(Disclaimer: I own nothing

(Disclaimer: I own nothing. P.S. Courtesy to Brandy for "Have you Ever")

Chapter Twenty Three

"Rowena Ravenclaw may you be freed." There was a blinding flash of deep ocean blue light that radiated as if from its own sun.

And then it was gone.

Serpise trembled from head to toe and looked up. His hands were shaking so badly that the now single amulet fell from his hands and crashed to the floor with a clang. Burning drops of liquid fell from his eyes and down the lengths of his cheeks. "Rowena?" he whispered.

She stood before him with solemn eyes. No one but she could tell he was in ruins. His hair was messy atop his head and the color of his skin was duller than its usual liveliness. His regularly beautiful bright eyes were so filled with sadness and pain that they were blunted to a plain green instead of the verdant green they used to be. Poor, poor Serpise who was burdened to live forever, never to die but to dwell in his home thinking, dreaming of his lost love, Rowena. It was worse also, that she was not his but another man's.

And when she had disappeared, Godric had fallen into an insane rage and blamed Salazar. He disowned the other man from the family making his brother take upon a different name, one of the evil Ric had thought Serpise had become. Everything and everyone Salazar once loved was gone to him, taken from him and he had thought it would be forever. But if it would be forever until he could have it all back, he would take forever to search for it.

"Rowena," he whispered again. She smiled and walked up to him. He fell to his knees looking at her with such adoration never seen in the world before. "I prayed for this day, I never wished for harm to befall you. You must believe me," Serpise pleaded. Rowe beamed brightly down at him.

"I never once thought otherwise. I know you better than anyone, Serpise, you know that." He cried shamelessly into her robes. She hugged him tightly. "And I hope you stopped believing I don't love you, because I do and I've never stopped." He just nodded without hearing her words.

The day had come. They were together again. His body shook with sobs for he didn't try to control them; he let the cries come out and laughed at the same time. "I missed you, I missed you so much," he told her with a smile. She wiped away his tears.

"I missed you too, Serpise. I do hope immortality wasn't so bad," she said with humor. They laughed together.

And then Rowe turned around to look at the four children sitting at the table watching them. Serpise smirked at them. "My, don't I seem so evil at this moment," he said with amusement deep in his low voice. Rowena tilted her head back as she laughed heartily. He looked at her lovingly.

Lily's heart broke for him. He did love her; he did love her more than anything in the world. Anyone who saw him with her would know that.

Sirius looked completely puzzled. "Aren't you angry?" he asked Rowena. When her laughter slowed, she looked to Serpise with a smile.

"How could I be angry at the man who freed me?" she questioned back.

"But wasn't he the one who imprisoned you?" Sirius inquired. At this, Salazar jumped up.

"I did not! I didn't bestow the curse upon her!" he yelled. In a rage he tried to jump at Sirius who was looking at him with raised brows. Rowena held him back and said calming words in his ear. He put his head in his hands. "Rowe, I didn't, I did not put the curse on you! You know that!"

Rowe looked solemn. "I know."

"Rowena!" came a voice from the other side of the hall. A man with untidy black hair came running towards the woman who's face lit immediately at the sound of this new man. She jumped up to hug him and he swung her around. This man too, had joy etched upon his face as he looked at her. He engaged her in a long kiss. "Rowe, I never thought the day would come…I," but he had to stop for no words could express how he felt.

"Godric, I know, I know," she whispered.

Lily looked to Serpise who was looking at them both. He had that blank look on his face that she knew so well for Hallie put it on as well when she didn't want anyone to know how she was feeling. But Lily, being who she was knew exactly how he felt, she always knew what people were feeling no matter how god they were with disguising their expressions.

Serpise was in despair. His heart was ripped away from him again. A lump formed in his throat and he tried to swallow it down but it seemed to be stuck in place. He thought tears would come to his eyes again, but no, he was all cried out over this happening. Godric would always be there. And always, Rowe would go to Ric rather than him. It made his knees weaken and he stumbled over to a chair. Was it fair that one human could feel a pain that added up to all the pain everyone in the world put together could feel? Was it fair that not only in Godric's first life, he had gotten Rowena, but also when he came back he got her? What was left for Serpise?

