The Four Founders

Chapter Two – Godric

"To save lives?" the girl, Helga Hufflepuff, asked.

Godric could see the doubt in her eyes. She was going to be a hard one to convince; he could tell. He decided in a split second decision that telling the truth to this girl would help.

"Look Helga Hufflepuff, Sal and I were sent by a mutual friend of yours and mine to fetch you. I think you know her; Rowena Ravenclaw. There's a sickness in her city see and it's spreading like wildfire. She said that she had never known anyone so good with magical herbs and that you could definitely stop it spreading." Godric was impressed with himself for recalling all this and added as an afterthought, "Also, they're burning her as a witch in a few days time."

Helga's mouth had fallen open into a little 'o' shape.

"Of course she is a witch, and could easily escape being burned but really, fixing the illness is the best option because then they'll stop hunting out magic like it's a bad thing." Godric went on.

"Who's they?" Helga managed.

"Muggles." Salazar said, his face taught. Godric knew that his friend was not keen on muggles from past experience.

He could also tell from her face that the girl didn't understand the word. "Non magic folk." He explained.

Helga looked ready to ask more questions but suddenly the gate next to them gave a loud jolt and shuddered.

"They're trying to break it down!" Godric realised suddenly, "With a battering ram."

"You can't let them!" Helga cried.

Godric looked to his best friend for ideas. Salazar shrugged, "Contain the muggles, drop them off at the next village, easier for us to leave via the gate?"

It was as good a plan as any.

Godric had worked with Salazar so many times now he knew exactly what to do. Leaving Helga alone at the far edge of the courtyard he and Salazar headed towards the gate. It continued to rattle on its hinges and Godric could hear the shouts of the men on the other side. These men had followed him and Sal all the way from Rowena's village which was an entire day's journey just to stop them escaping since they were believed to be in on the disease with Rowena. It angered Godric no end; how could anyone even consider hurting Rowena Ravenclaw? She was the most intelligent and careful person he had ever met and would never begin such an illness.

"Alohamora." Godric heard Sal whisper as they took their places on either side of the gates.

"What are you doing?" Helga hissed from where she stood.

Godric put his finger to his lips, informing her to shut up. He was still taking in the fact that Rowena's saviour was a small nun who was no older than eighteen. She wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind.

The gates opened suddenly and the mob of men charged into the courtyard. Helga screamed. Godric felt a wave of annoyance; she had better not scream like this every time she was attacked.

From behind, Godric and Salazar raised their wands. The curse to be used was one they had both practiced many times and were very efficient at.

"Imperio." Godric muttered. He felt his wand release the energy and he knew that at least half of these men were now under his control. Using his will, Godric made them stop, close their mouths and stand obediently in a line. He watched Salazar do the same and grinned at his friend.

"What did you do?" Helga demanded, walking over curiously but with caution; her thick eyebrows furrowed.

"Just an imperius curse." Salazar informed her, now making his half of the men proceed out of the gates. Above us somewhere, a bell rang.

"What does that mean?" Godric asked sharply.

"It's the end of the service." Helga said, "The members of the convent will begin to come down here, to the courtyard."

"Then we must go." Salazar announced. Godric nodded in agreement. He made his own captives follow Sal's and then offered his hand to Helga Hufflepuff. If possible, her eyebrows furrowed even more and she opened her mouth to speak.

"Staying here forever or saving an entire village and learning how to use your magic?" Godric said before she could make a sound. He knew what her answer would be before she said it.

"Staying here."

Godric growled with frustration, this girl was insufferable. He raised his wand to reluctantly cast a spell over her too but Sal interrupted him. Godric looked questioningly at his friend but Salazar took Helga's hand and stared intently into her eyes.

"Helga, people are dying. Only you can save them. Come with us."

The girl paused for a second and then, as if she had suddenly had a revelation, she nodded.

"Yes, yes I will come. Let me get my things and-"

"We have no time!" Godric yelled in frustration; he could hear people approaching the courtyard.

"I need my cup!" Helga said desperately, "I can't heal anyone without it."

Godric wondered what on earth she was talking about but Sal just nodded, raising his wand and saying "Accio Helga Hufflepuff's cup"

Immediately a golden cup flew from a tower window high above them and headed straight to Salazar's hand. He caught it and threw it to Godric who stuffed it into his bag. Godric smirked briefly as he heard Helga gasp when the large object fitted perfectly into his tiny bag.

