starlit supernova
❛ xi. non-trelawney nova ❜

━━━━━ HERMIONE'S SUPPORT MADE Nova want to spill everything — and she meant everything. She had been so patient and understanding (Nova had burst into her dorm room and cried, you know), and Hermione never once acted like she was a bother.

               And Hermione had believed her. That was more than Nova could say for her parents. Her own parents. And she had been understanding at the news of the dreams — she hadn't acted like Nova was some freak for them. And not for the Grim (despite her disbelief in the topic), and Hermione never looked at her odd for having passed out time and time again because of the dementors.

               "Um, Hermione," Nova said cautiously, "you know I've passed out when the dementors get near me ..."

               Hermione nodded to her.

               "Well — I see things; I hear things. The first time, I saw the — the Grim. On the train, you know? And then during the Quidditch match, I heard ..." she sighed, "I heard a conversation."

               "What was the conversation?" asked Hermione.

               Nova wrung her hands. "It was two women. One was older, and one was younger — maybe early twenties? She sounded much younger. Um — they were arguing. Something about one being a traitor; the younger one being the traitor. And then they talked about a he. He wanted to know something from the 'traitor'. And — and then the 'traitor' screamed."

               "What else?" Hermione urged.

               "I — I don't know," Nova admitted hesitantly. "The conversation stopped after that. But then I heard it a second time, during my latest dream. I only heard bits and pieces, but it was the older woman's voice."

               Hermione pursed her lips. She read through Nova's notes about her dreams again, tracing her finger down the page. "I — I know you didn't want me to suggest it, but you think it's possible you ..." She trailed off.

               Nova's bottom lip quivered. She had tried to deny it. Oh, how she tried. She didn't want to admit it at all, not even to herself. She traced the lines of her palm, swallowing the bile in her throat. "You asked once about me being adopted," she changed the topic. "And then you asked if I had ever met my bio mum. I haven't met her, but I do have a letter."

               Hermione watched her for a moment. "You do?"

               Nova nodded. "My friends are sick of me talking about it. She told me to not find her, but I want to meet her. Ask her why she gave me up for adoption. Or — at least know her name. Maybe I want to see how much I look like her. How much I act like her."

               Hermione gave her a sad look and grabbed her hand. "Do you — do you know if you can? Meet her, I mean."

               "In the letter — actually, I have it on me," Nova admitted, patting down her pockets. She took the yellowing paper out, and handed it over to Hermione. Once she was finished reading, Nova said, "She's probably dead, but I still —"

               "Want to know," Hermione said softly, handing the letter back. "I couldn't imagine, Nova."

               "Yeah ..." Nova tucked the letter away. "My parents and my friends — my parents especially — are sick of me talking about it. They think I'm being consumed trying to find her. And they're right, but they don't — I mean, they're raised by their parents. Their biological parents."

               "Do your adoptive parents —" Hermione paused. "Are they good to you?"

               "No, they're great," Nova insisted. "But I still wonder about her, about why she put me up for adoption, about what her family did that was so bad. And I feel guilty for talking to my parents about the letter. They took me in and gave so much to raise me, but I can't help but just wonder."

               Hermione squeezed Nova's hand. "I'll help you."

               "You don't have to —" Nova tried to say.

               "Nonsense," Hermione insisted. "You're completely right to wonder. Hell — Harry wonders about his parents all the time. You guys have every right to want to know your parents. And you might have a chance of finding your mum with this letter. I'll help you. Just like the way you helped me with fighting for Buckbeak."

               Nova's heart dropped. She gave Hermione a wavering smile. "Thank you, 'Mione. Have you heard anything about Buckbeak?"

               "I tried to talk to Hagrid," Hermione admitted, "but —"

               A pecking sound cut Hermione off. An owl landed in front of her closed window, pecking its beak against the glass.

               Hermione jumped up to let the tawny owl inside. The owl twittered, a piece of parchment wrapped around its leg. Nova and Hermione shared a glance and then back to the piece of parchment. The owl pecked at Hermione's fingers, causing her to yelp, "Yes, yes. Alright!"

