Thanks! 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!

Author's notes:

The Meanings of the Founders' Aliases

Godric Gryffindor's alias is Godfrey Gloucester.
It's a name which invokes holiness. Another variation of Godfrey is Godfreed. Gloucester comes from "As sure as God's in Gloucestershire."

Rowena Ravenclaw's alias is Rachel Regius.
Rachel is from the Bible. She is the wife whom Jacob loved more than his first wife and Rachel's sister, Leah. Regius is from "Regius Professor," a professorship instituted by the Crown at Scottish universities.

Helga Hufflepuff's alias is Hannah Hawthorn.
The biblical meaning of Hannah means favor or grace. Hannah was the mother of Samuel the prophet in the Old Testament. Hawthorn, in the language of flowers, is the symbol of "Good Hope." And it is considered as a charm against sorcery.

Salazar Slytherin's alias is Sextus Scaevola.
In Ancient Rome, the Julii, which is Julius Caesar's family, preferred to call their eldest sons Sextus. Scaevola means left-handed.

Salazar's Green Eyes

Inspired from his House colors, which are silver and green. Thus, silver hair and green eyes. Definitely not silver eyes and green hair.
In Book 2: CoS, the carved snakes on the entrance of the chamber have emeralds for eyes.

Hearts and Hourglasses
Chapter 25: Insatiable

Hermione began to spend every minute of her free time in Wvelte's library. With Rowena's permission, she informed Madam Pince, who as Hermione had predicted, was ecstatic to say the least.

"Tell me again why we are doing this?" Ron stage-whispered to Harry on Tuesday evening as they lugged heavy stacks of books from the library to the main hall in Wvelte. He ducked his head, barely avoiding being swatted by Hermione, who was walking behind them. She was holding a scroll of parchment and a feather quill and cataloguing the books and materials being transferred from Wvelte to Hogwarts Library.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione said in an overly exasperated voice. "Please don't tell me you don't understand how important this is! These books are history! They're over a thousand-"

A loud thump interrupted her. Harry had accidentally dropped one of the books he was carrying. Hermione gasped in alarm and quickly picked it up.

"Harry, you should be more careful!" Hermione was holding the large tome as carefully and gingerly as if it were an infant. She began brushing imagined dust and dirt off it and looked it over for dents.

Ron rolled his eyes. Harry grinned, then he winced. His right arm was starting to cramp up from carrying too many heavy books.

"Here, let me help the two of you." Harry was startled when Godric suddenly appeared by his side. The older wizard took half of Harry's load and half of Ron's. Though Harry was embarrassed that their House's Founder was helping them carry books, he couldn't keep himself from feeling relieved. The muscles in his arms and shoulders were twinging with pain.

"Is this all for tonight?" Godric asked Hermione. The library materials were being moved down in batches. Harry didn't know why exactly, but the Founders preferred that few people as possible know about Wvelte. Madam Pince had been sworn into secrecy, and as far as Harry knew, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were the only other people who had been informed.

Dumbledore had told McGonagall Draco's second version of that night when Harry cursed him. She had apologized to Harry after dinner this evening, and she had told him that for the remainder of his detention, he was to help move books down from Wvelte.

Draco had also been designated as book mover. This arrangement actually suited Harry, who was surprised to discover that he wanted to get to know Draco better. Ron and Hermione would most likely escort him to the hospital wing immediately if he told them he wanted to try to be friends with Draco.

Draco, however, was being true to his word that he would ignore Harry. All day long, whenever they encountered each other in classes, in the hallways or in the Great Hall or elsewhere, Draco didn't even bat an eyelash at him. His gray eyes seemed to go straight through Harry as if he didn't exist at all. And that bothered Harry.

Ironically, it seemed no matter what Draco did or didn't do, he would always disturb Harry.

... Maybe I do think too much of myself, thought Harry as Hermione informed Godric that Salazar and Draco were coming with the rest of tonight's batch of books.

