Hey. Here's my story. I'm not so fluent with Old English, so the dialog isn't really so authentic. however, i did my best. Review and let me know what you think!

12 year-old Rowena Ravenclaw sat in her garden, deeply troubled. She could not figure out what was wrong with her. Everyday this strange feeling was going stronger, the feeling that something was growing inside her, and if not let out soon she would burst. Sometimes the feeling was extremely strong, and other times she hardly knew it was there. Then there were those strange things that would happen when the feeling was stronger. Like yesterday at dinner, when mother was rebuking her for soiling her gown, she was trying very hard to tune her out by examining the design in the crystal glass by her plate. And all of a sudden, the glass had burst, splashing water all over her! Her mother was not pleased with her wet dress, and was even less pleased when Rowena failed to explain what had happened. But as much as she tried she couldn't explain it, not even now, sitting alone in the garden. That frustrated her. Rowena was able to explain everything. When Master Desrius came for their lessons, she was always a step ahead of him. She read all the time, and when she didn't know the answer to something, she found it. Except now. She didn't know where to look to figure out why she kept causing strange things to happen. At least, she thought she was the cause of them, because they always happened when her feeling was especially strong, or she was feeling pressured, so that must mean that she was somehow the cause of it. She just wished she knew how.

"Aw, no! Not again!" She jumped up as the rose bush she had been staring at while she was contemplating sparked, and a tiny flame appeared. She quickly blew out the flame and sat staring at the singed leaf.

"How did you do that?"

Rowena jumped about a mile when she heard the voice. She looked in the direction where the voice had come from, and saw the speaker. He was a tall boy, with light brown hair that fell to his shoulders. He was wearing the oddest facial expression she had ever seen, and she could not imagine what he meant by it. It was a mixture of shock and curiosity. He walked towards her, and she stood frozen terrified that she had been caught losing control of her… whatever it was.

"I asked you how you did that?"

"Wha-" slowly regaining her composure, Rowena faced the tall boy. "I do not believe I know you," she greeted him coldly.

"Forgive me," he bowed gracefully, and the front of his hair, which had been cut shorter than the back, fell in front of his eyes. Pushing it back, he introduced himself.

"I am Salazar Slytherin. My family has just moved here. Apparently our fathers are good friends from some boring place a long time ago, so my father had to come over to see him. I was bored and wandered off, which leads us back to how you set that leaf on fire from at least a foot away."

"I'm Rowena," she curtsied, keeping to her manners. "Welcome to--. "

"You're avoiding the question."

"I don't give away my secrets."

"Secret is it?" His blue eyes sparkled in mischief and humor. "Well then, it appears I know more about your secrets than you do."

"What are you talking about?" He couldn't possibly know what was going on.

"You have no idea how you did that, do you?" He sounded like he was teasing her. She hated being teased.

"And you do?" She hated being rude, but he was seriously starting to annoy her.

"I might know a thing or two."

"Then you tell me, and I will know."

"It's not that simple."

"I'm smart, I can handle it." She couldn't stand not knowing.

"I'll let you know in a few days."

"How do I know I'm going to see you?"

"My father is inviting your family to our Manor. I'll tell you then."

"Why not now?"

"Because I don't feel like telling you now."

"Well. I won't push you too far then. You seem like the type of boy who always gets what he wants," she jibed. He looked bothered.

"That's not it," he insisted. "The timing just isn't right yet."

"The timing?" She didn't have the slightest inkling what he was talking about, and she hated not knowing.

"You'll understand soon."

"I better," she threatened. He smirked.

"Or else what?"

"If you irk me too much I might just lose control over whatever this is, and you might be the next thing to go on fire."

"I'm not worried."

"You're foolish," she told him.

"Maybe," he shrugged. "I'll see you soon Rowena." He turned to go.

"Wait," she called, and he stopped, turning just his head to look at her. "Promise?"

His face broke into a wide grin, displaying perfect white teeth.

"Promise," he said, and then he was gone.

The Slytherin Mansion was noticeably larger than the Ravenclaw's residence. It looked more like a palace. Rowena felt slightly intimidated by the large stone gargoyles guarding the wrought iron gate. A servant met them at the door.

"Right this way, sir, m'ladies," he bowed. He led them through an interesting twist of corridors until they finally came out into a splendid parlor. The walls were of dark stone, and a roaring fire in the stone fireplace gave off a warm glow. The room was furnished with dark wooden chairs and sofas, upon which the Slytherin family was already seated. Salazar's father, a tall man with a thin brown beard, stood to greet them.

