CHAPTER TWO: Gryffindor
Godric held his wand out in front of him, concentrating on the spell he was to cast. His eyebrows scrunched in concentration, and he began biting his bottom lip. His hair fell to his shoulders in dark tendrils. He was well built for his age of fifteen. Swimming in the sea had helped.
"Come on..." He muttered, his hand began to shake.
The hot summer sun beat down on him, but cool breezes coming from the sea shore helped him forget it was the middle of summer.
"I give up!" He yelled, throwing his wand down.
"Godric..." A reproving voice from behind startled him.
"Uncle Raghnall!" Godric jumped, and turned to see Raghnall standing a few feet from him, arms crossed. He didn't look at all happy that his nephew had thrown down his wand.
"What have I told you?" Raghnall asked.
"That a wand is a wizard's most important tool and that it is as important to him as his life's blood."
"So why did you throw it down?"
"I can't work spells or charms by thinking of them. I still have to say the name." He bent and picked his wand up, brushing sand off of it.
"Godric, you're too young yet. You've got more to learn before you can advance like that."
"But--but you never have time to teach me...you're always away and helping other people."
Raghnall smiled and motioned for Godric to follow him. As they walked to the sea shore, he said, "My boy, the greatest gift a man can posses is not magic, but the ability to give of himself. Many wizard's go through life, learning and gaining experience, but die with no one really remembering them. We become immortal in this world through the hearts of others. I have started too late in life to really make an impact, but you can start now. Look at Merlin! If he hadn't done the deeds he did, no one would even remember he existed."
"Some people say you could have been greater than Merlin." Godric interjected.
Raghnall smiled, and continued. "I suppose I could have, but I chose to walk the path I'm on, and look what I have." Raghnall spread his arms out in front of him. "I lovely home by the sea, kind neighbors, and a loving nephew...I have everything I could ever want."
"I know you're right, Uncle, everything I've been taught tells me so..."
"But.." Raghnall prodded.
"But, I just wish I could go to the wizard's school in Rome."
"We've talked about this before. Rome is no place for a wizard at this time. I'm surprised the school is still opened." Raghnall had his hands clasped behind his back, as he dug his toes into the warm sand.
"There should be another school...some where closer."
"There should be a whole many things that aren't, but again, our choices are what make this world the way it is."
Raghnall began walking back to the house when a thought entered Godric's head. He jogged toward his Uncle, tugging at the sleeve of his robe.
"Uncle, you said that Merlin was immortalized by his good deeds...what about the dark wizards?"
Raghnall looked out to see, as if he were some place else, and a look of pain came over his face. Godric regretted asking the question, but before he could take it back, Raghnall answered.
"There are wizards who are remembered out of fear. But in the end, love always prevails. Remember that, Godric. There is no love without hate...but that doesn't mean you have to give in to hate."
* * *
"How do you think they live?" Gunther asked, drawing pictures of animals in the sand with his wand, then tapping them so they'd move.
"Who knows." Mathew answered, doing the same.
Godric was staring at his wand as if he had never seen it before. His two friends looked up at him, expecting him to cintinue their in depth conversation about Muggle life.
"Godric, what's wrong?" Gunther asked, ignoring his sand unicorn.
"Huh?" He looked up at his friends' confused expressions. "Oh, nothing."
"You asked your Uncle if you could go to the Academy in Rome again, didn't you." Mathew said.
"Look, he's never going to let you go. It's too dangerous now. My parents are even thinking about moving up north until things go over." Gunther said, trying to cheer Godric up.
"I know what will cheer you up!" Mathew stood, brushing the sand off his robes. "Let's go into town and do some Muggle baiting." An evil grin spread across Mathew and Gunther's faces. Godric didn't really feel like it now, but since he'd rather not be alone, he went ahead.
The village by the sea shore was very active. Imported goods were being unloaded off ships and sold in the market. The smell of salted fish hung in the air and made the boys hungry. Their robes had no affect on the inhabitants. They were used to foreigners who dressed a little odd.
