Chapter Twenty
Stella left the school that night with Remus. She couldn't be in the Slytherin common room. Soon, word would reach the children of the death eaters and Remus was worried Stella would be targeted, especially by the older students. She packed her things away while everyone was at the breakfast and Remus shrunk her trunk down, sticking it in his pocket. Harry couldn't look at Stella when she went to see him.
"He was going to kill you," Harry whispered. "He had his wand pointed at you and he was saying the spell. You were going to die to protect me."
"I was," she nodded. "You're my very best friend, Harry. I would do anything to protect you."
"You can't," Harry shook his head. "You can't do that. I won't let you."
"Harry?"
"We can't be seen together anymore. The Slytherins won't like it," Harry stated. "I'm sorry, Stella."
Stella left with Remus after that and the two left for London. Sirius had gone early to the house, unlocking it so that they could enter and beginning his attack on the creatures inside. Stella and Remus walked in to find dust everywhere. Stella wasn't allowed to wander the house alone for the first two weeks before Mum and Dad joined them, helping to deal with the dirt and creatures.
Speaking of creatures, Kreacher the house elf took one look at Stella and began wailing at her feet. She had stared in horror before kneeling down and assuring him that she was Stella Nova Black, not Celeste Walburga Black back from the grave, a gentle hand on his knobby shoulder.
"I will treat you with the respect that I showed him," Kreacher promised. "Miss will be taken care of."
"Thank you, Kreacher," Stella whispered.
"You have to say that you accept," Sirius spoke up, eyes wide.
"I accept," Stella nodded.
She gasped as magic washed over her. Kreacher actually kneeled in front of her, head bowed. She wondered what Hermione was going to feel about the turn of events when she wrote to her later.
"You may overhear a bit of sensitive information from Order members," Remus told her. "I need you to keep it to yourself though. If too much information gets out, it may hinder our fight against Voldemort."
"Of course," Stella nodded.
The only person she planned to tell was Harry. It turned out that Harry was exactly who they didn't want her to tell.
"I need your word that you won't write to Harry and tell him everything you hear," Dumbledore told her.
"I promise," Stella nodded.
She would leave out the unimportant things that she heard, like what everyone was having for dinner. She liked bending the truth after all.
Harry didn't respond to her letters and she worried that he wasn't getting her letters again before she saw Ron reading one from Harry. She swallowing the anger in her throat and just continued passing information along. She knew he didn't want her in danger, but Stella was a Black, a Weasley, and a Slytherin. She would be in danger no matter what.
Sirius was being distant, always pacing around the house. She tried talking to him a few times but he'd just brushed pass her and left her alone. Remus had stuck close to her, telling her stories of her mother back in school.
Molly and Arthur were being distant as well, blaming the fact that they were just busy with the Order for keeping them away from her. They had plenty of time for anyone with red hair though, and then Hermione when she turned up.
The moment Stella heard about the dementors, Remus had to hold her back from running out of the house to get to Harry. He pulled her into a drawing room, forcing her to sit.
"He's alright," Remus assured her. "He's alright."
Stella was shaking though. Why was it always Remus? Where were her parents? She had three of them after all and it felt like she had none now. Where was Snape? She'd seen him twice since leaving the school and both times he'd avoided her like the Dragon Pox.
"We need to get him here," Stella growled out. "He obviously isn't safe with the muggles. He should have been here the moment school let out."
"There's to be a trial," Remus told her.
"I'll write to Lyons," Stella grumbled, standing and leaving the room.
Remus sighed as she left the room in a hurry. He'd tried talking to Sirius and Severus about giving her a bit of attention but they both refused. Severus couldn't spy properly if he was giving attention to others, as it would distract him from his mission. Sirius was far too worried about Harry to be worried about his daughter, which seemed rather unfair to Remus. Molly and Arthur, the two who had raised her, were keeping their distance in case Stella decided that she wanted to stay with Sirius rather than them from now on and Remus couldn't help but think that Stella wasn't going to have anyone to choose at the end of it.
