Founding Hogwarts

"Avaticus Pronomus!. . .Nothing's happening."

"No no no, Helga, you need to do it like this," Rowena said, and showed Helga how she was really supposed to flick her wand, "Now try it again. Slowly now. . .Avaticus Pronomus, and, flick! There! You have it!"

"Great Merlin! It really DID turn into a bat, didn't it! Oh you simply are quite clever Rowena! I wish I was lucky enough to have ended up with brains like yours," Helga said.

Rowena frowned. "What's intelligence in a girl these days? No man would want me unless he was some sort of philosopher and they're all stuffy and boring, at least the ones who would want me are. You're the lucky girl Helga, you've got beauty, and a good head on you, and that's really what matters, isn't it? Looks?"

"Oh I wish you wouldn't always go on about that sort of thing, Rowena, dear. You're lovely and the right suitor will come around sometime. I would give looks any day to be as smart as you," Helga said.

"Don't flatter me. The right suitor? Since when did anyone move into this small town? There's no one here but farm boys and merchants. You've got a wonderful pick if that's the sort of person you're looking for Helga."

"What's wrong with this town? I think Switzerland is rather pretty if you ask me. We have mountains all around us and snow like nowhere else. I really do love snow. . ."

"It doesn't take much to please you, does it, Helga? You can have snow anywhere. Why stay here? There's nothing here I want."

"Then what is it that you want, Rowena?"

"What do I want? I want to travel anywhere! Just far away from here! I want to do something exciting."

"Then why don't you move?"

"Oh you know I would never leave you, Helga. You're my best friend."

"Then I'll come with you! I don't want to stay here if you don't."

"Really, Helga? You'd do that for me?"

"Sure thing!"

"Oh Helga, you really are a dear."

"Just a question. Where exactly to you intend to head?"

"Well. . .I've been thinking about it for a while now, and England looks like a nice place. I hear it's full of beautiful castles and knights in shining armour, oh wouldn't that be a lovely place to go to, Helga?"

"Well. . .it sounds nice. But do you really think it is all that it seems?"

"Well we shan't find out until we go. I'll be at your house when the bell chimes ten times tonight."

"We're going tonight?? But that's so soon!"

"The sooner the better. Come now, you don't really want to spend another day in this dreadful place now do you?"

"Well I suppose. . ."

"Then be ready when I come."

"Oh foo, alright but you sure are making things difficult Rowena."

"Don't worry. Just think. It'll all be so much better when we're in England."

"I hope you're making the right decision. If you're wrong I'm going to be very angry with you."

"We'll see when we get there. I need to go pack my things. I'll be at your back door tonight. Goodbye Helga."

*

Rowena knocked lightly on the back door that lead to Helga's bedroom. "Helga? It's me, Rowena," she whispered, hoping she wouldn't wake any sleeping villagers nearby.

"It's unlocked," she heard Helga's voice say from inside.

Rowena opened the door quietly and stepped into Helga's room. There was a bag sitting on Helga's bed, with a mess of things thrown into it. Helga was sitting at her mirror, adjusting her blonde hair into braids.

"I'm almost ready, I promise," Helga said.

"Well hurry up, we haven't got all night, we need to get going as soon as we can," Rowena said, sitting on Helga's bed, looking through the things Helga had packed.

Helga continued slowly braiding her hair, concentrating hard to make sure they were just right and tied one, then started on the other. "Don't you think I should at least say goodbye to my parents? They were always awfully nice to me you know. Don't you think it would be a bit rude to just up and leave?"

"Helga, honestly. If you go into your parents room right now and said, 'Bye! I'm heading to England now!' don't you think they're going to stop you? Then the whole plan will be ruined and we won't get to go at all. I think it would be better if you didn't say anything to them at all. Let them sleep and they can find your note in the morning. . .you did write a note for them to find, right?"

Helga nodded and pointed to the note lying on her pillow then tied up her last braid. "Alright then, let's get on with it," she said.

Rowena tossed Helga her poorly packed bag and put her own on her back. "We're off!"

The two then quietly sneaked out the back door, trying their hardest not to make too much noise, in fear of being caught. How exciting! They were headed for England, it sounded like a wonderful place. With mystery, romance, and chivalry. What could go wrong?