Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Balancing Without A Net ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: EmruasCat 
Meetings in the pub.
Non Anime: Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.16.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 607 | Status: Work In Progress
Meetings in the pub.
Non Anime: Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.16.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 607 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do not make any money from the writing of this fanfiction.
*By the way, this story completely ignores Sirius’ death and the Horcruxes. That’s why it’s Alternate Universe – for that, and, you know, time travel.
*Some of you may have noticed that I put Weaseley’s Wizard Wheezes in Hogsmeade instead of Diagon Alley, as it is in canon. This was done on purpose, but I do appreciate that people are paying that much attention to my story that they notice ^_^
*I’d like to make something clear: the kittens and the crup puppy aren’t familiars. A true familiar is an animal companion close in intelligence to its owner. The kittens and the puppy are pets, because Harry’s never had a pet other than Hedwig, and went a little overboard. Similarly, Neville’s toad would be a pet, but Hermione’s cat Crookshanks is a true familiar.
Warnings: Abuse – physical, sexual, and emotional. Male/Male slash.
Chapter 4
Salazar Slytherin surveyed the mountain of letters on his desk that was rapidly gaining height as more owls poured in.
“I’m beginning to think we should have given them a bit more forewarning,” he remarked to his lover, frowning over how the words formed in his mouth. Maiamari had done something, and now all four of the Founders spoke as though they were from the modern time, but it still felt quite odd to hear the words come out of his mouth.
Godric Gryffindor slid his arms around Salazar’s waist and rested his head on his companion’s shoulder in a moment of quiet. Of the four Founders, Godric had perhaps taken the transition from their former time to the future the worst, and Salazar had yet to think of a discreet way to figure out why. The frequent bouts of quiet stillness from Godric were just odd coming from the normally rambunctious fighter. In the meantime, though, Salazar’s own arm found its way around Godric’s waist, as he had no objection to Godric’s wish for physical closeness as well as quiet.
“Aww, you two are so cute together!”
As one, the warriors turned to glare at the raven-haired woman leaning in their doorway grinning impishly as them. Rowena had adjusted the best to the time travel, and it showed in her manner of dress and the way she carried herself.
“Is there something you need, Lady Ravenclaw?” Salazar asked with forced courtesy.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Rowena, Salazar, it is Rowena. And no, I just came to see if you two needed any help sorting through that,” she said, gesturing at the ever-growing pile of parchment.
“No, thank you, Rowena,” Godric said politely. “Is the Great Hall ready for tomorrow?”
“Helga’s putting the finishing touches on it right now.” The beautiful woman’s expression was firm and resolved. “This ridiculous division between our Houses has gone much too far. A bit of friendly competition was all well and good, but the enmity between your two Houses caused two wars. Never again will it be allowed to happen.”
“Never,” the two men echoed in tandem.
***
Sitting on the sofa staring in shock, Harry learned from the articles in the paper that not only had Dumbledore been removed from his office of Headmaster, his equally famous familiar, the phoenix Fawkes, had repudiated him and apparently remained at Hogwarts to guard the school.
Worried about his old friend, Harry got up and went into his bedroom, digging through his trunk for the spare tail feather Fawkes had given him to make communication easier when he wished.
“Fawkes?” he called aloud. “Are you okay?”
The phoenix appeared in a flare of fire and settled into the nekoshin’s outstretched arms, cuddling close. Harry returned to the sofa and sat down, stroking his hands through the magnificent feathers.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry.” The phoenix let out a single pained note of acknowledgement, and Harry’s grip on him tightened.
“Harry?” Fred stuck his head into the room, having left a few minutes before, and did a double take when he saw the phoenix. “Is – is that -?”
“This is Fawkes,” Harry said quietly. “He…was Dumbledore’s familiar. I think –“ He paused as Fawkes tried to snuggle even closer than he already was. “I think he’ll probably stay with me for a while. I’m not his master, but I’m a friend. D’you mind?”
“ No, ‘course not,” Fred said immediately, and Fawkes trilled softly at him. Fred smiled at the phoenix, and asked Harry, “Do you want some lunch? Me and George thought we’d close the shop for a bit and eat out today.”
