FIC: Gelosaþ in Écnesse ~ Harry Potter ~ Chapter 12/18 ~ Harry/Salazar

[batsutousai]

Title: Gelosaþ in Écnesse
Chapter: 12 of 18
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: Teen
Pairings: Harry/Salazar, Harry/OFC (Original Female Character)
Warnings: OCs, OoC, minor cliché-age, character death, homophobia, racist actions and slurs (from secondary character), time travel
Summary: Caught in the backlash of Voldemort's Killing Curse, Harry is thrown through time to a world so very different from his own.

A/N: We shall hereby refer to this chapter as 'Chapter Catch-up'. XP

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Generation Built on a Lie
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3 July 1995
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Harry's first thought on waking was something along the lines of 'OW!' His entire back was letting him know it loved him – or hated him – Harry wasn't sure he really cared which.

"Masters," a worried voice piped up.

Salazar let out a groan and shifted, his hand in Harry's squeezing. "Harry," he said, a note of alarm in his voice.

Harry opened his eyes and used his unbound hand to push himself into a sitting position, hissing in pain as his back insisted the action wasn't to its liking. Then he got a look at the group of gawking non-magicals all around them, the stones of Stonehenge reaching to the sky behind and between the gawkers. "Oh, bugger it all."

"Slinky, could you undo our hands?" Salazar requested the house-elf, certain that neither Harry nor himself were in quite the state to work on the knot Merlin had tied. "Also, where's Tanwen?"

A baby trill came from between the two wizards as the ribbon tying their hands together came undone. Tanwen had burned in bringing them forward through time and been reborn.

"Slinky, please get Tanwen," Harry requested as he got to his feet, wincing. His wand fell comfortably into his hand and he considered the gaping non-magicals, a few of whom were finally gathering their wits, and said, "We were never here," before casting a mass obliviate.

"Harry, your tunic's stained with blood," Salazar murmured, taking the younger man's elbow. "Take us somewhere unoccupied, please, Slinky."

"Yes, Master Salazar," the house-elf agreed before situating herself between the two humans, Tanwen tied protectively into her dress, and popping them away.

As soon as they'd landed in an empty forest clearing, Salazar ordered, "Turn around," and Harry did so without an argument, well used to the stern healer his lover – 'Husband,' Harry reminded himself with a grin – turned into when someone was wounded.

Salazar tapped the tunic, vanishing it, and winced at the mess of Harry's back. "The scars opened," he offered.

"I figured as much," Harry admitted. "Hurts enough."

"Good thing we didn't reappear near your Lord Voldemort, then," Salazar decided, digging into the pouch on his belt for a healing potion laced with phoenix tears. "Drink," he ordered, handing it forward. Harry did so and the elder wizard smiled in relief as the mass of wounds closed and returned to being scars.

Harry shivered when Salazar ran a hand over the scars and turned to glower at him. "Stop that. Where's my tunic?"

"Vanished," Salazar replied without a trace of sorrow for having done away with Harry's clothing. "Your trousers should probably do the same."

Harry twisted his upper body so he could see the stains of blood on the back of his trousers and sighed. "Yeah, okay. Change of clothing, then?" He raised an eyebrow at the other wizard.

Salazar smirked and stepped forward until they were chest to chest, hands slipping around the top of Harry's trousers. "I'd rather bugger my new husband," he murmured before swallowing Harry's moan with a kiss.

Slinky sighed as her two humans set about stripping each other and looked down at the baby phoenix. "Wes may be here a while."

Tanwen trilled in amusement and peeked over the edge of Slinky's cupped dress to watch the humans, quietly cheering them on while Slinky let out an embarrassed giggle and covered her eyes.

When Harry and Salazar were both dressed again, Salazar asked, "Where to first? The alleys?"

Harry nodded. "I'd like to know what day it is and what's going on. Slinky, are you coming with us, or following on your own?"

"Slinky will follows on her own, Master Harry," the house-elf promised.

"Good." Harry and Salazar pulled the hoods of their cloaks over their heads, hiding their identity from a casual glance, then Harry tangled his hand in Salazar's and apparated them to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Afternoon," the proprietor, Tom, called.

Harry smiled under his hood and led the way over to the bar. "Afternoon," he replied. "I don't suppose anyone's left a Prophet around that I might glance over? Been out of the country and want to catch up on what's been going on."

"I think I've got one. Hold on..." Tom wandered over to the far side of the bar to look.

