Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related.
AN: From the idea of the same friend that brought you the snippet right before this one. I will be taking serious liberties, and there may be some inconsistency as well, making up my own stuff, it is obviously going to be AU. While it might hold some minor similarities to some things from the previous snippet, it will not be in the same verse. There will be both regular and fem-slash. Please enjoy.
Snippet #11: Founders Intervention.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not.… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…" (Borrowed from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.)
Rowena Ravenclaw stuttered softly and huffed before she felt her head bombarded with another prophecy.
"...The one to vanquish the dark lord will not be stopped... tempered by anger, fueled by vengeance... the power that vanquished the dark lord, shall be his undoing... a world of darkness and pain await... the one to vanquish the dark lord will not be stopped..."
She huffed and waited, but nothing else came. She shook her head and stood up from bed, stumbling over to the window to open it. She breathed in the cool October air and pressed her head against the cold stone. She sighed and let the magic of the castle wash over her, and then sighed in a more content manner when the arms of her wife, Helga Hufflepuff encircled her. A kiss to her cheek and then the rich tones of her wife's voice spoke.
"What is it, my lady?" Rowena shuddered, gods she loved when her wife spoke to her, no matter the tone or time of day. The shudder could also be because they were both nude, and the impressive bosom of her wife was against her own bare back.
"Two prophecies, my sweet. One right after the other... the first one troubled me, the second... worries me. Not for us, but for our future." She leaned into her wife's embrace and sighed, holding those strong arms around her.
"I want to discuss it with Sal and Godric tomorrow... something must be done." Helga nodded and then turned her wife's head up for a kiss, which then escalated to more. The castle closed the window and let the warmth return to the room, to keep it nice and comfortable for the two women who proceeded to make love until sleep claimed them again.
~FI~
"Let me get this straight, Row, you saw two prophecies, and the second one troubles you? Troubles you so much you wish to intervene?" Salazar Slytherin asked, studying his sister in all but blood across from him. She nodded softly and he wiped a hand over his face. "And how would you do this, my dear sister?" He asked, skeptical, but she could understand.
"Simple, dear brother, we go ourselves." She sipped her tea, smiling at the blinking form of her brother. Godric and Helga were sparring on the grounds, not really interested in this conversation. The two were not stupid, or easily bored, but their spouses knew when conversations would bore them.
"Sister, do you even know how far ahead these take place? How much magic it would take to propel us forward?" She nodded and put her tea down.
"We would be traveling to the year 2010, Sal. Just in the beginning of the new millennium. There is no need to worry about the magic required." She waved off his incredulous look. "The castle rests on not one, not two... not even three, but FOUR ley lines. The leylines drew us together, Salazar... you remember that." He sighed and nodded, it was true after all. They had been drawn from different parts of the world. Salazar came from the east, Godric the west, Rowena the south, and Helga the north. Helga had been waiting already when they arrived; apparently she had been living there for quite a few years before the others were called.
"To leave all of this behind though, Row. Our children... their children." He sighed softly and stroked the wall next to him. "Or sweet Hogwarts would be without us..." He was connected to the castle, more so than the others, even though there was a connection with all of them.
"Dear brother... we would be leaving and returning to the castle. The prophecy concerns a student of our esteemed castle." She smiled as he perked up. "A thousand years of growing, absorbing magic, I dare say she would welcome you with a loving embrace." Here Salazar smiled and nodded softly.
"You of course know that as long as the four of us are together we can do anything. Even Merlin feared us for a time, old codger." He snorted softly. Rowena did not like Merlin. Not because he was evil, or even malicious, he was just... an old, senile pervert. He had passed away some time ago, and she had mourned as he was a mentor to them all, but her less so.
"Very well, Rowena. Gather the components for the rituals. I shall tell our spouses." She nodded and after a kiss to his cheek went off to the prepared ritual chamber. She had already gathered most of the components, all she needed was the four of them and the ritual could begin.
It was two days later when they were all ready. Rowena had used a small ritual circle to look further into the future, to where they would be arriving. In doing so she learned the language they needed for translation purposes, the currency had not changed much as goblins still owned the gold and Gringotts still stood. The forest was the same, and Hogwarts as well. They would be appearing in the great hall, directly above the ritual chamber. Salazar had wanted to appear in the ritual chamber, but Godric and Helga wanted to make an entrance. They conceded and when they were all ready to go Rowena looked up one more time from her notes.
"Everything prepared, packed, ready?" She got three nods and then stared them down; causing Godric to huff and run off as he indeed had forgotten something. Once again, he was not thick, but he left most of the thinking to his husband most of the time. Helga double and triple checked herself before she nodded. Rowena had everything packed, and then she looked at Salazar.
"I want to bring Praeclara, do you think I should?" Rowena sighed softly and shook her head.
"No, Sal, the ritual is for four. She would be seen as a 5th, especially at her size." He nodded and kneeled, patting the castle floor softly.
"Take care of her for me, my dear. I want to see her large, powerful, beautiful as her name." He got a warm caress on his cheek from the castle responding before Godric returned, huffing softly.
"OK. I am now ready; I had to leave my sword with my son. Something to recall his father, you understand." They nodded, the Gryffindor line was a proud one.
"Stand in your circles." They did so and then Rowena started to chant. The ritual needed was ancient, older than the Latin they now spoke. It was ancient Sumerian, dead to the world, but not to magic. It was a powerful ritual, and for a moment the wards of the castle... vanished. They returned once the four were gone, and for the next week the castle mourned for her loss. She knew they would return, but still she had a thousand years to wait.
~FI~
September 1st, 2010, Scotland, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Great Hall, 8pm.
"… because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited." (Borrowed from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Professor Umbridge sat down, a sickly sweet smile on her face after that little... speech. Dumbledore was about to speak when there was a dimming of the Hogwarts lights. Then the castle burst into bright, illuminating light. The stones themselves literally glowing, the castle itself radiating happiness, and then another burst of song from Fawkes who flamed in. After the light show, but still with the students and most of the staff smiling at the overwhelming feelings, four figures appeared. Two wore robes, elegant and proper. The shortest of the four wore a brilliant blue robe, accented with bronze and speckles of gold. Upon her chest was the symbol for Ravenclaw. Her hair was the deepest black, and her skin was just a few shades fuller than that of a vampire, but still white and pure. Her eyes were a deep gold, and they held a kind intelligence to them.
The next tallest wore deep green robes accented with silver, and his hair was a chestnut brown, eyes a beautiful blue. His skin was more tan, but still lighter in color. His eyes searched around, seemingly looking into everyone soul, but his smile was genuine. The staff in his hand being used to lean on, but he seemed young enough not to need it to walk. Behind him stood a man who wore magnificent red armor, accented in gold. His eyes were wild, but attentive, and were a piercing brown. In his hands he held a long sword and a shield, on the lookout for danger. He stood around 6' tall, yet was almost dwarfed by the woman beside him.