"Sir Ravenclaw," he greeted Rowena's father. "My ladies," he nodded towards her and her mother. "Allow me to introduce my wife and children. My wife," he pointed towards a beautiful woman, with heavy eyelids and arched eyebrows, "Darmenzah, and our children, Salazar and Fresena. He indicated Slazar and the girl sitting next to him, who looked to be around nine, but already mirroring her mother's beauty. When no one else was looking, Salazar threw a quick wink in Rowena's way, who felt her heart race at the thought of finally finding out what was going on. She took a seat next to her parents. She felt Demetri, Salzar's father, regarding her through piercing blue eyes.

"There is plenty of time until dinner," he said to the room at large. "I would hate to bore the younger ones with adult conversation. Frezena, Salazar," he addressed his children, "perhaps Rowena would like to see the garden?"

All Rowena wanted to know about was her weird quirk, but before she had a chance to protest, Salazar stood.

"Certainly Father. This way," he said to Rowena, taking her arm and steering her out of the room, with Frezena trailing after them. He steered her down another confusing series of corriders, finally stopping in another room, similar to the parlor they had come from, except smaller and with less furnishing. In this room there was also a roaring fire, and on a stone ledge above it someone had placed a small jar, which contained a bright green powder.

'This isn't the garden," Rowena observed rather pointlessly. "My guess is this has something to do with what we were discussing the other day."

"How clairvoyant of you," Salazar teased. "And you're right, this has everything to do with it."

"I don't understand why we have to be so secretive about it. Why are we hiding this from our parents?"

"My parents are aware, and your parents will know soon enough. We thought it might be best if you were to find out about… " Salazar trailed off. "well we thought it would be easier if we told you separately."

"Right now you're not telling me anything," Rowena pointed out, annoyed. He was making her nervous. Salazar led her too a sofa, and he sat down next to her. He looked slightly nervous himself. He turned to her, wringing his hands.

"Rowena, I assume you've heard stories of witches and wizards," he said slowly.

"Yes of course," she said. "Every child has. But what does that have to do with me?" She wasn't quite at ease with the topic. It was not a topic openly spoken about. The idea of witchcraft was not a favored one in society.

"It has a lot to do… with both of us." He looked her in the eye, trying to convey some sort of message, and for the first time Rowena noticed that they were a vivid green color.

"They don't exist." Rowena stated a long term postulate she had been raised by. "What could mythical creatures have to do with us? And what in the world do we have in common?" Salazar took a deap breath before he said the next line.

"Rowena, all the stuff that's been happening, every weird thing that's happened, it's magic."

"What are y-"

"Just let me speak for a second here," he stopped her. "You are a witch, Rowena. I am a wizard. My whole family is magical, but sometimes, as in your circumstances, a witch can be born to mugg- non-magical parents."

Rowena stood, angry at him. He could have a laugh, but not at her expense.

"You're not funny," she snapped at him. She turned to leave.

His eyes widened, and he grabbed her hand in desperation to stop her from leaving. His skin was cold against hers. She struggled, but his grip was firm.

"I would not joke about such a thing," he insisted.

"You expect me to just believe you when you tell me that I am something that no one believes exist."

"I hoped you would trust me."

"I just met you!" she protested incredulously.

"I can prove it too you!" he claimed. "Fresena, get the Floo powder." Fresena, who had quitly been watching this whole scene unfold, obediently went to the fire place and took the pot with green powder in it.

"You can't prove something that isn't real!" she said in a raised voice. She knew that it wasn't proper to raise her voice, but he was making her so mad!

"I know that," he said more calmly. "But I can prove to you what is real."

He nodded at his sister. She threw a handful of the powder into the flames, which turned a bright emerald to match the powder.

"What does that show? Professor Desrius has already taught me that that fire can be found in different states and forms."

"Yes, but I'm sure that he never taught you this." Salazar got up, pulling the arm he was already gripping with him towards the fire. As they got close, she saw what he was trying to do. She yanked her hand back, finally freeing herself from his icy grip.

"What are trying to do to me?" she shrieked.

"If you do not trust me" he beseeched her, his green eyes penetrating hers, "I would at least wish you would believe I would never do you physical harm."

She stood, biting her lip. Could this in anyway be possible? Of course not, she chided herself for even considering it. Everything she had ever known told her that. And yet, he was standing there, one foot practically in the fire, and she did believe that he would never harm her intentionally.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she mumbled as she held out her hand willingly this time.

He grinned, and his expression was mirrored by his sister.

"You'll be happy you did." He took her hand, and pulled her into the fire.

Reveiw! Please?! Pretty Please? I'm making really big puppy eyes...

Criticism is appreciated, although no flames please.

thanks for REVIEWING

RM