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helenadurazzo · 6 days ago

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An Unlikely Pair

Helena finds herself teaming up with Ismelda to help the latter confess her feelings to Barnaby Lee. Not only is it awkward due to Helena and Ismelda not getting along in the past, but also because Barnaby is Helena’s ex boyfriend

Theme: Unlikely Duo

Characters: Helena Tremblay (OC) and Ismelda Murk

Note: Part Two of this story (The Love Potion) is coming out tomorrow for those who are interested in a continuation

The Midways belong to @melodymidway

@hphm-fandom-events

Helena Tremblay’s POV, April 1989

Helena expected a calm walk as she headed outside with Andre after their transfiguration class with the Hufflepuffs. Classes weren’t the same without her brother but she kept motivated with the truth that they would free him, they had to. And with Melody heading over to practice her dueling with Bill, it was just her and Andre. Her eyes traveled over to quite a large crowd gathered in a corner of the courtyard. Normally, she would avoid such crowds, especially when she had better things to do, but her ears heard something that caught her attention.

“If you won’t say sorry I’ll make you.” An individual who Helena couldn’t put a name to taunted.

“Give it back you git!” Helena heard Ismelda demand with a growl.

Helena turned to Andre who had also was looking at the scene, “What do you think is going on?” She asked in a hushed tone.

“I’m not quite sure to be honest.” He shrugged. “But whatever it is it’s drawn a crowd, come on.”

As they approached and weaved their way through the crowd, it gave Helena more context. Emily Tyler, dressed in her fancy pink clothing rather than her school robes held a book, a diary of sorts, and was gleefully flipping through the pages. She had cornered Ismelda Murk who stood rather helplessly. Normally Helena would have expected Ismelda to fight back yet something seemed to stop her and Helena was perplexed on what that would be.

“What’s this?” Helena heard Emily’s voice once again, “Don’t tell me it’s a love letter!”

Ismelda clenched her fists, “If you read one more word, I swear-“

“Oh please.” Emily smirked confidently, expressing her superiority as a seventh year over the fifth year. “You can’t stop me. And you know it. Now let’s see.” Emily cleared her throat as if she was about to give an important speech as she started to read out the love letter for all to hear. “*I watch you from afar, wishing for the day you finally look my way. For your eyes are a forest I’d willingly lose myself in, your smile a beacon of light in the darkness. I’ve yearned to tell you how I really feel, to stop hiding behind my poisoned tongue. Because I love you, Barnaby*. This is hilarious!” Emily exclaimed. “How daft are you? To think Barnaby, or anyone for that matter, would like someone like you? I mean look at you! A greasy haired, spotty faced toad who smells like she never bathes. Give me a break.”

“Ismelda has a crush on Barnaby?” Andre whispered to Helena as her eyes seemed glued to the scene in front of her. “That’s a pairing I couldn’t have predicted. Though I thought the way she teased him seemed suspicious.”

Helena didn’t look at him, only listening to Emily as she continued on. “This is undoubtedly the most pathetic thing I’ve ever read! I’m almost embarrassed for you! It didn’t even rhyme! Aren’t the weird ones supposed to at least be ‘creative’. Honestly you should be thanking me. You’d make a fool of yourself if you actually gave this to him”

Helena broke her daze with a shake of her head, “I can’t watch this anymore.”

“Helena, wait-“ Andre attempted to stop her, but Helena was already walking towards Emily and Ismelda. Standing firmly in between the two of them, facing the Seventh Year Gryffindor with all the confidence she could muster.

“That is enough!” Helena glared daggers. “Give Ismelda her book back, Emily.”

“Excuse me?” Emily seemed rather appalled by the proposition. “Who do you think you are defending that piece of filth! She was rude to me! And why should I? Last time I checked, you two aren’t friends, though I doubt she has many friends at all, not like me.”

“Because you have gone way too far.” Helena narrowed her eyes, she disliked Ismelda as much as the next person, but no one deserved such public embarrassment.

At long last, Andre came to her side, standing confidently next to Helena, “We aren’t afraid to report this to the professors. But I suppose if you hand over the diary we could just sweep this under the rug”

“Whatever.” Emily rolled her eyes, “I’ve done my day’s work, she can have her lame book back.” She added, and rather than handing it over, she threw it on the ground like a piece of rubbish. She then turned to her so called friends, like a ridiculous queen commanding her delusionaly loyal subjects, “Let’s go”

Helena shook her head with distaste. Once Emily was out of her sight, she picked up the diary and gestured it towards Ismelda, “Here you go.”

“I didn’t ask for your help.” Ismelda gritted her teeth as she snatched her diary back. “Or your pity.”

“But Ismelda we just-“ Andre attempted to explain.

“I SAID I DIDN’T NEED YOUR HELP!” Ismelda yelled so loud Helena swore the creatures in the forbidden forest could hear her, “Just leave me alone!” Ismelda demanded before making a swift exit, not giving them another glance.

