The only thing Harry had planned for tonight was to take his husband down to the Chamber of Secrets and explore a bit. Neither one of them planned to encounter a snake that informed Harry of a portrait of Salazar Slytherin being frozen by a young Tom Riddle. Harry did unseal the picture and had just learned that he too was family to Salazar, and the portrait version of the man just officially named Harry as his heir and the new Lord Slytherin. Harry was standing there, silent, trying to process things while Severus wasn't sure how to snap his husband out of the trance and the snake, known as Ivy, was still around Harry's neck, draped comfortably.
"Is this…Normal for him?" Salazar inquired to Severus.
"I cannot say that it is. My marriage to Harry is still quite…New." Severus admitted.
"Oh? How new?" Salazar asked.
"We married just last August." Severus informed.
"According to the birth year for Harry, he is currently only sixteen?" Salazar wondered.
"There are…Extenuating circumstances behind our marriage." Severus said calmly.
"Ah. Well, I suppose that's none of my business." Salazar remarked. "Harry?"
The teenager didn't respond. Severus now tried to tap the boy's shoulder. "Harry!"
That seemed to work as Harry snapped out of it and shook his head. "Sorry about that."
"Was it that shocking?" Salazar questioned.
"Yes, a bit. First I find out I'm actually an heir to you and now you're naming me Lord Slytherin? The hell even is that?" Harry wondered.
"A title no different than you would take for your family line of Potter, Harry. It makes you head of the family, political power." Severus informed.
"And given my status as a founder of the school, you have a portion of control over it." Salazar remarked. "If you take the lordship, of course."
"Take the lordship?" Harry arched a brow.
"Ivy?" Salazar said as the snake slithered itself off Harry's shoulders and down to the floor before moving away and disappearing from sight. About five minutes later, she returned with something dragged behind her as she crawled back up onto Harry's shoulders before moving her tail to show Harry a silver ring with a green gem. "This is the lordship ring, Harry. Wearing it is a symbol to all that you are my heir, and Lord Slytherin. It's imbued to protect its wearer, and it can only be worn by the rightful lord, passed from its current."
"This ring would reject anyone who you did not allow to wear it. It warns against magic that is intended to hurt the wearer, the same goes for potions. It will protect you." The man explained. "I had hoped to give you my locket as well, but it is unknown to me where it ended up."
"Locket?" Harry inquired.
"All the founders left behind items to represent themselves. There is my locket, you can see here in my picture. Godric-,"
"Left behind a sword. I've seen and wielded it before. That much I knew," Harry nodded.
"Helga left behind a cup, a golden chalice. And Rowena left a diadem, more or less, a tiara." Salazar informed. "It's possible my locket was taken, our items were left behind in our houses. That Riddle boy may have had something to do with it." He added. "Either way, for now…The ring will symbolize enough. It is entirely your choice, Harry."
Harry held the ring in his palm, admiring it as he went over the information he was given before looking at Severus. "What do you think?"
"I think you should take it, Harry." Severus stated calmly. "You heard Salazar, he refused his own direct descendant this honor because you won the right."
"Actually, I said that made him my heir. I have bestowed lordship because Harry has proven himself worthy of holding the power and not abusing it." Salazar corrected. "But he did win the honor of replacing the direct descendant heir, yes."
"Just think how much it would tick off the dark lord to know you replaced him." Severus chuckled.
"You are so right…" Harry smiled. "But Salazar is right, I wouldn't take this and abuse the power. It's a gift from an ancestor, how can I say no?" Harry looked at Salazar's picture. "Very well, I accept, Mr. Slytherin."
"Call me Sal or Salazar, Harry." The founder said. "Wear it on your right hand, any finger you like. I would leave your ring finger clear for your Potter Lordship."
Harry slid the ring on his middle finger as the stone began to glow and a ribbon of green and silver magic wrapped itself around Harry and then burst out through the chamber. "What was that?" Harry inquired when the magic faded back into the ring and it stopped glowing.
"The ring accepting you as the new lord, and the magic of the school melding with you." Salazar informed. "You'll find the school was built to be sentient, it recognizes you as one of its creator's descendants. I do not believe the other founders have remaining relatives, it's a good chance the school responds entirely to you now, that over even the headmaster." He added calmly.
"But I don't have to do anything with the school, right? I would never abuse the power, no, but I don't want to be solely responsible for everything magical about it." Harry stated.
"The school will remain as it always has until you do something, just understand, you can override the headmaster. If the school feels he is abusing his power or not protecting the students within, the building will turn to you for guidance. It will stop responding to him." Salazar remarked in warning. "I understand it's a lot of power, Harry, but I would not have bestowed you with such if I did not believe you couldn't handle the job." He said. "Ivy, you know what you must do." He told his friend.
The snake nodded before she rubbed her face to Harry's cheek and booped his nose with her own before flicking her tongue out. It tickled Harry. "Master." Ivy bowed her head to Harry.
