"Wait! You're saying I'm related to one of the founders of Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin, and I'm just supposed to accept that at your word?"

The portrait looked irritatedly at Harry," of course you should take my word for it! Not only am I a widely respected wizard I am the inventory of the Parseltongue ability. And I can say without a shadow of a doubt that there is no way for anyone to replicate it without very specific circumstances and even if they could they would most likely immediately become very famous. When I created the ability I created it to be a dominant trait in direct family members. Now while I don't think your as big a dunderhead as Godric I really don't see the point in describing the finer details in creating my signature ability. Just trust that you are very likely a direct descendent of mine and as of this moment I recognize you as my sole heir."

The portraits rant at him had caught Harry off guard. The founder of Slytherin seemed very enthusiastic about finding an heir to his name and really didn't want to even consider Harry might not be. If Harry was being honest with himself it wasn't the worst feeling in the world being so important to someone, even if it was just because Salazar most likely hadn't seen a person in years. And the odds that Harry, a Parselmouth, of all people had found him was almost astronomical so that almost gave the man a zealous look that he quickly schooled back into an indifferent gaze that almost had Harry convinced he was disinterested.

"Alright, I suppose it doesn't hurt to be the heir of Slytherin. But, I do have a few ground rules," Harry said causing the portrait to quirk an eyebrow," first I'm not about to start acting like someone I'm not so don't expect me to always be super dignified and pompous. second while it isn't really a demand or anything I'd be happy if you would help me with any subjects or spells I can't grasp on my own. I mean I would be stupid not to want to learn from one of the founders of Hogwarts. Lastly and this is one of the most important..."

At this point Harry's long pause had the normally stoic Slytherin curious to hear his heirs last rule causing him to lean in to hear the young boy.

"I would very much like to know more about one of my relatives, you are the first magical one I've ever met after all," Harry said with a large lopsided grin on his face.

The portrait stared very intently at Harry's smile and bright eyes as if to memorize them not wanting to miss a single detail before he burst into what bordered on maniacal laughter," HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, Yes I like you. A bit of a dunderhead but who isn't at your age. I agree to your terms but in return I ask you tell me of your life I wish to know my heir as much as he wishes to know me," Slytherin hadn't been so amused in years not since Thomas had been dense enough to wade through the water outside this room to get in instead of making a bridge like Harry had. And if he added mentally that his good mood also came from the bright round shaped eyes Harry shared with his daughter or the dimples in the boys smile that reminded Salazar so much of his wife well that was the portraits business.

Yes, he was happy to know his descendants still lingered. Although he wouldn't be too happy after Harry recounted his life in its sorted and horrific details. Needless to say Harry's smile did not last long.


Fleur's P.O.V

A furtive glance around did nothing to calm Fleur's nerves while she sat at her spot at the Ravenclaw table. She was worried about Harry he hadn't been back to the Great Hall in almost an hour now and she had asked one of the boys gawping at her, who had recently come down from the common room, where he was only to find out Harry hadn't been back there either. She didn't know if he would stay in the second floor bathroom but she really hoped he wouldn't, because it wouldn't be very good for his public image to be found in a girls bathroom. She also couldn't very well go and find him just after he had said he needed to be alone not even an hour ago, but she was worried about him.

So against her better judgment she planted her hands on the table and pushed herself up to go and look for Harry. Her first stop would be the second floor bathroom and then... well it couldn't hurt to just go back to the common room just in case. As she walked down the middle isle of the Great Hall she had to make an effort not to glare in many directions at the overwhelming amount of eyes she knew were watching her due to her passive allure. As she left the Great Hall she saw out of the corner of her eye two first years with Gryffindor robes heading her way, one with bushy brown hair, and the other quite tall for a first year with red hair and freckles.

"Excuse me," the bushy haired girl was looking at Fleur nervously and the boy was fidgeting back and forth clearly trying to keep his wits abut him in Fleur's passive influence," we saw you leave with Harry earlier and that he didn't come back with you. Normally we wouldn't say anything we just met him after all but his kneazle came and found us earlier, I think he's trying to tell us something but we don't know what. You seemed pretty familiar with Harry, so we thought you could help."

