*Summary* Salazar Slytherin has had enough of Dumbledore and Voldemort's stupidity, so on October 31, 1981 he decides to put a stop to the wizarding war. However, things do not go according to plan. He loses his memories, but 10 years later he regains them when he gets a familiar letter. A twist to the Harry is Salazar genre.

Warnings:

Bashing of Ron, Molly, and Dumbledore at first, but as the story progresses it gets better.

Mild language

Dark Themes and Torture (In later chapters-5th year and after to be exact)

Tough Moments to swallow (See A/N for details)

Pairings:

James and Lily Potter

Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel

The rest is up for debate, but if I do decide to cast the children into pairings, it won't become a major focal point of the story. I will more than likely have dialogue stating that 'so and so is now with so and so' and refer to it occasionally. I'm sorry, but I just don't do romance of any sort, so there will be no girlfriend/boyfriend drama anywhere.

IF I do any pairings, (which may or may not happen, so keep that in mind) they will not happen until fifth year at least, so rest assured, no one is going to be making out in broom cupboards in first year.

Salazar however, will remain single. He is a 1000 year old man, and pairing him with ANY of the children is more than a little disturbing.

*A/N*

As I write this A/N I am now up to chapter 61 (which is in 5th year), but getting back to the 'tough moments to swallow' in the warnings. There are some crazy moments in this story that will make you roll your eyes, but please keep this one thing in mind.

There is ALWAYS a method for the madness.

I do NOT write things just because they sound cool at the time. Everything out of the ordinary has a reason and purpose that will be made clearer as the story progress. Answers to questions do not immediately get answered, and sometimes it takes a while for the characters to have that 'ah, ha' moment.

I do this for a few reasons. One, it creates an actual story and give my readers something to ponder over in the coming chapters, and two, in real life-answers to situations are never immediately available. I like to give my characters a chance to figure out things for themselves.

For example-Salazar and company, Albus, and all the others are characters in a story, and they don't know everything that we as fans of the HP universe know. They are trying their best to come up with solutions to the problems they are facing. Just because a solution to a problem is glaringly obvious to us, doesn't mean it automatically has to be to them. They are not going to save the day in two or three chapters. Half the fun is watching them get to what we know is coming, and also seeing what they do when we get there.

With all that said, I hope you at least give the first few chapters a chance, but I felt I needed to add all this to the first chapter so that you know what you are getting yourself into. Please give it a chance, and please let me know what you think.

Now…onward!

Courage and Cunning

Chapter 1

Prologue

October 30th 1981

Godric's Hollow, oh how you have changed. Salazar thought as he stared around in wonder. It's been 500 years since I last saw you. Well, nevermind that. On with business.

Salazar sighed and pulled his hooded black cloak tighter around himself as he made his way towards the little cottage on the outskirts of the village. He, unfortunately, could see it now thanks to a certain little rat.

"Must I think of everything?" He grumbled to himself. "I know Dumbledore is a Gryffindor, but Merlin, the man is just too reckless and a touch mad. This war needs to be stopped, and it needs to be stopped now."

With a little concentration, he stared at the spot where the Fidelius charm was, and the cottage finally came into view. He smiled slightly as he heard the little family shuffling around inside, and was thankful they were still hidden to the outside world.

Not that it mattered now though.

"This is not going to go very well." He muttered with a sigh as he knocked loudly on the door.

He heard more shuffling and the door opened just a crack.

"Who are you?" A man with messy black hair and glasses asked.

"A friend." Salazar answered. "Your family has been betrayed by Peter Pettigrew. I need to speak with both you and your wife."

"We do not know you, so why…"

"Please Mr. Potter. Not on the front step. We need to discuss this inside." Salazar said, hitting the man with a very light compulsion charm.

"Very well." James said, opening the door to let him through.

Salazar stepped inside the small cottage, looked around, and smiled at the coziness of it. He hadn't been this warm in over two months. Not since…

"Who are you?" Lily demanded as she stood in the foyer, gripping her wand tightly in her hand.

