Godric had a lot of free time on Tuesdays. He had Charms first thing in the morning with Rowena, Transfiguration also with Rowena after lunch, and then Herbology after a free period with Helga. Usually he woke before the girls and was downstairs in the common room when they were getting up out of bed. However, when he walked out of the showers, Hermione nearly ran into him. She whispered, "Oh good, I thought I missed you."

He peered over her shoulder, but none of the other girls had woken. He cocked his head as he asked, "And this couldn't wait?"

She shook her head. She bit her lip before she quietly blurted out, "My history book. Did you... did you mark it up?"

For a few moments he stared at her, trying to remember what exactly she was talking about. But when she started to wilt he snapped his fingers and nodded. "Yes. I did that the first few days of summer. I'll bring it down with me. Meet me in the common room and I'll give it to you."

Hermione positively beamed before she said, "Thank you, Ric!"

Moving past her, he grabbed his backpack before digging in his trunk to grab her book. He quickly made his way downstairs when he saw Lavender about to sit up. There were some things he just did not need to see.

Ten minutes later, Hermione was hurrying down the stairs, along with a few other early risers. She bounced on her toes and the two went over to the corner where there were a few armchairs. Once the girl sat, looking confused when he didn't do the same, Godric handed her her book. He grinned sheepishly at her, keeping his voice low when he told her, "I can't tell you the truth yet, or write it down, but I can tell you what's wrong." Hermione eagerly flipped through the book and stared at the pages.

After glancing through the first chapter, she looked up at him and asked, "When you can, will you all tell me your stories?"

Godric looked around the common room as he answered softly, "Our lives..." he trailed off and he sighed. "Our lives are our own, Hermione. We're still people and what we've been through is deeply personal. I can promise nothing of the other three, but if you want I will tell you of mine. Nothing in depth, nothing personal, but where I was and facts that I don't mind sharing I will tell you."

A warm hand grabbed his and he turned and found Hermione smiling at him. "Thank you."

He gave a smile and said, "I'll see you in class."

"Ric -" he didn't wait to hear what else she had to say, instead heading for the Room of Requirements. He had a few hours before Charms and he needed a chance away from Harry and Hermione and any prying eyes.

Once inside, he leaned against the closed door and ran a hand over his face. When he could focus and not feel like he was drowning in his memories, he glanced around the room. Godric hadn't gone into his painting room as often as he did once they had found the laboratory. However, some drawings he felt were more private, so he kept them seperate in the Room of Requirement. Though, if anyone went searching for him while he was in the room they would see them.

He wasn't ashamed of his pieces. They just... showed a bit more of himself. Not the bluster or the energetic or the friendly side of him. Some of the paintings represented the darker side he rarely showed. Others... they showed a side of himself he had never admitted to anyone except himself. And his mother. Though he hadn't actually told her, she had figured it out just by looking at the painting.

His mother... he smiled at the thought of her. She had always stood by him, something that had always hit a bit closer than he had ever thought possible. In his first life his parents had abandoned him.

He walked up to the easle and the paints spread about. A blank canvas stared back at him.

When his magic appeared for the first time back in the 900s, his parents had done what they could to stop him from using it. Godric snorted, staring upwards at the ceiling. Even back then he had been an unruly child. He had done what he wanted and used his magic to call items to him or made items less heavy. Within days the Slytherins had noticed the little peon boy performing magic in their halls.

Godric's parents had been utterly terrified over what would happen to them, but the Slytherins had offered to take Godric in and teach him control.

His parents had been petrified to realize that the duke, his wife, and their son had magic, but without hesitation his parents agreed to hand him over. After that Godric had rarely seen his father, his mother was the only one who ever visited him. And when she did visit, they had never spoken of magic and she never brought his sister along when she was born to meet him. Godric hadn't asked when he was younger, but he realized later that the Slytherins must have altered his parents' memories.

His parents had no idea what he did after they had left him, they assumed he would become a knight for the Slytherins.

Blinking his eyes, Godric lowered his gaze once more to the canvas and reached out for a brush.

