A/N: After lurking around this site for ages, I decided to post one of my own stories. Leave a note if you like, constructive critisism is always welcome and I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Not me.

Chapter 1

The red-haired wizard grimaced slightly as the healing light engulfed his torso, leaving behind a slightly burning sensation before even that faded and he could take his first uninhibited breath of air since being hit by that particularly unfortunate curse. His chest heaved slightly before he sighed in relief as the last feelings of discomfort faded, and he sat up carefully as the witch turned her attention to healing his remaining, luckily superficial wounds. Her face was scrunched up in concentration and concern, and at her side, her companion was also regarding him with a worried glint in her usually cool blue eyes.

"Godric… don't move yet please…" the witch who was currently in the process of healing him muttered gently as she pushed him back down with a careful but firm gesture. Godric obliged her with a sigh, letting the warmth of her healing wash over him as he briefly closed his eyes. He was exhausted. The attacks had been coming more and more frequently over the past weeks. Clearly, they had switched tactics once they figured out how outclassed they were against the combined might of the three of them, and now they were trying to wear them out. And slowly but surely, they were succeeding…

Rowena paced the room as Helga drew away with a tired sigh, finished at last, and Godric reopened his eyes at the sound of someone rummaging through the potion cupboard they kept stocked in the infirmary for times like these. He gratefully accepted the potion vial from Rowena as Helga sat down heavily next to him on the bed, equally drained after patching all of them up after the fight. He honestly didn't know where they would be without Helga. He had never met a witch more gifted at healing than her, and she had proven herself invaluable at every turn over the years.

The potion was cool as it slid down his throat, slightly sweet and thick, and immediately his exhaustion lifted somewhat. It was no substitute for real sleep, but at least it took the bone weariness away and replaced it with a more manageable sense of fatigue. He could see the same happening to Helga as she accepted the potion from Rowena as well, and the blonde healer smiled tightly in thanks at the darkhaired witch. Rowena's lips quirked up in answer, but the expression didn't reach her eyes as she turned to regard Godric silently as he finished the last of the potion.

The wizard slowly sipped at the remaining contents of the vial, thinking… This was getting bad.. bad enough to start wearing them down. He hadn't expected this, but the group of Dark wizards had proven to be more resourceful than they had anticipated, and the attacks had grown more vile and underhanded as time went by. It was unacceptable, they had something to protect now. The school, their students.. It was unthinkable for any of the children to inadvertently get caught in the crossfire. And what if those bastards did actually manage to somehow breach the wards and enter Hogwarts itself…

He shuddered at the thought, the feeling of fear leaving a tight feeling in his chest. They were getting closer to breaching the protective wards every time… and after last time… Apparently, they had now involved someone skilled at breaking wards, and it would most likely cost the three of them a day or more to restore the precious protections back to their original strength. And that was if all three of them worked on it in unison… and in all honesty, they could not afford that. Their resources were under too much strain as it was, and if they were to be worn down any worse than they were already… The repercussions of that were unimaginable.. Something had to be done. They needed help.

And he knew what kind of help too.. If only Helga and Rowena wouldn't be so adverse to the idea… He had proposed several times over the last few weeks to involve someone skilled at warding, and who knew Dark magic and who would be better able to bolster their defenses against such attacks in the future. The three of them as they were simply lacked that knowledge. And he knew someone who he trusted, and who would be able to do what they needed, if the man agreed of course. But thus far, he hadn't even been able to pose that question… But surely the two witches now saw the direness of their situation, after today's attack.

"I have to try it, I have to contact him at least," he said carefully, squaring his shoulders at the immediate reaction the proposal got. Anger. No, fury. As it had the last time he had tried proposing the same.

"How dare you even suggest bringing an abomination such as that man into our school Godric? I will not allow-"

Godric held up a hand, cutting Helga's reply short as he took a deep calming breath, averting his gaze for a moment in order to restrain himself. He loved Helga dearly, he did, but that was one of his oldest and closest friends she was talking about, and he had heard enough. Had been hearing it quite often over the past weeks. And he was done with it.

"Salazar is Dark, I don't need you to tell me that. I know it, probably better than you ever will. But he can help us, I know he can. And before you start, don't… I'm done defending myself, and him, to you. I'm going to speak with him, and you're just going to have to trust me for now," he snapped, standing up with sharp, agitated motions as the two women regarded him warily. "Just… trust me, please."

The two women looked away from him at that, and he sighed tiredly. He couldn't do as they wished for now, would have to go against them on this matter. And they would have to accept that. He just hoped he was right about his friend. He hadn't seen Salazar in over three years, and last he'd heard of him, the Dark wizard had not been idle. Gramayre… Salazar Slytherin had become the ruling force behind the most powerful Dark Wizarding authority of their age. And if power corrupted….

Godric swallowed, pushing his doubt and hesitation down as he made his way down to the stables, leaving the two women behind without giving them more time to protest against his actions. This was the most opportune time for him, if ever, to leave. Those bastards had to regroup and recover as well, and it was unlikely that they would make a move in the next few days… He just hoped that Salazar would be willing to help. They had been close, he and Salazar, even despite or maybe because of their greatly differing opinions and standpoints. Whichever way his old friend was going to receive him, it was bound to become an interesting visit.