Date: Sunday, September 1st, 1991
Time: 10:10 AM
Location: King's Cross Station, London, United Kingdom
The streets of central London were still quiet in the Sunday morning haze, but the sudden arrival of a light military convoy turned more than a few curious heads. At its center was a 1991 British Military Bedford MK transport truck, polished clean, reinforced with enchanted plating beneath the chassis, and bearing no emblems save for the Royal Magical Seal hidden in plain view...a sigil that shimmered only to those with the sight to recognize it.
Inside the canvas-covered rear cabin, cushioned benches lined the interior. Seated with practiced grace were Harry James Potter and the thirteen Bound girls who were beginning their Hogwarts education this year.
Harry sat nearest the truck's rear, dressed in formal yet travel-ready royal attire...a fitted black tunic lined in silver with the House Potter, Peverell, and Hogwarts crests embroidered at the chest and shoulders. Beneath the layers, pressed gently to his heart, was the ever-pulsing Soulstone of the Bound...its glow unseen, but deeply felt by every girl around him.
At 5 feet 6 inches, and 155 pounds of athletic precision, Harry's presence could not be mistaken. His form...ripped, muscular, and mature beyond his eleven years...stood in stark contrast to most boys his age, whose shorter, leaner builds averaged barely 80 pounds.
Around him sat the witches of his soul-circle: Hermione, composed with her hair pinned back beneath a sapphire veil; Susan, softly smiling as she held Harry's gloved hand; Daphne, quiet and calculating; Penny, reading a Hogwarts first-year schedule aloud; Cho, Katie, Alicia, and the others...each dressed in rich formalwear trimmed in their family colors, modified for travel. Their Bands of Eternity were hidden beneath their sleeves, but the energy between them wove like a golden thread.
Opposite them, seated with arms folded and watching everything with predatory calm, sat the three magical beings of the Bound: Katarina, regal in a black cloak with dragon-scale fastenings; Ahri, her long silver-blonde hair tied into a floating ribbon; and Mizukume, her fox ears flicking once at every sound beyond the truck canvas.
As they rolled to a halt beside King's Cross Station, the rear doors were opened by two Royal Wardens in formal dragonhide vests. One gave a respectful nod. "Station perimeter is secure, my lord. The concealed platform entrance is active and buffered."
Harry rose first, stepping out into the station's back entrance with his head high and cloak fluttering behind him. His girls followed one by one, their gait coordinated, calm, and unafraid. The crowd at the station entrance parted instinctively...even if they didn't know why. Something about the group whispered importance.
Once inside, they made their way as one toward Platform 9 and 10. When they neared the invisible barrier between the platforms, Hermione, Padma, Sue, Lavender, and Pansy paused, awe evident in their eyes. It would be their first time stepping through the gateway...not just in storybooks, but in real life.
"Is it always like this?" Lavender asked, almost breathless. "No," Penny said with a small smile. "But today, we're walking with the Lord of Hogwarts. The old magic is awake." Harry gently reached out and took Hermione's hand, squeezing it once. "Let's go," he said. "Together."
One by one, they passed through the barrier...until the entire group emerged onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The red and gold Hogwarts Express puffed faint trails of white smoke into the morning sky, and the platform was abuzz with families and students in polished robes. But as the twenty-two walked forward in flowing formation, all sound seemed to pull inward. Whispers filled the air.
"Who are they?"
"Those clothes...those are royal crests…"
"That boy...he's not… could he be?"
Harry said nothing as they moved toward the train, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. He saw Ron Weasley fumbling with a luggage trolley, Neville Longbottom hugging his grandmother, and Draco Malfoy adjusting his black robes with a bored expression.
Draco caught sight of the group...and froze. Hermione's lips twitched. "He recognizes your presence. Not your name."
"I'd rather it stay that way," Harry murmured. "For now."
They reached their assigned private car, at the front of the train...its crest emblazoned not with a House symbol, but with a stylized engraving of the Four Founders entwined with the Soulstone rune.
A young platform conductor bowed as he opened the door. "Private quarters for the Hogwarts Lord and his companions. May your journey be smooth."
As the Bound stepped inside, the interior revealed plush seating, a polished wood table, enchanted tea service, and framed magical portraits of the Founders...each bowing as Harry entered. The train whistle blew once...long and loud.
Back in France, far from the bustle of King's Cross, Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour stood atop the Beauxbatons Departure Platform, waiting with their own travel trunks. Fleur adjusted Gabrielle's shoulder strap, smoothing a wrinkle in her robe.
"She's already there," Gabrielle whispered, glancing toward the north. "Elana says the walls are ready." Fleur smiled. "Then so are we."
