Chapter 2

Rambling Reasoning Rowena Ravenclaw Runs Along

Helga arrived at the little village in a glen, delayed a little by a heavy rainstorm, which sent her fleeing for cover.

It was a quaint little place, and very busy with traders and artisans of all kinds. The Lord and Lady had passed away many years ago, leaving their three daughters to rule over the place. The three had brought in as many jobs as they could, and so the little town thrived.

Helga wished she could buy something but while the elves had given her everything she had needed nourishment wise, they had no money to give her. And humans, she quickly learned, required money for what seemed everything!

But it could always be worse, she reminded herself. At least she was far from starving, and because it was summertime, the nights were usually warm and comfy for sleeping outdoors, and her little kitten was good company, content to ride around her neck like a stole.

So caught up in her musings, Helga didn't noticed she had loosened her packet of goodies until Totonicus meowed as the satchel hit the ground, bottom first thankfully, and she just BARELY caught her treat from the Lollipop Guild in time. She let out a sigh, and quickly began to gather her things up, grateful that the elves had put a shield around the food to keep all the sandwiches and things clean and dirt free.

Suddenly another hand appeared and began to help her gather her things up then handed them back to her.

"Oh! Thank you!" Helga said brightly

"It's not a problem," The woman in front of Helga replied kindly.

She appeared to be Helga's age though a bit more stoic and thin with lovely brown hair and dark brown eyes, and she was wearing the most beautiful dress Helga had ever seen, dark blue with silver trimmings.

"That was awfully nice of you! My name's Helga Hufflepuff, what's yours?"

"Rowena Ravenclaw."

"Oh, Rowena, that's a pretty name!" Helga chirped.

"Is it?" Rowena looked honestly surprised.

"Oh yes! It makes me think of rivers and quiet, green shade and little birds chirping and playing in the water." Helga closed her eyes and imagined the things she spoke of before opened them again.

"Thank you. I like your name too." Rowena giggled.

"Thanks. The elves gave it to me." Helga said proudly.

"Elves?" A quizzical, but fascinated look crossed Rowena's face.

"Yes. I was raised by elves in a little town a day's walk from here. They're ever so sweet and the were so good to me," Helga said dreamily as the memories surfaced. "It's difficult to leave them, but I'm on a quest now to find my real parents."

"Oh that sounds terribly thrilling." Rowena said excitedly.

"Yes, I'm very excited! But I don't know anything about them. All I have as a clue is this pocket watch the elves found with me. It has the name of the shop it was purchased at on the back, so I'm going there now to start looking for them."

"That's very clever of you."

"It was Papa elf's idea, really."

"Well, I'm sure you're very clever as well. To be a young woman traveling alone, you would have to be. You've learned so well from the elves." Rowena gave a sad sigh. "I've been schooled by some of the finest tutors in England and I still can't seem to grasp even the most basic principles of quantum physics. I really am terribly slow. It must have been such a disappointment to my parents after my sisters excelled so greatly."

"I shouldn't want you to know the principles of too many things that I can't pronounce. Besides, I'll bet your sisters aren't as pretty as you." Helga offered up.

Rowena blushed. "Well, yes, mother always did say that I had the best looks, and even though I wouldn't be a great scholar, I may at least be able to marry one."

"That's the spirit!" Helga raised a fist triumphantly

"You're such a nice person, Miss Helga." Rowena giggled. "You're very easy to talk to. Thank you."

"Oh, well you're quite welcome! Please, just call me Helga though. I'm so very glad to have made a friend already! I've never been so far from my village before and I am a little nervous. It's nice to meet someone friendly so quickly."

"I'm very glad to have met you too. Where are you staying the night, Helga? If you haven't decided, I can recommend the Happy Hippogriff Inn on Main Street." Rowena motioned to the street across from where they were standing.

"Actually, I don't have any money, the elves don't use it, you see, so I was planning on just sleeping outside tonight," Helga admitted, a little embarrassed but smiling anyway.

"Oh, surely not!" Rowena scolded in the tone of a mother who was concerned for her child's safety. "There are wolves and thieves and bears outside! You must come and stay with me, it won't be any trouble."

"Are you sure?" Helga asked, smiling happily.

