The Wizards' Council consisted of ten Elders, and the Four Founders were among them.
Ever since the traces of Black Prison Wizards were discovered on the outskirts of Hogwarts, the wizarding community had been on high alert. Everyone sensed that the Church was planning a massive purge.
Hogwarts was the first magical school established under the suffocating pressure of the Church. Its original purpose was to stay away from the Muggle world and avoid persecution. But by existing, it naturally became the first organization daring enough to openly resist the Church's tyranny.
If such a beacon were to be washed in blood, the future of wizardkind would be bleak. So, when the Black Prison Wizards appeared, the Four Founders immediately rallied every contactable witch and wizard to gather at Hogwarts.
The Wizards' Council was born from this crisis. The community elected the ten most powerful and influential wizards to lead them as Elders.
Although the Council united most of the magical world's strength, against a behemoth like the Church, it still wasn't enough. So, the Founders proposed a daring plan: while the Church focused its main forces on purging wizard settlements and attacking Hogwarts, the ten Elders of the Council would launch a surprise raid on the Vatican itself.
No matter how powerful a giant is, it's hard to defend your heart while throwing a punch.
When the Church launched its crusade, its internal defenses would inevitably be weaker. This was the reason the Founders and the other Elders were standing in the inner city of the Vatican right now.
As long as Hogwarts could hold off Cardinal Alofman's assault for a short time, once the Founders returned from their raid, the scales of victory would tip in their favor.
---
"How did you get in?"
The Pope stood on the edge of the ruined building, looking down at the Four Founders who had suddenly appeared below. His appearance was fully restored, untouched by the dust and debris. He looked like a god among men.
His expression was cold, his voice laced with genuine confusion. The anti-Apparition wards over the inner city were still intact. Yet, the Founders had simply appeared.
"No... for wizards of your caliber, I shouldn't be surprised. I was careless. I never expected you to abandon your stronghold and attack me here while my armies marched on your home."
The Pope answered his own question, showing no fear despite facing four legendary wizards alone. Then, he asked abruptly:
"Godric Gryffindor, I presume?"
"Aye, that's me. Your wards are decent. Getting past them cost Salazar and me quite a bit of effort."
Godric, his left hand resting on the pommel of his sword and his right hand gripping his wand, replied casually.
The Pope knew Gryffindor's reputation. The red-haired duelist was a master of Apparition; even with wards in place, keeping him out was nearly impossible.
"You made one mistake," Salazar Slytherin interjected coldly. "If we defeat you here, we can always go back and clean up your minions later."
To Salazar, the Pope was just a powerful wizard. He didn't care about titles or holiness.
While the men spoke, Helena, who had just landed, threw herself at Rey. She hugged him tightly, her emotions overflowing.
Rey caught her with his good arm, inhaling her familiar scent. Before he could say anything, Helena pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss.
Helena was the weakest member of this raiding party. If she hadn't threatened to kill herself, she would have been left behind.
Rey had been missing for a long time. Usually, a wizard captured by the Church for that long had zero chance of survival. Helena knew this, but she had refused to accept it.
Seeing him alive now... her relief was overwhelming.
Helga Hufflepuff smiled at the sight. Godric and Salazar kept their eyes on the Pope, ignoring the reunion behind them. But Rowena Ravenclaw sighed, the furrow in her brow relaxing slightly.
Rey was a man from the future; his fate was sealed. But her daughter had fallen too deep. In the days leading up to the raid, Helena had been heartbroken and wasting away. As a mother, Rowena had been helpless to stop it.
Seeing Helena release all that pent-up emotion was, ultimately, a good thing.
"Now that you've found him, go back immediately. This is no place for you two."
Rowena interrupted the kiss with a sharp reminder.
The safety of the children was paramount. Once the battle started, even with their numbers, the Founders wouldn't have the luxury of protecting them. After all, there were still two other Red-Robed Cardinals in the inner city who just hadn't arrived yet.
Rey felt a bit awkward. Getting caught making out with the daughter of his teacher—right in front of said teacher—was definitely... something.
Helena, tears of joy streaming down her face, nodded at her mother and immediately grabbed Rey's right hand.
---
Apparition.
Since they had forced their way in, they could force their way out.
Holding Rey's hand, Helena pulled a small vial of potion from her robes and drank it. She closed her eyes, seemingly gathering her strength.
A moment later, Rey felt a sudden surge of magical power erupt from her. Then, a violent hook behind his navel yanked him into the crushing darkness of Apparition.
It felt like being squeezed through a very tight rubber tube. Less than a second later, Rey gasped for air as they materialized in the Ravenclaw Common Room.
It had been a brutal Apparition. The sensation was far worse than usual, likely because Helena had used a potion to forcibly boost her magic to break through the residual wards.
Rey was injured; his left arm was useless, throwing off his balance.
The moment they landed, he and Helena tumbled to the floor.
Rey landed on his back, with Helena sprawled on top of him. Their faces were inches apart, noses touching. He could feel the warmth of her breath.
Helena stared at him, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding against his chest as if it wanted to burst out.
With a beautiful woman pressing against him, Rey wasn't saint enough to resist. And for Helena... he loved her. The proximity was intoxicating. He leaned up and kissed her again.
Lips met, and suppressed emotions poured out like a flood. They kissed hungrily, passionately, wishing they could merge into a single being.
However, just as things were heating up, a sharp, searing pain shot through Rey's left shoulder.
"Oh, shit!"
He threw his head back and cried out in pain.
"What is it? Where are you hurt?"
Seeing his agony, Helena scrambled off him instantly, kneeling by his side to check on him.
The spot where the Pope had nearly crushed his shoulder blade was throbbing violently. The passionate embrace had aggravated the injury, and cold sweat broke out on Rey's forehead.
His curse was less about the pain and more about the ruined mood. It was like having a bucket of ice water dumped on a red-hot iron.
Helena giggled. Seeing Rey's frustrated, pained expression, she understood exactly what had happened. They had gotten carried away. Her face flushed red with embarrassment.
But seeing Rey's "mood-killed" face made her feel both amused and incredibly happy.
Still smiling, Helena leaned down and touched her forehead to his, planting a few gentle, comforting kisses on his face. Rey stroked her hair with his good hand, and after a moment of closeness, he laughed too.
They had been too impatient. It was a bit ridiculous, really.
"No matter what happens, we won't be separated again, okay?" Helena whispered after a kiss, her voice heavy with meaning.
"Yeah. No matter what, we won't be separated."
Rey inhaled her scent deeply, nodding solemnly.
He wasn't just saying it for her benefit; he was saying it for himself. In that moment, he made a decision.
Screw the future. Screw the consequences of changing history. Screw the idea that he had to go back or die.
This moment, the next moment, tomorrow, the day after... as long as he was alive, he would stay with Helena. He would cherish every second.
Because...
"I love you."
"I love you too."