You think I lied for you! For you! Everything just has to be for you, about you, because of you! YOU!

Remembering Draco's words made Harry uncomfortable. They could just be true. If Harry were to examine himself, he would have to admit that he had gotten used to being famous. Everything did seem to happen to him, and in the process, he had acquired a hero complexion.

Why do you have to be so self-sacrificing. You know I'm jealous of you for a lot of reasons, but the thing that bothers me the most about you is that you have to be a hero.

Harry flinched inwardly at Ron's words, and they reminded him of something else Draco had said.

And so humble too. Everyone's hero, Harry Potter. I am so sick of you.

Then, somewhere deep inside Harry, a cruel little voice made itself heard.

If only you had just been a little greedy, just a little selfish, Cedric wouldn't be dead.

That wounded him the deepest.

Two dozen thick books suddenly floated out of the library and mercifully distracted Harry. Salazar walked out from the library and into the hall. The Dark wizard was holding Draco's wand, and his eyes were fixed on the books dancing lazily before him in mid-air. Close behind him, Draco followed with his arms brimming with scrolls.

As they watched, Salazar waved Draco's wand, and the books dropped slowly and deposited themselves one atop another in four neat stacks on the floor.

"Show off," commented Godric dryly, and Salazar bowed towards him with a dramatic flourish. Harry smiled, glad that both wizards were friends again and had gone back to their usual camaraderie and sardonic treatment of each other.

Rowena and Helga, together with Madam Pince, were waiting for them in Hogwarts library below. The books from Wvelte were then placed in storage and would be made available to the staff and students when the Founders were gone.

Harry was more than a little disturbed and uncomfortable when he learned later how much time the Founders had left in this time.

The five of them were in the men's bathroom in Wvelte, enjoying a hot bath together when Salazar asked Godric if he had reconsidered about sealing their memories for another millennium.

Harry pushed his wet bangs aside and out of his eyes to stare at Salazar. The Dark wizard was leaning against the side of the pool, his left elbow casually placed over the edge. He was looking at Godric who had sat up straight in the pool so that water lapped around him at shoulder blade height. Godric looked uncomfortable.

"Sextus," said Godric slowly, "isn't this once enough already?" He wasn't looking at Salazar, who immediately moved his position over to the front of the other wizard so that he could look Godric straight in the face.

"No harm was done, Godfrey," reasoned Salazar earnestly, "we are just memories. We haven't harmed the timeline. There's no reason why we can't do this again."

"It's still very dangerous," argued Godric, shaking his head slightly.

"To us, it's dangerous," Salazar answered immediately. Green eyes flashed towards Harry, Ron and Draco. "But to them, it's not," he said, "we're merely visitors from the past, Godfrey. Just shadows of our real selves. We are not a threat to anyone in this time or in any time after our time." Salazar then grinned, his eyes turning mischievous. "I haven't cause havoc in this time," he pointed out.

"But your real self certainly has in the past," Godric countered, making Salazar frown at him.

"I do wish you'd learn to separate me from myself, Godfrey. I didn't do it," Salazar said with a touch of irritation in his voice.

Godric breathed out loudly, looking as though he had a headache, and Harry sympathized with him. It was very difficult to separate this Salazar Slytherin from the Dark wizard who had broken his promise to Godric in the past and who had spread Avada Kedavra. ... Though, on the other hand, this Godric Gryffindor wasn't the one who had been betrayed.

It was confusing.

Harry glanced over to Ron and Draco and found that Ron was paying keen attention to Godric and Salazar. When he noticed that Harry was looking at him, his look of concentration turned into an expression of helpless bewilderment, which was understandable.

Harry had told him that these Founders were memories that had been sealed in the Sorting Hat, but he hadn't told Ron that their time here was limited. Nor had Harry told his friend that Godric Gryffindor created Avada Kedavra, and that Salazar learned it from him. Ron would just freak, Harry knew, if he told him that. So, Harry just shrugged helplessly at Ron to show to the other boy that he was just as confused as Ron was about what the two older wizards were talking about.

