Chapter Twenty-Two
Stella was working the Quidditch team hard. Maybe a bit too hard honestly but they needed to be ready for the upcoming games. She was easier on the keepers but still pushed them. She just used a softer voice. They were excused from the Slytherin house dueling club in favor of practice and discussing strategies instead.
Blaise, Theo, and Stella were also working with Fred, George, and Lee to correct formulas for different ideas. They were selling a few of the inventions to the Slytherins for extra cash as well, which Crabbe and Goyle had already used to get out of Umbridge's class twice now. She told them no more so that the toad wouldn't get suspicious. She seemed the paranoid sort.
Homework was being piled onto the fifth-years more and more every day and Stella and her year mates took to spending every evening together, studying and getting homework done. They were grateful for the breaks that they received in their schedules since they'd all dropped Care of Magical Creatures the year before, because it gave them more time to work and study so that they would still have time for Quidditch practice.
"I have heard a complaint about you recently," Snape told her as he held her after class one day.
"But I haven't gotten the chance to do anything yet?" Stella said in confusion.
"Yet?"
"Come now, sir. You know I'd have pulled off three pranks by now on a normal year," Stella shot back and Snape smirked for a half a second before his normal expression was back in place. "So, what's happened? Was it that Umbitch- I mean, Umbridge- lady?"
"It was two members of your Quidditch team, actually," he corrected, holding in his smirk when he heard the nickname and hoping Stella didn't let it slip during classes.
"Wait, what?" Stella asked in confusion.
The Slytherin team was always pushed hard. She wasn't any worse than Flint had been. In fact, she was much nicer compared.
"Your keepers would like the same treatment that you are giving to the older students," Snape explained. "They think you're going easy on them because of their age."
"Well, they aren't wrong," Stella shrugged. "I didn't want to scare them off. I've still been hard on them, just nicer about it."
"Well, they don't like it," Snape told her. "So, please, yell and scream at them all the same."
"You've got it, sir," Stella smirked.
Next practice, Stella pulled the keepers aside while everyone else got in the air.
"I just want you to know that if you ever have a problem, classes or practice wise, you can come to me about it. I understand going to Snape because he's our head of house, but I am here to train and help you. If you felt like I wasn't treating you the same as the other players, all you had to do was let me know," Stella told them, voice still soft.
"Well, we didn't want to upset you, was all," Baker admitted. "You're a really good captain and you're always so busy. We just want to be treated like everyone else."
"I'll do better," Stella promised. "Now, get in the air with the others."
Once all three of them were in the air, Stella yelled for everyone to do laps around the field, stating that whoever was the slowest was going to have to give up dessert for a month at meal times. It was, as Stella had expected, Atkinson. He was the least used player on the team. Stella told him if she saw him even look at the desserts at dinner she'd hex his mouth closed. She made sure to call out the younger two and yell at them just as she did the older players, pushing them just as hard now. They improved greatly in just two practices under her watch.
The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but windy. After breakfast they queued up in front of Filch, who matched their names to the long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardians to visit the village. Filch gave Stella a curt nod before sending her on her way and Stella smirked, wondering how many stink pellets she could sneak back into the castle.
Stella led Blaise and Theo past Zonko's, where she was unsurprised to see Fred, George, and Lee, past the post office, and through the neighborhood that led to a Black property. Remus and Sirius were on the front porch, both smiling as the three Slytherins approached. Stella ran forward, hugging Remus tightly around the waist, him laughing as he held her to him.
"I missed you," Stella admitted.
"So, I've heard," Remus chuckled.
"How?" Stella asked, looking up at Remus's eyes and unable to remember telling Sirius; in fact she'd barely spoked to Sirius lately.
"Blaise wrote me. Told me about you defending me in class and setting the Prophet on fire one morning because it mentioned me," Remus smirked. "Let's get you three inside. The others should be arriving soon."
Stella sighed as she let go of Remus, heading into the house and going straight to the kitchen. When she came out of it with a tea set, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had joined them, Harry under Sirius's arm and smiling brightly. Stella ignored the pang of jealousy that she felt and set the tea down, making cups for Blaise, Theo, and herself, since the other three had been given butterbeers. Blaise pulled Stella into his lap and Theo sat on the floor in front of them, leaning against Blaise's legs, all three sipping from their tea cups as they waited. She didn't even notice Remus taking a photo of the three of them.
First came Neville with Dean and Lavender, followed closely by Parvati and Padma Patil with Cho, who Stella noticed Harry staring at with wide eyes, and her friend, Marietta Edgecomb. Luna walked in with Ginny and the two sat on the floor on each side of Theo, being the only ones, besides Neville who had called a "Hi, Stella" when he'd seen her, to even acknowledge that the Slytherins were there so far. All of the Gryffindor team showed up, Fred and George giving Stella's placement on Blaise's lap a strange look before finding their own seats, Lee Jordan, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Ernie MacMillian, Justin Finch-Fletchy, Hannah Abbot, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, Roger Davis, and Zacharias Smith all filed in.