Salazar snapped out of his thoughts, lowered his hood, and both Potters gasped in fright. Standing before them was an old man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties. He had a bald head, dark grey eyes, and a black beard with flecks of grey that came down to a sharp point just below his chin.

"My wife asked you a question." James said, as his eyes grew dark with a mixture of fear and anger.

Salazar sighed again, but gave the couple an encouraging smile. Not that it helped any.

"My name is Salazar Slytherin, and your family is in grave danger. A few hours ago your friend Peter Pettigrew betrayed your location to Voldemort. It is imperative that you leave the country immediately. He is planning on attacking tomorrow."

"And we should trust you because…?" James asked, letting his voice trail off and looking at Salazar cautiously.

"Because I was there when he did it." Salazar said calmly, as he tried to keep his voice as steady and as unthreatening as possible. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but trust me, it's not."

"If you were there, then how do we know you're not here to kill us? And how do we know your information is correct?" Lily started to ask.

"Do I look familiar to you?" Salazar asked, before changing into his animagus form.

James and Lily gasped at the 15 foot python that was suddenly laying at their feet.

"Voldemort's snake!" Lily cried, as she backed up a few steps.

Salazar reverted back to human form and sighed. "I am not here to harm you or Harry. You must believe me. That wretched Heir of mine needs to die a slow painful death for what he has done, and I aim to see that it gets carried out."

"So why haven't you done anything yet?" James asked pointedly, as he kept his wand trained on Salazar.

Salazar sighed again and shook his head. "For the last 20 years I have been abroad. I have traveled to many different countries, and the news coming out of Britain has been very slow to reach them. I was in South America, Brazil to be exact, up until six months ago. When I learned of the horror that he has caused I came back to help defeat him, though I must admit that at the time I had no idea that he was my Heir. It has taken me nearly as long to play 'catch up'. Voldemort 'acquired' me two months ago after he killed his other pet snake for disobeying him." He said, as anger flashed in his eyes, but then he took a calming breath and continued.

"He is so stuck on this blasted prophecy that he has become obsessed with killing an infant child. The whole thing is a load of bullocks in my opinion, and I can't believe that Dumbledore has gotten ensnared in it too, but never the less, Voldemort needs to be stopped."

"You don't believe in it?" James asked, lowering his wand just a bit. "The prophecy I mean?"

Salazar scoffed and shook his head. "No I do not. I have lived for over a thousand years and never once has a prophecy come true in the way it is implied. Divination is a load of crap, and I can't began to tell you how disappointed I am over the fact that Hogwarts teaches it."

"You say you are Salazar Slytherin, but how have you lived this long?" Lily asked skeptically.

"Immortality is a funny thing." Salazar said with a slight smile. "It's good at first, but after a while it becomes stale. I performed a ritual. It was a spell mixed with runes, charms, and the dark arts. I achieved what no other wizard in history has been able to do, and believe me when I tell you, I wish I hadn't."

"But how do we know you are telling the truth?" Lily asked, still not ready to believe this without some sort of proof.

"Swear a wizard's oath." James demanded as his eyes narrowed in doubt. "Swear you are who you say you are, and then swear you are not here to harm us, or I will kill you where you stand."

Salazar nodded and slowly drew his wand. He was careful to not make any sudden movements, least the Potters attack him thinking he was trying to pull one over on them.

"I swear on my life and magic that I am Salazar Slytherin, one of the four Founders of Hogwarts. I swear that I am immortal, just as a described a moment ago, and I swear that I am not here to harm James, Lily, or Harry Potter. So shall it be." He said.

A white light of pure magic swirled around him before settling down. James and Lily eyed him carefully, expecting him to drop dead at any moment, but when Salazar didn't, they nodded.

"Now show us you can still perform magic." James ordered.

"Very well." Salazar said calmly. "Expecto Patronum!"

