Hey everyone glad you liked the last chapter cuz this one's bringing Salena to a meeting with the Order for the first time and she reveals her secret to them all. Dumbledore and Snape are the only ones who know her true identity, so how shall everyone else react to it? Read along to find out.
Enjoy!
A month later:
Salena was finally able to make an appearance with a few wizards in the organization Dumbledore called the Order of the Phoenix. A few wizards she knew would be there, including Severus; ever since their misunderstanding the two had completely avoided each other, though truthfully it was making Salena go crazy because she missed Severus too much.
'I hate this. At least I'll get to see him at the meeting.' As she made her way to the streets of a muggle residency, she tapped on the stone cold cement and a small missing apartment appeared, looking old and grim as if none had lived there for years. When the building presented itself fully she made her way through the old door and down a few halls nearly tripping over an umbrella stand made from a troll's warty foot.
'Eeww…such horrible taste in furniture.' As she made her way down the final hallway she heard some faint voices from behind a thick door, probably the big dining hall. She had heard many things about the house of Black, but she hadn't heard anything on how old and disgusting the place was. She tapped on the door and the voices ceased.
"Who goes there?" that was Arthur Weasley's voice.
"Eleanor Sardinia, flight professor and substitute teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." The door opened slowly and Mr. Weasley let Salena pass through; only one seat was empty, and that was the one next to Severus.
"Greetings Eleanor, nice of you to join us."
"Thank you Albus, glad to be here on such short notice."
"Yes forgive me on that, I had almost forgotten I'd accepted you into the Order please take your seat." She sat down next to Severus and everyone kept their eyes on her, including Sirius. "Now then everyone I'd like you all to give a warm welcome to Ms. Eleanor Sardinia, a trusted friend of mine who's recently been away on vacation."
"Vacation? In this war?" Arthur spoke up.
"Not exactly a vacation, more like a hardship with the ministry on our backs. Especially that Umbridge toad eewww…" Salena made a face and everyone but Snape laughed.
"Has there been any word recently Eleanor?"
"Afraid not Albus, my spies tell me that Umbridge is using all her power to make the students miserable; not including her little squad whom she lets bully the others to no limit. Oh I wish I didn't have to hide like this."
"I understand Eleanor, but you know the reasons why I had you leave in the first place."
"Yes indeed."
"Nice to see you again miss." Sirius Black smirked at her and Salena smiled.
"You as well Sirius, looking better I see. And you too Remus."
"Azkaban takes its toll on people, but I'm doing so much better since I escaped."
"Now then everyone, since Ms. Sardinia has arrived I think it's time we all know a little secret of hers; and as far as you all know this stays here with us."
"What secret?" McGonagall asked looking at Dumbledore curiously.
'Oh dear lord don't tell me he's gonna…'
"Eleanor if you would?" Salena looked confused.
"Would what Albus?" Snape leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"He wants you to reveal your real self. Did you bring Naomi?" Salena's eyes widened and she shook her head no. "Well now's the time…"
"I don't think this is a good idea Headmaster."
"Now now Eleanor we've discussed this; there's not anyone mistrust in this room. Believe me…" Salena knew she couldn't argue with those words, so she merely stood up and cleared her throat.
"Hello everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you all, well some of you." She spoke in clear Parseltongue and multiple eyes widened except for Snape and Dumbledore. Suddenly a wand was pointed at her and she blocked the curse with her own.
"BLACK ARE YOU INSANE?" Severus shouted jumping in front of Salena.
"You're in league with her? I knew it!"
"SILENCE!" the thundering voice of Albus Dumbledore made everyone quiet down. "Now everyone just calm down and let the two explain." He motioned to Severus and Salena; Salena got from behind Severus and cleared her throat again.
"Before there's any confusion going on here yes, I can speak snake language. Everyone in my family has been able to, that is the Slytherin family of course."
"Your name is Slytherin? That can't be…"
"But it is Minerva, you see unlike the rest of my family, with the exception of you know who, I am the last one alive, full blooded at least. My real name is Salena Madeline Slytherin; the name I've been going by was my grandmother's name."
