Title: Blood

Author: Artemis Luna Diana

E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com

Rating: R (eventual NC-17)

Pairing: HP/SS

Disclaimer: I own not a thing. 

Summary:  Thrust into the distant past and turned into a vampire against his will, Harry struggles to understand what he has become and tries to fill his one desire: to get home.

WARNING!!!!

THIS STORY CONTAINS ELEMENTS OF SLASH!!!!

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT OR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!

Thanks to: snapeysnapesnape for the excellent beta.

Chapter Five: Tainted Blood

Harry watched, partly astonished and partly amused, as one of the more infamous wizards in history beat his victim into a bloody pulp and then stumbled from the tavern.  Harry got up and followed.  He concealed a smile as Slytherin staggered to a horse trough and submersed his head into the water. 

Slytherin soon came up for air, shoving his hair out of his face.  Harry cleared his throat, and Slytherin turned, seeing him for the first time.

Harry studied the "fearsome" Salazar Slytherin with an amused smile threatening to break free.  His black hair was wet from his dunking and plastered to his head.  It appeared as though when dry, the hair stopped just beyond his cheekbones.  A cut above his right eye was bleeding, one of his souvenirs from the brawl.  More blood trickled down his chin from a split lip.

"What do you want, kid?" Slytherin snarled.  "I'm not too drunk to grind you into dust."

"I was just curious as to why the 'Great' Salazar Slytherin was using his fists instead of his wand?"

Slytherin paled, and his skin seemed to take on a greenish tinge.  "Go away, boy.  Leave me in peace."  He turned away from Harry and stumbled down the lane, heading out of town.

Harry frowned.  That was not what he had been expecting.  Using his familiar's magic, he cast an invisibility spell and a silencing spell on himself and followed after the future founder of Hogwarts.

Slytherin fell into a drunker slumber under a tree a few meters beyond the edge of town.  Harry stared at the still form pensively with his hands fisted in his pockets.  He stood watching the sleeping man for nearly an hour before finally coming to a decision.  He reached forward and touched Slytherin's chest.  A soft pop sounded where the two men had been.

***

Harry heard a groan sound from the receiving room and left his office.  He entered the room and found Slytherin trying to sit up from where Harry had laid him on the chaise lounge.  Harry picked up a flask from one of the tables and walked over to the hung-over wizard.

"Drink this."

Slytherin stared at the flask for a moment before groggily accepting it and downing the contents.  Harry frowned.  He had expected much more of a battle to get Slytherin to drink the remedy.

"Where am I?" Slytherin asked as his head began to clear.  He took a long look at Harry before recognizing him.  "You're that boy from last night!"  He stumbled to his feet.  "You tell Rowena to stop sending people after me!  I'm never going back!  I've given up magic!  All of you leave me alone!"  He pushed past Harry and left the room.

Harry rubbed his temples.  "This.  Is.  Not.  Happening.  This.  Is.  A.  Dream."  He turned around and looked out into the corridor where Slytherin had gone.  "Shit."  He ran after the idiot wizard.  'Everyone, we have a wizard running around the lower levels of the coven.  If you see him, let me know, but under no circumstances are you to injure or kill him.'

Harry rolled his eyes as he felt the amusement of his people touch his mind.  He felt one of his younger charges brush his mind and accepted the vampire's thoughts. 

'Can we scare him a bit?'

'No, he is to remain safe in every sense,' Harry replied, his lips twitching in amusement.

'Rats….'

Harry closed the connection and felt another touch.  'Yes?'

'He's wandered into the cavern, but hasn't crossed to the Isle of the Dead.'

'I'm on my way.'

Harry turned around and headed back down into the coven.  Slytherin truly was young; you'd think the man would have the sense to head up to the surface and not go farther down in the ground.

Harry entered the cavern and found Slytherin staring out at the Isle of the Dead from the shore near the crystal bridge.  He walked over to him, stopping just before reaching him.  Slytherin turned and saw him.

"What is this place?" he asked in a hushed whisper, as if speaking any louder would damage it beyond repair.

"That is the Isle of the Dead," Harry replied.  His voice was soft, but he was not whispering. 

"Where am I?"  Slytherin was no longer whispering, but his voice was still somewhat muted.  He had turned back towards the island.  "Am I dead?"

"You are in the Coven of the Vampires, and no, you are not dead."

Slytherin froze and turned around.  "You are a vampire?"

"Yes."

"Did you bring me here to drink my blood?  To kill me?  Did Aberon hire you to do it?" Slytherin demanded.

"I am not a mercenary; I do not kill for hire.  And no, I did not bring you here to feed off of you or to have any other vampire feed off of you.  You are here because you were so drunk you fell asleep on the edge of a town where you beat up one of its citizens.  If any of the townspeople had found you, they'd have killed you."

"What do you care if I live or die?" Slytherin sneered.

"Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping you alive for at least a few more decades."

"Why?" Slytherin demanded.

"It's not your concern at this moment.  Why do you want to die, and why have you given up your magic?"  Harry asked, effectively changing the subject.

Slytherin paled and then grew angry.  "Why do you ask me that!  If you know who I am, then you already know what happened to me!  Why do you insist upon making me tell you when you already know!"

"Just because I know who you are, and that I want to keep you alive, doesn't mean that I know anything else about you.  So I'd like it if you could tell me what happened to you.  I know you're a powerful wizard, one who could have a great future in magic.  Why have you given it up?  As a fellow wizard, it is my right to know why our community must suffer the loss of such a wizard!"

"Your right?!" Slytherin sputtered.  "You have a right to know my pain?!  My suffering?!  You have no such right!"

"You will tell me what happened, Salazar Slytherin, or by Merlin you will regret the day you crossed my path," Harry replied coldly and firmly.

Slytherin blanched and seemed to collapse in on himself.  "My pain is my own," he pleaded softly.

Harry sighed inaudibly.  "Come with me," he said and walked to the crystal bridge.  He stopped and looked back at Slytherin.  He hadn't moved.  "Come on, Slytherin.  The bridge will not collapse as you cross, and you will not die by stepping on the island."

"How do you know?" Slytherin asked, his emotions forgotten in his sudden fear.

"This bridge has been here for almost a thousand years."

"All the more reason not to walk on it."

"And, I know you won't die when you step on the island because I created it, as well as the bridge.  Come on."  Harry stepped on to the bridge and began walking across.  He heard Slytherin walk to the bridge and then pause.  "Now, Slytherin."  Harry heard him take his first hesitant steps across, before slowly speeding up.  He caught up with Harry by the time he reached the opposite shore.  "Welcome to the Isle of the Dead, Salazar Slytherin."

