Disclaimer: These are not my characters, and I have no intention to copyright. The world and characters belong to JKR, and I'd like to thank her for supporting fanfiction.

Lord Voldemort disintegrated into ash, and the second wizarding war ended. They had much to celebrate, but not tonight. Rescue parties ploughed through raging fires and deftly avoided falling rubble while they searched. The infirmary filled beyond capacity, and countless dead littered the grounds of Hogwarts. The school of witchcraft and wizardry was no more.

Godric Gryffindor shook his head and turned away from the viewing portal. "How could we allow that to happen?" The bushy-haired wizard sighed deeply and unsheathed his sword. He swished it in the air and glanced at his bald-headed friend. Godric knew who to blame for the mess.

Salazar angrily scowled at the dunderheaded Gryffindor and sneered. "Slytherin shares no part in your culpability. The fault lies entirely with those from Gryffindor."

Godric grasped his sword with a firm grip and pointed its tip at his arrogant companion. His lips twisted in anger, and none missed his bellow. "Slytherin housed that vile wizard! Gryffindor takes no responsibility for his evil deeds."

The angered shout had no affect on the other wizard. Salazar calmly stroked a shrunken basilisk wrapped around his shoulders. He felt lost without Salina, but a young Harry Potter reunited him with his familiar. He glanced at Godric with a treacherous grin. "Muggles abused and ostracised my descendant while Gryffindors did nothing. They created a monster bent on revenge for those who tormented him." Godric snorted in disbelief, but Salazar had just begun. "Tom pleaded with Albus Dumbledore, but the muggle loving fool returned him to the orphanage. The wizarding community refused to help."

Godric stroked his bushy chin length beard and sheathed the sword. "Why blame Dumbledore for the actions of a Slytherin? Have you forgotten about Headmaster Black?" Salazar's scowl encouraged him to continue. What Gryffindor could refuse a good boast? "Dumbledore ignored Harry Potter when he pleaded to stay at Hogwarts and forced him to live with bullies. You didn't see him retaliate by slaying muggles and starting a war with the wizarding community. Potter had the heart of a true Gryffindor, and he became a hero."

The argument continued as it had for a century. Helga added sugar to her tea and watched the two with sadness in her eyes. "Will it ever end, Rowena?"

"They will never find solace in words." Helga had to agree. The elegant raven rose from the table and approached the angered wizards. "Your argument solves nothing. Put aside your differences and work together to prevent the war from happening."

Godric greeted the suggestion with an enthusiastic grin. "Of course, why didn't we think of that earlier? Rowena, you've given me a great idea!" Salazar groaned in anticipation, but his bushy-haired friend didn't let that dissuade him. "We travel back in time and stop it from happening!"

The bald headed wizard folded his arms and sneered. "I find myself awed by your sheer brilliance, Godric. Enlighten me with your plan for returning from the Veil, or have you forgotten? We no longer have our mortal bodies." Salazar scowled at the larger wizard and turned on his heel. He had enough of Godric's foolishness.

Helga approached the small gathering and smiled affectionately at the quarrelling men. "Now Salazar, was that necessary?" His eyes bore into the Hufflepuff, and he answered with a stiff nod. The motherly woman patted his shoulder and ignored his angered scowl. "Rowena suggested it, maybe she has an answer."

"Indeed." Three heads turned, but one showed disinterest. "I appealed to the Veil for mercy, and it listened to my plan. It offered a conditional agreement." Rowena glanced at Salazar and swallowed. He wouldn't like it, but she had nothing better. "The Veil insists we take muggle identities, and it will allow us to enter in pairs."

"You agree to teach children born from muggles, and now you want me to become one." Salazar pointed an accusatory finger at Godric. "This sounds like a Gryffindor plan! Did you seek that imbecile for advice?"

Helga approached Rowena and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "Don't listen to him dear, you know how he likes to complain. Tell us about the plan."

Godric tried to suppress his amusement, but a small grin turned into a boisterous laugh. "It has my approval."

Salazar folded his hands and sneered. "How can you agree without knowing any details? I suppose, all Gryffindors are brainless idiots who rush in without thinking."

"Who needs to hear the plan? I'd do anything to see Sal living like a muggle." The boisterous laughter became contagious, but not for one bald headed wizard.

Rowena offered the seething man an apologetic smile. "Salazar believes Tom became evil because of his upbringing, so the Veil agreed to give him a better childhood. It will allow you to keep your magical abilities, but you will assume the role of a muggle couple wishing to adopt a son."

Salazar's brows narrowed, and he glared at the other wizard. "You will not raise my descendant."

"Fine by me, I'll leave the heinous monster to you."

Rowena glanced between the two men and hesitated. "Sal, what do you know about muggle society?"

"They are cruel creatures unwilling to accept what they cannot understand. What more do I need?"

Helga approached the stubborn Slytherin and patted his lower arm. "Don't worry about a thing, Sal. We can become muggle farmers and give Tom Riddle the happy childhood he deserves."

Salazar scowled at the motherly witch with a furious glare. "You want me to become a FARMER? I will do no such thing!"

"Can't you see it, Sal? You'll be wiping mud from your sweaty brow and socialising with the muggles. It'll be the time of your life!"

The laughing Gryffindor received an icy glare, but Salazar couldn't remove the horrid image from his mind. A more loathsome fate wasn't possible. "Godric will play in the dirt with the inferior creatures. What is the other choice?"

Rowena nodded at the new couple and continued with her explanation. "We have a second plan if they fail." Sal rolled his eyes and silently snorted. What would they know about raising a Slytherin? "The next part deals with Severus Snape. He plays a pivotal role in the war despite his muggle upbringing. We know little about his life before Hogwarts because his parents kept him away from the magical community. Salazar, the Veil will plant you in Eileen's womb, and you will become his twin brother."

He rubbed his chin in contemplation, but the Slytherin refused to agree without knowing more details. "Will I attend Hogwarts and rejoin the magical community?"

"Indeed." A small smile softened the stern matron's features.

He could become a muggle farmer, or a child wizard. It didn't need much thought. "Godric would turn Snape into a brainless Gryffindor." Salazar glared at the other wizard to emphasise his point and turned his attention back to Rowena. "I cannot trust him with Severus." He knew the cunning raven manipulated him, but he respected her all the more. "What will you do?"

Rowena straightened her sleeve with a gentle tug. "I will become a spiritual guide, or companion to help you on the journey. The Veil will allow me to keep all current memories, but I will not have a physical body."

Godric glanced at the Slytherin with a mischievous smirk. "Rowena, please, I'm begging of you. Your first visit needs to happen in the middle of the night when Sal's asleep." The beastly man sniggered at an imagined joke. "I bet he wets the bed."

Arms folded across his chest, and Salazar scowled at his best friend. How dare he make that insinuation!

**SS**

Helga stormed into the room and threw her hat on the table. "How could our son murder us? We did everything for him and showered him with love. Godric, why did he hate us?"

The large Gryffindor had no answers, but he understood Helga's need for comfort. His arms wrapped around her in an affectionate embrace, and he tried to assure her with a soft voice. "We can't change everyone, Helga. Let's hope Salazar has better success."

Helga pulled a yellow hankie from her inner pocket and tried to wipe her eyes while crying into Godric's chest. Where did they go wrong?

Godric held her close and softly wiped her tears. He glanced at the viewing portal and watched while Eileen and Tobias Snape celebrated the news of having twins. He hoped Salazar would have better success. Lily, James, Harry, Sirius, Frank, Hannah, and Neville would suffer if he failed. What would happen if Severus never became a Death Eater?