Zaid Normal Zaid Hashim 12 608 2003-04-26T02:33:00Z 2003-06-16T19:50:00Z 4 2776 12770 236 98 19432 9.2720
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. We all bow down to her. I own nothing.
Author's Note: Here's chapter 3. A big thank you for all those who have reviewed.
Rating: R [vulgarity I guess and some innuendo I tend to add]
Chapter Three
He was exhausted.
It seemed that Aunt Petunia had deemed it her responsibility to think up everything that needed doing and see to it that Harry had it done by dinner. That include clearing the attic, cleaning the garage, tidying up the house and some form of manual labour where he had to carry rocks around the garden, listening to Aunt Petunia's instructions on where to place them. But he got the notion that she had simply done it to have him running around, carrying a heavy load, wasting his time. Harry couldn't believe how Lily was even related to his aunt, let alone be sisters.
Mom. His heart ached at the mention of his mother. He hated that the only strong memory he had of his parents was of the attack on Halloween that led to their deaths. How perverted is it that the only time I've heard my mother's voice, she was screaming for mercy. He had seen them during Voldemort's attack, when their wands connected. He wished that he'd been able to actually look at them, but he was too busy escaping the Dark Lord. My only memories of my parents involve Voldemort. Huh. He was still uneasy about Dumbledore's explanation on how the only reason Harry had survived that fateful night was because of his mother's sacrifice. My mother died for me. He shuddered at the thought, as more guilt grew within him.
He cherished all the stories he had heard about his parents. He often pestered Remus and Sirius to pen down some the adventures the Marauders plus Lily had experienced during and after Hogwarts. He still kept the picture of his parents holding him when he was still a baby under his bed. It was from the photo album Hagrid had given him at the end of his first year. By now, of course, the sides were creased and stained with his fingerprints. He realized that he should have it framed, but he could never place it in his room here, nor did he want his roommates in Gryffindor to see it and start pitying him. Well that and the fact that he liked the thought of resting near them. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he swore he almost felt a wave of comfort smother him. You also can't sleep with a bulky frame under your pillow.
But now, he could barely move to get the photo, let alone do his homework as planned. Fortunately for Harry, after much persuasion and some veiled threats, Vernon had allowed him to place his trunk in his room, giving him full access to his school supplies. In exchange, he was only allowed to do his work after dinner and he had to do more chores. He had agreed instantly. On foresight, maybe he should have thought it through. Maybe this was their plan. Run me to the ground and help me die from exhaustion.
It didn't help that there was definitely something wrong with him today. It had started with the incident at breakfast and culminated into a display of blinding lights almost everywhere he looked. It had occurred many times, puzzling him. There was no pattern towards the attacks, it had all happened during various times of the day. However, the effects lingered. His eyes hurt, and his was suffering from a headache. He resolved to write to Dumbledore tomorrow. For now, he was content to rest. Without even bothering to change, Harry closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, muttering to himself. "Happy Birthday, Harry."
If he had been studying the photo, he would have seen the image of the baby, Harry, flickering and being superimposed by a man.
~*~
Harry awoke to total darkness. He spun hurriedly, trying to look all around himself, preparing himself for any possible attacks. Constant Vigilance! Harry remembered with little mirth. Hah! Paranoid's like my middle name. Sighing after he saw no sign of danger, he took out his wand and magicked some light. Looking around he realized he was in…a forest? Tall, large trees loomed over him, their leaves blocking out any moonlight effectively. Deciding that staying put wasn't really helpful, Harry set off, hopefully to where the edge of the forest lay.
After some wandering and much cursing from Harry after tripping over unseen undergrowth countless times, he saw another source of light, though very dim. Readjusting his course, he hurried towards it. Next time someone decides to drop me in a bloody forest, you'd think it common courtesy to at least provide some socks, or at least a robe. My legs are itchy as hell!
As he came closer he saw a man, bending over a pot on a fire, stirring it with a large wooden spoon. Harry approached cautiously, unable to determine if he was friend or foe. The man startled Harry from his thoughts as he spoke, without even turning round to acknowledge his presence, and invited Harry to dine.
"Oh, hello. Would you like something to eat? I've just started boiling some soup."
"Um…sure…I guess." Harry was hesitant to accept but realized that his other option was to continue wandering in the dark. Besides the man hadn't made any move to attack.
"Then sit down, sit down." The man gestured to the log near the fire.
The conversation then died as the strange man tended to his meal, muttering softly to himself. He seemed utterly concentrated on the pot, stirring occasionally and dipping a finger to taste the soup. To Harry's amusement, his stomach started to rumble due to the mouth watering smell of the broth. The man chuckled at the sound, the sound of his laughter echoing in the forest, before continuing to cook the meal.
