Chapter Seven
A gasp woke Stella the next morning and she wanted to glare at whoever had woken her.
"Shut it," Ron whispered but Stella's eyes were already open and she was turning to see who Ron was speaking to.
Neville stared down at Stella in confusion. She gave a shy smile, pulling the blanket higher up on herself and hiding against Ron again.
"We have to get moving," he told her.
"What day is it?" she asked.
"Thursday," he told her.
"I'm skipping potions," she grumbled.
"You've missed enough classes," Ron told her. "Up you get. You smell like hospital and snakes."
"Funny," Stella rolled her eyes. "I'm going to steal Ginny's shower."
"Are you alright?" Ron whispered the question and Stella nodded before giving Harry a wave as she left the room.
She passed a few Gryffindors along the way and they stared at her before they began whispering back and forth. Stella walked into the first year dorm, finding the four girls slowly beginning to move around. Ginny ran to Stella when she saw her, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"I came to use your shower," Stella told her in a whisper.
"Did you sleep in Ron's room?" Ginny whispered back.
"Yeah and it stank like preteen boys," Stella laughed.
Ginny laughed as well, releasing Stella and pointing towards the dorm bathroom. Stella took her bag with her into the loo and got into the shower, taking her hair out of the braid before grabbing Ginny's shower stuff and using it. She sat under the hot water for a minute before stepping out, dressing quickly in her emerald green school robes, a contrast to the scarlet red that was around her when she walked into the first-year dorm again.
Ginny made Stella sit again and she brushed and rebraided Stella's hair quickly. Stella gave her a thankful smile before leaving the dorm room and coming face-to-face with Hermione, letting out a surprised gasp.
"Hi," Stella breathed out.
"Ron asked me to come check on you," Hermione admitted, seeming a bit awkward.
"Oh. I'm coming down now," Stella nodded and Hermione walked down the stairs beside Stella, the two remaining silent.
Stella saw her brothers all gathered together, Harry and Neville standing with them.
"I made copies of all of our notes for you," Hermione told her as they waited for Ginny to come down. "I'll get them to you after classes."
"Thank you," Stella nodded, still feeling a bit detached from everything.
"Stell?" Ron asked, hand going to her arm.
"I'm okay," she assured him. "Still waking up."
Ron nodded and Harry went to Stella's other side, taking her hand in his. Ginny came down and the group walked together to the Great Hall. People whispered as they all walked by, about Harry being the Heir, about Stella being back. She didn't know what they were saying and she didn't care enough for it to matter in the moment, either. Blaise and Theo were waiting outside the hall and she moved to them once she entered the hall, giving Harry's hand a gentle squeeze before going.
She sat between the two, Draco taking the set across from her, Crabbe and Goyle on each side of him. The boys stayed around Stella all day, as if protecting her like a king on a chess table. If she had to pick which pieces were which, she'd make Draco and Theo knights, Crabbe and Goyle pawns, and Blaise the queen, but only because he was the only one who could probably pull off a gown and heels if asked to.
Snape had tried to hold Stella after class but she had walked right out of his classroom, refusing to speak with him. By the end of the day, a story about Harry and Stella working together as Heir to Slytherin had somehow gotten around and she'd rolled her eyes at the fourth-year Hufflepuff and continued walking, Goyle pushing the Hufflepuff over as they walked by.
Fred and George tried to make light of everything. They went out of their way to march ahead of Harry and Stella every chance they got and shout up and down the corridors.
"Make way for the Heirs of Slytherin! Seriously evil witch and wizard coming through! Rising dark couple walking!"
"It is not a laughing matter," Percy told them coldly.
"Oh, get out of the way, Percy," said Fred. "Stella and Harry are in a hurry."
"Yeah. They're off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with his fanged servant," George chortled.
"Oh, don't!" Ginny wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he planned on attacking next or when George pretended to ward Stella off with a large glove of garlic when they met.
The end of the term brought a peace that Stella hadn't known she'd been holding her breathe waiting for. She continued taking the calming draughts before bed every night, which helped with keeping her nightmares away. Sirius singing that lullaby over and over at night helped as well. She'd written it down with the other things he'd said to her and taken to humming it throughout the day. Draco had given her a strange look when he'd heard it but said nothing.
