A/N: We'll get more of Rowena and Helga later. They're kinda being sidelined right now, but they'll factor in more later, if everything goes according to plan.

In this chapter I introduce some OCs. I apologize to those of you who don't like original characters in your fanfic, but they are completely necessary. Arethusa is bound to get some sneers, and I know that… But she's not a Mary Sue, and you'll see why she's important. I want to stress that, for the most part, these OCs will not be featured in this story.

I'm going to try to keep updated about once a week. It's slow going these days, but I'm going to try and stay regular with the updates if I can. Stay tuned.

And to all Canadian readers over age 18: Please please PLEASE vote on Monday the 23rd. If you have gotten to this point in this story than it is certain you don't want the Conservatives to win this election. And they will if those who oppose them do not vote. So do it. I know this is not related to fic in any way, but I figure I've earned the right to a public service announcement in my own work. Thanks!

Enjoy!

Chapter 5: The Calm Before

Summer, 992 AD

"It shall not work!" Salazar pounded his open hand on the thick wood of the table, glaring at his three companions. "I tell you, this is a fantasy world that you have dreamed up. There is no way we shall succeed."

"We have already decided, Salazar," A small, winsome woman with long yellow hair said evenly. "We have eight and twenty young students arriving within the next moon, and seven of those children have at least one muggle parent. We cannot turn them away now."

"Helga is right," Godric Gryffindor said, eying the other man sharply. "You have raised this point a number of times, Salazar, and each time we have agreed against it. Now is certainly not the time…"

"And when is, Godric? When the muggles have succeeded in purging our kind from this earth? Is the unrest between our worlds not one of the reasons for creating this institution?" Salazar looked stormily around the table, daring his companions to speak against him. The fourth occupant of the table, a tall, angular woman with delicately arranged dark hair, sighed resignedly.

"I had not wanted to approach this subject," she began, speaking carefully, "but it appears as though we are left with no other option. I have been considering Salazar's objections over some time now, and believe that there is something we are not taking into account which we really must." Salazar narrowed his eyes, clearly surprised by this unexpected show of support. The woman returned his expression with a tight lipped grimace. "If I may, I would like to propose something," She said to the entire group.

"Go on, Rowena," Godric said, listening attentively. Rowena Ravenclaw nodded and cleared her throat.

"While I do not agree with Salazar's protests against muggle-born wizards and witches, I can see how many of our kind might. I think it is important that everyone involved with this school feels that their beliefs and perspectives are equally represented, especially by it's founders," she said, adding, "Us," with a small smile. "It has become increasingly clear that we shall never agree on this point. So I would like to propose a way in which I hope we shall all feel our beliefs have been adequately acknowledged within the walls of this school."

"And how do you imagine this would ever be possible?" Salazar asked with a slight scowl. Rowena raise a dark eyebrow at him.

"Patience, Salazar, I am getting at it." She pulled a parchment from the floor beside her and unrolled it on the tabletop for everyone to see. It was divided equally into quadrants. In the top right quarter was written, in Rowena's neat calligraphy, 'Gryffindor House', in the left, 'Slytherin House', with 'Hufflepuff House' and 'Ravenclaw House' written below them. The other three occupants of the table regarded the parchment with interest, while Rowena looked on, a ghost of a smile on her face. "The Hogwarts House system," she said grandly. "It assigns a score of the students to each of us, by virtue of their personalities, family heritage, work habits and the like. Each house will have its own distinctive features. Students from different houses shall be encouraged to work together, we shall continue with classes as planned, but the individual houses will live separately, with each of us governing a house." There was a heavy silence around the table as the other three founders considered this new idea. Finally, Helga Hufflepuff smiled and nodded her head slowly.

"Yes," she said, "I believe this idea holds a great deal of merit. Splendid thought, Rowena." Ravenclaw gave a small smile and reclaimed her seat. Godric Gryffindor also nodded his agreement.

"I also believe we should proceed with Rowena's new system. It appears to be the best option we have as far as settling our differences, or at the least, learning to live with them." He gave Salazar a pointed look, and the other man nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Agreed," he said, crossing his arms on the table. Rowena's smile grew much wider.

