Disclaimer: All of this is based upon the lovely J.K. Rowling's work. I own nothing except Salazar's wife, son, and various other original characters. This story is an AU of sixth year, but it will contain a few spoilers from Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. However, it will still seriously diverge from canon. Oh, the title is a reference to The Wizard of Oz, which I most certainly do not own.


"blah": dialogue

'blah': thoughts

"blah" : Parseltongue

"blah": Legilimency/Telepathy

Italics: excerpt from a book /newspaper or any other written form

Bold: a word or phrase that is emphasized

Italics, Underlined, and Bold: location/date of a scene in the story


Chapter Seven: We're off to See the Wizard

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, The Grounds: July 27th, 1996

Eyes of pure silver stared at the lofty structure in the distance. The warming summer sunlight glinted off the tall towers, blinding any who looked upon them. The azure sky was cloudless and perfect, creating a color contrast with the cool, dark stone of the castle. The enormous, ornate front doors were open, preventing viewers from seeing the intricate crest carved upon them.

Even one thousand years after its founding, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was still an impressive sight.

A man with brown hair stood quite a distance away, studying the castle appraisingly. His gaze was focused on the structure to the apparent exclusion of everything else. The man was so intent on his scrutiny of the castle that he failed to notice the incredibly large figure of the groundskeeper sauntering about the lake, which glittered quite invitingly in the morning light. A cooling breeze rustled both the grass and the man's deep-blue robes, the silken cloth so dark as to almost be black. The wind tugged at the man's ponytail, teasing and attempting to free the dark locks. However, the man barely noted any of it. He simply stood, one hand fingering a necklace, as he tranquilly stared at the castle.

Yet, for all his calm and studying outward appearance, inside Dominic was a nervous wreck. 'How am I ever going to pull this off?' he thought sarcastically to himself. 'Am I just supposed to march in there and hope that the headmaster will just up and hire me?' he sardonically added. 'I am sure that reportedly evil creatures become the new Defense professor everyday.'

The man rolled his jaded and wary eyes at the thought. 'Oh, maybe he will not notice that I am a vampire.' Dom smirked at the mental image. 'Humph! And maybe he believes all that hogwash about vampires being destroyed by sunlight.' His gaze traveled upwards to the sun, which was merrily shining down upon him.

'I have no idea where these people get their ideas about my kind,' Dom thought exasperatedly. 'Honestly, being unable to walk in sunlight? Sleeping in coffins? Hanging about in cemeteries? Where in the world did they come up with this drivel?' he mused rhetorically. 'Well, probably from that Muggle book about Alucard. I cannot believe the author actually believed him. Everyone knows that he was out of his gourd, and all he ever said was rubbish. Well, except for the drinking blood part. And the thing about mirrors.' Dom shrugged whimsically, still in thought. 'If only--'

His musings suddenly stopped as his senses registered an approaching presence. His attention shifted and focused on the lumbering half-giant, who was heading directly towards him.

"'Ello," the enormous gamekeeper stated brightly, belying the suspicion in on his bearded face. "Yeh have business at the castle?" he inquired.

A warm smile lit Dom's face. Obviously, he had been standing there long enough to attract the attention of the castles denizens.

"Hello," he warmly greeted the towering Hagrid, gazing upwards at him. "Ah, yes I do." The vampire paused, quickly thinking. "I am here to interview--"

At this comment, Hagrid's black eyes widened. "Would that be fer the Defense job?" The giant continued without pause, not giving Dom time to answer. "Yeh must be Dominic Boyd!" he finished excitedly. A big, whiskery smile spread across his bearded face.

It would hardly do for the vampire to give his real name, especially considering that it was well-known in certain circles. Further, few would connect the rather young and charming Defense Master Dominic Boyd with the somewhat famous Artifact Crafter, Historian, and Necromancy practicing vampire Dominic de Dorée, even if the two shared a similar physical appearance. And most certainly, no one would ever connect the two with his other past identities either.

Fortunately, there were several very obscure, though not so obscure for a millennia and a half old vampire, nearly forgotten spells that could prevent him from ever being identified. Plus, Dom didn't even have to change his appearance to use them either. The spells simply prevented the connection between his various identities from ever being made unless he divulged the secret and only then to those he personally told. All in all, the spells were very much like a personalized version of the Fidelius charm, and they were a trick that he had employed countless times during his life as he shifted through his various personas.

