Harry Potter and the Folly of Dumbledore

Thank you all for your kind reviews.  Thanks to my beta Sharday, all mistakes are my own so blame them on me.  I doubt his chapter will do much for you but I will put up the next chapter as soon as possible, before the end of the week.

Maddison

Disclaimer: I don’t even own the computer I’m working on, let alone Harry Potter

Chapter Five
A Charm Long Forgotten

1054 A.D.

Godric Gryffindor stood looking at the coffin that held the body of his only son. He glanced around at the other mourners and recognized several ex-students of his, Alexandra Gryffindor, his daughter-in-law, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw. Tears were falling heavily from these three women as they looked at the coffin that held the mangled body of Galen Gryffindor. He watched as Helen Trishen, the daughter of Helga Hufflepuff, and wife of Michael Trishen, walked over to Alexandra and laid a comforting hand on the young widow.

“Alexandra, it’ll be okay.” Helen whispered. “You and the baby will be fine.”

“It’s too soon, Helen.” Alexandra sobbed. “We only just married.” Alexandra and Galen had married eight months ago and currently Alexandra was seven months pregnant with her first born child.

Rowena Ravenclaw slowly approached Godric. “Godric, I am so…”

“Don’t be Rowena; it is not your fault.” Godric interrupted.

“No, it isn’t though I wonder what would have happened if we had allowed him to get his way.” Rowena said softly.

“Then there would be hundreds of uneducated muggle-born witches and wizards wandering around the country.”

“Oh Godric, how can you be so calm, he’s threatened to exterminate your line! Oh how has it come to this!” Rowena wailed.

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“What else could he possible have done?” Rowena exclaimed.

“He has vowed that someday somewhere down his line, his heir will exterminate my line forever.”
“He has an heir!” Rowena gasped.

“Yes, a son, Silas, Silas Salazar Slytherin.”

“How fitting.” Rowena sarcastically remarked. “It is hard to see how so close of friends could have turned out so drastically different.”

“Rowena, my dear, it is at the end of one’s life that they realize the mistakes they have made throughout their life.”

“What do you speak of Godric? The end of one’s life?”

“We are old, Rowena, even by wizard standards.”

“Godric, you may still live for half a century!” Rowena laughed. “Stop talking like your going to die tomorrow.

“I’m dying, Rowena. Slowly, yes, but surely, if you were to put me up against a young adult such as Silas Slytherin, or Michael then I would surely fall to their blade.”

“The Godric Gryffindor I knew would never lose a sword fight.”

“The Godric Gryffindor you knew has perished Rowena.”

“Oh Godric, you still have so much to live for, what about Alexandra and the baby.”

“I will live to see the baby’s birth, but not long after that.”

“Godric Gryffindor you are impossible!” Rowena hissed and stormed off.

Godric stood staring at the retreating back of Rowena Ravenclaw. “I must protect my line, Rowena, even if it’ll surely bring about my death.”

“Lord Gryffindor, the carriage is ready as soon as you are, milord.” A young servant boy announced. “Mistress Gryffindor would like to leave soon; she says that she cannot stand the dreadful atmosphere any longer.”

“I’m coming.” Godric said following the boy to the carriage. He entered to find Alexandra staring out of the window with a longing look on her face.

“Alexandra.” He greeted.

“Lord Gryffindor.” She said her voice thick with sadness.

“My dear, how many times do I need to tell you to call me Godric? You are after all carrying my grandchild.”

“I hope it’s a girl.” Alexandra said. “I won’t be able to stand it if it’s a boy. You know he’ll look just like Galen if it’s a boy, all of you Gryffindors look exactly like your papa’s.”

“Don’t worry Alexandra, in time the pain from his death will fade, but I will not be around forever, promise me Alexandra that when I die you will go live with your brother, he will keep you safe from the Slytherins.”

“I will, sir, but are you not well?”

“Alas, my dear, I’m afraid that my time here on earth is quickly coming to an end.”

The two fell silent for a few moments and all that could be heard was the pitter patter of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestone as the carriage pulled up the lane leading to Gryffindor Manor.

Two months later Alexandra went into labour. Her midwives brought her through it, but Godric heard the agonizing screams from his study and sighed remembering the birth of his son and his beautiful wife Felicity. Felicity had also been killed by Salazar Slytherin in an attempt to show Godric who was superior and more powerful. He was startled out of his thoughts by a young woman coming to the door and asking,

“Did Lord Gryffindor want to see his grandson?”

“It’s a boy then?” Godric smiled. Of course it was a boy; a girl hadn’t been born into the family in 21 generations.

“Yes, milord.” Gryffindor got up and went into Alexandra’s room. She was holding the baby and Godric cleared his throat to announce his presence.

“Oh Lord Gryffindor!” Alexandra exclaimed.

“Alexandra…” he said warningly.

“Oh alright, Godric, is that good? I would like to introduce you to your grandson Gregory Galen Gryffindor.”

“Ah, keeping the tradition alive are you? The “g” for the first name and the father’s name for the middle, he’s beautiful Alexandra, he’s got your eyes.”

“Yes, but everything else is Galen.”

“Alas it is the curse of Gryffindor.” Alexandra laughed at the old man’s comment.

“I’m feeling rather tired, perhaps you could watch Gregory for me?”

“I would be honoured to.” Godric replied taking the child and quietly leaving the room. When he was back in his study he looked at the small child and whispered, “Right, well it’s now or never, Gregory.” He set the child on his comfortable scarlet and gold arm chair and took out his wand.

“Contego el funis, nullus Fateor excessum de extremus, simper simul.” He muttered. A golden light extracted from his wand and bathed the baby, the golden light infiltrated every inch of skin on the boy and slowly disappeared, and when it was gone the room was filled with Gregory Galen Gryffindor’s cries and Lord Godric Gamblin Gryffindor lay dead on the floor with his wand still in hand.