Disclaimer: I own nothing. Warning, Godric gets a bit brutal in this chapter. So trigger warning for… abuse? Maybe. Anyway enjoy.

Chapter 4

The next few weeks fell into a kind of pattern. Only each week had the work load becoming harder. I would spar with Godric every morning, also known as attempted murder and almost death against me. Then he would carry my unconscious body to the hospital wing, patch me up and we'd go to break the morning fast. The longer I stayed here, the more I actually said things like that. After that came more etiquette lessons, lunch and magic lessons that also helped ready the castle for students.

The third week Godric stopped carrying me, helping me up and to walk to the hospital wing, I helped to mend myself. There would be no bath, only a quick wipe down. Etiquette lessons never ended, I was expected to carry myself as I did in the lessons themselves so that nobody may find out I was from the future. The magic they taught me was harder, and sometimes even needed more than one person to me completed. I had been here over two months by now, and just starting the third.

"Ouch," I gasped as I hit the floor, knowing that the duel was over. Pride prickled over me though because Godric had a slice in his arm. Blood running down it and staining his shirt.

"You are improving," he notice with a nod and a grin, "Time to up your training. Get up." I would have flinched if I could have moved. I did not look forward to the consequences to my next words.

"I cannot," I told him, struggling to breath. He hummed to himself for a moment.

"I will tell you what, every twenty seconds it takes for you to get up I am going to kick you," he said with an odd light in his eyes, "And when you get up I will stop." I scrabbled to get up, but I barely even managed to shift at all. The dull thudding sound was the only thing to prelude the agonising pain and stars that crossed my vision. I gasped and tried to force myself up.

Thump. I felt like I was splintering into a thousand pieces. Thump. My lungs burned. Thump. I felt as if I were going to violently be sick. Thump. Sobbing echoed in my ears, I realised it was mine. Thump. My shoulder dislocated, I screamed. Thump. Blackness overtook my vision.

"You still need to get up," he said softly yet commanding. Oh, I had passed out and he had revived me. Thump. I choked on air, unable to breath. Thump. It burned, it burned so bad. It wasn't ever going to stop. Thump. I shifted so my legs were bent under me. Thump. I hurt, my muscles felt like they were tearing. Thump. I pushed myself upwards, ignoring my blurring vision. Thump. Whoosh, I pushed my legs, forcing them up. I wanted to die, I wanted to be dead. Please let it be over. I made it to my feet almost falling over again but managed to stumbled two steps towards him and fell against his chest.

"No more," I begged, starting to cry, Godric wrapping his arms securely around me. He murmured something under his breath and my shoulder violently relocated. I screamed, before settling into vehement hysterical tears.

"Good girl, good girl," he whispered fiercely into my ear, rubbing my back and holding me up for a moment longer, before scooping me up in his arms. "No one will take you away from us by death," he said with a trembling voice, "You will be strong enough to fight, no matter how bad the battle."

"I think you broke her," the for once subdued voice of Salazar met my ears, "What are you trying to prepare her for?" I could not focus properly, my eyes burned with tears. My chest heaving in sobs that shook my agonised body.

"She will not return to her time by magic," Godric said but I couldn't understand him in my haze of pain, "The only thing that shall take her from us is an outside force and by then we will not be able to bear the loss."

"We already could not bear that loss," Salazar said softly, "We love her too much already. None could willingly part with her, especially to death. Do what you will to keep her safe with us." When Godric lay me down on the bed a feeling of crippling loss hit me. I needed him. I needed someone, I hurt. It hurt so bad my vision clouded. I couldn't see, I was alone. Oh gods, please. No. NO!

"Shh little lady," he said wrapping an arm around my shoulders to stop the panic, "I am here. Drink." The pain reliving potion slid down my throat and soon enough the pain that had made me want to die slowed to a dull if agonising ache deep in my bones. He healed my injuries and let my lay there for a few moment before I sat up, wincing as I did so. "That is our girl," he said with a smile.

"Hand me the wash cloth," I said shakily, wiping the remaining tears from my eyes. He did so and I peeled off my clothes while he turned his back. Scrubbing myself down I was glad I had taken to tie my hair up, otherwise it would be matted with blood. Slipping on my dress I motioned for him to turn around.

"I am… so proud of you," he said a hand cupping my cheek, "Next week… next week I help you walk. The week after you walk on your own." I nodded and let my arm slip into where he held his waiting and let him escort me to the great hall. I should have ran as far away from here as I could. I should have hated and despised him, them all for letting him… but… they did it because they loved me, and they wanted me to survive. Nobody, nobody, baring possibly Ron and Hermione had ever loved me, just Jenifer, rather than Jen Potter – Girl-Who-Lived. They loved me. So I wouldn't hurt them or hate them for making me stronger.

"Okay," I said gently.

"You… you are amazing," Salazar said in a quiet voice, "You never say no, no matter what we ask you to do or how hard it is. Why… why have you not run, balked… anything?" I took a deep breath and decided on the truth.

"My parents died when I was a year old and the family I was sent to live with never loved me," I said slowly looking at the ground, "I spent ten years with people that felt nothing for me but a burning hatred. Not even a friend until my first year of Hogwarts. They were never trying to help me when I was hurt because of them, or had to work hard for them. You all wish to help me."

I winced as Helga pushed past her husband and slammed into me, wrapping her arms around me tightly. Rowena stood in the doorway, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"We love you," Helga said, "All of us we love you so much." The others came closer, and engaged in some sort of group hug, with myself at the centre.

"Will you stay with us Jenifer, stay instead of returning to your own time?" Rowena's voice was uncertain and she swallowed reflexively. As if nervous and I did not like it, she was always so self-assured. I soon discovered that her question… it never even really bared thinking about.

"Hogwarts is the only home I have ever known," I admitted, "And you love me and want me here."

"Of course we do lass," Godric chuckled, with the air of someone who already knows how the situation was going to turn out and was merely waiting for it to become official.

"We… could we be a… a family?" I shook as I asked the question, because I had never wanted anything in my life more than I wanted a family who loves me.

"I thought we already were," Salazar said with mock hurt that caused me to laugh.

"Then how could I ever leave?" I asked, my voice sounded far away. Bliss rushed through my body the same way that my magic did and suddenly we were a laughing, crying contingent of joy.

"Good, a family," Helga said as we detangled, "All six of us." Wait, I froze for a second looking at her.

"Six," I asked in amazement.

"Yes," Salazar said putting he hand lightly on her stomach and caressing her, "Us and the baby." Pregnant? Okay, so not overweight, pregnant.

"We are going to have a baby?" I asked happily and they laughed at my response.

"Yes, yes we are," Rowena said raising her head proudly. I could not ever remember being this happy in my entire life.

I know she was a little too quick to agree but if you remember the end of the third book, she… he, jumped at the opportunity to live somewhere else. Ron and Hermione are great but they can't compare to a family. Tell me what you think, review.