"I am glad," she said earnestly. "Seeing as that is settled, I should like to continue to build even further with the idea, if everyone is amiable?" there were nods of assent around the table. "Fine. We should consider building individual identities for our houses. Perhaps begin with a symbol to represent each house, some sort of emblem or totem…"

"An animal, perhaps," Helga said in her calm, quiet voice. "We could each select one as a symbol of the house, one that embodies the characteristics of it's members."

"Excellent idea," Godric said, "But shouldn't we first decide what those characteristics are to be?"

"Clearly, they will be molded around our own personalities," Rowena said. "Shall we sort this out now, then?" Again, a nod passed around the table. "Very well, we shall make a list." she said, taking up a quill and turning the divided parchment towards herself, "Gryffindor, then?"

Godric was silent, looking to his three companions to list his qualities. "You know better than I," he said genially.

"Chivalrous," Helga said, smiling at her friend. Rowena nodded with a similar smile and wrote it down beneath his name on the page. Then she pursed her lips in thought.

"Bold," she said, "A natural leader." Godric smiled at this compliment from the usually no-nonsense witch. Rowena then looked expectantly to the last founder at the table. "Well Salazar?" she said pressingly. Slytherin made quick eye contact with Godric, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"We are sorting children by these qualities," Godric reminded him, trying his very best not to grin lasciviously. Salazar merely raised a fine eyebrow.

"Brave," he said finally. Godric's eyes widened slightly.

"Brave," Rowena said, writing it down, "I believe that is the heart of it, really. An animal, then, or symbol to represent those qualities? Godric?"

Gryffindor appeared to have been considering this throughout the discussion. "The Lion," he said firmly. There was no contest; it was the Gryffindor lion from that point on.

"Slytherin," Rowena said, sliding the parchment over slightly. "Ambition. Those who are striven towards greatness will clearly thrive beneath Salazar." The dark man looked at his companion with a pleasant and respectful expression. Out of the four founders, Salazar and Rowena were the most similar, and there was an unspoken camaraderie between them.

"Persistence, fortitude." Helga gave a kind look to her friend, who was very clearly an exact opposite of herself. "And, of course, purity." Salazar inclined his head as an acknowledgement and then looked to Godric.

"Cunning," the golden man said. It was clearly one of Salazar's best qualities, as they were all aware.

"That should suffice," Rowena said. "And as for the totem symbol, I believe we are all aware of what that should be."

Salazar opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead let out a long stream of sibilant noises. It was a strange, seductive language, one that none of the other founders could even begin to comprehend. Helga looked helplessly to Godric, as though he might be able to decipher it. He could not, but he turned to Salazar with a raised eyebrow. The dark man smirked nastily.

"I said, 'one would certainly think so, but I am not grasping to any great hopes'." Rowena glared benignly.

"You might have just confirmed by saying 'serpent'," she muttered, penning the choice of totem next to the list of house characteristics. "Very well then… Hufflepuff…"

oooOOOooo

Godric strode easily into Salazar's chambers, throwing off his cloak and draping it over an ornate chair. He was about to call out to his lover when he heard an unfamiliar voice issuing from the sitting room. It was a hard, edgy baritone, tinged with a slightly uncomfortable urgency. Godric narrowed his eyes for a moment at the thought of his lover entertaining strange men in his private sitting room. Ultimately, he trusted Salazar, but there was something unsettling about the sound of that voice. He quietly stomped down those feelings and smoothed down the front of his ornate crimson robes. Running a hand through his wild amber hair, he strode purposefully towards the closed door to the sitting room and rapped on it with his broad fist.

