One Strange Occurrence

by Enigmaris

Severus was relaxing at the end of the year, happy to be rid of the dunderheads for the next few months. Harry Potter had been just as arrogant as he had thought he would be. It must be something in the Potter genes. Everything was as it should be until one moment. A moment that changed everything.

9. A Family Name

Chapter 9! Wee! This is where things get strange. I always felt that if Salazar Slytherin was going to build a giant chamber in the bowels of the school then he would've put way more into it than just a Basilisk. Serious question if Salazar Slytherin was alive like a thousand years ago but sinks systems were only invented like 300 years ago how in the heck did he create the entrance? Review and tell me what you think.

Harry on the other hand couldn't believe the ways his life had changed in the past two days. First he had for some crazy reason started talking about his relatives. Once he started he couldn't stop and he had had to leave before he spilled anything too crazy. Harry had been too embarrassed to stay in their quarters so he had left quickly. Harry had wandered around for a while until he had found himself in front of the girl's bathroom on the second floor.

Harry wasn't one to deny fate and decided in a moment of Gryffindor rashness decided to explore the chamber of secrets. He went in there and greeted Myrtle and asked her to guard the door. She had agreed so he had opened the chamber. With a little hissing he said the password which wasn't even a password. Just the command to open. It opened up a slide. Harry decided without planning anything at all to just jump down.

The slide down was rather dirty. It hadn't been used for years and was filled with slime. Where does the slime even come from no one had been down here since the 1950's. It was just gross when he got to the bottom he looked around. He light up the hallway with his wand and saw how ridiculously large it was. He walked along the hallway and looked at the statues of Salazar Slytherin. He came up to a door and hissed for it to open. He walked into a large chamber that had a giant statue in the front and center. Harry began exploring the chamber using the fire spell to light each of the torches.

Once the room was lit up it didn't look so bad. He walked around the statue and saw a door. He walked up and tried to open it. It was locked of course. He hissed 'open' but that didn't work. Harry walked back to the statue that seemed to be the focus of the room. At the bottom of it were inscriptions. At first glance they were a bunch of scribbles but when he focused they changed into English letters.

To call out the defender of Hogwarts speak in the tongue of snakes 'Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four!'

To prove yourself worthy of the knowledge of Slytherin speak in the tongue of the snakes 'Test me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four!'

Harry snorted. Of course Salazar would make those things the password. Harry had no doubt the defender of Hogwarts was a Basilisk that he did not particularly want to meet. So he decided to be tested. Focusing his mind on the image of a snake he spoke out.

"TEST ME, SLYTHERIN, GREATEST OF THE HOGWARTS FOUR!"

The stone began grinding and the front of the statue opened up. Harry had to step back as it forced itself open to reveal something rather innocuous. A portrait and a chair facing said portrait.

"Sit down." The portrait intoned.

Harry walked in and sat down. I mean why not? He sat down and came face to face with the smug face of Salazar Slytherin. Harry's eyebrows went up into his hairline. All the books said that there were no surviving portraits of the founders. But there in front of him was the smug founder who looked pompous and ridiculous.

"Well. Tell me your name." Salazar said.

"Harry Potter."

"Potter is a Gryffindor family generally. How did you get my beautiful ability?"

"I don't know sir. I've had for as long as I can remember."

"Well if I am going to find out if you are worthy for my knowledge I need to know all about you. So start talking. This room is warded to let me know if you lie so don't bother."

So Harry began for the next three hours to recount his life to the man. He found him easy to talk to in fact it was easy to just talk, and he was understanding. When told of his parent's murder and his subsequent survival of the killing curse Salazar looked smug. As he described his childhood, Salazar looked furious, and when told of his first year of Hogwarts Salazar looked accepting. When he finished Salazar smiled at him.

"You've done admirable my boy. You are probably not my descendant but you can claim my name easily if you want."

"What do you mean?"

"I forgot raised by muggles." Salazar scoffed. "Years ago if you defeated a wizard you could take away his name. Lord Voldemort is my last descendant and you've defeated him twice. You can easily claim my name as your own. It would give you access to my vaults in Gringotts, the prestige of another pureblooded name and it would increase your power levels." Salazar mused. "In fact I insist you take upon my name! I never approved of Tom and I want a descendant to be proud of. Will you do it?"

