A/N: Characters belong to JK Rowling, story idea is me. Thanks for reading!! One warining: this fic is slash!! Don't read if you don't like m/m situations!
Summary: Godric Gryffindor was a rogue, but something happened to him 2 years ago that his dear friend Rowena is going to discover the source of. How does her cousin Salazar Slytherin fit into this? And what is Helga going to go to lighten the mood? Set in the time of the Founders, this fic is SLASH.
When we last left our heroes,
He glanced at the hall mirror once again, "You're dashing, gorgeous," His reflection commented with a wink. Godric nodded, satisfied and went to the door just as there was a strong knock. He knew it was Rowena, she was quite headstrong and assured for a woman.
He opened the door with melodrama, "Welcome Fair Ladies and Noble Gent to Godric's Hollow," he bowed deeply and laughed when he heard Helga's contagious laughter. He looked up with a charming grin plastered on his face and froze, as he looked into the bright green eyes of Salazar Slytherin.
Salazar's expression was clearly amused.
Godric fumbled, he stumbled, "But... it's you!"
"Yes, it's me." And Godric shuddered as that sibilant voice brought back memories both joyous and tragic.
"Oh, well, you two know each other?" Rowena was clearly puzzled. She hated mysteries, she hated when there was something she didn't know. There was only one thing she didn't know about Godric's life. When he turned 13 and left for his apprenticeship, he had come home three years later, a transfiguration master but completely heartbroken.
He never told Rowena what happened. He refused, but that is when his cycle of delinquent playboy behavior could be pinpointed. She suddenly recalled one telling moment.
Godric was drunk, and he so often was in those initial months after his return, "Rowena, my love, my dearest oldest closest friend, the absolute kindred of my heart," he had said in the sweetest most poignant tone, "Never ever fall in love. Love lot, and love freely, but never in love, that eternal mad love that only happens once in our incredibly long life spans, never experience it, the pain is too much for a soul to bear. How can something that brings utter joy and peace cause so much turmoil and wretchedness? How can it be possible?" His tone was so lost, and Rowena felt the pain of it in her heart, she ached for him and she had no idea why.
"But what has happened my love? What has caused this? I never knew you to be a cynic."
He shook his head wryly in a moment of drunken clarity," Something I will never forget caused this, something I will never regret, but something I never wish to repeat for fear of recalling those tight feelings that have brought me to this diseased moment."
"Godric, you're frightening me." Rowena grabbed his hands, stroking the inside. She tried for his other, but he held firmly to his mug of firewhiskey.
"I do not mean to frighten, fair Rowena Ravenclaw, but to warn, to advise. I would never want you to suffer this pain and regret as I suffer. Eventually, these feelings with fade, and they will become bearable, receding into the background of my thoughts. But now, they are close, and I am but a shadow of my innocent self. I lost my innocence Rowena, I gave it up so completely and I regret it, so deeply."
With those words he abruptly slammed the rest of the mug, and stood up, leaving Rowena's home so quickly, Rowena wondered how really drunk he was.
She looked now at her dearest, oldest, closest friend, and she looked at her cousin, one of the few members of her extended family that she adored and she couldn't help but wonder the connection. Godric was stricken, that much was obvious, but he plastered that fool's smile on his face.
"Do come in," and he acted as if that strange greeting had never occurred.
Rowena turned to Salazar, "You will tell me everything, cousin." Her harsh words enunciated her deep anger. What about her cousin had caught Godric so off-guard that he was trembling to appear normal?
Salazar merely nodded. He knew exactly who Godric Gryffindor was. He remembered when he was young, and Rowena would come to visit his family during the winter, for Italian winters were less harsh than English, she had told him delicious tales of the adventures she had with her friends back home Helga and Godric. Salazar eventually met Helga, but he couldn't help but wonder of this mysterious Godric.
He had to admit he had been so jealous. Who was this boy stealing his dear cousin from him? It wasn't fair! If Rowena had been there with him, they would have amazing adventures! Instead, she was being spirited away by some English dandy. Salazar had decided he hated him, hated this faraway boy for doing what he could not in his sheltered life under the watchful, vengeful gaze of his mother.
She controlled his life utterly, and he loathed her for it. The one bright spot was when his lovely cousin, Rowena would come. She would take him away, into his imagination and they would play with their magic. She taught him so many things. It was her that had first shown him the wonders of potions, and now he was almost a master.
So, when Salazar had the chance to meet this Godric, he took it. He wanted to torment the boy, hex and curse him for stealing the attentions of his beloved cousin. He hadn't expected said boy to be beautiful.
Godric had been like spring. Fresh, and innocent, new. Salazar immediately knew what his usually demure cousin found so delightful about the boy. He was utterly charming, and he didn't seem to know it.
Salazar met Godric under false pretences. He had heard from Rowena that she and all her friends were going their separate ways for apprenticeships. Rowena for arithmancy, runes, and charms. Helga, her pretty friend, was learning herbology and care of magical creatures. He then learned that Godric was studying transfiguration with Bartholomew Blingston, and though Salazar was quite impressed with this feat, more importantly, Salazar was apprenticed to Theodore Turpingblough, who happened to live nearby Blingston.