It was just Stella, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle left in Slytherin for Christmas, so the four tended to sit by the fire in the common room and play card games. Stella and Draco played chess a few times as well, Draco actually impressed with how well she did against him.
She flew around the pitch on one of the brooms Draco's dad had bought the team, the four tossing a quaffle around before playing a game of two-on-two. Stella got Goyle for her team and no one remembered the score by the end of it, but Stella and Draco both insisted that they had won.
She went up to the Gryffindor common room on Christmas Eve, deciding to stay the night in Ginny's dorm with her. The Weasley's, Harry, and Hermione stayed up late that night, Percy even staying down until well best his bedtime as he kept an eye on his little sisters. They ate sweets and played Exploding Snap before practice dueling. Percy didn't approve of how loud it was or the roughhousing, but he left it alone. Stella wondered how he and Wood were doing.
The next night, Stella walked into the Great Hall and smiled brightly at how pretty it looked. There were frost-covered Christmas trees and thick streamers of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling and enchanted snow falling even though the room was warm and dry. Dumbledore led them in a few of his favorite carols, Hagrid booming more and more loudly with every goblet of eggnog he consumed. Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had bewitched his prefect badge so it read 'Pinhead' kept asking them all what they were all sniggering at.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron ran off during dessert and Stella shrugged, not wanting to know what trouble they'd be getting into later. Draco took Stella back to the common room once she was done before leaving to go fetch Crabbe and Goyle. She went up to her room to grab the gifts she'd mail ordered for the three boys and headed back down, hearing the end of a conversation.
"-the wizarding prison, Goyle," Draco was saying and Stella froze. "Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backwards. Father says to keep my head down and let the heir get on with it. He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. He's trying to get the marriage contract pushed through without Sirius Black's signature and the ministry did a raid on our manor last week, did you know?"
There was a short silence and Stella entered the room, eyes turning to her when she did so. She gave a small smile, trying not to show what she'd overheard.
"I got you all presents," she told the boys. "I hope you like them."
"You didn't have to get us anything, cousin," Draco smirked.
"Of course, I did," Stella shrugged.
"I have your gift upstairs. I'll be right back," Draco told her before running up the stairs.
Stella turned to talk to Crabbe and Goyle but they'd both stood up quickly and ran off. She stared after their retreating forms in confusion, turning when Draco returned.
"Where'd they go?" Draco asked.
"I don't know," she shrugged. "They just ran off right when you left. Did you say something to them or were they feeling alright?"
"Crabbe had a stomach ache," Draco shrugged. "Maybe they went to the hospital wing."
"I hope they're alright," Stella sighed, looking back towards the portrait opening before grabbing Draco's present and passing it to him.
She took what had to be a jewelry box from Draco, opening it quickly. She stared down at the expensive necklace and earrings in the box for a long moment before looking to Draco.
"Technically, it's from my mother. It's a Black family heirloom. She said you should have it now," Draco explained.
"It's beautiful," Stella smiled. "Makes my gift look terrible in comparison though."
"I like it," Draco shrugged, staring down at his broom servicing kit and quidditch poster. "It's more personal."
"Well, I don't think I'm ever going to have anywhere to wear this to, so I'm just going to put it upstairs for now. Probably go to bed, as well. Happy Christmas, cousin."
"Happy Christmas," Draco nodded, watching Stella go.
Hermione was in the hospital wing but Harry and Ron refused to tell her why. Somehow, Harry had found out about the marriage contract, though.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked her when they were away from all of her siblings on New Years Day.
"Tell you what?" she asked, confused.
"Why didn't you tell me about the Malfoys trying to make you marry Draco?" Harry clarified.
"How?" Stella asked him, eyes wide.
"I overheard Crabbe and Goyle talking about it after Christmas," Harry shrugged. "Why didn't you say anything? Is that why you've been pranking him?"
"It is and I didn't tell anyone because it's weird," she told him, fidgeting a bit. "He's my cousin. It's weird that his parents think us marrying is even a little bit of a good idea."
