Chapter 3.
It was several weeks after the first meeting regarding Hogwarts. Rowena sat in her home office, drawing a map of the interior layout of Hogwarts. Her head was lowered and her forehead was creased. She yawned and stretched.
She had worked late into the night on multiple occasions and like now, she didn't realise that dawn had arrived. She was so focused on what she was doing, that she didn't hear Salazar enter the house. The four friends each had a key to one anothers houses in case of immergencies.
A few days after their meeting, Helga had secretly visited James at 'The Wise Owl' and he showed her how the keys were made and he again showed her how they worked. She made keys in his presence after she had told him the reason for wanting to make them. Afterwards, she had set up an unexpected meeting at her house and she had triumphantly handed the keys to her three friends and they all appreciated the fact that the keys were password protected, so only certain people who had access to the key and password could enter a home.
Rowena jumped when she felt a gentle, warm hand on her left shoulder.
"What… Who?" She asked, not looking at the owner of the hand. She wanted to keep working.
"Roe, are you alright? We haven't heard from you for several days. I thought I'd come and check up on you in person." Salazar said, rubbing her shoulder without knowing that he was doing so.
Rowena wanted to sigh with pleasure at the feeling of Salazar's hand rubbing her shoulder, but she didn't.
"Don't call me Roe Salazar, you know I hate it and I'm fine, just… working."
Salazar put his other hand on her other shoulder and began to massage her shoulders simultaneously.
Rowena could feel some of the tention leaving her body as her friend gently massaged her aching shoulders. How was it that Salazar always knew what she wanted or needed exactly when she wanted it or needed it?
She was too tired to ponder that answer but Salazar knew the answer to her unspoken question: he loved her.
"Rowena, we've all been worried about you." Salazar stepped away from her and he glanced down at the piece of paper on the surface of the desk in front of her.
"Like I said Salazar, I'm fine. I just want to start building Hogwarts," Rowena replied around a yawn.
"There is no rush." Salazar replied, noticing that the map seemed to be the interior layout of a castle.
"I know, but I want it to be built before I die."
"It will be built in no time." Salazar gently touched her arm. She looked up at him properly for the first time since he entered her office and the look in her eyes was one of curiosity. She had glimpsed a look in his black eyes but she didn't know what that look meant. The look was one of longing.
Quickly, he removed his hand. He felt as if his skin was burning but not in an unpleasant way.
"Why don't you come into the living room and I'll make you some food and drink?" he asked, glancing down at the floor.
Rowena sighed. "Very well." She stood up and then she winced.
"How long have you been sitting here?" he asked her, putting a hand under her arm to steady her.
"A few hours." She glanced at his hand. The man seemed fond of touching her but she wanted to know why.
"Rowena, that is not a good thing to do, you need to stretch and move around."
Rowena wanted to ask him: 'How do you know what is and what isn't good for me?' but she kept her mouth shut as they walked out of the office and into the living room.
She knew that Salazar was only looking out for her and she appreciated that, she really did, but she wanted to begin to build Hogwarts. She felt that her friends, while interested weren't as devoted to the idea as she was.
Salazar lead her to her four seater sofa and she sank down gratefully into its soft cushions.
"Would you like a hot drink?" Salazar said as Rowena relaxed into the sofa's comfortable embrace.
"Yes, please. I'll have a coffee. I think I need to stay awake so I can get back to work…"
"I think," Salazar said with a mock stern look, "that you should have a cup of tea and get to sleep.
Rowena sighed, there was no point arguing with the man, he was a skilled debator and she was well aware of this fact.
"Fine." Rowena winced. She sounded like a spoilt child. "I'm sorry Salazar, I just want to put all my attention and focus into Hogwarts. I've never felt this sort of drive or motivation before and I want to do as much as I can to ensure that it is completed."
Salazar wished she'd put all her attention and focus into him but she was obsessed about Hogwarts and he knew that. He couldn't blame her for being excited and focused.
"I understand Rowena. You do need to take care of yourself as well though." 'And me…' Salazar wished he could add that unspoken thought but he didn't.
"I know but when I start something, I like to finish it."
That had always been Rowena's attitude: she'd
never give up on a project once she had started it.
"I know Rowena, I know. Hogwarts will be built and we'll all be teachers and we'll all help the children to become great Witches and Wizards."
It was nice to have a friend like Salazar, even if he did drag you away from your important projects. Rowena sighed softly. She knew that he was just looking out for her and she'd do the same for him as well.
Salazar moved towards the kitchen. "I'll make you a cup of tea." Rowena nodded.
They were close friends and Salazar did not need to be reminded every visit about her tea preferences anymore.
"I'll be back in a minute." Salazar disappeared into the kitchen and Rowena closed her eyes.
Rowena did not have a House-Elf. Her family had owned one but he had died of old age. Rowena liked her independence and didn't want to rely on anyone, not even a House-Elf.
She was so tired that she hadn't even protested to Salazar offering to make her a cup of tea. If she was more awake, she'd have made one for them both but Salazar was right, she was working herself to destruction and she honestly didn't mind him giving her all of his attention.
she wanted to put all her attention into a project such as Hogwarts because she was avoiding the fact that she had romantic feelings towards Salazar and she was scared that he didn't feel the same way. She didn't want to tell him how she felt and then be made to look like a fool when he told her that he didn't feel the same way. She automatically assumed that he had no feelings for her.
Rowena's mother had always told her that she didn't need a man to make her happy and until now Rowena had agreed with her mother, but then again; how did she know? Rowena had never been in a relationship and she didn't know what being in one would be like, but she heard that people could be and were very happy when with someone else.
Salazar was a good man and he wanted the best for Rowena. That (and his feelings for her) and the very idea she had had was why Salazar had agreed to help Rowena and the others with Hogwarts.
Rowena heard the whistle of the kettle and she pressed her back into the sofa. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. In her dreams, was the face of Salazar.
