Disclaimer: All things recognisable from JK Rowling's Harry Potter universe do not belong to me - they belong to the genius JK Rowling whose greatness we all worship!

~ Prologue ~

It was the arising of a momentous day. Still dark, not a soul stirred.

Miles upon miles from civilisation on a distant hillside, two extraordinary men and two remarkable women stood. These four individuals had been dismissed by society as worthless freaks, and had therefore been forced to lead solitary lives in the wilderness. That was until they found each other. Helga, Rowena, Godric and Salazar had since become the greatest of friends, which they gestured now by linking arms.

"How many more hours must we waste on this desolate embankment, Godric?" Salazar grumbled. The four had become like a family, and Salazar usually chose the role of the aggravating younger brother; their fellowship was constantly being put to the test with Salazar Slytherin around. His heated and sometimes arrogant comments irritated everyone, to say the least. Salazar had always thought himself superior, even though he was the youngest of the group at twenty-one years. Nevertheless Salazar had qualities that the other three admired greatly. His remarkable cunning and resourcefulness had got all of them out of more than one precarious situation. His striking, youthful and roguish good looks were not his only asset.

"Have patience, Salazar," Helga said mildly. Helga Hufflepuff was the peacekeeper of the group, and had commendable patience even with Salazar. She was also incredibly loyal, especially to her family who she wouldn't hear a word against, even though they had abandoned her to die as a child. It was perhaps Helga's sweetness and benevolence which could be her failing. She was sometimes too trusting and naïve, and usually too timid to speak her mind.

Helga twisted a lock of her braided golden hair around her finger, which was her tendency when she was nervous or excited. She was a slender girl of twenty-three, and very pretty. She grinned one of her sweet smiles towards Salazar, which she hoped would cool his temper.

"All I'm saying is, this better be worth it," Salazar hissed irritably. "It's bloody freezing out here."

"A little faith in me wouldn't go amiss, young Salazar," Godric said in a half-amused, half-annoyed tone. This comment silenced Salazar instantly. Out of the four, it was only really Godric Gryffindor who could control Salazar's sardonic temper. Godric commanded a certain respect from everyone he encountered because he was so admired. His strong nerve, daring and chivalry were unmatched. He had witnessed evils beyond belief in his lifetime, which had aged him far beyond his thirty years. His body suffered for it, yet Godric's premature tiredness for life had vanished when he met his four greatest companions and embarked on their great adventures.

"Faith," Rowena Ravenclaw laughed hollowly. "That contemptuous boy doesn't know the meaning of the -"

"Rowena, please don't," Helga pleaded, taking the lady by the hand. "Let us not argue today. If dear Godric is right, which I anticipate he is, then today could be the special day. The day it all begins."

"I'm sorry, Helga," Rowena apologised. "You're right. We shall not quarrel today."

Rowena paused. It was rare for her digs at Salazar to be prevented, for she could be stubborn beyond belief. It was true that Rowena was the oldest and wisest of the four, but sometimes that made herself deaf to what others said. Indeed it was perhaps Rowena's best attributes; her wit, cleverness and great knowledge; which were also hindrances to her.

"We believe in you, Godric, dear friend," Rowena assured him, squeezing her friend's hand. Godric ran his fingers through Rowena's long dark hair and smiled.

"I know you do," Godric said softly. "Not too much longer now. I can see the tip of the sun on the horizon - this is it, my friends. A new chapter in magical history is beginning."

There was an excited stillness as shafts of warm light began to illuminate the rock-strewn mountains. The landscape rolled to the horizon like a vast green blanket, patched with forest and dotted with lake. An enchanting silence prevailed, hinting at the pent-up magic stored in this fertile soil, this thriving vegetation and this clearest water. Candy floss clouds drifted across the pale azure sky, casting erratic shadows across the uneven terrain. This breathtakingly beautiful part of Northern Britain was untouched by human hands and had concealed its natural wonders and mystical secrets for thousands of years.

"I'm sorry I doubted you, Godric," Salazar said submissively, after a lengthy silence. He had no clever insult or annoying quip prepared to spoil this magical moment, which showed he was truly in awe at Godric's discovery. Rowena must too have been overwhelmed to forget to point this out.

"It's beautiful," Helga gasped.

"This place is more than just beautiful," Godric explained. "I sensed it when I first came here… the air is intense with magical energy. Lurking behind those trees and bushes are magical creatures of every kind - Centaurs, Fairies, Hippogriffs, Jarveys.. there are probably Hinkypunks and Merpeople in the lakes. That cliff facing that glistening water in the valley would be perfect for our plans."

"It certainly is," Rowena said. "More than perfect. To think that all these months we have combed the globe for a place such as this. And here it is, in our homeland, Britain."

"I agree it is ironic, Rowena," Godric nodded and grinned benignly. "So now I say we cease to dither and make up for lost time. For two years we have planned to build a school for children who, like ourselves, were born with the gift to perform magic. It is these young witches and wizards who we shall enlighten on the crafts of Charms, Transfiguration, Potions and Herbology. No longer will our magical kind be despised and downtrodden when our numbers increase. So are we finally settled? Is this the location where our months of preparation and devising will finally materialise?"

"Aye, dear friend," Rowena Ravenclaw agreed.

"We're finally home," Helga Hufflepuff sighed. "That phrase doth feel strange on the tongue. After wandering for so long…"

Salazar Slytherin simply nodded in agreement. He still felt bitter about the fact that he had not discovered this place first. This was to be a bitterness that would grow with time.