               Hermione untied the parchment and unfurled the letter. Nova watched as Hermione's dark eyes scanned the paper once, then twice, and then a third time. With each re-read of the parchment, Hermione's face changed; the first time, confusion; the second time, worry; the third time, anger and sadness.

               "Nova, read it." Hermione held the paper out to her. "Read it."

               Nova took the letter and did as told.

               Dear Hermione and Nova,
                              We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts.
                              Execution date to be fixed.
                              Beaky has enjoyed London.
                              I won't forget all the help you two gave us.
               Hagrid

               "Buckbeak lost?" Nova demanded. "But —"

               "Malfoy's pockets," Hermione recalled. "C'mon —" She grabbed Nova by the arm, pulling her up from the bed. "We have to tell Ron and Harry."

✴

"They can't do this," Harry protested, waving the letter angrily. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

               "Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it," said Hermione, wiping her eyes. "You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope ... Nothing will have changed."

               "Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help."

               Hermione's eyes glistened with tears as she threw her arms around his neck. Then, she broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head.

               Finally, Hermione drew away. "Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers ..." she sobbed.

               "Oh — well — he was old," said Ron, looking thoroughly relieved that she had let go of him. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now."

               Nova gave him a look. She thought back to that conversation she had overheard between Ron and Harry. To have — What? — five brothers? She knew everything he had must've been hand-me-downs. And to finally have something that was only his, and then to lose it, perhaps Nova felt a sliver of pity for him.

               He was still a shitty friend to Hermione, of course. Nova couldn't forget that.

               Hermione wiped at her eyes, composing herself. When she did speak, her voice was hardened with determination. She said, "We're going to try our hardest to get Buckbeak out of this life sentence." She looked pointedly (more of a glare) at Harry and Ron. "And I understand that you two were very excited about the broom, but you two were the biggest arses to me —"

               "But —"

               "But I told McGonagall for your own safety, Harry," she said, frowning at them. "We're lucky the broom wasn't cursed, but what if it had been, and I hadn't told anyone? Merlin knows what could've happened. Harry, you could've died, but you two cared more about a shiny new broom than thinking of your best friend's safety." She glared at Ron. "Harry, you could've died. You just thought I was driving you up a wall and being petty, but I was doing what was best for his life."

               Both Harry and Ron looked at a loss for words.

               And before they could come up with anything, Hermione spoke up, "Regardless, Nova's going to help us. Well — help us more. She helped me all throughout this while you two were being assholes, and she's going to help us again. And you two better not say anything or —"

               "Merlin, Herms, we don't mind Nova helping," Harry interrupted. "And we wouldn't say anything against her."

               Nova raised her eyebrows silently at that, but didn't comment. "Well, that's lovely," she spoke up. "We're all friends, now. I guess. Let's go skip off into the sunset."

✴

Nova didn't like how easy she found it to fit in with their little trio. She didn't dislike it, but it was certainly weird and not what she was used to (and Nova found comfort in old and routine things). It was weird how Hermione called her over to the Gryffindor table the next morning, and to sit at the table, to sit opposite of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. The two just shrugged, seemingly accepting the arrangement with no issues.

               Well — "no issues" was being kind. Ron liked to give Nova the stink-eye, but his eyes just looked more swollen shut than anything. And Harry stared like she was some interesting crossword puzzle (and Nova hated crossword puzzles).

               She noticed the odd looks from her friends at the Hufflepuff table, and more than once, she spotted Emile frowning at her from the Ravenclaw table. Nova didn't hate being spotlighted totally, but she hated it when she didn't want it. Sitting with a bright yellow tie in a sea of blood-red ties made her want to crawl into a hole badger-style and never come back out.

               Despite her embarrassment, Nova made it through the breakfast. The four of them talked about the best ways to talk to Hagrid. But the best they could come up with was just offering help to Hagrid. It wasn't exactly a solid plan, but it was the best they had.

