Chapter five: Obesa cantavits

Disclaimer: Own Harry Potter, I do not. Tired, I am, of reminding everyone of this. Read this, thou shalt, and enjoy!

It was still pretty early on the day. Since it was one of the last warm Sundays of the year, the majority of the school was outside, either just laying in the grass and relaxing, laughing with friends, doing the homework – that was the older students – or swimming in the lake – which of course was forbidden, but who cared? No one, not even Filch, Snape or McGonagall. Or the Squid, for the matter.

He himself was dragged along with Hermione and Ron to the library where Ron was forced to do his homework. Salazar was at that time very grateful that he did it earlier. Now he sat in a corner, pretending to read 'Encyclopedia of the Magical Creatures' with Hermione shooting him suspicious glances.

He thought about the last History lesson. As they were ready with the Hogwarts History, Seaside used the link between Slytherin and the royalty to continue on Magical Royalties.

He has a astonishing talent to only choose subjects that involve me, Salazar thought with a slight annoyance as he thought back to that particular lesson.

"And now," Seaside said as he walked back and forth in front of the class. "we will start with the Magical Royalties. Or the very last of them," he stopped walking and looked over the class. "Who do you think was the last one of them?"

Hermione raised her hand. "You said that Salazar Slytherin was a king. And that he had a brother. So it would be Silvan Slytherin who would be the last king?" he finished, clearly satisfied with herself.

Salazar let out a stifted laugh. It was most unfortunate that it was quiet in the room and therefore perfectly hearable to all.

Seaside raised an eyebrow. "Mind sharing the joke, Mr. Potter?" he asked.

Salazar shook his head. "Silvan Slytherin wasn't the last king," he said instead. "In fact, he wasn't a king at all. He died at a very young age, not so long before Salazar himself died," He took a deep breath. "But as Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor became blood-brothers when they were young, Gryffindor became the next king. And then his son, Gryffith. Then Gryffith's younger sister, Grainne. Grainne's daughter and Godric's granddaughter, Lucianna, was the last Queen of United Kingdom. At least of the magical society."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," Seaside said. "Ten points to Gryffindor. Although it isn't true that Royalty died out. Queen Lucianna III cast a charm – when Magic itself will find a person being worthy of the Throne, Magical Royalty will return to the Britain."

"And how does the person know that he or she is worth it?" Hermione asked curiously.

Silvan snorted. "Interested, Mudblood?" he said, throwing Salazar an apologetic glance.

Hermione turned a bright red. "N-no! It's just... I just mean that..." she stammered.

"No need to explain yourself," Silvan said. "You could do a fine Slytherin, with all your desire for power."

Hermione blushed even more – if it was possible. "I do not desire power!" she exclaimed.

Salazar decided it was in time to interrupt them. "Sorry, Professor..." he began, immediately making Hermione and Silvan shut up. "But I would like to repeat Hermione's question – how do they know?"

Seaside hesitated, as if thinking how much he could say. "Every year the third-years make a trip to the Ministry by the Christmas. There they touch a ball. If it will glow white, then you are worthy of being a royal. Some say the soul of Queen Lucianna is trapped in the orb. Others say it's Magic itself that's in there. No-one knows for sure. But one thing is unequivocal – it is no ordinary orb."

He entered the Great Hall. It was as impressive as always – if not more. The ceiling was enchanted to show the stars and the tables were floating an inch over the ground, as did the benches. There were spiderwebs with real spiders in the corners of the hall and there were illusions of bats flying around the hall. All that put together was very, very impressive. And... well, kind of creepy as well.

He looked around the hall – it was already stuffed with students as well as teachers. He saw Albus talking with Minerva. They both threw him glances from time to time.

Salazar frowned. That couldn't possibly mean any good.

Deciding to ask them about it later, he continued to examinate the hall. He saw Silvan sitting with Ric; he saw Ginny sitting with the other second-year Gryffindors. Ron and Hermione weren't to be seen. Not that it was unusual. They would as always come in at the last second.

He spotted Luna sitting alone at the Ravenclaw table. He made his way over to her – after all, there wasn't any rule that stated you couldn't sit at another table. "Hello," he said as he sat opposite to her.

Luna's head perched up and her face lighted up in a smile. "Hello, Harry," she said in her dreamy voice. "A lovely day, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," Salazar agreed.

"You know, sometimes I get a feeling that you've been hiding something," she said lightly, as if she was talking about weather.

"Eee... really?" he tried to get out from the mess while he quickly hid his left palm – the only evidence that he indeed was Salazar Slytherin.

"Yes," she replied softly. "And I know what," she added.

"What?!"

She didn't say any more on the subject. "The stars are particulary beautiful today," she said instead.

"Don't change the subject!"

"I did not change the subject. You did."

"I did not!"

"Yes, you did."

"There you are, Harry!" he heard a voice behind him.

Next second Hermione and Ron dumbed themselves on the bench beside him. "Where have you been, mate?" Ron asked.

Salazar shrugged. "Here and there," he replied.

Hermione soon started a conversation with a Ravenclaw sitting a few sits from them. Ron stuffed himself with food and Luna had her usual dreamy look in her eyes.

Everything was as it always has been. Almost.

The nagging feeling that Salazar had missed something didn't leave him alone.

The rest of the feast had passed by rather uneventfully. Ron was still stuffing himself with food, Hermione was deep into a conversation with the Ravenclaw girl and Luna was still in her own world.

