Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

After the new term began, Harry's January was a blur of quizzes, projects, and classes. He didn't know why, but it seemed that he was doing more and working harder in January than he had all of last term. Hermione reminded him that the Professors were probably preparing the students for their N.E.W.T. classes, so he didn't argue.

Everyone was delighted with their gifts. Hermione seemed to be the most ecstatic, to Harry's surprise and no little relief. She seemed to take on a whole new bearing of power and dedication when it came to magical creature liberation. She actually loved the new name, and decided to create subdivisions that would be devoted to special groups of magical creatures. She named one of those S.P.E.W., of course. For her first public move, she took out an ad in the Daily Prophet: 'Looking for individuals to head divisions of the new non-profit organization, founded by Harry Potter and under the direction of Hermione Granger.' Hermione was highly surprised when almost a thousand applications per day arrived in just the first week's post. Needless to say, the division heads were chosen quickly. Even Dumbledore was giving her recommendations. Not only did she find all the employees and volunteers she needed, she also found new investors. Quality Quidditch Supplies decided to make an annual donation, since Harry was a shareholder through both the Black Family Trust and Potter Fortune. The same was true of the Daily Prophet itself. The wizarding newspaper had pledged quite a good amount in annual donation - until Hermione struck up a deal with them: they could make a much smaller monetary contribution, and instead provide a free allowance for advertising and feature stories, and simple media coverage on future bills and debates. They agreed wholeheartedly.

Hermione made numerous changes that Harry would have never thought of. There were now six major divisions of M.I.S.S.E.D., which included:

S.P.E.W. - Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare, Director: Nedia Bellion

(This division directed the House Elf liberation that Hermione had started in her fourth year. Harry knew that Hermione considered this her baby, perhaps even top priority; so she was forever sticking her nose in to make sure everything went as planned.)

G.L.U.E. - Goblin Liberation Union of Education, Director: Griphook Gnashyoop

(This division, wisely directed by a goblin of Gringotts, took care of Goblin liberation in relation to Goblin and Wizarding laws. It also educated goblins on those current rights and liberties concerning their race. When Griphook met with Hermione, Harry realized it was the same goblin that had led him to his vault the first time he went to Diagon Alley. He must have been promoted.)

L.E.T.S. - Lycanthropy Education and Tolerance Society, Director: Remus Lupin (also Vice President and Second in Command of M.I.S.S.E.D.)

(This division was led by the Vice President and assistant Chairperson of the organization, Remus Lupin. Harry had talked him into taking the position, with the help of Tonks.)

D.I.C.E. - Division of Intelligence for Consultation and Education, Directors: Dedalus R. Diggle and Aberforth Dumbledore

(This division took care of legal consultation and education to the clientele that applied for jobs, or needed assistance due to discrimination or job shortages. This division also provided representation and researched for clients.)

D.I.L.L. - Division of Interaction for Liberation and Litigation, Directors: Minerva McGonagall, Ginny Weasley

(This division did all legal research and relayed all their findings to D.I.C.E. for approval and use.)

R.A.C.E. - Relations and Admission for Clientele and Executives, Directors: Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley

(This division was probably the one that had to be the most trusted, which is why Hermione talked Mr. and Mrs. Weasley into taking the directing positions. They would be the treasurers, and the vital link between clients and executives, executives and other executives, and executive/ministry law official relationships.

She also found time to make a budget for each division, depending on the amount of clientele they had, and court cost fees and such. By the end of January she was beginning to form dark circles under her eyes, and Harry could tell she was exhausted, though happy. He had to owl Remus to have him take over for her for a week, so she could get some much-needed rest. He actually had to threaten to forgo the organization if she let her grades or study time slip. She saw the logic behind his demand and obeyed it, though Harry made Ginny watch out for her to make sure she wasn't using a time-turner again (not that he suspected it).

Harry was surprised more than a few times to find out things about people he knew. It turned out that Aberforth, Albus' brother, was a Law wizard back in his time (so obviously he could read), as was Dedalus Diggle, a member of the Order who had helped pick Harry up from Surrey in the summer before his fifth year. Professor McGonagall had her nose in law while in University, and had almost changed her course of study from Transfiguration before she realized that she wouldn't have had as many opportunities to teach. And Harry was highly surprised when Ginny Weasley came forth and told Hermione she had chosen Wizarding and Muggle law as her course of study for her N.E.W.T.S. Hermione immediately posted her with McGonagall so they would work together on their common interest. The organization was doing well, and Hermione was now getting daily letters for consultation from Werewolves and Goblins. Because laws were changed slowly, Hermione decided that it would be easier to assist and help individuals or small groups until she was able to get the freedom for everyone that wanted or needed it.