"What do you need me to do?"

So Salazar outlined the ancient ritual. It was a spell mixed with a wound. The wound was given to show your devotion and willingness to take upon the name. The spell was used to call upon magic to show your defeat of the other wizard or witch in question. So Harry in the next 15 minutes prepared and did the spell under Salazar's watchful eye.

It was a Latin incantation that seemed to exude power. Once he finished the spell and stabbed his own hand. He felt the magic in air rise up. It whipped around him in unnatural winds and made him feel strong and weak at the same time. He felt himself being judged and each part of him being questioned and decided upon. It was insane. Finally the wind stopped and the air began to glow. It got hot and oppressive as the glowing began to collect into a ball right in front of him.

Before Harry could move the ball shot right into his chest and filled him with electric power. There was a searing pain that blinded him with its intensity. He went onto his knees clutching his chest and breathed in and out for a while. He probably would've stayed there if it hadn't been for Salazar clapping.

"Congratulations my boy. You are now my many times grandson. I want you to visit me often so I can teach you all that I know."

"Thanks sir."

"Don't you dare call me sir. Call me Grandpa, that's what my grandchildren used to call me before I died."

Harry stood up finally and nodded. He sat back down in the chair and smiled at his newly dubbed 'grandpa'.

"So Grandpa. What is parselmagic? I could never find any books on it anywhere."

"Well you wouldn't. I ensured that no books would ever be found in the library. In the wrong hands parselmagic is a dangerous tool."

"How?"

"Any spell done in Parselmagic can only be undone by parselmagic. Since Parselmouths are so rare, the magic can be rather dangerous."

"Can you teach me?"

"I will if you agree to teach no one else. You can tell no one what is down here."

"I promise."

"Good. Now I will teach you later but for now I think you need to rest. Taking upon new magics is draining on the body."

"What new magics?"

"Well you already had the Parseltongue but if you got that ability from an unnatural source like the failed killing curse, you were regiven it since it's my family's magic. Another ability my family is known for is the metamorphagus ability. Users can change their outward appearance at will. You were probably given that as well."

"Sweet!"

"Yes very, now go head back up out of my chamber. Bring the book over there with you. Read it and study it as much as you can once you've done that come back and I will help you."

Harry nodded and grabbed the book. Before he left Salazar reminded him not to let the wound on his hand heal with magic since it was created for a spell. As Harry was making his way back to the slide he heard Myrtle calling for him. Salazar had told him he could change it to stairs if he just commanded it to do so.

So as he called back saying he was on his way he hissed for stairs and ran up them. After the mind attack by the professor, Harry didn't really want to speak to him. So he left early in the morning grabbing some breakfast. He knew he couldn't postpone the inevitable but at least he could procrastinate till dinner. Harry brought with him only the book on parselmagic Grandpa had given him.

He went up to one of the unused classrooms on the fourth floor and began reading. It was rather an interesting read. Parselmagic was a very specific form of magic. You did it with the idea of it being rather permanent. Of course these things could be undone but that wasn't really the point. Parselmagic was meant to be a creator. Snakes just did things they were not finicky or indecisive so neither was their magic.

The healing spells section was fantastic. There was even a few spells on werewolf cures. Apparently if a parselmagic user was strong enough they could banish the curse. Harry's mind was suddenly filled with ideas of helping people. Another part talked about how all parseltongues are usually magical snake amagi. It was such an interesting book that Harry read through it all and then did it again. There were parts on parselscript and things Harry had never even heard of. Harry had no problem reading it through lunch.

Around 3pm his stomach began to grumble so he made his way down to the kitchens. When he got there he greeted the elves and told him about how he was pretty much healed up. He asked about how their work was going and generally caught up on their lives. Millie was very happy that her porridge had helped so much. She gave him a special chocolate cookie and sent him on his way.

So he made his way back to the dungeons. Eating on the chocolate cookie that was warm, gooey and filled with chocolate pieces. It was really delicious and completely distracted him from his impending doom. He was going to meet with Snape after all that had happened. He opened the doors to their quarters and saw that Snape was already seated.

