Chapter five
All Hallows ever came around almost suddenly. The appearance of floating pumpkins and other decorations lining the halls and dorms was exciting. The charms reminding her of the once Narcissa would use at home, having just finished writing to her aunt and uncle Helena was returning from the owlery. Crossing paths with Hermione had been a nice surprise.
“Hermione!” She smiled, calling out the other curly haired girl’s name.
Looking up she smiled back at her.
“How are you?” The Gryffindor asked.
“I’m doing well. I just sent an owl to my aunt and uncle.” Helena replied.
The other girl nodded, before awkwardly looking back up to Helena.
“Can I ask you something.”
“Sure.” Helena nodded.
“How do you actually send an owl?” Helena blinked slightly, confusion falling over her.
“You don’t know how?”
“I tried looking it up in the library but no books actually explained it and I asked a prefect but he laughed and just said that that was a funny joke- It’s a little embarrassing- I know-“ Helena cut off her rambling, shaking her head.
“I’m sorry- I was just surprised. I never thought about this being weird for muggleborns, It’s just always been something we do. I didn’t mean to be rude-“
“You weren’t.”
“But I can show you- Do you have a letter on you that you wish to send?”
“I’ve been carrying it around in my school bag since the start of term. I want to send it to my parents.”
Nodding Helena guided her to the owlery, looking around for a school owl.
“See the owls that have that little gold band on- they are Hogwarts owls. Anyone can use them, so um- just approach one- that’s it…” Holding out her arm a brown owl stepped onto her.
“Just hold the letter out in front of his beak. He’ll know to grab it.” As she said that the owl bit out for it the letter tightly in his mouth.
Hermione cut in.
“But how are we sure he won’t drop it?”
“The little gold band has an enchantment on it to stop that from happening, but you can also cast a spell too- that’s what my aunt always does.” Seeing Hermione’s curious eyes she quickly told her the spell. A pleased smile went over her face. Before it dropped.
“Wait- how will my parents write back to me-“
“Oh they don’t have their own owl do they?”
“No.” She looked sad for a moment. Helena ushered the owl to drop the letter telling hermione to instruct her parents to tell the owl to stay put until they had wrote a reply, and to follow the same instructions that Helena had given Hermione. Once all was done the owl was sent off.
“Thank you for the help- I really appreciated it… I’m still getting used to everything here.” Hermione admitted, almost shy.
“So am I. It’s a big change.”
“But you grew up around all of this”
“Being away from home is still hard. I miss it. But it’s exciting being here.” Helena grinned. Hermione agreed, laughing.
“I don’t think I will get completely used to any of it.” Helena shook her head, giggling.
“I don’t think I will ever get used to Dumbledore’s awful jokes at dinner every night.” The two girls fell into a fit of laughter.
The next week passed by, the air steadily getting colder. Sat in the library, pen in hand she wrote to her aunt Narcissa.
Dear Aunt,
I’ve gained a new friend, Hermione Granger, she’s lovely!
I was hoping you could help resolve a small issue however, her family are muggles, and are without an owl. I know you and uncle have several, would you be able to lend one to her parents so they may write to her when they wish?
If not I understand, although, if that is the case I then ask for permission to go with Hermione and her parents to Diagon Alley over Christmas to help them purchase one.
Much love,
Your niece, Helena.
A reply came two days later, her aunts swirling handwriting stating that she would resolve the issue.
A day later the Grangers received an owl and a large letter with specific instructions of care. All in perfectly cursive handwriting.
The night of the Hallows eve feast was exciting, having exchanged a small gift with Draco earlier in the day she sat with her fellow Ravenclaws.
“This is so cool-“
“It’s so tasty.”
“Look at nearly headless nick!” Cho laughed, pointing over at him. He was in the midst of some fanciful jig with another ghost. The several first years laughed, before being interrupted by a shrieking sound. Helena winced, the sudden feeling of Quirrell arriving hitting her, the strange mix of thoughts that felt impossible to all be from one person slipped in and out of her mind. Looking over she heard his exclamation of a troll, her eyes flickering to Dumbledore as he announced for students to be returned to their dorms, and for the professors to follow him.
Looking around she shivered slightly, the feeling of the hall changing into panic. Following Jenny, her prefect, out the great hall a sudden need scratched at her- Quirrell was unconscious- with no one around- she could-. Before she could reason properly with herself Helena slipped into a dark crevice in the wall, letting the other students move past her. Once the other Ravenclaws had filtered past she quickly rushed back to the Great Hall.
