A/N: I really love reading fanfics where Hermione is paired up with them Slytherin boys, and when I stumbled upon HermioneXSalazar pairing, I just thought, PERFECT! Yes, historians do try their best to write the events that took place in the past as accurate as possible. However, I do believe that they as humans, might have missed out some details or written it based on their own biased point of view. So, these fanfic authors were sort of right in the sense that what if the legend misunderstood Salazar?

In my story, it'll start off in their sixth year, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Please forgive me for any errors that I make since it's been so long since I last read Harry Potter the book, and along the way, I've been reading way too many fanfics that I might have mixed up some events. I apologize for any grammatical errors too as I don't have a beta (a newbie in the fanfic world), and English is not my native language. I try to write the characters as canon as possible, but, well, I definitely don't think or speak like Hermione Granger.

Additional A/N from copied from Chapter 3: Anyway, just to let you guys know, the plot for this story does not follow the 6th and 7th books closely. I'll edit the first chapter to include this. Salazar Slytherin appearing at the beginning of the Golden trio's 6th year, of course there would be some changes to how they eliminate Voldemort. I'm not sure if there would be Dumbledore bashing, 'cause the last few fanfics that I've read had some strong opinion against the old wizard, I might have been influence :)

All characters belong to J.K. Rowling!

Here you go, my first chapter! Please read and review.

Chapter 1

In a cave, the sound of waves splashing furiously against the shore roused Salazar Slytherin from his afternoon nap. Blinking his eyes, he looked out to the sea to see that only his shield was holding the waves from drowning the cave. This was the first time in the three months that he stayed in the caves that the usually calm waves were this violent. He quickly sat up and activated the spell that would raise the floor of the cave higher from the sea level. Satisfied that the waves were no longer slapping against his shield, he stood up and surveyed the rest of the cave.

The cave was separated into halves by a magically erected wall. On one side was his laboratory where he conducted most of his experiments whereas the other side was his living quarter. Salazar knew that trying out new spells and potions in the Chamber of Secrets would be hazardous to Hogwarts and its students no matter the heavy wards and charms he placed onto the room. So moving out to the sea cave where there are no human beings within a hundred miles would be his only option.

He walked to the kitchen and the dining area, which were situated at the edge of the cave and smirked, noticing how dry the place was. The all-knowing Rowena was right to convince him to shield his cave the moment he told the other Founders of his plan of renovating a sea cave into a house fit for his research work, telling him about how the tides changes throughout the year.

I have to thank Rowena when I see her tomorrow, he thought.

After having his dinner, he walked through the door that led to his laboratory. He checked his cauldron, noting how the color of the simmering potion was emerald green, unlike the black in his previous failed attempts at this new potion. How fitting, the color of Slytherin. Waving his wand over the cauldron vertically, he said, "Bona aetas". A wisp of green smoke rose from the cauldron, signaling a success in his potion making. He took one vial of the green potion to his room and left the rest of the vials in his potion cupboard that could only be accessed by his magical signature.

"Here's to years of youth!" Salazar raised the vial into the air and downed it. I hope it does not turn me into a wrinkly old fool, was his last thought before he succumbed to sleep.

The moment the ray of sunlight hit his face, Salazar opened his eyes and looked at his hands. Not wrinkly. Yes, a good sign, he thought with a relief. Next, he conjured a full length mirror next to his nightstand. Bracing himself for the worst, he stood in front of the mirror with his eyes closed. He counted down from three to one and held his breath.

The reflection showed a young man who was staring at the mirror with his mouth agape. He lifted his hands and touched his chin, where stubs of facial hair replaced what was once a beard. Dark, shoulder-length hair graced what was once his bald head. The slight wrinkle on his forehead was gone.

Salazar then conjured a swirling staircase that led to the cliff above his cave and ran upwards. Not once did he need to stop to catch his breath, not even when he reached the top. Overall, he felt like his seventeen years old self again. "Bona aetas indeed," He gasped.

After getting over his shock on how successful his new potion was, he started to get ready to meet his old friends at Hogwarts for lunch.

Salazar knew that the muggles around him only knew of fox with greyish-brown fur. So when he found out that his animagus form was a snow fox, he was less than pleased, knowing that should he appear anywhere near the muggle hunters, he was as good as dead. It was with a huff that he placed a disillusionment charm when he reached the cliff above the cave before he morphed himself into a snow fox and ran towards the direction of Hogwarts castle. A simple charm ensured that no fox footprints were left behind as trails.

