Nostalgia

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Godric sat in his office study, he was supposed to be preparing to go out and meet an applicant for the job of History of Magic professor at the new school. Gryffindor had been teaching children ever since he came of age, at 17. He took three apprentices and together the four ventured into wild parts to practice magic in the field. Godric had paintings of his first three pupils. Their parents had them made as gifts to him. Now, however, Godric set out to create a safe environment for children to learn magic.

Godric longed to be back out in the field, slaying dragons and disarming powerful dark wizards. But an incident had made him reconsider his methods. A year or so ago, one of Godric's pupil's had died in his service. Mauled by a werewolf guardian of a vampire lair, while Godric himself put the vile vampire to rest.
He remembered how he bade the rest of his students to make their way home to Godric's village and to wait for him there. Gryffindor himself pursued the werewolf for the entire fullmoon night. It wasn't until sunrise that Godric finally caught up to the beast. Godric blasted it into oblivion as it shape-shifted. Godric had never used such powerful, destructive magic. He could still remember the rage he'd felt. How it had fueled the Dark Magic he'd used against the foul creature.

And so now, Godric was here. Where he could put up defensive enchantments and defend the students himself. If any dark wizard or unruly dragon needed dealing with, Godric could always take time off from teaching to deal with that. As a good man, it was his duty to face evil whenever it showed its ugly head. He silently wondered if the other heads of houses would mind him taking long leaves at a time to have adventures.

(Note: Fixed an inconsistency in Gryffindor's 'flashback'. =d)

[mel]

Melody marks wasn't really one for doing things for teachers, for anyone really. But Lord Slytherin had asked her to take a message to Mr. Gryffindor. Wasn't it ironic that a slytherin child was going to tell him about something the other founder could just do Himself. When did Melody become a lap dog for Slytherin. Well she hadn't become the lap dog but she was the first one to come into the founder's view that he knew.

But here she was walking up the steps, her flip-flops making loud sounds as she fixed her hat upon her blond hair. Her mother had gotten her this dress and would kill her for wearing the ridiculous dinosaur necklace around her neck. As she got the hat perfectly around her blond waves, her bracelet jingled again, finally getting upon the sixth floor.
"Darn those stairs are bloody high as no other." She groaned, heading towards the office of Godric Gryffindor. Stopping, she could see a small picture in her head and she leaned her hand on the wall, panting. She hated visions, they always messed her up with balance and made her nauseous. Knees wobbling, she closed her eyes, seeing the images in her head. Fuzzy a bit, but they were practically useless images, just seeing her sitting at the table snarking at another slytherin girl, standing in the common room looking for a book, then stumbling in her room and getting a scrap from her night stand. Mel rubbed her face before knocking on the door to Gryffindor's office.
"Mr. Gryffindor?"

outfit

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Godric nearly stumbled as the banging on the door woke him from his thought. Godric caught himself, however, throwing a swift leg out beneath him and the approaching floor. An onlooker might have thought he was making a very daring or dramatic step toward the door. Godric threw the door open and peered outside. He had imagined Slytherin at first, perhaps because of all the green. However, Godric's eyes quickly focused and he could recognize the form of a student.

"Ah. Good evening." For a moment, Godric seemed to lose focus again, "It is the evening, isn't it?" Godric turned to face a window. The sun was shining through it brightly. He chuckled lightly to himself. "I'm sorry. I was having a few regrets just a moment ago. Was quite lost in my mind as you got here. I'm afraid you've caught me at a bad time." With that he finally looked to Melody expectantly, ensuring his full attention. "What brings you here, Miss?"

(Sorry about the late-ness. My life's such a mess. =[)

[mel]

(No it's okay, I understand how it can be to have a busy life)
"Yes it's late, I do apologize for interrupting but when Lord Slytherin says I must go, he doesn't realize I'm a student he's running raggid" Melody shrugged. Melody was one of the only students that Slytherin made his personal lap dog. Mostly because she asked him to help her with her issues, to help control her Parseltounge, help her train it along with her visions. And in doing that, he made her run his errands while no one was looking. Slytherin wasn't the best man in the world, but he was able to make a deal fair.
"Regrets?" She blurted out.

Damn her curiousity got her, got the best of her. She shouldn't have asked and would it have not been so late she would have apologized for it. But also, Gryffindor seemed upset or sad about something, and Melody had this thing lately where she was the person everyone told their problems too. Not that she really went out to find out but people seemed to confess them to her, and she didn't really have anyone else to tell it to so people thought she was the perfect person to come to.
"I brought a package for you from Slytherin, he thought it urgent that I bring it now" She stated, pulling a package from underneath her arm.

outfit

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Godric nodded his head solemnly and made a pathetic sound with his tongue when he heard who had sent her to his office. He replied quickly, "I understand. But your Head of House means the best for you, I am sure." As he spoke, Godric gestured for Melody to step inside and sit as he moved back in himself and into the chair behind his modest desk.