Now that Fleur looked she did indeed see Cobalt resting in the arms of the bushy haired girl, looking at Fleur with eyes that startlingly reminded her of Harry's own emerald orbs. He seemed to study Fleur for a second before jumping out of the girls arms, landing on the ground, arching his back stretching, and then turning around walking down the corridor toward the stairs that would lead to the second floor. When he didn't hear footsteps behind him the cat turned around to glare at the three oddly assembled kids then meowed in irritation stamping his paw as if telling them to keep up.

The three of them looked at each other before Fleur shrugged flipping her hair over her shoulder and briskly followed the retreating form of the kitten. Hermione sighed and followed after the clearly indifferent girl and paid no mind to Ron who followed along after the too girls, not able to keep his eyes off of the French Veela.


After a few curses in French and much frustration stemming from the confusing pattern the stair cases moved in and the quick pace of Harrys cat, Fleur found herself standing in front of the same bathroom she had left Harry in. This made her frown.

'Why would he stay in here for so long?'

"Why'd his cat take us to a girl's bathroom," the redheaded boy asked neither of the girls in particular, as he was just staring at the entrance to the bathroom clearly not comfortable going in.

"Well it is where I last talked to 'im," the bushy haired girl looked at Fleur oddly, making her blush," we needed somewhere to talk privately and I 'ad 'eard it 'as been barely used by other students."

"Right. Well did he leave with you and go somewhere else?"

"No, I 'ad done something to upset 'im and 'e wanted to be alone for a little while so I left 'im 'ere. Did either of you see 'im-" Fleur trailed off not knowing either of the first years names.

"Hermione, and no I haven't seen Harry since you and he left the Great Hall earlier. What about you Ron?"

"I- er, No. I haven't seen him either," the redhead answered, caught off guard by Hermione's question, he had clearly been staring at Fleur who made a point to ignore him after the unhelpful answer.

Cobalt looked up at Fleur for a second before one of his ears perked up in the direction of the bathroom. She could've sworn she heard what sounded like the muffled sound of stone being shifted but it was so faint she couldn't be sure. Before she could walk towards the bathroom to investigate Cobalt meowed frantically at her and ran off down the hall away from the bathroom, making the three of them chase after the kitten, the shadows cast by the torch light obscuring his mostly dark frame. The kitten occasionally glanced back to make sure they were still following him making the chase a little easier on Fleur, because every time he did she could see the glint his green eyes cast in the shadows. Finally when they reached the very long end of the corridor it seemed the kitten caught sight of something behind them that made him come to a stop and just look up at Fleur. He crouched low and sprang up to the middle of her robes before he crawled his way up to sit on her shoulder.

"Wh-why did that b-bloody cat make us run after him," Ron panted behind Fleur, his hands on his knees clearly not used to this level of physical activity.

Hermione was in much the same shape as the boy, she was currently sitting on her knees red faced and gasping for breath," I thought h-he was l-leading us somewhere."

"Actually, zis is quite normal for 'Arry's kitten 'e loves to, how you say, mess wiz people," Fleur laughed slightly petting the soft fur on the kittens head making him purr.

"Of course. One of the nicest blokes I know and his pets a right git," Ron huffed straightening up glaring at the kitten.

"To be fair most of the mean stuff he does is hilarious in hindsight, it's just he seems like a git directly after he does them," Fleur heard Harry's voice say from behind them.

Turning to look at the boy she saw that he looked rather awful he looked like he had just seen a ghost, well he's seen ghosts before and he actually seemed more at home talking to them rather than living people.

In fact now that she thought of it Harry never interacted with most people unless he had too. He had only talked to her because of Griphook, he had only talked to Hermione because she had started a small conversation in the train, that girl Lisa Turpin had introduced herself to him first, and she didn't know about the boy Ron but based on the occurring trend it seemed his meeting was most likely similar. Fleur frowned at this, in addition to Harry's odd jumble of emotions he seemed to always feel, he also apparently never went out of his way to talk to anyone unless they initiated a conversation. It was almost like he didn't think people would pay attention to him if he talked on his own.

