Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from JK Rowling's world... just burrowing them for a little plot and fun... I only hope I do them justice...

Chapter Nine Gryffindor's Library

"Are you willing to take on an adventure?" Slytherin looked across his plate at Harry with his dark penetrating eyes. Harry's fork stopped halfway to his mouth, most of his food tumbling off his fork.
"What type of adventure?" Harry queried narrowing his eyes as he had seen Slytherin do at least a thousand times.

Slytherin chuckled as if sharing a private joke with himself. "You're not afraid are you boy?"
"No," Harry replied indignantly, "I'm just wandering what you are coming up with in your sadistic mind."

Slytherin rubbed his chin slowly, obviously enjoying keeping Harry on tender hooks. "Ah such an innocent mind that I am corrupting… Godric would not enjoy this…"
"What?"

Slytherin picked up his fork and placing a small amount of food in his mouth deliberately chewed slowly…

"What?" Harry repeated (it was all he could do without jumping up and down with impatience).

Slytherin took his goblet and poured, glancing over the top of the silver rim at Harry. "Gryffindor has an extensive library boy… the envy of many in the wizarding world for the exception of Rowena Ravenclaw of course."

Slytherin took a sip of wine, his black eyes shining and never leaving Harry's face.
"What does that have to do with us…"
"With you…" Slytherin's face loomed and he traced a long finger around the edge of the goblet. "Remember how his speciality is protective magics…"
Harry nodded his head, encouraging his temporary guardian to continue…

"He has many scrolls on the subject…many magics he himself has developed from the ancient arts…"
"He invented spells…?"
"…and incantations and ward…it takes a great skill believe me boy…Godric Gryffindor is not a man to trifle with and best you remember it."

Harry suppressed a gulp, wandering what type of situation Slytherin was going to get him into. "What good are his spells and wards if he will not help us?"
"But I could perform nigh enough to Godric's skill…"
"Then why…?"

"Think boy if you are capable of the action!" Slytherin cried almost gloatingly, enjoying his verbal game of cat and mouse.
"You need the scrolls don't you," Harry stated accusingly.
Slytherin merely smirked waiting for the inevitable thought.
"You want me to go and get them…"

Slytherin nodded almost gleefully. "Now that would be a worthy adventure for any young Gryffindor…"
"…you want me to steal from Godric Gryffindor…! Are you mad!"

Slytherin shifted uneasily in his seat. Now wasn't the time for a discussion about morals. "It wouldn't be stealing, Harry…it'll be borrowing without Gryffindor's consent for an extended period of time…"
"Stealing…"
"Borrowing… Don't tell me you're afraid…"

Slytherin simply adored that phrase it rolled off his tongue so very naturally. It was so easy to manipulate any Gryffindor male to do anything he wanted them by just uttering those five little words. Female Gryffindors were much harder to convince – although Earven was still at the school trying!

"Besides," Slytherin clipped quickly seeing Harry shift his gaze about uncertainly as if he was aware Slytherin was trying to manipulate him, "I cannot go to the school myself, I left and if I was to return I would be instantly recognised…as long as you are not seen by any of the founders (certainly not Gryffindor) they would pay you no mind."

"Can't we try to talk Gryffindor to helping us – after all this will help me to fight Lord Voldemort right?"
"You don't know how stubborn Gryffindor can be… he vowed never to use these protective magics on a youngster and he won't…"

"How do I get in?" Harry interrupted, one way or another Slytherin would continue to try and convince him until he yielded...Harry opted to get it over and done with.

"Great." Slytherin rose from the table and left the room.

Harry sighed and buried his head in his hands. 'What had I just agreed to?' He knew that stealing from Godric would be wrong, but Salazar Slytherin had no apprehension about taking advantage of the situation.

Slytherin returned a moment later with an old piece of parchment. Harry leaned over so that he could see a map scrawled onto its surface. But unlike the Marauder's Map it seemed completely unmagical.

"Godric's quarters are here…" Harry recognised the headmaster's office but noted Slytherin was pointing slightly to the left… "Here is the entrance to his library… it's guarded by a phoenix statue. Say my name and it will instantly open for you…"

"Here…" Slytherin pulled out another parchment. "Is the fourth floor… I will show you a tunnel that will lead straight to this point. Think you can manage to find the Gryffindor's Library…

Harry nodded wordlessly thinking he was getting himself into more trouble than it was worth…

"Good," Slytherin looked pleased, "Don't look so worried Harry, I will keep mind contact with you the whole way through… you might even surprise me!"

Slytherin stood and went to his cupboard and pulled out a plain brown robe and hood – a Gryffindor badge sat regally over its breast. He smoothed the material delicately and looked over to Harry…

"Here, I need to make you look like just another of Gryffindor's apprentices…"
Harry slipped the robe on and sighed heavily. "When do I go?"
"Immediately…"

'Great…' Harry thought cynically, 'I am not ready to rob the founder of my house.'

Slytherin took a candle and wave his hand over the top…a small flame touched the wick. Slytherin did not have to command Harry to follow as he opened a door which Harry assumed had been a broom cupboard, and descended down a flight of dark, creaky stairs.

