The Four Founders

The Past

Rowena and Godric managed to crash for the night at a local inn. Rowena could hear Godric's soft snores as she lay awake, thinking about the day's happenings. The questions kept hitting her and she got absolutely no sleep.
How could Helga Hufflepuff be dead?
Was the old lady lying after all?
Why was the old lady even visiting her in her dreams?
Who was actually responsible for the deaths of the Hufflepuffs?

The next morning, Godric woke up to Rowena shaking his shoulders.
"Godric wake up. It's past noon already! We need a plan. We have no idea what to do."
"Nope you have no idea what to do. I know what I have to do. Sleep," he said as he pulled the bed covers over his head to block out the sunlight coming in from the windows.
Rowena pulled off the covers from over Godric's head and flung them to the floor. "Get up right now you lazy butt or I swear I'll sit on you!"
"Gosh I'm awake all right? But what do you want to do? Did the old hag tell you who to find next or something?" enquired Godric.
"No," replied Rowena truthfully, with a touch of despair in her voice.
"Looks like someone could use some cheering up. Get dressed in fifteen and we'll go out to just walk around the city."
"This'd better not be a date, Gryffindor," said Rowena as a smirk spread across her face.
"Oh I assure you it's not, Rowes," whispered Godric to himself.

It was a beautiful summer morning and the sun seemed to be smiling down on the two teenagers as Godric and Rowena made their way through the cobbled streets. They soon picked up some refreshing lemonade at a stand and decided to slurp it down on the banks of a crystal clear, meandering stream.
"So tell me Godric, how did you end up at the Home?"
Godric looked down at the grass he was fidgeting with and started his story. "My parents died when I was at a young age and to be honest, I have no idea how they died.
I was adopted by a young couple soon after I was orphaned. I guess you could say they were good parents as they took care of my every need. But suddenly, when I was around fifteen years old, money started disappearing from our house, especially when I was home alone. So naturally the blame landed on me and my foster parents believed that I was robbing them. It wasn't long after that that I was kicked out and they told me that I had betrayed their trust and love. I became something along the lines of a vagabond until I came across Little Star's Home for the Homeless. And ever since, that's were I've been," finished Godric after which he went back to sipping his lemonade.
"Wow I had no idea you've been through so much," replied Rowena earnestly.
"Nah it's all right. Things could've been a lot worse. But tell me something about your past too now, Rowena."
"Well I don't think there's much to be said. My dad died when my mom was pregnant with me. After grieving for a while, my mom decided to move on and she began dating a man by the name of John Fester. He was so nice to me and I never felt incomplete for not having a dad. They even got married after a while and everything seemed perfect for a while. Then all of a sudden my mom died mysteriously. After her death, my entire world seemed to turn upside down. John became this rude, uncaring father and he treated me so badly. I was shocked that one could transform like this. After that, I became more of his slave than his daughter. And that's when I had my first visit from the old lady and I ran away from home to come find you."
"But how did your dad die?" questioned Godric.
"Well my mom never told me but I believe she didn't know herself," said Rowena as tears began to fill her eyes.
"It's all right Rowena," said Godric as he put his hand on hers to comfort her.
Rowena quickly brushed away her and tears and said, "Shouldn't we get going? I think it'll get dark soon."
"Yeah okay let's go," said Godric as he got up and brushed away the grass on his trousers, letting go of Rowena's hand.

Rowena and Godric made their way through the streets which were now illuminated by the street lights as the sun had set. They were about hundred metres away from their inn when Rowena started to feel giddy. She wobbled on her feet before she fell to the ground as darkness engulfed her.

Rowena was in her house again. She lay on her bed, reading a book when she heard a loud thud under her. Out of curiosity and fright, she quickly descended the steps leading down to the hall. She stood there for a minute or so, trying to locate the source of the sound. And that's when she heard it again, thud. This time, the sound was louder and closer. She headed down to the basement which she never liked to visit due to its dismal and dingy state. A few candles lit the basement, by the means of which she could make out the figure of John. He was facing a large wooden crate with a few holes on top, from which the thud sound Rowena had heard seemed to be emanating from. "You're wasting your time Helga. The crate is protected by enchantments and there is absolutely no way a puny young girl like yourself could break them," said John.
"I will never stop fighting you," came Helga's voice from inside the crate. "You killed innocent people and you deserve something much worse than death," spat Helga with complete disgust and distaste.
This was followed by John's bone-chilling laughter echoing off the walls of the basement as he said," Salazar! Come guard little Helga here. If she makes too much noise or gives you too much trouble, just begin closing the holes of her crate, one by one, with your chewing gum."
"Of course, Mr. Fester," said Salazar as John passed me and climbed up the stairs, as if I didn't even exist. 

"Oh thank god you're alright!" said Godric as Rowena's eyelids slowly began to flutter open. She could see his eyes were red and puffy. Wow was he crying? she thought to herself.
"Godric listen to me," began Rowena, "we need to go back to my house," she finished as she blacked out - with Godric watching her with concern - once more.

                                                                            ***

Author's Note: Italicised text is used to indicate emphasis on words, dreams and thoughts. Bold is usually used for sounds and mostly onomatopoeia.