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)

4. Chapter 3: Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Three: The Prisoner of Azkaban

'MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank." The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which six of the Weasley children currently attend.'

'Dear Stella,

I hope you are enjoying Egypt. No need to worry about the telephone call. Honestly, even if you hadn't shouted, I doubt they would have let me talk anyways. You'll have to tell me more about the tombs and curses when we see each other again. I can't wait for you to return. I'll try to be in London at the same time as all of you. Yes, I've completed my homework. Thank you for sending your suggestions. I used all of them.

With Love, Harry'

'Harry,

You blew up your aunt?! Please tell me you took photos! I need to see this! I'll see you when we get back. Mum says we're staying in Diagon the night before school starts so I'll find you there. Meet at the ice cream shop?

Love, Stella'

'Stella,

The man on the news… He's your father, isn't he? Please let me know if you're alright…

With Love, Harry'

Stella couldn't take her eyes off of the photo of her father, his laughing, deranged face. She'd been quiet the moment they'd heard of his escape and her siblings kept shooting her glances. She hadn't actually told them that he was her father, but they seemed to have put the pieces together rather quickly. Arthur was staying very close to her and people kept staring and pointing at her as they walked through Diagon Alley. She ended up going into the Quidditch shop, looking at different brooms, as she would need one to try out for the team. She stared longingly at the Firebolt before deciding it was worth it and buying the thing. It was wrapped up completely so no one could see what kind of broom it was.

It seemed that Harry hadn't joined Ron and Hermione yet. He went straight to Stella when he saw her coming down the street, pulling her into a tight hug. They stayed still for a long moment before a throat cleared and they pulled away, finding Blaise and Theo standing behind them.

"Hello," Stella sighed, giving them weak smiles.

"What are you holding?" Blaise asked and Stella held up the wrapped broom.

"Need a broom to try out for the team. Didn't like how the ones Mr. Malfoy bought for the team look," she explained with a shrug.

"Oh, she doesn't like how it looks," Blaise gasped, slapping his forehead before taking the broom from her hands. "I forgot that brooms need to look a certain way."

"Shut it," Stella rolled her eyes, turning and heading towards the ice cream shop, not sure how she and Harry had ended up holding one another's hands.

She blushed when she realized it but didn't take her hand away. Blaise and Theo noticed the blush and the hand holding but said nothing, both exchanging knowing looks. Hermione looked Stella over when she approached, as if searching Stella for any signs of danger, just as everyone else had been doing all day.

"Alright, Granger?" Stella asked her. "How was your holiday?"

"It was fine," Hermione answered quickly, giving no other information.

"Alright then," Stella nodded. "I'm going to get some ice cream. Ron, will you watch Blaise's broom, please?"

Ron agreed and Stella grabbed Scabbers from him before she, Harry, Theo, and Blaise walked inside, getting in line. After they all had their ice cream, they went back to the large table Ron had grabbed earlier, him and Hermione already eating their ice cream.

"I still have ten galleons left," Hermione said, looking into her purse. "My birthday is in September and mum and dad gave me some extra money so I could get myself a gift."

"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently and Stella couldn't hide her smirk.

"No, I don't think so," said Hermione, composed. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol…"

"I haven't," Ron shook his head. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers, who is basically Stella's. She could befriend a werewolf if she tried, I swear. I think we need to get Scabbers looked at though. Egypt didn't really agree with him."

"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry. "We can see if they have anything for him and Hermione can get her owl."

"I need to get more treats for Jinx," Theo nodded and Stella smiled at the thought of his black cat that liked to curl up in front of the fire in the common room or could be found sitting on Theo's lap while he read.

Once the ice cream was finished, the group headed over, Blaise still carrying the broom so Ron wouldn't catch on while Stella walked to the front, waiting in line. The wizard in front of her finally left and Stella set Scabbers on the counter.

"He's been a bit off-color since I brought him back from Egypt and he's losing a lot of weight."

"How old is this rat?" the woman asked, lifting him up.

"Old. Ten years or so," Stella told her.

"What powers does he have?" she asked.

"He has good intuition," Stella offered with a shrug. "Always scares this one girl I don't like when she starts being rude to me."

"He's been through the mill, this one," she said, eyes going from his tattered left ear to his missing toe.

"He was like that when I stole him off of my brother," Stella explained.

"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so. Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these."

"He's already lived longer than three years and I don't want a new rat. I want to help the one that I have," Stella stated, already losing all faith in the woman behind the counter.

"We'll take him somewhere else," Theo spoke up, hearing the annoyance in Stella's voice as he dropped the cat treats onto the counter. "How much?"

"I have a rat tonic," she tried.

"No, thank you," Blaise spoke up, standing behind Stella.

An orange cat landed on Theo's shoulder and lunged at Scabbers. Stella was rather glad for her fast reflexes as she grabbed Scabbers, holding him securely against her chest.

"NO, CROOKSHANKS!" the witch yelled at the orange beast.

Stella ran out of the shop, pocketing the treats as she went, the witch chasing the orange blur and not noticing a thing.

"What was that?" Blaise asked as Harry and Ron joined the Slytherins outside.

"Either a very big cat or a quite small tiger," said Harry. "Where's Hermione?"

"Probably getting her owl," Ron answered and the group waited out front for her.

"Oh, no," Stella groaned when she saw Hermione walk out, carrying the thing that had tried going for Scabbers.

"You bought that monster?" Ron demanded.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" Hermione was glowing.

"Hermione, that thing nearly tore off Nott's arm and tried to eat Scabbers," Ron defended.

"Not to worry," Hermione shrugged. "Crookshanks will sleep in my dormitory and Scabbers will sleep in yours."

Stella threatened in a quiet voice to come for Blaise if he didn't bring her broom to school, which just made him chuckle.

"Oh, I'm terrified," he joked.

"I'll snog your mum," Stella threatened instead and Blaise's eyes widened in horror.

"You wouldn't."

"I'll even write up a marriage contract between her and I just so you have to call me mommy," Stella's smirk was pure evil.

"You are a terrifying witch. Do you know that?" Theo asked, pulling Blaise away. "See you on the train!"

"Bye!" Stella laughed as they walked away before turning to the Gryffindors, finding them staring at her in shock. "What?"

"Did you just threaten to marry his mum?" Ron asked as they headed towards the Leaky.

"Have you seen his mum?" Stella asked. "She's gorgeous!"

Stella stayed as far away from Hermione and her… she refused to call that thing a cat, so Hermione and her beast as they walked. They found dad sitting at the bar with the Daily Prophet, Sirius Black on the front page.

"Harry!" Dad smiled brightly. "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks," said Harry as they joined dad. "They still haven't caught him, then?"

"No," said Dad, glancing at Stella and looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."

"They dragged Stella into the auror department," Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione.

"I'm right here," Stella reminding Ron, "and fully able to hear you."

"Sorry," Ron flinched.

Mum appeared then followed by George, Ginny, Fred, and Percy in that order, all carrying a shopping bag or two. Ginny blushed when she saw Harry and Stella had to look away as Ginny, very timidly, muttered "hello" without looking at Harry. Percy on the other hand was far too formal, holding his hand out for Harry to shake.

"Harry. How nice to see you."

"Hello, Percy."

Stella could tell that Harry was trying not to laugh.

"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking Harry's hand.

"Very well, thanks…"

"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy!"

"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."

Stella watched in amusement, gently petting Scabbers who had calmed in her hands but still seemed ready to make a break for it if Crookshanks tried making another leap at him. Mum told Fred and George to stop and they just turned on her.

"Mum!" shouted Fred. "How really corking to see you!"

"I said, that's enough," she repeated. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news? Second Head Boy in the family!"

"And last," Fred muttered.

"I don't doubt that," said mum. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."

"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George. "It'd take all the fun out of life."

Ginny and Stella giggled.

"You want to set a better example for your sisters!" mum snapped.

"Gin and Stell have other brothers to set an example, Mother," said Percy. "I'm going to go change for dinner."

"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," George told Harry.

"They truly did," Stella nodded.

"But mum spotted us," Fred complained.

At dinner, the 'Pick on Percy' party didn't end.

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.

Everyone looked up at him.

"Why?" said Percy curiously.

"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"

"—for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.

Everyone except Percy and Mum snorted into their pudding. The conversation grew a bit awkward when Percy asked again and Stella couldn't help but think it was due to her deranged father being on the loose. Stella sat in her room, Scabbers on her chest and wondering when Ron would notice that Scabbers had run off. Stella had felt him climbing her pant leg as she'd been entering her room and had leaned down and picked him up. She looked down at him now.

"You aren't allowed to go dying on me," she told him. "It's hard enough right now with that maniac on the loose. I don't want to lose you. So, we're going to mail order some medicine for you and you're going to get better. I'll ask the Care of Magical Creatures teacher if they have any suggestions as well. Just stay with me, okay?"

A soft knock on her door caused Stella to stand and carry Scabbers with her to answer the knock. Harry was outside her door and she opened it wide, staring at him in confusion before she smiled.

"Did Ron send you to find Scabbers?" she asked.

"I need to talk to you," he whispered and Stella nodded, letting Harry in quickly before shutting the door behind him, unaware that Ginny had seen Harry go into the room.

"What's wrong?" Stella asked, setting Scabbers on her spare pillow and sitting on the bed beside Harry.

"I was going to go look for Scabbers for Ron but stopped when I overheard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arguing," Harry admitted.

"Why were mum and dad arguing?" Stella asked.

"Apparently, Sirius Black got out of Azkaban for a specific reason," Harry sighed.

"What's the reason?"

"He wants to… he wants to kill me," Harry sighed.

"What?" Stella asked, eyes going wide. "Why?"

"Well, he was a big supporter of Voldemort," Scabbers squeaked but Harry continued. "His followers don't really like me much in case you hadn't noticed.

"No, the interaction with Lucius Malfoy was polite," Stella joked.

"I just… I know you were trying to learn more about him at one point. They were arguing over whether to tell the both of us, so I figured you should know, too," he explained.

"Thanks," Stella gave Harry a soft smile. "I appreciate it, Harry."

"Of course," Harry nodded. "You'd tell me if you knew something like that."

"I would," Stella nodded before looking around her room.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Panic attacks have gotten worse since he escaped. I've taken to sleeping with someone every chance I get but everyone is sharing a room and Ginny actually has her own room for once and I don't want to take that away from her. I feel like I've been being clingy lately."

"Do you want me to stay with you?" Harry offered.

"You don't have to do that, Harry," Stella shook her head, giving him a soft smile.

"I want to," Harry insisted. "I'll take Scabbers to Ron and be back in a few minutes."

"Okay," Stella nodded, passing Scabbers to Harry.

Scabbers squeaked a few times but didn't fight. Maybe he was too old and weak. Would it be more humane to just let him die? No. Stella wasn't about to lose Scabbers just yet. Maybe once her father had been recaptured, she'd talk to Ron and dad about it. Until then, he just needed some medicine.

Stella changed into the silk nightgown that Narcissa had given her and left her door open a crack. She climbed under the covers, leaving a candle lit and smiling when Harry walked back in. He was dressed in a shirt that basically swallowed him and pajama pants that looked a little too short as he shut the door completely and climbed into the bed beside her, blowing out the candle once he'd settled. He rolled towards Stella and pulled her close, much how he'd seen Ron hold her when she'd snuck into their dorm room last year.

Stella woke after the best sleep she'd gotten in a while. Harry stirred beside her, arms still wrapped around her and holding her protectively to his chest. She tilted her head back, looking up at him and just studying his face. He'd grown more handsome over the summer, a bit more of a tan than usual. His face was relaxed in sleep and his hair was more messy than normal, causing her to smirk as she thought of the wedding photo where his dad's hair was the exact same way.

His eyes began to flutter open and she closed her eyes quickly, not wanting to get caught staring at him. She felt his arms tighten for a moment before he loosened his hold.

"Stell?" he asked, voice soft. "It's time to wake up."

"Five more minutes," she joked and felt Harry's chest rumble as he chuckled at her.

"We have to make sure we're all packed for school," he told her.

"I packed last night. I also packed Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George's trunks for them. Percy's too responsible for his own good, which just leaves you," she smirked, opening her eyes and looking up at him, eyes widening when she realized how close his lips were to hers.

He must have realized it, too, because they both blushed before sitting up. Harry put his glasses on and Stella stood, stretching a bit and not catching Harry's eyes as he watched her moving in her nightgown. He cleared his throat before standing.

"I should get going," he said. "Make sure I'm all packed."

"Okay," Stella nodded. "See you at breakfast."

"Yupp," Harry answered quickly before leaving her room, not noticing as Ginny saw him leaving Stella's room.

Stella got ready quickly, dressing in her school skirt and blouse, leaving her tie undone and cloak over her arm as she wondered downstairs with her luggage, which had a charm on it that made it lighter and smaller. Thank you, Narcissa Malfoy. Stella paid for the gifts by spending two weeks at Malfoy Manor over the start of summer. Theo, Blaise, and his mum, Rose, came over every other day and Stella had somehow gotten even more comfortable around Blaise and Theo on those days, the three bantering back and forth like they had the day before in front of the Gryffindor trio. The three were also better at reading one another now, all having had to calm one another down a few times when Draco had been on his high horse over the summer.

Draco was rather mad at her at the moment, as she was still trying out for Seeker. They'd practiced in Draco's backyard, Stella opting for Draco's old broom, which was slower. Stella had beat him to the snitch a total of twelve times. He'd then complained loudly about Harry a few times. Theo and Blaise had been there though and kept her calm. A few comments about Blaise's mum and her dead husbands had Stella and Theo holding Blaise back before Draco had said something about Theo's mum and her sickness, causing Stella and Blaise to have to talk in soft tones to Theo so the quiet, studious boy wouldn't go charging at Draco.

Stella ended up in a car with Fred, George, Ginny and mum. Ginny seemed upset but wouldn't say why when Stella asked her what was wrong. Once at King's Cross, Ginny stayed beside mum and dad stuck close to Harry, waving for Stella to stay close to him as well. She leaned against the barrier with Harry and her dad, giggling once they were through. Percy and Ginny came through next, both panting.

"Oh, there's Wood," Percy commented. "I'll just go say hello."

Harry exchanged looks with Stella and Ginny and they all had to hide their laughs, Stella having admitted to Harry in a letter that she'd caught Percy and Wood together. They got on the train, Ron and Hermione joining them.

"We need to tell the two of you something," Harry told Ron and Hermione, pointing to himself and Stella.

"Go away, Ginny," Ron demanded.

"Oh, that's nice," Ginny rolled her eyes and Stella glared at Ron. "I'll go sit with Luna."

The four set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train. This only had one occupant; a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. The four checked the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.

The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with grey.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats furthest away from the man.

"Professor R.J. Lupin," whispered Hermione at once.

"How d'you know that?" Ron asked in shock.

"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of nearly knotted string. The name 'Professor R.J. Lupin' was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.

"Wonder what he teaches?" said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin.

"There's only one vacancy," Stella shrugged.

"Defense," Hermione nodded.

"I swear I've heard that name before," Stella whispered to the others before shaking her head and looking away.

"Well, I hope he's up to it," said Ron doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he. Anyway, what did the two of you need to tell us?"

Harry explained the argument he'd heard and the warning dad had just given him to not go looking for Black. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands covering her mouth. Stella had scooted over in the seat so that she was across from the Professor, wanting to curl into a small ball with her feet up.

The three talked in hushed tones and Stella tuned them out, reading from her defense book instead. Harry's Sneakscope went off and she told them to stuff it into some clothes to muffle the sound more. Ron began describing the shops in Hogsmeade and Stella realized now why dad and mum hadn't signed it. They had told her that they couldn't because they weren't technically her guardians, but now she knew it was fully because of Sirius Black. She had suspected of course, but still.

"The Dursley's didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either," Harry's voice registered in her brain.

"Mum and dad didn't sign Stella's, either," Ron sighed, glancing over at her.

"They aren't, technically speaking, my guardians," Stella explained to Harry and Hermione before looking to Harry. "Apparently, your parents were my Godparents, so unless I go on the hunt for my father just to get it signed, it's not happening."

"Well, when you hunt him down, maybe mention not to go after Harry," Ron offered with a smirk.

"Will do," Stella rolled her eyes.

"Well, look who it is," Draco's voice spoke up in the doorway, Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him. "Potty and Weasel. I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. He didn't even have to take it from my cousin. Did your mother die of shock?"

Ron stood up so quickly that he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort.

"Who's that?" Draco asked, taking an automatic step back as he spotted Lupin.

"New teacher," said Harry, who had also gotten to his feet. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"

Draco ended up leaving with Crabbe and Goyle rather swiftly after that. Stella rolled her eyes as Ron threatened violence before he sat and looked to her as she read her book.

"Your cousin is mental," he told her.

"I do not take responsibility for him or his actions," she said, eyes still on the page.

The rain came down heavier and Stella decided to get a bit of a nap in, leaning her head against the seat while still curled up. She woke as Neville tripped and fell into the room, noticing that the train had stopped but the lights were off.

"What's happening?" Neville asked.

"No idea," Harry answered. "Sit down."

"I'm going to ask the driver what's going on," Hermione stated and they heard the door open before two bodies hit the floor.

"Who's that?"

"Who's that?"

"Ginny?"

"Hermione?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was looking for Ron."

"Lumos," Stella sighed and her wand lit up and everyone could see one another. "Honestly. Everyone take a seat. Maybe we should wake the adult."

"I'm awake," a hoarse voice answered and Stella jumped, holding in a curse word. "Everyone, stay quiet."

Ginny and Hermione took a seat and flames appeared in Lupin's hands, lighting the compartment better than Stella's wand.

"Oh," she whispered, staring at the flames with interest.

"Everyone stay where you are," he told them in the same hoarse voice and he got slowly to his feet.

But the door slid slowly open before he could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water, but it was visible only a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Stella's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak and then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.

An intense cold swept over them all and Stella looked to the others, wand still lit. Harry's eyes rolled to the back of his head and Stella rushed forward, just barely catching him. The thing must have thought she was about to attack because it tried lunging at her. A bright light escaped Lupin's wand and the thing ran off.

"Harry? Harry!" Stella shook him gently, cradling him gently on the floor. "Wake up, now. We aren't doing this again. Wake up, Harry."

It took some time but Harry woke. The lanterns were already lit and the train was moving again. Harry's green eyes opened, immediately finding Stella's grey.

"What… what happened?" he asked, not moving or looking away.

"You have got to stop scaring me," she whispered to him.

"Sorry," he whispered back.

Stella and Neville helped Harry back into his seat and Stella went back to hers on the opposite side of the compartment.

"What happened? What was that thing?" Harry asked, looking around as everyone stared at him. "Who screamed?"

"Stella yelled," Ron offered with a shrug.

