The Second Star

Chapter Four

"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:
Words without thoughts never to heaven go."

--From Hamlet (III, iii, 100-103)

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Two weeks into term, Holly Potter once again became the Queen of Slytherin. This wasn't because of anything she did. It wasn't because the rift that had developed between her and her housemates had mended, or because she had stopped spending so much time with her Gryffindor friends. No, it was because of simple piece of parchment that was hung one morning in the Slytherin Common Room.

It read, in Professor Snape's elaborate script:

Quidditch Trials

On Wednesday, the sixteenth of September, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, Holly Potter, will be supervising Quidditch trials. Anyone interested in a spot on the House team should report promptly to the field at three-thirty pm. Miss Potter will have final say over any new team members. All current team members must report and prove they deserve to maintain their status.

Professor S Snape

Holly groaned as soon as she read the notice. Professor Snape had made it very clear that to get on the Quidditch team, you had to be in Holly's good graces. Not that this was new information. It was the same way she had run her Quidditch team for the pervious two seasons, but it should make life more ... interesting.

*****

"Can I help you with that, Holly?"

"No thank you," she said to the fifth year boy whose name she couldn't remember.

"Holly, did you need anything? Anything at all?"

"No, that's kind of you to offer," she said politely to another groveling idiot.

"Enjoying the attention, Potter?" Draco asked as he walked ahead of her to the Quidditch pitch.

"Oh, ever so much, Dray, thank you," Holly said hiking up the bag full of protective gear she was carrying and running up to him.

He half frowned at the use of the nickname. Holly smiled at having been able to any him. And at least Malfoy was useful for keeping the other, more annoying Slytherins away. One glare from Draco Malfoy and they would positively scurry away.

Soon Brice Hadley joined the two teammates. "So what chance do we have, Holly?"

"The same as everyone else," she said. "Why?"

"Just making sure," he shrugged.

"Are you implying I'd be unfair?" she said glaring slightly.

"Not at all," he said raising his hands in surrender. "I like my balls in tacked, thanks."

"Well that's rather vulgar," Holly said.

Draco snorted. "This from the girl wearing a tee-shirt that was 'Yes, but not with you.' Really Potter, what would your dear brother say?"

"Oh shut up you git," Holly snapped, "before I decide I'd rather play Seeker."

"I thought you weren't guaranteed to make the team either," Draco said. "I thought it was every man for himself."

"It is," Holly shrugged. "I could still kick your ass."

Brice smiled. "She probably could, Draco. I'd be careful if I were you."

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

Holly sighed as she entered the Great Hall. Quidditch trials had gone rather well. Both Draco and Brice had earned their spots on the team. And so had Blaise, unfortunately. Her reserves showed a lot of promise. Emily was actually looking like a promising Seeker. She had beaten everyone but Draco, which greatly impressed the seventh year.

"Not bad for a half-blood," he had said.

It was a lot for him.

Of course, Brice has pointed out that Holly trained her. Holly didn't tell them it was surprise just how well the first year girl did.

All in all, it was good afternoon.

Well except when Holly realized she actually missed the banter that often flew fast and furious between Draco, Brice, and herself. She'd be damned before she apologized to them though.

"Hey Holly!" Ginny said coming up behind her and grabbing her arm. "Come sit with us!"

"Sure, Gin." Holly smiled. "How were your first weeks back? I haven't seen much of you."

"No, you haven't," her best friend chided. "And pretty good. Transfig has me stumped already though."

Holly laughed. "Well, you're talking to the wrong Potter. I'm hopeless at it. Harry's brilliant though."

"I'll keep that in mind. I may need it."

Ginny found them empty seats on the end of the table, away from everyone else. "So, how are things with Seamus?"

Holly tried very hard not to blush, but could stop the smile that somehow wound around her face. "Fine."

"Just 'fine?'" Ginny asked. "I heard Ron and Neville talking. Seems that couldn't sleep 'cause a certain Irishman kept moaning your name. Harry finally cast a silencing charm. Supposedly, he said he'd had enough of hearing that stuff about his sister. Ron and Neville thought it was pretty funny though."

"Oh," Holly said rolling her eyes, even though she was bright red. "Great." Then she sighed dramatically. "I've decided I need to tell him about my escaped prisoner godfather. It's only fair after all."

Ginny smiled with a vicious gleam in her eyes. "He should know there's an infamous maniac that'll hunt him down in addition to the Boy-Who-Lived and a werewolf if he does anything to you?"

Holly sighed again. "Yeah."

"You guys get that History of Magic project yet?" Ginny asked graciously changing the subject.

