Happy Birthday! You know who you are!

Sunlight streamed into the room, highlighting the dust motes in the air. It was a large room; the walls, ceiling and floor was made of dark colored stone. Arrays of bookshelves lined the walls, each shelf crammed with books and more books were piled on the ground nearby, tittering slightly to the side.

An unlit fireplace disrupted the rows of bookshelves; a deep forest green love seat in front of it. Closest to the window was a large, black-and-silver marble desk of which held books, papers, ink wells, quills and more in a disarray. The owner of this room wasn't the tidiest of men, despite the image he appeared in front of others.

Beside the desk, a plush green arm chair in which sat a man. A man of inky black curls and warm emerald eyes, an excited smile on plump red lips. A broad set of shoulders and expanse of chest. One large, tan arm stretching down to grip a sword with a huge, tan hand. A sword of pure silver, a wicked glint produced only by basilisk venom. A golden hilt embedded with egg-sized rubies, and upon that hilt...inscribed was the name Godric Griffindor.

But pay no mind to this man, but to the man beside him, sitting in a large black chair. The owner of the room. This man had the palest of pale skin, not quite translucent as other pale skinned peoples, but alabaster in color...and in warmth. Silky, long black hair tied loosely with a green ribbon, a few tendrils coming loose to curl slightly around his face. Icy blue eyes glared at the man beside him, the slightest of warmth in them betraying his emotion. Around his neck, resting lightly between two delicate collar bones, was a lovely silver locket. Engraved with a swirly letter S.

Curled around his chair was a beautiful, large green snake. She curved protectively around her master and his partner, hissing slightly in content. The man-who was indeed Salazar Slytherin; his partner, Godric Griffindor-turned to his lovely pet, hissing out a question.

"What is it, Nagini love? I cannot quite fathom why one such as you would be so peaceful." Nagini raised her head delicately at her master, tongue lashing out to taste the air.

"I apologise, Salazar. I am only just enjoying this last moment we have together, before you leave. I fear you will not be returning, master." Nagini was a powerful snake; things no others could sense was only but her specialty.

Salazar's brow furrowed in confusion and just as he opened his mouth to ask of her what she meant, Godric-who had been impatiently waiting as Salazar spoke to Nagini-nearly jumped out of his chair, talking rapidly.

"Sal'. You'll never guess what I just found! I was out exploring the lands, cause it gets boring here at Hogwarts sometimes, and I saw it glinting in the light. It reminded me of your eyes, so I just had to pick it up." He thrust his hands out eagerly, revealing cloth covered...something, presumably a rock of some kind. If the shape was anything to go by.

Scowling, Salazar eyed the cloth wearily. Much later in the future, many would associate this weariness with 'Slytherin cowardess' but at the moment, it was a wise decision to look at the cloth covered thing in such a way, since it did, in fact, change the rest of his life. Now, on the other hand, a rightfully labeled 'Griffindor stupidity (or recklessness, depending on who you talk to) was being used by Godric himself.

Salazar's scowl deepened. He knew his partner would become depressed if he did not accept the gift. It pained him greatly to see Godric in such a state. So, already regretting his decision, Salazar reached out and flipped the cotton over.

He let out a small, quiet gasp of surprise. Directly in the middle of the cloth rested-unbeknownst to them-a large ice blue topaz. Naturally cut, it shined blue beams of light in every which away direction as sunlight streamed from the window directly onto it.

Godric smiled brightly at Salazar's reaction."Go on then. Touch it. I held it earlier; nothing will happen." But what Godric didn't know was that the stone actually was magical. Only the correct holder would be able to unconscious activate the magic in the stone.

Hesitantly, Salazar reached out to touch it; pressing the tips of his fingers lightly to the stone. Underneath, it was unnaturally warm. Frowning, Salazar made to pull back.

His frown deepened as panic and suspicion rose. He couldn't release his fingers! The temperature of the topaz increased and Salazar felt a gut-wrenching sensation. The last thing he heard was Godric shouting his name as everything went black.

Thoughts? I rushed a bit to finish this preface, I admit. But the rest will be better, PROMISE.