Summary: Salazar blames Godric for the outcome of Newlin and Saxtyn's adventure. Will this be the end of their friendship?

Disclaimer: JK Rowlings creation is her own, the only profit I am making is the enjoyment of creating a story based on her works.

Gone

Even before we had apparted back to Hogwarts I knew the boy's fates had been sealed. But I refused in those moments to acknowledge the fact. I ignored the stares and the whispers of the apprentices as Godric and myself made our way back to my chambers with our grievously ill nephews.

Rhodderyk and Earven must have already heard the news for they were waiting for us by my chamber door with a grim looking Sir Elric. I dipped my head in greeting to the now aging lord who opened the door and escorted us both in.

Wordlessly we lay Newlin and Saxtyn side by side on my bed. For the first time I looked upon Newlin's face, which was grey. He was shaking slightly whimpering and tossing slightly; Saxtyn I realised had the same reaction.

The memory from many years back flitted through my mind and I remembered the potion of immortality. I went to the wardrobe and pulled out the box in which I had hidden my invention with all the scrolls I had written down the instructions. I unlocked all the charms I had set up around it.

"What is that?" Godric asked me suspiciously glancing first to his nephew then to me. He knew then nothing could save Newlin from the jaws of death. It made me angry that he could be so calm; so accepting; so strong.

"Our only hope," I snapped taking two random flasks that I always had in supply in my chambers.

"Salazar," Sir Elric said softly laying a hand on my shoulders, "there is nothing you can do."

"No." Rhodderyk let out a choked sob and ran to his brother wrapping his arms around his unconscious form as hacking cries consume him. "Not my brother." Earven stood mute and pale in the corner refusing to let his emotion show.

"Rhoddy…" Godric touched the back of his eldest nephew with such tender calmness that it multiplied my anger.

"My discovery might help," I insisted harshly as I continued to poor.

"Please," Rhodderyk glanced up at Godric with large pleading eyes. "Please do something."

Rhodderyk's pleading eyes must have softened both Godric and Sir Elric for Godric asked, "What is it?"

"An antidote," I snapped.

"Yes but what kind of antidote."

"Immortality," Earven answered in a shaking voice.

Godric head snapped up and stepped in front of Newlin. "Don't go anywhere near my nephew with that!"

"Uncle please!" Rhodderyk grabbed onto Godric's robes and wept unashamedly. "Do something."

Godric turned to him sadly and shook his head. "I cannot for I won't risk greater harm than death upon him."

"Please!"

"Hush, Rhoddy, milad," Sir Elric shushed pulling Rhodderyk to his feet. "In your grief you are not thinking straight." At this the old man glared at me. "You should never had made such as suggestion, Salazar."

"FINE!" I snapped. "Newlin may die but I shalt let Saxtyn die."

"FATHER!" Earven ran to me and grabbed the crook of my arm in a light touch. "You don't know what you do!" I flung him off and fell with a dull thud on the ground. "Magister Gryffindor do something!" Earven cried.

Godric nodded grimly and being more inclined to fight than myself grabbed both the goblets and smashed them both before throwing the bottle of potion out the window. I roared and grabbed at him but in moments he had me pinned to the wall. "Look at them." He nodded in our nephews' direction. "Would you condemn them to be like that for all eternity?"

I bowed my head slightly. "There was a chance… and now there is no hope…"

"There was never any to start with Salazar."

How I hated the Gryffindors in those moments…

But my hate was soon diverted into grief as only seconds later Newlin breathed his last with his brother and uncle at his side, his grandfather looking on; and then as tradition with the boys Saxtyn followed him into death.

"Get out!" my cold hard voice woke me from the void. Godric looked at me quizzical and nodded as if understanding my need to be alone. Sir Elric took Rhodderyk's shoulders and ushered him from the room promising him a dreamless sleep for the night. Godric closed Newlin's eyes and that was when I saw his first tears which he refused to shed. He borrowed a sheet and covered his nephew's lifeless face and picked the cooling corpse into his arms. He turned cradling his dead boy in his embrace and tears swirling in his eyes. "It was for the best, my friend," he said.

"GET OUT!" I grabbed the closest object and threw it at him. But I aimed poorly in my anger and missed.

'

'

'

Both of the boys were buried near the fringes of the Forbidden Forest a place that they enjoyed many hours of rule breaking or bending. I had not spoken much to any since the day they had passed from the plain of the living but I found myself attending their funeral service anyway.

Earven stood by my left hand side sniffling throughout the whole ordeal of burying his cousin who he had seen as his little brother.

It didn't seem real at the time. I remembered as I was standing there the oath I had taken when I had discovered Salome's body. And I felt awful and blamed myself for break that oath. But most of all I blamed Godric.

I believe I had made my mind up a few days ago about my fate. For me Hogwarts was over. Godric and I had done nothing but argue about the half bloods, the threat had continued to grow and I perceived the spies amongst us; but Godric would not see sense. Now I blamed him for the death of my nephew whom I loved as my own child. Too much now lay between us.

I don't know how long Godric stood by my side as I refused to leave the fresh mounds of dirt. But finally I turned on him and I said, "For this I blame you."

Words are such terrible weapons. I could not take them back and I knew they would haunt Godric until the day he died. To cause such hurt and pain on Godric a man who befriended me when all others scorned me was such a horrible sin.

Godric lifted his head and regarded me coolly. "I know," he replied. "I know."

"They were your appetencies you should have stopped them." I had continued despite the fact I knew how much I was hurting him.

"I know," Godric said.

"It was your responsibility."

"I know."

"And you failed both them and me."

"I know."

He infuriated me. I accused him of killing my nephew and all he did was calmly reply I know.

"And I'm leaving."

Godric nodded his head and sighed heavily. "Earven told me this morning. I wish there was something I could say to dissuade you."

It was my turn to remain silent and I looked over the mounds of dirt once more thinking of Saxtyn who lay their lifeless.

"There is a small house not far from here. It is yours."

Godric always had the ability to surprise me. I had said some awful things to him and

yet he repaid me with his kindness.

"Why?"

Again his answer surprised me.

"No matter what, Salazar Slytherin," he said. "I will always be a friend."

Oh, how his words assailed me with guilt!