The Hellish Life of Helia Potter

 After everyone had something to eat it was time to read again.

“Now that everyone is full, who would like to read?” McGonagall asked.

“I will, Professor.” Susan replied, taking the book. “DIAGON ALLEY”

Helia woke early the next morning. Although she could tell it was daylight, she kept her eyes shut tight.

"It was a dream, she told herself firmly. "I dreamed a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for witches. When I open my eyes I'll be at home in my cupboard."

“Oh, Helia.” Mrs. Weasley sighed sadly. 

“She’s fine, Mum it was awhile ago.” Charlie said, noticing Helia fidget at the pity.

Snape felt this book was going to hit too close to home. Helia Potter sounded more like a young Severus Snape at that moment than James Potter had in her whole life.

He should have seen the signs.

Granted, Potter did a good job at hiding it. She was a tiny little thing, but her father was scrawny when he was younger and Lily was never very tall. She didn't have much trouble making friends, or at least, the ones she was close to stuck by her something about her drawing them in. She was socially well-adjusted and—there was no other word for it—snarky. However she never really instigated human contact, but she didn't seem averse to it, at least from Granger and the Weasley brood.

There was suddenly a loud tapping noise.
And there's Aunt Petunia knocking on the door, Helia thought, her heart sinking. But she still didn't open her eyes. It had been such a good dream.

"Wow, Potter, who knew you were such a pessimist.” Blaise muttered.

Helia shrugged.

Ron and Hermione both gave a look that said he-didn't-know-the-half-of-it.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"All right," Helia mumbled, "I'm getting up."

She sat up and Hagrid's heavy coat fell off her. 

“Wouldn’t that prove, it was all real?” Astoria asked.

The hut was full of sunlight, the storm was over, Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa, and there was an owl rapping its claw on the window, a newspaper held in its beak.

Helia scrambled to her feet, so happy she felt as though a large balloon was swelling inside her.

"And there's not much you’re really happy about usually." Ron said, running a hand through his hair with a sigh.

Draco said nothing as Helia shrugged. Because of what he observed, she was pretty happy when with the rest of The Golden Trio. Not that he watched her a lot—shut up Blaise—he'd seen her face light up whenever the other two entered the Great Hall on the few occasions when both he and Potter happened to be in the Hall early at the same time.

She went straight to the window and jerked it open. The owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of Hagrid, who didn't wake up. The owl then fluttered onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid's coat.

"Don't do that."

"Oh Heli dear, you need to be careful. Not all owls are friendly." Lily fretted.

Helia quickly scolded snatching the owl from the coat, it cooed and nuzzled her content to stay curled up in her palms.

“That’s Helia for you, animals love her I’ve never met one that didn’t.”  Ron informed.

“You make it sound like I’m some Doctor Doolittle.”

“Doctor Do what?” Ron asked confused.

"Hagrid!" said Helia loudly. "There's an owl

"Pay him," Hagrid grunted into the sofa.

"What?"

"He wants payin' fer deliverin' the paper. Look in the pockets." 

Well that's a challenge and a half." James chuckled. "Hagrid's coat is made of nothing but, pockets."

"Yeah that's true." Sirius said. "And you never know what you will find in there. 

Hagrid's coat seemed to be made of nothing but pockets -- bunches of keys, slug pellets, balls of string, peppermint humbugs, teabags... 

finally, Helia pulled out a handful of strange-looking coins.

"Give him five Knuts," said Hagrid sleepily.

“Oh Hagrid, she didn’t know about wizarding money.” Mrs. Weasley rebuked.

“It’s fine Mrs. Weasley, I learn best hands on.”

"Knuts?"

"The little bronze ones."

Helia counted out five little bronze coins, and the owl held out his leg so Helia could put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it. The owl gave one last nuzzle, and then he flew off through the open window.

Hagrid yawned loudly, sat up, and stretched. "Best be Off, Helia, lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an' buy all yer stuff fer school."

“I’ve never been to London before Hagrid took me.” Helia smiled.

Helia was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them. She had just thought of something that made her feel as though the happy balloon inside her had got a puncture.

“No!" The Twins suddenly cried dramatically, startling a few people who had actually done one of the most dangerous things known to wizard-kind, aside from forgetting Helia Potter was in the room.

They forgot the WEASLEY TWINS were in the room.

"Not the happy balloon!" George finished, moaning dramatically and flopping back in his seat.

"Um -- Hagrid?"

"Mm?" said Hagrid, who was pulling on his huge boots.

"I haven't got any money -- and you heard Uncle Vernon last night ... he won't pay for me to go and learn magic."

“We would never let such a small thing as funding stop a child from learning magic." Said Dumbledore. "Untrained magic can be disastrous."

"Don't worry about that," said Hagrid, standing up and scratching his head. "D'yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh anything?"

"But if their house was destroyed --"

"They didn' keep their gold in the house, girl! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards' bank. Have a sausage, they're not bad cold -- an' I wouldn' say no teh a bit o' yer birthday cake, neither."

"What a nutritious breakfast," Hermione muttered.

"I wish I could have cake for breakfast," Ron grinned at Helia.

"Not in a million years!" Mrs. Weasley declared.

"Wizards have banks?"

"Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins."

Helia dropped the bit of sausage she was holding.

“I was shocked as well," Hermione told Helia giggling.

"Goblins?"

"Yeah -- so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, I'll tell yeh that. Never mess with goblins, Helia. 

"He's right." Bill pointed out. "They can be vicious when they want to be." 

"Know from experience big brother?" Charlie asked grinning.

"I just hope Helia never tries to mess with them." Hermione said, giving Helia a pointed look.

"What?" Helia asked innocently. "I would never."

Ron and Hermione exchanged looks and groaned.

"With your luck mate, you just jinxed it," Ron mumbled.

Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe -- 'cept maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway. Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business." Hagrid drew himself up proudly. "He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you gettin' things from Gringotts -- knows he can trust me, see.

