Disclaimer: The following characters belong to JKR! Not me! I try to keep them as canon as possible, but still, they might end up OOC.

AN: My paper just ended today yay! So sorry I couldn't reply to your reviews, because I was trying to get this out as soon as possible. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME! Gah!

Anyway, thank you everyone, for your reviews, your favorites, your follows. I'll try to update twice a week from next week onward before I start applying for jobs. Hehe. 3

And here you go, Chapter 7. It's 3.48am now, so I just hope whatever I typed made sense.


Chapter 7

Casting a silent Muffliato charm, Salazar used the opportunity to confront the Baron. "Baron, why-"

"My Lord, pardon me for cutting in, but weren't you saying that you would try to converse in Modern English as much as possible to get used to it?"

Here I thought I was the elder. Salazar cleared his throat. "So, Baron, why did Helena leave us and went to the Headmaster's Office by herself?"

"I have no idea." The Baron's shoulders tensed, just slightly that any other people wouldn't take note of. But he was Salazar, the Head of his house, of course he noticed.

"Baron," Even though it was just one word that Salazar uttered, but it was his name, and his Lord had spoken it with that authoritative tone that he always used with the students who broke the school rules. The Baron had never been at the receiving end of that tone because just like his other Slytherin housemates, their instinct of self-preservation had warned them not to step out of the line while they were in the boarding school.

Now, the Baron knew why the students from the other Houses were always caught whenever they played any pranks. With his voice, his aura calm yet domineering, and most of all his magic, ripples of it touching the Baron's ghostly skin, as if coaxing him into tranquility, so that he would feel safe enough to spill out whatever that was on his mind.

And safe, was what the Baron felt. "It would cause quite a number of rumors if the students or staffs see us walking together."

"Why is that so?" Keeping his replies curt and short was the way Salazar interrogated his students. He never knew how it always worked but it was a foolproof method.

"I'm the Slytherin House Ghost and she's the Ravenclaw's House Ghost." The Baron paused when he felt his Lord's anger whenever the house animosity was mentioned. Must have been hard to know the way students are so into such petty house rivalries when he and the three Founders were best of friends. "We stayed away from each other. Not only that, the both of us rarely talk to anyone, well aside from Nicholas, he's one persistent ghost." The Baron's lips curled a little, relieving the memories of how Nicholas kept annoying him with his one-sided conversation until he started to reply Nicholas unknowingly. First it was just a word or two, but now, the Baron and Nicholas would sit at the Astronomy Tower and talk while the rest of Hogwarts was asleep.

The Baron's eye caught the Gargoyle Corridor and he sighed in relief. His secret was safe from his Lord, or so he thought.

Salazar could hear a faint sigh from next to him and he knew that the Baron was keeping something from him. He walked a little quicker and intercepted the Baron. "I'm sure not even a thousand years can stop you from seeking Helena out. What happened?"

The Baron looked into Salazar's scrutinizing gaze and all the guilt that he buried deep inside him since a thousand years ago surfaced. His shoulders sagged as the chains on him felt heavier. He gasped in shock as he saw the scene playing out in Salazar's obsidian eyes. Helena's wide eyes, Helena's terror-stricken face, Helena's blood in his hands… "I killed Helena." He blurted out.

Salazar was certain he heard wrongly. Getting thrown to the future by a magical room created by Rowena, he could accept. Having grandson who started pureblood ideology using his name, he could tolerate. Having a deranged descendant hell-bent on taking over the magical world, he could put up with. But hearing that the Baron was the one who killed his young eaglet? That was out of the question! Salazar was well aware of the Baron's feelings towards Helena. No. "Baron, I don't appreciate such joke."

The Baron's lips quivered as he repeated. "I killed Helena."

From his guilt-ridden, pale face, Salazar knew that he did not hear wrongly the first time round. He wanted to believe that there must be a reason behind the Baron's crime. He was, after all, his student of his House, under his care when he was still at Hogwarts. But the word murderer kept flashing in his mind. Salazar tightened his grip on his wand. "You promised that you would take care of her."

The Baron could remember clearly the day Salazar left Hogwarts when he gave a magical oath to protect Helena with his live. I killed her, and the oath killed me on her behalf. Ironic, isn't it? He dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry. I really am. I'll take any punishment."

Salazar's wand pointed at the Baron. The spell that could destroy souls was there, waiting for his mouth to form the words. Salazar's eyes darkened as he was split between eradicating the one who murdered his niece and finding out the reason behind his questionable act that was so unlike the Baron he knew.