"We should look into food before Slinky has both our heads," Salazar murmured, slipping between Englisc and English as he tried to adapt to using the newer language full time. Harry didn't mind, capable of understanding both, but he was sure it would drive others completely mad.

"I'll need to drop by Gringotts, first," Harry replied, shaking his head. "I can add you to my account while we're there."

"Hm. Never had gold before."

Harry chuckled as Tom returned to them, a paper in his hand. "Here you go, gents. Don't suppose I can interest you in a sandwich or a cuppa while you read?"

"Ah, I'm afraid I have to drop by Gringotts, first," Harry said apologetically. "Do you mind if I take this with us?"

"It's all yours, son," Tom agreed.

"Many thanks. Come on, Sal."

They left the pub by the back door and Harry showed Salazar which block to tap. Out in the alley, Harry had to take Salazar's hand and lead him along like a small child while the Founder marvelled over the magical shopping centre, something which hadn't existed in the past. They'd visited a couple magical shops set side-by-side with non-magical shops in Rome and Egypt, but there hadn't been an entire street of just magical wares.

When they reached Gringotts, Harry pulled Salazar forward and murmured, "Are you done? Or shall we gawk some more?"

Salazar huffed. "Like you didn't gawk the first time through."

Harry chuckled. "Given. Come, let's sort out my – our, now, I suppose – money."

There was a queue to speak to a goblin, so Harry took the chance to unfold the paper and look it over while Salazar looked over his shoulder. "Third of July," Harry murmured. "It was the night of the twenty-fourth when I left; it's been about eight days and some change."

"Is that good, or bad?"

"Not sure yet." Harry glanced over the headlines, looking for mention of Voldemort, but found nothing. "Okay... That's weird."

"What?"

"No mention of Vold– Ah. You-Know-Who," Harry said, glancing at the wizard ahead of them, who had tensed when Harry'd started to say the Dark Lord's chosen name. Switching to Englisc, he added, "Sorry. People get twitchy when you say his name."

"I remember you mentioning that. What about mentions of yourself? Or Hogwarts?"

Harry nodded and looked over the headlines again. He found his name – with Cedric's – on the bottom right corner.

Potter and Diggory Vanished?
Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory, former TriWizard contestants, are still missing after vanishing into the maze on the 24th. Speculations about their whereabouts continue to pour in, as well as some sightings on the continent. Here at the Daily Prophet, there are also guesses. The current favourite is Rita Skeeter's assurances that Potter and Diggory have eloped together and are living quite happily in Australia, where fans will be unable to track Potter down.

"Gods save me from Rita Skeeter." Harry moaned. "The woman's a menace."

Salazar snorted, having given the article a read as well. "At least she got your preference right?" he suggested and Harry hit him with a paper. "Who is he? The name sounds familiar."

"He's the one who died," Harry said shortly, folding the paper up and sticking it in his belt before turning his attention to the bank as the wizard in front of them walked to an open teller. When one opened for them, Harry led the way over and said, "I require a replacement key, as I'm uncertain where mine is, and to see if there's anything special I need in order to add my husband to my vault."

The goblin huffed. "We can do a recall of the key."

"That's acceptable."

"Name?"

Harry paused for a moment, then reached up and pushed his fringe out of the way, hood pushed back enough to show off the distinctive lightning bolt scar over his bright green eyes.

The goblin cleared his throat, eyes wide, and nervously commented, "I was under the impression you were..."

"Younger?" Harry suggested drily. "I had an accident with time travel. My key?"

The goblin nodded and muttered in Gobbledegook over a bronze box. After a moment, something jangled inside and he pulled out Harry's gold key. "Here you are," the goblin said at last, holding the key out for the young man. Once Harry had stored it safely away, the goblin explained, "Someone need only your key to get into your vault, so your husband need not be on any list to access it. There is a spell on all Gringotts keys which won't allow it to be held by someone the owner of the vault doesn't want to have it."

Harry nodded. "I see. Could I give it to my house-elf and have her withdraw money for me?"

"Most wizards don't, but we don't care the species of the being withdrawing money." The goblin sneered.

"Excellent. Now, a trip down to my vault, perhaps?" Harry requested.

The goblin sighed and called out for another goblin to come over. He leaned over and whispered to the new goblin, who turned to look at the two cloaked wizards disbelievingly. "Now," the teller ordered.

"This way," the new goblin requested before leading the way towards one of the doors branching off the hall.

