Origins of Magick

A sapphire gem.

It shone brightly in the moonlight as a seventeen-year-old girl held it up to the sky. She had long bronze coloured hair, and bright sapphire blue eyes.

Behind her sat another seventeen-year-old, this one was a man. Her had shoulder-length golden blonde hair that was plaited delicately, and mischievous brown eyes.

“Rowena, what are you looking for?” he asked, looking at a fire that danced in billowing flares.

“I am sure that awful Woodbane girl, Aubrey Serpentstone has put a charm upon this gem,” Rowena said, diverting her gaze from the stone to Godric, who was now looking at her.

“Go to Gypsy Heatherwood. She is a Burnhide, she is good at working magic with crystals and gems,” he suggested. Rowena snorted in an unladylike manner, and turned to face Godric, her sapphire cloak billowing out behind her.

“Gypsy Heatherwood is too smart for her own good, Godric. Besides, she is friends with Serpentstone,” she replied. This time it was Godric’s turn to snort.

“You are accusing Gypsy of being too smart, while you are born of the two wisest clans. May I remind you, Rowena, that you are half-Wyndenkell, and half-Rowanwand? Or have you forgotten that small detail, hmm?” Godric said, grinning at the fury of Rowena’s face. While grinning, he got his gemstone, a turquoise, out of a leather pouch, and began to throw it up in the air, and catch it, time and time again.

Rowena scowled and changed the subject.

“When are the others coming?” she asked, while taking her gaze back to the sapphire in her hand.

“I am not sure if they are even coming Rowena. Helga’s father is out most times of late, and since her mother is no longer alive, she has to take care of the children, even little Meara. Salazar hardly ever comes, as you know of, and Nadine does not come if he does not. To add to our misfortune, Willow’s mother is still undecided of our Coven.” Godric explained, lifting his head to meet Rowena’s eyes.

“And what of Oakley, Cathair and Elijah?” Rowena asked, sitting down near the fire, trying not to get her bronze gown dirty.

“Oakley is ailed too, along with both of her brothers. Cathair is trying to get his mother’s permission to come, but so far she has not relented. And Elijah is at home, trying to cure his mother of her ailment. She has not been the same since the birth of her latest child, last week. Mother was a midwife, and helped her, but the child was weak as well as the mother, though the child has more of a chance to live. Sera has not got long left in this world. I have left a ruby at her side upon her bed, in hope of an easy passing from this World into the next. I fear however, that she will die in pain,” At this Godric sighed, and bowed his head, as well as Rowena.

A sudden rustling of bushes, woke them from their trance. Two seconds later, three seventeen-year-olds appeared, two boys, one girl.

The first boy had shoulder-length black hair, and blue eyes. His hair, like Godric’s, had plaits delicately woven into it. He stood tall, head raised high, next to the other boy.

The other boy had long black hair, again with plaits in it, and strange green eyes. His skin was an eerie white, and he was more solemn looking then the other two.

The girl had long dark brown hair, and black eyes. She stood at five-foot-seven, and she had a pink tinge to her cheeks.

“Elijah, Salazar, Nadine, how kind of you to join us!” said Rowena sarcastically. Salazar, the second boy to appear, smirked at her. The other two wore identical looks of glee, and Godric had to laugh at their stupidity. After he had received a smack over the head from Nadine, Godric stopped laughing and instead, concentrated on his stone.

“How is your mother, Elijah? And the child? Are they well?” Rowena asked, looking at Elijah.

“I wish I could say so Rowena, but I fear the worst. The child is a girl, and we have named her Sara, after Mother. Sara is well, and healthy, but Mother is not. She will pass away soon, I fear. She has all ready prepared us for the worst, and I am ready to accept it. Nadine, here, is not,” said Elijah, jerking his head towards his sister.

“I do hope that ruby works. An easy passing will help your mother, Elijah. Should I send Mother round to talk and try to heal your mother?” asked Godric. Elijah shook his head.

“No, best not. I don’t want her to think it is the time for her end. Though it is. May the Goddess help her passing,” he said, sitting down next to his sister, and Salazar, who were kissing silently.