"Enter," said Salazar from the other side, and Godric did, his breath catching just enough for the dark man to notice it before he recovered. There he was, Salazar Slytherin in his very best finery. The man oozed a sinuous, slick power, sitting in a high-backed chair of carved ebony, dark hair shining by the dim lantern light, rich, verdant robes arranged to flow and pool just so over his lithe frame. Godric tried not to leer. Salazar offered him a level and professional smile. It was then that Godric turned his attention to the other occupants of the room. Two dark heads were facing Salazar, backs to the door, seated in similar chairs. Salazar gestured for Godric to come around the chairs so he could be properly introduced, which he did, with an inexplicable feeling of unease.

"Godric," Salazar said with a sort of detached amiability, "May I present Balthazar and Bathsheba Black, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

Godric regarded the two strangers closely. Aside from being of opposite gender they were practically identical, with long dark hair, refined good looks, and piercing slate-colored eyes which were currently narrowed in exactly the same fashion. They were both very richly adorned, the woman wearing a thin silver coronet over her sleek, dark hair. Slowly, Godric nodded politely at Slytherin's guests.

"Balthazar, Bathsheba," Salazar continued, "Godric Gryffindor, co-founder of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and head of Gryffindor House." At this, Bathsheba Black extended a long, pale hand, and it was clear that she intended for him to take it in greeting. Godric kissed the fine skin as lightly as he could, then straightened again and nodded to Balthazar.

"Delighted," He said, adopting his most sporting grin. "I had not realized you were entertaining guests, Salazar," he directed at his lover. "I shall return at a later time."

"No, no," Salazar said, waving his fingers dismissively at the thought. "Please, Godric, have a seat. We were merely discussing plans for the opening of the school. Balthazar and Bathsheba have generously offered to act as patrons for Slytherin house."

"My sister and I are honored to support the furthering of magical education," Balthazar said loftily, "And the pureblood cause."

Godric responded with a thin lipped smile. "How very fortunate for Slytherin house," he said, trying to sound generous.

"Well," Salazar said with a smile, clapping his hands together in an accomplished manner, "I believe we were just adjourning when you arrived, Godric. Please, Sir and Madame Black, do pass on my best to your parents. Let us speak again shortly." The black twins rose from their seats as the head of Slytherin house came towards them.

"Salazar," said Balthazar, grasping the other man's arm. Bathsheba extended her hand as she had to Godric, and Salazar swooped elegantly to make a show of embracing it. He straightened again, and after a quick nod and two discreet pops, Salazar and Godric were alone.

"You have Patrons," Godric said observationally. Salazar waved his elegant fingers through the air.

"I am merely acquiring some external support for my cause, seeing as the internal support I've received has been noticeably lacking." Godric fixed him with a leveling look. "Stand down, Godric, I am not seeking an argument. Even you must agree that the three of you disagree with my beliefs."

"If I could stand behind you without faltering," Godric said seriously, "I would. I cannot, Salazar, and it is unfair to expect that I would."

Surprisingly, the other wizard nodded his dark head and took a step forward, bringing a slender hand to cradle the larger man's broad face. "I have conceded to that. I expect nothing of you but what you have given, what I hope you will continue to give. That is why I have acquired patronage for my house; so that I need never expect of you the support which you cannot give."

Godric was torn between leaning into the familiar and comforting touch and prying himself away. "It was for us, then?" he asked skeptically. "Not for the furthering of your quest against the Muggleborn? Forgive me, Salazar, if this is a tale that I am hesitant to believe."

Salazar sighed heavily. "Let us not speak of this now. We have precious little time alone as it is, and soon the school will open and we shall be lucky to catch even a spare moment together." He moved closer yet and placed a lingering kiss on his lover's lips. "I should like to make this one last," he said, a smile ghosting over his sharp features. Godric felt himself disappearing into his lover's embrace, and wondered momentarily that he was not afraid of being lost completely. He was coming dangerously close.

"We shall savour it, then," He said quietly. "I, too, would like to stay here a while."

oooOOOooo

"Gryffindor!" Godric turned suddenly at the sound of his name called out in the crowded square. Behind him, he saw a distinguished wizard with a graying yellow beard in very finely tailored robes, walking at a fast, excited pace towards him. Godric smiled widely and held out his hand as the wizard drew even with him.

