Chapter Ten
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, the Slytherins walking ahead of them. 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 raised her hand, 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.
"Flint, the captain and a chaser on the team, leads the Slytherin team to the field. He's followed by his fellow chasers, Warrington and Zabini. Beaters are Montague and Bole. In the back is new seeker, Black. 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, arm stretched out as if she were the snitch. 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, stirring until they turned green. 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, waiting for Stella. 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, 'specially you, Harry. 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 now, 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, ditching the cloak and others as she chased after him. 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 a large, 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.