The Isle of the Dead had changed greatly since Harry had first created it.  Its original intention was to be the final resting-place for the leaders of the coven.  However, Harry's long rule had changed that.  No one had expected for Harry to live as long as he had, or any of the other vampires to live as long as they had.  Now the island also housed the remains of the fallen heroes of the coven.  It was and still is considered a great honor to lie beside the leaders of the vampires after death has come.  A vampire goes into battle hoping that if they should die, that they will have earned the right to rest beside Princess Olivia, Rector Lamia Alcoyne, Rector Lamia Eric, and the shrine of Rector Lamia Quentin.

"It's a tomb… you bury your dead?" Slytherin asked astonished.

"We bury and burn our dead.  The more important or significant your accomplishment, the more likely you are to be buried.  If you are an… I hate to use the word average, but… well, I guess normal? vampire, you are burned.  Only our leaders and our heroes are buried."  Harry put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.  "Over a thousand years worth of history is on this island.  Come on, I have some things to show you."

Slytherin followed Harry over to a large shrine.  An image of a man wielding a large battle axe was carved into a stone that stood as tall as two men.  On either side of the image were torches.  The flickering flames caused light to dance over the image in such a way so the man appeared to be moving.  Below the image, in three languages, was the name 'Rector Lamia Quentin.'  Below the name were the dates: 523 B.C. – 312 B.C.

"This is a shrine to my Sire, the vampire that turned me," Harry said softly.

"He died in 312 B.C.?" Slytherin asked astonished.  "That means that you would have to be—"

"I'm 1,381," Harry interrupted.  He then gave a wry smile.  "I've just had a birthday."

"Are all vampires as old as you?"

"No, though there are quite a few.  High Priestess Rachael is the oldest vampire in the coven.  She's 1,424, and it goes down from there.  We had a baby born yesterday, and we're expecting two more by the end of the month."

"Baby?  You turn babies?" Slytherin asked horrified.

"Vampire-born not turned.  A seventeen-year-old human was turned two weeks ago.  He's the youngest turned vampire we have at the moment."

"Oh."  Slytherin was silent a moment.  "Why are you showing me this?"

"You'll understand eventually.  For now, let me continue.  As I said, Quentin was my Sire.  He was killed in a great battle with the werewolves."

"So vampires and werewolves are natural enemies."

"Not natural enemies.  There was a time in which vampires and werewolves were friends, however, that is a story for another time.  When Quentin was killed, Rector Lamia Michael came into power.  He is not remembered on this island because of how he ruled."

"He was that bad at it?"

"He was evil."

"Oh."

"After Michael was killed in a vampire uprising, Rector Lamia Eric came into power.  His tomb is this way."  Harry led Slytherin to the two coffins where Eric and Alcoyne lay.

"Eric mated to Alcoyne, but was not faithful to her, so she killed him and the girl he slept with."

"Ouch."

"Alcoyne then became the Rector Lamia.  However, it was not a task that she wanted.  She gave up her position and her life to the next Rector Lamia.  She is buried beside the man she killed," he said indicating the coffin beside Eric's.

"I'm sure she'd be happy about that."

"She actually might be.  She did love Eric."

"A true tale of tragic love?"

"Exactly."

"So who was the next Rector Lamia; you didn't say."

"This way," Harry said and led him to Olivia's coffin.  "Rector Lamia Harry came into power after Alcoyne gave it up.  Like all the Rector Lamias before him, he was required to mate and produce an heir.  He chose a close friend."  Harry gestured to the coffin.  "Princess Olivia."  Harry fell silent and his hands fisted in his pockets.  "She had not even fully grown when he chose her." 

Harry turned and looked at Slytherin.  "What you have to understand first is that Olivia was a human-turned-vampire and her mate was a wizard-turned-vampire.  The magic that is required to produce a vampire child, plus the magic that was contained in her mate combined to create a child that was a very powerful witch.  The child's magic however was too much for Olivia's body to handle and rather than go insane from it, Olivia chose to end her own life after the baby was born."

"What did the Rector Lamia do?"

"What did he do?  He did the worst thing of all."

"What was that?"

"He lived."

Slytherin stared at Harry.  "You are Rector Lamia Harry."  It was not a question.

"Yes."  Harry took a step forward towards Slytherin.  "What I am trying to show you is that I have also faced great personal tragedy, and I've only shown you a little bit of it.  I can understand that you are in pain.  However, you have responsibilities, just as I have responsibilities.  I cannot give into my pain and my guilt because so many are depending upon me.  More than you could possibly know," he said, thinking of that far off future where Voldemort waited for him.  "Whether you know it or not, there are people depending upon you, and no matter how bad what happened to you was; you still must carry on."

"I was creating a potion," Slytherin said after a moment.  "It was going to be a great potion.  One that could re-grow bones."  Slytherin gave Harry a heartbreaking smile.  "It was just for a moment… I only left it… for a moment…" Slytherin fell silent.  "It exploded, violently.  It destroyed my entire home.  I barely got out, and once I did, I passed out.  The children were with their mentors, but… my wife… she…didn't make it.  They said she entered my lab just as it exploded.  There was no chance."

"Merlin," Harry cursed softly.  "Now, I begin to understand."

***

Harry sat in his office, his elbows resting on his desk, staring down at his hands, his fingers forming a steeple.  Slytherin was sleeping in Harry's room, and Harry was worrying.  What was the correct action to take?  Somehow Slytherin was going to come to grips with his wife's death, but was Harry a part of that?  If he erased Slytherin's memory and sent him to Rowena Ravenclaw, would the problem correct itself?  As much as the idea appealed to him, he knew it wouldn't work.  So, two options remained: either he was the reason that Slytherin eventually helped found Hogwarts, or Slytherin recovered on his own.

Harry propped his chin up on his left hand, and the fingers of his right hand began to tap on his desk.  It really made him nervous that Slytherin had decided to give up his magic.  He looked up at a light tapping sound on the wall.

"Rachael."

"Harry."

"What's going on?"

"I came to ask you.  You're leaking worry all over the place."

Harry sighed.  "Sorry."

"What's wrong?"

Harry was silent a moment, carefully thinking out his words.  "I am presented with two choices.  One choice could result in some bad things happening, but is a good choice in the long run.  The second choice could result in some very important things not happening, but it's unlikely that anything bad will happen in the near future.  However, if the second result occurs, in the long run, some very bad things could happen."

Rachael stared at him confused.  "That seems like a very obvious choice…."

"Ah, but here comes the good part.  I don't know which choice will end in which result."

"Okay, I'm getting a headache."  She rubbed her temples and sat down at the table.  "I'm assuming that you can't tell me any more than you have, correct?"

"Correct."

"Well, it seems that your only option is to choose the one that you believe will give the result you want.  In this situation all you have is your instincts."

"It does appear that way."

"This is about that wizard isn't it?"

"Yes."

"What are you going to do with him?  He is correct when he says that Rowena Ravenclaw is searching for him."

