"So don't try to save me now,
Let the walls of my world all burn down.."

--Martina McBride, "From the Ashes"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Rowena may have had the reputation of little more than a tramp, but hardly a soul could dare call her a bad dancer. Which, ironically, fit marvelously well into the entire tramp situation, enhanced by that sweet laugh as Salazar twirled her low to the stone floor.

"Salazar," she giggled, grabbing his sleeve. "I didn't know..."

She was teasing, he knew. She would always be the pest. But he feigned innocence and held her down; hopefully it would irritate her after long enough. "Know?"

"You really are a ladies' man." Her dark curls actually touched the floor now, and her face was going flush.

"Ladies' man?" Now she really was mocking him. Girls... it was downright shameful, but he had always been a little afraid of them. Except Rowe and Helga and Heather and ever other female soul like that. They didn't count.

Another couple whirled past, throwing the tiniest of cruel glances their way. Just the attention he wanted. With a laugh of his own Salazar pulled Rowena back to her feet; he doubted the aesthetic view of the dance, hence the look. But it was fun. "Once again I'm glad we can embarrass ourselves in public. You're the only I can do that with."

"I think you're wrong. You're actually a very good dancer. You shall make all my beaus jealous."

Ah, yes. All the various young men that would tail her about. "Doesn't your father worry?"

She laughed and proceeded to push Salazar down into a dip. "You should witness the repelling charms we have around my home. Half of them were invented just for the purpose of keeping me locked up. I think we should have some like those on the school."

"School?" Rowena wasn't strong enough to hold him up without his help, and that moment of surprise had him with a thump on the floor. Several more pairs of eyes turned to stare. "What school?"

"You know," she said, delicately stepping away from him. "The school. You and Ricky. Don't you dare play the fool with me."

"You heard us?" A tremor of anger broke through him. What other things was Rowe capable of hearing?

"I have my ways." She extended a hand and helped him to his feet. "And no, Helga didn't tell me a single word. I understand she already knows." Her eyes hovered over the room, and then she pushed him into a corner. "I don't think anyone else should hear. Even though Jonas and Terminus already have this in mind. Why else do you think they've been keeping us around for years? When I was sick, right after... you know." For the first time that night the slightest hint of doubt passed over her face. "When I was sick, they were visiting me. They thought me asleep, but I heard them. They discussed a school, a place of training. And apparently it's what the Fighters do not want. Or didn't. But I..." She pushed in closer, so much that Salazar could hear the beating of her heart. "I think it would be a wonderful idea. We have all the children rushing about; it is probably best we put them to some use."

Salazar couldn't even speak. She was practically lying on him. Were they on something horizontal instead of a vertical wall.

She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Am I too close?" She spung out, landing next to him against the wall. "Is that better? Oh, Sal, I probably shoudn't tease like that. You know me too well. Though it does give me an idea to take some polyjuice potion respectively Helga and go have a little fun with Ricky..."

Against his will Salazar burst out a snort disguising a laugh. "Rowe, you're terrible."

"Why, thank-you."

"Amazing how you can go from something as serious as a school to... whatever else is going through your mind."

She laughed. "I'm sorry. It's just... it's just that I just finished reading a few scrolls all about the polyjuice potion. You wouldn't believe to what analyzations people can take some things. But it did inspire me, I'll admit. But speaking of our Godric Gryffindor..."

Salazar looked up. Ricky stood on the other side of the room, half hidden in the midst of people, but his eyes on them just the same. And looking like they held the secret of a century that would be doled out to the highest bidder.

Salazar in a corner with Rowena Ravenclaw. The end would never be heard. Salazar flashed a grin at Godric and stepped away. "We can continue this later, Rowe. I'm sure there are others awaiting your attentions."

"Of course there are." She blew a kiss in his direction.

"You and Rowena," Godric said thoughtfully, as soon as Salazar had joined him. "See? I said you would ask her to dance. I said so."

"You're so clever." Salazar, frankly didn't mind. The past eight years had been full of such things. "Is there a reason you're dragging me away from such a lady?"

"Rowena is our little sister far more than a lady." In an utter pivot of a moment he was serious. "Have you seen a girl wandering around this place? Blonde? Green eyes? Quite pretty?"