Honestly, he had become a knight for the Slytherins. They had welcomed him into their home, their family, and Godric had always had the need to prove that they hadn't wasted their time on him. So he had thrown himself into his training. He had never wanted to fight, he wanted to paint and explore. But for them, the ones who raised him, for the love he held for them, especially Salazar, he had become their sword.

He snorted. Godric Gryffindor, riddled with abandonment issues. No one would believe him.

Still... he had a mum who cared and his friends were alive. Both lives had their ups and downs, and they were both his. The good and the bad.

His fingers tightened around the brush and he began to draw an outline of the image in his head. He let himself fall into the headspace and focus of creating a piece.

The hours passed and when he paused to take a breath, he felt a small hand touch his leg. He blinked downwards and found Bob staring at him. "Sir Gody must hurry if he wishes to make class."

"Has it been that long already?"

"Sir Gody always lose time when he paints."

"Thank you, Bob."

The house elf bowed and left, leaving Godric alone once more. He glanced at what he had so far, tilting his head.

On one half lay a field of red. Corpses strewn about and piled upon one another. Faceless men in armor standing, hunched and holding weapons firm. The sky tinged grey and black, weeping in dark, dark blues. Hidden by mist in the top right corner, a shape of the Slytherin's home could be made out.

In the middle stood a man, his back facing the viewer. He had his head tilted back, and staring upwards into the sky.

The other half hadn't been completed, but the red had started to fade to white. An outline of the castle in the far horizon. Three figures reaching towards him had begun taking shape with a fourth standing behind them, ambiguous, but smiling towards the man.

He nodded.

He pressed a finger across the back of the man in the middle, the paint wet and clinging to his skin.

Exhaling, Godric smiled and backed away.

- - - - Founders - - - -

He entered Umbridge's office at eight, having come directly from the Great Hall after supper. Godric, of course, had the first detention as he had been the one to catch the woman's ire. He had detention with the harpy first, Salazar the following evening, and Harry the day after that.

To say that McGonagall had not been impressed with Godric had been an understatement. She had told him that he needed to learn how to keep his head down and his mouth shut. Godric's lips had pressed into a thin line and he firmly believed that the woman needed to be removed with Dumbledore and Umbridge.

Godric stopped at the entrance and stared into the office. The entire room lay covered in pink. Ornamental plates decorated with cats covered the majority of the walls. Vases of dried flowers stood on her desk under lacy things. The woman herself stood in front of her desk, wearing pink and a large smile, and acted as if the room wasn't utterly disgusting.

"Good evening, Miss Dunbar."

Godric stared at the woman, pursing his lips before replying in kind, "Good evening."

"Do you know why you're here?"

"Because I said something you didn't like?"

"Oh no, no, no. This is your punishment for spreading evil, nasty, attention-seeking stories, Miss Dunbar."

Godric smiled at her. "What you assume are evil, nasty, attention-seeking stories, you mean. Like I said: I said something you didn't like and don't agree with. I must say, giving detention because one doesn't agree with your views makes you a poor choice of professor. Especially when the so-called lies had been proven by a Death Eater, in court, with veritaserum."

Umbridge's grin did not falter. "The man had been in Azkaban for years and is completely deranged, my dear. Every word spoken was a fabrication of his imagination. However, we are not here for the spoutings of a madman. We are here so you will get better at controlling your temper."

"You won't be the first to try and you won't be the last to fail."

"We will see. Now, take a seat. You'll be doing some lines for me, Miss Dunbar, and not with your own quill. I have a rather special one for you to use."

His eyes narrowed, but he took a seat and set his bag at his feet. Umbridge made her way to him and handed him a long, thin black quill, the tip of which seemed as sharp as a talon in comparison to most quills.

"I want you to write: I must not tell lies."

Godric reached out before faltering when something about the quill didn't seem quite right. He gazed at the item and focused on seeing the magic: faint red strands moved sluggishly around the woman's hand, seeming to twine up the woman's arm and seeping under her skin. His gaze snapped up to Umbridge and her sickly sweet smile.

"Is there a problem, Miss Dunbar?"

