Stella Nova

by BrooklynFazenbaker

When the Weasley's took in Sirius Black's daughter on Halloween night, they expected him to return for her in a few days. Instead, they raised her alongside their children. How will a Slytherin "Weasley" change the story? Especially when she's a troublemaker and so close to so many snakes... and how will Sirius react to seeing his daughter again? (I do not own Harry Potter)

2. Chapter 1: The Sorcerer's Stone

I do not own Harry Potter and I feel like my preface didn't really do the story any justice. There will be a little Molly bashing but I promise it's not for long because, honestly, who could hate Molly?! Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott love. It's extremely obvious that Remus Lupin is my favorite character in the HP series. Story contains language and some 'love' scenes in later chapters. Each chapter is one of the books, and this story literally follows along to the books so a lot of what you're going to read is book accurate. ENJOY! Love y'all. 3 Brooklyn

Chapter One: The Sorcerer's Stone

"Give it here!" Ron yelled, trying to grab the letter from Fred, who simply tossed it to George. "It's mine!"

"Did ickle little Ronnikins get his Hogwarts letter?" George smirked, holding the letter high in the air, unaware of the small girl that had climbed the kitchen shelves and was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. "Didn't you learn anything from when Stella got hers just last week?"

"I did," Ron smirked.

"Got cha!" Stella yelled, jumping onto George's back.

They both fell to the floor with a loud crash, the air being knocked out of George. Ron grabbed his letter before grabbing Stella's arm and pulling her after him. The two laughed loudly as they ran up the stairs, running into Ron's room and slamming the door closed before pushing Ron's dresser in front of it. Fred and George banged on the door, unable to push it open as the two kids inside got their breath back. They smiled triumphantly as Ron held up his Hogwarts letter before ripping it open.

"Mr. Ronald Weasley. We are pleased to invite you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Ron whispered in awe, staring at the letter as if it were the most precious item in the world which, in a way, it was.

"I told you we'd go together," Stella rolled her eyes.

"I know. I just…" Ron trailed off and Stella pulled him into a tight hug.

"I wouldn't have gone without you," she whispered to him.

"Thank you," Ron whispered back, holding her just as tightly before they heard Molly yelling at the twins on the other side of the door.

They moved the dresser back, opening the door and poking their heads out. They both smirked, sending winks to the twins as they flinched under Molly's voice. As stealthily as possible, the two went back down the stairs behind Molly, finding Ginny smirking as she prepared a snack for herself.

"So, Ron got his letter, yeah?" Ginny asked.

"Course I did," Ron sniffed, puffing his chest out. "Was it ever even a question?"

"Of course not," Ginny rolled her eyes, having heard Ron pacing in his room ever since Stella had gotten her letter on her birthday. "You'll definitely be a Hufflepuff."

"Will not!" Ron yelled.

"Will, too!" she yelled back.

The two broke into an argument, voices rising. Stella rolled her eyes, leaving the two alone so she wouldn't get yelled at when Molly found them. She worked on de-gnoming the garden, kicking a gnome when it bit her finger. She thought of what Luna would think of the bite before continuing her chores, going to gather eggs from the chicken coop next, carrying them carefully in her shirt before going back to the house. Ron and Ginny were gone but Molly was moving around the kitchen, cutting potatoes for dinner.

"I got the eggs, mum," Stella smiled happily, carefully setting the eggs on the counter to be washed.

"Oh, thank you dear," Molly smiled.

"I also de-gnomed the garden. One got me, though," Stella showed Molly her finger.

"Oh," Molly sighed, pulling out her wand and tapping Stella's finger, wrapping the finger in a small bandage before kissing it. "All better?"

"Thank you," Stella smiled happily. "Do you need help?"

"Can you clean the eggs?" Molly asked and Stella nodded.

She pulled a chair over to the counter before turning on the sink and holding an egg under it, getting all of the dirt and chicken gunk off of it before placing it on a tea towel that Molly had spread out for her. After a few minutes, the eggs were washed and put in the cold box for later. Molly kissed Stella's head and sent her off to play. Stella went back outside, laying in the grass and staring up at the clouds, her skin darkening slightly in the Summer sun.

Two days later, Arthur was holding Stella's and Ron's hands, Fred and George staying close behind him as Percy wondered off on his own to gather any supplies he was still missing. Stella got fitted for robes before they went to Ollivander's. Ollivander stared at Stella with wide eyes before Arthur cleared his throat and the man looked away. It took eleven tries for a wand to choose Stella.

"Fir wood, unicorn heartstring core, bendy," Ollivander told her. "A survivors wand."

"What do you mean?" Stella asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"You are strong-willed," Ollivander stated. "This wand will serve you well."

"Thank you," Stella whispered, giving Ollivander a soft smile before Arthur paid and they moved on.

Ron and Stella were getting Fred and George's old books and Ron was getting their old robes, along with Charlie's old wand, causing him to complain for a while as they walked to the second-hand bookstore to get the defense books that were required for all of the children now that they had everyone's book list for the year. Stella smiled as she carried her new book, wand in a bag with her robes that would go to Ginny next year. Two weeks later, they were heading towards platform 9¾ to board the Hogwarts Express, Ginny looking rather put out with all of her siblings leaving her until Christmas. A boy with raven black hair and green eyes hidden behind broken glasses stopped them as Ron was preparing to go through the wall.

"Excuse me?" he asked, voice small. "Could you tell me how?"

"How to get on the platform? Don't worry. It's Ron and Stella's first year, as well," Molly smiled. "Watch Stella."

Stella went through the wall, smiling and turning once she was through, making sure she was out of the way and waiting for the boy to come through. He did a few moments later, staring around in wonder.

"Muggleborn?" Stella asked.

"What?" he asked.

"That's a yes," Stella laughed, pulling the boy out of the way just in time for Ron to come through. "Careful, there. Ron'll trample anyone if he's not paying attention."

"Thanks," the boy laughed out before leaving them to board the train.

Stella smiled after him before Molly came through with Ginny, Molly telling her to hurry and commanding the twins to help Stella and Ron get their suitcases onto the train. The twins helped before rushing back to Molly, telling her something excitedly before she kissed their cheeks and sent them on their way, yelling something about a toilet seat that caused the twins to laugh loudly. Ron and Stella got their hugs before getting on the train and searching for a compartment.

"Can we sit with you?" Ron asked the twins, both of which laughed and told them no before shutting their compartment door and turning to their friend Lee to discuss pranks for the year.

Stella grabbed Ron's hand, pulling him along until they found the boy with black hair sitting by himself.

"Do you mind if we sit with you?" Stella asked him.

"Everywhere else is full," Ron sighed.

"Sure," the boy nodded, giving them a smile.

Stella and Ron sat across from the boy and Stella took Scabbers from Ron's hands, holding him gently against her chest and petting down his spine.

"I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley. And this is my sister, Stella Black," Ron stated.

"If she's your sister, why do you have different last names?" Harry asked curiously.

"I'm adopted," Stella shrugged.

"Oh. Well, I'm Harry. Harry Potter."

"Are you really?" Stella asked, eyes wide.

"Do you have the… the scar?" Ron asked.

"Oh," Harry nodded, moving his bangs up and showing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

"Whoa," Ron breathed.

"Deep breath, Ron," Stella smirked, turning back to Harry. "This is Scabbers."

"He was my brother Percy's before this year," Ron rolled his eyes. "Mum gave him to me as a gift. He's more attached to Stella, though."

"You keep trying to turn him yellow," Stella reminded him.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" a voice asked.

"No, thanks," Ron sighed, holding up his and Stella's sandwiches. "We're all set."

"We'll take the lot," Harry stated, pulling out gold coins upon coins, causing Stella's and Ron's eyes to widen at the sheer amount.

The three pigged out on sweets, Ron moving to the seat beside Harry as he explained Quidditch to him. A boy named Neville Longbottom showed up a while later, asking after a toad before a girl with bushy hair and big teeth appeared.

"Have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost his," she explained.

"We already told him no," Ron rolled his eyes.

"Are you doing magic?" she asked, Ron trying to turn Scabbers yellow again. "Let's see then."

Ron cleared his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow. Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow!"

A flash appeared and Scabbers began squeaking, trying to escape Ron's hold. Stella reached over quickly, grabbing Scabbers and holding him protectively against her chest again, glaring at Ron.

"Is that a real spell?" the girl asked. "Well, I've practiced a few as well. For example, Oculus Repairo."

Harry's glasses were fixed and Harry stared in awe.

"You should be getting dressed. We'll be arriving soon. You've got dirt on your nose, by the way. Just there," the girl told Ron before turning on her heel and walking away.

Stella rolled her eyes, already dressed except for her outer robes. She set Scabbers down carefully before reaching into her suitcase and pulling the robe out. She waited to turn around until Harry and Ron gave her the all clear, pulling her robe over the top of her uniform. She picked Scabbers back up, setting him in her lap and going back to petting him again. Stella saw the toad as they were exiting the train, grabbing it up so it wouldn't get trampled and carrying it in her other hand and searching for the boy again.

"Hello, Hagrid," Harry smiled.

"Whoa," Ron breathed, staring up at the large man.

"Hiya, Harry," Hagrid smiled before raising his voice. "First years! This way!"

The first years stepped into boats and Stella found Neville once they'd docked, passing him his toad with a smile before joining Harry and Ron again. Ron took Scabbers back, rolling his eyes as he stuffed the rat into his pocket. Stella rolled her eyes but grabbed Ron's hand, not wanting to be separated from him as they walked into the large castle, all gasping at the sight of it. Hagrid left them at the entrance, a woman with a stern look on her face taking over and taking them to a large set of doors.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair.

"I will return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She walked through the doors, blocking their view of the interior as the doors closed behind her. Stella sighed as Ron told Harry about them possibly having to fight a troll.

"So, it's true then? What they're saying on the train? Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," a voice stated and a boy with blond hair stepped forward, smirking. "This is Crabbe, that's Goyle, and I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

Stella held in her snort but Ron didn't, causing the blond to turn his glare on Ron.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair and hand-me-down robes? You must be a Weasley. You'll soon find Potter that some wizarding families are better than others. I can help you there."

Malfoy held out his hand and Harry looked down at it before glaring at Malfoy.

"I think I can sort out the wrong sort for myself, thanks."

McGonagall returned and Malfoy stepped aside, glaring at Ron and Harry as he went.

"Move along. The ceremony is starting," she told them, leading them inside.

Stella stared at the ceiling in wonder.

"It's not really the night sky," the know-it-all was back. "It's enchanted. I read all about it in 'Hogwarts: A History'."

They all lined up at the front of the room, Stella looking around the room and smiling when she found Fred and George. She elbowed Ron, pointing towards them. They both gave small waves and the twins waved back before McGonagall began speaking again.

"When I call your name, you will put on the sorting hat and be sorted into your house," she announced and Stella sent a glare at the twins.

"I'm going to kill them," Ron grumbled and Stella had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the comment.

"Black, Stella!" McGonagall called and whispers broke out across the room.

Stella released Ron's hand, stepping forward and giving McGonagall a shy smile before sitting on the stool and having the hat placed on her head.

"Ah," the hat practically purred. "Stella Black. You have a rather witty mind, something both of your parents had as well."

"My parents?" Stella asked, thinking of Molly and Arthur.

"I mean Sirius Black and Marlene McKinnon," the hat corrected her and, before Stella could think on the names, the hat continued. "Ambitious, as well. You want to prove yourself. I think, the best place for you is… SLYTHERIN!"

Silence fell over the hall and Stella took a moment to stay sitting as the hat was lifted from her head. She looked towards Ron, eyes wide in panic before McGonagall told her to move along. Ron gave her a reassuring nod and she began to move, sliding down the stool and heading towards the green and silver students, taking a spot at the front of the table where it had been left empty for the first years to join.

Milicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Tracy Davis, Gregory Goyle, and Daphne Greengrass joined her, all sitting on the opposite side of the table from her and shooting her curious and untrusting glances as they turned to watch the rest of the sorting, everyone except her having received applause when they'd been sorted. Draco Malfoy smirked, the hat barely touching his head before he moved to the Slytherin table, sitting to Stella's left and staying quiet as he watched the sorting, the others seeming to relax a bit when he sat beside her, which only caused Stella to feel more uncomfortable than she already was. Lily Moon sat beside Tracy and across from Stella, looking her over for a moment before turning as well before Theodore Nott sat on Stella's right, Pansy Parkinson sitting on the other side of Draco once she was sorted, fluttering her lashes at him and causing Stella to roll her eyes.

"Potter, Harry!"

A hush fell over the hall, the opposite of what had happened to Stella. The hat took a while, seeming as if it went to yell one thing before stopping itself. Finally, the hat yelled out.

"Gryffindor!"

Loud applause was heard from the lions section and Stella could hear Fred and George yelling "We got Potter!" over the rest of the crowd. Finally, everyone calmed and the sorting continued. Stella smiled when Ron was called up, happy when he was placed in Gryffindor quickly. Blaise Zabini joined them after that, being the last student remaining and sitting beside Theodore. Albus Dumbledore stood then.

"Yes. Wonderful sorting! As a reminder students are to remain out of the forbidden forest and no one is to go to the second corridor on the third floor unless they wish to die the most painful death. Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!' Thank you," he said before clapping his hands, food appearing all around the table.

"He's mad," Draco scoffed before reaching towards the food. "Sheppard's pie, cousin?"

Stella stayed quiet for a moment before realizing that his question was directed at her.

"Cousin?" she asked in confusion.

"You are Stella Black, daughter of Sirius Black. My mother was born a Black. We're cousins," he shrugged, staring at her with a blank expression.

Stella just stared back, feeling even more confused now.

"Did you not know?" Draco's voice dropped to a whisper so no one could hear them, the other first years having already started conversations among themselves.

"No," she shook her head, before looking towards the Gryffindor table. "No, I didn't."

"Where have you been all these years?" Draco questioned. "Mother said you'd been lost when Cousin Sirius had been arrested."

"Arrested?" Stella asked, eyes wide.

Draco stared at her in confusion before his eyes widened.

"I'll explain everything after the feast," he promised her, voice still low. "I'll have mother send me a book on our family for you if you'd like?"

"Yes, please," Stella nodded.

"Shepard's pie?" he asked again, holding up the serving spoon and Stella nodded.

Draco placed the food on her plate before putting some on his own plate and beginning to eat.

