TOMORROW MAY BE A BETTER TIME

Rowena paced hastily up and down in her room, wondering if she had maybe been too harsh. "I should go apologize to Salazar." she said to herself. "I shouldn't have put him on the spot like that. It's just--No, it's nothing anymore. It's nothing now. I'll go apologize."

Rowena exited her room and walked through the corridors trying to find the right words to say.

How about: I'm sorry. But then he'll ask, 'For what?' No, he won't. He'll just look at me evilly and walk away. Well, at least that would be expected. If it were Godric, he'd start yelling. If it were Helga, she would just smile and say it was okay. Oh, if only I had annoyed Helga instead of Salazar. Now that I think about it, my brother did warn me...

"Oh" she said out loud as she turned a corner to see Salazar.

Maybe I should tell him now. Rowena thought. Or not. He seems...preoccupied. Maybe it's still a little awkward between us after what happened...

Rowena watched as Salazar knocked on the door. "Godric, you wanted to talk to me about something, right? Well, I'm fed up with arguing with Ravenclaw for now, so why don't we go ahead and discuss it now?"

Looking somewhat hopeless when Godric didn't answer, he sighed and sat down by his friend's door, waiting patiently. Once Godric was asleep, he was usually dead to the world.

Rowena turned around, suddenly afraid of talking to Salazar alone, and ran down a corridor. Suddenly she bumped into someone and stepped back slightly.

"Oh, terribly sorry, Mr. Archer," she apologised as she saw Ender Archer standing in front of her.

"My sincere apologies, Professor Ravenclaw," Ender said, looking down the corridor Rowena had come from. Ender had in fact been on the same errand as Rowena. After showing the First Years to their rooms, Ender had walked out of the Slytherin dormitory to search for the Head of his House. Although Ender was good at hiding his emotions, he could not hide the fact that he wanted an answer. "I am looking for Professor Slytherin," he said to Rowena. "He was not in his usual places, so I was wondering if you could lead me to the Professor. I have something I wish to discuss."

"Mr. Archer, even though I don't approve of your wanderings at this hour, I'll let you by. He's down there sitting by Professor Gryffindor's room," Rowena said, gesturing to the corridor. "I wouldn't risk it if I were you, but hey, why not?"

She started to walk away when she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and do tell Miss Kash hello for me?" she said, winking.

"Jalila and I are not on speaking terms, per se, but I will pass on your message, Professor. Thank you for your aid."

Ender turned and walked away from Rowena but not without noticing the last wink his professor gave him. He did not like Jalila's free spirited nature, but Ender had to admit it was intriguing to have a free spirited girl in this day and age.

Rowena watched Ender walk away and headed towards Helga's room. I hope she's there, she thought to herself. Godric and Salazar are great, but I really need to talk to a woman... Like, is it normal that I haven't...oh, stop thinking about it. I'll ask Helga.

Helga walked down the corridor and saw Rowena heading her way. Smiling, she walked up to her friend. "Rowena, have you sorted things out with Salazar yet?"

"Ummm…no. Well, I wanted to talk to you about that. Can we go somewhere a bit more private?" she asked looking around the corridors.

Helga smiled warmly. "Sure. Why don't we go to your bedroom?"

YES! No yellow! Rowena thought to herself. "Oh, thanks, Helga...I really feel like I need to talk to a woman about this..."

Once the two friends were in Rowena's bedroom, Helga sat on the bed curiously watching Rowena leaning on the windowsill.

"It's about Salazar. And what happened thirty years ago. Do you know anything about it?" Rowena asked, turning to face Helga.

Helga shook her head. "I know something happened between you two, but I don't know any details."

"Well, Salazar and I had a relationship...not long, but, you know us, it was intense. Well, he wanted us to get married, and I wanted to as well, but my brother...you remember Rembrant. Salazar was afraid that Rembrant would kill him or something if we got married, so he broke it off. I was heartbroken for a long time...I only started living a semblance of a life again when Godric suggested founding a school. That was it, and now..." Rowena broke off and sighed slightly.

Helga watched the pacing Rowena in concern and managed to say, "I had no idea things had been so serious."

Rowena stopped pacing and stared out the window into nothing. "Yes...I still feel something for him, you know. But now he's gone and let that horrid thing into Hogsmeade! He should have asked me. He knows I'm a partial seer. I would have TOLD him not to."

