The Four Shadows

Chapter 7

  Helga agreed to herself that Salazar needed some alone time while Rowena said he was angry and would cool down soon enough, but Godric had ignored everyone's thoughts. The night of the  Quidditch dry run, Godric abandoned his teams after his chat with Monolithos Malfoy, leaving James and Rowena to choose House teams. Helga had been upset at Godric all night. Of course, everyone had gone to bed but Godric stayed in the Great Hall and waited until midnight. At midnight he quietly trekked to Salazars chambers. Godric prepared himself for whatever hell Salazar would unleash on him, but he didn't have to fret about anything because Salazars chambers were empty. Godric shuffled in and peeked around, looking at the green and silver S flags and stacks of parchment. He slid around Salazars desk and discovered a locked drawer.
"He isn't that thick..." Godric spoke to himself. "Alohamora" he whispered as the drawer emitted a soft click. He was shocked to see a simple charm worked on a locked drawer. Godric had expected Salazar to put a Stunning Charm on the lock, but instead only had to easily open it. He slid the drawer open and clipping form the 'Daily Prophet' was stashed underneath a thick journal. A black feather quill rested on top of the journal, with a film of dust on it. It took Godric every ounce of resistance not to take Salazars journal. He betrayed his own Gryffindor values and took the journal, shuffling quietly out of Salazars doom and into the dimly illuminated castle.

  "Third day without Professor S. You think 'es goin' into hiding?" Laughed Algar, mouth full of toast. It was the morning of their weekend and each student was lowly chatting about their trip to Hogsmeade, a Wizarding village not too far from Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was an unnamed wizarding village away from the Muggle eye until the four friends had gave the town a new name.
  Lithos and Algar were once again secluded from everyone at the end of their table.
"No", Lithos said, "He's up to no good".
Algar raised an eyebrow as he poured pumpkin juice into his cup. "No good, eh? I say he's bein' selfish! Him and that lot up there" Algar nodded up to the professors. Lithos took a swig of his own cold pumpkin juice.
"I nearly got Poveglia expelled because of our own damn professor. I'm glad Mr. Kedt replaced him temporarily".
Godric entered the Great Hall, and as he walked in, Lithos and him made tense eye contact for a second. Lithos quickly swiveled back around. "Up to no good" he whispered.
Godric slid in at the professors table and began to talk very low and close to the three teachers.
"Every wondered what goes on in Salazars head?" He asked. The professors were confused, although James had suspected something. "What on earth do you mean?" Helga asked, "And why are you talking so quiet?" Her question was quickly answered by Godric, who slid out a thick, black leather bound journal. James raised an eyebrow.
"The bloody hell is that?" James asked. Helga and him were dumbfounded, wondering why a journal was so important. However, Rowena didn't have to look twice at the book before giving a shrill of panic and slapping Godrics shoulder.
"Oi! Woman!" Godric yelled, rubbing his now stinging shoulder. Rowena's gears kicked into alarm and she swiped the journal out of his possession. Helga cleared her throat.
"For those of us who don't know; what's so important about that raggedy old book?" Helga asked.
Rowena looked offended for a second, then tensed up, afraid to talk about it. "It's Salazar's journal!" She whispered intensely.
"Why'd you take it?" James asked.
"I want to get to the bottom of everything" Godric stated boldly, but James held an opposing hand up.
"Mr. Gryffindor, you have more important priorities! Like the mere fact a gargantuan snake is living under the students and our feet at this moment!" James had his fair share of outrageous secrets. "If you lot can't sort your priorities out, I might just Disapparate at the crack of dawn tomorrow" James stated truthfully. He got up from the table and made way down to the students to chat and mingle.
"He's right, you know" Helga sighed. She poked at her breakfast meat with her fork sadly. "Well it's his fault. If he's putting his selfishness before the wellbeing before his students, he's mental. I say we... we..." Helga trailed off, then reached for the book. Rowena quickly slapped a hand on the book that laid on the table, refusing to let her open it. "If you open that thing, you have no idea what you'll get yourself into. It could ruin everything we have" Rowena said coldly before the students finished breakfast and started to file out of the Great Hall and into their morning lessons. "Lets go. Helga, you're switching with Mr. Kedt today".
The abrupt switches shocked Helga. "But- what-"
Before Helga could object, Rowena was already out the Great Hall.

