The Best Laid Plans

"Helga?"
I looked up from the work I was marking and saw Rowena standing in the doorway, grinning madly at me. She marched over to my desk, her dark blue gown rustled against the stone flooring and seized hold of my hand. She practically pulled me from my chair and I only managed to grab my cloak from the door before we were running off down the corridor. Several of the students looked up in surprise as we passed. We almost collide with some second years.
"Ro, where are we going?"
"The village."

Hogsmeade had begun to be constructed, after our first term we sent letters home with the children at Yuletide telling parents what we intended and how those who had lost their homes due to the burnings could come and live without fear of attack or having to keep their magic secret. There had been floods of letters in response, which for the most part where blessings upon us for safeguarding and teaching their children, but also the joy of having a village created for the children and to keep others safe. Some had replied back with a keen interest of helping build it and setting up their businesses and shops. We had spent months preparing the plans and roadways, but now building had commenced and we believed it should be finished by late summer.

I wondered why Rowena had brought me with her, but she did not wait for my questions and instead brought me down the hill, past the students enjoying the warm sunshine, reading their books and talking with their classmates. There were only a few more days till most of our students went home, I wondered when Hogwarts would stop being an orphanage to others. Surprisingly I had argued with both Rowena and Salazar about such a thing and even Godric had seemed reticent about the idea. I could not believe my dearest friend Rowena had been so adamant with the idea of sending orphaned children back to their towns and villages, where no one really loved or cared for them. I agreed to be their carer and provider while they stayed at Hogwarts, even though that particularly annoyed Salazar.

"What should happen if one of the wretched things has a nightmare in the night? How are you going to explain what Professor Salazar Slytherin is doing in your bed?" Salazar said to me while I continued placing the books I had borrowed from the library on the shelves.
"That is ridiculous." I said, not bothering to look at him, but feeling him shift his body closer to mine, so we were barely a hairsbreadth apart. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled and I felt my body instinctively respond to his closeness, his warm breath blowing softly against my cheek. I turned to look at him and we were so close I could have easily leaned my head towards him and kissed him.
"If you do that everyone will guess." I said. His eyes did not move from mine and a small smile came to his lips.
"Maybe I want them to guess."
I blushed and glanced down at my feet, "I thought you didn't want them to know."
He gave a nonchalant shrug and I suddenly felt irritated, why did he always have to play with me like that? Promising me something, or seeming to, and then swiftly moving out of the way. I sighed irritably and walked past him.

He didn't bother chasing after me or even attempt to show me any attention at dinner, he was quite happy to spend his entire time talking with Rowena. Sometimes I was scared, I was scared I was losing him and yet somehow wanted to. I was tired of all of this, I wanted love, real, solid, boring love. I wanted a man who stayed in our bed morning and night, who woke me up with kisses and gave me one before I fell asleep. I wanted someone who did not always see every conversation as a battle of wit or winning an argument. Yet each time I looked at him and felt that same burning desire and need, I didn't want to give him up. Salazar always made me feel as though I was his last resistance, as though I was water in the desert. He needed me and I liked being needed. Sometimes when he held me at night, the tightness of his arms almost painfully tight, I pretended as though this was what we had. But even as I imagined a little boy with black hair, dark grey-blue eyes and a very serious expression on his small, sweet face, curled up in my arms while I lay against his father, I knew it was never going to happen. I knew that before we begun.

"You spend so much time alone, Helga. Is everything all right?" Rowena asked.
"Yes, Rowena. I'm fine, just busy." I gave her a warm smile and Ro grinned back, putting my hand in the crook of her arm; she on the other hand had never seemed in brighter spirits. I had suspicions that it was because she had spent almost a year apart from her husband and family home. Maxence had visited once and Rowena had gone home when Helena had been ill, but as soon as the worse had passed she was back at Hogwarts, her students the greater priority than her husband or child. She and Godric spent nearly every moment in one another's company and I was not so much of a fool to believe that when she went into his study they were not sharing notes on their classes or giving one another books to read. Rowena almost seemed to enjoy nearly getting caught. There were times when I had entered a room and she and Godric had sprung apart, as guilty looking as furtive youths.

"Where are we going Ro?"
"I already said."
"But why are we going there?" I asked.
"You spend too much time indoors, we don't spend enough time together and I thought you would like to see the new tavern that Hogsmeade has. It's run by a man called Isaac Smith."
I frown in puzzlement as she skips along the path with me in tow, we are now both in the forest, Hogwarts far back in the distance. Something isn't quite right with this. I pull her short and arch my eyebrows at her.
"Ro, what are you up to?"
She giggles like a schoolgirl, it is very uncharacteristic of her, "Nothing."
"Rowena?" she has often accused me of sounding like her mother, but I know I do now. I fold my arms across my chest and frown at her severely, she gives a peal of laughter.
"Oh Helga, you're so suspicious…but yes, you've caught me out."
"Caught you out?" I ask.
She comes back to my side and puts her arm round my waist, "I know you won't like the idea, but honestly Helga, I really thought that maybe…you and Isaac."
"Me and Isaac, what?" I scowl.
"Well…" she shrugs, "You were a tavern keeper, he's a tavern keeper."

