The cold hit Harry like a brick wall, the water chilling him to the bone instantly. He held his breath and closed his eyes, clinging to Helaina's horns like a lifeline. Which they were, if he let go he would drown. He hung on for what felt like a lifetime. The pain in his chest steadily got worse and worse. his grip loosened slowly as he began to slip into unconciousness.

With a mighty splash they rise out of the water again, precious air filled Harry's lungs. He lay against Helaina's back panting as he filled his body with oxygen. After a minute he raised himself to see where they were.

They were in a large hall over a hundred feet long and thirty fourth feet wide. At the end was a large steel door like a vault. To his left and right a stream ran down the edges. Giant pillars rising out of the water to support the ceiling. The ceiling was invisible and looked just like the night sky outside with a crescent moon and twinkling stars. Each pillar had a snake head sticking out with a fire lit in its mouth, illuminating the room and giving it warmth. The floor was made of large stone bricks but when Harry jumped down onto it, it was soft as a cloud.

:So you have come, I knew you would: a voice hissed from behind him.

Harry spun around to see a snake at least half again bigger than Helaina. His scales were the darkest green all over and his eyes a wicked yellow. He had exited a hole in a large statue of a man's head against the wall. In front of the statue was a large, semicircular pond. It was fed by two water falls to the left and right of the statue and overflowed into the streams on the sides of the hall.

:It is an honour to meet you your majesty: Harry bowed to the great snake.

:None of this your majesty or highness fluff. You are amongst friends. My name is Balthasar, one of three kings of this world. Don't let my title deceive you however, it has lost most of its sway. Snakes are considered creatures of evil and darkness by most wizards. Only the serpents still recognise me as a king. Wizards believe themselves supreme magical beings, really it's quite pathetic. I am inferior to them because I cannot use a wand yet a glare and I could have them unconcious, petrified, dead or hypnotised. They really don't appreciate true power. Take any wizard's wand and he is no better than any other mundane human: The snake chuckled to himself.

:May I ask why it is you wished to see me: Harry asked.

:Ah yes, that would be because you can speak the language of kings. My friend's bloodline is the only that can do so, it is he that wants to meet you: Balthasar said.

:Where is he: Harry asked.

:Just through the hole in the statue, should be on the right: Balthasar answered Harry.

Harry nodded and walked slowly towards the statue. when he stood at the front of the pond twenty stone snakes leapt out from the edges around the pond and twisted together to form a bridge. Harry first tested the bridge with his foot and proceeded to cross it. The statues mouth was just big enough that he could walk through without ducking.

:Hello: Harry called tentatively.

:So you are my descendant, bit small I think, poor posture and low confidence in himself. At least you are young, plenty of time to train you up: A cheerful voice said from Harry's right.

Turning to face the man Harry found not a person but a portrait. The portrait held a man around eighty sitting in a high backed chair. He had pale skin and short grey hair combed over his head. The top of his head was mostly bald and his skin drooping. His eyes were a striking green, just like Harry's. He wore dark green robes with silver hems.

:Yes I know I look rather odd in robes to you probably. I have been keeping up with the outside world through the snakes in the world. Even did a bit of research on you. I understand you were poorly raised by mundanes and that they no longer where robes. Most likely the first time you have meet a talking portrait too I take it: The man spoke to Harry, pacing back and forth in front of the chair.

:Yes sir, my er, the Dursleys do not have magic or wear robes. This is the first encounter I have had with a talking portrait: Harry replied.

:Good work, always address an unknown male as sir and female as Ma'am. This is if course for adults, children usually the best course of action is a Mister or Miss. Now that you have formally addressed me I can either accept it and you continue to address me as such or offer an alternative. In this case the proper reply would be for me to say. Please, call me Salazar, Salazar Slytherin. Do you understand what I have said so far Mr: Salazar said.

:I do, Jasmine taught me how to address people a few years ago. Still I thank you Salazar and please, call me Harry; Harry replied.

:Do you have a last name Harry: Salazar asked.

:I assume so but unfortunately the Dursleys did not impart that knowledge to me. My parents died when I was young and I was left with them. They are not the nicest people: Harry replied sadly, his eyes dropping to the floor and his shoulders sagging.

