"So you are the mud-muggleborn that claims to be Salazar Slytherin" sneered Umbridge who had decided to break the silence. "You don't look like much."

"And yet looks can be deceiving daughter of the House of Selwyn" replied Salazar calmly "It is a shame that your house was disbanded in order to make way for the Malfoys but I guess that is what happens with enough gold in your hands."

Umbridge looked a little surprised at that little bit of information. She knew that her house had been disbanded and had been subsequently replaced by the House of Malfoy but she never suspected that the Malfoys were the ones who caused her house to be disbanded in the first place. She would have to look into this first of course in order to make sure that it was indeed the truth, and if it was, well let's just say that Lucius would be in for a world of hurt.

"True enough" said Amelia "But the question is, are you really the same Salazar Slytherin that founded our school over nine-hundred years ago, and if so how are you here?"

"He is" said a deep voice as the Bloody Baron flew into the room accompanied by the Grey Lady "I was alive during that time and he looks exactly the same as he did the last time we met."

"Indeed" said the Grey Lady "I too was alive during that period of time and this man here spoke to me about things that only Lord Slytherin, my mother and I should have been able to know."

"I am sure you are all aware of the enchantments placed on me" said the Sorting Hat from the shelf on which he had been placed "I can guarantee you that this man in front of us is indeed the great Salazar Slytherin."

Dumbledore cringed inwardly, this was not how this was supposed to go. This man was suppose to make a mistake while trying to prove his identity which he would use to send this man to Azkaban or at the very least separate him from the Boy-Who-Lived, instead he had the sorting hat and two of his castle ghost assure him of his identity while the man himself said nothing. Well, this just proved that he would have a better adversary than he imagined.

Amelia paused, she knew that the two ghosts in front of her would not lie and that was not mentioning the fact that the sorting hat, a brilliantly enchanted work of Godric Gryffindor that the Department of Mysteries has been attempting and failing to recreate, had spoken in agreement of the ghosts. That had pretty much cleared all doubt of his identity from his mind, but the question still remained of how and why now and she asked that very question out loud.

"How… well that is something that is better left unsaid Regent Bones" Salazar responded "And as for why? Well, I am pretty sure that Dumbledore saying of, and I quote, help will always be given at Hogwarts for those who ask of it, unquote, covers that little question. What you need to ask yourselves is what will be so terrible that it will require my help to survive."

"Indeed" said Harry "The attack on Mad-Eye Moody's house, the Dark Mark at the Quidditch world cup and Berta Jenkins disappearance are but a few of many isolated incidents that if pot together and and looked at logically show that there are only two possible reasons, either Voldemort (he ignored the shudder from the ministry officials) is returning or another Dark Lord is rising and after the events of the last 3 years I am leaning more towards the former than the latter."

"Events?" asked Madam Bones "What events?"

Salazar's eyes flashed dangerously "It seems that you have been seriously downplaying your reports to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement if you even bothered to report them at all Headmaster."

With a flick of his wand he quickly summoned the Headmaster's Pensive, conjured up a desk and placed the pensive on said desk. Meanwhile Harry had already conjured up 3 vials, charmed them to be unbreakable (for the duration that they were conjured for at least) and filled them to the brim with memories.

"The conjurations will last for 24 hours, Madam Bones" said Salazar "Use that time to view the memories and decide what course has to be taken, I would suggest speaking to your old mentor after you are done viewing those memories if only to ensure that there aren't any unusual events for the duration of the tri-wizard-tournament, wouldn't want to give a bad impression to our visiting rival schools."

"I agree" said Harry "And for the record, we are done here!"

With that the two off them turned around and smartly walked out the door leaving the inhabitants of the room either indignant, stunned, thoughtful or curious. Though as they were walking down the staircase Harry said "How much do you want to bet that Madam Bones tears him a new one right after the first memory?"

"Ten galleon"

"Huh?"

"Madam Bones will most likely keep her composure until she views the entire thing" said Salazar "So I say ten Galleons."

"Your on" he replied.

Tracy Davis, Daphne Greengrass and Astora Greengrass were different from the rest of the female Slytherins in several ways, which included but were not limited to the fact that they were in Slytherin because of their inner traits and not because they wanted to be, they also did NOT share the views of the rest of their dorm concerning a single person, Harry Potter, however the thing which set them the most apart from the rest of the Slytherins were the near identical instructions that were given to them before the start of the term by their parents regarding said Gryffindor. The events of the sorting reminded Tracy of one line that her father had said to her "Tracy, Alliances have begun to be formed and sides are being chosen and trust me when I say that allies of the House of Black will emerge, and they shall be formidable."

"You think this is what they meant?" asked Tracy as she and Daphne made their way to their first class off the term.

