Disclosure Hp belongs to Jkr. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
Friends
They were snickering; soon, both Rosa and Hugo were laughing in no time, and Salazar joined them. An honest, joyful laugh, he had forgotten how good it felt. He changed with Rowena's rejection, and he probably hadn't laughed that much since he was seventeen, the day she'd chosen Godric.
"Who was chasing you? Is he your uncle?"
"Yes, and who are you? I have never seen you around," Rose appraised him with a bit of distrust. "I would have seen you, your hair is most unusual." Never mind how he looked, he was extraordinarily hot.
"I am a new student, I was away for a long time."
They told him about their father. "Our dad is marrying today. He left us just a couple months ago," they both looked somber.
"We don't care, but Mom is looking so bad," Hugo added worriedly.
"Hugo, don't worry, of course, she looks bad because she no longer sleeps." Rosa didn't sound convinced.
"No, it is more than that, she looks sick. What if something bad happens to her?" Hugo slumped.
Salazar worried as well, she was sick, maybe he should keep going. Yet, he wanted to see her, albeit he knew that hours mattered now since he could see their paths in the vortex. It was very confusing, the three lines were nearly merged, and he figured his friends were ahead by three to four weeks. It was rather difficult to ascertain what was happening when the lines were so close. He wished he could understand it better.
Although he couldn't afford to waste any hours, he wanted to see her. The problem was that if he stayed too long, she would die. He needed to get there on time. But could his friends be here already? He needed to see her and find out, he would not stay long.
Meanwhile, he wanted to know more, "Ah, maybe she isn't sick. Perhaps she isn't sleeping. Maybe a magical illness? My father was a healer; does she has stomach aches, chills?"
"Yes, I think so, but I think it is because she is so sad. And to make it worse, grandmother hates my mother, and that makes my mother sadder. It is because she is a Muggle-born," Hugo explained.
They told him much information, and he realized that Harry was the Potter wizard; the one that was a bit like the Salazar he used to be. He also found out that she was at home. He was crafty; first, he promised them a visit, and a minute later, he clicked his teeth. It seemed as if he'd remembered something, "I forgot, I have to go home today, my mother is sick, but I'll come back, I could come to your home to visit."
At that point, both children liked him, he was different, and he had cool bracelets, a snake and a leather one. His magic was strong, and he was an upperclassman who had hidden them. He told them that he had 'found' this place; it had a table, skins, and pillows, (all preserved with a time charm), and he told them the secret words to make the door visible and to open it.
Already trusting him, Rose pulled a sheet of Muggle writing paper and wrote their coordinates.
At the last minute, he remembered a stash hidden long ago, "Wait, here," in a pouch under a rock, he took a few leather bands made of complex knots and decorated with metal pieces, "Choose one, they were charmed by an old wizard I once knew, they protect you, and can be useful."
He showed them, he wrapped one around his knuckles and tapped the wall, they heard water running behind one wall, and the other sounded hollow, "They can help you. Just play with them, each is a little different. All find others, some help you to find food and water; others change colors if danger is approaching, and others might open barred doors. Wear them as bracelets and figure them out."
He told them to go to the wedding and to be strong, proud, and never show fear. He accompanied them half-way and walked away. As soon as he was far enough, he hid in the shadows and followed them. He was there on time to hear the nasty witch.
"Bill we need to go, let's go, they are just like their mother, they are mud…"
The wolf looked beyond angry, he growled and made his mother stop her barrage of hurtful words, "Mother if you say that word, you Floo, Apparate, whatever. I am just taking you, but am not staying. I am here because Dad asked me." He walked around in circles, probably to calm himself.
"He knows how I feel about this ugly mess. One more word and you drive dad's Muggle auto, or you Apparate or Floo as I said before. I am not sure we will ever go home again. Fleur and the children don't even want to visit, and after today I agree with them. Mom, what is going on with you? You are no longer the mother I knew."
Salazar was going to punish this entire lot, he saw the children's faces somber and sad. He believed in blood purity but found the Mudblood word objectionable. He reappeared right behind them, they had been hiding behind the bushes.