"Oi, where were you mate. Your cat came and found us in the Great Hall, the bloody beast made us come all the way here," Ron griped a sorrowful look on his face," I'm missing dinner because of this."

'Ah, so he is hungry,' Fleur had to stifle a laugh at the boys childishness. In comparison Harry is far more polite, unless he has something snarky to say about a situation of course, but he never would have complained about being dragged away from a meal to find someone.

Harry's eyes shifted toward Fleur most likely trying to parse out what she had told the two first years about why he was around the second floor girls bathroom. Fleur shrugged in response.

"Fleur and I had to have a talk about something and she heard this bathroom was rarely visited by anyone and she figured we could talk here in private. I've just been... thinking I guess."

"For nearly an hour 'Arry," Fleur huffed with an incredulous look on her face.

Hermione who had thus far been trying to catch her breath stood up and chimed in," oh, that's not odd. I sometimes like to think on things I've just studied in silence for an hour or two," Ron looked at her as if she were insane for suggesting anyone could think that long on homework.

"You four! What are you doing in this corridor," a rather nasty voice said from behind Harry.

Somehow, they hadn't noticed the older man sneak up behind Harry before he had yelled at them. Out of reflex Harry had drawn his wand and pointed it level at the mans face. Simultaneously, Cobalt had darted from his perch on Fleur's shoulder to stand between Harry's feet hissing at another cat Fleur hadn't noticed. The only thing that had saved the man was Harry's hesitance to hurt someone and the utter look of surprise on the mans face at having a wand leveled on him," I'm so sorry sir! You just snuck up on me and I was surprised," Harry apologized lowering his wand and picking up Cobalt to set him in his robes hood.

The nasty looking man squinted down his nose at Harry not seeming to like that explanation," I asked you what you're all doing in this corridor. Not, your apologies for nearly assaulting a member of staff... although that would almost be a good enough reason to hang you by your toes in the dungeon back in the day."

"Right, sorry sir we were just..." Harry seemed to trail off for some reason. Then, with a start, Fleur realized why he hadn't given the real reason they had been there. He couldn't very well just say that he and Fleur had been talking in private in a girls bathroom and then he had just stayed back by himself to think. Now that Fleur looked at this man she realized he was Argus Filch the Hogwarts caretaker, and based on his reputation he wouldn't let them explain in good detail their reasoning for being there at the moment.

"We were all just learning the layout of the castle sir," Ron said quickly, seemingly catching on to why Harry wasn't answering," all of us are new and we figured it would be fine to have a look around with an older student even though she's new too."

Filch glared at Ron then Harry, Hermione, and finally Fleur," you all had better get back down to dinner or so help me I'll petition to have old punishments put back in place for students like you."

At that they all moved past the old caretaker to return with everyone in the Great Hall. Fleur at this point wasn't all that hungry and really just wanted to sleep in her bed in the Ravenclaw dorms.


Harry's P.O.V

Harry sat heavily at the Ravenclaw table across from Lisa Turpin, thankfully no-one had taken his favorite seat near the end of the bench. To be fair though he had only been at the school two days now and he couldn't really say he had a definite favorite of anything at the moment. Well that wasn't entirely true he did have a favorite class already and that was Charms, along with his second favorite teacher Professor Flitwick. Obviously his first favorite teacher was Septima but he was, after all, biased on who his favorite teacher was. Honestly he hadn't known what to expect from this school but so far he had seen far more than he had ever expected and far more than he ever wanted to.

First he had found a long forgotten chamber filled with bones, then he came face to face with an enormous snake THAT HE COULD BLOODY TALK TO, and then he had found out he is most likely distantly related to one of the founders of Hogwarts Salazar Slytherin. So, no he really hadn't had any idea what his time at Hogwarts would be anything like and it was only the second day...

He loved magic so much!

Any other person may have been running in terror at everything he had just seen, done, and learned but Harry was just ecstatic to see more. This was so much better than anything that could have ever happened to him in his cupboard and loads better than anything that happened in his aunt and uncle's room when Uncle Vernon and Dudley were gone.