The whole time Hagrid talked about his business at Gringotts, McGonagall, Madam Bones, Kingsley and Moody all had their heads in their hands, while Snape just pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"Hagrid! You knew how curious James and Lily were, and you just hinted at a possible mystery to THEIR DAUGHTER! No wonder she was hunting for it." McGonagall groaned.

"Got everythin'? Come on, then."

Helia followed Hagrid out onto the rock. The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. The boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there, with a lot of water in the bottom after the storm.

"How did you get here?" Helia asked, looking around for another boat.

"Flew," said Hagrid.

"Flew?"

"I can't imagine Hagrid flying." Lily said.

"Me either." Said Hermione.

“He probably used a thestral.” Luna informed them.

"Yeah -- but we'll go back in this. Not s'pposed ter use magic now I've got yeh."
They settled down in the boat, Helia still staring at Hagrid, trying to imagine him flying.

“Wait a minute," Hermione said to Helia. "If Hagrid flew in and took the boat out, how did your relatives get off the island?"

"I think the owner of the hut got worried when they didn't come back the next day and went to get them," Helia replied.

"Seems a shame ter row, though," said Hagrid, giving Helia another of his sideways looks. "If I was ter -- er -- speed things up a bit, would yeh mind not mentionin' it at Hogwarts?"

"Of course not," said Helia, eager to see more magic. Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again, tapped it twice on the side of the boat, and they sped off toward land.

"Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Helia asked.

“I swear to Merlin, Mione I’m not going to rob Gringotts.” Helia sighed at the suspicious look she was getting from Hermione.

"Spells -- enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "They say there's dragons guardin' the high security vaults. 

Charlie shot up in his seat. "That better not be true." He growled, turning to glare at his older brother.

Bill held up his hands. "I honestly don't know." He was quick to say.

All the Weasley's were watching the most laid back member of their clan carefully, while Helia and Ron slowly pull Hermione and Luna away from the two brothers.

"Why didn't you ever mention this before?" Charlie hissed.

Bill tried to rationalize with his younger brother "But Charlie, I don't work vault security. My job is bringing in treasure and undoing Dark Curses before the items go to auction." He said as he watched his brother cautiously.

And then yeh gotta find yer way -- Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the Underground. Yeh'd die of hunger tryin' ter get out, even if yeh did manage ter get yer hands on summat."

Kingsley looked thoughtful for a moment.“Didn’t someone try and rob Gringotts a few years ago.”

The Trio snorted “Yeah, by an idiot.”

Helia sat and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper, the Daily Prophet. Helia had learned from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left alone while they did this, but it was very difficult, she'd never had so many questions in her life.

“Is this where you’re curiosity, began Ms. Potter?” Madam Bones questioned.

Helia shook her head. “I think it began with ten years of hearing ‘don’t ask questions’.“

"Ministry o' Magic messin' things up as usual," Hagrid muttered, turning the page.

"No change there." Muttered Sirius, whilst Remus nodded.

"There's a Ministry of Magic?" Helia asked, before she could stop himself.

"'Course," said Hagrid. "They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, O ' course, but he'd never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if ever there was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin' fer advice."

"But what does a Ministry of Magic do?"

"Not much." Nearly everyone muttered.

Helia nodded in agreement to that.

Percy huffed in dismay.

"Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that there's still witches an' wizards up an' down the country."

"Why?"

"Why? Blimey, Helia, everyone'd be wantin' magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we're best left alone."

Hermione look as if she was going to rant about Muggle-Magical relationships again, so Ron quietly told Susan to keep reading.
　　
At this moment the boat bumped gently into the harbour wall. Hagrid folded up his newspaper, and they clambered up the stone steps onto the street.Passersby stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to the station. Helia couldn't blame them. Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else, he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly, "See that, Helia? Things these Muggles dream up, eh?"

Helia grinned, while looking back on it and realizing Hagrid probably wasn’t the best choice to introduce her to the wizarding world, he did bring a certain amount of excitement to her first time in the wizarding world.

"Hagrid," said Helia, panting a bit as she ran to keep up, "did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?"

A growl sounded around the room, making people jump and look around, only to see Charlie was back.

"Well, so they say," said Hagrid. "Crikey, I'd like a dragon."

"Only Hagrid would want a pet dragon." Sighed Lily smiling.

"Well…" Ginny said, looking at her older brother Charlie. "Maybe not just Hagrid."

"Nonsense who in their righting mind would want a dragon?" Asked Mrs. Weasley, not noticing her second eldest son trying to hide from her gaze.

"You'd like one?"

"Wanted one ever since I was a kid -- here we go."

“Wait." McGonagall said, horror spreading across her face. "He really had one?" She practically whispered.

The Trio looked at each cautiously while Draco looked very annoyed.

"Really had what, Professor?" Hermione asked carefully.

"A dragon." She whispered.

The Trio nodded, she slumped forward and buried her head in her hands, mumbling something.

They had reached the station. There was a train to London in five minutes' time. Hagrid, who didn't understand "Muggle money," as he called it, gave the bills to Helia so she could buy their tickets.

"You know I think it should be compulsory that everyone has to learn basic Muggle Studies at school." Hermione said thoughtfully. "You know just in case they do have to be around Muggles, they know how to dress and use money."

"I think that's a very good idea Miss Granger." Dumbledore smiled. "I might have to suggest it, to the board of governors and see if we can start it at Hogwarts right away."

People stared more than ever on the train. Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a canary-yellow circus tent.

“I see Hagrid’s knitting hasn’t changed.” laughed Sirius.

"Still got yer letter, Helia?" he asked as he counted stitches. Helia took the parchment envelope out of her pocket.

"Good," said Hagrid. "There's a list there of everything yeh need."

Helia unfolded a second piece of paper she hadn't noticed the night before, and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
UNIFORM

First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

wand cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) set
glass or crystal phials
telescope set
brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

“It’s not like that rule really held much hold against you, mate.” Smirked Ron.

"Can we buy all this in London?" Helia wondered aloud.

"If yeh know where to go," said Hagrid.

