The Fat Lady's Lore

It was raining. That was all I knew. It had rained every day since he left me, without telling when he would return. The truth was, he himself did not know when he would return. The extent of the quest was unknown to any that had taken it, but it was their duty and he never went back on his duty. Had I known what kind of trouble Slytherin was going to cause, I would have never had trusted the bastard. And now my husband was out trying to find him, to defeat him and stop his atrocities against the wizarding world. The scoundrel. I knew from the beginning that Slytherin would be trouble. It was not so much his haughty appearance, but his fascination with the Dark Arts and his malicious way of handling situations. To him, someone had to die before a problem was solved. It was just his nature. That nature did not sit well with the others, and Godric had known that Slytherin could not stay at the school and endanger the students. When the rumor was heard that Slytherin was plotting to murder all the Muggle-borns at Hogwarts, the other Godric, Helga, and Rowena had banished him. Now he was out on his own rampage, making threats to the school and what he called "Mudbloods". That's when the others decided he must be found and put away, to prevent whatever crimes he may have been planning. It was then that he told me he was leaving, and would return as soon as they had found Slytherin and dealt with him. I've waited for him since, and it's been nearly a month, and I don't know how much longer I can stand it without him. I long so much for his return, and I will wait for him, whether it be days, months, or even years...

I can see my reflection in the puddles that seep in through the cracks in the stone. Never have I considered myself beautiful. My plump figure and plain face have always made me secondhand to the other ladies of the country, and none of the fine men that looked upon me could ever see past my appearance into my soul, seeing what I really was. A kind, caring woman and not just some pretty-faced little girl. But he did. Godric was able to see the real me and appreciate it. He loved me the first time he met me, and I felt the same about him. He was like me, not exactly the fairest or most handsome of the men, but he was brave and had a good heart. I had never been happier than the night he asked me to be his wife. I said yes a once, and never regretted it. He was the most wonderful man a woman could ask for, even if the other women couldn't see it.

I was startled when he told me that he was preparing to build a school to teach young wizards and witches all over the world, but I was nevertheless joyful. It seemed a noble thing of him to do, and I hoped that one day our own children would attend the school. His fellow founders had all seemed to decent type. Rowena was quite and intelligent and clever witch, and Helga was ever the pleasant one. It was Salazar Slytherin that did not particularly gain my approval. He was rude, conceited, and corruptive. But since Godric trusted him, I was keen to do the same. Only when it was too late did I realize that my suspicions of him were correct. His behavior caused him to be banished only a year after the school was complete. And now he was on the run, causing Merlin knows what kind of chaos. And my husband was out their looking for him, leaving me to fear for his safety and long for his return.

Footsteps. I could hear them outside the door. Someone was coming, but who, I did not know. The door opened but I was not facing it.

"Guinevere?"

I heard the call from behind me like a sheet of ice striking me in the back. It was him. I knew it. His voice was a familiar to me as my own. He had returned, and was standing right behind me.

I turned to look at him and breathed steadier. He had not changed. He still had that kind, warm face combined with the rough look of a man and warrior. His clothes for ragged and wet, and I knew he must not have changed them in days. I walked up to him, shadowed by his massive form, and kissed him. The feeling, the feeling I had not felt for so long, but had nearly died to feel again, chilled my body.

He put his rough hand against my cheek and looked at me. I knew tears were pouring from my eyes, but it did not seem to matter.

"Guinevere," he said again. "My dearest Guinevere. It had been too long,"

I nodded and laid my head against his heaving chest. He put his hand to my hair, and patted my head gently.

"What news have you of Slytherin?" I asked him. "Has he been captured?"

Godric breathed heavily.

"I'm afraid not," he answered. "It seems we misjudged his tactics. He has gained followers, and their number is much greater than ours."

I looked up at him with worried eyes. He returned the look with a sigh.

"What are you to do?" I asked him nervously.

He did not answer right away, as if he did not wish to tell me.

"Helga, Rowena, and I must venture to Rome to find aid from the emperor. He has a collection of wizards and witches their as part of his army. We have hope that they will agree to assist us in defeating Salazar."

