MOON AND STARS, fred weasley

six

As much as she didn't want to leave her dad or Sirius. Her dads. Plural. As much as she didn't want to leave them, she was happy to leave Headquarters. The screaming portraits were enough to send someone mad.

She couldn't complain about the feast that was waiting for her in the hall either. She'd basically smothered her plate in gravy, earning some looks from Lee and the twins.

"So, any success?" Adhara asked Lee. "These two got caught again and are back from square one."

"I accidentally swallowed it so I had to start again too."

"Least you're all on the same page. Next full moon you can start the actual tricky work."

"Wonder what our forms'll be."

"I think—"

The conversation got cut short by Dumbledore. "Good evening, children. Now we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave."

He continued, "We also wish to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Delores Umbridge. And I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck."

"As usual our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you..."

He was interrupted by the clearing throat of Professor Umbridge. She was very... pink. She stood up, making her way to the front. It definitely wasn't usual protocol. As one of the elder students of the school, Adhara knew that straight away.

"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. And how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me."

Adhara looked around. Literally nobody was smiling.

"I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

"That's likely," muttered Fred and George, and she agreed with the sentiment.

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance."

"She looks like she belongs in Lily's flower garden," Adhara whispered to Lee.

"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 prune practices that ought to be prohibited."

Adhara yawned.

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

"What a load of bollocks," said Adhara and grinned as she looked at the front of the room. "Look at Snape's face, even he agrees!"

"I think everyone in the room but she does," said Fred.

"You've got that right."

*

McGonagall pulled Adhara aside to her office as soon as she could, and the girl sighed as she did. She'd much rather get settled in to her dorm but no.

"I received a letter from your father to keep an eye on you. Is everything okay, Black?"

"I'm fine, Professor. He's just being dramatic."

"How is he?"

"What?"

"I know Remus Lupin's handwriting, and that was not it, so I'm asking you, how is your father?"

Her eyes widened. "Better than... the other place I suppose but I think he's struggling, even if he's trying to hide it. I don't think I'm making his life much easier." She stopped for a second. "Um, Professor, what exactly did they tell you?"

"Only that you were struggling with your lycanthropy."

She remained silent.

"Take a tissue, Black. Let it out." McGonagall pushed a tissue box forward. Adhara didn't take one.

"Professor, I'm fine really."

"If that's the case, then why is your leg shaking?"

She pushed it down. "I don't know."

"Come on, Black, do I have to spell it out of you?"

Adhara's eyes bulged. "Can you do that?"

"I can certainly try."

"Fine," she said, taking a tissue from the box. "I hate being a werewolf. I hate that Fred, George and Lee look at me with sympathy after a full moon. I hate that I feel ugly for 12 months of the year because of the scars that litter my face, and that Lily's potion isn't enough to keep them gone forever. I hate myself for hating being a werewolf because my dad's one too and if I hate myself does that mean I hate him too? And I hate that I'm still scared of Fenrir Greyback even though it's been 14 years." She crossed her arms. "Is that enough?"

"I remember having a discussion with your father when he was a student," McGonagall remembered. "He felt guilty for resenting his father too — he had insulted werewolves, exactly why your father had been targeted."

"But it's not even dad's fault I was attacked. I'm just an awful daughter for resenting it. I'm ungrateful. And... I shouldn't even be at this school. I'm a danger to myself, and I'm a danger to everyone here."

"I'm going to stop you there," McGonagall said. "This school is safe for you. Madam Pomfrey is prepared with the aftercare. All the staff —apart from Umbridge — know of your condition and are dedicated to keeping you safe. I think both your dads would have my head if you weren't."

Adhara chuckled through her tears. "I don't think they would. They like you too much."

"And I know how much they adore you," the professor corrected her. "And it's not only the staff you have here. What about the Weasley twins, Lee Jordan?"

She nodded. "They know."

"You know, sometimes when we get into our own heads we can misinterpret things. Have you considered that it's not pity they look at you with, but care?"

A small smile fell on her face at the realisation. "Do you mind if I stay in here until my first lesson? I don't want to go back out with a splotchy face."

"Here," McGonagall said, handing out a cold wipe. She was like Mary Poppins, the woman from the film Lily made her watch. "You go out when you're ready."