James and Lily's eyes widened at the sight of the large silvery python that laid at his feet, but James eventually nodded, causing Salazar to cancel the charm and put away his wand.

"Will you give us a moment?" Lily asked, though it was more of a command more than anything.

However, Salazar only nodded. He knew that they were still having a hard time coming to grips with what was taking place, and honestly, he couldn't blame them. How often does one find themselves talking to a man who was supposed to have been dead for a thousand years?

No, Salazar wouldn't blame them for being cautious, but he did find it slightly amusing when they shuffled a little further away and began whispering to each other.

"What do you think?" James asked, as he simultaneously glanced at Lily and kept his wand trained on Salazar, who was staring at the floor, trying to remain as non-threatening looking as possible.

"I was going to ask you that actually." Lily replied, as she too kept her wand on Salazar.

"He swore an oath, which I did not expect him to actually do."

"Do believe him James?" Lily asked, as she searched his face for any sign of doubt.

"I do. You can't beat a wizard's oath. He is Salazar Slytherin."

"I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about his claim that Peter has betrayed us." She said, as her breath hitched in her throat.

A pained looked crossed James's face and tears threatened to spill down his cheeks.

"How else do you explain him being here and knowing all that? I don't like to think one of my best friends has betrayed us, but you can't argue with the evidence." He said, as a single tear slipped out of his eye and pooled against the rim of his glasses. "Dumbledore has said he thinks there is a spy in the Order, and it must be Peter. How else do you explain…?" He repeated, as his voice trailed off and he motioned towards Salazar.

Lily looked at her husband sadly and squeezed his arm harm lightly.

"I think we should hear him out." She said.

James only nodded before wiping the tears out of his eyes, but then he turned towards Salazar, who was still staring at the floor and trying to keep a his hands visible.

"All right." James said, causing Salazar to look up. "We will at least hear you out."

Salazar took a deep breath and sighed with relief. "I will be honest with you, so before you automatically to say no to what I suggest, please listen carefully. I suggest you leave the country." He said, causing the Potters to narrow their eyes at him, but they allowed him to continue without interrupting. "From what I know from being at Voldemort's side for the last two months, killing him isn't so simple. He has let slip to me, while I was in my animagus form, about his horcruxes. Plural. He has made more than one."

James's widened in surprise. "You are kidding. Does Dumbledore…?"

"No." Salazar said shaking his head. "And I don't trust Dumbledore either, but Voldemort needs to be stopped now. Killing him right now won't make it permanent, but it will save more lives. It will also give me more time to study his life, and figure out what, and where, they are so I can destroy them."

"You don't trust Dumbledore?" James asked, as his eyes once again narrowed in suspicion.

"No I don't." Salazar said gravely. "I know things about Dumbledore that would make your hair curl. The whole thing with Grindelwald was a bit fishy, and he has known about Voldemort for more than thirty years, and has done nothing to stop him. Why didn't Dumbledore stop him years ago before he became this powerful? Dumbledore spouts off about 'the greater good', and that was Grindelwald's philosophy too. I know Dumbledore is a great wizard, and I know he is a champion for the light, but this war is so much more than that." Salazar said, looking at them and silently pleading with them to understand, but then he continued.

"You cannot win a war using stunners and tickling jinxes. You need real spells and you need to fight as dirty as they do, or you will die. Voldemort and the Death Eaters are out to kill you, and he makes you all play with leg lockers and body binds in the hopes that you can capture and 'reform' them. That simply won't work. Trust me, I've seen many more wars than I care to mention."

"That never made sense to me either." Lily admitted quietly. "I don't want to kill anyone, but this is war, and whether we like it or not, we are part of it. Killing someone who is trying to kill you is not murder, it is self-defense."

"You are a muggle born, and you have the ability to see the difference." Salazar said with hopeful smile. "You have the advantage of being from both worlds. Most wizards are at a disadvantage because it has been drilled into their minds from birth that 'light is good, dark is bad'. Muggle borns can see grey better than most."

