Once Lupin had left, the conversation continued. 

"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" said Hermione, watching harry anxiously. 

"I don't get it. . . . What happened?" said Harry, wiping more sweat off his face. 

"Well — that thing — the dementor — stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) — and you — you —" 

"I thought you were having a fit or something," said Ron, who still looked scared. "After you stepped in front of Nova, you went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching —" 

"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the dementor, and pulled out his wand," said Hermione, "and he said,' None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away. . . ." 

"The silvery thing was a wolf," Nova murmured quietly. Her statement went unnoticed. 

"It was horrible," said Neville, in a higher voice than usual. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?" 

"I felt weird," said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably."Like I'd never be cheerful again. . . ."

"That's what a dementor does, Ron," Nova said softly. It was rare Nova showed any emotion, but as she looked at her friends, her eyes shone with concern. 

Ginny, who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around her. 

"But didn't any of you — faint?" said Harry awkwardly. 

Nova stood and walked over to Ginny. Harry instantly felt cold and alone. 

"Hey, Gin, do you wanna take a walk with me?" Nova asked a shaky Ginny, as she calmed down. Ginny gave a small nod, hugging herself. Harry watched as they walked out. Nova with her arm around Ginny, trying to warm her up. Tearing his eyes away from Nova, Harry turned back to Ron. 

Nova and Ginny walked to the girl's lavatory. Once the door was locked, Ginny's facade broke. She fell to the floor crying. Nova quickly brought the younger girl into a hug, hoping to make her feel better. 

"Hey, Gin," Nova began in a calm and soft voice. "It's alright."

"N-no it's not," Ginny sobbed. "I felt like I-I w-was i-in the Ch-Chamber again."

"Hey, it's okay not to be alright," Nova stated. "It's okay to fall apart. It's okay not to be happy."

"I-it's my fault that p-people w-were h-hurt!" Ginny sobbed again.

 "No, it's not. Gin, Voldemort took advantage of you." Nova said in a motherly tone. "It just shows he is a ruthless and cruel man. No. He isn't even a man. He is...he is... he is a booger."

Ginny gave a small shaky laugh. 

"Gin, you are a fucking queen. You slay every day. It's okay to have bad days. It's okay to have days where all you want to do is blast music in your room, curl up under your blankets, wrapped in someone's hoodie, and satisfy your chocolate craving." Nova informed Ginny. The young redhead looked up at Nova with her chocolate eyes. 

"How do you do it?" Ginny asked, whipping the tears from her eyes. 

"Do what?" Nova asked. 

"You're so put together. You never break. You laugh and make jokes." Ginny said. "Even with what's happening right now. Everyone is treating you like a monster, but they don't affect you."

"Darlin, I'm a mess," Nova stated bluntly with a small smile. "I plaster a smile on my face every morning. I act like nothing bothers me, but it really does." Nova paused. "Gin, you are my little sister, just like Hermione. I would do anything for you two."

It was silent for a moment. 

"Gin, you are amazing. Don't try to be me or anyone else," Nova said. "You are a badass. You don't need anyone. Right now, you live in the shadows of your brother. However, I have a feeling that one day, you are going to step out of their shadows. On the day, you will shine so bright the world won't know what hit them."

"Nova, I'm glad I have you as a sister. Even if it's not by blood." Ginny informed as she hugged Nova tightly. Nove pulled away before answering. 

"Now, let's go back to the others. I'm sure that if we are gone another minute Ron is going to send out a search party for you," Nova laughed. 

"Harry would lose his shit if you disappeared, you know." Ginny state a smirk upon her face. 

"Of course he would, he is my best friend," Nova answered. However, deep down, she knew there was something different about Harry. It wasn't like how she was with Ron, it was different. 

"You keep tellin' yourself that, Nox," Ginny teased. 

"Hey! I thought you liked Harry!" Nova object, a teasing smile on her face. Ginny's face became as red as her hair. 

"I did," Ginny admitted. "As I got to know him, he became my older brother, and I'm happy about it."

Nova smiled at Ginny, as they entered the compartment. When they entered, Remus had returned and the compartment was silent. 

"Where were you two?" Ron asked. 

"None of your business, nosey," Ginny stated. 

"Giving free lap dances," Nova answered sarcastically. 

Hermione stifled a laugh as Ron's face turned bright red. However, Harry looked angry. For a moment it appeared he thought it was the truth before noticing the sarcasm. The only person that seemed to notice was Remus Lupin, who gave him a knowing look. 

***

After an unimpressive carriage ride, and a useless encounter with Nova's ferret of a cousin, the Golden Quartet began to head towards the Great Hall. 

"Onward my noble steed!" Nova yelled as she jumped on Harry's back. Gladly obliging, Harry raced with Nova on his back. The duo's laughs could be heard by surrounding people. 

