*A/n: Whoops! I thought I'd already put these chapters up! Oh well! I'm adding Chapter 7 on Friday (tomorrow). Thanks to Anasazi, cherrykisses92, gboyary, and firepixie0071 for reviewing!
I'm so incredibly happy! You guys are the greatest! And thanks also to my friends Cindy, Paige, and Kyle for reading this too.
Chapter 4: Mingle
"Should we wake her?" whispered a soft voice.
"She might get really mad. You know how Americans are."
"How ARE Americans?" Helen asked laughing. Ginny and Hermione had surprised expressions on their faces. They didn't know she'd been awake long before they opened her door.
"Oh, well..." Hermione said turning pink. "I just meant that-"
"No big deal." Helen grinned. "I'm Helen."
"I'm Ginny Weasley and this is Hermione Granger." Ginny announced as she and Hermione sat on the empty bed across from hers.
"I woke up before everyone else did. Professor McGonagall came by to drop off some of my things." she explained, pointing at her trunk. "And my letter." she pointed to an envelope on top of the trunk. "And Buster." she pointed to a tiny blue speckled bird on top of the wardrobe.
"Oh my gosh!" Ginny squealed. "It's a Jobberknoll! It's so cute! Where did you get him?"
"My guardian." Helen answered. "So why did you guys want to wake me?"
"Just thought we'd introduce ourselves seeing as we'll be spending today together until we go to Hogwarts." said Hermione.
"OoO can I hold him?" Ginny asked. Helen made this weird noise that sounded like a whistle and a clicking sound combined and the Jobberknoll flew down noiselessly and landed on her shoulder. Then she pointed at Ginny and it flew into her lap.
"I wonder if my trunk has Hogwarts robes." Helen mumbled aloud.
"You're going to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Salem isn't exactly the safest place for me to be right about now."
"Why not?"
"You'll see in today's paper." Helen predicted.
So tell us about yourself."
"What do you want to know?"
"Ummm well..." Ginny stopped. "If there's a question we ask that you don't want to answer we understand completely." Hermione finished for her.
"Sounds like a good deal." Helen mused.
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"So you're in fifth year."
"Sixth. Skipped ahead."
"How's that possible?"
Helen considered something a moment before replying.
"I started school at nine almost ten years old instead of eleven. Dad had to donate a pretty hefty amount of galleons before the Ministry allowed it. Dad used to be a teacher...or professor you call it... at Salem. Taught me all sorts of spells and jinxes no kid my age was allowed to learn. Cost him galleons for that too. Next question."
Ginny was quiet before asking another one.
"What was it like at Salem?"
"Fun. Kevin and Bianca as well as Harvey and Sabrina made sure of that."
"Did you play Quidditch?"
"Somewhat...the big sport was Quod."
"Er..."
"Quodpot...you know...like Quidditch but different."
"We know." they grimaced.
"I was Quod Captain but with Quidditch I was only reserve keeper."
"You got to play two sports?" Fred said as he suddenly appeared.
"Yup." Helen answered.
"Cool." said George.
"My brothers Fred and George." Ginny explained. The twins sat down on the floor.
"What you gals doing?"
"Asking Helen questions."
"Hey I've got one."
"Shoot."
"Why?"
"No. It's slang for 'go ahead and ask'."
"Would you like some trick sweets George and I invented?"
"You invented?"
"Yeah!" Fred said proudly. "Just don't tell mum we asked you. She'd have a fit."
"Ask her about the sweets later! We're asking her important questions."
"Then don't mind us."
"How did you get your hair wavy like that? It was straight before."
"Really important." George sniggered.
"Answering that question will solve life's mystery that will." Fred snickered.
"Something I made." Helen answered.
"You make things too?" Fred asked incredulously.
Helen nodded.
"What kind of bird is that?" asked George.
"Buster, my pet Jobberknoll."
"Aren't there feathers used in truth serums?" Fred asked eyeing the bird with interest.
"Yeah. You can have these loose ones if you want." she said thrusting them in their hands.
"Cool. Thanks."
"COME ON DOWN FOR BREAKFAST!" said a loud voice.
"That's mum."
Chapter 5: Merger
*a/n: Harry's P.O.V. (point of view)
Harry and Ron went together downstairs. Moody, Lupin, and Mrs. Weasley were already there.
"Good morning Harry, dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Morning Ron."
"Morning mum."
"Morning, Mrs. Weasley." Harry mumbled. He was extremely tired because he'd forced himself to stay awake after having an awful nightmare.
"Now boys...I don't want you asking Helen anything that would upset her okay?"
"Of course we won't!' Ron said outraged. "D'you think we'd purposely do that?"
"Purposely no. Accidentally yes." Mrs. Weasley cut him off before he could reply. "Be nice. It's going to be hard for her to adjust to Hogwarts."
"Why should it?" Harry blurted out. "Hogwarts is the best-"
"She had friends, Potter!' Moody barked. "Aside from her guardian her friends are the only people she's got. Do you think it's going to be easy for her to leave it all?"
"Well...not really." Harry admitted.
"Who is this guardian anyway?" Ron asked.
"I think she'll tell you when she feels like it." Lupin deduced. Suddenly Fred and George appeared, followed by Helen, Hermione, and Ginny. Harry noticed Helen looked a bit more at peace than she did last night.
"That's Harry Potter." Ginny indicated to him. "And my brother Ron."
"Hi." she said.
