Disclaimer: Hey, do you think I could possibly come up with a profitable idea? Wrong. I'm just borrowing Rowling's work, I promise to return it unscathed.

Chapter Four: Ravenclaw

"Good morning, Headmaster!" Hermione sang brightly, mind already spinning full of the 'what-ifs' she could ask the hat.

"Miss Granger." A smile crooked the old man's lips. "How fares life in Gryffindor Tower this weekend?"

"Ah…" She bit her lip. "We're worried. Everyone is worried. Ron and Harry have taken to fighting one minute, and being fine the next."

"The pressures of adolescence strain many relationships, Miss Granger, and in trying times, the strain is so much worse."

"They're acting like children!"

"Perhaps because they can?" He stood, and set the Sorting Hat on the small table next to her. "Sherbert Lemon?"

"No thank you, sir." Hermione smiled, as she lifted the battered Hat once more.

Back again, are you? Miss Granger, with how often I see you, you might as well hang a portrait on the walls of the Headmaster's office right now. The Hat murmured into her mind.

"What story today?" Hermione asked, smiling up at the brim.

How about we talk about Ravenclaw. You would have done well in Ravenclaw, but I stick by my decision that such courage and strength of spirit as you have is the right domain of Gryffindor.

"I'm not arguing with that." Hermione smiled fondly, memories of her years and the happiness within them floating by. Like little gems, hidden among the sorrows of the Second Rise of Voldemort.

Rowena wouldn't want us wasting time, now. Let's get to it.

*************

"Lady Rowena, there's a letter for you."

"Thank you, Ian. Is my husband back?"

"No, milady, he should return within the hour."

"Very well." Rowena nodded. "I will be in our chambers."

"Of course milady."

The stone building wasn't big, and it wasn't very warm. She soon settled next to the fire, shifting a little on the hard wooden bench, and opened the letter.

Lady Rowena, my dearest friend.

Godric is doing well. I don't think I ever realized what a gifted teacher my husband was. His students, young witches and wizards all, are extremely devoted to him. He has even convinced his surly friend, Slytherin, to assist us. His grandfather does not know quite what to do with him. He is acting as a true gentleman, of course, seeing to the well-being of his people by ensuring they are educated, but as Lord Gryffindor often complains, my husband has too much enjoyment of the doing so!

Rowena was reading, and enjoying, the letter, when a pair of broad hands settled on her shoulders.

"Annsachd." Her husband's warm rumble made her glance up and smile. "What does your friend say now?"

"She's talking about her charge."

"The crippled wench?" Her husbands sounded faintly disapproving.

"Husband, mine, she is a powerful Seer." Rowena spoke up.

"She is Muggle born, is she not?" He settled next to her on the bench, and looked at the missive written on rag paper. "The Muggles… ah, my love, sometimes they appreciate us, but other times they show such fear! One would think they had forgotten all the good we have done them!"

"One would think we have forgotten what our own Dark members have done." Rowena snorted. "That reminds me. I must send Goodwife Hufflepuff the stone I crafted."

"The one that will record voices, and can be made clean to record anew?" Her husband smiled. "My clever wife, to invent a charm that no one has ever imagined before."

"My handsome husband, to lead his clan of wizards into battle with the other clans."

"Ach, Rowena, God surely smiled on me when He made my parents choose you for my bride. No other man can claim to have won the hand of Rowena the Ravenclaw, a witch whose clever mind and sharp wits have snagged victory from the claws of defeat many a time."

"You have been listening to the story-tellers over much, my husband. You make me more than I am."

"You say wrongly. You will be a legend, and I will be remembered as the lucky man who had you as his wife."

She smiled in response. "I would not have taken you if you had not been so wise and uncanny to surround my home with your loyal men."

*************

"Oh, this is amazing! Rowena Ravenclaw was married?"

Indeed. Married. She even had children. And god-children.

*************

"Lady Ravenclaw, what a pleasure to finally meet you." The rather matronly Viking woman who met them left no doubt as to her identity. Her shawl of golden yellow stood out brightly against the black fur of the badger kit cuddled in her arms.

"And you, Goodwife Hufflepuff, though you will annoy my husband and sons if you insist on referring to me by the name the bards made up for me."

"Piffle." The matronly woman smiled. "They are proud to have a lady of their clan being one who would rival Merlin himself!"

Rowena flushed, as the men folk laughed. "We are here for the betrothal of my youngest son to Lord Gryffindor's daughter, are we not?"

The eight year old boy scowled, as his father tugged his braid. "Mathair, must I be here?!"

"It's you who is getting engaged, Ian. Mathair has already found brides for us. You are stuck with her old friend." One of his older brothers teased gently.

"Lady Caerdwyn is hardly old, Alastair, and you would do well to remember it. She has the temper of her Irish raising." Her husband said softly, as the Lord and Lady Gryffindor rose to greet them in the study.

