I chose to interview the portrait of Salazar Slytherin for my interview assignment because I am a proud Slytherin. When I asked if it were to be ok if I was to ask him a few questions Salazar Slytherin agreed wholly, calling it a good opportunity. I started of the interview by asking him his name, which with a trademark smirk he answered " Why, Salazar Slytherin of course". 

I gave a small smile in return and said "I'm sorry to ask you this and I hope it doesn't offend but I was wondering if you could also tell me how old you are and what your favourite pastime was when you attended Hogwarts?" Salazar Slytherin rolled his eyes and replayed "Well my young faithful serpent, I was born in medieval times in Eastern England in a place that was known as Fen, so you see I am well over one-thousand years old. And as you will know, I was very gifted at Basilisk breeding, The basilisk that I hand reared myself way back then that slumbered in the Chamber of secrets being my most famous and successful specimen to this day, even now today I am still very fond of the creature, and of course more then happy to discuss these fascinating and deadly beasts."

I nodded along eagerly "Forgive me sir, but may I so boldly ask why your portrait was placed in Hogwarts for all to see and marvel at to start with? I mean so disrespect of course, just simply curious for the whole story." Salazar eyes narrow a little, but nevertheless he answers "In my time of living, I along with three others, was the first to make Hogwarts the mysterious wonderful castle and all it's glory, that it is today. This is actually where Hogwarts gets its house names, four houses for four brilliant witches and wizards as we were. Of course, once the castle was complete I chose to go my separate way from the others, you could say that our views and beliefs differed, the others like the fools they were chose to let mugglborns in as they believed all with magical abilities should have a chance to learn our ways. I of course didn't agree and chose to leave,leaving behind the chamber of secrets for when my hair would come. Those muggleborns... not to be trusted if you ask me, half muggle and half magic? Tainted! The ways of magic should be a sacred gift passed on only to the pure!" 

I shook my head as Salazar continued to mutter to himself about purity of blood and muggles, patiently waiting for him to calm down so I could ask "So did you have any special gifts that set you apart from the rest?" Salazar focused back on me, and after a piercing start for a few minutes answered "yes indeed I did as it happens, I possessed a few rare gifts, like the gift of Parseltongue, which for the simpleton, means that I could talk and consult with our kin the snacks. I was also very accomplished at Legilemency and had great skill in the Dark Arts." I could tell that the portraite was getting restless and most likely wanted me to leave now so I quickly skimmed my list of questions and said "Ok I only have three questions left and then I will leave you in peace. How close were you to the other founders, what qualities did you look for in the students that you chose and could you maybe tell me a short story please?" I glanced up from my list at Salazar waiting for his replay. "I used to be close to Godric Gryffindor, best friends even. I can understand that it may be hard for you to believe, considering the small war between our houses, Slytherin and Gryffindor. But yes, Godric and I were very close once but we drifted apart in time as some people do. I was always careful about who I accepted into my house, students that had a gift for cleverness, determination, resourcefulness, ambition, a disregard for the rules and were pure always glowed with potential in my eyes. Only the great would dwell in my house, as the best it was! I also liked students that could speak Parseltongue, but that is a rare gift and is not often found... "And the story sir?" I gently pushed, he seemed to have lapsed in silence with a pondering look about him. "A story you say?... well I guess I have time for one... Well I remember this way back after the making of Hogwarts, things were rather tense between us four and I had made my wish to leave known. Before I could take my depart we hit a little dilemma though, we couldn't figure out how we would sort our chosen students after we had all gone and left, natural or otherwise... And though I now hate to admit it, it was Godric that gave us the solution. Taken from his own head he held an old tattered looking hat, and casted a spell upon it so that it could talk and sing. We named it, the sorting hat. And onto it we trusted the ability to sort our chosen students when they hit the age of eleven and started to attend Hogwarts. We knew that unlike us, the hat would go on never dying, and sort it would till it could no longer. Till this day the sorting hat remains, doing it's job and giving students a place to call home. Now, is that all? I am rather busy you know, I have to go find the others in the the entrance hall before lunch." I finish writing down all that Salazar said and with a nod say that that was all and thank him for the honour of interviewing him, I watch him leave his portrait with nothing more then a cold nod of acknowledgement in my direction. I smirk to myself in satisfaction, my work here is done. 

That is how my interview went with Salazar Slytherin, I learnt a lot of interesting things. Like that he chose his pupils on their ability to be cunning, ambitious and determined. He lived a long time ago and his portrait is over a one thousand years old, he was once best friends with Godric Gryffendor before they drifted apart, he liked to breed basilisks, talk to snakes and he was one of the founders of Hogwarts. All in all, I feel it went really well and I very much enjoyed my time talking with him, even if he was a little cold and judging.