The Hellish Life of Helia Potter

Bill cleared his throat as he began to read. “THE LETTERS FROM NO ONE”

“How can there a letter from no one, when someone has to send the letter in question?” Luna questioned airily. 

Hermione for all her brilliance, was just as stumped as the blonde Ravenclaw.

The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned Helia her longest-ever punishment. By the time she was allowed out of her cupboard again, the summer holidays had started 

"I can't believe them!" Hermione yelled. "How could they do that to their own family!"

"Hermione please, calm down." Helia tried to placate her.

“When’s Dudley’s birthday Helia?” Padma asked gently as if scared of the answer.

“June 23.” Was the quiet answer.

“I do hope you’re taking notes on this as well, Auror Shacklebolt.”

“Naturally, Professor McGonagall,” the Auror replied, and McGonagall noted with satisfaction that Weasley Twin was scribbling it down, too. Maybe the boys wasn’t a total loss, after all they were her lions.

and Dudley had already broken his new video camera, crashed his remote control airplane, and, first time out on his racing bike, knocked down old Mrs. Figg as she crossed Privet Drive on her crutches.

Helia was glad school was over, but there was no escaping Dudley's gang, who visited the house every single day. Piers, Dennis, Malcolm, and Gordon were all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest of the lot, he was the leader. 

“What a great reason, for being a leader.” Remus said sarcastically.

The rest of them were all quite happy to join in Dudley's favourite sport: Helia Hunting.

James clenched his jaw angrily at how his Fawn was treated, only for his daughter to gently slip her small hand into his with a soft look on her face.

“It’s okay dad, this was four years ago for me anyway.” Helia said hoping to ease her father’s anger. “Besides I had worse.”

This was why Helia spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays, where she could see a tiny ray of hope. 

“You know it’s bad when you can’t even enjoy summer.” Fred said, remembering the summer he and his brothers saved her from her captivity.

When September came she would be going off to secondary school and, for the first time in her life, she wouldn't be with Dudley. 

"Cause you're going to Hogwarts." Astoria chirped getting a small smirk from the older girl.

Dudley had been accepted at Uncle Vernon's old private school, Smeltings. Piers Polkiss was going there too. Helia, on the other hand, was going to Stonewall High, the local public school. Dudley thought this was very funny.

“Better then going to Smeltings with Dudley.” Muttered Helia.

"They stuff people's heads down the toilet the first day at Stonewall," he told Helia. "Want to come upstairs and practice?"

"No, thanks," said Helia. "The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it -- it might be sick." 

Fred and George were clutching to each other as they were overcome with a fit of laughter, tears just about streaming down their faces, their faces slowly turning red.

"You – are – going – pranking – with – us!" Fred wheezed out through his laughing fit.

"No – objections!" George breathed, attempting to calm himself down.

“That’s our Fawn!” Crowded James as he leaned onto his best friend who were wheezing with laughter.

Helia just smiled and winked at them while the teachers shivered in dread of what was to come.

"Just what we need," McGonagall said exasperated. "James Potter's daughter pranking."
　　
Then she ran, before Dudley could work out what she'd said.

”Oh what’s this? A Gryffindor is running away?” Blaise cooed. “That seems more befitting of a Slytherin.”

Helia froze momentarily in her seat, before relaxing to give the lazy boy a mischievous look.

“Seeing as he was four times bigger than me, I deemed it more necessary to run.” Trying to act casually as she could, forcing the grin to stay onto her face.

One day in July, Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his Smeltings uniform, leaving Helia at Mrs. Figg's. 

Mrs. Figg wasn't as bad as usual. It turned out she'd broken her leg tripping over one of her cats, and she didn't seem quite as fond of them as before.

“Aha, soon everyone shall know of the world’s greatest enemy...CATS!” Sirius cackled.

She let Helia watch television and gave her a bit of chocolate cake that tasted as though she'd had it for several years.

Remus looked heartbroken at the poor treatment of his beloved sweet.

So to cheer the both of them up Helia offered to bake a cake, chocolate of course it was nice to enjoy the labour of her baking since she barely ever got to cook for enjoyment.

Draco felt as if she couldn’t be any more perfect than she already was but, she constantly surprises him.

That evening, Dudley paraded around the living room for the family in his brand-new uniform. Smeltings' boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers, and flat straw hats called boaters. 

Ron looked slightly ill at the description. Perhaps it had something to do with the mention of the colour maroon, a colour that he seemed to have an unhealthy amount of hate for.

They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good training for later life.

“Train for what.” Hissed Hermione. “Growing up abusive.”

“Pretty much.” Sighed Helia.
　　
As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown-up. 

All the kids snorted at the reminder of Dudley's horrible nicknames.

'Makes Icke Ronnikins seem merciful, doesn't it?' Grinned George, staring pointedly at Ron. Ron promptly went the famous Weasley family red at all the laughter directed at him, courtesy of George.

