Past and Present

Act I: Knowing the Past

Chapter Three: First Encounters

Salazar waited atop Lagen's highest tower, letting the night wind play with his hair. "How are you?" he heard Rowena say from behind him.

"OK, I guess."

Rowena studied him and sat next to him, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Did they beat you again?"

"It's none of your business."

Rowena sighed, "I'm your friend. It's my job to make sure you're happy," she paused, "and to make you feel like an idiot at times."

"Gee, thanks."

Rowena smiled. "So how are things coming together?"

"I killed Johnson yesterday, and tomorrow I'll kill Powell. The week after that Lord Pendragon is my target. Lagen wants me to kill him in public."

"And then all five of the most powerful wizards in England will be dead," Rowena said. "And no one will know who because you're using muggle methods to kill them."

"Pheone is really pleased with my work. She said I have the ability to become of the most powerful wizards in Europe one day. Maybe even all of Eurasia."

"You will."

Salazar sighed, "But I'm an old orphan. No one takes orphans seriously."

"One day they will see how great you are. And all the pain you've been and will be put through."

"I don't want anymore pain. I just want to die." Salazar stopped for a moment realizing for the first time that he really wanted to die. What's there to live for anyways? He asked himself. What reason do I have to go on?

Rowena produced a crystal ball and put in front of Salazar's face. "There is someone who you will save from his own self, and he will save you. And I am here too; I want to help as well. Together the four of us will be the vivid stars that lead Europe into a new area of magic."

"Why me? Who said I wanted power, it just gets you trouble."

"The fates choose you."

"Then the fates are nuts."

Rowena snorted then burst out laughing.

It was mourning; the birds were chirping happily, the sun was evaporating the due. Godric was happy, until Helga broke through daze of happiness the question that he really didn't wan to face.

"So Godric," Helga began, "Where are you going now?" Once again she was disguised as a boy. Today however she went for the 'sexy man' look instead of the 'cute boy' she did yesterday. Her hair had become shoulder length and her breasts somehow managed to look like pectorals, though Godric was unsure how she did that and decided that it was in his best interests not to ask. She even grew a small goatee, again Godric decided not to ask. And despite the height and voice problems she was pulling it off quite well. Much to Godric's discomfort.

"I'm not sure."

Helga sighed, "I'm not surprised."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Helga sighed and watched Luc play with a butterfly that was trying to land on his nose. They were currently resting on top of hill that over looked a small town. Ulrich had gone ahead to reserve rooms for them. "Don't you feel it?" Helga asked.

"You mean a calling sensation?"

"Yes."

Godric sighed and drew his knees up to his chest. "I feel it."

Helga stroked her chin, "You know, it's funny."

"What's funny?"

"Having facial hair."

Godric stared at her for a moment then burst out laughing. "At least you can make it come and go as you please, the rest of us men have to shave. Which is more of a hassle then it's wroth isn't that right Luc?"

Luc looked over at him and shrugged, then went back to playing with the butterfly.

"I don't think he shaves yet," Helga said.

"I don't think so either." Godric sighed, "Some men can grow it fast and look good, some can't grow it well and they look good without it. Me, I grow it slowly and don't look good with half a bread."

"Well you are seventeen."

Ulrich walked up at that moment along with a middle aged man dressed in fine muggle clothes.

"Uh oh," Helga said screwing up her face and becoming a young woman with tanned skin and curly red hair that stopped at her shoulder.

"What's wrong, that's Morgan Powell," Godric said standing up.

"I know, he's Ulrich's uncle. He really doesn't like me. Says I'm not good enough for Ulrich. And according to Ulrich doesn't think too much of Luc either."

"Oh."

"Well, young Master Gryffindor," Powell said with a smile. Powell was thin, almost unhealthy looking. His eyes were like an owl's; large, wise, and unblinking. He raised a large skeletal had to shake Godric's. "How is your father?"

"I think so sir," Godric forced a small smile and shook his hand, "I'm sorry I'm not better dressed, I'm traveling incognito."

"That's quite alright young man, quite alright." He turned to Helga, "And who might you be young lady?"

Helga lowered her pitch a little and said, "I am Holly Bryant, I'm a knight for Lord Sasame."

"Ah, so you're the famous Ms. Bryant. Yes Sasame has told me about you."

Both Ulrich and Godric looked at her curiously but she shot them both glances that said she would tell them later.

"And Luc. Still as silent as ever." Luc glared at Powell who decided to ignore this, "Well as I always say the mouth reflects the brain."

Godric started feeling a pronounce dislike for this man. And was about to tell him of when Helga elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't say anything stupid," she hissed.

"Well," Powell said addressing all of them, "I'm staying in my summer home and you are all welcome to join me."

Ulrich put on a smile, "Thank you uncle."

It was late at night when the four friends met. Helga was still in her Holly Bryant form.

"So what's with this Holly thing?" Godric asked.

Helga sighed; "You've heard of her right?" the three boys nodded. "Well Sasame is a good friend of mine, and he knows I love dragons and adventuring and he's the only other person, other than you guys who know I'm a metamorphmagus. So he helped me create Holly and thus I became on of his knights. My parents are friends with him so whenever I went off to his manor they always thought he would teach me stuff. Besides," she blushed, "He's really handsome."

Godric looked thoughtful, "Yeah, he is rather pretty."

Helga sighed, "Just what I need, another gay boy in my life."

"Hey wait!" Godric stood, "I'm not gay!"

"You just commented on how pretty Sasame is!"

"So he is, that doesn't mean I'm gay!"

As the two of them began to bicker Luc's eyes narrowed and his ears twitched. Something was on the roof, but he couldn't hear what. He pulled on Ulrich's sleeve.

"What is it?" Ulrich asked. Luc pointed up at the ceiling. Ulrich strained ears but couldn't hear anything. "Helga, Godric shut up."

"What is it?" Godric asked but Ulrich made a hissing sound. There was silence for a few moments before a scampering was heard.

"Someone's on the roof!" Helga said. She grabbed a bow and a quiver of arrows, "I'm going to check it out." She dashed to the window and climbed onto the roof.

"Luc," Ulrich began, "Go to the kitchens, and let the house elves know something is up."

Luc nodded, grabbed a piece of parchment and ran out of the door while scribbling on it.

"Godric you and I will split up, I'll take the lower half of the manor, you take the top, find my uncle."

"Gotcha," he said and sprinted off. Down hallways he went opening doors with his wand and looking inside for Powell.

He reached a room that appeared to be Powell's study. The room was dark and the window was open. Godric knew that Powell wasn't inside, but something was pulling him in. Before he knew it he was in the middle of the study and something sharp was thrown at him. He ducked just in time and a small figure lunched itself at him.

"Impedimenta!" Godric called causing his attacker to stop in midair.

Godric crawled out from underneath him and looked at the attacker. "Scrawny thing aren't you?"

The boy glared at him with emerald green eyes. Blond hair falling out of the pony tail it was kept in.

Godric kept his wand fixed on the boy, the jinx wasn't going to last much longer and the boy wouldn't try anything stupid with a wand pointed point blank in his face.

"So are you going to kill me or what?" The boy asked.

Godric ignored this and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"None of your business," the boy snapped.

Helga came in through the window, "I see you caught our little rat."

Godric looked up at her beaming, "Wasn't too hard." Godric regretted taking his attention away from the boy, for as soon as he did the boy lunged at him and bit Godric's forearm, hard.

Godric let out a yell that would be heard miles away.