"The family research one?" Holly asked perking up a bit. "Yeah, we got it. Harry did the Potter line last year so I'll just start with his notes and do our grandmother's family."

"You're lucky," Ginny said dismally. "I think my brothers have covered all that type of stuff between the six of them."

"Well then, you should have a complete genealogy to work with. Just pick one ancestor and write about them," Holly suggested.

"I guess." Ginny shrugged. "What's a genealogy?"

"It's a Muggle term for the family line," Holly said.

"Oh well, yeah then. I hate being the youngest," Ginny moaned.

Holly rolled her eyes. "You're as bad as your brother, you know that?"

"Ew, what an awful thing to say!" Ginny said.

"Could be worse," Holly said. "You could be as bad as my brother. And wouldn't that be bloody awful?"

Ginny however, didn't say anything and started poking at her dinner absently.

"Gin? Wouldn't it?" Holly asked. When Ginny didn't answer, Holly groaned. "Oh not again."

"Not what again?" Ginny asked looking up.

"You!" Holly said. "Moping about my git brother."

"Your brother isn't half the git mine is," Ginny said indignantly.

"True, but he's still a guy, and therefore a git. You have six brothers. You should know this," Holly reminded her friend.

"I do!" Ginny insisted. "But you have to admit, Harry is less a git then most other boys. I'm sure you'd say the same about Seamus."

Holly looked down the table to where Seamus was sitting with her brother and the other seventh year boys. They were poring over a magazine. Holly's eyes narrowed slightly, wondering exactly what the boys found so interesting.

"Ginny, do you really want to compare my feeling for Seamus to your feelings for Harry?" she asked never taking her eyes off the boys.

"I suppose not," Ginny agreed.

"Come on though," Holly said standing. "Let's go pay them a little visit."

Ginny was a little confused at what cause Holly's change in attitude, but got up to follow her friend anyway. Holly stopped behind the boys. They could hear the conversation clearly.

"That's just bloody beautiful," Harry said.

"I could defiantly go for one of those," Dean agreed.

"She is a beaut, eh?" Seamus said. "And to think I've got one waiting for me at home."

Holly had seemed to have enough and cleared her throat loudly. "What'd you lot have there?" she asked.

Harry looked up and grinned wickedly. "Just a magazine Seamus here brought from home. Nothing a girl would really want to see."

Holly raised an eyebrow at her brother. "Oh? And a paragon of virtue such as yourself is being lead astray?"

"Whoever said I was a paragon of virtue?" Harry asked with a wink at Ginny. "Besides, this happens to be something of which I know quite a bit about."

"Really? It's an article on wanking, then?" Holly asked.

The boys all stared laughing, Neville having choked on the pumpkin juice he had been drinking. Ginny seemed to turn an interesting shade of red. Holly, knowing that the youngest Weasley talked to her own brothers that way, figured it was at the though of Harry wanking-off. Seamus took pity on Harry though.

"No, Holly love," he said. "It's on cars. My car actually."

Holly's eyes lit up. "Really? What kind?"

"It's a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT," Seamus said proudly.

Holly grabbed the magazine from the boys. "'67 was the first year for the big block, wasn't it?" she asked.

"Aye," Seamus nodded. "Over for 400 cubic inches and 520 horses of power in that baby."

"Over compensating a bit?" Ginny asked feeling let out of the conversation.

She was, however, ignored in favor of the awesome machine.

"The top speed is 170 mph, 150 in clocked laps," Seamus told his girlfriend.

"That's only just faster then my Nimbus," Holly said absently.

"Well, it's not like it's airborne, or anything," Seamus said defensively.

"It would be if Holly drove it," Harry grinned proudly. "My sister is a total manic! You should have seen her when she got hold of Uncle Vernon's keys. It was fabulous!"

"When was this, then?" Dean asked. "She's only sixteen. She can't drive for another year."

"Actually," Harry said, "after that stunt, she's not allowed to drive as long as she lives under Aunt Petunia's roof. Which I'm sure won't be a moment longer then it has to be. And this was two summers ago. She was only fourteen."

"Merlin, that is a beautiful machine," Holly said, eyes shining staring at the magazine, oblivious to every thing else.

Seamus laughed. "Well, you can have it when I'm dead and gone, how 'bout that?"

"You got a deal mister!" Holly said kissing him lightly on the lips.

"A deal sealed with a kiss?" Ginny said. "Better watch it Seamus, that's a binding magical contract."

Seamus shrugged. "I'll be dead, what'll I care?"

"Really, Finnigan, bad from to joke about that sort of thing," Ginny said.

