The Founders Four

Just A Thought

The sun had slowly began to rise above the lochs and valleys in Scotland, causing everything to appear calm and untouched. Long, still shadows stretched their way across the ground but they were soon accompanied by a series of moving shadows. Two horses, laden with a small amount of possessions and two riders each, came strutting their way over the brow of a sweeping grassy hill that overlooked the quaint little village of Hogsmeade. To most people that came this far into the highlands it would always remain a secret, for it was impossible to find unless you knew its exact whereabouts.

The closer these four individuals got to the village, the more people began to stir. Farmers began tending to their crops, Mothers began their chores for the day, along with keeping their young children in sight at all times.

"This is it," Godric announced, stopping the horse just before they entered the village.

"It's wonderful," Rowena smiled, staring calmly around her. "And you're certain no one will find us here?"

"No. We'll be perfectly safe, I promise."

The look he gave her made her quite sure that he was speaking truthfully and, even if he wasn't, she knew she couldn't help but trust him.

As soon as they got so far into the village it was inevitable that someone would recognise Godric and Helga, stopping them to ask where they'd been.

"You're back!" Came the squeaky voice of Polly, who beamed fondly up at Godric.

"Aye, that we are!" He grinned.

"Where have you been?"

"Just had to go and rescue me a princess," he chuckled, turning to smile at Rowena.

When Polly noticed this meaningful look pass between them a peculiar expression played about her face.

"How have things been here then? You kept everything in order?" He laughed.

"I think so. Alexis has been a little worried about you both," she explained, smiling at Helga. "But everything's remained as dull as always."

She was suddenly sent stumbling sideways as Meredith Gaunt came bustling forwards.

"Morning, Godric!" She purred. "Everyone's missed you!"

"Oh...have they?" He mumbled, not wanting to engage in too much of a conversation with her.

"Of course!" She giggled. It was then that she noticed Rowena and her face took on a thunderous look. "And who's this?" She asked, lacing her voice with false, sugary tones once more.

"Rowena," he replied, smiling fondly at her again.

"Oh, I see," she grunted, looking most annoyed. "You're not quite what I'd imagine a princess to be," she remarked, obviously knowing her true identity.

"That's because I'm not the princess people think I am," she retorted, causing Meredith to scowl.

She was obviously annoyed that Godric was in love with someone other than her but she then noticed Salazar, hastily turning her attention to him.

"And you are...?"

"Salazar Slytherin," he replied, also looking rather put out by this young woman.

"Ooh, a lord, eh?" She giggled. "A pleasure to meet you!" She cooed, doing a flamboyant sort of curtsey that made her look quite ridiculous. Salazar smiled awkwardly, trying not to give too much eye contact.

"Alexis is eager to see you," Polly informed them. Godric was grateful of this, as it gave them an excuse to leave Meredith.

Once they reached the quiet little cottage that Alexis resided in they found her to be working hard in the front garden. She squinted up at them as they approached, smiling in welcome.

"Nice to have you back," she said. "You got your princess, I see!"

Alexis was quick to ask them all inside, where she'd prepared one of her delicious stews. Godric hastily told her all about his and Helga's adventures and she seemed to take an immediate liking to Rowena. She was also very eager to know about Salazar too.

"And what will you do?" She asked him.

"Well, I...I thought I might find a place locally to stay for a few nights," he replied.

"I wouldn't go to the Hog's Head. They have plenty of room, yes, but it's not worth it with that dreadful Meredith girl hanging around like a bad smell!" They took a moment to laugh at this, obviously agreeing with Alexis's view of her. "You'll stay here, just as Rowena will. I appreciate that it may not be up to your usual standards of accommodation but still..."

"No, it's wonderful here. I love this village," Salazar said quickly. "But I wouldn't want to impose."

"Don't be ridiculous! I take in all the strays!"

"Godric," Rowena said quietly, once lunch was over and done with. "The castle, Lord Schreiver's castle, I mean...well, it's where we first met - I'd very much like to see it again." Godric just smiled down at her and nodded.

