Helena Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

My name is Helena Lily Potter.

For nearly ten years, my life has been anything but happy. I've been raised by my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon who just hate me for reasons I know nothing of. I've always thought it was because I was left on their doorstep. Aunt Petunia's a scrawny rat-faced woman and my Uncle Vernon's a fat purple idiot. Even worse than them is my fat, stupid, and horrible cousin Dudley. He picks on me quite a bit, but not so much anymore ever since he broke my glasses and Uncle Vernon threatened to make him pay for a new pair if he did it again. He only did this because of the money, not because he cared about me. Both of them spoil their stupid son to no end and are blind to his faults.

I've been somewhat neglected and a loner for years because my home life's horrible and I've got no friends at my school because Dudley's a bully and no one wants him to think that they like me. I'm far from pretty because I'm as skinny as a hose, I wear circular glasses that are taped together and worn out thrift-store clothes, I have thin black hair, and a lightning bolt shaped scar on my forehead. My Aunt and Uncle say I got it when my parents died in a car crash. I've never been sure about that as I've got faint memories of their deaths.

I remember their faces, a cackling laugh and a flash of green light. It's not much, but it's all I have of them. There're no photographs of them in the house and I've always been told not to ask questions about my family. My bedroom is a cupboard under the stairs that's cramped, but has a bed and my few possessions—some worn out horse models Dudley didn't want, a battered old watch and a stuffed black dog I'd been found with that day. I named him Snuffles and he became my only friend and confident.

I have strange dreams about my past, but I can't explain them. I can only hope that one day; I'll be free of this place and these people and can lead my own life in the world. When I'm of age, I'm never coming back to this place, not ever.

One morning, I was snuggled up to Snuffles and enjoying a nice dream, when my Aunt's voice and pounding on my cupboard door woke me up. I let out a yawn and stretched as I put on my glasses. Dudley was running up and down the stairs, causing dust and woodchips to fall into my eyes and hair.

"Wake up, cousin! We're going to the zoo!"

I got changed and was almost out of my cupboard before he shoved me back inside. I sighed as I got out again and went into the kitchen where Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were spoiling their son again as it was his eleventh birthday. The minute I came in, I got the evil crusty of death.

"Why don't you cook the breakfast and try not to burn anything?" said Aunt Petunia. "I want everything to be perfect for my Dudley's special day!"

"Yes, Aunt Petunia," I said, as politely as I could. I took the bacon and eggs out of the frying pan and placed them on everyone's plates after letting them cook a bit more.

"Hurry up!" Uncle Vernon barked. "Bring my coffee, girl!"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon."

I poured his coffee and then sat down and began eating my own small portions of the breakfast.

Aunt Petunia took her hands off Dudley's eyes, allowing him to gaze at the presents. "Aren't they wonderful, darling?"

"How many are they?" he demanded.

"Thirty-six, counted them myself," said Uncle Vernon.

I finished my breakfast and went back to the remaining cooking as I braced myself for the storm that would hit.

"Thirty-six? But last year I had thirty-seven!" Dudley shouted.

"Some of them are quite a bit bigger than last year's," said Uncle Vernon.

"I don't care how big they are!" he shouted.

Aunt Petunia intervened. "Now, now, here's what we're going to do. When we go out, we're going to buy you two new presents. How's that pumpkin?"

"Perfect," said Dudley, smiling.

I let out a soft breath. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. But just then, the telephone rang and Aunt Petunia came back with bad news. Mrs. Figg, the old woman I'd stay with when the Dursleys went out, had broken her leg and couldn't watch me today. I felt bad for Mrs. Figg as I liked her and secretly enjoyed visiting her, even if I did have to look at every photo of every cat she owned. I made a mental note to send her a get-well card when I could.

However, this presented a dilemma. My Aunt and Uncle debated about it and decided that I couldn't be left home alone and would have to come to the zoo with them and Dudley. Dudley strongly protested and began blubbering, but this ceased when he was promised a giant hot-fudge sundae.

I was actually both looking forward to this and dreading it. Before getting into the car, Uncle Vernon warned me that if I did any "funny business," I'd have no meals for a week. I wasn't worried as he usually never followed up on his threats and the most I got for a punishment was being locked in my cupboard another hour or two. The trip was a bit fun, and seeing the wolves was my favorite part, but then we got to the Reptile Room. The python in the cage was asleep, boring Dudley.

"Make him move," he ordered.

Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass. "Move."

Dudley banged on the glass. "Move!"

"He's asleep!" I said. "Leave him alone."

"He's boring," said Dudley, as they went to another cage.

I shook my head and turned to the snake. "Sorry about him," I said. "He doesn't understand what it's like, lying there day after day, watching people press their ugly faces in on you." To my shock, the snake woke up, blinked at me and was actually listening to me. "Can you hear me?" The snake nodded. "Wow. I'm sorry, it's just…I've never talked to a snake before. Do you, I mean, do you talk to people often?" The snake shook its head. "You're from Burma, aren't you? Was it nice there? Do you miss your family?" The snake pointed to a sign on the cage that read Bred In Captivity. "I see. I'm sorry. That's me as well. I never knew my parents either."

Just then, Dudley's voice rang loudly across the room. "Mummy! Dad! Come here, you won't believe what this snake is doing!"

He shoved me aside and I fell down painfully on the floor as he pressed his hands and face to the glass. I was so angry at him and sick of getting picked on and I glared at him. As I did this, the glass in the cage disappeared and Dudley fell into the cage and the snake got out. My eyes widened as the snake moved towards me and nuzzled my arm affectionately.

"Thanksss," he hissed.

"Anytime," I said, stunned.

The snake then left the zoo, causing the other citizens to scream in terror. To make matters worse, the glass returned and Dudley was trapped inside in the cage. Aunt Petunia was horrified and had to get a zoo worker to get him out and Uncle Vernon was furious with me. The minute we got home, he tightly grabbed my hair and growled, "What happened?"

"I swear I don't know!" I yelled, as I tried to free myself from him. "One minute the glass was there and then it was gone, it was like magic!" I got shoved into my cupboard and locked in for this.

"There's no such thing as magic!" Uncle Vernon hissed before shutting me in.

I remained in my cupboard for what felt like forever. I kept holding Snuffles close and wondering about what had happened. The snake had thanked me for helping it escape, but had it really been me? Had I really caused the glass to disappear like that? But if so, then how had I done it? How had I even spoken to the snake? But no one could answer my questions because I wasn't allowed to ask them to anyone.