Author's note: I seem to be missing some words in the online version of this story – please note that I am not meaning to do so.

P.S – sorry about the long wait.

Anyway, I do not own Harry Potter or anything to do with it. Well I do own all the characters that you don't recognise, but they belong to the Harry Potter world so they don't really count.

This is a story of the Four Founders – a tale which talks of their decisions and the reasons behind them. This is the story of Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Godric Gryffindor.

Chapter Eleven – Draco Dormiens Nunqam Titillandus.

Ro blinked thoughtfully "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, well it certainly rolls of the tongue ... and I'm sure that no other building would have such a name." Sal nodded "so then I guess we are calling the school Hogwarts." Helga smiled warmly around the room "Hogwarts" Ro gave a small laugh of relief "Hogwarts." Godric beamed around the room and held out his sword in a salute to the castle itself "Hogwarts."

It was a week until the school would open and everything was sorted – the letters had been sent and returned, the castle was Helga-approved for safety. Rowena had finalised the sorting hat; and was refusing to let Godric see the finished product (Helga had been there when she had finished and Sal had helped her hide from it from Godric) and Godric had fulfilled his promise to both the Centaurs; who seemed happy with their forest (though it was hard for them to tell with Centaurs), and Aurora – which had been rather amusing to watch to all present. Sal chuckled at the memory.

SSRRHHGG

They had arrived at the clearing that the bandits had occupied and were walking to the Thatcher's house, Godric had slowly ceased talking and eventually stopped walking – just stood there staring at the door. The others had kept walking but then realised that Godric wasn't with them, Sal smirked "Godric Gryffindor – do you mean to tell me that you – who has never shied away from anything; ever, is afraid of talking to a lady?"

Godric gulped and nodded frantically, Sal sniggered. Helga stared at Godric incredulously "Godric you guys have been sending letters to each other since we left them how can you be afraid? You love her right?" he nodded – looking even more terrified at admitting this. Helga continued "Well I know for a fact that she loves you too, so what is there for you to fear?"

"What if her dad doesn't let me court her? What if the letters were actually lost and it wasn't her writing? What if she says no! You know what; I think there is something over there that needs my immediate attention." As Godric turned to leave Helga and Rowena grabbed each of his arms; and Ro tried her turn at talking to him.

"Godric Helga is quite right, and besides aren't you always saying that 'it is not about finding the courage to face your fears, but finding the courage to at least try because ..." "...nothing can be achieved unless you try" finished Godric, "that is very wise advise and everyone should follow it but that thing over there really needs my at...tent...ion"

He trailed off on the last word and stood staring at something the others couldn't see, but his gaze at caught a tiny dew drop that was falling off a leaf, and the sunlight that gleamed through it as it fell – this caused him to remember the night they had stayed with the Thatchers.

Godric and Aurora had quietly slipped away from the house while the others were busy talking, and they were now lying in a small clearing looking up at the stars. "What do you suppose they are?" Aurora had asked, Godric shrugged "Ro thinks that they are gasses and bodies of like earth that burning or shining millions of miles away, Helga thinks that stars are the spirits of those departed watching over us, and Sal thinks that a wizard cast a spell so that a giant blanket would cover the sky at night – with holes in it."

"And what do you think?"

"... Hope ... Each star is a pinprick of light against darkness, a darkness that swallows up the sun – the biggest symbol of hope there is, each and every day, and for me any light no matter how small it may appear – it always reminds me that there is hope in the world and as long as there is hope in the world then evil will never win. It sounds silly I know, but their physicality 'what they actually are' doesn't mean as much to me as what they are to me."

Aurora smiled at him and took his hand "I don't it sounds silly at all – promise me something Godric; don't lose your hope no matter what scenario you find yourself in, keep your hope alive." He squeezed her hand "I can't promise that I will always have hope, but I promise to always remember this and to try – no matter what happens."

Godric nodded at his memory and abruptly turned around and marched to the door. Ro and Helga steadied themselves and Sal sniggered at them as they glanced at each other in confusion. Godric knocked on the door, Migale opened the door and before his courage could desert him Godric open his mouth and let out a rush of words. "Mister Thatcher, I would like your permission to court your daughter, I -" he stopped as Aurora stepped out of the doorway "finally – we thought you were going to stay out here forever."

