Gryffindor Entry
It is not over. A silly thing to say since I am here on the ground, nearly dying from exhaustion. Salazar has left. We fought for hours. Spell after spell after yet more spells! But I know, deep down inside, it's not the end. Slytherin is too proud. He has always been like that. He will be back... and when he does, I will stand and stare at him right in the face, and if I am dead, I will help in whatever way I can. From this battle, I have learned that it will be hard for someone to fight him. But I know that someone can do it.
"What now, Godric?" I turn to see Rowena Ravenclaw. Her black hair sways with the wind, as her face is crestfallen.
"We will continue this school."
"But what about-"
"Forgot Slytherin. We do not need him." Somehow, I know that is a lie.
"But he is a founder!" Helga Hufflepuff has come to join us, I see.
"He is no longer one of us," I state shortly. Hufflepuff opens her mouth but I shoot her a glare. She closes it.
"Let's get back to the students." I pick myself up. Ravenclaw's voice stops me.
"So the feud is over?" i smile grimly. There is a deathly silence.
"No. It has just begun..."
"OWW!!!"
"Godric I told you not to move!" Rowena said, trying to supress a smile.
"I can't help it" Godric said sulkily, " I'm not the kind of man who can sit around all day"
"Don't I know it" was the coy reply as she continued to apply the bandages, they were now in the medical ward and Godric looked down to see Rowena wink at him and they stopped for a moment their eyes twinkling sharing that special sparkle they did sometimes.
"You're going to look like a muggle mummy by the time I'm finished with you"
"Humph!"
"Oh don't be such a grouch, what did you expect after a battle like that?"
"What did I expect....." As his words trailed off Godric clearly remembered that he hadn't expected to end up like this, no, he had expected to pull Salazar around and make him see sense.
He had marched upto Salazar, who was idly pulling the feathers out of a stuffed bird in the common of his House aptly named Slytherin, after the master... being the snake he is.
“Blast it Salazar! This has to stop, this is the third half blood child that has been killed! I warned you before!” Godric took out his wand and a beam of light flew towards Salazar. A vision flashed before Godric's eyes; Nina, an 11 year old half muggle witch he had found lying on Hogwarts grounds..
“ You almost killed me Godric!!!"
“I’m drawing the line Salazar!!! A line that would distinguish people like me from people like you”. Godric snarled viciously as another flash of light hit Salazar directly in the chest.
“What the hell are trying to do Godric, murder your your best friend!?" This time Salazar didn't hesitate to fire back at his attacker with his own spells.
“You are a fool Godric! Half-bloods and muggles will ruin our world and will be your fault”.
”If anyone destroys our community it will be YOU Salazar”.
Flashes of green and red light haphazardly flew around the room, reflecting off ornaments and breaking others so that the entire space was nothing but carnage and destruction. The two assailants dripping blood from different wounds but still hell bent on fighting, nothing but hatred and determination in their expressions... then a look of worry fleetingly covered Salazar's face for he had heard the coming footsteps first realising them to be of the other two founders and he knew he couldn't defeat all three of them together.
“You've won this battle Godric, but it's not over, my heir will win this war..” he chuckled evily "and he shall rise within a secret chamber... behind a secret door" a terrible laughter erupted from his lips and in that moment, Salazar was gone.
"Hellooo, anyone there?"
Godric blinked as the memory vanished and shook his head to find Rowena snapping her fingers in front of his face to get his attention.
"Yeah I'm here" Salazar's last words still echoing in his head, he looked listelessly around the medical ward for something to take his mind off the situation but there was nothing that could change the gravity of it. The sun couldn't even find the courage to shine for him through the windows, the weather was as grey as his mood and everything was still, not even a ripple from the lake outside.
"I didn't intend for things to turn out this way you know"
"I know Godric, I..." Rowena's words were cut off by the entrance of Helga Hufflepuff, the third founder.
"I've got some good news!" She burst in saying.