"Unfortunately, I think it's common practice in pureblood families," Harry told her, pulling a book out of his pocket. "I've been reading up on it. Most pureblood families marry distant cousins. Something about keeping the bloodlines pure."
"That's ridiculous," Stella stated, making a face as she looked at the page Harry was showing her. "Oh, look! A Potter!"
"Yeah. My grandpa married a Black. He had a kid through a different marriage before that but it looks like they raised my Dad," Harry smiled softly.
"That's so cool," Stella breathed. "Have you found anything else about the Potters?"
Harry excitedly told Stella everything he'd found about his heritage, going over different customs that he'd looked into about Hindi people. Stella made a note to look into it as well so she could help Harry along. He even told her that he'd looked into the Blacks a bit for her, discovering that they were actually French. Stella also made note to look up more about her mother's family, not having really done so in the past.
Stella made extensive notes in class for Hermione, just as the other girl had done for her, passing them to Ron every day to take with Hermione's homework. Snape had finally had enough of Stella avoiding him and had threatened her with detention if she didn't stay after class one day. She had stayed seated as everyone else left, her five bodyguards not wanting to leave her and also having to be threatened with detentions. Once they were gone, Stella stayed staring at her desk as Snape pulled a chair out from one of the desk and set it beside her table, sitting in it and staring at her.
"You wanted me here," she reminded him. "If it's about my assignments, I can brew whenever. I've already written how I'd brew them and turned that in though."
"Those have all been graded and counted towards your grade. You do not need to actually brew the potions. They would be perfect if you did," Snape spoke, deep voice almost soothing her until she remembered his words in November.
"Is there something else, sir?" Stella asked, still not looking at him.
"I would like to look you in the eyes and tell you how sorry I am," he whispered and Stella refused to look up or let her tears fall. "The things I said to you were wrong and uncalled for."
"They were," Stella agreed with a stiff nod.
"I understand your curiosities. If I didn't know anything about my birth parents, I would be curious as well. You father was not a kind or good man, though."
"You say that like you knew him." Stella finally looked up and, upon seeing the look on Snape's face, she gasped. "You did know him."
"I did," Snape admitted. "We were in the same year during our time at Hogwarts."
"Did you know Harry's parents as well?"
"I did."
"So, you knew my mother?"
"I knew of her. I was a Slytherin and they were all Gryffindors. I'm sure you can guess how that went based off of your own experiences," Snape offered and Stella flinched at the thought. "Your father, Sirius Black, was a bully, as was Harry's father. They especially liked to pick on me. My robes were worse than yours used to be when I walked the halls. I had two friends in Gryffindor but they both turned their backs on me. I will not get into detail on what caused it."
Stella stared at Snape, wanting to ask more questions but not knowing what to ask.
"I am sorry, Stella, for the things that I said to you. It will never happen again."
"Okay," Stella nodded.
"Okay?" Snape breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't forgive you," she told him honestly and he flinched. "I don't trust you. I looked up to you and went to you for sensitive things, and you used it against me. I'm not sure how to forgive you for that to be honest with you."
"I understand," he nodded, seeming to start closing off.
"I'll try," Stella told him, voice soft.
Snape looked at her with what could only be described as hope.
"May I go?" she asked and he nodded.
Stella stood quickly, flinging her bag over her shoulder and rushing from the classroom. The five boys were waiting for her still and they had to run to their next class but they made it just in time, all falling into their seats breathless.
The month went by and February fourteenth arrived. Lockhart was far too happy about it in his lurid pink robes that matched the decoration in the hall. He looked even brighter in comparison to the two professors on either side of him. McGonagall and Snape both had sour expressions, as if they'd rather be anywhere else as they sat on either side of him. Stella took a picture with her camera, holding in a laugh as Snape sent a glare that promised death if the picture got out.
Lockhart announced Valentine's being passed around and Stella got a brilliant and terrible idea. She paid for musical numbers to be sang to Snape and the twins a few times through the day from secret admirers and went on her way, a sly smirk on her face. The dwarfs were wearing golden wings and carrying harps, looking angry at the world, not that Stella could blame them. She got to laugh so hard that she was bent at the waist when she heard Harry being sang to as a dwarf sat on him to keep him in place.
