*A/n: OMG! I just finished crying my eyes out. In this book I was reading called "Samurai Girl: Book of the heart" (it's the 5th book in the series) the guy DIES! AUGH! DO YOU KNOW HOW AWFUL THAT IS? IT'S LIKE SIRIUS DYING IN THE ALL OVER AGAIN! Is number 5 like the magic number? If you write a series are you allowed to kill off THE MOST AWESOME PERSON because it's the 5th book? AUGH! I'm so devastated I don't even want to talk to anyone right now. I couldn't even finish reading the book. HIRO SHOULD HAVE LIVED! Thank goodness I writing this story already or I'd probably have killed off every character. *sigh* I think I'm feeling a bit better now. Man, do I get worked up over books or what. Omg I better not start crying again…

Chapter 13: Adds Up

Dumbledore POV

Dumbledore waited in silence on the fifth floor of St. Mungo's Hospital. Maybe Helen wouldn't have needed to be there if he'd stayed with her instead of going after Neil. He could have forced her to fight it. No... there was nothing he could have done.

      "Professor."

He turned around. A Healer called him over to where she was standing.

      "Good day...night. Good evening Professor." she said.

      "Evening, Sesame."

      "I hoped we wouldn't be meeting again. That would mean bad news for Helen."

Dumbledore knew what she meant. Helen had been in Mungo's for the same reason before. She had Salucidi then and it was still with her now.

       "What stage is she in?"

       "The first. Hopefully she'll come out of it and we can try preventing her from lapsing into Salucidi again."

       "Is there anything we could possibly do for her right now?"

       "No. Professor...with all due respect, perhaps I should refresh your memory on what we are dealing with. Please follow me into my office."

     (Once inside the office)

     "Professor, Salucidi is a...a disorder...a very uncommon and deadly disorder. Only twelve cases were ever reported in history and only one has survived it so far."

     "Helen's mother."

     "Yes, Butica was the first. We'd been close with the Craw twins. Anyway, there is no cure to Salucidi. There is only the hope that the patient has enough will to live.

Salucidi patients undergo the three stages before death. We can only help them after they've awakened after the third stage to prevent them from going to the fatal fourth."

     "The first stage is anger."

     "Right. The inflicted would go into a murderous rage."

     "Second deals with deep despair in the subconscious."

     "Right."

    "In the third the patient would wake up but be in some sort of trance."

    "Correct. That's when we try awakening them. We give all sorts of potions in the hopes that they'll be filled with happiness long enough to fight Salucidi on their own, for it is they themselves who fight it. If they choose death over life...the body shuts down and they do indeed die."

    "So the effort involved in staying alive would be similar to fighting the Imperious Curse. Will power."

     "Except harder." 

Dumbledore sighed. He'd taught Helen to fight the Imperious Curse but that wasn't enough. Under the curse, if he'd asked her to do something that would jeopardize her life or embarrass her she wouldn't do it but if it was something she herself would do in her normal state she'd do it.

       "Go back to Hogwarts, Professor. Your students need you."

       "I have to be here for Helen."

       "Come back Christmas Eve."

       "That's in four days."

       "I know. She'll be in the third stage then."

Dumbledore nodded and turned to leave.

       "Professor..."

       "Yes."

       "Bring anyone close to her with you when you return."

       "Will do."

       "Professor..."

       "Yes."

       "She's not her mother. Butica didn't have the same pain Helen has. This isn't the first time Helen's been in Mungo's but hopefully...this will be the last."

*A/n: I know that Helen having "Salucidi" (letters of 'suicidal' rearranged) only complicates things and isn't really imperative to plot but in a way it is because it gives the character more...character! Now that I think about it...Helen's character is 60% like my sister's 20% like mine (I'm like my sister in many ways), and 20% just random people that I've read about or met.

________________________________________________________________________

Harry POV

 It was Monday night. Harry had long finished dinner and was playing wizard's chess with Ron.

Hermione was on the couch talking with Ginny. Once again, Hermione had cut her holidays with her parents short.

        "Knight to E5." Ron laughed. "Check mate, mate!"

        "Good game. Play again?"

Ron's answer was drowned out by Mrs. Weasley's shout.

        "Beds all of you."

They admitted they were tired but they were reluctant to get up from the living room, past Mrs. Black's now quiet portrait, and go upstairs for bed. As they reached the staircase there was the sound of the door opening. They looked at each other questioningly. No one was due to come in that late. Who could it be? They put a hand over their wands just in case and walked cautiously by the door.

