101cecilia101 – I wish I could update every week but my life is pretty chaotic right now and I don't want to rush this story and ruin it! But I promise I will try to do it more frequently.

KitChi – OMG Welcome to Hermione X Salazar fandom! Haha yes, I read a few before attempting to start my own and I am simply addicted and wish that there were more out there. At least completed ones!

Lyane de Rivesen – Thank you for reviewing darling! I hope you will enjoy this new chapter! :3

A big thank you to all of the guests out there that have reviewed!

Chapter III

Hermione quickly realized that arguing with the only person that knew how things worked around here was not the smartest thing to do. This wasn't the first time she would have to share a room and that was not what had her so on edge. It was because of who he claimed to be. The only things she knew about him weren't exactly working in his favour.

Slowly, she moved her hand to the door's handle and was somewhat surprised when it was unlocked. The bushy-haired witch walked through the door and closed it gently behind her. She noticed that he had his back turned on her and seemed to be looking for something in that worn out bag of his. She coughed lightly as to alert him to the fact that she was right there but he did not bother to acknowledge her.

Salazar took a small leather pouch from the bag and turned around, his eyes finally meeting hers, "You will stay here," he told her and drew his brows together as he waited for a reply - one that would tell him that she would be a good girl and comply with his wishes.

Quickly remembering that she was determined on avoiding arguing with the man, she gave him a small nod, not trusting herself to speak just yet. He seemed pleased with her reply and then left the room. She wondered if he had some business to take care of. Perhaps, he was chasing yet another dangerous wizard? She shivered and seriously hoped not. She suddenly realized that with him gone, she felt exposed and completely defenseless. What if some freak came into her room intending on attacking her? She didn't really feel like having a second encounter with a cruciatus curse.

There was a sudden loud knock on the door which caused the young witch to jump. She looked around frantically, trying to find something to try and defend herself with when a soft female voice spoke from behind the door. She clearly did not understand a word but she figured it was probably just a servant. With a deep breath, the Gryffindor head-girl opened the door and looked at the two women standing in the corridor. Both women carried buckets with steaming hot water in them.

She quickly scurried away, opening the door further to let them inside. The women walked inside and towards the tiny room where they emptied the buckets into the tub. One woman moved a hand into the water and said something to Hermione but she simply just stared at them and shook her head, "I'm terribly sorry. I don't understand." She said and watched as confusion etched into the maid's faces.

The women were quick to realize that she was a foreign and simply exited the room to come back a couple more times, filling in the tub completely. When their task was done, another woman came into the room and approached Hermione, moving a beautiful box into her hands, "Dress." She spoke in Latin and Hermione's eyes widened.

"D-dress?" Hermione asked, her eyes watering up as she realized that this was Salazar's doing. The man really had been nothing but nice to her and now every ounce of guilt spread through her being at her own thoughts of suspicion and cautious when it came to him.

"Thank you." She said and watched as the women shut the door and left.

She opened the box and looked down at the dress in awe. She had seen the other women wear these types of dresses and the thought of having to dress like one of them never crossed her mind. She was thankful for the dress, really. However, she was not too fond of wearing it. She knew that she would have to wear it though. She needed to fit in and drawing too much attention to herself was dangerous.

The dress's colour was a beautiful pale blue made of coarse cotton. It was simple in style; there were buttons down the front of the dress, almost to the waist, so one could get in and out of it easily.A heavy sigh escaped her and she turned towards the tub before the water turned cold.

She looked around closely and found a bar of white soap. She shivered at the thought that she would have to wash her hair with it. If only she had her wand.

Hermione could feel tears come to her eyes as she got in the tub. She wanted to go home. Oh god, never before she had been this homesick. Not even in her first year in Hogwarts. Not even when she was camping out with Harry, hiding away from death eaters while they hunted for Horcruxes. She felt like an eight-year old as a sob rocked her body.

Home. I want to go home!