“And catch all the latest gossip about the Founders,” Harry said dryly. Fred grinned at him, and Harry shrugged. “Sure, just let me get out of my pajamas and into some actual clothes.”
***
“I’m going down to the village to get some lunch,” Godric murmured, bored with sorting his mail into various piles – press, Ministry, school-related, and random strangers. “Will you come with me?”
“Call a house-elf and eat here,” Salazar said shortly. His batch of mail was not nearly as friendly as the mail the rest had received – already he’d disarmed and destroyed over fifty cursed letters. Seventeen Howlers had made it into his office and screamed insults at him before he’d placed a ward around the castle that prevented any Howler from making it in, causing them to explode outside on the grounds.
“I…would rather go to the village.”
Salazar paused and took a long look at his lover. Godric did not have even a drop of Sight in his blood, but he sometimes got these hunches that always panned out. Always. It had irritated Salazar to no end early on in their relationship, when Godric wanted to operate on his instincts even when it went against all bloody common sense, and every single time Godric had been right, without rhyme or reason to back him up.
An envelope that was glowing a sickly green was dropped in front of Slytherin, and he hastily aimed his wand at it, putting it inside a protective forcefield. When the letter turned from green to a nasty-looking brown-yellow puke color, Salazar rubbed his eyes and sighed. “Go and eat, Godric. I must deal with…this. Really, Grindelwald and whats-his-name – Voldemort – have caused a great deal of damage to my name and reputation. I must address the misconceptions regarding my House and personal history – and soon.”
***
Harry walked down the stairs with a sigh, Fawkes still in his arms.
“Harry?” George asked, puzzled.
“He doesn’t want to leave me,” Harry explained. “Nearly singed my shirt when I went to change and I had to put him down for a moment.”
The twins looked at each other and shrugged. “’Shall we go?’” they chorused.
The trio, plus a cranky phoenix, made it to the Three Broomsticks without incident. Sitting in his favorite pub sipping at a mug of warm milk (Harry had had to endure Fred and George’s snickering at his new favorite drink), Harry was relaxed to the point that his tail had unwound itself from his waist and was swishing lazily behind him. It helped Harry’s nerves that the three of them were sitting at the most isolated table in the pub out of sight of most of the customers, Harry’s back was to a wall instead of facing other people, and there was a nasty, over-protective, extremely creative twin on either side of him.
Harry’s ears perked up when they heard a commotion outside the pub, and Fred and George glanced toward the entrance with curiosity. The double doors swung open violently as a gust of raw magic blew them open, making all three jolt. A gorgeous blond dressed in crimson and gold stepped rather hurriedly inside. The doors slammed shut with another gust of magic, and Harry’s hand twitched instinctively towards his wand as the blond hastily sealed the entrance to prevent a mob from bursting in. Fred and George caught their breaths in shock – it was Godric Gryffindor!
The famous man looked toward Madame Rosmerta, who was staring. “My apologies for the sealing spell. I…needed some space. Have you a private table?” the wizard asked, his voice tired and harassed.
Rosmerta’s eyes softened. She’d helped Harry often enough that she knew what it felt like to be harassed by mobs of witches and wizards too curious for their own good. “I do, mi’lord –“ The bartender turned towards Harry and the twins, only to realize the table was taken.
Harry glanced at the twins, who nodded rather hastily. “You are welcome to join us, Lord Gryffindor,” he said quietly, his voice nonetheless carrying in the now very-quiet pub. Fawkes added his agreement by letting out a trill of more happiness than Harry had heard from him that day.
A look of surprise crossed the Founder’s face. “A good day to you, Master Fawkes, and thank you, Master…?”
“Harry Potter,” the nekoshin said with a wry smile, standing politely as the Founder approached, hearing and feeling Fred and George hastily stand as well on either side of him.
Recognition was flickering in bright blue eyes now. “Got rid of what’s-his-name – Moldywart – didn’t you?” Godric reached the table and gestured for them to sit. “You needn’t stand, I don’t bother much with ceremony.”
