A/N: I'm really sorry for not posting for ages, and it's really short as well, I've just been struggling with mental health issues and lack of motivation. I will be finishing this story, I'm just not sure how long it will take, years, or months. Sometimes my updates will be one a couple days, or it could be months. If you stuck around, thank you.
The unknown bowed, looked Salazar directly in the eye, and said "Hello Brother."
Salazar's eyes widened almost comically. The boy, 14 years old, (he had checked) was claiming to be his brother? It was possible, but unlike- you know what? It was very likely that Cordelia had another child after him. So Salazar (reluctantly) welcomed his brother with half open arms. That was his first mistake.
Over the years, the Slytherin name got a bad reputation, and people who were chosen by Salazar were mocked and picked on. Eventually, Godric got Rowena to charm his hat to choose who goes where depending on the traits the students valued most. By that time, Varley had gotten enough time to tarnish the Slytherin name. Only his friends and the oldest students now respected Salazar, while most did their absolute best to avoid him and his house.
But eventually, the older students left, as did the families sheltering in Hogwarts. The pranks Godric would do also stopped, instead spending his time talking to Salazar. Eventually, Godric and Salazar started their pranks again when the castle felt dull and dark. It was like that for seventy years, until one day, on his hundredth birthday, Godric had pranked everyone, and Varley had gotten tired of them. He stood up and slammed his hands on the staff table, and roared. "I AM TIRED OF YOU PULLING STUPID AND PETTY PRANKS GRYFFINDOR! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL. IF I WIN, YOU STOP. IF YOU WIN- You would get nothing." The students looked around, shocked and started to whisper into their friends' ears. Godric, was also shocked, wanting to accept, but he would get nothing out of this and also couldn't start a duel in front of the students.
The whispering seemed ten times louder, as everyone stared at him waiting for him to make a choice. But before he could accept, Salazar spoke, his voice practically radiating power. "I will take his place in the duel." Heads whipped around to look at him, various levels of disbelief showing on faces. Varley only sneered. "What? Is Gryffindor too afraid?"
"No. It's because I've wanted to do it for the entire time you were here, tarnishing the Slytherin name."
The Slytherin house all smirked or cheered (although that was only one or two students), some having smug looks on their faces, as they had all seen Varley's weak magic and his attempts to do a simple spell. "We shall duel at noon." Ignoring his half-brother's reddening face, Salazar strolled out of the hall, the Slytherin house behind him as a show of support.
Salazar walked into the Slytherin common room, waiting for the students to fill the chairs and pillows while fading into his own thoughts.
The last if the students trickled in, settling onto the chairs and pillowed surfaces, waiting for their professor to speak.
"I am going to win this duel." Salazar declared, eyes flashing with determination, glancing around at his students. They stayed silent, even as smug smirks started to appear on the older students' faces. The gleam of determination meant that Salazar would win. The gleam that had been lost for a couple of years as their Head of House grew older. The gleam that had Gryffindor hiding behind students and teachers after a prank. "As the duel is at noon, in three hours, it means you have three hours to study, play outside, experimenting," Salazar smirked. "and most importantly, use the new supplies under the bookshelves." There was a flurry of movement toward each one of the four bookshelves, noises of awe escaping some, as they revealed rare ingredients, such as small pouches of red powder from an exploding bee, somehow basilisk skin and much more. Each came with a book titled 'Fifty six ways to mess up your opponent in duels. By Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor' As the students stared at the stuff, Salazar continued. "Did you know, if someone was in a duel, and fell into a trap from the opposition, as long as the witch or wizard duelling didn't give any instructions, set the trap, or give ingredients for that trap, it doesn't count as a foul?" Salazar then left, the corners of his mouth shifting upwards slightly as he heard cauldrons and tables being conjured into existence with a thud.
He shifted into a snake, and slithered into a hole leading into Godric's office.
When he entered, he noticed it was messy and cluttered with prank products, which was weird, because Godric's office was usually neat and tidy, and his sleeping quarters were the ones usually messy. It was even stranger, when he flicked his tongue out to see when Godric had last been here, he smelt a bunch of kids crowded in front of the door. Where's Godric? His answer arrived in the form of a lion somehow opening the office door followed by at least twenty students.
He listened as Godric instructed them to pull as many pranks or mess up his half brother as they could, picking up the majority of the stuff scattered over the office. The Gryffindors nodded solemnly and then grinned, hurrying out of the office with arms full of magic traps. Once the door was closed, Godric flopped onto his desk, running a hand over his face. He had a short beard and red shoulder length curly hair. A muffled "What have you done, Salazar?" sounded through Godric's hand. Salazar shifted back, walking over to the bookshelf filled with small trinkets, a sleeping hat, and a couple books.
"I'll win."
"I don't doubt that, but do you really think he wouldn't cheat?" Godric lifted his head slightly to look over at his friend, used to Salazar going through the small holes and tunnels.
"It wouldn't be as efficient. We have around eighty kids setting pranks and traps." The snake animagus murmured, picking up a steel block placed conveniently on a button. Godric studied his face. It was serious, but a layer of determination shone through his eyes.