Salazar portion written by: AJFreas

Godric portion written by: Elipsa

It was yuletide and the majority of the students had left Hogwarts to spend the holidays with their families. The group of reincarnated friends had all opted to stay at the school. Since there weren't many students remaining, the Headmaster had everyone gathering for meals at the same table.

That evening's meal was winding down and the four friends were scheduled to gather again. Helga and Rowena had left together. Salazar waited until he felt that the attention had fallen from his friends before he stood to follow the girls to the Room of Requirement. He rose from the table and ignored the looks from those sitting near him. He gave a small nod of acknowledgement to the only attending prefect - the Gryffindor gave Salazar a surprised look - and left the Great Hall.

He hadn't bothered to look at Godric before leaving the room. Salazar knew Godric would follow the moment he left the table. Instead Salazar stood for a quiet moment in the Entrance Hall until he heard the door open and close behind him. Without conscious thought of where he needed to go, Salazar's muscle memory kicked in. He began the trek up the grand staircase towards the seventh floor - automatically stepping over the missing step - and felt the familiar magical presence beside him.

Somewhere between the second and fifth floor, Godric asked, "Don't you find it odd that Bert is still here?"

"Yes," Salazar agreed without hesitation. "Though I doubt there is much we can do about it." They walked up another set of stairs when Salazar gave his best friend a side look and asked, "Didn't you hire him?"

"Me?" Godric scoffed. "No. I didn't do the hiring."

"True, most of the time." They finally arrived on the seventh floor, they moved down the hall to the tapestry of Barnabas. Godric paced three times before the two entered the door that was suddenly awaiting them. The door to the Room of Requirement closed with a soft snick. Salazar found himself in their old office. A table was placed in the very center of the room with four chairs settled around it. Shelves upon shelves of books sprawled along all four walls wherever there was space. Parchment was strewn about on the table: old letters, notices, and other missives. The glass doors that led to the balconies stood open, showing their home as it once was so long ago. They all kept quiet until Hogwarts' magic had sealed the room for their privacy. Salazar picked up the conversation precisely where he had left it, "But that's precisely why this incident stands out in my memories."

"Ludicrous," Godric said and stepped towards Helga and Rowena who were waiting inside the room with three ghosts: The Bloody Baron, the Fat Friar, and Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington.

Rowena asked, "What is ludicrous?"

"Nothing," Godric quickly denied. "How is everyone faring?"

"Godric denies that he hired Cuthbert."

"Because he didn't." Rowena elaborated when Godric gave Salazar a triumphant look, "None of us did really. He followed Godric home one day and has been here ever since."

"He was such a young pup," Helga said with a soft chuckle. "Sweet boy, and rather chatty."

"Like so many of our students."

"Yes, I remember now." Godric frowned. "He sought sanctuary with us."

Salazar sighed. "We can't fire him."

"Fire him?" Godric asked in surprise. "I simply thought it odd he was still here. No one said anything about releasing him."

"He isn't teaching anyone a thing, Godric. I know you have a soft spot for the boy, but we need a better instructor for History of Magic. Students are sleeping in class."

"It isn't within our realm of capabilities to make staff changes. We are currently students with no power to alter things to our liking," Rowena stated as she crossed her arms. "Besides, if it were up to me, we'd have to replace Quirrell as well. The stuttering fool is utterly inept."

"And Snape would have to go," Godric added.

Salazar was taken by surprise by that comment and began speaking on the professor's behalf, "Come now-"

"He verbally attacks students not in Slytherin, in particular Harry Potter. He asks ridiculous questions that students their age couldn't possibly know on their first day of potions class," Godric interrupted.

Salazar shrugged. "The answers were obvious."

"You hardly count as someone their age," Godric retorted. Salazar would have argued that point, but he let Godric continue. "Snape may be a brilliant potioner, but he's not very good at teaching."

"Hmm." Salazar hated to agree with Godric on the point, even if he happened to be right, but there was simply more to Snape that he could not yet explain.

