Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair

As Godric and I had worked hardest yesterday it fell to Rowena and Salazar to suggest the refugees' plans as we all ate breakfast. Salazar was a good deal calmer today, but he made no attempt to hide his disgust and anger against the muggles. Rowena had already suggested the beginning of a wizarding village near the school, where wizards could live in peace and bring their businesses and families there. It was hard though, many wished to return to the homes and villages they had once loved, the friends and neighbours who had been kind to them, but such things were impossible. It was more than likely their old homes had been torched and if they did go back they would find no welcome there.

Godric had encouraged some to already think of moving into the lands surrounding the Gryffindor estate or Rowena's lands; I could make no such promise as I owned no land, apart from my garden, house and tavern. It was up to Salazar's father whether he accepted the families onto his land, and he was a difficult man to persuade. It was going to be a difficult week of moving wizarding families around the country and establishing them in strange places among people they did not know. I knew people would treat them kindly, with respect and pity, but it would not make life any easier for them. I looked forward to the day when we could open our doors to students, a haven for children, where learning magic was not something to fear or hide.

Godric, across the table from me, suddenly lowered his cup and put his head in his hands. I got up and went to his side.
"Godric?" I gently clasped his shoulder.
"You told me it would not end for hundreds of years, but I find myself hoping it would."
I glanced away from his hunched shoulders and resigned look, I squeezed his arm comfortingly, "These things take time, they are not resolved overnight. Someday our people will go amongst muggles without fear of being attacked or hated. But for now, you and your family have done all that you could, and even if you see it as not enough, I do."
He smiled and held my hand, "Brave deeds are nothing without steadfast loyalty."
"Well then, you have plenty of that with Rowena, Salazar and I by your side."
"I doubt it not, but I was speaking of you in particular. After all, you have said it will be a virtue of your House."
"It will." I decided against mentioning the virtue of loyalty was only something I hoped would stem from my students being accepted no matter their faults or achievements and realising it was important in life to do the same to others. Forgiveness was necessary, no matter how bitter it first tasted, otherwise we'd be forever battling with the muggles.

"We have organised most into staying with friends or close kin…" Salazar walked into the room and I almost leapt up away from Godric, as though we had been doing something indecent, though I had only meant to comfort him. Salazar's dark eyes lingered on me for just a moment longer, his lip turning into a slight sneer and then looked back to Godric.
"The others are going straight to the villages,"
"Are any going to mine?" I asked.
"Nay, but I know of one family going near it. Why?" Salazar almost glared at me.
"I intend to return to my village, to see Alys and to check on our newest arrivals. Being orphaned is in no way easy, Salazar. I'll go with the family to their place and see them settled, then travel on to Caerleon."
"How long for?" Godric asked.
"I will only be a few days, perhaps a week at the very most."
"A week?" his exclamation reminded me why the men in his family were compared to lions.
"Depending on how long I need to make sure the family is comfortable and aiding the children in Rhosyn melyn. I know Alys is competent, but I wish to see to the children myself. Also, Godric if you hadn't wanted me to you would've sent them onto your house in the first place."
He conceded to my point then, "Father is too busy with his travels and the care of his land to take care of children and Gwaine wouldn't know where to start, I knew you'd take better care of them."

I nodded primly and then made my way from the room, as soon as I heard footsteps following me I slowed my pace, I knew who it would be. What took me by surprise was Salazar pulling me into an alcove, hidden by a long tapestry, his hand tightly pinching my arm. Despite the gloom, his eyes bore into mine and I could see the angry shine glimmering in the darkness.
"What were you doing with Godric?"
"Eating breakfast." I replied dumbly.
A soft growl escaped his lips and he shook me a little, "What were you doing?"
"He was worried, hurt by all that had happened yesterday and tired of the on-going struggle. Do you not think I would offer him some sympathy?"

I saw Salazar's jaw clench and he managed to hiss, "He likes you."
I pulled away from Salazar's tight grip, though I did not escape from his grasp, "What? Don't be ridiculous."
"I am not being ridiculous. At first I assumed it was just Godric being Godric, attracted to a woman he has yet to conquer, but I've seen the way he looks at you. It is not even simple lust; his father is urging him to find a wife…"
I managed to pull my arm away from his unforgiving grip, "I do not desire Godric and even if you think so little of me as to sleep with one man and then another, you are mistaken. It seems ironic Godric and I would speak of loyalty then; and now you judge me too harshly to think I would have no morals and seek a man I had no desire for. The only affection I have for him is that of friendship."
I pushed aside the tapestry and made my way to the staircase, "It is typical of you to not even care that I will leave in a few days' time, your only concern being how Godric looks at me, as though I could help that."
I longed to linger, to see if he would admit to his jealousy and ask for my forgiveness or continue his annoyance, but I moved quickly down the stairs and did not wait for his response.