Gunther pointed to a Muggle coin in the middle of the road. He produced his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the coin and whispered something. The coin did a sort of jump, and feel back to the ground, motionless. Soon, a small boy noticed the coin and ran after it, but it seemed to be repelled by the boy. Whenever the boy bent to pick it up, the coin began to move away. The boy, however tired he was, did not give up going after it, and soon he ran out of site of the three young wizards.
Mathew and Gunther began whispering to each other on what they should do next, but Godric paid no attention. He was look curiously at a woman who held a huge basket of fish in her arms and wondered how Muggles could live without magic, when he saw her. From out of a small building came a tall slender girl, with long auburn hair. Her eyes danced as she smiled at someone she knew. She had an empty basket in her hands, and she swung it back and forth as she entered the hustle and bustle of the street.
She would stop at every other booth, inspecting fish and bread and all manner of food. She came to a fruit booth and gave the vender a coin and took an apple. As she proceeded her shopping, she occasionally took a bite of the red apple. Godric licked his lips hungrily. As she walked further down the street, Godric followed her, not wanting this vision to disappear.
The crowd thickened as it got closer to the ship docks. Godric nearly lost her twice, but quickly found her again, her auburn hair a dead give away. She entered a small building, this time her basket was fuller than when she started. Godric looked around, making sure no one was looking, and followed her in. The building seemed to be a sort of gathering place for Muggles. Godric's eyes had to adjust to the darkened room, and he searched it for the girl.
"Excuse me!" Someone had bumped into Godric, and he turned around to see the girl he had been following.
Godric staired, open mouthed. He had never had these feelings of frogs hopping around in his stomache before. He didn't know what to say, he just staired. The twinkle in her eyes caused him to go numbe.
"Are you coming, or going?" She asked, looking towards the doorway he was blocking.
"I, uh--" Godric could not take his eyes off of hers.
"I need to get through." She laughed, and it sounded like thousand fairy bells.
"You're beautiful." Godric hadn't meant to say it. He hadnt' meant to say anything, but the words just fell out, as if someone willed him to say them.
The girl looked a little surprised, then smiled. "Thank you, Monsiuer..."
It was as if his tongued was loosened. Making a fool out of oneself brings them back to their senses. "Gryffindor, Godric Gryffindor."
"Monsiuer Gryffindor, I need to finish my shopping, so if you would..." She looked behind him at the door, and Godric hurridly got out of her way.
He stood there, watching her leave. How come she didn't act shy at being called beautiful. Well, she must be called beautiful so much, it has no affect. As Godric pondered these thoughts, he realized that he didn't catch her name.
"Wait!" He called out into the crowd. He was certain she would have given her name also.
"Godric!" Someone yelled behind him, and Gunther and Mathew came bounding up behind Godric, pushing their way through the crowd.
They both grabbed Godric's shoulders and began telling him off for leaving them behind. They then began to tell of their pranks they made en route in search of him. However, Godric was oblivious to their whole conversation. He was still staring into the crowd and out to sea. This girl, she had a hold on him. And now she was gone.
* * *
Raghnall Gryffindor's house was more like a manor. It sat on top of a cliff over looking the sea, but hidden by magic from Muggle eyes. It was just Raghnall and Godric living in the huge manor-house, but even then they didn't have enough room. Raghnall had traveled the world twice over, and every interesting thing he could get his hands on, he brought back and placed in his house. Books, antiques, even objects with magical properties that hadn't been identified were nestled in the attic, waiting for the day when Raghnall would take time out of his study to inspect them.
Study is what Raghnall did most of the time. His nose was either in a book or pouring over a chart of some sort. His library consisted of Muggle novels and Muggle philosophy. Magical aids were also on his book shelves, some dangerous books, and some which gave you the recipes to love potions and trivial matters.
Godric was in the study at his Uncle's house. He was in one of the big arm charis by the fire, holding up a book of Latin, not really reading it. Across from him sat Raghnall, going over star charts, and arthimancy charts. Godric desperately wanted to ask Raghnall to explain away these new feelings, perhaps give him some kinda of forgetfull potion so he won't have the village girl's face in his head. But Raghnall looked like the house would fall down over his ears and he wouldn't notice.
