Titel: The Curse of Slytherin – part III – Salazar Slytherin
Author: Shayla
Series: Harry Potter
Pairing: SS/HP
Warning: Slash, Rated: R …
And in this fic I do not take in consideration the events of OoP.
Beta: NOT BETAD!! I don't have anyone to help me out with this so forgive my many mistakes, I'm not a native English-speaker and my friends accuse me of being a Coma-Eater --'
Summary: Harry is having weird dreams. Voldemort tells him a few secrets that he probably wouldn't have believed under normal circumstances. After that encounter Harry is not really up to do anything and wants only to be left alone as soon as possible. Sadly, things are never easy for him considering that he has a curse on him that will bring upon the birth of a long dead wizard…
Disclaimer: I wish Harry Potter were mine, but it isn't…sighs I guess there are other people who feel like this, right?
Note to Part III: I haven't updated this Story in ages, I know… sorry bows remorsefully I lost my notes on it and… well, the only ones I found where from the time where Salazar never got around waking up… which considering how far the story is, has nothing to do with it anymore, consequently that means that I'm working on rewriting chapter 14-20 from my memory alone… Sorry ;;Thank you everybody for your reviews so far, I try to work on this as fast as I can, but I do have other projects to finish and life's got me busy as well. I'd wish I had the time to reply to everyone of you, though.
Please continue to enjoy this.
The Curse of Slytherin – Part III
Salazar Slytherin
Chapter 12Severus forced Draco and Sirius into a dark corridor at the sound of approaching footsteps. The sound was uncharacteristically, there was no rhythmical echo, but an uneven sound that lead the Potion Master to the conclusion that the now approaching person was injured and not well on his feet.
He heard Draco move near him as the boy heaved the heavier body of Sirius up to get a better hold of him. Black's heavy breathing was starting to worry him, but right now he had to play safe if he wanted to get out of here in one piece.
He listened on to the sound of the steps clearing all other unnecessarily noises out of his head, carefully trying to determine how far the other was from their hideout. The steps stopped for a moment and he had to suppress the urge to look around the corner to see who it was.
Something hissed and then the steps echoed through the dark hallways again coming once more closer. A few meters, maybe less…
Severus let go of Sirius, letting his student carry alone the weight of the other man, and reached slowly for his wand in his sleeve. Draco and him might still be dressed as Death Eaters, but Voldemort's expression earlier had told him that it was better that there were no witnesses during their little escapade, although it didn't make much sense as to why the Dark Lord wanted him to take Black away without anyone noticing. Severus had learned years ago not to question that mad man.
"Draco?" a voice called out, unfamiliar and deep, but definitely a man's.
Severus glanced at his student, narrowing his eyes, but knowing that the other couldn't see it due his mask. The boy had clearly stiffened at the sound of his name.
A snake hissed, this time louder, closer.
"Draco? …" The call came again as the stranger approached.
Severus pressed against the wall, hiding in the shadow of the flickering fire of the torch on the other side of the hallway, ready to attack.
Suddenly Draco moved next to him out of their hideout dragging Sirius with him, before Severus could even react, and called out: "Harry?" Draco's voice trembling strangely, almost as though the boy was unsure of his own actions.
Severus cursed under his breath at the stupidity of his student, but moved quickly with raised wand next to the younger Slytherin in order to protect him. He froze in mid-spell.
Before them stood Harry Potter, but the boy looked nothing like the scared child Severus had left a few hours earlier in his chamber. This boy had shoulder length unruly hair, he was taller, almost as tall as the Potion Master himself, if not the same height, and his green eyes and expression were almost lifeless and cold. It was like standing before a complete stranger.
"Harry?" Draco called out again, but this time in considerably confusion.
The green eyed young man turned his eyes at the blond nodding slowly, while steadying himself with his right hand against the wall, his breathing coming in short and exhausted breaths.
"Harry… what happened? You were supposed to wait outside!" Draco exclaimed worried.
