Title: Of Silver and Green
Author: FairyTails13
Disclaimer: I own nothing…but the plot.
Rating: M
Summery: It is the Marauders' fifth year at Hogwarts and there is a new Head of Slytherin and life is about to get interesting for the Hogwarts Pranksters. What is it about this man that is so interesting? If only they could know what Cedric Potter knows, the deadly truth that is held in the future, his past. For Cedric Potter is Harry Potter, and few others know the true sadness that fallows the rise of Lord Voldemort.
Warnings: Marauders Period (time travel), SLASH, Dark Harry, Slytherin Harry. Older, powerful Harry. Vampire Harry.
Parings: Salazar Slytherin/ Cedric (Harry) Potter
Spoilers: I have not read the seventh book and will not include that info or the info from the sixth book, which I despise.
Key:
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
"Parseltongue"
'Dream/memory'
A/n: Thank you, all who reviewed, you have no clue how happy it makes me to check my mail and see those. This update came a bit slower than the last. School is finally starting.
Now on for the real reason you are on this page.
Chapter: Speeches
The dinner seemed to go on for ever as Cedric's nerves were starting to get the best of him. It was in no way normal or at all in his character –he's faced off with a dark lord six bloody times and survived for heaven's sake- to be like this. But then again, facing off with a man that wanted to kill you was somewhat predictable. Facing a room full of teenage Slytherins was far from it, what with their hormones and such.
No one in the Great Hall knew about Cedric's oncoming panic as he hid it very well, no one but Benji that is. When dinner was dismissed the Malfoy patted his friend on the knee and the vampire drew strength from the support. They both waited till Slytherin was well on its way to the snakes' den before they nodded politely to the rest of the head table and took their leave.
They waited behind until all of the young snakes were in side the common room, giving them ten minutes for them to get situated. It was things like this that Harry the Gryffindor had never had. Every year the Slytherin Head of house gives a welcoming speech, mostly for the new students in their ranks to get to know the way of things but also to remind the older students of their responsibilities within the house. As far as he knew the other houses were in no way this organized.
He was about to make himself known and in a big way. He was about to change the house's way of thinking, and hopefully in a good way. This is why he was so nervous. It helped that Sal and his friends supported him but they were much older then the students he was about to force it on and knew the way the world worked so much better.
Finally Cedric gulped down his fear, setting his emotionless mask on firmly. Sharing a look with Benji who gave him a reassuring smile he said the password and entered the Common room, alone. He had to do this alone for he would have to be their one leader, if Benji was there it would be taken as a sign of weakness. One he could not afford.
As he passed through the short tunnel into the Slytherin common room he sealed himself. Inside his students waited for him, quiet and ready. He allowed a small mental smile; at least their quiet meant they respected him enough to let him in to their tight circle once again.
He stood in front of them and those studying eyes with pride, his head held high and his hands at his side. His back was strait and his jaw set. He knew he was the perfect image of a Slytherin Pureblood, a side of him that came so easily. The vampire allowed them to study him for a moment and he studied as well.
It is deadly silent in the large chamber, but oddly this did not affect Cedric as he thought it would but only fuels him to start and he did calmly by introducing himself, "I am Potion's Master Cedric Harold Potter, I graduated from Hogwarts fifteen years ago from the cunning house of Slytherin. I could daze you now with my accomplishments from my school years and from when they had passed, but those are nothing you can't figure out on your own."
The vampire circled the room with his eyes, watching their calculating faces before he continued, "When this school was founded it was brought together by four people who worked with one another to see their dream come true even with their major differences. They set up a school for a world that desperately needed it, a school that gave protection to magical children from a world that would otherwise kill them. They succeeded in their dream as the amazing castle they built is still standing nearly a millennium later.
But nearly a millennium later we -the people who pass though her great doors- are failing her. The four great houses that make Hogwarts up are falling apart. Not just from each other, but from their selves. I tell you all now that I have a dream as well, one I am sure the founders would agree on. We can not bring the other houses together; for that is something they need to learn on their own, but we can unite our own.
We will reunite Slytherin, for if we can not trust the other houses we need that trust with in our own. I do not care if you hate the person across the room from you now; you will not show that out side this common room. Inside this hidden common room you can curse and fight all you want, but as soon as you are out there and the eyes of the other houses and that of the world are on you," He paused and offered a stern look, "You will appear to be unbreakable allies.
