Chapter 24.
The very next day, during his History of Magic class, which was still taught by the boring Professor Binns, Darien told his friends about what he learned from Golem and as he expected, they sort of freaked out. He really hadn't expected anything else.
"How in the hell does that Golem guy expect you to find out where the other three Founders are?!" Lionel asked skeptically as they sat down in their chairs to get ready for class.
Darien just shook his head with a glum look on his face. "I don't know. Maybe they're just like Slytherin and they'll show up when I'm least expecting it. I just don't know. Harry's gonna to try and keep an eye out for any sign of them too." He said shaking his head. His friends just glanced at him as they took out their books. "Hey, Dari. Harry didn't tell your parents yet, has he?" Lionel asked. Darien just shook his head. "No. Not yet. We both kind of talked about it last night while he was taking me back to the Gryffindor Tower. He thinks it's a good idea if we didn't tell them just yet. He knows how my dad gets when stuff like this happens. Dad gets a little paranoid and mom really freaks. We both decided that it was probably a better idea if we told them later." He paused for an affect. "Most likely after this whole thing is over." His friends laughed.
During class, Darien could see Slytherin high above their heads in the rafters. He was pacing along the huge beams, looking like he was in deep thought. He also saw the raven sitting in the window sill, looking down at him. It was strange to Darien how the raven was the way she was. He didn't really understand that bird, though he liked her a lot. He was just wondering why she was always protecting him. He could only wonder.
After class, Darien was walking with his friends to lunch, talking about the lessons and everything when Rowena flew down and landed on his head for a second before taking off and taking a few hairs with her. "Ow!" Darien cried out, slapping the top of his head. "Rowena! What was that for?!" He said rubbing his head.
"Darien, are you all right?" Sam asked with a frown.
The young Gryffindor just rubbed his head while looking up at the raven, sitting on a windowsill. "Ow. Yeah, I'm all right. But why did she do that? That hurt." He grumbled. The raven cawed several times and pointing her beak towards the stairwells.
"You don't think she wants us to follow her again, do you?" Rex asked staring up at the large black bird.
Darien dropped his hand and shook his head. "I don't know. But I'm starving right now. I need to get some food." He said as he started walking towards the Great Hall. Again, the raven cawed loudly and swooped down, landing on his shoulder. She tapped the side of his head with her beak, making him wince again.
"Rowena! What's wrong with you?" He asked rubbing where she pecked him.
The raven cawed and flapped her wings but Darien kept on walking towards the Great Hall, while his friends were being very hesitant. The large black bird finally dug her claws into his shoulder, making him wince a little before she reached down and grabbed the leather cord around his neck with the lightstone. Without a warning, she took off with the lightstone.
"Rowena!" Darien called after her as he turned around and gave chase.
Lionel, Rex, Sam and Leoni only glanced at one another before they hurried after their friend. The young students ran after the bird who flew into up the moving staircases. Darien just hurried after. "What is up with Rowena?! She's sure acting weird." Rex said rushing by his friend's side.
"Maybe she just likes the lightstone!" Leoni suggested. "Ravens like shiny objects."
Darien shook his head. "I don't know about that. There's something weird going on. She's never been interested in it before." He said as he went up the stairs. They suddenly stopped when the raven landed on a railing right in front of the Gryffindor Tower. She dropped the lightstone on the railing and held it down with her talon. Darien glanced over at his friends, frowning before he looked at the Fat Lady's portrait, who seemed to be staring back.
"Password?"
Darien slowly shook his head. He didn't know what to say. He just stared at the portrait before looking at Rowena with a frown. "Rowena, what is with you?" He said as he took the lightstone away from the raven and put it back around his neck.
"Rowena?"
Darien looked back at the Fat Lady, who was eyeing the raven suspiciously before she looked back at the young Gryffindor. "You have a very interesting bird there, you know that, boy?" She asked gently.
There was a very long silence as Darien stared up at the woman in the portrait. He knew his friends were staring too but they were probably staring at the bird or him. He couldn't help but just look at the Fat Lady, wondering something. His eyes then lit up as a flash like memory flew across his mind. He knew he had seen this woman once before. And it wasn't just because she was the guardian of the Gryffindor Tower.
"Wait a second." He paused stepping closer. "I know you."
"Ye-ah, Darien. What's going on with you now?" Sam asked skeptically.
