Chapter Eight
'MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank." The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which six of the Weasley children currently attend.'
'Dear Stella,
I hope you are enjoying Egypt, especially after having been stuck with the Malfoys for two weeks beforehand. No need to worry about the telephone call. Honestly, even if you hadn't shouted, I doubt they would have let me talk anyways. You'll have to tell me more about the tombs and curses when we see each other again. I can't wait for you to return. I'll try to be in London at the same time as all of you. Yes, I've completed my homework. Thank you for sending your suggestions. I used all of them. To be honest, your directions are much easier to follow than the ones that Hermione sends me.
With Love, Harry'
'Harry,
You blew up your aunt?! Please tell me you took photos! I need to see this! I'll see you when we get back. Mum says we're staying in Diagon the night before school starts so I'll find you there. Meet at the ice cream shop? Can I rub it in Granger's face that you said I'm better than her?
Love, Stella'
'Stella,
I didn't really have time to take photos when I was running away from home to avoid my uncle after blowing his sister up like a balloon. Do wizards have balloons? You can not rub it in Hermione's face, mostly because then I'd never hear the end of it. The two of you, I swear. You could be locked in a room together, her on fire and you with a cup of water, and you would drink the water rather than use it to put the fire out.
I'm enjoying being able to actually wonder about for once. My aunt didn't really allow me to wonder pass the yard outside of school in the past. It's nice. Is this what summers are supposed to feel like? It's also nice having an actual room. I have a room at my aunt's now (I slept in a cupboard before my Hogwarts letters arrived) but it's not exactly cozy.
Bring me something back from Egypt!
With Love, Harry'
"Harry,
Shame on you for not thinking ahead about a photo! I have no clue what a balloon is. You'll have to show me. Of course I would drink the water! Fire is hot! Being around it would dehydrate me! Besides, we're magic. She should be able to conjure water and put herself out.
Remind me to visit your aunt when we're seventeen. Just to talk, I swear! Summers are supposed to be fun and carefree. Please enjoy it as much as possible! You deserve it.
Think I could convince the twins to help me sneak a cursed mummy out of a pyramid to bring to you? Would that suffice as a gift? Too dramatic?
If I have to hear Percy go on about being Head Boy one more time, I'm going to bury myself in the sand… Promise to save me from him when we arrive?
Love, Stella'
'Stella,
I will begin carrying a camera around with me from now on so I don't disappoint you in the future. Balloons are made of plastic. You blow air into them and create round things that you use to decorate for parties. Some are used to make designs though, like animals. Dudley used to get them all the time. I never got one myself but it always seemed kind of cool.
I don't think I need anything cursed as a gift. My luck is already questionable at best. Tossing in cursed objects would only make things even worse.
Do not bury yourself in the sand. I promise to get you away from Percy as soon as possible…
I've been meaning to ask but didn't know how. The man on the muggle news and in the Prophet… He's your father, isn't he? Please let me know if you're alright…
With Love, Harry'
Stella couldn't take her eyes off of the photo of her father, his laughing, deranged face. She'd been quiet the moment they'd heard of his escape and her siblings kept shooting her glances. She hadn't actually told them that he was her father, but they seemed to have put the pieces together rather quickly. Arthur was staying very close to her and people kept staring and pointing at her as they walked through Diagon Alley. She ended up going into the Quidditch shop, looking at different brooms, as she would need one to try out for the team. She stared longingly at the Firebolt before deciding it was worth it and buying the thing. It was wrapped up completely so no one could see what kind of broom it was.
It seemed that Harry hadn't joined Ron and Hermione yet. He went straight to Stella when he saw her coming down the street, pulling her into a tight hug. They stayed still for a long moment before a throat cleared and they pulled away, finding Blaise and Theo standing behind them.
"Hello," Stella sighed, giving them weak smiles.
"What are you holding?" Blaise asked and Stella held up the wrapped broom.
"Need a broom to try out for the team. Didn't like how the ones Mr. Malfoy bought for the team look," she explained with a shrug.
"Oh, she doesn't like how it looks," Blaise gasped, slapping his forehead before taking the broom from her hands. "I forgot that brooms need to look a certain way."
"Shut it," Stella rolled her eyes, turning and heading towards the ice cream shop, not sure how she and Harry had ended up holding one another's hands.
She blushed when she realized it but didn't take her hand away. Blaise and Theo noticed the blush and the hand holding but said nothing, both exchanging knowing looks. Hermione looked Stella over when she approached, as if searching Stella for any signs of danger, just as everyone else had been doing all day.
"Alright, Granger?" Stella asked her. "How was your holiday? Need any water?"
"It was fine," Hermione answered quickly, giving no other information but seeming confused by the last bit.
"Alright then," Stella nodded as Harry bit his lip so he wouldn't laugh. "We're going to get some ice cream. Ron, will you watch Blaise's broom, please?"
Ron agreed and Stella grabbed Scabbers from him before she, Harry, Theo, and Blaise walked inside, getting in line. After they all had their ice cream, they went back to the large table Ron had grabbed earlier, him and Hermione already eating their ice creams.
"I still have ten galleons left," Hermione said, looking into her purse. "My birthday is in September and Mum and Dad gave me some extra money so I could get myself a gift."
"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently and Stella couldn't hide her smirk.
"No, I don't think so," said Hermione, composed. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol…"
"I haven't," Ron shook his head. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers, who is basically Stella's. She could befriend a werewolf if she tried, I swear. I think we need to get Scabbers looked at, though. Egypt didn't really agree with him."
"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry. "We can see if they have anything for him and Hermione can get her owl."
"I need to get more treats for Jinx," Theo nodded and Stella smiled at the thought of his black cat that liked to curl up in front of the fire in the common room or could be found sitting on Theo's lap while he read.
Once the ice cream was finished, the group headed over, Blaise still carrying the broom so Ron wouldn't catch on while Stella walked to the front, waiting in line. The wizard in front of her finally left and Stella set Scabbers on the counter.
"He's been a bit off-color since I brought him back from Egypt and he's losing a lot of weight," she explained to the witch behind the counter.
"How old is this rat?" the woman asked, lifting him up.
"Old. Ten years or so," Stella told her.
"What powers does he have?" she asked.
"He has good intuition," Stella offered with a shrug. "Always scares this one girl I don't like when she starts being rude to me."
"He's been through the mill, this one," she said, eyes going from his tattered left ear to his missing toe.
"He was like that when I stole him off of my brother," Stella explained.
"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so. Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these."
"He's already lived longer than three years and I don't want a new rat. I want to help the one that I have," Stella stated, already losing all faith in the woman behind the counter.
