"IS THIS IT!?" Helga yelled aloud to no one in particular. She was sitting on a conjured, throne-like chair and in front of her stood tall Rowena Ravenclaw, broad Godric Gryffindor, and stout Salazar Slytherin.

"I'm insulted," Godric said looking away from his cousin.

"Aw, shut-up, Ric," Helga said, "You all are plenty but," and she turned, "Look at this school. It's huge," she said.

The three looked behind her at the (mostly) repaired castle. It stood seven stories high and very broad. It included numerous turrets and towers and even an owlrey. A large chunk of the middle of the castle was gutted out, as it had caved in and the floor and walls were unsalvageable. Rowena was working on a system of staircases that would fill in the empty space.

"Yes it is very huge, we do need more teachers," Salazar said, "How are we to control all of the students you claim to have lying-in-wait?"

Helga rolled her eyes at the obvious jab at her promises, "I don't know, Salazar. I did expect at least ten teachers. Maybe we can shrink the numbers down?"

"Preposterous," Godric said. He began to pace in front of his colleagues with an air of importance, "I say we shall all be responsible for a group of our student's education."

He began to finger the hilt of his sword, "Each of us will take students who we'd enjoy teaching, ones with similar ambitions to our own, that way everyone will get along," he said. He smiled at each of them and in return they stared.

"Now that's preposterous," Salazar sneered. Godric's smile drooped. "How do you expect to find students with similar ambition? Do you Auror's have mind-reading abilities us commoners know not?"

"Actually, Salazar, I'm not sure that that would be impossible," Rowena spoke up. She looked down her sloped nose at Slytherin.

The older man rolled his eyes, "Is that so?"

"No need to be condescending," she said, "There are enchantments that could be applied to objects that could discern mental capabilities. Intellect, bravery, skills, and other things could be weeded out of a person's head."

"What about blood purity?" Slytherin asked. Godric stopped pacing and Rowena and Helga looked at him slack-jawed.

"Surely you are joking?" Rowena spoke up.

"Why would I, dear?" he said, "I would rather not teach Mudbloods, in fact, I refuse."

"Mudbloods!? How dare you! My mother was a Muggle-born witch and she could charm circles around you," Helga yelled. She had hopped up from her seat with her hand on her wand.

Salazar looked unfazed, though his hand was at his hip, ready to grasp his wand, "No need to yell. I am not saying you can't teach the Mudbloods, but-," Salazar was pushed to the ground. He found himself on his back with Rowena straddling him.

"Your terminology offends my friend. You would do better to never utter that disgusting word while you are in her, my, or any of our students' presences. If you would like to continue using that word, feel free to hop on the fastest broomstick back to Durmstrang."

"Not that I don't appreciate the lecture, but the way you present it is rather distracting," he said, regarding to her position on top of him. Rowena scoffed in disgust and quickly stood over him. Helga was no longer shaking in rage, but her plump face was still red.

"As I was saying," he said as he brushed is clothes off, "I would rather teach students of pure… full Wizard heritage. I feel they are most deserving of my attention and I won't give any to the… others."

"I have no room in my plans to send you away and you are an excellent teacher, so I will not dismiss you and I understand your… parameters," Helga said calmly.

"Thank you," he said with a smirk on his face.

She disregarded him, "Rowena would you be willing to put your enchantment on an object?"

"Of course," she said, "But the enchantment would work best on something that touches the head. Maybe a diadem or a crown?"

"I'm sure most young men would find it most uncomfortable placing a tiara on their heads," Godric spoke up. Rowena nodded. Then Helga's eyes brightened.

"I have my grandmother's old had in my closet at home," Helga said. She lifted her wand, "Accio hat," she said.

Sure enough, only a minute later, a small dot appeared overhead. The dot grew larger into a circular shape and the circle floated down right onto Helga's head.

"Oh, it's wretched." Rowena said as she dusted the hat off, then she waved her wand at it, cleaning it off a bit.

"Well no one has worn it since my grandmother, Hephzibah." Helga said.

"Fair enough," she said, "This will do nicely." She placed the hat on her head and tapped her wand on it.

If Helga had not been watching the hat, she wouldn't have seen the large rip near the brim move. She wouldn't have noticed two smaller holes near the point blink, as a newborn baby blinks when its eyes meet light for the first time.

"Oh my," Helga said, she jumped backwards. The men looked at her with confusion and Rowena smiled.

"Well we need him to talk, don't we?" she said. With a smile, she placed the hat on Helga's head. Instantly she heard a voice.

"Ms. Hufflepuff how are you?"

"Err… fine." She thought. She felt talking aloud wasn't necessary.

"It isn't necessary at all. Your Ms. Ravenclaw is a very smart witch."

"Yes, I know."

"Okay, Helga," Rowena said, "As you can see, the Hat can read your mind. He can also read your thoughts, your ambitions, your skills, your weaknesses and your wants. I know it sounds very intrusive but secrecy is a given for the enchantment," Rowena said.

"Very true, m'lady," the Hat agreed aloud, shocking Godric and Salazar who had been steeped in confusion for the past couple of minutes.

"So all I must do is think about all of those things?" Helga asked.

"You already have," the Hat said, "Next, victim."

"I see the Hat has your wit, Rowena," Godric said as he placed the Hat on his head as best he could. His mane of hair did not help the process.

Rowena genuinely smiled, adoring her creation. After a couple of minutes, all of the founders' mental ability and qualities were instilled into the Hat, who sat on Rowena's head, humming.

"What's the next step?" Rowena asked Helga, "How would you like to continue with your school."

"Three points," she said, almost instantly, "One, from now on out, this castle and its ground are our school. We are the teachers the founders, the runners, and the groundskeepers until word gets out. We are the school. Which brings me to my second point, I like Hogwarts as a name. A very judgmental witch once said that these grounds were a wart on Hogsmeade so we shall take that in stride and represent ourselves as such," she looked in each of their eyes. Rowena smiled back at her, Godric was indifferent and Salazar looked like he wanted to protest, but thought better of it.

"Point, three. We need to open soon. The sooner we get these children sorted and taught the more students that will come next school term. Speaking of school term, Salazar when does Durmstrang begin school?"

"The term begins on September 1."

"Good, so shall we." She said, decisively, "That gives us a little under six months to do as we planned. I say we get to work."