There was a knock at the door. I had been writing a letter to my betrothed. I closed the letter, stood up and made my way towards the door. Upon opening it I found my dearest friend, Helga Hufflepuff.
“Helga, what a surprise!” I exclaimed, enclosing my arms around her.
“Oh, Rowena, I’m so excited. I talked to Godric this morning and he said everything is ready to receive the students next week. He even managed to get a hold of about fifty more house-elves,” she said, excitement in her voice.
“That’s great! Where did he get them?” I asked, closing the door and showing her into the sitting room. She sat down before saying, “he went to the Council and absolutely pestered them into giving him information about available house-elves throughout the country. He even collected those that belonged to those poor souls who are now imprisoned.”
“Ah, Mister Gryffindor is a daring man. He achieves his ends, no matter what.” My friend smiled; her happiness evident in her eyes. I smiled back and continued, “and what has dear Salazar said about that?”
She chuckled. “He said he shall be getting a hundred house-elves before week’s end.”
“I must say their friendly quarrels shall be the end of their friendship, if they let it go too far.”
“Oh, Rowena. Don’t say that. Have you ever seen two men closer than those two? They have a bond, dare I say, even stronger than ours. They think of one another as brothers.”
“Yes, but even brothers can end in hate.” At this comment Helga made to chuckle at my comment. “Do not mock, my dear Helga. Mark my words, if they let it go too far, trouble shall be knocking at all of our doors.”
She saw and understood my serious tone, and decided against to commenting more about the matter. After a moment’s silence she said, “well, I should be going. I’m off to Hogwarts; I’m desperate to see how something I requested for my house’s common room has been done.” I could see her eyes dancing with merriment, and I couldn’t help but feel the same.
It had all started about a year before. We were considered the greatest, the most powerful wizards of our time. The Muggles’ distrust of the wizards was growing more and more each day. So we sat down and discussed our ideas. We had worked together before; Helga and I were great friends, and Godric and Salazar were an inseparable pair themselves. We found ourselves forming a deep bond with one another, and we all had the same goal: form the greatest school of witchcraft and wizardry the world had ever known. We had all contributed to its creation, and I was pleased with myself for creating an ever-changing floor plan, thus securing the secrets we’ve put in the castle’s grounds.
“I bid you good-bye then. Have a safe journey. I shall be going there sometime later this afternoon. Maybe we could have dinner together? It’s been so long since we last sat and really talked,” I said with a smile, once again enclosing her in a hug.
“We shall. Go to my office once you finish what you have to do.” And with that, she turned and disappeared.
I turned away from the spot my friend had unoccupied and went back to my desk. There, waiting for me, was the letter I had been writing. Opening it once more, I picked up my quill and started to write.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It was midsummer. The sun was gleaming down the streets of the new village, Hogsmeade. There were children running about; everybody seemed happy to receive the summer. Everybody except me, that is. I had been in my house for the last two days, and I had no intentions of going out any time soon.
You see, my husband had left me. He had left me all alone, and what is worst, he had left me bearing his child. I could feel it growing inside of me, longing to live, to be free. But how could I give it that, when my life ended when he, who I loved the most, left me.
The world had lost its colour. The sun had no effect on my skin. The children’s laughter only meant suffering; they were a hurting reminder of what was growing inside of me. How could I give a child what I needed, when my betrothed had left me all alone? He was my family, my all, my everything. When he left me, my world, my life went with him.
The summer passed and I came to accept that I had to bring up my child alone. I put on my best face and prepared myself to face the world, and the children that would be arriving in a matter of hours to Hogwarts.
Soon, their laughter, so hurting to me, filled the castle and its grounds. And I had to keep putting up my best face, but after sometime it started to falter. My stomach started growing, and I could see the worry starting to show in my friends’ faces. I was all alone, and I wasn’t accepting anyone else in my heart.