The woman was at least 7' tall, closer to 8' if you were to measure it, and she was built like an Amazon. Her twin braided hair went down to the top of her backside and she, like her armored, shielded companion, was wearing no robes. Instead she wore form fitting, functional suit of hide armor. It was a deep black, with small accents of yellow. Even more impressive was the two handed mace, sickening in its appearance, that looked to be about as tall as Hagrid. When there were no threats present her mace rested on the floor, the sword and shield was lowered, and the green clad male spoke. His voice dripping with honey, so much in fact that it was like everyone knew him as a trusted family member.
"My sweet... loving Hogwarts... we have returned. Give them to me my dear, embrace me again." There was another burst of loving magic, as if a long lost family member had returned. It was such a powerful emotional outburst that no-one but the man who spoke noticed the Headmaster pale as the wards left him and went to this man. The man sighed and a small tear dropped from his eye that was quickly wiped away. He opened his eyes and looked around. He was about to speak when the woman wearing that... shockingly terrible pink color spoke.
"Hem-hem. And who... are you four to enter so brazenly into these halls?" She asked in that overly fake sweet voice, much different than the actual sweetness from the man. The man smiled, bowing softly.
"My dearest apologies, Professor Umbridge. I was so grateful to return home, I have forgotten my manners. I am Salazar Slytherin. To my left is my dear sister, Rowena Ravenclaw. Behind her is my other sister, and her wife Helga Hufflepuff, and behind me is my husband Godric Gryffindor." There were gasps and then the murmuring and mumblings started.
"Preposterous! Those four died almost a thousand years ago! I demand you leave the school at once, lest we call the Aurors!" She huffed and Salazar chuckled, looking to his sister.
"Aurors?" She smiled, her voice like a melody as she responded.
"Knights of the peace, my dear brother. Though, this professor does not know that with you in control of the wards again, and us returning, this is a sovereign nation." She smiled and then the heavy, booming voice of Godric spoke.
"Where is my house table? I would sit with my students!" He grinned wide and was rewarded with two identical boys standing up: the Weasley twins.
"Over here, your Gryffin-ness!" He laughed and then went over to the table, slamming a hand at the end of it.
"My dear Hogwarts, my chair if you please." Out of nothing came a chair that held the house colors and some rather comfy looking cushions. A rack for his weapons appearing as well. "Ah, I do love the feasts!"
"My table?" Asked Rowena, and she got a silent sea of hands that rose. She went over, and similar to Godric asked for her chair. It was high backed and stiff, but still perfect height to eat.
"Aye, and mine?" Helga spoke for the first time, her tone thick and Scottish, making Minerva smile besides herself. She got a similar response to her wife and brother and went to sit. A chair suitable for a man like Hagrid appearing, and a rack for her weapon as well, as it did with Godric.
"And my table, for the last, but most certainly not the least." Salazar went to his table and a throne appeared, in green and silver. He frowned playfully. "My dear, please. I am no more a king that my husband." It turned into a normal, but still colored chair. "Thank you my child." With that he sat, looking over the table. "Why is everyone so... somber at this table?" He was curious; every child from his time was always so... vibrant, talkative. It took one brave 7th year who spoke up.
"It's Slytherin house, my lord. We are the cunning and the ambitious, we are to observe, know when to be noticed... otherwise we are silent." Salazar frowned, the teen not expecting the disappointed look on his face.
"Goodness... what has happened in these past thousand years!" He looked over his house table and shook his head. "There will be mu-"
"Hem-hem! Just who do you think you are! I do believe it is time to call the Aurors! Headmaster, why have you not called the Aurors!" She looked over to the headmaster, but he was not at his throne. She looked around the hall to see him sitting at Gryffindor table, with McGonagall sitting next to him. Both were talking to Godric who was smiling and laughing heartily. She looked to see the whole head table was empty, the heads of house and teachers all at their respective house tables.
"The minister will hear about this!" She stormed out of the great hall, no-one really caring. The four founders of Hogwarts were alive, they were in their castle. The magic of the castle welcomed then, sang for them, there was no way this was a fake. Salazar was not having as much of a fun time as his sisters and husband, however. He was talking to the head of house for his house, Severus Snape.
"Tell me, Severus, who has tarnished the good name of my house? Darkness, gloom, I sense and see nothing but sadness at my table. This pains me greatly!" He huffed softly, and Severus felt himself feeling like a scolded child.
"My lord." He was cut off.
"Salazar... please. I am sure we shall be working closely together." Severus nodded, surprised, but he went on.
"Salazar... we have always upheld your most honored traditions. Just as Mr. Mathews has said." Salazar frowned and stroked his small goatee, shaking his head.
"Ambition and cunning is marvelous, but why the sadness! I feel a rancid darkness at my table. I will not stand for it!" He hissed out, slipping into Parseltongue for a moment before a large, calming hand was on his shoulder.
"Calm yourself, my love." Came the deep tones of Gryffindor, the Slytherin table gasping softly. Sure, everyone had heard him being introduced as his husband, but they were still... caught off guard by the fact that the founders were there.
"You are correct, my dear." Salazar grasped his husbands hand and after they shared a kiss Godric gave his shoulder another squeeze and went off to his table again. Salazar looked at Severus and then glared softly.
"Your left arm, give it to me." Severus hissed but did as he was asked. His robe was lifted and there, clear as day, was the dark mark. Salazar snarled and held his finger to it, starting to speak in Parseltongue. Instead of the searing, unimaginable pain he expected, Severus felt a weight lift off of him. His soul felt cleaner, the dark taint from the dark mark was gone.
"Never has magic been used with such a foul way. Who else has this taint in my castle?" He stood up, livid now. "SPEAK!" He slammed his staff into the ground, the hall darkening. Everyone felt a wash of magic go over them and then his eyes, glowing with power, zeroed in on Harry Potter. His voice was dark, angry, but low. The hall heard it anyway, it was so silent. "What is your name, boy?" Harry gulped and looked fearful, but the slightest bit agitated at being called 'boy'.
"Harry P-Potter... sir." The young teen stuttered, and Salazar made his way to the slightly trembling teen. He felt his head go back a bit as the cool hand of the infuriated warlock caressed his head.
"Where did this come from?" Harry gulped and spoke softly.
"K-Killing curse, sir. W-When I was a baby." Harry then felt a tingle in his head, like a gentle caress and then for a moment he saw the memory of that night in his mind before nothing.
"Completely barbaric!" He hissed and then with more whispered words in Parseltongue, that Harry understood completely, he extracted a dark sliver of magic from the boy's forehead. He tossed it away like a piece of garbage, only for the castle's magic to catch and contain it. He sighed and stroked Harry's head softly, the scar slowly fading until it was gone.
"I apologize, child. I do detest such atrocities. I thought I had destroyed all of those texts. Clearly I was mistaken." He frowned and let Harry sit, sighing and going back to sit down, head in his hands. There was so much that needed to be fixed, so many things they needed to change. He was about to ask Severus another question when 12 figured entered the great hall. He stood up with staff in hand, looking at the newcomers.
"There! The four imposters! Arrest them!" The pink wearing woman screeched, and Salazar shook his head. The other woman that was standing right behind Umbridge stepped forward.
