8 th July 1995
Harry shivered as he walked down the corridor towards the Headmaster's – Minerva's office to speak with the dragon portrait. It seemed strange to think that it was no longer the domain of Albus Dumbledore. Sirius's hand on his shoulder was comforting and Harry didn't protest it.
Harry's eyes had darted about registering that the ongoing repairs as they had walked through Hogwarts; the corridors with scorch marks and signs of spell fire; the broken stairs; the pieces of masonry that still littered the place. There was evidence of the battle in torn portraits and broken statues. Harry had to remind himself that in real time it had only been two weeks since the battle. There was still a lot of repair work to be done. Indeed, the floo was down for repairs, portkeys banned until a full review of the wards could be undertaken, and the group had been forced to walk from the gates.
Behind them Ron walked between his parents, pale-faced and subdued. Draco walked stiffly beside a limping Lucius – Narcissa was far too close to her due date to attend. Sue was accompanied by her father who was also grimacing at the walk on his newly healed ankle, and Luna by hers.
The gargoyle sprang to the side before they gave a password and they all silently trudged up the spiral staircase.
Sirius tapped perfunctorily on the door and waited despite Lucius's mutterings behind him for Minerva to call out to enter.
The first real difference was the change in layout.
The back wall was given over to the painting of the dragon. Minerva had moved the desk to the right wall and the portraits of the former Heads had moved to live behind her; a portrait of Dumbledore startled Harry for a moment before he realised it was still sleeping. In front of her, the windows were open with the sunlight streaming in to highlight the wooden floor and the Hogwarts shield. The wall behind them had new floor-to-floor shelving with every inch covered in books, except for one shelf which was given over to the Sorting Hat. All the other knick-knacks were gone.
"Come in." Minerva welcomed them in with a sweep of her arm and in its wake a semi-circle of chairs popped up all facing the dragon painting.
Harry greeted Minerva almost absently his eyes on the picture. Ron had described it to him but his first real glance at it was breath-taking.
She was reminiscent of the Hungarian Horntail he'd faced; a strong lizard-like face, sinuous neck and sturdy body with its wings folded back. She was quietly watching their progress into the room with yellow reptilian eyes.
Harry took a seat. He wasn't sure why he and Sirius had been invited along. He raised curious eyes to Minerva who had walked over to stand beside the dragon.
"For all of you who have not yet met her, this is Hogwarts." Minerva introduced the dragon briskly. "She has requested your presence here today to discuss the ramifications of using the spell to wake her." She looked over at Harry and Sirius. "As you were the one to provide the spell, Harry, and the one to defeat Riddle, she wished to meet you too."
The dragon rose elegantly to a sitting position. "You are the wizard who protected the world."
"Yes." Harry said. "I'm Harry Potter. Pleased to meet you." He motioned to his left side where Sirius sat. "This is my father, Lord Sirius Black."
"Where did you learn the spell to wake me?" Hogwarts asked.
"I was visited in a dream by the Founders." Harry explained. "They told me the spell."
Hogwarts huffed and a small puff of smoke emerged from her snout. "But they did not tell you all?"
"The time we had through the veil was limited." Harry admitted.
Sirius cleared his throat. "Are you able to explain further? While none of us would change what happened, I know all of us parents have concerns."
Hogwarts stared at him for a long moment before lowering her head in acquiescence. "My story begins many years ago…"
Hogwarts was weary.
The last of her brood had flown away from the cold hillside where she had nested for all her life. Her mate had died a month before, his death echoing through their bond as he fell to the blade of one of the humans. With Marrick dead, she would have no more children. Elina had wished to stay but Hogwarts had sent her on her way. Best her child seek out a mate in the lands to the East where dragons still flew. Too many of their kind had fallen in recent times; their numbers slowly decimated as they were hunted by the human folk.
There was a small magical village below, nestled into the foot of the hill and it was beginning to thrive. It was only a matter of time before some precocious youth decided to fight the dragon that lived above them.
It was her time.
She was ready to go.
It didn't take long.
One wintry night, Hogwarts heard the creep of footfalls against the ground. She roused herself from her warren of caves and emerged into the twilight, her wings unfurling.
"Who comes?" Hogwarts demanded.
There were a group of four; two witches and two wizards – magic wielders like the Emrys.
The dark male grabbed his redheaded companion as he made to draw his sword. "Godric, she speaks!"
"She's intelligent?" asked the brown-haired witch. "Fascinating."
"Well, we can't kill her if she is." The blonde replied firmly.
"We only have Salazar's word that she speaks!" The redheaded male argued.
"I speak." Hogwarts said, narrowing her eyes.
"I think she understood you." The blonde said wonderingly.
"The language of the serpents!" The dark haired wizard shouted. "I can understand her because I speak the language of the serpents."
"But how does she understand us?" His male companion questioned.
"Magic." Hogwarts said tersely. "You came to kill me; you should proceed. Be warned it is in my nature to fight."
The dark-haired wizard translated for the others.
"Wait!" The brown-haired witch stopped the redhead from drawing his sword again. "You know of magic?"
