OOOKKKAYYY!
This is the final one guys- thanks to everyone who reviewed, favourite and followed this story! I honestly never believed anyone would want to read about my fascination of all things Rowezar (I'm sure one day the abbreviation/mash-up will catch on!) so it's supremely humbling that you all stuck it out with me
I am currently working on a one-shot on, yes you guessed it, Rowezar, but it will include other pairings… kinda. Not really but yes.
Anyways now that I'm done both boring and confusing you I'll get on with it- this is a "what if" scenario. What if Salazar didn't leave? What if he just accepted everything? This is what would have happened!
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"Helena you little demon child would you please hold still while I braid your hair? Honestly it's as if someone has hexed you into becoming a monkey!" Rowena huffed, her breath laboured as she finally managed to pin down her ever-energetic five year old daughter. The little hellion decided that she would much rather play hopscotch around her tired mother than get her hair fixed that morning.
After securing the ribbons and pins the mass of ebony that was her daughter's head she quickly placed a kiss on her cheek and patted the child's back tenderly,
"Alright my cheeky little hexed monkey- go and play with Uncle Godric- he told me he's waiting for you by the lake. Now remember not to jump into the lake this time! You know how the Giant Squid feels about people and you are very… very… small people! You look like a lovely little entree if I do say so myself!" she roared as she took the end of her daughter's braid and pretended to chew it. "MMMM Helena a la mode! My favourite!"
The small child squealed with delight at her mother's antics and struggled to wriggle free from the older Ravenclaw's tight grasp. The mother and daughter capers were laid to rest from a distinct disappointed 'tutting' behind them. Standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and in all his forest green and black finery was no other than Salazar Slytherin, every bit as notoriously intimidating and fearsome – to everyone except to his paramour and child that was.
Screeching at almost ear piercing decibels the youngest Ravenclaw scuttled over to hide behind her father's legs, clutching fiercely at them as if his legs were enough to stop the barrage of tickles and squelchy kisses her mother could throw at her. Softly patting her on the head careful not to disturb his lover's hard work he offered his daughter some solace.
"What's all this then Rowena? Helena? Hmm? I could hear the both of you from the front gates," he chided jokingly wagging a long index finger at the little mistress. Much to her chagrin the child flushed a deep red at her father and hid further behind him only sneaking little peeks at both of her parents sporadically.
"Mama is trying to eat me Papa! She and the Giant Squid want to eat me!" she yelped craning her neck so she could look up into the taller man's eyes. "Don't let them eat me Papa!" she begged tugging at his tunic as hard as she could. Salazar smiled as warmly as he could at the young girl before crouching down so he could meet her at eye level and brace her by holding her firmly by her upper arms.
"Papa will never let anyone eat his little Princess!" he swore looking straight into his daughter's bright grey eyes. He watched carefully as her eyes became little crescents and her chubby cheeks jiggled ever so slightly from her sweet giggles.
"At least," he began, "I won't let anyone eat you without joining in on the feast!" he lunged forward capturing the girl with his strong arms and gliding back up easily to his full height. Ensuring that there was no way his daughter would slip out of his grip and hurt herself he began to turn and twist around, flinging the child in the wind like her favourite ragdoll all the while making munching sounds. "Om nom nom! Yum yum om nom nom!" he chortled as he continued spinning spurred on by Helena's delighted squawks. After spinning for what felt like hours the disoriented Slytherin carefully replaced her feet back onto the stone floor and waited until the world corrected itself from its skewed position and for his vision to return to normal and cease spinning.
"Alright Slytherin let her go off and play- otherwise Uncle Godric will become restless and come hunting for his play date," Rowena reminded as her daughter scampered off to meet her exuberant Uncle to learn how to fish, or catch a bear or whatever far fetched adventure the Gryffindor heir had concocted. Rowena always knew how brilliant Godric was with children but to see how much he loved Helena and treated her like his own daughter truly warmed her heart.
Hearing him snicker quietly, Rowena looked back up to see her love shaking his head disparagingly at her.