"Gin's got a point, Shay," Holly said. "Why don't we go get some air? I could do with a nice stroll around the lake."

Seamus smiled adoringly at her. "Sure. Right after dinner."

"Right, food," Holly rolled her eyes as he commenced shoveling food into his mouth.

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

Holly held Seamus's hand as they walked around the lake. The sun was starting to dip low into the sky. They rounded a curve and were able to look across the water at the castle looming before them.

Seamus stopped took a deep breath. "It's beautiful here. We can see practically the whole grounds. The pitch way off to the left, the castle, grand sight that it is, and if you look real close you can just make out Hagrid's hut." Holly stiffened next to him. "Oh Merlin, Hol, I'm so sorry," Seamus said wrapping an arm around her.

"S'alright," Holly muttered leaning back into him. "I have a lot of fond memories of that hut. Not so find as well, I guess."

"Tell me?" Seamus asked gently.

"Do you remember your third year? The whole Buckbeak thing?" she asked.

"Yeah," Seamus nodded.

"I was sort of there," Holly confessed.

"You were? But they wouldn't have let you," Seamus said.

"Why don't we sit down, Seamus?" Holly said laying her cloak in the ground for them to sit on. "I wanted to talk to you about that night. That's why I asked you out here. I've been meaning to tell you about my family. You really should know about Remus and Sirius."

Seamus frowned. "Sirius Black? But Holly, I already know."

"No you don't," Holly insisted. "Sirius Black is my godfather."

"Your godfather?!"

"And one of my father's best friends, as well," she said.

"But, he, he turned them over to You-Know-Who! He killed thirteen people with a single curse! He tried to kill your brother!" said Seamus in a shocked voice.

Holly smiled and shook her head. "No, he didn't. Sirius is innocent. He's one of the best men I know."

"You know him, then?" Seamus asked skeptically. "You know he's innocent?"

Holly took a deep breath and plowed on. "Yes. I know he's innocent because I've seen Peter Pettigrew, the wizard he was suppose to have killed, alive.

"The day Buckbeak was suppose to be executed, I felt really awful for Hagrid. I finished my last exam that morning, so I went to see Hagrid, which he wasn't happy about. I went anyway. Well I had my dad's invisibility cloak; I sort of nicked it from Harry the night before.

"Hagrid sent me back up pretty quick and I found Harry on his way out of the Divinations exam and was able to give him the cloak. I figured he, Ron and Hermione would want to go see Hagrid too.

"I went to visit Professor Lupin. Remus always told me storied about my dad. Always cheered me up a bit." Holly sighed as she finished.

"I remember you haunted his office that year," Seamus nodded. "Lavender and Parvati would always giggle about your crush on him."

"On Uncle Remy?" Holly giggled. "Oh my, no. No, Harry let it slip that Professor Lupin knew our dad once after his extra lessons on the Patronus Charm. After that, poor Remus couldn't get rid of me. I don't think Harry ever went just to ask about dad, though. I think, at the time, it was a bit more of a sensitive subject for him.

"Anyway, Remus had a way of, um, well there's this magical map that shows people on Hogwarts grounds and Remus had it. We were watching it, for Harry and the others. Well, when they were coming away from Hagrid's we saw them."

"Your brother and the others?" Seamus asked.

"No, Wormtail and Padfoot."

"Professor," Holly said looking at the Marauder's Map, "The Map can't show dead people, can it?"

"No, Holly it can't," He answered frowning.

"But, then why is Peter Pettigrew on here with Ron and Harry and Hermione?" The twelve-year-old asked.

Suddenly Lupin's eye flew open widely. "Sirius didn't kill Peter. He's innocent. Holly, Ron Weasley's pet is a rat, isn't it?"

"I, I think so," she said, head still spinning. "Scabbers, I think he's called. Beat up little thing, even missing a toe on his front paw."

"Then it's Peter!" he cried. "You remember what I told you? About how your dad our other friends wanted to help me? What they did for me?"

"They became animagi," Holly said. "And Peter was a rat nicknamed Wormtail! And look! Sirius Black is right here by them all!"

"Where?" Lupin asked scanning the map. "Damn, Sirius! Don't do anything stupid now!"

"Professor?" Holly asked as he ran to get his cloak.

"I've got to go after them," he told Holly, even as the dot labeled 'Sirius Black' went barreling for 'Ronald Weasley' and 'Peter Pettigrew.' "Stay here, Holly! This could be messy business."

"Can I stay here and watch on the map?" she asked.

Lupin hesitated. "I, I suppose that would be alright. Just stay safe, Holly."