"Impossible." Remus was stern since Sirius was too stunned by Dumbledore's voice. "If you really were a Slytherin then you'd have to be what, over 1000 years old."
"A thousand and twenty-three to be exact or I would be if I hadn't been frozen in that crystal for so long."
"Crystal?"
"Albus why don't you tell the story? I'm not getting very far here…"
"Of course, now I'm sure you're all familiar with the cursed crystal cave several miles south of Hogwarts?" Everyone nodded. "Well there was a reason that cave was cursed to begin with, it was because of Ms. Slytherin here."
"What exactly do you mean Albus?" Minerva asked the question everyone wanted to ask.
"Exactly as I said, you see the magic that came from the crystal was really Salena's magic. My guess is that even if she hadn't realized it, her body was calling out for help. Severus and I had gone to investigate and when we had reached the core of the cave we found a mummy crystallized near the center."
"It was the soldier who crystallized me in the first place. He died after my pet snake Naomi bit his neck."
"That's all of what Salena remembers before she was frozen in time. I had managed to free her but I didn't exactly expect her to be alive after 1000 years. Severus and I took her to Hogwarts and cared for her until she could tell us what she had last seen before the spell."
"They were great to me, and I was given a position at Hogwarts to maintain my lifestyle; all the while I assisted Albus in protecting Harry Potter from my descendant. I've managed to help him on many occasions."
"So you're not in league with Voldemort? You're against him?" Remus asked and Salena nodded.
"Poppycock! She's a pure-blood Slytherin and Slytherins are prejudiced against all non-pure-blooded wizards and witches!" Sirius pointed at Salena and she glared.
"F.Y.I. Mr. Black my father renounced his ways before he died. I was raised and taught to love all wizards and witches no matter where they came from. My mother and father both raised me to be the woman I am now."
"I have to agree with Salena Sirius, she has been a great help to everyone. She's risked her own life for Harry's many times, Poppy will tell you the same thing, on all the hospital visits she's had in the past few years."
"From what bruising her feet from expensive shoes?"
"No, from taking on a full grown mountain troll, getting swiped by a werewolf no offense Remus, nearly raped by a pompous fraud, poisoned, and nearly killed by others unknown." Salena shouted and gave a nasty glare at Sirius. "You don't have to believe me Black, but don't forget if it weren't for me assisting Lupin you'd probably be dead now." Sirius backed down after that.
"Now that that's all settled, I want to make sure that no one lets this conversation leave this room. Is that clear?" all nodded and Dumbledore dismissed the meeting. Salena got up and followed Severus to another room in the old manor.
"Severus…we have to talk." He looked at her and took a seat on an armchair.
"Well milady?" she hated him calling her that, but let it slide.
"I wanted to apologize, about what I said to you a month ago. I shouldn't have been so rash and foolish; I know it brought back painful memories and it hurt you. I just couldn't believe for a second that a man like you would care for a woman like me." He looked at her surprised.
"Why wouldn't you believe that I care for you Salena? I've had feelings for you since we first met, I could never stop thinking about you…and I swore to myself I would do anything to make you happy at Hogwarts. That's why I put up with your wise cracks, your jokes, your childish games, even your spicy temper." Salena blushed though she didn't mean to.
'He's serious?'
"I'm sorry for my behavior Salena, you were right I was reliving the past when you said that but I should've been a better man. Salena, believe it or not….I'm in love with you." Salena's eyes widened and she felt tears flow into her eyes.
"You what?"
"I love you, I always have." Without thinking, Salena just ran into Severus' arms and kissed him fully on the lips. She hadn't heard those words in so long she was so overwhelmed with happiness, but then a picture of Austin smiling at her came into her head. She pulled away and stood up breathing lightly; Severus came up behind her and put both hands on her shoulders.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing…it's just…that kiss brought…a memory of Austin to me." His grip tightened on her but he relaxed a second later.
"Salena, I cannot ask you to stop thinking about Austin. I cannot ask you to forget him, so I know it's pointless for me to ask you anything against his memory; but I want you to let me in, let me love you." Salena was still for a minute, but turned and let Severus hug her.
"I don't know how long, but I know I love you and I want to let you in, but it will take some time before I can let Austin's memory go. I love you too Severus, ever since we first met; just like you were with me." They embraced each other for a while until a knock came at the door.