"What?"
"You shouldn't be exerting yourself too much Rowena," he answered still shaking his head back and forth. Rowena could feel that tell tale vein begin to throb at the top of her forehead.
"I wasn't exerting myself- just doing the child's hair" she replied haughtily. As if she couldn't even do that herself, she wasn't that useless for goodness sake.
"That's why you're perspiring and all red in the face?"
"I'm not tired… I'm just… fat," she said as her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Salazar rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of him again and began to tap his foot impatiently.
"How many more times do we have to go through this Ro? You are not fat you are pregnant. A severe difference," he pointed out with his index finger. She looked down to her extremely swollen belly, she was only two weeks away from the expected delivery date and Salazar was clucking around her worriedly for the last month. Any little pain, cramp or sign warranted a panicked response from her lover, 'Are you ok?' 'Do we need a healer?' 'Is it time?'- Truly it wasn't that she wasn't grateful for the concern it just grated on her nerves when he treated he like a helpless babe. She was the one carrying a babe after all. "Besides I was just coming here to call you for morning tea"
"Morning tea?" she quipped brightly.
Ahhh Ro, so easy to distract you. Yes my love- think of the food.
He nodded tersely and motioned for her to follow him.
Threading her arm through his so he could bear some of the extra weight she now held she slowly waddled out to the hallways that connected to the newly built sunroom. After a hissy fit that would go down through the ages as the hissy fit to rule them all- Salazar had Godric assist him in creating a room for his pregnant lover to sit and bask in the sun while munching on sweet pastries.
Pregnant women were scary. Especially when they knew magic.
Nodding absently at the many students that passed them he managed to recall some of their names for greeting, while the woman on his arm politely waved and greeted each student by their given name while absentmindedly rubbing her hand against her stomach. Salazar shuddered to think of the effect of being around children constantly was having on his Ravenclaw and quickly guided his love out of their grasp before she started entertaining ideas of having another four or five children after this one. He wasn't sure he could handle his first child let alone this one coming along, never mind another few!
Passing a group of new Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs Salazar had to bite his tongue and could barely manage a tilt of his head towards the children. It was only due to Rowena's vice like grip on his bicep and the imperceptible sting of her nails digging into his flesh that he was able to acknowledge the children.
It had been five years since that day he nearly left Hogwarts behind. Nearly five years since he nearly left his family behind. If Rowena hadn't come out to him that night to beg him to stay he didn't think he would have even reconsidered- not even with the knowledge she was carrying what would most likely be his only heir. If Godric hadn't shown up to the cottage in the Hollow where he was hiding out and literally beat the sense back into him he knew he wouldn't have gone back at all. He'd have never seen his Rowena crying hysterically on their bed clutching at her stomach like a lifeline, wouldn't be able to chase away those tears he caused with soft kisses and hushed promises of love and devotion and him never leaving her side again, never would have heard the sweetest cry of his daughter's first breaths and never would have fallen so completely in love with Helena as he had. There was nothing that could force Salazar to part from his two little Ravenclaw's and now- that was all that mattered to him- nothing else even came close.
However he couldn't quite stifle the other pressing issue that compelled him to leave in the first place- he still did not agree to his co-founders open mindedness about the fate of the Wizarding world; although he understood their vantage point on the subject he still couldn't accept it for his own house. He could endure the rest of the school being subjected to the inferior blood and ill nature of Half-breeds and Mudbloods- but not his noble house. Slytherin would always remain pure. It was the only way to keep the peace between Godric and himself and although their friendship may have suffered a serious blow it was nothing that the two could eventually claw back from. After all hadn't Godric hoarded all the noble and brave students? Didn't Rowena stow away all the brightest and most attentive? It was only Helga who accepted anyone who wanted to come and learn but didn't hold up to the other's standards for their House. She was the only one who had the right to reserve judgement upon him- but being the ever-sweet Hufflepuff she never did. So when she decided to bring House elves in to cook for them and clean and asked that they be treated with respect and dignity- Salazar bit his tongue and acquiesced. Acceptance for acceptance, silence for peace.