Harry's special training continued, and he'd also been meeting Ron privately to give him Animagus lessons. Neville had expressed some interest in this field also, but had yet to ask him for help with it. Hermione was too busy with M.I.S.S.E.D. to do anything extra, and Ginny was too wrapped up in revision for O.W.L.S. Ron was making fine progress, though not as rapid as Harry and Draco had made. Ron's form was going to be - what else - a Golden Griffin: curious as any cat would be, and loyal to everything good. Harry noticed that Ron also received special gifts from his form too; but they were nowhere as vast as what Harry had received. The Griffin was a natural Legilimens, at least as far as being able to tell who was good and who was not. Ron also seemed to be developing strength that was surprising for someone of his lankiness. Harry found Ron's gifts to be a bit supernatural, though he never made mention about it. Like he had room to talk! He could see magic, and could turn things to gold with his tears, due to the Alchemical abilities of the Treasure Phoenix.

Harry and Draco's relationship was doing better, though Harry still refused to kiss him or anything beyond that. As he had told Draco, he refused to get his hopes up if Pansy didn't break soon. They had two weeks left before Draco's birthday, but Pansy hadn't realized this. Therefore, Draco could wait until she realized that he hadn't come into his heritage, before he had to worry about her. Of course she knew that he had to sire a child with someone to get past his heritage; but Draco was hoping that once she realized it had never come, (for obvious reasons,) she'd get mad and decide to burn the magical marriage contract. To date, that was their best plan.

Harry had also visited his Aunt Petunia, and found out that she had put the egg in a safety deposit box in a large British bank, and then rented yet another deposit box at a smaller bank to put the key into. If anyone wanted to get to that egg, including Harry, they'd have to go through Petunia and two banks to get to it. That is, of course, after they had managed to find out the location of the actual safety deposit box at the larger bank, where Harry had put the Fidelius Charm on it; or if they managed to break the locking charm on the smaller bank's deposit box, which was locked with Will Magic. Harry was surprised that Petunia went to so much trouble to hide the egg; but she told him that it was probably the only grandchild she would have if Dudley didn't straighten up, so she was willing to go to any lengths to protect it. Harry felt an immense amount of gratitude for his Aunt that day.

Moody's dueling training was to begin in a couple of days, and Harry was starting to get anxious over it. He knew Moody was a good dueler and he didn't know if he'd be any match at all for the ex-Auror. Tonks, with the help of Moody, was also going to teach him disguising methods, so he could conceal himself if he went into the Wizarding world during the next summer. All-in-all, everything seemed to be shaping up for the better.

The one thing that Harry wasn't sure of yet was just what Voldemort was up to. No one, even including the Order and the DA, had heard much about his plans; and this made Harry extremely uneasy. Voldemort always had some type of scheme that came to a climax at the end of the year. Could it have come early? Was the Hogsmeade battle the biggest punch he was going to throw this year? Harry hoped the Dark Lord was scared. After all, he, Hermione, and Draco had killed several Dementors when they came onto the Hogwarts grounds; and he and Professor Flitwick had killed even more when the battle of Hogsmeade occurred. Voldemort had every reason to be scared; Harry guessed that if it were him, he would have been.

Neville's parents had once again joined the Order, as one might expect. Neville never seemed to stop talking about them, and Harry found himself feeling jealous more than once. But when he thought about the way it made him feel to know he was responsible for the change in them, he usually beat down that jealousy, and then he brightened. As of right now, life was good.

Harry put his potions homework away after finishing it, and joined Hermione at the larger table in the corner of the Gryffindor Tower common room. He'd spent a couple of nights here after the Christmas Holidays, because he felt that he owed Hermione something for what she'd given both him and Draco on Christmas Day evening - her egg. She told him it was no big deal because she still had plenty; she was young, after all. But Harry brushed that aside, and told her that not everyone would have been as giving as she was. He had mentioned something about Mother's Day once; but Hermione had corrected him, saying that she was in no way genetically related to the zygote: he was actually the mother, because his genetic material was in the egg first, while Draco did the fertilizing. Harry blushed at the implication, but didn't want to read that far into it.

"Are you almost done?" he asked, taking a seat next to her at the table.

"Oh, I've been done with my homework for a while now. I'm trying to find a logging charm, so I can keep efficient books for Molly and Arthur. Instead of having loose scrolls and parchment, I thought it would be a good idea to have a book that would log everything magically, so as to save us some time," she said after she looked up from the book she was taking notes from.

"Why don't you just write the manufacturers of the diary I got for Ginny? I'm sure they know the charm, and if you tell them who you are, they'll probably donate the charmed log book," Harry reasoned, putting his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands.

"I might just do that, if I don't find anything soon," she said. "I was going to ask Dumbledore, because I know he has the Hogwarts log book in his office; but I didn't want to seem nosy."