"Now let's go." Godric ordered and he ran out of the gates after the men under his imperius curse. He heard footsteps behind him and was reassured that Sal and the girl were following.

XXXXX

They reached the end of the long road into the convent without too many hiccups. Helga had tried twice to return for something or other but Sal had somehow convinced her not to go back.

Within an hour they had walked maybe a mile and Helga had asked nearly a thousand questions. Godric felt he would strangle her if she asked another; he was not well renowned for his patience, it was a virtue that Sal had in far greater quantities.

"How long have you been learning magic?" Helga's voice reached Godric over the wind. Thankfully, Salazar was answering all of her enquiries with full details.

"Godric's mother is a witch and so she taught him as he grew up. His father was a squib, which is a child of two parents with magic who does not have magic themselves. So Godric was fairly well taught throughout his childhood. I on the other hand, have been educated to the highest standard my whole life. Therefore, when I began….trading with Godric I was able to enhance many of his magic abilities. I was shocked to find him quite talented. Though not was talented as me, obviously." Salazar answered.

Godric whirled around, frowning, "Excuse you Sal, I think you mean that you were shocked to find I was more talented than you." He was joking and Salazar knew it as they shared a grin.

Godric was relieved however when Helga decided not to ask the exact nature of his and Salazar's "trading". Instead she took the route of asking more about wands.

Godric had indeed grown up with a magical parent; his mother, Galora Gryffindor. She was a beautiful woman, with long red hair which she had passed onto her only son. Godric's father, Rynn Gryffindor also had copper hair, but it was going grey with age. Or at least, it had been, when Godric had last seen his father.

When Godric was seventeen he had met the twenty four old Salazar Slytherin. At first, Salazar had introduced himself as a learned professor simply interested in discovering magic, something the young Godric had been keen to show off. Godric had flaunted his powers to his new friend and introduced him to his parents as his 'trading partner'. Exactly what they traded had never been determined but Godric's parents had soon learned the truth.

"Godric he could report you to the King!" Galora Gryffindor had cried.

"He is of noble blood and goodness knows he has connections in court and you know how much the King despises magic!" Rynn said angrily, "Think of your mother and sister! Do you want them to be killed by the King?!"

Godric had been terrified. He loved his parents dearly, and his sister, Giselle. He did not understand then how the muggle King could possibly kill anyone with magic but later, when the truth came out, he had regretted his foolishness.

King Edward, a muggle himself, employed a man named Luca Burke to catch and kill anyone he suspected of having magic. At first, witches and wizards had not worried, since a muggle execution could never harm an experienced person of magic. However, it had soon become clear that somehow Burke was able to truly and horrifically murder witches and wizards.

Of course, there were rumours that Burke himself was a wizard, and of dark magic. But nothing was ever proved and the King would simply order the death of those accusing.

Godric, realising that his new friend may well be working under Burke, to catch magic folk, had immediately helped his parents and sister leave their home, in the Hollow where he had grown up.

Godric himself had been planning to join them soon after but he stayed to say goodbye to Salazar, even though he knew it was stupid.

Upon meeting with Salazar he had simply said that he was leaving. Not where or when, just that he was going and could not see him again. Frowning, Salazar had told him not to go.

"You're a talented wizard Godric. I could teach you so much more."

"Teach me?" Godric had asked. So far, he had been the one showing off to Salazar.

Salazar had lowered his voice then and told Godric everything. About how he too was a wizard and he had learned from his parents as he had grown up, who were both magical folk.

The revelation had hit Godric hard, "So, you're not a spy who works for Luca Burke?"

"Goodness no." Salazar had laughed, his green eyes glinting.

"But your brother works in the King's court..." Godric had said in a slightly accusing manner.

"As do many wizards." Salazar had informed him, "Now, come, get your family back here and we will tell them the truth. I hope you will be my most valuable acquaintance and very best friend, Godric Gryffindor."

"And I you, Salazar Slytherin. Until the end of our days."

It had been a promise that Godric had not taken lightly. Salazar Slytherin had been the first person he had ever met who had truly understood him. None of Godric's muggle friends could compare to Salazar. The two of them practiced spells together and Salazar's parents had often had Godric's family over to their splendid castle for evenings of fun.