Godric looked past the book and into the fire. He watched the flames lick the surrounding brick, and eat away at the wood. Godric's thoughts of the girl turned over in his head and he saw her, hands tied behind her back, staring out from the fire in a look of agony.
"No!" Godric shouted, and he dove toward the fire.
Raghnall instantly jumped up from his resesarch and plucked his nephew from out of the fire. After performing anti fire charms, Godric's hand turned from charred, to normal. The pain had left him, but the memory still tore through.
"Godric, would you like to explain yourself?" Raghnall asked, his full attention on his nephew.
Godric was rubbing his hand gently, and looked up at Raghnall. "I--I think I saw something...someone in the fire." Godric paused, then continued. "Uncle, do you think Muggles could possess magic?"
Godric considered what his nephew was saying, then replied, "Yes, I suppose everyone has a bit of magic in him."
"Well, this girl I met in the village--"
Godric was cut off by laughter coming from Raghnall. Godric was hurt that his Uncle could laugh at such a moment, and it shown on his face.
"Sorry, Godric, I'm not laughing at you. If you say it's a girl..." Raghnall stopped, not wanting to hurt his nephew further. "Was she beautiful?" Godric nodded. "Did she make you feel like you had been taking doses of Sickening Stomache Tonic?" Again, Godric nodded. "My boy, if that's what you call magic, then women, witch or Muggle, have it in abundance."
Godric still looked confused, so Raghnall explained further.
"Look, you can't get her out of your mind, right? She haunts your thoughts, and you see her everywhere. My boy, that's not magic by our standards, but attraction. I suppose it is magic, but nothing any human can weald."
"Yeah, I guess." Godric said a little embaressed. "It's just, when I saw her...I've never felt that way about any girl, not even Zambia."
"You were just children when you kissed." Raghnall interjected.
There was along pause in which Godric had time to collect his thoughts.
"I'm sorry Uncle. It's just, I thought I saw her in the fire, and her hands were tied behind her back, only she looked a little different...I guess I'm just tired."
With that, Godric got off the floor and went to his room, not evening noticing the terror stricken features of his Uncle.
"Aria..." He muttered, glancing at the fire.
Godric held his wand out in front of him, concentrating on the spell he was to cast. His eyebrows scrunched in concentration, and he began biting his bottom lip. His hair fell to his shoulders in dark tendrils. He was well built for his age of fifteen. Swimming in the sea had helped.
"Come on..." He muttered, his hand began to shake.
The hot summer sun beat down on him, but cool breezes coming from the sea shore helped him forget it was the middle of summer.
"I give up!" He yelled, throwing his wand down.
"Godric..." A reproving voice from behind startled him.
"Uncle Raghnall!" Godric jumped, and turned to see Raghnall standing a few feet from him, arms crossed. He didn't look at all happy that his nephew had thrown down his wand.
"What have I told you?" Raghnall asked.
"That a wand is a wizard's most important tool and that it is as important to him as his life's blood."
"So why did you throw it down?"
"I can't work spells or charms by thinking of them. I still have to say the name." He bent and picked his wand up, brushing sand off of it.
"Godric, you're too young yet. You've got more to learn before you can advance like that."
"But--but you never have time to teach me...you're always away and helping other people."
Raghnall smiled and motioned for Godric to follow him. As they walked to the sea shore, he said, "My boy, the greatest gift a man can posses is not magic, but the ability to give of himself. Many wizard's go through life, learning and gaining experience, but die with no one really remembering them. We become immortal in this world through the hearts of others. I have started too late in life to really make an impact, but you can start now. Look at Merlin! If he hadn't done the deeds he did, no one would even remember he existed."
"Some people say you could have been greater than Merlin." Godric interjected.
Raghnall smiled, and continued. "I suppose I could have, but I chose to walk the path I'm on, and look what I have." Raghnall spread his arms out in front of him. "I lovely home by the sea, kind neighbors, and a loving nephew...I have everything I could ever want."
"I know you're right, Uncle, everything I've been taught tells me so..."
"But.." Raghnall prodded.
"But, I just wish I could go to the wizard's school in Rome."