"A couple of people?" Harry asked Hermione. "A couple of people?"
"Yes, well, the idea seemed quite popular," Hermione smiled happily and Stella stood, seeing how nervous Harry was becoming.
"What have you been telling people? What are they expecting?" Harry demanded.
"I've told you, they just want to hear what you've got to say," Hermione tried. "You don't have to do anything yet. I'll speak first."
"Just breath slowly for me, Harry," Stella told him. "In through your nose and out through your mouth a few times. Let Hermione lead and then you'll follow after, alright?"
Harry seemed to deflate a bit and Stella gave him a reassuring nod and smile before going back to her original spot in Blaise's lap.
"Er," said Hermione, her voice slightly higher than usual out of nerves. "Well — er — hi."
The group focused its attention on her instead, though eyes continued to dart back regularly to Harry.
"Well . . . erm . . . well, you know why you're here. Erm . . . well, Harry here had the idea — I mean" — Harry had thrown her a sharp look — "I had the idea — that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts — and I mean, really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us" — (Hermione's voice became suddenly much stronger and more confident) — "because nobody could call that Defense Against the Dark Arts" —
"Hear, hear," said Anthony Goldstein, and Hermione looked heartened —
"Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands." She paused, looked sideways at Harry, and went on, "And by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just theory but the real spells —"
"You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. too though, I bet?" said Michael Corner.
"Of course I do," said Hermione at once. "But I want more than that, I want to be properly trained in Defense because . . . because . . ." She took a great breath and finished, "Because Lord Voldemort's back."
The reaction was immediate and predictable. Cho's friend shrieked and slopped butterbeer down herself, Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch, Padma Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to turn into a cough. Remus and Sirius both gave her a proud look. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry.
"Well . . . that's the plan anyway," said Hermione. "If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to —"
"Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?" Smith questioned in a rather aggressive voice.
"Well, Dumbledore believes it —" Hermione began.
"You mean, Dumbledore believes him," he argued, nodding at Harry.
"Who are you?" said Ron rather rudely.
"Zacharias Smith," he answered, "and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who's back."
"Look," said Hermione, intervening swiftly, "that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about —"
"It's okay, Hermione," said Harry.
There was a small silence as Harry stepped forward.
"What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?" he asked, looking Zacharias straight in the face. "I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you don't believe me, and I'm not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone. Even Stella believes me and she's one of the most stubborn people I know."
The whole group seemed to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Eyes flicked to Stella and she gave a rather toothy grin and a wave before rolling her eyes and looking back to Harry.
Zacharias said dismissively, "All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know —"
"If you've come to hear exactly what it looks like when Voldemort murders someone I can't help you," Harry said. His temper, always so close to the surface these days, was rising again. He did not take his eyes from Zacharias Smith's aggressive face. "I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, all right? So if that's what you're here for, you might as well clear out."
None of them left their seats, not even Zacharias Smith, though he continued to gaze intently at Harry.
"So," said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. "So . . . like I was saying . . . if you want to learn some defense, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet, and where we're going to —"
"Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm, Harry?" Luna asked and a mummer of interest broke out among the group as Stella gave Luna a genuine smile.
"Yeah," Harry nodded.
"Blimey, Harry!" said Lee, looking deeply impressed. "I never knew that!"
"Mum told Ron not to spread it around," said Fred, grinning at Harry. "She said you got enough attention as it was."
"She's not wrong," mumbled Harry and a couple of people laughed.
"And you killed a basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor in our second year while protecting me and Ginny," Stella tossed out.
"Yeah," Harry nodded again, seeming a bit more confident.
Justin Finch-Fletchley whistled, the Creevey brothers exchanged awestruck looks, and Lavender Brown said "wow" softly.
"And in our first year," said Neville to the group at large, "he saved that Sorcerous Stone —"
"Sorcerer's," hissed Hermione.
"- yes, that, from You-Know-Who," finished Neville and Stella saw his eyes roll at being corrected.
Hannah Abbott's eyes were as round as Galleons.
"And that's not to mention," said Cho (Harry's eyes snapped onto her, she was looking at him, smiling), "all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year — getting past dragons and merpeople and acromantulas and things. . . . All while coming first in points for every challenge."
