A/N: Just a couple of quick notes here.

Thank you to everyone who has favorited and followed my story. Also, a very special thank you to the people who have left reviews. I appreciate all the kind words.

This chapter, and a couple of future chapters, will be pretty dialogue heavy. I have a certain head canon I follow in regards to the laws of magic and I will use conversations between Harry and his "mentor" and professors to explain this. I also like scenes in other fics that go into detail of what Harry is learning so I will do some of that in this fic as well. There will also be a lot of magical history covered in upcoming chapters to give a better background to my story. The reasoning for this will be made clear as the plot trudges on.

The Trace is the most inconsistent plot point in Canon. In this Fic, and many others I have read, the Trace is tied to your wand, not your person.

One of the reviews asked how often I would update. I will try to update at least weekly, but I cannot promise that. Just know that I am not planning on abandoning this Fic. I hope my story keeps people coming back for more.

Chapter 6: Getting to Know You

"Ah, I see you have made it," Salazar said as Harry stepped into the study in the Chamber of Secrets. Salazar was looking at him fondly.

"Yes," Harry replied, "I was excused from classes this week, so I've been in the library reading a book I found on Ancient Runes."

"Good, you need to learn as much about magic as you can in order to become great." Salazar nodded in approval. "All branches of magic are interrelated in different ways. Some branches are more heavily related to others, while some only slightly interrelate to others. Tonight, however, we will be having a more personal discussion. We need to get to know each other better. Go ahead and use the time turner, make sure to spin the dial 12 times, then we can begin."

Harry frowned slightly. "Won't you not be expecting me to appear here at 3pm? You aren't using the Time Turner as well."

Salazar laughed. "I have told you that you would be using the Time Turner at 9pm and going back the full 6 hours. Naturally I would expect you to materialize at 3pm." Salazar shrugged. "Also, time is linear, there is no way, that I am aware of, of changing the timeline. Therefore, as I am talking to you, the 'other' you is heading to bed, and I have already had a full conversation with you."

Harry blinked, his head started hurting the more he tried to understand what Salazar meant.

'I'll just take your word for it.'

Harry slipped the box with Time Turner out of the drawer and put the chain around his neck. He very carefully turned the dial on the side of the device so that the Time Turner spun a total of 12 times. A second later, the world swirled around him in a stream of lights and colors until he was left standing in the same spot, only 6 hours earlier.

"You are late," Salazar grumbled.

"I apologize, you were explaining how time is linear to me just now." Harry grinned. It was so strange talking to the portrait he had just left but with Salazar not recalling that conversation because it hadn't happened yet.

'And there is the headache again.'

"In that case, sit down at the desk and take some blank parchment out of the left hand drawer and we shall begin."

Harry did as he was instructed and chose a very interesting looking red feathered quill that felt slightly warm to the touch. Salazar rolled his eyes slightly which Harry didn't notice.

"What will we be discussing today?" Harry asked once he got settled and inked his quill.

"I thought it would be good to get to know each other better. After all, not only will you be spending a lot of time learning the subtleties and complexities of magic from me, but you are my last living descendant, as far as I am aware." Salazar's expression changed to one of anger in the blink of an eye. "I no longer recognize Tom Riddle as such and haven't for almost 50 years." Salazar's eyes flashed. He took a deep, steadying breath.

"Ok," Harry said wearily. He hated telling people about himself. Most people made assumptions about him, usually because they knew his parents. Granted some people knew more about his past than he did, but only the past he hadn't witnessed with his own eyes and had a conscious memory of. "What do you want to know?" Harry asked.

"Everything," Salazar said. He looked eager and Harry found himself actually wanting to finally tell someone everything. All of the bad, and good, things that had happened over the years. He wanted someone who could possibly understand, relate, or even help him to understand what all had happened in his short life.

'Besides, who better to tell than a painting that only 2 people have found in the last 1000 years? One of which is barred from returning.'

