(A/N: Oops! I made a mistake in calculations. The prologue should take place in 1964, not 1963. Helaine should've been turning 6--- 1963 would make her five! Sorry for the error!)

A Helaine Story

Chapter One

Five years and some months had passed since I was inflicted with my curse. Five years since my life had been forever altered. Internally I was a changed girl, but outwardly, to my family and my friends, I was the same Helaine. I still enjoyed tea parties and Quidditch, but now I also lusted after blood. The cravings, however, were cut short as my potion was administered by Master Kendle. He had made several adjustments to the potion, just as he had promised. I could now step into the sunlight, without it burning my skin and I could enjoy a semi-normal life, the abnormality being the supplied potion once a month.

"Oy! Helaine!" A voice snapped me out of my revere. I glanced up to see James whizzing towards me on his new broomstick, quaffle in one hand.

"What?" I asked.

"As much fun as it is to beat you, its not as much fun to sit here and score while you just stare into the sun, I'm trying to practice being a better Chaser," he pointed out.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"Just get back to the goalpost."

"Yes, Mo-ther!" I said over my shoulder as I flew over to our make-shift goal post. It was a stick stuck in the ground taped to another stick with a basket taped to that stick. It looked tacky, and the "goal" was not nearly as big as a standard hoop. I tried telling James this, but he insisted he'd be even better practicing with a small hoop. Sometimes, James was so hard-headed.

The quaffle came roaring towards me, so I put my hands out to stop it. Amazingly, I caught the quaffle! But then, it slipped through my hands. I sighed, I really detested being Keeper. Why was I always Keeper? Oh yeah, because James was a rotten brat who liked to get his way, and he would throw a tantrum if he didn't get it.

James flew towards me, his face red and scrunched.

"You didn't even try!"

"Yes, I did!"

"No, you didn't!"

"Did so!"

"Not!"

"YES"

"NO!"

"YES!"

He pushed me, and my broom moved back. I grunted and shoved him back.

"You're not supposed to hit a girl!"

"I didn't even hit you! Anyways, who said you were a girl?!" He mocked.

I had been flying towards the house when he said that. I swerved around and hovered next to him, my eyes narrowed and my hands balled into fists.

"SHUT UP!"

"Make me!"

James laughed and aimed his broomstick for the forest. I shot off behind him, hoping to catch him and throw him into the pond. We flew hard and fast over the forest, the trees looking less like trees and more like green lines.

"Aww, her can't catch meeeee!" He said mockingly.

I growled and sped up. I was getting closer and closer. I could almost reach the twigs on the back of his broom…I stretched my hand out when suddenly he stopped. I went flying into him, and we almost crashed.

"Why—" I was cut off as he put his hand over my mouth. "Shhh," he said. "Look!" He pointed down into a clearing in the forest. There were a group of wizards, all dressed in black robes. Their faces were masked, and they seemed to be whispering to each other. I struggled to remember the name of this group. I didn't read the Daily Prophet much, but I had heard my mother and stepfather talking about a group a men, and sometimes women, pushing pureblood ideology on the Wizarding world.

"Death Eaters," whispered James.

"Death Eaters?" I wondered aloud.

"Yeah, I heard mum and dad talking about them. They were the ones who killed the Jones'." He said quietly.

I looked back down at the masked group, in horror and anger. The Jones' were an ordinary muggle family, never knowing of wizards or witches until the Death Eaters tortured and murdered them. It was one of the few stories I had read in the paper; that was until Mum snatched the paper away from me. James and I stood transfixed as the wind tickled the trees below us. The sun was hot on our backs and bright in our eyes. I shivered thinking how the little Jones girl was our age, my blood ran cold as I had read the methods in which they had tortured her: rape, knives, curses, hexes, all at eleven years old.

"James, can we go?"

He nodded, his complexion as pale as I felt. With one last long look, he turned around, towards the house. His eyes met mine. "I will kill them someday."

