I Promise

"What would happen if a student was wrongly sorted?"
Godric frowned at me and I felt a tinge of guilt as Rowena's cutlery chinked against the side of her plate. My plate of lamb stew no longer tasted as good. I instantly wished I had not said anything at all.
"What do you mean, Helga?" Rowena asked.
"Suppose a student felt they didn't really belong in the house the Sorting Hat had chosen for them."
"The Sorting Hat isn't influenced by anything but that person's mind-set and abilities." Godric said, "It would be unlikely to make a mistake."
"But what if…"
"Has a student come to you then?" Rowena asked sharply.
My cheeks heated up at once and my mouth felt dry, "No…I was just wondering."
"Ro, don't be so harsh. Helga is merely interested." Godric said.
Rowena scowled, "Well if a student has, I would tell them the Hat doesn't lie. It sorts people for a reason."
I nodded mutely and looked to Godric, who sighed and clasped his hands together, "I cannot see a reason why the Hat would mistakenly sort a student into the wrong house. In any case, there is much beyond our own houses. Some Gryffindors may not seem characteristically brave, but their hearts are noble. Perhaps some Ravenclaws aren't bookish or typically intelligent, but can see the bigger picture, rather than the details."
Rowena rolled her eyes, but said nothing and simply picked up her knife and spoon again. I rolled my spoon between my fingers and watched them both eat. I had not really gained the answer I was looking for, but Godric's one was honest and perhaps it was a way I could comfort Helena.

We rarely ate privately anymore, always remaining in the Great Hall with our students and fellow teachers. When we did conversation tended to be stilted, Rowena always seemed angry for some reason. I could not tell whether it was down to her daughter appearing in the castle and her classes, or whether I had committed some offense. Godric did not seem to enjoy these occasions as much as he had done, and sometimes I wondered if it would have been better to say nothing on Salazar's behaviour. At least we could have then pretended to get along. I missed Rowena's insightful remarks, Godric's bellow of laughter and even Salazar's sharp wit. I did not miss Salazar now, but I missed the man I had known, even the man I had once loved. Although it was painful to even think about that.

Godric cleared his throat and drank slowly from his ale, "Professor Octavius gave me some worrying news this morning. His sister had sent him an owl, she told him there were rumours of trouble in Lincolnshire."
Rowena and I both looked up, we knew what trouble in Lincolnshire could mean. Godric nodded.
"Rumours of muggles and muggle-borns going missing. Or found dead or wandering the countryside having been driven to madness."
I bit my lip and felt the colour drain from my face, Rowena glanced at me and surprisingly she gently put her hand over mine.
"Do you think…Do you think it is Him?" she asked Godric.
He nodded grimly, "It is on his father's land. After all that occurred I am surprised this did not happen sooner."
Rowena squeezed my hand a little tighter, "What should we do?"
Godric rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, "There's only one thing we can do, if it's Him and his little followers."

She nodded carefully, but under Rowena's firm grasp, I felt my hand tremble.
"I cannot believe he would do this…" I whispered faintly.
"What Salazar does now barely surprises me at all." Godric muttered grimly, "He hurt you, our trust, our friendship. Attacking innocent strangers…well, if Salazar can hurt anyone who he loves dearly, strangers will mean little to him."
"What if his father has encouraged the attacks?" Rowena asked and Godric sighed in frustration.
"I don't know, Ro. Wizards need some sort of laws and punishments. There is a consensus not to harm others using our magic, particularly muggles, but no one to enforce it."
"Well then we must take the law in our own hands." Rowena said, "The muggles will not try Salazar or his father, but if we can gather a group of wizards and witches to act as a court, then we could try them both. Gods knows they have committed enough crimes."
"Do you think that is wise?" Godric asked, "They are powerful wizards, not only with magic, but also have enough wealth and influential friends to see them both do well."
"Then our jury must be made up of those who are impartial and fair. None of us can stand as a Judge, but perhaps someone from Hogsmede could."

Godric pursed his lips and then looked at me, "Helga? What do you think?"
I pulled my hand away from Rowena's clasp, and pressed my hands together in my lap.
"What can I say? He is no longer the man I thought he was. It sickens me to my very soul, the idea he would hurt any innocent and especially those who cannot defend themselves."
"Should we deal with his crimes now?" Rowena asked, "Send the students home."
"No, Hogwarts can keep them safe. They may not be safe in their homes." I said.
Godric nodded and even Rowena inclined her head, as though she was considering my point of view.
"Then you will stay here and guard the students?" Godric suggested, but I shook my head.
"No. If he sees you two together, without me, then he will make his way to Hogwarts. It would be better for all of us to face him and leave a few of the other teachers here, should he try to attack Hogwarts."
"Do you think he would attempt something like that?" Godric asked.
"I am more surprised that he has not tried, that he has not called all Slytherins to his side and got them to fight against us."
Rowena sucked in her cheeks and frowned vehemently, "He would never dare."
I shrugged, "I think Salazar would dare many things, even if it meant encouraging children to fight for him."

Godric leaned back in his chair, and as the fire lit up his features, I saw how tired and old he looked. The lines across his forehead were deeper and he had grey shadows underneath his eyes, the betrayal had not been kind to Godric. He lifted his goblet and drank deeply.
"So we are agreed, we encircle the bastard and capture him, if we can. If not…" he clicked his tongue and I shivered. I prayed it did not come to that. I did not wish to have a war raging on between wizards who would protect muggles and those who would see them dead.