"We'll take him somewhere else," Theo spoke up, hearing the annoyance in Stella's voice as he dropped the cat treats onto the counter. "How much?"
"I have a rat tonic," she tried.
"No, thank you," Blaise spoke up, standing behind Stella.
An orange cat landed on Theo's shoulder and lunged at Scabbers. Stella was rather glad for her fast reflexes as she grabbed Scabbers, holding him securely against her chest.
"NO, CROOKSHANKS!" the witch yelled at the orange beast.
Stella ran out of the shop, pocketing the treats as she went, the witch chasing the orange blur and not noticing a thing.
"What was that?" Blaise asked as Harry and Ron joined the Slytherins outside.
"Either a very big cat or a quite small tiger," said Harry. "Where's Hermione?"
"Probably getting her owl," Theo answered and the group waited out front for her.
"Oh, no," Stella groaned when she saw Hermione walk out, carrying the thing that had tried going for Scabbers.
"You bought that monster?" Ron demanded.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" Hermione was glowing.
"Hermione, that thing nearly tore off Nott's arm and tried to eat Scabbers," Ron defended.
"Not to worry," Hermione shrugged. "Crookshanks will sleep in my dormitory and Scabbers will sleep in yours."
Stella threatened in a quiet voice to come for Blaise if he didn't bring her broom to school, which just made him chuckle.
"Oh, I'm terrified," he joked.
"I'll snog your mum," Stella threatened instead and Blaise's eyes widened in horror.
"You wouldn't."
"I'll even write up a marriage contract between her and I just so you have to call me mommy," Stella's smirk was pure evil.
"You are a terrifying witch. Do you know that?" Theo asked, pulling Blaise away. "See you on the train!"
"Bye!" Stella laughed as they walked away before turning to the Gryffindors, finding them staring at her in shock. "What?"
"Did you just threaten to marry his mum?" Ron asked as they headed towards the Leaky.
"Have you seen his mum?" Stella asked. "She's gorgeous!"
Stella stayed as far away from Hermione and her… she refused to call that thing a cat, so Hermione and her beast as they walked. They found Dad sitting at the bar with the Daily Prophet, Sirius Black on the front page.
"Harry!" Dad smiled brightly. "How are you?"
"Fine, thanks," said Harry as they joined Arthur. "They still haven't caught him, then?"
"No," said Dad, glancing at Stella and looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."
"They dragged Stella into the auror department," Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione.
"I'm right here," Stella reminding Ron, "and fully able to hear you."
"Sorry," Ron flinched.
Mum appeared then followed by George, Ginny, Fred, and Percy in that order, all carrying a shopping bag or two. Ginny blushed when she saw Harry and Stella had to look away as Ginny, very timidly, muttered "hello" without looking at Harry. Percy on the other hand was far too formal, holding his hand out for Harry to shake.
"Harry. How nice to see you."
"Hello, Percy."
Stella could tell that Harry was trying not to laugh as he stepped slightly in front of her, keeping his promise to protect her from her older brother.
"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking Harry's hand.
"Very well, thanks…"
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy!"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Stella watched in amusement, gently petting Scabbers who had calmed in her hands but still seemed ready to make a break for it if Crookshanks tried making another leap at him. Mum told Fred and George to stop and they just turned on her.
"Mum!" shouted Fred. "How really corking to see you!"
"I said, that's enough," she repeated. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news? Second Head Boy in the family!"
"And last," Fred muttered.
"I don't doubt that," said Mum. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George. "It'd take all the fun out of life."
Ginny and Stella giggled.
"You want to set a better example for your sisters!" Mum snapped.
"Gin and Stell have other brothers to set an example, Mother," said Percy. "I'm going to go change for dinner."
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," George told Harry.
"They truly did," Stella nodded.
"But Mum spotted us," Fred complained.
At dinner, the 'Pick on Percy' party didn't end.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.
Everyone looked up at him.
"Why?" said Percy curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"
"—for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Mum snorted into their pudding. The conversation grew a bit awkward when Percy asked again and Stella couldn't help but think it was due to her deranged father being on the loose. Stella sat in her room, Scabbers on her chest and wondering when Ron would notice that Scabbers had run off. Stella had felt him climbing her pant leg as she'd been entering her room and had leaned down and picked him up. She looked down at him now.
"You aren't allowed to go dying on me," she told him. "It's hard enough right now with that maniac on the loose. I don't want to lose you. So, we're going to mail order some medicine for you and you're going to get better. I'll ask the Care of Magical Creatures teacher if they have any suggestions as well. Just stay with me, okay?"
A soft knock on her door caused Stella to stand and carry Scabbers with her to answer the knock. Harry was outside her door and she opened it wide, staring at him in confusion before she smiled.
"Did Ron send you to find Scabbers?" she asked.
"I need to talk to you," he whispered and Stella nodded, letting Harry in quickly before shutting the door behind him, unaware that Ginny had seen Harry go into the room before ducking into her own, tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Stella asked, setting Scabbers on her spare pillow and sitting on the bed beside Harry.
"I was going to go look for Scabbers for Ron but stopped when I overheard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arguing," Harry admitted.
"Why were Mum and Dad arguing?" Stella asked.
"Apparently, Sirius Black got out of Azkaban for a specific reason," Harry sighed.
"What's the reason?"
"He wants to… he wants to kill me," Harry sighed.
"What?" Stella asked, eyes going wide. "Why?"
"Well, he was a big supporter of Voldemort," Scabbers squeaked but Harry continued. "His followers don't really like me much in case you hadn't noticed.
"No, the interaction with Lucius Malfoy was polite," Stella joked.
"I just… I know you were trying to learn more about him at one point. They were arguing over whether to tell the both of us, so I figured you should know, too," he explained.
"Thanks," Stella gave Harry a soft smile. "I appreciate it, Harry."
"Of course," Harry nodded. "You'd tell me if you knew something like that."
"I would," Stella nodded before looking around her room.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," she sighed. "Panic attacks have gotten worse since he escaped. I've taken to sleeping with someone every chance I get but everyone is sharing a room and Ginny actually has her own room for once and I don't want to take that away from her. I feel like I've been being clingy lately."
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Harry offered.
"You don't have to do that, Harry," Stella shook her head, giving him a soft smile.
"I want to," Harry insisted. "I'll take Scabbers to Ron and be back in a few minutes."
"Okay," Stella nodded, passing Scabbers to Harry.
Scabbers squeaked a few times but didn't fight. Maybe he was too old and weak. Would it be more humane to just let him die? No. Stella wasn't about to lose Scabbers just yet. Maybe once her father had been recaptured, she'd talk to Ron and Dad about it. Until then, he just needed some medicine.
