Stelinda

Hi, this is my first thread and I do not claim to own Harry Potter or any characters present in the book. This story has been based on the potter books but it is a tale of a different charcter which is purly my creation.
I hope you all be truthfull critics of my story
-Snape22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prolouge

It was a grey rainy day. Sitting near the window, Agnes watched his son playing in the back-garden, dancing in the rain. He knew his wife would step out of the kitchen, take a glance at the window and then ruch out to drag her son back home and then chide him sternly. It would be just one of those simple sweet moments he knew he would remember till his dying day.
It never happened.

Agnes suddenly felt queer, something was out of the normal. He pulled out his wand cautiously. That was when he spotted a dark figure standing on the main doorway. The next thing he knew, there was a loud bang... then a burst of fire ...a piercing scream...then he crossed the bar to the grim unkown.

A few hours later, a middle- aged wizard stood at the road over-looking the house--or the house that had been turned to dust-- and saw the message clearly put up for him:

ALBUS,
Alas, I have put your family to eternal peace. These torrents of rains will soon wash away their ashes and remains. Oh, how they screamed with extruciating pain as the flames engulfed their bodies, burning them alive.
BE WARNED, surrender else the same fate awaites your brother.

Albus Dumbledore wiped the tears off his face. He realised that he would no longer see his son again, nor his grandson--the grandson he had tried to protect from all people. No one but he, other than his son and daughter-in-law, knew that he even existed.
Now all his family had left him. His flesh and blood had been burned alive-- caught unaware and unprepared. Oh, how they had believed themselves to be safe! Albus read the note again. It was Grindelwald who was going to pay for it.
Albus let no stone unturned to go and find Grindelwald, and he found him atlast. A fierce battle took place which resulted in his enemy's death. But Albus Dumbledore was never again the same.

Niether was the 2 year old boy who had hidden behind a bush, watching his house burst into flames. He had no way to know that he would spend his childhood in an orphanage. No way to know that the powers he had been blessed with would be lost. Lost because of the mental injuries he sustained...because of his shock and grief. The raindrops could wash down his tears, but not extinguish the flame that engulfed his house. Bernice Dumbledore lived his respectable life as a policeman. He knew no more of his parents' identity than their name.He never tried to find out either.

Grindelwald had no idea that Agnes and his wife had a son. He believed he had killed all of Dumbledore's family (excluding his half-wit brother of course.) Dumbledore believed his grandson had become a martyr to the flames. Hadn't Grindelwald said he had killed his whole family?

However, they had both been mistaken, leaving Bernice Agnes Dumbledore to make his own way.
No one knew how the two Dumbledores had died. The story of their death had never been confirmed. Many called it a fairy tale, some considered it true, while others believed it to be a legend... No one knew for sure, and those who thought they knew were always wrong

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998):cool: :cool: [/FONT]

Chapter 1- STELINDA

The path of immortality is hard, and
only a few find it. The rest await the Great
Day when the wheels of the universe shall be
stopped and the immortal sparks shall escape
from the sheaths of substance. Woe unto those
who wait, for they must return again, unconscious
and unknowing, to the seed-ground of stars, and
await a new beginning.

-Divine Pymander


___

Bernice Dumbledore had lived his simple life respectably. He had toiled and hard-worked to earn himself a living as a policeman. Now at 70, Bernice was weak and fragile, gradually dying of cancer. He knew that his time had come, he could die any time now. He disired to see the face of his grandchild before finally embracing death.

___
It was a cold windy night. The night-sky was covered by thick and dark clouds. Only one lone star was visible-- shining brightly in the north-sky. No cloud drifted near it. It stared at the earthly mortals without any hindrance as the earthly mortals looked at it with wonder.

Bernice looked about, after months of patient waiting he would finally see his grandchild. Slowly, the door opened and a small bundle was presented to him. One look at the little girl, and warmth spread through Bernice's body. She stared at him curiously with dark, mid-night blue eyes. Her eyes were entrancing, sparkling with mirth as if she found something mildly amusing. Her soft smile gave Bernice a feeling of calm and contentment. To him, she was just like the little star being cradled by the clouds, endowed with light and warmth of her own.
She should be named Stella, which means a star.
The name 'Linda' crosed his mind too. The word "Linda" in German meaning serpent. For some unknown reason it too seemed to fit his grand-daughter.
Finally, after much thought, Bernice told his son that she should be named STELINDA -- Stelinda Dumbledore.

Bernice took out a ring from his finger. He was told that he had been wearing it when he was dicovered near the remains of his house. Surprisingly, it still fit him perfectly. He slid the ring onto her finger; it seemed to have adjusted to her finger's size as if by magic. Bernice smiled.
His smile never left him. His last wish had been fulfilled. At present, death to him seemed like a place to rest-- rest from the ceaseless strugles of existance. Alas, Bernice Dumbledore embraced peace that would last for an eternity.
___

The daughter of the prophecy has arrived. What will she become-- the bringer of light, or the symbol of darkness? Where will her powers lead her -- the heart of good or the clutches of evil? What will be her choice-- the star or the serpent? Her decision will determine the fate of this world."

----

If you like it, please tell me here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998). If you hate it, please inform (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)me. :love: :love:

Ok this update is quite bad. I myself found it boring, but still it's needed.
I'll send the next post soon to make up for it.
___________

Chapter 2
Life would give her everything of consequence,
life would shape her, not we. All we were good for was
to make the introductions.
-Helen Hayes


Stelinda bounded down the stairs of her house cheerfully, jumping the last few steps.

Her mother beamed at her,"Happy Birthday dear! Come, breakfast is ready. Then we have to take you to the market for your birthday shopping."