"And why don't you read now, Ethel?"
Ethel, a fair haired girl, reluctantly picked up the book. The four girls and one boy I had in this class all shared looks of sheer agony, though I was only asking them to read Beowulf. It was all too common to have lower born wizards, and especially witches, be unable to read or write. So sadly while their friends and classmates enjoyed their day off from learning, this small class had to reside indoors and learn their letters. It was only for an hour though and they all learned fast. Presumably because they hated being inside, but it had to be done. Too much of our learning relied on books.
Ethel found the place in the book and continued, "So lived the…clansmen in cheer…and revel. A win…some life, till one began to fashion evils, that field…of hell. Gren…del this monster grim was called… Mistress Hufflepuff, I can't do it."
"Yes you can, you're doing so well."
"I can't!"
"Look, you've already read four lines, without any help from me. You're doing really well."
Ethel slumped down in her seat, but pulled the book towards her, "…March-…riever mighty, in moor…land living, in fen and…fastness; fief of the giants…the hapless wight a while…had kept since the Creator his exile doomed."
"Good, see. There you go. You read that really clearly and well. Joan, you go next."

Joan made less fuss than Ethel did when reading, but she sometimes read far too quickly, misreading the words or saying them so fast we couldn't understand her.
"On kin of Cain was the killing avenged, by sovran God for slaughtered Abel…"
"Joan, it's 'avenged', not 'ah-venged'. Remember what I told you last week, slow down."
"Ill fared his feud…"
"It's 'feud', Joan. Not 'food'."
"…and far was he dri..ven, for the slaughter's sake…from sight of men…Of Cain awoke all that woe…ful breed…Etins and elves and evil-spirits…as well as the giants that warred with God, weary while: but their wage…was paid them!
"'Wage' Joan, not 'Waggy'."
"It's not my fault, it's hard." She muttered crossly, shoving the book away from her.
"I know. It will be difficult at first. But you must remember what I told you. The faster you go, the more likely you are to make mistakes. We don't mind here if you read slowly."
She slumped down on the table, "I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it."
"Course you will, you've already come so far in learning. Remember at the beginning of this year, you couldn't read at all. That's very impressive and if you read a little in your own time, you'll soon get better at it."

"So this where you are."
I looked up and smiled when I saw Isaac.
"Godric told me this was where you might be."
"Oh did he?" I grinned and shook my head. I noticed Ethel and Joan beaming at one another, while still practicing their letters. "Well I'm afraid we're rather busy here." I said firmly
"Ah, no allowances made at all for me?" Isaac gave me his best puppy eyed look.
"None whatsoever."
"We could read and write outside, Mistress Hufflepuff." Joan piped up.
"Hmm, I wonder how much reading and writing would take place!" I said and gave Isaac an exasperated look, though I couldn't help smiling. "Well you have been here for near five and forty minutes…very well, you can go early. But this happens only the once."
The students excitedly grabbed their own books, pens and papers, and dashed from the classroom. Joan, Matilda and Ethel giggled as they passed Isaac.
"I think your students have gleaned something is going on between us."
I folded my arms and sighed, "This only happens the once. You understand?"

He strode towards me and clasped my face in his hands, making me unfold my arms. "Promise." he said. Then gently lowered his head and kissed me softly, so lightly on my lips I yearned for more. I let out a small, frustrated whine and felt Isaac smirk against my lips.
"Not too many regrets about letting your class out early?" he murmured.
"Hmph."
He chuckled and kissed me deeply, then pulled me close, resting me under his chin.
"I have missed you, Mistress Hufflepuff."
I feebly hit his chest, "Don't call me that."
"Ah why?" he grinned.
"Because I like hearing my own name on your lips, so call me Helga."
He laughed and kissed me again, then keeping me close, whispered, "My love, my Helga."

I felt my body shiver under his warm hands and my smile grow wider. But his eyes grew serious.
"Godric has told me of what is happening in Lincolnshire."
I sighed and nestled closer in his arms, "Yes. You do understand, don't you? We must stop him."
"It would kill me if he hurt you." Isaac said, his arms round my waist growing tighter. He shook his head, "I don't want him to hurt you in any way."
"I won't let that happen. Not this time." I swore, clasping his hands in mine. "We will bring him to justice, we will imprison him."
"Imprison one of the greatest wizards the world has ever seen?" Isaac questioned, and looked down into my eyes.
"We have to. That or…" the breath in my lungs seemed to catch in my throat.
But Isaac nodded, "I see."

He put one of his hands beside my head and gently stroked my hair, I closed my eyes and happily rested in his arms.
"Can you promise me something then?" he said after a while.
"Mm?"
"That you will come back, safe and uninjured…"
"I promise."
"And…and that," he swallowed nervously and took my hands in his, kissing them gently, "And that you will marry me. Please."
I clapped my hands over my mouth, a happy smile forming on my lips and tears welling in my eyes.
"I can hardly tell whether you smile for joy or cry in fear." Isaac jested, "But please say something."
"Yes." I nodded eagerly, "I will come back and I will marry you."
He lifted me from my feet and span me round, then once I was back on the ground, he kissed my cheeks, my forehead and lips. I laughed at his excitement.
"Good. Good." Isaac nodded, glancing away from me and then glancing back. "I hope I can make you very happy, Helga."
"You already do." I said.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, I've been trying to get a job and get at least one piece of original writing published (both of which are proving to be tricky). Hopefully by next week I should've accomplished the latter and be working towards the former. Thank you again for everyone reading and reviewing. I agree, Isaac...what a dream boat! ;)

Have to say it's a bit disconcerting to see people still wanting Helga and Salazar to get back together again...I can categorically say now, it's not going to happen. I don't condone any abusive behaviour, either sexual, emotional or physical. Salazar may have many understandable and even sympathetic elements to his character, but evil isn't always an abstract concept. We all have the ability to be evil or at least do things that may benefit us, without benefiting other people. That doesn't mean you should accept that or sympathise with a person who does those things.