The five of them - Godric, Salazar, Helga, Rowena, and Harry - found themselves once more in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, with the cabinet holding the boggart.
For the past four days, one of them separately faced the boggart after it saw Harry and transformed into a dementor. And each time they had created their corporeal patronus, leaving Lupin more bewildered and proud each night.
They each faced the boggart-dementor separately on different nights so Harry had a chance to only face it a few times without harm coming to him or the others. And each night Lupin gave them large chunks of chocolate.
Salazar had gone first and a panther came from his wand on his fourth attempt to attack and push the boggart back into the cabinet.
"Godric... Has... Has anyone told you?"
Lupin had asked what had changed for Salazar, and the man had a simple answer of: "Seeing the dementor took away the option of failure."
The following evening had been Harry.
"It's about Salazar."
The stag patronus pranced around them, enveloping them in warmth before headbutting the boggart and herding it back into its confines.
Lupin had been ecstatic and Harry had explained that seeing Salazar do it, he knew he could do it as well. Godric had refrained from saying that that wasn't exactly how the spell worked. But, apparently it did as Harry had formed a corporeal patronus.
The night after had been Rowena.
"They... They didn't make it, Godric."
Every time they began, Godric stayed near his friends, wand up and ready. He ignored the original Helga's words as much as he could, his skin chilling and sweat drenching his clothing.
Rowena had raised her wand, hand shaking, but voice firm as she called out the spell. And in answer, a burst of warmth and light escaped it. A bird landed at her feet and ran in a circle around her, making a "hoo hoo hoo" sound as it began to run quickly around the boggart. It had been later that evening when Godric found out that the bird was called a roadrunner.
The night before had been Helga.
"Godric, Salazar...he's..."
Helga had surprised them all.
Salazar's had made sense. Confident, sleek, powerful. Rowena, not as much, but a bird usually stood for high intelligence and since it ran maybe it meant that she was a quick learner and thinker, which would fit Rowena.
Helga's patronus was a spider. A giant spider that nearly stood to her knees. It made no sense.
The giant spider webbed the boggart and merrily dragged it into the cabinet and coated the entire cabinet blue in an attempt to keep it inside.
It was finally Godric's turn and he knew his face was ashen and his hands trembled. He had nightmares again the past four days and he had kept his distance from the other four, trying to keep his old memories from overrunning him now.
His eyes narrowed on the cabinet.
"Are you ready?" Lupin asked.
Godric tightened his grip and his shaking stopped. He failed them all last time.
He gave a curt nod.
This time, though, this time he would be strong enough to keep them all safe so they could all live . He would protect them all and he needed to grow stronger.
The cabinet opened, Harry standing in front of it with a grim look of determination. The boggart saw him and immediately shifted into a dementor.
Cold spread about the room.
"He's dead, Godric."
Not this time. His eyes narrowed and he focused on his memories of his friends.
Salazar, Rowena, Helga, and himself creating Hogwarts. Laughing and joking with each other. Of them in this time, making new memories, and still caring for one another.
He would protect them this time. He would keep them alive. He would not fail. They would live.
He spoke calmly and with quiet certainty, " Expecto Patronum ." And... he blinked at the tiny apparition in front of him.
A Hummingbird angrily dived at the boggart, chasing and stabbing at it with quick, jerky movements. It was over in seconds and he watched with a bewildered look as, instead of disappearing quickly like the others, it first circled Rowena, then Helga, and finally Salazar a few times, the buzz of it's fast moving wings filling the room.
They all watched the tiny creature check over his friends before flying directly in front of Godric and stared him down as if demanding him to say something.
He smiled gently at it and held out his hand. It landed on his finger, fluttered it's wings, and dissipated.
He grinned and stared at his friends. "Looks like we can all cast the spell."
The others all laughed at him stating the obvious and Godric was content.
- - - - Founders - - - -
Godric came tearing up the stairs, nearly falling on his face when he made it to the landing. He made it in front of the door, eyes wide, and looked around wildly to make sure no one was there as he said, "Iolaire, will you get Ro for me? Please? I really need her right now!"