Gryffindor was taken by surprise by Melody's question of his regrets. To be honest, he had already forgotten he had even brought it up and was completely confused as to what she was inquiring about for a moment.

Godric ignored her query for the moment however and answered her next statement instead, "If you could just place it in the corner there," he gestured to a stack of loaded boxes and parchment notes that seemed to be gathering some dust, "I shall be grateful."

As he sat, Godric crossed his fingers and began to ponder for a moment. Then he answered, "There was an unfortunate death to an apprentice of mine. I retired to this school to atone for my responsibility in that incident. I quite regret challenging that Vampire in the night. And a full moon at that. I could not stand by and let those beasts terrorize on such a night as they had that much power though. There was little choice." Gryffindor unlocked his hands and rested them on his chair's armrests. A female phoenix flew in through a window and came to sit on Gryffindor's desk. It scanned the room meaningfully. Seeming to understand its master's feelings. "And even now I am regreting coming to this school. Surely more will call on me to help them with dragons and other evils. I am afraid I may not be the best suited for a Head of House at this school, if I belong here at all."

[mel]

"Um, Yes, I suppose he does" Melody smiled at Gryffindor for a moment before looking away with a look of disbelief. There was alot that Melody believed about Slytherin, but wanting the best for her was not one. He could be a good man, she had seen it once in her life, but other than that she wasn't really sure she could assume he was a good guy. He definitely didn't act like a good guy at all. Looking to the founder for a moment before looking to the package, not sure what would be in it, possibly books, possibly potions, maybe poison, coming from her professor, the sky was the limit.

Looking to his stack of dusty objects, she cocked a brow back at the founder but nonethelss walked over and placed the package ontop of the stack. Trying to steady it before it fell, she felt a paper slip and slit her finger. Terror running through her veins at the moment, and she froze in her spot, not wanting to move or make the cut any worse. Great, crap, how, it all ran through her mind as she looked to finger where she could feel the pain of the paper cut, and almost cried with happiness. Anemia kept her from doing physical things, it kept her from standing up to people whom she knew needed a new view of things and punching them, it kept her from doing alot of things. Melody even read slow just so she wouldn't get paper cuts where every person had the smallest amount of iron. One paper cut could send the poor second year into the hospital. Her finger wasn't scratched open, just scratched, and it just hurt the slightest now knowing it was nothing big. Smiling, she turned around, holding her hand just barely and looked to the professor, trying to rip the smile from her face.

But the Smile disappeared when he started talking. Walking to his desk, she furrowed her brows and watched and listened to the founder talk about his adventure/regrets. It seemed the founders never truly let on to their history. Each one had their own little quirks and history behind them.
"Professor... I'm... I'm so sorry, to hear about your loss, but this school needs you. Each founder is needed, each student is needed, you're needed here so I guess the question is... who are you willing to let down?" Melody asked, pushing her blond hair out from her face.

outfit

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Godric gave a knowing look to his phoenix. He waited paitiently for her to notice his gaze. "I understand what you're saying. Do not worry, I have no plans to leave. I am merely aware that my inevitable absences will cause some level of strife amongst us Professers." As he moved to stand, he pulled the Sorting Hat over his head. Godric re-oriented his belt buckle around his waist, the jeweled hilt from the Sword of Gryffindor hung from it. "I am Godric Gryffindor and I have vowed to never let anyone down if I could help it. I apologize, but I have not revealed to you the entire story. I must admit, I tried to deceive you. I am not regreting the school. Now that I think, that was a callous thing to say. I am afraid, that I cannot reveal to you my true regret however. It is far too dark for a child."

Gryffindor sighed, he knew he was still saying too much. But it was not in his nature to lie. Though that is the nature of dark magic, it spawns more foul deeds. It is fortunate that he caught himself in the act and made himself pay for his action for he decided his punishment, "I enjoyed torturing the werewolf. Even after it turned back to human form, I spoke the darkest incantations I had knowledge of. I lost myself. Just as I did a moment ago as I lied to you. Did I care that I was saying I regretted being able to meet and see you and the other fine warlocks and witches of this school? I did not think. Tell anyone you want. It will be my punishment." Instead of hanging his head, Gryffindor straightened his back. "Truth must never be abandoned for comfort." With his confession, the phoenix gave them a proud song. If it hadn't been for his friends in the phoenixes and his mystical hat, Gryffindor would have succumbed to darkness and power long ago.

