Alex Weasley: Book 3

59

Alex watched with the crowd as Hermione, Laila, Luna and Cedric stood on a dais in front of the whole school. Laila led the charge. As they waited for everyone to quiet down, Laila shot one last look at Alex who shook her head. She nodded, resigned.
"So, earlier this year, we came across an old, unchartered part of the castle. Someplace that had been abandoned for centuries that we'd like to show all of you." Laila opened. "It's an original hall built by one of the founders of Hogwarts. It's called Helga's Hall. Like Salazar Slytherin had his chamber, each of the founders had areas of their own."

"We'll get to them all, but first-" Luna threw the balls from Rowena's study into the air. Everyone quickly moved away from the skittering balls that each made its way to a corner of the great hall. They ran up the wall before meeting in the centre and harmless golden sparks showered down on the students. Instantly the great hall was transformed into an illusion of Helga's hall. "These handy tools come from Rowena's study."

"In Helga's hall we found some well preserved journals belonging to Salazar and after reading them, we've found out a lot about each of the founders." Hermione said. "For example, Slytherin and Hufflepuff were good friends. We also now know that Gryffindor was a Herbology buff and enjoyed nature's gifts. Rowena was interested in her books and studying, sure, but she was just as fierce in her love for her friends."

"After a thousand years of segregating all students into houses and defining them by sole traits, a lot of us have forgotten the original founders were the best of friends. It's easy to make assumptions, and pit houses against each other, justify it by claiming the founders would each see it our way. But they probably wouldn't have. For all their differences, they were all as attached as devil's snare." Alex heard a small moan of indignation from behind the group at Cedric's words. Luckily no one else seemed to hear.

"We read all of Slytherin's journals. We spent a lot of time in Helga's hall. We studied Rowena's teachings and we learnt a lot about Gryffindor through his grove. And I know to some of you it may seem like a sacrilege. A muggleborn setting eyes on the words Slytherin wrote. But what you don't know is that Helga Hufflepuff was a muggleborn." Instantly, the entire hall was in an outrage.

"Did you know that?" Charlie tugged on her arm and Alex shook her head.

"I'm as clueless as you. I knew they were working on something." She shrugged. "I had other worries going on."

"This is going to shake the wizarding world." Megan smirked, as though she liked that idea.

"You're telling me." Alex scoffed. "It's huge."

"We all know the primary character traits of each of the founders. Slytherin was cunning and willing to do anything for himself and those he cared about. Hufflepuff was kind and patient and willing to help anyone who needed it. Ravenclaw was smart and determined to put her knowledge to use to further her world. And Gryffindor was brave and daring and willing to slay monsters to keep them all safe. One thing they all had in common was that they were all loyal to each other." Luna said.

"So you might be wondering why their friendship ended?" Laila asked. "It all started because of a trip Helga took home with her friends. Helga was raised in a muggle village in the country. Salazar lived in a town over with Godric. And Ravenclaw grew up in a village across the county. Wanting to introduce her friends to her family, Helga led the others to her home only to be met by ignorant muggles who'd found out Helga had magic. They attempted to kill Helga, and if it hadn't been for Salazar, they might well have succeeded. The four friends left immediately to find someplace safe and recuperate." Another wave of shock and confusion littered the hall.

"Oh, poor Helga." Hannah looked upset.

"Hey, it's okay. Slytherin saved her, didn't he?" Alex assured and she nodded.

"Each of the founders wanted to protect her. It was something they all united in. So the next day, Salazar and Godric got ready to storm back into the village and wipe them out when Helga found out. She begged them not to and after a lot of convincing and negotiating, they eventually left, only warding the town with a warning for any wizard who might stumble in." Cedric said. "And then they trekked back to Hogwarts, their bonds stronger than ever. But that single incident, where muggles dared to harm their friend, had planted some ideas into Salazar's mind."

"He wanted to protect Helga, and he wanted to protect the students at this school. So he proposed that when Hogwarts took in muggleborns, they would renounce their muggle families. He proposed that they stay at Hogwarts year round until they were ready to get back out into the world." Luna spoke. "He'd seen the worst of muggles and was convinced that they were all as frightened and angry as the muggles he'd met. Helga disagreed. The argument ran long. Salazar maintained it was not a risk they could or should be willing to take."

"The truth is, no one was wrong and no one was right. Salazar had a point. Muggles could be a danger. We know that from the witch trials where they burned us alive." Laila said.

"But so did Helga. We have evidence that some muggles and some wizards can coexist. Halfbloods wouldn't exist and if we cut muggles out of our community, the wizarding world would diminish in numbers." Hermione added.

"And that's why it's important that we learn what really happened. We can't go on ignoring the dangers of the world, but we can't be afraid of them either. After what will probably be a lot of processing and a lot of people looking them over and duplicating these diaries, they will be available in the Hogwarts library." Laila said.

"We did say Helga's hall wasn't the only place we visited." Hermione grinned. "We found Godric's grove. He planted thousands of magical plants and trees. Most of them will probably have to be catalogued by professionals like Professor Sprout to make sure they're not dangerous first."

"Rowena's study was filled with workbooks and experiments, one of which being these memory balls that can map out a room and create an illusion of it in another." Luna said.

"Helga's hall was mainly designed to be a place of comfort for her and her friends. As you can see a lot of people felt comfortable there, including Slytherin. It's where his books were found." Cedric gestured to the journals they all held.

"And last but not least, Slytherin's chamber. We found a second entrance to another part of the chamber that contained one of our most important finds." Laila turned back to get out Slytherin's portrait from the bag. "Hogwarts meet one of our founders. Salazar Slytherin." There were cheers and whistles and applauses from the Slytherins and Salazar looked pleased at the reception.