The Black Star

Chapter 2

*1995*

... Stella Decartier was Silver.

Harry's eyes widened. Memories flooded back into his mind. Memories of laughter, happiness and freedom. But they weren't complete. Harry just got some flashes when he closed his eyes. There was a big black fluffy something -- a two -- metre - tall mouse ? But there was also a huge white fluffy thing that looked like a duck with a sailor cap on its head.

"What the hell..." Harry muttered and shook his head. Oh, perfect ! Now he was having hallucinations !

"Maybe this article shocked me more than I realized ..." he thought and looked up. Hermione and Ron were looking at him worriedly.

"What's up, Harry ? You looked like you were having an headache." said Hermione.

So he told them about the duck and the mouse and that somehow he liked that woman in the newspaper. Ron shot him a strange look.

"He's probably worrying that I'm starting to lose my mind." thought Harry sourly. But Hermione had a pensive expression on her face. She didn't seem to think that Harry was talking nonsense or losing his mind. Instead, she asked him cautiously if he remembered more. Like rollercoasters, for example. Or a castle. Or lots of people. And she seemed to know exactly what she was talking about. But Harry wasn't so sure. He gazed at her, looking puzzled.

Hermione got impatient. "Look. You like this woman -- whatwashernameagain-" -- " Silver." Harry replied dully.

"Yeah. If you like her, then you must've experienced some nice moments with her. -- Not in that way." she added quickly, seeing the doubtful expression on Harry's face.

Now he had to admit that Hermione was right. Harry closed his eyes and tried fiercely to remember. Finally, he found that Hermione had been right again. He indeed remembered a rollercoaster and a castle. And people who had been speaking a language he hadn't understood. When he told her that, Hermione just smiled and said "I thought so." Nothing more.

Harry and Ron became a bit irritated.

"Would you be so kind as to let us know your conclusion, oh Intelligent One ?" demanded Ron.

"It's rather simple. She must've taken you to Disneyland, Harry."

The boys stared at her -- Ron with an expression that said "I've no idea what you're talking about." and Harry with an expression that said " Impossible !".

"I've never been to Disneyland." said Harry in a convinced tone, " I mean, why wouldn't I've remembered it by now ?"

Hermione shoved his arguments with a wave of her hand away and wanted to reply. But she was stopped by Ron who suddenly held his hand up and said firmly, " WAIT. What, by Merlin's beard, is this 'Disneyland' ? Apparently, it's a Muggle thing since you both know what it is, but I don't know and I really would like to !"

Hermione sighed and gave him a shortest- version- explanation. Ron didn't seem to understand every single thing, but he'd obviously understood enough because he asked no more questions after that.

Now it was Harry's turn not to understand something and of course, he used the chance and began, " I still don't understand..." -- but Hermione cut him off.

"It's really simple. And if you'd be so kind as to let me explain, then we could get on with this whole Silver- business." she announced.

The boys looked at her encouragingly.

"Okay. Let's suppose Silver knew you and liked you. Then she would've wanted something good happening to you, wouldn't she ? So she took you to Disneyland and modified your memory after that so that you would only remember everything when you saw her again. Which you now did, on the picture." explained Hermione.

Harry didn't agree, "Why would she modify my memory like that ? It makes no sense at all !"

" It makes perfectly sense !" snapped Hermione, getting impatient. " C'mon Harry, think ! You lived with the Dursleys who hated everything that had something to do with magic. If you'd accidentally slipped a word about a strange woman who took you to Disneyland, they would've known that she was a witch and locked you up in the cupboard until Doomsday ! And besides, if she'd really liked you, then she wouldn't have wanted you to be unhappy when returning to the Dursleys after a time you had spent with her and which you had obviously enjoyed."

" Okay, but why would she do something like that for me ?"

The whole situation still didn't make entirely sense for Harry. Even Ron seemed to understand it better.

" Well, since she loved Sirius... I mean, you're his godson... and maybe she knew your parents too and felt it as her duty to help you in some way..." he said.

Hermione nodded. That was exactly what she'd been thinking.