Helia had never been to London before. Although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground, and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow.
　　
"I don't know how the Muggles manage without magic,"

“Its quite easy to manage without something, if you don't even know it exists." Hermione said with a eyebrow raised.

 he said as they climbed a broken-down escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with shops.
Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily; all Helia had to do was keep close behind him.

 They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people. Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them? Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks? 

“Yes, yes….and yes.” Fred and George answered.

Might this not all be some huge joke that the Dursleys had cooked up? 

"Wow, okay now you’re just letting your imagination run away with you." Ron said. He knew his best friend was a pessimist, but this was just sad.

Helia just shrugged, she was paranoid enough that the thoughts just came naturally to her.

If Helia hadn't known that the Dursleys had no sense of humour, she might have thought so; yet somehow, even though everything Hagrid had told her so far was unbelievable, Helia couldn't help trusting him.

You trust too easily, girl." Moody barked.

"No, actually, she doesn't.” Neville confessed. “She's very cautious around people when she meets them for the first time.” 

Hermione continued with her own example. “It took her a long while to even relax in our dorm room, especially to the point where she didn't spell her curtains shut. Hell that was the first spell she researched and learned by herself, maybe four nights into the first year.”

She let that sink in before saying one last thing. “And that was with people her own age. Adults..." Hermione said, frowning telling them just how much Helia trust adults. 

Everyone turned to Helia, but she just shrugged, not looking at anybody.

"This is it," said Hagrid, coming to a halt, "the Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place."

It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. If Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, Helia wouldn't have noticed it was there. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron at all. 

In fact, Helia had the most peculiar feeling that only she and Hagrid could see it. Before she could mention this, Hagrid had steered her inside.

“It’s shielded from muggles eyes.” Remus said.

“I know that now, Mooney.” Helia sighed.

Sirius and James snorted at Remus’s sheepish expression.

For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in.

Everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, "The usual, Hagrid?"

"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Helia's shoulder and making Helia's knees buckle.

"Good Lord," said the bartender, peering at Helia, "is this -- can this be --?"

Helia felt a flush spread across her cheeks, she slid down a little bit in her seat to shield away from the attention.

Draco felt his heart skip a beat at the cuteness of the girl next to him.

The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.

"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Helia Potter... what an honour."

He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Helia and seized her hand, tears in his eyes.

“What?" James yelped.

Helia who now had her face buried in her lap sighed, but she didn’t lift her head as she left it resting there with her eyes closed. Just hearing about her fame and her 'adoring fans’ left her exhausted and paranoid. 

"Welcome back, Miss. Potter, welcome back."

Helia didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at her. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming. Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Helia found herself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

Hermione frowned over at her best friend, who still had her head down and her eyes closed. Helia always got like this when people crowded her, she would go for no better term blank and it broke her heart to see her friend like that.

"Doris Crockford, Miss. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."

"So proud, Miss. Potter, I'm just so proud."

"Always wanted to shake your hand -- I'm all of a flutter."

Daphne gave a not very ladylike at that.

"Delighted, Miss. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."

"I've seen you before!" said Helia, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop."

“Please don’t encourage him, Miss. Potter.” Sighed Professor McGonagall.

"She remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? She remembers me!"

Helia shook hands again and again -- Doris Crockford kept coming back for more. A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.

"Professor Quirrell!" said Hagrid. 

The Trio hissed at the mention of Quirrell.

"You didn't mention that you'd already met him before school started." Hermione said with a frown.

"Must have slipped my mind. I wonder though... if he already had..." Helia trailed off, leaving everyone who didn't already know the story confused.

"Helia, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."

"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Helia’s hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p- pleased I am to meet you."

“Huh, I don't think he was possessed yet," Helia quietly said to her friends.

"How come?" asked Hermione.

"He shook my hand without turning to ash. And he wasn't wearing the turban yet."

"Huh. That does raise the question, though…" Hermione wondered when did he get possessed?

"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"

"D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it. "N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously.

“Of course, she needs it!” Lily hissed in outrage while glaring at the book, what kind of teacher was this?

 "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.

But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Helia to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all, Helia sending pleading eyes towards Hagrid he came to rescue her. 

Sirius growled “Hagrid shouldn’t be letting them mob, Helia like that.”

At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.

"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Helia."

Doris Crockford shook Helia's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.

Hagrid grinned at Helia.

"Told yeh, didn't I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh -- mind you, he's usually tremblin'."

"Is he always that nervous?"

The Golden Trio and Snape scowled, he was a good actor that’s for sure.

"Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience.... They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag – 

The Trio shared a glance, there was no vampire or hag, no what Quirrell found was the Dark Lord.

never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject now, where's me umbrella?"
Vampires? Hags? Helia’s head was swimming. Hagrid, meanwhile, was counting bricks in the wall above the trash can.

"Three up... two across he muttered. "Right, stand back, Helia." He tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella.

The brick he had touched quivered -- it wriggled -- in the middle, a small hole appeared -- it grew wider and wider -- a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

"I love Diagon Alley." Helia and Hermione said together, identical looks of enchantment on their faces.

James and Lily shared a sad smile thinking. They should've been the ones to take Helia to Diagon Alley for the first time.

"Welcome," said Hagrid, "to Diagon Alley."

He grinned at Helia’s amazement. They stepped through the archway. Helia looked quickly over her shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into a solid wall.

The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons -- All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver -- Self-Stirring -- Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.

"Yeah, you'll be needin' one," said Hagrid, "but we gotta get yer money first."

Helia wished she had about eight more eyes.

Ron shuddered in fear.

"Why, mate, why?" Ron complained, falling back into his seat dramatically.

Helia chuckled, "Sorry." Ron just sighed at his best friend.
 
She turned her head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping.

A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad...."

Mrs. Weasley blushed a vibrant shade of crimson, that had been her.

A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium -- Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. 

Several boys of about Helia's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Helia heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand -- fastest ever --"

Helia smiled sadly at the mention of her old broom, while she loved her new broom. Her first broom would always hold a special place in her heart.

 There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Helia had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon....

"Gringotts," said Hagrid.