And so, Harry began his tale. He told Salazar everything. He told him of the cupboard under the stairs and the beatings he had received for his accidental magic use. Salazar, a furious look on his face, had him go into detail about what accidental magic he had performed. Harry continued through his first year telling of Quidditch, Ron and Hermione, and even the entire story of the Philosopher's Stone. He continued with his most recent summer, Dobby, the Chamber of Secrets opening, all of the students who had been petrified, and how Hermione had discovered it was a Basilisk after Harry found out he was a Parselmouth. He told of the fight he had with Ron about Ginny and the strides he was taking to make new friendships. He stopped when he got to the point of finding Salazar's portrait just this morning.

The entire time through the story, Salazar had a fierce look on his face. Harry could tell he was furious about something but he wasn't sure which thing it was. It seemed there had been quite a few points in the story where Salazar had gotten angry. But, Salazar continued to listen, occasionally asking for more details, but not outright interrupting.

Salazar sat motionless and quiet in his frame for a short while. "Ok, I have a list of things I want to discuss with you about your story." At Harry's betrayed expression Salazar quickly added, "It is not that I do not believe you. I truly do. It is because I need clarification and explanations for some of the things you talked about. If you do not know the answers to these questions, they will be something we will need to figure out together."

"Ok," Harry brightened considerably at that, "I was worried you wouldn't believe me, no one ever seems to."

Salazar gave a curt nod then fixed his eyes toward the top of the bookcase to his left, "That is something we will discuss as well, I have a theory." He sat up straighter in his chair and focused on Harry again, "Now, the first question I have is this; Why do you live with your muggle relatives and not any magical relatives?"

Harry jolted in his chair. "I was told the only relatives I have are my muggle relatives."

"I find that very difficult to believe," Salazar said, "Even in my time, wizarding families were very interrelated. It tends to happen when there is such a relatively small population. I would be shocked if every single possible relation of yours is dead. This will be something you need to figure out. Make note of it on that parchment."

Harry wrote out "Find other family members." Then looked up to the portrait, "How can I go about doing that? I don't exactly have a family tree laying around that I am aware of. Dumbledore told me the Dursleys were the only family I had."

"That, you will need to find out for yourself. In my days, we used Blood Magic to determine our lineage, it is possible this service is now done by either your ministry, or your bank. Tom had once told me how your bank was run by Goblins. Goblins are excellent practitioners of Blood Magic and would be a good source of information, even if they do not normally provide the service."

Harry nodded and added "Talk to Gringotts" next to his first note.

"Next question; you said you got headaches whenever Voldemort was nearby and that you were able to burn the skin of his vessel with nothing but your bare hands. Did your Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, ever give you a reason for why those things had occurred? Or, explain in any certain terms what exactly Voldemort had turned into, or, how he achieved it?"

Harry frowned and thought back. He had already told Salazar what Dumbledore had said to him in 1st year, about how his mother's love protected him somehow, but he couldn't recall anything else of note. "No, as I said, he explained it in a very vague way. He only told me that my mother's love caused a protection of sorts when she died, and he said nothing about how Tom was able to survive as he was."

Salazar shook his head slightly and scoffed. "That is surely one way to put it. It sounds as if Dumbledore knows more than he is saying. That is something else we will need to figure out. The magic you mother possibly used sounds almost like a delayed Sacrificial Ritual. I will need to research this myself as well. Plus, I will have to look into what Tom may have done to become what he is today."

Harry wrote, "Figure out why my scar hurts when Tom is near, and why I can hurt him with only my touch."

Salazar paused for a moment, deep in thought. Harry did not interrupt him, he had learned long ago not to interrupt people in thought unless you wanted to anger them. After a couple of seconds of thought Salazar asked, "You told me you have a house elf now? Is it this same elf that you freed from the man that gave the red haired girl the diary of Tom Riddle's?"

Harry grinned. "Yeah, Dobby bonded with me after I tricked Mr. Malfoy into freeing him."

"Call him here. He should be able to pass the blood wards since he is bonded to your bloodline."

'Bonded to my bloodline? I thought he bonded with me?'

Harry hesitated for a second before calling, "Dobby!"

Dobby appeared next to the desk with a soft popping sound. He looked around the room quickly, his bat-like ears flopping around as he turned his head sharply in each direction. His eyes were wide and slightly fearful but he relaxed when he saw Harry's amused smile. "Master Harry called for Dobby?"

