The Hellish Life of Helia Potter

“THE VANISHING GLASS” Tonks read causing Helia to stiffen, knowing that a lot of her secrets would be revealed in this chapter. 

With a sigh, she buried her face into Sirius’s shoulder, causing him to look at her in confusion along with worrying looks from her parents and Remus. Draco had to sit on his hands so not to do anything rash, he had a bad feeling about this chapter.

Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their niece on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all. 

“What a boring life they must lead.” Ron said in disgust.

"Well that doesn't sound very exciting!" Exclaimed Fred.

"They're boring remember, Forge!” George exclaimed.

"Ahh right you are dear Gred, right you are."

The kids laughed at their antics.

The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys' front door; it crept into their living room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr. Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. 

“Only now there’s a witch living there.” Daphne sneered, she hated anything staying the same, what’s life without a little excitement.

Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing different-coloured bonnets

At this all the kids snickered, Helia more so than the others having actually witnessed the awful pictures.

 -- but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby, and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle, on a carousel at the fair, playing a computer game with his father, being hugged and kissed by his mother. The room held no sign at all that another child lived in the house, too.

“Why isn’t there a sign?” Charlie asked, he has a bad feeling he wouldn’t like the answer.

“You’ll see.” Helia said even though she prayed that they would never find out, but with these blasted books that was wishful thinking.

Yet Helia Potter was still there, asleep at the moment, but not for long. Her Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day.

"Up! Get up! Now!"

“And we complain about how, Mum wakes us up." Bill murmured, rubbing the back of his head. Yeah, having the blankets torn off of you was much better than that. Lily, on the other hand, winced sympathetically having been a victim of Petunia’s waking habits for years.

Helia woke with a start. Her aunt rapped on the door again.

"Up!" she screeched. 

Helia heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove.

Fred and George exchanged looks, wondering how could she hear that when her room was upstairs.

 She rolled onto her back and tried to remember the dream she had been having. It had been a good one. There had been a flying motorcycle in it. She had a funny feeling she'd had the same dream before.

“When you had trouble sleeping Sirius, Remus and I would take you out on a ride and the moment you were in the air you would fall asleep, we used to joke you were born to be in the sky flying.” James said with a soft loving look on his face, making Helia beam at her father. Not hearing the intake of breath from the boy next to her at the beauty of her rare smile. 

Her aunt was back outside the door.

"Are you up yet?" she demanded.

“Giver her a bloody minute, woman!” Exclaimed Ron, Susan placed a comforting hand over his own making his tense figure relax a bit.

"Nearly," said Helia.

"Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And don't you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect on Duddy's birthday."

Helia groaned.

"They. Made. You. Cook?" Hermione asked in a deadly calm voice. "How old were you when that started?"

Helia shrugged nervously. "I don't know. As soon as I could see over the stove, I guess." Unconsciously fingering her shortish messy locks.

"What did you say?" her aunt snapped through the door.

“She didn’t say anything.” snarled Draco under his breath.

“Nothing, nothing..."

Dudley's birthday -- how could she have forgotten? 

Helia got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks. She found a pair under her bed and, after pulling a spider off one of them, put them on. 

Ron trembled, his trauma not even allowing him to hear the word spider uttered, the twins shared a sheepishly-guilty glances at the fear they caused their younger brother.

“Why couldn’t it be butterflies.” Muttered Ron, receiving confused looks from all, but Helia.

“Second year, long story.” Said Helia to the confused people.

Helia was used to spiders, because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them, 

Helia gritted her teeth, her nails pierced the skin of her palms. It felt as though Peeves dropped a bucket of ice cold water onto her, the dread chilled her to the bone. No one was supposed to know how she lived the first ten years of her life.

And that was where she slept.

Helia's breathing seemed loud in her ears, she could barely hear past it. 

The people in the come and go room were shocked into a state of silence even Fred and George, who had a joke for every situation, had nothing to say.

She didn't look up from her clenched hands, she didn’t want to see the pitying looks. Not that it was any of their business what happened in her life anyway, she survived too much to be held up to people’s expectations.

“You used to sleep where?!” Hermione shrieked, looking at her best friend who refusing to look up.

Ron stood from his seat kneeling near her, trying to get her to raise her head. “Mate, why didn't you tell us?” His voice pained from learning the treatment of his best friend.

