Chapter three: Spero nos familiares mansuros

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And there it was again. The Hogwarts Express drove in on Hogsmeade Station, only to meet one pupil already waiting there for it to arrive. He had silky, black hair that reached down to his shoulders and fell elegantly on his back. He was going to have them that way – the very way that Salazar had them.

He also had emerald green eyes that shone bright. He did not have glasses though – not anymore. He saw as good without them now as he did with them – or better, in fact.

He had the normal student robe with the Gryffindor crest – on Albus' command. What the others did not know about was that he had emerald green and silver clothes underneath the robe. He was in Hogsmeade last week and bought a lot of clothes in almost every shade of green and silver and only Dumbledore's order prevented him from wearing them during the Welcome Feast.

He also had long, black gloves with silver patterns that covered his palms and stretched out almost to his elbows. He bought them as well. He did not want uncomfortable questions about his burn mark in his left palm.

If you would look closely, you would notice that he did not have his wand with him. He felt more comfortable with wandless magic than with wand, because in wandless he was sure that a simple Expelliarmus wouldn't stop him.

There was only one more person except him on the station – Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant.

"'Arry!" he shouted. "'Appy to see ya! Aren't ya s'pposed to be on de train?"

"No. I spent my holiday here, at Hogwarts. Speaking of it, where were you all the time?"

But before Hagrid got the chance to answer, the train arrived on the station and a crowd of students started to feel the station.

Salazar turned his head in order to search for Ron and Hermione, but something else caught his eye – Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. To wouldn't be strange to see them together (as they were best friends), but the thing that was out of normal was that Malfoy had black hair. Like Salazar. Like Silvan. Like the whole Slytherin family.

Salazar narrowed his eyes. He remembered only one person – except himself, of course – that had that kind of hair.

The fact that made it stranger was that Draco was glancing all over the platform like he was searching somebody.

Deciding that Draco could wait – he would speak with the him later, after the feast – he resumed his search for his Gryffindor friends.

But as he spotted them and started moving in that direction, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around in time to meet a pair of silver eyes.

"We have to talk." Draco said.

"After the feast." Salazar replied.

"Now." Draco insisted.

Salazar sighed inwardly. Only one person could convince him like that and that was his little, beloved brother.

"I have to find–"

"You will find them later, at the Gryffindor table." he seemed to sneer at the word 'Gryffindor'.

"OK."

They went away from the crowd.

"I'll go straight to the point." Draco said. "Is it you?"

Crap! Salazar thought. I forgot how smart he used to be. And he always went straight to the matter, no matter what. He was always the more Gryffindor one of us – always reckless.

Salazar decided to play with Draco, as he already suspected what Draco meant.

"Who do you mean, Malfoy?" he teased.

"You do exactly know who I bloody mean!" Draco replied annoyed.

"No, I do not."

"Salazar, stop playing with me like that! Is it you or not?"

"And what would you do if it wasn't me?"

Draco seemed to get it.

"So it is you! I knew it!"

Salazar interrupted him.

"Silvan, what was so important that you took me all the way here to discuss it instead of waiting till after the feast? I won't disappear, you know." he added teasingly.

"I wanted confirm that it was you."

"You know, little brother," he emphasized the last two words while smirking. "That matter could've wait until later. You were always the impatient one, Silvan. However, I am now going back before the carriages leave. You can stay here if you want to, or come with me."

"Spero nos familiares mansuros." he heard Silvan say quietly.

Without turning around, he answered:

"Sic faciemus."

And he left. Silvan soon ran up beside him and together they went towards the last carriage who only had Blaise in it. The brown-haired* boy greeted Silvan and looked at Salazar, a question in his glance.

Silvan decided to introduce them.

"Blaise, this is Harry Potter aka Salazar Slytherin. Sal, you do remember Richard Ravenclaw, right?" he waited until Salazar nodded. "Well, he is now Blaise Zabini."

Salazar stretched his hand towards Blaise/Richard.

"Nice to see you again, Richard." he said.

"Just Ric, please." Blaise answered.

"OK, Richard." Salazar grinned.

