Strange Visitors from Another Century

Isilarma

Chapter Six: Setting Pieces in Motion

Thank you very much for all the reviews, favourites and alerts everyone, I really appreciate them. This chapter's a bit longer than usual, but I hope you all enjoy it.

By the way, I've had some questions about pairings, and I just wanted to tell everyone that this will not be Harry/Salazar slash. I've got something else in mind for them. Apologies if that disappoints anyone, but that's not where I want this to go.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and am not affiliated with Bloomsbury of Scholastic Inc.

Harry felt like whistling as he wandered through the corridors towards the Great Hall. Slytherin's Dream-Catchers had worked better than he had thought possible; for the first time in months, his sleep had been undisturbed by any dreams, and the difference it made was incredible. What with that, and the prospect of being taught by the Founders, his mood was positively buoyant. He was still grinning when he reached the Hall.

The room was deserted save for Hufflepuff, who was talking to one of the house-elves. Harry hovered in the doorway, unsure if he was intruding, but when Hufflepuff turned, she smiled at him.

"Good morning, Harry."

Harry crossed the room to join her. "Good morning, Professor." He nodded to the house-elf. "Hello, Tenby, was it?"

He half expected the creature to burst into tears, but it surprised him by just giving a deep bow. "It is, sir. Would young master like breakfast?"

Harry grinned. "Yes, please." Tenby disappeared with a crack and he turned back to find Hufflepuff studying him.

"You're in high spirits today."

Harry nodded as he took the seat opposite her. "It's been a while since I slept that well."

Hufflepuff's eyes softened in sympathy. "Are your dreams really that bad?"

Tenby reappeared then. Harry thanked him, and shrugged. "If it isn't a nightmare, it's this bloody scar."

"Please mind your language, Harry," she said, but her attention was on his forehead. "It is very strange that it reacts like that."

Harry frowned as the conversation from the day they arrived came back. "Do you really think there might be Dark magic in it?" The thought was more than enough to dampen his mood.

"It is possible. I will need to examine it to be sure, if that is all right."

Harry felt a sudden surge of panic. "Now?"

"It will not take long," Hufflepuff assured him. "And it should not be painful."

Harry hesitated at that, but there was no real point to delaying. "Fine. What do I have to do?"

"Just stay still." To Harry's confusion, she drew her wand from her robes.

"I thought you didn't need wands."

"We don't, but they are useful for spells requiring more delicacy or precision, such as this one."

"What does it do?"

"It will detect traces of residual magic," Hufflepuff explained. "And begin to identify their nature. It should only take a moment."

Harry had to resist the urge to flinch as she flicked the wand in an unfamiliar pattern and aimed it at his head. He was never going to be happy with anyone pointing a wand at him, even if they were a Founder, but all he felt was a slight tingle. His relief was tempered a moment later though by the frown that appeared on Hufflepuff's face.

"What's wrong?" He knew the answer as soon as the question left his mouth. "There's Dark magic in there, isn't there?"

Hufflepuff nodded. "I am afraid so. It does not appear to be harming you, but then I am no expert in Dark magic. We will have to consult with Salazar to determine exactly how it is affecting you, and whether it would be possible to remove it."

Old suspicions rose in Harry's mind. "Does he know a lot about the Dark Arts, then?"

"He studied them in his youth," Hufflepuff admitted. "But he has not done so for many years. He, more than any of us, knows the dangers of delving too deeply."

Abashed, Harry nodded. "Will he be able to help?"

Hufflepuff sighed. "I do not know, but if anyone can, it is him." She gave him a small smile. "Try not to worry, Harry. We will do all we can."

"Thank you." He caught sight of Hermione in the doorway and lowered his voice. "Can you not mention this to Ron or Hermione? I don't want to worry them."

Hufflepuff did not look pleased, but she nodded. "It will be your decision, but I would advise confiding in them. They would want to help."

"I will," said Harry quickly. "Once we find out what it is. There's nothing they can do before that anyway."

"Very well then." She looked up with a smile as Hermione came to sit next to Harry. "Good morning, my dear."

"Good morning, Professor, Harry."

Harry sighed at the familiar scowl on her face. "What did he do this time?"

Hermione's eyes flashed. "Why does he always have to be so stubborn?"

"Is he the only one?"

Hermione ignored that. "He never listens! It's not like it would kill him to pay a bit more attention."

"I assume we are talking about Ron," said Hufflepuff. At Hermione's grunt, she nodded. "He is young. He will grow out of it in time." She laughed at the scepticism on Hermione's face. "I have three younger brothers, and they all did."

Hermione sighed. "I know. It's just so frustrating."

Hufflepuff smiled. "Now that I have heard before."

"What do you mean?"

"Rowena would often say the same thing about Godric."

Hermione blushed, but Harry just nodded. That explained quite a lot. Hufflepuff's eyes twinkled as she changed the subject.

"Are you not hungry, Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, thank you."

Harry groaned. "Not this again."

Hermione glared at him. "It's not right."

"Hermione, they don't mind!"

"Only because they've never been taught otherwise. Look at Dobby."

"Yeah, and then look at Winky and every other one you've ever spoken to."

"Excuse me," Hufflepuff interrupted. "But what exactly is the matter?"

Harry glanced at her. "Hermione has strong feelings on house-elf rights."

"Of course I do!" Hermione spluttered. "Just because they're not human, it doesn't mean it isn't slavery."

Harry half-expected Hufflepuff to snap at that, but the Founder tilted her head to one side. "Hermione, how much do you know about house-elves?"

Hermione frowned. "I know they're forced to obey wizards, and can be treated abominably even when they do do what they're asked. They don't get paid, or sick-leave, or holidays. They're basically slaves to wizards who are too lazy to do their own work." She suddenly seemed to realise who she was addressing and broke off, but the defiant gleam remained in her eyes. Harry resisted the urge to bang his head on the table. To his surprise though, Hufflepuff just sighed.

"Yes, but what do you know about the creatures themselves?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know why a house-elf will bond to a wizard? Or anything about how the bond is supposed to work?"

Hermione shook her head slowly. "I looked in the library, but it didn't have much information. It only said that they have been enslaved by wizards for centuries."

"Bonded to," Hufflepuff corrected.

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course there is. A slave is the property of its master, with no more rights than an object. The relationship created by a bond is very different. Each individual brings something to the partnership so that both benefit from it."

"So what does the wizard bring?" asked Harry.

"You should have been taught this," Hufflepuff murmured. She shook her head as Harry twitched. "Forgive me. It is not your fault. It is just a shame."