Stelinda's father joked, "Oh my, my little girl is sixteen now. Pity you aren't following my footsteps. Never saw a girl who could inadvertantly just burst glasses when she was angry. If I were you I would have atleast bought a set of new glasses to make up for it, instead of stalking of to the kitchen to destroy all the plates present there. I swear I thought I was hallucinating when I saw the kitchen destroyed."

Mrs Dumbledore laughed,"Dear, you were hallucinating. It is not right to cook up tales like that. Not one plate was damaged when I entered the kitchen. Though I do not know what my child did to the glasses."

"I forgot to tell you dear, but last week little Jem complained--,''Mr. Dumbledore said, looking intently at his daughter,"that Stelinda had somehow managed to turn his ball into a mouse."

"Oh dad, forget about that. I know odd things happen when I am angry, but you should be glad that I have better control over my temper. Anyways, have you any idea where the zoo is? Its been a week since we moved to England but still we went practically nowhere interesting."

"Yes, of course," mocked Mr Dumbledore,"Amusement Parks, malls and supermarkets are just so boring."

Stelinda laughed.

The Dumbledores had come back to their motherland after residing for fifteen years in Asia. This was the main reason why Stelinda Dumbledore was intent on visiting every single place in London before starting school. This feat was not very tough to achieve, especially since school was about two months away.

"The weather forecast predicts a stormy wet day today, Dad. So I think it would be safe to assume that it would be quite clear and sunny."

Mr. Dumbledore nodded. They finished the break-fast in a comfortable silence, and soon got ready to go out to the shopping mall. Stelinda's birthday brought another day of shopping every year. Usually Mr. Dumbledore would take leave from work and take his wife and daughter out. Then when they would get back home in the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Dumbledore would hand Stelinda her present. The rest of the evening would be spent talking and laughing.

As she got into the car, Stelinda was perturbed by a weird premonition that something was going to happen. She looked outside, all was calm and quiet-- the storm was near. Stelinda's golden ring glowed on her finger, but it never caught her attention.
Stelinda Dumbledore wore her beauty like a wild rose -- careless and glowing. Her shoulder length, black hair, pale complexion, and thin figure betrayed her strength and power, but her midnight blue eyes never failed to express her true feelings, for eyes are most certainly the window to the soul.

Everything went normally that day--that was-- till the time a group of cloaked men appeared out of nowhere in the crowded shopping mall.
The storm had come...
___________

FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)

Author's Note- Thanks to CIC for leaving FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)
Chapter 3:clap:

I know there is a God
I see the storm coming and I see his hand in it-
if he has a place then I am ready-
we see the hand

-John F Kennedy

------

When we think we are capable of mastering our own life, fate has a trick of bending our path and leading us to a whole new world.
Likewise, Stelinda had never imagined anything like it before. If she had not seen it with her own eyes, she would have called it a fairy tale and laughed it off. But this was no laughing matter...

The person leading the group of the cloaked men stepped forwards, a thin, short stick raised in his hand. The muggles cowered back, bewildered and frightened, because men don't normally appear out of thin air.

As if yelling a war-cry, the man shouted something and a poor, terrorized man fell on the ground, apparently dead.

The storm had begun.

There was confusion everywhere-- pandemonium, chios and panic. The cloaked men were shooting spells here and there. The next thing Stelinda knew, her body had gone rigid-- she could not move. Totally helpless and parlysed, she tried to calm her nerves.
Think straight, she told herself. Be calm and vigilant.

People were screaming, shouting, crying and sobbing. A mother saw her son being burnt alive... A little girl was hanging upside-down in the air, crying with fright...An elderly man was groping uncertainly for his glasses, while one of the cloaked men taunted him cruelly... And Stelinda was standing there vulnerable and helpless.

A cloaked man turned towards her and muttered something. Stelinda found her consiousness ebbing away. It was then that she heard that scream behind her...the scream in her mother's voice...
Stelinda tried to pull herself together.
She had to help... She had to defend her mother... She had to save her...
Stelinda struggled to keep herself awake and alert.

Then, all of a sudden she felt a force burning inside her. A force so alien and yet so familier. So frightening and yet so appealing. So powerful and yet to her, not daunting enough.

As if with a strong iron clad of power inside her, Stelinda raised herself off the ground. Hardly knowing what she was doing, she clenched her hands into fists and spoke words hitherto alien to her. A light, partly golden and partly green, engulfed her. Her eyes burning with anger, looked straight at the group of cloaked men who had gathered together now, staring at her, scared and amazed.
She found in herself, a hatred so deep and so stirring, as if it had been flowing in her blood for ages. She felt as if someone was constantly stabbing her heart, every stab increasing her fury and strengthening her power. Shivering with rage, she slowly unclenched her fist releasing the energy. Green and gold light blasted in all directions, blowing the stunned Death Eaters off their feet. Fixing her eyes on them through the fresh, streaming tears, Stelinda tried to summon her power again.

She would have surely killed all of them, if a warm comforting hand had not broken her eye connection. Stelinda Dumbledore looked around to face an old, white-bearded man, his light blue eyes looking at her intently through his half-moon spectacles.
Suddenly feeling tired, Stelinda fainted in the arms of her great great-grandfather.

____________
COOKIES AND CAKES (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)TO ALL WHO LEAVE FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)
Going out for winter holidays so,
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!:D

Cookies and cakes to Cic and Nana!!!
Thanks for the feedback
-----------

CHAPTER 4

Never, never, never believe any war will be
smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks
on the strange voyage can measure the tides
and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman
who yields to war fever must realize that once
the signal is given, he is no longer the master
of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and
uncontrollable events.

