*A/n: I'm updating on Friday (today) like I said. A big thank you to Anasazi for the review! To answer a few questions…This chapter tells what happened to Kevin. I also got the idea of the ashwinders and their eggs from J.K's Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. OoO and guess what! SPRING BREAK YA'LL! That means I'll probably update more too.

Chapter 7: Start Your Broomsticks

"C'mon Hurry!" Ginny said, gently shaking Helen out of her slumber.

     "Why?"

     "We're going to Hogwarts of course!"

     "Oh." Helen said dispiritedly. She was still worried about what had happened to Kevin. Was he alright? Was he hurt? Did Voldemort's followers take him too?

      "Hey what's this?" Ginny inquired curiously.

      "Photo Album."

      "May I look through it?"

      "Doesn't matter."

Hermione walked into the room.

      "Get ready and then come downstairs for a quick breakfast." Hermione said before noticing Ginny completely engrossed in a thin blue book of some sort.

      "What's that?" Hermione asked.

      "Helen's album."

Hermione sat down next to Ginny on the opposite bed just as they had done the previous morning.

      "Who's that?" Ginny asked. Helen walked across the room and glanced over her shoulder.

      "That's me, Kevin, and Bianca."

      "Wow! Kevin's cute! Tell us about him." Ginny shouted excitedly.

      "How quickly you forget Dean." Hermione said slyly.

      "There's nothing wrong with learning about different people." Ginny spoke indignantly.

      "Well...he's in seventh year...plays Beater and was Quidditch Captain...umm...he's Head Boy and about one of the greatest friends a girl could have. Bianca is also a good friend, just like he is."

  Ginny flipped the page and at that moment Fred and George appeared.

      "Woah! Hot pic, Cliff." George stared.

     "Thanks. That was at the Halloween costume party."

     "They should have had one of those at Hogwarts."

     "Hey! That's Quod practise!" Helen said eagerly as Ginny kept turning the page. "Oh and this one was for a Muggle Studies project on what job you could do if you were a muggle. My group all said we could be dancers so we did a performance."

      "Nice outfits too." Fred added.

      "Hey who are they?" George asked as he pointed to a large group photo."

      "Well...at the left is Harvey, he's cool once you befriend him. Next to him is Bianca. The girl beside her is Sabrina. She's a bit on the melodramatic side but life is always fun around her. Kevin and I are the ones at the end."

      "We'd better get downstairs before mum has a fit and we'll leave Helen to get ready. Hey do you mind if we keep looking at this down there?"

      "It's fine with me." Helen mumbled distractedly. Ginny and Hermione grabbed their trunks and sent them downstairs by the door before sitting down to breakfast. Ron and Harry wondered what the others were looking at.

      "What've you got there?" Ron asked.

     " Pictures."

     "What kind?"

     "Of the sky." Fred said sarcastically.

     "Yeah, it's a new form of divination...interpreting the future by counting the number of bird-shaped clouds there are." George added, tossing the book at Ron while he and the others started eating. Ron and Harry went through her school pictures and some with her friends when suddenly Dumbledore's face appeared in one.

     "Oy! How did he get there?" Ron asked. "How do they know each other?"

Harry got the feeling that someone was right behind him. He turned behind and saw Helen looking at the two of them with an almost frantic look.

"Oh umm." she started, thinking up a good explanation. "During break I usually go to the summer house in Florida. Dumbledore usually checks...I mean...visits...often."

     "So your guardian lives in Florida?" Hermione questioned.

"No. He lives...somewhere else."

    "England perhaps?"

    "Perhaps."

Hermione nodded in understanding. Harry had no idea why it mattered where Helen's guardian lived.

     "Eat up! Eat up!" Mrs. Weasley commanded, interrupting Harry's thoughts.  In ten minutes they were boarding the knight bus. Mr. Weasley couldn't get ministry cars, not because of Arthur's connections with Dumbledore, but because Fudge was getting even more paranoid about attracting Voldemort's attention to the ministry. All the passengers on board were flattened as the bus kept traveling at top speed. Many stops later they reached King's Cross Station. Only Harry and Hermione were observant enough to notice that Helen just walked straight through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 without hesitation. This seemed strange considering that someone who'd never attended Hogwarts knew exactly how to get to the platform. Harry said goodbye to Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Moody, and Lupin before joining the others on board the train.

      "Well...er...we've got to go to the-"

      "I know." Harry cut Ron off. Ron and Hermione had to go to the prefects' compartment, so Harry, Ginny, and Helen found seats with a blond girl reading the Quibbler and a round faced boy holding up an odd plant.

       "This is Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom." Ginny introduced.

       "Nice to meet you." Helen said quietly.

       "I haven't seen you before." Luna stated.

       "Transfer student."

       "Where from?"

       "Salem."

       "Oh!" Luna began excitedly. "So you were there when they discovered Muckaw Smilars in the school that ate those two students?"

