Fore note: Lots of thank you-s and a lot of hugs to Seldes Katne for beta-reading Hearts and Hourglasses before it's posted on Sugar Quill! She's a wonderful person and a fantastic beta-reader!
Chapter Sixteen: Quadrangles
Godric was irked when Salazar returned to Ravenclaw estate. Rowena and Helga, taking inventory in the library, heard a loud explosion and rushed out of the manor to see Godric and Salazar duelling.
Godric yelled at Salazar, demanding to know how he could show his face here again. The area around Salazar was scorched black though the Dark wizard himself was unscathed. Godric grew increasingly furious when Salazar remained silent. He was about to cast another spell when Helga shouted, attracting their attention.
Rowena remembered how Salazar's eyes brightened when he saw her. She remembered the small smile that curved his lips as he walked towards her. Godric was confused. Helga moved to intercept Salazar, who neatly evaded her. Before Rowena realized it, he was standing directly in front of her.
Time seemed to stop as they looked at each other. Rowena remembered thinking Salazar had the most intense green eyes. She couldn't stop herself from looking into them. She couldn't stop staring at him. Then, he slowly raised his left hand and presented to her a single blue rose.
"It matches your eyes, Lady Ravenclaw," he said softly.
***
"Snuffles!" Harry cried out joyfully as the big black dog, that was his godfather in his Animagus form, bounded across the grounds towards him.
Harry laughed as Sirius jumped on him, heavy paws landing on Harry's chest and knocking the boy off his feet to fall down in the grass.
"Hey?! Stop it! Cut it out!" Harry futilely tried to stop Sirius as the dog slobbered all over his face with a big wet pink tongue.
"Snuffles!" Lupin reprimanded Sirius, struggling to get him off Harry. Ron and Hermione joined him, and together they finally managed to pull the overly enthusiastic and affectionate Snuffles off Harry, whose face was wet and a little sticky with dog drool. His bangs had been swept up from his forehead, revealing the lightning scar on it clearly.
"Idiot," Lupin told Sirius, who was sitting on his haunches, panting while Ron and Hermione helped Harry stand up.
It was three hours before dinnertime. Harry, Ron and Hermione had gone out with Lupin to see Sirius. Lupin also told them that the two of them would stay for the night here at Hogwarts. Much to Harry's disappointment, they would be leaving tomorrow morning.
Harry was trying to think of a way to get Sirius inside the castle when Godric came out. Thinking this was a lucky break, Harry was about to call out to him when he noticed that the other wizard seemed upset about something.
Godric didn't even notice Harry and the others as he strode pass them. He seemed to be headed towards the Forbidden Forest.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Ron curiously. Harry just shook his head. He didn't know either. Godric seemed fine just a while ago.
Snuffles whined, pawing questioningly at Lupin's robes. Hermione quickly told Sirius that the man who just passed by was Godric Gryffindor. Snuffles' ears perked up. Lupin grabbed Snuffles by the cuff of his neck before he went off running after Godric.
Rowena and Helga suddenly came out of the castle. Rowena looked worried, and Helga looked around and saw Harry.
"Harry," said Helga as she and Rowena walked over to them, "Did you see Professor Gloucester just now?"
Harry nodded. "He went that way," he answered, pointing in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
Rowena looked anxiously at Helga. "We'd better go after him," she said.
"The two of you stay here." They all turned to see Salazar walking towards them with an aggravated look on his face. "I'll go after Godfrey," he said in a derisive tone. Before anyone else could say anything, Salazar went off in the path Godric took.
"What's going on?" Lupin asked Rowena and Helga. Rowena was about to answer him when Helga stopped her, tilting her head minutely towards Ron and Hermione. Harry hurriedly told her that they also know about them.
"Oh," said Helga, surprised, but she was pleased when Ron and Hermione greeted her and Rowena politely and properly introduced themselves. Both women were startled when Snuffles yapped at them and bent his furry head in a clear respectful manner, a dog though he was.
Rowena was distracted from her concern over Godric, and her lovely face lit with gentle affection as she patted Snuffles' head, saying what a handsome intelligent creature he was.
