The Four Founders

A Big Blow

"Helga?", asked Rowena and that's when the young girl broke into a run.
Instinctively, Godric took off behind her and was soon at the maiden's heels. Rowena had no choice but to follow. With his agility and strength, Godric soon managed to pin the girl down who looked up at Godric and Rowena with almost pleading eyes. "I didn't mean to I swear. It was all an accident", she said. "Okay slow down and explain", demanded Rowena with a slight authoritative edge to her voice. "Firstly, what's your name?"
"My name's Janey", she replied, slowly getting back on her feet, giving Godric a contemptuous look. "I worked for the Hufflepuffs till until three years ago. Mr and Mrs Hufflepuff alway took good care of me and I stayed with them and served them. Their good souls were blessed with a daughter who they decided to name Helga. Helga grew up to be a resplendent young girl. She was always ebullient and generous. Then one morning she woke up to find her parents dead. I had killed them", said Janey as she broke down into tears.
"You killed them?! But why?", enquired Godric, clearly shocked and befuddled.
"I didn't mean to", said Janey, clearing up the tears from her lachrymose face. "I can't recollect much of what happened that day. I was just found with a bloody dagger in my hands, kneeling down near the Hufflepuffs' bodies. And when Helga came into her parents' chambers, I turned the weapon against her and took her life as well", finished the young girl in a morose tone.
"But why would you do that? You said they took good care of you. Then why?", questioned Rowena in disbelief.
"I really don't know. But I can promise you that I had no intentions of murdering them. It was almost as if someone or something was controlling me. But to evade the guards, I absconded from the Hufflepuffs' residence and came to work at this pub for a living", finished Janey. Her face seemed to be hidden by dark shadows, as if to cover the embarrassing stories of her past she was now narrating.
Godric then asked," so did you try finding out about what had happened that day? About who or what was controlling you?"
"Yes, I guess you can say I have", came Janey's firm voice in response, like she didn't want to discuss the topic anymore.
"So you're saying Helga's dead?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Then how do you have the Hufflepuffs' family goblet?", asked Rowena.
"I found it among my other belongings after I'd left the Hufflepuffs", started Janey. I have no idea how it got there. I either inadvertently put it in my bag or put it there while I was being controlled."
"But we have to believe that Helga must be about the same age as Godric and I", said Rowena. "Then how is it that you, so young, are older than Helga?"
"I too am a witch like Helga and yourself", she said. "I have been taking potions for a very long time to retain my youth and blend in with the muggles."
"Wait, how do you know that Rowena is a witch?", asked Godric.
"Well I might just have eavesdropped on your conversation last night", said Janey as she fiddled with her apron with clammy fingers.
"What the-", began Godric, but he was interrupted by Rowena who said," But why would you wanna listen to our conversations?"
"Because I heard you mention Helga's name and I had a feeling you were here to take me away for my deeds. I'm sorry", Janey said, clearly trying to keep a grip on her emotions.
"Okay thanks a lot for your cooperation and I really appreciate your appreciation for others' privacy", said Godric, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now it's time for Rowena and I to take leave."

"But that doesn't make any sense", began Rowena as soon as she and Godric were a biscuit's toss away from the pub. "The old lady told us we had to find a Helga Hufflepuff but now we find out she's dead."
"Is it possible that there could be two people with the same name?", asked Godric with a little hope in his eyes.
"I highly doubt that", said Rowena who now seemed to be surrounded by a pall of gloom and defeat.
"Hey cheer up Rowes. I'm sure my prodigious brain will come up with another amazing plan soon", said Godric with his head held up high.
"'Rowes' really? Is that one of the many names from Godric's Guide To Pathetic Monikers For Beginners?", asked Rowena, with a witty smile spreading across her face.
"In my defence, I haven't eaten in so long okay?", said Godric. "My poor tummy is complaining about how I never feed him and the last thing he had was a puny glass of Butterbeer."
"Okay then vagrant lets go get you some food and must I add a shower as well", said Rowena.
"I just smell too fabulous for you", said Godric as the two approached a small town filled with the clamour and cacophony of people.