Salazar was never one to miss an opportunity, as cunning and quick as his mind moved, and so he created an instance where he "stumbled" into Godric. He had been apologetic and charming, a perfectly disarming combination.
He knew he charmed Godric, but he hadn't expected to be charmed in return.
"Tea anyone? I had Finky go to India and procure some of their mysterious flavors for our enjoyment, shall we partake?"
Helga was surprised, to say the least. She had never seen Godric so subdued. She suspected it had something to do with their visitor, but she couldn't fathom why.
She remembered her first meeting with Godric Gryffindor.
It had been a stormy day, typical really for English weather, and she had been visiting with her friend Rowena. She met Rowena through her parents who knew of her family. Concerned about Helga's social isolation, they cast about to all the old families to find if there were any girls near in age to their precious Helga. They found a perfect companion in Rowena Ravenclaw.
Helga soon spent many weekends at Rowena's, except during the summertime when she went to Italy to visit her Southern family. Helga was from France herself, and that is where her family often vacationed.
One night, late, she was the only one awake. She really couldn't sleep during thunder storms and she had made herself some tea, deciding not to bother any of Rowena's house elves, and was sitting by the fire that was always magically burning.
She heard a thump from outside that resembled more than thunder, it was too close. She grabbed her wand, cherry with a core of unicorn hair, ten dainty inches, and she slowly walked to the window.
Creeping soundlessly, her eyes peeked over the window ledge. A great shadow loomed above her and she screamed as loud as she could! The window banged open, and before she even thought about it, she cast a stupefy hex at the large beast that jumped through the window.
Still screaming, she rushed upstairs to where the rest of Rowena's family had been soundly sleeping, but were now all rising in frantic states.
"Helga, stop screaming and tell us what happened?" Rowena's mother demanded.
Helga shook her head, frightened out of her wits and she jumped again when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Turning around to cast another hex, she found Rowena blinking sleepily at her.
"Helga?" and when Rowena noticed the fright on her dear friend's face, she immediately woke up. Her eyes cleared and her expression became alert. Even at 12 years of age, Rowena was a sharp witch. "What has happened love? Are you well?"
"There's… there's someone downstairs! I was drinking tea and I couldn't sleep because of the storm, and then... and then… I heard something. I grabbed my want and crept to the window, and oh Rowena! It was most dreadful! I shan't be able to describe it! The most horrible… oh please! Someone go and look at it! I hexed it with a stupefy spell but I'm not sure if it is completely knocked out."
Rowena nodded and looked at her father, his expression was grim. He tightened his grip on his wand, and strode purposefully past the women to the stairs. His figure was tall and imposing, and rightly so. He was a most powerful wizard, the head of one of the oldest bloodlines and keeper of the winged animals.
As the girls waited with much trepidation at the top of the stairs, they heard laughter. Curious, they approached the steps. "Come down ladies, its neither terrible nor dreadful," Raedwald Ravenclaw hearty laughter was ringing throughout the great house.
"I wonder if it was a wizard and Father's been hit with a tickling charm." Rowena asked her mother.
"I doubt it, love. Your father is constantly vigilant and would never allow such a thing." Rowena acceded this point, and followed her mother down the stairs. Helga was reluctant to follow but she didn't want to be left alone either.
They heard the voices of Rowena's father and another person, sounding very much like a young boy, around the corner. Rowena saw the smile on her mother's face before turning the corner and her mouth dropped open in shock.
"Godric!" she yelled and ran over to him, practically mauling him with a hug.
"Now Rowena, that is hardly appropriate behavior for well-bred young ladies," Rowena ignored her mother's scolding and beamed at her friend.
"Godric Gryffindor! What are you doing here! Do you know what time it is?"
Godric blushed trying to think of an excuse, he wasn't nearly as quick with his tongue as he is now, "Please accept my apologies Lord and Lady Ravenclaw, but my Aunt has just left to attend the funeral of a distant cousin. It was quite sudden, but she sent me over here to stay."
Lady Ravenclaw was surprised, "But so late, child? Surely your Aunt could have waited till the 'morn to leave?"
"Well, actually my Lady, " and if it was at all wizardly possible, Godric's face flushed even deeper, "She left early this morning. I just… lost my way on the way over."
Rowena shook her head, it was so typically Godric. "Now that you're here, let's get you settled in your room. Do you have your belongings?"
Godric nodded, and Lord Ravenclaw tidied the front room up before ushering the family back upstairs. Helga stood back a bit, having been forgotten in the excitement of Godric's timely arrival.
Rowena seemed to realize she was missing however as nothing much escaped her notice. "Helga? Come closer love, I want you to meet my dear friend Godric, the one I've been telling you about."
Helga was still hesitant, she wasn't sure if it was shyness or embarrassment – she had hexed the boy after all. "It's lovely to finely meet you, Rowena has told me much about you."
"All good things, I hope. Or at least things that make me sound more brave and dashing," Godric said with an easy smile as he took Helga's hand, kissing her fingers. She blushed.
"I must apologize for, err… hexing you earlier." Yes, it was definitely embarrassment she was feeling.