You will not turn a blind eye or deaf ears from a fellow snake in need of your help. If you do not help and a fellow snake is hurt or in danger because you were not willing to put aside your differences I will find out. Be sure of that more than you are of anything else, I will find out. I do not want to have to threaten you into this but after my own years of schooling under that silver and green banner I know that the friends we gather here are the ones we will never forget, but I also know how hard it was for me to trust them as much as I still do today.
I am not talking of those friends the other houses think they are gaining by the boat load, but the ones who will be standing right behind you as you dive into trouble and be in front when it has become too much for even you. It will not be easy to find those friends, but they are out there waiting to be found.
Trust is not given freely, it is earned. We all know that young Slytherins, but do you remember it?"
He paused, finally taking a calming breathe to watch them as all he said just sunk in. He could see their minds working over time to process. He gave them a few minutes before he continued again, voice calming but stern, "This is my dream: that no Slytherin will be in pain. Not one of us will have to relive our life from the out side world while we are inside these walls, because we will have each other, and support no one else will give us."
He smirked now as he walked slowly around the room to be in front of the large fireplace to his side. On the mantle is a large portrait of Salazar Slytherin, looking down and watching over them. Stopping just in front of the hearth Cedric continued with a proud voice, "We are the dark side of Hogwarts that everyone fears. But there is a reason for that isn't there, we have a courage not even our rivals have, courage to fight the world that shuns us because we are what they do not understand.
They are the ones that see only light and dark, black and white. We, the lowly slithering serpents of silver and green are the ones that know that even light can be evil and dark can be good. It is not magic that is good or evil; but the person who bends it to their will. Remember that my dear snakes as you cast your next spell, brew your next potion, fight your next duel," he pauses to close his eyes, "Choose your next friend."
At this point Cedric knows his little snakes are on the edge of their seats, no longer able to hold up their masks at the way his voice filled to room, claiming all their attention and not giving it back. When the vampire finally spoke again he saw many of them jump out of their seats, "Do not forget my words young snakes.
"I am not here to just teach you potions, but ready you for the world that you will walk out of this castle to greet," He laced his clawed fingers together in front of him as a symbol of what he was getting ready to say, "Let us unite Slytherin together now and prove everyone against us they we will not stand for it."
Cedric smirked as his hands fell back to his sides and their eyes fallowed them before they went back to his face. "Please, I ask, do not compare me to Slughorn; for I assure you, I am nothing like our old potions professor."
He gave them one last look over, "Do not be afraid to come to me with your problems. I am here to listen, I will not judge you. I will not tell your secrets as my own are nothing that you can even imagine." He paused and nodded towards the dorms, "Now off to bed, we all have a busy day tomorrow and remember that you can't stand to be lonely forever."
Slowly -as if just realizing he was done- the younger students started trickling out of the common room fallowed by his upper students who were giving him looks. He watched them walk away, looked for signs of abuse that would need his help. He made mental notes of the potions he would need to brew as a few limped or shied away from the touch of someone else.
As soon as he was the only one left in the common room he let his body sag against the side of the fireplace, the warmed stone of the mantle giving an odd comfort. He rubbed his temples with the black-clawed forefinger and thumb of his hand, "This is going to be a really aggravating week Sal."
Above him the portrait laughed, "They trust you more than you know Mr. Potter, I could see it in their eyes. I am glad that of all people to take over, it was you who was chosen. You have a plan for this house I can not wait to se put in action."
Cedric gave a look up at those smiling blue eyes, remembering that the portrait was painted before his lover was turned, and probably didn't know the student that would always talk to him at nights in the snake tongue was now mated to his living counterpart. He smirked, "You realize that the living Salazar Slytherin is in the castle again, right?"
Mentally Cedric added, 'He looks a lot different now, you wouldn't even recognize yourself, I didn't.'
The eyes of the dark founder looked down at the Potter in shock, "Really now? I am guessing there is much I don't know about my living self. I remember him being turned shortly after he left…"
Cedric pushed away from the fireplace, it was odd seeing his Sal not looking at him lovingly. Well the portrait was, but in a completely different light. To the portrait of Salazar Slytherin Cedric Harold Potter is a student he would probably consider a son if he had ever been given the chance to have any; that was a creepy thought there, "I should have him come talk to you, I think he would enjoy that."
"You have him come here than, I am missing something vital and I don't like that." The portrait was giving him a stern look which Cedric gave a small smile and a nod to before turning and leaving to meet Benji in the hall.
The Malfoy grinned at Cedric as the stone wall behind him closed again, his silvery eyes had a mischievous glow to them, "Well, at least you are still alive."