As he passed the edge of a seemingly large forest, the corner of the snow fox's mouth turned up slightly, revealing its sharp canine teeth. To others, the bared teeth might have seemed like a threat. Salazar knew better, he was merely grinning at the feel of Hogwarts' wards welcoming him home.

Finally home. He thought while going through his plan to surprise the other three Founders. Once he removed the disillusionment charm, they would recognize him in his animagus form. He couldn't wait to see the look of awe on their faces when he returned to his human self.

Rowena would want to discuss his new potion and whether he found one that could age the drinker. Helga would fuss over him on how the potion could have turned out to be a disaster, turning him into a baby for instance and none of them would be there to fix him. Godric, his best friend on the other hand, would not even be interested in whether there are side effects to the potions. Instead, he would pester Salazar for the extra vial of potion. Salazar would bet that Godric would put aside his pride and declare Salazar as the better wizard of them both even if the ongoing duels between them had yet to decide a victor. Ah, the things that the skirt chaser would do to seduce the younger witches. At this, the snow fox picked up its speed and weaved through the trees.

With the huge oak doors right in front of his eyes, Salazar was prepared to transform back to his human form when he felt a tug from somewhere behind his navel. He was about to dismiss it as a protest of hunger when his ears started ringing and an invincible force was pressing all over him towards his navel.

After what felt like forever when in reality it was less than a second, the feeling of being squeezed ended. Getting his bearings straight, Salazar, or rather the snow fox then opened his eyes. Gone were the huge oak doors and the castle. He was looking at a fireplace with what seemed like chairs facing it. At the front of the fireplace laid a dark wooden coffee table on a Persian rug. The walls on both sides of the fireplace were decorated with rows and rows of books and scrolls. On the left of the room was a four poster bed much like the one in his cave.

Having no idea as to where he was, Salazar decided to transform into his human form before exploring further. It was then he heard someone screaming and with the reflex of his seventeen years old body, he turned around only to be faced with a brown bushy haired girl with her wands pointing at him.

The thing Hermione Granger hated the most was tardiness and yet, here she was, standing next to the portrait of Fat Lady, waiting for Ronald Weasley, her partner of the night for patrol duty. It was at times like this that she wondered why she harbored a crush on Ron. 'Opposite attracts!' She chanted in her head. It was what Ginny Weasley explained when asked of her relationship with Dean Thomas. Surely Ginny was right if they had been going on for more than two years. What Hermione didn't know was that Ginny was using Dean until Harry Potter somehow realizes that she is a grown lady. Opposite attracts was just an argument to evade further questions like 'when did Ginny realize she likes Dean'.

As he neared the exit of Gryffindor common room, Ron thought he would be calm enough to patrol with Hermione. Nothing prepared him for the surge of anger that shot through him when the portrait door opened and he saw the edge of a red letter peeking out from the book held against her chest. 'Harry and Cho have been snogging after every DA classes. As have Hermione and Viktor! You're just jealous that you have no one to snog with.' Ginny's words from before rang in his head.

Looking at Ron, Hermione was about to chide him when he stormed off the corridor. She looked at the back of Ron incredulously. With a few quick steps, she caught up with him. She knew from his red ears and stiff posture that he was fuming so she had to choose her words carefully.

"You were fifteen minutes late, Ron." She told him softly. "You do know that should Professor McGonagall find out, we would lose our badge."

"I didn't ask you to wait for me, did I?" Ron shot her a glare.

Hermione thought of what she did today to deserve the glare and came up with nothing. Weren't they having a great conversation this morning during Herbology? "According to the guidelines, prefects are supposed to patrol corridors in pairs. If one partner is ill, there is another prefect as a stand in." she explained to Ron gently, careful to reign in her temper. "So, even if you didn't ask me to wait for you, I couldn't start patrolling without any partner."

"You could've looked for me. I might have been ill." Ron said crossly.

"Which was what I did! I was on my way to you when you just stormed off without even a simple sorry or hello." She defended.

"So what if I didn't apologize? Are you going to report me to Professor McGonagall?" Ron barked.

