Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's thanks:
Foremost to Seldes Katne, my SQ Professor, who is an uber-betareader. To Calis-chan, who I still hope gets that teaching position in Japan even though more than a hundred applied for the position.

Author's note: Chapter 35 is divided into several parts. I've decided to follow the file weight of not more than 30kb per update since a 200kb chapter would be too large.

Reminder: Godric's alias is Godfrey Gloucester. Salazar's is Sextus Scaevola. Rowena's is Rachel Regius. Helga's is Hannah Hawthorn. Rowena cast a spell so that everyone who hears them will hear them referring to each other by their aliases, but to their own ears, they hear each other's real names. It's a complicated spell.

Hearts and Hourglasses
Chapter 35 - Part Three
The Eyes of a Basilisk

A thousand years ago...

"She is beautiful, Salazar," Godric breathed out softly, his brown eyes wide with amazement. Before him, its long body slowly and gracefully undulating, was a huge ghostly serpent. Faint rays of sunlight arched into rainbows as they passed through it. Godric could see bent blades of grass underneath its massive form.

After a long while of just admiring Salazar's new creation as it slumbered in the warm sunshine, Godric began to worry that someone other then he and Salazar might see the made serpent though it was barely dawn. Godric suggested to Salazar that he dispell it and watched intently as the Dark wizard again raised the crystal globe from where he had summoned the serpent. With a few muttered words in Parseltongue, which Godric didn't understand, Salazar ordered the serpent back into it.

At once, the creature burst into wisps of smoke and flowed back into its crystal container.

"I suppose only you can control it," commented Godric as they headed back to the castle.

There was a pause before Salazar said, "Rowena as well." He smiled, adding, "because she knows Parseltongue."

There was a soft sigh from Godric, and Salazar chuckled. "I'm certain someday you'll be a Parselmouth, Godric."

"I doubt it," returned Godric dryly. He had been trying to learn for years.

Salazar hesitated for a moment before saying that there might be a quicker and surer way to learn Parseltongue.

"... You could have told me years ago," complained Godric, peeved as he recalled all those futile lessons he had taken.

"It's the Blood Compact, Godric."

"... But that is for merging bloodlines."

"It may also combine power," said Salazar, "though I am not certain. However, it is a feasible theory."

Godric was troubled by the idea of undergoing a Blood Compact. It was a dangerous procedure, and usually practiced only by wizards and witches who were effete. By merging bloodlines, heritage was ensured.

By the time they had reached the castle, Godric was still undecided. Salazar was amused that he was actually considering the idea and wryly told Godric that he shouldn't worry about not being able to control the creature.

"I am going to make a lion for you as well as an eagle for Rowena. To be fair, I'll even make Helga's badger."

"That is kind of you, Salazar."

"Think nothing of it, Godric. Besides, my creature cannot protect Hogwarts alone."

Protection against the Thirteen and Hierthent. Salazar planned to imbue the very stone of Hogwarts with a living protection spell. For years, he developed such a spell until finally he produced this creature, which had he had shown only to Godric thus far.

However there was a flaw, which he hadn't seen until Godric's offhand comment about him being the only one who could control it.

Salazar stared at the white mist swirling slowly in the globe, which he had set on his table. With a tired exhalation, he lowered himself into his chair, propped his elbows on the table and dropped his forehead into his palms. In privacy, he allowed himself the luxury of not appearing strong and unshakable. He would never let himself be weak and uncertain in front of others, save for Rowena. She knew him too well.

Another sigh escaped him as he raised his head. He heard a soft questioning meep, the flapping of wings. Salazar turned his head just as a little blue dragon landed on his shoulder. Bright yellow eyes blinked at him as their owner stared eye to eye at Salazar. After a while, Ryais meeped again, and Salazar chuckled, raising his hand to scratch below her chin.

Ryais meeped once more, this time in pleasure and nipped at Salazar's ear playfully before taking off again to land on her usual perch, an improvised silver bird stand beside Salazar's desk. She had been a gift from Godric several years ago.