Suddenly, I felt it. It had moved and had kicked me at the moment I had been feeling the weakest of all. It gave me assurance. I started to think quickly and rationally. I was going to be able to look after a child; after all, I had been educating children for five years, how much different could looking after one of my own be?
As my pregnancy evolved, so did I. I started seeing the world with a new face. I no longer needed a man to feel loved and necessary. My child, my beautiful baby, would give me all the love I needed. I started preparing myself for the coming of my baby. I hadn’t bothered in knowing whether it was a boy or a girl, whichever it was, I would love it and accept it nonetheless.
I had prepared a room for it, pale yellows and greens decorated the walls, and a door led directly to my room. The house-elf, Thorry, had been instructed to be on the lookout, as the birthing date was rapidly approaching.
But every time I said my baby would be born by the end of November, it would kick me hard, as though it had different plans. And quite different they were. It was early in the afternoon, on the first week of October, when the baby decided it wanted to be born. I was in the middle of giving a class to my fourth-years, so I caused a big commotion. Helga was by my side in an instant, and together we made our way towards Hogsmeade, where we were able to Apparated to my house, where Thorry helped me give birth.
The pain was excruciating, and barely bearable, but I endured it. It was the price of gaining the love of my child. “It is a girl, Miss,” I heard Thorry’s voice say. Helga started laughing, and said, “it’s a girl, Rowena! A girl! Oh, Merlin, she’s beautiful. She looks just like you.”
My friend’s excitement was intoxicating, and although I was in pain, I started laughing of joy, and wanted nothing more than to be able to see and hold my new baby girl. “Here you go, Miss,” Thorry said, handing her over to me, as though he had read my mind.
“What are you going to call her?” Helga asked me.
“Helena, after my mother,” I said.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Helena had been growing up by my side. She had inherited my fairness and was already admired by her peers. I could see the joy she felt whenever I could take her with me to Hogwarts: I could see in her eyes the curiosity, her eagerness to know all of its secrets. She could hardly wait until she was eleven. She loved the way the Lake looked when the sun was gleaming upon it. She loved the vastness of the library, with books about any topic imaginable. But most of all, she loved me, and the fact that I was her mother. She saw it like the greatest honour. She thought of herself as the luckiest girl in the wizarding world.
It was nearing the holidays. Snow had been falling for a week and everything looked white. Students were leaving for home, and my dear Helena was playing in the snow with a couple of first years that were staying back.
She looked beautiful. The contrast of her skin and cloak against the white snow was incredible. The rays of the sun made the snow glow, making her look like an angel surrounded in light.
“Helena,” I called.
She giggled, as a snowball missed her by mere inches. Ducking out of the way she stuck out her tongue, and called out good-bye to her new friends. She came running towards me and gave me a small hug upon reaching me.
“Are you ready to go home?” I asked her.
“There won’t ever be a day when I will be ready to leave this place,” she said, a little out of breath, her face beaming with happiness; her cheeks a pale rose colour because of the cold. A smile crept up my face.
“Even if I want you home, by my side?”
She hesitated and thought hard; gave a look at my face and started laughing. “Oh, Mum. Do you honestly think I would need to think to answer? Of course I would leave if you asked me to. I’ll always do whatever you wish, and if you want me by your side, you won’t even have to ask, because I’ll already be there.”
The knot that had been forming in the pit of my stomach loosened at once, and I smiled once again. “You really are my daughter,” I said, bending down and giving her a strong hug. No one could deny our similarities, or our love for each other.
Standing up, I extended my hand towards her. Without a moment’s hesitation she took it, and we started to make our way back to Hogsmeade.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“These books are of no use for me, Mother.”
She had taken to call me ‘Mother’ lately, even though she knew I disliked it. My Mum despised when I called her ‘Mother’, especially with that tone, and now I understood why. It sounded so harsh, so degrading. I took a deep breath before saying, “what seems to be the problem, Helena?”
“They’re rubbish! There is nothing that could be of use for me. Why do you insist on giving me books like these?”