Nothing, thought the devastated man. To anyone other than him, bitter thoughts would erupt in mind about the couple. But he was different, as long as Rowena was happy; he could force himself to see the light in the dark.

Slowly, Helga walked forward. She forced a smile towards Rowena and Godric. No one out of the three seemed to notice Serpise anymore. "Hello, Rowena," she said softly. Instantly, there was a silence among the founders of Hogwarts. "Long time no see."

Rowe backed away from the redheaded woman. "You stay away from me, Elle, don't come any closer." With a small grin, Helga took a step forward. Godric looked from one woman to the other. The four children seated at the table just watched, rooted to their spots with awe.

"What's going on? Rowe? Helga? What's the matter?" he asked in confusion. Serpise looked at him. His face was still strained with pain but he tried to push all the ache away.

"Ric, did Helga never tell you who put the curse upon Rowe?" he questioned in a quiet voice. Anger shot through Godric's veins at Serpise's voice.

He pointed an accusing finger at his ex-brother. "You," he sputtered. That was all he could get out for the rage in him cut off his voice.

"No." Godric's eyebrows shot together with building bewilderment. He looked to Rowe and Helga. Rowe was looking frightened and angry but Helga looked calm.

"Who?" said Ric after a short moment when his voice came to him again.

Helga laughed. "Me."

There was an extremely long silence in the dining hall after Helga said that. No one moved a muscle but everyone's gaze was upon her. She fiddled her wand in her right hand. Finally, she broke the silence. "Why? You're all asking me in your minds." She smiled brightly. "I thought it was obvious."

Rowena said, "Because you wanted to hurt me? Because you wanted all of us to turn on each other? You did a great job in doing that. I was locked away and Serpise was trapped in his own home. Salazar and Godric are no longer brothers because of the hatred you set upon them."

Helga shook her head, still smiling calmly. There was an insane expression in that smile that made the children shiver in fear. "I did do a good job didn't I? But no, that was not the reason."

"Then why, Helga, we were best friends," whispered Serpise. His voice shook with the tears that wouldn't come. Godric looked at him for a moment with guilt bright upon his face. He wasn't as handsome as Salazar was, but there was a gentle look about him that would make teenaged girls melt before him.

"Why? Why?" she repeated with a laugh. "Because of Godric!" she exclaimed. She said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The man looked at her with wide eyes.

"Because of me?" he choked out. Dawning came onto Rowena's face.

"You were jealous of Godric and I," Rowe said into the silence. Helga's face contorted into one of anger.

"Jealous? I wouldn't call it jealousy! The man I loved did not see me for who I was but only saw you! What was I supposed to feel?" she yelled. Godric looked stricken.

All the time he had thought that his brother imprisoned his love. He had been wrong. Not only had he been wrong, but also he was the cause of Rowena being taken from him. He had caused so much hurt that still, he knew nothing about. Serpise, his dear brother…Ric had put a curse on his own brother for something he did not do. And Helga, he had married her when she was really the evil on.

No one ever thought about her part in the tale.

"How could you do this to us?" asked Godric in disbelief. Helga just looked at them all. "All the pain…so much pain. I never thought that one single person could cause such heart-ache."

Helga looked out the window. "Now you know," she said simply.

James closed his eyes. Fate, am I dreaming? He asked. The occupancy arose in him.

I am afraid not.

He swallowed and took a deep sigh. Then this is real?

Yes indeed. James opened his eyes and looked at Sirius. The boy had his look of incredulity upon his face. James could tell he was in complete shock at the other boy's slacked jaw and wide eyes. He then turned to Lily who was biting down on her lip and looking at Serpise with sympathy. Dear, dear Lily, her heart always went out to the most harmed one, and Slytherin was it. His gaze then went to Hallie who had tears coming down her face. Everything was so twisted. Could this be true?

"Why did you do it, Helga?" asked Godric looking at her. She melted before him. He always had that effect on her.

"Because I loved you. Do you know how much it hurts to love someone who doesn't love you back?" she asked with pain in her voice.

Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever

Rowe looked to Serpise who had his head in his hands. Was that how he felt about Godric and she? This thought had never occurred to her…but it was so obvious…and she was so blind to it. All that pain she caused him, she never knew its full extent until that moment.

"It's as if your heart is torn from you and stabbed with one million swords. It's as if inside, everything is being ripped away leaving nothing in its wake," said Helga.

Have you ever been in love
Been in love so bad
You'd do anything to make them understand
Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
You'd give anything up to make them feel the same
Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
But you don't know what to say
And you don't know where to start
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It's makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever

Hallie felt the wind sweep into the room through the open window. The breeze seemed to hum a tune as it wrapped its blanket upon everyone.

Have you ever found the one
You've dreamed of all your life
You'd do just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to
Only to find that one won't give their heart to you
Have you ever closed your eyes and
Dreamed that they were there
And all you can do is wait for that day when they will care
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It's makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever

"Helga, I've felt that way all my life," said Serpise looking at her out of bright verdant green orbs. "You know that. When I found that Rowe didn't love me anymore, but my brother." Godric looked at him with tears forming in his eyes.

"Salazar," he said softly. The man looked up at him. "I'm so sorry." But Serpise shook his head and put his head back into his hands.

What do I gotta do to get you in my arms baby
What do I gotta say to get to your heart
To make you understand how I need you next to me
Gotta get you in my world
'Cuz baby I can't sleep
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It's makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever, have you ever

Rowe was crying uncontrollably now and Godric held her close in a warm embrace. He kissed her forehead. Serpise pretended not to notice, but he did and his heart tore again. Lily looked at him and stood up. She took a seat next to him and hugged him. For a moment, he was stiff with shock and then looked up to the girl who had tears in her eyes for him. Did she know how he felt? Lily smiled at him and he hugged her back.

Hallie looked at the Alloy Child and stood to pick it up. She then looked to Helga who sat on one of the chairs. "Do you know what this is?" asked the girl. The redheaded woman looked up at her.

"Why, that - that's the Alloy Child I imprisoned Rowena in," she whispered. Hallie looked to Godric.

"Catch!" she yelled and tossed it to Elle who caught it reflexively.

"CHANTEBRA LENGORIO!" bellowed Godric. His wand was outstretched and pointed at Helga who looked shocked before there was a blinding flash of red/orange light.

And then she was gone.

Godric walked over and held the two halves of the Alloy Child. "May you suffer and fell all the pain you made us all go through." He handed it to Hallie who just stared at it. Then she looked up at him with large sapphire blue eyes. "Please, will you wear keep this amulet? I wish to put our trust," he said motioning to the other two, "in you to never let this escape your possession. I want Helga to never leave this amulet." She put the golden half over her head. Ric then handed her the silver half but she shook her head.

"Can you please turn that back into its second form?" she asked softly. "See, my mother gave it to me but it was in its second form." Godric smiled and nodded.

He muttered a chant. "May you keep it well." With a smile, Hallie took the offered periwinkle book. Rowena laughed.

"A periwinkle book is the silver half of the Alloy Child's second form?" Rowe said with a laugh.

"Well," said Hallie, "It was originally pink, but I like periwinkle better so I changed it."

And then there was another flash, though this one was a silvery shimmer.

James smiled and stood up. "Hello, Fate," he greeted. The woman swept a gracious curtsey.

"Hello, Seer," she said in turn. Then she turned to look at the remaining three founders. "It is time."

Rowena looked at the children. "Thank you for freeing me," she said with in gratitude. They nodded in response.

Godric looked to Serpise. "Salazar, I'm so sorry," he said softly. The other man smiled. They embraced.

"All is forgiven," said Serpise. Godric lifted the curse from his brother and immediately, the other man felt as if an immense weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he sighed with relief. "Goodbye," he said to the fours students. They smiled and said their farewells.

Fate swept her hand and the founders faded until they were there no more.

(Author's Note: I'm nearing the ending! Yay! But this part didn't come out the way I wanted it to. I wanted it to be exciting! But no…it isn't. It's so annoying when this happens…when it doesn't come out the way I want it to. I'M SORRY! Oh wells. Tell me whatcha think please! Thank you to Myanda for your review! Only one? I know! PLEASE REVIEW!)