Chapter Twenty-Six
The door of the telephone box burst open; Harry and Stella toppled out of it, followed by Neville, Theo, and Luna. The only sound in the Atrium was the steady rush of water from the golden fountain, where jets from the wands of the witch and wizard, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat, and the house-elf's ears continued to gush into the surrounding pool.
"Come on," said Harry quietly and the nine of them sprinted off down the hall, Harry in the lead, past the fountain, toward the desk where the security man who had weighed their wands had sat and which was now deserted.
Harry led the way. They took the lift and then ran through the "Department of Mysteries" hall. Harry made a turn towards a plain black door.
"Let's go," he whispered, and he led the way down the corridor, Stella right behind him, determination in her eyes before Harry stopped within six feet of the door. "Okay, listen. Maybe… Maybe a couple of people should stay here as a lookout."
"And how're we going to let you know something's coming?" asked Ginny, her eyebrows raised. "You could be miles away."
"They're coming with us, Harry," Stella glared. "Now, stop wasting time. Let's go."
They were standing in a large, circular room. Everything in here was black including the floor and ceiling — identical, unmarked, handle-less black doors were set at intervals all around the black walls, interspersed with branches of candles whose flames burned blue, their cool, shimmering light reflected in the shining marble floor so that it looked as though there was dark water underfoot.
"Someone shut the door," Harry muttered.
He regretted giving this order the moment Neville had obeyed it. Without the long chink of light from the torch-lit corridor behind them, the place became so dark that for a moment the only things they could see were the bunches of shivering blue flames on the walls and their ghostly reflections in the floor below. Then the room began rotating. Theo and Blaise both grabbed Stella, making sure she was alright as the walls spun, just in case the floors spun as well.
For a few seconds the blue flames around them were blurred to resemble neon lines as the wall sped around and then, quite as suddenly as it had started, the rumbling stopped and everything became stationary once again.
"What was that about?" whispered Ron fearfully.
"I think it was to stop us knowing which door we came in from," said Ginny in a hushed voice.
"Well, it worked," Stella complained.
"How're we going to get back now?" Neville asked.
"We'll have to check every door," Theo answered.
"Well, that doesn't matter now," said Harry forcefully. "We won't need to get out till we've found Sirius."
"Where do we go, then, Harry?" Ron asked.
"I don't —" Harry began. He swallowed. "In the dreams I went through the door at the end of the corridor from the lifts into a dark room — that's this one — and then I went through another door into a room that kind of . . . glitters. We should try a few doors," he said hastily. "I'll know the right way when I see it. C'mon."
He marched straight at the door now facing him, the others following close behind him, set his left hand against its cool, shining surface, raised his wand, ready to strike the moment it opened, and pushed. It swung open easily.
There were just a few desks and, in the very middle of the room, an enormous glass tank of deep-green water, big enough for all of them to swim in, which contained a number of pearly white objects that were drifting around lazily in the liquid.
"What're those things?" whispered Ron.
"Dunno," said Harry.
"I'd rather not find out," Blaise added, still holding Stella's hand in his.
"Are they fish?" Ginny asked.
"Aquavirius maggots," Luna offered.
"No," said Hermione. "They're brains."
"What did I just say?" Blaise complained.
"This isn't the right room," Harry told them. "We need to try another door."
"There are doors here, too," Ron offered, pointing.
"In my dream I went through that dark room into the second one," he said. "I think we should go back and try from there."
They left the room and Stella turned to the door before leaving the room.
"Flagrate," she cast and the word 'Brains' appeared on the door.
The moment that the door clicked shut behind her, the rumbling started again and the walls spun again. There was now a red blue mixed in amongst the faint blue and when all became still again, the word 'Brains' was still clearly visible.
Harry strode forward and pushed the next door open, his wand raised and everyone at his heels.
This room was larger than the last, dimly lit and rectangular, and the center of it was sunken, forming a great stone pit some twenty feet below them. They were standing on the topmost tier of what seemed to be stone benches running all around the room and descending in steep steps like an amphitheater.
There was a stone dais in the center of the lowered floor and, upon the dais, stood a stone archway that looked so ancient, cracked, and crumbling that Stella was surprised that it was still standing. Unsupported by any surrounding wall, the archway was hung with a tattered black curtain or veil which, despite the complete stillness of the cold surrounding air, was fluttering very slightly as though it had just been touched.
"Who's there?" Harry asked, jumping down onto the bench below and no one answered.
"Careful!" Hermione whispered and Stella followed after Harry quickly.
"Sirius?" Harry asked, voice quieter now.
"He isn't here," Stella told him but Harry was staring at the archway with wonder. "Harry?"
"Harry, let's go, okay?" Hermione tried.
"Okay," Harry nodded but didn't move.
Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Theo were staring at the archway as well. Blaise grabbed Theo's arm and pulled him away while Stella grabbed Harry, Hermione grabbed Ginny and Luna, and Ron grabbed Neville.
"We're here for Sirius, Harry, remember?" she tried and Harry took a forceful step back.
"Right," he nodded. "Let's go."
Stella marked the door as 'Arch' and the room spun again. The next door wouldn't budge and Harry's knife melted. Stella labeled it as 'Locked' and they moved on.
"This is it," Harry told Stella and the two ran ahead of everyone, taking off as the others followed behind.
