Title: Harry Potter and the Shattered Soul

Author: Legolas-gurl88

Disclaimer: Jo's, not mine…

OoOoOoO

10. Stella Humfrey

"What?" said Harry, staring at the old woman bemusedly. "No. I'm not James."

"Well, you look a powerful lot like him, you do!" said the old woman, putting her twitching hands on her squat hips. "If you're not James, then who are you?"

"I'm Harry," said Harry, throwing caution to the winds, "James's son."

The old woman seemed completely clueless for a moment as she looked at Ron and Hermione, who were slowly advancing behind Harry, their arms full of trinkets. Finally, the old woman looked back at Harry as though she recognized him.

"Harry! Oh, dear Harry! You were a baby when I last saw you! I thought you'd died when this happened," she indicated to the smoking green house. However, she continued to look fondly at Harry. "You look just like your father, you do! It's no wonder I mistook you for him. Come closer, I want to see you more properly."

Deciding this had gone a bit too far, Harry stayed where he was. "Er-- I 'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I'm Stella Humfrey. Pleased to meet you-- or see you again, as it were."

How d'you know my parents?"

"I was their neighbor. Still am, though I'm sorry that they're not here anymore to enjoy it."

"Are you--" Harry cut off. He had almost asked 'Are you a witch?' but remembered just in time that she could well be a Muggle as well. "Are you a Muggle?"

Stella smiled. "Yes, I'm a Muggle. But my ex-husband and son were both wizards. They're dead, though. Been dead for years."

"I'm sorry," said Harry.

"I'm sorry too. Well… for my son, at least. My good-for-nothing ex-husband died when he drank too much Firewhisky and decided it was smart to ride a manticore. Not seen him since. But my son on the other hand died bravely in combat."

She looked as if her thoughts had wandered off for a moment, but she came too seconds later. She shivered.

"What're we all standing outside in the cold for?" she said. "You and your charming friends are welcome to come to my house for tea and biscuits if you trust me."

Harry looked around at Ron and Hermione. Hermione looked slightly doubtful, but thankful for getting a chance to get out of the snow. Ron looked excited for a chance at food.

"Yeah, thanks." said Harry to Stella. "That'll be great."

"Then come on, let's go." said Stella. Harry turned back for one last look at his parent's house-- his first home-- before following Stella, Ron and Hermione, the last two of which were laden with all of his parent's things.

Stella led them down the sidewalk to the house on the left of Harry's house. The lawn was covered in snow and ice and the house itself looked as if it might be made of gingerbread. The walls were brown and the roof was coated with smooth, untouched snow. Stella peered around at the three teenagers before setting off up the pathway to her door and ushering them inside.

The entry room was very dark, Harry could hardly see where he was going. He ran strait into a small table holding an ancient-looking vase. It fell off the table and shattered on the ground.

"I'm sorry," he said as he pulled out his wand and repaired the mess.

"It's quite alright, Harry, dear. It was my fault-- stupid lights… power's out in the whole house. No matter, just keep walking. And turn into this room." Stella came ahead of Harry and allowed him to follow her into a room that was dimly lit by an old oil lantern.

"Sit anywhere you want." said Stella. "I'll go put the tea on and be right back."

As Stella left the room, Harry sat down in a very soft, yet tattered armchair that reclined the moment he sat. Harry could have sworn he heard the armchair sigh. Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione sat on an ugly yellowish two-person couch beside Harry's chair. They were silent for several minutes, listening to Stella bustle around her kitchen.

"What time is it?" Harry asked the others. His voice sounded oddly muted in the stuffy old room.

"There's an old chime clock in that corner, do you see?" said Hermione, "It says it's a little after two."

"What d'you reckon about that woman?" Ron asked, "Stella?"

"She seems nice enough." said Hermione slowly, setting down all the things in her arms.

"Yeah," said Harry, "and she said she knew my mum and dad." He looked at his friends and asked in a voice that he hoped was more casual that hopeful. "D'you think that's true?"

"I don't see why it shouldn't be," answered Hermione, "I mean, she is living right next door."

"Maybe she might have an idea about where we should go next." said Ron.

"Yes, I--" said Hermione, but she was broken off as Stella came in, carrying four cups of tea and a small plate of cookies on top of something that looked like an album.