There was a murmur of impressed agreement around the table. Stella could tell Harry was trying not to blush from the attention that he was receiving from Cho and Stella leaned against Blaise further, him reaching under her sweater so he was touching her skin and running his fingers up and down her spine gently, causing her to shiver as Theo tipped his head back so it rested on her leg, Stella tangling her fingers in his hair and scratching his scalp a bit. Remus looked over at Stella, checking to be sure she was alright while Sirius just glanced between Harry and Stella a few times in confusion, eyes narrowing on Blaise for a moment, specifically where he could see Blaise's hand disappearing under Stella's shirt.
"Look," Harry said and everyone fell silent at once, "I . . . I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything, but . . . I had a lot of help with all that stuff. . . ."
"Not with the dragon, you didn't," said Michael Corner at once. "That was a seriously cool bit of flying. . . ."
"Stella helped—"
"And nobody helped you get rid of those dementors this summer," said Susan Bones.
"No," said Harry, "no, okay, I know I did bits of it without help, but the point I'm trying to make is —"
"Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?" said Zacharias Smith.
"Here's an idea," said Ron loudly, before Harry could speak, "why don't you shut your mouth?"
Perhaps the word "weasel" had affected Ron particularly strongly; in any case, he was now looking at Zacharias as though he would like nothing better than to thump him. Zacharias flushed.
"Well, we've all turned up to learn from him, and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it," he said.
Stella groaned and stood again, all eyes turning to her as she did so.
"He isn't saying that he can't really do any of those things. If you would listen rather than asking questions before he can get a sentence out, you'd realize this. He's telling you that he had help learning everything, just as every student who has walked through Hogwarts has done. He's trying to tell you that, in order to learn, we all have to help each other, not just him trying to teach you, Smith. I feel like it would take at least four people to get through your thick head anyways. And, would you look at that. There are one, two, three, four of us standing up here."
"Why are you here? I though he hated you now?" Smith demanded, glaring at Stella.
"He's stressed. He was throwing a tantrum. Kind of like how you are right now. If you don't want to learn, then leave. Go fail your O.W.L.s and be an easy target for Voldemort. I don't care," Stella rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood tall beside Ron.
Smith didn't move.
"Yes, well," said Hermione hastily, "moving on . . . the point is, are we agreed we want to take lessons from Harry?"
There was a murmur of general agreement. Zacharias folded his arms and said nothing, though perhaps this was because he was too busy keeping an eye on the wand in Stella's hand.
"Right," said Hermione, looking relieved that something had at last been settled. "Well, then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's any point in meeting less than once a week —"
"Hang on," said Angelina, "we need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice."
"No," said Cho, "nor with ours."
"Nor ours," added Zacharias Smith.
"I can get you a copy of the Quidditch schedules," Stella told Hermione.
"I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone," said Hermione, slightly impatiently, even as she tossed Stella a grateful look, "but you know, this is rather important, we're talking about learning to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort's Death Eaters —"
"Well said!" barked MacMillan. "Personally I think this is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our O.W.L.s coming up!"
He looked around impressively, as though waiting for people to cry, "Surely not!"
When nobody spoke, he went on, "I, personally, am at a loss to see why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher upon us at this critical period. Obviously they are in denial about the return of You-Know-Who, but to give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells —"
"We think the reason Umbridge doesn't want us trained in Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Hermione, "is that she's got some . . . some mad idea that Dumbledore could use the students in the school as a kind of private army. She thinks he'd mobilize us against the Ministry."
Nearly everybody looked stunned at this news; everybody except Blaise and Theo, who had already come to that conclusion, much like the rest of the Slytherins, and Luna, who piped up, "Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge had got his own private army."
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
Stella hid her smile behind her hand, keeping in a laugh. She was so happy Luna had shown up.
"Yes, he's got an army of heliopaths," said Luna solemnly.
"No, he hasn't," snapped Hermione, tone harsher than Stella approved of and causing her to turn a glare onto the bushy haired girl.
"Yes, he has," said Luna.
"What are heliopaths?" asked Neville, looking blank.
"They're spirits of fire," said Luna, her protuberant eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever. "Great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of —"
"They don't exist, Neville," said Hermione tartly.
"Oh yes they do!" said Luna angrily.
"I'm sorry, but where's the proof of that?" snapped Hermione.
"There are plenty of eyewitness accounts, just because you're so narrow-minded you need to have everything shoved under your nose before you —"
"Hem, hem," said Ginny in such a good imitation of Professor Umbridge that several people looked around in alarm and then laughed.
"Oh, please don't ever do that again," Stella begged.
"Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to meet and get Defense lessons?" Ginny asked.
"Yes," said Hermione at once, "yes, we were, you're right…"
"Well, once a week sounds cool," said Lee.
"As long as —" began Angelina.
"Yes, yes, we know about the Quidditch," said Hermione in a tense voice. "Well, the other thing to decide is where we're going to meet. . . ."
This was rather more difficult; the whole group fell silent.