Helia didn't trust herself to speak. She thought two of her ribs might already have cracked from trying not to laugh.

Helia now had no reason to how back her laughter at the remembrance of the ridiculous outfit.
　　
There was a horrible smell in the kitchen the next morning when Helia went in for breakfast. It seemed to be coming from a large metal tub in the sink. She went to have a look. The tub was full of what looked like dirty rags swimming in grey water.
　　
"What's this?" She asked Aunt Petunia. Her lips tightened as they always did if she dared to ask a question.

McGonagall’s lips tightened as well, as if she was glaring down Petunia through the book muttering about students not participating verbally in class, and not coming to a professor when in need of help.
　　
"Your new school uniform," she said.

Helia looked in the bowl again.
"Oh," she said, "I didn't realize it had to be so wet."

“Sadly Heli, Sarcasm will get you nowhere with Tuney.” Her mother sighed. 

Helia heaved a sigh with identical look matching her mother “I know.”
　　
"Don’t be stupid," snapped Aunt Petunia. "I'm dying some of Dudley's old things grey for you. It'll look just like everyone else's when I've finished."

Helia seriously doubted this, but thought it best not to argue. 

Snape and all the Professors raised an eyebrow at that clearly not believing a word.

Giving the Professors a dirty look. “I can bite my tongue you know.” She huffed when they look as if they would argue with her.

She sat down at the table and tried not to think about how she was going to look on her first day at Stonewall High -- like she was wearing bits of old elephant skin, probably.
　　
“Helia, have we ever told you we love your imagination.” Sighed Fred as if he was swooning over her, while George fanned himself as if to ward off a blush.

Dudley and Uncle Vernon came in, both with wrinkled noses because of the smell from Helia's new uniform. Uncle Vernon opened his newspaper as usual and Dudley banged his Smelting stick, which he carried everywhere, on the table.

They heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat.
"Get the mail, Dudley," said Uncle Vernon from behind his paper.

“They made their Dinky Duddydums work.” Gasped George, with a look of fear you would think bloody Voldemort walked through the door.

“The world is ending, the end is here!” Shouted Fred diving on top of Daphne as if to protect her.

“Save the women and child, it’s every man for himself.” The twins said in sync.

Helia grinned rolling her eyes at the Twins dramatics “guys, just wait.”

"Make Helia get it."
"Get the mail, Helia."

“Oh thank Merlin.” The Twins breathed a sigh of relief.

"Make Dudley get it."

Helia grimaced at her nativity. She should've known that would never work.

"Poke her with your Smelting stick, Dudley."

“Don’t you Fucking Dare, Dudley.” Snarled James.

Helia dodged the Smelting stick and went to get the mail. Three things lay on the doormat: a postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister Marge, who was vacationing on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill, and -- a letter for Helia.

“My first letter.” Helia muttered none but the boy next to her heard, his heart gave a twang at the injustice of it all.

“LILY IT’S HER HOGWARTS LETTER!” Squealed James not being able to hold in his excitement, drawing a laugh for his daughter and wife.

Helia picked it up and stared at it, her heart twanging like a giant elastic band. No one, ever, in her whole life, had written to her. Who would? 

“I would.” Luna simply said as if it was common knowledge getting a gentle smile from her friend.

She had no friends, no other relatives -- she didn't belong to the library, so she'd never even got rude notes asking for books back. 

Yet here it was, a letter, addressed so plainly there could be no mistake:

Miss. H. Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey

'This is why we should stop using the Self-Addressing Quills!' McGonagall hissed to Dumbledore, who mutely nodded his agreement.

As Snape glared at him again, Dumbledore chose to look away from them and concentrate on the ceiling again.

The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp.

Helia snickered quietly, as Mrs. and Mr. Weasley blush red remembering the letter they sent Helia to invite her to the Quidditch World Cup.

Turning the envelope over, her hand trembling, Helia saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.

"Hurry up, girl!" shouted Uncle Vernon from the kitchen. "What are you doing, checking for letter bombs?" He chuckled at his own joke.

“Wow," Said the Twins, in a dramatic tone.

"Yeah, that was so funny!" Said George, his voice and expression saying the complete opposite.

"So funny I forgot to laugh!" Fred added, pretending to slap his knee in amusement.

“Dear Merlin, here we go.” Tonks sighed her hair a blue-grey colour.

Helia was on the point of unfolding her letter, which was written on the same heavy parchment as the envelope, when it was jerked sharply out of her hand by Uncle Vernon.

“Oi!” Cried Draco at the Muggle stealing something from someone he cared about, blushing a bit at his outburst.
　　
"That's mine!" said Helia growled, trying to snatch it back she had so very little and what she had she guarded it fiercely.

