Chapter Fifteen
Next thing she knew, Dad was shaking her awake and telling her to hurry. She pulled on jeans quickly before her shoes and then a jacket, running out of the tent in front of Hermione and Ginny, Dad right behind them. At the same moment, fully dressed with their sleeves rolled up and wands out, Bill, Charlie, and Percy emerged from their tent, Harry, Ron, and the twins already standing outside of it.
"You lot stick together and get into the woods! I'll come find you after!" Dad yelled and that was when Stella saw them.
Death Eaters were roaming about, setting tents on fire and floating the Muggle family that ran the camping grounds in the air. She let out a gasp, hands covering her mouth before she felt herself being tugged along. Her eyes searched for Harry, finding him as he began getting separated from them. She pulled away from Fred's grip and ran back, grabbing Harry's hand so they wouldn't get separated from one another just as Harry got pushed over, Stella falling to the ground with him. Harry covered Stella's body with his own, protecting her as people trampled over them.
They hid behind a tent as the Death Eaters moved closer, staying deadly silent as they marched pass them. Stella and Harry waited even after the footsteps were gone, too afraid to do anything else and just hoping that Dad would come back for them soon. She fidgeted with her ring and Sirius woke up with a start.
'What is it? What's happened?'
'Death Eaters at the World Cup. Harry and I got separated from everyone else. The Death Eaters just passed on the other side of the tent that we're hiding behind.'
"MORSMORDRE!"
A vast, green, and glittering erupted from the patch of darkness not far from them. The Dark Mark appeared in the air and Stella let out a whimper, pulling Harry closer. Anyone else who had been hiding screamed and took off running. Stella pulled Harry up and they ducked into the trees, trying to stay separate from the crowd but not too far in case someone tried to shoot off killing curses into the large crowd.
"DUCK!" Harry yelled, grabbing Stella and pulling her to the ground, body covering hers again.
"STUPEFY!" twenty voices yelled and a series of blinding, flashing lights appeared just above them.
"STOP!" Dad's voice bellowed "STOP! THAT'S MY DAUGHTER!"
Stella raised her head slightly, finding her dad rushing towards them. Harry helped her to her feet just as Dad reached them, pulling them both into a hug, Harry stiffening a bit at the contact but allowing it.
"Stella, Harry, are you alright?" he asked.
"Out of the way, Arthur," Crouch demanded. "Which of you did it? Who conjured the Dark Mark?"
"We didn't do that!" Harry defended.
"Was it you?" Crouch asked, wand pointed at Stella now.
"They're kids, Barty," a witch stated. "They wouldn't be able to…"
"Where did the Mark come from?" Dad asked Stella and she pointed to where she'd heard the spell coming from.
Turned out Crouch's elf had been knocked out, Harry's wand in her hand.
"That's mine!" Harry shouted when he saw it. "I dropped it!"
"You dropped it?" Amos repeated. "Is this a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured the Mark?"
"Oi!" Stella yelled, gaining everyone's attention. "You are speaking to Harry Potter. Ya'know. The one who defeated Voldemort when he was just a baby after the madman murdered his parents, so you can understand why that seems more than just farfetched, but actually impossible."
Harry's wand was tested and then given back to him. More arguments picked up and Stella rested her head on Harry's shoulder, completely exhausted as she told Sirius that they were both safe now and that she was sorry for waking him. They made their way back to their tents, finding the others having already returned. Stella and Harry fell onto the couch, still leaning heavily on one another. Dad explained what had happened to the others as Stella closed her eyes and promptly fell asleep on Harry's shoulder.
She woke a few hours later, Fred gently shaking her shoulder and George shaking Harry's. The two stood, Stella rubbing her neck where it was aching. They got a portkey to Stoatshead Hill before the sun had really risen and walked home from there. Harry arm wrapped around Stella the entire time, as if afraid they would get separated if he let go. Mum was waiting for them when they arrived.
"Oh thank goodness!" she yelled rushing to them. "Arthur! I've been so worried!"
She flung her arms around Arthur and it made Stella think of how she hugged Harry before a blush crept up her face.
"You're all alright," Mum continued, pulling Fred and George close. "Oh, boys…"
"Ouch! Mum, you're strangling us," George told her.
