A/N: This is for Hogwarts assignment 11 Notable Witches and Wizards task #9 write about Salazar Slytherin, and it's also for the Fanfiction Resolution Challenge Founders Era. It's 482 words. Warning for character death.
Salazar Slytherin apparated in the wooded area near to the village he and his family lived in, and immediately knew something was wrong by the strong smell of burning flesh coming from nearby. He prayed that his parents and sister were not the victims of this particular witch hunt.
Although there hadn't been any outright accusations or burnings of witches in the village since he was a young lad, there had always been whisperings of magic being used. His mother had mostly been the subject of them since she was the local healer. It was mainly because she used herbs and natural remedies rather than the newest medicine the church recommended, and it was only a matter of time before she was arrested and tried for witchcraft. Even though the accusation would be true, the villagers would not be able to prove it. The four of them were exceptionally careful when and where they used their magic.
Salazar carefully walked through the deserted streets hoping he would not be seen. He stopped in a doorway just around the corner from the main square where he could hear the crowds gathered.
"See how she burns! The devil is taking her soul to hell as we speak!"
"No, no!" he heard a familiar voice cry out.
He would recognise the voice anywhere, and Salazar hoped and prayed that he was hearing things.
Turning into the square he saw three pyres. One was already alight, and the victim was clearly dead as no noise came from them. His sister and father were tied to the second and third.
Bile rose in his throat as he realised that the body on the burning pyre was his mother.
He wanted to cry out and save them, but Salazar knew that he would be dead before he could even to get to them.
I'm a coward to not even try, he thought.
But what good was it if all of them died? A voice in his head asked.
None, he answered.
He turned around and made his way back to the spot he appeared at in the woods, all the while making sure that no one followed him. Once he got there he Apparated directly into his bedroom.
The room had been torn apart and his belongings were scattered everywhere.
It was here that he sunk to the ground and cried. Cried for the family he would never see again, cried because his cowardice kept him from saving them, and cried because people he thought he could trust had turned on them.
I will never forget this treachery, he thought before pushing himself up off the floor.
Salazar wiped away his tears and started to gather what remained of his family's possessions before leaving the house for good.
Even though they were purebloods, they still lived amongst Muggles to learn their culture and be able to blend in if they needed to hide away from their fellow wizards, but Salazar would never live beside them again. His trust in them had forever been broken.
