Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all rights go to JK Rowling

Chapter 1: The girl who lives in a cupboard

What began for the Dursley family as a normal ordinary day, on October 31 of 1981, turned into a day of confusion and bypassing all sorts of nonsense. First, when Vernon Dursley left his home for work, he'd noticed a tabby cat on the street, appearing to be reading the sign which told the street they were living in: Privet Drive.

Then, while trying to make it on time to his office, Vernon Dursley noticed lots of strange people wearing strange clothes in the streets, being in a happy mood and whispered about that some person they preferred to as 'You-Know-Who' was gone and today was a day of rejoice. But what made him worried somehow, was that the people were talking about that the Potter's had been murdered last night and only their daughter, Helena was alive. Vernon was this close to call his house and tell his wife, Petunia of what he'd heard, but Vernon thought better of it and just went to work.

'Nah, best not to bother Petunia with this.' Vernon thought while he stroked his mustache 'I'm sure that there are lots of people who are called Potter and have a daughter named Helena.' but as he puts the receiver of the phone down, Vernon could have sworn that his niece was called Helena too, though he was unsure as he and his wife had never seen her as they hadn't spoken with Petunia's sister or her husband for years.

Vernon hoped that things wouldn't be getting any stranger for the rest of the day.

However, when Vernon Dursley left his office at precisely five o'clock, he'd accidentally bumped to a man wearing a violet cloak. But he wasn't upset, rather happy when he rises "Don't be sorry, my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!" the man stated before unexpectedly hugged Vernon.

Vernon felt rattled, for he'd been hugged by a complete stranger and been called a Muggle, whatever that was. He hurried to his car and set home, hoping he was just imagining things.

But, as he pulled into the driveway of number four, his family's home, the first thing he saw, which didn't improve his mood, was the same tabby cat he'd spotted this morning. It was now sitting on his garden wall. Heck, Vernon was sure it was the same one.

"Shoo! Go away!" Vernon said loudly while gesturing to the cat to leave his property at once.

But the cat didn't move. It just gave him a stern look, which made Vernon Dursley somehow… uneasy, for this was not a normal behavior for an normal cat. Trying to pull himself together, Vernon let himself into his house, determined not to mention anything to his wife.

Vernon Durlsey wasn't the only one who had a weirded out day, all across Britain strange things were happening, other than lots of unusual people, wearing strange clothes, celebrating. What was more weird, was the sighting of more owls flying over the country then normal, especially since owls don't appear at daylight that much. But that wasn't all. All over the skies of Britain, instead of having rain, people have been reporting of having seen shooting stars, like someone was celebrating Bonfire Night a little bit early.

Petunia had been thinking that this maybe had something to do with… her sister's crowd.

But leaving this out of their minds, as they'd already told Petunia's sister, Lily and her husband, James, that wanted nothing to do with their kind, they went to bed. But, it wasn't long before their 1 year old son, Dudley started crying. After many attempts to help him fall asleep, little Dudley finally went to sleep, which gave Vernon and Petunia a relief that they could finally have some rest. As they too fell asleep, Vernon was sure that because they didn't wanted to get mixed into Lily's 'people', he was sure that any of their businesses wouldn't affect them.

But tonight… Vernon Dursley would be proved very wrong…

-:-

As it was close to midnight, the same tabby cat had been watching over the street of Privet Drive, not having even moved an inch for hours. It was now standing across the street, having had its eyes mostly on the Dursley's house.

Then, a man appeared out of the darkness, entering the street. He was tall, thin, and was very old, judging by his white hair and long white beard, long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak and high-heeled, buckled boots. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore.

Out of his inner pocket, Albus Dumbledore took what looked like a silver cigarette lighter. But when he flicked it open, he held it up in the air, and clicked it, making the nearest street lamp going out. Dumbledore did it again and another street light went out. He repeated the same twelve times with his Put-Outer, until most of the street lights were out.

As Dumbledore puts his small device back in his pocket, the same tabby cat meowed at the old man. He looked, forming a small smile as he glanced at the cat "I should have known that you would be here… Professor McGonagall."

The tabby cat then slowly materialized into a severe-looking women, who was wearing square glasses. She too was wearing a cloak, an emerald one and her black hair drawn into a tight bun. The women, whose name is Minerva McGonagall, gave a nod as she approached Dumbledore "Good evening, Professor Dumbledore."