"No, I was just curious if I was to use my own ink?"

"Oh you won't need ink."

"Hmm." Godric reached out and took the quill. He watched as the magic coiled around the so-called professor shifted to attach to himself. It circled around his arm before almost seemingly burrowing under his skin. He kept a shudder at bay as he felt the foreign magic attach itself to him.

Blood magic. A dangerous kind of magic if used incorrectly or if someone who knew what they were doing had his blood. The danger of this specific quill was that if he used it often enough it would bind him to only tell the truths at all times.

They needed to get her out of the school, and he now had the means to do so.

Or he would, after the detention. And after he used the quill.

He took a deep breath and glared at the parchment before him. For the students, he thought, and began to write.

- - - - Founders - - - -

The time clicked ever closer to midnight, but Godric had a destination in mind and he would not wait for better hours. He had sent a message to Salazar before curfew hit to let him know that Godric would need him and Snape after his detention. Finally, he made it to the professor's office doors.

The door opened easily at his touch, and he went in. He breathed carefully, keeping his temper under check. Once the door closed behind him, he warded the room. Only then did he allow himself to focus on the occupants, his best friend having already gotten up and moving towards him. He fought a dizzy spell as Salazar stood in front of him.

"Ric, what happened?"

He sighed. "I wrote lines using an artifact that used my own blood as ink." Godric glanced up at Snape and asked, "Such items are illegal to use on students of Hogwarts, correct?"

"Godric," Salazar prompted.

Godric presented the back of his hand to his best friend as Snape said, "It is illegal to use blood magic on anyone." The man stepped forward and inspected the back of Godric's hand alongside Salazar. Godric fought his instincts to step away from the man, but he was pretty sure Salazar had felt the flinch that went up Godric's arm when the professor moved closer.

The skin had closed over the wound, raised and inflamed. The words that had been carved across the back of his hand couldn't be seen as the entire section was raised and a furious red color. Blood still clung to his wrist and fingers.

"I will -"

"No," Godric interrupted the professor as Snape had been moving towards his supplies.

"No?"

"Salazar will heal me." Godric narrowed his eyes on the man, even as he heard Salazar call for Culley. The elf appeared and disappeared the moment Salazar asked her to grab his healing supplies.

Thankfully, Snape didn't argue, simply asked, "What artifact?"

Salazar ushered Godric to a seat and he allowed himself to be manhandled to where Salazar needed him. Moments later, Culley appeared with Salazar's bag and his best friend began pulling out whatever it was he wanted. Godric focused on Snape and said, "It's a quill. I knew something was off when she didn't give me any ink." Salazar's magic reached out, intertwining with his own in warm familiarity as Salazar searched for all the damage done to Godric. Salazar hissed softly, probably from whatever it was he saw, or felt - Godric wasn't completely sure how Salazar's healing magic worked. Godric continued explaining to Snape, "The magic around the quill was sluggish and seemed to seep under the skin of whoever was holding the thing."

"You can see magic?"

Godric carefully shrugged a shoulder, making sure he didn't move his hand as Salazar began casting in parseltongue. Snape's eyes darted over to Salazar, but Godric brought the man's attention back to him as he explained, "Seeing magic is quite difficult, but it's doable if you put enough concentration into doing so. I can't do so for long, nor can I be doing much else at the same time. Sensing magic, however, is quite more manageable. I didn't like the feel of the magic around the quill so I checked." The pain in his hand finally went to a manageable level and Godric felt some of the tension from his shoulders lessen and he automatically flexed his fingers a little. Magic, the same sluggish kind he had felt from the quill, was tightly wound into a ball under Salazar's palm.

"Jar," Salazar said, eyes narrowed in concentration. When Godric looked at Snape, he saw a jar had flown into the man's hand, a self-satisfied smile curling the man's lips. Godric kept his mouth shut, deciding not to tell Snape that the summoning charm was one of the easiest spells to cast without a wand. Snape handed it over and Salazar quickly put the tightly wound magic into the jar. Both he and Godric set protections without thought around the item.