The green eyes closed for a moment before opening again and starring down his arm towards a silver snake bracelet. "Not here… not now…" his emotionless eyes turned back to them. "We have to leave, soon Death Eaters will be coming here." He paused looking strangely over Sirius pale form. "Is he alright?" he asked.
Severus didn't know what disturbed him more, the look on the boy's face, or the fact that he sounded as though he didn't really care. It was a hollow feeling emanating from Potter that made a cold shiver run down his spine.
"We must get him out of here where he can be treated and I can determine the extend of the poisoning of his body." Severus answered lowering his wand slowly.
The green eyes narrowed for a moment as they turned to the Potion Master, then Harry nodded and walked closer to them. "I understand."
Suddenly Severus felt the air of his body leave him as he received a strong punch in his stomach, followed by another quick move that knocked him unconscious.
"Professor!!" Draco exclaimed alarmed as the man tumbled forward and hit the ground hard. Draco turned to look at Harry. "What did you do that for?!" the Slytherin cried out.
"If he leaves with us, your father will realize that he is betraying him and will hunt him down." Harry's bangs fell over his face making his eyes darken in the hair's shadow. "You know what that would mean." His eyes fixed strangely at the man on the ground. "It is better they find him like this, than not at all." He turned his attention to his schoolmate and handed Draco the portkey.
Realizing that the other was right, Draco reached out for the book with Sirius' hand in his own and laid them on the cover not saying another word.
"Password?" Harry asked.
Draco looked down at the titled and spoke. "Inno di morte…" They were sucked into the vortex that would return them to Hogwarts.
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Salazar watched Draco stumble to the ground under Sirius' weight when they arrived near the Quidditch fields of Hogwarts. That boy's looks annoyed him, he was just like Godric, which was rather irritating, but his behavior wasn't anything alike. He would have found it amusing to see someone that looked so much like Gryffindor in his house, if the boy wasn't his descendant, his own blood. It meant that somewhere in the line of his family Godric's blood must have mixed with his own. The mere thought was disgusting as much as disturbing, because that meant that the past events of betrayal and hate had been forgotten and his family had dared to let another Gryffindor close to them.
To make things worse, he found himself in the body of a Gryffindor. He'd like to go strangle someone, but at the moments his thoughts should be focused on repaying his host at least by keeping her godfather alive, it was already bad enough that he had failed in keeping the child in his host alive let alone Harry's soul in one piece.
Whenever he closed his eyes he had the image imprinted of the empty look of the girl's eyes as they looked empty down at her own body while her hands moved in circling motions like a mantra over where the child would have been.
But the only thing that remained now in this flesh was a lifeless body of a child that should have been this woman's firstborn.
He knew very well that the longer he kept that body within himself now, the worse he would start feeling. The child was dead but this body, which belonged to Salazar now, was alive, and it would end up being poisoned by the dead flesh within.
But that had to wait.
Sirius Black's life had priority right now.
So he went over to the two on the ground and reached out for the pale form of Harry's godfather and heaved him up against himself. He watched as Draco took the chance to get on his feet before reaching out for Sirius in order to help him.
"No!" Salazar said. "I'll take him, you go and get help."
"But-" Draco stopped when Salazar narrowed his eyes.
"I said: no." he repeated seriously. "I'll meet you down in the dungeon, we can't afford to have everyone in Hogwarts know that a criminal is in their mists. It's safer if I take him while you get someone to help him."
"And where exactly do you plan to take him?" Draco shook his head irritated. "The entrance to the dungeon is through the Entrance Hall. It might very well be the middle of the night, but that doesn't mean that there won't be anyone patrolling at this hour." Draco countered.
"Stretch you arm out to me." He ordered in a voice that made the other follow his command instantly. Salazar got a hold of his wrist with his right hand. He watched Draco's expression change as he spoke out in Parsel and the snake lifted its body and moved like quicksilver over Salazar's hand down to the blond boy's wrist and slithered over his arm encircling it. "It will lead you back to me. Go now. I'll find my own way in."