"You have been sitting here all day, Minerva?" Albus asked her "You could have been celebrating too. I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here."

Impatiently, McGonagall said "Oh yes, I've celebrating, all right. You'd think they'd be a bit more careful, but no – even the Muggles have noticed something's going on. It was on their bloody news. Flocks of owls… shooting stars…"

"You can't blame them," Dumbledore said gently "We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years."

Leaving the subject, McGonagall asked Dumbledore "Are the rumors true, Albus?"

Dumbledore gave a small nod "I'm afraid so, Professor. The good and the bad."

"And the girl?"

Dumbledore gave another nod "Hagrid is bringing her." That made him to check his pocket watch "Speaking of Hagrid; he's late."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore "Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"

Dumbledore formed a little smile "Ah, Professor, I would trust Hagrid with my life."

It wasn't long before both Dumbledore and McGonagall heard an engine roaring through the sky, coming closer. Dumbledore and McGonagall looked, seeing it was a huge motorcycle that landed on the road, stopping several meters in front of them.

The one who drove the big motorcycle, who was almost twice as tall and five times as wide as a normal man was Rubeus Hagrid. He had long wild tangles of bushy black hair and had a beard that hid most of his face. And in his vast, muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets. As Hagrid turned off the engine, he greeted the two Professors who were waiting for him "Professor Dumbledore, sir. Professor McGonagall."

"Hagrid," Dumbledore said with relief "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?" he wandered.

"Borrowed it," the giant stated as he carefully climbed off the motorcycle "Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I've got her, sir."

"No problems I trust, Hagrid?"

"No, sir," Hagrid ensured "House was almost destroyed, but I got her out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. Little tyke fell asleep as we were flying over Bristol." The giant stated as he approached Dumbledore and McGonagall, showing what he had in the blankets. It was a baby girl, Lily and James Potter's daughter, Helena. She was fast asleep. And under the few of jet-black hair over her forehead, you could see a shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.

Hagrid carefully handed over the baby girl to Dumbledore "Try not to wake her. Here you go."

As Dumbledore took the sleeping little Helena, with blanket still covering her, he walked with her over to the Dursley's house.

McGonagall thought it was a bad idea to leave Lily and James' daughter at the Dursley's residence and stated while she and Hagrid walked along with him "Albus, do you really think it's safe, leaving her with… these people? I've watched them all day. They're the worst sort of Muggles imaginable. They really are-"

"The only family she has." Dumbledore said.

Though Dumbledore was right and these awful Muggle family were the only family that the Helena had left, both McGonagall and Hagrid were still unsure to leave her to live with the Dursley's.

McGonagall sighed as they approached the front door of house number 4 "This girl will be famous. There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know her name."

"Exactly," Dumbledore answered "However… she's far better off growing up away from all of that." he glanced at McGonagall and Hagrid for a short moment before glancing at the baby girl "Until she's ready."

Just as Dumbledore was about to put her down at the doorstep, Hagrid asked "Could I… could I say goodbye to her, sir?" Dumbledore formed a small smile, nodding to Hagrid, allowing him to plant a little kiss on Helena's forehead. Dumbledore then carefully placed baby Helena on the doorstop, being sure she would be covered well in the blankets. Hagrid gave a small sob, almost like a howl from a wounded dog.

"Shhh!" McGonagall hissed to Hagrid "Quiet Hagrid! You'll wake the Muggles!"

Hagrid apologized while still sobbing "S-s-sorry. But… I c-c-can't stand it. Lily an' James dead… an' poor little Helena off ter live with Muggles…"

Dumbledure ensured him with a little smile "I know it's all very sad, Hagrid. But It's not really goodbye, after all, right?"

Hagrid gave a small nod, trying to wipe away the tears from his eyes.

Dumbledore then puts a little letter close to the baby girl, which was for Mr. and Mrs. Dudley to read, telling to take care of her. Dumbledore gave a sigh as he looked down at the little baby before he, McGonagall and Hagrid went their ways "Good luck… Helena Potter."

10 years later

"Up! Get up!" Petunia shouted into the door of the cupboard under the stairs. Helena Potter woke up with a start on that Saturday morning. The little girl sighs in disappointment as her aunt Petunia knocked on the door before unlocking it.

"Up! Now!" Petunia shouted again before leaving, appearing going to the kitchen and placed a pan on the stove.