[mel]

Melody Marks just then realized what Slytherin had been saying all the two years she had been at the school. That Godric Gryffindor was very proud, and very, very into himself. With his words, he was sounding more and more into him and Mel cocked a brow at him. It was hard not to compare him to Salazar, they were both full of themselves, both extremely proud, and both extremely hateful of the other. Dusting the small dust off her dress, Melody tried not to look at him like he was the most insane person in the world, because at the moment, him standing there like the savior of the world, she was close to just trying to shove the pedistal out from his metaphorical feet. Melody had a soft heart, and she liked everyone else, but she did have the view that slytherin's were the best. She had a little pride in her house, and seeing other's flaunt made her want to knock them down, but it wasn't because they were half-blood, or muggle-born, or in any other house, but because they though they were better than her. No matter if Gryffindor thought that, Melody was getting that feeling from him and continued to fidget with her outfit for a moment to keep for trying to pop his bubble.
"Too dark for a child? Sir not to be rude or any such thing, but just because I am small and only 12 does not mean I am squimish or afraid of dark things. Nothing you say will haunt my nightmares, trust me" She stated.

Pulling out a hard candy from her small purse she had attached to her dress like a pouch on her left hip. She popped the sugary treat in her mouth and found her happiness and light go spiraling up as she sucked on the hard candy. Cocking her head to the side, she looked to the founder and almost coughed with laughter but bit her lip and nodded.
"Believe me or not Professor, but I won't spread your secrets to the world or to anyone. They are your secrets to spill not mine." She brushed her blond hair from her face and let out a sigh. Hands on her hips, she looked to the pheonix then to him. "What's your birds name?"

Outfit

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Gryffindor lowered his gaze to Melody. He nodded and dropped his dramatic visage. "That is Lelica. The jewel of my, uhm, 'birds'. She is one of the pair that I took feathers from to create my wand. I inherited all of my phoenixes. Much too expensive and rare to acquire them by any other means. I have considered presenting my spares as gifts for those who make Head Boy and Head Girl. But although I do have the largest flock in Europe, I have only a few. So it may seem unfair when I have run out, for new Head students. Yes. Quite unfair."

"As for my secrets, I was under the impression that I had already revealed them. Although I am touched by your sentiment, don't get me wrong. That is very noble of you. I wonder if Gryffindor colors might suit you better than green and silver." Gryffindor smiled, knowing Slytherin would not give up one of his precious pure bloods so easily. But the idea was charming to Godric all the same.

[mel]

"Well, she's beautiful" Melody stated, walking up slowly to the bird. Snakes loved Mel, she could talk to them and quite hadn't had the courage to ask if that was normal. But Slytherin seemed to be able to do it, so she guessed it a gift but she didn't want to know if it was rare or just uncommon. Melody always just hoped it was merely, just uncommon. If it was rare, then she would feel like more a freak then she already felt, and didn't need that to kill more of her self-confidence.
"I agree, and besides, they're far too beautiful to be handled by silly teenagers" Melody laughed a bit.

Melody looked at the man and smiled, but let out a small sigh. Sure being a different house would make life easier, but she wouldn't fit in any other house as easily as she did in Slytherin.
"Trust me, I look best in green and silver" She whispered, stroking the pheonix gently. She didn't want to be bitten by the bird, but she liked animals mostly because they didn't need anything for them to like you. They didn't need expensive clothes or house, they just needed affection.

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Godric nodded as the bird made a small bow to Melody in exchange for the positive compliment. Godric went to a cabinet and pulled it open. He rummaged through the cupboard for a bit before extracting a pair of socks. "Well, I'm sure that you're just flat-" Gryffindor stopped as he was bending to change his socks. "Egh. Silly teenagers? Our Head students?" Gryffindor had nearly forgotten Melody was one of Slytherin's again. He nodded finally and continued changing socks. "I never thought of it like that."

After he'd placed his shoes back over his newly socked feet, Godric went and sat behind the desk. He looked across it at Melody inquiringly. "Quite. Of course. The Sorting Ceremony has never failed before." Even as he said this, Godric didn't look wholly convinced by his statement. It was no secret that he'd been searching for a better sorting method. Preferrably one that didn't have to do with human error. And especially one that could continue after the four founder's inevitable deaths.

Godric pulled his thinking cap out of a drawer of the desk. Godric then thrust the hat over his head. "I am sorry that you cannot have my full attention. You've caught me as I was about to go see about hiring a new Professor. Very unfortunate circumstances. However, my remembrall is telling me that I'm forgetting something. So, I've asked my friend here to help me remember what it is. While he ponders that question, How are your studies?"

