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Chapter Thirteen The Horrific Hollow

"Father…they've attacked the Hollow…"

The room was filled with a heavy and silent dread. Harry blinked slowly as the message sunk into the depths of his dazed mind.

"There was a wizard of such skill father – a pure blood!"

Earven exchanged glances with his father, Salazar raised his eyebrows and glanced at Harry.

"A pure blood?" an old wizened wizard repeated, faintly, his jaw dropped so that his long grey beard dipped into a goblet full of wine.
"Well Salazar you had not foreseen this!" another added pompously.

Salazar ignored the comments and looked down at Harry who was still sitting at his feet. "What can we expect from this wizard?"

All eyes turned to Harry, anticipating his answer eagerly. Harry struggled to his feet as it seemed like the right thing to do and spoke clearly so that everyone in the room could hear him. "Death Eaters, whom you had unfortunately witnessed, Lord Slytherin, will kill all that is in their way."

"Surely that is an over statement!" A wizard said rebuking Harry sternly, disapproval so obvious in his eyes.
"A Death Eater knows no pity," Harry continued a little perturbed; "There is no evil to them, only power. Nothing and no one matters when a wizard joins the dark side."
"And how did you come to know this young sir?"
Salazar placed a hand on Harry's shoulders gently. "I have seen the truth myself," he said answering for Harry then he turned purposefully to Gryffindor, "I will meet them…"

"NO!" The words burst from Harry's lips before he could stop them. "You cannot!" Everyone turned their heads and stared condescendingly at Harry all but kind Helga Hufflepuff who only looked sympathetic.

"Salazar…" Godric cleared his throat.
But Slytherin interrupted him. "I must Godric…It is my responsibility."

Rowena Ravenclaw stirred and Harry noticed that she looked amused. "How is it your responsibility?" she asked quietly, pleased to see the ripple of agitation and annoyance in Salazar's stance.

Rowena had Salazar stuck – he did not wish to divulge to the clever founder, what he had learned of his clan's doings in the future. He took a depth breath before continuing his grand little speech. "It is something that I must do and something you all must accept."
"Oh Salazar," Hufflepuff sighed sadly, her large fawn-like eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Harry, you will stay here." Salazar turned to leave without glancing at Harry.

"No!" Harry cried surprised at even himself that he had dared talked back to Salazar Slytherin. Salazar stiffened as he froze in mid stride, Earven glanced at his father doubtfully, no apprentice had ever dared flatly defied his father. Somewhere in the room someone commented, "You have a rather ungrateful apprentice Salazar."

Harry's eyes never left Salazar's back. "Harry…" Salazar hissed warningly. Harry knew then that his outburst had embarrassed Salazar, but he didn't care one bit.

Ignoring everyone in the room Harry steeped around so that he was face to face with his mentor. "If it is him, you can't win…"
"Harry…" Slytherin stepped around Harry sideways, his hand was on the doorknob, "You will stay here."

Harry sighed heavily, how on earth was he going to make the founders listen to him. "Why are you so determined to walk towards you doom – and the doom of our world?"

"ENOUGH!"

Harry jumped back, he wasn't surprised that he had managed to anger Slytherin, as Salazar Slytherin forgot the door and turned on him. As Salazar's angry face loomed in front of him, Harry was convinced that the founders must listen to him…

"Salazar, I think we ought to listen," Hufflepuff said in mild timidness. Salazar looked up at her – he had always had a soft spot for Helga.

"Very well," Slytherin sighed heavily communicating that he wasn't happy, "Speak."
'This better be good lad…'

Harry drew himself to his full height and looked around at the congregation. "Lord Voldemort…" (no winces from the audience) "cannot be stopped by just any wizard. For many years he had held our world to ransom, none of our aurors have been able to defeat him…"

"Ha…!" A voiced called out in triumphant, "You speak a falsehood for we would know of any black mage."

Harry glanced at Slytherin, then at the other two founders.

"Harry is…" Godric Gryffindor, ruffled Harry's hair slightly, "Is not from this age, Iain."

Harry couldn't help but blush as the gathered wizards all leaned forward to squint more closely at him. Indeed a particularly old and almost blind wizard leaned so far forward and knocked two goblets over – one with each elbow. But no one paid this accident any mind.

"Then when is he from?" the wizard named Iain demanded, voicing the whole room's curiosity.