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad. His hair is as dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he's really divine. The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."
The dwarf went to leave before catching sight of Snape and moving to him next.
"Severus Snape. I've got one for you, too. A secret admirer it seems."
"Oh, good Lord," Snape growled. "Not another one."
"Love, love, love, love, love. There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game. It's easy.
"Nothing you can make that can't be made. No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. It's easy.
"All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need."
The dwarf had growled the Beatles song out, Snape staring down at the dwarf with murder in his eyes. A few students knew better than to laugh and Stella was not one of them. She had already been laughing hard from how Harry's valentine had been delivered against his will but actually getting to see Snape get one of his was too much. She slid down the wall, laughing so hard she had tears leaking from her face.
Snape's eyes snapped to the laughing students, handing out detentions with Filtch until his eyes landed on Stella, who had a real smile on her face for the first time in months. His eyes softened slightly and he walked away, not giving her a punishment as he left.
"Oh, so worth it," Stella sighed, accepting Blaise's hand up.
"You did that?" Blaise asked, eyes wide with awe.
"Fred and George have been getting sang to all day as well," Stella admitted. "They're eating up the attention. They actually pretended to be conducting three of the dwarfs each at once when they all appeared at the same time to sing to them."
"Was that you then?" Ron asked, pointing towards Harry.
"Oh, I have no clue who that was from," Stela admitted.
"I don't think Potter liked your Valentine much!" Draco yelled after Ginny and Stella's face fell.
"Oh, no," she whispered.
Snarling, Ron pulled out his wand, ready to defend his sister. Harry stopped Ron though, pulling him away quickly. Stella watched with pitying eyes as Ginny ran off, hands covering her face and surely crying. She really needed to work on her crush. Stella would have to have a conversation with her about it over the summer.
Stella was not the least bit surprised when she was called into Snape's office after classes. In fact, she skipped in, humming the Beatles tune under her breath as she bounced into her seat. Snape sent her a soft glare.
"Did you have fun? Am I forgiven now?" he asked.
"I think so," she nodded, unable to hide the amusement on her face.
"I should give you detention," he told her, brow raised.
"But you won't because I'm your favorite student?" she asked.
"You are not a complete dunderhead," he offered and dismissed Stella.
She skipped out of the office, still humming the song as she sat beside Theo, jostling him slightly in the process.
"Did you get detention until you graduate?" he asked, not looking up from his book.
"Nope," she smirked.
"How do you keep getting away with things?" Blaise demanded, tossing his book aside to stare at her.
"Because I'm his favorite. Duh," Stella offered before letting out a small laugh.
The second-year students were given the task of choosing what classes they wanted to add on the following year. Stella signed up for Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, and Ancient Runes. She hoped she'd be able to take all of them. She was probably the only Slytherin signing up for muggle studies, not that she minded. Neville approached her the next day.
"Hi, Stella," he told her and Stella turned giving him a kind smile.
"Hey, Neville. You alright?"
"Yeah. I just wanted to know if I could ask your advice on something," he admitted, eyes darting between the five boys who surrounded her.
Stella shooed the five away, Theo staying by her side anyways while the other four moved a bit down the hall. She rolled her eyes at Theo and turned to Neville.
"I wanted to know which classes you think I should take next year," he admitted, shoulders slumping a bit. "I know you help grade my potions work and you help me with my other classes as well, so I wanted your honest opinion."
"Hmm," Stella thought it over. "Care of Magical Creatures, for sure. It'll help with Herbology. Divination could just be a fun class. I hear the teacher is a bit of a nutter but easily pleased."
"Thanks," Neville smiled to her before running off.
"You're too nice," Theo told her as they walked back towards the others. "You do know Slytherins have a reputation to uphold, yes?"
"I make my own reputation," Stella shrugged, sneaking a stink pellet into Draco's bag, Theo the only one to notice.
"So you do," he smirked.
The Slytherins were in the stands, cheering for Hufflepuff when the match was cancelled. Stella stared down in confusion as they were instructed to head back to their common rooms. Stella saw Harry and Ron walking off with McGonagall and debated going after them but was pulled along by Theo before she got the chance.