"Hello, Professor. I am just going to put my book back and I'll come to the table."

Harry walked quickly to the guest room and put the book under the pillow. He walked back out and sat down at the table in the spot farthest from Snape. Harry waited until Snape served himself and then took food. As they ate Snape began the conversation.

"Potter. I would like to apologize for entering your mind without permission. It was not right to do that."

"That's okay professor. Just don't do it again. I mean it's not like you learned anything right?"

"Well." Snape began. "Your guardians were rather outspoken."

"What did they tell you?" Harry asked nervously.

"You are aware they gave themselves different names right?"

"Well yeah."

"Well James told me you don't like being called Potter."

"That's true I don't." Harry agreed.

"Boy didn't really tell me anything but his actions were quite telling." Snape said. "Potter by far was the most interesting."

"How so?" Harry asked trying to sound calm.

"I had no idea you were so angry."

"Can you really blame me?" Harry demanded.

"No. It just made me realize I was going about this the wrong way. I was expecting you to trust me without me showing even a modicum of proof that I was trustworthy."

"Huh?"

"If I want you to talk about your life then I need to show you that I care." Snape continued. "I will start tonight."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am going to start actually helping you. Tonight. You need new clothing. The one's your relatives gave you were atrocious and you need not wear them anymore."

"What?"

"Tomorrow, I'll give you a catalog and you just circle what you need and I'll order it. Get enough clothes for about five days, as well as a formal outfit." Snape continued ignoring Harry's confusion.

"If you think I'll owe you anything for this." Harry began.

"I don't. Consider it a gift and forget who gave it to you if it helps you accept it." Snape answered. "I'll have the catalog for you at breakfast."

Harry clearly struggled with the idea of accepting anything from the man. Harry couldn't come up with an argument against the gift so decided he would talk about it to Grandpa. How weird is it to call him that? He also decided to ask him what him what his name was now. Was he still Harry James Potter or was he now Harry Slytherin? Harry merely nodded at the mind his mind racing trying to understand the rationale behind the man buying him an entire wardrobe. He couldn't say anything about it until he understood Snape's motivation. After dinner they sat down in silence on the couch. Harry merely sat there and stared at the fire while Snape sipped tea and stared at him.

After an hour Snape sent Harry to bed. Harry walked in there calmly and got into his pajamas. He was going to visit Grandfather Slytherin in a few hours but he didn't want Snape to know he was leaving. He stayed in the bed for an hour relaxing as best he could. He glanced at the clock in the guest room and saw that it was a good enough time. He grabbed his invisibility cloak and left Snape's quarters. Harry did not know he was being followed.

Harry moved quickly through the dungeons he went straight up the stairs and hoped none of them would move. He nearly ran into the bathroom door. He opened the door slightly and didn't bother to say hello to Myrtle. He went directly to the sink and leant over. He hissed open 'Open stairs.' He bolted down the stairs and when he got to the bottom took off the cloak. Harry relaxed and began the walk towards the chamber.

So, Snape, he said he wanted to earn my trust? Why would he want that? Maybe because he cares? No that's ridiculous. Snape would never care for him. No adult would. Except it seemed Salazar liked him well enough, but he was dead. He came up to the doors and hissed for them to open. He closed the doors directly behind him and smiled.

He walked up to the statue and hissed the password to open the chamber with Salazar's portrait inside.

"Hey Grandpa." Harry said.

"Harry good to see you. How is your hand?"

"It's healing well enough. I make sure to change the bandages regularly." Harry answered while he took a seat. "So I had a question."

"Ask away my boy." Salazar said with a flourish.

"What is my name now? I mean like I took your name right?"

"The ceremony is rather specific like that yes." Salazar intoned sarcastically. "What was your full name before this?"

"Harry James Potter."

"Then you would now be known as Harry James Slytherin Potter. That is until you take up the other names."

"Other names?"

"Harry I'm glad you came by. There are some other portraits I'd like you to meet. They are all in the door behind my statue. I'll meet you there."

"How do I get in?"

"It will open for you now."

"Okay."

