Chapter Text
When Nearly Headless Nick heard Hermione Granger was going to be crowned Queen, he cheered and celebrated with all of Gryffindor Tower. She was one of them!
When Nick heard she had been Fates-matched with Salazar Slytherin, he hesitated. He was old enough to know how history was easily distorted by time, how the living preferred their legends than listening to ghosts who had seen events as they happened and knew the truth of things. But it was against the rules to interfere with the living so the ghosts of Hogwarts merely watched and provided counsel.
Salazar Slytherin was a dangerous wizard, he was a Dark Arts Master, but at the core of it he was honourable and loyal to those he chose to give allegiance to. Salazar had distrusted Muggles rightly. Nick had spoken to ghosts from the time before the Flame-freezing charms were developed, about incidents involving children too young and inexperienced to Apparate away to safety. But that was all in the past now.
The Gryffindor ghost looked down upon the crowd and smiled faintly. Hermione had a good head on her shoulders. If anyone could be a beacon of light and goodness, of rightness, it would be her. She would give the Founder what he needed and he would protect her in turn.
~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~