Harry smiled.  "You went looking for information after I told you who he was."

Rachael nodded primly.  "Well, I couldn't have an unknown wizard running around the coven could I?  What if he'd interfered in the children's lessons?"

Harry laughed softly.  "Thank you, Rachael."

Her expression softened.  "Anything for you, Harry."

"I'm going to take him to Shingu.  Ravenclaw will be hard pressed to find him there."

"And if she does find him there?  The wizards will learn of the second coven's existence."

"It was only a matter of time before they did learn of it.  I'm not worried about that.  I would be concerned only if word of the other covens spread."

"Do you trust this wizard not to reveal our secrets?"

Harry shook his head slightly.  "I honestly don't know.  He's nothing like what I expected."

"What did you expect?"

"For him to be similar to Rector Lamia Michael."

Rachael frowned.  "And yet you brought him here anyway?"

"Like I said, he's not what I expected."  Harry snorted.  "Sometimes, he'll say or do something that reminds me of Quentin…."

"If he is like Rector Lamia Quentin, then he is a good man."

"Yes, and I suppose that is what I am finding the hardest to come to grips with.  Salazar Slytherin is a good man?"

They were silent a moment before Rachael spoke again.  "So where is your better half?  I noticed she's not wrapped around your waist as usual."

"Yui is guarding the bedroom."  Harry laughed.  "Though I'm not sure if she wants to keep him from getting out or to keep the children from getting in."

Rachael laughed.  "She is a suspicious little thing, isn't she?"

"Little?  She'll have words with you for that!"

***

"Seven hundred and fifty some odd years ago, the vampires and the werewolves had their last great battle.  It ended in victory for the vampires, as it always did.  However, that time, it was decided to do everything possible to end the war.  We, the vampires, hunted down every royal werewolf and killed them.  Without the royals, the werewolves have no control over themselves.  With the collapse of the werewolves' society, we were left in peace.  Without battle to thin our numbers, our population grew.  It became necessary to form a second coven."

"That's where you are going to take me, isn't it?  Everyone thinks there is only one coven, but there are two."  Slytherin hurried after Harry.  The vampire was leading them deeper into the forest.

"Let me finish.  This all happened about 400 years ago, and at the same time we were looking for a place to begin a new coven, there was a minor war between some of the wizarding families."

"You're talking about the war between the McGonagalls and the Gryffindors."

"Exactly.  Several families were caught in the middle of the feud: the MacDougals, the Lunens, and the McDowells. They came to us for help, and we realized that this could be very beneficial.  We moved those who wanted to leave to Japan, where we already had very friendly relations with the few wizards that lived there.  We created a small town that consisted of an area above ground and one below."

"Wizards and vampires living together?"

"Not just wizards and vampires.  There are elves that live there, as well as a few veela.  They have had 400 years to learn to live together and to combine their strengths.  You will not find many forces greater than they."

"If wizards are there, how can I possibly go there and not be found?"

"Those wizards have different loyalties, Slytherin.  They will keep you secret.  Besides, not many even know of the town's existence."

"Wait a minute, what's this place called anyway?"

"Shingu,"  Harry paused.  "And Slytherin, I never said there were only two covens."

"Just how many are there?"

Harry smiled slyly.  "Enough for our purposes."  He glanced around.  "We're here."

"Where?"

Harry smiled.  "You're in the elves' land, Salazar Slytherin."

"Hello, Harry."

"Illiona."

Illiona kissed Harry's cheeks and then fixed her gaze on Slytherin.  "Walking with wizards again, Harry?" she asked, amused.

"Not just any wizard, Illiona, but Salazar Slytherin," Harry replied smirking.  He turned to Slytherin.  "Slytherin, meet Princess Illiona daughter of Aliras, Lord of the Elves.  Illiona meet Salazar Slytherin."

"An honor to meet you," Slytherin said in awe.

"A pleasure," Illiona replied.  "You've come to use the portal to Shingu?"

"Yes.  I'm taking Slytherin there."  Harry switched to elvish.  "I'm hoping that he will recover some of his spirit there.  He has sworn off magic."

Illiona frowned.  "He is important to your future, Harry.  I understand your concern.  I wish you luck."  She turned to Slytherin and smiled.  "Come, the portal is this way."

***

The town was built around the Kumano Hayatama Shrine, for which the town was named, Shingu meaning "new shrine."  The Kumano faith was popular with the Japanese wizards that lived in the town, and the Kumano Hayatama Shrine was one of the three centers of the Kumano faith.  Sometimes humans came on pilgrimages to the shrine; the citizens of the town let them come and go in peace.  Very rarely, some of the humans wanted to stay.  If it was possible to turn them, they were.  If it was not possible to turn them, spells were cast to make them leave.  To the humans, Shingu was a normal town, but hidden behind the veil was a world they could barely imagine.

"It looks so normal…." Slytherin murmured.

Harry smiled and drew his wand.  "Yes, it looks normal at the moment." 

Slytherin stared as Harry spoke words in a language unfamiliar to him.  There was a flash of light, and he was forced to cover his eyes.  When he finally dropped his hands, he found himself speechless.

"The crystal spires are a veela creation," Harry said glancing around with a proud smile.  "The main library is an elvish contribution.  The vampires created the underground area as well as the training centers above ground.  The wizards created everything else."

"It really is the home of many species."

"Yes, and because of that, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen."  He gave a wry smile.  "And I've been around long enough to see many beautiful things."

***

{1 year later – 1001 AD}

Harry stepped through the portal to Shingu and began walking towards the town, its crystal spires beckoning him forward.  He was greeted with enthusiastic yells and hugs from his people and welcoming smiles from the rest of the populace; it had been nearly three months since he had last been to the town.  After promising to speak to them later, he broke away in search of his ward: Salazar Slytherin.

Harry found him in one of the training centers practicing his swordsmanship.  Slytherin had improved greatly since he had come to Shingu, in more ways than one.  Only a few weeks before, Harry had been given word that Slytherin had resumed using his magic, though not to the extent he had before.  The death of his wife had made him extremely cautious.  He actively tried to improve his physical strength and defense, and although he was not the greatest swordsman to ever live, he was certainly above average with the blade. 

Harry watched until Slytherin's sparring match was finished, then stepped forward allowing Slytherin and the elf training him to realize he was present.  Slytherin grinned upon spotting him.

"Harry!  You're back!"

Harry smiled slightly.  He had chosen to remain in Shingu for the first five months that Slytherin had been in the town.  Harry had worked with him, trained with him, and talked with him, sharing parts of his past that few knew about.  They had become cautious friends.  Harry had left, however, his responsibilities calling him back to England and then to Egypt before he was able to return to Shingu.  He hadn't been able to stay long before he was called away again, to Italy: the home of the newest coven.  He spent three months in Italy trying to iron out the problems associated with creating a new coven.  Truly, he should still be there, but he had received word from Rachael that the search for Slytherin had intensified.  Ravenclaw had plans for making a school and was determined her wayward friend would assist.  Harry now had the task of convincing Slytherin to found Hogwarts.

