"Oh dear God, what has happened now?" asked Katie, concerned. Helena had just gotten back.
"I fought back," said Helena calmly.
"What-"
"I stopped a Cruciatrus curse from getting to me."
"How on-"
"I just met it with a Stunning spell. Nothing too difficult, really."
"And he didn't expect u to block it?"
"Of course he didn't- well maybe he did, I don't know."
"We're only eleven, after all."
"Actually I'm twelve," Helena admitted, blushing.
"I missed your birthday, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"When was it?"
"Two days ago."
"The 24th?"
"Well, I haven't changed the date right this instant, have I, you bonk?"
"How come I didn't know?" asked Katie, ignoring Helena's previous comment.
Helena shrugged.
"It's not an area of importance for me. I do not remember any of my past birthdays and nor do I need to celebrate them."
"Oh... So, no grave of importance?"
"None."
x
Halloween was kind of magical for Helelna, as she had never seen so many decorations in her entire life, that she could remember. Although something unsavoury had happened that very night 29 years ago.
"It's not right," Helena muttered to Katie.
"What isn't?" she said.
"Years ago, Harry Potter's parents just died and he lived. Here, they just pretend that it never happened. That Harry Potter never existed."
"W-what did he do, exactly?"
"Well besides from living when the Dark Lord sent a killing curse at him, he attempted to defeat the Dark Lord numerous of times - and he almost succeeded, too. No one knows how he almost did it, and I'd like to find out."
"What if you can't find out? What if everything has been destroyed and forgotten?"
"That's impossible," said Helena sternly. "Magic leaves all kinds of traces, especially Dark Magic."
"So you're saying that the Dark Lord used Dark Magic, which almost led to his downfall?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. I very much doubt that I'll be able to find what I'm looking for here, though."
"I don't know, you might be surprised to what you'll find here."
x
November was a tricky month for the Dark Arts, especially if you came across a question you did not know the answer to. She was in the classroom with a pig-faced Amycus Carrow at the front, supposedly a 'Professor'.
"Right, you lot have to take a test," groans came from students. "As a mark of your progress so far. No doubt some of you will do better than others..." He handed out the tests and Helena's test looked noticeably more different than Katie's. Or anyone else's, for that matter.
She raised her hand.
"Oh Helena, the Dark Lord specifically asked for you to be examined differently," said Carrow.
"That's unfair," called out someone.
"The Dark Lord seemed absolutely positive that she'd be able to do it, so if you have any inquiries, you may ask him."
Katie looked down at Helena's test and was immediately wore a puzzled expression.
"What on Earth is Legilimency?"
"The power or spell to access someone's mind," said Helena automatically.
"See?" said Carrow. "She'll be fine."
Helena found the test fairly easy but the last question was the hardest of them all.
What is a Horcrux?
No doubt Voldemort wanted to stump her.
"What's a Horcrux?" she muttered to herself.
At that instance, Voldemort came into the classroom.
"My Lord, what do I owe you for this pleasure?" asked Carrow, bowing his head slightly.
He murmured something.
"Of course, My Lord."
The bell rang.
"Helena, stay put," said Carrow.
So she packed up her things and stayed seated.
"It'll be fine," she whispered to Katie.
Katie nodded and left. And so did Carrow.
"How did you like my test?" he asked her. "Mhm? How did you do? How did you find it?"
"It was easy," she said smoothly.
"Really? I was under the impression that the last question was too hard for you."
"I didn't get a chance to answer it," she said simply.
"Really? Then answer it now."
She smirked at him.
"Of course I knew that you were going to add a question about something I knew nothing about. So I've just came up with a theory that it has something to do with you. So how come you didn't die when the curse back fired? The Philosopher's stone was destroyed years ago, when you attempted to get it. Yet, you were able to get a new body and even kill Harry Potter himself. I do not know what a Horcrux exactly is, but I think that I am close enough."
Now he smirked at her.
"Good luck finding out."
And he left.
x
December
She and Katie were in the decorated Great Hall.
"What's wrong?" asked Katie.
"Nothing, I'm just not used to this."
"Don't tell me you don't celebrate Christmas."
"I'm afraid not."
"That's your birthday, Halloween and Christmas you don't celebrate."
Helena shrugged.
"Sorry, I guess."
"It's - never mind. I guess I was raised to expect that everyone celebrated it. Nonetheless, I'll buy you a present."
"Don't bother."
"Or you can buy me one."
"Not a chance," said Helena flatly.
"You're not like other people, you know."
"Good. I don't want to be like 'other people' and I'm sorry about giving you such high expectations. Besides, even if I wanted to be 'normal', I'll never be it."
"Helena-"
"Don't."
"Please-"
She silenced her. Katie glared at her furiously, then walked away.
"That didn't look very pleasant," said Voldemort, walking over.
"If I'm being honest, she was annoying me. And I'm really not feeling it."
"I see."
"And you have no business to intrude."
"Very well, then."
And he moved on.