This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Harry Potter and Merlin's Gifts

Chapter 1: The Founder's Room

"Mister Potter, would you kindly please stop badgering my patients and leave the hospital wings? You can visit with them on the train tomorrow." Said an annoyed Madame Pomfrey.

"Yes Ma'am. Later Ron, Hermione…" muttered Harry as he left the hospital wing and entered the Gryffindor Common Room. When he went inside, there were only a few people, so Harry seated himself on the couch remaining there for what seemed like hours. A hand on his shoulder startled him!

"Harry, are you ok?"

"Sorry Ginny. I…I um what were you saying?"

With a kind smile she said "Go on to bed Harry, you look exhausted. We're leaving in the morning…are you all packed yet?"

"Yeah I got it done after Sirius…ah my chat with Professor Dumbledore after the ah Ministry." He could not say after Sirius died…it was not true…could not be true. He resumed staring into the fire. Harry felt someone sitting next to him. "Really Harry, are you okay? You can talk to me, you know. We haven't really been the best of friends like you are with Ron and Hermione, but I am here if you need a shoulder to cry on or a friendly ear to listen." There was nothing for him to say, so Harry nodded his head and continued to watch the flames dancing in the fireplace.

"I can't believe he's gone. I see him falling through that bloody veil, and I just stand there thinking he's just fallen behind those curtains. You know? He'd come right out and finish off Bellatrix. I do nothing, just watch, and it's entirely my fault, my fault he's dead. If only…"

"Stop. Do not do this to yourself Harry. You will find that there are millions of those ' if only's ' but you cannot change them…no let me finish…remember the Chamber of secrets? Duh of course you do. Merlin! I had so many what ifs and if only's I but I couldn't change a thing. I blamed myself for everything…it was my fault that I kept the diary, my fault Hermione, Colin, and Justin were hurt, my fault you almost died because I led you straight to Riddle…"

"You've got a point Gin, but none of them died…Cedric, Sirius, my parents…they are all dead! He was inside of me you know; he tried to possess me…"

"But he couldn't stay! You fail to remember that I was possessed by Riddle too. While I might not have experienced everything you have, I am the only person in this school who can come close. I've been an outcast for my first few years here, I'm the girl-who-opened-the-Chamber-of-Secrets or my favorite" she said with a bitter laugh, "the girl-who-almost-killed. Well, what I'm trying to say is…if you ever need to talk, I'm only an owl away. Hopefully Mum can convince Dumbledore to get you out of there quickly."

"Thanks Gin. I'm glad we spoke." After a few minutes, Harry stood up and said, "I think I am going to roam the castle one more time…if I go to sleep I'll see him fall through the veil again and I can't…"

"I understand, just be careful, ok?"

"I'll have the invisibility coat and map…I'll be okay."

"Night Harry."

"Night Ginny." Harry called over his shoulder as he ran to his room for the coat and map.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Ugh Snape is coming this way. Harry turned right into another corridor, and hurriedly took a left at a sleeping portrait. 'Oh great, now I'm lost, thanks Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, well Moony anyway' Harry thought bitterly. 'I've never been here before' he continued, looking around the hallway that was lined by cobwebs and dust. While wandering back down the old hallway, Harry saw a door, which led to an abandoned classroom. "Well, that was not there before. Alohamora!" The lock clicked and the door opened revealing a passage that contained torches, which were lit as Harry walked pass. There was another door. "Alohamora!" he tried again, "Alohamora! Ok that didn't work." He checked the map, and it showed him that Harry Potter was standing at a door saying "Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin." "Right then, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin." The door turned into a wall, which slid open for Harry.

"Who are you?" Asked a male voice…

"What brings you here?" Said another, this time female

"My name is Harry Potter, and I..I'm lost…I just found this place and I got lost…it…it was an accident. Honest." Suddenly the room was lit and the portraits were revealed.

"Well, young Harry, come in, come in. We've not had company since Godric died." Said a woman. "I am Rowena Ravenclaw. To my right is Godric Gryffindor, to my left is Salazar Slytherin and opposite me is Helga Huflepuff."

"N…nice to meet you," Stuttered Harry who looked around the room. There was a mug on a table in front the fireplace, as well as an enchanted ceiling, much like the Great Hall, only on a smaller scale. There were enchanted windows as well. The room was a combination of the four houses. Red and Gold, Green and Silver, Yellow and Black, Blue and Bronze were tastefully scattered everywhere. Plush chairs surrounded a round table and torches, which were magically lit burned illuminating the Founders who were attached one on each wall.