New rules were set in place. Students would be escorted to classes by their teachers and they had to be in their common rooms by six every evening. Schedules were changed so that students in years had all had the same classes. Hermione had been petrified.
"Sir!" Draco called out in potions one day. "Sir, why don't you apply for the headmaster's job?"
"Kiss ass," Stella said under her breath, causing Blaise, Theo, Neville, Harry, and Ron to have to hide their laughs.
"Now, now, Malfoy. Professor Dumbledore has only been suspended by the governors. I daresay he'll be back with us soon enough," Snape answered and Stella could just barely hear the annoyance in his voice.
"Yeah, right," Draco continued. "I expect you'd have father's vote, sir, if you wanted to apply for the job. I'll tell father you're the best teacher here, sir."
"Please, sir. I'll tell father, sir," Stella mocked and the boys had to hide their laughs again.
Snape swept around the dungeon, missing Seamus pretending to throw up into his cauldron and causing everyone to have to hide more laughter.
"I'm surprised the mudbloods haven't packed their bags by now," Draco mumbled to Crabbe and Goyle. "Bet you five galleons the next one dies. Shame it wasn't Granger."
The bell rang and Stella was in front of Ron quickly, blocking his path and talking to him in a soothing voice as he described wanting to kill Draco with his bare hands as Harry and Dean Thomas held him back
Snape led them to Herbology next which was rather subdued. Sprout had them prune Abyssinian Shrivelfigs. A Hufflepuff spoke quietly to Harry in a corner before Harry hit Ron with his pruning shears, pointing towards some spiders, which Ron looked less than thrilled about, reminding Stella of when Fred turned Ron's stuffed bear into a spider with accidental magic when he was made at Ron for accidentally breaking his toy broom when they were little kids.
Lockhart was somehow still upbeat and Stella was very excited for when they would have a new teacher next year. He beamed and asked why they seemed so sad and Theo had to grab Stella's arm so she wouldn't throw Magical Me: My Autobiography by Gilderoy Lockart at the man, Blaise biting his lip hard to keep from laughing.
"Don't you all realize the danger is passed!" he announced. "The culprit has been taken away."
"Says who?" asked Dean loudly.
"My dear young man, the Minister of Magic wouldn't have taken Hagrid if he hadn't been one hundred percent sure that he was guilty," said Lockhart in the tone of someone explaining that one and one made two.
"Oh, yes he would," said Ron, even more loudly than Dean.
"I flatter myself I know a touch more about his arrest than you do, Mr. Weasley," said Lockhart in a self-satisfied tone.
Harry whispered something to Ron and the two settled, passing a note back and forth for the rest of class. Stella walked behind them, ready to grab the note if they dropped it but no such luck. Stella focused on studying instead, Snape having given them all a heads up that exams would still be taking place, starting on June first. Three days before the first exam, McGonagall made an announcement at breakfast.
"I have good news," she said and the hall erupted in noise.
"Dumbledore's coming back!" several people yelled joyfully.
"You've caught the Heir?" squealed a Ravenclaw.
"Quidditch matches are back on!" roared Wood excitedly and Stella let out a snort of laughter.
When everyone had quieted back down, McGonagall continued. "Professor Sprout has informed me that the mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell is who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."
Cheering was heard around the hall, Stella clapping happily at the news. Draco seemed put out but she didn't really care. They were heading to History of Magic latter that day, being led by Lockhart.
"Mark my words," he said, ushering them around a corner. "The first words out of those poor petrified people's mouths will be 'it was Hagrid.' Frankly, I'm astounded Professor McGonagall thinks all these security measures are necessary."
"I agree, sir," Harry nodded and Stella and Ron both dropped their books in shock.
"Thank you, Harry. I mean, we teachers have quite enough to be getting on with, without walking students to classes and standing guard all night."
"That's right," said Ron, nodding to Harry as if they were sharing some secret. "Why don't you leave us here, sir, we've only got one more corridor to go."
"You know, Weasley, I think I will. I really should go and prepare my next class," Lockhart wondered off and Stella stared after him, hoping he would get eaten by whatever the monster was.