"So, Black," Pansy Parkinson raised her voice and caused everyone to turn to her. "Where have you been? You were lost as far as any of us knew."

"I was with my adoptive family," Stella shrugged, remembering Draco's reaction to Ron earlier and trying to keep that from getting out until she could figure out more about her father.

"What family would that be?" Daphne Greengrass demanded.

"Leave her be," Theodore spoke up, able to tell how uncomfortable Stella seemed.

"Well, they were like us, weren't they?" Parkinson questioned.

"Magical, you mean?" Stella asked. "Yeah."

"No. Pure," Daphne corrected.

"They are," Stella nodded, thinking of the Weasley family tree.

"Good," Daphne nodded and Stella shrank in her seat a bit.

"Leave her alone," Draco spoke up and the other first-years went back to their own conversations.

Stella let out a breath of relief before going back to her food. She ate slowly, seeing everyone, minus Crabbe and Goyle, eating carefully, seeming far more proper than Stella felt. She looked over the heads of the Slytherins, finding Ron laughing from beside Harry, Fred and George. Percy was looking back at her though, giving her a disappointed look. She gave him a pleading look and he raised his chin, turning away from her defiantly. Stella felt her heart sink in her chest at the snub before looking up to the head table and finding a man in all black with greasy hair glaring at the Gryffindor table before he turned his glare to her.

"Who's that?" Stella asked Draco quietly, pointing to him.

"Severus Snape," Draco nodded. "He's the head of our house and the potions master."

"I don't think he likes me much," Stella admitted as Snape kept his glare on her.

"Nonsense," Draco waved off her concerns and she turned to him. "That's just his face."

Stella let out a small laugh, a smile escaping and causing Draco to seem rather proud of himself. Dessert was served and then they were led through the halls and to the dungeons. The prefect that was leading them didn't seem to truly care for them until they were out of sight of the other houses, visibly relaxing when it was just them and the first-years. They reached a portrait and the prefect spoke.

"Emerald."

The portrait swung open and the prefect nodded, walking into the common room and ushering the first-years in. A wall of glass met them, causing the common room to glow green as they looked into the lake. The prefect cleared his throat and they turned to him.

"My name is Walter Parkin. My prefect partner, Tunney Hushbottom, is in the infirmary at the moment and will introduce herself tomorrow. You may look around the common room before our head of house, Professor Snape, joins us for the start of term speech before heading to your dorm rooms," Walter explained.

"Is she alright?" Stella asked, concern clear on her face.

"She will be," Walter nodded before moving along towards a few of the older students who were probably his year.

"Is she alright?" Pansy mocked to Daphne and Stella rolled her eyes before approaching the glass and smiling as she saw movement in the dark.

Theodore stood beside her, staring out as well. Stella gave him a small smile before a silence fell over the room and a throat cleared, pulling both of their attention. Professor Snape looked around at the gathered first-years, inspecting each of their appearances. His eyes stopped on Stella for a moment before moving on.

"I am your head of house, Professor Severus Snape. You have been sorted into Slytherin. Most of you know what they truly means but some of you," his eyes flicked to Stella again, "will not understand. The school has preconceived notions of your house. They call us evil and target us. You are to stay in groups of three or more at all times. Do not wonder off on your own under any circumstances. They'll see you as any easy target.

"In the halls, you are to carry yourselves with the respect and decorum that our founder would expect from you. You are to behave in classes, not call unwanted attention to yourself, and do not start fights. If you do find yourself in a duel, be sure to finish it.

"You have me first thing in the morning with the Gryffindors. Mister Parkin will lead you to my class after breakfast. Do not be late for your classes. If you are, ask a Slytherin for directions and they will help you. Do not ask the Gryffindors, portraits, or ghosts, unless they are in this room right now. Take a look around and memorize them. If you do not present yourself in the correct manor, you will be receiving detentions with myself, scrubbing cauldrons by hand."

Professor Snape turned on his heel, leaving the common room then and leaving Stella shocked with his speech. She didn't have time to think on it though as Walter stepped in front of them.

"Right," he sighed. "Your rooms are just up those stairs. Ladies on the left. Boys on the right. Get some sleep."

Walter left quickly, following after Professor Snape quickly. Draco's hand found its way around Stella's wrist, stopping her from leaving the common room. She followed him to the corner of the room, the two sitting in armchairs and facing one another.

"Who were you with?" he questioned.

Stella sighed before answering.

"The Weasley family," she told him, watching as Draco's eyes widened in shock.

"You were stuck with that family?" he asked, seeming disgusted and Stella glared at him.

"They're the only family I've ever known so I will ask that you not say anything outward about them in front of me," she told him and Draco shook his head, sighing in the process.

"Alright. What do you know of the Black family?"

"Nothing," she shrugged.

"They never told you about your family?" Draco was shocked again. "I have to write mother. She'll know what to do."

"Draco," Stella interrupted. "You said my father was in prison. Is he in Azkaban?"

"He is," Draco nodded. "For being a Death Eater."

Stella just stared at Draco, eyes slowly widening.

"He was a Death Eater?" Stella whispered the question, lip quivering.

"He is," Draco nodded. "He's still alive. Just locked up with Aunt Bella and the dementors."

"So, our family is…"

"Yes," Draco nodded, Stella not having to finish her question for him to understand.

Stella looked away from him, taking everything in. She turned back to him then.

"Why did he leave me with the Weasley's?" she asked.

"Haven't the foggiest," Draco shrugged. "As far as any of us knew, you were lost. We knew you weren't dead because the Black vaults are in your name."

"The Black vaults?" Stella asked. "Like at Gringotts?"

Draco just stared into her eyes for a moment before looking down at her hand. His frown deepened the longer he stared at her hand. Stella looked down at her own hand in confusion before looking to Draco.

"What?" she asked him.

"You should have an heir ring," he whispered. "Mother is going to be angry."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he assured her, looking into her eyes again. "You've done nothing wrong. We should get some rest though. I'll write mother before breakfast."

"Okay," Stella nodded, standing when Draco did and allowing him to lead her up the stairs.

He watched her go into her dorm room, joining the other girls in their year before going to his own dorm. Stella gave a shy smile to Millicent, Tracy, and Lily, avoiding Daphne and Pansy as she rushed to her own bed. She found her trunk at the end of her assigned bed and reached inside, pulling out her pajamas and heading towards the loo attached to the room. After getting changed, she laid in her bed, noting the look Pansy gave her pajamas before closing her curtain.

She laid there, thinking of the small bit of information she'd received from Draco on her birth family. Why hadn't mum told her anything before she came to school? Surely she should have been warned what people would think of her just because of her father. Instead, mum had left her in the dark. It seemed she would also be writing to her mum before breakfast.

The next morning, Stella woke, jumped out of bed, and rushed to the loo, dressing quickly before braiding her hair behind her head and going back to the dorm room. She grabbed a bit of parchment, quill, and an ink-well, writing to her mum and asking why she hadn't told her about her birth family before she'd come to school. She also told her that she'd been sorted into Slytherin while Ron had gone to Gryffindor, making her feel more isolated than she ever had been. She talked about Draco for a moment before letting the letter dry.

Her dormmates had only just began getting ready when she folded the letter and walked down to the common room, finding Draco writing his own letter. She sat beside him, sighing as she did so. He gave her a tired smile before frowning at her appearance.

"What?" she asked.

"Where did you get your robes?" Draco asked, picking up his quill again and adding a p.s. to his letter.

"We went to the second hand shop in Diagon," Stella shrugged and Draco groaned as Tracy joined them.

"Davis, do you have an extra robe that my cousin can use for a few days?" he questioned.

"What's wrong with my robe?" Stella asked, confused as Tracy nodded and turned back towards the dorm room. "I don't understand."

"You were born into the most ancient and noble house of Black," Draco stated, sitting up straight again. "You are also in Slytherin. You need to present yourself a certain way."

"I don't want to be presented," Stella whispered to him. "I just want to be… well, me."

"You can be you without second hand robes," he whispered back. "Take that thing off."

Stella sighed, able to tell by Draco's demeaner that she wasn't going to win an argument with him. He reminded her of Percy in that way. She slid the robe off, taking her wand and from her robe pocket in the process. Draco grabbed the robe and tossed it into the fireplace, causing Stella to gasp, staring in shock at his actions. Tracy returned quickly, passing the robe to Stella, snorting at her shock.

"Hurry up, Black," she told her.

"Fine," Stella sighed, putting the robe on and putting her wand away before looking to Tracy. "Thank you."

"Of course," Tracy nodded. "Are we ready for breakfast?"

"I think it's still early for that," Stella shrugged.

"Then why are we up early?" Tracy groaned.

"We have letters to send out," Draco shrugged, folding the letter to his mother.

"Is it about Black's lack of proper clothing?" Tracy asked, brow raised as she looked Stella over.

"Partially," Draco nodded.

Stella just rolled her eyes before looking to Draco.

"How do we send our letters?"

"We'll use our owls," Draco shrugged.

"I don't have an owl."

"You don't have an… of course you don't. Let's ask an older student how to get to the aviary," Draco shook his head before doing just that.

The fifth year led them to the aviary, helping Stella tie her letter to one of the school birds before sending it on its way. Draco's eagle owl seemed far too regal as it flew off with his letter. They headed back to the castle, the fifth year taking them directly to their seats at the Slytherin table with the rest of their year before going to his own friends, waving off Stella's thanks quickly.

"What are you wearing?" Pansy asked.

"My clothes are terrible. Thank you. I get it," Stella sighed as she put a bit of food on her plate. "Can we move on?"

"Fine," Daphne sighed, pulling Pansy into a conversation quickly.

Stella sighed as Blaise sat beside her, Theodore on his other side. Stella gave him a small smile before turning back to her food. Blaise had actually smiled back, though his smile had been more amusement than anything else. Walter appeared before breakfast ended, leading the first years to potions. Professor Snape had the door open while he sat at his desk and they piled into the room, finding seats quickly. Pansy stole the seat beside Draco quickly, glaring at Stella as she backed away from her.

"Here," Blaise told her, taking her arm gently and leading her to an empty table and pulling her chair out for her.

"Thanks," Stella whispered, sitting down and pulling her potions book out.

Blaise just nodded and sat beside her. Theodore and Tracy sat behind them and the tables to their right filled up as well, leaving the left side of the room open for the Gryffindors. The first-year Gryffindors began showing up soon and Stella turned her head, looking for Ron. He walked into the room with Harry and three other boys, all of them laughing at something Ron had said. Harry gave Stella an excited wave when he saw her. She smiled and waved back before catching Ron's eye. He gave her a nod and he and Harry took the table beside hers, Ron on the outside so he was closer to her. Blaise's elbow bumped hers and she turned to him.

"How do you know Potter and Weasley?" he whispered the question.

"I met Harry on the train and I was raised by the Weasley's," Stella said, voice steady and at a normal volume so that all of the Slytherins could hear her.

Draco groaned from his seat in front of her, rubbing his face. She knew he wouldn't like that she'd just announced who she'd been raised by, but she wasn't going to deny her family.

"Is that a problem?" Stella asked to no one in particular.

"Blood traitor," Pansy sniffed, staring straight forward.

"Inbred," Ron scoffed.

"Five points from Gryffindor," Snape spoke up and Stella glared at him as the bell rang, Snape standing to begin teaching. "There will be no silly wand waving or incantations in this class. You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the minds, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.

"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"I don't know, sir," Harry stuttered.

"Hmm. Let's try again. Tell me, where would I find a bezoar?"

"I don't know, sir," Harry shook his head.

"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I don't know, sir," Harry had shrunk in his seat.

"Clearly fame isn't everything… Black! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" he questioned, Stella having jumped slightly when she's heard her name.

"I think it's Draught of Living Death, sir," Stella said.

"You think or you know?" he asked, brows raised.

"Think," she told him.

Snape rolled his eyes.

"Where would I find a bezoar?"

"The stomach of a goat, sir," Stella answered, actually knowing the answer.

"The difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I don't know, sir. I was told they were the same thing."

"Hmm…" Snape hummed before nodding. "You are correct in all three cases. Five points to Slytherin."

Stella stared in confusion, looking over to Ron in confusion. He simply shrugged.

"Well?" Snape demanded everyone's attention. "Why aren't any of you writing this down?"

Quills could be heard scratching across parchment for the remainder of the hour. They took detailed notes, Snape continuing to lecture them through the class for the next hour. At the end of the first hour, the cure for boils was written on the board and they were told to work in pairs to create the potion. Stella pulled out her potions kit as Blaise prepared their cauldron. They worked together, speaking softly back and forth as they read through the directions in their book. Stella looked at the board though, noticing a few differences between the book and the board, deciding to write the differences in her book for Ginny next year.

They followed the board, coming out with a perfect potion before the end of class. Ron stared in shock at her cauldron before being distracted from the cauldron behind them exploding. Snape waved his wand, emptying Neville's cauldron quickly before taking points for not paying better attention. He turned to Blaise and Stella's potion next, staring at it before nodding to Blaise, glaring at Stella, and moving on. They bottled a portion of their potion and wrote their names on it, turning it in on Snape's desk before leaving his class.

"He hates me," Stella repeated.

"Yeah. I'm not sure why," Draco agreed as they continued towards the fourth floor for their next class.

"It's weird. I was told Snape always likes the Slytherins," Daphne mumbled.

"Maybe it's because she was raised by blood traitors," Pansy laughed and Theodore grabbed Stella's arm as she turned, ready to punch Pansy.

"You'll get detention," he told her.

"Be worth it to break her pug nose," Stella responded to him, voice low as she tossed a glare at Parkinson.

"You're going to need a babysitter at all times," Theodore let out a quiet laugh.

"Is ickle little Stellakins causing trouble already?" Fred appeared beside her.

"Like the two of you haven't already blown something up," Stella rolled her eyes before a shriek left her as George lifted her into the air, tossing her over his shoulder. "George Fabian Weasley! Put me down this instant!"

"For a price," Fred smirked as he and George ran off with Stella, leaving the other first year Slytherins behind.

"What do you want?" Stella demanded, glaring at Fred as she righted herself on George's shoulder.

"Passwords," Fred shrugged.

"Obviously," George tacked on.

"Not happening," Stella shook her head.

"Fine. We already know the password anyways," Fred waved her off.

"You have Herbology, yes?" George asked.

"Yeah," Stella told him and they headed out of the castle towards the greenhouses ahead of the other first years.