They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was –

“Even Goblins support Gryffindor.” Sirius whispered to James getting him to snort in laughter.

"Yeah, that's a goblin," said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him. The goblin was about a head shorter than Helia. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Helia noticed, very long fingers and feet. 

He bowed as they walked inside, Helia dropped in a small curtsey like the fairytale princesses do in her stories missing the surprised look on the guards face. 

Helia got weird looks from most purebloods, but Bill full out beamed at her.

“Goblins respect wizards who respect their customs and gestures, not only does it make your transaction a hundred percent easier it is also the polite thing to do.” Bill lectured with a smile.

Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.

"I love that poem," Luna said in her usual dreamy voice.

Helia nodded along with her. “Dark, but beautiful.”
　　
"Like I said, Yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid.

A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors again, she dropped into a curtsey and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. 

There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Helia made for the counter.

"Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come ter take some money outta Miss. Helia Potter's safe."

"You have her key, Sir?"

"Got it here somewhere," said Hagrid, and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of moldy dog biscuits over the goblin's book of numbers. 

Bill slapped a palm to his face in exasperation, Hermione gently rubbed his back to comfort him.

The goblin wrinkled his nose.

Hermione and Daphne copied the goblin, both disgusted with the mess.

 Helia watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.

Hermione huffed in thought. "Professor Binns, said the goblins were a warrior race are they not anymore?" She asked Bill.

He grinned charmingly at Hermione before answering. "They are, primarily, a warrior race. They are also master craftsmen, they have some of the best blacksmiths in the world, they are miners, they have enchanters and bankers. They can do just about anything, but yes, they are primarily a warrior race."

"Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key.

James whispered in Lily’s ear. “Why do they have Helia’s key, the goblins should’ve had it until Helia was tested and confirmed to be who she is to them.” The Lord and Lady Potter shared a look they were going to get to the bottom of this.

The goblin looked at it closely.
"That seems to be in order."

"An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his chest. "It's about the YouKnow-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows while Mcgonagall gave a sharp hiss. "Hagrid, you really shouldn't have said that."

"What's in vault 713?" Fred and George asked intrigued.

"See." Helia, said turning to look at the professors with an pointed look. "It's natural that I wanted to know, just remember that."

"I'm curious as to how you did end up figuring it out Miss. Potter." Madam Bones informed him as she handled the paperwork from the event.

Helia just smiled at her friends Aunt mysteriously.

The goblin read the letter carefully.
"Very well," he said, handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have Someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"

Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, he and Helia followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.

"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Helia asked.

Mrs. Weasley shot Helia an exasperated look. "Oh Helia." Why does that girl have to be so curious.

"Can't tell yeh that," said Hagrid mysteriously. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that."

Snape sighed. “Your just adding fuel to the fire.”

“Well, he’s not helping my curiosity any.” Helia tried to defend herself.

Griphook held the door open for them. Helia, who had expected more marble, was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them. 

They climbed in -- Hagrid with some difficulty -- and were off. At first they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages. Helia tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. 

“That’s pretty impressive that you tracked that far, however Gringotts was made, warded and enchanted against it.” Bill laughed.

The rattling cart seemed to know its own way, because Griphook wasn't steering.

“That always made me nervous,” Neville admitted, his face paling at the memory.

“I thought it was fun.” Helia said with a smirk.

“I love the carts too!” Exclaimed James “Lily almost blew my eardrums out, scream first time going down to the main Potter vaults.” He laughed, only to get slapped upside the head by his wife.

Helia’s eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but she kept them wide open. 

Once, she thought she saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but too late - - 

Charlie through a sharp glance at his elder brother.

they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.

”I never know," Helia called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart, "what's the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?"

Hermione opened her mouth to answer, most likely to explain, but Helia and Ron stop her. Ron covers her mouth with his hand, gently as Helia informs her.

"I know now, Mione," She smiled. "Besides, Hagrid's answer was hilarious."

"Stalagmite's got an 'm' in it," said Hagrid.

The room sounded with laughter.

"M-Merlin, that's priceless!" Sirius howled.

"Hagrid really is great," James cackled. Eventually, the laughter died down, and Susan continued reading.

 "An' don' ask me questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick." He did look very green, and when the cart stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling.

The order chuckled Hagrid never did too well in the Gringott’s carts.

Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Helia gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts.

Ginny whistled. "That is a lot."

"That's only your trust vault, you know," James told Helia.

"What?" she gasped.

"That's just to get you through school and life. The other vault is one you'll get when you come of age, it's the Potter Family Vault along with the rest of our assets."

"Not only that, but you have three other vaults," the Headmaster commented.

"I do?!" Helia gasped at the same time James did, "She does?!"

"Yes. They were left to her by grateful witches and wizards. However, as it is not a trust vault, she cannot open it yet. Anything that is not a trust vault cannot be opened by minors."

"All yours," smiled Hagrid.

All Helia’s-- it was incredible. The Dursleys couldn't have known about this or they'd have had it from her faster than blinking. How often had they complained how much Helia cost them to keep? 

“They were getting funds to help take care of her and her needs," Dumbledore frowned. "200 pounds a month." Helia's jaw dropped.

"Those bastards..." Sirius growled. "She was GIVING them money! They never spent a penny on her!"

“I mean, what cost do they spend on you!?” James ranted. “You’re given hand-me-downs that would better fit a small whale, and practically ate the scraps they left on the table if there any left!” James snarled, enraged at the abuse that his daughter had to suffer.

And all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to her, buried deep under London.

Hagrid helped Helia pile some of it into a bag, and after a quick moment of thinking she placed a bit more in the seemingly bottomless bag.

The adults looked ready to scold her for taking more than she needed, but a sharp glance from Susan warded them off.

She wanted some extra money to buy more books, 

Ron sighed fondly at Helia. Both Helia and Hermione were very particular about their books, and Merlin forbid you take them away from them before they were done with them. While Hermione would yell, Helia would get physical whether it was tackling, biting, punching or a nasty spell work it never ended well.

she need to know everything she could about this magical world. It would be stupid to go in blind and naïve about wizard customs.