        "Professor." the heard Mrs. Weasley exclaim.

        "Forgive me for startling you. I knew better than to ring the doorbell at this time of night."

        "It's no problem."

        "Are Ron and his friends asleep?"

        "We aren't." Harry said walking in with the rest of them. Harry noticed that Dumbledore looked even older than usual.

        "Have a seat." Mrs. Weasley offered.

        "No thank you, Molly. I won't be staying long." He looked at each of them. "Helen's in the hospital."

        "What!" they all shouted.

        "How could this happen? What's wrong with her?"

        "She has Salucidi." Dumbledore said quietly.

        "Oh gosh."

        "What's that?" Ron asked.

        "Oh Ron! It's horrible!" Mrs. Weasley cried. "Only a few people ever had it and they all died!"

        "All except...one...Helen's mother."

        'Well then that's good right?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "I mean that means she can too."

        "The Healers are unsure. They don't know much about the disorder."

        "We'll go to St. Mungo's right away." Mrs. Weasley said immediately.

        "Not yet, Molly." Dumbledore said. "She hasn't gotten to the crucial stage yet. Perhaps...on Christmas Eve if you aren't too busy...you and the others would like to visit for a minute or so."

        "Of course we would." she spoke for everyone in the room. "The poor dear."

Dumbledore smiled and left. Harry shook his head in confusion.

        "What exactly is Salucidi?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley.

        "Well...you know all those people who are so sad that they kill themselves?"

        "Helen commit suicide!" Ron shouted.

        "No, no, no." Mrs.Weasley said quickly. "Well not yet."

        "Not yet!"

        "Listen first!" Mrs. Weasley shouted. "Salucidi is a condition where a person can become so stricken with grief that if they wanted to die...they could actually make themselves do it."

        "But Helen wouldn't do that."

        "I wouldn't know about that, Harry. If you'd had all your worst memories replayed over and over in your head for days...I'd think it would be very temping to take the easy way out and give up."

        "But it can't be worse than dementors."

        "Harry...dementors you can use the Patronus Charm and it goes away. A few seconds of sadness tops. I'm talking days. That's why only one person's lived."

Harry frowned. Why didn't Helen tell him? He thought she'd told him everything that night...but wait...

        "She told me." Harry mumbled.

        "What?" Hermione asked.

        "Helen told me about it. She'd let it slip how some people used to think she was unbalanced in the head and dangerous. She said there was a reason why she shouldn't get angry."

        "So you think she was talking about Salyousiddy?" Ron asked.

        "Salucidi"

        "Whatever."

        "So what percent chance does she have of living?"

Hermione thought a moment.

        "Scientifically...or whatever the wizard term...17% chance. But under the circumstances...10%"

This left none of them in a cheery mood. How were they supposed to have a good Christmas when they're friend had a ninety percent chance of dying!

       "Up to bed." Mrs.Weasley mumbled.

It took them all a while to get to bed and it proved to be a long restless night.

________________________________________________________________________

Helen Trance POV

Her mother was dead. Her father was dead. Her uncle was dead. Bianca and Kevin wanted to murder her. Voldemort and his followers were attacking her. Everyone was against her. Everyone wanted her to die. She was heartbroken. She was torn apart and ripped in shreds. She should die. She would die. She had to die. She was supposed to die. But she wasn't dying. Why?

Albus: Helen.

Helen: Alby! You're here! You're going to rescue me!

Albus: No. I cannot help you. Only you can do that Helen.

Helen: What's the point of living? I'm just dying inside anyway.

Albus: Helen.

Helen: Yes.

Albus: Harry needs you.

Helen: No he doesn't. No one needs me. They're better off without me.

Albus: Harry needs your help. He's hurt too. You have to survive. You have to help him.

Helen: Go away.

Albus turned. He left her to brood on her sadness. End her pain! End it now!

Yes. She wanted to live. But how? No one could help her. She needed help. Could someone help her? Would anyone help her?

________________________________________________________________________

Mrs. Weasley, Moody, Lupin, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny walked down the hallway, outside a door where Kevin was standing alone. He was wearing all black (a little bit of grey) and on his shirt were the words "Major Jerk" which obviously meant his clothes reflected what he was feeling.

        "Hi." Hermione said. "You alright?"

He only shrugged his shoulders and stared at the floor. Must be hard on him; liking someone who was in a very bad condition.

        "Will you five be okay alone? We're going to go get some tea." Mrs. Weasley said. They nodded. As they left they heard some shouting from inside.

