Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
- Susan Ertz
Three Snakes and a Lion
Chapter Twenty-One
Hide-and-Seek
"speech"
thoughts
"parseltongue"
/mind speech/
=visions=
Sa'zar awoke in the potion master's arms.
"Pu' me dow' P'fessah. I c'n wal..." He trailed off, yawning widely.
Severus snorted. "I have no doubt of your capabilities, but the headmaster was most insistent of your weakness and demanded that you not be allowed to journey to the hospital wing under your own power."
Sa'zar yawned again. "So you been roped inta carryin' me."
"Indeed." Severus spoke dryly, but those who knew him well could detect the slightest of smiles lifting the corner of his lips.
Sa'zar snuggled up against his favorite teacher, feeling safe and warm. He spent the rest of the walk to the hospital wing in a comfortable semi-dose barely aware of his surroundings. The small stone in his sock, however, was a weight he could not ignore.
Sa'zar's sharp ears picked up the creaking sounds of Severus shoving open the door of the Hospital Wing. "Where should I put him Poppy?"
The matron glanced up from where she was binding Tom's head wound. "Bed by the window. Get him into pajamas."
The Potions Master nodded, crossing the room and unceremoniously dropping his apprentice on the cot. "Are you capable of dressing yourself or do you require my assistance with that as well?"
Sa'zar smiled as brightly as he could manage. "I'll be fine Profe..e..esor." He stifled another yawn.
Severus nodding, shutting the curtains roughly. Sa'zar breathed a sigh of relief. It was the work of a moment to strip off his robes, leaving them in a pile on the ground. Sweater and shirt followed.
Carefully he folded back one of the pajama sleeves so the cuff was on the inside of the sleeve. Slowly he reached into his sock and drew out the Philosophers Stone. For a moment he simply gazed at in awe, mesmerised by the light reflecting off its sides.
On the other side of the curtains Severus stirred irritably. Sa'zar jumped slightly and hastily slid the stone into his makeshift pocket. He smirked at his handiwork. That should be okay for the night. Tomorrow he could find a better hiding place.
Quickly changing into his sleep clothes, he curled up under the blankets. By the time Poppy came to check on him a two minutes later he was fast asleep.
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
Harry woke to three pairs of eyes staring right at him.
"Augh!" He sat straight up causing the room to spin. Someone stuffed his glasses into his hands and he put them on bringing the three blurs into focus. Oh. Just his brothers and, "Professor Dumbledore!" Memory returned in a flash. "Sir, the stone! What happened?"
Dudley laughed. "Relax, Harry. It's all OK now."
"But.."
Tom nodded. "Do not worry, Harry. Calm down or Madame Pomfrey will throw us out."
"But.."
Dumbledore smiled gently. "Your brothers are correct Harry. Salazar came to your aid just in time. It is fortunate he did. By the time I arrived it would have been to late."
Harry nodded. "It almost was. I couldn't have kept him away from the stone any longer."
Albus shook his head. "Not the stone, my dear boy, you. The effort involved nearly killed you. Had your brother not come when he did... As for the stone it has been destroyed."
"Destroyed!" Tom looked horrified. "Why?"
Dudley looked confused. "But Professor your friend Nicholas Flamel, well, he'll die, won't he?"
Albus looked quite pleased. "Ah, so you know about Nichlas. You did do the thing properly, didn't you? Well, Nicholas and I have had a little chat and agreed that it is for the best."
"But how will they stay alive now?" Tom's confusion was evident.
"Nicholas and his wife have enough elixir to set their affairs in order and then, yes Dudley, they will die."
Albus smiled at the looks on the children's faces. "To ones so young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicholas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very very long day." He piercing eyes focused on Tom. "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know the stone was not really such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you can want! The two things most human beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
The brothers sat in silence considering the headmaster's words. Tom, especially, looked thoughtful.
"Sir?" Sa'zar, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "Sir? Without the stone could Voldemort come back?"
Tom nodded. "There are other ways. He's not dead and until he is he will keep trying to find a way."
"Then we'll just stop him again," Dudley said fiercely. "And again and again so he'll never be real."
Dumbledore smiled proudly at them. "I have no doubt that the four of you will succeed."
"Sir," Harry began. "There are somethings I'd like to know, if you can tell me...things I want to know the truth about..."
