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

"You're that Gryffindor friend of Davis."

Godric turned, blinking at the sight of Draco Malfoy, with Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him. He hadn't had the displeasure of speaking with the boy, just what he heard from Salazar and Harry. He had been quite content to leave it at that, but apparently the blonde had other thoughts.

Rowena paused by Godric's side.

"And? I'm sure you have a point." Godric looked down at his watch and yawned, covering his mouth with a hand. He really was tired, hadn't slept well the night before because of the dementor, but the boy must have assumed it was a gesture of indifference aimed at him as his glare intensified before glee wrote itself across his face.

"You were the one that fainted, weren't you?"

Rowena tensed beside him and Godric felt a tremor run down his spine, but he simply cocked his head to the side. "No. You must have mixed up your facts."

He turned to go, Rowena hesitating before following his lead. Malfoy had gained quite a bit of attention in the hall. A score of students almost seemed to encircle them. Taking a look around, Godric was glad to see that Salazar and Helga weren't there.

"Right! You were the one who screamed." Anger bloomed deep within Godric's chest and he tried to take a fortifying breath. He continued walking, eyes narrowed. "You clung like a child and cried." Rowena's hand came up and grabbed his arm, offering support, but Godric's vision was tunneling. "Everyone else was fine, but you just -"

When Malfoy started his last sentence, Godric calmly removed Rowena's hold and turned back to Malfoy. "What do you know of death, Malfoy?"

The hall rang with silence.

He stepped forward, a sharp grin on his face that had everyone except Rowena stepping away from him.

"You do know what dementors cause, don't you? You know that they bring your darkest memories, your griefs, your pain, to light. The reason you were so unaffected is because you've lived such a sheltered life that I would hardly call it a life at all."

Malfoy straightened his back and sneered, "You know nothing of my life and you're just weak to have them affect you so."

"Weak?" He laughed. "I think not." He stepped forward again until he was a hair's breadth from Malfoy, whispering so only he heard, "I, unlike you, have seen death. I have held someone I loved dearly as they bled to death in my arms." Diarmid had gone with him at Helga's bequest. And there had been too many. He held Diarmid as the man died. "Do you know the texture of blood, Malfoy? The scent? Have you seen life leave someone's body?" Godric watched in satisfaction as Malfoy's face drained of color.

Good.

The boy didn't deserve to know that hadn't been Godric's worst memory.

Stepping backwards, Godric joined Rowena once more. "You know nothing of me, Malfoy. I suggest you go try picking on someone else."

- - - - Bonus Scene - Salazar - - - -

He was going to kill him. There was no excuse for what the idiot boy did to Godric. He had stepped out of line one time too many. There were no words that Draco Malfoy could possibly utter that would stop the blood lust that Salazar was feeling. He had his wand in hand and all he could see was red.

Salazar came flying down the steps into the dungeon and moved swiftly towards the common room. No, death was too good for him. He was going to flay Malfoy while he still lived, watch him suffer, and then kill him. Pull the skin from his body, strip by bloody strip. Malfoy would faint, he'd soil himself, then Malfoy could die.

He came whipping around the last corner and an arm grabbed him around the waist. Salazar growled in anger and frustration. His body was pressed against something solid and a hand covered his mouth. Salazar was wriggling and fighting, but his arms were pressed to his sides. He knew wandless magic, mostly for potions and healing, but he had a strong will. He simply hadn't worked on any offensive spells yet. He was ready to start now.

Salazar hated being short, usually it wasn't an issue because it allowed him to be overlooked, but right then it was allowing him to be manhandled. He kicked his legs and felt his heel make contact; a grunt of pain was his reward. A voice hissed in his ear, "Stop fighting me and listen." He knew that voice. Gregory Goyle. Salazar stilled and felt himself walking backwards, the voice in his ear was whisper-quiet as Gregory said, "He's waiting for you."

Who was waiting for him? Malfoy? Good. That was who he wanted to see dead. Why was that a problem? Salazar would gladly go to Azkaban if it meant the death of Draco Wait-Till-My-Father-Hears-About-This Malfoy.

They were hidden in the shadows behind a suit of armor. It was a narrow space, barely wide enough for one person to stand there, let alone two. Gregory asked, "If I let you go, will you scream?"