"How are the Slytherins treating you?" Fred asked, voice serious.

"Well, Parkinson and Greengrass are rather rude, but other than that, it's fine. Did you know that I'm related to Draco Malfoy?" she asked him.

"Who?" Fred asked.

"The blond one who was walking beside me," she clarified.

"Oh. No," Fred shook his head, looking thoughtful. "We should have asked you this ages ago. Do you want us to try to figure out who your parents are in the library?"

"You know where the library is?" she smirked and George practically threw her to the ground, catching her at the last second so she didn't actually hit the ground. "Rude. Besides, the sorting hat told me my parents' names. Also, Draco wrote his mum to ask for a book on family lines or something."

"Isn't Malfoy who dad complains about?" George asked.

"Yupp," Stella popped the 'p' as the first year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins joined them. "Don't you two have another sibling to bother?"

"We bothered him in the common room this morning," Fred shrugged.

"Percy, too, but that's more of an every moment kind of thing," George smirked.

"Yeah, yeah," Stella waved them off. "Go blow up a toilet seat for Ginny."

"On it!" the twins yelled saluting Stella and running off.

Stella smirked, shaking her head fondly as she watched them run off. She turned to her classmates again, seeing the Hufflepuffs looking curious and the Slytherins looking annoyed.

"What?" she asked the whole group, receiving no response as the greenhouse doors opened.

Blaise was beside Stella again. Once the teacher set them loose on their plants, he began to whisper to her.

"We're supposed to hold ourselves a certain way," he reminded her. "Professor Snape isn't going to be happy about that little show."

"They're my brothers," Stella defended quietly.

"I get that," Blaise sighed. "I'm just warning you."

"Thanks," Stella gave him a smile.

"No problem, Black," Blaise nodded.

The two worked in silence after that, Stella giving a few pointers every so often.

"How did you know all of that?" Blaise asked as they headed back towards the school.

"I work in the garden a lot for chores," Stella shrugged.

"Wait, what?" Theodore asked, coming to her other side. "Did you just say you have chores in the garden?"

"Yes," Stella nodded. "It's great except for the gnomes. Little buggers like to bite."

"You are one strange witch, Black," Theodore sighed.

"Why do people keep calling me by my last name?" Stella asked them.

"Because it's proper," Blaise stated.

"I've been calling you Theodore and Blaise in my head," she admitted. "Feels strange calling you by your last names."

"Our names are our titles," Theodore shrugged.

"You are whoever you chose to be," Stella disagreed. "Are you Nott, or are you Theodore?"

"Nott," Nott answered and Stella sighed.

"You actually have a good point," Blaise offered. "We are more than our titles. Our titles are the first thing people see about us though so it's important that we make ourselves presentable at all times."

"So the dirt under our nails is a no?" Stella smirked, looking down at her own nails.

"Why didn't you wear gloves?" Nott asked.

"We couldn't afford new ones," Stella shrugged. "Plus, we aren't working with anything dangerous this year. I read through the syllabus just in case."

"Merlin, Black," Blaise groaned. "You're so improper."

"I'd rather be improper. It's more fun."

"Go wash your hands," Theodore pushed Stella towards the girls bathroom.

"Fine," she grumbled.

Once the dirt was out from under her nails, Stella found the two boys still waiting for her, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle having joined them. She smiled to Draco before they headed to lunch, sitting as they had that morning. As lunch was coming to an end, two owls flew towards the Slytherin table as Fred and George ran into the Great Hall, seemingly out of breath and trying to look innocent. Stella rolled her eyes when she saw them before staring at the black owl that landed in front of her with a letter, sticking its leg out to her. Stella untied the letter and opened it, brows raising a bit as she read.

'Miss Stella Black,

My name is Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, your father's cousin. When I read Draco's letter this morning, I was rather shocked by the news of you appearing at Hogwarts, especially being accompanied by a Weasley. I'm not sure why you weren't placed in the care of another family member but I do hope that you'll write back so that I may get to know you. I shall speak to Molly Weasley about you coming to visit over the Summer holidays as well if you wish.

Draco told me that you didn't know anything about our family, not even the fate of your father. I have attached a news clipping of when he was arrested so that you may read what was printed. I do not know why he turned out the way that he did, as we lost contact while he was still in school. I will be sending you a few books as well.

I am also told that you were not aware that you are heiress to the Black family fortune. As the eldest child of the eldest male Black, you control the family vaults, trusts, and businesses. I'm sure a trip to Gringotts will explain everything. You should go as soon as possible so that you may claim your heir ring as well. If you do not claim it by your twelfth birthday, it goes to the next family member in line. I can take you myself if you wish.

I am sending you some proper robes. Consider it a missed birthday present. I hope you are enjoying Slytherin house. If anyone gives you a hard time, let me know and I'll speak to their family. Tell me about your first day?

Signed,

Narcissa Malfoy'

"Your mum is very… proper," Stella told Draco, opening the newspaper article and staring at it.

"What's that?" Theodore asked, looking over her shoulder. "Oh."

"This is my father?" Stella asked Draco, letting him see what she was holding.

"Yupp," Draco nodded, going back to him own letter.

"You've never seen him before?" Theodore asked, voice soft.

Stella just shook her head, still staring down at the photo. She didn't even realize that a tear had escaped her until Theodore wiped it away quickly, causing her to jump.

"Don't let them see," he whispered to her.

Stella nodded, taking a calming breath as she folded the article and letter back up. She stood then, leaving the Great Hall. Theodore and Blaise followed after her.

"I want to be alone," she tried.

"Professor Snape said to travel together," Blaise reminded her.

"If anyone hurts me, Fred and George will eat them alive," Stella defended.

"Still," Blaise told her, walking beside her now as they headed to the common room, having a break after lunch.

"Fine," she sighed as they reached the portrait. "Emerald."

The portrait opened and the three stepped inside to find Snape standing on the other side, eyes locked on Stella.

"Black. Follow me," he told her.

"Yes, sir," Stella nodded, following Snape back out of the common room and to his office.

Blaise and Theodore shot her sympathetic looks before going over to the chess table. Stella kept her head down as she followed Snape, sitting when he told her to and looking up again.

"Miss Black, would you like to tell me what happened between my class and Herbology?" Snape asked, brow raised.

"My brothers snuck up on me and carried me to class," she admitted freely.

"Did I not make myself clear on how you are to carry yourself in this castle?" he asked.

"You did," she nodded. "As I said, sir, they snuck up on me. I told them to put me down."

"There's also the issue of your robes," he told her.

"Draco's mum is sending me new robes," she told him.

"Why do you not already have new robes?" he asked.

"They're new to me," she mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Sorry, sir. Nothing, sir. This is what we could afford."

"Yes, I heard your outburst this morning," Snape rolled his eyes. "You'll have detention with me tonight."

"But, sir…" Stella went to defend herself.

"Further arguments will result in more detentions. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," Stella ground her teeth together.

"Good. Through that door. It'll take you straight to the common room," he told her, dismissing her.

Stella walked through the door, absolutely fuming. Blaise and Theodore gave her sad smiles as she headed straight to her dorm room. She grabbed the pillow off of her bed, ignoring Lily and Tracy as they asked what was wrong, choosing to scream into the pillow instead for a solid thirty seconds before pulling it away from her face. She set the pillow down and took in a deep, calming breath before looking to Lily and Tracy.

"I'm fine," she told them before leaving the room again.

Both girls watched her go, both extremely confused. They looked to one another and shrugged before going back to their potions notes, studying. Stella plopped down into the chair beside Blaise, watching as he moved his knight into a bad spot. Sure enough, Theodore took his knight without hesitation.

"Rook to B4," Stella spoke up and the piece moved, blocking Theodore's next move that would have put Blaise in checkmate.

"No teaming," Theodore grumbling staring at the pieces and trying to change his tactics.

"Where'd you learn how to play chess?" Blaise asked, smirking at the board.

"Ron. I've never beaten him, though," Stella sighed.

"Draco's really good. Ask him to help you get better," Theodore stated. "Queen to C5. Check."

Blaise looked to Stella and she rolled her eyes before smiling.

"Knight to C5," she spoke and Blaise scooted his chair over, giving Stella the spot in front of the pieces.

"Bishop to F7. Check."

The two went back and forth, Stella trying to save the game before admitting defeat. They reset the board and Stella demolished Theodore easily, smiling before they headed to their next class. The three talked excitedly about their favorite Quidditch teams. Well, as excitedly as they could get away with, all three trying to seem more posh than they truly were.

Percy had officially pissed Stella off. She knew she wasn't supposed to ask anyone who wasn't a Slytherin how to get to a class, but she thought she could trust her older brother that had always let her borrow his books. No. Instead, she was lost on the fourth floor, Percy's directions having lead her in a circle to a dead end.

"This way," a ghost spoke, chains shaking as he led Stella to the Transfiguration classroom just in time.

She thanked the Bloody Baron a few times before taking the seat beside Theodore.

"Where were you?" Theodore asked.

"Mum wrote me. I was going to read it away from everyone else, but then I remembered that it's Wednesday and we have Transfiguration," she explained in a whisper. "Percy told me the wrong directions."

"Who?"

"Doesn't matter," she sighed as Professor McGonagall called everyone's attention to the front of the room.

Stella looked around, noticing Harry and Ron missing from the Gryffindors. She gasped when the professor turned into a cat, smiling brightly.

"Wicked," she whispered.

She began copying down the notes from the board before hearing the door slam open. She turned, finding Ron and Harry rushing into the room. They seemed relieved before McGonagall turned into her human form again.

"That was bloody brilliant," Ron breathed.

"Why thank you Mister Weasley," McGonagall responded before threatening to turn one of them into a map and then a pocket watch.

They took their seats on the other side of Stella, Ron copying Stella's notes quickly as new notes appeared on the board. Stella moved the parchment closer to him so he could see it better, Harry copying Ron's notes as he went so they both had what they needed. At the end of the class period, McGonagall told them that by the end of next week they would be able to turn a needle into a matchstick.

Ron grabbed Stella's arm the moment they were out of the door, dragging her away. Blaise and Theodore followed quickly, wands drawn and glaring at the redhead.

"Ron, why are you dragging me?" Stella demanded, pulling her arm from his grip.

"I just wanted to catch up," Ron shrugged, giving Stella a confused smile.

"You don't need to drag me for that," Stella smiled softly before turning to face the other three boys. "This is Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Zabini, Nott, this is Harry Potter and my brother, Ron Weasley."

The Slytherins had already put their wands away and simply nodded at Harry and Ron, staying quiet.

"Why'd they follow us?" Ron stage whispered the question.

"Because they're my friends and a Gryffindor that they don't know grabbed me and dragged me out of our class," Stella stage whispered back before going back to her normal voice. "Honestly, Ron. There was no point to that. We have the same class next. You could have just walked with us to it."

"Oh," Ron slumped down a bit and Stella let out a soft laugh.

"Come on. No need to be late again."

The group of five made their way to class, Ron and Stella catching up before they reached the classroom. Stella and Ron sat in the center of the room so they could stay beside one another, the Slytherins taking the right side of the room and the Gryffindors taking the left just as they had in potions. The two took notes, passing a note back and forth between themselves so they could keep talking, Stella ending up the last one with the note at the end of class. She placed it in her class book before putting everything into her bag, walking with the five boys once again, all ending up in the main hall for lunch. They went their separate ways, Stella smiling more brightly than normal now that she'd had time with Ron.

Her smile fell however when two howlers flew through the hall, one landing in front of Stella and the other landing in front of the twins. She stared in confusion as Fred opened his letter, listening as mum yelled at him and George for actually blowing up a toilet seat and sending it to Ginny. Stella grabbed her letter, leaving the hall and going to the girls bathroom before opening the smoking thing.

"Stella Black! How dare you help Fred and George to blow up a toilet! They don't need your help causing chaos in the school, especially on the first day of classes! And I hear you received a detention for improper behavior from you head of house? I am beyond disappointed in you!"

Stella stared in shock as the letter tore itself apart, small flames falling to the floor. She felt tears leaving her eyes as confusion washed over her. She remembered Theodore's words from the morning before though and wiped her eyes, drying her tears quickly before leaving the loo. She walked straight to the Gryffindor table, glaring at the twins as she approached them.

"Hey, Stell," George said.

"What'd you get a howler for?" Fred asked, genuinely curious.

"Did you tell mum I helped you blow up a toilet?" she demanded from them.

"Stella, you aren't supposed to be over here," Percy stepped in.

"Shove off," Ron and Stella told him together, Ron and Harry joining them now.

"We didn't tell her that you helped," George shook his head, seeming confused.

"We didn't even tell her about the toilet. She got a letter from the school," Fred defended.

"Well, she wrote me a howler because she seems to think I helped the two of you," Stella told them.

"We'll write her," Fred promised, seeing how upset Stella was.

"We promise, Stella," George nodded along.

Stella sighed before turning and heading back to the Slytherin table, taking her spot between Draco and Blaise again. She poked at her lunch but didn't eat it, feeling a bit nauseous after the howler. Fred, George, Ron, and Harry kept sending her concerned looks as they ate, seeing how Stella wasn't eating anything. Draco tried to distract her but she didn't want to hear about her birth family in the moment, too distracted by the words her adoptive mum had said to her.

Stella flopped onto her bed after classes, grabbing the letter that her mum had written to her before the howler had come. She opened it, hands shaking.

'Stella,

I know you're upset with us for not telling you about your parents but, really? Getting yourself put in Slytherin to spite us for it? That's going to affect your future, darling. We'll write to Professor Dumbledore and ask him if you can be resorted but I fear it may be permanent now.'

Stella put the letter down, hands shaking angrily. To spite them? She didn't even know anything about her birth parents yet at that point! And she didn't want to be resorted! The hat put her in Slytherin because that's where she belonged! She let out a frustrated groan before picking the letter up again, reading the rest of it.

'I hope you'll do better in the future, especially in classes. Don't let Ron fall behind just because you're in different houses. I know you'll want to win the house cup, but don't get too competitive over it.

Dad, Ginny and I will be going to Romania for Christmas so you'll stay at the school.

Love,

Mum'

Stella vowed to gain as many house points as possible in that moment, really be sure that the Granger girl wasn't able to get all of the points anymore. She grabbed her potions book, reading through the next few potions they would be making before closing it and heading to her detention, book and self-inking quill in hand. Professor Snape opened the door when she knocked, allowing her entry.