Blaise pulled Stella along, not letting her follow after Harry and Ron as they let everyone else move ahead of them. Stella took a nap in History rather than take notes. She'd get a copy off of a Ravenclaw for Hermione later, having learned how to copy the notes by magic from McGonagall when she explained what she'd been doing after having asked the professor for a copy because of how badly her hand had been hurting. McGonagall had seemed close to tears when Stella had spoken before showing her the charm that she wouldn't be learning until the following year.
Stella walked out of History, feeling groggy.
"Your sister is here," Theo spoke up and Stella turned, seeing Ginny standing by herself in the hallway, seeming a bit out of it.
"I'll see you both later," Stella told Blaise and Theo, leaving them without a second thought as she went to Gin. "Ginny? You alright?"
"No," Ginny shook her head. "I need help."
"I'm here," Stella assured her. "What do you need?"
"Come with me," Ginny whispered, taking Stella's hand and pulling her down the hall, away from everyone else.
"Are you alright?" Stella asked Ginny, holding her little sister's hand and not knowing the danger that she was in.
"I need to tell you something," Ginny told her, stopping in a hall.
Stella froze, staring at the wall.
"We need to get a teacher," Stella spoke up, trying to pull Ginny along.
"No," Ginny growled out, grabbing Stella's arm with a strength that Stella didn't know Ginny had.
"Gin?" Stella asked in confusion.
"He needs our help," Ginny stated.
"Who?"
"Tom."
"Ginny, why are we in Mrytle's bathroom?" Stella asked, confused as they walked into the bathroom, the ghost hiding away in a stall and Stella just barely able to see her peeking at them over a stall.
"He's here," Ginny explained before looking at the sink.
Stella felt more nervous, unease already making her stomach want to turn. Ginny began hissing at the sink and Stella's eyes widened, recognizing the sound from when she'd asked Harry about speaking Parseltongue while studying a few weeks ago. Pieces began falling into place but Stella was too shocked to believe it. Her little sister, her sister who couldn't talk in front of the boy she had a crush on, who got nervous in large crowds, her sister who cried when she accidently stepped on a bee once, was opening the Chamber of Secrets.
Stella took a step back and Ginny's head snapped to her, eyes narrowed. Ginny grabbed Stella again, pulling her forward and giving her no choice but to jump into the tunnel beside her. Ginny landed on her feet, as if practiced in landing on the stone room with bones all across the bottom of it. Stella landed on her butt though, hissing as a bone dug into the back of her thigh a bit. Ginny dragged her to her feet and pulled her along.
Stella let out a scream when she saw the snake skin, stumbling backwards a bit. Ginny rolled her eyes and pulled Stella along again. Stella's eyes roamed over the snake skin before moving to the door that Ginny had stopped in front of. She hissed again and the large, round door slid open. Ginny pushed Stella inside and she climbed down a ladder, looking around slowly, a bit in awe.
The Chamber itself is a huge temple-like room with pillars and carved serpents. The towering stone pillars, entwined with more serpents, rose to a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place. There was a massive statue of Salazar Slytherin that Stella almost couldn't look away from until Ginny began dragging her forward again.
"Gin, who's Tom?" Stella asked, not remembering a Tom being sorted in Ginny's year.
"My friend," Ginny shrugged hand softening slightly on Stella's arm since she wasn't fighting Ginny any longer.
"Where'd you meet your friend?" Stella tried.
"In my journal."
"In your journal? How did you meet him in your journal?"
"I started writing in it and he wrote back."
"Like, the journal was charmed and connecting to another?" Stella was still confused as they stopped not far from the statue, facing one another now.
"He lives in the journal," Ginny corrected.
"Gin, I'm sorry, but I don't understand," Stella whispered, taking Ginny's hand gently in hers and feeling how cold her sister was. "Here."
Stella took her cloak off, placing it around Ginny's shoulders and rubbing her arms gently. Stella hated the cold but for Ginny she didn't mind braving it for a bit. Ginny stepped forward, arms wrapping around Stella in a hug. She began crying, confusing Stella more as she held her. Ginny never wanted comfort when she cried. She always wanted to be alone. Stella had tried going to her a few times and she'd shake her head and tell Stella to give her a few minutes.
