Standard Disclaimers Apply

Pairing: OC/HP also DM/HP later

Summary: HP/OC, HP/DM The shock of a sudden change in appearance tears a hole in the fabric of time, sending Harry back to 998 A.D. Upon discovering only 3 of the 4 Founders, Harry accidentally takes on the role of the 4th Founder.

Warning: Creature Harry, Time travel, eventual Slash and Mpreg,

Note: Dual-author fic.

The Founder

Chapter 5 – Arguments, Kings and Friends

By gemroses

They were all collected in the Great Hall of the castle around the large table Salazar had placed at the end of the hall. Above them, the enchanted ceiling showed the flurry of snow that was falling from the sky towards earth. The ground was already covered with six inches of the pure white flakes, but still the heavens insisted on delivering more to the blanketed earth.

The trees were bare, the lake was frozen and Salazar had been literally itching all day to run outside and frolic in the snow. He'd even decided he'd call upon the nymphs to rejoice with him and enjoy natures freezing winter. But no, Salazar had been denied that pleasure by the other founders who wanted to plot once more. Salazar had, naturally, rebelled against the idea. He'd argued with Godric, he'd glared at Rowena and he'd ignored Helga but all to no avail and he was stuck making yet more plans. His temper was indescribable and he wasn't being at all cooperative.

It seemed, though they'd only completed the castle a grand total of six days before, the hard work was not finished. They'd sorted the school building out, even brought in many servants to run the castle and keep it tidy, made the uniforms for the schools and fashioned a shield to be the icon for each of the houses within Hogwarts. Salazar had thought they'd done enough and deserved a rest but here they were deciding on how they would invite people to the school, when they'd officially open the school and how exactly the selection process was going to run.

"Harvest should be used as time off when the students can go home to their families. That way any of our students from peasantry backgrounds can help their families." Helga suggested and it took Salazar a few moments for him to remember that here they referred to Autumn as Harvest.

"That is an excellent idea." Rowena wrote down the decision and Salazar, too annoyed by the way they were keeping him indoors, didn't bother to disagree.

He started to day dream letting the adults talk about the calendar for the school. He turned his mind back to the very start of the construction of his home, of Hogwarts. Barely three weeks had gone by since they'd begun the building work when he'd remembered that it was actually his birthday. The land had been flattened and the lowest dungeon layer had just started being built on that day. Salazar remembered being depressed though and when Helga had asked why he'd confessed quietly only for her to blurt it out loud enough for everyone in the surrounding vicinity to hear.

Sixteenth birthdays were a big thing in the future and usually people had large parties that they'd think back on with fond memories. Being sixteen was an important age, though he couldn't remember why exactly. Still, it was a birthday to remember. Thinking back on it now Salazar found that possibly no-one ever could beat the celebration he'd had.

Following Helga's loud exclamation had been utter silence. The workers stopped working and looked over, the trolls had stopped heaving the large stones, the other founders had looked over. Perhaps the biggest thing to happen however was the reaction the nymphs had to the announcement. Following the silence a half of the group had rushed over to him while the other group stayed behind. They had asked why he'd never told them and lots of other questions. Unnoticed by anyone though some nymphs slipped off into the forest and spread the news to everybody and everything they passed.

By the time the sun had begun to finish its journey across the sky the grounds Hogwarts was to be built on was filled with hundreds of nymphs dancing, and making Salazar dance too. Centaurs were playing music and stamping their hooves merrily. Godric was drunk near the huge bonfire. Helga was dancing with Rowena and the others from the village while Salazar was hand in hand with the nymphs in a circle around the bonfire dancing and laughing. Unicorns danced as well, surprisingly, though the only humans the unicorns went near were Salazar and the children. That night had been the best Salazar could ever remember having ever.

The situation had then repeated itself to celebrate autumn's arrival, winter's arrival and to celebrate Hogwarts' completion.

Salazar was pulled out of his daydream about the various parties he'd had with the nymphs and centaurs when Rowena said his name sharply. He looked at her startled and more than a little embarrassed at being caught focusing elsewhere.

"I'm sorry what were you saying?"

"You haven't been listening have you?" Rowena accused glaring at Salazar with such a look that it reminded him of Hermione's glare when he and Ron had not been paying attention in class, or to one of her rants on House Elves.

"No, sorry I got a bit distracted." Rowena huffed at him.

"We were saying that we shall open the school at the start of Spring and run it through the year except for the Harvest months when students can return home." Salazar nodded his head wondering exactly why that was so important for them to pull him out of his wonderful memories.

