Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I have no rights to Harry Potter nor do I make any money from writing these fic's.

Chapter 3

"Thank you Minerva," Poppy said to her friend a few weeks later after the final battle, "Thank you for doing this for me, I can't do it myself at the moment with how many people was injured during the final battle and all..."

"Don't worry my friend," Minerva said with a smile, "It's been almost a month since the final battle, and things will start to slow down soon enough. You'll be begging for this to come back soon enough."

Poppy gave a groan before shooing Minerva out of the Hospital Wing, "Now out you go and find Harry. I let him out earlier today, around dawn, I thought he'd appreciate it that he got out of here before today's load of people came and started to stare at him."

"I'm on my way," Minerva said as she began to walk out of the Hospital Wing only to stop in the doorway, "Poppy, where is Harry staying at the moment? Gryffindor common room is closed still."

"I think his in Severus' office," Poppy said as she quickly busied herself to chance the memories of Severus' death away.

With understanding in her eyes Minerva began the long walk down to Severus' old rooms; the walk seemed to last forever as the memories of Severus floated within Minerva's head. She noticed that there was hardly anyone down this far in the castle and those who was had slowed down and walked respectively, the master of the dungeons was down.

"I hope you're alright," Minerva said to herself as she walked down the steps and into the dungeons.

Minerva came to the portrait that guarded Severus private rooms, "Salazar."

"Minerva," Salazar Slytherin said with a polite bow, "I heard it from the young master, is Severus dead?"

"Yes," Minerva said stiffly as she tried to keep her emotions in check, "Do you know if Harry Potter is in there? I need to check up on him for Poppy...young master?"

"Yes young master is in here," Salazar said with a nod of his head, "I'll let you in without the password as you're the Headmistress...plus young master needs help."

Minerva nodded as she connected the dots between Harry and this 'young master', "Thank you Salazar, I'll help your young master Harry, now if you please?"

Salazar did not reply, instead his portrait moved allowing Minerva entrance.

"Help me find out what happened to them Minerva, he needs them," was Salazar's last words as the portrait closed behind Minerva.

Minerva looked around Severus' private rooms, or what she could see from her place in the hallway. The dim glow of a light fireplace caught Minerva's attention; being carful she followed the light from the flames to find Harry lying down on the sofa in a bad way.

"Harry?" Minerva asked with a frown on her face, "Why are you here in Severus' private living room of all places? You've defeated Voldermort and today Poppy's let you out of the Hospital Wing, so what's wrong?"

Minerva frown again as the boy she saw as a grandson seemed to just ignore her and curl up in a tight ball with his knees drawn up to his chest and his arms around them tightly. He looked blankly at the wall as if only his body was present.

"Harry?" Minerva asked again with a lot more worry showing on her face, "Come on, move over and tell me what's wrong."

Minerva waited a few minutes for Harry to gathered himself and move over only to find that five minutes later Harry had not ever moved a muscle, not even a muscle in his eye lid to blink.

Minerva felt dread build up in her stomach; it seemed that what she had been worried about had come about.

"Harry...is there anyone you want me to get for you?" Minerva asked kindly as she knelt down so she was on Harry's level, "Anyone at all?"

Minerva waited and hoped that Harry would utter just one word, just the first name of someone she knew, someone that could be Harry's protector, someone that could be Harry's knight in shining armour for once.

But Harry didn't utter a single word.

"Harry, please say something, even if it's just one word, please," Minerva begged as she looked into Harry's eyes.

Minerva's breath caught in her throat as Harry slowly turned and looked at her in the eyes, Harry's eyes was filled with sadness and emptiness, the eyes of someone who had lost everything they held close to them...someone who had no reason to keep on living for.

"Dead, he's dead," Harry crocked out so softly that Minerva had to lean in close to hear it, "Dead."

Minerva frowned slightly, she was happy that Harry had spoken to her, it shown her that there was something within Harry that was alive through she now had a new mystery to solve, who was this dead male?

"Who Harry? Who's dead?" Minerva asked as she stood up and stretched her old tired bones, "Harry, who is this man?"

Harry didn't look at Minerva but looked past her and straight at the mantle place above the roaring fire.

Minerva followed Harry's gaze, her eyes hitting the photo that stood in pride of place on the mantle place, standing up Minerva walked over to the mantle place and looked at the photo.

"Oh Harry," Minerva said as tears formed in her eyes, "No wonder...we thought you hated each other but...oh Harry, I'm so sorry."

Minerva crossed the room quickly; she kindly lifted Harry up and sat down before placing Harry back down so he was resting comfortably on Minerva's leg. As Minerva ran her hand through Harry's raven locks.

"Want..." Harry whispered out after a few minutes of Minerva's petting, "Want..."

"What do you want Harry?" Minerva asked kindly as she continued to run her hand through Harry's hair. After everything that Harry had been and went through Minerva would move the earth for him.

"Want...Michael," Harry slowly said as his grip tightened on Minerva's skit, "Want...Ryan."

Minerva frowned slightly, just who was these two males that Harry seemed so desperately want? With a sigh Minerva continued to run her hand through Harry's hair for a few minutes until a polite cough made Minerva jump slightly.

"You!" Minerva cried out with wide eyes as she drew her wand, "How can you be here! Your dead! Your just a portrait if anything! Who are you really?"

"I can assure you Minerva that I am who I appear to be," Salazar Slytherin said calmly, "Now then, will you let me finish the job?"

To Be Continued...

Next chapter is about what this 'job' Salazar is on about, how he got out of the portrait, how Severus was linked with Harry and Salazar and some background information on the fic along with background and general information on Michael and Ryan.