When Salazar did not return, Hermione was growing restless. Staying locked inside a tiny room was not improving her mood the slightest. She felt mentally and physically tired beyond limits. She kept trying to find the missing piece for the puzzle she had in her hands. How on Merlin's beard was the room of requirement able to send her to the past? She dismissed her previous idea of a portkey. Portkeys did not send people back in time. Period.

Then how?

More important, why?

The young witch took a deep breath and decided that she would venture a little into town. She might as well take a good look around. It didn't take her long to find her way out of the inn. She took her time, taking in her surroundings.

She noticed the staring and that some of the locals were scowling at her. She made a mental note that these people were probably suspicious and not so friendly towards outsiders. And since it was a small town, everyone probably knew everyone. Taking her mind off the staring folk she focused on the buildings. Fences and gates were stained with age. She then gasped as two children ran past her barefoot and she cringed inwardly. These streets were probably filled with bacteria and disease and children ran barefoot through the dirt filled roads.

Suddenly she felt a hand upon her arm. She spun, her eyes wide in surprise to find Salazar glaring down at her. He snarled something at her and began dragging her back with him towards the inn. She shook herself free.

"Let go!" she started in English. She crossed her arms around her chest, eyeing him defiantly, "I was merely looking around." She added this time in Latin but he was still glaring furiously at her.

When Salazar had seen her walk past and down the street, he nearly choked on his own saliva.

News of her arrival had probably been spread within the minute of her coming through the town's gate. A foreign woman had been wearing the strangest clothing, in the company of a strange man.

"You are making yourself far too noticeable," he hissed angrily, "What do you think you are doing? Having a look around? You think this is a visiting trip? You have no idea of what is out there-"

"Then why don't you tell me? Huh? Enlighten me oh, great Salazar Slytherin!" she snapped but then realized she had gone too far as he suddenly reached for her. "Hey! Let go, get—p-put me down! HEY!"

"Are you mad?!" he shouted as he shook her and then without warning he had his arms about her waist, lifted her off the floor and started carrying back to the inn. The little wench was still protesting when he put her down and shoved her through the door. He turned to look at her and found her glaring at him in fury. He snorted and couldn't believe what he had done to deserve this kind of punishment. The young woman was obvious delusional.

"I was simply looking around!" she retorted, wondering why he was so upset.

"I told you to stay in the room." He said and ran a hand through his now clean blonde-hair. He took a deep breath and then took a seat, "It is not safe out there. Do you understand? Not for our kind."

"Like what?" she asked, taking the seat next to him, wishing to know what was so dangerous out there, "Is it a dark wizard?"

His chuckle surprised her since she could not tell what was so funny about a dark wizard. She found amusement in his eyes as he looked right back at her. The corner of his lips curved upwards and she found herself thinking that he had a handsome kind smile. It was a sight that she had never thought to associate with Salazar Slytherin.

"A dark wizard is the least of our worries, little girl."

Patches of dark grey clouds drifted across the horizon – a grim sign of the rain that was certain to follow. A lone majestic raven flew lazily above the dark woods. The bird suddenly changed speed and swooped quickly as it reached the thick stands of trees. It flew as straight as possible, making its way unerringly to one of the many available branches. Settling there, the raven folded its wings rather magnificently; its round shiny eyes glued intently on the cloaked man below.

The bird opened its beak and emitted a loud squawk, the screeching note jarring in the hushed silence of the grove. Very slowly, the cloaked man looked up at the bird sitting so still above him in the tree.

"Speak," the man's voice was low and rough but the bird seemed to comprehend the simple command. The bird suddenly abandoned the comfort of the tree branch and with a puff of a dark smoke; the bird was no more, giving place to a tall dark-haired man.

"What? No hello? You are getting ruder by the day," the man spoke playfully but at the same time he carried a defensive posture, almost as if he feared that the other man would pounce at him. He slowly circled the cloaked man and smirked, "I think your friends will be happy with our prey this time."