Sir Winston Churchill

-------------


Stelinda had thought of war and blood-shed as a thing of the past. But no, that thought had been proved wrong. The world was at war-- a war poor ignorant muggles had no clue about. Someone's pain and suffering now served as a source of amusement to others. This war was not being fought with swords or guns, but with wands. The people were caught unaware and unprepared. They didn't even know what was their enemy's cause. They had no idea who was against them and why? Ignorance was bliss!!!

The kings and pawns played on tear-stained fields. But Stelinda knew that after the game was over, the kings and pawns would go into the same box... where her parents had gone.
But why was this game being played? Why?

This was the precise word Stelinda uttered when she regained her consciousness. Stelinda opened her eyes to find herself into an unknown room. The walls and ceilings were white in colour. A short plump woman hustled and bustled, arranging containers, holding queer liquids and writing notes in a big register. Stelinda silently watched her. She felt quite fit physically and was calm enough to think straight.

She spoke quietly, her voice just above a whisper, "Excuse me ma'am, but have you got any idea what happened to my parents? And may I know ma'am, where I am and what time it is?"

The plump lady looked quite surprised on seeing her awake.
"How do you feel dear, that incident weakened you. You should be glad that you are even alive. Fighting off Death Eater single-handedly! Merlin, What posessed you to do it? Anyways, I'd better call the headmaster. He'd explain all this to you.

"Now dear," she said kindly as Stelinda opened her mouth,"Better drink this potion, you'd feel better. I'll just call Dumbledore now. Don't move much and don't exert yourself."

Stelinda looked around the room, her eyes finally settling back at the gold ring she was wearing. Stelinda felt scared, scared of what news would be brought to her. Her mind spinned a tangled web of fear which glistened in the light of loneliness. How she wished to be at home, sitting in front of the fire with friends and family. She fiddled with her ring uneasily.

A tall old man entered the room. He smiled understandingly at Stelinda.

"Ah, I see you have come back to the wide realms of consciousness. I have gathered from my guesswork, that you are not enrolled in any of the wizarding schools. So I would presume that you have been taught at home. I was unable to find your wand, so I daresay you'd have to buy a new one. It is my guess that the magic you used was done without the help of any wand-- though it is extraordinary. Though there are many queries I'd like answers to, first I'd ask you your name child."
Stelinda stared at him. Wizarding schools, wands and magic? Was this a dream? Had she gone crazy? Was this man sane? But those men must have been wizards. They were using magic.

"Sir," she said,"Eh...I think you have been mistaken. I am an ordinary human. I own no wand, do not learn wizardry and don't know magic. I just want to know if my parents are fine. And my name is Stelinda, Stelinda Ava Dumbledore."

The old man was dumbfounded. On being asked Stelinda told him all about herself, her parents and even her grand parents. Finally the old man said slowly and sadly:
"Stelinda, what I had presumed was far from the truth. If, as you say, your parents were with you in the muggle malls, then I'm sorry to say they have surely died. All the muggles over there had died when we reached the site. But the Death-Eater have been caught-- I'll give the credit to you. I am the headmaster of this wizarding school, Hogwarts. I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and if your ring and your story is true, I'm your great-great grandfather."
___________

FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998) if -
a. you are true Harry Potter fan
b. you want a joke from me
( I'll owl you)

Sorry for the delay. But it is a horrible situation when you have written the next 3 chapters and your computer breaks down. Anyways, the prophecy is revealed in the next post.
__________

CHAPTER 5


Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

William Shakespeare
______________

Stelinda looked through the stained glass windows of her room. The weather was bright and cheery, the birds were chirping, the wind was cool and soft, and the trees swayed to the music of the wind. Stelinda just looked at the scene, deep in thought.

Life had become a burden to her. Stelinda remembered the time her father had told her that the most precious jems of earth together can not buy happiness. How right he was. Now stelinda had all the comforts of the castle, a seperate vault in Gringotts, a large part od Dumbledore property and magic. But still, it was happiness her life lacked.

The tears Stelinda had shed at her parents' funeral had been washed away by the unseasonal rain. To Stelinda it seemed as if the heavens were crying too. She had come with the headmaster, devastated and heart-broken. He had tried to strike a conversation, but Stelinda had refused straight away. She found herself passionately hating <i> that person</I>. Could any sane man believe his enemy and consider his grandchild dead? And how could someone so powerful and intelligent let his children live unprotected? According to Stelinda, the headmaster's tale was just stupid yarn. What she knew for sure, was that her grandfather had struggled and toiled all his life, just because of the carelessness of the man who now claimed to be her great-great-grandfather.

Her last conversation with the headmaster was still fresh in Stelinda's mind. He had told her the compele story from Grindelwald's rise to his fall, and what he guessed happened after that. He had also told her of some prophesy concerning her. Sixteen year old Stelinda did not trouble herself over it. All that mattered to her was, that her parents were dead and never going to return.
________

Albus Dumbledore absent-mindedly stroked the feathers of his pet phoenix. His sad eyes were unfocussed. It was the first time he had to face such a situation. His own offspring, his blood, had refused to believe him. He knew he had put himself in a precarious position. Stelinda's anger was fully justified.

He had told her that he failed to consider even the possibility of his grandchild being alive. Informed her that it was because of him, that her grandfather had lived a life in poverty. Told her that he could have saved her parents if he had come few minuites earlier. Still Dumbledore hoped for forgiveness.

"Time will heal all wounds," he thought. "But for now, I have important matters to look into. I have to meet the seer."
____________

FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)please :tu: :tu:

Thanks for the feedback!

