Summary: We learn a little more about Salazar apprentice and the resistance against Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: JK Rowlings creation is her own, the only profit I am making is the enjoyment of creating a story based on her works.

Git!

"Insolent boy!" I winced as Godric's voice flooded my consciousness through the link of my new apprentice. Harolde's fleeting thought that Gryffindor was going to kill him intertwined with my own wavering confidence. His feelings of shame and guilt quickly followed making me chuckle. Typical Gryffindor!

I remember Harolde's face to this day when I first suggested that he 'borrow' a scroll from Godric's library. The boy had been absolutely petrified by the thought. But being Gryffindor would not admit this to me and so I had easily manipulated him into slipping into Hogwarts castle and into Godric's secret chamber.

Godric was no fool and soon he realised my part in the attempted theft. I didn't bother to take much notice of Godric's conversation with my apprentice. Only the scroll which I wanted was worthy of my attention. I knew Godric would bring my apprentice back to my door; although Harolde knew the secret way back into the cellar of our small home.

It was only when Godric deemed it necessary to insult me and reveal to me the scroll wasn't what I was after that I retaliated making Harolde snicker in glee with my indignation.

I went to the door and I waited for them to arrive. Since Saxtyn's and Newlin's death apparating could not be done on Hogwarts grounds thanks to Rowena Ravenclaw.

Soon enough to cloaked figures were visible in the distance I waited by the door frame motionlessly determined that Godric would be the first to speak.

"Ho, Salazar I've got you a boy," Godric jovially cried unclasping his long cloak and sweeping it to his side. He seemed somewhat amused that Harolde was refusing to look at anything but me. So I scowled deeply at my apprentice who continued to ignore me completely.

"Teaching a half blood are we… Salazar…?" Godric's eyes suddenly became cold and angry. In the few letters I had sent to him I continued to voice my opinions of teaching half-bloods.
I glanced back down to Harolde who shifted in discomfort apparently still unsure where he stood with me. "His bloodlines would be…" I let my gaze linger on Godric for a moment then back to Harolde. "reasonable enough."
Gryffindor snorted irritably. "And you send him to steal from me."
"Burrow…" I replied tersely. "I would have gotten the scrolls to you after we had used them."
"The ones you want are dangerous."
"The risk would be minimal if you or I did the task," I pointed out lightly.

"Are you doing this because you couldn't save Saxtyn and Newlin?" Gryffindor asked in a low voice. Even after this time his comment was like a barb. Penetrating my deep consciousness and rooting up the old feelings of guilt and shame.

"That has nothing to do with it," I hissed and pointed to Harolde who was backing away quickly. "This boy could possibly save our world…but without our help it would be nigh impossible."
Gryffindor shifted uneasily. "I know," he admitted, "But he's one of mine - the decision is mine."

"Just like you decided to abandon hope of saving Saxtyn and Newlin, after you failed to protect them..." I replied bitterly.
"We had no choice... would you damn your own nephew to a cursed immortal life?" Damn Gryffindor for being so calm after so long. "It was best to let the lads die. It was unfortunate, Salazar, but there was nothing more you could have done."

Harolde glanced away mute and embarrassed to be overhearing such a personal conversation. I could not stand it any longer… the anger was taking over me.
"If he is one of yours then you should protect him!" I roared, "It's your responsibility NOT MINE!" I turned abruptly on my heel and stalked off in a temper, slamming the door behind me.

I nearly made it to my chamber when a terrible scream rent the air. I rushed back into the room to find Godric bending over a thrashing Harolde. I pushed Godric away crying out to my apprentice to open his eyes and calm down. Put Harolde slumped under my arms unconscious from the attack on pain that had assailed him. In all my years as a healer I have never seen a reaction that could rival what Harolde went through.
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Godric had insisted that we returned with Harolde back to Hogwarts. I was inclined to agree for I was concerned about him and being a healer it was my innate sense to protect my charges. Besides I hadn't seen Earven in a long time.

No complications bothered Harolde; he woke after a few hours and was back to his inquisitive self within moments. Which is just as well…

Earven had entered the room and introduced himself. Harolde seemed pleasantly surprised by my son's entrance. But that was not what had caught my attention.

Lord knows how it was able to enter a chamber in Hogwarts but it was in my chambers… The demoned that killed Newlin and Saxtyn was back and we were trapped.

I pushed Harolde behind my body barricading him from the creature. I knew that Harolde was already searching for the hidden door handle to exit the chamber but was quickly becoming panicked.

The creature stepped forward and unfurled great black wings.

"HAROLDE!" I grabbed my apprentice and threw him backwards with all his strength.

"…Father! NO!" Earven took a step towards me to help, but tripped on Harolde who was sprawled on the floor.

Harolde used this time to race to the table where his wand lay. He hit the table with his knees but pointed his wand directly at the creature.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

"NOOOOO...Harolde..." Earven jumped up and scrambled to Harolde his face twisted in an unreadable expression. He reached up and tried to twist Harolde's wand from his fist but Harolde lifted his arm and Earven meet thin air.