       "Who's in there?" Ron asked.

      "Dumbledore and Mrs. Baker." Kevin mumbled.

      "What's going on?"

Ginny pulled out a few extendable ears.

      "Anyone fancy finding out?"

      "No!" Hermione said immediately. "It's Dumbledore you all are planning to listen to!"

No one seemed to pay any real attention to what Hermione was saying.

      "What if it's about Helen's condition? He wouldn't mind if we listened in."

Reluctantly she listened in using the Extendable Ear.

        "She is going back to Salem where she belongs!" came an angry voice.

        "Salem is no longer for her." said Dumbledore.

        "Who says? We'll just have to add some extra protection. Besides...England is the real danger! You-know-who is there!"

        "Voldemort can easily travel to the United States as his followers did in August."

       "Well at least at Salem she didn't have another Salucidi attack!"

       "Mrs. Baker...I assure you...Hogwarts is the best place for her."

       "NO! SALEM IS! Her friends are there! I am there! I know what's best for her since I am her guardian!"

       "You're not her only guardian."

       "Helen is unhappy here! Her condition proves it! She's leaving this place A.S.A.P!"

       "Perhaps...we will let Helen decide."

       "IF SHE EVEN LIVES THROUGH THIS!"

The door flew open as they all stepped back to let Mrs. Baker past. Her face was red with rage. Dumbledore stood at the foot of Helen's bed, holding a bag. He motioned for them to come in. The room was completely bright. There wasn't a single black or grey thing in the room. The walls had a few pictures and rainbows pained on it.

        "I'm sure...if Helen were awake she'd thank you for coming."

Helen looked dead. Her face was pale and her body seemed alot smaller than normally. The oddest part was seeing her (blinking alot slower than most people) staring at the ceiling with no emotion under her usually sparkly eyes.

        "Healer Sesame is waiting for her last words."

They looked at each other...clearly clueless on what Dumbledore meant, except Hermione.

        "I spent yesterday looking through our Defense Against the Dark Arts book...under the dark afflictions and I read on Salucidi...limited information really...and when you say 'waiting for her last words' do you mean the last thing the patient says just before either waking out of their trance or...dying."

        "Right you are, Hermione."

They were all very quiet. This was serious. This was really serious. As soon as she spoke...they'd know if she would live...or die.

After a few minutes...

       "Maybe you all should get some tea." Dumbledore advised. "It may take days for her to wake."

They turned to go...but...sheets were stirring. They spun around. Helen faced a picture of a rainbow. Her eyes fluttered for a moment and then an angelic song came from her mouth.

       "Ginny...get Mrs. Baker quickly." Dumbledore said very fast. Ginny ran out.

      "Why are there so many songs about rainbows? What's on the other side?

Rainbows are visions, but only illusions. Rainbows have nothing to hide.

So we've been told and some choose to believe it, but I know they're wrong. Wait and see. Someday we'll find it. The rainbow connection. The lovers. The dreamers.

And me."

Mrs. Baker burst in the room and ran to Helen's side while Ginny stayed back with the others.

" Who said that every wish could be heard and answered?

Who wished on the morning star?

Somebody thought it up, and someone believed it.

And look what it's done so far.

What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing? What do we think we might see? Someday we'll find it. The rainbow connection. The lovers. The dreamers.

And me.

Oh the sundering spell. We know that it's probably magic..."

A tear rolled down Helen's cheeks and she continued singing in the same sweet voice.

"Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices, as I've heard then calling my name? Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?

The voice might be one in the same. I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'll find it.

The Rainbow Connection. The lovers. The dreamers. And me.

La-de-da-de de-da-da la-de-da-la-de-da-do"

          "The song her mother sang to her as a little girl." Mrs. Baker whispered, crying.

Helen's song ended with its last soulful note. She turned to all of them and smiled.

________________________________________________________________________

Helen POV

Helen blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust to the bright room and then smiled weakly. Then suddenly Mrs. Baker had her arm around Helen and was sobbing.

      "Tori!" Helen said, surprised. "I'm okay. Honest."

      "No you aren't! You'll never be fine as long as you are away from Salem."

Helen noticed Dumbledore mention something to Ginny and she returned with Healer Sesame.

      "How are you feeling?" she asked as she pulled out a bar of chocolate and handed it to Helen.

      "Happy now." Helen replied, patting Mrs. Baker on the shoulder.

      "Eat that up." Sesame instructed. "There're alot more things you'll have to take afterwards."

Helen nodded. Mrs. Baker started pulling herself together.