Darien looked over at her before shaking his head and looking back up at the Fat Lady, who was staring back. "Who are you, Fat Lady?" He asked. The large but beautiful woman shook her head as she rose an eyebrow at the young Gryffindor. "I'm surprised, young Gryffndor. I have been guarding this door way for ages. Surely you should know who I am now. I am the Fat Lady." She said almost in an obvious tone.
"Dari, you're freaking us out now. What are you talking about?" Lionel asked.
Darien's eyes then widened as he remembered. "Oh my god. It's Helga Hufflepuff." He said as he just stared up at the Fat Lady.
There was a sudden flash of light, or at least that's what Darien saw. He was suddenly thrown into one of his visions, just like he did before. He was standing in a field where there were several people all around him. Right next to him he could see Salazar Slytherin. He was in a travelling cloak and he looked like he had just arrived himself. Next to him was standing Godric Gryffindor. The large wizard had a hand on Salazar's shoulder and was steering him through the crowd.
"Godric, what are we doing here again?" Slytherin asked lazily.
The large blonde just smiled at the dark haired wizard. "I told you three times already. I want you to meet a very good friend of mine. She has brought a friend, herself. Come, my friend."
Darien couldn't help but follow them. The two Founders walked through the crowd before stopping near a shop, where there were two women standing. Darien recognized both immediately as the other two Founders. But Helga Hufflepuff was much younger looking, just like she was in the portrait. The two turned around when they heard Gryffindor and Slytherin walk up. Darien's eyes were on the Hufflepuff though. She looked exactly like the Fat Lady.
"Ah, Godric. You have returned. Good." Hufflepuff said before looking at Slytherin. "Who is your friend?"
Godric Gryffindor clapped his large hand on Slytherin's shoulder and grinned. "This is Salazar Slytherin, friends. We just met a week ago. He saved my life. Salazar, allow me to introduce you to my friend, Helga Hufflepuff." He then looked at the beautiful Rowena Ravenclaw. "I see you have brought a friend as well, Helga."
Darien looked up at Slytherin who was staring at Ravenclaw with interest. The look on the Founder's face was almost too priceless. It was only a look that he knew too well because his father always looked at his mother like that. It was love at first sight. He looked at Rowena Ravenclaw who was smiling at Salazar Slytherin with the same interest. She was more forward though. She held out her hand first to Godric Gryffindor. "Greetings, Master Godric Gryffindor. I am Rowena Ravenclaw." She then held out her hand to Slytherin, who didn't take her hand. He just stared at her and it made the beautiful witch smile even more.
"Darien, are you all right?"
Darien's eyes blinked several times before he realized he was still staring at the Fat Lady. He shook his head then looked at who was shaking him. Lionel. He gave him a puzzled look. "Huh?"
Lionel rose his eyebrow at his slightly shorter friend. "I said, are you all right? You kind of spaced out there for a second." He said. Darien again shook his head before looking at the Fat Lady, who was staring right back at him. She was looking almost astonished, yet she was smiling. "You're one of the Founders. You're Helga Hufflepuff, aren't you?"
Darien's friends just frowned. "Darien, are you feeling all right? You really aren't making much sense. How could this be Helga Hufflepuff? She's guarding the Gryffindor House." Lionel said skeptically.
"I guard it because I was asked to, young man. By Godric Gryffindor. He knew that the chosen student would have been a Gryffindor student that reunite us." The Fat Lady said.
The students all just stared at the woman with wide eyes. "Are you kidding me? You're really Helga Hufflepuff?" Sam asked with surprise.
The Fat Lady just smiled at them before nodding. "The boy speaks true. I am Helga Hufflepuff, one of the Four Founders of Hogwarts. I am not just a portrait as you see. But a spirit within the portrait." She looked at Darien. "It's strange though. I hadn't been expecting a first year to be the one."
Darien and his friends looked at one another with confusion. None of them knew what she had been talking about. "The one?" Sam asked.
Lionel nodded. "What do you mean the one?"
The Fat Lady just shook her head as she looked Darien over. "It was said a long time ago that someday a Hogwarts student would bring the Hogwarts Founders back together and once again the magical barriers will forever be strong. The prophecy of this student also said that during that time, the gateway to the Otherworld will open up allowing dark spirits to escape their prison. If that would have happened, the world would be consumed in Darkness. It would be the Dark Ages all over again. But the Hogwarts student, if he shall bring the Founders together in time, light will prevail." She then smiled as he looked Darien over again. "You are strong for a young one, I can see that. I have been watching you lately. And I certaintly know what has been going on in the castle."