"Severus? Salena is everything ok?" Minerva's voice sounded concerned.
"We're fine Minerva, we were just talking."
"Well we have to head back to the school, Umbridge will get suspicious if Severus and I are both away at the same time. Hagrid's come back too…"
"Alright…I'll be right out." Severus kissed Salena again and left the room. A few minutes after they left Sirius and Remus walked inside talking until they noticed her.
"Oh hello Ms. Salena, shouldn't you be heading back with Severus and Minerva?"
"Technically I'm still on vacation Remus, so there's no need. My spies will tell me if anything comes up."
"Forgive me but are your spies by any chance, snakes?" Sirius.
"Actually a snake in disguise by the name of Clarice Riverdale; she's my pet black anaconda Naomi."
"A black anaconda? That's the largest snake in history! They're supposed to be near extinct though…"
"They are, but like me Naomi was frozen after the final battle between me and that soldier. She's like my own child…"
"So uh…how long have you been at Hogwarts since you were frozen?"
"Five years, it's been rather enjoyable despite all Riddle has cooked up."
"Riddle?"
"That's Voldemort's real name Sirius…Tom Marvolo Riddle." Salena clarified and smiled. "I have to admit it's boring without the students around me."
"I felt the same too, when I had to leave because of my being a werewolf." Salena recalled all that happened when Lupin left, where everything had gone downhill the year after.
"I know you don't trust me Sirius because of my heritage, but I stand for nothing Voldemort desires, I find it distasteful and disgusting. Especially that cousin of yours, Bellatrix Lestrange?"
"Oh I know, that woman makes me sick to my stomach…I don't trust you yet, but maybe I will after you prove you're doing everything to protect Harry."
"You have my word on that Sirius. I must go now…farewell." She apparated back to the cottage she was staying in for the time being. The cottage was small, but it had a bedroom, bath, kitchen and small sitting room with a radio in the middle on a table, along with the day's Daily Prophet.
"More trash on Harry and Albus, just what I need." She sat down and searched through her visions for the next day and saw that Dumbledore's Army would be found and Harry would be forced to watch Albus go into hiding from the ministry. Afterwards Hagrid would be taken and Minerva would be stunned and hospitalized; and then the department of mysteries.
"DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES!" Salena realized they needed to move faster now, she sent a note to Naomi and soon prepared herself for the upcoming battle, and the time to finally meet Voldemort face to face.
The next day:
Clarice Riverdale was passing through the corridors and past the large doors that led to the Great Hall where all the fifth years were taking their O.W.L. exams.
'I'd hate to be them.' Just as she was passing through she could hear a faint noise coming from the down the hall, like the brush of wind; or in this case, the Weasley twins riding their broomsticks straight to the doors where Umbridge stood looking around for the culprits.
"Time to put mistress's plan into action." She whispered to herself and ran back to the Slytherin common room to grab a box she'd been saving. 'Now to wait an hour.'
An hour later:
Naomi made her way slowly into the gloomy hallway where Harry and the others were being held captive by Umbridge and her squad of idiots. She knocked on the door and Harry and Hermione were the only ones missing.
"What do you want Riverdale?" Malfoy sneered at her.
"I brought something for Professor Umbridge, where is she what's going on?"
"That's none of your business girl! Now leave the box and go back to the corridor." Naomi glared at the boy's rudeness.
"Very well, but here let me show you what I brought." She opened the box and out of nowhere some dogs appeared in the cat pictures all around Umbridge's pink office and began chasing all the cats. While the squad was distracted Naomi grabbed the kids' wands and they managed to escape just before the spell wore off on her. The squad looked terrified as the little girl transformed into a long black snake and hissed a deadly hiss at them all.
"That's Professor Sardinia's snake! It was a hoax?" Crabbe shouted backing into the corner with the others. Just then Salena herself appeared and Naomi jumped onto her shoulders.
"Hello children, did you miss me?"
"Professor you…!"
"Not now Miss Weasley, go find Harry and Hermione I have a feeling they're on their way back. As for the rest you, 100 points from Slytherin for all the trouble you've helped Umbridge cause, and another 170 points for your abuse of power over the younger students."
