I own nothing except what JK Rowling doesn't
Outside the tall, thin windows there was the clattering of hooves and the creak of leather on metal. There were voices, raised in their farewells, and soon the pounding of hooves on the soft ground, growing muffled as they led away, through the forest. Rowena processed in with the crowd of men, young and old, and the slim figure of her mother. She clambered up the carved stairs to her room and, grabbing her cloak, proceeded to a heavy wooden door in the guest wing. Knocking on the second, she called
"Salazar! Salazar, hurry up! I want to get going!"
A thin youth, newly adult swung open the door. His boots were foreign leather, from Eastern dragons; his cloak was fastened with a glittering clasp.
"You know I hate to be hurried, Rowena, what is the rush?"
"I can't stand to stay around here – I have to think. Let's go"
As the two usually did, they made their way through the light galleries, past vaulted rooms lined with scrolls and drawings, and through the eastern door of the palace, which opened on the shortest path to the forest and the lake. Striding along, in the distance they saw the front gates of the palace, the ground churned up by the departure of several horses.
"I can't believe Moritz has left. I hate it when people leave here – we'll never see them again! They might as well be across the ocean"
"Don't fret Row – I'm sure if you write to Moritz and tell him you miss him that much, he'll come cantering back to take you home with him"
"Don't be like that Salazar! You know that's not what I mean. I just can't bear the thought that when people leave here, no-ne ever sees each other again. Think how seldom you go home – and your father lives there! I think that we need to sort out a centre for wizards – somewhere everyone will know of…"
"What exactly do you have in mind? A ridiculous fort which the muggles will burn down periodically on one of their pathetic superstitions?"
"Not a fort Slazaar – a college! The only thing close to that there is is here, and only a few of the richest can come. They're not the ones I'm talking about – I want all boys and girls with the gift to learn magic away from home – wizards become more powerful, and in order for them to keep in contact with their new friends when they leave, the magical world will be brought closer together!"
"It's certainly a worthwhile dream Rowena, but why tell me?"
At this point, Rowena tilted her had to one side, in the most alluring manner she knew (which, given her upbringing, was not very alluring at all) and said
"That's where you come in. I can't do it on my own – It's too big a job. I need someone I know I can get on with, and you're one of the best wizards I know. Only my father knows more about astronomy than you, and you know you'd love to teach potions and have your students worship you. Will you help me?"
"You present a strong argument, Rowena, and I suppose it's my duty, as your cousin, to help you. Jove only knows, without my help you'd be teaching in a ramshackle hut with a chipped wand and a crooked hat. But where to set it up?"
"I don't think two is enough – I'd like another two – have you noticed how everything comes in fours? There are four seasons, four compass points, four elements –
"Who? I don't want to co-found a school with a hag, Rowena. Only the best will do."
"I know that, I thought we should wait and see who we meet. I'll know when it is right."
By this time, their winding path had taken them around the edge of the lake. As they followed the dusty track back towards the castle, glowing before the setting sun, fish and a long tentacle stirred in the gloomy waters, and darkness fell behind them.