He eyed the little dragon as it preened and groomed itself, recalling the circumstances that had caused Ryais to become a tamed dragon. Unfortunately, he couldn't do the same with his creature. Frustrated, Salazar turned his eyes from his pet back to the sphere and again brooded on what caused its failure.

He had completely forgotten about serpentine dislike of command. Unless, you were a Parselmouth, snakes would pay no attention to your wishes. Whether real or conjured, serpents would only respect and obey a master who could speak their tongue.

This disregard of rules was also the reason why he hadn't objected to the confiscation and limited use of house pins in Hogwarts. The Slytherin serpent pins were most unruly.

Idiot, he told himself wearily. This creature was little use as a protection beast for Hogwarts where currently only two of its denizens knew how to speak the Parseltongue. Despite all his efforts, only Rowena had mastered the skill.

... I will have to destroy it. However the idea was distasteful to Salazar though he knew it would be dangerous if he didn't. It was a beautiful thing.

... But what can I do with it then?

There was a sudden rapid and insistent tapping on the door, interrupting Salazar in his thoughts. For a few moments, he was tempted to ignore whoever it was but changed his mind and stood up from his chair reluctantly.

Moving towards the door, he called out, "Who is it?" even though he had a very good idea of who it was. Only three others were allowed in Wvelte. Helga never once knocked on his door. Rowena used only a single knock. Which left Godric.

"It's me," came the other wizard's voice, muffled by its passage through the door.

"Come in. It is unlocked." Immediately, the door swung open revealing an excited Godric. In his hand was a bejeweled box, which drew Salazar's attention. Godric closed the door behind him before marching to Salazar and handing him the box.

"What is this?"

"Open it!"

Inside was a silver armband in the shape of coiled serpent.

"This-"

"Llewewyn made it," informed Godric helpfully. Llewewyn was a master jeweler and magician, the finest there was.

"You commissioned it?"

"No, I saw it by chance in his workshop. Paid a king's ransom for it, but it was well worth it."

"Why?"

"It would make a better vessel for your creature than a fragile globe of crystal."

"But-"

"No buts, Salazar. I insist. Here, let's see you wear it." Godric lifted the band from its velvet cushion and held it over Salazar's left wrist. In Godric's hands, the serpent began to twitch, and without warning, it reared up its head, hissed sharply and lunged, burying its fangs in Godric's hand.

"Ah!" Instinctively, Godric flung his hand out, flinging the serpent away from him. Blood spurted from the deep wounds it had inflicted. There was a clatter as the band landed on the floor, sliding across the floor until it reached the wall. Angered by the rough treatment, the serpent unwound to its full length, raising its head and baring its fangs threateningly.

"Enough!" Salazar hissed at it furiously, cowing the silver snake into submission. As it slithered off to conceal itself in a shadowy place, Salazar turned back to Godric, who was as pale as a ghost and clutching his injured hand to his stomach.

"Godric-" He broke off, alarmed when the other wizard's eyes turned glassy.

~*~*~

A thousand years later...

What is your bidding, Masters? Large luminous eyes of forest green considered all of them curiously, but focused most of its attention on Godric and Salazar. Instinctively, they all backed away as the enormous serpent arranged its long body into coils that occupied the breadth of the Chamber of Secrets.

"Remarkable..." Harry turned his eyes to Voldemort, standing closest to the creature. Like the rest of them, his head was tilted up, and he was staring at the slowly swaying head many feet from the ground. The serpent heard him, and Voldemort smiled when it regarded him as well. It blew a strong breeze from its nostrils, and the wizard's hood fell back, revealing Voldemort's face.

Harry drew in a startled intake of air. Voldemort no longer appeared as he had in Little Hangleton cementary. He now had a full shock of hair on his head, black and silvering at the temples. His face was thin but not starved. Where he had had mere slits to breathe through before there was now a long aquiline nose. He was no longer monstrous. Harry could see he was Tom Riddle, a much older Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Tom laughed with delight. "Now," he declared loudly, causing the serpent still observing him to blink in surprise, "this is rightly to be called Slytherin's monster, not a Basilisk easily hatched from a chicken egg."