"Library?" suggested Katie Bell after a few moments.
"I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes in the library," said Harry.
"Maybe an unused classroom?" said Dean.
"Yeah," said Ron, "McGonagall might let us have hers, she did when Harry was practicing for the Triwizard. . . ."
"Or we could use the party room," Stella shrugged.
"The what?" Remus asked, brows raised.
"Shush back there," Stella smirked. "The adults are speaking up here."
Remus and Sirius barked a laugh.
"Would that work? I think the music would be too loud," Harry tried.
"It isn't always the party room," Stella explained. "It's also known as the Come-and-Go Room or the Room of Requirement. It changes based on who's in the room and what they need from it. Making a room where we can practice defense should be simple enough."
"We'll send a message round to everybody when we've got a time and a place for the first meeting," Hermione rummaged in her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then hesitated, rather as though she was steeling herself to say something. "I-I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think," she took a deep breath, "that we all ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge — or anybody else — what we're up to."
Fred reached out for the parchment and cheerfully put down his signature, but Stella noticed at once that several people looked less than happy at the prospect of putting their names on the list.
"Er . . ." said Zacharias slowly, not taking the parchment that George was trying to pass him. "Well . . . I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is."
But Ernie was looking rather hesitant about signing too. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him.
"I — well, we are prefects," Ernie burst out. "And if this list was found . . . well, I mean to say . . . you said yourself, if Umbridge finds out . . ."
"You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year," Harry reminded him.
"I- yes," said Ernie, "yes, I do believe that, it's just…"
"I can spell it so that the people who sign are the only ones who can see it," Stella assured him. "You think the three of us what to be caught with you lot?"
A small laugh left a few people.
"Ernie, do you really think I'd leave that list lying around?" said Hermione testily.
"No. No, of course not," said Ernie, looking slightly less anxious. "I — yes, of course I'll sign."
Nobody raised objections after Ernie, though Stella saw Cho's friend give her a rather reproachful look before adding her name. When the last person — Zacharias — had signed (except for Harry, Ron, Stella, Blaise, Theo, and Hermione herself), Hermione took the parchment back and slipped it carefully into her bag. There was an odd feeling in the group now. It was as though they had just signed some kind of contract.
"Well, time's ticking on," said Fred briskly, getting to his feet. "George, Lee, and I have got items of a sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later."
In twos and threes the rest of the group took their leave too. Cho made rather a business of fastening the catch on her bag before leaving, her long dark curtain of hair swinging forward to hide her face, but her friend stood beside her, arms folded, clicking her tongue, so that Cho had little choice but to leave with her. As her friend ushered her through the door, Cho looked back and waved at Harry.
"So, what did you use on the parchment?" Stella asked Hermione curiously.
"I'll send you the spells. Can you send me the one to hide the signatures?"
"As soon as I find one," Stella nodded. "I knew you did something to it to keep them from talking and Smith isn't exactly trustworthy. He needed to sign."
"He's a wart," said Ron. "Didn't you say you'd hexed him?"
"I've hexed a lot of people," Stella shrugged.
"I'm seeing more and more why you shouldn't have been made Prefect," Sirius smirked.
"Well, if people would stop trying to spy on my team…" Stella complained dramatically.
"I don't like him much either," admitted Hermione, "but he overheard me talking to Ernie and Hannah at the Hufflepuff table and he seemed really interested in coming, so what could I say? But the more people the better really — I mean, Michael Corner and his friends wouldn't have come if he hadn't been going out with Ginny —"
"He what?!" Ron demanded.
"Oh, now you've done it," Stella groaned.
"I thought she and Blaise were a thing? Aren't you and my sister a thing? I thought with the two of you being an item, Stella could keep an eye on you!" Ron yelled at Blaise.
"I'd rather not watch Ginny snog Blaise, thanks," Stella scrunched up her nose.
"They just went to the ball together," Theo shook his head.
"I'll have you know I'm a perfect gentleman," Blaise said to Stella.
"And a terrible liar, apparently," Stella smirked.
"When did this — when did she — ?" Ron was struggling.
"I could prove it to you if you like?" Blaise offered and Stella couldn't tell if he was actually joking anymore or not.
"I'll think on it," she smirked.
"They met at the Yule Ball and they got together at the end of last year," said Hermione composedly.
"Honestly, Ron," Stella rolled her eyes.
"Which one was Michael Corner?" Ron demanded furiously.
"The dark one," said Hermione.
"I didn't like him," said Ron at once.
"Big surprise," said Stella under her breath.
"But," said Ron, "I thought Ginny fancied Harry!"
Hermione looked at him rather pityingly and shook her head.
"Ginny used to fancy Harry, but she gave up on him months ago. Not that she doesn't like you, of course," she added kindly to Harry.
