A Soul Within

Thank you Digitallace for fine tuning my story. Much appreciated. Also...and I am always thankful...for the people that took that first look at the first chapter, hanging in there for the updates when I can get them out. I had fully planned on working on the story this past week while I was on holidays, but my stepfather passed away and we've been kind of busy. CANCER - it's a bitch!


Chapter Six


The next morning Harry had breakfast in the Main Hall, then went back to his room to get his broom while Severus and Draco taught their classes. He was going to check the towers of the school, particularly the ones facing the lake.

Harry flew over the lake before looking back at the castle to look for any windows or doors in the higher towers. He saw a few possibilities and flew towards them. One was the astronomy tower that he knew of already. He went around the whole tower. You never knew if there was a hidden room that was connected to it somehow. There was nothing that he could see. He went to the next tower. His heart skipped a beat when he saw a stone railing. He flew closer until he was hovering on the landing. There were no windows, but there was a double wooden door. There were no door handles or any way of opening them. For all he knew, it could be one of those false doors with just a brick wall behind it, or a door leading to a supply closet of some kind. He tried a few unlocking spells, and when that didn’t work he tried a few blasting spells. Nothing seemed to work. He got off his broom and stood at the railing, leaning on it and looking out at the lake. He was sure this was the place from his dream the night before.

He went back to the wall, and sat down, leaning his back against it. He closed his eyes and went into a meditative state, hoping there would be some answers there. Hoping that he could connect with Salazar to find out how to get past this wall of brick.

Several hours later, he opened his eyes, sighing heavily in frustration. There were no answers for him there today. He got on his broom, looked back at the wall, then flew down to the courtyard of the school. Most of the students were still in their classes, as were the professors. He spent the rest of the day up in the Headmistress’s office, having tea with Minerva, reminiscing over the past years at the school, and telling her of some of the things he read in the founder’s journal. He was saddened to still see the birds perch by the window. Fawkes had had a burning day shortly after Dumbledore died. He was never born again from the ashes though. Most would like to think he joined his master in the next life.

After dinner, Draco gladly went with him to explore some of the castle, while Severus stayed in the dungeons to grade some potion essays. They started in the potion’s classroom, and easily found the hidden doorway that was revealed to them after Harry spoke the password in Parseltongue. Part of the shelf had slid sideways revealing a darkened tunned.

Harry saw the nervous look on Draco’s face before it was quickly masked. “You always wondered what some of our adventures were like right?” Harry teased, illuminating his wand as he stepped into the dark passage.

“Just don’t get us killed,” Draco smirked, lighting his own wand as they walked down stone steps, their steps sure and careful.

“Never got us killed before,” Harry shrugged.

“By dumb luck,” Draco said. “Um . . . do you think there will be any . . . um . . . large snakes down here?” He nervously asked.

Harry laughed. “As far as I know there was only the one basilisk down here, and I killed it. Not sure what else may be down here though. Never did say in the journals or anything what happened to Salazar’s dragon.”

They were silent the rest of the way down, a dripping sound echoing off the stone walls. The air around them seemed to moisten. They came to another door. There was only a heavy metal lever that barred the door. They both pushed and pulled it back until it slid into its place into the wall. Harry steadied his wand ready as he nodded to Draco. Draco nodded back, his own wand at the ready. Draco opened the door and Harry went in, followed closely by Draco.

“Look familiar?” Draco asked as they came into a fork in the tunnel.

Harry shook his head. “No. We had come down a slide type of entrance that was in Myrtle’s bathroom. I didn’t see much of the chamber when I was down here. We’ll try both doors. I want to see if we can find Slytherin’s personal hideaway. His journal said he spent a lot of his time down here, to get away from everything and everybody after his son died. There might be some clues on how to get into the room up in the tower.”

“Are you sure it was the room?” Draco asked. Harry had told him some of his ‘dream’, and how real it was.

“I’m pretty sure. The view from up there is exactly like the dream,” Harry replied, opening the door that was at the end of the right tunnel.

The door led to the main chamber. It was exactly like he remembered it. The many stone snakes that lined the rooms walls, the water that surrounded the room, running into a pool at the base of the giant statue of Salazar’s face. The remains of the basilisk were still there, like it happened just yesterday.

“There must be preservation spells down here,” Harry said.

“You went up against this thing?” Draco asked.

“Yes. Almost died too,” Harry said, his hand rubbing his arm where there was a faint scar where the basilisk fang had went in. “We’ll have to come back down here. I’m sure Severus and you would like to pick at this thing. I’ve heard there are quite a few ingredients for potions that you could get from it. Would get a bit of money from it I imagine.”