Of course, Godric reminded himself with a chuckle, these evenings had become far less frequent once Salazar's brother Salvador and Godric's sister, Giselle had been caught doing things they really should not have been doing.

Godric remembered the scene perfectly. He and Salazar hiding behind the curtain, waiting to pounce. They had known for a while now that Giselle and Salvador were up to something, but catching them on top of each other on a table, and putting them under body binding curses to prove it had made both Godric and Salazar's day.

"What are you laughing about?" Salazar's voice brought Godric back to the present.

He looked over his shoulder, "Remembering the time we got Giselle and Salvador caught."

Salazar immediately fell into laughter. Godric knew he enjoyed seeing others get caught out and this had been just one example.

Sobering up, Salazar noted, "It didn't stop them though did it?"

"True." Godric chuckled.

They walked for an hour or so more and then reached a small hamlet by the name of Ottery. It was here that they agreed to leave their captives and Godric and Salazar only released their curses over them when they were a safe distance away; a good half hour's walk.

Salazar had advised that they take a different route back to Rowena's village, one that the muggles pursuing them would not know. It would take perhaps a few hours on top of the day that it took on the way there, but Godric agreed that it would be worth it.

He would do practically anything for Rowena Ravenclaw.

Godric knew it was wrong, but it was true. The dark haired, blue eyed beauty had taken Godric's breath away ever since he first met her.

As a child, and before he met Salazar, Godric had had a friend called Hugh Ravenclaw. Hugh was a muggle boy, with sandy hair and a tall stature, though not as tall as Godric. Hugh was kind enough, and a good friend in a time of need. Godric had fought in taverns side by side with Hugh Ravenclaw, he had been beaten up for debts he owed side by side with Hugh Ravenclaw, and he had fallen in love with a woman side by side with Hugh Ravenclaw.

But it was Hugh who had won her heart. Godric could see why; Hugh was quick witted and his humour matched Rowena's. They had deep intellectual discussions while Godric drank ale in the corner.

And when Godric had seen her on her wedding day, beautiful as a goddess; he had promised himself that no matter what, he would do anything for this woman.

So, when Hugh had begged Godric to seek out Helga Hufflepuff, on his wife's plea, Godric had accepted at once. Naturally, Hugh had been angry at Rowena. Apparently she had told him that he could not go, it had to be Godric, not him. An outraged Hugh had demanded to know why but she would not say. Godric knew. He knew that Hugh could not go because he was not a wizard but Godric was. It made Godric even angrier to think that Rowena had told Hugh nothing of her magic. What kind of a marriage involved that deep of a deception?

Rowena and Godric knew of each others' magic because she had caught him practicing a new spell that Salazar had taught him one evening.

"That's a jolly good one. You shall have to teach me."

The voice had made Godric jump. He was on the balcony of Rowena's castle. Well, it wasn't hers, it belonged to the Courtenays, Rowena's adoptive family since her own parents had died soon after having her. The Courtenays had been very good to Rowena, having her as a ward and allowing her the liberty of a freely chosen marriage, something many girls were not allowed.

Of course, she had chosen well; Hugh Ravenclaw was of a mediocre gentry status so not too bad for an adopted noble girl.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Godric had said, fumbling with his wand, trying to hide it.

"Don't be silly," Rowena chuckled slightly, coming towards Godric, "I saw you, just now, doing magic. There's no need to be afraid. I also have the gift."

Godric had stared at her. She looked beautiful in the evening sunlight, in a deep blue dress with her dark hair pinned back to show off her lovely blue eyes.

"You magic." Godric had spluttered, before realising how stupid he was sounding, "I mean, you are a witch?"

Rowena nodded, smiling at him, "One of my parents must have had magic too, because they left me a wand. Of course, the Courtenays did not know what it was but they let me keep it. I'm quite sure they've forgotten I ever had it now but nonetheless I have taught myself a few simple spells. I should very much like it if you could teach me some more?"

Godric felt himself say "Yes!" before he could stop himself. It had been a rash promise and one he had struggled to keep, since it was not natural for him to be seen with Rowena so often as she had married Hugh soon after but Godric had never been so entranced by someone. He would do anything for Rowena Ravenclaw.