"Let me handle this, Dolores." Umbridge huffed and crossed her arms, the woman speaking towards Salazar who had walked up to her. Godric standing with a soft glower while Rowena did the same, though she was holding Helga back, a growl coming from her throat.
"And you are, Madame?" Salazar asked.
"I am Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Prof. Umbridge demanded we come to apprehend dangerous, delusional criminals. I would like to hear your side of the story first, sir, especially seeing as the students do not seem to be in any form of distress or danger." Salazar smiled lightly and gave her a thankful nod.
"As you have introduced yourself, I shall do the same. My name is Salazar Slytherin, one of the founding four of the school we currently stand in. I am holder of the wards, and husband of Godric Gryffindor." He bowed softly and then with a wave of his hand another table appeared. "Please, sit. Eat if you have not already. No need to stand for this." The Aurors looked at their boss who nodded and they all sat, Salazar doing the same.
"Do you perhaps have proof that you are who you claim to be, Sir?" Salazar nodded and then with a sigh closed his eyes before looking right back at Amelia.
"Your sorting took almost five minutes. The hat was arguing with you, he wanted to put you in my house, and then in my husbands. You insisted on being placed in my sister, Helga's house. It was not until you threatened to leave and never set foot in the castle again that my daughter Hogwarts jumped in. She was not about to have a child not be happy in her halls." Amelia froze, no-one knew that... that was impossible.
"She has been very upset the past few years as her powers have been restricted, against her will, as the headmaster deemed it so." He glared at Dumbledore, who had the grace to look and feel ashamed. He looked back at Amelia. "But I am in control now, and she can tell me everything. She did not warn me of your approach, as you had no ill intent to the students or anyone within." He smiled and she nodded.
"Let it be known, however, that I shall not allow your claim of authority these halls again. Hogwarts, as well as the grounds it sits on, belongs to me and mine. Hogwarts is sovereign land, please respect that." He smiled again, having taken a serious tone. "The students are welcome, as always, to learn. We shall teach them all we can, let your ministry know the founders have returned. They are more than welcome to visit, so long as they do not believe they command us." Amelia nodded, and was about to leave with her Aurors when she saw them enjoying a meal. Some of them even sitting next to siblings or other young family members. She then smiled when her niece came and sat next to her, getting a hug and then starting to talk, even if she had seen her the day before. Umbridge nearly screamed in rage before she stormed out again. This time when she left through the floo, she was barred from returning.
~FI~
The four founders found themselves in the headmasters office, sitting in four colorful chairs with the founders sitting next to their respective spouses. Dumbledore looking at them with a pensive look on his face. Hands under his chin as he looked at them over his half mood spectacles. Snape was standing just behind him to his right, with McGonagall on his left. Sprout was standing beside Snape, and Flitwick beside McGonagall.
"Might I ask why you appeared in the great hall this night?" Asked Dumbledore after what seemed like hours of silence.
"I saw two prophecies, one I did not like, and decided needed to be changed." Rowena spoke, gesturing to the other three. "So we are here to change the one that must be changed." She nodded and Dumbledore frowned.
"You are a seer then?" She chuckled softly, a lovely sound really, and shook her head.
"A seer? No... I am what you call an Oracle, Albus. My visions, my sight, are much clearer than that of a seer. I remember what I see, with crystal clear precision. It is why we are here... we heard tale of one to vanquish a dark lord." She saw Snape and Dumbledore pale, and they got even paler at her next words. "Who would go on and bring the world pain and suffering. I could not allow that... no." She sighed and leaned back, then they heard Godric speak.
"Albus, you continue to disappoint me." Dumbledore blinked, what had he said or done? Godric then waved his hand softly, chairs appearing for the four heads of house, then a soft burst of magic had them sitting. "You cannot even offer your friends a seat." He smiled at the amused look on McGonagall's and Sprouts face before looking back at Dumbledore.
"You shall be able to remain as headmaster, Albus, but you must put the students first. Had you not already been removed from your governmental positions, I would have given you an ultimatum." Dumbledore nodded, he was not about to argue with the namesake of his old house.
"Are there any questions? We used a lot of magic to get here, we are tired." Helga spoke, Rowena already laying on her softly. McGonagall spoke up, using her own soft tones.
"Aye... we have questions, Lady Helga, but we can wait till the morning." Helga nodded and stood with her wife in her arms, the four of them leaving. Dumbledore knew this year was going to be... interesting, but he never thought it was get like this.
~FI~
It was a testament to the mood of the castle itself as to why the children and even some of the adults in the halls were not freaking out at the appearance of the four founders. She was still radiating happiness and warmth, though it as a bit more subdued. It was finally sinking in that they were in the same castle as the four founders. The same founders that had 'disappeared' over a thousand years ago. It was something different to see those four chairs at the heads of the table, the founders loved sitting with their house students.
It was even odder to see the namesakes of their houses, particularly Slytherin and Gryffindor, share a kiss and loving caress before going to their tables. The same 7th year from the night before, Mr. Mathews if Salazar recalled, spoke up about it, being polite but it was hard to hide this disdain in his voice when he spoke his thoughts.
"My Lord Slytherin?" Salazar nodded to him. "Why have you... associated yourself with such a man?" Salazar's eyes went from their pleasant blue to a dangerous hue. "T-There is nothing wrong with being with a man! But he is... The Gryffindor. Everything we Slytherin's try not to be." He almost whimpered at the look he was getting and he sat down, Salazar took a few deep breathes and spoke softly, though the fury in his voice was evident even as he tried to remain calm.
"Due to... history, you were misinformed... because of this I shall let such a remark slide. Let it be known from here on, however, that I take the pride and good name of my husband very seriously. He can be... brutish at times, and often leaves most of the thinking and planning to me, but in his own right he is an intelligent man. I grew to love him past all of those small flaws, and he grew to love me past all of mine. This... rivalry you all know of is false, completely and utterly false. Remember this." The Slytherin table nodded and silently started to eat, though they had a lot to think about.
Helga, unlike her brother Salazar, but much like Rowena and Godric, was having a whale of a time at their tables. As it was still morning there was plenty of groggy, non-talkative students, but the overall atmosphere was jovial and high spirited. A chair, similar to hers but a little wider, appeared next to her and she turned to see Hagrid standing.
"Ah, you must be Hagrid! Sit, please." She grinned and he nodded with a smile, sitting down with a soft grunt. "I hear you're half giant. Is it true?" He froze for a moment, but relaxed as he saw no malice, no cruelty in her eyes or heard it in her voice. She was curious.
"That's true, my mum was a Giant, and my dad was a wizard. My dad passed away when I was 17, he had a bad heart." He frowned and got a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
"My father was taken from me at an early age as well, but by wild bears." She huffed and shook her head.
"Uhm... can I ask you something? If it wouldn't be too rude of me that is." She waved him along and he smiled sheepishly. "Are you... half giant as well?" He got a hearty laugh in return and she shook her head, smiling.