" 'lo." was Harry's answer. He expected Helen's eyes to go wide (not that it needed widening) and to take a glance at his scar but instead she just smiled and sat down next to Fred.
"They make them pretty good at Salem." Ron whispered." but of course Hogwarts has its goodies too." he added. Harry nodded in agreement. Cho, a Ravenclaw, whom he'd had a crush on for a long time was a really pretty girl. The only problem was that their relationship ended quickly and she'd moved on to another guy.
"D'you reckon there'll be another Yule Ball?" Ron asked hopefully.
"I don't think so." Harry replied. "I think that was just for the Triwizard Tournament." Harry froze. The last thing he wanted to talk about was the tournament that people had died in...that Cedric had died in...and Voldemort had come back because of it.
"Too many serious things have happened. They wouldn't have any celebrations anytime soon." Hermione said wisely.
Mrs. Weasley got up and came back, passing out envelopes to all of them. "Booklists. I'll get the books for you once breakfast is over."
"Can I go with you?" Helen asked eagerly.
"Ummm I'm not sure your guardian would like that." Mrs. Weasley pointed out.
"I need galleons though."
"Got it." said Mrs. Weasley tossing a large pouch at Helen. "He brought it this morning."
"What about Hogwarts robes."
"In your trunk supposedly."
"But-"
"Sorry, dear. A...ah your guardian wouldn't allow it."
"Alright." Helen sighed.
Mrs. Weasley gave her an apologetic look then turned to the others for support. Before any of them could say anything Helen suddenly started screaming.
"ASHWINDER! THERE'S AN ASHWINDER!" Helen yelled, staring at a thin and grey snake with red eyes sliding down the stairs and then hiding in the shadows. All of them jumped up in alarm. Moody, Lupin, and Mrs.Weasley pointed their wands at it but before they could speak it turned to dust and they could see four brilliantly red eggs glowing from the shadows.
"Helarse" shouted Moody, Lupin, Mrs. Weasley as well as Helen and Hermione in union. The eggs turned blue instantly.
"There may have been more ashwinders set loose in the house!" Moody shouted. "Search the dark places in the house, check the fireplaces, and freeze the eggs!"
"Those who don't know the Freezing Charm stay here!"
Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George stayed behind while the adults, Hermione, and Helen separated. After about thirty seconds there was a loud scream and a thud upstairs. Harry started running and the others followed him. When they reached the top they found Kreatcher attempting to run down but Fred grabbed him by the arm. Helen was standing near three blue eggs and was breathing heavily.
"What was that loud sound?" Ron asked.
"Are you alright?" Ginny asked.
"That...that thing was pouring...(she pointed to a bottle lying on the ground) that into the fire. Ashwinders can only come from a fire with a magical substance in it that has gone unattended and unsupervised."
"Is everyone alright?"
"What was that loud noise?"
"Everywhere was clear below."
"I don't think there are anymore," came the voices of Moody, Lupin, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione.
Helen stared sheepishly at the others.
"I guess the...house-elf scared me. I froze the eggs but then it...I mean...he just jumped out and I kind of knocked over the chair. That must have been the sound you heard." Helen explained.
"How could the ashwinders...(Mrs. Weasley stopped after looking at the bottle on the floor) has Kreatcher been..."
"Get downstairs." Moody growled. "We'll figure this out."
There were seven shouts of complaint but Mrs. Weasley shooed them out the door.
Chapter 6: Fruity
*a/n: Helen's POV again.
"That mad elf has been nothing but trouble!' Fred spat.
"Disgusting, filthy little-"
"We should still try and be nice to him!" Hermione said. "Dumbledore-"
"Why keep that thing here anyway?" Helen asked as she joined the others at the table, unfolding the daily prophet.
"He knows too much about the order." Ginny explained. "He mostly spends his time now with Buckbeak."
Helen gaped at the paper in her hands.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
They crowded around Helen to read the headlines.
Salem Institute Attacked
The ministry has been notified that last night the illustrious Salem Institute has been broken into. Witnesses say that seven hooded wizards came in without warning and demanded to speak with the Headmaster whom they stunned, as well as the teaching staff and a few students.
"It was really frightening." said a fifth-year. "We saw two students who actually managed to run from the room but they weren't seen again after that. The teachers told us they were alright though."
Whether or not the two missing students are unharmed is a mystery. The staff at Salem only revealed that the wizards were American and that none of the students were injured. The United States Ministry of Magic will be investigating further.
"Well that doesn't seem too bad." Ron spoke up. "No one was hurt."
"They said two students were missing." Helen whispered. "I'm one of them but Kevin...what happened to Kevin?'
They were quiet. No one seemed to have an answer for her but the silence was broken by footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Well I'm on my way to Diagon Alley!" Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully. "Moody's going on some business so Lupin will stay here with you. Behave."
When Moody and Mrs. Weasley were gone Harry suddenly seemed to remember something.
"What's with Ashwinders? Why do you freeze the eggs instead of destroying them?"
Lupin laid seven eggs on the table.
"They give off intense heat and can burn an entire house in a matter of minutes."
"Oh."
"Their eggs, when frozen, can be used in love potions."
Fred and George gave each other odd looks and tried to mask it with false angelic smiles.
*A/n: *sigh* I'd rate this chapter a 6.1 and the next one too but 8 will be much better in my opinion. Hehehe. R/R. Did I mention that I update every Friday and earlier sometimes? Just checking!
