The Founders' Youth

All characters belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter One

"There! That's the last of them!" Helga had just finished dusting her famous Welsh Cakes with icing sugar. Bustling around the kitchen, she pulled out her wand and muttered an incantation. She had to be careful, her best friend Rowena was in the next room and had no idea that Helga, was in fact, a witch. Plates and chalices glided from a cupboard to the table and the dirty baking equipment flew to the bucket. Helga tucked a stray strand of brown hair behind her ear and poured some homemade rose water. Picking up the snacks, she fluttered into the living room and greeted Rowena.

Her best friend had travelled all the way down from Scotland just to see Helga. They'd met when both of their families had holidayed in the small town of Maidenhead, Berkshire. The two had literally fallen into each other as they tripped on the cobblestones of High Street. Their awkward meeting led to a close friendship between themselves and their parents.

"Mmm… Helga, you've done it again." Rowena drawled happily. Her half closed lids hid intense brown eyes that warmed only around Helga. Rowena loved spending time with her friend. The comfortable house, reassuring conversation and amazing food made the long travel worth-while. Sadly, Rowena knew that their friendship couldn't last long as she was a witch and Helga was… well… a Muggle! If only she could confide completely in her Welsh friend, but alas, it was forbidden. "How do you make these? They're beautiful," Rowena asked.

"Just a little… Magic!" Helga laughed nervously, hoping she hadn't given anything away. Her eyes locked with Rowena's conflicted gaze for a moment before she looked away hastily. After a long silence while they nibbled the Welsh Cakes, Helga asked "Are you okay, Rowena?"

Rowena couldn't go on like this. She'd been friends with Helga for five years now. Surely the Wizard's Council wouldn't mind ONE Muggle knowing their secret? Slowly, Rowena raised her eyes to look into Helga's soft blue ones.

"I…I…" Rowena, for the first time in her life, was stuttering. "I'm a witch!" She blurted. Rowena quickly stood, knocking her chalice to the ground. She awkwardly tried to scoop up the spilt rose water, to no avail. All the while, Helga looked disbelievingly at her. She couldn't believe this. Was Rowena messing with her? Did she mean "witch" in the same way that Helga was?

"You're… a witch?"

"Yes… No… Ugh, I should've left my mouth closed"

After a short silence as Rowena tried to regain her elegant aura, Helga recited "I swear to use my magic to do Good, to not think of myself as superior…"

Rowena turned, stunned. Helga couldn't be reciting the oath! Not the oath! She was a Muggle!

"…To never use magic in the presence of the non-magical and to keep the Secret." Helga finished.

"How…?" Rowena didn't finish her sentence.

"To think all these years I thought you a Muggle" Helga said, a smile slowly creeping onto her fair face.

"And I, you!" Rowena replied. How could this be happening? I must be dreaming Rowena thought.

Suddenly there was a loud squeal and Helga threw herself at her dignified friend.

"Oh I can't believe this! How did we not realise? How did our parents not realise?! This is amazing! Think of the adventures we can now have! This is going to be the Best. Friendship. EVER!" Helga gushed, delighted to finally have a magical friend.

"Yes… I suppose it is" Rowena smiled then gave in and returned her friend's embrace.