"A thousand years in the future – to the year," Salazar replied puffing his chest proudly, "And he's my apprentice…"

Harry's blush deepened as he shifted from one foot to another… this was uncomfortable!

"And so… you do not think Slytherin is capable of defending himself against this Moldemort?"
Harry shook his head. "There is a prophecy; Slytherin could possibly be his equal…" Harry self consciously rubbed his scar. "But he was not marked."
Slytherin narrowed his eyes as he regarded Harry curiously. "You're him… the prophesied one to destroy him…"

"Why do you doubt him, Salazar? Did I not tell you his power will rival your own," Rowena said from her corner, she brushed away a strand of dark hair before continuing, "I sense the time is not now that his dormant strength will reawaken, but it is wise nonetheless to take him with you."

Salazar glanced at Godric questioningly. "I sense nothing of this Lord Voldemort – but I will also be coming with you."

Harry was grabbed by the robes as he staggered forward, nearly falling face first into snow. They had travelled by port key to the Hollow (fondly known to the modern wizard's as Godric's Hollow).

Salazar stood stoically by Harry's right hand side, Godric on his left both glanced about their eyes lingering on the starched remains of the small village. Harry also could not help but stare, never before had he seen anything like it!

Small houses dotted his vision, well Harry assumed they were houses, but they had been razed to their foundations. A few unfortunates lay on the threshold of their homes or in the little lane. The road that lead into the centre of the village was a muddy red mess of gore and blood…

Harry covered his mouth swiftly, stopping himself immediately of retching and vomiting. Never had he seen the cruel nature of death in this violent form. Beside him Godric was pale, but his large brown eyes were hardened in anger. Salazar on the other hand remained calm almost neutral; he had seen this all before.

"How will we find those who did this?" Harry asked in a small voice.
"We will follow their essence," Salazar replied crisply, he glanced down at Harry and continued, "And since you wanted to be of help – come and I will show you."
"Salazar I ought to…" Godric's protests were stopped with a curt glance from his co-founder and Harry had no choice but to follow Salazar as he picked his way through the little road.

Salazar did not go far however, he stopped over a corpse and knelt by it. Poking it gently with his finger he looked up to Harry. "Killed by a mage this one."

Harry nodded dumbly; he couldn't help but stare at the dead woman.
"Well come down here then!" Salazar cried impatiently. Harry knelt moving his eyes to his mentor's face – he could not tell if Salazar was enjoying this or not.

Salazar moved his hands over the corpse's face and Harry almost thought he saw the

dead woman's eyelids flutter. "It's safe," Salazar Slytherin announced, "Now give me your hand."

Harry hesitated – he did not want to touch the dead lady.
"Come she won't bite," Slytherin bit impatiently.
Harry glanced at her glassy eyes; in them he could see Cedric Diggory.
"There is nothing to be afraid of," Godric Gryffindor said by Harry's ear.

Harry offered his hand to Salazar shyly. Slytherin took Harry's hand in his own, for a briefest of moments; Harry thought Slytherin squeezed his fingertips lightly as if to reassure him.

Before Harry's mind could even comprehend what was happening, Slytherin pressed both their finger tips to the dead woman's temples.

'Close your eyes relax.' Slytherin was in his mind. Harry felt himself shiver in revulsion but before he could recoil, Slytherin stepped further into his mind – further than he had ever been before.

'R – e –l-a-x… I will not allow harm to befall you.' Slytherin essence merged with Harry's, so that neither could tell where one identity started and the other began.

Harry was compelled to close his eyes, shutting away the image of the attack on the Hollow. Slytherin took over and they seemed to enter a strange place, void of everything… there was no thought. No power. No love. No music. No voices. No life.

'Do you feel that?'
Harry found that he could not answer. But Slytherin seemed to understand his confusion as he answered, 'Death comes to us all. This is a shell…almost nothing lingers here…'

Harry felt Slytherin move and himself along with it. Harry had no words or comprehension of what happened next… but Slytherin seemed to investigate the 'death' in the 'empty' space. After a little time a face emerged from the darkness and a new essence became evident.

A man with long flaxen hair, rich black robes and an elegant can by his side. His eyes were light but were filled with darkness. In those moments Harry knew instinctively who the killer was… Malfoy!

… Lucius Malfoy…