As Salazar pulled out a vial - Godric recognized the potion inside as the Essence of Dittany - Snape asked, "What is that?"

"The invading magic from the quill," Godric answered. He kept talking to distract Snape and allow Salazar the time to finish. "When I began writing, the back of my hand itched and wherever I wrote, a trail of blood followed. Eventually after a few lines, the cuts began to go deeper and I could read the line in my skin. And by the end, well, you can't even see the line she had me write anymore."

Snape pulled his attention away from Salazar. "What did she have you write and for how long?"

"I must not tell lies," Salazar growled under his breath, though his hands were gentle as he applied the dittany.

Both Godric and Snape looked down at Godric's hand. However, Godric grinned when he saw that the inflammation had gone down significantly. The words, though, were still pretty stark against his skin, but Salazar had pulled yet another jar from his bag. Godric wriggled his fingers and was content when there was no lacing pain in his hand. "Stop that," Salazar murmured as he opened the cap of the salve that he and Rowena had spent a long time creating. Godric had been - still was - allergic to most of the healing potions and salves.

He stopped fidgeting and answered Snape's other question, "I arrived in her office after supper and only left before midnight."

"Four hours?" Snape asked as he sat down in one of his chairs. "She had you writing lines, with your own blood, for the past four hours?"

"I removed the magic from the quill," Salazar stated as he released his hold on Godric's hand and recapped the jar. "You will have light scaring, but nothing overly noticeable." Salazar asked Snape, "Do you have a Blood Replenishing potion?"

"I do," Snape said as he moved to retrieve it. He held the vial out to Godric, but Salazar took it.

"Appreciated." Salazar opened the vial and smelled it before adding two drops of another potion to it. He closed the vial long enough to shake it and hand it to Godric. "Drink."

Godric groaned, but quickly downed the potion. "Thank you," he murmured. He handed it back to Salazar out of habit.

Salazar stoppered the empty vial and slipped it in his bag. Snape stared at the bag and Godric remembered that the vial belonged to the man and not Salazar. Snape didn't say anything about that and instead questioned Salazar, "What did you do to my potion?"

The professor sounded offended, but Salazar waved him off. "Flobberworm. It neutralizes the ginger root. For all his strengths and virtuous heralding," Godric wrinkled his nose at the words, "Godric is allergic to ginger. I felt no need to have the potion returned in a violent manner."

"Learned that the hard way, did you?" Snape asked, sounding amused.

"Numerous times," Salazar said as he gave Godric a small smile. "Interestingly enough, he's still allergic to it."

"Noted. Now, if you would assuage my curiosity, why did you come here? Miss Davis is obviously capable of healing your wounds and ensuring you don't scar, why not go to your head of house?"

Godric blinked. "Right. May I use your floo?"

Snape stared at him. "And ask that of Professor McGonagall?"

"McGonagall would have taken me directly to Madam Pomfrey and gotten a hold of Dumbledore. Plus she, most likely, would not have allowed me to contact Mr. Davis and a lawyer, instead saying that Dumbledore would handle everything. Coming to you, I can say that I went to a professor to receive potions, let them know what happened, and start the process of contacting a lawyer. Three birds, one stone, they say. Or similar."

"I see." He gestured to the floo. "Will the Davis' answer?"

"Of course," Salazar was the one who responded. "After everything that happened last year, my father has assured us that we can call at any hour if needed. He'll answer."

Snape went to the fireplace and threw in some powder and gestured as green flames burst into existence. Godric moved forward and kneeled in front of the floo, knowing he was fine with Salazar there. He said, "Davis Den" and stuck his head in.

He saw the familiar living room of the Davis' house and bellowed, "HEATH!"

A few moments passed before he heard the thump of feet hitting the floor above and quick movements. The feet on the stairs stumbled, and Godric heard Heath cursing. A minute passed before Heath appeared, eyes tired and hands tightening the robe he had obviously just pulled on.

The man looked confused and asked, tiredly, "Ric?"

"Sorry for waking you, but we have a problem at the school." Heath yawned and gestured for Godric to continue as the man sat in front of the fire. "An illegal artifact was used on me this evening."