At these words, confusion beset Harry. Hadn't he killed the basilisk, which was Salazar Slytherin's monster? ... What was this creature, then?

Harry wasn't the only one confounded. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick were casting puzzled looks at the Founders while also keeping wary watch on the summoned serpent and Voldemort. Helga had a stunned expression that was quickly turning to fury, while Rowena was staring off into space, her brows knitted in concentration. Godric seemed tired. Salazar suddenly cried out.

"Ah!" He jerked his left hand up, and Harry was horrified to see that the serpent band had buried its fangs in his wrist. The Dark wizard reacted quickly even as others moved closer to help him. Furious, he commanded the serpent to release him. It obediently complied, loosing its jaws and settling its head back atop its coils still wound around Salazar's arm.

Helga examined the bite while at the same time conjuring a tourniquet to cut the blood flow in Salazar's arm from the rest of his body to keep poison, if there was, from spreading. However, even as the piece of cloth wound tight around the wizard's upper arm, Salazar drew away abruptly, his eyes turning blank.

"No." Rowena lifted her hand, extending it towards Salazar, who stumbled back and began to shake his head as if to loosen something upon it. He suddenly stilled, his green eyes still empty and staring at nothing in particular.

"He's under Imperius!" Rowena's urgent words galvanized them into action. Dumbledore immediately went after Voldemort, but serpent barred his path when Salazar hissed a command to it.

Hold them.

As though they were sheep, it gathered and herded them to the center of chamber. Within seconds, they were trapped within a circle defined by the serpent's coils. Spells cast against it were useless as McGonagall and Flitwick's attempts showed. Magic was simply absorbed into its shimmering skin, and the serpent paid no attention to Harry's commands to it in Parseltongue. After it had done its chore of imprisoning them, it lowered down its head and appeared to fall asleep.

"Sextus!" Godric shouted at Salazar who was standing outside the creature barrier with Voldemort. There was no sign that Salazar heard him.

Voldemort chuckled. "It's no use, Gryffindor. Imperius has him."

Harry hesitated before yelling, "Fight it, Sir!" Draco suddenly bumped into his side, nearly causing Harry to fall. Before he could berate the other boy, Voldemort said, "Liquid Imperius cannot be fought."

Liquid Imperius? Harry wondered.

Flitwick protested, "There is no such potion!" But Dumbledore silenced the little professor with a single shake of his head. As they watched, Voldemort gestured at Salazar, who extended his left arm towards them. The snake around it quivered when Voldemort hissed at it, ordering it to bare its fangs. It lifted its head and did so, and Harry saw a shiny silver drop drip down from one of its fangs.

Liquid Imperius...

Voldemort started rambling while eyeing Salazar as though he was a most valuable prize. "I gather you all have many questions, no doubt. I will be pleased to answer them, of course."

"Let us begin with this trinket," he murmured, laying a finger upon the serpent band. It didn't seem to enjoy his touch. Voldemort's voice turned reminiscent.

"When I opened this chamber many years ago, I found this bracelet." Voldemort seemed to want to take it off Salazar's arm but left it alone with a sigh. "I wore it, assuming it had powers. Of course it did, but it didn't like me. It immediately bit me, but fortunately nothing was left inside it to harm me."

Harry glanced to Dumbledore, his professors and the other Founders and saw that they were all listening intently to Voldemort rambling on. Beside him, Draco was also doing the same. He looked back to Voldemort who was saying, "When I commanded it to tell me its secrets, it did so with great reluctance. It told me of two other serpents inside the Chamber of Secrets. One, living. The other, sleeping."

"It told me I could command one of the serpents; however, the other could only be awakened by its masters or by their true heirs, which I wasn't." He smiled blithely at their stunned faces. "Surprised, aren't you? I was very disappointed when I was found unworthy because of my Muggle heritage." The last bit was spat out. "Slytherin had never abided Muggles, and it told me how careful he had been when he created his creature. Bloodlines and Parseltongue. I have both, but my blood is diluted!"

