Chapter Thirty-One
"I don't want you going on this mission," Remus admitted.
"I'm aware," Stella nodded, smirking slightly.
"I'm serious, Stella."
"No. You're Remus. Sirius was my father and Harry's Godfather. Harry, who we are going to go and get in an hour."
"In that case, you are not a were. I am," Remus rolled his eyes.
"Bad joke," she shook her head, giving him a smirk. "Think of a better one on the way back and I might save you a piece of the chocolate cake I made earlier."
"You would never keep chocolate cake from me," Remus smirked.
"You're right," Stella sighed.
"Are the two of you quite done?" Moody asked.
"No," they answered together, causing a few laughs to break out.
"Time to go," Moody rolled his eyes. "Need to get a move on so that we're on time."
"Really living up to that nickname," Stella muttered to Remus and Tonks, causing them both to smirk.
Stella climbed onto a broomstick in front of Moody. Not her Firebolt, it was too fast to stay with the group, not that it mattered since it was shrunken and placed in her pocket just in case it was needed later. Maybe annoying Moody wasn't the best tactic she could think of considering she knew for a fact that the two of them would be targeted heavily, mostly due to the fact that any and every one would assume Harry was with the strongest wizards available.
Disillusionment charms were in place and Stella flew in the direction that her compass gave her, knowing that an invisible golden tether was holding everyone in a line. They reached the muggle neighborhood and landed in the backyard of a house that Stella had been in only once before. Harry opened the backdoor, running out to greet them.
He pulled Stella into his arms, lifting her into the air and spinning her before setting her on her feet again. Hermione flung her arms around Harry next, hugging him tightly as Ron clapped Harry on the back.
"I wasn't expecting this many of you," Harry beamed.
"Change of plans," growled Mad-Eye, who was holding two enormous, bulging sacks and whose magical eye was spinning from darkening sky to house to garden with dizzying rapidity. "Let's get undercover before we talk you through it."
Harry led them all back into the kitchen where, laughing and chattering, they settled on chairs, sat themselves upon Petunia's gleaming work-surfaces or leaned up against her spotless appliances: Ron, long and lanky; Hermione, her bushy hair tied back in a long plait; Fred and George, grinning identically; Bill, badly scarred and long-haired; Arthur, kind faced, balding, his spectacles a little awry; Mad-Eye, battle-worn, one-legged, his bright blue magical eye whizzing in its socket; Tonks, whose short hair was her favorite shade of bright pink; Remus, greyer, more lined; Fleur, slender and beautiful, with her long, silvery blonde hair; Kingsley, bald, black, broad-shouldered; Hagrid, with his wild hair and beard, standing hunchbacked to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling; and Stella holding his hand, both smiling happily at one another, her hair in a high ponytail.
"Kingsley, I thought you were looking after the Muggle Prime Minister?" Harry asked.
"He can get along without me for one night. You're more important," Kingsley smiled.
"How are you, Harry?" Remus smiled down at him.
"Brilliant," Harry smiled back.
"All right, all right, we'll have time for a cozy catch-up later!" roared Moody over the hubbub, and silence fell in the kitchen. Moody dropped the sacks at his feet and turned to Harry. "As Dedalus probably told you, we had to abandon Plan A. Pius Thicknesse has gone over, which gives us a big problem. He's made it an imprisonable to connect this house to the Floo Network, place a Portkey here or Apparate in or out. All done in the name of your protection, to prevent You-Know-Who getting in at you. Absolutely pointless, seeing as your mother's charm does that already. What he's really done is to stop you getting out of here safely.
"Second problem: you're under-age, which means you've still got the Trace on you."
"I don't—"
"The Trace, the Trace!" said Mad-Eye impatiently. "The charm that detects magical activity around under-seventeens, the way the Ministry finds out about under-age magic! If you, or anyone around you, casts a spell to get you out of here, Thicknesse is going to know about it, and so will the Death Eaters.
"We can't wait for the Trace to break, because the moment you turn seventeen you'll lose all the protection your mother gave you. In short: Pius Thicknesse thinks he's got you cornered good and proper."
"So what are we going to do?" Harry asked, a look of determination on his face.
"We're going to use the only means of transport left to us, the only ones the Trace can't detect, because we don't need to cast spells to use them: brooms, Thestrals and Stella's motorbike.
"'Now, your mother's charm will only break under two conditions: when you come of age, or—" Moody gestured around the pristine kitchen "– you no longer call this place home. You and your aunt and uncle are going your separate ways tonight, in the full understanding that you're never going to live together again, correct?"
Harry nodded.
"So this time, when you leave, there'll be no going back, and the charm will break the moment you get outside its range. We're choosing to break it early, because the alternative is waiting for You-Know-Who to come and seize you the moment you turn seventeen.
"The one thing we've got on our side is that You-Know-Who doesn't know we're moving you tonight. We've leaked a fake trail to the Ministry: they think you're not leaving until the thirtieth. However, this is You-Know-Who we're dealing with, so we can't just rely on him getting the date wrong; he's bound to have a couple of Death Eaters patrolling the skies in this general area, just in case. So, we've given a dozen different houses every protection we can throw at them. They all look like they could be the place we're going to hide you, they've all got some connection with the Order: my house, Kingsley's place, Molly's Auntie Muriel's – you get the idea."
"Yeah," Harry nodded but Stella could tell he was growing weary.
"You'll be going to Tonks's parents'. Once you're within the boundaries of the protective enchantments we've put on their house, you'll be able to use a Portkey to The Burrow. Any questions?"
"Er – yes," said Harry. "Maybe they won't know which of the twelve secure houses I'm heading for at first, but won't it be sort of obvious once –" he performed a quick headcount "– fourteen of us head towards Tonks's parents'?"
"Ah," said Moody, "I forgot to mention the key point. Fourteen of us won't be flying to Tonks's parents'. There will be seven Harry Potters moving through the skies tonight, each of them with a companion, each pair heading for a different safe house."
From inside his cloak Moody withdrew a flask of what looked like mud. There was no need for him to say another word. Harry understood now.
"No!" Harry immediately began to argue. "No way!"
"Hermione and I told them you wouldn't like it," Stella sighed.
"If you think I'm going to let six people risk their lives—"
"- because it's the first time for all of us," said Ron.