"No. I heard a scream," Harry shook his head.

A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.

"Here," he handed Harry the biggest piece before passing the smaller pieces out. "Eat it. You'll feel better."

Stella took the offered piece, giving a small smile to the professor before looking to Harry again.

"What was that thing?" Harry asked Lupin.

"A dementor," he answered.

"They guard Azkaban," Stella immediately stated, eyes widening.

"Eat," Lupin nodded to Harry, who was staring at Stella now. "It'll help. I need to go talk to the driver. Excuse me."

Lupin left and Harry and Stella both blinked.

"I still don't understand what happened," he spoke up.

"Well, the dementor stood there and looked around and you…" Neville tried to speak.

"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron stated. "Next thing I knew, Stella had just barely caught you as you passed out and were heading to the floor. You twitched a bit and wouldn't wake up."

"It tried to attack Stella but Professor Lupin pointed his wand and something silver shot out and the dementor flew off," Hermione tacked on.

"It was horrible," said Neville, his voice higher than normal. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"

"I felt weird," said Ron shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again."

Ginny gave a small sob but moved from Stella when she reached for her, accepting Hermione's comfort instead.

"But did any of you fall out your seats?" Harry asked.

"No. Stella jumped out of hers to get to you. Ginny was shaking like mad though."

Harry didn't understand. He felt weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad flu, along with shame. Stella could see different emotions crossing over his face and she reached above him, pulling his cloak out of his case and putting it over his shoulders, realizing then that she was also shaking.

"Eat the chocolate," she reminded him and Harry took a small bite.

Stella pulled her own cloak down, draping it over Neville and wrapping it tightly around him, making sure everyone else were eating their chocolate as well. She handed her piece to Hermione, telling her to give it to Ginny for her as she pulled an extra cloak out and put it on Ginny, leaving it unbuttoned so it was more like a blanket. Lupin returned as Stella was putting Ron's robe over him. He watched Stella take care of everyone for a moment before he spoke up.

"We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in ten minutes," he announced. "Are you alright, Harry?"

"Fine," Harry muttered.

"And you, Stella Nova?" he asked and Stella stared at him with a confused expression.

Her eyes narrowed for a moment and she nodded. He nodded back and looked towards his case. Stella stepped backwards, slowly, getting out of the middle of the compartment. She stared at him then looked to the name on his case again. His name was so familiar but she couldn't figure out why. She'd ask Professor Snape when they arrived.

The rest of the trip was silent and a bit tense, Stella staring at Lupin as he stared out the window. The others said nothing about it but they knew that if Stella was uneasy, it was probably for a reason, so they sat as far away from the man as they could. She was still shivering as she climbed into a carriage with the others, her cloaks still on Ginny and Neville, who had left theirs in their compartment but hadn't wanted to leave the others.

Once the carriage came to a halt, Neville and Ginny got out first, followed by Ron and Hermione. Harry jumped out and then helped Stella down, offering his hand to her. Unfortunately, word had gotten around and Draco was waiting for them.

"You fainted, Potter? You actually fainted?" Draco elbowed pass Hermione and Stella glared at him.

Harry pulled Stella partially behind him, still holding her hand in his.

"Shove off, Malfoy. Not even your own cousin wants you here," Ron spoke up.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley? Did the scary old dementor frighten you, too?"

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice.

Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage. Malfoy just gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, "Oh, no- er- Professor."

He then smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle. Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry and the four joined the crowd, Harry still holding tightly to Stella. Stella, however, kept glancing over her shoulder at Lupin. His eyes were trained on her and Harry and she couldn't pin down what the look in his eyes was. It was almost a sad longing?

"You're still shaking," Harry told her, looking back at her.

"What? Oh. Ginny and Neville have my cloaks and I didn't eat any of the chocolate. Gave mine to Ginny," Stella shrugged. "I'll be fine."

"After what you told me last night, I think you need to eat some chocolate and warm up as soon as possible," he whispered to her and Stella allowed him that one because he wasn't wrong. "We'll find Professor Snape."

"Potter! Granger!" McGonagall's voice caused all four teens to turn in surprise. "I want to see you both."

Harry pulled Stella along with him and Ron followed along, figuring if Stella got to go then so did he.

"There's no need to look so worried. I just want a word in my office," she told them. "Move along Weasley… Black."

"Yup," Stella nodded, prepared to leave due to the tone her name had been said in.

"Nope," Harry argued, pulling Stella back to his side. "We were hoping to find Professor Snape."

"Whatever for?" McGonagall asked.

"It's personal," Harry shrugged.

"Very well," McGonagall sighed. "Stay here, then. Do you need to see Professor Snape, Mister Weasley?"

"I'd prefer not to," he shrugged.

"Then off you go," she told him and the two left quickly.

A violent shiver worked through Stella and Harry pulled her close, wrapping his cloak around both of them.

"You shouldn't have given your chocolate and cloak to Ginny," Hermione sighed.

"She was crying and shivering," Stella shrugged. "What was I supposed to do? Let my little sister cry and be cold?"

"I understand that, Stella, but still," Hermione sighed. "Now you're worse off because of it."

"What is going on over here?" Snape demanded, moving to them quickly, McGonagall right behind him.

"Thank Merlin," Stella sighed and Snape raised his brow at her.

"Stella needs chocolate and a cloak," Harry stated. "She gave hers away on the train."

"Miss Black, if you could refrain from being a total Hufflepuff every so often, it would be much appreciated," Snape sighed. "Follow me."

Stella stepped away from Harry, feeling immediately cold again and rubbing her arms as she followed after her head of house. Once they were out of sight, Snape took his billowing cloak off and tossed it over her shoulders.

"Foolish girl," he sighed, but he didn't sound upset with her, just worried.

"Sorry, sir," she said anyways, her teeth chattering a bit as she pulled the cloak tightly around her.

She felt Snape's hand on her back, leading her further into the dungeons and to his office. He had her sit while he opened one of his drawers, pulling out a chocolate bar and passing it to her.

"You have a candy stash, sir?" she asked, but the question took a few extra seconds to get out through the clattering.

"Eat," he told her, giving her a pointed look.

Stella broke a piece of the chocolate off and ate it, warmth flooding through her then. She slumped in her seat, eating another piece.

"Better?" he asked after her fourth piece, voice soft.

"Much," she admitted.

"How many Gryffindors are walking around in Slytherin robes right now?" he asked curiously.

"Two," she shrugged with a smirk, popping a fifth piece into her mouth and offering the last piece to him, to which he shook his head. "This is actually really good, sir."

"It better be," he smirked before his face went back to neutral. "What happened?"

"Dementor- terrible manners on that thing, by the way- got on the train. It attacked Harry, I think? He fell over and I caught him. The new professor got rid of it and passed out chocolate. Ginny was so upset that I gave her my piece as well and then I covered Neville and Gin with my cloaks. I knew I was shivering but I didn't think it was this bad," she admitted.

"If the effects aren't treated, they just continue to get worse," he explained. "What did you think of the new professor?"

"I know his name but I can't put my finger on where from," she told him. "It's like it's on the tip of my tongue and I can't figure it out."

"Hmm," Snape hummed and Stella narrowed her eyes.

"You know, don't you, sir?" she asked.

"I've no clue what you mean," he told her. "How's your ring?"

"Fine," she shrugged. "No random voices in my head, which is nice. No one planning to murder Harry, either."

"How?"

"Dad."

"Ah."

"Plus, Harrys' a terrible gossip. He overheard mum and dad arguing about whether to tell him or not and he immediately told me the conversation and then told Ron and Hermione on the train," Stella smirked.

"That boy," Severus sighed, shaking his head. "Come. Let's get you to the feast. You need actual food as well."

Stella nodded, passing Snape his cloak back once they neared the exit of the dungeons. Snape put the cloak back on quickly and the two walked out as if nothing had happened. Snape walked Stella to her space between Blaise and Theo before walked up to his seat at the head table beside Lupin.

"So, that's our new Defense teacher and Hagrid is teaching Care of Magical Creatures," Theo told her and Stella smiled bright, looking towards Hagrid and waving.

He smiled brightly, waving back before going back to talking to Flitwick.

"Explains the murderous book that I received for my birthday," Stella sighed. "Think tried to rip mine and Percy's arm off."

"Snape looks as if he hates Lupin already," Blaise noticed and Stella looked towards her head of house who was staring at Lupin in a way that made Stella wonder how Lupin hadn't gone up in flames from the heat of it.

"Huh," Stella sighed. "Are there any families here named Lupin?"

"No," Theo answered immediately.

"Any pureblood families in a book that I would have read?"

"No."

"I swear I know that name," Stella sighed before taking a bite of her potatoes.

The next morning, Stella walked in with Theo and Blaise in time to hear Parkinson shouting out, "Potter! The dementors are coming! Woooooooo!"

"Shut it, Parkinson!" Stella called back before taking her seat. "It's too early to hear you trying to sing to us. I hear the Gryffindor portrait sounds better than you."

"Oh, defend your boyfriend then!" Parkinson yelled at her and Stella rolled her eyes.

Harry gave her a grateful look and she sent him a wink, causing him to blush before he turned to George as he passed him something.

"So, how's that crush on Potter going?" Blaise smirked, voice quiet so no one overheard them.

"Shut it," Stella grumbled, regretting having told Theo and Blaise as her face turned red.

"Did something happen?" Blaise asked, face lighting up as if Christmas had come early.

"Nothing happened," she insisted.

"I don't believe you," Blaise sang.

"Don't make me separate you, children," Theo spoke up. "It's too early to put you in timeout."

Stella smiled at all the classes that they had with Gryffindor this year. It was as if the school was trying to make up for how few they shared last year. Stella smiled as she skipped into Transfiguration, arm-in-arm with Blaise and Theo, who they had somehow convinced to skip through the halls with them. Stella immediately sat behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione, tossing a quill at the back of Ron's head and smirking when he turned and saw her. Stella wondered for a moment how Hermione had beat them there from Ancient Runes before remembering all the secret passages that the school had. There was no way Granger hadn't figured them out as well. She should try writing down all of the passageways sometime…

"You are far too happy this morning," he told her.

"How was divination?" she asked him. "Did you see… into the futuuuuuure?"

Stella had sang the last words in a wobbly tone. Ron snorted and rolled his eyes, looking to Harry.

"Apparently, I'm going to die," Harry told her. "Grim in my teacup."

"So, part of why I didn't take that useless class is because Trelawney's mad. Apparently she predicts that death of a student every year and doesn't leave it alone, even though the student never dies. Congratulations, Harry! How lucky is that!" Stella smirked and Harry seemed to calm considerably.

Most of the Gryffindor's seemed rather upset during class but Stella took rigorous notes on Animagus, smiling when McGonagall turned into a cat. The only ones to clap were Stella, Blaise, Theo, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The others all looked at Harry.

"What is going on with all of you?" McGonagall asked.

"The Gryffindors had Divination," Stella spoke up.

"There is no need to tell me more. Which of you will be dying this year?"

"Me," Harry smirked. "Stella already told me that she does this every year though?"

"She does and none of those students has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in," McGonagall smirked.

After lunch, Stella and Blaise talked excitedly about what creatures they may be learning about. Theo didn't look thrilled to be there, but he and Blaise had decided to take the same classes as Stella, neither telling their parents about Muggle Studies. Hagrid was waiting at his hut and Stella and her boys arrived first, Hagrid smiling to her and passing her a rock cake he produced from his pocket.

"Thanks, Hagrid," Stella smiled, throwing the cake as far as she possibly could when he turned away, smiling in satisfaction when she saw it splash into the lake.

"Are you sure you want to go for seeker?" Theo asked, staring in awe at how far the cake had gone.

"I'm trying out for both. Best case scenario, I make chaser and seeker reserve," she shrugged, knowing Flint probably wouldn't replace Malfoy since his father had bought all the brooms. "Sure you don't want to try out at all?"

"I'm sure," Theo rolled his eyes.

"C'mon, now, get a move on!" Hagrid called as the last students staggered in before he strolled towards the forest.

"Wicked," Blaise smiled and immediately followed along, Stella moving with him and Theo groaning before following as well.

They ended up outside of some sort of empty paddock.

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid instructed. "That's it. Make sure yeh can see. Now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books…"

"How?" Draco asked. "How do we open our books?"

"You have to stroke it," Stella said loudly, stroking the spine of her book and smirking when it calmed immediately.

"Oh how silly we've all been!" sneered Draco. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess?"

"I thought they were funny," Hagrid said, looking upset.

"Oh, tremendously funny! Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!"

"No one said you have to take this class," Stella glared at him. "You can go."

Draco and Stella glared at one another for a long minute before Hagrid cleared his throat.

"Right then. So yeh've got yer books an' now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on."

Hagrid strode further into the forest and out of sight.

"God, this place has gone to the dogs," Malfoy looked away from Stella first. "Wait until my father hears about this.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry spoke up.

"Careful, Potter. There's a dementor behind you and your girlfriend isn't close enough to catch you."

"Oh, look!" Lavendar Brown called and everyone turned to the paddock.

Trotting toward them were a dozen creatures that Stella recognized from her book.

"Hippogriffs," Stella laughed.

They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of giant eagles, with brilliant orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each one of them had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind them.

"Who said it?" Hagrid asked excitedly and Stella raised her hand, staring at the creatures with curiosity and awe.

"Twenty points to Slytherin," Hagrid smiled brightly. "Yeh can come closer if yeh want."

Stella stepped forward, Theo and Blaise stepping back along with the other Slytherins. Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped forward as well, though those three were much more cautious. Stella remembered what she'd read over the summer and looked to the tallest Hippogriff. She walked towards it slowly and bowed, cautiously peeking out and waiting. Hagrid held his breath, smiling widely when the Hippogriff bowed low.

"Yeh always approach slowly, bow, and wait for 'em to bow back," Hagrid nodded to the other students, "just like Stella here. Twenty more points and excellent eye contact. Yeh always hold eye contact and try not to blink. Won' trust yeh if yeh blink too much. I think you can walk up to Buckbeak now. Pat his beak. Go on."

Stella stepped carefully forward, ready to bolt behind Hagrid if she needed to. She didn't though, Buckbeak letting her approach and pet his beak without problem. Harry had gotten another Hippogriff to bow back to him, copying Stella carefully.

"I reckon he might let you ride him," Hagrid smiled to her, standing between the two.

"We don't need to…" Stella began before seeing the hopeful look on Hagrid's face. "Alright then. It's just a broom. Just a very big, very feathered broom."

"Yeh climb up there, jus' behind the wing joint," Hagrid instructed both Harry and Stella and she had to stop herself from making a chicken wing joke. "An' mind yeh don' pull any of his feathers out. He won' like that."

Stella made it up first, swinging her leg up easily and smiling down at Buckbeak as she pat his neck.

"Go on, then," roared Hagrid and Stella had to grab on quickly as he slapped Buckbeak's hindquarters.

Harry had just enough to time to wrap his arms around his Hippogriffs neck when his took off with Stella's. Stella hoped she didn't get thrown off as she held on tightly. The thudding of the flock running across the ground to take off filled her ears and suddenly she was in the air. They flew through the air and Stella sat up, laughing loudly and letting out a cheer of excitement. Harry followed her league, holding his arms out as they flew straight for a moment before leaning down again as they took a turn. Stella stayed sitting up, looking far more graceful than Harry did as she did so before seeing a large black dog below, a dog that looked a lot like a grim, watching the two of them in the air. She shook her head, smiling again as the wind whipped her ponytail around a bit before the Hippogriffs lowered back towards the ground, landing together in the paddock in front of the other students.

"Good work, Harry and Stella! Twenty points each and Stella takes an extra ten for staying upright the majority of the time!" Hagrid awarded and Stella just knew she was going to gain points like mad in this class. "Okay, who else wants a go?"

Hagrid helped Stella and Harry both down before their classmates began to approach.

"How'm I doin'?" Hagrid asked the two of them.

"Best first class ever," Stella laughed, a bright smile on her face.

"This is easy!" Draco's voice carried over. "I knew it must have been if Potter could do it…"

Stella remembered the passage about Hippogriffs being able to sense disrespect.

"I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute?"

Stella moved forward quickly, pushing Draco out of the way and into Crabbe and Goyle. It happened in a flash a steely talons and then Stella let out a pained scream. Hagrid wrestled Buckbeak back by his collar quickly and Harry rushed to Stella.

"Stell!" he fell to him knees beside her, seeing blood and a large tear on her white shirt. "Hagrid! Stella needs the hospital wing! Now!"

Hagrid lifted Stella easily and she let out a small whimper of pain. Everyone rushed out of the paddock quickly, a majority of the students following behind Hagrid to the hospital wing. The only other person who had been allowed in was Ron. Snape had pushed his way through the crowd and rushed inside as the class waited for word on the Slytherin Princess., Draco looked worse for ware, knowing it was his fault and that Stella might have just saved him from getting mauled.

"What has happened?" Snape demanded, going straight to the hospital bed.

"Hi, Professor," Stella smirked, already healed and just a bit sore now. "No offense, sir, but I think I have a new favorite class."

"You are in the hospital wing covered in blood," Snape deadpanned.

"It was still bloody brilliant," Stella smiled brightly.

Pomfrey sighed, passing Stella an extra blouse to change into. Ron and Snape stepped out of the screen and Hagrid turned his back, also outside of the screen but so tall that he could see over it if he looked her way. Pomfrey helped Stella to change her shirt, sore on her left side. Pomfrey helped her pull her cloak back on and gave Stella a potion to take before bed, along with a small sack containing her normal nightly potions as well. Stella gave her a grateful smile and got out of the bed, being careful to not jostle her side too much considering she wanted to put on a show the moment she was out of the door.

"I'm decent," she told the men before correcting herself. "Well, I'm dressed, that is."

Ron snorted a laugh, carrying her school bag over one of his shoulders, tie hanging loose around his neck.

"Yeah, she's fine," Ron smirked after hearing Stella. "When she's too hurt, she makes better jokes."

"Hilarious," Stella rolled her eyes at him before looking to Pomfrey. "Thank you, Madam. I will make an effort to not see you again, no offense."

"None taken," Madam Pomfrey smirked.

"To lunch?" Stella asked Ron.

"Yeah," he nodded, leading her away.

"Thanks, Hagrid! It was brilliant!" Stella called as they walked to the door and Hagrid looked relieved and thrilled.

They stepped into the hall and everyone stared at the two. Stella bowed to them all before standing straight again.

"I will be accepting flowers for my heroism or cold hard cash only," she told them all and a few laughs escaped the crowd before they all began heading towards the Great Hall, Gryffindors leading the way with Stella, Blaise, and Theo standing between the two houses, Harry glancing back at Stella every chance that he got.

