AN: Hey there! This story was originally posted on the Harry Potter fan pages I admin on Facebook, and then on Wattpad, and was suggested to post it here too. So I hope you enjoy! I have a passion for writing, and would hence appreciate constructive criticism. Please note that English is NOT my first language, and so I may have made some mistakes even though I've spell-checked every chapter. Please review. I'd love to hear what you all think! ^_^
Chapter 1: -
Helena watched her mother descend gracefully down the grand staircase with a pang of jealousy in her heart. Her mother was better fitted out than her.
"Rowena, how beautiful you look! Would you like to dance with me?" said Godric Gryffindor, holding out his hand.
"Oh Godric, you are ever so flattering," said her mother. She took his hand and as though on command, the music began.
Even though she had tried all the magical enchantments she could find to fix her hair more beautifully than her mother, yet her mother, who had tied her hair merely using a velvet blue ribbon— the Muggle way— was being courted while nobody looked at Helena, younger, smarter, and more charming than her mother.
It was a day before Hogwarts would open its doors to its second year, and yet again the four founders of Hogwarts— her mother, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor— would spread their arms to welcome students, old and new. A last day of dance before a year full of exams.
Helena went to her mother and tapped her on the back, saying, "I'm going to my room." for she could not wait to escape the Great Hall, from the so-happy people inside it oblivious to her beauty, and get inside her room.
"Why, Helena? The party has just begun!" her mother asked.
"Mother, I do not feel well," Helena replied, turned, and strode away from her mother.
"Alright, Helena. Take care, dear; choose wisely"
Her mother's words reached out to her even as she made her way to the secret entrance that led to the founder's resting rooms.
Choose wisely.
The same kind advice in the same kind voice. She hated them so much.
Helena sat on her bed, still in her silver dress, listening to the distant sounds of the party. The tower her room was in was exactly opposite to the Great Hall, its walls muffling any sound originating within the castle. Even if half of the castle blew apart, all that she would be able to hear would be the sound of a Remembrall falling on the heavily carpeted floor. That was, of course, presuming the part that blew apart didn't include her.
Helena wiped her tears with the frills on her sleeves, and thought, "What do I lack? I have all the qualities required to outshine any witch that walks the face of this planet— grace, elegance, etiquette, finesse, beauty, calm and charm, I even have my mother's — …do I?"
And suddenly, she understood—
That to become perfect, she would have to become smarter than her own mother.
She paced up and down the room, ideas whirling in her mind. She could look for a spell…or an exercise, perhaps? She thought of her mother, the look of calmness on her face, her eyes gleaming with kindness, almost like beads…and the diadem. The ornament that always perched on her head, as though it was made only for its wearer, it had become part and parcel of her image…till now. Amazed by how quickly she had riddled it out, she recollected…the diadem was supposed to give wisdom to its wearer, right? She had heard this when she had gone down to an inn cum pub in Hogsmeade…One Broomstick, its name, wasn't it? It did feel slightly awkward listening to villagers gossiping about one's own mother, but she had joined them to pass the time, and a few free swigs of Butterbeer of course.
…Only if she could have it…
Helena stood up, a look of determination and a hint of thrill seeping through Cuppycake's one and only, cake makeup that she had used full two containers of. She made up her mind. She would have it.