"This is idiotic."
Rowena glared angrily into the smoke as Cassandra swayed, humming. She was seated on the floor in front of the billowing hearth. At Rowena's voice she turned her nose up slightly, humming louder.
"Come, come, Rowena." Godric laughed. He had returned the day before, slightly before dinner, weary but pleased with himself. His beard was slightly longer after two weeks in Romania. "What good is having a seer if we cannot have a little fun?"
"What good is having a seer at all?" Rowena muttered. Helga giggled slightly. Rowena's distaste for Cassandra had only grown since her arrival. Helga had seen very little of the seer, except at mealtimes. Even then, the woman merely sat, picking at her food disdainfully. It seemed Helga's recipes did not live up to her standards.
They had all gathered for the evening in Cassandra's chambers for a reading, at Godric's request. The seer had set about throwing dried herbs into her fire, and the room was now stifling, filled with strange, sweet-smelling smoke.
"Rowena, if you're tired we can-." Tallus began.
"SILENCE." Cassandra's voice rang out, strangely deep and harsh. Everyone went quiet. Mrs. Prewett eyed the seer nervously, picking at her sleeve. Burgess and Philomena Filch both were staring at the Seer with reverence. Hector looked bored, as did Salazar. Helga merely shrugged and tried not to breathe through her nose. The smoke was making her feel dizzy and stupid.
"GODRIC GRYFFINDOR," Cassandra bellowed, and Godric jumped slightly before leaning forward, his eyes alight with interest. "YOU HAVE SHOWN COURAGE, WARRIOR. BUT I FEAR YOUR BLADE STILL HAS MANY BATTLES. SOME SHALL BE WON, SOME SHALL NOT. BE WARY OF THE SILVER TONGUE. CARRY YOUR SHIELD WITH HONOR. IT WILL NOT LEAD YOU ASTRAY."
Godric smirked, nudging Rowena. "Well that isn't so terrible, eh?"
"FILCH FAMILY." The seer began again, as though she had not heard Godric. "WATCH CAREFULLY YOUR SONS. ONE SHALL GROW TOWARD THE LIGHT. THE OTHER TOWARD THE DARKNESS. BE WARY OF THE EYES, MY CHILDREN. THEY WATCH."
Philomena and Burgess both went white, looking nervously at each other. Rowena sighed.
"ROWENA RAVENCLAW. YOUR BLOOD WILL BRING YOU GREAT SORROW. GREED IS THE GREATEST OF ALL EVILS." The seer continued without breaking stride, "SALAZAR SLYTHERIN, YOUR QUEST IS FOR NAUGHT. THE LAST OF YOUR LINE BRINGS ONLY DEATH. HE WILL DESTROY ALL YOU HOLD DEAR."
Helga looked up to meet Salazar's eye, but found him staring into the fire. Instead she met those of Hector, who looked at her scornfully.
"ANNE PREWETT," The plump nurse jumped, shaking horribly. "GUARD WELL ALL WHO COME INTO YOUR CARE. HEED NOT WANING MOON, FOR IT SHALL BE FULL AGAIN IN TIME."
"HECTOR HELMSTEAD. YOU SHALL LOSE THAT WHICH IS MOST PRECIOUS. BEWARE THE SNARE."
The wizard rolled his eyes, preparing to stand and leave.
"HELGA HUFFLEPUFF," Helga turned to the seer. "BEFORE YOU EACH OF YOUR FELLOWS SHALL FALL. CHOOSE YOUR PATH WISELY. WHEN THE MIGHTY ARE GONE ONLY THE TRUE REMAIN." With that Cassandra fell, her eyes rolled back.
"Wait...what about me?" Tallus asked. Cassandra was panting, regaining her composure. She looked straight ahead with her blank eyes.
"I see nothing, Tallus Ravenclaw." She said slowly, "Only darkness."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Suddenly Godric laughed his strange booming laugh.
"Only doom and gloom, eh, Cass?" He asked lightly. The woman turned up her nose again.
