Summary: In a fit of fear, Harry Potter disappears from his abusive aunt and uncle's nearing his seventh birthday and lands hundreds of years in the past. Eventual Rowena Ravenclaw/Harry Potter
CHAPTER THREE: FOOLISH
Foolish - lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.
The day of the town trip had Harry sitting on the back of the family cart, squished between Salazar and bags of vegetables that would be sold at the early morning market. Salazar had whispered the night before that Mama preferred the Sunday market rather than the Friday. Eveline had added that the Lady Hart shopped on Fridays. A cross look from Mama had shut them all up.
The town was called Earthheart which seemed rather funny to Harry since it was packed full of Muddies. It was nearly as big as Surrey, no it was rather small, but it was big enough to hold the town square where stalls were being set up, a few shops, a militia building (like the police, Harry learned) and an expensive church building complete with a large angelic statue and several spires. Even after they'd left the horses in a stable and begun setting up shop, Harry couldn't help but admire the architecture.
"Come," Salazar said when they finished up and were able to escape a stern talk from Pa. "Mama gave me a few silver for candies." He pointed to a large, brightly lit shoppe just next door to Old Mary's. Eagerly, Harry hurried next to his brother.
The shop itself was covered, wall to wall, in counters and glass displays of all sorts of candies. He thought he saw chocolates and hard candies, even an older style of lemon drops that had an appealing look to them.
An appealing taste, too, Harry thought as he sucked thoughtfully on his lemon drop. Candies made Harry contemplative and his face was twisted in thought as he waited for Salazar.
"Never seen ye before." Harry jumped as the thin voice and quickly turned, accidentally swallowing his lemon drop. The boy who'd spoken in the strangely formal English was taller and more delicate looking than Harry with sunny-yellow hair and dark blue eyes. He wearing fine clothes too, not hand-made like Harry's own and in the deep burgundy-purple of royalty. A silk tie wrapped around his pale neck tightly with an almost purple color rising from the neckline.
He looked uncomfortable, Harry thought.
"Oh, uh, hullo," Harry said, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. "I'm Harry. Harry Po-Peverell." The near slip had Harry's cheeks blushing red.
"Peverell." The boy had an arrogant look on his face as he looked down at Harry in near disgust. "Not a name I've heard. Who is your family?"
Harry hesitated and before he could speak, he heard his brother speak from behind him. "Harry's our cousin, Jacob." Salazar's voice was filled with disgust as he took a place at Harry's side.
"My father," Jacob Hart said dramatically, "-says that only peasants use contractions." He smirked at Salazar. "Obviously, he is correct."
Ah, Harry thought with a glance towards Salazar. He could see how the two couldn't mix well. With another disgustingly haughty look, Jacob Hart and his posse of wealthy looking friends sauntered into the candies shop.
"Pompous prick," Salazar muttered and scowled when Harry shoved him lightly. "Hurry, I'm sure Mama wants to shop around."
Harry agreeably followed Salazar back to the stall where, sure enough, Mama took off towards Old Mary's leaving the children to chat with an obnoxious blonde woman wearing a dress in an awful color of puce.
"Mother Hart," Eve said dramatically after the woman sauntered off in exactly the same way that her son had.
"Old Mary's right there," Salazar subtly pointed to a shrivelled woman in jade being escorted by a tall man in dark brown. "And Doctor White," The doctor was a middle aged man with a round stomach, broad smile and matching red clothes to the petite woman with him. "He married the reverend's daughter last year. Angela."
"Reverend." Eve said quietly, motioning towards a thin, strict looking man in black robes walking towards their stall.
"Sir," Salazar said respectfully.
The man's lips thinned out and he stared at Harry for a long time. "Good morne, young Salazar." He said in a solemn voice. "Your mother have a good crop?"
"Yes, sir." Salazar said. Harry noticed Eve slowly crept towards the back of the tent, drawing up the wooden stakes she used as knitting needles.
Harry noticed the Reverend's eyes glimmer towards Eve, a cruel glint in the iris. "And your sister, still unbetrothed?"
"She is only six, Reverend." Salazar said tightly.
"Humph," The Reverend grumbled. "Two bags of potatoes, boy and a pot of beans. Quickly, now, quickly!"
Harry was thankful when the creepy old man walked away with his goods, leaving grimy coins behind.
"Bastard," Eve whispered. "I hate him."
"As do I." Salazar said angrily. His face was turning a pucey-red.
"He took the rest of the beans." Harry offered helpfully. Salazar scowled even more deeply and ripped off the piece of wood that listed their inventory.
"Nearly the potatoes too," Salazar groaned.
"Or is it?" Eve replied behind them sneakily. "Cover me." Both boys covered her front and back, Harry more nervous than Salazar, and Harry gaped for a second when silver magic came from her fingers and replicated more potatoes than they had.
"You better hope Pa doesn't hear about this." Salazar warned. "Last time we almost got caught."
"What's the problem?" Harry asked curiously, relaxing when Eve stepped away from the basket as two ladies appeared. The two boys slunk towards the back and let Eve handle the chattering women.
"Mudbloods," Salazar said slowly, "Are terrified of magic." He paused hesitantly and leaned foreward. "There was a magical family, old blood. The Westchester's. Mama was cousins with the head of house. A daughter of the house was caught using magic and their home was burned down, their lives taken." Salazar shook his head. "Mama cried for days."