"Yes, please, I would be honored if you would accept my impromptu invitation," Rowena smiled back at her.

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Rowena's house turned out to be the finest and largest house in the village. Helga stared in wonder. To her, the house seemed a city unto itself. With all the house elves and other various servants, the Kitchens, dining halls, bedrooms.

As they passed a large study, Rowena waved through the open door at her second eldest sister.

"Angela, this is Helga. She's ever so dear. I met her in the market today. She's going to stay for dinner and the night." Rowena smiled.

"Rowena, please, I'm very busy! Why don't you and your friend go to your room and play?" Angela snapped a reply.

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry I disturbed your studies, Angela." Rowena's voice shook slightly.

"She seems a bit cranky." Helga snorted.

"She's been working on that model of a complex carbohydrate for a few days now. She's just tired. It takes a lot of energy to be as smart as her." Rowena said quickly.

"It looked like she was playing with tinker toys." Helga wrinkled her nose.

"Oh no, that's a very sophisticated tool set for modeling complicated things." Rowena insisted.

After having Helga settled in a large Bedroom, Rowena asked about taking her to the library to read for a while before dinner. Helga politely asked what "reading" was and why the library was essential, Totonicus mewing his assent. At this, Rowena had to sit down.

As they enjoyed their elegant meal, the sisters chatted politely with Helga.

"So where are you headed for, Helga?" Rowena's other sister Peggy asked politely.

"The watchmaker I'm looking for is located out of the Sapphire City, so I'm going to start looking there." Helga answered cheerfully.

"The Sapphire City? Oh, I didn't even think to ask you where that store was. I'm so thick!" Rowena berated herself.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Rowena. You have other strengths." Peggy patted Rowena's head as if she were a small child.

"Soon you'll find a nice young man to take care of you and you won't have to worry about these things." Angela said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"I know... I just... Sometimes I feel like I'd really like to go to university though... and become a scholar like you." Rowena bowed her head.

"Rowena, honey, you're not a child any more. You must set realistic goals for yourself. You know university isn't the place for you. You belong in a pretty house, being a pretty hostess for a good husband." Angela said in a I'm-right-and-you-are-wrong-so-do-not-even-try-to-doubt-me, voice.

"I know... It's just childish dreams." Rowena sighed.

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Later that evening, in Rowena's bedroom she talked excitedly to Helga, gazing into space with fantasy-filled eyes.

"There's a great university in the Sapphire City. The best in England. I used to dream of going there when I was a little girl." Rowena said dreamily.

"Why don't you?" Helga asked as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh, I couldn't. I'm just not smart enough for university." Rowena looked down at the floor sadly.

"Now that's no way to think, Rowena! You'll never know until you try! Maybe university is really just right for you. Maybe you'll find out your just as smart as your sisters, you just need the chance to prove it!" Helga said firmly.

"You believe so much in people, Helga." Rowena smiled weakly.

"And you should believe in yourself because I know that you're smarter than you think you are! You know what, Rowena?" Helga stared at Rowena worriedly, but then her eyes went wide as the wheels in her head turned and produced a brilliant idea. "I know! You should come with me! We'll go to the Sapphire City together and I'll find my parents and you'll go to university and become a great scholar!"

"Oh, Helga! That's sounds so wonderful! I'll do it! I'll come with you!" A bright excited smile stretched across her face.

And so, on the marrow, the new traveling companions set out on their quest, Rowena riding side-saddle on her horse, Bitsy, while Helga continued to walk, bubbling on, very grateful to finally have a companion who could talk back.

Okay, so here we have the lovely Rowena Ravenclaw. Now I personally believe myself to belong in Hufflepuff, but Rowena's fabulous in her own right.

Moving right along here. Next chapter is Salazar's part.

Sand3's Saying's:

I don't care if quantum physics and complex carbohydrates are anachronisms. So there.

Vega's Ventings:

Well that was fun! I really like Helga and Rowena, but I'm really looking forward to the next chapter, which will feature my favorite founder, Salazar Slytherin!

Chica: you know, as a feminist, I'm HIGHLY offended by parts of this chapter, historically accurate or not.

Sand3: The femminazi activity is unnecessary Chica.

Chica: But our young girls-

Vega: Are smart enough to figure out that this is just pretend.

Chica: ... fine.