Salazar knew the boy couldn't see his face, so he rolled his eyes. That was a stupid question. Regardless of his intent, of course he'd say no, then do as he wished once he was free. Since he still couldn't speak because of the hand over his mouth, Salazar shook his head. The hand hesitantly drew away from Salazar's mouth, and when he didn't scream, it fell away completely. Gregory was still talking low in his ear, "Snape is down the hall, waiting for you to react to Malfoy. Malfoy is bait."

Hearing this, Salazar sighed and slumped back, leaning against Gregory's taller frame. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Snape is wrong for going along with this, and Malfoy is an idiot. I'm tired of my role as his bodyguard."

Salazar huffed in amusement, "Finally." Salazar worked his arms free from Gregory's grip and folded his arms across his chest, "I still want my revenge."

"Of course, you do," Gregory said, "but you're a Slytherin. You need to stop thinking like a Gryffindor."

- - - - Bonus Scene - Salazar Continued - - - -

The Weasley twins stopped short as they saw who was waiting for them in their 'secret laboratory'. The 'out-of-order' lavatory was hidden to most, but Helga knew where to steer him. Twin One smiled, then Twin Two joined him. Twin One spoke first, "Look what we have here, brother mine."

"A lost little snake…"

"…wants to play…"

"…with the big bad lions…"

"Stop being ridiculous," Salazar said and stirred the potion anti-clockwise three times. "Your potion was too thin, you were missing a binding agent, and I fixed it. You're welcome."

Twin Two moved immediately to the cauldron and inspected what Salazar did. It took only a moment before Twin Two grinned at his brother. Twin One asked, "What do you want in exchange?"

"Revenge," Salazar said.

"On whom?"

"Malfoy," Salazar said without hesitation.

"We don't need…"

"…your permission"

"…to prank Malfoy."

"I didn't come to give my permission."

"We're already…"

"I want in," Salazar interrupted.

"We don't need your help."

Salazar's grin grew slowly. It was a devilish sight that caused Twin One to swallow hard and Twin Two to step back in surprise. Salazar's voice was sans inflection when he said, "I didn't ask."

- - - - Bonus Scene - Salazar Continued - - - -

It took some creativity. It took some intensive brewing. And it took putting up with the twin menaces repeatedly asking if they could hire him once they opened their joke shop after graduation. But the potion was brewed to perfection and the plan was made. Salazar could breathe again at last.

It was the next morning, everyone was gathering in the Great Hall, and the food arrived on time. The chatter was a low buzz with occasional bursts of laughter.

Salazar refused to look his way. He'd been ignoring Malfoy since his attack on Godric. Not because he was afraid of what Malfoy would do, but because he still wanted him dead. Although he had been looking forward to today.

He knew the moment it took effect. Malfoy had been grandstanding, as always, telling any who bothered to listen about whatever lies he dreamed up. The boy stopped mid-sentence and stood up. He said, as loudly as he could manage, "Crabbe and Goyle only follow me around because my father pays their fathers." Then he abruptly sat down.

Not many heard him. The entire table of Slytherins had. It was a start.

Less than a minute later, Malfoy stood again. At the top of his voice he confessed, "My dick isn't 17cm, it's barely 13."

He was gaining attention from other tables. The Slytherins weren't bothering to pretend they weren't enjoying the pointed faced blonde's humiliation. Malfoy struggled with himself, but he continued to stand, spouting his truths, and gaining attention. "Pansy said my nose is too pointy. I cried."

The boy was trembling. "I only hate Hermione Granger because she gets better grades than I do." Malfoy stared at the girl as he admitted, " My father whips me to teach me to be better. He says it's because a mudblood scores higher grades than his useless spawn." It was obvious to Salazar that Malfoy had stopped fighting the compulsion. The blonde simply spoke as loudly as he could manage without screaming. His voice carried in the Great Hall since no one was speaking and all eyes were on him. Malfoy continued speaking to Hermione, "He leaves me chained to a wall when he's through with his lesson so I don't bleed on the expensive rugs.

"I hate my father, even though I keep trying to win his approval." Tears were now falling unbidden and the few staff that had walked in were rushing towards the boy. Malfoy ignored them and yelled to the rafters, "I don't want to be like my father!"

Professor Snape had entered the Great Hall in time to hear that last declaration and he instantly silenced any further outcries before escorting his student from the Great Hall.

- - - - Rowena - - - -

Life at the castle was not business as usual, thank you very much. The escape of Sirius Black had long reaching consequences. First and foremost, were the dementors.

