To Meet History

Chapter 8-Midnight Rendezvous

Years two, three, four, and five seemed to fly for Le-Annette. Each year, she gained more power, it seemed. Her apprenticeship with Slytherin-who had begun around year three to insist she call him Salazar-was still continuing. She no longer feared him as she once had. In fact, she was now his closest confidant. She had also began to get to know the other professors. Ravenclaw, who also insisted she call her by her first name, was giving Le-Annette training in being a mediwitch. Le-Annette's friends were also beginning to do extraordinary things. Roland was a star Qudditch player, a sport Le-Annette just wasn't interested in; Bathsheba was also training in becoming a mediwitch, but more in depth than Le-Annette; and Nicoli could duel with the devil himself and win.

As for her life out of school, Le-Annette's father still did not fully approve of his daughter's life, but couldn't help feel some sort of pride at the power she held. Her mother was ecstatic about everything she did, and Zion, the unknown vampire friend, still visited her each night. He was like a walking, talking diary for Le-Annette. He was constantly telling her how this was just as he knew it would be.

She was now all most finished with her sixth year at Hogwarts and had grown into a beautiful young woman. In fact, all Le-Annette's friends had grown. Roland was well built, being very tall as he was. Nicoli was short, but thin. Both boys had allowed their hair to grow to their shoulders and wore it tied back. Bathsheba, in rebellion of her parents, had cut her hair in the same style as the boys. Almost everyone had been appalled by the action. Except Le-Annette who rather thought it looked good on her. Both of the girls had a thin waist and wore long dresses. Le-Annette's hair was still long, and she still liked to wear it simply braided down her back.

Life was good, overall, and Le-Annette couldn't see how it could get any better. Roland and she were discussing this very subject, one sunny day, as they walked through the castle's corridors.

"Did you hear, Le-Annette? I asked Bathsheba to allow me to court her," he said. He had disliked Bathsheba when they had first met, this he disclosed to Le-Annette at the end of their second year. But as time went by, he began to spend more and more time with Bathsheba and Le-Annette and had come to love the Gryffindor.

"What was her response?" Le-Annette replied.

"She blushed and told me she would love to be courted by me,"

"That's terrific! I am so happy for the two of you!"

They continued to walk for a while, until they were a corridor away from the hospital wing.

"Excuse me, Roland. I'm going to go talk with Rowena," Le-Annette said as she left his company.

She entered the wind and was met by the smiling witch.

"Good morning, Le-Annette," Rowena said. "What brings you here?"

Le-Annette knew exactly what brought her here. Two nights ago, she had overheard Gryffindor and Slytherin fighting over something. This was nothing new, as she become accustomed to hearing such, but this time, they seemed to be fighting over someone instead of something. In fact, it had sounded like they fought over a woman.

"Rowena, what do you know of Salazar's personal life?" Le-Annette asked quietly.

Ravenclaw seemed shocked. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

"It's just that...the other night I hear Godric and Salazar fighting again. Only this time, it sounded like it was a woman they fought over,"

Rowena looked worried. "How did this conversation go?"

Le-Annette sighed and began to repeat the spat as best she could. "Godric started off by saying that he shouldn't see this woman anymore. Salazar asked why. Godric replied that he could not have her. That she wasn't and would never be ready for him. It seemed as though Godric didn't want this woman, but he didn't want Salazar to have her either. Do you know who they were talking about, Rowena?"

"I'm...unsure, Le-Annette. Perhaps you should ask Salazar," the elder witch said.

"I can not do that!" Le-Annette exclaimed.

"Why not?"

"It's too personal,"

"I thought you two were close,"

"Yes, but-"

"But what?" Salazar's voice said from the doorway.

Le-Annette and Rowena whirled.

"What are you two speaking about?" he said, stepping further into the room.

"Nothing, Salazar. Anyway, do you need to see me, sir?" Le-Annette said quickly.

"Yes. I'd like for us to meet somewhere us for our potions lessons tonight. I'll send Luna-De with a letter saying where later. Is that sufficient?" he asked.

"Yes, that will be fine,"

"Then I say, good day."

"Good day," both Le-Annette and Rowena said.

When Salazar had left, Rowena turned to Le-Annette, seemingly desperate to start a fresh, new topic of conversation.

