Genocide

Days turned in weeks, weeks into months and the months into two years. Until then nothing in my life seemed to have changed. We had become famous in the magical world, respected and looked up to. Everything was going well until that horrible February night.

The night that changed my life was bitterly cold. I was warm in my bed, fast asleep when I was awoken by a strange feeling of dread. It was akin to a large cube of icicles lodged in my stomach and intestines. If it was at all possible my blood and insides froze in fright.

As my eyes snapped open I heard Salome's presence buffeting against my sleep ridden mind. It was a single shrill cry of 'Salazar'. Time remained still as thick bitter bile rose into my throat.

Sitting up abruptly rousing Briona from her slumber I scrambled out of bed. My rushed exit had awoken Earven who had once more magically migrated into
our shared bed.

Salome's presence was soon joined by her husband William Darcy. He did not communicate through words. Rather I smelled the wood burning and saw the thin tendrils of smoke curling above the village. I heard children squalling; women screaming and the shouts of husbands and fathers calling out in sheer panicked desperation.

'I'm coming.'

I glanced into Earven's confused dark eyes. He was still yet a babe and did not know of the horrors of this world. He was intelligent nonetheless and he knew even then something awful was happening. He whimpered to see me in such a deep state of panic.

A shiver of dread race up my spine. I reached forward and kissed Briona's brow.
"I'll be back soon," I said, then I adeptly appartated.

For those who have never experienced such traveling as apparition, there is no way for me to describe it accurately to you. I'll only say this: be glad you have not had to apparate.

The moment I appeared in Salome's sleepy little village I reeled to see the damage that had been done. Houses were burning and the screams were like a
constant stream of hellish sounds in my ears. Even now, years after the horrific events I wake from slumber with the reverberating sounds of the
dying.

On the air I could smell blood, sweat and all the other not so lovely things that came from battle. It seemed surreal. The wizarding village was undertake from muggles. It was in the dead of night; obviously the muggles had attacked when the wizards had not expected to defend themselves. They had been caught in the dark with their pants down so to speak.

Confusion was rife. There was no order. It was every man to save his own skin and family. There was nothing they could have done.

I raced through the blood stained streets looking in the dark of the little lane Salome had described to be in one of her letters. I past the blacksmith, the baker and ah-ha!

I slipped through an ally way and found myself at the back of a wizarding pub; much like the ones Godric and I enjoyed to frequent.

Behind the pub was a small cottage with white walls and a quaint little garden. I knew this to be Salome's home. It was engulfed in flames.

'My baby Salazar,' Salome was screaming at a fever pitch, 'my baby is burning!'

I gasp caught in my throat. Her first child, a boy, was only a few months old. Darcy had proudly written and told me what a bonny child his new son was.

'It's okay, I'll get him out,' I promised. There was nothing. Salome didn't reply and I would never hear her voice again. But at the time I had not thought about Salome's lack of response.

I rushed in. William, dear William, was lying in his own blood on the threshold of his home. But I did not stop to mourn. I could not awaken the dead or more accurately I knew I dare not reanimate the dead and I could hear the faint wailing of his child.

I moved quickly coming to a small room where a bed with its quilts and cushions were burning. In the corner I spied a baby' cot; hand made. I had sent it as a gift to Salome when I heard the birth of her first child was imminent.

Clutching my side as I breathed in too much smoke I realized I would never reach him in time. The roof was unstable - we would never make it to the front door.

"Accio baby," I coughed nearly doubling over with smoke inhalation. I caught the little bundle as it came directly towards me squirming and screaming. If
I felt absolutely horrid at that moment I wonder how little Saxtyn (as he was named) was feeling.

This is why the muggles disgust me so. Leaving a harmless new born child to burn in his cot defenceless. It was not as if he could fight his way out of the situation.

Argh! I'm getting ahead of myself here.

So there I was standing in the middle of Salome's and William's room holding their only child and the roof was about to come down on my head.

I didn't allow any time to pass. As soon as I felt Saxtyn's weak kicks, telling me despite my sore watering eyes he was safe in my arms I apparated
home.

"Salazar."

