I've added a line to the prophesy because some of my reviewers have rightfully pointed out that Dumbledore really should have thought that Harry was the one in the prophesy anyways. I've also changed chapter one (or two if you count the prologue) so that Parvati Patil and Seamus Finnigan died from the poison. It really couldn't be helped and I had tried to avoid it. Everything that happened to him seemed a bit extreme (to me) for an attempted (and failed) murder…Even if it was a dark potion and everything. Well…Maybe not but whatever. Also, it now also has him joining Voldie as one of the reasons he was sent to Azkaban. I just can't seem to post the changes to that chapter because the site's messed up. Whatever.
I'm sorry, I posted this prematurely. I thought that it was okay if I just wrote it out but I wasn't sure where I was going with it and the whole thing just collapsed on me. That's the main reason that I haven't updated in so long and why I decided it was so necessary to change those little details in the previous chapters.
Sorry for the wait and enjoy this new chapter!
When is Harry going to be free or do they find out they betrayed him?
Right not Salazar is pretty much free, but he's chosen to stay in Azkaban until he can prove his innocence as it'll be easier from there. He wants them to know they betrayed him.
For those who were wondering who believed Harry/Salazar to be innocent (specifically Luna and Snape – plus a person who thought Moody would be the last person to believe Harry).
I don't have all of them planned out. The founder(s) who are aware mostly believe in his innocence but mostly just want to at least talk to him and find out (nobody really heard his side of the story). Snape has his doubts about Harry's guilt because he thinks Harry's too Gryffindorish to join Voldie. He doesn't really care but he doesn't think too highly of how easily Harry was betrayed by his friends. Moody believes Harry because his paranoia makes him believe that nothing is quite what is seems and that if something comes to you too easily or is done too perfectly than something is obviously wrong. Anyone else you'll just have to wait and find out unless you ask me specifically – meaning I haven't really decided yet.
Is Harry going to be good/bad?
It depends on your definition of good/bad. He's not going to just forgive the whole Wizarding World, join the Order, and defeat Voldie for them. But he's also against Voldie and not about to join the Death Eaters. He'll help when it's needed – the Order an Ministry and too incompetent to protect innocents.
Is Draco going to be eventually introduced into this fic?
Yes, Draco is coming into the story very soon; at least within the next couple chapters. He is one of my favorite characters, after all.
Did Snape think that Harry was innocent?
He has his doubts, though only because he thinks that Harry's too Gryffindorish to join Voldemort and try to kill his friends.
Harry/Salazar's not going to forgive the idiots? Will Harry laugh, when his innocence is found out? No forgiveness?
Laugh? Maybe. Forgive? Definitely not.
Someone also pointed out that perhaps I overdid it a little with the way people were reacting, especially with everyone destroying his things.
I completely agree. I could never find quite the right balance when making this scene. But think of it this way: all these people have been stacking all their hopes and dreams on Harry. They all have absolute confidence that he's perfect in every way and that he'll get rid of Voldemort for them. Then they find out that he's working with Voldemort and all their hopes and dreams come crashing down. He's their scapegoat.
Disclaimer: I own nothing already! Okay? And I definitely don't own Harry Potter. If I did I wouldn't have done that in the sixth book…Well, any of that. There were a lot of them (meaning, I suppose, plural of that).
:Mindspeech:
-Parseltongue-
Chapter Two: Of Battles and Plots
Salazar Slid away from the Order's headquarters grinning broadly. It was incredibly fun watching the Order members run around like a bunch of headless chickens. Figuratively, of course; they were neither running nor headless but their cluelessness and that air of panicked shouting…A sudden scream cut through the air and Salazar cursed, snapping his attention back to the matter at hand.
He started running towards the screams, which were coming from somewhere near the Leaky Cauldron. People were running away from the Death Eaters while others stood frozen. The smarter ones found refuge in shops and barricaded the door with magic, refusing to let anyone else in. Women, children, men, and babies alike were screaming, crying, and shouting while the Death Eaters advanced with the leisurely and dangerous air of a pack of panthers, occasionally shooting spells and curses into the panicked crowd.