:That is something you cannot help Harry, do not be ashamed that they have held you back. Always keep your eyes up, back straight and head held high. Looking powerful is half a step to being powerful. I suggest we do a little test to see if you have a known family name. Push with your magic and say, Familius Magicus: Salazar instructed.

:Familius Magicus: Harry called… nothing happened.

:Oh, my apologies, in english this time, not parseltongue: Salazar corrected Harry's mistake.

"Familius Magicus." Harry tried again. Through streams of light burst from his chest, green, red and white.

The green light formed into a snake that curled up and stood on its tail as tall as Harry. Next the red formed a short dragon also as tall as Harry. The white light turned into a strange horse with leathery wings. looking closer at himself Harry realised his chest also pulsed with a black light.

:Well that's something you don't see every day: Salazar said after the animals dissapeared.

:What is it.: Harry asked.

:The spell I just asked you to cast calls uo family magic. Any descendant of the line can cast that spell and a light will pulse of their house colours. A lord or heir however, can call forth the house totem. I was expecting the Slytherin Basilisk as you are my heir, that confirms it. What was unexpected was two other ancient and noble houses totems appearing. Potter and Peverell if I am not mistaken, you my friend have a lot of power in your blood. You will be lord of three ancient and noble houses: Salazar said.

:Er, what are the ancient and noble houses and what does it mean for me: Harry asked.

:Right, next lesson then. During the time of King Arthur when witches and wizards lived in peace the land was ruled by Arthur and the high court. Merlin was Arthur's advisor on the magical side of things. However some still were stuck in the ways of Uther's reign and didn't appreciate magical folk being amongst them. All over the country people were killing witches and wizards in the name of their new god and the Christian religion. The religion was rather pathetic in all honesty. It took the magical religion and removed all the magical bits, changing names and purposes of holidays and sticking to one god not Mother of Magic, Father of Magic and their seven children. We can discuss the magical religion later.

Witches and wizards were dying everywhere and Arthur was losing hold of his kingdom. Merlin decided that the mundane world simply were not ready to accept magic into their lives. He devised a plan to form a wizards council to govern over magical beings and keep magic separate from the world. He brought together eleven knights of magical blood and formed the council. They controlled the magical world and set laws for magical citizens to abide by. When Merlin died they were hard pressed and added ten more families to the council to form the wizengamot. Each family possessed a special family magic that was only available to them and their descendants.

Each family had a totem and a colour or colours. The Ancient and Noble houses had a single house colour and a magical totem. The Black family represented by a thunderbird and the colour black. Bones, Kitsune, light blue. Doge, Sphinx, Gold. Greengrass, Hippocampus, Purple. Lestrange, Mantecore, Yellow. Longbottom, Chimera, Dark Blue. Odgen, Hippogriff, Brown. Ollivander, Phoenix, Orange. Peverell, Thestral, White. Potter, Dragon, Red. Slytherin, Basilisk, Green.

The Noble Houses had a non magical totem and two colours. Abbot, Stagg, Green and Black. Avery, Wolf, Blue and White. Burke, Ram, Yellow and Black. Carrow, Bull, Green and White. Malfoy, Tiger, Red and Black. McMillan, Falcon, Blue and Black. Nott, Stallion, Orange and White. Shafiq, Bear, Brown and Black. Rowle, Monkey, Purple and Black. Yaxley, Raven, Orange and Black.

I think it was Thirteen ninety eight when the ministry of magic was formed by the now named Wizengamot. A few decades later and twenty new seats were available on the wizengamot. Five went to the ministry and fifteen to winners of the award called the Order of Merlin. It was given to those who performed selfless acts for the betterment of society. It was divided into three classes, first, second and third. First class was for things like capturing a person or slaying a beast that had killed many people. Second class would be the same but for a few people or someone important. Third class was for a selfless act that helped in a significant but small way.

For example, a dark lord and his followers are terrorising the country with both wizards and beasts. The first class award goes to those who maybe slayed a raging giant and rescuing a city or to the man who caught the dark lord. Second class would be for the people who apprehended his followers or killed minor creatures like vampires and werewolves. A third class award would be given to someone who helped to rescue people trapped in a building that collapses or douse a magical fire that continued to burn.