"Yeah sure, fine." Rowena rolled her eyes at his lack of enthusiasm. Just as Salazar was preparing to dig up some more memories he suddenly remembered something.

"Wait! We're having weekends off too!"

"And what, prey tell, is a week end?" Helga asked and Salazar looked around seeing their confusion at his word. Gawping at them he tried to process what they'd said.

"Weekends are the end of the week…Saturdays and Sundays are days when you have private time. I'm not teaching every single day of the year regardless of the holiday time you have in Harvest! I will teach five days a week but I am having two days every week as private time for me!"

"You cannot be serious!" Godric scoffed but Salazar just glared at him defiantly. Salazar might have been in the past now where everyone else had no concept of what weekends were, but there was no way he was going to give up his two days out of seven where he didn't have to worry about work. He wasn't going to give up his home comforts just because they'd never heard of it. He'd already lost so many home comforts, like showers and his friends, so he was going to cling on desperately to the ones he could.

"Actually I couldn't be more serious. I don't want to have to teach every single day every single week. I will have a weekend where I can enjoy myself, see friends and see family." Salazar didn't mention that he in fact didn't have any family, besides Dartagnan who had taken him in under his wing, in this time. And the only friends he actually had were Rowena and the nymphs. "We will have two days off."

"But that is nonsense! The pupils need teaching. They can't be having time to slack off!" Godric's protests were met with yet another fierce glare. Salazar had at one point wondered why he and the founder of his house at Hogwarts clashed so fiercely but eventually he just put it down to the man being a prat.

"They wouldn't be slacking off, they would be having a rest. They can't work on magic day in day out else they will burn themselves out, and so will I! Having two days off out of seven never did me any harm if you'll remember our little duel."

"Why are you so adamant about having these rest days Salazar?" Helga enquired frowning curiously.

"Because," seethed Salazar, "I want a break from teaching the students every single day and they could use a break from me, I'm sure. If you are around a person day after day then you quickly tire of their company. If there is a few days absence then the air between you clears and suddenly the other person isn't so vile anymore."

"Yes, I can see how someone would tire of your presence. You've the temperament of a dragon or at least of those snakes that you talk to. You are a vicious little runt." For that comment Salazar hissed at him making the man narrow his eyes and finger the end of his sword, ready to pull it at a split seconds notice.

"At least they have intelligence unlike some humans who're too stupid to even have a decent conversation. You're all brawn and no brains Gryffindor!" Godric snarled indignantly and began drawing his sword.

"Come now, stop your senseless behaviour." Rowena interrupted before the battle of wills worsened. "I cannot stand your futile bickering, you are worse than children. I happen to think Salazar makes an excellent suggestion." Unfortunately, her opinion didn't seem to have the result she'd hoped it would. Certainly the two men turned to look at her, one with curiosity the other with surprise. The problem was their final member's response.

"Oh yes well you would. You should be ashamed of yourself, Rowena! A married woman such as yourself, allowing herself to be so taken in by his youthful charms. It is dishonour on you and your family, not to mention your title!" For the first time in all the months Salazar had been in her presence, Rowena lost both her temper and her composure. Standing up, violently she slammed her hand down hard on the table and glared at her female companion.

"I will have you know that my interest in Salazar's idea has absolutely nothing to do with this fantasy infatuation that you have created! Frankly, I am surprised that you yourself did not pick up on the implication that having two free days would mean." Rowena sniped with her blue eyes flashing in her anger. Helga paled slightly at the rage in her partner's eyes but frowned curiously in her confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"You've honestly not thought about it?" Rowena smirked before rolling her eyes at Helga's stupidity before muttering quietly under her breath. "I cannot believe I even thought you capable."

"Thought of what?"

"You silly woman! You spend hours upon hours telling us about how you are to be married, yet you do not realise that having two days free from your teaching obligations means that you can spend two whole days with your husband?" Helga blinked, processing the words spoken at her rapidly. Then she hung her head in defeat, finally understanding. Rowena continued on with a smugness and satisfaction about her. She held herself high and looked down on Helga with superiority in her stiff shoulders. "Well I noticed and I think it is a wonderful idea. Two free days would allow a good deal time for us to keep in touch with our hobbies and our families. Two free days where we are under no obligations other than keeping our charges safe! The idea has a lot of merit and I am all for it."

"When you put it that way Rowena, I understand and concede to the point." Helga muttered quietly with humiliation lacing her words. Salazar took the outburst from Rowena and the shame on Helga's face with quiet contemplation. He turned to the forth founder with a questioning gaze.

"And what is your opinion now Gryffindor?"