"The spirits reveal what they wish." She said tersely.
"Hogwash." Rowena said, standing awkwardly. Tallus sprang to her side. "Utter nonsense, all of it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some actual spells to attend to." With that she swept from the room. Tallus glanced apologetically at everyone before following her. Salazar stood, going to the door, and Hector followed at his heels.
"Thank you Cassandra," Helga said, looking about at the others, "That was...err...interesting."
"Think nothing of it." The seer said sagely. She turned her attention back to the Filches who were anxiously questioning her about her prediction. Helga stood, stretching, making up her mind to go and rescue Tallus from Rowena's moods. It seemed as the witch's belly grew ever larger her temper grew shorter. She murmured her farewells to the others, and as she passed the door she felt a cool whisper in her ear.
"Meet me on the seventh floor. Midnight." Salazar whispered. Helga nodded and hid a blush but did not look at him. She strode to tapestry down the hall, looking about a moment before ducking behind it. She had created a small secret passageway to the kitchens. Once there she brewed two cups of strong tea.
In the Ravenclaw common room, Rowena was brooding. Helga placed the tea in front of her with a smile. Tallus was nowhere in sight.
"He's gone to the library." Rowena said stiffly, as Helga looked about.
"Well I certainly hope the lights don't go out on him. After all," Helga imitated the seer's voice. "NOTHING BUT DARKNESSSS!"
Rowena laughed bitterly, picking up the tea. "Of course she says that, she's blind."
"Rowena!" Helga looked at her friend sternly, but Rowena only shrugged.
"Crazy. Absolutely crazy." Rowena muttered. She took a light sip of tea and blanched.
"It's hot!" She said, sounding affronted.
"Of course it's hot, it's tea." Helga sniffed, taking a drink of her own. The two witches sat in silence a moment, staring at the sky out the Ravenclaw tower windows. Rowena seemed slightly more relaxed now.
"How is Salazar?" She asked conversationally after a moment. Helga continued to look out the window, feigning disinterest.
"You would know as well as I, I suppose."
"Oh hush Helga." Rowena snapped. "What I mean is, have you thought of what I told you."
Helga took a deep breath. She and Rowena had steered safely clear of the topic of Salazar since that day by the carriages.
"Rowena...I'd like to ask you a favor." Helga began cautiously.
"Yes?"
"Leave it be. Forget what you told me about Salazar. Forget you ever heard it."
Rowena turned, eyeing Helga.
"So I was too late?" Rowena asked.
Helga shook her head. "That's not it." She muttered. "You trust me, don't you?"
"In most things." Rowena said.
"Then please. Don't hold on to your suspicions. They aren't good for anyone, or for Hogwarts." Helga turned now, looking the other woman full in the face.
Rowena looked for a moment like she was about to argue, then she merely nodded, bowing her head.
"I suppose you're right." The two turned back to the fire, their silence slightly more strained.
"Do you ever wonder about them?" Rowena asked. Helga looked up. The witch was staring up at her starry ceiling.
"Who?"
"Your family."
Helga stiffened. Rowena knew not to ask about her mother. The subject was too painful.
"I have been doing some reading..." Rowena continued slowly, "Research I suppose. About your father's family. The Hufflepuffs."
Helga relaxed slightly, but only slightly.
"My father died when I was a child."
"How?" Rowena asked.
Helga sighed. "I don't really know. I remember him of course, but I was so young. I remember he was a short man," She laughed slightly, gesturing to her own tiny frame, "Surprisingly. With a great golden beard. He looked like a barbarian, mama used to say. He used to go away for long periods. Weeks sometimes. Once he didn't come back. I remember I came into the house and my mother-" She choked, "my mother was crying. She told me he was gone."
Rowena nodded, distracted.
"I never met his family." Helga said.
Rowena took a deep breath. "Helga, what if I told you what I found? About your family?"
Helga shrugged, "I suppose. Though if this is a lesson in genealogy I fear I am woefully unprepared."