Double potions may have been Hell for most, but it was a dream for Stella. She enjoyed watching Snape use his dry humor in class, even if it was towards Neville. She took a table with said boy and Dean Thomas, Blaise and Theo at the table next to her with Draco, who had seemed rather upset with himself since the day before. Stella cut her daisy roots carefully, Neville copying her movements when Snape wasn't looking. She ended up pushing an extra copy of notes towards him for the shrinking solution, which he followed carefully, making his most successful potion yet, Snape not bothering to breath down Neville's neck with Stella beside him. The only time Snape spoke to Neville was from across the room, threatening to feed the solution to his toad if he didn't try hard enough. Stella had calmed Neville quickly, going as far as to grab the ingredient from Neville's hand so he wouldn't put boomslang skin instead of shrivelfig skin.

"Hey, Harry," said Seamus Finnigan. "Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning. They reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."

"Where?" Ron and Harry asked at the same time and Stella dropped one too many drops of blood into her potion, cursing under her breath as she rushed to add three extra roots to stop her cauldron from exploding and save the potion.

"Not too far from here," said Seamus. "It was a Muggle who saw him. Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she phoned the telephone hot line. By the time the Ministry got there, he was gone."

Draco was watching closely and Ron noticed.

"What, Malfoy?" Ron demanded, seeing Draco's eyes shining malevolently and fixed on Harry.

"Thinking of trying to catch Black, Potter?"

"Yeah, that's right," Harry rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"Of course, if it was me, I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy. I'd be out there looking for him."

"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" asked Ron roughly.

"Don't you know, Potter?" Malfoy's eyes narrowed before glancing at Stella. "How you can stand being with Stella knowing what her father did."

"Know what?" Ron questioned, a growl in his voice at the mention of his sister.

"Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck. Want to leave it to the dementors, do you? But if it were me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself."

Stella was shaking. She didn't know what Draco was talking about, but if it had something to do with her father, then she wanted to know. Her obsession with him had grown a bit since he'd escaped. She looked to Theo and Blaise, seeing both of them refusing to look at her and she narrowed her eyes.

"You should have finished adding your ingredients by now. This potions needs to stew before it can be drunk," Snape announced. "Clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's…"

Stella added her last ingredient quickly, stirring three times counterclockwise and stepping away, nodding at Neville's cauldron and hiding her notes away. Neville's potion actually looked better than Stella's since she'd had to fix her mistake, causing Snape to frown and glance at her.

"Is this your potion?" Snape asked Neville, pointing at Neville's cauldron.

"Yes, sir," Neville answered, seeming smaller than his tall frame.

"Not this one?" Snape asked, pointing to Stella's cauldron.

"No, sir. That's Stella's."

Trevor became a tadpole, wriggling in Snape's palm. Stella clapped with the Gryffindors while Snape looked sour. He pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robe and poured a few drops on top of Trevor, who was full grown again in a second. Neville took his toad back, looking beyond relieved.

"Five points from Gryffindor for cheating off of your neighbor," Snape tossed out and dismissed the class.

Stella sat for lunch between Blaise and Theo, both refusing to speak or look at her in any way. She sighed in frustration before leaving them and heading towards the Gryffindor table, sitting down beside Ron and eating beside him instead.

"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked around a mouthful of food.

"Don't talk with food in your mouth," Stella told him, turning her nose up slightly before looking to Harry. "Blaise and Theo know about whatever Malfoy was talking about, but neither are telling me."

"Great," Harry sighed.

"I'll get them to tell me," she promised him. "I want to know, too."

Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and place his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had now had a few square meals.

"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all you books back in your bags. Today's lesson will be a practical lesson. You will need your wands."

A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defense lesson before, unless you counted the pixies that the Gryffindors had dealt with the year before.

"Right then," said Lupin. "If you'll all follow me."

Stella followed directly after Lupin, curiosity getting the best of her. Harry rushed to her side, walking with her and grabbing her hand at some point as they walked through the castle. They turned a corner and Peeves, who was floating upside down and putting gum in a keyhole, was already there. He didn't look up until Lupin was two feet away, which is when he began to sing.

"Loony, loopy Lupin. Loony, loopy Lupin."

Peeves usually showed Professors a bit of respect but he was singing to Lupin like he did to Fred and George, making Stella's eyes narrow and a small smirk to appear on her face. Had their new Professor been a prankster in school? Stella looked to Lupin, finding him smiling and had her answer.

"I'd take the gum out of the keyhole if I were you Peeves. Mr. Filch won't be able to get to his brooms," Lupin said pleasantly.

Peeves blew a raspberry at Lupin instead, to which Lupin sighed and pulled out his wand.

"This is a useful little spell," he told the students over his shoulder. "Please watch closely. Waddiwasi!"

With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gun shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeve's left nostril. Peeves whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.

"Oh, please write that down," Stella begged as Dean yelled out, "Cool, sir!"

"Thank you, Dean, and I'll make sure that I do, Stella Nova," Lupin nodded, putting his wand away. "Shall we proceed?"

Stella didn't know why Lupin calling her by her almost full name brought her a bit of comfort, but she leaned into Harry a bit when it happened. Lupin began leading the class away, all of the students having a bit more respect for the shabby looking professor now. He led them down another corridor and stopped right outside the staff room. He opened the door and stood back.

"Inside, please," he told them, eyes glancing down to Stella's and Harry's joined hands for a moment before he looked away from them completely.

Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, looking annoyed as the class entered. There was a bit of a sneer on his lip when Lupin entered, making to close the door behind him.

"Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this."

The way that Snape said the name caused Stella to gasp, figuring out how she knew Lupin's name. Snape and Lupin both stopped, looking to her. Stella looked away towards the wardrobe that was shaking violently, pretending that was the reason she'd gasped. Snape's step faltered as he saw Stella and she could tell he was debating staying before his eyes landed on Lupin again and his glare went back into place. He strode towards the door, turning on his heel when he reached it.

"Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear or Miss Black is sharing her notes."

Stella felt like there was a double meaning in Snape's words and she stared at him curiously.

"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," Lupin responded, "and I'm sure he will perform it admirably."

Snape's lip curled and he looked around at the students, eyes staying on Stella for a moment longer before he shut the door, leaning against it and watching from the back. Stella felt as if he were only there because of Stella.

"Now, then," Lupin turned to the class and beckoned them towards the wardrobe, which wobbled again. "Nothing to worry about. There's a boggart in there."

Stella disagreed completely and took a rather large step back. Harry stared at her in confusion, as did a few other students. Stella was not one to back away from a challenge. Stella understood why Snape had stayed now. Neville and Seamus seemed wary as well, especially Neville who Lupin had already said would be participating. Ron stared at Stella with wide eyes, the two both having remembered when one had decided to take residence under Stella's bed when they were younger and almost killed her.

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed space," Lupin continued. "Wardrobes, the gap between beds…"

"Boogey men," Stella said, eyes locked on the wardrobe.

"Five points to Stella Nova. It is how the creature known as the Boogey Man came to be," Lupin nodded, eyes on Stella. "Can you tell us what a boggart is?"

"Shape-shifter," she answered. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Lupin nodded. "So, the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.

"This means that we have a huge advantage over the boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"

"Because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?" Harry offered.

"Precisely," said Lupin and Hermione put her hand down, seeming disappointed. "It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or flesh-eating slug? I once saw a boggart make that very mistake. Tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening."

"Hilarious," Stella grumbled and a few people around her let out snorts, trying not to laugh.

"The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes off a boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing. We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please… Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" most of the class repeated.

"This class is ridiculous," Draco muttered, causing Crabbe, Goyle, and Perkinson to let out quiet laughs.

"Good," said Professor Lupin, smiling pleasantly. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville."

"Me?" Neville asked, looking more terrified as he walked forward.

"Right, Neville," Lupin nodded. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you the most?"

Neville's lips moved but no sound came out.

"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry?" Lupin asked cheerfully.

"Professor Snape," Neville repeated and Stella let out a small laugh, looking to the man in question who was still glaring at Lupin.

"And I believe you live with your grandmother?" Lupin asked.

"Yes, but I don't want it to turn into her, either," he spoke quickly and another laughed escaped Stella.

Ron stood on one of Stella's side and Harry was on the other. Theo and Blaise stood behind her and Snape was just at the door. She began to feel a bit more at ease, knowing none of them would let anything happen to her.

"No, no," Lupin smiled. "You misunderstand. I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"

"Well, always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. A long dress, normally green, and a fox-fur scarf."

"A handbag?"

"A big red one."

"Right then," smiled Lupin, a bit of mischief in his eyes that caused Stella to glance back at Snape, whose face had gone red. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind?"

"Yes."

Lupin leaned in close, whispering something to Neville before pulling away.

"Can you do that?"

"Yes," Neville nodded, wand at the ready.

"Good. Ready?" Neville nodded and Lupin moved back. "One, two, three."

The wardrobe opened and an exact copy of Snape stepped out of the wardrobe. Neville took a half step back rather quickly.

"You've got it, Nev," Stella spoke up and she saw him stand straight.

"Riddikulus!"

Suddenly, the fake Snape stumbled a bit and the class laughed loudly. The boggart Snape was now wearing Neville's grandmother's clothes. Neville smiled brightly.

"Yes! Parvati! Forward!"

Neville stepped back, joining Stella's group quickly as Parvati made a mummy trip over its own wrappings. The mummy turned into a banshee in front of Seamus before he shouted the spell and she grabbed at her neck, voice gone. Crack! A rat chased its own tail. Crack! A rattlesnake writhed. Crack! A bloody eyeball stared at them.

"It's confused! We're getting there!" Lipin yelled excitedly. "Dean!"

Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began walking like a crab before it was suddenly caught in a mousetrap.

"Ron!"

Crack! Quite a few people screamed, Stella cursing loudly as a giant spider appeared, piercing eyes on Ron. Stella was ready to rush forward if needed before the legs vanished and it rolled over. Parkinson had somehow gotten behind Stella and pushed her forward, causing her to stumble a bit as the spider rolled in front of her.

Crack! Sirius Black stood tall in front of Stella, laughing madly and diving for her.

"Here!" Lupin jumped in front of Stella.

Crack! Sirius Black disappeared and Stella saw a silvery-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin.

"Ridikkulus!" he said, almost lazily.

Crack!

"Forward, Neville! Finish him off!"

Fake Snape was back as Stella made her way quickly to the real one. She heard Neville yell the spell and laughter fill the room, but Stella felt sick to her stomach, as if she were going to barf. Snape opened the door, letting her out and following after her quickly. He waited outside the girl's loo as Stella did get sick in a toilet. After rinsing her mouth out and washing her hands, Stella stepped out of the loo and turned to Snape who held out a potion for her.

"Helps with the nausea," he told her before she downed it quickly.

"Thank you, sir," she sighed, passing the empty vial back.

"Are you alright, Stella Nova?" a voice asked and Stella turned, knowing the only person who called her that in the entire castle was Lupin.

"You were a friend of my father's," Stella stated.

"Didn't realize that was common knowledge," Lupin sighed, glancing at Snape.

"Professor Snape didn't tell me," Stella shook her head. "I could hear him when I got my heir ring until Professor Snape was able to block his voice out. He had something he used to repeat all the time like a mantra. Probably trying to keep himself sane. Named his friends, you included."

"Ah," Lupin nodded. "I knew him, yes."

"You knew Harry's parents?" Stella asked and he nodded. "Did you send some of the pictures to Hagrid for him?" Lupin nodded again. "You should tell Harry a few stories about them. He doesn't know anything about them. His aunt is a piece of work."

Stella turned on her heel then, cloak billowing behind her as she walked in a way that she hoped made Professor Snape proud. She heard Snape snicker and knew that it had worked, causing her to smirk as she went. Defense became almost everyone's favorite class rather quickly. After the boggarts, they learned about Red Caps, followed by Kappas. Any mention of Lupin in Potions caused Snape's eyes to flash angrily, particularly taking his anger out on Neville, the poor boy, who Stella was not allowed to sit next to in classes anymore.

Care of Magical Creatures was suddenly less enjoyable. Hagrid had seemed to have lost his confidence after Stella had gotten injured. They were now looking after flobberworms, which Stella found to be the most boring creature in existence.

Stella could hear people talking about her after the boggart. Originally, people had spread rumors that Stella had planned to help Sirius Black get to Harry. Now that rumor mill said he was also after Stella or that Stella was being forced to help him, since he was her boggart. Little did they know that Sirius Black had been her nightmare since her first year when Narcissa Malfoy had sent her that very first article.

Stella flew above the Quidditch pitch with Draco and some sixth year that preferred to try flirting with Stella than look for the snitch. Draco let out a growl as Stella caught the snitch for the fifth time in a row, Draco not even having seen it when she'd taken it to Flint to turn in. After all of the snitches had been collected by Stella, Flint looked back and forth between Draco and Stella and then to the teams brooms.

"I'll pay Lucius Malfoy back," Stella told Flint and he let out a grateful sigh.

"Malfoy, you're the reserve," Flint stated and Draco began complaining loudly.

Stella just smirked, bumping her fist against Blaise's, him already wearing a jersey as he'd been made a chaser just half an hour ago. Stella was given a jersey, the word 'Black' appearing on the back of it. She smiled as she skipped into the castle, nodding to Luna and Ginny as she passed them. Both smiled brightly, getting the message before they ran off together, both sworn to secrecy.

Stella knew where the twins liked to spy from and had warned Flint, causing him to send a few of his friends to the spot to head the twins off. She practiced vigorously, "enjoying it far too much" in Draco's opinion.

"Don't be sour, cousin," Stella rolled her eyes one afternoon. "And do tell your father that the money was transferred to his vaults for me, please?"

"Yeah, yeah," Draco grumbled.

The first years had taken to Stella again this year due to the Slytherin Sunday classes with Snape. Stella really hoped Snape didn't get any ideas about trying to make her head girl and decided to make sure she pulled a few pranks to keep exactly that from happening. She gave the twins some gold and a list of products that she wanted from Zonko's, the two smirking as they stuffed both into their pockets. She'd given them extra to keep as payment for the pickup.

Ron approached her the next day.

"Is there any way that you can keep Scabbers while I'm in Hogsmeade?" he begged.

"Is Hermione's beast of a thing still going after him?" Stella asked, having just received a bit of medicine for Scabbers just that morning and passing it to Ron.

"Yeah," Ron sighed, accepting the medicine. "Meet us out front before we leave and I'll pass him over."

"Deal," Stella nodded.

On Halloween morning, Stella sat at the Gryffindor table, taking Scabbers early and bumping Harry's arm with hers. He gave her a forced smile.

"I'm not going, either, remember? I even tried to get Snape to let me go."

"I asked McGonagall," Harry smiled.

"And they both let us down? How rude," Stella shook her head. "We should have just forged the signatures and called it a day."

"We'll bring you both sweets from Honeydukes," Hermione assured them.

"Loads," Ron promised.

"Want to hangout while they're all gone?" she asked Harry.

"Sure," he nodded.

"Good. You can keep each other entertained," Hermione nodded, looking relieved.

Stella had actually been planning on asking Harry if they could use his cloak to sneak out but what Hermione didn't know wouldn't hurt her. They walked with the others to see them off before heading back up the stairs, Stella sent Malfoy the bird as he jeered at them. Harry followed Stella to the Slytherin common room, waiting outside the portrait as she put Scabbers on her bed and then went back into the hall.

"So, funny question, how's your cloak doing?"

Harry smiled brightly, telling Stella that he'd been thinking the exact same thing.

"Come on," he smiled, grabbing Stella's hand and pulling her along.

The two laughed as they ran through the halls and up the stairs, not even noticing when they passed both Snape and Lupin, who watched them go with matching pained expressions, though Snape's contained a bit of anger in it. Did it have to be a Black and a Potter?

Harry led Stella into the Gryffindor common room, not caring that Stella now had the password. Harry told Colin he didn't want to sit with him and his friends and Stella gave them a wink, causing them all to giggle. One of them even mentioned something about a broom closet. Harry ran upstairs and then came back down, giving Stella a nod.

The two walked back out of the common room, the Fat Lady seeming annoyed as they went. Halfway to the library, they changed course and ended up coming face-to-face with Filch.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Nothing," Harry said truthfully.

"Nothing!" Filch spat. "A likely story! Sneaking around on your own. Why aren't the two of you at Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Bletch Powder and Whizzing Worms like your nasty little friends?"

"I'm already full up," Stella shrugged and Filch looked ready to pounce on her and Stella pulled Harry along by his hand. "Have a good day, Mr. Filch!"

They started heading towards the owlery, deciding to make it seem as if they were heading there in case they were spotted, deciding to toss the cloak on while on the stairs.

"Harry? Stella Nova?" a voice asked and the two turned, seeing Lupin poking his head out of his office. "What are you two doing? Where are Ron and Hermione? Blaise and Theodore?"

"Hogsmeade," said Harry.

"Ah. Why don't you both come in? I've just taken a delivery for a Grindylow for our next lesson."

"A what?" asked Harry as they walked into Lupin's office.

"Aquatic animals. Nasty things," Stella told Harry. "There's a swarm of them in the Black Lake."

"Correct," Lupin nodded. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with them, not after the kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."

A grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner.

"Cup of tea?" he asked, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one."

"Alright," Harry nodded and Stella wanted to stomp on his foot.

"Sorry. If the two of you have a date planned while the others are gone…"

"No," they both said quickly and Lupin smirked.

"Well, let's sit then. I've only got teabags, I'm afraid, though I'm sure you've had enough of tea leaves, Harry?" Lupin had a twinkle in his eyes.

"How did you know?" Harry asked.

"Professor McGonagall told me," he said, passing a cup to Stella and a chipped mug to Harry. "You're not worried, are you?'

"I was at first but then Stella here talked some sense into me," Harry smirked before his smile fell slightly. "You know the day we faced the boggart?"

"Like the date, or?" Stella joked, taking a sip of her tea and causing Harry to roll his eyes while smiling at her before turning back to Lupin.

"I remember," Lupin nodded, seeming as if he were trying to hold in a smile.

"Why didn't you let me try to fight it?" Harry asked. "I was stepping in front of Stella as well."

"I would have thought it was obvious. I assumed if you faced a boggart, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort," Stella and Harry were both shocked to hear someone else say the name. Stella used it when she wasn't around her family, refusing to call someone 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' which felt far too silly. "Clearly I was wrong. I didn't want Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic, not that they didn't when Sirius Black made an appearance."

"Sorry about that," Stella flinched. "Parkinson pushed me."

"I didn't think of Voldemort," said Harry honestly. "I remembered those dementors."

"I see," Lupin nodded thoughtfully. "Well, then I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is… fear. Very wise, Harry."

Stella and Harry both drank more tea.