CHAPTER 6

We may become the makers of our fate when
we have ceased to pose as its prophets.
Popper, Karl
_____________

A thin, tall lady stared unblinkingly at the white orb lying in front of her. She could see some vague shapes forming inside it, and then slowly fading away. More than sixteen years of crystal-gazing, and the fate of her prophecy was still not clear to an accomplished prophetess like her.
The seer sighed, softly tilting her head to the creaking of her main door. It was not often that anyone managed to find out her hiding place. She knew that is was necessary for her to hide, after her prophecy was mentioned in various newspapers. Even though her present situation was quite unnerving, the lady enjoyed the company of her inner eye.

It was an old bearded man that entered the room. The prophetess spoke first
"Ah, Dumbledore! What brings you here, old friend? Surely, you are not worried about your own future, are you?"
" No Persia, it is an old prophecy of yours that I am concerned about, at present. I believe it is the prediction about the star and the snake. I think I have found the daughter of the prophecy."
Persia smiled," So you wish to know the full contents of the prophecy?"
Dumbledore nodded. Persia, in a dusky voice recited:


Blessed by the stars, cursed by the snake...
Gets the utmost bliss, the deadliest pain...
Born yielding force, power and will...
To ensure peace or fear instill.
Power unparalleled, either boon or bane...
Either truth shall win, or all light slain...
Choice of serpent, will give victory to dark...
Warmth and light, ensured by the star.
Decision is hers, the world at stake...
Generations saved, or generations pay..._____


Before apparating away from the dusty, old cottage, Dumbledore asked the seer, " Does anyone else know the whole prophecy?"
"Save for you and me, just one more person. He called himself...uh...let me recall---yes---he called himself Riddle."
________
FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=3328998#post3328998)is a must!!!!!

PS- I put alot of effort in the prophecy.:love:

Chapter 7

_________

Stelinda looked curiously at the person sitting in front of her. The headmaster had asked her to visit him when she felt like going to some place called Diagon Alley. Stelinda was supposed to buy all the books assigned, from the first grade to the fifth. The headmaster had asked her to try practicing some of the spells from those books. He had told her that, in a week or so, he would be able to judge her magical potential and personally prepare her for NEWTS. Stelinda had decided to fling herself out of her misery and try to get used to the place. Now she was here, facing a huge, man--Hagrid, she recalled-- who spoke in a weird accent.

"So," asked Hagrid."You're Dumbledore's Great gran'daughter?"
"Great"
"Yeh, Isn't it?"
"I mean-- I'm his Great-great grand daughter."
"So you are... so you are. Anyways, Dumbledore says that you can not enroll yourself in Hogwarts. You would not be able to give the OWLS to attend the sixth year. You know, you are privileged. Dumbledore is gonna teach you himself."
"He told me that. Hagrid, are you goin' to take me to London? Isn't Diagon Alley there?'
"Well, yeh it is. But we are not going to the muggle London. We are goin' to floo straight to Ollivanders. Anyways, I'm sure you would have visited the muggle London plenty of times-- living as a muggle and all."
"No, I just shifted to Britain last week. I have lived all my life in Asia."

"Really? That explains why you were not enrolled in Hogwarts when you turned eleven. Okay, it's almost time. Take this floo powder and say loud and clear 'Ollivander's, Diagon Alley.' I'll portkey outside the shop. Fire-places are too small for me. Fine? And remember to close your eyes. On the count of three then. One, two, three..."

Stelinda had not felt anything like this before. In her shock, she opened her eyes. She saw the green flames engulf her, and then off she was, into that wild roller coaster ride. The only difference was the presence of dust, soot and ashes.

Dizzy and shaken, Stelinda stepped out of the fire place into a dusty old room. An old man squinting his eyes, outstretched his hand towards her. Stelinda tried to calm her nerves as she shook his hand.

"A Dumbledore, are you?" Then without waiting for Stelinda to reply, he took out a long tape, which unrolled itself and started measuring the parts of her body. Stelinda stood there silently, bewildered by not only the tape, but also the thousands of dusty boxes on the numerous shelves. Ollivander took out a brown old box and put it in front of her. The tape measure fell to the floor as he opened the box.

"Unicorn hair and snow flake, 8 inches, Oak. Try this, just give it a wave."
Stelinda did so, and espied the tip of the wand burst into purple flames. Ollivander hastily snatched the wand from Stelinda's hand and somehow managed to extinguish the flames. Next, he handed her a short stout wand, which, on being waved produced red and white sparks.

Half an hour later, old Olivander shook his head and took out a black colored case from the bottom-most drawer. "You have tried the wands from different types of core. The wand chooses the wizard. There is certainly one for you. If not, I'll take your aura and make one for you. Try this last wand. No one has been able to please it, even though it is quite ancient."

Stelinda felt a sudden warmth spread in her body. The wand felt quite natural in her hand. She swished it elegantly, her swish causing the wand to throw golden indistinguishable shapes in the air. With sparkling eyes Stelinda nodded at Ollivander, who in turn stared at her.

"A seer had given the core of this wand to me. Stiff, 9 inches, Willow, with star-dust in it's core. Extraordinarily strong and extremely powerful... too powerful. One characteristic of this wand is that, the one who owns it doesn't need it. A Dumbledore can prove to be the right one for it. It will cost you 20 Galleons."

The headmaster had given Stelinda a bagful of gold. She payed Ollivander and exited the shop to find Hagrid cradling a gruesome-looking, hairy creature.
_____________________

CLICK HERE (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=2)
:D

Chapter 8

Many a friend was lost through a joke, but none was ever gained so.
Czech Proverb

The headmaster had given Stelinda a bagful of gold. She payed Ollivander and exited the shop to find Hagrid cradling a gruesome-looking, hairy creature.
"What's that?" Stelinda cried, horrified.

Hagrid looked up, surprised to see her. He hastily put back that animal into a basket, kept at the foot of a bench. "Nothing, someone's pet I believe. Just giving it some company. That took you quite long Stellin'a. I bought your books from Flourish & Blotts," he said, indicating the huge bag he was holding. "Nothing to worry about. We have got lots of time in hand. Moreover, since holidays just started four days ago, there isn't much of a rush.

