Thank you! Yep, Sal can be kind of sour but you can count on him in tough situations! And Godric...well when we made up the character we had James Potter in mind, minus the Fred-and-George sense of humor.

Okay. This is how the next few chapters will pan out. This will be the very last chapter in the current time, and then I'll have a few chapters that are an epilogue, years and years later. I want to wrap this baby up. So, enjoy.

Chapter Thirty

It was a full moon that night. Bright moonlight filtered in through every window, casting soft stained-glass patterns on the stone floors, crimson, gold, sapphire, and emerald with a distinct silvery moon-cast. The sounds of students heading up to bed echoed in the halls. The last laugh bubbled into silence just as a tall, honey-haired figure slipped into the staff room and the door snapped closed.

Helga turned away from the door to face her colleagues. "I apologize for being late," she said in her usual quiet, but cheerful manner. "A few of the students were fooling around in the halls and I had to send them on their merry way." She took her seat, in between Zephyr and Salazar.

From the other side of Zephyr, Rowena leaned forward. "Great. everyone's here now, which means that the meeting can start!" She ignored the stifled groans from the others. Rowena was the only one who enjoyed these meetings, held at the peak of every moon cycle. Everyone else just endured in silence.

"All right," said Salazar tiredly. "What was the point you wanted to bring up first?"

"Actually, Salazar," cut in Godric. "I was under the impression that you have something you wish to say. You've seemed down for weeks. I know you. What is on your mind, friend?"

"You know me too well, Godric," said Salazar, slightly waspishly. "There is something I want to bring up to all of you." He turned to face the room. The faces of his colleagues--his friends--stared back at him curiously. He let his eyes slide over each of their faces. Godric Gryffindor, with his unwavering bravery and loyal friendship. Emanuel Robincrest, with his bright red hair and slapstick sense of humor. Asiaree Clearfolk, with her piercing gaze and air of pride. Geraud Bladestorm, with his high-held chin and strict, hard demeanor. Rowena Ravenclaw, with her quirky smile and brilliant intelligence. Zephyr Moonstone, with his ever-changing eyes and mysterious personality. And Helga Hufflepuff, with her sweet smiles and sunny view on the world. None of them were ever going to forgive him for this.

"Salazar," said Asiaree. "Are you all right? You look like someone's died. Whatever is on your mind, speak it now and don't keep us waiting like this."

"Come on mate," said Zephyr. "I love the dark, but I hate being kept in the dark. Just tell us. It can't be that bad, now can it?"

"All right," said Salazar. "Here it is." He took a deep breath.
"I think we should only accept pure-blood wizards and witches into our school."

His statement was met by shocked silence and a hurt glare from Helga, who had a Muggle background.

Godric remembered all too well what had happened the last time this subject had been brought up. He had only recently forgiven Salazar for yelling at him, shocking Rowena into a rare state of astonishment, and worst of all striking Helga across the face, drawing blood. So when he finally spoke, it was hesitantly and rather carefully.
"Salazar," he began. "We've been through this and through this. Our school is open to students from any sort of background, whether they have Wizard blood or Muggle blood or somewhere in between. If they possess magical talent, they are to be permitted into the school."

Salazar was instantly angry. "But if there is any Muggle heritage, then their blood is tainted. There is a greater chance of failure. That isn't a risk I'm willing to take!" He fought to keep his voice under control. he wanted his way and he wanted it badly, but he didn't want another fight.

"There is no proof of that!" said Godric impatiently. "You are prejudiced and cruel, Salazar. You're my friend, but I won't allow this." he stood up.

Salazar stood up too. Somewhere inside him, the act of standing up snapped something and he lost control.
"What I will not allow are your stupid rules, Godric!" he hissed. "I helped you build this school. I have a right to decide what comes into it. I will not let filthy Mudbloods ruin the air that I breathe! Either they go or I go! I will not live for this!"

Rowena stood hastily. "Now that's enough," she said nervously. But now both of the men had lost control. Neither of them heard her.

Godric reached for his wand. "How dare you!" he roared."You have just insulted one of your best friends, Salazar! You've crossed the line!" He pointed to Helga, who had reacted to the foul term for Muggle-borns in the worst possible way. She stared straight ahead blankly, tears pouring down her face, shaking violently.

Hastily, Geraud Bladestorm got up, knelt beside her chair, and put an arm around her shoulders. "There there," he said, his voice gentler than anyone had ever heard it. He pulled Helga's unresponsive form into his side and put his arms around her in an attempt to get some sort of reaction out of her.

It worked. She stood up, suddenly furious, and strode up to Salazar, wand out. "You have now passed beyond anything I could have expected from you, Salazar," she said venemously. She glared at him for another moment. Then all of a sudden, all the fury left her and she hurried back to her seat, face in hands. She leaned into Geraud's side and sobbed into his chest.

Godric watched her with horrified eyes and turned back to Salazar. "I can no longer call you my friend, Slytherin," he said.

With a roar, Salazar made a lunge for him. He raised his wand. The tip filled with bright green light, a swirling vortex of magic, deadly and beautiful. He pointed it at Godric and opened his mouth to utter the horrible curse--

Godric ducked. The spell flew over his head. The wardrobe behind him burst into flames. He raised his wand to fire a curse back at Salazar--

And dropped his wand. It fell to the floor with a clatter. The blood-red star at the end fizzled out. He stared at Salazar for a long moment.

Zephyr, Asiaree, and Emanuel stood up in the same moment. Geraud followed a split second after, disentangling himself from Helga's sob-racked body.
"I think you should leave," said Asiaree imperiously to Salazar. Geraud nodded in assent, rippling his muscles as his hand clenched around his wand.

"Fine," snapped Salazar. "I couldn't be around you Mudblood-lovers anyway." He glared at Helga, who watched him with tearfilled eyes. His face twisted into a hateful sneer. "And you, Helga. I expected more, even from a filthy Mudblood like you." He spat at her.

Geraud charged him like a bull, but instead of tackling him, twisted his arms behind his back and took away his wand. "You can have this back once you get outside the grounds," he growled. "Now walk."

Salazar spared Godric one last glance. Memories of all the good times they had flooded him. But Godric Gryffindor was no longer his friend. That bond had broken. He let Geraud steer him out, and Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts forever. But his pride and joy, his life's work, still lurked in the depths of the castle, a room only he knew about. A sleeping monster he had created. He had done what he wanted to.

Back in the staff room, the atmosphere was somber. One by one, the staff trickled out. Everyone was devastated, but no one was crushed more than Godric Gryffindor, and Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw. The latter wiped a tear from her eye. Only she and Zephyr were left in the room now. She gave him a tearful glance. "It's never going to be the same," she said. "Never."