"Salazar, your skill has improved since I last saw you.  Congratulations."

"Thank you, I've been working hard at it."

"I can tell."  Harry paused before beckoning Slytherin to him.  "Walk with me; there is something we must discuss."

Slytherin put away his blade, thanked his instructor and joined Harry.  Harry nodded in acknowledgement to the elf, who nodded back.  Harry and Slytherin retreated to one of the smaller rooms in the training center to talk in private.

"Is something wrong?" Slytherin asked quietly after Harry had closed the door behind them.

"Perhaps."

Slytherin sat down and stared worriedly at Harry.  "Perhaps?"

"Ravenclaw has intensified her search for you."

"Can she find me?"

"No, I don't believe so."

"Then what's the problem?"

"It's her reason for searching for you."

"Are my children alright?" he asked frightened.

"Yes.  They're with their mentors.  They're fine."

Slytherin breathed a sigh of relief.  "Then why is she trying so hard to find me?"

"She needs your help."

"Rowena Ravenclaw needs my help?" Slytherin asked astonished.

"Don't sound so surprised, Salazar.  You are England's greatest Potions Master and you have a formidable knowledge of ancient magic that is well known."

"I only know a small amount," he protested.

"It is more than most wizards, and you have increased the knowledge during your stay here.  You are a valuable asset to the wizarding world."

Slytherin was silent a moment.  "So what does she need my help with?"

"She wants to create a magic school."

Slytherin thought for a moment.  "There are a great deal of advantages to passing on knowledge to the younger generations that way, instead of the mentor-protégé system."  He paused.  "What does she need me for?"

"She wants you to assist in the school's creation as well as to teach there once the school has been built."

"Me?  A teacher?  She's lost her mind!"

Harry chuckled.  "You don't give yourself enough credit Salazar."  Harry stood.  "Come, I've given you much to think about, and there are things that must be done before the day is over."

***

Harry spent the next few hours discussing the status of the town and the concerns of the populace with Shingu's council.  As it had for the past two-hundred years, the town was running smoothly.  It had been a long time since there had been a conflict among the citizens.  After the meetings were over, Harry went to the house the citizens kept for him.  Slytherin was waiting for him there.

"Harry," he said once the vampire had seated himself.  "I don't know if I'm ready to go back."

"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.  "You have recovered much of your spirit since you came here.  It seems as though you've begun the healing process.  Is there something you haven't told me?"

"No, it's just…."

They sat in silence as Slytherin tried to formulate his thoughts.  "I think I understand," Harry said after awhile.  "You are afraid of how you might react, seeing the people that you knew before the accident, seeing things that remind you of your wife, seeing your children."

"I abandoned them."

"Yes, I suppose you did.  However, you did not leave them to fend for themselves.  You did make sure that they were cared for."

"I still left them."

"Yes.  That day they lost their mother and their father."  Harry paused before continuing.  "They can get their father back, though.  If you return, they will have their father back."

"It can't be like it was."

"No.  They have lost their trust in you.  You will have to earn it back."

"I don't think there is anything I could do to make up for leaving them."

"Perhaps not, however, it is their choice to forgive you; if you allow them to make it."

Slytherin remained silent.  Harry stood and placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.  "Get some sleep, Salazar.  Things should look better in the morning."

Slytherin gave a slight smile.  "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Slytherin did not bring up Ravenclaw or her school until two days later.  He had decided to return to the wizarding world; it was time to face his demons.

"I could use some company," Slytherin said.

"I will go with you," Harry replied.

***

"Rowena, we are wasting time.  Your friend has disappeared.  Choose someone else to be the fourth."

The dark-haired woman glared at the red-headed man.  "Godric," she snapped.  "When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."

"Will you both stop your bickering," their companion broke in.  She was a short woman with graying blond hair.

"Helga, I don't know how I let you convince me that he was worthy of this task," Rowena Ravenclaw said lowly.  "But if he challenges me one more time, I guarantee he will not live to see the next day."  She pushed past her friend, ignoring the man she had fought with.

"Godric, will you please stop provoking her?" Helga Hufflepuff pleaded.  "She chose Slytherin first, and it took a lot of convincing as well as a little begging to persuade her to choose you as her fourth.  Please, I really want you to be a part of this."

"We are wasting time," Godric Gryffindor snapped.

"We aren't on a schedule, Godric.  Your impatience could ruin this project."

"Just because her little friend has gone missing, we have to wait around, kicking our heels.  I have better things to do with my time."  Godric stomped off in the opposite direction of Ravenclaw.

Hufflepuff sat down on the ground.  They had been working on clearing the land for the school when Gryffindor had begun his fight with Ravenclaw.  Their fights were beginning to get out of hand.  If Slytherin wasn't found soon, the school was going to die an early death.

***

Harry and Slytherin watched from the shadows as the three founders argued.  "It seems that not all is well with your co-founders, Salazar.  I do not have to be a seer to know that there is trouble ahead."

"I'm already beginning to regret my decision," Slytherin mumbled.

Harry chuckled.  "Well, how do you want to do this?"

"I've no idea.  I'm open to suggestions."

"Do it while they're all together.  It will be easier to cope with Rowena's reactions if there are others about."

"Then that means we wait."

"The question is, how long will it take before they get over their snit?"

Slytherin snorted, trying not to laugh.

"Come on, we need to go where we can see their camp," Harry said, leading the way.

***

It was three hours later before the two fuming founders returned to camp.  Hufflepuff had two house-elves busy making their supper.  The tension between the three was glaringly obvious. 

"I think now would be a good time to approach them," Harry said.  "If we wait any longer, they'll begin fighting again."

"Right," Slytherin said.  He took a deep breath and held it.  He released it on a heavy sigh.  "Let's go."

***

Ravenclaw glared at her stew.  Her temper was beginning to flare again, just from being in Gryffindor's presence.

"I hear you've been searching for me, Rowena Ravenclaw."

Ravenclaw's spoon dropped into her bowl at the sound of the familiar voice.  She looked up, a happy smile lighting her face.  "Salazar!"  She jumped up and ran to embrace him.  "Oh, my friend, I've been looking for you everywhere!  Where have you been?"

"With friends," he replied enigmatically. 

Ravenclaw noticed the boy.  "You've taken an apprentice?" she asked astonished.

Slytherin laughed and Harry gave him an amused smile.  "No, I've taken on a Master."

"What?" Ravenclaw asked confused.

"Rowena Ravenclaw, meet Rector Lamia Harry."

"A vampire!" Hufflepuff yelped.