Cedric rolled his eyes as he started down the hall, "In a manner of speaking…"
Benji snorted, "Right, I keep forgetting about that, even after all of Sal's horrible puns about it."
Cedric laughed at that, "True, he is very puny, isn't he?"
With hunched shoulders the Malfoy grumbled, "Too much if you ask me. Who would have known the founder of the dark house could be so, so…"
When his friend searched for a word Cedric supplied the blonde with one, "Childish?"
Benji gave a curt nod at the word that finished his thought, "Yeah, so childish. I just never pictured it."
Cedric allowed himself a tired smile at the thought, his blue-eyed vampire mate knew just how to make him laugh when he was in a horrible mood. It always helped him when he was in a fit of depression after a nightmare. He didn't know what he would do without his mate or friends.
'Curl up and die', his mind supplied darkly.
!!!!
As soon as Cedric stepped through the portrait of Lady Medusa into his and Sal's rooms he was ushered into his bedroom by his mate. In the security of the other vampire's arms Cedric finally let his mask drop and leaned against Salazar, taking in his scent as his body relaxed.
"Your portrait wants to talk to you love." Cedric had muttered it quietly as he was sat down on the edge of his bed.
Slowly the younger vampire's head was lifted by a gentle hand and tired green eyes met with loving blue, "No talking, you need rest, luv."
Cedric smiled at the affection he was being given as his robes where being unbuttoned by a practiced hand. He tiredly kissed the hand that was still holding his chin before it went to work with its partner with their task. Salazar leaned forward and placed a soft and feather light kiss on the younger vampires lips as he slipped the cloths off.
If it had been any other time the slow movements would have led to a sex filled night, but no matter how much Salazar's body begged for it as his beautiful mate's muscled body came into view, the urges were pushed away.
That night Cedric slept the best he had in over a month, as his mate held him tightly to his larger build. Morning would come much too early for the new Potion's professor.
!!!!
In the fifth year Slytherin dorm all but one boy was asleep. Severus Snape wanted so badly to join his year mates in slumber, to let his dreamless sleep potion take over him, and fall into a black obis with no danger. But too much was on his mind.
He was no longer alone, his house was on his side now, they weren't ignoring him like they used to. It was way too good to be true in the young Slytherin's mind after a summer spent with an abusive father. The young Snape feared that if he went to sleep, he would wake up and it would all be a dream and he would be alone again. But then what his professor had said, 'No Slytherin will be in pain.'
Did he really mean it? Did this new professor really care that much, and would he really enforce this new Slytherin way? He wanted it all to be true, that this man would not be like Slughorn, be not only a better teacher, but a better house leader. Slughorn only cared about those top students in the Slug Club. Something told Severus that you wouldn't need to do great in class to have Cedric Potter's attention.
But then he knew the man would expect for them all too just do their best, but anything less would not be welcomed. Maybe he could share his love of potions with the man and get more lessons, and more time in the lab. Severus drifted to sleep with those thoughts, he ignored the pain in his back and arms, the pain of his heart and soul and let himself sleep, looking forward to lessons with his new teacher.
!!!!
Cedric plotted revenge against Dumbledore as he looked down at his class schedule. Really, did the man want a blood war? Double potions first thing in the morning, first class of the week, for first year Gryffindors and Slytherins.
Yeah, the man was going to find out just how much the new Slytherin Head of House did not like this arrangement. He knew it was the man's way of trying to get the two rivals closer together, but Dumbledore was a fool to think that it would work by forcing them together. Cedric would try to be civil to the young lions, but knew after his second round through Hogwarts that that would be much easier said than done.
The vampire had picked up his schedule and his house's before he went to breakfast and had gone over his own along the way. As he came upon the Great hall he rolled his up and stashed it away in one of his many robe pockets. Before entering he tapped his wand on the large stack of student schedules and a reminder of his speech appeared on the back of each one.
"No Slytherin shall be in Pain, No Slytherin shall be left alone."
He let himself smirk as he looked down upon the words, they were written in Perstaletongue, but would appear to be English to anyone who bared the Slytherin crest on their uniform. It was Sal's idea and Cedric thought it was pure genius; none of the houses could know of the reuniting in the snake house, for even Dumbledore would not like that fact. The man feared it and Cedric, no Harry, knew better than most why the man feared it.
Glancing around the hall as he entered and waltzed up to the Head table Cedric made a plan to wait until after he ate to pass out the schedules, as not even a fourth of his students were present at the current time. He could bet that most of them weren't even awake yet.