"Alright, tea's here." she said, allowing Harry to take the first cup. "And help yourselves to the biscuits. I'm sorry, but I forgot to ask you your names," she said, offering Ron and Hermione each a cup.

"I'm Hermione," said Hermione, taking a few biscuits and sipping at her tea.

"Ron," said Ron as he grabbed the teacup and several more cookies than Hermione had.

"Ron and Hermione," recited Stella. "Lovely names. I see you've taken an interest in that chair, Harry."

"Er--" said Harry, looking down at the chair that was now quivering.

"My ex-husband's," Stella said, "I always hated it, but when he died, it was in his will that I have it. Some day I'll see if I can find a wizard shop to sell it at, but until then, I can't give it to any Muggle shops."

Harry didn't say anything. Stella sat on the arm of Ron and Hermione's couch, just to the right of Harry. She took her tea and handed him the album.

"I found this the other day when I was cleaning. I took so many pictures with your parents."

Harry opened the book to find a still picture of his parents in front of their house.

"Weren't they a lovely couple? That was when they were just married and moved in." Stella interjected. "This next one--" she turned the page, "--wizard photo, my ex-husband had it made. Yes, see there? That was when Lily was about five months along in her pregnancy. They were so excited to have you."

Harry stared down at his mother, whose belly was expanded greatly. She smiled up at him before the page was turned to another moving picture of his father holding a broomstick in his hand with his other hand on his hip.

"Your father, Harry, was so into that game-- Quidditch, that's the name. He had already bought you a small broomstick of your own to train you early."

Harry couldn't help but smile at this.

"Yes, that picture was the last one taken of your family before you were born. Turn the page."

Harry obeyed and turned to see the next picture-- an unmoving one-- of his mother lying in bed looking immensely tired. Harry's dad was sitting beside her. Wrapped in Lily's arms was a newly born baby covered in blankets that Harry knew to be himself.

"That was about an hour after you were born. You were just about the sweetest thing I'd ever seen. Wasn't he sweet, you two?" she asked Ron and Hermione, ripping the album out of Harry's hands to show them the picture.

"Adorable," said Ron, grinning, his voice shaking with laughter.

"Yes, well," Stella sighed, turning a few more pages where Harry saw flashes of himself with Lily, or James, or both. Occasionally, he saw himself and Sirius.

"Wait," he said, reaching out a hand to catch one of the pages. He turned it over and found a picture of himself as a baby, being held by Peter Pettigrew. "When was this taken?"

Stella smiled. "That was taken about a month before your parent's deaths. Do you recognize him?"

"Yeah," breathed Harry. Ron and Hermione leaned forward to see the picture and they both gasped. "That's Wormtail."

"Well, that's what your father called him. I 've always wondered where they came up with those mad nicknames." said Stella. "Remus Lupin was 'Moony'. And that no-good Black was 'Padfoot'. I heard he's dead."

"Yeah… yeah, he's dead." said Harry not taking his eyes off of the picture.

"Serves him right!" Stella said, suddenly sounding a bit hysterical. "After what he did to my poor son!"

"What?" said Harry sharply, taking his eyes off the photo and looking directly at Stella. "Sirius… what did he do to your son?"

"He killed him!" cried Stella. "That-- that man… killed my only son! He killed him along with twelve Muggles! Must've been only an hour after your parents died, Harry."

It was completely silent for a long moment as Harry, Ron and Hermione all gaped at Stella who was sniffling uncontrollably. They didn't notice her, because at that moment, they were each putting two and two together.

"Pettigrew?" Harry whispered breathlessly. "Your-- your son is Pettigrew?"

"Y-yes. Didn't you know?"

"I-- no." said Harry, even more quietly.

"But-- but Stella," said Hermione, "how could Pettigrew be your son if your last name is Humfrey?"

"My last name used to be Pettigrew," Stella explained quite calmly, though her sniffs were growing louder. "But when I divorced Richard-- my ex-husband-- I took back my maiden name. Peter, of course, kept his father's name. Excuse me… I'm going to get more tea."

She left looking rather shaky. Harry looked around at Ron and Hermione, who looked as shocked as Harry felt. There was another bought of silence that lasted for several minutes as Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at each other.