"I shouted at you before you left!" Mum sobbed. "It's all I've been able to think about! And… and where's my dear Stella?"
Stella was already inside, heading up the stairs and to her room, Harry following loyally behind. They climbed into her bed and fell back asleep, just barely kicking their shoes off before they did so. Stella woke to Mum sitting on her bed, brushing hair from her face and crying.
"I'm so sorry," she was whispering.
Stella said nothing, having tensed up when she'd seen Molly's hand so close to her still bruised face. Molly wiped her tears and stood, leaving the two alone. Harry's arms tightened around Stella in his sleep, pulling her ever closer and mumbling something quietly before burying his face in her neck. Stella blushed a bit but settled into Harry's arms, closing her eyes again to get more rest.
She told Teddy that she'd figure something out for next summer and she'd meant it. Bloodshire sent her a list of the vacant properties that she, well that her father, owned. She fiddled with her ring, reading out the addresses to Sirius, including the one in Hogsmeade.
'Is there any reason why you've mentioned the Hogsmeade address four times now? I know the goblins didn't list it that many times.'
'Well, I was just thinking… Uncle Moony could move in with his pet dog, ya'know?' Stella smirked.
'Will do, little star.'
Stella told Harry immediately, both giddy about how close Sirius would now be. The two tended to sleep in her room together every other night or more, Harry sneaking in when Ron was snoring away. It helped with Harry's nightmares and Stella felt safer when Harry was around.
One night, she wondered into Fred and George's room, smirking like the cat that got the cream.
"Why do you look like you know a secret?" Fred asked, eyes shining.
"And why do you look like you're going to make a deal with us for it?" George added, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Oh, because I am," she smiled. "Would you like to know the big secret that Percy keeps trying to hold over our heads?"
"You brilliant witch," Fred breathed.
"How'd you get him to tell you?" George questioned.
"Oh, I didn't. I have my own sources," Stella shrugged.
"What do you want?" they asked.
"So, I have to tell you for you to help me," Stella admitted. "I have to have your word first that you'll help me or I won't tell you."
"Deal," they both nodded.
"Have you ever heard of the Triwizard Tournament?"
The twins were bouncing with excitement as they helped Stella put her trunk on the train before leaving to plan with Lee. Her deal with the twins had been a rather easy one to accomplish, not that she thought it would be difficult anyways. Blaise, Theo, and Stella would help the twins sell their products to the Slytherins, taking a cut of the gold for themselves. The twins also had to get Ron new dress robes as quickly as possible with their earnings from the World Cup and make sure that Hermione didn't get picked on once the Yule Ball was announced, knowing that people would pick on the brainy girl with larger front teeth and bushy hair. She bought Sleek-Ezy for Hermione, planning to slip it to her at some point before the ball.
"Mum!" Ron complained. "What d'you three know that we don't?"
Bill and Charlie had come with Mum to drop them all off on the train and all three had hinted at the event without giving any details. Stella had simply winked when she caught Charlie's eyes, letting him know that she knew. He laughed loudly and Stella disappeared onto the train with a wave. Blaise and Theo were in the back of the train and Stella fell into the seat beside Blaise, laying down across it so that her head was in his lap.
Blaise and Theo both seemed uncomfortable, as if they were hiding something. She had a feeling that she knew what it was, but it was an unspoken rule that they didn't speak about their parent's decisions. Stella had asked them in first year if they were their titles or themselves and she hadn't let the question go at any point. Instead, she told them that Fred and George had agreed to her plan without any arguments. They both let out relieved breaths, knowing Stella wouldn't ask them who had been involved that night at the Cup.
The three exited the train, catching a carriage with Luna to the school. Stella asked Luna if her and her father had found anything interesting over the summer and Stella listened as Luna talked about the hybrid hummingbird-crickets and Stella shivered at the idea of a bug that large. She told Luna not to tell Hagrid about it in Care of Magical Creatures because it might give him ideas.
Stella had a magical umbrella over her head, Luna walking under it with her as Theo and Blaise carried their own. She saw Peeves at the front door and immediately knew he was up to something before a red balloon came soaring at her. She pulled Luna out of the way quickly, knocking into Theo and Blaise a bit in the process so that they also didn't get hit by the water balloon, it crashing to the floor instead.
