Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling. No money is being made.

Written for the Challenge '200 Prompts, in 100 Stories!'

I picked as Additional Rewards: The Founders - Godric, Rowena, Helga, Salazar - 2 points

It will consist of a small multi-chapter story.

Prompts for this chapter:

Character – Godric

Other – The Lake

Chapter 1 – How I Wish

How I wish I could go back and change things. If I had the chance, I would call my younger self a fool. Such a fool. Now lying here, taking my last breaths – and they are my last, no matter how much the healer tells me otherwise – I would give everything I have to change it.

My friend, my brother, will you ever be able to forgive me? If I had any strength left in me, I would search the world for you. I would, with my last breath, ask for your forgiveness. Even though I know there is no absolution for what I did, for what I've said.

"They are a danger to us!" Salazar insisted.

"What would you know about muggles?" Godric growled, only to pale immediately after he realized what he had said.

How could I ever have uttered such words? How could I have forgotten, even in the heat of the moment, what had happened to you?

I knew you still had nightmares about that day. I knew the smell of burning embers still made you nauseous. I knew you still heard the screams of your mother while the fire consumed her.

So you see? I know that you couldn't possibly forgive me. Though, as you so often said, I am an arrogant, hopelessly naive fool – maybe that is why I would ask to be forgiven for the unforgivable.

We should have listened to our sisters. I should have listened to them. My stubbornness, my arrogance, broke our family.

How I wish to be back in the days where we were young, and so full of hope and dreams.

"This is it!" Godric grinned from ear to ear. "This is the perfect place."

"Here?" Salazar frowned, looking around. "There's nothing here."

"Sure there is," Godric exclaimed. "Look at that forest over there, and this amazing lake. Think about the possibilities." Godric cajoled, almost vibrating in his excitement.

"It is a nice place," Helga agreed. "I thought we were looking for a building, though."

"We can build it ourselves!" Godric's grin grew even wider, and the others hid their smiles. Sometimes Godric was nothing more than a big child.

"It would involve a lot of work." Rowena cautioned, always the voice of reason.

"Lucky that we don't shy away from hard work," Salazar remarked. No matter how much he complained, Salazar was always the first to give in to Godric.

"It's going to be great! I just know it!" Godric laughed.

I can still remember the countless nights we camped beside that lake. Even after our home was built, we would still go outside and sleep beneath the stars. The best memories of my life take place right beside that lake; all of you with me, talking about everything and nothing, sharing secrets, dreams, fears.

Now that I feel my last breath approaching, I wish only to be there with all of you once more.

How I wish I had lived a life without regrets.