"My grandfather was a solider in the muggle World War II." She said, looking up at Salazar. "He had to kill or be killed. I tried to explain that concept to Albus, but he wouldn't hear it. He said to kill another person is bad, no matter the circumstances."

"Well he is wrong." Salazar said firmly. "That's why I don't trust him. He thinks what he knows is the best, but he is simply wrong. You have a good head on your shoulders Mrs. Potter."

Lily smiled slightly at him, but then she sighed. "You think that sending us out of the country is the best thing to do?"

"Yes I do." Salazar said softly. "Your location has been betrayed. Voldemort is coming tomorrow night and if you linger here, you will die."

The Potters eyed him carefully, but James finally sighed.

"Do you want to leave Lily?" James asked, looking over at his wife.

She looked up with tears in her eyes. "Yes, and no." She said softly. "Albus is just as hell bent on this prophecy as Voldemort is. I don't want to run, but Harry is just a baby. Albus says Harry is the only one who can stop him, but James, it will be years before Harry can do that. He expects us to stay hidden in this house until then. It's simply not logical. I don't want to leave our friends, but we have to think about our son."

James took his wife's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I understand Lily." He said softly. Then he turned back to Salazar. "I am assuming you have a plan."

"I do." Salazar said with a nod.

Lily nodded. "Come and sit Salazar." She said, motioning for him to follow her into the kitchen. "I'll make us some tea."

"That would be lovely Mrs. Potter. Thank you." Salazar said, as he sat down.

"I have one more thing." James said, as he also took a seat at the kitchen table. "Why haven't you just killed him? You have been with him for two months, so why not just do it?"

"Because not all the Death Eaters are in one place, and if I just up and kill him they will scatter and become uncontrollable." Salazar said simply. "They are all spread out, and not even I know where they all are, or even who they all are. I know the inner circle of course, but not all the rest. Tomorrow when he comes here, they will all be gathered at a special meeting place, so that they can enjoy a victory celebration." He said, as he rolled his eyes. "I will be able to get rid of him here, and hopefully get to the rest of them before they flee. Getting you all out of the country is just a precaution. If I'm not able to kill them all, no doubt they will come after you, and Harry will be in even more danger."

"Crazy followers out for revenge." James muttered darkly.

"Not to mention, he will still be around. Just not in his body." Lily added.

"That too." Salazar said with a nod.

James looked to the window where the shades and curtains were closed tightly. "They are out there right now, aren't they?"

Salazar nodded. "Yes. He has ordered the village to be watched, but they are not to interfere with anything that may happen before he comes tomorrow. He doesn't want you all to realize that you have been betrayed. It's one of the reasons I was able to walk up to the front door. They probably think you already know me."

"Why should we trust you?" James asked, narrowing his eyes at Salazar once more. "You're Salazar Slytherin for crying out loud. Hater of muggles, muggle borns, half-bloods, half breeds, and, to top it all off, believe in this blood purity crap. Hell, you started it all!"

Salazar sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. He honestly didn't know how all that crap about him got started. He didn't know when, where, or how someone got it in their head that he was some blood thirsty monster hell bent on 'cleansing' the wizarding of all those things.

Granted, it was true that he didn't trust muggle borns, but that had only been at first. Godric had practically bashed him over the head about the whole thing and really did set him straight on it. That, coupled with an incident involving…

Never mind that Salazar! He scolded himself. There is no time for all that mess! Just explain it like you're sorry for all that stuff and be done with it!

He finally looked up and gave the Potters an apologetic smile.

"I know I have past demons, and I know I am the root cause of all this stupidity, but time has a way of changing a man. The world has changed, and I am not the blasted idiot I once was. For many centuries I stood by and let what has happened, happen. I am not proud of it, but this war…" He sighed and shook his head. "This war is stupid and pointless. Voldemort is killing off families who oppose him. Good families…ancient families, and he doesn't understand that he is no better than the muggles who killed witches and wizards all those many years ago." He said, causing Lily and James eyes to widen in shock, but then Salazar sighed and continued on.

