A Prayer, chapter 4 Winter Solstice

Na Fuarchnoic, Cold Hills, muggles called them. Excavation of an enormous big rock was performed by an ancient warlock. A brief winter sunlight penetrated through the stone corridor with its magical speed. There she prayed for the eternal wit of the Sorting Hat set in the middle of the back room where mystic power was charged only while the magnificent gleam of winter blessed all on the earth. Her silky black hair was seen between the stone walls, and then Helga heard her musical chants poured into the hat. Her slender fingers traced the zig-zag patterns on the wall. She had explained Helga that they were carved as stellar Cassiopeia before the ceremony began. She told her that power of constellations would gather in the chamber of this cold hill on the day of Winter Solstice. Helga liked her telling a story about constellations and Druidic magic. Rowena's abundant knowledge brimmed over and flowed to the earnest listeners. Her lectures at Hogwarts were always welcomed to the students as well.

Now Godric's pointy hat was infused its life. Giving possible lyric patterns was Rowena's role after Helga let it memorize various musical tunes Godric requested who wasn't adept at. Helga loved listening to Rowena's chanting in her mezzo soprano voice.

"…Tha Godric airson seinn (Godric wants to sing)… Tha a'chlann laghach (The children are pleasant)… Tarrtháil na leanaí (Save the children)." She finished the last verse of her chant with the shadows of the sun light in the chamber.

When quietness in the darkness came back in the chamber, one male voice whispered,

'Are you done, Rowena?'

The witch turned to the man with an elegant smile. 'Almost. Now the hat needs your spell, Salazar.' Her gaze had lingered on his face. Once stared like that, you would be enchanted immediately by her acute insight. Most of the men would be bewildered wondering if he was perfect or might lack something. Usually, Rowena Ravenclaw, the wisest witch in Scotland, was cool for it, but Helga didn't miss her feminine palpitation, a tremor of excitement for being loved.

From a woman's point of view, Rowena Ravenclaw was beautiful. She got more beautiful after giving birth to two children. Sadly one of them was lost with her husband when they were plagued, she hardly endured the pain, which let her drive to dedicate herself to her people's health care. She devotedly worked for people and her estate taking over her lost husband's work. With both happy and sad experiences made her more attractive, Helga presumed, which must have caught Salazar's heart and he would never let it go. Who could play better enough to beat Rowena Ravenclaw in the field of magical knowledge? Helga couldn't think of anyone except Salazar. She knew Rowena would never be satisfied with a man who lacked intelligence.

Helga sensed her friend's feeling towards the man who loved her so much. Even being in the darkness of the cold cave, she was hot for she felt their emotional exchanges in front of her. It was easier for Helga to encourage Rowena to take his love and give him hers, but she barely managed to shut her mouth. She had known Rowena for years. If Helga indicated a modicum of caring about their relationship, Rowena would conceal her true feeling instantly like the sun would disappear among the thick grey clouds and hide behind the curtain called "a devout widow who vowed eternal love and fidelity to the dead king".

The foggy and misty Irish sky was capricious. The winter sunshine had already been veiled by the clouds when Salazar walked with gliding steps to Godric's pointy hat. Helga kept watching Rowena's face lit by a candle held in her lily white hands. When she asked why they wouldn't use a wand light instead of the candle light, Rowena told her about Ancient Magic that had been worked by Druids for over hundreds of years. Her knowledge about Druidic Magic surpassed any warlocks in Scotland. When she praised her understanding and skills, Rowena was always humble and said,

"I still have to learn more from you, Helga, a mighty queen of Wales. Your people must have been missing you. Your husband must have regretted the past. I predict a messenger will be sent to you in a few days."

Rowena's compliments and encouragement were told in a moderate tone but seriousness and earnestness were felt in her each word, which encouraged people more and they couldn't stop respecting and trusting her. Actually, she was looked up to by her people. With her father's well-known healing power, her own healing skills and knowledge about medicinal herbs were relied on by her people. Though Helga was self-confident in knowledge of raising magical plants, she admitted Rowena was the best magical chemist who knew practical use of them.

Salazar's chant had already begun. He shaded the hat with his large hands and Helga was mesmerized by their moves. She saw his magical halo getting bigger and bigger. At first, it was dark green and changed into dark ocean blue. It was a rare chance to see such a powerful magical performance. Perspiration formed out on his forehead, which showed how seriously he tried to concentrate into his magic. She was now witnessing powerful wandless magic in the ancient cave. It was mysteriously enchanting for Salazar's magical prayer sounded like Parseltongue, the language of serpents. Each word consisted of complicated hushed sounds. His role for the Sorting Hat was placing powerful defensive magic against Dark Magic that would destroy the hat. The hat must be used for goodwill. Who could compete him well enough in the field of magical defense? Thanks to him, many crisis, aggressions in this country had been avoided. Love of his country, love for his students in Hogwarts was so intense that sometimes Helga had to course it correction for his going too far. But against Dark Magic, his mighty power mostly gained gratitude among warlocks and witches who had been working to protect their country together. Rowena was the best follower for him. That's why he loved her. He loved her for not only her wit but also her generosity and understanding him the best in the world. For him, Rowena Ravenclaw might be taking the role of his mother who died young when Salazar was a baby. Helga had heard that his mother was said that she was beautiful and had the same silky black hair and snowy white skin as Rowena's. Salazar was also handsome and his eyes were marine blue like his mother. Being stared intensely by Rowena, he didn't jolt at all. He kept casting his magic continuously, his concentration was worthy of praise, which gave Helga a new impression that Salazar Slytherin was an honest man. She had misunderstood him once as a cunning and pure-blood supremacy believer. He had often told her how Muggle kings were awful and unreliable people. He had looked down upon Muggles. It was felt from each word he uttered. She was mortified when her husband, Muggle king of Wales betrayed her. After her husband's stupid behavior was done against her servant witches, she couldn't ignore what Salazar said. What he had insisted was proven partly true. To her relief, Salazar didn't tell his thought after she was insulted by her husband. She took it as his tenderness as her friend. He was a pride pure-blood worshiper who had a kind heart.