"Arameus Avante," he said, grasping the man's arm in a formal embrace. "It has been a long time," he said, still smiling earnestly.

"Too long, dear child, in my opinion," The older man said, releasing him. "I have heard great whisperings about your activities of late."

"Such as?" Godric, of course, knew exactly what the man was referring to.

"This… school that you have built," Arameus Avante said slowly. "I should very much like to discuss it with you at length."

"Sir, as a great friend to the Gryffindor family, you are welcome to visit Hogwarts castle at any time. You would honor the memory of my revered father with your presence in my home."

"I have no doubts that you are doing a fine enough job of that without my assistence, young Gryffindor," the man said with a serious tone. Then his face brightened again. "I am on my way to the town center. There is to be a rousing speech there, I am told, on the increasing rift between our society and that of the Muggles. Some rebels arguing the Secrecy Statute ought to be revoked." Godric felt his heart sink slowly. The Avantes and the Gryffindors had been great companions for generations, and he had hoped to forge a greater friendship with his late father's best friend. But was this man, this decent, honest man, against the Muggles as well, just like Salazar? "I, of course," said the older man with a smile, interrupting Godric's thoughts, "Am in complete agreement with them." He shook his head and his cane. "Shall we investagate?"

Godric found himself swept along the dingy street into the even dingy center square of the town. There was a large crowd of mostly younger wizards, a few witches interspersed among them, crowded around a head that rose ever so slightly over the masses. The head turned, and Godric had to check twice to confirm what he was seeing. It was a woman, clearly standing on some sort of platform (although she could still just barely see above the crowd), wearing a ferocious expression on her otherwise very delicate face, and yelling what had clearly been a long and drawn-out diatribe. She wore leggings and a men's tunic beneath an open robe, the clothes fitting her as though she were a young boy. Her coarse yellow hair was swept easily away from her eyes, which skimmed quickly over the crowd, coming to rest on Godric and his companion. A hint of something—Joy? Pride?—ghosted over the lovely face before it returned to it's stormy expression. "Ridiculous, really," she said in a low, hard voice, "Secrecy Statute. We have always lived side by side. Why this, why now? And the muggleborn wizards and witches among us, what of them? To be so maligned due to a ridiculous and unnecessary law… it is demeaning, and it is wrong. And we should not allow it, nay, we shall not allow it. There are those who will attempt to purge our society of any trace of muggle blood. Their anger at the actions some members of muggle society have taken towards our people is justified. But their actions, their methods of retribution, are not. They are inexcusable. As long as we are living, let us continue to fight on behalf of those who do not even realize the danger into which they have been born. If we do not… let it be on our heads. Let it be on all of our heads." She stepped down amid a roar from the crowd, a half-outraged, half-encouraged cry, and disappeared. Godric felt his arm grabbed by Arameus Avante, and he was pulled away from the masses to a nearby side street. He was about to ask the older man what was happening when a crack sounded beside him. There stood the woman from the square, the same wildness hanging in the air about her. Arameus Avante looked down at the woman with a proud smile and embraced her with considerably less formality than Godric would have expected.

"I believe I truly broke through to them," She said excitedly, bouncing ever so slightly on the toes of her flat, boy's shoes. "They listened, they reacted. For once, I believe they truly heard!"

"Arethusa," The older man said fondly, gesturing over the small woman's shoulder, "If I may introduce Godric Gryffindor." She turned like a whip being cracked and suddenly Godric was staring her in the face, looking down into the most startlingly green eyes he had ever encountered. He almost shook himself to be rid of the shock of her. "Godric, my daughter, Arethusa Avante."

"A charming and forceful speech," he said, offering his hand. He was surprised when she shook it heartily instead of laying flat her own for him to kiss.

"I have heard of you," she said with a searching look. "You are heading that school. They say it shall yield great things for our society."

"That was our intent," Godric said, an idea forming in his mind. He turned to the girl's father. "Arameus, I wonder if you and the lady Arethusa would accompany me back to Hogwarts castle this afternoon. I have a matter which I feel may be of particular interest to the both of you."