Don't own anything JK Rowling does including Harry and Slytherin.

Chapter Seventeen. Legacy and the Boy Who Will Live

Salazar watched over the prone frame of Harry Potter. He refused to eat or sleep until his young apprentice would be able to rise from his state of unconsciousness.

Now and then Godric would enter the chamber and the two friends sat side by side in silence for five to ten minutes before Godric would get up and leave the chamber without a word being uttered. Many would find this scene unusual but these two friends did not need the spoken language to communicate their darkest thoughts.

Rhodderyk Gryffindor sat opposite Salazar. He often opened to his lips to speak but nothing came forth. Salazar was well aware that Rhoddy had words with his uncle, who berated him for allowing Harry to harm himself. Rhodderyk as usual took Godric's lecture with good grace – but Slytherin knew it went deeper than that… Rhodderyk felt responsible.

Slytherin very gently lent over Harry's frame and dabbed his forehead with a damp cloth. Even now, he could feel the pulsation power in Harry's skin. Lady Ravenclaw had said he would be strong, but down in the depths of his heart, Slytherin had never thought that Harry would be so strong he would be a danger unto himself.

"Poor, boy," Slytherin lamented, he grasped Harry's hand into his own, "Poor dear boy…"

For a breath taking moment, Slytherin thought Harry's hand tightened on his own, as if to say… I'm here…don't give up on me yet! But the movement was gone as quickly as it came… Slytherin closed his eyes in silent prayer.

"Owe…where am I?" a small voice croaked as if on cue.

Slytherin's eyes snapped opened in time to see Harry struggling to sit up. Slytherin's hand laced around Harry's back to help him sit.

"Here drink this." Harry seemed to watch Slytherin anxiously as he searched quickly in his billowing robes, only to pull out a small vial of potion.

Rhodderyk Gryffindor, realising what was contained in the little vial, raised his eyebrows but did not voice any objections. However at that moment Helga Hufflepuff entered the chamber. Her eyes widened as she saw the little bottle outstretched in Slytherin's hand.

"Oh, my, Slytherin!" she gasped, her small hands clasped tightly in front of her. "You are not going to give him that!"
"I know, dear heart, that you would never use it… but I deem it necessary…" Slytherin answered lightly, offering the bottle once more to Harry.

Harry eyed the bottle suspiciously. "What is it?" he asked flatly.
Slytherin rolled his eyes and exclaimed, "Would I lead you wrong… it is perfectly harmless – and necessary."
Harry was not convinced. "You sent me to steal from Godric Gryffindor."
Slytherin shifted uneasily. "Yes… well… I knew he wouldn't hurt a student if he was silly enough to get caught!"
"But I didn't," Harry muttered. "I thought he was going to kill me!"
Slytherin sighed placing the potion into Harry's hand. "Here take it…"

Harry however glanced at Rhodderyk then to Helga who were waiting expectantly.
"Don't tell me you are afraid Harry," Rhodderyk said slyly breaking the silence.
"No!" Harry replied indigently and glanced once more at the little bottle in his hand, "Not in the slightest!"

Without any further protests, Harry threw the little mixture down his throat. To say it tasted foul would be an understatement, but he swallowed it quickly. However he must have pulled a face because, Slytherin chuckled lightly and glanced over to Rhodderyk. Harry wiped his mouth with his sleeve in embarrassment.

Slytherin stopped chuckling and looked to Harry. "Now he has downed the potion. I can get some sleep…"
"You haven't slept. How long have I been here?" Harry asked.
"Two days…"
Harry looked incredulous.
"Well I wasn't going to leave you alone, lord knows boy you are fortunate you have awoken at all…" Slytherin stated firmly and then snapped angrily, "Of all the stupid things, Harry, you had to use a force you couldn't control… you could have died."

Harry hung his head and mumbled what he thought was an appropriate apology. Slytherin sniffed. "Well the harm has only been done to you boy." A small smile played on Slytherin's lips. "And now you will be resting here for a least a week…"
"A week...!"
Slytherin grinned evilly. "You will not find such a task so dreadful Harry… the potion will make sure you don't have enough energy to get yourself out of bed and the simplest spells you will not be able to cast."
Harry groaned.

Slytherin merely nodded curtly and left the apartments without further delay. Harry glanced to Rhodderyk and Helga…

"It was for your own good, my friend," Rhodderyk murmured patting Harry's shoulder comfortingly, "Trust me. Once that potion kicks in, in a few hours… a week in bed will be very simple task…"

Harry found both Salazar Slytherin and Rhodderyk Gryffindor true to their words. The potion had started to take affect soon after they left his chamber. He felt dismally weak and grumpy. However most of his time had been spent sleeping soundly. He was much to tired to even curl up with a book (Rowena had offered him plenty but reading was unheard of).

