Chapter Text
Hogwarts had many secrets. Secret passages, secret rooms, secret artifices and secret creatures so many secrets. But one secret was the most important of them all and the most surprising. There were in fact five houses and five founders instead of four.
As we all know the magical world is built on the foundations of balance yin and yang if that is what you wish to call it or in their terms Light wizards and Dark wizards. The Hogwarts housing system was built on this idea. Two houses for the light and two for the dark. Hufflepuff and Griffindor were for those who followed the light with emotions, good intentions and honesty bringing light and order to the world. Ravenclaw and Slytherin were to house the dark who used brains, intellect and cunning to stop the world stagnating.
What was forgotten there was a fifth founder. Khamai, Mer, Loen joined the founders half way through the construction of Hogwarts and mainly stayed in the back ground helping the other four subtly integrating his ideas in to the structure. For his help they named a fifth legacy after him and its sign was a Chameleon.
Over the next few centuries the balance of light and dark rose and fell in a predictable pattern. Hero's and villains came and went some rising to great heights others flashed briefly then died un- memorable deaths. Then things started to go wrong and rules started to break down as the old ways of the balance were forgotten as muggle ideas and ethics started to influence the Wizarding world and those who were not chosen by the higher powers took up their powers corrupting them for their own gain. Light wizards were not truly light and Dark wizards were not just dark but evil as well. The concept of the dark changed and was classified as “evil” as well as all who used it powers willing or not. The light became “good” and both started to gain power they should never have touched in the first place.
Horcrux's were made, Philosophers stones were forged, rules were made separating the divide between sentient beings and humans. The deep magic began to shift and Hogwarts' foundations shuddered at it's touch. A prediction was made and held in the Department of Mysteries.
About eleven years later a small boy blow out the candles on his sand cake and sang sadly under his breath a quiet happy birthday song through chattering teeth that spoke of the cold in the shack where he lay on the floor.
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Harry looked around at Diagon alley taking every thing in that he saw. He was unsure how he felt as he stood in the shadow of the giant Hagrid. Thoughts and feeling mushed around his head as a totally alien world spread out before him. It was almost like stepping foot on a previously undiscovered planet.
“Well 'arry. I guess we need t' go get some of that money ya parents left you I suppose.”
Harry nodded slightly and followed Hagrid to an imposing building with a nasty warning inscribed in large letters so no one could miss them. Hagrid muttered some thing about people being mad to rob the place and some such but Harry's eyes were focused on the first sentient non human creatures he had ever seen. Goblin's were just as he had imagined them in his dreams. They were short, and sharp as razors as if they could see through every thing. One of the goblin's bowed to him and he automatically bowed back. For all their looks Harry knew that he could trust them with his life if necessary.
They made their way to his vault and back out again after Hagrid had done what ever he was supposed to do. The same goblin who had bowed to him before bowed to him again and Harry slightly flustered bowed back,
“ Here 'arry how come the head of the bank just bowed to you?”
Harry just shrugged face blank. How was he supposed to know any thing like that? It was not as if he could read minds or any thing.
“Not much of a talker are you? Well no matter when you get sorted in to your house you will feel more settled. Well.. unless it is Slytherin. Then you'd be in trouble. But not to worry both your parents were in Griffindor so most likely you'd be put in there too.”
Inside Harry's head uncomplimentary thoughts of Hagid's bigotry surfaced but through years of practice at keeping his mouth shut and his face blank none of them showed through. He quite liked his new robes when Madam Malkin had finally finished with him. He also was having thoughts about what the blond haired boy had spewed out. It seemed that which house you could be placed in was a lot more important than He first thought and he was not happy at the thought that never mind where he was placed there would be trouble. He hated trouble.
Hagrid still had not returned from where ever he had gone and Harry's money was burning a hole in his pocket. He looked up and down the street and remembered some thing. He was allowed a pet and He also remember that there was a pet shop just down the street from him. He informed Madam Malkin of his plans if Hagrid came looming um looking for him and headed to the shop.
The shop was larger than it looked from the out side and was deafening. Animals of every kind squawked, barked, meowed, hissed, sang and one even made a noise like a blocked drain all at once. Harry hated loud sounds and almost turned around and head out the door but he wanted some thing he could have of his own so he walked farther in to the shop. His first thought was he wanted an owl but as he studied them he decided they would be to much hassle. He continued deeper in to the shop moving in to the more tropical animal en-closers. He nodded to some of the bigger snakes in greeting who nodded back from their heated rocks. They were close to what he thought he wanted but not quite.
It was not until he had nearly reached the end of the reptile section that he felt a tug in the back of his mind. He moved closer to some of the cages and the tug got stronger as he looked at the few cages in front of him. There were several different types of lizards lounging on tree branches and what looked like miniature dragons with out wings bathing under the artificial light and heat spell that were above their cages.
One in particular caught his attention. It was about the size of his fore arm and a dark blue colour that seem to change to an emerald green where the light caught it. It had a frill of dark red around it neck and it was looking at him piercingly. Harry gulped and took a step back. The dragon lizard seemed to glare at him and shook it's head. Harry slowly took a step forward and a feeling of almost amusement came from the reptile.
