A Soul Within

Would like to thank my beta Digitallace for touching up some of my punctuation, and having patience for waiting for the next chapter a little longer than the previous ones. Also thank you to everyone that reviewed, alerted, fav'd the story and myself. Sorry it took a bit longer to get out, but I was kind of stuck for some reason with this chapter, still not sure if I like it 100%. The author, in most cases, is the most critical of his/her work in my opinion.

'bold italics' - Harry's talking to Sal mentally
'normal type' - Salazar talking to Harry mentally

*This will be the last of the above. I would like to have thoughts to themselves. Should I just italicize the thoughts in the remaining chapters? Even as soul mates they will not be able to talk to each other telepathically.


Chapter Eight

Salazar walked through the door, smiling to himself as he looked around the room. It had been his home for many years, centuries in fact if he really thought about it. There were many memories of his time with his friends, his son, in these rooms that would always have a place in his heart. Now, with Harry, it was time to make some new memories.

Although Harry was eager to wake Salazar, he continued to let him have control as he looked around the room, letting the memories wash over both of them.

When they stepped further into the room, the glass orbs on the walls lit to life, chasing some of the shadows back into their corners. The walls were patterned with various shades of amber-rusty colored brick that blended in nicely with the lightly stained wood that ran throughout the room, seeming to branch out from the thick wooden mantel of the fireplace. The wood framed an open archway that led into a small kitchen area for when Salazar did not wish to dine in the Great Hall. For furnishings there was an overstuffed couch that sat in front of the fireplace, a matching chair sitting off to the side with a small table beside it. A small stuffed dragon that looked well loved sat in the corner of the chair, waiting for its owner to once again pick it up to cuddle. Scattered haphazardly around the room were soft woven rugs, and a worn but comfortable throw laying on the back of the couch that Harry remembered snuggling under with Salazar on the couch in his dream. On the one side of the wall was a wooden bookcase that had many books and keepsakes, the few children's books with their colorful covers adding a rainbow of colors. Over the fireplace there was the family shield of arms, and a sheathed sword hanging at the side of the mantle.

Ascending up the stairs there were three long windows lighting up the room with natural sunlight.

'I did not see these windows from the outside,' Harry said.

'They are charmed to look like they are not there from the outside. I like the light, but I also like my privacy,' Salazar replied.

They came to a landing on the stairs, where there was a cushioned alcove that one could sit in and watch the world go by out the window. To the right, another door leading into a bathroom, complete with shower and tub. From the landing there were three more stairs and next to the stairs, another door.

'That was Alexander's room when he came to visit me,' Salazar told Harry when he felt the hesitation in his steps.

'Did he come often?' Harry asked.

'I was lucky to spend many summers with Alexander before he was taken from me,' Salazar replied.

'I am sorry for your loss, Salazar,' Harry softly replied.

'Thank you, Harry,' Salazar said, before mentally stepping back to let Harry come forward.


Severus kept silent, letting Salazar and Harry prepare themselves for what was to come. He knew Harry was back when he had reached for the door handle, then drew back, rubbing the palms of his hands on his jeans, a gesture that Harry often showed when he was nervous. He stepped up to the top step beside Harry and placed his hand on his shoulder. "You ready, Harry?"

Harry nodded and reached out for the door handle, slowly opening it. It took just a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room, a dim light leading Harry to the large bed that was his main focus of the room. His heart seemed to skip a beat when a sudden light hit upon the still figure on the bed. He took a quick look behind him to see that Severus had drawn open the heavy drapes to reveal a large set of glass doors that seemed to lead out to a balcony. He nodded to Severus with a nervous smile before turning back toward the bed.

The stillness of the man in the bed was disconcerting. Salazar lay still as death on his back, the blankets covering his body to his chest, his arms lying at his sides. His chest was bare of clothing. Harry reached out to stroke the side of Salazar's face, the skin clean shaven and warm to the touch. His fingers traced the high cheekbones to the side of his face, then combed through the dark long hair that hung loosely at the side of his face to his shoulders. He loved running his fingers through the long tresses when they were kissing in their dreams, or drowning in the grey eyes that always seemed to make him feel loved with a single look. His hand slid down Salazar's neck to rest on his chest.

"His body is in stasis Harry. That is why you will not feel a heartbeat," Severus reassured Harry seeing the hand on the still man's chest shake slightly.

"I know," Harry sighed. He took the soul stone from his pocket, his thumb stroking the smooth surface.