He snorted at that, it took him until the third week of every one of his years at Hogwarts to get with the right wake up schedule, usually with the assistance of Al. He wondered if Benji was even awake yet and pondered the idea of going to his room for a wake up call; luckily when he glanced up at the Head table before rounding it he spotted Benji already eating with about six other professors.
Cedric sat the sack of papers down before he took his seat next to his school friend, careful not to bug the slightly older man until his cup of coffee was completely drained. While waiting he munched on some buttered toast and looked for Severus' schedule. He was going to have a meeting with the fifth-year Slytherin in the near future and would need to know it if he was going to ask about the brunette's love of potions.
Finding the slip he tapped his wand on it and then pulled out his own schedule and tapped it with his wand, Severus' schedule appeared on the back. He placed it back in the stack and his own in his pocket before grabbing some crisp bacon and turned to Benji who had just stuffed a piece of his own bacon into his mouth.
By the way the Malfoy's eyes were dazed and how he chewed very slowly, Cedric judged that Benji had not finished drinking enough coffee. It was funny to watch so Cedric nibbled on his bacon and waited for the blond to notice him.
It took about five minutes.
His stare was returned with a raised eyebrow and a "What?"
Cedric chuckled in his mind and allowed a quick smile, "Nothing, how many cups of coffee have you had?"
Benji looked from his friend to his mug, picking it up; he took a long swig and looked back to Cedric after he swallowed, "Five."
The potion's Master nearly chocked on his food, "F-five? Bloody hell, I'd be jumping off the walls at that point!"
Benji gave him a bland look and Cedric was reminded who he was talking to so he added, "Sorry, muggle saying."
The Malfoy snorted, than went back to his coffee, his food forgotten. Cedric shook his head at the blonde's actions and turned back to his own food, waiting for twenty minutes before he stood to pass out schedules.
It was at that point that he wondered how his past teachers knew who was who; he could guess most of them. Then he realized that as he touched a schedule he was able to connect a face with the name at the top.
The list started out with the seventh years and went down by year, in alphabetical order, by the end of it he knew all of his student's names and would most likely not forget. He was so thankful to be a wizard; otherwise it would have taken him forever just to pass out the pieces of paper. Instead of names he was able to focus on the conversation of the Slytherin Table.
Even if they quieted when he neared, his inhuman hearing could pick up what was being said across the hall se he could hear them pretty well. They were whispering about Voldemort. This didn't surprise Cedric as his biggest enemy should very well be on the rise about this time, and it angered his when he finally noted how many of the seventh years had already gained the Dark Mark thanks to their families.
All their lives were getting ready to be turned around, from Benji's information; he knew the Malfoy family had already aligned themselves with Voldemort. Benji himself was well known in the dark market as a seller and buyer of Dark Artifacts. It was a family business that the younger bother had been forced to take over; and yet, even with this reputation Cedric was overjoyed to know that his friend had refused the mark when offered to fallow his older brother.
The rest of the Slytherin five had also refused, Cedric's view on bowing to anyone having been drilled into their minds. They didn't know it, but he had forced those views on them just so that they would refuse Voldemort. He had given them the free mind needed to separate themselves from their overruling dark families who had already done as he thought they would.
Without Cedric Potter's views they would have fallen under their family's pressure and taken the mark. Voldemort was not week, and as a powerful Slytherin he drew the attention on other Slytherins, it was not hard for him to gain allies in Purebloods with the hatred they have for muggles, muggleborns and halfbloods.
Cedric wonders just how many of them know that Voldemort himself is a Halfblood. The vampire's friends knew he was, and didn't judge him for it, even if it took them forever to stop using racial terms around him, and then all together unless needed; but would the Death eaters be so understand, even if they feared his power.
Having finished passing out the schedules Cedric headed of to his classroom to prepare it for students. As he walked he had to refocus his mind, the day had just started and his Slytherin side was already making plans for how to make allies to take down Voldemort when the time came. He knew however, that most of his plans would have to wait until Severus took over the position as Slytherin Head of House and he wasn't under the watchful eyes of Albus Dumbledore.
!!!!
When it came time for lunch, you could say the Cedric was ready to kill several of his new students. Their ignorance did not bug him at all; it was their pure stupidity and choice to ignore him that annoyed him. He had had two classes of first years, one after the other and he wondered if Dumbledore hated the Slytherin Potter as much as he was untrusting of the unknown vampire.