      "Sesame...Helen can't afford to get Salucidi anymore."    

      "I know." the healer agreed. "Helen, you'll have to take better care of your stress levels."

      "No! Helen needs to go back to Salem, doesn't she?" Mrs. Baker shouted. "She wasn't suffering from it there."

      "Well...that seems like the case but-"

      "See, Albus! See!" Mrs. Baker shouted. "Helen will come back to Salem."

      "But there's no real proof that says going to Salem will relive her of pain."

      "Helen! You do want to come back to Salem right?"

Helen hadn't been expecting this. Go back to Salem? Could she really do that? But why would she want to? Well...she'd be away from Kevin and Bianca...she could continue her life just being friends with Sabrina and Harvey. No. Alby said he wanted her there. She looked up into his face, seeking an answer to her question but his expression was unreadable...even to her.

       "You want to go to Salem, right?" Mrs. Baker repeated.

Helen saw all of them staring at her.

       "My God!" Mrs. Baker shouted. "Helen! Your parents wanted nothing but to get you to our school! If they wanted you in Hogwarts they would have put you there themselves!"

       "No!" Helen yelled. "They wanted nothing but for me to be happy!"

       "You were happy at Salem!"

       "I'm happy at Hogwarts too."

       "Then why are you in the hospital!"

Helen sighed and popped the chocolate in her mouth, chewing slowly, to give herself some time to think. She wanted to stay. To fix her friendship with Kevin. To soothe things out with Bianca. To stay with Harry, Ron, and Hermione...her new friends. Besides...she was with Alby and that meant she would be safe. But wasn't she close to dying a few minutes ago? Wasn't Neil back...ugh. Neil. The name gave her shivers.

       "Helen isn't going anywhere until I give the okay so lighten up!" Sesame ordered. Helen smiled gratefully.

       "What's today?" Helen asked.

       "Christmas Eve." Hermione answered.

Helen rubbed her head. She'd been out for five days!

       "This needs to be resolved first!" Mrs. Baker said, shaking. Helen hadn't seen her so worked up.

"Decide, Helen."

 Helen stared at Albus.

        "Hogwarts."

Everyone smiled or grinned except Mrs. Baker who looked like she'd gotten slapped in the face.

        "What about me Helen!" Mrs.Baker cried, getting up. "What about me!"

        "Tori!"

Mrs. Baker rammed between Kevin and Harry and out the door. Helen groaned and sunk into the bed sheets. Great! Now Mrs. Baker was mad at her too.

        "May I have a word with Helen." Dumbledore said quietly.

The others turned and left. When they were alone, Dumbledore drew a chair beside her bed and sat facing her.

         "When are things going to be normal?" she asked her guardian. "Trust me...I like a little excitement...but frankly...this is not the kind of excitement a girl enjoys."

         "I agree." Dumbledore nodded. "Do you believe Hogwarts is safer than Salem?"

         "Alby you know as well as I do that anywhere I go I will be in danger...until...until everything gets resolved."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled mysteriously.

        "Why do Voldemort's followers want the amulet? What good would it do them? The widow's veil surely must be destroyed by...Oh my God! Alby! If my grandmother found the window's veil then doesn't that mean it's still around?"

       "Ah. Very good question Helen."

       "You know the answer, Alby! So they want the amulet so that they can go beyond the veil...but why? Aside from the treasure..."

       "What exactly is the widow's veil?" Dumbledore hinted.

       "A gateway to the...oh....my...-"

       "To the dead." Dumbledore finished. "Hmmm. Wonder why they'd want to be able to walk between the worlds of life and death."

 Helen thought for a second.

       "So they might try think of a way to bring people back to life...but they can't without the amulet. Besides...only people who wear it can enter and exit."

       "That's what Eumaria thought, therefore that is what legend says."

       "Eumaria should know right? She made it!"

       "She did not."

       "Then who-"

       "Samusotepso created the veil so naturally he'd be the maker of the amulet and he gave it to the Princess. Who's to say it doesn't have secret powers only he knew of."

Helen groaned.

       "How do you know this?"

       "Let's just say...Samusotepso didn't leave the world without fathering a child first, same as Eumaria."

      "You mean there's a possibility he has descendants?"

      "Just one."

      "Who?"

      "That is for you to figure out."

     "Rrrrr."

     "Anything else you'd like to address?"

     "Yes. Can his descendant touch the amulet as well?"

     "No. Only Eumaria's true heir."

     "Where's the amulet right now?"

     "I do not know."