Harry used the time to observe the man. His clothes were a dark grayish green that would have faded into leaf or shadow, and his cloak swirled through shades of gray and green and brown as it shifted. His hair was long, and gray at the temples, held back from his face by a narrow leather headband. That face was made from stony planes and angles, weathered but unlined despite the gray in his hair. When he moved, Harry could think of nothing but a snake. But there also was a resonance of power that radiated from him, demanding that you look at him with utmost respect. Ignoring his shabby clothes, the man looked almost regal, carrying himself well with confidence. Harry studied his posture; even as he lazed in front of the fire cooking, Harry felt sure that he was constantly alert of any threat and was capable in handling it if the need arose.
Suddenly the man turned and faced Harry, fixing his gaze on the boy, eyes as cold and blue as a midwinter dawn. His eyes transfixed Harry. It was as if he was weighing the youth in his mind, and there was no sign on his face of what the scales told him. Harry felt lightheaded, the hypnotic eyes having a large effect on him. The effect was lost when the man shifted, getting to his feet, before offering a bowl of soup to Harry. Still feeling woozy, Harry accepted it without any comment and the pair both silently enjoyed their meals and the serenity of the location. The quiet was broken however when the man made an observation.
"I hope you're not a Dark wizard. I don't like killing people after I've fed them."
"What? No, no. Definitely not a Dark wizard." Harry was certainly surprised at the man's bluntness.
"Are you an Auror then? I had to kill a couple of Aurors once. Bad business, that, killing Aurors. Don't like it."
"Not an Auror either," Harry answered quickly.
The man just nodded absently before continuing his meal.
The calm did little other then distract Harry, making him feel increasingly uncomfortable. He built up his courage and voiced out a question "Excuse me, sir. Ah, where are we?"
The man looked at Harry as if he was an idiot. "In the middle of a forest, of course. I'd thought that'd be obvious."
Harry barely noticed the tone of his voice. "Sure…. Who are you, sir?"
"I am Salazar Slytherin. And you?"
Beat.
"… Would you repeat that sir? I swore I heard you say you were Slytherin himself."
"I did." The man looked questioningly at Harry, wondering why the boy seemed shocked.
Harry shook his head, muttering to himself. "Brilliant! And I'm Bill soddin' Gates. Now I'm dreaming of Salazar. Must have been working to much. Tired went straight to my brain"
"Nice to meet you Bill. I'm fairly sure I'm right here and that you're not dreaming."
The way the man answered Harry, without any pretences or nervousness, convinced him that the man was certain he was actually the Salazar Slytherin and Harry found his next challenge to sway the man back to the land of reality and truth.
"What? No, no. I was just joking. As you can see from my scar, I'm Harry Potter."
"Oh yes. I've noticed that. It looks painful, but kind of nice; a lightning bolt. How'd you get it?"
It was obvious to Harry that the man who called himself Salazar had no notion about Harry or his history. His question wasn't probing but curious. Suddenly a flash of recognition blazed in his eyes and Harry stumbled to his feet, his bowl flung away, backing himself from the legendary wizard.
"YOU! It was you! I wasn't having visions of Voldemort. It was your soddin' face flashing in my mind like a fucking exhibitionist. What the hell do you want from me?"
"Excuse me? I've never met you before. What plans could I possibly have?"
Harry was getting more fearful, not liking his odds in facing the Founder. Okay Harry, slowly back away from the Slytherin. No sudden movements. Gotta find a distraction.
Suddenly, Harry was hit with a searing pain from his scar. He fell to his knees and clutched at his forehead. Salazar frowned at Harry's painful expression, confused at his abrupt discomfort. Harry moaned loudly as he fainted and fell to the ground just as Salazar reached out to prevent him from hitting his head.
~*~
Severus Snape was worried.
Now one would think nothing could rattle our dear Potions Master. But Severus was consciously worried. He peeked around under the cover of his hood, making note of the number of Death Eaters present. This was the first time he had answered the Dark Mark burning on his arm, and he felt out of place, not knowing how the proceedings went about. He cautiously approached the throne at the head of the circle, keeping his gaze on the ground, unwilling just yet to meet the Dark Lord's eyes. Stopping a few feet away, Severus bent down and unconsciously held his breath, waiting for Voldemort's reaction to his presence.
"So, Severus. You have finally decided to answer my call."
"Yes, my Lord. I apologise I was unable to come earlier."
"Let's hear your excuse. And hope I find it worthy."
"Of course, my Lord. I was unable to answer your first summons due to the fact that I was on the school grounds, which forbid me from Apparating immediately. Furthermore, I had to deal with the presence of Albus Dumbledore, who insisted I accompany him during investigations for the Potter boy's disappearance."
