Approx 1000
"Close your eyes, I have a surprise for you."
She did as he asked. " How long?"
"Not long. Here, I'm taking your hand. Do you trust me?" he asked, as he pulled her forward.
She smiled. " Ric, of course I do. Now may I open my eyes?"
"Just a little bit further. Okay, open your eyes," he said.
Rowena opened her eyes. " Oh...my," she gasped, taking in her new surroundings. " Where are we?"
Godric grinned triumphantly. " Still in the castle. This is something I've been working on. Wait...look!"
To Rowena's surprise, the room changed to a school room, just like one of the many rooms already in the school. " So the room can change to whatever you need it to be," she realised.
Godric nodded; pleased. "I call it the Changeable Room, what do you think?"
Rowena grimaced. "Let me think about it for a bit," she said, patting his arm.
Godric pulled her to him. " Well, you are the clever one," he said.
"Says the wizard who created this room," she taunted softly, pulling his head to her so she could kiss him.
The room changed again, and Rowena's stomach rumbled. " What? I missed lunch," she said at his knowing look, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the table that suddenly appeared, laden with delicious food and wine.
They ate and drank, discussing the goings on at the school they had co-founded; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They both knew they were avoiding the main topic they needed to discuss.
The food disappeared when they had finished. " Bless Helga for bringing the house elves to Hogwarts, they are brilliant cooks," sighed Godric, sated and full.
Rowena slapped him lightly. " You know that's not why she brought them here. They needed a sanctuary, somewhere they could be safe from being mistreated. Hopefully our students will grow to be sympathetic and helpful to those weaker than them," she said.
"I just wish Salazar felt the same way about the students," complained Godric, for the umpteenth time. "Pureblood, halfblood, Muggle-born, what does it matter?"
" You and Sal have had this argument ever since we discussed opening the school, and every year since," reasoned Rowena.
" I know, and now he's gone. I can't believe he just left like that," sighed Godric.
Rowena lay and pulled him down with her, so his head was resting on her breast. She ran her fingers through his red hair, hoping to soothe his furrowed brow and make the shadows in his green eyes go away.
"We'll still make this the best wizarding school in the world, even without him," she said gently.
"I guess," muttered Godric. " Do you really think he created a Chamber of Secrets and left a monster in the castle?"
"I hope not, but we know what Sal is like. By the way, I think Helga suspects something is going on with us," confided Rowena.
"What? But we've been so careful," cried Godric, sitting up.
"Does it matter if she knows? She's my best friend, our best friend. I'm sure she'll be happy for us," reasoned Rowena.
"I just don't want any more upheaval, not so soon after Salazar left. Please Ro, just a bit longer," implored Godric, kissing her pale throat and neck. Her skin was a direct contrast for her jet black hair
The room changed again, to a luxurious boudoir. " Well, Mr Gryffindor, it seems you're ready for bed," she grinned huskily.
" I believe you're right, Ms Ravenclaw. Care to tuck me in?" he teased. He stood and held out his hand to her and she took it.
Their lovemaking reached new heights that night, and they made the most of the new room that night, and many nights later. Their hunger and their love for each grew.
Six weeks after their first night in the newly named Room of Requirement, Helga Hufflepuff pounced on them as they were leaving.
"Aha, I knew it. You're lovers, aren't you?" cried the head of Hufflepuff house.
A short, rotund woman, she was somewhat jealous of Rowena's beauty and wit, despite being her best friend.
"Helga, please, keep quiet," hushed Rowena, lest any students overhear.
" You're keeping secrets behind my back. You asked me for help to confront Salazar, and he left. Do you want me to leave too? Are the two of you planning to take over the whole school?" she cried. " Will you marry, have children?" Any children from the two of them would be strong, magically.
" What!" gasped Rowena.
" Honestly, Helga," smiled Godric, trying to appease their friend, "I have no plans for children, the students are enough for me."
"The four of us were united, made all plans for the school together," said Helga, obviously distressed. "With Salazar gone, and the two of you together, what am I to think?" she asked, rhetorically.
"Nothing has changed as far as the school goes, Helga," soothed Rowena, her mind still in a whirl regarding the matter of marriage and children with Godric.
"But if we are in disagreement over a matter, and we take a vote, it will always be the two of you against me," she complained.
"Not necessarily," said Godric.
Helga scoffed. " Please. I may not have a diadem or be noted for my wit or beauty, but I'm not stupid," she said, hurt. She turned to go, ignoring their calls for her to return to discuss the matter further.