Back on the Express, as the train pulled forward, Hermione leaned against Harry's side and whispered, "This is it, love. We're finally going." Harry looked out the window as the station passed and London faded into countryside. "No," he whispered back. "We've already arrived."
Time: Morning to Late Afternoon
Location: Hogwarts Express, En route to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Point of View: 3rd Person (Dialogue in 1st Person with Emotion)
The rhythmic clatter of iron wheels on track echoed through the corridor of the Hogwarts Express as it surged northward through the British countryside, fields and towns flickering past the windows. The scarlet train was alive with laughter, chatter, and the soft hoots of owls, including the regal snowy white Hedwig, who perched high on the luggage rack of Compartment C, her golden eyes watchful and proud.
Inside, the compartment was abuzz with warmth and quiet anticipation. Harry James Potter sat at the center, a calm and commanding presence, his back straight, eyes relaxed but observant. Now 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 155 lbs, Harry's figure was far beyond that of a typical eleven-year-old boy. With 115 lbs of honed muscle and a mere 40 lbs of fat, his body bore the product of endless training and magical enhancement...strong, broad-shouldered, and lean with the grace of a warrior. His Soulstone, hidden beneath the white cotton shirt and tailored black jacket, pulsed faintly with ancient magic...the counterpart to the Bands of Eternity worn by the girls beside him.
Nymphadora Tonks, "Dora" as Harry called her, adjusted the sleeve of her robe to glance at her wrist. "Still feels warm, sweetheart. Like you're holding my hand," she said softly, showing the enchanted silver band etched in flowing Ancient Veela script.
Sue Li and Parvati giggled from the opposite side. "It's because his magic pulses through it," Parvati murmured. "Like a heartbeat." She nestled closer to her twin soul, Padma, who was leaning against Harry's shoulder with a peaceful smile.
Across from them sat Cho, Katie, Angelina, Daphne, and Hermione...all girls who now bore the Band of Eternity with pride and devotion. Hermione brushed a lock of bushy hair behind her ear. "Harry, I finished reviewing our Hogwarts books. We'll be far ahead in theory… but I'm itching to test practical spellwork in the castle."
"You'll get your chance, love," Harry replied warmly, offering her a gentle smile. "Once we're settled, we'll practice together."
Ahri, her fox ears twitching slightly beneath her illusion glamor, stretched her hand and let the door click open just before it was knocked on.
And then… he appeared.
Red-haired. Freckled. Tall for a typical first year but still shorter than Harry...only about 4 feet 10 inches tall. A gangly figure with a hand-me-down robe, Ron Weasley hesitated before stepping into the compartment. His blue eyes bounced from girl to girl before settling on Harry with interest...and envy.
"Oi, are you Harry Potter?" he asked, his tone carrying a mix of wonder and an awkward sort of entitlement. "I heard about you. You've got the scar and everything, right? On your forehead? I thought you'd be… well, smaller. Mind if I sit? I can tell you about the Houses. You'll want to be in Gryffindor. Slytherin is just full of dark wizards. Ravenclaw's all stuck up, and Hufflepuff's just a load of duffers, aren't they?"
The air shifted. Hermione's brows furrowed in quiet fury. Daphne crossed her arms. Cho's lips thinned. Parvati narrowed her eyes.
Harry didn't move from his seat. His voice was firm. "You insult Houses you don't even understand, try to join me without permission, and expect respect?"
Ron blinked. "Well, I just...wait, where's the scar? Don't you have it? Are you even really..."
Harry stood. The difference in their builds became impossible to ignore. The room seemed smaller as Harry's form rose, towering over Ron by nearly a foot. Muscles beneath his shirt stretched subtly as he turned to Ahri.
"My mate, would you open the door fully?"
Ahri's lips curled. "With pleasure, love." She raised a hand and gently waved. The door flung open with a gust of foxfire-kissed air.
"Out," Harry ordered, stepping forward and, without waiting, gave Ron a swift kick in the rear with the heel of his military boot. The Weasley boy stumbled out into the corridor with a loud yelp, landing flat on his back.
"And one more thing," Harry said, voice like tempered steel, "I am Lord Hogwarts. And no one mocks the Houses or my Bound in my presence."
The door closed.
Laughter rippled through the compartment, followed by a few muttered "serves him rights." Padma leaned forward with a sparkle in her eyes. "That was brilliant, love." Hermione shook her head, but she was smiling. "He was absolutely insufferable."
Moments later, another knock came. This one didn't wait for permission. The door slid open again...this time revealing a trio: Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
Malfoy's pale eyes landed on Harry, and immediately, his mouth twisted into a sneer. "Well, well, if it isn't Potter. I heard rumors you were on board… didn't believe them. Thought you'd have better company than… mudbloods and beasts." Every girl in the compartment froze. Lavender's hand twitched for her wand. Hermione inhaled sharply. Ahri stood before anyone else could.