"No, not at all. I am a goliath, Hagrid. My race is from the far north, it is very rare that we come down." He nodded and she went on. "The bears that killed my father were larger than you." He gaped and she nodded before taking another bite of breakfast and starting to talk more avidly with him and their mutual love of creatures.
Rowena was sipping her tea, listening to a 6th year prefect, one Cho Chang, when she got a tap to her shoulder. It was polite and soft, and with a gentle small 'excuse me' she turned to the small 4th year. The striking silver grey eyes of Luna Lovegood blinked softly and then a bright smile joined her gaze.
"I was wondering, Lady Ravenclaw, if you had any Blibbering Humdingers in the time you came from." Rowena heard the small scoff from the girl she had been talking to and she tilted her head.
"Is that a manner of creature, child?" Luna nodded with a bright smile. "I am afraid I know little of any such creature, you would be better asking my wife. She loves all forms of creatures." Luna gasped and nodded, thanking the founder and bounding off to the Hufflepuff table. She turned back to Cho and smiled. "She is rather odd, isn't she? But a lovely girl." Cho frowned and shrugged lightly.
"We tend not to pay attention to her, her name is Luna." Rowena frowned and nodded, she would keep an eye on their interactions. She did not like how that sounded, but she would see to it should there be any... problems.
Godric was sipping some morning ale when he blinked softly at the gentle tap on his shoulder. He looked to see the Potter child from the night before. He smiled and gestured for him to sit, the 7th year scooting over a bit.
"What can I do for you, child?" He smiled, and Harry did not feel... talked down to with his tone. It was nice, very nice.
"I... wanted to ask if you'd like your sword back. In case you had lost it or something. I know where it is, and I'd be more than happy to get it for you." Godric laughed heartily and placed a large hand on Harry' shoulder.
"Thank you, child! I was wondering if my sword was available. However, I shall get it upon my own time. You are young, and rather small." He frowned and pushed more food in front of the scrawny boy. He was not sickly looking, but he could be fuller in appearance. "Eat! You are a growing lad! Everyone eat your fill, but do not be sickening yourselves." He grinned and then watched as the heads of house gave out schedules and the like. The students left shortly after the teachers did and the founders than went their own ways. They wanted to see just how the education in the school was going.
~FI~
Severus Snape let out a low growl as he watched the first years enter his classroom. He was not a fan of teaching new students, but it was his job. While he no longer held the threat of the dark mark, and being summoned, he could not leave the castle as he would be considered a traitor now. That was fine though, the dark mark was a taint to him. The first years entered, Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Severus gave them his usual instructions ot begin. It was about half way through the class that the door opened and in stepped Godric Gryffindor. Severus froze for a moment, why was he here?
"I am simply here to observe, nothing more." He smiled and started walking around as Severus had been. Another ten minutes or so passed before Severus saw something that made him gape. Godric came over to a student and stopped him from putting in an ingredient, it was one of his snakes, as well.
"Oh, a good thing I caught that. If you put the manticore clippings before you turn the fire up, you will just soak them and they will be useless. Here, allow me to show you." He raised the fire on the burner and when the potions started boiling he added said clippings, then stirred, showing a perfect potion right after. "There you are! Write that down, it is a good thing to remember. Manticore clippings need heat to be properly utilized." He smiled and watched as students wrote it down, and then they all finished their potions properly. At the end of the class Godric was asked back by Severus.
"How did you know that, Lord Gryffindor?" Godric laughed softly and put a hand on the man's shoulder.
"It is just Godric, Severus." He then smirked. "And do you honestly believe that I would spend years with my husband, and not gain knowledge of potions?" He chuckled gently. "I am not as knowledgeable as he is, but I have my skills." He grinned and then left after a farewell, leaving Severus near speechless. The literal Gryffindor knew how to brew potions, learning from Salazar Slytherin himself. What was the world coming to?
~FI~
Helga sat on a large stool, watching the students of Hagrid's 4th year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff class being taught by the gentle half giant. The students came over to her because the pens for the Nifflers they were going to be using today were there, and she got to talk to that quirky 4th year Raven again.
"Hello Mrs. Helga. I was wondering if I could ask you about some more creatures?" Helga nodded and gestured for her to go on, smiling.
"Have you ever heard of... Heliopaths? They are fire spirits that enjoy burning anything in their path." She nodded softly and Helga hummed.
"No, I can't say that I have, lass. Though, I have seen a few fire imps. Demons of a lost age; most are too weak to do anything but cause mischief. Maybe those are what you are seeking?" Luna seemed to think before nodding with a smile and asking again.
"Oh! Me and my father have looked for many years for the Crumple Horned Snorkack. It is rather elusive... have you heard of or seen one?" By now some of the other students in her house were shaking their heads softly. How could she bother a founder with such nonsense? Helga smiled and the other students just knew she was just going to humor the odd girl.
"Ah, you mean the corniger egestas? That's what I called them. Little things, about the size of my palm." She grinned and Luna's eyes went winder, as did the rest of the class. "Aye, such cute little things. Look like a bunny, just a bit, with a large, curled horn. Docile little things, but if you get them angry." She whistled. "Can shoot you with a nasty bolt of lightning; stun you for hours so it can get away." Luna gasped and giggled excitedly, and then leaned forward when Helga said to, the founder whispering. "You have to be careful, make sure you are as un-hostile as possible. They love nibbling on copper, usually pots. Helps them conduct their little lightning." Luna nodded and took out a pad, writing as she was spoken to. "They like to settle by cliff sides and beaches with large cliffs. Next to all the warm water and air, best spot for storms."
"Oh thank you, thank you Mrs. Helga! Father will be so happy!" She laughed and hugged the surprised founder but got a hug in return, almost melting into it before she let go.
"Get back to the class, lass! Enough of my distractions!" She smiled as Luna blushed and went to do just that, the founder smiling and then saying farewell and going into the forest, she wanted to explore her beloved forest. She wondered what a thousand years did to it.
~FI~
Salazar frowned as he stood in front of the girl's bathroom on the first floor. It was out of order, and there was a puddle seeping out, but it looked as if it was just always in the same spot, never moving. He raised an eyebrow and looked up at the ceiling.
"My dear, why is my chamber under a girls lavatory?" He waited and closed his eyes softly as he heard the response in his head. It appears in order to keep people from being hurt, or trying to remove this part of the castle she had changed the layout to hide it. The entrance had been shifted slightly, but it still answered to his command. He nodded and then entered the lavatory, going to the center and speaking.
§Open§. The stone creaked and did just that, and then he spoke again. §Stairs§. The stairs took a little longer, it had been a thousand years, but he went down. He frowned at the small cave in but with a wave of his hand it repaired into the proper archway. As he went down the corridor he cleaned up and installed permanent runes with lights emanating from them. He saw the chamber door was open and glared softly. Who had entered his beloved chamber? He entered and then the castle shook with a powerful pain and rage as he saw his beloved familiar slumped. Unmoving, eyes damaged. He let out a wail of personal pain before he rushed to her.