"Why didn't you say anything that you were Helga Hufflepuff from the beginning?" Rex asked in curiousity.
The Fat Lady only softly laughed as she fanned herself with the fan in her hand. "You did not ask. No one had. It was also an agreement that I had with Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw. Once Salazar Slytherin had left us. We decided that no one would know our true identies until someone came along and named us. And now I have been named by the chosen student that shall reunite the Houses." She said gently.
"I still don't get it." Darien said shaking his head and rubbing the side of it. "How did Rowena know that you were Helga Hufflepuff? She seems to know a lot too. She can see Slytherin's ghost like I can. She protects me from the Umbra whenever he comes around. I just don't get it."
The Fat Lady only smiled but then shook her head as she turned her kind eyes onto the raven, who was looking right at her. The giant bird even flapped her wings a little as if trying to tell her something. "Young Darien Lupin, your bird there is not just an ordinary bird. She is something else. But only you can discover her secrets. I can not tell you anything what you must discover for yourself." She shook her head again as she looked at Darien's multicolored ones. "It is only for you."
"Can I ask you something, Ms. Hufflepuff?" Leoni asked suddenly.
Everyone looked at her but then back at the portrait. The Fat Lady just nodded with a kind smile. "Of course, my dear, you may ask me something. Ask anything."
Leoni nodded before she looked at the raven, who now hopped onto Darien's shoulder. "Was Rowena animagus? Rowena Ravenclaw I mean." She asked. That seemed to perk up everyone's attention.
"Of course she was. We all were." The Fat Lady spoke up. "It was not recorded though. The recordings of Animagus was not written until several hundred years after our time. When the Ministry of Magic was starting to develope and grow bigger."
"If you were Animagus, what were you?" Sam asked with interest.
The Fat Lady just smiled. "I was what is the head of my house, young lady. A badger." She said with a gentle smile. "As for the others, they were just the same as I. We were the animals of our Houses."
Darien's eyes lit up as he thought about it. "Slytherin was a snake."
"Yes. Actually an Anaconda if we must be more specific. He favored Anacodas from their powerness, strength and haste."
"Gryffindor was a lion?" Rex asked.
Again a nod. "Yes. For a lion he was like." The Fat Lady said. "He was brave, noble, strong willed and very powerful."
Darien slowly looked at Rowena on his shoulder, meeting her eyes. "And Rowena was a raven. A raven for intelligence."
A very sly smile appeared on the Fat Lady's face as she slowly nodded. "Yes. But that wasn't the only reason why Rowena chose the raven to be her Animagus. It is the traits that all ravens carry. Intelligence is definitely one of their highest traits. They are one of the most cunning animals you may ever find. And Rowena was the most cunning of us, Four Founders. But it was also the loyalty that ravens had for their partners, their mates. And even for their younglings. Ravens mate for life, young ones. They are also playful when they want to be. And they have pure innocence, yet trickery." The Fat Lady's eyes slowly turned onto the raven. "Much like your friend there, Darien. Rowena."
There was a long silence as all eyes turned onto the raven, which was still looking into Darien's eyes, who just stared back. "Darien, you don't think..." Rex was asking.
Darien finally broke eye contact with his raven before shaking his head. "No. She's not Rowena Ravenclaw." He said before looking back at Rowena. "She's just Rowena. Come on, guys. We need to get down to lunch." He turned and walked back down the stairs.
The others just looked at one another before waving at the Fat Lady. "See you 'round, Ms. Hufflepuff." Sam said. The Fat Lady only waved, still smiling. "Stop and visit me sometime, young ones. I would love to talk to you some more." She called after them before she turned and started to have a conversation with neighboring portrait.
Later in the evening, while it was still day light and slightly snowing, since it was still early spring, Darien was sitting in an empty corridor, though he was pretty sure that there was an Auror lurking about close by. He was staring out the window in the direction where Rowena Ravenclaw's cabin was hidden. His thoughts roaming onto what was happening. He even looked up at how close the moon and sun was getting. Only a few more days till the Eclipse. They were getting so much closer to one another. It was no doubt that the Eclipse was going to be on St. Patrick's Day.
