Harry held his wand in front of him as he stepped thru the secret doorway and up the spiraling stairway. Cobwebs littered the stairway. At the top a solid wall opened, as if by magic, revealing a room. Harry stepped through into a medium sized room covered in dust and cobwebs. It looked like a sitting or a common room with a couple of large armchairs in front of the fireplace. When Harry went into the room the wall closed behind him. Further exploration revealed a bedroom with connecting bathroom, a study filled with books and a very large desk, and a third, smaller, room that was empty.
After exploring, Harry lit a fire in the grate and soon the room was filled with warmth. Several cleaning charms were next and he soon had the rooms to rights. A painting hung above the mantle. At first Harry really didn't pay attention to it but later it seemed to be watching him. Harry approached it and was startled to find what could be himself staring back at him. Wild, messy black hair, along with what Harry could identify as some of his own facial features. Bright blue eyes that eerily remind him of Dumbledore stared back.
"Well well. Who are you boy" asked the portrait gruffly.
Harry bristled at the word 'boy'. It reminded him to much of his uncle. "Harry Potter."
The portrait seemed surprised. "Do me a favor young man. Prick the end of your finger and place a drop of blood on the tapestry, on the far wall."
Harry looked in the direction that the portrait indicated. A large tapestry hung on the wall going from ceiling to floor. He couldn't make out the family name at the top, it was too faded. Hesitantly Harry did as he was instructed. The moment his blood touched the fabric it seemed to clean and repair itself. The faded colors brightened and the rips and holes repaired themselves.
Stepping back Harry saw the name 'Gryffindor' at the top. He examined his own name. A broken line led to Jill's name and two solid line combined to connect them to Michael. Harry was floored. He was related to Godric Gryffindor. He then traced the unbroken line of the Potter's to a Charles Potter, knight, who married a Johanna Gryffindor. A solid line led to Godric and Rowena Ravenclaw! A broken line was between the two founders. A solid line led from Godric to an Eleanor Malfoy! Unbelievable! And if that wasn't enough a broken line led from Eleanor to Salazar Slytherin! They had a set of solid lines combined to a Samuel Slytherin. What in the HELL was going on back then! He needed some answers.
Harry returned to the portrait. It even looked cleaner. "Thank you my boy."
"You're welcome. Who are you?"
"Godric Gryffindor, of course. These rooms were my chambers from when I lived here." Now Harry was truly gobsmacked. It must have shown on his face because Godric chuckled.
"Do you have any questions, Harry?"
Harry was even more surprised. "How did you know my name?"
Godric chuckled again. "Your blood updated the family tapestry. I know all about you as you are one of my direct descendants. You filled in the spaces in between myself and you and everything that has happened to the family. I also know that Salazar's descendant has been trying to kill you, son, and that you are unmarried and that you have an infant son. I hope to meet him someday."
Harry shook his head. It was simply too much to take in. "I'll bring him here tomorrow. He's asleep right now."
"He's here? Things have certainly changed since I was in charge of the school."
"Umm… I kind of snuck him in. Two house elves take care of him while I'm in class. I couldn't just leave him."
"That is a very unselfish thing to do but what about his mother?"
"She doesn't want him or can't keep him. Her parents won't let her. I couldn't let him grow up the way I did so I simply brought him with me. No one knows about him. It's for his own protection. If Voldemort got a hold of him, he would use him to get to me. I can't let that happen."
"Understandable and proper. If fact I believe that you and your son should move into these chambers tomorrow. They have more protection than anywhere else in the school. We will talk more then. I need a nap to process everything." The great Godric Gryffindor went to sleep. Harry went out the door that led to the normal entrance to the chambers. He saw a painting of a lion, lying in some tall grass. Immediately the words 'Chamber of Godric' came into his head. Harry said the words out loud and the painting roared in response and opened. Harry grinned and thanked the lion and made his way back down to his soon to be old rooms.
The next morning Michael woke up early. Harry fed, bathed, and changed his son before the elves could do a thing. Placing Michael on his hip, Harry showed the elves the secret passage and led them up the winding stairs to Godric's chambers. Once there Harry explained that he had Godric's permission to stay in the chamber since they were safer for Michael. He also told them that this was a secret, just as Michael was. Dobby and Winky were very happy to move everything up from the other room and while they transferred everything Harry introduced Michael to Godric. The painting seemed to be impressed with the baby. Michael talked non stop for five minutes in baby gibberish with a couple of giggles escaping every once in a while. Harry hadn't heard that much from his son before and was amazed at the baby's antics. What ever Michael was saying, it was important.
Harry made sure that Michael and the two elves were settled in before leaving. He made his way to the Great Hall to pick up his schedule. He ate a couple of pieces of toast and a half a glass of pumpkin juice before Professor McGonagall gave him his schedule. A quick glance told him that he had Charms first and then Potions, which he would skip.
Ron and Hermione were already waiting outside the classroom when Harry arrived. He sat down first and shot an icy glare at Ron who was going to sit beside him. Hermione snuck in and sat down before Ron could recover. As normal Ron didn't really notice the glare and actually frowned at Hermione for sitting there. He had wanted that seat. He was under orders to find out why Harry's attitude had changed so much and where he had been staying at. Most assumed that he had stayed at Grimmauld Place, but they could be certain since they couldn't get in. Ron had no idea that Harry knew about the money, it never even crossed his mind. So Ron took the seat across from Harry, next to Neville.
