Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, just my OCs. Still a fan who used to have free time.

A/N: It appears it hasn't taken me an entire month to upload this time. This chapter deal with some of the fallout from the previous ones action.

Chapter 5: The Letter

Helen had awoken in an empty hospital room. She had initially been confused at the lack of Hector's snoring, but then the events of the last 24 hours came rushing back and with it, the fearm

She had felt fear before. Being afraid of being caned by her overtly strict mathematics teacher in school. Being afraid disappointing Gran Gran with her chores. The fear of her classmates in school realizing her socks were torn hand outs the orphanage got for Christmas. But this was different. A type of fear she had felt for her very being, for her life, a fear that perhaps as long as she had something there would be people to take it. And yet, it had come from a place of supposed trust.

Yes, given that she never truly did trust her adoptive parents, were they not supposed to be her protectors. Had Gran Gran, not entrusted them with the responsibility? Were there not laws in place to protect people like her? If she could not trust the semblance stability that family, adoptive or not, is supposed to symbolize what was there to trust? It may have been grief, but those moments in the kitchen of her supposed new home had scarred her. Left an unimpressionable note on her, none more so than her thwarted attempt at escape. It wasn't the fast that she had been cornered by the big behemoth of a man, but the sheer weight of his grip. If his companion could hurt her so with just a swat, what would be done to her now that she was beginning to understand just who these people were.

She was hyper ventilating.

She felt an eerie light green glow on the inside of her left wrist, flashing lightly. As if on cue, a woman wearing unnatural garbs threw the door open, the sound causing her to wince as if been struct.

"What happened? When did you wake up?" the woman inquired, thought said it as more of an accusation.

Still not having calmed down, Helen some how choked out, "I, I don't know!" Her eyes shot right open at the sight of a wooden stick in the woman's hand. What shocked her more, was the sudden glow at its tip. Not clearly understanding what was happening or the intention of the woman in strange coating, she doubled over and screamed.

"What is wrong with you girl, have you never seen magic?" ground out the woman, " Now lie down straight so that I can perform the diagnostic charms necessary!"

Still having no idea as to what on earth what was going on, she tried to jump over the bed's railings became suddenly nauseous and dizy before her feet hit the floor. Before she knew it, she has heaving uncontrollably, vomiting whatever contents, her empty stomach had in it before loosing her consciousness again.

oooo000oooo

"It would be better, had you allowed me to attend to her first. She is a muggleborn first who is to start at Hogwarts this year. Given she was never told of her magical heritage and in light of her recent experiences, it was natural for her to act the way she did."

"A muggleborn?" the woman snorted.

"Yes Sylvia, and I would request would request a more gracious attitude towards her, in her time here. She has been through a lot," said Savage.

Sylvia Blackridge was a the sole heir of the Blackridge family, one of the family lines branching from the legendary Blacks. Not unlike then, they were known to favour the more to pureblood suppremist ideals although not as blant in their support of You Know Who in the first war. She had known Savage from their time in Hogwarts, and was currently the head nurse for childcare in St. Mungo's.

"This is my area of power Savage. You have no right to dictate how I should do my job."

Savage sighed. It was not unlike for Sylvia to be like this. The girl had always been obsessed with whatever she could control. She saw first hand from the injury on her house elves when they came to apparate her home. The pureblood witch thinking it beneath her to ride with muggleborns on the train. Luckily she expects her to be nowhere near as brutal towards children, or Merlin forbid the things she would do to this bitch, because St. Mungo's being under the Ministry of Magic, meant that it wanted to maintain a muggle friendly image. That wouldn't stop the bitch from sneering and being outright rude though.

"Can I at least break it to her, about her magical heritage."

"It better not coincide with my rounds."

Savage smiled, "Same place for lunch?"

Sylvia's features formed into something resembling contentment, "Same place."

Savage put on a satisfied grin as the nurse left, proud of her ability to tolerate the presence of absolute assholes.

oooo000oooo

It was night time, Helen though as she regained her conscience again. The small gap between the curtains showing the dark sky told her so. Her head still hurt, but she noticed the pain on her left eye and cheek were almost gone. However, the realization that she couldn't see out of her left eye made her start to panic again.

"It's bandaged," came a voice seemingly from her left. "You can't see from your left because it's bandaged."