Ravenclaw turned, remembering her companions for the first time since seeing Slytherin.  She turned back to Slytherin and stepped away from him slightly.  "Have you been turned?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion.

Slytherin frowned slightly.  "No, I have not."  He glanced at Harry, who seemed even more amused at the turn of events.

"Salazar," he said, his voice thick with suppressed laughter.  "You forget your own reaction to me.  Wizards tell many tales of wicked vampires; you should not forget such things.  Vampires are not welcome in most circles."  Harry turned to Ravenclaw.  "Be grateful young witch that I do not consider you a threat to my people.  You did not think to ask if the land you are clearing belonged to anyone.  Your school will sit on vampire and elvish lands."

Ravenclaw looked horrified, as did her two companions.

"Your school shall have our protection," Harry continued.  He turned to Slytherin.  "I have delivered you into Ravenclaw's hands, my friend, and now I must go."

"No rest for the wicked?" Slytherin teased.

Harry smiled.  "You know how to find me." He nodded to the other founders and turned to leave.

"Will you be stopping by anytime?" Slytherin called out.

Harry stopped and turned back.  "If you wish it."

"I do."

"Then I look forward to seeing the progress of the school, Salazar."

***

{2 years later – 1003 AD}

Harry walked up to the gates of the school and remembered his younger days.  The castle was just how he remembered it.  He had kept his word and stopped by the school occasionally during the building process, but he gave no comments on design nor did he go up to the actual site.  Slytherin had been confused by his reluctance to see the school, yet he still asked him to come today, and Harry had accepted.  Today, the final spells would be set into place and the school would finally be complete. 

"Is it how you remember it?"

Harry turned.  "Illiona… what are you doing here?"

"The final spells will be cast today.  I summoned Fleur as well.  We will all assist in the protection of the school, and the spells will hold through all the trials that are yet to come."  She gave a challenging smile.  "I hope you are prepared."

Harry smirked.  "I'm ready for whatever is to come."

"When are you not, Harry?"

Harry smiled at the blue-headed veela queen.  "Your Majesty," he gave a slightly mocking bow.  "A pleasure to see you again."

Fleur returned his bow with a curtsy in the same attitude as his bow.  "Rector Lamia, you're a hard man to find this century."

Harry laughed and embraced his veela friend.  "I've missed seeing your captivating face these past few decades."

"Then perhaps you should come and visit your friends once and awhile, instead of waiting for council meetings," her voice while teasing, held a bit of reproach.

Harry turned serious.  "There are things beginning that worry me and too many choices to make without any assurances that they are right."

Fleur frowned.  "When you worry, Harry, I worry.  I only hope that we worry for no reason."

"I'm afraid that is an impossible hope, Fleur," Illiona said.  "The Waters of Raveya show a war is coming, and we will all be caught up in it.  After the spells are set, we should go to Raveya to discuss a plan of action.  I'm not sure how much time we will have."

"This school will be a focal point in the war?" Fleur asked gesturing towards Hogwarts.

"Yes.  Which is why it is important that we all participate in creating the final spells," Illiona replied.

"Then we should head on up before they begin without us," Harry said quietly.  "There are many spells to cast."

***

The four founders were gathered in the Great Hall.  They stood in a circle, ready to begin casting.  Fleur, Illiona, and Harry entered the hall unnoticed.  "They haven't begun yet," Fleur said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Stop!" Harry commanded.

The four founders turned at the sudden shout.  "What the hell is going on," Gryffindor demanded.

"Harry, you came!" Slytherin replied, happy to see his friend.

"Rector Lamia," Ravenclaw acknowledged warmly.  She was not as close to him as Slytherin was – there simply hadn't been enough time or opportunities for that – but she did respect him and trusted that he was looking out for the school and Slytherin's best interests. 

"What are you doing here?" Hufflepuff cried, outraged.  "And how dare you invite him!" she snapped at Slytherin.  "This is a sacred day!  How dare you interfere in the final casting!"

"We are not here to interfere," Harry replied.  Hufflepuff could not get beyond her prejudice against vampires to hold a civil conversation with him, much less trust that he wasn't here to harm the future of the school.  "We are here to assist."

"Who are your friends?" Ravenclaw asked.

"Salazar, you remember Illiona?" Harry asked.

"Yes.  She is the elvish princess.  The only daughter of Aliras, Lord of the Elves," Slytherin replied.

Harry nodded.  "And this is Fleur, Queen of the Veela."

Fleur smirked at Harry.  "With our assistance, including the Rector Lamia, there is no force that could break through the wards set on the school."

"The school will have the most protection we can give," Illiona confirmed.

"There is much depending on this school," Harry added quietly.

Ravenclaw and Slytherin were both worried at the seriousness of their guests, while Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were infuriated that these other species would dare to intrude on a day of final casting.

Harry, Illiona, and Fleur joined the founders circle.  "It is unfortunate that there is not a royal werewolf to complete the circle," Illiona remarked.

Harry gave her a hard look, but Fleur spoke before he could respond.

"You're baiting him, Illiona," she said, her voice hard.  "Stop it."

Illiona turned to Harry, inclining her head slightly in apology.  "I apologize, Harry.  I wasn't thinking."

"Should I summon a fourth?" Harry asked, ignoring her apology.  Illiona had done that on purpose, the question was why.

"No.  This circle shall suffice."

Gryffindor and Hufflepuff turned angry eyes on their co-founders.  "We accept your assistance graciously," Ravenclaw said before either could protest.  "On this day of final casting, we shall act as one and our will shall form the heart of this place."

"Thank you for your welcoming," Illiona replied.  "Let us begin."

***

{2 years later – 1005 AD}

In the two years since the final casting at Hogwarts, Illiona, Fleur, and Harry had spent much time strategizing for the coming war.  Of the three of them, only Illiona had returned to Hogwarts since the final casting, and only to check on the status of the wards.  All three, however, were now traveling to Hogwarts.  It was time for a council meeting, and Hogwarts had been chosen as the meeting grounds.

It seemed as though it had become a Snape tradition to be chosen as the wizarding representative.  More often than not, a member of that family was sent to the council.  This time it was an older man named Tobias Snape.

The four spent three days discussing the troubles of the magical world, and on that last day, Illiona set forth a motion to begin the concealment of the magical world from the humans – or Muggles as the wizards referred to them.  Harry and Fleur both agreed immediately.  With three of the council for the action, Tobias Snape was forced to agree to the proposed restrictions.  Magic would eventually become myth and legend to the humans.

As they were leaving Hogwarts, Harry saw something that sent a chill down his spine.  He saw the seeds of the true dissension between Gryffindor and Slytherin planted.  On the top-most tower, he saw two figures locked in a heated embrace.  He felt a pain in his heart for his friend; it seemed Slytherin was doomed to have relationships which ended in disaster.  It felt cold to think it, but he hoped that at least it would last through the war.  If Slytherin and Gryffindor fall apart before the war ended, there would be many more lives lost. 