"Two days free has it's merits I shall grant you that. Very well, I concede but should I see any laziness in our students then I will revoke this agreement and we shall re-evaluate."

"Very well."

"Right. Now that that is sorted." Rowena said gaining her composure back incredibly quickly and returning to her seat. "We need to invite people to the school to learn. We shall have to send couriers to read our proposal, for very few people can read and with a person our meaning can be conveyed easier. We should find our messengers quickly, for we are to open the school in only a few short months."

"I have a question." Salazar said cutting off any further speech Rowena was going to say. "How do we find who is magical and who isn't?"

Silence met his question until finally Godric thumped his hand onto the table and gave out an excited sort of roar.

"We shall just have to go and plead our case to the king to use the book in his royalties room to find all those born with magic in them." Salazar blanched in shock and no little amount of nervousness.

"There's a King?"

"Well how else do you think the Wizarding world is governed?" Helga asked her eyes gleaming for some reason. Salazar didn't answer. He didn't think it would do any good to say that he had believed there was no ruler to the Wizarding world, hence it's dire circumstances. Now though he was having rather ridiculous mental images of a Fudge look-a-like with a crown on his head and a queen Umbridge dressed all in pink. He barely repressed a shudder.

"It looks like a messenger should be sent informing the palace of our plans and of our request to visit. Godric, if you'd be so kind considering the King would not listen to the views of someone like me." Salazar scowled and tried to glare a hole in the table. He definitely didn't like the sound of this king.

In the end Salazar had managed to make the other three founders agree that taking him to see the king would only hinder them. He had told the others that if he went he'd probably insult the king and start a war because of Salazar's disagreement with how women were to be taught, or something of the like. Thus, because Salazar would only bring disaster down on the meeting, not to mention he'd be sick on the journey, they decided to leave him behind.

No sooner had they gone, Salazar rushed outside and transfigured his shoes into some ice skates before gliding on the ice of the lake. After dancing on the surface for a few minutes, he'd attracted the attention of the nymphs by throwing snowballs at their trees. This began a full scale war, and by that evening Salazar was utterly exhausted. Just as he was walking up the castle steps to the main doors he heard a voice behind him.

"Harry." Salazar spun around and whipped his wand out. The offender suddenly found the tip of a wand tickling the end of his nose and gave Harry, now Salazar, a look of scorn. "Now now Harry, there's no need for violence. I told you I'd find you, did I not?"

"Dartagnan." Salazar breathed relieved and put away his wand having seen Dartagnan's fangs which were enough to convince him that it really was Dartagnan and not some impostor. "I had almost given up on ever seeing you again. And I go by Salazar Slytherin now by the way."

"Ah yes so I've heard. And am I to assume that this is the almighty Hogwarts?" Salazar grinned at the pale faced man.

"Oh yes. I've got my home back and she's perfect!"

"Yes, quite the spectacle I can assure you of that. Anyway, will you invite me in? I am in desperate need of some dry clothes."

"Oh sure!"

Dartagnan and Salazar dined together that evening, despite Dartagnan not consuming anything. Salazar told Dartagnan all about the creation of Hogwarts and all the things Salazar had gotten himself into. Salazar showed Dartagnan around the castle, even going so far as to show him the unfinished Chamber of Secrets and teach him how to enter it. Dartagnan had, of course, wanted to know how exactly Salazar managed to make the entrance to the chamber move the way it had as well as why he had hidden it inside a room full of chamber pots and what the contraptions Salazar called sinks were.

Dartagnan had been most interested to learn how Salazar had made the room look like the one from the future but had cast a charm on the tap so that when it was turned to a certain point it activated the aguamenti charm and that on the drain was a banishing spell so that as soon as anything hit it then it would be banished. In Dartagnan's opinion it was madness but since it worked it was very clever too.

Dartagnan had liked the Chamber of Secrets and had insisted upon Salazar decorating it. Dartagnan then revealed to Salazar that he'd come into the possession of some books that contained lots of spells and rituals that had been outlawed by Merlin himself, not to mention a few books written by Merlin. Salazar had been most eager to get his hands on them but had agreed to make a book store down in the Chamber to keep the books in. They built a study then and created a glamour to make it look exactly like a stone wall.

"Dartagnan?" Salazar asked looking up from his book and over to his companion. They were sat in a set of chambers down in the dungeons. The set of chambers had been made by Salazar blocking off the remainder of one corridor by placing a glamour wall in the way so all Dartagnan had to do was walk though the wall and he'd be in his chambers. Salazar had no other means to close off the wall in such a short amount of time so a glamour wall would have to do. Perhaps he'd add passwords to it later.

"Yes?"