Helena Potter rubbed her eyes before turning on the small light in the small room she was forced to stay in and looked for some clothes that were under her bed. She didn't had much, other than some old and second-hand clothes for girls. While grabbing for some of them, which was a shirt, jeans, socks and undergarment, she pulled a few spiders off of them and put them on. Helena was used to the spiders, because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them, and that was where she slept.

Once she'd dressed herself, she put on her glasses, which were together with some Scotch tape because of some girls at hers and Dudley's school who bullied her frequently. Though her cousin, Dudley wasn't someone who would fight girls, Helena was always his favorite target for teasing and bullying, while letting some of the other girls do the rest for him.

Helena then took a small comb in order to comb her thick half long black hair. She looked into a small mirror she'd found on the streets once, seeing her thin face and bright green eyes in her reflection. Though she had always been small and skinny for her age, which was perhaps due to living in a dark cupboard, Helena tried to at least look a bit nice. Most girls would, as if they too had a very thin scar on their foreheads just like Helena's, would use some of their hair to cover it or use some makeup. But no, Helena didn't wanted to do that as it were some of the few things about her that made her unique. She had this scar as long as she could remember, and the first question she could remember asking her Aunt Petunia was how she had gotten it, with her responding she got it in the car crash where her parents died, and warned her never to ask more questions about it.

Helena didn't wanted to comb her hair for too long, or she would be treated with another series of yelling and being called names by both her aunt and uncle. However, during her short time of combing, Helena tried to remember the dream she had last night, which had been a good one for a chance, with her being on a flying motorcycle. Somehow, Helena had a funny feeling she'd had the same dream before.

However, she was brought out of her thoughts when her cousin Dudley first ran very fast down the stairs, only to go back halfway and stomp on it loudly "Wake up, cousin! It's my birthday!"

Helena looked up where Dudley was stomping, which made some dust falling on her, making her groan. It was Dudley's birthday, how could she miss that?

While trying to remove the dust from her hair and stepping out of her little room, Dudley passed by and pushed Helena back into the cupboard under the stairs while he laughed and ran into the kitchen.

Petunia and Vernon both wished their son a happy birthday, while Helena went over to the stove, taking over cooking the bacon and making eggs.

"Make sure you don't burn anything." Petunia warned her.

Helena nodded "Yes, Aunt Petunia."

"I want everything perfect for my Dudley's special day." Petunia said while leading her son to check all the presents she and Vernon had bought for him, which were dozens.

Uncle Vernon, who peaked over his newspaper, told Helena "Bring my coffee!"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Helena responded like a good housemaid and prepared a cup of coffee for her uncle.

Though she had no other family to take care of her, Helena Potter hated every moment of being forced to live with the Dursleys, wishing that someone or something would help her to leave this awful place, forever. But till that day would ever come, Helena would try to be obedient as best she could and do what was told of her.

Having prepared breakfast, including Vernon's morning coffee, Dudley had been counting all the presents he got, but that made him angry "I have only… thirty-six?! But last year I had thirty-seven!"

As Petunia and Vernon were distracted by Dudley's explosion of anger, Helena shook her head while mentally saying 'Spoiled little pig.'

That thought did amuse Helena, as it reminded her when she was younger; when Petunia said that her sweet Dudley looked like a baby angel, while Helena honestly told he looked more like a pig wearing a wig. Unfortunately, that resulted in receiving some serious insults and yelling from her uncle and aunt. Though they weren't physical abusive towards their niece, being mentally abused was just as bad. However, Helena did formed a smile of even thinking back of how emotionally Dudley was for her calling him like that, while she was just being honest.

After Dudley was ensured by his parents that they would buy him two more presents during the trip to the zoo, the overly spoiled Dudley began to unwrap his presents. However, it wasn't long before the Dursleys had a phone call, telling that Mrs. Figg had her leg broken and couldn't look after the girl. Helena felt a bit of relief. Even though Mrs. Figg was a nice women, going to that place while the Dursleys would go out every year on Dudley's birthday was something Helena hated nearly just as bad as the Dursleys. Mrs. Figg's place smelled like cabbage and the women made her to look at photographs of all the cats she'd ever owned.

Trying to find a solution for where Helena could stay, the Dursleys couldn't think of any. And so, Helena was allowed to go with them to the zoo, while joined by one of Dudley's friends.