Holly nodded and he left. She was watching the grounds very closely now. She was trying to figure out why there was another set of dots marked for 'Harry Potter' and 'Hermione Granger.' That couldn't be right. But one set was following where Ron had gone into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow, while the other set was hovering just on the edge of the map near Hagrid's hut.

So intent was she on watching these dots, that she didn't take notice of another joining her Professor Lupin's office. Indeed, it was hovering just behind her.

"Miss Potter," the deep voice of Professor Snape resounded in her ear.

Holly jumped and turned around to face the head of her house.

"Hello, Professor," she said as calmly as she could. She even managed a sweet smile.

Snape just raise an eyebrow at her. He set the smoking goblet he was carrying down on the table. Snape looked down at Holly, then at the map.

"I knew it!" he crowed triumphantly. "I knew Lupin was helping Black. Even using the old tunnel. Gryffindor's have no imagination."

Without a backwards glance, he marched out of the room.

Holly noticed he'd left the potion goblet. She quickly realized what it was, and that Professor Lupin needed immediately. Holly grabbed the map and stuffed it in her pocket, and the goblet, covering it with one hand so as not to spill any. She then set out after the Potion's Master.

"What are you doing here, Miss Potter?" Snape asked when she'd caught him on the lawn.

"Following you," Holly said. She lifted the goblet. "You forgot this. And I think Professor Lupin may be needing it tonight."

Holly and to run to keep up with Snape's long striding jog. "Yes, I suppose he will. I don't suppose you would be a good little girl and leave it to me, while you head back up the castle?"

"Not on your life, sir," Holly said. "Whoever's out there is responsible for the murder of my parents and has quite possibly been trying to kill my brother. I think it was only shock that caused me to stay in Professor Lupin's office when he asked.

"Besides, he told me to stay safe. I'm with a Hogwarts Professor. I'm staying safe."

Snape nodded. "Keep your head then, girl," was all he said.

Not another word was spoken until they reached the Whomping Willow.

"Hey! That's my dad's cloak!" Holly said. "I can't believe Harry would be so stupid as to leave it laying on the ground like that!"

"Nor can I," Snape said. "But Potter's stupidity is our fortune. Come along, Miss Potter, we may need this as cover."

They entered the passage in the small window the tree allowed before setting off down the dark tunnel.

Holly was about to poke her head through the trap door and the end of the tunnel when Professor Snape pulled her back.

"I'll go first," he snapped. "We still don't know what we're facing. You do know about your beloved Defense Professor?"

Holly nodded and whispered, "He's a werewolf."

"Right," Snape nodded. "Remember, there's a werewolf, his friend the deranged murder, as well as your insipid brother and his equally charming friends."

Holly nodded, the green in her eyes reduced to only a thin band in the dark. "W-wands out? And the cloak?"

Snape nodded. "As soon as we're clear."

Her professor went ahead, and Holly waited until she was waved forward. The door closed with a dull thud. Holly jumped slightly closer to Professor Snape.

He nodded to her in reassurance. Once she seemed to calm down, Snape covered them both with the cloak, and sure they were both invisible, they began to climb the stairs, following the trail in the dust. All too soon, Holly heard voices.

"I've waited twelve years," a gruff voice said. " I'm not going to wait much longer."

Holly shivered hearing the voice. This was the madman after her brother. No, he didn't kill Pettigrew. Pettigrew was alive. Black was innocent. She had to get in there. She had to help Harry.

"All right," Professor Lupin answered, "but you'll need to help me, Sirius, I only know how it began..."

Professor Snape quickly led Holly through the door. It was a strange sight. Professor Lupin was closest to the door, Black was not far off from a four-poster with a pale Ron on it. Harry and Hermione were standing protectively between Ron and the two men.

Lupin walked past, through the door, while Snape led holly further in. They settled against a wall and continued to listen. Holly looked up at him quizzically, but he just silenced her with a shake of his head.

"No one there..." Lupin said.

He went one to tell the story of the Marauders. Holly had heard most of it of the course of the school year. What she hadn't been told, she had guessed. He seemed very sincere with his story, and his regret at betraying the headmaster.

Finally, Harry asked, "So that's why Snape doesn't like you because he thought you were in on the joke?"

"That's right," the professor sneered above her.

Holly looked scared, and she felt very exposed without the cloak. She backed against the wall, still clutching the smoking goblet, and her wand. She suddenly realized she was just a second year, and her opponent was a fully trained wizard.

This is so not good, she thought.

Hermione screamed. Sirius black leapt to his feet. Harry looked shocked. From seeing his sister, or his most hated teacher wearing his father's invisibility cloak, Holly didn't know.

