Unfogging the Past

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The sun was slowly dropping from the sky when Harry, Sir Hayden, and Rodolphus Lestrange reached their destination. Harry could not help but gasp in awe at the sight that greeted him. He was sure his gaping but he couldn't help it. There were no words in Harry's vocabulary that did the massive structure justice. The closest adjective that Harry could find if he had to describe it later was the world beautiful. It was an enormous castle (about 100 meters or so) constructed from stone, and was as tall as it was large. The castle was as impressive as Hogwarts was with a silver flag that proudly swayed in the wind. On the flag, in the middle, was a crest of some sort that had the double initials of MM.

"Beautiful isn't it?" smiled Sir Hayden.

Harry nodded picking his jaw up off the ground.

"Please," Lestrange scoffed. "It does not compare to my ancestral home or even the Dark Lord's!"

"Yeah, because Voldemort's home is so nice, so...Muggle," Harry replied.

The large oak door slowly creaked open and two young women walked out to greet the guests.

Both young girls were completely different in appearance from one another. The tallest, had long black hair, and as she grew closer to Harry, dark blue eyes. She looked rather pale compared to her tanned friend. She wore a long floor length baby blue dress. As for her friend, the girl had strawberry blond hair, olive green eyes, and wore a soft pink dress, similar in style to the other girl.

"Sir Hayden," the young blond said.

"Lady Helga, Lady Rowena, are the Lord and Lady in?" Hayden questioned.

'Lady Helga, Lady Rowena?' Harry thought wildly. 'That must be Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. But, they're so young! This most definitely isn't Hogwarts. So, where am I?'

"Aye, My Lord," said Lady Helga shyly. "Lord and Lady are in the evening parlor drinking tea."

"My Lord?" Hayden laughed a full belly laugh. "Lady Helga, thou do not be coy in my presence. I've told you that many times, fair one."

"Run along, Helga, and tell the Lord we have guests," Rowena said, looking down at her young friend.

"As you wish," Helga replied, and walked off into the castle to speak with the owners of the house.

"Have you brought us a new apprentice?" Rowena questioned, curiously watching Harry.

"Aye, I have. If the Lord and Lady accept him into their home."

"He is soiled." Rowena wrinkled her nose turning to Harry. "When was the last time you bathed, young sir?"

"I beg your pardon!" Harry said in outrage, fumbling with his shirt, an old Dudley castoff. "I'm dirty! Not soiled!"

"Young Harold," Sir Hayden put a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder. "Lady Rowena only means that you are covered in soil. It is not fit for you to meet the Lord and Lady of the house in such a state."

Helga took that moment to return.

"Lord and Lady beckons you to follow." She smiled and started walking.

Harry and Hayden followed Rowena and Helga with Rodolphus following behind them, into the castle. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. Harry wasn't sure how he had never learned about a place as beautiful as this before. He'd love to be at home to tell Hermione and Ron that he'd met Rowena and Helga, and that their house was beyond comparison to Hogwarts.

"Sir Hayden, your travels faired well?" a man asked sitting in a large backed green chair.

"Aye, met a young sir who is in need of training." Hayden explained the situation to the man.

"Ah, I see," the man nodded and turned to Harry. "Thou art in a mighty predicament."

"My Lord," Rowena began and the man turned. "What if 'Sir Harold' is lying? He might be a spy of Ludras! We must not trust him!"

"There is only one way to settle this," the man said holding up a delicate feminine hand. "My love, woudst thou touch thy child and find the truth?"

The woman nodded. She appeared to be a middle-aged woman with dark hair and dark eyes. If Harry didn't know better, he would have thought she was Professor Snape's twin.

"Merlin," she said quietly. "Bring the young man to me."

"Wait a minute!" cried Harry. "Merlin? Where the hell am I? Who the hell are you?"

"Why child," the man said in a tone that gave Harry the impression that it should be the most obvious thing in the world. "I am Merlin," he said. "And, this is my wife Morgan Le Fay!"

"Merlin? As in THE Merlin?" Harry would have laughed if he weren't convinced that one or all of the people in the room wouldn't hurt him for doing so. "This has to be some bad dream."

"Dream? Dear boy, it is no dream," Morgan said softly, reaching her hand out to Harry. "Take my hand, and settle Lady Rowena's worries that you are a spy."

