Helga stood at the entryway, watching the crates being unloaded. Tallus had gone to Greece, as originally planned, and returned with seven carriages, full to the brim with manuscripts and tomes. As the house elves unloaded the goods, Rowen greeted Tallus at the gates, and now they turned as the final carriage door opened. An olive-skinned woman, her hair dark and wrapped in a simple black cloth emerged, carrying a small parcel. The woman inclined her head formally toward Rowena, and Helga half-considered going back to her common room, as Salazar had.
In the past days the castle had been awash with activity. Philomena Filch had arrived along with Hector Helmstead to prepare for their positions in History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures. While Hector had taken up residence in the teachers quarters adjoining his office, Philomena and her husband Burgess, as well as their two young sons, had moved into a small cottage just outside the school grounds near Mrs. Prewett and her family. Helga delighted in Burgess Filch's company, as he, like her, had grown up simply with no substantial wealth and seemed overwhelmed by the splendor of Hogwarts. Hector, on the other hand, was aloof toward all but Salazar, who he treated with a strange reverence. He had brought with him several crates, all of which made horrid sounds. Helga had directed him to deposit them in the dungeons with some relief.
Tallus and Rowena gestured toward her, and the newcomer turned her head slightly. Helga sighed. It seemed that her time to escape without introductions had passed. She made her toward them slowly, overhearing the snippets of their conversation.
"-And of course they will all be protected here." Tallus finished with a sweeping motion of his arm. "Ah! Helga!" He beamed. "I'm glad to see you are well. You are quite well now aren't you?" He asked the last question with great concern, and Helga remembered that he, like Salazar had been in the air to watch her fall.
"Quite well." She smiled.
"You were injured." The newcomer spoke with a strange, rolling accent, as if trying to turn each word over with her tongue. Helga looked at her closely now. She was dressed simply, though her robes seemed worn with travel. Her eyes, when they turned toward Helga, had a strange milky color, and as they slid to either side of her Helga noted with surprise that the woman was blind.
"...Yes." Helga said. "In a battle in Romania."
The woman tilted her head for a moment, considering, "The dragon rider." She said softly. Helga felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickling.
"Cassandra is a seer." Rowena said in response to Helga's confusion. "Tallus brought her from Greece to teach Divination."
Cassandra clicked her tongue lightly, "A fool's errand, I fear. One is either born with the gift or without."
"Quite." Rowena said tartly. "Tallus, could you take Cassandra to her rooms, please? Helga and I will see to the rest of your trophies." Helga couldn't help but feel the malice in Rowena's voice. Cassandra, it seemed, was not a welcome addition to the staff.
Tallus looked nervous for a moment, feeling Rowena's displeasure before her gestured toward the castle and led Cassandra away. As Helga turned back to Rowena she heard a distant shouting coming from the direction of the forest.
"Other guests?" Helga asked, gesturing toward to woods.
"Centaurs. It seems Cassandra would not agree to come unless we gave them sanctuary. They are a small herd, but they will have their uses, I suppose."
Helga blinked, "But aren't they terribly dangerous? I mean, I have never met one..."
Rowena snorted, "They keep to themselves mostly. These forests have always been magical. It is one reason we chose this location. They will be well-isolated from outsiders. Besides," she said, "They usually only attack when provoked."
Helga nodded, turning back to the carriages, nearly empty now as the house elves apparated in, collected, and apparated back to the castle.
"I must ask you to be honest with me, Helga."
Helga looked, her brow arched. Rowena's face was stony. Helga had noticed a shift in her mood since their return from the battle, though she had assumed it had something to do with the shock. She herself had been having nightmares. Perhaps, she thought, it was Rowena's pregnancy. Or the fact that Tallus had gone away again so soon, only to come back with this unwelcome new professor. She nodded, and Rowena took a deep breath before speaking again.
"What happened to you and Salazar? In the battle?"
"Happened? Nothing. Well...I mean, he killed a vampire who was attacking me. Then the dragon..."
"Not that."
Rowena looked strained now, as if she were mustering the strength to speak.
"Helga, you were very brave, we all know that. You are inclined to see the goodness in others. But there are things you don't know about Salazar. Sides of him...that you should be wary of." She made a point of not looking Helga in the eye as she spoke. "He traveled you know, after his parents died. He has certain ideas about the way Hogwarts should be run." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Godric won't listen to me. Salazar fought beside him for two years. They're like brothers. Bickering, bull-headed brothers, but brothers just the same."
"What did he do?" Helga asked, alarmed.
