A Relative Challenge

Chp4: Childish Choices with a Divination Stone

"Honestly, you two act like small children!" A tall, slender woman snapped. "Always trying to top the other. Can't either of you grow up?" She smoothed back some of her raven black hair.

"It's not /my/ fault this is still going on, Rowena!" Replied the man who was being reprimanded by the black haired woman. The man himself had short brown hair that clipped his ears and a very strong build. His grey eyes narrowed as he looked away from her at some unknown object. "Salazar has to keep doing something better than me and rubbing it in my face. You should be lecturing him, not me."

"From what I have seen, Godric, Rowena is right in her words." A short plump woman entered the conversation. Her blond curls fell over her shoulders where they hadn't already been pushed back.

"Not you too, Helga! Why don't the both of you see he is the problem maker?" Godric crossed his arms as he offered a stern look, as if to say 'you know I am right.'

Rowena didn't take his offer as she brushed the man aside. "There is no single guilty party in this. Salazar and yourself just need to calm down and get past this rivalry. We can't finish this school if we all keep bickering over something so trivial-"

"Creating more powerful spells is hardly trivial." Godric interrupted, slightly glaring.

Helga simply laughed. "Just because Salazar got that stick with twigs tied on the end to levitate by itself, doesn't mean he is more powerful than you!"

Godric gave the short woman an exasperated look. "Did I mention he was /sitting/ on said stick and floating all around the First Tower? He laughed every time he past me doing a lap! It was humiliating!"

Rowena rolled her eyes. "You sound like a pouting child, Godric. Listen to yourself! One would hardly believe that you are the same brave and chivalrous man that came up with the idea to build this magical school." The last was said with a flourish of her hand to the surrounding area.

The three of them stopped their conversation as they looked at the spectacle before them. Two giant stone towers and one half completed turret stood amongst more stone walls and the beginnings of an enormous entrance hall. Building materials lay scattered inside the soon-to-be Great Hall.

"Yes, well." Godric swallowed. He had lost the conversation. He always lost this conversation and he knew Salazar would be right there to gloat about something new he found just to annoy him further. Of course, Salazar would wait until Godric had left the two women to start his taunting just so the women would keep pestering Godric on how child like he behaved toward Slytherin.

"I may have started this school," Godric started, "but /he/ definitely started this battle and will not stop it."

Helga giggled at the man's expression of defeat. "Pouting just makes you look more like a child."

Gryffindor rolled his eyes and walked away defeated. He was known for his bravery, sure, but trying to battle Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff ... that was a different matter in itself.

~!~!~!~!~

Godric Gryffindor had many things. He had his pride and fame for coming up with the idea for a school of witchcraft and wizardry. He had his renowned bravery for facing the most difficult tasks. He had his charm and chivalry that won all the ladies he met. He did /not/ have, however, the ability to remain calm when Slytherin shoved more 'improved' magic in his face..

Salazar had wanted to help with the school just to show off that he was better than Godric. Salazar did everything in his ability to prove the annoyingly famous Gryffindor a Slytherin could be better, /is/ better! This had been the way from the beginning of construction. Godric would pull something miraculous off and followed quickly behind was Salazar with something better. Any outsider could see the competition between the two just by the looks they shared during seemingly peaceful times.

The cunning Slytherin, however, never let up. His favorite thing to do would be to send his pet snake to steal small items from Godric while he had his back turned working. It was a game to Salazar to see just how many bricks his snake could steal before Godric, scratching his head, would have to come down from his platform to retrieve more. Not knowing they were the /same/ bricks he had brought up once before. Oh, yes. Slytherin had many laughs.

~!~!~!~!~

Godric smiled as he took in the view of the nearly completed school. Today had been a great day. He placed a few more bricks accordingly without his smile wavering. Not only was his tower nearly completed after arduous months of work, but Salazar hadn't managed to up-stage him in anyway today. In fact, Godric had gotten a good laugh at the sulking form of Slytherin as the man slunk around trying to find /something/ to throw in Gryffindor's face before the day was out. Yes, today had been a good day indeed.

Little did Godric know, Salazar would bring something to light that would threaten the very foundations of the new school, and Slytherin had been working on it for some time.

The dinner hour rolled around for the four wizards and what had been an amazingly peaceful meal turned the exact opposite by the end. It had all started with one little sentence from Slytherin.

"I would like to show you something."

Helga smiled encouragingly as Rowena waited calmly for the man to continue, eyeing Gryffindor to check his temperance. A disgruntled Godric shoved more food in his mouth muttering something to the extent of 'of course he has something to show off ...' Ravenclaw smiled behind her tea cup.

Salazar gave Godric a victorious smirk as he brandished a small crystalline marble.

"There!" He said triumphantly placing it in the very center of the table for all to see. "What do you think?" he looked at everyone expectantly.

Helga blinked in confusion.

Rowena raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Salazar?"

Godric snickered. "It's a ball. He probably thought it was shiny and picked it up on his way to dinner."

"It's not a /ball/ you insufferable git, and I am /not/ attracted to shiny objects like some lower life form!" Salazar had flushed from his anger. His snake reared its head and hissed defensively.

