- CHAPTER ONE -
The Dawn
It was the arising of a momentous day. Still dark, not a soul stirred.
Miles from civilisation, on a distant hillside stood two men and two women. They linked arms as a sign of their friendship, and waited in anticipation for sunrise.
The first was Helga Hufflepuff, a slight young lady with long, braided fair hair and a radiant smile. Although naïve for a twenty-six-year-old, she made up for it with her worthy heart, which was warm with love and compassion.
To her left stood Rowena Ravenclaw, the oldest of the group at forty-three years, although her great knowledge, understanding and experience shone far beyond her time. It showed in her appearance, which was prematurely ageing, what with her already greying hair and wearied-looking face.
Beside Rowena Salazar Slytherin stood proud. At twenty-one he was the youngest. He had long twists of ebony hair, and was roguishly handsome. He wanted more than anything to make a name for himself; to say he was ambitious would be a severe understatement. He was headstrong, cunning and resourceful, although at times this could be interpreted as arrogant.
Last was Godric Gryffindor, a man who had seen evils and malignancy beyond belief in his thirty years of life. It did serve a purpose; it made him strong and daring, it gave him nerve and chivalry. Many named him the bravest man they knew.
These four, all great in their individual ways, were not ordinary men and women. In an age when witchcraft and wizardry was forbidden, they had found themselves to be of magical blood. Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor were the four finest witches and wizards of their generation. Fate had brought them together, and here they stood, in a land that had been promised to them all of their lives.
"How many more hours, Godric, for Merlin's sake?" drawled Salazar.
"Patience, Salazar, patience," Helga soothed.
"All I'm saying is, this better be worth it," Salazar Slytherin snapped irritably. "You do realise we've been searching for a whole year for a place to do our crucial work. If this is another waste of time, I'll hex you all."
"Calm down, Salazar," Godric said, in a subtle warning tone. "Have faith. This is the place. I'm sure of it."
"We believe in you, Godric, old friend," said Rowena. "Not much longer, young Salazar. I can see the tip of the sun on the horizon. This is it, my friends."
"Yes, comrades," Godric said, smiling. "Witness the dawn of a new era in magical history!"
There was a highly-strung stillness as shafts of light were cast across the miles upon miles of rock-strewn mountains, patched with forests and dotted with lakes. An enchanting silence prevailed, hinting at the pent-up magic stored in this fertile soil, this thriving vegetation, and this clearest water. Candy floss clouds drifted across the pale azure sky, casting erratic shadows across the uneven terrain. This fascinating part of Northern Britain was untouched by human hands. It had concealed its natural wonders and mystical secrets for thousands of years.
There was a lengthy silence as the four witches and wizards stared in awe at the beauty of the place. The hush was finally broken with a whisper from Salazar Slytherin, "I'm sorry I doubted you, Godric."
If it was possible, Godric's smile widened even further.
"It's beautiful," Helga hissed excitedly.
"It's more than just beautiful," Godric began to explain. "The air is intense with magical energy. It is perfect for our plans."
"You have done outstandingly well, companion," Rowena commented, and a compliment from her was rare. "All this time we have scoured the entire globe such as this, and here it is, in our homeland. We have been blind this past year."
"Aye, Rowena. All this time our visionary land was right under our noses," Gryffindor agreed. "But we're home at last."
"Home," Rowena said. "Aye… We should stop dithering, and make up for lost time. Are we settled? Is this our chosen land for where we are to construct or halls of magical learning? Is this the location where young witches and wizards shall come to be enlightened on the arts and sciences of sorcery?"
"Aye, Rowena. We're home at last, like Godric said," Helga Hufflepuff said wistfully, beaming with content as the fresh breeze whipped through her braided locks.
"Aye, Rowena. 'Tis the place," Salazar Slytherin sighed, almost grudgingly.
Godric Gryffindor simply nodded with content.
*
It took five long years for Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor to build their school of witchcraft and wizardry. They built a large and impressive stone castle away from prying eyes, on a cliff overlooking a great glassy lake and a young forest. Yet the constructing was a labour of love; for every day they dreamt up new ideas for the school, hence when the first day of term came, all was in order.
They called this place Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, named after Helga Hufflepuff's Uncle Hogwart who had recently died. He had been a noble old wizard most interested in the endeavours of the four, and was loved dearly by each of them.
Young witches and wizards between the age of eleven and eighteen poured in from far and wide, to a place where they could learn forbidden Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology and other magical crafts away from the ruthless authorities. Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin divided their students into four houses, with four sets of values and merits, like each of the founders.
For many years the school ran without a hitch, and Godric, Helga, Rowena and Salazar worked in harmony as a seamless team. Yet eventually trouble did strike. Salazar Slytherin's headstrong nature got the better of him, causing a rift to break out between him and the others. He claimed it would only be right to allow witches and wizards from wizarding families to study at Hogwarts, due to the untrustworthy nature o what they called 'Muggles' (non-magical people). The others strongly disagreed; saying it was only fair to give all witches and wizards an equal start in magical life.
Godric and Salazar had a consequential brawl over the matter, and Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts, possibly taking with him more than was his, and leaving Hogwarts some nasty surprises for the future…
And so we jump forwards on the road of time, to where our story truly begins…