"Rowena, what am I going to do? That's the day when the Umbra is going to be free to do anything he wants. He's going to come after me and I can't do anything about it. I'm not ready to face him." Darien whispered to the raven perched on his knee. "He's going to kill me and then he's going to make it dark for a long time. And release all of those Dark Lords from the past. Voldemort, maybe his old master, Beliar De Diablo. And I don't want to how he was like."
The raven looked up at him from cleaning her feathers, meeting his eyes. Darien just stared into her own deep blue eyes with his multicolored ones before he tilted his head in wonder.
"Rowena, why do you care about me? Who are you really?" He whispered before bending his face a little closer to his raven. "Are you Rowena Ravenclaw?"
There was a very long silence before Darien laughed at himself shaking his head. "No. You can't be. I've already met her in her portrait. That has to be her." He frowned again looking back at the raven. He then remembered what the Rowena from the portrait had said. She had told him that she was only a memory of her true self. "Are you...?" He paused. "...Rowena Ravenclaw?"
The raven suddenly tilted her head before she took off into the air, flying over to the middle of the corridor and hovering in the air, flapping her wings to keep her airborne.
Darien only watched before his eyes slowly lit up as he saw light suddenly surround the bird. "You are! You are Rowena Ravenclaw!" He said in a quiet but excited tone.
There was a flash of light and soft blue sparks was falling all around the beautiful woman standing before him. Her eyes were closed before she gently opened them, revealing her sapphire blue eyes. She was wearing a midnight blue gown with grey trimming. Her raven black hair fell down to her waist, looking so soft like feathers or spider threads. She even had long black eye lashes that flickered every time she blinked. It was indeed Rowena Ravenclaw and she was smiling.
"You have named me, Darien. And for that I thank you."
Darien just stared at the beautiful witch standing before him with his mouth wide open. He slowly began to stand up and step closer to her, his eyes looking her over. The witch just smiled as she watched him starting to circle her, looking her over. She even turned a little as he went around her before turning the other way to look at him. Finally Darien stood before her, looking in her deep blue eyes.
"You...you're..."
Rowena Ravenclaw nodded as she smiled at him. "Yes. I am Rowena Ravenclaw. The one and only."
Darien just stared at her before stepping back, feeling a little dizzy. He closed his eyes for a second before reopening them. He was startled to see that he had been thrown back into another vision. Actually it was the same one that he had seen before earlier in the day.
"Greetings, Master Godric Gryffindor. I am Rowena Ravenclaw." Rowena Ravenclaw in the vision spoke up before she held out her hand to Slytherin, who didn't take her hand. He just stared at her and it made the beautiful witch smile even more. "You are quite the shy one, are you not?" She asked in a teasing way.
Salazar Slytherin suddenly shook his head to get out of his thoughts. He then reached out and took her hand, kissing the back of it gently. "Nay, my lady. I am just surprised by your beauty."
That made the other three Founders smile, Gryffindor actually laughed before clapping his hand onto Slytherin's shoulder, making him glance at him while dropping Rowena's hand. "Ah, love at first sight, I see. How lovely." The large blonde Founder said in a joking way. Slytherin just glared at him for that.
Rowena and Helga both laughed softly with their hands over their mouths. The raven haired beauty gently slapped Godric Gryffindor's arm though. "Master Gryffindor, it is not nice to tease our friend. I am actually used to such reactions from men. Sometimes it is a curse to be what I am." She said shaking her head. Slytherin shook his head slowly as he met the beauty's eyes, who gave him a very gentle smile.
Suddenly the vision changed into a new one. It was a dark night with only a full moon as the light. The stars were shining brightly and it was such a warm night. Darien could see both Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw standing together on a bridge, looking towards the building of Hogwarts. It was still in work but by half way. The two founders were quiet as they just stared before Rowena turned her face towards Slytherin.
"My dear Salazar, you have asked me to walk with you. Must we just walk and not speak?"
Slytherin turned his dark eyes onto her before looking away and they began to walk together across the bridge. Darien followed behind, just to stay close. "I do not know what to say. What shall we talk about?"
The lovely witch next to him, shrugged innocently as she grabbed a hold of her dress and swished the fabric back and forth a little. "I don't know. What is on your mind? Say anything." The wizard didn't say anything and she giggled. "Tell me that you're in love with me, my lovely Slytherin." Rowena Ravenclaw teased.
Darien could have laughed at the look on Slytherin's face. For he had yet to see him blush. And that was what he was doing now. Slytherin's face had gone a shade of pink as he looked wide eyed at the lovely and playful witch next to him. Ravenclaw only giggled softly as she gently touched his shoulder. "Oh, I am only teasing you, Salazar. You need not to blush as red as a rose."
