the Duel (part 1)

Long ago, in the earliest days of Hogwarts, the founders, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin, together made the Sorting Hat, incorporating into it those items which represented the qualities each of the founders valued most. Gryffindor gave his sword, the symbol of courage. Hufflepuff gave a serving cup, the symbol of diligent service. Rowena Ravenclaw added her own pentacle, the symbol of wisdom, while Slytherin threw in a magician's wand with a serpent head, symbolic of power and treachery. The hat would seek out those students who possessed the traits most sought by the different founders, and assigned them accordingly. Thus it was hoped that the school could be a safe place of learning to all students, and that the four masters would work together in peace.1

It was not to be so. Slytherin, contemptuous of those from non-pureblood2

lineage, vowed that House Slytherin would reign supreme, and that muggle-born wizards would be destroyed as the abominations that they were.3

Slytherin was a cruel man, but he was cunning and patient. He knew that his dream of a pureblood-only Hogwarts would not come in his lifetime, but he devised a plan that would insure, many years after his death, that his goal would be realized.4

His plan involved a hidden chamber, one only Slytherin knew the whereabouts of. One that Slytherin himself had made. It also involved an infant basilisk. Hidden away in the chamber until it matured, the basilisk would become the instrument of Slytherins plot. the great serpent would wait in torpor until wakened by the Heir Of Slytherin, sometime in the far future5

Godric Gryffindor learned first of this evil plan when one of his students showed him a snake molt that he had found. Gryffindor knew what it was, and had a good idea how it had gotten into Hogwarts. Instead of denying, Slytherin boasted of his plan, telling the other three founders in detail how his heir would someday cleanse the school of filthy mudbloods, as though there were nothing that could be done to stop it.6

Hufflepuff dismissed Slytherins claims as the rantings of one insane, probably from years of dabbling in the Dark Arts. Ravenclaw was convinced of the truth, but was unable to locate the secret chamber. Gryffindor knew what he had to do. Slytherin had no children at this time- Gryffindor decided to kill him before he could sire any.7

Godric Gryffindor was a chivalrous wizard. to commit outright murder was beneath his honor. But to kill in a duel- that was acceptable. Slytherin was a dangerous opponent, however. He was well versed in the Dark arts as well as combat magic. Worse, he did not restrain himself with any code of honor, as Gryffindor did. Gryffindor knew this, but his courage was strong..8

He challenged Salazar Slytherin to a duel to the death.9