Disclaimer: I don't own these four main characters JK Rowling does. I do however own everyone else you see.
A/N: J.K. Rowling gave us some tidbits about the founders but I don't think it was enough so I'm going to play in that world for a bit. But I might not be using all the tidbits she gave us, there will be discrepancies.
Chapter 1
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Helga Hufflepuff giggled as she rode her horse around the edge of her father's land. There were large hedges that blocked the land from the three other properties that bordered it. The hedges were forever changing shapes, making faces at her as she rode her horse along them.
Helga was a slightly chubby teenage with long red hair tied up in a braid. She was dressed in fancy clothes showing her father's wealth rather than a husband's. Helga was nearly seventeen and still without a husband, something that drove her mother crazy. But Helga always said she had too much to do to settle down with a man and raise children, of her own at least. Helga was always teaching her cousins, younger siblings, and the neighboring children new spells. Anyone that wanted to learn was welcome in her circle. Whenever she was in the village she was often followed by at least twenty children if not a few adults.
"Ahhhhh!"
Helga looked sharply to her right to see a boy about to fall out of a tree. "Wingardium Leviosa." She yelled pulling out her wand. She carefully guided the boy back onto his tree branch. The boy grabbed on tightly and nodded his head. Helga ended the spell.
"Thank you." The boy murmured.
"What are you doing up there?" Helga asked.
"I'm trying to get away from my brother." The boy said looking around cautiously.
"How will hiding in a tree help that?"
"I'm not hiding in the tree, I was going to jump the hedge and sneak to the village to find Father. Raoul's dumb friends are patrolling the front or I'd go out the way." He grumbled.
Helga smiled at him, "Well what are you waiting for?"
The boy raised an eyebrow, "Truly?" Helga nodded. As quick as a snake the boy was jumping over the hedges and landing softly on his feet. "Thank you milady." He started to run.
"Now wait a moment. Let's have a look at you." Helga held up a hand. The boy stopped and rolled his eyes. The boy looked to be about twelve perhaps thirteen. He was very skinny with dark eyes and shoulder length black hair. "Would you be the third Slytherin male child, Herne?"
"You guess wrong, milady. Herne is my younger brother. I'm the second eldest." The boy puffed out his chest.
"Then you must be Salazar." Helga said. He made a face. "Did I guess wrong again?" She asked.
"No I just prefer Sal. Salazar sounds like a lizard. If I was going to be a reptile I would be a snake not a lizard." Sal made a hissing noise.
"Well then, Sal, perhaps you should get going before your brother finds you." Helga suggested.
A mischief grin filled Sal's face, "Oh I'll know when he gets close."
"Salazar you thieving urchin when I find you, you—" The yell changed into a scream of surprise.
Sal gave Helga a thoughtful look, "Does it really count as stealing if you intend to give it back to them in some form?" They could hear boys' laughter through the hedges.
Helga shook her head laughing, "Come, let's get you to the village."
Sal bowed slightly, "Thank you milady." Then he started to walk away.
"My name is Helga."
Sal turned around and bowed before smirking, "Of course milady."