"Can you explain it?" asked Hermione tentatively.

Hufflepuff smiled. "That is the primary function of a teacher, is it not?" She looked between them. "House-elves are an extremely ancient race," she began. "Nobody knows exactly when or where they came into being. What is known is that they possess more raw magic than any other creature known to man."

Harry stared at her. "What?"

"But that doesn't make sense," Hermione objected. "What could they possibly need from wizards if they're so powerful?"

"It is precisely because they are so powerful that they initiated the bond," said Hufflepuff patiently. "Their power in its raw state is almost uncontrollable. Before the treaty was negotiated, it was not uncommon for a house-elf to lose control, often causing massive amounts of damage to itself or others in the process."

Harry took a moment to enjoy the sight of Hermione struck speechless. "So bonding to a wizard allows them to control it properly?"

Hufflepuff nodded. "Their master's commands allow them to direct and focus their magic without fear if it going wild." Her eyes darkened. "Of course, there are those masters who abuse their power. Prolonged abuse erodes the bond between wizard and elf, allowing the house-elf to use magic as it sees fit."

"That explains how Dobby was able to help me," Harry realised. At Hufflepuff's confusion, he elaborated. "His masters were horrible; they were always punishing him for something, but he was still able to disobey them to help me in my second year."

Hufflepuff shook her head. "Some people are not fit to command others." There was an unusually steely look in her eyes. Harry couldn't agree more.

"I was able to trick them into freeing him at the end of the year. They still hate me for it." He paused as a sudden thought struck him. "Was that wrong? Will his magic start going wild?"

"If he formed a new bond soon afterwards, he should not have suffered any difficulties," Hufflepuff assured him. "And in any case, it is far better that he is away from those who would abuse him."

Harry frowned. "He came to work here, at Hogwarts, I mean. I don't know if he bonded with anyone."

"In that case, he would have formed a bond with the Headmaster," said Hufflepuff. "Or he should have done, if our instructions have been followed." She gave a small smile. "All the house-elves here come from less than pleasant backgrounds. I am glad to hear that Hogwarts will continue to be a sanctuary to those who need it."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. That explained a lot. He suddenly realised Hermione still hadn't said a word and glanced over at her.

"What do you think, Hermione?" There was no reply. "Hermione?"

She started and looked up. "Sorry?"

"Is everything all right, dear?" asked Hufflepuff.

Hermione looked down again. "I'm fine. It's just a lot to take in. But why don't they get paid?"

"Because they don't want paying. Their master is responsible for looking after them, and material goods don't hold the same value for them as they do for us."

"I don't know," said Harry. "Dobby's obsessed with clothes. Though he isn't exactly what you'd call normal." He sighed as Hermione's expression failed to lighten. "Come on, what's wrong?"

Hermione bit her lip. "I think I may have made a mistake."

All of Harry's frustration fled immediately. He knew how difficult that admission must have been. "It's not your fault the library didn't have the right books."

"Indeed," said Hufflepuff. "And you should not be too despondent. Your desire to improve the well-being of your fellow creatures is much to your credit."

Hermione managed a small smile at that. "Thank you." She hesitated a moment, then the words came out in a rush. "But I still don't like the idea of them being forced to serve us. There has to be a better of helping them than compelling them to bind themselves to a wizard."

"Then why don't you investigate?" Hufflepuff suggested. "Godric and I looked into it some time back, but our time has been somewhat limited since Hogwarts opened. And I imagine the resources of the future could be most useful when combined with the knowledge you can gain here."

An all too familiar gleam was dawning in Hermione's eyes. "Do you think so?"

Hufflepuff smiled at her. "I do not see why not."

Harry bit back a groan at the look on his friend's face. It looked like the campaign to free house-elves was only just beginning.

Thankfully, further discussion of elf rights was postponed when Tenby arrived, laden down by more plates. Hermione's appetite had apparently returned with the new information, and she fell upon the food with just as much enthusiasm as Harry. Soon afterwards, Ron joined them, his red hair rumpled and still looking sleepy. His expression was distinctly wary as he approached, and turned to surprise when Hermione didn't snap at him. Rather sensibly, he chose to begin his own breakfast rather than question it. Ravenclaw appeared soon after, and it wasn't long before she was again quizzing Hermione on the future. Hermione was careful to stay vague as to the practical innovations, but she still seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself.

They were just finishing when Gryffindor and Slytherin arrived. Both were in high spirits; Gryffindor was laughing, and there was a distinctly mischievous element to the grin on Slytherin's face. So Harry was rather nonplussed to see that their robes were torn in places and covered in scorch marks in others. Ron's mouth fell open.

"What happened?"

Gryffindor glanced down at himself, and grinned. "Sparring."

Harry stared at him, then at Slytherin. "This is sparring?"

"Indeed," said Ravenclaw dryly. "Thank you for restraining yourselves."

Harry thought she was being sarcastic, until Slytherin nodded. "We did not want to overly alarm them." A wave of his hand and both of them were back to their original pristine condition. Harry noted with some bemusement that the display now elicited only mild curiosity. Maybe they were getting used to this time after all. Then Slytherin's words caught up to him.

"What do you mean, restraining yourselves?" He felt his face heat up almost immediately afterwards, but Gryffindor just smiled.

"Our sessions are usually considerably more demanding," he said. "We cannot afford to let ourselves get slow. Today, however, we have more pressing matters."

Ravenclaw nodded. "Quite." She turned to the trio, who straightened immediately. "We shall spend the morning going over your Transfiguration, and some basic Duelling strategies. The afternoon is yours to do as you wish."

Harry glanced at the others. "Sounds good."

Godric clapped his hands together. "Excellent." His eyes gleamed. "I hope you all ate enough. You are going to need your strength today."

Harry eyed him apprehensively. Suddenly, this didn't seem like such a good idea.

Harry let his head fall onto the table with a groan, too tired to keep holding it up. Ron's voice sounded faintly through his exhaustion.

"And I thought McGonagall worked us hard."

Harry didn't have the strength to agree. Transfiguration had always been difficult, but Ravenclaw was even more of a perfectionist than their head of house. There was no denying that she was a brilliant teacher, he had finally got the knack of Vanishing all of his mouse on the first try, but it had been hard work. Hermione, unsurprisingly, had loved it, but both he and Ron and struggled.