"Rowena, could you tell me the name of the family who are going to a village near Caerleon?" I called to my friend, she was still working in the Great Hall, receiving owls with the newest reports of witch hangings, homes and plots of land available in different towns and villages and personal letters from the families' kin and friends writing to see if they were alive and well. She looked up and smiled to me, bidding me sit beside her. She went through several pieces of parchment before finding the right one.
"Ah yes, the Stump family." She pointed to a family of four, the father and two sons had dark hair, the mother was fair. I smiled when I saw them; they had been very gracious when receiving our help and the father more than willing to help when other families arrived. Though I had firmly told him he needed to rest eventually. The younger boy was engrossed in a book – Rowena had left a small pile on the end of a table – while the older talked with his parents. Rowena grinned at me.
"I think I shall take the youngest, though we will have to see what you think of the oldest. I've only had time for small conversation."

I thanked her and made my way over to the Stump family, Mister Stump gave me a short bow and a smile when he saw me approach.
"Lady Hufflepuff," he greeted me.
"Please, I can make no claim to that title. So Mistress Helga will do."
"Ah, very well. My name is Athurius Stump; this is my wife Nesta and my boys, Eadred and Osmund." The oldest boy, Eadred, gave me a small nod and Osmund looked up from his book.
"I heard tell you were going to a village near my home of Caerleon?"
"Aye, Mistress Helga. My father is yet living in Clogwynaur."
"I have need to visit my house and ensure those there are well, could I accompany you?"
Nesta smiled at me, "Of course, we'd be more than happy to have your help, if you do intend to travel that way."
"We wouldn't want to push our luck, seeing as you've all been so kind to us all." Geoffrey said, his brow creasing a little.
"In these times it is our duty to help our fellows." I replied. "When do you intend to leave?"
"By tomorrow."
"Well if you need any further help; please do not hesitate to ask me."

Most of the refugees kept themselves busy, desiring us to give them tasks to see to before heading off to their new found homes or family. Godric would take all those who would go to his father's land and Rowena a small amount to her's tomorrow. For Godric it was easier, he did not need to ask his father for permission. Rowena still had to seek her husband's view, though I knew she detested doing so and would have sooner owned the land with full rights. Only one family, the Rosiers were journeying to Serpen Slytherin's lands and they told us they needed no guide, for the Slytherins were well acquainted with the Rosiers. There were still tensions amongst those gathered and however much the Stump family smiled, they did not hide their sadness any better than those who showed it forthright. Their boys were certainly not going to pretend all was well. All the children remained quiet and solemn, they knew what was lost and it was not only their homes and old friends that had gone.

I spent most of that day helping Rowena develop a plan for a permanent dwelling place for witches and wizards outside the school, but near enough for visits to the market stalls. It could not be so large we decided, it needed to be a place where only a few families could settle, not all; otherwise we'd be overcrowded. Rowena was more practical in her schemes, while I was already imagining market stalls, an inn like the one I had at Caerleon…
"Helga." Rowena said sharply.
"Hmm?" I pulled myself out of day dreams.
"Concentrate."
"Sorry, Rowena. But it will be so wonderful, won't it?"
She smiled at me, "Yes, I expect it will. But there is still so much to do at Hogwarts, let alone a little village on the outskirts."
"We should think of a name." I said.
She frowned in thought, "It ought to have something to do with the school, but I'm not sure yet. Come, let us pack up and go to supper. We have both spent long enough here, it was meant to be your day off and Salazar, of course, is nowhere in sight." She rolled her eyes and tutted, while I busied myself in organising papers. I saw Rowena wincing though, so I handed the papers over to her and let her organise them as she wished. I could never comprehend her ways of organising her papers. Was it categories and then alphabetical or alphabetical and then categories? I shrugged and flicked my wand at a pile of blankets, neatly folding them. Then I picked up Rowena's inkstand and her swan feather quill.

We were making our way up the main staircase when Rowena suddenly marched directly in front of me and gave me such a fierce look I nearly took a step back.
"What is it?" she demanded.
"What is what?" I asked, feeling slightly foolish for the stupid sounding question.
"You're hiding something."
"I'm not hiding anything." I said, attempting to side step her. She blocked my path again.
"Helga, you're my greatest friend. I promise I won't tell anyone…"
"I'm not hiding anything!" I snapped and walked up the stairs.
I knew I shouldn't have, but it was really quite frustrating constantly having Rowena's suspicion and Salazar's desire for secrecy. Not to mention Godric's apparent desire for me.