"You did not just say that about my sisters," she hissed, her fox-like pupils narrowing. The temperature dropped. A rush of cold wind rippled across the air. Draco smirked. "What, going to wag your tail at me, fox?" Flames burst from the floor beneath him.
"AHHHH! I'M ON FIRE!" Draco screamed, spinning in circles in the hall, slapping at the enchanted flame dancing along the seat of his robes. It wouldn't stop. His hair was singed at the ends, and the smell of scorched pride filled the air. "You'll live," Ahri said flatly. "It's Veela fire. Doesn't scar. Just punishes."
Harry stepped to the doorway. "Let this be your first and only warning, Malfoy. You speak like that again about any of them, and you won't be walking into Hogwarts."
With a flick of her wrist, Ahri doused the flames, leaving Draco smoking, his ego even more charred than his trousers. He fled, dragging his two goons behind him. The door slid shut again. Harry turned back to the others. "Sorry about that, sweethearts. Some people need to be reminded who holds the power now."
Hermione reached for his hand. "You didn't just remind them. You made sure the whole train heard it." Laughter echoed again. Outside, the landscape rolled on. The journey to Hogwarts continued.
Time: Evening
Location: Hogsmeade Station → Black Lake → Hogwarts Castle
The Hogwarts Express slowed with a long, echoing whistle, steam curling like ghostly arms into the twilight sky. The train pulled to a stop beside the ancient wooden platform of Hogsmeade Station, where lanterns flickered to life, casting golden halos in the descending dusk. The doors opened, and excited chatter spilled into the cool September air as first-years and upper-years began to disembark, many craning their necks to catch a glimpse of their first true view of the magical world's most famous school.
Harry stepped down onto the platform with a fluid grace, immediately drawing attention. Even among the crowd of chattering students, he stood apart…not just because he was taller than nearly all the boys around him, nor because of the striking look in his emerald eyes…but because of the presence that surrounded him like a living aura. Beside him, the Bound walked as one, clustered like stars orbiting their sun. Their Bands of Eternity glowed ever so faintly in the twilight, woven with the magic that connected them to Harry…and to one another. Ahri's hand slipped into Harry's. "Love," she whispered, her voice rich with calm joy, "I can feel her. Elana's nearby."
"So can I," murmured Mizukume, her golden eyes scanning the shadows beyond the lanterns. "She's waiting, like she promised." Just ahead, a towering figure lit by a lantern flame called out, her voice loud but kind. "First years! This way, first years to the boats!" It was the half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid, waving a lantern over his head.Dora leaned in to Harry, brushing his shoulder. "We'll see you at the castle, sweetheart. I'll ride with Penny and the others."
Harry nodded. "Stay close," he told her gently, eyes lingering on her Auror trainee badge briefly shining from beneath her cloak. He turned next to Katie, Alicia, Angelina, and Cho. "You four too. Go on."
Angelina gave a quick smirk. "I'd like to see a single student try anything funny while we're riding those carriages." Dora winked. "They wouldn't survive the attempt." And with that, the six older Bound turned and disappeared into the small group of returning students boarding the enchanted carriages, drawn by thestrals visible only to a few.
Harry turned back to the remaining girls…Hermione, Susan, Daphne, Padma, Parvati, Sue, Lavender, Pansy, and the magical trio: Ahri, Katarina, and Mizukume. "Let's go," he said with a smile, taking Hermione's hand and walking toward the lakeshore. The others followed, never once needing to be called.
The chill in the air deepened as they reached the black glass of the lake. Dozens of boats bobbed gently, lanterns fixed at their prows, casting long reflections across the water. The Bound climbed in together, forming a single craft with Harry at the center. As the boat rocked beneath their weight, Hermione whispered, "It's almost like we're sailing into a dream."
"More like into a memory," said Padma. "The castle's waiting for us. Just like Elana." Across the lake, high on the distant cliffs, the ancient silhouette of Hogwarts Castle blazed with warm yellow light from every window. Turrets and towers stretched toward the heavens, stone and spire unchanging since the Founders' time.
They weren't alone on the lake, of course. Other first-years filled boats nearby, but none dared speak to the quiet, commanding group gliding steadily across the water. Whispers followed them instead—fragments of speculation, awe, and the ever-present "Is that really Harry Potter?"
As their boat neared the dock on the far shore, Harry's eyes narrowed, focusing. A single figure stood at the edge of the dock's shadow, partially hidden by the arch of a stone overhang. Her robes shimmered faintly as though woven of starlight itself, and her long hair glistened like night touched by silver fire.
Elana Hogwarts. Even before she moved, Harry felt the bond stir within him. The warmth of her soul brushed against his, a silent promise that their family was whole. "She's watching," whispered Sue. "And smiling," added Pansy, her voice barely a breath. "I can feel her joy."