"Hogwarts Log Book?"

"Oh, it has all the witches and wizards in the UK in it. It's how they know whom to send a letter to, and when," she said.

"I didn't know that. Is it just a log of their names?"

"Oh, no. In 'Hogwarts: A History', it says it's magically logged so that if you tap your wand on a name it can tell you the student's background, such as whether they were Muggle-born or not - and even give reference to parents who are past students. It shows their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s scores, not to mention titles such as Prefect or Head Boy or girl," she recited.

"Seems awfully personal for something like a log book," Harry said. Hermione looked to be thinking for a moment before she nodded thoughtfully.

"You know, now that I think of it - it is, isn't it?" she said. "Why should it be anyone's business if a student is Muggle-born or not?"

"Probably to keep track of ratios and such. Like, if I would have agreed with the Sorting Hat, I would have been the second half-blood in Slytherin," Harry said.

"The first being Riddle," Hermione said. Harry nodded.

"Well, I'm going you-know-where to work on you-know-what; so come up when you can. Draco and Susan should be there waiting for me now," Harry said.

"Oh, I'm not busy now; take me with you so I don't have to walk all the way," she said. Harry grinned at her and grabbed her arm before disappearing in a swirl of snowflakes and landing just outside the mirror, where the others were waiting for them.

"About time; I almost thought we weren't going to meet today," Draco said, as he followed Harry into the Suite. They had started meeting here during lunch everyday because they could eat while they worked on their spells. The counter-spell to the killing curse seemed to be much harder to create than it had first looked. They hadn't intended on spending so much time working on it; but after Draco shot the Killing Curse at Harry and he couldn't pull off the intricate counter-spell in time, they had decided to go back to the books. Harry had jumped out of the way, not particularly wanting to burn that evening. It was bad enough that Harry could already slightly feel a burning coming on.

After Harry, Hermione, Susan and Draco had worked for about three hours, they called it quits for the night; and Harry's friends made their way to their dorms while Harry stayed put. It was about eight o'clock when Harry finally put the rest of his homework away and heaved a satisfied sigh. Hermione had mentioned something about the Prophecy again tonight, and Harry acted as if he hadn't heard. He had every intention of having Snape test their Occlumency walls before Christmas break; and now it was going on February, and Harry still hadn't told them. They hadn't really asked him when he would tell them, they'd just mentioned the blasted thing once a week. It seemed that when he didn't respond to the subtle reminder, they didn't keep asking. Hermione was right, after all: they weren't only doing it to hear the prophecy; they also needed the mental barrier so they could forge a staff. The nagging feeling of his promise still lingered, though; and before he knew it, he was in front of his fireplace throwing floo powder in.

"Professor Snape?" Harry called into the grate. It took a second before Severus' head came into view.

"Potter," he said, inclining his head.

"Good evening, Professor. Might I have a word with you?" Harry asked.

"You may," he said, raising an eyebrow. Harry gave the man a curt nod before entering the floo and being whisked to Snape's office. He practically fell out, not being used to such short trips; but a strong arm reached out to steady him. "How graceful you are, Potter," Snape said, smirking. He just grinned back at the insufferable man. Harry cleared his throat.

"I was wondering if you... Professor, what's that awful smell?" Harry asked, wrinkling up his nose.

"Wolfsbane Potion, Potter," Severus answered. Harry looked at Snape with a critical eye.

"You voluntarily make that stuff for Moony, knowing you'll have to stay down here and smell it the whole time?" Harry said, trying to discreetly cover his nose.

"We have an... agreement," Snape said cryptically. "Besides, it's not the only one I'm making; it just smells the worst."

"What else are you making?"

"A variation of the Polyjuice potion for the Headmaster. One that will last a month. The only problem is, some of the ingredients are having negative reactions to the others, and I don't have the resources here to find out why," Snape said, sneering toward the room from which the sounds of cauldrons boiling could be heard.

"I have an extensive library on Potions, if you'd like to access it," Harry said, before he could stop himself. Snape must have seen his hesitation because he merely lifted an eyebrow.

"Mr. Potter, I assure you that if it can't be found in the restricted section of the Hogwarts library, then..."

"Ancient Potions, Professor," Harry interrupted.

"And where did you find these books?"

"If I showed you my library, you'd have to swear not to tell anyone where you saw any of the material. I'll tell you the same thing I've told the other four that have been allowed access to my quarters and my library: if you breathe a word about it to anyone, I'll obliviate you so bad that you'll be drooling on yourself and trying to say your first words again," Harry said, sticking his chin in the air.

"A very admirable threat," Snape said, raising both eyebrows.