"So, you've been thinking that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the boggart?" Lupin asked outright.

"Well, yeah," Harry nodded. "Professor Lupin, you know the dementors…"

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.

"Come in," Lupin called.

Professor Snape came in, stopping at the sight of a Black, a Potter, and a Lupin all in the same room. Stella felt uneasy before Snape shook his head, eyes softening slightly when he saw her. She noticed the smoking goblet in his hand and grew curious, sitting up and trying to get a better look at it.

"Ah, Severus," Lupin said and Stella saw Snape shiver slightly at hearing his own name. "Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?"

Snape walked forward and Stella saw Snape's rather strange body language, studying him as he spoke to Lupin, who seemed completely at ease.

"I was just showing Stella Nova and Harry my grindylow," Lupin pointed towards the creature.

"Fascinating," said Snape without looking away from Lupin. "You should drink that directly, Lupin.

"Yes. Yes, I will."

"I made an entire cauldronful," Snape continued. "If you need more."

"I should probably take some more again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus," Lupin practically purred Snape's name and Stella's eyes widened as she began fidgeting in her seat.

"Not at all but it seems I am actually in need of Miss Black's assistance grading potions. Come, Black."

"Yes, sir," Stella said, biting her lip to keep from smiling, eyes still wide as she tried hard not to freak out. "See you later, Harry."

Stella kissed the top of Harry's head as she left, practically jumping up and down as she went. She kept herself from freaking out all the way through the school and as they entered Snape's office.

"Black," he turned on her.

"I need a moment to freak out where you don't murder me or give me detention for life," Stella admitted, literally shaking with energy.

"Fine," Snape sighed.

"Oh. My. GOD! YOU AND LUPIN! WHAT? WHEN? HOW? I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! Oh, Merlin, sir! I swear I won't tell, not that anyone would believe me, and I know you won't give me literally any information no matter how much I bug you but this is…." Stella slowed down, seeing the look on Snape's face and her smile fell, "not good. Absolutely terrible. He was one of the Gryffindor's you mentioned. Do you want me to put stink pellets in his classroom? Cause I'll do it for you, sir."

"That is not necessary," he answered.

"Oh, I was going to do it anyways, sir. I need to pull a few pranks so you don't try making me a prefect in a couple of years. I have to follow in Fred and George's footsteps, you see?"

Snape let a smile slip onto his face before nodding.

"Alright. You get one question for each successful pellet," Snape told her.

"Deal, sir," Stella smiled. "Shall we head to the feast? Fair warning, I plan on causing a bit of a ruckus."

"I would expect nothing less," Snape stood, walking with Stella towards the Great Hall, the two smiling as they went.

Fireworks went off at the end of the feast and the pumpkins came to life, dancing across the tables. The twins looked around in awe before their eyes landed on Stella, who was simply smiling, looking rather proud of herself. Snape smirked as McGonagall complained about the Weasley twins before speaking up.

"Not them," he said, voice rising so McGonagall could hear him over the students and pointed towards his own table. "Her."

"Of course," Lupin let out a breath of laughter. "Why am I not surprised?"

"She's rather clever," Snape nodded. "Sneaky Slytherin."

"Well, it is a rather brilliant show," McGonagall smiled fondly, watching as more fireworks went off and the Jack-o-Lanterns continued dancing an Irish jig.

Stella had another show in the common room for just the Slytherins. More fireworks went off and confetti and streamers fell on the students in orange and black. Stella passed stuffed bats and pumpkins to the first and second year students, even tossing Tracy a spare bat. The bats flew a bit when tossed in the air and the pumpkins did little dances if you spun them in a circle on the floor. Snape ran into the room during the festivities, a streamer sticking to him as he searched the room frantically until his eyes landed on Stella as she laughed with Tracy, the two watching as a few seventh years ran at each other with gourds on their heads.

The music scratched and everyone looked around, silence filling the room as Snape made his way to Stella. He stopped beside her, turning to the rest of the room. He placed the tip of his wand against his throat and his voice became amplified.

"All students are to report to the Great Hall at once," he announced. "Everything will be explained when you arrive."

Stella nodded to Blaise and Theo, the two leaving with the others. Stella walked beside Snape, the two making some distance between themselves and the others. When they were almost to the dungeon exit, Snape spoke.

"Sirius Black broke into the school and tried to enter Gryffindor tower earlier. No one was injured. We are going to search the school and we are going to find him. Gryffindor is already in the Great Hall. Now, go."

Stella took off running, the Slytherins moving out of Stella's way as she burst into the Great Hall.

"Over there, Stella," Luna pointed to where Harry was standing.

"Thank you, Luna," Stella sighed, running towards Harry.

Harry saw her coming and ran towards her as well. She jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly as he held her off of the ground. The two didn't move or let go of one another for a long moment until Dumbledore's voice broke over the crowd.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle. I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," Dumbledore looked to Percy then. "Send word with one of the ghosts."

Dumbledore waved his wand and sleeping bags covered the floor. Stella sighed and turned back to Harry.

"I should check on the first and second years," she told him, voice a whisper.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked her.

"Nope. You?"

"Not even a little."

"Do you want me to stay with you?" she asked him.

"No. Go check on the little snakes," Harry smirked.

"Here," she smiled, passing him a little pumpkin stuffy. "It dances when you spin it on the floor."

"Cool," Harry smirked and Stella moved to go to the Slytherins when Harry reached out, grabbing Stella's hand and stopping her. "You can come back if you need to, though."

"Thanks," Stella gave a small smile before walking away.

Stella sent sparks into the air and the Slytherins turned to her, as did a few Gryffindors and Luna. The first and second years rushed forward, lining up. She did a head count, making sure they were all there before putting a fake smile on her face.

"We're having a big slumber party tonight for Halloween," she told them, everyone in the hall quieting to listen in. "We had to get special permission to do it. So, we're going to continue the festivities for a bit before we go to bed, alright?"

The kids all smiled brightly and Percy made his way over, probably to argue with Stella but the twins intercepted him, telling him that scaring the younger kids was going to make everything worse. Music started up again and everyone just forgot for a little while. The elves dropped off little snacks and drinks for everyone and Stella had to make enough little stuffies for all of the younger students, making sure to set aside a few for the teachers. She shot streamers and confetti from her wand and Fred and George convinced an elf to gather some of the fireworks, setting them off before getting all of the younger students settled and in sleeping bags.

Stella stared up at the cloudy night sky with a glare. Snape came to her side, staring up.

"Why are you glaring at the sky?"

"I want to change it to stars for kids," she admitted.

Snape sighed before pointing his wand, sending a spell at the ceiling. The clouds separated and the stars grew brighter, constellations connecting through thin silver lines. Stella smirked, looking to Snape.

"Detention, Black," he rolled his eyes.

"That's fair, sir," Stella nodded.

"Go to bed," he told her, leaving the hall.

Stella smirked as she watched him go before looking up, staring up at the stars. She moved over to her brothers, Hermione, and Harry. She laid in the only green sleeping bag in their section, smirking as she did so. She stared up at the ceiling, hand in Harry's. Once every hour, a teacher would reappear in the hall to check that everything was quiet. Snape came by to check on Stella again, glaring at the joined hands before moving on. Lupin showed up at some point as well, not that anyone noticed due to everyone being asleep. He stared down at two children who had held as babies, had rocked to sleep and fed and changed their diapers, helped feed them medicine when they were sick, take their first steps, say their first words. Back when he was Uncle Moony…

The Fat Lady was replaced by a knight that tried to duel any and everyone. Ron complained about it twice a day at least. Stella just ignored him, knowing he'd have more to complain about on Saturday when the game got switched to Hufflepuff, Snape having pulled some strings and used Stella being attacked by Buckbeak so they didn't have to play in the rain. Stella had snorted a laugh when Snape had told her in detention before thanking him. She really hadn't been looking forward to playing in the rain to be honest. No one knew why the game had been changed to Hufflepuff and no one would, the Slytherins keeping quiet about Stella being on the team.

Friday, Snape was in the Defense room, standing by the teacher desk. He began telling the students that Lupin hadn't left a syllabus when Harry ran in.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin. I…"

"This lesson started ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down."

Ten points was generous in Stella's mind. Any time a Slytherin was late to class, they got a weeks' worth of detention.

"Where's Professor Lupin?" Harry asked, still standing in the doorway.

"He is feeling ill today," said Snape and Stella stared at Snape, studying him again. "I believe I told you to sit down?"

"What's wrong with him?" Harry demanded and Snape looked as if he were dealing with a small child rather than a thirteen year old.

"Nothing life-threatening. Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty."

Harry finally sat, taking the empty seat beside Stella.

"As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far."

"Please, sir," Hermione interrupted and Stella wondered just how many points Gryffindor could lose in one class period. "We've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and Grindylows. We were just about to start—"

"Quiet," said Snape coldly. "I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization."

Stella had to bite her lip but a small sound escaped her. She couldn't help herself. Hearing Snape talk badly about his ex in front of a bunch of teenagers was just a bit too much for her to handle. Harry sent a glare her way and she straightened. Snape glared at her and she sunk back down.

"He's the best defense teacher we've ever had," Dean spoke up, talking to Stella and Snape before looking at Stella. "Just because you were too afraid to face your boggart—"

"Enough!" Snape insisted.

"Not why I was laughing," Stella whispered to Harry so he knew.

"Just because she's your favorite," Seamus started up and Stella stiffened, listening as the Gryffindors so easily and openly badmouthed her out of nowhere.

"Shut it!"

The voice was Harry's that had yelled this time and the Gryffindor's immediately did so.

"I would expect Red Caps and Grindylows from first years, but not from third years. Today we shall discuss…" Snape flipped through the book for a moment. "Werewolves."

Hermione tried to argue again and Gryffindor lost ten more points, bringing the tally to twenty-five so far.

"Turn to page 394."

Stella turned to the page quickly.

"Favorite…" Snape smirked and Stella looked up, not liking the challenging brow Snape had raised and, had it only been Slytherins in the room, she would have groaned and told him to leave her be. "What is the difference between a werewolf and an animagus?"

"Animagus have gone through extreme transfiguration processes to become an animal at will, an animal that represents their magic and their soul. A werewolf in a magical person who has been bit by a werewolf and turns every full moon into a beast that kills with no regard for friend or foe. Unless they take a potion, of course."

Stella's eyes widened again and then narrowed on Snape. An almost unnoticeable tick of his lips, giving her the answer.

"And what are the distinguishable differences between a real wolf and a werewolf?" he asked.

"Their pupils, snout shape, and tail, along with the fact that werewolves stand on two legs, not four. Honestly if you're close enough to notice the pupils and snout then you're probably already dead either way."

"Good. Not just words directly from the textbook, but your own words as well, showing that you actually understand the subject and didn't just memorize the passage," Snape stated, eyes darting to Hermione on the last part before he made everyone take notes from the book on werewolves, going around and checking everyone's work that they had been doing in the class in the process. "Very poorly explained… Incorrect. The kappa is more commonly found in Magnolia… Professor Lupin gave this an eight out of ten? I would have given it a three."

Stella let out another snort of laughter, covering her face with her hand tossing her quill down, biting her lip hard.

"Detention, Black."

"Yes, sir."

That night, Stella sat in Snape's office, laughing loudly as he waited for her to calm down. She slowly did, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye before leaning back.

"So, your ex-boyfriend is a werewolf?" she asked.

"Yes," Snape hissed out.

"Need help with his potions?"

Stella sighed as she looked over the Wolfsbane potion, labeled as a few made up words. Even the word dragon was thrown in there. Instead of the word 'Aconite', it said marshmallows, which was Stella's request. Snape really did go far too easy on her. It was probably the guilt from the year before if she were being honest. She walked into the hospital wing, just barely keeping herself upright as she ran directly into Professor Lupin.

"Professor," she smiled at him before it fell slightly. "Wait, why are you here? Are you alright?"

"I am well, Stella Nova. Thank you."

"Please tell me you'll be back on Monday?" she begged. "Don't get me wrong, Professor Snape has been my favorite for years, but all we did was take notes all class period. It wasn't near as fun as normal."

"I'll have to keep that in mind," Lupin laughed. "I will be back Monday. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I have to take potions every night," Stella shrugged. "I'm sure you'll hear it from someone eventually. I have episodes."

"Episodes?" Lupin asked, staring at Stella in concern.

"Panic attacks, nightmares," she shrugged.

"I'm sorry," Remus frowned.

"It's nothing," she shrugged. "I should go though. I have assignments to finish."

"Not going to the game?" he asked.

"In this weather? Absolutely not," Stella laughed. "See ya, Professor."

"Goodbye, Stella Nova."

Lupin left, glancing back at Stella as she skipped over to Madam Pomfrey, reminding Lupin so much of Marlene with all of her energy. What she had just told him about was all Sirius Black though. It was the Black madness striking again. He wondered how long it would be before the potions didn't work anymore.

Stella ran to the hospital wing a few hours later.

"What is it?" she demanded. "What's happened?"

"Dementors," Ron explained, leading Stella to Harry's bed. "He fell off his broom because of it."

"What's that you're holding?" she asked.

"His broom."

"That sucks," Stella sighed, looking over and finding Harry opening his eyes.

"Harry!" Fred exclaimed. "How're you feeling?"

"What happened?" he asked, sitting up.

"You fell off. Must have fallen fifty feet."

"The match?" Harry specified.

"The caught the snitch," George answered.

"Lost by a hundred," Angelina added.

"So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin…" Harry started and Stella stayed quiet.

"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points," Geroge added.

"If someone would tell us Slytherins secret weapon…" Fred tried and all eyes turned to Stella.

"How are you feeling?" Stella asked Harry.

"I'm alright," he promised. "I'd be better if…"

"That's my cue," she stated, turning and walking away.

True to his word, Lupin was back in class on Monday. Stella took a bar of chocolate into the classroom, placing it on his desk with a nod before going towards her seat.

"Trying to be another teacher's favorite, Black?" Seamus asked.

"I'm sorry, have I done something to you?" she asked him, eyes narrowed.

"You probably let your father into the school. That whole display on Halloween was a distraction so he could get in and then you kept it going so that he could get out. You act all nice and friendly towards the Gryffindors, help Neville with his classes, and hold Harry's hand but you're actually working with him," Seamus spat out.

Seamus was turned around quickly by a hand on his shoulder and Harry placed a punch on his jaw. Stella pulled Harry away quickly but he was already done. Seamus was on the floor, looking up at Harry in shock. Lupin ran over, sending Harry to the headmasters office as he looked at Seamus and Harry grabbed Stella's hand, taking her with him. She didn't even realize she'd been crying until Harry was wiping her tears before kissing her head and going up to the headmaster's office.

Stella sat outside of the gargoyle while Harry received his punishment from the Headmaster, which ended up only being a week of detention with Lupin. He grabbed her hand and the two went to an empty classroom. Harry sat on the floor, pulling Stella into his lap and holding her. Stella let a few more tears fall before sniffling and resting her head on Harry's shoulder.

"I would never…" Stella began.

"You don't have to explain anything," Harry whispered to her, holding her close. "I know."

They stayed there until afternoon classes had ended and then walk hand-in-hand to the Great Hall. Harry kissed the top of Stella's head and she went to the Slytherin table, taking her normal seat. The table was completely quiet and Blaise and Theo scooted slightly away from her. She stared in confusion until she heard Parkinson snort.

"What?" she asked the other girl.

"You are a disgrace to Slytherin," she responded. "Running around with Potter."

"Oh, no. Am I friends with Harry Potter? I didn't realize," Stella rolled her eyes.

Stella was being shunned. Why? No clue at this point. Blaise and Theo kept up appearances, staying close to her during and in between classes. She avoided the common room at all costs, setting off dungbombs just so she could get detention.

"Why does everyone hate me?" Stella asked as she fell into the seat in front of Snape.

"I was going to ask if you knew," Snape offered.

"Brilliant," she sighed. "Parkinson said something about being a disgrace and running around with Harry."

"Yes. I heard about the jealous act in Lupin's class."

"And who told you about that?" Stella smirked.

"Detention."

"Wonderful! We can talk about the dragon marshmallow potion during it."

There was another Hogsmeade day coming up and Stella and Harry were determined to sneak out this time. Harry told her that Fred and George had given him something under the condition that he share it with Stella whenever she ask for it. They were hiding out in an empty classroom while everyone else cleared out of the castle.

"Alright," he smiled, pulling out a bit of parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

"Good for you?" Stella tilted her head in confusion.

Harry rolled his eyes and stared at the parchment, causing Stella to do the same. The parchment was no longer blank though. 'Messers. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDER'S MAP'. Passageways and names popped up and Stella gasped, realizing that the idea she had earlier that year had actually been done before.

"Brilliant," she growled out as Harry handed her the map and she could see Snape in his office, seemingly pacing. "Absolutely brilliant. It explains so much."

"There's a passage that'll take us straight to Honeydukes," Harry showed her.

"Is that the one we're taking?" she asked, smiling brightly at Harry.

Harry smiled and nodded quickly. Harry hid the map in his pocket and the two stepped out of the classroom. They walked to a stone witch and Harry poked it while whispering, "Dissendium." At once, the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person. Harry glanced up and down the corridor and nodded to Stella, sending her down first.

"Lumos," she whispered once she had stepped aside, Harry joining her a moment later as the stone witch moved back into place, hiding their escape route.

"Mischief managed," Harry tapped the map with a smirk.

"Brilliant," Stella said again.

The passage twisted and turned, more like the burrow of a giant rabbit than anything else. The two hurried along it, holding hands and stumbling now and then on the uneven floor, laughing excitedly. It took ages but felt like less as they laughed along the way. Finally the passage began to rise and they came to the foot of some worn steps, which rose out of sight above them. Harry looked out first, making sure the coast was clear before helping Stella out of the whole.

He tossed the cloak over them and headed out of the storage room. They stayed close to one another, bodies pressed so close that Harry wrapped his arms around Stella, making sure their feet couldn't be seen as they went. Stella felt a blush creep up along her neck but ignored it as they moved through Honeydukes. Stella's hand darted out, grabbing a chunk of chocolate before dropping a few coins on the counter before sticking the chocolate in her bag before they got out of there.

Harry tapped Stella's waist and pointed carefully to where Ron and Hermione were standing. The two made their way to them, listening in on the conversation.

"Ugh, no, they won't want one of those. They're for vampires, I think. Maybe we could get one as a prank gift for Snape," Ron stated before picking up some cockroach clusters. "What about one of these?"

"Definitely not," Harry spoke up and Ron almost dropped the jar.

"Harry," squealed Hermione, looking around but not seeing him. "Oh, you're under the cloak."

"How'd you make it all the way here without someone seeing your steps?" Ron asked.

Harry told Ron and Hermione about the map, voice low so no one could hear him.