After a short break had come Duelling, and that was much more to Harry's liking. Gryffindor was just as thorough as Ravenclaw, but he was far more relaxed, and had the knack of teaching them difficult techniques without making it seem like a trial. This time, he had concentrated on showing them how to make the most of the spells they knew, and taught them some basic ways to trap an opponent. Harry had loved it, surprising himself and the others by defeating Ron in less than two minutes afterwards. The disappointment on his friend's face had dampened his spirits somewhat, though Ron had seemed to cheer up when Harry beat Hermione in a similar style minutes later. Harry left the Armoury torn between guilt, and delight that he had finally found something useful he could do. Gryffindor's approving nod had meant more to him than anyone else's.

Still, it might have been fun, but it was utterly exhausting. Hence why the three of them had all but collapsed at the table when they arrived for lunch.

"It went well, then?"

Harry forced his head up to find Slytherin studying him, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It was good," he mumbled. "Learned a lot."

Slytherin glanced at Ron and Hermione. "And used a lot of energy in the process." He nudged their bowls closer to them. "Eat, before you fall asleep."

"It's the middle of the day," Ron protested half-heartedly. "We're not going to fall asleep." He did reach for his bowl though.

Harry reflected briefly on the absurdity of Slytherin of all people telling them to eat their dinner, before he too gave in. He didn't see the smiles that passed between the other Founders as they turned to their own repast.

The food revived him somewhat, and he started to pay attention to the conversation around him. The Founders were discussing arrangements for new students though, and he soon turned back to Ron and Hermione. They too were beginning to look more awake, but Harry was still very glad that they had the afternoon off.

"Harry."

Harry looked over. It seemed Hufflepuff had seen he was finished. "We can attend to the matter we were discussing earlier now, if you wish."

Harry nodded and got to his feet. "All right."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "What matter?"

"They're just going to check my scar to see what's going on," said Harry quickly. "I'll be fine."

Hermione didn't look convinced, but she also didn't protest, for which Harry was grateful. Ron nodded at him.

"Good luck, mate."

Harry shot him a quick grin, then walked over to where Hufflepuff and Slytherin were waiting. "So, where are we going to do this?"

"Our chamber will be fine," said Slytherin. "We will not be disturbed there." He tilted his head to one side. "Are you all right?"

Harry shrugged. "Fine." He saw the two Founders exchange a look and sighed. "I just want to know what's going on."

"We will find out," Hufflepuff promised.

Slytherin nodded. "Indeed we will." He glanced at Harry as they made their way out of the Hall. "Tell me, how did you find your first lessons?"

Harry grimaced. "Hard work."

Hufflepuff glanced at Slytherin. "They did have Godric straight after Rowena."

Slytherin's lips quirked upwards. "We may have to amend that."

"Thank you," said Harry fervently.

It wasn't long before they reached the small antechamber where Harry and the others had originally appeared. Slytherin waved to Harry to one of the seats and pulled up another opposite him.

"Try to relax for me, Harry."

Harry held still as Slytherin waved his wand in the same pattern Hufflepuff had used earlier. He was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"Definitely Dark magic," he said quietly.

"Can you identify it?" asked Hufflepuff. "I've never felt anything like it."

Slytherin frowned. "Possibly. It feels familiar, though I find myself struggling to place it."

"What's going on?" asked Harry.

Slytherin turned to him, his expression grim. "There is Dark magic in your scar, Harry. Very old, very powerful magic. It does not appear to be harming you," he said, forestalling Harry's question, "but as to what it is..." His voice trailed off, and he performed a couple more spells. From the way his jaw tightened, Harry guessed he wasn't happy with the results.

"Well?"

Slytherin scowled. "There are a number of possibilities. I will have to do some research before we attempt to counteract it."

Harry stared at him. "What?"

Slytherin raised an eyebrow. "You did not think we were just going to leave you with a head full of Dark magic, did you?"

"Er..."

"We are here to help, Harry," Hufflepuff reminded him gently. She glanced at Slytherin. "Do you think you will be able to identify it?"

"I will have to look through my books," he replied. "They may also contain some clues as to how to neutralise it."

Harry saw Hufflepuff's eyes darken with concern. "Will you be all right? Some of those books..."

"I know, and I will be careful." He smiled at her, and Harry was struck by the tenderness of it.

Hufflepuff held his gaze for a long moment before nodding. "Very well then."

Slytherin squeezed her hand briefly and turned back to Harry. "I will find a way to fix this," he said. "I promise you that."

And Harry had no doubt that he would honour that promise.

Ron watched Harry leave and sighed. He was glad that the scar problem was finally going to be sorted, but he couldn't deny that he was worried about what they might find. Knowing Harry's luck, it wasn't likely to be anything good. He sighed again. Everything always seemed to happen to Harry. Hermione looked just as concerned.

"Do you think he'll be all right?"

"He'll be fine," said Ron firmly. "They'll find what's wrong, and they'll fix it, right?" He glanced at Ravenclaw, who nodded.

"Salazar has a great deal of experience with the Dark Arts. If anyone can help Harry, it is he."

Ron glanced at Hermione. Admitting to a good knowledge of the Dark Arts wasn't exactly the best way to assure them that everything would be fine. Gryffindor's eyes narrowed.

"If you want to defeat an enemy, you must first understand it," he said quietly. "Salazar studied those Arts a long time ago, but it is that knowledge that will now help your friend."

Ron felt his ears heat up and he looked down. He should have known that Gryffindor would never tolerate slurs against his friend. Personally, Ron still didn't feel entirely comfortable around Slytherin, but he certainly wasn't going to say so now.

"Sorry," he mumbled instead. "I'm still getting used to this."

Gryffindor smiled. "I understand. We all know that this has been a lot to take in. But you must understand that Salazar is a teacher here, and a dear friend. He is not the person you think he is."

Ron just nodded. Gryffindor might believe what he was saying, but Ron still going to keep his eyes open, especially since Slytherin seemed to have taken an interest in Harry. A snide part of his mind whispered that Harry hardly needed his help, but he forced that thought aside.

"Ron?"

Belatedly, Ron realised that Gryffindor was still talking. "Sorry, what?" He cringed, expecting a reprimand. What a way to make a good impression.

"Ron, look at me."

Ron forced himself to look up, steeling himself for the disappointment he was sure was coming. To his surprise though, Gryffindor's eyes held nothing but concern.

"What is the matter?"

Ron shrugged. "Nothing."

Gryffindor raised an eyebrow. "I do not know what things are like in the future, but here there are certain rules against lying to a teacher, particularly your head of house." His tone was mild, but the message was very clear. "What is it? You already have our assurances that Harry will come to no harm in Salazar's care."