The Baron shivered as he felt his Lord's dark magic surrounding him, waiting to attack once ordered.

"Sal," a female voice called out softly from behind and the dark magic stopped suffocating him. The Baron turned around. The owner of the voice, Hermione Granger was looking intently at his Lord. Then there was Helena Ravenclaw, with her hand covering her mouth, eyes darting between him and his Lord. She knows, of course she does.

He saw Hermione approaching his Lord with caution, as if she was dealing with a female dragon protecting her eggs. With every step she took, the dark magic subsided slowly, until it disappeared back into its owner's magical core the moment she touched his Lord's arm. As much as he deserved his Lord's punishment, he was still fascinated by how easily the young witch could calm his Lord. If I could place a bet, I would bet that they would get together in less than two months.

Helena, after getting rid of her initial shock, quickly glided over to do some damage control. She had always changed the topic of her death whenever Salazar questioned her for fear of what Salazar would do to the Baron. Whatever happened that day, she had a hand in it as well. They were both to be blamed, but Salazar wouldn't know. He would always see her as his young eaglet, and not the hateful side of her that she grew up into after he left.

"Uncle Sal, please don't harm the Baron. I'll explain to you tonight, but now is neither the time nor place for that." She told him before tugging at the Baron's arms to pull him up. "Get up, Baron. You won't want any of your Slytherin little snakes to see you kneeling down."

"But I deserve it. I broke a promise and I took an innocent live."

At that moment, Helena regretted not talking to him about this right before they came back to Hogwarts, to clear up the misunderstanding. She should've known why he chose to wear the chains, no matter how heavy they are, yet she chose to turn a blind eye. They did not interact at all ever since they parted from the Headmaster's Office a thousand years ago, until now. She should've known as much as their banters for the past few days were just like old times, there was still a wound beneath it all that was left unhealed. She had missed her best friend, and decided to act as if nothing had happened.

"Obviously you've forgotten what I said at the Limbo, and I will say it again until it gets through that thick skull of yours. I do not blame you, Baron."

"I-"

Helena cut him off. "You know what, after meeting Professor Dumbledore, we will have that talk."

The Baron wanted to protest but stopped himself once he saw the stubborn look on Helena's face. "Yes we will." He had to find a way to get out of the talk though because he knew Helena would pitch her argument in such a way that he would not be found guilty of the murder. However, he was the murderer and nothing could alter that fact. He had to feel remorseful and he did not want Helena to change that.

"And this time, you don't get to change the topic. You know dying is always the better option if I don't get what I want." Helena warned.

The Baron just stared at the lady ghost, wondering how she knew him so well.

Salazar on the other hand, wanted to walk towards the two ghosts and separate them. He was jerked backwards once he took the first step. "Hermione, he was the one who murdered her!" It was the only reason that he could give for every action of his that morning.

"Well, I can't say I know what's going on but I can be very sure that the Grey Lady wouldn't be happy to find Lord Baron dead by your hands." Hermione kept a firm hand on Salazar as she recalled Grey Lady's gasp of 'No!' once they turned the corner to the Gargoyle's Corridor and saw Salazar's raised wand pointing at the Baron.

"I never knew the history remembered how powerful my hands are that they can still kill a ghost who's already dead." Salazar raised an eyebrow at her and he couldn't resist teasing her no matter how much he wanted to force Helena to tell him what exactly happened.

Now, Hermione was never a violent person. She only ever smacked Ron's head, though that could be a result of his stupidity and that they were best friends for years. Yet, there she was, smacking a wizard she knew less than a week, again. It was no wonder even her own best friends did not see her as a girl. "You know what I meant!"

"I'm not a mind reader, how would I know."

Salazar noted how Hermione stiffened and her hand pulled back from his arm, as if his skin burnt her. Was he so repulsive?

Hermione averted her gaze from the wizard standing next to her and called for the two ghosts. "Grey Lady, let's get going."

Hermione walked towards the end of the corridor, so distracted that she did not realize that she was supposed to supply the password. Did he use Legilimency on me before? History recorded him as the Master of Legilimens. Was that why he trusted me?

"Hermione, do you know the password?"

Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts. "Oh sorry, I was trying to remember what Harry told me." She turned towards the large stone gargoyle. "Lemon drop."

Salazar frowned. She certainly did not need so much time to recall any password. She was distracted, he surmised. And who exactly is this Harry?