"Yes," Dom answered to his alias, smiling pleasantly. His eyes sparkled with mirth at the half-giant's instant change in demeanor. "Please call me, Dom." His brain racing to come up with a believable story for staring at the castle, he stated, "I was merely trying to… calm my nerves," he supplied smoothly, choosing to give a version of the truth.

Hagrid, clearly buying the story, nodded his head in understanding. "Well, good luck wit' that." The half-giant, still beaming, continued on his way.

And Dominic breathed a slight sigh of relief as he watched Hagrid lumber away. 'Maybe this will not be so hard.' His spidery fingers, which were fingering a chain about his neck, clenched slightly. 'Still, I better pray that my spellcasting works.' His hand traveled to the small, metallic disc hanging from the chain. He traced the etched runes for hiding, secrecy, and invisibility.

The vampire suddenly straightened, tossing his hair back. 'But I have to do this. I have to make amends. I have to help.' With a final caress of his necklace, Dom neatly tucked it back within his blue robes. He felt a gentle jolt of power, assuring him that his necklace was safe from all prying eyes.

The man steeled his resolve. And he stepped easily, walking towards the front entrance, head held high. Just as he came to the enormous but open doors, his gaze scanned the looping border of the Hogwarts' Crest. Hidden within, there was text so tiny as to be invisible to all but those with magical sight:

"Enter those for which yearn
Knowledge, wisdom, who seek to learn.
But heed this warning, friend and guest,
For those who bring harm with their quest:
Your deeds will be sent back, three times three.
As we will it, so mote it be
."

Dom smiled at the message, which to him was a clear invitation. He effortlessly glided into the Entrance Hall, his dragonhide boots surprisingly making no sound.

'I can do this. I will do this,' he thought firmly, 'for Salazar.'


Hogwarts, Stairway Outside of the Headmaster's Office: The Same Day

Dominic breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he made his way down the stone steps. His silvery eyes were glinting in delight from not only the challenge of being hired but also the ordeal of hoodwinking one of the most cunning humans alive. Perhaps to ever live.

While undoubtedly it had been one of the most nerve wracking experiences in his entire life, all fifteen hundred years of it, it had also been one of the most fulfilling. Trying to convince the headmaster to hire him was trial enough, but doing so without revealing that he was a Dark creature and a Necromancer to boot was beyond difficult. That man was just too damn observant for his own good. Dumbledore knew far too many tricks and riddles with which to ensnare people. Fortunately, as the old saying goes, Dom hadn't been born yesterday, so he knew quite a few tricks himself.

The vampire was still thanking his lucky star, which coincidentally was Sirius, that he had had the forethought to plan this little venture out earlier, say about a decade earlier. He had known without a doubt that one day he would have to seek out Salazar in his present day form, but this had led to several problems popping up.

How exactly was he supposed to do this? Salazar was protected by far more than blood warding.

So after much thought Dom had devised a very elaborate but at the same time, incredibly simple plan. Where was the one place children were guaranteed to go? School. And what magical school would Salazar attend? Hogwarts. Lastly, which was the only available position? The Defense job.

Regardless, to be hired Dom would need references and a school history as he could hardly submit his true qualifications, for some peculiar reason most wizards just did not seem overly fond of vampires. Of course, he couldn't submit the credentials of his most recent identity either, mostly due to the fact that he was supposed to be dead. So Dom had done exactly what he usually did in similar situations, he had created an alternate persona. In this case, he was Dominic Boyd, a brilliant yet somewhat cheeky man, who had been taught by his own mother and who had traveled the globe with her on her quest for the ever allusive Crumple-horned Snorkak. However, his life story didn't end there as the vampire had further added that after his mother's unfortunate death at the talons of an enraged manticore he had gone on to take both his OWLs and his NEWTs.

Then had come the hardest part of Dom's subterfuge, actually being hired by that barmy, old codger of a headmaster. Yet, there was one thing in his favor. Even with all of his Legilimency training, the headmaster would not be able to penetrate the vampire's mind. Several centuries of Occlumency guaranteed that his secrets would be safe from that particular avenue of attack and his most recent profession had further insured that he could well keep a secret.

The interview had started normally enough, just filling in background that he had created for himself. Dom had stated that he had been home-schooled, which was actually quite true since magical schools hadn't yet existed in England when he was born. He had gone on to say that he had attended a magical university, which also quite true; he had attended several universities over the centuries.