Harry sat and laughed softly, regarding the Founder consideringly. “That is the first time I’ve ever heard him called that, but yes. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one in the world who makes fun of his name.”
“Oi, little brother –“
“-we do that, too,” Fred and George protested.
“Yes, but you two make fun of everything,” Harry pointed out as Godric sat down across from them. “These are my unofficial older brothers, Fred and George Weaseley,” gesturing at each. “No blood relation to me, but they’re so close to me as to make no difference.”
Godric nodded thoughtfully. “I understand your meaning. Helga and Rowena are much the same to me.”
Rosmerta stepped discreetly forward. “Can I get you anything to drink, mi’lord?”
“Butterbeer, love, and whatever soup you’ve got ready,” Godric said easily, flashing a charming smile at the woman, make her blush and giggle.
“I’ll be back in just a moment, mi’lord,” she said, and headed hastily for the kitchen.
Godric returned his attention to the boys – young men – in front of him. He tilted his head to the side a bit and asked, “Are you two the owners of…Weaseley’s Wizard Wheezes, I believe the name was?”
“’Yes, indeed!’”
Harry sat quietly and nursed his mug of warm milk while the twins chatted with Godric about the joke shop and Rosmerta brought the Founder his meal. When the twins mentioned his ability to keep up with the latest spells in curiosity, Godric explained that the castle’s guardian spirit had altered the Founders’ speech (five hundred years included several language shifts) and given them the knowledge of what had happened (in a general way) since the Founders had left their own time. The conversation turned to money, and Harry was forced to pay more attention to the conversation when his name came up.
“Our little brother here –“ Fred said, draping an arm about Harry’s shoulders.
“-balances our books and covers our arses financially,” George chimed in, draping his arm about Harry as well and ignoring the nekoshin’s disapproving look at his language.
“If it weren’t for him giving us a boost to start with –“
“-we never could have opened the shop.”
“Not to mention the fact that –“
“-with all of his magic shielding us –“
“-we can experiment more comfortably –“
“-and keep ahead of the market.”
Harry shifted uncomfortably as Godric’s gaze focused fully on him. He’d been feeling on edge since Godric came within speaking distance of their table, and was wishing he hadn’t invited the Founder to sit with them, though he didn’t understand why. “I’m the only heir of the Potter family,” he muttered. “The money I gave Fred and George in the beginning was from the Triwizard Tournament. I didn’t need it, want it, or deserve it. I thought it should at least do some good, since I was stuck with it.”
Godric regarded Harry with grave eyes. All four of the Founders had been informed by Minerva McGonagall of the events of Harry’s fourth year. The words Harry had just spoken, coupled with the pain shadowing his beautiful green eyes, told Godric much about Harry’s character that he and Salazar had not observed within Maiamari’s scrying globe.
Wanting to know more about the beautiful submissive sitting across from him, Godric asked, “I beg your pardon if the question offends you, but why do you have cat ears?”
Harry blinked at him, startled by the topic change, then raised his tail and waved it. “I have a tail, too,” he said wryly. “I’m a nekoshin, which is a humanoid magical creature originating in Japan.” A puzzled look crossed Godric’s face at the mention of the unfamiliar country, but the Founder did not interrupt. “I do not know how the creature blood got into the Potter line, but I’m assuming I get it from that side of the family since my mother was a muggleborn.” Again a startled look crossed Godric’s face, and again he did not interrupt. “When my Inheritance hit, I sprouted these,” he tugged an ear, “but I have a few other feline characteristics that only show up when my emotions are running high. Other than that, I’m a normal wizard.” Fred and George snorted loudly. “Shut up, you two.”
“Little brother, you fought a possessed teacher your first year –“
“-a basilisk your second –“
“-and evil animagus and an uncontrolled werewolf your third –“
“-the Tournament and ol’ Voldyshorts your fourth –“
“-the Toad your fifth –“
“-and beat bloody Voldemort your fifth as well.”
“Your fans have nicknamed you ‘The Savior of the Wizarding World.’”
Together they chorused, “’Normal?’”