"Potter you say your name is? My granddaughter, Cassandra Gryffindor married Rowena's grandson Andras Potter, son of Briareus Potter. So you see, you are in fact my great, great (many generations of great) grandson, Harry. Yes I could see the resemblance especially the hair… Andras never could get his hair fixed a bit, even on his wedding day. Helga, Salazar, meet my great grandson." Said the portrait of Gryffindor.

"Godric, our great grandson?" said Rowena

"We're related? Wow, I'm related to the founders of the only place I call my home…" Harry thought aloud unable to contain his surprise at the revelation.

"What a sweet child he is. What year are you in dear? 3rd? 4th maybe?"

"No Ms. Hufflepuff…"

"Call me Helga dear."

"No Ms. uh Helga, I'm in the 5th year…actually I just finished the 5th."

"So young grandson of Rowena and Godric, tell me about yourself." Said Salazar.

"Ok well, do you want to hear it from the beginning?"

"Yes, if you don't mind dear."

"Er…ok. I was born on July 31st in the year 1980."

"1980? What year is this?" Interrupted Salazar

"1995 sir. I suppose I enjoyed a happy childhood there with my parents at Godric's Hollow."

"It still exists?" asked an eager Godric

"Yes it does. My parents James and Lily Potter lived there, but the house that once stood there was destroyed, along with my childhood. Can you hang on a second?" Harry pulled out his wand and whispered "Mischief Managed." If Filch or Snape caught him with the map, Harry thought, he'd never see it again. Also, Lupin was no longer here to ensure he'd get it back this year, though Professor Dumbledore might give it back. One of the portraits cleared his throat, and Harry resumed his story. "Where was I? Yes. A wizard by the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle also known as Lord Voldemort, who Salazar is your heir, came to my home and murdered my parents…with the help of that rat Peter Pettigrew who was one of my father's best friends. Pettigrew was their Secret Keeper at the time, but everyone thought it was my godfather Sirius." When Harry mentioned Sirius, he closed his eyes and saw his godfather fall through the curtains of the veil. He continued his story, wanting to forget that Sirius was dead, if only momentarily. "Voldemort cast the killing curse at me, but it backfired and hit him after my Mum jumped in front of it to save me. I can hear her voice whenever the Dementors come near pleading with Voldemort to save my life, a few times I heard my Dad...it's the only memory I have of them. With my parents dead, I was sent to live with my mother's sister Petunia, a muggle, and her husband Vernon Dursley. They are not very nice people; they starve me, and keep me locked in my room, which for the first ten years of my life, excluding the one I lived at Godric's Hollow, was the cupboard under the stairs. They are really afraid of magic. I never knew I was a wizard until I got my Hogwarts letter. I was the Dursley's slave living under the stairs until my first Hogwarts letter arrived. My uncle was afraid that people were spying on him, so he put me in Dudley's second bedroom…Dudley is my cousin. My uncle Vernon burned all the letters I received, then Hagrid, the Keeper here at Hogwarts came to get me, and it was the happiest moment of my short life. They, the Dursley's that is, wanted to squash the magic out of me, at least that's was they said when Hagrid came to get me."

"How horrible!"

"Filthy muggles"

"Squash the magic out? Unbelievable!"

"Well!"

"Yes I know. I have to live with them every summer because of some blood ties, and in the morning I return there. My first year began really wonderful. I met my best friends Ron and Hermione…" he continued his story up until the end of his 5th year, telling them about the Philosopher's stone, and the Chamber of Secrets. He paused to ask Slytherin about it. "Why do you dislike muggles and half-bloods? And what's with the basilisk? It tried to kill me!"

Most of Harry's questions were not answered because Salazar left Hogwarts before he could explain the snake in his Chamber, but told the boy that muggles murdered his parents when he was a child. Harry looked at Salazar and nodded, clearly understanding his unacceptance of muggles. 'After all, is that not part of the reason I hate Voldemort?'

Harry continued his story from his third, and fourth years, ending finally with the fifth, "and here I am."

"Godric? Rowena? Helga? He is the one!" Said Salazar. "And a parselmouth too!!!"

"Yes, he is the one." Said the three

"Excuse me…the one? May I ask who the one is?" asked Harry

"Yes you may Harry dear." Said Helga. After a short pause he continued.

"Oh right. Who is the one?"

"My boy. The who is you! I am quite positive. You see there was a prophecy…" He stopped at hearing Harry's groan

"Oh no, not another prophesy! I've had one given to me already, and it is quite enough thank you!"