"You'll be washing cauldrons for the next half hour," he told her. "You will not be needing your… is that your potions book?"

"I wanted to ask you a few questions before I start my detention if that's alright, sir?" Stella asked and he saw the determination in her eyes.

"What questions would that be?" he asked.

"Well, I noticed that the directions you wrote on the board were different from that in the book. Even a few of the ingredients were different. I was wondering if we'll be using any other ingredients in tomorrow's potion."

"You will see tomorrow in class," he told her, brow raised in challenge. "What brought this on?"

"My mum thinks I tricked the hat into putting me into Slytherin to spite her for something I didn't know about until after the sorting. She also basically told me not to outshine Ron. I want to earn as many points as possible for my house now, sir. Prove a bit of a point."

"Yes. I heard that a Molly Weasley asked for you to be resorted."

"I don't want to be resorted, sir. I'm right where I belong," Stella stood tall, looking proud.

"Yes, I believe you are," Snape nodded. "Very well. Have a seat. This will be how you serve your detention today."

Professor Snape walked Stella through the changes to the strengthening potion. He told her two ingredients that would be used that weren't in the book and why, Stella writing notes in the margins of her book quickly as she listened intently. They went over the Wiggenweld potion as well, that one taking quite a bit more time than the strengthening potion did. An hour and a half had passed before Professor Snape realized the time and sent Stella back to the common room.

Stella smiled as she skipped into the common room, feeling rather proud of herself before she went to bed. The next morning, Stella sat in the same seat she'd been in on the first day of class, Blaise sitting beside her. Professor Snape walked into the classroom, causing a silence to fall over the room.

"Who can tell me two ingredients that can be added to a strengthening potion to speed up the brewing process?" he questioned.

Stella and Hermione's hands both hit the air, Hermione glaring at Stella.

"Miss Black."

"Herbaria and poppy seeds, sir," Stella stated.

"Correct. Ten points to Slytherin," Professor Snape stated and Hermione scowled heavily at Stella. "Copy the notes on the board and then begin making the potion. You have forty-five minutes."

Stella copied the notes as quickly as possible, already having some of the notes from the night before. She started the cauldron that sat between herself and Blaise, beginning the potion as he finished taking his notes. Stella pushed her book between them, opening it and showing Blaise all of her notes so he could follow along with her instructions. The two completed the potion first, turning in a portion of the potion.

"Twenty points," Snape told them. "A perfect potion."

"Thank you, sir," Stella smiled.

"She cheated!" Hermione yelled, holding up Stella's book.

"How so, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, eyes narrowing at her.

"She has a bunch of notes in her book," Hermione stated. "Look."

"She read ahead and made notes in her book," Snape rolled his eyes. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for disrupting my class, Miss Granger. Perhaps you should take the same initiative Miss Black did and read ahead? Maybe then I would be staring at two outstanding potions instead of one outstanding and one acceptable."

Granger shrank under Snape's gaze and Stella snatched her book back, sending a glare at the girl. She walked back to her seat, smirking at Blaise as she sat down and turning to the page with the cure for boils, deciding to read through that one and try to figure out on her own what she could do to that one. She wondered if she could get Professor Snape to look it over once she was done and tell her if she'd gotten everything or not.

Herbology was next and Stella made sure to every question, already acquainted with the syllabus and the plants from the garden at the Burrow. She ended up only getting twenty points for answering five questions before a Hufflepuff was given ten for answering one. She glared at Sprout for a moment before rolling her eyes and working with her plant, making sure that it was perfect before turning it in before anyone else. Stella ignored the anger she felt when a Hufflepuff got another ten points for their plant, which was tossed into its pot haphazardly. The other Slytherins noticed the treatment as well though, seeming angry for her.

During lunch and their break, Stella opened her transfiguration book, reading through the spell they were working on. She grabbed the needle from her sewing kit that Molly had given her and practiced the spell over and over until the bell rang, her needle thickening a bit and changing its color to more of a light brown. Blaise and Theodore smirked as they watched her, excited to see how this class would go.

They began practicing in Transfiguration and Stella slipped her robe off of her arms. Ron looked over as Stella got her needle to change color and thickness again, a small nub forming on the end of her needle. She continued trying as McGonagall walked around the room. She watched as Stella almost got the spell, moving her wand precisely and just needing the nub to turn red at this point.

"Five points," McGonagall told her before walking away to check the other students, stopping in front of Granger. "Oh. Ten points."

Stella turned her head sharply, staring at Hermione's needle that had only thickened so far. Granger sent her a smirk as Stella stared at McGonagall in disbelief. Her glare hardened and she looked down at the almost matchstick. She got the spell halfway through the class period, raising her hand to call McGonagall over. McGonagall struck the match and it lit, a large flame appearing on the end.

"Five points, Miss Black."

Stella glared at her back as she continued her rounds around the classroom. Blaise let out a scoff and McGonagall turned to him.

"Yes, Mister Zabini?" she asked.

"You gave Granger ten points for making the smallest bit of progress, but Stella only got five for a great deal of progress and then for being the first one to get it," Blaise answered.

"You do not tell me how to distribute points in my classroom," McGonagall narrowed her eyes.

"I just think it'll be interesting to see what the headmaster has to say about the blatant favoritism that you and Professor Sprout are showing to your own houses," Theodore spoke up.

"Professor Snape gave her extra points in his class," Ron tried.

"Professor Snape gave her points for answering his question, making a perfect potion, and turning in their potion before the rest of the class," Draco corrected. "Just as the other professors should."

Stella stared at Ron, eyes narrowed. He glanced at her and looked away quickly, face turning bright red under her gaze.

"Ten points from all four of you," McGonagall stated.

"All four?" Stella asked, looking shocked. "What did I do?"

"You seem like the ring-leader of your little group. Seems only fair."

"Fair," Stella laughed. "How is any of this fair? You showed favoritism towards one of your students and, when it got pointed out by students who aren't in your house, you take points from people who weren't even involved in the conversation!"

"Detention, Miss Black. With your head of house tonight," her stern voice responded.

"And now you're passing out detention because you know that I'm right," Stella let out another laugh. "Bloody brilliant, miss."

"A week of detention. Would you like to make it a month?"

"Gladly," Stella sneered, not caring in the slightest as she stared McGonagall down.

"Fine. A month it is. Take this note and go see Professor Snape. Maybe he can teach you a bit of respect."

"Maybe you should earn it," Stella stated as she left the room.

The walk to the dungeons helped Stella calm down until dread started to settle into the pit of her stomach. Professor Snape was going to be rather cross with her for behavior. She hoped the boys would be alright. She was too lost in thought to even realize that a spell had been flung at her back, locking her in place mid-step. She looked around in confusion before two older students in Ravenclaw robes moved to in front of her, both looking rather pleased with themselves.

"Well, what do we have here?" one of them asked.

"Looks like a little garden snake to me," the other answered.

"Mum always kills the garden snakes in our yard," the first one nodded. "Cuts the heads clean off."

"Hmm. Wonder what the equivalent here would be…"

"I've got it!" the second one nodded, waving his wand and whispering a spell.

Stella fell backwards, feeling blood spurt from her nose and letting out a groan of pain from the impact of the spells that had been thrown at her while she'd been unable to move. The two laughed before wondering off. The spell lifted and Stella stood slowly, a few tears escaping her eyes. She pulled herself up using the wall. It took her the next ten minutes to get to Professor Snape's office, breathing heavily as her ribs ached. She knocked on his door, hearing him tell her to enter. She tried the doorknob but slipped, falling to the floor and letting out a shriek of pain. The door flung open, Snape staring down at her with wide eyes. He gasped, kneeling down beside her.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"Hurts," Stella whimpered, hands wrapped around her middle.

Snape began waving his wand over her before he began whispering healing spells under his breath, a patronus being shot off in the process. A woman in healer robes appeared a few moments later, looking rather panicked as she kneeled beside Snape, helping him with the healing spells.

"Episkey," she muttered and Stella hissed as her nose snapped back into place.

The blood disappeared and Stella was able to breathe again as her ribs were healed and her head stopped throbbing. Stella let out a long breath, sitting up slowly with the help of her head of house.

"What happened?" he asked again.

"Professor McGonagall sent me to you. On the way here, two older Ravenclaws caught me," Stella explained.

"What did they look like?" Snape asked.

"Fifth years, I think? One was blonde and the other was a brunette with a lot of freckles," Stella told him.

"Can you stand?"

"I think so," Stella nodded, standing slowly with the help of Professor Snape.

"I shall alert the headmaster of the attack," the woman stated, bustling away.

"Inside my office. Come," Snape told her, leading her inside.

Stella sat in the same chair she'd been in the night before, feeling almost back to normal now. Snape rummaged through a cabinet for a moment before pulling out a potion and going back to her side. He passed her the potion and she stared at it in confusion before looking up to Snape. He raised his brow, as if darling her to question his actions. Stella took the potion, grimacing at the taste before passing him the empty vial.

"Healing potion," he explained. "It'll speed the process along. You had a broken rib trying to go through a lung."

"Explains why I couldn't breathe very well," she sighed.

"Why were you sent to me?" Snape asked, sitting behind his desk.

"Here," Stella sighed, passing him the note before she began speaking again. "McGonagall was being unfair about points and Blaise, Theodore, and Draco pointed it out. She took points from all four of us. When I pointed out that I hadn't said anything, she gave me detention and, when I continued pointing out how unfair she was being, I ended up racking up a months' worth of detention."

Snape let out a sigh.

"You will learn that the other professors show a bit of prejudice towards the Slytherin students."

"Oh, I figured that out in Herbology," Stella stated. "Professor Sprout showed favoritism, as well."

"Of course she did," Snape rubbed his eyes tiredly before looking to Stella. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she shrugged. "I shouldn't have spoken back."

"I meant from the attack."

"Oh. Yeah. I should have been paying better attention."

"You shouldn't have to pay better attention," Snape told her. "You are a first year and they were older students. They shouldn't have attacked you."

"At least I know why you told us to travel in larger groups now," Stella sighed, relaxing in her seat. "Will I be scrubbing cauldrons for the next month?"

"What classes do you have tomorrow?"

"Charms and Defense."

"Go get your books," Snape waved towards the door.

Stella walked through the door, racing through the common room to grab her school books. She ran back towards the office, taking a moment to catch her breath and walk through the office door, trying to seem as if she hadn't just ran a marathon. Snape looked her over when she walked in and Stella swore she almost saw him smirk before she sat back down.

"The spell in charms is a levitation spell," Snape told her and Stella opened her book, accepting the parchment and quill that was passed to her.

Stella took notes and then practiced the spell for the next twenty minutes until she finally got it. Snape nodded his approval as Stella lowered the quill back to the desk.

"How much progress have you made in Transfiguration?" he asked.

"Oh, I turned the needle into a matchstick. Got five points for it while Granger got ten for making the smallest amount of progress. It's what caused the entire argument in class," Stella informed him.

"Show me," Snape stated, pulling a needle out of his desk.

Stella turned the needle into a matchstick easily now that she had performed the spell already. Snape nodded again.

"How many points did she take?" he asked.

"Forty in total," Stella shrugged.

"Twenty points to Slytherin for the levitation spell and twenty more for the transfiguration work. Ten for standing up for yourself."

Stella stared at Snape in shock before a smile fell onto her face.

"I believe that may be favoritism, sir," Stella told him.

"Detention, Black."

"Yes, sir. Tack it on to the months' worth."

Stella sat in the headmasters office, fuming once more. He had just asked her what she'd done to provoke an attack, as if she was obviously the one who started it. She could tell his mind was already made up but she told him exactly what had actually happened. He nodded sagely before letting out a sigh.

"Well, Mister Trowbridge and Mister Gilbert say that you provoked them. I guess it'll just have to be a 'he-said, she-said' situation," Dumbledore told her.

"What? 'He-said, she-said'? Even if I had provoked them, which I didn't, they threw spells at me. How is that alright?" Stella demanded, forcing herself not to cry.

"They are serving detention tonight for the spells," Dumbledore assured her. "You are dismissed."

Stella stalked out of the room, heading straight to her detention with Professor Snape. She knocked on his office, tossing herself into her chair once he'd told her to enter. She crossed her arms over her chest, anger clear on her face.

"What has happened now?" Snape sighed.

"I just got back from the headmasters office," she told him. "They're saying I provoked them, which I didn't. He doesn't plan to actually do anything. They got detention tonight but probably nothing else."

Snape just stared at her.

"Sorry, sir," Stella mumbled, sitting up and pulling out her Defense book. "I already wrote my defense essay."

"I'll look over it. I already made notes on your potions essay. You may look over it now and see the other changes you could have made," he told her and they exchanged essays.

Stella read through the changes, writing in her potions book as she went. Ginny was going to be the most well-prepared first year in existence once Stella gave her the potions book. Stella had received another howler from her mum for receiving so many detentions so quickly and Stella had let it play in the Great Hall, not really caring as she ate her breakfast. Fred and George went looking for her before dinner that night, wanting to make sure she was alright after the howler. She told them everything that had happened, including about the Ravenclaws. The two Ravenclaws ended up in the hospital wing for three days for some unknown reason, but Fred and George had sent her a wink the very next day.

Her new robes came in Friday morning, a note from Narcissa telling Stella that she hoped she liked them. Stella decided to write the woman back, thanking her and telling her she'd like to meet her. Molly wrote a few days later, angrily asking Stella why Narcissa Malfoy wanted to see Stella over Christmas break. Stella told her mum about the heir ring that she needed to claim before her twelfth birthday and about the robes that had been gifted to her, stating that they were a late birthday gift from Narcissa.

'We are family after all.'

Stella thought about not including that line, but she was feeling a bit petty after how her mum had been treating her since she'd been placed in Slytherin. Percy had continued glaring at her every chance he got but Stella just ignored him, walking with Draco, Blaise, and Theodore to and from classes. She studied hard for her classes, going into depth for her essays and practicing the spells until she was blue in the face, making sure she had them all down before the class period.

Detentions were more like study sessions for Stella. She would write her essays in front of Snape, smirking every time he told her to add something to an essay. He also looked over her potions notes, adding a few of his own that she had missed before she'd write it all down in her potions book. Ginny had better appreciate all of her efforts since she would be receiving the books next year.