"I know, I know." He scowled. "And it's not like I could do anything to help him anyway."

Gryffindor shook his head. "Have you forgotten our earlier conversation so soon?"

Ron stared at him. "Of course not, but you saw him this morning. What does he need me for when he can duel like that?"

"Ah, so that's what this is about."

Ron shrugged and looked away. "Well, it's true."

"No, it is not."

Startled, Ron looked back. "What do you mean?"

"His ability to defeat you in a duel does not mean he does not need you," said Gryffindor patiently. "I can defeat Salazar in a duel, yet his friendship is invaluable to me. It is quite clear that Harry values your friendship just as highly."

"But why? I can't do anything."

"Your actions the other night alone proved otherwise." His voice softened. "Harry doesn't need you to be an incredible duellist. He needs you to be his friend, just as you always have been."

"Not always," Ron mumbled, but his heart did feel a bit lighter.

"Besides, there is a great deal you can do."

Ron snorted. "Nothing Hermione can't do better." He cast a quick look sideways, but Hermione was deep in conversation with Ravenclaw and clearly hadn't heard a word he'd said.

"I do not believe that."

"You should. About the only thing I can beat both of them at is chess, and a fat lot of good that is."

Gryffindor shook his head. "On the contrary, your proficiency at chess could prove extremely useful." Ron's scepticism must have shown in his face, for he elaborated. "Think about all the skills you use while playing. A good player must have the ability to strategise, to predict an opponent's move and calculate the best methods of counteracting them. He must also have good judgement to avoid being drawn into traps, and to identify the optimum moment to launch his own attacks. All of these are qualities that are essential if you wish to become a skilled duellist."

Ron was silent for a long moment. He had never thought about it like that, but it did make a lot of sense. "Do you think I could learn that?"

Gryffindor smiled. "To a certain extent, you already have. You are certainly better at planning your attacks than either Harry or Hermione."

"Then how come Harry was able to beat me so easily?"

"Because Harry favours unpredictability. While your initial strategy was good, you need to learn to amend your plans so that you are not caught unawares when something does not go as you expect."

Ron thought back to the morning's session. It was true that he had struggled when Harry did not react like he thought he would, and he had failed to regain the advantage. From there, it had only been a matter of time before Harry was triumphant; Ron knew he didn't have a hope of matching his friend's experience. But maybe with help...

He looked up to meet Gryffindor's patient gaze. "Can you teach me?"

Gryffindor smiled at him. "That is what I am here for, is it not?" His expression turned thoughtful. "In time, I will start incorporating more strategy into our Duelling sessions. All three of you could use the practise. In the meantime, however, I would enjoy a game with you."

Ron blinked. "A chess game?"

"If you are agreeable. I expect there will be some differences after all this time, but none should be insurmountable."

Ron didn't even try to halt the wide smile spreading across his face. "That would be brilliant."

Gryffindor nodded. "Excellent. Shall we say this evening after dinner, then?"

"Sounds good to me." He tried to keep his voice level, but inside he felt like singing. Finally, there was something useful he could do.

"And then he just moved his pawn and took my rook. Instant checkmate, and I completely missed it."

Harry was careful to hide a grin. Had anyone else beaten Ron, the redhead probably would have been furious. It wasn't really a surprise that Godric Gryffindor was the exception to the rule.

It was the morning of their fourth day in the past, and they had finally begun to settle into a routine. Each day they would have lessons with each of the Founders, before splitting off into their individual pursuits. It hadn't taken Ron and Gryffindor long to recognise each other's potential, and they were now playing matches every evening, which Ron would summarise with great enthusiasm for them the following morning.

"He's really that good?" asked Hermione.

Ron nodded vigorously. "I'm good at seeing patterns and predicting an opponent's moves, but he's got so many plans within plans that it's hard to keep track of them all. And then he'll go and pull off something completely random and win the game." He shrugged. "Not really surprising, considering who he is."

Harry shook his head. "Maybe, but it's still weird to imagine you losing."

Ron's ears went pink at the compliment. "He's the best opponent I've ever played. I don't think I'll ever be that good."

"You sell yourself short. Godric tells me you're one of the most promising young players he's ever encountered."

Harry almost jumped out of his skin. "Do you have to do that? Sir," he added belatedly.

Slytherin smirked at him. "Consider it a test of your situational awareness."

"You appeared out of thin air!"

"A test of your reactions then." There was no malice in his tone though, and Harry found himself grinning back in spite of himself. Ever since Slytherin had checked his scar and promised to help, he had been feeling more at ease in the Founder's presence.

"I'll work on it."

"Good." He glanced at Ron. "And you need to work on your self-confidence."

Ron nodded ruefully. "Professor Gryffindor said the same thing."

"Then maybe you should take it to heart."

Ron said nothing, but he looked a good deal more thoughtful.

"What are we going to be doing today, Professor?" asked Hermione.

"Working on patience." He said it with such straight face that it took Harry a moment to realise he wasn't being serious.

"Professor."

"Well, in a manner of speaking. Rushing in this particular subject would not be advisable."

Hermione's eyes it up. "Are we starting Potions, then?"

"You should not be sounding so happy about that," Ron mumbled. Slytherin raised an eyebrow and he winced. "Sorry."

Slytherin just nodded. "I do not expect you to approach this with the same enthusiasm you have for your Duelling sessions," Harry and Ron exchanged sheepish looks at that, "but I will ask that you keep an open mind. You may find that there is more to it than you currently realise."

"We'll try," Harry promised. Ron hesitated, but after a moment he nodded too.

"Excellent. If you will follow me then."

"So did you have to invent a new spell in the end?" asked Hermione, as they made their way down the corridor.

Slytherin shook his head. "Rowena and I ran a few experiments, and I believe we have isolated the maleficent elements. Replacing any lead equipment with pewter should prevent any further ill-consequences."

Harry nodded. "That's what we use at home."

Slytherin paused to stare at him. "And you didn't think to mention this earlier?"

"Er..."

"It's my fault," said Hermione. "I didn't know how common pewter was, of if you even had it, and I didn't want to risk ruining the timeline, and I'm really sorry for wasting your time-"

Slytherin held up a hand. "Hermione, relax. I am not upset."

Hermione blinked. "You're not?"

"Certainly not." His voice softened. "This situation is unique. There were always going to be misunderstandings and miscommunications. It is not your fault, and it caused no harm; indeed, it was quite a fascinating study."

Hermione managed a small smile. "Thank you."

Slytherin nodded and continued walking, but Harry noticed that Ron was not the only one looking thoughtful now.