"Why did you give up the Quidditch badge? Not that I'm complaining, but I was just curious."
"I have other priorities now, Ron, and they don't include Quidditch."
"Well I'm holding try outs this Saturday and I need the rest of the team there."
"I'm not playing at all, Ron. You'll need to find a new seeker."
"Right and I'm You-Know-Who."
Harry couldn't reply as Professor Flitwick started the lesson. Most of the class period was spent reviewing last year's charms and what to expect with their NEWTS. Harry hardly spoke as he preformed his charms and only to Hermione when needed. Class ended and Harry left, heading towards his old rooms.
"Harry! We have Potions next" said Hermione, stopping him by grabbing his arm.
"I'm not going to Potions. I refuse to be taught by a murderer." Harry shook her hand off gently and continued making his way to Godric's chamber. Once inside he drew a chair up in front of the painting as Godric requested. Once Harry was comfortable he asked the portrait "You want to explain to me why you were married to a Malfoy but had a daughter with Rowena Ravenclaw?"
Godric sighed. He had never explained things about this to anyone, even his own daughter. "Eleanor and I were betrothed by our fathers. Although she was very beautiful and projected an air of innocence, she was evil and cruel. Too many servants and serfs had bruises, cuts, or worse. I couldn't understand how someone could be like that. At our wedding she asked that we wait to consummate the marriage until we knew each other better. I agreed thinking that she was nervous. How wrong I was. Not more than two months after our wedding, she started an affair with Salazar, my best friend. We had trained as knights together and earned our spurs about the same time. Since we were both wizards, we thought that a school for magic was needed. Since none other existed at the time. Salazar found Rowena and Helga and together we built and ran Hogwarts. Eleanor hated the place. She said that it was too drafty and that the magic made her nervous. I allowed her to visit her family several times during the two years before she left me. I had no idea that she actually stayed here in the castle, in Salazar's secret chamber."
"He built the Chamber of Secrets that early?"
"You know of it?"
"Oh yes, I know it. I killed a basilisk in my second year down there."
"Really?" Godric, was impressed.
"Yes. I nearly died from it."
"Don't you have to speak Parseltongue to enter?"
Harry nodded. "It's believed that Voldemort, Slytherin's descendant, transferred some of his powers to me when I destroyed him the first time."
"That is possible. Anyway this continued for two years. I didn't push but I was getting suspicious. Then Eleanor became pregnant with Salazar's child. It was then that she wanted me in her bed. I refused and she finally confessed to what they had done. I had been betrayed by my wife and my best friend and now they wanted me to turn the other cheek and accept the child as my own. I refused. I had fallen in love with Rowena by then, although we had not gone as far in our relationship as they had. "
Godric looked happy as he talked about his love. "Rowena's husband had been killed in some battle, leaving her a widow with a young son. The boy needed some male guidance and I volunteered. Rowena didn't trust her husband's family. They were constantly at war with someone and they never knew that she was a witch. Anyway, Stephen flourished under my instructions and his mother's care. He was an exceptional wizard with a knack for Transfiguration. I was as proud of him as if I were his real father. We spent a great deal of time together, which meant that we spent a lot a time with Rowena. Gradually Stephen spent his time else where and I continued to visit Rowena. I think Stephen hoped we would fall in love, even though I was married. Both of us knew that we could never be fully together, but we took what we could have. So when Eleanor suddenly wanted me in her bed I was suspicious. I soon learned of the child and refused to acknowledge it. It soon became apparent that she was with child. I publicly humiliated her and banished her from Hogwarts. Salazar went with her and swore revenge on me for not accepting their love. But even when I banished Eleanor, I still couldn't marry Rowena. Eleanor and I were still married in the eyes of the church."
"One night, shortly after Eleanor and Salazar left, I ended up having too much wine and ended up in Rowena's bed. I swore that I would never drink again the next morning consequently nine months later Johanna was born. She was a beautiful baby, even if she had my looks but she was as smart as her mother. When she was ten, as a precaution due to war, we sent her to live with Stephen. It was a good thing since Salazar returned shortly after and murdered Rowena and I in our sleep, because I had dared hurt Eleanor. He never knew about Johanna or I think he would have killed her as well. Stephen and his wife raised her and she eventually met and married one of Stephen's knights, Charles Potter, who was also a wizard."
Harry had sat on the edge of his seat as he listened to the tragic story. So many things had happened to all of them. He was beginning to wonder if it was a family curse or something. Standing, he said good bye to Godric and checked on Michael, who was sleeping. Harry placed a gentle kiss on his head and left the rooms, heading to the Great Hall for lunch. He took a seat at Gryffindor table and began to fill his plate with shepherd's pie. Hermione and Ron joined him a few minutes later. Although Harry greeted them politely, Hermione a little warmer than Ron, he refused to talk about what was wrong with him. Where he had stayed at over the summer, and Quidditch, although he did repeat that he was not playing. Ron, who didn't realize that he was on thin ice with Harry as it was, refused to believe that Harry wouldn't play. To top off his lunch Harry was informed that Professor McGonagall wanted to see him right away. It was turning into a very bad day.