"Like, you," Blaise whispered in Stella's ear and she slapped his chest, causing him to laugh.
"What was that about being a gentleman?" Stella shot at him.
"So that's why she talks now?" Harry asked Hermione. "She never used to talk in front of me."
"Ron," Hermione said severely as she turned and trod on his feet, "this is exactly why Ginny hasn't told you she's seeing Michael, she knew you'd take it badly. So don't harp on about it, for heaven's sake."
"What d'you mean, who's taking anything badly? I'm not going to harp on about anything . . ."
"Remind me not to tell you when I get a boyfriend," Stella smirked.
"When?" Ron asked, eyes wide. "What do you mean, 'when'? Do you already have someone in mind?"
"Oh, here we go," Stella sighed before looking to Remus and Sirius, who were both trying very hard not to laugh. "We should get back to the school. See you both later."
Sirius and Remus both hugged Stella before she left the house, Ron following after her and demanding she tell him who she was interested in.
"And talking about Michael and Ginny . . . what about Cho and you?" Hermione asked Harry and Stella walked backwards so she could gauge the conversation better.
"What d'you mean?" said Harry quickly.
"Well," said Hermione, smiling slightly, "she just couldn't keep her eyes off you, could she?"
Harry blushed and looked forward, eyes landing on Stella. Stella gave him a smirk and turned away, jumping onto Blaise's back and accepting the piggyback ride he was offering. Theo walked with Hermione, the two speaking softly back and forth and smiling to one another. Ron was glaring at Blaise, obviously thinking that he was who Stella was planning on dating. Harry just stared at Stella as they walked, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
'The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled. The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor'
Harry's head popped into the Runes classroom that morning, waving Stella out when the teacher wasn't looking. Stella pulled out one of Fred and George's not so sweet treats. The professor dismissed Stella quickly and she ate the other half, causing her nose to stop bleeding immediately. She cleared the blood from herself and turned a corner, finding Harry waiting for her.
"What is it? What's the- What happened to Hedwig's wing?"
"I don't know," Harry told her, passing Hedwig to Stella carefully.
"She's been attacked by something," Stella inspected. "Let's get her to Grubbly-Plank."
"Hmm," Grubbly-Plank hummed, staring down at Hedwig. "Looks like something attacked her. Can't think what would have done it, though. Thestrals will sometimes go for birds, of course, but Hagrid's got Hogwarts Thestrals well trained not to touch owls."
"Do you know how far this owl's traveled, Potter?" McGonagall asked sharply.
"Just from Hogsmeade," Harry told her.
"I should be able to sort this out if you leave her with me, Potter," Grubbly-Plank told him. "She shouldn't be flying long distances for a few days, in any case."
"Right," Harry sighed as the bell rang. "Thanks."
"No problem," she told him, taking Hedwig and walking away.
"Just a moment, Wilhelmina!" said McGonagall. "Potter's letter!"
"Oh, yeah!" Harry said, having completely forgot after having seen Hedwig injured.
"Potter!"
"Yes, Professor?"
She glanced up and down the corridor; there were students coming from both directions.
"Bear in mind," she said quickly and quietly, her eyes on the scroll in his hand, "that channels of communication in and out of Hogwarts may be being watched, won't you?"
"We'll find a better way," Stella assured her as students flooded the hall. "Thank you, Professor."
Stella approached Umbridge a few minutes later with a permission slip for the Slytherin Quidditch team in hand, Blaise and Draco with her, as they were on the team.
"Professor?" Stella asked, gaining her attention.
"Yes, Miss Black?" she asked, smiling sweetly at Stella.
"Professor, we saw the decree this morning and were wondering about the Slytherin Quidditch team," Stella told her. "I'm captain and Blaise and Draco are on the team, so we thought the three of us would come down and plead our case?"
"Plead your case?" Umbridge giggled. "There's no need to plead a case. Of course I'll sign permission for the team. I was a Slytherin myself during my school days."
Of course she was.
"Really?" Stella asked. "That explains it then. We were all wondering where the ambition came from."
"Oh, yes," Umbridge smiled at them. "I've heard that you're rather ambitious yourself. All three of you, actually. I hope I can count on you in the future."
"Whatever for?" Stella asked curiously.
"Well, I don't want to say just yet. I'll let you know when the time comes," Umbridge smiled, passing the signed permission slip to Stella.
"Thank you, Professor. We'll see you this afternoon."
The three headed down to the dungeons, all feeling uneasy after having been around Umbridge. Something about that woman just didn't sit right with any of them. They stood outside of the Potions classroom, Gryffindors slowly trickling in.