At this, a terrible thought entered Harry's mind. He knew he wasn't a spy, and was fairly convinced that Sir Hayden wouldn't have brought him here if he thought he was a spy, but if this woman was convinced he was, there would be nothing he could do for it.

"And, what will happen if I do?"

Harry was a little skeptical. The last time he had been near a seer, he was told he was going to die many times over.

"I will see thy past and thy present." She smiled knowingly. "Sometimes I will even see thy future."

Once Harry nodded his consent, Morgan grasped Harry's hand. Nothing happened. Her hand was cool to touch in his slightly sweaty palm. Then something happened. Flashes of every color swam into Harry's vision and then he saw. He saw himself being born. He saw himself celebrating his first Christmas. He saw the Halloween night when his Mum and Dad were killed. He saw his life growing up in the cupboard at the Dursleys. He saw himself living at Hogwarts and Voldemort. He saw Sirius dying again and the last thing he saw was himself, older, holding a squealing infant.

"Dear Arthur," Morgan cried slumping against Merlin's chest.

"What is it Morgan? What did you see?" Merlin asked his wife, keeping a close eye on the young boy whom had been brought to them.

"She saw my past, present and future, I can only assume the last was my future. My family being killed, the danger that surrounds my life," Harry whispered, feeling weak, as weak as he had felt trying to learn Occlumency with Snape. "Did I pass your test?"

"Sweet boy, your life is filled with much tragedy, but you are no spy. You are a hero, to be known by many names. In this life and the next," Morgan said, a weak smile on her face. "You are here not purely by a misspoken spell, or one's ignorance to the dangers of the spell, but for a reason. If you had not come, the life you know would not exist."

"The life I know would not exist?" Harry questioned thoroughly confused.

"Time is a circle," Morgan answered slowly and quietly. "It spins over and over into infinity. You are meant to be here, Harry James Potter. Thou will become thy apprentice. To this day forward, thou will be christened Godric Gryffindor, the lion prince."

"Godric Gryffindor?" Harry squeaked. "I can't be Godric Gryffindor. He was the founder of--"

Morgan silenced him with a finger on his lips.

"Thou will not speak more of this matter in front of the crowd." Morgan sighed. "We will speak of this in private, Godric."

Godric Gryffindor! Harry thought, no way, the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin. How can I be the Godric? Harry nodded to Morgan. He remembered Hermione mentioning something about not changing history with time travel when she had used the time turner back in their third year. But, would telling Helga and Rowena really change the future? They had changed the future when they rescued Buckbeak and Sirius, or had they? Sirius still ended up dead, Harry mused, his fate remained the same.

"It's going to take some time getting used to being called Godric," Harry said out loud, "but I guess I don't have a choice in the matter."

"Rowena, Helga, please escort Sir Godric to the bathing room." Merlin ordered conjuring a chair for Sir Hayden. "Sir Hayden, the Lady and I have much to discuss."

Rowena and Helga bowed respectfully.

"Come," Rowena beckoned turning towards the door.

"Wait! What about Lestrange?" Harry asked.

Were they going to set him loose? What was going to happen to him? Sure, Harry didn't like the man, despised him even... but, he didn't want the guy to be prowling the streets harming innocent Muggles.

"Yeah, what about me?" Rodolphus griped. "You fawn over some half-blood brat, but you ignore someone whose blood is as pristine as mine! Inconceivable!"

"This, Lestrange, was found with Sir Godric in the woods. He had been dueling with the young sir, and had I not happened upon them, I am unsure of who would have faired better," Hayden explained. "Besides," Hayden added, "if the heart is pure, then why should the blood be any of our concern?"

"I have fought against the likes of him and survived before," Harry added. "But, I must insist that Lestrange not be allowed to walk the streets of any town. I can only imagine what sort of damage he could do."

"Very well," he sighed. Merlin's blue eyes twinkled reminding Harry very much of Dumbledore. "We will decide Lestrange's fate after you discard those rags and bathe."

Harry nodded and followed the two girls out of the room into the hallway. The hallway was a stone corridor much like Hogwarts' halls. Torches were lit illuminating the halls. Suits of armors lined the walls with portraits hanging above. Many of the portraits glanced at him curiously. Harry ignored them speeding up to walk side by side between the girls.

"So, do you like being apprenticed?" Harry asked awkwardly trying to make some conversation.