Four days after the attack, Remus pulled Stella aside, letting her know that he was going with a group to gather Harry and bring him to Grimmauld. The relief on her face combined with the tight hug she gave Remus, caused a bit of a flurry in his chest. Stella watched the group of nine (Remus, Moody, Tonks, Kingsley, Doge, Diggle, Vance, Podmore, and Jones) leave Grimmauld, waiting anxiously at the bottom of the staircase for them to return.
A meeting had started without them, Sirius shaking his head when he saw Stella waiting on the stairs before going into the dining room/kitchen. Half an hour into the meeting, the front door opened and Stella stood, watching the door that separated her from Harry. Molly walked pass her, poking her head out before smiling and leaving the room.
The Order members walked in, Harry and Molly behind them. Remus gave Stella's shoulder a gentle squeeze and Tonks winked at her. Harry made to follow the adults but Molly stopped him.
"No, Harry. The meetings only for Order members. Stella can take you upstairs to Ron and Hermione. We'll have dinner after. Keep your voice down in the hall."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"I don't want anything to wake up," she answered and Stella glanced at the large portrait of Walburga Black before looking back to Harry, who was staring at her with wide eyes.
Stella inclined her head and Harry followed after her. She led Harry up the stairs and down a hall before pushing open the door to the room Harry would be sharing with Ron. She stepped aside and Hermione threw herself into Harry's arms, hugging him tightly. Harry was obviously uncomfortable, even flinching a bit as he set Hermione down and gently pushed her away.
"I'll be trying to listen in if any of you need me," Stella told them, not really wanting to watch any more happy reunions.
Stella and the others had been arguing for the past month. Mostly about Stella passing information to Harry. Hermione had been especially argumentative when Stella had told her about Kreacher forming a bond with her, claiming Stella should never have let it happen and demanding Stella return her S.P.E.W. badge as soon as possible.
Stella had done so before hiding in her room, crying into a dusty old pillow for a while before Kreacher had shown up, giving Stella a bit of tea and a plate of biscuits. She hadn't heard from Blaise, Theo, or Draco all summer. She worried over them every second of the day at this point. She'd hoped she'd be able to get confirmation that they were alright from Snape, but he ignored her still.
Stella was at the foot of the stairs again, using an extendable ear to listen to the meeting. Fred and George joined her before heading up the stairs when they heard Harry's raised voice, wanting to know what was going on. The ear stopped working though and Stella sighed, wrapping it up and heading up the stairs to join the others.
"Oh, hello, Harry!" Ginny's voice greeted him. "I thought I heard your voice."
"It's a no-go with the ears," Stella sighed, passing it to George. "She's gone and put an Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door. Heard her cast it just before the feed cut off."
"Shame," Fred heaved a sigh. "I really fancied finding out what old Snape's been up to."
"Snape!" said Harry quickly. "Is he here now?"
"Yeah," said Geroge. "Giving a report. Top secret."
"Git," Fred said idly.
"Goodbye," Stella rolled her eyes, leaving out the door and closing it behind herself.
Just because he wasn't speaking to her, didn't mean she was going to listen to people speak badly about him. He was probably just angry at her for standing in front of Harry as someone had tried to cast a killing curse at her. Molly walked pass her on the way down the stairs, letting her know dinner was almost ready and the meeting was over. Stella went to the kitchen, going straight to the stove top and checking on what Molly had been cooking before a loud CRASH sounded. Stella let out a groan, leaving to help close the curtain again.
"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers—"
"Shut up, you horrible old hag! Shut UP!" Sirius roared, seizing the curtain from Molly.
"You!" Walburga Black howled. "Blood traitor, abomination, shame of my flesh!"
"SHUT UP!" Sirius bellowed again and he and Remus managed to get the curtain closed.
The screaming stopped and Stella let out a breath of relief. She really would have to ask Kreacher how to get rid of the portrait. Maybe he could keep it in his room? He'd like that.
"Hello, Harry," Sirius was smiling now as he stared at Harry. "I see you've met my mother."
"Sirius," Harry smiled happily, throwing himself into Sirius's waiting arms.
Remus looked over their shoulders, eyes landing on Stella as she just watched the scene unfold. The twins looked shocked, eyes searching for Stella. She knew she shouldn't feel so jealous in the moment but tears were stinging her eyes. She left the entrance way, going straight to an empty drawing room and sitting heavily in one of the armchairs. Fred and George went to follow her but Molly sent them to the dining room for dinner. Remus went to the drawing room, sitting on the table in front of Stella and staying silent as she calmed herself. Last time he'd tried holding her, she'd ended up crying so hard that she couldn't breathe. She'd asked him not to do it again.
