Chapter Twelve
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. Her left arm was in a sling and was throbbing slightly, but she'd had worse. 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, Moodys, 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 just about 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, more than likely, 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 Stella 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 Nova. Please."
"You were a good pet," she nodded and Pettigrew looked hopeful 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 free hand 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, Ron pulling on Harry as well. 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, hand 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, arm 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 Grindylows 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 from the doorway.
"I'm afraid it is," Lupin answered.
"Why?" Harry demanded, stepping inside. "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 pushes 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."
"Moony, huh? Ooooorrr…" Stella smirked before fiddling with her ring.
'Hi, Pads,' 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 seventeen of the stink pellets this morning."
"There were actually twenty-five," 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 personal 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 Pads 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 crowd 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 Troll. 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.
'How's your shoulder? Are you alright?' Sirius asked.
'Well, Madam Pomfrey unwrapped it this morning and it doesn't hurt anymore, so there's that,' Stella offered.
'I'm so sorry… I never meant to hurt you. I was going for the rat and lost sight of everything. I just needed to get him away from you and Harry as quickly as possible. I should have been more careful though.'
'Well, unfortunately for you, I am very hard to get forgiveness out of. I accept flowers and cold hard cash only.'
'Such a Slytherin.'
Stella 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 was bouncing on her feet as they walked into the Burrow.
"What's got you all excited?" Molly asked with a smile.
"She's just happy because she won Slytherin the House and Quidditch cup," Ron grumbled.
"I am very happy about that," Stella smiled brightly.
"Oh. That's… good, my dear," Molly gave a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Good job."
"Thank you," Stella gave a weak smile, noticing the lack of excitement. "I'll just go… check on the chickens."
Stella took her trunk to her room, leaving it at the end of her bed before tossing her bag down. She hurried back down the stairs, grabbing her apron before going to the chicken coop. She had gathered almost a dozen eggs when her mum joined her, hovering a bit. Stella sighed before turning to her mum, waiting.
"I was just wondering how you're feeling, my dear," Molly told her. "Professor Snape wrote us about your injury."
"I'm okay," she shrugged. "When did he write you?"
"End of December," Molly told her.
"Did you come see me when I was asleep?" Stella asked, not remembering her parents showing up.
"No… we, um… we didn't…"
"Why not?" Stella asked, fidgeting a bit.
"I wasn't sure if you would want to see me," Molly admitted.
"Oh," Stella nodded.
"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Molly asked, hope in her eyes.
"Oh… um, sure… well, a group of people seemed to think I was going to help Sirius Black get to Harry," Stella shrugged.
"Why would they think that?" Molly asked, confused.
"Because he's my father," Stella shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Um, they found me in a hall and all attacked me."
"Who was it?" Molly asked.
"A bunch of Gryffindors," Stella nodded.
"Are you sure?" Molly asked, seeming confused.
"Well, yes. Professor Dumbledore had my memory checked and a bunch of students came forward when it happened. Guess they felt bad for how badly I got hurt. I think they were just trying to scare me more than anything," Stella told her.
"And you didn't… lie in the memory?" Molly asked.
"How would I do that?" Stella asked, confused.
"Well, it sounds a bit strange, a large group of Gryffindors attacking you unprovoked," Molly tried to reason.
"Are you saying that I found a way to make a fake memory just so I could get a bunch of Gryffindors in trouble?" Stella asked, anger starting to bubble.
"Well, why would they attack you?" Molly questioned, also angry now.
"Because they're idiots," Stella shrugged.
"That's enough," Molly told her, shaking her head. "Go put the eggs away and then go to your room."
"Fine," Stella tossed her hands up, not sure what she could have possibly done this time.
She stomped away from the chickens and into the Burrow. Fred was in the kitchen and confused by her anger as she placed the eggs on the counter and then tossed her apron aside, going straight up to her room. Stella ignored Gin as she tried to ask Stella repeatedly what was wrong. It was going to be another long summer.