Secrets

Written for a ravenclaw-house lj gift exchange, with a collection of prompts including the Founders era during Christmas time and a Secret Santa among the Hogwarts staff.

This snippet: Helga proposes a Secret Santa gift exchange to celebrate Christmas with Rowena, Godric, and Salazar. Events from Rowena's perspective.

I looked at Hel for a long moment, and then eyed Ric's maniacal grin. "I don't know….there are only four of us. And Ric's present-wrapping attempts are...distinctive."

Ric fluttered his eyelashes at me. "Why, whatever are you saying, my dearest Rowena?"

I snorted. "I think I just said it." I turned back to Hel. "Why exactly is this a good idea?"

"Camaraderie," she replied, showering Sal with enough determined sunniness to spontaneously combust. "Communal cheer."

Sal closed his eyes briefly and sighed. "Hellie, your attempt to smooth over some of the...wrinkles in our interactions the last few months is appreciated. But this isn't the way."

Hel's jaw got that very special fixed set to it that meant Hell would sprout icicles before she gave up. "Why not?"

Ric's smile got just a shade colder, in a way that was growing frighteningly more common. "Indeed, why ever not, Sal? Don't like us enough anymore to get even one of us a small gift?"

Sal arched an eyebrow. "Your unsubtle attempt at manipulation is noted."

Silence dribbled by for a few moments. Hel pressed again. "Well? How about it, Sal?"

Sal crossed his arms. "No."

Hel crossed her arms back at him. "Explain to me why not."

"Because it wouldn't help," Sal said.

"How do you know until you've tried?" Hel asked.

"Because I know, " he said.

"Do you?" she countered.

I could see right where this was headed. "Sal."

He looked up at me.

I took a deep breath. "Will you please agree to participate in this secret gift exchange of Hel's? It will save Hel days of coaxing, wheedling, and otherwise aggravating you into acquiescence, and me and Ric from having to listen to it." I pointed a finger at him. "No, don't just stand there arching that eyebrow of yours at me. You know it's true. I know it's true. We all know it's true. So do the gentlemanly thing and save us all the collective irritation of it."

All three of them stared at me for a very long moment before Ric began to clap softly.

Sal's lips twitched. "You do have a way of laying things out so very logically."

I dropped a quick curtsy. "That's what I'm here for. Now then, are we all agreed?"

Hel and Ric nodded.

I looked over my spectacles at Sal. "Well?"

His silky laughter burst over us like a sunrise. "You've really mastered that look, Ro. How could I refuse it?"

I felt my own lips curling in satisfaction. "Good."