As the OWLs progressed, the more Helena and Katie became exhausted. Helena would be very surprised indeed if she somehow managed to get all 'Outstanding's' at this rate. But, at least they were almost over. It was only just a few more days left until they could talk for hours on end in the warm, summer sun. Or just be together for a little while.
After all, freedom was only a small leap away.
x
The long days of the final term drew to an eventual close. Not a single person in their year had not sparked relief at the summer holidays beginning - although they were now all anxiously waiting for their results. They were so terrified that they couldn't even think what would happen to if they failed an important subject - such as Transfiguration or the Dark Arts. However, they were always welcome to retake their year - especially if they weren't 100% satisfied with failing the subject the first time round. But it was, not surprisingly, expected to at least scrapped an 'Acceptable' in the Dark Arts overall. It was said that many people failed that particularly unfair practical - even the few that attempted it almost received 0 marks. Still, it could be worse and you would have to retake your entire yer because you happen to not pass a single subject. And in Helena's opinion, that'd just be outright humiliation to those who can do it in class but not write it on actual parchment for the test all because of the stress they're forced to endure.
Despite all of this, the long train home was cut dramatically short. Katie always said it takes longer to get there then it does to get back. Friends said goodbye, ready to depart to their respectful families.
"Come on," Helena said to Katie, impatiently. "We're going to miss the train back to my house if you don't hurry up."
"Give me a minute - I feel motion sick after being on that train. And I'm in no rush to get onto the next one for God-knows-how-long."
Helena literally had to drag her off Platform 9 and 3/4 to get onto their platform to go back home.
"Look," Katie said.
"What?" replied Helena annoyed, not looking where she was pointing.
"Why are they here?" she asked, pointing out several people dressed in long, black dress robes.
"No idea," she replied, scowling. "Let's just pretend we didn't see them. Walk straight past them, you know."
"They saw us come out of the Platform."
"I know. Just walk past them - make no contact. Give them no reason to lock you up."
They walked on wards, Katie pulling their luggage behind her. But then they found their path blocked by all of the Ministry officials.
"May we pass, please?" Helena asked one of them.
"No, sweetheart - you're not going anywhere," the man said with a hoarse tone.
"Why not? Is it because your stubbornness reflects your master's?"
He gave out a gruff laugh.
"Things like that will get you arrested, Missy." He then grabbed her arm vigorously and shoved her into the brick wall of the muggle platform.
"What have I done now? You don't even have proof," she said spitefully.
He let go of her suddenly, as taken by surprise. He fell backwards as though he was shot in the head. He collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.
Steam that was as thick as fog filled the platform and surrounding muggles all just collapsed, presumably dead. Helena got very confused. Then the steam-like-fog cleared and the Dark Lord was standing there.
"Well, Helena, I was not expecting to see you this early. But I expect there's been some confusion. I suspect that Rookwood made the mistake that you are indeed, Muggle. Unfortunately - it does not work on Mudbloods, which is a bit on an inconvenience, I'll admit."
"You think?" she said through gritted teeth, annoyed that she'd been attacked. She then realised she had missed her train because of this. Katie rushed over to her, ignoring Voldemort, and hauled their luggage behind her.
"What do we do now?" she whispered in her ear.
"I think," she replied in a low voice so Voldemort could not hear. "It's time for an unauthorized Portkey."
"That's illegal," Katie said, shocked at her recklessness.
"I know - but what other choice do we have?"
Katie faltered to have an answer. She reluctantly agreed.
"Let's go somewhere more private, then. We'll take the Portkey from there."
So they both entered an empty disabled toilet.
"Should I lock the door?" Katie asked, closing it.
"No point, we're leaving anyway."
"Fair enough. What object should we use?"
They looked around blankly.
"Aha!" Helena exclaimed a few moments later. "This will be perfect." She held up an empty toilet roll tube.
"You can't be serious. You don't know where that's been."
"It's been in this bathroom," she answered simply.
"Oh ha ha, very funny. Let's just get it over with."
So Helena put the cardboard tube on the floor and pointed her wand at it. She said quite confidently, "Portus." The tube turned a sapphire blue for a few seconds, then returned to it's brownish state.
"Ok got the luggage? Good. When you're ready... 3... 2... 1..."
They both were holding on to it and they were pulled through the ground by a hook somewhere behind the navel. They came to a fast stop moments later and they were finally in the living room.
"Never again," Katie said, looking a shade of green.
