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Unity

-0-

Summary: "Salazar! Sal! Look what I can do!" Godric exclaimed. That was the last thing that Salazar remembered before being ripped through time. Set in OOTP. Friendship Godric/Salazar

Beta: None. I tried my best without one.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: I don't know why all the Salazar fics I've read have Salazar with green or black eyes. It clearly states on HarryWiki that his eyes were grey…

-0-

"GODRIC!"

Harry whipped around as he heard the scream and an enormous SPLASH that followed. His wand slid out of his pocket and he pointed it towards the noise. Tentatively, he walked towards the rippling lake, slightly worried about the sanity of the person who had apparently decided to take a swim in the middle of October.

There was a huge gasp followed by a splash as a man resurfaced, sputtering up water and coughing to clear his lungs. He slowly swam towards shore, his waterlogged robes weighing him down. It took the man several tries, but eventually he managed to haul himself out of the lake.

Hermione and Ron both followed him, a little stunned, their conversation dying off. They were the only three around the lake at this time, as it was already quite late and curfew was in twenty minutes or so.

The man hacked up water, sputtering for breath, shivering a little, as the October breeze chilled his body. Harry instantly removed his cloak, trying to keep the man dry, but Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it at the man, saying the hot-air charm in a brisk tone. The man's clothes warmed and dried.

Now that Harry took a look at them, he noticed that the man's clothes were quite elaborate. He was wearing black robes with a deep green sash, a silver snake embroidered on the front of the robe that moved around the hem.

"Thank you, young lady," the man rasped out, trying to catch his breath. He looked up and Harry was struck how silvery grey his eyes were. The man was young, only twenty-five at most. His hair was deep ebony black, tied with a simple red ribbon at the base of his neck. "Now… can one of you direct me to Godric. I need to murder him for that."

"Err," Ron said, apprehensively, sharing a look with Hermione.

The man gave the three a blank stare and said, "Are you newcomers?" Then he seemed to notice the towering castle behind them and gasped, jumping to his feet. "GODRIC, WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY PLANTATION?! I HAD VERY EXPENSIVE POTION INGREDIENTS GROWING, YOU KNOW!"

Harry was seriously beginning to question the sanity of the man. He touched the man's arm lightly to get his attention. "Err… I don't believe we've been introduced? My name is Harry Potter."

The man gave him a blank stare and then turned to the other two.

"Ron Weasley," Ron said, eyeing the snake on the man's robe.

"Hermione Granger," Hermione said, smiling weakly.

"My name is Salazar Slytherin. Is this some kind of elaborate joke that Godric is playing on me? Because I don't find it very funny," Salazar said, looking between the three, somewhat exasperated. His shoulders slumped in defeat when he got nothing but blank stares between the trio. "From your expression, I suppose it wouldn't be."

"You're Slytherin?!" Ron blurted out. Salazar looked at Ron and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?" He said calmly, as if he was speaking to a daft child.

"Where's your beard?! Aren't you bald?!" Ron asked, rather rudely. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs hard and smiled a little, trying to pacify the Founder before he hexed Ron's lips off for being so rude.

"He means, it's nice to meet you," Hermione said pleasantly, a nervous smile on her face.

"I have a beard?" Salazar echoed. He placed his hand on his chin and then on top of his head, as if he were double checking to see if he still had hair. "No I do not…"

"Um, Mr. Slytherin," Harry said slowly. "Is there any… um… way to prove that you are who you say you are?"

Salazar blinked, turning his grey eyes to Harry. "Why would I need to prove that I'm Salazar Slytherin?" He asked blankly, plainly not understanding.

"You're a legend! One of the Founders of Hogwarts!" Hermione said quickly.

"Founder of what?! Hog warts? I did not find any hog warts, even with Godric around!" Salazar said, looking affronted.

Harry choked on his laughter, trying not to burst out laughing in front of the man.

"Right… well…" Salazar seemed to be carefully enunciating each word, as if worried by their sanity. "If you have no idea what I am talking about… I'll just go now… And find Godric… Make him put my plantation back…" He turned away from them, a wary look on his face.