Elana raised one hand in greeting. She did not speak—did not need to. Her presence alone steadied them all. And then she turned, vanishing like mist toward the castle path, where another familiar figure now stood—Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Minerva's expression softened as Harry and the Bound stepped from the boat. Her gaze swept across the group before returning to Harry himself. She gave a nod, more formal than affectionate but far from cold.
"Lord Hogwarts," she said clearly, her Scottish burr pronounced and strong. "Welcome home." Harry bowed his head just enough to show respect, though his stance remained perfectly upright. "Thank you, Professor. We are ready."
Minerva's eyes twinkled ever so slightly. "You and your Bound are the last group. I expect the castle will feel your arrival long before we enter the Hall." Susan stepped to Harry's side. "It already does. The stones… they're humming." Minerva arched an eyebrow. "Indeed. The Founders would be pleased." Then she turned briskly. "Follow me."
As the group ascended the path, Hogwarts seemed to breathe with them. The wind stirred, brushing over the walls and towers with reverence. The Soulstone beneath Harry's shirt grew warmer, pulsing in time with each step. Hermione clutched his arm. "Harry… it feels like the magic itself is singing."
"It is," Ahri whispered. "It's welcoming its Lord home." The massive oaken doors of Hogwarts Castle opened before they reached them, swinging wide on silent hinges. Warm light spilled from within, and the entry hall yawned before them, grand and endless.
As they crossed the threshold, the very air shimmered. Elana's voice, clear and beautiful, echoed inside Harry's mind alone. "Husband… I will see you at the Sorting Ceremony. Our souls are whole. Let them witness what true unity looks like." A calm smile played on Harry's lips, and then the doors shut behind them with a quiet finality as the soul-family had arrived.
Time: Evening
Location: Hogwarts Castle – Entrance Hall, Great Hall
The Bound stood quietly beneath the towering archways of the Hogwarts Entrance Hall, its ancient stonework gleaming in the torchlight, its shadows alive with magic and memory. The castle itself seemed to hum faintly, a resonance that echoed beneath their feet and stirred in their chests...a knowing, living pulse. They were not simply visitors or students; they were part of Hogwarts now. And it, in turn, was part of them.
The wide double doors to the Great Hall remained closed, but already, murmurs of excitement drifted from beyond them. Inside, hundreds of students were taking their seats, awaiting the arrival of the new first-years. For Harry and his Bound, the weight of the moment hung solemn and grand in the air. The first step had been taken. The lake crossed. Now, the house of magic would name them.
"Feels strange, doesn't it?" Hermione whispered beside him, eyes flicking to the ceiling as if she could see the enchanted stars already waiting. "Mmm. Not strange," Harry said softly, "Just… familiar. As though we've been here before." Padma nodded. "We have. In dreams. In echoes."
Before anyone could speak again, a voice rang out, cheerful and airy. "Oho! Visitors to the Hall! And not even Sorted yet. Such a pleasure!" From the side corridor, two transparent figures floated forward...one stout and jolly in monk's robes, the other tall and elegant with a thinning face and a plumed hat atop his curly white wig.
The Fat Friar beamed. "New students! About to be Sorted, I suppose?" Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington...or Nearly Headless Nick, as he preferred less formally...smiled back, floating with his hands neatly folded behind his back. "My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost..."
Then his eyes locked on the group. "I say, what are you all doing here?" The Friar tilted his head, then blinked at the sight of the Bound and Harry standing at the front. "Oh...oh my," the Friar said slowly, eyes wide. "Do… do you see who that is?" Both ghosts floated a little lower, nearly brushing the stone floor as they bowed deeply in mid-air. "Lord Hogwarts," they said in unison, voices filled with awe. From the far side of the Entrance Hall, another ghost shimmered into view.
She was graceful in motion, beautiful in form, her long silvery dress trailing like mist as she moved. The Grey Lady...Lady Helena Ravenclaw...emerged with silent dignity. As her eyes met Harry's, the cold sorrow that so often lingered in her presence melted to warmth.
"My Lord…" she began, bowing low. Harry raised his hand gently. "Don't bow to me, Helena, as you are family even as a ghost." Her breath caught in her throat...a ghostly sob of ancient memory long buried. "You… remember me?"
"I do. I always have," Harry said, voice steady. "You are of the House that built me. That still lives in me." Before Helena could respond further, the sharp click of boots on stone echoed across the hall.
"First years!" Professor McGonagall announced as she approached, clipboard held with familiar precision. She paused only a moment upon seeing the gathering and the bowed ghosts. Her eyes flicked to Helena and lingered a second longer than necessary. But when her gaze found Harry, it softened, and she gave the faintest nod.
