Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Dating Mulciber made Stella realize how popular she as a Black family member was. Mulciber had gained popularity dating her and he seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Even though most people called him “Stella’s” boyfriend.
She truly understood her family’s popularity when a first year had asked who that bearded man standing near Stella Black was. He had meant their headmaster Dumbledore who was one of the most powerful wizards to have ever lived.
Gaspard and Tilden had broken out into uncontrollable laughter and made jokes about Stella being a celebrity for the rest of the day.
There wasn’t to many people trying to befriend her to gain popularity, but Gilderoy was one of the few. He even asked Pandora how she did it, which had left the two giggling all evening.
Pandora new what it meant to be a part of the Black family, but she had never cared.
It was as though she lived in a different world where different things mattered.
In her eyes butterflies where more interesting than the gossip cursing through Hogwarts.
Stella loved that about their friendship. It felt like they where worlds away from Grimmauld Place and her parents.
One night Stella couldn’t keep it that lighthearted anymore.
She had gotten into a little argument with McKinnon and Mulciber had witnessed it. He punished her, since he had forbidden her to talk to McKinnon. His curse had just left a little scratch, nothing Stella would have thought twice about, if it wouldn’t have reminded her of home.
She had cried to Pandora about the control that he had. The way it felt like their parents way of controlling her even though they where far away.
Pandora had crawled into her bed with tissues and chocolate frogs and discussed the topic with her.
“I think you should break up with him, what can your parents do about it from afar?”
“I still see them during the holidays and they know worse punishments than he does.”
“And how about you punish him back you know just as many curses as he, probably more.”
It was true she was better than Mulciber at defense against the dark art even though she didn’t like it that much.
But hurting him back wouldn’t work, she knew that.
“He would just tell Mother or my cousins it would have the same affect.”
“What if it wasn’t you hurting him. I don’t like violence but it’s simple psychology if he gets hurt every time he hurts you he will learn not to do it.”
Someone as peaceful as Pandora threatening to use violence made Stella feel uncomfortable, even though she was happy to know her friend would protect her like that.
“No I don’t want to use violence it only makes things worse”
“That’s true, but don’t worry I will come up with a plan to break you up without hurting you.”
This made Stella feel safe. Even though Pandora had never successfully completed any of her ideas Stella knew how good Pandora was at crafting plans and knowing somebody with a mind like Pandoras was working on getting her out of this relationship was a calming thought.
Other than the weekly walk through Hogwarts and his controlling behavior Mulciber wasn’t a big part of Stella’s life.
She probably spend more time with Lockhart than with Mulciber and she really tried to avoid Lockhart.
But she had to admit that she enjoyed the time she spend in the classes with the Ravenclaws.
She of curse loved the time with Pandora, but she also realized that Tilden and Gaspart where quite fun to hang out with. They where rather introverted and at first only talked to each other, but as they got to spend more time with Gilderoy, Xenophilius and the girls they opened up more.
They added interesting perspectives and Stella liked their sense of humor.
Even Gilderoy kind of became a part of their group, while everyone except for Xenophilius was annoyed at him most of the time his made up tales could still get their attention every now and then.
And Pandora and him could have hour long discussions which the others where never able to follow.
Other than the Ravenclaws Stella spend more time with Sirius and his friends, now that she had adjusted to classes and the tons of homework they got each week.
Even though she was a bit jealous of James for being as close to Sirius as he was, she couldn’t help but like him. He was light hearted and loving and the first to make her feel welcome in Sirius’s friend group.
Both he and Sirius where probably the most mischievous of the bunch. The group had already played two pranks in the first few weeks of school and Stella could hardly imagine that they where the idea of the calm Remus or nervous Peter.
Stella and Remus actually got along quite well by now. Remus seemed to be the only one of the boys who cared about school and they also shared their love for chocolate.
Remus didn’t seem to come from money so Stella brought a different type of chocolate for them, to try and rate, every time she saw him.
That’s probably how she won him over.
Peter wasn’t the most fun to hang out with he didn’t talk much, Stella didn’t mind if it weren’t for his nervousness and the way he clung to James.
But he was the best to have a game of chess with, though Stella lost every time.
It felt nice to have all these people to talk to. Hogwarts felt safe. It secretly made her happy not to be in Slytherin surrounded by Mulciber, her Cousins and that greasy haired boy Sirius and James had warned her about.
Stella excelled at all her classes which is why Sirius mockingly called her a “know it all”. But Stella liked impressing her teachers and using magic seemed to come so naturally to her.
There was just one teacher who didn’t seem to like her much. Professor Kettleburn. He graded her fairly, so there was no reason to complain, but he would only pick her when she was the only one who raised her hand, he would never give her house-points and he would always have that look of disdain on his face when he looked at her.
Stella had no explanation for this, since he was nice to everyone else. Remus even called him his favorite teacher. Maybe it was that one time her magic was a little strong and she had scared his ramora, but he had been unfriendly before.
Slughorn their portions professor was probably the opposite he loved Stella, Lilly and Remus and openly call them the best students of their class.
He was known to have his favorites and invite them to his “secret” club. But that was only for the older students.
One evening Stella went up to the owlery to write a letter to her younger brother Regulus, telling him all about Hogwarts.
Dear Regulus,
I am sorry I couldn’t write you any sooner. I needed time to settle in.
I have so much to tell you.
Being in Ravenclaw is actually quite nice. There is the best of people in this house, though I like Sirius friends as well. You shouldn’t tell mother and father though they wouldn’t appreciate the friends I’ve made.
Can you believe they set me up with a boy just like father. But don’t be nervous reg, you’ll be much freer here.
The classes are amazing and the teachers are much kinder than our parents.
It’s different. All the people are different. It’s not all about blood.
And the art. I know you would love the art. There are paintings on all the walls.
Much love
S.E.B.
When Stella looked at her watch her heart made a little jump. She had been up here for way to long. They where supposed to be in their dorms in two minutes.
She quickly sealed the envelope and stripped it to an owl’s leg, before making her way to the dorms.
She walked in on the Ravenclaws playing a board game she had never heard of and quickly joined in.
It was nice, but Stella kind of wished for Sirius to be there. She wanted him to get to know her friends, or at least Pandora.
But what she didn’t know was that Sirius and Pandora had already gotten together to plan a little birthday surprise for her.