Harry looked at then uncertainly. " Well, if you put it like that, then it indeed makes some sense..." he said slowly. " But why on earth has Sirius never mentioned her ?"

For that, they didn't have a straight answer save the one Hermione had already said before -- " It was probably too painful for him."

But that one didn't gratify Harry in any way.

*1971*

"Well, well, well. Stella Leandra Decartier... now that's interesting..." began the Hat.

Stella shuddered. This small voice was going to decide about her future. Oh, dear -- please not Slytherin, she thought.

" Not Slytherin ? But why ? You could do very well there -- with your ambitiousness ... but then Ravenclaw would suit you too -- I've hardy ever seen anybody as bright as you are ... the young man before you was from the same kind, though. Hmmm ... you've also got a great deal of courage which shouldn't be ignored. Yes, that's the House for you -- GRYFFINDOR !"

The Hat cried the last word out loudly and Stella walked over to the Gryffindor Table while the Gryffindors were cheering. She felt oddly blank. Not nervous anymore, not furious about the Hat's decision, but not particularly enthusiastic about it, either.

"Well, I suppose I should be grateful that I didn't wind up being a Slytherin. Although, being in the same House as Black doesn't seem very pleasant, either -- he's a rival who's gonna be difficult to beat... if Mum and Dad didn't exaggerate, that is. I guess Ravenclaw would've been the best option..." she thought wearily and looked around. Since she liked nice buildings and had a sense for the beauty of architecture and design, she appreciated the looks of the Great Hall.

" It looks exactly like its name states -- great." she said to herself while she was looking at the enchanted ceiling which showed the sky like it was outside. It was late and the stars had begun to appear. Stella smiled as she spotted her favourite star -- Polaris the Northern Star. But her smile faded when she saw the constellation of the Canis Major.

" Sirius the dog star." she thought. Then she suddenly remembered a certain person and grimaced. " How can somebody like him have such a wonderful name ? That's one of the big mysteries of the universe I have to solve in my life..."

At that moment her train of thoughts was being interrupted by the Gryffindors cheering again.

Stella couldn't help but smile when she saw that it was Lily Evans whom they were applauding to. She had hoped that they would be in the same House. Lily took place next to Stella and they both continued to watch the Ceremony with interest. Shortly after Lily, two girls were Sorted into Gryffindor -- Mary-Ann Goshawk and Elizabeth Hunter- Kensington whose name seemed to be longer than she was tall.

A few following kids were Sorted into the other Houses and the next two Gryffindors were Caroline Lenoir and Remus Lupin. Stella's eyes lit up at the sight of Remus coming towards the Gryffindor Table. She definitely liked him although she wasn't really sure why. It was as if they'd known each other for ages and not only for a few hours. " Soul-related." Stella thought amusedly as Remus sat down next and they sank into an animate conversation about what the Sorting Hat had told them.

Meanwhile, "McMillan, Jacob !" became a Hufflepuff and the twins " McNair, April !" and "McNair, Richard !" went to Slytherin.

The next wave of Gryffindors with " Patil, Daniel !", " Pettigrew, Peter !" and "Potter, James!" followed.

"Snape, Severus !" went to Slytherin, looking enormously pleased with himself and after "Zabini, Jean !" the Sorting Ceremony ended.

Albus Dumbledore raised from his seat at the Staff Table and began to speak, "Welcome to Hogwarts, all of you ! I guess that you're pretty hungry and can't wait for the Feast to begin, so I'll keep my speech short... To all the first-years and to those who might've forgotten : the Forbidden Forest is, like it name states, forbidden to enter as well as the Astronomy Tower except for the lessons held there. I hope you'll keep it in mind because our dear Prof. Sinistra told me that she's getting tired of shooing away kissing couples every night... let her get some sleep ! And now -- let the Feast begin !"

Huge amounts of delicious food appeared on the tables and everybody served themselves, so that the Hall was soon full of chatter and the tinkling of the cutlery.

"Who was that ?" asked Lily curiously right after Dumbledore had resumed his seat again.