So Harry went around and saw the door he had tried to open earlier. He grabbed the door handle and felt a jolt of magic. The door opened easily and he walked into a warm comfortable living room. The fire was burning merrily and there was no dust in sight. There was a couch that faced four large portraits. Each portrait housed its own occupant who looked excited to meet him. A plump woman with hair long enough to go down to her waist in golden curls. The second woman had long straight chocolate brown hair that was tied back from her face. Salazar was already there and next to him was a muscular man with bright white hair. The man wasn't old he looked to be in his late 30's but his hair was completely white. It hit Harry all at once these were the founders.

"Sal! I didn't think you had it in you to take a Gryffindor under your wing!" Godric yelled loudly.

"We all know Sal has a soft spot for kids with hard pasts." Rowena said with a small smile.

"I think its wonderful Sal has found us a new student." Helga said.

"Me a new student?" Harry sputtered.

"Of course." Salazar said. "You're my heir and I refuse to let you be anything but powerful and intelligent. That and you might be some of the other founder's heirs as well."

"What?"

"Well the Potters were always rumored to be heirs of the Gryffindor line. That and since you're a half blood you could be heirs from pureblooded squibs." Godric explained.

"How do we find out?"
"The lineage potion!" Salazar said excitedly.

"I haven't ever heard of that."

"The lineage potion when added with blood of the subject while being poured onto a piece of parchment will create a list of the magical families you are part of and an heir too. It will also state your full magical name." Rowena explained.

"Sounds cool how do I make it?"

"No need! I have some stored in that room over there. Just bring in one of the vials labeled 'lineage' and come back in here."

Harry nodded and went to the directed room. Inside was a giant potions lab. It would have made Severus Snape faint in joy. Harry was impressed though not as much as a potions master would've been. He walked over to the cabinet that had a preservation spell on it. He opened it and saw a bunch of vials. They were alphabetically organized. He went down to the L section and saw a bright purple potion that was clearly ready for use. He grabbed one and went back into the room.

"Excellent! You found the correct one. No just cut open your finger open and put three drops of your blood in it. No more no less!"

"Is there a knife somewhere in here?"

"In the desk." Godric said.

Harry nodded and went over to the desk which also had parchment. He opened the vial and then used the knife to nick his finger. He squeezed out three drops into the potion which then turned a stark green.

"Now just pour it on the parchment. Get as much of it on there as you can." Salazar commanded.

Harry nodded and began pouring the viscous liquid all over the parchment. It slowly began to sink into the parchment. After a few moments words began to form in spidery writing.

Harry James Slytherin Potter

Heirs to the families

Slytherin

Gryffindor

Potter

Peverell

Related to the families:

Hufflepuff

Black

(Heir apparent upon death of current head)

Flamel

(Heir apparent upon death of current head)

Malfoy

Prince

Harry was surprised. Why had he never been told that he had so many families near him? Surely there was someone who was a blood relative who could have taken him in. I mean if he was the heir that meant the families were dead but there were four families who could've taken him in. Granted he wouldn't have wanted to be raised by Malfoy and the Flamel family may have been too old but the Hufflepuff family or the Prince family could've. Instead he had been left with his mother's cruel muggle relatives.

He went back and read the parchment to the founders. They were very happy with the news but noticed he wasn't so keen.

"What's wrong honey?" Helga asked.

"I was starved and beaten at my home. If this is parchment is accurate." Harry said ignoring Salazar's snort. "I had so many people who could've taken me and raised me better but instead I was left where I could be tortured."

The founders said nothing and were looking at the boy on the couch with looks of sadness and pity. They waited for Harry to compose himself.

"So what do I call you?"

"Call me Gramps!" Godric with a smug smile.

"Call me Grandma Ro." Rowena said.

"Call me Grandmother Helga."

"Alright. I have four grandparents. That's pretty cool." Harry said. "Now can I ask for your advice?"

"Of course!" They said in unison.

So for the next hour Harry went over his relationship with Severus Snape. He spoke about the sneers and cruel words throughout his first year. Then about the man's numerous rescues of him that year as well as from his relatives. Then he talked about the past three weeks and then the man's decision to buy him an entire wardrobe to replace the ones his relatives gave him.