It wasn't long before they reached the classroom. Once they had resumed their places, Slytherin turned to them.

"How many of the ingredients from last time do you remember?"

Harry cast his mind back. "Dairy roots and leech juice..."

"A Shrivelfig," Ron added.

"And caterpillars and a rat spleen each," Hermione finished.

Slytherin nodded. "Good. Off you go then." When they all had a pile of ingredients in front of them, he continued. "Now then, show me how you would go about preparing these."

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, then shrugged and reached for the caterpillars. Slytherin's gaze was a little unnerving, but it wasn't until Harry began peeling the Shrivelfig that he spoke.

"Is that the technique Snape showed you?"

Harry blinked. "It's the way I've always done it."

"Yes, but it is the way you were taught?"

"No," Harry admitted. "He said to avoid gripping it by the end, but that makes it really awkward. I don't think anyone does it that way."

"Except Hermione," Ron put in. Hermione glared at him and he shrugged. "What difference does it make anyway?"

Slytherin sighed. "And this is why it is important to understand why we do things in a particular way. Pass me your Shrivelfig please, Harry." Harry did so, then blinked as Slytherin extracted a tiny knife from a pouch in his belt. Ignoring their questioning looks, he gestured to the top of the plant.

"Do you see the slight bulge just below the stem?"

Harry squinted at it. "Yeah. What is it?"

"We're not entirely sure," Slytherin admitted. "But if you slice it open..." he flicked the blade across it and held it up. "What do you see?"

Hermione frowned. "They look like spores of some kind."

"As good a name for them as any."

"But why are they so important?" Harry asked. This might be interesting, but he didn't see why it was relevant.

Slytherin ignored his tone. "They are important because it is these spores that will eventually react with the daisy roots and the leech juice to produce the shrinking effect."

Hermione's eyes widened. "So if we crush them while peeling it-"

"You greatly reduce the effectiveness of the potion," Slytherin finished. "There are enough spores in the liquid of the main body for the potion to work, but it will never gain its full potency."

Ron shook his head. "No wonder your potion was so much better than ours," he said, glancing at Hermione.

Harry scowled. "Why didn't Snape tell us that?"

Slytherin raised an eyebrow. "He did show you the correct method. Why he chose not to explain it is not our concern."

Harry nodded and glanced at the remaining ingredients. How many more seemingly basic things were they going to have to fix? Slytherin seemed to read his mind.

"We do have time to remedy this," he said quietly.

Harry took a deep breath and let it out again. "Let's get on with it then."

Thankfully, Slytherin only had minor issues with the rest of their preparations, and they were soon able to start brewing. Harry was soon surprised to find that he was actually enjoying himself; Slytherin gave clear instructions, and was quick to help them remedy any mistakes they made. He also provided a running commentary as to the reasons behind each step.

"And this will counteract the residual effects from the caterpillars," he said, as they added the rat spleens. "It will, however, produce certain volatile effects at high temperatures, so you will need to monitor your flames carefully for the next few minutes."

"So that's how Seamus did it," Ron exclaimed. "Seamus holds the record for most Potions accidents," he told Slytherin.

Slytherin raised an eyebrow. "That does not sound like a good thing."

"There are never any serious injuries," Harry assured him. "Snape might not explain things, but he's usually pretty good at containing major accidents."

"I should hope so. Now add the daisy roots until it turns green."

"Not orange," said Harry with a grin.

Slytherin glanced at him. "It would be almost impossible to turn this potion orange. Unless you added the leech juice before the Shrivelfig, in which case the colour would be the least of your worries."

Hermione shook her head. "Can you really predict all that?"

"Once you understand the properties of the ingredients, certainly. All right, you can leave these for now. Well done, all of you."

Harry smiled. "I never thought I'd say this, but that was actually pretty cool."

"Yeah, I never knew Potions could be that interesting."

Hermione frowned. "It's always been interesting."

Ron just looked at her. "Seriously?"

"Well, if you ever paid any attention..."

"Snape's the one with the problem, not me."

Harry was in complete agreement, but he decided to take advantage of their distraction. He shuffled closer to Slytherin, who was watching the bickering pair with barely concealed amusement.

"Professor, can I talk to you?"

Slytherin's attention was on him in an instant. "Certainly, Harry. What can I do for you?"

Harry looked down at his feet. "I was just wondering if you'd, you know, found anything."

"It had only been three days, Harry," said Slytherin gently.

Harry felt his face heat up. "Right. Sorry."

Slytherin's gaze softened in sympathy. "I understand your anxiety, and I will find out what's going on, but it will take some time." He laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Trust me."

Harry held his gaze for a moment, then nodded. "All right."

At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and Slytherin straightened. "Come in."

The door opened and Gryffindor entered. Harry started to call out a greeting, but paused at the expression on his face. This was not their light-hearted teacher. He nodded briefly to the trio before turning to Slytherin.

"We're needed."

Slytherin went completely still, silver eyes hardening. "Where?"

"The Hollow. Main street."

Slytherin nodded and turned to Harry and the others. "I am afraid we must leave you. Leave your potions for now; we will continue with this tomorrow."

"But where are you going?" Harry asked. "What's going on?"

"Helga and Rowena will explain," said Gryffindor. "We will be back shortly." Before anyone could say anything, both Founders disappeared.

It was Ron that broke the stunned silence.

"What the hell was that?"

Harry shook his head. "No idea."

"Gryffindor said they were needed," Hermione murmured. "I wonder what for."

"Whatever it was, it must happen fairly often," said Harry. "Slytherin didn't look particularly surprised."

Ron began gathering his ingredients together. "Let's go and find out. It's not like we can do anything without Slytherin here anyway."

Harry nodded, but couldn't help feeling slightly wistful. This lesson had been far more interesting than anything Snape had ever given. He shook himself and began to pack his things away. They would be able to continue tomorrow, and he was just as curious as Ron as to what was going on.

It didn't take long for them to clean and return their equipment and unused ingredients. They left their cauldrons on the desk against the wall and began to make their way back up to the Entrance Hall.

"Where do you reckon they'll be?" asked Ron.

"Professor Ravenclaw will probably be in the library," said Hermione. She ignored the grins that passed between Harry and Ron and continued calmly. "But I think we should check Professor Hufflepuff's office on the way."

No one had any better ideas, so they took the corridor that led to Hufflepuff's chambers. A few minutes later, they arrived outside an ornately carved door, and Hermione knocked.

"Come in."