"Sorry," Harry said softly, watching as the two woman - no, the Mudbloods - sauntered away towards what he presumed to be their escorts, two muscled men wearing heavy work coats.
"Malark brothers," Salazar nudged him softly. "Matthew and Mark and their fiances, Amelia and Maria Stark. Boring old mudders." He said it teasingly and the pointed introductions continued.
The rest of the day continued like that, with the briefest displays of magic outside of the attention of Mudbloods. Pa and Mama eventually returned and allowed Salazar and Eve to show Harry the rest of the village, including a small path that led to a small pond with a waterfall outside of the village.
"Mercy's Waterfall." Eve had explained. "Once a safe haven for enslaved witches, although the Mudders just think it's beautiful."
After the long, long day, Harry was glad at last to be at home. Nearing eight (or maybe nine) o'clock was when he was preparing for bed. His bed clothes were near identical to Salazar's, a soft black pair of trousers and a tunic that was a rich scarlet versus his brother's emerald tunic. His bed was just as cozy with warm scarlet blankets with soft furs set atop. He'd barely scrambled into bed when the door cracked open.
Eve was weary eyed, her brown nightgown wrinkled at the hem and she rose an elegant black eyebrow at his curious gaze.
"Mama - she says to come." Eve motioned towards the upper part of the manor and Harry came.
Past the entry to the kitchen and beside the entry to the tea room was a set of beautiful black, fur lined stairs that led to the other bedrooms. Mama and Pa's bedrooms were right next to Eve's and Harry heard soft snoring as they passed. Finally, they entered Salazar's bedroom where Mama was quietly talking to the boy. Hung around Salazar's neck was a locket.
"Harry, Eveline, sit - sit." Mama motioned, smiling softly as the two children crawled near Salazar. "I have a story to tell."
Harry sat up eagerly, hoping it was another story filled with magic and Mama's eyes glistened with soft happiness.
"About what, Mummy?" Eveline asked sweetly. Harry grinned at her suspiciously sweet voice and shoved Salazar when he snorted.
"The first Slytherin, my loves." Mama said solemnly. "The world is dangerous and old and it is best that you know such things."
"Like, our -" Harry paused hesitantly, "Your ancestor?"
"Not quite, love." Mama replied gently before lifting her hands. While Pa's magic was a deep grey, Eveline's silver, Harry's scarlet red and Salazar's an emerald, Mama's magic was the purest blue. And as she weaved her hands, he saw a story play out.
"Once," She started, forming a picture with her magic. A river appeared in the midst of a deep forest and a lone figure stood above. "-there was a boy and he had no name. He came to a river to cross and found no way. In his impatience -" Harry watched steadfast as the figure tried to leap across the wide river and fell. "-the boy fell."
"No," Eve whispered.
The picture changed. The boy was tumbling under the deep water, bubbles coming from his mouth. He reached out and something slithered under the water.
"He thought he was to drown but no - he was saved." Mama continued.
The boy was lifted from the water and set upon land and Harry saw what had saved him. The only thing in the magical picture that wasn't blue. A long and very large black and emerald snake stood above the boy with eyes looking upward and teeth bared.
"A basilisk." Salazar whispered.
"Truly," Mama agreed. "He demanded payment of the boy but the boy had nothing and so the beast found another way."
A glow entered Mama's eyes and Harry watched the snake speak as Mama did.
"From this day forth," The basilisk and Mama's voiced intertwined, deep tenor mixing with delicate soprano. "- your bloodline and mine will be connected. Those that slither upon the ground will call you master and your fellow man will fear the language we speak."
"The boy agreed," Mama said softly, "And so they renamed each other. The boy would be forever be known as Slytherin and basilisk as Aerin, queen of all snake-like creatures."
"What happened?" Harry asked, enthralled with the magical story.
"Aerin and Slytherin stayed connected for many years until Slytherin's death," Mama said solemnly, dissipating the magic carefully. "There is a mad rumor that Slytherin even married Lady Morgana Le Fay," She rose an eyebrow, "But that is a rumor."
"Explains my strength in magic," Salazar said arrogantly.
"Idiot," Eve kicked him.
"Mama!" Salazar cried out.
"Enough," Mama said shaking her head with a smile. "There are many rumors about Slytherin, some truthful and some lies." She raised her eyes and smiled. "But parseltongue and parselmagic is truth. Never believe your strength is evil, my loves, because it is nothing but a gift from Aerin the Wise."
"And me?" Harry whispered. "I speak parseltongue."
"You do." Mama agreed. "Yes."
She paused, looking curiously at Harry. "Your father has a theory." She offered Harry. "Magical talents can be transferred through triumph in battle. Perhaps -" She paused. "Perhaps, before you remember, you successfully destroyed a member of House Slytherin. That is only a maybe, my boy." She said, seeing the horror in Harry's face. "We may very well never know."
"Why are you telling us this?" Salazar demanded. "We have never heard this tale."
"You haven't, yes." Mama agreed with a deep sigh. "But - your father heard dark rumors in town. Rumors of a witchhunt." All three children shuddered. "We begin proper training tomorrow morning." She said firmly. "Now go, sleep well, my loves. The hard part has not begun quite yet."
Harry stumbled to bed with worry in his heart, not knowing what the morning could and would bring to him.
A/N: Chapter three is up and I'm super excited on how it's going. Please remember to review, favorite and follow and let me know what you guys think!