"What do you mean?" asked Daphne

"Do you think that this is what our fathers told us that formidable allies would emerge" asked Tracy "Do you think that this is what they meant?"

"I will admit that I was caught off guard when Lord Slytherin emerged, and more so when Potter escorted him out." said Daphne "I will admit that when I went off to bed I was unsure whether he was the one. Today however… He and Potter sat side by side speaking to each other, civilly greeting but otherwise ignoring those who surrounded and when they finally rose to exit the hall they had an air of trust and familiarity with each other which goes well beyond that of simple acquaintances, so yes I think that it is likely that they were the ones who dad had spoken about."

"It makes you wonder doesn't it" said Tracy "What kind of danger are we facing that a founder who lived nine-hundred years before us has been come to aid us."

"I don't know" said Daphne "But whatever it is, I just hope that we are ready for it."

Harry and Salazar left the room and were making their way to Professor McGonagal's room to collect their time tables when an owl flew down to harry with a copy of this morning's Profit. After taking the newspaper and paying the owl he opened the newspaper and said, "Sal, you made the front page"

'Founder Returns'

By Rita Skeeter

After the traditional sorting on the night of September 1st at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the Sorting Hat, a magical hat enchanted by Godric Gryffindor himself, announced that there was still one more student to be sorted, a fourth year to be precise. This in itself was unpresidented as the Sorting Hat rarely spoke outside of its usual songs and announcing the houses, but the name that the Sorting Hat called out shocked the Wizarding World to its very core as the Sorting Hat shouted the name of one of the school's very founders and a man long thought to be dead "Salazar Slytherin!"

Yes you heard right my dear readers, the sorting hat did indeed call out that very name and not a moment later a 14 year old … walked straight into the great hall and up to the stool stopping when our veteran headmaster decided to interrupt in order to blow him back into his gold throne and bind him with a single wave of his hand.

Yes my dear readers, you read correctly, Salazar Slytherin did that with a wave of his hand, no wand, no incantation, nothing. Just a simple wave off his hand was needed to banish our dear headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry back into his seat, apply a sticking charm on his robes to practically bind him into his throne. And after doing so Salazar simply walked up to the stool as if nothing had ever happened and sat down and a trembling Transfiguration Mistress who is most commonly known as Professor McGonagal placed the hat on his head.

What happened next was just as astonishing as the appearance of our dear Founder as the Great Lord Slytherin proceeded to argue with the hat in his mind in a conversation that continued to heat up until he finally bellowed "SO WHAT YOU MEAN TO SAY IS THAT A MASTER IS FORBIDDEN FROM ENTERING HIS OWN HOUSE!" before cooling down and requesting the sorting hat to place him where he deemed him most suitable to go and in a remarkable twist of events the sorting hat sorted him into Gryffindor. Indeed the great Salazar Slytherin, the person who founded the most noble and most ancient house of Slytherin ended up sorted in his houses fiercest rival. The shockwaves of that particular incident will be felt for years to come.

But lets backtrack of a moment as I am sure you are wondering just as I am wondering why Lord Slytherin wasn't able to be sorted into the house of Slytherin and truthfully I must admit that getting the answer to that particular question wasn't easy. You see Phineous Nigel Black, the school's last Slytherin Headmaster decreed that that muggle-born witches and wizards would hence forth be unable to be sorted into Slytherin.

But surely this cannot be, surely the Great Salazar Slytherin cannot be muggle born and some of you may indeed be asking how I dare make such an accusation. However this fact was given to us by Salazar Slytherin himself when a Gryffindor named Ronald Weasley's blurted out that he thought that Lord Slytherin never wanted muggle-borns to come to Hogwarts causing the founder to simply look at him and reply, and I quote "That would make me a hypocrite as I am, as you call it, a muggle born."

Now before you all can go cry imposter I must sincerely point out that both The Bloody Baron, the ghost of Slytherin and The Grey Lady, the ghost of Ravenclaw, also known as Baron William Pentagon and Lady Helena Ravenclaw who were one of Salazar's 3 apprentices and Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter respectively, and if that is not enough proof for those of you out there then you will certainly be able to find out from the returning ministry party consisting of the Head of the Department of Law Enforcement Amelia Bones, the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, his Seinor Under-secretary Deloris Umbridge and surprisingly the immortal alchemists Perenelle and Nicolas Flammel.

"Interesting" said Salazar, "How did they find out about you, and why are you here in the first place?"

Harry was immediately confused by that response from the Founder but he soon got his answer when he felt the air behind them shimmer and the Immortal Alchemists appear out of thin air.

"We were here to see if it was true that the chamber had indeed been open and you had emerged" said Nicolas.