Draco blinked at the silver around his wrist before glancing with wide eyes at him, understanding and horror rising in them. He gapped while stepping fearfully away from him.
"Go!" Salazar said low.
And the boy turned on his heels running towards the castle, fleeing from the figure that looked like Harry but that was Salazar Slytherin now.
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Draco tried to force down the overflowing emotions of the shock and realization that his ancestor had awoken. His vision was starting to blur as crystal liquid built in them while he ran towards the castle. He reached up for the white mask on his face and took it off. He hid it in his cloak before passing his left hand over his face to wipe off the wetness.
The cold silver on his arm confirmed the terrible realization that Salazar was real.
He wanted to shout in desperation, but he couldn't; his throat was like a big knot that made it even hard to breath.
He should have realized this the moment he had set eyes on this strange form of Harry. The empty look, the hollow feeling and above all the difference in height and appearance belonging to someone that was not a child.
Maybe Draco had realized but hadn't wanted to believe it back then. Sometimes it was better to pretend to be blind to the truth than face it, but Draco knew very well that he could no longer run.
He had often enough seen Harry's will subside to Salazar's. He had witnessed the emotionless eyes as they starred at him without real recognition or with utter hatred when Salazar had confused him with someone else. But Harry had always been able to keep his ground and returned.
But the way Harry… no Salazar, it was Salazar now in Harry's body.
The way he looked now was different from his cousin.
He felt a tug from the snake as he entered the castle. It was like it wanted to lead the way. Confused by the emotions in him and the worry for Harry, Draco allowed it to lead him.
What if Harry wouldn't return this time?
What if this time it was forever?
Was there no other way?!
He sniffed and took a deep breath following without hesitation the snake's way until it stopped before the entrance, which lead to the headmaster's office. For a moment Draco wasn't sure how to proceed since he didn't know the password, but again the snake forced him to move. It raised his arm closer to the statue forming into liquid again expanding from his arm and coming in contact with the stone.
First there was no reaction but Draco could clearly feel the magic rising from the thing until the statue rose and formed stairs. The snake retreated back onto him and dragged him on until he reached the office door.
Wanting to come up with a somewhat plausible explanation as to why he was there, he decided to wait a moment, but the snake pulled his arm up and forced him to knock. Draco let out a protest cry, but the snake made him reach for the knob and turn it pushing the door open.
It was humiliating to have no will over his own body.
The realization that this was how Harry must have felt all this time hit him suddenly and he could only stare at those before him unable to react, let alone to explain his being there.
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Salazar could feel the changes within his body. The cellular structure had an accelerated growth and his organs where rearranging in a very painful manner. The earlier sudden physical growth could not compare to the pain that he was going trough at the moment.
He could barely keep the body of Black against him. He stumbled against the wall of the dungeon thankful that at least he had something to lean to. Of course he could try to cast pain-killing spells on himself, but he didn't know whether Black's condition would react to the magic about him. Using a portkey to get to Hogwarts had been risky enough.
He felt with his free hand along the wall for a hidden switch. In the almost dark corridor he could barely make out the lines of the stones. The smell emanating from Black was worsening and he had the urgent need to throw up.
For the fifth time, since Draco had left them, he wondered what they had done to this man to have him in such a death-near state. The body smelled as tough his flesh had been rotting for weeks beneath the earth, his breathing was heavy like someone's submerged deep in the water, but what worried Salazar most was the fact that the skin seemed to darken by just being touched. At first he had assumed that Black had been abused so much that it had left marks, but after seeing that a simple and light touch could cause a very painful looking bruise on the skin, he realized that he was assuming too much.
Finally coming across a stone with a somewhat stronger magical essence, he spoke out in Parsel and the stone, along with the wall moved quietly down to the ground giving view to a long stairway leading farther beneath the castle. Leaning Black carefully against the wall he called out in Parsel. He waited for an answer, but none came. Narrowing his eyes he called out again, this time louder, but no reply was heard. Worried he moved to Black and pulled him up again, almost falling himself down due to his own pain.