Harry sighed.  "I am sorry, my friend.  I can not save you from your fate."

***

{2 years later – 1007 AD}

"We know a Dark Lord is rising," Harry said, staring pensively at the table in front of him.  "However, we don't know who it is or his goals."

"Are we sure it's a he?" Slytherin asked.

"Yes."  Harry paused.  "The logical thing to do is to prepare for the worst."

"How would you suggest we do that?"

"All I can think of is to cast more spells.  It is imperative that should the school come under attack that the children are safe."

"Well what about building a hidden room in the school?" Slytherin suggested.  "If no one knows about it until the attack, then we could move the students there and hide them without anyone knowing their location."

Harry stared at Slytherin, his mouth slightly open in surprise.

"Sort of like a chamber of secrets," Slytherin continued, not noticing Harry's reaction.

"Yes," Harry said after a moment.  "That might be wise."  He hesitated.  "Salazar, you mustn't tell anyone we are doing this and the entrance must be well guarded and a password carefully chosen.  We can't allow an accidental discovery."

"So we'll use something in Parselmouth," Slytherin replied with a shrug.  "But, I think it would be alright to tell Godric, Rowena, and Helga what we're doing."

"No.  The less that know, the better."

Slytherin frowned but nodded.  He hesitated a moment before speaking again.  "You don't like Godric do you?"

Harry stared at Slytherin, trying to come up with the right words.  Finally he settled on the simplest ones.  "No.  I don't."

"Why not?  He's a wonderful man, Harry.  I'd really like it if you could be friends."

Harry sighed.  "That is not possible, Salazar.  He does not trust me, and I do not trust him.  I'm sorry."

"Harry…" Slytherin rested his head in his hands a moment then looked up at Harry.  "Harry, I think I'm falling in love with him.  It's been so long since I felt this way; I never thought I could again."

Harry could not meet his gaze.  At this moment, he could end Slytherin and Gryffindor's relationship with a few well-chosen words, or he could tell Slytherin that love conquers all, which he knew was a lie in this case.  "Salazar, I wish I could say I was happy for you.  I can't.  I can only wish you luck because I can only see this ending badly.  I pray I am wrong, for your sake." 

Harry stood.  He had remained neutral, neither supportive nor unsupportive.  "I will be here if you need me."  Harry started to leave the room, but paused in the doorway and looked back.  "Let me know when you're ready to begin creating the chamber."

***

{9 years later – 1016 AD}

The first major attack by the new Dark Lord left no doubt in anyone's mind that a serious problem had developed.  There were few places more important to wizards than Stonehenge and on midsummer night, the followers of the Dark Lord attacked those that had gathered to celebrate.  Over three hundred men, women, and children had come to watch the casting of some of the Great Spells.  The Dark Lord slaughtered them all.  No one survived the massacre.

The war had begun.

***

{8 years later – 1024 AD}

The warriors for the side of light yelled and screamed their agreement to Godric Gryffindor's speech.  The final battle was at hand.  They stood on the battlements and on the lawn of Hogwarts, waiting for Aberon's attack: his last desperate attempt to seize control of the wizarding world. 

Harry leaned up against the wall near the doors to the school.  Beside him stood Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Illiona, Rachael, and Lily.  They would be directing the forces on the ground while Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Skya, Jason, and Fleur would direct those on the battlements.

Harry straightened and looked out towards the lake.  "They're coming.  They've just apparated onto vampire lands.  The scouts have spotted them."

"How many?" Ravenclaw asked.

"Over three hundred… and more are still coming," Harry replied.

"How?  I thought we'd decimated his forces at the last encounter.  All reports said he was down to just under one hundred," Slytherin asked.

"He's recruited some werewolves," Harry said and a smile began to stretch across his face. 

"How lovely," Rachael agreed, her lips forming a similar smile. 

"I can barely remember the last time I killed a werewolf in battle," Lily added.  "I feel all tingly."

Harry laughed, as did Rachael.  Their friends however looked on with either expressions of resignation or shock.  The laughter died away as Harry gave another update.  "Four hundred and still counting."

"It can't only be werewolves that are filling his ranks," Illiona said.  "Where did he get his troops?"

Harry frowned.  "Some are humans.  He'll probably send them in as his first wave, trying to kill as many of us as he can before sending in his better troops."  Harry suddenly stiffened.  "They've portkeyed a giant in."

"What?!" The shouts came simultaneously from those around him.

"He was playing us," Harry realized.

"What do you mean?" Ravenclaw demanded.

"He made us think we had nearly defeated him when we did no such thing.  We were over-confident," Harry replied.

"But our spies…." Slytherin's voice trailed off.

"Are not our spies, but his."  Harry turned to Rachael.  "Find Nott and McAvery.  I want those traitors out of our ranks!"

"I'll go with you," Ravenclaw said, and the two women took off to find their betrayers.

"This will not be an easy battle," Harry said.  "Illiona, I want your group to concentrate on the giant.  Lily, you are responsible for the humans and the werewolves.  Salazar, our groups will handle the wizards.  Salazar and I will take Rowena's group, and Lily will take Rachael's.  Any questions?"  When no one said anything, Harry continued.  "Good.  Jason is keeping those above us informed of the situation.  They are ready to support us."

"Here they come!" the shout came from one of the wizards in Slytherin's group.

***

The battle was bloody and harsh.  In every other battle Harry had been in, magic hadn't been a factor.  In this battle, fought between two armies of wizards and their allies, magic was flying everywhere.  Shield spells were nearly useless.  With so much stray magic hitting them, the shields were collapsing under the strain.  The giant had crushed almost a fourth of their ground troops before being taken out by a combination of elvish and veela magic as well as a few carefully placed arrows. 

The humans had been sent in as shock troops and been slaughtered by the much more experienced vampires.  The werewolves were slightly harder to dispose of, but they had not been trained for battle as their ancestors had, and they also did not possess the ability to transform between wolf and man.  In that respect, Aberon had underestimated the abilities of the vampires. 

With his giant defeated and his physical troops destroyed, Aberon had only his wizards available to take the castle.  However, he had over two hundred of them and his spies had caused much damage before they were killed.  Rowena Ravenclaw was dead.

The battle lasted well into the night.  Aberon had made another mistake.  Vampires loved the night.  With a vampire assigned to each wizard, they were able to direct the spells to the correct targets.  The Dark Lord lost many troops before realizing that fighting in the dark against creatures of the night was unwise.  By then, though, it was too late.

The troops on the battlements had exchanged places with those on the ground to give them a semi-break from the fighting.  Godric Gryffindor was the man who finally was able to corner Aberon and deal the death-giving blow.  Those around the scene heard him hiss, "That was for Salazar, you bastard."