               When Care of Magical Creatures finally rolled around, Nova was more anxious than anything. Since the first day of the class ended, and the classes started being Malfoy-proofed, she hated class, but now, she was just anxious.

               Hagrid seemed numb with shock at the verdict. "S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. I forgo' all them public speakin' tips yeh gave me, Nova. We really practiced together, but I forgo' 'em all. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em ..."

               "There's still the appeal!" said Ron fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

               The four were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively.

               "S'no good, Ron," said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. "That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that ..." Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief.

               "Look at him blubber!"

               Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.

               "Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

               "Oh —" Nova rolled her eyes. "You could teach any better, Malfoy? I'd like to see you try and teach a bitch like you and realize how much work it is. Especially when they're a fucking dumbass who provoked an innocent creature."

               "That innocent creature's a monster, Holloway!" Malfoy hissed back. "It's a lowlife monster that —"

               A fist flew for Malfoy's rather pointy nose.

               The boy staggered, clutching his nose. Everyone stood around, shocked, as Hermione raised her fist again.

               "Don't you dare say anything about Hagrid or Buckbeak, you foul — you evil —"

               "Hermione!" said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.

               "Get off, Ron!"

               Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.

               "C'mon," Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.

               "Hermione!" Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.

               "Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione said shrilly. She whirled around to face him, and the black-haired boy raised his hands slightly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"

               "We're due in Charms," said Ron, still goggling at Hermione. "We'd better go."

               Nova frowned. "Damn, I got Transfiguration to go to. Well, see you guys later. Make sure to get evidence if 'Mione punches Malfoy again!"

✴

Nova wished she had done anything but talk to Trelawney about her dreams. She wanted nothing to do with the subject, the professor's words ringing in her ears. And to be honest, Nova was quite sick of those words whispering to her in the back of her mind —

               But denying what they were destined for? ... That is what led them to madness.

               If you heard it multiple times since running away from the teacher, you would be just as annoyed and bothered.

               Nova shuffled into the lesson, a sour look on her face. She sat with Neville and Emile, giving them tired looks as they wished her a good day. Inside the stifling tower room were crystal balls full of pearly white mist glowing on every little table.

               "I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term," Nova pointed out, casting a wary eye around for Professor Trelawney, in case the professor was lurking nearby.

               "Don't complain," Emile chided. "This means we're finished with palmistry. I was getting sick of having to touch your hand."

               "Oh, ha-ha." Nova glared. "Fuck you, too."

               "Good day to you!" said the familiar, misty voice, and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows. Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement, their faces lit by the milky glow of their crystal ball. Nova glowered with anger in the glowing light of the crystal ball on her table.

               "I have decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned," said Professor Trelawney, sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around. "The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice."

               Nova rolled her eyes silently, slinking down in her seat. She would rather sit through ten classes with McGonagall than Divinations.

               Believe the fates, a voice rattled across her mind. It's always correct.

               Merlin's beard, Nova wished that voice would leave her alone.

               Nova heard Hermione snort from across the classroom. "Well, honestly ... 'the fates have informed her' ... who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!" she said, not troubled to keep her voice low.

               Harry and Ron choked back laughs as Nova glanced over with raised eyebrows.

               It was hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them as her face was hidden in shadow. She continued, however, as though she had not. "Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art," she said dreamily. "I do not expect any of you to See when first you peer into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes" — Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise — "so as to clear the Inner Eye and the superconscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will See before the end of the class."

               "The Inner Eye ..." Nova grumbled. "I'd like to squish it like it's a gummy."

               Emile sent her a look. "You okay? Your violent tendencies seem to be ..."

               "Stronger," Neville supplied meekly.

               Nova huffed. "It's nothing. Just ready for this to be over with."

               That was an understatement. As she stared into the misty crystal ball, she begged for it to stay that way. She didn't want to see anything. She didn't want to prove Trelawney correct. Nova wasn't like Trelawney. She wasn't a Seer!