Now I've gone on and rambled about the Wizengamot so I might as well finish it. From the Order of Merlin recipients the Wizengamot vote on the fifteen people along the pecking order of class they won. They are reselected every three years but often remain the same until someone retires or dies. It isn't often that they are voted off. Lastly is the chief warlock who acts in place of Merlin. He is responsible for presiding over the council and votes in place of the hereditary seats that are not filled. They chief warlock is selected from the entire council but someone must fill the seat they leave. A lord with no heir cannot assume the chief warlock position and not have his seat filled be that an heir or a proxy: Salazar explained to which Harry listened closely, soaking in every bit of information.

:Hang on a second, couldn't the lord just appoint a proxy and have them not show to any meetings. The vote would be defaulted to the chief warlock and they would get to vote it. It doesn't make sense: Harry said.

:A true Slytherin, of course that is a loophole in the system that has allowed many to assume the role and still vote their seat: Salazar said.

:Can you explain some of the magical animals that represent the houses as well please, I didn't understand what they were: Harry asked.

:No you wouldn't recognise some of them would you. However I cannot tell you everything. Go search my library and make yourself comfortable. The ability to find information in books is important, you must learn to learn on your own, to stand on your own and be independent: Salazar replied.

It was only now that Harry really looked at the room properly. It was a large circular room about ten meters or so in diameter. Standing in the doorway to the left was a raging fire place that was taller than Harry, its flames giving warmth and light to the room along with the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. To the right was a life sized stone statue of salazar in his late twenties on a platform. Directly in front of Harry was a large desk made of a dark, almost black wood. The desk was carved with various snakes and in the center was the crest of the Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin.

A shield with a basilisk curled to make a large 'S' in the center. Above a knight's helmet with a collection of feather sticking out the top. Beneath a banner stretched across with the Slytherin motto 'earn virtus ejus, et dominabitur potestate' translating from latin to 'Earn power and rule with it'.

Behind the desk sat a high back throne like chair with a frame made of the same dark wood and forest green cushions with silver buttons. To the left and right of the desk against the walls were two staircases again made of a dark wood with a green carpet going up them. They joined together on a platform directly above the desk. The remaining wall space was covered in various landscape portraits including hogwarts and shelves with different bits and bobs that Harry had no idea what they did.

Off the platform led to an incredible bedroom. Unlike the study, this room was long and rectangular. Both side walls had long cabinets that when opened were filled with hundreds of robes for a man and a woman as well as any other clothes to go with them. At the back was a four post bed with the same dark wood and green curtains. The pillows and bed sheets were a soft silver material and the duvet was green with a silver Slytherin crest. To the left and right of the bed were two doors that went into a huge bathroom with the largest bathtub Harry had ever seen that took up half the room. He could also spot multiple shower heads on the back wall giving the tub a duel purpose. There were more cupboards with towels and bathrobes. A side room with a private toilet and a vanity and mirror. The whole room was covered in a combination of white and pale green tiles.

Leaving the bedroom and returning down stairs Harry found that behind the desk and occupying the space beneath the bedroom was a fully stocked library with hundreds if not thousands of books. Glancing along the spines Harry moved past all the sections. Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Defensive magic, Offensive magic, Dueling, physical combat, weaponized combat, dark magic, divination, History. There were so many interesting subjects that Harry couldn't wait to read. Quickly he found two books he thought he would need. 'The ancient houses and their history' and 'Magical Creatures of the North and South'. He got comfortable in the desk chair and opened the first book. He fell asleep five seconds later.

~

Harry woke up again some time later, he didn't know what the time was considering he had no watch and there were no clocks in the room. He didn't even know if it was day yet. Looking round Harry slowly remembered where he was and hiw he came to sleep at the large desk. The ceiling, he noticed, was different from what it was last night. Instead of a simple black, it was a Murky greenish colour and showed all kinds of sea creatures swimming past.

:The ceiling is charmed to show the lake above it: Salazar's portrait spoke.

:So I guess it is day then, you don't happen to have a clock around here do you: Harry asked.

:Sadly, I cannot help your time dilemma, you will need to rise to the surface and purchase one:

:How do I do that, I don't have any money either: Harry pointed out.

:Well you produced the slytherin basilisk and the wards let you in here so you are the heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin. Therefore, you can access my vault and use that money to purchase your watch and a wizard's wardrobe. We can't have my heir running around in rags now can we: Salazar chuckled to himself.