Not many people realized that Slytherin and Aberon knew each other very well.  Aberon was the brother of Slytherin's wife.  After his sister's death at the hands of her husband, Aberon vowed revenge.  No talk of accidents could sway him.  He'd tried hiring mercenaries to kill his brother-in-law, but each had failed.  Finally he decided to conquer the wizarding world and kill those that protected Slytherin as well as the man himself.  A Dark Lord had been born from the death of a much-loved sister.

When the battle was over, and losses counted, it was horrifying to discover who had died and who had been injured.  The entire Snape family had been wiped out; only two children who had been too young to participate in the battle were still alive.  The Malfoy family had suffered heavy losses including their family's matriarch.  Rowena Ravenclaw and her husband had both fallen.  Rowena to the traitor Nott, and her husband had killed himself upon learning of her death.  Their only child was an orphan with no extended family to take care of her.  Helga Hufflepuff lost her husband during the giant's initial attack.

Illiona had been severely injured, and Skya had rushed her back to Raveya.  It had been a close call; they nearly lost her.  Rachael had been hit by the killing curse, but since she was already dead, it couldn't kill her.  However, it did cause a significant amount of pain, and she had been given sleeping potions and painkillers to try and ease her suffering until she recovered.  Lily had been held under the Cruciatus Curse for nearly five minutes before someone killed the man who had been cursing her.  She was also drugged and asleep in the infirmary in the coven.  Slytherin had been near Harry when they both were hit with a blast of spell-fire.  The vampires had rushed them both off to the coven to be treated. 

***

It was nearly a month later before Harry awoke.  He had been severely injured, and it had taken quite awhile before the injuries were completely cured.  Beyond the fire injury, he had taken multiple curse spells, and a severe knife wound in the right shoulder just below his collarbone.  The blade was long enough that it had gone straight through his body and emerged on the other side. 

Despite the many battles he had been in before, Harry had never been injured bad enough that it left a scar that magic could not prevent.  There were identical scars on the front and back of his right shoulder from the blade.  There were also burn scars on the upper left side of his back where the spell-fire had caused the most damage.

Although Harry awoke, Slytherin remained in a coma for two more weeks.  During the time that Harry was awake and Slytherin was not, he was surprised that Gryffindor never tried to see his lover.  When Slytherin woke and asked for him, Harry sent for Gryffindor.  He refused to come.

***

It was another month before Slytherin had recovered enough to be able to leave the coven.  He went straight to Hogwarts.  Harry accompanied him.  School had been on break when Aberon attacked and had only been in session for about a week when Slytherin and Harry arrived.  Slytherin went to see Gryffindor, and Harry went to check on the Chamber of Secrets.  It hadn't been used during the battle of course, but he was beginning to feel as though something bad was about to happen.

When he arrived in the chamber, he discovered a newly hatched Basilisk.  He sighed and left.  If he had killed the Basilisk, he would have saved Moaning Myrtle's life, and perhaps others as well.  What is to be, though, must be.  The Basilisk must live.

When Harry re-entered the school, he found Slytherin waiting for him.  He was obviously upset, but refused to tell Harry what had happened.  He found out very quickly though, when the students came out of class.  The split between Gryffindor and Slytherin had occurred, and whatever Gryffindor had told his students had caused them to begin the mistreatment of Slytherins that would continue until Harry's time. 

When Slytherin joined the staff table, he was shunned by the other teachers, including Helga Hufflepuff.  Without Rowena Ravenclaw to mediate between them, there was no hope of reconciliation.  Harry was shunned by the other professors as well, and the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs treated him with great disrespect.  The Ravenclaws were too devastated by the loss of their house's founder to react.  The Slytherins were suffering under the combined weight of the loss of family members and the attitude of their fellow schoolmates.  Aberon had targeted many of the Slytherin families for his attacks simply because their children had been sorted into the house led by his hated brother-in-law. 

Harry hung his head.  He knew he could have prevented this.  Hell, he could probably fix this as well.  "What is to be, must be," he whispered to himself.

***

{3 years later – 1027 AD}

"All I'm saying is that I don't believe that accepting Muggle-borns at Hogwarts is wise.  Just look at all the problems the three we have accepted have caused," Slytherin argued.

"You can't expect them to accept everything on our say-so.  It's natural for them to try and test the bounds," Hufflepuff replied.

"We're lucky that Smith didn't kill Draconis Malfoy," Slytherin snapped.  "If the boy died we'd have the entire Malfoy clan after our blood."

"It was an unfortunate incident," Hufflepuff acknowledged.  "However, boys will be boys as they say."

"I can't believe you are willing to over-look the fact that Malfoy nearly died!" Slytherin shouted.

"It was only a Malfoy, Salazar.  Who cares if they live or die?" Gryffindor said, entering the debate for the first time since it began.

Slytherin stared, appalled, at the one he had once called lover.  "The Malfoy and Slytherin families are related through blood as well as marriage.  If it had been my grandchild, would you say the same?"

"It's only a Slytherin," Gryffindor replied; a cold smile stretched across his face.

Slytherin slowly stood up from the table.  He carefully gathered his papers and writing utensils.  He took one last look at Gryffindor before leaving the room.  He never spoke a word.  He returned to his rooms and packed his belongings.  Within an hour, the room was completely bare. 

He was outside on the lawn, nearly to the forest when he heard a voice behind him.  "Professor!  Professor, wait!"

Slytherin turned and found one of his better pupils chasing him down.  He waited for the young man to catch his breath.

"Professor," the boy gasped.  "You aren't leaving are you?"

"Yes, Mr. Snape, I am."

"Why?  Please don't go!  Gryffindor and Hufflepuff treat us something awful!  You're the only one who cares about us!  If you leave, no one will care if those stupid Muggle-borns kill us, like they nearly did Malfoy!"

Slytherin placed a comforting hand on Snape's shoulder.  "I'm sorry; I can't stay."

"It's because of Gryffindor, isn't it?" the boy interrupted before Slytherin could continue.

Slytherin sighed.  "Yes, that is part of it.  But it's also because Hogwarts is no longer what Rowena imagined it would be.  We are not united any longer, and I've suffered too much.  I no longer have the strength to try and keep us together.  That task must fall on younger generations.  It is your generation's responsibility to try and pull as back together."

Snape stared down at the ground, unable to meet his professor's gaze.  "I don't think I can do that, Sir."  He looked up and unshed tears were evident in his eyes.  "I hate them.  I hate them for what they've done to us.  My parents died protecting this school and so did Malfoy's mum!  They don't care if we die now that the war is over!"

"Then make them care!"

"How?"

Slytherin laughed humorlessly.  He brushed a tear aside.  "I don't know.  I never could apparently.  At one time, I thought I could…."

"You're just going to leave us?" Snape asked hollowly.