       "Uh...actually I was one of those two students and what exactly is a Muckaw Smilar?"

"It's a deadly child eating monster." Luna explained calmly. Helen raised an eyebrow as she looked from Luna to the Quibbler and back to Luna again.

       "So what did you get on your O.W.L.s?" Neville asked conversationally. Harry grinned. He'd actually managed to get all the Owls needed to continue on his way to possibly becoming an Auror.

       "Seven." Harry answered happily.

       "Gran would have been ecstatic if I'd succeeded in getting that" Neville muttered sadly.

       "What did you get?"

       "More than two." Neville said sadder still. They didn't prod him further.

       "What about you, Helen?" Luna asked.

       "ten" Helen mumbled quickly. They stared.

       "Book worm."

       "I don't normally study but seeing as the classes are getting tougher and O.W.L.s are important...I was forced to."

       "You're a real Hermione."

       "Why? What did she get?"

       "All of them probably. She's brilliant."

      "Books, Neville." Hermione said happily as she and Ron walked into the compartment. "Books."

While they were there they played Exploding Snap, Wizard Chess, and talked about how glad they were that they didn't have to worry about N.E.W.T's until seventh year.

The trolley came by and they bought chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes, and other food items. Helen was just throwing a horseradish flavored bean out the window before the glass door was opened and in stepped two beefy characters on both sides of a pale pointy chinned boy whom Helen had to admit, even though she wasn't a fan of pallidness, this teen male looked VERY appealing.

      "Doesn't this look heart warming." Draco spat moodily. It was evident he was furious that his father had been sent to Azkaban thanks to Harry.

      "Sorry you can't join our heart-warming group, seeing as you haven't got a heart." Harry responded coolly.

     "Stuffing your face, eh Weasel? Joined in by Potty and the Mudblood." Draco said in barely a whisper, but in the silent room, everyone heard and stood up.

      "How's your dear old dad, Malfoy? Have the Dementors given him a little kiss yet?" Harry laughed. Draco's face darkened as he whipped out his wand but Harry was expecting this.

      "Expelliarmus" Harry bellowed. Draco flew into his cronies.

      "You'll pay!" Draco yelled as he, Crabbe, and Goyle left the room.

     "Bad mood he's in." Ron noticed.

     "We'd better leave as well." Hermione said. After they left Harry, Neville, and Helen changed into their Hogwarts robes. When it was time to get off the train they grabbed their pets...Hedwig, Buster, and Trevor as they walked toward the carriages.

     "Omg!" Helen gasped. "Thestrals! Thestrals pulling the carriages."

     "They're okay." Harry answered quickly. He wondered who Helen knew who had died but then he remembered she was parentless. He turned behind him to ask her something but then she was gone. 

      "Where did Helen go?" Harry asked the others. They shrugged their shoulders and he looked curiously through the throng of students but couldn't see her. Harry did spot straight, long, dark hair identical to Helen's but it proved to be Cho. He stared at her coldly. He didn't want anything to do with HER after constantly reminding him about Cedric and going out with Michael Corner. That's when he noticed the Head Girl badge on her robes. He turned his head away and sat down inside the carriage. After a while their ride ended as they reached two large oak doors and walked through them. The three marched through the entrance and into the great hall where Harry sat with Ron and Hermione.

        "Where's Helen?" Ron asked immediately.

        "Dunno." Harry replied, looking around.

        "Well she has to get sorted, hasn't she?" Hermione said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world...and it actually should have been.

        "Oh yeah. You reckon she went across the lake with the first years?"

        "Possibly."

        "Hey...who's that next to Hagrid?" Hermione asked in an edgy voice.

        "Oh, that's...she was at the hearing last year." Harry answered promptly. Then he noticed someone else. "PERCY!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared as they saw the third eldest Weasley son who had severed ties with his family sitting at the staff table.

         "Please tell me he isn't the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

         "More than likely he's the new High Inquisitor." Hermione frowned. "I believe that woman...Madam Marchbanks will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

         "Oh my life is going to be miserable!" Ron moaned bitterly. "Percy! aUgH!"

*A/n: I wanted to write Mundungus Fletcher as DADA teacher and get rid of the whole High Inquisitor thing but...yeah. Fletcher would be too busy with the Order and stolen items and Percy...well didn't Fudge want to spy at Hogwarts? I'm sure Fudge MIGHT have lightened up a little at the Dumbledore-was-right-about-Voldemort thing and may even ask him for advice again but I don't know...we'll see when the 6th book comes out I guess. I may be psychic but I'm not a mind reader... especially when it comes to J.K.'s stories...I mostly go by feelings and intuition so Sorry!

The Great Hall was silenced when Professor McGonagall walked in, setting the sorting hat down on the stool. Usually the first years would follow her in but this time she entered alone. The hat sprang to life and started to sing:

        Four great founders had goals to reach,

Unified by their want to teach.