Godric was looking revolted at the sight, Rowena was sniggering, and Elijah had gone pale.

Another rustle of bushes, and three more people appeared, two girls and a boy.

The first girl had long blonde hair, which was in ringlets, and black eyes. She was short, but had a power radiating from her body.

The second girl had long dark red hair, and big brown eyes. She was taller then Nadine, about the same height as Rowena, who stood at five-foot-eight. She was gigging, hand over her mouth at something the boy had said.

The boy, as tall as Godric, and had shoulder-length mahogany hair and strange silver eyes, which were flecked with gold. He was pale, and sensible looking, but the smile on his face took away the look of seriousness.

“Ah, Helga, Oakley, Cathair. Welcome!” said Elijah, grinning at Oakley.

Rowena scowled.

It was common knowledge that Rowena was infatuated with Elijah, and would stop at nothing for the feeling to be returned.

However, Elijah was not so infatuated with Rowena, but with Oakley. This caused problems between the three.

“It’s good to be here. I thought I would never make it on time. Or get past Mother!”

said Cathair, laughing.

Willow was Cathair’s sister, who rarely disobeyed her mother. Cathair, on the other hand, was more insubordinate, much to the relief of Godric.

“Oakley, I thought you were ailed by a sickness?” said Rowena, looking at Oakley with disgust, since she was sitting on Elijah’s lap.

“I was, along with Matthew, and Joseph, but I got better many hours ago,” She said, snuggling into the crook of Elijah’s neck.

Rowena felt her face burn with rage. She put her hands of her hips, and glared at Elijah.

Godric shrugged when Helga gave him a quizzical look.

“We are only to wait for Willow. Tell me, Cathair, where is your sister?” asked Godric, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees.

“She is at home, watching the children,” Cathair replied, and then he looked at Rowena.

“Where, might I ask, is your brother on this fine evening?” Rowena lifted her head from looking at the fire from where she sat.

“Ronan is at home, with father. They have no interest in Magic or I. Such fools…” she trailed off, a tone of hurt in her voice.

“Ronan does care for you, my dear Rowena,” Came a voice from the woods surrounding the group.

Two seconds later, a girl appeared. She had long dark brown hair, which fell in delicate plaits to her waist, and big silver eyes, flecked with gold, like Cathair’s.

“Ah, sister, so kind of you to join us,” Said Cathair, smiling at his twin.

Willow sniffed delicately, but smiled all the same. She sat down next to Cathair, who was still standing. Her white robe shone gold in the firelight.

“Well, that is all of our number, except for Ronan. Shall we begin?” asked Godric, rising from the ground.

Everyone nodded.

Godric took a stick from the ground, drew a perfect circle, and everyone stepped in. He closed the circle, and stood on the point of the North. He raised his hands to the moon, as did everyone else.

“Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the North, of Fire and Flame. Hear us!” he cried. Rowena, who was standing on the East point,began her part of the chant.

“Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the East, of Water and Wave. Hear us!” she cried. Helga, who stood on the South point, continued,

“Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the South, of Mother and Earth. Hear us!” she cried like the other two. Salazar, who stood on the West point, finished,

“Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the West, of Air and Wind. Hear us!” he cried to the sky.

The others around them waited calmly, hands raised, eyes closed.

A thunderclap broke the silence, and a lightning bolt turned the sky from midnight blue to silver.

Godric began to chant,

“ We call the Goddess,

Mother of all Things.

We call the God,

Father of all Life.

We call upon your Power,

To help us in our Magical learning!

Hear us!”

he cried, and everyone began to join in, moving cloak-wise around the circle, only Helga, Rowena, Salazar and Godric staying in their place.

Godric finished the last chant, and then cried, “The Coven of Strawgoh calls upon you power!”

Another thunderclap woke everyone from his or her trance, and everyone stepped out of the circle. Helga was grinning, as was everyone else. Elijah, however, was looking thoughtful.

“Strawgoh?”

“It’s Hogwarts, backwards. I liked that name, Hogwarts, but Strawgoh sounded more… powerful!” everyone laughed, and Salazar merely smirked.