His magic spell was so long that Godric, who had been waiting for his turn by the hat, fidgeted in the corner of the chamber.

"Ná Géilleadh…baile dúchais go deo (Never surrender...homeland forever) ." Finally, Salazar finished his magic with some Druidic words after shushing sounds and glanced back to Godric. "I think it's done well enough for this ceremony, but you won't change your mind, will you?"

An after image of his magical halo could be seen from Helga. The color was dark blue and green fringed with bright red color.

"I don't say your magic is weak. I admit your magic is powerful enough to drive back Dark Magic. I know you don't like my idea, but I can't stop adding the extra power to my hat. After we leave this world, my hat will protect the students at Hogwarts forever. It's crucial for our magical world." Godric pulled out his wand from between the leather belt on the waist.

"Go on, go on. If you could be delightful by your magic, go on, Godric. I'll never stop you."

Salazar said jokingly.

With achievement of difficult magic, Salazar broke into smile. Helga sensed his feeling towards Rowena again. His smile was for her. The reason why he had accepted the suggestion to enchant the Sorting Hat was only for Rowena. He respected the concept about Hogwarts, most of them had been planned by her. Still being doubtful for the process they had accepted Muggle-borns, he worked energetically to protect Hogwarts school. He stood by Rowena who was smiling at him as well. He caught Rowena's hand and made hers twine around his. His face was shone brightly with satisfaction. He whispered something gently to her ear, which made Rowena's face flush. Helga couldn't stop smiling at them, too. She hoped their marriage would happen soon from her heart. She eagerly wished happiness upon them in the midst of the era which had been full of upheavals. Then her gaze went back to the other powerful wizard.

Godric Gryffindor knitted his brows to focus on his pointy hat and the tip of his wand touched it. He chanted in Latin words,

"Imperium transferre in forti discipulus (Transfer the power to the brave student)." His other hand pulled a silver sword with a magnificent ruby glinted on its hilt in the dark.

To their surprise, the sword disappeared instantly in front of them.

"Where did it go?" Helga asked before thinking.

"Did you finish?" Confused, Salazar asked.

"Impressive. You have your style." Rowena praised Godric.

"The most powerful wizard doesn't need a long chant." Godric stuck out his robust chest proudly and winked at Salazar who was still scandalized. "Let's get out of here. I hate darkness. It's brighter outside than staying in the chamber." He stowed away the Sorting Hat into his inside chest and marched out of the chamber.

Three other founders followed him and Helga heard sometimes Godric let his cry out when his head hit the low ceiling of the corridor, and she giggled like a girl. It was funny to see such a big man like him bend his body with difficulty in a closed-in place. In the wide plain, he looked strong and invincible, but in this closed space, he looked a sort of comical enormous warlock with unkempt red hair and long beard.

When they came out of the cold hill, the sun appeared among the clouds again. The warm sun lights poured through the chilly air to the cold earth. Then Helga noticed they were not alone in the plain. A group of goblins came closer to them and one of them, a leader talked to Godric. Their talking speed was so fast that she couldn't catch the meaning of the conversation at all. Godric's speaking the other language ability was quite incredible. Not only fighting against dark warlocks, but also his diplomatic skills including negotiation with goblins was splendid. Not a few witches were even attracted to his eloquent speech, Helga wondered who would win the lionheart. Staring at the masculine back, one immoral thought filtered across her mind. If she didn't get the message from her husband in a few days, she could think of trying to entice Godric. She imagined what a new life would be when she could get his heart. Godric Gryffindor was the bravest, who had beat evil wizards and witches underground, that's why goblins took off their hats to him. He never saw women with a prejudice like her husband. He was always fair to anyone. She fantasyed how she would feel under his brawny body at night. It had been a long time since she slept with her husband. Then she dismissed the stupid idea. However she was attracted to him, she could never ruin their friendship for loneliness.

After she went back to Rowena's castle, the image, the back of Godric was repeated in her mind and she heaved a painful sigh. Her craving for sleeping with the man would never be fulfilled, she knew. But her instinctive desire was recurring through her body, she jumped out of her bed, she sat at the desk. She took a quill and started scribbling her wish. Though she predicted he would reject her invitation politely, she couldn't stop finishing the letter. She had a slight hope that he might come to have a chat with her. It would be pleasing enough to forget her loneliness. If she was lucky, she would be able to enjoy kiss to kiss between their conversations. At least, he would give her a friendly hug pulling her into his sturdy arms. When she sealed the owl letter with a sigil, a shape of badger, she heard an owl knock the window by the desk. She was afraid that it would come from her husband, Idwal. She was torn between following her desire and affection towards her husband. Godric's mischievous smiling face, his praise of her talent in music, never left her heart. She hesitated between ignoring the owl and letting him in for a while. After a few times the owl did his demanding knock with his claws, she opened the window. Feeling irritated with her slow unbinding the letter, finally she released the owl from it. It was from Idwal. Remorse and begging for coming back were written in courteous sentences. The detailed descriptions about their baby, Meurig's growth in a short time moved her to tears. She uttered,

"I have to go back to them." She felt Godric's bracing smile in her mind faded into the darkness of the night like the sun set beyond the cold hills after glistening Winter Solstice festive mood.


A/N : This chapter was written for Rumpelstiltskin's "The Character Vignette story challenge" and will be edited after my beta comes back from her winter holidays. Please leave your feedback. Thank you for stopping by.