By JDPhoenix
After only a few days Godric knew he was nearing his destination, whatever that was. He had almost gotten through a rather large and eerie forest, all he had to do was go around one lake that was on the edge of afformentioned forest and he was done. He had decided to let the horse rest for a while and was watching the castle he had found with interest. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. It was as if everything around was waiting for something to wake the castle up. Then he saw it: a flash of gold at the castle's massive doors. He strained his eyes, trying to see better and saw a girl, huddling in the cold. He didn't know why but he grabbed the horses reigns, mounted and went as quickly as he could toward her.
"Who are you?" she asked in a scared voice when he reached her.
"I am P-" he stopped. "I'm Godric." He bowed, one arm across his stomach, the other across his lower back. "And your name my lady?"
"I am Helga."
Godric straightened after Helga finished her curtsy. "If you do not mind my asking, why do you not enter the castle?" Helga pointed at the engraving on the doors. "Oh. Well then gentle lady, if we cannot enter the castle, may I offer you my cape so you are not so cold?"
"You may."
"Wonderful." He took off his cape and was about to drape it around the girl's shoulders when he saw a strange look on her face. He turned to see what she was looking at. He saw two figures leading a horse out of the forest, far away from the lake. The figures seemed to be waving to something behind them.
After a few days of traveling together Salazar and Rowena were more comfortable with eachother. They still fought, but never to the point of one thinking of leaving the other.
It was almost nightfall and the two were seeking shelter, they found it in an open area in the trees about fifteen feet wide and well off the path. While Salazar got out the blankets and food Rowena started up the fire. When she got it going she looked up and let out a small cry of surprise.
"I was wondering when you'd notice me," said a man of about twenty-three who was sitting on the other side of the clearing.
"I would have noticed you," said Rowena as she looked up at where Pest was perched, "if someone had seen it fit to tell me you were there."
"Who are you?" asked Salazar as he took a protective stance in front of Rowena.
"I am Adolf."
"Wolf," Rowena breathed.
"What?" asked Salazar, confused.
"His name, it means 'wolf.'" At his look she continued, "Just because I'm a serf doesn't mean I'm not a smart serf."
"Very good young Ravenclaw," said Adolf.
"What?"
"Please, finish preparing for the night and I will explain." When the two had set up camp, offered Adolf food, which he refused, and Rowena had set about the task of braiding her long hair, the man continued. "I live in this forest. There are centaurs, trolls, dementors, unicorns, demons, others of my kind and the like. I have been watching you for a few days now and when I aproached the centaurs, they're star-gazers and seers, about you they said, 'Ravenclaw and Slytherin will go to the old castle' for it is a very old castle, not even they know how old, 'and they will meet Hufflepuff and Gryffenor and venture through the door.' I wasn't sure which of you was Ravenclaw and which was Slytherin, but when you said you would have known if someone had told you and looked at the bird I knew that you had to be Ravenclaw because ravens are birds, which means you are Slytherin."
"So are those our names now?" asked Salazar.
"Perhaps, that is up to you."
"Of course," Salazar grumbled.
"So what are you?" asked Rowena deciding to change the topic as best she could.
"Do you not know Ravenclaw?"
"I have an idea."
"I am a werewolf." Salazar's eyes widened while Rowena nodded, glad to know she had been right. "Do not worry, I am only dangerous when there is a full moon and that is not untill tomorrow."
"Good," said Salazar, "I would hate to take on a werewolf, especially without a sword."
"What was that one thing you named," asked Rowena, "a Dementor, was it?"
"Ah yes," said Adolf solomly, "Dementors take all the happiness and joy out of people, and when they are done, they suck your soul out through your mouth."
"Fun," said Salazar. "Let's not meet any."
"Now then my friends," said Adolf with a yawn, "I think it is time for sleep. This part of the forest is inhabited only by good, kind creatures, they will not allow harm to come to us."
"But-" started Rowena.
"Tomorrow, when I transform, the other creatures will keep me and my bretheren from harming anything, or anyone."
"That's good," Rowena yawned as she lay down.
"Do not worry Slytherin, I will take care of the fire." Salazar nodded and lay down as well.
The next day the five (counting Pest and the horse) began the trek toward the castle.
"Will we see you again after the full moon Adolf?" Rowena asked.
"Yes," replied the werewolf, "I will visit you often, I promise."
"Good," said Salazar.
"Now is when we must part ways," said Adolf.
"But you said you'd take us to the edge of the forest."
"I have, just around this bend the forest ends. I will see you off from there."
So the horse, Rowena, Pest and Salazar all walked out of the forest and onto the open ground. The two humans turned to wave to their new friend and then walked on.
"I guess that's them," Rowena said with barely a whisper.
"Hufflepuff and Gryffendor," breathed Salazar. "We shouldn't tell them."
"Tell them what?"
"Anything that Adolf said. I want to trust him, but for some reason I don't feel I can."
"Do you trust anyone?"
"Not even you?" Salazar said with a wicked grin.
Rowena shook her head and looked up at the sky. "Look at that," she said, "I think it might rain."
"Just what we need," Salazar grumbled.
"Who are you?" called Godric from the castle steps.
"Rowena and Salazar," Salazar returned. "And who might you be?"
"I am Godric, and this is Helga."
Salazar noted Rowena's curtsy, and the kick in the leg she gave him when he didn't move to bow. After they stood erect once more the other two bowed and curtsied in return. The four spent the rest of the afternoon and much of the evening trading stories. Night found them lounging on the front steps of the castle, unfortunetly, night also found rain.
The storm was huge. Helga and Godric were sharing Godric's cape both to keep warm and to keep the rain off their heads. Salazar was using his own cloak to keep warm, while Rowena and Pest huddled under the girl's own. Rowena suddenly elbowed Salazar.
"What?" asked the angry Parseltongue. Rowena indicated a large group of figures heading their way, all wore dark cloaks and seemed to glide across the ground.
"Of all the creatures Adolf mentioned to us," said the girl in a whisper, "I couldn't identify one: Dementors. I knew what all the rest looked like, and those are not normal people."
"So you're implying that we should go into the castle even though we know that there is most likely danger on the other side, even death?"
"Death in there can't be any worse than having our souls sucked out here in the rain."
"I hate it when you're right."
Rowena opened the large double doors while Salazar grabbed Godric and Helga's shoulders and pulled them in.