Harry’s ears were flat on his head and he was scowling fiercely at them. “As if I wanted any of that shit to happen to me,” he muttered, feline growl prominent in his tone.
As the twins laughed at him, Godric had to restrain a tremendous impulse to reach over and pet Harry’s ears to see if they were as soft as they looked. Goddess above, but his and Salazar’s chosen was cute, though from the current look on Harry’s face, Godric and Salazar would do well to never say that out loud. Godric contented himself with giving Harry a sympathetic smile. “You will be at Hogwarts tomorrow, Harry?” he asked gently.
Harry’s ear lifted a little at the prospect of being back at his first real home. “Yes. I’ll be glad to get a break from these two,” he said pointedly.
“’Aww, little brother, you know you love us.’”
Godric’s lips twitched in amusement. “Salazar and the girls – Rowena and Helga – have expressed an interest in meeting you. Would you be able to come for lunch tomorrow, before the rest of the school begins to arrive, and have a talk with us? I realize it is dreadfully short notice…”
“Ahh –“ Harry stammered. “Y-yes, of course.”
“Wonderful.” Godric smiled warmly at him, and Harry unaccountably felt his face flushing. “Well, it was indeed a pleasure talking to you gentlemen, but I’d best be getting back to Hogwarts.” He grimaced. “I’m sure I’ve more mail to sort through.”
It was Harry’s turn to smile sympathetically as the three rose politely with Lord Gryffindor. The Founder shook each of their hands and strode out the back entrance of the Three Broomsticks after canceling the sealing spell he’d place on all the doors leading in, and Harry’s sharper ears caught the crack of Apparation. While the twins gloated over meeting the Founder, Harry began to quietly panic at the thought of a formal meal with the man who put him so on edge.
***
Godric strode up with path leading to the castle whistling under his breath. His hunch had panned out, and he’d learned more about Harry. He thought again of the blush that had covered the nekoshin’s face when the twins had brought up his history, and couldn’t help but grin a little at the thought of Salazar’s probable reaction. Salazar loved trying to make Godric blush, and when he saw how very lovely the little submissive look when pink-faced, Godric was sure to let off the hook for quite some time.
*By the way, this story completely ignores Sirius’ death and the Horcruxes. That’s why it’s Alternate Universe – for that, and, you know, time travel.
*Some of you may have noticed that I put Weaseley’s Wizard Wheezes in Hogsmeade instead of Diagon Alley, as it is in canon. This was done on purpose, but I do appreciate that people are paying that much attention to my story that they notice ^_^
*I’d like to make something clear: the kittens and the crup puppy aren’t familiars. A true familiar is an animal companion close in intelligence to its owner. The kittens and the puppy are pets, because Harry’s never had a pet other than Hedwig, and went a little overboard. Similarly, Neville’s toad would be a pet, but Hermione’s cat Crookshanks is a true familiar.
Warnings: Abuse – physical, sexual, and emotional. Male/Male slash.
Chapter 4
Salazar Slytherin surveyed the mountain of letters on his desk that was rapidly gaining height as more owls poured in.
“I’m beginning to think we should have given them a bit more forewarning,” he remarked to his lover, frowning over how the words formed in his mouth. Maiamari had done something, and now all four of the Founders spoke as though they were from the modern time, but it still felt quite odd to hear the words come out of his mouth.
Godric Gryffindor slid his arms around Salazar’s waist and rested his head on his companion’s shoulder in a moment of quiet. Of the four Founders, Godric had perhaps taken the transition from their former time to the future the worst, and Salazar had yet to think of a discreet way to figure out why. The frequent bouts of quiet stillness from Godric were just odd coming from the normally rambunctious fighter. In the meantime, though, Salazar’s own arm found its way around Godric’s waist, as he had no objection to Godric’s wish for physical closeness as well as quiet.
“Aww, you two are so cute together!”
As one, the warriors turned to glare at the raven-haired woman leaning in their doorway grinning impishly as them. Rowena had adjusted the best to the time travel, and it showed in her manner of dress and the way she carried herself.