Salazar ran forward, pulling his dagger out of his sleeve. He quickly drew it across the palm of his hand, careful not to let it go to deep; it wouldn't do to pass out from blood loss. A drop of blood fell to the ground and, as others fell to join it, Salazar began the incantation.
-I call upon thy elements of the Shadows
Protect thy innocents of this place
Help thee establish a barrier of Darkness
To defend thy people of the Light
Or of thy Darkness, if thou be innocent
Or thy lurkers of thy Shadows
To defend thee from harmful magicks
I call upon thou, Shadows of Darkness and Light
Protect us all!-
An odd barrier, a dome of swirling black, purple, silver, gold, and white, flickered around the astonished shoppers and shopkeepers. Salazar surveyed the dome carefully. The incantation may have seemed a little long winded but there were other rituals that would go on for hours. This shield was large and didn't cost more than a little blood, though it was relatively short-lived. Of course, relatively was for real wars, where battles went on sometimes for months. The shield would last a couple hours and vanish, which was plenty of time.
The Death Eaters, who had stood in a sort of awed silence when the barrier came up, laughed, though Salazar could tell it was out of nerves. They started jeering but that was cut short when an idiot decided to try and use an Avada Kedavra on it. The shield absorbed it and the area where it was hit started swirling with the green light. The Death Eaters watched with trepidation as it swirled faster and faster, darkening the weak, pale curse to a deep, forest-ey shade of emerald. Suddenly it shot back towards its caster, quick as lightning. The caster dropped to the ground, dead along with three other Death Eaters standing around him.
Most of the Death Eaters looked ready to Apparate away but Lucius Malfoy's voice shouted from somewhere in the crowd,
"Get him you idiots! He's not inside the barrier!" One would think that after such an impressive display of magic, the Death Eaters would be a bit hesitant to attack him but the Death Eaters ignored this piece of logic and surged forwards in a mass of black cloaks and white masks.
They were all around him in an instant but Salazar didn't seem to care. He had, in fact, predicted the move, for it was a highly predictable move indeed. He drew his sword. And then the Death Eaters attacked.
They fired curses, some of which he dodged, some of which fizzled out, and some of which he deflected with his sword but none of which hit their target. They, of course, didn't consider using Muggle fighting but instead surrounded him, firing off curses with the desperate hope that some would hit. None did.
The Death Eaters were getting nervous, especially those closest to Salazar. And then he struck, with the quickness of a snake, sword flashing and blood flying. Five were down before any of the others knew what was happening and ten more before they gave up with their spell casting and started running.
Salazar hunted them down easily (there was, after all, very few places to go) and, when they started Apparating away, set up anti-Apparation wards and toyed with them much as a cat would with a mouse. He didn't torture any (it just wasn't his style), at least not the painful way. He merely let them torture themselves with their own fear of death.
Salazar didn't even kill all of them. He wandlessly stunned quite a few (he had to give the wizarding world a chance to prove his innocence, after all) and had barely started tearing up their ranks when there was a disturbance; a skeletal man walking towards Salazar and the fleeing Death Eaters. A man with glowing red eyes.
"What," the man (if he could be called that) drawled with a decidedly snake-like voice, "is going on here?" Salazar abandoned his prey (leaving the young man in a trembling heap) and bounced over to Voldemort, his grim manner suddenly replaced by one of childish glee.
"Tommy!" He squealed, his eyes sparkling with mirth, "I'm so glad you could make it!" Salazar was distantly aware of the Order trying to break through his anti-Apparation wards (they couldn't get in because he had blocked off the Leaky Cauldron after Voldemort arrived).
"What did you just call me?" Voldemort hissed angrily, "You shall call me Lord Voldemort or nothing else!"