"Gin? Where's Tom?" Stella asked, now wanting to hex the kid, Theo having taught her a new spell just a few days ago.
"He's here," Ginny whispered. "He needs our help. He needs me to help him come back and he needs you to help him get to Harry."
"Get to Harry?" Stella asked, blood running cold as Ginny pulled away.
"Well, you see, I told him. I told him how close you and Harry are. He wanted to meet you. Said you'll help him," Ginny explained. "I won't be here to help after…"
"After what?" Stella's voice was soft but the faraway look in Ginny's eyes caused a bit of panic to rise in her, her voice hardening a bit. "After what, Gin?"
Ginny didn't get to answer though as she collapsed against Stella. Stella yelled as she caught her, catching her so she landed on Stella rather than the stone floor. Ginny wouldn't wake up and Stella began looking around, trying to figure out a way out of the Chamber. She shouldn't have left the class, should have told Blaise and Theo to tell Snape she was going after her sister, literally anything.
Stella set Ginny down carefully. She stripped off her school vest and balled it up, setting it under Ginny's head before starting to look around. There was water all over the floor and tunnels in every direction. Stella lit the tip of her wand and began exploring the tunnels, searching for a different way out. She couldn't speak Parseltongue like Harry and, apparently, Ginny could. That door was locked.
She spent the next three hours searching before hearing a male voice calling out for her. She followed the voice, feeling a bit of relief that maybe someone had finally found her down here before she walked out of one of the tunnels, back into the Chamber to find a handsome seventh year Slytherin that she'd never seen before waiting for her.
"Thank Merlin," Stella sighed, moving forward, grateful to see the green and silver uniform. "Look, I know I shouldn't have gone off with Gin, but she's my sister. Can you yell at me after we get out of here?"
"So, you're the Stella Black that I've heard so much about?" the boy asked and Stella stopped, staring at him in confusion.
"What?" Stella asked confused, looking over his appearance again and noticing how old the uniform seemed to be, seeing the Head Boy badge and knowing that wasn't right, since the Head Boy was a Ravenclaw. "Who are you?"
"My name is Tom," the boy answered and Stella's eyes glanced to Ginny, who was still out cold on the floor. "I'm guessing Ginny has mentioned me?"
"She said that we needed to help you," Stella offered, moving over to Ginny now, kneeling beside her and trying to shake her awake again, feeling how cold she had become. "Crap. Gin, wake up. We need to get you to the hospital wing."
"She won't wake," Tom stated, staring down at the two.
"Why not?" Stella asked, glaring at the boy who did not belong. "What have you done to her?"
"I think we should wait for Harry Potter before I answer your questions. I am told that he'll come for you," Tom shrugged.
"Or I could knock you out and drag Ginny out of here," Stella offered.
"I don't think you'd win," Tom smirked.
"Probably not but I'm willing to give it a go," Stella shrugged, thinking of the few spells that she knew. "Stupefy!"
Tom ducked and Stella began shooting more and more spells before one literally went through him.
"What?" she asked, confused, staring at him with terrified eyes now. "Are you a poltergeist?"
"Not quite," he smirked. "I'm not quite solid yet. Soon though, Ginny will be dead, and I will be whole again."
"Over my dead body," Stella growled out.
"That can be arranged," Tom shrugged before he began hissing.
Stella watched as Salazar Slytherin's mouth opened. She could hear more hissing and grabbed Ginny quickly, trying to drag her away but not being very successful. She was about to Wingardium Leviosa her when she looked into the water, seeing a large, beautiful snake beside Tom, staring down at her with yellow eyes. Everything went black after that.
Stella woke in the hospital wing, feeling rather confused as she looked around slowly. Her entire body felt stiff, like her neck did after sleeping on it wrong all night. She let out a groan and stretched, her limbs popping in the process before she heard movement all around her. Stella opened her eyes, finding her brothers, Ginny, and Harry staring down at her suddenly, all asking her if she was alright and speaking over one another. Stella grabbed Ginny, pulling her close without thought and hugging her tightly. Ginny began crying again, climbing onto the bed beside Stella and holding her tightly.