At one stage he had woken up to a lecture from Godric Gryffindor about controlling oneself only to fall back asleep in mid sentence. (Slytherin had found that humourous). And Rhodderyk kept telling him that 'it was for his own good'.

A week past and on the eighth day of his entrapment in bed, Harry felt his strength returning. He dared not cast a spell to test his strength. Somehow he felt Slytherin would know if he did.

On the ninth day, Gryffindor returned and sat on his bed to explain to Harry how they intended to get him back home. "The magic evoked was that of Legacy…"
"Legacy..?"
"Hmmm… dear Lady Hufflepuff's spell. The need arose in your time for you to leave… that is for yourself to answer…" Godric's eyes lingered on Harry's scar but it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. "Slytherin has taught you much through careful experimentation you will be able to broaden the knowledge and abilities he has given you."
"…but you can get me back home…" Harry had started to yearn for Hermione and Ron's company in the last week.
Gryffindor smiled indulgently, "Of course…"
Harry grinned sheepishly, "They'll never believe this not in a million years!"

"…but what about the creature from Slytherin's chamber…?"
Gryffindor became solemn. "Fortunately my lad you missed out on the hunt. Earven and Rhoddy have… done away with it… but another will rise in time."
Harry frowned. "But they don't exist in my time…"

Gryffindor looked surprised. "Truly… perhaps Rhoddy and Earven find away to kill them off…dreadful beasts…" Harry saw Gryffindor shiver violently before the founder stood regally and went to the chamber door.

"Rest now… or our Lord Slytherin would have my head on a golden platter!"

Time past slowly, but thankfully it wasn't long until Harry felt he could get out of bed without fainting and his power returned to him.

Harry never knew how much he relied on his magic in day to day life – not until Slytherin had fooled him into taking the potion which stripped him senseless of his magic. It was like be blind… his magic was truly a sixth sense he had never been fully aware of.

As Godric Gryffindor promised, he placed several protective charms over Harry (and more which Harry was unaware of – but Slytherin did not miss a beat.)
Slytherin also finished teaching Harry the 'wandless' arts along with a little bit of control. Harry grasped these lessons quite quickly and was surprised but
Slytherin answered curtly, "You awoke within yourself a source of power and survived… very few wizards have done so… Now you have done that the barriers that hampered you before are virtually non-existent."

The time for farewell was upon them. Harry followed Slytherin's footsteps with mixed feelings of relief and sadness. Earven Slytherin and Rhoddy Gryffindor also escorted them out onto Hogwarts Grounds. But no one spoke. The other founders were already waiting for them on the other side of the field.

Slytherin forged ahead, staring resolutely at his co-founders, determined he wasn't going to show Harry how much he was going to miss him. He was proud of his work, for he had never had a young apprentice that shone so much as Harry Potter. A part of him wanted to claim is work and keep Harry with him… but he knew that was wrong. Harry did not belong in their time – he needed to be with their brothers and sisters in the future, for he had a destiny to fulfil there.

As they reached the three founders, Slytherin ushered Harry forwards. Harry stepped forward then looked back at his mentor.

Slytherin sighed heavily then pulled a chain from his pocket and handed it to Harry. Harry accepted the gift shyly and flipped decorative piece over. He was surprised to see a silver lion's face and encircling the lion was a serpent. Harry smiled and wordless gazed into his mentor's face.

"I expect that you will remember what I have taught you…" Slytherin said sternly.
Harry's grinned widened. "I will remember," he promised, "And more…"
"Study hard…"
"I will…"
"Respect your teachers…"
"I'll… try…" (Harry was thinking about Professor Snape… how could he ever be expected to respect him!) Slytherin however seemed pleased with this response.
"And look after yourself…"
Harry nodded wordlessly…

Harry was about to turn away, when he put his hand into his pocket. When his fingertips touched cold metal he pulled it out. Opening his fist he saw the gold Galleon, which he had used in the previous year to call meetings for the DA. A smile caught on his lips as he turned back to face Slytherin. 'Hermione is going to kill me…' was all Harry was capable of thinking.

Harry pressed the coin into Slytherin's hand. He watched with a dry throat as the founder opened his fist to peer down at the Galleon. "A souvenir from my fifth year… I know you would disapprove of what it was used for but I would like you to keep it nonetheless…"

Slytherin closed his fist tightly about the coin. "Then I shall…" With one last smile Harry turned and approached Helga Hufflepuff. "I am ready…"

Helga cast and all Harry caught one last sight of Salazar Slytherin, the man who he had come to admire and respect, despite his prejudices, fade in blinding colours.