"Yeah, Umbridge gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue playing straightaway. We went to ask her just now," Draco was telling the other Slytherins. "Well, it was pretty much automatic. I mean, she knows my father really well. He's always popping in and out of the Ministry. . . . It'll be interesting to see whether Gryffindor are allowed to keep playing, wont it, cousin?"
"I'd rather they got to play," Stella shrugged, not looking up from her potions book. "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff aren't even an actual challenge. Not that Gryffindor was the last time we played them outside of my siblings."
"I mean," said Malfoy, raising his voice a little more, his grey eyes glittering malevolently in Harry and Ron's direction, "if it's a question of influence with the Ministry, I don't think they've got much chance. . . . From what my father says, they've been looking for an excuse to sack Arthur Weasley for years. . . . And as for Potter . . . My father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St. Mungo's. . . . apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic. . . ."
Stella didn't even hesitate as she slapped Draco across the face. She didn't regret it either as he stared at her on shock. Theo and Blaise were trying to pull her away as Harry and Ron were holding Neville back.
"I have told you repeatedly that the Weasley's are family to me and you continue to degrade them in front of me. I don't care that you were trying to get a rise out of Harry and Ron! You would be trying to duel me in the halls if I said something about your parents so stop talking badly about mine!" Stella hissed.
Theo physically picked Stella up, carrying her away from the rest of their house without any problems. He really should have tried out for beater. Blaise, Tracy, and Lily went with them. The dungeon door swung open as Theo set Stella back on her feet, holding her still with his eyes as Snape appeared.
"Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom?" Snape said in his cold, sneering voice. "Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you."
Theo didn't let Stella move until everyone else had walked into the classroom. Only then did he and Blaise let her through, both walking directly behind her. Stella froze again though when she saw Umbridge standing in the corner of the room. Stella's eyes flickered to Snape before she took her seat.
"You will notice," said Snape in his low, sneering voice, "that we have a guest with us today."
He gestured towards the dim corner of the dungeon where Umbridge was with her clipboard. Stella had heard about McGonagall telling Umbridge that she didn't allow people to speak when she was in order to shut the pink toad up during her review and Stella wondered if she would actually get to see a show this time.
"We are continuing with our Strengthening Solutions today, you will find your mixtures as you left them last lesson, if correctly made they should have matured well over the weekend — instructions" — he waved his wand again — "are on the board. Carry on."
Professor Umbridge spent the first half hour of the lesson making notes in her corner. Stella listened on as she worked on her potion, hearing Hermione whispered instructions at Harry when he almost made a huge mistake. Umbridge jumped to her feet and strode towards Snape, who was bending over Dean's cauldron.
"Well, the class seems fairly advanced for their level," she said briskly to Snape's back. "Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus."
Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her.
"Now . . . how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard.
"Fourteen years," Snape replied. His expression was unfathomable.
"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Professor Umbridge asked Snape.
"Yes," said Snape quietly.
"But you were unsuccessful?"
Snape's lip curled.
"Obviously."
Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard.
"And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"
"Yes," said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips.
He looked very angry.
"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?" asked Umbridge.
"I suggest you ask him," said Snape jerkily.
"Oh I shall," said Professor Umbridge with a sweet smile.
"I suppose this is relevant?" Snape asked, his black eyes narrowed.
"Oh yes," said Professor Umbridge. "Yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers' — er — backgrounds. . . ."
"What background would that be?" Stella growled out and Blaise snickered as he bumped her arm with his own.
Snape had heard her but Umbridge somehow hadn't. She moved towards Stella though to ask her questions about the class.
"How do you feel about the advanced potions?" Umbridge asked her.
"Oh, I love a good challenge," Stella admitted before making a slight dig at Umbridge next. "If the class isn't a challenge, then what's the point? You won't learn anything if it doesn't hold your attention."
"And how do you feel about Professor Snape's teaching style?"
"Professor Snape is my favorite professor because of how he teaches," Stella stated as she stirred her potion and added a beetle eye. "As I said, he challenges us, but it's because he knows we can do better. I'm thinking about getting into teaching one day myself. I hope to be at least half as good of a professor as he is one day."
"Well, I'm sure there are… other professors that you could look up to," she tried.
"Why ever would I do that?" Stella asked, staring into Umbridge's eyes, as if daring her to speak negatively about Snape in front of her. "Professor Snape is my Head of House and our best professor. Well, all the Head of House are actually amazing teachers. Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, and Professor Flitwick are exceptional as well. I think all four of them are something to behold."
Umbridge's smile had fallen a bit before it went back into place. She moved along, speaking to Pansy a bit and receiving much the same responses before moving back to her corner. She stood quietly for the remaining hour of class, writing away on her clipboard. Stella shot Snape a smile when the bell rang, to which he simply smirked before nodding at her approvingly.