Ric scowled, but did not answer. Mainly because they already arrived at Hogwarts and saw Professor Snape wait for the last students – which meant them.

"Well, well, well." he snorted when he saw them. "Who do we have here? Mr. Potter. So good that you awarded us with your presence."

It would be a normal situation. Severus Snape snapping at Harry Potter. Perfectly normal.

It would be normal, if only Snape did not mistake Silvan for Salazar.

"Eee..." Silvan started. "Professor Snape, I am Draco Malfoy, not Harry Potter."

It was first now Snape saw Salazar and Ric standing a bit from them, both trying to stift a laughter. Ric failed miserably and burst out laughing.

"Mind sharing the joke, Mr. Zabini?" Snape asked.

Ric just shook his head.

"Can we go in now, Professor?" Salazar asked.

Snape glared at him with his basilisk glare, but nodded at last.

"Harry!" someone shouted and soon he saw a bush of brown hair all around him. "Where were you?"

Ron came up as well.

"Hey mate, where were you? I mean, you weren't with the train..." he trailed off.

Just then, Silvan and Ric passed them by.

Ron looked at Salazar, then at Silvan, then again at Salazar. Finally he choked:

"Man, I see doubles." he pointed at Silvan who heard it and stifted a laughter.

Ron was right: almost everyone in the Great Hall stared at Salazar and Silvan, trying to see the difference.

To Salazar and Silvan though, it wasn't abnormal. They were kind of used to it. In their past life it was easier though, as Salazar was taller than Silvan, but this time he had yet to grow. He suspected that it would take around a few months – something around Christmas it would be alright – to become some inches higher than his younger brother.

Until then, the only difference between the two of them would be their eyes – Salazar had emerald green and Silvan had silver.

He looked at his brother and after exchanging a 'let's-make-fun-of-everyone'-glance, they headed to their respective tables.

McGonagall came in with the Sorting Hat and the frightened first-years behind her.

As the Sorting Hat started singing, Salazar glanced around the Hall, his eyes resting at the teachers table. Only Minerva's stool was empty. He looked over to where the DADA teacher sat and saw a brown-haired, honey-eyed man in his early thirties. He did a quick Legilimency test – just to make sure it wasn't something life-threatening (he blamed it on Slytherin's paranoia) – and discovered that this man's name was Remus John Lupin and that he was currently 33 years old. He was also a werewolf.

He saw Snape throw an angry glare at Professor Lupin. He did not know what it was about, but he had yet to discover it.

He shoot a quick glance around the rest of the teachers and saw a brand new teacher looking like twenty-five to thirty years old sitting between Sprout and Hooch.

He had dark-blond hair and sea-blue eyes. He had to use his Legilimency ability yet again. He discovered that he was called Christian Seaside and was the new History of Magic teacher.

Apparently, Binns had finally resigned. One good news, Salazar thought.

He threw a look at the second year Gryffindors. He saw Ginny sitting between her friends, laughing with them. She was, if it was even possible, even more beautiful than last year. Her hair was now straight to begin with but at the end it was laid in little, sweet waves. She turned to her left and their eyes met. She threw him a bright smile, it was bright to that point that it was lighting up the whole room. At least it seemed to to Salazar. He returned the smile with a genuive one of his own.

Just as the last students were sorted, Dumbledore rose. Everyone became quiet as they looked at the old man.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! I welcome the new students," there he let his glance lead to the Hufflepuff first-years who squealed, 'because the famous Dumbledore glanced at them'. "I would also like to welcome the little older students," there he shoot a glance at Salazar, apparently finding the word 'little' amusing – although he did not show it. "Firstly, before we start, I would like to say that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden not without reason, and highly dangerous. Secondly, as you've noticed on the train, the dementors had checked the Express in their search for Sirius Black, the escaper from Azkaban. They will also stay outside the school for the time being. And nothing can lure them, no charms, spells... or even Invisibility Cloaks." he said and Salazar knew that, even though Albus did not look his way, he meant him.

He knew it, and understood – there was something about Black's outbreak from Azkaban this summer. They've spent hours at the Headmaster's office discussing it together with Albus and Minerva. They've agreed it was safest to keep Salazar in the castle until further notice.