Stella changed into the silk nightgown that Narcissa had given her and left her door open a crack. She climbed under the covers, leaving a candle lit and smiling when Harry walked back in. He was dressed in a shirt that basically swallowed him and pajama pants that looked a little too short as he shut the door completely and climbed into the bed beside her, blowing out the candle once he'd settled. He rolled towards Stella and pulled her close, much how he'd seen Ron hold her when she'd snuck into their dorm room last year.
Stella woke after the best sleep she'd gotten in a while. Harry stirred beside her, arms still wrapped around her and holding her protectively to his chest. She tilted her head back, looking up at him and just studying his face. He'd grown more handsome over the summer, a bit more tan than usual. His face was relaxed in sleep and his hair was more messy than normal, causing her to smirk as she thought of the wedding photo where his dad's hair was exactly the same way.
His eyes began to flutter open and she closed her eyes quickly, not wanting to get caught staring at him. She felt his arms tighten for a moment before he loosened his hold.
"Stell?" he asked, voice soft. "It's time to wake up."
"Five more minutes," she joked and felt Harry's chest rumble as he chuckled at her.
"We have to make sure we're all packed for school," he told her.
"I packed last night. I also packed Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George's trunks for them. Percy's too responsible for his own good, which just leaves you," she smirked, opening her eyes and looking up at him, eyes widening when she realized how close his lips were to hers.
He must have realized it, too, because they both blushed before sitting up. Harry put his glasses on and Stella stood, stretching a bit and not catching Harry's eyes as he watched her moving in her nightgown. He cleared his throat before standing.
"I should get going," he said. "Make sure I'm all packed."
"Okay," Stella nodded. "See you at breakfast."
"Yupp," Harry answered quickly before leaving her room, not noticing as Ginny saw him leaving Stella's room.
Stella got ready quickly, dressing in her school skirt and blouse, leaving her tie undone and cloak over her arm as she wondered downstairs with her luggage, which had a charm on it that made it lighter and smaller. Thank you, Narcissa Malfoy.
Stella paid for the gifts by spending two weeks at Malfoy Manor over the start of summer. Theo, Blaise, and his mum, Rose, came over every other day and Stella had somehow gotten even more comfortable around Blaise and Theo on those days, the three bantering back and forth like they had the day before in front of the Gryffindor trio. The three were also better at reading one another now, all having had to calm one another down a few times when Draco had been on his high horse over the summer.
Draco was rather mad at her at the moment as she was still trying out for Seeker. They'd practiced in Draco's backyard, Stella opting for Draco's old broom, which was slower. Stella had beat him to the snitch a total of twelve times. He'd then complained loudly about Harry and the Weasleys a few times. Theo and Blaise had been there though and kept her calm. A few comments about Blaise's mum and her dead husbands had Stella and Theo holding Blaise back before Draco had said something about Theo's mum and her sickness, causing Stella and Blaise to have to talk in soft tones to Theo so the quiet, studious boy wouldn't go charging at Draco.
Stella ended up in a car with Fred, George, Ginny and Mum. Ginny seemed upset but wouldn't say why when Stella asked her what was wrong. Once at King's Cross, Ginny stayed beside Mum while Dad stuck close to Harry, waving for Stella to stay close to him as well. She leaned against the barrier with Harry and her dad, giggling once they were through. Percy and Ginny came through next, both panting.
"Oh, there's Wood," Percy commented. "I'll just go say hello."
Harry exchanged looks with Stella and they had to hide their laughs, Stella having admitted to Harry in a letter that she'd caught Percy and Wood together. They got on the train, Ron and Hermione joining them, Ginny following directly behind them.
"We need to tell the two of you something," Harry told Ron and Hermione, pointing to himself and Stella.
"Go away, Ginny," Ron demanded.
"Oh, that's nice," Ginny rolled her eyes and Stella glared at Ron. "I'll go sit with Luna."
The four set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train. This only had one occupant; a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. The four checked the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.
The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with grey.
"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats furthest away from the man.
"Professor R.J. Lupin," whispered Hermione at once.
"How d'you know that?" Ron asked in shock.
"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of nearly knotted string. The name 'Professor R.J. Lupin' was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.
"Wonder what he teaches?" said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin.
"There's only one vacancy," Stella shrugged.
"Defense," Hermione nodded.
"I swear I've heard that name before," Stella whispered to the others before shaking her head and looking away.
"Well, I hope he's up to it," said Ron doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he. Anyway, what did the two of you need to tell us?"
Harry explained the argument he'd heard and the warning Dad had just given him to not go looking for Black. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands covering her mouth. Stella had scooted over in the seat so that she was across from the Professor, wanting to curl into a small ball with her feet up in Harry's lap.
The three Gryffindors talked in hushed tones and Stella tuned them out, reading from her defense book instead. Harry's Sneakscope went off and she told them to stuff it into some clothes to muffle the sound more. Ron began describing the shops in Hogsmeade and Stella realized now why Dad and Mum hadn't signed it. They had told her that they couldn't because they weren't technically her guardians, but now she knew it was fully because of Sirius Black. She had suspected of course, but still.
"The Dursley's didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either," Harry's voice registered in her brain.
"Mum and Dad didn't sign Stella's, either," Ron sighed, glancing over at her.
"They aren't, technically speaking, my guardians," Stella explained before looking to Harry. "Apparently, your parents were my Godparents, so unless I go on the hunt for my father just to get it signed, it's not happening."
"Well, when you hunt him down, maybe mention not to go after Harry," Ron offered with a smirk.
"Will do," Stella rolled her eyes.
"Well, look who it is," Draco's voice spoke up in the doorway, Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him. "Potty and Weasel. I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. He didn't even have to take it from my cousin. Did your mother die of shock?"
Ron stood up so quickly that he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort.
"Who's that?" Draco asked, taking an automatic step back as he spotted Lupin.
"New teacher," said Harry, who had also gotten to his feet. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"
Draco ended up leaving with Crabbe and Goyle rather swiftly after that. Stella rolled her eyes as Ron threatened violence before he sat, taking Harry's previous spot and looked to her as she read her book.
"Your cousin is mental," he told her.
"I do not take responsibility for him or his actions," she said, eyes still on the page, legs curled close to her.
The rain came down heavier and Stella decided to get a bit of a nap in, leaning her head against the seat while still curled up. She woke as Neville tripped and fell into the room, noticing that the train had stopped but the lights were off.
"What's happening?" Neville asked.
"No idea," Harry answered. "Sit down."
"I'm going to ask the driver what's going on," Hermione stated and they heard the door open before two bodies hit the floor.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron and Stella."