Helga asked Godric, "Have you spoken with him?"

"Who? Snape?"

Rowena shook her head, grinning. Salazar raised an amused eyebrow. Helga prompted gently, "Harry Potter, dear. The boy was in pain at the welcoming feast. We agreed that our return has something to do with the boy."

"Well," Godric admitted with a shrug, "he didn't go to the infirmary, so he must be fine."

Salazar reminded Godric, "It is our duty to look after the students and their welfare. Could you just ask the boy if he's well?"

Godric crossed his arms and scowled at his longtime friend. "I'm not going to coddle the tyke. Besides, I did inquire of his health after our run in with the troll. He said he was well. If he was ill, then he should have gone to the matron to be sorted out."

"Truly? Did you come see me when you were in pain or feeling ill? Or did I have to hear about it from others and be forced to hunt you down in order to heal you?" Salazar teased and Godric chuckled while feigning innocence.

"We would appreciate you giving it another try, Ric," Helga patted her friend's arm.

"Have any of you looked for the laboratory yet?" Asked Rowena.

Godric, who rarely visited the laboratory, shrugged and admitted, "Hadn't thought to do so."

Helga shifted in her seat as she hesitantly spoke, "I have not."

Salazar looked at Rowena in question. "I haven't had a need yet. Therefore, I have not searched. Is there something amiss?"

"I couldn't find it," Rowena admitted. "The entrance to the library is gone. The staff room is bare. Why would they do that? To lose all that knowledge, the work we all put into the library alone…"

Helga had her hand over her mouth to keep her emotions in check. "Did you try the passcode?"

"I did not." Rowena winced at the memory. "There is no fireplace."

Salazar frowned. "That is rather odd. Perhaps they moved the library, but the charms on the laboratory…"

"The ward stone still exists or we could not have returned, plus I felt them when we entered the school grounds."

Godric nodded. "I too felt them. Though…"

"They felt different," Helga finished the man's thought. "Yes, I too noticed a difference on the grounds."

"We need to find the laboratory for the ward stone if nothing else. If the danger to our school and students tries to come to our doors, it would be best to have control back. Easier to keep them at bay," Salazar said and looked at his friend. The woman was doing her best to appear strong, but… "Rowena…" The witch flinched at hearing her name, but straightened her spine visibly as all eyes turned towards her. In only three steps Salazar was before her and holding her hands in his. "Are you okay?"

The Slytherin ghost had avoided Salazar in the beginning. That lasted until the second night when the young reincarnated founder demanded his attendance. It was a very cowed Baron Terence Bayler that appeared in his ghostly bloody form: hat in hand, head bowed and drooped shoulders. Gone was the once haughty and proud man, the one that the students called Bloody Baron. Since that evening, Salazar and Terence had met often. Terence had been updating Salazar about what had happened within the castle and any news that had been brought in from outside sources.

Of the news, the most notable was the information in reference to the currently missing house ghost.

Godric in his usual blunt manner was whispering none too quietly to Helga 'Why wouldn't Ro be okay?' Ignoring the other two in the room, Rowena gave her friend a watery smile and said, "I haven't seen her." Helga tried to hush Godric when he asked 'Her?' Rowena continued, "I had asked the others where she was and was told that she refuses to come." Godric asked again 'Who?!' a bit more persistently only to be shushed by Helga once more.

"I'm sorry, Ro," Salazar said sincerely. "I had hoped to speak to you when I first heard the news… to possibly warn you or seek her-"

"Oh, for the love of all that's magic, who are we talking about and why is Rowena so upset that she hasn't seen her, whoever 'her' is, and while we're at it, where is the Ravenclaw House Ghost?!" Godric bellowed at the room, demanding answers that no one seemed willing to give.

Rowena was unable to hold back a sob. Salazar quickly backed away as Helga rushed forward, wrapping their friend in her embrace. Helga sighed at Godric and reprimanded him, "Honestly, Ric, you have all the subtlety of a brick to the head. Helena is the house ghost and she's too ashamed to speak with her mother. The child is off hiding somewhere instead of doing her duty to the castle."

