Games of Magic

37

Stella's POV

I saw the trio disappear as Neville Rose and Demetrius and I began to slowly creep down the steps.  A troll stepped forward as he sacked its bat at us.

"DUCK!" I yelled as we covered our heads. Neville and Demetrius began to delay the troll. I grabbed onto the bat as I was flung into the air.

"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" Rose screeched as I swiftly landed on the trolls shoulders. It picked me up as it began to dangle me upside down.  Grabbing my dagger I swiftly threw it towards the center of his head as he dropped me sending me flying into a strong familiar pair of arms.

"Neville"  I breathed out relieved.  I quickly got down, trying to hide my redness and moved downwards once more with Rose at my side. The floor exploded as pixies surrounded us biting, pulling, hair, all very painful things.

"What do we do???" Rose screamed as they came and attacked her. A boggart rose and opened revealing a dementor sucking Rose's soul.

"IMMOBULUS!" Neville yelled as I ran "EXPECTO PATROLEM!" Demetrius shouted

The dementor vanished as Rose was gasping for breath.

"You okay?" I asked worriedly

"Fine." She breathed

"I think she should go with someone to the biology house. Get some devil snare or something." Neville piped up.

"I'll go with her." Demetrius piped up.

"No-" my throat closed. "You'll get hurt."

"We have to split-" it'll give us more of a chance ."

I nodded reluctantly as Neville and I began to go to the fourth floor

Suddenly Neville and I were back to back with about four dementors on each side of us.

"Ready......Steady......." Neville breathed as the death eaters  sourounded us with wicked grins.

"GO!" I screamed as we began to fire. Slowly but surely they were going down. Two left.

"Stella!" Neville shouted "I have something to say-"

"I don't think now is the best time!" I deflected a spell as the death eater soared to the wall.

"Now is the only time." He spoke nervously "I'm in love with you-"

I looked at him shocked before an explosion erupted behind us. We quickly made it to the third floor where a door was open for us to go through.

"It's a water tank." Neville muttered

"Question is, how deep is it?"

"Deep. Like the black lake- " Neville began as he put his finger in the water. A hand grabbed him and tried to drag him down

"Incendio!"

The hand released as Neville sagged in relief.

"Thanks." He smiled as I grinned.

Our moment was short lived as we were both dragged down.  I closed my eyes as my chest grew heavy and my body limp.

Neville POV

I saw Stella's limp body as I swam the best I could while  incinerating the inferius.  Grabbing her we swam to the surface. The inferius began to crawl towards us as I looked around, panicked.

"Ascenscio!" I croaked as we landed on the floor. I quickly but gently picked her up and ran through the passage and closing the door so the inferius couldn't get in.

"Stella. Stella. Come on wake up!" I shook her gently. I began to do mouth to mouth as my only option. Her lips were ice cold as I desperately tried to save the love of my life.

"Come on! Come on!" I begged. She suddenly came up coughing up water. After a moment of rubbing her back she sat up.

"You saved me ." She whispered hoarsely "Thanks."

I grinned like a Chesire cat and helping her up we proceeded onto the second floor as we heard a growl.

"Fluffy." I muttered

"You know it?" Stella asked incredulously

"It's hagrids pet. Per say."

"Doesn't exactly fit in with the Hogwarts regulations." Stella snorted causing me to laugh quietly. Another door opened as Demetrius and Rose came in dripping wet.

"Stella." Rose breathed relieved "your okay."

"Thank goodness. " Demetrius grinned as she ran and embraced him causing a pang of jealousy.

"So how do we get past it?"

Stella's POV

The dog began to wake as it growled and snorted its eyes fixed on me. Why is it that its always fixed on me?

"Neville?" I asked nervously "Hagrid didn't teach us to take care of big dogs in magical creatures did he?" Because if he did I certainly did not pay attention.

" There should be a flute somewhere....." Neville spoke as Rose spotted it and was swatted by a big paw against the wall.

My heart stopped for a moment as her crumpled figure stayed motionless. My body ran over as I gently picked up her head and tossing the flute to Demetrius who began to play.

"Rose." I whispered "Don't you dare leave me."

"It's my time-"

"NO ITS NOT YOUR TIME! YOU ARE TOO YOUNG!" I felt the tears trickle. "You are going to live, it's too soon, too soon to say goodbye." (Les Mis reference)

She laughed quietly "we're not going to say goodbye."  I nodded in agreement.

She smiled and closed her eyes for the final time as I felt myself being dragged.

"NO! I HAVE TO GET MY SISTER! I HAVE TO-" I thrashed in Neville's arms.

"Stella, love she's gone." Demetrius said quietly grabbing my face. "The only way to avenge Rose is by finishing this- For Hogwarts, The wizarding world, For Helena, For Her." I nodded as I hugged him tightly and cried. 

"I'm ready. " I finally spoke hoarsely moving back. "Let's do this."