“They’re not rubbish, Helena. And as to what could be of use for you, what about knowledge, and wisdom? Knowing you are accomplished in all matters, to be able to sustain a conversation with anyone, no matter their precedence or language. Shouldn’t we all be aiming at that?” I asked, a little exasperated at my daughter. My beautiful daughter who no longer called me ‘Mum’.
“I’m not you, Mother. I have no interest whatsoever in learning about the way,” she paused, as she took the book in her hands and read the summary printed on the back cover. “‘Children were brought up in Ancient Greece’. Honestly, Mother.”
I could hear her anger through her voice; her exasperation at my efforts was no concealed matter for me. It had been like that since the end of her fifth year.
“Helena “” I started to say before I was interrupted by my daughter.
“I’m not like you, Mother! I’m not as great, I’m not as powerful, and I’m not as intelligent as you. Not even with your precious diadem I could be like you.” She threw a strange look at the tiara-like object sitting beside my desk. “I am not you.”
She was gone from the room before I had time to answer. Running my hands through my hair and taking deep breaths, I tried to steady myself. I didn’t know what was happening; I didn’t know where we went wrong. Everything had seemed all right. But she suddenly started changing her attitude towards me. Now every time we talked, we ended in discussion. There was resentment in her, but the reason behind this was unknown to me.
I glanced at the table next to my desk. There, sitting graciously on a stand, was my most precious item: my diadem. I stood up and walked towards it. I picked it and instantly read the inscription.
Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure. My diadem was my greatest invention; it bestowed wisdom to the bearer. Placing it back in its stand, I couldn’t help but wonder where my little girl went, and what happened to her.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Oh, thank Merlin,” I found myself saying lowly as the bell rang. “Remember that your essays are due next class! Have a nice weekend!” I told my sixth-years while they prepared to leave the classroom. I gladly sat back on my chair after spending the whole lesson standing up. After resting for a bit, I picked up the essays the third-years had handed me in the previous class and made my way out.
The corridors were already empty: most students were heading to the Great Hall for dinner, while others went back to their common rooms. I had finished for the day and was longing for the seclusion of my office. Upon entering it, I put down the essays on top of my desk and sat down on the couch facing the fireplace. The room was warm and comforting, no doubt a house-elf had started the fire a while before. The light that emanated from the flames danced on the walls, making beautiful patterns that entranced the eyes...
Crash! I jerked awake, standing up and drawing my wand in one swift movement. The table that used to reside next to my desk was on the floor; its contents sprawled around, most of them broken. I heard movement and upon looking back I saw a cat trying to escape the commotion.
I opened the door to let him out and closed it promptly. Turning in the direction of the mess, I muttered, “
Reparo.” I bent over and started to put everything back in its proper place. That’s when I noticed it, or rather, realised it. The diadem”it wasn’t there. It was gone.
Anger started to form inside of me and seeped out my face. I looked around for any sign of entry, but there was none. Who had dared enter my office and steal from me? I asked myself, perplexed and furious. Then something caught my eye; there was a piece of parchment on the floor. I took it in my hands and read, pain replacing the anger:
Dear Mother,
As I write this letter, I hear you calling my name. I can only imagine what will be passing through your mind as you read this, and I can only say I’m not sorry. You have brought this upon yourself, Mother. I’m not sorry I’m not as loved as you; I’m not sorry I’m not as great as you, and I’m definitely not sorry I’m not you, Mother.
You and I, that’s like talking about the sun and the moon: even though they share the skies, they can’t be together at the same time, nor as one. Right now you are the sun, Mother. Your intelligence brightens the world, and therefore it earns you a place and love like no other. But every day must come to an end, and when the sun goes to sleep, it’s the moon’s moment to shine.
I take your diadem with me, with hopes it works the way you have planned and exclaimed. With its help, I’ll outshine you, my dear Mother. With its help, I’ll be cleverer than you.