Suddenly they heard a noise outside Rowena's door. Rowena looked at Helga, a tad alarmed. "I'll go check. Go back to your room, Helga; we need to be alert for tomorrow."

Helga nodded and exited through a side door to her room, still puzzling over what Rowena had said...and left unsaid. Things were getting a tad out of hand here, she thought with a worried frown. She decided she would ask Godric to look into things tomorrow.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Ender had found Salazar sitting against the wall before the room of Godric Gryffindor. Although he stood in the shadows, his brilliant golden-blonde hair and steel-blue eyes would reveal his presence if anyone looked his way. Professor Ravenclaw had said that this was a poor time to speak to the Head of his House, so Ender took that advice and left the professor alone…for now anyway.

But just as Ender was turning to leave, Salazar Slytherin caught the glint of torchlight on Ender's hair out of the corner of his eye. "Ah, yes... Ender. You want to talk to me about something?"

Ender heard his name called out and spun around to meet Salazar Slytherin, the Head of his House.

"Yes, Professor Slytherin," Ender said kindly. He was about to bow but was afraid to pull out his trembling hands. "Forgive me if I sound rude or blunt, but I've been meaning to ask why I was not made Head Boy, Professor. Whatever the reason may be I will respect it as it was your decision."

Crossing his arms, the Founder looked down slightly at his student, thinking of how he should put this exactly. "Well, Ender... right now we live in a dangerous and dark time. You've seen how many students returned this year. We only have two-thirds the number we used to have. This is undoubtedly a reaction to the widespread suspicions about me. Godric and I talked about this and decided that, because of this, it might be a bad idea to have a Slytherin - a student from my House, exposed to my ideals - as Head Boy or Girl this year. Having one of Godric's students as the Head Boy and making it appear as though I'm 'losing power' has made parents feel much more comfortable about sending their children to school here."

Salazar shrugged once he had finished talking, watching his student's face, waiting for his reaction to the news.

Ender's shoulders relaxed, and his tension melted away. He was relieved to hear that it was not because he was incompetent or that he was not the best candidate. Ender was the best candidate and understood the politics that happened between the Professors and parents enough to accept this decision made by his professor. But there was still a part of Ender that wished to protest. It was always there, but Ender had a face to put up. He was a pureblood and heir to a Noble Wizarding Family.

"Thank you, Professor. It was most kind of you to give up a piece of you time to give me such an elaborate explanation. I would be more than happy to compensate if you wish," Ender thanked as he removed his hands from his pockets to give a formal bow. "Good evening, Professor Slytherin," Ender said politely and headed to the Slytherin dorms.

Salazar watched Ender walk away. After glancing at Godric's door and sighing, he went on his way to his chambers in the dungeons. Hopefully he'd be able to speak with Godric tomorrow. As he was walking, he felt a sudden chill go through the whole castle. He shook himself and kept walking toward his room. Disconcerted by the odd feeling, he accidentally tripped on a suit of armour outside of Rowena's rooms that had been moved out of place. Grumbling, he picked himself up and dusted off his clothes.

Just then Rowena exited her room and gasped as she saw the fallen armour...she knew she had heard Salazar's voice. "SALAZAR!!" she yelled, looking around frantically. She looked next to the suit of armour to find him dusting his robes. Narrowing her eyes, she moved swiftly towards him. "You" -she jabbed her finger at his chest- "had" -jab- "me" -jab- "FREAKING OUT! I thought you were dead or something! Then there would be no one left to bring this school to utter destruction! Except maybe for the First Years..."

Salazar looked at her, still a bit disoriented from his fall. Suddenly, he laughed, deep and rich laughter that hadn't been heard in quite a long time. "Me? Die from tripping over a piece of junk like that?" he gasped between bursts of laughing. Slowly, he calmed down enough for appropriate conversation. "And really, I'd be the only one keeping out-"

He broke off as he watched her slowly walk away muttering under her breath, totally ignoring him in her temper.

Salazar started off toward his rooms again, down in the dungeons. Upon arriving, he contemplated all that had happened that day. He hoped that things would get a little better soon.