There was an odd familiarity to it. She turned her head as the woman from earlier came into view. "You suffered from an orbital fracture," there was a strange restraint to her voice, as if she was trying to withhold any semblance of emotion from it. "There had been swelling, the healers were able to mend the bones but the swelling will take some time. Also, the impact of the head trauma gave you a concussion so I would advise against sudden movements or the nausea would return." All Helen could do was nod at that, perhaps a bit too swiftly then she would have liked and was reminded of the advice the woman had given just now.

Obviously, from her very posture Helen could tell that this woman could be very intimidating if she needed to be, from her broad shoulders to her strong build. A hard jawline that could withstand a fair blow, brows that seemed to naturally bend into a frown and a withered cheeks. But despite everything, one look at her eyes put her at ease. The pale blue orbs that bore such a natural compassion seemed to betray her otherwise cold features. Despite still being nervous, she asked, "Who are you?"

"Law enforcement," the voice felt far more natural this time, having regained some of it's trademark sternness she vaguely remembered from their first encounter. Helen smiled a little, received that the woman too was started to feel at ease. The woman's eyes seemed to expand ever so slightly at her smile, a brief glance of confusing flashing over them. What had she said again, law enforcement?

"Oh," she thought out loud without thinking about anything in particular, "You were here for them…" was all she could say.

After a moments silence, the woman tried to reassure her, "They are gone, you are safe now." All Helen could manage was the barest if nods to acknowledge that she was still following. "You never have to fear then again, you will never feel hunted again."

Helen's lips curved into a wry smile, "How am I supposed to do that?" This time around, it was the woman who surprised her, reaching into her robes she pulled out an envelope and handed it over. The red wax seal still felt warm to the touch. Helen's eyes widened at realizing who the letter was addressed to. "To Miss Helen Perkins, 511 Spinner's Hedge" it read.

She had never gotten letters. She didn't even know there was anyone alive to send her any. Could it be that it was from an estranged family member that had wanted to contact her and bring her over. Could it be, her heart gaia lurch, her mother? She gave a hurried look to the woman beside her. Her emerald green eyes spilling over with eagerness and anticipation. The woman gave a soft encouraging nod accompanied with a faint nod. Having the confirmation she needed, Helen dove right in, ripping the wax seal from the opening and pulling out the parchment that was responsible for her renewed hope. It read:

"Dear Ms. Perkins,

We are pleased to inform you of being assured a place in Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

Attached is a list of necessary books and stationary for the new term.

Class starts on September 1st. We will be expecting a reply within the 31st of July.

Sincerely,

Minerna McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Hogwarts"

Helen looked backed at the woman with a look of indignation, only to be even more confused when she said, "You're a witch Helen"

"What?" was the only answer she could manage at that time.

ooooo000oooooo

Severus was not expecting any visitors. He never did.

The events from the previous day lad given him a shattered nose and a moderate concussion. They had had moderate success in repairing his nose, with the cartilage being far too many pieces for them to perfectly piece back together and the effects of the concussion still being felt with his apparent nausea. As a result, he was stuck in a patients room with an uncomfortably large bandage on the front of his face.

Despite his protests the Healers at St. Mungo's had forced him to stay overnight. He didn't see a reason to remain any longer considering they couldn't help him any further aside from a few potions for his concussion that he could easily prepare himself.

However here he has, having to entertain one of the incompetent aurors that always took so long.

Being a professor of Hogwarts, Severus was given one of the more lavish rooms in St. Mungo's, with it's own fireplace. This was why when the auror haf settled herself down, the flames of the fireplace burst it the familiar green indicating that of a floo connection and formed into the face of Dumbledore.

"Ah Severus, it seems that you have already met auror Savage," said Dumbledore from the fireplace, the twinkling of his eyes evident despite being formed of emerald flames. "It appears there has been some form of mistake regarding the girl from the previous day. As you know, the school of Howgarts is imbued with the magic from it's founders to select the students deemed worthy to attend. Children of magical parentage are sent letters of acceptance by owl whilst the letters to muggleborns are sent with a member of our staff, to explain to the family of our world. Sadly, the obituary that lists the names to attend classified Ms. Perkins as a Half Blood but did not specify that she was adopted by muggles."