“Never came up,” Came the muffled reply.

Hermione had turned her fierce gaze onto Dumbledore, breathing heavily as a angry red flush burned onto her cheeks. “First you leave her on a doorstep, in freaking November in the middle of the bloody night, when you knew perfectly well that there were Death Eaters still wandering around; now, we find out about this!” Hermione's anger was radiating off her, like sparks from a raging fire.

Snape, sitting in a state of shock, slowly shook his head. The child, he claimed to hate for ego and arrogance was nothing, but a hardened abused child not trusting adults, and they never gave her a reason to trust them.

“As much as I hate to agree with Miss Granger,” Snape snarled, staring at the older wizard, “she is once again right, Potter never should’ve been there. You knew what the Dursley’s thoughts about magic, did you really think they would care for her.” His dark tunneling eyes stared at Dumbledore hatefully.

“You said, she would be safe there!” McGonagall hissed, rounding on the Headmaster. “The best place for her, you said!”

“She was never meant to go to my sister!” Lily said harshly to the Headmaster, while James pulled their daughter into his lap reassuring himself that she was here safe in his arms.

Blaise placed a tight hand on his friend’s shoulder to keep Draco, from lunging at the foolish Headmaster, even though he too wanted to rip the old man to pieces.

Dumbledore looked at his own interlocked fingers before risking a glance at Helia who could barely look at her father, godfather, uncle and best friends let alone the man who put her in that environment.

“I – I didn't know,” Dumbledore confessed heavily. “Arabella… she said she wasn’t the happiest child… but I didn't realize it was this bad I thought it was for the greater…” Dumbledore trailed off at the ferocity of Snape's glare.

“The greater good, right.” Growled Remus, his eyes glowing golden with his anger. “That’s what you were going to say, what about what’s better for Helia. You refused to let me take her in saying that she would be cared for!” His voice ferocious tinted  the wolf so close to the surface. “ I would’ve run away with her, if I knew you were taking her there!” 

Tonks cleared her throat, hair still a steaming fire red before continuing to read.

When she was dressed she went down the hall into the kitchen. The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudley's birthday presents. It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted, not to mention the second television and the racing bike. 

“I still don’t know why he wanted that.” Helia muttered, her cousin hated exercising.

“Probably couldn’t even hold his weight.” Draco muttered back getting a small laugh from the girl of his affection, making his cheeks blush lightly.

Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Helia, as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise -- unless of course it involved punching somebody. 

“That better of not been you, Potter.” Theo said through clenched teeth, if there was one thing the boy couldn’t forgive it was abuse.

Dudley's favourite punching bag was Helia, 

The room was filled with growls, hisses and cursing at the treatment of Helia.

but he couldn't often catch her.

“At least there’s that.” Sighed Padma, tears glistening in her eyes over the pain her friend suffered without her knowing.

 Helia didn't look it, but she was very fast.

“That's one word for it,” Ron grinned.

“Youngest seeker in a century!” George yelled a grin stretched across his face.

“Best seeker we've ever had!” Fred roared proudly.

James looked as if Christmas and his birthday came early beaming with pride for his darling daughter.

Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard, but Helia had always been small and skinny for her age. 

“Nope,” James smiled at his daughter “Potter Family genes, although Lily has always been tiny too.” He grinned only to get slapped on the back of his head by his wife.

She looked even smaller and skinnier than she really was because all she had to wear were old clothes of Dudley's, and Dudley was about four times bigger than she was. 

"Did they ever buy you anything?" Hermione whispered, her eyes starting to fill with angry tears.

Helia was silent a moment before she responded, "Not that I can remember and if they did it was only to uphold their reputation.”

Hermione looked even more angry, before pulling Helia into a hug.

Helia had a heart shaped face, tanned skin, short messy black hair, and bright green eyes. 

“The hair and skin tone is all James.” Laughed Lily, fondly ruffling her husband’s hair, making his glasses slip down his nose slightly as he grinned at his wife.

“Yeah, but she definitely got your eye colour and face shape, Lily-Flower.” James winked both at his wife and daughter.

She wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape

“Why?” Neville asked even though he already expected the reason.

 because of all the times Dudley had punched her on the nose. 

Luna looked sad and lost at the treatment of her very first friend who accepted her no questions asked, only to be pulled into a hug by Charlie. The dragon tamer couldn’t bare to see the amazing girl with such a sad look on her face.