"She is wrong, you are better than that witch so ignore her. They are leaving, hide until they are gone. Listen, take care of your mother, I must go."
Salazar had been waiting to see her, he waited outside her work at lunch but didn't catch a glimpse of her. He made a decision, go by her home. He would go to her house and just check on her, and he'd hide.
He wished he had never done the curse and was afraid that he couldn't reach Rowena and Godric because she was already dying.
When he saw her last, was she well? Her skin was so warm. God, had he already activated the curse? How perverse, it had to be late March or early April when he sent the curse through the vortex. He was sure, by \now, he despaired and waited.
Finally, he saw her opening the door, she was coming out with a small dog.
Hermione. 4-18-2014
She had survived the wedding. Now, she had to pick up Hugo from Hogwarts. He didn't want to be with Molly. Fortunately, now that Harry stayed with her house, and with Kreacher's help, it was easier. Although she didn't like it, she was very busy at work, now that Kingsley was passing responsibilities to her.
It was a war, Molly was intent on taking the children away from her. It wouldn't be healthy for the children, she remembered Hugo's disturbing revelations a little earlier.
"Mom, Molly is nasty." Hugo was angry.
"Son, she is your grandmother, you shouldn't call her Molly."
"Okay, I won't go back to Mrs. Weasley. And we didn't go to the wedding because we don't trust Ron. He is trying to take us away from you. James heard them talking."
She felt sicker, "He is trying to do what?"
Hugo held her hand and told her all that he knew. When done, he really dropped a bomb, "Mom, you should have seen it. We hid with an upperclassman's help..." He went on and on about him, the tall wizard with the light olive skin and the white-blond hair streaked with black, silver and green. He elaborated, everything...the extraordinarily cool snake bracelet, and the leather bracelets he'd given them, and so on...This was a clear case of hero-worship.
"Mother, mother are you well?"
She wasn't. Who was the stranger that now was after her children? But no, he'd protected them.
Although she hadn't stopped thinking about him, she had avoided her usual haunts for weeks, well until the divorce day. Her feelings for him were absurd, and her heart ached too much. He scared her, who was he? She felt too much for someone that she didn't know. She had looked thru old books, something told her he was from the past. His speech and his manners and his relative innocence.
The later made her smile naughtily, she remembered, he was so sexy, asking with such effort when she wrapped her lips around his sex, "...witch, what are you doing?" Gods, her mind was fixed on him, day and night.
At least she had Harry, a good friend. Thank goodness that she was able to talk to Harry the day of her divorce. The day that Molly officially told her that she was out, long live the Smith Queen. So much for a trip, delayed until their wedding, till today.
Harry was her first love and her first heartbreak. She had given him her passion and her body, and he used it with the carelessness of many young wizards. After the Crucio, a few days later, she lost their baby, but she had never told him.
She guessed he avoided the issue; she was not blameless, both had been careless, mistakes of her youth. Fleur and Bill had helped her, it was a lost memory. Right, it had helped her to decide to stop fighting for Harry, it wasn't worth it…all that Harry had wanted was to be a Weasley.
She'd missed his friendship, which Ginny had gladly destroyed. Now they were friends again, and she wanted to tell him about the stranger and have him investigated. She knew in what hotel he stayed and would ask.
She was feeling very odd for a few days. It started around the next day she had been with Lazarus. Could she be pregnant with Lazarus' baby? She was surprised at the good feeling it evoked, placed her hand on her abdomen, and smiled.
Her deep thinking was interrupted by the terrier's loud growling and barking. Her dog was the daughter of her parent's dogs. She had inherited a couple of young pups, and they had a late litter. The puppies had gone fast, even the Malfoy had one. They had yearly birthday parties hosted by one of the owners. They were naughty, smart, and cunning. JD was seven years old and didn't like strangers, cats, rodents, other dogs, and in general, anything that moved.
"JD hush, what's the matter, oh," it was him. Instead of questioning how had he found her house, she walked fast to meet him. He instinctively opened his arms, and with her dog growling, she fell onto his embrace.