"We've talked about this before. Rome is no place for a wizard at this time. I'm surprised the school is still opened." Raghnall had his hands clasped behind his back, as he dug his toes into the warm sand.
"There should be another school...some where closer."
"There should be a whole many things that aren't, but again, our choices are what make this world the way it is."
Raghnall began walking back to the house when a thought entered Godric's head. He jogged toward his Uncle, tugging at the sleeve of his robe.
"Uncle, you said that Merlin was immortalized by his good deeds...what about the dark wizards?"
Raghnall looked out to see, as if he were some place else, and a look of pain came over his face. Godric regretted asking the question, but before he could take it back, Raghnall answered.
"There are wizards who are remembered out of fear. But in the end, love always prevails. Remember that, Godric. There is no love without hate...but that doesn't mean you have to give in to hate."
* * *
"How do you think they live?" Gunther asked, drawing pictures of animals in the sand with his wand, then tapping them so they'd move.
"Who knows." Mathew answered, doing the same.
Godric was staring at his wand as if he had never seen it before. His two friends looked up at him, expecting him to cintinue their in depth conversation about Muggle life.
"Godric, what's wrong?" Gunther asked, ignoring his sand unicorn.
"Huh?" He looked up at his friends' confused expressions. "Oh, nothing."
"You asked your Uncle if you could go to the Academy in Rome again, didn't you." Mathew said.
"Look, he's never going to let you go. It's too dangerous now. My parents are even thinking about moving up north until things go over." Gunther said, trying to cheer Godric up.
"I know what will cheer you up!" Mathew stood, brushing the sand off his robes. "Let's go into town and do some Muggle baiting." An evil grin spread across Mathew and Gunther's faces. Godric didn't really feel like it now, but since he'd rather not be alone, he went ahead.
The village by the sea shore was very active. Imported goods were being unloaded off ships and sold in the market. The smell of salted fish hung in the air and made the boys hungry. Their robes had no affect on the inhabitants. They were used to foreigners who dressed a little odd.
Gunther pointed to a Muggle coin in the middle of the road. He produced his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the coin and whispered something. The coin did a sort of jump, and feel back to the ground, motionless. Soon, a small boy noticed the coin and ran after it, but it seemed to be repelled by the boy. Whenever the boy bent to pick it up, the coin began to move away. The boy, however tired he was, did not give up going after it, and soon he ran out of site of the three young wizards.
Mathew and Gunther began whispering to each other on what they should do next, but Godric paid no attention. He was look curiously at a woman who held a huge basket of fish in her arms and wondered how Muggles could live without magic, when he saw her. From out of a small building came a tall slender girl, with long auburn hair. Her eyes danced as she smiled at someone she knew. She had an empty basket in her hands, and she swung it back and forth as she entered the hustle and bustle of the street.
She would stop at every other booth, inspecting fish and bread and all manner of food. She came to a fruit booth and gave the vender a coin and took an apple. As she proceeded her shopping, she occasionally took a bite of the red apple. Godric licked his lips hungrily. As she walked further down the street, Godric followed her, not wanting this vision to disappear.
The crowd thickened as it got closer to the ship docks. Godric nearly lost her twice, but quickly found her again, her auburn hair a dead give away. She entered a small building, this time her basket was fuller than when she started. Godric looked around, making sure no one was looking, and followed her in. The building seemed to be a sort of gathering place for Muggles. Godric's eyes had to adjust to the darkened room, and he searched it for the girl.
"Excuse me!" Someone had bumped into Godric, and he turned around to see the girl he had been following.
Godric staired, open mouthed. He had never had these feelings of frogs hopping around in his stomache before. He didn't know what to say, he just staired. The twinkle in her eyes caused him to go numbe.
"Are you coming, or going?" She asked, looking towards the doorway he was blocking.
"I, uh--" Godric could not take his eyes off of hers.
"I need to get through." She laughed, and it sounded like thousand fairy bells.
"You're beautiful." Godric hadn't meant to say it. He hadnt' meant to say anything, but the words just fell out, as if someone willed him to say them.
The girl looked a little surprised, then smiled. "Thank you, Monsiuer..."
It was as if his tongued was loosened. Making a fool out of oneself brings them back to their senses. "Gryffindor, Godric Gryffindor."