This is where I leave. Whether or not our paths will once again cross, I know not, but there is always the hope of a tomorrow...
Helena.
Tears welled up in my eyes; breath could not reach my lungs. I could not think, I could not act, for my daughter was gone. She had taken with her my most precious possession: the little girl that would love me the most.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The clock struck midnight. I was sitting on a couch, bathrobe on top of my nightgown, staring at space, looking at nothing at particular. I could hear Thorry cleaning around me, the smell of food reached my nose, but I felt no hunger, no inspiration to live. My daughter had disappeared a month before, and though I had tried to find her, my searches were in vain.
“Miss, please. Dinner is served; it will get cold. Go and eat, Miss. You need your strength,” came Thorry’s voice, sadness evident. I didn’t speak, hadn’t done so since I realised that no matter what I did, I couldn’t find my daughter, my Helena.
Night passed and morning came. For the first time in days, I raised from where I was sitting, picked a quill and wrote a small letter. Carefully, I tied it to the leg of my eagle owl. Once she flew off into the horizon, I went to my room and prepared myself to the visit that was sure to come.
“Thorry,” I called, my voice sounded hoarse, and strange.
“Yes, Miss?”
I could see the excitement appear in Thorry’s eyes and voice. He had cared for me diligently and was happy to see me up and about. “Prepare tea; I shall be receiving a visitor sometime soon.”
“Right away, Miss.” He bowed down, low as always. I picked up a brush and tenderly passed it through my silky hair.
A couple of minutes later, I seated myself once again on the couch, and waited patiently for him. The minutes passed, but I had forbidden myself to grow restless: he was going to come, I was sure of it. Then, there was a knock on the door. Thorry quickly went to open it, and I stood up to greet the Baron when he came in. Once he was inside, I outstretched my hand. He took it in his and gave a swift kiss on the back of it, while saying, “Miss Ravenclaw.”
“Many thanks for answering in such short notice, Baron,” I begun, beckoning him to sit down. “Would you like some tea?”
“It would be my pleasure, ma’am,” he said, bowing his head lightly, taking the cup of tea Thorry offered him. “If I may inquire, how may I be of your service?.”
I stiffened a little. Just thinking about what I was about to do made me uneasy. Taking a deep breath, I started, “as I’m sure you know, my daughter has been missing this last month.”
“Of course,” he said uncomfortable.
“That’s why I asked you to come here. I have a request to ask from you. If I am correct, I believe you care for my daughter, is that right?”
“There are no words to describe my affection towards your daughter, my lady. I, dare I say it, love her more than one could think,” he said. I knew it was true. I had seen the way he used to look at her, lovingly. Just the way my betrothed used to look at me.
“That is what I hoped, my dear Baron. That is why I ask you this. Bring her back to me.”
“Forgive me?” he said, uncertain of my meaning.
I could no longer stand it, the tears I had held back for weeks seeped out of my eyes. All the emotions I had held back burst out against my will. I was weak. I was broken. Through my sobs I desperately said, “please, I beg of you. If someone can find her it is you, Baron. If someone can bring her back to me it is you.” I no longer cared about pretences. I slid out of my seat and onto the floor, where I kneeled, grabbing the end of his cloak. “Will you help me get back my daughter?” I asked, looking him straight in the eye, trying to contain the breakdown I knew was to come.
He looked taken aback by my sudden outburst of emotion, but at once regained his composure and said solemnly, “I will.”
I nodded in agreement, and before I knew it, he was gone. At long last, I let the emotions flow. “Please... please, bring her back home,” I kept repeating, though I knew he was long gone.
More than a thousand years have passed, and I’m still waiting to hear from the Baron and from my daughter. But they haven’t come. I know they are dead, but it seems they didn’t move on. I endlessly wander in the afterlife, looking for my daughter. Here I’ll stay ‘till the end of time, waiting for her to come back to me. My daughter, my Helena, the moon of my sky.