If anyone is interested in being beta readers for me, or just want to point flaws out, please email me. Help is greatly appreciated!
A/N First let me thank you for going to read my story. However, I must first say thanks to J.K. Rowling for her wonderful books - without them, this fan fic would not be possible. I don't own her characters; please don't think that I do. I do claim, however, ownership over Veriria Cerridwen, Tressa Baird, etc. and all other original characters not appearing or being mentioned in the original Harry Potter literature.
This is an original story idea by moi, so please don't steal it - although if you get inspired by it, please do give me an email! I would appreciate it :) This is a work in progress...Please, review it if you have already taken the time to read it! I would very much appreciate it. Oh yes, a little background info - Cerridwen is the name of a witch/goddess where we (the human race) derived the image of a witch stirring a cauldron. :) Bet you didn't know that, did you?
Summary: Story of The Five Founders. Veriria Cerridwen left Hogwarts with her house because of Gryffindor and Slytherin's fighting disrupting school. Prologue to another story I am writing.
The Five Founders 1, Part 1
Veriria stared at herself in the mirror. She smoothed out her white dress, feeling the velvet touch on her skin as she smoothed it out, loving the feel of its warmth on her body. This was a gift from her aunt; an opalescent white dress with a hint of a bluish tint, and a light blue sash across her waist. Two blue cords fell gracefully down the center of her dress and nearly brushed the floor.
She checked her dirty blonde hair in the mirror, and noted how the light of the fire made her hair shimmer. Her hair was halfway knotted into a bun at the back of her head, and the bottom half of her hair was left to cascade down her back, nearly falling to her waist.
This left her ears in full view; they were slightly pointed, much like an elf's. The corners of her lips turned up slightly, and she closed her eyes - she did indeed look much like an elf - at least from the outsider's point of view. They know nothing about real elves.
Veriria's shoulders slumped slightly and she sighed, once more opening her eyes. Well, lets get this over and done with, then. She turned around on her heel, and walked over to the door to exit her private chambers. She looked to the staircase on her right longingly, because she wanted to go up to the tower to view the stars through her new telescope. Her private chambers were in the highest tower of the school, so she could be as close to the stars as possible. With another sigh, she descended the staircase to her left.
Veriria also wished that she could simply apparate to the main Hall, but the other founders and she had agreed that it would be for the better if they charmed the school to stop apparation from occurring. It wouldn't be very good if someone just apparated into the school unannounced.
Well, not everyone...Salazar was against the idea. Veriria thought. But all the others agreed it was for the best, so there was no more debate on the subject.
Before she knew it, Veriria was in the main Hall. She walked down the staircase and was greeted by Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw at the bottom. They were two of the other Founders of this school.
"Good morrow, Veriria." said Helga.
"Morning to both of you." Veriria said and nodded.
"I'm rather excited about today," said Rowena, slightly smiling, "and that is saying something." Rowena turned around and spread her arms out wide. "Can't you just feel it? Its the beginning of something new...Something grand." She turned back to Veriria and Helga, her black hair whirling as she did so. She was a very place person, probably due to the fact that she spent most of her time reading in the library.
"Oh yes, I cannot wait to get this year started!" said Helga. Helga was a very - peppy - person. Very unlike anyone else Veriria knew.
Veriria heard a swish above their heads, and then the distinct sound of a hoot as an owl came flying towards them. It swooped down to Rowena, and landed on the banister of the stairs next to the three women. Rowena carefully reached towards the owl and pat its head, and then untied the note from around its foot.
They all read the note:
My Dear Professors:
Your guests are on their way. Most of the parents have just settled their affairs here at the Three Broomsticks Inn, and should be arriving momentarily.
Regards Milly Hardbroom
The owl hooted again, and Veriria scratched its neck. The owl nipped her finger in return and looked expectantly up at Veriria.
"Oh, I am sorry, I don't have a treat for you right here, but I am sure if you fly down towards the kitchens the house elves will be most happy to help you out." Veriria said, again petting the dove grey owl.
The owl cooed happily and took off, down the hall to their right.
"Well, looks as though we should make sure everything is ready." Helga said happily. She then waved her right hand in the air, and a house elf appeared at her side.
"How may Wambo help the Ladies?" the house elf said, bowing low.
"It is time to start preparing for the feast, and the dormitories checked over once more to make sure everything is perfect for our new guests," said Helga. Rowena half-smiled and turned away to walk towards the small office under the grand staircase.
"Oh yes, and decorate the Great Hall for our feast as well!" said Helga, as an after thought. Her eyes glinted with merriment.
"Anything's for my Ladies!" squealed Wambo, and with a loud pop he disappeared as easily as he came.
Veriria crossed her arms and closed her eyes in deep thought. She absent-mindedly bit her lower lip.
"I still don't understand fully why they can still apparate when we cannot..." Veriria trailed off.
"Well, its certainly preferable to their other form. I'm very glad the Snape family was finally able to do something with those putrid creatures - or we would still be waging a war with them!" said Helga. This snapped Veriria back into reality and she opened her eyes again. Veriria shrugged, and started walking towards the small office Rowena just went in to.
As she entered the room, she pondered over house elves. They were a rather new invention. The much respected Snape family has turned them into mere slaves; which is much more preferable to their ancestors, who were ravenous savages, attacking anything on a whim, and had very powerful magic. Now, they receive much pleasure from serving humans, their 'masters'.
Veriria sat down in a large squashy chair in front of the fire. Rowena must have summoned the elf named Wambo, because he offered her a cup of tea as she sat down once more.
"Thank you very much." Veriria said and smiled gently, taking the cup from the house elf. She sipped at the tea, noting how spicy it tasted as it slid down her throat. It warmed her insides up greatly, she had had a chill every since she woke up, mostly due to nervousness for this coming day.