"Come. It's time." The Bound formed up behind Harry without needing to be told. They walked in perfect rhythm through the doors, entering the Great Hall as a singular unit, cloaked in magic, radiating purpose and unity. Conversations at the four house tables stilled almost instantly. Eyes widened. Forks paused mid-air.
No one knew what they were witnessing. The first-years filtered in, scattering nervously, but the Bound moved as one. Heads turned, whispers grew louder. When Harry stepped forward, they followed...not as shadows, but as sisters, equals, his Bound.
At the front of the hall stood the Sorting Hat, resting on the same stool used for generations. It lifted its wide brim as if drawing breath and began to sing. The voice rang clear, full of age and wisdom.
Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A hat that's smarter than me!
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're safe in my magic...
For Hogwarts is awakened up from its long nap.
A low hum ran through the hall. Even the staff at the head table seemed stirred by the final verse...particularly Dumbledore, whose gaze sharpened behind his glasses. Names were called one by one;
Lavender Brown – Gryffindor
Sue Li – Ravenclaw
Parvati Patil – Gryffindor
Padma Patil – Ravenclaw
Pansy Parkinson – Slytherin
Daphne Greengrass – Slytherin
Hermione Granger – Gryffindor
Susan Bones – Hufflepuff
And so the list continued...girls finding their places, each called by name, each greeted by cheers from their Houses. Yet something passed between each of them as they left the stool...an unseen tether, still linking them to Harry.
Finally…"Potter, Harry." He stepped forward, calm and unshaken, as the hall fell into perfect silence. The Hat was placed upon his head. "Well now," the Hat chuckled into his mind. "We meet at last, young Lord."
"I'm not here just for me," Harry thought. "I'm here for them, For Hogwarts and for my wife Elana."
"Oh yes," the Hat whispered, now serious. "You have more than one house. Brave as a lion, clever as an eagle, loyal as a badger, and ambitious as a serpent. You are all. You are… Hogwarts." The Hat paused, then shouted aloud. "GRYFFINDOR!" Cheers erupted from the red-and-gold table. Fred and George Weasley jumped to their feet. "Gryffindor's got Potter!" they sang together. "Gryffindor's got Potter!"
They danced around the bench, clapping and laughing, but stopped cold when the Hat didn't finish. The Hat, resting on the stool where Harry had put it, raised its brim once more. "Hear me now, all of Hogwarts," it said, voice booming unnaturally loud. "This boy is of Gryffindor...but he is also of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. He is not merely of Hogwarts… he is Hogwarts."
Gasps rippled across the hall. And then, in a sudden shimmering light, she appeared at the end of the aisle...her silver and gold robes radiant, her feet floating just above the stone floor. Elana Hogwarts. The very air warmed.
She walked slowly to Harry and wrapped her arms around him in full view of the school. "Welcome home, Husband," she said with quiet reverence, kissing his cheek. Then she turned to the hall, her voice carrying to every corner. "These are my sisters. The Bound of the Lord of Hogwarts. The soul of this castle has awakened...and he is its Heart."
Time: Just before the Welcoming Feast
Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle
The Sorting Ceremony had ended, and with Harry's declaration by the Sorting Hat still lingering in the air...He is not merely of Hogwarts… he is Hogwarts...the Great Hall had fallen into an awed hush. Elana's radiant entrance, her embrace of Harry, and her proclamation of their bond as husband and soul-family had shaken the very foundations of tradition.
And yet, Harry remained calm. He turned slowly, his gaze sweeping the room. The students of all four houses stared in silence. The staff table, too, sat motionless...some confused, others contemplative, though Professor Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with deep understanding while Professor McGonagall's firm mouth betrayed the smallest of proud smirks.
Harry stepped forward, a small nudge of his will shifting the space near the Sorting Hat. "Elana," he said gently, "may I ask for your help?"
Elana stepped beside him with a soft nod and a wave of her hand. The stone floor at the front of the hall shimmered and shifted, drawing gasps from the crowd as four evenly spaced pedestals rose from the earth, each one simple in shape but imbued with magic...engraved with ancient runes, glowing faintly in their respective house colors.
Upon the first pedestal, to Harry's far left, rested a glass case. Inside stood a sword stand, designed to hold the Sword of Gryffindor, though it was presently empty. A scarlet Gryffindor banner hung proudly from the back of the case.
The second pedestal, beside the first, bore no glass...only an open, polished stone bust of Rowena Ravenclaw, her elegant features serene and wise. Behind it, the blue-and-bronze banner of Ravenclaw shimmered like rippling water.
The third pedestal was surrounded by another protective case. Within it sat a cushioned stand, shaped to hold Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, though it, too, was currently missing. The yellow banner of Hufflepuff hung gently behind the glass.
