Slowly, Godric walked towards the other side. He imagined he'd be ingulfed in flames the moment his little toes went over to the forbidden side. He was rebelling against his mother after all, who knows if she put a spell there.
Along with Salazar, he crossed the river and nothing happened. The world didn't split in half, a demon didn't spring up from the ground to attack them. He didn't die.
When Salazar saw the relief on his face, he smiled and started to run. Godric ran after him.
Salazar may have seemed sickly but he was a sprinter. Godric though didn't lose to him, he ran side by side with him.
Taking in the air that was foreign to him. Letting it brush his face, his hair, his very being. He thought he was overthinking, but the air on the other side felt different.
After running and walking for 5 kilometres they finally made it out of the forest and entered a well-maintained road, that lead to a big town.
Which left Godric jaw-dropped. His eyes were full of longing. He had no idea there were villages bigger than his. There were even, carriages being pulled by horses. He'd ever seen one, only in books.
"I've only ever seen those in books!"
"That's why you need to get out more."
"Is this a wizard—"
"Shhhhh. There are muggles all-round."
Dread started to seep in at the information. His stomach lurched, he felt a ping of regret. Just a little bit.
He was told all kinds of stories about muggles, he never wanted to encounter one yet his new friend lived amongst hundreds of them and he dragged him here. He wasn't prejudiced or anything against them, he just liked being alive.
They entered the town, and continued walking. Godric was used to friendly people who'd smile and greet when passing, even sparking conversations. But people here, they really minded their own.
The town wasn't like his village, although bigger it wasn't full of life. It lacked, magic, for a lack of a better word. He knew wizards had to hide in some societies, but the town felt wrong to him.
They reached the edge of town. The Slytherin family lived ways away from the eyes of curious muggles.
There was a manor just outside town. To his surprise, Salazar entered there. He gestured for his friend to do the same.
"Uh, is this really okay?"
"Don't worry, I own it."
Apparently that's how it was for pure blood wizards, he explained that to Godric. His only question was why didn't his family status come with a manor too?
"So, you can afford a wand?"
"Yes. May have said that as a joke. But I want to make my own. I already own one but I don't quite like it."
Godric's mouth was agape from all this information hitting him all at once.
They entered the manor, as the guards recognised their employer.
"Hey, Salazar, if you're well off, why do you wear shabby clothes?"
"Can't run around in formal wear, can I? These are more comfortable."
They spent almost the entire time, exploring the manor. It was extremely huge. Godric found it strange that they hadn't run into any of his family members but he also thought it was none of his business.
"I really want to see the wand." Godric told him.
"You're so obsessed."
He walked across the room, and took out a long thin box, opening it, there was a wooden stick inside it. It was very well made.
Salazar picked it up, he first held with his left hand, then his right. A frown formed on his face.
"Doesn't feel right. I'm left handed, it feels worse when I hold it with my left."
"Well, try some magic," Godric said, fascinated.
Salazar stood in front of the closed door, "alohomora."
The door opened immediately.
"We should have duels when I get my own." Godric was entranced.
"Duels aren't really my speed, but I can beat you just fine."
"Oh, you think so?"
Godric started running towards Salazar to tackle him. He obviously noticed what he was trying to do, so he ran for it.
For the first time since the erection of the manor, laughter and happiness filled it's inner walls.
When it was time to leave, Salazar accompanied Godric. It was getting late and they had a lot of ground to cover, not to mention Salazar had to walk back.
"Oh look, it's the freak from the manor," the kid said, pushing Salazar to the ground and laughing with his friends.
They all looked a tad bit older than Salazar and Godric.
This wasn't really a rare occurrence. Salazar was a friend with them a long time ago, but he hadn't realised that their friendship was at his expense. He was about 7 when he realised they were all just using him.
To make the matters worse, they saw him once talking to a snake. He'd been branded a freak amongst the youth ever since, and had been a target for them to bully around.
"You've had your fun, are you done?" Salazar said through gritted teeth.
He was told to never use magic in front of them unless it was life threatening. And their taunts and beatings were far from that.
"Cheeky, I think I need to teach you a lesson or two."
"Leave him alone," Godric said, putting himself between them and his friend.
The boys however took that as a challenge. One of the bigger boys, knocked Godric out cold.
Salazar was left with a sensation he'd never felt before, guilt. That guilt was channeled into an invisible force, when he screamed out it exploded sending every one of those boys flying and getting knocked out.
"Godric, Godric, wake up, are you alright, Godric." He ran to where his friend was and attempted to wake him up.
Godric heard his concerned voice from afar as he was coming to. He couldn't see anything, it was all a blur.
"Wh-What happened?"
"Oh thank Merlin, Godric, you're alright."
When he looked around, he saw all those kids, on the floor knocked out just as he was a minute ago. They looked, dead. But when he looked closer, he could see their chests rising and falling in rhythm. He was relieved.
"You didn't use—"
"It wasn't on purpose," he said stiffly.
"It's alright, they started it after all."