"Then ... what is it?" Helga dared looking quickly between Slytherin and the marble. She knew Salazar was not a man to be crossed with when a vein near his right eye started to twitch. Like it was currently doing.

Salazar turned his trademark glare at the stout woman. He tugged on his beard, as if in thought, to calm himself before continuing. "What it /is/ is a Divination Stone."

"'Divination?' As in fortune telling." Rowena chimed in. Still eyeing the tiny crystal ball unimpressed. "You've created a fortune telling ball? How cute."

"It is NOT a BALL!" Salazar shouted.

"But ... it is round, Salazar." Helga thoughtfully added.

Luckily her statement stopped the forthcoming explosion from Slytherin as he stared at the woman unbelievingly.

"So." Godric broke the silence, an obvious strain on his voice could be heard due to him withholding a laugh. "What does your little fortune ball do?"

If looks could kill, Godric would have been dead a hundred fold. "What it /does/ Gryffindor," The last name was spat "is show us each how powerful our descendants will be."

A tense silence fell between the four wizards. Rowena and Helga were awaiting Godric's comment that would sling the bickering between the two men into new levels.

"So? What did you see in it? Your heir raised high on a pedestal as the entire world bows to him?"

To both women's surprise, and relief, Salazar smiled.

"Actually, Gryffindor ... yes. That is what it showed me more or less."

Godric snorted. "I figured as much. You created it, so you get to be the most powerful."

"What are you implying Gryffindor? That I'm lying to you?"

"Oh, that would be something new now wouldn't it?"

Salazar's nostril's flared. "For your information, I didn't create it. I bought it off a gypsy." After watching Godric roll his eyes he added. "If you still don't believe me, try it out for yourself, Gryffindor. Although I can't promise you'll like what you see. Your heir will probably be groveling in the streets at the height of his power. We all know how 'diluted' your pure blood is becoming."

Infuriated, Godric snatched the small crystal off the table top and stared at it resting harmlessly in his palm.

Helga clapped happily, ready for entertainment as Rowena sipped her tea wisely watching the scene in silence. She knew Salazar's crack about pure blood had pushed Godric over the edge.

"Well?" Godric glanced at Slytherin in aggravation. "What do I-" As soon as he started to speak the crystal had started to glow. The light it emanated seemed to engulf Godric's world and replace it with a different one. A panorama of a dark graveyard, almost void of any color came into his view. An eerie low laying fog swirled around his robes as he took a step bravely forward.

"A graveyard. Of course this would be the perfect place for my heir to be in to Slytherin."

He was momentarily blinded and threw a protective hand up to cover his face. As soon as the light had appeared it seemed to shrink and solidify until it was a perfect sphere floating not but inches from Gryffindor's nose. Godric lowered his hand and squinted at the light orb. A moment passed in complete silence as he watched the light orb in reverence. Soon a female sounding voice floated to his ears. "You wish to see your heir?"

Godric simply nodded, waiting tensely for anything Salazar might have done to cause bodily harm.

The cemetery instantly seemed to blur past him as the stretched light turned here and there. It stopped suddenly and Godric felt himself automatically go into a defensive state. At least twenty men dressed in threatening black robes and masked hoods stood ringed before him. A taller man walked predatorily around a small boy tied up on the ground. Godric watched as the shining entity floated over to the boy and hovered above his head.

"Your heir, Godric Gryffindor. This is the end of your legacy." The melodic voice called to him.

The end? What could that possibly mean?

"I show the last of blood and the last of power to the brave and daring. I show the last of blood and triumph of power to the cunning and ambitious."

Godric blinked at the glowing orb. She, at least he figured it was a she, must have been able to read minds, that was the only possible explanation for her answering his unasked questions. He shook his head clear and watched the boy once more. "The poor child. He looks exhausted."

"Your heir will die by the hands of your rival's heir." The honey voice floated back to his ears. "I show the end to the brave for they can grow from it. I show the triumph to the ambitious for it will make them stronger."

Frankly, Godric's head hurt from the riddles. Then all at once it hit him. The truth that he was seeing. The predatory man that was pacing around the boy must have been Slytherin's heir, and the boy was said to be his heir .... anger welled up inside Godric. This was the future? He would finally be beaten by Slytherin?

"What day is this?" Godric asked to the light.

"July 31st" She responded in the same sweet voice.

"You said my heir will die today."

"Yes."

"Is there anything that can change this?" He hesitated. "Anything that will save that boy from Slytherin?"

"That would be asking to save him from himself, Godric Gryffindor."

A pause and then Godric blinked. "Huh?"

"I show the future. What I show isn't always what you'll see."

"So it can be changed?"

"If it is his choice."

"Choice?" Godric had thought he was confused before, now was a different matter, he was utterly lost.

"You do magic, do you not Godric Gryffindor?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then you should know that it is your choice that affects what magic you use. You choose at a certain point whether to harm someone with your magic or protect someone. The power of 'choice,' Godric Gryffindor, is the most powerful magic in existence." The orb floated closer to his face as if examining him.