Kreacher popped in with plates for both of them, along with butterbeers.
"Kreacher?" Stella asked.
"Yes, miss?" Kreacher asked.
"Would you like to keep Walburga Black's portrait in your room?" Stella asked him with a soft voice.
"Kreacher's room is not large enough," Kreacher told her.
"What room are you in?" Stella asked in confusion.
"Kreacher is in his cupboard."
Stella thought of Harry's cupboard then and felt a cold chill run down her spine.
"Kreacher, how many rooms are in this house?" Stella asked.
"Fifteen bedrooms," Kreacher told her.
"How many aren't being used right now?"
"Ten but Kreacher has kept Master Orion's and Master Regulus's rooms closed. He tried keeping Mistress Walburga's room closed but Master Sirius insisted on keeping the big bird in there."
"Kreacher, you can have any one of the other rooms that you want," Stella told him.
"What?" Kreacher asked, ears flapping.
"You can have one of the rooms that aren't being used. Whichever one you want," she repeated. "Choose a room and place Walburga's portrait in it for safe keeping. Move your things into the room and sleep on the bed. It'll be your room."
"Miss is too kind," Kreacher told her, eyes shining. "Thank you, Miss. Thank you."
Kreature popped away and Stella sighed, rubbing her face harshly.
"Severus asked me to give these to you," Remus spoke up, pulling a few letters from his pocket. "From your Slytherins."
"Thank you," Stella nodded, taking the letters.
"I'll leave you to it," Remus told her.
Her kissed her head before picking up his food and butterbeer and leaving for the dining room. Stella ripped open the letter from Blaise first, hands beginning to shake as she read it.
'Stella,
Theo is staying with us now. His mother is dead and he was punished in place of his father for his fathers… misdeeds while the Dark Lord was away. He's written a few letters to you but hasn't sent them. I think he wants to tell you everything that happened in his home but is afraid of the consequences if he is caught. I'll send the letters to Draco and maybe he'll know a way to pass them along. Mine will be with his. I hope you are safe and alright. I'll see you on the train.
Love, Blaise'
Stella grabbed Theo's letter next, breathe becoming uneven the more she read. She stood quickly, rushing to the dining room with tears falling down her face. Remus was up in an instant, going to her. She passed him the letter, letting him read it as she tried to calm herself, all eyes on her.
"We need to get him out," Remus breathed.
"He's staying with Blaise now," Stella choked out. "Blaise wrote as well to let me know."
"What's happened?" Hermione asked, standing and walking over.
"This one's for you," Stella said, passing a letter to Hermione. "From Theo."
"You're in contact with children of death eaters?" Sirius demanded.
"They're my friends and I won't abandoned them just because of who their parents are," Stella growled out through grit teeth, tears still running down her face.
"They may be playing you," Sirius growled back.
"How would you have felt?" Stella demanded, voice raised. "How would you have survived had James Potter decided to shut you out just because you were the son of Orion and Walburga Black?"
"That was different!"
"You're right. It is different. James Potter saved you from an abusive family. I'm going to save Theo, Blaise, and Draco from a Dark Lord who has killed and tortured innocents."
"Let's all take a breath," Remus tried.
"You couldn't even save yourself! How are you going to save them?" Sirius demanded.
"I wasn't trying to save myself. I was trying to save Harry!" Stella argued.
"ENOUGH!" Remus bellowed and Stella jumped, along with a few of the other people in the room. "Enough. Stella Nova, please go to the sitting room. I'll be there shortly."
Stella grabbed her letter and walked away, peeved that she was about to get yelled at by Remus when all she'd been trying to do for the past month was get a little time with her parents. Stella sat in the armchair, rereading Theo's letter.
'Stell…
He's going to kill me. My father did not live up to his expectations and he's punishing me for it. He's used the Cruciartis I don't know how many times. My elf, Trixy, is trying to find a way to get me out of the house. Father told me that, if I leave, he'll kill me himself. I don't know what to do. I'm supposed to stay with Blaise for a week but if I return to that house, I'll be dead before the month is out. Mother is gone and cannot protect me.
