A/N: Now we meet the Founders and all the BS I made up for them. Enjoy!
The four founders were gathered in what would be the headmaster's office (once they all passed and one was appointed) sat around a circular table, Godric's pointed brown hat that was beginning to fray in the centre.
Rowena was the first to stand from her perch and raised her wand. Waving it in intricate and delicate movements she spoke aloud to her dear friends as she cast.
"In my House only the most intelligent will dwell. Those who are sharp of mind will be accepted. Wit and wisdom will be valued over all else. Those with a thirst for knowledge and learning will find their homes here. Together they will improve upon each other and learn from one another. Also those with quirks and great creativity will be welcome. Those who are eccentric and misunderstood will find a safe haven. This is what I wish the hat to see when choosing my House's students in my stead."
With a flourish she finished her spell. Blue sparks fell from her wand and settled onto the hat. The magic bled into the seams and her spell was complete.
"I have also given the hat the ability to speak so it may announce the chosen house to the entire school proudly and the gift of Legilimency – a critical skill to sort with accuracy. I have also cast a preservation spell so that the hat will remain undamaged through the years; though I regret to say that this spell will lose its effectiveness once I am no longer here."
There were nods of agreement from the other three and Rowena sat once more, waiting to see who would next cast their spell.
Godric stood next, his sword handing from his side. He rolled up the sleeves of his robes, grasped his wand tightly and thought about what he valued most. His wand movements were solid and purposeful – much like the man himself.
"I believe that courage and bravery are what my House will represent. Those who put others safety before their own and protect more than themselves will be welcome in my House. Those who honour chivalry and have a strong nerve will find more of their kind here. It is alright to be somewhat reckless in these acts as many situations of bravery are impulsive and have no time for thought. I ask my hat to see all of this and choose those who embody my ideals to be welcomed with open arms."
Godric finished his spell and like Rowena's, his red sparks bled into the hat. Once the light faded, he sat and looked towards his oldest and closest friend urging him to take his turn.
Salazar met Godric's gaze and knew that what he thought was best for their school was not shared by the others but he hoped that they would come to see his reasoning.
Rising with purpose he held out his wand and cast without hesitation. He knew what he wanted and now was not the time to second guess himself. His movements were fluid and commanding.
"Those who possess strong ideals and are unwavering in them will find a home in my House. Those with ambition and cunning will be welcome and may all those in my House help each other to achieve their goals. Those who are determined and never give up until they succeed will do well here. However, magical blood is the greatest deciding factor. Magic should be taught to the magical and I ask the hat to only allow those of Pure-Blood into my House. If the wizarding community wishes to remain strong then the blood within must also be so."
Salazar remained standing as his sparks joined the others and cast a challenging look towards his fellow wizards.
"Salazar!" Godric exclaimed, slamming his hands onto the table. "How dare you be so selective! If we wish for the wizarding community to remain strong; surely that would require all of whom possess magical ability to be taught!"
"The blood must remain strong Godric. Muggle blood is inferior, and it will taint us. Mark my words." His duty done – for the hat was going to take over the role of sorting students – Salazar swept from the room vowing to never return until the rest saw that he was right. If that never happened then his heirs and his beast would finish what he had started. Of that he was certain.
Godric left the room in pursuit of his friend leaving the two women to finish the enchantment.
"It is not like we did not see this coming." Rowena murmured breaking the stunned silence.
"Indeed." Helga agreed. "Though I do wish Salazar would have seen his error before now, alas my wish was not to be so. I will finish my enchantment and do my best to remedy what has occurred.
"Those who possess a strong sense of loyalty will be placed in my House. May they be loyal to those who deserve it and more so to themselves and their own morals. I wish for them to work hard to achieve what they can but to never attempt what is too much for them to bare alone and to seek help when they need it. I hope they are patient and understanding; warm and welcoming to all who cross onto Hogwarts' grounds. I wish for them to be just and kind and to never assume for that is how good friends become great enemies.
"Hat, I wish you to be fair and take all the time you need to sort with accuracy. I wish for you to have a personality of your own and to never take your task lightly. To take the students opinion into account, to take them all with no bias and place where they truly belong."
Helga finished her calm and soft wand movements and placed all of her trust and hope into her spell, wishing that the hat would heed her words and be fair above all else.
The sparks from her wand seemed to shine the brightest and they took their time disappearing into the fabric of the hat.
Rowena gently picked up the hat and placed it upon a shelf behind the desk of the headmaster. It would not be needed until they had all passed on.
Turning back to her best friend she held out her hand. Helga grasped it and together they left the room to find their fellow founders. Hopefully they could convince Salazar to stay but deep down Helga knew that it was unlikely. It would however, not stop them from trying.
Once the door closed, the hat wriggled and shook. A seam at its brim ripped open.