"Yeah, I did. I wanted to introduce you to my ancestor, Salazar Slytherin." Harry gestured toward the painting above the door.

Dobby looked up at the portrait and then bowed so low his nose touched the stone floor. "'Tis an honor to meet Master Harry's ancestor Master Slithering."

Harry choked, trying very hard not to laugh out loud. He saw the indignation flash on Salazar's face for a brief moment before the humor showed instead. "You may call me Master Sal if that makes things easier for you Dobby," Salazar said, chuckling slightly. He raised an eyebrow and Harry gave the portrait an amused smirk.

"Yes, Master Sal," Dobby mumbled, bowing low again.

"You said he bonded to my bloodline?" Harry asked. Salazar nodded. "So, he will answer to you as well as me then?"

"Dobby serves the House of Potter, Master Harry." Dobby answered instead. "If you say Master Sal is family, then Dobby will obey Master Sal as well."

'So it's really up to me who he obeys and doesn't obey. That's interesting.'

"The reason your master called you here, Dobby, is so that I may speak with you." Salazar gestured the elf closer. "Your master will need help getting to various places this summer and keeping himself safe from his relatives. You can take wizards with you when you apparate, correct?" Dobby nodded vigorously. "Good, that will make coming back to this study much easier as well as getting around to find answers to our questions. You will ward his bedroom against muggles and any who would do him harm, is that understood?" Again, Dobby nodded frantically. "Will you be able to come to me if I call for you?" Dobby looked to Harry who nodded back in encouragement before turning to nod enthusiastically again to the portrait. "Good, I will need assistance in researching things about my future heir that trouble me greatly."

"Dobby will be honored to serve the House of Potter, Master Sal." Dobby sounded very smug to Harry and he had to hold back a snort of laughter.

"I'll probably ask you to help me get down here each morning and evening for my training then, Dobby. It will sure beat sneaking around in my cloak." Harry may have been lucky so far in not being detected making his way to and from the Chamber but he knew from experience that his luck would run out sooner or later. Dobby gave another enthusiastic nod then popped away again.

"Now that we have that settled, my next question; have you had any classes on, or training about, wizarding culture?" Salazar asked, changing the topic rapidly.

Harry shook his head. "They don't offer that as a course here. I have been learning a bit from friends but no formal training. The friends I have don't put as much stock into it as some of the other purebloods I know, so I don't see why it matters much." Harry shrugged. He didn't want to start acting like Draco Malfoy and his cronies if he could help it.

"Pureblood culture is about more than just etiquette and hierarchy. There are a lot of differences between wizarding culture and muggle culture as I told you the other day. There were differences even back when I was living. For instance, it would be wise to look into the various holidays that the Magical World celebrates. From what Tom Riddle told me, it sounds as if the muggles bastardized a lot of our holidays for their own purposes. Mainly economic purposes from what I understand. These holidays and celebrations are very important because they help a witch or wizard to be more in tune with the magic that exists in nature. This is another topic we will discuss in the future when you are ready, but a good majority of the Rituals you will be conducting are tied to important days in the cycles of the moon and stars and the rotation and orientation of the Earth itself."

Harry wrote on his parchment, "Ask a pureblood for culture lessons." He also jotted a small note to himself and snorted in humor when he did. "Pay more attention in Astronomy class."

'A Slytherin pureblood would probably be the best to talk about this to. Except Malfoy, that git'

"Your goal of finding new friendships to build will be aided by learning our customs and traditions as well." Salazar gave him a stern look.

'Could be why I'm only friends with a muggleborn now.' Harry shrugged to himself, 'Not that it bothers me at all.'

"Now," Salazar said to bring Harry's attention back to his portrait, "I will tell you my story." Harry sat back and listened attentively while Salazar told of how he grew up in the 900's. This was a time when being a witch or wizard was dangerous because the muggles were very superstitious and actively sought out witches and wizards in Britain and on the continent. He explained how he met each of the four founders of Hogwarts and how they decided to build a school to teach and protect magical children. He explained some history about the "Witch Burnings" and how the only magicals that had to really worry about them were children, hence the desire to give them a place to learn and grow away from the muggles who sought to find and burn them for their "Dark Ways".