               But it seemed the odds were stacked against Nova and her begging. Slowly, bit by bit, in the smoke that curled inside of the orb, something began to piece together. Piecing together too slowly for Nova to try and connect the scene in her mind.

               This can't be happening, Nova thought to herself. You don't have an Inner Eye. You're Nova Holloway, the girl abandoned by her biological mum for whatever reason. You're not a Seer.

               But the crystal orb seemed to want to prove her wrong. Whatever was piecing together seemed to be growing from the earth, tall and grand. If Nova stared just enough, she might've seen it even breathing, rising and deflating slowly. Maybe even shifting around, like it was alive.

               Nova shivered, looking away. This can't be right, she tried to tell herself. You don't See anything. You're not a Seer!

               Denying who they are, it was Trelawney's voice this time. That is what led them to madness.

               I've heard that before, she bit back. No need to tell me a hundred more times.

               Nova didn't have an Inner Eye. She had no bright aura. Nothing like that. She took Divinations because it sounded cool and seemed to be an easy O. She didn't take it to learn that she was strange. She already knew she was strange! But Nova couldn't have it be for this reason.

               Nova Holloway was not like Trelawney. Nothing like Trelawney! In fact, she was Non-Trelawney Nova!

               "You see anything, Nova?" Neville asked, almost sounding worried.

               The smoke in the orb curled around the breathing thing. Nova wasn't sure what to call it. It was growing limbs by the dozen — Were those limbs? They didn't look like limbs, they almost looked like branches ...

               "No," she lied. "I just see loads of fog."

               "Exactly," Ron said, a bit too loudly, from a couple of tables over. "Like Nova said, loads of fog, right? It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight."

               Both Harry and Hermione burst out laughing, but Nova wanted to crawl into her skin.

               "Now, really!" said Professor Trelawney as everyone's heads turned in their direction. Parvati and Lavender were looking scandalized. "You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!"

               She approached their table and peered into their crystal ball. Nova could feel her heart sinking. She knew what was about to come, but she was glad it was Harry and not her.

               "There is something here!" Professor Trelawney whispered, lowering her face to the ball, so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. "Something moving ... but what is it?"

               "My dear," the professor breathed, gazing up at Harry. "It is here, plainer than ever before ... my dear, stalking toward you, growing ever closer ... the Gr —"

               "Oh, for goodness' sake!" said Hermione loudly as her hands slammed against the round table. "Not that ridiculous Grim again!"

               Professor Trelawney raised her enormous eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both glared at Hermione too. Professor Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable anger.

               "I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane."

               There was a moment's silence. Then —

               "Fine!" said Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future back into her bag. "Fine!" she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. "I give up! I'm leaving!"

               And to the whole class's amazement, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight. It took a few minutes for the class to settle down again.

               Professor Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grim, but Nova hadn't. She turned back to her crystal ball, her hands clenched; in anger, fear, nervousness, in all of the above. In the curling smoke of the fog, a giant tree loomed above something else — something the orb had taken its time to build as Nova was busy watching Hermione and Trelawney. The new thing was something she couldn't mistake; a black shaggy dog.

               Padfoot, a man's voice yelled in Nova's ear.

               She jumped, bumping her knee against the low table. She looked around furiously, ignoring the way Emile and Neville glanced at her. No man was nearby, so who the hell yelled Padfoot into her ear? Did anyone even yell? Or was it Nova's imagination?

               "Oo!" said Lavender suddenly, making everyone start. "Oo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? 'Around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever!' You said it ages ago, Professor!"

               Professor Trelawney gave her a dewy smile. "Yes, my dear, I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes, however, that one might have mistaken the Signs ... The Inner Eye can be a burden, you know ..."

               Nova didn't know a lot of things, but she knew she hated Divinations. Didn't even have to rely on a woman's voice in her head to tell her that.

✴

The Easter holidays were supposed to be relaxing, but Nova felt like she was about to drown.