The only thing Helia liked about her own appearance was a very thin scar on her forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning. 

Ron looked at Helia, shocked since he knew that Helia despised the mark. "You liked the scar?"

"That was before I knew what it really meant. Once I found out why I had it and realized that everyone would stare at me for it, that's when I started hating it." Helia replied.

She had had it as long as she could remember, and the first question she could ever remember asking her Aunt Petunia was how she had gotten it.

"In the car crash when your parents died,"

“She lied to you?” Hermione hissed dangerously.

“Wouldn't be the first time,” Helia replied, her voice calm and unconcerned, although she was speaking through slightly clenched teeth.

“A car crash, killed James and Lily Potter not bloody likely.” Scoffed Moody. 

 she had said. "And don't ask questions." 

“How are you supposed to learn then.” McGonagall sniffed.

Helia just shrugged to her Professor, thinking by the end of this she would have no secrets left.

Don't ask questions -- that was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys.
　　
Uncle Vernon entered the kitchen as Helia was turning over the bacon.
"Comb your hair!" he barked, by way of a morning greeting.

“Fat lot, that’s going to do.” The Twins joked receiving a mock glare from Helia.Not that it affected the twins who just grinned twin Cheshire grins at her.

About once a week, Uncle Vernon looked over the top of his newspaper and shouted that Helia needed a haircut. Helia must have had more haircuts than the rest of the girls in her class put together, but it made no difference, her hair simply grew that way -- all over the place.

James mouthed ‘sorry’ to his daughter, who playfully glared at him.

Helia’s hair was kept short, making it easier to keep her relatives from grabbing it and because her Aunt Petunia was too jealous of her nieces beautiful features to let her have long hair. 

“That blint! How dare she do this to my daughter, her niece.” Lily fumed at her petty jealous sister. “Oh Heli, I’m so sorry.” Helia smile, weakly, thought she felt warmth spread in her chest at her mother’s rage and protectiveness.

Helia was frying eggs by the time Dudley arrived in the kitchen with his mother. Dudley looked a lot like Uncle Vernon. He had a large pink face, not much neck, small, watery blue eyes, and thick blond hair that lay smoothly on his thick, fat head. 

Snickers and laughs filled the room at the description.

Helia smirked. “Accurate description.”

Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel -- Helia often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.

The Twins burst out laughing, they would definitely corrupt her to the dark side.

Helia put the plates of egg and bacon on the table, which was difficult as there wasn't much room. Dudley, meanwhile, was counting his presents. His face fell. "Thirty-six," he said, looking up at his mother and father. "That's two less than last year."

“And people say I’m spoiled.” Scoffed Draco.

"Darling, you haven't counted Auntie Marge's present, see, it's here under this big one from Mommy and Daddy."

“All right, thirty-seven then," said Dudley, going red in the face. Helia, who could see a huge Dudley tantrum coming on, began wolfing down her bacon as fast as possible in case Dudley turned the table over.

Ron nodded, sagely. “You can’t go without breakfast.”

Hermione looked at him like he lost what little sense he had left. 

“What it’s the most important meal of the day.” He told his best friends with the sincerest voice, he ever pulled.

Helia shook with her hidden laughter, Ron and his true love, his stomach.
　　
Aunt Petunia obviously scented danger, too, because she said quickly, "And we'll buy you another two presents while we're out today. How's that, popkin? Two more presents. Is that all right''

Mrs.Weasley scoffed in disgust that was no way to raise a child.

Dudley thought for a moment. It looked like hard work. Finally he said slowly, "So I'll have thirty ... thirty..."

Remus, Hermione, Lily And Padma had looks that clearly said he-couldn’t-possibly-be-this-dumb.

"Thirty-nine, sweetums," said Aunt Petunia.

"Oh." Dudley sat down heavily and grabbed the nearest parcel. "All right then." Uncle Vernon chuckled. "Little tyke wants his money's worth, just like his father. 'Atta boy, Dudley!" He ruffled Dudley's hair.

