chapter three | toad like woman

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         The Great Hall was littered with students, new and returning of all ages. All coming down from their summer highs and excitingly asking each other what they did for their holiday. Out of habit, Stella Mason sat herself away from her other classmates, but was stopped by Hermione.

        "Stella, come sit with us."

        The Mason looked at her friend in surprise, but nodded nonetheless, ignoring the curious stares of the other Gryffindors. The four sat as such; Ron and Stella on one side of the bench facing Hermione and Harry on the other. Stella observed Harry grit his teeth as he noticed the stares that were shot his way. The girl subtly and softly kicked his ankle from under the table, earning his attention. Green met blue as she gave a slight shake of her head, telling him to ignore the prying eyes of fellow students.

        Stella had noticed his temper start to increase as term started. She had talked to Hermione about it in their dorm before the Welcoming Feast and tried to come up with ways to help him, but they both knew they didn't understand what he was going through since he wouldn't open up to them. There was really nothing they could do to help if they didn't know what was truly going on in his head.

        The feast was always something that Stella looked forward to. The food was always more than satisfactory and the girl liked seeing the familiar faces of her Professors, seeing as they all had somewhat of a soft spot for her. Her mother used to tell stories of Professor McGonagall and how they used to have tea together once a week in her office. She didn't know why they used to occur but she was glad that her mother had a good relationship with her Professors. It made Stella's life easier, really. One new face on the teachers bench caught her eye, but didn't bring any attention to it. The woman wore all pink and had somewhat of a posh but smug stature to her. Nevertheless, once Dumbledore started speaking, she gave him her full attention.

    "Good evening, children," the man greeted, "now, we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures, while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."

        Stella frowned, as did her three friends. She took a liking to Hagrid and his class and was saddened she couldn't be taught by him. She knew her other friends were much closer to Hagrid than she was, but by the way they reacted to the news of his absence, she knew they didn't have a clue as to why he wasn't there either.

        "We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge," Dumbledore continued. The woman Stella was observing stood for recognition, but didn't receive as much applause as the woman seemed to have wanted. After a few moments, Dumbledore picked up where he left off, "and I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck. Now, as usual, our caretaker Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you—"

        A sort of hum mixed with a laugh interrupted the Headmaster. This shocked everyone in the room, no one dared to interrupt Dumbledore before.

        The new Professor stood and made her way to the podium, her heels clicking, filling the silence of the Great Hall.

        Stella turned her head to Harry as he whispered, "she was at my hearing. She works for Fudge."

        Hermione and Stella made eye contact as they both seemed to put the pieces together at the same time.

        "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," Professor Umbridge spoke, not taking into consideration she just interrupted him. Her voice was high pitched and somewhat mouse like, Stella observed, "and how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces, smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

        Stella took a chance to glance around the room, only to see no one was smiling up at her, some not even looking at her.

        "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this historic school, progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve, what must be preserved. Perfect what can be perfected. And the prune practices that out to be prohibited," the new Professor ended her speech with a whisper and a giggle of some kind after that.

        Hermione and Stella exchanged another look of knowing. Whatever this new teacher was there for, it wasn't going to be good. After a few moments of silence after the speech, Dumbledore started clapping and beckoned everyone to join him.

        "Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating."

        "It was something, alright," Stella muttered under the applause, her friends seemed to agree with her.

        "What a load of waffle."

        "What does it mean?"

        The two girls gave each other one more glance as Hermione answered Harry's question.

        "It means the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts."

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        Stella always took a liking to the Gryffindor common room. The lights, the furniture, the windows, the fireplace; it all felt like home to the blue eyed girl. The Mason took a seat in the corner of the room, her attention drawn to the novel in her hands, not paying attention to what anyone was saying around her. She most likely knew what they were talking about, anyway, more like who they were talking about.

        She looked up from her novel when she saw a familiar face walk into the common room. The air seemed to tense and a hush came over the students.

        "Dean, Seamus," Harry greeted his fellow roommates, "good holiday?"

        "All right," Dean answered first, "better than Seamus', anyway."

        "Me mum didn't want me to come back this year," Seamus told Harry as he stood from his spot.

        "Why not?"

        "Uh, let me see. Because of you," the boy said as if it was obvious, "the Daily Prophet's been saying a lot of things about you and about Dumbledore as well."

        "What, and your mother believes them?"

        "Well, nobody was there the night Cedric died."

        "I guess you should read the Prophet, then, like your stupid mother. She'll tell you everything you'll need to know."

        Stella's eyes widened from her seat. She wished she had the courage to go up to him and calm him down, but it wasn't her place.

        "Don't you dare talk about my mother like that!"

        "I'll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar," Harry snapped, his statement seemed to be directed to not only Seamus, but to everyone else in the room.

        "What's going on?"

        Ron came through the common room portrait just in time to hear Harry's last statement.

        "He's mad is what's going on," Seamus exclaimed, "do you believe the rubbish he's going on about You-Know-Who?"

        "Yeah, I do," the Weasley's statement seemed to end the conversation, "does anyone else have a problem with Harry?"

        Getting no response in return, the red headed boy took his best friend upstairs. Blue eyes followed their figures and when she made sure no one was looking towards her, Stella Mason went in the direction of the boy's dormitories. She came up to their door just in time to see Ron leaving, a somber look on his face.

        "Is he okay?"

        Ron seemed to ponder her question, getting over the slight surprise of seeing her there, "I don't know."

        "I can try to talk to him," she offered.

        Ron raised a brow, "be my guest."

        Stella watched as Ron left down the stairs, back to the common room. She took a deep breath for confidence before making her way into the room. The boys dormitories looked similar to the girls, not that Stella thought there would be a difference. She laid her eyes on Harry Potter who was sitting on his bed, elbows on his knees, head down.

        "Harry, I know you probably don't want to talk to anyone right now, and you don't have to respond but just listen, okay," after seeing a slight nod, she continued, "I don't know what is going on with you, or Seamus, or the world. But I do know most things don't last forever. Including Ministry propaganda. Don't let it bring you down, Harry."

        And with that, seeing that he wasn't going to respond, but could tell her words got him to become less tense. Satisfied with this, she left the room, closing the door behind her.

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i'm deleting authors notes if they're unnecessary lol — don't be a silent reader!
edited: 6 april 2021