Charlie gave a grin to the girl he got to know over the summer and letters, he always said she behaved more like a dragon than human.

"Who'd be writing to you?" sneered Uncle Vernon, shaking the letter open with one hand and glancing at it. His face went from red to green faster than a set of traffic lights. And it didn't stop there. Within seconds it was the greyish white of old porridge.

Ron turned a bit pale himself, he would never be able to look at porridge the same.
　　
"P-P-Petunia!" he gasped.

Dudley tried to grab the letter to read it, but Uncle Vernon held it high out of his reach. Aunt Petunia took it curiously and read the first line. For a moment it looked as though she might faint. She clutched her throat and made a choking noise.

"Vernon! Oh my goodness -- Vernon!"

Snape sneered at the pathetic dramatics of the Dursley Family.

They stared at each other, seeming to have forgotten that Helia and Dudley were still in the room. Dudley wasn't used to being ignored. He gave his father a sharp tap on the head with his Smelting stick.
"I want to read that letter," he said loudly. 

The Weasley's exchanged looks. They knew what would happen if any of them ever did anything like that to either of their parents.

"That boy is..." Mrs. Weasley couldn't even finish her sentence. This family was getting on her last nerve.

Mr. Weasley normally had a calm demeanor, but it was slowly breaking. He couldn't stand how these people treated Helia.

“I want to read it," said Helia hissed furiously, "as it's mine."

“I don’t know if that was Lily’s and James temper, and that scares me.” Sirius mockingly shivered.

“I think it was both.” Remus laughed.

The people who witnessed and were on the receiving end of Helia Potters anger looked at them like they were crazy.

"Get out, both of you," croaked Uncle Vernon, stuffing the letter back inside its envelope.

Helia didn't move.

"Any minute now," Ron murmured to Hermione, who tried desperately not to laugh. They both knew Helia’s breaking points to her anger having been friends with her for four years.

“I WANT MY LETTER!" She shouted.

Neville grinned, it wasn’t often Helia reaches her boiling point it only really came out in the form of protection and defence either for some else or for herself.

"Let me see it!" demanded Dudley.
"OUT!" roared Uncle Vernon, and he took both Helia and Dudley by the scruffs of their necks and threw them into the hall, slamming the kitchen door behind them. 

Remus viciously snarled at the manhandling of his cub.

Helia and Dudley promptly had a furious but silent fight over who would listen at the keyhole; 

The Twins conjured up flags that flashed Potter for the Win, Dursley gone with the wind.

Helia won but only ‘cause she pulled out all of her tricks, 

Every gave her wary looks, but she saw Moody give her a approving grin that stretched his scars oddly. The twins looked as if they were going to bow down to her glory. 

Hermione huffed a sigh at her best friend knowing her antics as Ron laugh his bloody arse off.

so Helia, her glasses dangling from one ear, hair in even more of a disarray, listened through the golden keyhole as Dudley listen through the bottom of the door groaning in pain.

Theo gave her appraising look at this, making her smirk at the quiet boy.

"Vernon," Aunt Petunia was saying in a quivering voice, "look at the address -- how could they possibly know where she sleeps? You don't think they're watching the house?"

"Watching -- spying -- might be following us," muttered Uncle Vernon wildly.

The wizards and witches worked with the Ministry snorted.
　　
"But what should we do, Vernon? Should we write back? Tell them we don't want --"

“Do they really think that that'd work?” Ron asked incredulously.

Helia shrugged. “Apparently. You forget who we're talking about.”

“Fair point.”

Helia could see Uncle Vernon's shiny black shoes pacing up and down the kitchen.

"No," he said finally. "No, we'll ignore it. If they don't get an answer... Yes, that's best... we won't do anything....
　　
"But --"

"I'm not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn't we swear when we took her in we'd stamp out that dangerous nonsense?"

The room went deathly quiet.

“That could’ve cost her Bloody sanity!” Growled Bill his grip on the book was so tight Helia was afraid he would rip it, although that might be a good idea.

Dumbledore's eyes flashed as he remembered what had happened to his sister, Ariana.

Hermione and Lily starting tearing up again, too appalled to even speak. Ron was angry. “If they hurt her, so help me I will bloody kill them.” He raged angrily to himself.

Draco felt as if he was choking. “How in the Seven Hells are you even alive, Potter?” 

Luna’s eyes lost some of their misty quality, giving away how lost she felt.

James bundle his daughter and wife tightly in his arm even with Lily still crying, pulling away slightly to cup his daughter’s beautiful face. “Fawn? stamped out how?” Spitting out the words like they were acid on his tongue.

“It was nothing.” Helia told her dad. “They seemed to think the more miserable I was, that the magic would simply...disappear.”

Snape watched the girl suspicious that she wasn't speaking the complete truth, although he couldn't be entirely sure.