  The tall windows of the Defense against the Dark Arts room let in enough sunlight to reflect off the oddities placed around the room. Wooden desks that sat two were placed uniform down lines. The students filed in with their parchment, ink and quills, ready to learn or fight whatever thing Mr. Kedt put in front of them. Instead of the stubbly beard and long shaggy haired man teaching them, a pretty, young, blonde curly haired woman stood confidently at the front of the classroom. The students took their seats with raised eyebrows. A few began to whisper.
"Why is Professor Hufflepuff teaching this class?"
"I heard they forced Professor S in the dungeons"
"She's a woman, and too weak to do this"
Helga smiled kindly at the students ready to learn. It was Ravenclaws and Gryffindors paired up today, and Helga was ready to take on the abrupt challenge Rowena gave her.
  "Welcome welcome! Now all of you put your bags and parchment away. We won't be needing any of that today!" She said happily. The students suspiciously obliged and once their desks were cleared, a Gryffindor raised his hand.
  "Yes?" She asked.
"Where's Professor K?" He asked.
"He will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology today! While I will handle this class and Potions" Helga said, still with a smile. The Gryffindor oddly didn't back down.
"Where's Professor Slytherin?" He asked. The question struck Helga quickly. Her kind smile was extinguished. "Er- he-" she quietly mumbled.
"He took a few days away to clear his mind. It's not easy being a professor" Helga said, reassuringly. The Gryffindor boy tilted his head, and a few other students looked confused. A Ravenclaw girl piped up.
"But Miss H, we saw him earlier today, this morning" She said with confusion. Other students nodded in agreement.
"Pardon?" Helga stuttered out.
"It was in the third floor corridor. You know, the practically abandoned one? Looked odd to me but I think he was doing something with our Potions homework. It's just a bit weird. Why won't he come teach us? He's still here isn't he?" The Ravenclaw girl spoke. An outbreak of confirmative and agreeing whispered filled the room. Helga became worried and stressed, and even felt a bead of sweat trickle down the back of her neck. The news of Salazar casually strolling in the corridors without a worry had made Helga scared and anxious.
"I heard he hasn't taught the Slytherins how to fly a broom!" A Gryffindor boy exclaimed.
"One boy got in trouble because he stole broom sticks!" A Ravenclaw boy added.
"A shame!" Another student said. The room had filled with rumors and talk, growing louder. Helga was so struck by the news she drowned everything out with fear, until the students grew louder.
"That's enough!" She said firmly. "We don't spread rumors about teachers, please! Now onto our lesson-"
"Is it true?" A first year Gryffindor girl cut Helga off. Helga turned and faced her. "What ever do you mean?" Helga asked. The Gryffindor girl gulped.
"The battle" She said. Helga was dumbfounded on why her students were so divulging of her professors secrets and events. What had gotten into them?
"The battle?" Helga asked.
"The one that the second years talk about. Where people had invaded the castle with Animagus' and dark wizards and witches. Where Godric and Salazar fought. Brutally". The student finished in a whisper. Helga inhaled sharply and exhaled slowly.
"We think it's the battle that has gotten to Professor S," The Gryffindor student continued. "Everyone says that he was so shaken by it he decided to never to return!"
Helga became so overwhelmed she started to shake her head in denial.
  "No, my dear students, you have to stop filling your brain with rumors. We will tell you when he will return. He is perfectly healthy and needs some time away from stacks of parchment" Helga let her heart fill with gentleness. She didn't want to upset the students.
  "Did Miss Ravenclaw really die?" A Ravenclaw boy quietly asked. The question made Helgas eye twitch. She became irritated with their need and lust for more information about a professor. Helga slammed her hand rather hard on her desk and it startled the students.
  "We will fill all of you in about everything. I will not answer that question Mr-"
  "-Freux"
"Mr. Freux. Now we had told the seconds years not to frighten you will silly stories. Ignore it all. Everything is quite calm I can assure you. Is that clear?" Helga asked softly. The students nodded rather happily.
"Now. Onto our lesson about werewolves...."