Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but I do own Helo and her family.

A/N: enjoy:)

Brunhilda Lasgolin Knight

Rain was pouring down on the sleepy land, covering it with its majestic flow and leaving Helo soaked to the bone. The dawn crept quietly behind her back; making her shiver with the morning chill that embraced her lovingly and the blood-red medieval uniform dress she wore clung desperately to her body.

Helo looked around. The streets were deserted, the stores and coffee shops were closed and no living soul could be spotted wandering the lifeless curves of the sleepy village. With a heavy sigh she dropped herself on a nearby shaky bench painted in red and blue.

With the first rays of pale light, as the darkness cleared and night was being put to sleep, Helo felt frantic and lost. She had no idea where she would look for her aunt, how she would approach her and what would she say when her eyes would rest upon her distant figure. The only thing she did know for sure was that Brunhilda dwelled in Hogsmeade, in a big house with a lot of green gnomes running in her garden.

But where would she find such a house? After all, Hogsmeade was a village of witches and wizards and green running gnomes in the garden were a very common phenomenon among the lodgers of the magical place.

As she rubbed her temples, Helo tried to search her memory for things and thoughts that might guide her. But the latest, and the only memory from the young aunt that she possessed (besides the green gnomes and the size of her house) was from the time she was ten and her parents had dragged her and her two brothers to try and convince the poor lass to join their clan.

It is indeed needless to say that the dark haired witch practically kicked them out of her house…

Helo let out a frustrated sigh and wailed loudly. She was cold, very cold, and wet. Her stomach was making funny noises and often reminded her that she was hungry. Furthermore, the unstable bench she was sitting on threatened to fall apart into little pieces of blue and red.

After another hour of misery Helo finally decided to stalk someone near the bakery.

And as if the archangels themselves went down from heaven to cast some good luck upon the misfortunate head owned by the youngest scion to the house of Blackknight; no sooner than Helo came to stand beside the shop's door, that an old witch came toddling from around the corner with a net bag hanging from her closed tight arm.

"Excuse me, Madam; do you know where I can find Brunhilda Knight?"

The old lady narrowed her eyes, brought her hand to her ear and bent forwards,

"What Dear? I can't hear you; I am a bit deaf…"

Helo came closer to the old witch and shouted in her ear, "I said, "Where can I find Brunhilda Knight??""

The old lady jumped with a start and grabbed the left side of her chest.

"Fine my dear! No need to shout! At my age it is a bit dangerous…Brunhilda you say? But of course I know where you can find her! You see my dear, I am her neighbor, but pray tell me; who are you?"

Helo frowned and coughed nervously.

"I…I am her niece…"

The old witch arched her eyebrows in surprise.

"Niece you say? It is funny, Bruno never mentioned any niece to me…what's your name dear?"

"Helorin"

The old lady smiled and shook Helo's hand as if it was a rattle being held by a very enthusiastic baby.

"Well, it is a pleasure meeting you Helorin; my name is Martha. Now if you will wait just one minute as I buy my bread, I shall take you to Bruno"

Helo's pure joy and feeling of relief knew no possible limits. She thanked the old lady with much excitement and if she hadn't restrained herself with that nasty voice she liked to call "the inner git", or simply conscience, she would have embraced the poor granny to death.

"So wired…a niece? She never mentioned relatives!" muttered old Martha to herself as she entered the bakery, leaving Helo at the doors to wait.

Finally, after 20 minutes the old witch left the bakery and taking Helo's arm under her own, led her to Godric street 14 ¼ where stood a huge house. It was built in the year 1137, had titanic iron doors and a beautifully kept garden.

"This is it my dear" said old Martha 'this is Bruno's House; she lives here all by herself, the poor lass. Although she never admits how lonely she is…I remember the times when the rest of the family used to live here and Brunhilda was still a Hogwarts Student. She had a friend named Charlie; Charlie Weasley, a fine lad, and a very handsome one if you'd ask me! Good-natured face and fiery red hair, lots of freckles…. he loved your Aunt very much! But he hasn't been here for nearly four years now, and the family has all but fallen apart. Your grandfather and grandmother left for Ireland with her brother when she was sixteen and left the house to her, but you must already know all that" dismissed old Martha with her skinny hand.

Helo's cheeks reddened and she lowered her eyes to the ground.

"No…actually I do not"

The old lady's eyes widened and she stared at her in disbelief.

"You do not? How come? Well, I am sure Bruno will tell you all about your family's history, for it is really hers to tell; besides, I really do not know a lot, to begin with. I have to go now my dear; it was a pleasure meeting you Helorin, send Bruno a good morning from me! bye bye now!"

And with these final words she turned to her house that stood beside Brunhilda's and was gone.

'Well' said Helo to herself after repeating her speech to her aunt in her head for at least five times 'Merlin help me…'

She knocked upon the Iron doors hesitantly. After a minute or so she could hear footsteps of someone running to the door and a moment later it was opened and a young dark haired witch, dressed in her nightgown and slippers, stood before her gaping slightly.

"Helorin??" She cried and looked around, examining the deserted street with her hazel eyes "what are you doing here? Where are your parents? Is this some kind of a diversion while they plan an attack??" She looked shocked and quite angry. Helo shifted nervously and helplessly.

"Aunt Brunhilda, I really, really need your Help, please, let me in, please! Believe me, I have absolutely nothing to do with my parents!" she begged.

Bruno looked at the girl in front of her who was soaked to the bone and shivering. For a moment she doubted and her eyes where narrowed with suspicion as she observed the poor lass who reminded her of someone painfully loved by herself. With a heavy sigh she stepped aside so that the soaked witch in front of her could get in.

"Alright" she said wearily "You may enter".

Helo sat in front of the fire with a cup of tea in one hand and a muffin in the other.

She was dressed in Bruno's robes while her cloak and dress were drying up in the sunny garden.

Helo had told Bruno everything straight from the beginning, not missing any part.

She spoke of her parents, of her two brothers: Lazlo and Broderick, of her school, her life and her escape.

Brunhilda sat gaping at her, swallowing every single word.

"You wish to tell me that you ran away from a school directed by Karkaroff?" she asked in disbelief "You must be really talented…"

"Actually, Karkaroff has been found dead a month ago. The school is run by Gorminov now…" Helo said quietly.

"How did you find my house?"

Helo shrugged "I asked around. An old witch named Martha showed me where you live".

Bruno frowned and sat back in her armchair "are you saying that she'd seen how wet you are and said nothing?"

When her only niece nodded Bruno sighed and a faint smile decorated her face.

"Old Martha! She's nice, but you see, a bit weird and crazy. Thinks I'm a lonely hound…"

Helo stood up and walked to the nearest window. Her 24-year-old cauldron-making aunt did the same.

"What are you planning to do next, Helorin?" she asked tenderly.

"To say the truth, I don't know…I was rather counting on your aid…" Helo answered and as she turned around she noticed that the young woman was smiling. Bruno placed an arm around her shoulder and drew her closer.

"Welcome to the bright side of the family, Miss Blackknight" she said.