Defense was after break and Stella wondered if someone could come in and inspect Umbridge's class just to prove a point, specifically McGonagall and Snape. Stella would sell tickets and snacks. Umbridge entered the room as Stella thought of setting off fireworks, wearing her black velvet bow and an expression of great smugness.
"Good afternoon, class."
"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted drearily.
"Wands away, please . . ." But there was no answering flurry of movement this time; nobody had bothered to take out their wands. "Please turn to page thirty-four of Defensive Magical Theory and read the third chapter, entitled 'The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack.' There will be —"
"— no need to talk," Stella, Blaise, and Theo said together under their breaths.
Saturday it was pouring rain and the Slytherins were the only team with permission in the moment. She yelled over the pouring rain, telling Crabbe off for almost taking Draco out by accident. She ended up calling practice off and they all made a run for it back to the castle. Stella dried and warmed the team with her wand as they walked in, Blaise vanishing mud as they went.
"We can go to the spare classroom and talk strategy instead," Stella told them. "No need for any of us to get sick or injured trying to practice."
"Stella?" Draco approached her as they headed to the classroom.
"Malfoy," she responded.
"I'm sorry," he said, grabbing her arm and turning her. "I know. I keep screwing up. I'm sorry."
"I'm no longer accepting apologies. Only changed behavior," Stella told him before walking away.
Ron approached Stella, Blaise, and Theo on Tuesday.
"Tonight, eight o'clock in the Room of Requirement," he told them before walking away.
A spacious room lit with flickering torches like those that illuminated the dungeons eight floors below greeted Stella. The walls were lined with wooden bookcases, and instead of chairs there were large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room carried a range of instruments such as Sneakoscopes, Secrecy Sensors, and a large, cracked Foe-Glass that Stella was sure had hung, the previous year, in the fake Moody's office.
"Brilliant," Stella smiled as she did a small spin around the room, the Slytherins joining the golden trio as they entered. "Absolutely brilliant."
"I love magic," Harry repeated the sentiment from the World Cup and Stella smiled brightly at him.
There was a gentle knock on the door. Harry looked around; Ginny, Neville, Lavender, Parvati, and Dean had arrived.
"Whoa," said Dean, staring around, impressed. "Place looks different than I remember."
Fred and George came in next.
"I think we hid in here from Filch once," George stated.
"It was a broom closet then," Fred nodded.
"Yeah, us, too," Stella smirked to Blaise, remembering when the two had hidden after spying on the Gryffindors, the team having taken a secret passage to get through the school faster.
Her brothers glared, thinking Stella had meant for a different reason as Blaise winked at her. The others piled in over time. Once everyone had gathered, Harry moved to the front of the crowd.
"Well," said Harry, slightly nervously. "This is the place we've found for practices, and you've — er — obviously found it okay —"
"It's fantastic!" said Cho, and several people murmured their agreement.
"Hey, Harry, what's this stuff?" asked Dean from the rear of the room, indicating the Sneakoscopes and the Foe-Glass.
"Dark Detectors," said Harry, stepping between the cushions to reach them. "Basically they all show when Dark wizards or enemies are around, but you don't want to rely on them too much, they can be fooled. . . ."
He gazed for a moment into the cracked Foe-Glass; shadowy figures were moving around inside it, though none was recognizable. He turned his back on it.
"Well, I've been thinking about the sort of stuff we ought to do first and — er —" He noticed a raised hand. "What, Hermione?"
"I think we ought to elect a leader," said Hermione.
"Harry's leader," said Cho at once, looking at Hermione as though she were mad.
"Yes, but I think we ought to vote on it properly," said Hermione, unperturbed. "It makes it formal and it gives him authority. So — everyone who thinks Harry ought to be our leader?"
Everybody put up their hands, even Zacharias Smith, though he did it very halfheartedly.
"Er — right, thanks," said Harry, who could feel his face burning. "And — what, Hermione?"
"I also think we ought to have a name," she said brightly, her hand still in the air. "It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity, don't you think?"
"Can we be the Anti-Umbridge League?" said Angelina hopefully.
"Or the Ministry of Magic Are Morons Group?" suggested Fred.
"I was thinking," said Hermione, frowning at Fred, "more of a name that didn't tell everyone what we were up to, so we can refer to it safely outside meetings."
"The Defense Association?" said Cho. "The D.A. for short, so nobody knows what we're talking about?"
"Yeah, the D.A.'s good," said Ginny. "Only let's make it stand for Dumbledore's Army because that's the Ministry's worst fear, isn't it?"
There was a good deal of appreciative murmuring and laughter at this.
"All in favor of the D.A.?" said Hermione bossily, kneeling up on her cushion to count. "That's a majority — motion passed!"
She pinned the piece of paper with all of their names on it on the wall and wrote 'DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY' across the top in large letters.