* * *

That night they made camp near the edge of a forest, conjuring fires for light and warmth and transfiguring nearby trees into makeshift shelters. This camp was to later grow into the village of Hogsmeade.

The plans to build a castle had been painstakingly drawn up by Rowena Ravenclaw over many months. This grand fortress was to be the school of sorcery, and the home of the four founders. The building of the school began the very next day. It took a year to complete the construction of the intricate design. Many turrets, towers, secret chambers and hidden tunnels were to be added in later years.

They called it Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a name Rowena thought of (the word "Hogwarts" contained all of their initials). The school was soon flooded with witches and wizards from far and wide, all between the ages of eleven and eighteen. When enough students enrolled, they were divided into four houses. They were called Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin after the founders, who were each in charge of their corresponding house. The children were selected for their house by their values, merits and qualities, which were judged by the founders themselves. This task was later to be taken on by Godric Gryffindor's own hat, which was charmed to look inside a person's head when worn.

For many peaceful years the school ran without a hitch. In secret children could learn those forbidden magical arts without suffering at the hands of the ruthless authorities, who burned witches and wizards at the stake. Godric, Helga, Salazar and Rowena worked in harmony and content together, until eventually trouble did strike. Slytherin's headstrong nature got the better of him, and a rift broke out between Salazar and the others. They had assembled in the Great Hall to try and discuss the matter.

"I'm saying it now, and I'll say it again, Godric!" Salazar bellowed, banging his fist on one of the long tables. "It is only right to allow children from wizarding families to study at Hogwarts!"

"If you could come up with a rational argument there might be some point to this dispute, Salazar!" Rowena chimed in, her blue eyes glaring.

"Muggle-borns are not to be trusted!" Salazar protested. "You know their parents would love to see us all hung, drawn and quartered! For all we know they're sending their children to spy on us!"

"Don't be so prejudiced, Salazar!" Godric hollered. "Children come here because they want to learn, and we should teach them regardless of their background! All young wizards and witches deserve an equal start in the wizarding world! Surely you must see that! It's the only right and just way!"

"IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET OURSELVES EXECUTED!!" Salazar roared. "You can sit there on your moral high horse, spouting rubbish about right and justice, but that won't help you when you're DEAD, Godric!"

"We're protected, Salazar!" Rowena whined despairingly. "You helped put the anti-Muggle shield around the Hogwarts grounds, did you not?!"

"What good is a shield when you're allowing Muggles through it?!" Salazar. "That's all these Muggle-borns are. So what if they can do magic? They've got evil-riddled Muggle hearts!"

The arguments continued for hours, but the other three could not get through to Salazar Slytherin. By midnight he had fled Hogwarts, never to return… yet leaving more than a few nasty surprises behind…

It was the dead of the night. Silence had settled like dust upon Hogwarts Castle, and there was an cold stillness in the air. Children and their teachers lay sleeping in their warm beds, unaware of the sinister occurrences already happening not far away in the school grounds.

Tossing and turning in one of the four-poster beds of the sixth-year girls dormitory was young Arabella Figg. Long, rich curls of dark hair framed her pale, porcelain-like face which was crinkled in a troubled frown. She shifted and shivered in her sleep, whimpering softly. She awoke with a gasp. Startled, on-edge, her heart pounded inside her chest. The young girl had been terrified into consciousness by a vivid, violent nightmare. She struggled to remember what had frightened her so much, but to no avail.

Arabella, or simply ‘Bell’ to her friends, felt strangely alert and awake. Every part of her body seemed to be tingling with foreboding; the darkness seemed to be closing in on her and crushing her. Bell clumsily wrapped herself in her dressing gown and stumbled to her feet. She had the dreadful feeling that she was being watched… by someone, or something. She was unnerved, and was ready to wake up one of the other girls to see if they felt this strange presence too.

She tiptoed to the window, where there was a view of the Forbidden Forest and the Whomping Willow. There was a strange red mist floating across the ground, lit by the full moon. Bell thought she was imagining it at first, but it was definitely there. Was that a stag galloping across the grounds in the direction of the trees? It was a beautiful creature, with twisting antlers like the branches of an oak tree and sleek fur like silk. Bell smiled; there was something reassuring and familiar about the noble animal, although Bell couldn’t recall ever seeing deer in the grounds before…

The stag disappeared in the red haze that appeared to be emanating from the forest. Dread crept through Bell once more. What was that blood-coloured fog? It was unlike any weather form she had ever seen, and mere weather conditions didn’t usually make you feel so icy and empty inside…

For a brief, wild moment Bell considered the idea of creeping down to the grounds. Perhaps she would be able to see where the clouds were radiating from, or to catch another glimpse of that magnificent stag… but the notion was ridiculous. That action would break school rules. Arabella Figg did not break rules. Being caught roaming outside at night would have dire consequences which made Bell cringe. The disappointed and angry expressions on her teachers’ faces… the mortal embarrassment of getting her first detention… the shame of losing points for Gryffindor… the other Prefects would never look her in the eye again. All hopes of becoming Head Girl next year would be turned to dust. Arabella Figg did not break rules.

Well, not yet.

She climbed back into bed and leafed through her copy of Your Guide To Becoming An Auror by Agatha Moody until she drifted back to sleep. Still naïve Arabella, now dreaming nice, safe dreams, had no idea of the incredible year she had ahead of her. She would face great jeopardy and challenges. She would feel anxiety, distress and pain. She would fall in love and have the time of her life. And yes, break a few rules too.