That afternoon they strolled hand in hand to the edge of the village and into the castle's vast grounds and it was bliss. To be able to do this without fear of the king's guards coming after Godric made him feel as though he was walking on air. Everything seemed so perfect and even though he knew that dangers were lurking he couldn't help but marvel at Rowena's beauty, in the sunlight for once.

"I can hardly believe this is real," Rowena smiled serenely, as they lay next to each other on the cool grass near the lake. "It's like a dream...all my dreams come true!"

"Then why are you crying?" He chuckled, noticing the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Because I'm just so happy! I thought I'd be stuck there forever without the things I really wanted."

"Don't you miss all the luxury?" He asked awkwardly.

"Why would I? I want the things money can't buy. Sometimes I thought they were impossible to obtain but you've proven me wrong!" She smiled and stared calmly around her, as though at peace. "Here I just feel that I can be myself. Although..." She muttered, looking saddened. "I suppose I don't really know who I am."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've been downtrodden for so long. I don't know who I am. I was taught my father's ways and nothing else."

"I'll tell you who you are," he breathed. "You're a beautiful, intelligent young woman! You can achieve anything you want, I know it!"

"I'm glad you think so!" She grinned. "I love you...for everything you've ever done for me!"

"Quite right too!" He remarked, with a mischievous grin that caused his eyes to twinkle. "What is it?" He asked, when he noticed her face fall again.

"I was just thinking...well, I'm so lucky to be here now, to have you..." She began. "But I can't help wondering about all the others out there."

"What others?"

"Those that are like us," she replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I know all about by powers now. If I hadn't have been helped and had never been told about them then who knows what could have happened! There's a chance of people becoming dangerous if they don't learn to control their powers, isn't there?"

"I suppose," he grunted, trying not to look too concerned.

"Then what are they to do?" She asked quietly, fixing him with a meaningful stare. "If they know about their powers then they forever have to hide them for fear of being murdered! Even those who don't know are in danger, probably even more so!"

"I know."

"It just seems such a shame," she breathed, staring off into space. "They can hardly go round asking where their kind might be safe. They need somewhere like Hogsmeade."

"Yes, they do," Godric said sadly.

"Somewhere that they can be themselves without fear of being found out."

"Somewhere that they can be taught how to use magic properly?" Godric suggested, his brow creased in concentration.

"Of course. A place where they can be taught how to use their magic safely and how to integrate with the outside world so that they won't be found out."

"A school..." Godric murmured, his mind reeling.

"Sorry?" She asked, staring intently up at him.

"A school, Rowena!" He beamed, grabbing her by the shoulders. "They need a school! If we can teach those that are like us whilst they're still young then they'll have a better chance!"

"They would," she agreed, smiling in an equally excited way. "But what about those that are older? Those that may still not know what their powers mean?"

"Well," she said, still thinking hard. "We'll take them too!"

"But - "

"There you are!"

They both jumped in mild surprise as Salazar called them from the other side of the expansive grassland. Helga was hurrying along behind him.

"Not interrupting anything, are we?" Helga asked, looking rather amused.

"Of course not," Godric insisted, unable to contain his excitement. "We're going to start a school for witches and wizards!"

They both exchanged glances, as though sure they'd misheard what he'd said.

"What?" Helga demanded.

"Well, it was Rowena's idea, really," he said quickly. "But I think it's what we need. Our kind, I mean. Some don't know how to use their powers properly, just as I did, and they shouldn't have to live in fear."

He stared expectantly at Salazar and Helga, who seemed to be mulling over the idea amongst themselves.

"Godric, I think it's brilliant!" Helga exclaimed, beaming happily at him. "You're right - it's exactly what we need!"

"Salazar?" He urged, wanting his friend's approval of such an idea.

"Yes, it's an inspired idea!" He nodded. "I can hardly believe no one's thought of this before!"

