chapter forty one | the grey lady

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        Stella Mason was waiting outside the Great Hall with the Order, who reunited a short time ago, and her best friends. She offered to go with Harry as he hid in the crowd of Gryffindors in the Hall, but he declined, saying it's safer for her with the rest of the group. She greeted Remus Lupin with a hug, earning her a kiss on the head. Lupin was someone very important to her. When it was clear her father would not return, Lupin and the rest of the Order took her under their wing. Gaining her the confidence she needed to survive this war. Hopefully, all the training they provided her will pay off.

        As the group was waiting for their cue to go, Stella turned to her two best friends, "I just wanted to say thank you," she spoke, "I don't know where I'd be without you guys. Thank you for being my friends."

        Hermione didn't hesitate to launch into Stella's arms and squeeze her tight, "I love you, Stel."

        "I love you, too."

        Ron came forward and gave the girl an equally tight hug, "thank you for keeping Harry's head on straight. And forgiving me."

        "Oh, Ron," the Mason smirked, "I can't stay mad at you for very long, now can I?"

        Just then, they heard the voice of Remus Lupin, summoning them to get ready. The three stood, chins up and confident as they heard Harry from inside the Great Hall.

        "It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster," the doors opened revealing the Order and Harry Potter's three best friends, "and I'm afraid it's quite extensive."

        If Snape looked taken aback by the surprise entrance, he didn't show it.

        "How dare you stand where he stood," Harry seethed, "tell them how it happened that night. Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him! Tell them!"

        The new appointed Headmaster paused, only to raise his wand a moment later. Stella and the rest of the Order raised their wands as the students back away and gasped. While everyone else stepped back, Professor McGonagall stepped forward and in front of Harry, her wand raised at Snape. Snape recoiled in surprise from seeing his colleague, but didn't back down. Flames shot from McGonagall's wand, only to be deflected by Snape. The two went back and forth before Snape decided to retreat, disapparating through the glass windows.

        "Coward!"

        Cheers rang through the hall as McGonagall brought back the light that dimmed in the room. Stella smiled at the kids celebrating before Harry caught her eye. Her smile vanished as a familiar dim appeared in his eyes. She made her way to him as he collapsed on the steps. She crouched down in front of him just in time for her to understand what was causing him to act this way.

        A stillness fell over the Great Hall, the cheers diminishing. Students started to hold their heads, others looking around, looking lost. Suddenly, a high pitched scream rang out in the hall. Stella watched with a grimace as Harry walked toward the small girl in the corner, her hands over her ears. Just as the girl stopped screaming, another girl started. Harry made his way to the middle of the room, that's when the venom filled voice echoed through the Great Hall.

"I know that many of you will want to fight. Some of you might think that to fight is wise. But this is folly.
Give me Harry Potter. Do this, and I will leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."

        Slowly, students started to back away from Harry, who looked a bit shaken.

        "What are you waiting for," the voice of Pansy Parkinson startled other students, "someone grab him!"

        Without hesitation, Stella Mason made her way in front of Harry. Hermione and Ron followed, along with the others from the Order. The hall was quite before heavy footsteps echoed into the hall.

        "Students out of bed! Students in the corridor!"

        "They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot," McGonagall exclaimed to Mr. Filch.

        "Oh. Sorry, ma'am."

        "As it happens, Mr. Filch, your arrival is most opportune," the woman started, "if you would, please escort Miss Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin house from the hall."

        "Exactly where is it I'll be leading 'em to, ma'am?"

        "The dungeons would do."

        As Mr. Filch led the house out of the hall, McGonagall turned to Harry, "I presume you have a reason for returning, Potter? What is it you need?"

        Harry nodded, "time, Professor. As much as you can get me."

        "Do what you have to do," she nodded, "I'll secure the castle. Potter," she called, the boy stopped walking away and turned around, "it's good to see you."

        Harry breathed a smile, "it's good to see you too, Professor."

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        Stella was struggling to keep up with Harry's fast pace as they made their way toward Ravenclaw Tower. The four friends decided to split up in their progress with destroying Horcruxes. Ron and Hermione went to the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve a Basilisk fang while Stella and Harry were on a mission to find another piece of You-Know-Know with help from Helena Ravenclaw. With word from Luna, the two pushed through the sea of panicked students and made their way to the dark corridor.

        Goosebumps made their way to Stella's arms as they looked around for any sign of who they were looking for. It wasn't until Harry grabbed her hand and motioned to someone in front of them, a little ways away. By one of the large windows, was Helena Ravenclaw, not acknowledging the two teens.

        "You're the Grey Lady," Harry called out to her softly, "the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower."

        The woman started to float away, "I do not answer by that name."

        "No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Harry rushed, letting go of Stella's hand to stop the ghost, "it's Helena, isn't it? Helena Ravenclaw—Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter."

        Helena floated around the posts instead of leaving, much to the teens' relief, "are you a friend of Luna's?"

        Stella nodded, speaking for the first time, "yes. She thought you may be able to help us."

        The woman narrowed her eyes, "you seek my mother's Diadem."

        She spoke not in a questionable manner, but the two nodded nonetheless, Stella speaking for the both of them, "yes, that's right."

        "Luna is kind, unlike so many others," Helena's voice echoed, "but she was wrong. I cannot help you."

        Stella watched as the ghost floated through Harry's chest and over to another window, ready to take her leave once again, until Harry grasped her attention.

        "Wait! We want to destroy it!"

        The two teens felt their hearts pound in their chests as they watched the woman face them.

        "That's what you want, too. Isn't it, Helena," the Potter continued.

        Helena's eyes gazed in thought as she floated away from them once again, the teens following, "another promised to destroy it many years ago. A strange boy with a strange name."

        "Tom Riddle," Harry breathed, "but he lied. He's lied to many people—"

        "I know what he's done," Helena shouted in a fit of rage, coming chest to chest with the boy, "I know who he is! He defiled it with dark magic!"

        Stella watched uneasily behind Harry as the ghost floated toward the corridor.

        After a moment, Harry spoke quietly, "I can destroy it. Once and for all. But only if you tell me where he hid it. You know where he hid it, don't you, Helena?"

        Helena slowly floated back to where Harry stood and circled him, "strange," she hummed, "you remind me of him, a bit. It's here. In the castle. In the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask... you'll never know. If you know, you need only ask..."

        Both Harry's and Stella's eyes widened in realization, "thank you," Harry grabbed Stella's hand and dragged her out of the corridor.

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edited: 6 april 2021