"Lumos," Stella sighed and her wand lit up and everyone could see one another. "Honestly. Everyone take a seat. Maybe we should wake the adult?"
"I'm awake," a hoarse voice answered and Stella jumped, holding in a curse word. "Everyone, stay quiet."
Ginny and Hermione took a seat between Stella and Ron and flames appeared in Lupin's hands, lighting the compartment better than Stella's wand.
"Oh," she whispered, staring at the flames with interest.
"Everyone stay where you are," he told them in the same hoarse voice as he got slowly to his feet.
But the door slid slowly open before he could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water, but it was visible only a split second.
As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Stella's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak and then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.
An intense cold swept over them all and Stella looked to the others, wand still lit. Harry's eyes rolled to the back of his head and Stella rushed forward, shouting and just barely catching him. The thing must have thought she was about to attack because it tried lunging at her. A bright light escaped Lupin's wand and the thing ran off.
"Harry? Harry!" Stella shook him gently, cradling him carefully on the floor. "Wake up, now. We aren't doing this again. Wake up, Harry."
It took some time but Harry woke. The lanterns were already lit and the train was moving again. Harry's green eyes opened, immediately finding Stella's grey.
"What… what happened?" he asked, not moving or looking away.
"You have got to stop scaring me," she whispered to him.
"Sorry," he whispered back.
Stella and Neville helped Harry back into his seat and Stella went back to hers on the opposite side of the compartment.
"What happened? What was that thing?" Harry asked, looking around as everyone stared at him. "Who screamed?"
"Stella yelled," Ron offered with a shrug.
"No. I heard a scream," Harry shook his head.
A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.
"Here," he handed Harry the biggest piece before passing the smaller pieces out. "Eat it. You'll feel better."
Stella took the piece offered to her, giving a small smile to the professor before looking to Harry again.
"What was that thing?" Harry asked Lupin.
"A dementor," he answered.
"They guard Azkaban," Stella immediately stated, eyes widening.
"Eat," Lupin nodded to Harry, who was staring at Stella now. "It'll help. I need to go talk to the driver. Excuse me."
Lupin left and Harry and Stella both blinked.
"I still don't understand what happened," he spoke up.
"Well, the dementor stood there and looked around and you…" Neville tried to speak.
"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron stated. "Next thing I knew, Stella had just barely caught you as you passed out and were heading to the floor. You twitched a bit and wouldn't wake up."
"It tried to attack Stella but Professor Lupin pointed his wand and something silver shot out and the dementor flew off," Hermione tacked on.
"It was horrible," said Neville, his voice higher than normal. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"
"I felt weird," said Ron shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again."
Ginny gave a small sob but moved from Stella when she reached for her, accepting Hermione's comfort instead.
"But did any of you fall out your seats?" Harry asked.
"No. Stella jumped out of hers to get to you. Ginny was shaking like mad though," Ron told him.
Harry didn't understand. He felt weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad flu, along with shame. Stella could see different emotions crossing over his face and she reached above him, pulling his cloak out of his case and putting it over his shoulders, realizing then that she was also shaking.
"Eat the chocolate," she reminded him and Harry took a small bite.
Stella pulled her own cloak down, draping it over Neville and wrapping it tightly around him, making sure everyone else were eating their chocolate as well. She handed her piece to Hermione, telling her to give it to Ginny for her as she pulled her extra cloak out and put it on Ginny, leaving it unbuttoned so it was more like a blanket. Lupin returned as Stella was putting Ron's robe over him. He watched Stella take care of everyone for a moment before he spoke up.
"We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in ten minutes," he announced. "Are you alright, Harry?"
"Fine," Harry muttered.
"And you, Stella Nova?" he asked and Stella stared at him with a confused expression.
Her eyes narrowed for a moment and she nodded. He nodded back and looked towards his case. Stella stepped backwards, slowly getting out of the middle of the compartment. She stared at him then looked to the name on his case again. His name was so familiar but she couldn't figure out why. She'd ask Professor Snape when they arrived.
The rest of the trip was silent and a bit tense, Stella staring at Lupin as he stared out the window. The others said nothing about it but they knew that if Stella was uneasy, it was probably for a reason, so they sat as far away from the man as they could. She was still shivering as she climbed into a carriage with the others, her cloaks still on Ginny and Neville, who had left theirs in their compartment but hadn't wanted to leave the others.
Once the carriage came to a halt, Neville and Ginny got out first, followed by Ron and Hermione. Neville and Ginny had already headed off as Harry jumped out and then helped Stella down, offering his hand to her. Unfortunately, word had gotten around and Draco was waiting for them.
"You fainted, Potter? You actually fainted?" Draco elbowed pass Hermione and Stella glared at him.
Harry pulled Stella partially behind him, still holding her hand in his.
"Shove off, Malfoy. Not even your own cousin wants you here," Ron spoke up.
"Did you faint as well, Weasley? Did the scary old dementor frighten you, too?"
"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice.
Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage. Malfoy just gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, "Oh, no- er- Professor."
He then smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle. Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry and the four joined the crowd, Harry still holding tightly to Stella. Stella, however, kept glancing over her shoulder at Lupin. His eyes were trained on her and Harry and she couldn't pin down what the look in his eyes was. It was almost a sad longing?
"You're still shaking and your hand is freezing," Harry told her, looking back at her.
"What? Oh. Ginny and Neville have my cloaks and I didn't eat any of the chocolate. Gave mine to Ginny," Stella shrugged. "I'll be fine."
"After what you told me last night, I think you need to eat some chocolate and warm up as soon as possible," he whispered to her and Stella allowed him that one because he wasn't wrong. "We'll find Professor Snape."
"Potter! Granger!" McGonagall's voice caused all four teens to turn in surprise. "I want to see you both."
Harry pulled Stella along with him and Ron followed along, figuring if Stella got to go then so did he.
"There's no need to look so worried. I just want a word in my office," she told them. "Move along Weasley… Black."
"Yup," Stella nodded, prepared to leave due to the tone her name had been said in.
"Nope," Harry argued, pulling Stella back to his side. "We were hoping to find Professor Snape."
"Whatever for?" McGonagall asked.
"It's personal," Harry shrugged.
"Very well," McGonagall sighed. "Stay here, then. Do you need to see Professor Snape, Mister Weasley?"
"I'd prefer not to," he shrugged.
"Then off you go," she told him and the two left quickly.
A violent shiver worked through Stella and Harry pulled her close, wrapping his cloak around both of them.
"You shouldn't have given your chocolate and cloak to Ginny," Hermione sighed.
"She was crying and shivering," Stella shrugged. "What was I supposed to do? Let my little sister cry and be cold?"