For a moment, Helena felt deep down really happy as this was her very first trip ever. But, while the others stepped in the car, Uncle Vernon had taken Helena aside and formed a very serious look on his face as he told the girl "I'm warning you now, little brat," he said, putting his large purple face right up close to Helena's "Any funny business, anything at all – and you won't have any meals for a week."

Helena nodded to her uncle "Yes, Uncle Vernon. I'm not going to do anything. I promise…"

But Uncle Vernon didn't believe her. No one did "Get in." he sternly said before entering the car.

The Zoo itself was crowded with families, all eager to spend some good time watching the many animals. Helena enjoyed her time in the Zoo as well, despite a few attempts from Dudley and his friend Piers of teasing her. If she was a boy, Helena knew for certain that Dudley and his friends wouldn't hesitate to use her as a personal punchbag, as they would often bully other boys who were smaller and weaker than they were.

After lunchtime, they went into the reptile house. Behind the lit glass windows along the walls, all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and slithering over bit of wood and stone. Dudley and Piers soon found the largest snake, which was a python and was fast asleep. Helena too took a look at it, standing next to Dudley and Piers.

"Make it move!" Dudley whined at his father.

Vernon tapped on the glass "Move!" he called, but the snake didn't budge.

Dudley tapped harder on the glass "MOVE!"

"He's asleep." Helena stated.

Dudley sighed "He's boring." He and Piers left to see a different snake, while Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia went to look at the other reptiles, leaving Helena alone with the sleeping Python.

Helena shook her head as how incredibly stupid her cousin could be. So she muttered to the snake, knowing that it can't hear her anyway "Sorry about him. He doesn't understand what it's like. Lying there, day after day, watching people press their ugly faces in on you. I kinda do, as I'm locked up in a cupboard under a stairs all night, with only my Aunt Petunia to visit, only to wake me up by hammering on the door."

The snake however opened its beady eyes, glancing at Helena. It winked.

Helena couldn't believe what she was seeing. Was the snake responding to her? "You… can you hear me?"

The snake nodded and slowly, very slowly, it raised its head, still looking at Helena.

Helena didn't know what to make of it as she told the python "It's just… I've never talked to a snake before. Do you… I mean… do you talk to people often?"

The snake slowly shook its head as it neither talks to people.

Having read that the snake originally comes from Burma, Helena asked "You're from Burma, aren't you? Was it nice there? Do you miss your family?"

The snake then pointed with its head to small sign under the information Helena had just read, which says: Bred in captivity

Helena nodded, understanding what it feels like to not know your family "I see. That's me as well." she then sadly sighs "I never knew my parents, either."

But then, Piers saw the python Helena was still with, making him run back over it and called Dudley "DUDDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!"

Dudley ran to join his friend and pushed Helena out of the way, letting her fall hard on the concrete floor. Both him and Piers stood with their noses pressed against the glass, staring with a grin at the snake. Helena glared at her mean cousin and friend 'Why you…! I just wish you…! You…!' Suddenly, the glass vanished, making Piers and Dudley fell forward with howls of horror in the python's tank.

Helena gasped to see the glass was there first and now not anymore. The python uncoiled itself and slithered out onto the floor. It glances at Helena, who could have sworn that the snake said to her in a low, hissing voice "Thanksss."

Helena, though still baffled of what she'd seen and heard the snake speaking to her, she gave a shrug "Any time."

The python slid swiftly past her, over the floor of the reptile house while the people screamed and started running for the exits "Help! Snake!"

Dudley and Piers, who both raised themselves up, were about to leave the snake's tank. But suddenly, they realized that the glass was back where it had disappeared. Both began to panic while banging on the glass. Dudley cried "Mum! Mummy!"

Vernon and Petunia, who were searching for their son and his friend, were in shock to see them trapped inside a snake tank. Petunia screamed in horror "AAH! MY DARLING BOY! HOW DID YOU GET IN THERE?!"

Seeing Dudley and Piers had gotten what they deserved, Helena giggled while raising herself. But her giggle didn't go unnoticed by Vernon, who looked at her with a rising anger, thinking that she got something to do with it. Helena gulped.

Sometime later, after the Dursley's came back home with a now two emotional little piggies (as how Helena would describe them) and Piers was brought back home, Vernon was so angry at Helena that he grabbed her by her hair tight, hurting her "What happened!?" he demanded while turning purple faced.

