Disclaimer: The founder themselves belong to J.K.Rowling, I am only borrowing them. Rivalin is mine, however as he's not too important, this really doesn't matter much.
Chapter 1.
"I'm sorry Gryffindor, but as admirable as your idea sounds and as honoured as I am by your offer, I really don't have the time or energy to take you up on it."
The rather annoyed tone of her father's voice was what first caught Rowena's attention, she didn't know he had visitors. It was so rare that he saw anyone these days that she just had to see who'd managed to get an audience with Rivalin Ravenclaw. As she peeked round the door to her father's chamber she caught sight of the oddest trio she'd ever seen; a Saxon man almost as old as Rivalin stood in front of her father's chair, probably the Gryffindor man she'd heard mentioned. He really was rather small, nearly as short as the wild-looking Viking woman who stood behind him. Rowena thought she looked familiar, she'd probably seen her or another of her family during her visits to the coastal villages. And then there was that last one, she'd never seen anyone so dark! There really couldn't be anyway that he was from the Isles, or even from across the water. He must have travelled far in his lifetime, as short as it seemed, he couldn't have been more than a decade older than her at most. She really had to find out where he was from, find out where he'd been, she just had to!
"Ah Rowena, enter, I'm sure my friends here would be pleased to meet you." It wasn't a request, and so she went in, rather embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, not to mention the way she towered over them. Honestly, why couldn't her father deal with some normal people for once instead of these awful, tiny invaders.
"May I introduce my daughter and apprentice Rowena? Rowena, these are Godric Gryffindor," Ah so her guess had been right, "Helga Hufflepuff," the name didn't ring a bell, perhaps she had been mistaken about knowing her from before, "and Salazar Slytherin." He even had a strange way of greeting, why bow like that? "They're hoping to start up a place where our kind can learn about our talents without prosecution." She looked at the trio again with a new found admiration in her eyes. Oh to be a part of something like that! Why her father had refused, she couldn't guess. "I expect you'll be seeing more of them if the venture succeeds."
The Viking, Helga, she thought, shook her head. "I'm afraid it's unlikely, we were hoping to teach the younger ones, children mainly. So that they'll long be done by the time they reach your daughter's age."
"I'm sure she'll manage all the same, my Rowena's a very bright and talented girl, almost as much as her father."
It was strange how the trio's attention turned to her then, a new interest in their eyes.
"Honoured sir, if I might perhaps suggest a solution?" That dark man's way of speech matches his looks, utterly foreign. She's never heard an accent like it, even as much as she's travelled.
"What is it?"
Rowena already has an inkling of what it might be though, and she tries to not get her hopes up. Oh to carry on teaching without having to travel constantly, to be able to do her work in warmth and safety would be heaven. Even if her father refuses she'll still find someway to do it, she must.
"You were considering having your daughter sent to us for tuition, yesno?"
"I was."
"Perhaps then, she might aid us where you were not able to. If, as you say she is much like yourself and you have imparted much of your knowledge unto her, then perhaps she could do the same to others. It of course would not be as great as honour as having yourself there but it would still make our group far better than if neither of you were there."
Well he certainly was a flatterer and knew exactly how to get through to her father, he did look much happier than he did when she first saw him in the meeting. If she went it would also relieve the pressure on him from local leaders, even though it was accepted that as a Celt, and a Druid at that, she had every right to impart knowledge, it would be preferred by all if it were just her brother doing it and not her. At least this way they would get the best of both worlds.
"Rowena, what do you say?" He was actually asking her? How could he not already know the answer?
"If you allow it, I believe it would be an interesting experience."
"Then you shall go." Her grin nearly matches those of the trio, but not quite.
"Now," Rivalin Ravenclaw stood up out of his massive chair and loomed over all of them, "what are you calling this place? I must know what I'll be bragging about."
The Viking and the dark one looked rather awkward then, but the Saxon, Gryffindor just beamed further.
"Hogwarts." He said proudly.
"What?" he demanded into the silence while Rowena tried to stifle a giggle.
Well, love? Hate? Couldn't give a fig either way? Push the button and tell me! Please?