"You're either going to love this, or hate it," Harry told Salazar.

"Promising."

As luck would have it, Salazar rather enjoyed the mad cart ride and, once they reached the vault, Harry let him pick out the money, smiling in amusement at his husband. "Sal, you're like a small child," he commented as they got back in the cart.

"Hush, you," Salazar ordered. Then, smoothing his tone, "Lunch?"

"Certainly," Harry agreed. "And then Hogwarts, I think. I need to speak with Professor Dumbledore and make sure he knows Voldemort's back."

The goblin at the head of the cart stiffened at that, but said nothing. Harry and Salazar watched him for a moment then shrugged at each other.

"May I look at the paper while we're eating?" Salazar asked once they were back on solid ground again.

"Certainly."

Lunch was good, and Salazar got a couple snickers out of the paper, having found another article about places where Harry and/or Cedric were. After lunch, Harry apparated them to outside the Hogwarts gates, which opened at Salazar's touch, as if he was a key for them.

"Something one of the others worked in, or the school recognising you as her creator?" Harry wondered as they started down the path.

"Who knows," Salazar replied, shaking his head. "I'm glad Godric didn't leave behind any nasty surprises, at least."

"They wouldn't have let him," Harry said with certainty.

"I suppose."

They were just through the front doors when they ran into someone.

"Can I help you?" Professor Flitwick asked, partway up the staircase.

"We're here to see the Headmaster," Harry replied with an easy smile for his former professor. "Is he in his office?"

"He should be," Flitwick agreed. "Do you know the way?"

"I do, thank you," Harry replied and started for the staircase, Salazar close behind. "Unless it's moved from the seventh floor recently?"

Flitwick chuckled. "No, it's still there," he allowed, starting back up the stairs as the taller wizards caught up with him. "You're applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position?"

Harry considered that quickly before carefully saying, "It could be an interesting occupation."

"As long as you don't fall to the curse," Flitwick agreed.

"Curse?" Salazar asked, tone just a little sharp.

"I'll explain later," Harry promised, reaching out to touch his husband's shoulder. "Calm down, Sal."

Salazar let out a wordless hiss of anger, but dropped the matter for later.

Flitwick walked with them up to the seventh floor, chattering about various things that had happened over the past month. Harry hadn't been too interested in most of it, but it was hard to request information just from the last eight days. Flitwick explained that both Harry and Cedric were missing, "Presumed dead, according to Albus. He also thinks You-Know-Who is back, and I'm inclined to believe him."

"How does he figure?" Harry wondered, intrigued, and more than a little glad that his news wouldn't be a surprise.

"Well, Harry's missing," Flitwick said as if it should have been obvious. "And he's got his sources, of course. Ministry thinks he's barmy."

"He is a bit barmy," Harry said drily, a hint of fondness showing through.

Flitwick laughed. "That he is. But I guess there's something different between being extravagant, and being certain a Dark Wizard that everyone's afraid of is back."

"The Ministry is made up of little better than fools, interspersed with truly bright witches and wizards stuck too near to the bottom to do much more than shuffle paper around."

"Well said," Flitwick agreed as they reached the seventh floor. "Well, this is where I leave you."

"Many thanks," Harry said, smiling under his hood. Flitwick had gone no more than a couple steps when Harry called, "Professor Flitwick?"

"Yes?"

Harry grimaced. "I don't know the password to the Headmaster's office, I'm afraid," he admitted.

"It's 'Harry Potter'," Flitwick offered.

Harry blinked a few times, surprised, then smiled sadly. "Thank you," he said before turning and starting for the office, Salazar falling into step with him.

"Curse?" the Founder demanded in Arabic, mindful of the curious portraits.

Harry nodded. "Voldemort created it, disabling anyone from holding the Defence position for more than a year. I think I mentioned that?"

Salazar shook his head. "Perhaps. I'll have to see if there's some way of removing it."

"If anyone can remove it, it's you," Harry agreed, laughing when the Founder snorted disbelievingly. "Harry Potter," Harry said to the gargoyle and it slid open.

"I don't remember this door," Salazar said as they started up the revolving stairs. "Or these stairs."

"This is the South Tower," Harry offered. "It existed, it just wasn't this shiny."

"I suppose you'd know," Salazar allowed. "You were more comfortable in the upper floors."

Harry smiled and knocked on the closed door at the top of the stairs.

"Come in!" Dumbledore called from within.