"He hunted them." Rowena said, her voice still a deadly whisper. "The muggles who killed his family. His entire town was practically burnt to the ground. The Ministry claimed it was an accident, of course, that some plague had swept through and the bodies needed to be burnt to prevent infection."
Helga felt her stomach lurch. Strange pangs of despair and anger, mixed with something she could not name.
"H-he was so young though. He couldn't control his magic...I mean, surely..."
"Helga, stop." Rowena had turned, finally looking the other witch in the eye. She looked on the verge of tears. "I am trying to help you. You're my friend and you deserve to know this before...before you form any attachments."
Helga nodded, feeling her face grow hot. She felt gutted.
"I think I should go back to the castle." She whispered quietly. Rowena nodded and allowed Helga to turn and leave without another word.
As she made her way inside Helga found herself walking toward Salazar's common room. As she came to the dungeons she quieted when she heard voices.
"...My Lord, surely another..."
"You will procure what I am asking for, Hector." Salazar said sharply. Helga drew back to the stone wall and quieted her breathing. The two wizards seemed to be arguing quietly just outside of the Slytherin common room.
"Of course sir, but you must understand...the creature is dangerous."
"Not to me."
"Yes, yes, but surely you don't mean for the beast to reside here?"
"I have created a place for it. It will be perfectly safe."
"...What have the others said of this?" Hector Helmstead's voice was strained, nervous.
"They need not know. This is for the defense of Hogwarts. They will thank me, should the dire time ever come. Should the muggles discover us." Salazar's voice was quiet and dangerous in a way Helga had never heard before. She found herself fighting the urge to run back up the way she came.
"Leave me." Salazar's voice was sharp. Helga tried to move out of view but did not make it before Hector came around the corner. He paused when he saw her before rushing past, his head down.
"Helga?"
She stiffened, turning now to the foot of the stairs. Salazar was there, looking curious.
"H-hello. I was just...um...looking for you." She said softly.
He stared at her as he moved toward her up the steps, their eyes locked. When he was close she shivered lightly, and resisted the urge to step back.
"What are you planning, Sal?" She asked, her voice coming out a whisper.
His eyes flashed. "I am keeping Hogwarts safe. My own way." He said curtly.
"How?"
He was towering over her now, his face grim. "How? Do you ask Godric what defenses he casts on the castle? Ask Rowena what beasts that husband of her has hidden in the forest?"
"Sal..."
"No Helga!" He said. "Hogwarts is my home! I will not see it burned by...by them!" He hissed.
Helga felt her eyes watering over. "Then it's true?" She choked. "Those muggles from your village...you killed them?"
He took a step back as though struck, before regaining his composure. He seemed angrier than Helga had known possible, once again the dark man from her first weeks in the castle. "I am not a forgiving man." He spat. "Besides, did Godric not try to do the same to the ones who killed your mother? Did you not kill that vampire? Perhaps you aren't as saintly as you like to believe."
Helga took a step back now, fighting her tears. "I had no choice, Sal."
"It was you or him, Helga! How is it different? How is it different from them?" He lowered his voice. "If the muggles had the chance they would wipe out our kind in a moment. Do not pretend otherwise."
Helga shook her head, feeling Salazar move closer. He took her chin and tilted it up until she was looking at him.
"It's us or them, Helga. I won't let them take this away from us. This is my home now." His face softened into the man she knew again, and she saw pain in his eyes. "You, all of you, are my family. I won't let them take that away from me again."
Helga stood, staring into his eyes. "But Salazar...we're safe now. You're safe." She whispered. "They aren't going to take that away from us."
"I promised you before that I would protect you." Salazar sighed.
"You did."
"There are still greater evils, Helga. Even here."
She swallowed hard. "Do you promise me...promise that you won't hurt anyone, Sal. Not unless absolutely necessary."
He looked at her for a long, pained moment. "I promise."
He craned his head down, closer to her face.
"Salazar..." She whispered.
"Stop it." He ordered. "Stop thinking for a moment." Then he moved his hands to her back.
When he kissed her this time she let herself go. Pushing thoughts of Hector and his task, of Rowena's worry from her mind. She twined her arms around his neck and felt him pull her insistently into him. He pulled back after a moment, leaning his forehead against hers and breathing softly.
"I promise." He whispered again.
...
Hi Everyone!
Sorry this update has been a little slower than usual. I've been horribly busy in a far less magical world. I also realized I had been rushing a bit and been a bit lax on proofreading, so sorry for the typos! Don't worry though, I'm picking up the pace again. Hopefully my next update will be today or tomorrow. Next: We will get a little glimpse into the futures of our characters and get to know everyone a bit better.