He stroked her scales softly and sent a pulse of magic through her, nearly sobbing in relief as he felt her in a personal healing coma. He held back from losing his wits to anger and went about repairing the damage done to her. It took several hours, but when he heard her gasp in a deep lungful of air he sighed in relief. She reared back and glared, gazing at him as if she did not know him.
§Who are you! Who are you that repairs me and does not fall to my gaze!§ She hissed and he stepped back before speaking softly, like a father would to a child.
§My sweet Praeclara, do you not remember your father? The father that helped you hatch from the egg... I told you, my child. I told you I would be leaving for a long while.§ The large, previously enraged snake seemed to shrink on herself, and got closer, tongue flicking out and tasting him before he found himself wrapped around in her coils, like she did when she was a mere ten feet long, and not sixty and as tall and wide as Hagrid was.
§Father! Oh Father you have returned! Nine hundred years I waited, nearly a thousand... and then your heir came to me. He spoke to me, weaved magic through his words... he read your texts. Knew my weaknesses.§ She hissed out, emotional, as even though she was a snake she was still his child in a way. Still old enough, and filled with enough power to be intelligent. §It was not till I was... gravely injured that the spells broke. Now that you have returned, father, I can be whole again.§ She gave him a gentle squeeze and he caressed her body softly.
§Yes, my daughter. Yes. Be silent now... let me bask in the presence of my child. Comfort her in her distress§ The large serpent got closer and nuzzled against him, it had been so long for her, yet just a blink for him. He would be having a serious conversation with the headmaster... again.
~FI~
Godric had been walking down the halls when he came across something he had not seen before amongst students. They were having a verbal argument, though it was not a friendly debate, it was a serious anger fueled argument. Instigating was a red headed boy, the younger of the Weasley boys if he recalled, and he was screaming rather hurtful things at a Slytherin boy, by the name of... Malfoy, yes, that he was sure of. He cleared his throat softly and they all turned, the Slytherin frowning and the Gryffindor smirking.
"What brings such vulgar language to these halls? Where is the respect for your fellow student?" Weasley huffed and crossed his arms.
"He is a slimy snake, he doesn't deserve respect. Besides, I was just doing my job as Prefect." He gestured to the badge, and then Malfoy got a surprise when Godric looked to him.
"Speak, child. Tell me what is going on." It was not a request, but it was not demanded of him.
"I was walking down the hall when I saw Weasley harassing Johns here." He gestured to the little first year who he had helped earlier that day in class. "When I came Johns' books were scattered and Weasley was docking points for causing traffic in the hall." He snorted and Weasley did the same.
"That is a lie, Lord Gryffindor! The snakes are always lying, it's sickening!" He growled and then they both yelped when Godric's palm made a loud, booming crack against the castle wall.
"Silence, child! Your tone is not appreciated. If you do recall, my husband is a 'slimy snake' as you put it." He growled and calmed down, Hogwarts showing him that Malfoy was telling the truth. He shook his head softly and looked to Weasley. "I have been shown the truth, child. For your lies, and your attitude, you shall have a detention. Three days' worth, and I must take 25 points from my own house, a disgrace. Your detentions shall be with Minerva. Be gone!" Weasley went to protest but one look and he whimpered and ran off. Godric sighing and turning.
"I apologize, child. I do not enjoy losing my temper." Johns nodded softly, Malfoy speaking his thanks. "Return to your dormitories, or your next class. I must speak with the Lioness." They nodded and went off, Godric going to do just that. His mood partially soured, and it did not help that he could not find his husband, who he knew had been in pain and sorrow several hours ago.
~FI~
The founders decided, that while their first impressions were no the best in terms of the school they had come to see, they would not immediately jump down anyone's throats. At least, that is what Rowena and Salazar decided, that was, at least, until Helga came into their chambers covered in what looked like creature blood. Her mace had bits and pieces of... creature on them and she snarled softly.
"I figured you'd want to join me as I take care of a little problem that the castle calls headmaster." She twitched and then Rowena came up to her, giving her a kiss despite her current state and then going about taking off her covered armor.
"First, we shall clean you my love." She held up a hand. "It will help you calm down, we must always seek all sides of the story. Come... come." Helga grumbled but agreed, being taken to the large baths to be cleaned and calmed down by her wife. Salazar looking at Godric with a raised eyebrow.
"Perhaps, my dear, you should put on your armor. It seems Helga will be doing the same thing." As he said that Helga's armor and weapon was taken by three house elves to be cleaned. When Helga and Rowena came out an hour later it was just as the elves returned her armor. She kissed her wife and then put on the armor again, hefting up her weapon and looking at her equally armored and elegantly robed brothers.
"Come, brothers, my wife... we have an old man to talk to." She growled and tightened her grip on the mace before the door opened for them. She lead this time, as she was the one with the most current problem. It had been a little under a week since their arrival, and this meeting was overdue. The gargoyle saw them coming and leaped to the side, but when they got to the headmasters door it was locked. Instead of using a simple charm to open it, Helga used her right leg (or as Godric called it 'Door opener number one), to make short work of the wooden door. She snarled and came in, looking to see seven new people sitting around a table talking to the four heads of house.
"All of you, leave! We would have words with Mr. Dumbledore." Dumbledore shuddered softly, and before he could say anything a tall, blond haired man came up to her. He was... well, taller than Salazar, but there were few taller than her.
"I do believe you are mistaken, it is you four who must leave. We are the board of Goven-" The man, one Lucius Malfoy was cut off by a hand on his throat as he was lifted with no problem at all.
"You are a puny, insignificant wizard, and if you speak out of turn one more time I shall orphan your child!" She hissed and tossed him to land on the table, though it was sturdy and held his weight. He looked up to see she had approached and she rested a finger on his chest, growling. "I am Helga Hufflepuff, one of the founding four of Hogwarts! You have NO authority over me, little man!" She snarled and looked down at him, and her voice carried to everyone else as well as him. "Get. Out." She let go of him, and it was amusing to see he was the first one out of the room through the floo. Soon followed by the rest of the board, though one man remained. He was short, pudgy, and his checkerboard robes and green bowler hat was... well it clashed terribly with everything else… in the room.
"A-ah! W-Well... I know you said for everyone to leave but." He cleared his throat. "I am minister of magic for Great Britain, I do believe my insight would be warranted." Helga was about to speak again when she felt a hand on her shoulder, looking to see Salazar she nodded and backed off. He smiled at the minister and spoke.
"Well, Cornelius Fudge." The man smiled at him. "First, it is minister FOR magic, not of magic. Magic is not something you control, something you command. It is something you... ask. Now, while your insight may be valuable, you are not part of this conversation. Please, leave. We shall perhaps speak another time, hmm?" Cornelius frowned softly, but the prospect of talking with the founding four later, probably with the press around, was too good to pass up.
"Very well. I do hope you enjoy your stay here in Hogwarts, and of course Magical Britain." He grinned and after tipping his hat left with a puff of green flames through the floo. Dumbledore sighed softly in relief then paled at the growl coming from the still angry goliath.