“Hogwarts… “ said Rowena slowly, as if testing it. After a few moments, she beamed “ I like it!” Everyone laughed again.

“What is the time?” asked Nadine. Godric took something from his pocket, and looked at it. Everyone stared.

“It’s a time teller. I took it from Father’s table this morning. I enchanted it to work properly,” He paused for a moment. “ It is the midnight hour,” He said, looking up.

Rowena gasped, “I must return home!” she turned on her heel, and ran off.

Everyone sat in silence for a while, just gazing at something or other, until a scream pierced the silence.

“ROWENA!” shouted Godric, jumping up, and running into the woods in search of Rowena. Cathair and Elijah ran after him, cloaks flaring out behind them, with Salazar following reluctantly.

The girls all squealed when the fire blew out.

“GODRIC! SALAZAR! WAIT FOR US!” screamed Helga, and they all ran after the boys.

Deep in the forest near the village of Town’s Gate, Rowena lay on the floor, unconscious, Godric kneeling beside her.

Her head was tilted to one side, and her eyes were half-open.

Godric had his hand against her forehead, and the other hand holding her thin wrist, searching for a pulse.

Helga gasped when she saw.

“Is she… is she?” She couldn’t say it. Godric sighed, and lifted Rowena up easily.

“No, but she needs a healing tea,” He said, and then nodded curtly. “Good night to you all, and I shall see you in church on the morrow,” He then turned, and went towards the village, his footsteps fading away.

“Aye… I need to return home. Come, Willow. Mother will worry. Good evening,” Said Cathair, turning on his heel, and disappearing along with Willow.

“They are right. Come along Nadine. Good bye, Friends, until the morrow!” said Elijah, walking off towards the river, with Nadine.

“Good bye, Helga, Salazar,” Said Oakley, walking deeper into the woods, in the direction of her home, leaving the two alone.

“See you at mass, Salazar,” Said Helga, before trudging off to her home, leaving Salazar unaccompanied.

He shrugged, then turned on his heel, and walked off, the embers of the fading fire glowing in the moonlight.

~*~

Rowena looked up from praying, and searched for Godric. She found him, in between his sister, Gywneth, and his father, Goliath Gryffindor.

He grinned when he saw her, and she grinned back. He then got elbowed in the ribs by Gywneth, and went back to praying.

Rowena sighed, and then turned to the front. The Minister was wrapped up in his preaching, so she looked around for Helga.

Helga was two rows in front of her, trying to stop little Meara Hufflepuff and Tobias Hufflepuff from laughing.

She rolled her eyes in exasperation when she saw Rowena, and Rowena smiled back sympathetically.

Helga then went back to praying, along with Meara and Tobias.

“Rowena, pray!” snapped Rowena’s mother, Rebecka Ravenclaw. Rowena nodded, and inclined her head, resting it on her clasped hands.

After Mass had finished, Rowena left her mother’s side to find her group of friends.

“ELIJAH! ELIJAH, WAIT!” she cried, waving her hand, and running towards Elijah and the rest of her group.

She stopped in front of them, her face flushed from running, her eyes bright.

“Rowena. It is most relieving to see you well,” Said Nadine, genially smiling. Nadine was known to be silent and solemn.

“Aye, it is.” Said Cathair, smiling at Rowena. Rowena’s heart leapt, but she was confused. What did it mean? Did she have feelings for Cathair?

‘No, my heart belongs to Elijah,’ She told herself. ‘And Cathair is all ready betrothed to Nina Wylde, a Vikroth girl who lives in the village of Riverton,’ Rowena shook her head.

She began to talk to the others about different matters, while noticing that Helga was gazing at her brother with more and more interest.

‘What a Curious Web we weave,’ Rowena thought to herself.

~*~

“Ronan, ‘tis obvious Helga has a like for you,” argued Rowena later that day, on the way to market.

Her brother, Ronan, walked beside her. He was nineteen years of age, tall, and lean, with long dark brown hair, and sapphire eyes, like Rowena.

“Rowena, as much as I am fond of Helga Hufflepuff, I am not infatuated with her, and nor she is with me,” he snapped back, blue eyes gleaming. Rowena pouted, and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Many a thing I know of, Ronan, and this matter is one of them,” she replied, glaring at Ronan.