He didn't care though. He could change the future, and change it he was going to.

"Take me back."

"As you wish."

The orb seemed to instantly explode, blinding him and when his sight returned he found himself sitting at the dinner table with his fellow wizards. He looked at Salazar out of the corner of his eye quietly. He still held the Divination Stone in his palm.

Rowena became worried. Godric not angry anymore so suddenly? Maybe Salazar had done something to the crystal marble. "Godric are you alright?"

Her response was a quick glance and a nod.

"So you saw it then." A smug smile played on Slytherin's lips. "So? What did you see? The last of your kind curled up in an alley somewhere? Or perhaps," The smug smile suddenly turned poisonous, "you saw your heir having little magic due to those muggle loving ways of yours, hm?"

Godric narrowed his eyes and curled his lip showing his teeth. A distinct growl rippled from his throat.

Helga had stopped bouncing jovially awaiting an entertaining story. Rowena had settled her cup down and waited patiently for the mater to continue.

"That's it then!" Salazar let out a laugh. "Your heir is too weak because he has so much tainted blood in him."

"That's enough!" Godric slammed the Divination Stone on the table top as he stood, glaring at Salazar.

Rowena remained seated but placed a hand on the angered man's arm. "Calm down, Godric. I'm sure it isn't as-"

"No." He didn't take his stare off of the grinning Slytherin. "Not this time. It's gone for far to long."

Helga blinked in confusion once again. "That's not very productive is it?"

This time everyone simply ignored Hufflepuff.

"What's the matter, Gryffindor? Can't handle the truth of your heir being a filthy Mudblood?" Salazar chuckled a bit.

"I've had it with you, Slytherin. This is my choice, I'm making it now." Everyone waited in the mounting tension. "This is my choice." He added a bit more quietly as he balled his fist and straightened his back.

Rowena was a bit worried. Godric was fiercely determined about something. Salazar had finally pushed him too far.

Then, Godric spoke. "I'll beat you no matter what. Even if it takes eternity to do it, I will."

"Is that a challenge, Gryffindor?" Slytherin smirked, clearly enjoying this game.

"Yes. I challenge you. A Wizard's Challenge." Godric set his jaw. What he had just done could cost everyone everything. The words were simple, sure, but the after effects would be the destroyer. It was his choice. He had made it. Just as the entity in the marble had said, the power of choice is the greatest magic of all, and now Godric had made his.

"Oh, a Wizard's Challenge, those are always fun. What are you challenging me then?" Salazar crossed his arms.

"Your power."

"/My/ power? Well, it must have been a desperate scene you saw through the Divination Stone. Powerless were you?" Slytherin inserted every bit of malicious tone he could muster into that statement.

"Slytherin!" Godric said in a low warning hiss between clinched teeth.

"Very well. I accept."

Godric gave a nod of agreement.

"But."

Gryffindor watched the man across from him very carefully.

"Let's make this interesting. The terms are as follows."

Godric readied himself. This was the way of a Wizarding Challenge. One wizard would start the challenge, say what he was challenging for and then the wizard being challenged was the one to settle how the challenge was carried out. It was up to Slytherin now to decide fate for them both. It was Godric's choice ... he had made it.

"If under any circumstance me, or my future heirs kill you or your heir, the name of Slytherin conquers Gryffindor and receives /all/ of Gryffindor's power."

There was a sharp intake of breath on Rowena's account.

Salazar smiled his poison smile once again at the rage seeping onto Godric's face. "Of course, the same would work for your side. Must be fare and all. If you succeed in killing me, or one of your heirs kills mine, Gryffindor will win the challenge and the ultimate power of Slytherin." Salazar extended his hand to finalize the challenge.

"No! Godric you can't except this!" Rowena stood frantically knocking over her tea cup in the process. "Take back the challenge before it's too late. This is only going to end in bloodshed-"

"Of course blood will spill, Rowena." Slytherin interrupted. "No one would win if it doesn't."

She looked in horror from the smiling man who still had his hand outstretched to the determined one beside her and begged quietly. "Please, Godric, you can't accept those terms."

Helga looked in worry as the thick tension of what Godric would do next settled around them.

Gryffindor stared ahead at his rival, his enemy. Leave it to Slytherin to make the challenge deadly. Salazar was power hungry, and wanted nothing more than Godric out of his way to greatness. Could he really do this? Could he kill the man before him just so he could win, just so he could say he finally won against Slytherin? Godric saw the error in his thinking. He had walked straight into an elaborately set trap. Created by none other than the smirking man before him. There was no turning back now. This was the way of the Wizard Challenge.

"Godric?" Rowena asked hopeful again.

He looked at her warmly and smiled softly. Then with sudden determination he glared at Salazar. "I've made my choice, Rowena. There's no going back, it's been done." With that he reached out and clasped wrists with Salazar. Both men bared their teeth in pain, but refused to utter a single sound as their magical power burned the challenge into them, forever sealing the challenge in their blood.

Briefly, as Godric felt the contract being made, he wondered if this was enough to change the future. He hoped that his heir would make the right choice on that fateful July 31st whatever year in the future.