Salazar continued their way down calling still out in Parsel while the door closed again behind them.
He cursed under his breath as he felt the aching in his feet worsen. "Where is that stupid snake when I need it?!" he wondered before calling out loudly for help again, but only to be answered by the echo of his own voice and the following silence.
Annoyed he continued his way until he reached the sewer beneath the castle. It hadn't changed much over the centuries, but even if it had it wouldn't have matter because what he was looking for would be at the end of the tunnel, no matter how much Hogwarts' structure would rearrange for it's own amusement, it would always be there waiting for its master to return.
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Albus looked startled at Draco Malfoy standing in the doorway of his office. The boy's eyes were slightly reddened and he just starred blankly looking completely out of place.
Remus and Madam Pomfrey were apparently so surprised that they did not move when Draco finally seemed to recover from his shocked state.
"Mr. Malf-" Albus started, wondering at the same time how the boy had managed to get into his office, but was interrupted by the blond.
"Headmaster!!" he called out rushing forward and reaching out for the man's hand before pulling him after him towards the room's exit. "You have to come quickly!!"
Albus stopped forcing Draco to come to a halt. Pale eyes starred at him in confusion, worry and fear.
"Calm down, boy." He said trying to free his hand from the boy's grip, but Draco only tightened his hold, almost desperately. His expression resembled Remus' when he had first entered his room. For a moment the thought of increasing the security of his office passed through his mind.
"But we have to hurry!!" the boy's voice stopped his thought. "He might die!!!" Draco's voice turned high, emphasizing the stress he seemed to be in. "You must hurry!!"
Albus lay his free hand on Draco's shoulder forcing the boy to face him. He looked sternly over the border of his glasses at him. "Tell me what has happened, Draco."
The boy reacted to his name. "I…I don't know!" He let go of the headmaster passing his hand over his face giving view to a strange looking silver bracelet. "He made me tell him how to get there! And I didn't realize soon enough and then I left him behind!!" he spoke hastily, forcing his eyes close to contain the tears from flowing. Memories seemed to flash through his mind rapidly. "I found them and then he found us but he was changed!" his eyes flung open and he reached out for Albus' robe holding with tight fist at it. "It's not him anymore!! I know it!! I failed!!!" he sank down to his knees letting go of the clothing sobbing loudly now. "I promised myself I would protect him and I failed him!!!" tears dropped to the ground. "I failed the only person I ever cared about!" he cried out loudly before his voiced failed him and all they could hear was his soft whisper. "I failed…failed…"
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Someone slapped him rather rudely wake. For a second he felt completely disorientated, which alarmed him and he tried to sit up abruptly while reaching instinctively for his wand. But somewhere in between the lying and vertical position he collided with something.
He heard an annoyed curse immediately recognizing the voice of Lucius Malfoy. "Damn it, Snape!"
Severus touched his forehead where he had hurt himself just now. "What happened?" he asked looking around and finding himself on the dirty ground of a dungeon.
Lucius snorted while rubbing as well his forehead, his mask was dangling on a silver chain around his waist contrasting strongly with his black robes. "Well, I was expecting you to tell me!!"
Narrowing his eyes, Severus remembered speaking to the Younger Malfoy and having carried Black as well as meeting Potter. That damned brat had dared to knock him completely out with just one blow. Severus lay a hand on his stomach. The hit had not been without magic, and since Severus had not really expected anything like that from the boy, he had not even been able to react to the sudden attack. Taken completely defenseless he had been knocked unconscious.
"One of us attacked me…" he said looking straight into Lucius eyes. "I thought he was here to help me move Black to another cell. When I heaved the body up he came around and knocked me out." Well, it wasn't a complete lie, a bid of bended truth to serve a Malfoy. Still, there was the nagging sensation that he had missed something while being in the younger Malfoy's and Potter's presence. Something important had been going on; alone the wondrous look in Draco's eyes had been prove of it. And should that not be enough, than Potter's odd behavior had shown nothing of what Severus was used to.