"Potter! Granger!" McGonagall's voice rang through the Great Hall. "I wish to speak with you both!"

Ron and Nova shared a look of curiosity but departed from their friends. During the sorting, Nova and the Weasley twins, Fred and Goerge, would yell out which house they thought the first belonged in. They booed when they were wrong, and cheered when they were right. 

It was after the sorting when Harry and Hermione returned. Hermione sat next to Ron and Harry next to Nova. Harry unconsciously took Nova's hand in his own while they listened to Dumbledor's speech. 

It was rare not to see Nova and Harry sitting side by side, nor was it rare for them to be touching in some way. Whether it be touching shoulders or interlocked pinkies, the two were always in the other's presence. 

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . ." Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." 

He paused, and Harry remembered what Mr. Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the dementors guarding the school. 

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. Nova let out a small snort. "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects and our new HeadBoy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.

Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Nova, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. 

"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes. 

"Hell yeah!" Nova yelled over the applause. "Mr.Chocolate Man!"

"Yes, Miss Black, Mr.Chocolate Man. However, I ask you to refer to your professors in the correct manner," McGonagall stated, trying to hide her smile. Snape, however, did not hide the sneer forming on his face. He scowled at both Lupin and Nova.  

No one noticed as Professor Lupin's face lost color. Gears turned in his mind, putting the clues together. Piece by piece, the puzzle came together. She couldn't be his daughter. However, here was a girl that had Sirius's face but Remus's eyes and hair. 

"Whatever you say, Minnie!" Nova yelled. The Great Hall erupted into laughter. 

"Thank you, Miss Black, for the entertainment," Dumbledore said with amusement clear in his voice. 

"No problem! I'm glad you enjoyed it!" Nova called up to her headmaster. "Please continue Professor Dumbles."

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties." 

The students erupted into laughter. Nova, Harry, Hermione, and Ron's applause was the loudest. 

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?"

Nova let out a musical laugh. A laugh that made Harry's smile grow larger. 

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!" 

Ron and Nova wasted no time eating. Hermione looked at Ron with disgust. Nova who hadn't eaten a proper meal for about a month happily ate her stuffing.

It was a delicious feast; the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks. Unfortunately, many were casting Nova glares and suspicious looks.  As the goblets and food disappear, Nova stood on top of the table, grabbing everyone's attention. 

"Sonorus," Nova murmured, then turned her wand to her throat to talk. 

"Hello, everyone! As many of you know, my name is Nova Lily Black. If you did not know that, now you do." Nova spoke.

She ignored Minerva McGonagall's demands for her to sit down. 

"I would like to clarify some rumors that are going around about me," Nova stated, her voice strong and powerful. "Yes, I am the daughter of Sirius Black. However, he is nothing more than a sperm donor to me. It was his choice to murder people, not mine. Therefore, I am not him. Also, if you cannot tell, I am a fucking female, not a male."

Nova could hear Hermione scolding her for her choice of foul language. 

"Anyways, I am not helping the senile psychopath," Nova announced. "Since I am up here, I have a few more announcements."

Nova could hear Fred and George cheering her on. 

"Hermione Granger is the brightest witch of our age. If I hear you disrespecting her, I am not afraid to hex you. If I hear you call her, or any muggle-born, a mudblood or some other offensive slang, we'll see how dirty your blood is, or perhaps what you look like with goat horns." Nova stated. "I'm looking at you, bloody blonde ferret Malfoy."

The Great Hall erupted into laughter. In a distance, you could see Colin Creevy taking a picture. Hermione was redder than the Gryffindor banner and hiding her face. 

"Miss Black! Get off the table!" McGonagall implored. 

"Next order of business!" Nova yelled, ignoring McGonagall. "The Weasleys are not to be called 'blood traitors' or anything of the sort. I also do not want to hear anything offensive towards them. Just because they don't believe in incest does not mean they are bad people."

Every single Weasley in the Great Hall was bright red. Fred and George were fake crying. Ron was banging his head off the table. Percy hid behind his hat. Ginny sunk down in her seat. 

"They are amazing people!" Nova called. 

"Miss Black! Get off the table!" Minnie demanded. 

"Tut tut tut. Malfoy, I can hear you sneer from here." Nova chastised. "I do believe I warned you. Now, let Daddy's Boy be an example."

Quickly pointing her wand at Draco Malfoy, Nova turned his robes bright pink and goat horns sprouted from his head.

"My father-" Malfoy began. 

"Your father will hear about this," Harry mocked. "Yes, we know Malfoy."

"Anyways, Minnie, I shall see you in your office Wednesday and Friday at six o'clock for detention." 

"That would be correct, Miss. Black," Minerva stated, trying to hide her amused smile. 

"Alright, it's a date then!" Nova replied cheerfully, leaving the Great Hall.