Hasta que el destino nos alcance

Rhea Brahms wasn't a woman one kept waiting, yet that was exactly what was happening.

She was pacing up and down the black marble corridor impatiently, nervously tapping her fingers on her crossed arms as she awaited the arrival of her guest. The worry and alarm, which Rhea was feeling, were evident on her face.

This particular corridor was the only one decorated differently to the rest of the manor. It contrasted quite nicely with the other rooms, which were clad in scarlet's and gold's, and bronzes and blues, depending on the person who lived in the room and the importance of it. The manor'sdecor celebrated the union between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw houses, which had occurred many years ago.

The Estate where Mrs. Brahms lived was one of the oldest in all wizarding Britain, and her family were one of the oldest pureblood families in all the wizarding world, along with such families as the Weasley's, the Bones's, the Boot's and the Malfoy's.

Usually these families distinguished themselves because all of the members entered the same house when they attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, what made the Brahms special was that the female members were always Gryffindors and the male Ravenclaws. This tradition was well known, and it was also what was causing Rhea's current preoccupation.

Finally, the person Mrs. Brahms was waiting for arrived, and she nearly ran to him, so was the urgency she had to speak with him.

"I've told you to get rid of that fwooper, its song will drive you crazy sooner or later," said the man with a smile.

"Oh, please I'm not as dumb as Uric the Oddball; it has a silencing charm," replied Mrs. Brahms with a stern face, which indicated that she didn't want to have a pointless conversation.

"And what is the reason that you wished to talk to me, my dear Mrs. Brahms?"

"Please do sit down," she told him, "because what I have to say will need a lot of explaining and a lot of time."

She spoke in such a sad and desperate tone, that the man immediately sat down without further comment.

As Mrs. Brahms sat, she carefully adjusted her skirt so it didn't wrinkle, and began to speak.

"I have so much to tell I wonder where to start, Albus."

"How about the beginning Rhea?" the gentleman suggested, with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"I'm worried about Eliza. The way she acts is...I don't know what to do. And I have this horrible feeling that something bad is going to happen to her."

At the mention of Eliza's name, a look of worry and angst appeared on the face of Mrs. Brahms' companion. An expression that was practically identical to her own.

"What is wrong with her, Rhea?" he asked with concern.

"Wrong, nothing, but I do believe that she needs to know the truth. She's very clever, and sooner or later she will find out," Rhea told him desperately.

Albus Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "She will know when she's ready," he told the woman firmly, "and not a minute sooner. I don't want her to have any problems. And I believe that we have already discussed this, Rhea, so you needn't be worried about anything."

"But what will happen to our family if-if-." She was too distraught to complete the sentence.

"If what? My dear Rhea, what are you talking about?" asked the man patiently.

"Well you know that the female members of my family are always in Gryffindor and the males in Ravenclaw. And most of the boys are friends with Slytherins since our husbands continue their friendships with them. Eliza, well, she should dislike Slytherins, as all good Gryffindor's do!"

Albus sighed. "My dear Rhea, might I remind you I was in Gryffindor house, and I don't hate Slytherins."

"But you're different in so many ways, Albus. Surely, you understand my worry.

What if she's sorted into a different house? What will I do?"

"She won't be sorted into any other house that isn't Gryffindor, Rhea. Don't worry about that. Why do you actually suspect that she won't be a Gryffindor?"

"Well, she actually enjoys the company of the Slytherins! Since Johannes is such a good friend of Vladimir Malfoy, she usually talks with his son, Kassius. And I fear that he's a bad influence on her," the woman told him tearfully. "And her brother hates Kassius. Albus, it's supposed to be the other way!"

"You shouldn't worry about that. Does Johannes have a problem with Eliza's acquaintances?"

"Why would he?" she exclaimed with frustration. "I mean, he would love to have a daughter married into the Malfoy family, so why should he have a problem with this?"

Albus tensed when hearing of this aspect of the situation, and his expression became grave. When he next spoke, his voice was clear and strong.

"Where is Johannes?"

"He's with the Malfoys," said Mrs Brahms in a monotone voice, attempting to regain her composure.

Albus rose from the chair where he had been sitting. "Please inform me when he arrives. I need to speak with him as soon as possible."

Supposing that Albus was leaving, Mrs Brahms rose too. As they walked through the black marble corridor, she asked, "is there anything else I need to know about Eliza, Albus?"

To which he responded firmly, "I told you everything when you took her in and the only thing you need know is that she is my daughter."

With those words, Albus Dumbledore took his leave from the Brahms Estate. He hoped to talk soon with Johannes Brahms because he suspected that, beneath all of Mrs. Brahms exaggerations, that there was indeed danger ahead.