We ate at the teacher's table; the four of us excited, for in a few weeks there will be teachers here to settle in and in few spare months, students. It was a trilling feeling.

The boys though were bickering again. Young and handsome they were in their youth. Passionate as only young men can be. Godric and Sal had the same builds; tall and defined, Godric had thick brown hair with streaks of gold like a lion's mane that fell around his face to his shoulders. Sal kept his black hair swept back, save for a few stray strands that annoyed him to no end.

I remember when they first got together. They had been bickering again, like always. They always fought about the most pointless and trivial things when they were bored. Godric would always start it and see how long it would take him to barge through the sarcastic wit and drawl and break down Salazar's iron clad patience. When that happened, it always resorted to brilliant jests like they were still children. Godric thought it was amazing fun while Sal saw it as a chance to enhance his skill. Sal however was a tad selfish.

The four of us had met because of our reputations. And decided to build a school to teach our skills to others. Somehow in the decade of building in our late thirties and early forties, he had fallen in love with his best friend. In that period in time it was not uncommon for two males to be together romantically but it wasn't talked about. Sal was inverted and kept to himself. He knew that his friend had romantic intension towards someone but no matter how skilled he was at Legilimency, he could not bring himself to violate his friend's privacy.

However, when pushed to the end of his patience as Godric loved to do, he had a rare bout of irrationality and cast a spell he'd invented. It was supposed to be a prank as all their spells cast were. The spell found the person's romantic interest and engulfed that person in rose smelling cloud hearts. Sal wanted to know and if I knew him as well as I think, he wanted to hunt the person down.

I still remember the look on their faces perfectly. Godric portrayed mortified amusement and Salazar looked confused wondering if the spell backfired and horrified at being surrounded by cloud hearts.

Sal started cursing and waving the clouds away. "Ach! I must have said the incantation incorrectly."

Godric stealthy approached him. "Why do you say that my dear friend?" I believe Salazar had an expression that was a mixture of exasperation, frustration and adoration that was meant only for Godric.

"It states a person's interest." He said carefully as it explained everything in the universe. I remember how Godric's golden eyes glowed. "I have never seen you cast a spell incorrectly. It is a probable as it is improbable."

I also remember it as the first and only time Salazar Slytherin has ever looked confounded. Godric smiled reassuringly. "Enter my mind if you don't believe me."

Salazar growled almost playfully and let out a small careful smile, his dark grey eyes slightly awed. "I will not, for I do not need to. I have never cast a spell falsely, and you, you have never been untruthful."

Helga and I left at that time. The first touch of lips of true lovers is only to be witnessed by the Gods, and even then, it is more sacred then any moment could ever be.

I remember them as they grew older and more powerful and how we spent years perfecting Hogwarts for the students. They were two sides of the same coin. Salazar's glare could send thousands down to their knees begging for mercy while Godric's smile could bring hope to hundreds of villages. Darkness and light. They balanced.

Even their less redeeming qualities were balanced. I hate to speak ill of friends, but Godric had a mean streak. He never knew when a jest had gone too far and he had an addiction to the drinks that muddled men's minds. Salazar, thank Merlin, knew when to stop his jest and when one drink was one too much.

As it was, Sal had his toes in the alluring mysteries of the Dark Arts and Godric was always there to pull him out before he got in too deep. Sal was also the most suspicious and least trusting, but when he did trust, and when he did love, he was fiercely loyal. Helga to this day still believes that that was the only thing she and Sal had in common.

When we finally finished the school and established the rules, we gave each other gifts to celebrate. We were in our late forties by that point and young for wizards and ready to become professors and teach eager minds. I received a beautiful diadem and Helga had this stunning chalice. We gave Godric this magnificent sword and we thought that Sal being the grump that he was would need a pet. We gave him Basil, a rare emerald snake he could talk to and befriend. When he opened the parcel to find the sleeping serpent I don't think he has ever laughed so loud.

Later though, our boys met in their secret rooms in the dungeons. It was hidden, like a common room surrounded by stone. Salazar's private rooms were down there as well. Godric gave his lover a locket engraved with an S on it. He gave it as a gift and as a promise. To be by his side forever.

Now here is where our story takes a drastic turn, months after we had opened our doors for students and had them sorted, Godric had gotten word from a wizard in his hometown. Godric was born from muggle's you know. The wizard—I still cannot say his name. His name is bile on my lips—had sent word that Godric's mother was gravely ill. She was of no such thing. His family despised magic as most did during that time. And the wizard was in fact jealous of Godric and his power.

He wanted him to burn.

Draco and Harry jumped as they heard a door slam and Sirius's joyful bark before they heard his voice. "Oi! Kiddies! How's the cleaning coming!" Harry rubbed his eyes and noticed that it had gotten dimmer in the room. Evening had fallen.

Draco looked back at the portrait and smiled apologetically at the two Founders. "I'm sorry, we're going to have to delay the rest until tomorrow." Rowena nodded and Helga smiled back. "That's quite alright. We've waited centuries to tell this tale; another day won't be a bother." The two boys got up from the floor as they heard Sirius climbing the stairs. "We'll be back." Harry whispered as they closed the door. "We promise."

Helga smiled sadly at her companion. "I remember our boys promised the same thing." Rowena nodded mournfully amused. "They're so much alike. I just hope this time, the boys actually live to keep their promise."

*dodges flying tomatoes* ok ok so I haven't updated this in a while. Sue me. (don't half my family is some form of an attorney) either way I cranked this out even though I'm supposed to be working on Scarhead. This might only be one to two chapters longer *ducks produce* it's a story told from a portrait! And well I might make it longer once I sort out the climax, we'll see. Hope you enjoyed! Even though it was short.

Review and I won't wait three months until I post the next chapter. *evil smile* AHHH! *ducks a knife and runs like hell*