Helena sighed as her eyes followed Ismelda as she left. She didn’t follow her, she didn’t want to be on the other end of a curse after all. But that vulnerability wasn’t what she had expected, and it was rather peculiar.

Helena walked into the Great Hall alone for an early dinner. She planned to study for her Transfigutation exam the next day, especially since the subject wasn’t her strong suit. As she looked over towards the Ravenclaw table to find a suitable seat that could ensure her quick meal. An unwelcome voice caught her off guard.

“Tremblay!” Merula Snyde called out loudly causing Helena to flinch.

Helena sighed, knowing she couldn’t avoid what was to come, “What is it now Merula?” She asked in as kindly and patient of a tone she could muster.

Merula suspiciously narrowed her eyes in an accusatory fashion, “What did you do to Ismelda?”

“I did nothing!” Helena insisted, “I swear!”

Unluckily for her, Merula was clearly not convinced, “I know it was you or Midway who did something! She’s acting even stranger than normal”

Helena could tell Ismelda didn’t tell Merula of what happened in the Courtyard, and it puzzled her. They had always seemed to be friends since their early Hogwarts Days, yet it seemed Ismelda refused to be honest to her, perhaps it was for the best. “Merula, please, it was-“

“Don’t lie and push the blame.” Merula threatened her causing Helena to instinctively take back, not wanting to start a duel. “I know the truth will come. It is only a matter of time.”

Helena sighed with frustration as Merula stormed out of the Great Hall. Though she did know such behavior was in character. Merula had always antagonized her, her brother, and especially Melody. Everything that went wrong, Merula always placed the blame on them. Merula acted like she was strong and powerful, yet if Ismelda wasn’t being honest with her, how strong were Merula’s alliances truly were?

“Helena?” The voice of Ismelda broke Helena out of her own mind’s questions, causing Helena to turned to look at Ismelda who sat alone at the corner of the Slytherin table.

“Yes?” Helena asked as she hesitantly walked over, hovering over Ismelda, secretly hoping for a quick discussion. Yet it was rare for Ismelda to be like this to anyone, and it made her curious.

“I wanted to say…” Ismelda gulped. “for standing up to Emily for me… th… tha… than… look don’t make me say it”

“It’s alright.” Helena accepted Ismelda’s peculiar expression of gratitude. “I get the point and you’re welcome. But I thought you said you didn’t need anyone’s help. Or rather, yelled”

Ismelda sighed, was she regretting that? “I suppose I say a lot of things that I don’t mean”

After a few moments of silence and flimsy eye contact, Helena awkwardly cleared her throat. “Well… if that’s all you want I-“

“Wait!” Ismelda called out as Helena was about to head towards the Ravenclaw table.

Helena turned her head. Ismelda looked quite embarrassed, still not looking at her directly, as if she was trying to figure out what she wanted, “Yes?”

“I hate to admit this.” Ismelda started as Helena took a seat across from her, not bothering to stand when she knew this encounter would be longer than she initially planned, and at the very least, she wanted to act like a decent person who wasn’t in a rush. “but I’m desperate. The truth is… I need someone to talk to. And I was hoping that could be you”

“Me?” Helena was flabbergasted, why her out of everyone? “Why? It’s not like we are friends. Wouldn’t you rather talk to someone like Merula”

Ismelda only shook her head. “I can’t talk to Merula about any of this, not truthfully. She’d only mock me. Although I did try asking the Bloody Baron but he refused to comment. You’re the only one who’s really approached or talked to me recently. And if anyone could help me with Barnaby, I suppose it would be you”

The whole situation was awkward and the fact that Helena had once dated Barnaby herself had added to that. Barnaby was a nice guy, and Helena could see why someone would fancy him. She wondered how long Ismelda had felt this way, perhaps it went even back to when she herself was dating Barnaby, was she jealous? Maybe? But eventually, while Helena enjoyed her time with Barnaby, she found herself not being fulfilled and initiated for them to go their separate ways, Barnaby deserved someone who could love him truly without hesitation, the way she currently loved Erika. And now Ismelda pondered if Ismelda could be that person for him

While Helena was confident she knew what was being implied, she had to be sure, “Is this about what happened in the courtyard with Emily?”

Ismelda shyly but honestly nodded, “The more I thought about what she said, the lore I realized she is probably right. The only way Barnaby would like someone like me is if he was forced”

“Wow…” Helena breathed out, and upon Ismelda’s glare she was quick to apologize, “sorry, it’s just, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you talk like this before.”

“Yeah, well don’t get used to it” Ismelda rolled her eyes, but then putting her hand to her face as she sighed. “Ugh, that came out wrong. It’s just… ugh can we talk or not?”

