Author's Note: Filler chapter alert!

AND IN THEIR TRIUMPH DIE

chapter five
A Place for Peace

Helga had her hands full, what with six youths to care for and now the four injured Muggles Evander had returned with. Helga had been prepared to scream her head off at Evander for disappearing, but she had immediately been distracted by the severity of the Muggles' injuries. And of course, she had to admit (to herself at least) that she was also proud of Evander. She could hardly fault the brave boy for being driven to help, to do what was right. She just feared for his safety, that was all….and after looking at the Galt's victims, she was upset at the thought of what might have happened to Evander if he had encountered the two wizards.

When her patients arrived, she immediately wrote to Rowena. Neither were true healers, per say…but Helga did have a decent foundation for the craft. Still, she wanted Rowena's opinion and suggestions. Helga had never known a smarter witch. If either of them was stuck, Rowena was sure to find the answer in some tedious tome buried deep in her grandparents' libraries. Helga scribbled out a short letter describing her patients' ailments, and sent her fastest little owl for Scotland. It would take a few days for an answer, but she was still comforted to think that advice was on its way.

In the meantime, she and her house elves immediately got some potions underway. Little Shireen helped Helga preen through her magical garden and harvest what they needed. Then the girl helped start the potions, under Helga's careful guidance. Her house elves were scrambling busily, helping to treat what physical wounds they could. They quickly had the two men stitched and bandaged, neater than any Muggle surgeon could have done.

Helga spent some time sitting with the blind and deaf man, who was extremely anxious because of his sudden limitations. She put an arm around him comfortingly, assuring him that they would have him back to normal soon. In the meantime, she made sure he had some warm stew.

Little could be done for the convulsing woman, though her seizures had lessened from sheer muscle exhaustion. Helga conjured soft restraints to hold the woman to a cot, so she would not hurt herself while seizing. Helga thought she knew what she needed for a potion to help the woman, but she was eager to get a second opinion from Rowena before trying it out. She began the brew in the meantime.

For the man whose knees were reversed, it took a few hours of painful magical reversal. Helga charged Leona and Evander with looking after the other children, and keeping them out of the room with the Muggles. The younger children didn't need to see such grotesqueries. From time to time, she called Leona in to help, as she was the oldest and most mature of the children. Indeed, the girl was hardly a child, as she was of marriageable age.

Three days passed since the Muggles had arrived, and Godric and Salazar did not return. Rowena's letter beat them back to Penfryn. Helga felt relief and reassurance upon reading Rowena's words. She seemed to agree that Helga was on the right track. Helga made some minor adjustments to her potions based on Rowena's thoughts. The blind man's potion was ready, and upon drinking it he immediately started to regain his vision. There were tears in his eyes, and he started to try to talk, to thank Helga. It took some time before his speech stopped being clumsy, and his vision cleared completely. The injured men began to walk and seemed much better. The one man's knees were sore and unsteady, but gradually getting more and more stable.

Later that night, the other potion finished steeping, and with Leona's help, Helga was able to make the Muggle woman drink. Almost instantly, she relaxed, falling into an exhausted sleep—but she was still. Her seizing stopped. Helga knew it would take a little time for her to regain her strength. Days of convulsions had drained her.

The four were almost ready to return home by the fourth morning. Helga insisted on providing them with some food for the journey. At around lunchtime, they were preparing to leave, readying the horses and the cart.

Suddenly Evander called out, "They're back! They're back!"

Helga looked up in the direction Evander was pointing. Godric and Salazar were riding across the field, side by side, their horses at a swift canter. A grin spread across Helga's face, and she felt a flood of relief.

They truly looked the part of lords, riding back from victory. It was an impressive sight for quaint little Penfryn. Evander ran to meet them as they slowed their horses to a walk. They made their way through a small herd of sheep, who scurried away from the large horses.

Helga walked over to meet them as they dismounted their horses. They both bowed their heads in greeting to her, and then exchanged polite kisses on both cheeks.

"The Galts are dead," Salazar told her.

"And you're both unhurt?" asked Helga eagerly.

Godric scrunched his nose and smiled, shaking his head. "Scratches," he said dismissively. Salazar chuckled.

They greeted the four Muggles, who thanked them profusely before starting on their way back home. Helga watched sadly as Godric explained that they had been unable to save Mr. Cerwyn's wife. The man was gutted, and Godric spoke quietly with him for a few moments before the four struck out for home. Mr. Cerwyn thanked Godric nonetheless. When they had gone, Helga patted Godric and Salazar's arms, ushering them inside to sit at the kitchen table. Evander gladly saw to their horses.

Helga had exchanged four patients for two, but wasn't complaining in the least. With a flick of her want, a kettle was whistling and she whipped up some tea for them. The began to tell her the story of what had happened while she checked them over. They told her how they had found Evander the stowaway, and that he had guided them to the Muggle village. They continued on through their story of fighting the Galts, and how they had spent the last few days at the Muggle village, using their magic to help repair what damage the Galts had left behind. They had given the Muggles all of the goods they had retrieved from the Galt's camp. It was likely from Godric seemed in a dour mood….not towards Helga or Salazar, but they could tell he was bothered and irritated.

Helga gave them a quick check-up, worried about the effects of the Dark magic they had battled. Godric still had a headache from the hex that had hit him. Helga knew a quick and easy potion that would solve that, and she sent little Shireen out to the garden.

Salazar had some bruised ribs. He sat with his shirt pulled up and arm raised, and winced as Helga prodded his side.

"Ow, bloody hell…" he grumbled.