Heath's hand dropped and his eyes sharpened. "Are you ok? Are my kids ok?"

"I went to Professor Snape and I'm healed, but -"

"Healed?"

"Yes. Sal and Harry are ok. However, this happened during my detention and both of them have detention the next two nights with her. I do not want them to go through what I did."

Heath's gaze darkened before he nodded, hand reaching out and brushing Godric's hair from his face. "I'm glad Professor Snape has taken care of you. I will be there in the morning with Lisa Heathertop and your mom."

Bugger. "Thank you."

Heath smiled. "Thank you for trusting me."

Godric nodded and ducked out of the fireplace and looked at Salazar and Snape. "They'll be here in the morning."

"What happened?" Salazar asked.

"Heath is going to contact my mum." He ran his hands through his hair.

"And this is an issue? Surely you weren't going to keep this from her?"

Godric stared at Snape. "Just last year I was taken off school grounds to be used in a ritual to bring Tom back. The only reason she even agreed for me to come back is because she was assured, by the Headmaster and his deputy, that nothing similar would happen again." He raised an eyebrow. "It hasn't even been a week."

"Ah."

Godric sighed. "Yeah. Ah."

Salazar gripped Godric's shoulder. "We'll think of something."

Godric leaned against Salazar for a moment before he straightened and his best friend lowered his hand. "You're right. Though it won't happen tonight. We'll need to speak with Helga and Rowena tomorrow morning before Mum, your dad, and Mrs. Heathertop arrive."

Snape stood. "Come. Let's get you to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey can look at you." Godric sputtered and moved closer to Salazar even as Salazar asked 'I beg your pardon?' and narrowed his eyes on the professor. Snape looked unimpressed. "If we don't, I'll be questioned on why I didn't take you to the matron. I am not a healer."

Godric pursed his lips, wanting to argue, but he sighed when he couldn't find a good reason that they shouldn't do so. "She won't give me any more potions, right?"

"She shouldn't, no," Snape responded. "If she does, we will be sure to let her know of your allergy." Godric grimaced and Snape's eyebrow rose. "There is more?"

Godric huffed, turning to the door and catching the smile on Salazar's face. "Yes." The professor didn't need to know exactly how many allergies Godric had.

"As you have been taken care of, I doubt she will force you to take any more potions this evening. The most she will do is, possibly, set a regime for you."

"Right. Fine. Let's get this over with." He gestured to the door. "After you, Professor."

He might have sounded petty, but all Godric wanted to do was sleep and he doubted that would be happening anytime soon. Thankfully, neither Salazar or Snape called him out on it and Salazar disillusioned himself as the three left the office.

"I'll see you in the morning, Sal."

"It's already morning."

Godric groaned softly. "You didn't have to remind me." Salazar chuckled softly before Godric felt his best friend's magic heading towards the Slytherin common room. Sighing, he glanced up at Snape. "Must we?"

After spending the majority of his lives around Salazar, Godric was well accustomed to looking for the small ticks in a person's facial features. The man's eyebrows barely twitched, but Godric was quite certain that the professor would be rolling his eyes at his question. "Follow me, Miss Dunbar."

And so they quietly made their way to the hospital wing. Godric kept up with the man's longer stride with ease, though he frowned that he nearly had to jog due to his shorter stature. When they made it to their destination, Snape didn't pause before opening the door and striding in. Godric wrinkled his nose, but followed suit.

Moments later, Madam Pomfrey came bustling from the far side of the hospital wing, a night robe tied hastily in place. "Severus, what happened?" She looked around and Godric scowled as he stepped in front of the professor. He wasn't that short. "Miss Dunbar?"

"Ric," Godric grumbled, but Snape had begun speaking so he wasn't sure if the matron heard him.

"Miss Dunbar came to my office after detention with Umbridge. The woman had Miss Dunbar write lines with a quill that used Miss Dunbar's own blood." Madam Pomfrey was in front of Godric and ushering him to a bed. Godric stepped out of her hold and went to sit on a bed where he could comfortably see everything in the room and held out his hand for her inspection.