"If I can get the others to agree to it would you like to stay here at Hogwarts? You could teach the students potions, after all it is a very useful art. You could teach them and, that way, I could have a friend close-by. I argue too much with Godric and Helga for me to consider them as friends. The only friend I have is Rowena here, and even then she does not know my secret. Could you stay?"

"I would be honoured to stay here, it has been a long time since I've had a home."

"I realise teaching students isn't the same as actually owning a shop and selling your recipes but if people could be taught the recipes instead then your cures will reach everyone won't they?"

"I believe it is a magnificent idea." Dartagnan went back to his book before pausing and looking up at Salazar. "Where are Ladies Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and Lord Gryffindor?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? They went to see the king so we can find where the muggles borne into magic and all the other magic born children live. We can't very well send envoys to people if we don't know their names and addresses, can we?!"

"No I suppose not."

It took two weeks for Rowena, Helga and Godric to return to Hogwarts with a copy of the book safely guarded. Before Salazar could get a word in edgeways, Rowena was forcing everyone into the great hall so they could arrange parties to go to the different locations and bring the students to Hogwarts. Godric, with all his charm, had managed to persuade the King to allow some of his messengers to help the founders. As well as those messengers Godric recruited some of the local people from Hogsmeade and had graciously volunteered to go and speak to all the Purebloods himself.

Salazar had offered to seek out the muggleborn children, for he was better equipped to handle the situation should things turn rough, and had made a bet with Godric that he'd be able to manage his long list of students in half the time it took Godric to reach all of his. Once it was all decided they went to dinner where upon Dartagnan was introduced.

"Evening, Dartagnan!" Salazar said cheerfully before breaking some bread apart and dipping it into his broth. He dearly missed the old meals he'd had at Hogwarts since all he seemed to have nowadays was either a broth of some kind or meat. What he wouldn't give for some more vegetables, something he never thought he'd say.

"Good eve to you too Salazar." Dartagnan inclined his head. "And you must be Lord Gryffindor, I have heard a lot about you sir. As have I you Lady Ravenclaw, Lady Hufflepuff."

"It is good to make your acquaintance sir, but may I inquire as to your name?" Godric asked looking down his nose at the man.

"Dartagnan Prince at your service."

"Urgh enough with the formalities." Salazar groaned and reached a hand out to pull back a chair for Dartagnan. "Sit down would you, Dartagnan? Where have you been all day anyway?"

"The same could be asked of you Salazar." Dartagnan hedged as he gracefully slid into his seat. "I have not seen you since you retired to bed last night."

"Well first thing this morning I had another snow war with the nymphs but this time the unicorns joined in too. They are incredibly annoying you know. Have you ever tried to pelt a unicorn with snow? They just blend into the snow and their hooves don't even make a print yet they can make you into a snow man with the kick of one leg! Very annoying. Anyway, after I made a tactical retreat from battle, I took a bath and then these three came back and Rowena dragged everyone to make more plans. So, now you confess."

"Very well. I was in the dungeons making potions." Salazar rolled his eyes.

"Of course, as if you'd be doing anything else. Oh!" Salazar's eyes went wide. "Speaking of potions. Helga, Rowena, Godric, Dartagnan is a Master potions maker and I've asked him whether he'd be able to teach the students in the art as well. It would be a useful skill for all the students, males and females included, to know how to make potions."

"Potions are all very well and good however many of the ingredients are hard to come by not to mention some potions are illegal and using them is a death sentence." Godric informed them.

"Yes I am well aware of that Lord Gryffindor however there is a wealth of potions ingredients in the forest should I need to restock and any ingredients that can't be found there can be found at my suppliers. As for the illegal potions, I am a master sir and am well aware of which potions should, and should not, be brewed."

"I believe it would be advantageous to have you teach the students Sir Prince. I would very much like for you to teach my students the art." Rowena put in with a small smile when she saw the look of tremendous gratitude Salazar gave her. Dartagnan offered her a smirk of gratitude and a nod. Godric pondered it for a while before nodding his head too.

"Yes. If our young warriors are going to learn the art of battle they should also have a basic knowledge of healing at least. You have my consent to both teach and to refer to me by my first name."

"Since the others have had their say I shall concede to the point as well though I reserve my judgement on your skills, sir."

"That madam, is probably most wise."

"Brilliant." Salazar breathed and grinned at the vampire who offered him a smirk in amusement.

End Note: Well, faster update this time! For those of you who were wondering, there will be both OC/HP and DM/HP in the later chapters. I thought we'd clear that up 'cause there was at least one review asking :3 Any questions for this chapter? -e