Daphne insisted on Stella receiving a few etiquette lessons once Stella had new robes. She made Stella walk with a book on her head, forcing her to stand straight and balance the book on her head. She told Stella to keep her elbows off of the table when they all ate before showing her where silverware was supposed to be placed on the tables. Stella received the books on her family history, reading through them in her spare time and getting so wrapped up in what she was reading that Tracy had to drag her to Astronomy. Draco began quizzing her on family history while they played chess, also teaching her more strategies to try using on Ron.

Ron had been a bit stand-offish after Transfiguration before hearing about Stella having been attacked. Had the older boys not already been in the hospital wing, Stella worried he may have tried to fist fight them. He began walking with Stella to the classes that they shared, Harry tagging along and giving Stella a smile before asking how she was every time he saw her.

Stella had rolled her eyes during flying lessons, smirking when her broom came up to her when she'd told it to, shocking Ron from where he stood across from her before his broom hit him in the face, causing Stella and Harry to laugh.

"Shut up," he told them both.

Stella couldn't help but smirk when Granger's broom ignored her. She rolled her eyes when Draco talked badly about Neville, ready to speak up when Harry did instead. The two flew above them and Stella debated flying up with them when Draco came back down, Harry flying after the Remembrall, catching it before joining the class again. McGonagall appeared then, pulling Harry out of class. He received a gift two weeks later, Stella staring in confusion before Ron waved her over to the table.

"Is that a broom?" Stella asked, voice low. "First-years aren't allowed one."

"Harry's the new seeker," Ron whispered back, looking excited.

"Are you telling me that Draco got detention for flying on his broom when he wasn't supposed to but Harry got on the Quidditch team as a first year?" Stella asked, voice flat.

"Yeah but Malfoy's a git," Ron shrugged and Stella sighed before looking to Harry, seeing his bright smile.

"Congrats, Harry," she told him, giving him a smile.

"Thanks," he smiled back and Stella went back to her table.

"What was that about?" Blaise asked her.

"Nothing important," Stella shrugged. "Is there any pudding?"

Halloween was upon them and Stella felt terrible. She was tired and done with working so hard just for Granger to get all of the points. She'd gotten every spell before her, every assignment perfect, and somehow Granger was still top of their class. She'd read one of her charms essays and scoffed, annoyed once more by the favoritism. She hadn't even mentioned the wand movements in her essay and why they were so important, instead only talking about the pronunciation. Stella continued though, answering questions in every class and working hard to be ahead of as many students as possible.

Pumpkins floated above their head and bats flew in circles, diving down every so often. Stella gave Theodore a sleepy smile as she sat beside him, eating a bit of chicken before resting her head on Draco's shoulder. He looked at her in confusion before rolling his eyes and allowing it.

"You need to take a break," Theodore told her.

"I am. Right now," she defended, eyes drooping.

"I don't mean taking a nap on your cousin's shoulder. I mean an actual break. You look as if a breeze could make you drop," Theodore told her.

"No. I have a point to prove," Stella told him, sitting up and continuing to eat when Professor Quirrell ran in.

"Troll! In the dungeons! Troll!" he yelled before stopping. "Just thought you ought to know."

Screaming began when he fell over and Dumbledore demanded everyone to calm.

"Prefects will lead the students back to their dormitories," he stated and everyone began moving then.

"Shouldn't we stay here?" Stella asked her classmates. "Our dormitory is in the dungeons. Where the troll is."

"He doesn't care if a few Slytherins get killed by a troll," Blaise stated, pulling Stella out of her seat. "Come on."

Stella groaned as she followed after him. They quietly made their way to their dorms, getting there in one piece. Stella decided that sleep was more important and went to bed, falling asleep the moment her head hit her pillow. The next morning, she ran into the great hall, going straight to the Gryffindor table and punching Ron in the arm.

"Ow!" he complained.

"What were you thinking?" she demanded. "You went after a troll?"

"Hermione didn't know there was a troll in the school," Ron defended.

"Idiot," Stella stated before walking away, wondering when Granger had become Hermione to her brother.

'The Malfoys would like for you to join them at Christmas. I do not approve but they are your birth family. If that is who you want to spend your holiday with rather than your brothers, one of which you let put himself in danger, then that is up to you. Dad will be quite disappointed by you joining them, though. You know how he feels about the Malfoys.'

November brought colder weather and the start of the Quidditch season. Stella felt the anger leaving her the more she spoke to Harry, his excitement contagious. On the first Saturday of the month, Stella wondered over to the Gryffindor table, wanting to wish him luck and noticing he wasn't eating.

"Just a bit of toast," Granger tried but Harry wasn't having it.

"I'm not hungry."

"Harry, you need your strength," a boy with an Irish accent spoke up. "Seekers are always the ones getting clobbered by the other team."

"Helpful," Stella rolled her eyes.

"Thanks, Seamus," Harry stated, watching as the boy piled ketchup onto his potatoes.

"Nerves, right?" Stella asked, forcing Ron to scoot down so Stella could be beside Harry.

"Yeah," he nodded, voice dropping slightly.

"Do you like blackberry jam?" she asked him, grabbing a piece of toast and putting a bit of the jam on it.

"Yeah," Harry nodded.

"If you don't eat, you'll throw up," Stella told him, placing the toast on his plate. "Drink some water as well. As unhelpful as he is, Seamus is right and the Slytherins play dirty. You need to be careful out there."

"Are you talking badly about your own house?" Harry questioned.

"Only about the captain of our team," Stella corrected. "I don't like him. He's rude."

"Is someone bothering you, Stella?" Ron asked, puffing his chest out.

"I can handle myself," Stella smirked, waving Ron off before looking to Harry again, raising her brow and looking down at the toast before looking at him again.

Harry sighed before picking up the toast, taking a bite and chewing it slowly.

"Good luck, Harry," Stella smiled, satisfied that Harry was eating something.

Stella joined the snakes for breakfast. She was decked out in green and silver, supporting her house. Once at the pitch, she noticed most of the students routing for Gryffindor, a few Hufflepuffs seeming to be sporting red and green, looking a bit like Christmas had come a bit early. She spotted a banner that said "Potter for President" with a lion that flashed different colors in the high rafters across from her. Draco passed her a pair of binoculars so she could actually see what was happening once the game started, his own binoculars on a string around his neck.

"Thanks," Stella smiled, bumping Draco's arm with her elbow. "Your mum wrote to mine about me coming for Christmas."

"Took long enough," Draco joked.

"Shut it," Stella rolled her eyes, smile on her face, having actually grown a bit find of Narcissa now that she'd been writing her for over a month.

The teams came out and Madam Hooch blew her whistle, Flint and Wood shaking hands before the game began. The quaffle went into the air and they were off. Stella was watching the game carefully, listening as Fred and George's friend Lee commentated.

"And the quaffle's taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor – what an excellent chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too –"

"Jordan!" McGonagall's voice could be heard.

"Sorry, Professor. And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve. Back to Johnson and – no, the Slytherins have taken the quaffle. Slytherin captain Marcus Flint gains the quaffle and off he goes. Flint flying like an eagle up there. He's going to sc- no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the quaffle. That's chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there. Nice dive around Flint, off up the field and- OUCH- that must have hurt. Hit in the back of the head by a bludger. Quaffle taken by Slytherin. Adrian Pucey speeding off towards the goalposts but he's blocked by a second bludger sent his way by Fred or George Weasley. Can't tell which."

"Fred," Stella stated and Draco snorted before they both focused on the game again.

"Nice play by the Gryffindor beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes. She's really flying. Dodges a speeding bludger, the goalposts are ahead. Come on now, Angelina. Keeper Bletchley dives, misses. GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"

Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins, Stella included. Stella saw Harry do a few loops in the air to celebrate and couldn't stop the smirk that appeared on her face before she looked back to the game.

"Slytherin in possession. Chaser Pucey ducks two bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the – wait a moment- was that the snitch?"

A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear. Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement he dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the snitch. All the chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.

"Idiots," Stella scoffed. "They shouldn't stop to watch. They should be trying to get more points."

Harry was faster than Higgs. He could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead. He put on an extra spurt of speed and…

WHAM!

A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below. Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose and Harry's broom spun off course, Harry holding on for dear life.

"Foul!" the Gryffindors screamed.

Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goalposts for Gryffindor. In all the confusion, the snitch had disappeared. Stella rolled her eyes as Lee Jordan had a hard time keeping his opinion to himself.

"So, after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating…"

"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall.

"I mean, after that open and revolting foul…"

"Jordan, I am warning you…"

"All right. All right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinner, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."

The game continued and Lee continue his commentating but Stella was staring at Harry in confusion, watching as he jerked back and forth. She tapped Draco's arm before pointing towards Harry.

"What's he doing?" Draco asked, seeming confused.

"I don't think it's him," Stella whispered, looking towards the school staff and rushing off to get help.

She had to push through the crown, hearing that Slytherin had scored but hearing more that people were finally noticing Harry. She reached the teacher box, breathing heavily as she grabbed McGonagall's attention and pointed up to Harry.

"Oh, Merlin," McGonagall whispered.

"You're on fire!" a professor that Stella didn't know yelled to Snape.

Snape knocked a few of the other professors over, Quirrell included, to stomp out his cloak. He looked up at the air and Stella followed his eyes, seeing Harry righting himself on his broom.

"Oh, thank Merlin," Stella sighed out before heading back to her seat.

She got there just in time to see Harry and Higgs chasing the snitch, Higgs pulling up and Harry waiting a moment longer before doing the same, his feet just barely scratching across the ground in the process. He slowly stood on his broom, hand outstretched before he stepped too far along the handle and tip forward. He seemed as if he were about to throw up and Stella groaned, knowing she should have made sure Harry ate more. Instead of throwing up, the snitch popped out of Harry's mouth and he held it up high above his head, a triumphant smile on his face.

Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy to sixty.

Stella spent Christmas at the castle, throwing snowballs with her brothers and Harry. She received a box of fudge from her mother but couldn't find her sweater anywhere. She looked around in confusion, unable to find the item before heading up to the Gryffindor common room, giving the portrait the password which George had given her the day before. She found Fred, George, and Percy already up, looking through their gifts.

"Is my sweater in here?" she asked them.

"I haven't seen it," Fred shook his head.

"Me, either," George told her.

"Ask Ron," Percy told her.

Stella got the directions from Fred before going to Ron's dorm room, smiling when she saw Harry pulling a Weasley sweater over his head. Ron smiled when he saw Stella.

"Did my sweater get brought here?" she asked Ron. "I can't find it."

"I don't have it," Ron shook his head and Harry shook his as well.

"Huh," Stella sighed. "Maybe it got lost in the mail."

"Do you want to borrow mine?"

"No," Stella shook her head to Harry with a soft smile. "Thank you. I need to get a small bag packed. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Do you have to go with the Malfoys?" Ron groaned.

"It's just for a night," Stella rolled her eyes. "Stay out of trouble while I'm gone. Mum'll blame me if something happens to you."

She spent the day with her brothers and Harry, the two pulling apart a Christmas cracker. Stella placed the tiara that had come out on Harry's head, declaring him the Christmas Princess. He'd laughed before placing the crown on Ron's head instead. The next day, Professor Snape led Stella down to Hogsmeade where Narcissa was waiting for her.

"Oh. You look like Reggie once did," Narcissa told her.

"Who?" Stella asked. "I don't remember a Reggie in the books you sent me."

"He was known as Celeste, originally," Narcissa explained. "Before he took his potions and became Regulus."

Narcissa told Stella the story of Regulus Black being born a girl and becoming a boy in his fourth year. After lunch in The Three Broomsticks, Narcissa side-along apparated Stella to Malfoy manor.

"Lucius won't be able to join us while you're here," Narcissa told her. "He had some business to attend to out of town. We'll be sure you meet him soon, though. I'm told you've made friends with Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. They're coming over for dinner tonight. We'll go to Gringotts tomorrow."

"Thank you," Stella smiled up at her before following her into the large manor.

Stella stared around in wonder as she was led through the manor and to the room she would be staying the night in. Stella thanked her before placing her bag down. Draco ran into her room a few minutes later, more excited than she'd ever seen him. The two played outside for a while, flying through the air before throwing snowballs at one another. Theodore and Blaise appeared at some point, Blaise and Stella teaming up against the other two as they continued the snowball fight.

They were called in for dinner and Stella met Blaise's mother, Rose Zabini.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am," Stella told her.

"You as well," Rose smiled. "Blaise and Theodore spoke very highly of you. You're second in your class, yes?"

"Only because the teachers are bias," Draco spoke up, clearly upset.

"I am taking Stella to Gringotts tomorrow to get her heir ring," Narcissa told Rose and the two exchanged conspiratory smiles.

Stella caught the look and felt a bit of unease creeping in on her. She spent the rest of the night with Draco, Theodore and Blaise, the three camping out in the living room for the night. The next morning, Rose took the three boys to her home while Narcissa dressed Stella in something a bit more formal before taking her hand apparating them to the Leaky Cauldron. They walked hand-in-hand to Gringotts, Stella not noticing Rita Skeeter writing away in the corner or the picture that she'd taken of the two.

"Miss Stella Black is here to claim her heir ring," Narcissa spoke to a goblin.

"Ah," the goblin nodded. "One moment, please."

Another goblin approached them and Stella gave the goblin a smile.

"This way," he told them, leading them to a private room. "Now, Miss Black, we've been trying to reach you for a few years now. Is there a reason that you and your guardians didn't respond to our letters?"

"I never saw the letters," Stella shook her head, confused. "Did you send them to the Weasley's burrow?"

"We did," the goblin nodded. "No matter. We can discuss everything now. You are the heiress to the most ancient and noble house of Black. That means, as Sirius Black is in Azkaban, you are in charge of the accounts and businesses associated with the Black family. We have been handling business affairs for you in your absence, but it is important that you familiarize yourself with everything for in the future. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir," Stella nodded.

The goblin smiled at the title.

"You may call me Bloodshire, Heir Black," he told her.

"Thank you, Bloodshire," Stella corrected herself. "You may call me Stella, if you wish."

Narcissa didn't seem thrilled but said nothing.

"To claim you heiress title, Heir Black, we will need a drop of your blood," Bloodshire told her, ignoring Stella's first name.

Stella held her hand out and a small needle pricked her finger, a drop falling onto a piece of paper. Bloodshire nodded, pulling out a small box and opening it. A ring with a family crest sat inside. Stella reached forward, taking the ring out a smiling down at it. She slipped it onto her finger, feeling magic washing over her. She gasped, sitting up straighter at the feeling before hearing a voice in her head.