Harry found himself feeling glad that Godric and Salazar were talking ambiguously about the It Salazar had done. He definitely didn't want to tell Ron that their House's Founder created Avada Kedavra, and Harry especially didn't want to talk about the sad fate of Godric's parents. It just wasn't necessary to tell Ron about it. Besides, Ron knowing the truth about how Avada Kedavra was created and how it was spread wouldn't change things for the better.

He suddenly had the ludicrous notion of telling Voldemort to stop using Avada Kedavra, because Godric Gryffindor created it and that Dark wizards shouldn't use spells Light wizards had created.

Right... Harry thought to himself sarcastically. Then, he'd have to tell Voldemort not to use Imperius either, because that spell had been created by Regius Ravenclaw, Rowena Ravenclaw's father.

Voldemort would probably laugh at him, and Harry wouldn't blame him for not believing. How could two of the Unforgivable Curses possibly have been created by Light wizards? Dark wizards probably thought Salazar Slytherin created Avada Kedavra and Imperius.

When Harry looked over to Draco, he saw that the other boy was staring at Salazar intently. He couldn't quite figure out the emotion in Draco's expression. But Harry could see it wasn't confusion, and even if Draco was bewildered by Godric and Salazar's conversation, Harry certainly wouldn't explain to him what the Founders were talking about.

"I just want to see, Godfrey." Salazar's voice was very soft. Harry could barely hear his words, but the strong emotion underlying them caught his attention. He looked back at the Founders.

Salazar's sharp features seemed subdued, outmatched by the intense expression on his face. Godric looked like he was paralyzed, his brown eyes wide and locked on Salazar's bright green eyes.

Harry swallowed, his throat felt dry. There was such overwhelming need in Salazar's eyes. Such great curiosity.

"I need to know," whispered Salazar. His eyes lowered slightly, focusing instead on a point on the water's surface. "I need to know that what I have worked for will last."

Godric chuckled softly. "Sextus." His voice was warm, amused and affectionate. "Isn't a thousand-year legacy enough already?"

Emerald eyes turned diamond sharp, and Salazar said in a rough tight voice, "I want a legacy that will last forever."

Harry felt himself freeze, even in hot water. He was caught by the look in Salazar's face. He had never seen anyone looked so determined and so focused. This was ambition in its rawest sense. This meant everything to Salazar.

"Hogwarts will last forever," murmured Godric reassuringly and confidently, but Salazar wasn't comforted nor convinced.

"Just one more time, Godfrey."
"Once is enough, Sextus."
"Aren't you even curious? I know you are."
"I am. I am, but I am content not knowing."
"... I am not."

Godric sighed and said, "Look. We still have about two to three more weeks. Let's decide later."

Salazar seemed satisfied by this, and he nodded once. From his expression, Salazar looked like he had won. Harry smiled. Godric did seem like he was giving in.

"I don't understand." Harry looked to Ron who said slowly, "You're only staying here for three more weeks?"

Godric looked startled, as if he had forgotten Harry, Ron and Draco were there with them. Salazar just smiled and nodded at Ron, saying, "The magic of the phoenix feather Fawkes gave will only last for about three more weeks."

Ron still looked confused, and Harry was about to explain when Godric said, "Our presence here is made possible by placing a Source in the Sorting Hat where our memories are kept."

Draco suddenly said, "Can't you put another phoenix feather in?" Harry glanced towards him sharply. Draco sounded... desperate?

Salazar answered in a genial tone, "Only if Fawkes gives another of his feathers willingly." This puzzled Harry. Phoenix feathers were useless if the firebird didn't give them willingly?

Harry remembered what Salazar had said about Sources. The first three feathers that a Phoenix gave were powerful Sources. The first twelve hairs plucked from a unicorn's tail were also powerful as well as any dragon heartstring. Of the three kinds of Sources, the first kind has to be given willingly while the other two could be acquired by force. Harry would have to talk to Ron and Hermione about this later. Maybe he should also talk to Hagrid about it. He was the expert on Magical Creatures.