“What seems to interest you young men?”
Harry nearly had a heart attack as he spun around to face who ever was behind him. It was one of the shop assistants that patrolled the cages to make sure the animals were healthy and well cared for. His heart still beating rapidly Harry pointed at the now innocent looking lizard in it's glass box,
“That one.”
“Hmm. I don't think I've seen that one before must be a new one that was brought in. Here I'll get it out for you to have a closer look if you wish.”
Harry nodded and the assistant open the top and reached in. The lizard did not seem happy and bared it's teeth or maybe fangs. The shop assistant with drew his hand,
“Wait a minute I think I will go and get some handling gloves.”
Harry noticed the box was still open and the lizard now the assistant had gone was nearly out of the cage ready to jump. Harry reacted quickly as the lizard jumped towards him claws out hooking on to his clothes as Harry's hand steadied it eye to eye.
“Well, it seems to like you young man.”
Harry really wished that the assistant would stop sneaking up on him it could not be good for his nerves. The lizard hissed in annoyance at Harry's sudden movement,
“Well do you like him? Cages for reptiles are just over here as well as some pre-spelled heat and light rocks.”
Harry had just finished paying for all the things needed and was thinking about what to do next. The lizard was draped comfortable along his neck and shoulders it's tail wrapped around Harry's upper arm making sure it did not fall off. When a hand landed on top of his head,
“Here 'arry what you doin 'ere? I thought you were supposed to be getting your robes fixed?”
Harry really wished people would stop trying to make his hair turn white as he turned around to the large man behind him,
“I finished.”
Hagrid stroked his beard looking a bit lost as he studied the boy,
“Yer well. Took slightly longer that I should have I suppose. But you should not wonder off like that might have gotten lost. Right um I was going to buy you an owl but only allowed one pet in school so I guess I'll get you summit else later. I picked up the rest of your stuff all is needed now is ya wand.”
He followed his large companion out in to the street and in to an old dusty shop that looked like it had not been cleaned in years. Harry's hands twitched, Aunt Petunia would have had a fit and locked Harry up forever if she saw that much dust in her house even the attic where they had locked him up in several times when they had guests over and the cupboard was to public to keep him in.
An old man started to poke at him with a measuring tape muttering some thing about different wands and their properties. Interested Harry paid attention and this seemed to please the old man even though he did throw a few dark looks at the pink umbrella Hagrid was unconvincingly trying to hide from the others sharp view.
Several wands were pushed in to his hands with no effect. As the pile grew longer the old man seemed to get happier,
“Ooh your a difficult one aren’t you. A real challenge. I've not had some one like you in a long time. Ah I've got an idea maybe........”
The old man rushed in to the lines of wands on the shelves and Harry sighed impatiently. The dust was getting to his nose and he was having a hard time not exploding in to a violent sneezing fit. The man was soon back holding a case,
“Here try this one. It is 11” of holly wood with a phoenix feather core. Considering your history this could well be the one.”
Harry frowned,
“What do you mean?”
“ There is only one other wand like this one ever made. It's brother gave you that scar. It is a powerful wand Mr Potter give it a wave and see what happens.”
Harry reached out to take it as both men leaned forward in anticipation. Something felt wrong and Harry let his hand drop to his side,
“I don't like it. It feels wrong.”
“Nonsense you have not even touched it yet. Pick it up and give it a wave.”
Harry just shook his head refusing to touch the stick. The old man looked almost angry at the refusal. But placed the wand away on a near by desk,
“Well if you can feel which wand is right for you go ahead and look but I can guaranty that that wand is the best for you Mr Potter.”
Harry shrugged and the old man gestured at the stacks of wands lining the walls.
“Go ahead and pick then.”
Harry slowly moved into the shelves trying to focus on the odd feeling he was getting. His lizard shifted slightly tongue flicking out is to taste the air it head moving in the direction Harry was moving. He move to where the felling was strongest and almost subconsciously his hand shot out and grasped a wand box from the shelf,
“This one.”
He took the wand back to the waiting pair and gave the box for inspection,
“Let me see. Rowan 12” with a Pukka tail hair soaked in tiger and Chinese dragons blood and tears. Good for transfiguration and charms as well as runes if needed. Well give it a wave and prove me wrong.”
Harry waved and rain of multi coloured light sprang from the tip dazzling the trio. Harry felt incredibly healthy and happy as he watched the beams of light circle the room. He felt a tug a disappointment as the lights died out. His lizard hissed in approval.
“Well it seems you proved me wrong Mr Potter. Maybe you should think about making wands when you finish school. That want will be 30 gallons please. Oh and Hagrid tell Dumbledore that no payment is necessary at this time for his commissioned object.”
They left the shop and made their way to the Leaky Cauldron where Harry was to spend the night before going to the station to catch the Hogwarts express the next day. Hagrid gave instructions on how to get to the station and left saying he needed to report to the headmaster.