"Oh," was all Godric managed to say as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, Ro."

In the awkward silence, Sir Nicholas moved forward and bowed before the founders; the ghost fumbled briefly with his nearly severed head and plopped it back into position before speaking, with as much dignity as he could muster, through the ghosts reports and finishing with, "We are at your disposal. How can we be of service?"

Rowena did her best to pull herself together. Salazar's brow furrowed as he glanced at the cowed form of the Bloody Baron, who stood as far away as he possibly could from them and still be in the same room. To see the once haughty man so submissive in the presence of Rowena Ravenclaw was rather distracting.

"Continue your monthly reports," Salazar looked at all three of the ghosts, "if you note anything out of the ordinary, seek us out. That will be all." The Bloody Baron, the Fat Friar and Sir Nicholas bowed to the founders and left through the nearest wall. "We need to figure out what has the castle in such danger." Salazar began pacing the room in thought. "The castle must have some knowledge of events to come. It is a shame we never made the building sentient. Had we done so we could simply ask, but as it stands we'll need to figure this out on our own. We will need to pull together all our resources. Godric, you will need to gain control of the students in your house. Find out what it is that ails young Mr. Potter. Befriend him if you must, but we need to know why his head is hurting him. Then there's the third floor. Perhaps explore a bit when you're bored.

"Rowena," Salazar paused and looked at his longtime friend as she dabbed her eyes before meeting his gaze. "If you can look through the books. Your skill in researching is second to none.

"Helga, perhaps the house elves have some insight. If you could speak with them, it would be to our benefit, I'm quite certain."

"Actually," Helga started and Salazar came to an abrupt stop giving her his full attention, "there are a few things worthy of note that Samuel has passed on to me." Salazar took a seat to give his friend time to gather her thoughts. Helga gave a small nod of acknowledgement and continued, "Though I daresay there is one I would wish to start with that has no bearing on our coming here. Samuel has become tired, sleeping more oft than not. I fear that either our spells have dulled with the passing of years or others have added their own with no knowledge of our enchantments. Rowena, I hoped you could visit him when you have the opportunity to see what is amiss?"

Rowena's hand twitched as if to grab an unseen book and she nodded. "Of course."

"Godric, I know that Hermione, Ronald and Harry say that Professor Snape is attempting to hurt Harry. However, when I spoke to Samuel, he told me that Professor Snape has Headmaster Dumbledore's trust. Completely. It seems as if the Headmaster trusts Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall without any doubt. Samuel was uncomfortable with sharing a lot of the man's personal details, but he did say that Professor Snape once bowed to Voldemort. For reasons Samuel will not divulge, the man became a spy for the Headmaster until the Dark Lord's disappearance."

"If I had to wager a guess, the man either saw what all sane people see when faced with a Dark Lord, or there was a personal loss at the hands of said mad man," Salazar stated. "Either way, I knew there was more to him."

"That being said," Helga continued, "the three of them have their own reasoning of doubting Professor Quirrell. Wrong places, wrong times, faulty explanations and such. They do not have proof, and so cannot act accordingly until the man proves himself at fault. They all believe that Quirrell is after what the Headmaster has hidden here in the school, something that he calls the 'stone'. Samuel is unsure what the stone is, or what it does, only that Quirrell wants it."

"Terrance mentioned that there's something wrong with Professor Quirrell, but he and the others cannot quite figure out what it is exactly," Salazar said.

"That doesn't explain Snape's injury," Godric said more to himself than anyone in the room.

"What injury is that?" Asked Salazar.

