The screams could be heard on the upper floors of the castle.
Godric rushed downstairs, almost flipping on his own feet, trying to reach the dungeons before someone else - such as Rowena or Helga - did. He got there just in time to see Salazar's rising his leather whip once more, ready to slap it against the bare back of a eleven years old child, a boy with barely any meat on his body, that was being tied to the ceiling by his feet. The child was crying and there was blood all over the floor; it was the first time Godric saw such a gruesome expression on his friend's face.
"Release the boy now, Salazar", he ordered, making Slytherin stop mid-air. He stood there, staring at him unsure, for a moment; the corner of his lips twitched a little bit and he laid down the whip, crossing his arms.
"Don't interfere on my ways of teacher, Godric, and I shall not interfere in yours."
"This is not teaching, this is torturing!" Gryffindor waved his wand with a non-verbal spell. The chains broke and the boy fell on the floor, running outside the room faster than a lightning strike. Godric could see the marks Salazar had left on his back as the child ran.
"It's not like you can blame me", Salazar shrugged. "It probably stole someone else's wand, so it could be there. Should a thief not pay for his crimes?"
"He is not an "it" and he is not a thief, Sal, he is a wizard, much like me and you! Don't you understand it?" Godric moved forward and his sudden movement made Salazar retreat a few steps.
"Don't let your love for the half-blood blinds your judgement, friend of mine" he replied, keeping a straight face. He was obviously referring to Rowena, the woman who once was a co-worker and a friend, but with whom he now only shared bad blood.
Godric wanted to punch Salazar in the face right there, but he knew his friend was hurt; it was probably his sick, disturbed way of dealing with the pain.
But that had to stop.
"Who are you?" He asked, getting even closer. "What happened to you, Salazar? You are not the man I loved."
"Love?" Slytherin repeated, in a mocking way. "As far as love is concerned, you heart belongs to the one that may never be yours, not with me."
He passed him by, hitting his shoulder in doing so. Before leaving the chamber, Godric could hear him stopping and for a moment Gryffindor held his breath.
"Since my methodology is no longer accepted in my own school, I see no reason to remain here. I'll see myself out by the morning." He slammed the door behind his back, his footsteps soon disappearing in the end of the corridor.
And that was the last time Godric saw Salazar Slytherin.