"Ah! Before you do, I think you should meet the Headmaster," Harry said, rushing forward, his wand still in his hand. "He'll be able to answer your questions."

And hopefully shed light on how a Founder of Hogwarts, who apparently wasn't a Founder yet, ended up on Hogwarts grounds in the middle of October of 1995.

-0-

Salazar let himself be dragged around by the young mister Potter. At least this boy seemed to know what he was doing; taking him to the Headmaster of Hogwarts which Salazar learned was a school.

So, apparently, he had Founded a school with Godric, Rowena, and Helga. And for some reason, it was called Hogwarts. Salazar suspected the name had come from Godric, as Helga would have called it something like "Sanctuary" and Rowena would have named it after something she had read before. Salazar thought about all the magical children that tagged along with them and mentally sighed. Making a school would definitely help the children settle down somewhere.

He paused in front of a mean looking stone gargoyle, wondering why the children were shouting sweets at it. "Liquorice Wand" had nothing to do with the Headmaster, did it?

Eventually, something called "Bubblegum" caused the gargoyle to jump aside and Salazar realized it was an entranceway. He blinked rapidly, wondering just how much magic the castle had to keep something like a stone gargoyle continuously active to one password.

Salazar found himself facing the oldest man he had ever seen in his life. Even his father, who had died at the summer of his 67th year from a strange type of pox, had nothing on this man. The children burst into speech, outlining what had happened as Salazar took a look around, interested.

Trinkets surrounded Salazar, which made him curious at what they all did. Spinning tops, floating balls, mirrors, gems, jewels, and a perch for… was that a phoenix?!

Salazar blinked twice at the bird and the bird blinked back at him. Then Salazar gave a soft coo, holding his finger out to the phoenix. The phoenix gave a few notes in return, placing his warm head against the outstretched finger. Salazar smiled, stroking the magnificent red-gold plumage.

"How rare," the old man said. "Fawkes usually doesn't take interest so quickly."

"I take it you are the Headmaster of… Hogwarts," Salazar said, looking at the old man. "Phoenixes are rare partners. Take good care of him."

The old man chuckled. "I would say that Fawkes takes better care of me than I do of him," he said, standing. "Harry mentioned your name is Salazar Slytherin."

"So it is," Salazar said, lowering his hand. Fawkes swooped over to Harry to greet the boy as Salazar turned to the old man. "And you would be?"

"Albus Dumbledore," Dumbledore said patiently. "I am the current Headmaster of Hogwarts."

Salazar sighed and said, "The children mentioned that you might know where Godric is."

"Alas," Dumbledore sighed deeply, "I'm afraid you have bigger problems than where Mr. Gryffindor is. You see, you have been transported to the future. A thousand years, in fact."

Salazar stared. Was the old man senile? He had woken up this morning, eaten breakfast, taught his students how to make a healing salve, and then eaten lunch. Then he took a nap and Godric had so rudely woken him up with a "Salazar! Sal! Look what I can do!" Then he was falling into a lake, half disoriented from sleep.

"With all due respect," Salazar began, "I find that hard to believe. Godric is powerful, of course, but he hardly has the ability to rip through time and throw a person into the future. You must be mistaken." Because there was no way that powerful, uncontrollable lion was capable of…

Or maybe he was.

"Perhaps you can tell me what had happened," Dumbledore invited. Salazar sighed, conjuring a soft plushy couch, sitting on it and inviting the children to sit as well. Ron sat next to Hermione, who sat next to Harry. Harry didn't seem to mind sitting next to Salazar, but the other two were wary.

"Well, this morning, I woke up and ate some bread with stew," Salazar began. "Because I was planning on teaching the children how to make a healing salve, I gathered ingredients before dawn. Then I spent the rest of the morning explaining to them how to make it and watching them. As it didn't have to be brewed, we finished before lunch. Then, I took a nap while the children sat around Rowena for a story. I was rudely awoken by none other than Godric, saying "Salazar! Sal! Look what I can do!" The next thing I know, I'm airborne, splashing into a lake."