It seemed like most of the students had been drenched in the downpour. The only dry ones in the bunch were the Slytherins, who had also conjured umbrellas, the second-years walking with the prefects and older students to stay dry, and Luna, who swayed a bit in her seat.
"You know what they call her, right?" Blaise asked.
"No. What do they call her, Blaise?" Stella asked, voice hard and brow raised, daring him to repeat what he'd heard.
"Never mind."
"Good choice."
'I forgot how absolutely terrible the weather is in Britian. Moony and I both smell of wet dog.'
'Weeeelllllll…'
'Cheeky.'
'So you're both all settled, yeah?'
'Yes, little star.'
'I'll tell Harry after the feast. Tell Uncle Moony that he should really keep his dog inside during stormy weather. It's irresponsible.'
The poor first years looked like they had swam across the lake and Stella was ready to place drying and warming spells that very moment. Blaise and Theo, always in tune with her more Hufflepuff thoughts, already had their wands out and were telling a few second-years to save their seats for them. Stella smiled, happily jumping out of her seat and rushing forward. The three Slytherins got strange looks from everyone, a few even looking uneasy as Stella raised her wand and pointed it at the kids. McGonagall went to stop her but Stella had already dried and warmed two different students by the time she realized what was happening. Blaise and Theo worked with her, all fifty of the students getting dry and warm rather quickly between the three of them. They were done before any of the other students had a chance to stand and help before they sat again, the first-years smiling brightly at the three fourth-years.
McGonagall smiled at the three before pulling out the sorting hat and setting it on the stool. Finally, the hat began to sing:
"A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!"
The Great Hall broke out into applause as the Sorting Hat finished. Professor McGonagall was now unrolling a large scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool. When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table. Ackerly, Stewart!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Baddock, Malcolm!"
"Slytherin!"
Stella cheered loudly with the rest of her house, watching as the small boy bounced over to their table, the snakes all making sure they were louder than the Gryffindors that booed. They received seven more firsties and Stella beamed at each and every one of them, cheering loudly with the rest of her house. Finally, Dumbledore got to his feet.
"I have only two words to say to you," he told them, his deep voice echoing around the Hall. "Tuck in."
The platers were overflowing and plates were filled. The Bloody Baron floated close by, keeping an eye out for the poltergeist, Peeves, to be sure he didn't throw more water balloons around as the students ate. Once they were all full, Dumbledore stood again.
"So! Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices.
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-Yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check."
The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year.
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year." People were shocked and appalled but Dumbledore continued. "This is due to an event that will be taking up most of the teachers' time and energy but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure that this year at Hogwarts—"
But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swiveled toward the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark gray hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table.
A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling. The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike any Stella had ever seen. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like and was none too skilled with a chisel.
Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening. One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye — and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.
The stranger reached Dumbledore. He stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and Dumbledore shook it, muttering words Stella couldn't hear.
He seemed to be making some inquiry of the stranger, who shook his head unsmilingly and replied in an undertone. Dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to the empty seat on his right-hand side. The stranger sat down, shook his mane of dark gray hair out of his face, pulled a plate of sausages toward him, raised it to what was left of his nose, and sniffed it. He then took a small knife out of his pocket, speared a sausage on the end of it, and began to eat. His normal eye was fixed upon the sausages, but the blue eye was still darting restlessly around in its socket, taking in the Hall and the students.
"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."
It was usual for new staff members to be greeted with applause, but none of the staff or students clapped except Dumbledore and Hagrid, who both put their hands together and applauded, but the sound echoed dismally into the silence, and they stopped fairly quickly. Everyone else seemed too transfixed by Moody's bizarre appearance to do more than stare at him.
"Does he mean 'Mad-Eye Moody'?" Stella asked, voice low. "The auror?"
"I think he does," Blaise nodded, looking uneasy.
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
"You're JOKING!" said Fred Weasley loudly, trying to act as if he hadn't already known.
The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar . . ." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Er — but maybe this is not the time . . . no . . ." said Dumbledore, "where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament . . . well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation and allow their attention to wander freely.
"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."
"Merlin," Stella breathed. "What a time to bring it back. Hasn't a student almost died every year now?"