Helga glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as they turned a sharp left.

"Aye, sir," Helga said shyly and Rowena laughed a sweet laugh that made Harry's stomach clench nervously.

"Do not mind Helga, Sir. She is very coy around most," she replied.

"That's okay. My friend Neville is shy, too," Harry said reassuringly. "We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Harr-er Godric Gryffindor."

"Our Lord and Lady are very gracious to our kind, there are very few among us that would take in a strange boy. Many would see you as a burden to their lives, another mouth to feed. You are most lucky to have come across Sir Hayden in the woods," Rowena explained. "Sir Godric, the water is cooling as we speak. I shall find you some proper attire and then we shall return to Lord Merlin and Lady Morgan."

"Do you think you could just call me Godric?" Harry questioned awkwardly. "I'm not used to the whole sir, lady thing."

"Aye, Godric," she sighed. "Your bath awaits."

With that, she turned and left the room.

Harry was led into a room he hadn't noticed when he passed the same place on the way in. It was a comfortably sized room with white walls and a white stone tub in the middle, which was nearly filled to the top with steaming water. Towels were set aside near the tub. Harry smiled gratefully and then stripped himself of his clothes. Stepping into the water, Harry sank down letting the water soothe his aches and pains. Some might say that the water was too hot, but Harry liked it like that. After about five minutes of a soak, Harry started lathering his body. After rinsing off, he stepped out of the tub and wrapped the white fluffy cloth towel around his waist. Harry glanced into the mirror and to his amusement found his skin as red as a lobster and pruney to boot.

The door opened again, and Rowena stood there positively blushing at the sight of Harry naked in front of her. Turning her back, she muttered an apology, left the clothing and walked from the room. Harry was just as shocked and embarrassed as Rowena had seemed. Quickly dressing in the clothing given to him, Harry examined himself in the mirror. He looked like a boy out of Robin Hood. Sighing, he fixed the shirt he was wearing and fussed with his hair some before giving up. He wanted to find Rowena and apologize to her for not properly locking the door. Slipping his wand into the robe given to him, he left the room.

"Rowena! Lady Rowena!" Harry cried, running to catch up with the dark-haired beauty.

Rowena stopped and turned waiting for Harry to catch up. Panting heavily, Harry smiled.

"I'm sorry about before," Harry apologized. "I should have locked the door properly. It won't happen again."

"It was my own fault, Sir Godric, I should have knocked. It is not lady like for a young girl to just walk into any room, especially one she knows holds an undressed lord. You need not explain anything to me, Sir Godric."

Harry gave her a quizzical look before responding. "Could I ask you again not to call me Sir Godric, Godric works just fine."

"As you wish, Si...Godric."

Harry smiled, running a hand nervously through his hair making it even messier. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something moving wildly. It was a portrait. It was a boy in robes petting a small snake.

"Who's that?" Harry asked curiously.

"Him? That is a portrait of Lady Morgan's nephew when he was but a young boy," Rowena answered. "His name is Sir Salazar."

"Salazar? As in Salazar Slytherin?" Harry gaped in disbelief.

"You have heard of Sir Salazar?" Rowena questioned, turning her gaze to Harry.

"Yes, though, I only really know his name," Harry replied. It wasn't like he could inform Rowena that he helped build Hogwarts, and was the reason that Hogwarts was nearly closed in his second year. "I suppose Salazar comes around here often then?"

"Quite. Lady Morgan insists upon it. He helps train us when the older students are abroad."

"Oh, well I guess we better get back to Lord Merlin and Lady Morgan," Harry said, smiling at Rowena.

"Aye," replied Rowena.

They continued down the hallway, taking twists and turns when needed until they reached the parlor room. Stopping outside the door, both Harry and Rowena were surprised to hear a commotion and yelling inside the room. Glancing at each other they came to a quick decision to open the door. The sight that greeted them shocked them to the core.

Before stepping into the room, Harry took out his wand and then walked into. Lestrange had managed to break his bonds, and the adults had been arguing over something or other. Lestrange looked thoroughly pissed off, and had an arm wrapped tightly around Helga's neck, his other hand held his wand to Helga's temple and his back turned to Harry.

"Expelliramus," Harry called, and Rodolphus' wand zipped into his outstretched hand, a smirk on his face. "Let Helga go."