“Great Scott, don’t encourage him.” Sputtered McGonagall.
　　 
At that moment the telephone rang and Aunt Petunia went to answer it while Helia and Uncle Vernon watched Dudley unwrap the racing bike, a video camera, a remote control airplane, sixteen new computer games, and a VCR. He was ripping the paper off a gold wristwatch 

when Aunt Petunia came back from the telephone looking both angry and worried. "Bad news, Vernon," she said. "Mrs. Figg's broken her leg. She can't take her." She jerked her head in Helia's direction.

Do they ever use your name?' Theo asked, looking at Helia, his icy eyes piercing her.

'Erm…' Helia trailed off as she tried to remember whether they had actually used her name. 'Couple of times,' she said, shrugging.

Dudley's mouth fell open in horror, but Helia's heart gave a leap. Every year on Dudley's birthday, his parents took him and a friend out for the day, to adventure parks, hamburger restaurants, or the movies. Every year, Helia was left behind with Mrs. Figg, a mad old lady who lived two streets away. 

“Arabella Figg?” Madam Bones questioned.

Dumbledore nodded.

Helia hated it there. The whole house smelled of cabbage and Mrs. Figg made her look at photographs of all the cats she'd ever owned.

Lily pouted at her daughter, “You never did like cats, except for our own cat, Crooks.” It was like a lumos was cast above the golden trio.

“You don’t happen to mean a half kneazel named Crookshanks?” Asked Hermione.

“Yeah it was the only cat that would tolerate Snuffles, here.” Laughed James, his best friend and his archenemies the entire race of cats.

The trio shared a secret smile at the new information.

"Now what?" said Aunt Petunia, looking furiously at Helia as though she'd planned this. 

“Oh yes, she planned to break an old lady’s leg, just to spend the day with you.” Blaise drawled, sarcastically.

Helia knew she ought to feel sorry that Mrs. Figg had broken her leg, but it wasn't easy when she reminded herself it would be a whole year before she had to look at Tibbles, Snowy, Mr. Paws, and Tufty again.

Sirius shot a pitying look to his goddaughter at all the horrible cats she had to endure.

"We could phone Marge," Uncle Vernon suggested.

"Don't be silly, Vernon, she hates the girl."

“The feeling mutual, the Munter.” Helia sneered, getting a surprised look from the Slytherin’s.

“Marge, is that the one you-“ Ron asked, only to cut himself off grinning at Helia and Hermione who both laughed, smirking nodding in confirmation.

“Third book.” The trio said collectively, before anyone could ask.

 The Dursley’s often spoke about Helia like this, as though she wasn't there -- or rather, as though she was something very nasty that couldn't understand them, like a slug.

Helia noticed her dad shiver at the mention of the slimy creature, giving a confused head tilt not unlike a curious kitten.

“One to many slug-vomiting charms, so much I had to carry treacle fudge on me at all time.” Her father turned a chalky white remembering the feeling of the curse. Earning a sympathetic look from Ron who knew the sickly feeling too.

"What about what's-her-name, your friend -- Yvonne?"

"On vacation in Majorca," snapped Aunt Petunia.

"You could just leave me here," Helia put in hopefully (she'd be able to watch what she wanted on television for a change and maybe even have a go on Dudley's computer).

“They couldn’t have that though, it might make you happy.” Hermione glared fiercely at the book.

Aunt Petunia looked as though she'd just swallowed a lemon.

"And come back and find the house in ruins?" she snarled.

"I won't blow up the house," said Helia, but they weren't listening.

"It's not like she's going to blow up the house," Ginny frowned.

"Ya, Helia isn't Fred and George," Ron joked.

"Oi!" The twins exclaimed causing several people to snicker.

"I suppose we could take her to the zoo," said Aunt Petunia slowly, "... and leave her in the car...."

Hermione’s face lit with a furious red blush in her anger. “ THAT’S BLOODY ILLEGAL!” her temper finally boiling over at the memory of one of her neighbours leaving their dog in the car, —the poor animal had died from heatstroke— the thought of Helia suffering the same fate, unbearable.

"That car's new, she's not sitting in it alone...."

“Oh yes, worry about the car, not your bloody niece you complete dickhead.” Rumbled Kingsley, who had Madam Bones hand held tightly in his large hand.

Dudley began to cry loudly. In fact, he wasn't really crying -- it had been years since he'd really cried -- but he knew that if he screwed up his face and wailed, his mother would give him anything he wanted.

“Horrible, horrible child.” McGonagall muttered to Madam Bones, who agreed with her completely.