The fact that there was a patter in Potter's behavior and that Severus had bothered to know about it was something that annoyed him even more. But the boy had not seemed himself. Something had happened to him, something that Severus had to find out… again.
Truly, it was quite bothersome that, since Potter had come to Hogwarts, Severus life had turned into a circling motion about the boy. Whatever he did, whatever he said was done in order to protect the boy.
The boy…
Potter was still a boy…
Then why had Severus felt so strange in their last encounter…
Lucius brought him back out of his thought. "And you don't know who it was?"
He shook his head, and started to get up from the ground. Having to look up at the other man was as unnerving as thinking all the time about that child.
Severus saw Lucius furious face as the man turned around and ordered the Death Eaters to search for the other dead corpses and to research the magical traces of spells in order to find out who had either betrayed them or had managed to get into their territory.
Fleetingly everyone moved at his order. Malfoy turned back with his pale eyes to him, narrowing them in suspicion. "Did you see Draco?"
Surprised at this, Severus was glad to have trained himself from showing such emotions on his face. "Draco?" he asked while rearranging his robes and leaning down to pick up his mask from the ground. "Shouldn't he be at school?"
"That's what I'm asking you." Lucius moved closer invading Severus personal space. "I was told that he came looking for me… You wouldn't happen to know about this, would you?"
Severus didn't flinch; doing so would only betray the words he was about to say. "I don't see why I should know where your brat is. During the week he should remain at school in order not to arouse suspicion with Dumbledore. "
Lucius didn't move away, nor did he show any sign on his face for Severus to interpret. "Speaking of Dumbledore… Maybe you should go back to school and inform me about my son's whereabouts and see if the old man has anything to do with this."
"Are you suggesting I leave and don't help search for the idiot who knocked me out?" Severus gave him an angry tone and let the other watch him seethe in anger before speaking up again in a more controlled fashion. "I'd rather have my hands on that bastard, but Dumbledore isn't stupid, you're right, I should head back. He probably already knows about Black and Lupin." He lifted his mask over his face. "Wouldn't want to disappoint his trust in me."
Lucius viewed him curiously and for a very disturbing and unknown reason, Severus had the feeling that Lucius was suddenly far more dangerous than he had considered him to be in the last years.
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Many of the tunnels in the sewer had crashed down making it impossible for Salazar to continue on to his chamber. What had happened here?
Question after question formed in his mind, but as soon as they arose he realized that he had no answer to them. Time had obviously affected Hogwarts more than he had ever expected. Of course he had imagined that something like this might happened, but when he had performed the spell of his return all those centuries ago, he had not counted on being reborn a thousand years later.
Too much time had passed indeed.
He looked at the rocks blocking his way. Considering that he was not completely stabilized in the body of Harry Potter, there was a risk that performing magic to repair the damages could cost him the just gained chance of a new life. And there was also Black to consider. The man had started to show signs of fever, his body trembling from cold, but his skin was burning in sickness.
Salazar laid Sirius against the tunnel wall and cleaned his face from his own sweat with his sleeve. He was not feeling well either. The changes on the body had been too abrupt and too early, normally he would have had to wait at least another month.
Closing his eyes and massaging with his fingers his forehead, he tried to think of another way into the chamber. Of course there were others entrances than the main one, but they had not been designed for humans. Only the Basilisk could use them since they were filled with poisonous plants and various other traps that he could under no circumstance avoid with Black on the drag.
He opened his eyes thoughtfully. There was also a chance that the castle itself might reopen the way for him if he asked for its help. His host was a descendant of Gryffindor as he was of Salazar. By using his own magical presence and that of Harry, he might be able to trick the castle to open a path for him.
He looked up at the ceiling, the castle had been given an own source for magic for cases like this. War had always been in the Salazar's mind, therefore he had convince Rowena to aid him in creating a source of magic for the castle and the grounds in case that defenses and repairs had to be raised in times of trouble. Convincing later the other founders, they had established a concentrated amount magic into the walls of Hogwarts giving it life and almost a will of its own. Almost of course, a real will was not something Salazar was willing to create. That went too deep into messing with the creation of a real sentient being. There were boundaries that not even he would cross.