"The terms stand, even with the Headmaster. You don't breathe a word to him, and you can have access to a library that your mind can't even fathom," he said, boring into Snape's eyes, looking to see if Snape's next statement were truthful. Snape gave a curt nod, and Harry could tell he wasn't lying. "Great, follow me," Harry said, grabbing floo powder once more and throwing a dash into the grate. "Gryffindor Suite!"

Harry fell back into his Suite, and a few seconds passed before Snape stepped gracefully out. Harry rolled his eyes and grumbled something about 'too graceful to be human' before leading Snape to the library. Snape was looking around curiously; but if he was stunned by the lavishness of the quarters, he didn't show it or comment on it.

"Are we within Hogwarts Grounds?" he asked, looking overhead at the chandelier that hung between the library and the lounge.

"Yes," Harry said, not turning around to look at him. "What kind of potions text do you need?"

"Potions and Charms for disguise; and perhaps a text of herbology ingredients used for transformations," Snape said, looking around at the four walls that were stacked with books, up to about fifteen feet high.

"Potions, Charms and Magical plants used for disguise and transformations," Harry said out loud. Snape was about to make a comment when books started glowing blue around the room. Harry held his hand out, and two of the books on the closest shelf came to him. He continued this, turning in a circle, until he had eleven books sitting on the table.

"There's one catch," Harry said before he left the Professor to his work. "The books can't leave the Suite. They're charmed to stay here, so trying to take them out is impossible. Tea?" Snape smirked at him.

"Brandy?" Snape retorted and Harry gave a curt nod before leaving. He went to the kitchen and tapped the pantry door with his wand before ordering what he needed, which was a bottle of brandy and a Butterbeer, and left the kitchen.

"Harry, what do you think you're doing with brandy!" Godric's voice boomed from his portrait. Harry swore under his breath. "And there's a different magical signature here...Who?" By the time Godric had asked the questions, Snape had already entered the room to see who was yelling. He laid steely eyes on the portrait before turning to Harry with an eyebrow raised. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Godric, this is Professor Severus Snape; Professor Snape, Lord Godric Gryffindor," Harry said blandly.

"Whatever happened to a grand introduction?" Godric muttered.

"Likewise," Snape said, looking up at the portrait. "An honor, I'm sure," Snape said with a slight bow to the man in the painting.

"Hello, young man; Potions, correct?" he asked warmly. Snape gave a curt nod but made no response. "You do know that you're the second Slytherin that's been in these quarters since young Harry here took up residence here," Godric said, not really asking a question, merely musing.

"Yes; well, he does seem to have been acquiring taste as of late," Snape said, not looking at Harry. Harry just snorted, and handed Snape the bottle of brandy and a small glass.

"Well, now that you've been here, and I've seen your magical signature, you're welcome here anytime," Godric said. Harry cleared his throat and Godric scowled at him. "That is if Harry gives admittance," Godric droned.

"You're so kind," Harry told Godric sarcastically.

"You know, I think he may be suffering from some type of social anxiety. The boy never has people around," Godric commented to Severus, who merely raised an eyebrow at him once more.

"Hermione, Susan, and Draco just left!" Harry exclaimed indignantly.

"They are the only ones," Godric droned again. "I've heard about this Ginny and Ron Weasley for months now, and still you haven't brought them here. And what about that boy whose parents you helped... what's his name... Badbottom?"

"Longbottom, Neville Longbottom," Harry reminded, grinning at the mangled name.

"Yes, him. Why have you not brought him here?" he asked, but then his facial features changed and turned darker. "It's me, isn't it? You're ashamed of me... I'm nothing but a portrait! A simple canvas that holds a mere memory of Godric Gryffindor!" he huffed, getting riled up. Harry rolled his eyes again.

"Calm down, you're going to start peeling," Harry told him teasingly.

"I don't peel, there's a preserving charm on this canvas that is good for at least five thousand years!"

"Well, it was nice to meet you, but I must get to work if I can't take the books from the Suite," Snape said, giving a half-bow to Godric and bidding him good-bye. "Good day."

"Must you throw a tantrum every time someone comes about?!" Harry hissed at him.

"Why must you keep me here with only your short company everyday?!"Godric hissed back. Harry scowled at him.

"You know, you're acting very childish," Harry said. Godric huffed. "Isn't that something that Hufflepuffs do?"

"I'll have you know that Helga was a very admirable..." Harry burst out laughing as he assumed the comment Godric was going to make. The old coot just loved to argue. It was no wonder Slytherin turned evil. It surprised Harry that the other two founders didn't follow Salazar's defection. Being around Godric could really get on someone's nerves. Harry retreated to the library to see if he could help Snape with anything, leaving behind a sputtering portrait.

"Your... more capable instructor?" Snape asked when he stepped into the Library. Harry just snorted.