"Monsiuer Gryffindor, I need to finish my shopping, so if you would..." She looked behind him at the door, and Godric hurridly got out of her way.
He stood there, watching her leave. How come she didn't act shy at being called beautiful. Well, she must be called beautiful so much, it has no affect. As Godric pondered these thoughts, he realized that he didn't catch her name.
"Wait!" He called out into the crowd. He was certain she would have given her name also.
"Godric!" Someone yelled behind him, and Gunther and Mathew came bounding up behind Godric, pushing their way through the crowd.
They both grabbed Godric's shoulders and began telling him off for leaving them behind. They then began to tell of their pranks they made en route in search of him. However, Godric was oblivious to their whole conversation. He was still staring into the crowd and out to sea. This girl, she had a hold on him. And now she was gone.
* * *
Raghnall Gryffindor's house was more like a manor. It sat on top of a cliff over looking the sea, but hidden by magic from Muggle eyes. It was just Raghnall and Godric living in the huge manor-house, but even then they didn't have enough room. Raghnall had traveled the world twice over, and every interesting thing he could get his hands on, he brought back and placed in his house. Books, antiques, even objects with magical properties that hadn't been identified were nestled in the attic, waiting for the day when Raghnall would take time out of his study to inspect them.
Study is what Raghnall did most of the time. His nose was either in a book or pouring over a chart of some sort. His library consisted of Muggle novels and Muggle philosophy. Magical aids were also on his book shelves, some dangerous books, and some which gave you the recipes to love potions and trivial matters.
Godric was in the study at his Uncle's house. He was in one of the big arm charis by the fire, holding up a book of Latin, not really reading it. Across from him sat Raghnall, going over star charts, and arthimancy charts. Godric desperately wanted to ask Raghnall to explain away these new feelings, perhaps give him some kinda of forgetfull potion so he won't have the village girl's face in his head. But Raghnall looked like the house would fall down over his ears and he wouldn't notice.
Godric looked past the book and into the fire. He watched the flames lick the surrounding brick, and eat away at the wood. Godric's thoughts of the girl turned over in his head and he saw her, hands tied behind her back, staring out from the fire in a look of agony.
"No!" Godric shouted, and he dove toward the fire.
Raghnall instantly jumped up from his resesarch and plucked his nephew from out of the fire. After performing anti fire charms, Godric's hand turned from charred, to normal. The pain had left him, but the memory still tore through.
"Godric, would you like to explain yourself?" Raghnall asked, his full attention on his nephew.
Godric was rubbing his hand gently, and looked up at Raghnall. "I--I think I saw something...someone in the fire." Godric paused, then continued. "Uncle, do you think Muggles could possess magic?"
Godric considered what his nephew was saying, then replied, "Yes, I suppose everyone has a bit of magic in him."
"Well, this girl I met in the village--"
Godric was cut off by laughter coming from Raghnall. Godric was hurt that his Uncle could laugh at such a moment, and it shown on his face.
"Sorry, Godric, I'm not laughing at you. If you say it's a girl..." Raghnall stopped, not wanting to hurt his nephew further. "Was she beautiful?" Godric nodded. "Did she make you feel like you had been taking doses of Sickening Stomache Tonic?" Again, Godric nodded. "My boy, if that's what you call magic, then women, witch or Muggle, have it in abundance."
Godric still looked confused, so Raghnall explained further.
"Look, you can't get her out of your mind, right? She haunts your thoughts, and you see her everywhere. My boy, that's not magic by our standards, but attraction. I suppose it is magic, but nothing any human can weald."
"Yeah, I guess." Godric said a little embaressed. "It's just, when I saw her...I've never felt that way about any girl, not even Zambia."
"You were just children when you kissed." Raghnall interjected.
There was along pause in which Godric had time to collect his thoughts.
"I'm sorry Uncle. It's just, I thought I saw her in the fire, and her hands were tied behind her back, only she looked a little different...I guess I'm just tired."
With that, Godric got off the floor and went to his room, not evening noticing the terror stricken features of his Uncle.
"Aria..." He muttered, glancing at the fire.