"I see."
"After the boy's return, I had come across Karkaroff. He had been dreading my Lord's rise for the past year, and it was then he fled, afraid of my Lord's revenge due to his betrayal. Thus, my Lord, I have spent most of my time searching the gutters of the underworld, looking for the weakling. May I present to you, my Lord. The traitorous bastard."
Severus rose and turned swiftly, directing his attention to beyond the circle. He withdrew his wand and summoned the former Death Eater to the center of the circle. He was motionless due to Snape's full body bind and none of his protests were noticed due to a silencing charm. As he settled the large man on the ground, Severus faced the Dark Lord once again before bowing down.
"I offer to you, my master, me and the traitor, accepting all justice you wish to carry out, welcoming any and all punishment dealt by your hand, for my insolence, for not obeying your call, your order. My life is in your hands, my Lord. Do what you wish with it."
"Well done Severus. Very well done. I've heard Lucious's comments concerning your exploits after my…incarceration…in my less then human form. He gives you many praises. I understand that you're the Slytherin Head? Nicely done. You fit well in my plans. For that you will live. Do well not to cross me again."
Voldemort watched Snape as the professor approached him and kissed his robes, muttering his gratitude for the Dark Lord's mercy, before turning his attention to the renounced Death Eater.
"Well Karkaroff. You finally show your shameless face. Did you honestly I was gone? That some boy defeated me? That Death could proclaim victory over the Dark Lord himself? Foolish boy. I'd always thought you were too weak-willed to join my elite, little pressure required before you broke. You proved me right. Let's see how much force will be needed to break you tonight. My Death Eaters! Let's participate in some lovely torture shall we. Crucio!"
The suffering wizard's eyes bulged and his mouth opened in a silent scream. Deep in his mind, a small voice prayed to whatever higher power existed that the vile wizard would end it quick, but the rest of him knew that he would die a long, drawn out death, just as he had experienced and dealt out himself, during his times of service. He swallowed painfully as more curses landed on him; Voldemort had motioned to his followers to unleash their magic on the fallen man.
His gaze rested on the Slytherin Head. Severus could do nothing to divert his eyes, looking in the depths of his mind, begging silently for forgiveness, pleading for understanding that this was the last option he had. Damn Albus! Damn him and his Order. "You know what I must ask you to do." He had wished there was some other choice, but he had studied every avenue to regain Voldemort's trust and all only led to dead ends. He knew it would eventually culminate to these events, that he would have to trade a man's life to reenter the fray. But dammit, I hoped it wouldn't come to this. That I would have to sacrifice Igor.
Sometimes he wished he could just leave his life, his involvement with Dumbledore and Hogwarts. But always, the ache in his forearm reminded him that this was where he was needed, this was where he had come for salvation, where he had gained a second chance. And he realized that he could never back away from the man who had granted him mercy and escape from the darkness. He realized that atonement for his past could never end. Silently he prayed for Igor's soul and his own, before raising his own wand and uttering the final curse.
~*~
A/N: Well there's Salazar. His speech may seem kinda off cos I have no idea how they spoke a thousand years ago…If you do, tell me…as it is I'm trying to make his dialogue more formal and exclude slang and etc…I needed Snape to rejoin Voldie, and thus the capture of Igor. He might not be dead yet tho, as he still may feature in the later parts…but I may just leave him dead, if the plot calls for it…I don't like killing off characters…the dialogue between Harry and Salazar was pretty hard to write as I had to pin down the founder's personality…as a copout, he'll most probably have schizophrenia, heh j/k…hopefully it'll be well received…I'm sorry if any of you are offended by the vulgarities but I just type the dialogue as if I were the one speaking…I also use it to show huge amounts of emotion…if anyone feels its really inappropriate I may cut back on it tho…well that's it…the next chapter will most probably be up by Wednesday latest…
On a different note… can someone tell me how old Figg is?? Is she part of Lily's school years?? Or is she old and stuff?? And what about Mundungus?? I like to stick to canon…so if anything seems out of place, tell me and I'll try to fix it…also I'll appreciate any help if you can tell me bout the school system…cos I'm asian and thus thoroughly ignorant on the british school system…I need holidays, breaks, and Hogwart's school schedule and anything else that seems relevant…email me rather then leave it in a review if you could…I need to plan out classes…thnx
BTW…can anyone tell me what happened to the Mirror of Maybe??? My bookmark says its lost…I really liked the story and would be happy if someone gave me another link to it. Oh and I'll be grateful for any fic recs…esp H/H epics…cos I'm kinda busy to search thru ffnet…Thank you