"What if I told you that he is alive?"
Helga coughed into her tea, the color draining from her face. "My father?"
Rowena nodded. "I was reading about the expulsion of dragons from Britain," She said softly. "And I came across a name. Eurig Hufflepuff. The ministry took a census of the members of the dragon clans. His name was among them."
Helga shook her head, "Eurig must have been a family name. I'm sure I have a cousin..."
"Helga."
Helga looked away, avoiding Rowena's stare. Her father, who used to tell her strange tales until her mother shooed her off to bed. Her father who used to come home smelling of sulfer and wheatgrass. Her father who had sang horribly to her when they went walking in the forest, or picked herbs in the garden.
"He wouldn't have abandoned us." Helga said softly, trying to convince herself. She had been so young, she had known so little of him, but she had trusted him.
"If he is alive, Helga, would you like to know?" Rowena asked.
Helga paused. She couldn't shake the strange feelings washing over her. If he had abandoned them he must have had a reason. A good reason.
"Yes." She said softly.
Helga made her way along the seventh floor corridor. The torches cast a low, impatient light over the stone, and she found herself tiptoeing. She did not see Salazar, though it was nearly midnight. She came to a split in the corridor, leading to a dead end. Suddenly a cold hand clamped over her mouth. She let out a little squeak of fear, drawing her wand.
Salazar stood, his hands raised in surrender, laughing breathily.
"You were about one second away from being a lizard, Sal." Helga hissed harshly. He laughed again, taking her hand and pulling her toward the dead end.
"My apologies," He whispered, "Come, I have a surprise for you."
He led her to the end of the corridor then turned her, facing the wall. She stared at it blankly.
"Oh goodness. A wall. I am alight with excitement." She quipped, still irritated.
He shook his head. "Hush, close your eyes."
Helga turned, eyeing him wearily. He nodded to her and she went dutifully back to the wall. She closed her eyes tightly.
"Now imagine the most perfect place in the world. Just think of it. Go to that place in your mind." He whispered. Helga felt his hand tightened around her and she thought. The trees. The familiar smells of lavender and heather...
"Perfect! Open your eyes." Salazar said, sounding pleased.
Helga opened her eyes, finding the blank wall now held a door.
"Well go ahead, open it." He said, gesturing toward the suddenly, very solid door. Helga placed a wary hand on the knob, afraid it would disappear. Then she pushed the door open.
It was just as she remembered.
The sunlight shining through the window was dappled green by the trees. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling, while a fire glowed in the hearth. The low sleeping pallet was in the corner. The dirt floors covered in fresh hay. She turned, looking at Salazar beside her. She listened and heard the wind rustling through the tiny metal chimes in the garden.
"How?" She asked quietly.
He smiled, looking around.
"So this is your home?"
She walked about the small cottage, running her fingers over everything. Feeling their familiarity. The cauldron even had the same dents.
"It was." She whispered. "I haven't seen it since...since that night." She went to the palette, pulling it aside and pointing her wand at the ground. The outline of a trap door appeared.
"This is where I hid." She muttered softly to herself. She stared blankly.
Salazar came up behind her. "I'm sorry, it was a silly idea. I've upset you." He looked forlorn. Helga turned to him, shaking her head.
"No, no, it's wonderful. There are just...I never thought I would see it again." She said. "How did you do this?"
Salazar led her back through the door, and she glanced back into the familiar little cottage. They stood a moment, then when Salazar opened the door again the room was richly hung with tapestries and adorned with beautifully patterned rugs. Pillows and lounging couches leaned invitingly against the walls. The air was thick with jasmine and incense.
"This is the Room of Requirement." Salazar said, pulling her beside him on one of the large, comfortable couches. "I wanted to make a place that you would always be safe. A place that could be whatever you want. Whatever you need at that moment."
She laughed, gasping as a heavy warm breeze blew through the window. "And what is this place?"