As Stella's eyes became more accustomed to the brilliant glare of the room, she saw clocks gleaming from every surface, large and small, grandfather and carriage, hanging in spaces between the bookcases or standing on desks ranging the length of the room, so that a busy, relentless ticking filled the place like thousands of minuscule, marching footsteps. The source of the dancing, diamond-bright light was a towering crystal bell jar that stood at the far end of the room.
"This way," Harry told her.
They pushed through another door. They were there, they had found the place: high as a church and full of nothing but towering shelves covered in small, dusty, glass orbs. They glimmered dully in the light issuing from more candle brackets set at intervals along the shelves. Like those in the circular room behind them, their flames were burning blue. The room was very cold and Stella felt Blaise cast a warming charm on her.
"Which row?" Stella asked.
"Ninety-seven," Harry answered and Stella pointed at the 53 beside them.
"We need to go right, I think," whispered Hermione, squinting to the next row. "Yes . . . that's fifty-four. . . ."
"Keep your wands out," Harry said softly.
They crept forward, staring behind them as they went on down the long alleys of shelves, the farther ends of which were in near total darkness. Tiny, yellowing labels had been stuck beneath each glass orb on the shelf. Some of them had a weird, liquid glow; others were as dull and dark within as blown lightbulbs. They passed row eighty-four . . . eighty-five…
They couldn't hear the sounds of someone being tortured and Stella feared the worst, still messing with her ring and trying to reach her father.
"Ninety-seven!" whispered Hermione.
They stood grouped around the end of the row, gazing down the alley beside it. There was nobody there.
"He's right down at the end," said Harry. "You can't see properly from here…"
And he led them forward, between the towering rows of glass balls, some of which glowed softly as they passed. . . .
"He should be near here," Harry whispered and Stella froze.
'Stella?'
'Da?'
'What's wrong?'
'Where are you?'
"Harry, this one has your name on it," Ron stated.
"Stella?" Theo tried.
'Home. Why?'
"It's a trap!" Stella yelled but it was too late, figures were surrounding them now, black cloaks and silver masks.
'We're at the ministry. Da, we're at the ministry. Harry was tricked and we're in the Department of Mysteries. I'm so sorry.'
"Well, at least one of you figured it out," the voice of Lucius Malfoy spoke up. "A bit late, but still. I'm a bit proud that it's you, Stella Black. Now, Potter, turn around, nice and slow, and give that to me."
'Lucius Malfoy is here. There are Death Eaters.'
'We're coming, little star! We're coming! Just stay alive! All of you! We're coming!'
"To me, Potter," Lucius repeated.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Home," Stella answered.
"Give me the prophecy, Potter," Lucius tried again and Stella knew that, no matter what else happened tonight, Harry was not to give the orb over to Lucius Malfoy.
"But, he was here. You had him here," Harry argued.
"The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it dweamed was twoo," a woman mocked.
"Don't do anything," Harry whispered to all of them. "Not yet."
They were all pressed close to each other, wands up. The woman let out a raucous scream of laughter.
"You hear him? You hear him? Giving instructions to the other children as though he thinks of fighting us!"
"Oh, you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix," said Malfoy softly. "He has a great weakness for heroics; the Dark Lord understands this about him. Now give me the prophecy, Potter."
"Bellatrix," Stella's eyes widened and she glanced at Neville beside her, whose hand had started shaking when he heard the name.
"He was here!" Harry insisted.
More Death Eaters laughed, though Bellatrix still laughed the loudest.
"It's time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter," said Malfoy. "Now give me the prophecy, or we start using wands."
"Go on, then," said Harry and Stella wasn't sure how she felt about that statement.
Almost all of the people she loved were around her, the rest on their way. If a wand fight was going to start… Well, she was willing to die for Harry once. She was willing to fight for him and the others, ready to die if needed to protect them.
"Hand over the prophecy and no one need get hurt," said Malfoy coolly.
"Yeah, right!" Harry laughed. "I give you this — prophecy, is it? And you'll just let us skip off home, will you?"
"Accio Proph —" Bellatrix started.
"Protego!" Harry, Stella, and Theo yelled.
"Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter," she said, her mad eyes staring through the slits in her hood. "Very well, then —"
"I TOLD YOU, NO!" Lucius Malfoy roared at the woman. "If you smash it — !"
The woman stepped forward, away from her fellows, and pulled off her hood. Azkaban had hollowed Bellatrix Lestrange's face, making it gaunt and skull-like, but it was alive with a feverish, fanatical glow.
"You need more persuasion?" she said, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Very well — take that one," she ordered the Death Eaters beside her. "Let him watch while we torture the little Black. I'll do it. Teach my family which side she should be on."
The others pushed closer to Stella, blocking her from view. Ron stepped directly in front of Stella so he was between her and Bellatrix.
"Hurt my sister, and I'll kill you," Ron growled out.
"Ooh! Let me play with him?" Bellatrix begged Lucius.
"Touch my brother and I'll slit your throat," Stella hissed and Bellatrix laughed loudly.
"You'll have to smash this if you want to attack any of us," Harry told Bellatrix. "I don't think your boss will be too pleased if you come back without it, will he?"
She did not move; she merely stared at him, the tip of her tongue moistening her thin mouth.
"So," said Harry, "what kind of prophecy are we talking about anyway?"
"Maybe it tells us what our O.W.L. scores are," Stella suggested, reverting to sarcasm and bad humor.
"What kind of prophecy?" repeated Bellatrix, the grin fading from her face. "You jest, Harry Potter."
