Keep Breathing ♢ James Potter

19 | Entry 11 - Courting and Ashes

December 24, 1976

Dear Diary,

I miss the time where I had a family. Where mother and father were my heroes, and my brothers and I would spend endless summers together in our backyard. Before we learned about the difference between wizards and muggles, and purebloods and muggleborns.

I miss my youth. When the only thing I had to worry about was winning a race against my brothers, and the most pain I felt was when I fell in the garden and scraped my knees.

But now time has passed, and I have been forced to grow up way too fast. I am afraid that soon I may be forced to marry a man I don't love and join a side of a war that I do not want to be a part of.

If only I had accepted Potter's offer to stay at his house for the holidays, maybe I could have escaped what fate had in store for me.

A.B

-

Instead of being back at Hogwarts like Harry expected, he was surprised to find himself alongside Astrid, who was dressed as if she was ready to attend a ball. Her dress was emerald green, complimenting her dark hair and eyes. As she put on her jewelry, Harry heard Astrid mumble a string of curses as she struggled to clip her necklace.

As Astrid tried to clip the necklace, there was a knock at the door before Walburga Black walked in. Seeing her daughter struggling with the neck, Walburga approached her and clipped the necklace for her.

"There we go," said Walburga as she looked at her daughter through the mirror. "You truly look like a true member of the Black family."

Astrid sent her mother a small smile through the mirror, one that Harry could tell was forced. "Thank you, Mother."

Harry couldn't help but wonder if Walburga and Orion Black were always this way with their kids. Or was it their different views about blood that tore the family apart.

"Come down once you finish, we are all waiting for you so we can floo to the Lestrange Manor. We have something important to discuss later on."

Astrid visibly tensed as she looked at her mother and nodded. "Of course, I'll be down in a second."

With that, Walburga left the room, leaving Astrid alone to her thoughts. As she finished, Regulus knocked on her door before walking in.

"Alright, Nova?" questioned Regulus.

"You know I don't like you calling me that," said Astrid as she looked at her brother.

"I know, but I do like teasing you," Regulus said, trying to lighten up Astrid's dull mood. "But before we get going, I wanted to give you something."

Regulus extended his arm and showed Astrid a small Christmas bag. "I was going to give this to you later, but I think it would fit today's occasion. Happy Christmas, sister."

Astrid softly smiled at her brother before grabbing the bag and reaching into it to pull out a small box. Astrid opened the box, revealing a silver bracelet with emeralds across it. It was simple, but beautiful nonetheless.

"Look at the inside," said Regulus as he watched his sister admire the bracelet.

Astrid looked towards the inside of the bracelet and smiled as she read out the word etched into the silver. "À te côtés."

"By your side," translated Regulus. "I wanted you to have it. I know our family isn't the best. But even if we are broken and battered, we still got each other."

"Thank you, Regulus. Happy Christmas," Astrid pulled her brother into a tight hug before pulling away. "I'll give you your present once we come back from the Malfoy's ball. But for now, let us hurry along before mother strings us by our ears."