That evening when he got back from work, Uncle Vernon did something he did very little; he visited Helia in her cupboard.

Blaise tense at the thought of Helia being trapped with nowhere to hide with an abusive man. “Potter...did he ever touch you?” He asked, getting a shocked look from everyone, but he only focused on Helia, who looked back with an unreadable expression.

Slowly she shook her head negative as everyone let sighs of relief out, she didn’t think that they had to know he had thought of it before though.

"Where's my letter?" said Helia, the moment Uncle Vernon had squeezed through the door. 

“Of course that would be the first thing you say,” Hermione huffed playfully.

"Who's writing to me?"

"No one. it was addressed to you by mistake," said Uncle Vernon shortly. "I have burned it."

“You can't do that, it’s mean." Astoria criticized, as the youngest Weasley grinned at her, making blush dust her cheeks.

"Yes, because so many people named Miss.H. Potter that live in a cupboard," Muttered Susan glaring at the book as though willing it to explode. 

"It was not a mistake," said Helia angrily, "it had my cupboard on it."

All the adults winced at that, they couldn’t believe she said that so casually. Like someone would say my bedroom, but to Helia at that age it was normal, it was all she ever known.
　　
"SILENCE!" yelled Uncle Vernon, and a couple of spiders fell from the ceiling. 

Helia could see Ron shudder at the mentioned arachnids.

He took a few deep breaths and then forced his face into a smile, which looked quite painful.

"Er -- yes, Helia -- about this cupboard. Your aunt and I have been thinking... you're really getting a bit big for it... we think it might be nice if you moved into Dudley's second bedroom.

The majority of the room felt their jaws drop. 'He had a second bedroom while Helia slept in a cupboard?' Was the thought running through most of their minds. Even the silent brooding Percy was shocked.

"Second bedroom?" Hermione screeched. "That complete dickhead had a second bedroom?"

"Hermione its," Helia started to say but Hermione cut her off.

"DO NOT TELL ME IT IS OK HELIANTHEAE JAMIE EUPHEMIA LOLANTHE POTTER! IT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT OK!" Hermione yelled at her.

Helia slowly scooted away from her accidentally getting closer to Draco, while Bill tried to calm the bushy haired witch down, brave man he will be missed.

Molly and Lily both looked murderous, the marauders look as if they and the twins were planning an actual murder.

Ten minutes later everyone was calm enough for them to continue.

"Why?" said Helia.

“Why question him, Miss.Potter?” The Potions Master asked curiously.

Helia goes to answer, but is beaten to it by Ron “ Because Helia questions everything.” Getting a smirk from his best friend for knowing her so well.
　　
“I was suspicious.” Helia explained. “They never did anything for me, why shouldn’t I’ve questioned him.” 

This got a approving nod from Moody with the yell of. “Constant Vigilance!”

"Don't ask questions!" snapped her uncle. "Take this stuff upstairs, now."

 The Dursley’s' house had four bedrooms:

Snape could feel the anger at the Potter girl’s treatment radiating off everybody, but he didn’t know what to think. Not only was the girls home life similar to his own as a child, it was shattering his beliefs of what he thought the girl was. She was not James Potter reborn into a female body to haunt him, nor was she Lily Evans the woman he loved and drove away in pursuit of the Dark Arts.

Helia Potter was a mystery, a dark mystery at that and when the box of her secrets was all empty he didn’t know what would be at the bottom.

one for Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, one for visitors (usually Uncle Vernon's sister, Marge), one where Dudley slept, and one where Dudley kept all the toys and things that wouldn't fit into his first bedroom. 

Draco bit on his lip tongue to keep from saying something that wouldn't be welcomed, not from him anyway.

Charlie had no such problems scoffing. “Two free bedrooms, and you end up with the cupboard the fucking bastards.”

It only took Helia one trip upstairs to move everything she owned from the cupboard to this room. 

Ron looked guilty, remembering all the times that he'd complained to Helia about his lack of new possessions, and how Helia never complained at all. He couldn't believe he had ever been jealous of Helia for Merlin’s sake the girl practically lived out of her school trunk. At least he has a family that loves him, Helia didn’t but now he was going to make such Helia never had to suffer through that ever again.

Sirius and Remus shared a look they knew they would spoil Helia if given a chance.

She sat down on the bed and stared around her. Nearly everything in here was broken. 

Theo could picture an abuse young Potter sitting alone in a room full of broken thing.

The month-old video camera was lying on top of a small, working tank Dudley had once driven over the next door neighbour’s dog; in the corner was Dudley's first-ever television set, which he'd put his foot through when his favourite program had been canceled; there was a large birdcage, which had once held a parrot that Dudley had swapped at school for a real air rifle, 

“A What!” Shrieked Lily.