               There were mountains of homework left to complete, and that was for the normal students. Hermione Granger had so much homework it could rival the amount of three (maybe even four) students combined. Even without Divination, she was taking more subjects than anybody else. She was usually last to leave the Gryffindor common room at night, and first to arrive at the library the next morning; she had shadows like Lupin's under her eyes, and seemed constantly close to tears.

               Nova almost had pity for Harry Potter, too. With the ever-imminent Quidditch final with Slytherin against Gryffindor, the poor boy had to fit his study around his Quidditch practice. And even more so, Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, seemed to be ready to lose his mind. All he ever talked about was tactics over Quidditch.

               Nova knew Harry had to be exhausted, especially when he fell asleep on the book she needed to read.

               "Hey, Potter, go sleep elsewhere." She poked at his head, trying to grab the book from him. "I need this."

               "Sorry." Harry raised his head and slid the book over to her.

               Nova cringed and wiped some drool off the cover with her sleeve. "Seriously, you can't just sleep wherever. Besides, you need a regular sleeping schedule if you want any chance at winning the final and passing exams."

               Harry gave her a tired look. "That's rich coming from you, Holloway. I've seen you at three in the morning here helping with Buckbeak's appeal."

               "Well, I don't like sleeping," Nova said, trying to shrug casually. "I get shitty nightmares — I mean, no I don't. I don't have nightmares."

               "Nightmares," Harry repeated, peering at her. "What kinds?"

               "I told you," she insisted. "I don't have nightmares."

               "You just said —"

               "No, I didn't."

               Harry didn't look like he believed her, but he left it at that.

               The two didn't exactly speak much over the holiday, both too busy with their own stuff. Though, she, Harry, Ron, and Hermione would often split time between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff common rooms. Nova found herself becoming so comfortable in the Gryffindor common room that she would show up unannounced. She wasn't sure if she liked it or if she was bothered by the feeling.

               With Hermione so busy with homework, and Harry so busy with the grueling Quidditch practices, Ron and Nova took over the responsibility of Buckbeak's appeal. When they weren't studying, they were poring over enormously thick volumes with names like The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology and Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality. Ron had become so absorbed by the reading, he even forgot to be horrible to Crookshanks. He even stopped giving Nova stink-eyes so often (and eventually, not at all).

               Nova remembered the first time Ron tried to enter the Hufflepuff common room without Hermione or Nova herself to help him inside. He crawled his way inside, behind two snickering first years, and covered in vinegar (the punishment for failing to tap Helga Hufflepuff in the correct pattern and on the correct barrel).

               "Don't laugh." Ron glared at her.

               "I wouldn't dare!" she tried to insist, covering her smile.

               Nova didn't expect to bond with the boy over laws and legislations to do with magical creatures, but Nova figured there was a first for everything. (And that it would hopefully be the last.) Nova wouldn't call them friends, just ... Buckbeak Appeal Buddies. That sounded weird, but that was what most of their conversations consisted over: What would be best to help Hagrid win the case against Malfoy?

               He wasn't as annoying as Nova would've hoped for. She wished he made more dumb comments so she could look at him and tell him to get out. Sure, he made idiotic comments, but no more than she did.

               ("The what act?" Ron asked.

               "The Wizengamot Charter of Rights," said Nova, rolling her eyes.

               "The Wise —?"

               "Don't even finish that sentence.")

               Hermione wouldn't allow Nova to kick Ron out, no matter how busy she was with homework. "Two minds are better than one," she said tartly. "You and Ron can get along long enough to help Buckbeak."

               Nova rolled her eyes. "You're such a mum. Me and Ron do get along, but not by choice."

               Harry fell asleep on his Transfiguration textbook as Ron came back with a large book tucked under his arm.

               "I found this," he said, dropping it on the library table, not even waking Harry.

               "Well, what is it?" Nova pried.

               "There's something about a Scamander Act in here," Ron said, flipping through the book. "The Scamanders are Magizoologist, aren't they? They would want to protect magical creatures."