"We just blame your boyfriend for that," Blaise smirked and Stella slapped his arm, turning slightly red.
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger.
"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money.
"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age — that is to say, seventeen years or older — will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This" — Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words, and the Weasley twins were suddenly looking furious — "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over Fred's and George's mutinous faces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen.
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop, chop!"
Dumbledore sat down again and turned to talk to Mad-Eye Moody. There was a great scraping and banging as all the students got to their feet and swarmed toward the double doors into the entrance hall. Stella waited by the door until she saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione about to exit before popping up beside Harry, causing all three Gryffindors to jump as she yelled, "Boo!" causing them to jump.
"I wanted to let you know that Uncle Moony and his dog have moved to a flat in Hogsmeade," she smirked to Harry.
"Brilliant," he smiled brightly.
"See you three later," Stella smiled, wandering away from the lions and back to Theo and Blaise. "Carry me, Blaise!"
She jumped on his back and he gave her a piggyback ride to the common room, the password now being 'Basilisk,' which felt a bit like poor taste but she didn't say anything about it. Once in the common room, Blaise sat on the couch, Stella locked behind him with her legs on his sides. Theo rolled his eyes before laying across the couch, head resting on Stella's and Blaise's legs as he opened a book, holding it above his head and reading quietly as the other two engaged in conversation about the Tournament.
Conversation slowed as the first years came in, and then Professor Snape. Stella gave him a bright smile when his eyes flickered across the room. He rolled his eyes when he saw how she was sitting, deciding to let it go for now. Stella whispered the speech in Blaise's ear, voice dropped low as she spoke and causing him to have to bite his lip to keep from laughing out and interrupting their head of house. Theo pinched Stella's and Blaise's legs and they bit their lips to stop themselves from cursing him. The moment Snape was out the door, they both began swatting at Theo, causing him to jump up from the couch as they chased him through the common room.
Stella and Blaise ended up cornering Theo behind a chair, the two jumping on him at the same time and tackling him to the floor. The three were tangled around one another, laughing loudly. Stella had never stayed awake after the speech, so she'd never been around for the excitement that clung to the air once the youngest students had gone to bed. It was strange to see all of them so calm around one another, smiling and joking and playing and laughing. Stella, Blaise, and Theo were not the only ones chasing one another or wrapped around each other. It was actually rather nice.
"Let's see," Stella sighed. "Looks like charms with Ravenclaw and then Care of Magical Creatures with Gryffindor."
"I can't believe we don't have Herbology with Hufflepuff anymore," Blaise commented. "Feels like we're cheating on them with Ravenclaw."
"Blast Ended Skrewts!" Hagrid said joyfully and Stella felt uneasy as she looked into a crate. "On'y jus' hatched so yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!"
"And why would we want to raise them?" Malfoy questioned. "I mean, what do they do? What is the point of them?"
That was actually a rather good question.
"Tha's next lesson, Malfoy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today," Hagrid stated and Stella knew then and there that Hagrid had no clue what these things did. "Now, yeh'll wan' ter try 'em on a few diff'rent things. I've never had 'em before, not sure what they'll go fer. I got ant eggs an' frog livers an' a bit o'grass snake. Just try 'em out with a bit of each."
Stella grabbed a few of each item, use to handling nastier in potions class. She dropped a bit of each into the crate, watching as the Skrewts ignored all three options completely. Dean Thomas got burned and Stella couldn't help but smirk. The Gryffindors that had been involved in the attack on her last year weren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade and had served detention four nights a week, though that had only lasted for last year, all punishments now over. Dean Thomas had been one of them.
"Some of 'em have got stingers," Hagrid said enthusiastically and Stella, Theo, Blaise, Draco, and Pansy all took a quick step back. "I reckon they're the males. The females've got sorta sucker things on their bellies. I think they might be ter suck blood."
"Well, I can certainly see why we're trying to keep them alive," said Draco sarcastically. "Who wouldn't want pets that can burn, sting, and bite all at once?"
"We already have Stella for all that," Theo said dryly and Blaise and Stella laughed loudly.
"Just because they're not very pretty, it doesn't mean they're not useful," Hermione snapped. "Dragon blood's amazingly magical, but you wouldn't want a dragon for a pet, would you?"