"Dinky Duddydums, don't cry, Mummy won't let her spoil your special day!" she cried, flinging her arms around him.

There was an odd moment of silence before the room exploded with the roars of laughter coming from the majority of the students and the Marauders.

'Dinky Duddydums!' The Twins breathed through new outbursts of laughter, clutching their sides both, leaning against Daphne who bared with grace and a secret smile.

'Poor kid,' Daphne said mockingly.

"I... don't... want... her... t-t-to come!" Dudley yelled between huge, pretend sobs. "She always sp- spoils everything!" He shot Helia a nasty grin through the gap in his mother's arms.

“Brat” growled Bill, from what he knew of Helia she was a kind, quiet and protective kid who didn’t have the easiest of life she deserved better.

Just then, the doorbell rang -- "Oh, good Lord, they're here!" said Aunt Petunia frantically -- and a moment later, Dudley's best friend, Piers Polkiss, walked in with his mother. Piers was a scrawny boy with a face like a rat. He was usually the one who held people's arms behind their backs while Dudley hit them, but when it came to Helia he would try to hold her down to kiss and touch her 

All the men went stiff at the words and what it meant for Helia.

“Miss Potter, did he...did he very get any farther than what was said?” Snape said, looking into her eyes as if to pull the answers from her mind by force.

“No Professor.” She denied, softly. She had always escaped before he could grab a hold of her for too long.

“He shouldn’t even be allowed to touch you.” Hissed Blaise, who was coiled up tightly ready to lunge if anyone moved in any way he didn’t like. Draco was pale white at the very thought of someone doing something that vile and horrid to Helia, to anyone really.

Dudley stopped pretending to cry at once.

“Aww, can’t have your friend thinking you’re a baby Dinky Duddydums.” Susan cooed mockingly.

Half an hour later, Helia, who couldn't believe her luck, was sitting in the back of the Dursleys' car with Piers and Dudley, on the way to the zoo for the first time in her life. 

“I like the trip in my third year better.” Helia smirked winking both at Luna and Sirius who laughed.

Her aunt and uncle hadn't been able to think of anything else to do with her, but before they'd left, Uncle Vernon had taken Helia aside.

"I'm warning you," he had said, putting his large purple face right up close to Helia's, "I'm warning you now, girl-- any funny business, anything at all -- and you'll be in that cupboard from now until Christmas."

"He didn't mean that Miss.Potter, did he?" McGonagall asked sternly.

Helia looked up at her head of house. "No professor his threats tend to be empty." Most of the time she thought to herself.

McGonagall watched her over her spectacles, then nodded.

"I'm not going to do anything," said Helia, "honestly.

But Uncle Vernon didn't believe her.

No one ever did.

“I always believe you, Heli.” Luna told Helia her wide, dreamy eyes gazing into the girl who was an older sister to her.

“I know Luna.” Helia reassured, the only person she allowed to call her Heli, beside her parents apparently.

The problem was, strange things often happened around Helia and it was just no good telling the Dursley’s she didn't make them happen.

“Strange and troubling things are attracted to Helia.” Ron grinned teasingly at his best friend.

“Thanks, you bloody git.”

“Welcome.” He chirped back.

Once, Aunt Petunia, tired of Helia coming back from the barbers looking as though she hadn't been at all, had taken a pair of kitchen scissors and cut her hair so short, she was almost bald except for her bangs, which she left "to hide that horrible scar." 

“That’s it, Petunia Evans-Dursley and any of her family is no longer a part of the Evans-Potter line for the abuse she and her family placed on our daughter” hissed Lily as she glowed a bright yellow light as her magic, magically disowned her sister and all from her line of family, Helia noticed her dad glowed a shining blue light while she had a crackling green light admitting from her own body.

Dudley had laughed himself silly at Helia, who spent a sleepless night imagining school the next day, where she was already laughed at for her baggy clothes and taped glasses. 

Lily looked to her old best friend who was staring at her daughter, but she knew why. He was finally realizing that he and Helia had much in common with how they grew up and was treated by their peers.

Next morning, however, she had gotten up to find her hair exactly as it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off. She had been given a week in her cupboard for this, even though she had tried to explain that she couldn't explain how it had grown back so quickly.

Both Severus and Lily sneered. Petunia knew exactly what was happening, she knew it was accidental magic and Helia couldn’t control it.