Stella didn't care that they hadn't won the house cup but she was rather grateful that exams had been cancelled. She was sure she would have passed but still. It made her feel a bit more free knowing she didn't have to actively worry about it. Hermione looked distraught by the news from a few tables over and Stella couldn't help but laugh. Snape put the spells on Stella's rings that night, blocking the lullabies.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
"A bit sore honestly," Stella shrugged. "I'll be alright though."
"Did Mr. Potter tell you what happened in the Chamber?"
"He did," Stella nodded. "Sir, did you know that Voldemort was Tom?"
"Don't say that name," Snape cut his eyes at Stella, rubbing at his arm.
Stella's eyes narrowed on the movement before looking to Snape's eyes again. She raised a brow and he sighed, knowing he'd have to explain himself now.
"I joined the Death Eaters when I was in school. Your uncle and I both did, actually. When the Dark Lord decided to target a muggleborn friend of mine, I turned spy for the Order of the Pheonix, a light group created by Dumbledore to fight against You-Know-Who."
"So, you have the mark?" Stella clarified.
"I do," he nodded, seeming on guard.
"Sir, can I see it?" Stella asked curiously.
"You wish to see it?" he asked, confused.
"I'll understand if you say no. It's a rather personal thing to ask. I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry."
"Do you not hate me?" Snape interrupted her ramblings.
"Hate you? Why would I hate you? You did the right thing in the end," Stella shrugged. "Plus, you've been looking out for me for two years now. Be rather stupid to turn on you now for something you did as a teenager. I'm sure I'll do plenty to make people hate me."
Snape pulled Stella into a tight hug and Stella was shocked for a moment before hugging him back. He smelt of sandalwood and dried herbs. It was rather comforting honestly. Snape pulled away slowly, looking a bit awkward as he cleared his throat and looked anywhere but at her.
"I'll see you next year, sir," Stella gave him a smile before leaving his office.
She didn't see the soft smile on Snape's face as she left.
Too soon, it was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Stella, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny got a compartment to themselves. They made the most of the last few hours in which they were allowed to do magic before the holidays. They played Exploding Snap, set off the very last of Fred and George's Filibuster fireworks, and practiced disarming each other by magic. Harry was getting very good at it. They were almost at King's Cross when Harry turned to Ginny.
"Ginny. What did you see Percy doing that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"
"Oh, that," Ginny giggled and Stella gasped, looking to her little sister.
"Did you catch him, too?" she asked excitedly.
"Where did you see them?" Ginny demanded.
"Library after a game. You?"
"Empty classroom," Ginny shrugged and the others began demanding answers.
The two refused, smiling and laughing to one another and annoying everyone else. The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped. Harry passed a bit of parchment to Hermione, Ron, and Stella.
"This is called a telephone number," he explained to Stella and Ron. "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer, so he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys', okay? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to…"
"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd. "When they hear what you did this year?"
"Proud?" said Harry. "Are you crazy? All those times I could've died and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious."
Stella let out a snort of laughter even though she knew Harry was probably being honest. It seemed humor was his way of coping with having to live with his terrible relatives. A streak of gold flew out of Stella's bag and she and Harry both reached out at the same time, their hands locking together as they caught the snitch at the same time.
"Hey! You still have it!" Harry smiled brightly.
"Of course, I do," Stella laughed, feeling that warmth in her chest again and unsure what it was. "Did you think I'd release it into the wild or something? Let the giant spiders have a go at it?"
"We could always send Ron to retrieve it," Harry joked as the others went through the barrier.
The two laughed before quieting, just staring at one another for a moment before Stella felt herself blushing. They released one another quickly, Stella keeping ahold of the snitch as the two stuttered a bit.
"We should probably head through," Harry nodded towards the exit.
"Yeah," she breathed.
"Ladies first," Harry offered and Stella felt butterflies erupt in her stomach.
"Together?" she asked.
"Sure," Harry smiled, grabbing Stella's hand and walking through with her.
Stella stepped through the gateway to the Muggle world with her hand wrapped in his and the knowledge that she had a crush on Harry Potter ringing in her head.