"Holly," Lupin said, "I thought I told you to stay in my office."

Holly shook her head. "You told me to stay safe. How safe would it be with an untamed werewolf roaming around school?" Holly held up the goblet. "Professor Snape brought this for you. He almost forgot it after he caught sight of what was happening on the map."

Holly took him the potion, which he drank.

"Remus, that's from Snape!" Black growled.

"He has yet to poison me once this year, Sirius," Lupin smiled.

"I should have!" Snape spat.

"Severus," Lupin began.

"Save it Lupin! Miss Potter, over here," Snape barked.

Holly went against the nearest wall, not actually near anyone. Snape nodded his approval. Then he began to; well the only word for it was rant. Lupin tried to argue with him, to make him see sense.

Snape would have none of it. He bound Lupin with his wand. Black tried to leap to his defense, literally, but Professor Snape trained his wand on him.

Before Holly could really register what was going on, Harry was standing in front of the door, and screaming at Professor Snape, who screamed back. That was very odd, as Professor Snape didn't ever raise his voice.

Holly looked around the room, both Ron and Hermione had their wands trained the unsuspecting Professor. Black's eyes were flickering between the bound form of Professor Lupin and Harry.

Holly focused on Professor Lupin, her father's childhood friend, her last link to him. Professor Snape had threatened to sic the dementors on him, and Black. Then she and Harry would have no one. No one but the Dursleys.

"-now get out of the way, or I will make you."

Snape's threat to Harry snapped her back to the present.

"No," Holly whispered.

Both Lupin and Black looked at her. Snape didn't seem to here though.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY, POTTER!" he screamed.

Holly covered her ears, and crouched into a ball. "No," she kept repeating.

But Harry, Ron and Hermione had other ideas.

"Expelliarmus!" they shouted together.

Holly gave a little start. She looked up to see her head of house hit the wall and land unconscious to her right.

Lip trembling, and eyes leaking uncontrollably, she rushed forward to Professor Lupin. She crouched down on one side, with Black on the other, both untying the bonds as quickly as possible. She could feel Black's eyes watching her. Holly ignored him as she untied Professor Lupin.

Lupin stood and smiled down at her while he massaged his wrists. Holly, couldn't help herself, she grabbed hold of Lupin around the waist and started sobbing. She heard him thank Harry.

"I'm still not saying I believe you," Harry said.

Holly sniffled and looked at him. "But it's true, Harry. It's all true. I saw the map. I saw Pettigrew's name!"

Lupin gently pried Holly's arms from his waist. "Ron, hand over the rat. Now."

Holly was disgusted at the way Ron defended the rodent. She followed the argument that followed silently. She heard about Scabbers being sick. The discussion of Hermione's cat. Black looking murderously at the rat. Professor Lupin trying to explain. And finally, Harry yelling, while Black hung his head in guilt and sorrow.

"I believe him," Holly said quietly after Black had explained his side.

"How?" Harry demanded. "How can you?"

"Enough of this," Lupin said. He finally convinced Ron to give him the rat. Together, he and Black forced the rat into his true from, Peter Pettigrew.

"Everything came together after that," Holly said finally looking at Seamus. "He begged for his life after that. You should have seen Sirius when the rat tried to beseech Harry. He never even got to me. Sirius was livid. He and Remus probably would have killed the traitor if Harry hadn't stopped them. I'd have let the rat rot, but I'm not Harry."

Seamus smiled. "Thankfully."

Holly laughed. "Yes well," she smiled.

"So what happened to Pettigrew? Why isn't Sirius free?" he asked.

Holly sighed. "Well, I brought Remus the potion, so he was safe, but I think with the excitement and everything, and Sirius wanting to talk to me and Harry, we sort of forgot about moonrise. Pettigrew was tied up in between Remus and Ron. Ron didn't really like that his pet was a traitor. He seemed to take it rather personally. So when we finally got out, it was moonrise. Remus transformed. Pettigrew used the distraction to transform himself and escape. It all happened so fast."

Holly leaned into Seamus shoulder. "It's all right, love," he said gently. "You know the truth. And you can still catch Pettigrew, can't you?"

"I suppose," Holly said. "But I thought that you should know the lovable shaggy dog is actually the infamous Sirius Black."

"I think I can manage to deal with that," Seamus said.

Holly smiled. "Well, I didn't want you to say anything embarrassing. I've heard you've been having some interesting dreams."

Seamus turned bright red. "You did?" he asked in a squeaky voice.

Holly laughed. "Yes. Don't worry though, love. No one can hear my dreams."

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