With the help of Salazar’s journal they found his private domain, through the mouth of the main statue. The entryway had another tunnel that lead to the entrance or exit to the tunnel they first came in. There was also an archway that they carefully walked through, both feeling the magical ward brush against their skin. When they entered the room, the sconces on the wall flared to life, letting them see fully the simple but comfortable rooms. There was a small sitting area, a couple of comfortable overstuffed chairs facing a fireplace. Shelves lined the corner of the room, filled with books. On the other side of the room was a kitchen area. The cupboards were bare as was expected. There were two doors in the room, one led to a bathroom, that had a full sized shower that would fit three to four people, as well as a bathing pool with snake shaped spouts. The other door led to the bedroom. Draco had tried to enter but was not able to because of a barrier on the entrance. Harry was able to. He looked around for any type of clues.

“Was this the place he wanted to die?” Draco softly asked, as he leaned against the door frame, watching Harry.

“Yeah. He took the potion here, and laid on this bed,” Harry said, easing himself on the bed to lie back against the pillows. “He just couldn’t take it any more after all that happened to him I guess.”

“The preservation charm must keep everything clean,” Draco said looking around. “Or the house-elves were down here.”

“No house-elves,” Harry said, looking to the side at a picture of a dragon. “He didn’t like them down here. Thought they would misplace something or tell someone about it.” Harry got up and went to the portrait. “This must have been his familiar.”

“He’s beautiful,” Draco said, admiring the dragon. He always did like the grande beasts. “So do you think Voldie was in here?”

“He most likely found Salazar’s journal in the book shelf in the main room there, as well as the stone. The chair out there looks like he used it a lot. He most likely had left his journal and stone around there somewhere, thinking that no one else would find him or the room anyway. The other books probably held no interest to him after he found the journal, thinking he found a great find - which it is; he just wasn’t able to read it. And with Dumbledore warding the chamber after the whole fiasco in our second year, he wasn’t able to come back down here. I don’t think he was able to come into here though, like you. Maybe with the whole soul thing, I was able to,” Harry shrugged.

He noticed a black cloth hanging on the wall. Memories of Mrs. Black came to mind as he approached and the way her shrieks would waken the whole house when she was woken up from slumber. He cautiously reached out and pushed back the side of the cloth. There was a portrait, a still and silent portrait of a small black haired boy. He took the cloth right off, and read the engraved inscription at the bottom of the frame.

“Alexander Slytherin - My Heart,” Harry read.

“His son?” Draco asked, unable to see as it was on the same wall as the door.

“Yes,” Harry softly said. “Doesn’t move or talk though, and it was covered. I’m sure if it moved or talked it would bring even more sad memories to him.

“What’d he look like?”

“He looks to be like five years old here. He’s got black hair, longish that is tied back with a green bow. He’s wearing the leggings and tunic of that time in green and black, with gold trimming. His eyes are grey like Salazar’s. He’s got this mischievous look about him, the way his eyes are lit up in the portrait. He didn’t want to sit for the portrait. Had to bribe him with a ride on his dragon” Harry smiled to himself, then carefully replaced the black cloth. “Rest in peace my heart,” he softly said.

Draco listened to Harry, but leaned in closer when he heard the way Harry talked about Alexander. He saw the reverent way the cloth was put in place, then his heart leapt in his throat when Harry turned to him and he saw the usual emerald green eyes flash a grey before they were back to normal. “All right there, Harry?”

“Yeah, I think so. Or I will be,” Harry replied, stepping out of the bedroom with Draco worriedly following.

“And Salazar? Will he be okay?” Draco asked, grasping Harry’s arm.

Harry turned to Draco and gave a small smile. “I will be,” was the reply. Draco nodded, knowing it was Salazar that replied by the grey eyes again.


Harry lay in bed that night, on his back, the stone in his hand, his thumb and forefinger caressing the smooth surface. His eyes were closed, his breaths coming out even and steady. He was easily able to go into a meditative state, to see his magical core deep within him. He reached out and touched the stream of the bluish-green strand of magic. His heart leapt when the strand seemed to pulse, stretching out to meet his touch. The stream of magic unraveled from his own magical core, slowly creeping up his body from his feet up to his chest, the warmth soothing to his inner self. He sighed in contentment when it caressed his neck then the side of his face, before he suddenly felt a sensation of arms around his chest from behind then being pulled back before he lost the sense of . . . being.

When he came back to awareness, the first thing he noticed was the feel of his hard pillow shift under his head, then fingers slowly carding through his hair. He opened his eyes to see a roaring fire in the hearth before him. He felt the thigh shift under his cheek, and the fingers give a slight tug to the back of his hair.