Slytherin alighted down the bottom and handed Harry the candle… "Follow this tunnel along until you meet nothing but a mirror… don't worry no one can see past the mirror. Make sure no one is around before you step out! I mean no one… for I am the only one who knows of this tunnels existence…Good luck Harry…bring me back some scrolls…"

"How will I know which ones to take?"
Slytherin smiled thinly, "I will tell you…"

Harry turned on his heels and headed down the passage way. "Good luck boy!" he heard Slytherin call after him, and then a set of footsteps ascending the dark stairs.

'Great, great, great, great…' Harry thought, 'How did I allow myself to get talked into this?'

The candle in his had sputtered for a bit casting long shadows down the passage. Harry shivered…this place was creepy. But at the same time he was excited about seeing the ancient Hogwarts. It was such a shame that he couldn't stop to talk to the other students or the teachers… That would be something to boast about!

'Stop day dreaming boy and keep moving…' Slytherin had entered his mind.
'I was just wandering what it'll be like…'
'We'll talk later just keep your mind on the task at hand.'

Harry stretched his hand out to touch the walls as he shuffled along. The walls were damp and sticky. As he ran face first into a cob web he heard Slytherin chuckle but he ignored his mentor and picked at imaginary strands of webbing…

It seemed such a very long time that Harry shuffled in the tunnel but very soon he saw a light. Intrigued at first he soon realised it was the mirror that Slytherin had pointed out. He approached wryly as the other side of Hogwarts were revealed to him. It was late at night so no students were about – a part of Harry was relieved but mostly he was disappointed.

'Push your hand against the frame…'

Harry did as he was instructed and the mirror swivelled in sideways. Harry stepped through quickly and replaced the mirror. Wiping filthy his face clean from the webbing and dirt from the tunnel…

Then as casually as he could he sauntered down the hall as if he belonged there. While he did so Harry could not believe how much Hogwarts had changed over the years. The castle was like any medieval palace he had seen in movies…cold stone, a few sparing tapestries, very little carpet, very few portraits (non moving ones) and torches were alight down the whole corridor. This wasn't the Hogwarts he had come to know…

"Oi you!" A bossy voice called.
In shock at being talked to Harry reeled on his heels, a boy a little older than him strolled up to him swinging his arms. Blonde hair fell about his handsome face, his grey eyes were cold and sneering.

'Malfred…' Slytherin hissed, 'Be careful, he's a sly one.'
Harry glanced down at the other boy's robes a Slytherin serpent seemed to hiss out at him.
"Who are you?"
Harry opened his mouth in shock to answer reflexively but Slytherin commanded quickly, 'Harold…say Harold…Harry is such an uncommon name it'll mark you out as an outsider.'
"Well?" The boy was waiting impatiently for an answer.
"Harold…"
"Harold No Name," the boy sneered in reply.
"Potter…" Harry added uncertainly as he heard Slytherin groan in his mind.
"Ah a commoner… from the slums of London are we…?"
Harry's face reddened, "Who are you to talk to me like that?"
'No, No, NO!' Slytherin cried, 'Bad move boy.'
For a moment or two the boy's sneer widened. "Who am I… Oscar d'Malfreds."
Harry glared at him blankly. "So!"
'Harry no!'
"So my father is Tarrance d'Malfreds, the magical advisor to the King."
'Harry say nothing…'

But Harry wasn't listening he pulled out his wand, "Petrificus Totalus!" Oscar's arms snapped to his sides before he keeled over.

"No one speaks to me like that and gets away unscathed…best you remember that…" Harry's faced loomed over the frightened apprentice's nose for a moment… and he laughed… "Now that felt good…"

'That wasn't the best idea…never laugh at a Malfred...'
But Harry grinned knowing Slytherin's opinion was in between approval and disapproval. 'No one sneers at a Potter...Don't tell me you didn't enjoy that...'
'More than you know...'

Harry continued down the passageway without any further trouble and final he reached the door that belonged to Godric Gryffindor. It was an incredible plain door but Harry could help a stirring of excitement before he glanced around and whispered Salazar's name to the nearby phoenix.

As it had done in the future, the stairs started to move upwards…Harry jumped on and waited for the movement to stop.

Harry stepped out and glanced at the door in front of him. It felt like he should knock.

'Get on with it!' Slytherin grumbled and Harry pushed open the door.

The library of Godric Gryffindor lay open to Harry completely unguarded. Harry had half been expecting to see Dumbledore sitting behind his desk looking at him with blue sparkly eyes. But he was alone in the dimly lit room. Harry closed the door lightly.

'That scroll there!'

Harry pulled it down, but before his fingertips could open it he thought he heard a faint exhaling of breath.

'What are you waiting for…?'

Harry ignored Slytherin… there it was again faint – but there. Harry heard Slytherin swear… 'Do not communicate anything to me you don't want to be heard…'

Harry felt Slytherin retreat from his mind so quickly he nearly reeled. 'What was wrong…?'

Then as sudden as a lightening bolt a strong arm caught Harry's wrists and twisted them painfully so that Harry was pulled to his knees…

"Insolent boy!" And Harry's wrists were twisted again.