"This is different. Pretending to be me—"
"Well, none of us really fancy it, Harry," said Fred earnestly. "Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky, scrawny gits forever."
"Poor Stella would end up accidentally kissing one of us!" George tossed out.
Harry did not smile.
"You can't do it if I don't cooperate. You need me to give you some hair."
"Well, that's that plan," said George. "Obviously there's no chance at all of us getting a bit of your hair unless you cooperate."
"Yeah, thirteen of us against one bloke who's not allowed to use magic? We've got no chance," said Fred.
"Funny," said Harry. "Really amusing."
"Harry…" Stella whispered and he looked down into her eyes. "It's a decent plan. Each person disguised as you will be with a protector. We'll watch each other's backs and, if we run into any trouble, the Death Eaters will be confused. Those disguised as you are safer than the others anyways. Voldy wants you for himself, meaning we aren't allowed to be killed."
"You are allowed to be captured," Harry pointed out.
"I don't think that'd go well for them," Stella shrugged. "Have you met Ron? I think he's annoying enough that the Death Eaters would just give him back."
"This is mad," Harry whispered.
"Well, it is Mad-Eye Moody," Stella shrugged. "Come on, love."
Harry sighed and nodded. He walked into the kitchen, grabbed a pair of scissors and cut some of his hair out of his eyes without thought. Stella would have to ask if he wanted her to cut it later. Stella looked around the kitchen, eyes landing on the hallway and the door under the stairs. She moved to it, staring at the door and chewing her lip.
"Harry?" she called out and he turned to her. "Is this it, then?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded, looking uncomfortable.
"Is what it?" Remus asked but Stella wasn't listening anymore.
She pulled the door open and kneeled down, pulling the chain and turning the light on. There was a vacuum and a few other things stored away but there were still signs that someone had once lived in the cupboard. A little toy knight, 'H.J.P.' scratched into the door, a forgotten blanket. Stella reached in and grabbed the blanket, chewing her lip again before looking up, finding Harry standing above her now.
"Come on," he whispered, holding his hand out.
Stella tossed the blanket back in and turned off the light. She took Harry's hand, letting him help her to stand again. Everyone seemed confused, cluing Stella in that she was the only one who knew about the cupboard, so she remained silent.
"Fake Potters, line up over here, please," said Moony.
Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Fleur, and Stella lined up in front of the sink. Stella was handed an egg-cup-sized glass and Moody poured a bit of potion into it.
"You look much tastier than Crabbe and Goyle, Harry," Hermione said before catching Fred's raised brow and blushing. "Oh, Harry and Ron know what I mean. Goyle's potion looked like boogies."
"Don't know why you'd think it would look otherwise," Stella smirked.
"Wait, how do you know about that?" Ron asked.
"Harry told me," Stella shrugged.
"Of course he did," Ron sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Altogether," Moody growled and they all took the Polyjuice like a shot.
Stella grimaced as the potion went down her throat. She felt her face bubbling and looked at the others, seeing their features bubbling and distort like hot wax. Hermione and Stella grew a few inches, Ron, Fred, George, and Fleur shrank. Hair darkened and grew or shortened.
Moody, quite unconcerned, was now loosening the ties of the large sacks he had brought with him: when he straightened up again, there were six Harry Potters gasping and panting in front of him. Fred and Geroge turned to each other and said "Wow – we're identical!" and a few people let out snorts of laughter.
"I dunno, though, I think I'm still better looking," Fred claimed.
"Bah," Fleur gasped, checking her reflection in the microwave door. "Bill, don't look at me. I'm 'ideous."
"I think we all look rather attractive," Stella shrugged.
"Enough," Remus groaned, rubbing his eyes and causing Stella to laugh quietly.
"Those whose clothes are a bit roomy, I've got smaller here," said Moody, indicating the first sack, "and vice versa. Don't forget the glasses, there's six pairs in the side pocket. And when you're dressed, there's luggage in the other sack."
They all began stripping, stuffing old clothes into the sacks and pulling on new, trying very hard not to look anywhere inappropriate as the real Harry blushed brightly.
"Harry, your eyesight really is awful," Hermione commented as she put on the glasses, trying to distract him.
Once dressed, the fake Harrys took rucksacks and owl cages, each containing a stuffed snowy owl, from the second sack.
"Good," said Moody. "The pairs will be as follows: Black with me by broom, Arthur and Fred—"
"I'm George," said the twin the Moody had pointed at. "Can't you even tell us apart when we're Harry?"
"Sorry, George—"
"Don't be," Stella interrupted. "That is Fred."
"How can she always tell?" George grumbled.
"Enough messing around!" snarled Moody and Stella had to look away so she wouldn't laugh but caught Remus doing the same and both had to bite their lips. "The other one – George or Fred or whoever you are – you're with Remus. Miss Delacour—"
"I'm taking Fleur on a Thestral," said Bill. "She's not fond of brooms."
Fleur walked over to stand beside him, giving him a soppy, slavish look that Stella wrinkled her nose at.
"Miss Granger with Kingsley, again by Thestral—"
Hermione looked reassured as she answered Kingsley's smile.
"Which leave you and me, Ron!" said Tonks brightly, knocking over a mug-tree as she waved at him.
Ron did not look quite as pleased as Hermione.
"An' you're with me, Harry. That all righ'?" Hagrid asked, looking anxious. "We'll be on the bike, brooms an' Thestrals can't take me weight, see. 'Not a lot o' room on the seat with me on it, though, so you'll be in the sidecar."
"That's great," Harry nodded.
"We think the Death Eaters will expect you to be on a broom," said Moody, who seemed to guess how Harry was feeling. "Snape's had plenty of time to tell them everything about you he's never mentioned before, so if we do run into any Death Eaters, we're betting they'll choose one of the Potters who look at home on a broomstick. All right then," he went on, tying up the sack with the fake Potters' clothes in it and leading the way back to the door, "I make it three minutes until we're supposed to leave. No point locking the back door, it won't keep the Death Eaters out when they come looking … Come on …"
"Is this Sirius's bike?" Harry asked Hagrid.
"The very same," said Hagrid, beaming down at Harry. "Stella told me I could keep it 'til tomorrow. An' last time you was on it, Harry, I could fit yeh in one hand!"
Stella and Ron smirked at the sight of Harry in the sidecar and Stella turned away and went to Moody's side.