"How come Fred and George never gave it to me?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione so no one knew Harry was there, Stella remaining quiet and trying not to laugh as she tried to figure out exactly when she wanted to scare Ron. "I'm their brother."

"Well, they did make me swear to let Stella use it for troublemaking whenever," Harry offered.

"You aren't going to keep it or give it to her, are you?" Hermione asked. "You should hand it over to McGonagall. The professors can use it to catch Black."

"I'm not handing it over," Harry immediately spoke up.

"Are you mad?" Ron asked Hermione, eyes wide. "Hand in something that good?"

"Sirius Black could be using one of the passages on that map," Hermione pointed out.

"There are seven secret passages. Filch knows about four, one is caved in, one is under the Whomping Willow, and the other is the one I just came through. You have to get through the shop to get to it."

"Come on, Hermione. Harry deserves a break. What happened to the girl that stole potions ingredients from Snape and brewed an illegal potion in the abandoned girls bathroom last year?" Ron tried and Stella turned her head slight to give Harry a look, to which he let out a snort of laughter.

"Are you going to report me, Hermione?" Harry asked with a grin.

"Of course not," Hermione stated, shaking her head.

"Let's go get a butterbeer," Ron spoke up. "Come on. To the Three Broomsticks."

Stella and Harry walked carefully, trying to hide that there were two of them under the cloak. Stella wondered how they were going to get away with drinking a butterbeer under here when they walked into the pub, Ron holding the door open longer than necessary for just Hermione and himself.

"That's Madam Rosmerta," said Ron, going a bit red. "I'll get the drinks, shall I?"

Hermione led them to a table that was hidden mostly behind a Christmas tree. Harry pulled a chair out and sat down, pulling Stella sideways in his lap as if it were nothing. She reddened slightly and waved herself, pretending she was getting warm under the cloak. Harry raised his brow, asking silently if she was okay and she nodded. Ron put three butterbeers on the table, back to the crowd to hide it when Harry's hand reached out and snagged his drink. He passed it to Stella first and she had to hold in a happy hum at the taste before passing it back.

"I think you're clear from view," Ron offered.

"Just in case," Harry smirked and Stella had to keep herself from laughing, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Good plan," Hermione mumbled. "Professor McGonagall just walked in."

Stella and Harry shared wide eye looks before remembering that they were under the cloak.

"A small gillywater," a woman's voice offered.

"Mine," answered McGonagall and Stella's brows rose in amusement.

"Gour pints of mulled mead."

"Ta, Rosmerta," said Hagrid.

"A cherry syrup and soda with ice and an umbrella," Rosemerta asked.

"Mm," Flitwick responded.

"So you'll be the red currant rum, Minister."

"Thank you, Rosmerta, m'dear," said Fudge. "Lovely to see you again, I must say. Have one yourself, won't you? Come and join us."

"Well, thank you, Minister."

"So, what brings you to this neck of the woods?" Rosmerta asked.

"What else, m'dear, but Sirius Black," Stella and Harry exchanged a look again, listening more. "I daresay you heard what happened up at the school on Halloween?"

"I did."

"Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid?" McGonagall asked.

"Do you think Black is still in the area?" Rosmerta asked.

"I'm sure of it."

Harry pulled Stella closer to his chest, passing her the butterbeer to take a drink of.

"The dementors scared half my customers away," Rosmerta commented.

"They're in a fury against Dumbledore. He won't let them in the castle grounds," said the Minister

"I should hope not," McGonagall scoffed. "How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around."

"We know what Sirius Black is capable of," the Minister stated.

"I still have trouble believing it," Rosmerta commented. "Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last I'd have thought. I mean, I remember when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If you'd told me then what he was going to become, I'd have said you'd had too much mead."

"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta," Fudge said gruffly. "The worst he did isn't widely known."

Stella and Harry looked at one another again.

"The worst?" Rosmerta asked. "Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?"

"I certainly do," responded Fudge.

"What could possibly be worse?"

"You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta," murmured McGonagall. "Do you remember who his best friend was?"

"Naturally," Rosmerta responded. "Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here. Ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter."

No one at the table was surprised, all having figured out that Stella's parents and Harry's parents had been close friends due to the pictures.

"Precisely," said McGonagall. "Black and Potter. Their children are the same way now. Those boys were the ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course. Exceptionally bright, in fact. I don't think we've ever had such a pair of troublemakers."

"I dunno," Hagrid chuckled. "Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run fer their money."

"Stella Black is making a name for herself, as well," Flitwick commented before continuing. "You'd have thought Black and Potter were brothers in their day though. Inseparable."

"Of course they were," said Fudge. "Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry and Black named them Godparents of Stella. Neither of them has a clue, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment the two of them."

"Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who?" Rosmerta questioned.

"Worse, m'dear. Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-Know-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasn't an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm."

"How does that work?" Rosmerta asked.

"An immensely complex spell," Fudge continued. "Involves the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find. Unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search forever and never have found James and Lily."

"So, Black was the Potter's Secret-Keeper?"

"Naturally," McGonagall answered. "James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would rather die than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself… and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. He offered to do it himself."

"Barely a week later and Black betrayed them," Fudge spoke up.

"And to kill little Peter Pettigrew…" McGonagall spoke up. "That poor boy used to follow them everywhere and went to confront Sirius. All they ever found of him was his finger."

Harry stood, Stella standing with his. The chair scratched and the butterbeer fell from Stella's hands, splashing everywhere. The two made their way out of the pub, Ron and Hermione trying to chase after them, following the footsteps until they entered Honeydukes. They ran through the tunnel, both quiet this time, no laughter leaving either of them. They made it into the hall and both froze, breathing heavily, Stella feeling sick to her stomach.

"Did you know?" Harry asked, voice low and dangerous.

"What?" Stella asked, turning to Harry in shock.

"Did you know?" he asked again.

"No," Stella shook her head. "Harry, I told you just a few weeks ago that I would never…"

"Never hand me over to your father, yes. Did you know that he handed them over to Voldemort?!"

"No," Stella shook her head, taking a step back from Harry. "I would have told you. I…"

Harry turned on his heel, walking quickly away from Stella. She tried following him but he put the cloak on and disappeared. Stella sank to the ground, crying heavily into her knees. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and she flinched, backing away quickly, only to be met by Snape's dark eyes.

"Are you hurt?" he asked. "What's happened?"

"Sirius Black… he gave Harry's parents to Voldemort… We just found out and Harry… he thinks I knew…"

"Ridiculous boy," Snape sighed, meaning Harry.

Stella just cried harder, not sure what to do. She felt like everything was falling apart. Harry had become her best friend and now he hated her. She felt arms wrap around her and next thing she knew, Snape was carrying her. They ended up in his office, Snape setting Stella in her chair before moving around his desk and rummaging in his cabinet for a moment before pulling out a mild calming draught. It took less than a minute for Stella to calm, letting out a sigh of relief as her tears stopped.

"I don't think taking this many calming draughts is healthy," she commented.

"The ones you take are specially made by me so you don't get poisoning from ingesting the ingredients so often," he explained.

"How long ago did you come up with that?" Stella asked curiously.

"Last year," Snape told her and Stella felt her heart swell a bit.

She ignored the feeling and smirked instead.

"I didn't know you were so strong, sir. You carried me down here from, what, the third floor?" she asked.

"Fourth," he corrected, letting Stella joke to make herself feel a bit less awkward.

"Very strong. Strong enough to beat up your werewolf ex-boyfriend."

"You told her?" a voice demanded and Stella and Snape both jumped, turning to face Lupin.

"Have you ever heard of knocking, Lupin?" Snape asked.

"I heard from a portrait that you were seen carrying her down here," Lupin defended, glare on Snape.

"He didn't tell me," Stella offered quickly. "I figured it out pretty easily, actually. Neither of you are subtle."

"He means the werewolf part," Snape stated.

"Oh."

"Oh," Snape agreed.

"You did… kind of tell me," Stella offered before looking to Lupin. "He needed help with the potion. He's working himself rather hard lately and he trusts me not to screw it up but knew I'd ask a thousand questions and annoy him more than help if he didn't tell me why I was helping with it. Also, he kind of owes me from last year when he accused me of being the Heir of Slytherin and then for when I got petrified."

"What?" Lupin asked, now confused.

"Long story," she sighed. "You should go check on Harry, though. He just found out that Sirius Black was Secret-Keeper."

"How did the two of you find out?" Snape questioned.

"What?" Stella asked, staring at Snape with a look that screamed 'I just broke school rules'.

"Detention, Black," Snape sighed, rubbing his eyes. "How long do you deserve?"

"Probably until I graduate at this point but you like me so, like, an hour?"

"Nice try."

"Was it?"

"Not even a little. A month."

"But, sir," Stella groaned.

"Would you like it to be two?"

"…. No."

"You're dismissed."

"Have a fun talk!" Stella sang, walking pass Lupin and slipping a stink pellet into his pocket, something she had been having troubles with, but after having heard that James and Black were like Fred and George, it made much more sense.

Stella ended up in the library, looking up information of the Fidelius charm. It was extremely complex and made her eyes widened with just how much went into it. She shut the book and grabbed the one on Animagus's instead, wanting to add more detail to her essay and, one day possibly, convince McGonagall to help her with the process. She worked until it was time for the library to close down before heading towards the staircase to go to the dungeons.

Stella felt a stinging hex hit the back of her neck and she gasped as she turned, finding Seamus behind her and glaring.

"Oh, what now, Seamus?" Stella asked. "I'm already having a terrible day."

"If you want to let Black get to Harry, you're going to have to go through all of Gryffindor," he growled out.

"If Sirius Black wants to get to Harry, he'll have to kill me to do it," Stella hissed out. "I don't know where this idea you've gotten of me trying to hurt Harry has come from, but I'm tired of it. It's not happening."

"You sure about that?" Dean's voice asked and Stella turned back around, finding Dean glaring at her.

"What?" she asked him. "What the bloody hell are you on about?"

"Maybe you just plan on turning on Harry like your father apparently turned on his parents," Dean spat out. "Everyone knows now. We heard Harry and Ron talking about it."

Stella heard footsteps and turned, finding a few more Gryffindors joining the mix and Stella felt fear trickling down her spine. Her wand was in her back pocket and she knew that the moment she even tried reaching for it spells would fly at her. She could dodge sideways and buy herself more time, perhaps, but she didn't want to bet on it. She doubted they would all shoot a spell at once, meaning others would follow her movements. If she didn't get her wand in her hand and they decided to fire off, she would get hit with who knows what.

She looked to Dean, the only one standing by himself and chewed her lip, wondering if she ran in his direction if the Gryffindors would hesitate, not wanting to hit their own classmate. A spell flew before she could make up her mind and she dashed to the side, moving towards Dean and pulling her wand out. Dean ducked behind the corner and Stella tossed a shield spell behind herself. The shield broke so quickly that Stella would have laughed had it not meant that four different spells hit her at once.

Her world went black as pain radiated through her body. She woke in the hospital wing to the sound of Sirius Black singing that damn lullaby again. She tried reaching over to toss the ring off but she couldn't move. Her eyes slowly moved around the hospital wing until her eyes landed on Snape sleeping in the chair beside her. Her eyes landed on Lupin next, his body tense and facing the door, as if keeping guard over the two of them. She tried moving and let out a whine of pain, causing Lupin's eyes to snap to her.

"Stella Nova," he spoke softly, moving to her side. "Don't move. You're still healing. Just go back to sleep, alright?"

Stella moved her eyes down to her ring and then back to Lupin. He didn't understand though and her eyes fluttered shut. Next time she woke, it was to people screaming at one another. Snape was beside her, a furious glare on his face with a deadly silence. She found Lupin standing in front of him, back to him as he yelled at McGonagall and Dumbledore. McGonagall was yelling back and Stella registered that they were arguing over who could have attacked Stella. She opened her mouth trying to speak but a strained sound escaping her instead but drawing Snape's attention.

"Stella," Snape breathed and everyone quieted. "Don't speak or try to move. You have a neck injury and are currently paralyzed."

Stella's eyes widened in panic and Snape spoke up again.

"I'm fixing it," he assured me. "Madam Pomfrey and I are both fixing it. It'll take time but you'll be alright in two weeks, three tops."

Stella tried asking what day it was, but all she accomplished was more strained sounds.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions and you'll blink once for yes and twice for no. Do you understand?" Snape asked.

Stella blinked once.

"Was it a Slytherin?" Two blinks. "A Gryffindor." One blink. "Was it one person?" Two blinks. "Two?" Two. "Was it more than three?" One. "Okay. We'll get more information when you can speak again. Should be a day or two. Just rest for now."

"How do we know she isn't protecting her house?" McGonagall questioned.

"The Slytherins are not currently speaking with Stella due to her allegiance to Harry Potter and the Weasley children," Snape snapped at her. "I tried telling you that, but you insisted it was the Slytherins or her own fault. As it was her against multiple students and the only spell on her wand from that day was a 'Lumos' and a 'Protego,' I think it's safe to say, she didn't do anything wrong. She definitely didn't deserve this."

A tear escaped Stella and Pomfrey ran over.

"If you're going to keep disturbing my patient, then you can all leave," she told them, waving her wand over Stella. "You, too, Severus. She needs you calm to help heal her. You should all be ashamed of yourselves."

Snape let out a slow breath and waved his wand as well, helping with the healing process. He looked exhausted and Stella wondered how many times he had already done this spell in the past hour. McGonagall left quickly, Dumbledore following behind her. Lupin took his place at the end of Stella's bed again, wand out and watching the door. Stella fell asleep as they worked. When she woke again, Lupin was asleep beside her and Snape was watching the door. They must be worried that someone would come back to try finishing the job. Her vision went black again.

"Dad?" she whispered out as she woke.

Snape was there, appearing in her vision.

"Stella?" he asked.

"What day is it?" she asked.

"New Years," he told her.

"I wanted to make everyone cookies for Christmas," she complained, tears escaping her.

"You can do it later."

"Only you, Lupin and Pomfrey get cookies," she whispered, eyes closing again.

Stella groaned as she woke, sunshine pouring in through the windows. Lupin was beside her this time.

"How are you feeling, Stella Nova?" he asked.

"Head and throat hurt," she admitted.

"Can you try moving your fingers for me?" he asked and Stella took a deep breath.

It was difficult but she wiggled her fingers and Lupin nodded. She moved her wrist next, and then bent her elbows.

"Can you feel this?" Lupin asked, running the back of a quill over the bottom of her foot.

"You tickle my foot again and I will find a way to kick you in the face," she threatened, causing Lupin to bark out a laugh.

He poked her other foot and she confirmed that she felt it. She couldn't wiggle her toes or move anything below her waist yet, but Lupin assured her that Snape had said that would be right. She'd regain those movements in maybe a week. Pomfrey came over with a potion and Lupin told Pomfrey the results from the physical test he'd just done. She looked rather relieved by the news and Snape ran in, Dumbledore right behind him.

"Miss Black," Dumbledore spoke. "I was hoping you would be able to tell us who all attacked you."

"Are you going to expel half of Gryffindor?" Stella asked, brow raised.

"Half of…" Snape had to look away, so much anger coursing through him.

"How many were there?"

"At least twenty," Stella told him. "I didn't even know a majority of them to be honest."

"It'll be too late to test wands to see who threw which spells," Snape complained, still looking away.

"Dean Thomas didn't throw a spell but he was there. Seamus Finnigan is the one who stopped me. I know that Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley's weren't there. Neither was Neville," Stella stated.

"Do you know why they attacked you?" Dumbledore asked.

"Something about them wanting to be sure I couldn't betray Harry to Sirius Black like he did to Harry's parents," she stated and Dumbledore looked shocked. "Maybe tell your professors to not speak so loudly about it in public."

"We need to do the spell, Severus," Pomfrey spoke up and Severus took a few deep breaths before turning, revealing that he had a few tears running down his face, wiping them away quickly and fooling no one as his face took a stoic expression.

"Stay still and don't speak," he instructed Stella before raising his wand.

Stella stayed still, eyes on Snape as he worked. It took half an hour for them to finish the spell, Snape and Pomfrey both falling into chairs behind them the moment they finished, both sweating and exhausted.

"Try moving your toes," Lupin told her.

Stella was able to wiggle her toes but that was it. She looked back to Snape as Dumbledore moved to Pomfrey.

"Are you okay?" she asked him.

"It's not exactly an easy spell. It's also very ancient," he told her before looking to Dumbledore. "What is going to happen to the students that attacked her?"

"Well, if no one admits to who cast the spell that broke Miss Black's neck, I'll be unable to expel anyone. We've already passed out detentions to a few Gryffindors that came forward about their involvement, Mister Thomas and Mister Finnegan included, but they didn't say who else was involved. They will all receive marks on their permanent records, which future employers will be able to see."

"My neck was broken?" Stella asked, feeling horrified.

"It was," Dumbledore told her. "There is another way to figure out who all you saw there, though."

"No, Albus," Snape hissed out and Stella felt like this conversation had already happened a few times.

"I believe that choice may remain with Miss Black and her alone, Severus," Dumbledore told her.

"Can I at least know what it is?" Stella asked, voice soft.

"A form of magic called Legitimacy," Snape told her. "It's a mind magic where someone would enter your mind and have access to all of your memories."

"That's terrifying," she shivered but only half of her body moved.

"Yes," Severus agreed. "Which is why it's out of the question."

"It may just be the best way," Dumbledore tried.

"Who would do it?" Stella asked.

"Myself or—"

"I would do it," Snape interrupted Dumbledore.

"Would it hurt? Sounds like it would hurt."

"It would give you a migraine," Snape nodded.

"We have potions that we could give you right after," Pomfrey spoke up.

"Do it," Stella sighed, nodding to Snape. "I trust you."

"You do not understand how it works," he told her.

"I trust you," Stella repeated, meaning every word.

Snape sighed before moving his chair closer to the bed. He pulled out his wand and looked deep into Stella's eyes.

"Legilimens."

Stella saw her own memories flashing through her mind, completely open for Snape to see. She thought about the attack, the memory shrouded in fear. Snape made the memory focus and slow, taking note of every face in the crowd before starting to pull out of her mind. He saw other memories, of course, but he refused to focus on them, leaning back in his seat and summoning a quill and parchment as Pomfrey fed Stella potions.

"That sucked, sir," Stella gasped out once she'd finished the potions.

"I apologize," he told her, voice soft as he passed the list to Dumbledore. "It worked, though."

Stella eyed the list and Snape discreetly made a copy, Lupin the only one who noticed. No one was allowed to visit, no matter how much Harry, Ron and the twins tried to force their way in or how much Percy tried to pull sway with his head boy badge. Snape gave her the news that all of the students had been accounted for and given detentions for the remainder of the year. Alicia Spinnet had even been removed from the Quidditch team. Stella had missed the Slytherin versus Hufflepuff and Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw game and Snape said it would be childish to describe the game to her, causing Lupin to roll his eyes and tell Stella about Hufflepuff's defeat, Gryffindor's win, and Harry having a Firebolt.

