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It was a cold blustery Autumn night and four people sat in a small tavern. The wind was battering the run down building. The four figures sat wrapped in robes for warmth around a table. These four were named Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor, and they were the four greatest witches and wizards of their time. They had been talking all night, discussing recent events in the magical world. Witches and wizards in this country were being burned at the stake and were being forced into hiding through fear. These four powerful people knew that something had to be done.
"Our kind should not be made to cower in fear, we must find a way to live in peace," said the tall man whose name was Godric.
"I agree, and what of the youngsters who are magical? We have the resposibility to teach them about their world and prepare them for a life in magic!" Said the fair, youngest woman of the group, named Helga.
"It's true, knowledge is power, and these youngsters must be prepared and be educated in our ways." said Rowena, the slender woman with hair as dark as her name sake.
"It is an outrage to think that they could be left to integrate with the muggle world and be ashamed of their roots!" said the slick and dark haired man whose name was Salazar.
"Well then, it shall be done, we four with the responsibility to protect our magical youngsters and educate them in our ways, we shall build a school and teach witchcraft and wizardry!" Said the man named Godric in a proud and bold way.
So the four of them set to work building their castle. At first it had modest begginings, being no bigger than a large manor house, but it looked impressive as each part of the building was being held up by magic. To the muggle eye this building merely looked like a ruin as it had been enchanted to do so, and there was a sign up saying 'do not enter-dangerous'. This prevented them ever being disturbed by the muggles that hated them so. The school was named Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Each Founder created a 'house' within the castle where they would take in the students of their choice. Godric Gryffindor praised courage, determination and strength of heart and admitted students based upon their daring and bravery. Helga Hufflepuff favoured loyalty, honesty, fair play, and hard work and admitted students who showed these qualities. Rowena Ravenclaw liked a sharp mind, wisdom, and cleverness for its own sake, and admitted students according to their intelligence. Salazar Slytherin admitted students who had the ability to speak parseltongue, resourcefulness, determination, and a certain disregard for the rules. He also selected his students according to cunning, ambition, and blood purity, and so the four houses were born.
The four houses would take part in friendly cometition and there would be a points scheme awarding students for good deeds and showing academic excellence, and also to punish those who broke the rules. At the end of their school year they are intending to award a house cup for the house with the most points. This beginning year will teach the subjects transfiguration, arithmancy, potions, charms, herbology, astronomy, defence against the dark arts and the history of magic. As the numbers of students grow, so will the class choices and the castle itself!
And so, welcome to Hogwarts' first year of teaching! Please come in and sign yourself up to be taught the fine art of magic by the four most powerful witches and wizards this world has seen!
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The Beginning, The story of how Hogwarts came to be....