At the Welcome Feast, the Headmaster claimed he couldn't send them away because the Ministry of Magic insisted the creatures were there to protect the children. Then he went on to warn the children not to go near them because they were dangerous and the injury the dementors could inflict was permanent. The Headmaster also claimed they were not allowed on school grounds because that… well, that he would not allow. Poppycock.

Once again, the founders were not impressed by the Headmaster and his lack of action.

The entire castle was chilled beyond comfort, no one was sleeping properly courtesy of the nightmares, and its inhabitants were snippy with each other. Even the best of friends were on edge with each other; they were no exception.

Something had to be done about those wretched creatures. Since the Headmaster wasn't going to get rid of them, the founders would have to.

Rowena decided she needed to go down to the laboratory to check on the warding stone. It had been an age since anyone had access to it and she knew for a fact that it had been tampered with… Hopefully it was only aesthetically altered.

Last year the four always traveled together when they went down to the laboratory. That was because there was an intruder that had gained access. Since they knew the intruder had been stopped, there was no longer a need to travel in groups each time.

Still, there was safety in numbers and Salazar had wanted to see about cleaning up the area so it could be used for its intended purpose once more.

"That wasn't a smart move, Sal."

"It was."

"Was there no other way-"

"Certainly. I could have killed him, had him killed, maimed him, or simply ejected him permanently from the school."

"That's a bit extreme."

"It is, which is why I tempered my reaction. He is a child. So, I treated him as one."

"I understand why you did it." Rowena scowled at the memory; how Draco Malfoy stood there taunting Godric over his reaction to the dementor. He was a cruel and spiteful child to be certain, but Salazar's 'prank' forcing the boy to yell out his truths - courtesy of a compulsion/ truth serum hybrid potion - to everyone in the Great Hall was humiliating and petty. Though, if Rowena were to be completely honest with herself, she was impressed with the potion Salazar created.

"Then let it go."

"But the repercussions-"

"He deserved much more than he received," Salazar cut her off. "You know full well what he's done. If we were back in our time, he'd be dead several times over and by Godric himself, no less. So do not lecture me about a harmless prank to teach the imbecile some humility." He paused before stating, "Besides, I inadvertently helped the imbecile. Malfoy left with his mother somewhere, presumably safe from his father's reach."

Salazar hissed his password in annoyance at the laboratory door and barely waited for it to open before storming inside. Rowena sighed softly to herself. She did understand. She had been a witness to the pain Malfoy had inflicted on their friend, but Godric was strong. He didn't need Salazar rising up to champion for him. Godric was their champion, after all. She moved to enter the laboratory before the door closed on her and stopped short when she nearly ran into Salazar's back. "Sal?"

"How," Salazar asked, "When?"

He moved forward and Rowena rushed to catch up, finally spotting what had caught her friend's attention. She gave a startled laugh. "It's beautiful."

They stood before the warding stone. It no longer was the larger than life bust of Aedelric Slytherin. It was now a beautiful likeness of Hogwarts or, more accurately, what Hogwarts had looked like when the castle had first been built.

Rowena felt the tears prickling at her, she slipped her hand in Salazar's and asked, "Who did this?"

"If I had to wager a guess, I'd say Godric," Salazar said and Rowena took a step forward, wand in hand. Salazar tugged her back. "You're not changing that. It's beautiful. You said so yourself."

Smiling, Rowena shook her head. "I have no intention of changing it. I need to examine it." When Salazar frowned and looked from her to the new artwork, she explained, "That's the warding stone. I have no intention of damaging it, but it is important that the wards are still safe and strong."

"Ah, yes…" Salazar stopped mid-way through his sentence and looked at Rowena in horror. "Please tell me my idiot descendants didn't do more damage to this school than changing the laboratory into this idiotic Chamber."

Godric and Helga had made it to the chamber in time to hear Salazar's words. Helga was too enraptured with the change of the statue to address the man's concern and Godric was pale, his voice shook in panic, "Did I…" He swallowed and tried again, "Did I damage the warding stone?"

"If there was any damage to the stone, it would have been by the descendant when it was first changed." Rowena shook her head as she read the results of her diagnostics. "There are a number of wards that I don't recognize. I will need to study them, figure out what they are for and if they are truly necessary." She looked over at Salazar. "Your wards have either been weakened or removed. I'm not certain when that was done or for what purpose, but we need those wards back."

