I don't own anything Harry Potter... but the plot is mine... all mine!

Chapter One. Amulet of the Serpent's Eye

Hermione and Ron dragged Harry up the stairs and into the room the boys had shared the pervious summer.

"What is going on?" Harry demanded angrily pursing his lips and crossing his arms about his chest.
"Are you crazy mate?" Ron asked incredulously and glanced knowingly to Hermione. "What's wrong… He's asking what's wrong?"

Ron turned back to Harry and said simply, "Honestly Harry don't you read…"
Harry flopped carelessly onto the bed and shook his head in disbelief. Ron accusing him of not reading was like aliens coming from Mars and abducting him… (reality check… if he went back in time one thousand years getting abducted by aliens wouldn't seem all that farfetched).

"Harry," Hermione started in her usual business like way, "This is bad."
"You've said that," Harry pointed out.
"There was a reason why all those wizards and witches reacted that way," Ron continued – he glanced nervously to Hermione.
"Tell me something I don't know," Harry muttered to himself picking at some loose strands of the mattress.

"This is bad…" Hermione repeated. Harry hissed through his teeth in irritation (just like Salazar Slytherin when he was annoyed.) Ron and Hermione jumped back with a look that was something in between horror and awe.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that… it isn't like I am turning into a snake or something!"
"Close enough…" Ron snapped.

"Please guys… tell me what is going on…" Harry pleading; he was getting slightly desperate.

"Harry," Hermione repeated slowly. Harry looked up. He could tell she was on the verge of telling him something important. (And about time too)!

"Harry that pendant is the Amulet of the Serpent's Eye…" This was obviously meant to mean something.

Harry pulled out the amulet from his pocket. The silver seemed dimmed. Wiping his finger over it Harry savoured the cool texture under his fingers. For the briefest moment he saw an older Salazar Slytherin standing tall and proud, a young blonde witch pouted by his side as he pointed something out in the distance… and serpent's eye winked at him.

"So…?" Harry snapped out of his reverie.
Ron swore in frustration, earning himself a glare from Hermione.
"Harry the Amulet of the Serpent's Eye was said to have belonged to Salazar Slytherin…"
"So…? It only proves my story," Harry snapped.
"Mate," Ron cautioned slowly, "It was said to have bound the power of Godric Gryffindor so that Slytherin could control him."

For a moment Harry's faith wavered. But the feeling of distrust only lasted for a moment. Harry had seen enough to know that it could not possibly be truth. Gryffindor was obvious in his own mind. He had seen the two founders argue and yet remain loyal friends. Even if Salazar had allowed his past to chase him away from his first dream.

"Nonsense, Slytherin is a good man!"
Hermione and Ron exchanged worried glances. "But mate," Ron said, "In second year you were horrified to even think that you could be related to him."
"I would not be ashamed of it now. I have seen the errors of my ways," Harry replied tersely and shifted uneasily.
"Well, I am glad of that," Ron snapped back sarcastically, folding his arms across his chest. Ron turned quickly and exited the room in a hurry.

"What's his problem?" Harry asked himself.
"Don't you realise what Slytherin has done by giving you that amulet?" Hermione asked practically.
"No."
"He has claimed you as his heir."
Harry blinked slowly. Slytherin had chosen him? Harry glanced at the amulet, if he hadn't known better he would have thought the snake's eyes were winking at him.
"…there's more…" Harry glanced up. "…that means you are forevermore bound to Salazar Slytherin…"

Harry shrugged the prospect did not really scare him in fact deep down he felt a welling of pride. Slytherin had chosen him?

"You believe me though don't you, Hermione?" Harry asked in earnest, "You believe what happened?"
"Yes, I think I believe you," Hermione said in her familiar 'but-that-would-not-be-logic' tone. "But if you were gone so long why had little or no time past here?"
Harry grinned. "I thought you would have figured that one out for me by now Hermione."
Hermione only looked slightly annoyed, but her curiosity clearly won over her irritation. "Sooo…" She said rolling her hands, encouraging Harry to continue speaking.

"Helga Hufflepuff was a talented witch… if she was sending me back, why send me back to time I had missed. Would it not just be as simple to send me back from approximately when I had come from?"
Hermione looked thoughtful. "You have a point…"

Harry went downstairs some time later to find Ron. He found his best friend in the sitting room playing exploding snap with Fred and George.

"Harry…"
"…glad you're back…"
"…from wherever you mysteriously disappeared to…"
"… could have been a great prank…"
"…should have hid longer though mate…"

Harry glanced from twin to twin and grinned evilly. Ron however was not looking at him.
"Fred, George could I have a moment with Ron?"

The twins glanced at one another and simultaneously stood and Harry sat down next to Ron.
"I really missed you when I was away," Harry said when Ron still didn't look up but he sniffed heavily in reply.
"You would have liked Salazar…"
Another sniff.
"Glytherin… that's what he should have been, Ron. He was a wonderful teacher once I gave him a chance. He was good and brave…just like Godric… you would have liked him too."
Yet another sniff.
"I never thought history could become so twisted. I'm glad I meet the real man."

"Was he ugly?" Ron asked finally barely able to stop the questions that were coming into his head.
Harry paused to think. "No. He acted like a King at times!"
"And Gryffindor?"
"Slytherin sent me into Hogwarts to nick a scroll of Godric… I was scared stiff of the founder. I thought he was going to kill me!" Harry said with a chuckle.
Ron looked mortified.
"He saved my life later," Harry said thoughtfully, shivering at the thought of his patronus being cut up by that dreadful creature, "They all did."

Harry gave a short bark of laughter… "I did some pretty stupid things."
Ron grinned. "I bet mate…" But the grin faded quickly. "What did Hermione tell you about the amulet…?"

Harry never got to answer the question, as Remus Lupin entered the room.
"Hello Harry."
"Hey Lupin."
There was a slight pause as they studied each other carefully.
"Can I see the amulet?"
Harry didn't want anyone to touch his amulet, for it belonged to him. However he reluctantly pulled it out and handed it Lupin.

Lupin took it and let the twisted chain twirl loose. He stopped the movement of the pendant with his hand.

"You do believe my story Lupin?"
Remus looked up at Harry, for the briefest of moments Harry expected Remus to say that he did not. "I wouldn't have if not for this amulet," Remus replied steadily and returned the amulet to Harry.

"Be careful Harry, I do not know what Slytherin meant by giving you this artefact." Lupin handed the amulet back to Harry, who tucked it safely inside his jeans.

Remus Lupin turned suddenly and left the room almost jogging.

"What was that about?" Harry said to himself.
Ron however returned Harry's question with another question. "What did Hermione tell you?"
"That the amulet signifies that Slytherin chose me…"
"…and…" Ron promoted.
Harry cast his thoughts back. What did Hermione say again? "That I am forevermore bound to Salazar Slytherin…"
"Exactly…" Ron stated proudly. "But Hermione did forget to mention one little detail…"