               "If you say so." Nova shrugged. "I dunno anything about no Salamanders."

               "Scamanders, dumbass," Ron drawled.

               "Isn't that what I said?"

✴

The Quidditch stands were a sea of green and red. If Christmas hadn't already long passed, Nova might've thought Hogwarts was holding a Christmas celebration or something. The crowd wearing red (which Nova had to admit seemed to be much larger than the crowd wearing green) were waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them, or brandishing banners with slogans like "GO GRYFFINDOR!" and "LIONS FOR THE CUP!"

               The Gryffindor team walked onto the field with a tidal wave of cheers. Nova winced at the volume, pulling her hair (which she left down) over her ears. She rearranged the red headband on her head and glanced at Hermione. Hermione seemed happy, cheering loudly. She had badly painted lions on her cheeks and gave Nova a wide smile.

               "And here are the Gryffindors!" yelled Lee Jordan, who was acting as a commentator as usual. "Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years —"

               Lee's comments were drowned by a tide of "Boos" from the Slytherin end.

               Lee continued on; "And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill —"

               More boos from the Slytherin crowd. Nova, however, thought Lee had a point. Malfoy was easily the smallest person On the Slytherin team; the rest of them were enormous.

               "Captains, shake hands!" ordered Madam Hooch.

               Flint and Wood approached each other and grasped each other's hands very tightly; it looked as though each was trying to break the other's fingers.

               "Mount your brooms!" said Madam Hooch. "Three ... two ... one ..."

               The sound of her whistle was lost in the roar of the crowd as fourteen brooms rose into the air. The crowd roared loudly as the players flew around. Nova spotted Malfoy keeping close to Harry.

               "And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinner of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good, Alicia! Argh, no — Quaffle intercepted by Warrington, Warrington of Slytherin tearing up the field —Wham! — nice Bludger work there by George Weasley, Warrington drops the Quaffle, it's caught by —Johnson, Gryffindor back in possession, come on, Angelina — nice swerve around Montague —duck, Angelina, that's a Bludger!— She scores! Ten-zero to Gryffindor!"

               Angelina punched the air as she soared around the end of the field; the sea of scarlet below was screaming its delight —

               "Ouch!"

               Angelina was nearly thrown from her broom as Marcus Flint went smashing into her.

               "Sorry!" said Flint as the crowd below booed. "Sorry, didn't see her!"

               Moments later, Fred Weasley chucked his Beater's club at the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed.

               "That will do!" shrieked Madam Hooch, zooming between them. "Penalty shot to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty shot to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their Chaser!"

               "Come off it, Miss!" howled Fred, but Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Alicia flew forward to take the penalty.

               "Come on, Alicia!" yelled Lee into the silence that had descended on the crowd. "Yes! She's beaten the Keeper! Twenty-zero to Gryffindor!"

               "Someone needs to tell him not to shout," Ernie griped, his face pulled into a scowl. "Everyone can hear him just fine without his shouting ..."

               Nova gave Ernie a look and turned to watch Flint. Still bleeding, the Slytherin captain flew forward to take the Slytherin penalty. Wood was hovering in front of the Gryffindor goalposts, his jaw clenched.

               "'Course, Wood's a superb Keeper!" Lee Jordan told the crowd as Flint waited for Madam Hooch's whistle. "Superb! Very difficult to pass — very difficult indeed — Yes! I don't believe it! He saved it!"

               "Gryffindor in possession, no, Slytherin in possession — No! Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell, Katie Bell for Gryffindor with the Quaffle, she's streaking up the field — That was deliberate!"

               Montague, a Slytherin Chaser, had swerved in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the Quaffle had grabbed her head. Katie cartwheeled in the air, managed to stay on her broom, but dropped the Quaffle.

               "Holy shit!" Nova gasped, covering her mouth. "That could've killed her!"

               Madam Hooch's whistle rang out again as she soared over to Montague and began shouting at him. A minute later, Katie had put another penalty past the Slytherin Seeker.