Harry followed Salazar's instructions and stood on the bottom step of the left staircase. He placed his thumb on the grove between the fourth and fifth brick and filled a quick sting. He pulled his thumb back and the stone beneath the stairs slid into the wall to show an extended staircase. Harry followed it down to the vault beneath the office and chamber. The room was incredible.

The entire area underneath the chamber was filled with gold, silver and bronze coins. The back wall included a collection of glass cabinets that held all kinds of items made of all kinds of precious metals, gems and other rare objects. A stone archway in the center of the wall led Harry through to a sacred place.

The room was lit with thousands of ever burning candles. It wasn't a particularly large room, maybe five by eight metres. However in the center were two stone tombs. Carved into their lids were the images of Salazar and another young woman. Here lay the bodies if Salazar and his wife. Harry bowed respectfully to the tombs and backed out of the room. He took a handful of each kind of coin and stuffed them in a bag and returned to the office.

:Salazar: Hardy asked.

:Yes Harry:

:Your wife, what was her name:

:I suppose I should tell you this story, but for now you have a job to do. Go to Hogsmeade village hall and buy your robes, watch and I would also suggest some breakfast as well as toiletries. We are rather low stocked on them. When you return with no less than ten robes I will tell you my story: Salazar promised him.

:Okay, just one more question, how do I get to this Hogsmeade place: Harry asked.

:Right, if you look above the fireplace you will find a small pot on the mantel. Inside is what's called floo powder, take a handful and throw it into the flames calling the destination. Then you just walk right in and keep walking until you come out the other side: Salazar explained.

Harry followed his instructions and was soon standing in the atrium for the Hogsmeade Village Hall. Harry left the building and looked for a robe shop. The first one he found was labeled 'Twilfitt and Tattings'. He entered the small shop and began to browse the robes they had on offer.

"Oi, get out of here." A man yelled at him as he stormed over. "These are high end robes not for the likes of you. Go to the second hand robe shop that you can afford." The man picked him up by his collar and threw him out the door.

Harry scrambled back to his feet and turned back to the shop. It was only when he saw his reflection in the windows that he saw the problem. His hair was messy and dirty and his clothes were even worse. He needed a change of style if he was to lead a new life with Salazar, Balthasar and Helaina.

New life, new friends, new look. First step were some better clothes. Harry walked along the streets until he found what he was looking for 'Sally's Second Hand Robes'. Entering the shop Harry looked for the smaller robes. He picked out a nice pair of dress shoes, some grey trousers, a white shirt, green tie and some plain black robes that looked tidy. Taking them to the desk Harry paid two gold galleons and six silver sickles for his clothes.

"Thank you ma'am, enjoy your day." Harry said as he handed the coins over.

"You know, with your new robes I think you would look great with a haircut to go with it." The lady said.

"I didn't realise you did haircuts, I was about to go find a barbershop." Harry replied.

"Oh you wouldn't find any around here, most people do them themselves but robe shops will get it done too. What are you looking to get. She asked. Thirty seconds later, half the hair in Harry's head vanished and he was left with shorter hair that kept it off his ears and out of his eyes.

His new do acquired Harry left to find some food. The shop clerk pointed him in the direction of The Three Broomsticks, the best pub in town. After some delicious pancakes and a bottle of Harry's new favourite drink, butterbeer, he continued on his quest.

He returned to the first shop he had come across with the nicer robes, Twilfitt and Tattings. This time when he entered he wasn't kicked out but welcomed into the store.

"What can I do for you today young man." The same man greeted him.

"I'm looking for a new wardrobe, you see our house caught fire and although the house is fine, all my stuff is ruined." Harry explained which was true, the dursley house had caught fire and at the time his only shirt had been ruined. The only difference was that the fire was only in the kitchen and his shirt was ruined because his aunt pushed him at the flames yelling to put them out. He wasn't lying, just not giving all the details.

"Not to worry, we will have a wardrobe sorted for you in no time." The man assured Harry. No time seemed to really mean hours in this man's mind. Harry spend hours picking all sorts of clothes and robes, trying them on and adjusting them where needed. He did manage to find a watch that showed the time, date and stage in the lunar cycle. After a lunch in the same pub Harry made his way back to the hall and returned to Salazar's office using the destination :Balthasar's abode: