To Be Headmistress
Chapter Four
Ginny had searched the wards for him, and found nothing. He hadn't come when she asked, and castle refused to tell her anything about it. She couldn't even get its opinion on the matter, and she stopped asking. To have the castle not answer her at all felt extremely unnerving; it was like it was dead beneath her feet, and she didn't like the feeling at all. Minerva had no answer for it either, and the castle was a dead to her as it was to Ginny on the topic.
Ginny had taken the lessons, and she'd learned the politics she needed. In turn, she had taught Minerva a little bit about manipulating the castle to receive answers and results beyond what she had had before. It was delicate work for her, where Ginny just felt it all the time, but she appreciated the expanse, and the castle grew friendlier, although her access increased very little.
Ginny and Minerva both had told no one else of the arrangements; to everyone, Minerva had always been Headmistress, and to those that had been aware of the switch, they were told the role had been returned. Harry appeared mildly suspicious, but he didn't press. He'd become very laidback after defeating Voldemort, and after a few 'statements' he wasn't bothered by anyone, and he returned the favour in most circumstances.
Summer had been a bit of trial; after a few weeks of lacking contact with the school, she'd sent a desperate letter to Minerva to call her in for even a moment or two so she could just feel the intimacy once more. She was still aware of the school when she was away from it, but it was a distant feeling and completely dead. Her family had been curious, but she'd kept them off while Molly had simply shrugged and attributed it to Harry leaving her, and teenage hormones –which, was surprisingly also a bit of a problem, but not with the boy Molly thought it was. No, Ginny surprised herself by agonizing once more over Salazar, and his continued silence. It was utterly maddening.
Now, it was the end of June, Ginny's seventh year. She had agonized over Salazar most of the summer, and she had expected to see him once she'd returned. She hadn't; instead, she'd been swamped with lessons, and decisions two weeks before school began. She'd gotten to help choose Head Boy and Head Girl, been asked her opinion on the new Defence teacher, and several other small matters related to the beginning of the school. She'd been overwhelmed, and it had only gotten worse when school had begun. It had been three weeks into September before she'd even noticed she had once again felt nothing from Salazar. She'd cried herself to sleep, and then she'd not had time to think of him until Christmas, which she forced herself to spend with her family, it only to take her mind of the absence of the blasted phantom. She'd then thrown herself into the lessons when she'd returned, managing to mask her depression until the time when school began to wind down. Her lessons had been learned well; Minerva had felt that she could easily take over the next year, with Minerva stepping down the Deputy once more.
And Ginny was questioning the wisdom of her decision to hold an end of year ball for the fourth years and up, with the same rules as that of the Yule ball, sans the Champions, with the theme, Masquerade. The cheer the announcement had instilled had only emphasized her loneliness, starkly placing her infatuation in brilliant, unforgiving light. None of the young men who had asked her to the ball had come anywhere near his intelligence, his looks, or his grace. Their manners paled next to the genteel quality Salazar had held, and she felt torn into shreds that he had not once shown up that year, and that she couldn't find the faintest hint of his presence. She'd accepted no invitations, and she could only be grateful that she'd made the ball a masquerade. At least the mask could hide her sadness.
The ball was opened in the afternoon, but Ginny felt no pleasure in it. She was dressed in a flowing ball gown, with red silk overcoat over the dark burgundy dress with a square neck. Gold trim edged the overcoat, and a gold sash tied over her waist, while the trim on the dress was black. Elbow-length loose sleeves, edged in lace, were the last pieces of the outfit, but she wore it stiffly with no real pleasure. Her mask was a black creation with no magic involved, just velvet and ribbon, with black buttons in place of eyebrows. The mask ended after her nose, leaving her mouth free, but it curled around her face, hiding everything else, save the shadowed eyeholes.
She stood alone to the edge of the dancing, barely paying any attention at all to the music twining through the air. She had been asked to dance more times than she could count, but she mostly just spent her time hovering near the punchbowl, paying no attention to those who passed by. When she grew bored, she tapped into the wards, grieving and seething over the absence of Salazar's presence, and watching to see who was dancing with whom, who was missing, and who was wandering about alone. The intrigue was hollow, but it was something to do. It also added some flavour for when she did join in the meaningless gossip, for she knew better than they did of the different partners of the moment. The only other thing she considered was the open invitation Minerva had given her to possibly announce the truth of her status that evening, at any point she chose during the dance. It would be announced again the evening after, so as to make sure everyone heard if she did, but it would allow her to have something to discuss with the students. Ginny had been unable to hide the grief the absence of the phantom had caused from Minerva.
Ginny glanced up idly at some time after eleven and looked into a pair of dark eyes shining beneath a black-green eagle's mask covering the boy's face much as hers did. He appeared the epitome of a Slytherin prince, dressed in a flowing, smooth green shirt with loose sleeves, tight cuffs, and gentle ruffles down the front. The shirt was tucked into black pants with a dark brown belt, and brown leather boots turned down over his ankles. He wore rings on each finger, and a small silver pendant nearly lost in his shirt. She couldn't quite catch what it was, but between his dark hair, slim build and taste in clothes, Ginny felt herself intrigued enough to accept his outstretched hand. He reminded her of Salazar, and she could easily imagine herself dancing with the irascible phantom as the boy led her smoothly through steps that seemed endlessly familiar.
It really was confusing, though; that she felt like she was missing something very obvious, and that Hogwarts seemed so positively smug.
She hadn't thought the castle capable of feeling smug.
IIII
Standing at the doors to the Great Hall, and finding herself amused enough to chuckle quietly, Minerva watched Ginny allow herself to be led onto the floor by a boy she couldn't pinpoint. He was either Potter, or someone she hadn't seen before, as she could not pin him for the world. She herself was feeling the smug amusement of the castle, and she began to wonder if that wasn't Salazar himself leading Ginny out. It would explain why she wasn't getting an answer when she asked for a name, certainly. Only the fact that she was listening to the castle, though, allowed her to know that Harry had come up beside her. Minerva smiled, and leaned back against the wall.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. Or would you allow an old teacher to call you Harry?"
"Only if I can call you Minerva." He returned. "But I don't see a problem with it. I'm glad to see Ginny finally accepted a dance. After I forced her into dancing the first with me for old times sake, she's done nothing but hide beside the punch bowl."
Minerva smiled wanly. "Yes, she's been a bit heartbroken since last year." She caught Harry's concerned expression and sighed. "It wasn't you, Harry. She fell for another boy, but I think she knew quite well how unstable the fondness was, and how fickle it could be. It's been bugging her ever since."
"Who?"
Minerva just shook her head, and then voiced. "I think it could be the boy she's dancing with now, but I may very well be wrong."
Harry gave him a long look, and frowned, but he watched the dance carefully as it played out. Minerva gave him a small smile. She was glad he was as caring a boy as he was; she was even happier she'd managed to secure his agreement to the post of Defence teacher the next year. She didn't think Ginny would argue with her on that one.
IIII
Ginny slowly began to notice several things as they danced. First was his absolute comfort in the steps, even the most complicated ones. She was barely keeping up with him, and it was his skill that really kept them on the dance floor. Which was odd, as most of the other students weren't doing anything anywhere near as complicated as he was. However, the most pressing issue was the fact that she has asked the castle for a name three times, and it just seemed to become even more smug! It was really getting annoying. Finally, she resorted to normal methods as one of the songs wound down.
"I don't think I've met you before. What's your name?"
The boy smiled brightly, and gently stepped back, tilting his head to smile at her with his eyes twinkling nearly as much as Dumbledore's had. She felt annoyed for a split second before her stomach dropped. Shocked, she reached and pulled off his mask.
Salazar blinked at her, and then gave her another lop-sided smile.
Ginny felt strangely numb as she looked up at him, ignoring the surprised stares of the people nearby. "You …" She started, but a rush of anger at him left her breathless. Furious, not caring that it was futile, she leaned back and slapped him as hard as she could, forcing him to step back. He winced, and brought his hand up to his rapidly reddening face, and Ginny was brought back to earth by a madly stinging hand.
Ginny stopped dead, staring at him in confusion.
That shouldn't have happened.
Ginny stared down at her hand, which was tingling like mad, and then looked back up at the hesitant Salazar. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that this was him, but he had a red hand-print all across one side of his face, and he was touching it nervously, as though unsure of it. Ginny glanced down at her hand, and back up at him, feeling lost.
"You had better not tell me you have to disappear at midnight or –or dawn, you know."
Salazar gave her a gentle smile and stepped forward, reclaiming his mask and then brushing his hand over her forehead and hair, his touch tentative.
"I won't, I promise. I'm here for you, for as long as you want."
Ginny laughed weakly, but stepped back, feeling awkward. "Why weren't you talking to me? I couldn't find you all year …"
Salazar paused, and split away to readjust his mask before he stepped forward and offered her the chance to dance once more. The song was fortunately a slow one, and they began the steps as Salazar struggled to find words.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. I was … confused. I told you I am just a piece of Salazar." He fell silent. Ginny leaned closer against him, and he turned away, still dancing slowly. "I'm not … comfortable with the idea of emotions, really. I haven't had any, as far as I'm concerned, before. To have you throw that in my face … to have it be correct … was … shocking. I didn't know what to do with it, so I hid." He grinned loosely. "Not a very mature response."