I couldn't die without telling you though. Blaise is my brother. You are my sister. My world was black and white before you. You're the color. Thank you… for everything.
Tell Mia that I'm sorry. Every time that I tried writing a letter to her, I couldn't get the words onto the paper. It was too difficult to write her a goodbye but I'm trying. I think I'm in love with her.
I love you, Stella. Never forget that and never let them see you cry. You are stronger than you know.
Goodbye.
Love, Teddy'
"We're going to get him," Remus announced, walking into the sitting room where Stella was curled into a small ball. "Severus is on his way and he and I are going to go get Theo. Rose was a friend of his when we were all in school. We might come back with Blaise as well. I need you to tell me where they are."
"42 Thornfield Road in London. Brook Green," Stella said, immediately standing. "I'm coming with you."
"You are staying here where it is safe."
"You cannot enter the wards," Stella spoke up. "The wards will recognize me, though, as I've been there before. You take me with you or you won't even be able to see them."
Remus looked torn as Severus walked into the drawing room.
"Get your shoes on," Remus finally deflated a bit and Stella took off at a run.
She rushed up the stairs, Walburga's portrait already gone now. Stella pulled on her high tops and the sweater Molly had made her for Christmas before tossing her hair into a messy bun, wand stuck through it. She rushed down the stairs, walking out of Grimmauld with Severus and Remus. The three walked across the street and Remus took both of their arms and apparated, all three landing together outside of a primary school.
"It's just this way," Stella stated, leading the two wizards down Thornfield Road.
Stella led them to a four story, green painted brick townhouse. The front door was a deep red, almost brown, with a chimney on each side of the house. Stella stepped through the gate, Severus and Remus standing outside of it as Stella walked up to the door and knocked.
Trixy opened the front door, bowing low and allowing Stella inside. Stella walked straight up to the third floor and towards the room designate for Theo whenever he stayed at the house, banging her fist on Blaise's door as she went. Stella heard Blaise run to his door and pull it open, heading poking out as she continued to Theo's room, knocking more gently.
Blaise looked beyond relieved when he saw her, rushing over as Theo opened his door.
"Stell?" Theo asked in confusion.
"Pack your things. We're leaving. I'm taking you to my ancestral home," Stella told him. "Blaise, you can come, too, if you want."
"Absolutely," Blaise breathed out, rushing to his room to gather his things.
"What's happening here?" Rose Zabini asked, looking as beautiful as ever as she walked into the hall, stopping when she saw Stella. "Are you here for him?"
Rose's voice had soften considerably, as had her eyes. Stella often forgot that Rose acted as Theo's mother ever since his had fallen ill when he was just three years old. She and his mother had been best friends all through school and as adults. It was unsurprising to Stella that Rose would want nothing more than for Theo to be safe.
"I am," Stella nodded. "You can come, too, if you want?"
"No," Rose shook her head. "I have to stay here. Take Blaise with you?"
"He's packing," Stella shrugged.
"Good luck, Stella Black," Rose nodded as Theo and Blaise walked back into the hall with bags packed and their Hogwarts trunks in hand. "Protect my sons."
"I will," Stella nodded before turning to Blaise and Theo, both of whom were wearing their Weasley sweaters now. "Ready?"
"Yeah," Theo nodded.
The boys both hugged Rose and Stella saw a few stray tears escape before she brushed them away, smiling at her boys before kissing their heads and turning to Stella. She pulled Stella into a tight hug. She kissed Stella's head and sent them off. She watched them walk away from the front garden, Severus and Remus shrinking their bags and putting them in their pockets before the group walked back towards the primary school.
They apparated away, Severus holding Stella's arm while Remus took the two boys. He showed them the parchment with the address before Stella led everyone inside. She walked right pass Sirius, Harry, and Molly, taking the boys upstairs and setting them up in the rooms beside hers. They ended up in her room, laying across the bed together after Remus dropped their bags off, leaving the three alone, Severus having left right after bringing them to Grimmauld.
The next morning, Kreature brought them breakfast
"How often do you eat by yourself?" Blaise asked curiously as they sipped their tea.
