Maxine turned round to be greeted by Stephan, his friendliness surprising her. She turned back to her Raven after the brief pause and jabbed it with her wand, making it caw even louder.

''I - just - can't - make - it - shut - up!'' She prodded the unfortunate bird repeatedly, losing her patience. Stephan lent over and took the Raven away. 

''Ok, try with my frog.'' He handed Maxine a large bull frog. She sighed but held up he wand and performed the movement, whilst incanting; ''si-LEN-see-oh''. The bullfrog did the same as the Raven had done; croaked weakly as if it had a bad throat infection. 

Stephan held his wand out. ''Silencio'' He pronounced clearly, completing the wand movement slowly before turning back to Maxine as the bullfrog opened it's mouth to croak soundlessly.

''It's your movement.'' He explained. ''It needs to be smoother.''

Maxoine held out her wand and tried again. It didn't work. ''Dammit.''

''Try again.'' Stefan instructed. 

Maxine screwed up her face and repeated the process, trying to mimic Stefan's wand movement. It seemed he had been right about her fault, for once she had got the wand movement right, the Raven she was working on opening it's beak silently. She turned to Stefan with a grateful smile.

''Thanks.'' Stefan smiled back before attending to another frog. Maxine felt awkward, she wanted to talk to him but didn't know if he was willing to converse. She was just trying to decide whether to speak when Stefan himself started a conversation.

''So...the granddaughter of Bellatrix Lestrange.'' Maxine felt her insides constrict, but his voice was calm and almost sympathetic. ''How you must loath her.''

''My grandmother?'' Maxine sighed. ''Yes. You wouldn't think you could hate a memory so much, but you can.''

Stefan nodded. ''I feel the same.''

Maxine raised her eyebrows. ''Who shadows your history?''

Stefan looked grim. ''If you think being the granddaughter of Bellatrix Lestrange is hard, try being related to Adolf Hitler.''

Maxine froze. She wasn't very versed in Muggle history, but no witch or wizard, however isolated, could fail to know who the insane Natzi leader of the second world war was. Stefan watched her sadly, obviously expectant of this reaction. However, Maxine recovered quicker than most people did.

''I-I thought he didn't have any - children..'' She spluttered awkwardly. 

Stefan nodded grimly. ''That's what most people think.'' He sighed. ''Unluckily, before he became one of the most feared leaders in history, he had a thing for whore-houses.''

''Oh.'' Was all Maxine could say, recovering for a moment before asking; ''Are you a great great grandson or something?''

Stefan nodded. ''Yeah, kind of. I got my wizarding blood from my Mother's side. Luckily she was a more respectable witch of the family. My relatives rose above the usual way of life after the war and became respectable conjurors on the German cabaret stage.''

Maxine tried to force the tense feeling out of her body, knowing the feeling that makes an awkward atmosphere only to well. ''So, you're full name is Stefan Hitler?''

Stefan shook his head. ''No, the only reason people found out is because my adoptive cousin very kindly decided to introduce me and shed some light on my lineage.''

Maxine grimaced. She understood the feeling. ''Who were you're parents? Do you know?'' She stopped and realised she was getting far to nosey, but Stefan didn't seem to take offence.

'I know who my mother is, like you.'' He replied. ''But she never talked about My father before he died, she only gave me his surname.''

Maxine felt a tug of sympathy towards the boy. It was better never knowing your parents if they died, otherwise their memory was much more painful. For Maxine, there was no recollection of her mother, she only knew her name, like with  Stefan's father.

''Who were you adopted by?''

''A german family; that's where I come from really, but after they took me in the whole family moved to England, where my foster cousins live.'' He replied.

''Can you speak german then?'' Maxine enquired lightly. If she could pick some up there might even be a chance she wouldn't have to translate all those pages of the book Nick gave her using a muggle dictionary. 

Stefan nodded. ''Yes, though I'm a bit rusty to be honest.'' He looked up as Professor Flitwick came over to inspect their work, Maxine also coming to attention, wand held out ready to show her learning of the new spell. She glanced around at the rest of the class, half of whom were Ravenclaws, most near to perfecting the spell, but the Slytherins with whom they shared the class seemed to be struggling.

''Ah, yes, I know you can do this one, Stefan.'' Professor Flitwick squeaked proudly before turned to Maxine. ''What about you, Miss-''

''Maxine Lestrange, professor.'' She answered, watching the teacher's eyes flicker with recognition. The little professor smiled at her after this faint pause.

''Well, Miss Lestrange, could you have a go for me?''

Maxine smiled back, and pointing her wand at the once again crowing raven in from of her, incanted ''si-LEN-see-oh'' whilst trying the smoother wand movement that Stefan had showed her. At once her grin became wider, and Flitwick clapped his hands excitedly.

''Well done, well done Lestrange!'' He squeaked. ''Take ten points for Ravenclaw.''

Stefan grinned at he in a congratulating sort of way, whilst she returned a smile with gratitude, Professor Flitwick then turning round to address the rest of the class.

''The rest of you should all be practising this charm before the next lesson.'' He announced. ''Though some of you are nearly there, you need to have it perfect.''

And with that announcement, the students began to gather up their books, some a little grouchy, though most Ravencalws looking more annoyed and petered, shooting envious glanced at Stefan and Maxine. They hurried out, Maxine turning to Stefan before they went their separate ways.

''By the way, what is your second name?'' She asked curiously. 

He shrugged. ''Burkhardt.''

And leaving her agape, though not seeming to notice, Stefan strode away down the corridor.