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Word Count - 576
Everyone Cries At Weddings
"You are beautiful," Rowena murmured, gazing at Helga. "Truly. Godric will not know what's hit him."
Helga smiled, and it brightened the room. Rowena's heart hurt, but she pushed the pain aside and smiled back.
"Thank you for helping me get ready," she murmured, leaning over to kiss Rowena's cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course," Rowena agreed. "You should join me for lunch, you can tell me all about your date."
Helga nodded and with a final glance at herself in the mirror, she left the room. Rowena slumped down onto the bed, and rubbed a hand over her face. Helping Helga ready herself for a date with a handsome man was the job of a best friend, but Rowena had long since hoped for more.
Not that she'd ever expected anything, from Helga, but it didn't stop it hurting, the proof that she'd never have the woman she loved.
A knock on the door sounded, and Rowena looked up in time to see Salazar slip inside.
"Are you okay, my dear?"
Rowena nodded, and when Salazar sat beside her, she leant her head against his shoulder. Many thought Salazar cold and unfeeling, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder.
"Come, my dear. Let us dine together."
She nodded. She knew he was hurting too, his feelings for Godric matched her own for Helga.
Salazar stood and offered her his hand, which she took immediately. When she was on her feet, he rested her hand into the crook of his arm.
No matter that she couldn't have Helga the way she craved, Rowena knew that she was still a lucky woman. She had Helga in her life, and Salazar was the best friend she could ever hope to have.
…
"It was wonderful," Helga gushed, a warm smile on her face.
Rowena loved to see her so happy, even if not because of her. She listened as Helga told her all about the date, about how gentlemanly Godric had been, and how they had shared a chaste kiss at the end of the night.
"I'm glad you had a good time," she said quietly, her eyes on her food. The conversation had drained her appetite, but to not eat would draw questions, so she forced herself to finish three quarters of the meal.
"I'm so happy," Helga said, when she'd finished her recounting.
"That's all I ever wanted for you," Rowena replied. She wasn't even lying.
…
"I cannot stay here any longer," Salazar murmured against her hair. "I cannot watch them marry and—"
"I understand," Rowena murmured. "I don't like it, but I understand. You have to do what's right for you."
"Come with me," Salazar offered. "We could travel together."
"You know I can't," Rowena whispered. "I belong here, at the school we all created, teaching the young minds. The school would not last without the two of us. We'll struggle without you, Sal, but for the both of us to leave would mean the end of Hogwarts."
He nodded because he knew she was right. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
…
Rowena watched as Helga and Godric said "I do."
She'd never been any competition for Helga's hand, but it still pained her to see Godric win so thoroughly.
A single tear slipped down her face, and she didn't bother to disguise it. Everyone cried at weddings after all.
Written for;
Auction - Rowena Ravenclaw
365 - 120. Competition
1000 - 942. Founders Era