I felt my entire body go numb and my lower lip began to quiver.

"So you must leave me again?" I whispered, hoping it could not be true.

It was now his turn to cry, and I had never in my life seen a man cry. I clutched him tightly, trying desperately to comfort him. He drew back to look at me with despair.

"I am afraid so," he said.

My eyes began to burn as hot tears made themselves known once more. He was leaving me again, and he had only just returned. I held him tighter, hoping that if I did so he might not got away. Then I asked him the one question that I had to know.

"How long?"

He closed his eyes and stoked my hair gently.

"The journey to Rome will take two months. After that, I do not know. Salazar could be anywhere by then and it may take a while to find him. I may not return for months or even a year, but I will come back to you, Guinevere. I love you, and I cannot live without you. I will come back to you, if everything goes according to plan. But I want you to promise me something. If I die, I want you to have your portrait painted and hung in Hogwarts. I want everyone to know who you were. Hundreds of years from now, I want Guinevere Gryffindor to be remembered as the most wonderful woman who ever lived, as my wife. Promise me?"

I was at a loss for words. Why was he asking me to do this? Did he truly believe that he would die? I could not bear to think it. Nevertheless, I could see that his proposal was sincere, and I replied, "I promise, Godric. But you will survive, I know you will. Slytherin had no the slightest fraction of your power."

He sighed.

"If only that were true, Guinevere."

He held me in his arms for a long while before speaking again.

"I must go," he said, releasing me. "Helga and Rowena are waiting for me."

He turned and opened the door to the unrelenting rain.

"Goodbye, Guinevere," he said softly. "If fate allows, we shall see each other again."

And he was gone. He had left me alone once again. So, I cried. What else was I to do? He had returned only long enough to tell me he was leaving again, and now I was sitting on the cold floor and sobbing over him. The love of my life was gone again, without any guarantee of return, and I did not know what else to do with myself.

I do not know how I made it through the next few months, but all I know as that I counted the days he was gone. It was all I could do to ease my pain. With each passing day his return drew nearer and that was the key to my hope. Then it happened. Exactly three months and fourteen days after Godric left, a messenger appeared at my door. I knew even before I opened the letter what it contained. Tears cascaded down my cheek as I read those three horrid words. Godric was dead. I ripped the letter to shreds and threw it into the fire that was burning in the furnace.

Weeks passed. I barely slept or ate during that period of grieving. How could I? My soul mate was dead. I felt as though my own soul was reduced to ashes. He was gone, gone forever...

It wasn't until I was brooding over my last meeting with him that I remembered his last request. I was in absolutely no mood to have myself painted at that time, but I felt it necessary to do his bidding. So, the next day an artist arrived at my house with a large canvas and a pallet and told me to sit perfectly still for the next hour. He painted for only one hour each day, claiming he needed time to rest his muscles. I found this quite a difficult task, and was relieved when he had finished a week later. A Hogwarts teacher came and took the portrait away, I myself having never seen it. It did not matter either way to me. I had never wanted to portrait made, but it was Godric's wish. I only wish he were still here with me, for I feel alone and weak. My soul is wearing away with in me. He was the thread the bound it together. Now that thread is gone, and I am falling apart. My only comfort is that when I die, I shall see my love again. It is with him that I will be whole again, and my soul shall rebuild.

***

Guinevere Gryffindor died three days after her portrait was finished, out of grief for her husband. The portrait was hung in Hogwarts, but only a year later, Slytherin attacked the school. He was defeated by Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw and their followers from Rome, but not without a few sacrifices. Among them, the frame that held Guinevere's portrait was badly damaged, and the name engraved upon it could not be made out. The portrait was reframed, but the identity of the woman within remained a mystery. She was known only as "The Fat Lady" to those who associated with her, as the portrait herself would not reveal her true identity. It was perhaps by Fate that the portrait was chosen as the guardian for the Gryffindor House, since no one knew this mysterious woman in the picture was actually Grffyindor's wife. And so, for over a thousand years The Fat Lady has guarded the entrance to the house named after her long lost husband, though her true identity would never be known.