Theo and Blaise shared a look, Potter was sounding more and more like a Slytherin.

Plus she wanted to buy some new clothes, she was done wearing Dudley’s hand-me-downs.

That would explain why nobody saw her in her whale of a cousin’s clothes before. The first chance she got she finally got to do something for herself.

"The gold ones are Galleons," he explained. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough. Right, that should be enough fer a couple o' terms, we'll keep the rest safe for yeh." He turned to Griphook. "Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go more slowly?"

"Just one speed." Bill said with a large grin.

"They're fun," Helia said with a grin like a Cheshire Cat.

"You're mental you are." Ron gaped at her. "If you think those evil deathtraps are fun." Many were nodding in agreement.

"One speed only," said Griphook. 

They were going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air became colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners. They went rattling over an underground ravine, and Helia leaned over the side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom, but Hagrid groaned and pulled her back by the scruff of her neck. 

“Fearless," Tonks said.

"Reckless," Remus added.

"Gryffindor!" The twins yelled.

Draco gave a silent sigh of relief after hearing Hagrid pulled her back to safety, he swore he was going to have a heart attack  before the end of the first book. Blaise just patted his friend’s shoulder in sympathy.

Vault seven hundred and thirteen had no keyhole. 

“A high security vault," Bill said. "Not too many of those."

"Stand back," said Griphook importantly. He stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it simply melted away. 

"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," said Griphook. 

"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Helia asked. 

"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a rather nasty grin. 

What?!" Hermione yelled. "But that's totally barbaric! They don't really wait so long, do they?"

"Nah, it's more like... every year or so. They like to exaggerate sometimes, scare wizards." Bill shrugged.

"About once a year isn't much better." Hermione said.

Bill shrugged again, "Like I said, it's how the goblins operate. If you don't want to starve to death in a vault, then don't try to steal from one. Although, you would probably suffocate before you starved, those vaults are air-tight. I know, I was part of the team that tested the security measures back when I was first hired." Hermione still looked horrified

Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top security vault, Helia was sure, and she leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at the very least -- but at first she thought it was empty. Then she noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor. 

“The Philosopher’s Stone.” Lily and Remus exclaimed, the Golden Trio huffed.

“It took us for bloody forever to figure that out!” Groaned Ron.

“We did have the book title to help us out,” Remus smirked.

“Well, we didn’t have a damn book title to help us, though it would’ve been greatly appreciated.” Helia muttered, much to the amusement to her parents and honorary uncles.

Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Helia longed to know what it was,

Every single person who knew or taught Lily Potter nee Evans, groaned and banged their heads against the couch behind them, muttering about how she inherited her mother's curiosity. Even Snape was groaning mentally about it, it’s no wonder keeping the girl safe was so difficult. She attracted trouble because of Lily's curiosity!

There were reasons he joked about Lily having enough curiosity for both her and Petunia.

 but knew better than to ask.

Hermione snorted. "If only that had lasted." She muttered quietly to Ron, who coughed to cover his laughter.

Helia sent them a glare knowing they were talking about her.

They only smiled innocently in return, which only confirmed her suspicions.

"Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way back, it's best if I keep me mouth shut," said Hagrid. 

One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts. Helia didn't know where to run first now that she had a bag full of money. She didn't have to know how many Galleons there were to a pound to know that she was holding more money than she'd had in her whole life -- more money than even Dudley had ever had. 

"Might as well get yer uniform," said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Listen, Helia, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts. " 

Hagrid!" Shouted McGonagall.

"That is very irresponsible of you!" Mrs. Weasley admonished.

"I was fine!" Helia yelled in defence of her friend.

"That isn't the point." Remus said sighing. "You were only eleven, you shouldn't of been left alone."

He did still look a bit sick, so Helia entered Madam Malkin's shop alone, feeling nervous. 

Draco who was mentally complaining looked up. 'Wait, didn't I meet her in Madam Malkin's? Oh crap.'

Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve. 

Hermione was confused, "How on earth do you know what mauve is? You’re the least girly girl I know, I expected Lavender to know but you? Bloody Hell, I'm more girly than you and I don't even know what mauve is." She muttered.

Helia replied with a uncaring look. "Aunt Petunia needed someone to carry the bags when She went shopping, she said ladies didn’t carry things that were heavy." Everyone glared at the book, yet another example of the Dursley's flaunting HELIA'S money in front of her.

Blaise raised an eyebrow, it seemed like Potter’s Aunt knew that she was a heiress, and tried everything in her power to treat her niece nothing more than a servant.

"Hogwarts, dear?" she said, when Helia started to speak. "Got the lot here – there’s young man being fitted up just now, in fact. "

"Oh really? Did you make a new friend?" Lily questioned happily.

"Um, not exactly," Helia told her, Even if that wasn’t quite true.

In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face 

A flash of annoyance crossed Draco’s face, looking at the girl next to him only to find her already looking at him. She smiled a sweet smile, that lasted no more than a couple of seconds but it was for him.

was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. 

“Oh, no." Draco suddenly moaned. "I forgot all about this conversation." He muttered. He really didn't want to know what his 'rival' thought of him the first time they spoke. Not to mention everything he remembered saying to Potter about Hagrid, he supposed he could sort of understand why the small girl was so defensive of the half-giant.

Madam Malkin stood Helia on a stool next to him slipped a long robe over her head, and began to pin it to the right length. 

"Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," said Helia. 

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy.

“What’s the point of that?” Neville asked. “The wand chooses the wizard.” But a pointed look from all his female friends he quickly adds. “Or witch,” although he had no room to talk as he uses his father’s old wand.

Malfoy didn’t look like he was going to answer, when he shrugged and said “it was better than having her hover.” His godfather Severus, gave him a look that said he was lucky his mother wasn’t here to have heard that.

He had a bored, drawling voice. "Then I'm going to drag them off to looks at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow. "

“Mr. Malfoy!” McGonagall said sharply. “You’re lucky, you didn’t try too, because you would have gotten a worse reprimand than your Godfather and Mother could’ve combined.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Squeaked Malfoy, reminding Helia of when he was a albino ferret.