Stella thought that was a bold statement to make in front of Hagrid who, during their first year, had tried to keep a dragon as a pet.
"How do you think we can accidentally kill these things without being caught?" Stella asked the other four as quietly as possible.
"I thought you liked that oaf?" Draco questioned.
"I do but he has no clue what these things do and I don't think I want to find out by experience. I would like for this year to actually be fun for once and those things do not look fun."
"Severing charm?"
"Too obvious," Pansy shook her head. "What if we tried to drown them? Claim we thought they were thirsty."
"And if they turn out to be able to breath under water?" Theo asked.
"Happy discovery and Hagrid gives Pansy points," Stella shrugged. "Aguamenti."
The crate filled with water but the buggers knew how to swim. They just floated to the top of the crate and Stella removed the water quickly, not wanting the things to get any closer to them.
"Keep an eye out," Draco whispered and Theo and Blaise watched Hagrid while Stella, Pansy and Draco tried multiple spells, even sending one high into the air before it came crashing back down on top of the other ones but nothing worked.
"Well… that's… interesting?" Stella offered.
"Terrifying," Draco corrected. "Weasley is in the paper by the way."
"Skeeter?"
"Yeah."
"Brilliant."
"Do you really live in that… house?" Draco asked as they left Care of Magical Creatures to head to lunch.
"At the very top," Stella nodded. "Got my own room over the summer. Harry and Hermione stayed with us so Dad and I cleaned the attic up so I'd have my own space."
It was a few hours later that she was back to disliking Malfoy.
"And there's a picture, Weasley! A picture of your parents outside their house- if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"
Theo and Blaise had to hold Stella back as she tried to rush Malfoy.
"Get stuffed, Malfoy," Harry defended, him and Hermione holding Ron back.
"Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter?" sneered Malfoy. "So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it the picture?"
"You know your mother, Malfoy? That expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?" Harry asked.
"Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter," Malfoy sneered, face pale.
"Keep your fat mouth shut then," said Harry, turning away.
BANG!
Several people screamed and Stella let out an angry yell as Harry plunged his hand into his robes to try finding his wand.
BANG!
"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"
Stella spun around, finding Professor Moody limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing. There was a terrified silence in the entrance hall. Nobody but Moody was moving a muscle now, Stella breathing heavily in Blaise's arms. Moody turned to look at Harry, at least, his normal eye was on Harry. The other was in the back of his head.
"Did he get you?" Moody growled to Harry.
"No," Harry shook his head. "Missed."
"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted.
"Leave what?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"Not you. Him!" Moody jerked his thumb back at Crabbe, who had been about to pick up the ferret but was now unmoving.
Moody limped over to Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, which made a terrified squeak and took off, streaking through the legs and climbing Stella's robes.
"Give him here," Moody demanded as Stella pulled, what she assumed was, Draco into her arms, holding him close, protectively.
"No way," she scoffed.
"I don't like people who attack with their opponent's back's turned," growled Moody. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do."
"I get that but transfiguring a student is not a legal punishment for rather obvious reasons," Stella growled out. "Now, move."
Stella and a few other Slytherins strode pass Moody, who just watched them go, heading to the dungeons. Stella didn't even knock as she strode into Snape's office. He raised a brow of surprise as ten students walked in behind Stella, all looking rather angry.
"I may find this hilarious once we get you turned back but right now I'm angry for you," Stella told the ferret. "After this, we can talk about your words about my parents."
"Why are you speaking to a ferret?" Snape asked. "Furthermore, where did you get it?"
"It's Draco," Stella told Snape, placing him on the desk.
Ferret Draco stood on his hind legs, staring up at Snape hopefully.
"Put him on the floor," Snape sighed. "No need to have him turn back while on my desk. He could tip over."
"Oh, no," Stella deadpanned. "Not Draco getting injured."
She moved him anyways, setting him on the floor and stepping back. A loud snapping noise rang through the office and Draco was in a heap on the floor, wincing slightly, a few tears of pain in his eyes. Stella rushed forward, helping him slowly to his feet.
"Are you alright?" she asked him softly and he nodded.
"I'm sorry," he told her. "It was uncalled for."
"No shit," Stella rolled her eyes. "I can yell at you later. Sit down. I'll go sneak us some food from the kitchens."