Helena tried to explain while Vernon dragged her to the hallway "I swear, I don't know, Uncle Vernon! One minute the glass was there and then it was gone! It was like magic!"

Vernon opened the door of the cupboard under the stairs, threw Helena in it and locked it "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC!" he marched away, back into the living room and fell into his chair. Petunia had to run to make him a large brandy to calm him down.

In Helena's little room, the girl sat on her bed while holding her legs for hours, with no knowledge of how much time had passed. Sadly, she gave a few sobs. What happened to Dudley and Piers wasn't her fault. Or was it?

That made Helena to think back of the times when she just couldn't explain when things happened. Like anytime when Petunia cut her hair, the next day it had grown back the size it was before, or when Helena was chased by some of the bullying girls at school, she'd suddenly found herself on the school's roof, which got her weeks of detention despite she kept telling she didn't know how she did it.

Helena, being sad and hungry, had eventually fallen asleep that night.

-:-

The escape of the python had earned Helena her longest-ever punishment. By the time she was allowed to leave her cupboard again, the summer holidays had started, but there was no escaping Dudley's gang, who visited the house every single day and were all quite happy to join in Dudley's favorite sport: Picking on Helena. Though their bullying wasn't physical, their emotional bullying was the last thing Helena Potter needed, as if her life hasn't been bad enough already.

This was why Helena spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays, where she could see a tiny ray of hope as by September, she would be going off to secondary school and wouldn't be with Dudley or those other mean girls. Dudley on the other hand, had been accepted at Uncle Vernon's old private school, Smeltings. Helena, on the other hand, was going to Stonewall High, which is a local public school.

One day in July, after Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his Smeltings uniform, the blond little piggy paraded around the living room for the family in his brand-new uniform.

For Vernon, it was the proudest moment of his life while Petunia got nearly teary while taking a picture of her sweet boy.

Helena, who'd came into the living room only a moment ago, watched her piggy cousin standing with pride while Aunt Petunia took another picture of him.

'A perfect uniform for a perfect little piggy.' Helena thought with amusement, imagining how Dudley would suit well when standing in a pigs farm, parading along with the other pigs.

That was when Helena sniffed something horrible coming from the kitchen. It seemed to be coming from a large metal tub in the sink "What's this?" she asked.

Petunia, putting the camera down and walked over to the metal tub "It's your new school uniform, Helena. When I'm finished with it of course."

When seeing that it was Dudley's old school uniform, Helena said "But, Aunt Petunia, that's Dudley's old uniform! I'll never fit that."

"Don't be stupid," Petunia sternly told her "Once its dyed and sawed a bit it'll fit you well enough." Then, they heard a click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat "Go get the post."

Best not to argue any further, Helena nodded and went to get the mail. There were three things laying on the doormat. When Helena picked them up, it were a postcard from Uncle Vernon's sister Marge, who was vacationing on the Isle of Wight, a brown envelope that looked like a bill, and… a letter for Helena.

Helena stared with surprise at it, as no one had ever, ever written to her. But who would? The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, there was no stamp and the name and address written in emerald-green ink, saying:

Ms. H. Potter

The Cupboard under the Stairs

4 Privet Drive

Little Whiniging

Surrey

Helena's hands trembled, imagining what this letter would say. When she went back to the living room, she gave the postcard and brown envelop to Uncle Vernon, but kept her own letter to herself.

When Vernon checked the postcard first, he said "Oh, Marge's ill. Ate a funny whelk…"

Helena was this close to open her letter, but was snapped out of her hands by Dudley "Dad, look! Helena got a letter!"

"Hey, give that back! That's mine!" Helena said, trying to snatch it back, but Dudley had already given it to Vernon.

The eldest Dursley chuckled with amusement "Yours? Who would be writing to… you…?" Vernon tried to say before glancing at the letter, seeing it was written to Helena indeed, but also it says that the sender knew she lived in the cupboard under the stairs. Vernon began to pale as he turned the envelope over, seeing on it a drawn coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H, with above the symbol written: Hogwarts.

"P-P-Petunia!" Vernon gasped.

Dudley tried to grab the letter to read it, but Vernon held it high out of reach. When Petunia took a look at it for a moment, it looked like she might faint while clutching her throat and made a choking noise "Vernon! Oh my goodness… Vernon!"

They stared at each other before glancing at Helena. The girl didn't understand what made her uncle and aunt to be in this state. Was it about who had send the letter?