Severus took the potion from his robe pocket and stepped closer to the bed. "You will need to administer the potion in two ways for it to succeed. You will have to slowly pour the contents of the potion into his mouth, soothing his throat to ease it down. Before that you will have to coat your lips with the potion and kiss him on the mouth. The kiss of life. As his soul mate, you are the only one that will be able to wake him. I would suggest holding the stone as you do this. It has helped you connect him to you before. It may help with waking him up also," Severus suggested.

Harry took the potion from Severus's hand. He carefully opened the vial, and held it up to his nose, his brow raised in question when he smelled mint.

Severus's lips curled into a slight smile. "I don't always make my potions so distasteful."

"It will not affect the potion itself though?" Harry asked.

"No, it will not," Severus replied.

Harry sighed heavily, then stuck his pinky finger in the vial, coating it with potion. He traced his lips liberally with the potion then handed the vial to Severus who now stood closer to him. He leaned forward, his lips ghosting over the still lips while his hand rested on Salazar's chest, the stone trapped beneath it. His lips slid over Salazar's mouth, his tongue tracing the seam to open for him. His breathing hitched when the sudden feeling of being alone came upon him. He drew back, his fingers coming up to wipe the wetness from his cheeks.

"Sev . . . I can't . . . can't feel him," Harry softly cried.

Severus kneeled down in front of Harry, reaching out to wrap his arms around him. "Harry, it's okay," he reassured rubbing his hand up and down Harry's back. "You knew this was going to happen, Harry. It just means that his soul is back within himself."

"But why isn't his heart beating? I didn't expect him to wake all sudden like he was some sleeping beauty, but his heart . . . it's not beating. I can't feel it," Harry said, pulling back, his hand still on Salazar's chest.

"He's been asleep a long time, Harry. You just have to give the potion a chance to work," Severus said standing up again to help Harry lay down beside Salazar before he went to the other side of the bed. He sat on the side, reaching out to gently pry Salazar's mouth open. He slowly tipped the vial of potion so a bit ran into his mouth, gently soothing his throat to ease the potion down. He did this repeatedly until the vial was empty. His gaze fell worriedly on Harry who lay curled up beside Salazar, his hand on the still man's chest, his breaths coming out slow and even.

Severus saw that Harry was sleeping. He had expected the weakness. He pulled the chair that was by the window closer to the bed to keep an eye out for the two men on the bed.


~*~


It was a quiet week after the kiss of life. Harry rarely left Salazar's bedside unless it was to have a quick shower or a hurried meal that Severus or Draco insisted he have. The two Slytherin's were always close at hand. If not in the bedroom waiting with Harry, one or the other, or both were down the stairs in the main room. Dark shadows graced Harry's pale face, exhausted and worried for Salazar. He didn't sleep much. Didn't want to miss when Salazar would awaken.

He had finally succumbed to his exhaustion and lay down, his head on Salazar's chest, his hand wrapped around Salazar's. It was moments later, perhaps longer, that Harry slowly crept back to wakefulness, feeling something was off. He lay still, his breaths quickening when he felt the hand twitch in his, then the slow but steady thump-thump beneath his ear.

Draco came in to check on Harry to see the Gryffindor smiling to himself as his head was pressed against Salazar's chest. "Harry?" He quietly said, walking closer to the bed.

"Draco. I can hear him. His heart, it's beating," Harry grinned, looking over at Draco. "I felt his hand move too."

"Really?" Draco smiled, then turned back to the door. "I'll go get Severus."

Harry nodded but didn't take his attention from Salazar. He sat up, never letting go of Salazar's hand. He leaned down to place a gentle kiss on the unresponsive lips, then slightly drew back. "Come on Salazar. Come back to me," he whispered against the lips. "Need you."


~*~


Salazar felt the heaviness around him, pressing against his body. Cold. He was so cold. Blackness around him, his eyes barren of sight. His hands reached out, grasping at the air around him. He felt a warmth against his skin, slowly enveloping him in a heated embrace. He let himself be pulled further into the warmth as memories washed over him. Memories of his life. Memories of his son, his friends, then memories that were not his own. A life of another, someone that was important to him.

'Need you,' a whispered plea was heard.

Salazar snuggled further into the embrace. 'Harry,' he sighed before darkness took him again. This time with a smile on his face.


~*~


Harry woke up a few days later after sleep overtook him again to the feel of a hand over his on Salazar's chest. Salazar had moved his hand over his while he slept. He raised himself and looked down at Salazar, smiling when he saw grey looking back at him. They were aware, but looking slightly panicked.

Harry sat up, cupping the side of Salazar's face. "It's okay. You'll be okay. It's just going to take some time for you to come to yourself. You've been asleep for a long time. It's going to take a bit for your body to catch up. Merlin . . . I can't believe it. You're here. Oh. Gods . . . do you know who I am?" Harry asked suddenly realizing that he could be a stranger to the man looking uncertainly at him.