"They're not broken," said Helga decisively. There was a nasty yellow and purple bruise at his ribs, but it would heal.

Shireen came inside with the plants Helga had requested, and helped her start the potion. Leona followed Shireen and sat at the far side of the table. Evander came in and sat with Salazar and Godric, talking to them about the Galts. Godric seemed to have taken a great liking to the boy, so Helga didn't send Evander away.

Within the hour, Helga ladled the potion into a mug, and Godric drank it gratefully. Helga insisted the children do their chores and work on their studies. There was a bustle of activity, as was normal for the house. Godric and Salazar were interested to see what the children were learning, so they remained at the table for a while. Helga rounded some of the kids up so they could do some reading.

"Quinn!" she called over the heads of the children. "Quinn, Rowena sent you another book." The dark-haired boy with freckles on his nose and cheeks appeared, eagerly accepting an old, leather-bound book Rowena had provided. Helga had told her how clever the boy was, and how he loved to read and learn.

Helga quizzed them on some basics. They didn't have a practical lesson at this time, but Helga was able to discuss some magical theory with them. Then it was time to move onto some basic arithmancy and languages. Leona and the house elves helped get everyone situated, and Helga offered for Godric and Salazar to get washed after their travels. They seemed to have forgotten their grimy state, but at the suggestion of a hot bath, they both seemed eager. Upstairs, Helga prepped some tubs of hot water for them before returning to the children.

By the time the lessons ended and the children went outside to play and practice harmless spells they had learned about, Godric and Salazar emerged once more, clean and refreshed. They still looked travel-weary, but the difference was startling, now that they were clean and groomed. Helga shooed them outside while she began to start dinner. Mothering was what she did, and she didn't mind providing for Godric and Salazar in the least. She saw Quinn gravitate towards them a little, but shyly come back into the kitchen with Helga. She kissed the boy on the top of the head and let him help her cook. She suspected he wanted to talk to Godric and Salazar, since the Galts had made him an orphan…but he obviously didn't know what to say to them.

Through the window, Helga saw that Godric was playing with Evander, teaching him swordplay with wooden swords. He would slowly show him a few blocks, then move at him a little fast. She saw Evander get his fingers clapped by Godric's sword, and Godric laughed good-naturedly as the boy shook his hand. Then he helped Evander correct his misstep.

Helga called them in for dinner, and they all ate as a group. The children each cleaned their plates, and then went about their evening. Some went outside to play, some relaxed inside. Godric had been quiet through dinner, and went to sit on a chair in the yard by himself. Helga was tidying up, and after a few minutes she saw Salazar go outside and sit beside Godric. They sat in silence, but they both seemed content just to be in each other's company. Helga suspected they hadn't shared all of the details of what had happened on their journey, but whatever it was it seemed to have bonded them. Helga wasn't nosy enough to pry—she was just glad to see that they were safe and to know that the Galts had been stopped.

When the kitchen was tidy, Helga went outside to sit with Godric and Salazar. Godric went to rise to his feet respectfully, but Helga waved a hand at him and told him to stop fussing with the formalities. She smiled and sat beside them.

"Did you both get enough to eat?"

"Helga, my own mother never fed me better," teased Salazar dryly, as though she was foolish for even worrying about that. Godric and Helga smiled.

"Thank you for spending time with the children," she said to them. "They've been so excited to have trained wizards staying with us."

"They're good children. Bright," said Godric.

Salazar raised his brow and tilted his head. "Most don't know their wand from a table leg—"

"But they could learn, they're bright. You and I have been very privileged, Salazar."

"Precisely," said Salazar. "And how many wizards have you met who know what we know about magic? Not many." He furrowed his brow and looked at Helga. "How did you learn, Helga? Was it in your family?"

"Oh yes, my mother and grandmother were splendid witches. They taught me everything…if you like my cooking, you should have tasted hers," she added with a soft laugh.

She sat back, looking out at the children in the yard. Shireen and Elyssa were playing with a little weed flower, prodding it with their wands and managing to make it change colors. Evander was watching and animatedly telling them to try different things. Leona was sitting on her own, but from time to time she would glance interestedly at Helga, Godric, and Salazar. Helga wanted to give them the world...but there was only so much she could teach them in a setting like this. In ancient times, magic was openly accepted and commonly used, from the Egyptians to the druids. It was active in society. But no longer. Most Muggles weren't even aware of the magical beings around them, and wrote it off as superstition. Helga was fortunate that it was still acknowledged in Wales, and in some areas of Ireland and Scotland. This village had known druids in its past, and respected the craft. They were happy to have Helga's family living among them.

The three of them sat in silence for a few moments, thinking that over. It was Helga who broke the silence, leaning forward and looking at her guests.

"I'm going to visit an friend of mine in a few days, in Scotland. I wondered if you two would like to join me," she said. "She's a positively brilliant witch. I think you'd like her."

The men looked over at her, then at each other. Godric shrugged and turned back to Helga.

"Sure, why not?"

Helga grinned. "Splendid!"

"What about the children?" asked Godric.

Helga waved a hand. "Oh, they're fine. Leona looks after them while I'm gone, and some of our friends in the village check in on them a few times a day."

Later that evening, Helga sat down to write another letter. Dearest Rowena, she started. She wrote of the success with her Muggle patients, and that the threat of the Galts had been eradicated.

I'm so looking forward to seeing you again! And I hope you don't mind—I'm going to bring a few friends with me. Presently, Lords Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin have been staying with the children and me. It is by their hand that the Galts were finished. I think you would like them immensely.

I hope you and your father are well! We will arrive tomorrow afternoon.

Your dearest friend,

Helga