finished getting his wand, and they were walking back towards the students on the poufs when the second student arrived.
They were just starting to fall into a rhythm when everything was disrupted by the arrival of a boy with a nest of auburn hair. From the nest on his head, a bird with only a couple pale feathers left launched itself into the air, sending the startled boy to his knees.
While the others around the Great Hall exclaimed in surprise at the dying bird, Harry jumped to his feet, recognising a phoenix on its Burning Day – he would never forget how he and Fawkes had first met. He got beneath the bird just as it gave one last mournful croak and burst into flames.
"Harry!" a number of people shouted as the pale blue flames licked at Harry's hair and face, but he just smiled at the feeling of warmth and caught as much of the falling ashes in his outstretched hands as he could.
As the fire disappeared, Harry became aware of Salazar and Ramona both standing in front of him, wearing similar looks of horror, and he offered them a quick smile before looking down at the pile of ash in his hands.
"Harry, what–?" Salazar started.
"Hush," Harry ordered and the Founder fell silent, blinking in disbelief. Harry's smile widened as a tiny head poked its way out of the ashes. "Hello, there," he whispered to the newborn as he carefully let the excess ash drop to the ground and rubbed the chick clean with his thumbs.
The chick let out a quiet trill and rubbed its head against Harry's fingers in thanks.
Harry looked up at Salazar, then, grinning widely. "Salazar," he said, "I'd like you to meet a phoenix."
-0-
A/N: So, that scene has gone through a few revisions in my head, and that's what it came out as. I...sort of adore it. Just a bit. *squeak*
The phoenix is a left-over from Xerosis which never made it into that. She's had some changes made to her, but she's still, at heart, the same phoenix. (Shara mocked me a bit because she's a different colour from Fawkes – you'll see that next chapter – and that's apparently a cliché? Hn.)
Anyway, yes, Harry's adorable phoenix. XD
You can thank Salazar's angsty moment on the conversation I had with Shara last night, when we were trying to sleep. She asked me if Sal knew he was crushing on Harry, and I said yes, which led to me explaining his back-story a bit. Which, incidentally, made it into this chapter.
Sorry that Merlin didn't really get his moment of shining glory. He is in this chapter, he's just not named. XD He'll definitely show up next chapter. *squeaks and cuddles Merlin* You'll understand. (And, yes, for those asking, he is very loosely based off of Colin Morgan's Merlin from the BBC series.)
~Bats ^.^x
Spells:
Coloro [...] -- meaning 'to colour' in Latin. Colouring Charm
A light charm used to change the colour of whatever material the caster's wand is pointing at. The colour used is said after the spell, in Latin, and the caster must envision the shade they want when casting, or the spell will fail.
Translations:
Coccine -- crimson
Aureus -- gold
Niger -- black (specifically shiny black, as opposed to dull black)
Who's Who:
Wilda Wolcott -- Shaggy brown hair and gold eyes. Bitten at a very young age and accepted into her current pack when her parents left her to die in the woods. Fairly quiet and unassuming, but willing to make friends with anyone capable of looking past her creature-hood to see the person she is. The only magical in her pack. The same age as Harry.
01 - Impossible Distance || 02 - Layers of Harmony || 03 - Breaking Inside
04 - Let It Flow || 05 - White Horses || 06 - Disturbs Your Slumber
10 - I'll Breathe Again || 11 - Set Fire to the Rain || 12 - Generation Built on a Lie
13 - In Defence of Our Dreams || 14 - Night Falls In || 15 - Nobody Knows Our Names
16 - I'm Not Drowning || 17 - Beating of the Storm || 18 - Let Me See Your Fire
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