"Stella?" the voice asked.

She gasped, looking around the room in confusion. Narcissa gave her a confused look and Stella apologized before looking to Bloodshire, who gave her a gentle smile.

"I have a question that has nothing to do with myself," Stella told Bloodshire.

"Alright," Bloodshire nodded.

"Is there a Potter ring that needs to be claimed?" she asked, sitting forward in her seat a bit.

"There is but I cannot discuss the heirship of another house to you," he told her.

"I know Harry Potter. He was raised by muggles and has no clue about his heirship," Stella told him.

"Hmm," Bloodshire thought her words over for a moment before calling for a goblin named Griphook. "Bring me a letter for the Potter heir. Heir Black will be hand delivering it for us."

Bloodshire looked to her when he said this and she nodded her agreeance. He nodded back and Griphook left to get the letter. Bloodshire turned back to her as they waited for Griphook's return.

"I have a list of the family businesses and vaults, along with how they have been handled by myself in your absence. I will give you some time to look over the paperwork and decide if you would like me to continue running the accounts until you are of age or if you would like to have a magical guardian take over the accounts for you in the meantime. I have a portfolio prepared for you," Bloodshire passed her a large, leather bound folder, which she took and left closed as Griphook returned.

"Here you are," Griphook passed the letter to Bloodshire, who passed the letter to Stella, along with the Potter portfolio.

"The Potter portfolio can only be opened by Heir Potter and the Black portfolio can only be opened by you. Both will appear blank to anyone else who tries to read them. The letter to Heir Potter cannot be opened by anyone other than him, either," Bloodshire explained, glancing at Narcissa as he spoke.

"Thank you both," Stella told them. "I really appreciate everything you've told me today and for my heir ring."

"Of course," Bloodshire nodded. "If you have any questions, just write us. The hex that kept our letters from reaching you lifted the moment that your heir ring accepted you."

"I'll make sure that Harry gets here as soon as Summer begins," Stella promised, already thinking of different ways to get Harry to Gringotts before he returned to his muggle relatives.

"Thank you," Bloodshire nodded again. "Griphook will help you with anything else that you need today and show you out once you are done."

"Thank you," Stella said again.

Narcissa and Stella followed Griphook to Stella's vault that was left for her by her father, an allowance being paid from the main vault every month. Stella stared at the mountain of gold in front of her, accepting the coin bag from Griphook and tossing a few handfuls of gold into the bag before stepping out of the vault. Griphook locked the cell and gave Stella her key, which she then slipped into the coin bag as well.

Stella tried paying Narcissa back for the robes and she shook her head, reminding Stella that the robes were a gift before apparating them back to Malfoy manor. Draco returned in time for lunch, hugging Stella before Narcissa took Stella back to Hogsmeade, Professor Snape waiting for them. He led her back up to the school, staying silent until they passed the school wards.

"How was your visit?" he asked her in his monotone voice.

"Miss Narcissa seems nice," Stella offered. "I met Miss Zabini, too."

"I see you have your heir ring now," Snape nodded towards her hand.

"Yes, sir," Stella smiled softly, looking at the ring again before thinking of Harry. "The goblins gave me a letter for Harry. Apparently his mail from them hasn't been reaching him. They said there was a hex on me, preventing my mail from reaching me. Do you think Harry has the same hex?"

"It is a possibility."

"Why would someone do that?" Stella asked more to herself than anything else.

Snape stayed quiet, thinking of a few people who wouldn't want the two of them getting their heirships. His thoughts turned to Lily and Snape decided that helping the boy get his ring wouldn't be too difficult of a task. In fact, it would only take a few minutes. If Stella gave Potter his letter and Snape took the boy right after he read it, they'd be back before dinner with no one the wiser for it.

"I shall escort you to the Gryffindor common room," Snape spoke up. "Potter will receive his letter and I shall take him to Gringotts myself."

"Really, sir?" Stella asked, smile brightening her face. "You'd do that?"

"I just said I would," Snape rolled his eyes, trying not to think of either of the Black brothers when he saw her but having a rather difficult time with it.

Snape gave the password to the portrait and allowed Stella in ahead of him.

"Where's Harry?" Stella asked the Weasley twins, who were staring at Snape in shock.

"In his room," Percy answered before freezing when he saw Snape.

"Thanks, Perce," Stella smiled, rushing passed him and heading up the stairs.

She knocked before entering, smiling brightly at Harry and Ron.

"This is for you," Stella told Harry, passing him the letter.

Harry frowned before opening it, reading it quickly.

"I'm an heir?" Harry asked, confused.

"You have to claim your ring before you turn twelve," Stella explained. "Professor Snape agreed to take you now so you can do it and then return. Here. This is also yours. Let the goblins explain it before you look at it though. It's some family business stuff. I haven't looked at mine yet."

"Okay," Harry shrugged, putting the letter on his bed before following Stella down the stairs. "When you say Snape…"

"Professor Snape."

"Professor Snape is taking me?" Harry trailed off when he saw Snape standing in the warmth of the Gryffindor common room. "Oh."

"Come, Potter. I wish to return before dinner," Snape rolled his eyes, leaving the common room.

Stella and Ron laughed as they watched Harry chase after Snape, trying not to get left behind.

"Let me see," Ron demanded, grabbing Stella's hand and staring at her ring. "Cool."

"What's that?" George asked, he and Fred moving to them.

"My heir ring, apparently," Stella shrugged before hearing the voice from before again.

"Stella Nova Black."

"Did any of you hear that?" Stella asked, looking around the room.

"Hear what?" Ron asked, looking confused.

"I keep hearing someone say my name. I heard it when I put the ring on and again just now," she explained.

"Maybe it's the ring," Fred joked but Stella stared down at it, chewing her lip before shrugging.

"Can I stay up here while I read everything Gringotts gave me?" she asked and the twins and Ron agreed immediately, all of them ignoring Percy as he tried to point out that Stella should get to her own common room.

'Heir Black,

I, Bloodshire, am you family's account manager. You, as heir, should be made aware of your family's alliances and accounts. With your heir ring, you will be able to hear the voice of the person with the family ring, i.e. your father. To respond to him, you just need to press on your ring and think what words you want him to hear.

Black Alliances, according to the head of the family, are as follows:

McKinnon Family

Potter Family

Lupin Family

Pettigrew Family

Weasley Family

Bones Family

Moody Family

Dumbledore Family

Meadows Family

Tonks Family

Lovegood Family

Zabini Family

If you would like to change alliances in your father's absence, please let us know. Businesses that the Black family owns are as follows:

GalleLoans

Moreton Dale Canning Factory

Qizilbash Quality Confectionary

Kwikspell Company

Ollivander's Wand Shop

Nintendo

Sanyo

Lush

We have been continuing the dealings of the Black family in the most profitable and humane ways possible and hope you continue to accept our guidance. The Black family also has shares in multiple companies and donates to different businesses yearly. They are as follows:

Madam Malkins Robes

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

London Pumpkins and Sons

Fujifilm

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

Durmstrang Institute for Young Witches and Wizards

We look forward to working with you in the future. May your coffers overflow and your enemies be slain.

-Bloodshire'

Stella looked through the ledgers for the next three hours until Harry returned, seeming rather elated.

"Stella!" he yelled, rushing over and jumping onto the couch beside her. "That was awesome!"

"It's very cool," Stella agreed, still feeling the family magic flowing through her. "I wonder if the feeling will ever settle."

"I hope not," Harry shook his head, looking down at the rings on his fingers.

"How many rings did you get?" Stella asked with a laugh.

"Three apparently. This one's the Potter one, this one is Gaunt, and this one is Peverell," he explained. "I have a few more but they said I need to be seventeen for those ones? I don't know."

"I don't know two of those names," Stella shook her head. "We can go look in the library if you want?"

"Not today," he shook his head. "Maybe once classes start again?"

"Okay," Stella shrugged. "Are they heir rings? They're bigger than mine."

Harry shook his head. "Head of family rings."

"I'm sorry," Stella flinched slightly, thinking of her letter from Gringotts.

She needed to do more research on Sirius Black. After dinner, Stella snuck into the library, grabbing every book that pertained to Sirius Black and began reading through them. She ended up falling asleep surrounded by books, waking up and rubbing her eyes before reading a bit more before heading down to breakfast. She yawned as she sat between Harry and Fred, laying her head on Fred's arm.

"Why do you look exhausted?" Fred asked curiously.

"Fell asleep in the library," Stella admitted. "I was reading up on… something."

"Something?" Fred smirked, staring down at her.

"It's a secret for now," she told him with a shrug.

Stella ate quickly before retreating to the Slytherin common room. She laid in her bed, fiddling with her ring before closing her eyes.

"Are you Sirius Black?"

"You can hear me?"

"I can now. I just got my ring yesterday."

"You have your ring…"

"Are you Sirius Black?"

"I am."

Stella released her ring now that she had confirmed for herself that Sirius Black was speaking to her. She debated tossing the ring but left it alone, knowing Draco would tell his mum that Stella wasn't wearing her ring. She decided not to speak to him again and wondering if there was a way to block his thoughts.

"I am Sirius Orion Black the third. My wife is Marlenne Prudence Black. My daughter is Stella Nova Black. My best friends are James Fleamont Potter, Lily Marie Evans-Potter, Remus John Lupin, Dorcas Rebel Meadows, and Frank Cornelius Johnathon Longbottom. Harry James Potter is my godson. Stella is with Molly Weasley. It was the rat. I am Sirius Orion Black the third…"

The words were on a loop every time Stella touched the ring. She was sure it was his way of trying to stay sane but it was still a bit annoying to hear the words at random, as if he were fiddling with the ring at random. She wrote down his words on the first page in a journal that Molly had bought her before the school year had begun. She hadn't actually used it yet, but she planned on writing notes on the ledgers she'd received now that she had them.

She spent the last week of the Christmas break in different spots in the castle, writing in the journal and rolling her eyes whenever Sirius Black's voice would appear in her head. After studying the ledgers while sitting on a stone window sill in a tower to a classroom that she didn't have access to yet, Sirius's words changed.

"Stella Nova. Stella Nova. New Star. The star that will save the Black name. A bright light in the darkness. My little Stella Nova. I am Sirius Orion Black the third…"

Stella wrote Sirius' new words on the same page as his old ones, chewing her lip and deciding to head to the library. She finally found a different news article that included his name in such fine print it was almost invisible.

'Sirius Black, the heir to the Black family, has been sentenced to sixteen life sentences in Azkaban. Redacted. The Daily Prophet would like to make a formally apology for the misprint. Sirius Black was not sentenced to any amount of time in Azkaban, as he received no trial.'

Stella shook her head in confusion. How had he not received a trial? The only other article she'd found was the same one that Narcissa had sent her about him blowing up a street and killing thirteen muggles and a wizard. She wondered who the other two life sentences would be for before sighing and finding Madam Pince approaching her.

"Madam? Is there a way to copy a page from an old news article?" she asked curiously.

Pince nodded, waving her wand and copying the page that Stella was pointing to and giving Stella the copy.

"I am closing for the night," Pince told her. "Time to go."

"Thank you, madam," Stella nodded, gathering her belongings and heading down to the dungeons.

She stayed awake for a few more hours, the article sticking out of the journal slightly with the article Narcissa had sent her. She ignored both articles as she continued working through ledgers and deciding that the goblins were doing just fine with everything. She wrote a letter to Bloodshire, setting it aside to dry over night before she would send it in the morning. She laid down and nightmares of her father's face laughing at her like in the article haunted her. The night before her classmates were to return, Harry came looking for her.

"What's wrong?" she asked him as he dragged her down a hall.

"I have something to show you," he told her. "Hold on."

Harry tossed a cloak over the two of them and held his finger to his lips, telling her to remain silent and follow him. They ended up in an empty room on the first floor before Harry pulled the cloak off of the two of them. She rolled her eyes as Harry dragged her in front of the mirror, making her stand in the center.

"I know what I look like, Harry," Stella joked.

"Just look. Please?" he asked her.

Stella sighed before turning to the mirror, staring at it. She focused on the frame first, noting the words that seemed to be in a different language: 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.' It was gold and floor length, a design that reminded Stella of a window on the top leading to the reflection. Finally she looked at her reflection… except it wasn't her reflection. She was there but so was a woman that Stella didn't recognize but Stella just knew in her heart was her mother.

Stella gasped in shock before stepping forward slowly, fingers brushing against the mirror carefully. Her mother smiled back, looking so happy and proud. Sirius Black was there as well, looking much more put together than Stella had seen of him so far. He laughed at Stella's expression and not the laugh she'd had nightmares of, but a happy laugh that made his whole body shake and his face light up. His arm was around her mother's waist, holding her close.

The Weasley's were there as well, Molly looking at her with so much love, as if Stella had never been sorted into Slytherin. In fact, Stella wasn't wearing Slytherin robes. Her tie was red and gold, that of a Gryffindor. She didn't want to be a Gryffindor. Stella didn't mind being a Slytherin, so why was she dressed as a Gryffindor?

She looked at the words again and she realized what they meant. They were backwards, like a reflection. 'I show not your reflection but your heart's desire.' Stella wanted a family that accepted her and she wouldn't get that acceptance as a Slytherin.

"Why did you show me this?" Stella asked Harry, unable to tear her eyes away from her father, the only person remaining in the mirror with her now.

He touched his ring, smiling softly at Stella with shining grey eyes that matched hers. She touched her own ring without thinking about it.

"Dad?" she spoke in her head, sounding a bit broken.

"My new star," Sirius spoke back, breaking Stella away from the trance that the mirror had pulled her into.

"Why did you show me this?" Stella asked Harry again, turning to him with tears in her eyes.

"What did you see?" Harry asked, seeming confused. "Ron saw himself as Quidditch Captain and winning the house cup."

"And you? What did you see?" Stella asked.

"My family," Harry whispered, realization dawning on his face. "Do you see yours?"

"Yes," Stella nodded, looking at the mirror again to find Sirius still staring at her, pride in his eyes. "I see my father."

Harry took Stella back to the dungeons under his cloak, telling her about the anonymous gift as they went. She hugged Harry before going into her common room, the two children who didn't know what their mother's looked like until the mirror showed them holding one another for a moment before separating. Stella fell asleep, listening as Sirius called out to her for a few hours before going back to his normal routine again.