"Each of us were brilliant in our own fields of magic. Between the four of us, we were able to give children a very well rounded magical education." Salazar had a proud gleam in his eye again. "This is why I want you to attempt to find my friend's portraits. Between what you can learn from us, and what you can learn from your classes, you will become a great wizard. The Rituals I want you to perform will give you slight advantages as well. Each Ritual will compound on the others causing your Magical Core to be larger and, for lack of a better term, refill quicker. Your reflexes and healing factors will also be boosted to aid in combat."

Salazar continued his story by recounting his creation of the Chamber of Secrets. "The castle's wards do not work here," he explained, "So long as you enter from the main castle, the wards will act as if you haven't left. If you enter from outside the castle, by apparition or portkey, the wards will not be alerted to your presence."

'Cool, so Dumbledore will have no clue I'm down here this summer.'

Salazar also explained the Blood Wards he placed on the Chamber. "Only those of my bloodline can gain access because only those of my bloodline have the ability to speak Parseltongue. This was an ability I performed a sacrificial Blood Magic ritual for, in order to tie it to my descendants. The wards can be manipulated only by my portrait to allow or disallow those of my blood and those not of my blood entrance to my Chamber. It was one of the many enchantments that Rowena assisted me with putting on my canvas and frame. The brownish hues of my portrait are made with a pigment mixed with my blood, tying me to the Blood Magic used to create and ward this Chamber."

Harry felt a little sick to his stomach hearing that the paint on his ancestor's canvas was actually partially blood, but he was having a good time learning about Salazar and the other founders and all the amazing magic they had performed in making the castle and their portraits. He couldn't help but think that this would make History of Magic a lot more interesting than goblin rebellions and giant wars. He also couldn't help but be awed by the fact that if he were to take his future lessons with Salazar and the other Professors to heart, he too would be able to perform these incredible feats of magic someday.

"What do you know of the four Hogwarts Houses?" Salazar asked, pulling Harry from his thoughts.

"Only what the Sorting Hat tells us during the sorting. I know Gryffindor is supposed to be the house for the brave and Slytherin for the cunning." Harry replied.

Salazar's expression darkened, "While that is partially true, it is an overly simplistic explanation. Let me begin by explaining how the Sorting Hat was enchanted. Rowena and Godric performed that particular piece of Enchanting together. Rowena enchanted Godric's hat to be able to perform low level Legilimency of those that put it on." At Harry's blank look Salazar explained, "Legilimency is one of the Mind Arts I intend to teach you. It is referred to as the opposite of Occlumency which is the magical protection of one's mind. Legilimency, in comparison, is the magic used to breach someone else's mind."

"So it's like mind reading?" Harry asked for clarification.

"Not quite, this is no silly muggle parlor trick. Legilimency allows the caster to see memories, that much is true, but the method can be very complicated. Sometimes, in order to see the memory you wish to see, a Legilimens must first follow a particular emotion back to the source, or even force the emotion into the mind they are breaching in order for the person to recall the memory the caster wishes to see. Each Legilimens has their own methods of pilfering through the thoughts and memories of their targets, and this is something you will have to practice with in the future to develop your own method. For now, think of the Sorting Hat like this; the hat can read the very basic building blocks of the wearer's character." Harry nodded his understanding while jotting down various notes and questions this discussion was bringing up. He already had a few questions but they were on Occlumency and Legilimency so he made note of them to ask in future lessons on the Mind Arts.

"Each of us, the founders, had different character traits we liked to see in our pupils. I, for instance, preferred teaching those that were cunning, ambitious, and intelligent. Rowena favored intelligence above all but also liked those that were passionate and witty. Godric was a warrior so he preferred those that were brave, trustworthy, and honorable. Helga preferred those that were intensely loyal, hard working, and honest. What the hat never did seem to explain to people is that no one has only the traits that each house represents. All of us have some loyalty, or daring, or intelligence. What really mattered most was what traits best describe a person. Can you think of anyone in your year that doesn't particularly match what I have just explained compared to the house they are in?"