Regardless, while the headmaster had on the surface seemed normal, there was a distinct underlying tone of distrust. On several occasions, the vampire had been forced to use his Occlumency skills to push forth false memories of the life of Dominic Boyd. The ever-twinkling eyes of the professor had repeatedly tried to see into his thoughts. But he had only succeeded in seeing his fabricated recollections. Dumbledore had not even been aware of the underlying and quite well protected thoughts.

But then, the professor had as the Americans would say dropped a bombshell.

(Flashback)

Dumbledore, his eyes glinting, looked at Dom and stated, "Well, everything seems to be in order, Mr. Boyd." He paused oddly, giving a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "There is only one final part of this interview. You need to try on the Sorting Hat."

Dom almost panicked the instant he heard the last part. How, by all that was good, was he supposed to keep his secret from the mindreading hat? Occluding from a human was one thing, but protecting his mind from an object that was specifically designed to delve into minds was quite another.

"Excuse me?" he asked the headmaster, vying for time to reinforce his shielding. "I believe that I might have misheard you." Deep inside, he was praying that his Occlumency skills would save him.

"The final part of the interview is to try on the Sorting Hat. In the past few years, we have had a few… er… problems with our Defense professors," Dumbledore responded, his odd expression giving the vampire a momentary shiver. "Some even think that the position is cursed." The headmaster's bemused smile belied the hard glint in his eyes, and he quietly steepled his fingers. "The easiest way to ensure that the candidates will not have any problems is to let them talk with the Sorting Hat."

He moved, rather nimbly for one his age, from his desk to the shelf housing the Hat. Gently, he removed the patched and frayed object, gliding over to the vampire's chair. He held the Hat over Dom's head before looking to him for permission. The applicant smiled faintly and nodded, all the while occluding the depths of his mind.

Suddenly, the frayed Hat was placed on his head, dropping to cover his eyes. "Well, you are an interesting one aren't you?" a voice whispered inside of his head.

Dom forcefully pushed artificial images and memories to the fore front of his thoughts, trying desperately to deceive the Hat. He could feel it shift through, examining his counterfeit persona closely. However, it did not move to the guarded portion of his mind.

A sudden and quite odd thought occurred to Dom in that moment. It was ridiculous risky and would undoubtedly cause his plans to die an early death, but the potential benefits… oh, yes… the potential benefits definitely outweigh any risks.

So instead of reinforcing his mental shielding, he reached out, searching for the Hat's consciousness. A foreign wave of thoughts and feelings entered his psyche, and the vampire had gasped involuntarily.

The Hat knew about Salazar and Siobhan returning! But more importantly,it knew that the others were back as well!

Nonetheless, that was not the only knowledge the Hat possessed. It knew about the upcoming conflict. It knew about the present discord. It knew about the past and what had really occurred within the confines of the castle. It knew the truth.

"You know about Salazar and Godric!" Dom mentally and very excitedly whispered.

The Hat, clearly dazed from having someone sift through its own thoughts, had responded, "Yes. How is it you know about this?"

Taking an enormously large gamble, the vampire opened his shields entirely, allowing the Hat inside.

After several moments of shifting through Dom's true memories, the Hat mentally spoken. "This is very unexpected! You are trying to help them." It paused for a moment, considering what it had just learned. "Yes, yes. I understand now. The castle and I shall help you in your quest."

Dom breathed a sigh of relief, one which he hadn't even known he had been holding, but the odd statement quickly caught his attention. "The castle? It is sentient? I thought… but I could not be sure without checking, and that would leave me vulnerable if it decided I was a threat."

"Ah, yes. She – the castle – is sentient, but she shall not harm you. I actually think that she likes you. She said that you have a pure soul and your magic has a nice feel to it."

Dom's eyebrows rose at this statement, not that anyone could see with the Hat pulled down over his eyes.

The Sorting Hat merely chuckled, clearly finding the entire situation rather funny.

"What about the--"

"Do not worry," it interrupted before Dom could even completely voice his concern. "I will not tell Headmaster Dumbledore the truth of your origins nor why you are here. Your secrets are safe with me."

"Thank you," the vampire responded with complete honesty, breathing easy.

"Anytime, and by this, I do mean anytime." The Hat hesitated, deep in thought. "On the third floor corridor, the left hand side, there is a portrait of the Necromancer La Muerte. Tell her that I sent you, and she will allow you entrance to the room. Go there if you have any problems or if you just wish to speak with me. I am able to communicate with any who are in that room."