Another time, Aunt Petunia had been trying to force her into a revolting old sweater of Dudley's (brown with orange puff balls) -- The harder she tried to pull it over her head, the smaller it seemed to become, until finally it might have fitted a hand puppet, but certainly wouldn't fit Helia. Aunt Petunia had decided it must have shrunk in the wash and, to her great relief, Helia wasn't punished.

“Oh thank Merlin.” Susan sighed in relief. Her friend wasn’t punished and not having to wear the horrible sweater, it was hard enough getting the girl to dress feminine in the first place.

On the other hand, she'd gotten into terrible trouble for being found on the roof of the school kitchens. Dudley's gang had been chasing her as usual when, as much to Helia's surprise as anyone else's, there she was sitting on the chimney. 

“That’s some pretty powerful magic Potter, especially for a child.” Moody rumbled in approval making Helia blush.

The Dursley’s had received a very angry letter from Helia's headmistress telling them Helia had been climbing school buildings. But all she'd tried to do (as she shouted at Uncle Vernon through the locked door of her cupboard)

Everyone glared at the mention of Helia being locked away in a cupboard of all places. Draco had to restrain himself to keep from doing something rash like taking a hold the beautiful girl in his arm, to keep her safe from her disgusting disowned Muggle relatives.

was jump behind the big trash cans outside the kitchen doors. Helia supposed that the wind must have caught her in mid- jump.

Snape raised an eyebrow at her as if to say really, making her blush at her six-year-old self’s thoughts.
　
But today, nothing was going to go wrong. It was even worth being with Dudley and Piers to be spending the day somewhere that wasn't school, her cupboard, or Mrs. Figg's cabbage-smelling living room.

While he drove, Uncle Vernon complained to Aunt Petunia. He liked to complain about things: people at work, Helia, the council, Helia, the bank, and Helia were just a few of his favourite subjects. 

“Now, I might be wrong.” Fred began casually.

“But it seems that.” George continued on.

“He likes to complain about you, Helia.” They said at the same time.

“Nooo, you don’t say.” Helia drawled sarcastically back.

This morning, it was motorcycles

"... roaring along like maniacs, the young hoodlums," he said, as a motorcycle overtook them.
“I had a dream about a motorcycle," said Helia, remembering suddenly. "It was flying."

Hermione and Ron slapped a hand to their foreheads, it was so like Helia to blurt that out without thinking of the consequences.

“That was such a James thing to say.” Remus laughed.
　　
Uncle Vernon nearly crashed into the car in front. He turned right around in his seat and yelled at Helia, his face like a gigantic beet with a moustache: "MOTORCYCLES DON'T FLY!"

“My godfather’s does.” Helia said smugly getting a laugh from Sirius.

Dudley and Piers sniggered.

I know they don't," said Helia. "It was only a dream."

But she wished she hadn't said anything. If there was one thing the Dursley’s hated even more than her asking questions, it was her talking about anything acting in a way it shouldn't, no matter if it was in a dream or even a cartoon --

The twins shared a look, it seems they would have to go off on an adventure into the Muggle world to search for these mysterious cartoons.

they seemed to think she might get dangerous ideas.

“Helia get dangerous idea’s?” Neville snickered. “Who would’ve thought that.“

It was a very sunny Saturday and the zoo was crowded with families. The Dursley’s bought Dudley and Piers large chocolate ice creams at the entrance and then, because the smiling lady in the van had asked Helia what she wanted before they could hurry her away, they bought her a cheap lemon ice pop. 

“It was actually really delicious.” Helia said, it had started her love for anything with lemon in it or flavoured.

It wasn't bad, either, Helia thought, licking it as they watched a gorilla scratching its head who looked remarkably like Dudley, except that it wasn't blond.
　
Helia had the best morning she'd had in a long time. She was careful to walk a little way apart from the Dursley’s so that Dudley and Piers, who were starting to get bored with the animals by lunchtime, wouldn't fall back on their favourite hobby of hitting her. 

Sirius snarled under his breath.

They ate in the zoo restaurant, and when Dudley had a tantrum because his knickerbocker glory didn't have enough ice cream on top, Uncle Vernon bought him another one and Helia was allowed to finish the first.
Helia felt, afterward, that she should have known it was all too good to last.