"Nope, not jesting," said Harry, his eyes flicking from Death Eater to Death Eater, looking for a weak link, a space through which they could escape. "How come Voldemort wants it?"
Several of the Death Eaters let out low hisses.
"You dare speak his name?" whispered Bellatrix.
"Yeah," said Harry, maintaining his tight grip on the glass ball, expecting another attempt to bewitch it from him. "Yeah, I've got no problem saying Vol—"
"Shut your mouth!" Bellatrix shrieked. "You dare speak his name with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch it with your half-blood's tongue, you dare —"
"Did you know he's a half-blood too?" said Harry recklessly. Hermione gave a little moan in his ear. "Voldemort? Yeah, his mother was a witch but his dad was a Muggle — or has he been telling you lot he's pureblood?"
"STUPEF-!"
"NO!"
A jet of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix's wand but Malfoy deflected it. His spell caused hers to hit the shelf a foot to the left of Harry and several of the glass orbs there shattered.
"DO NOT ATTACK! WE NEED THE PROPHECY!"
"He dared — he dares —" shrieked Bellatrix incoherently. "— He stands there — filthy half-blood —"
"WAIT UNTIL WE'VE GOT THE PROPHECY!" bawled Malfoy.
"So this little family reunion has been wonderful and all but I think we should really be getting back to school now. I don't think the headmistress will be all too happy with us for leaving and there are parties in the common rooms to get to. We'll just see ourselves out—"
"You insolent, little brat!" Bellatrix yelled at her.
"Yeah, well, what can I say? I take after my father," Stella shrugged, still fussing with her ring as she relayed everything to Sirius, who was beyond panicked now that he knew Bellatrix was there. "So, if you'll please just—"
"You still haven't told me what's so important about this prophecy," Harry stated and Stella could strangle him.
"Do not play games with us, Potter," said Malfoy.
"I'm not playing games," said Harry.
"Can I suggest Monopoly?" Stella tried.
"Please stop," Blaise begged from beside her.
"Sorry, love. Bit of a habit at this point," Stella told him.
"Theodore," a deep voice interrupted and Stella, Theo, and Blaise looked over immediately, finding Theo's father staring at Theo in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, where Stella goes, we go," Theo shrugged.
"We're her shadows," Blaise nodded. "Now, about that Monopoly…"
"Dumbledore never told you that the reason you bear that scar was hidden in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries?" said Malfoy sneeringly.
"I — what?" Harry asked. "What about my scar?"
"Can this be?" said Malfoy, sounding maliciously delighted; some of the Death Eaters were laughing again, and under cover of their laughter, Harry hissed to Hermione, moving his lips as little as possible, "Smash shelves —"
"Dumbledore never told you?" Malfoy repeated. "Well, this explains why you didn't come earlier, Potter, the Dark Lord wondered why —"
"- when I say go—"
"— you didn't come running when he showed you the place where it was hidden in your dreams. He thought natural curiosity would make you want to hear the exact wording. . . ."
"Did he?" said Harry. Behind him he felt rather than heard Hermione passing his message to the others and he sought to keep talking, to distract the Death Eaters. "So he wanted me to come and get it, did he? Why?"
"Why?" Malfoy sounded incredulously delighted. "Because the only people who are permitted to retrieve a prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, Potter, are those about whom it was made, as the Dark Lord discovered when he attempted to use others to steal it for him."
"And why did he want to steal a prophecy about me?"
"About both of you, Potter, about both of you . . . Haven't you ever wondered why the Dark Lord tried to kill you as a baby?"
Stella really wished Harry would hurry it up so that they could make a break for it.
"Someone made a prophecy about Voldemort and me?" he said quietly, gazing at Lucius Malfoy, his fingers tightening over the warm glass sphere in his hand. It was hardly larger than a Snitch and still gritty with dust. "And he's made me come and get it for him? Why couldn't he come and get it himself?"
"Get it himself?" Bellatrix laughed madly. "The Dark Lord, walk into the Ministry of Magic, when they are so sweetly ignoring his return?"
"So he's got you doing his dirty work for him, has he?" said Harry. "Like he tried to get Sturgis to steal it — and Bode?"
"Very good, Potter, very good . . ." said Malfoy slowly. "But the Dark Lord knows you are not unintell —"
"NOW!" Harry yelled.
Nine different voices yelled "REDUCTO!" Nine curses flew off and shelves exploded as they hit. The towering structure swayed as a hundred glass spheres burst apart, pearly-white figures unfurled into the air and floated there, their voices echoing from who knew what long-dead past amid the torrent of crashing glass and splintered wood now raining down upon the floor —
"RUN!" Harry yelled.
Stella, Blaise and Neville took off together, arms over their heads as they tried to protect themselves from the glass. They ran through a door and ended up in the hall again but they were being followed. Stella grabbed Neville's hand and pushed Blaise towards an unmarked door, dragging Neville with them.
The room was blindingly bright. It looked as if they were up above clouds in the sky. Stella pulled everyone against the doorframe, worried about what would happen if they stepped off of the cloud they were currently on. The door opened and Stella turned, grabbed the Death Eater, and pulled him in. She pushed him forward and he stepped off the cloud. Except, he didn't step off of it. He fell out of the sky.
"Okay. Back through the door," Blaise demanded and the three ran through the door, Stella writing cloud on it quickly before slamming it closed.