Ah, dear Helga, always trying to at least sound cheerful for the rest of us, her strength was in preserving what we had even if her sweet smile didn't quite reach her eyes, the eyes that were the only sign of what went on beneath the surface, the hurt and anxiety. I remember when we first met, all of us in a time that now seemed so long ago but in the great scheme of things could have only happened in a blink of an eye. Salazar and I had known each other since childhood, our families having been friends hence we were always together, some would even say inseperable. We grew up together, studying, exploring, fighting non stop but never so bad that we couldn't make up and most of the time it was just to experiment with spells so it wasn't serious. Rowena, she was a treasure we happened to discover on one of our adventures; brilliant, brainy and beautiful, she captivated us and won both our hearts. We each tried to charm her and impress but neither really suceeded, we didn't fail either but well, alright fine, we failed. She was too interested in her intellectual pursuits to notice our efforts and Salazar isn't a romantic character so he soon lost interest when he realised there was no goal to achieve. But I... well, I don't know, I've got so much on my mind but her absence would be sorely felt I'm sure if she were ever away from me. As for the delightful Helga, we all made her aquaintance at a quiet family function. Actually, it was at a Slytherin family wedding even though it seemed more like a funeral to me. Helga was from the bride's family, she and Rowena met somehow and instantly clicked and when Salazar and I met her we admired the quiet fortitude and wisdom this little lady had, it shone through every pore. Plus, Sal and I were extra welcoming because we knew that Rowena probably tired of our antics at times and would appreciate another member in the group...
"What news Helga?" Rowena's voice rang through Godric's ears as he shook his head and snapped back into reality. Her voice sounded brighter then before, trying to match Helga's no doubt. It's as if they believed that if they tried to stay happy they would somehow stop him being such a misery guts.
"Well, with the help of your instruments" Helga said nodding at them "and with some wonderful friends, we searched the castle high and low and didn't find a scrap of evidence for any secret chamber."
"You tried absolutely everything?"
"Yes Rowena, I think we exhausted every possible method but still no trace" the ladies breathed a sigh of relief.
"He must have been lying" I hissed "that no good, rotten jackal! NO, that evil, conniving son of a.."
"Godric!" Helga stopped him in reproach
"...serpent"
Rowena pursed her lips and looked disapprovingly whilst Helga continued,
"Godric, I know you and Salazar are anything but best friends right now but don't forget your history together and all of the good..."
"GOOD!?!" he exploded, Godric could no longer control myself when he heard that name anymore "What good!?! Any shred of friendship that villainous snake and I had is over and was over the moment he threatened and started hurting innocents! He only cares about himself, elitism and and and!" he couldn't finish, only splutter.
"Control your temper Godric" Rowena said in a calm yet warning tone.
"Yes Godric" Helga chimed in "It was that temper that got us here now wasn't it?"
All anger vanished as he turned a deep shade of scarlet as the shame, and embarrassment engulfed him, and suddenly felt like he was drowning in a sea of regret.
"Yes" he whispered. "But I, I didn't want, didn't intend for us to fight like that, that was not what I wanted"
"We know" Rowena said stroking his arm soothingly "It's ok"
"I just wanted to talk to him, but he made me so angry..."
"I'm sorry Godric" Helga sighed "We all should have spoken with him really and tried to come to some kind of agreement"
"I doubt that would have worked, he was set in his ways, in his ideology of inherent blood superiority over fairness and tolerance. He was as incapable of listening as Godric here was at keeping his manner"
Ah Rowena, even though that last comment should have stung me, your intelligence and grace with which you comfort me do well to keep me in check. Godric blinked again, willing away thoughts and memories, he realised that he had to stop day dreaming and start paying attention.
"What's done is done now and I can't undo it, we'll just have to continue as normal, no, even better, to show everyone that we are more then capable of running this school by ourselves." I tried to stand up and almost fell over but their hands caught him in time.
"You should really stay here Godric"
"You're right as usual Helga, but I can't and I wont. I am resolved to get back to work and since we can no long apparate or disapparate in our own school anymore for fear of a certain someone's attack, I would greatly appreciate it if you ladies would be so kind as to oblige and help me to my office"
It was obvious they didn't like the idea but what could they do, they knew the truth of his words and so in an awkward stumbling trio they made it out of the medical ward, with all that they had left hanging precariously in the balance, knowing not what fate had in store, only that they had to be strong, for them, for Hogwarts... for everything.