Even Godric's infatuation with Rowena had been long forgotten, Salazar claimed victory after seeding her and siring an heir with her. The Gryffindor finally realised that he never stood a chance with her after she came crashing into this quarters in hysterics and begged him to stop the pain the Slytherin had caused by leaving her- begged him to go and find his reckless friend. He finally understood that there could never be any competition between him and his old friend for his lover's heart; it always belonged to Salazar and him alone. For his part Godric respected the outcome and conceded- even going as far as dubbing himself as the child's Uncle and Godfather, relegating himself the role of secondary figure in Helena's life. That was enough for the Slytherin- knowing his little family was safe, healthy and happy and together that was all that mattered to him.
Finally reaching the sunroom, Salazar led Rowena to the nearest and most comfortable arm chair as he sat on the opposite ottoman. Reaching for her feet he slowly rolled his fingers over her exhausted calf muscles and around her swollen ankles down to her constantly aching feet. Rowena now fully comprehended why bare foot and pregnant was a term that was used so often- her shoes were so snug she always had to magic them wider to accommodate for all the swelling- it was becoming a hassle for the woman as she could barely see her feet as it was. Only due to Salazar's insistence did she keep up appearances by wearing her shoes in public but when alone with him and Helena she would ask him to tear off her shoes as soon as she found a flat stable surface to sit on. Which could have been anything- the woman was uncannily good at transfiguration.
Rowena sighed with joyful relief as Salazar's finger worked their enchantments on her body- this being pregnant thing was hard, but she supposed if she got another child out of it like Helena she'd accept all the trouble and pain of the pregnancy beforehand. Even if her feet looked like they belonged to a mountain troll.
"Have you thought of a name yet?" he asked as he drew his thumbs down the inside arch of her feet making her writhe and squirm in her seat much akin to his daughter before.
"Have you?" she countered as she piled her plate up with a large assortment of cookies, cakes and sandwiches. "Oooh look Laz Helga made me cucumber sandwiches yum!"
"Very good dear. Chew. Don't just swallow like a duck. I was thinking Serrpes after my great great grandfather" he replied still working on her feet and thus utterly missing the look of disgust on his lady's face.
"Uh. No. I don't think so," she snorted after she greedily swallowed down her third… no fourth cake. The way she answered had him halt his ministrations even though she whimpered at the lack of touching she was receiving.
"What is wrong with Serrpes? It is a fine noble name-"
"Hell no. It sounds like a snake with a disease…"
"I will have you know that it is-"
"Don't care. Nothing coming out of me is going to named Serrpes. End of story," she piqued as she took a loud slurp of her tea. "Besides I was hoping to called him Eadweard"
"What? After your old suitor?" he snapped back pinching the skin on top of her foot earning him a high-pitched yelp and a heated glare. "No, I forbid it. There is no way I'm letting my child be named after another man his mother is pining away for"
"I am not pining away for him and our son is not going to be named for Edward," she pouted and she clinked her spoon around her teacup listening to the chimes of the porcelain. "Besides…it would have had an extra silent 'e' and 'a' in it and I liked the meaning behind it…" she reasoned but seeing the rage growing on his face she decided against any further advocating for the name.
"Well how about if it's another girl?" Salazar offered trying to get past the memory of the Potter Prince his little Ravenclaw was so once enamoured with, "What would we name her then?"
"Psssht it's a boy!" she rejected as she waved her hand frantically waving the suggestion out of the air. "Helga and I performed a spell and it said it was a boy"
With another roll of his eyes he pointed his stare to the woman in front of him. He trusted Helga with plants and that was it- although the woman was kind she was hardly going to be labelled the Witch of the Age. Though to be fair the woman could make a mean pot of tea and some amazing sweet cakes. For that the Slytherin was grateful- she was keeping Rowena happy and full and his children thrived under such conditions.
Children- goodness… children. As in plural. As in more than one.