"I am not blushing." Slytherin said indignitely.
"If you are not blushing, my friend, then my eyes must decieve me. For you are as red as a spring robin's breast." She teased again.
Slytherin scowled, though Darien wasn't sure if he was scowling at himself or her. Rowena Ravenclaw seemed to think the same thing because she touched her ruby colored lips with a faint look of surprise. "Oh. You are angry with me. Forgive me, Salazar. I was only playing. I didn't mean anger you." She said gently.
"No." Slytherin suddenly said as he faced her, his eyes looking right into hers. "I am not angry with you. I am angry with myself. I try as all I can to not express my emotions but it is hard with you around. I can not explain it. There is something about you that makes me want to be someone else that I am not."
The beauty gave him a very soft smile as she looked up at him. "For some reason, Salazar, I feel like you are trying to flatter me. Trouble is, it is working." She said as she gently took his hand.
Slytherin looked surprised that she would take his hand but he still looked into her eyes. He couldn't seem to find his words. He was trying to think of something to say and Darien knew that. But he didn't seem to need to say anything. Because Rowena Ravenclaw gave him another gentle smile before touching his lips with one finger.
"You need not to say anything, Salazar. I may be smart in many things. But the thing I do know the most, is people and their expressions." She whispered to him before lowering her hand. "If you wish to kiss me, then do so. For I wish the same."
There was a short pause before Salazar Slytherin actually smiled before he gently cupped Ravenclaw's small chin and lifted her face towards his. He bent down and kissed her.
Darien, however, pulled a face and crinkled his nose. "Ew. This is too mushy." He muttered. Then he heard a giggle before the vision suddenly vanished and he was standing right back in front of Rowena Ravenclaw in the halls of Hogwarts.
"You will not say that when it comes of the time for you to court a lovely lady, Young Darien Lupin." The beautiful witch said in a gentle voice.
Darien shook his head as he looked around at the halls before he looked right at Rowena Ravenclaw. He frowned for a second before tilting his head. "So you've been watching over me all this time? You were really the raven?"
Rowena Ravenclaw nodded gently as she stepped a little closer. "Yes, Darien. I have been protecting you as much as I can."
Darien slowly shook his head as he just continued to stare into her eyes. There was something about her eyes. They were so enchanting. The blue of them was a blue he had never seen. They were almost like jewels. He was finding that he couldn't look away from them. "But why? Why protect me?"
"Darien, that is a question that is very simple to answer." Ravenclaw told him gently. "You are one of my students. This castle, this school..." She paused looking around at the walls. "...Hogwarts is suppose to be a very safe place for children. We built it to keep our children safe from any danger." She looked right back into Darien's multicolored eyes. "But now the barriers that protects this place has been broken. And it is time to fix that. With your help."
Darien just frowned as he just looked at her. "But why me? I'm just a boy."
A very faint smile appeared on Rowena's face as she just looked at him. "You would be surprised on what one young boy could do, Darien. Think of your friend, Harry Potter. Look what he has accomplished ever since he was much younger than you are. He was a baby and yet he destroyed the power of an evil wizard. Just like what happened to the dark wizard, Beliar De Diablo many, many years before."
Again, Darien frowned as he looked as curious as could be. "...How did he fall anyway? The book that we read didn't say."
"And it wouldn't. Not many would know. It wasn't really recorded on paper. Only on the minds of those who were there and shared the stories. Though the stories began to get twisted and no one knew the real truths." Rowena said as she shook her head.
"But do you know?" Darien asked.
The beautiful witch was quiet and very still for a long time before she nodded. "He was betrayed, Darien. By one of his followers. A dark wizard that decided that what the Dark Lord was doing was not right for the Magical world. He lead his master into a corner where he could not back out of and his power was destroyed as was he." She spoke very softly.
"Who was that wizard?" The young Gryffindor asked.
Another long silence before Rowena Ravenclaw lift her head higher. "Seye Slytherin. The father of Salazar."
Darien's eyes lit up with surprise when he heard that. He even stepped back from the surprise. "Seye Slytherin?" He asked. Rowena nodded with a smile. "Yes. Seye Slytherin used the Negatus Mysterium against his master before somehow calling upon the spirits of De Diablo's victims. They did exactly what had happened to Lord Voldemort years ago." The Hogwarts Founder told him. "But he did have help. He could not do it alone."
