Professor Salazar Salvatore Slytherin (October 31, 934 – 2 January, 1026) was a medieval Irish pure-blood wizard and one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was a Parselmouth, a wizard with the rare ability to speak to snakes, and was a skilled Legilimens. He headed house Slytherin and taught Potions and Defence with Helga Hufflepuff and Godric Gryffindor respectively. Salazar was born into a wealthy Irish pure-blood family; he was the eldest child and only son of Tertius and Cordelia Slytherin and elder brother of Elianna Slytherin. He was the former lover of Helga Hufflepuff and the last founder to pass away after the founding of Hogwarts, but was the first to step down from their position as Head of House.