Harry thought about that. Hermione came to mind. She was very intelligent and put a lot of passion behind her studies. "Yes, one of my friends is in Gryffindor but she cares more for her studies than some Ravenclaws I have met."

Salazar nodded. "What Godric managed to enchant into the hat was a way for people to decide for themselves where they wanted to get sorted. Because everyone has each of the traits in some form, technically speaking, anyone could join any of the houses and do well."

Harry glanced up from his notes. "Is that why the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin but I was able to choose Gryffindor?"

Salazar cursed in Parseltongue for a couple of seconds then leveled a glare at Harry. "Why would my flesh and blood choose the house of that man-child?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. "At the time I only wanted to make sure I wasn't in the same house as Draco Malfoy. He got sorted before me and he was put in Slytherin. I would have begged to go to Slytherin if he had been put in Gryffindor. I didn't know, at the time, that I was your descendant. Also, someone on the train told me that all dark witches and wizards came from Slytherin and I didn't want to deal with that."

Salazar scowled. "That is completely false. There have been so-called dark witches and wizards that originated from all of the houses." Salazar adjusted his snake around his shoulders and settled more comfortably into his chair. "While I will not deny that more witches and wizards from my house have turned to the so-called 'Dark Arts', this can be explained by teaching you about the Magical Spectrum."

Harry inclined his head in acknowledgement and pulled a fresh sheet of parchment from the desk. "I want you to draw an arc from the top left of the sheet to the very middle of the sheet then back up to the top right." Harry did as he was asked. "Now, what is the most powerful spell you can think of?"

Harry didn't know the name of the spell, or what it did, but he had known this incantation since he was little. He had heard it repeated in his dreams in a high, cold voice right before a brilliant flash of green light woke him up. "Avada Kedavra," he whispered.

"Interesting that someone so young would know that one." Salazar eyed him suspiciously, so Harry explained about his dreams as a young boy and what he suspected they meant. "Yes, Tom Riddle very likely would have used that curse. It was, dare I say, a favorite of his. We will also find out how you were able to survive. That curse should have killed you."

Harry wrote on his list of questions, "How did I survive the Killing Curse? Impossible?"

"Anyway, label that curse at the far left of the arc." Harry did as he was asked. "Now, on the far right of the arc, write Patronus." Harry wrote that in place on the arc as well. "The Killing Curse, which uses the incantation 'Avada Kedavra' is the darkest of curses. The curse essentially rips the soul from the body of the victim causing instantaneous death. Other curses can kill, this is true, but the sole intent of this curse is to kill. The Patronus charm, it's incantation is Expecto Patronum, is on the other end of the arc because it's sole intent is to protect. This arc represents two things. Firstly, the two ends of the arc show the two extremes of intent, protection and destruction. These two intentions are the most difficult to infuse into your magic. I will explain more about this when we discuss Blood Magic and Ritual Magic. Secondly, the difference between the top of the arc at the edges and the bottom of the arc near the middle shows the varying power of the spells. Every single other spell lies somewhere on that arc." Harry nodded his understanding.

'Magic is magic, what matters is your intent.'

"Now, the part about power comes into play. Arithmancy allows us to use equations to determine the absolute maximum power a spell, charm, or curse is capable of. The Patronus charm is the strongest protection spell, arithmetically. The Killing Curse, therefore, is the strongest destructive curse, arithmetically. Most of the spells fall along the bottom of the arc. They are not powerful because their effects are usually simplistic or non-destructive. Conversely, certain branches of magic typically fall along the rising curve of the arc on the left or right side. Each spell is increasingly more powerful because they are generally designed to be."

'So "dark magic" is just powerful magic. That must be why it's labeled "dark" in the first place.'

Harry asked out loud, "So, in other words, magic that is more powerful is called "dark" because it scares people?"

"Precisely." Salazar gave Harry a proud look. "People fear what they cannot control. Most "dark wizards" are labeled as such because they wield more power than the average witch or wizard. They use spells with more devastating effects. Why would you knock out someone who means you harm with a stunning spell or a disarming hex, when you could instead take them out of the fight permanently with a blood boiling curse? If someone were trying to kill you, I would hope that you would use everything in your power to survive. If that means casting a bone breaker at their head and crushing their skull then so be it. If people want to label you as "dark" simply for trying to survive, let them."