"I like to think so. He and Albus are so much alike it's unbelievable. Their only difference is that Godric loves to argue, while Albus will do anything to divert an argument. Sometimes I wish Albus would just have a screaming match with me; I know I'd feel better," Harry said. He heard Snape snort at the comment before returning back to his reading. "Oh, the reason I flooed you to begin with is because I wanted to ask if you'd try to break into Hermione, Ron, Draco, Neville, and Ginny's minds. I've taught them all Occlumency, but I'm still not comfortable with telling them the Prophecy if I'm not one hundred percent sure they can keep it safe," Harry said.

"And why am I doing this instead of you?"

"Because, as arrogant as it might sound, I know I can get in, and probably without being noticed. I could tear Dumbledore's walls down, if I wanted or needed to. I'd hardly put them through that. Besides, you've been in the presence of Voldemort more than anyone, and have still kept him blocked out. If anyone can tell me they're ready to hear it, it's you," Harry said.

"Very well; have Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy stay after potions tomorrow, and I'll test their skills. Have Mr. Longbottom and Mr. and Miss Weasley visit before lunch and I'll test them also. I'll tell you my results when I come here tomorrow to finish my research," Severus said. Harry agreed, and told him he was going to turn in for the night. Snape bid him a curt goodnight, before Harry returned to his personal master bedroom. He had begun to really trust Severus over the last few months, and this was going to be his small test for the Potions Master. He would know if Snape tried to take books from the Suite.

Harry woke the next morning, then showered and shaved before coming out of his room. He bid Godric good morning, and the old wizard looked Harry over as if he were going to make a comment on what he was wearing, before thinking better of it. Harry went to the library to see if there were any books he needed to replace, and was surprised to find Snape still there.

"Professor?" Harry asked, a little surprised. "Have you been here all night?"

"Yes; the texts are very informative, but there are still holes in my research," Snape said, sighing deeply. "I've told the headmaster time and time again that I don't think this can be done."

"Perhaps you're just looking in the wrong place," Harry pondered aloud.

"Potter, you showed me before how to locate books I needed. Was there something you forgot to mention?" Snape said, sounding as if he were getting irritated.

"Oh, no sir. It's just that there is another library available, but I've never been there. I shudder to think what would be kept in that library," Harry said, actually giving a slight shiver.

"Well? Where is it?" Snape asked shortly.

"The Slytherin Suite."

"How are you able to access that? I though you could only access this one because you were the heir," Snape said, getting confused.

"Follow me," Harry said, heaving a defeated sigh. He had taken so many precautions to make sure no one found out that he had also been made a magical heir when Voldemort tried to kill him; but it was now time to come clean to Godric. Snape did follow Harry, though he looked as though he was doing so reluctantly. Harry came to a standstill just in front of Godric's portrait as if presenting himself. "Godric, would you happen to know how to get to Salazar's quarters?" Godric seemed to do a double-take at his question.

"I would," Godric said matter-of-factly. "But the better question would be... why are you interested?"

"I need access to it," Harry said shortly.

"Harry, you know that's not possible. Only the heir is allowed into the quarters," Godric said logically. Harry looked at Godric with a sad expression on his face before he unbuttoned his robes and laid them on the sofa. He turned around so that his back was facing Godric and lifted up the back of his shirt. Godric gasped at Harry's exposed back. "How...?!"

"When Slytherin's heir tried to kill me as a baby, I was made the magical heir of Slytherin. From what I can gather, heir-standing doesn't only come from the passing down of blood, but also by magic. I've inherited some of the skills and gifts that Salazar himself cherished for his own house," Harry said.

"Gifts?" Godric said slowly.

"Serpensortia," Harry said, pointing his wand at the ground just in front of his feet. A snake slithered from the tip of his wand and coiled, before hissing at Harry. "I mean you no harm, young one. Pleasssse ssssslither up my arm," Harry said, extending his arm for the snake. The snake complied.

"Why did you hide this from me?" Godric said with a hurt expression. Harry cast his eyes down but looked back up before answering.

"Shame. I knew I was ashamed, but I couldn't bring myself to tell you that your line was now tainted with the magic of dark wizards," Harry said, before banishing the snake.

"Harry," Godric said sympathetically. "You said he tried to kill you, not the other way around. There is no shame in survival. Give me a second to notify Salazar that you are on your way, and you can take the floo. You will be returning to these quarters, right?"

"Of course!" Harry said quickly. Godric smiled warmly down at him before disappearing from view, leaving only a Quidditch pitch and a very young-looking Hogwarts behind in the picture.

"Yet more surprises, Potter?" Severus said, smirking. Harry didn't know how to respond to this, so he just tucked his shirt back into his trousers and put his robes back on. By the time Harry made himself presentable again, Godric had made his way back, and told Harry that Salazar was expecting him.