They ran through another door, seeing Stella's previous writings had now disappeared. She cursed and they ran through another door. They were back in the prophecy room and Stella let out an angry yell as they left it again, Stella marking that one as well. Before the room could spin, Ron, Luna, and Ginny fell out of a door.
"Stella!" Ron yelled, laughing. "You look funny, Stell! You're all messed up!"
"What?" she asked in confusion.
Ginny sank against the wall once it stopped spinning and Luna bent over Ginny's leg.
"I think her ankle's broken," Luna explained. "I heard something crack. Four of them chased us into a dark room full of planets."
"I saw Uranus!" Ron was doubled over in laughter and something black was dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Let's find Theo," Stella stated. "He's good at healing charms."
Before they could move, Bellatrix appeared in the doorway.
"There you are!" she yelled at Stella.
They all ran through a door, Stella shooting stunning spells at Bellatrix, Neville by her side doing the same. Blaise reached out and pulled them both through the door.
"Colloportus!" Blaise yelled and they heard three bodies slam into the door on the other side.
They were in what appeared to be the planet room. None of them moved, all panting.
'We're entering the ministry now! Stay alive! Keep fighting!'
"Oh, thank Merlin," Stella sighed. "The Order is here. Just arrived."
"So we just need to find the others," Blaise nodded. "Got it."
"Uranus," Ron giggled as Blaise held him back to keep him from running off.
"Think it's clear?" Ginny asked, sweating.
Stella placed her ear against the door and heard nothing on the other side.
"One way to find out," she sighed.
Stella held her wand up, as did Blaise, and Neville opened the door. The room was empty again and they walked through the door. Ron got loose and ran through a door, Luna and Neville running after him but the door closed behind them.
"Fuck!" Stella yelled as the room spun again. "I'm going to kill him if he doesn't die!"
They were in the arch room and Stella let out a frustrated groan as Blaise set Ginny down in the rafters, hiding her in case an attack came.
"What now?" Blaise asked.
"I'd say let's keep going but it's useless," Stella sighed.
Just then, the door slammed open and Harry ran in.
"Stella!"
"Potter, your race is run," drawled Lucius Malfoy, pulling off his mask. "Now hand me the prophecy like a good boy. . . ."
Nine Death Eaters followed him in and the three teens backed up quickly, Ginny staying hidden.
"Let the others go and I'll give it to you," Harry told him.
'Harry, Blaise and I are in some room with an arch. Ginny's hidden under a bleacher here with a broken ankle. I think we somehow gathered all the Death Eaters into one place. Worse party I've ever been to.'
A few Death Eaters laughed at Harry.
"You are in no position to bargain, Potter," Malfoy laughed. "You see, there are nine of us, and three of you."
They were near the arch now and Stella debated telling Harry to just toss the prophecy in and let the Death Eaters chase it. They were being surrounded. Blaise looked to Stella, staring at her as if he were studying what she looked like, as if he thought he would never see her again. Stella did the same to him before looking away as two more doors burst open and five people sprinted into the room: Sirius, Remus, Moody, Tonks, and Kingsley.
Malfoy raised his wand but Tonks had already sent a stunner at him. The teens dived off the dais and out of the way. The Death Eaters were completely distracted by the appearance of the members of the Order, who were now raining spells down upon them as they jumped from step to step toward the sunken floor.
The stone floor between them exploded as a spell hit it, leaving a crater right where Blaise's hand had been seconds before. They scrambled away from the spot, then a thick arm came out of nowhere and seized Harry around the neck. Stella didn't hesitate.
"BOMBARDA!"
The three were now covered in blood and bits, but Harry was released. They lurched past Sirius and the Death Eater he was fighting, dueling so fiercely that their wands were blurs. Harry slipped on Moody's eye and Blaise pulled him back to his feet.
"PROTEGO!" Harry yelled as a purple spell shot towards them, pulling them down at the same time just in case.
"ALARTE ASCENDARE!" Stella yelled and the Death Eater flew into the air before falling back to the floor, a loud crack ringing through the room as the death eater landed on his neck.
"You need to get out of here!" Sirius yelled at them, in front of them suddenly.
The four ducked as a jet of green light flew over their heads.
"Take the prophecy and run!" Sirius yelled before rushing off to face Bellatrix.
They started running when Lucius Malfoy appeared in front of them.
"The prophecy, give me the prophecy, Potter," he snarled
"Impedimenta!" Harry yelled and Malfoy flew backwards.
They backed up towards the dais where Sirius was dueling Bellatrix. Remus blocked an attack from Malfoy when he stood again, wand pointed at them.
"Nova! Round up the others and GO!" Remus commanded.
They started moving again and another explosion caused them to back up again. Harry tripped and the orb flew from his hands, smashing against the floor. They stared at the place where it had broken, appalled at what had happened, a pearly-white figure with hugely magnified eyes rose into the air, unnoticed by any but them.
"Dumbledore!" Blaise yelled, pointing.
Harry and Stella turned, finding Dumbledore standing in the doorway from the Brain Room, wand held aloft, his face white and furious, speeding down the steps. Dumbledore was already at the foot of the steps when the Death Eaters nearest realized he was there.
There were yells; one of the Death Eaters ran for it, scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite. Dumbledore's spell pulled him back as easily and effortlessly as though he had hooked him with an invisible line —
Stella ran to where Sirius and Bellatrix were fighting, blocking a stunning spell. Blaise pulled her aside and a stunner hit him next. He fell into Sirius and they began falling backwards, both of their wands falling to the ground beside her. Stella reached out, trying to grab them but she wasn't fast enough. They both fall backwards through the veil, disappearing from sight.
