A first line fic for Arsenic

The lions are being finicky.

This is not the only thing that saves Salazar from a rather messy death in front of several thousand Romans, but it is the only thing he can tell them. Magicians are looked none too kindly upon in Rome, be they citizens or Christians.

It is ironic, really, as a few more twists would have sent him to the heyday of the Greeks, when wizards were gods and Muggles were stupid, and he would have been safe, but as it is he thanks Rowena for teaching him certain wandless charms before "letting" him explore his latest Time Device.

Godric, he thinks, would be dead by now. There is just enough friendship left between them for him to be glad he left Godric behind. There is just enough hatred for him to gladder he needn't return for awhile--he, after all, has no pretensions to bravery.

He does not understand how Godric can know what Muggles are like, know that they brandished lions and crosses, torture and fire, above all fire, and still risk the school. He understands Helga, because Helga believes in the inherent goodness of everyone, but Godric has never (well, rarely,) been sentimental.

Salazar lies perfectly still in the sand, the blood of his erstwhile companions staining his fingertips. Gladiators--only Muggles could think of such a thing, could throw lives away for sport. Even as he is horrified, however, he is grateful, for as they fought and died it gave him time to construct his spells, to still his breathing, dampen his scent. Invisibility takes a little more time, but that will come when they start to clear the bodies, and then he will turn his clock and rebuild his candlesticks, and the time that melted him back to the past will reform and bring him to Hogwarts, and his fellow teachers.

He knows already, because he knows them well, that they will discount the Roman games. Relics of the past, they will say, and Rowena will add that their magic will keep the children safe.

Salazar risks movement enough to curl his lip in derision. The children will be safe, oh yes, but it is he who will see to that. Certain beasts are hard to find in his own time, Muggles being what they are, but his trip backwards to mythology had more purpose than gathering knowledge, and he has a toad ready and waiting in his chambers. The school will be finished soon, so there is not much time. He has plans, plans upon plans, and he will stain the walls with them, imbue them with thought, he will create a room, a hidden weapon. The castle will keep it safe, and it will keep safe the castle.

If he is lucky, no one will ever have to know.