"Right, Professor," Harry said, motioning to the floo. Snape stepped forward and threw some powder from the mantel into the floo before he stepped in.

"Slytherin Suite," he said silkily, before the flames engulfed him and he was gone. Harry followed suit, and before he knew it he was emerging into a dusty dark room.

"Lumos Maximus," Harry whispered, flicking his hand and sending an orb to the center of the room above his head. Professor Snape came in from another room with his wand above his head, using it for light. Seeing Harry's orb, he extinguished his wand. "Well, I guess we really should clean the place up before we go rummaging around. It wouldn't do to fill the books with all the dust that's lying about," Harry said. He went and stood by the portrait that was above the mantel, just like Godric's; but Salazar wasn't within it. Harry turned and surveyed the rest of the room before taking out his wand. He did some minor calculations in his head before pointing his wand at a certain part of the ceiling and announcing, "Scourgify Structura Maximus!" A bright light shot from his wand and hit the ceiling. The spot turned white, as the ceiling should be; and then the white spot started to spread. Harry stood and only watched as the white part began to spread like a wildfire around the ceiling, until it finally met the walls and proceeded to engulf them with shiny cleanliness also. It was soon making its way down to the carpet and cleaning everything in its path.

"Professor, you may want to move before the spell reaches you. You'll be cleaned from head to toe by it," Harry said - perhaps a bit too late, because just as Snape realized what he said, the spell had already sneaked up behind him and was on his boots. Harry sighed and apparated to the other side of the floor that was already cleaned, and watched as Severus shot several spells to try and stop the charm from consuming him. Harry had the urge to laugh at the man - like it would really hurt that badly to be cleaned. Snape finally gave up trying and stood with his arms crossed, glaring at Harry while the charm moved up the trunk of his body. Snape would twitch every once in a while, but remained expressionless until the charm finally reached his face. His facial expression twisted in disgust at the feeling, and it finally reached his hair. Harry would have gasped or laughed (he wasn't sure which) at how nice Snape's hair actually looked clean; but since he was in such close proximity with the Potions Master, he chose to suppress any comment.

The charm passed Severus and made its way to the library before Harry finally moved from the spot he was standing in. The lounge, or living room, was completely clean, and everything shone like new. Harry still had to keep his light-orb above them, because it was far too dark in the Suite for his tastes. He guessed it was in the dungeons, due to the all-stone walls and flat ceiling. The Gryffindor Suite, by contrast, had stone walls from the floor up to the middle of the wall, and wooden walls from there. The fireplace was, of course, stone in both suites; but the Slytherin grate was not lit. Harry set it alight, and made his way around the room just being nosy, before Snape informed him that the library was done. He suddenly remembered that he had class - but then he also remembered: it was with Snape.

"You do know we're missing class?" Harry asked.

"So it seems," Severus said, not even looking at a clock or watch.

"Do you wish for me to pop down there and tell them it's canceled?"

"If you feel the need to," Snape said casually, as though it wouldn't bother him to leave the students standing in the stone corridor for the next four hours, due to it being a double class.

Harry was turning to leave when Snape started requesting books of the room.

"Potter?"

"Professor?"

"Is the library not enchanted?" Snape asked, peering at the rows and rows of tomes with a hurt expression, as if they had deliberately ignored him.

"I'm not sure. You're the Slytherin. Would you have enchanted them?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I would have," he said, then put his finger to his mouth thinking. "But... I do believe I'd be difficult about it. Especially if I were to make sure that only my heir could read them."

"I have an idea, then," Harry said, walking into the library and looking around that the old, dry, cracked tomes. "Potionssss and plantssss of transsssfiguration and dissssguisssse," Harry said in Parseltongue. Several books began to glow green, and Harry lifted a hand and summoned them to him.

"How did you know?" Snape asked, surprised though not completely astonished.

"I broke the charms on the dorm stairs in the Slytherin tower by doing that. Not to mention, the wall opened when I asked it to," Harry said. Severus just nodded, signifying that it merely made sense.

Harry had popped down and told the class that Professor Snape was indisposed, and no one argued. Draco and Hermione both asked Harry where Snape was, but Harry would only tell them that the Professor was in the middle of some very critical research for the Order and could not be interrupted. He returned to the quarters to find Snape almost drooling over some of the books that Harry had laid out. It seemed that they had been some of the most dangerous and long-forgotten potions of the millennium. Harry had never seen Snape rave about anything; but this was the one time that the Potions Master looked like a kid in a candy shop. Harry stepped out of the library to snoop around once more, but was stopped by a silky voice much like Snape's.

"So you're my heir?" a man in the portrait above the mantel asked him. Salazar's resemblance to Lucius Malfoy was uncanny.

"Magical Heir," Harry corrected tersely. He didn't like the way the founder was looking at him.