"M-Master?" Harry asked.
"Ivy, Harry, is a Basilisk. I found her as an egg and she swore loyalty to me. When I left Hogwarts, I left behind another, and rumors say you have slain that one. That Tom Riddle corrupted him. I did want to purge the school of those not worthy to study, but…I found before leaving that there were a fair few muggle-borns with very gifted abilities in magic. There are some, like Tom Riddle, who used their gifts for bad intent. Those are who I did not want here. I'm sure it's no secret that my house is the one named evil and you, Harry, are the one changing the reputation." Salazar informed.
"Ivy has remained with me down here all these years since I died, she's guarded my chambers but never revealed herself to anyone." Salazar said. "She is normally quite large, but I shrunk her down some years ago to avoid problems. I gifted her the ability to change size on her own accord, the same with her eyes. They will never kill or petrify unless you command it so. Her venom is also non-lethal to anything other than prey."
"It may be best for her to stay shrunk down in that form, Harry. If anyone finds out what she truly is, there will be problems. As this, she passes for a common grass snake; harmless to humans." Severus suggested. "She could be a pet to others. Heads of houses can approve pets, even though you already have Hedwig as a familiar. As long as Ivy isn't a threat to others, there's no worry of you having a pet snake. If she stays little like that, easily hidden in your robes."
"Sound okay to you?" Harry asked Ivy.
"As long as I'm not in a tank, Master, I find that idea most enjoyable." Ivy replied.
"She said as long as she's not in a tank, she'll behave." Harry repeated.
"No tank, I promise…But she stays on your person at all times, Harry. In the halls, at least. Or she's free to relax in my quarters." Severus nodded.
"Got it…Thanks, Sev." Harry smiled.
"Now, I've been asleep for some time…I need to be familiarized with the updates of the school." Salvatore said. "You can tell me all about it while you enjoy exploring the chamber. When you're ready to return to the school, let me know. I'll teach you how to work with the school's magic to get you from down here anywhere in the castle, undetected. I can even show you how to create a passage from here to any room you like."
"That might come in handy, Harry, considering we discussed teaching you proper defense down here. It would be easier than going from my office or quarters to Myrtle's loo." Severus advised.
"We should put that passage in your quarters, Severus. You said Dumbledore visits your office, if we did create a passage, it needs to be unknown to him." Harry reminded.
"You make a good point." Severus nodded.
"I've got that covered." Salazar said. "We simply turn one of your still portraits into a portal or a doorway down here."
"You can do that?" Harry asked.
"Well, not me personally, but I can teach you." Salazar replied. "It won't look any off to the headmaster and it won't activate without your ring. Remember I told you that this chamber only responds to the current heir or lord. You, Harry, hold both until you have a descendant of your own. Then that child becomes heir." Salazar informed. "This magic would allow you to open the picture as a portal to a picture down here. Walking right through as if opening a door."
"Quite convenient. We should, as you suggested, Harry, arrange this transportation from my quarters." Severus agreed. "Albus has control over the offices. I know you can too, but if we give him reason to believe something isn't right; he'll investigate. We should leave him in the dark, unless, as Salazar said, it comes up you need to take over. Albus has no right to any of the teacher's personal quarters while they are under teaching contract. He has to ask first, or be invited."
"A teacher are you, Severus…Tell me of what?" Salazar asked.
"At current, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Years prior, I was teaching Potions." Severus informed.
"He is still a potions master, we don't know why Dumbledore moved him to Defense." Harry added.
"Who knows with that man. I'm certain he's lost his marbles…The old fool knows that no one lasts ever since Voldemort cursed it." Severus sighed.
"Well, I don't want anything happening to you, Sev…So maybe it's time we find this curse and break it. Tom marked me as his equal, I'd love to destroy his work piece by piece so he knows I'm coming for him." Harry huffed.
"Easy does it, Harry…" Severus reminded his headstrong husband. "You'll get your chance."
"Marked as Tom's equal. I seem to be needing quite a bit of catching up. However, as it's school-related…There is a cursed teaching position?" Salazar inquired.
"Years back, as the story goes, Tom Riddle applied for the Defense post and Dumbledore, current headmaster, refused. It's said that Tom cursed the position before he left the grounds. Ever since, no teacher in that position lasts more than one school term." Severus explained.
"Yeah, and almost all those teachers have tried to kill me…" Harry muttered.
"I would never!" Severus looked affronted.
"And I know that third year wasn't Remus's fault…But everyone else? Good Merlin," Harry grumbled.
"Odd curse, but I'm sure that it can be broken. All manner of curses can." Salazar assured. "We just need to find how it was placed and what magic it's woven into the school itself. If it is the position that is cursed, I would assume the classroom would be a good place to start." He suggested. "Your ring, Harry, should offer enough of a warning if there is something…Dark within that room. The school itself may respond to you, if you ask it to show you where it is affected by the curse. Just a few ideas. Once we locate the weakness, we can remedy it." The man said.