     "Augh. As frustrating as it is...that could be a good thing."

     "How."

     "Then the heir couldn't give it to them even if they wanted to. Hey, you always say Harry has something to do with this. What is it?"

Helen suddenly thought of something.

     "Alby! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE SCHOOL WITH NEIL ON THE LOOSE!"

     "He is no longer on the grounds."

     "Regardless! He could return and you wouldn't be there! Please go and keep Hogwarts safe so I can go back. Besides...eight hundred lives are more important than just mine."

     "And your life is important for the hundreds of thousands in the wizarding world."

      "What does..."

Dumbledore smiled and disapparated. Helen scowled at Dumbledore's ability to avoid questions.

        "Can I come in?" said a voice.

        "Sure Kev." Helen said sitting up.

He took Dumbledore's seat in the chair.

       "I just want to say sorry."

       "For what?"

       "For being such a jerk." he said pointing to his 'Major Jerk' shirt. "Exactly what it says."

       "You're not." Helen assured. "I'm sorry too. I guess jealousy got the better of me. I wish you and Cho the best of luck."

       "Helen-"

       "No, I mean it."

       "no but I-"

       "Maybe it's for the best." she said. "Best that nothing except friendship happened with us."

 Kevin stared open eyed.

       "But I wanted it to progress."

       "So did I but you can't change the past. And think...you're in your last year. You and Cho can work together, while I'm still in school, without any guilt or anything."

       "Helen...the way I feel about Cho...I can't see going past friendship."

       "So? You guys already act like it...just without the title."

       "Title?"

       "Bf/gf title. All you have to do is say 'yes' to the 'are you and Cho an item' question and you'll be official and trust me bud...I support you."

Kevin had mixed expressions (relief but sadness...what a combo!) on his face.

       "You're the best friend a guy could have."

Helen smiled. For some reason...saying she didn't mind Kevin being with Cho...well...it wasn't tough anymore. In fact she felt good. She'd gotten her friend back, and to her...that was way more important than the thrill romance could give. Her eyes fell on a bag that was beside the chair. Alby had that bag didn't he?

        "Can you hand me that?" she asked Kevin.

        "Sure."

Helen peeked in a saw that it was filled with presents and there was a note.

        "Dear, Helen." she read. "I figured you'd want to hand out these presents to your friends. I've wrapped them for you. Alby."

Helen stared at Kevin.

        "How'd Alby get them? They were in my dorm."

        "No they weren't. You dropped them in the common room after telling me Neil was...oh and I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Kevin whispered.

Helen leaned over, gave him his present, and hugged him tightly. Who said friends couldn't have benefits? After they drew apart, Helen asked that he let Harry in.

        "One last question....are you with Harry?" Kevin questioned.

        "Does that really matter?"

        "No...I guess not."

 "You aren't going to give us another scare are you?" Harry asked her as he came in and Kevin went out. He stood in front of the chair but didn't sit.

        "I'll try." Helen smiled. "Hey Harry...how are you going to repel Voldemort with your mind?"

Harry sighed. He honestly didn't know. Voldemort wouldn't use the same trick twice.

        "I don't think it's all that necessary anymore." Harry mumbled.

       "Okay." Helen nodded. "But...Harry...you wouldn't happen to know..."

What was she supposed to do? Ask if he knew anything about her family or the amulet or what he might possibly have to do with her life? Okay so they both had the same parental (or lack of) issues and the same misfortune of having Voldemort wanting them dead. They also had unsettling times with Cho, and a deep rage towards Slytherins and people associated with the dark arts (except Draco in Helen's case...for some reason she didn't hate him seeing as he hadn't done anything horrible to her). They had wild tempers on occasion. It would make sense that he'd have some impact on her life right? But how exactly could she find out without having to answer the many questions she herself just learned answers to.

        "Wouldn't happen to know what?" Harry pressed.

        "If I'll be able to leave by tomorrow?"

        "Definitely not!" Sesame said as she walked into the room joined by Mrs. Weasley, Moody, Lupin, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Kevin. "In fact say goodbye to your visitors."

        "But it's Christmas Eve!" Helen simpered.

        "We'll come back tomorrow." Mrs. Weasley promised, patting her head.

        "Don't worry. I'll visit you when I'm allowed." she said as they trooped out.

        "Harry." she called. "Here's your present. Can you pass out the rest in this bag on Christmas morning?"

He smiled and without thinking gave her arm a gentle squeeze and closed to door on his way out.

*A/n: Yipee skippy It's 11:54 p.m.