“How in the Bloody Hell does he even get that in grade school!” Hermione shouted distressed at the thought of the weapon being used against Helia.

which was up on a shelf with the end all bent because Dudley had sat on it. 
Other shelves were full of books, that Helia would sneak out of her cupboard for late at night to read. She was careful that she kept them in pristine shapes so that it looked as though they'd never been touched.

The Twins would’ve been scandalized if they didn’t already know that Helia loved to read, in the rare quiet times she would be found curled up reading with Hermione and Ron playing chess nearby.

From downstairs came the sound of Dudley bawling at his mother, “I don't want her in there... I need that room... make her get out...."

Everyone rolled their eyes at Dudley’s blubbering. “Spoiled tub of lard.” Hissed Tonks flicking her red locks out of her eyes, getting a amused look from the wolf next to her.
　　
Helia sighed and stretched out on the bed. Yesterday she'd have given anything to be up here. Today she'd rather be back in her cupboard with that letter than up here without it.

“I bet the curiosity was killing you.” Laughed Padma hoping to lighten the mood.

Helia let out a long sigh. “You have no idea.” Making all of her friends laugh at her antics, Sirius gave her a wary look he had a feeling he would be grey by the time these books finished.
　　
Next morning at breakfast, everyone was rather quiet. Dudley was in shock. He'd screamed, whacked his father with his Smelting stick, been sick on purpose, kicked his mother, and thrown his tortoise through the greenhouse roof, 

"Oi! What did the poor turtle-"

"Ever do to you Dinky Duddydums?"

Fred and George yelled to general amusement.

and he still didn't have his room back.

“Serves you right,” Snorted Susan.

 Helia was thinking about this time yesterday and bitterly wishing she'd opened the letter in the hall. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia kept looking at each other darkly.

Snape could help but, sneer at the dramatics of the Dursley’s.

When the mail arrived, Uncle Vernon, who seemed to be trying to be nice to Helia, made Dudley go and get it. They heard him banging things with his Smelting stick all the way down the hall. Then he shouted, "There's another one! 'Miss. H. Potter, The Smallest Bedroom, 4 Privet Drive --'"

"Just rub it in her face why don't you?" Bill muttered, hating reading for once in his life.

With a strangled cry, Uncle Vernon leapt from his seat and ran down the hall, Helia right behind him. Uncle Vernon had to wrestle Dudley to the ground to get the letter from him, which was made difficult by the fact that Helia had grabbed Uncle Vernon around the neck from behind.

“Was that training for the real thing later on?” Hermione asked laughing lightly, she would never forget how Helia and Ron saved her life.

“What? What else have you’ve been doing?” Asked Sirius panicking.

The golden trio shared a look avoiding their head of house’s disapproving glare. 

“You’ll find out.”

 After a minute of confused fighting, in which everyone got hit a lot by the Smelting stick, Uncle Vernon straightened up, gasping for breath, with Helia's letter clutched in his hand.

"Go to your cupboard -- I mean, your bedroom," he wheezed at Helia. "Dudley -- go -- just go."
Helia walked round and round her new room. Someone knew she had moved out of her cupboard and they seemed to know she hadn't received his first letter. Surely that meant they'd try again? And this time she'd make sure they didn't fail. She had a plan.

“That plan of yours isn’t going to work.” Muttered Hermione and Ron in sync, they hurried to explain themselves as Helia shot them an annoyed glare.

“Come on mate you know, when you think on your feet you brilliant -“ Ron tried to explain but was cut of by Hermione “absolutely reckless too.” not helping their case.

“Face it, your plans suck but even when the plan is good and will normal be a breeze your luck kicks in, and mucks it all up.” Helia had to give them points for that, for all their adventure usually played out like that.

The repaired alarm clock rang at six o'clock the next morning. Helia turned it off quickly and dressed silently. She mustn't wake the Dursleys. She stole downstairs without turning on any of the lights.

“Still waiting for the plan to go horribly wrong and you get caught part.” Sang Ron getting a playful glare from his friend.

She was going to wait for the postman on the corner of Privet Drive and get the letters for number four first. Her heart hammered as she crept across the dark hall toward the front door --
Helia leapt into the air; she'd trodden on something big and squashy on the doormat -- something alive!

"Please be his face, Please be his face, Please be his..." Hermione chanted like a pray but stop when everyone looked at her, she shrugged. "What?"

Lights clicked on upstairs and to her horror Helia realized that the big, squashy something had been her uncle's face.

"YES!" Hermione shouted jumping up and down, causing the Weasley boys to laugh at her.

 Uncle Vernon had been lying at the foot of the front door in a sleeping bag, clearly making sure that Helia didn't do exactly what she'd been trying to do. He shouted at Helia for about half an hour and then told her to go and make a cup of tea. 

“Make your own, she’s not a bloody house elf.” Snarled Neville. 