Harry shivered at the thought.

As a bonus to his odd new school he actually had friends that cared what he did. Hermione and Ron may be in a different house but they were very nice to him and they all seemed to get along quite well, and while he might be mad at Fleur at the moment he had to admit she had been a good friend up until this point. Even if she had been doing something that severally invaded his privacy he decided it was no where near the worst thing that had been done to him so just this once he would let it slide.

" 'Arry," Fleur said from beside him.

"Y-yeah what's up?"

"Why did you stay in ze girls bathroom for so long?"

Harry looked at Fleur wondering what he should tell her, after all what he had found was rather amazing if not a little suspicious and weird in its placement inside of a school. He had also found a distant relative, well the portrait of one anyway, and it had been the closest to knowing anything about his family he had come in all eleven years of his life.

He didn't know much about the Wizarding World but he was pretty sure that the hidden chamber he had found was a secret that no-one but him probably knew about. It could even be something that no student should be allowed in and if anyone knew about it he may never be allowed inside again to talk to Salazar. So even though it went against his very nature in doing so Harry did the one thing he never thought he would have to do to a friend. Lie.

"I was talking to moaning Myrtle, she's fairly pleasant. I mean, once she stops crying anyway."

Fleur's deliberating face was putting Harry on edge making him wonder if he was so new to lying that he had been completely terrible at it but after a few quiet seconds Fleur broke the silence," alright 'Arry but be more careful next time if zat nasty man Filtch 'ad caught you in zere you could 'ave been in trouble."

With a great effort Harry held back a sigh of relief at Fleur believing his first ever lie to a friend. He probably shouldn't get into the habit of doing it often but he could see the appeal of it that made other people lie as well.

After the interesting time Harry had in the chamber he was extremely hungry and very happy dinner hadn't ended yet, so he began piling foods onto his plate so that he could satiate his appetite. The table was loaded with a large variety of food that made Harry's mouth water it had been a long time since he hadn't needed to be the one to prepare food and eat as much of it as he wanted. In fact most of the time he wasn't allowed to eat his fill even though he was the one who made the food in the Dursley's house. With an odd after thought, Harry had forgotten this was actually his second dinner at Hogwarts since he started last night and he found it odd he hadn't made note the first feast about being able to eat as much as he was able. He supposed it had to do with the amazement he felt when he had first arrived. Either way he wouldn't question it too much at the moment.


September 6, 1991

After his first two days of drama the rest of the week seemed very boring in comparison sure he might have visited Salazar and Rina a few times in between Tuesday and now but it hadn't been nearly as dramatic as the first time. He had been able to talk more with Ron and Hermione which had been even more enjoyable than the first talk they all had in Charms class.

Harry had so far not had many interactions with Fleur who seemed very busy even though they had just started the school year. She said it had to do with an exam called the O.W.L.S and the fourth year students needing to prep for them for next year, they seemed to play a large part in deciding your future after finishing school although they apparently paled in comparison to N.E.W.T.S which played an even greater roll in your future. Harry didn't usually find himself worried about things beyond his control but if a test of all things had the brilliant Fleur Delacour worried about them then he was understandably concerned for himself in three years. Even so he couldn't really do anything about the test so he resigned to throw himself into his studies. So far he had enjoyed Charms and Transfiguration. Today he would be trying his hand at potions, although from what he had gleaned from a cursory glance at the subject he assumed they would not be attempting anything extraordinarily difficult.

What he was very worried about was the fact this potions class would be held with the other first year Slytherins, which meant he would be dealing with Draco Malfoy. Alone.

While Harry wasn't in the least bit afraid of Malfoy, he had seen Rina in all her glory after all, he was worried about the two huge neanderthals that followed the boy around, Crabbe and Goyle. The boys, if they could be called that, were so massive for their age many people mistook them for students twice their age, while Harry on the other end of the spectrum was extremely small for his age. So if Malfoy saw fit, he could order his lackeys to pound Harry into hamburger meat.