" What shall we do?" asked Rowena.
" Perhaps we should slow things down, take a break," suggested Godric.
"A break? You want us to take a break?" clarified Rowena, shocked. "We should be more united now than ever."
"Let's just focus on the school for now. With Salazar gone, we need to ensure the students, particularly those from Slytherin house, know that we have their best interests at heart. I'm only trying to protect you and your reputation from gossip and innuendo," he said.
She sighed and kissed him quickly. "So noble. Too noble at times. Very well. The timing is good, anyway." She looked down at her lower body.
Godric flushed and looked away, not wanting to get into a discussion on a woman's monthly cycle. There were some things a man didn't need to know.
"Fine. Tonight I shall go to Hogsmeade, go to the local tavern to see if there is any news of Salazar's whereabouts," he told her.
" You really miss him, don't you?" she asked.
He nodded. "He's my best friend, even when we argue."
The next couple of weeks were awkward. Helga didn't wish to talk about anything but school matters. Godric became obsessed with finding Salazar and Rowena became worried when her monthly visitor didn't arrive when expected.
Missing dinner one night, she brewed a potion. Plucking a hair from her head, she dropped it into the potion. It bubbled and turned pink.
"A girl. Oh, I hope she has her father's beautiful eyes," she whispered, her hands on her stomach.
A gasp from behind made her spin around. Helga had knocked and entered; she stared at the potion. "You are going to have a baby?"
Rowena nodded. " Yes," she whispered happily. She couldn't wait to tell Godric, momentarily forgetting his stance on the matter. " Do you know where Ric is?"
Helga nodded. "He has left the castle."
Rowena sighed. Godric was still searching for his friend. " Any idea where?" she asked.
Helga's jealousy overruled her common sense and friendship. " There is a new establishment in Hogsmeade. Godric has been seen coming out of there," she said.
" Well, where is it, what is it?" glared Rowena.
" It is a house of ill repute; a brothel. I'm sorry, Rowena," blushed Helga.
Rowena was in shock. " No, he wouldn't. I don't believe it." She almost fell onto the chair, feeling faint.
" Shall I summon the nurse, Ro?" asked Helga in concern, feeling guilty. She had no way of knowing Godric was simply looking for his friend. Inn keepers and brothels were usually a font of knowledge on missing persons, but she had heard the gossip and ran with it.
" No...no, thank you. I just want to be alone," she said softly.
Rowena Ravenclaw left the castle that night, leavng behind no note or explanation. She went into hiding, covering her tracks well with her magic. Months later, she delivered a healthy baby girl she named Helena. As she had wished, her daughter had her father's green eyes.
Godric now had two people to search for, Salazar and Rowena; his best friend and his lover. He became angry at what he deemed their betrayal for leaving him, so he turned his attention to increasing his magical abilities.
Her daughter attended Hogwarts where she was, of course, sorted into Ravenclaw. Godric Gryffindor was rarely in the castle these days, so never saw his own daughter. He buried himself in tomes and scrolls. He would have known her parentage if he saw her, for she was a true combination of her parents. However Helena tired of the many comparisons and grew jealous of her mother. In a rage, she stole her mother's precious diadem and fled to Albania.
Rowena, distraught at her daughter's betrayal, sent the Bloody Baron to retrieve her. He had been in unrequited love with Helena for a long time. When she refused to return, and taunted him, the Bloody Baron got in a rage and killed her. Aghast at what he had done, he commited suicide, his body falling atop hers.
Rowena became distraught over her daughter's death. She sent for Godric, who had come to tell her the two had found a home at Hogwarts, as ghosts. Rowena confessed Helena was his daughter. She hoped they could be reunited in grief, but he was angry that he had been denied knowing his daughter, and stormed off.
Rowena became fatally ill, having lost the will to live. She died soon after. Hearing the news of his lover's death, and not being able to reconcile with her, Godric Gryffindor left Hogwarts forever. He found a home in a small West Country village.
His fame as a founder of the school drew other magical people to the village and, in his honour, they named it Godric's Hollow. It would become one of the most magical places in modern England. But it all meant nothing to Godric. He had lost his love, his daughter and his best friend. What good was all the magic in the world, without a loved one to share it?
He never loved another, but spent his days researching, studying and writing, for the generations still to come. And on his death bed, he vowed that his love for Rowena had never faltered, and their combined magical strength was such that their love would survive even death.
He had no idea how right he was.