HELENA POTTER

HELENA POTTER

Chapter 1: HELENA

Early in the morning, there was a loud bang in the dark, peaceful street of Diagon Alley. A car had smashed into a street lamp. Out came a tall man with a very long, pure white beard with golden eyeglasses perched on his abnormally long, crooked nose. His name was Albus Dumbledore. This man was wearing a long navy robe, flying gracefully at his feet. He chuckled and said, " Oh, I always knew I wasn’t used to muggle vehicles". He stumbled out, and muttered" Reparo". At his words, the street lamp and the car noiselessly repaired themselves. This man was different from others. He was a wizard, from a school of witchcraft and wizardry. He strode into the lightning sunlight and glanced sideways at an old lump of blankets and ragged cushions. He walked up to the hastily made house and peered in. Inside, was a small, homeless kid in the same ragged blankets. However, the ragged clothing and house couldn’t hide her exceptional beauty. She had dark red waist-length hair. The headmaster, chuckling, said “So like her mother. Looking exactly alike!” 2 hours passed silently until the girl woke up, and spotted the man staring avidly at her. She looked at the man and whispered “who are you?” in a quivering, small voice. The man chuckled, and replied, “I am Albus Dumbledore, from Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. You may call me Professor Dumbledore.” The girl, startled, pinched herself, yelped, and murmured, “this isn’t a dream, this isn’t a dream...but how?...”. The headmaster smiled, chuckled yet again, and said, “as you, Helena, is a witch, and you will attend Hogwarts from now on.”

“Helena? Helena? My name is… Helena? And… I’m a witch?” asked the girl, bewildered but amazed.

“Yes, indeed, you are. By the way, and in my great apologies, but can you, in any possibilities, tell me whether you have a strangely shaped scar or any injuries?” Asked Professor Danistel, now his eyes twinkling, and smiling at Helena.

Helena, her suspicion now decreasing by this kind pleasant man, said uncertainly, “Well… I do have a weird scar on my right arm… Take a look, it’s right here.” and she showed the headmaster her forearm, which had a serpentine S on it. To her astonishment, the headmaster didn’t look oddly at the scar or didn’t show any trace of disgust or horror at the sight, different from most people. On the contrary, his face suddenly became serious and solemn, as he murmured

“Looks exceptionally like the Dark Mark, this is a major problem.”

“the dark.. what was that?” asked Helena, still puzzled that the headmaster’s expression suddenly changed. In his cheerful tone, Professor Danistel let out a chortle and said, “Oh, never mind. So, just to make sure, you are 11 years old?”

“Well, I don’t know for sure. You see, I did count down the days, or anything. But I do think that I am 11. Why?”

“Then you will be able to attend Hogwarts this year. You may equip the needs for Hogwarts, and ride the Hogwarts Express until 11 o'clock... The full explanation will be in this envelope” he pulled out a white envelope with the seal having the crest H on it, “and of course, the train ticket will be in here, too.”. Said Professor Dumbledore, in his calm voice. But Helena had spotted several problems ”bbbut, I don’t have any money, and how am I supposed to go to London by 11 o'clock? Wait. What time is it now?” she stammered, spilling the questions and astoundment of what was happening right now in one go. Dumbledore, smiling pleasantly, said “There will be an assistant for you. He’s name is Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. You will find him charming. Oh, he’s coming.” Sure enough, a figure loomed into view from the distance, in the morning fog. At first, she didn’t notice, but as Hagrid came closer and closer, it became clear that he wasn’t ordinary. He was about twice the height of an average man and was nearly 5 times as wide. He said, in a loud voice “Professor Dumbledore, sir. I was waiting at the gates, but you didn’t come, so…” He shifted his feet and looked down, and spotted Helena. “You must be Helena! Nice to meet ya,” he said gruffly, sticking out a frying pan-sized hand. Helena shook 3 fingers, and her suspicion long since gone, she smiled and said “So, what are we going to do now? What are we about to do?” unable to hide the eagerness in her voice. Dumbledore turned towards Hagrid and said kindly “Well then, what about going to Diagon Alley? It’s going to be a busy day, and we haven’t got much time.”

“Yes, Professor”

Hagrid said cheerfully to Helena “So, Helena. We are gonna go to Diagon Alley first.”

“Umm.. how are we going to go to the ‘Diagon Alley’?”

“Oh, no problem. We’re gonna have to go to the underground first. Well, see you at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore.”

Hagrid set off, and Helena trotted along with him, just about to appreciate that this is the luckiest day she had ever had.