"And as for how she found out I am afraid that I don't have an answer for you teacher" added Perenelle "Rita Skeeter has a really keen ear when it comes to these things especially is she detects that it will be a big story and…"

"What would be bigger than the return of the great Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts and a man who has been believed to be dead for over seven hundred years" finished Salazar "Unfortunately we can't speak at this time my friends, so I will contact you later using the usual method. Be safe and watch out for bugs."

The Flammels nodded before disappearing into thin air. Harry waited a few moments before turning around to face the founder and ask him "How exactly are you the Flammels teacher when they were 200 years after your time?"

"Can you tell me who was the first person who created the philosophers stone?" Salazar asked

"Nicolas Flammel" replied Harry

"Correction my dear friend, Nicolas was credited for being the only known person to create the philosophers stone." Replied Salazar evenly "Also take a look at all known records of him and Perenelle, you will see that neither their date of birth nor their definate age is ever mentioned."

"So there are others ways to create Philosophers stone" surmounted Harry "As well as people who have already created them, but if that is true then who's Philosophers stone was Mr. Flammel using while he created his own.

Salazar smiled at that question, though honestly it was a pretty easy conclusion for Harry to come to, before he said "Mine!"

Harry was on his knees as he looked at what remained of the burrow. The entire thing had been burnt to the ground and laid at foot of the ashes were the bodies of his children, Hermione's children, Teddy Lupin, Mr Weasley, Misses Weasley, Charlie, Bill, and his daughter. They were all laid down at the foot of the burrow, all dead.

"Magical analysis complete commander" said an Unspeakable "they were stunned by multiple people but in the end they were all killed with the killing curse cast by one single person."

"Let me guess" Harry snarled venomously as he rose from the ground "Ron Weasley!"

"I am afraid that you are mistaken" replied the Unspeakable causing Harry to turn sharply and look at him as he said "The perpetrator for this crime is his sister… your wife… Ginny Potter!"

"What were you dreaming about?" asked Salazar as he finally managed to awaken a visibly very disturbed Harry Potter.

"I dreamt of the day that I lost everything to someone I thought I really cared about" responded Harry as he tried to compose himself. He didn't hesitate to answer because even after he had heard about the real person Salazar was he did take steps to ensure that their trust, their partnership so to speak was full proof. He knew that it was impossible for the founder to betray him, even under the pain of death and Salazar himself knew that he could now trust Harry with anything and everything and that trust went both ways.

"Shall we leave?" Harry asked once he finally composed himself

"Of course" Salazar replied as he grabbed Harry hand and apparated right into a deserted seventh-floor corridor. He walked up and down the wall three times before he entered it and Harry had to say that he was impressed with the décor that Salazar put up.

It was a small room with Dark stone walls and a wooden floor made of black elder. There were 2 torches on each wall as well as a door leading on the other end of the room. In the middle of said room however was a table with four chairs on one side and two chairs on the other. Salazar took a seat on one of the two chairs while Harry went to the door on the other side of the room and opened it and he was amazed that it lead to the Slytherin common room which was deserted with the exception of four individuals, the Greengrass sisters, Daphne and Astoria, Tracy Davis and Blaize Zabini, all of whom looked surprised that a door had suddenly appeared in the middle of the common room and that it had been opened by Harry Potter, the Golden Boy of Gryffindor of all people.

"Come in quickly" said Harry and the others followed him inside after which he shut the door which melted back into the wall. Taking the seat beside the founder he gestured for the others to take the four empty seats and waited until they had before he said "I am glad that you all decided to meet me though I am sure that you must be wondering why am I right?"

He waited for them to nod before continuing "The answer to that question is quite simple and yet not so. Voldemort (he ignored the gasps) will return and from what we can make out he will return soon and when he does he will give your families a choice, bow to him or be destroyed, and your families, save yours Zabani, cannot or rather will not bow down before him…"

"Both Lord Davis and Lord Greengrass were Aurors before they took up their head of house status which makes them formidable fighters" said Salazar "The black family are known for producing formidable fighters and ladies Nadia and Natasha certainly live up to that reputation which means that my heir's Death Eaters as he calls them, will have a tough time matching up to them, and let us not forget that Regent Zabini is an unorthodox but formidable opponent in her own right."

"However while your parents are formidable fighter, you are not and they will use that to their advantage" said Harry "they will capture you and with you hostage your parents will be unable to retaliate."

"That being said however we would like to give you the skills to make that little scenario obsolete" said Salazar "I have well over eight hundred years of knowledge to impart and Harry here is a powerful fighter in his own right."