Helia shuffled miserably off into the kitchen and by the time she got back, the mail had arrived, right into Uncle Vernon's lap. 

Blaise winces sympathetically. “Bad luck, Darling.”

“Believe me, I know.” Helia grumble back.

”No it’s Potter Luck.” James sighed.

Helia could see three letters addressed in green ink.

I want --" she began, but Uncle Vernon was tearing the letters into pieces before her eyes. 

James was furious, what right did that man have to destroy Helia’s property.

Uncle Vernon didn't go to work that day. He stayed at home and nailed up the mail slot.

"I think the wrackspurts have gotten to him." Said Luna Lovegood in her usual distant voice.

“Luna I think you are absolutely right.” Hermione laughed.

"See," he explained to Aunt Petunia through a mouthful of nails, "if they can't deliver them they'll just give up."
"I'm not sure that'll work, Vernon."

“Listen to your wife.” Growls Moody, he never had much patience, and these muggle were wearing what little patience he did have.

"Oh, these people's minds work in strange ways, Petunia, they're not like you and me," said Uncle Vernon, trying to knock in a nail with the piece of fruitcake Aunt Petunia had just brought him.

“Thank Merlin, for that.” Hissed the Twins.

“I think I’d be more worried if we did think like them.” Theo said quietly in Blaise’s ear.

On Friday, no less than twelve letters arrived for Helia. As they couldn't go through the mail slot they had been pushed under the door, slotted through the sides, and a few even forced through the small window in the downstairs bathroom.

Snape looked at his fellow Professor out of the corner of his eye, well no one could say Prof. McGonagall wasn’t determined.

Uncle Vernon stayed at home again. After burning all the letters, he got out a hammer and nails and boarded up the cracks around the front and back doors so no one could go out. 

“How were you supposed to get in and out?” Ginny asked.

Helia shook her head “They weren’t really in their right minds at that point.”

He hummed "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" as he worked, and jumped at small noises.

“He’s gone mad, hasn’t he?” Charlie observed.

“Madder than a Hatter.” Grinned Helia.

On Saturday, things began to get out of hand. 

The Twins looked at Helia funnily.“Just now getting out of hand?”

Twenty-four letters to Helia found their way into the house, rolled up and hidden inside each of the two dozen eggs that their very confused milkman had handed Aunt Petunia through the living room window. 

“I guess you learned something in the years you taught us, huh Minnie.” Grinned James. 

McGonagall sniffed primly at him, you have to learn some tricks if you want to survive teaches boys like the Marauders as they say when in Rome do as the Romans do. And then of course there were the Twins and Helia were who were right terrors by themselves but together, she is constantly surprised the school wasn’t burnt to the ground in some grand prank.

While Uncle Vernon made furious telephone calls to the post office and the dairy trying to find someone to complain to, Aunt Petunia shredded the letters in her food processor.

"Who on earth wants to talk to you this badly?" Dudley asked Helia in amazement.

“Why the entire Wizarding World would.” Madam Bones said.
　　
On Sunday morning, Uncle Vernon sat down at the breakfast table looking tired and rather ill, but happy.

"No post on Sundays," he reminded them cheerfully as he spread marmalade on his newspapers, "no damn letters today --"

"He's cracked." George stated.

Fred looked at his brother and nodded, "For the marmalade on the newspaper or the no post on Sundays?"

George looked at Fred and smiled, "For thinking he could outsmart Minnie."

McGonagall just gave them a raised eyebrow, but there was a twinkle in her eyes.

Something came whizzing down the kitchen chimney as he spoke and caught him sharply on the back of the head. Next moment, thirty or forty letters came pelting out of the fireplace like bullets. 

“BRILLIANT!” James and Sirius roared.

“Minnie, I love you.” Remus added, staring at her in awe.

The Dursleys ducked, but Helia leapt into the air trying to catch one.

“Why didn’t you pick on off the floor?” Asked Lily only to receive a grin that reminded her of her husband.

“Practicing.” Helia said with a carefree grin looking like her father’s daughter.

"Out! OUT!"

Uncle Vernon seized Helia around the waist and threw her into the hall. 

“HANDS OFF, MY DAUGHTER!” James roared, making the people closest to him jump in fright.

When Aunt Petunia and Dudley had run out with their arms over their faces, Uncle Vernon slammed the door shut. They could hear the letters still streaming into the room, bouncing off the walls and floor.

"That does it," said Uncle Vernon, trying to speak calmly but pulling great tufts out of his moustache at the same time. I want you all back here in five minutes ready to leave. We're going away. Just pack some clothes. No arguments!"

“You hear that, Helia?” Fred asked in a pompous tone so reminiscent of Percy. “No arguments!” Getting a dark look from said brother.

Helia grinned.

He looked so dangerous with half his moustache missing that no one dared argue. 

Helia gave a little shiver remembering the look on her uncle’s face.