I turned back to her, "I'm sorry Ro; I shouldn't have been so harsh. I am hiding something and I shouldn't keep it from you." I muttered, she came to my side.
"I'm sorry too, I pester you too much. But I do it only because I care about you."
"I know. It's just…Alys has plans for marriage, she only told me two days ago and I do not know how I will run my house without her." It was such a false lie I was surprise at my own conviction, but perhaps it had something to do with Salazar, he was a quick and believable liar.
"Oh Helga, you should have said something. Alys is like a sister to you."
"As are you, but I didn't want to concern anyone with such a petty issue."
"It is not petty; sometimes we forget other matters are important in times of difficulties. You will miss her, but perhaps she can still run your house, especially if her husband is not wealthy."
"Well there is only talk of a betrothal," I said quickly. I wasn't that good a liar, if Rowena ever visited my home, and then I had to explain why Alys was still unmarried and childless.
"So there is plenty of time to make plans, and remember, lots of the children there will be staying here." she said brightly. I wondered if she really believed it, I had always been told I was an exceptionally poor liar.

"Late as usual." Salazar snickered when we entered the dining room.
Rowena narrowed her eyes at him, "You do not have a leg to stand on, Salazar. Helga was not meant to be helping today and you stayed in the hall but five minutes. If we are late you only have yourself to blame."
"Peace Rowena, I have had enough foul words, even if they are meant in jest." Godric said, pouring a stream of red wine into Rowena's glass. She sighed and lent back in her chair, giving him a kind smile. Godric looked a little more unperturbed now and he smiled back at her, but his shoulders were still tense and the crease in his forehead had yet to disappear. The easy attitude he had was taking a while to come back.

"Sit Helga." Salazar muttered, I felt myself blinking like an owl and hastily took my seat next to him.
"Are you well, Helga?" Godric asked.
"Yes, just tired, that's all."
"She would not have been if a certain wizard had decided to help out in the Hall." Rowena said through clenched teeth, Godric lay a calming hand on hers and I saw Salazar's hand twitch almost instinctively to his wand.
"Rowena, I am fine and I would have helped anyway." I said.
There was silence around the table as I attempted to pacify the situation, Rowena began to noisily put food on her plate and pass around the dishes, Salazar drowned his wine and then pulled over the flagon to fill his cup. Godric glanced me and raised his eyebrows slightly. When Rowena practically threw a spoon back into a dish of carrots he grabbed her hand and forced her to look at him.
"Rowena." he said sternly, "I will not have foul tempers and fights around this table, give me a moment of peace here, while the darkness is out there."

Rowena's mouth trembled and I noticed her hands were shaking in Godric's tight grasp. She remained dry eyed, but her look of fear and worry was unmistakable.
"I've tried to fix this, but I do not know how." she said, Godric nodded patiently.
"And now you have three friends who are willing to help you, let them and we can at least hope for some future time of peace."
She swallowed and clasped her hands tightly in her lap, "When I have taken some of the witches and wizards to Ravenclaw lands, Maxence desires for me to stay a while, he believes I need to see Helena."
Godric frowned on hearing Rowena's husband's name, but he smiled boldly at her.
"Of course, it would do you good to see her and you must miss her while you are here."

Rowena did not look up, she began to eat her food, and seemingly ensuring every bite of food was to a correct standard and measurement. My heart ached for her. I knew, even better than Godric or Salazar, why Rowena would be frightened at such a thought; of leaving here and going to her home. Maxence was a good husband, father and lord, but I knew Rowena didn't love him. She once had been infatuated with the young Ravenclaw lord, forever talking about how clever he was and how charming he was; but in terms of cleverness she soon outdid him, which for most husbands is not an enjoyable sensation, and as for charm, all spells soon wear off. Charm is not enough for a marriage.

Godric was talking with Salazar; one of Salazar's old friends had begun discussions in Denmark for a possible Wizarding school there and had written to both Godric and Salazar for their suggestions. Rowena seemed a little peeved that she had not been asked, but I was not too insulted by it. There were still fools who believed wizards were better than witches, or at least more respected, but I thought that nonsense. I remained quiet and remembered how much Rowena had pinned her hopes on pregnancy, on the birth of her child just one year after her marriage. She had been married by fifteen, disillusioned by sixteen. Her dream of marriage was already crumbling by then and she hoped by having an heir for the Ravenclaw name would somehow repair what was broken; a unifying force between the two noble families of Scots and French blood.

Thank you ZeesMuse and Ashaacorn, yep it's deep stuff and it's going to get a whole load deeper. Lots of background info about characters. So thanks for reading! xx