"Well, that's quite a lot they've asked of me isn't it? Damn you Truth. I will get you back for this; I swear." Ed's voice echoed into the silence. "Now, let's see if the bastard was telling the truth." The rip closed and the hat trembled again. With a bright light, Ed now in human form tumbled to the ground.
"Ow." He monotoned as he sat up rubbing the arm that he had landed on.
He stood lazily and realised that he felt different to how he had felt in Truth's Domain. He felt young.
Quickly gazing around the room, Ed located a cabinet in which he could see his reflection. He jumped back startled at what he saw.
His eighteen year old face was staring back at him. It was weird; he had become used to seeing grey hair and wrinkles. His clothes were what he used to wear when he was a State Alchemist – he even had his watch! It was a strange sense od déjà vu but he didn't have time to dwell on it now. He had some founders to find.
"Let's go find those four idiots and try and talk some sense into the big green idiot." Ed said to himself as he strode across the room and yanked the door open. He decided his best bet was to follow the shouting.
Ed ran through the halls but didn't take any time to examine the architecture. He found the founders outside past a large arch on a huge expanse of grass. It seemed that this area was the main entrance to the castle. Yeah, the school was a frigging castle! A wide sandy path led towards a lake and forest. To the side of the path the two male founders looked like they were about to fight, whilst the women stood on the path a couple feet away holding each other's hands tightly.
The man dressed in dark green and silver held a stick in his hand, aiming it towards the other man's torso. The man dressed in bright red (Ed liked him instantly) gripped his still sheathed sword and held his stick loosely in his other hand. He stood tall, unwavering, his lion mane of hair blowing back in the wind – it was an impressive sight. He looked furious but still reluctant to fight Greeny.
Stern Lady looked like she was holding the yellow coloured woman back from interfering.
That was something Ed had never been good at doing but he thought it best if he observed for a bit to get an idea of what was happening.
He crossed the grounds until he reached the women. None of them noticed his presence. The two men began to yell at each other gesturing wildly with their arms and hands.
"I just do not understand why Salazar! Tell us why!" The Lion man bellowed angrily.
"I have made my reasons clear Godric. It is you who is failing to understand!" Greeny – now identified as Salazar spat back.
Godric's grip on both his sword and stick tightened but he still made no move to use either.
"Purity is crucial. If our magical blood becomes tainted with those of Muggles there is no telling what destruction may befall us. To protect all of Wizard kind we must keep our knowledge within magical blood!"
"We have disagreed on many things Salazar and on several I have conceded to you but on this matter I cannot. The Wizarding world we know now is small. We have been feared by many a Muggle and it is my wish that by allowing Muggle-born Witches and Wizards into our halls that we will be able to grow! To understand one another so that we can live together in harmony."
"Your wish is futile Godric." Salazar shook his head and bared his teeth in disgust. The very thought of mixing with Muggles seemed like poison to him.
"Maybe so, but it is still worth trying! If we do nothing, the problem will only grow until it is too big for anyone to put right." Godric continued to plead. He took a step forward as if being physically closer would help his point.
They argued back and forth, saying the same things just rewording them. The two women were starting to lose interest in the men's fight. It seemed these squabbles were a common occurrence. The sterner looking woman had released the other but neither made a move to interrupt.
Ed had heard enough of their childish yelling.
"If I may interject." He spoke loudly without shouting (something those two should learn, Ed had the beginnings of a headache). The women next to him jumped in surprise and the men whirled around to face him. Salazar's stick was now pointed at him. He stared at it unamused.
"Who in Merlin's name are you?!" Salazar yelled threateningly.
Ed looked around at the four and was surprised to see them all standing together in an untied line. That was ironic after what he had just witnessed. All of them held their sticks which by now Ed assumed was a weapon of some kind. Much like circles were needed to perform Alchemy, maybe these sticks were magic conductors? Godric also had his sword drawn. It looked exactly like the one Truth had described to him. Maybe he could control it already? No harm in trying it out right?
Closing his eyes Ed concentrated on the sword. He could already sense its chemical make-up – definitely pure silver – and also something else… like it was calling to him.
With a gentle smirk Ed opened his eyes. They flashed red for a moment and a second later the sword was in his hand. It was heavy but that wasn't surprising with it being made of solid silver. The hilt grew warm in his hand and he nearly dropped it in alarm. Looking down at the hilt he saw words being engraved on it by an invisible being. Curling around the guard in a bright light, a beautiful cursive appeared. 'Edward Elric' was what he could read after the light faded.
But before he could dwell on that, Godric made a flabbergasted noise at his sword suddenly leaving his grip. The other three looked alarmed, amused and defensive all at the same time.
Salazar boldly stepped forward. "I will not ask again. Who, are, you?" He punctuated each word forcefully, letting Ed know that he meant business. Ed could have laughed, these fools had nothing on Truth.
"Hmm. Oh me?" Ed drawled as he casually swung the sword about, getting a feel for the weapon. "I thought that would have been obvious. I'm the Sorting Hat but you can call me Ed."