"Ready for every terrible joke I can think of during the flight?" Stella asked him as she skipped over to him.
"I am already regretting this decision," Moody told her.
"Only just now?" Stella asked. "I'll have to step up my game. You know you don't want anyone else up there with you, Moody. You've seen me duel at my house."
"You're not terrible," Moody allowed. "Any interest in being an Auror one day?"
"I think I'll be done with the life threatening events once this is all over but thank you for the thought."
"Everybody ready, please; I want us all to leave at exactly the same time or the whole point of the diversion's lost!" Moody called out and everyone mounted their brooms.
The motorbike roared to life and Stella sent Harry a big grin as she climbed onto a broom behind Moody, hands on his shoulders and her wand in hand already.
"Good luck, everyone," shouted Moody. "See you all in about an hour at The Burrow. On the count of three. One … two … THREE."
There was another great roar from the motorbike and they all rose into the air. They were immediately surrounded. At least thirty hooded figures, suspended in mid-air, formed a vast circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen, oblivious-
Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell and the motorbike rolled over and Stella lost sight of Harry. Stella threw her strongest shield up, blocking a few stunners. They'd been right about Moody being the one they thought would have the real Harry. Stella used that against the Death Eaters. They weren't expecting the three dark curses that she shot off in rapid succession. One Death Eater banked to the left, out of the way of the curse. His friends weren't as lucky. One's stomach exploded and Stella felt blood splatter against her back and her hair, a bit getting on her face as she hit another Death Eater with a 'Sectumsempra,' sending them falling to the ground, already bleeding out.
"Confringo!" Stella yelled and the Death Eaters broom exploded, sending him flying.
She heard a pop that told her that he'd apparated away. She didn't get a moment to relax though as four more Death Eaters appeared. She kept shooting stunners and blasting curses, throwing in the strong cutting curse every so often to catch them off guard. She'd actually severed one of their heads completely and almost let out a laugh as she thought about how jealous Nearly Headless Nick would be.
"It's not him!" a very familiar voice yelled and suddenly killing curses were being shot at them instead.
"HANG ON!" Moody yelled and Stella did.
She would have been impressed with how Moody was flying if she wasn't so terrified. They barrel rolled a few times before shooting straight into the sky. They dove down, flying so quickly past the Death Eaters that two of them fell off their brooms.
"Snape," Stella growled before shooting her strongest blasting curse at him.
He ducked out of the way but a killing curse was shot off by the other Death Eater. Moody moved fast enough so that Stella wasn't hit but he wasn't as lucky.
"No!" Stella screamed as Moody fell off the broom.
She took control of the broom and laid herself flat, flying after him. He hit the ground hard and Stella pulled up just in time to not crash.
"Accio broom!" the Death Eater yelled, another joining him and Snape.
Stella jumped off of the broom quickly and could feel the potion failing, her features turning back to normal. She pulled her hair up quickly and ran towards Moody's body, shooting off darker curses at the two unknown Death Eaters as Snape hovered above, watching.
"Help us, Snape!" one yelled before his stomach was cut open, innards falling onto the grass.
Stella's left eye was swollen shut and she was bleeding heavily from a cut on her head. Her left leg was broken and she felt her ribs burning as well. She ignored it as she kept fighting, protecting Moody's body before she finally got an Avada off and killed the Death Eater.
Breathing heavily, Stella looked into the air. Snape watched her for a moment before flying off. Stella shot a stunner off but he dodged it easily before disappearing into the clouds. She let out another growl before falling to the ground. She rolled Moody over and wiped the mud and blood from his face with her sleeve, sniffling as she did so.
She didn't know what to do. The broom was destroyed and she was in no position to walk, especially since she didn't even know where she was. She could get her own broom out but she refused to leave Moody behind, meaning she'd have to figure something out.
She pulled out her Firebolt and enlarged it. She cast a feather light charm on Moody, hoping it would hold for a while before forcing herself to stand, letting out a scream of pain as she did so. She climbed onto the broom and kicked off the ground quickly so she didn't leave weight on the broken leg longer than a half second. She used the hover charm to lift Moody's body – that thought made her want to puke – onto the broom behind her and then made a magical, golden tether to attached him to her so that his front was tightly against her back.
She began following her compass North, towards the Burrow. She flew low for a while before going higher, shield charms in place and a sharp eye around her. She flew quickly until she began to see familiar landscape. She'd know that muggle shop anywhere. She flew through the barrier of the Burrow and dipped down slowly, people standing in the yard and their wands pointed up at her.
Stella floated down slowly and tried to land gently. Her broken leg and Moody's added weight, the charm having worn off half an hour ago, didn't allow that though. She fell to the ground with another scream of pain, Moody's body landing on top of her. She was on her right side, eyes squeezed shut as Moody's weight was lifted off of her.
"The two names I call you?" Stella heard Remus asked.
"She's injured!" Harry yelled and she heard him struggling against someone.
"Cub and Stella Nova," Stella groaned out, clutching her left side. "I think my ribs are broken."
"Shit," Remus cursed and she was lifted into his arms quickly.
"Pathetic!" Stella heard Fred's voice. "With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"
"We need help!" Remus bellowed.
Stella didn't dare open her good eye, not wanting to see the looks on everyone's faces at the sight of her.
"Broken leg, broken ribs, three broken fingers, cut on the head, concussion, and stinger on her eye. We need to work fast or she'll lose it," Theo's voice spoke.
"I don't want Moody's eye," Stella complained as she was placed on one of the couches, finally opening the good eye.
"You won't need it, Cub," Remus whispered to her. "We've got you."
"Tonks is back," Stella stated and she saw Remus's confused look before she shrugged. "Family magic."
"Stay quiet for me," he whispered to her as he and Theo got to work on her.
Potions were given to her and healing spells were cast. Stella gasped as her ribs were reset but screamed when Theo had to rebreak her leg to set it correctly. Harry was by her head and she was gripping his hand so hard that she was surprised she hadn't broken it yet. The swelling in her eye slowly went down and she blinked wearily, tears leaking from the eye from irritation.
"Take this," Remus told her and Stella knew it was a pain potion that would knock her out for the night.
She took the potion quickly and passed the vial back with a shaking hand. Remus held her hand as she fell asleep, eyes catching sight of George bleeding from the other couch as she drifted off. She woke the next morning in her old bed in the attic. She groaned as she rubbed her eyes and sat up. She went straight to the loo with a change of clothes.