-:-

The next few days went from bad to worse for the Dursleys. After Vernon had burned the letter, he told Helena she would move to Dudley's second bedroom. Then, another few letters for Helena came in by the mail, addressed to; Ms. Helena Potter, The smallest bedroom, 4 Privet Drive…. But it didn't stop with a few letters. Each day, more and more letters came into the mail slot, increasing Vernon's frustration. Heck, a pile of letters were left in front of the door and Helena could have sworn that she'd noticed Aunt Petunia had found more letters for Helena inside eggs, making Helena to go to her room at once before she would see it.

Then, it was Sunday.

Uncle Vernon sighed with relief as a smile grew on his face as he sat with his family in the living room "Fine day, Sunday. In my opinion: best day of the week. Why is that Dudley?" he asked his son.

Dudley shook his head while he stiffen his mouth full of cookies that Helena had prepared, as she was told to do that for them sometimes.

Helena, who gave one to Petunia, answered her uncle's questions, though trying hard not to roll her eyes "Because there's no post on Sunday's?"

"Right you are, Helena!" Uncle Vernon said while taking one cookie "No post on Sunday. Ha! No blasted letters today, no young lady, no!" he said with joy.

Helena sighed before glancing at the window, spotting an owl flying over. This was strange to Helena, as owls are night creatures and don't usually fly during the day. Curiously, Helena went to the window to have a better look. She was surprised to see not one, not two, but what appeared to be over a hundred owls, all sitting in the garden, on Uncle Vernon's car, on the street, even on the sign saying: Privet Drive. There were even more on the roof of the house.

"Oh yes!" Vernon kept talking "Not one blasted little-" his words were interrupted when a letter flew across his face, which came out of the fireplace. Helena and the Dursleys looked in surprise before a rumbling voice was heard from the fire place and hundreds of letters came pelting out of the fireplace like bullets, all raining down across the living room.

Helena couldn't believe her eyes as a big smile grew on her face, while the Dursleys all panicked while being buried under Helena's letters. Helena leaped into the air and managed to grab one.

Turning purple faced, Uncle Vernon stormed to Helena as she was making a run for it to her room "Give me that!" he said before grabbing Helena before she could make it to the stairwell, where even more and more letters flew down at them.

"Get of me!" Helena said while trying to get loose from her uncle, who held her tight, preventing to escape or read any of these letters "These are my letters! Let me go!"

Uncle Vernon then exploded "That does it! We're going away! FAR AWAY! Where they can't find us!"

And so, after first putting Helena in the car, while the Dursleys packed some clothes, all entered the car and left.

While Uncle Vernon thought he would lose the people who keep sending Helena these letters, he was proved dead wrong. Even in the hotel they stayed for the night, a letter to Helena was send, with the exact hotel room, name of the hotel and place they were on it. Uncle Vernon had ripped the letter apart as they went out of the hotel and moved on. Uncle Vernon drove them into the middle of a forest, got out, looked around, shook his head, got back in the car, and off they went again. The same thing happened when they were in the middle of a plowed field, halfway across a suspension bridge and at the top of a multilevel parking garage.

Worriedly, Dudley told his mother "Daddy has gone mad, hasn't he?"

After Uncle Vernon had finally found the perfect place to hide, which was an broken-down house on a rock in the middle of the sea, which was only reachable with a rowboat. The inside of the house was horrible, as it smelled strongly of seaweed, the wind whistled through the holes in the wooden walls, and the fireplace was damp and empty. As it had only two rooms, Vernon and Petunia took the bedroom, while Dudley and Helena had to sleep in the living room.

Dudley slept on the moth-eaten sofa, while Helena was left to find the softest bit of floor she could and to curl up under the thinnest, most ragged blanket. The storm raged more and more ferociously as the night went on. Helena couldn't sleep as she shivered cause of the cold and her stomach rumbling with hunger. She looked at Dudley's watch on his wrist, telling it was five minutes before midnight.

By then, it was her birthday. But who was she kidding? The Dursleys never cared about Helena's birthday anyway. Only last year, the only presents she ever got from them was a coat hanger and a pair of Aunt Petunia's old socks.

On the dusty floor, Helena draw a birthday cake for herself, saying: Happy 11th Birthday Helena Potter.

When she was finished, Helena stared at her drawing, imagining herself being in a room with people who love her and cherished her. If it wasn't for the Dursleys, she guessed the people in her imaginary would do.