Harry shuddered at that thought but the concept made sense to him. "So, let me summarize," he started, "Casting spells doesn't make you dark. I could learn everything Voldemort learned and, so long as I don't go on murdering innocent people for no reason, I am not technically a "Dark Wizard" like he is?"

"Yes." Salazar said. "In order to successfully defend against, or battle against, the worst spells imaginable it makes sense to learn everything there is to know about them. In fact, Godric knew most of the worst curses available to us back then. He was a master at Battle Magic and used some of those curses against muggle attackers to protect his charges before this school was created."

Harry's eyes went wide with shock. "Godric killed muggles?"

"If they threatened the children he was teaching." Salazar said as if that should have been obvious. "He was a warrior. He wasn't going to allow them to kill his students just because they didn't wield magic." Salazar's tone sounded a little condescending. "What would you have done? Allowed the children to die?"

Harry answered quickly, "Of course not. It just sounded worse than it is, I suppose. People don't think of Godric as someone that would kill muggles."

"Of course not. That is revisionist history. People have turned me into a hater of muggleborns and muggles, which, to be fair I did hate muggles, but back then they earned it. However, I never hated muggleborns. Magic is magic, no matter where it manifests. Godric was of a similar mindset to me, as were Rowena and Helga."

"I guess it makes sense, seeing the muggles were trying to burn children for being "witches" at the time." Harry couldn't help but think that his relatives would gladly tie him to a stake if they knew they could get away with it.

'I'm sure Vernon would light the matches with a smile on his face.'

"I'm sure my relatives would not disagree with their methods," Harry muttered, more to himself than out loud.

Salazar turned the conversation back to Harry. "Tell me about your family, Harry."

"There isn't much to tell." Harry mumbled with his head down. "My parents died when Voldemort attacked us. So far, they are the only family other than my muggle relatives I have learned anything about."

"That is another thing you need to remedy," Salazar said, gently, "Each wizarding family has its own interesting history. Some families pass down knowledge of their crafts to their descendants. Some families even have their own books of spells that their ancestors created and have been passed down through time. Most of these spells will never be common knowledge. Families tend to keep their secrets well guarded as a means of ensuring an advantage in whatever area they excel in."

Harry jotted down, "Learn family history." on his rapidly filling parchment. He now had a good list of questions that needed answering and an idea of how to go about having them answered.

'I'm going to have to talk to Dumbledore, maybe he can answer some of these questions?'

Salazar's eyes went unfocused for a second, "We are getting close to when you will arrive here, Harry." It took Harry a couple of seconds to understand what he meant, then realized it must be getting close to 9pm so his "other self" would be coming to the Chamber soon. "Tomorrow we will discuss some of the Rituals I have decided you should undergo. You will need some fairly rare ingredients so it would be best if you began procuring them soon."

"Thank you, Salazar, for your story and for believing mine. It means a lot to me." Harry couldn't keep the emotion out of his voice.

'What does it say when the one person who seems to really be trying to help me is a damn painting?'

"Of course, Harry." Salazar bowed his head slightly. "You will make a far better heir than Tom ever did. I just wish I hadn't been so desperate for an heir in the first place. Tom would not have become what he did if I hadn't given him the stepping stones to do so."

Harry packed away his notes into the empty drawer on the right hand side of the desk, put his red feathered quill away, and called for Dobby. After asking Dobby for his assistance, Dobby aparrated him just outside of Gryffindor tower. Harry gave the Fat Lady the password and made his way through the common room without being stopped by anyone and trudged up the stairs to his dormitory. He was feeling exhausted. He had, after all, just extended his day from 24 hours to 30 hours and had been up since the wee hours of the morning to boot. Luckily, no one stopped him on his way to his bed. Neville did shoot him a curious look and Harry noticed that Ron's bed hangings were drawn already.

'Weird, he usually stays up playing chess until later than this.'

Harry shrugged it off, set an alarm using his wand, nodded politely to Neville and gave him an apologetic smile, then promptly fell into bed with his clothes still on and fell immediately to sleep.