His determination and confidence unnerved me. How could gentle Jamie be so fierce and cold? I didn't know that part of him. My eyes fell back on the group below us. I didn't know murder in anyone. How could someone else take a defenseless, innocent life. How could anyone treat another human being so? How could anyone inflict a terrible disease, a disease that had one desire the blood of another, on anyone? I could not understand that; but I did understand my hatred and anger towards those who committed such evil acts, and then I knew how James felt.

We flew back to the house in silence. The wind howled in our ears and around our bodies. Over the treetops we went. By the time we reached the house, I was panting.

"Do we tell mummy and daddy?" I whispered to James.

"Ummmm…" He moved his shoulders up and down. "I dun't want to get in trouble, but, death eaters in the forest? That can't be good…."

"Do we tell them?" I repeated, looking anxious.

"I gue---" He was cut off when Mummy shouted at us from an upstairs window.

"Get in here you two! I have a surprise for the both of you!" She called, her black hair glossy in the sunlight.

We glanced at each other and raced through the door, pushing each other. We staggered up the stairs, each one grabbing the other. Racing into Mummy and Daddy's room, we stood side by side, pinching each others elbows, and nudging each other.

"What is it Mummy?" asked James.

She smiled, her teeth perfectly white and straight, her hazel eyes gleaming at her two muddy, dirt smudged children, with messy hair.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands," she instructed. We closed our eyes, though opening one to glare out at each other. "Closed!" she repeated, trying not to laugh. I stretched out my hands, and something papery and small was placed in them. I opened my eyes and gasped! It was a letter! And it was addressed to ME!

I eagerly ripped it open, and James did likewise. It was a letter from Hogwarts! I was screeching (enough to make Mummy cover her ears) and jumping all around.

The letter enclosed said:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Dumbledore,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I looked up at Mummy, grinning widely. I turned to James, who looked at me.

"We're going to Hogwarts!" He cried. Then, James, Mummy and I did a little dance in a circle.

"Can we go to Diagon Alley when Daddy gets home?" I asked eagerly.

"Possibly," Mummy said, smiling wider at my eagerness. I went to her and hugged her, and she kissed me.

"My babies," she said pulling James to her also. "They're growing up!" She sniffed and started tearing up. I looked at James who grimaced, neither of us liked it when she got teary-eyed.

A few months later and there we were, on platform nine and three-quarters. My heart thudded in my chest, and I felt sick. I was excited to see Papa again, but I also didn't want to leave the comfort of Mummy and Daddy. I stood still and silent against the hustle and bustle of all of the students. James was grinning, and anxious to get away from our parents.

I turned and gave both Mummy and Daddy a hug and a kiss. With a huge breath I picked up the edge of my trunk and stepped on the train. I was surprised to discover that James was not behind me. Well, wasn't that nice. I decided to then find a compartment to myself. I walked down the train aisle, looking for an empty compartment. The last compartment I found had a boy with shiny black hair. His hair reached his shoulders and was very oily. His skin was sallow and his nose was hooked. He turned his coal coloured eyes on me and stared. I opened the door and smiled at him. He didn't return the gesture, so my smile faltered.

"Can…can I share this compartment with you?" I asked shyly.

He shrugged, and turned his eyes to the window. I stood up on the seat and grabbed the trunk in my arms. I heaved my trunk overhead and I struggled to push the heavy trunk into the upper cabinet. It wouldn't quite fit, so I shoved and grunted.

"A little help here would be nice," I said sarcastically. The boy looked up at me and said "It would wouldn't it?"

I glared at him, and with an angry nudge I got the trunk in. I panted, knowing my face was pretty red.

I plopped down into the seat across from him and reached into my jacket pulling out a rather large ham sandwich, one that was obviously meant to be shared, but why should I share with the idiot across from me? It didn't matter that he was giving it a rather wistful, hungry look. It didn't matter that when I looked up he quickly looked away clenching his jaw; and it most certainly didn't matter that his stomach growled rather loudly. I picked up the sandwich and took a rather large bite. I moaned and sighed.

"Mmmm," I said. "Not too sweet and not too salty. Just right…" I sighed again.