"Won't other Sources do?" Harry asked, and Salazar shook his head. "Our memories are entwined with the initial Source," he explained, "Fawkes' feather cannot be replaced with another Source. It can be recharged, but only by more feathers from Fawkes."

Godric frowned. He looked like he just heard about this. "If my sword had been the Source," he said to Salazar, "it couldn't be recharged."

Salazar nodded. "Correct, but it would have lasted longer than Fawkes' feather."

Godric looked suspicious. "But not forever," he said. "It was good for you then that my sword had been removed from the Sorting Hat."

Salazar's eyebrow lifted slowly. "... Are you implying I had something to do with your sword not being in the Hat when the time arrived?"

Godric's eyes narrowed, and he said bluntly, "We agreed we would only exist temporarily in this time. Now, it seems we can stay in this time indefinitely as long as Fawkes is around."

Salazar rolled his eyes ceilingward. "You're assuming things again, Godfrey," he said tartly. "Besides, how could I have removed your sword from the Hat?"

Luckily, Ron interrupted before a quarrel broke out between the two wizards.

"Sir," Ron said to Godric, "Harry pulled out your sword."

"He did?" queried Salazar curiously as Godric looked questioningly towards Harry, who nodded hesitantly. Dread filled Harry. He didn't want to have to explain to them how he came to pull out Godric's sword from the Hat.

Fortunately, Harry was saved when Salazar laughed loudly.

"How ironic and how splendid!" Salazar said to Godric with glee, "One of your own House pulled your sword from your Hat and replaced it with a Source that can be regenerated!" Suddenly, Salazar's eyes turned mockingly dangerous, and he declared sensationally, "It is destiny! Even Gryffindor must serve my purpose! I, Slytherin, the greatest wizard ever, have come to this time in order to rule the world!"

"Sextus!" roared Godric, who wasn't amused at all.

"Yes!" Salazar said with relish, "After I take over the world, I will destroy all those who had opposed me!" At this, Draco snorted and began to laugh uncontrollably. Ron was finding it very hard to keep his face straight, and Harry's stomach was hurting from trying to keep his laughter contained. Harry lost control when Godric splashed water into Salazar's face just as the Dark wizard opened his mouth to say more.

The water fight that ensued after was something Harry would never forget.

To be continued.

Q & A

From: AVK aka Anastasia (10/28/01 4:26:17 am)

Why don't the Founders just read about themselves?

Why don't the four founders go to the library and read about themselves? I'd do that if I was in that kind of situation - to find out what people think of me years after my death...that way Rowena would already know about Slytherin leaving...

(HUGS) I was waiting for someone to ask this question!

First off, by chapter 24, the Founders have only been at Hogwarts for about a week. They've been busy. Haven't had the time to research about themselves in the library. And, information about the Founders is sketchy at best. A thousand years is a long time. The Founders' era in Hogwarts: A History seems to be just an article if that was all Professor Binns could say about it. They don't even know the exact date the school was founded.

Apart from facts, history consist of deductions and speculations. The potential for misinformation is very high, and Rowena already knows she is highly respected. Just the fact that Hogwarts is still standing after a millenium is very heart-warming. Children still come to learn in the school she helped found, and they are proud to be Hogwarts students. The proof is before her eyes, and she doesn't need to go read a book to know.

Now. Imagine if Abraham Lincoln visited the present, would you want to tell him that he had been assassinated? It's the same case with Dumbledore and the other professors. Also, the Founders are only visiting. It's like a vacation for them. They're sight-seeing. Nobody wants to spoil their fun by bringing up the past.

Godric and Salazar don't want Rowena and Helga to find out also, but Rowena will find out, because she knows Godric and Salazar are hiding something from her.

Chapter Twenty-Five has now ended. Please go on to the next chapter.

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