Godric looked at him, almost surprised that Salazar had asked him a question; it was as if Godric hadn't realized he had spoken aloud mere moments ago. Straightening in his seat Godric elaborated, "After the troll fell on Samhain Snape, Quirrell and McGonagall came in. I spotted a fresh injury to Snape's leg. He hid it under his robes when he saw Potter looking at it, not sure if he noticed that I had seen it as well. Anyway, I found it interesting, and that injury has the other three utterly convinced that he's trying to get past the Cerberus sitting up in the forbidden third floor, but if you say he's a spy then -"

"I'm sorry… what?" Rowena was taken aback at the cavalier way Godric spoke of a dangerous animal within the walls of their school. "Why is this the first we're hearing about a lethal beast within our school? How do you even know that it is there?"

That's when Godric told his friends the tale of Harry's evening duel romp as was told by the trio of friends. Godric followed that with the recounting of Samhain and the troll. It was at that point when Rowena had quite enough and huffed at her friend, "Ric, you need to keep these children out of harm's way. Encourage them towards safer venues such as studying and learning."

Scoffing, Godric waved a hand in a vague direction stating, "These children are drawn to the danger, not repulsed. And McGonagall hasn't helped by awarding them points for fighting a troll on their own. I've been trying to discourage them from seeking out whatever it is that Fluffy is protecting, but I fear that the damage is already done!"

"Fluffy? Who names a beast like that Fluffy?" Salazar asked with incredulity.

Helga and Rowena exchanged a look of understanding as Godric stated, "Hagrid, of course."

"Of course." Salazar sat back with a soft sigh. "Well now we know what is so dangerous on the third floor…"

All movement in the room stilled at that. Each person looked reflective until Helga continued, "What is more, there is a prophecy that centers around Harry Potter and Voldemort. All that Samuel heard is thus: 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...' Samuel believes we were brought back because of that prophecy."

"That isn't much to go on," Salazar started.

Rowena shrugged, "Yet it is more than we had."

- - - - Bonus Scene - Godric- - - -

The children were driving Godric crazy even as they relieved him of his boredom. They didn't listen, they didn't care that they broke rules, and they had trust issues. And the trust issues explained why they didn't listen and why they didn't care they broke the rules. And because of those issues, Ron and Harry hadn't told him why they were tired or why they were up so late. Harry seemed utterly exhausted and Godric had overheard Ron ask Harry not to go out again that evening.

Even though he had saved Hermione from a troll, Godric was closer friends with Salazar, Helga, and Rowena instead of the Gryffindor trio. Getting information from the children when he didn't sneak up on them was as easy as relearning how to fight - took a lot of time and an endless amount of patience. Patience that Godric very rarely had which meant he had to stay up past curfew when he could have been sleeping and wait for one or both of the boys to exit the common room so Godric could follow them wherever it was they went.

Godric had been dozing outside the common room, disillusioned - he didn't want to risk losing whoever left by having to wait a few minutes to follow after them - when the Fat Lady's portrait swung open. He should probably ask for her name at some point because calling her the 'Fat Lady' was too derogatory for words.

He quietly stood, rubbing at his eyes and clenching his teeth to keep his yawn from being heard. Moments later showed Harry clamoring out into the hallway, clutching some sort of cloak in his hands. The boy wore his sleep wear along with his slippers and Godric kept his irritated sigh to himself. Before the portrait closed fully, Harry wrapped the cloak around his shoulders and Godric fought back a groan. As if keeping an eye on the child wasn't difficult enough, someone had to go and give the boy an invisibility cloak .

Godric followed after the sound of feet on stone, easily keeping pace with the boy. It didn't take long to make it to an unused classroom. Harry slipped inside, Godric only catching a glimpse of what was inside before the door shut behind the boy.

He took a few steps back, muttering quietly under his breath as he dropped his disillusionment charm. When he was a safe distance away, he whispered, "Bob."

A few moments passed before a house elf appeared in front of him. "Sir Gody called Bob."

Godric's eye twitched at the name his house elf had given him, but he took a breath and nodded. "Potter went into the classroom over there," he murmured as he pointed at the door. "I need to get in without attracting his attention. Can you do this?"