And finally, the fourth pedestal. Its glass casing protected a framed photograph of Salazar Slytherin, stern-eyed and bearded. Below the portrait was a small necklace display stand, empty but clearly intended for a locket. A green banner fluttered softly behind it.
Whispers flooded the hall. Students turned to one another, eyes wide, mouths agape. Then, Harry reached behind him. Wrapped in thick velvet, tied with a length of enchanted twine, was something sacred...something long thought lost. The cloth shimmered faintly in the torchlight as he pulled it forward, holding it in both hands with reverence.
"Grey Lady, Come here please we need to talk" he said calmly, his voice echoing through the Hall like the tolling of a bell. From the far end, she came. Lady Helena Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady of Hogwarts, gilded forward, her silver form luminous and still. Her eyes widened as she drifted closer, the crowd parting in respectful silence.
When she was only a foot from Harry, he looked her in the eyes...deep, haunted eyes that carried centuries of pain. "I made you a promise," Harry said gently, "when we first met in this castle at the time that I visited Hogwarts that your mother's legacy would be restored."
With a flick of his fingers, the knot came undone. The velvet fell away. And there, gleaming under the flickering candlelight, was Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem...ancient silver inlaid with sapphires, its inscription glowing faintly: Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.
Helena gasped. "No…it can't be. That was..." Her ghostly hands lifted as if to touch it, but stopped short. "...It was lost. It was taken…corrupted…" Harry shook his head slowly. "It was stolen, yes. Hidden. But it has been cleansed. And now…it's come home just like I promised you."
He stepped past her with reverence, and approached the bust of Rowena. With the gentlest care, he placed the Diadem atop the stone likeness of the founder's head. It fit perfectly. A single pulse of blue light flashed across the bust, then into the pedestal, and a breeze passed through the hall...no windows were open.
As the enchantment settled, Elana stepped forward, her voice calm but resonant. "This Diadem is one of the Founders' Four Relics, long thought lost. But the magic of Hogwarts always remembers its children, and its children remember their ancestors. The Diadem is now whole, and with it, so is part of the castle's soul."
Helena hovered silently, tears in her spectral eyes...an impossible thing. "You've given her back to me…" Harry bowed his head to her. "No. We've returned her to all of Hogwarts. This is your legacy, Helena. Your mother's wisdom lives on. We honor her...not just for what she created, but for what she left behind."
A beat of silence passed. Then, from the shadows of the Head Table, Dumbledore slowly stood. His hands met in soft applause. Others followed...McGonagall with dignity, Sprout with warmth, Flitwick nearly in tears. Even students began to clap, some timidly at first, others with awe.
The four pedestals stood proud and still, an eternal reminder of the founders. And at the heart of it all stood Harry James Potter...Lord of Hogwarts...with his Bound watching proudly from their places across the Houses. Elana turned to him once more, placing her hand lightly on his arm. "Husband," she said, voice velvet-soft, "You've done more than return a relic. You've awakened a legacy."
Time: Evening – Welcoming Feast
Location: Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle
As the final applause for the Diadem's return faded into a hush, Professor Dumbledore stood from his seat at the center of the staff table. With a twinkle in his eyes and a subtle wave of his wand, he restored the Great Hall's magic-infused ceiling to its starlit glory. The four pedestals remained at the front of the hall...silent sentinels to Hogwarts' rebirth. Then, with a clap of his hands, the Welcoming Feast began.
The long tables groaned with platters of roasted chicken, steaming bowls of potatoes, gravy boats, platters of steak and kidney pie, roast beef, vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, and gleaming pitchers of pumpkin juice and butterbeer. The aroma filled the air like a warm blanket, yet the room was far from noisy. It was… contemplative.
At the Staff Table, silence lingered for several long heartbeats as eyes turned toward Albus Dumbledore...the only one in the hall aside from McGonagall who hadn't looked surprised when the Diadem appeared.
"Albus," murmured Professor Flitwick, his voice touched with awe and reverence, "That diadem… the Diadem. You knew it was real. You knew where it was?" Dumbledore's aged smile returned, soft and proud as he lifted his goblet. "I suspected, yes. I secured it once, for its safety."
He paused, gaze flickering to Harry, who was calmly portioning roast chicken for Hermione and Parvati beside him at the Gryffindor table. "On the morning of January 7th, 1986," he continued gently, "I left the castle with the Diadem sealed in a glass case. I had no idea I would one day entrust it not to a vault, nor a spell, but to a soul. Harry chose to restore it...not for glory, nor legacy...but out of love. For Elana. For Helena. For Hogwarts." Flitwick leaned back in his chair, blinking hard. "A boy… no, a Lord. And yet, still a child…"
"She's right to call him Husband," McGonagall whispered quietly, her Scottish burr low. "Hogwarts has accepted him." But not all faces at the table reflected admiration. Severus Snape, arms crossed tightly, leaned forward with a scowl. His gaze narrowed like a hawk's, locked on Harry. His lip curled faintly.