"I understand that, Stella, but still," Hermione sighed. "Now you're worse off because of it."
"What is going on over here?" Snape demanded, moving to them quickly, McGonagall right behind him.
"Thank Merlin," Stella sighed and Snape raised his brow at her.
"Stella needs chocolate and a cloak," Harry stated. "She gave hers away on the train."
"Miss Black, if you could refrain from being a total Hufflepuff every so often, it would be much appreciated," Snape sighed. "Follow me."
Stella stepped away from Harry, feeling immediately cold again and rubbing her arms as she followed after her head of house. Once they were out of sight, Snape took his billowing cloak off and tossed it over her shoulders.
"Foolish girl," he sighed, but he didn't sound upset with her, just worried.
"Sorry, sir," she said anyways, her teeth chattering a bit as she pulled the cloak tightly around herself.
She felt Snape's hand on her back, leading her further into the dungeons and to his office. He had her sit while he opened one of his drawers, pulling out a chocolate bar and passing it to her.
"You have a candy stash, sir?" she asked, but the question took a few extra seconds to get out through the clattering.
"Eat," he told her, giving her a pointed look.
Stella broke a piece of the chocolate off and ate it, warmth flooding through her then. She slumped in her seat, eating another piece.
"Better?" he asked after her fourth piece, voice soft.
"Much," she admitted.
"How many Gryffindors are walking around in Slytherin robes right now?" he asked curiously.
"Two," she shrugged with a smirk, popping a fifth piece into her mouth and offering the last piece to him, to which he shook his head. "This is actually really good, sir."
"It better be," he smirked before his face went back to neutral. "What happened?"
"Dementor- terrible manners on that thing, by the way- got on the train. It attacked Harry, I think? He fell over and I caught him. The new professor got rid of it and passed out chocolate. Ginny was so upset that I gave her my piece as well and then I covered Neville and Gin with my cloaks. I knew I was shivering but I didn't think it was this bad," she admitted.
"If the effects aren't treated, they just continue to get worse," he explained. "What did you think of the new professor?"
"I know his name but I can't put my finger on where from," she told him. "It's like it's on the tip of my tongue and I can't figure it out."
"Hmm," Snape hummed and Stella narrowed her eyes.
"You know, don't you, sir?" she asked.
"I've no clue what you mean," he told her. "How's your ring?"
"Fine," she shrugged. "No random voices in my head, which is nice. No one planning to murder Harry, either."
"How?"
"Dad."
"Ah."
"Plus, Harrys' a terrible gossip. He overheard Mum and Dad arguing about whether to tell him or not and he immediately told me the conversation and then told Ron and Hermione on the train," Stella smirked.
"That boy," Severus sighed, shaking his head. "Come. Let's get you to the feast. You need actual food as well."
Stella nodded, passing Snape his cloak back once they neared the exit of the dungeons, the smell of sandalwood and dried herbs lingering on her now. Snape put the cloak back on quickly and the two walked out as if nothing had happened. Snape walked Stella to her space between Blaise and Theo before he walked up to his seat at the head table beside Lupin.
"So, that's our new Defense teacher and Hagrid is teaching Care of Magical Creatures," Theo told her and Stella smiled bright, looking towards Hagrid and waving.
He smiled brightly, waving back before going back to talking to Flitwick.
"Explains the murderous book that I received for my birthday," Stella sighed. "Think tried to rip mine and Percy's arm off."
"Snape looks as if he hates Lupin already," Blaise noticed and Stella looked towards her head of house who was staring at Lupin in a way that made Stella wonder how Lupin hadn't gone up in flames from the heat of it.
"Huh," Stella sighed. "Are there any families here named Lupin?"
"No," Theo answered immediately.
"Any pureblood families in a book that I would have read?"
"No."
"I swear I know that name," Stella sighed before taking a bite of her potatoes.
The next morning, Stella walked in with Theo and Blaise in time to hear Parkinson shouting out, "Potter! The dementors are coming! Woooooooo!"
"Shut it, Parkinson!" Stella called back before taking her seat. "It's too early to hear you trying to sing to us! I hear the Gryffindor portrait sounds better than you!"
"Oh, defend your boyfriend then!" Parkinson yelled at her and Stella rolled her eyes.
Harry gave her a grateful look and she sent him a wink, causing him to blush before he turned to George as he passed him something.
"So, how's that crush on Potter going?" Blaise smirked, voice quiet so no one overheard them.
"Shut it," Stella grumbled, regretting having told Theo and Blaise as her face turned red.
"Did something happen?" Blaise asked, face lighting up as if Christmas had come early.
"Nothing happened," she insisted.
"I don't believe you," Blaise sang.
"Don't make me separate you, children," Theo spoke up. "It's too early to put you in timeout."
Stella smiled at all the classes that they had with Gryffindor that year. It was as if the school was trying to make up for how few they shared last year. Stella smiled as she skipped into Transfiguration, arm-in-arm with Blaise and Theo, who they had somehow convinced to skip through the halls with them. Stella immediately sat behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione, tossing a quill at the back of Ron's head and smirking when he turned and saw her. Stella wondered for a moment how Hermione had beat them there from Ancient Runes before remembering all the secret passages that the school had. There was no way Granger hadn't figured them out as well. She should try writing down all of the passageways sometime…
"You are far too happy this morning," Ron told her.
"How was divination?" she asked him. "Did you see… into the futuuuuuure?"
Stella had sang the last words in a wobbly tone. Ron snorted and rolled his eyes, looking to Harry.
"Apparently, I'm going to die," Harry told her. "Grim in my teacup."
"So, part of why I didn't take that useless class is because Trelawney's mad. Apparently she predicts that death of a student every year and doesn't leave it alone, even though the student never dies. Congratulations, Harry! How lucky is that!" Stella smirked and Harry seemed to calm considerably. "Do I get to plan your funeral if you kick the bucket? I promise to only share embarrassing stories and photos."
"Deal," Harry snorted a laugh.
Most of the Gryffindor's seemed rather upset during class but Stella took rigorous notes on Animagus, smiling when McGonagall turned into a cat. The only ones to clap were Stella, Blaise, Theo, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. The others all looked at Harry.
"What is going on with all of you?" McGonagall asked.
"The Gryffindors had Divination," Stella spoke up.
"There is no need to tell me more. Which of you will be dying this year?"
"Me," Harry smirked. "Stella already told me that she does this every year though. We're planning my funeral after this."
"She does and none of those students has died yet, so no need to plan anything. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in," McGonagall smirked.