Bob stared at Godric, unimpressed. "Yes, Bob can do this." He snapped his long fingers and Godric's form once more vanished from view. "Sir Gody is unseen. Headmaster in room won't see Sir Gody. Bob will come for Sir Gody once Headmaster and boy leaves." Before Godric could say anything more, he felt Bob grab his hand and then Godric was on the far end of the room.

After quietly edging around, he found Harry sitting in front of a mirror. The boy looked dazed, a painful smile on his face, and a tear had escaped his left eye. Godric looked around and after focusing and knowing that the headmaster was there, he caught sight of the old man sitting on one of the desks.

Harry just stared at himself, apparently unaware of the headmaster's presence, and Godric carefully edged around the room to look at what the mirror was showing. All he could see were words inscribed at the top of the mirror - Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi - and the boy sitting on the floor in its reflection.

"So - back again, Harry?"

The boy flinched before he looked over his shoulder. "I - I didn't see you, sir."

"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you." The headmaster was smiling, completely content that one of his charges was wandering the castle after curfew. Slipping off the desk, Dumbledore sat next to Harry and looked into the mirror. "So, you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."

"I didn't know it was called that, sir?"

Godric crossed his arms and carefully took a seat in one of the chairs.

"But I expect you've realized by now what it does?"

"It - well - it shows me my family -"

"And it showed your friend Ron himself as head boy."

"How did you know -?"

Rolling his eyes, Godric was unsurprised at Dumbledore's answer, "I don't need a cloak to become invisible. Now, can you think of what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?" When the boy shook his head, Dumbledore continued, "Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?"

Godric's attention snapped to the mirror, scowling. Harry spoke quietly, slowly, "It shows us what we want... whatever we want."

Erised. Desire backwards. Godric took a look at the words once more and read them backwards: I show not you but your hearts desire.

"Yes and no." Dumbledore sighed. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.

"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"

Dumbledore wasn't going to confiscate it? Godric rubbed his forehead. No, it was far more likely that the man had given it to the boy himself.

Harry stood and moved to the door. "Sir - Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?"

"Obviously, you've just done so. You may ask me one more thing, however."

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"

"I?" Dumbledore's eyes flickered to the mirror for the briefest moment, and Godric was sure the boy had missed it. "I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks." When Harry said nothing, Dumbledore smiled. "One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."

Harry nodded and mumbled a quiet goodnight before throwing the cloak over himself and leaving. Dumbledore stared at himself and whatever the mirror showed him before the old man sighed and stood, more agile than he looked. Without a backwards glance, the headmaster left.

Godric quietly made his way to the mirror.

"Sir Gody ready to go?"

Shaking his head he murmured to his house elf as Godric became visible once more. "In a moment, Bob. I want a look at this mirror."

"Mirror not good."

"No, but I'm curious." And Godric had never really been able to deny his curiosity before.

He knew who he was. Knew what his position in life was. Knew what was expected of him. Knew what he could never have. But desire and knowing were two very different things.

Godric took a steadying breath before turning to face the mirror.

A twisted smile curled his lips upward and his hand curled into a fist. He had accepted the truths of his life the first time around, before he turned sixteen, and he didn't expect those truths to change in this new life.

The image before him he could mostly believe as possible. His friends looked utterly happy. They weren't in a war. They weren't protecting children. They looked peaceful and they weren't at Hogwarts. Those images weren't wrong, they were hopeful. But where Godric stood, the very focale image of the mirror, wasn't possible. It had never been possible.

He rubbed his chest and stepped away. He murmured, "Bob, the headmaster is moving the mirror tomorrow. Can you keep an eye on it and let me know where its final placement is, if it's in the castle? This shouldn't be near the children."

Godric tore his gaze from the mirror to look at the house elf. Bob nodded. "Bob will do so. Ready?"

He didn't look back at the mirror. He knew what he would see. He knew his truths. "Yes, let's go." But knowing didn't stop the hurt when he saw what could have been.

AN-Ajellah: Since we didn't have a name for the Bloody Baron, we gave him the name Terence Bayler after the actor that played him in the first movie.