"They are no friends of mine," the cloaked man replied almost robotically, he grew weary of telling this fact over and over again. They were his employers, not friends.

"So you keep saying."

"Out with it. I have far better things to do than associate with the likes of you."

"Ah, yes." The animagus smirked, "Understandable, since the companies you prefer nowadays are filthy muggles."

The cloaked man whirled around and as he did so, the hood that shielded his features fell back and allowed the animagus to have a look at the man's face for the first time in years since they started doing business together. His eyes widened slightly but he quickly masked away his surprise. The cloaked man's facial skin was badly burnt; he had no eyebrows and he was missing an eye. The eye socket was dark and the animagus would have cringed if he had not heard the rumors. He knew the story behind the sight before him – everyone did.

The animagus could not inspect the other man's wounds any further as he pulled the hood back on, hiding behind the shadows once more.

"Right…" the dark-haired man started, "I thought you and your friends should know that Salazar Slytherin himself is in town." He was not disappointed when a small but heavy leather pouch was thrown at him. He caught it effortlessly and did not bother to count the gold that was within.

The cloaked man quickly turned his back on his informant and walked towards the heart of the forest.

"Oh, silly me! There is something else you should know."

The cloaked man came to a halt but did not turn around. He waited.

"A woman's with him," he started, "A witch by the looks of it. But I never heard of her. I asked around, it seems no one else has heard of her either,"

When the animagus did not add anything further, he walked forward.

This was the moment he had been waiting for. He did not know what Salazar Slytherin was doing outside the protection of his precious castle but it mattered not. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. And he would take it.

Oh yes, he would.

If killing Salazar Slytherin was the only way to get to him. Then so be it.

Hermione lay in bed and shifted uncomfortably for the one hundredth time, trying as hard as not to touch him who was also lying right next to her with his back turned on her. With a sideways glance, she realized that he seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Good for him, she thought bitterly as she could not find the right position. Truth was she simply couldn't fall asleep knowing that he was right there. This felt wrong on so many levels. For one, she had been petrified on her second year by the damned beast he set loose in the castle. Secondly, his mindset about muggle-borns was one of the things that fueled Tom Riddle psychopath ways.

Despite all 'buts' and 'ifs' going around in the center of her mind, it was becoming clear that Hermione would never go back again. Unless, people in this time had some sort of spell that threw people forward in time, she was going to be forever confined to this time until the day she died. The prospect sent an ill shiver down the length of her spine and unbidden tears filled her eyes.

Salazar's eyes were closed but he too was having trouble falling asleep. He was perfectly aware of the young witch lying next to him and he was a man – a man that did not share a bed with the opposite sex in weeks, months even. He found himself thinking about her. She was with no doubt a mystery to him. She couldn't or wouldn't tell him who she truly was or where she hailed from but he could tell she was in trouble. There was a 'lost' vibe coming from the girl and she certainly did not belong. She did not behave like the other women he met, and the clothes she had been wearing when he first met her was just another indicator. And there was the language barrier.

His muscles suddenly tensed when he felt something warm against his back and he slowly looked over his shoulder to see the young witch's forehead pressed against him. He found the sight endearing as he could finally see her. In her sleep, she was not guarded against him. In her sleep, she was finally not afraid of him.

Yes, because he did notice how she often sneaked worried glances towards him as though she was scared that he would suddenly attack her.

With a heavy sigh, Salazar turned his head back and allowed himself to relax. He closed his eyes and his breathing evened out, slowly but surely dozing off.

The sound of horses so late in the night was enough to make the town's people curious. The shy ones preferred to watch from the safety of their homes by the windows. A red-haired young girl watched in fascination as the riders wore identical clothing; their faces were covered by large hoods which only added to her growing curiosity.

"Who are they papa?" the girl asked as she reached for her father's hand.