The stress of the last days was getting to her; thus, when she saw how he looked at her, it made her want for his comfort.
Her body is too warm, was Salazar's first thought, nevertheless, he was filled with happiness, and being with her was all that matter. When he felt his child in her womb, his eyes teared a lot, he felt a strong emotion for the first time since he could remember. They just held on to each other like the survivors of a war.
The idea that she was dying made him want to scream, what a horrible thing that he had done. He only believed in magic, but his parents worshiped a god they believed to be the Creator's son. The Malfeu also believed the same, they said their ancestor had seen him as a newborn babe, something about three wise men. He wanted to ask someone to grant him her life.
He wasn't proud, he would ask whoever and whatever, to help him undo his sin. Maybe he could find a place to ask his parents' god.
The Vortex who, once in a while, resided inside the stone Salazar carried, wanted the foolish human to confess. It was sure that its favorite could help. Because of the laws, It couldn't help directly. It didn't want to break any of them, too many like Vortex ended up prisoners for eternity, for abusing their gifts.
But Vortex wanted to save its own Hermione. What if she died, no, it was not acceptable. It kept trying to tell him to confess, but Salazar wouldn't listen. Vortex wanted to take her away, her and the children, It would do it before letting her die.
"I came by the places where you go, but I didn't see you. I missed you so much." In real-time, he had been with her a little over a day. Her body was trembling, "what have you so upset? Is it the wizard you married?"
Salazar knew the answer, but she stayed quiet. Instead, her next question caught him by surprise.
"Did you help my children today?" She didn't ask a more pertinent question, what was he doing in Hogwarts?
Why lie, tell her as much as you can, "I assumed they were yours, the family resemblance was impossible to miss. They were on their right to run. I heard the exchange and had to help. I used glamour, sure if they saw someone older they wouldn't have accepted my help. Their uncle the wo..., err, your dueling partner is your true friend. The witch, the grandmother, is foolish. She is blind." He looked around.
"Let's walk away from your home, maybe it is best."
Hermione nodded and moved to his side. His arms felt empty without her. He pulled his wand just a little and conjured a concealment charm, no sense in someone seeing them.
Her hand felt cold, and the next minute was hot and sweaty. The terrier kept sniffing Salazar, but as soon as he caught Anok's scent, it started growling, Salazar smiled, "A fierce warrior, I like that," and he pulled a piece of dried beef he carried with him. The warrior she-dog had no problems accepting the treat but first looked at her mommy. When Hermione nodded her head, all was well. Now JD was his best friend, and just in case, gave him a grateful lick or two.
"Good lad, protect thy Lady," petted it, and gave it another small piece to seal the alliance.
"A lassie, not a lad," Jd woof agreeing, and they laughed.
He noticed her hand was now hot and sweaty, gods, she had the curse; now, he wanted to cry.
"Hugo is home, I need to be back in a few minutes. I am glad today is over, now the next hurdle. I need to be with Ron at the War Memorial."
"The Memorial…ah, yes, the battle. You were magnificent." He remembered the day he had fallen in love. His warrior witch, she was her parents' child.
She blushed and right that moment he knew the day they had entered, and that her curse worsened when they gave her blood potion. They must have arrived on the 9th of May, 2014. Maybe a day before or a day after.
The problem was the timelines were nearly running together, so he needed to be very exact, they were ahead three weeks or so. To make precise calculations, Salazar needed either outside assistance or inspiration.
The ring that he gave her was something, but it wasn't that good. In these times, there were too many interferences, all that it let him know, thus far, was to feel her presence but not her location.
Now, If Rowena and Godric reconciled, bets were off, she would go fast. He needed to try to figure out what day should he arrived. It was complicated. Maybe go in short 15 day hops. Yes, that is what he would do; he hoped to be right.
"My love, I need to go, I need you to know how much I love you. I hope that I am can tell you soon who I am. Please be happy and calm. May I kiss you?"