OOOOOOOOOO

Jalila sat in her Common Room staring at the burning fire. She kept thinking of Ender's comments, wondering why on earth it was bugging her. He was rude, nothing new, no reason for it to bother her in the slightest. Jalila frowned, her gaze unwavering. Her eyes were starting to water; she had forgotten to blink for a moment.

Sighing, she crossed and then uncrossed her legs. She was itching for something to do. Jalila wasn't yet tired, but it was getting late and past curfew. She leaned back in the couch, closing her eyes, painting pictures on the blackboard of her mind.

Just then, Ender returned to the Slytherin Common Room, he found Jalila on the couch. "What are you doing here?" he asked coldly. His steel-blue eyes stared neutrally at the girl.

Jalila was tugged away from her "painting" at the sound of Ender's voice. She might have groaned then at the stupidity of his question and at his very presence. "I'm in the Slytherin House; I have every right to be in my own common room," she replied curtly, rolling her eyes rudely, "as you are well aware."

Jalila was always chastised by her mother for being outspoken, not being afraid of saying what she was thinking, or of the consequences. It was considered un-ladylike. Her parents complained that it would make it harder on them to find her a "suitable" husband. Jalila scoffed at the very idea. She was going to say what she wanted when she wanted, regardless, and if they couldn't except that... well, then, too bad for them.

"I am well aware that you are of this house," Ender replied. "Professor Hufflepuff had distinctly ordered everyone to their beds." Ender did not like explaining himself to his peers and, above all, a girl. Normally he would not, as he never felt compelled to. Even now, he did not feel compelled to. Then why did he explain himself? "I meant, why are you still out here despite orders from a professor? Is there something troubling you?" This was not what Ender wanted to say. He looked around hoping no one else had heard him. They might have thought he had gone soft.

She was surprised at his words; he had never cared a speckling about her or her feelings ever before, so why now? Truth was, she couldn't sleep. After the feast, she had received a letter from her father informing her of her brother's involvement in the war that was ravaging their world, as well as an update on the "marriage situation." It just wouldn't seem to leave her alone. It was all giving her one enormous headache. Jalila was rather suspicious of his intentions in asking her this, but she decided to tell him anyhow, though she didn't know why.

"My family is having some...issues, to say the least," she began slowly, unsure how to carry on. "My brother has chosen sides in the war, and it is not a decision I approve of. I don't believe in this picking sides business, unless your life is directly on the line, and his is not." Jalila sighed, closing her eyes for a moment and then opening them again. "As well, my parents are hell-bent on marrying me off to some rich pureblood who will not care for me if you gave him one hundred and fifty galleons." She was most surprised at her language; she did not usually use such inappropriate words outside of her own mind. "I have no desire for it to be done, but my father believes he has found someone suitable. It has been keeping me awake... and a little bit of solitude never hurt anyone, now has it?"

"No, solitude has never hurt anyone before." Why am I talking to her? he asked himself, but no answer came. "Unfortunately, I do know about your situation. But you are a proud member of the house of Salazar Slytherin, are you not? We are cunning and ambitious. We strive for our own goals, not those of others. Stand up for what you believe, but do not go about it foolishly like a Gryffindor. Utilize your cunning, and you will discover a way out." Ender could feel his hand twitching nervously. Never had his mask ever failed him until now. He quickly shoved his hand beneath his robes and made his way to the stairs. "Think well on what I have said, Jalila. I bid you good night."

"Thanks," she said, her voice quiet, thinking on his advice. "Good night to you as well."

Jalila was still confused as to why he was even talking to her in the first place, nonetheless giving her advice! She bit on her lower lip, thinking about her "suitor." The letter had said his name was Basil Al-Hadid; he was of Iranian descent like most on her mother's side of the family. She wondered if he was like his name, brave and valiant. Nevertheless, she would be forced to meet him.

Heeding Ender's advice would not be easy, especially against a couple as intimidating as her parents, but she refused to live anyone else's life but her own. She would not be a pawn to tie powerful families together; she would not be anyone's puppet or trophy wife. Never.

A/N: No new characters introduced this time.

I'm sorry, guys!!! Kim had this edited ages ago, and it took me FOREVER to beta it. All my fault! Blame me! I will attempt to not be such a procrastinator slow-poke in editing together Chapter 3.