“Is there something you need, Lady Ravenclaw?” Salazar asked with forced courtesy.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Rowena, Salazar, it is Rowena. And no, I just came to see if you two needed any help sorting through that,” she said, gesturing at the ever-growing pile of parchment.
“No, thank you, Rowena,” Godric said politely. “Is the Great Hall ready for tomorrow?”
“Helga’s putting the finishing touches on it right now.” The beautiful woman’s expression was firm and resolved. “This ridiculous division between our Houses has gone much too far. A bit of friendly competition was all well and good, but the enmity between your two Houses caused two wars. Never again will it be allowed to happen.”
“Never,” the two men echoed in tandem.
***
Sitting on the sofa staring in shock, Harry learned from the articles in the paper that not only had Dumbledore been removed from his office of Headmaster, his equally famous familiar, the phoenix Fawkes, had repudiated him and apparently remained at Hogwarts to guard the school.
Worried about his old friend, Harry got up and went into his bedroom, digging through his trunk for the spare tail feather Fawkes had given him to make communication easier when he wished.
“Fawkes?” he called aloud. “Are you okay?”
The phoenix appeared in a flare of fire and settled into the nekoshin’s outstretched arms, cuddling close. Harry returned to the sofa and sat down, stroking his hands through the magnificent feathers.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry.” The phoenix let out a single pained note of acknowledgement, and Harry’s grip on him tightened.
“Harry?” Fred stuck his head into the room, having left a few minutes before, and did a double take when he saw the phoenix. “Is – is that -?”
“This is Fawkes,” Harry said quietly. “He…was Dumbledore’s familiar. I think –“ He paused as Fawkes tried to snuggle even closer than he already was. “I think he’ll probably stay with me for a while. I’m not his master, but I’m a friend. D’you mind?”
“ No, ‘course not,” Fred said immediately, and Fawkes trilled softly at him. Fred smiled at the phoenix, and asked Harry, “Do you want some lunch? Me and George thought we’d close the shop for a bit and eat out today.”
“And catch all the latest gossip about the Founders,” Harry said dryly. Fred grinned at him, and Harry shrugged. “Sure, just let me get out of my pajamas and into some actual clothes.”
***
“I’m going down to the village to get some lunch,” Godric murmured, bored with sorting his mail into various piles – press, Ministry, school-related, and random strangers. “Will you come with me?”
“Call a house-elf and eat here,” Salazar said shortly. His batch of mail was not nearly as friendly as the mail the rest had received – already he’d disarmed and destroyed over fifty cursed letters. Seventeen Howlers had made it into his office and screamed insults at him before he’d placed a ward around the castle that prevented any Howler from making it in, causing them to explode outside on the grounds.
“I…would rather go to the village.”
Salazar paused and took a long look at his lover. Godric did not have even a drop of Sight in his blood, but he sometimes got these hunches that always panned out. Always. It had irritated Salazar to no end early on in their relationship, when Godric wanted to operate on his instincts even when it went against all bloody common sense, and every single time Godric had been right, without rhyme or reason to back him up.
An envelope that was glowing a sickly green was dropped in front of Slytherin, and he hastily aimed his wand at it, putting it inside a protective forcefield. When the letter turned from green to a nasty-looking brown-yellow puke color, Salazar rubbed his eyes and sighed. “Go and eat, Godric. I must deal with…this. Really, Grindelwald and whats-his-name – Voldemort – have caused a great deal of damage to my name and reputation. I must address the misconceptions regarding my House and personal history – and soon.”
***
Harry walked down the stairs with a sigh, Fawkes still in his arms.
“Harry?” George asked, puzzled.
“He doesn’t want to leave me,” Harry explained. “Nearly singed my shirt when I went to change and I had to put him down for a moment.”
The twins looked at each other and shrugged. “’Shall we go?’” they chorused.