Hogwarts lowered her head. "All magical creatures know of magic. It has existed for many years before the humans came and it will exist for many years more after you have left this life."
"Then you could teach us." The brown-haired witch stated. "We're scholars."
Hogwarts looked toward the redhead who even then was fingering the hilt of the sword at his hip.
"He's retiring from fighting." The blonde assured her. "We want to build a school." She gestured at the hillside and the lake. "Lord Black gifted us this land when we petitioned the Wizard's Council, although he was very amused when he did."
"And now we know why." The dark-haired wizard said only to realise he wasn't speaking in his own tongue when the others looked at him blankly. "I said, 'and now we know why.'" He repeated. "It is not so much of a loss for him to give us land that we cannot use because there's a bloody dragon on it!"
"Salazar." The brown-haired witch snapped out frostily. She turned back to Hogwarts. "What say you, dragon? Will you teach us and allow us to build a school here?" She gestured further to the North. "We could plant a forest where you could live and help defend us."
"And so the bargain was made." Hogwarts said.
Harry let out a breath, surprised to realise he had been holding it. Everybody looked spellbound by the dragon's – by Hogwart's story. It was actually the story of the founding of the school. Hermione was going to furious not to have come with them, Harry mused ruefully.
"For many years, we lived in harmony." Hogwarts said. "The four became my friends, my children. They learned of magic and I learned from them of humans, learned to speak their tongue as well as my own. They used my colours in their school and named it in my honour. It was a time of peace and goodwill. Many creatures came and settled within the forest and lake."
Hogwarts stretched, her wings extending before folding back into her sides. "But the world outside was growing darker. An evil wizard heard of the school and raised an army to take it. I defended her and killed him but I almost died in the attempt, and my friends were afraid. What would happen the next time if I was gone or if the school was attacked beyond their own lives? Rowena had glimpses of a future where battles raged at the school."
"And so they came up with the spell." Minerva said quietly.
"We." Hogwarts corrected. "A willing sacrifice of my own magic, life and spirit; and a willing sacrifice of their own for in performing the magic they bound themselves to me and to the school to which I am bound."
"Which I guess brings us neatly onto why we're all gathered." Richard Bones said.
"Indeed." Lucius commented.
"You asked our children to pay a price; to bind themselves to the school." Molly asserted, capturing Hogwarts' attention. "We need to know exactly what you meant."
"The original spell took my magic and my four friends to enact. It was powerful, difficult magic. We did not realise that it would take so much." Hogwarts replied, shifting to lie down. "When we examined the arithmancy in the wake of the spell we realised there was a permanent link between my four friends and the magic of the school; between their lives and my own spirit." She lowered her head. "Rowena eventually derived the truth; when my four friends died, my spirit would sleep. I needed their magic to anchor my spirit and provide the protection which was needed. It was then we created the spell you used to wake me."
"So, our magic woke you, and because you needed the magic to continue to protect the school, you needed us to agree to our binding ourselves to you." Sue said matter-of-factly.
Hogwarts' eyes flickered to her. "Indeed, Witch of Hufflepuff."
"But what does that mean?" Richard asked again, jumping in before an annoyed looking Molly could do the same. "You say they are bound to you; how? What does it mean for their lives? For the rest of their schooling?"
"They will be connected to me and the connection will grow while they learn here." Hogwarts answered. "They may leave but the bond will draw them back eventually. It may take one year or many more."
"I'll be gone for twenty." Luna replied dreamily.
"And so you will, Witch of Ravenclaw." Hogwarts said, her tone coated with fond amusement.
"When they return to the school," Minerva asserted herself into the conversation deftly, "they will become staff?"
"Yes." Hogwarts said. "All times before the four were honoured with the position of the Head of House."
"Which is when they can put you to sleep again?" Arthur spoke up. "We understand from Minerva that you've said only they as the Heads of Houses can put you to sleep."
"And if they do, does this mean they won't be bound anymore?" asked Molly.
Hogwarts rose and stretched out her wings. "There is no spell to make me sleep."
Sirius frowned and sighed suddenly, as though he'd just worked it out. "You slept when the four who woke you died."
Hogwarts inclined her head.
"Blimey," muttered Ron, "does this mean we have to die before you go back to sleep?"
"In essence." Hogwarts confirmed.
"But natural deaths." Arthur said before anyone else could say something. "You're talking about natural deaths."
"The death that will come to them." Hogwarts said. "Godric died in a duel; Rowena in her sleep. Salazar met his fate attempting a mate for the basilisk he'd raised; Helga from a nasty infection she'd caught helping the centaurs in the forest."
"There must be some way to break the binding." Lucius said silkily, his hand smoothing over the top of his cane.
Harry frowned and opened his mouth to speak…
"I don't want to break the binding." Draco said tersely. "I gave my word and I have accepted my future is with Hogwarts."
"You are a Malfoy. You cannot bind yourself to…" Lucius began frostily.
"You did." Draco snapped. "You bound yourself to the monster. I bound myself to a school to defend against him. I'm not changing my mind."
Harry shifted inching closer surreptitiously to Draco to offer him some support.
Lucius rose from his seat. "I believe I am not needed here."