Ten minutes later they had wrenched their way through the boarded-up doors and were in the car, speeding toward the highway. Dudley was sniffling in the back seat; his father had hit him round the head for holding them up while he tried to pack his television, VCR, and computer in his sports bag.

“I know I said to discipline the boy, but you don’t hit children.” Mrs.Weasley exclaimed applauded at the parenting.

They drove. And they drove. Even Aunt Petunia didn't dare ask where they were going. Every now and then Uncle Vernon would take a sharp turn and drive in the opposite direction for a while. "Shake'em off... shake 'em off," he would mutter whenever he did this.

“Merlin, he's really lost it, hasn't he?” Ron exclaimed, his eyes shining with amusement.

“Ron,” said Helia seriously, keeping a straight face, “He lost it years before that moment.” She then snickered at the memory of her uncle's antics that day.

They didn't stop to eat or drink all day. 

Hermione hissed at the book hatefully her best friend deserved better.

By nightfall Dudley was howling. He'd never had such a bad day in his life. He was hungry, he'd missed five television programs he'd wanted to see, and he'd never gone so long without blowing up an alien on his computer.

“Aww poor baby, welcome to Helia’s life.” Cooed Ginny maliciously. 

Uncle Vernon stopped at last outside a gloomy-looking hotel on the outskirts of a big city. Dudley and Helia shared a room with twin beds and damp, musty sheets. Dudley snored but Helia stayed awake, sitting on the windowsill, staring down at the lights of passing cars and wondering....

“You’ve never been able to sleep in very well in open spaces” Hermione sighed to her friend.

“With how many pillows she sleeps with, I’m surprised she has any room left on her bed.” Ron laughs getting looks from Helia’s father, father-figures and her enemy?

“And how would you know what Helia’s bed looked like?” James asked, getting confused looks from the golden trio since they would always sleep near each other when they had a chance.

Bill quickly started reading again before his youngest brother was hexed.
　　
They ate stale cornflakes and cold tinned tomatoes on toast for breakfast the next day. 

Ron could feel the anger boiling over, that was hardly a meal after having no food all yesterday, maybe even longer with how little the Dursley’s fed Helia.

They had just finished when the owner of the hotel came over to their table.
"'Scuse me, but is one of you Miss. H. Potter? Only I got about an 'undred of these at the front desk."

“Don’t you think this is getting out of hand.” Snape said causing McGonagall to shift in her seat.

She held up a letter so they could read the green ink address:

Miss. H. Potter
Room 17
Railview Hotel
Cokeworth

“Hey that’s where I grew up!” Exclaimed Lily.

“What really?” Helia asked.

“Yeah Petunia, Severus and I.” Getting shocked looks from the people who didn’t know Snape and Lily Potter used to be friends, Helia just gave a smile as she already deduced that her potions professor and her mom knew each other.

Helia made a grab for the letter but Uncle Vernon knocked her hand out of the way. The woman stared.

“She should've done something." Hermione sniffed angrily.

"I'll take them," said Uncle Vernon, standing up quickly and following her from the dining room.

Wouldn't it be better just to go home, dear?" Aunt Petunia suggested timidly, hours later, 

Kingsley sighed with relief finally someone with some sense.

but Uncle Vernon didn't seem to hear her. 

Que eye rolls from everybody.

Exactly what he was looking for, none of them knew. He drove them into the middle of a forest, got out, looked around, shook his head, got back in the car, and off they went again. The same thing happened in the middle of a plowed field, halfway across a suspension bridge, and at the top of a multilevel parking garage.

"Daddy's gone mad, hasn't he?" Dudley asked Aunt Petunia dully late that afternoon. 

George shot his twin a bland look. “Their just figuring this out?”

Uncle Vernon had parked at the coast, locked them all inside the car, and disappeared.

It started to rain. Great drops beat on the roof of the car. Dudley snivelled.
"It's Monday," he told his mother. "The Great Humberto's on tonight. I want to stay somewhere with a television. "

Monday.

This reminded Helia of something.

If it was Monday -- and you could usually count on Dudley to know the days the week, because of television -- 

then tomorrow, Tuesday, was Helia's eleventh birthday. 

“Happy Birthday!” Shouted the Twins, Hermione and Ron, the Twins spelled small fireworks from their wands as the harmless sparks rained down on her.

Of course, her birthdays were never exactly fun -- last year, the Dursleys had given her a coat hanger and a pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks. 

Draco hated how much he regretted being mean to her, how much he wanted to hold her close. He felt the need to comfort her, protect her and even love her, however it could never be as it was forbidden he could hardly dream of it less it be found out.

Still, you weren't eleven every day.

James and Lily shared a look they had missed so much of their daughter’s life, all the memories they were supposed to share, her first steps, her Hogwarts letter, her first date all missed.

