The unpredictable sight that befell Salazar Slytherin as he entered the Headmaster's office was quite astonishing. Salazar had been having a rather regular day up until this point; he had made fun of his best friend, performed outstandingly well in class, and tipped off Peeves that a couple of first years were currently in the middle of some 'very important essays that he should not under any circumstances push into the giant hearth of magical flames positioned - quite unluckily for them - directly next to the desk at which they sat.

When he set out with his fellow founders for a casual day of school, this was the very last thing he was expecting would come of it. For the sight before him and his three other starstruck friends was one of such havoc he could not comprehend. A chicken, and a phoenix - both of which were flapping around madly inside of the small office - had apparently somehow made their way past the stone gargoyle that permitted entry, and disposed of Albus Dumbledore who had said he would be awaiting them inside.

"Well, this is a predicament," Rowena said steadily, after shaking her head and composing herself, "Headmaster?!"

"What's the point, Rowena? He's not here! The chicken obviously kidnapped him to use in ancient chickenian rituals lost of time to man!" Helga's voice resounded in a rather serious voice. Salazar mentally kicked himself for allowing her to skip dinner and go straight for the desserts - sugar had a thing about going straight to her head.

CLUUUUUUUCKKKKK

The chicken seemed to be very annoyed that everyone was ignoring him, while the phoenix simply let out a merry trill that matched the twinkle in its eyes. Salazar stopped scanning the room for any possible trace of the headmaster at that point. It was there, and then it was gone. What was he missing? What had he just seen that was of importance? Salazar had a tendency for noticing things others don't and relating them to other things of importance. He also had a tendency to forget what he had seen though. He retraced his eyes over the many bookshelves and Dark Arts Detectors, before passing it off as nothing and rejoining the conversation the other three were animatedly discussing.

"Why would Professor Dumbledore call us here for no good reason?" Godric was arguing to Rowena.

"Well, who's to say it was the headmaster? Who's to say it wasn't some student who wanted to play a prank on us? Who's to..." She must have known that her case was feeble, however, because she slowly trailed off and averted her eyes to the chicken who was flapping its wings and causing a flurry of feathers to rain down upon the desk.

"I'm guessing we should catch this chicken so it doesn't do any more damage than it already has." Salazar said with a look of concern at the state of the room.

"Imobulus!"
"Stupefy!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Pullum Capture!"

The last spell caused the room to flash with purple light before dying down to reveal the chicken, encased in a steel cage. Three pairs of eyes landed on Salazar as he tucked his wand back into its holster.

"What kind of spell was that?" Godric asked with a dumbfounded look on his face. Although the other two were still speechless, it was clear they were thinking along the same lines.

"What? We used to have a student in Slytherin who learnt a spell to summon chickens and he always used to let them loose in the common room." He took a moment to think before adding, "I'm pretty sure he was taken to the 'Gringottian Health Care Society For Mental Problems' in the end."

Although they still had a look of disbelief on their faces, they believed him and set some strong enchantments on a cage to prevent the phoenix from flaming out; they wanted to keep them in case they proved influential while trying to find the headmaster.

That night, Godric whispered, "Sonorus." before starting his speech addressing the students and professors. "I am sorry to say, that Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has gone missing. His last communication before he was discovered missing was that he wanted to tell us about something extremely important, something someone obviously did not wish us to find out about. Lessons will be continuing as normal - all we ask is that anyone with information on the whereabouts of our esteemed headmaster would make themselves known, and that all students are not to accept any strange potions off students you do not know or trust. Thank you."

Rowena smiled sadly at him as he muttered the counter-spell. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find him. Whatever he had to say must be really important."

"My loyal servant," a cold, snake-like voice whispered in the darkness of the room.

"Yes, my lord?" a different, trembling voice responded, fear evident in his voice.

"You have done well, disposing of Dumbledore and Flamel."

"Without your guidance, my lord, I would never have been able to accomplish what we have thus far." The tremble displayed his uncertainty - he was worried he might say something that would anger his master.

"Next, we shall dispose of the three other founders. We must, before they unravel our intricate plan and banish my spirit for good." His voice showed his loathe for the victims in question far more than any expression could have. "And I shall finally havve enough power to leave you and retrieve a corporal form of my own."

He muttered the last part under his breath, not wishing his host to hear.