Author's Note: This was in response to a hh-sugarquill challenge to write a short vignette without using the letter R.
Things That Don't Begin
Rowena loses a bet to Salazar, and contemplates her fellow Hogwarts founder.
She signed the note "_owena _avenclaw", and thought decidedly unkind thoughts of Sal. How she could have lost that bet was unfathomable to begin with (who would have thought the giant squid was capable of that?), but the penalty was especially devious and vexing. Not to use that alphabetic symbol at all, all week - honestly! How Sal, though. He was undoubtedly enjoying it immensely, since it subtly inhibited day-to-day activity without being an obvious nuisance.
He was so awfully intelligent. And deft. She had thought this often, noting how he had so many aspects she valued in a companion. She undoubtedly loved them all, but Sal did have a special place all his own due to that canniness. And his ambition was such an excellent balance to the intent love of knowledge she held.
They could have made such a potent combination, the two of them. They still could someday...
Best leave those thoughts alone.