"Wittle Baby Potty! Always the wittle hewo!" laughed Lestrange an insane look on his face.

"I think you're hanging too much around Bellatrix. Let her go, Lestrange," Harry said again calmly although inside he was seething. "You know if you kill her, your life and all the other Death Eaters plus Voldemort's will be in jeopardy."

Lestrange cackled. "You win Potter, for now. I'll be back, though, and when I'm back, well... you'll wish the Dark Lord would have killed you that night your parents died!"

Rowena took that moment to step up beside Harry, blocking the only exit in the room.

"If I'm correct, you won't be going anywhere Lestrange. You're standing in the house of Merlin for Merlin's sake. Attacking Helga had to be the most idiotic thing to do. Honestly, what were you thinking?" Harry laughed, looking to the crying Helga. "Stupefy!" he called and watched Lestrange hit the ground while walking over to Helga. "Are you alright?"

"Just frightened, Sir Godric, you are most noble," Helga said sniffling some.

Harry blushed in embarrassment. "It's no big deal. Call me Godric, Helga."

Giving her a pat on the hand, Harry turned to Lord Merlin, Lady Morgan, and Sir Hayden.

"What are we going to do with him?" Harry asked, kicking Lestrange. "He should be punished."

"You are most brave," Merlin said, echoing everyone's thoughts. "What shall we do, my love?"

"Take him to the town's jail," Morgan replied. "He'll lay in wait for many days until the sun sets on the first day of the new month."

"Umm...you should know he's been in jail before. He escaped just last year," Harry informed them, giving them no other explanation. "And, I'm not brave. I've just been attacked more times than I know what to do with anymore. According to my friend Hermione, I have a hero-complex. It's something of second nature now, I suppose. Plus, he really would have killed Helga if given the chance."

"Sir Hayden, you will see that this crusty botch of nature is taken to the town jail," Merlin said, making certain that Helga was indeed all right.

"Yes, M'lord," Hayden said and levitated Lestrange and left to see him to the jail.

One month later, a rider galloped in the forest urging his horse faster. During the month of his stay, Harry had grown a couple of inches. Although it was only a month, Harry grasped the concept of horseback riding quite easily. He was a natural on a broom, and now a natural on a horse.

"GODRIC!"

"Catch me if you can!" Harry yelled joyfully into the wind.

A hearty laugh echoed from behind him. Harry turned his head and looked back at the disgruntled Rowena. She looked beautiful with the wind in her hair and the look of fierce determination on her face.

Rowena hadn't been able to catch up to Harry but she had been able to keep a close distance behind him. She had even tried to curse Harry's horse to run slower. Harry had changed a lot since he had come to them, and he was more advanced than some of them. Salazar had become interested in how Harry was adjusting to life with them and had even begun to come around more often to see how Helga, Rowena and 'Godric' had been doing.

"Sonorus!" she incanted wandlessly. "Alright, you win!"

The sound of her voice echoed throughout the forest causing birds to scatter and field mice to scurry. Harry eased his horse to slow and Rowena took that opportunity to catch up.

"Quietus!"

"I still say that riding a broom is as nice as riding a horse." Harry grinned, petting his horse's mane.

The horse snorted.

"Brooms are made for sweeping, Godric," replied Rowena.

"I know! I know!" Harry smirked, his hands rising in the air. "Lady Morgan tells me though, that I will be the one to ride the first broom of this century. When I do ride it, Rowena. We'll soar in the sky."

"Maybe Lady Morgan is hinting that thou should start working on charms for thy broom?" she pointed out.

"My charms are better than some," Harry replied. He didn't have the extensive one-on-one training for the last five years like Rowena did, but Professor Flitwick was a very worthy teacher according to Morgan. "I will make a broom fly," he told her. "You'll see."

"I will believe it when I see it Godric. But riding a broom is a silly Muggle superstition. We do not ride brooms," Rowena laughed. "Come on now, we are going to be late for our lessons with Merlin. You know how he gets when you are late."

"Okay, let me just bring Sayble back to the stable," Harry replied quietly, walking the horse to the stable that was not more than thirty feet away.

Later, while he brushed Sayble's coat free from dirt, Harry could not help but reflect on how happy he felt here. Sure, he missed Remus and Hermione and the Weasleys, but he was free from Voldemort. Free from being a celebrity. Free for the first time in his life.

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TBC