I am very, very, very sorry for my late update. My niece was born the other day so I've been kind of busy, lately, but anyway I have been reading your reviews and I realized a lot of you like Salazar so I chose to focus a large portion of this chapter on his back story, and how his ring intertwines with Hermione's mission I hope you all enjoy it. Please give me feedback and I will definitely use it for my next chapter (which will be out soon) ;)
There was the tapping noise once more impatient and insistent. I looked to the window, but it was foggy, only the soft luminance of the moon was visible. So I simply turned back to my book and ignored it for the second time that night, but this time it didn't stop. I don't think my ears can take much more of this abuse. The snake slithered itself around my neck trying desperately to stop the noise. After a few minutes I placed my book, careful not to lose my page, upside-down on the bed, and heaved myself up and slowly made my way to the window, the wooden floorboards creaked under my weight. I hesitantly reached out for the silver encrusted handles as I slowly unlatched the hooks.
With a small push the windows opened, I could have sworn for a moment I saw a raven appear on the edge of the roof, but as I looked back it was gone. A guide, perhaps, or a warning, be wary. I sat along the window sill and watched the clouds barely visible against the moon; move as if they were being brushed away. A subtle wind had made its way into the room and danced through my hair. I scanned my eyes across the expanse of the castle grounds, perhaps hoping to see something, before reaching out for the handles and shutting the windows, and latching them tightly. With one last look I turned from the window and made my way back to bed. I climbed back into it and placed my book in a drawer that was next to me. I grabbed my wand and extinguished the fire that I had trapped inside a glass jar that was substituting as my light.
I sighed as I lay down and wrapped the comforter tightly around my shoulders; there was a slight chill in the room tonight. The moonlight was the only light left in the room as I looked around to find everyone else already asleep. I propped myself up on my elbow and placed my wand underneath my pillow, as I had done since fifth year. My eyes felt like weights, and I was asleep as soon as my head hit my pillow. Goodnight, princess. The snake snuggled against my skin.
I heard the voices before I saw anything, I recognized the gentle roar of Godric and the unsettling hiss of Salazar, but the two other voices were unfamiliar I could only assume they belonged to the other two founders. Yes, my lioness, you would be correct.
"This is madness Godric, it will never work." Salazar spoke first his voice carried a seriousness I had yet to hear from him. Reserved only for those who anger me I assure you.
"Madness, Salazar? Is it truly, or is your vision just blurred with too much hatred to see the truth? " I slowly started to see an image emerge from the darkness. The four founders stood at a table made purely out of white marble when all of a sudden a crack appeared in its flawless exterior. Salazar and Godric sat across from each other; I could see Salazar gripping the edge of the table until his knuckles turned white.
"You have become a fool, Godric. Have you forgotten that we established this school based on those who are from magical ancestry?" His eyes seemed to almost glow as his smile turned into a sickening smirk. A woman turned to him; I assumed she was Helga Huffelpuff. Her chestnut hair was pinned at the sides with a few stray pieces hanging in her eyes. She seemed the oldest of the other founders, with an almost grandmotherly aura to her. She had low cheek bones, with a small circular chin, and dark golden eyes. She got up from her seat and made her way over to Salazar. She always cared for him.
"I am afraid I must side with Godric this time, Salazar. This school is for all those who wish to control and hone their magical talents, not just those who are pureblooded. I will not see children denied the right to understand the gift they have been given." She rested her hand on his shoulder, but he shook it off, and rose out of his chair. Another crack cut through the stone. She betrayed me.
"Am I the only one left that understands that we are superior to them? They live like animals." Not you, my precious, no you are better than them .He rested his eyes on Rowena Ravenclaw, who went to stand behind Godric's chair. Her long black hair flowed in dark curls down her back that stood out boldly against her pale skin, and swayed hypnotizing slowly as she walked. I found no understanding in her oceanic blue eyes as she looked upon Salazar, and I was not too surprised by her words as they slipped through her thin lips. She had loved him.