Harry choked back his amusement, Ron grinned, Hermione giggled and Lupin rolled his eyes skyward as Snuffles' tail wagged furiously with delight. Helga was surprised with their reactions and looked at them curiously.
Harry couldn't help himself and introduced Snuffles to them as his godfather, Sirius Black. Snuffles barked approvingly at Harry as he also explained to the twice surprised Rowena and Helga that due to certain circumstances, Sirius couldn't show himself as he truly was in Hogwarts.
"When there is time, Harry," Helga said warmly, "I hope you can tell us the entire story."
Harry smiled back at her and hoped there would be time. Meanwhile, Rowena was embarrassed and had stopped patting Snuffles, who looked disappointed.
"So what is wrong with Lord Gryffindor?" Harry asked finally.
Helga glanced at Rowena who again looked concern. "Godric," said Rowena, "asked your Headmaster about the Unforgivable Curses Justin mentioned during the lecture. He wanted to know what the two other Unforgivable Curses were."
"This was the first time we heard about them," explained Helga, "In our time, there was no such law though even then, we considered the Cruciatus Curse as horrendous." Then she frowned darkly. "Except for Salazar. It's one of his favorite curses. I warned him that if he ever used it in Hogwart, I would kick him out of the castle myself."
Guilt filled Harry, and he avoided Rowena's eyes when she glanced at him. He quickly asked Helga what Dumbledore told Godric.
Helga answered, "He said the other two curses were the Imperius Curse and Avada Kedavra." Helga sounded like this was the first time she had heard of the curses.
Rowena suddenly looked upset. "I don't know about the Avada Kedavra Curse, but the Imperius Curse..." She paused for a moment before reluctantly continuing, "My father created the Imperius Curse."
All of them, including Helga, stared at Rowena in shock.
***
Harry wanted to go after Godric and Salazar, but Lupin wouldn't let him. It was getting dark, he said, and he wanted Harry and the rest of them inside the castle. Reluctantly, Harry followed Lupin's advice, but as they went back inside, he saw Snuffles dashing off in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
He would ask Sirius later, Harry decided.
The Great Hall was back to normal by dinnertime, but Harry didn't feel like eating his meal. Ron and Hermione urged him to eat something, and for their sakes, he managed to put away a chicken drumstick, but not much else.
Harry was too worried about Godric and Salazar. The two men might have been two of the most powerful wizards in history, but they were both wandless and may be in the extremely dangerous Forbidden Forest. Over at the staff table, Harry noticed that Rowena and Helga weren't paying much attention to dinner and dinner conversation.
Then, Harry remembered the lion pin Godric had given him. Ron and Hermione were startled when he suddenly jumped up from the table and hurried out of the Great Hall. Outside, he decided to go into the small anteroom off the entrance hall. He closed the doors just as Ron and Hermione rushed out of the Great Hall.
It should be private enough here, Harry decided as he took the lion pin off his robes. Unless ghosts came through the walls.
He held up the golden lion pin before his eyes. Minuscule ruby eyes stared back at him as he said, "I would like to speak to Lord Gryffindor."
Harry hadn't used the pin before, and he was surprised when the tiny lion jumped from his fingers and landed with a teeny clink on the floor. Harry almost screamed when it turned life-sized.
He backed away from it, his back hugging the wall as he stared agape at the lion, now six times Harry's size and weight. Its ruby eyes, the size of chicken eggs, looked back at Harry. Then much to his surprise, it lowered its massive head and crouched down on the floor.
Several moments passed before Harry realized that the lion wanted him to mount it. Trembling, Harry approached it hesitantly and climbed on its back. To his continued surprise, instead of cold solid gold, the lion's body felt warm, strong and pliant.
Harry felt braver and reached out his hands to touch the lion's coat. He was delighted to find that its hair was soft not coarse. This was much more comfortable than riding a hippogrif.
He almost fell off when the lion stood up. Instinctively, he grasped its mane for support. Harry's heart beat faster as the lion began to run. He yelled in alarm when they hit the wall.
Just like with the barrier at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, they passed through the wall as if it wasn't there. But Harry didn't see the other side of the wall immediately. All he could see were flashes of white light in darkness. He couldn't even see the lion he was riding though he felt its reassuring strong body underneath him.