"Depends on how often Uncle Moony and the twins join me," Stella shrugged. "Get ready. I'm sure Mum has work for us. This house was vacated for years before we showed up. I think there's doxies in one of the sitting rooms."
"Oh, what fun," Blaise smirked, going to his room to get changed and leaving Stella and Theo.
"How are you feeling?" Stella asked Theo.
"Sore," he admitted. "Mum gave me something to help with the pain. I've been taking it every morning. Helps."
"And your mother?" Stella asked, chewing her lip.
"Apparently… it happened during the school year… Father didn't tell me until I returned home from school…"
"I'm so sorry, Teddy," Stella breathed, wrapping her arms around Theodore and just holding him for a few minutes as he cried.
She hummed quietly until he calmed and sat up again. Stella wiped his tears away gently.
"Do you need to rest?" Stella asked him.
"I'll be fine," he shook his head. "So, doxies, yeah?"
Theo went to his room as well and Stella changed quickly into jeans and a tank top. She had her wand wrapped in her hair and her dragon hide gloves on her hands. Theo and Blaise followed her down to the first floor, finding everyone just entering to work on the doxies.
"Theo?" Hermione asked at the same time that Ginny asked, "Blaise?"
"My boys are here," Stella smirked to them.
"I thought we were your boys?" Fred and George asked.
"You're seventeen. You can't be boys anymore," Stella argued before tying a bandana around her face. "Let's get to work."
And thus the attack on the house began. Stella put doxies aside for Fred and George's snack boxes as they went, Blaise and Theo noticing and doing the same. Mum left when the doorbell rang around midday and Stella pulled doxies from her pockets and passed them to the twins, Blaise and Theo doing the same.
"Brilliant," George smiled, Fred eyeing Theo a bit as he wondered over to Hermione.
Stella could hear her Mum yelling at Mundungus about stolen cauldrons but she didn't really care. She grabbed a sandwich and left while Blaise was distracted by Ginny. She wondered to the other drawing room where Sirius had mentioned a boggart hiding out. She found the desk it was locked in and pulled out her wand, having noticed that her magic wasn't detected here three weeks ago. Kreacher had told her that it was because of the wards around the house that were set to Black blood, meaning that she could do as much magic as she wished while in the house.
"Alohomora," Stella said around a mouthful of a sandwich and the drawer popped open.
The boggart flew out. It was unable to choose a form when met with Stella and she smirked.
"Riddikulus!" she yelled and the boggart fell to the ground, unmoving.
It was a small, black mouse now and Stella wondered if that was how boggarts always looked before taking a form. She stunned the thing and then floated it into an indestructible, very small box. She locked it inside and left the room, finished her sandwich as she went, hiding the box in her room before heading back down the stairs to join the others.
"And there's the mudblood, standing bold as brass…" Kreacher was saying.
"Kreacher!" she yelled and he silenced at once. "Do NOT call her that again. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, mistress," Kreacher answered.
"What are you doing in here?" Stella asked.
"Cleaning."
"Likely story," Sirius's voice stated, walking into the room behind Stella. "Stand up straight. Now, what are you up to?"
"Kreacher is cleaning," the elf repeated. "Kreacher lives to serve the Noble House of Black."
"And it's getting blacker every day. It's filthy," said Sirius.
"Master always liked his little joke," said Kreacher with a bow. "Master was a nasty ungrateful swine who broke his mother's heart."
"Enough, Kreacher!" Stella yelled and Kreacher went silent. Stella's voice softened. "Kreacher, I thought we were making progress. What has happened?"
"Kreacher picked his room as mistress said. Master told Kreacher he does not deserve a room," Kreacher said.
"Seriously," Stella scoffed, turning to face Sirius with her hands on her hips.
"I'm always Sirius."
"He's not living in a cupboard," Stella defended. "Let him have a room. Merlin knows we aren't using all of them. What's the big deal?"
"Well- he's- I mean—"
"I'm waiting," Stella told him, brow cocked.
"Fine," Sirius rolled his eyes. "You can have your room back, Kreacher."
"Thank you, mistress," Kreacher bowed to Stella before popping away.