"But," Salazar started, his eyes wide, "Mummy said not to call you that. She said that I could call you Tom, Tommy, Tommy Boy, Voldie, Moldy Shorts, Moldy Warts, or The-Man-Who-Let-The-Boy-Live but she told be to never ever call you that." Of course the mummy stuff didn't really work with his outfit but it was fun anyways.
One of Voldemort's eyes twitched,
"My name is Lord Voldemort!"
"My mummy also told me never to lie," Salazar continued, "Didn't your mummy tell you never to lie? My mummy said that only Dark Lords are liars. She said that unless I wanted to be a Dark Lord I should never, ever lie. Is that how you became a Dark Lord?" Voldemort was becoming angrier every second and everybody else was too scared of Salazar to interrupt his absurd story.
"You have the nerve to mock me?" Voldemort was angrier than he had ever been, even when Potter had escaped his grasp for the fifth time. "Crucio!" But the curse never reached Salazar. It fizzled out even as it left Voldemort's wand as had so many others from various Death Eaters.
"You shouldn't have done that, Tommy," Salazar said in a sing-song voice.
"Oh and why not?" Voldemort asked haughtily, though he was internally unnerved.
"Because," Salazar said in an almost patronizing tone of voice, "I didn't like that. So if you do that, you'll make me upset. And if you make me upset, I'll be angry at you. And I have the ability to make your life hell. So…don't do that."
Voldemort was definitely unnerved now. Where was the Gryffindor defiance that his past challengers all seemed to poses? This one seemed absolutely Slytherin. Voldemort smirked. He could do Slytherin.
"What is your name?" He asked, carefully choosing a neutral question that bordered on friendly. This man could make a good ally if he played his cards right.
Salazar thought for a while,
"Cobra, I suppose."
"You suppose?" Voldemort asked. His voice had an oily quality and Salazar would have gagged had the situation not been so dangerous. And the situation was becoming rather serious. The barrier might have helped him neutralize the various dark curses but his magic wasn't infallible. It had very definite limits and he was reaching his dangerously fast; he had used up too much on flashy attacks. He'd already loosened his hold on the anti Apparation wards; a couple more unforgivables and he'd have only the energy to dodge.
"I didn't tell Dumbledore my real name and I certainly won't tell you," Salazar said.
"Dumbledore?" Voldemort hissed, "You're working for that old fool?"
"Of course not," Salazar said, "But I can still have a conversation with him." The Order members were starting to break through his anti-Apparation wards. A couple more minutes and he'd be forced to let them go, allowing most of the Death Eaters to get away.
"Then why don't you join me?" Voldemort's voice was oily again, greasy and slimy, "I could give you money, fame. Anything you want I could get for you."
"I don't think so," Salazar said, "I'm not one of 'em take over the world types. Thanks of the offer, though. It was really nice of you." The last part was added in a voice almost as sugary sweet as Voldemort's was oily.
Voldemort was shocked. And angry. He wasn't used to being rejected like this. Occasionally there would be the Gryffindor who would shout 'I'll never join you!' but this was something completely different. He opened his mouth to say something (no doubt dramatic and angry) but was interrupted by the quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) pops of a couple hundred Aurors and Order members Apparating into the ally.
"Dumbledork!" Salazar shouted, childish amusement back in place, "I'm so glad to see you again! Now you can talk to Tommy because he's not talking to me. I think he's mad at me," he added the last part in a stage whisper. "Anyways, I have to go, mummy's calling me. Bye!" And with that he Slid away.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Had someone been looking at the cell of one Harry James Potter, they would be surprised to see, for just a split second, two Harry Potters sitting in the cell. They would probably dismiss this as a trick of the light as, at a second glance, there would be only one. As it was, not one person had ever visited Harry's cell in Azkaban, not even to yell at him (save the guards, the human ones, who came by every week to check if any of the prisoners had died).
Salazar flopped onto his bed (which did not, in fact, resemble a bed so much as an uneven and highly dirty slab of stone) thoroughly exhausted. His magical reserves were completely depleted from such an exhausting battle. If you could call that a battle,he thought with a brief snort of laughter. Probably the only reason that he was so tired was that he had been making a large effort to be intimidating. Using flashy (not to mention unnecessary) spells was tiring, no doubt about that.