Suddenly, the hair of the lion's mane began to slip through Harry's fingers, and he clenched his hands tightly, trying to hold on to it. But Harry was already falling off its back, and the next thing he felt was landing on something hard.
***
Someone was calling his name and slapping the side of his face gently. Harry frowned before slowly opening his eyes. His glasses were tilted on his nose, but he recognized Godric looking down at him worriedly.
He sat up hurriedly, wincing when the muscles of his back twinge in pain and adjusted his glasses.
"Are you all right, Harry?" Godric asked. When Harry nodded, he smiled slightly and picked up something from the floor. It was the lion pin. Harry blinked when Godric replaced it on Harry's robes, saying, "You must have wanted to see me quite badly since it brought you to me immediately."
Harry nodded and said, "I was worried since you and Lord Slytherin-" He broke off uncertainly for Godric's eyes had hardened at the mention of the other wizard's name. "... -didn't return to the castle by dinnertime..." Harry finished falteringly.
Abruptly, Godric stood up and walked away from Harry, who though concerned with Godric's current disposition couldn't help but look around the room they were in.
Harry immediately fell in love with this room. It was long and wide with ceiling to floor windows covering an entire long wall. Along one wide wall was a large bed with ample space along its sides. At the center of the wall facing the windows was a roaring fireplace. On both sides of it were waist-high bookshelves brimming with books, while above them on the wall were suspended weapons and armor.
Harry stared at them. There were swords of all kinds from rapiers to sabers. He saw a fine collection of daggers floating near a round golden buckler. There were so many shields. One in particular caught Harry's eye. It was a crimson crest shield with a golden lion. The lion was on its rear legs, its forepaws in mid air. As Harry looked at it, it turned its head and stared back at Harry.
"Harry," said Godric, and he started. He quickly looked back at Godric, who was looking at him curiously, and Harry realized he was still sitting on the granite floor. He stood up carefully, patting down and arranging the folds of his robes before straightening. Harry somehow felt he should present himself properly in Godric's presence.
Like a knight before his king.
But Godric didn't seem to want to talk. The older man was staring at a point over Harry's right shoulder, and Harry couldn't properly decipher the expression on the man's face. It seemed to be regret.
When the silence became unbearable for Harry, he asked without thinking, "Sir, where's Lord Slytherin?" Which was a wrong thing to say, for anger immediately flushed Godric's face, and he snarled, "Don't say that snake's name!"
Harry was shocked and frightened. He backed away from Godric until his back hit the window wall behind him.
"Never!" said Godric scathingly, "Never trust a Dark wizard! No matter how nice they may seem to be! No matter how genuine their smiles look or their laughter sounds, never trust them!"
Then just as sudden as his temper had broken, Godric calmed as quick. The anger in his brown eyes died to be replaced by remorse. Harry was just as utterly confused by this sudden silence as by his sudden anger.
Again, the quiet grew too heavy until Harry had to force himself to move closer to Godric, who had closed his eyes and who was breathing deeply.
Whatever had happened between him and Salazar...
"What happened, Sir?" said Harry softly. He watched closely as Godric's eyes opened. A humorless smile curved the older man's lips, and he chuckled. The sound was harsh and forced.
"That's just the problem," whispered Godric suddenly. He raised his hands and pressed them against his head as if dealing with a headache. "I don't know what happened," murmured Godric, "I don't know what happened after our memories were placed in the Sorting Hat." His eyes closed and jerked open. "I don't know why he left Hogwarts," he said softly, "I don't know when he betrayed me and broke his promise. I just know he must have."
"What promise was that?" asked Harry gently. Godric sounded like he was losing his sanity.
Godric's eyes closed, and he said, "He promised he would never tell anyone about Avada Kedavra."
"... I don't understand."
Godric's eyes snapped open, and he stared at Harry. His hands lowered, and his posture straightened. He looked very weary, but his eyes now told Harry that he was in control of himself.
"Harry," Godric said softly, "I created Avada Kedavra."
To be continued.
Chapter 16 has ended. Please go on to the next chapter.
http://pub79.ezboard.com/fschnooglethebestofharrypotterfanfictionfrm165