Harry pushed the door open as they both stepped inside, glancing around the office. Harry only gave everything a glance, ensuring nothing had changed from his faded memories of the room, then focussed on the man behind the desk, who was watching them with a frown. Smiling, Harry pushed his hood back and said, "It's been a while, sir."

"Harry?" Dumbledore breathed, stunned.

Around them, the portraits upon the walls all jerked from their pretend sleep and stared down at the young man, who inclined his head. "Yes, sir."

"My boy," Dumbledore whispered, tears in his eyes. "We thought–"

"Me dead, yes," Harry said, motioning for his wand to release from his bracer and absently conjuring two seats for himself and his husband before the desk. "I ran into Professor Flitwick on my way in and he mentioned it. I nearly was, after everything, but Sal saved my life when he found me."

"Where have you been?" Dumbledore pleaded. "We heard nothing of you."

"You wouldn't have," Harry commented. "I was in the past; far in the past. I've since finished my schooling, though there may be some spells I don't know, due to the time difference." He glanced towards the Hat, sitting innocently on a shelf. "You'll be pleased to know, Hat, that I quite liked Slytherin House, in the end."

"I told you," the Hat said, smug.

"What is that thing?" Salazar demanded, flicking back his hood with a negligent hand.

"That's the Sorting Hat," Harry replied, amused. "It was Godric's."

"I thought I recognised it." He sneered. "I can't believe someone didn't burn the damn thing."

"Sal," Harry said, frowning.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Forgive me, but you are?"

"Oh! Sorry." Harry gave a quiet laugh. "This is my husband, Salazar S–"

"Potter, please," Salazar requested.

Harry smiled gently, knowing how much his husband hated his father's name. "Of course. Salazar Potter."

"The only Salazar I know of is Salazar Slytherin," one of the portraits snapped.

Salazar glanced up, expression blank. "I have answered to that name," he allowed. "And you are?"

The portrait stared at him for a long moment, awed, before murmuring, "Phineas Nigellus, Lord Slytherin."

"I am not and have never been a 'Lord'," Salazar commented, voice chilled. "And I should much prefer you use my husband's family name, if you must refer to me at all." He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "You're not a Lord, are you, Harry?"

Harry laughed and shook his head. "No, so you're safe there." He turned back to Dumbledore, who was watching Salazar with a curiously blank expression, as if uncertain how to react to the man. "Professor, perhaps I may set some records straight?"

"Feel free, my boy," Dumbledore agreed, offering Harry a smile.

Harry nodded. "Salazar is a halfblood, muggle-raised, and no more against them than anyone else at the time, considering they had a fondness for stoning people. The Slytherin the stories his muggle-hatred are based on is, I believe, his nephew, Angus Slytherin. Who was in Godric's House."

"Thank the Gods," Salazar muttered.

"You'd only have killed him if he'd been in our House, and you know it," Harry told his husband and the man smirked.

"He'd have deserved it."

"Given."

"And the Chamber?" Dumbledore asked, his smile a bit more genuine as he looked between the two wizards.

"That didn't exist when we left," Harry offered. "It's possible Angus or one of his offspring created it."

"Excuse me," Salazar interrupted. "Chamber?" When Harry looked uncertain, Salazar demanded, "Harry, what did they do to my school?"

Harry grimaced. "Created an underground chamber with Parseltongue passwords, which held a basilisk," he replied honestly, much preferring his husband learn about the place from him than from some unknowing student. "Voldemort set it free while the school was populated at least twice."

Salazar stared at his husband for a moment before letting out a string of hisses in Parseltongue that only Harry understood to be threats of violence on his nephew and his spawn.

When it seemed Salazar wouldn't be stopping anytime soon and he was starting to get into the realm of unreal – pulling out Angus' intestines with a spoon, among others – Harry said, :Salazar. First off, there will be no more time travel so you can deliver your vengeance. Second, the chance of that working anything like you want it to is slim. Third, you're going to give me a headache. Shut up.:

Salazar let out one last wordless hiss, then subsided.

Harry shook his head, amused, and looked over at where Dumbledore was watching them with a smile. "Sir, Professor Flitwick mentioned that you know that Voldemort is back?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I believe you're aware that Severus Snape was a Death Eater?"

"I do. A spy for you, supposedly," Harry replied, expression blank at the mention of his least favourite professor; no matter how much trouble Godric had given them, Harry still disliked Snape far more.

