(Reviewer responses:

Nalini213: I'm guessing you're someone's little sib... you have that "tell me what happens next NOW" attitude. J/k. In order: You'll find out, you'll find out, and yes... just wait a little while. Think about (a) obvious people to name a child after and (b) nicknames and reverses. I'm not going to give it to you just yet.

Gallandro-83: Fellow Dudley manipulation lover! Sorry, Dudley's a step ahead at this point... but read on ... with his handicap, as you noted, he's unlikely to be there for long. As to your last note, remember the prime motivation of the Dursleys... never be unusual in ANY way... child abuse is kind of out there, at least if anyone finds out about it.

Enjoy the whole new-chapter-every-day thing while you can... it won't last.)

Chapter 5: A Letter is Sent

Helen flung herself onto her bed, sobbing. She snatched a pillow, buried her face in it, and screamed.

They can't do this to me! Not now! I've been waiting more than half my life for my chance to get out of here, they can't DO this!

But they are.

That stark thought snapped Helen back to reality. Years of training took over. She forced the anger and panic down, down, reaching for some kind of serenity, even a temporary one. Staying angry was dangerous. She might do magic without meaning to, and that would get her in three-way trouble – trouble with her birth family, trouble with magical authorities, and trouble with her real family.

She thought of her dad's favorite example of accidental magic brought on by anger. When he was only two years older than she was now, her grandfather's sister, a truly hideous woman, had made the mistake of criticizing his parents to his face once too often. He had blown her up like a balloon – and with the image of the horrid woman, whom Helen had often seen in old family pictures, inflating like a beach ball, Helen had to laugh, and her anger began to dissipate.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I have to relax. I have to breathe. I have to...

Something tugged gently at her hair. Helen yelped and rolled off the bed, landing hard on her back, winding herself for a moment. Hedwig stuck her white head over the edge of the bed and hooted apologetically.

In between gasps, Helen laughed. "'Salright... Hedwig..." She got herself a little more under control and sat on the bed beside the owl, caressing her soft head feathers. "I've never been so glad to see you." Hedwig extended her leg, and Helen undid the note. "Hang around a minute, OK? I have something to go back."

It was addressed to her in her dad's familiar tall writing, and she ripped it open eagerly.

Dear Helen,

Less than two weeks to go! Hope you're holding out all right. It would be just like Dudley to spring something on you at the last minute, even if he doesn't know it's the last minute. He always was a little slow on the uptake. Have he and your mother started whispering when you come into the room yet?

Helen sighed. "And you claim you failed Divination," she said to the letter.

Everyone here sends their love. Ruby especially. She and your mum are planning one incredible birthday party, but you didn't hear that from me. Your Uncles Fred and George have been called in as consultants for party games – I'm just hoping the roof stays on the house this time – and your grandmum will be cooking for us.

Helen laughed. She remembered the party – Brian's ninth birthday, it had been – when the twin uncles had gone a trifle overboard with the Weasley Wildfire Birthday Candles. Aunt Mynie had been furious when her oldest son's birthday cake had blasted a hole through her roof.

Ruby says to tell you she'll save her letter to open it with you when yours comes. Minnie's came two days ago and she couldn't wait. Hope you don't mind.

It's been a long six years, sweetie, but it's almost over. Write back soon.

Love from Dad

Helen smiled and stroked Hedwig's head again. Six years since she had chosen her family, eight since they had met...

But this wasn't the time for reminiscing. She had a letter to write.

She ripped a sheet of paper off her pad and grabbed a pen.

Dear Dad and everyone,

Thanks for the letter. As a matter of fact, they have sprung something on me – they're sending me away to summer school at the boarding school they've picked for me. I'm leaving now, as in today, as soon as I'm packed. Father didn't give a name for this place, but how many schools for incurably criminal girls can there be?

She grinned. Her dad would enjoy that.

I hope this doesn't mess up any plans.

Please come find me as soon as you can.

Love always, Helen

She folded the note, addressed it with her dad's name, and held it out to Hedwig, who gave Helen's fingers a gentle nip of affection before she took it. Helen lifted Hedwig gently and tossed her out the window to give her a flying start – the owl wasn't as young as she used to be.

Then Helen got down to packing. Her panic was trying to creep back in, but she shoved it firmly back down where it belonged.

They can't send me anywhere that my family can't find me. Dad and Uncle Ron and Aunt Mynie are Aurors – they specialize in finding people who don't want to be found. How much harder can it be to find me – someone who really wants to be found?

She smiled to herself. I think when I get there I'm going to have a monumental loss of control. Make things fly around, smash stuff, maybe even make something explode. Light bulbs might be good.

She burrowed under the bed and yanked up the loose floorboard, pulling out her secret bag. After a moment's vacillation, she put the floorboard back.

After all, if Chester has children someday, one of them might turn out magical.

The bag went into the very bottom of her old, battered duffel, after she had extracted an important item and left it where it would do some good. She folded clothes into the duffel next, sticking in a few books that were old friends, and finally her stuffed lion on the very top. She smiled and petted Griffy. He had been a christening gift, supposedly from Mrs. Figg, in actuality from her real parents, although they hadn't been her real parents then...

Someone banged on her door. Hastily, Helen zipped the duffel shut. "Come in!"

Her father opened the door and frowned down at her. "Ready, are you?" He looked as if he had expected to find the room in shambles.

"Yes, sir."

"Come on, then. We haven't got all day."

Helen took one last look around her bedroom. I will probably never see this room again... and I can't say I'm sorry about it.

Similar thoughts ran through her head all the way down the stairs. I will never see these ugly walls or this ugly kitchen again... She said polite good-byes to her mother and Chester, though inwardly she was cheering.

Once her father had steered the car onto the main road, Helen let her head lean against the window, and remembered...