Yellow Charm, Green Indifference

A beautiful witch, wearing trailing robes of yellowish gold, approached him. Her hair came down softly in golden curls, framing her face perfectly. Out of the four, she was the kindest, the most accepting of them all. She was the only one that accepted him.

"Salazar, don't go." When she spoke, her voice was pure and soft, begging him. His morals were moved, but his decision was not.

He turned his back on her. He couldn't bear to see her. There were tears in her eyes; her adoring green eyes were shiny and wet with tears caused by him.

"No Helga, I can not stay."

"Why not?"

Salazar Slytherin flicked his wand at his wardrobe and all his robes, neatly, went into his huge trunk. He did not answer Helga's question.

"Please, Salazar."

His reasons were personal; they had nothing to do with the school. They had to do with his reputation, everything people thought of him. He could not be soft, Slytherins were cunning and evil. They did not fall in love.

Salazar practically heard a tear slide down Helga's face and echo as it fell onto the marble floors of his quarters. He was tempted to turn around, but thinking of all his Slytherins, he stayed put.

No, Slytherins must never love Hufflepuffs. It was just plain wrong.

But he loved Helga.

Even though he was cunning and evil, this was one thing his sly mind could not think through. The only answer was to flee the school; to flee from her.

"Salazar, please, think about it again."

"I am leaving, Helga, that is my answer. It is definite and I will not rethink it."

"No, Salazar, you are unsure."

How is it Helga always managed to sense what was going on in his mind? Another flick of his wand and all his shoes were back in their box. Salazar closed his eyes for a second, grateful Helga couldn't see him. He cleared his mind; he could not let his feelings take over his head. Feelings that did not even mean a thing. He turned around and faced her. "You know perfectly well that I cannot stay."

"No, Salazar, I do not know. Enlighten me." Helga averted her eyes from his face; she didn't dare look at him anymore.

Just as Salazar was opening his mouth to answer, Rowena stormed into the room, Godric at her heels.

"Helga!" Surprise was present in Godric's exclamation. "What are you doing here?"

Helga did not answer, and Godric did not pursuit it. Rowena, fuming, turned to stare Salazar down. "Leaving, are you?" she asked, her voice cold as ice, unlike the Rowena Ravenclaw he knew. He used to know, anyway.

Salazar did not answer.

"How selfish to leave your Slytherins unsupported!" Godric exclaimed.

"And with no replacement for your classes, too," Rowena added.

Salazar just stared at them calmly, keeping his raging temper in check.

Helga was suddenly teary again. "What they mean is, we can't handle the school without you, Salazar."

Godric turned to her. "You're being nice to Salazar?"

Helga felt something rush through her veins; Godric had no right to talk so badly to Salazar. "Maybe that's why he's leaving!" Helga cried. Now she had said it, his reason was practically crystal-clear: nobody treated him right in the castle. "It's not as if you appreciate him, now do you?"

"Standing up for him now?"

Helga's eyes glanced to Rowena. She looked troubled, deep in thought. Suddenly Helga wished Rowena wasn't such a thinker. Rowena could read her like a book; she knew this was one thing she didn't want Rowena to know.

She didn't want Rowena to know she had fallen in love. With Salazar Slytherin.

"So?" she cried, her voice practically spiteful.

"He's a Slytherin!" Godric cried, as if that was reason to hate him enough.

"And I'm a Hufflepuff!" Helga replied, her voice rising just as high as Godric's.

Godric opened his mouth to say something, but lost the words on the way up. Helga saw his throat go dry, and she turned to Salazar again. "Salazar, please stay." Helga was begging now. Again she saw uncertainty cross Salazar's face, and when her eyes flicked over to Rowena, a look of clear understanding was etched over her face.

"No." His voice was the color of the façade he put up near the other founders. Helga felt hurt.

There was no other way. Truth was her last resort. "Salazar, I don't want you to leave."

Helga remembered Salazar was proficient with Legilimency when she felt his eyes burn into her mind and soul. He was checking whether or not she was telling a lie.

There was an intense silence until Salazar answered. "I have no choice."

"What do you mean, you have no choice?" Rowena asked, her logical side taking advantage of her. "There's always a choice."

"You're right," Salazar said. Helga thought he had meant he was going to stay, but she was much mistaken. "This choice is between doing what's right and what's easy. What would you do if you were me?"

Rowena looked shamed. "Take what's easy."

Helga found herself thinking along the same lines.

"No, I would take the right one."

"You're wrong. Everybody wants a simple solution to everything," Salazar pointed out. A flick of his wand and all of his things were neatly aligned in a row of bags and boxes. "It would be real nice if what is easy is always right and what is right is always easy, but unfortunately for you, Gryffindor, what is right is never easy. Never."

"You're a coward."

"You're a Gryffindor."

Helga shut and opened her eyes. The other three were in silence, looking expectantly at her.

"Salazar. I'm begging you, please. I need you to stay."

Salazar looked away; Rowena knew if he looked at beautiful Helga too long he would eventually stay.

Maybe it was best if he left.

What would people say if something happened between Salazar and Helga?

Something beautiful?

Salazar turned to leave, but he stopped in the doorway and turned around.

"I can't do this," he said, more to himself than to anybody else.

"You must stay!" Helga cried excitedly.

"No, I meant, I need to tell you the truth."

Helga's excitement leaked away from her face, and instead it paled. "Why? What's wrong?"

Salazar looked down, calculating. After a few moments, he raised his head again.

"Rowena, Godric, may I have a moment alone with Helga?"

Rowena nodded and was out the door within a few moments, but Godric viewed him suspiciously. "No," he said. "I am not leaving."

Salazar looked taken aback for a moment, but then composed himself. "Fine. Have it your way." He turned his attention on to Helga again.