Salazar huffed, "It's a wonder we're not in the middle of another plague epidemic. Imbeciles."

Rowena bit her lip to keep from laughing at the man, turned him bodily towards the warding stone, and said, "Yes, they are… now fix it." She turned her attention to the silent Helga. "It's beautiful is it not?"

Helga blinked and brought her attention back to her friends. "It is. It is exquisite. Did you do this?"

"Me?" Rowena chuckled, "I can't draw. Even my stick figures are crooked. No, the closest I get to drawing is my runes. This is Godric's doing."

"How…" Godric blushed and ducked his head. "I…" He rubbed the back of his neck and tried again, "Sal was uncomfortable with it… so I fixed it."

"Well, it's absolutely lovely," Helga said as she looked around and pouted. "Where is Ismanna?"

"Out in the lake or forest I imagine." Rowena removed parchment from her school bag and began writing the runic wards she had encountered within the perimeter wards. Rowena paused her work and said, "I should make a ring for her. Well, perhaps not a ring, but something to alert her of our presence here."

"I think she'd like that," Helga agreed. "I know I would."

The pool of water bubbled after a while, catching Rowena's attention. Soon a snout was breaking the surface. Helga squealed in delight, "Ismanna!" The six-meter-long basilisk swiftly emerged from the water and instantly wrapped around the entire group, pressing her snout lovingly against her mother. Ismanna hissed merrily while Helga laughed happily and snuggled the enormous snake, not caring that she had become drenched. Rowena chuckled at the sight and went back to work. Helga cooed, "I have missed you as well, sweet one."

Ismanna was still hissing, but Salazar didn't translate for her. At least not that Rowena heard. She did, on the other hand, hear expletives coming from her friend. Rowena closed her eyes and did her best not to focus on the snake's silly antics. The warding scheme that she had witnessed came back into focus just as Helga said, "He's busy right now. We will have to wait until he's done working and you can tell me all about your summer…" there was a pause before her best friend amended her statement, "Well, I don't need to know everything you've been up to…"

Ismanna was hissing merrily when Salazar finally deemed to speak, "An acromantula? Good job. There are far too many in the forest."

"On the other hand, if there are many, they can keep Ismanna fed for years to come," Helga said.

Godric had been silent throughout the majority of their time down in the laboratory. He soon walked past Rowena, catching her attention. She watched her friend as he began exploring all the various passages.

Ismanna started hissing once more. Salazar responded in English, apparently choosing to explain to both the snake as well as Helga what he was doing, "The wards I created years ago for the castle were altered or removed." He sighed, "The air in the castle is growing stagnant. In order to compensate for this, they removed the wards over the arrow slits to promote a cross wind effect. It should have been a temporary fix, but instead they left them open, risking the children's health in the frigid winter."

"That's unacceptable," Helga said sternly. "Can you fix it?"

"Not entirely," Salazar said. "The arrow slits are Godric's field… but…" Salazar was silent for a moment before he said, "But the air purifying scheme is reapplied and will be noticeable in three months… perhaps four."

"Shame you can't do anything about the nightmares," Godric said as he rejoined the group. "Hermione says Harry has been having them every night."

"Has he?" Salazar sighed, "I haven't spoken to him since our return. I find it awkward to do so here at school."

"You may want to," Godric suggested. "His 'friend' has been giving him quite a difficult time because of the summer time spent with you."

Salazar sounded displeased when he said, "I see."

Godric sounded bored again when he complained, "We need furniture down here."

"You could scrounge something up, or magic yourself something…" Rowena glanced at her friends and suggested, "We have numerous house elves in our employ."

Ismanna had flicked her tongue at Godric, who flicked his tongue back, then grinned. Ismanna hissed… something which had Salazar pausing. "I'm not entirely certain we can, but we are most definitely working on it."

"Can what?" Helga asked.

"Keep the dementors out using the wards." Salazar reminded her, "I've only ever had control of the inner working warding system, while Rowena, with Godric's input, kept the perimeter wards working."

"I just gave some feedback; the wards are all Rowena," Godric noted.

Ismanna hissed again and Salazar once again paused in his work. "Well, they're foul creatures. Feed on people's emotions. There's nothing positive about them. They guard the wizarding jail, but otherwise we'd be well shot of them." Salazar chuckled at what Ismanna hissed, saying, "Yes, they are bad. They are a threat to the students."