The eagle knocker said, "Let me see what I can do."
As he waited, Godric fidgeted and walked in tight circles. He constantly tightened the jumper he had around his waist or messed with the strap of his bag. He started mumbling under his breath and he ignored the other Ravenclaws that came up the stairs and saw him. He didn't say anything as they entered.
Finally, finally Rowena came out and asked, "Ric, what's wrong? It's almost curfew."
Concern laced her voice, but Godric gently grabbed her wrist as he said, "I have an emergency and I need your help. Please."
He began walking away, releasing her wrist and Rowena followed after him. Godric led them to the nearest bathroom and turned to her, and he could see the confusion on why they were in a bathroom of all places.
"Ric?"
He held up a finger and checked the stalls and once he was sure they were all empty he set up the wards around them and locked the doors. "Ro, I'm bleeding. What do I do?"
Her eyes widened. "What happened? Why didn't you go to Sal, he's more -"
"Not that kind of bleeding!"
She paused, "... What?"
"I'm bleeding... down... there . What do I do?"
Silence stretched between them as Rowena just stared blankly at Godric before asking slowly, "Didn't your mother explain this to you?"
"I'm not female! I forgot that it actually mattered that I listen!"
"Your body is female, Ric. How can you forget that?"
"If I could transfigure this body into a male's I would have done so already, but I can't!" Godric paced around in circles. "I didn't mean to forget about what she told me, but I honestly -"
"Ric, it's okay. You're okay." She took a deep breath. "Here's what's going to happen..."
- - - - Founders - - - -
Ismanna stuck her head up from the pool of water, tongue flicking out at Godric when she saw him. He repeated the gesture and her laughter filled the chamber before she ducked back into the pool and into the Great Lake, probably to play with the Giant Squid or the Merfolk.
According to Salazar, she adored most of the creatures that resided in the lake. Except the Grindylows. They were rude.
Godric went over to Samuel and smiled when the hat perked up. "Sir Gryffindor, welcome back!"
Samuel had been doing much better with all the work Rowena had been able to complete. He was now able to hold conversations without being worn and he didn't sleep as often. However, there were a few lingering effects on him, though Rowena and Helga both feared less for their friend.
"Hullo, Samuel, haven't we asked you to drop the titles? You are doing much better, I'm glad to see."
"I am. I no longer have to spend so much time with such large gaps of memory gone because I had slept."
"I'm glad to hear it." Godric shook his head in amusement when Samuel yet again ignored his request. He looked around, finding his paint supplies in the far corner along with his practice sword. "How I miss my own weapon," he mourned.
He turned to go to the workstation to begin his exercises when Samuel's voice stopped him, "Ah, I forgot you had no idea."
Turning around, Godric smiled confusedly at the hat. "You forgot what?"
"One of the earlier spells that had been added to me was to be the bearer of your sword until someone worthy could wield it. Do you believe yourself to be worthy still?"
"Are you jesting, Samuel?" Godric's entire face lit up and he happily moved to stand in front of his old hat. "Do you really have it?"
Samuel chuckled. "Pick me up and I'll give it to you."
Godric vibrated with energy as he picked Samuel up, empty hand at the ready. On cue, his sword fell from Samuel and the pommel hit his palm.
Finally.
His hand gripped the sword and he carefully set Samuel down.
Godric may not be a fighter this time around, but he knew he would need his weapon. And he needed to be able to use it properly. Maybe this time he could retire the blade so it wouldn't be needed again.
Until then, though, he would prepare.
"Thank you, Samuel."
A/N Elipsa: Here are the meanings that I found for the different animals - I'm not putting Harry's since his is the same as in the books.
Panther: Protection, hidden emotions, introspection, caution, careful decisions, multi-dimensional, dark and light
Roadrunner: Mental agility, speed, opportunistic, multi-tasking energy, busy, accomplishment
Spider: Balance, wisdom, creatively, communication, networker, crafty, cyclical, fate, protection
Hummingbird: Messenger, timelessness, healing, warrior, energy, vitality, infinity, affection, playfulness
Google Translate Time:
Iolaire = eagle