Dumbledore looked curiously at Salazar, a small smile on his face. "Well, can we assume that your friends will be searching for you?"

"After Rowena chews Godric up, yes," Salazar confirmed. "I should find… my way back as well… A thousand years… Godric, what did you do?" He sighed heavily.

"Well, it is late and you seem tired," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "You are welcome to stay for as long as you need."

Salazar was taken aback by the generosity. "Thank you," he said finally, unsure how to respond.

"I will have Severus assist you to your quarters. Feel free to use the library," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Harry? Mr. Weasley? Ms. Granger? You are welcome to visit your new friend tomorrow. For now, you should head to Gryffindor Tower for sleep. I will floo Severus now."

Harry knew a dismissal when he heard one. And he didn't particularly want to face Snape's sneering attitude. He smiled at Salazar, who returned it, and headed out of Dumbledore's office. He had a letter to write to Sirius and a new friend to visit tomorrow.

-0-

Severus wasn't sure what to make of the new addition to the castle.

For one, the man looked nothing like the statues of Salazar Slytherin. For two, the man didn't seem to be the power hungry wizard the legends said he was. For three, Salazar kept pointing out spots on his robes where potion ingredients had dropped and trying to list them.

"Powdered Moonflower," Salazar said, pointing to the white stain on Snape's sleeve. "And so finely ground too. You are truly a very skilled Potion's Master."

"Thank you," Severus said, striding deep into the dungeons. He had been instructed to give Salazar a room near his own so that he could show the man around, as the man hadn't built Hogwarts yet.

"It seems like such a large place," Salazar said. "How many students are there?"

"Over a thousand," Severus said, opening a door. "The house elves have prepared a room for you."

Salazar stepped in, looking a little disoriented from the dim lighting and the green and silver motif. There was a stone basilisk in the entranceway, apparently there to serve the same purpose as the stone gargoyle had in front of Dumbledore's office.

"It's… er… lovely," Salazar said. "You don't mind if I decorate it a little, do you?" He hoped he wasn't appearing rude, but the dim lighting would kill his eyes when he was trying to read and the silver and green on stone seemed a little dark.

"You may adjust it as you see fit," Severus said simply. "These are your private quarters after all."

"Thank you," Salazar said. He walked over to the sitting room, trying out one of the chairs, thinking about his companions. The stone was cold against his feet… He'd have to conjure a carpet for that… And maybe some wallpaper.

Severus nodded, leaving as Salazar pulled out his wand. He would do some… touch ups to make it seem less like a dungeon and more like… home.

-0-

Salazar glanced at the door as someone knocked before waving his hand, opening it without his wand. He smiled a little, seeing the trio stand at the doorway. Harry was staring at the stone basilisk.

"Err… Morning?" He hissed at the snake.

Salazar very nearly dropped his sash that he was tying in shock. He whipped around, staring at Harry like he was an alien, his grey eyes wide.

"Harry!" Hermione hissed. Harry blinked and looked at her.

"What?" he asked, nonplussed, apparently not aware that he just spoke in Parseltongue.

"What a surprise," Salazar said, his fingers tying the knot quickly, looking at Harry in fascination. "You wouldn't happen to be related to me, would you? Well, considering I'm here and I haven't sired any children, perhaps my brothers?"

"Err…" Harry looked confused before realization dawning. "I don't really know…"

"Are you pureblood?" Salazar asked, inviting the trio to sit on the deep green sofa. He had conjured a deep blue carpet and crimson wallpaper with a simple swirling pattern. A chandler hung from the ceiling of the entranceway.

"My father was, but my mother was muggleborn," Harry answered, taking a seat. Ron was looking at Salazar with a level of suspicion, but Salazar ignored it.

"Perhaps from your father's side then," Salazar said, nodding. "I don't know of any others who have the gift of Snake Speech. Then again, not many people are born near a swamp with thousands of poisonous snakes around." He turned to the trio. "So, how can I help you?"

"Well, we were actually wondering if we could help you," Hermione said apprehensively. Salazar blinked and smiled lightly, the corners of his lips turning up just a little.