These were the thoughts that were whirling through Harry's head as he walked through the halls of the dungeons to the potions classroom, dim torchlight casting shadows that nearly had Harry jumping out of his skin. He wasn't very fond of the dark because it reminded him very often of being back in his cupboard.

"Jumping at your own shadow Potter not surprising, you look like a gentle breeze could blow you over," Malfoy sneered, Crabbe and Goyle laughing like dunderheads behind him at his gibe.

"I seem to recall you wanting to be my friend a few days ago Malfoy, although I suppose you're hope for friendship was dashed when you insulted my friend making an arse of yourself," Harry said sliding a mask of indifference over his face while walking past Malfoy into the potions class.

Harry sat at a table near the front of the class so that his poor eyesight, he did wear glasses after all, wouldn't hinder him. As he looked around at the potions classroom seeing many shelves and books stacked neatly around the room pleasing his love for neatness. Harry absentmindedly pulled his school robes tighter around himself, this part of the castle was significantly colder than any other part most likely due to its dim lighting and placement. He made a mental note to memorize a warming charm he could cast on his clothes when he had potions.

"POTTER!"

Harry jerked out of his thoughts looking forward with eyes that may as well have made him look like a deer caught in the headlights," Wuh?"

"How eloquently spoken indeed," Professor Snape said a rather severe look on his face as he gazed down at Harry from the tip of his hooked nose. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sniggered behind their hands at Harry.

"I was taking roll, although it seemed you you had deemed fit not to answer when I called your oh SO important name. Now do take care to try and pay attention," at this prompting the professor continued taking roll calling out names in alphabetical order.

Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were dark and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began . He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word -- like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death -- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Snape gazed around the room looking at each and every student in turn essentially looking for the weakest link and apparently he had found it, "Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"Uh," Harry sat for a second not believing the professor had believed Harry, a Ravenclaw, wouldn't know this answer," the Drought of Living Death, right sir?"

Snape's expression changed from extreme smugness to utter astonishment, clearly not having expected Harry to know the answer. Harry was silently thanking his bookishness while he looked at the professor with unwavering green eyes that, unbeknownst to him, made Snape remember a certain red haired woman.

"Very well then Potter since you seem to have a passable knowledge of potions, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"In the stomach of a goat sir, it's a stone that can cure almost any poison."

Growling so low only Harry, who was in front of him, could hear Snape took a breath and said,"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I think they are the same poisonous plant are they not, sir?"

Snape glowered down at Harry clearly not liking that he was not a complete idiot,"Well? Why aren't you all copying that down," Snape snapped at all of the students, including Malfoy, who was gawking at Harry.

There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And five points will be given too Ravenclaw for proving, despite your fathers foolish genes, you clearly favor your mother more, Potter."

Harry stared after Snape as he walked away, puzzled at what the man had said.

Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. Although, that like was somewhat dimmed by the fact he had made Malfoy pare with Harry due to the fact three students could not sit at one table and successfully brew the potion. The result was a very distressed looking Crabbe and Goyle ruining their respective potions making the professor wonder how such idiots could ever be put into the same house as himself.

"Don't think just because you knew a few things about potions, you aren't worthless Potter," Malfoy sneered as he dropped ingredients into his potion.

"I wont. Don't think any less of yourself because you clearly couldn't have answered those same questions Malfoy," Harry said with a fake friendly voice, causing the blonde haired boy to go red in the face with fury.

Before Malfoy could verbally retaliate Harry stood abruptly, extracted a vile of his completed cure for boils, and brought it to Professor Snape's desk handing it to the man. Snape eyed the vile and his almost constant sneer seemed to lessen as he swirled the mixture in its container.

"It is passable, Potter. You may collect your things and sit at the back of the class, take care not to disturb or help any of the others as they work. I must gauge their rather abysmal skills."

"Of course professor," Harry said making his way to the back of the classroom sitting and pondering what had happened during this class. It seemed professor Snape knew both of his parents, and in addition to that information he seemed not to like Harry's father one bit. Which may end up being a problem as Harry greatly resembled his father, or so people said.

Harry was sure about one thing, he would have a rather strange relationship with Professor Snape due to this fact.