"Dumbledore said he's given you the money, so unless you want to visit your vault we needn't go there. Look, there is 'Madam Malkin's', you need to get some school robes. Even if you're not goin' to study at Hogwarts, you're gonna live there."

Hagrid took Stelinda to Madam Malkin's where she bought 3 school robes and some robes for casual wear for herself. As she exited the shop, Stelinda saw a couple of boys glueing their eyes at a display window. She nudged Hagrid and pointed towards the shop,"What are they doing?"

"Oh, that's 'Quality Quiddich Supplies'. Quiddich is game played on broomstick. Merlin! They are James and Sirius! JAMES! SIRIUS! LOOK HERE."
Stelinda shrank away, embarrassed. Hagrid's screams brought those boys out of their stupor. With a start, the boy with messy hair shook his friend and pointed towards Hagrid. Both of them ran towards him.

Hagrid beamed at them. " I didn' expect you to come to Diagon Alley so soon after the holidays started. Meet Stelinda. Stelinda, these are James and Sirius."

Regaining her confidence, Stelinda smiled at them in a dignified manner. In return, both James and Sirius grinned at her. James took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to her, asking her to open it when she was alone. Taking it to be some sort of wizarding custom, Stelinda accepted it. Then with the boys, Stelinda and Hagrid went to the Quiddich supply shop.

"We heard Snivelly was coming here today. Since Sirius is staying with me, I asked mum if we could shop for next year, today. These are the fastest brooms on display. They'll be used in the Quiddich World Cup next year."

Quiddich was something Stelinda had read about in the Hogwart's library. She promptly--to James and Sirius's shock--decided to buy the latest model of the broomstick--Cleansweep.
James, apparently out of sheer envy, commented, "You know what, I think it's very irresponsible of parents to trust their kids with so much of gold. Anyways, if people like to show off, why should I care."

Stelinda burned with anger.How dare he! Showing off, MY FOOT!
"GET LOST!"shouted Stelinda, narrowing her eyes and stomping off to an ice-cream parlour nearby. She distinctly heard Hagrid scolding those two monsters.

"They deserve it," she thought, remembering the times her mother had given her money to spend, asking her to be careful of what she wanted to buy.

A boy with a hooked-nose, she had not noticed before, said,
"Judging by your expression, I am inclined to think --"
"Don't," said Stelinda annoyed.
"Pardon? I said that I am inclined to think--"
"That should be left to me." interrupted Stelinda irritably.
___________
I know it was lousy, but exams are approaching and that's the best I can give.:grumble:

When times are tough, only feedback can give one a lift.
So feedback (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=2):blush:

Chapter 9


"I, a stranger and afraid, in a world I never made."

Housman

"Pardon? I said that I am inclined to think--"
"That should be left to me." interrupted Stelinda irritably.

"I assume that you have argued with Potter and Black."
"What do you mean? Are you talking about some potter wearing black clothes? I am really not interested in pottery at present."
"I meant James Potter and Sirius Black. Saw you quarrelling with them outside."
"Yeh, you could call it a quarrel. But, truth is, I only set eyes on them five minutes ago. You, only fifty seconds ago."
"What was it about?"
"A difference of opinion."
"On what?"
"How does it matter to you? It is none of your concerns."
"Was just asking," replied the boy, falling back into his chair.

Stelinda kept quiet. The boy took out a charms book from his bag. He didn't seem very friendly, really, on the other hand he looked extremely rude and anti-social. About five minutes passed in silence. Bored, Stelinda tried to read the book upside-down. After a few moments of craning her neck, Stelinda got up and went outside to find Hagrid.

The street had gone empty. Hagrid and the two monsters were nowhere in sight, nor were the few passerbys Stelinda had seen earlier. She walked silently to the quidditch supply shop, buying the broom that had hitherto caused alot of trouble. As she got back to the street, she sensed something wrong. A weird premonition gripped her mind, forcing her to retreat back into the shadows. Not a leaf did quiver.

Stelinda heard a slight sound. And then saw something that froze the blood in her veins. They were not men who she now saw walking down the street, they were corpses--live corpses. With white, bony hands, and pale, blank faces, they moved forwards. Through, the glass windows, Stelinda saw people apparating and flooing away from the ice-cream parlour.

Some of the inferi moved towards her. It was then that Stelinda realised that the shadows did not hide her from the danger, it made her more vulnerable. Their sunken eyes did not have vision. They could sense her presence.
Not knowing what to do, Stelinda pointed her wand towards them. What should she do with the wand? She had the weapon, but she did not know how to use it. She racked her brains for some spells.

"Abra Kadabra!" she tried.
"Trun Stur Whoosh!
"Gili Gili Swash!"

Stelinda recalled what she had read in the charms book. To conjure fire... one of the most difficult charms...Flagendio...a swish and a circular turn...far above NEWT level

Could she do it? The inferi were nearing; suddenly with a burst of self-confidence, Stelinda shouted,"FLAGENDIO!'

There was a sudden explosion of heat and light, and the gold and crimson fire that had erupted from Stelinda's wand, engulfed the inferi. The inferi blindly fell upon each other, confounded.

A giant hand grabbed her...

Stelinda, for the first time, experienced the sensation of a portkey.
________________

If you're reading this, it is your duty to feedback (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=2).:lol:

CHAPTER 10

"What do you mean, funny? Funny-peculiar or funny-ha-ha?"
Ian Hayes
The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations - Third Edition

A bewildered Hagrid faced Stelinda. "WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING? YE COULD HAVE HURT YOURSELF! YE COULD'VE DIED!"