I instinctively pull my arm away from her, "Rowena!"
"Oh come on Helga, it's not going to be that bad."
"You're setting me up with someone."
"And what if I am?"
My mouth drops open and I gesticulate wildly with my hands, "That is not the point." I finally manage to say, Rowena rolls her eyes and gives a long suffering sigh.
"Then what is, Helga? I thought that was what you kind of wanted?"
"What am I meant to want?"
"A family, children?"
"Not with someone I've never met."
"Well that's why we're meeting him." She says brightly and puts her arm in mine again, "Please Helga, do it for me? Look, just come to the village, have a look around and meet him. I'm not asking you to consider marrying him then and there."

I take in a deep breath and let it out in a sigh, "Does he know about this?"
Rowena smiles, showing perfectly even, white teeth, "No, this was entirely my idea."
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" I mutter and Rowena laughs, though thankfully it has returned to its normal pitch and I cannot help but smile when I see her own.
"Fine. But I won't have you insinuating anything or making me feel foolish when I'm there."
"I won't, I promise I won't."
We continue walking and Rowena smiles as the rare, warm sunlight filters through the trees and a soft breeze blows across the lake and the hillside, bringing the smells of sweet heather honey and summer flowers. The trees are golden and sharp green. I remember lying on a bank covered with a cloak, while a man made me almost weep with pleasure when he kissed my mouth and tasted my tongue, his clever hands holding firm onto my waist.

"Helga?"
"Hm?" I look up to Rowena, though I'm surprised with the look of concern on her face.
"You're so quiet of late, though sometimes you can be positively witty."
I shrug, "It's probably the teaching."
She nods slowly, "True, but I think it's also because us four spend too much time together."
"I thought you weren't keen on going home?" I said.
She gives a little, apologetic smile, "I suppose not, but even so. Salazar is so sharp with everyone, I doubt he can even include his father among his friends. And Godric counts everyone to be his friend, even when some ought not to be."
"And me?"
Rowena suddenly stops and pulls me into a hug, she gives me a kiss on my forehead, "You spread yourself too thin."
"You make me sound like butter." I giggle and she smiles, but nods.
"Well perhaps it is a fitting metaphor, sometimes I think you're too kind to people, Helga. Sometimes people, me included, need a shove in the right direction rather than kindness. I know you can't help it and honestly it's one of the best things about you. I just don't want people taking advantage of that."
I hug her back and we walk down to Hogsmeade.

The road has been cleared, a path laid out with some of the businesses and shops already set up, though none with wares outside. As the men and women continued their work, some recognised us and gave us waves or called out greetings. A plump witch came towards us her hair curled up upon her head and roses in her cheeks. She wore a plum coloured woollen dress and her wand was tucked in the waist.
"Good afternoon, Lady Rowena and Mistress Hufflepuff, are you both well?"
"Thank you, we are indeed, Madam Crumb. I hope all is well for you." Rowena said.
Madam Crumb gave a low curtsey and smiled broadly, "Oh I am indeed, my lady. I am indeed."
"Is everything well in the village?" I asked.
"Well apart from a few little squabbles here and there, it's nothing worth worrying about."
"Good." Rowena said, "Anyway, we are visiting Isaac Smith, seeing how his tavern is going."
"It's just down the way," Madam Crumb pointed down the street towards the end, where a dark beamed tavern stood, with a thick thatched roof and the ground cleared of weeds and stones. There was no sign outside it, only several barrels, a cart of wooden planks, spades and saws.
"He's a nice lad, very polite. And…" Madam Crumb leaned in closer, "…I tell you if I was younger. He's a handsome lad." She gave a chuckle and Rowena laughed with her.
"Your poor husband." Rowena said, but as we turned away I saw Madam Crumb give a smug little smile and a satisfied nod, as we made our way down the street. I wondered if Isaac and I were the last ones to know of this planned match.

A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm back at Uni and vice-president of a society, so currently this is a majorly busy time for me. Damn Freshers gave me Freshers' flu too, grrr :( Anyway, I am back and writing and I will try to update as frequently as I can, but I won't promise anything. So thank you to my lovely reviewers for being patient and waiting so long. Much love, xxx