Harry turned and walked back into the tunnel. This time he heard steps following him. He pushed open the door. He walked into an office and library. There was no dust. He walked out of the room and continued down the tunnel. He opened another door that was a sleeping quarter. He continued down the tunnel. He passed through a ward that was tingly and welcoming.
After walking for several minutes, he arrived at a door. He placed his hand on the door and like all the others it pricked his hand before opening. He walked into the room. In the center of the room lay the body of Salazar Slytherin. His hair was the same colors as Harry's. He looked to be in his late 30's. He looked dead, but something inside Harry told him that he wasn't. He walked up to the body. He took Salazar's hand, and he noticed the Lord's ring. "It has been almost 1,000 years. There is still no cure for the Draught of Living Death. I will find a way to wake you. The school needs you. I need you. I need a father. I have never had one."
"Yes, he is needed in more than one way." Lady Hogwarts spoke from behind him.
"How can we wake him?" Harry spoke while never taking his hand off Salazar.
"It is something that you must discover. You are the only one that can do it. I have faith that you will find a way. Your friends are looking for you." Lady Hogwarts said before disappearing.
"I will return. I will find a way to wake you." Harry released his hand. He left the room.
Neville and Draco were nervously waiting on the other side of the ward. "Did you find anything else?"
Harry shrugged. He was not ready to tell them what he found. "I think it is time for lunch." Harry walked past them in silence. He continued. He motioned for the others to follow.
Harry and Neville led the way to the Founders Room. He walked into the Common Area. Dobby was already setting their lunch down on the table. "Did you find my chambers?" Salazar spoke.
"Yea. I found them."
"You look sad and upset." Salazar stated.
"I will explain later."
He noticed his friends staring at the portraits. "Godric, Helga, Salazar and Rowena these are my friends: Draco, Blaise, Theo and Pansy."
"When are you going to call Death?" Rowena asked.
"You are not going to let this rest, are you?" Harry sighed.
"No. Once he his free; then he will go after the ring, and then it could be too late." Rowena stated.
Everyone was watching confused. "Fine. I will call him before I go to bed. I do not want it brought up again. I will be back in a moment. I need something from my room."
Harry closed the door to his room. "What did you find?" Salazar appeared.
"I found your body. The Lordship ring is still on your hand. I think you took the Draught of Living Death; however, there is still no cure for it. Do you know where notes for it?"
"All my notes are in my personal journal in my chambers. The journals are in Parseltongue." Salazar stated.
"I will go back before I go to bed and get them. I will find a way to wake you. The school desperately needs her Founders." He walked out of the room.
Salazar looked at those from his house. "I have never been prejudicial. I never hate muggleborns or halfbloods. My first wife was a muggleborn, and my second wife was a muggle. I only thought that the muggleborn children should be removed from their muggle parents. The Burning Times were just beginning."
"Are you four too shocked to eat or what?" Harry grinned.
"You are too funny." Draco glared.
"It is not easy or funny to know everything you know is a lie." Blaise stated as he moved to the table.
"Been there done that." Harry stated sarcastically. Several people rolled their eyes.
They had lunch in silence. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking with the founders. They ate dinner in the Great Hall. Many people came up to him. He would answer when required; however, Harry's mind was on Salazar, and how to wake him. After dinner excused himself and returned to the Chamber. He gathered all of Salazar's personal journals. He returned to his room.
Weeks seemed to pass; Harry seldom paid any attention to things around him. He would reread constantly the letters to and from Viktor. He won the duel against Lucious and Rabastan with them both dying. He made a deal with Death. He focused on his classes and waking Salazar. It was finally nearing Yule when Harry suddenly raced to the Chamber. The students watched him curiously.
He was cursing himself though the whole way. 'It should have been the first thing I tried.' It was only something that he could do. What sets him apart from everything? His blood. Not only does it have several families through it but active basilisk venom and phoenix tears.
He ran into the chamber with Salazar's body. He took a couple of minutes to catch his breath. He took his wand and cut his hand. He placed it over the shield that covered Salazar in stasis. He watched as the shield fade into Salazar. He slightly opened Salazar's mouth and allowed three drops of blood to enter and stepped back from the body.