"The truth." The headmaster sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefor be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie."
"I can't." Everyone turned to Sa'zar in surprise. "Lie that is," the silver eyed boy clarified. "It makes me sick." Albus looked startled at this pronouncement.
"Hey," Harry looked a trifle irritated. "I have questions, y'know."
"Of course." Albus's eyes twinkled.
"Well... Why couldn't Quirrell touch me?"
Albus looked thoughtful. "You see Harry, Voldemort came to your home to kill you. Your mother sacrificed herself for you. The one thing Voldemort cannot understand is love. He did not realise that so powerful a love as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... To have loved so deeply, even though the one who loved us is gone, will leave us some protection forever. It is in your very essence. Quirrell, full of hatred and greed, sharing his soul with evil, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch someone marked by something so good."
Dudley wordlessly handed Harry a handkerchief. His aunt must have been the most amazing woman.
Sa'zar nibbled on the tip of his braid. Something about that story rang a cord. A voice, almost like a dream, floated through his mind. = "Take the sword...Run, Salazar!"= Sa'zar shook his head slightly, wondering. Sword? And why run?
Tom frowned. That explained somethings, but not others. If his other self had only wanted Harry... "Sir, why would Voldemort want to kill Harry?"
Albus sighed deeply. "Alas, I cannot answer tht at this time. You will know someday when all of you are older... I know you hate to hear this...When you are ready you will know."
"The invisibility cloak," Harry asked now, "why did you send it to me?"
Dumbledore's eyes began to twinkle again. "Ah- your father happened to have loaned it to me and I rather felt it was time to return it." The brothers chuckled weakly.
"One last question," Harry smiled slightly at the headmaster, "how did I get the stone out of the mirror?"
"Ah, now, I'm glad you asked me that." The headmaster appeared quite pleased. "It was one my more brilliant ideas, and between the five of us, that is saying something."Tom chuckled, acknowledging the truth. "You see, only the one who wanted to find the stone - find it , but not keep it - would be able to get it, otherwise they would just see themselves making gold or drin-"
Tom abruptly cursed, then flushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to do..." He trailed off looking very red.
Albus chuckled slightly. "I have gone temporarily deaf and did not hear a word."
"Er..Right." Tom looked even more sheepish. "It's just... We didn't have to do anything. The stone would have been safe no matter what!"
"Perhaps." Albus patted Tom on the shoulder. "But nothing is ever certain. You acted on the information you had. Though I might hope that you give me more faith next time. I'm not quite useless just yet! Now, if that is all, Harry," the messy haired boy nodded, "might I suggest you make a start on these sweets? Ah, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them - but I think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't you."
He made to put the bean in his mouth, but Sa'zar caught his hand. "Not that; this one."
Albus smiled and popped the golden bean into his mouth. "Ah, nothing like a good toffee."
Sa'zar grinned from where he was eating a tremendous pile of brown beans. "Unless it's chocolate!"
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
"So Albus and Flamel destroyed the stone." Tom sighed, forcing himself not to regret things too much. He knew where the quest for immortality had gotten him. Harry's vivid descriptions had seen to that.
His eyes narrowed suddenly. Sa'zar had been far to quiet and was looking much too pleased with himself. It might just be the aftereffects of what had occurred in the mirror room, but knowing Sa'zar there was a good deal more to it.
"Sa'zar," Tom snapped irritably, "why don't you just tell us your secret instead of looking so smug over having one?"
Sa'zar stuck out his lower lip, pouting adorably. Naturally, it had no effect on his older brother. "Aww, Tom. Don't ruin my fun." Then he laughed, bringing his to his pocket. A quick scan revealed no hidden watchers. Slowly the tiny boy lifted his hand, and spread his fingers wide. "Gentlemen, may I present,"he smirked, "the perfect, complete, whole, and undestroyed Philosophers Stone!"
The look on Tom's face made Sa'zar wish desperately for a camera.
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
"So," Dudley asked once the stone was safely ensconced in the corner of Sa'zar's trunk, "why did you save the stone?"
Sa'zar ducked his head letting his bangs fall over his face. "I thought it might give me back my memories." The last few words were almost inaudible.
"Say what?" Dudley looked blank.
"You will have to speak louder if you wish to be understood," Tom commented dryly.
"," the tiny boy said in a rush.