None of them wanted to fool,

Towards decisions made for the school.

There was one issue that could not be decided

And this is why the houses are now divided.

For Gryffindor wanted those who were brave

And Hufflepuff admired those who could behave.

Slytherin was fond of students that were cunning

While Ravenclaw adored the ones whose cleverness was stunning.

If you all have listened to me,

Then you should have been able to see

That as a team we shall prevail

But separated we're certain to fail.

For now I'll look at you within

And sort you, so let us begin.

The students stared a moment, waiting for the Sorting hat to continue but no other sound came so they all began to clap.

        "That's got to be the shortest sorting song I've ever heard!" Ron said curiously.

Before Hermione or Harry could say anything, Professor McGonagall began to speak.

        "On behalf of certain events that have occurred this summer...Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be delighted in accepting three transfer students."

 Helen, a blond, and a brown haired boy stepped forward. The students in the hall murmured amongst themselves and fell silent.

        "Sixth year: Cliff, Helen." Professor McGonagall said. Helen walked forward cautiously and sat down on the stool as the professor placed the hat upon her head. Harry could see how nervous she was and then after a few seconds the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR". Harry cheered along with the others as she gave a radiant smile as she sat down next to Ron. The applause subsided quickly.

        "Sixth year: Killert, Bianca." Professor McGonagall read from her parchment.

"She's definitely not a Slytherin." Helen whispered confidently. "I've read all about the houses and she's not evil or conniving or even pure blood. Ambitious yeah but-"

        "SLYTHERIN" the hat shouted. Harry looked at the stunned expression on Helen's face and the equally surprised look on Bianca's face. The Slytherins were gleeful that Gryffindor wasn't the only house that had a sixth year from another school.

       "Seventh year: Relle, Kevin."

"I hope he's a Gryffindor!" Parvati whispered to Lavender and they both broke out in a fit of giggles.

       "GRYFFINDOR."

The girls clapped and cheered a great deal louder than the boys and the girls from the other houses sulked a bit.

       "He's like Cedric Diggory reborn!" came someone from the Hufflepuff table. Kevin sat down between Helen and Ginny.

    "I'm surprised Bianca didn't make it to this house with us." Kevin whispered before McGonagall beckoned for the first years and called out "Apilgus, Henry."

    "Same here." Helen said slightly bothered. "RAVENCLAW"

    "Where are you from?" Lavender asked Kevin above the cheers.

    "Salem." Kevin worded "Bulby, Sara." "HUFFLEPUFF"

After a few minutes they finally called "Yules, Xavior" who became a "SLYTHERIN"

 "Welcome students of new and old!" Dumbledore said, standing up. "Tuck in!"

    Tons of food appeared on the table as the students started to indulge in it.

 "So why aren't you or Bianca at Salem?" Helen asked as she helped herself to some salad.

      "You didn't think we'd leave you here alone did you? Sabrina and Harvey tried but their parents forbade it."

"But isn't switching schools going to be really hard for you, especially? I mean with N.E.W.T.s and everything?"

      "I suppose." Kevin said unconcerned. "You need Salem support!"

"I have Alby."

      "He'll be busy."

Harry didn't think he heard right. Why would Dumbledore be...

"Dumbledore's your guardian!" Hermione said triumphantly. "I knew it!"

Helen looked like she was going to hit herself.

    "My gosh! I let it slip in one day!"

"Dumbledore is-" Ron said in awe.

    "My guardian, yes. Please don't say anything to anyone." Helen whispered. "Please."

 "We promise." Harry said immediately. "So, who else knows?"

"Mrs. Baker at Salem. Then there's McGonagall here...and that's it."

 Helen hastily changed the subject and they continued talking until their plates were wiped clean and Dumbledore stood up.

"Now that everyone has finished their meal...I beg you'll allow me to make the start-of-term notices. To all the first years, new students, and older students who should have this engraved in their memories...the forest on the grounds is out of bounds to all students. Mr. Filch insists I remind you all, as with every year, that magic is not allowed to be put to use in corridors between classes and so are plenty of other things. For the full list of forbidden items, check Mr. Filch's office door. We have two fine people joining us this year.  Firstly, welcome back Hagrid as Care of Magical Creatures teacher. (brief applause) We have Madam Marchbanks as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. (More applause) Hogwarts has a new High Inquisitor...Mr. Percy Weasley! (Polite applause) Quidditch try-outs will take place fairly soon. Check your common room boards for exact details."

Dumbledore dismissed everyone. Ron and Hermione ran to help the first years get to the common rooms as did everyone else and before Harry, Helen, Kevin, and Neville knew it they were in their four poster beds and fell right asleep.

*A/n: As I reread this I realized it was a pretty boring chapter but it's important because it showed that Dumbledore is Helen's guardian and I couldn't skip parts like the sorting ceremony and such. Anyway…the next chapter is sure to bring out a twist to the plot.