A rap at the window started both of them, as they were not expecting any mail or visitors to arrive at the window- up there on the fifth floor. Arching their necks towards the north windows they found an auburn locked Professor-cum-Uncle and a little ebony haired Princess floating in mid-air sitting quite happily on a broom. Salazar was about to yell at the Gryffindor idiot for unnecessarily putting his heir at risk of serious bodily harm when Rowena began to laugh. Looking closer at the two he could see what she found so amusing, it seemed that the littlest Ravenclaw had undone her braid and ribbons and tried to replicate the style on her Uncle. All she had managed to succeed at was tying up three sections of hair (one on his crown, one sectioned to the bottom of his left ear and the third scooped up at his right temple) and making rather messy bows.
He was exquisite. At least to Helena… and that was all that mattered. No matter how hard the blow was to Godric's masculine pride.
"Mama! Papa! Look Uncle Godric is teaching me to fly!"
Salazar did not trust himself to answer verbally without hexing Godric and thus possibly hurting his daughter so he smiled cheerily and nodded vowing silently to curse Godric's future progeny to be wholly composed of girls. Let the bastard feel the fear damn it.
"Oh baby that's nice- but be careful and listen to what your Uncle says ok? If I find out you were being cheeky no more flying do you understand?" Rowena asked trying to seem imposing, however that was hard with five mini apple teacakes in her mouth. Helena merely nodded happily and looked back at her father who still hadn't changed his expression.
"I promise mama! Besides I need to learn quickly so I can teach Henry!"
Henry? Who the hell was Henry? Salazar quickly went through the list of students that attended Hogwarts and there were no Henry's that year. Perhaps it was one of the Hogsmeade children... no he knew all her friends from the nearby village and the closest to Henry was a boy named Howard. Well, whomever this Henry was he'd find him and rip him apart and make sure he'd never get so close to his angel-
"Who is Henry my darling?" Rowena asked trying desperately to seem casual but her curiosity blatantly showing through. "Godric do you have any clue?"
The older gentleman laughed and shook his head sheepishly as the free hand that wasn't holding on to Helena scratched the back of his head.
"Not a clue! But all day today it's been Henry this and Henry that- even stopped fishing because she saw my broom and asked to be taught so she could teach this Henry kid…" he offered mildly.
At the sound of the child's insatiable giggle the three adults focused their attention back to her. It was quite disconcerting that not one of them knew of this Henry character… who was talking to her? How was he getting to her without their knowledge and consent? Here at Hogwarts where they were all the safest.
"Silly Mama silly Papa- Henry. You all know him. Henry Slytherin!"
Salazar shook his head to process what his little girl had just said- there were no Henry's in his family even amongst his most distant of cousins as far as he knew. That was not a Slytherin name to have. Ever.
"But there is no Henry Slytherin within my family Helena" he said trying to wheedle the truth out of the child. Maybe he could find this little rat bag liar and string him out to dry by his thumbs…
"No no no Papa, he's not here yet- but he will be soon!" she squealed pointed to Rowena's round tummy. "He's going to be my brother Henry!" Rowena smiled and patted her stomach again- Henry- she loved that name. It fit well and would match his sister's name quite perfectly. Helena was the light of their lives and with Henry coming along it was like the final piece of the puzzle to make them a whole family- a home.
"Well then you need to study hard Helena to make sure your brother Henry will learn from the best yes?" she said trying to gauge a reaction from Salazar. He said nothing. That was always good. "And he will be Henry Ravenclaw darling- just like you and me- you see your father and I aren't marri-"
"No Ro she was correct. He will be Henry Slytherin"
"But we're not-"
He gave her a pointed look as if her were asking, really? The smartest Witch of our Age cannot understand what I'm trying to imply?
"We've been engaged since I was five- seems to me that we should have been married years and years ago…" he state as he tapped his finger to his chin thoughtfully. "And we'd could change Helena's name to Slytherin however I think she'd better suit staying a Ravenclaw and inheriting your ancestral lands whereas Henry being my first son should be named Slytherin so no one can refute what is naturally his I am sure you agree… "
A joyous whoop came from his airborne friend at the sound of his friends finally getting around to what their destiny had always dictated. Besides their wedding would make for one amazing party. Godric loved parties.