Stelinda hung her head, "What else could I have done? I had been looking for you and then suddenly they appeared."

"You could have outrun them! Those were inferi. The main point was that You Know Who wanted to cause fear. Merlin! Inferi walking down the streets! At least you could've screamed for help. It would've been a good deal easier to locate you, especially when you'd decided to choose the darkest corner in Diagon Alley. Anyways, come, I'll take you to Dumbledore."

"No, please, not him! I'll go back to my room and rest. Please Hagrid."
"Fine, fine. Don't give me that look. I'll send your books there only. And you had left the bag of gold in the quidditch shop-- I've baught your broomstick from it. Go now, don't get into anymore trouble."
"Thanks Hagrid. Thanks alot."

Stelinda walked back to her room-- behind the portrait of Salazar Slytherin-- slumping on her bed and wondering if she was still living her own life. Such terrible twists and turn were fit to be a part of a horror story. This incident will surely give her many sleepless nights... Better that nightmares at least.
Stelinda changed into a set of casual robes, a nice deep blue. Something fell on the ground-- a small rectangular object. It was the box Potter had given.

Fascinated, Stelinda opened it.

BOOOM!
BLAST!
DHAM!

An unsuspecting Stelinda was covered with a sticky, sour-smelling goo. So for wizarding customs!

To Stelinda it seemed that the tiny elf which had appeared on the door-way, looked delighted at being able to find some work in a castle without many occupants. She thought so since it jumped with joy, suspended the bag of books in the air and without a word, started magic-ing away the goo.
Somethings are past human understanding.

She picked up the little piece of paper that hung in the air, just in front of her nose.

To whoever is reading this,
This is a small present from us that means no real harm (we could have given you the red box otherwise). This is just one of our wonderful collection of jokes, and thus, even though --due to past experience--we have stopped expecting any gratitude, we hope sincerely that you appreciate how lucky you are to receive something from us.
Yours,
THE MARAUDERS

PS- Contact us if you want to know what the red box is.


"Lucky?"Stelinda said aloud, "My lucky day? Yeh, I am blessed!"
_________________
Click here if you like it. (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=2):lol:

Author's note- Just two more exams to go! I found some time to update and since I've been feeling quite guilty of not updating, I've decided to post two chapters.

DO NOT FORGET TO FEEDBACK

Chapter 11

"You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowin'"
Bob Dylan
__________________

Stelinda flipped through the pages of the first grade book.
"Lumos,"she said. A jet of light came out from her wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa"
The cusion on her bed rose in the air with the movement of her wand.
"Engorgio"
The cusion kept enlarging itself untill Stelinda broke the connection.
"Relashio"
A jet of sparks and a strong heat wave resulted in the breakage of a small glass container.
"Reparo"
The broken glass fragments mended themselves.

Stelinda rolled her eyes and muttered to herself, "God, this is simple. I can do this, shall I try the second grade spells?"
She picked up the second standard book.
"Aguamenti"
A jet of water came out of her wand, wetting the floor.
"Tergeo"
It cleaned the liqid.
As Stelinda took out the transfiguration book for second class, soeone knocked on the door.
"Come in"

And in came Dumbledore, smiling and cheery. He glanced at the pile of books on Stelinda's bed, and then without a second thought. conjoured up a few books and kept it with them. "For light reading," he said.
"So, have you tried any of the spells?"

Not wanting to speak straightly to the headmaster, Stelinda just nodded her head.
"Any success?" Stelinda narrowed her eyes. Did he take her to be a dunderhead? She glared at him, forcing her head to nod.
Dumbledore smiled, his usual irritating smile. He then straigtened up a little and asked her to perform some spells.

_________________

[An hour later]

_________________

"You have got extraordinary magical talent. Try this charm, it's way past the Ordinary Wizarding Level. The incarnation is Expecto Patronum."

"Expecto Patronum!"

Silver light burst out of Stelinda's wand. It appeared to have some shape, she had seen it before. It split into two. One shaped itself into a snake, while the other took the shape of a starfish. Slowly it disolved into the air.
Dumbledore's face was inscrutable.

"I shall give you a month's time to learn all these spells given in the grades from one to five. I'll send the potions requirements to you, and a house elf to take care of your needs. I believe you wanted muggle studies and arithematic as your extra subjects. You know advanced arithemetics due to your muggle schooling, and muggle life style is known to you. Thus, I expect you to finish the syllabus for OWLs. Next month, you will be tested on it. If you have got any problems, come to me.Your hostility towards me is fully justified, though I expect you to see from my point of veiw, in some time. If you manage to do well in the examinations--as I think you will-- I'll get you enrolled in Hogwarts."

Words are those things that abandon you when you need them the most. Words can explain thoughts... silence can explain emotions... Only, a person, who is either illiterate, or bewildered is at loss of words.

Stelinda was one of the later.
___________________________________

Chapter 12

"Double, double, toil and trouble; fire, burn; and caldron, bubble."
-Macbeth by William Shakespeare
_________________

Stelinda could not find her wand. She had kept it somewhere here only, where was it now? God, this was ridiculous! Where did things go when one needed them? Stelinda irritablaly ransacked her room. How did anyone expect to study when she didn't have even a wand with her. She had just started with spells for grade 4.

Finally giving up, Stelinda went towards her cauldron instead. Which potion should she try now?
'The Color of Emotions' Stelinda read. 'Changes the color of the drinker's face in relation to the nature of his emotions.'
"Interesting," she thought.
"So," Stelinda-- who had aldready learnt the method to make the potion by heart-- instructed herself.

