Salazar Slytherin was a famous wizard that was born in the 10th century AD. A parselmouth and legilimens (see end of chapter for definitions), Slytherin was a powerful and intelligent wizard even from a young age. While most wizard children of the time would spend their time playing games such as Shuntbumps or an early form of the game we know today as Gobstones, young Salazar would be studying various forms of magic. By the age of twenty, Slytherin had already invented numerous concealment spells, and had learned how to hatch Basilisks, both of which had played vital roles in the formation of the Chamber of Secrets later in life.

     Then Slytherin met Gryffindor. Godric Gryffindor, founder of the Gryffindor House, was too another young and powerful wizard of the time. It is unclear on how the two founders met, but it is known that Slytherin and Gryffindor quickly became best friends. Here is a passage from a journal Gryffindor kept between the times of meeting Slytherin and the founding of Hogwarts, roughly translated from Old English:

Today Salazar and I joined a small hunting party in a trek for game. We followed the muggle men for quite some while, but their ways of hunting are much too primitive to be considered enjoyable... we split off from the group to find our own dinner for the night. Again, as we often do, us two made a game of who may catch the most game. I was bested by Salazar yet again, whom had used his ability of conversing with snakes to scout out prey faster than I. I continue to describe such action as unfair, but he always argues as not.