Dumbledore inclined his head. "So he is. He returned to Voldemort's side on my orders to continue acting as my eyes and ears in Voldemort's troops. Voldemort also believes you to be dead."

Harry's lips curled with a sardonic smile. "Yes, I thought he might." Then he set about explaining everything that had happened from the moment he and Cedric had both taken the Cup in the maze, up until he'd blacked out from the pain of the cage.

"Unusual," Dumbledore murmured once Harry has finished. "Perhaps you will allow me a supposition as to why the cage formed?"

"By all means."

"Your wand and Voldemort's wand share a phoenix feather from the same phoenix, as you are aware." Harry nodded. "Fawkes being that phoenix, in fact," Dumbledore added and Harry's eyes flickered over to the empty perch off to one side. "When your spells collided, the wands couldn't fight against each other in the traditional sense, being brothers, and so had to find a less than traditional manner to do so. It was, I believe, simply your bad luck that the manner used – a form of priori incantatum – backfired on you, rather than Voldemort. As your last spell was the disarming spell..."

"Of course," Harry murmured. "I, in essence, disarmed myself, which broke the connection. I will guess that Voldemort's killing curse then affected the cage and, due to my past favourable interactions with Fawkes, the cage acted to save me before the killing curse could reach me, which sent me into the past."

"That is a reasonable assumption," Dumbledore agreed, approving. "I will assume, then, that you no longer retain your original wand?"

Harry shook his head and, with a quick motion, called his wand to his hand. "Ash, with the feather of a different phoenix. Tanwen, if Ollivander's original comment and reaction to meeting her are anything to go by."

"Tanwen?" Dumbledore enquired, curious.

"Slinky," Salazar called and the house-elf popped into view at his side, holding the baby phoenix in her arms.

"Slinky is being requested by Master Salazar?" the house-elf chirped. Tanwen let out a demanding trill. "No," she told the phoenix.

Salazar snorted and held his hand down for the chick, who Slinky handed over without any fuss. "What has you so bothered, my sweet?" he murmured to her as he held her up to his shoulder.

Tanwen trilled happily and picked carefully at the folds of Salazar's hood until she had something of a nest, which she fluffed down in.

"Mistress Tanwen was wanting Masters," Slinky offered. "Master Harry, Slinky is sensing another free elf with ties to Master Harry."

"Oh?" Harry frowned for a moment. "Oh! That's probably Dobby."

"Slinky may speaks with him?" Slinky asked innocently.

Harry narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you planning, you sneaky creature?"

"Slinky isn't knowing what Master Harry means. Slinky isn't Sneaky, Slinky is Slinky."

"Cute," Salazar said drily. "Go. Make trouble."

"Slinky will!" Slinky chirped before popping away.

"I'll get you for that later," Harry promised his husband, who smirked at him and stroked Tanwen, earning a happy trill. Harry snorted and looked back at Dumbledore, who was watching the phoenix chick curiously. "That's Tanwen," Harry said. "She found me some years ago and adopted both Salazar and myself. Incidentally, I met her in much the same way I met Fawkes."

Dumbledore chuckled, remembering Harry's horrified reaction to coming upon Fawkes on his Burning Day. "At least you knew what to expect this time."

Harry grinned. "I did, but everyone else was quite a wreck when she burst into flames over my head and I didn't back away."

"I thought you were going to catch your head on fire," Salazar snapped. "It would have been just my luck if you were killed by a dying bird you were trying to save."

Harry reached over and squeezed Salazar's hand. "Instead, you got to meet a phoenix. So it worked out."

Salazar sniffed, but reached up and stroked the happy Tanwen some more. "What's being done about Voldemort?" the Founder wondered. "We read over a paper, but there was no mention of him."

"He's laying low," Dumbledore allowed. "Likely amassing his followers and finding a way to get those in Azkaban out. Similarly, we are gathering together the Order of the Phoenix, a group I began during Voldemort's first rise. Your godfather, as well as the elder Weasleys, are all members," he added to Harry.

Harry's lips curled with a quiet smile. "It'll be good to see them again," he admitted.

Dumbledore smiled back. "I believe your return will be a joy to them, as well. Molly has been quite beside herself, and Sirius has locked himself in with Buckbeak."

Harry winced. "That can't be good."

"No, it's not," Dumbledore agreed. "Harry, I must ask, how many years have passed for you?"

"Not quite eight," Harry said with certainty. "I'm twenty-two." He paused, then sighed. "There goes my birthday. Again."