The frustration on Voldemort's face turned to rage, reminding Harry of how much Voldemort hated his Muggle father. He looked ready to turn on Salazar, who was the only person within reach, but quickly his anger drained away, and he laughed mirthlessly before continuing his story.

"I was very angry that I couldn't command the true serpent so I decided to have some fun with the Basilisk left in the chamber. I made a way out for it in the third floor girls' bathroom. I ordered it to go after Mudbloods. I was careful. I only wanted to scare them away, not to kill, not yet, but that idiotic Myrtle was in the bathroom in the dead of the night. Fortunately, she was a Mudblood herself, but her death nearly closed down Hogwarts. I didn't want the school to close. I didn't want to go back to that Muggle orphanage, so I let everyone think Hagrid was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets."

His voice dropped down to whisper. "Afterwards, I became disgusted with myself. No matter what I did, I was always a half-blood. Dirty Muggle blood was inside me. Salazar Slytherin, himself, would never accept me. I tried many times to convince myself that indeed I was his true heir regardless that I couldn't summon his creature, and finally, I began believing it was true."

He shook his head, glancing at Salazar and saying, "I was very young then, desperately seeking for acceptance from a long dead wizard. When I left Hogwarts, I took the bracelet along with me as a keepsake. Imagine my surprise when Wormtail informed me that the Hogwarts Four had returned. I remembered the bracelet and the Basilisk's memories."

Dumbledore interrupted, "Basilisk's memories?" Voldemort nodded absent-mindedly and took out a small globe from his pocket. There was a thick grayish murk swirling around inside it. At the same time, Harry noticed that Salazar was shaking his head again. Sense was clearing away the blank haze in green eyes.

"Just in time," Voldemort commented, smiling. Salazar's eyes widened when he saw the scene before him, his friends, the professors and students surrounded by transparent tangible scales. He turned to Voldemort just as he threw the crystal globe to the floor.

Harry heard a fragile breaking sound. He saw smoke puff up as the ball broke, and then he heard-

Salazar, why are you doing this?

It was Godric's voice. Suddenly, everything became much brighter. Squinting, Harry looked up, finding himself standing alone. His teachers and Draco had vanished, Rowena and Helga were nowhere to be seen. The ghost serpent had disappeared as well. Only Godric and Salazar were left, facing each other in the center of the chamber, just a few scant feet away from where Harry was.

The two wizards looked older, and the Chamber of Secrets surprised Harry. It appeared as though the sun was shining into the chamber. Bright shafts of sunlight left only shadows in the spaces behind pillars where light couldn't reach. Everywhere, serpents sunned themselves, identical snakes with brilliant emerald scales. One slithered passed Harry with lazy grace, and he saw that its eyes were also green.

"You know why, Godric." Harry turned his attention from the baby Basilisks to Salazar, whose expression was stony. Godric breathed out an exasperated sigh.

"I'm not a MindReader," Godric complained gruffly.

Salazar countered in a quiet tone, "I want those Muggle-borns out."

"Salazar-"

"We've already discussed this before, Godric. I can no longer tolerate Muggles in Hogwarts."

"You can't just blame the Muggle-borns for those accidents-"

"Accidents?!" Salazar stared at Godric as though he was a stranger, not someone he had known for many years. "How long are you going to keep on defending Muggles, Godric? Those were not accidents. Are you going to wait until I'm murdered before you realize Muggles can't be trusted?"

"You're not going to be murdered-"

"Which word do you prefer? Killed, assassinated, obliterated, mangled beyond repair-"

"Calm down, Salazar."

"I will not calm down, Godric! Muggles murdered my family-" As quickly as he had lost his temper, Salazar regained his composure. He appeared very tired, worrying Godric, who came nearer. Salazar was embarrassed that he had lost control, and Godric, tactfully, chose to pretend he hadn't noticed.

