The Bride of Slytherin

A/N: This is my first foray into the world of Harry Potter and I'm really excited to jump into a new fandom! I've written fanfiction since 2009, but decided to close up shop about a year ago. I've since decided to dust off my laptop and get back to writing under a new nom de plume (plus repost my old stories). I've been reading a lot of unconventional pairings, mainly featuring Hermione, as she's my favorite character right now. To continue with the unconventional, I've got a fun plot in mind for her as she meets her match in Salazar Slytherin. I love time travel fics, but alas, this is not one of them. I hope you will all enjoy my new multi-chapter experiment!

Now for the disclaimer:

I, of course, do not own anything related to Harry Potter, as the credit goes to JK Rowling and Warner Bros, but I love the characters and they have so much potential for new adventures. I'll be using the movies as my idea of canon as I've never actually read the books, but plan to in the future and may adjust my plot accordingly as I go along. I'm certainly not looking to make anything off this story, but I hope it's enjoyed by those who decide to read it. I appreciate all comments, but if you have a problem with anything I write, please be respectful about it. I haven't read all HP fanfics out there so if for some reason I repeat something I subconsciously picked up from another story, let me know that too, but I think my work will be pretty original. Just know that I believe that being a troll is petty so I'll ignore any that pop up as they aren't worth my time to respond to. That being said, I look forward to your constructive feedback.

Story Synopsis: After departing from Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin receives unexpected news and thus prepares for a bright future. As Hermione comes of age, she receives a shocking birthday surprise and the wizarding world will never be the same. Dark Salazar/Darkish pureblood!Hermione.

Prologue

Salazar Slytherin was furious.

"How dare that shrew call for me at this time of night!"

He didn't know why he put up with her, really, even with her so-called keen divination skills. She had proven herself a true seer in the past, but did she absolutely need to speak to him now? It was bad enough he'd just dramatically stormed out of Hogwarts over the mudblood issue, but to receive her urgent patronus on top of it?

He was ready to throttle her, damn the consequences.

As he approached the crone's run down shack in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, he stopped momentarily to take a deep breath. Whatever she had to tell him must be horrible so storming in there would only make things worse. Stay calm, Slytherin, he told himself. Just find out what she wants and get out of there.

He opened the creaking door and walked in boldly.

"Salazar, you've been a naughty boy haven't you?"

Slytherin immediately turned his attention to the craggy voice emanating from his left. Sitting on a worn slipper chair in front of large stone fireplace, the source of that voice looked as ancient as he remembered. Her white hair was still long and straggly while her face appeared even more weathered, lines coursing deeply throughout her sagging skin. Her hunched back was increasingly bent, if that were possible. Her wide grin was filled with rotting, yellowed teeth and all he could do was cringe at her appearance. It was an unpleasant experience the previous time he was summoned here, and he sure as hell thought it wouldn't be any better now. Her message that night had changed his life dramatically as she spoke to him of a young man whom he would eventually call friend. That friend had also helped him find his fellow founders and Hogwarts was now a reality.

"Woman, why have you dragged me here in the middle of the night? You must know that I have better things to do than listen to your cryptic predictions."

The cackling laughter that followed only added to his ire.

"Calm yourself, I have good tidings to pass along and was given instructions to speak to you immediately. Once you hear the message, you may carry on with your better things and leave me be if you wish. I'm sure you are a busy man, but let's face it, it's not like you have a school to run anymore, you naughty boy."

His normally handsome face contorted with anger and he growled at the seer, "Spit it out you old hag, what's so important you needed me here tonight!"

The old woman grinned even wider, knowing that it was so easy to rile him.

"I was given a vision, and in that glimpse of the future, I saw you in a romantic relationship with a girl who will become the greatest witch ever to walk the earth - even more powerful than Morgana herself."

Slytherin looked at her questioningly as everyone knew Morgana was only a myth. "How is that to be as I'm already married and even though it was arranged, I doubt even I'd be so callous as to get rid of her? I'm expected to continue my legacy and I will have an heir."

The seer smirked and her change in expression disturbed even him.

"Oh, I doubt your wife will be an issue a thousand years from now."

Salazar's eyes opened wide at the mention of how far into the future she was referencing.

"Yes, you naughty boy, you will exist one thousand years from now and I'm going to make sure you do. I know what must be done and you will walk the halls of your precious Hogwarts once again centuries from now."

He scrutinized the woman carefully, looking for any evidence of deception. He found none.

"Not that I'm not intrigued, but do you have proof? I'm still a bit skeptical of your beloved divining arts."

Without reacting to his obvious insult, the ancient witch raised her wand to her head. As she drew the wand away, a silvery strand followed the tip. Once the mist was clear of her temple, the seer immediately placed it into a shallow bowl sitting on a small table in front of her, filled with what looked like water. Curious, Salazar drew closer to table and peered over the bowl. All he could see from his vantage was a glowing, watery mist swirling in random patterns. He looked to the seer for an explanation.

"Ah, my newest invention. It is what I call a pensieve. It allows one to see memories that have been drawn from the mind. These memories can be removed and stored in vials until use and can also then be collected back from the pensieve and replaced in the mind. Quite a clever invention, if I must say."

Slytherin looked at the crone with new calculating eyes. She was even more valuable than he originally thought and his mind raced with new possibilities. The seer, of course, knew what he was thinking.

"If you will stop your plotting for a moment, I wish for you to lower your face over the surface of the bowl so you may see the memory I've extracted for you. I can assure you it's quite safe and what you will see is very illuminating."

Not one to show fear, Salazar did as she bade and dropped to his knees in front of the low table. After glancing at the witch one last time, he turned his face to the bowl and lowered it to the water's surface. As he was sucked into her memory, he suddenly realized just how powerful this witch was. He decided in that moment he would do all he could never to get on her bad side. She would need to become his ally.

As Slytherin was viewing the memory, the witch sat back and absently stared into the fire. She already knew once he viewed the entire thing he would be a changed man. There was no way he could look upon that much power and not want it for himself. The girl of the future was of course one of her descendants and Morgana was pleased. She had already ensured that her line would continue through the centuries and that gave her a tremendous amount of pleasure, especially knowing just how powerful her heiress would be.

Hermione, she thought. What an unusual name.