Godric and Persephone had agreed to meet again the next afternoon. When Godric awoke that sunny morning, it was all he could think about. Godric wanted to run to her house and wait until his three o'clock date, but he had another meeting this morning. A business one.
Salazar and Rowena were already waiting outside Warton's Wizard School when Godric arrived. Godric pulled his toughts away from Persephone and tried to focus on persuading Mr. Warton to help them with their new school.
"Hey Sal, Rowena. How long have you two been waiting?" Godric asked.
"Not long. We wanted to arrive early. You know, to make a good impression." Rowena answered.
"I didn't think it was necessary to make a good impression. Mr. Warton already knows us. He knows what the meeting is about. I'll bet he's made up his mind already." Salazar was never one to try to soften a situation, and to him, the glass was half empty.
"Smile once in a while, Salazar. See where it gets you." Rowena remarked as the door opened.
Mr. Warton stepped outside to welcome them in. He was a short, bald man. Even though he was getting on in years, he wore fashionable clothes and always tried to appear respectable.
Mr. Warton was in charge of Warton's Wizard School, and though the school was a joke when it came to teaching magic, Mr. Warton was still the most respected educator in Wizard England. They wanted him to sponsor their new school to give it some credibility.
"Good Morning, Mr. Warton. You are looking very well." Rowena smiled and was the first to shake him hand. Godric and Salazar followed suit.
"Thank you Mrs. Ravenclaw. Won't you three come inside." Mr. Warton held open the door.
"So this is why you two quit all of a sudden. You wanted to start a better school. A real school. Warton's is not enough for you, and yet you need my help to leave it behind." Mr. Warton could be very intimidating when he wants to. And he wanted to intimidate Godric and Salazar.
The three of them were at a loss for words. But luckily, or unluckily, Mr. warton continued. "How much money do you need? Or do you have all the money, and merely need my name?"
"Mr. Warton, we would like you to be involved in the new school in anyway you wish. We have recognized you reputation as a fine educator and realize that your involvement with the project could only be beneficial for us all." Godric smiled at himself for his response, which he thought had been very well worded.
"Well, lucky for you, I have thought about how I would like to be involved before this metting…."
Salazar muttered, "I told you" to Rowena, who pretended to ignore him, but laughed to herself at Salazar's childlike bluntness.
"…And I do think your school is a better one. I would like to retire from running Warton's school, and I do not think anybody could run this establishment as well as I have. So, if I close Warton's, and if I notify my students about your school, and if I give you my staff and library materials…would you name the place after me?"
This last part stunned the three of them. Mr. Warton was promising them everything they needed for the school, but the name they had decided on was "Hoggy's." Even Rowena thought that was a cute name for a school.
However, slippery Salazar Slytherin skillfully closed the deal, "Alright Mr. Warton. That sounds peachy. The only problem is that Mr. Urgundo Sagell, has already promised us financial support in return for naming the school after his business, 'Hoggy's.' Would you consider the name "Hoggy- Warton's," as a compromise?"
"'Hoggy- Warton's School of Wizardy,' It sounds grand." Mr. Warton said.
Rowena, Godric, and Salazar felt like celebrating again. They did not go to Hoggy's, Rowena felt more like having lunch than alcohol. Instead they went to Salazar's family home. The Slytherin's always had good food.
Salazar's pretty 18 year old sister, Sara, opened the door.
"Hey Sal. Hi Rowena. Godric, it's nice to see you again." Sara had a secret crush on Godric. She smiled at him and looked out expectantly with her deep brown eyes,
"Sara, you look lovely today. We were just coming here to eat, please join us." Godric didn't realize how his words would later infiltrate Sara's dreams. Godric was typically oblivious, and besides, his heart was pining for Persephone, whom he would meet in 3 hours and 43 minutes, according to his new watch.
Salazar thought Godric would make a good match for his sister. Godric was nice, smart, and pureblood, everything his only sister deserved.
"Alright, I'll go set up the food. My friend Helga is over and she's join us too." Sara hurried off.
When Sara was out of earshot, Salazar said, "So, Godric, is my sister looking lovely today or were you just in a good mood from the meeting?"
"Both. So Helga's here? Her dad owns that land with the big lake on it near Hogsmeade. You think we could get her to ask her dad to let us build the school in that lake?" Godric didn't pick up on why Salazar had brought his sister into the conversation.
"Boys. Business talk is over. And besides, a school in a lake? I thought you two were joking."
"No, Row, it's a great idea. Noboby else could steal our magic secrets, muggles couldn't see it, students wouldn't leave…" said Godric.
"Plus, its never been done before, so we'd get a lot of recognition for trying something so bold, so daring, so dangerous…" Continued Salazar.
"So dangerous, so stupid. Honestly, I'm working with two idiots. I need another woman to balance out this two against one thing. It's not working being the only sensible one here."
"Oh get over yourself, Rowena. We can be sensible."
"Yeah, I agree, so that's two to one, the boys win!"
"Exactly my point… I need someone on my side…"
Sara came back into the entry room, this time with her friend, Helga Hufflepuff, a strawberry blonde 18 year old with bright green eyes and a warm smile.
"Did you three want lunches or not? Helga helped me make sandwiches."
The five of them walked toward the kitchen.
Rowena pulled Helga aside.
"Hey Helga, I haven't seen you in while, what have you been up to?"
"Oh not much, Rowena. I learned everything that my magic tutor knows last year, so my days have been really boring. I've been looking for a job to keep myself busy, is it true that Godric and Sal quit Warton's. Do you think he'd hire a female teacher assistant?"
"Helga, I wouldn't even consider Warton's."
"But its the only school in England."
"Not for long. We are starting Hoggy-Warton's School of Wizardry, and I'd like you to be a founder and help Godric, Sal, and I with the decisions."
"Oh, I see, you need another woman?"
"Desperately! Helga, they want to put the place underwater!"
"Alright. I've got two suggestions already. Could we make it a school for Witchcraft and Wizardry? Girls have really gotten pushed aside recently. And, if Mr. Warton and Urgundo don't mind, let's shorten the name to 'Hogwarts.' Because "Hoggy-Warton's" is really a mouthful."
"Helga, I am amazed. You are going to fit in perfectly!"