A great silver stag, with large deep set eyes stepped forth and turned his reagal head to survey the dark creature. The stag didn't allow the creature any more time the patronus reared and pranced forth, his lordly neck lowered to the ground… but the creature remained still and dispassionate…I could feel my heart sinking in my chest.

I caught my apprentice as he collapsed by the mounting pain the demon was causing him through his patronus. What surprised me was that he was conscious…

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'

If I was not there I would not have believed it possible that my apprentice should be so strong that he was able to dispel the evil from his mind with Godric's help. After the double tragedy with our nephews I was aware that Godric had intensely studied the demon and found how one could fight back using one's mind.

Harolde quickly recovered himself, in time to hear that the Hollow, a land owned and protected by the Gryffindor clan had been attacked. He was truly a Gryffindor in the moments of turmoil that followed and he stubbornly argued that he should accompany me to the Hollow.

All that I will say about the Hollow is that Harolde was taken back by the force in which the muggles and the half-blood armies had gone through the village. I had seen the like before with the village of my deceased sister Salome. But it was the first time for Harolde.

I had no wish to linger in such a place. I grabbed my stubborn apprentice who had covered his mouth to stop retching. He momentarily glanced up at me then to Godric who accompanied us then whispered, "How will we find those who did this?" The fate of the village frightened him and so it should.

"We will follow their essence," I replied crisply then I continued wishing to teach Harolde that he should not have opposed my decision in coming with us. "And since you wanted to be of help – come and I will show you."
"Salazar I ought to…" I stopped Godric's protests with a curt nod. We knew each other well to understand our quirks and nature.

I stepped forward and Harolde followed me obediently with unsure hesitant steps. However I did not have to go far before I found a corpse of a women who evidently been killed by a magic user… a blood traitor.

"Well come down here then!" I cried impatiently kneeling beside the corpse. Harolde froze in his spot wry of what I might do next. Then slowly he knelt beside me his large emerald eyes searching my face for something…

I moved my hands over the corpse's face as I had done countless of times as a healer. Harolde watched on with disgust. "It's safe," I announced, Harolde didn't look too confident in my opinion. "Now give me your hand."

"She won't bite," I snapped as Harolde's lips curled in disgust over what I had asked him to do.

"There is nothing to be afraid of," Godric Gryffindor said by Harolde's ear. How is it he always seems to know what is going through his apprentices' minds.

Harolde offered his hand shyly and I took it quickly before I myself changed my mind. I pressed both our fingers to the dead woman's temples.

I allowed both the boy's and my innate essences merge together so that I could tell where one identity started and the other began.

There was almost nothing from the woman. No thought. No power. No love. No music. No voices. No life.

'Do you feel that?'
Harolde couldn't find the appropriate words to answer me. Feeling Harolde's sense of confusion I delved deeper into his magical core. 'Death comes to us all. This is a shell…almost nothing lingers here…'

With my apprentice watching on the sidelines I investigated the 'empty' space of the corpse. After a little time a face emerged from the darkness and a new essence became evident…

The killer was a man with long flaxen hair, rich black robes and an elegant cane by his side. His eyes were light but were filled with darkness. And I felt a jolt of recognition by my apprentice.

"He's at my place…" I said as I slowly stood upright on my legs. "We should confront him."

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I entered my home and stretched letting the door bang loudly against the frame effectively announcing to any intruders that I was home.

I had been right in assuming that my apprentice knew the intruder. I called the mysterious wizards name loudly and stepped further into the hall. Only silence welcomed me. I called again louder claiming I knew why he was in my home.

A loud clatter and clung greeted me. I grimaced striding forward. Despite myself I was angry at the intrusion on my privacy even though I knew this wizard was here. 'Calm down,' Godric said soothingly into my mind.

'I kill him… I swear I'll kill him…'

'You can kill him after we have closed the trap around the traitors of our kind,' Godric assured me with a chuckle.

In response I forced a small smile to grace my features and walked on.

'Now that is much better.'

'Shut up, Godric!'

In the next moment I came face to face with a blonde gentlemen wearing elaborate robes. The blonde looked at me in fright, well I guess his first reaction was surprise, but as he was wearing a bone white mask over his face I could not be sure.

"Take off your mask… you have no need of it here. I have already seen your face," I leered regally swishing my robes about. To my pleasure he did as I commanded almost immediately with shaky hands.

'Git…' Harolde commented in my mind.

'Hush…Harry…,' Gryffindor chided.
'He can't hear us… Git…' Harolde repeated relishing the opportunity.
I caught the smile that was on my lips and replaced it with a frown. 'But I can…'

"Attacking the Hollow was a grave mistake…" I purred silkily. I enjoyed the trepidation that spread across the stranger's face – and once more I could feel Harry jubilation in my mind. 'Git…git…git…git!'

"My – my – lord?" the intruder stammered.
"You were here to aide me, were you not…?" Slytherin raised his eyebrows serenely.
"In a manner of speaking milord…" the intruder continued. I had reputation already it seemed with strangers of the 'wider' world for my apparent split in friendship of the other founders. My apprentice once more had been right in knowing how this man would react in meeting one such as I. This would be interesting…