Salazar chuckled. "It's only a few days off. You can continue marking October twenty-seventh if that is your preference."

Dumbledore smiled, then shook his head. "What do you two intend to do now? We might be able to disguise your age, Harry, so you can officially return as a student–"

"If it's all the same, I'd rather not," Harry replied. "I haven't viewed myself as a student in a very long time, and I'd rather not test my patience with it again. I have heard that there might be a position open amongst the staff, however?"

Dumbledore nodded. "The Defence position, yes. And I am having trouble filling the position, especially after Alastor turned up dead a few days ago."

"Mad-Eye's dead?" Harry said, straightening in his seat. "I hadn't heard that."

Dumbledore nodded, expression grave. "It looks as though he was only kept alive to be used for Polyjuice, which means it was one of Voldemort's people in the post, rather than Alastor himself."

"That's troubling," Harry murmured. "Although it does explain how he was able to effect the tournament." He shook his head. "If you have no disagreement, I should like to take the position. Sal can teach with me, or perhaps help in the infirmary? He's a trained healer," he explained to Dumbledore's curious look.

"I would have guessed potions," Dumbledore admitted. "The potions classroom has always been rather near the Slytherin common room."

"I am capable of teaching potions," Salazar said, "and I did so, before we found someone more capable, but I am an alchemist first, a healer second, and a crafter of potions third."

Dumbledore inclined his head. "I'm the only other alchemist on staff, and it's more a hobby than something I actually aspire to," he offered. "I can certainly introduce you to Poppy Pomfrey, our mediwitch; she might well enjoy having another trained medic in the castle."

"Two trained medics," Salazar corrected, nodding to Harry, who smiled faintly.

"Is that so?"

Harry shrugged. "Healing and arithmancy were both core classes, and there was no history or most of the third-year and up classes we have now. We did get an astronomy teacher my..." He frowned and looked towards Salazar. "Fourth year? Mid-way through."

"Sounds about right," Salazar agreed, uncaring. "There's no healing class now?"

"There hasn't been enough interest," Dumbledore explained. "St Mungo's is the far easier alternative, especially since most magical accidents are beyond the skills taught in a healing class." Dumbledore frowned. "Harry, if you're intending to teach Defence, it may be simpler for you to take on an assumed identity than it will be for you to claim you've aged eight years in eight days."

Harry snorted. "You may well be right. People seem much happier assuming I've eloped with Cedric or some such, anyway." His eyes flashed with sorrow, but he retained his smile. "I'll have to write an owl to Cedric's parents to let them know what happened."

"I will handle that," Dumbledore promised. "I've already told them he's almost certainly dead, and it may well be better received if the truth came from me, rather than the survivor."

Harry nodded. "Of course." Salazar took Harry's hand and gave it a squeeze. Harry smiled over at him, then asked Dumbledore. "Do you have an alternate identity in mind, Professor?"

"I believe so," Dumbledore agreed. "If my brother will acquiesce, we could set you up as his son, having been out of the country; your rather exotic accent will lend to the fiction."

"I have an exotic accent?" Harry wondered with some amusement. "I see nothing wrong with that fiction, if it's acceptable to him. What of Sal? He can still use my last name – Dumbledore, in this respect, I should think – but he'll need something of a back story."

"You said Voldemort is descended from one of my siblings," Salazar said. "I can claim to be from that family; it will explain my occasional slip into Parseltongue, if nothing else."

"Sal," Harry said with a very put-upon tone, "I've told you: modern magicals don't react well to Parseltongue."

"They'll learn," Salazar replied. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Tom's – Voldemort's – mother is from a family known as the Gaunts," Dumbledore offered. "They were rather reclusive, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility that you are of that line and a relative unknown."

"Excellent."

Harry snorted. "Where did we meet?" he asked his husband, intent on getting their story straight while he was thinking about it.

Salazar's eyes went to half-mast as he considered that, then glanced over. "Rome? Or Egypt. I recall you preferred Rome better."

"And you Egypt," Harry replied drily. "Egypt has likely changed the least, over the centuries. We'll have to pick up the modern languages, either way, but..." He let out a regretful sigh. "I guess this means I can't tell people that Merlin officiated our handfasting?"

Dumbledore let out a choked sound of surprise and coughed to clear his windpipe while Salazar laughed and Harry grinned. Above them, the portraits were again atwitter at the announcement.