"I'm the one who gave him the room back," Sirius complained. "Why's he thanking you?"
Stella just gave Sirius a look and he groaned.
"You're worse than Moony," he complained.
"Be happy I'm not worse than Mum," Stella told him and every Weasley child shivered at the thought.
Sirius walked over to the family tapestry and the others followed.
"You aren't on here," Harry commented.
"I used to be there," said Sirius, pointing at a small, round, charred hole in the tapestry, rather like a cigarette burn. "My sweet old mother blasted me off after I ran away from home. Kreacher's quite fond of muttering the story under his breath."
That much was true. Stella had heard it a few times now.
"Where did you go?" Harry asked.
Stella had already asked and was waiting for Sirius to leave like he did with her. Instead, he gave Harry a soft smile before answering.
"Your dad's place. Your grandparents were really good about it. They sort of adopted me as a second son. Yeah, I camped out at your dad's in the school holidays and, when I was seventeen, I got a place of my own. My Uncle Alphard had left me a decent bit of gold. He's wiped off here, too, that's probably why. Anyway, after that I looked after myself. I was always welcome at Mr. and Mrs. Potter's for Sunday lunch, though."
"But… why did you…?"
"Leave?" Sirius smiled bitterly and ran his fingers through his long, unkempt hair. "Because I hated the whole lot of them: my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal… my idiot brother, soft enough to believe them… that's him."
Stella saw the name Celeste Black crossed out, Regulus Black below it with a date of death (some fifteen years ago, she made a note to ask Kreacher about it).
"He was younger than me," Sirius said, "and a much better son, as I was constantly reminded."
"But he died," Harry said as if it weren't obvious.
"Yeah," Sirius nodded. "Stupid idiot… he joined the Death Eaters."
"You're kidding!"
"Come on, Harry, haven't you seen enough of this house to tell what kind of wizards my family were?"
Stella took a step back and Blaise and Theo moved to her quickly. She walked out of the room, not wanting to listen to any more. Sirius could tell their family story to Harry but, anytime she asked, he would ignore her and leave the room. It wasn't fair. She felt like it was first year all over again, people showing bias towards anyone in green and silver, her family raising their noses at her for the snake emblem on her chest. She walked to the second floor and walked through the hall, stopping when she saw a room labeled, 'Do Not Enter! Without the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black.'
"Stell?" Blaise asked.
"Every time that I've asked him something about our family, he's left the room. Harry takes one look at the tapestry and he starts giving him the full story with barely any prompting. He's been avoiding me every chance he gets," Stella stated, still staring at the door. "Harry, Mum, and Dad are avoiding me as well, even though I went against everyone else and sent Harry information for the past month. Hermione has been arguing with me every chance she gets and Ginny and I haven't acted like sisters since her first year."
"And now you're staring at the door of the brother that Sirius hated," Theo said.
"And now I'm staring at the door of the brother that Sirius hated," Stella nodded. "If he isn't going to give me answers, I'll find them myself. Kreacher?"
Kreacher popped up beside her.
"I'd like to get in Regulus's room. I want to make sure there are no creatures in there and I want to see what I can find about my family," she told him. "May I enter, please?"
"Of course, Mistress," Kreature nodded. "Mistress looks just like Master Regulus before he became Regulus."
"Why was the name Celeste crossed out under Regulus's name on the tapestry?" Theo asked.
"Regulus was born a female," Stella shrugged. "Got changed to a male in his fourth year. Thank you, Kreacher. Have you eaten today?"
"No, Mistress," Kreacher shook his head.
"Pop down to Molly Weasley and tell her that you haven't eaten today. Ask her politely for a sandwich, please. Let her know that I sent you down. Then, will you please get back to fixing the pipes as you were?"
"Yes, Mistress. Thank you, Mistress."
Kreacher popped away and Stella walked into Regulus's room. The Slytherin colors of emerald and silver were everywhere, draping the bed, the walls and the windows. The Black family crest, which Stella recognized from her heir ring, painstakingly painted over the bed, along with the motto 'Toujours Pur'. Beneath this was a collection of yellow newspaper cuttings, all stuck together to make a ragged collage. There was a photograph adorning one of the walls of the Slytherin Quidditch team, Regulus in the middle to show he was seeker, Stella remembering Remus's little fun fact at her game against Gryffindor. The room was dusty and untouched.
