The Second Star

Chapter Three

"Frailty, thy name is woman!"

--From Hamlet (I, ii, 146)

**************************************************

Holly still didn't know what class she was going to be going to after lunch on the first Wednesday of term. She had been waiting for Professor Snape to tell her one way or another, but he still hadn't.

Glancing at the Head Table, she saw said professor calmly eating his lunch and scowling at random students. He seemed to sense she was watching and turned to her. But Snape didn't sneer at her, he smirked!

She had finally decided Harry was right and the man was just evil. He knew exactly which class she had been approved for and was just trying, very effectively, to annoy her.

Then Holly suddenly realized Snape wouldn't be stringing her along if she had to go to Divinations. She looked up at the evil Potions Master and smiled brightly. She would get him back in class.

*******************

"Miss Potter!" Professor Snape snapped near the end of their first Potions lesson.

Holly raised her head from its position on the desk between Harry and Seamus. Both the Gryffindor boys were still hard at work on the complex first potion Snape had assigned to the Seventh year Advanced Potions class. Holly had finished ten minutes ago and refused to actually help either boy, although she did give instruction from her comfortable perch on her stool.

"Yes, sir," Holly answered smiling.

"This is not nap-time, Potter," Snape said in a low voice. "You should be working on your Exploding Fluid."

"I've finished, sir," Holly said flatly.

"You can't have," Snape mutter walking over to her cauldron.

Holly noticed both her brother and her boyfriend tensen as soon as their professor approached. She was very amused by this, and the look on Snape's face. He seemed surprised.

"Miss Potter," Snape said in a measured tone, trying to hide his surprise at her fast success, "how did you manage to complete such a complex brew so quickly?"

Holly looked up at him making her green eyes as big and innocent as possible. "I don't know, sir. It must have been you expert teaching."

"Miss Potter," her teacher said in a warning tone.

"Well, it really was, Professor," Holly said seriously this time. "I went through the list of ingredients like you said to at the start, but noticed that you had left out the ashwinder venom that our books list. After that I pretty much ignored what you had written on the board and listened to what you said. I finished as soon as you finished giving instruction ten minutes ago."

If one were paying attention, they would have notice the corner of Snape's mouth quirk up in a smile, very briefly.

"Very good, Miss Potter," he said in an unreadable tone. "Twenty points to Slytherin."

"You could have told us Snape was giving wrong information," Ron hissed from behind as soon as the teacher was out of earshot.

"But what fun would that have been?" Holly asked innocently.

"You've got balls of steal, Hol-lil," Harry said slightly amazed at the way his little sister had stood up to Snape.

"I haven't," she said. "I just pay attention. I'm sure 'Moine did the same."

"Actually," the Head Girl said from her seat next to Ron, "I didn't. I was listening to Snape's instruction, but got lost when he said to add the ashwinder venom. It was rather hard to follow after that and as it was right near the beginning..." She trailed off going pink.

"Hermione," Harry said turning to look at his best friend and smirked, "are you saying my little sister beat you in a class?"

Hermione frowned and said, "Well, yes."

*******************

Holly was enjoying the quite of the Slytherin Common Room. She sat curled up in a big armchair with a book, C. L. Lewis' The Silver Chair. Her copy of the book was worn and beaten because she had read it, along with the other six books of The Chronicles of Narnia, so many times she lost count. Just as she was getting to the point when Prince Rilian begs the Narnians to free him, little Emily came stomping into the room. She was quickly followed by a group of laughing first years.

"The mudblood can't even stay on her broom!" one girl said.

Emily turned to glare at the girl. Holly saw she had her hand in her wand. Being the only non-pureblood Slytherin in her year, Emily did not need to make any enemies by cursing another student.

Holly sighed. "You lot!" she yelled at the first years. "What's going on here?"

The group of first years looked as the Prefect advanced on them. Most of the group cowered, but the girl who had called Emily 'mudblood' looked straight at Holly and said, "Nothing."

"Right," Holly said. "A point from Slytherin for each of you picking on a housemate."

"You can't!"