"First I need to put some ginger juice in it."
She picked the bottle labeled 'ginger juice' and poured about one fourth of it in the cauldron.
"Now, I need to add a pinch of eledrome tusk powder, and let it heat for some time."
The cauldron bubbled and turned the ideal dark green.
"Okay, now time for some coakroach clusters and dragon-fly wings--ewwuck, who is going to drink this?

It seemed that the hot boiling potion was offended by the comment, since it chose that moment to sublime into a thick, black and foul-smelling cloud of smoke. Stelinda coughed, shaking her hands to and fro.
The smoke was suffocating. Despirately Stelinda managed to mutter out, "Evanesco"
Instantly the cloud of smoke vanished, causing Stelinda to breathe a sigh of releaf. Recent experimentation had taught Stelinda not to meddle with actual potion making--it was better to mug up the theory. Still it was quite foolish of her to try her hand at it for the fourth time, the results not once desirsble.noticed that her wand sticking out from between two books lying near the table. She realised that she hadn't been using her wand to cast the spell.

Ollivander's words came back to her.

'One characteristic of this wand is that, the one who owns it doesn't need it. '

_______________________

I WANT FEEDBACK!!! (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=2)

Author's note- Here's a short chapter, quite unimportant and light. :angel:
_____________________

Chapter 13

Every time a child says, "I don't believe
in fairies" there is a little fairy somewhere
that falls down dead.
Barrie, James Matthew
_____________________

The deep orange sun threw it's dying, dim light at the slight ripples in the Hogwart's lake. A huge, black-bearded man trod the shadowy paths of the forbidden forests. A soft wind caressed the leaves of the Oak tree, while a silver one-horned creature bent it's lean neck to rub the downy grass in the midst of the woods.

And a deep-blue eyed girl zoomed on her broomstick, in the sky above. Stelinda felt the wind kiss her face, her hair though tied, blew due to the force of the wind. Tonight was a time for her to relax, she had finally, after a whole month of hardwork, managed to finish the preparation for the OWLS. It had been quite tough for her to learn the theory, though she managed to get the spells at the first try. It was a good thing that somehow, magic seemed quite natural to her and she had developed a good memory for spells. It was only potion-brewing that usually ended in a disaster--and she had lost hope to pass in it.

But Stelinda had taken a break from her worries now, it was time to fly. She turned the handle of her broomstick down, zooming near the ground-- over the lake-- towards the forest--and amidst the leaves, navigating her way through the trees. She flew up again, smiling and with sparkling eyes. She'd give her exams the next day, and if she passed--like she thought she would--there was no need for private lessons with the headmaster.

Stelinda laughed merrily. A shocked Hagrid watched her from miles below-- she was awesome at flying. The half-giant shook his head and racked his brain if he had heard of any incident of someone die of flying too high or too fast. Finding none, he went back to work, with a merry glint in his eye--she'd beat Potter any day.

Albus Dumbledore glanced out from his window, just to see little Bernice's grandchild fly high above the forbidden forest, her head held with pride, and her hands gripping her broomstick lightly and with ease. Albus Dumbledore gazed at her--She'd surely inherited Agnes' talent. The remincent gleam in his eyes faded away to be replaced by a sadder present. He was not a part of his Great-great grand daughter's happiness, she did not want to have anything to do with him, & that was reality.

Stelinda soared through the clouds, the dreams of her childhood coming back to her. She had always wished to fly... and now she was looking for the angel...
___________________

More updates later. Any feedback??? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=3):eyebrows:

Chapter 14

I was gratified to be able to answer promptly,
and I did. I said I didn't know.

Mark Twain
___________________
Stelinda felt her face heat up. Restless and nervous, she paced the room tentatively. This was the biggest test of her life, she could not afford to fail in this examination. Wiping off sweat from her face, she paced faster, impatiently waiting for the headmaster to arrive.

He did so composedly and thus annoyingly. Stelinda --red at face--greeted him with forced calm. He assured her that the OWLs would not be too tough for her and then gave her the portkey to the examination hall. In three seconds Stelinda found herself in a huge hall with only a few people in it.
About thirty teenagers of Stelinda's age were seated in small wooden chairs, with desks in front of them. A lean, tall woman directed her to take a seat. The clock showed five to ten-- five minuites for the first exam to start. There was going to be half an hour break after each exam.

Exactly on time, Stelinda recieved her paper.


Ordinary Wizarding Levels For Students who failed/ want to give a retest/ were unable to give the first exam/ Do not attend any wizarding school

TRANSFIGURATION
1. What is an animagus? On what factors does the animagus form of a wizard depend?
2. Describe metamorphism and polimorphism.
3. How is a werewolf different from an ordinary wolf?
4. Write a short note on tranfiguring mamals into non-living substances...


Reading just the first few questions calmed Stelinda's nerves to an extent.
Quite enthusiastically, she scribbled down the answers, just hoping that those who check the answer scripts would be able to understand her handwriting. Within an hour and a half, Stelinda managed to finish the paper.
Bubbling with self-confidence, Stelinda gave the OWLs for all the other subjects too. Charms and Defense were very simple, and wizarding arethimetic was not a very challenging task for a person who had got muggle education. For the first time Stelinda liked maths. The subject which she usually called: 'Mentally Affecting Task for Harassing Students.'

She expected quite good marks in all the papers, even potions... but practicals of potion-brewing were another matter.

Stelinda had always been very fond of colors, but now when her enlarging potion blended into a bright, beautiful purple, Stelinda felt like crying. Error in the final step! Her potion had no chance! Though discouraged, she tried to go on, but it was of no use.

The examiner who came to check her potion, turned out to be a senile, old man, who just asked her the steps of making the potion, the uses and the chemical properies of it. He ruefully eyed the purple liquid present in the cauldron and commented, "You must have added more of pixer leaves in it--a very stupid mistake."