“Am I dreaming again?” Harry softly asked.

“Do I feel like a dream, Harry?” Salazar asked.

Harry shifted up until he was sitting beside Salazar on the couch. He shook his head, and reached out to touch a silken-covered chest, his fingers caressing the skin that was revealed to him from the open shirt. Salazar’s hand came up to cup the side of Harry’s face, his thumb caressing the corner of his lips. Harry looked up to meet Salazar’s eyes. “I was never able to see your face,” he softly said, his hand skimming up Salazar’s neck to his face. “Why . . . ?”

“Why now? Or why you?” Salazar asked. Harry nodded. “In my time, I had never felt completely whole, there was always something missing from my life, as I know that you have felt too. I have seen it within you. Rowena had mentioned after the passing of my son that I would find happiness again. It was hard to believe at the time, I was so far into despair. I had thought there was nothing left for me; all that I have loved lost. The potion I took I was fully planning on taking my life. I realize now, after seeing your thoughts when you read my journal, that my friend Rowena had fixed it so I was put into a deep sleep instead, awaiting my one true love. She always was a hopeless romantic,” he smirked.

“So you were able to know what was going on then?

“Yes, unless you were blocking me. You have remarkable Occlumency skills for one your age,” Salazar remarked with a smile.

“You are not so far from my age by the look of you,” Harry grinned.

“Ah . . . yes . . . more of Roe’s magicks,” Salazar smirked.

“How old were you when you took the potion?” Harry asked, sitting back to sit sideways on the couch to face Salazar, his hand held with Salazar’s warm one.

“I was close to sixty years of age I believe. Some of that time is a little hazy to me.”

“Well you look to be about thirty now would be my guess. In your journal Rowena had mentioned that she de-aged you so you would be closer in age to your soul mate. Am I the one? Really?” Harry asked uncertainly. “It feels right, but can it really be that easy?”

“You call waiting over a thousand years easy?” Salazar laughed, his thumb stroking Harry’s knuckles. “I was in a state of nothingness after I took the potion, until I felt a pull at my magic. It was you, Harry, when you picked up my soul stone, you awakened me . . . well my soul anyway. I will not fully be awake until you find me.”

“Can you tell me where you are then?” Harry asked. “From the looks of this room, this is the same room as in my dream a few nights ago . . . ”

“Ah . . . a very nice dream that was too,” Salazar huskily said, gently pulling Harry closer to him.

Harry leaned in, his tongue darting out to lick dry lips. “Um . . . yeah . . . nice,” he softly said, looking down at Salazar’s tongue as it licked his lips. His moan was muffled as Salazar closed the distance, lips softly caressing his own. His body seemed to have a mind of its own as it climbed on top of Salazar’s lap, his hands gripping the couch cushions on either side of Salazar’s head. Hands gripped his hips pulling him closer, the fire that burned in his body when they touched so easily burning out of control. He rolled his hips forward, his erection grinding against an answering hardness.

Salazar’s hand stroked up Harry’s back as he thrust his hips up, his fingers burying themselves in Harry’s hair, pulling back. His lips moved from the kiss swollen lips to glide down the arched neck. “This has to be right, Harry. Gods . . . don’t stop . . . ” Salazar panted.

The panted plea was all it took for Harry before he was toppling over the edge of the abyss, his cum smearing against his skin in his boxers. The fingers on his hips tightened as the thighs under his flexed and tightened, Salazar’s cum soaking through his own pants. “We . . . really . . . have to stop meeting . . . like this,” Harry panted, his breath slowly coming back to normal, a smile on his lips when he leaned in to kiss Salazar’s mouth.

“Ah . . . but why? When if feels so good?” Salazar lazily smiled, wrapping his arms loosely around Harry’s waist.

“It does,” Harry conceded. His face grew serious as he gazed upon the handsome face, his fingers brushing against the slight stubble on Salazar’s cheeks. “In these . . . dreams . . . it has been amazing. I’ve never felt anything with anyone as I have with you here, but . . . what if it’s just that . . . a dream?”

“I think it would be good, even better once we are finally united, Harry,” Salazar reassured. He shifted so he was lying sideways on the couch, his one leg up, with Harry moving with him so he was lying between his legs, his body cuddled close to him.

“Hmm . . . if I can find you,” Harry tiredly replied, his face nuzzling the side of Salazar’s neck.

“I will help,” Salazar softly said, tightening his embrace around the man that lay snuggled against him. His only reply was a nod against his neck.


tbc