"That makes two of us," Stella smirked.

"You are in no condition to fly," Snape spoke up.

"Sir, if you tell me that I don't get to participate in a single Quidditch game after knocking Malfoy into the reserve team, you will be the next one paralyzed," she threatened.

"Detention…"

"Is that not what we've been doing?"

Stella was so grateful when she was able to stand and walk on her own. She smiled brightly as Pomfrey gave her the all-clear on everything. Stella bounced up and down, turning to Snape.

"You have caught up in all your classes," Snape rolled his eyes, Stella having been out of commission for just over a month now, unable to actually move around for too long on her own. "So, I see no reason to keep you from participating in the match."

Stella was in Pomfrey's office while the school was searched again that night. She was walking around the office in circles, making sure she could still move around and doing a few exercises as she went as she worked to get back in shape. Tomorrow, Slytherin had booked the field for practice, and Stella intended to participate. Snape would be in the stands, watching to make sure she didn't have any problems. Pomfrey returned, sending Stella to bed.

That next morning, Snape brought Stella her broom and uniform, waiting for her outside the hospital wing as she got ready. Once they were outside, she hopped on her broom and flew to the field, soaring pass Draco and catching the snitch, smirking at her team. A loud roar of excitement went through the team, all surrounding Stella and congratulating her on being back.

Stella was in Transfiguration before anyone else had reached the class the next day. Having ate breakfast with Snape and snuck through the school and to class so she didn't have to deal with anyone until after her first class back. Plus, she just really liked being dramatic.

She had asked McGonagall a few questions about Animagus as they waited and McGonagall had narrowed her eyes before sighing and going into detail, Stella taking extensive notes. The bell rang and five minutes later, her classmates began to enter. Each person froze when they saw her. She sat tall, back straight and taking notes from her book on the days lesson, having received copies of the notes from Hermione while she'd been gone. It seemed to be a common theme with the two of them, trading notes back and forth any time the other was in the hospital wing. What would they do if they were injured at the same time?

… Stella would probably steal notes off a Ravenclaw and make copies for the both of them, more than likely.

Speaking of Hermione, that's who took the seat to Stella's left, only two spots at the table. She glared at anyone who stared at Stella for too long, especially the Gryffindors. Stella said nothing, just continuing what she was doing as the bell rang and everyone took their seats. Multiple people tried getting Stella's attention when McGonagall wasn't looking but Hermione shushed them without even looking.

Class ended and Stella sighed, not excited at all at what was about to happen. Turned out she had nothing to worry about. Hermione's wand was in hand immediately and the others backed away quickly. Hermione led Stella out of the classroom, her wand also in hand now, following Hermione's lead. The two walked side-by-side, heads held high as they went. Muggle Studies was much the same, them beside one another and then with wands out in the hall. The first and second year Slytherins ran to her when she walked into the Great Hall for lunch, not really sure where to sit before she was dragged to the Slytherin table. Stella looked back at Hermione, who seemed uneasy as she followed Stella and the younger students. Stella made sure to put Hermione further away from the older Slytherins at the table while they ate lunch, the younger students asking Stella over and over again if she was alright.

Apparently, the first and second years had made her a card. She smiled as two of them ran back into the Great Hall after running off to retrieve it. It was as wide as Stella's shoulders across and as long as her torse. Every Slytherin had ended up sighing it though, along with the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry, Neville, and Luna. She wondered which students had been brave enough to approach the twins and Percy before she began eating her lunch, a potion appearing in front of her. She sent a look towards the head table, catching Snape's eye before drinking the potion quickly.

Herbology felt a little weird without having Hermione beside her but when she got out of class, Hermione was already there, ignoring the Hufflepuffs as they watched the two witches leave. They went to the library, Stella feeling a bit uneasy considering the last time she'd been near there, she'd ended up getting attacked. She calmed as she saw red hair and green robes throughout the library though, feeling almost as safe as she'd felt when Lupin kept guard over her and Snape in the hospital wing.

Once Hermione had finished helping Stella with an Ancient Runes assignment, the two gathered their things and left the library, Hermione and the Weasley's following the group all the way to the dungeons before stopping at the entrance and turning, watching the entrance until the Slytherins were all out of sight.

Stella sighed as she was led into the common room, sitting in an armchair by the fire and looking to her fellow Slytherins. They said nothing, all breaking into their own conversations and activities, some even deciding to go to bed. She decided to follow their lead, standing and going to her dorm room, falling onto bed and falling asleep quickly.

Ron told Stella about Scabbers the next day, telling Stella how angry he was at Hermione while they were in Care of Magical Creatures. Stella rolled her eyes and Ron was confused.

"Aren't you mad at Hermione? At Crookshanks?" he demanded.

"Am I mad at Crookshanks for doing what cats do and trying to deal with a rat? No. Am I mad at Hermione for not controlling her cat? A little bit. YOU are the one who was responsible for Scabbers. YOU are the one who was supposed to look after him, take care of him, and protect him! So, no, Ron, I'm not mad at her or her cat! YOU should have protected him!"

"I don't think this is about the rat anymore," Blaise commented.

"You think?" Theo deadpanned.

Hagrid called everyone's attention then and Stella moved away from Ron, going to Hermione's side again. Hermione whispered to Stella about Lucius Malfoy filing a complaint against Buckbeak due to her injury and Buckbeak being sentenced to death, execution date set for later in the school year. Stella was now angry at the Malfoys as well.

On the way back to the castle, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were all laughing about Buckbeak and Stella wanted to scream and shout but she had decided that keeping to herself until her father was caught was the best course of action. Hermione, on the other hand, was done with it. Stella tried to stop her but Hermione slapped Malfoy so hard across the face that it echoed. Hermione had her hand raised again, ready to hit him again when Stella, Ron, and Harry all rushed forward.

Her wand came out instead. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked to him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. Stella stepped between them, facing Hermione so her wand was on Stella instead. Hermione lowered her wand quickly, still glaring at the three. The Slytherins ran off quickly and Hermione turned to Harry.

"You'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" she told him. "You just better had because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"

"Thanks," Stella rolled her eyes.

"We're due in Charms," Ron said, still staring at Hermione in awe.

Stella walked ahead of them, going to the dungeons for her break period, going straight to Snape's office. She sighed as she set her books down and moved to the brewing station, looking at the Wolfsbane Potion and stirring it a few times, adding a bit of fluxweed powder in the process before setting the rod down. Snape rushed in, moving towards the potion.

"I already took care of it," she told him and he slowed down, looking relieved.

"Thank Merlin that you're back."

Easter holidays would have been a lot more stressful had it not been for the fact that Hermione had helped her get ahead in her classes again. Quidditch practice was grueling, Flint wanting to be sure she was back up to strength. It would be Stella's first game… ever. Slytherin and Gryffindor had taken to having small scuffles every time they crossed paths. Stella stayed close to Blaise, making sure no hexes came his way, as he was a known member of the team. A few had tried and ended up in the hospital wing, no one knowing how the Gryffindors had ended up with backwards knees or why the Slytherins were suddenly so fond of Stella again.

Stella waited in her room for a bit longer, in uniform and nervous. Strangely enough, it was Parkinson who got her moving.

"I know we aren't fond of one another, but I trust you. I don't get it either, so don't question it. Just believe me when I tell you that you're going to kick your ex-boyfriends ass in this game today. Your brothers are going to be so in shock and afraid of hurting you that everything will be fine. Also, have you seen you in this uniform? If I thought you'd give me the chance, I'd be tossing my hat into the marriage contract ring for you,"

Stella let out a laugh and followed Pansy down the stairs. Her hair was braided and her broom was over her shoulder, her Firebolt looking strange among the sea of sleek, black brooms. The team surrounded Stella, hiding her from view. Everyone smirked, moving towards the Great Hall for breakfast, Stella reminding herself that she literally had to eat something or she would throw up before she even got to catch sight of the snitch.

The Gryffindor team had already gathered and Flint sneered at them before stepping aside, Stella stepping forward, head held high as she smirked. Gasps and then yelling followed but the Slytherins ignored all of it, moving to their table. Stella could hear Wood demanding Harry's attention, telling him they needed to be fifty points ahead before he caught the snitch. Flint leaned close to Stella's ear, much more discreet as he reminded her to find the snitch as soon as possible, keep an eye on Harry and only go for it if Gryffindor got too close to fifty points ahead. She nodded, forcing herself to eat a piece of toast with blackberry jam on it, thinking of Harry's first game and how she'd basically forced him to eat the same meal she was eating in that moment.

"Locker rooms," Wood finally demanded his team, three of the team members unable to concentrate as they stared at Stella.

She just smirked in response, making sure she looked as Slytherin as possible in the process. Snape dropped a potion off in front of her and Stella gulped it down, letting out an unnoticeable sigh as her nerves calmed. She nodded to him before standing with her team and heading for the pitch.

Gryffindor was announced first and then the Slytherin team flew out.

"And here comes the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill."

"Jordan!" McGonagall yelled. "Move!"

Professor Lupin's voice came over the speaker and Stella smiled brightly as he introduced the Slytherin team, Stella as Seeker included.

"The last Black who had been on Slytherin team was also a Seeker, coincidentally," Remus stated before Hooch had Flint and Wood shake hands.

Stella took to the air, Harry across the field from her and just as high in the air.

"And it's Gryffindor in possession, Stacy Brooks of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight to the posts and—stolen by Warrington of Slytherin. Flying towards the goal—nice Bludger by George Weasley and Gryffindor back in possession. Brooks swerves Montague, ducks a bludgers and SCORE! TEN-ZERO GRYFFINDOR!"

Flint rammed into Brooks and Fred threw his club at Flint in response. Stella had the snitch in her sights, keeping her eyes on the snitch and Harry, looking back and forth between the two and flying above the game. Stella was closer and making sure it stayed that way, able to tell Harry hadn't seen it yet.

"TWENTY-ZERO GRYFFINDOR!"

"Come on, Blaise!" Stella yelled and Blaise took off like a bullet.

"Zabini of Slytherin with the Quaffle. Can Wood stop him? He… can NOT! TWENTY-TEN GRYFFINDOR! Nice shot. Gryffindor with the Quaffle again—nice bludger by Bole. Zabini with the Quaffle again. He's really moving and…. SCORE! TIED TWENTY-TWENTY!"

The game continued, penalties given to both sides on multiple occasions, both teams getting dirty. Stella looked to Flint and he nodded. Stella took off after the snitch.

"Black is diving! Has she seen the snitch? Potter right behind her! THEY'RE NECK AND NECK AND—"

Stella had pulled ahead, hand outstretch and fingers brushing the snitch before wrapping around it. Stella didn't get to hear Remus call out that Slytherin won because two bludgers hit her at once. One hit her outstretched arm, breaking it on impact. The other hit the end of her broom, knocking it off course. She had no way to catch herself though as she screamed in pain, falling towards the ground.

She heard Harry yell and saw him racing after her. She curled in on herself and felt herself hit the ground before she was out. Stella was complaining the moment she opened her eyes and realized that she was back in the hospital wing.

"Please tell me that I'm healed?" she begged Madam Pomfrey when she ran to Stella's bed.

"You are going to be permanently wrapped in bubble wrap," Pomfrey complained.

Stella snorted before looking around, seeing every member of the Slytherin and Gryffindor team in the hospital wing, looking as if they'd been in a brawl. Harry stood beside Stella, the only one looking untouched.

"So, we won, yeah?" Stella asked, turning her head to Flint causing him to laugh loudly before gasping and holding a hand to his ribs.

"Yeah, we won. Don't make me laugh again," he told her.

"Good luck with that," Stella smirked. "I'm hilarious. Why do you all look like you almost tore one another apart?"

"Because they did," Pomfrey complained, moving to Flint and rewrapping his ribs as Snape came into the wing, Lupin directly behind him and both going straight to Stella.

"I can still wiggle my toes," she assured them and they both seemed to settle a bit at the news.

"What?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Oh. Didn't realize my injury list hadn't gotten around," she stated before shrugging and sitting up slowly.

"Don't," Snape hissed, rushing to her side, but Stella was already sat up, giving him a smirk.

"I'm fine, mum," she joked.

"Detention."

"Sure, sir."

Stella was on cloud nine as she sat in the library with Hermione, Harry, Ron, Blaise, and Theo, Slytherins and Weasley's littering the area. She hadn't stopped smiling since she'd been handed the Quidditch cup by Flint at dinner the night after their win, Slytherin cheering so loudly that Stella thought she was going to go deaf.

"Hermione?" Ron asked cautiously. "Er- are you sure you've copied down these times right?"

"What?" Hermione snapped, grabbing her schedule, which Stella looked at before frowning. "Yes, of course I have.

"Is there any point asking how you're going to sit for two exams at once?" asked Harry, seeming resigned as if he was somehow used to this.

"No," Hermione answered shortly before looking under a bit of parchment. "Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?"

"Yeah. I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading," Ron answered quickly.

"Here," Theo answered. "Sorry."

Hermione took the book, giving him a small smile. Stella saw a small blush but said nothing, just smirked before she went back to her Muggle Studies worksheet. She decided to go with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to visit Hagrid.

"Beaky's getting' a bit depressed," he told then. "Bin cooped up too long. But still…"

Stella was more than pleased with her Potions final. She hated having to go to Astronomy so late at night but passed that as well. History of Magic was boring but Theo had tutored her quite a bit, so she felt she'd done well on it. Herbology was easy, Stella only then realizing that Herbology might be her favorite subject and she just hadn't realized it until that moment. Muggle Studies was fun and Stella had so many questions to ask dad when she got home for summer holidays and Ancient Runes was a challenge but she liked it.

Defense was on Thursday morning and Professor Lupin had made an obstacle course outside in the sun. They had to wade through Grindylows, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring hinkypunks, the fight a boggart at the end. Stella stared at the boggart, watching as it turned into Sirius Black.

"Riddikulus!" she said, not giving the boggart time to try and attack her.

Snape stood in front of her now, listing off the made up ingredients for the wolfsbane potion. Stella couldn't stop the laugh she gave when he told her to mix marshmallows into the mashed potatoes. Lupin smirked as she came out, seeming rather impressed.

"You took care of the boggart rather quickly," he told her.

"My father doesn't actually seem scary anymore," Stella admitted.

"I do hope you don't mean to go looking for him," Remus commented.

"I'm unafraid, not stupid," she smirked.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were outside the Slytherin common room the next day after exams had finished. The four headed to dinner, Harry telling Stella about Trelawney's prediction along the way. Stella was far more interested in Hermione having walked out of a class and sneaking to get Harry's cloak back though, not putting much faith in a woman who predict a student's death that didn't come every year.

After dinner, they waited for people to clear out of a hall and disappeared under the cloak, all pressed close to one another as they snuck down to Hagrid's hut. He was a minute in answering and, when he did, he looked all around for a visitor, pale-face and trembling.

"It's us," Stella spoke up quickly.

"We're under the cloak. Let us in," Harry added.

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered but stood back, allowing them inside.

Harry pulled the cloak off of them and Stella hugging Hagrid immediately. He didn't cry or yell at them, but his hug was a bit tighter than normal, as if he'd needed it. He seemed helpless at this point, which was far worse.

"Wan' some tea?" he asked once he'd let go of Stella.

"Where's Beaky?" Stella asked.

"He's outside," Hagrid told her, spilling milk all over the table as he filled a jug, Stella cleaning it quickly for him. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an'- an' smell fresh air- before—"

"I've got it," Stella went to grab the milk jug, but ended up just barely catching it before it could hit the floor, Hagrid dropping it from how much his hands were shaking.

"This one has a crack," Stella stated. "Do you have another?"

"In the cupboard," he nodded.

Stella hoped onto the counter so she could reach the cupboard, moving a few things aside as the others distracted Hagrid. She pulled out the jug, set it on the counter, and then hoped down. Stella froze when she opened the jug, staring in with shock clear on her face. She reached in and pulled Scabbers out of the jug, a smile forming on her face as she held him to her chest.

"Ron, you need to apologize to Hermione and Crookshanks, like, yesterday," she laughed, turning so everyone could see the rat in her hands. "Hello, Scabbers. Where have you been baby? I thought we had a deal."

"They're comin'…" Hagrid spoke up and Stella's smile fell.

The four teens looked out the window, seeing a group of men walking down the distant castle steps. In front was Albus Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next to him trotted Cornelius Fudge. Behind them came the feeble old Committee member and the executioner, Macnair.

"Yeh gotta go," said Hagrid, who was ow trembling. "They mustn' find yeh here. Go now."

Stella held Scabbers close and rushed to the other's, Hermione grabbing the cloak as they rushed to the backdoor. Stella saw Buckbeak and their eyes locked. She stopped, giving him one last bow, which he returned, before she followed the others behind the pumpkins. Hermione threw the cloak over them and they heard voices at the front door. Hagrid looked to where they had disappeared.

"Go quick. Don' listen. Don' watch."

Hagrid went back inside quickly to answer the front door. They made their way up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun was sinking fast not, the sky having turned to a clear, purple-tinged grey, but to the west there was a ruby-red glow. Stella had to stop though.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Scabbers is freaking out," Stella stated before she let out a hiss and dropped the rat. "He bit me!"

Stella ran after Scabbers, refusing to lose him again. Crookshanks, who had suddenly appeared, was also chasing Scabbers, which explained why Scabbers had been trying to get away. Stella got to Scabbers first, rolling and pulling Scabbers to her chest before glaring at Crookshanks.

"I'll cook you and turn you into a pillowcase," she threatened.

Stella looked up when she heard an 'ouff' come from Harry, seeing the same black dog bounding towards her. Stella rolled just in time and the dog leapt pass her. Crookshanks hissed, jumping at Stella with claws outstretched. Stella rolled a few more times, glaring at the two animals as she held Scabbers close, her wand going to her hand.

She stunned Crookshanks but the dog leapt at her while she was distracted, teeth digging into her shoulder. Harry and Ron grabbed Stella's legs and she decided tug-of-war was her least favorite game in the word. Harry and Ron got hit by a large branch and tossed aside, Stella being dragged backwards and into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow, the three Gryffindors screaming for her in the process. She was dragged through a dark tunnel, trying to get away from the mutt the entire time. She couldn't see anything and was in too much pain to actually do anything. She kept hitting her head and her back, suddenly remembering what Professor Snape had told her about taking it easy so she didn't get paralyzed again, the quidditch accident having messed up her spine a bit.