"Alright," Dom answered and smiled. "Again, thank you for everything." He lifted his hand slowly to his head. "It has been a pleasure to speak with you."

The Sorting Hat mentally grinned. "A pleasure for me as well. Contact me anytime."

"I will," Dom responded in farewell, and he softly removed it from his head. He blinked his semi-blinded eyes several times, reacquainting them with the light from the room.

Professor Dumbledore, who was now standing in front of Dom, smoothly took the Hat from him. "Well, what do you think?" the old man inquired, clearly asking the Sorting Hat and not the other person in the room.

An opening in the form of a mouth appeared on the Hat, just above the brim. "He is a good one, Headmaster," it replied, smirking happily, an extraordinary feat since it had no mouth or lips.

Albus Dumbledore gave a true grin, his customary twinkle going full force. "Congratulations, Mr… or should I say, Professor Boyd. You are hired."


Unknown: July 28th, 1996

Shadows danced in the candlelight as a women sat quietly in chair, facing a lit fireplace. Her dark eyes starred at the flickering flames as salty tears clung to her thick eyelashes. Deep and treacherous thoughts stormed through her mind.

She was back, but everything had changed. All of it was different: the followers, their aims, the very goals of the cause. Even she had changed. But then, one could hardly live in purgatory for as long as she had without emerging as someone else, as something else.

The woman forcefully shook her head, attempting to dispel such thoughts. Her incredibly dark hair swirled about her head as one hand traveled immediately towards her abdomen.

'Yes,' she mused, 'things are definitely changing. But if for good or ill, I do not know.' She exhaled and fidgeted faintly. 'Nothing is as it was. Not even the creed that we follow.'

A strange feeling slowly arose within her, churning her stomach and causing her fingers to clench painfully. Bile rose within her throat, nearly gagging her with its intensity. She could feel her mind being filled with the emotion, doubt mixed with dread. She carefully pushed the feeling down, immersing her mind in protection. With such powerful Legilimens around, it would not do to be caught with such traitorous thoughts.

Sure, she believed in the cause, suffered with the cause, lived and possibly would one day die with the cause. But still, there was a lingering doubt. And every day it grew. It twisted and pounded deep inside her, bringing with it some of the worst horrors imaginable.

Guiltandfear.

Yet, she clung to the cause, following it with a fanatical gleam in her dark orb-like eyes. But was any of it real? Any of it at all? Had it ever been?

What if she didn't really believe in the cause? What if it was all a lie? What if it was really the man that she believed in, that she followed? That she loved? What if it was all for and about him? What if all of the toil, the hardship, all the years of her life she had spent, wasted away were about him?

The one man she had ever really cared for or believed in, not even her husband had that distinction. Not even he, who she had been forced to marry out of obligation to her family, had ever really touched her heart. Only one ever had, but maybe, even now there would be another.

The woman exhaled heavily, her dark gaze upon the merry and mocking flames. She titled her head towards the window, gazing at the stars. Her lips quirked at the sight of one of the few constants in her life. Even when she was in purgatory, she had still seen them. They had always been there, never leaving her, no matter the reason. They were constant; the one thing she could depend upon.

She rubbed a now trembling hand across her abdomen. And her wedding band, the symbol of her loveless marriage, glittered in the faint firelight. She shook her head in sadness, turning away from the window and back to the flames, hoping to lose herself within them.

A single thought was now prominent in her guarded mind, 'Everything has changed, and for the life of me, I do not know what to do?'


Ireland, Caelum Serpens (Slytherin Manor), The Grounds: July, 946 A.D.

A soft breeze blew through the countryside, rustling the summer meadow. Thousands of stars twinkled brightly in velvety sky. Two figures lay, side by side, upon the sweet grasses. One, the clear elder of the two, had eyes that were an interesting but odd mix of argent and blue as though someone had mixed silver with sapphires. The other, the far younger of the pair, was just a child. He was barely even ten summers old. Yet, his eyes were the most vibrant and enchanting green imaginable and were fixed on the stars overhead. There was a soft smile on his lips.

"Happy birthday, little brother," the elder whispered, glancing at the boy. His face shone in the faint starlight, a grin pulling at his lips. "I hope that you had a wonderful day." The slight breeze tugged at his dark hair.

The child sighed contentedly, turning to his companion. "Yes, I did. Thank you, Solaris, for everything." He beamed at his brother, but there was a slightly wistful look upon his face. "I just wish that they were here now… for this." He lifted a hand from the grass and gestured towards his brother and then the stars.