The trio, plus a cranky phoenix, made it to the Three Broomsticks without incident. Sitting in his favorite pub sipping at a mug of warm milk (Harry had had to endure Fred and George’s snickering at his new favorite drink), Harry was relaxed to the point that his tail had unwound itself from his waist and was swishing lazily behind him. It helped Harry’s nerves that the three of them were sitting at the most isolated table in the pub out of sight of most of the customers, Harry’s back was to a wall instead of facing other people, and there was a nasty, over-protective, extremely creative twin on either side of him.
Harry’s ears perked up when they heard a commotion outside the pub, and Fred and George glanced toward the entrance with curiosity. The double doors swung open violently as a gust of raw magic blew them open, making all three jolt. A gorgeous blond dressed in crimson and gold stepped rather hurriedly inside. The doors slammed shut with another gust of magic, and Harry’s hand twitched instinctively towards his wand as the blond hastily sealed the entrance to prevent a mob from bursting in. Fred and George caught their breaths in shock – it was Godric Gryffindor!
The famous man looked toward Madame Rosmerta, who was staring. “My apologies for the sealing spell. I…needed some space. Have you a private table?” the wizard asked, his voice tired and harassed.
Rosmerta’s eyes softened. She’d helped Harry often enough that she knew what it felt like to be harassed by mobs of witches and wizards too curious for their own good. “I do, mi’lord –“ The bartender turned towards Harry and the twins, only to realize the table was taken.
Harry glanced at the twins, who nodded rather hastily. “You are welcome to join us, Lord Gryffindor,” he said quietly, his voice nonetheless carrying in the now very-quiet pub. Fawkes added his agreement by letting out a trill of more happiness than Harry had heard from him that day.
A look of surprise crossed the Founder’s face. “A good day to you, Master Fawkes, and thank you, Master…?”
“Harry Potter,” the nekoshin said with a wry smile, standing politely as the Founder approached, hearing and feeling Fred and George hastily stand as well on either side of him.
Recognition was flickering in bright blue eyes now. “Got rid of what’s-his-name – Moldywart – didn’t you?” Godric reached the table and gestured for them to sit. “You needn’t stand, I don’t bother much with ceremony.”
Harry sat and laughed softly, regarding the Founder consideringly. “That is the first time I’ve ever heard him called that, but yes. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one in the world who makes fun of his name.”
“Oi, little brother –“
“-we do that, too,” Fred and George protested.
“Yes, but you two make fun of everything,” Harry pointed out as Godric sat down across from them. “These are my unofficial older brothers, Fred and George Weaseley,” gesturing at each. “No blood relation to me, but they’re so close to me as to make no difference.”
Godric nodded thoughtfully. “I understand your meaning. Helga and Rowena are much the same to me.”
Rosmerta stepped discreetly forward. “Can I get you anything to drink, mi’lord?”
“Butterbeer, love, and whatever soup you’ve got ready,” Godric said easily, flashing a charming smile at the woman, make her blush and giggle.
“I’ll be back in just a moment, mi’lord,” she said, and headed hastily for the kitchen.
Godric returned his attention to the boys – young men – in front of him. He tilted his head to the side a bit and asked, “Are you two the owners of…Weaseley’s Wizard Wheezes, I believe the name was?”
“’Yes, indeed!’”
Harry sat quietly and nursed his mug of warm milk while the twins chatted with Godric about the joke shop and Rosmerta brought the Founder his meal. When the twins mentioned his ability to keep up with the latest spells in curiosity, Godric explained that the castle’s guardian spirit had altered the Founders’ speech (five hundred years included several language shifts) and given them the knowledge of what had happened (in a general way) since the Founders had left their own time. The conversation turned to money, and Harry was forced to pay more attention to the conversation when his name came up.
“Our little brother here –“ Fred said, draping an arm about Harry’s shoulders.
“-balances our books and covers our arses financially,” George chimed in, draping his arm about Harry as well and ignoring the nekoshin’s disapproving look at his language.
“If it weren’t for him giving us a boost to start with –“
“-we never could have opened the shop.”
“Not to mention the fact that –“
“-with all of his magic shielding us –“
“-we can experiment more comfortably –“
“-and keep ahead of the market.”