"I don't see the difference," Salazar said icily.

"The difference is that I wouldn't have been your heir if your blood heir hadn't tried to kill me when I was barely over a year old," Harry said just as icily back.

"I see. Pray tell, why did he try to take your life?"

"Because I was the only thing standing between him and world domination," Harry said, holding his head high.

"A mere toddler being the only thing between my heir and world domination? ... you'll have to do better than that," Salazar said, laughing somewhat derisively.

"A prophecy foretold of Voldemort's fall by my hand. I was, or am, the means to his end; and he thought he'd try to kill me early. My mother took the killing curse for me; and when he then tried to curse me, it rebounded and destroyed his corporeal form. He wandered the earth as a mere apparition for fifteen years before he used my blood to return him to a corporeal being. Though to be truthful, he's not much of a being, more like a demon," Harry said sarcastically. "When the curse rebounded, I was endowed with several of his gifts, many of which you yourself possess.

"When I entered Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat tried to put me into Slytherin house, but I refused; so it put me into Gryffindor. Every year since then, Voldemort's tried to kill me, and has failed. He possessed a professor, and tried to gain access to a Sorcerer's Stone to make the Elixir of Life; but I stopped him. Then he tried to come back by possessing a fellow student and very good friend, at which time he opened the Chamber of Secrets. I destroyed the artifact that was allowing him to possess my friend, and slew the Basilisk with the Gryffindor Sword, before returning to the surface. I don't know how much more proof you want," Harry said.

"And what is his reason for world domination?"

"The same as yours was. To rid the world of anyone who isn't a pureblooded wizard, including Muggles," Harry said, getting irritated.

"I never claimed or founded such a cause," Salazar said. "It is the truth that I didn't want Muggle-born witches and wizards in this school; but I wouldn't have objected to them going to another school."

"Why didn't you want them here?"

"Because I wanted to uphold Wizarding traditions. It was important to me that all wizards observe true Wizarding tradition and abide by Wizarding law. Muggle-born witches and wizards are not bound by the same laws as pureblooded wizards," Salazar said in a lecturing voice.

"No, they're bound by two different sets of laws: those of the Muggle world and those of the Wizarding. I hardly think it would be fair to punish them for simply not being born pureblooded," Harry returned.

"I never wanted to punish them. Truthfully, Hogwarts seemed a failure to me. We spent more time catching students up than actually teaching them anything. When a Pureblood wizard came to Hogwarts, they already knew the ways of the Wizarding world. They knew where magical herbs, spices and plants came from. They knew about past witches and wizards of great stature. They came in knowing the majority of spells we would teach; they just didn't know the origin or rune work behind it. When Muggle-borns started coming in, we spent more time getting them accustomed to the ways of the Wizarding world, than we did actually teaching. Yes, I admit, we did put out fine wizards, but they were not great; they were not as we the founders were. This was my disappointment. So I petitioned for a school for Muggle-borns, and for Hogwarts to teach only Purebloods, so that the Pureblood, who already knew a lot about the magical world, would be challenged, and not be held back to the same speed as a Muggle-born, who was being caught up in a different school. Do you understand? I would never have hurt a child," Salazar said, abashed.

"Tom Riddle, or, Lord Voldemort, thought you did want all wizards with Muggle blood punished. He believes he's carrying on your traditions by ridding the world of Mudbloods and Muggles," Harry informed him.

"He has been misguided in the ways of the Slytherin line, then," Salazar said, more to himself than to Harry.

"He was orphaned. He had no one to guide him. His mother died soon after birth."

"And his father?"

"Muggle." There was a long silence after this.

"Does that seem a bit hypocritical to you?" Salazar said, stunned.

"It does."

"And you are the means to his end?" Salazar asked again.

"I am."

"If you promise to defeat this demon, I'll give you the knowledge to do it," Salazar said. "You will be furthering my line, won't you?"

"Yes; in fact, I've already made arrangements. Though truthfully, I'm not sure if the magic Voldemort put in me by accident will be passed down. I just know that the Gryffindor line will because that's my blood," Harry said, theorizing.

"Unless the baby is a squib, the magic will be passed down as it is through all generations," Salazar said. Snape stepped out into the living area and cleared his throat. Harry turned to look at him and rolled his eyes.

"Salazar, this is the Potions Master, Professor Severus Snape. Professor Snape, Lord Salazar Slytherin," Harry introduced him. Snape bowed.

"A true honor, my lord," he said.

"Oh, I'll have none of that. Salazar will fit just as properly," Salazar said wistfully, but still with great dignity.

"Of course," Snape said.

"You were a Slytherin," Salazar said, looking him over. Snape smirked at this.

"I was."