"I wish I had."

Godric didn't laugh. "Mother... she has something she wishes to discuss."

During one of Terminus' parties? Salazar' s hand squeezed itself into a fist. "What sort of thing?"

"I have no idea. But I think it has something to do with the girl. Mother is upstairs."

They found her pacing the floor of a guest room, her hair hanging loose at her shoulders and her eyes at the ground. Salazar had rarely seen his foster mother under stress... at least invisible stress. And then she looked up. Tears.

"I'm sorry to pull you away from the excitement," she murmured. "But..." The words were lost in a sob. Real wailing was clearly on its way.

Salazar held his breath and glanced at Godric. He was just as bewildered. And he had seen this strange girl.

"There's a girl here," Rose continued. "By the name of Tanith. Do either of you know where she came from?"

"I haven't even seen her," Salazar volunteered. The mood, unlike he hoped, was not lightened.

A thought seemed to stir her, but instead she shook her head. "I... I don't know what to make of her. And I'm sure I'm just being silly but..." She wiped a hand at her eyes, another sob breaking out. "I have something to say. Godric, your father--"

"Tanith mentioned something." Godric was pleading. "She said... she said he was killed... I had always thought he had been killed by Muggles."

"So did I. Until eight years ago." With a sigh she sat down on the bed. "I'm sure this must be very confusing to you boys. My brother Frederick was cruelly murdered. It had been so innocent. He had been at our home, playing with Marigold who was but a baby. And then he left. That was the last time we saw him alive. Muggles have their own ways against wizards, or at least they did then. Godric, your father was furious. He and Frederick were the best of friends, despite that one was a Muggle and one was a wizard. For months and months his life was devoted to finding those who had killed Frederick. And it was practically a battle out there. I believed the Muggles had hated him for betraying his own kind or whatever silly thoughts they might think."

A strange silence regardless of Rose's voice turmbled over the room.

"I'm a seer," she said. "At rare times. I can't make prophecies every hour, but now and then I do see things. And I saw the truth. For a long time I tried to ignore it. But how long can I ignore the truth? And then... and then a witness came forward. She said she had watched it all. The murder of my husband. And she had not even heard of my vision; I had told no one. So I went!" Her fingers clutched the blanket, tearing it. And then her eyes were on Salazar. "I had no choice. I found the murderer. I followed him into a tunnel. And... and I killed him."

A tunnel... a pile of bones... Salazar closed his eyes. Why was he seeing such things? What was attacking his thoughts?

"Sal..." Rose said softly. "I didn't think I could ever tell you..."

No.

Godric's declaration was aloud. "No," he repeated. "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Your father was killed by Siyth Slytherin."

"No!" The scream wasn't Salazar's--he couldn't feel himself letting it out. The only thing he could see was his foster mother sitting before him on the bed, crying. The only mother he had ever known and the kindest woman he could imagine. It had to be a lie.

"Sal, I'm so sorry. I couldn't tell you. You thought it was that horrible Malak, and I thought it best."

He couldn't reply. He leaned against the wall, heart pounding. Lady Rose had killed... his father. Had left him an orphan. Had left his father's body in that horrible tunnel.

His father who was responsible for what had happened to Rowe and Heather.

Wasn't this was what Ethelinda had mentioned?

"Your father was cruel, Snake-Talker," she had whispered once. "You are not like him, Snake-Talker."

He smiled. Wouldn't Ethelinda be pleased to hear this.

A memory tore in his heart, burning. He had loved his father. He had. But... But why did he feel this way? All he could hear were Ethelinda's words. Perhaps more pain would come later.

"If you ever could forgive me," Rose murmured, tearing him away from his thoughts. "If you ever could... I didn't know."

Godric was staring at his mother, with more horror than Salazar thought he himself could ever feel. Perhaps their places should be switched. But Godric did not matter in this.

"I forgive you," Salazar heard himself say. And he meant it. For some reason, he meant it.

Rose's sobs increased.

He had to leave. He had to leave now. For another thought entered his mind. What was Godric thinking?

Of course the man called Siyth had been bad. He had killed Godric's father.

Wouldn't Ethelinda love to hear this?

The door was under his hands. He pushed his way out before the tears came burning.