"Look out for the younger ones."  Slytherin took hold of Snape's shoulders, forcing the boy to meet his gaze.  "And remember, if you ever need help, if any Slytherin ever needs help, the vampires will come to your aid.  Remember that.  Keep that close to your heart… because it's all I can give you."

"How do you know they will help us?"

"Because I will ask them to.  They will look out for you because I asked them to."  Slytherin pulled Snape into a brief embrace.  "Good-bye."

"Please…."

"I'm sorry…."

Slytherin turned and walked into the Forbidden Forest.  He wasn't walking long before he was joined by his long-time friend.  They walked in silence for a brief time before Slytherin spoke.

"I've left Hogwarts.  I won't ever go back."

"I know," Harry replied.  He placed a comforting hand on Slytherin's shoulder.  "Your task is done.  Now you can rest and recover from what life has done to you."

"I won't ever recover, Harry.  I will only exist until Death finally comes for me.  How I wish she had taken me earlier…."

***

{39 years later – 1066 AD}

Slytherin stared pensively at the chessboard.  Finally he reached out and tipped his king.  He sighed as he leaned back in his chair.  "I'm determined one day to beat you, Harry."

"Good luck, my friend.  I've had much more experience at playing this game than you have.  You will be hard pressed to ever beat me," he replied smugly.

Slytherin laughed.  "What do you think, Yui?  Could I ever beat him?"

"Yes," she replied from her perch beside the board.  "In your dreams."

"Yui, you wound me!"

Harry laughed.  "She speaks the truth!"

"Rector Lamia?"

"Yes, Arthur?"  Harry said, turning to the young vampire whom had entered the room.

"The last of the Anglo-Saxons have fled to the north.  They will crown William the Conqueror in a few days."  His hands fisted in his pockets.  "The Normans have won."

"It was inevitable, Arthur," Harry consoled.  "Your family is safe however, and they will survive.  There are several elder vampires making sure of that.  You needn't worry any longer."

Arthur was silent for a moment before reluctantly answering. "Yes, Sir."

"Concentrate on your studies.  You've much to learn before you reach your Daylight years."

"Yes, Sir."

Harry and Slytherin watched as the boy left.  "He's very upset," Slytherin said.

"He's very loyal to the land of his birth," Harry replied.  "Does it bother you that a Norman will soon rule over the land?"

"He will not rule over the land that matters to me," Slytherin replied.

"That seems very selfish."

"I'm allowed such thoughts in my old age."

"Old age?  Salazar, you are not even a hundred."

"My heart is old."

Harry stayed quiet.

"Old and worn."

Harry reached across the table and clasped Slytherin's hand.  "I'm with you, my friend."

***

{50 years later – 1116 AD}

Gathered around a large bed deep in the depths of the coven were High Priestess Rachael, Princess Lily, Princess Illiona of the Elves, Queen Fleur of the Veela, and Rector Lamia Harry.  In the bed lay the very frail form of one aged wizard: Salazar Slytherin.  At one hundred and forty three years of age, Slytherin was laying on his deathbed. 

A life full of hardship and pain had shorted the wizard's lifespan by over fifty years.  For the past three years, the man had not left his bed.  His health had been deteriorating for over two decades.  To him, it was to be a blessed night.  The Great Salazar Slytherin would finally die.

He asked only for his friends to be with him as he took his last breath, keeping his passing light with laughter and half-remembered stories.  His friends did not mention the man who had dealt him his slow-killing wound.  That man had died only a month before.  There could be no reconciliation.  There was a slight sense of satisfaction though, as the same sickness that was killing him, had killed the one who cursed him with it so long ago. 

Godric Gryffindor was never happy after Slytherin's disappearance.  He took a wife and fathered three children, but he did not love her, and he found it hard to love children that were not the product of the love of his life.  He led a wretched existence until he died at the age of one hundred and ninety six.

Slytherin knew that his friends felt this was just punishment for the man's behavior, and even some part of him agreed, but… Godric Gryffindor had been the love of his life.  His death was what was finishing Slytherin off.

Laughing, talking, even some singing continued in the deathbed chamber till nearly dawn before Slytherin breathed his last, a slight smile on his lips.  His friends cried at his passing.  A great man had died long before he should have.  Slytherin was buried on the Isle of the Dead beside the body of Princess Olivia. 

"He was part of our family."

***

TBC…

A/N:

Alright… that's chapter five.  I'm satisfied with it for the most part, but there are some things that I'll flesh out a bit when I'm doing the final editing for the story.  This chapter might have one or two scenes added into it, or it might just have some extended scenes.  ::shrug::  we'll see when we get there.

I haven't made a final decision on how I want to give Gryffindor's motivations for his break-up with Slytherin.  At the moment, it's set up to discuss in flashbacks in future chapters, specifically, in some scenes with Sev and Harry.  However, during the final editing, I might write in some of it in this chapter.  It would be one of the added scenes I mentioned I might do.  ::shrug:: like I said, we'll see what happens.

So… Shingu is a real town in Japan; I think it's about 200 miles or so from Tokyo, not quite sure on the distance.  Kumano is a real religion, and it was popular in medieval times.  The Kumano Hayatama Shrine is also a real shrine, however, I'm not sure on the founding date for the town, and I really doubt that anyone from Shingu would be happy with me using their town as a base for witchcraft and dark creatures.  If you have any questions about the real Shingu, ask me and I'll try to answer your questions, but since I only know a little about the town I can't guarantee a satisfactory answer.

The timeline for chapter six is from Slytherin's death to Harry's disappearance.  I'm actually a bit worried about the length of the chapter since not too many events will be covered in depth.  Chapter seven will begin with Harry assuming his younger self's place.  As you can see we are nearly to the Harry/Sev!  I'm so excited about that.  I've been having to restrain myself from writing some of their scenes together.  I want to do this all in the right order so I don't crush any creative impulses that might arise otherwise.  But still, we are nearly there! 

As I said before, I do post sneak peeks to chapters when there has been a long wait between updates, but I only post them at my group.  I am sorry for how long the gap was on updates for this story, but I only have so much time to dedicate to writing during the summer.  Now that school is nearly in session, it won't be as long before the next update.  I'm also hoping that considering the length of this chapter, you'll forgive the long wait. :) My yahoo!group:

groups.yahoo.com/group/HuntressSmiles/

As always, please feel free to ask me questions.  If you're having trouble understanding something, then please let me know.  Unfortunately, questions are more likely to be answered if you ask them at my group than if you ask me in an e-mail.  I have the very bad habit of forgetting to respond back to e-mails.  If you are one of those people who sent me an e-mail and didn't get a response back, I'm sooooo sorry.  If you did get a response back… you lucky dogs!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed or sent me an e-mail.  All encouragement is appreciated.

~Artemis Luna Diana~