"That's very kind of you, but I don't think there is anything you could do," Salazar said. "Godric is very accomplished and I doubt even he knew what he had done. You should be more worried about your upcoming classes." He sat down and cleared his throat. "Elf?"

A CRACK echoed in Salazar's room. Hermione gave a disapproving frown, which Salazar spotted, but didn't comment on. "How can Dobby service yous?"

Sazalar stared at the house elf who was wearing two different colored socks and a bright red tea cozy and three different kinds of hats. "Please serve tea and breakfast for my guests and me."

"Right away, Mister Slytherin!" Dobby said, his ears flapping happily. "Dobby will bring tea and breakfast for Harry Potter, Harry Potter's Hermy and Harry Potter's Wheezy!" He gave an excited little squeak at the sight of them. Harry was gaping in shock. Hermione's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets. Ron looked like he had just been bricked in the face.

"Dobby?!" Harry exclaimed, looking shocked.

Salazar blinked twice, slightly confused. Why did Harry seem so surprised to see a house elf? He remained silent as the house elf squeaked happily, talking about being a free elf.

There was another knock on the door and Dobby vanished to prepare tea and breakfast as Salazar stood. He strode over to the door and opened it, looking at the squat, toad-like woman on the other side.

"I have been told that Hogwarts has a guest," the woman said in a high pitched voice. "And I would like to inform you that in order to reside in Hogwarts, you must file a request in the Ministry."

"And who are you?" Salazar asked, a frown on his face. "And why should I file such a request with the Ministry if the Headmaster is the one to invite me to stay? If you have any objections, direct them to him, if you would."

"Why, I'm the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, Dolores Umbridge," the woman gave a high pitched laugh.

Salazar didn't exactly understand what was going on, but his instinct told him that he should be on his guard in front of this woman. Skimming the woman's thoughts was enough to confirm his instincts, his Legilimency activating when he set his cool grey eyes onto her brown ones.

"Well, Umbridge, I would like to, but as I know nothing about the procedure. So I suppose I'll have to leave the paperwork to Dumbledore," Salazar said. "Excuse me, I was in the middle of a conversation and I would like to get back to it."

"Conversation with who?" Umbridge asked, her voice getting sharper, though no less sweet.

"What does it matter to you?" Salazar responded. "Children, if you are that curious. Good day." And with that he shut the door in Umbridge's face.

"That vile woman! She knows perfectly well that the Headmaster's word is law in Hogwarts!" Hermione hissed to Ron and Harry. Harry nodded with a frown on his face, grateful that Salazar had not revealed their presence.

"That was entirely unpleasant in the morning," Salazar said, taking a seat. "Well, since you're here, would you be willing to tell me about Hogwarts?"

-0-

Umbridge had not approached Salazar directly again, but Salazar noticed that she was keeping an eye on him. Salazar brewed potions in his room, read up on as many subjects as he could, and helped Sprout harvest Stoneweed. By the end of the week, most of the students knew that Salazar Slytherin was in Hogwarts.

Salazar had noticed that Harry had stopped visiting him. That was why he decided to pay Harry a visit during his Potion's class on Monday.

Snape gave him a passing nod as he entered and stopped by Hermione's potion.

"Turn down the fire a little. You're cauldron will overflow if you keep it that high," he said calmly. "You've done well otherwise." He glanced at Malfoy's potion and swept up to it. "Child, that is far too much powdered moonstone. A third of that will do."

Malfoy looked all too smug to see Salazar criticize Hermione's potion. Then his face fell when Salazar turned to his. He looked down at his pile of powdered moonstone, trying to separate it into thirds.

Twenty minutes in, Salazar blinked a little as he noticed dark grey steam spew from someone's cauldron. He spotted Harry and walked over. "You forgot the syrup of hellebore. You can amend this mistake by adding two hellebore leaves, stirring it four times counterclockwise after they dissolve."

Salazar turned to see Ron's spitting green sparks and winced a little. "You put too much powdered unicorn horn. This mistake is not easily amended with the Draught of Peace. I would suggest you start over, but…" He glanced at the clock and shook his head. "You don't have time for that. If you drop in a bezoar, it will neutralize the potion to the state before you should have added the powdered unicorn horn. You should be able to finish it within the next ten minutes."