"What Salazar is basically saying is that we would like to train the four of you to the best of our ability" said Harry "However please do not think that it will be a walk in the park, it will be hard gruesome training but in the end you will be better because of it, stronger because of it"

"Take the rest of the night to think about it" said Salazar "We will be in the Ancient Runes part of the Library at 0600hrs, waiting for your answer, please don't be late."

"You may leave now" said Harry before pointing to a side wall where another door appeared, the Slytherins got up and went through the door which closed itself and turned into a wall. Harry waited a moment before turning to his friend and saying "Are you sure about Zabani?"

"No, not entirely" replied Salazar "But then again Harry, what's life without a little risk?"

It had been almost a month since the Salazar had returned to the very school that he had founded and in that time things had been well different so to speak. The Slytherin's had been slowly getting closer and closer with the rest of the students despite the best efforts of the blood-purists and Salazar had been making a constant continuous attempts to reach out to his snakes. Amongst the Gryffindors there were several traditionalists like Ron who continued to insist that Slytherin's were evil though they refrained from making any comments near the founder of that particular house. Incidentally Ron had also taken to ignoring Harry not unlike when his name came out of the goblet in the last time line and by all means that was completely fine by Harry as he certainly wished to avoid a seen not unlike what usually happened when the red head got angry.

The Wizardmort itself had seen some changes as members of both the light and dark fractions deserted after the startling revelations about the founder had come to light. Pure-Blood supporters in the ministry found themselves questioning their beliefs and coincidently muggle-borns had started to rise amongst the ranks of the government. Muggle-born… well that term was slowly being replaced by the term new-blood, a term which had been started by Salazar in the school and Muggles were slowly beginning to be referred to as mundane.

The little group that Harry Potter and Salazar Slytherin had started was slowly being pushed to its limits as they had a very strict timetable. They now had to get up early in the morning, work out till they had spent at least 60% of their energy before returning to their dorms, showering and going the great hall for breakfast before heading off to their first class after which they would stop at a make shift Potions lab (quite a few of which had been erected throughout the castle, courtesy of Salazar Slytherin and the house elves), make a selected potion which took around an hour to craft, before heading off to their second period which when over they would leave their crafted potion at a secure drop point before they head off for lunch. After which they would do the same process (go to a period, make a potion, go to the next period) until classes were over for the day when they would enter the room of requirement (Neither Salazar nor Harry ever remotely mentioned where it was located) where they would work out until an hour before curfew at which time the room would transform into two separate giant bathrooms with their own changing rooms and, they would depart for their own dorms through the passageways provided by the room of requirement.

Still, for one fourth year Gryffindor today was suppose to be a glorious day as a person who he so desperately wanted to see would be arriving in school and then, just as the suspense was getting too much Dumbledore called out "Aha, unless I am mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

"Where" said many students eagerly looking all over in different directions.

"There" yelled a sixth year pointing just above the forbidden forest.

Harry looked at where the sixth year Ravenclaw was pointing and he could clearly see the silhouette of the Beauxbaton's carriage approaching. Salazar chuckled at the various guesses people were making and Harry would have joined him if he wasn't desperate to see her again.

"Its a Dragon" shreaked one of the first years loosing her cool completely causing Salazar to loose his own complexion and burst out laughing as Dennis Creevey yelled back in reply "Don't be silly... its a flying horse"

Harry had to give credit where credit was due as Dennis is guess was much closer to the truth as a gigantic power blue horse drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring towards them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, each the size of an elephant. The front 3 rows of students jumped back as the carriage got closer and closer to the ground, coming in towards land at tremendous speeds with an almighty crash that made quite a few people jump back. The horses hooves, each the size of dinner plates hit the ground, a second later the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels while the horses tossed their heads rolling their fiery red eyes.

Salazar just had time to see, and become amused at, the coat of arms the carriage bore (two crossed golden wands, each emitting 3 stars) before it opened and a boy in pale blue robes jumped out of the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment before unfolding a set of golden steps before springing back respectfully. He (Salazar) then saw a shining high heeled black shoe which, of Harry description was right, belonged to Madam Maxime. that theory was proven correct a second later as the largest woman he had ever seen in his life exited the carriage. She was dressed from head to toe in black sated wearing many magnificent opals that beamed on her fingers.

Harry though looked was looking for the person who was behind the Headmistress, someone who he dearly wished he had spent most of his life with, and soon enough he saw her, as even Madam Maxime's long shadow was not enough to hide the tell tale silvery blonde hair and the perfect features of the one Harry Potter wanted to see the most, and her name was Fleur Delacour.

Ok guys and girls, sorry for the mistakes in the this chapter, I had actually already written this version down but for reasons that continue to elude me I by mistake published my original draft, not a mistake I will make again...hopefully!

Anyway thank you for all your support, reviews and help.

Rafaelout out