Easy Way Out
Review Responses:
Zafaran- "Going as Alec certainly has possibilities. Not just for getting along with Draco. That solves the problem of trying to pass as Harry. The conversation with the sorting hat could be seriously entertaining since the hat should be able to tell it's Slytherin."
Me: Oh I quite agree. Going as Alec certainly seems like the best option. I wonder whether I will write it that way.
Vi riddle-"hm...i think he should go as alec, because then it would be smarter in the begginng (for but of course later be unmasked as "harry" OR actually have alec tell draco all thats happened and then later when "alec" is salzar again draco meets the real harry (without knowing that it is the real harry) and harry could be like "WTF?"
OR he could go as "harry" and "alec" could sneak in...but i like the idea of "alec" going better..."
Me: Okay, seriously confused. Thanks for playing. Try again later. Hehe. No really, thanks for the suggestions. It took awhile but I finally understood them. I think. Anyways, I do believe you will be happy with my decision. At least I hope.
Flamegirl22- "Okay. I think he should go as Harry but he doesn't heed Sev.'s advice. I would like to see him tell Draco that he is Salazar. I think that would be a good twist. But then when Harry comes back what will happen? Humm anyway I thought that this was a good chapter as well. I'm glad you updated. It was an interesting twist making Draco nice. There are very few that I like where he goes good. He is the bad boy I love to hate. But you have him switching for the right reasons and I do believe that I'll like that."
Me: Okay. First off, I'm glad your not dead. I haven't heard from you for awhile and I started to get worried. Secondly, I do believe that Draco will learn about Harry really being Salazar, but I don't know whether that will be in this chapter or sometime far off in the future, or whether he will be Alec or Harry when he tells him. Let's find out.
Wwwendy- "Harry. And he should find a way to explain to Draco about what happened & what he did...Hogwart's wouldn't be the same w/o Harry Potter there."
Me: First off, Harry won't be there in the first place so…well that really wouldn't count. I agree that Draco should know the truth, but I don't know when or how, yet. We'll see. Thanks for the review.
Kuramalovergirl- "I think Salazar go to school as Alec."
Me: Another one for Alec. Hmm.
Astyra- "Okay If I'm right Salazar is eventually going to leave right? Well, not to jump the gun or anything, what's going to happen to Draco then? I mean, is he falling for Harry or Sal? Is he already in love with Harry? Does Draco know that that was Harry in the store and was just playing along? Is Harry gonna remember any of this? Well, if the story isn't complete already, those were some of my thoughts, maybe they could inspire you? If it is complete you don't have to answer my questions, but I want you to know that I will continue reading until I find out, even if I'm not reviewing."
Me: Okay. If you remember, Remus and Severus told Salazar that they would find a way for him to stay, but also get Harry back. I am not sure how yet, but that is hopefully the way it will happen. Hopefully. And as for who Draco is falling for…I would say Alec, as he doesn't know about him being Harry or Salazar. As for if Harry will remember anything when he somehow gets back, who knows? Definitely not me.
Last Chapter
Salazar managed a small smile, but then went back to sulking. "Why would Harry even hate him in the first place? He's too nice to hate."
"Well, believe it or not, Draco used to be quite the pompous spoiled brat. Recently his father was imprisoned for life for being a Death Eater, forcing Draco to rethink his life. Since then he has become the nice young man that he is today."
"Then surely he could forgive…"
"No," said Snape, "He may have changed for the better, but he does not yet know how to forgive someone for hurting him."
"Oh," Salazar said sadly. A minute later he brightened.
"Couldn't I go to Hogwarts as Alec then?"
Chapter 16
To be or not to be…Harry Potter?
Salazar, or should I say Alec, couldn't believe his luck. They had agreed to let him go to Hogwarts as Alec. It had taken a great deal to convince Severus, but Remus finally won him over with the argument that it would be much easier for Salazar to pretend to be Alec then it would to be Harry. The only reason they had wanted Salazar to go as Harry in the first place was because he would be cooped up inside for at least a year, as he couldn't be allowed to be seen outside when he should be at Hogwarts. But this way, they could just say that Harry was off somewhere getting training for his own protection. And Alec could be a new exchange student.
Salazar couldn't be happier with his new arrangement. Not only did he not have to pretend to be a Gryffindor, and the Boy-Who-Lived, but he could also be the person that had hit it off great with Draco in the pet shop. Life was good! Well no- good would be if he were still back in his time with his best friend Godric. But, this was the next best thing. Sighing happily, Salazar allowed himself to fall back on his bed with a bright smile on his face.
Downstairs
Remus smirked as he watched the sulking Severus making tea. Well, sulking may not be the right world. He was more like frowning intensely at the unfairness of the world. Yes, definitely not sulking.
"It was a rather ingenious idea Severus," Remus said to the su-frowning man.
"He only came up with it so that he could date my godson."
"Yes well. At least he has good taste right?" Remus said teasingly.
"That is beside the point Lupin. By letting him get his way on this matter you are going to make him think he can get his way for everything. He…"
"Is not a four year old child. Look Severus," Remus said seriously, "Salazar is seventeen years old. He is already an adult. If it were not for the fact that he is already much too mature for his age, I wouldn't have agreed to this. But, he has been through so much in his life that I think we should let him have some fun. There doesn't seem to be any harm in letting him go as Alec, so why not?"
Severus thought for a moment before a look of realization came onto his face. "He reminds you of Potter doesn't he? You're feeling guilty about not being there for him. For not raising him. For not giving him presents or taking him on vacations. And you are trying to ease your guilt by taking in a boy who reminds you of him and making him happy. Well, word of advice Lupin. Salazar is not Potter. So don't treat him as such."
"But I- I'm not! I mean yes, he's similar to Harry but…I know that it isn't him. I mean… I wouldn't… I…"
Remus suddenly collapsed in his chair.
"I do treat him like he were Harry don't I?" Remus finally said in shock.
Severus sighed. "Yes, you do. I am not saying that that is a bad thing by any means. I simply mean that you can't just give in to him when he asks for something because you feel like you owe it to him. You should only be giving in to him because you are a gullible Gryffindor while he is a cunning Slytherin, literally," Severus said with a smirk. "Seriously though. We need to care about him because he needs and deserves our care, not because he reminds us of anyone."
Remus decided that Severus was right. He knew that he wasn't going to treat Salazar any different, because he did in fact care about him the way he did Harry. But from now on with Salazar, and with Harry when he gets back, he would have to try not to let his guilt over not being there for Harry after Lily and James died and Sirius was put in prison, get in the way of his being a guardian to either boy. Especially since he was going to be Salazar's teacher as well as guardian as soon as Hogwarts started.
AN: Well how was it? I don't remember wanting to write that conversation between Remus and Severus when I started the chapter, but my mind sometimes takes hold and makes me do some weird things. Go figure. Anyways, sorry if the chapter wasn't what you expected, as I said, the chapter turned out quite differently from what I intended, but oh well. Next chapter, my brain will hopefully stay on task.
