iron gates
why not allow a little suspense?
The hall is covered in colors. Green, red, blue, yellow. It is hard for Rowena to tell them apart—they are mixed together, like an artist's palette. She thinks that it is beautiful. Beautiful like the sun setting behind the castle, beautiful like the moon reflecting off the lake. Beautiful like Hogwarts. She smiles, softly, her hair falling around her face as if it is woven night.
She is not used to not understanding things, but Hogwarts—it is alright for her to not understand Hogwarts.
Next to her, Godric grins. The candles floating above them cast shadows on his face, illuminating the giant room. They stand up, together, all four of them—Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff—and face the hall. For the first time, Rowena feels at home. She grasps Salazar's hand.
This is the beginning.
"Salazar!" the word rebounds throughout the entrance hall. Outside, lightning skims across the lake. The rain pounds against the roof. Helga is up front, by Salazar, and Godric stands close by. Rowena keeps her distance. "Salazar, please—don't go," Helga cries, helpless. "Please!"
The man standing by the door shifts. "I don't want to stay here. If you do not understand my ideals, then I will create my own path," the entrance swings open.
Rowena's face crumples. "Salazar," she says, sadly, as he steps out of Hogwarts. Godric stays silent. "Salazar, please wait,"
The rain swallows the Slytherin up. Helga falls to her knees. Godric stalks up the stairs. Rowena remains, frozen.
This is the end.
Godric smiles. Helga laughs. Rowena looks up from her book. The library is empty except for the three of them. It's midnight, and outside the moon is clear.
Salazar does not exist.