"Rowena will question all the Muggle-born students, and she and Helga agreed as well as I that you will not have to teach any group with Muggle-"

Smirking, Salazar interrupted, "That would make me seem cowardly."

"Well, you are," Godric lightly countered, smiling as well. "It's a well-known fact that Lord Salazar Slytherin is frightened of Muggles."

With exasperation, Salazar lifted his eyes ceilingward, and Harry followed his gaze and realized that the ceiling was a bright blue sky, which suddenly turned dim. Startled, Harry lowered his eyes abruptly and saw that only Salazar was left in the chamber, which was now barely illuminated with a greenish glow. He was standing at the base of the statue. Harry looked around, but there were no serpents left except for one.

Coiled around the Dark wizard's neck and shoulders was a large Basilisk, which looked to be about a dozen feet in length to Harry. Salazar was murmuring to it in Parseltongue. He was telling it to keep its eyes away. Obediently, it turned its head from Salazar, and Harry jumped when its bright yellow eyes settled on him. It blinked sleepily at him before laying its head on Salazar's shoulder.

Salazar was also wearing the silver serpent band around his left wrist, and he was mumbling to himself.

I have to leave Hogwarts. I must leave. Tears glistened in his eyes, and uncomfortable, he dashed them away. ... I am sorry, he whispered to the Basilisk, who seemed ignorant of the torment in the wizard's voice. It was content to snooze on his shoulder. Salazar sighed at this and continued speaking to it, berating it actually.

Why did you not come when I called all of you? Now, you are the only one left. All your brothers and sisters are gone, and I do not have the time to take you to Scrimbles. I just cannot leave you here.

The Basilisk seemed to shrug at him. Salazar chuckled, but it was a hollow laugh.

I wish I could take you with me, but you are too dangerous. You might hurt one of my Slytherins even with your eyes bound shut. ... I will have to... Another soft sigh, and he ordered the serpent to lower itself to the floor. It did so with great reluctance and acted a bit displeased about it. Then, it settled its long body about Salazar's ankles and promptly went back to sleep, it seemed.

Salazar sighed for the third time and slowly took out his wand. Harry realized he was going to kill the Basilisk. Then, something made him change his mind. Instead, he pointed his wand at the mouth of Lord Godfrey Gloucester's statue.

Kaberna! The statue's mouth opened, revealing a deep gaping hole. Salazar pointed the wand at the slumbering serpent at his feet and levitated it to the hole. As the Basilisk slipped into it, everything went dark.

Eolas! Salazar's voice echoed as though it was coming from a far away place. Once again, brightness blinded Harry. When his eyes acclimated, he was nervous to find himself right beside the Basilisk, which was dozing on a sunny grassy knoll in the middle of a rich lush meadow.

A cool breeze blew against Harry's face. Sunshine was warm against his skin.

... This is the inside of the statue, he realized with difficulty.

Erul! Another spell was cast, and Harry wondered what it did. He soon found his answer when he heard squeaking. Mice and rats appeared in scores. Harry decided they were real and not conjured. Erul. He recalled. He had learned about the charm in Flitwick's class. It was used to lure rodents to traps, and Harry surmised that Salazar cast the spell on the statue so that the Basilisk inside wouldn't die of hunger.

Suddenly, it made sense to Harry why Tom Riddle had been upset that he could only command the Basilisk. Fantastic as the King of Serpents was, it was far too easily obtainable. Simply place a chicken egg underneath a toad. Hatch it, and you have a Basilisk. It was easy to be rid of as well, since all that was needed to kill it was the crowing of a rooster. A chicken could kill it.

As Harry watched the Basilisk lazing in the sunshine, it occurred to him why Godric and Salazar had picked an underground chamber to breed Basilisks. No chickens down here.

Then, he heard Godric's voice.

Salazar.

Go away, Godric.

Harry turned to the direction from which the voices were coming, but could only see a far away horizon and white clouds rolling by in the endless blue sky.

"You are leaving Hogwarts." Godric's voice was faint with alarm.

"Not only I. I am taking my Slytherins with me. We can no longer stay here."