Ginny giggled faintly and buried her head in his shirt. He smelled … faintly damp, and dark as well. The smell was both chilling and comforting. Both seemed to suit him. He held her close, and Ginny smiled, before stepping back to watch him expectantly. He flushed slightly, looking awkward.
"I accepted it, clearly. It wasn't completely unprecedented with my growing independence, and logically it all made sense. However, my discomfort kept me holding the castle silent on where I was. Then, while I was wandering about I found a possible solution. I don't think I ever brought this up, actually …"
Ginny looked up at him curiously, and he shifted his mask to the side of his head, allowing her to see his very amused expression. She idly followed suit, and then pouted. He laughed.
"Tell me, Ginny, what do you think I, as Salazar Slytherin, excelled at?"
Ginny blinked. "Potions?"
"No, actually, although I wasn't bad at them by a long shot."
Ginny watched him carefully, and blushed faintly. "Well, what then? I can't see you ever admitting to being good at Charms."
Salazar shuddered artistically and then smiled back at her. "I wouldn't, no. However, my forte was transfiguration."
Ginny looked at him, and nodded, finding that fairly easy to believe. However, as she kept looking at him, she found herself suddenly gasping. "How …"
"The basilisk. There had been smaller ones growing; I found one that was ill … A determined enough spirit can oust a weak animal spirit, and take over from it. With my available magic, and since I could explain, it willingly allowed me to do so. Thus, I am here. In the flesh." He gave a small laugh, and Ginny just stepped back to look at him in surprise.
"So … this is what you really look like?" He nodded. "You're so young!" Ginny blurted. She quickly covered her mouth, and he pulled her into a hug, smiling.
"I chose to look young. I feel young, really, and I don't want to seem too out of place with you."
Ginny couldn't answer that, so she just tugged on his shirt. They'd stopped dancing, and the music had moved on to something lively and quick. Ginny smiled up at him, and Salazar laughed, before quickly leading her in the dance, ignoring the ideas of the others around them as they carved their own space, and developed a rapidly growing audience.
IIII
By the doorway, McGonagall smiled, and Harry chuckled faintly.
"So, would that be the boy?"
Minerva smiled. "I believe that just might be him. Why?"
Harry didn't answer, but he slipped into the crowd and wandered through, Minerva giving him a small smile from behind. Not many couples could break up and remain so happily close. He really was a good sight as an older brother to Ginny.
Harry himself quickly found his way into the group around Ginny and her companion. A good look made Harry frown slightly. The tall, dark-haired boy reminded him of the diary-memory of Tom Riddle, with only a few marked differences. He danced well, though, and both him and Ginny were clearly enjoying themselves. The end of the dance left the couple tired, and they amiable moved towards the tables. Ginny noticed the crowd and flushed; her companion just gave a wry smile and led her through. Harry followed slowly behind, meeting them there.
"Hello Ginny."
Ginny startled and looked up, flushed with excitement. "Harry! Oh, I didn't know you were here. Did you bring Gracia with you?"
"No," He admitted. "She needed to finish her own schooling, and tie a few loose ends in America. Is this the young man you found yourself in my absence?" He teased.
Ginny blushed, and nodded, while her companion watched him with a slightly uneasy expression. Harry met his eyes and gave him a short look over in return, refusing to be surprised with the slightly odd taste in clothes. He did look very nice next to Ginny, but it wasn't what most of the rest of the students were wearing. And Harry couldn't think of any students that matched his description either, and he'd thought he'd known most of them. However, most interestingly was the boy's discomfort. He was clearly uncomfortable with the meeting, almost shy. But he'd been very bold when dancing with Ginny. Harry shook his head, and held out his hand.
"Harry Potter." His eyes twinkled. If the kid didn't know that …
He clearly seemed to relax. "I'm …" He glanced over at Ginny, who seemed as discomforted as him.
Harry raised his eyebrow. "Is there a story behind this I need to know?" He asked.
Ginny laughed tightly. "Just a bit of one, yeah. Harry … Maybe you should just introduce yourself. There is one way to keep it quiet, you know."
The stranger looked down at Ginny in confusion, and she rolled her eyes. He looked as though he'd been chastened a moment before he turned back to Harry and took a single step closer, holding out his hand.