"Lord and Lady Duncan." Lord Gryffindor smiled. "Welcome to my home."

They nodded.

"Mayhaps your sons would appreciate hunting?" He gestured at his own son, who appeared to be arguing with a dark gentleman. "My son would be glad to introduce them to the moors."

Some hours later, they were at the actual ceremony, and the alarming presentation by Gryffindor's Seer.

"I don't like that line about Kings." Slytherin, Lord Gryffindor's sharp tongued friend, looked disturbed. "That's the sort of thing which gets a body in trouble."

"Indeed." Rowena nodded. "There are too many kings to want to anger any of them."

"What sort of monument could last for ages, though?" Hufflepuff frowned.

"It touches magical youths." Slytherin grumbled. "Has to be something children would like. Perhaps a statue? There are ones in Egypt that have lasted quite some time."

"Salazar, we do not need to hear about your travels right now." Gryffindor growled. Obviously still annoyed at his friend, as he helped his Seer stand.

Rowena, on the other hand, was thinking, and thinking hard. "Lord Gryffindor, you already have a remarkable reputation for being a educator of young witches and wizards."

"I do. What would that have to do with a monument?"

"A school. All of us have students, in fact, all of us have excellent reputations as teachers. Even your friend, Slytherin." She regarded him warily. "Perhaps we should start a school, and make it a lasting memorial. It would affect magical youths, and would not be the threat to kingship Slytherin fears."

Hufflepuff squealed. "Oh, it's a delightful idea! I love it! But where should we put it?"

"Not here." Gryffindor spoke sadly. "The Muggle and wizarding world will surely expand. Though it is beautiful, surely the moors will fall."

Hufflepuff shook her head. "My husband's country is lovely, Eire would be nice, but you three are of this island."

"As the Romans said it, Alba." Slytherin commented. "Ravenclaw, your highlands. It would be perfect."

"You can call it Hogwarts." Gryffindor's wife approached, and smiled at her lady friend, and her husband.

"Hogwarts?" Rowena frowned.

"It's Cassandra's favorite type of lily." Gryffindor chuckled. "She had a cat for a brief while, until it regretfully was run over by a cart. She named it Hogwarts."

"She can't even see, how can she have a favorite lily?" Salazar grumbled.

"I described it to her, Salazar, now excuse me." Lady Gryffindor sniffed, and escorted the young Seer away.

"I think building it in the highlands is perfect. There is so much land the Muggles never near." Rowena smiled.

*************

Hermione smiled. "Hogwarts is named after a flower?"

There were numerous fights over what to name it. We could… The Sorting Hat paused. Alas, Albus draws near. Ms. Granger, Slytherin's story awaits you when you return once more.

"Thank you, Hat, and Professor. This information…." Her eyes twinkled brightly.

"You will have an excellent paper on the topic you chose." The Headmaster's own eyes twinkled. "

Author's Note!

Phew. I survived typing this. Now I get to thank you wonderful people for not only reading but reviewing. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Much more fun to have a review I can grin it, than a note of approval in Messenger. Yes, you. You know who you are. J

Gkey. Once again, I have to thank you for the review. Wow, repeated reading! I'm shocked! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you liked it. It's a real mood booster. I was walking around at work with a doofy grin after checking my mail and finding a review. My co-workers kept wondering if I was on something. J

Minerva of Tortall. I hope the note previously up answered the question. Thanks for the compliment. It's really neat to know that people whose work you like and admire are reading your stuff. Trade you this update for an update of yours? ;) (Darn, word doesn't do the smiley face with a wink. Nertz!)

Emmylou. Oh no! You've found me out! Yes, Nanna Ogg is a Terry Pratchett reference. I hope I did not disappoint, though of course I fear I did. Next on the plan is Salazar. Wish me luck, the background I want for him is proving horrendous to find proper trustable sources for.

Iris Lefay Longbottom. Wow. You put me in your favorites. Surely I'm not that good? I would have loved to do better on Ravenclaw, but there's a lot of stuff I couldn't include, if I wanted to keep it G. I'd like to have at least one story that the general populace can read, hey? But I tried to make her a Celt, because her name's of Celtic origin. I also think that she was a woman of power and legend. I mean, not just anyone would be invited to found a school. I'm not sure I successfully conveyed it, because first and foremost, I am a Gryffindor. I also didn't want her to be emotionally distant, and a view of an ice queen, because a true woman doesn't have to be an ice queen to be powerful.

In general, although it's annoying to write, It's always a delight, to find your reviews, it's such happy news… and I'll stop now. The reviews perk me up, make my day brighter, and guiltily remind me that I needs must update. This is the next to last actual story chapter. Salazar's last, and then I get to make a sources page. Lovely. And links aren't allowed in the stories… grumble I'll find a way, I know I will!