"Right," said Harry, when she had sat down again, "shall we get practicing then? I was thinking, the first thing we should do is Expelliarmus, you know, the Disarming Charm. I know it's pretty basic but I've found it really useful —"
"Oh please," said Zacharias Smith, rolling his eyes and folding his arms. "I don't think Expelliarmus is exactly going to help us against You-Know-Who, do you?"
"I've used it against him," said Harry quietly. "It saved my life last June."
Smith opened his mouth stupidly. The rest of the room was very quiet.
"But if you think it's beneath you, you can leave," Harry said. Smith did not move. Nor did anybody else. "Okay. I reckon we should all divide into pairs and practice."
Stella pushed Blaise towards Ron and went to Neville.
"I already know the spell, so you can practice on me, Nev," Stella told him with a smile.
The room was suddenly full of shouts of "Expelliarmus!": Wands flew in all directions, missed spells hit books on shelves and sent them flying into the air. It took a few tries before Stella even felt the wand shift in her hand.
"Neville, do you have your own wand?" Stella asked him curiously, remembering how many problems Ron had with Charlie's old wand during first year.
"It's my dad's," Neville shrugged.
"Hmm," Stella hummed.
"Why?" he asked, seeming on guard.
"Well, the wand chooses the witch or wizard. I'm guessing that wand didn't chose you, which means that you'll have a more difficult time with spells than others. You're basically forcing it to work with you rather than working together. Hold on. Harry!"
Harry wondered over to them, a curious expression on his face.
"Can I use your wand for a moment?"
"Why?" Harry asked.
"I want to show Neville something."
"Okay," Harry shrugged, passing his wand over.
"Expelliarmus," Stella said and Neville's wand flew to her with no issues and she handed it right back before using Harry's wand. "Expelliarmus. See? I didn't get your wand."
"Oh," Neville's eyes widened. "I never realized."
"Neville and I are going on a field trip," Stella told Harry, passing his wand back. "Don't wait up."
"What?" Neville was confused but Harry just laughed as Stella grabbed Neville's hand and pulled him along.
"Don't argue with her Neville!" Harry called and everyone turned to watch what was happening. "She's very stubborn!"
"And don't you forget it!" Stella called back before she and Neville left the room.
Stella used the map to sneak herself and Neville out of school and into Hogsmeade, disillusioning them once they reached Honeydukes, hand still holding Neville's. She made her way behind the store fronts and made them visible again.
"Kreacher?" she tried and the elf appeared immediately, eyes wide. "Kreacher, can you apparate with two people?"
"I can, Mistress," Kreacher nodded.
"Can you take us to Diagon Alley, please?"
Kreacher grabbed both of their hands and the three disappeared, appearing in the alley. Stella pulled Neville along behind her to Ollivander's, Kreacher following along apprehensively.
"Hello, Mr. Ollivander," Stella smiled as they walked in. "I was hoping you could assist us with something?"
"How many I be of service, Miss Black?" Ollivander asked. "And aren't the two of you supposed to be in school?"
"I won't tell if you don't," Stella shrugged. "It seems that Neville has never had a wand chose him before and is having difficulties in classes because of it. I was hoping you could help?"
"Of course," Ollivander nodded and his tape measure flew out.
Stella stepped away, watching as measurements were taken and Ollivander began pulling a few wands out. It took twenty minutes and sixteen wands before Neville's wand found him.
"Cherry wood and unicorn hair. Eleven inches, bendy," Ollivander nodded. "Potential for great power and very loyal. Also, hard to turn dark. Yes, I think this wand will do you well, Mr. Longbottom."
Stella paid for the wand herself, along with a rather generous tip to keep it quiet. Kreacher returned them to Hogsmeade and Stella sent him back to Grimmauld immediately, telling him to let her know if he needed anything. The two snuck back through the tunnel, returning just in time to hear the end of Harry's class.
"Well, that was pretty good," said Harry, "but we've overrun, we'd better leave it here. Same time, same place next week?"
"Sooner!" said Dean Thomas eagerly and many people nodded in agreement.
Angelina, however, said quickly, "The Quidditch season's about to start, we need team practices too!"
"Let's say next Wednesday night, then," said Harry, "and we can decide on additional meetings then. . . . Come on, we'd better get going. . . ."
"I'm back with the map!" Stella announced, holding it open and proceeding to help get the students out in small groups, telling them which routes to take.
"Thank you, Stella," Neville told her, smiling brightly. "I can't wait to try it."
"Make sure you keep your dad's wand in case of emergencies," she told him. "It might be helpful if we all had spare wands… Another time."
Neville left with Ginny and Stella left with Blaise and Theo, all disillusioned as they made their way to the dungeons.