"No…" Stella muttered, falling to her knees.
"SIRIUS!" Harry bellowed. "SIRIUS!"
"There's nothing you can do, Harry!" Remus's voice could be heard.
"Get him, save them, they've only just gone through!"
"It's too late, Harry!"
Bellatrix was laughing madly and Stella's head turned slowly, finding her dueling Kingsley now, who had run forward when Stella had fallen. She grabbed the wands from beside her and jumped up, letting out an angry scream as she rushed forward.
Kingsley let out a yell of pain and fell down. Bellatrix turned tail and ran. Stella was right behind her though, anger and determination etched on her face and three wands in her hand.
"NOVA! HARRY! NO!" Remus yelled but Stella didn't care.
They ran through the brain room: Bellatrix followed by Stella followed by Harry.
She aimed a curse over her shoulder and a tank rose into the air and tipped. Stella blasted the brains aside before she slid across the floor and leapt over Luna, who groaned on the floor, past Ginny, who Luna had retrieved when the Order had arrived, who called after Stella and Harry, pushed a giggling Ron aside and past Hermione and Theo, neither of which she got a good look at. She caught the door before it closed and she and Harry followed Bellatrix straight through the door. She caught a lift before them, winking and waving goodbye. Harry slammed his fist on the button to call the lift, having caught up with Stella now.
"Come on!" Stella screamed as the lifts took far too long to get to them.
It jangled and banged lower and lower before the grills slid open and they dashed inside, Harry now hammering the button marked Atrium. The doors slid shut and they were rising.
They forced the grills open once they reached the floor. Bellatrix was almost at the phone booth at the other end of the hall. She looked back as they sprinted towards her and shot a spell at them. Harry dodged behind the fountain but Stella slid on her knees under the spell before jumping to her feet again.
"Crucio!" Stella shrieked and Bellatrix was writhing and shrieking on the floor.
Stella stood over Bellatrix, watching with a mad sort of glee as the witch that she looked so much like laid before her on the ground, in so much pain from Stella's wands. She didn't know how long she held her under the spell before she was blasted backwards, Harry just barely catching her as she flew through the air. Voldemort was standing over the pair of them now.
"You smashed my prophecy," Voldemort hissed out.
"Master," Bellatrix's voice sounded raw from her screaming and she was sobbing; Stella couldn't stop the wide smile that spread across her face. "Master, I am sorry. I knew not. I was fighting her mutt father! Master, you should know—"
"Be quiet, Bella," said Voldemort dangerously. "All those months of planning and you allow me to be thwarted by Harry Potter yet again. I shall deal with you in a moment. Do you think I have entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your sniveling apologies?"
"But Master — he is here — he is below —"
Voldemort paid no attention.
"I have nothing more to say to you, Potter," he said quietly. "You have irked me too often, for too long. AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Stella moved so her body covered Harry's but there was no point. The golden statue of the wizard in the fountain had sprung alive, leaping from its plinth, and landed on the floor with a crash between the two teens and Voldemort. The spell merely glanced off its chest as the statue flung out its arms, protecting Harry and Stella.
"What — ?" said Voldemort, staring around. And then he breathed, "Dumbledore!"
Voldemort raised his wand and sent another jet of green light at Dumbledore, who turned and was gone in a whirling of his cloak; next second he had reappeared behind Voldemort and waved his wand toward the remnants of the fountain; the other statues sprang to life too. The statue of the witch ran at Bellatrix, who screamed and sent spells streaming uselessly off its chest, before it dived at her, pinning her to the floor. Meanwhile, the goblin and the house-elf scuttled toward the fireplaces set along the wall, and the one-armed centaur galloped at Voldemort, who vanished and reappeared beside the pool. The wizard statue thrust Harry and Stella backwards, away from the fight, as Dumbledore advanced on Voldemort and the golden centaur cantered around them both.
"It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom," said Dumbledore calmly. "The Aurors are on their way —"
"By which time I shall be gone, and you dead!" spat Voldemort. He sent another Killing Curse at Dumbledore but missed, instead hitting the security guards desk, which burst into flame.
Dumbledore flicked his own wand. The force of the spell that emanated from it was such that Harry and Stella, though shielded by their stone guard, felt their hair stand on end as it passed, and this time Voldemort was forced to conjure a shining silver shield out of thin air to deflect it. The spell, whatever it was, caused no visible damage to the shield, though a deep, gonglike note reverberated from it, an oddly chilling sound.
"You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?" called Voldemort, his scarlet eyes narrowed over the top of the shield. "Above such brutality, are you?"
"We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom," Dumbledore said calmly, continuing to walk toward Voldemort as though he had not a fear in the world, as though nothing had happened to interrupt his stroll up the hall. "Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit —"
Stella felt the same way about Bellatrix.
"There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!" snarled Voldemort.
"You are quite wrong," said Dumbledore, still closing in upon Voldemort and speaking as lightly as though they were discussing the matter over drinks. "Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness —"
Another jet of green light flew from behind the silver shield. This time it was the one-armed centaur, galloping in front of Dumbledore, that took the blast and shattered into a hundred pieces, but before the fragments had even hit the floor, Dumbledore had drawn back his wand and waved it as though brandishing a whip. A long thin flame flew from the tip; it wrapped itself around Voldemort, shield and all. For a moment, it seemed Dumbledore had won, but then the fiery rope became a serpent, which relinquished its hold upon Voldemort at once and turned, hissing furiously, to face Dumbledore.