"Are we so different Salazar? We have no right to call ourselves superior when we too are just as animalistic as them. I see wizards killing others for the fun of it, I see those abusing their magic for their own selfish greed, and I see those who are to prideful to forget an age old prejudice. Salazar, you forget that we are no different than them." Her words were cold and calculating, as she narrowed her eyes. She had hated me. I silently wondered if I was the only one who could see the cracks in the marble intensify as they argued. I looked at Salazar and saw a flicker of anger run through his eyes, but it was soon masked over by indifference, as his eyes rested on Godric. I hate that mask, yet it was always there.
"Never compare the noble name of Salazar Slytherin to such filth", he spat, "perhaps all of you are content to be compared to them, but do not make the same assumptions for me. I have known you all for years, and now you all turned your backs on to me, how predictable." His voice was hallow, and his eyes were bare of emotion. Betrayed.
"We have never stood for your beliefs nor will we, old friend. Your silver tongue holds no sway over us." Godric was the only one that was still sitting, his shoulders were slouched and his eyes looked tired. Helena and Rowena remained silent and still, watching the exchange between the lion and the snake, as Salazar's hissing laughter filled the room.
"You find courage and strength traits to posses in your students, yet even you lack them. It is true maybe I am blinded by my hate, but you are blinded by fear. You're scared because you know as well as I we cannot coexist with the muggles, and in the end no matter how hard we try neither of us will stop until the other is dead. I embrace my nature, Godric, while you cower from yours." His tongue cut as sharp as a whip in the thick silence of the room. Suddenly Godric rose from his chair and walked so that he was parallel with Salazar. No one, except Salazar, noticed his snake slither quietly into the room.
"I think you will find that the nature of a snake and that of a lion, differ greatly," my breath caught in my throat as I saw the snake coil and spring at Godric who simply side stepped the animal as it landed in a agitated pile next to Salazar, "I would never attack you, Salazar, because unlike you I am able to look past your faults. Despite what you have said here today there will always be a place for you at this castle, but I can no longer call you a friend for you have betrayed my trust. You would still try to kill me, you will never learn, Salazar." His voice was calm although even I couldn't miss the hurt that was evident in his eyes. I had no need for a mask. Salazar stood stroking the snake next to him as it reared its head at Godric.
"I think you will find Godric that I no longer belong here, but do keep in mind that even we cannot live forever, and when the day comes I will dance in the ashes of this school as it burns. This is our last goodbye, old friend. May you live long enough to see that in the end, I was right." He gave Godric one last look as he turned, whispering in parseltongue as his snake followed him. He was heading in my direction, before Godric stopped him.
"Wait, I have one last gift to give you my friend," he threw something to him, but I lost it against the blackness of the room, "guard it well it is a thing of great power." I only caught sight of it as Salazar opened his hand; it was the ring the gold shimmering in the light. How foolish he was. He didn't respond or even turn around as he disappeared into the blackness as I looked once again to Godric.
"Will he come back?" Helena asked staring in the direction Salazar had left. A smile sneaked its way onto Godric's face as he turned and left in the opposite direction as he slowly disappeared.
"No, he was never meant to stay with us, Helena. He is destined for something much different than us." With that the marble table shattered and shards flew throughout the seemingly endless room. The image before me suddenly disappeared as I was cut by one of the shards as I shot up in bed. My chest was heaving as I leaned against the headboard trying to catch my breath. You were never meant to see that, cub that is something that belongs in the past.
I looked around and discovered everyone was already gone presumably down to breakfast. All of a sudden I felt a breeze I looked over to find the window once again open, I could have sworn that I had closed it before. Perhaps some things can't stay closed forever. I grabbed my wand and made my way to the window as I magically locked it. When I was walking back I stopped to look at myself in the mirror only to see my arm with a scratch right where I had been hit by the marble in the….dream. Was it even a dream, I shook my head I doubted it, but it would give me some piece of mind to find out. I groaned when I remembered I was supposed to go to Hogsmeade with Abraxas today. Silently cursing myself I grabbed one of the dresses Dumbledore had given me in my trunk.