Helia didn’t know what it was, but she strangely found the boy to be quite handsome looking. 

Helia had to close her eyes and take deep breaths, she really hated these books. She didn’t need to look at the people around her to know that eyes had widened, mouths dropped and denials running through their minds.

When she finally centred herself, and opened her eyes she was drawn into the silver gaze of the boy next to her. He said nothing, but nothing needed to be said he just smirked at her and she smirked back the both glanced away from each other before someone notice their moment. Both of them kept their little moment close to their hearts, since they would never act on their acknowledged feelings.

Evenif his attitude, needed adjustment.

“I take offence to that…Potter.” The white-blonde haired boy lightly glared at the girl of his hidden affections.

“You reap what you sow, Malfoy.” Helia said, but there was no heat behind it.

"Have you got your own broom?" the boy went on. 

"No," said Helia. 

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"No," Helia said again, wondering what on earth Quidditch could be. 

“Oh!" Fred cried dramatically, flopping down in his seat.

"The tragedy! Helia..."

"...Potter not knowing about..."

"...Quidditch! The blasphemy!" The Twins finished together, both of them now flopped dramatically over Daphne with their hands over their eyes.

“I know how you feel” James said. “I never thought my daughter would grow up not knowing what quidditch was.” Looking as if it physically hurt him to say that.

"I do -- Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree.

Blaise groaned, for Salazar’s sake his best friend was a bloody prat.

 Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"No," said Helia, feeling more stupid by the minute. 

“Sorry.” Was muttered softly to Helia, she just smiled softly at him she knew how hard it was to have this book throw your thoughts and words back at you.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been -- imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

“And what dear cousin, is wrong with my house?” Hissed Tonks, with Susan glaring a hole into Draco’s head.

The Malfoy heir avoided looking into his disowned cousin’s eyes.

 "Mmm," said Helia, wishing she could say something a bit more interesting.

"I say, look at that man!" said the boy suddenly, nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was standing there, grinning at Helia and pointing at two large ice creams to show he couldn't come in.

“Aww that’s sweet of Hagrid.” Lily said with a smile.

"That's Hagrid," said Helia, pleased to know something the boy didn't. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh," said the boy, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

Several glares were sent at Malfoy.

"Stupid ferret," Someone muttered, the said boy just dropped his head into his hands as Blaise and Theo glared at anyone who looked at him.

"He's the gamekeeper," said Helia. She was liking the boy less and less every second.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage -- lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed."

"I think he's brilliant," said Helia coldly.

Draco continued to keep his head into his hands not looking at anybody, Sirius couldn’t help but feel sorry for his first cousin once removed. The Malfoy heir reminded him of his brother Regulus, they both bent to their family’s wishes and it’s what killed his brother and now it was going to destroy this boy.

"Do you?" said the boy, with a slight sneer. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"

"They're dead," said Helia shortly. She didn't feel much like going into the matter with this boy.

"Oh, sorry," said the other,. not sounding sorry at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

“That’s what you care about?” Neville asked.

Draco snapped. “YES! Because that’s what I was bloody raised to care about!” He exclaimed, meeting silence around the room his godfather sighed silently at his godson who never really had any say on how to live his own life.

"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean."

Severus frowned at Helia in confusion that the girl acted as Gryffindor on moment and a Slytherin the next.

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. 

You could see the steam coming from Lily and Hermione in their anger, but a look from Helia and James held them back.

Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"

But before Helia could answer, Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear," and Helia, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy, hopped down from the footstool.

“Finally, you get to leave.” Sighed Ron, densely not noticing the underlying feeling between the ‘rivals’.

"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said the drawling boy.

Helia was rather quiet as she ate the ice cream Hagrid had bought her (Lemon and raspberry with drizzled honey).

"What's up?" said Hagrid.

"Nothing," Helia lied. 

“Is that you’re favourite saying? I heard you say that a lot” Theo noticed, Helia just gave an uncomfortable shrug.

They stopped to buy parchment and quills. Helia cheered up a bit when she found a bottle of ink that changed colour as you wrote. 

When they had left the shop, she said, "Hagrid, what's Quidditch?"

“If James heard that, he’d be rolling in his grave.” Sirius informed Helia, momentarily forgetting his best friend was back from the grave.

“Your right, if I was in my grave I’d be freaking!” James laughed.

"Blimey, Helia, I keep forgettin' how little yeh know -- not knowin' about Quidditch!"

"Don't make me feel worse," said Helia. She told Hagrid about the pale boy in Madam Malkin's.

“I get it! I’m pale, you could at least call me by my name.” Draco whined.

Helia just gave an innocent teasing smile. “How could I, Malfoy? You never gave it to me.”

The pale boy blushed in embarrassment, forgetting that fact.

"--and he said people from Muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in."

"Yer not from a Muggle family. If he'd known who yeh were -- he's grown up knowin' yer name if his parents are wizardin' folk. You saw what everyone in the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw yeh. 
Anyway, what does he know about it, some o' the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in 'em in a long line 0' Muggles -- look at yer mum! Look what she had fer a sister!"

"Aww thanks Hagrid… I think." Lily said smiling but looking confused.

"So what is Quidditch?"

"It's our sport. Wizard sport. It's like -- like soccer in the Muggle world -- everyone follows Quidditch -- played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls -- sorta hard ter explain the rules."

“It’s really not!” Exclaimed Helia and James, daughter like father.

 "And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?"

"School houses. There's four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but --"

"I bet I'm in Hufflepuff" said Helia gloomily.

Helia threw her hands up in surrender. “This is before I even went to Hogwarts, I didn’t know.”

Both of Hufflepuffs in the room gave her stink eyes.

"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin," said Hagrid darkly.

“Not all Slytherins are evil." Helia said.

Everyone, Slytherins included turned to look at Helia.

"What?" She asked, as everyone stared at her in shock. "Just because I'm in Gryffindor doesn't mean I hate all Slytherins."