He had managed to save some energy by un-transfiguring everything while he was sliding, while he was in the Between, the place between shadows that is often referred to as the Realm of Shadows by those who live there. The place that the Shadowalkers used to live. Changing the shape (and even nature) of things was always easier in the Between, maybe because there was more magic there or maybe because of the nature of shadows; Salazar didn't know. The fact that he did it all at once (for Lurking would have taken far too much energy at the time and, as he couldn't actually visit the Realm of Shadows for more time than it took to Slide, he had only the smallest amount of time to do it) was tiring, yes, but not as tiring as doing it outside of the Between.
Salazar tried to get comfortable on his bed (something he failed miserably at…Perhaps the floor would be a bit more comfortable?) and closed his eyes. He had no idea how long he would be out of it while his magic replenished his magical reserved. There were potions that could speed up the process to a matter of days but he had no access to any. Ah well, he was content, for now, to just let his body do it the natural way. He drifted off into sleep…
Salazar Slytherin sat at his friend's bedside, emerald eyes watching his friend with concern. It had been almost a day since the battle, since the horrible news that his cousin, sweet little Ethelinda, had become one of them, one of those mockeries of Darkness that dare call themselves Dark Lords and Ladies. Salazar had no idea when his friend would wake; perhaps in an hour, perhaps a month. His friend might never wake up, as the curse he had been hit by had not yet been identified.
It really was his fault this time. When he had thrown Godric down a flight of stairs (thankfully Hogwarts used her own magic too intervene and make sure the Founder wasn't hurt too badly) it had been purely accidental magic and, though he had blamed himself for months, Godric had gotten better and reassured him that it wasn't his fault (though a part of him still believed it was). This time Salazar had Apparated away when the others had needed him. He had run away and his friends had all been injured without his help.
Helga and Rowena had, luckily, had managed to avoid major injuries and the few curses that had managed to hit them had fairly simple counter-curses. Although both managed to maintain relatively good health, neither had managed to regain consciousness so far. Not that Salazar had been expecting anything else; his friends needed their rest to help speed along the healing process.
Gentle Helga had the gift to look at all sides of a debate without judgment, while wise Rowena knew appearances were deceiving and judgment often too quick. While not entirely confident, he felt sure that they, at least, would hear him out before making a decision and so he sat by the bed of the third friend, wondering if this was the right choice. Should he give Godric time to think before seeing him? Godric was well-known for his bravery and expected others to be brave, to – indeed, in his presence, most were. How had he taken it when his own friend had fled the battle, though for reasons that he had not yet known?
Salazar glanced back at his friend in concern then froze; his friend's eyes were open. Too soon, too soon, too soon! His brain rambled frantically. He wasn't ready for a confrontation. And then all thought seemed to flee his mind in panic.
"Godric," he said, and then hesitated, "I…Are you feeling all right? Do you need something? Should I call a healer?"
But his friend's eyes were wild, feverish,
"Traitor!" He croaked; his throat raw from shouts during the battle, "I should have known you weren't to be trusted. What's the matter, Snake, battle too harsh on you? Coward! Filthy rat!"
Salazar's eyes narrowed. The curse might have influenced his friend to say such things, but he would have been able to tell had they not been meant and thought before. So…this was how his friends thought of him behind his back? Fine, then, so be it!
"You are not well," he said, neutrally, "Or you would have known I'm a snake, not a rat. Cats may take it upon themselves to chase off or kill rats but snakes are masterful hunters and rats, their pray. Don't get the two of them confused."
"Leave!"
"I won't. I have every right to be here as much as you. You aren't the only person here injured and you most certainly aren't the only person whose bedside I plan to stay at."
Godric gave a harsh laugh,
"Leave! Not just the Hospital Wing, either! Leave Hogwarts and never come back!"