Harry watched as he limped out; nobody protesting his exit.
Sirius cleared his throat. "Lucius."
Lucius stopped with his hand on the doorknob. He turned back with an inquisitive sneering look.
"By my command as Lord Black you are hereby ordered not to find a way to break the binding between your son and Hogwarts, and not to act to break the binding if a way becomes known to you." Sirius stated firmly. "Do you understand?"
Lucius went red but nodded sharply. "As you will, Lord Black." He left slamming the door behind him.
"Well I never." Molly huffed.
"You told him, Draco mate." Ron said approvingly.
Draco sniffed imperiously.
"There is more I need to tell you." Hogwarts said, her gaze landing on Harry.
Harry sighed. "I'm bound too, aren't I?"
"What?" Sirius glared at the dragon. "Is he right?"
Hogwarts lowered her head deferentially. "In times past, the spell would only be used if there was a great need. The Head of the school would have the task of choosing the four to enact the spell but in choosing…"
"They were also bound." Harry completed.
Sirius's hand landed on his shoulder. "And what does that mean for Harry?"
"He'll be Headmaster of Hogwarts one day." Minerva supplied dryly.
Harry was surprised at how much that idea pleased him.
"Is she right?" Sirius asked of Hogwarts.
"It is normally the Headmaster who is tasked with the choice," the dragon said, "and they are already bound." Her eyes stayed with Harry. "You were chosen by the Founders themselves and in that moment you were bound."
"So I guess it's the same as the others?" checked Harry. "I'll be connected to you now and even though once I'm done with school and I can leave, eventually I'll become the Headmaster."
Hogwarts inclined in her head in a gesture he was beginning to realise was how she indicated agreement. "Our connection will be stronger though."
Harry took a breath. "I think I'd like to teach."
Minerva smiled widely. Sirius's hand squeezed his shoulder and he turned to look at his father who was beaming proudly back at him.
"I think you're going to be a brilliant Headmaster." Sirius said.
Harry felt the nerves in his belly settle with his father's straightforward acceptance.
"Well, I think we all have our answers." Sirius said, looking around at the group and receiving nods in return. "Any other questions?"
There was a collective shake of heads.
"Do you have anything else to discuss with us?" Harry asked the dragon, not realising he had slipped into parseltongue.
"No, my young Mage." Hogwarts spread her wings out wide. "I look forward to our years of friendship."
They all stood and the chairs disappeared. Harry said his goodbyes to Minerva and fell into step beside his father as they made their way out of the office and back through Hogwarts.
They paused as they reached the front steps and Harry looked towards the Quidditch pitch with a grimace.
Sirius nudged Harry's shoulder with his. "You alright?"
"Just…" he shivered, "that's…" he grimaced and hunched his shoulders as he pushed his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. "It's the first time we've been back here since."
Sirius glanced over to the Quidditch pitch. "You want to take a look at it in daylight?"
Harry bit his lip but he ended up nodding. They quietly made their way down the path. He was vaguely aware of a discussion and footsteps behind them but he ignored it, focusing on simply putting one step in front of the other until they came to a stop by the edge of the usual entrance.
The pitch looked like a disaster zone. The grass was blackened and torn up; grooves of dirt criss-crossed over the whole area. The hoops were missing but then they'd been removed to make way for the maze and Harry couldn't remember seeing them during the battle. The stands were either gone or in ruins.
"Bloody hell!" Ron blurted out behind Harry.
"Ronald! Language!" Molly said, although her hands were clasped together tightly in front of her; her face pale under the freckles.
"Mum!" Ron protested, his hand shooting out to point at the damage. "Look at it! How are they going to get this fixed in time for us to come back and play Quidditch here?!"
"He has a point." Draco muttered.
Harry shuddered at the idea. "I don't think I'm going to play Quidditch anymore."
"WHAT?" Ron's voice was a shriek more than a yell. "BUT YOU HAVE TO PLAY!"
"You guys played fine without me." Harry said shaking his head. He couldn't imagine taking another step forward; taking another step onto the pitch where he'd killed and…where he'd died. "Ginny was great."
Sirius's arm landed around his shoulders and Harry leaned it unthinkingly to soak up the support and comfort. "Whatever you decide is fine, Harry…"
"But…" stuttered Ron before he stopped abruptly.
Harry figured Sirius had glared at him.
"Whatever you decide is fine, Harry," Sirius repeated, "but maybe now's not the time to make a decision."
"Can we go?" asked Harry, wanting – needing – to be away from the pitch.
"Sure we can…" Sirius stopped and frowned. He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a mirror. "Padfoot."
The mirror's shiny surface filled with Remus's face – Remus's panicked looking face.
Harry and Sirius exchanged a quick look.
"Moony?" asked Sirius urgently.
"You have to come home right now!" Remus said. "Narcissa's in labour! She's having the baby!"
"Oh, that's lovely!" Molly beamed, turning to Arthur with a happy smile of remembrance.
"Mother's having the baby?" Draco turned and started for the path almost at a run.
Sirius nudged Harry and they quickly followed after him.
"Not to worry, Moony." Sirius replied. "We're on our way!"