“Oh for Merlin’s sake.” Ron groaned at his best friend, who just grinned sheepishly looking just like her father.

After lunch they went to the reptile house. It was cool and dark in there, with lit windows all along the walls. Behind the glass, all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and slithering over bits of wood and stone. 

Ginny gave a barely noticeable shiver at the snake, she didn’t like them much since the chamber incidence. She didn’t notice the worried gaze from the small Slytherin girl who shared some of her classes.

Dudley and Piers wanted to see huge, poisonous cobras and thick, man-crushing pythons. Dudley quickly found the largest snake in the place. It could have wrapped its body twice around Uncle Vernon's car and crushed it into a trash can 

Ginny turned slightly pale at the description of the massive snake only to take a breath when Helia’s magic wrapped around her protectively and Astoria gently took her hand to hold. 

-- but at the moment it didn't look in the mood. In fact, it was fast asleep.

Dudley stood with his nose pressed against the glass, staring at the glistening brown coils.
　　
"Make it move," he whined at his father. Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass, but the snake didn't budge. 

“The poor creature.” Chimed Luna, but when she caught Helia’s eyes who secretly winked at her, she perked up knowing her friend was going to do something to help the snake.

"Do it again," Dudley ordered. Uncle Vernon rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake just snoozed on.

"This is boring," Dudley moaned. He shuffled away.
　　
Helia moved in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake. She wouldn't have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself -- no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long.

“No creature should be locked up like that.” Charlie said it look like it physically pained him to hear the treatment of the creature.

It was worse than having a cupboard as a bedroom, where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to wake you up; at least she got to visit the rest of the house.

“Oh Helia.” Hermione sighed flinging herself at hug her best friend who thought so little of herself.

The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Helia's.

It winked.

“Snakes don’t have eyelids.” Hermione and Remus said, only to blush at each other, much too the amusement of their friends.

Helia stared. Then she looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They weren't. She looked back at the snake and winked, too.

“Oddly enough, I don’t think that would be my reaction.” George said with laughter tainting his voice.

“I don’t think anyone but, Helia would react that way.” Fred admitted snickering.

The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It gave Helia a look that said quite plainly: "I get that all the time.

"I know," Helia murmured through the glass, though she wasn't sure the snake could hear her. "It must be really annoying."

Draco looked at Helia in disbelief “You don’t find that-” waving his hand gesturing to the talking-to-the-bloody-snake thing. “Strange, you didn’t know about magic, then.”

Helia got a thoughtful look on her beautiful face. “Not really, strange things always happened to me.” She shrugged.

The snake nodded vigorously.

"Where do you come from, anyway?" Helia asked.

The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Helia peered at it.

Boa Constrictor, Brazil.

"Was it nice there?"

Lily cooed over how adorably sweet Helia was, making her blush the same shade as her mum’s hair.

The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Helia read on: This specimen was bred in the zoo. "Oh, I see -- so you've never been to Brazil?"

“Oh Pup, I love how your mind works.” Sirius said while fondly shaking his head.

As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout behind Helia made both of them jump. "DUDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!"
 
“Is it doing the Macarena or something?” Fred joked. 

“No it’s probably doing the Salsa dance.” George jokingly argued.

Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could. 

The Twins snickered cruelly at Dudley, as Daphne smirked amused at their antics.

"Out of the way, you," he said, punching Helia in the ribs.

Blaise caught the look on his amante face, knowing that he wanted to break a few ribs of Potter’s tormentors. Soothingly he runs his fingers through his amante’s dark hair for comfort.

 Caught by surprise, Helia fell hard on the concrete floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened -- one second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of horror. 

Helia sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor's tank had vanished. 

“Vanishing magic!? That quiet the advanced accidental magic Miss Potter.” Professor McGonagall said, surprised for a student Helia never really stood out too much in class.

The great snake was uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out onto the floor. 

People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits. 

A shudder ran down Ginny’s spine as she pictured the snake out only for a small, fragile hand to grab hers in comfort, giving Astoria a small making the Slytherin girl beam back at her.
 
As the snake slid swiftly past her, Helia could have sworn a low, hissing voice said, "Brazil, here I come. . . Thanksss, ssseñorita . "

“What a smart snake to learn Spanish in captivity.” Luna sighed. 

The keeper of the reptile house was in shock. 