"270 points? But that only leaves us with a mere 120 points it's not fair professor!" Malfoy complained and the others groaned.
"You should've thought of that before you decided to be so despicable, all of you. Now get back to your corridor before I deduct more points!" all teens hauled themselves out of the fluffy pink office and Salena instantly went straight to Severus' office, which he was nowhere to be seen. She went to his stores and he was organizing the last shelf; she let Naomi sneak up behind and rub his ankle, he jumped in surprise and Salena laughed.
"Don't have a heart attack Severus." She giggled and he rolled his eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"Time's moved quicker than I thought it would, I'm about to head over the Ministry of Magic."
"What? Now? Salena you shouldn't!"
"I'll be fine Severus, cuz you're going with me. Voldemort will want to meet the man who's kept me hidden for five years. I suppose now is the time…"
"Are you sure? Did you have a vision about this?"
"Yes, a life will be lost and others ruined but as long as we stick with the plan we will help Harry even if he doesn't see it later. We must leave in a few minutes, that's when Lucius and his crew will face Harry and his friends, which should be Ginny and Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom."
"You know what to do?"
"Yes, now come time is running short." She took his hand, let Naomi crawl onto her shoulders and she led them outside the castle, apparating them to the visitors entrance. "Keep your wand up, as I recall you're supposed to remain at Hogwarts. They entered the booth, Severus deposited the muggle money and they were taken to the middle of the ministry.
"Keep hidden in one of the rooms, Naomi will give a long hiss when I call for you. I can feel him coming….he's close, as is Bellatrix." Severus nodded and disappeared with Naomi into the shadows. Salena heard the word Crucio, a shriek, and a thud; hiding herself behind the large fountain she saw a furious Harry pointing his wand at the phony terrified Bellatrix, laying on the floor with her bottom lip poking out in a puppy face.
'Disgusting piece of work.' Women like Bellatrix made Salena feel sick. Just as she was about to walk out she could hear a faint voice whispering to Harry.
"You've got to mean it Harry. She killed him…she deserves it. You know the spell Harry…" in the month she'd been gone Salena remembered that Voldemort had tormented Harry through visions in his head, and Severus was supposed to teach him Occlumency, but something made him snap and Harry's lessons ended. A cloud of mist appeared and Voldemort came up behind Harry. "Do it!" Harry turned and Voldemort disarmed him. "So…weak." Salena knew Dumbledore would come soon, and he appeared a second later in the floo.
"It was foolish of you to come here tonight Tom. The Aurors are on their way."
"By which time I shall be gone, and you shall be dead." A battle erupted and Bellatrix was cheering Tom on as he fought Albus. She saw both of them were nearly dead locked, and sent a hissing message to Naomi to meet her at the crystal cave, signal Severus and wait there until she gathered the others. The battle stopped as Voldemort was injured slightly. Bellatrix freaked out and Voldemort quieted her; he faded again and Harry collapsed.
'He's using the power to torment him. It will end later…tonight and then I'll make my move.' Harry twitched and turned over trying to erase the power but he hadn't found the will yet. 'C'mon Harry, you can shake it off. It's your differences that make you better than him.'
Soon Harry mumbled some words and he was surrounded by mist and Voldemort stood over him. Salena fired a spell and it struck his arm. Voldemort cried out and Bellatrix searched for the culprit.
"I have been waiting for you Tom." She spoke in snake and slowly walked out from behind the fountain wand pointing at the two confused wizards. Voldemort looked at her serious but Bellatrix was stunned.
"She speaks like you my lord. I can't understand her…what did she say?" Voldemort looked at his minion then a surprised look came onto his face.
"She said, 'I have been waiting for you.' Who are you?" his tone was demanding, Salena smiled lowering her wand slightly.
"Go to the cursed crystal cave just a few miles south of Hogwarts and wait there. Follow the glowing crystals to the center of the cave, and bring whatever minions you have left at the moment. I will explain all when I get there, bring Nagini with you." With that said Salena apparated herself out of the ministry and went straight to the cave. It wasn't blocked tightly like it used to be, but there were still crystals forming on the walls and ceiling and entrance.