As Ron scrambled to the cabinet to search for a bezoar, Harry looked at Salazar.

"Should I cut the leaves?" he asked.

"No, leave them whole," Salazar replied. He turned to Goyle's potion and covered his nose in disgust. "Child, you have made far too many mistakes with the Draught of Peace for it to be salvaged."

"Professor Slytherin! Is my potion alright?" Draco asked, waving his hand in the air.

Salazar turned to it and walked up to it. It was a cyan color, emitting a white vapor.

"You only simmered for four minutes, when you should have simmered for five," Salazar said. "It weakens the potency of the potion. This would likely only put the drinker to sleep for a regular eight hours." Draco looked down, his face flushing a little in embarrassment. Salazar placed a hand on his head. "But you've done quite well considering the difficulty of this potion."

Draco beamed a little, perking back up as Snape barked at his students to turn in a sample. Salazar was pleased to note that Hermione's potion had turned out perfect, while Harry's and Ron's were quite close.

"To what do we owe the honor of your presence?" Snape asked Salazar when the rest of the students departed for lunch. Salazar laughed, amused at Snape's attitude towards him.

"Well, I came over initially to have a talk with Potter," Salazar said. "But instead, it looks like I should have a talk with you instead. Why did you choose such a difficult potion for children to brew?"

"I didn't choose it. The Ministry did. The fifth years have to take their Ordinary Wizarding Levels this year and the Draught of Peace is on it," Snape snapped, trying to organize the messy cabinet. Salazar blinked.

"Ordinary Wizarding Levels?"

"Yes. It's an examination all students must take," Snape said. "Hopefully I won't have to suffer another year after this one of dunderheaded children trying to experiment."

"You don't exactly seem pleased about teaching," Salazar said.

"When you've suffered so many years of children trying to sabotage potions, no, you wouldn't be," Snape snapped back, holding up Goyle's sample with a grimace. Salazar smiled.

"You favor students in my house," he noted. Snape eyed him.

"Surely you've seen how the rest of the school is against them," Snape replied.

"I have. And people look highly upon Godric's house," Salazar said. "Tell me, why is that?"

And thus, Salazar learned about his supposed 'heir'.

-0-

Salazar caught up with Harry after his lunch, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder to catch his attention. "Harry? How have you been?"

"Great," Harry said, turning to Salazar. "Been busy, that's all." Salazar noticed he was rubbing his right wrist and looked down at the hand, which Harry quickly hid from view. A thread of suspicion flowed through Salazar and the man bent down to pick up the hand. Harry jolted in surprise, not expecting the movement.

I must not tell lies was written on the back of Harry's hand. It was oozing blood. Salazar looked at Harry in the eyes, but Harry refused to meet him. Taking several breaths, Salazar gently lowered Harry's hand.

"If you have time, follow me to the edge of the castle. There is a patch of black orchids. If you crush them, petals, stem and leaf, and bandage them on your hand, the wound should close within a day and heal," Salazar said slowly.

Harry's head jerked up, his green eyes wide. Salazar smiled a little, though his eyes held nothing but a cold storm.

"Come to my quarters tonight. I'll teach you how to make it," Salazar said. "Are you the only one?"

"No," Harry admitted. "I've… I've heard about others…"

Salazar regarded him coolly and nodded. "Tell them to come as well."

Salazar was brewing when a knocked echoed through his quarters. He opened the door silently, allowing the children entry as he monitored the potion. He looked up as they took a seat.

Too many children had been subjected to this torture. Salazar felt a pang of sympathy for them, slightly worried about their mentality. One of the boys spoke up, his red and gold tie marking him part of Godric's house.

"Why are you helping us?" he asked.

Salazar turned off the fire and conjured a roll of bandages silently. He looked at the young man. The boy looked like Godric, with his fiery red hair. He also had freckles and, apparently, a twin.