"But the glass," he kept saying, "where did the glass go?"

“Hey that was my first case!” Exclaimed Tonks, her hair shifting from her usual bubblegum pink to a light purple. 

The zoo director himself made Aunt Petunia a cup of strong, sweet tea while he apologized over and over again. Piers and Dudley could only gibber. As far as Helia had seen, the snake hadn't done anything except snap playfully at their heels as it passed, but by the time they were all back in Uncle Vernon's car, Dudley was telling them how it had nearly bitten off his leg, while Piers was swearing it had tried to squeeze him to death. 

“What drama queens.” Ginny sighed, rolling her eyes.

But worst of all, for Helia at least, was Piers calming down enough to say, "Helia was talking to it, weren't you, Helia?"

Draco hissed through his teeth, the bastard did that on purpose. He could spot, a Slytherin type play any day.

Uncle Vernon waited until Piers was safely out of the house before starting on Helia. He was so angry he could hardly speak. He managed to say, "Go -- cupboard -- stay -- no meals,"

“They starved you.” Growled James as he tightened his grip on her.

“Those bloody bastards!” Snarled Remus, his hazel green eyes glinting gold as his wolf came closer to the surface.

Severus could recall the nights he starved when his father locked him in his room as his mother tried to drown her sorrows, of her husband not loving her in wine and pretend to be obvious to it all.

 before he collapsed into a chair, and Aunt Petunia had to run and get him a large brandy. 

Theo tensed because angry men and alcohol never added to anything good.

Helia lay in her dark cupboard much later, wishing she had a watch. She didn't know what time it was and she couldn't be sure the Dursleys were asleep yet. Until they were, she couldn't risk sneaking to the kitchen for some food. 

“And we wondered, why she’s so good at sneaking around the castle late at night.” Sighed Severus rubbing his temples.

“Not a prankster, Aye.” Grinned James, unaware of her reasons of sneaking around.

She'd lived with the Dursleys almost ten years, ten miserable years, as long as she could remember, ever since she'd been a baby and her parents had died in that car crash. 

“We didn’t even own a car.” Grumbled James. 

She couldn't remember being in the car when her parents had died. Sometimes, when she strained her memory during long hours in her cupboard, she came up with a strange vision: a blinding flash of green light and a burning pain on her forehead.

Remus paled underneath his scars, he had hoped she could only remember after the dementors but it seemed she had always subconsciously known.

 This, she supposed, was the crash, though she couldn't imagine where all the green light came from. She couldn't remember her parents at all. Her aunt and uncle never spoke about them, and of course she was forbidden to ask questions. There were no photographs of them in the house.

“Now I have my photo album Hagrid got me.” Grinned Helia.

Yet sometimes she thought (or maybe hoped) that strangers in the street seemed to know her. Very strange strangers they were, too. 

Snape sneered at the book, “Imbeciles.”

A tiny man in a violet top hat had bowed to him once while out shopping with Aunt Petunia and Dudley. After asking Helia furiously if she knew the man, Aunt Petunia had rushed them out of the shop without buying anything. 

“Dedalus Diggle.” Helia muttered to Ron and Hermione.

A wild-looking old woman dressed all in green had waved merrily at her once on a bus. A bald man in a very long purple coat had actually shaken her hand in the street the other day and then walked away without a word. 

Helia grinned at Kingsley, who blushed in embarrassment.

“Yeah, he walked away without a word, aye Kingsley.” Helia said loud enough for everyone to hear, getting a laugh out of the people who knew the man never believing he would’ve done something like that.

The weirdest thing about all these people was the way they seemed to vanish the second Helia tried to get a closer look.

Blaise slowly clapped. “Good job, everyone your subtlety is remarkable.” He drawled sarcastically, getting an amused look from his lover.

At school, Helia had no one. Everybody knew that Dudley's gang hated that odd Helia Potter in her baggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley's gang.

Tonks marked the page closing the book.“That’s the end of the chapter, we’ll it’s official I hate them and I hate reading about them.” She seethed pushing her bright fiery orange hair out of her face. “Which one of you lots wants to read next?” 

Bill gingerly raised his hand to signal to the fuming witch he was volunteering to read carefully take the book, not wanting her anger aimed at him clearing his throat he began.

“THE LETTERS FROM NO ONE”