After lunch, Stella and Blaise talked excitedly about what creatures they may be learning about. Theo didn't look thrilled to be there, but he and Blaise had decided to take the same classes as Stella, neither telling their parents about Muggle Studies. Hagrid was waiting at his hut and Stella and her boys arrived first, Hagrid smiling to her and passing her a rock cake he produced from his pocket.
"Thanks, Hagrid," Stella smiled, throwing the cake as far as she possibly could when he turned away, smiling in satisfaction when she saw it splash into the lake.
"Are you sure you want to go for seeker?" Theo asked, staring in awe at how far the cake had gone.
"I'm trying out for both. Best case scenario, I make chaser and seeker reserve," she shrugged, knowing Flint probably wouldn't replace Malfoy since his father had bought all the brooms. "Sure you don't want to try out at all?"
"I'm sure," Theo rolled his eyes.
"C'mon, now, get a move on!" Hagrid called as the last students staggered in before he strolled towards the forest.
"Wicked," Blaise smiled and immediately followed along, Stella moving with him and Theo groaning before following as well.
They ended up outside of some sort of empty paddock.
"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid instructed. "That's it. Make sure yeh can see. Now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books…"
"How?" Draco asked. "How do we open our books?"
"You have to stroke it," Stella said loudly, stroking the spine of her book and smirking when it calmed immediately.
"Oh how silly we've all been!" sneered Draco. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess?"
"I thought they were funny," Hagrid said, looking upset.
"Oh, tremendously funny! Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!"
"No one said you have to take this class," Stella glared at him. "You can go."
Draco and Stella glared at one another for a long minute before Hagrid cleared his throat.
"Right then. So yeh've got yer books an' now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on."
Hagrid strode further into the forest and out of sight.
"God, this place has gone to the dogs," Malfoy looked away from Stella first. "Wait until my father hears about this.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry spoke up.
"Careful, Potter. There's a dementor behind you and your girlfriend isn't close enough to catch you," Malfoy shot back.
"Oh, look!" Lavendar Brown called and everyone turned to the paddock.
Trotting toward them were a dozen creatures that Stella recognized from her book.
"Hippogriffs," Stella laughed.
They had the bodies, hind legs, and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings, and heads of giant eagles, with brilliant orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each one of them had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a long chain, and the ends of all these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid, who came jogging into the paddock behind them.
"Who said it?" Hagrid asked excitedly and Stella raised her hand, staring at the creatures with curiosity and awe.
"Twenty points to Slytherin," Hagrid smiled brightly. "Yeh can come closer if yeh want."
Stella stepped forward, Theo and Blaise stepping back along with the other Slytherins. Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped forward as well, though those three were much more cautious. Stella remembered what she'd read over the summer and looked to the tallest Hippogriff. She walked towards it slowly and bowed, cautiously peeking out and waiting. Hagrid held his breath, smiling widely when the Hippogriff bowed low.
"Yeh always approach slowly, bow, and wait for 'em to bow back," Hagrid nodded to the other students, "just like Stella here. Twenty more points and excellent eye contact. Yeh always hold eye contact and try not to blink. Won' trust yeh if yeh blink too much. I think you can walk up to Buckbeak now. Pat his beak. Go on."
Stella stepped carefully forward, ready to bolt behind Hagrid if she needed to. She didn't though, Buckbeak letting her approach and pet his beak without problem. Harry had gotten another Hippogriff to bow back to him, copying Stella carefully.
"I reckon he might let you ride him," Hagrid smiled to her, standing between the two.
"We don't need to…" Stella began before seeing the hopeful look on Hagrid's face. "Alright then. It's just a broom. Just a very big, very feathered broom."
"Yeh climb up there, jus' behind the wing joint," Hagrid instructed both Harry and Stella and she had to stop herself from making a chicken wing joke. "An' mind yeh don' pull any of his feathers out. He won' like that."
Stella made it up first, swinging her leg up easily and smiling down at Buckbeak as she pat his neck.
"Go on, then," roared Hagrid and Stella had to grab on quickly as he slapped Buckbeak's hindquarters.
Harry had just enough to time to wrap his arms around his Hippogriffs neck when his took off with Stella's. Stella hoped she didn't get thrown off as she held on tightly. The thudding of the flock running across the ground to take off filled her ears and suddenly she was in the air. They flew through the air and Stella sat up, laughing loudly and letting out a cheer of excitement. Harry followed her league, holding his arms out as they flew straight for a moment before leaning down again as they took a turn.
Stella stayed sitting up, looking far more graceful than Harry did as she did so before seeing a large black dog below, a dog that looked a lot like a grim, watching the two of them in the air. She shook her head, smiling again as the wind whipped her ponytail around a bit before the Hippogriffs lowered back towards the ground, landing together in the paddock in front of the other students.
"Good work, Harry and Stella! Twenty points each and Stella takes an extra ten for staying upright the majority of the time!" Hagrid awarded and Stella just knew she was going to gain points like mad in this class. "Okay, who else wants a go?"
Hagrid helped Stella and Harry both down before their classmates began to approach.
"How'm I doin'?" Hagrid asked the two of them.
"Best first class ever," Stella laughed, a bright smile on her face.
"Absolutely brilliant," Harry agreed.
"This is easy!" Draco's voice carried over. "I knew it must have been if Potter could do it…"
Stella remembered the passage about Hippogriffs being able to sense disrespect.
"I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute?"
Stella moved forward quickly, pushing Draco out of the way and into Crabbe and Goyle. It happened in a flash a steely talons and then Stella let out a pained scream. Hagrid wrestled Buckbeak back by his collar quickly and Harry rushed to Stella.
"Stell!" he fell to him knees beside her, seeing blood and a large tear on her white shirt. "Hagrid! Stella needs the hospital wing! Now!"
Hagrid lifted Stella easily and she let out a small whimper of pain. Everyone rushed out of the paddock quickly, a majority of the students following behind Hagrid to the hospital wing. The only other person who had been allowed in was Ron. Snape had pushed his way through the crowd and rushed inside as the class waited for word on the Slytherin Princess. Draco looked worse for ware, knowing it was his fault and that Stella might have just saved him from getting mauled.
"What has happened?" Snape demanded, going straight to the hospital bed.
"Hi, Professor," Stella smirked, already healed and just a bit sore now. "No offense, sir, but I think I have a new favorite class."
"You are in the hospital wing covered in blood," Snape deadpanned.
"It was still bloody brilliant," Stella smiled brightly.
Pomfrey sighed, passing Stella an extra blouse to change into. Ron and Snape stepped out of the screen and Hagrid turned his back, also outside of the screen but so tall that he could see over it if he looked her way. Pomfrey helped Stella to change her shirt, sore on her left side. Pomfrey helped her pull her cloak back on and gave Stella a potion to take before bed, along with a small sack containing her normal nightly potions as well. Stella gave her a grateful smile and got out of the bed, being careful to not jostle her side too much considering she wanted to put on a show the moment she was out of the door.