"This seems to be treated."

"A salve was applied and I gave a blood replenishing potion. Miss Dunbar asked to get in contact with the Davis family to contact a lawyer. Mr. Davis, Mrs. Heathertop, and Mrs. Dunbar should be here in the morning. I brought Miss Dunbar here." Finished with his report, Snape crossed his arms and waited.

Madam Pomfrey muttered quietly under her breath as she performed a diagnostics spell. "Severus, have Albus and Minerva been contacted yet?"

"They have not. I presumed bringing Miss Dunbar here would be more prudent."

The woman gave a firm nod. "As it should be. Please use my office to contact the two and bring them here."

Godric's shoulders slumped. He wouldn't be sleeping any time soon. And he had classes tomorrow. Though thankfully nothing first period and History of Magic afterwards, so he could sleep during that class as well if needed.

Snape didn't respond, instead sweeping towards the matron's office. For a moment, he thought of sending a tripping jinx at the man before refraining. The man was helping them and didn't deserve Godric's foul mood to be aimed at him. Though if the headmaster showed up...

"Now Ric," oh, so she had heard him, "how are you feeling?"

"Tired," he snapped before he could stop himself. At her narrowed eyes, he exhaled sharply. "After having my hand treated and taking that blood replenishing potion, I feel better than I did when I first went to Professor Snape's office."

"Good. Your hand seems to be healing nicely, though I will want to keep an eye on it. If you continue to use that salve Severus had given you, you should be just fine." The sound of footsteps had both of them focusing on Madam Pomfrey's door as Dumbledore came striding towards them.

"Ric, I hear you had quite the adventure this evening."

Godric's eye twitched and he snarked, "Using a quill that drew my own blood to write lines for a detention is considered an adventure?" He saw McGonagall and Snape heading towards him and bit out, "It sounds more like torture."

Dumbledore was going to say something, but McGonagall asked, "Why did you not come to me, or even to Madam Pomfrey, first?"

He stared at her. "Professor Snape is a potions master and, as such, has potions readily available. I also needed to get in contact with the Davis family in order to contact a lawyer."

"We could handle everything -" McGonagall stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening.

"Which is precisely why I went to Professor Snape instead of you." Once Madam Pomfrey stepped away, Godric stood. "Mr. Davis, Mrs. Heathertop, and my mother will be here in the morning. Probably along with a few aurors."

"I must say I'm disappointed that you felt as if you could not trust us," Dumbledore murmured.

Godric didn't bother to fight the sneer he felt appearing on his face. "After everything that has happened, you believe that I should trust you? How you treated the students last year and Professor McGonagall's inability to listen to her students when they have concerns have pointed to otherwise."

"And yet you went to Professor Snape?" Dumbledore looked over at the other man. "There have been complaints that he shows favoritism to the Slytherins."

"Someone has to," Godric snapped back and he had Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Pomfrey looking at him in shock. "It's true. When Slytherin's lose points, it's more than other houses. They're more likely to get detention over something than any other house. Someone has to balance it all out. Sure, he could have a better disposition and be kinder, but he does care for the students."

At their stunned silence, Godric said, "Now, to the point at hand: Umbridge used a quill that used my own blood as ink. I had to write lines for four hours. I made it to Professor Snape's office around midnight. I had a salve applied and given a blood replenishing potion. I contacted Mr. Davis and he said to expect him tomorrow morning. Is there anything else or can I finally go back to the tower?"

"We must contact the aurors," Dumbledore said as he shook his head. "They will have questions for you. It is good that you got into contact with someone who can get your lawyer here, however it is best that we get these allocations out of the way now and find the item before Professor Umbridge has a chance to move it. Did you see where it was stored?"

"Of course I did," Godric snapped.

"Where was it?"

"I'm not saying anything else until the aurors are here." If they were coming, they needed to be told first. Even though he didn't think that Dumbledore would interfere, he wanted to be careful on the off chance that the headmaster did do something.

"I'll go call them," McGonagall said.

Godric sighed. It was going to be a long morning.