"Well, let's take a look around," Blaise sighed.
The three spread out, Stella going to the dresser and searching through it, finding nothing but dust bunnies that hopped amongst the socks. Theo read the articles above Regulus's bed, finding that they were all about Voldemort back during the first war and backed away quickly, not wanting to read about it. He dropped to the floor, looking under the bed instead. He found a box and pulled it out, unable to open it. Blaise found nothing in the closet, stepping back out and slapping at the dust bunnies that followed him.
"I found something," Theo spoke up as Stella stood from checking under the dresser. "Can't get it open."
Stella tried and the box stayed closed. She tried a few spells and nothing worked. She decided she would ask Kreacher later once he'd finished working on the pipes. There were books across one wall and Stella began going through them, finding notes in old school books and notes between friends. Stella took out the notes, setting them aside to take to her room and read later before putting the books back in place. It was when she found a journal that she paused, staring at the hand writing for a bit before putting the notes in it and deciding to take the journal from Regulus's final year at Hogwarts with her as well.
They left the room, shutting the door behind them in the process. A letter from Lyons came two days later as Stella was reading from the journal in her down time. She was discovering that she and Regulus were alike in more ways than just their looks. Regulus was an amazing Seeker and rather protective of his friends, Barty (Stella shuddered), Pandora Rosier, and Evan Rosier. He was proud of being a Slytherin. He was also close to Severus Snape, seeing him as an older brother after he and Sirius had a falling out after Regulus's sorting. It all hit a bit too close to home for Stella to be honest.
Lyons was at the ministry, talking to anyone he needed to in order to dismiss the charges against Harry. Apparently he'd had an auror go to Harry's aunt and uncle's house to take his cousins statement, causing Stella to smirk at the idea of how his family would react to that. She went to Harry and Ron's room, knocking on the door before entering. She looked up to find Harry pulling a clean shirt on, his back to her.
She rushed over to him as he turned to face her but the letter was forgotten as it floated to the floor.
"Stella?" Harry asked in confusion as Stella forced Harry to turn back around.
She lifted the back of his shirt back up and Harry tensed. There were bruises across his back and scars that Stella was afraid to ask about. Her fingers ghosted across one of the scars and Harry shivered before turning, pulling his shirt back down.
"Who?" Stella asked.
"It doesn't matter," Harry shook his head.
"Doesn't… Harry it matters. You matter. Your safety matters. If someone is hurting you, then you need to tell someone," she insisted.
"I have. A few times. In the past. No one ever does anything about it," Harry stated. "Please, just drop it."
"Was it your uncle?" Stella asked, the letter from Lyons no longer entertaining as she thought of what his uncle might do to him once he returned home next summer. "Did he do that to you?"
"It was just a bit of punishment," Harry sighed.
"When Mum slapped me and you saw the bruise, did you think it was just punishment?" Stella asked.
"What? Of course not!"
"Exactly," Stella told him. "What makes this any different?"
"It's different because you didn't deserve it."
"And you deserved that? What could you have possibly done to deserve all of that?"
"Accidental magic, burning food, accidentally trampling over some of Aunt Petunia's flowers," Harry shrugged. "The most recent bit was for using the patronus to save Dudley from the dementors."
"You called two of those accidents and I'm sure you didn't burn the food on purpose, either," Stella stated. "Harry, you shouldn't be punished in any sort of way for accidents. And you definitely shouldn't be punished for saving your cousin. What he's done isn't a punishment. Making you stand in a corner is a punishment. Making you write lines is a punishment. Beating your black and blue is not a punishment. It's abuse."
"Just drop it, Stella," Harry said, brushing pass her and leaving the room quickly.
Stella felt tears in her eyes and wiped them away quickly. She picked up the letter as she left the room, heading down to the dining room for dinner. Sirius was complaining about Kreacher stealing back Black family items from the trash every chance he got. Stella had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, knowing that Kreacher had stolen a few things specifically for her. Snape had come around more often now and Stella had seen him taking a few pain potions in the process. She'd had Kreacher make some broth and put it in a flask, which she passed to Snape as he left the meeting that night. The flask was returned the next time he came and Stella just refilled it, passing it back to him when he left again.