SSRRHHGG

Sal chuckled at the memory. Of course after that, things had gotten a little too fluffy and sickening for his taste, but that was in the past. Now they were all back at Hogwarts – Aurora had come to be the school nurse; as healing was the only magic she could properly perform, (Sal had complained about the lack of pure-blood lineage in the school ... and had been ignored), and their families were visiting the castle.

The Hufflepuffs had moved to Hogsmeade and Henry's bakery business was booming, Richard Ravenclaw was of course going to be staying at Hogwarts with Rowena and Sal's family were visiting the castle. Sal glanced around the room of the North Tower where everyone but Godric were situated – Ro and Helga were talking quietly together (something they had been doing for the past fortnight, Sal had a shrewd idea of what about but decided to wait for confirmation), Selena was sitting quietly sewing some embroidery and Salvador was sitting reading a book – Salazar himself was sitting trying to outsmart himself in a game of chess.

Rowena suddenly got a look of horror on her face "Oh thank Merlin" she whispered, Helga glanced at her in surprise "I am so pleased we decided to only invite the 11 year olds to Hogwarts." Helga tilted her head slightly in confusion "you mean for another reason besides that it is fairer on everyone involved? And if there were older students they would not actually be able to properly learn the work?" Ro nodded "if we had let all ages in, then the last year – the seventh year group – would be 17 or 18 ... the same age as Godric!"

Helga's eyes widened and Ro continued speaking "meaning that the students properly wouldn't respect him" Helga smiled warmly "Ro, this is Godric you're talking about – people can't help but respect him; but I do see your point and I do agree that it is better that he will always be at least five years older than any students of Hogwarts."

Ro took a deep breath and calmed down as she thought about the truth in Helga's words; she faced her friend with a worried look "are we doing the right thing? Letting Godric teach?" Helga blinked then nodded "yes, I know that he is ... young and energetic, but we aren't that much older than him and I think it will be good for him maybe help him calm down a bit." Ro nodded; that was her thought as well, she just needed it to be confirmed.

Of course it had to happen that just as they were saying nice things about a mature Godric Gryffindor that Godric behaving like his usual energetic self burst through the door "Guess what!" Salvador glanced up from his book at the loud noise "I just finished putting up the last painting – the one of Sir Cadogan!" everyone groaned and Godric glared at them.

"Hey he is situated in the north tower to be out of your way and he's my friend – so he stays" as they reassured him that it was fine that the knight painting stayed Salvador slipped away from his seat and stood by the window and no-one saw the small smirk flicker across his face before he turned and drew the attention.

"Father, what is that smoke rising from that lump on that hill just over there?"

Everyone conversed on the window and sure enough smoke was rising from a hill barely an hour's walk from the school. Sal frowned, not wanting his suspicions to be true "some foolish farmer setting rubbish a light?" Ro frowned "the trees get in the way of seeing clearly, maybe I should turn and fly-" Helga interrupted her quietly "oh no you don't - we have no idea what will happen and I'm not risking anything" Sal raised an eye-brow and thought they were lucky that Godric was searching in his robes for something and didn't see them.

"Aha got it" the knight exclaimed pulling out a telescope Sal scowled at the muggle artefact, but he couldn't complain about it as the others had outvoted him so that they were included for Astronomy ... it didn't mean he had to like it. "It is probably nothing just a ..." Godric held up his telescope and gazed through the lens the others watched as his expression took one of awe and let out a slow breath "... dragon."

Sal scowled and Rowena gaped and Helga stared at Godric before starting to freak out "A DRAGON! This close to the school! This close to the village! What are we going to do! This is bad this is very bad! Oh no there is smoke what if it lights the whole hill ablaze? What if" Godric placed his hand over her mouth; cutting her off mid-tirade "Helga calm down" she stared at him.

"Godric there's a dragon out there."

"I know, and I'm going to go deal with it."

"What? No!" Helga exclaimed and Ro and Sal nodded in agreement and Godric stared at them with stubborn eyes "do you guys want to go and try and get rid of it? How would you go about doing so anyway? If we attack it won't get the dragon away, the only way is to scare him off, I'm sure I can do that – without causing anyone or thing to be damaged" he didn't finish his sentence with 'of course if it is a female then I'm screwed.' As he didn't think Helga could take hearing that.