Tom took a moment to unscramble the words. "You thought it might restore your memories?" Sa'zar nodded, his face still hidden. "But it didn't work?"
Sa'zar shook his head. "I didn't try."
Dudley looked startled. "Why not? I mean, you keep saying you want them back."
Sa'zar slowly lifted his head. "I know. And I do. But..but what if I get them back and..and then I have to leave? I don't want to get back my old life if it means losing my new one!"
Tom had to force his heart to keep beating. Some part of Sa'zar remembers who he is. Some part that knows he is Slytherin. Something that knows that if Sa'zar knows...
Dudley hugged Sa'zar tightly. "Don't worry, Sa'zar. No matter what you'll always be our baby brother. Right Tom?"
Tom blinked, startled out of his thoughts. "What? Yes, of course."
Sa'zar made a face. "I hope I won't always be the baby."
Dudley laughed. "'Course you will. Your the youngest."
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
The Gryffindor/Ravenclaw match was an unmitigated disaster - for the Lions that is. The seeker problems continued to plague them. They were using a second year with vertigo for the post and "he was the best of the lot", as Wood put it.
Had it not been for the excellent plays by the chasers the match would have been a catastrophe. As it was it still went down as one of the worst matches Gryffindor had ever played.
Sa'zar, naturally, was thrilled. He had made a school record by catching the snitch in just under seven minutes.
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
Tom paced back and forth in front of a blank wall. Dudley looked amused. "What's this wall going to do Tom."
Tom smirked. "Watch and learn." He continued to walk back and forth muttering under his breath, "I need a place to hide the stone, I need a place to hide the stone." As he turned back for the third time a door appeared.
Tom smirked again. "Never doubt your big brother. Dudley, Sa'zar, welcome to the Room of Requirement."
"Ela's Chamber," Sa'zar breathed. Tom threw his brother a quizical look as he opened the door. Who was Ela?
Dudley gasped as the brothers entered the room. From end to end it was stuffed full of broken, lost,useless, and simply weird objects. Already Dudley had seen half a dozen broken chairs, a pile of used school books, a popped balloon and - of all things - a tiara.
"This," Tom gestured at the wreck, "is the Room of Hidden Things. It's but a small part of the Room of Requirement. The Room becomes whatever you need it to be."
Dudley nodded. "So it's the perfect place to hide the stone."
Tom nodded. "Exactly."
Dudley grinned at their youngest brother. "Looks like Sa'zar has found the perfect place."
The silver eyed boy had dropped the stone into half of a smashed quaffle and was now replacing the other half. He dropped a blanket on top of the ball then put a pretty pearl necklace on the edge of a broken dresser. "As a distraction," Sa'zar explained as he stepped back to survey his work. He nodded happily. "There. Safe and sound."
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
The Slytherin/Hufflepuff match was not a total loss for the snakes. Higgs was perfectly happy to retake his former position, even if it was only temporary. To the Slytherin's joy and the Hufflepuff's sorrow, he acquitted himself quite well.
Harry was incredibly pleased to learn that Slytherin had not been creamed in his absence. He was, however, rather upset over the loss of the cup. Ravenclaw had won, much to Sa'zar's glee. Madame Pomfrey had thrown him out of the Hospital Wing on four separate occasions for disturbing her patient. Sa'zar could not help teasing Harry over his house's win.
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
"How did you fool Albus?"
Sa'zar sighed. He had been wondering when Tom would ask that question. In some ways he was glad to get it over with. The problem was that despite struggling for days to find an answer, "I don't know," was all that he had to give.
Tom raised a sceptical eyebrow. Sa'zar's eyes sharpened defensively. "Really! I knew somehow that they would destroy the stone and I couldn't let that happen! So I told the ball to change and look like the stone and it did!" Sa'zar tugged his braid hard in irritation. Who knew the truth could sound so ridiculous?
Tom frowned, grey eyes narrowing. What Sa'zar had just said was impossible, but Sa'zar never lied. Dodged the truth maybe, but never out and out lieing. "It's a bit much for accidental magic," Tom said finally.
Sa'zar shook his head vigorously. "Not accidental. I told it to change. I...I.." He searched for a word to describe what he had felt back in the mirror room. The rushing sound; the wild power; the building up and release. "I..I willed it."