Hermione was done being patient with him. Having a bad mood did not justify her being at the receiving end of it. She pulled at his arms, making him face her.

"Ronald Weasley! I said no such things. I merely pointed out that you were late so you can take note of it and not repeat this in the future. What in Merlin's name is wrong with you? Your quick temper will-"

She was cut off by Ron who grabbed her book. "What is wrong with me? My temper is all because of you!" He shoved the red letter in front of her face. "Did you snog Vickie?"

Hermione could not deny this. She did snogged Viktor after the Yule Ball, but there was no spark between them. She called it off before he returned to Bulgaria. She knew Viktor still had hope that they might get back together, eyeing the red envelope and how he always signed off as "Your Love" but to Hermione, he was just a friend, a pen-friend. Surely Ron knew this as she has explained this many times though omitting the part where she shared a kiss with Viktor right after the ball.

Hermione grabbed her book and letter back. "So what if I did? That was almost two years ago but now he is-"

"Just a pen-friend, is that what you were going to say?" Ron's face turned even redder, matching the color of his hair. "That is a load of crap. You snogged him and you didn't even care to mention that one bit! Admit it, Hermione. You still like him!"

"This is the last time I'm going to repeat this, Ronald Bilius Weasley. I. Do. Not. Fancy. Viktor." She punctuated each word with a jab to his chest using her book.

Ron couldn't believe Hermione. He didn't understand why she would keep in touch with that oaf of a Krum if she did not reciprocate his feelings. He would never admit it, but he was actually jealous that he did not have Hermione's first kiss. He wondered if things would turn out differently had he asked Hermione to the Yule Ball before Krum. He gave one last stare at Hermione before flinging her hand away. "I do not believe you." He ended the argument in a childish manner and stomped forward.

It took Hermione a moment to recover herself and when she did, she started pacing back and forth in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, not that she noticed, all the while muttering to herself.

"How dare he act as if it is a crime to kiss Viktor! He was the one who treated me as a last resort to Yule Ball. Yet once he finds out that I kissed Viktor, he raged at me. The nerve of him to act as if I've cheated on him when we're not even a couple."

Ginny's voice reminded her, 'Opposite attracts.'

"Well, Ginny, clearly opposites don't attract if what Ron and I do every time is argue and make up, only to argue again. Merlin! I wish I could know who my soulmate is, or better yet, meet him. Ron just feels so-" She stopped pacing at the sound of door opening. "Wrong." She whispered, realizing that it was the entrance to the Room of Requirements. What did I ask of the room? She wondered.

Hermione slowly walked past the door which closed upon her entering. Her eyes scanned the room and fell upon the white furred fox. She recognized it as the Arctic fox and frowned. Don't Arctic foxes live far up north? Why is there one here when it is supposedly extinct in Scotland?

Her thoughts were answered when in its place, a dark haired man stood. Upon recognizing an animagnus transformation, Hermione screamed. With a flick, her wand fell from the holster into her hand and she pointed it at the intruder who turned to face her. "Who are you!" She demanded.

A look of confusion washed over his face though Hermione missed it. What caught her eyes was the serpent crest. Could he be a death eater? She had to act fast before he took out his wand. A stunner followed by full body-bind curse would give her time to inform the Professors of this intruder since she didn't have any skills of interrogation.

"Stupefy!" Hermione shouted. A bright blue transparent shield appeared in front of the man and he frowned, as though thinking why she would attack him. She noted that the man was not holding any wand. "Wandless magic," She gasped.

Note:

1. The sea cave is inspired from the restaurant of Grotta Palazzese hotel. Do google it! It is in my to-visit list if I ever travel to Italy.

2. Bona aetas is Latin. According to Google translate, it means, good age, youth, prime of life.

3. The color of the potion is emerald green because green represents youth. If brewing Felix Felicis requires wand movement in a figure of 8 (8 being the lucky color) over the potion, I figured waving vertically (figure of 1) seems fitting since it supposedly reflects new beginning, which reminds me of youth.

4. The reason why I chose fox as Salazar's animagnus form should be pretty obvious. Foxes are cunning and according to universeofsymbolism .com, Arctic fox is a sign of magic amidst the ordinary. To me, Salazar, being a powerful wizard should be a white fox instead of red/gray/silver/brown.

Do let me know what you think! Xx