" That was one of the greatest wizards ever known... Albus Dumbledore -- the Headmaster of Hogwarts." announced Stella solemnly and then laughed at Lily's reverent gaze.

" Dumbledore is a great man. Powerful wizard and nevertheless very kind." Remus added with a strange expression on his face. If it hadn't been for Dumbledore, he wouldn't sit here in the Great Hall now with his new friends -- Stella and Lily as well as the three boys who had been in the same compartment on the train.

"James and Sirius seem to be real troublemakers -- I guess we're gonna have some fun this year." Remus thought, grinning. " Peter is a bit shy, but that's understandable, I know how he must feel -- everything is new here... . Lily and Stella seem to be very nice -- especially Stella. I feel like we've already known each other for ages... strange. She's one of the rare kind of people in who's presence I feel relaxed..." he smiled, but his smile faded quickly when he recalled what would happen when she found out who he was -- no, he corrected himself grimly -- what he was.

By the time, everybody had been able to fill their stomach and the students were led to their common rooms and then their dormitories.

The Gryffindors ascended the marble staircase, passed the Fat Lady -- "Leo aureus !" -- and found themselves in the Gryffindor Common Room. The first- years looked around curiously. The room was very cosy with a large fireplace and many overstuffed chairs and sofas.

After a few minutes, they were taken to their dormitories by the prefects who told them to go to sleep. Lily and Stella shared the room with Mary-Ann Goshawk, Elizabeth Hunter- Kensington and Caroline Lenoir. Mary- Ann introduced herself and Caroline. It was obvious that they had known each other before Hogwarts and were friends.

Mary- Ann had long curls of black hair running down her back and piercing blue eyes. She looked as if she was quite aware of her good looks. Her friend Caroline had dark brown hair and eyes in the same colour. And, as Stella noticed, she lacked that irritatingly self-satisfied look on her face Mary-Ann had.

Elizabeth was exactly the contrary to Mary-Ann. She looked rather shy, had straight blonde hair and grey-blue eyes. Her small pale face was half-hidden by her long fringe and large glasses. She was also the smallest and thinnest girl in the room.

Lily and Stella were both slim and rather tall, but those were the only things they had in common outwardly. While Lily had flaming red hair, bright green eyes and the typical pale skin of the redheads, Stella had dark chestnut-coloured hair and her eye-colour was a strange mixture of light brown, green and grey. She was tanned from the summer sun and when the two of them stood side by side, they reminded people of dark and white chocolate.

The first-year girls found their trunks at the end of their beds and began to change before going to sleep. Stella examined the heavy scarlet-coloured curtains at her four-poster bed and then took her wand out. The others regarded her curiously because usually, first-years didn't do much of magic.

"Argenteus !" Stella murmured and the curtains and the bed-clothes became a silvery sort of colour. It looked beautiful. The other girls stared and Mary-Ann asked with raised eyebrows, " Why did you do that ? Don't you like scarlet ?"

" Oh, I do ! But I like silver better, you know." Stella replied cheerfully and grinned when she saw the respectful glances of the other girls. Changing the colour of things was a simple enough spell, but they couldn't know that.

" Stella- could you change the colour of mine's, too ? I'd like it to be pink." Elizabeth said timidly and blushed as Mary-Ann and Caroline snorted with laughter at the mention of 'pink'.

But Stella ignored them and gave her a friendly smile, "Of course."

"Roseus!" she muttered and Elizabeth's bed-clothes and curtains turned a light shade of pink -- rosé.

"So." Stella grinned. "Anybody else who wants their bed colour changed ?"

"Yeah, me." Said Lily, grinning as well. " Emerald green, please."

Mary-Ann was shocked. " Green? But that's the Slytherin colour ! Along with silver ! You're betraying your own House ! And I don't think that you're allowed to change the colour !" she looked accusingly at Stella who merely turned and changed lily's bed-clothes colour with " Viridis smaragdinus !" into emerald green. " Anybody else ?" she asked innocently, trying not to laugh at the sour expression on Mary-Ann's face. She could very well imagine her running to one of the prefects the following morning and complaining about the 'redecorating' Stella had made.

