Before I you start reading, I want to just quickly let you know that one of the main characters I talk about in this story doesn't appear in JKR's books, I created her. This might put you off, but please give her a chance, even if you just read a couple of paragraphs. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Thanks! This story is from the point of view of characters that were significant in Helene's and Albus' lives. I hope you enjoy the story, some of the dates and ages of the characters may be wrong, but I shall try my best to make it enjoyable without you shaking your fists at me in frustration. Enjoy! J

September 2nd 1971

Minerva McGonagall

The first lesson with the new students was always my favourite. Their innocent faces eager to have their thirst for magic quenched made being a teacher worthwhile. I threw a glance over the new comers and looked for potential. This happened to be my own house and I wanted to know what I was dealing with. In the corner there were a couple of scruffy looking boys, who I could tell would be trouble makers. If I only knew what the future held for James Potter and Sirius Black, I would have acted differently around them. A young redheaded girl sat nearby, looking shy and vulnerable, but it was obvious she would make something of her time here at Hogwarts. Her name was Lily Evans, known to you as Lily Potter. There was only one more person who intrigued me. Actually, Helene Clearwater intrigues everyone who has ever seen her, now and then. Another redheaded girl, this time more of an auburn. The first thing to catch my eye was her beauty. She had massive green emerald eyes, shining like they had the strongest enchantment on them, framed with long, elegant lashes. She threw out an aura of pure attractiveness and beauty, but seemed oblivious of this. As I recall, I stopped in my tracks, much to my embarrassment. I didn't care though. The thing that was the most amazing was the magic. It stuck to her left right and centre, longing for her embrace and care. She it oozed from all of her pores, this I have never seen in all my life and will never again. I knew from that second she was special. She hadn't even opened her mouth and all the wisdom of magic she could not possibly know whizzed around her. Her gift was yet to be uncovered by us professors here at Hogwarts. As I awoke from my dream, I realised everyone was staring at either her or I and this made both of us blush, the scarlett flush contrasting beautifully with her creamy skin and causing her to let out a shy giggle. I realised I must remain professional and continue with my lesson as planned. As with all first years, I asked them if they had ever had any experience with magic. Half the class raised their hands and shockingly, Helene did not. I thought it maybe was just the confusion that had caused the previous illusion, but I had never been more wrong in all my life.

It came to the point in the lesson where I stopped talking and let the students perform their first spell. A simple transfiguration of a matchbox to a dormouse. It may seem easy, but the art of performing your first transfiguration spell takes weeks, if not months. Three students offered to try it first, including a ratty boy with the name Peter Pettigrew, none of them succeeding and returning embarrassed to their seats. Of course I reassured them that this was expected and it would take much practice to perform the spell. As I glanced around the room to look for more volunteers, Helene put her hand up and I, naturally, did not refuse. My curiosity would not allow it. She took out her wand and placed the matchbox elegantly in her left hand. In a pure, crystal clear voice she said 'serotopial'. The box started to morph slowly, but then getting faster, until it eventually stopped. Then, with a faint pop, a pure white dormouse with a fluffy coat and twitchy whiskers appeared where the matchbox once was. Half the students at O.W.L level could not perform the spell to such a high standard. My jaw reached the floor. I was amazed. Everyone proceeded to clap, the previous failures a little more reluctantly than the others, and once again her cheeks flushed a rosy pink colour. She returned to her seat, barely managing to sit down before the bell rang.

'Well done class, I am very impressed with what you have achieved this lesson. You may all return to your common room. Miss Clearwater, would you mind staying behind for a moment?'

Helene Clearwater

A thousand and one feelings rushed around my head at that moment. Had I done something wrong? Was I in trouble already? What could I have done? Minerva McGonagall had a certain reputation, one that was enough to send an urgent shiver of worry down my spine and make every individual hair alert. Fearful for what was about to occur, I slowly took a step towards her. And then another, and another, until I had reached the stern transfiguration mistress. She looked statuesque, her neat bun not having a single strand of her ebony hair out of place, the lines etched on her aged face being perfectly symmetrical and her impeccable regal posture made her tower above me. I tried to mask my nerves, that were now so severe that my stomach felt like gigantic butterflies were going to burst out of it at any second, but all it resulted in was a very definite gulp.

'You w-w-wanted to see m-me pro-f-f-essor?' I managed to stammer out, while simultaneously trying not to faint.

'Yes Miss Clearwater, I did. Am I correct in saying that you have never performed magic before this lesson? I couldn't help but notice that you didn't raise your hand.' Oh no, I'm not going to be expelled for not knowing magic, am I? Others in the class were in the same situation, but they weren't here! Maybe they lied to make me seem stupid. No, they wouldn't do that…

'Y-yes Professor, b-but I'm a fast learner and I'm sure that in time, I-I'll be able to ca-catch up with-'

I was stopped in my tracks as a smile that would have made the Cheshire cat proud was placed upon Professor McGonagall face. Then, she let out a loud ringing laugh that bounced off the stone walls, making all my previous worry fade away into nothingness.

