Chapter 1

History Lies, Often

Author Notes: This story has been floating around my head since I read Crumbling Pedestals. Please don't ask how the two relate at all! The only link is that Salazar Slytherin had a brother, thats it. I'm even confused how this one evolved from that! So I've decided to try and write it. The first few chapters will most likely be in the past, and then we'll jump ahead to Harry pre-hogwarts.

Summary: Nope, none! Just know that it involves a really powerful Slytherin (trick here) and his brother plus immortality, throw in some prophecy's made centuries ago and a very confused Harry, and don't forget a dash of family issues. Sounds fun, right! (Hint: Is the POV of Salazar brother)

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History has lied to. History has often lied to us. For if History was to tell the truth, humans, as the frail beings we are, would not know how to deal with it. Perhaps if History would tell the truth, I would not be needed to tell this story, for it would already be recorded. It would be recorded so that my brother and I could carry out are task that was set several centuries before our birth. But alas, it was not so. We did not then what we do now of the betrayal of History or the pains and prejudice it would cause. We did not know that had History been truthful, our task would not necessary and we could have long ago set down our heads for a well deserved sleep. History has lied, oh so many times, but now perhaps you will have a chance to learn the truth behind the lies and the way things truly were in the time of the Four Founders of Hogwarts. But even that is lie. For you see there Were Four founding family names, but five founding people.

I would know, for I was the fifth.

The younger brother of History's scapegoat, Salazar Slytherin.

I am Letalis Umbra Slytherin.

Perhaps it is irony that my name means mortal shadow. For I am anything but mortal, I have walked this earth by my brothers side longer than any other human since the time of Merlin. Shadowing those that we must stop and those that we must save. Unseen, uncared for, unwanted. And yet, very much needed.

Perhaps you have read Hogwarts:A History? If so, allow me to correct further mistakes it carries. For you see, on the day Salazar and I (though I am not mentioned) left Hogwarts, we did not start a massive muggle hunt nor did we develop theories of the inferiority of muggleborns, even if Salazar has always sported a dislike of them. You see, Salazar's wife had just died of some disease bought into the castle by a muggleborn, that is what truly started the term Mudblood, their horrible hygienic routines. Salazar was angry with the other founders for allowing such a disease in, in his emotional state we did not point out it was as much his fault as ours. What happened next was caused by my gift, though I consider it a curse. Both Helga and I were seers, she saw the future and I, the past. The sight I viewed as they argued, showed me the prophecy made my Merlin during his last year of life.

"Mortal shadow of cunning serpent,

fire-tempered brother, founders both.

On will travel, death forsaken,

Years will pass and deaths happen,

Till the one of puzzles name

And older serpents blood is re-born.

Bodies shall not age as History grows older.

The child born

Spoken of in future sight,

shall need guidance in the darkest hours,

When he enters fifth of the Founders castle.

The two travelers of History shall give,

The gift of knowledge and training needed,

For the death of a snake's descendant.

Only then shall their sleep be received,

And the faces of their friends viewed again.

History will tell that after the argument, Salazar just disappeared, but as we already determined, History lied. I spoke with my brother and told him of what I'd seen. It is perhaps sad and unfortunate that my brother has an intellect matched by Rowena's and a honor code bound tighter than Godric's. As it was, Salazar agreed with my original interpretation. The two of us must leave and travel through the years, never aging, until we complete the task. How I wish I had said no. But was it was, though History will never say it to you, Salazar kissed his baby soon, Aryen, goodbye and left a note to Godric asking for him to care for the child before we departed, never to see our friends and young relative from anything more than a distance.

Salazar has often said that it was Godric's fault that the Slytherin line is looked down upon as muggle-hating snakes. For you see, though History wrote off Aryen as being taken by Salazar and corrupted into a monster of a Dark Lord, the truth was the Godric had foolishly answered Aryen question of which side his father had been on in the muggle-born argument. And in doing so, created a dark corner of the young boy's mind that believed his father would only be pleased with him if he continued the same hate.

Perhaps now that you have been disillusioned as to the truth of History, you can already understand what happens next. No? In truth it was simple, though heart-breaking. We stayed from sight, studying and growing stronger as we watched Aryen preach pure-blood nonsense that Salazar had never believed in. We watched as History wrote me and all my accomplishments out, instead naming them as the works of Godric. In fairness to the other founders, they tried to stop Aryen and History. But Slytherin blood is not strong for nothing. When Aryen killed Godric in a battle, Godric son and all their descendant began the long lasting feud against out house. Though even Salazar will admit it is a fair hate the Gryffindor family has against ours. We watched it all, knowing we could not step in for fear of upsetting fate. We watched as the world fought and tore itself apart. We watched as a Light wizard would step forward and be adored until he was forgotten just as quickly. We watched that pattern again and again. Never being able to interfere as our friends descendants fought and Hogwarts grew and the wizarding world became more corrupt.

The day Salazar's newest descendant, Tom Riddle, was born, we knew we had found the most powerful of them all. He had pure, raw magic at his fingertips and more cunning than even his ancestor possessed. So you can imagine our anguish at realizing this was the one "of puzzles name". Riddle. But now, there was only time to wait. Wait until his foretold re-birth, though that implied he would die first. We were confused. We aren't anymore. For once History will truthfully tell the story of Lord Voldemorts first defeat and the many years that followed.

And perhaps, just perhaps, this account will allow others to peruse the lies they have been taught, and just perhaps, when the prophecy is completed, History will tell truthfully. If not, what follows is an account that is painstakingly true and heartbreakingly accurate. Read it not if you are happy in your oblivious state, for the times that you will read, will not be quite as happy. Though with Salazar along for the ride, there were a few laughs, every few centuries in fact.

Read on, brave reader, should you feel the need to break free of your delusions.

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AN: Me likie! This is the beginning of only the second story I've ever truly written. Should be interesting. I'll be updating this and my other story at similar times, so if there is a lag in update s for a few days, it just means I'm working on a chapter for the other story. But as it is, this should be updated about three-four times a week, working at the same sized chapters that my other one is currently at. About 7-9 pages will be the average length I would assume for any of my stories.

Enjoy!

Sun Phe!