"I thought so. Always quick on the uptake and short in response," Salazar said, laughing a bit more warmly this time. Snape resumed smirking.

"I'm sorry we have to run, but the Professor has an appointment to attend to. Do allow him to stay here as often as he likes. As a matter of fact - that is, if it's all right with you - he may see to these quarters, as I am seeing to Gryffindor's," Harry said, looking up at Salazar.

"That would be nice, yes. I'll have to change the password, though. I assume you don't speak in Parseltongue?"

"No sir," Snape said.

"That's fine. Lap Root will be the new password. Just press a hand to the mirror and say the password, and the mirror will allow you to pass through its surface," Salazar instructed. "Would you mind just bringing a few things though? I happen to like my Suite as it is."

"Of course. Personal belongings only," Snape said shortly. Salazar nodded, and Harry gave him a curt nod before walking out of the stone archway, followed by Snape.

Snape said nothing until they made it out into a corridor of the dungeons that Harry was sure he'd never been in before.

"Do you mind telling me why you dismissed us so abruptly?"

"Oh, well, you were supposed to test Draco and Hermione after class; and seeing as how you didn't hold the class, I thought it would give you a short break from research while you did it," Harry said, not looking at Snape.

"How thoughtful, Potter; giving me a rest from work to do more work." Harry didn't respond, just smirked.

Harry rounded up the whole crew one by one while Snape tested them. Hermione went first. Harry could tell she was nervous. She apparently kept her head, because when Harry came back with Ron, Severus told him that she passed. Ron was looking rather sickly at being left with Snape; but when Harry returned with Ginny, Severus told him that Ron too passed. Ginny, Draco, and Luna passed with flying colors, and Harry could tell that Snape was getting tired of looking into their minds, or attempting to. The last person was Neville - and he looked very nervous. Harry gave him a squeeze on the shoulder for good luck as he stepped away and let Snape do his thing.

Harry started for a moment when Neville fell to his knees, and Harry started to walk forward to him when Snape stopped him. Snape continued for another minute or two before he finally stopped.

"He passed," Snape said curtly, "But barely. His walls are strong, but he has a problem concentrating to keep them up. With practice, I'm sure he'll be able to maintain it."

"But did you see anything... anything at all?" Harry questioned.

"No."

Harry thanked Snape, and told him he'd be by later to make sure Salazar wasn't giving him any trouble. Then he took his friends off to the Room of Requirement to finally discuss the Prophecy. When they entered, Ron looked ready to explode with anticipation; but Harry made everyone take a seat on some plush chairs before he began.

"What I say doesn't leave this room," he said. They all nodded eagerly, though Draco just chuckled at their anticipation.

"We promise," Ron said excitedly. Harry nodded, then recited the Prophecy.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ..."

Everyone sat completely still, and not a word was uttered.

"Well?" Harry said, trying to bring them out of their shock.

"It's you?" Hermione finally said.

"Yes - but it could have just as easily been Neville. They weren't sure at first who it was - that is, until Voldemort marked me with this," Harry said, lifting his bangs for everyone to see.

"Me?" Neville squeaked; Harry nodded.

"Both my parents and both your parents were in the Order before they went into hiding; and both couples had three encounters with him before he finally killed mine."

"Power the Dark Lord knows not?" Hermione said, thinking about the lines of the prophecy piece by piece.

"What's the power?" Ron asked, confused.

"Pick one," Draco said sarcastically.

"No, that doesn't make sense. Riddle knows that he can do wandless magic, and has an Animagus form of a phoenix, because he's seen it - or has been told by a spy at school, I'm sure. It will be one that Harry hasn't openly expressed in front of anyone," Ginny said.

"Do you have a power we don't know of?" Ron said, looking hurt at not being told something. Harry shook his head.

"No, but we don't know yet. I've been 'gaining momentum', so to speak, for the whole year," Harry said. "Anything could come next."

"That's very true. Ever since you've gained your magical Animagus form, you've been taking on their gifts," Hermione said.

"I have too, so it has to be something else," Ron said.

"You've been training as an Animagus?" Ginny asked, shocked. Ron grinned.

"Harry's been giving me lessons. I'm a Golden Griffin, and I can use natural Legilimency, and I have super strength," Ron said proudly; Harry just rolled his eyes at his mate.

"Super strength?" Draco asked. Ron nodded.

"I can lift things that I shouldn't be able to, jump higher, even throw curses harder," Ron said, puffing up his chest. Hermione and Ginny were now openly laughing at him. Ron didn't seem to mind.

"So when the day comes, do you think you'll know what this power is?" Ginny asked, getting back to the subject. Harry just shrugged.

"I can only hope," he said. The others frowned at this.

Each one was thinking the same thing: "either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives."

But no one said anything.

[Latest edit April 10/04, David305]