A/N: Hi! The story of how this one-shot came to be was a bit weird: so, I was in Social Studies class, and we were watching a video. The camera was inside a temple, which I thought looked like the underbelly of a dragon. That brought me to the Hogwarts motto. Well, enough of my pointless rambling. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own HP, J.K does. And I don't speak Old English, so sorry.
Once upon a time, on a hill in the Scottish countryside, there were four witches and wizards by the names of Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. They wanted to build a school together, and after Rowena was told to come to that spot by a warted hog, everyone agreed that they were to erect their school there.
Except, of course, for the dragon that called the hill home. They debated how to get rid of it.
Helga Hufflepuff said, "We should build our school on the neighboring hill, for this dragon came before us."
Rowena Ravenclaw said, "We should drive it away; let us target it in the eyes, where it is said to be weakest."
Salazar Slytherin agreed, but said, "No, if we simply drive it away, it shall be free to return. We must end its life," to which Helga strongly disagreed.
As the others argued, Godric Gryffindor came up with a plan, and, without consulting the others, he darted forward and slid underneath its belly. He then pulled out his wand, and sent a Tickling Hex at the dragon.
With an almighty roar, the dragon arose and glared at Godric through a single amber eye. The dragon had been asleep, and wasn't happy about being awoken.
The dragon faced the four friends, swishing its tail threateningly. Three of them glaring at the fourth, they Apparated to a nearby hill, where they could still see the dragon thrashing about.
Rowena rounded on Godric, and the look on her face made him gulp. "You blithering idiot!" she screamed at him. "Whatever could have possessed you to attempt such a foolish plan!"
"I believed it to be a good idea at the time…" said Godric sheepishly.
"May your descendants have a higher intelligence than you," said Rowena, turning away with a roll of her eyes.
And so, once they had lured the dragon away (Salazar had conjured a golden egg and floated it off into the distance, and the dragon had followed), they were finally able to build their school. Later, when the friends were choosing a motto for their school, the incident was brought to mind.
And so, the Hogwarts motto was born: "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus," or "Never tickle a sleeping dragon."