Helena agreed.
x
Now that holidays that officially begun and all of the excitement of being attacked had calm them down, they were now anxiously awaiting for their OWL results.
"I wish that they'd hurry up," Helena sighed.
"I don't," replied Katie rather gruffly. "I feel sick just thinking about them. It's just annoying that I know that I could've done better but now it's too late to do anything."
"I see what you mean. The other day, I remembered an answer on my Arithmancy theory and I felt like shooting myself."
"Yeah, just one answer you got wrong, correct? I've remembered at least twenty right answers for six different subjects," she said, rather sadly.
"Hey - I can't help it if I'm so good."
"I never said that you were," Katie snapped angrily. "Miss -"
"WAIT THEY'RE HERE!" Helena exclaimed cutting off Katie. Katie forgot her anger and looked out of the window. Two owls were flying towards the window and Helena opened it in a hurry. They landed on the window sill and dropped the letters from their beaks and flew off once more.
Helena breathed in deeply, holding her letter in her hands, pondering.
Then, of course, as a long, distant part of Helena expected, the door bell rang.
"Dammit. I knew he'd come..."
"You're not serious? Why is he here?"
"We're about to find out," shrugged Helena. She hastily shoved the letter in her pocket.
Helena went downstairs, disappointed that she had not opened her letter when she first had it in her hands. And, as always, the Dark Lord was waiting outside of the door. Which was suspicious for him.
She opened the door.
He smirked.
"Hello, Helena. I'm glad I got here before you opened your letter. May I come in?" She reluctantly signaled him in. She consciously felt it in her pocket. Voldemort looked at her, and knew where it was. "I think you should open it. It'd probably come as a great shock."
He walked over to the window and looked out of it. She took the letter that had creases in it - the creases then disappeared - and carefully opened it.
Miss Helena Lydia Prince
The largest bedroom,
254 Finney Lane,
Heald Green,
Manchester.
The envelope fell swiftly to the floor. She opened the folded letter.
Dear Miss Prince,
This letter is to inform you of your Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWLs) results of the examinations that took place this past June. Please look at the attached form as this will notify you of your results. Please take care with this form as you will be asked to present it when asked for a job.
Regards,
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Arithmancy - Outstanding
Ancient Runes - Outstanding
Astronomy - Outstanding
Charms - Outstanding
Dark Arts - Outstanding
Herbology - Outstanding
Muggle Studies - Outstanding
Potions - Outstanding
Transfiguration - Outstanding.
"Ah, just as I expected," Voldemort said, peering at it.
"What?" she replied, her heart racing.
"Obvious, isn't it? I was expecting you'd received all 'Outstanding's'. Although, I was told you nearly missed it out on Muggle Studies."
"Not that important," she answered dismissively.
"I agree. I've been thinking about removing it... Although then you'd probably have to have extra Astronomy lessons. Or even better, bringing History of Magic back," he said.
She sat down on the sofa, taking it all in.
"I seriously don't know where to go from here," she admitted.
Voldemort's lips curled. He sat down next to her.
"I do," he whispered. He leaned closer to her, as though he was going to kiss her softly. His mouth was milimeters away from her ear. She could hear his rapid breathing.
"You can join me, and never take another exam - not even go back to Hogwarts," he said softly
She pulled away and stood up. She was burning furiously.
"No," she said sternly.
"But, Helena -"
"No," she repeated.
"You do realise that this is an act of defiance? Once more, I'll be forced to kill you."
"I don't care. I'm not ready for that kind of commitment. Besides, I'm not even of age yet."
"You almost are. You're currently sixteen, yes?"
"Yes," she mumbled.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes my Lord," she muttered, not looking directly at him.
He raised her head so she was looking directly at him.
"That's better, isn't it?" he asked, not looking for an answer. His red eyes glinted and her blue eyes were sharply stabbed by them. For a brief second, she felt intimidated by him and she flinched. However, the action was not missed by the Dark Lord.
He pinned her up against the wall and drew this wand out and pointed it at her face. She panicked and her letter slipped from her finger tips. Her breathing increased quickly, her chest heaving. He held her face, so she could not turn away. Somehow, her eyes were fixated on his. Fear took over her body, paralyzing every muscle she possessed.
"I think," Voldemort said slowly, savouring every word. "I should leave."
Relief spread over her, but she wouldn't reveal it until he had left. She looked downwards, not wishing to say much. He then let her go, and she tried her hardest to stand her ground. Surprisingly, she was successful. He then turned and left. But just before he went out of the door, he turned around and said,
"By the way, congratulations."