"I already did," Holly said. "Now, apologize."

A course of 'Sorry' was heard from the whole group, albeit grudgingly.

Holly nodded. "Good. It's important for you to stick with your housemates. Two points for everyone who apologized." The first years smiled excitedly. Holly tried not to laugh at them. "Now don't you lot have anything to do?"

They nodded leaving Holly and Emily standing there.

"I could have handled them," Emily said. "I've been reading up on hexes and curses. I'd have made them sorry."

"I'm sure you could have, Em," Holly said. "But this way, you haven't made any enemies in the house. You're all going to be here for seven years. It'd be really hard to have them all against you."

"But," Emily said before clamping her mouth shut.

"But what?" Holly asked.

"But you do," Emily said. "You don't have any friends in Slytherin. I know some of the younger students look up to you, and that you're really good at Quidditch, but I've never seen you talking with anyone in your year, or in seventh or fifth year."

Holly sighed. "I used to have friends here. I treated them very badly. We aren't a forgiving lot, we Slytherins."

"You treated someone badly?" Emily said.

Holly nodded. "You remember Dumbledore mention that two teachers died last year? I knew both of them. Professor Figg used to watch my brother and me when we younger. But Hagrid, he rescued us. And I don't exaggerate here. Hagrid rescued us. I remember when he came..."

Holly was huddled on the floor behind the couch. She could see Harry's eyes open and watching Dudley's watch. It would be his birthday at midnight. Instead of the electronic beep of her cousin's watch, Holly heard a loud bang as the door boomed open and fell to the floor. A huge man was framed in the door.

"Sorry 'bout that," he said picking up the door.

Dudley leapt and tried to cower behind Holly as the gigantic man came in. Holly wasn't even as tall as her cousin's shoulder, let alone even close to half as wide. She elbowed him in the gut and quickly ducked behind the couch. She had lost track of Harry but quickly saw he was also hiding until he knew the situation better.

Her aunt and uncle came down and there was a loud bang. Uncle Vernon had a gun! A hunting rifle no less! Her oafish uncle wouldn't have clue what to do with that!

The large man started talking to Dudley. When he addressed Dudley as 'Harry' the boy managed to stammer out that he wasn't Harry.

Her brother immediately showed himself. Idiot! A giant bangs down the door looking for him so her brother decides to just give himself up. Didn't he know enough to stay hidden?

"Well of course you are!" the giant said. "Where's your sister, then?"

Holly sighed. With as much dignity as she could muster, Holly stood from her hiding place. "Right here, sir," she sighed.

Harry shot her a look that said she should have stayed hidden. He wouldn't, she wouldn't, it was that simple. Holly gave him a defiant glare before looking back the huge man. He was smiling kindly at the pair of them. What ever this man was, it wasn't a threat. That settled, Holly smiled back. She decided she rather liked this strange man.

"Hagrid took us to Diagon Alley that day," Holly said absently.

Emily had noticed her staring off as she talked. The first year didn't really know what to say, but she was honored that a sixth year, that Holly Potter, was talking to her like an equal.

"Do you remember you first trip to Diagon Alley?" Holly asked. Emily nodded, her eyes wide. "What did you think?"

"It was totally brilliant!" Emily said. "It was so, I don't know, magical! And, and..."

"Right," Holly said. "It felt like everything was finally right with the world. Everything made sense, finally. That's what Hagrid gave me. Harry too, I'd guess.

"Last year, when he was killed, well, none of the other Slytherins knew him like I did. They said some very hurtful things. I was, shall we say, less than pleased?"

"What did you do?" Emily asked in awe.

"Aside from the lecture I subjected them to and the points I took?" Holly asked. A vicious smile slid across her face at the memory. "I'm bit of prankster, Em. Let's see, my trademark is blue hair. I don't know why, but I like blue hair. For some reason, they didn't seem to. One morning they found that none of their clothing was wearable; I had it charmed to fall off. They either had to go about in their nightclothes, or nothing. That one wasn't too well thought out though. What if Crabbe or Goyle had decided to go about naked?" Holly gave shudder of disgust as Emily laughed at her. "But I alienated myself from them. It was easier to focus on my anger at their meaningless words than on the fact that my friend was gone. And we were never really that close. It was more like a temporary alliance than friendship. When I'm useful again, they'll come back."