"The pure bloods of today cannot see past the end of their up-turned pompous noses, and it's a wonder they don't drown when it rains. I am not proud of what I have caused, but I want to help stop it. To my shame, for centuries I have hidden away from wizard society hoping all this will just go away, but I can no longer allow this to continue. I want to try and change their way of thinking, but first we need to get rid of Voldemort."

Lily and James glanced briefly at one another, but Lily finally nodded.

"So what is the plan?" She asked as she placed a mug in front of Salazar and began pouring his tea.

Salazar sighed again. "I have a portkey to Brazil. It will take you right to my villa in Rio de Janeiro. It's an illegal portkey I admit, but it's untraceable by the Ministry, which as you know, Voldemort has infiltrated. There is a wizarding populace there of about 2,000, and they have an alley similar to Diagon Alley called Rio Way. They mainly speak Portuguese, but they are fluent in English too. Not many from the British Wizarding world have gone there, if any. Most have fled to America or France. The plan is for you to leave tonight, and not come back until it's safe." He said, as he took a small tin can out of his pocket. Then he glanced at them and saw them looking at the can suspiciously. However, Salazar continued to explain his plan.

"I have two very old house elves who have been badly mistreated by their masters, and they have agreed to help me in this matter. When Voldemort comes tomorrow night, they will drink polyjuice potion and disguise themselves as you, and I will disguise myself as Harry. I cannot be killed, so don't worry about me. The killing curse bounces off me and rebounds onto the caster." He said, causing them to stare at him in shock.

"How is that possible!?" Lily cried.

"It's the immortality ritual." Salazar explained. "It is true that there is no shield that can stop the killing curse, but the way the ritual is set up, it is a shield from death itself. I could go on and on telling you the many ways I could have died, but yet survived, over the last thousand years, but that would take a long time. Just suffice to say, I cannot be killed in any way."

"All right." James said skeptically. "Go on then. Finish telling us your plan."

Salazar nodded and once more took a deep breath. "Tomorrow night, James, Lily, and Harry Potter will 'die', but Voldemort will also be destroyed. Once he loses his body and flees, I will wait for the polyjuice potion to wear off, and I will hunt down the horcruxes he has made and destroy them. Once he regains his body, and he will, I will kill him. After that, you can return here if you wish. I know you have friends, and I know it will be hard for you to allow them to think you are dead, but it's for your own safety and theirs. Voldemort is consumed by this prophecy, and believes in it fully. As long as he is alive, he will hunt you if he thinks you are too. It is vital that this remains between us. No one else can know."

"Are you sure this will work?" James asked.

Salazar nodded. "I am positive, but I don't know how long it will take me to figure out how many horcruxes he has, what they are, and where they are. You have to understand that this may take many, many years. You must not return, under any circumstances, until I say otherwise."

"I don't know how I feel about sacrificing two house elves to this cause." Lily said, shaking her head.

"Would you feel better if you met them?" Salazar asked.

Lily seemed to think about it for a moment, but then she slowly nodded. "Yes, I think I would."

"I do too." James said quietly. "At least to thank them for what they are going to do."

Salazar smiled at the young couple. "Very well then. Fripsy! Mitzy!" He called out softly.

Two very old and ancient looking elves appeared. Lily and James's eyes widened in surprise at their appearance. It was plain to both Potters that these elves had been abused. There were scars all over their bodies, their skin hung on them like bags, and their eyes were dull with age and pain.

"Mr. Salazar called for us?" One of the elves asked in a very horse whisper.

"Yes Fripsy." He said gently. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter wished to meet you."

Both elves turned to look at the Potters, and smiled brightly. "It is an honor to meet you both." Fripsy said. "It is also an honor to carry out this plan for Mr. Salazar."