"Well, pleased to meet you, Harry. I am Salazar Slytherin."
Harry looked confused at the rather open answer, up until his ears caught up with his comprehension. He jerked in shock, and opened his mouth, answering in kind. "That's … one way to make me believe you." The parseltongue felt comfortingly familiar in his mouth. "But how?"
Salazar awkwardly ran his fingers through his hair, and then smiled sheepishly. "I was a piece of Salazar's soul that was … removed as penance for breaking his promise at the founding of this school. I attached to his magic –removed as another part of his penance- and have developed a consciousness … and an attraction to the lovely Ginny here." He added the last with a blush, and a flinch from Ginny's elbow digging into his side.
Harry laughed. "She is a bit of a brat." Her glare in his direction made him look at her curiously. "I thought we were still talking in parseltongue …"
Ginny blinked at him, and Salazar smiled, before leaning over and hissing quietly into her ear. Ginny flushed, and Salazar turned to regard Harry once more.
"The castle is taking my understanding and routing it to her. Darn thing tends to meddle a little for its Headmistress." He grunted again as Ginny elbowed him in the gut, and Harry choked and dropped his glass. He stooped and caught it again quickly, but looked back at Ginny in surprise.
"You said you gave that back to Minerva!"
Ginny flushed, and snapped. "And would it have made sense if I hadn't?"
"No …" Harry allowed. "But why didn't you?"
"Salazar here disappeared and didn't speak to me for two months, until the castle and I were too attached to want to be separated. Minerva is acting Headmistress for right now, and I'll be taking over next year."
"So that's why she was so amused, …" Harry mused. Ginny gave him a stern look and he smiled crookedly. "She asked me to accept the Defence position for next year, and then she just seemed smug for some reason."
Ginny gave him the same smile back. "Probably because she knew she could hire you without me complaining about anything. She'll be returning as Transfiguration teacher anyways."
Harry noticed Salazar give Ginny a discrete look, but kept quiet. If the founder wanted to be odd, fine. He could have odd. He quickly refilled his glass, and then smiled back at Ginny. "So, when are you going to make the big announcement?"
Ginny looked at him in surprise. "I haven't got a clue. Probably at the leaving feast tomorrow, or we could make it a surprise on the first day back."
Harry shook his head. "No, it would be best to do it tomorrow. Then, the school letters will make more sense. How did you manage to keep them normal anyways?"
"Minerva's acting Headmistress. It's basically as if both of us are Headmistress at the same time. Since I'm not formally acknowledged, the names on the letters are as they always have been."
"Do you think Professor Sprout will mind being returned to just being a teacher?"
"No, Minerva's talked to her. She's said it as though she plans on moving it to one of the new staff members we'll have –there are going to be a number of changes; we've talked them out- and she's been pleased to have the chance to be returned to her normal duties. The greenhouses really do take most of her time."
"Alright." Harry smiled down at her, and cocked his head to the side. "What are the proposed changes?"
Ginny sighed, and began to count off on her fingers. "Well, Hermione is still debating on whether she wants to accept; she could be the History teacher, but she does have a few other plans." Ginny again missed Salazar's discrete look, but Harry was really growing curious about him. "Then, Minerva will be returning to her place as the Transfiguration teacher. Madam Tiffin was not entirely pleased with having to teach, and she really isn't any good at it. Then, you'll be coming in as Defence teacher, and that rounds everyone off."
Harry smiled warmly at her, and toasted her gently. He noticed Salazar hadn't touched any of the food yet, and was still looking sidelong at Ginny without being noticed. "Ginny, could I have a moment to talk to Sal? Just us?"
Ginny looked between them curiously, and scowled faintly at Harry. Harry missed it in the wake of Salazar's deeply suspicious look, his expression laced with worry. Harry simply met his eyes, and smiled blankly for Ginny, his Occlumency as strong as he could make it. Hermione's book-busting ways had managed to give him what Snape never could.
"It's alright Ginny." Salazar murmured. "Really, didn't you say Harry's like a brother? Better to be grilled by him first, than all of your brothers at once."
Ginny nodded slowly, gave both of them sharp looks and then moved along the table idly, not really with any destination in mind. Harry raised his eyebrow at Salazar, toasted him, and then murmured in parseltongue, "I am honestly glad you and her are together, you know."
Salazar smiled lightly. "I'm glad to have your blessings; now I just have to manage to slip within the graces of the rest of her brothers." He smiled as Harry laughed.
"I hope you enjoy that. Now, the next question I have is what are you hiding from Ginny? You kept looking at her while she was talking about the staff placements and I want to know what that was about."