It was an off white dress with some gold thread that made it appear to shine in the light. It ended just below my knees; surprisingly it was rather low cut with the top of the dress seemingly overlapping at the top. Below my bust was a white belt that made at the top fabric hang over it ever so slightly. It was held up by four inch sleeves which were each designed with a gold cross on each side. I paired it with white shoes with an open toe and with a golden bow around the middle of my foot. I charmed my hair curling it carefully as I pinned it to the side it fell over my shoulder. You look marvelous, my dear.
Once I was pleased with myself, I made myself out of the room only to run into Alexander who was talking to two other girls from our house. I slowly tried to make myself invisible as I tried to ease my way around him until one of the girls he was talking to squealed and came running over to me. I had talked to her a few times and she seemed nice enough, but right now I really wasn't in the mood, her dress swished around her legs as she skipped over to me.
"Oh, Hermione you look so beautiful. I am sure Abraxas is going to flip when he sees you today." I looked over her shoulder to see Alexander's calm expression turn to one of anger. I inwardly hissed as I thanked her and excused myself as Alexander left the room. I followed him down the staircase. You don't need to explain yourself to him, pet.
"Alexander, wait. I need to talk to you about this." He didn't even slow down, I finally had to run to catch up with him. I grabbed him by the arm and spun him around.
"Ok look before you say something we're both going to regret. I was going to tell you last night, but I wasn't able to find you." He crossed his arms and chuckled.
"I don't care that you're going with somebody, just why him? You know damn well how much I hate him, I thought you did to." He wasn't quite yelling at me, but I suppose it was close enough. I looked around and I didn't see anyone so I found it safe enough to tell him the real reason I was going with him.
"The only reason I'm going with Abraxas, is so that I can figure out what Tom is planning with Myrtle. He has to be up to something and I am going to make sure I find out what it is." Realization stung his face as he hugged me.
"I'm so sorry; I'm such a jerk I didn't even give you a chance to explain. I must say you are a genius, most likely from my influence no doubt. And might I say you look rather breathtaking." He proudly smiled as I whacked him in the head.
"Would you keep your voice down. Now if I find out that you repeated this to anyone, with the excuse of Mathew, I will personally ensure that you will never be able to talk again." I rolled my eyes as he pretended to lock his mouth and throw the key away. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips.
"I hope that's permanent. I'm going to go see Dumbledore, you need to go to breakfast I am sure they are missing you and your ego." He saluted me as he left in the direction of the great hall, as I took off in the direction of Dumbledore's office. Let sleeping dogs lie, Hermione. I walked down the hallways passing once more past the portraits of the founders. I paused only once to glance at Salazar's portrait and saw the ring proudly resting on his hand. I continued on until I arrived at the doors to Dumbledore's office. I gently rapped at the door.
"Come in." His welcoming voice bellowed. I opened the door and saw him feeding the phoenix, his back was to me as I closed the door quietly.
"What brings you here, Hermione?" He turned his back to his bird and rubbed his hands together before gesturing me to sit. I took a seat across from his desk.
"Are dreams ever real professor?" He seemed puzzled at my question as he lowered himself into his seat.
"Everything is real to a certain extent, Hermione," I leaned back and stared at the wall somehow his words still didn't seem to satisfy my question, "but often times memories are confused with dreams. And memories perhaps, are the most real thing we can posses." I mulled silently over his words in my head.
"How is it possible to relive a memory that was never yours?" Something seemed to click in his mind as his eyes took on their famous twinkle.
"It is very rare, but sometimes things posses memories, and sometimes they can be passed on to those who have interacted with them. The ring, Ms. Granger, has seen a lot of bloodshed and holds a lot of memories; it is not at all surprising that you are reliving some of these." His words seemed to put my mind at ease, as I nodded my head.
"You said the ring was cursed, didn't you sir?" My voice was uneasy as I thought about what had Godric had done.
"I did." He seemed to be awaiting another question.
"Then why did Godric Gryffindor give it to Salazar Slytherin?" The question seemed to hold a lot of weight as I looked at him and saw that he was perhaps slightly taken back by my question. A question even I ask myself, little hatchling.