Tom gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling nibbling on his index finger. "I have never heard of anything like that. I will have to do some research." He scanned the library, half hoping the proper book would jump into his hands.
"Hey, you two." Dudley stuck his head between the shelves. "It's almost time for the feast. And Pomfrey's lettin' Harry out!"
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
Harry made his way down to the end-of-year feast with his brothers at his side. Sa'zar and Tom had somehow convinced Madame Pomfrey that he did not need one last checkup. Harry was willing to admit that Dudley smuggling him out might have helped with that. Still, by the time they arrived they arrived the Hall was already full.
The Great Hall was decked out in Ravenclaw colors of blue and bronze in honor of the Eagles win. A huge banner displaying the Ravenclaw eagle covered the wall behind the high table.
Harry groaned. Great. More ammunition for Sa'zar.
As the brothers walked in there was a sudden hush, and then everyone started talking at once. The four shook hands, thenscattered, each to his own table. Harry settled down next to Draco, trying to ignore all the people standing up to look at him. "I wasn't gone that long," he muttered.
Fortunately, the headmaster arrived moments later. The babble died away. "Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are a little fuller than they were...You have a whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts...
"Now as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Hufflepuff with three hundred and eighty-one points; in third Gryffindor with three hundred and eighty-four; Slytherin has three hundred and ninety-two and Ravenclaw three hundred and ninety-three."
A storm of cheering broke out at the Ravenclaw table. Harry could see Sa'zar, Val and Mione clinking glasses. It was really ridiculous. Slytherin had lost by one point!
"Yes, yes. Well done Ravenclaw, well done! Now for the student honor awards." Albus beamed down at the students. "First to Miss Nanchih of Hufflepuff for being first to answer. Second to Miss Princess of Gryffindor for betaing her friend's work. Third to Miss Lammyself of Slytherin for the most answers. And finally to Miss Order-Dawn for hard work and scoring the final point for her house. Excellent work all of you."
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
And then their bags were packed and they were on the train watching the scenery flash by.
"I'm glad you didn't drink the Elixir," Dudley said suddenly.
Sa'zar smiled shyly. "Y'know, I am too. I like the way things are."
Harry grinned at his younger brother. "Really? 'Cause I thought you hated being the baby."
Sa'zar made a face. "Aside from that." He sighed happily.
Tom smiled over his book. It was good to have a family. "One for all."
"And all for one!"
Their laughter filled the compartment as the train rushed them home.
3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L 3S&L
AUthor's Note: Just the epilogue left! In case anyone is wondering, the people who got 'awards' also earned the most points for their respective houses. This includes Princess613, my beta, who earned Gryffindor points when she betaed my work. Nanchih was the first person to review, (yes, I did remember!) Thank you! Lammyselfcj and Order-of-the-Dawn answered the most questions and earned the most points. Order-of-the-Dawn was the last person to review and the last to earn points. To be quite honest, I did not expect that things would be this close! To figure out the points minus 300 from whatever Albus says.
And, finally, it is time to answer the questions.
Chapter1:
Who are the snakes and lion? Harry, Tom and Sa'zar are the snakes. Dudley is the lion.
Chapter2:
Who says what at the beginning of chapter 2? Snape, Pomona, Flitwick, Hagrid, Minerva, Pomona.
Chapter3:
What happened at the Malfoys'? The Ministry raided them unexpectedly. Lucius was forced to send Dobby to dispose of several 'questionable' items.
Who blocked Dudley's magic, and why? Albus because the Dursley's insisted.
Chapter4:
Where does Mrs. Moreh get her name from? Moreh in Hebrew is a teacher. Apparently it is also wisdom in some Indian dialect.
Why is Sirius the heir of Slytherin? Hint: Family tree scene in book 5, and what did Salazar look for in his pupils. Salazar liked resourcefulness, determination, a certain disregard for rules and , Sirious claimed that all purebloods were related somehow. So he does have a blood connection with Slytherin, and he has the other traits as well. The oldest male is not the heir or Morfin would have been the heir of Slytherin.
Where does Coral get her name from? The basically harmless milk-snakes very closely resemble the poison coral-snake.
Salazar appears somewhere in the chapter, (not counting the painting). Where is he? He is the Phoenix.
The seal on the painting is who's? Salazar's, of course!