She was dragged up some stairs, coming out in a rundown house. She was dragged up more steps and a sharp pain coursed through her back before her legs stopped working, causing tears to escape her. Once at the top of the stairs, the dog let her go and Stella tried to crawl away and protect Scabbers, using only her arms before the dog could go at her again. Arms wrapped around her and Stella was rolled to her back and she realized that the she'd had been wrong.

She was terrified as she looked up into her father's eyes.

He tried pulling her up but Stella's legs weren't working. The fear turned to anger as she thought about how much damage this man had just done. She thought about how exhausted Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey were going to be. She didn't even think on the fact that she was in danger, sure that the others were already on the way. Maybe they'd be smart enough to grab a teacher this time around.

"Not going to help?" Sirius Black asked her, seeming exasperated.

"I can't move my legs," she told him through grit teeth.

"What?" he was confused.

"Let. Go. Of. Me," she hissed out and Sirius set her against the side of the bed so she was sitting up.

He looked at her legs in confusion before Scabbers began squeaking again.

"Give him to me," Sirius demanded and Stella hit him with a stunner.

The man was so mad that he'd forgotten to get her wand. She sat there, listening carefully and taking in the room she was in. There were scratches on the floor and walls and Stella realized that this must be where Professor Lupin used to transform at one point. The dog was gone and Stella figured out why pretty quickly, realizing that the dog prints turned into human prints near the door. She hit Sirius with another stunner and then heard the sound of voices downstairs.

"Here!" she screamed. "Up here! I'm here!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione must have been close to the end of the tunnel, because they still sounded as if they were underground but moving close, fast.

"STELLA!" Harry's bellow was louder than anything else.

"UP HERE!" she yelled again and heard the tunnel slam open. "UP STAIRS!"

She could hear them thundering up the stairs and then they came into vision; Harry, then Hermione, and then Ron.

"One of you needs to go back for Professor Snape. I can't move my legs. My spine got refractured when he dragged me up the stairs," she told them, tears of relief leaving her.

Harry was beside her in an instant and Hermione turned back, running towards the tunnel.

"He's an Animagus," Stella told the boys before hitting Sirius with another stunner just in case before passing Scabbers to Ron. "He's the grim. I've seen him around school a few times but thought I was going insane."

"I saw him, too," Harry nodded.

"Professor Lupin is here!" Hermione yelled as she ran up the stairs, Lupin right behind her.

"Stella Nova," Lupin sighed, rushing forward to her.

Stella slipped her wand under her thigh as Lupin tested to see if she could feel him squeezing her ankles. She sniffled as she shook her head. Lupin cursed before he looked to Sirius, stunned on the floor. He stood, walking over to Sirius and staring down at him. Stella was shocked when Lupin pointed his wand at the teens and shot off a spell.

"Expelliarmus," he said and Harry's, Ron's, and Hermione's wands flew into the air and pass him, as they'd had their wands in their hands. "Rennervate."

"Remus," Sirius gasped, staring up at him.

Stella stared in horror as Remus helped Sirius to his feet and the two embraced.

"You killed my parents," Harry spoke up, placing himself so he was in front of Stella, protecting her.

"I don't deny it," Sirius said very quietly. "But you don't know everything."

"Where is he, Sirius?" Remus asked.

Stella was shocked. This was the man who had stood watch over her and Snape in the hospital wing a few weeks ago and now he had disarmed them and was helping Sirius. She'd helped with his potions and protected his secrets. Sirius raised his hand and pointed at Ron and Stella pulled Ron close, trying to push him behind her but Ron angled himself so he was in front of all of them, protecting all three of them at once and not blinking when facing a dark wizard and a werewolf without even a wand in hand.

"But then… why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless… unless he was the one… unless you switched… without telling me?"

"Does someone want to tell us what the HELL is going on?" Stella demanded, no patience left in her at this point.

Everyone jumped at the sound of Stella's voice except for Ron, who simply cracked his knuckles and prepared himself in case there was to be a fight. Stella's vision gained black dots and she must have passed out because she blinked and the next second Harry was asking her to wake up.

"I'm awake," she breathed out before glancing down at her shoulder, which was leaking blood. "That looks terrible. Do you think he has rabies?"

"Hurry it up, Remus," Black demanded, eyes glued to Stella now. "She needs help."

"You're the one who dragged me in here," she reminded him through grit teeth.

"Scabbers is not Peter Pettigrew," Ron stated and Stella looked in confusion.

"Apparently our fathers and Peter Pettigrew became illegal animagus in school," Harry explained.

"Why is it that every plan I think of someone's already done. It's rather rude," Stella complained. "First, I wanted to make a map of the school and then Fred and George give us one. Then, I wanna become an animagus without telling anyone and apparently that was done by them."

"Also, Lupin is a werewolf," Hermione tossed out.

"Yeah, I know. I help make his potions," Stella shrugged. "Keep up now, Hermione. I need competition for smartest witch of our age. Don't let me just have it."

"Wait, what?" Hermione asked, confused.

"I can give you another one of Lupin's dirty little secrets if you want?"

"Can we please go back to the subject at hand?" Lupin questioned, seeming annoyed as he glared at Stella.

"Don't look at me in that tone. I'll sick Molly Weasley on you first chance I get," Stella growled out as Harry, who had taken off his hoodie for the task, was applying pressure to Stella's shoulder.

"I've waited twelve years, Remus. I don't want to wait much longer," Sirius stated and a loud creak caused everyone to turn as the bedroom door opened of its own accord.

"No one there," Remus stated, looking around the landing.

"This place is haunted!" Ron yelled.

"Pretty sure it's not and that story was given because of the, well, werewolf in front of us," Stella grunted out, feeling a hand touch her good shoulder but no one was there.

"She's right," Remus nodded.

"I tend to be. Which is why I'm warning you both to give up now. You aren't going to like what happens next," Stella smirked.

"Oh, and what's that?" Sirius questioned.

"Well, you see, I'm Professor Snape's favorite student," Stella smirked and suddenly Remus and Sirius were both blasted backwards as Snape came into view, tossing Harry's invisibility cloak to him.

"Found this at the base of the Whomping Willow. Very useful, Potter. Thank you."

"Sir, they said something about Peter Pettigrew being an animagus and think it's Scabbers. Is there a way to just check real fast?" Stella requested.

Snape looked at Stella like she was crazy before letting out an annoyed sighed and turning to Ron, who was holding said rat. Ron looked to Stella before passing the rat over. Snape hit Scabbers with a 'Perfectus Totalus' and then placed him on the floor, Sirius and Remus groaning as they sat up.

A flash of blue-white light escape Snape's wand and Scabbers turned into a very short man, who had a large bald spot on his head with a thin bit of hair covering it. His skin looked grubby, almost like Scabbers's fur and something of the rat lingered around his pointed nose and very small, watery eyes. He looked around at them all frozen in place. Remus and Sirius stood slowly, staring down at Peter.

"Oh, ew," Stella complained,

"He slept in our beds," Ron added.

"I'm going to throw up and not from the pain," Stella complained. "However, Harry, love, if you press my shoulder into this bedframe again, I will have no choice but to knock you off your broom next year during Quidditch."

"Not the time, Miss Black," Snape sighed.

"Sorry, sir."

Snape moved forward, pulling up both of Pettigrew's sleeves to reveal the dark mark on his arm.

"Quick question to the escaped convict and the Professor who has had eleven stink pellets successfully placed in his pockets in the past few months. How did you not notice that one of your best friends had been branded with Voldemort's mark?" Stella asked.

"What now?" Harry asked.

"That's Voldemort's mark," Stella told Harry, pointing with her good hand to Pettigrew's arm. "I'm surprised you haven't seen it anywhere honestly."

"Black," Snape said sharply.

"What?" Sirius asked at the same time that Stella responded with, "Yes, sir?"

"Stella," Snape corrected. "Stop."

"I'm paralyzed from the waist down at the moment and about to pass back out from blood loss, sir. This is how I'm coping," she stated.

Snape hit Pettigrew with a spell that caused black ropes to form around him and then moved to Stella. Harry stepped aside and Snape tapped Stella's shoulder, wrapping it and helping with the bleeding. He then tapped her legs with his wand, followed by the back of her neck.

"I told you…" he started.

"Blame the escape convict," Stella stated. "He's the one who dragged me like a ragdoll through a tunnel and up two sets of stairs."

"Can I kill him now?" Sirius asked, glaring down at Pettigrew.

"And be given the kiss or thrown back in Azkaban due to lack of physical proof?" Snape asked, waving his wand over Stella and beginning to speak Latin.

Stella stayed still, looking around the room with just her eyes as Snape worked. Sirius's eyes turned to the two and he made to move towards them when Remus stepped in front of him, stopping him.

"What's he doing?" Sirius demanded.

"Stella Nova had a life threatening injury in December that left her completely paralyzed. It took a month for her to be able to walk again. She then had another life threatening injury during the last Quidditch match," Stella was confused by that one but kept herself from moving to ask about it, "which refractured part of her spine. She's been slowly healing but she isn't meant to do anything strenuous because of it for the time being. Dragging her around must have stopped the healing process, which you are witnessing now."

Stella ignored everyone else for the next twenty minutes, closing her eyes as Lupin and Black explained their story in greater detail to the other three. She felt the spell end and opened her eyes, diving to catch Snape as he fell over, exhausted. Her legs were moving again, but she felt sluggish, forcing herself to move when she probably shouldn't be.

"We need to get them both to the hospital wing," Lupin spoke up.

Snape glared at Lupin, but he didn't care, lifting the man into his arms in a bridal carry easily, Stella letting out a snort of laughter. ("Detention, Black." "Sure, sir.") Ron found their wands and began floating Pettigrew in front of him, Hermione walking up front with her wand lit. Stella grabbed her wand and Harry put her arm over his shoulders, his other going around her waist, helping her walk. Black brought up the rear, hands held out in front of him as he made sure Stella wasn't going to fall over. They made their way through the tunnel and Stella suggested the people up front move faster and the others would catch up.

"Not happening," Snape spoke up but he sounded so tired Stella wondered if he would even notice.

"How'd you know he was there?" Harry asked curiously about halfway through the tunnel.

"Professor Snape always knows when I'm in trouble," Stella stated. "Plus, that place isn't haunted. No way did Professor Lupin find us but Professor Snape didn't."

"He does always tend to find you," Harry sighed, shifting Stella's arm a bit.

"Keep going!" Stella called ahead before removing herself from Harry.

She slid down the wall, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breathes. Her legs were beyond tired and her back was hurting. She felt a hand on her knee and knew it wasn't Harry, which left Black. Her eyes opened, meeting the same grey that hers were before she looked down the hall, seeing the others having had actually listened to her for once. Harry was kneeled down beside her though, refusing to leave her side.

"I'm fine," she promised him, seeing concern written across his face. "Just need a minute."

"I didn't know how badly you were hurt over Christmas," Harry whispered.

"You wouldn't have considering those two were keeping guard over my bed the entire time," Stella smirked, tilting her head towards the front of the tunnel where Lupin was carrying Snape. "I didn't know the Quidditch injury was so serious… Oh, I have so many jokes."

Black snorted a laugh, a smile stretching over his face.

"I'll tell you about it later considering I kind of broke into the hospital wing to get to you that time," Harry promised. "Think you can go again?"

"Yeah," Stella sighed and Harry helped her to her feet before taking most of her weight, holding her close to his side as they continued down the path.

The others had climbed out of the tunnel, the tree frozen in place somehow. Stella stared at it in confusion before looking to Lupin still holding Snape.

"Take him and then send someone back for us," Stella told him, sitting down against the tree. "I am not going to make it up there."

Lupin looked her over and then started running towards the school. Snape was yelling, arguing with Stella's instructions and not wanting to leave her behind. She just rolled her eyes, thinking of all the 'detention' she was going to end up getting.

"So? How are we all doing tonight?" Stella jokingly asked the group.

"She uses jokes and sarcasm to cope," Ron explained to Black. "You get used to it."

"Or, in Professor Snape's case, you give me detention for most of the year," Stella smirked.

"I can't believe you're a Slytherin," Black shook his head.

"Neither can mum," Stella grumbled, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. "Think I'll get a nap in."

She could hear Sirius talking to Harry about coming to live with him and Harry agreeing so quickly that it made Stella hate the muggles that he lived with even more than she already did. Hermione stayed beside Stella, asking her every thirty seconds if she was alright. After about fifteen minutes of it, Stella opened her eyes and turned her head to Hermione.

"Granger, I don't think you understand what a nap is," Stella joked, a smirk on her face.

"Professor Lupin is coming back," Ron called to everyone, standing on top of the hill and looking out. "Looks like he's got someone with him."

"Maybe get Sirius out of spell range until they see the rat," Stella suggested.

"Now I believe it," Sirius snorted.

"Was it the sass?" Stella asked with a smirk.

"And the dry humor."

"Yeah, that'll do it."

Sirius sat down beside Stella, Harry standing partially in front of both of them. She rested her head on Hermione's shoulder, letting out a slow breath. Her legs felt rather numb and she kept wiggling her toes every so often to make sure she could still move. Lupin came over the hill, McGonagall directly behind them. She froze when she saw Peter Pettigrew.

"Oh, Merlin," she breathed before she saw Sirius Black sitting beside Stella and Harry standing in front of the two. "I will be requiring a full explanation later. Let's get Miss Black up to the Hospital Wing and Pettigrew and Black to the headmaster."

Lupin went to head towards the kids before he froze in place, letting out a grunt. Stella stared in confusion but Sirius cursed and stood quickly, pushing Harry and Ron behind him before running to Lupin. Stella looked around in confusion before realizing it had suddenly become much brighter.

She looked to the sky and there was the full moon.

Sirius had gotten Lupin away from them but Peter had gotten away in the confusion, turning into a rat and running off. Stella had tried diving for him but it was too late. McGonagall sent word to Dumbledore and then proceeded to have Ron and Hermione float Stella to the Hospital Wing. Pomfrey was on Stella in a second, performing the same spell that Snape had before sitting thirty minutes later, tired but taking an energy potion so she could keep going if more people came in injured.

Stella stood, testing her legs and letting out a relieved breath when she realized that she was fine again. She'd need to be careful all summer but she didn't see that being a problem. Harry was floated in a bit later and placed on a bed.

"He'll wake soon," McGonagall promised before rushing off again.

Stella sat beside Harry's bed, holding his hand and staring around and searching for Snape.

"He left before you got here, dear," Pomfrey stated, seeing Stella looking around and already knowing who she was looking for. "He went to the Headmasters office."

"Oh, okay," Stella nodded, eyes going back to Harry.

Hermione was on the other side of Harry's bed, holding Harry's other hand. Ron stood at the foot of the bed, watching the door and making Stella think of her guards when she'd been here months ago. Harry woke not long after, Snape rushing into the hospital just as he did and both of their eyes immediately going to Stella. Dumbledore and Fudge followed in after Snape.

"What's happened?" she asked Snape, voice small.

"We've heard some extreme stories tonight," Fudge told the children. "We were hoping you four could clear a few things up?"

The Gryffindors began speaking over each other and Stella rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"One at a time!" she yelled and the three quieted. "Hermione."

Hermione gave her recount of the night, followed by Harry, and then Ron. Stella looked to the Minister then, telling him her version of everything as well.

"Well, that's simply preposterous," the Minister gasped out. "It was Black, I tell you."

"It was Peter Pettigrew and he's out in the forest somewhere as an illegal animagus," Stella spoke up, cutting off any argument that the Gryffindors were about to make. "Not only that but Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban without a trial, which means you have illegally been holding him for twelve years."

"He had a trial," Fudge tried argued.

"No, he did not. I figured that out my first year. Would you like me to collect the Prophet article on it?"

"Now, young lady, I understand you wanting to protect him…"

"I wouldn't be protecting him if he was trying to hurt Harry," Stella spoke over him. "Contrary to popular belief, I am on Harry's side through and through. If the ministry gives Sirius Black the kiss, The whole house of Black will come down on their heads. You're already risking quite a bit just for the twelve years he spent in Azkaban, illegally. If I were you, I'd be very, very careful."

"Why, I never…" Fudge began.

"You have the wrong man," Harry spoke up. "It'll be the house of Potter coming after you as well if something happens to him."

"And the Weasleys," Ron added. "We may not have much but we are still a pureblood family."

"With the house of Black, comes all of their alliances," Stella stated. "That includes the McKinnons, Potters, Lupins, Weasleys, Bones', Moody's, Dumbledores, Meadows's, Tonks's, Lovegoods, and the Zabinis, according to Gringotts. Add the fact that it's me asking and I can get the Notts, Malfoys, Parkinsons, and the Flints, as well. With Harry you have every Gryffindor family, which happens to include the Longbottoms."

"Pretty sure Neville would follow you before he followed me," Harry smirked.

"Maybe," Stella shrugged before looking to Fudge again. "Pretty sure I named everyone on the Wizengamot and a few bonus names, did I not?"

"I believe the students need rest and everything else needs to be put on hold for the night," Dumbledore spoke up. "I would like to speak with them alone, please."

"Sir," Snape tried but Dumbledore just gave Snape a look that clearly said not to argue, and the minister left to stop the kiss and Snape left to, possibly, stand right outside the door.

"Miss Black, can you walk?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Wonderful. I do not trust that the Minister will call off the order. He is afraid to admit he made a mistake, you see? And no one is willing to listen to a story told by children, a werewolf, and a spy."

"Spy?" Harry asked.

"Professor Snape was a spy during the war," Stella spoke up. "We really need to get you a history book."

"What we need… is more time," Dumbledore stated, looking to Hermione.

"Oh, are we acknowledging that Hermione has a time turner now?" Stella asked. "Brilliant. Let's get a move on."

"How?" asked Hermione, looking in shock.

"Hermione, you're taking, like, every class and had exams at the same time as one another. You kept disappearing at random and showing up where you shouldn't have been. You really need to get some rest. I told you I want competition for top of classes and you are not on your A-game with how thin you've been stretching yourself," Stella sighed.

"Pay attention," Dumbledore stated, voice dropping and the four teens leaning in close. "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. Miss Granger, you know the laws. You must. Not. Be. Seen."

Dumbledore turned on his heel and looked back as he reached the door.

"I will lock you in. It is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."

"What?" Harry asked in confusion but Ron was staring at Hermione in awe.

"I knew something wasn't right," he complained as Harry stood, going to the spot between Ron and Hermione.

Hermione pulled the gold chain out of her shirt and looped it over all four of their heads. She held up the hour glass and Harry went to touch it just for Hermione to slap his hand. She turned the hourglass three times and time rushed pass them. Stella saw everything blur around them, smiling as it did so in amazement. Finally, it felt like they were on solid ground again. Hermione pulled the necklace off of them and the four took off running, Harry confused but just following them anyways.