"What do we tell her?" Hermione spoke first in a low whisper.

"I think we should tell her about Wormtail-- I'd want to know if it were me." said Harry.

"Yeah, that'll be nice," said Ron sardonically, "Your son's alive, but he's working for the evilest wizard in the world right now. He didn't die bravely, he lived as my rat for twelve years before he was found out. And, to top it all off, he was an unregistered Animagus."

Hermione bit her lip.

"I think it's best if she know the truth. It's like Harry said; if it was my son, I'd want to know."

"Know what, dear?" Stella said, entering the room with another steaming cup of coffee. She looked slightly pale in the feeble light the oil lamp gave, but looked a little less shaky.

"I-- well… erm…" said Hermione. She swallowed and looked at Harry pleadingly. He sighed.

"We have something to tell you, Stella," said Harry, setting his teacup down and sitting up slightly in the shivering armchair. He waited for Stella to give some response… perhaps an "alright" or a "tell me what?", but she said nothing. She seemed to be waiting bated breath, almost as if she knew what Harry was going to say. He could feel her eyes on him. "Wormtail-- er-- Pettigrew… Peter." he continued when Stella still remained quiet, "He's not dead."

"Excuse me?" Stella leaning in, clearly thinking that she had misunderstood Harry.

"He's not dead." said Harry.

Stella seemed to be growing paler by the second. She looked at her lap and asked, "What makes you say such a thing?"

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. They merely nodded.

"When I was thirteen-- you remember Sirius Black escaping?"

"Naturally."

"Well… he lured me, Ron and Hermione away from Hogwarts to get to Ron's rat, Scabbers. Then Remus Lupin turned up after a while and he and Sirius said that Scabbers was an Animagus-- a wizard that can turn into an animal--" Harry explained when he saw Stella's confused look. "--anyway… they said their was a spell for changing Animagi back into their human form and they performed it on Scabbers."

"And what does this have to do with my Peter?" Stella said, wide-eyed, but Harry thought he could see that she was starting to understand where this conversation was leading to and was dreading the answer.

"Scabbers was Pettigrew." said Ron. "That's why he was named Wormtail."

"But-- but… Peter-- my Peter?" Stella said incredulously, "What would he be doing hiding as a rat-- if he really could turn into a rat, that is-- for twelve years?"

"Because he betrayed my parents, not Sirius. Sirius was innocent the whole time." said Harry.

"Alright… well… if Peter did do all these things, then where is he now?"

Harry traded glances with Ron.

"He's with Voldemort." said Hermione quietly when Harry didn't answer. Stella looked angry.

"What do you mean 'he's with Voldemort'?"

"…he rejoined Voldemort… he helped him come back." said Harry even quieter than Hermione. "I saw him that night-- that night when Voldemort returned. He made this potion with Voldemort's dad's bone, my blood and his own hand. It brought Voldemort back."

"This-- this has to be a joke." Stella said. "They gave me Peter's finger-- in a box."

"He cut it off." explained Ron. "That way it looked as if Sirius'd finished him off. Maybe made him explode or something."

"Stella…" said Hermione, putting her hand gently on Stella's shoulder, "We're not making this up. We just thought you'd want to know. And we're really, really sorry."

There was a sudden crash outside and Harry and the others peered over their shoulders out the window where the light from the oil lamp was reflecting. They couldn't see out the window; it was too dark outside.

"G-goodness," said Stella, getting up slowly, "What on earth was that?"

"I dunno," said Harry, getting out of the quivering chair. He pressed his face up against the windowpane, trying desperately to see outside. Outside the door was a dark, cloaked figure.

"Oh no," Harry groaned. Ron and Hermione got up and peered outside too.

"That's not the Death Eater?" Hermione asked.

"Looks like it," said Ron.

"Oh no," Hermione whimpered, her hand to her mouth. "Oh no, oh no, oh no…"

"Stella," said Harry, jumping away from the window. "Is there a back way out?"

"Why?" Stella asked, "Who is it?"

"He's been following me for a couple months." said Harry. "A Death Eater. One of Voldemort's followers."

"Is he dangerous?" Stella asked.