"I'm decent," she told the men before correcting herself. "Well, I'm dressed, that is."
Ron snorted a laugh, carrying her school bag over one of his shoulders, tie hanging loose around his neck.
"Yeah, she's fine," Ron smirked after hearing Stella. "When she's too hurt, she makes better jokes."
"Hilarious," Stella rolled her eyes at him before looking to Pomfrey. "Thank you, Madam. I will make an effort to not see you again, no offense."
"None taken," Madam Pomfrey smirked.
"To lunch?" Stella asked Ron.
"Yeah," he nodded, leading her away.
"Thanks, Hagrid! It was brilliant!" Stella called as they walked to the door and Hagrid looked relieved and thrilled.
They stepped into the hall and everyone stared at the two. Stella bowed to them all before standing straight again.
"I will be accepting flowers for my heroism or cold hard cash only," she told them all and a few laughs escaped the crowd before they all began heading towards the Great Hall, Gryffindors leading the way with Stella, Blaise, and Theo standing between the two houses, Harry glancing back at Stella every chance that he got.
Double potions may have been Hell for most, but it was a dream for Stella. She enjoyed watching Snape use his dry humor in class, even if it was towards Neville. She took a table with said boy and Dean Thomas, Blaise and Theo at the table next to her with Draco, who had seemed rather upset with himself since the day before.
Stella cut her daisy roots carefully, Neville copying her movements when Snape wasn't looking. She ended up pushing an extra copy of notes towards him for the shrinking solution, which he followed carefully, making his most successful potion yet, Snape not bothering to breath down Neville's neck with Stella beside him. The only time Snape spoke to Neville was from across the room, threatening to feed the solution to his toad if he didn't try hard enough. Stella had calmed Neville quickly, going as far as to grab the ingredient from Neville's hand so he wouldn't put boomslang skin instead of shrivelfig skin.
"Hey, Harry," said Seamus Finnigan. "Have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning. They reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."
"Where?" Ron and Harry asked at the same time and Stella dropped one too many drops of blood into her potion, cursing under her breath as she rushed to add three extra roots to stop her cauldron from exploding and save the potion.
"Not too far from here," said Seamus. "It was a Muggle who saw him. Course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, don't they? So she phoned the telephone hot line. By the time the Ministry got there, he was gone."
Draco was watching closely and Ron noticed.
"What, Malfoy?" Ron demanded, seeing Draco's eyes shining malevolently and fixed on Harry.
"Thinking of trying to catch Black, Potter?"
"Yeah, that's right," Harry rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"Of course, if it was me, I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy. I'd be out there looking for him."
"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" asked Ron roughly.
"Don't you know, Potter?" Malfoy's eyes narrowed before glancing at Stella. "How you can stand being with Stella knowing what her father did."
"Know what?" Ron questioned, a growl in his voice at the mention of his sister.
"Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck. Want to leave it to the dementors, do you? But if it were me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself."
Stella was shaking. She didn't know what Draco was talking about, but if it had something to do with her father, then she wanted to know. Her obsession with him had grown a bit since he'd escaped. She looked to Theo and Blaise, seeing both of them refusing to look at her and she narrowed her eyes.
"You should have finished adding your ingredients by now. This potions needs to stew before it can be drunk," Snape announced. "Clear away while it simmers and then we'll test Longbottom's…"
Stella added her last ingredient quickly, stirring three times counterclockwise and stepping away, nodding at Neville's cauldron and hiding her notes away. Neville's potion actually looked better than Stella's since she'd had to fix her mistake, causing Snape to frown and glance at her.
"Is this your potion?" Snape asked Neville, pointing at Neville's cauldron.
"Yes, sir," Neville answered, seeming smaller than his tall frame.
"Not this one?" Snape asked, pointing to Stella's cauldron.
"No, sir. That's Stella's."
Trevor became a tadpole, wriggling in Snape's palm. Stella clapped with the Gryffindors while Snape looked sour. He pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robe and poured a few drops on top of Trevor, who was full grown again in a second. Neville took his toad back, looking beyond relieved.
"Five points from Gryffindor for cheating off of your neighbor," Snape tossed out and dismissed the class.
Stella sat for lunch between Blaise and Theo, both refusing to speak or look at her in any way. She sighed in frustration before leaving them and heading towards the Gryffindor table, sitting down beside Ron and eating beside him instead.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked around a mouthful of food.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth," Stella told him, turning her nose up slightly before looking to Harry. "Blaise and Theo know about whatever Malfoy was talking about, but neither are telling me."
"Great," Harry sighed.
"I'll get them to tell me," she promised him. "I want to know, too."
Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had now had a few square meals.
"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all you books back in your bags. Today's lesson will be a practical lesson. You will need your wands."
A few curious looks were exchanged as the class put away their books. They had never had a practical Defense lesson before, unless you counted the pixies that the Gryffindors had dealt with the year before.
"Right then," said Lupin. "If you'll all follow me."
Stella followed directly after Lupin, curiosity getting the best of her. Harry rushed to her side, walking with her and grabbing her hand at some point as they walked through the castle. They turned a corner and Peeves, who was floating upside down and putting gum in a keyhole, was already there. He didn't look up until Lupin was two feet away, which is when he began to sing.
"Loony, loopy Lupin. Loony, loopy Lupin."
Peeves usually showed Professors a bit of respect but he was singing to Lupin like he did to Fred and George, making Stella's eyes narrow and a small smirk to appear on her face. Had their new Professor been a prankster in school? Stella looked to Lupin, finding him smiling and had her answer.
"I'd take the gum out of the keyhole if I were you Peeves. Mr. Filch won't be able to get to his brooms," Lupin said pleasantly.
Peeves blew a raspberry at Lupin instead, to which Lupin sighed and pulled out his wand.
"This is a useful little spell," he told the students over his shoulder. "Please watch closely. Waddiwasi!"
With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gun shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeve's left nostril. Peeves whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.
"Oh, please write that down," Stella begged as Dean yelled out, "Cool, sir!"
"Thank you, Dean, and I'll make sure that I do, Stella Nova," Lupin nodded, putting his wand away. "Shall we proceed?"
Stella didn't know why Lupin calling her by her almost full name brought her a bit of comfort, but she leaned into Harry a bit when it happened. Lupin began leading the class away, all of the students having a bit more respect for the shabby looking professor now. He led them down another corridor and stopped right outside the staff room. He opened the door and stood back.