"This is the home of my tutor in Baghdad. The room where I learnt in the far East." Salazar said softly, twirling a finger around one of her honey curls, "The East, despite what you may think, is a wonderful place. It blooms with magic."
Helga turned to him, seeing his eyes unfocus as he remembered.
"And now you take me here?" She asked, laughing.
"Someday I will take you here." He said, returning his attention to her. He kissed her head softly and she blushed. Since their time in the dungeon stairwell, they had only a few stolen moments. Around the others, he was aloof, but out in the greenhouses, or walking in the Forbidden Forest, or sitting in the open astronomy tower, he seemed at ease. He had kissed her again, twice, in that time. Mostly, however, he told her of his travels, of his parents before they had died, of the battles he had seen beside Godric. She in turn had told him about her mother, about the first spell she ever cast, about how she used to practice her magic quietly in the little cottage Godric had helped her make her home.
"Salazar?" She said softly, and he turned to her. "I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" He asked, his brows furrowed at the sudden change in her tone.
"Rowena told me something tonight. She has been reading..."
"Of course."
Helga took a deep breath, "She thinks she found my father." Salazar stiffened. "He is alive."
"Where?" He breathed, looking down at his hands. Helga could feel the tension building in his shoulders.
"In Wales."
Salazar looked troubled, "And will you go to him? After all this time?"
She nodded, but realizing he was not looking at her she spoke. "Yes."
"He left you." Salazar said it simply, but it stung her as it had the first moment she had thought it. She rose from the couch and began pacing the rugs.
"I know."
She could see Salazar battling emotion in his face. Eventually his eyes turned up to her.
"Come here." He said, raising his arms. She took a hesitant step toward him and he pulled her down, kissing her fiercely. She inhaled sharply before sinking into him. He pulled away and buried his face in her curls.
"Can you forgive him?
"He's my father." She said quietly into his shoulder. He was still a long moment, and Helga listened to his heartbeat. It was sturdy, slow. He smelled like clean moss and copper.
"What if I cannot forgive him?" He asked. His voice had a dangerous edge now. Helga shrugged against him.
"You don't have to."
He pulled her up to face him, cradling her face in his hands. She felt strangely small, like a child. His eyes bore into her, as though he were trying to understand.
"You already have forgiven him." He said, as though he knew it from looking at her mind. Perhaps he did. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Oh Helga, what makes you the way you are?"
"I suppose you think I am a sentimental idiot?" She asked, laughing lightly. He looked at her, deadly serious.
"No."
"What then?" she laughed, trying to break the sudden tension. The smell of him was making her tired.
"I think you're absolutely wonderful." He said, and she peered at him. He took her in, her messy yellow hair, her hazel eyes, her tiny, serious face. He traced her jawline lightly, as though he had never seen a creature quite like her.
"But a fool." He laughed softly, "A lovely, wonderful little fool." She scrunched her nose at him and he laughed again.
"I suppose I am."
"I'm going with you, you know." He said. "To meet him."
"No." She shook her head. "Absolutely not. I don't trust you. Not one bit."
"Helga," He looked at her sternly.
She shook her head. He stood now, picking her up. She shrieked, then looked around guiltily.
"No one can hear you, my Lady." He said, raising her higher from the ground.
She twitched her wand and he released her, making her topple onto her backside.
"I am certainly not a lady, my Lord." She said, looking up at him with a wink.
He stooped, eye level with her. "You most certainly are not. What would my mother think, to see me carrying on with a peasant girl?" He chuckled.
She kicked at him. "She would tell you it's all very improper and marry you off to the first noble she could lay sight on."
He caught her foot gently. "And what if I told her that I was in love with the peasant girl?"
"She would Obliviate every memory of me." Helga said, laughing again. Salazar looked at her, very seriously. She stared back at him. "What?"
He sighed. "I said, what if I told her I was in love with you, Helga."
Helga sat for a moment, starting back at him before her mouth formed into a silent "O". She tried to clear her throat, but found she could not speak. Salazar leaned into her again.
"And that is why I am going with you, you little fool."