Stella was thrilled when Blaise, Theodore, and Draco joined her in the common room the next night, Stella having stayed in the common room with a sandwich that had somehow appeared next to her at dinner time. The three demanded to see her ring and she rolled her eyes before showing them. Theodore and Blaise thought it looked cool but Draco had a hunger in his eyes that made Stella feel uneasy.

Stella was feeling rather bored, having read ahead and studied further than her classmates. She needed something fun to do. So, she sought out her older brothers. Fred and George smiled when they saw her standing outside of their class, Blaise and Theodore close by.

"What can we do for our favorite adoptive sister?" Fred smirked.

"I'm bored," she admitted to them and all three shared conspirator smiles, causing Lee, Theodore, and Blaise to share uncomfortable looks.

Stella snuck through the dungeon later that night, finding Fred and George waiting for her by the dungeon entrance. She followed behind them, the two bent over a bit of parchment that they wouldn't let her see. They stopped in front of a picture of fruit. George sent Stella a wink before tickling the pair and causing a doorknob to appear. She stared in wonder as George opened the door, revealing the kitchen filled with house elves. Fred pushed her into the kitchen and she finally let out a laugh of disbelief.

The three moved around the kitchen, placing hiccough sweets on the dessert plates and grabbing chocolate chip cookies to hide what they were doing. Nose-biting teacups were mixed in with the other cups at random and Stella hoped she didn't end up accidentally picking one up, deciding to have juice in the morning instead.

The next morning, Draco picked up a teacup, only to drop it with a gasp as it tried to take a bite out of his nose. Crabbe and Goyle began to cough and hiccup at the same time. Theodore picked up a sweet and Stella grabbed his arm, shaking her head before going back to her own breakfast, not touching her tea just in case. Theodore smirked, setting the sweet down and rolling his eyes as Crabbe grabbed the one he'd just set down, popping it into his mouth and making his hiccoughing worst.

A few days later, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle entered the common room, laughing loudly.

"Did you see his face?" Crabbe laughed.

"Did you see him hop?" Goyle asked in response.

"Who was hopping?" Blaise asked curiously.

"Longbottom," Draco smirked. "Did a leglock jinx on him when he was coming out of the library."

"Why?" Stella asked, confused.

"Because he's Longbottom," Draco shrugged, going to join the other first years.

Stella closed her book, chewing her lip for a moment before looking up and seeing both Blaise and Theodore already watching her.

"Let's go," Blaise sighed. "We better hurry if we want to be back before curfew."

"Thank you," Stella whispered to them both as they left the common room and headed up to Gryffindor tower.

Stella knocked on the fat lady's portrait, gaining her attention.

"Oh. It's you," she rolled her eyes.

"Lionheart," Stella spoke clearly and the portrait groaned as she swung open.

"Why do you know the Gryffindor password?" Blaise asked.

"Just pretend you didn't hear it," Stella told him, walking into the Gryffindor common room and causing a few people to turn towards her and the two boys that regularly accompanied her around the castle. "Oi! Ron! Where's Neville?"

"Are you going to jinx him, too?" a second-year demanded, glaring at her.

"Yes. I came all the way from the dungeons and made it known that it was me walking in here, just to jinx your classmate in front of all of you without expecting any sort of repercussions," Stella rolled her eyes before Ron walked over to her.

"He's in our room. Said he was going to bed," Ron told her. "He said Draco jinxed him."

"I heard," Stella nodded. "I came to make sure he was alright and see if the jinx had been removed."

"I took it off," Hermione said, chin raised as she tried to look down it at Stella. "You shouldn't be here."

"And you shouldn't hold your nose that high in the air. I can see up it from here," Stella shot back before looking to Ron, who simply nodded, giving Stella permission to go up to his room. She turned to Blaise and Theodore before moving. "I'll be right back. My brothers won't let anything happen to you while I'm gone."

The two boys nodding and Fred and George went to them, staring at the other Gryffindors with raised brows. Stella walked up to the first year boys dorm, knocking gently. Neville opened the door, eyes widening when he saw her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding a bit terrified.

"Malfoy was bragging in the common room. I wanted to come check on you. Are you alright? Do you want me to go with you to a teacher?" Stella asked.

"Oh. No, thanks," Neville shook his head.

"If you change your mind, just let me know," Stella told him, giving him a smile before pulling a hiccoughing sweet from her pocket. "Here. A hiccoughing sweet for your troubles. Use it as you wish."

"Thanks, Black," Neville smiled.

"Call me Stella," she told him. "See ya, Neville."

Neville smiled as he watched her go before shutting the door and placing the sweet aside. Stella made her way back to the common room, giving Harry a wave before hugging Ron and nodding to the twins before leaving with Blaise and Theodore. They moved quickly back to the dungeons, making it just in time before Snape walked out of his office, eyes narrowed before they landed on Stella.

"Black," he stated, holding his office door open.

Stella let out an audible groan as she walked into Snape's office, causing a few people to laugh at how dramatic she was being. Stella took her normal spot in Snape's office, worried that maybe she shouldn't have a normal spot in his office in the process. He sat behind his desk, hands crossed in front of him and resting on his desk as he stared at her. Stella fidgeted in her seat a bit, not sure why she was being called into his office. He finally broke the silence.

"Would you like to tell me where you just were?" he asked.

"Gryffindor tower," she admitted.

"Why?"

"Neville got hit with a jinx and I wanted to check on him," Stella shrugged.

"Do you know anything about the teacups and sweets from the other day?"

"No, sir," Stella lied without missing a beat.

"I already know it was you and the Weasley twins," he told her.

"I have no clue what you mean, sir," Stella shook her head.

"The house elves told me."

"Traitors," Stella grumbled, arms crossing over her chest. "Alright, fine. It was me. I was bored, sir."

"Bored?" he asked, brows raised.

"Yes, sir," Stella nodded, sinking in her seat a bit.

"Detention for the next week," he told her. "Actual detentions as well."

"Yes, sir," Stella moaned, sinking further.

"Sit up and stop complaining. You did it to yourself."

"Yes sir," Stella sighed, sitting up before hearing Sirius Black in her head again. "Sir. Can I ask for your help with something?"

"I will not be replacing your teacups," he rolled his eyes.

"No, sir," Stella let out a laugh before shaking her head and glaring at her ring. "It's my heir ring, sir."

"What of it?"

Stella took a few deep breaths before looking up at Snape.

"Heirs and the head of houses can hear one another through their rings," she admitted to him.

"What?" Snape asked, eyes widening.

"I can hear Sirius Black when he fiddles with his ring and, if I wanted to, I could speak back to him. He sounds absolutely mad, though. He keeps repeating his name over and over. I was hoping you could help me block his thoughts maybe?"

"How long had this been happening?" Snape asked, standing and coming around his desk before kneeling beside her.

"The whole time," she admitted, taking off the ring and passing it to him. "It's a bit annoying actually. It just happens at random. He goes on strange tandems at times about my name or repeating other people's names, including Harry's parents."

"Potter's parents?" Snape asked, staring at Stella with wide eyes.

"Just saying their names," Stella shrugged as she stared at the ring in Snape's hands, not really looking at him as she thought of Sirius's words, calling Harry's parents his friends. "I don't want to hear it anymore though."

"I'll look the ring over. Is it alright if I have Professor Flitwick look it over with me?" he asked, voice soft and Stella nodded, wringing her hands together. "Off you go."

Stella nodded again, leaving Snape's office and going straight to her room. She laid on her bed, staring up at the ceiling and unmoving. The next day, Stella walked through the halls, sitting in her classes and remaining silent, eyes blank as she stared at her desk. Blaise and Theodore had tried speaking to her all day and were getting rather worried at how unresponsive she was being. Ron noticed during charms and his eyes grew wide before he walked over, ignoring Flitwick as he took Stella's arm carefully and pulled her out of the classroom and towards the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey was rather confused by their presence before Ron whispered softly to her. Stella was led to a bed then, Ron getting her to lay down. He removed her shoes and pulled a blanket over her before kissing her head and leaving her in Madam Pomfrey's capable hands. Pomfrey got Stella to take a calming draught, Snape strutting into the hospital wing as Stella's eyes fluttered closed and she fell asleep due to a dreamless sleep potion that Pomfrey also got her to take.

"What's happened?" Snape asked.

"Mister Weasley brought her in. Says she gets like this sometimes and that his mother gives her a calming draught and a dreamless sleep and she's fine by morning. I've done the same."

"Gets like what?" Snape asked.

"Unresponsive. Staring into the distance but not seeing anything. I believe it's a panic attack."

"What is she panicking about?" Snape asked before he realized the answer to the question. "Silly girl. She should have come to me sooner."

"What do you mean?" Pomfrey asked.

"I will tell you as long as it stays between the two of us. No one else can know," Snape told Pomfrey and she agreed. "She told me last night that her heir ring allows Sirius Black to speak with her in their minds. I have the ring now and will be finding a way to block his voice. She said he sounds like he's gone mad and described it as annoying. It must have been bothering her more than she let on."

"The poor girl," Pomfrey breathed, staring down at Stella with pity.

"I'm sure there may be more to it if it happens often as Mister Weasley stated, but it may be why it happened this time."

"She'll be alright here, Severus," Pomfrey promised. "I'll need to write to Molly Weasley though. Let her know that she's in the hospital wing."

"Of course," Snape nodded. "I'll leave her in your hands."

Stella woke the next day with a deep breath and unaware of where she was. She sat up slowly, looking around the hospital wing as Madame Pomfrey approached her.

"Lay back down, dear," Pomfrey told her. "You'll not be going anywhere today."

"What day is it?" Stella asked curiously. "Why am I here?"

"It's Saturday," Pomfrey answered. "What's the last thing that you remember?"

"I was talking to Professor Snape about… my detentions. Then it's all blank," Stella answered.

"Ronald Weasley brought you in yesterday afternoon. Told me this happens sometimes. I gave you a calming draught and dreamless sleep, both of which I want to give you again so you'll get a bit more rest before tomorrow."

"I'm missing the game, aren't I?" Stella asked, groaning when Pomfrey nodded. "Alright."

Stella took the potions, laying back down and closing her eyes again. The howler that was sent to her was opened by Pomfrey, who stared in disbelief at the letter Molly had sent to Stella, saying she was asking for attention and to not miss anymore classes. She glared at the pieces of the letter before vanishing them and looking towards Stella Black, seeing a scared little girl with too much weight on her shoulders.

Stella woke the next day, finding Neville in the bed next to hers fast asleep. She sat up quickly, standing and going to his bed to look him over. He had a bruise on his cheek but it seemed to be fading rather quickly. Madame Pomfrey's hand landed on Stella's shoulder, pulling her back a bit.

"Is he alright?" Stella asked, voice a whisper.

"He's fine and he'll be waking up soon," Pomfrey assured her. "There's some breakfast here for you. I want you to eat all of it. There's a stomach soother as well."

Stella nodded, sitting back on her bed and pulling the blanket over her legs. A tray was pushed towards her and Stella sighed as she took a bite of her toast.

"Mister Potter, it is not visiting hours," Pomfrey stated, hands on her hips between the two beds still.

Stella looked towards the door, finding Harry walking towards her with a cup and a plate.

"I wanted to tell Stella about the game over breakfast," Harry shrugged, taking the chair beside Stella's bed and placing his plate and cup on the table.

"Oh, alright. Keep it down though."

Madam Pomfrey left and Stella gave Harry a bright smile.

"Is that really why you're here?" she asked him.

"Partly," he shrugged. "Do you need some blackberry jam? I brought extra in case they didn't give you any."

"Yes, please," Stella begged and Harry smiled as he spooned a bit onto Stella's plate. "So, why's Neville here?"

"Apparently Ron and Draco got into it at the game. Neville decided to try fighting Crabbe and Goyle at the same time."

"About time he stood up for himself," Stella nodded, proud of the sleeping boy. "Did you win? I know Professor Snape wasn't looking forward to refereeing."

"We won, yeah. We're ahead of your house now. I actually wanted to ask you about Professor Snape," Stella had to smirk at Harry calling Snape professor just for her sake. "How much do you trust him?"

"A lot," Stella admitted. "Why? What's happened?"

"Do you remember Professor Dumbledore telling everyone to stay away from the corridor on the third floor at the opening feast?"

"Yeah."

"There's a three-headed dog there. It's guarding something. We think Professor Snape is trying to steal it," Harry explained.

"I feel like you aren't telling me quite a bit of information," Stella told him.

"Can you just keep an eye on Professor Snape, please?" Harry practically begged. "Just until we figure out exactly what's going on?"

"And 'we' includes my brother, yes?" Stella asked curiously.

"Yeah," Harry nodded.

"If you tell me everything, I can help," Stella offered. "I'll try to keep an eye on Professor Snape either way, but still."

"I'll talk to Ron and Hermione and if they agree, we'll tell you," Harry promised. "It's just dangerous and Ron is already worried about you to be honest. I think you really gave him a scare."

"I'm fine," Stella waved Harry off. "Happens sometimes. Just a bit of rest and I'll be back to myself again."

"Good. We miss you beating Hermione in class," Harry smirked and Stella thought it was a rather Slytherin look on him. She liked it.

As the weeks went by, the teachers began piling more work on the students as the end of the year approached. Stella took to studying with Theodore and Blaise in the library, giving them her extra notes to look over from her 'detentions' with Professor Snape. She was pretty sure he'd just taken pity on her for her trip to the hospital wing and decided to make it a study session anyways, making sure she knew all of the spells she'd learned in transfiguration and charms and that she was more than adequate in potions. He'd even hinted at what they would need to brew on the exam and Stella had passed the word on to Harry so he could study the potion more.

She was walking into the library one afternoon, passing Hagrid as she stepped inside with Theodore and Blaise when she spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione and started heading towards them.

"Dragons," Ron whispered to the other three. "Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons."

"Why?" Stella asked, causing the three lions to jump as a smirk took over her face.

"None of your business," Hermione scoffed.

"We don't know yet," Harry corrected Hermione, giving her a look before looking to Stella again. "Alright, Stell?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Came to study for defense. Need any help?"

"We have it under control," Hermione grumbled and Ron and Harry shot Hermione annoyed glances before smiling to Stella and telling her they were good.

"Let me know if you change your minds," Stella smirked, walking to an empty table with Harry and Ron, not noticing the blond standing behind a shelf listening in.

