Character: Salazar Slytherin

Challenge: Snakes and Ladders Challenge

Era: Founder

Summary: The beginning of the end of the friendship of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin.

One Mistake

"It's amazing how fast your best friend can turn into your mortal enemy in a matter of seconds."

-Unknown

"Godric, you are a fool!" I cried, slamming my open palms down on his polished desk, making the candle splutter and plunging the room into darkness.

Godric flicked his wand at the candle as he stood up, instantly making me feel smaller. His easily could have overpowered mine, if we were come to blow. We both knew it wouldn't. I'd easily beat him in a duel if I were to draw my wand.

"In what way?" he rumbled in that deep voice of his.

"You know what I'm talking about," I said sharply.

I pulled a crumpled piece of parchment from my pocket. Godric calmly took it, and skimmed it.

"I don't know," he said. "It appears that Mr. Merlin was writing home."

"Oh, does it now?" I snarled, barely able to contain my anger. Godric may have been my best friend, but he could be an idiot at times. "It's not his sister he's writing to."

Godric stared down at the paper in shock, his mouth opening and closing. I raked my fingers through my hair. He walked over to the fireplace and knelt to place his head in the green flames.

"Helga? Rowena?"

Salazar found this letter from Mr. Merlin while searching the students' mail."

He handed the letter to Rowena, who held it close to her face. Helga stood on tiptoe to see over the taller woman's shoulder.

"He's writing a Muggle?" Rowena deduced after a moment of thought.

"I'll speak to him," offered Helga.

"I am his head of House."

"You'll be too harsh with him, Salazar," snapped Helga.

I took a step back. Helga rarely raised her voice.

"I'm sorry," she said. "You've been so anti-Muggle lately."

"We should have never let Muggleborns into Hogwarts," I spat.

"What happened to your daughter was a mistake anyone could have made," said Godric, strangely calm.

"She will never walk again, thanks to that," I said, voice rising with every word, "that….that…"

Rowena crossed the room in two long strides and laid a hand on my shoulder. I tried to move away, but she tightened her grip, as if to say, 'you don't' have a choice.' Typical Rowena.

"Back to the matter at hand, Salazar," she said, skillfully diverting the conversation. "We all agree Mr. Merlin deserves punishments. We can't have fifth years revealing that they go to a magical school to Muggles."

"He just needs to be told what he's doing is wrong. He's a boy, a child, really. He can't be expected to know everything," said Helga.

"A couple of detentions ought to set the boy straight," Godric suggested.

"I say we expel him."

Silence.

"That boy is the most brilliant thing to come through Hogwarts yet. I will not have you expel him," Rowena said coldly.

"He is endangering our kind!"

"Our kind?" Helga asked. "We are all human, Salazar. Muggle, wizard, what does it matter?"

"Have you forgotten what happened the last time we tried to come out of hiding?"

Helga flinched, but I plowed straight on. Her discomfort wasn't going to stop me.

"You lost John because of it."

She turned away from me, so I couldn't see her tears, but I could feel them, tangible in the air where the others could see. Rowena stepped away from me, eyes hard. She touched Helga's arm, but the other woman ripped away.

"That was a low blow, Salazar," Rowena said quietly.

"Even for you."

I rounded on Godric, magic nearly radiating off of me in my rage. His face was impassive, for once, and his mental shields were actually strong. As I grew angrier, he grew calmer, when it was usually the other way around.

"Muggleborns will bring destruction on this school," I hissed through clenched teeth, my fingers finding my wand.

"They will save us," said Godric, sliding his wand slowly and dileberately from the holster. "Our population was shrinking until we began to allow them in."

The window shattered from the force of all the magical tension in the room. Godric raised his wand, and I followed suit, ready to curse him.

"No," said Rowena, but it was too late.

Godric finally could not hold back his impulsive side, and he struck, sending a blue jet of light my way. I returned it.

"I'm not even trying," I taunted.

He struck again, but he couldn't hope to match my skills.

"Stop!" shrieked Helga, running out in between us.

The streak of blue light hit her straight in the chest. With a small 'oh', Helga collapsed on the floor. Rowena rushed to her side and lifted her head from the floor. I stared in horror at the scene in front of me, looking at the wand in my hand—the wand that had cursed her. Godric left her side and aimed a hex at me. I turned on my heel and closed the door just in time.

I ran from the room, past several students and to the dungeons. I never looked back.

That night, I started to create the Chamber of Secrets.

Thanks so much for all the lovely reviews, all of you.