Stella was covered in dried blood and she started the water before yanking her clothes off and tossing them aside, knowing Molly would just get rid of them later. She took a hot shower, enjoying the spray of the water as she scrubbed at the blood, getting every bit of it off of herself before stepping out of the shower and dressing quickly.
George and Remus were in the kitchen when she limped down the stairs, drinking tea together and talking in hushed voices.
"Did you do something with your hair?" Stella asked George with a smirk. "No, that's not it… New shirt?"
"Hilarious," George rolled his eyes.
"Better than the 'I'm holey' bit that I heard last night," Stella rolled her eyes. "Who got you?"
"Snape," Remus growled out.
"I saw him, too," Stella said quietly, her and Remus staring at one another for a long moment before Stella grabbed George's wand from the table and pointed it at his ear, whispering the same spell she'd used on Bill and Snape had used on her. The cuts heeled over better than they had before, swelling and irritation going down instantly. "Better?"
"Loads," George sighed, giving her a grateful look.
"Mum'll be able to tell you apart now," Stella smirked.
"That's what we said!" Fred yelled as he walked into the kitchen. "How're you feeling?"
"Tired," Stella sighed. "Is there more tea?"
"Sit," Remus told her as he got to his feet. "I'll get it."
"Thanks, Uncle Moony," Stella smiled softly, sitting beside George, Fred taking the empty spot beside her. "What did I miss?"
"Well, Harry says his wand fought Voldemort," Fred shrugged.
"What?" Stella asked in confusion.
"Don't know," Geroge shrugged. "He got all touchy about it when we asked him about it."
"I'll talk to him," Stella sighed.
"Course you will," Fred smirked.
"Oh, shut it," Stella slapped his shoulder. "Lose the smirk or I'll sick Hermione on you."
"Jokes on you, he'd like it," George smirked.
"She probably would, too," Fred wagged his eyes at Stella and she pushed his face away from her as Remus set a cup of tea in front of her.
"Oh, Stella!" Molly yelled, running in with Fleur, Hermione, and Ginny behind her. "How are you feeling, my dear?"
"Better," Stella smiled softly. "Still a bit stiff but that'll go away by tomorrow, I think."
Ginny moved around the back of Stella's seat and wrapped her arms around Stella's shoulders.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," Ginny mumbled.
"I have to keep things interesting," Stella shrugged. "Can't let Georgie outshine me, now can I?"
"Speaking of, your ear looks better," Molly was inspecting Geroge's missing ear.
"What ear?" Stella and Fred asked together, both jumping up from that table and running as Molly tried to swat at them.
"Well, she's feeling better," Ron laughed, lifting Stella from behind by her waist and placing her in front of Harry.
"Hi," she laughed to him.
"Hey," Harry smiled in relief, pulling Stella into a tight hug. "Are you alright?"
"I'm good," she promised him, pulling away so that she could get a good look at him. "Are you alright? I heard Voldemort went after you?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I'll tell you about it later."
"Okay," Stella nodded.
The next few days were spent cleaning and preparing for the wedding. Molly seemed determined to keep Stella, Harry, Ron, and Hermione in separate rooms, which made no sense to Stella since she'd already told Molly that she wasn't invited along to whatever it was that the three Gryffindors were up to. She seemed to think Stella was the brains behind the entire operation though, not believing her for even a second. She tried keeping Theo separate as well, but Stella and Theo had both sent her such severe glares that she hadn't tried again. Remus got the two away as often as possible and they flooed to Grimmauld for a break.
"If I ever get married, I'll just run up to the ministry, sign the papers, and be done with it. I won't have to buy a dress and you won't even have to give me away," Stella told Remus.
"You'd choose me?"
"Who else would I choose?" Stella asked, giving him an amused look. "You're my Uncle Moony. I wouldn't want anyone else."
Remus had given her a tight hug at that before wondering off. Stella went to the library, going through more of the books there. She'd found where she'd seen the word 'horcrux' previously, along with about twenty more books mentioning them.
Remus tutored Theo extensively the entire summer so he could take his end of year exams so he'd be in seventh year with Stella. It had taken a week for him to get out of bed when they'd arrived back at Grimmauld, partially because he was still healing and partially because Stella had to inform him of Blaise… It hadn't been pretty when the two had broken down, but Stella's heart felt much lighter now.
Order meetings were still held at Grimmauld, Stella having shown a piece of paper with the address on it to the Order members as soon as the keeper had been figured out and written it down for her. She hadn't told anyone who the keeper was and she didn't plan to, either. Stella sat down beside Remus and Harry took the seat beside her, refusing to leave when Molly tried to tell him to, reminding her that he was of age. Theo had rolled his eyes, made Stella stand and then pulled her into his lap, the two back to regularly being in physical contact with one another again. Harry had stared the first time it had happened before letting out a sigh and giving a shrug.
"So, nothing about our fight at Privet Drive?" Harry asked about the Prophet.
"Nothing," Bill replied. "And nothing about Moody's death. But that doesn't mean much. It's keeping a lot quiet these days."
"And they still haven't called a meeting for the underage magic that I used. Because they know I had no choice or because they don't want to tell the world that Voldemort attacked me?"
"The latter, I think. Scrimgeour doesn't want to admit that You-Know-Who is as powerful as he is," Remus answered. "Nor that Azkaban has seen a mass breakout."
"Yeah, why tell the public the truth?" said Harry, clenching Stella's hand under the table.
The next day, back at the Burrow, Fleur spoke up.
"We must decide 'ow you will be disguised, 'Arry, for the wedding. Of course, none of our guests are Death Eaters, but we cannot guarantee zat zey will not let something slip after zey 'ave 'ad champagne."
"Yes, good point," said Molly from the top of the table, where she sat, spectacles perched on the end of her nose, scanning an immense list of jobs that she had scribbled on a very long piece of parchment. "Now, Ron, have you cleaned out your room yet?"
"Why?" exclaimed Ron, slamming his spoon down and glaring at his mother. "Why does my room have to be cleaned out? Harry and I are fine with it the way it is!"
"We are holding your brother's wedding here in a few days' time, young man—"
"Are they getting married in my bedroom?" asked Ron furiously. "No! So why in the name of Merlin's saggy left—"
"Don't talk to your mother like that," Arthur spoke up, voice firm. "And do as you're told."