She assented, and he tried to kiss her softly, but she deepened the kiss. Before he was caught up in the moment, he moved gently away from her. He needed to leave. At the last minute, I decided to take a gamble, "Can we meet at my hotel. In two weeks, I will be waiting at the tea room during your lunch, at midday."
She hesitated, she wasn't married, "Why not before?"
"I have to travel, will you?" He wanted to make sure she was alive.
He almost forgot, just in case. "Have you perchance met your real parents?"
"They are dead, but if you meant my biological parents, the answer is no." She nearly laughed at the question on the tip of her tongue.
"I meant my birth parents; I don't know who they are." What an odd question.
Salazar just sighed with apparent relief, kissed her forehead, and left. He wanted to go fast to come back, and maybe sleep a few hours. He went to the hotel to look at the vortex.
He saw that he still had time, Salazar thought. However, he was sure that they were about to arrive. It occurred to him that many pages of the vortex's journals were missing. Maybe the rules were not as strict. If necessary, he would experiment.
Salazar apparated in the hidden room at Hogwarts, stood at the right location, held on to the stone, and two minutes later he was gone. A couple of hours later, he was back. The date was the 4th of May.
He hoped to be able to see her, she had already been sick. His mouth was dry, he was cold, so very afraid. "Please be here," he prayed, hoping that somebody was listening.
4-18-2014, 9:00 PM (21:00) He jumped in the vortex from Hogwarts' hidden room and arrived in the afternoon of the 3rd of May. He was used to the time not aligning, picked up the stone, and checked the date it was 5-3-2014.
He examined the vortex, her lifeline was fading in and out, and Rowena and Godric were nearly here but not quite, he wondered if he should keep ongoing, but he would see her the next day. My Hermione, my beloved, he asked himself if he would ever see her again.
He wanted to talk to the children, maybe Hugo was visiting. Yes, he would go by Gryffindor. He wrapped his body on shadows, and on his way, he saw the children. They were in a hurry. He intercepted them, but first, he made sure the glamour was in place. He wanted information.
"I am so glad to see you two. I will not be staying, my mother is very sick," he walked towards them, and Hugo ran to him.
"We are going home. Mom is not feeling well, we are worried. I have an idea, our house is large, come with us," Hugo blurted out. Rose grabbed his arm.
"Sorry, ah, what is your name again? I am Rose, he is Hugo."
"Lazarus de Temp, call me Sal."
"Please excuse Hugo, surely you are too busy…" Rose looked unhappy with Hugo.
"No, wait, I am not busy. I don't know anyone, would that be okay?"
"My uncle is gone on a mission this weekend, I think mother wouldn't mind." Hugo looked at him, hoping, and Rose joined; even if a Slytherin, imagine, he was an upperclassman.
"Do you need to get a change of clothes?" Rose asked.
"No, I was going to stay in a hotel to wait for my father, he comes tomorrow, I have all I need. I have an idea, do you want to ride on my broom? It is a warm night. You can side-along with me and then we can ride." He wanted to question them.
It took them an hour or so, and he worried about Hermione. She was going fast. "You can owl me to the hotel where my father stays if you need anything." They told him how Ron was asking for them because he wanted their mother to pay for their keep. His desire to hurt Ron was intense and wished for more time.
Soon they arrived at their home, where the small terrier came to meet them. The dog left the house thru a small swinging door, very clever.
She greeted the children briefly and ran to Salazar, jumped on him, and sniffed his robe.
Hugo said, "She likes you. So you know, she never likes anyone first time."
Salazar laughed, pulling out a piece of the dry beef, "I think JD likes what I carry."
"How do you know her? You said her name," Rose stared at him.
Salazar hadn't kept his guard up and had to make quick amends. He moved his hand and charmed them to forget what had transpired. He'd to be more careful.
Hermione came to greet them and stood frozen, she was speechless, her mouth was dry, "Mom he is Sal, our friend." Hugo introduced him proudly, he was still young enough that he held on to Salazar to pull him towards Hermione.
A/N hmm, Salazar has nobody to blame but himself. I think that Vortex is fooling itself. :)