"So, how was your sixth year? I know you leave for home tomorrow," she said as she started to gather ingredients to concoct a healing potion.

"Quite good, actually, but if you'll excuse me, Rowena, I think I'll go now," Le-Annette said.

"Very well. Good day,"

"Good day,"

* * * *

That night, Le-Annette was found roaming the halls of Hogwarts. For some reason, she was anxious about this meeting with Salazar. She had dressed in the best robes that she owned. They were wine color, and they flared out slightly at the bottom and hugged tightly to her bodice at the top. She had taken to buying robes for causal wear as well as her school robes.

Why does he want to meet with me in another location? Le-Annette wondered. Does he have something he needs to tell me? Something bad?

A meow issuing from in front of her interrupted her thoughts. Luna-De, with a small piece of rolled up parchment attached to her collar, was standing a few feet away from her.

"Good kitty," Le-Annette cooed. "Now, come here and give me Salazar's letter."
But Luna-De decided to do just the opposite. The cat turned and started to run away from her owner.

"Luna? Come here!" Le-Annette called, beginning to pursue the feline.

The cat led her up several flights of stairs, stopping ever so often to make sure she was keeping up, and finally ran into an open room on the seventh floor. Inside, it appeared to be a lush bedroom. Pillows seemed to be the theme of the room. A large canopy bed, made up in greens and silvers, took up most the space. The rest was a dresser drawer. Luna-De sat perched on the foot of the bed. When Le-Annette walked closer to her, the cat leapt off and ran out the door. It closed with a soft snap. Standing there now was Salazar Slytherin, dressed in his best robes of emerald green.

"Salazar? What's going on?" Le-Annette asked.

"Please forgive Luna-De, I'm the one who instructed her to lead a chase up into this room," he said, stepping closer to Le-Annette.

"Why?"

Salazar gave an uneasy smile. He motioned for Le-Annette to take a seat on the foot of the bed, in which she did so awkwardly.

"This is difficult to say, Le-Annette. Let me try though. I over heard the conversation you had with Rowena today. The one where you heard Godric and I discussing a certain woman,"

"Yes...you're not angry, are you? I didn't mean to..."

"No, no, no, not at all. But let me tell you the reason Godric did not want me to have this certain woman....She's one of the students,"

Le-Annette's eyes widened. "Sir! You are a teacher! I can understand Professor Gryffindor's argument! Who is this student, anyhow?"

Salazar gave her a searching look. It seemed as though he was silently begging her to understand something he did not want to state aloud at the moment. Le-Annette narrowed her eyes at him. They stared at one another for a few moments, then, suddenly, it dawned on her. She was the certain woman!

She leapt up from the bed.

"Sir...I...." she stuttered uncertainly. A million and one thoughts were racing through the young girl's mind. A couple of them sticking out among the others. She now realized that she did find Salazar somewhat appealing...and she now knew why she was in this bedroom.

"Le-Annette, understand that if you don't feel the same, I won't..."

She held up a hand to silence him. She needed to think. She suddenly also felt angry.

"You couldn't tell me in an environment in which I'd feel comfortable? You had to call me to your quarters!" she began to yell.

"Le-Annette, please, these are not my quarters. This is the room of requirement. Think really hard, dear. Pick an environment you'd feel comfortable in, and then give me an answer," Salazar said.

Le-Annette thought. She closed her eyes, she was thinking so hard. When she opened them, the room she was standing in greatly resembled the potions room the two had worked in together for all these years.

"This...is the same room, isn't it?" she asked.

"Yes," Salazar said. "You feel comforted here?"

She nodded. She sat down on a nearby stool and began to consider. What would happen if she were to do what Salazar so desired for them to do? Did she want to? The answers came surprisingly easy. We could fall totally in love and Yes.

Salazar stood quietly. Finally, Le-Annette stood again, a smile on her face.

"What is your answer?" Salazar asked.

Le-Annette walked, uncertainly, toward him. She had never done what she was about to do. She put her arms around his neck. She leaned in. Salazar's and Le-Annette's eyes closed. They kissed. A slow, gently kiss at first, then a fiery kiss of pure passion. When their eyes opened, the room had change back into the bedroom. Le-Annette smiled and walked to the bed. Salazar followed, returned her smile, and clapped his hands. The candles lighting the room extinguished.