"Welcome to Godric's Hollow!"
Godric Gryffindor was grinning, and it was a grin that begged to be slapped.
To an ordinary child, that smile would have seemed warm and sunny. But to Rey, with his adult soul, the smile reeked of smugness. He instantly knew what Gryffindor was up to.
His name was Godric Gryffindor—a great wizard, a renowned duelist.
This valley was also called Godric's Hollow. Usually, when he said this to strangers, they would ask curiously, "Why does this valley share your name?"
Then, naturally, Gryffindor would "humbly" explain that the valley was named after him once he became famous.
It was a classic humblebrag. He hadn't used this trick to show off in a long time.
But seeing a young wizard like Rey, the urge to boast about his fame was irresistible. Hence the line: Welcome to Godric's Hollow.
Looking at the man with the wizard hat tied to his waist, Rey couldn't see the word "great" anywhere. If he had to describe Gryffindor right now, the word would be "show-off."
Of course, that was just Rey's perspective. The guy's name was Godric, and he welcomed people to Godric's Hollow. It was a setup.
If anyone else had said it, it would have been normal. But coming from Godric himself? The flavor changed completely.
"Hey, uncle, why does this valley have the same name as you?"
Rey blinked his big, curious eyes and asked the preening wizard, playing along perfectly.
The smug expression, the self-satisfied smile—after Rey asked the question, Godric became even more insufferable.
Beaming with delight and soaking in the "admiration," he said, "Well, that's a long story. It all started with my very first duel. I remember..."
They walked and talked, eventually finding a spot to sit down. Godric spoke with passion, and Rey listened with rapt attention. In reality, Rey was rolling his eyes internally.
Rey was a student from the future Hogwarts; he had taken History of Magic. He knew exactly why the valley was named after Godric Gryffindor.
He only feigned curiosity to satisfy the ego of the show-off in front of him.
Historical records of Godric Gryffindor were generally broad summaries: birth, death, major achievements. But a detailed, blow-by-blow autobiography like this? That wasn't in the books.
Godric was an animated storyteller, and Rey found himself genuinely drawn in by the vivid details.
Take his first duel, for example. The nervousness, the strength of his opponent, his internal monologue, how he predicted attacks, and how he ultimately secured victory. Based on Godric's narration, Rey could practically see the duel playing out in his mind like a movie.
The descriptions were so precise that Rey could replay the scenes in slow motion.
How the hand was raised, how the body turned, the angle of the wand, the defensive posture of the right hand. What to do if the first spell failed, how to recover momentum...
Listening to Godric, Rey felt like he was there. It felt as if he wasn't just hearing about Godric's duel, but experiencing it himself.
---
Stories are naturally engaging, especially to children.
Godric's Hollow was currently housing dozens of rescued children. So when Godric started recounting his dueling history, he quickly attracted a large audience.
He sat in the middle like a king of the kids. Rey sat beside him, completely engrossed in the saga.
"And then, for my sixteenth duel, I faced a very powerful Dark Wizard..."
The stories started exciting, but as Godric continued with the same exhaustive level of detail for every single fight, the other children began to zone out. Some grew bored and wandered off to play elsewhere.
Soon, only Rey was left by his side.
Rey was immersed in the tales, occasionally asking questions and waving his hands around, mimicking the dueling moves Godric described.
"Is Godric telling stories again?"
Helga Hufflepuff asked Salazar Slytherin, who was standing nearby.
"Ah, yes."
Salazar replied simply. He had been watching from a distance for a while. Helga had just arrived.
Salazar watched his best friend with a smile. Once Godric started telling stories, he couldn't stop. Few people had the patience to listen all the way to his sixteenth duel. It seemed he had finally found a loyal audience member. While Salazar was happy for him, he also felt a twinge of... jealousy?
"Are you jealous?"
Helga teased. Salazar, with his black robes and stunningly handsome face, rolled his eyes at her. "Ridiculous. Why would I be jealous of a child?"
An hour later, Helga left with Rowena Ravenclaw to investigate the location from Rowena's dream.
Salazar remained, watching Godric vividly recount his glory days to Rey.
By now, the dynamic had shifted. It was no longer just storytelling; Godric was actively teaching Rey dueling techniques. The two of them were sparring on the grass.
Rey had unwittingly transitioned from listener to student. Immersed in the flow, he didn't realize that Godric was using the stories as a vehicle to impart combat skills.
"You really are special."
From afar, Salazar watched Godric instruct Rey with seriousness and patience, a knowing smile gracing his lips.
---
"Your body must be flexible. Watch your opponent's feet and waist. If you can learn to predict their attack state just by observing a specific body part, then even if you don't win, you won't lose."
The sky was darkening; dinner time was approaching. Godric Gryffindor had been talking since morning.
"Really?"
Rey was fascinated and practiced with enthusiasm. For nearly eight hours, the two had been simulating duels nonstop.
"Of course, really. But that's for a one-on-one duel. If there are multiple opponents, it's harder to say. Still, if you master this, your ability to dodge spells will be exceptional."
Godric continued to outline goals for Rey. The boy learned fast. He asked questions immediately when confused, and once Godric corrected his posture, he rarely made the same mistake twice.
Godric believed this child would grow up to be a powerful duelist.
"After talking for so long, isn't your throat dry?"
Salazar walked up to Godric, interrupting their practice and handing him a cup of water.
"Oh, Salazar! Whoa, it's already dark."
Godric stopped and looked around in surprise.
Like Rey, Godric had been so engrossed that he hadn't noticed the passage of time.
"That's enough for today. Remember to practice what you learned, understood?"
Prompted by Salazar, Godric suddenly realized how parched he was. He took the cup and drained it in one go.
It was late. Godric ended the session, admonishing Rey to keep practicing.
"Yes, Professor!"
Rey answered instinctively, his heart full of respect. He realized now that the "show-off" Godric had actually been teaching him invaluable dueling skills the entire time.
Godric had made the lesson so engaging that Rey learned without realizing it was a lesson.
Godric Gryffindor was truly an excellent teacher. His teaching style was unique and effective.
Perhaps that was why someone as cold and Muggle-hating as Salazar Slytherin could be such good friends with him.
---
That night, after dinner, the four great wizards gathered in one of the larger tents.
"Did you find the place the warthog showed you?"
Godric looked across at Rowena Ravenclaw. She and Helga had left Godric's Hollow around noon to scout the location from her dream.
"Yes, we found it. It has a vast forest and mountains. And there's an ancient, ruined castle there..."
"The location is hidden, and the conditions are ideal. However..."
Rowena described the environment, but trailed off at the end, hesitating.
"However what?"
Salazar and Godric asked in unison. Their chemistry was impeccable. Founding the first wizarding school was a monumental task, and they were deeply invested.
Rowena didn't answer immediately, seemingly troubled.
Seeing her hesitation, Helga Hufflepuff delivered the shocking news instead. "We discovered that inside the ruined castle... there is a massive black dragon residing there."
---