"I left from home when I was eight summers old," Salazar said. "Non-magicals… humans… had found out where we lived and kidnapped my sister. They burned her at the stake, but not before branding her a witch. Her screams of pain echoed through the village that day, but the ones without magic… they just laughed." He looked at the group of children, sadly. "She was four and had just wanted to show off her flower making powers to her non-magical friend.

"The history books I've read got that part right, at least. I hate muggles. Ever since that year, I have always, always hated muggles," Salazar said quietly. "They tortured my sister, my little snake, and laughed about it as she screamed. Her body was left to rot in the ashes. My father was furious when he came home. He killed the muggles. Every last one of them. But it didn't bring her back. Nothing could."

The entire room was silent. Harry could feel tears prick the corner of his eyes, picturing the innocent little girl showing her muggle friend how to conjure flowers. How terrified she must have felt. How much pain she must have been in. A four year old child…

"Godric is my best friend. We spent years and years, gathering children to teach them how to control their magic. So such a thing would never happen again. Such a thing like my sister's death," Salazar said quietly. "I suppose that is why we decided to build a school. So that children would learn how to control their abilities. So that children would be safe from the persecution of muggles."

He looked at the potion and dropped the roll of bandages in, letting the bandages soak up the potion. "To see fellow magicals persecute other magicals… such a thing is absolutely forbidden. In this school I will build in my future, your past, I will not allow such a thing to occur," Salazar said firmly. "So tell me what happened."

"It's that awful Umbridge woman!" Harry blurted out. "She's from the Ministry of Magic."

"They want to shut us up!" One of the redheads continued. "We were talking about how You-Know-Who had returned."

"She's a bloody awful teacher as well!" The other redhead continued. "Won't let us use magic in Defense Against Dark Arts!"

"Says that there's nothing dangerous out there!" Another voice put in. "I call bull!"

Salazar held up a hand, using his wand to levitate the bandages. He held it up to dry and said, "Why don't we start with what she has been using to inflict those scars. I can tell it is a torture device of some kind. What is it?"

"It's a blood quill," Harry said. "It uses your blood to write."

"I have heard of such a thing. But to use that as punishment is unheard of. It would have been kinder to brand it than to have you carve it out of your hand," Salazar said. "In my time, it is mainly used to sign official documents and to prove your bloodline." He waved his wand towards the group and the bandage unraveled, floating towards them. "Wrap it around your injured hand."

Obediently, the children wrapped their hands with the bandages. Salazar nodded and turned to Harry.

"I have read Hogwarts A History," Salazar said. "I'm not very well looked upon, it seems."

Harry nodded. He hadn't read it himself, but he knew that much. "You built a hidden Chamber and put a basilisk inside to purge muggleborns from the school."

"Apparently," Salazar said, shrugging. "Has that Chamber ever been found?"

"Yeah. I… er… found it." Harry shifted awkwardly.

"What of the basilisk?" Salazar asked, looking at Harry.

"I… er… killed it," Harry mumbled. But Salazar heard him perfectly.

"You killed it?" Salazar asked, confirming it. "You killed an enormous, thousand year old basilisk?"

Harry nodded, looking at Salazar warily. Salazar's face betrayed no emotion as he sat down, looking at the group of children.

"Who thought it was a good idea to pit you against a basilisk?" Salazar asked.

"Err… Your heir? Voldemort?" Harry suggested, looking apprehensive.

"My heir used my basilisk to murder muggleborns?" Salazar asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "Are you aware of how rare basilisks are and how many potions require skin of basilisk?! That fool! I ought to whip him!"

Harry had the sudden mental image of Salazar putting Voldemort over his knee and snickered. "Yes, well… he is insane…"

The redhead twins grinned at Salazar. "Hey for being a slimy Slytherin, you're not so bad."

"Forge, he is the slimy Slytherin! In person!"

"Gred, there's no proof for that. It's who he says he is, but he has yet to prove it."

"Fred! George!" Harry laughed. "Behave!"

"Ohhhh, ikkle Harry's acting like Hermione," Fred teased.

"They're the biggest troublemakers in the school," Harry said, looking at Salazar, hoping he wasn't offended.