He squeezed it gently as he too stared at the riders, "Hunters, my little bear. Come, it is best if we stay away from the window." He said and suddenly felt worry course through him as he watched the men stop in front of old Tom's Inn.

"Hunters?" The girl asked as she followed her father, disappointed that she could not keep watching, "What are they hunting?"

"Bad, bad people," her father replied and then added the one word every children was scared of, "Witches."

The sound of an explosion echoed into the silent room, waking up its occupants immediately. She bolted upright, her heart raced so violently against her ribcage that for a moment she thought it would burst right out of her chest. Her eyes stopped on the several cloaked figures that invaded their room and she knew that they weren't there to discuss the weather or to ask for directions. She did not fail notice that these men were carrying knifes and swords. One of them even had an enormous axe.

What the bloody hell? Muggles?!

Salazar was up and ready. He had his wand pointed at them and he looked furious. How stupid of him to lower his guard! He had never allowed himself to be trapped in this manner, especially by muggles. His eyes narrowed dangerously when a tall cloaked man pushed the muggles aside and he instantly knew that this man was not a muggle. The wand pointed right back at him spoke volumes.

"So the rumors are true," Salazar spoke, his wand steady. He was well aware that the young witch was vulnerable without her own wand, he wondered if she was skilled at all when it came to dueling.

"The rumors are true," the cloaked man repeated and Salazar immediately recognized his voice. He had been told stories about a few wizards that willingly joined forces with muggles in hunting down witches and wizards. At the time he found it hard to believe that their own kin would betray them in such fashion but now he knew the rumors to be true and he fully understood them.

Salazar snorted and he looked over at Hermione who looked completely at loss of what to do. Not only she did not understand their situation but she could not understand a word that was being said. He locked his gaze with hers for a brief moment and then he discreetly looked down at his waist holster and he almost breathed out in relief when realization lit her features.

"And how did you find me?" Salazar asked, trying to buy them some time. He could see that the muggles were growing restless.

"I have my ways."

"I see that you are still a man of few words, Jonathan." Salazar added almost tauntingly.

The first muggle growled and he ran towards them, a knife ready in his hand. Hermione quickly rolled off the bed, she reached for her own wand and a jolt of electricity ran up her arm as she could feel its magic greeting her back. Salazar waved his wand and she realized that he was gifted in non-verbal spells. The muggle was thrown back colliding with a few of his comrades and then chaos ensued.

The wizard also known as Jonathan, shot spell after spell but Salazar was able to deflect every single one of them. A muggle got too close to him and instead of using magic; he kicked the man hard enough to send him to the ground. And then for a moment he forgot to breathe as Jonathan now aimed at Hermione. But nothing prepared him for what happened next.

The young witch not only deflected it with ease but she cast one spell of her own that he had never heard before. Jonathan was frozen like a statue and the muggles now receded, feeling that it was not wise to engage in a fight without their precious wizard to aid them.

"Come!" Salazar shouted and even though it was not Latin, it didn't take a genius to know what he meant. She followed him to the window and she looked down as he jumped. It was a three-floor building! She was sure that he had used some spell to make him land perfectly or to slow down his fall but she didn't know any that could aid her to do the same feat.

Salazar looked upwards and shot a spell at her that made her feel lighter as though she weighted nothing and then she jumped and for a moment she felt like she could truly fly. As she came down, he moved his hands to her waist and pulled her close. What surprised her was the wide grin on his face.

"Run, we are being hunted!"

She blinked at him, her heart was still racing and her mind was trying to process all that was happening but she knew one thing.

Salazar appeared to be having the time of his life.

Author's note: I am getting so many reviews and so many followers that this truly warms my heart. I am sorry if the ambush scene at their inn's room seems a bit messy, I am still looking for a beta reader to help me out by the way. Please review. I am a bit nervous about this chapter and your input truly means the world to me. Thank you as always for reading!

Naeriel.

Ps. We will read a bit about the other founders on the next chappie! I already started writing it so... reviews motivate me! Teehe xxx.