Disclaimer: I own nothing. HP belongs to JKR.

Chapter 4: Blessed Dark.

"Why are they fighting?" I growled to no one, wishing I could speak their language so I could yell at them to stop. I wanted my wand desperately, or any wand really. Then I could cast a… wait – that's it.

"Lady Ravenclaw?" I tapped her on her shoulder and she looked back at me with eye brows raised in question. I made a motion with my hand and spoke an incantation then pointed from her to the two founders fighting. She sighed and shook her head solemnly, and I understood that she would not interfere.

Why was beyond me, however. If she would not stop them, then I would have to do something. But I had no magic, and it was not exactly safe to be running in between two wizards throwing hexes at each other. Luckily, none of the curses were life threatening, but as I watched I noticed that both of the idiots were beginning to use more potent or harmful magic, and the little spat was escalating.

"Merlin, damn you both!" I yelled, but really it was pointless.

Fine!

If they were going to be idiots, I wouldn't wait around and watch. Clenching my fists, I threw one last glare at the four founders and left the room.

And what was best of all, not one of them noticed.

I don't know what Slytherin said to make Gryfindor so angry, but what ever it was, they could all just rot. To think that not more than ten minutes ago, I was afraid they would think me unworthy. Ha! Even if they were magical geniuses, they were still acting like idiots.

In the mean time, perhaps I would find something to amuse myself with. I had until they learned I was wandering the castle unsupervised, which might be any minute now, or not for a good twenty. Maybe I could find the kitchens if they were still in the same place. But maybe the Library would be my first stop.

XXXXX

For some reason I couldn't find the library. It had apparently moved in the last 1,000 years, and I was at a loss as to where it might be. As I turned a corner I ran into a young girl, perhaps fourteen, in a long black dress with dark hair and wide blue eyes. I quickly apologized, catching her to steady her before she fell. She flushed pink and stepped away from me, a little frightened.

She spoke softly, as though afraid to be heard. Perhaps it was an apology, though it sounded like it could have been a question.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand." I shrugged helplessly. Her eyes, if it were possible, became even wider.

"Oh," She bowed her head and spoke more gibberish, but this time I was sure it was an apology.

"Er…" I tilted my head to the side, "Sure…" She looked so uncertain, I almost felt bad for her. "Can you take me to the library?" I asked, using as many gestures as I could. It felt like I was playing charades. Finally, the girl smiled brightly as if she understood and beckoned me to follow.

Luckily she had understood my ridiculous poses and gestures, and took me straight to a large room filled with the smell of old paper and ink. Even though it had moved, the library still had the same atmosphere as it did in my time, musty and quiet, and though there were not nearly as many books, I still felt like there was more knowledge here than a person could reasonably hold in his or her head.

The dark haired girl curtsied and I offered a small bow in return then thanked her for the help. She blushed prettily and then left, looking flustered and cheerful. I perused the shelves and saw that there was no way I would be able to read anything. As noted before there were very few books and most of them were handwritten manuscripts, bound in animal skin, or they were not books but lengthy scrolls containing diagrams that looked vaguely familiar, but without understanding the text, there was no hope trying to decipher it. Sometimes I surprised myself with my own stupidity. There was no way I could read this without knowing the language.

Sighing, I sat down at a long table and let my head rest against my forearms. The fight between the founders had been the most ridiculous thing I had ever witnessed. I already knew that there was likely to be some animosity between them, but how they ended up hexing each other like that… and they had started out civil enough. If Slytherin could just keep his smart mouth shut, I might have been able to… I don't know. At least get a better impression.

My next thought was that I could always go visit the kitchens, but it was warm in the library and I felt exhausted. Before I knew it, my eyes closed and I fell asleep dreaming of Snakes and Badgers.

XXXXX

I was wrenched from unconsciousness by rough hands pulling my head back by the hair, and I yelped, opening my eyes to the blurry outline of Salazar Slytherin. I froze while memories caught up with me.

'Where have you been? What made you believe you had the right to leave?' He hissed maliciously yanking forcefully at my hair. I grit my teeth and gripped the hand pulling at my scalp.

'I've been right here the whole time. I was not about to sit in a room while you and that man cast spells like children-,' I was quieted by a rough yank and the man all but pulled me to my feet.

'Aggravating brat,' Slytherin pulled and I followed, wincing at the pain as he led me out of the library and down the hall. We met no one as we walked through the halls, and the glimpses I got from the windows told me it was well past dinner.

It was not long before I found my self back in Slytherin's office, only this time I was shackled to the chair. The ink spill had been cleaned, I noticed, but that thought quickly left my head as Slytherin stood towering over me, wand in hand, and a murderous glare reserved just for me.

'You had no right to leave that room.'

'And you have no right to tie me to this chair!' I began to argue but I was cut short with a wave of his wand. Pain shot thought my chest and upper arms, moving like electricity. I gasped in shock at the sudden and powerful stinging hex and tears clouded my vision. It hurt enough to water my eyes, but I really only felt like laughing.

I had endured far more pain than that when that fucking psychopath captured me. His room had been cold, and I had been lying down that time… I shuddered and tried desperately not to think about what happened.

'You are remembering something painful,' Slytherin tilted my head up so he could look me in the eyes.

'Stay the fuck out of my mind.' I hissed quietly, not surprised that Slytherin was a legilimens. Not surprised at all.

'And why would I want to do that?' He asked mockingly, 'When I read your mind before, it was so full of fear and betrayal it was giving me a headache. But now that I have actually caused harm, you are calm. That is interesting.'

'Stay out!' I growled forcefully, almost hysterical, "stay out of my head you snake! I will never, ever forgive you if you make me relive that! I swear I will murder you if you-," My yelling was cut off by a sharp slap across my face.

'Let me explain something, little squib, you are powerless to stop me.' The look of superiority and distain he held in his eyes was like a final blow, and I went completely limp in submission. He spoke the truth. There was nothing I could do and no one would come to my rescue, just like before. And this time my magic would not be able to save me. More tears leaked from my eyes, but I barely felt them as I withdrew quietly into my self.

'Fine,' I spoke in a whisper, watching him in a detached manner as he once again turned my head. His eyes were merciless and dark. I could feel his magic ghosting over my thoughts, like a breath of air, and then he was searching with more purpose, and there was a mental snort as I thought that I had never been very good at occlumency. He said something, and I understood, but not as words, but as emotion. Sarcasm, saying something along the lines of: "you aren't even putting up an effort." I retorted with a shrug and a, "It would have made little difference."

He didn't disagree.

The memories flickered before me, the ones I had not wanted Slytherin to find. I twitched, reliving the snippets. He did not delve overly deep, but I could feel my wrist burning and my body was rigid with anger and fear. The humiliation and sheer pain from the memories cause me to blackout.

And there was blessed darkness.