He heard Black cough and he turned to the pale form on the ground. He needed to treat the man quickly. But the things he needed were in his chamber. Cursing under his breath and walked over to the dead end and laid his hands flat on the stone.
"Only blood can write its own tragedy…" he resisted the words Rowena had last spoken to him. "Maybe you were right…"
And once again the castle awoke from its slumber sensing a more powerful call than months before.
Through a foggy vision Sirius saw in hallucination the figure of a powerful man standing with raised arms to the front. Magic was being willed around him to gather to do his bidding. Sirius could feel it in his bones for it was tabbing him painfully until he could no longer stand it. The last thing he saw were green eyes as the man turned to look back at him.
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Draco had calmed down. From what Remus could tell, he was considerably calmer than when he had rushed in. But his instincts told him that the boy was still scared of something or someone. He could smell the fearful scent rising from his skin intoxicating the air about him. At first Remus hadn't been able to tell whether there was something else disturbing his lycantrophy senses or if his own discomfort and nervousness from the escape was blinding him, but after watching Poppy help calm down the boy somewhat, he had recognized the other scents that were below the fear.
Harry…
He was sure he had smelled Harry, but it was different from what Remus remembered it. And there was also Severus and to add to Remus own insecurity, Sirius'.
After getting up and moving closer to the young Slytherin, he started to make out more smells. Vomit, rotten flesh and blood… there were more, but the amount was confusing him and he found himself forced to keep a certain distance from the boy in order to be able to think clearly. Still the smell that made Remus' blood rush through him in fear more than all the others was the intense and almost unbearable scent of death. It wasn't just one… he could tell clearly, which made it only worse for him to bear.
Poppy passed a hand over the boy's hand soothingly, it was an almost motherly gesture and it appeared to disturb Draco because he flinched away from her touch. Sighing she lowered her hand and touched his shoulder holding him in place before speaking in a strong but calm voice. "What happened?"
Draco looked at each of them, his eyes moving fleetingly from one to the next. Remus had the feeling to be watching a trapped animal.
"Har…" he shook his head. "Potter… " the way Draco said the name seemed almost foreign to Remus, as though the boy wasn't used to call him that. But before Remus could dwell on it the boy continued. "He made me take him to where the Death Eaters would be holding his godfather…" the pale eyes evaded Remus' look.
"His Godfather?" Poppy asked him as she released him from her hold. For a moment Remus saw something reflect the light of the candles in her hand before it vanished in her sleeve. Apparently she had given young Malfoy something to calm him without him knowing so. No wonder she had touched his head before. There were scentless lotions that massaged to the head would take fear from one, leaving the receiver with a comforting and soothing sensation.
"Yes." Draco nodded closing his eyes; apparently the lotion was starting to do its work. "Sirius Black…" Draco's head moved to the side as tough he was about to fall asleep any moment. "But he wasn't held in the cells… We didn't find him…"
"How did you know that his godfather was held by them in the first place." Minerva asked curiously.
Draco opened his eyes and looked at her but his vision seemed to blur because he opened them wide and closed them a few times trying to focus on the professor. "We heard it as the headmaster contacted Professor Snape." He reached to his head swaying lightly from side to side trying to resist the lotion's power.
Albus turned with raised eyebrows to Remus and he felt a surge of guilt rise in him.
"Harry…" again he shook his head. "No, Potter…" he corrected himself. "He insisted on going after Snape… but…" he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "I told him to wait in safety and to use the portkey to get back if any danger approached and I left him alone…" The boy seemed almost to choke on the last words and his expression became that of someone in complete distress. "Oh, god! I left him alone…" he repeated and Remus had the feeling that Malfoy was falling into a recollection of his own memories.