"He said to see it as a gift and that I wouldn't owe him anything but I don't see how I can just take that at face value."

It was Rowena who spoke first.

"My dear Harry. I promise you that Severus Snape means you no harm. I am a seer and I know he has your best interests at heart. Please trust me on that."

"So you guys think I should let him buy me the clothes?"

"Certainly. Use this opportunity to move on from your past." Godric said.

"I also suggest finding out more of your family history. Go to Gringotts and get access to those vaults, claim the heir rings, and find out all you can." Salazar said.

"How would I get access to the vaults?"

"Go there and speak to a goblin. Say you want to use a lineage potion and get access to any vaults that are available. They will help you and give the keys to the vaults." Salazar instructed.

"I'll do that. I've got to go to bed now. Snape will be upset if he finds out I was gone. I'll come back once I've gone to Gringotts."

They said goodbye and Harry left the room. He closed both the door and the statue. Then he put the invisibility cloak back on. He opened the door and closed it quickly. As he walked he looked at the three families that could take him in. If they wanted him.

Harry walked quickly up the stairs and did not notice the disillusioned irate potions master in the bathroom. He hissed the pathway closed and walked out the door. He smiled to himself. He felt better after talking to the founders. They may not be alive but they liked him. They also gave him some great advice when it came to Snape. As he made his way back to Snape's quarters he put parchment with his real name on it into his pockets. He opened the door to see an angry Snape staring right at him.

"Potter. Take off the infernal cloak and tell me why in the hell you decided to go wandering around the castle at night."

Harry removed the cloak and felt embarrassed he wasn't supposed to get caught. He held the cloak tightly in his hands and looked Snape directly in the eye before speaking.

"You confused me at dinner. I didn't understand what you were trying to do." Harry said,

"That doesn't explain your asinine actions."

"I'm getting to that sir. I needed advice to understand what to do. So I went out to get it. I didn't know what to do so I went out and got the information I needed."

"Who did you go to for advice?" Snape asked in a dangerous tone.

"I can't tell you I promised to tell no one without permission." Harry said passionately.

"And you trust this person."

"With my life. They have proven themselves very trustworthy. I mean even you would trust them."

"Are you so sure of that? I do not trust easily."

"Neither do I."

"What advice did they give you?"

"They said that you have my best intentions at heart. Even if I don't trust you I should accept your help and trust them to know that you mean me no harm."

"Did they tell you anything else?"

"Yeah they told me I should go to Gringotts, and get my heir ring. Apparently they are important even though I've never heard of them."

"What?" Snape said utterly flabbergasted.

"Yeah they said it was important I get them as soon as possible. What are they sir?"

"Do you mean to tell me you know nothing of your heritage?"

"I know my parent's names. I didn't know what they looked like until Hagrid gave me pictures of them a month ago." Harry said bitterly. "Did you expect the Dursely's to tell me?"

"Potter, its late now but rest assured I am going to tell you about heir rings and such tomorrow. Once you have proper clothing I will take you to Diagon alley."

"Thank you sir." Harry then paused about to do something very stupid in his opinion. "Sir I have a request and a question for you."

"What is the question?"

"Have you ever heard of the Black or Prince families?"

"I have."

"So they are still alive then."

"In a sense yes." Snape said trying not to show his surprise. "The head of the Black family is in Azkaban since he was a strong follower of Voldemort. I am the head of the Prince family."

"What?" Harry sputtered. "Are you sure?" He demanded with wide eyes.

"My father's name was Tobias Prince, so after his death I became the head of the house." Snape said wondering why that would matter so much to the boy. "Now you had a request of me, Potter?"

"Yes would you please call me Harry? If you want to earn my trust then I think you should at least use my given name." Harry said.

"Alright, Harry." Snape said quietly almost in shock.

"Goodnight sir."

Harry went to bed less cheerful than he had been moments before. One of the families that could have taken him in was Snape! Harry didn't know how he felt about that. The other family, the Blacks were probably not all that willing to take him in. That left the Hufflepuff family, whoever that was. Unless they were evil people too. The more Harry thought about his life the more unlikely he thought that anyone would want to take him in.