"That's awful," Emily said.

"Yeah it is," she said sadly. "But my best friend is a Gryffindor, so I'll get on fine. Ginny wouldn't ever leave me like that. You've got to build friendships, Emily, they don't just appear. I never really wanted to do that with anyone in the house I suppose, except maybe Brice or Draco. They're prats, but they really aren't that bad. Besides, boys get a little better as they get older.

"Anyway!" Holly said with false cheer. "Can't do anything about that now, can I? But you just have to keep in mind, Em, that you can't afford enemies in this house. You don't have any defenses to protect you like I do. But if you like, I can teach you to fly."

"Really?!!" Emily squeaked.

"Really," she said. "We'll start on Saturday."

Emily hugged and ran off to her dorm.

Holly smiled after her until she noticed she wasn't alone. She turned to see Draco watching from the boy's corridor. "Don't you have anything better to do than spy on two girls?"

"Knowledge is power, Holly," he shrugged. "I think you told me that."

"So?"

"So now I know more about you," he said. "You never told me about what the half-giant did for you."

"Yes, well..."

"And," he said interrupting her, "now I know you wanted me as a friend." Draco put his hand over his heart. "I'm touched."

Holly scowled at him. "Prat," she muttered before walking away.

*******************

Holly was hanging upside down on her broom staring at Hogwarts. Her lessons to Emily went well, but Holly doubted the first year was ready for the Quidditch team, yet.

Watching Emily discover what it's like to really fly, Holly remembered her first time on a broom. Lately, all she wanted to do was forget the pain, to leave it behind. She never seemed to be able to though. Holly was always thinking, usually about something depressing. But flying made everything better. It was the only time she could forget.

It was one thing she really had in common with Harry, that they both loved to fly. She liked to imagine that if they had grown up in the Wizarding world, they'd have spent their childhood flying. Their dad would show them how to pull off difficult maneuvers (like the puddle-mud flip that had been giving her trouble lately). Their mum would tut and frown as her two children fly like mad, but always greet them with a smile when they landed. Sirius and Remus would have visited, being perfect surrogate uncles and spoiling them rotten with the best brooms. It would have been perfect.

"Hey!" Holly heard a voice call from her right.

She flipped up on her broom to see her brother approaching with the Gryffindor team still on the ground.

"Hullo," she answered. "Practicing already?"

"Well some git in Slytherin always runs her team to the ground, making it harder on us," Harry said.

Holly flew a quick loop around him. "Somebody's jealous."

"I am not!" Harry answered. "I like the competition."

"But you don't like losing. My name looks so good on the Quidditch cup. I plan to have it there again."

"You can try, Holly," he said, "but you'll have to find a Seeker better then me." Harry quickly looped her now, and took off her shoe in the process. He held it out to her tauntingly.

"Prat!" she screamed. "I like these shoes! Give it back!"

"Catch me first!" Harry said. "Or are you afraid your little Nimbus 2001 can't catch my Firebolt?"

"You my have a better broom, but I'm a better flyer!"

"Prove it!" Harry challenged.

*******************

After the broom race, which Holly did win, but Harry said he let her, the Gryffindors had a light practice session with the Slytherin captain watching and criticizing. They finally decided Holly was not helping their practice session and called it quits.

Which Holly didn't mind at all. Seamus was a Chaser on the Gryffindor team and this meant they had some unexpected free time together. They had shed they're robes, socks and shoes and done a bit of wading in the lake. The cool water felt wonderful on their feet, but they eventually wandered back to the shore.

They were now sitting together under the shade of a large oak tree. Holly was sitting with her back the to tree while Seamus was reclined so his head was resting in her lap. She was absently curling his blond locks around her fingers and watching the water ripple on the lake surface, while he held her other hand and stared at the clouds through the tree branches, or at Holly while she wasn't paying attention.