"Who helped him?" Darien asked.
"The Great Wizard Merlin himself. It was of the year of Merlin's great power started to be known throughout the world. Beliar De Diablo was an great enemy of the powerful wizard. So when Seye Slytherin went to him, asking him for help in defeating his master, he helped him."
Darien tilted his head. "But how did it happen?"
"The Esuna Mithra spell was what he used against De Diablo." Rowena told him. "Only he did it in a different way. He called Esuna Mega Mithras. Those are the words to call upon many spirts."
Darien looked away, turning a little away from her. "And Umbra?"
Rowena Ravenclaw shook her head as she folded her hands together. "He was one of De Diablo's trusted men. When the dark lord fell, he lost everything. His powers, his way of life, and now he's trying to gain it again. You must be careful, Darien. You have a power that has been ancient for a very long time. How it was passed into you, I do not know. There are only a few reasons to answer that. But I can not answer that."
Another long silence before Darien looked up into her eyes. "Rowena, uh...I mean..." He was cut of with Rowena's hand gently touching his lips.
"You may continue to call me Rowena for that is my name, Darien. I will still serve you as your pet raven. I have made a promise to myself that I would do anything to help Salazar in anyway I can. And to do that, I must help you." Rowena said with a smile before she lowered her hand.
Darien just nodded. "Okay. Well...do you really think I could do this? Save the world like Harry did?"
Rowena Ravenclaw only smiled at him before she gently took his hand and lead him towards the window. They both then looked out together in silence. "Look around you, Darien. This school is full of children. Children who are destined to do something. Great things. Our world that will be lead to greatness always starts with children." She looked back at him. "You are one of those children. And it starts now. What you do for your future, is up to you. And I will be by yourself, helping you as much I can. I will protect you. And you must help us, the Founders of Hogwarts reunite so we can restore the protection of Hogwarts. Once the protection is here, no evil shall hurt you or the other students. That I can promise."
Darien only smiled at her. "Thanks, Rowena."
With only another smile at him, light surrounded her once again and she was the raven again. The raven rubbed her head against his arm.
Hours after meeting the real Rowena Ravenclaw, Darien was heading back to the dorms after dinner. He had left a little earlier than he was suppose to, but no one seemed to mind. His friends were staying a little longer to finish their pumpkin pastries and they promised that they would soon join him. Darien didn't mind though. There was plenty of Aurors in the hallways so it wasn't entirely dangerous. And it wasn't like the Umbra was on the grounds. The gargoyles were keeping watch for him and there hadn't been any commotion yet. So it was clear that it was going to be a quiet night.
"Darien."
Darien turned around when he heard his father call after him. Remus just gave his son a faint smile as he walked over to join him. He reached over and gently touched Darien's shoulder. "I'll walk with you, Darien. I wanted to talk to you about something anyway."
The two made their way up the stairs, walking side by side. "Darien, I have to warn you about something." Remus said as he climbed the stairs. "As you know, tomorrow is going to be the eclipse." He earned a nod from Darien. "Well, what you don't know yet, Darien, is that when the moon and sun alines, the moon is going to be full and it will get dark. When that happens, we might just transform." Remus told him, pulling a face.
Darien groaned. "Oh, great. That's just all I need. To be a blood thirsty dog during the day."
Remus laughed softly as he shook his head. "Hey. You are not blood thirsty, Darien. And I'm not entirely sure that you might transform or not. I know that when someone who was bit by a werewolf changes during the eclipse. But someone who was born a werewolf," He shook his head again. "I'm not sure. Professor Dumbledore believes that the full moon may not even effect you. But just to be sure, you're to come with me to the shack on the grounds. Just for percautions." He told him.
Darien just nodded. "Okay." He then looked away, sighing.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked looking down at him. Darien just shook his head as he thought about what he still needed to do. He knew that he still had to find out where Godric Gryffindor was. He had already found out who Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw were, but there was still the last Founder.
"Darien." Remus said touching Darien's shoulder.
The young Gryffindor looked up at him before shaking his head. "It's nothing, dad. It's just..." He paused knowing that he had to tell him. "I had a talk with the gargoyle leader, Golem, the other night. Don't worry. Harry was with me." He said quickly when he saw Remus frown.
Remus shook his head. "That's not what I'm thinking. What did you talk to him about?"