Her suspicions were confirmed, the defence teacher had been left unconscious on the floor, no one around.
Stepping over to him, nervous she attempted to clear her mind, to welcome the thoughts of others, it felt unnatural, almost sickening.
Gulping she stepped close, hovering next to him as she was met with a voice that made her eyes widen, the hairs on her arms stand.
The voice was cruel, and urgent. Something she didn’t have the vocabulary to describe, she could however, conclude with the utmost confidence that that was not Quirrell- his voice was no where to be found in his thoughts, gone with his consciousness. She wondered for a second if the person- being- whatever they were was aware of her. It was as she thought that she heard a snarl, a slippery voice stating he was being listened too. Backing out of Quirrels head she fell back to the world of the living.
“Merlin” She murmured. Crouching next to the teacher with confusion as she studied his features.
“Miss Rosier What do you think you are doing?” A voice rang out, belonging to Professor McGonagall, she could see Hermione, Harry and Ron hovering behind her, all looking worse for wear.
“Professor- I realised no one was with Quirrel as we were leaving- I tried to get my prefects attention but I don’t think she heard me. I didn’t think it was right to leave him alone- what if he woke up and had been struck with forgetfulness and went wandering around with the troll on the loose.” She lied easily, luckily McGonagall seemed to accept her lie. Nodding.
“Indeed. Well, 4 points to Ravenclaw for being a responsible and caring student.” She uttered, she called out for another Professor, and then told Helena to go to her dorms.
Standing in her dormitory she brushed out her hair, that had been confined to plaits all day. Cho’s voice interrupted her thoughts on Quirrell.
“Helena, are you alright? You’ve been a bit out of it since you got back?” Cho’s concerned voice asked.
“Oh- sorry. I- it’s nothing.”
Padme laughed. “An idiot could tell you that you are lying.”
“Sorry.” Helena mumbled.
“You don’t have to tell us- but you can if you need to.”
“You might not believe me.” She mumbled. For the first time the image of polished sureness crumbled in front of the other two girls.
Padme and Cho looked worried, moving to stand next to her, pulling her to sit down in their window seat that looked out over the Black lake.
“Tell us.”
“Please.”
“I- Do either of you know what a Leglimens is.” She settled one, staring down at her feet.
“They can read minds right- mum used to tell us a fairy tale about one.” Padme stated.
“I’ve never heard of them before.” Cho replied, glancing between the two girls.
“What Padme said is accurate. I- I can do that. I always have been able to- it’s awful. I can’t even sleep peacefully without falling into others dreams, being in the Great hall is a nightmare at dinner, so many heads, so many loud heads.” She crumbled, tears slipping out. Cho was first to wrap an arm around her. Padme doing so as well.
“Oh Helena- don’t worry- but, I am sorry- am I missing something? Why were you so frighternd to tell us- isn’t it good to be able to do more than just ordinary magic?” Confusion evident in her voice.
Padme cut in.
“IT’s not that simple… Certain skills are- judged- within the wizarding community.” She said with a pause, looking at Helena for permission to continue.
“Like in the fairy tale I mentioned. The man has leglimency, but the town shun him, worried that he’ll learn all their deepest secrets, scared they banish him, lock him in a cave by the sea. The wizard is let free when a storm destroys the rocks covering the cave entrance, mad with revenge he returns to the town and exposes all their misdemeanours.” Padme finished, eyes shifting.
“Those fears are shared amongst most people.” She admitted. “Not me- I- I think it’s silly. Helena- this doesn’t change a thing. I won’t shun you.” She giggled. Cho nodded eagerly.
“I agree it’s stupid- don’t worry!”
Tearfully grinning Helena finally spoke again.
“You guys are the best- thank you- really.” The three girls hugged. Before Cho spoke.
“Did something happen specifically tonight- I can’t help but feel that it did.”
Helena recounted what had happened, the two other girls looking startled.
“Maybe he has a daemon in him- or some kind of curse or-“
“But it would have to be something that doesn’t go dormant when he’s unconsciousness- surely that narrows it down.” Cho added, the two girls stating their thoughts.
“We should go to the library tomorrow. Maybe we can find something.” Padme stated, before looking back at Helena.
“Sound good?”
“Sounds great… I’m sorry for dragging you into this- but I need to know.” She stated honestly.
“You aren’t dragging us into anything.” Cho promised.
“Really- we have to stick together us three anyway- we are beholden to one another!”
“Someone’s been reading a dictionary-“ Cho teased, before being playfully smacked. Grinning Helena laughed, agreeing.
The three were bound to each other, always.