Harry had visited a couple of times before, and he felt himself relax almost immediately as he stepped inside. The room was small, but cosy, and it always made him feel safe. This time though, something felt different. Hufflepuff was standing by the window with Ravenclaw, and although she smiled at their approach, Harry couldn't help but think that it was a little forced. The fact that Ravenclaw was rather pale wasn't lost on him either, and his curiosity deepened. What was going on?

"What can I do for you, my dears?"

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione who both nodded at him. "Well, we were in the middle of our first Potions lesson when Professor Gryffindor came in..." He proceeded to describe the brief conversation, but he didn't miss the look that passed between the two witches. Neither were smiling by the time he finished.

"Did they explain their actions?" Ravenclaw asked.

"They said you would," said Hermione tentatively.

"Of course they did." Helga laid a hand on her arm and she sighed. "I beg your pardon. This is not the best time."

"They could not exactly take the time to do so themselves," said Helga mildly.

Harry's unease deepened. "What's going on? Where did they go?"

There was a pause and then Hufflepuff sighed. "I suppose it is only fair that you know." She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "How are Dark wizards dealt with in your time?"

"You mean Death Eaters?"

"Any wizard who poses a threat. Who is responsible for stopping them?"

"The Aurors," said Harry. "They're specially trained to hunt and catch Dark wizards."

"I see. Well, as you can probably tell, there are no Aurors here. In fact, there are no formal authorities for dealing with those who break the law."

Everything clicked into place. "So you have to deal with it yourselves."

"Precisely."

"Bloody hell," Ron murmured. "Sorry," he added quickly, when Ravenclaw raised an eyebrow. "So if people see Dark wizards they come here for help?"

Hufflepuff nodded. "Godric has developed quite a reputation over the years, and Salazar is very nearly as renowned as he is. Since Hogwarts opened, they are often the first to be called upon in an emergency."

"Wicked," Ron breathed.

Harry could only nod in agreement. The more they learned about the Founders, the more he admired them. Hermione, however, gave a strangled hiss.

"Wicked? They could be killed."

Ron stared at her. "Calm down, will you? You saw how good Gryffindor is; what could they have to be worried about?"

"More than you realise," said Hufflepuff quietly. "Hermione is quite right to be concerned about them."

Ron blinked. "But I thought Gryffindor was the best duellist in the country."

"He is, but that does not mean he is invulnerable, especially when they are outnumbered. And it only takes one mistake."

"Has it happened before?" asked Harry. The pain in Hufflepuff's eyes answered the question even before she spoke.

"More times than I can count." Ravenclaw turned to look out the window, but not before Harry saw that her eyes were suspiciously bright. Ron just stood staring at Hufflepuff, his expression one of pure dismay.

"Then we have to help them!"

"No!" The force in Hufflepuff's voice left them stunned, and she didn't give them a chance the recover. "None of you are ready for this. At best you would distract them, at worst, you could be killed." Her expression softened and she continued more gently. "Leave them to it. They know what they are doing."

Harry shook his head. "But there are only two of them." It went against all his instincts to stay still when others were in danger.

"Quality is more important than quantity," Hufflepuff pointed out. "And both of them are very good at what they do."

"Then why are you both so nervous?" asked Hermione. She blushed immediately afterwards, but Ravenclaw just gave her a small smile.

"Because we have seen them leave too many times not to be." She sighed. "But there is no need to panic just yet. The message did not sound as bad as some. They should not have too many difficulties."

Her words didn't convince anybody. After a moment, Hufflepuff sighed.

"At any rate, there is nothing we can do now. I am afraid we will have to postpone our lesson this afternoon too."

"What will you be doing?" asked Harry.

Hufflepuff gave a sad smile. "Checking the infirmary. We have learned that it is better to be prepared."

Harry fell silent. Her tone more than anything else convinced him that they were in deadly earnest. For the first time, he felt a frission of fear. Losing Gryffindor would be a heavy blow; already he had taught them an incredible amount, and his encouragement was invaluable, but for some reason the thought of Slytherin's death was equally painful. He didn't know Slytherin well, but the Founder had already helped him with his nightmares and scar, and even Potions was becoming bearable. He really didn't want all that to end so soon.

Ravenclaw shook her head. "You might as well go and enjoy the sunshine. It is not likely to last much longer."

Harry stared at the floor. At that moment, the last thing he wanted to do was try to relax. Hermione swallowed.

"Do-do you mind if we stay?"

Harry nodded. "I don't think any of us could really enjoy it right now."

Ravenclaw frowned, but Hufflepuff just nodded. "Very well." She sighed. "Everything seems to stop when an incident like this occurs."

"Does this happen a lot then?" asked Ron.

"More than we would like," Ravenclaw answered. "But increasingly often recently."

Hufflepuff nodded, her smile fading again. "Indeed. Salazar has been investigating, but his time has been somewhat limited of late." She looked about to say more, but abruptly fell silent. Ravenclaw also froze, her brow furrowed in concentration. Harry glanced at Hermione, but just as he was about to ask what was going on, both witches relaxed.

"They're back," said Ravenclaw. The relief was clear in her voice.

Hufflepuff closed her eyes for a moment. "And safe, thank God."

"Wait, how do you know that?" Ron demanded.

"The wards," said Ravenclaw. "They alert us when someone enters of leaves." She began to move towards the door, and Hufflepuff gestured for the trio to follow.

"They will not mind," she assured them. "In fact, they will appreciate the concern."

Harry nodded and stepped into the corridor. "Where are they?"

"In the infirmary," said Hufflepuff. "They are not harmed," she added quickly, at their alarmed expressions, "but we have gotten into the habit of meeting them there."

"It usually saves us having to help them there," said Ravenclaw dryly. "It is easier this way."

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, and saw his own horror mirrored in their faces. This was a lot more serious than they had realised. Hufflepuff just sighed.

"Come, my dears. They will be waiting."

Hufflepuff proved to be mistaken though, for when they arrived in the infirmary, they found only Gryffindor waiting for them. He was studying a deep cut on his upper arm, and looked up at their approach.

"Ah, a welcoming committee." His tone was light, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Ravenclaw went straight to him.

"Are you all right?"

Gryffindor pulled her into a brief hug, being careful to keep his bloody arm away from her. "It is just a scratch," he murmured. "Salazar is fine too," he added, glancing at Hufflepuff. "He needed some time."

A frown flickered across Hufflepuff's face, but she shook herself and moved to inspect his wound for herself. "I am glad to hear it." She studied it and nodded. "Nothing to worry about." She began to wave her wand over it, and even as Harry watched, the edges began to knit themselves together. He glanced away, stomach churning uncomfortably, and found himself meeting Gryffindor's gaze. The warrior smiled at him.