"No need, Black," Snape spoke up, pointing to where food had appeared on the counter. "Also, language."
"Sorry, sir," Stella sighed, helping Draco to a chair. "What do you want to eat? No moving around for a bit."
Snape passed Draco a pain potion, kneeling beside him as Stella made him a plate. She placed the plate down to start pouring a cup of tea before she let out a shriek as the cup tried biting her.
"Damn you, George," she said, blowing the cup up before grabbing a goblet instead, pouring the tea into that instead.
"Language, Black," Snape said again.
"Sorry, sir," she sighed, walking back over and placing the plate and tea on Snape's desk in front of Draco.
"Thanks," Draco nodded to her, sipping the tea slowly before beginning to eat.
Theo brought Stella a plate, carrying his own in his other hand. The group ate in the Potions Master's office, a few other Slytherins joining them within a few minutes. Stella had an idea forming in her mind for her Thursday class.
The Slytherins sat in the back of the classroom, the Gryffindors having seemed rather excited about the class and taken up the first few rows. Stella sat in the center of the sea of green, a glare on her face and arms crossed over her chest. Soon they heard Moody's distinctive clunking footsteps coming down the corridor, and he enter the room, looking as strange and frightening as ever. They could just see his clawed, wooden foot protruding from underneath his robes.
"You can put those away," he growled at the Gryffindors. "Those books. You won't be needing them."
After rollcall, Moody started up.
"Right then. I've had a letter from Professor Lupin about this class. Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in Dark creatures. You've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, Grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?"
'I understand why they call him Mad.'
'Who?'
'Alastor Moody, our new defense teacher. Tell Uncle Moony to get back here.'
"But you're behind on dealing with curses. So I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got a year to teach you how to deal with Dark curses.
"So straight into it. Curses. They come in many strengths and forms. Now, according to the Ministry of Magic, I'm supposed to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in sixth year. You're not supposed to be old enough to deal with it till then. But Professor Dumbledore's got a higher opinion of your nerves. He reckons you'll be fine. You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful. You need to put that away, Miss Brown, when I'm talking."
Lavender jumped and blushed. She had been showing Parvati her completed horoscope under the desk. Apparently Moody's magical eye could see through solid wood and the back of his head. That put a damper on her plan. She would need to get the map from Harry later.
"What curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?" Moody questioned.
Stella's brows raised and she kept her hand down, as did the other Slytherins. No need to feed the rumor mill about Slytherins knowing all the dark curses before they turned three. Moody pulled a spider out of a jar and Stella forced herself not to grimace, looking to Ron instead to see him skirting further back in his chair.
"Weasley!" Moody called out. "Name one."
"The Imperius Curse, or something," Ron offered.
"Imperio!" Moody cast on the spider.
The spider leapt from Moody's hand on a fine thread of silk and began to swing backward and forward as though on a trapeze. It stretched out its legs rigidly, then did a back flip, breaking the thread and landing on the desk, where it began to cartwheel in circles. Moody jerked his wand, and the spider rose onto two of its hind legs and went into what was unmistakably a tap dance.
The Gryffindors were laughing but the Slytherins and Moody didn't. He tossed the spider around the room then. It landed on Ron's hand before landing on Seamus' book, causing him to lift the book quickly, flipping the spider in the air. It landed in front of Stella next and she stared down at the poor creature, knowing how this would end for it. The spider crawled up her quickly and she didn't even flinch as she looked back to Moody, glare still in place.
The laughter had stopped at this point, Gryffindors glanced between Moody and Stella, feeling uneasy. Draco, Blaise, and Theo all looked unnerved by the creature being on Stella, as if they all wanted to speak up, but that wasn't in the plan. Harry had stood from his chair, looking ready to rush to her if it bit her. The spider went back to Moody's hand and Harry took his seat again.
"Total control," he spoke quietly as the spider balled itself up and began to roll over and over. "I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats…
"Years back, there were a lot of witches and wizards controlled by the Imperius Curse. Some job for the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will.
"Another?"
Neville had barely raised his hand when he was called on.
"The… the Cruciartis Curse," he said in a small voice.
"Longbottom, yes?"
The spider was placed upon Moody's desktop.
"Crucio!"