And with that, Ismanna left. She wound her way through the friends until she was completely gone through her watery exit, leaving the four stumbling to keep their footing. Salazar looked at the deep pool of water and asked, "Was it something I said?"

- - - - Founders - - - -

It was early the next day, the morning was already promising an unexpected respite from the horrid unnatural chill they'd been experiencing. Rowena found that surprising since she hadn't worked out a specific warding scheme to keep out the dementors and it not affecting other 'dark' creatures, such as the acromantulas that Ismanna fed on, or Ismanna herself when she hunted past the wards.

Rowena looked out of the window in the common room and noted the receding mist. That was an unmistakable sign that something was going on with the dementors. "Oh, hullo, Lisa Turpin," came a soft lilting voice. "It's a lovely day outside."

She recognized the voice immediately. "Good morning, Luna." Besides, the little blonde was the only person to call Rowena by both her given and surname every time they met. Rowena looked over her shoulder at Luna and noticed that she was practically glowing with health and happiness. Her smile was contagious. Rowena smiled at Luna. "You look pleased."

Luna's smile grew impossibly brighter and she twirled, head back and arms spread wide. "It is a glorious morning." She beamed at Rowena. "The freshness is pushing the wrackspurts away and Helga's queen has rid us of the nightmares."

Rowena was moving as soon as she heard about Ismanna's involvement. "Come along, Luna. Helga will be interested in hearing about this." Rowena sent a pulse through her ring.

"Does that bring her to you?"

"Sometimes I forget you see magic; yes it does."

"Do you think I can learn to do that?"

"Certainly."

Luna beamed happily and practically skipped down the stairs beside Rowena. Suddenly Luna slowed her pace, tilted her head as if listening to something only she could hear, and stated, "He can't get away."

"No?"

"He thinks he wants to, but I don't think he's right."

"We probably shouldn't tell him he's wrong." Rowena learned early not to ask too many questions when Luna started talking about random things. The answer usually came, eventually. Rowena continued, "He'll just argue with us."

Luna giggled and started skipping again. They made it to the ground floor and were met by the other three. Salazar was confused when Luna giggled at him, causing Rowena to smile. Godric yawned as he asked, "What's so important that I'm missing breakfast?"

Rowena gestured to the youngster beside her. "Luna?" The second year blinked in confusion and Rowena sighed, "You mentioned Helga's queen."

"Oh, yes," Luna agreed before turning to Helga, her voice was that soft whispering sing-song tone which sounded so whimsical. "She made an interesting statue near the forest."

The four friends exchanged a concerned look and Rowena didn't bother suggesting the girl stay back, knowing they needed her to show them the way.

"Sounds fascinating," Salazar said in his usual, bored monotone, which usually gave the impression he was anything but interested.

The five made their way through the Entrance Hall, out the front door, and down the path towards the front gates, then skirted around towards the Forbidden Forest. Helga looked over at Hagrid's hut and asked, "Who is taking care of Fang while Hagrid is gone?"

"Harry and Hermione go down there sometimes," Godric said in passing.

Luna said, "I visit with him in the mornings; it's how I saw the statue."

Helga smiled at the girl. "That's kind of you."

"Hagrid will be back," Luna said, "but Fang needs a friend now."

They stopped a few meters back. The statue Luna spoke of wasn't a statue at all. It was a petrified dementor and it was floating much like Sir Nicholas did when he was petrified. Only it was doubtful anyone would be spritzing the dementor with a mandrake potion to cure it.

Rowena shuddered. "Is it me, or does that thing still make you cold?"

"It's not just you," Godric said as he backed away. "I've seen enough. I'll be thanking the queen if you need me."

Without a word, Salazar caught up to his friend and walked with him back to the castle.

Rowena frowned and commented, "They're going to be searching for the diary again."

"I hadn't thought of that vile thing. Whatever happened to it?" Helga asked.

"Sal said something about a hidden vault. He was rather vague about its location."

"That's rather typical of the man."

"True. Let's hope this is enough to release Hagrid."

"It should be."

"It will be," Luna corrected.

"Good," Helga said and took her friends by the hands, escorting them back to the castle. "We don't need to be around here any more. Let the staff deal with that thing."

"They won't be coming back," Luna said with conviction. "The queen has seen to that."

AN-Ajellah: So these are the two 'Unseen Scenes' that started the Bonus Scene craze. While these two are rather dark... Others have been fun.