SSRRHHGG

The dragon was asleep he (it was a male welsh green) had found this nice warm spot to rest and was having comfortable rest, unaware that he was blowing smoke out of his nostrils. There was a sound and smell of a human approaching, he open one of his eyes into a slit in time to see and tall figure leap in front of him - he would admit to being surprised, this human must have been very good at sneaking around if he managed to get so close to him without detection.

"Be gone great dragon! You cannot rest here!"

The dragon snorted – this human; though had a sense of immense power about him, and was holding one of those weapons that many of his breathen had been injured by, but he posed no threat to him, merely a child who attacked front on, if the human wanted to injure him he should have already done so. He yawned and turned his head away drifting back to sleep and paying the human no more attention – he wasn't worth it.

Godric frowned – the dragon wasn't paying him any attention ... and he was sure that he had laughed at him! He poked the creature – nothing. In order to wake the dragon up he tried setting off some fireworks, threatening him and singing; surprisingly it was only his singing that managed to get a reaction though it seemed more like the dragon was laughing at him than ever.

At a safe distance the other three were also laughing "Only Godric would be soo lucky as to find a dragon that doesn't pay him any attention." Sighed Helga, she, Ro and Sal were all on standby ready to cast protective charms around Godric, but at the moment Sal was busy laughing as the Knight was pretending to ignore the dragon by polishing his sword – blinding the watchers as it caught the sunlight.

Finally Godric sat and stared at the shimmering scales of the sleeping dragon and he reached forward (he was far too close to the dragon's mouth for Helga's liking) and then he started to ... Rowena's jaw dropped and she asked weakly "is he ... is he tickling the dragon?" Sal nodded speechless and Helga groaned into her hands.

The dragon was really asleep, he had been ignoring the strange but amusing human and had been lulled into a slumber when he felt something just under his nose but above his mouth ... it was light and soft and not really touching ... and pushing air up his nostrils.

Helga let out a silent scream as the Dragon sneezed up a ball of fire – right where Godric was sitting. Fortunately however Godric had an excellent reaction time and managed to jump out of the way of the flame, he then was forced to do a dance similar to the highland fling as the welsh continued to sneeze up fire. But it did have the benefit of causing the dragon to lift up from the ground and start to fly away, Godric was celebrating when as the dragon was right overhead the tail swept out and hit the young knight flat off his feet and caused his view to go black.

SSRRHHGG

White light – how weird, Godric had been sure that he had been watching something green ... it wasn't light – it was a room, and he wasn't on grass he was on a bed. Godric groaned the Hospital Wing; his least favourite room in the whole castle because even though he loved being with Aurora, he hated having to stay there while he 'healed' especially when he was fine! No matter that the others always disagreed with his own conclusion of being fine.

"So you're awake are you?"

Blue eyes met green and Godric smiled sappily at his golden-haired girl "how long have I been here?" Aurora smiled at him "about thirteen hours, you never do things half-way do you - when you are knocked-out you remain out for a good while. They have come up with a school motto Draco Dormiens Nunqam Titillandus"

"Never tickle a sleeping dragon – best advice ever heard." He grinned at her but grew serious when he saw her give him a pleading look "Godric, please don't do that again – you got lucky with that dragon, but I don't think I or any of us could stand it if something major happened to you."

Godric gently took her hands "Aurora, I cannot promise that I won't be injured and if there is any danger to anyone, to this school, to anything and I could put a stop to it; then I will try my hardest to stop the danger. But I promise you this – I will always come back to you, no matter what has happened I will find a way I promise." She smiled at him and he grinned his less serious and more mischievous grin "so can I leave now?" she snapped immediately into nurse mode.

"Oh no you don't Godric Gryffindor; you are going to stay the night"

"But I'm fine"

"You always say that – I have learned not to trust your judgement when it comes to your health." Godric pouted and sighed; it never occurred to him to sneak out when Aurora wasn't around, it just wasn't his style and besides she would just subject him to another night in there if he did.

AN – I just couldn't make the Dragon bad, I love dragons. Though my favourite out of J.'s 'Fantastic beasts and where to find them' is the NZ Antipodean Opaleye.

Finished 22-05-2012