"You met Merlin?" Dumbledore asked once he could speak again without coughing.

Harry nodded, still grinning. "Yes. He's my best friend." Harry froze for a moment, realising that Merlin was long dead, and his face blanked. "Was my best friend," he corrected quietly.

"Stop that," Salazar ordered. "Didn't you three swear you'd always be friends, no matter the time that separated you?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed quietly. "I know."

Salazar sighed and got up from his chair to crouch in front of Harry. "Look at me," he ordered and Harry met his eyes. "Stop," he said aloud, but, touching his mind to Harry's, he added, 'They're dead in body, but their souls live on in you. Don't regret their lives, or I'll curse you on their behalf.'

Harry smiled and leaned forward so their foreheads touched, one hand cupping Salazar's cheek. "I love you," he whispered in Englisc.

Salazar smiled back and brushed Harry's lips with his. "I know," he murmured before returning to his seat, Tanwen trilling good-natured complaints about being jostled. "Silence, you infernal bird."

"If you keep calling her that, she'll peck you again," Harry pointed out, amused, and his husband sneered.

"I'm not quite Merlin," Dumbledore offered with a smile, "but I'm official enough that you can say I officiated."

"That works," Harry agreed. "Thank you, sir. Ah, Uncle, I suppose."

Dumbledore beamed and stood from his seat. "I should floo Aberforth and ensure he is agreeable to this. Excuse me." He stepped over to the fireplace and tossed in some floo power before sticking his head into the green flames. Harry spent the time he was speaking explaining floo to his husband, something he'd never bothered with in the past, since they hadn't run across it. When Dumbledore was done, he got back to his feet and announced, "He's agreeable, but he would like to meet his supposed son first. And, then, perhaps a trip to the Order's headquarters, so people are assured that you live?"

"I see no problem with that," Harry agreed. "Although, may we look into picking a room for ourselves in the castle, first? It might be nice to give Slinky something to do while we're busy."

"Of course. Did you have something in mind?"

Harry looked at Salazar, who frowned in thought for a moment before saying, "There's an out-of-the-way hall in the dungeons with some rooms along it that I know we never did anything with."

"The south side?" Harry asked and Salazar nodded. "So far as I know, they're still empty. Prof– Uncle?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "If they're the rooms I'm thinking of, they're empty, yes." To Harry he added, "You adventured back there during your first year."

"I did?" Harry frowned in thought for a moment. Then, "Oh! The Stone?"

"Exactly."

"Sounds about right," Harry agreed after taking a moment to contemplate his mental map of the castle. "Shall we head down there and pick one out, then leave it to Slinky?" Salazar nodded, so the two wizards rose.

"One moment," Dumbledore requested before turning to the portrait of the man who had been awed to meet Salazar. "Phineas, would you drop by and let Molly know I'll be bringing two guests for dinner?"

"Very well," the man agreed and left his portrait.

"We may have to do something about your scar, my boy," Dumbledore said to Harry as the three men started out of the office.

Harry shrugged. "I can spell my hair to stay over it," he suggested. "Or I can take to wearing some sort of cloth over it. Perhaps both."

"I'll leave it to you, then," Dumbledore agreed and Harry released his wand to cast a quick spell on his fringe, figuring it would do for the moment. Once his wand was away, Dumbledore commented, "You learned Occlumency?"

Harry shrugged and nodded – he'd thought he'd felt a brush against his shields at one point. "Sal taught me nearly as soon as we met. I also boast some very poor Legilimency skills."

"You don't try hard enough," Salazar muttered.

"I'll leave the stealing into other people's minds to you, Sal," Harry replied, amused.

Dumbledore chuckled at the two. "It is a handy skill."

"Oh, I know," Harry agreed. "Which is why I know the little I do, but I much prefer reading people's expressions to their minds; you learn nearly the same amount about their intentions, without seeing things they'd rather not spread around."

"Very true," Dumbledore agreed and they continued their trip in silence.

Harry and Salazar took only a moment to pick out a room in the dungeons, preferring the empty room with windows against the lake, and Slinky was called down to take the bag Salazar had with their things in it. Dobby came with her and he was quite a tearful mess as he greeted Harry, which the young man handled with the same patience that he'd taken care of his Slytherins with when they'd come to him with nightmares or because they were homesick. Salazar watched on with fondness hidden behind a mask of vague irritation, while Dumbledore smiled, pleased to see that Harry had grown up without losing the kindness that he'd always had.