Just over a week later, Stella was visiting Ron in the hospital wing. He had claimed to being bitten by a dog but the bite seemed too familiar to Stella. She left as Harry and Hermione went in, smiling to Harry before rolling her eyes at the look on Hermione's face. She went straight to the library, grabbing books on dragons and following her hunch until she found dragon wounds, seeing an example of an infested wound and letting out an annoyed groan.

She ended up following Harry and Hermione for the rest of the day, overhearing them talking about a plan to get rid of an illegal dragon that Hagrid had in his hut. Stella sighed before heading down to Hagrid's hut with a few different books and her camera. She knocked and Hagrid poked his head out of the window, staring at her in confusion.

"Hi, Hagrid. My name's Stella. I'm Ron's sister. He told me about the dragon and I have a few books and a camera. Thought you might want a picture of him before they leave."

Hagrid smiled brightly, opening the front door and letting her inside. Stella stared at the dragon, thinking it must be a Norwegian Ridgeback with its spikes and color. It wasn't poisonous like a Chinese Fireball, but it's mouth was full of bacteria like a Ukrainian Ironbelly.

"Oh, he's gorgeous," Stella breathed, meaning it and snapping a picture of him.

She shook out the photo, passing it to Hagrid. He had a few tears in his eyes, smiling down at the photo before pulling Stella into a bone-crushing hug. He set her down and she rubbed her sides, smiling at him. She passed him the books that Charlie had given her in the past that contained information about Ridgebacks, telling him he could keep them, causing tears to run into his beard as he hugged Stella again. She ended up leaving a few hours later with something called rock cakes in her pocket. She tried taking a bite of one once she'd left the hut but almost broke a tooth in the process, causing her to frown and toss the cakes the moment she was back in the castle, keeping one to take to Ron.

Ron frowned when he saw Stella, not sure why she was visiting him again. She placed the rock cake on his dinner tray without a word and turned on her heel, leaving Ron panicking as she went. She sat between Blaise and Theodore at dinner, the two asking where she'd run off to and her just shrugging rather than answering. In truth, she'd gotten rather good at sneaking around the castle during Christmas break, finding hidden passageways that took her to different floors and tapestries she could hide behind. She wonder what else the castle was hiding.

Hermione, Harry, Neville, and Draco had detention but none of them would say what for. Stella knew they'd been caught somehow. Neville seemed upset with Hermione and Harry though, so she made sure to check on Neville often, causing him to smile and pass her a sugar quill that him gram had sent him the week before. The day after detention, Neville told her all about the forest and how terrified he had been. He also told her about Draco shrieking like a little girl and leaving Harry on his own in the forest, causing Stella to drag Draco behind a tapestry after class and call him a coward for leaving someone by themselves when there was obviously danger.

She yelled at Ron next for keeping her out of the loop, insisting she could have helped had he told her himself what was going on. She figured the Cerberus had been protecting the dragon egg, something Snape definitely would have been interested in considering how many potions ingredients he could get from a dragon and stopped worrying about everything. She was rather cross at Ron for leaving her out. They were supposed to be brother and sister. They stole cookies for one another when mum wasn't looking, which was the scariest thing Stella could ever think of having done in the past. Mum was scary!

Stella had studied hard and was rather proud of how well she thought she was doing on her exams. Special quills had been given during the exams so no one could cheat. The practical exams were actually rather exciting. Professor Flitwick called everyone in one at a time to see if they could make a pineapple tap dance across a desk, Stella having her pineapple tip his imaginary hat when he was finished. McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox – points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was but taken away if it had whiskers. Stella felt bad for turning a living thing into a box, telling McGonagall as much before doing her spell, even making a doily appear under the box. She turned the box back into a mouse the moment McGonagall finished looking the box over.

Professor Snape made everyone except her nervous as they brewed forgetfulness potion. Stella smiled as she brewed, feeling rather proud as she finished her potion first. Snape smirked when she handed the potion in, giving her a nod, telling Stella without words that she'd done well. She practically skipped to the history of magic exam, Theodore having helped her and Blaise with the subject. An hour after the exam, Stella fell into her normal seat in Snape's office.

"I take it by your smile you did well?" Snape asked, not even looking up.

"How can you tell that I'm smiling, sir?" Stella asked. "You didn't even look up."

"You bounce into my office and fall into your chair when you're happy about something. Smiles tend to go along with happiness."

"True, sir. Need any help grading the first-year potions?" she asked, having helped Snape in the past with class assignments.

"Unfortunately I am not allowed to accept help when grading such an important potion. It is also not why I called you in here. Professor Flitwick and I have blocked Sirius Black from being able to reach you through your heir ring," he told her, passing her the ring, which Stella immediately slid onto her finger. "The spells will need to be renewed every few months, so you are to see me when school starts again so that I may do so."

"Do you mind if I take more of your time and ask how you did it, sir?" Stella requested, already pulling her notebook out.

Snape explained the process to her for the next three hours, writing a few runes down for her in her notebook that she could look up later or learn about later in her schooling career. Snape knew she wouldn't wait though. She wanted to learn as much as she possibly could, prove to herself and to others that she was more than the name 'Black.' He couldn't really blame her either. Regulus had been the same way when he was younger. Snape wondered how much it would have bothered Sirius Black to know how much like his younger brother his daughter was like. He hoped it would have ate him up inside.

Stella was visiting Ron in the hospital wing again, looking more panicked this time than she had before. Hermione was sitting up in her hospital bed, but Harry and Ron were both out cold. She ran to Ron's bed, Fred and George following behind her a few minutes later. She stared down at Ron as Pomfrey tried to assure the three that Ron would be fine.

"What about Harry?" Stella asked, looking towards the other boy.

"He will also be fine," Pomfrey assured Stella, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Are you alright?" Stella asked Hermione, looking the girl over.

"I'm fine," Hermione answered, staring at Stella in confusion.

Stella just nodded sitting on the edge of Ron's bed and taking his hand. She received another howler from Molly, yelling at her for not keeping Ron out of trouble, another following right after because the twins blew up yet another toilet. She opened them at the table, not even listening as Molly's voice went on, just continuing to eat her lunch without batting an eye. Theodore, Blaise, and Draco seemed angry at the howlers, as did Fred and George when they heard them, going straight to the Slytherin table to check on Stella.

"I'm fine," she waved them off. "I stopped listening after the first two honestly."

"The first two?" Fred asked, brows raised.

"How many have you gotten?"

"Five, I think," Stella shrugged. "I don't know. Like I said, I stopped listening."

Ron and Hermione were released from the hospital wing the next day, Harry having to stay a few days more. Ron told her in a whispered voice what had happened and Stella glared at him, whispering back angrily about how he should have told her so she could help them. He apologized a few hundred times before Stella hugged him, just grateful that he was alright now. She went to visit Harry every so often, finding him still asleep, which is why it was a surprise when she walked in with Ron and Hermione one afternoon to find Harry completely awake and going through a photo album.

"Hagrid gave it to me," Harry shrugged, showing it to them.

Hermione and Ron didn't seem too interested, but Stella was. Harry flipped through different pictures, showing them to Stella excitedly. Stella's smile turned into a frown of confusion when she saw her father laughing behind Harry's father at his parents wedding. She pointed to him.

"Must have been one of their friends," Harry shrugged.

"That's my father," she whispered so that only Harry could hear her.

Harry stared at her with wide eyes before looking back at the photo again. She pointed to a woman who stood beside Sirius Black and Harry understood that the woman was Stella's mother. Harry approached the Slytherin table a few days later, going straight to Stella and causing all of the Slytherins to stare at them in confusion. Harry said nothing, just gave Stella a sad smile and passed her a copy of the photo. She stared down at it for a moment before looking to Harry, thanking him before he left the table to join the Slytherins. She slipped the photo into her journal with the articles.

The Slytherins had an excited buzz about them. They had the most points after all, meaning they'd won the house cup. Stella was smiling and laughing as Theodore made the fruit on their table dance around the table. Dumbledore stood and the hall fell quiet, staring up at him and waiting for him to announce the Slytherin victory.

"Another year gone. And now, as I understand it, the house cup needs awarding. And the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points."

There is a medium applause from the crowd.

"Third place, Hufflepuff with 352 points."

The applause for Hufflepuff is slightly louder than the clapping for Gryffindor.

"In second place, Ravenclaw with 426 points."

Applause again, this time with a slight cheer from some students.

"And in first place, with 472 points, Slytherin house."

A loud roar rose from the Slytherin table, as students stood up and clapped for themselves. Stella actually hugged Blaise. Snape applauded the students of his house but still had a sour expression on his face, causing Stella to frown. He caught her eye and shook his head, causing Stella look to Dumbledore with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin. Well done, Slytherin. However, recent events must be taken into account. And I have a few last-minute points to award. To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect while others were in grave peril, 50 points."

"What?" Blaise asked, confused.

"Oh, no," Stella breathed, eyes widening as she realized what was about to happen.

"Second, to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess that Hogwarts has seen these many years, 50 points."

Ron looked beyond surprised when Stella looked over to him.

"Is he about to…?" Theodore asked, staring at Dumbledore in shock.

"He is," Stella said, anger clear in her voice.

"And third, to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house 60 points."

"We're tied," Draco stated, aghast.

The Gryffindors cheered again, this time even louder than before. Malfoy had a cringing look on his face that Stella was sure matched the same look on her own face. The Gryffindors looked so hopeful and the Slytherins were already accepting their fate.

"And finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends. I award 10 points to Neville Longbottom. Assuming that my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order." Dumbledore clapped and motioned his hands toward the Slytherin banners, where they flapped heavily until the banners changed completely to red and gold with the Gryffindor symbol. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup."

The Great Hall exploded with applause, not only from the Gryffindors, but also from the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs because they were glad that for the first time in seven years, someone other than Slytherin has won the House Cup. Stella wanted to be proud of Neville and her brother, but she was finding it rather hard. Fred mused Ron's hair and Ron did the same to Harry at the Gryffindor table and Stella felt so alone over at the Slytherin table, a bit of jealousy running through her as she watched her brothers cheering without her.

Results from final exams came in and Stella smiled brightly before seeing that Hermione was just a point ahead of her for top of the class. She let out an annoyed growl, causing Blaise, Theodore, and Draco to stare at what she was looking at.

"We'll have to fix that next year," Blaise said, glaring at the paper.

"Yes, we will," Theodore agreed and Stella didn't feel so alone anymore.

And suddenly their wardrobes were empty and their trunks were packed. Stella passed Neville his toad again, stealing Scabbers back from Ron. Scabbers squeaking in what Stella hoped was happiness. He crawled onto her shoulder, staying there as she headed to the train with Blaise and Theodore, the three laughing together at the look on Parkinson's face and the screech she'd let out upon seeing Scabbers. They boarded the Hogwarts Express and Stella sat with the two boys, the three having their own compartment as they played exploding snaps and ate handfuls of snacks, Stella feeding Scabbers a bit of a pumpkin pasty along the way.

George found her just before the train was reaching the station, taking her away from her fellow Slytherins and helping her with her trunk. It took quite a while for them to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't attract attention by all bursting out of a solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles.

"You have to come visit this summer," Ron told Harry and Stella nodded. "Both of you. I'll send an owl."

Stella wanted to complain about the invitation being extended to Hermione but she left it alone. Fred and George snickered at Stella's facial expression though, both able to tell that Stella wasn't thrilled about the idea of spending any of her time with Hermione that summer.

"Thanks," said Harry. "I need something to look forward to."

People jostled them as they moved forward toward the gateway back to the Muggle world. Some of them called:

"Bye, Harry!"

"See you, Potter!"

"Still famous," said Ron, grinning at him.

"Not where I'm going, I promise you," said Harry.

The younger four passed through the gateway together.

"There he is, Mum, there he is, look!" Ginny's voice cut through the crowd and Stella smiled at her younger sister. "Harry Potter! Look, mum!"

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point," mum smiled down at Harry and Ron. "Busy year?"

"Very," said Harry. "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, it was nothing, dear."

Stella froze up at the nickname. Molly Weasley used different nicknames for all of her children, making sure they all knew how important they were to her individually through the action. Even Fred and George had separate nicknames. Ron seemed confused as he stared at his mum before looking to Stella to see how she was reacting. He could see Stella trying not to shut down and squeezed her hand, bringing her back to him.

"Ready, are you?" a purple-faced man with a mustache appeared, looking rather angrily at Harry.

"You must be Harry's family," Molly smiled brightly.

"In a manner of speaking," the man stated. "Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all day."

Harry hung back as his uncle walked away, turning to Stella, Hermione, and Ron.

"See you over the summer, then," he said, trying to break up the awkwardness.

"Hope you have a good holiday," Hermione answered, looking uncertainly towards Harry's 'family'.

"Oh, I will," Harry smirked a Slytherin smile again. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley over this summer."

Harry hugged Stella before waving goodbye to Hermione and Ron, Hermione looking a bit put off by the lack of hug for herself and Stella felt a bit warm inside from it before Blaise and Theodore went to her side, both giving her small hugs before rushing over to Rose Zabini and being led away. Draco approached the group slowly, his mother following after him.

"Mrs. Weasley," Narcissa spoke up, gaining the attention of the Weasley matriarch. "I was hoping Stella would be able to visit over the summer?"

"Oh," Molly whispered. "I'll have to speak with Arthur. I'll write you after I speak with him."

Stella knew her mum wouldn't write Narcissa at any point as she fiddled with her heir ring, exchanging a look with Draco.

"I look forward to hearing from you," Narcissa responded, giving Stella a small smile before placing a hand on Draco's back and leading him away.

Draco and Stella exchanged waves before Stella followed the Weasley's out of the train station. Stella could see the tension between her mum's shoulders as she sent everyone else away, keeping Stella in the living room. Stella knew the twins would be listening in at the doorway, Ron and Ginny maybe trying to be brave and listen in as well. Molly turned on Stella, anger clear on her face.

"I want an explanation. Now."

"For what?" Stella asked, confused.

"You got over two month's worth of detention this year," Molly reminded her.

"Oh," Stella fiddled with her ring.

"Is that it, then?" Molly asked, pointing at the ring. "Give it to me."

"No," Stella pulled her hand close to her chest and covering it with her other hand.

"Give it here or you will be grounded until you do," Molly threatened.

Stella glared at her mum defiantly, refusing to hand her heir ring over.

"Go to your room," Molly told her and Stella ran from the living room, passing Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and Percy in the process.

She had a feeling it was going to be a long summer.