Salazar sighed. No one normal to talk to, he thought resignedly.

He almost fell asleep when the door to the Great Hall burst open and Peeves floated in, laughing. "You should have seen his face!" he said to no-one in particular. "When I smacked those dungbombs right on him. He was terrified!" he laughed maliciously again.

Dumbledore stood up - his experience taught him that when Peeves was happy then something was very, very wrong. "Has something happened?" he asked the amused poltergeist.

Peeves snickered. "No! Why do you believe that?" When the Headmaster didn't answer, he changed the subject. "Well, it doesn't seem like the Hogwarts wards are perfect, aren't they? I mean, if Sirius Black could break in..." he didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to, either.

Havoc erupted as most of the students started running across the Hall or in any other direction.

Dumbledore waved his hand and threw a massive stunning curse on them.

"Silence!" he said loudly. "Panic is unwanted. That is what Mr. Black wants. Now, the other teachers and I are going to start a search for Sirius Black, together with the ghosts and the portraits. In the meantime, you will all stay here, in the Great Hall. I will put some teachers guarding you, so do not even try to escape. Mr. Potter, I wish to talk to you first though. I suggest for the others of you to take a place and go to sleep."

With that he waved his hand. The tables disappeared - instead a few hundred mattresses appeared out of thin air.

Salazar walked up to the Headmaster as the rest of the hall chose the mattresses. Oddly, they all chose their sleeping place as far from the entrance as possible. Salazar snickered. That would turn out to be an advantage to him.

He turned his attention back to Albus. "Yes, Albus?" he asked quietly so that only they could hear it.

Albus smiled a genuine smile – a tired one, but genuine nonetheless. "I'm sorry to ask you for this, but you're the only one able to communicate with Hogwarts. Could you ask her if Mr. Black was still in the castle?"

Salazar nodded. 'Hogwarts?'

'Yes? Sal, what's going on in here?'

Salazar sighed and explained the situation to her. 'And so Albus wants to know if Black is still here. Is he?'

After a few seconds she said, 'Yes, he is.'

'Thank you very much.'

'You're welcome.'

Salazar forwarded the message to Albus who just nodded, thanked him and left the room.

Salazar took a strategic place close to the entrance as a plan started forming in his head. He waited until the whole mess cooled down.

He rose up and started sneaking towards the entrance. He knew that only Sprout was guarding it and he didn't think she was going to be any match for him.

Now, that was a huge mistake. Never underestimate a Hufflepuff. A lesson he was about to learn.

He heard someone whisper some words and he only managed to turn around before the stunning curse hit him.

He cursed himself for not being more careful.

The person that hit him, Professor Sprout, came closer. "Well, well, well," she said. "Mr. Potter?!" she exclaimed but then she smiled. "Well, I should have known that you would try to sneak out to catch Black. But don't worry. We will catch him before he can hurt you. Just stay calm."

That's what I was worried about.

He gave a thought about giving up and just letting them catch Black. About staying out of this for once.

No, he shook him out. Why on Earth would I miss such an thing?! I must've really gotten too much of that pumpkin juice. Wonder what's in it.

Instead he reached out for his bond with the castle. 'Hogwarts?'

'Mmmm...?'

'Could you please release me from the stunning spell? I've got a thing or two to do.'

'I don't suppose you could possibly tell me?'

'You know me far too well.'

Hogwarts freed him from the stunner. The whole conversation took perhaps a few seconds.

He turned around to face Sprout.

[Stupefy!] he hissed.

A Parseltongue version of any spell was harder to reverse than the original – a good reason to why he chose to throw it that way.

He walked closer to the now stunned Professor. "Sorry, Professor," he said, although there wasn't any trace of regret in his voice. "But you know too much. Obliviate!" he whispered to the terrified Professor.

When the spell hit her, her eyes became distant. Salazar used the opportunity to sneak out before she saw him.

'Do you know where exactly Black is?'

'So now you intend on actually meeting him?' Hogwarts asked. 'Seriously, Salazar, define the word 'dangerous'.'

'Don't change the subject,' Salazar interrupted her. 'Where is he?'

If castles could sigh, Hogwarts would do it for sure.

'He's in the left tower. You know, there where you used to hide Gryffindor's sword only to annoy him.'

'I know perfectly well which tower is the left one!' he fumed at her. 'Now, any patrols there?'

'Snape and McGonagall.'

'Albus?'

'In his office.'

'Thank you.'

He began to make his way to the left tower. When he passed the entrance to the Trophy Room, he heard a familiar, feminine voice:

"Black isn't who he seems to be. The history is twisted. Vastly twisted and it is your task to uncover the deepest truth that lies beneath the lies. But watch your back, Salazar Slytherin, because the ones you deem to be your allies could turn out to be your foes. Watch your back for the traitorous rat."

He froze and turned around. No one was there, just as expected.

"Remember, Your Highness, remember this when you will make your choices, for they will change the history that is to come. Obesa cantavit."

Now he knew why he recognized it. It was the voice of the Fat Lady.

Obesa cantavit. - The Fat Lady has sung.

A/N: So what do you think? I'm sorry I didn't update this story for a long time, but I've been busy and then my ideas just stopped for a while. I just started writing again. Next comes the meeting Slytherin vs. Black which, by the way, was very much fun to write. Their relationship is just lovely :)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Remember, read and review!