Albus looked doubtfully at Madam Pomfrey, but she was trying to help Draco focus on his surroundings, whispering calming words to him while tears rolled down his face and guilt started to replace the distress.
She turned to them slowly. "I might have applied more than necessary, …" she stated as they watched Draco's head swing slightly form side to side. "The lotion is calming him but it also will have him ask for sleep. And in such a state he might not know clearly what he's talking about."
Draco reached with his hand to his face and the strange bracelet came back to view. The snake seemed alive in Remus eyes. It appeared to be watching them. It was suddenly more unnerving than not knowing what was happening to Sirius.
And then without further warnign the snake opened its mouth and its teeth sank deep into the boy's skin. Draco let out a startled cry and he covered his wrist with his other hand.
Poppy reached out to help but the boy slapped her hand away. "Don't!" he said in a hard voice. "I need to tell you… Need to be able to focus… need to help him…"
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The passage was cleared before Salazar now. It had not been necessary to adjust much magic to wield the structure back to its original form. It was unlikely that anyone but him had noticed the slight tremors created by his effort. He heaved the moaning figure of Black up and he dragged the man and himself forward towards his goal.
Something was not right; he could feel that something was wrong.
No… that wasn't it…
it was more like what he couldn't feel that had him worried. The whole tunnel seemed too deserted, too quite. Something was off, but his pain-clouded mind had already difficulties focusing on the task at hand and he was not really in any shape to wonder about other things for long.
Black whimpered against him as the stumbled over his Basilisk's peeled off skin. The man had regained consciousness for a moment whispering to him incomprehensible words and Salazar was to his own confusion relieved to find out that there was still some live in the sick man.
He stopped at the entrance of the Chamber and called out to the snakes to open the way. He closed his eyes breathing heavily trying to calm his beating heart and find some comfort in the presence of his own domain, although at present he would rather give into unconsciousness. He was feeling worse with every passing minute.
Getting a hold of Black he heaved the man up to entrance and pushed him into the chamber making sure not to harm the man more than necessary. Then he worked his own way up to the entrance stopping again to catch his breath and push back the sudden blackness that was overcoming him. Opening slowly his eyes all he could see at first was a blurred vision. But as the moment passed he was greeted with the sight of something he had not expected. There at the end was the corpse of his Basilisk. He starred at it in confusion, and he felt Harry stir within him in echo to the sudden emotional sadness that was filling him.
Questions over questions popped up in his mind, but he knew well that at the moment he wouldn't find any answers to them. So he reached down and pulled Black up by his arm and heaved him against him before continuing on.
He didn't dare look at his dead friend's corpse. His eyes focused on the ground, he forced himself to remain in control. He made his way to the end, to the huge image of a man that supposedly was an image of him, but was more the spiteful image of the man he hated almost as much as he did Gryffindor. His father.
He moved in front of the mouth and spoke up in Parsel. The stone stirred moving back completely into the wall, merging and giving sight to an entrance covered with runes.
His lips formed into something that he thought he had forgotten how to do. A soft smile graced his features at the familiar sight and at feeling of returning home.
Moving forward he touched the door and the runes awoke to his presence opening the door to the secret chambers that lay beyond.
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Whatever Pomfrey had given him to rest was being sucked out of him by the bracelet. His mind started to clear while at the same time something was enveloping him in a feeling of protection. The bracelet would protect him, he realized gazing in wonder at the silver around his wrist.
He closed his eyes and thanked silently the small thing for its company. It was different from before. Earlier the contact had been cold and almost threatening to him, but now, whether it was due to their connection or not, he was no longer afraid. There was warmth…
And so with new courage he looked up at the people gazing down to him while he sat on the ground. And with a steady voice he said: "We brought Sirius Black back with us, but he needs medical attention according to Professor Snape. He appeared to be dying when I separated from… Harry…" He wouldn't tell them about Salazar just yet. It wasn't his place and it certainly wasn't his wish that his ancestor resided permanently in his cousin's body. "I came at his request to lead you back to them."