"Home sweet home one would say." She hissed again; as she walked through the cave she tapped her wand on individual crystals that glowed lowly all the way down to the center of the cave. Severus was there waiting near the center, Naomi was hiding in a small cave hole that led to the outside.
"They'll be arriving soon." He whispered taking her hand and kissing it.
"Yes and we're ready for them. Let me see your arm, the other arm." Severus held out the arm without the mark and Salena's wand formed a snake tattoo onto it. "You know what to do. Go…" Severus nodded and hid behind the large center crystal covered from the back with stone. They waited patiently until the sound of footsteps coming down on the cave floor caught Salena's ears. Voldemort and his death eaters filed their way through into the cave. Her back was turned to them, but she could see their reflections in the crystals.
"Welcome everyone, to my humble abode." All eyes were on her, including the resentful Bellatrix.
"Who are you?" Tom came up and asked just a few feet away from her.
"I am the one who's been watching all of you since your demise. Like you I was lost, cut off from the world I was born in, and life was taken from me by my worst enemy; and by a miracle I was rescued from my prison here by two men who knew of my disappearance. You and I are one in the same Tom, we're both of the same blood, even if it's over 1000 years apart." As she spoke the last sentence she raised her arms and every crystal around her glowed brightly and the room swirled.
"What's happening?" Bellatrix shouted and soon the crystals showed all that Salena remembered from the time she was imprisoned.
Magic Flashback:
"I'm going to make you pay for what you did to him!" she cried out and Naomi hissed angrily.
Morison just laughed at this, before lowering his wand a bit to look at Salena.
"You poor girl, you've lost your love; I'm willing to fix that for you, if you'll be my wife. I could even put an end to this war and keep your family alive…if you agree."
"Never, if I ever marry again, it'll be for love. And you my friend don't apply for that category. You're nothing but a power hungry monster who loves to watch other people suffer at the palm of your hands. You'll die today, at my hands, and I'll make it nice and slow, so you can feel the pain and agony of all the people whose lives you've destroyed!"
Salena's wand lit up and fired a curse at Morison, he fired one back at her, and this continued on for several minutes. The duel stopped when Morison was suddenly pulled to the ground by a poisonous curse Salena invented, using Naomi, who was wrapped around her left arm and jumped at the sound of Salena's voice saying "Kill him." (In snake language of course.) Naomi leaped out and bit Morison in the neck before landing back onto her mistress's shoulders.
"Finally, it's done…let's go Nao—" Salena stopped talking when she heard the dying Morison chanting a strange spell and pointing his wand at her; out of the tip sprang a blue lightning of sorts, which froze Salena and Naomi in a suspended state, covering them in blue crystals, along with the rest of the cave, blocking the exit for no one else to enter. Crystals sprung out from the ground around the entrance outside where the Slytherin army had won the battle, until a large earthquake shook the earth beneath and the cave was coated in crystals.
The last thing Salena could remember hearing was her brother Samuel Derrick Salazar Slytherin calling out for her along with her other comrades, and seeing Morison's life force fade away completely.
End Magic Flashback.
As the vision finished all eyes widened and mouths dropped, everyone was speechless.
"Of course you would all realize that I wasn't alone when I was freed. Come Naomi." The last bit summoned Naomi from the hidden hole in the cave; as she slithered down everyone cleared a path for her until she slithered up Salena's legs and onto her shoulders.
"Hello Tom Riddle, heir of Salazar Slytherin." Naomi spoke clearly and Voldemort summoned Nagini to his side.
"You are my ancestor. You have been alive in this cave for over 1000 years."
"I have gone by a fake name as some would know me, my grandmother's name Eleanor Sardinia, when I am really Salena Madeline Slytherin, second child to Salazar Slytherin and your ancestor, here to assist you in the creation of a new world." She smiled widely and her white teeth flashed at him.
To be continued
Hope you liked it cuz the next one continues on until before HBP. It's where Salena and Voldemort go off against in a duel, but then she has more surprises for him. What should you think happen? How should Salena explain things to him, or what should poor Bellatrix think now that someone else could take her place?
Let me know what you want to happen, because I'm more than willingly open for new ideas. Later all!