"There is another prophecy about you Harry? Can it be the same Godric? We did not let it be known! Will you tell us this prophecy Harry?"

"Well I guess it could not hurt, technically you're dead, and all the portraits in Professor Dumbledore's office knows it…The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the 7th month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"

"Well, this one is different. Helga dear, do you care to tell it?"

"Oh of course Rowena. Nine of three from three, and a gift of seven will come to thee and shared amongst the leaders. An army of friends will band the wizarding world together, and all will help the one rid the world of the greatest evil of its time. Two flames from one shall burn and rise again, but 4 and 5 one who is believed lost will return to guide the one. His life will be fraught with numerous trials and tribulations. He will stumble upon the 4. He will stumble upon the 4."

"And you think I am the one?"

"But of course! The four of us, are part of the nine that are to guide you. That's why we're here! To guide the one…you!" A soft alarm sounded, interrupting Rowena, "What was that?"

"Er, my alarm clock. It's morning I have to go. I wish I could take you with me though."

"Don't worry Harry," said Godric, "We are able to shrink ourselves…you can put us in your pocket and take us with you."

"And you can keep us with your wand so those muggles would not find us." Said Helga

"I didn't know that paintings could do that!"

"We are the Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, are we not?" asked Salazar.

"Yes, I suppose so…well? We don't have a lot of time. Aren't you going to shrink?"

Salazar snapped, "Don't be impatient Child!"

"If you would take us down an put us on top of each other dear?" asked Helga

"Oh sure no problem!" After the portraits shrunk to the size of a deck of cards Harry had to consult the Marauder Map to get back to the Gryffindor Common Room. He was still lost. All he knew was that the room was located in the center of the castle. Not enough information to go on.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good. Show me the way to the Gryffindor Common Room."

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs reminds Mr. Prongs Jr. to mind his manners

"How did you know I was Prongs Jr?"

Mr. Prongs Jr. did not erase the map at the beginning of his tale. Messrs Moony and Padfoot reminds Prongs Jr. to turn the Map off immediately after use!

Mr. Wormtail agrees with Messrs Moony and Padfoot.

Mr. Prongs also agree with Messrs Moony and Padfoot.

"Yes, yes, fine…could you please show me the way to Gryffindor Tower?"

Sure

"Thanks! Mischief Managed." There was no one in the corridors leading to the common room, and Harry hurried all the way to the Common Room, moving silently through the darkness invisible to the naked eye. When he finally reached the Portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry removed the coat, and woke the sleeping portrait.

"Hmm. What? Oh it's you again, out late dear? Password?"

"Yeah. Mimbulus mimbletonia." He hurriedly climbed through the portrait hole and entered the Common Room. Harry then noticed a figure with red hair falling over the edge of the couch. Inching closer he noticed it was Ginny. Ignoring a slight flutter in his stomach, Harry decided to wake Ginny; after all it would be nice to have company for breakfast, especially since no one in Gryffindor Tower was awake. Harry began to wake Ginny. "Ginny? Wake up Gin, it's morning."

"Hmmm? Five more minutes Dad."

"Ginny wake up!" Still no response. After five minutes of trying unsuccessfully to wake her up, Harry decided to try Fred and George's method. "Gin wake up. Ron's eating all the sausages!!!"

"I'm up. Harry?" asked a confused Ginny.

Grinning he said "Sorry to wake you Gin, but it's morning and I wanted to have breakfast with you, no one else is awake. I'm going to change now. Meet me here in five minutes?"

"Sure" she said brightly "Don't you dare leave without me." Ginny hurried up the stairs thinking. While brushing her teeth, various thoughts flittered through her head. Harry wanted to have breakfast with me? He woke me to have breakfast…well, he did say that no one was awake yet. He could have woken Ron! A little voice answered, yes but Ron's a trifle difficult to wake in the morning right? She countered, so am I. The annoying voice did not supply any comeback to Ginny's comment, so she fixed her hair and changed. Suddenly, she remembered something about sausages, and raced back to the common room to meet Harry.

As he was changing, Harry wondered why he was so happy to have breakfast with Ginny. After all, it's not like they hadn't eaten together before. True, they'd always had either Ron or Hermione or other Gryffindors or the Weasley's around them, but Harry began to see the only Weasley daughter in a different light after the Ministry attack. 'And today is the day I return to the Dursley's' he mused. He was still smiling as he entered the Common Room. Harry only had to wait a few minutes before Ginny came barreling down the Girl's staircase shouting, "Come on before Ron gets there and eats all the sausage!" It was the only end of the year Harry had ever smiled in the five years he's been there.