Helena took a peek at Dudley's watch again, beeping it was now 12 o'clock in the night. She looked back at her drawing "Make a wish, Helena…" she said to herself before blowing at the drawing, pretending she blew out her eleven candles.

BOOM!

The whole house shivered and Helena sat bolt upright out of shock, while Dudley nearly fell of the sofa. Someone was outside, knocking to come in.

BOOM!

Dudley started as he tripped backwards, while Helena hid herself in the corner, behind the fireplace.

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, with Vernon holding a riffle and aimed at the door "Who's there? I'm warning you… I'm armed!"

For a moment, nothing…

SMASH!

The door swung clean off it hinges and landed flat on the floor, scaring the Dursleys while Helena gasped. A giant man walked inside. It was Hagrid.

When he stepped inside, he puts his small umbrella in his pocket as he looked at everyone "Sorry abou' that." he takes the door and puts it back.

Vernon began to shake as he aimed his riffle at him "I demand you leave at once, Sir! You are breaking and entering!"

Hagrid however wasn't felt threatened and walked up to him with a serious face "Dry up, Dursley, yeh great prune." Hagrid jerked the gun out of Vernon's hands, bent it into a knot as if it was nothing and threw it away. He then looked around and asked "Now, where is Helena?"

With some courage within her, Helena slowly showed herself, being a bit surprised by the size of the man "I… I'm here."

Hagrid smiled, seeing how much Helena has grown "Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby. You look a bit like yer dad, but mostaly yer mom as you have her eyes. Anyway, Helena, a very happy birthday to yeh." This was something new to Helena, first this giant man comes into the Dursleys hiding place and even knows her name and that it is her birthday. Was this man the one who'd been sending her the letters, she wandered.

"Got sammat fer yeh here," Hagrid said as he took something from the inside pocket of his large overcoat "I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll all right." He handed over a slightly squashed box.

Helena opened it, showing inside was a large, sticky chocolate cake with Happy Birthday Helena written on it in green icing. Helena formed a smile "Thank you."

Hagrid chuckled "Ita not every day yah young lady turns eleven, eh?" He then sat on the sofa, taking out his little umbrella and aimed at the fireplace, shooting out of its umbrella a few fire balls, making the fireplace burn good enough.

Helena looked with surprise of what the giant could do, with a little umbrella nonetheless. Slowly she puts the box with squashed chocolate cake on a small table before she asked the giant "Excuse me, but… who are you?"

"Rubeus Hagrid," he introduced himself "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. Of course, yah know all abou' Hogwarts."

Helena shook her head "Sorry, no."

"No?" Hagrid asked in shock "Blimey, Helena, didn't yah ever wonder where yah mum and dad learned it all?"

"Learned what?"

Uncle Vernon tried to interrupt them "Stop! I forbid you to tell the girl anything!"

That earned a fierce glare from Hagrid "Ah, go boil yer heads, both of yeh," he warned to the Dursleys before telling the girl "Yer a witch, Helena."

A silence fell inside the hut, with only the sea and the whistling wind were heard.

Helena looked in complete surprise "I… I'm a what?"

"A witch, o' course, an' a thumpin' good 'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a little."

Helena couldn't believe that Hagrid was telling her, making it hard to believe. Although… reminding herself of all the things that happened without her having any clue how to explain them… it might make sense to her.

Hagrid then raised himself from the sofa and took something else from his inner pocket. It was one of the many letters that the Dursleys had been trying to prevent her from reading. She opened the yellowish envelope and unfolded the letter, reading:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDOR

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc. , Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, international Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts Schol of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Immediately, Uncle Vernon spoke out about this "She will not be going, I tell you! We swore when we took her in, we'd put a stop to all this rubbish and stamp it out of her! Witch indeed!"

"You knew?" Helena asked, which slowly turned into anger of what her uncle and aunt had kept from her all these years "You knew all along, and you never told me?!"

"Of course we knew!" Aunt Petunia shrieked suddenly "How could you not be, my dratted sister being what she was? Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that… that SCHOOL… and came home every vacation with her pockets full of frog spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who saw her for what she was… a FREAK! But for my mother and father, oh no no no, It was always Lily this and Lily that, they were proud of having a witch in the family!" she stopped for a moment to take a deep breath, clearly she had been wanting to say all this for years "Then she met that Potter at school and they left and got married and had you, and of course I knew you'd be just the same, just as… strange, just as… as… abnormal. And then one day, if you please, she went and got herself BLOWN UP and we got landed with you!"