Caroline obviously didn't agree with Mary-Ann because she asked if Stella could change her bed-colour into violet. She smiled apologetically at Mary-Ann who glared at her and Stella changed the colour by muttering "Violaceus !" After that, the girls went to sleep.

There was a bigger chaos in the dorm of the first-year boys, though. Sirius had insisted on dying his bed-clothes, so that they were now checked with vivid yellow and bright orange spots, which was simply hurtful to look at.

" I really don't understand how you're going to sleep in that ! It's awful ! I would feel like being in hell or something..." James complained and seriously doubted his friend's sanity -- like he had done an uncountable amount of times before. But he knew his friend well and therefore was certain that Sirius' bed-clothes were going to remain orange -- yellow. " Sirius could be the King of Stubbornness." James thought amusedly.

Remus and Peter had been so wise and had given up to convince Sirius to change the colour again, but Daniel Patil kept arguing with him.

" Do the colours have to be so piercing ? I feel like I'm going blind every time I look at your bed !"

" Don't look at it, then." replied Sirius serenely.

" But -- " Sirius cut Daniel off and said firmly, " Look. I wouldn't object if you dyed your bed-clothes pink -- er, no, scratch that, I would object 'coz pink looks HORRIBLE -- but I definitely wouldn't say anything against it if you dyed them, say, poisonous green, so leave me alone with that. We're living in a free country. I can do what I want."

"Do what you want ??" Daniel smirked." Hardly. But oh well, you'll see."

"It's obvious that he doesn't know Sirius." James told Remus and chuckled. "Daniel's gonna be veeery surprised. Sirius always does what he wants." Ans with that, the boys went to sleep as well.

Next morning, the Gryffindor first years met at the breakfast in the Great Hall where they also got their time-tables. Mary- Ann was complaining loudly about the changes of colour Stella had made the previous evening. She got unexpected support from Daniel Patil who shot and irritated glance in Sirius' direction and said, " I know exactly what you're talking about. Black here insisted on dying his bed-clothes and curtains canary yellow and screaming orange. It's horrible."

"Yellow and orange ? See, Mary, and you thought I was bad..." Stella cut in, grinning as she pictured the effect of those two colours together.

Sirius shook his head.

" I'm not bad -- at least not worse than you ! I mean -- green and silver ! You...you Slytherin-supporter ! Traitor !" he exclaimed mock-indignantly and hit the table with his fist for emphasis. Mary-Ann looked pointedly at Stella, not realizing that Sirius was making fun out of her.

" If I am a Slytherin supporter, then you're supporting Hufflepuff...yellow is their colour." Replied Stella evenly and started to eat her toast.

Sirius couldn't think of anything witty to say, so he shut up and became very preoccupied with his breakfast. But Stella saw that he was thinking and grinned inwardly. The battle had begun. And it promised to be very interesting.

Indeed, it seemed that something had just occurred to Sirius and he asked Stella, "The Sorting Hat seemed to think very long about where to put you in... couldn't it decide between Slytherin and Hufflepuff and so it just put you into Gryffindor because it didn't want to elongate the Ceremony ?"

Stella looked at him serenely." You mustn't make conclusions from what you've experienced, Black. Actually, it wondered whether to put me into Ravenclaw or not. It said that it had hardly seen such an especially bright person like me." Of course, she didn't tell him that the Hat had said he was from the same kind.

" Aw, really ? Especially smug would've been way more accurate... wanna see who's the brighter one of us two ?" he grinned self-confidently.

Stella was amused. " Sorry, but I never get into a battle of wits with someone unarmed."

Sirius' eyes narrowed and then suddenly widened as he fully understood what she meant. His sudden change of expression and the dawning comprehension on his face were so funny that James, Remus, Lily and Stella burst out laughing.

" Point for you, Decartier. But don't worry, I'll come back to this one." Sirius announced, sounding determined.

Stella's eyes were sparkling with mischief. " Looking forward to that." She replied and continued to eat her toast. Lily, James and Remus exchanged glances. This year was promising to be very enjoyable.

~To be continued...~