Chapter 1 - Introductions

I don't think we ever actually set out to start a school. I myself was never a teaching type. I'd rather be out there, doing things. What those things were, I'm not sure, as now I can't imagine myself doing anything else.

Rowena Ravenclaw, I knew would have chosen to teach, school or not. She seemed to have an affinity for finding a spark of knowledge in every child she came across, and was talented in cultivating the passion for learning in her students. I know for a time she home taught children, how many, I can't say. After her invention of the time turner, she could have taught hundreds in her day; not even batting an eye. When I say that to her, she scoffs and rolls her eyes. And a never-ending lecture ensues about the understanding of spreading oneself too thin, and the dangers of over-exertion. She may have all the time in the world for such explanations, but I do not. Usually at that point, I may pretend to be ill and depart. Until she's done.

Salazar Slytherin and I had always been close friends, despite the fact that my mother commented on more than a thousand occasions that we were like apples and oranges. Salazar seemed not to like being compared to a fruit. Come to mention, he didn't take to being compared to anything, wanting instead to be completely ambiguous, different from us all, not caring to be part of the group. Never bothered me in the least, but made him a foreboding man to the people we associated with. He was sharp as a whip, and his somber and dry sense of humor contrasted my loudness perfectly, although if you asked me, I can't rightly say now what made us such close friends.

Helga Hufflepuff never struck me as a teaching type either. I don't think she considers herself to be a teacher even now. I wonder if she even notices her students sometimes, as scattered as she is. If there's one thing she knows though, it's herbology, and that woman has the patience of a saint. Teaching teenage boys the skills to plant their own potions ingredients is no picnic. What boy wants to learn how to plant flowers? I sure didn't when I was that age, and if it wasn't for Helga's patient guidance, I would have failed miserably. She's a gem, and despite her absent-mindedness, she indeed remembers who her friends are and treats them with a fierce loyalty that is almost scary considering the mild mannered woman.

The events that led to the opening of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are something that I feel we should share with the community. Never before has a school of such grandeur been opened, and the struggle to get us where we are now is a great achievement. Rowena says this is rubbish, we all did what we had to given the circumstances, but I beg to differ. Salazar is indifferent to the idea, in fact he hasn't spoken of this memoir since I brought it up. I thought that fame was something he longed for, but perhaps I was wrong. In any case, Helga seems not to have an opinion either way, and her lack of a negative comment, I consider to be an encouraging sign. If she even remembers what it is I spoke to her about. I should probably ask her again.

Well then. Now that all the formal introductions have been made, I should probably let you in on who I am. Rowena is a stickler for formalities, and wouldn't dare place her name on this if we didn't strictly follow said formalities. She is glaring at me right now, so without further ado, I am Godric Gryffindor. I am head of the Gryffindor house here at Hogwarts. I was, as my colleagues were as well, home schooled. I worked for the Ministry of Magic for a time before this began, but I'm sure that will all be explained later in the text. I am sad to say my career there did not lead me where I thought it would, and the time did soon come to part ways. Salazar left with me, and we worked closely together on various projects until the grand idea of a school was formulated. I am sure those will be related later in the text as well.

With all of that in mind, reader, I now present to you in it's entirety, Hogwarts: A History.

Godric Gryffindor

Helga Hufflepuff

Rowena Ravenclaw

Salazar Slytherin