Once they reached a large wooden door, Hermione knocked on it, announcing her arrival. There was no need asking the rest of them to remain behind since Professor Dumbledore had wards set up that sensed anyone that passed through the Gargoyle.

"Come in," a voice announced from the other side of the door.

Hermione opened the door and ushered the two ghosts and wizard in. Here goes nothing.

"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore."

"A very good morning to you too, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore's eyes looked towards the rest of the guests. "Lord Baron, Lady Helena, and…" A newcomer, yet Hogwarts wards did not sense any person's arrival nor did the ward at the Gargoyle's entrance sensed him. Interesting.

Hermione stood right in front of Professor Dumbledore's desk. "Sir, I know it is hard to believe once I tell you who he is, but both Grey Lady and Lord Baron can vouch for me that he means no harm."

Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Do enlighten me."

Hermione took a deep breath. "Sir, this is Lord Salazar Slytherin."

"What?" Professor Dumbledore stood up at once and his hand automatically gripped at his Elder Wand. "Miss Granger, where did you find him?"

Hermione moved sideways, blocking Salazar from Professor Dumbledore's view. Even though she knew that Professor Dumbledore could try to hurt Salazar with or without her standing there, and Salazar could hold himself against the Professor, she figured it was still better with her wedged between the both of them. At least there couldn't be a direct hit, and Salazar could have more time to react.

"I found him in the Room of Requirements." Hermione proceeded to tell the Professor of her encounter with the Founder with the Grey Lady and Lord Baron chipping in their insights here and there.

Salazar saw her blocking his view from the wizard with silver hair and beard. A warm feeling spread over his entire body. He did not feel offended that the witch wanted to defend him from the old wizard, despite knowing how skilled he was. Ah, silly witch, wanting to protect me, yet putting herself in front of a powerful wizard who would attack anytime, Salazar smiled at that thought.

He wouldn't interfere with their conversation. It was not his battle anyway. He understood why the old man was wary; he would to, if ever a time traveler appears in front of him. The old wizard would not take his words to heart, so Salazar left it to the Grey Lady and Lord Baron to speak on his behalf.

Instead, he chose to survey his surroundings. It was his first time seeing a Headmaster's Office and he was impressed, first with the large stone gargoyle guarding the entrance, then the abundant paintings hanging behind the desk. His eyes narrowed at one of the figure moving around the painting. It was just like the painting that he passed by on the way here. At that time, he thought that he might have been hallucinating. But now, the paintings were definitely moving. He would ask Hermione as soon as he could.

There was this slight magical aura that he could feel, similar to the ones on Helena and the Baron before he removed the curse. Salazar continued scanning the room, from the silver instruments that were spitting smoke, to the books and the phoenix. Lucky old wizard, to have a phoenix bound to him. Finally, his eyes lay upon a battered pointy hat- The Sorting Hat. Even though he knew that the hat was cursed, he still felt the urge to sew his mouth, the bloody tear along the brim, that spoke ill of their friendship.

Salazar huffed and looked towards the old wizard. He needed his permission to undo the curse on the hat. Anger surged through him as he noticed the old wizard's eyes. To the others, it might have looked as if the old wizard was being polite, paying attention to the witch while she was talking. He was Salazar Slytherin. He was not called the Master of Legilimens for nothing, though for this old wizard to perform Legilimency in front of the Master himself, Salazar wondered if the history noted this status of his.

The twinkling, blue eyes were a mere façade. Salazar's hands tightened into fists and he took in deep breaths to stop himself lashing out at the old wizard. It was clear that Hermione trusted this old wizard the moment she mentioned his name without thinking when they were discussing the night before who to reveal his real identity to.

She wouldn't believe him if he ever accuse her Professor of reading her mind. Salazar's eyes widened at this. So that was why she pulled away from me! Mind reader! She feared that I read her mind. He scowled. He had to teach her Occlumency. The witch clearly was afraid of the wrong wizard here.

"Yes, of course I believe you, Miss Granger. You have an impeccable judgement after all."

"T-Thank you, Sir," Salazar rolled his eyes at Hermione's stutter. He could already see her blush and how she would dip her head a little in embarrassment. Silly witch, of course he believed you! He read your mind! He wanted to scream at her, but he bit his lips and stopped himself from doing so.

Then, the old wizard walked towards him. Ugh, don't shake my hand, don't, you evil man.

"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Salazar. I'm Albus Dumbledore, the 26th Headmaster of the school you've founded." The old wizard held out his hand.