Severus gave a snort, with his broken nose sounded more like a gurgle. The sound caused Dumbledore to wince before he continued, " Naturally as you are the closest faculty the responsibility of introducing the girl to the wizarding world," Severua raised an amused eyebrow, " But as you are currently too wounded, Auror Savage has graciously offered to do so for you. I wish there are no objections from your end?"

"None Headmaster," was Severus's affirmative reply.

"Also Severus, I would expect an audience once you have fully recovered. Thank you Auror Savage for this offer. Hogwarts wishes you their gratitude," and with that the green flames blew out before returning to the mild orange hue of before.

Severus looked at the auror inquisitively. Savage answered his gave with a shrug before leaving.

oooo000oooo

Helen was never truly an ambitious person. Never expected anything meaningful to have to happen in hers, to be given an opportunity. Growing up at the Hedge, she had no reason to be. But what she heard after she had opened that letter was far beyond anything she could have ever imagined.

Of course given the last time someone gave her such an opportunity they ended up being a pair of scoundrels, there was something about the woman that dissuaded all her fears. How can someone so compassionate look to harm her right? Last time around, she could detect the businesslike manner they dealt with her. What did they call her, 'The Product'? Yuck. But this was different. She knew it! Being this starved of love all her life, she just knew when people genuinely cared.

Then there came the part about actually trusting and believing what the woman had said. That Helen Perkins was a witch. A being from fairy tales and the lot. The woman had explained times when she might have performed 'accidental magic' as a child, but Helen couldn't recall anything that seemed out of the ordinary or unexplainable from her childhood. Then again, she did have a rather definite affinity towards animals, recalling that time she had somehow made it out alive after falling into the lion's pit when Gran Gran had taken her to the zoo for her seventh birthday.

She had always had an affinity of sorts towards animals, perhaps explaining her relationship with Feebus. But believing something so overwhelming wholeheartedly was another this. Every time the woman would pause in her speaking Helen expected her to break out in a fit of laughter and tell her it was all some sick joke. Yet it never came. After each pause or question from her end, she continued with the same sincerity in her eyes that had brought her so much comfort the day previous. With each passing moment Helen felt herself at last believing and even relishing this new spectacular life that awaited her.

Suddenly, the conversational tone in the woman's voice was gone. Her shoulders narrowed in and the slight smile of hers evolving into an expression far more neutral. What was to come was clearly serious.

"Ms. Perkins, I know that it is all to take in at once," Helen nodded swiftly, although a smile of ample cheek plastered to her face. "If you uh… look at the attachment in the letter it clearly states that you need supplies I doubt an orphan would be able to afford."

This time, the woman swallowed a large gulp before continuing, "I would therefore want to be your adoptive mother… I am not asking you to make a decision now, but in the event you do I will contact Ms. Bingsley and take care of the formalities and paperwork."

Helen looked at her, somewhat confused. She asked, "That's great, but I still don't know your name…"

The neutrality of her expression was gone for a moment. Replaced by a face, had Helen not seen her kinder side, that would have sent her soul to oblivion. With a shaking hand, she patted her forehead and chided herself with a barely audible whisper of "Stupid!" Yet before she could fully register, the face was gone, returning to her usual professional neutrality. She stiffly got up and raised her hand to Helen and said, " Hello Ms. Perkins, I am Gertridge Savage. Savage for short. Pleased to meet you."

"Uhh… Sure.." was all Helen could muster. Savage stepped back brickly and brought out another surprise for her. A cat. Feebus.

"Oh my, yes! Thank you Ms. Savage," said Helen as the cat snuggled up to her neck.

"I had him washed as I didn't want you getting an infection. Try getting some sleep now. I'll see you tomorrow," said Savage as she made to leave the room.

"Goodnight!" Helen called out from behind her. Hearing so, Savage turned as if confused, but her shock dissipated into the growingly familiar smile.

Helen felt elated for once. Despite all that had happened, here she was, in a magical hospital about to start her life as a witch. The presence and familiarity that Feebus brought amongst all the unknown and uncertainty brought a soothing sensation over her healing but bruised body. Curling her hands over her feline friend, she drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Hopefully next chapter we can have Helen finally reach Hogwarts. Fingers crossed it doesn't take me ages. Please review.

PaigeHowlett: I'm glad that you are enjoying the story. Hopefully you'll enjoy this too.