"You know," he said, "you've really got me rapped around your little finger there."

Holly smiled and gave his hair a playful tug. "Git."

Seamus smiled and followed her gaze out to the lake. At least he started to. Her legs caught his attention. She had her knees bents, so her skirt had slid down exposing more of her thigh than usual. Eyes traveled down the length of her leg to her still bare feet.

"Hey what's that?" Seamus asked touching what appeared to be a rose on the outside of her leg, just above her ankle.

"That would be a rose," she said.

"I see that, but is it, er, tattooed there?"

"Very good, Seamus," Holly said grinning.

He sat up now and looked at her. "You have a tattoo?"

"No, I don't have a tattoo," Holly said. "I have five."

"What?"

She lifted her other leg and showed him a serpent rapped around her other ankle. "That's a basilisk. I know because I saw one. The rose on my ankle is for my namesake, my aunt. I have a dragon on my lower back, because I like dragons. It isn't really that big. And I actually have a cluster of stars on my right shoulder, three in all, one for each person I've lost, but it's just one design. And what am I forgetting? Oh yes!" She lifted her hair to show him a small lightning bolt tattooed on her neck. "That one should be obvious."

"Why would you do that to yourself?" Seamus asked still staring at the drawing on her neck.

Holly shrugged. "To piss off my Aunt Petunia. To remind myself of certain things. Because I felt like it. Take your pick," she said letting her hair fall again.

"But why? I mean don't they use those horrible needles to..."

"No," Holly said cutting him off. "Well, Muggles do, but a Wizarding Tattoo parlor doesn't. They just draw and use a spell to keep it there. Dean could probably do it. You just have draw and cast the right spells."

"I'm sure that's exactly what he wants to do," Seamus said skeptically lying back down. "You're weird, you know."

"Yes, I do, but you're the crazy one dating me."

"True. Did your brother tell you he's all right with everything?"

Holly grinned. "Like he had a choice?"

*******************

Holly had somehow managed to survive the first week back. Sitting the Slytherin common room, Scratch curled up on her lap, she watched the rest of the house go about their business, seemingly oblivious to her presence, or purposefully trying to ignore her. This was really how she liked it anyway.

Unless, of course, she was making them uncomfortable. That was always fun. She was actually doing that now just by her very Muggle-like presence. She was wearing an acid green tee shirt with a little cartoon girl smiling innocently with the words 'We should forgive our enemies, but only after they've been taken out and shot' printed on it. It earned her quite a few subtle stares.

As the clock chimed quarter to one, Holly got up and brushed the cat hair off her short white skirt.

Scratch hissed at her, unhappy about losing the warm seat. Holly rolled her eyes at the little grey fluffy ball.

"Well, I'm going to lunch with Remus and Padfoot. You can come."

The cat looked scandalized at the thought of visiting the canines and totted off to parts unknown. Holly snickered all the way to Remus' office.

Holly knocked as she entered the room. "Guys?"

"Holly!" Sirius said jumping from behind the door, closing it in the process. He picked her up in a big bear hug and spun her around. Holly shrieked loudly.

When he finally put her down, Holly punched his arm. "Don't do that!"

Sirius laughed. She heard Harry and Remus chuckling too. She glared at them.

"Aw, Hol-lil," Harry said, "don't pout."

"Why am I here again?" Holly said absently throwing herself into a chair.

"Because," Sirius said, "we need more time as a family."

Holly had to laugh at this.

"What?" Sirius asked confused.

"We just make a sort of and odd family is all," Holly answered grinning. "I mean we have a werewolf in Remus, an escapee from a notorious prison, also known as you, my favorite brother, the Gryffindor Golden-boy, and me, the Slytherin Bitch Queen."

Sirius choked on his tea before glaring at Holly. She grinned inanely at him. Harry looked very amused while Remus was obviously trying very hard not to laugh out right. Sirius focused his ire on his werewolf best friend.

"And just what do you find so funny?" Sirius demeaned.

"The fact that she's right," Remus grinned. "And that's something you or James would have said when we where her age."