Voldemort vanished. The snake reared from the floor, ready to strike. There was a burst of flame in midair above Dumbledore just as Voldemort reappeared, standing on the plinth in the middle of the pool where so recently the five statues had stood.
Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his beak wide, and swallowed the jet of green light whole. He burst into flame and fell to the floor, small, wrinkled, and flightless. At the same moment, Dumbledore brandished his wand in one, long, fluid movement — the snake, which had been an instant from sinking its fangs into him, flew high into the air and vanished in a wisp of dark smoke; the water in the pool rose up and covered Voldemort like a cocoon of molten glass.
For a few seconds Voldemort was visible only as a dark, rippling, faceless figure, shimmering and indistinct upon the plinth, clearly struggling to throw off the suffocating mass — Then he was gone, and the water fell with a crash back into its pool, slopping wildly over the sides, drenching the polished floor.
"MASTER!" screamed Bellatrix.
Sure it was over, sure Voldemort had decided to flee, Harry made to run out from behind his statue guard, but Dumbledore bellowed, "Stay where you are, Harry!"
For the first time, Dumbledore sounded frightened. Stella could not see why. The hall was quite empty but for themselves, the sobbing Bellatrix still trapped under her statue, and the tiny baby Fawkes croaking feebly on the floor. Stella pulled Harry back down to her and he let out a yell of pain, hand pressing to his scar as he fell, head landing in Stella's lap.
"Kill me now, Dumbledore. . . ." a voice that did not belong to Harry spoke using Harry's mouth. "If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy…"
"Harry," Stella begged, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Harry. I can't lose you, too. Please."
Harry gasped, his eyes going from red back to green. Dumbledore kneeled down beside them, so close to them that his nose was almost touching Harry's face.
"Are you alright, Harry?"
"Stella," Harry mumbled.
"I'm here," she promised, hands brushing the hair from his face. "I'm here."
"Where- where's Voldemort?"
The Atrium was full of people. The floor was reflecting emerald green flames that had burst into life in all the fireplaces along one wall, and a stream of witches and wizards was emerging from them. Dumbledore pulled them to their feet and Stella caught a glimpse of Fudge looking shocked.
"He was there!" shouted a scarlet-robed man with a ponytail. "I saw him, Mr. Fudge! I swear it was You-Know-Who!"
"I know, Williamson, I know, I saw him too!" gibbered Fudge, who was wearing pajamas under his pinstriped cloak and was gasping as though he had just run miles. "Merlin's beard — here — here! — in the Ministry of Magic! — great heavens above — it doesn't seem possible — my word — how can this be?"
"If you proceed downstairs into the Department of Mysteries, Cornelius, you will find several escaped Death Eaters contained in the Death Chamber, bound by an Anti-Disapparation Jinx and awaiting your decision as to what to do with them," Dumbledore spoke up.
"Dumbledore!" gasped Fudge, apparently beside himself with amazement. "You — here — I — I —" He looked wildly around at the Aurors he had brought with him, and it could not have been clearer that he was in half a mind to cry, "Seize him!"
"Cornelius, I am ready to fight your men — and win again!" said Dumbledore in a thunderous voice. "But a few minutes ago you saw proof, with your own eyes, that I have been telling you the truth for a year. Lord Voldemort has returned, you have been chasing the wrong men for twelve months, and it is time you listened to sense!"
Stella wasn't listening anymore. It sounded like wind was rushing through her ears. She felt herself stumble backwards and Harry's hands caught her, green eyes filled with concern and focused on her. She saw his lips moving but couldn't hear anything. The wind got louder and magic flowed through her. Stella gasped and fell to her knees, her heir ring glowing before turning into a Head of Family ring on her finger. The family magic filled her and Stella let out a heart wrenching scream.
Stella was sitting in the hospital wing. She had no injury but she felt completely empty. They were gone. Sirius, Blaise…
Theo had jumped in front of Dolohov's curse to protect Hermione from it. He was in St. Mungos now, in critical condition. Ginny's ankle was being fixed, as was Neville's ribs. Ron had been poisoned and then attacked by one of the brains. Snape had fixed the poisoning easily but the injuries from the brains would take some time and leave scars. Hermione had a bad concussion and cuts all over her from when Stella had blown the brains up.
Snape approached Stella and tapped her head with his wand, clearing the blood and body bits off of her. She hadn't even realized that she was covered in bits of Death Eater still, completely shut down. She'd taken the potions passed to her, but she still didn't speak, didn't look at anyone. Harry hadn't shown up from Dumbledore's office yet and chances were he wouldn't be there until morning.
Remus entered the hospital wing and whispered back and forth with Snape for a minute before Remus approached Stella. He kneeled down in front of her, hand resting on her knee. Stella just blinked slowly, still not moving.
They were gone. Her boyfriend and her father were just… gone. And it was her fault. If she hadn't run to Sirius, he would have been able to take Bellatrix. Blaise wouldn't have pulled her out of the way and they wouldn't have fallen through. If she hadn't let Theo get separated from them, she could have protected him, he wouldn't be in danger of losing his life as well. She should have done better… should have been better.