"Inside, please," he told them, eyes glancing down to Stella's and Harry's joined hands for a moment before he looked away from them completely.
Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair, looking annoyed as the class entered. There was a bit of a sneer on his lip when Lupin entered, making to close the door behind him.
"Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this."
The way that Snape said the name caused Stella to gasp, figuring out how she knew Lupin's name. Snape and Lupin both stopped, looking to her. Stella looked away towards the wardrobe that was shaking violently, pretending that was the reason she'd gasped. Snape's step faltered as he saw Stella and she could tell he was debating staying before his eyes landed on Lupin again and his glare went back into place. He strode towards the door, turning on his heel when he reached it.
"Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear or Miss Black is sharing her notes."
Stella felt like there was a double meaning in Snape's words and she stared at him curiously.
"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," Lupin responded, "and I'm sure he will perform it admirably."
Snape's lip curled and he looked around at the students, eyes staying on Stella for a moment longer before he shut the door, leaning against it and watching from the back. Stella felt as if he were only there because of Stella.
"Now, then," Lupin turned to the class and beckoned them towards the wardrobe, which wobbled again. "Nothing to worry about. There's a boggart in there."
Stella disagreed completely and took a rather large step back. Harry stared at her in confusion, as did a few other students. Stella was not one to back away from a challenge. Stella understood why Snape had stayed now. Neville and Seamus seemed wary as well, especially Neville who Lupin had already said would be participating. Ron stared at Stella with wide eyes, the two both having remembered when one had decided to take residence under Stella's bed when they were younger and almost killed her.
"Boggarts like dark, enclosed space," Lupin continued. "Wardrobes, the gap between beds…"
"Boogey men," Stella said, eyes locked on the wardrobe.
"Five points to Stella Nova. It is how the creature known as the Boogey Man came to be," Lupin nodded, eyes on Stella. "Can you tell us what a boggart is?"
"Shape-shifter," she answered. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."
"Couldn't have put it better myself," Lupin nodded. "So, the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.
"This means that we have a huge advantage over the boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"
"Because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?" Harry offered.
"Precisely," said Lupin and Hermione put her hand down, seeming disappointed. "It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or flesh-eating slug? I once saw a boggart make that very mistake. Tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening."
"Hilarious," Stella grumbled and a few people around her let out snorts, trying not to laugh.
"The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes off a boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing. We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please… Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" most of the class repeated.
"This class is ridiculous," Draco muttered, causing Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson to let out quiet laughs.
"Good," said Professor Lupin, smiling pleasantly. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville."
"Me?" Neville asked, looking more terrified as he walked forward.
"Right, Neville," Lupin nodded. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you the most?"
Neville's lips moved but no sound came out.
"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry?" Lupin asked cheerfully.
"Professor Snape," Neville repeated and Stella let out a small laugh, looking to the man in question who was still glaring at Lupin.
"And I believe you live with your grandmother?" Lupin asked.
"Yes, but I don't want it to turn into her, either," he spoke quickly and another laughed escaped Stella.
Ron stood on one of Stella's side and Harry was on the other. Theo and Blaise stood behind her and Snape was just at the door. She began to feel a bit more at ease, knowing none of them would let anything happen to her.
"No, no," Lupin smiled. "You misunderstand. I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"
"Well, always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. A long dress, normally green, and a fox-fur scarf."
"A handbag?"
"A big red one."
"Right then," smiled Lupin, a bit of mischief in his eyes that caused Stella to glance back at Snape, whose face had gone red. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind?"
"Yes."
Lupin leaned in close, whispering something to Neville before pulling away.
"Can you do that?"
"Yes," Neville nodded, wand at the ready.
"Good. Ready?" Neville nodded and Lupin moved back. "One, two, three."
The wardrobe opened and an exact copy of Snape stepped out of the wardrobe. Neville took a half step back rather quickly.
"You've got it, Nev," Stella spoke up and she saw him stand straight.
"Riddikulus!"
Suddenly, the fake Snape stumbled a bit and the class laughed loudly. The boggart Snape was now wearing Neville's grandmother's clothes. Neville smiled brightly.
"Yes! Parvati! Forward!"
Neville stepped back, joining Stella's group quickly as Parvati made a mummy trip over its own wrappings. The mummy turned into a banshee in front of Seamus before he shouted the spell and she grabbed at her neck, voice gone. Crack! A rat chased its own tail. Crack! A rattlesnake writhed. Crack! A bloody eyeball stared at them.
"It's confused! We're getting there!" Lupin yelled excitedly. "Dean!"
Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began walking like a crab before it was suddenly caught in a mousetrap.
"Ron!"
Crack! Quite a few people screamed, Stella cursing loudly as a giant spider appeared, piercing eyes on Ron. Stella was ready to rush forward if needed before the legs vanished and it rolled over. Parkinson had somehow gotten behind Stella and pushed her forward, causing her to stumble a bit as the spider rolled in front of her.
Crack! Sirius Black stood tall in front of Stella, laughing madly and diving for her.
"Here!" Lupin jumped in front of Stella.
Crack! Sirius Black disappeared and Stella saw a silvery-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin.
"Riddikulus!" he said, almost lazily.
Crack!
"Forward, Neville! Finish him off!"
Fake Snape was back as Stella made her way quickly to the real one. She heard Neville yell the spell and laughter fill the room, but Stella felt sick to her stomach, as if she were going to barf. Snape opened the door, letting her out and following after her quickly. He waited outside the girl's loo as Stella did get sick in a toilet. After rinsing her mouth out and washing her hands, Stella stepped out of the loo and turned to Snape who held out a potion for her.
"Helps with the nausea," he told her before she downed it quickly.
"Thank you, sir," she sighed, passing the empty vial back.
"Are you alright, Stella Nova?" a voice asked and Stella turned, knowing the only person who called her that in the entire castle was Lupin.
"You were a friend of my father's," Stella stated.
"Didn't realize that was common knowledge," Lupin sighed, glancing at Snape.
"Professor Snape didn't tell me," Stella shook her head. "I could hear him when I got my heir ring until Professor Snape was able to block his voice out. He had something he used to repeat all the time like a mantra. Probably trying to keep himself sane. Named his friends, you included."
"Ah," Lupin nodded. "I knew him, yes."
"You knew Harry's parents?" Stella asked and he nodded. "Did you send some of the pictures to Hagrid for him?" Lupin nodded again. "You should tell Harry a few stories about them. He doesn't know anything about them. His aunt is a piece of work."
Stella turned on her heel then, cloak billowing behind her as she walked in a way that she hoped made Professor Snape proud. She heard Snape snicker and knew that it had worked, causing her to smirk as she went.