But that was in private – in public they had to pretend to try to stop him from searching after Black and they should try to stop any attempts to kill him from Salazar's side.

Albus' voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Also, due to the same reason, I must sadly say we're going to have to postpone the Hogsmeade visits until further." a loud groan was heard all around the hall, third years being the loudest.

Albus clapped his hands and the hall once more became silent. He changed his voice to a more cheerful and his face to a more childish before he continued.

"But don't worry about it! I would only like to say one thing – tuck in!" he clapped and the food appeared on the table.

He merely exchanged a 'just-enjoy-the-meal-and-for-once-don't-worry'-glance with Salazar and turned to his right in order to start an interesting conversation with McGonagall.

Salazar sighed inwardly and turned to Ron, who already ate the food as if his life depended on it.

"O', 'Arry," he started, still having food in his mouth.

"Ron!" Hermione scolded. "Don't speak while you're eating! It's against the etiquette!"

Yes, tell him that! Salazar snorted. Good luck!

Ron swallowed the food and continued the conversation.

"So, mate," he decided to ignore Hermione. "Why weren't you on the train?"

"I simply stayed at Hogwarts." Salazar replied.

"Why?" Ron demanded to know more.

"The Headmaster thought it would be safer for me when this Black has escaped."

It was at least partially true – he stayed here for both his safety, Hogwarts, all it's inhabitans and lastly, the Dursleys.

He decided to keep the fact that he was here all the summer, not only the part after Black's escape, well hidden.

Hermione smiled.

"It was very nice of the Headmaster to let you stay here, at the best-protected place in the world..."

I am perfectly aware how well this place is protected, so you don't have to tell me this. I threw the larger part of the protection spells myself, you know.

"...You should probably thank him for this."

"Hey, Mione, slow it down! I already thanked him for it! It's alright, really." he really liked Hermione, but sometimes she was pretty much overprotective.

And that's how this topic ended.

The rest of the feast they spoke about various things, carefully avoiding the 'Sirius Black' topic.

"What do we plan to do?" Silvan asked. "I mean, about this." he pointed at himself and at his brother.

"How do you mean?"

"Will we pretend like it's coincidence that we look almost all the same? Or will we say the truth? And whan about the others?"

Salazar raised his hand in order to quiet his younger brother.

"Don't fire off the questions so quickly! We have time, Silvan. Cool down."

He took a deep breath.

"Now, To the first question: yes, we will say it's a coincidence, because soon I'll be taller than you and it'll solve itself. And God forbid to tell anyone the truth. Anyone." he underscored.

"And the others will have to find their secret rooms themselves–"

"Do you know where the rest of secret rooms are?" Silvan interrupted.

"Yes, and can you let me speak to the point please?" Salazar hissed. "Now, if you'll be nice enough to be quiet, I'll say that Albus and Minerva knows about me. Just so you know. And it would be nice if you and Ric would tell them about yourselves."

There was silence after Salazar finished this sentence.

"How did you two reincarnate?" Salazar asked finally.

Silvan smirked.

"It was me–"

Who'd guess? Salazar thought sarcastically.

"–who came with this idea. And, if I have to say it myself, it was brilliant. The idea was that when you would reincarnate and forgive me – in case we ended up being enemies – I would reincarnate. And when I would remember, Ric would remember as well–"

"And Gabrielle?" Salazar asked.

Silvan sighed.

"She did not trust you enough to do it together with us. Instead, she will remember when Godric will forgive her–"

"–In case they were enemies." Salazar ended.

Silvan nodded.

"So... Will we make fun of everyone while we still look all the same?"

Salazar snorted.

"What do you think? When such an opportunity pops up, you have to take it. Of course we will!"

Silvan burst out laughing.

"You're just too funny, Sal."

* brown-haired – I am perfectly aware of that Blaise Zabini is a brown-skinned boy, but in this story Richard Ravenclaw was light-skinned, mostly because Rowena also was light-skinned. So he changes from a dark-skinned boy to a more light-skinned one.

Spero nos familiares mansuros. - I hope we'll still be friends.

Sic faciemus. - Yes, we will.