"… So I don't see why we can't perform the ceremony tonight truthfully, I've just been putting off asking you as you've been so adamant against getting married without your parents, bless their souls," Salazar finished not realising no one was really paying attention. "I could get a Priest or possibly just get Helga's husband to perform the ceremony as he's able to officiate marriages and other legal proceedings as such… we'd be married by sunset."
"Yeah… no that's not going to happen," Rowena replied after a moment's hesitation.
"And why not?" Salazar griped- it wasn't everyday he proposed marriage and planned the whole event (rather unromantically mind you, but still) "Have you got some objections or rather pressing matters that need to be attended to that's more important than getting married to me?" he challenged with his chin and nose high in the air.
Rowena took in a calming breath and reminded herself that her lover was an idiot and often forgot how to behave like a normal person and regularly acted like an arse.
"Why yes in fact. My water broke"
Three sets of eyes turned to her lap and the floor beneath her- a small pool of fluid was indeed under her and her teacup was still upright and full. So it definitely wasn't tea.
"Did you … uh… maybe pee yourself?" Salazar offered nervously. He was meant to have another couple of weeks before the baby came and although he had planned for an early delivery, now that the time came he was still a nervous useless wreck. It was just like Helena's birth where Helga showed herself to be of some worth and import to Salazar- she took charge when both he and Godric were nothing but bumbling buffoons rushing around to get towels and hot water the Muggle way instead of summoning them. He didn't even have time to feel embarrassed about his lapse of magical pride- he was going to be a father! However Salazar had hoped that this time around now that he was more accustomed to being a father after a few years of practise that he would be able and ready for anything. He'd even read so many birthing scrolls he was certain he could deliver the child himself.
And… No.
All that forethought disappeared in a second and suddenly he was a lumbering, clumsy dim-witted oaf. Hands all clammy and sweat instantly beading at his brow- he had serious doubts as to being conscious for the next five minutes let alone birthing the babe himself- oh Gods he just remembered how it –she- stretched… it was the most horrendous thing he'd ever seen… the human body should not be allowed to do that! - (It was close to a year before Salazar had the courage to touch Rowena in any way that may induce that stretching happening again. But he was but a man- he forgot all about that once she returned his advances. Though now was not the time to think about that- unfortunately that had gotten them into this mess to begin with.
"… You know what- you're right. Maybe I did pee myself," she agreed folding her hands over the wet spot on her lap gently. "Or maybe… MY BLOODY WATER BROKE!" she bellowed as she prodded at him roughly with her feet.
"But… this wasn't meant to happen, you were tracking along fine- you weren't meant to be early" he replied monotonously, his face and body wooden and tense. Rowena managed to heave herself into a forward sitting position, removing her legs from her lover's lap.
"Laz"
"Y-Yes Ro?"
"You're going to help me out of this chair, then you'll help me get to the infirmary. Godric-"
"Yes!"
"You and Helena will find Helga for me and ask her to follow us to the infirmary. Please ask her if she still has that amazing batch of chamomile tea we had last week and if she does if she could please be a dear and bring some along with her? While Madam Heathergrove checks me over Salazar I want you to go to our chambers and get a few toys for Helena and Godric to play with and a couple of good long scrolls"
"Uh- of course… why?"
"Because- last time I was in there for over 27 hours and while I appreciate your concern you constantly asking me if I was ok began to annoy me after the first five hours or so. The scrolls will help you relax and keep me from strangling you to death."
Minx.
Giving his future bride a light squeeze against his chest as they rose he allowed a brief smile flicker on his mouth,
"As you wish, My Little Ravenclaw."
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Salazar and Rowena's life had been planned to the letter since they were children- but it seemed that nothing ever seemed to go to plan when it came to them and the people they loved…But they had people they loved, they were happy and they were together. Living whole contented lives; and that was all that mattered in the end.