Remus let out a sigh after having tried speaking to her for a few minutes to get no response. He lifted Stella Nova into his arms easily and carried her out of the hospital wing. Snape led the fastest way out of the school, away from prying eyes. The three climbed into a carriage and were taken down to Hogsmeade. Remus carried Stella Nova into the house there, placing her gently on the bed in the bedroom that Sirius had set up for her if she'd ever decided that she wanted to stay the night on one of the nights where she had snuck out.
He pulled her shoes off and pulled a blanket over her, making her take a dreamless sleep before he stepped out of the room. He sat on the couch beside Severus, letting out a ragged breath. Severus pulled Remus close immediately and Remus began to sob into his chest. Severus cried a bit as well, thinking of Blaise being dead, of Theo on death's door, of Stella in so much pain.
After a while, Remus lifted his head off of Severus's chest and wiped his face, thinking of Stella Nova in the other room and standing to check on her. She was still fast asleep, no nightmares thanks to the potion. He returned to the sitting room, sitting beside Severus again.
"Are you going to be alright?" Severus asked in his low voice.
"I have to be. Someone has to look out for her," Remus shrugged. "She's devastated."
"I need to tell you something that Albus told me," Severus admitted and Remus turned to face him, giving him his full attention. "She and Potter ran after Bellatrix after… Well, after. She tortured Bellatrix for almost two minutes before the Dark Lord showed up. Potter said he tried stopping her but he couldn't get through to her."
"The Black madness," Remus sighed, rubbing his face. "I was worried about that. I witnessed her kill two Death Eaters and Neville told me of another before we got there."
"I've been working on a potion," Severus admitted and Remus smirked.
"Of course you have."
"It's for her," Severus rolled his eyes.
"Careful, Severus. Your heart is showing."
"All of my heart is dead or in this house," Severus shot back before a blush spread across his face.
"Is it two parts of your heart or just her?" Remus asked, knee bumping his.
The two had been dancing around one another since he'd taught at the school two years prior. Stella Nova had called them both out on it a few times but Severus was far too shut down to act on his own. Remus had been getting to know him all over again, trying to figure out the man he'd become since they'd broken things off in their fifth year after having secretly dated for three years.
Anytime that they were both in a meeting, Remus found a spot close to Severus, if not right next to him. He'd even flirted a time or two, causing Severus to blush before leaving the house completely. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't missed Severus all these years and he didn't want to miss the man again.
Staring at Severus, waiting for him to answer… it felt like forever. Severus took a deep breath and turned to Remus then. Instead of saying anything, Severus moved forward quickly, capturing Remus's lips with his own. Remus pushed Severus onto his back quickly, body molding to his. They both needed a distraction, a way to work through their stress and grief, and they'd been tiptoeing around each other for far too long.
They ended up in Remus's room, naked in his bed and under a thin sheet, Remus's arms wrapped around him from behind. Stella woke up before they did and looked around, confused as she slipped her shoes back on. She looked around the house, finding Snape being the little spoon and immediately went to the sitting room. She wrote a note and left it on the table before heading back to the school. She walked into the school in time to hear Harry dealing with Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"You're dead, Potter."
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Funny," he said, "you'd think I'd have stopped walking around—"
"You're going to pay," said Malfoy in a voice barely louder than a whisper. "I'm going to make you pay for what you've done to my father—"
"Well, I'm terrified now," said Harry sarcastically. "I s'pose Lord Voldemort's just a warm-up act compared to you three — what's the matter?" he said, for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had all looked stricken at the sound of the name. "He's your dad's mate, isn't he? Not scared of him, are you?"
"You think you're such a big man, Potter," said Malfoy, advancing now, Crabbe and Goyle flanking him. "You wait. I'll have you. You can't land my father in prison —"
"I thought I just had," said Harry.
"The dementors have left Azkaban," said Malfoy quietly. "Dad and the others'll be out in no time—"
"Yeah, I expect they will," said Harry. "Still, at least everyone knows what scumbags they are now —"
"Expelliarmus," Stella cast with all three wands and three more flew towards her.
She let them fly through the air and land on the floor. Stella didn't have it in her anymore to give any chances to Malfoy, blood related or not. She chose her family from here on out and he would never be included in it again.
"Cousin—" Draco started.
"I disinherit you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, from the Black family," she said a flash of white light appeared over them. "I disinherit Narcissa Grace Malfoy from the Black family. I disinherit Bellatrix Faith Lestrange from the Black family." Two more flashed. "I welcome Andromeda Hope Tonks back into the Black family, along with any and all of her children."
This light was as black as the family name, bringing Andromeda and Tonks into the Black family once more. Draco looked horrified and took a large step back, feeling most of the Black family magic leaving him. Stella wondered for a brief moment why Walburga Black had never disinherited Sirius but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth in the moment.
"From this moment forward, you are not intitled to any inheritances or rights of a Black. Come along, Harry," Stella held her hand out and Harry went to her side quickly.
They turned to leave the school when they saw McGonagall in the doorway.
"Wonderful show, Lady Black," McGonagall smirked. "Fifty points to Slytherin."
"Can you give them to Gryffindor instead? They need a bit of help," Stella told her.
"Of course," McGonagall nodded before looking towards the other three students. "You two – Crabbe, Goyle – come."
She beckoned them forward imperiously and they came forward, shuffling their large feet and looking awkward.
"Here," said McGonagall, thrusting her carpetbag into Crabbe's chest and her cloak into Goyle's, "take these up to my office for me."
They turned and stumped away up the marble staircase.