Next time Cedric had his first years in class he would make sure they knew he was not to be messed with. He didn't have to worry about his snakes, as they already feared and respected him; it was the other houses -mostly Gryffindors- that he needed to worry about. Control over a Potion's class is needed as so many things could go wrong and he was not going to be sending any student to the hospital wing because they or their lab partner refused to pay attention in class.
Cedric is sure his eye is twitching slightly as he stabs his pork stake with his fork; he tried to mask every emotion he was feeling, but knew it wasn't working completely.
"Tough classes?" next to Cedric, the new DADA professor was giving his friend a look, "Because I am sure the poor dead pig does not deserve the treatment you are giving it."
Green eyes snapped to slivery blue and a quiet sigh left his painted black lips, he leaned back in his chair and his grip loosened on his fork. The blonde always knew what to say, "Who the hell gives the poor potions professor two classes of first years one after the other, first thing in the morning at the start of the week?"
Benji shrugged his shoulders, expensive black robes embroidered with light blue and silver swirls and the Malfoy crest moving with his body with elegance and grace. With a bored look he turned back to his food, "Albus Dumbledore apparently."
Cedric glared at him for a moment before turning to his plate again and picked up his knife to cut his meat. It had shocked him when he first found out that vampires can still eat regular food like before they were bitten. He had thought they only needed blood; their bodies pull nearly everything they need to survive out of blood, but they still need to eat other foods to gather vitamins and other minerals that blood could not offer. Their bodies just couldn't gather the substances as well of a human's can, what with them technically being dead.
After taking a bite from his pork Cedric glared at it; of course, after being turned nothing tasted any where near as wonderful as the metallic liquid they thrived on, what would have once been mouth watering, tasted terribly bland. He hated it, so nearly never wanted to eat, but eat he would to satisfy his mate. He took a few more bites of his meat that too well cooked and took a sip of his pumpkin juice before pushing the plate away and giving up on the meal.
"You are so wasteful Rickie." Benji muttered this as his plate was almost empty.
Cedric snorted and pulled out a book from his robes and flipped it open to where he had left off, pointy ignoring the comment. He hadn't gotten to read it since coming to Hogwarts and hoped it would calm his nerves enough for him to go to the fifth year snake and lion class without killing anyone, namely his nephew.
The thought of James Potter made him loose interest in his novel right off the bat, and brought back that twitch he thought was gone. He inwardly groaned and snapped his book shut. Benji and a few other teachers looked at him in shock, one or two jumping but he chose to ignore them to stand and leave the hall.
Reaching his room Cedric's wand flew to his hand from its holster and he started warding the room from unwanted prank spells. He layered it on the walls first and then on chairs, tables, cauldrons, cabinets, doors, his desk and all potions containers. The spell would alert him if any spells were cast upon it; it was a warning. He would not be taking any chances with the marauders in his class room.
He had decided to dive right into brewing with his fourth years and up, giving them all a potion from the year before to brew so he could gage their skills and go from there. It was much simpler than forcing a test on them as the class was hands on. If any pranksters ruined his class room or hurt a fellow student or them selves, he would do everything in his power to make sure they didn't return.
A great tool to hold over a student who wants to become an Auror and needs the class; they would only get one warning, something he considered a gift.
The green eyed vampire finished prepping his classroom when a silent bell went off at the signal of the release of lunch. He put away his wand and sat at his desk to wait for his students. It didn't surprise him when Severus Snape was the first one to arrive, then again, Cedric hadn't seen him at lunch so he was probably already in the dungeons.
It didn't take long before the entire class had arrived; he was shocked the Marauders had even arrived on time.
TBC
A/n: I feel my heart breaking as I realize Sev is getting ready to go through his own hell as he will still become a death eater, and it kills me to have to put him through that, but I must...I am not going to change the past we know from the book.
I had debated making it so Cedric became a major father or mentor figure towards Sev but am not sure how I can handle Cedric forcing himself to break Severus' trust so he still gains the Dark Mark. Cedric has to be very careful with how he treks so he doesn't make it so he would never get to the past to begin with, we all know how that goes.
I am thinking about getting Remus and Severus together, ignoring how Lily is friends with the Slytherin from the books. I like the idea but was wondering how you all though about it, or if you had any ideas of how to make it work into the time line.
Anyway, Thanks for reading,
Please excuse my grammar,
FT
Note to Shinigami Rachi: I have AP rewritten up to half way through chapter three; I will be posting it once I get to chapter six. I am renaming 'Snakes can Love" How does that sound?
