Chapter Five: Those Meddling Founders
By FyresDestiny
Vernon Dursley was not in a good mood. Then again, he was never particularly happy, and now that he didn't even have that stupid freak to vent at, his rage tended to stay bottled up within him. He allowed himself a little smile, however, realizing that the boy had mentioned he was going to come for his things. Good, Dursley thought, I'll finally be able to direct my anger at the boy.
He stretched languidly on the sofa, ignoring the ominous creaking that came from beneath him. Whipping out the newspaper, he began to read, a somewhat content look upon his face. It disappeared, however, at the ringing of the doorbell. "Never can get a moment's peace around here," he growled. "Dudley! Get the door!"
Dudley, who had previously been feasting on a cake in the kitchen (unbeknownst to Petunia, of course) waddled out to the hall, a look of pure resentment on his face. He didn't miss Harry, per say, but he certainly missed having a built in servant around the house. However, now that he had flunked out of university, his parents didn't seem quite as fond of him as they had before.
Dudley made his way down the hall, preparing to give whoever was calling a piece of his mind; he wasn't one who liked to be disrupted in the middle of a snack. He banged open the door, opening his mouth in a snarl. "What do you…." he trailed off, all thoughts of raving at the person gone. Instead, he stepped away from the threshold, glancing up at the imposing stranger meekly.
The man gave Dudley a wicked smile that certainly didn't bode well. "Dudley, eh? Well, I'm quite happy that Harry doesn't share any of your genes, you big oaf," he said, before pushing past the shocked man and stepping into the house.
His nose wrinkled in disgust as he surveyed his surroundings. "My God, could you lot get any more freakish? This house doesn't have a speck of dust…anywhere."
At this, Dudley seemed to regain his senses; perhaps it was the fact that he had been termed a freak by…well, a freak. He mumbled a little 'Eeep!' before dashing past the man into the drawing room. "Father…freak…Harry!" he babbled, wringing his hands nervously.
Vernon Dursley sat up and, with surprising agility for a man his age (and size), he strode quickly towards the door. Anything that had to do with Harry couldn't be good. So enveloped in his thoughts was he, that he didn't even notice the formidable stranger until he had bumped right into him.
The man staggered backwards before righting himself. Straightening his robes, he looked up, or rather, down, at Dursley. "No wonder Harry didn't want to stay here. I'll have to give that Headmaster a piece of my mind when I can," he growled, glaring down at the purple-faced Muggle.
"Who- the- bloody hell- are you?!" Dursley ground out, accentuating each word with a deep breath.
The man's imposing demeanor vanished as he grinned, sticking out a hand to Dursley, seemingly unperturbed by the Muggle's distinct lack of hospitality. "Godric Gryffindor, at your service," he said.
Dursley eyed Gryffindor warily, giving the extended hand a look of pure distaste. "I see. Now, that's very nice and all, but you are trespassing on my property. Get out," he said, surprisingly keeping his voice to a minimum level. It wouldn't do to have the neighbors hear, now would it?
Godric leaned against the wall, giving Vernon a bored look. "No, I don't think I will," he yawned, before pointing his wand straight at the bumbling git in front of him. "What I will do, however, is ask you to go get Harry's things for me."
Vernon yelped, jumping back at the sight of the wooden stick. "I forbid you to-to use that thing! My house, my house, I say!" At Godric's look, Vernon wavered, finally surrendering with a meek, "I don't know where the bloody boy left his things…"
"I overheard Harry saying his items were in his closet - you know, where he hid them before you nearly beat him to death? They're invisible, one has to feel around to find them." Godric leveled a stare at the shorter, albeit wider, man.
Vernon puffed out his chest. "Then you go get the damn things if you know so much about them! I will not be ordered about in my own house!"
Gryffindor merely raised an eyebrow, before giving his wand a quick wave. A shower of red and gold sparks burst forth. Dursley's eyes widened, and he turned back, nearly tripping in haste to do as Gryffindor had commanded.
Godric stared after him with amusement clear on his face. "Oh, honestly, it was just a bit of fireworks," he called. Somehow, he didn't think that Dursley would care. Magic was magic, after all.
Within a few minutes, the large man had returned, this time his hands full of different items. He shoved them hastily into Godric's open arms, before turning to actually stare at Gryffindor in the face. "Now will you leave, you freak?!" he said, gritting his teeth in anger.