It was then I noticed his clothes were old and torn in places. I noticed he was very skinny. He probably didn't have any money nor any packaged food.

"Want some?" I asked, breaking the sandwich in half and offering it to him.

He frowned at me and said through gritted teeth, "No thank you."

"If you're sure…I'll leave half for you, I couldn't possibly eat all of this." I said. "I'm Helaine, by the way." I offered my hand.

"Severus," he said, placing his hand in mine, hesitantly. His hand was cold, but I firmly shook it anyway.

"Nice to meet you. What house would you like to be in?" I asked.

"Slytherin. My mum, Eileen Prince, was in Slytherin," he said.

"Really? That's interesting. My mum was in Slytherin, but my father and stepfather were both in Gryffindor," I said. I knew I was a chatterbox, but Severus did not seem to mind.

"I would like to be in Gryffindor or Slytherin. I feel like there's some prestige in those two houses, more so than Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. We always hear of the great or awful deeds done by Gryffindors or Slytherins! I mean its so interest—" Severus cut me off.

"Why do you care what anyone else thinks of you?" he asked in a mournful tone.

"Oh…I was just….I…guess I was raised that way," I said quietly, humbled.

"Ah," he said. I shrugged and stood up. I put down the other half of the ham sandwich. I made my way to the bathroom. When I came back, the ham sandwich was gone. I glanced at Severus, who was looking out the window. I settled back into the seat and sighed.

"This is going to take forever…." I sighed.

Severus pulled out a book and started to read. I tilted my head, but the title was partially obscured by his hand. It was a potions book. Oh, well I knew a little bit about potions, maybe I could start a conversation.

"So, you like potions," I said.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"Master Kendle once told me—" I was cut off, when Severus looked up at me with an expression of interest. "You know Uriah Ian Kendle?" He asked.

"Yeah, he makes my Blood replenishing potion," I said offhandedly.

"Blood replenishing?" He was interested, very interested now.

"Yeah, I have a blood disease," I hated talking about my 'disease,' but it was necessary to explain why Master Kendle would send me a potion once a month.

Severus smiled, making him look very awkward. I found it endearing and we continued to talk about Master Kendle's works. Suddenly, it was dark and we were almost there. I took my trunk down and pulled out the uniform.

"I'm going to go change,' I said smiling.

Severus nodded and indicated he was going to do the same. I left and put on the robes. When I joined Severus once again, he had also donned his black robes. I tapped my feet and drummed my fingers on my knees.

"There it is!" I cried and Severus jumped up. We looked out the window to see the gray castle lit with an orange glow. The lake rippled in the moonlight, and looked just magnificent. I was so excited I wanted to throw up. We were there.

We followed a haughty looking Professor McGonagall into the great hall, whose bun was so tight; it pulled back the lines on her face, making her look ten years younger. There was a stool and a hat in the middle of the stool. The brim of the hat opened like a mouth and began to sing; at which point I began to daydream. I barely heard the hat sing about brave Gryffindors, cunning Slytherins, loyal Hufflepuffs and smart Ravenclaws. I desperately wanted to be in Gryffindor or Slytherin. I imagined myself in green and in scarlet. I looked damn good too, in my minds eye.

"Dumbledore, Helaine!"

I jumped up and stumbled over my own two feet. There were snickers from the older students. I glanced over to my Papa and waved. He waved back and I sat myself on the stool. The hat was placed over my head, and my vision was impaired.

Brave, intelligent, loyal and cunning, whispered a voice in my head.

I was a little shocked. I'd known that the hat could talk, but its voice in my head was still a little alarming.

Trying to fool the world, Helaine Gisella-Rosemarie Dorea Dumbledore? Hmm, more cunning than I though. Little Dumbledore, I remember your father. Highly intelligent. Hardly ever seen any as intelligent as him. Where to put his baby? The hat said.

I fidgeted in my seat. It was taking quite a long time for this hat to decide. I just wanted it to shout my house.

Oh I know…Why don't we put you in……

"SLYTHERIN!"