Founder fic
Like a lot of my HP drabbles, I can only blame my fevered imagination. I have no clue where this came from, other than to blame rabican for creating the new potterpast community on HP history. Inspired primarily by the story of Gryffindor and Slytherin's arguments during the founding of Hogwarts. 640 words G rated. Feedback appreciated obviously.
The Last Battle
Rowena Ravenclaw added a final line on her scroll in small cramped penmanship, relieved to have finally committed the Hogwarts code to posterity. Relaxing in her chair, she was startled by the sudden sound of a dull thud and brittle crash in another room. Even from here, she could hear the distant voices shouting. Accustomed to these sounds, she knew who would be on the opposite sides of the table.
"They argue again," Helga Hufflepuff said, stirring her cauldron. "You would think they would tire of this needless bickering."
"Too stubborn by half," Rowena said. "Salazar is convinced of the rightness of his way and Godric is equally convinced of his own." She added sadly. "I see no compromise this time."
"Can you not reason with Godric?" Helga pleaded, listening as the voices raised further. "He trusts you."
"What would you have me do?" Rowena said sharply. "Give Salazar what he wants?" She shook her head. "If we close Hogwarts to only our kind, we will doom it to early failure. Magic cannot grow without a true exchange of knowledge. Our world needs those fresh minds to survive."
Helga sighed, returning to her potion. One did not win many arguments with Ravenclaw either as Godric had himself learned on too many occasions.
Rowena reread her scroll for any obvious errors or misinterpretations. Rolling up the parchment, Rowena tucked it into a holder. She held her wand over the scroll holder, uttering a protection charm. What has been made cannot be unmade.
The shouting finally subsided down the hall. The two women glanced at each other, their expressions remaining grim. The argument between Salazar and Godric had raged now for many months, filled with heated recriminations and grudging reconciliations. Neither woman held out much hope.
Putting away her quill and ink, Rowena stood up, straightening her robes.
Watching her, Helga asked, still intent on her cauldron. "What will you say to him?" The loyal Hufflepuff had also grown accustomed to this sight as of late, seeing the proud learned Rowena play concerned nursemaid after the battle had ended.
Rowena said simply. "What I always say."
Leaving the room, Rowena went down the hall. She tapped on the door. For once, she did not hear the usual assent. Concerned, she entered the room.
Despite the long months of heated arguments, Rowena was unprepared for the sight that awaited her. The room was in shambles, everything overturned or broken in some manner. A large oaken table where the foursome had shared many lively discussions had been viciously split in two, bearing the brunt of someone's fury. Rowena also saw the smashed remains of a large wine jug, the crimson contents splattered on the floor rug and stone underneath.
Godric Gryffindor sat on the window ledge, staring outside, his hair badly rumpled and his face streaked with dirt and blood. Lost in thought, Godric had not acknowledged her presence at all.
Rowena started to pick up the shattered room. A weary "Leave it!" interrupted her progress. Rowena glanced up, meeting Godric's tired gaze for the first time.
"He is leaving," Godric said finally, turning back to the window. "He wants nothing to do with Hogwarts anymore. I was too tired to argue with him."
"Salazar will be gone in a fortnight," Godric continued quietly, surprising Rowena. She expected Salazar to leave immediately. "He said he had something to finish before he left." He shook his head, lost in his memories. "He was so blinded by his hate, Rowena. How can you reason with that?"
Rowena reached over to take his hand in her own small one, squeezing it affectionately. Godric buried his head in her shoulders, shaking slightly.
Wrapping an arm around him, Rowena allowed him to vent his frustration and sorrow. As before, she said what she always said to comfort Godric.
Nothing.
The Last Battle
Rowena Ravenclaw added a final line on her scroll in small cramped penmanship, relieved to have finally committed the Hogwarts code to posterity. Relaxing in her chair, she was startled by the sudden sound of a dull thud and brittle crash in another room. Even from here, she could hear the distant voices shouting. Accustomed to these sounds, she knew who would be on the opposite sides of the table.
"They argue again," Helga Hufflepuff said, stirring her cauldron. "You would think they would tire of this needless bickering."
"Too stubborn by half," Rowena said. "Salazar is convinced of the rightness of his way and Godric is equally convinced of his own." She added sadly. "I see no compromise this time."
"Can you not reason with Godric?" Helga pleaded, listening as the voices raised further. "He trusts you."
"What would you have me do?" Rowena said sharply. "Give Salazar what he wants?" She shook her head. "If we close Hogwarts to only our kind, we will doom it to early failure. Magic cannot grow without a true exchange of knowledge. Our world needs those fresh minds to survive."
Helga sighed, returning to her potion. One did not win many arguments with Ravenclaw either as Godric had himself learned on too many occasions.
Rowena reread her scroll for any obvious errors or misinterpretations. Rolling up the parchment, Rowena tucked it into a holder. She held her wand over the scroll holder, uttering a protection charm. What has been made cannot be unmade.
The shouting finally subsided down the hall. The two women glanced at each other, their expressions remaining grim. The argument between Salazar and Godric had raged now for many months, filled with heated recriminations and grudging reconciliations. Neither woman held out much hope.
Putting away her quill and ink, Rowena stood up, straightening her robes.
Watching her, Helga asked, still intent on her cauldron. "What will you say to him?" The loyal Hufflepuff had also grown accustomed to this sight as of late, seeing the proud learned Rowena play concerned nursemaid after the battle had ended.
Rowena said simply. "What I always say."
Leaving the room, Rowena went down the hall. She tapped on the door. For once, she did not hear the usual assent. Concerned, she entered the room.
Despite the long months of heated arguments, Rowena was unprepared for the sight that awaited her. The room was in shambles, everything overturned or broken in some manner. A large oaken table where the foursome had shared many lively discussions had been viciously split in two, bearing the brunt of someone's fury. Rowena also saw the smashed remains of a large wine jug, the crimson contents splattered on the floor rug and stone underneath.
Godric Gryffindor sat on the window ledge, staring outside, his hair badly rumpled and his face streaked with dirt and blood. Lost in thought, Godric had not acknowledged her presence at all.
Rowena started to pick up the shattered room. A weary "Leave it!" interrupted her progress. Rowena glanced up, meeting Godric's tired gaze for the first time.
"He is leaving," Godric said finally, turning back to the window. "He wants nothing to do with Hogwarts anymore. I was too tired to argue with him."
"Salazar will be gone in a fortnight," Godric continued quietly, surprising Rowena. She expected Salazar to leave immediately. "He said he had something to finish before he left." He shook his head, lost in his memories. "He was so blinded by his hate, Rowena. How can you reason with that?"
Rowena reached over to take his hand in her own small one, squeezing it affectionately. Godric buried his head in her shoulders, shaking slightly.
Wrapping an arm around him, Rowena allowed him to vent his frustration and sorrow. As before, she said what she always said to comfort Godric.
Nothing.