"Acromantulas, Dumbledore. Dog, pony, and bear sized spiders. Not even two kilometers from a school full of students!" She snarled and the table was reduced to rubble with a downward strike of her hammer. Her eyes boiling in fury as she continued to speak. "You sent children into the forest knowing they were there, you have a class of sitting right on the outskirts." She twitched and didn't notice the table being repaired when she lifted her mace.
"I should toss you into the heart of them all!" She took a shuddering breath and growled again. "Though, you would just be surrounded by their corpses. There are many things in this world, beasts of all forms, but Acromantulas are near mindless, blood thirsty. I have asked the Centaur tribes to take care of them; they are in control of the forest now." She glanced at Severus. "You should be receiving a small container of their venom and fangs for your research." He nodded, giving her a small thank you. She sat and huffed, her wife sitting on her lap and nuzzling her softly with soft kisses to help her calm down.
"Care to tell me, Mr. Dumbledore, when you were going to inform me that my precious child had died. That she had been pierced through the top of her head through her mouth, by the sword of my husband?" Dumbledore shuddered at the look he was getting from the two male founders. Godric had been saddened to hear it was his blade that injured Praeclara, but was glad to know she was alive.
"I must apologize, Lord Slytherin, I was hoping to spare you that sorrow. She was slain in a desperate act of defense by one of my students. Taking her life, as unfortunate as it was, was unavoidable as she was under the command of one Tom Riddle." He looked somber, saddened, but on the inside he was bristling with fear. The basilisk was dead, and Salazar Slytherin was blaming him!
"I am aware of the reason behind her unfortunate wounding." He smirked softly at the surprised looks. "Did you think that a basilisk, one that is a thousand years old, could be slain by such an attack? Of course, she would have been in a healing coma for another century had I not found her, but that is not the case now." He made a soft hissing sound, Parseltongue, and out of his sleeve came a deadly looking, but miniaturized snake.
"With my magic, as she is my child and familiar, I have reduced her size. She is of no harm to any student, but she shall remain by my side at all times when I am out of my rooms." He glared at Dumbledore. "It took nearly an hour and a half for Mr. Potter to explain what happened, and another three to speak to Ms. Weasley about her ordeal... and that was with my Husband at my side. I was appalled to learn she received no medical attention after her ordeal. She was sent straight home for the summer!" He snarled and Dumbledore twitched lightly.
"Rowena has graciously decided to take time out of her schedule to talk with those who were directly affected by any... traumatizing events in the past years since Mr. Potter's admittance. It seems that he has been a catalyst to a great deal of the events in the past years, yet at the same time he has been neglected in his own right. That will be rectified." He glared and Dumbledore nodded, he then looked at Rowena who decided to make her voice known.
"I shall also be dealing with some things, mainly in my own house." She looked at Prof. Flitwick. "You disappoint me, Filius, yet at the same time I know you do your best to try and see everything. So much in fact that the little things escape your vision. However, I am not upset with you. I would ask you accompany me out of this office, I must take care of a serious problem." Filius nodded softly, it must be serious indeed.
"I believe I shall tend to that now. Come then, met my brothers and wife... discuss things with Mr. Dumbledore." Filius nodded and they left the headmasters office, the old man pale at the implications od more... discussions.
~FI~
Filius Flitwick was half goblin, and because of this he liked to think himself less inclined to be... surprised by things, but he found that today that changed. He found himself walking towards his houses tower with Rowena Ravenclaw... wearing her mythical Diadem. They had stopped on the seventh floor across from a tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy where a room appeared. She entered the room and not twenty seconds later exited with the diadem on her head. He blinked and spent rest of the walk to the tower thinking. The founders were just as... magnificent as history had told.
He was taken from his thoughts when they reached the tower. The head of the Eagle that held the door shut looking up, it's eyes widened at seeing Rowena and it opened without a second glance. She entered the tower and looked around the common room before she spoke. Her voice, while amplified, was not overly loud or yelling.
"I demand to see every student in this house in the common room, now!" As she said that the common room expanded magically, chairs and tables appearing to accommodate every student as they made their way down into it. They all sat and her eyes locked to Luna and with a gesture Luna got up and made her way to stand next to the visibly agitated witch. Her shoulders then had the hands of said witch laid upon them.
"Creativity, Individuality... one of the two traits of my house. One of the two traits I adore in people who grace the halls of this castle. And yet... yet I find myself disappointed. No, completely angry that such a kind, creative soul is being abused." She snarled and gave Luna's shoulders a gentle squeeze before stepping away.
"You ridicule her for being different, for believing in things that do not exist. Yet... you live in a world of magic! You live in a world where four people, who were thought dead, came forward one thousand years to change the world. Where Dragons roam, fairies dance, and half goblins teach." She looked around the sea of faces before her. Most looking sad, chastised, others looking pensive and thoughtful.
"There are those who know different of Ms. Lovegood's creatures however. My wife knows of several of them, does that make her a new target for your ire? Are you to bully her because she has seen and experienced things you have not?" She sighed and shook her head and looked around again. "You have taken things from her, left her out in the cold of the castle, belittled her... that. Stops. TODAY!" She snarled and the diadem on her head, as well as the rest of her body, glowed an ethereal blue.
"I will not stand for this to continue! You shall not treat her like a queen, or even a proper Noble lady, just treat her as you would wish to be treated. Treat her like a student; treat her like a human being." She sighed and gave the slightly trembling fourth year a hug. She stroked her head softly as she gently sobbed and Rowena looked over the Ravenclaws again.
"I would punish the house, take points and assign detentions, but that would hurt her as well. She is undeserving of said punishments. However, that does not mean I will not punish those who did nothing." She looked at Filius. "Your house will be without prefects for this year. I will assist you in keeping an eye on the students." He nodded and watched as the prefect badges vanished from the students who had been chosen. With that she left with Luna, Filius waiting till she was gone before he let his own ire be known. It would be a long evening for the Ravenclaws.
~FI~
Luna found herself with Rowena in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, the soft sniffing and grumbling of the perpetual fourteen year old to be heard, and when the door opened it stopped, her young, pubescent voice calling out.
"Who's there? Is it a boy? If you're a boy you don't belong in here!" She came out of the stalls and floated to see Luna and Rowena.
"Oh! Hello, Luna. Hiding away from your housemates again?" She asked kindly, as she did not mind when Luna was in here. They talked for hours about nonsense, and Myrtle was alright with this. "Oh, and who is your friend? Is she a seventh year, or perhaps a new teacher?" She smiled and Rowena gave a gentle bow.
"Not at all, Myrtle, this is Rowena Ravenclaw. See, she's wearing the Diadem." Myrtle gasped and floated closer, Rowena surprising her when she reached out to touch the ethereal face of the ghost, and actually made contact. Her hands were glowing a gentle green and she started chanting in ancient Sumerian, keeping her eyes locked with Myrtle.
Luna watched in awe, in sheer delighted awe as the ghostly form of Moaning Myrtle changed to the tangible, living form of Myrtle Malone. She gasped when Myrtle stumbled into Rowena's arms, breathing for the first time in fifty two years. She then immediately started to cry, heart wrenching sobs of misery, pain, relief. Her body shuddering sobs muffled softly on Rowena's robes as the founder held her closely. She then started crying harder when she felt not only the older woman's arms embracing her, but that of the friend she had made that was Luna.
