Chapter Four:

"I fell in love with you, Godric, because you were not as people had said about you. I hid it from the world as though I was ashamed of it," I opened the window, gagging for some fresh air to relieve me. "Now I cannot believe the road we are taking," I gasped excitedly, taking a place on the window seat, surveying a watchful glance over the rolling green hills of the Scottish highlands.

"Marian, I am sorry that I have caused you such grievance," Godric kissed me softly. Taking his place beside me to look out into the distance; the wild moors called to us beyond the prison of the Hogwarts school grounds and castle. "You have no shame to bear, nor should you have to hide your feelings from the rest of the world," he took a knee in front of me, "And neither should I."

Before he could continue a sharp shrill knock came at the door. "Enter," he called, swiftly retreating to the side of the fireplace. The warrior wizard watched a thin lady in sapphire blue paced through the door.

Rowena Ravenclaw-

"Oh, young mistress," the House leader was taken aback by what she saw. I could read it in her eyes why I was in the study of Godric Gryffindor. Like Gryffindor she was irritated of late by my father. I was a student sat in the presence of her superior teacher, "Girl! What are you thinking!?"

"She is my guest, Madam Ravenclaw," he quickly offered an excuse for my informal behaviour. "She felt overwhelmed and I asked her to sit by an open window," he looked at me for support.

I suggestively feigned faintness, "I was overcome by a rush of warmth in the corridor on the way back from the library, and Professor Gryffindor obliged to help me by offering me a place to sit down." Holding my sides, I pretended to have a little pain in my ribs. Despite not being able to convince myself, it appeared to suffice as an excuse for old Ravenclaw.

"Oh such a kind young man, Godric," Ravenclaw added fiercely with a shooting sceptical look of dismay. "Your father will be pleased to see you Marian," Madam Rowena shot me a look of sharp disapproval despite this believable explanation. The room descended into awkwardness.

"Well," Godric chirped, "What can I do for you, friend?"

"There is a letter sire, from your father, from the South," she handed it to him, curtseying low, "He wishes you to join him as soon as possible. I believe that he has found you some more students, Godric."

What? That would mean he would be gone the better part of a month! A month without him was increasingly agonising. Still he would write but it was not the same. It was his duty after all to the school before me.

"I have no will to go to South, it is a vile place. I much prefer this here," Godric rolled his eyes, pausing for a split second on me. He did not want to go. The more time we stole the harder it was to hide us, to hide our feelings which grew day by day. "I prefer the solace of the moors," he let his eyes wander back to Ravenclaw. Undoubtedly the old witch saw this but it was something that he easily could deny if he was asked about it.

"Oh, Lady Catherina has arrived," the witch added snidely, "I put her in the East Wing, Sir."

Lady Catherina was a Greek witch hoping to establish a wizarding school in Greece. I remember Godric talked of her sometimes when we lay on the grass under the stars. One day I had found a portrait of her in my brother's room. She had beautiful olive coloured eyes which stared out from Mediterranean dirt coloured curls, and flawless tanned skin. She was one of the most accomplished witches of this century.

"Tell her we shall dine as soon as I am finished with Miss Slytherin," he smiled softly, conjuring me a glass of water from thin air. One thing that could be said about Godric Gryffindor was that he was a gentle man as well as a gentleman. This did make me feel nauseous. Catherina would throw herself upon my Godric, and I could do nothing but helplessly watch.

"I will let her know," she bowed again, "And what of your father?"

"Salazar can go this time to bring the students. He is always complaining of how bitter it is up north," Godric half-laughed, "I believe as well he is going to talk with his son in York. It is time he had more responsibility."

Callously Rowena Ravenclaw watched the two of us with her cat eyes. They never missed anything. People insisted that she could change her shape to look like one. I was not too sure. Finally, she offered a courteous bow, left the room, with her robes sweeping shut the door behind her.

"So," he laughed boisterously, "Where were we?"

"Honestly I should not have bothered you my lord," I stood up to leave, "You have other guests to be dealing with at the present."

"Nay, I should have been honest about how I felt about you to save you this embarrassment," he moved back to my side. "I never should have left you to face her glares alone. You have always been a good friend to me, and now I dare to hope that one day soon we will have more than anything I have dared to hope with you."

"Speak plainly sir," I jumped up, ignoring my somersaulting stomach.

"Alright, maybe actions will speak better than words," Godric caught my arm before I could take another step forward. Pulling me into his arms, he moved a loose strand of hair from my face. "You have beautiful eyes, Marian, how long have I waited to look into your eyes. They're like the sapphires found in Africa, there are no words to describe them."

He leaned closer to me. "What do you want me to say?" he waited for an answer, I could not give. Hot was his breath on my face. His lips touched mine, this was ours; it was tender and passionate. The type of thing that I had read in novels. "Well?"

"You kiss by the book," I giggled to him.

"Ah you know I'm the master of love," he pulled me closer, "I will not mask my feelings towards you anymore."

"You must go back to Lady Catherina," I nodded to the door, "Remember we are from different worlds and only when we are together can we be ourselves."

"Bah! I will behave how I want to with you..." he shook his head, "If that is what you want then I will do as you ask. Go now, go with my love." They both exited the room at the same time, "I mean it Marian, and please go well on your way. It will not be too long till things are back to how they once were."

"Godric—" I was silence by the voice of my rival.

"Oh Godric!" Lady Catherina descended the stairs throwing her into the young man's arms. Truly she was as beautiful as her portrait. Yes, I had a pretty face but I was nowhere near in her league. She was the most beautiful woman in the world.

This was what my life would be like. Shortly behind the beautiful heiress came her greyhound. If you asked me he always looked ill no matter how many scraps she would give him. Closing my eyes, I attempted to leave the memory of my love comforting another woman behind me.

I could not even thank him for sending away my father for some time. It would mean we could spend more time together without a stony glare. It would be easier to invent excuses to see each other.

"What has happened?" Godric asked hurriedly, ushering her down the stairs. Carefully letting his eyes wandering to where I still was stood rooted to the spot. I watched them disappear into one of the main corridors.

Waking tranquilly Rachel Lestrange felt the softness of Robbie's silhouette swallow her. With him she had slept like a baby in her crib. Quietly, reflecting on her dream she thought of Marian as Godric had walked away with that other woman. Marian too was afraid that Robbie would fall in love with another woman.

"Morning, gorgeous," Robbie smiled, "You slept well."

"I know so did you," Rachel ruffled his hair, "Especially with all that snoring."

"Me?" He exclaimed, "Snoring? Never!"

Sniggering merrily they both cuddled each other. It had been like it had once been, and now in the cold light of a new day they had to return back to reality. With a mournful sigh, they sat up together wondering how they were going to get out of this one.