"Quite all right, I don't mind being hexed by beautiful girls in the middle of the night, I rather call it charming." Rowena and Helga giggled at his reference.
"If you call that sort of behavior charming, I can't imagine what you'd be like in a duel," Rowena remarked facetiously.
Godric wiggled his eyebrows at the two girls, "Wouldn't you like to know? You were always too inquisitive for your own good, my dear girl." Both Rowena and Godric laughed, recalling vividly the first time they met.
"All right children, time for bed," Lady Ravenclaw clapped her hands and Godric's belongings flew to his room. Rowena rolled her eyes at her mother's display of wandless magic, and nodded at Godric.
"This is where we take our leave my dear friend; hopefully the morning will show you much recovered from your surprise ordeal."
Helga blushed again and Godric laughed good-naturedly, "Of course, love. It was charming to meet you, Helga. I look forward to our future encounters."
Helga was deeply embarrassed but returned his friendly sentiments and followed Rowena down to their side of the hall. Before she went into her room, she turned to Rowena, "He will be quite the dashing rogue as he ages, do you agree Rowena?" Helga slyly implied.
Rowena snorted inelegantly, "Godric is too much of an old friend for me to consider that way dear Helga. In any case, I suspect he is not so femininely inclined, if you understand my meaning," Rowena responded pointedly.
Helga's eyes widened in recognition, "I see. It's too bad really, I would not have minded a go."
Now it was Rowena's turn to open her eyes in shock, "Helga Hufflepuff! I didn't know you had it in you! I daresay that was quite a suggestive comment, especially originating from you!"
Helga nodded in acknowledgement, "Perhaps it is the late night spell casting that has me feeling so forward." She shrugged, "Goodnight my good friend, I shall see you on the morrow."
Rowena smiled, "On the morrow, Helga."
As Helga fell asleep that night, she knew her future encounters with Godric would be equally exciting and he had never disappointed her. Even when he returned from his apprenticeship, slightly the worse for wear, he always had a smile and an adventure to share with Helga.
She sighed, she was unsure the dynamic that Rowena's cousin, Salazar would now bring to their intimate group. She hoped it was a good one.
Godric offered everyone chairs and served tea. He was purposeful and surprisingly graceful with his actions.
"I would like a spot of milk and two sugars, please." Salazar spoke up, looking intensely at Godric.
"I know," Godric whispered, the three of them could barely hear him. He handed out the cups and saucers and sat down in his favorite chair in the sitting room. It was made of a handsome oak wood, with red damask and gold trimmings. Seeing that his guests were suitably comfortable, he looked at each of their faces.
Helga was sitting nearest him, and he gazed into her lovely face. Her complexion was creamy, healthier than Rowena's or Salazar's, and her lips were the shape of a pink bow. Her hair was fairest flaxen and Godric wondered as he always did if she had a bit of vela blood in her line, her beauty was unearthly.
Next, he glanced at Rowena, the face he knew the best, better than his own really, he had gazed upon it in all manner of expressions. Rowena had been there for him at the tragic death of his parents when he was young; she comforted him through the pain of dealing with his unbearably manipulative Aunt, a squib who had no qualms in using him. Rowena's dark beauty was a comfort to him, and she meant home to him.
Her eyes were dark as onyx and it matched her hair with its almost blue highlights. She was tall, much taller than the demure Helga, she rather had the height of a man. People often remarked of her exotic beauty, and would coyly mention the handsome couple they would make, their children powerful and gorgeous. The both of them would brush such comments off, they just could not picture each other that way. Rowena was the dear sister he never had and now she was gazing at him with much sisterly concern.
He shied away from that knowing gaze and looked at the last one of their group, Salazar Slytherin. Salazar was tall, as tall as Godric, which was of a good height for men. Also as Godric, he body was slim and lithe, but this is where their superficial similarities ended.
Salazar had black hair, like Rowena's, that grew in unruly waves to the mid of his back, while Godric kept his hair neatly short. It gave the man an elfin, mysterious appearance which was enhanced by the greenest eyes. Depth and dark knowledge shown through those eyes, and Godric couldn't help but wonder if that was what attracted him to Salazar.
He was so used to showing a cheerful smile, a casual laidback attitude to the outside world, but with Salazar, he felt like he could be himself. He had felt immediately comfortable in his presence, which was rare. After the death of his parents, Godric had closed his heart off, only allowing Rowena and to some extent Helga to penetrate the tough walls.
When he met Salazar, he had felt his worldview shift, the man, then boy, had been extraordinary.
Godric found his attention on those red lips, and he remembered the way they…
"Godric? Are you paying attention?" Rowena asked, a bit petulantly. It annoyed her to no end that Godric often phased her voice out.
"Oh, I'm sorry my love, I was a bit distracted." Salazar frowned at the freely spoken endearment.
Rowena nodded knowingly, "Obviously, dear. I was just inquiring you and Salazar as to the circumstances of your previous acquaintance."
Godric frowned, Salazar outright scowled. It was an unfortunate, but unavoidable topic.
"It's quite simple Rowena, dear; your esteemed cousin Salazar is the one who broke my heart."