Uncle Vernon was back and he was smiling. He was also carrying a long, thin package and didn't answer Aunt Petunia when she asked what he'd bought.

"Found the perfect place!" he said. "Come on! Everyone out!"
It was very cold outside the car. Uncle Vernon was pointing at what looked like a large rock way out at sea. Perched on top of the rock was the most miserable little shack you could imagine. 

Professor McGonagall and Madam Bones both knew that they were going to do everything in their power to bury the Dursley’s and to make sure Helia never went back to them.

One thing was certain, there was no television in there.

"Storm forecast for tonight!" said Uncle Vernon gleefully, clapping his hands together. "And this gentleman's kindly agreed to lend us his boat!"

A toothless old man came ambling up to them, pointing, with a rather wicked grin, at an old rowboat bobbing in the iron-grey water below them.

James turned a pale shaded at the thought of Helia on that rickety rowboat in the middle of storm at that.

"I've already got us some rations," said Uncle Vernon, "so all aboard!"
　　
It was freezing in the boat. Icy sea spray and rain crept down their necks and a chilly wind whipped their faces. After what seemed like hours they reached the rock, where Uncle Vernon, slipping and sliding, led the way to the broken-down house.

“The nerve! Taking children to such a horrible place, why Helia could’ve gotten sick or hurt herself!” Snapped Mrs. Weasley, her face red in anger and worry, making her husband wrap an arm around her for comfort.

The inside was horrible; it smelled strongly of seaweed, the wind whistled through the gaps in the wooden walls, and the fireplace was damp and empty. There were only two rooms.

“Let me guess you didn’t get one.” Growled Remus.

Uncle Vernon's rations turned out to be a bag of chips each and four bananas. 

“Those aren't rations!' McGonagall hissed irritably.

Obviously, Ron thought the same thing, judging from his tortured expression at his best friend not being able to eat much.

He tried to start a fire but the empty chip bags just smoked and shrivelled up.

"Could do with some of those letters now, eh?" he said cheerfully.
He was in a very good mood. Obviously he thought nobody stood a chance of reaching them here in a storm to deliver mail. Helia privately agreed, though the thought didn't cheer her up at all.

'Ever the pessimist, Helia?' Hermione teased, smiling faintly.

'You'd be pessimistic as well,' Helia shot back, smirking.

As night fell, the promised storm blew up around them. Spray from the high waves splattered the walls of the hut and a fierce wind rattled the filthy windows. Aunt Petunia found a few moldy blankets in the second room and made up a bed for Dudley on the moth-eaten sofa. 

She and Uncle Vernon went off to the lumpy bed next door, 

Bill’s sun tanned face from working in the Egyptian sun, turned a furious Weasley red as he read something he clearly didn’t like. Helia felt a sinking feeling in her gut that she knew what was coming, she was getting tired of this book shit.

and Helia was left to find the softest bit of floor she could and to curl up under the thinnest, most ragged blanket.

Growls and snarls filled the room, making Helia sigh, rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness of it all.

The storm raged more and more ferociously as the night went on. Helia couldn't sleep. She shivered and turned over, trying to get comfortable, her stomach rumbling with hunger. 

Draco felt as if his teeth would break under the pressure he was clenching them, how could no one see what was right in front of them. 

Dudley's snores were drowned by the low rolls of thunder that started near midnight. The lighted dial of Dudley's watch, which was dangling over the edge of the sofa on his fat wrist, told Helia she'd be eleven in ten minutes' time. 

She lay and watched her birthday tick nearer, wondering if the Dursleys would remember at all, wondering where the letter writer was now.

Helia quickly looked away from the sympathetic look she was receiving.

Five minutes to go. Helia heard something creak outside. She hoped the roof wasn't going to fall in, although she might be warmer if it did.

Neville looked at Helia incredulously. "Ever the optimistic, aren't you?' he asked, his voice soaked in sarcasm.

Helia just shrugged at him with a mischievous grin.

 Four minutes to go. Maybe the house in Privet Drive would be so full of letters when they got back that she'd be able to steal one somehow.

Blaise gave her a sly look at the mentioning of stealing, making her give a wary one in return.

Three minutes to go. Was that the sea, slapping hard on the rock like that? And (two minutes to go) what was that funny crunching noise? Was the rock crumbling into the sea?

Lily and Mrs.Weasley pale at the very thought.

One minute to go and she'd be eleven. Thirty seconds... twenty ... ten... nine -- maybe she'd wake Dudley up, just to annoy him 

“Do it.” Begged the Twins, Sirius and James.

-- three... two... one...

BOOM.

Several people jumped when Bill yelled that out.

The whole shack shivered and Helia sat bolt upright, staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking to come in.

"That's it," Said Bill. "Who wants to read next?"

"I will," Neville said shyly, taking the book from Bill.