Three Days Prior:
Rowena was sitting in the quarters of her and her fellow founders, meditating and being slowly fed the knowledge of years of new and altered magic. Hogwarts gently fed them into her mind, including the history of what happened in the halls. She would do the same with Salazar, but Rowena made time to do it as she wanted to get a head start on thinking things through for the future they were changing. She paused when she saw that a student had been slain in these halls. Taken by Salazar's (at the time) Demented basilisk.
She got up, and after thanking Hogwarts and postponing her learning for now, went to the first floor girl's bathroom. She studied the magic within, and saw that because the young girl died above the chamber and through that a ley line, her soul was tethered to the realm. With this she could bring her back... she would do so. The other ghosts in the castle had migrated after their deaths, and their souls were not tethered, yet they felt no desire to leave. Myrtle, however, was different... the young victim would live again.
Present time:
Myrtle fell asleep halfway to the infirmary, her new, but at the same time old, body exhausted. She was placed on a bed and Luna was told to stay with her, and the fellow Ravenclaw was more than happy to do so. Rowena took some information from Hogwarts and with a silent ~pop~ was gone from the halls. She left a magical, mental 'note' for her fellow founders of her trip, so they would not worry. She appeared in a suburban neighborhood somewhere in Andover, coming up to a lovely two story house and knocking gently.
The woman that opened the door seemed to be in her late 40's, but Rowena knew she was a witch, and had to be at least close to 70. The woman blinked softly and then gasped and stepped back, hand over her heart.
"May I come in, Mrs. Malone?" The woman nodded and let the founder in, who politely thanked her.
"W-What do you need? I haven't had a visitor from Hogwarts since..." She choked up a bit, hand over her mouth. Her husband came after he heard the choked sob. He looked a bit older, his late 50's, but was about the same age as his wife, her magic lending him some extra years.
"Can I help y-" He paused and glared at the crest on Rowena's robes. "Out. Get OUT! The last time we saw that... g-god forsaken crest one of your teachers told us our little girl was DEAD!" He growled and Rowena held up a hand to stop him from going on.
"I bring good news, Mr. and Mrs. Malone. If you will listen." She spoke simply, and he immediately snapped again.
"Nothing short of you saying you have our sweet Myrtle back from the grave is going to be good news!" He hissed and seemed to get angrier when she smiled sweetly.
"Well, then I do indeed have good news." Mrs. Malone gasped and came up to her, hands grasping at her fine, silk robes.
"W-when? How long has she been alive? Are you telling me they LIED to us?" She was getting angry now, and Rowena took her hands gently off her robes, caressing her wrists softly.
"The magic you know can do many things, the magic I know can do so much more." She closed her eyes and the doors and windows sealed in the room before the three of them were in the Hogwarts infirmary. Mrs. Malone looking around and then sobbing softly before going to her sleeping daughter. Her very much alive Daughter. Mr. Malone was more hesitant and he turned to the woman that brought him here.
"How?" She didn't respond, she didn't get to as Luna did for her.
"She's Rowena Ravenclaw, of course. One of the four founders of Hogwarts. Oh! It's almost dinner time! I must be going. I do hope they have my favorite pudding." She then skipped off, smile on her face before she stopped and turned. "Do you think Myrtle would like some pudding, Lady Ravenclaw?" Rowena nodded and Luna skipped away again. Mr. Malone took this little distraction to sit next to her wife, and then they both held their daughter when she woke to the sobbing sound of her mother. Rowena left after informing Poppy of what was going on, she would let the family have their reunion.
~FI~
It was the 31st of October, Samhain, and the founders found themselves confused. The feast was going to be as planned, but there were also mountains of candy to be prepared. Sweets, confections, they did not understand. It was Godric that asked the head elf, Kali, what was going on.
"Well, Lord Gryffindor, it is Halloween. The children, most of the magical world of Britain do not celebrate Samhain any longer. It was told that it was dark, and they made it against the law." Godric frowned and shook his head, he would take care of this. He told the Elves as much and they nodded in agreement. He then made his way to the great hall, where students were already sitting and waiting for the feast.
Godric went up to the podium that appeared at a soft gesture and the student body silenced. Dumbledore looked on in envy; even in his prime he didn't command respect like that. Godric raised a hand and when he was sure he got everyone's attention he spoke.
"I found myself concerned when I learned that this day was not a day of remembrance, but of indulgence. However, I will not shun this day as you have grown accustomed to it, instead I offer a choice between the two." With that the hall expanded in size, nearly doubling, with one side slightly darker, less festive.
"The side you currently sit on will remain that of festiveness and indulgence. The other side will be that of remembrance. You would know it as Samhain." There was a soft murmur and then silence when he raised his hand. "You must remember, this is not dark. This does not call forth spirits to do evil things, but to bless and be remembered. To speak to loved ones long since passed, to feel their love and praise from beyond." He watched, and smiled brightly when a good portion of the students went to the other table.
"You will not be ridiculed, shamed, or labeled. I open this to the professors as well." He glanced at them and saw that some had already moved to do just that. He smiled and noticed that most who stood at the Halloween table were some of the younger students, those who did not know of Samhain and its traditions. He sat down with his fellow founders at a Samhain table, and after a ritual to speak and give praise to mother magic and those beyond, their feast commenced.
It was about half way through the feast when a large vulture let out a screech and alerted the hall to its presence. It landed with a sharp piercing call right in front of Salazar, offering the letter tied around its neck. Salazar took it and then Helga made a soft, but similar call and it flew over to her. She smiled at the bird and started to tend to it while Salazar opened the letter and started to read.
Salazar was surprised at just how long the letter was, but frowned when he got to the end of it. It was signed 'The Dark Lord Voldemort.' Salazar sighed and shook his head, igniting the parchment and then conjuring some of his own, as well as a quill. He wrote a small response and then sent it with an owl that had been summoned. He made sure to protect the owl from any magic's and sent it off. He promised to tell his husband about it later, and after a gentle kiss went back to the feast.
~FI~
Lord Voldemort was... happy. No. He was exuberantly ecstatic! Yes, that was much better. The greatest of the founders. The Salazar Slytherin invited him to Hogwarts. Invited him to talk, to speak of his goals and desires. Oh, it would be magnificent. The Wizarding world would now know what hit them with the two of them together! Sure, the other founders could help he surmised, but they would be in the background. It would be a utopia, he knew it would. He started making preparations, they were to meet in two weeks.
~FI~
"NO! I forbid it, Lord Slytherin! You cannot have that... that man in these halls!" Dumbledore near growled out, surprised Salazar was even thinking of such a thing. "He would kill everyone in these halls the moment he entered. For years Hogwarts has stood as a bastion against him, against evil, and you would just... let him enter?" He was wildly gesticulating while Salazar looked at him with no more than a calm expression. When he finished his rant he sat, huffing, glaring at the un-fazed founder.