He stood face to face with her, but they did not look at each other. His insides were burning and his heart beating fast.

"Listen, Helga. The reason I'm leaving..." His voice trailed off. She looked questioningly into his eyes with her big brown eyes.

Salazar took a deep breath and shut his eyes for a second. "Is you."

Helga looked surprised. "What do you mean? I haven't done anything to you, have I? Whatever it is, I'm sorry. Just please stay."

"No, Helga, you cannot apologize for being kind-hearted, smart, and beautiful."

"Excuse me?"

Heat radiated off her porcelain skin, and he felt the sudden urge to touch her.

Maybe there was more ardor in him than he knew.

Thank God future Slytherins will never know the truth about me.

Salazar disgusted himself.

Knowing it would be impolite as well as romantic; Salazar just curled his fingers into a fist.

Godric moved in closer, but Salazar and Helga ignored him.

"I really can't explain it. It's as if I'm possessed, Helga," Salazar said, quietly. "Tell me I'm mad."

"You're not mad, Salazar," Helga assured him quietly.

Helga took one of Salazar's hands and held it in both of hers, it what would have been comforting. Salazar's hands were ice-cold.

Godric, unknown to either of them, had pulled out his wand and raised it slightly.

When he saw Helga's fingers stroke Salazar's hand and Salazar stumbling over his words, not sure which were worthy of Helga, Godric knew he could endure no more.

With one hand, he roughly pushed Helga aside, and he pointed his wand right at Salazar's face.

Helga stumbled, and cried out.

Afraid, surprised and flustered, Rowena rushed into the room.

Salazar had put on his daily façade; the look of cold arrogance back on his face, not caring about the wand positioned right in front of his nose.

Godric was shaking; not with fear but with anger, malice, resentment.

"You filthy scum, you don't deserve her," Godric hissed, malevolence and disgust in his tone.

Slowly, it dawned on Rowena. She felt like hexing herself for being so stupid.

Godric was also in love with Helga.

Salazar's chambers were quiet; not one of the four founders dared make a sound. Rowena stood frozen at the door, and Helga was still on the floor, her golden robe around her, reflecting light onto her frightened face.

She looked from Salazar, to Godric, to Rowena, looking for someone's eyes, desperate for eye contact.

She whimpered. "Godric, Godric, please don't Godric..."

Godric's eyes flicked over to her pleading features, and he lowered his wand. He looked down to the marble floor.

Helga was now kneeling, and Salazar turned around.

He looked... torn. Truly, that was the only word that could describe the look on his face.

Rowena wanted to shut her eyes. In all her years of knowing Salazar, he never gave her the impression that he actually had a heart. That he could actually love.

And the look on his face just ruled out all her previous assumptions.

If anything, he had more love than any of the other founders.

He just never let it show in his proud, snakelike face. Not even in his eyes.

Rowena involuntarily exhaled loudly.

Why did all the men she met always ended up falling for Helga? As if Rowena did not have any of Helga's qualities.

Oh, maybe except for the innocence, and the helplessness Helga had. Also, she was naïve.

And Rowena was anything but that.

Maybe that gave the Salazar and Godric the feeling like Helga needed protection, and that they were the only one that could give it. Maybe.

This was one thing Rowena would never know.

Salazar turned back to Helga, and held her gaze.

Against his sanity, he put his hand on her cheek, touching her.

The first and the last time.

And he remembered thinking how soft and smooth she was. How very touchable.

Fool! Salazar's judgment was protesting his actions. Fool! Get away from her!

"You know perfectly well why I cannot stay, Helga. You know."

Helga's gaze quavered and her eyes were round, as big as snitches. "Maybe," she whispered, her voice escaping her. "Maybe I do know."

"Remember the night in the astronomy tower. That's all I ask of you." Salazar brushed away a lock of golden hair from her forehead lovingly. His caress was sweet, Rowena could tell from Helga's huge eyes.

"Always," she promised.

Both closed their eyes and Salazar leaned in for a last kiss. A kiss of goodbye?

Time seemed to slow as Rowena debated with herself whether or not she should close her eyes and let the forbidden lovers one last chance for privacy.

But just as Rowena was going to close her eyes, she heard a crash as something was thrown to the wall close to her.

Dammit, Godric.

Helga covered her face with her hands. Rowena could imagine the tears making their way down her pale cheeks.

Salazar was sprawled against the wall, and Godric's face was like hell's keeper.

"Get out of here," Godric hissed.

There was a moment of tense silence as Godric glared at Salazar, a gaze which Salazar returned coolly.

Salazar stood up, and promptly dusted himself.

His mask was donned. His mask of indifference.

Salazar nodded at Godric. "Farewell," he said to Godric.

Godric grunted, his wand still raised, pointed frankly at Salazar.

Salazar turned to Rowena. There was a moment of silence as Rowena looked into his eyes.

If you looked deep enough, Rowena discovered, you could see the plea in his eyes. The way they were begging her for justice.

Rowena closed her eyes.

Salazar cleared his throat. "Rowena," he said, acknowledging her for the last time.

"Salazar," she said, her voice brief but her insides helpless.

There was a thin smile on his face as he held his gaze with Rowena.

Take care of Helga for me, I beg you, Rowena.

Salazar was inside her mind.

Rowena nodded, and Salazar's smile got a tiny bit wider. He then walked out the door.

Rowena's eyes followed his back until they disappeared into the school's many halls. His expensive scent, peppermint and cinnamon, lingered in the air.

Helga then crumpled into a heap of yellow robe and golden curls, her features fragile, out cold.

"What night in the astronomy tower?" Godric spat, demanding an answer.

Rowena chuckled, the sound melancholic. "The best night of her life."