"Really?" Salazar asked, leaning back. "Tell me more."

-0-

Salazar slipped into Umbridge's class silently, sitting next to Draco Malfoy and opening a copy their textbook. He had only read a couple lines when he had enough of Slinkhard. The entire class seemed to be of the same mind, as they were passing notes and writing letters.

Umbridge had not noticed the new addition to the classroom until Salazar stood up.

"Yes, my dear?" she asked in her sickly sweet voice.

"What a bore," Salazar declared. "Is this your idea of teaching?"

"This is the Ministry's approved curriculum created by a Ministry-trained educational expert," Umbridge tittered. "Please sit, Mr. Slytherin, and refrain from disrupting the rest of the class."

"Then the Ministry leaves quite a lot to be desired. If you are the Ministry-trained educational expert as you put it," Salazar said, slamming the book on the table. "How many years have you been an instructor?"

"Quite many," Umbridge said promptly.

"Then I fail to see why you are so awful at instructing," Salazar said. The entire class was watching the exchange.

"As a Ministry—" Umbridge started, but Salazar cut her off.

"I refuse to let your Ministry's incompetence extend to the institution I have built!" Salazar snarled, his silvery eyes flashing.

For the first time, Harry could actually believe that this dark haired man was Salazar Slytherin. A dark chill ran down his spine as he looked into the stormy grey eyes of the older male.

"In-incompetence? Why would you say such a thing? What kind of silly lies have you heard?" Umbridge asked, her face paling, but her voice still sweet.

"Only the lies about you having many years of experience as a teacher and that you were an educational expert," Salazar lashed back. His voice dropped and he added, "Do not attempt to lie to me. I am Salazar Slytherin. I know a lie when I hear one and I do not appreciate them when they are told to me."

"Why, I don't have any idea what you could—" Umbridge said, her face turning the color of parchment.

"By tomorrow this time, I would like for you to have evacuated Hogwarts grounds," Salazar said. "I shall take over teaching these children. You no longer have a place in my school." He stood and strode to the front of the room, towering over Umbridge's small frame. Umbridge squeaked and whipped out her stubby wand, pointing it at Salazar.

"Stay back! I warn you!" she cried.

Salazar whipped out his wand and conjured a snake, the sound of the snake hitting the ground thumping through the silent classroom. It hissed in confusion.

"Where am I?" It asked, looking around.

"Make sure this woman leaves by this time tomorrow. If she's not gone, bite her," Salazar hissed to the snake, making the students gasp in alarm. The snake turned to Salazar and hissed out a greeting.

"Well, hello to you too, Salazar," it said in a huff. It turned to Umbridge, who shot a spell at it. The snake shot forward like bullet, wrapping itself around Umbridge's wand arm. Umbridge screamed and fled the classroom.

"Well, that takes care of that," Salazar said. He turned to the class, who was looking at him with slight alarm and awe. "What? I told you I was Salazar Slytherin. It's your own fault you didn't believe me." He walked over to the front, holding up Slinkhard's book. "Who actually wants to spend their time reading?"

The entire class remained silent. Salazar sneered.

"That's what I thought," he said, throwing the book in front of the table. "Whoever wants to keep theirs, put it away now. Everyone else put your book in the front of the room with mine."

The class shuffled nervously, hesitating to obey. Harry, however, was grinning from ear to ear, excited. Salazar looked at the pile of books and flicked his wand, setting them ablaze.

"Not even good firewood," he remarked, banishing the ashes. "Right then. I will be your new Professor for Defense Against Dark Arts. Unofficially, as it stands. You can call me Salazar, Professor Slytherin, Instructor Salazar, or just Sal. I don't really care all that much. Respect comes from tone, not from your words."

"Are you really Salazar Slytherin?" A boy asked, his hand in the air.

"And your name is?"

"Dean Thomas."

"Yes, Thomas. I am Salazar Slytherin. Evidently, the only memoirs of me are of when I am older, so I obviously don't have a beard," Salazar said. "That being said, how many of you are muggleborn?"