"The memory you saw Hermione is known by very few, and the answer to your question known by even fewer. When Godric gave him the ring it wasn't cursed, Salazar did that himself. After he left Hogwarts, he didn't stop his crusade to purge the school of muggleborns if anything this action only intensified it. Without Godric looking over his shoulder, he was free to do anything he wished. Some say that he snuck back into Hogwarts one night and created the chamber of secrets, but that is a highly disputed fact, even I have never seen it. Regardless though, he killed countless muggleborns in his quest and after he had died he passed it down through his generations. That ring has always been held by wizards who worshipped dark magic, and over the years the ring absorbed that magic and became cursed to all those, but the descendants of Salazar Slytherin. Godric Gryffindor's biggest weakness was, that no matter what he had said, he trusted Salazar Slytherin above all else, he had never known how far Salazar would go to rid the school of muggleborns." I took in all of the information, and didn't realize until a couple minutes later that he had stopped talking. The bitter truth, I had learned the hard way not to trust a snake.
"A sad story, sir, but I must ask what is the importance of marble?" I sunk lower in my chair still trying to process Salazar's betrayal. Oh my pet, one cannot betray those he was never loyal to.
"As I said there is a great many things that people do not know. Such as this school's foundation is white marble, the trust that Godric had for Salazar."
"But it shattered, didn't it?" The scratch on my arm was evidence enough.
"Yes, but soon it was pieced back together." I found myself confused once more.
"Why?" I tilted my head slightly to the side and narrowed my eyes.
"Because he wanted to think that somehow, he would change. He was naïve, Hermione. Even the greatest dueler of all time made a mistake." I glanced up at the professor, but he had turned back to the phoenix that was cawing loudly. I rose from the chair and made my way to the doors. Blind faith, cub, we often times need it to carry on.
"Thank you professor, dare I say though that perhaps it wasn't a mistake, just blind faith. Good day, sir." With that I went through the doors and turned back towards the way I had come. I climbed the tight, winding staircase; my feet were already aching from these shoes. I was met with an empty common room, I glanced up at the clock to discover that breakfast was still going on, it appeared I wasn't in the office for as I long as I had thought. I sighed as I walked back into the dormitories and sat on my bed I quickly took off my shoes.
I reached underneath the pillow and grabbed my wand; I placed my shoes on the ground and charmed them with a spell that made me feel as though they were flats. I looked around the room until my eyes rested on my trunk. I hesitantly walked up to it and lifted the lid to find the box still sitting there, and the golden image still making me sick. I cautiously grabbed it and walked back to my bed. Just a little peek. I stared at it for a few moments before I placed my hands on either side of the box and lifted up the top, only to discover it was empty, the ring was gone. I believe my heart skipped a beat and I ran over to my trunk clawing at everything, hoping that it had fallen out. I eventually ended up turning the trunk upside down, but I still couldn't find it. I threw my trunk to the ground as I took my shoes and made my way to the great hall. Stolen. When I got there I sat next to June and across from Mathew who eyed me approvingly. The boy clearly can't see your already taken can he, my pet? I could hear the snake hiss at Mathew, I let out a breath, Salazar was finally back to his delusional self.
"We were all worried you weren't going to show up, after all we are leaving for Hogsmeade soon." Alexander winked at me and made it blatantly obvious to everyone who saw us that something was up.
"Were any of you in my room today?" I desperately tried to keep my voice calm, but it held and urgency that I couldn't shake, as I directed the conversation elsewhere. Everyone turned to look at me with confused expressions, but they all shook their heads no. I groaned and rested my head in my hands. Be strong, my dear, you cannot afford to fall apart now.
"No, what happened?" Mathew asked me leaning across the table.
"I am missing one of my rings; it's an old family heirloom and its priceless to me." I scanned the room with my eyes until they landed on Tom who was talking to one of his goons. His hand was wrapped around his goblet, the same hand that sported a new ring, my ring. It seems our favorite head-boy isn't quite the innocent child, we had all known and loved, how tragic.