[mel]

Melody shrugged, alot of the time when she saw the head students, she thought they were ignorant or silly. They often had their heads held high, and were strict on those they didn't need to be on. It made her want to ignore them all the more for it. Mostly because she was a slytherin and hated any other head student that wasn't slytherin, for they never understood. They couldn't understand how it was to be a slytherin. It was a different world, it was a different life-style.
"Some might not have been as silly as I see them, but I would never trust them with magnificent birds like this one if I were you" Melody spoke.

"Good you believe that, because despite my non-slytherin tendencies, I do truly belong in Slytherin" Melody added in, pressing some of the wrinkles out from her clothes and fixing her hat a bit. As much of a good person that she was, was that much more of a bad person. She tried to equal them out, but she did slip alot and let the hard, cold hearted slytherin out. Looking back up to Gryffindor, she tried not to see the man like her professor did, but she couldn't help it when he retrieved a cap from his drawer and twitched a bit. The man looked absolutely ridiculous in it and she couldn't help but bit her inside cheek to keep from laughing.

"Um... That's..." She gulped down the words she wanted to say, "That's quiet alright, I was merely a messanger Professor" She looked away for a moment to collect herself. If you laugh you'll get detention and then you'll truly be in trouble she thought to herself. Looking back, she tried to ignore the hat and look at him.
"My studies are... well rather boring I might say, but only because we're doing the basics and with my family, you must know the basics before you even go to school so Its a review of skills for me"

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Gryffindor nodded meaningfully as he took in everything she said. Gryffindor leaned forward with his palms pressed together. He shook his head. "Ah. But you may put too much stake in the sorting ceremony. Remember that all that ceremony is for is to sort new students to teachers that can best teach them due to a few similarities. If I didn't exist, all of my students would likely be sorted Hufflepuff. There is no connection to us other than the superficial. No Head of House is anymore significant than a student. No, no. Quite the opposite rather."

Gryffindor pulled the cap over his chest as he heard Melody tell him about her prior education. "Ah. The days when this institution didn't exist. I was raised at home by my parents too. My father was always too eager to teach me more greater knowledge, my mother had to make him review everything again more slowly afterward." He seemed to be envisioning his childhood as he sat there staring past Melody. He nodded slowly. "It wasn't until Salazar came about that I learned some of the most impressive magic I know." Gryffindor's smile had faded as he recounted this last memory. "We all have our choices. It is not for your Head of House to tell you how to live."

[mel]

Melody furrowed her eyes brows before pulling one of the more empty chairs up to the desk. Taking the few files from it and dusting the chair off a bit, she sat lightly down and folded her hands over her lap. Very much a good little lady, mother would throw a fit if she wasn't, despite her loathing for her mother. Her parents more likely, but they were the only things keeping her from going broke and unable to reach social power, so she let them think she loved them. Patting her dress down a bit, she cocked a brow up to Gryffindor and looked up to see him.
"But Sir, if you dislike it so much, why did you put it in place. Why not delay the sorting process till it was perfected, or atleast be working at all the time, till it is perfect, more refined every year. It seems to make no sense to me that if you hate how superficial it is, yet you haven't fixed it yet?"

Melody looked to her crossed ankles after she spoke. Not many people knew how it felt to be in that kind of family. Many thought being rich was such a great thing, that being famous and well-known was easy. But it panged her heart many times, to see how she was forced to be a way at home that she disagreed with and was not allowed to voice her opinion in the least. Through it all, though, Mel would not change her life-style. Melody went wide eyed at his words. Wait? What! Did he just say Slytherin taught him? Whoa, she didn't know that little party. Floored at the new found information, she sat still for a moment before looking up and giving him an apologetic look, mostly for she knew. Melody knew well how frustrating Salazar Slytherin was. When he took an interest in someone, he would not give up till they were what he wanted. Maybe Gryffindor was the reason why he was so, he let him go and regretted it.
"Not to be rude sir, but, It may not be your head of house's decision on how your life ways, but ones parents..." she let out a sigh of frustration, "Ones parents hold a very tight leash on a life, and can make or brake a person's ways" She added, looking up again and trying not to look too angry with her words.

outfit

[Godric Geoffrey Gryffindor]

Gryffindor smirked. He knew Salazar was a very competent tutor. He sat up straight and nodded in agreement. He hadn't anticipated Melody's reaction from the loss of security. He was never very good at guessing how people would react to things. "It is not that I hate it. The ceremony works fine as it is. However we, the founders, will not always work as fine as we do. That is the problem."

"My father always tried to get me to learn difficult magic, as I told you before. However, I could not. I wasn't able to do it. Despite his desires. I did not possess the capacity for that kind of magic. I could not follow orders. The orders were too excessive in their demands." Gryffindor did not want to make up Melody's mind about listening to her parents. But did not want her to go on believing she had to follow them forever either. Gryffindor returned the hat to his head and went on trying to remember what he was forgetting.