The Potters were too shocked to say anything, but Mitzy went on to speak. "We are old and have grown weary of working for our family. They mistreat us, and we have decided to sever our bond with our Masters. This action has sealed our fate. We will die either way, but we chose to die under our own terms, and in our own way."

"They were owned by the Malfoys." Salazar said sadly, shaking his head in disgust.

James's eyes grew dark with fury, but Lily got down on her knees and took their hands gently. "We have never believed that creatures, especially elves, should be treated cruelly as you have clearly been. Is this what you truly want to do?"

"It is Mrs. Potter." Fripsy said with a bow. "It will be an honor for us."

"Then I will honor your request." She said, wiping a tear away.

"Never should an elf be treated the way you have." James said. "This is appalling."

"Our Masters are evil. They care not for anyone but themselves and those like-minded as them." Mitzy said, shaking her head. "We chose to defy them and help get rid of the Dark Lord."

James nodded. "Very well. I think Lily and I are in agreement. Salazar, we will take you up on your offer. Am I to assume that we should leave immediately?"

Salazar nodded. "Yes. The quicker the better. Voldemort plans on being here tomorrow, and he will come alone. He believes that you are unaware of what has happened, and thinks he can kill you quickly without a fight. We want him to keep believing that."

The Potters nodded. "I will go and get Harry ready for traveling." Lily said, standing up to leave.

"Take only what you will need for the immediate future, the rest can be replaced. It won't be good for the house to be emptied because it will look suspicious. Take only the most valuable and treasured items such as a few pictures and things. As for your finances, the goblins will know that you are not dead because your wills will not be activated, but they can be trusted. They are not as stupid as most wizards make them out to be. Contact the goblins in Rio as soon as you can. There is a Gringotts branch there, and have all your money transferred from here to there. I have left a packet with directions to Rio Way, along with fake identities, on a small table in my villa's foyer. Make it your home, because we do not know how long this will take. There are elves there that have been instructed to care for you, and help you settle in. I will contact you when I can."

James and Lily nodded, and began to pack a few things. It didn't take very long, and soon they were back in the kitchen with Lily holding Harry in her arms.

"Take care of your family, and be safe." Salazar said.

"Thank you." James said, shaking Salazar's hand. "You have given our family something to look forward too."

"Yes, thank you very much." Lily said, giving him a light hug, while trying not to rouse a sleeping Harry.

"You are young, and you don't deserve all that has happened to you, but you are welcome." He said with a smile. "I will see you when I can. To activate the portkey, just say 'Salazar's villa'."

James and Lily nodded, and Harry stirred lightly in Lily's arms as she maneuvered him so that he could place a small hand on the tin can. With one last goodbye and round of thanks, James called out the phrase, and James, Lily, and Harry Potter left a war torn land, and arrived in the safety of Rio.

October 31, 1981

Salazar, Mitzy, and Fripsy spent all day taking swigs of Polyjuice from small hidden goblets, but at 11pm, the front door suddenly blew off its hinges.

"Lily, Lily! He's here! It's him! Take Harry and go! Run Lily! Run!"

Voldemort smiled cruelly and lazily lifted his wand to cast a killing curse at an unarmed James Potter. Upstairs, Lily Potter pleaded for her son's life like any good mother would do, but refused to back down and get out of the way when Voldemort told her too.

From his position in the crib, Salazar stared at this odd display of mercy from the ruthless killer, and wondered what it could possibly mean. When 'Lily' still refused to get out of the way, Voldemort killed her and then turned his wand towards the baby in the crib.

'Harry Potter' wasn't worried about dying, and didn't even flinch when the green light sailed towards him, but something unexpected happened. Something that the 'baby' sitting in the crib could not have foreseen.

The green light hit his forehead, and Salazar screamed in pain as an explosion blasted apart the roof of the house. The last thing Salazar remembered was a black mist screaming with rage and flying away. Then darkness consumed him.