Stella looked away, not wanting to watch.
"Stop it!" Hermione finally yelled.
Moody raised his wand and the spider's legs relaxed, but it continued to twitch.
"Pain," said Moody softly. "You don't need thumbscrews or knives to torture someone if you can perform the Cruciartis Curse. That one was very popular once, too.
"The last one? Black!"
"Didn't raise my hand," Stella stated, looking unimpressed.
"I'm asking anyways."
"The Killing Curse," she sighed.
"Ah. Yes, the last and worst. Avada Kedavra!"
A flash of blinding green light and a rushing of sound. The spider rolled over onto its back, unmarked, but unmistakably dead. Several people stifled cries. Ron almost toppled over in his seat trying to get more space between himself and Moody. Stella didn't agree that the killing curse was the worst. In fact, it seemed the most humane of them all.
"Not nice. Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Only one person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me," Moody stated, staring down at Harry.
Stella knew Harry was imagining the death of his parents in a new light now. She wondered how many nightmares he would have in the future because of this one class, how often his scar would hurt upon waking up. Her glare hardened and Moody's magical eye caught it. Moody started talking again and Stella was unable to concentrate, too angry at Moody and worried about Harry for anything else in the moment.
People were talking excitedly when class was released, as if the class had been some great show. Stella waited for Harry to come out of the class though, taking his hand without thought and pulling him away from the others, to hell with their next class. They took the secret passage out of the school and Stella warned Sirius that they were coming. Harry tossed the cloak over them once they left the tunnel, Stella leading the way to a house at the edge of the village where Remus was waiting out front.
Stella pushed the door open and Remus raised a brow but said nothing, following them inside. Stella pulled the cloak off of them and pulled Harry over to the couch, Sirius walking out of the kitchen and staring at them with concern. Neither said anything as Stella pulled Harry close, holding him close. The two grown wizards could see the anger on Stella's face but knew she wouldn't speak until she was sure that Harry was alright first. She fiddled with her ring instead, explaining the class to Sirius, who pulled Remus into the kitchen to relay the message.
Remus was the one to return first, which was unsurprising to Stella. He seemed like the calmer of the two. He kneeled in front of the two teenagers, hand resting on Harry's knee. Harry shifted a bit so he could see Remus better.
"I'm sorry," he told Harry. "It's horrible to have to see those curses first hand. You do need to learn them though. You should have been given a bit of a warning, though. Neville, as well."
"Why Neville?" Harry asked curiously.
"If he hasn't told you, I won't discuss it," Remus shook his head. "Point is, you shouldn't have been blindsided like that."
"It's fine," Harry shrugged.
"Then what am I comforting you for?" Stella demanded, causing Remus to smirk.
"Don' know. Just thought you liked comforting people, honestly," Harry offered and Stella pushed Harry off of the couch, Remus having just barely moved out of the way in time.
Remus was laughing as Harry glared up at Stella, who simply crossed her arms over her chest, smirking down at Harry as Sirius returned to the room.
"How's the weather down there?" she asked.
"How about I drag you down here and you find out yourself," Harry offered.
"Oh, you'll live," Stella rolled her eyes, standing so she could hug Sirius.
Remus helped Harry to his feet, patting him on the back before they both looked at father and daughter reuniting. Stella buried her face in Sirius's chest, breathing him in now that he didn't smell like he had been on the run for the entire summer. A knock at the door caused them to pull apart, Stella pulling her wand out quickly.
"It's fine," Remus told her, opening the door and allowing Snape in.
"How's that fine?" Stella groaned. "You just got us detention."
"Not this time," Snape spoke up and Stella brightened. "Remus sent word."
"Remus, huh?" Stella asked, arms crossing over her chest.
"Detention."
"That sounds more like you, sir."
"Black…"
"Yeah?" Sirius answered, smirk on his face.
"Oh, there's two of them," Remus sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"How do you think I've felt the past few years?" Snape shrugged.
"Oh, please. I'm your favorite student," Stella rolled her eyes before looking to Harry. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
"We should get you both back to the school," Snape offered and Stella groaned before going to Remus, giving him a tight hug.
Harry stiffly hugged Sirius quickly, still not used to people other than Stella showing him affection. The two slipped under the cloak and Severus led them back to the school.