"You cannot just give up Hogwarts."

"I did not give up the school. You made it clear you prefer Muggles over my counsel."

Godric turned angry. "You nearly killed him, Salazar!"

"He cast Ignis at me, Godric, and Effran will be bedridden for months for pushing me out of harm's way. I will not tolerate my students' lives in danger!"

"... He has been expelled."

"And the others?"

"They are staying."

"Then, I am leaving."

"Salazar-"

"No, Godric. I will not make compromises. If Effran had died, I would have petrified the lot of them."

"It is not right to judge one Muggle-born as the standard for the rest."

"It is just not one Muggle! They are weak-willed and envious of our powers. Muggles and wizards cannot coexist, Godric!"

"Listen to yourself! You speak as though the Muggle-borns we accept into Hogwarts cannot perform magic. They can, Salazar. You know that."

"They can do magic, because we teach them how."

"You are talking nonsense! They have magic as well. We cannot rightly ignore their potential."

"Salazar sneered, Is the Light so afraid of the Dark that they must recruit Mudbloods to fill in their ranks?"

"... Never say that word again, Salazar." Godric's tone was frozen.

Hearing the tension and anger so clear in their words, Harry was surprised when the argument didn't continue. Instead, Salazar's next statement was said softly as though he feared reprisal from Godric yet there was a clear steely steadiness in his words, and Harry knew Salazar wasn't afraid of the other wizard. Rather, he sounded as though he didn't want to hurt Godric.

"I am leaving tonight for Hierthent, Godric."

"... Salazar." There was anguish in Godric's voice.

Difficulty made Salazar's tone rough. "I received an message from them. ... They offer a place for my students."

"You know they only want your Slytherins, Salazar."

"I know. However, I am certain they will be safe in Hierthent even without me with them."

"... Your Slytherins will always have a place in Hogwarts, Salazar."

"Even if I leave?" Salazar's voice had turned dry with amusement.

"We do not want you to leave, Salazar. Please reconsider."

"I cannot stay, Godric. After what had transpired above, my remaining at Hogwarts will do us both injustice. The families of my students expect me to rid Hogwarts of all Muggle-borns. While you are expected to protect said Muggle-borns from Lord Slytherin and his Dark magic-practicing pupils."

Godric sounded exasperated. "I do not care what they think."

"Sooner or later, one of us will have to give way to the other, Godric," said Salazar somberly.

"... We could limit the number of Muggle-borns attending Hogwarts," Godric suggested hesitantly.

There was amusement from Salazar. "Compromises again," he said with a chuckle. "You, Light wizards, are such diplomats."

"It is the only way we can coexist with stubborn Dark wizards," said Godric wisely, and he added hopefully, "Will you reconsider now, Salazar?"

"... Perhaps," said Salazar slowly. Harry smiled at the light relief underlying the single word. He could just imagine Godric smiling as well. Then, Salazar turned serious again. "However, I still must go to Hierthent tonight. To be absent would be too great an insult."

"Yes, of course," agreed Godric. "They did lower their pride quite a bit to send word to you."

"Yes," murmured Salazar, sounding regretful. "I have no desire to cause an increase of their hatred towards me and to Hogwarts."

Again, all turned dark around Harry, but only for an instant. When sight returned, he was still standing in the meadow, and the Basilisk still sleeping nearby. Harry heard muttering. Frowning, he strained his ears to decipher words from the low jumbled jabbering, but it proved to difficult to make sense of it. He couldn't even identify who was making the noise.

Next, he heard someone running and Godric shouting furiously.

"You murdered them!"

There was a cold command from Salazar. "Leave." Harry backed away, utterly bewildered. Another voice shouted.

"Salazar, you bastard!" Helga sounded close to tears, her voice shook with fury. "How could you?!"

"... I had to do it."

"Salazar-" Rowena broke off unsteadily. There was only silence until Godric's tightly controlled request.

"Leave, Salazar. You cannot stay here, and we will not allow you to take your students with you. How can we trust you with their lives after what you have done?"