They ended up standing in the entrance hall, golden sunlight pouring in. They ran into an abandoned classroom, slamming the door shut behind themselves. Harry pinched his own leg, letting out a small "ow" when he did and Stella let out a little giggle.

"Shh! Listen!" Hermione said, ear pressed to the door, Ron right beside her.

"It's us going down to Hagrid's," Ron whispered.

"What's a time turner?" Harry asked Stella in a whisper.

"Magical artifact that lets you travel back up to six hours in a day," Stella whispered back. "It's how she's been getting to all of her classes."

"Oh," Harry's eyes widened. "Time travel. Okay."

Stella smirked before looking to the other two.

"Dumbledore said…" Harry began before looking to Hermione and Ron. "More than one innocent. We're going to save Buckbeak."

"If we manage that without being seen, it'll be a miracle," Hermione stated.

"We should split up," Stella stated, chewing her lip.

"Stella and I will get Buckbeak. You two go find a place to hide just inside the forest where you can clearly see the tree and we'll meet you there. We can grab the rat and someone can take him to Dumbledore while the others go get Sirius out of the tower just in case Fudge doesn't remove the kiss order," Ron instructed.

"We should be almost to Hagrid's by now," Hermione nodded.

"Wish we had the cloak," Ron grumbled before Harry pulled it from his pocket.

"You two take it. Buckbeak will need to see us," Stella stated. "Come on, Ron."

The four slipped out of the castle and Harry tossed the cloak over himself and Hermione. Stella and Ron crept through the school grounds, hiding behind pillars and rocks every chance they got, eyes peeled just in case. They made it behind the pumpkins at Hagrid's and Stella pulled Ron behind a few trees, remembering that they'd hidden behind the pumpkins when they came out.

The watched as Stella pulled Scabbers close and exchanged grossed out faces before watching themselves sneak out the backdoor, toss the cloak over themselves, and run off. Stella counted to thirty before moving. She made sure that she couldn't be seen by anyone in the hut and looked to Buckbeak. She met his eyes and bowed low. He bowed back and Stella moved forward slowly, reaching out and petting him. Ron unhooked his chain from the pumpkin post and Stella climbed on Buckbeak's back, Ron following right after her.

Ron hit Buckbeak's backside and Buckbeak walked into the trees quickly. Stella and Ron ducked down, avoiding low hanging branches. Stella pulled on the chain once they were clear of the hut, getting Buckbeak to stop. They slid off of him and Stella used the chain to lead Buckbeak away. They walked through the forest and found Harry and Hermione waiting, Harry pacing worriedly.

"Hey," Ron sighed as they reached them, Stella releasing Buckbeak's chain and patting him gently.

Harry rushed to Stella, pulling her into a tight hug. Stella smiled, leaning into the hug and forcing down the blush. They watched the tree for a while, having watched as Snape had found the cloak and slid into the tunnel. After that, Stella told everyone to spread out a bit, making sure they were facing the direction that Pettigrew had run off in. Harry had told them some story about his father saving him and Stella had just listened, not sure how that would be possible. If James Potter were alive, he would have shown up before now, unless he was hidden away like Sirius had been. Harry and Hermione were going to go down to the river if Pettigrew didn't run towards them to see.

Stella watched Lupin take off with Snape, a sad smile on her face. She saw herself sitting with Hermione, the two bantering back and forth after a bit before Sirius sat beside Stella and Stella placed her head on Hermione's shoulder. Finally, Lupin appeared with McGonagall. Stella had her wand out, looking to her left and nodding to Ron. Harry and Hermione were to her right and they nodded as well, all prepared to run.

"How are we supposed to find a rat in the dark?" Hermione's voice came through.

"Magic," Stella shrugged. "Moon is bright enough that we'll see where he goes in at and then we'll light our wands to chase after him."

"Isn't Lupin going to be in here?" Ron asked, voice sounding afraid now.

"We'll stay in groups of two and protect each other," Stella stated. "It'll be alright."

As luck would have it, Pettigrew ran right between Stella and Ron. The two tore off after their pet rat, wands lit and stunning spells shooting at him. Hermione had howled at one point and Stella didn't have it in her to question it. Pettigrew turned human and punched Ron across the face, grabbing his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Stella yelled, catching Ron's wand before pointing hers at Pettigrew.

"I was a good pet," he tried. "Please, Stella. Please."

"You were a good pet," she nodded and Pettigrew looked helpful for a moment. "But, you got Harry's parents killed. Stupe-"

"Stella, look out!" Ron yelled and Stella felt herself being tossed aside.

Pettigrew turned into a rat and ran again, the werewolf Lupin not caring about a rat and mouth watering at the sight of two children. Stella and Ron locked eyes and she tossed his wand to him before casting a 'Stupefy' at the werewolf. Lupin let out a growl and Stella wanted to hit herself. This was a terrible plan. Werewolves weren't affected by magic like a human.

"Bombarda!" Stella yelled and Lupin was thrown back, letting out a whimper before he hit a tree and lay on the ground unmoving but still breathing.

"He's gone," Ron breathed, rushing to Stella's side.

"Get to the school," Stella told him. "I'm going to keep looking."

Stella ran before Ron could argue. She ran through the forest in the direction that Pettigrew had gone in, wand lit as she searched the forest floor.

"Damn it, Scabbers. You've got me searching the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night. There are huge spiders, a werewolf, and who knows what else in here. Worse pet ever," she mumbled to herself.

She saw webs and turned, running away from that. She ended up at the edge of the forest again and growled angrily before running towards the school to meet the others. They'd agreed to meet in the courtyard and midnight was approaching quickly. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Sirius and Buckbeak were already there.

"I couldn't find him," she said, bending at her waist and breathing heavily before standing straight and putting her hands on the top of her head. "He's gone."

"It'll be alright," Sirius told her, moving forward and hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry," she breathed into his chest.

"It's alright, my little star," he said, releasing her and holding her face in his hands. "I am so proud of you. I'll get somewhere safe and talk to you all the time. I love you, my star."

Sirius kissed Stella's head and then climbed onto Buckbeak. Sirius was flying away, becoming smaller and smaller in the sky, when Hermione finally got Stella to start moving. The four ran to the hospital wing, avoiding Peeves on the second floor, all panting and out of breath just as Dumbledore was shutting the doors.

"Well?" he asked them.

"Sirius flew off on Buckbeak," Stella gasped out, hands on her knees again. "Pettigrew is in the woods somewhere and last I saw of Lupin was when I knocked him out."

Dumbledore beamed.

"Well done," Dumbledore quieted and listened at the door before nodding. "Yes, I think you've gone. Get inside. I'll lock you in."

The four slipped inside and Stella fell onto a bed, deciding she needed a nap. A loud screeching sound kept her from doing so as she sat up, glaring at Ron. He'd been trying to push a hospital bed over so that they could all curl up together.

"Sorry," he flinched. "Don't know a better way."

"I do," Stella rolled her eyes before pulling her wand out. "Wingardium Leviosa."

Stella floated three beds over before crawling onto one and floating her bed off of the wall so that all of the beds were together. They laid down and Madam Pomfrey came out of her office, carrying chocolate and insisting they eat it, saying nothing about the beds having been moved. The four ate their chocolate, Stella and Ron not actually needing it but unwilling to argue with the matron as she complained about not being able to look over her patients correctly with people barging in and out at all hours of the night. The four waited, not saying anything. Finally, a distant roar of fury echoed from somewhere above them.

"What was that?" Madame Pomfrey jumped.

Now they could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey stared at the door.

"Really? They'll wake everybody up! What do they think they're doing?" she continued.

"He must have disapparated!" Fudge insisted.

"No one can apparate in or out of the school, Minister," Snape's smooth voice responded.

"I should have left someone in the room with him! When this gets out… I want to question the Black girl myself!"

BAM! The door burst open. Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore entered the hospital wing then.

"Out with it?" Fudge demanded, staring at her. "What did you do?"

"The door was locked," Snape told Fudge, glare in place.

"She did something! All you Blacks. Not a good one of ya in the bunch!" Fudge insisted. "I have questions and you will be answering them!"

"I thought I answered all of your questions earlier?" Stella feigned confusion.

"YOU HELPED HIM ESCAPE!" Fudge bellowed.

"That will do, Minister," Dumbledore said quietly. "Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?"

"Only to move them closer to one another!" Madam Pomfrey declared. "The poor dears."

"Well, there you are," Dumbledore told Fudge. "Unless you are suggesting that these students can be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further."

"Fine," Fudge snapped. "I need to be off. Need to notify the ministry."

"And the dementors?" Snape spat the word.

"They'll be removed from the school, I trust?" Dumbledore asked.

"Oh yes. They'll have to go," Fudge ran his fingers through his hair. "Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy. Completely out of control. No, I'll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight. Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance."

"Hagrid will like that," said Dumbledore, smiling at the four as he and Fudge left.

Snape took a chair and moved it to the end of the beds, sitting in it and facing the doors. Pomfrey rushed forward, locking the doors behind the Headmaster and the Minister, as if she'd already expected Snape to stay. Muttering to herself, she headed back to her office. Snape looked at the four, checking them over for new injuries before turning back to the door.

"Go to sleep," he told them.

When the four students left the Hospital Wing at noon the next day. It was to find an almost deserted castle. The sweltering heat and the end of exams meant that everyone was taking full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit. Neither Ron nor Hermione felt like going, however, so they, Harry, and Stella wandered onto the grounds, still talking about the extraordinary events of the previous night and watching the giant squid waving its tentacles lazily above the water.

A bleary eyed Hagrid approached them, moping his sweaty face with one of his tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and beaming at them.

"Know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha' happened las' night," he said. "I mean, Black escapin' again, an' everythin', but guess what?"

"What?" they all asked, acting as if they had no clue what Hagrid was about to tell them.

"Beaky! He escaped! He's free! Bin celebratin' all night!"

"That's wonderful!" Hermione smiled and Stella cheered, arms going into the air as she did so.

"Yeah. Can't've tied him properly," said Hagrid, gazing happily out over the grounds. "I was worried this mornin', mind. Thought he mighta met Professor Lupin on the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night."

"What?" Harry asked quickly.

"Blimey, haven' yeh heard?" said Hagrid, his smile fading a little and lowering his voice even though no one was around. "Professor Lupin's a werewolf. He was loose on the grounds las' night. Not sure how it got ou' but he's packin' now, o' course."

"He's packing?" Harry asked, alarmed. "Why?"

"Leavin', isn' he?" said Hagrid, looking surprised that Harry had to ask. "Resigned firs' thing this mornnin' Says he can't risk it happening' again."

Stella and Harry scrambled to their feet, both running towards the castle. Lupin's office door was open, as if he'd been expecting them. He had already packed most of his things. The grindylow's empty tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk and looked up when Stella simply walked in, not caring to knock.

"I saw you coming," he smiled, pointing to the map.

"Hagrid just told us," Stella told him.

"He said you'd resigned. It's not true, is it?" Harry asked.

"I'm afraid it is," Lupin answered.

"Why?" Harry demanded. "The ministry doesn't think you helped Sirius escape, do they?"

"It's because he's a werewolf," Stella told Harry. "Parents, especially of the Slytherins, won't have it. Werewolves are considered dark creatures, which is Hippogriff —"

"Language," Lupin smirked. "I can still deduct points until I finish packing."

"Does that mean if I start sucking up, you can give me points?" Stella asked. "See, Slytherin is only five points behind Gryffindor right now and I'm really trying to be the one that pushed us to victory here. Also, what did we call you when we were babies? Could we even talk yet?"

"You called me 'Uncle Moony,' but neither of you were very good at pronunciation yet. We were working on it," Lupin smirked before looking to Harry. "I am so proud of you. That Patronus…"

"How do you know about that?" Harry asked.

"What else would have driven the dementors back?" Lupin smirked before looking to Stella. "I'll find Sirius and let you know how he is."

"Ooooorrr," Stella smirked before fiddling with her ring.

'Hi, da,' Stella thought. 'Uncle Moony said something about trying to come find you.'

'Good ol' Moony,' Stella could hear Sirius' laugh. 'Tell him I'm at our old spot. He'll understand.'

"He said he's at your old spot?" Stella offered.

"How?" Harry asked, confused.

"Heir ring," Stella held her hand up, showing it to Harry. "Heir rings and Head rings are connected. Touch our rings and think back and forth to one another. Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick had it blocked for me when I told Professor Snape about it but the spell had to be redone every so often. Didn't remember to get it done over Christmas for obvious reasons."

"Five points to Gryffindor for the Patronus, Harry. And ten points to Slytherin for being able to figure out everyone's secrets and keep them this year, Stella Nova," Lupin smirked before closing his suitcase. "With that, I am no longer a teacher, which means I feel no guilt whatsoever for this."

Lupin flicked his wand at the map and it closed.

"Mischief managed," the map cleared and he held it out to Stella who took it from him gently. "It's of no use to me and I believe that you, especially, will get quite some use out of it. I found all thirteen of the stink pellets this morning."

"There were actually twenty," Stella smirked. "I didn't want to tell Professor Snape just how badly our bet had backfired on him. He gets grouchy when he loses."

"Oh, don't I know it," Lupin laughed as a knock was heard at the door and Stella hid the parchment in her pocket quickly, turning to find Dumbledore.

"Your carriage is at the gates, Remus," he said.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Remus smiled, grabbing his suitcase and the tank. "Well, goodbye Harry, Stella Nova. I'm sure we'll see each other again very soon. Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates. I can manage."

"I'll walk you," Stella decided. "I wanted to ask you about a few things before you leave anyways."

"Alright," Lupin smiled and the two walked together, only stopping so that Lupin could shake Dumbledore's hand before they left, Harry staying behind.

Once they were out of earshot, Stella began.

"So, I'm sorry for throwing you into a rock last night. Was trying not to get eaten," she started. "If you have a bruise on the back of your head, that's why."

"Ah," Lupin flinched. "Sorry."

"No need to apologize, Uncle Moony. No harm, no foul," she smirked and saw Lupin's eyes light up at the way Stella used the nickname so freely. "I was also going to ask you if you're alright. Professor Snape wasn't exactly friendly to you this year and it was a bit awkward."

"I'm alright," he promised her. "Maybe one day I'll tell you the story of how that came to be."

"Well, Professor Snape has to answer- what did I tell him last night? Eleven?- eleven questions without giving me detentions," Stella smirked. "It was for the stink pellets."

Lupin let out a laugh, a few of the older students giving them a wide birth as they walked towards the front entrance together.

"You are far too clever for your own good," he told her.

"Oh, absolutely," Stella smirked. "I wonder where I get it from? Probably YOU, UNCLE MOONY!" Stella raised her voice so everyone could hear her, drawing a line in the sand.

"You didn't need to do that," he whispered to her.

"Oh, I definitely did," she smirked. "This way it'll be explainable when I lose about a hundred points hexing anyone I hear talking badly about you. Also, you tied Slytherin and Gryffindor. I have to go convince Professor Snape to give me points now."

"I'm sure it won't be difficult," Lupin smirked.

"Will be if I'm asking him all those person questions," she pointed out.

"Fair," Lupin nodded as they reached the carriage. "Alright, give your old uncle a hug."

"Old?" Stella smirked as she hugged him. "What are you? Thirty? That's not old."

"I feel much older than that," Lupin offered before releasing her. "I'll write you."

"You better," Stella smirked. "I'll find a way to see you soon. Mum'll probably have a fit at the idea but it's fine. Also, I plan on trying to get Da an actual trial. I'll have to talk to the goblins and see what they think I should do."

"Let me know if you need any help," he smiled, climbing into the carriage.

"Bye, Uncle Moony!" Stella yelled as the carriage took off, making sure that Malfoy heard her as he headed towards the school.

Somehow no one noticed that the points were tied until the day of the feast. Gryffindors and Slytherins were running around like crazy just trying to get one measly point from any teacher they could find. It was decided that the top grade from each of the two houses for every year would be looked over and compared. The first and second year Slytherins had a higher grade than the Gryffindors and each received a point. Then the seventh and fifth year Gryffindors tied it again. Slytherin sixth year brought it back up and then Gryffindor fourth year got the point. Stella and Hermione knew it was between them now and so did everyone else. She knew she'd somehow be blamed if they didn't get the point, most of the house not speaking to her at the moment due to calling Lupin her uncle.

Stella sat in front of the glass cases that held the rubies for Gryffindor and emeralds for Slytherin. A crowd had gathered and Hermione took a seat beside Stella. No one spoke as the grades were tallied. Hermione had taken more classes, which to Stella meant that Hermione was going to end up getting the point unless she hadn't gotten O's on all of her exams. Stella was thinking about her exams, fretting over them now as she remembered thinking that she'd passed once she finished the exams but not with perfect scores. In her mind, Gryffindor had already won and she was just waiting for the fallout from the Slytherins behind her.

Dumbledore walked into the entrance hall, surprised to find the whole school waiting for him. He made his way through the ground with the test results in hand. He leaned down a bit and passed Stella her scores and Hermione hers. The two tore the envelopes open as Dumbledore walked forward, waiting for them to compare. Stella had received perfect marks on all of her exams, even getting bonus points in Herbology, Defense, Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration. She and Hermione leaned into one another, looking everything over and Stella felt a smile spread across her face as she stared at Hermione's Divination and Defense scores, noticing that Defense was a low O but Divination was a Dreadful. She heard a clink and looked up, finding an emerald falling into the Slytherin tank before a roar of cheering and applause filled the room.

Stella was lifted off of her feet by Macnair, hoisting her onto his shoulders and bouncing her in the air. She held her scores up high like she had the Quidditch cup not so long ago, cheering with her house. The Gryffindors were beyond put out but Stella didn't care. She had just won her house both of the cups!

Stella sat with Blaise and Theo on the train, filling them in with a hushed voice on the events surrounding Sirius Black's escape from the castle. She fiddled with her ring often, speaking with Sirius every so often and asking him questions about himself and his time in Hogwarts. He asked more questions than even she did, surprising Stella as she realized that he was who she got that trait from.

She got off the train, hugging Blaise and Theo before joining the sea of redheads to find Harry in the center. He hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground in the process before setting her on her feet again.

"Here," he whispered to her, passing her a piece of paper. "Came for you on the train."

Stella opened the paper and found her Hogsmeade permission slip signed by her father. She smiled and slipped it into her pocket, needing to make sure she turned it in the moment school started up again. Harry waved goodbye as he went to his aunt and uncle.

"I'll call about the World Cup!" Ron called after him and Stella elbowed his side, telling him to lower his voice around the muggles before they all left the station.

Stella returned home and knew something was wrong almost immediately. Mum looked ready to burst as she sent the redheads away, Percy and Ron taking the longest to convince until Stella told them it was fine. The moment they were gone, Mum put up privacy wards and Stella held in a groan, knowing it was going to be another long summer.