"I can help," Harry offered. "Some of it's my mess.
"No, Harry, dear, I'd much rather you helped Arthur muck out the chickens, and Hermione, I'd be ever so grateful if you'd change the sheets for Monsieur and Madame Delacour, you know they're arriving at eleven tomorrow morning."
"How come Stella doesn't have to do any chores?" Ron grumbled.
"Stella Nova and I have a bit of work to do at Grimmauld and we're tutoring Theo," Remus spoke up and Ron rolled his eyes as he stared down at his apple tart.
Remus, Theo and Stella said their goodbyes and headed to Grimmauld. They all shared an amused glance before Stella and Theo went to the library, Theo studying and Stella organizing books on war tactics and strategies, which were bookmarked with red tabs. She placed them on the long table beside the horcrux books before placing three books on Occlumency beside those ones. There were notes on top of all three piles in case she wasn't there when Harry, Ron, and Hermione showed up. Remus, Theo, and Stella would be heading to Hogwarts in a months' time, him to teach Defense and the two Slytherins to keep an eye on the other Slytherins.
Stella walked up the stairs of the house and stopped on the second floor. She avoided this floor because Sirius's room was here and she tried not to go near it. She needed to be brave, she decided, and walked down the hall. She walked past Regulus Black's room and stopped in front of Sirius's door. She pushed it open, staring inside and ended up doubled over laughing so hard that Remus ran down the hall.
"What? What is it? Are you laughing?" he asked, looking concerned.
"He has- half naked- Muggle women- on- his walls!" she panted out between laughs.
"Ah, yes," Remus smirked. "Permanent sticking charms as well. Said it pissed Walburga off to no ends."
"Oh, that's so funny," Stella wiped a stray tear away before stepping into the room.
"What are you doing up here?" Remus asked curiously.
"I decided to be a bit more Gryffindor," Stella shrugged. "I've been afraid of coming up here, worried I'd have a break down. I need to be stronger than that though. Can't exactly fall to the floor crying every time that someone mentions him, now can I?"
"You've been doing much better with Theo here," Remus nodded and Stella could tell he wanted to say more but was holding himself back.
She didn't call him out for it though. Instead, Stella looked around the room, doing a slow circle. It didn't hurt as much as she thought it would. It still hurt but she was remembering happy memories now instead of just seeing Sirius and Blaise falling through the veil, out of sight and out of her life forever. She approached the walls, finding pictures from when Sirius was in school, smiling up at her while laughing with James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. She smirked as she turned to Remus.
"That haircut did you no favors Uncle Moony," she smirked.
"Oh, hush," Remus smirked, walking over to the wall and smiling at the picture, arm going around her shoulders. "We were teenagers who didn't like haircuts."
"Yeah, neither do Theo or Ron and I still hold them down and cut their hair every so often," Stella rolled her eyes.
"Yes, well, it was us four boys until Marlenne, Mary, Dorcas, and Lily started hanging out with us. Marlenne forced Sirius to stay still after that while Dorcas and Lily started in on James, whose hair was just as difficult as Harry's. Mary dealt with Pete and I…"
Stella knew it hurt to talk about all of them but she appreciated Remus's words still. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a small hug. He smiled down at her before kissing the top of her head and leaving the room. Stella watched him go, smile turning down a bit as she watched him go.
Things had been more difficult than before for him. She knew it was due to Snape's betrayal, Remus's loneliness eating at him a bit. She tried to be as present as possible, but she was dealing with her own emotions considering Snape as well and it made it hard to be there for him when she needed someone there for her as well. He was doing an amazing job at holding himself together for her, but she'd heard him crying in the study a few times, peaking in and seeing him nursing a glass of whiskey and staring down at a photo of himself and Snape, laughing in the kitchen after an Order meeting. She didn't even know where the photo had come from.
She stayed in Sirius's room for a bit, finding old letters between himself and James, a few from her mother, and one from Lily with half a picture. In the picture, James was chasing after Harry on a toy broom, going in and out of frame every few seconds. She smiled and pocketed it, deciding to keep it for herself. She took the letters and placed them in a box to go through later, hoping there was nothing inappropriate to read. She didn't want to think about her parents making her, thank you very much.
Stella stepped out of the room, closing the door behind herself and beginning to walk back towards the stairs. Halfway to the stairs, she stopped mid-step before taking a few steps back, stopping in front of Regulus's old room. She turned to the door slowly, staring at the sign on the door: 'Do Not Enter Without the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black.'
Stella dropped the box and pushed the door open, staring around with large eyes as if the horcrux would be floating in the air in front of her. She began tearing the room apart, searching for the Horcrux. She tore everything out of the dresser, cabinets included, then pulled everything out from under the bed, tearing everything open and searching through it. She threw everything out of the closet and the attached loo, finding nothing.
She stood on the bed, checking inside the canopy before hoping down and pulling sheets off the bed, searching inside the pillow cases before tearing the pillows open and dumping the feathers out. She checked the mattress for any tearing or sewing in case it had been put into the mattress before an idea hit her.
"Kreacher?!"
"What has Mistress done?" Kreacher asked, staring at the room in shock.
"I'll clean it. Kreacher, did Master Regulus have a locket?"
Kreacher's eyes widened and he put his hands over his mouth, forcing himself not to breath so he wouldn't answer her.
"Kreacher, answer me now! This is important!"
"Master had a locket! Master Regulus told Kreacher to destroy it but Kreacher could not!" Kreacher screeched, looking pained and with tears streaming down his face. "Kreacher was a bad elf! Kreacher did not do as master told him! Kreacher could not destroy the locket!"
"Kreacher, you wouldn't have been able to," Stella told him, pulling the elf into a hug. "It's alright. It isn't your fault."
"Kreacher is sorry," Kreacher sobbed into her chest.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," she assured him. "It isn't your fault… Kreacher, would you like for me to destroy the locket?"
"Mistress can destroy it?" Kreacher asked, staring up at her with wide eyes that were still full of tears.
"I can," she nodded.
"Kreacher will get it!"
Kreacher popped away and reappeared with the locket in his hand.
"Nasty thief could not get into Kreacher's room to steal Kreacher's things. Kreacher protected the locket."