Salazar's mind was trying to fight its way out of the fog that was inside of his head. He felt the gentle pressure against his hand, then the side of his face, feeling the same warmth that rescued him from the darkness of his mind. He looked into the bewitching green eyes above him. 'Harry', he thought to himself, his lips moving to the words.

Harry smiled, reading his name on Salazar's lips. He reached over and took the cloth from the bowl of cool water that was at the bedside. He squeezed some out then brought it to Salazar's mouth, slowly letting some of the water drip into the parted lips. He did this a few times, then leaned over to place a soft kiss on Salazar's mouth. "I need to get Severus. I'll be right back," he said, kissing him again.


Severus was sitting on the couch downstairs when he looked up at the sudden ruckus that was coming from the stairs.

"Severus! He's awake!" Harry called out, leaning over the railing to shout, before bounding back up the stairs.

Severus quickly stood up and went up the stairs. He was a little nervous in meeting one of the founders in person, although he would never admit to that out loud to anyone. He came into the room to see Harry sitting cross-legged on the bed beside Salazar, his fingers stroking the hand that was resting on his knee. He noticed the bed was slightly elevated, raising Salazar's upper body.

Harry turned when he heard Severus approach. "Salazar. I don't know if you remember, but this is Severus. He brewed the potion to wake you. He's brilliant in potions. I'm sure you will get along great once you're up and about. He's made a few different potions to help you," Harry gushed.

"Breathe, Harry," Severus smirked, standing on the same side of the bed as Harry. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face Professor Slytherin," nodding in greeting. "What Harry here has babbled on about is true. I have made a few potions that you will need." He took out two vials of potion. "This one is to help your circulation throughout your body, helping your nerves and muscle tissue to get back to what they should be. You will need to take this every day, until you are up and about." He held up the other vial. "This also will be taken until your body reaccustoms itself. It is a nutrient potion. Harry will also be starting a thrice daily regiment of rubbing a salve into your skin to help your body recover. Do you understand this?" Severus asked. "Blink once if you do, twice if you do not."

Salazar blinked once. Severus nodded in acknowledgment. "Harry. Can you please go down to my lab and get the salve? I had thought I brought it, but it is not with the others here," Severus asked.

"But . . . "

"Please, Harry," Severus said. "He will be here when you get back. No harm will come to him while you are gone. I will be right here with him."

Harry was reluctant, very reluctant to leave. Salazar had just woken up. He didn't want to leave his side, but he knew the importance of the salve. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the corner of Salazar's mouth. "I'll be right back," he quietly said, then rushed out of the room before he changed his mind.

Salazar had not moved his head, but his eyes followed Severus as he pulled out his wand.

"It is just a diagnostic spell to see how you are doing," Severus reassured. "I did not ask while Harry was here, but do you remember the time that you shared your mind with Harry?"

Salazar thought back to all the memories that he remembered while his mind was deep inside himself. He slowly blinked once.

Severus nodded, putting his wand away after looking over the results that were put forth in front of him in green writing. "Harry has very deep feelings for you Professor. When he loves, he loves completely. I care for him, like a father would a son, so I will say this . . . If you hurt him in any way, I will make sure this second chance of your life will be your last, founder or not. There have been many advances in potions over the centuries, some that I would not hesitate to use if the need arises. Is this understood?"

Salazar looked up at Severus, having no doubt to what the other man said. His eyes showed the faint amusement, but also the respect due to the man. He blinked once.

"Good," Severus said, holding up the first potion. He reached down to slowly pour the pinkish potion into Salazar's mouth. "The restorative potion will help in your movement. It should be a day or two before you will be able to have some body movement." He then slowly poured the yellowish potion. "The nutrient potion." Severus helped Salazar swallow by gently running his fingers up and down the other's neck.

Severus was thankful he didn't have the vial of potion in his hands still when he heard the sudden pop of Apparation behind him. He didn't turn his head, but just looked down at the hand that was thrust at him as the salve was placed in his hand, before Harry followed and sat on the side of the bed again.

"Only you Harry, could find a way to Apparate in a school that no one could," Severus sighed, shaking his head.

Harry only shrugged, smiling down at Salazar, who was watching the two with interest. "Wish I'd known I could do it before I ran down all those stairs."

"The bond? How did it feel from that distance?" Severus asked.

"I felt cold, and not just from being in the dungeons. It felt like it was coming from inside of myself. Feels okay now though," Harry smiled taking Salazar's hand in his.

"It should get better with time," Severus said as he turned to leave the room, leaving the two alone to get reacquainted.

tbc.

~tas