               "Thirty-zero! Take that, you dirty, cheating —"

               "Jordan, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way —"

               "I'm telling it like it is, Professor!" Lee defended himself. "It's an outrage — Harry is flying toward the Slytherin goalposts! And Malfoy's following him!"

               Harry had pulled his Firebolt and sped off toward the Slytherin end of the field, Malfoy chasing after him. And then he stopped dead in his tracks, looking around.

               Nova tugged at Hermione's sleeve. "What's Harry doing?"

               "Trying to get Malfoy out of his way, I'm sure," whispered Hermione.

               Before Nova could respond, there was a loud gasp and a woosh!

               Nova looked up in time to spot one of the Bludgers that came streaking past Harry's right ear, hit by the gigantic Slytherin Beater, Derrick. Then again —

               Whoosh!

               The second Bludger sped by Harry again. The other Beater, Bole, was closing in. Nova could see the Slytherin Beaters zooming toward Harry, clubs raised —

               And the boy turned the Firebolt upward at the last second, and Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch.

               Lee Jordan yelled triumphantly as the Slytherin Beaters lurched away from each other, clutching their heads. "Too bad, boys! You'll need to get up earlier than that to beat a Firebolt. And it's Gryffindor in possession again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle — Flint alongside her — poke him in the eye, Angelina! — It was a joke, Professor, it was a joke — oh no — Flint in possession, Flint flying toward the Gryffindor goal posts, come on now, Wood, save —!"

               But Flint had scored; there was an eruption of cheers from the Slytherin end, and Lee swore so badly that Professor McGonagall tried to tug the magical megaphone away from him.

               "Sorry, Professor, sorry! Won't happen again! So, Gryffindor in the lead, thirty points to ten, and Gryffindor in possession —"

               It was turning into the dirtiest game Nova had ever seen. Enraged that Gryffindor had taken such an early lead, the Slytherins were rapidly resorting to any means to take the Quaffle. Bole hit Alicia with his club and tried to say he'd thought she was a Bludger. George Weasley elbowed Bole in the face in retaliation. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties, and Wood pulled off another spectacular save, making the score forty-ten to Gryffindor.

               Katie scored. Now it was fifty-ten. Fred and George Weasley were swooping around her, clubs raised, in case any of the Slytherins were thinking of revenge. Bole and Derrick took advantage of Fred's and George's absence to aim both Bludgers at Wood; they caught him in the stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air, clutching his broom, completely winded.

               Madam Hooch was beside herself. "You do not attack the Keeper unless the Quaffle is within the scoring area!" she shrieked at Bole and Derrick. "Gryffindor penalty!"

               And Angelina scored. Sixty-ten. Moments later, Fred Weasley pelted a Bludger at Warrington, knocking the Quaffle out of his hands; Alicia seized it and put it through the Slytherin goal — seventy-ten.

               The Gryffindor crowd below was screaming itself hoarse — Gryffindor was sixty points in the lead, and if Harry caught the Snitch now, the Cup would be Gryffindor's.

               Then, suddenly, the tension increased tenfold as Harry suddenly sped upwards with a huge burst of speed. His hand was stretched out, ready to catch the Snitch when he suddenly slowed down, looking around —

               Harry looked behind him to spot Malfoy had thrown himself forward, grabbing ahold of the Firebolt's tail, and pulling it back. Even from where Nova stood, she could see how annoyed Harry was. By the time, he had managed to shake Malfoy off, both Seekers seemed to have lost sight of the Snitch.

               "Penalty! Penalty to Gryffindor! I've never seen such tactics." Madam Hooch screeched, shooting up to where Malfoy was sliding back onto his Nimbus Two Thousand and One.

               "You cheating scum!" Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor McGonagall's reach. "You filthy, cheating bit —"

               Professor McGonagall didn't even bother to tell him off. She was actually shaking her finger in Malfoy's direction, her hat had fallen off, and she too was shouting furiously.