"Thank you, Kreacher. The thief can't come into the house anymore. Kreacher, if anyone asks about this locket, I want you to lie and say you don't know what they're talking about. The only people that you can tell about it are Harry, Ron, Hermione, and myself. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mistress. Kreacher will lie, Mistress."
"Thank you, Kreacher. I'll take care of this."
Kreacher snapped his fingers and the room righted itself.
"I was going to do that, Kreacher," Stella smirked. "I should have just asked you before tearing apart Regulus's room. I'm sorry."
"It is alright, Mistress."
"Kreacher… where did Regulus get the locket?"
"The Dark Lord needed an elf. Master Regulus gave Kreacher to the Dark Lord and we went to a dark place. The Dark Lord cut Kreacher's hand. The Dark Lord made Kreacher drink a terrible drink and put the locket in. He left Kreacher there and Kreacher tried to drink some water. The dead ones tried to drag Kreacher under but Master Regulus had told Kreacher to come home so Kreacher did.
"Master Regulus made Kreacher take him there. Master Regulus cut his own hand and drank the drink and put the fake locket inside. He ordered Kreacher to return home and destroy the locket. Master Regulus tried to drink water but the dead ones took him under…
"He ordered Kreacher to go home so Kreacher did. Kreacher should have saved his master but Kreacher could not. Kreacher had to come home!"
Stella was holding Kreacher again, both crying now. Stella looked around the room, thinking of Regulus Black and how he'd been drowned by the inferi that had dragged Harry under the water in the cave. She thought of how it felt being unable to bury Sirius and Blaise, how they were just… gone.
"Kreacher, is Regulus still there?"
"Yes," Kreacher was sniffling now, calming down.
"Okay," Stella took a deep breath, already hating the plan that had come to her mind. "Okay. I'll be back."
Stella ran down to the study, finding Remus staring at the picture and about to pour himself a drink.
"Do that later," Stella told him, putting the locket on and stuffing it into her shirt. "We have something important that we need to do."
"And what's that, Cub?" Remus asked, confused.
"We have to go get Regulus's body from a cave full of inferi," Stella shrugged. "Come on. We leave in five minutes or I go without you."
Stella ran up to her room, ignoring Remus as he yelled after her, chasing after her a moment later. Stella grabbed a change of clothes, locking herself in the bathroom and changing into old jeans and a long sleeve shirt. She pulled on the shield gloves and stepped out of the bathroom, passing two gloves to Remus as she went to her trunk, pulling out Blaise's wand and sliding it up her left sleeve, her wand already up her right sleeve. She tossed Sirius's wand to Remus, who was still a bit in shock.
"What's going on?" Theo asked from Stella's bed where he was reading a defense book.
"Stella, I need an explanation," Remus told her, pulling the gloves on and sliding the extra wand up his left sleeve as she'd done.
"Kreacher just told me how Regulus died and I've decided that I don't want him to rot there anymore. He went to an inferi filled cave to do something to try stopping Voldemort and he lost his life for it. I don't leave people behind, in case we all failed to notice. Theo, your leg is still injured so you can't come. Be ready here in case one of us gets hurt."
"Got it," Theo nodded.
"Hold on. I'll get us a bit of backup," Remus looked determined now and Stella wondered if he'd thought of Sirius and Blaise as well, along with how Stella had brought Moody back.
Stella was in the kitchen, Theo sitting at the table, waiting with Kreacher when Tonks and Remus walked into the room.
"I hear we're fighting Inferi?" Tonks asked, bouncing a bit.
"Yupp," Stella smirked.
Tonks and Remus were on much better terms ever since Stella had physically pushed Remus out of the closet, becoming rather good friends.
"Cool! When do we leave?"
"Kreacher, can you take us directly into the cave?" Stella asked him.
"Yes, Mistress. But, why, Mistress?"
"We're going to get Regulus," Stella shrugged. "Come on."
Kreacher took Stella's hand and then Tonks's, Remus taking their free hands. They landed in a dark cave, on a rock in the center of the water. Stella looked around, seeing the potion that Harry had told Stella about. She stepped away from it quickly and looked to the others.
"Alright. Do we just summon him?" Tonks asked.
"Stella can summon him while we fight the inferi," Remus nodded and Stella didn't like being left out of the fight but she really didn't want to have to fight a bunch of reanimated dead bodies, either. She had thought of far too many jokes since Kreature had told her about the inferi.
"Accio, Regulus Black's body?" Stella waved her wand.
Nothing happened at first but then the surface of the water began to ripple. Tonks and Stella watched where small waves were now forming as Remus watched the water behind them, waiting. Kreacher stood in the center, ready to grab them all and disappear at a moment's notice.
Suddenly, bones flew out of the water, bits of bloated muscle and torn clothing. The body landed in front of Stella's feet with a sickening smack that almost made Stella lose her breakfast. She pointed her wand at the body and used her magic to push the body into her empty extendable bag that she knew she'd be tossing away the moment she got the chance. Remus and Tonks had their wands at the ready, Inferi just beginning to break the surface of the water as Stella finished putting the body away.
"Get us out of here, Kreacher!" Stella ordered and they all grasped hands, Kreacher taking them right back to the kitchen.
Stella placed the bag on the table and stepped away from it, jumping up and down with a disgusted look on her face, hands shaking as she refused to look towards the table. Remus stepped forward, summoning the body out of the bag and onto the floor. Tonks and Remus worked together, turning the body into ash. Stella summoned a Black family goblet and transfigured it into an urn before using her magic to place the ashes into the urn, which she placed in the hutch so everyone could see the words 'Regulus A. Black' written across the front.
"Well, I never want to do that again," Stella breathed.
"So, that's what happened to Cousin Regulus," Tonks breathed.
"Yupp," Stella nodded. "I'm going to take a very long shower now."
"Me, as well," Tonks nodded. "See you later, cousin."
"Bye, cousin," Stella smiled, watching Tonks leave before turning to Remus. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Remus sighed, staring at the urn. "Just strange is all. What could he have been doing in that cave?"
"No clue," Stella shrugged before walking pass him and heading up the stairs.
Once alone in her room, Stella pulled the locket out of her shirt, staring at it. There was a large 'S' on the front of it and it felt… wrong. She took her long shower, necklace still around her neck. Once out of the shower, she put on pajamas, deciding she'd done enough for the night as she laid down and went to sleep, Theo joining her in bed not long after.