"Hmph. Just like his father. Arrogant. Flashy. Center of attention. A Potter, through and through."
Dumbledore turned to him slowly, voice as calm as a still lake, yet lined with the steel of certainty. "You're wrong, Severus." Snape didn't flinch but said nothing. "Harry did not do this to show off," Dumbledore continued. "He acted on instinct, on love...especially for Elana. He is not James." Snape's jaw clenched. "That remains to be seen."
"I have seen it already," Dumbledore replied. "And so has the castle. Perhaps… you should try seeing with your heart, not your bitterness." Snape looked away, his face twisted in disdain. The first seeds of reckoning had been sown. Across the House Tables, students had finally begun to eat, but eyes still drifted toward the pedestals. And Harry.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione, seated right beside Harry, was beaming with pride as she leaned against him. "You didn't just return a relic, love. You changed the castle." "I did what felt right," Harry replied softly, pouring her some pumpkin juice. "And because she asked me to." Parvati, across from them, whispered, "That moment… when the Diadem lit up...I felt the castle breathe." Angelina, seated with Katie and Alicia, had already turned part of her seat to watch him. "We felt it too, mate. Even from the carriages. The air shifted." Lavender nodded. "It was like the soul of Hogwarts stood still for you."
At the Ravenclaw table, Penelope Clearwater, Cho Chang, Padma Patil, and Sue Li huddled close together, whispering excitedly. Padma blinked. "I thought the Diadem was a myth." Cho leaned in, her voice breathless. "Not when you're Bound to the Lord of Hogwarts. I felt it. Every thread of magic hummed when he placed it." Penny's eyes shimmered with held-back tears. "The Ravenclaw line… was always meant to return to its roots. Helena..." Sue smiled softly. "I heard her. She wasn't just grateful. She was healed."
At the Hufflepuff table, Nymphadora "Dora" Tonks leaned in close to Susan Bones, both quiet at first. "He really did it," Susan murmured. "He brought it back." Dora nodded. "He didn't even tell us what he'd do tonight. He just knew." "It was beautiful," Susan whispered. "Like a story that finally found its ending." Dora added with a proud grin, "He's not just our love… he's a force of nature."
At the Slytherin table, Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson had chosen seats at the far end, apart from the other snakes. A few older students threw them curious or disapproving glances, but neither girl cared. Pansy traced the rim of her goblet. "I thought Slytherin's name would be the only one I'd ever care about. Then he brought back all four Founders." Daphne smirked slightly. "And united them under one heart. Our heart." They looked up in unison toward the front of the hall. Though far, their Bound link pulsed strongly.
Within the Bound Link, a silent conversation thrummed across distance and stone, flickering across minds with warmth and unity.
Hermione: That was incredible, love. No words for it.
Dora: I'm still grinning like a fool.
Mizukume: The purity of it… so cleansing. I felt my tails stir.
Susan: You've given the Founders back to the school.
Gabrielle (from Beauxbatons): We watched. The Diadem glowed like the Veela Flame.
Fleur (from Beauxbatons): All of France knows now that Hogwarts has remembered who She is. And who you are, mon amour.
Cho: You're all I could think about. All I could feel.
Katie: You looked like a King.
Angelina: No, he is one.
Lavender: You've awakened more than the castle, Harry.
Ahri: You've awakened the world.
And finally…Elana: You brought home the truth, Husband. Hogwarts breathes again.
As the Bound continued their quiet communion and the feast carried on, Harry lifted his goblet in silence. He did not drink to power, nor praise, nor legacy. He drank to love, To Helena, To Hogwarts, and To home.
Time: Late Evening – After the Welcoming Feast
Location: Hogwarts Castle – The Royal Suite, Founders' Wing
The Great Hall had slowly emptied following the conclusion of the Welcoming Feast. Full plates had given way to satisfied sighs, clinking goblets, and quiet reflections. The Sorting, the Founders' relics, the return of the Diadem—these would be whispered about for weeks to come, perhaps for years.
Professor Dumbledore's Start-of-Term speech was uncharacteristically brief, as though even he sensed the weight of the evening's events needed no embellishment. After his final words of welcome and a few reminders—the Forbidden Forest remains forbidden, and Filch still despises all fun—he dismissed the Houses to their dormitories. But not Harry. Nor the Bound.
As the hall cleared, Dumbledore stood and gestured toward Harry and the girls that followed him with quiet grace and practiced ease. At his side, Professor McGonagall stood tall, her expression unreadable, yet her eyes warm.
"Come with us," Dumbledore said softly, his voice full of knowing calm. "Your quarters await."