Several students, including Hermione, slowly raised their hands into the air. Salazar looked them over and spoke. "I have no intention of murdering any of you, or your muggleborn friends, despite what history has written."

"What about the basilisk?!" Ron asked, thrusting his hand into the air.

"Was raised for potion ingredients not for murder," Salazar said exasperatedly. "Though my stupid heir apparently thought differently. Basilisks are rare and valuable creatures and many high level potions require parts of them."

"Then why didn't you blind it? Then it wouldn't kill," Ron asked.

"If I blinded you and then asked for your skin, would you willingly give it?" Salazar asked blankly. Ron flushed and Harry smiled.

"What would you be teaching us?" Harry asked, raising his hand.

"I won't be teaching you anything. Instead, you'll be learning from your peers. As I said, I'm Salazar Slytherin. The one which lived over a thousand years ago," Salazar said. "Any spells I use are likely outdated."

"Show us?" Draco Malfoy asked eagerly, leaning forwards.

Salazar frowned and sighed, holding up his wand. A bright blue spell shot from the tip and hit the desk. To Harry's amazement, purple bell flowers and black berries bloomed and soon covered the entire desk, reaching the chalkboard. A slightly sweet scent wafted through the room, and Harry felt his body relaxing.

"Deadly Nightshade," Hermione gasped, her eyes wide. Salazar smiled a little, nodding, lowering his wand, the flowers remaining.

"Used in several antidotes and a very powerful sleeping potion called…"

"Sleeping Beauty," Hermione finished eagerly. "I've read about it!"

"Correct. I would give points to Gryffindor, but I might not be able to," Salazar said. "There is another potion that can be made from Deadly Nightshade. Can anyone tell me what it is?"

No one spoke. Not even Hermione. Salazar smiled reassuringly and said, "Cantarella. It's difficult to brew, but quite rewarding as it can fool the best doctors and almost any magical examination." He banished the plant and sat at the desk.

"Slytherin house prides itself on being sly, cunning, and ambitious." Salazar took note of the Slytherins in the class sat up straighter. "Which is why I find it absolutely appalling that they have a reputation of bowing their head to the more powerful. We are powerful. We do not submit to others like house elves. The only exception to this rule would be spies. We are cunning, finding ways around problems that would stump other people. Even if it means asking for help from your used-to-be enemies."

He ran his eyes over the crowd. "Gryffindor house values bravery, pure of heart, and courage. Where is the courage that Godric prided himself in? Courage means knowing your limits, knowing when to ask for assistance, knowing that, alone, you are powerless, but with friends, you can do anything. Bravery is standing up for what you know is right, even if the whole world says you're wrong. Bravery is standing up for your friends in their time of need." He gave Harry a brief look. "I hear that the house has become divided over Potter's story. Godric would cry."

Salazar swore that they could hear a pin drop in the classroom. "Godric and I are good friends. We do not always agree on everything, nor do we always get along. We fight, we bicker, we laugh, and we cry. Like friends should. But what makes my friendship with Godric valuable is that he knows things I do not. He teaches me things, even if I don't really want to learn. He helps me when I ask for it. In return, I do the same for him. I was there when he got into a pub brawl and got slashed by a poisoned blade. I nursed him through the night, through his vivid imagination and his high fever."

Standing up, Salazar walked over to the chalkboard and cleared it. "He was there when I sprained my wrists falling from a tree. He made me soup, terrible as it was, and fed me, as moving my wrists caused me pain." He wrote on the board 'Gryffindor vs. Slytherin'. "So tell me, where did this animosity come from? Because it certainly wasn't from us, as the history books said."

Harry remained silent, thinking about Salazar's words. Salazar smiled.

"Class is almost over. For homework, I would like you to write down three reasons why you don't like the other house and explain each one," Salazar said. "Regardless of whether or not Potter's words are the truth, you attend the same school. My school. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All of you have magic. Two things in common is one more than I started with Godric. If we can do it, why can't you?"

He put the chalk down and strode out of the silent classroom.

-0-

A/N: Should I continue? I was thinking about making this a two shot.