The Founder's meeting room had never felt so charged. Magical energy hummed in the air like a living thing, crackling against the stone walls. Salazar's serpent-like eyes glinted with a mixture of fear and fury, while Godric's chest rose and fell, his normally calm demeanor replaced with indignation.
"I will not risk the safety of Hogwarts!" Salazar hissed, his voice slicing through the room. "Muggleborns are unpredictable. Untrained. Dangerous! One careless mistake, one slip, and the entire school—our home—could be exposed to the world!"
Godric slammed a fist onto the table, his own eyes blazing. "Dangerous? That's nonsense! You underestimate them! Magic is magic, Salazar! We cannot deny talent simply because of who their parents are. Hogwarts is for every wizard, every witch, who can wield magic!"
I remained seated for a moment, studying the tension build like a storm about to break. My fingers hovered over the Elder Wand, not because I wanted to fight, but because I had learned early in life that preparedness was survival. "Enough with the theatrics," I said coolly. "We all care about Hogwarts. But let's not pretend this isn't complicated. Muggleborns have potential, yes… but Salazar is not entirely wrong about the risks."
Helga's voice chimed softly, though firmly. "We need compromise, not conflict. These children are still children. If we bring them in, we must ensure proper supervision. Education first, yes, but security always."
Rowena stepped forward, adjusting her robes. "We've already expanded the school beyond just pureblood families. Turning away capable wizards now would undo everything we've worked for. But… I agree, careful measures are needed."
Salazar's tail lashed, his hand twitching dangerously near his crossbow. "Careful measures are not enough! One misstep—"
"Stop," I interrupted, standing and drawing the Elder Wand in a smooth motion. The room stiffened immediately. "Weapons drawn are words in this age, not just threats. If we cannot talk without drawing wands, perhaps we've lost the purpose of this meeting entirely. We all know the rules of engagement, and I will not let foolish pride or fear destroy the school before it even has a chance to grow."
Godric's hand shot for his own sword, its hilt gleaming in the dim light. "You think you can lecture me, Seraphina?"
"I'm not lecturing," I said, letting my gaze sweep over each founder. "I'm reminding you all that we are stronger together than apart. We can fight monsters outside, but not each other."
For tense minutes, the five of us—wands, swords, and magical focus at the ready—stared each other down. The air was thick with power, potential, and the unspoken knowledge that if this escalated, the school could suffer.
Finally, slowly, carefully, the tension eased. Godric lowered his sword, though the fire in his eyes remained. Salazar's posture softened slightly, though the venom in his expression lingered.
"I… will consider your points," Salazar said at last, his voice low and dangerous. Without another word, he turned sharply and stormed out of the room, leaving a faint hiss and a trail of barely suppressed magic in his wake.
The rest of us exhaled slowly, the room settling into a brittle calm.
I sheathed the Elder Wand and let my gaze drift to the empty doorway Salazar had just passed through. "That," I murmured, "did not end well."
Rowena adjusted her robes again, looking uneasy. "No… it didn't. There's a strain now… a rift. Between Godric and Salazar, between all of us in some ways. Hogwarts will survive, but the foundation we're building—both literally and figuratively—is shaking."
Godric's voice softened, but it was still heavy with frustration. "He's stubborn, and he's right in some ways… but I cannot compromise on talent. That is the point of this school!"
I stepped closer, placing a hand on the edge of the table. "Then we proceed carefully. We admit Muggleborns, but under strict observation. Security spells, wards, magical contracts if needed. Hogwarts must grow, but it must survive. And for now… we watch each other's backs, even if trust is fragile."
The room was quiet after that, the weight of unspoken grudges settling over us. Hogwarts had survived a storm of politics and magic before—it would survive this one. But Salazar's storm outside the room was far from over.
And for the first time, I realized that even among us—the founders, the strongest wizards and witches of the age—relationships could be as volatile and dangerous as any magical duel.