Salazar reluctantly shook his hand. "I can't say the same for you though, Professor." He heard Hermione's subtle cough. Damn, I said that out loud. Salazar had always prided himself for having the poker face, even able to converse with his worst enemy as if they are best friends. This time, he had let his annoyance at the old wizard shown and Salazar was not pleased.

He carefully schooled his face. "But I've heard from Helena of your contribution to the magical society. I am most amazed at how you managed to stop the Dark Wizard, Grindelwald."

"It was nothing. Anyone would go up against him to prevent the dark forces from taking over."

Helena decided to interrupt them to end the meeting as soon as possible. She could identify the telltale signs of Salazar's dislike towards the Professor. She didn't know why, but it was obvious Salazar was struggling to maintain his so called poker face, one that never failed even when he faced the Gaunt father and daughter duo. Could it be that Salazar hates the Professor more than he hates the Gaunts? That's impossible!

"So, Professor, what's your plan for Lord Salazar?"

Professor Dumbledore thought for a moment and his eyes twinkled. All Salazar could think of at that moment was how he wanted to stab his eyes. Bloody thing keeps twinkling. It's not even a star.

"Well, just like what Miss Granger said, we can't disclose his real identity. I can't arrange him as an exchange student from Durmstrang or Beauxbaton, because many students still keep in touch with their friends from those schools so it would be easy to do a background check on him. Now, the Order of Phoenix would be informed of this new development. He could pose as Mr. Lupin's cousin from his mother's side and was home tutored."

"But Professor Lupin's mother is a muggle. Wouldn't that suggest that Sal is a Muggleborn as well?"

"I'm afraid so. It's easier to say that his parents did not want him abroad when Minerva approached them years ago and now that they're dead, he can only continue his education here in Hogwarts."

Professor Dumbledore continued telling the rest of them the plan then once he was done, he looked at Salazar. "Is this arrangement agreeable, Lord Salazar?"

As much as he disliked the old wizard, he had to admire the manipulative side of his, coming up with such plan in less than an hour once he got over his initial wariness of him. "Yes, it certainly is. I'm sorry to impose on you this way, but I haven't gotten an idea on how to return to my time." Even if there was a way, Salazar didn't know if he would leave. The war was coming, and he did not feel right leaving Hermione to fend for herself.

"I suppose you're here for a good reason." There it was, that twinkling eyes and Salazar's anger flared again. "We'll announce your presence tomorrow night at dinner. The Sorting Hat will sort you to your house."

Hermione gasped. "Oh dear Merlin, you would be the only muggleborn in Slytherin."

Salazar's anger ebbed away at her worried face. "Not to worry, the Sorting Hat will put me wherever I want it to. But this reminds me, I have to undo the curse, else it'll create a ruckus once it's placed on my head. May I, Professor?"

Salazar stood in front of the Sorting Hat, which as if sensing danger, woke up from its slumber. Before the Sorting Hat could react, Salazar quickly muttered the spell and delved into the Sorting Hat's mind, removing the alteration placed by his grandson hundreds of years ago. Once done, he stood back and the Sorting Hat recognized its creator's magical aura. "Lord Salazar! But, how?"

"You'll find out when I put you on my head tomorrow night." Salazar smiled.

"Thank you for undoing the curse. I'm sorry I can't do much about our current predicament. I would've loved to reeducate the students of their Founder's stories, but-"

Salazar waved his hand. "What's in the past shall remain, in the past. All we can do now is to find a way to stop my descendant and only when the war is done that we will talk about reeducating the History of Hogwarts."

"I suppose you're right. Very well, I shall leave you to Miss Granger's care. He cannot be seen by other students until tomorrow night."

Salazar almost snorted. He only mentioned cannot be seen, instead of keeping him locked up. A glance towards Hermione's curled lips, almost like a smirk, showed that she got the message too. He could walk around with her as long as he had a Disillusionment Charm over himself.

Ah, the old wizard wasn't so annoying after all. Salazar remained behind as the rest of them walked out of the door.

"Professor Dumbledore, thank you for all that you've done." Salazar smiled at first swiftly, his eyes turned darker and caught the old wizard's eyes.

Don't you ever dare to perform Legilimens on Hermione Granger again, else.

He smirked when he caught the old wizard's shocked look and with a bow, he left the Headmaster's Office. If Helga could see me now, she would chastise me for being so dramatic. If Rowena could see me now, she would chastise me for revealing myself to the enemy. But if Godric could see me now, he would pat my back and congratulate me for defending the young witch. Because witches are vulnerable. He would say.

"Not this witch, Godric."