"What do you say, Professor…Perhaps a detention might do the trick of inspecting the room after classes?" Harry looked to his husband.
"I'm sure we can arrange something," Severus agreed.
"If you two are quite finished flirting like a couple of hormonal teenagers…" Salazar remarked. Ivy hissed in laughter. Harry and Severus blushed a little. "Now then…" He continued. "As I mentioned, these are my personal chambers. While the others used their houses, I had this…" He paused. "This had originally been crafted to be a classroom to teach the dark arts, but I made it a training area, my chambers, and my office." Salazar informed.
"The door to your right is my bed chamber. The doors to your left lead to my personal lab and stores. The rest, as you see open here, is my office, library, and main space. If you would like, there is an empty frame in my bedroom; you may take it to place in your personal quarters or office, Severus. Not to worry of the headmaster questioning. I can not be present in it when he comes by and it'll appear as whatever you desire it to. Field, snakes; the list is endless." The man mentioned.
"I'm sure the headmaster would love another interactive painting in the castle, though," Harry mentioned.
"It's best we keep me hidden from many for the time being." Salazar said. "Unfortunately, dear boy, word around the castle is that the current headmaster is someone we need to be concerned about."
"Really?" Harry stared.
Just then a larger snake looking like Ivy appeared in Salazar's portrait. "When I had my portrait done, Ivy was painted in as well. When Tom Riddle froze me here, she was out and about. She used to bring me information after my death. We're connected in here, but while we were apart; she was bringing me information still. I just couldn't move or speak. Albus Dumbledore seems to be a man of his own manipulations, though small, for a Greater Good concept. Mind yourself with him, Harry…I cannot say what is going on, but I do gather that very soon, things in the castle are going to get difficult and you seem to be directly involved."
"I wonder if he's referring to the prophecy?" Severus looked at Harry.
"Prophecy?" Salazar inquired.
"Harry is tied to a prophecy regarding the defeat of Voldemort." Severus said. "I…Am the one who overheard it, in my younger years as one of Tom's followers, I am branded as such," Shamefully, Severus revealed his dark mark to the painting. "I changed sides, I work for the light as a spy into the dark. But I am the reason Voldemort knows of the prophecy and it is why he went after Harry when he was a baby. It is my fault his parents were killed." The potions master confessed.
"Severus…I don't hold it against you." Harry told him. "Even if you hadn't told him anything, Mum was a muggleborn and he would have targeted her anyway. If it wasn't you, someone else would have been spying for him." He informed his husband. "Do not fret. I know your role in the situation and I have more than forgiven it. Now, you need to forgive yourself. Perhaps it was all meant to play out this way? Everything that happens, happens for a reason." The teenager stated.
"What is this prophecy you are tied to, child?" Salazar asked.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." Harry recited.
"Wait a minute, you know the whole thing?" Severus blinked a few times. "I only heard a part, and then was kicked out by Albus's brother."
"The ministry last year, I was in the Hall of Prophecy when we were trying to protect Sirius from Voldemort. That's where my visions kept showing me he was, so I went there with a few members of the army…We found the prophecy with my name on it and once I touched it, I was told the whole thing. It's been destroyed since, when the Order came in, Lucius dropped the orb and it smashed. The only people who know the whole thing are me, and those who were with me. You, now. And I'm assuming Albus as he was with Sybil when she made it." Harry informed.
"I don't know if I like that bit where it says neither can live while the other survives." Severus admitted.
"Maybe it has to do with the power I have to defeat him…" Harry shrugged. "Maybe I have to die with him?"
"Don't say that!" Severus said quickly. "No. No, I refuse to believe or accept that as the reason. I have not spent the last six years protecting you for it to be in vain!"
"Severus…Calm down. I said I didn't know. Nobody does…" Harry told him. "All we know right now is I'm marked as Tom's equal, and I have a power he doesn't know of that can vanquish him for good." He pulled Severus into a tight embrace. "It's going to be okay. Alright? We'll figure it out. Together. We'll keep each other safe. You said you'll work out how to break the link we share, and I'm going to figure out how to remove that mark and break the link you have to him."
"And now you both have me, and I will help all I can." Salazar added in. "Harry, help yourself to anything in these chambers for your endeavors."
"Thank you, Salazar." Harry bowed his head and then looked at Severus. "It's going to be okay, Sev. We're going to be alright. I promise. We're soulmates, after all…Not even the dark lord can keep us apart." He assured, cupping his husband's face and then leaned upwards to give the man a light kiss on the lips. "Have faith."
"I-I will. I have faith in you, if no one else." Severus nodded.
"Good," Harry smiled. "Now, let's do what we said we would do down here and explore." He held the man's hand as they began to make their way around Salazar's chambers, taking in everything. Despite how surprising the night had been with revelations; it was a good night and one they wouldn't forget.