Godric bowed, waving his hands with a flourish oddly reminiscent of Lockhart. "Certainly, Muggle." He stood back up, this time looking as he were pondering something. "However, I do recall something about you beating up my only heir during his stay here. Now, I can't exactly let you get away scot-free with that, now can I?" he grinned impishly, pointing his wand straight at Vernon's chest.
Dursley's eyes widened in fear, but he replied, "No-no, you can't kill me, they do have laws for that sort of thing…P-Petunia told me…"
To Dursley's dismay, this only made the wizard all the more eager. "Oh, but you see, Dursley, they can't exactly punish me. I'm already quite dead." He waved his wand, before turning around and stepping gracefully out of the house. "Goodbye, Dursley," he called over his shoulder, a look of pure jubilation upon his face.
The only response he received as he closed the door was a very very angry "Oink!"
Meanwhile…
Vincent sat at the Hogs Head, tapping his fingers impatiently upon the hard wood surface. Snape had said he'd be there by three, and now it was three thirty. Vincent frowned; Snape might not be many things, but he certainly was punctual. Giving his watch another glance, he pushed his chair back, intent on standing up.
But before he could, a shadow fell over him, blocking his path. "Hello there," the shadow said, her voice sending pleasant chills down the former Auror's spine. He looked up to see a woman smiling down at him, her cerulean eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Er, hello," he replied hesitantly, curious as to why a woman such at that would have cause to speak with him.
She waved her hand, causing the chair across from him to pull itself out. Vincent's eyes widened in surprise; not many wizards or witches could perform wandless magic - she had to be powerful, indeed. The woman sat herself down gracefully in the chair, before giving him the full effect of her sapphire eyes. "I have a matter to discuss with you, Vincent."
His eyes, if possible, opened even wider. "You know my name?" he blurted out.
She raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "Certainly. I know many things about you," she whispered seductively, leaning over the table. She straightened back, folding her arms professionally and laying them on the table. "However, this is not the time nor place."
"Er, if I may be as bold as to inquire who you are," Vincent questioned, now eying the witch with suspicion.
She smiled, the simple action lighting up her whole face. "Of course. I am Rowena," she responded. "Now, as I have just mentioned, I must discuss something with you."
For some reason, Vincent seemed quite at ease with the young witch in front of him, and leaned back in his chair, giving her an amicable glance. "Go on," he said.
"You see, this matter I must discuss…" she leaned closer, her lips forming into a pout. Vincent unconsciously shifted closer also, intent on hearing her words. She gestured with a finger, indicating that he should come even nearer. He leaned more across the table, until he was but a hairs width away from the witch. She turned his face to the side with a delicate finger, until her mouth was at his ear. "Obliviate," she whispered, before roughly pushing Vincent back into the seat.
She brushed herself off, daintily rising from the uncomfortable wooden chair. Rowena smirked across the table at Vincent, who was now glancing about the bar dazedly, a look of pure confusion on his face. In his pocket, she saw a piece of paper. Bending over, Ravenclaw plucked it out of his robes. "I'll take that," she said, turning around and walking away.
;Rowena smirked as she walked out of the dark pub. Salazar had assigned himself the task of intercepting Vincent -however, she felt that it was a woman's job. After all, not even Salazar could seduce a straight man. Besides, he would most definitely have caused a scene with his threatening and hexes; her way was much more covert - no unnecessary attention. She mentally congratulated herself on a job well done.
Snape pushed his way through the crowded pub, ignoring the annoyed looks the customers gave him. With a scowl set on his face, he made his way to the back, where Vincent had agreed to meet with him. The scowl melted away into a look of confusion when a pretty witch winked suggestively at him before making her way out the dingy doors that led into the Hogs Head.
Shaking his head, he stalked over to where Vincent sat, relieved that he had not yet left. "There you are. Now, what information have you unearthed?" he said curtly.
Vincent's eyes focused on Snape. "Severus? I say, what are we doing here?"
Severus raised an eyebrow, studying Vincent's face to determine whether his friend was joking. His eyes widened in shock as he realized the symptoms of one who have just had a memory charm placed on them.
Snape groaned, and he lay his head on his hands, seeking comfort in the cool surface of the table. "Dumbledore… I know you're behind this, you old coot. But did you need to resort to Obliviating my source?!" he hissed.
Feeling a tap on his back, Severus raised his head. He looked over his shoulder to see Vincent staring back at him, concern lighting his eyes. "You know, Snape, talking to yourself isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world."
The explosion that occurred next was talked about in the little town of Hogsmeade for many a day after that.
~tbc~
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