Solaris sighed. "I do also." He hesitated somewhat. "I know that it has been hard with mother and father gone, but I also know…" He again paused, thinking. "I don't think… no, I know that I would not have made it without you, Sal. Not with them gone as well." He gazed at his little brother, his eyes shining with unspoken words.

"I wouldn't have made it without you either, Soli," Salazar answered, a trembling hand traveling to his brother's arm. His fingers tightened firmly.

Solaris moved his arm and took Sal's hand, squeezing back. The two lay in silence for several moments.

Finally, the boy sighed heavily. He cast about his mind for a more cheerful topic, trying to lift the melancholy mood that had settled around them. A slight smile alit his thin lips.

"I have decided what I want to do when I'm an adult." He glanced at his brother, noting an intrigued expression. "I want to start a school and be a professor there," Sal stated proudly.

His brother intently studied him for a moment, looking for any sigh of mischief. "Really, and what are you going to call this great school?" Solaris teased, his silvery blue eyes glittering.

"Well…" Salazar hesitated. "I haven't quite gotten a name yet," he conceded in defeat.

"Hm, that is a problem," Solaris said knowingly. He considered for a few seconds before suddenly grinning. "I know the perfect name, but before I tell, you have to promise me something"

"Alright, what must I promise you?" the boy questioned, tilting his head to look directly at Solaris' face.

His brother winked. "You must promise that I can help you with your school." He wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulder.

Salazar snickered. "I was going to ask you anyway. I figured that any great wizarding school would have to have someone like you." He smirked wickedly, his green eyes glinting. "You know an example to the children… to show them what not to be when they grow up," he mocked, a naughty expression on his face.

Solaris looked at his little brother with a bemused expression before laughing out loud. And he poked his sibling lightly in the ribs, causing him to squirm and giggle.

"That is only too true, but at least, I will be a damn good example. And," he stated with mock disdain, "I have you know, that as far examples go, I have not been a bad one. You turned out perfectly fine, after all. Only a bit daft." He pretended to sneer.

Salazar grinned in return. "Maybe," he admitted, "or maybe not. We've yet to see." He nudged his brother with one hand. "So what's the name?"

Solaris beamed and pressed a kiss to his brother's forehead, smoothing back his dark hair. "Hogwarts."


Hogwarts, Slytherin Family Chambers: Mid Autumn, 961 A.D.

Pure moonlight streamed in through the window, shining upon to sleeping figures within a bed, a husband and wife. The man moved slightly and mumbled from within the confines of a dream. Unexpectedly, he bolted upright, promptly awakening from his sleep. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief as his alert eyes took in the familiar surroundings. Next to him, his wife began to stir, as though brought to consciousness by the sudden movement in the bed.

A bronzed hand lifted from the blankets, traveling to the man's face. "What's wrong?" her smooth, feminine voice inquired.

The now trembling man turned to the person lying beside him. "I have just had the most peculiar dream, my love." His gaze sought that of his wife, and he shuddered once more.

"Really? Whatever was it about, Sal?" she inquired softly, consciousness returning fully to her tired face. Siobhan moved to sit upright, but her growing and very pregnant belly impeded her actions, forcing her husband to assist her.

After finally situating his wife, Salazar replied, deep in thought, "A boy." He corrected himself, "A wizard." He hesitated unsure of how to continue. "He was… planning, plotting against some evil." He again paused, his eyes clouded over. "There was something else as well. It was odd. I felt as though I knew him, but I had never seen him before in my life." He sighed heavily, blowing black hair from his face. "He just seemed so familiar." He laughed hollowly with very little mirth. "I even seemed to know his name."

"Hmm, that is odd, beloved." She studied him silently for a moment, her luminous eyes glowing in the darkness. Absentmindedly, her tanned fingers began to rub circles upon her belly, and she unexpectedly nudged him with her hand. "Wait, you said that you knew his name?"

"Yes," Salazar replied quietly, green eyes gleaming at his wife. "His name was Harry."


Caelum Serpens: Serpent Heaven

To everyone who reviewed: Thanks!

Special thanks to Hobbit-Tabby and DracoQueen for the beta and to Our Catholic Faith (online) for the Latin translation.

Chapter Eight: Through the Looking Glass, Part One


Ever Hopeful,

Azar

Updated and Edited:

05/31/08