Stella had nightmares of the worst kind. She watched her friends dying over and over again by Voldemort's, Bellatrix's, and Greyback's hands. Severus Snape smiled as he stared down at her broken body on the ground beside Moody, wand pointed at her as the torture curse was uttered from his lips.
She sat upright in bed, taking deep breaths and hand over the locket. It felt warm on her hand, as if it was feeding off of her nightmares. She glared at the thing before getting up and getting ready for the day, Theo already missing from bed. She'd promised to be at the Burrow to help make breakfast before the Delacour's arrived. Locket hidden in her shirt to pass to Harry later, Stella, Theo, and Remus flooed to the Burrow, smiling as they found Harry waiting for them.
"Hello, love," Stella smiled, giving him a quick kiss before going to the kitchen and helping Molly and Fleur.
The first sound of their approach was an unusually high-pitched laugh, which turned out to be coming from Arthur, who appeared at the gate moments later, laden with luggage and leading a beautiful, blonde woman in long, leaf green robes, who could only be Fleur's mother.
"Maman!" cried Fleur, rushing forwards to embrace her. "Papa!"
Monsieur Delacour was nowhere near as attractive as his wife; he was a head shorter and extremely plump, with a little, pointed, black beard. However, he looked good-natured. Bouncing towards Molly on high-heeled boots, he kissed her twice on each cheek, leaving her flustered.
"You 'ave been too much trouble," he said in a deep voice. "Fleur tells us you 'ave been working very 'ard."
"Oh, it's been nothing, nothing!" trilled Molly. "No trouble at all!"
Ron relieved his feelings by aiming a kick at a gnome who was peering out from behind one of the new Flutterby Bushes.
"Dear lady!" said Monsieur Delacour, still holding Molly's hand between his own two plump ones and beaming. "We are most honored at the approaching union of our two families! Let me present my wife, Apolline."
Madame Delacour glided forwards and stooped to kiss Molly too.
"Enchantée," she said. "Your 'usband 'as been telling us such amusing stories!"
Arthur gave a maniacal laugh; Molly threw him a look, upon which he became immediately silent and assumed an expression appropriate to the sickbed of a close friend.
"And, of course, you 'ave met my leetle daughter, Gabrielle!" said Monsieur Delacour.
Gabrielle was Fleur in miniature; eleven years old, with waist-length hair of pure, silvery blonde, she gave Molly a dazzling smile and hugged her before seeing Stella.
"Stella!" Gabrielle yelled and Stella caught the young girl in her arms, lifting her up to her hip and smiling as they hugged.
"How are you?" Stella asked her in French.
"You know French?" Gabrielle asked her, also speaking the language.
"I do."
"Magnificent!"
"Since when do you know French?" Theo asked, confused.
"Since I learned from my great grandmother's portrait at home," Stella shrugged.
"Italian is next," Theo told her and Stella groaned before smirking at him.
"Well, come in, do!" said Molly brightly, and she ushered the Delacour's into the house, with many 'No, please!'s and 'After you!'s and 'Not at all!'s.
The Delacour's, it soon transpired, were helpful, pleasant guests. They were pleased with everything and keen to assist with the preparations for the wedding. Monsieur Delacour pronounced everything from the seating plan to the bridesmaids' shoes 'charmant!' Madame Delacour was most accomplished at household spells and had the oven properly cleaned in a trice; Gabrielle followed her elder sister around, trying to assist in any way she could and jabbering away in rapid French.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Stella asked Harry one night as they laid on the attic floor, Harry and Ron having taken over her old room so that another room would be available.
"I don't know," Harry shrugged. "It's not a big deal."
"You're coming of age. It's a very big deal," Stella corrected him. "I got you a few things already but those don't really count as gifts all things considered."
"What did you get me?" he asked curiously.
"Safety stuff," she shrugged. "You'll see when you go to Grimmauld. I left it all in the library for your three."
"Well, that's more than enough," Harry sniffed. "You're letting us hide in Grimmauld already as is."
"Why wouldn't I?" Stella sent him a soft glare. "My boyfriend, brother and friend are trying take out an evil wizard. Giving you a safe place is the least I can do, honestly."
"You're amazing. You know that?" Harry smiled softly.
"I do but I still like to hear it," Stella smirked and Harry chuckled before leaning forward and kissing her gently.
"What could they possibly be doing in there?" Molly's voice demanded as she threw the door open. "Oh."
Stella and Harry jumped apart, sitting up quickly and both blushing.
"I thought you were helping get the house in order," Molly said, also a little red.
"We cleaned the bathrooms and wanted a little break," Stella shrugged. "Need help in the kitchen?"
"Yes, dear," Molly nodded and Stella jumped to her feet, sending Harry a wink before she exited the room quickly, running down the stairs to the kitchen with a smirk.
"Mum was looking for you," Ginny told her as she entered the kitchen.
"She found me," Stella nodded.
"Why are you blushing?" Theo asked, a mischievous smirk on his lips.
"Because she also found Harry," Stella admitted as she took over peeling potatoes.
Ginny and Theo laughed loudly, heads thrown back.
"You'd think after walking in on Fred and Hermione snogging, she'd start knocking on doors," Ginny was still laughing, wiping a stray tear from her eye.
"Apparently not," Stella laughed with them.
Stella helped make all of Harry's favorites for breakfast after adding her gift to pile on the table, Remus smirking as he did the same, but sat down as Stella waved her hand and sent a cup of tea to the table in front of him. Bill and Fleur's father were down first, almost finished with their breakfast when Harry and Ron came down, Molly chattering over a frying pan.
"Arthur told me to wish you a happy seventeenth, Harry," she beamed at him. "He had to leave early for work but he'll back for dinner. That's our present on top."
Harry opened the second-hand watch, smiling brightly at it.
"It's traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age," Molly explained, watching Harry with an anxious look on her face, waiting for him to tell her if he liked it or not. "I'm afraid that one isn't new like Ron's. It was actually my brother Fabian's and he wasn't terribly careful with his possessions. It's a bit dented on the back but—"
Harry hugged Molly so tightly that the rest of her speech was cut off. Stella had to look away, a tear escaping her at the scene. Molly patted Harry's cheek lovingly once he pulled away and turned back to the frying pan, Stella seeing a few tears escaping her as well. She passed Molly a small towel after wiping her own tears and Molly gave her a thankful look.