"Blown up?!" Helena asked in both shock and angry "You told me my parents died in a car crash!" so many things went through Helena's mind. If the Dursleys had lied to her about her being a witch, same as her mother and her father being a wizard, what else have they been hiding form her?

"A car crash?!" Hagrid angrily asked "A car crash kill Lily and James Potter?!"

Aunt Petunia gave a shrug "We had to say something."

"IT'S AN OUTRAGE! IT'S A SCANDEL!" Hagrid yelled out.

"She'll not be going." Uncle Vernon repeated himself.

Hagrid would like to see Dursley try "Oh? I'd like ter see a great Muggle like you stop her."

"Muggle?" Helena asked Hagrid.

"Non-magic folk," Hagrid stated to Helena before returning to the Dursley's, telling with a nearly anger face "This girl had er name down ever since she 'ere born! She's goin to the fines' school of witchcraft and wizardry in da world, AND she'll be unda the finest headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen: Albus Dumbledore."

Trying to look tough, Vernon spoke out "I'll not pay to have some… crackpot old fool teach her magic tricks!"

That made Hagrid nearly to snap as he took out his small umbrella and aimed at Vernon, which frightened both him and Petunia "Never… insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me!" then Hagrid noticed that Dudley had been taken Helena's cake and was stiffen his mouth full of it. Hagrid swished his umbrella through the air to point at Dudley – there was a flash of violet light casted at Dudley's buttom and the next second, a little pig tail had grown on him, making Dudley scream, followed by a shock and yelling from Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, with all running to the other room while Dudley sobbed heavily.

Helena's began to laugh, now that her cousin had a REAL little pig tail on his back to prove her point of view that he was really a spoiled little pig.

Though it was amusing to Hagrid too for teaching Helena's mean cousin a little lesson, he cleared his throat before asking her "Well, ahem… be grateful if yeh didn't mention that ter anyone at Hogwarts. I'm – er – strictly speakin' not allowed ter do magic."

Helena nodded, while her laughter slowly went down "Okay."

Then Hagrid reminded him of something "Gollopin' Gorgons, that reminds me," he said before he took out from another pocket inside his overcoat an owl – a real, live, rather ruffled-looking owl – an long quill, and a roll of parchment. Hagrid wrote down on the parchment:

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

Given Helena her letter.

Taking her to buy her things tomorrow.

Weather's horrible. Hope you're well.

Hagrid

Hagrid rolled up the note, gave it to the owl, which clamped it in its beak, went to the door, opened it and let it fell on the floor, and threw the owl out into the storm. He then checked his little pocket watch, stating "It's gettin' late and we've got lots ter do tomorrow," as he puts his pocket watch back in his overcoat, he said "Best be off." He then stood at the doorway, glancing at Helena who still stood in the room "Unless yah rather stay, of course, hmm?"

Helena looked to the door of the other room, where his aunt, uncle and cousin were all scared. This moment, what Helena had been dreamed off for years, of being taken away from that awful family, was a chance she would not miss. She glanced back at Hagrid and went out with him, as he covered her under his big overcoat so she wouldn't get wet.

Both walked over to a huge motorcycle, which had now had a sidecar. For a moment, Helena froze. Was this… the same motorcycle from her dream? Helena asked Hagrid "Uhm… that motorcycle… can it fly?"

"Well, of course it can!" Hagrid said happily "I brought ya with it when yah were a baby to the Dursleys."

Helena sat in the sidecar, with Hagrid giving something thick and warm to her against the cold of the rain and storm before sitting on the motorcycle. As he started it, they began to flew with speed through the air. Helena yelped for a moment, before laughing in excitement. Her dream was not a dream at all, but a memory.

Helena had so many questions, so many things she wanted to know about Hogwarts, this magical world that opened to her. But mostly, about her parents. Having all these things in her mind, made her feel tired and fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: And so, the beginning of my own Harry Potter story, or should I rather say 'Helena Potter story'. I do hope all you Harry Potter fans out there like how I made the beginning so far, and the few changes I did? I thought to myself that maybe I should combine what was both in the books and movies all together, which I hope you all loved and enjoyed.

The next chapter will be coming soon.