Snape and the Slytherins gave her a calculating look before looking back at Susan.

"There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. 

Helia’s face darkened, she could think of a few wizards who went to the other side that weren’t in Slytherin. But the one she hated the most was in Gryffindor and he was a cowardly rat.

You-Know-Who was one."

"Vol-, sorry - You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?"

"Years an' years ago," said Hagrid.

Helia gave a sad smile, poor Hagrid, he suffered a lot because of young Tom Riddle.

They bought Helia’s school books in a shop called Flourish and Bolts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. 

Hermione got a dreamy look on her face at the thought of all the books. Ron and Helia know what she was thinking about shared amused looks, not that Helia was any better.

Even Dudley, who never read anything, would have been wild to get his hands on some of these. 

Hagrid almost had to drag Helia away from Curses and Counter curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue- Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor Vindictus Viridian, 

but not before she bought Asiatic Anti-Venoms by Libatius Borage, Magick Potions by Gerina Dunwigh, The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison and Real Alchemy (A Primer of Practical Alchemy) by Robert Allen Bartlett

“You do know they are all potions books, right?” Theo asked.

“Helia loves Potions.” Hermione said, remembering her and Helia brewing the Polyjuice potion in second year together.

Snape gave a look to Helia for while her paper homework was very well done, he never really study her brewing process.

"I was trying to find out how to curse Dudley."

“That a girl, Helia!" The twins cheered.

"If you ever want help with that-" Fred started.

"We would be more than willing to assist." George finished.

Mrs. Weasley looked like she wanted to reprimand them, but thinking about the way Helia was treated she stayed silent. 'As long as it's nothing too bad or illegal.' She thought to herself giving her sons appraising looks.

"I'm not sayin' that's not a good idea, but yer not ter use magic in the Muggle world except in very special circumstances," said Hagrid. "An' anyway, yeh couldn' work any of them curses yet, yeh'll need a lot more study before yeh get ter that level."

Hagrid wouldn't let Helia buy a multi use cauldron, either ("It says pewter on yer list"), but they got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope. Then they visited the Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. 

Ron turned a sickly green colour, he hated potion ingredients they were always so disgusting.

Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Helia, Helia herself examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one Galleons each and minuscule, glittery-black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop).

Outside the Apothecary, Hagrid checked Helia's list again.
"Just yer wand left - A yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday present."

Helia felt her cheeks burn, remembering the feeling of her first birthday present freely given.

Helia felt herself go red.
"You don't have to --"

"I know I don't have to. Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at – 

“Hey!” Neville huffed.

an' I don' like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, carry yer mail an' everythin'."

Twenty minutes later, they left Eeylops Owl Emporium, which had been dark and full of rustling and flickering, jewel-bright eyes. Helia now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her wing. 

“She sounds wonderful, Fawn.” James told his daughter.

“Flew over and landed right on my shoulder, almost as soon as Hagrid and I walked into the shop.”  Helia said. “The shopkeeper was shocked, apparently Hedwig would attack and bite anyone who would come near her.” 

“Knowing Hedwig, that is very true.” Sirius laughed, his goddaughter had a very sassy and intelligent owl as her familiar.

Shecouldn't stop stammering her thanks, sounding just like Professor Quirrell.

Helia huffed at her eleven-year-old self being compared to that bastard, even if she, herself did it.

"Don' mention it," said Hagrid gruffly. "Don' expect you've had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just Ollivanders left now - only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand."

A magic wand... this was what Helia had been really looking forward to.

“I think that’s everyone’s looks forward to the most.” Remus mused. 

“Even the kids who grew up around magic, try and steal their parents wand to try magic.” Bill chuckled, remembering when Charlie and him tried to steal their dads wand as tiny Percy scolded them.

And by the small smile on Percy’s face, he remembered too.

The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.

A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that Hagrid sat on to wait. 

Helia felt strangely as though she had entered a very strict library; she swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to her 

Snape was being to see while Potter was curious and liked to stick her nose where it didn’t belong, she also was very cautious about doing so.

and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling.

 For some reason, the back of her neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

“You have to be really sensitive to magic, to feel it like that.” Remus said in awe.

“I could feel it, when I was there too.” Luna said.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Helia turned to the soft voice not startled by the suddenly appearing voice. 

“Constant Vigilance, at it’s best.” Moody hummed satisfied.

Hagrid must have jumped, because there was a loud crunching noise and he got quickly off the spindly chair.

“I’m surprised the chair, held his weight in the first place.” Ron muttered, Susan slapped his arm.

“What?!” He asked, looking over to find her glaring at him. “That chair wasn’t exactly sturdy, and Hagrid’s a half-giant there’s no way that the chair was going to hold.” He defended.

Susan gave him one last warning look before continuing to read.

An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello," said Helia awkwardly.

"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Helia Potter." It wasn't a question. 

"You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

“Oh he remembered, my wand.” Lily smiled

“He remembers everyone’s wand.” Remus stated.

Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Helia. Helia wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.

“Agreed.” Most people said, but Luna just looked at them confused, she thought Mr. Ollivander was quite charming.

"Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it -- it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

“I got that on on my fourteenth time.” James grinned roguishly.

Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Helia were almost nose to nose. Helia could see herself reflected in those misty eyes.

"And that's where..." Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Helia’s forehead with a long, white finger.

"He's the only person who actually touched my scar," Helia mused.

"Can I touch your scar?" George grinned.

"Hmm, let me think abou- no."

"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do...."

He shook his head and then, to Helia's relief, spotted Hagrid.
"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again.... Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"

“Bloody hell, that’s huge!” Ginny whisper-yelled.

“Well, he is half giant” Hermione reminded her.

"It was, sir, yes," said Hagrid.

"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?" said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern.

"Er -- yes, they did, yes," said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. "I've still got the pieces, though," he added brightly.

"But you don't use them?" said Mr. Ollivander sharply.

"Oh, no, sir," said Hagrid quickly. Helia noticed he gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke.