There was a soft chuckle from Salazar. "You should be pleased. Hogwarts is safer without them."

"We do not condone murder!" Helga shrieked. There was a sharp sound of something hitting the floor, rushing feet-

"Crucio!"

A scream tore from Helga. Harry heard her fall with something else hitting the ground with a clacking sound.

"Helga!" Again, the sound of soles striking stone. Harry could only assume Rowena was running to Helga's aid.

"Expelliarmus!" Godric yelled, but it sounded as though the spell had failed.

Helga coughed weakly, "The Hawthorn Charm..."

Again Salazar laughed. "I should thank you, Helga. It is indeed a most useful charm."

"... What do you want, Salazar?" Rowena asked.

"Can you not read my mind?"

Godric interrupted them angrily, "You are not staying in Hogwarts!"

"You'll have to kill me if you want me to leave," said Salazar silkily. Harry couldn't hear the others' reactions to this declaration as the Dark wizard's voice overrode them.

"If you don't stop me, I will destroy Hogwarts. I will kill all your precious students. I will burn this castle to the ground."

"Why you," Helga hissed, enraged. Rowena shouted, "Helga, wait!"

"Arretas!" screamed Helga, and what felt like a boulder struck the statue where the Basilisk was concealed inside as well as Harry. The ground shook underneath Harry's feet. Pieces of stone began raining down from above. They passed through Harry as the top of the statue collapsed down into itself. He heard a hiss of pain and turned to see the Basilisk disappearing, being buried underneath a pile of debris.

One blink, and Harry found himself staring at Draco's shoes. He looked up to see the other boy with a shaken expression on his pale face. They were back in the center of the chamber and surrounded by the creature. Harry turned from Draco to Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick. They were dazed, and Harry knew they must had seen and heard the same things as he did.

Then, he looked over to Godric, Rowena and Helga. What he saw in their faces confirmed his worst fears.

Take my Slytherins to Hierthent. It was only a single soft hiss from Salazar, and the creature reacted with fluid instance. The true Serpent of Slytherin burst from a single mass to countless wriggling small snakes, which flitted towards the chamber entrance, draining into it like a flowing stream.

One of the serpents glided towards Draco, and before anyone could react, it wound itself around the boy's leg. There was only a startled cry from Draco before he disappeared.

Distracted, Harry didn't see the moment when Salazar and Voldemort vanished as well as every serpent in the chamber from the stone carvings running about the pillars to the emerald-eyed pair on the door.

To be continued...

Writers eat reviews. So. Feeeeeed me. Thank you.

Many thanks to the lovely people who left reviews for Chapter 35: Part Two on my HnH story board, FF.net and by email.

FF reviewers: Mayleesa (Thank you. ^^), Taracollowen (I'm happy with the Snape bit too. ::hugs Snape plushie::), Silverfox (You think Godric is always childish? Darn it... It's hard to make him not look stupid. ;-: Lucius wants to get rid of Voldemort, but right now, he has to follow Voldemort's orders.), krissy 2x (Yes, I know. HnH is becoming Slytherin-centric, but Harry is still the main character. Draco is the Head of Hierthent, not Lucius. What made you thought Lucius is?) (The masters are Salazar and Godric.), annakas (Both Lucius and Draco have chairs.), Saerry Snape (Thank you. ^^), Ariana Deralte (Snakes are cool creatures.), MiniMe (Wow... It's been a long while since I've received such a long review for HnH. ^__^ Thank you very much for the rant.), GAKED (Hey there, Gaked. Here's the MORE you asked, and I hope to hear MORE from you. ::grins::), Cailian13 aka Lauren (This Tom is Voldemort, not the Diary Tom Riddle. I'll be careful.), shing (I'm happy you think it's different.), Stacey (Thank you. ^^), Sara the Green Witch (Here's the next chapter, and I hope you're well.), Lestat's Redemption (I'm glad you like the name, and did you get my email?), lynn (Thank you. ^^) & hyper kitty (Thank you, and I hope you got the email update.)