“I suppose I can hear you out at least.” Helena shrugged not seeing why she should reject. As much as she disagreed with Ismelda, she couldn’t help but feel for someone who was showcasing vulnerability, even if that was going to be a rare, once in a life time occurrence. “So… you want to confess to Barnaby?”

“I guess I have to try.” Ismelda attempted to muster some confidence but it quickly faded, “but what’s the point. You heard what Emily said about me… and it’s all true. Why would anyone love me?”

“If you confess.” Helena pondered out loud, “You will finally know if he feels the same. And perhaps he will, you two have been friends for a while… I think.”

“I suppose you could say that.” Ismelda weakly confirmed, supporting Helena’s own uncertainty, “I hate to say it, but you make sense. I won’t know how Barnaby reacts until I confess. I just don’t know how. I’ve fancied him for years. But I’ve never been able to tell him, and he was dating you for the longest time. How did you get him to date you?”

“I guess I just tried to be myself.” Helena admitted to answer the difficult question. Yet she wasn’t even sure if it was true, for it was also trying to figure out who she was which led her to break up with Barnaby in the end, it was all still very confusing, but all Helena knew was she was happy with where she was now, truly loving Erika. Helena sighed, it wouldn’t be like her if she stopped someone from trying to figure out who they were and what they wanted, especially if it could change them for the better, “Fine, I’ll help you. We might not be friends but you shouldn’t be sulking around”

“Really?” Ismelda’s eyes - or eye rather since one of her eyes was blocked by her bangs - widened with pure surprise, “Guess I won’t need that im- never mind”

“The only problem is this might be too big of a job for me to do alone.” Helena told herself it was for the best that she didn’t think too hard on what Ismelda was originally going to say. She was Ismelda after all. And upon thinking of it further, a plan did come into motion, one she knew she would need assistance with, “Luckily, I know just the wizard for the job”

Ismelda shuddered and muttered under her breath, but Helena heard her, “Please don’t tell me it’s Egwu.”

“Don’t be like that.” Helena did her best to reassure her, “Andre is the most confident and stylish person I know. He has helped me with my relationships and I’m sure he can help you to. If anyone can raise your self esteem it’s him”

“He seems pretty shallow…” Ismelda admitted, “but I guess he was kind to me back in the courtyard, and it does seem like he knows what he’s doing. And if he’s willing to help me, I guess I’m willing to listen”

Helena was quick to organize a meeting for the next day. Luckily with no classes that day, the places to meet drew exponentially once you made sure to not pick places where big crowds of people would be. Many classrooms would be freed up as Professors tended to stay in their quarters or offices and wouldn’t have known the difference. Even more so that the History of Magic classroom which was where her meet up with Ismelda and Andre would occur. And to Helena’s delight, he was already there, as fashionable as ever but surprisingly not fashionably late

“Thanks for meeting us here Andre.” Helena expressed her gratitude and she and Ismelda joined him at the round table. “Lucky for us Binns is out, so we shouldn’t be disturbed here”

“No need to thank me.” Andre insisted. “I’m always up for a makeover. I’ve been wanting to brush that hair out of her face since we were first years. This might be the toughest case I’ve yet to face but I am determined to succeed”

“I suppose that could help.” Helena quickly spoke before Ismelda could threaten Andre for her fashion choices, causing her to slump back in her chair, “But I was hoping you could also help Ismelda work on her confidence so she can confess her feelings”

Ismelda sighed, her dark green eyes directed towards Helena, “You are lucky he overheard everything in the courtyard or I’d place a silencing charm on you Tremblay with that blabbering mouth of yours.”

“Don’t be embarrassed Ismelda.” Andre soothingly assured her, “I think it’s nice that you have a crush on Barnaby. You two have the potential to be quite the couple, especially with the right outfits.”

The Slytherin’s eyes narrowed at the Ravenclaw guy, “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t cast a Memory Charm on you right now”

“Because I can design you a fancy dress for your first date?” Andre patiently pointed out, “I have had plenty of happy customers, take Helena here as an example. I designed her outfits for her dates with Barnaby and now with Erika.”

Imelda pondered the thought in silence for a few moments. Eventually her own words interrupted the silence she created, “Could it be the color of blood and have skulls all over it?”

“I guess?” Andre confirmed with a puzzled look on his face. Helena guessed he was trying to sketch out an idea in his head, something that he was struggling with greatly. “If that’s what you want I could make it work…”

“Deal.” Ismelda gave a rare smile.

Helena took a sigh of relief as things were going much smoother than she initially worried they wouldn’t, perhaps helping Ismelda wasn’t the worst thing in the world. And now there was only one thing left to do, “Now that that’s settled, let’s get a plan in order”

#HPHM #Jonthia #Helena Tremblay #Ismelda Murk #Emily Tyler #Barnaby Lee #HPHM Girls Week #HPHM Girls Week 2025

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