Pairing:Salazar/Harry

Title: At Midnight

Summary: Harry hides in a small dark room reminiscing of a cupboard and finds Salazar Slytherin's portrait. A round of cursing ensues...

Warnings: None, except Slazar's foul mouth :P

Author's note: This is my first fanfic, so it might not be that good of a read. Hopefully, you'll like it and Salazar won't kill me if he finds it. Enjoy :D

Chapter 1

"Shite!", I cursed under my breath. Snape was coming my way. The little annoying dot named "Severus Snape"was moving closer and closer to another little less annoying dot called "Harry James Potter".

You might wonder what I was doing prowling the fifth floor, alone, with nothing but my wand and the Marauder's Map, close to midnight. Well, to be honest, I didn't know either. All I knew was that I had to hide, quickly.

I stuffed the map into my school robes and stuck to the shadows. I was looking around wildly, searching for a good hiding place. Merlin knows that Snape can practically smell when I'm around. My gaze fell upon a small, dusty door. It was worth a try, I thought.

Silently, I made my way towards the door. I suddenly stopped and listened. Snape's steps were becoming louder and louder by the second. I wasted no time and opened the door, shrouding myself in the darkness of the room.

It feels like my old cupboard, I thought bitterly. The room was small and dark, and maybe a little damp. I slid with my back against a cold stone wall and waited to hear the git's steps fading. And they did.

"Thank Merlin", I sighed relieved. "Let's see what's in here now... Lumos!"

That was probably the worst thing I had done in my whole life. Or maybe it was the best…

Shock engulfed my entire being as I sat there, petrified. I wasn't afraid or anything, just…gob smacked. I was staring at a portrait, yet not just any portrait: it was the great founder Salazar Slytherin himself. He was beautiful like none I had ever seen…Smooth raven locks cascaded in dark rivulets on his shoulders in perfect disarray. His skin was pale, almost translucent like opalescent moonlight. The strong jaws were set in an eternal smirk, light pink lips stretching to reveal pearly teeth, yet his strongest features were his eyes: green and depthless, like the light of the Killing Curse.

What are you staring at, brat?

Well, so much for admiring his beauty…he was a positive bastard. A bastard who spoke Parseltongue.

Nothing, almighty Bastard Founder, I hissed back defiantly. Being called a brat pissed anyone off, especially me. I had my reasons…(the Dursleys, Snape, Malfoy…you get it).

What did you just call me, you insufferable little mudblood?! Do you know who I am, you ignorant prat? I am the great Salazar Slytherin, founder of-

Yeah, yeah, I know, I waved him off. Who the bloody hell didn't know? All those history lessons with Binns were so boring you wanted to bawl your eyes out after the first five minutes, but even I payed attention when he talked about the founders. After class, I used to sneak up to the astronomy tower and fantasize about meeting Godric Gryfindor. Yes, I know I'm pathetic. But I couldn't help wanting to meet Gryfindor…and instead, I get to be insulted by the blasted portrait of Slytherin. Well, so much about my fantasies…

Are you even listening to me, you ignorant brat?!

Who the hell would ever want to listen to you while being insulted in every possible way in existence since the fucking middle ages! I sure as hell wouldn't, and by the way, my name's Harry. Not brat, insufferable mudblood or ignorant prat. Just Harry. I took in a deep breath and tried to calm my racing heart. Whenever I was really angry, my heart would start beating like crazy and my face would flush such a deep red, it would put to shame the Weasleys' fiery hair.

Slytherin stood in silence. His mouth was drawn in a thin line and he was examining me with narrowed eyes. I liked his eyes so much better when they didn't grace me with such suspicion…I started shifting from foot to foot under his penetrating stare. It was unnerving, as if he was glaring into my soul. I shuddered and looked away, still red in the face, but now for a different reason.

C-could you..uhm…stop s-staring like that? I d-don't like it…I swallowed and kept my eyes firmly fixed on a very interesting dark stain on the wall.

I wonder if it's blood…

It is not blood, br-..uh, Harry. The blundering idiot cleaning this castle avoids this place like the plague and hasn't cleaned it for months, although I cannot fathom as to why…

I snorted. Maybe Slytherin couldn't, but I could. If I was the victim of such wondeftul insults, I wonder what kind of foul curses and threats Filch had endured so far. Actually, it would probably be best if I never found out.

Slytherin hadn't even noticed my bemused state. He continued talking. Probably didn't get many chances to chat in here. Oh well…

It gets lonely in here sometimes…actually, most of the time. That idiot may have been a…well, an idiot, he chuckled, but at least he was there, he kept me company, even though it wasn't pleasurable company, he sneered.

I nodded as I watched his face. He had such an expressive face, it was entertaining to watch. He sighed miserably and had this dreamlike expression on his face. He was probably remembering the times when he wasn't just a portrait…

I kept staring at him, running my curious eyes over his beautiful hair, his straight nose, soft lips…I drank in the sight of him because, I admit, he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I normally wasn't fond of men, but I had had my fair share of women and was tired of them. Slytherin wasn't complicated and didn't require flattery and other shallow things. He didn't gossip and betray one behind his back, either. It's true he was just a portrait, but I liked him. How I came to actually like him is a mystery in itself, a mystery and a secret I didn't care to find out.

Harry? Something the matter? He blinked at me in confusion. He was adorable…although no one would dare think of Slytherin as adorable. They just didn't mix.

No, nothing…I was just thinking…I bit my lip a little nervously, it was a habit I had picked up over time.

Slytherin was looking at me with a raised eyebrow, as if silently asking if I was actually capable of thinking. At first I would have been enraged of someone thinking that of me, but now it just amused me so I chuckled.

Obviously, what you're thinking amuses you. Care to share?

I grinned widely.

You sound and act just like my git of a Potion's Teacher, that's what made me laugh. Happy now?

He scowled. He looked anything but happy. I sighed and went closer to the portrait, in an attempt to "comfort" him, although that isn't the word I would have used. Salazar Slytherin doesn't need comforting.

I was just joking. You sound nothing like him. You're…how should I say this? One of a kind.

I smiled warmly at him, yet he still looked a little pissed off. Salazar could keep a grudge alright.

You are forgiven, he said haughtily. He sounded downright ridiculous with that tone, but I didn't say anything. I just kept smiling at him like I hadn't smiled in ages. No one made me feel so unlike Harry Potter as he did. No even Ron or Hermione, speaking of which, they would be downright horrified if I ever told them about Salazar. It would be best if I kept this a secret.

Salazar…can I call you that?

I looked at him with serious eyes and he nodded.

Would you like me to move you in a different room? I know just the place, I grinned as I thought of the Room of Requirement.

It would be nice of you, Harry. I am tired of this small, dark, sordid room.

I'll be back tomorrow, I have to go. The sun is almost up and I have school…

He sighed, sadly I daresay, and nodded at me. I smiled back and assured him I would be there, because no Potter ever went against their word, then I fished out the map.

All clear, I thought. I opened the door and looked back at Salazar. I saw hope mirrored in his eyes and something else I couldn't define.