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The Forbidden Forest was the least of all places Severus wanted to be tonight. He was feeling angry and confused with the current situation. Thinking clearly he realized that Potter's action had been remarkably smart. It would have been complicated to come up with a convincing explanation had he succeed in getting Black out on his own. And as much as he hate to admit it, freaking Potter might have saved his life for what it's worth. He shuddered angrily. He hated to be indebt to another Potter!
But there had been something wrong with the boy, he thought now that he had time making his way through the forest towards the castle. For the last month there had been something… something very strange connecting him to Harry Potter. He wasn't sure what it was and to be true nothing of what he had tried had been able to break that stupid feeling of wanting to know where the kid was, what he was doing, why he wasn't near Severus and above all the stupid need to keep Harry close to him.
But when Potter had stood there leaning against the wall, the connection had been… as though it had never been there in the first place. And to be true, Severus would probably believe it to be so weren't it for the dull and empty feeling that was barely there for him to register in his heart.
Earlier he had had the feeling that something horrible had happened to the boy, he didn't know exactly what. He had felt like being cut by a knife in the guts, yet now… he was hollow.
He sighed annoyed and frustrated. What was wrong with him worrying more than necessary over that child? Why couldn't he simply accept him like any other of those annoying brats that lingered in his life?
He looked up to see that he was reaching the end of the forest; he could make out the lineout of the castle through the thicket of the trees.
Severus wondered whether Black was still alive.
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Remus looked at Draco Malfoy. No, he starred at him, the words he had just spoken still echoing in his mind.
We brought Sirius Black back with us… Remus had not quite listened to what had followed until he registered the words 'dying' and 'Harry'.
"Sirius?" his voice sounded suddenly very dry to his own ears. "Dying?" Was that even him asking? It seemed very unreal as though there was someone else speaking though him, because he couldn't possibly be speaking after hearing that Sirius was dying.
Draco looked at him with pale but understanding eyes. Remus wasn't sure how Malfoy could look at him that way, how he could even speak of Sirius and Harry considering that he was… a Malfoy, for crying out loud!
How? When? Why?
Questions seemed to overrun his mind as confusion and worry drowned him further into the realm of fear.
"He looked pretty bad, but I'm not a medic to know how bad they got him. Snape…" he paused and looked at the headmaster. "Professor Snape didn't seem very confident on Black's health situation."
How could this boy be this calm now? Just moments before he had been struggling with worry himself. But before Remus could indulge farther into his dilemma Draco Malfoy continued to speak: "I came looking for help…" he stood up and looked the headmaster now in the eyes. "Will you come and look at him?"
"Where is he?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "I'll go immediately after I can be sure that you will rest and are indeed well."
The blond boy shook his head negatively. "No, you can't go where he is without me." He pushed his hair behind his ear and again Remus saw the snake bracelet for a moment. Draco turned around and headed back to the door. "Follow me…"
He wasn't sure how the other's reacted but he immediately jumped to his feet and hurried after the boy, pushing the thought that this might be a trap to the back of his mind. Remus only realized that the others were following them by the sound of their footsteps echoing in hurry behind him.
Remus' gaze was locked on the blond who held the arm with the bracelet slightly away from his body. It was as though some invisible force was leading him on. They went through the hallways further down in direction of the dungeon until Remus was sure that they were moving in parts of Hogwarts that he had never ventured into before, not even when he was young and they had used the Marauder's Map to explore the school.
Suddenly the boy stopped. He looked confused for a moment and looked down the dark corridor of the dungeon splitting into two paths.
"Wha-" Remus wanted to ask but the boy raised his hand in sign to remain quite, and so he listened.
Closing his eyes and trying to calm his nervousness and worry, he tried to listen to what could have led the boy to halt. And then faintly he heard it; steps approaching from the corridor on the right. Quick steps that he knew, that he could associate to a name.
He glanced back to see Minerva and Albus standing right behind him followed closely by Poppy.
"Severus…" he simply said.
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A/N:
So how's the story so far? What do you think?
Please let me know