"It is not particularly painful." He glanced round at them. "Are you all right?"

Harry opened his mouth and suddenly found that words had deserted him. Hearing about these activities had startled him, but to see Gryffindor acting so normally when his robes were covered in that much blood...

"We explained everything," he heard Ravenclaw murmur. "They did not take it well."

"I see." He turned back to them. "Come over here."

Numbly, Harry shuffled forwards, Ron and Hermione beside him. Gryffindor moved to stand in front of them, his usually cheerful demeanour completely serious.

"We do what we have to do," he said quietly. "When the alternative is leaving innocents to suffer, how can we do less? Surely there are people in similar situations in your time."

"Aurors," Harry said. "Dark wizard catchers."

"There you are. Their role is the same as ours, yet you seem to have accepted it."

"But it's their job," Hermione protested. "They get paid, and compensation, and training."

"And they go out in teams," Ron added. "They don't have to deal with everything while massively outnumbered."

Gryffindor sighed. "That is good, but I am afraid that things are different here. There are few who are capable of combatting these particular threats, and I am not willing to put others in harm's way. And as for the subject of payment..." He gave a slight shrug. "Neither Salazar, nor I have any need of it, and we are hardly going to ask if they can pay while under attack. Nor will we stand by and watch while we have the strength to help."

Harry thought about it, and realised that he had no arguments. It actually sounded very much like something he would say, though he made a mental note never to mention that in Hermione's presence. Ron just nodded.

"Yeah. Sounds about right."

Gryffindor smiled at them. "We know what we are doing," he repeated. "We have been doing so long enough."

"But not long enough to know when to duck, apparently," said Ravenclaw, with a pointed look at his bloodstained clothes.

Gryffindor shrugged as he studied it. "Lucky shot." Harry saw with some surprise that the cut had already faded to an angry with an angry red line, and so it took a moment for him to realise that the Founder's smile had disappeared.

Hufflepuff's eyes narrowed. "Godric, what happened?"

"Nothing."

"Godric."

Gryffindor's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who looked just as startled by the sudden tension as he felt.

"Godric," said Ravenclaw. "What happened? Is it Salazar?"

It was impossible to miss the sudden alarm that leapt to Hufflepuff's eyes at that. Gryffindor sighed. "He is fine." Indecision flickered across his face before his shoulders slumped. "There was a complication."

Ravenclaw closed her eyes for a moment. "What complication?" In any other situation, Harry would have smiled at the resignation in her voice, but the look on Gryffindor's face halted any thought of levity.

Instead of answering, Gryffindor reached into a pocket and withdrew a piece of cloth. The edges were ragged; it had clearly been torn from a larger piece. Gryffindor unfolded it, and Harry had a brief glimpse of a pattern stitched in red before Gryffindor turned to show it to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Harry shot a questioning glance at Hermione, but a sudden crash sent him whipping round again.

A bowl lay in pieces at Hufflepuff's feet, but she barely seemed to notice it. She was staring at the cloth in Gryffindor's hand, and there was such terror in her eyes that Harry instinctively took a step back. Gryffindor pulled her into his embrace, his eyes softening with sympathy.

"Forgive me," he murmured. "I should have warned you."

Ravenclaw's face was ashen. "Is that-" She broke off as Gryffindor glanced at her.

"It is."

Slowly, she sank onto the nearest bed. "Then God help us all."

"Hermione, what's going on?" Ron hissed.

"How should I know?"

"You usually do."

"Quiet," Harry muttered. The Founders were still talking and he didn't want to miss anything.

"We do not know for sure," Gryffindor was saying. "We broke them before; they could not have recovered so quickly. This is likely just a splinter group."

"Even a few would be dangerous," Ravenclaw pointed out. "Or one for that matter. You saw what he could do."

Harry was startled to see Gryffindor shiver. "Hopefully, that secret died with him."

"We cannot be sure of that," said Hufflepuff. She had recovered somewhat but was still terribly pale. "And we never did find the other body."

Ravenclaw frowned. "You cannot think he survived too."

Hufflepuff shook her head. "It is unlikely, but Salazar did say at the time that he could not be sure." Her voice faltered at Slytherin's name and she glanced at Gryffindor. "How did he take this?"

Gryffindor sighed. "About as well as you would expect."

Hufflepuff closed her eyes for a moment. "I had better find him then."

"That would probably be a good idea," Gryffindor agreed. He studied her. "Will you be all right?"

She gave a wan smile. "In time." There was a soft crack and she was gone.

Gryffindor rubbed a hand across his face and turned back. He paused as his gaze fell upon the trio, and Harry realised he had completely forgotten they were there.

"How much did you hear?"

There was no point in lying. "All of it."

"And how much did you understand?"

"Not much," Harry admitted. "What's going on? What's on that thing?" He nodded at the piece of cloth still crumpled in Gryffindor's and. Gryffindor looked down at it, and Harry felt a shiver at the hatred in his eyes.

"A reminder."

"A reminder of what?" asked Ron.

Gryffindor glanced at Ravenclaw, and something seemed to pass between the two of them. After a moment, Gryffindor sighed and turned back to them.

"I suppose you should know." He took a deep breath and then continued. "Over the years, Salazar and I have gained quite a reputation. Our exploits, both overseas and here in Britain, attracted a lot of attention." He gave a smile that contained absolutely no warmth. "As I am sure you are aware Harry, not all attention is good."

Harry swallowed. "You were attacked?"

Gryffindor nodded. "Two years ago. It was an ancient order of Dark wizards who felt we were becoming too much of a threat."

Harry frowned. That didn't sound like the whole story, but Gryffindor didn't give him a chance to ask questions.

"We were able to overcome them, but the price..." He trailed off shaking his head. "We thought that would be the end of the matter. It appears we were wrong."

"Do you think they'll try again?" Hermione asked.

Gryffindor shook his head. "I doubt they would be so foolish as to try attacking Hogwarts directly," he said. "Though that will not stop them from causing trouble elsewhere."

"Trouble that you'll have to deal with?" said Ron.

"Indeed." He sighed. "But that is not something for you to worry about. There are not enough of them to be a true threat."

Harry was not convinced, and the unease on Ravenclaw's face was doing nothing to allay his suspicions. "So what are we going to do?"