"Oh," Harry breathed and Stella glanced behind herself, seeing Harry staring at the necklace she'd given him.
It was a locket in the shape of a small snitch, a picture of the two of them inside of it. He was staring at the picture for a long moment before closing the snitch and putting the necklace on quickly. He stood and hugged Stella tightly as well.
"You have to be careful and come back to me," she whispered to him.
"Of course," he whispered into her ear. "You're bloody terrifying when you're angry. I'd hate for you to find a way to bring me back to life just so you could kill me yourself."
Stella let out a small laugh and pulled away. Harry gave her a gentle kiss and Stella pushed him back to the table. He smiled as he sat down, just watching her for a minute before Remus cleared his throat.
"Yeah, Uncle Moony?" Harry asked and Stella smirked as she looked to Remus, seeing him now beaming at Harry.
Remus said nothing, just pushed a gift across the table. Remus caught Stella's eye for a moment and she turned away, smiling brightly as she continued mixing batter for the cake. She helped to frost the giant, round cake before Molly began floating it to the table outside.
"Out of the way, out of the way!" Molly sang as Stella followed behind her.
"That looks amazing, Mrs. Weasley," Harry smiled brightly.
"Oh, Stella did most of the work," Molly waved him off and Harry's eyes landed on Stella, shining brightly.
She just shrugged and took his hand. By seven o'clock, the guests had all arrived, led inside by Fred and George, who had waited at the end of the lane. Hagrid had honored the occasion by wearing his best, a horrible, hairy brown suit. Tonks' hair was a brighter pink than normal as she hugged Harry, wishing him a happy birthday before she made her way over to Remus, the two talking quietly back and forth. Stella knew why. They'd both been asking her about the cave repeatedly. Thankfully Theo hadn't asked or else she probably would have told him everything, which she was pretty sure that he actually knew and was just being polite enough to not use to his advantage.
That reminded Stella that she was still wearing the locket. She kept forgetting it was there. It had tried messing with her emotions at first, but she took so many potions that it was too difficult for it to do so. Stella only remembered it was on when she saw it in the shower or getting dressed or after waking up from a nightmare, which she was having almost every night now, Theo having woken her up a few times.
The bags under her eyes were hidden with makeup but Ginny kept giving her strange looks. As if she knew something more was going on besides being worried about Harry, Ron, and Hermione but she couldn't quite figure out what.
"I think we'd better start without Arthur," Molly called to the garden at large after a moment or two. "He must have been held up at – oh!"
They all saw it at the same time: a streak of light that came flying across the yard and on to the table, where it resolved itself into a bright silver weasel, which stood on its hind legs and spoke with Arthur's voice.
"Minister for Magic coming with me."
The Patronus dissolved into thin air, leaving Fleur's family peering in astonishment at the place where it had vanished.
"Brilliant," Stella rolled her eyes.
There was no time to discuss the matter; a second later, Arthur appeared out of thin air at the gate, accompanied by Rufus Scrimgeour, instantly recognizable by his mane of grizzled hair. The two newcomers marched across the yard towards the garden and the lantern-lit table, where everybody sat in silence, watching them draw closer. As Scrimgeour came within range of the lantern light, Stella saw that he looked much older than the last time they had met, scraggy and grim.
"Sorry to intrude," said Scrimgeour, as he limped to a halt before the table. "Especially as I can see that I am gatecrashing a party."
His eyes lingered for a moment on the giant Snitch cake.
"Many happy returns."
"Thanks," said Harry.
"I require a private word with you," Scrimgeour went on. "Also with Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger."
"Us?" said Ron, sounding surprised. "Why us?"
"I shall tell you that when we are somewhere more private," said Scrimgeour. "Is there such a place?"
"Yes, of course," said Arthur, who looked nervous. "The, er, sitting room, why don't you use that?"
"You can lead the way," Scrimgeour said to Ron. "There will be no need for either of you to accompany us, Arthur, Miss Black."
Stella glared at Scrimgeour for a moment before rolling her eyes and sitting back down, arms crossed in front of her on the table. Remus rubbed her back for a moment to calm her as Molly and Arthur exchanged worried looks. The moment they were in the house, Stella, Fred, George, and Theo were on their feet, Fred and George tossing extendable ears to the other two. They tried sticking one under the door but found a privacy charm had been put in place. Stella glared at the door before the four went back to the backyard, looking put out.
"Privacy charms?" Remus smirked.
"Privacy charms," Stella complained.
A few minutes later, raised voices could be heard and Molly, Arthur, Stella, Remus, and Fred ran into the house, bursting through the door with wands drawn. Stella glared at the sight of the minister burning Harry's chest and Scrimgeour hissed as a stinging hex caused him to pull his arm back.
"Who did that?!" he demanded.
Stella ignored the minister, moving to Harry and looking through the hole in his shirt to see the damage. She pointed her wand at him, healing the burn quickly as Remus stood behind Stella, facing the minister who had tried to grab her from behind. The minister took a few steps back immediately.
"It- it was nothing," the minister growled before looking to Harry. "I… regret your attitude. You seem to think that the ministry does not desire what you- what Dumbledore- desired. We ought to be working together."
"I don't like your methods, Minister," said Harry. "Remember?"
Harry raised his fist, showing the scar on his hand reading 'I must not tell lies.' Scrimgeour's expression hardened. He turned away without another word and limped from the room. Molly hurried after him and they all heard her stop at the door. After a minute or so, she called, 'He's gone!'
"What did he want?" Arthur asked, looking at the three in concern, Molly hurrying back into the room.
"To give us what Dumbledore left us," said Harry. "They've only just released the contents of his will."
Outside in the garden, over the dinner tables, the three objects Scrimgeour had given them were passed from hand to hand. Everyone exclaimed over the Deluminator and 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' and lamented the fact that Scrimgeour had refused to pass on the sword, but none of them could offer any suggestion as to why Dumbledore would have left Harry an old Snitch.
As Arthur examined the Deluminator for the third or fourth time, Molly said tentatively, "Harry, dear, everyone's awfully hungry, we didn't like to start without you … shall I serve dinner now?"
Fred and George set off fireworks once it was dark and then Hagrid set up a tent to sleep in for the night, too big to sleep in the Burrow but invited to the wedding the next day. Stella kissed Harry's cheek before flooing away with Remus and Theo.