Moody noted that Potter was very observant, tending to catch things other people missed or overlooked.

"Hmmm," said Mr. Ollivander, giving Hagrid a piercing look. "Well, now -- Miss. Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"Er -- well, I'm ambidextrous," said Helia.

“What is ambidextrous?” Astoria asked.

“I’m able to write using both hands.” Helia informed.

"Hold out your arm that you favour. That's it." He measured Helia from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round her head.

 As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Miss. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."

“You got that right.” Ron and Neville muttered together. As Ron used to use his older brother Charlie’s wand until the Whomping Willow broke it and Neville still used his fathers wand.

Helia was glaring at the tape measure, which was measuring between her nostrils, 

“Was that really necessary.” Helia sighed.

was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Miss. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. just take it and give it a wave."

“Hey, that’s my wand!” Exclaimed Susan happily as her Aunt and Kingsley smiled adoringly at her.

Helia took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of her hand almost at once.

“I felt really foolish too.” Hermione told Helia.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try --"

“Close, but no sugar quill.” Charlie sighed snapping his fingers.

Helia tried -- but she had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.

"No, no -here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."
Helia tried. And tried. She had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. 

The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair,

James was shaking Lily in his excitement, his daughter just might have past the wand record.

 but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.

“He loves tricky customers.” Dumbledore informed.

"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere -- I wonder, now - - yes, why not -- unusual combination -- holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

“That’s it!” The Twins yelled out in excitement. Helia smiled at her friend’s antics, but she worried how people would take the news of of just how special her wand really was.

Helia took the wand. She felt a sudden warmth in her fingers. She raised the wand above her head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. 

“A destined Gryffindor from the start.” McGonagall said proudly.

Helia grinned at the head of her house, but no one except the boy next to her noticed how strain it was.

Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. 

“Yes! That’s my Fawn, Lily that’s our daughter!” Cried James as he crushed his wife and daughter in a hug.

“Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious... " He put Helia's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious... curious..

“Curious, what’s curious?” Luna asked.

"Sorry," said Helia, "but what's curious?"

“She’s so polite.” Mrs. Weasley whispered to her husband.

Mr. Ollivander fixed Helia with his pale stare.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Miss. Potter. 

“How does he do that?” Padma asked.

“Wandmakers tend to have extremely good memories, Miss. Patil.” McGonagall answered.

Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather -- just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother why, its brother gave you that scar."

Everyone except for Dumbledore, Hermione and Ron gasped in shock.

"What?!" Lily shrieked. "How can your wand be the same as that maniac?!" Lily panicked, not noticing her panic making her daughter shift away becoming uncomfortable.

"It just happened," Helia muttered feeling uncomfortable, not looking her mother in the eyes. When she felt a light brush on the back of her fingers, out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Malfoy looking away from her with a light blush on his cheeks.

“It’s true, I’m not one to believe in that fate nonsense, but than again this is Helia we’re talking about.” Hermione informed as Ron shrugged as if ‘what can you do’. It didn’t matter to them that Helia had the same wand core as Voldemort, it had given her extra protection after all.

Helia swallowed.

"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember.... I think we must expect great things from you, Miss. Potter.... After all, He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things -- terrible, yes, but great."

“Is he admiring him?” Madam Bones hissed, her face twisted into a scowl.

“No not him, Madam Bones, but the magic its self.” Dumbledore assumed.

Helia shivered. She wasn't sure she liked Mr. Ollivander too much. 

She paid seven gold Galleons for her wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Helia and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. Helia didn't speak at all as they walked down the road; she didn't even notice how much people were gawking at them on the Underground, laden as they were with all their funny-shaped packages, with the snowy owl asleep in its cage on Helia's lap. Up another escalator, out into Paddington station; Helia only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped her on the shoulder.

"Got time fer a bite to eat before yer train leaves," he said.

He bought Helia a hamburger and they sat down on plastic seats to eat them. Helia kept looking around. Everything looked so strange, somehow.

Hermione nodded sympathetically, she felt the same way.

"You all right, Helia? Yer very quiet," said Hagrid.

“Helia’s always been quiet.” Neville admitted.

Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement, that was very true.

Helia wasn't sure she could explain. She'd just had the best birthday of her life -- and yet -- she chewed her hamburger, trying to find the words.

"Everyone thinks I'm special," she said at last.

“And you are Fawn, you are so special.” James whispered to his daughter.

 "All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr. Ollivander... but I don't know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things? I'm famous and I can't even remember what I'm famous for. I don't know what happened when Vol-, sorry -- I mean, the night my parents died."

Everyone was once again reminded about the terrible price of Helia’s fame.

Hagrid leaned across the table. Behind the wild beard and eyebrows he wore a very kind smile.

"Don' you worry, Helia. You'll learn fast enough. Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you'll be just fine. just be yerself. I know it's hard. Yeh've been singled out, an' that's always hard. But yeh'll have a great time at Hogwarts 

"Yeah, it'll be great, aside from the people who try to murder you every year," Neville said.

-- I did -- still do, 'smatter of fact."

Helia shared a smile with her friends, even after all the crap that happened to them Hogwarts was still home.

Hagrid helped Helia on to the train that would take her back to the Dursleys, then handed her an envelope.

"Yer ticket fer Hogwarts, " he said. "First o' September -- King's Cross -- it's all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she'll know where to find me.... See yeh soon, Helia."

“He didn’t tell you how to get to the platform?!” Lily exclaimed in worry.

“Don’t worry Mum, I managed, alright.” Helia promised her worrying mother.

The train pulled out of the station. Helia wanted to watch Hagrid until he was out of sight; she sat clothed in her new outfit watching and leaning against the window, but she blinked and Hagrid had gone.

"I didn't know Hagrid could apparate!" Lily gasped.

"He took a portkey, my dear girl." Dumbledore explained.

"Oh, that makes sense."

"While Hagrid's means of travel are interesting and all," Susan piped up, "The chapter's over. Who wants to read now?"

"I'll read," Madam Bones offered. Susan handed the book to her Aunt.