Salazar flinched, sloshing punch over his shirt, and he grimaced as he made to wipe at it. The first pass of his hand revealed perfectly clean fabric in his wake. Harry made a note of it, but filed it for later. Salazar looked back over at him and found him still intrigued. He sighed, and glanced away.
"It's a bit of an idea I had … I don't think I'll be able to be without a connection to the castle; it would probably be inadvisable for me to leave it for very long, although I think I would be able to do so now that I have a body. So, I was thinking I've been bored with nothing real to do." Salazar glanced slyly at Harry and smirked. "My specialty in life was not Potions as most everyone seems to think, but it was Transfiguration. I could give Minerva a general feeling that that job could be taken, and what you wouldn't believe is that she's grown mildly bored herself with the job, and she would enjoy teaching History of Magic; she actually knows it very well, and I'm honestly a little ashamed of Binns' practice of sending the children to sleep. I've nearly fallen asleep listening to him. So, it will be Minerva teaching History, you in Defence, and me in Transfiguration. I know Hermione has already refused." He gently brushed his hair aside and gave Harry a truly brilliant smile. "Think she'll be able to handle the school with that kind of support?"
Harry laughed in return, and Ginny shot them both a sharp look from where she was gossiping with her friends.
"Too true, too true." Harry answered. "I'll be very glad to be able to support her, very glad indeed."
Salazar suddenly stiffened, turned, and glared at the air just behind him. He swiped his hand over, and grabbed something and pulled. Harry stepped back as someone fell between them, and Salazar glared. "Severus Snape, what kind of idea was that, to prowl the dance invisible? I believe you were supposed to be haunting the hallways, or practicing experimental potions in your lab, yes?"
Harry fought to keep from smiling ironically. Snape had spent many long hours proving his worth of trust, and he'd submitting to several inquiries about his loyalties. With Voldemort good and dead, Harry had talked the Wizengamot into accepting him into society with a wizard's oath to Harry to always act in the best interests of Hogwarts, and to maintain loyalty to Hogwarts and it's headmaster or mistress before anything else. Now, however, he was apparently spying on the students. And although the idea was good, he didn't think spying on someone in intimate contact with the wards would be entirely effective. Even now, Ginny was stalking over angrily, while Salazar continued to glare down at the still invisible Snape.
Harry stepped back when Salazar did, keeping his eyes on the other's so he could see where he was focusing. Snape shortly became visible once more, gently pocketing a small phial shortly before Ginny showed up and glared at him. The other students were also looking shocked, a small audience gathering. Snape immediately glared down at the two boys.
"Potter, fancy seeing you here. However, imagine my utmost surprise to hear you two talking in parseltongue of all things. I think that skill is a little rare, isn't it?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to explain. Salazar wasn't uncomfortable in the least.
"It's all well and good you're investigating these things, Snape," He snapped. "But I don't think that really necessitates wandering about invisible. And although parseltongue is a relatively rare skill, it doesn't just follow a bloodline; it can randomly be present in a magical child much like the skill of metamorphmagi. You simply have increased odds with the presence of history."
Snape was watching him, surprised, while Harry was also curious. Salazar shot him an amused glance before he returned his glare to Snape. Ginny sighed, and grasped Salazar's arm.
"Severus, he's here as my date. Can you not become suspicious for once in your lifetime? He's safe, I promise." Her eyes were carefully measured stone, and Snape angrily glared at her.
"Non-students require permission from the headmistress for admission to a school function, Ginevra. You can't just drag in any boy off the street."
Salazar smiled faintly, and watched as Ginny swelled with indignation. "I can drag whatever bloke in here I want, Snape, because I am headmistress and will be taking the responsibility fully next year. What did you think those extra lessons I had were for, a beauty pageant? No, they were for me to take over the school and so I really don't have to clear anything with Minerva. As for my lovely boyfriend here, I met him on school grounds and got to know him; I trust him, so you can go back into hiding in the shadows like a good little escort." Ginny sniffed at Snape's gobsmacked expression, and then grabbed Salazar's hands. "Let's dance, please?"
Salazar laughed, and pulled her out onto the floor. "It would be my pleasure, Ginny. I take it you will be announcing that more formally tomorrow?"
Ginny smiled, and Salazar felt warmer than he could ever remember. "Of course; and you'll be right next to me, you twat."
Salazar's eyes danced behind his mask, and he smiled. "Of course."
The music swelled into a brilliant swing beat, and he held his hands out in invitation. Ginny laughed once more and accepted his lead, and he just smiled in the simple pleasure of dancing.