Harry shifted uncomfortably as Godric’s gaze focused fully on him. He’d been feeling on edge since Godric came within speaking distance of their table, and was wishing he hadn’t invited the Founder to sit with them, though he didn’t understand why. “I’m the only heir of the Potter family,” he muttered. “The money I gave Fred and George in the beginning was from the Triwizard Tournament. I didn’t need it, want it, or deserve it. I thought it should at least do some good, since I was stuck with it.”
Godric regarded Harry with grave eyes. All four of the Founders had been informed by Minerva McGonagall of the events of Harry’s fourth year. The words Harry had just spoken, coupled with the pain shadowing his beautiful green eyes, told Godric much about Harry’s character that he and Salazar had not observed within Maiamari’s scrying globe.
Wanting to know more about the beautiful submissive sitting across from him, Godric asked, “I beg your pardon if the question offends you, but why do you have cat ears?”
Harry blinked at him, startled by the topic change, then raised his tail and waved it. “I have a tail, too,” he said wryly. “I’m a nekoshin, which is a humanoid magical creature originating in Japan.” A puzzled look crossed Godric’s face at the mention of the unfamiliar country, but the Founder did not interrupt. “I do not know how the creature blood got into the Potter line, but I’m assuming I get it from that side of the family since my mother was a muggleborn.” Again a startled look crossed Godric’s face, and again he did not interrupt. “When my Inheritance hit, I sprouted these,” he tugged an ear, “but I have a few other feline characteristics that only show up when my emotions are running high. Other than that, I’m a normal wizard.” Fred and George snorted loudly. “Shut up, you two.”
“Little brother, you fought a possessed teacher your first year –“
“-a basilisk your second –“
“-and evil animagus and an uncontrolled werewolf your third –“
“-the Tournament and ol’ Voldyshorts your fourth –“
“-the Toad your fifth –“
“-and beat bloody Voldemort your fifth as well.”
“Your fans have nicknamed you ‘The Savior of the Wizarding World.’”
Together they chorused, “’Normal?’”
Harry’s ears were flat on his head and he was scowling fiercely at them. “As if I wanted any of that shit to happen to me,” he muttered, feline growl prominent in his tone.
As the twins laughed at him, Godric had to restrain a tremendous impulse to reach over and pet Harry’s ears to see if they were as soft as they looked. Goddess above, but his and Salazar’s chosen was cute, though from the current look on Harry’s face, Godric and Salazar would do well to never say that out loud. Godric contented himself with giving Harry a sympathetic smile. “You will be at Hogwarts tomorrow, Harry?” he asked gently.
Harry’s ear lifted a little at the prospect of being back at his first real home. “Yes. I’ll be glad to get a break from these two,” he said pointedly.
“’Aww, little brother, you know you love us.’”
Godric’s lips twitched in amusement. “Salazar and the girls – Rowena and Helga – have expressed an interest in meeting you. Would you be able to come for lunch tomorrow, before the rest of the school begins to arrive, and have a talk with us? I realize it is dreadfully short notice…”
“Ahh –“ Harry stammered. “Y-yes, of course.”
“Wonderful.” Godric smiled warmly at him, and Harry unaccountably felt his face flushing. “Well, it was indeed a pleasure talking to you gentlemen, but I’d best be getting back to Hogwarts.” He grimaced. “I’m sure I’ve more mail to sort through.”
It was Harry’s turn to smile sympathetically as the three rose politely with Lord Gryffindor. The Founder shook each of their hands and strode out the back entrance of the Three Broomsticks after canceling the sealing spell he’d place on all the doors leading in, and Harry’s sharper ears caught the crack of Apparation. While the twins gloated over meeting the Founder, Harry began to quietly panic at the thought of a formal meal with the man who put him so on edge.
***
Godric strode up with path leading to the castle whistling under his breath. His hunch had panned out, and he’d learned more about Harry. He thought again of the blush that had covered the nekoshin’s face when the twins had brought up his history, and couldn’t help but grin a little at the thought of Salazar’s probable reaction. Salazar loved trying to make Godric blush, and when he saw how very lovely the little submissive look when pink-faced, Godric was sure to let off the hook for quite some time.