Ronan laughed, deeply and richly. This infuriated Rowena even more.

“How can you laugh at such a matter Ronan!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. He continued to laugh.

“Easily, my sister!” he said, grinning.

Rowena had to laugh at that.

The market was crowded as usual, with Farmer Davis selling his vegetables, and Miller York bargaining with customers, and occasionally talking to Lara, his wife.

“FARMER DAVIS!” called Rowena, running off, her basket swinging from her arm. “How be you on this fine day?” she asked, smiling at the man.

“Aye, I’m fine, Miss Rowena. How may I serve you?” He said, grinning at the young girl. Farmer David and his wife were members of the Coven that Grace Gryffindor was high-priestess for.

“Could you grant me your finest vegetables, for we have the Reverend Michaels round this eve, and Ma has asked me to get your finest in stock” said Rowena, looking round for Helga.

“Aye, coming right up. How be your Ma and Da? Are they well?” he asked, while taking the vegetables from their mounds.

“They’re good, Farmer Davis. Ma is still quite ill, but she’s better. Many thanks, Mrs Davis!” said Rowena, looking at the blonde woman next to Farmer Davis.

“You’re welcome, dear. I knew that herbal medicine would help,” Mrs. Davis said, smiling, then going back to serve Mrs. Longbow, Elijah and Nadine’s mother.

“Right, Miss. Rowena, that’s 5 farthings,” said Farmer Davis. Rowena handed him the money, took the vegetables, and walked up to Ronan.

“I’m going home. Ma will want you back before the sun sets, so be quick,” she said, and then walked to Ravenclaw House.

~*~

“Ma, I’m back with the vegetables!” Rowena called, shutting the door to Ravenclaw House behind her.

“Right, Rowena! Put them in the kitchen!” Rebecka said, from upstairs.

Rowena complied, and walked into the kitchen. She placed the vegetables on the rough wood table that sat in the middle of the kitchen, then turned to the jugs of water that were on the window sill.

She got some water, and boiled it over the wood stove. When it was boiled, she got some tealeaves, and left them to brew in the hot water.

She walked into the room that acted as a living room, and sat down in a wooden chair, watching the fire.

“There you are Rowena,” said Rowan Ravenclaw, climbing down the stairs. “Your Ma said you were back,”

“Aye, Da,” said Rowena, looking at the fire that burned in the grate. A log crumbled into ashes, and send white sparks flying.

“What does trouble you upon this day, Rowena,” he asked, hazel eyes gleaming.

Rowena looked at her father, with his bronze coloured hair, and hazel eyes, his tall, lean figure, and the raw supremacy radiating from him.

Rowena forced a smile on her face, and said,

“Nothing of worry, Da. Only the wish that this weather does persist,” Rowan smiled, and embraced his offspring.

“If it is the Goddess’ Will that this weather does continue, Rowena, it shall,” he said, his cheek pressed against Rowena’s forehead.

“Aye, Da. If it is the Goddess’ Will,” repeated Rowena.

~*~

“Salazar, Ma is waiting for you to help with the dinner” called Isolde Slytherin from the kitchen in Slytherin Manor.

“ I am working, Isolde. Dinner can wait!” Salazar shouted back. He sighed, and slammed his bedroom door.

He heard his mother, the esteemed Selene Slytherin, slam the kitchen door shut, and make her way outside.

‘I need to cast this spell, before Ma or Da find out. They were foolish enough to renounce dark Magic, but I know it’s power, and it’s beauty,’ he thought.

He took a dagger from his bedside, raised it, and slashed it across it hand, wounding the palm. Blood began to drip down his arm, as he took a cauldron, let some blood trickle into it, and then bandaged up his hand.

“Dark Taibhs, I call upon you. Slay all of those who come upon my way, to harm and hurt me. Dark Taibhs, I call upon you!” he whispered over the boiling cauldron.

Steam rose up in a black cloud over his head, forming into dark and terrible creatures.

Below them, Salazar smirked, and laughed. A cruel, cold, high-pitched laugh.