The stars were bright tonight, Helga thought to herself. Her mother had told her they were bright when Helga was born.
She sighed, looking up. She didn't want to think about them. About Rowena, about Godric, or especially Salazar.
Salazar. Her stepbrother. Dead.
Who had died first? Helga closed her eyes and begun to think.
"Headmistress?" A voice called. Helga's eyes snapped open. She turned her head away from the balcony and to the oncoming deputy headmaster.
"Yes Professor Malfoy." She answered not entirely pleased with being interrupted from her thoughts. Cygnus Malfoy, who was very blond and very pale, came into Helga's view.
"You weren't at the staff meeting and you haven't left your chambers this evening or the entire weekend so some of the staff and I have been worried about you."
Helga smiled at the concern, "Don't worry Cygnus, when I pass away I shall say goodbye. Now hurry on and go it is very late and I am quite sure the NEWT and OWL students will not be pleased with a half asleep Professor."
"Bye Headmistress."
"Goodbye Professor."
He left. That is all anyone really did, Helga mused. Godric left, Rowena left, Salazar left. And Helga was still here.
Godric had gone first forty years ago in a duel he should not have partaken in. Rowena had passed away fifteen years ago being very ill. Salazar had been murdered a decade ago. He had tried to take his revenge.
Helga griped at the armrests pf the chair she was sitting in. The rocking chair.
She tried to remember all of the details. It was still so fuzzy, but still it was there.
Growing up with Salazar. Being 13, and seeing two strangers: A boy looking to be the age of 15 and a girl that looked to noble to being wearing the rages she wore.
Godric and Rowena. Helga had thought for so long that the two had been courting, or at least had feelings for one another.
That misconception had led to Helga missing her chance. Godric had found someone else. Rowena had married as well and had a daughter, Helena. Salazar had been widowed after the birth of his third child.
His two daughters were killed for being witches, in reality being only squibs. Salazar had gone mad with rage and began getting angry. Helga had ended up taking care of his 16 year old son who she had taken as her own.
Helga closed her eyes, and she thought. She was never married, never had kids. A spinster. Tears leaked from her eyes.
"What's the matter Helga?" she could hear Salazar say.
Helga was alone. Salazar's son that she raised had left England. Helga was 110 had no grandchildren, no children or a husband.
All of her family was dead.
She cried. She cried often.
When a particular thing that Godric used to say came into her mind, her eyes stung.
When rumors of Salazar being a dark lord spread like wildfire, Helga's throat hurt.
Like on the anniversaries of the deaths of her friends came up or her nieces and sister-in-law, she sobbed.
"'Twas a life I lived." Godric said.
"The B-baron will bring my daughter to me." Rowena insisted.
"Don't worry I will always love you." Salazar said smiling.
Helga opened her eyes and wiped at them with handkerchief.
She stood up and laid in her bed to sleep. She thought that there was going to be another day where she would have to live through the pain. Another day to prepare for.
She was wrong.
At precisely 4:45 am Helga Hufflepuff died, leaving behind no one but the staff at Hogwarts, Her nephew, Helena Ravenclaw (A ghost) and Deputy Headmaster Malfoy.
'Twas a life indeed.