I quickly handed Saxtyn into Briona's arms. Saxtyn on the other hand was quite content to scream out his little lungs. Trust me he had a fine set of lungs.

"Salazar, whose baby is this?" Briona asked rocking him gently and making cooing noises.

"Salome's."

"Salome?"

I nodded as the grief over William's death finally caught up with me.

"William is dead."

"Dead?"

"Aye."

"But…"

My warning glance at Earven who had been awoken rudely by his little cousin's cry was enough to silence her.

'Salome.'

I was meet with silence. Absolute silence. A cold dread filled me in those moments.

'Salome?'

Nothing.

'Salome, I have your child.

Silence echoed about me and I realized the truth that I had been denying myself. I realized I had known all along.

'SALOME!'

I broke down then. Tears streamed down my face as I gave a cry of rage. Earven ducked underneath our covers surprised at my display of emotion. It may seem strange to you that one such as I: Salazar Slytherin would have such an ability to feel this emotion and express it. I am human after all.

I don't know how long I stood in my mourning state where time has no application or meaning. I just stood and mourned.

But I eventually came out of it. This awakening was sudden. My head snapped up and I glanced at Briona who was cradling our nephew.

"Here," I took Saxtyn from her arms and crossed the room, where Earven's old cot stood collecting dust. He had stopped his squawking during my mourning
but I had been oblivious to it happening.

"Salazar, you can't put him in there!"

I looked up as Briona's bustled across the room in nothing but her night shift. She smiled wanly at me as she dusted the carved wood and found a new
clean blanket. She took him from my arms, laid him down and tucked him in.

"I thought as a healer you would have known better."

I nodded wearily.

Earven was still curled up in our blankets. I strode over to him, plucked him out and lifted him into the air.

"You be good to your mother and baby cousin while I'm gone."

Earven, ever serious, as I held him aloft over my head, nodded energetically. "I will, Pappa." I kissed his forehead and put him down.

"Then you can start by going back to sleep, Pappa has something he must do."

Earven nodded again and obediently lay down. I looked over to Briona meaningfully. "I need to fine her."

It was nearly dawn when I apparated back into Salome's village with Godric. When I had pounded on Godric's door and told him of my sorry story, he had
insisted that he come with me.

Very soon Hogwarts Castle knew of our new member. Helga was busy assessing him (she was an excellent expert in midwifery and baby care), Rowena of course was full of helpful advice and Godric's dear wife was happy to help Briona make arrangements for the new baby.

We apparated back straight to Salome's and William's home; now that I knew where it was. Poor William Darcy's body was still on the threshold.

Murmuring his condolences Godric removed his cloak and placed it over William's body. I knew he felt a great sadness then; William Darcy had ever been a friend to the Gryffindor clan.

I sighed and indicated that we should find Salome's body. We walked through the village with our heads bowed. Not one of the village homes had been
spared in the attack. Even now I cannot find it in my heart to speak of the destruction that had destroyed many families and lives.

We found her near the bakery. Her body was a mangled mess of limbs, her hair was limp, her eyes wide open and glassy, her dress ripped…

I gagged at the sight but pressed forward until I was kneeling by her fallen form. I took her in my arms and in those moments I made a sacred promise to
look after her son.

Again I don't know how long I remained there with her lifeless form against mine. I don't know what possessed me to reach out one last time.

I felt a stirring of nothingness and yet there was a glimmer of something. It is really difficult to explain so I won't go into the particulars here.

Then I saw it a muggle face yellow stained teeth bared, a hand wrapped around a thin gold chain and the chain braking.

I pulled away with a gasp of shock, my eyes snapped opened as I looked around

frantically in the dust.

"Salazar, what is it?"

I kept searching until my hand found it. A locket. A simple gold locket. I don't know how Salome had it; I had thought it had been lost when we were forced to flee our childhood home.

It had belonged to my father's family; the Slytherin's and it was his and my mother (who wore it) most valued treasure.

I held it up against my beating heart as the salty tears continued down my face and into the dirt. And I repeated my oath aloud for the world to hear.

"By the sun and the moon, the earth and sky, or by my life or death I will protect your son as my own. He will not lack for anything."

I would uphold my oath unto death... But little did I know the tragedy had only begun.