"Yeah. He tried to put the Cruciatus Curse on me and Ron's dad and brother."

"I've heard of the Cruciatus Curse," Stella said quietly. She looked at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "You three need to get out of here right away. Go into the kitchen. There's a door that leads into the backyard. Jump the fence. You'll be on Sword Street. Go left. It'll lead you away from here. Just follow the road."

"What about you?" Hermione asked, watching Stella. She stood up.

"I'm old. I've lived my life. You three are young still, and have a large life to lead."

"But--" said Harry.

"Go. I'll be fine. All I can say is thank you for giving the news of my son. Go."

"But--" said Ron.

"Go!" hissed Stella just as the front door burst open. Harry, Ron and Hermione bolted, Stella following at their heels. When they exited the room, they looked at the Entrance and saw the Death Eater standing there, shivering from the snow and cold wind outside. He and Harry made eye contact just as the Death Eater lifted his wand.

"Crucio!" he shrieked. Harry blocked his eyes as the jet of light headed in his direction. However, he felt no pain. Instead, he heard the screams of Stella who had jumped in the way of the spell.

"No!" said Harry, pulling out his wand and pointing it at the Death Eater. "Stupefy!"

The Death Eater deflected the spell and sent it straight back at Harry who ducked. He aimed another spell at the Death Eater, but that, too was repelled.

"Harry!" he heard Hermione shriek from the kitchen entrance. She and Ron had already begun to run. "Come on, hurry!"

"What about Stella?" he shouted back, staring at the old woman twitching on the floor.

"She told us to leave! We've got to, Harry!"

Harry aimed one more spell at the Death Eater who deflected it, giving Harry time to scramble over to Hermione and Ron who were waiting at the door.

"Let's--" he began to say, when he felt a burst of pain hit his body from behind. He fell to the floor, screaming. His body contorted and he heard Ron and Hermione calling his name.

Then it was over. Harry got on his hands and knees and looked over at the Death Eater. Ron was dueling him while Hermione was kneeled next to Harry.

"Are you alright?" she asked. She grabbed his arm and helped him to his feet. Stella was still on the floor, watching as Ron and the Death Eater battled around her. Harry watched them fight as well, waiting for the Death Eater get into the perfect position. Finally, when his back faced Harry, Harry sent a Stunning Spell his way. The Death Eater howled and keeled over, landing on top of Stella, who pushed him away from her as if he were a rotten fungi.

"Nice shot, Harry!" Ron panted, his hands on his knees.

"Are you alright, Stella?" Harry asked, walking shakily over to her and pulling her to her feet.

"I am now. Thank you." Stella looked down at the Death Eater lying on her floor. "What should we do with him?"

"I dunno. I'd like to see who he his first." answered Harry, kneeling down next to the thin Death Eater.

"He's the same one, then?" Ron asked, kneeling down next to Harry and Hermione followed suit.

"Yeah. I'm almost sure he is."

"Let's see the git, then."

Harry placed his hands on either side of the white mask and lifted it. Just as he had done last time he was caught, the Death Eater began to glow, then disappeared. However, his mask remained in Harry's hands.

OoOoOoO

This chapter is shorter than it would have been initially, but I cut it down so I could actually post it. It wasn't finished yet. I know, that sucks, but I had to! Sorry! It's been a while since I've posted and I hope y'all haven't forgotten me! I've just been really busy! Especially writing my own story, which I'm hoping to publish if it's good enough!

I don't know when the next chapter will be up because I haven't written it yet. Summer vacation is coming soon, so hopefully, I'll gather some time from that!

Also, to those whom I've been in contact with for a while… if you have a Myspace, I do as well and I would love to become your friend! No pressure if you don't want me and don't worry, I'm not a 38 year old man living with his mom. I'm a teenager! But just so you know, if you send me a friend request, I'll probably deny it unless you identify yourself by sending me a message first. I always check messages before friend requests. So send me a message announcing that you've sent me a friend request and let me know your pen name on But I'm looking forward to contacting a lot of you with whom I've known way back to when I was writing 'Staff of Merlin'! My Myspace is the thing under 'Website' at the top.

MBBIYD (May Broomsticks Be In Your Dreams)

Luv,

Legolas-gurl88