'My dear, it seems that you have grasped the wrong end of the broomstick. You are not here because I feel you are an underperformer, in fact quite the opposite! You completed that spell with perfection. Would you mind doing so again?'

I could hardly believe my ears; the strict Scottish teacher was giving me a compliment! On my first day! I withdrew my want out of my fresh maroon robes and studied it a moment before casting the spell.

I was immediately cast back to the day that I ventured into Ollivanders, an excited young witch hungry to venture into the world of magic. My dreams could not be fulfilled though, until I had bought the trusty friend that is I would heavily depend on in the future. It took a while to find the appropriate one, but when it was placed in my hands it was as if I was complete, even though I never knew a part of me was missing. I stood admiring it for a while. It was made of silver lime, a beautiful pale wood with undertones of green and silver, which reminded me of the reflection of Christmas lights in shop windows. The core was a single strand of unicorn hair, which I imagined shone like the pearly shadow of the moon. My favourite part though was the intricate detail that had been carefull carved upon its surface. A vine of ivy, each single leaf delicately shaped to be unique to its brothers and sisters, climbed up the wand, entwining perfectly with my fingers as I lightly flicked my wrist, begging that this was the wand for me. All of a sudden, Ollivanders was plunged into darkness. For a moment I lost all hope and was on the verge of crying for I believed that the wand and I were not destined to become one. Then, an eerie glow started to come from the walls. Wondering what it was, I stepped closer and then realised that each individual wand box was being lit from within, filling my body with the warm substance that is hope. Every single wand in the whole shop began to shine brighter and brighter, reaching a crescendo, until eventually I had to close my eyes. It was at this moment that the lights were restored to normal and Ollivander threw me a wide smile and told me that he expected great things from me with that wand. I refused to take my most precious possession out of my hand for the rest of the day, in fear that it was going to be taken from me.

As I awoke from my dream, I couldn't help but notice Professor McGonagall chuckle lightly under her breath, sending blood into my already rosy cheeks and causing me to flush furiously, a habit that I never managed to rid myself of. Focusing on the task at hand I placed a matchbox in my palm for the second time that day. I thought of what I wanted the mouse to look like, before reciting the enchantment. The box spun in my hand for a few brief moments, before it vanished and there in its place was a sweet little mouse, this time with a sooty coat, much like the colour of the sky on a starless night. It let out a little squeak, making me giggle lightly. I moved my gaze to the witch who was leaning over my shoulder, but she was not looking at the mouse like I had been previously, but at me. This time I did not blush, but threw myself into her arms for I was so full of joy that I couldn't think of not sharing it with anyone else. She told me many years later that the hug caught her off guard, which I had registered already from the brief expression of surprise that was inflicted upon her face. It didn't last long though and cascades of laughter were released from her thin mouth as she wrapped her arms around me. It was at this moment that my friendship with Minerva McGonagall was founded, a friendship that would last as long as we would both live and beyond. If you are reading this now Minerva, I want to tell you that I love you, am still thinking of you and I am so honoured to call you my best friend. Thank you.

'Come on little one, I think it's time that we take you to see Professor Dumbledore.' She managed to whisper out after her peals of laughter had left her breathless. And with that I took her slender hand and allowed myself to be lead to the headmaster's office, where I was going to meet the man that would change my life forever.

Albus Dumbledore

On the day that I met Helene, I remember sitting at my desk, filling out a Honeydukes form for my next order of Sherbet Lemons. For some reason or another, they never seemed to last long. I quickly scribbled down 58 bags, but then thought better of it, as I really was eating too many sweets. I let out a sigh and reluctantly wrote 47 bags in its place, hoping that they would last for at least a week or two this time.

I saw Fawkes head cock to the side briefly, letting me know that someone was about to enter. He really was the most incredible bird, his burgundy plumage shining brightly in the midday sunlight. I quickly shoved the forms into the bottom drawer of my desk, in fear that Poppy Pomfrey was about to burst through the doors and give me another hour long lecture about how sugar will rot my teeth and then I'll regret it. Three sharp knocks was all it took and he knew who was there. Confirming my suspicions, my deputy came bursting through the doors, her normal sense of calm lost to the winds, making me arch an eyebrow that would make her proud.

'Minerva my dear, whatever is wrong, I haven't seen you so excited since Flourish and Blotts had a half price offer on all animagi books!' She didn't even roll her eyes at me or open her mouth to object to my teasing.

'I have someone that I want to show you. You might be a bit surprised Albus… but in a positive way.' Minerva had a slight tone of mischief in her voice, one I hadn't heard in a while. What treasure could she about to show me? 'Helene, you may come in now'. Minerva McGonagall was addressing a student by their first name? Had someone abducted the real transfiguration mistress and slipped a couple of her fine hairs into a polyjuice potion? Before I had time to finish my train of thought, the student in question walked through the door and into my life.

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