               Alicia took Gryffindor's penalty, but she was so angry she missed by several feet. The Gryffindor team was losing concentration and the Slytherins, delighted by Malfoy's foul on Harry, were being spurred on to greater heights.

               "Slytherin in possession, Slytherin heading for goal — Montague scores —" Lee groaned. "Seventy-twenty to Gryffindor ..."

               Harry was now marking Malfoy so closely their knees kept hitting each other.

               "Get out of it, Potter!" Malfoy yelled in frustration as he tried to turn and found Harry blocking him.

               "Angelina Johnson gets the Quaffle for Gryffindor, come on, Angelina, come on!"

               Every single Slytherin player apart from Malfoy was streaking up the pitch toward Angelina, including the Slytherin Keeper — they were all going to block her —

               Harry wheeled the Firebolt around, bent so low he was lying flat along the handle, and kicked it forward. Like a bullet, he shot toward the Slytherins.

               "Argh!"

               They scattered as the Firebolt zoomed toward them; Angelina's way was clear.

               "She scores! She scores!" Lee cheered. "Gryffindor leads by eighty Points to twenty!"

               Harry, who had almost pelted headlong into the stands, skidded to a halt in midair, reversed, and zoomed back into the middle of the field. And then he stopped, only for a moment. Nova spotted Malfoy diving, a look of triumph on his face. Vaguely, she could see a tiny golden glimmer a few feet above the grass.

               Harry urged the Firebolt downward, but Malfoy was miles ahead ... "Go! Go! Go!" Nova heard Harry yell to the Firebolt. He was gaining on Malfoy — Harry flattened himself to the broom handle as Bole sent a Bludger at him — he was at Malfoy's ankles — he was level —

               Harry threw himself forward, and took both hands off his broom. The crowd gasped loudly, all screaming in shock and delight. Harry knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and —

               "Yes!" Lee Jordan yelled, doing his own version of Irish tap dancing.

               Harry pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and the stadium exploded. Harry soared above the crowd, them all cheering to him. The tiny golden ball was held tight in his fist, beating its wings hopelessly against his fingers.

               Then Wood was speeding toward him, half-blinded by tears; he seized Harry around the neck and sobbed unrestrainedly into his shoulder. Nova spotted Fred and George slammed into them; then Angelina, Alicia, and Katie. They were all cheering; "We've won the Cup! We've won the Cup!" Tangled together in a many-armed hug, the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth.

               Nova was pulled out of the stands and onto the field by Hermione and Ron, both of whom were yelling excitedly. The Gryffindor team was placed on the shoulders of the wave of crimson supporters that had poured onto the field.

               "Yeh beat 'em, Harry, yeh beat 'em! Wait till I tell Buckbeak!" Hagrid cheered, wiping at his eyes.

               There was Percy, jumping up and down like a maniac, all dignity forgotten. Professor McGonagall was sobbing harder even than Wood, wiping her eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag. Nova was pulled over by Ron and Hermione, and Harry smiled down at them.

               "You were right, Nova!" he told her. "About the sleep!"

               "Yeah, well." She tried to shrug casually. "I'm always right."

               Harry gave her one last smile as he and the rest of the Gryffindor team were carried over to the stands, where Dumbledore stood, waiting with the enormous Quidditch Cup.

               Nova watched with a placid smile as a sobbing Wood passed Harry the Cup. If the things she had been seeing in her ... visions were correct — and she was starting to believe they were — happy moments like this weren't going to be very common anymore.

✴ JUN. 19TH, 2024 / a longer chapter than what i've normally written for starlit supernova but here we are - but a lot happened in this chapter! golden trio/nova development so that's fun, and nova and hermione friendship development (which, i fear, will quickly devolve), and harry and nova development, and ron and nova friendship development (which i'm really excited for because i love ron) (no. 1 ron defender here) (ron weasely variant here)

anyways, opinions?? thoughts??

(not edited nor proofread)