They followed him out of the hall and through a series of winding staircases and polished stone passages, many of which were unfamiliar even to those who had attended Hogwarts for years. The route was silent, but comforting—lit by enchanted lanterns and lined with stained-glass windows depicting ancient moments from the school's history.
Finally, they came to a hallway that curved inward like a spiral. The walls here shimmered slightly, as if rippling with ancient magic. McGonagall stepped forward and touched her wand to the door at the end. A soft chime sounded. The door opened on its own. What greeted them inside was not a common room, nor a dormitory. It was a home.
The Founders' Royal Suite, hidden within the heart of Hogwarts, had been kept secret for centuries…meant only for the descendants of the Four, or the true Lord or Lady of the school. The large antechamber opened into a grand common space with vaulted ceilings supported by arching beams of carved stone and gold-veined oak. A roaring fireplace glowed at the far wall, its mantle wide and welcoming, casting long flickers of light over polished floors.
And above that fireplace hung a frame that made Harry stop in his tracks. "...Mum?" he whispered. In the magical portrait…no longer the old couch scene…James and Lily Potter now sat side by side on a new, richly appointed velvet couch. Behind them was a bedroom lit by a soft fire and moonlight pouring through enchanted windows. It was the same couch, but now placed in a scene of warmth and permanence. A room within a memory.
Lily smiled, her green eyes…so much like Harry's…shimmering. "Hello, sweetheart." James grinned beside her, one arm around Lily's shoulders. "We've been waiting for you." Hermione's hand slid into Harry's. "Oh Harry… they look so at peace." "They are," he said softly, his throat tight. "They're home now."
Beyond the fireplace chamber, the suite opened into several other rooms. Plush bedrooms, a bath chamber enchanted with steaming pools and softly glowing runes, a small kitchen area…everything they could possibly need. Each trunk had already been unpacked and placed with precision. Their pets had arrived as well.
Hedwig, proud and watchful, perched atop a wooden stand shaped like a tree branch beside the hearth. On a wide cushioned mat by the fireplace, the small female fox with glowing sapphire eyes curled into a tight, contented ball. Her tail flicked once as she felt the presence of the Bound around her. Beside her, a female puppy, soft-coated and full of sleepy yawns, raised her head and gave a happy bark as the girls gathered around.
"They made it," Susan whispered. "They're all here."
"And the trunks too," Penny added. "Everything's… settled."
On one of the walls—directly opposite the fire—hung four magical portraits, each grand in scale and placed in perfect symmetry. Godric Gryffindor stood proudly in his armor, arms crossed, his sword at his hip, gazing down with a lion's resolve. Rowena Ravenclaw, regal in sapphire robes, held an open book in one hand, and her eyes sparkled with knowing wisdom. Her diadem glimmered on her brow. Helga Hufflepuff, warm and earthy, stood with arms open, her cup floating gently beside her. And Salazar Slytherin, sharp-eyed and enigmatic, watched them all silently…his locket gently glowing near his chest. The portraits stirred subtly as Harry and the Bound approached. Rowena smiled faintly.
"Welcome, Heir of Balance," she said gently, her voice like a clear chime.
"You've brought the soul back to the castle," Godric added, nodding in pride.
"You are among family," Helga agreed warmly.
Salazar simply nodded once. "Let it be known…you have our favor."
The moment was still.
Harry turned slowly, watching as his soul-bonded spread out across the chamber, each one gravitating naturally to places of comfort. Hermione and Parvati settled on a deep green velvet sofa. Dora helped Susan lay out their robes for the next day. Mizukume knelt by the fox, petting her gently.
Elana came to his side last, her presence as luminous as ever. She placed a hand on his chest, feeling the Soulstone beneath his shirt. "Husband," she whispered, "Hogwarts sleeps easier tonight. And so shall we." Harry nodded, voice low. "We've done so much… but this is only the beginning."
"You're not alone," she reminded him. "Never again." One by one, they filtered into the wide bedrooms, enchanted to shift in space to accommodate them all. Nightclothes appeared where needed, the lights dimmed with a whisper of magic, and the walls hummed in rhythm with the castle's deep breath.
In the final moments of wakefulness, Harry climbed into the wide central bed, built for more than just one. Elana settled beside him, her hand entwined with his. Hermione curled into his side, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sweet dreams, love." All around him, the girls murmured their own goodnights—some soft as feathers, others playful and teasing, and still others full of exhausted warmth.
"Good night, sweetheart."
"Sleep well, mate."
"I love you, Harry."
"We're safe."
"We're home."
And for the first time in a long time, Harry James Potter..Lord of Hogwarts...slept with no weight on his chest or in his heart, The Bound slept with him…Together as one in the heart of their castle.