"Do you think anything you say, anything you attempt would even matter in my castle, Dumbledore? You remain here because I allow it, because we allow it. You would think I would endanger my students? Endanger every living soul in these halls?" He sighed and sat straighter. "Tom Riddle will be in my domain, and we will talk. He will listen, or he will be destroyed." He growled softly and glared at Dumbledore.
"Do not presume to think you are nothing more than a figurehead, Dumbledore. The children have seen you so often, so frequently, that you are common place around here. Do not get ahead of yourself; you are no longer in control." He took a deep breath and looked at the still fuming old man.
"He will come, and that is final. If you have an issue with this... you are more than free to leave, and not return." He stood up and left with that, Dumbledore growling until the hat spoke.
"Do not be a blithering idiot, Albus! He is holder of the wards. If he asked her, Hogwarts would obliterate everything within her considerable power. Do not think that Salazar Slytherin can be manipulated by a foolish child who thinks himself a lord." He huffed and then went silent, Dumbledore taking a few of his lemon drops to try and calm himself as he thought of what a terrible idea this was.
~FI~
The village of Hogsmeade was treated to a terrifying sight on November 14th, and it was in the collective thoughts for everyone to stay inside and do nothing but stay out of trouble. Voldemort walked down the street, followed by at least fifty of his death eaters, at least those who were not in Azkaban. He would fix that with Salazar later; perhaps on Yule... it would be a wonderful gift. He walked to the gates of Hogwarts and watched them open, the wards letting him and his small little army into the grounds. They made it about halfway to the castle when they were met by a lone figure. He wore the brilliant green and silver of his house colors, and held up a hand.
"Why are they here, Tom? I asked for you... not them." Voldemort bristled softly, but who was he to correct a founder? The greatest of the four, even.
"They are my loyal death eaters; they are here to bear witness to our joining." Salazar raised an eyebrow and huffed gently.
"I do not have my most loyal behind me, this is for us to speak... man to man. Either they leave under your command, or under the force of the wards, Tom." Voldemort frowned but nodded, he was not going to ruin this.
"Leave me, my loyal death eaters. I will talk with the greatest of the Hogwarts four." The death eaters hesitated, but then left. Hogwarts allowing them to apparate out, and then the two remaining males walked into the castle. The halls were deserted, as the students were all enjoying dinner, with the great hall sealed just in case. He led the self-styled dark lord into a small, but elegantly designed room and sat with him at a table. They shared a meal in silence, but Voldemort was itching to talk business, however he waited. When the meal was done and the after dinner refreshments were laid out Salazar spoke, his voice calm, gentle.
"Tell me, Tom, why do you believe what you do?" He leaned back in his chair, sipping his after dinner tea.
"That is simple, my lord Slytherin, it is because we are superior. We are the future, and we must survive. The muggles, the muggleborns, they are a pox... surely you know this. They must be purged, eradicated!" He spoke with such passion, but it was misplaced. He found himself surprised when Salazar simply tilted his head and sighed.
"You were such a bright child, Tom. Yet you fell into pain, you fell into misery." Voldemort snarled softly and snorted.
"I fell into power, my lord. I threw away such petty things as compassion, and other weaknesses. I wore a mask, as you do, my lord." Salazar's eyebrow raised and he smiled.
"Mask, Tom? No... This is no mask." He stood up and walked around, putting a hand on Voldemort's chest. "You still wear a mask. What is left of your soul, what little bit of it, still cries out for love." Voldemort was about to spit something out, no doubt far from friendly, when he froze at the small piece of amber that Salazar took from his robes. In it, swirling and writhing were the other pieces of his soul.
"After the first one was encountered on our arrival, I made sure any more that were found were contained. Then I received your letter... and I decided to find them myself." He then, surprising Voldemort again, slammed the amber into his chest. Voldemort then knew pain, for the first time in as long as he could remember. Since that night when he first lost his body. When he came back to consciousness he felt his face being caressed softly. Caressed like a concerned parent, a father.
"How do you feel, Tom?" The man named Tom blinked softly, looking at himself and seeing that he no longer held the snake-like form. He looked much younger, and he recalled the last time he looked like this he had just left Hogwarts. His should, most of it at least, had been returned to him.
"I... I feel together. Not whole, I am missing something, but no longer is my mind clouded." Salazar smiled and kissed the top of his head, and Tom felt oddly at peace at this. "Why did you do this, my lord?" Salazar chuckled softly.
"What better to vanquish an enemy, than to make him an Ally? You are young again, Tom, you can start anew. With your new form, the prophecy concerning you is of no consequence. Leave the Potter child be, and he shall let you be." Tom nodded and then moved to speak, Salazar nodding to him.
"If I am truly to start a new... then perhaps I can be someone else entirely?" Salazar smiled softly and nodded, both of them sitting to speak and talk of his new identity. He had come here as Voldemort, but he would remain as Jonathan Salks, new 7th year to be sorted and start all over.
Epilogue
The founders unanimously decided to stay until they grew old and grey. They helped usher in a new era of education and peace in Hogwarts and magical Britain. Dumbledore retired after he learned what Salazar did with Tom Riddle, at least what he had been told, and he was actually surprised it had been so anti-climactic. No epic battle, no heroic losses on the side of light. Just a simple... Obliteration. Tom Riddle was no more, even the prophecy orbs were dark and dead, meaning it was truly over. Years of fighting for the greater good... only for it to end so quickly.
Salazar and Godric ended up having another child, a daughter, who they raised to take over for them when they were past their prime, along with the daughter of their sisters. Hogwarts shot back up to being the number one school in the northern hemisphere, students coming from far and wide to attend and be taught by Hogwarts alumni and be in the presence of the four founders.
Severus decided against staying as a professor, he did, however, continue working with Salazar for wondrous new potions and other things. He would eventually marry Aurora Sinistra later in his years, as it seemed without children to teach he wasn't as dour as a man as most saw him as. He had a lovely, romantic streak that had caught the woman off guard. Yes, he still loved Lily, but he knew she would never fault him for moving on and loving another.
Luna finished her years at Hogwarts with her new friend, and eventual wife, Myrtle Malone. They stuck together like glue, and on a trip to the amazon jungle where they found evidence of the Blibbering Humdinger, they accepted each other's proposals of marriage. It was a very sweet thing, which was until they were ambushed by what Luna and her father later classified as Nargles. All in all, it was a good summer, and a good life.
As for our would be Hero, Harry Potter, his life after the year of the Founders Intervention was perfectly boring. It was normal, nothing happened, and the most he had to worry about were exams and a girl to find who wouldn't mind his bumbling teenaged tendencies. In other words... it was perfect.
AN: Alright, there goes my latest snippet. Another long one, with a little brainstorming help from my friend that gave me the idea for the snippet right before this one. As I said in the previous snippet, I am open to idea's for one-shots and the like. If you give me an idea, make sure you are able to get messages back, other wise... I won't do it. I prefer to be able to brainstorm with the idea maker. As always, read, review, and most of all, enjoy!