Darien shrugged as he stopped walking and went to an open window. "I...I kind of asked him what would happen to the gargoyles during the eclipse. He said that it's still day and not night. The gargoyles are not going to be able to fight the Umbra if it comes tomorrow. He's going to come after me. I know it."
Remus just stared at his son with sympathy before he gently touched his shoulder. "Darien, I will never let him hurt you. I promise you that." He told him.
"I know." Darien said before looking at him. "It's not just that, Dad, that bothers me. Golem took me and Harry to a secret cavern that's in the side of the cliffs. The cavern leads right under the castle where there are these stone pillars that's holding Hogwarts up and keeping it from falling through the ground." He explained. "Four of them. And each of them have the crest of the Founders. But one of them is falling apart. Golem told me that they're the Foundation stones of Hogwarts."
Remus just frowned as he continued to listen but he nodded. He had actually heard about the Foundation Stones. He just didn't know where they were. "I see. What else?" He asked gently.
Darien shrugged again. "Golem said that the Foundation Stones are what is protecting Hogwarts, dad. The Pillar of Slytherin is falling apart because he broke away from his friends. Remember the line in the Sorting Hat's song? For if the Four Houses don't reunite, we will crumble within?" He recieved a nod from his father. "That's what the Sorting hat was trying to warn everyone about. The castle is going to fall through the ground if Slytherin isn't reunited with Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff." Remus only frowned at the sound of that. Darien slowly shook his head. "Golem told me that I was the chosen student to reunite the four houses." He told him.
"What?" Remus asked in confusion. "You? But you're just a child, Darien. You're eleven years old."
Darien nodded as he faintly smiled up at him. "I know. But it's actually kind of simple, yet hard. Golem told me that I was suppose to find the Founders and name them. They were somewhere in the castle, dad. I found Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw."
This surprised Remus. He even stepped back, just staring at Darien. His mouth had fallen open to an O but he still said nothing. He was quiet for a long time before he tilted his head. "You...you found them?"
Darien nodded with a smile. "Yeah, dad. I found them. Helga Hufflepuff is the Fat Lady guarding the Gryffindor Tower. And Rowena Ravenclaw is actually Rowena. My raven. She was protecting me all this time."
Remus just stared at him for a long time before he smiled right back. "And what about Godric Gryffindor?" He asked with interest.
Darien shrugged. "I have my suspicions. I think..." He paused looking out the window. "I think he's...Golem the Gargoyle. Yeah. He's Godric Gryffindor." He didn't look up to see if what Remus's reaction could have been. He just stared out at the starlit sky. "I'm trying to decide if I should go talk to Golem again. Ask him if he really is Godric Gryffindor."
Remus frowned as he looked out the window. "Did Golem tell you what would happen if you reunited the Four Founders?"
Darien nodded with a big smile. "Yeah! He said that if I reunited the Four Founders then everything would be okay. The Four Foundation Stones would be restored and they can stop the Gateway to the Otherworld from opening." he told him. Remus only slyly smiled right back at him. "Then we must do what we can, Darien."
"Darien! There you are! You know you're not..." Darien heard a very familiar voice. In fact it was so familiar that the very sound of it made him stiffen and slowly turn around to look to see who it was. His eyes widened very wide when he saw his father, Remus Lupin coming towards him. "Oh, hello, Caligo. Thank you for walking with Darien back to the Gryffindor Tower." Remus said smiling as he walked over.
"No problem, Remus."
Darien jerked his head, looking wide eyed up at his Divination Professor standing beside him. The Professor was smiling unusually at him, his eyebrow raised at him. Remus frowned seeing how pale his son's face had just gone the very second he had seen him. "Darien, what's wrong?"
The young Gryffindor slowly began to back away as he stared wided eyed up at Professor Caligo, who now had his wand out. "D-dad, help..." He stammered.
Remus just frowned before he looked straight at Professor Caligo, who turned to face him. "Caligo, what are you..." His own eyes widened when the Divination Professor raised his wand. He never even had a chance to grab his own to protect himself.
"Sectumsempra!" Caligo said very casually as if he didn't need to think twice about what spell he was going to use.
To Darien's horror, two very large gashs split right across his father's face, sending blood immediately running down his face. Another gash seemed to split across Remus's chest because blood was now seeping through his white shirt. "No!" Darien cried out as he started forward to run to his father's side. But a hand slapped against the back of his head, gripping his hair and then he felt himself flung against the wall. All was black before he even hit the ground.