_____________

Exiting the examination hall, Stelinda muttered to herself, "I had hoped that luck would finally favour me in potions. It did. Pity, it was bad luck."
_________________________________________________

FEEDBACK (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=3)

Chapter 15


__________
Stelinda unfolded the letter.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULT

Pass Grades:

Outstanding (O)
Fail Grade: Poor (P)
Exceeds Expectations (E)
Dreadful (D)
Acceptable (A)
Troll (T)

STELINDA AVA DUMBLEDORE HAS ACHIEVED:

Arethimetic: O
Astronomy: E
Charms: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Herbology O
History of Magic D
Muggle Studies: O
Potions: E
Transfiguration: O

She stared at it open-mouthed. An E in potions? Was that old man colour-blind? She shook her head in disbelief, and then smiled with relief. No private lessons with the headmaster! She was going to be enrolled at Hogwarts!
Her parents would have been proud of her...

```````````````
Albus Dumbledore smiled at his great-great grand daughter. She had surely got the Dumbledore talent in her-- catching up five years of studies in one month! Got six Os and two Es, only failed in History. Her History marks came as a mild surprise to Dumbledore, he had always found history of magic very fascinating. But really, what she was studying as history had been reffered to as 'Current Events' in his days.

_______________

Should she, or should she not? Where was the answer? The glorious sun dipped into the blue of the lake, the Oak tree swayed it's leaves, the clouds of the sky reshaped themselves to form some odd shapes and still, Stelinda's question remained unanswered.

This was the moment that could shape her future-- it was decision time. The dagger of thoughts cut through her mind, just like hot,burning metal is pierced into the eyes of innocent birds. She had two options left-- either she choose to the merry, innocent life like she had lived of yore, or else she could tread on the thorny paths of truth. Dumbledore had told her, he had informed her, he had guided her, but still was it right to blindly trust the words of a person she had met hardly a few weeks ago? Would it be right go against those views she hardly knew about?

Should she go to the realms where good was said to be bred, or try to find out what made the other side believe that their actions was justified. If the Death Eaters were unleashing a reign of terror, Stelinda wanted to know if they were forced to do so, if they had a justified motive or if they could be somehow made to change their opinion. On the other hand, if she wanted to know more about them, she had to be one of them to approach these matters. She was certain that the voice of a stranger would not be heard in the midst of the storm of strong opinion.

So the options lay before her-- the other three houses or Slytherin? Stelinda chose the latter.

Her powers looked like the innocent blue. It was calm at present, but still it had the potential to brew the mightiest of storms, to harbour the most vicious of demons, or remain calm. There were pearls inside it, but also layers and layers of buried dirt.
____________________________
FEEDBACK IS A COMPULSION (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=3)

Sorry this chapter is coming so late.

CHAPTER 16
...Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back...

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Dressed in a set of Hogwarts school robes, Stelinda waited at the entrance of the Great Hall. Her face was pale, solemn and mirthless. Not a trace of warmth could have been detected in her manner or a drop of moisture in her twinkle-less eyes. If anyone had seen her a few months ago, he would have sworn on his life that Stelinda had switched bodies, or perhaps souls, with someone else.

She barely glanced at the tumultous ceiling of the Great Hall. Let the worst befall! She stood behind some tiny kids who she assumed were going to be sorted in first year. No one noticed her, no one could have done so. She had turned herself invisible, a skill natural in the Dumbledore family she had discovered not a few days ago.

The headmaster had taken his seat in the main table. For a fleeting moment their eyes met: a sinking feeling, a dissapointed look & Stelinda quickly broke the contact. She stood there & silently observing the crowd of students, till the midgets were sorted into their respective houses. She had thought previosly that students themselves chose their houses, but the sorting of the little dwarfs had made her pause and reconsider if she was right. Was it anxiety that gripped her senses? Was it confusion? Was it indecision? With half her heart and dim her mind she undid the invisibility spell. No one noticed her till the lady with the list of students announced her name for sixth year...a new admission...a Dumbledore.

At once the students erupted into mutterings, they shamelessly gaped at her in bewilderment and shock. Stelinda tried not to pay them much regard & went straight towards the old, worn hat. She could feel the steady gaze of the headmaster, & she could sense the prickling stares of the students.
And then the comforting darkness of the hat blissfully covered her eyes from the demons.
Ah... interesting...very intriguing. A strong mind, a pure heart and the want to challenge facts. Self-reliance and self-confidence...worthy to be trusted, with the loyalty of a dog. But loyalty to whom? There lies a darker side. Yes, the power to be ruthlessly evil. Just a small taste of power, a slight faith in treachery and the snake within you will give a twisted embrace. You lie on the fence, on a fork in the roads, you will get the choice-CHOOSE! Slitherin or Griffindor? The lion or the snake?

"Please," muttered Stelinda, "Perhaps Grif- no- Slytherin-yes- Slytherin."
Be careful Stella, that path is mostly twists, turns and forks. It is a maze, once you get lost, the way back is difficult to find. Don't go off too far, you'll have to return the same distance--if you want to. SLYTHERIN!
It was complete shock that greeted this declaration: some few stray claps reveberated through the Great Hall, the Slytherin table looked surly and unappealing, the rest of the school after the initial silence erupted into passionate murmurings. Stelinda took a seat at the end of the Slytherin table.
The headmaster announced the start of the feast.

Some delicious but undesired dishes instantly appeared in front of her. Stelinda felt dragged down in her insides. She looked up, and was greeted by a lightning in the tumultous sky. A little overpowered and perhaps a bit heartened by the sight, she shook her head and smiled. Now that she had chosen it, she must pursue it, she must try it and she must end it.
-------------------------------------

You can do whatever you may,
but here's a way to make my day. (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=79554&page=3)