"Right then," said Professor McGonagall, looking up at the hourglasses on the wall, "well, I think you, Potter, and your friends ought to have fifty points apiece for alerting the world to the return of You-Know-Who. Fifty each for you, Potter, the two Weasleys, Longbottom, and Miss Granger. Miss Black, your points to Gryffindor. Oh, and I supposed fifty points for Miss Lovegood as well… and fifty for each Mr. Nott… and Mr. Zabini… It is a beautiful day outside. I think the two of you should go enjoy it while Mister Malfoy escorts me to my office."
Stella and Harry didn't have to be told twice.
"I'm going to see Hagrid," Harry told her. "Do you want to come with me?"
"No," Stella shook her head. "I actually need to go get a few things from my room."
"Here," Harry passed her the cloak.
"Thanks," she nodded, putting it on quickly and heading back into the school.
Stella walked into the Slytherin common room. They didn't know about Theo or Blaise yet and Stella hoped she'd be gone before they were told. She went to their room, gathering their belongings with her wand and spelling them into their chests. She shrank the trunks and put them in her pocket before heading to her own dorm room.
She waved the three wands and her suitcase packed itself quickly. She shrank her trunk and stuck it in her pocket next to the other two before leaving, still hidden under the cloak. She was outside again, heading towards the gate when she saw Remus heading through it, seeming a bit frantic. She took the cloak off and they both froze, just staring at one another.
Stella ran to Remus and he caught her in his arms. Tears left her freely and he just held her, carrying her back out the gates.
"They're gone," she said, voice completely broken. "They're gone. It's all my fault."
"It's not your fault," he told her but Stella didn't believe him.
"It is," she insisted. "I shouldn't have let Theo get separated from us. I shouldn't have run to Da. I shouldn't have let Blaise pull me out of the way. I shouldn't have let them come with us. It's all my fault."
"Shh," Remus told her gently as they approached the house again.
"It's my fault, Uncle Moony. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
Stella stood on the Platform next to Remus a few days later as the other students exited the train and came out of the wall. Moody's fake eye was hidden under a hat and it was more than likely zooming in every direction. Tonks was just behind him, bright bubble-gum-pink hair gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the dirty glass station ceiling. Molly and Arthur stood at the front of the line wearing their Muggle best next to Fred and George, who were both wearing brand-new jackets in some lurid green, scaly material.
"Ron, Ginny!" Molly hurried forward as Stella went to Harry, Molly hugging the two redheads tightly.
Harry took Stella's hand and let her lead him over to Remus.
"What are they supposed to be?" Ron asked, pointing at Fred's jacket.
"Finest dragon skin, little bro," said Fred, giving his zip a little tweak. "Business is booming and we thought we'd treat ourselves."
"Hello, Harry," Remus greeted him.
"Hi," said Harry. "I didn't expect . . . what are you all doing here?"
"Well," said Lupin with a slight smile, "we thought we might have a little chat with your aunt and uncle before letting them take you home."
"I dunno if that's a good idea," said Harry at once.
"It's a brilliant plan," Stella stated, but the smirk she tried to wear felt more like a grimace.
"Oh, I think it is," growled Moody, who had limped a little closer. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?"
"Ah, Harry!" said Arthur, turning from Hermione's parents, whom he had been greeting enthusiastically, and who were taking it in turns to hug Hermione. "Well — shall we do it, then?"
"Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur," said Moody.
"Good afternoon," said Arthur pleasantly to Uncle Vernon, coming to a halt right in front of him. "You might remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley."
Harry's uncle turned a deep shade of purple, as if trying very hard to hold his breath so he didn't begin yelling obscenities. His aunt looked both frightened and embarrassed. His cousin seemed to be trying very hard to appear small and failing extravagantly at it.
"We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry," said Arthur, still smiling.
"Yeah," growled Moody. "About how he's treated when he's at your place."
"I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house —"
"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley," growled Moody and Stella would have laughed under different circumstances.
"Anyway, that's not the point," interjected Tonks, whose pink hair seemed to offend Harry's aunt more than all the rest put together, for she closed her eyes rather than look at her. "The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry —"
"— and make no mistake, we'll hear about it," added Remus pleasantly.
"Yes," said Arthur, "even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone —"
"Telephone," whispered Hermione.
"If Harry doesn't write to us twice a week—" Stella tacked on.
"Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to," said Moody.
"Are you threatening me, sir?" Harry's uncle said so loudly that passersby actually turned to stare.
"Yes, I am," said Mad-Eye, who seemed rather pleased that the man had grasped this fact so quickly.
"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?"
"Well…" Moody moved his hat out of the way so that his eye and scars were more visible, causing Harry's uncle to leap backwards. "Yes, I'd have to say you do, Dursley."
"So, Harry, give us a shout if you need us. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, Uncle Moony and I will make a house call," Stella said loudly enough for the three Dursleys to hear as she turned to look at him.
Harry wrapped Stella in a tight hug, as if afraid she would disappear as well. Stella couldn't blame him considering how tightly she held him in response. It took a minute, but the two finally separated and nodded to one another.
"Bye, then, Potter," said Moody, grasping Harry's shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.
"Take care, Harry," said Remus quietly. "Keep in touch."
"Harry, we'll have you away from there as soon as we can," Molly whispered, hugging him.
"We'll see you soon, mate," said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.
"Really soon, Harry," said Hermione earnestly. "We promise."