Chapter5:
Why does Godric have Lion-scale added to his name? Sorry, but I am not answering that yet!
Chapter6:
Why does Tom want to keep Sa'zar away from pointed objects? Slytherin was known for his skill with knives.
Chapter7:
Why is Albus saying Tom is Voldemort's offspring? B/c he helping Tom hide his true identity. He is also giving Voldy false info.
Where does the phoenix feather in Harry's wand come from? Salazar's animagus form!
Why does Tom get the holly wand? The same core is drawn to him.
What did Olivander mean about yew wands? Tom has some healing gifts. He saved Sa'zar, remember?
Chapter8:
What was Albus alluding to when he mentioned being judged by your parents? His own parents, specifically his father.
Chapter9:
What cloak did Sal return to Godric? The invisibility cloak.
Why is 'Ric in the headmaster's office pretending to be his brother? He wants to keep an eye on the headmasters. He wants to keep his finger on the pulse of the school. His lions are to loud and give him a headache. He's not a very good role model for Gryffindor...
Chapter 10:None
Chapter11:
What does Greg mean "Don't judge a book by its cover? He is smarter than he looks.
Chapter12:
Why does Sa'zar flying cause Emy to stir? She is bound to him as his familiar. When Sa'zar's magic stirs so does she.
Why does Harry have to try out against Higgs? B/c Higgs was already seeker.
What is Tom really saying when he talks to Albus? He's sorry for what happened to Myrtle.
Chapter13:
Who is the man in Tokyo? Retraction: This will be answered in third year.
Chapter 14:
What does Gwedeir mean? Glory brothers, or brothers not bound by blood.
What language is it? Sindarin. If you don't know what that is, might I suggest reading the Lord of the Rings?
What does Albus mean by the question he asks Minerva. Sa'zar is using the school w/o realising it. Not a good thing.
Chapter 15:
There is a quote from Artemis Fowl. What is it and who says it? Nothing is nothing. Tom says it, and Arty does too.
Why is Sa'zar able to see what people are thinking? Slytherin was known for being a master legilimens.
Chapter16:
Why does Tom think of Emy when he thinks of talking to s/o? She was his first real friend.
Who is the silver haired girl? Salazar's sister Salazine.
Why does Sa'zar have pointed ears? He is a throwback to the Eldar.
Princess, why hasn't Helga reviewed yet? (Okay, no that is not a question.)
Chapter 17: None
Chapter 18:
Why does Tom have such a strong reaction to Voldy? B/c he has half of the soul, not a mere fragment like Harry.
Who is Firenze talking about when he says "Lord of these woods?" You will have to wait for this one.
Where does 'Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher' by Bruce Coville come in? The way Tom communicates with Norberta is based on Jeremy's communication with his dragon.
How do the centaurs know who Tom is? They read it in the stars.
What does it mean that Tom and Voldy have different familiars? That the souls are beginning to diverge.
Where in cannon does it say that Norberta is a girl? Seventh book at the Weasley wedding.
Why does Tom ask his wand if it is okay with dark magic? B/c holly and phoenix is an extremely light combination.
Why does Sa'zar get so angry when he hears unicorns are being hurt? Slytherin was married to a Royal Unicorn; that is a unicorn who can change form to become human.
Chapter 19:
Why does Sa'zar think Snape asked the hat to write the poem? B/c writers cannot really change their style. Rowling wrote both poems, and since no way is Snape writing the hat's poems, the hat must have written both.
Who do you think my main characters are paired with? (Note: I DO NOT do slash. Unless it is CANNON!) This will be answered as the story moves along.
The picture: The 5 animals are the animagus forms of the founders and Galen, Godric's little brother, and the first Hogwarts headmaster. Each founder had four forms; 2 bright, 2 shadow, 2 mortal, 2 magic.
Galen: Bright Mortal: African Lion Shadow Magic: Cerberus Galen was known for his loyalty.
Godric: Bright Mortal: Asian Lion Shadow Magic: Chinese Fireball
Helga: Bright Mortal: Badger Bright magic: Unicorn
Rowena: Bright Mortal: Eagle Bright Magic: Kitsune, a nine tailed fox. they are known for their wisdom, among others.
Salazar: Bright Mortal: Silver Serpent Bright Magic: Emerald Phoenix. (You wouldn't believe the trouble he went to trying to hide that!)