Easy Way Out
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Last time
"There must be something we can do to make it so that you can stay," Severus said so forcefully that Salazar looked up at him in alarm.
"But what about Harry?"
"We will find a way for him to come back as well," Severus once again said in a way that no one would dare contradict him.
Looking up at Remus, Salazar saw the werewolf nodding his head in agreement with Severus's statement. He suddenly felt overjoyed. For with their help, he became sure that they would figure out how to do it.
Chapter 12
Harry's Friends Part One
Two weeks later, Remus and Severus were looking sternly down at a fidgeting Salazar. "Do you have anything to say for yourself young man?" Remus directed at him.
"Um…that I should have listened to you and stayed out of the kitchen while you were gone? And that I am really, really, really sorry that I blew up the stove." Salazar responded guiltily.
Snape gave an uncharacteristic snort and mumbled something along the lines of "More like the whole damn kitchen."
"But you can't really blame me can you? I mean here I am, cooped up inside, day after day, while you two get to go out. I'm bored. I need to go outside. You can understand that can't you? So why can't I go out too?" Salazar asked looking up at Remus hopefully.
"You know why. The Headmaster feels it would be safer for you if you stayed away from anyone who might recognize you-I mean Harry. If one of Harry's schoolmates corners you and start asking questions, you might not be able to answer properly, and they may get suspicious. If word gets out that you are who you are, your father…"
"My father will send his newest version of minions to come and kill or capture me. I know," Salazar said sadly.
The three sat in silence for awhile. Then Severus surprisingly came up with a very clever possibility to get Salazar out safely, or as safely as possible. "As much as it pains me to say it. Potter's friends might actually come in handy for something. Ms. Granger and the two youngest Weasley brats could come here and fill Salazar in on how to act like Potter. They will of course need to be filled in on the situation, but with proper motivation, like the fact that if they slip up their friend will be gone forever, should keep them quiet."
Salazar whooped with joy, but then remembered Remus, and turned to him to ask silently for his permission on the matter. Remus tried to keep his stern expression on his face, but failed miserably at Salazar's puppy dog eyes, which reminded him strongly of Sirius, whom had also complained about being locked up in Grimauld Place. His stern expression crumbling, Remus finally agreed.
And so two days later, three very confused Hogwarts students stumbled through the fireplace, having taken the floo system to get there. What they saw after coming through was Remus Lupin, their most hated professor, and…
"HARRY!" they all shouted and rushed towards him. As they were coming at him however 'Harry' looked pleadingly up at Snape, who nodded and stepped in front of his young charge.
"That is enough!" Snape said with enough malice in his voice to stop them immediately. "All will be explained in time. Now if you all would come with us into the sitting room, we can finally get started."
And so everyone walked into the sitting room, with Ron, Ginny, and Hermione sending concerned looks to Harry the whole way. Salazar for one was very glad to have Professor Snape with him, as he seemed to be scaring the strange kids into not coming at him thinking that he was Harry. He couldn't wait till everything was explained and hoped that Harry's friends wouldn't immediately hate him after hearing that he wasn't who they thought he was. He really wanted their help.
As soon as they sat down, Harry's friend Ron seemed not to be able to contain himself any longer. He jumped up and said, "Harry mate, what's wrong? You haven't owl'd me all summer. Did something happen while you were at the Dursleys?"
Salazar shifted uneasily in his seat, unsure of what to say. He looked up as Snape nudged him though. Sighing, he said, "Well… you see. I… That is to say. Something did happen at the Dursleys. They were getting abusive, well mainly just Vernon, and…(he ignored their gasps and continued)…and he took things a bit too far, and Harry…(he once again ignored them as they looked confused about why he was speaking in third person.)…Harry decided to take his own life…(This time he had to stop as he heard their pained cry's of "what?")
Once again he looked at Professor Snape for help. Sighing, the man reluctantly took over the conversation. "Mr. Potter it seems, was unable to send a message for help, due to his Uncle dictating everything he wrote. When the abuse became too much he slit his wrists. Fortunately, Lupin here was already on his way to pick Mr. Potter up from Privet Drive. He closed the wounds, restarted his heart, and got him to Hogwarts medical wing where he was put in a magical stasis coma for two weeks time. When he woke up…there were unexpected results."
"What kind of unexpected results?" Granger asked him, with her eyes surveying 'Harry' as though looking for any physical changes.
" Mr. Potter wasn't the one who woke up…"
"Excuse me Professor, but what do you mean? Harry is quite obviously sitting in front of us at the moment, so he must've woken up," Hermione replied, causing Salazar to smile as her tone and slight know-it-all attitude reminded him of his dear friend Rowana Ravenclaw.
"If you would let me finish Ms. Granger, perhaps you will find out," causing Hermione to blush slightly. " Mr. Potter didn't wake up, but someone else did in his place."
"What? Who? the three asked urgently.
"I did."
Everyone turned to look at Salazar after he had spoken.
"What do you mean? Are you not Harry?" Hermione asked, causing Ginny to look at him in surprise and Ron to narrow his eyes in suspicion and anger.
"N-No I'm not. After Harry's spirit moved out of his body, I –well I guess the term would be possessed him. It-it was necessary. Not only did I save his life by taking over his body, but I also have the opportunity to finally defeat the Dark Lord." Salazar waited anxiously for someone to say something, but Harry's friends just looked at him with various expressions of awe, fear, anger, and sadness.
The youngest one, Ginny, finally spoke up, "So H-Harry is still a-alive?" she asked tearfully, but with hope.
"Yes. I mean, his body is still obviously alive, and I know for a fact that he is still bound to the earth- a bit like a ghost, but invisible and unable to communicate. When my job is done I will leave Harry's body, and he will once again take control. You will have your friend back. I promise you," Salazar said, excluding the fact that he didn't know what would happen to himself when he left Harry's body.
All were left in silence once again as they struggled to understand what was happening. As the other two contemplated, Hermione suddenly asked a startled Salazar,
"Who are you?"
to be continued…
AN: Well what did you think? Did it meet expectations?( Also I think I should tell everyone that while I will do my best to update every couple of days or so. I probably won't always be able to. Between my job tues-thurs, and writing two other fanfiction stories, as well as actually having a social life…let's just say that I will try my best. This story does take priority over my two other stories though.)