"I quite feel that someone has," Rowena pointed out. "I expect they just haven't been mad enough to do it!"

"But Godric is, aren't you?" Helga giggled.

"Aye, that I am!" He agreed.

"And this school..." Salazar said slowly, looking rather confused about something. "It's quite a risky idea. Where exactly do you plan on keeping these students of yours safely out of harms way whilst you teach them?"

"Well..." He began, feeling his heart sink. This had been the initial idea and working out all the kinks would prove somewhat of a challenge. Godric loved a challenge, though!

"Yes, we didn't think of that," Rowena mumbled, looking thoughtful.

Godric stared intently at the ground. Hogsmeade would obviously be the safest place for any witch or wizard but he doubted the residents would be too lenient towards a great hoard of strangers suddenly taking up refuge. He couldn't think of any other place in the country he would trust or feel safe in as much as Hogsmeade. The factor of space also proved a problem. From what Godric had heard, there were many of their kind all over the country.

What they needed was somewhere safe with plenty of space. He thought intently as he stared at the shadows creeping their way across the grass. His brain suddenly clicked and, as his eye line followed a particularly huge shadow, his face broke into a triumphant grin.

"What?" Helga demanded, looking shocked by this.

"The castle!" He laughed, as though unable to believe he hadn't considered it before. "It's perfect!"

"Lord Schreiver's castle?" Rowena asked, staring up at it in consideration.

"Aye!"

"And how do you plan on obtaining it?" Salazar asked.

"Well, no one's lived there for years. I don't think anyone even owns it. It could be ours for the taking! Lord Schreiver wouldn't mind if he was still here."

"But, Godric," Helga reasoned, looking a little doubtful. "It's in disrepair. I don't think it'd be very safe!"

"Then we'll fix it!" He insisted, not ready to back down yet; he'd find a way. "I have riches now. I've been waiting for the perfect time to use them."

Rowena was smiling proudly at him, obviously respecting his decision. Salazar was looking mildly impressed and Helga was beaming with excitement.

"Though, there is one slight problem," Salazar began to say, his face downcast once more. "Who will teach these students?"

Godric's face fell again. There seemed far more obstacles than he'd first realised. Though, there was also a perfectly simple solution staring him right in the face.

"We shall teach them!"

"What?" Rowena demanded, looking rather shocked by this.

"We're perfectly capable. Think about it!" He insisted, his smile back in place. "We've all learnt magic from the best. A little more training ourselves and we'll be perfectly fit!"

"But I don't know magic like the rest of you. I'm certainly not up to your standards. I haven't even had the chance to practice."

"But you can learn spells faster than most," Salazar pointed out. "My uncle told me so. You wrote back to him telling of the spells you'd mastered from one of his books. He told me you had a certain gift for charm work and enchantments."

"Well, I suppose..."

"There you are them!" Godric grinned. "You'll teach our students that!"

She looked rather astounded by this, as though the decision had been made so fast she wasn't quite sure what was going on.

"And what about me?" Helga asked uncertainly. "There's nothing I could really teach. I don't know magic like the rest of you."

"Maybe so," Godric nodded. "But we don't just need spells to be taught. Every witch and wizard requires potions at some point. You'll be the one to teach them!"

"Me? I'm not sure I'm good enough!"

"Of course you are. You're brilliant!"

She beamed at this, her cheeks blushing red slightly. She was pleased to have a place amongst such skilled individuals.

"And what about you?" Rowena asked, staring between Godric and Salazar.

"Well," Godric began, exchanging a glance with Salazar. "When I worked with Coen in Finland I was taught about many dark forces our kind might have to face. I even fought a few myself! I believe I could educate our students on these dark forces."

"Then I suppose..." Salazar said slowly. "That leaves me with the magic of transfiguration. I won't mind admitting that I am rather skilled with this art."

"Then that's it!" Godric smiled, half laughing with elation. "We have our school!"

"We're really going to do this?" Rowena asked excitedly.

"Of course we are!"