As they were exiting the castle, headed for Hogsmeade to meet up with Aberforth Dumbledore, Harry caught sight of a ghost that sparked a memory in him. "Alex?" he called and Salazar jerked his head around, surprised.

The Bloody Baron turned and, for the first time in Dumbledore's knowledge, smiled. "Harry, Salazar, Tanwen."

"Alexander," Salazar replied, a sad smile curling his lips and Tanwen trilling a greeting from his shoulder. "Always good to see a familiar face."

Alexander chuckled. "I know the feeling." He glanced at Harry. "It was hard not to talk to you when you first came to Hogwarts."

Harry grinned. "You'd probably have given me terrible nightmares," he teased before his expression saddened. "I know Helena's the Grey Lady; did anyone else remain?"

Alexander shook his head. "Not at Hogwarts," he explained. "Well, Ramona and Merlin had a portrait made when the magic became available; I believe it's stashed in the Room."

"I'll have to look for it," Harry decided before shaking his head. "We're off to get acquainted with this time period, but we should catch up, later."

"I look forward to it," Alexander replied and his semi-transparent silver eyes gleamed with amusement as he added, "Mum, Father."

"Don't make me ground you," Salazar threatened while Harry laughed.

Alexander snorted. "I'll let Helena know you're here," he offered.

"Thank you," Harry replied and the ghost gave a slight bow before floating up through the ceiling.

Dumbledore raised an amused eyebrow at the younger two men as they continued along the hallway. "Mum and Father?" he asked.

Harry let out a snort. "Long story. Our Slytherins decided, somewhere along the way, that Sal and I were sort of parents to them, and since I was easier to approach, I was Mum. Sal refused to be called Dad, but he agreed to Father after some debate. Alex is – was?" Harry shook his head. "Is one of our Slytherins. Helena is Rowena's daughter."

"It sounds like you made a home for yourself while you were there," Dumbledore commented. "Yet you still left?"

"Not all was so wonderful," Salazar replied coolly.

Harry sighed. "There were some rough patches," he agreed. "Sal and I had a falling out with Godric two years ago and left Hogwarts. And I needed to get back here, both to keep from accidentally destroying the future and because of Voldemort; I wasn't about to leave him to wage his war, not when you might not have had any warning that he'd returned."

Dumbledore offered a sad smile to his ex-student. "I appreciate that," he allowed, "if only to soothe my nerves and the nerves of your godfather and friends. But I'm curious: If Salazar isn't anti-muggle, what did you fight with Gryffindor about?"

"Godric is homophobic," Harry replied drily. "He found out Sal and I were together and threw a fit. When the others wouldn't let him stone us, he insisted we leave. We did."

"I'm sorry, my boys," Dumbledore murmured, honest sorrow in his eyes.

Harry shook his head. "What's done is done. And it hardly matters, not now."

"Godric is long dead," Salazar agreed, a note of triumph in his voice. "I'd like to see him stop me from 'corrupting' students now."

Harry snorted. "Behave, Sal."

"I always behave," Salazar insisted.

"Bollocks. You spend too much time plotting to behave for more than a minute at a time."

"Hm. You may be right..."

Harry rolled his eyes, amused. Half a step ahead of the husbands, Dumbledore smiled to himself over their teasing. 'Yes,' he thought, 'having Harry and Salazar on the staff will be good for everyone.'

-0-

-0-

A/N: So, meeting with the Order next chapter. More reunions, some tears. It'll be fun. XD

EDIT: Misuse of 'Ancient Egypt' replaced with Arabic, with kudos to an Egyptian reviewer on AO3 who caught my slip.

~Bats ^.^x

Chapters:
01 - Impossible Distance || 02 - Layers of Harmony || 03 - Breaking Inside
04 - Let It Flow || 05 - White Horses || 06 - Disturbs Your Slumber
07 - Heart Worth Breaking || 08 - Keep It Inside || 09 - Like the Stars
10 - I'll Breathe Again || 11 - Set Fire to the Rain || 12 - Generation Built on a Lie
13 - In Defence of Our Dreams || 14 - Night Falls In || 15 - Nobody Knows Our Names
16 - I'm Not Drowning || 17 - Beating of the Storm || 18 - Let Me See Your Fire

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Comments

[shadownitewolf.livejournal.com]

I'm loving this series! it's so much fun to read! Especially with the fun bantering between harry and Salazar :D