Salazar looked at his friend, refused to glare or let any sign of hurt or any other emotion show in his eyes,
"You have no right. This place is as much mine as yours."
"They gave me a right, Helga and Rowena. They suspected you, just as I did. They wanted you out if you ever did anything that endangered the school." Hogwarts, the very magic in the air that gave the castle a touch of awareness, seemed to pulse slightly, to support the truth behind the words. So it was true, then. An empty, hollow sensation seemed to settle in his stomach. So his friends had been wary of him, had even plotted against him.
The healer in charge of the Hospital Wing during Helga's absence (well she was there, right in the Hospital Wing, but unconscious and therefore unable to do her job) came bustling over,
"Oh dear, oh dear!" the small witch squeaked, "Lord Slytherin! Why did you not tell me earlier that Lord Gryffindor was awake?"
Salazar finally snapped,
"Because third best in the country or not, I am the most experienced person in this ward and therefore I don't have to call you over until I finish examining his symptoms unless I find in necessary to do so!" He inwardly scoffed. He hardly believed the old fool to be among the top hundred, rather than the top three. He distrusted the government to supply them with decent healers and had not yet been proven wrong.
"Picking on defenseless girls now, Snake?" Godric spat.
"Oh I'm so sorry Lord Gryffindor," Salazar did not soften his tone when speaking to his friend, "I hadn't realized you were so delicate." He sneered, "I'm sorry, am I disturbing you? Wouldn't want that; your body might not be able to handle the stress."
"Get out of my sight, Snake! And out of the school!"
"Won't you even give me time to gather my belongings?" Salazar's tone was mocking, "Or are you going to kick me out without any cloths or money?"
Godric looked like he was seriously considering the latter option,
"You have three hours," he said, somewhat reluctantly.
"Thank you, Lord Gryffindor. You're so generous!" His manner was still mocking and his voice was oozing sarcasm. He turned and stalked out of the Hospital Wing, robes billowing behind him in a show of anger only Slytherins had ever mastered.
In the safety of the dungeons, however, he let his mask drop. There was no way out of this. Salazar could feel the wards tightening around him; could feel Hogwarts' frantic confusion. He couldn't wait around and hope Godric would come to his senses. He wasn't even sure if he would accept any apologies from the other founders. And so he gathered his belongings and left the school, never once turning back.
Salazar woke up in his small little cell as the dream loosened its hold on him. He scowled and decided to brew himself some dreamless sleep potion. After all, who needed dementors when your own dreams haunted you with memories?
He frowned and tried to think about something else. Now, what could he do? He'd love to get back to Hogwarts but how? He would continue fighting Voldemort; that was already decided. And he would need to be better prepared for fights in the future…Cobra would make them all look like fools – Voldemort, the Order, the Ministry, and the whole Wizarding world. How…Well, the use of Muggle weapons would be a good start. Alliances with 'Dark' creatures would also be a good idea, if he could manage. And proving Harry Potter innocent…Oh yes, he could do that. He knew where to look, after all. And the other founders…
Salazar started to plot and there was no better plotter than Salazar Slytherin. Why had planned out countless strategies, for both war and pranks? He was beginning to see the outline of something; a wonderful way to dance circles around everybody. A way to test the waters wonderfully risk-free. Oh yes, he would make everybody look like fools.
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I really can't write a good battle scene…but it wasn't that bad…I think. Feel free to tell me what you think of it (yet another attempt to gain more reviewers). And a silly little confrontation with Voldemort…I was sort of sugar-high when I wrote that…
So, some silly-ness and some angsty-ness. That's what comes from having four different muses with different personalities. I think this story is going to be mostly silly and less angst. I'm also starting to plan out another fic. Yes, another Salazar!Harry. Methinks I may be a liiiittle obsessed. But this may be the last one; there are only so many banishments and endings that I can plot out, especially since all of them have the same underlying plot. And yes, I'm implying that I plan to finish all three. Don't know how long it'll take me, though…
Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please review?