A week before the trial was to be held, Harry and Stella both got letters. Stella's was from Lyons, letting her know that he'd gotten the charges dropped completely. Harry's was from the Ministry, telling him the same thing.
"Oh, thank Merlin," Stella sighed, laying back down across Theo and Blaise as she passed the letter to Theo.
"That Lyons is rather good at his job," Theo commented before passing the letter to Blaise to read as Harry passed his letter to Sirius, both smiling brightly as Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder.
"Case dismissed," Sirius smiled as Remus looked to Stella, taking the offered letter from Blaise to read.
"Well done, Stella," he told her and Sirius and Harry both looked over in confusion.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"Stella had Lyons work on Harry's case," Remus explained. "She received a letter from him as well with the news."
"Oh," Harry's brows rose as he looked to Stella.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sirius asked.
"When would I have had the chance?" Stella asked, brows furrowed. "You practically run from every room I enter."
"I do no such thing," Sirius started.
"Yes, you do. I've already spoke with you about it multiple times," Remus defended and it was Stella's turn to look surprised. "You're being ridiculous. I get it. She looks and talks like Regulus. That doesn't make her him, though."
"I should go," Stella tried but Blaise and Theo both immediately held her down, wanting to see how the conversation was going to go.
"She is your daughter and you are pushing her away. This ends now before you do anything too damaging or I will take Stella and the boys myself and leave," Remus threatened.
"Well I- You can't just—"
"I think you'll find that I can," Remus told him. "If I see you treating her less than Harry one more time, I will do just that."
Sirius stared at Remus with wide eyes before his gaze flickered over to Stella. He left quickly and Harry watched him go before looking to Stella.
"And you," Remus turned on Harry. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Like what?" Harry asked in confusion.
"The two of you have been connected at the hip as long as I've known you. She was what was taken from you for the second task. Why are you acting like strangers?" Remus demanded.
"Well- I—"
"Yes?"
"She… she stood in front of me," Harry whispered. "He was going to kill her."
"So your response to that is pushing her away when you can see her struggling already?" Remus demanded and Stella wanted to sink into the couch and disappear. "What happened to loyalty?"
Harry ended up leaving as well. Remus let out a rough breath and turned to Stella.
"Sorry," he told her.
"No need to apologize," Stella shook her head.
"It was bloody brilliant," Blaise smirked.
"If you feel the need to make it up to me though, I have a wonderful idea," Stella smirked.
That was how Stella, Blaise, and Theo ended up getting an afternoon out of the house, Remus leading them through Muggle London. He'd converted some of Stella's money to muggle pounds for her that morning. There were people dressed in chunky platform shoes, neon windbreakers, tie-dye shirts, or grunge looks. Street musicians and artists lined the busiest streets, Stella dropping a few pounds into the music cases of anyone she liked, paying extra attention to anyone with a guitar, Remus remembering to get her one for Christmas that year.
They entered record stores, the three teens buying a few records each. Stella was about to buy a Discman for herself and her two friends, the three finding different CDs that they wanted, when Remus reminded them that the CD players may not work properly inside Hogwarts walls. They each got a small cassette player instead, buying cassettes galore and trying to figure out how to make mix tapes, something that caused Remus to laugh as he listened on, the shop worker smirking as he watched them.
Stella stopped in front of a store, rushing inside to buy a polaroid camera when she saw it in the window. Theo groaned as Stella showed it off, but Blaise was beyond excited about it. Remus told her how to work the camera and even put some film in it for her before they continued, stopping for lunch, Stella taking pictures of the four of them together in the process.
Remus dropped them off at an art museum, telling them to stay together while he took care of a few things. The three smiled brightly as they walked through the area, pointing out the muggle paintings that they most liked to one another. Blaise tried to get a picture of one of the paintings and a guard hurried over, yelling at the three of them.
They took off running, all laughing as they rushed through the place. The guard chased after them but the three were faster. Remus was already back out front when they ran down the steps, telling Remus to go. He groaned before leading them to an alley, the four hiding until the coast was clear.
The three teens were still smiling as they walked into Grimmauld, all feeling lighter than they had since the start of summer.