Gryffindor's eyes narrowed. "You will continue to learn and train. You will leave any further incidents to Salazar and I. This is not negotiable," he added, when both Harry and Ron opened their mouths to protest. "You may not officially be our students, but while you are here, you are our responsibility. None of you are ready for a battle, therefore you will obey me when I tell you to remain here. Do you understand?"

Harry scowled, but the glint in Gryffindor's eyes warned him not even to try arguing. "Yes, sir."

Ron and Hermione echoed him, Hermione with considerably more enthusiasm. Gryffindor nodded approvingly.

"Thank you. Now why don't you go and make the most of the sunshine?"

Harry waited until they were a good few corridors away before giving vent to his emotions.

"They're treating us like children!"

Ron was no less indignant. "What's the point in teaching us to fight if they won't let us practice?"

"And it's not like we're completely useless. Do Voldemort and the Death Eaters not count or something?"

Hermione stopped walking to glare at him. "Have you both lost your minds? They're trying to protect us!"

"We don't need protecting," Harry snapped back.

"Yes, we do! You heard what he said; these people are dangerous, and they're used to killing. We wouldn't stand a chance."

"We've been in danger before."

Hermione shook her head. "Not like this. Harry, the Death Eaters in the Ministry weren't even trying to kill us and we were losing. We wouldn't stand a chance against these people."

"We will soon," Ron argued. "We're already loads better than we were."

Hermione just looked at him. "Ron, have you ever managed to hit Professor Gryffindor?"

Ron blinked. "Of course not."

"Harry?"

"No, but-"

"Exactly. None of us have ever come close to landing a spell on him, and he's not even trying hard when he duels us."

Harry scowled. "What's your point?"

"The point is that he wouldn't have been playing around today, yet those attackers still managed to curse him. What does that tell you?"

"...That they're good."

Hermione nodded. "Better than us."

Harry shook his head. "But we can't just do nothing."

Hermione stared at him. "What is wrong with you? You wouldn't try to help the Aurors back home; why are you being so unreasonable now?"

"Because there's only two of them."

"And they're two of the best duellists in the country. Harry, even at our best, we'd only distract them. More likely, we'd get ourselves, or them, killed. We can't get involved."

Harry fell silent. As much as he hated to admit it, Hermione made a good point. They weren't good enough to hold their own in a real duel, and Gryffindor and Slytherin couldn't afford to be constantly looking out for them. It still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Hermione's eyes softened.

"I want to help as much as you do," she said quietly. "But what good can we do?"

Harry looked away. "Nothing."

"Nothing, yet," Ron murmured.

Harry stared at him. "What?"

Ron's eyes gleamed. "Hermione's right. We're not good enough. So we have to get better."

Harry felt his spirits rise at the thought. "We have to train harder. Study more."

"Exactly. We're going to have to improve anyway to stand a chance against the Death Eaters, but this makes it even more important."

Hermione looked from one to the other, an eyebrow raised. "This is what it takes for you to start studying?"

Harry grinned. "Guess so. You in?"

She rolled her eyes. "I can hardly leave you two to study alone, can I? Besides, I've been waiting for this for five years; I'm not missing it now."

Harry laughed, and Ron and Hermione soon joined in. It would take a lot of work, but they could do it. And Dark wizards in every time had better watch out when they did.

Helga let out a sigh as she shut the door to Salazar's chambers. She hadn't really expected to find him there, indeed, it had only been a delaying tactic at heart. She knew where he would be found. Now she just had to decide what to say. But what could be said? They had all suffered during the attack, but Salazar... Salazar had been forced to endure more than anyone should ever have to. He had survived, had healed, but Helga knew that not all of his nightmares were from his childhood. Some scars didn't fade.

She shook herself. Delaying wouldn't do any good. Closing her eyes, she Disapparated.

The wind plucked at her hair as she reappeared, and Helga had to resist the urge to keep her eyes closed. The Astronomy Tower was possibly her least favourite part of the entire school, and for good reason. Still, it would make finding Salazar somewhat tricky. She opened her eyes and felt the now familiar rush of awe. Not even she could deny that the view was spectacular. As always though, awe was rapidly replaced by terror and she laid a hand against the wall until the rush of dizziness passed. She still wondered if it had been necessary to make it this high. All thoughts of her own comfort flew out of her head though, when she looked up to see Salazar standing at the edge of the tower.

Even from a distance, Helga could see that he was in a bad way. Constant shivers wracked his thin frame, but he didn't move, didn't even seem aware of his precarious position. Helga's heart sank. She had seen him like this before, and it never boded well.

"Salazar."

Salazar didn't move, or give any indication that he had heard, but after a moment, a reply floated back. "Godric told you then."

"He did. Are you all right?"

There was a mirthless chuckle. "As all right as you are." His next words were so quiet Helga had to strain to hear them. "I thought we were rid of them."

"We do not know for sure it is them."

"You did not see them fight."

Helga swallowed. "Salazar, please come away from the edge." Her voice broke on the last word, and se choked back a sob.

Salazar did turn at that, and the pain in his eyes made her heart ache. "Why do we have to do all this again? Was not the first time enough?"

"I don't know." Memories of a spell tearing through her flesh flashed across her mind, but that pain had been nothing compared to the days that had followed. "Salazar, I don't know if I can do this again." Memories that she was worked so hard to repress began to surface again, threatening to overwhelm her. The first assault had almost destroyed them. A second would be too much. Her vision blurred as tears started to fall. They couldn't do this. She couldn't do this.

Then strong arms were around her, and she clung to the comfort they offered like a lifeline. Salazar never said a word, but words had never been necessary between them. He just held her until the weeping ceased.

"Are you all right?"

Helga nodded. "Better, thank you." She was surprised when he didn't immediately let go, his dislike of physical contact was infamous, but on due reflection, she decided she didn't mind staying where she was. "I am sorry about your robes."

"No harm done." He was silent for a moment. "It will not come to that."

"That is what we thought last time."

"I mean it. Last time we were taken by surprise. Now we know what we are facing, and we will not underestimate them."

"Or lose our tempers?"

His grip tightened slightly. "Not without good reason."

Helga drew away enough to look him in the eye. "Not even then. We - I cannot go through that again."

Salazar met her gaze steadily. "Neither can I." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Please stay safe."

She nodded. "Be careful."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Aren't I always?"

"Would you really like me to answer that?"

He managed a true smile at that and drew her close again. "I will do my best."

She could have asked him to promise. But who could promise that? For now, this would have to be enough.

For those who are curious, the attack in question is foretold in my oneshot 'I Only See My Nightmares.'

Please let me know what you thought.