Astra

II - The Dead

"Alright." Astra moved some books off of a stool and sat down. "So, can you tell me about my father? And Hogwarts?"

So, they talked, and talked, and talked. Lily told her all about the classes that she would take at Hogwarts and the different features of the castle. James told her about Sirius and their other friend Remus, the pranks they pulled, and the secret passageways that they put onto a map. She would have to find this map when she went to Hogwarts. James said that a pair of twins currently had it in their possession. Regulus told her stories about her father when they were little and they all told her how they died. James and Regulus exaggerated their deaths, making it sound better while Lily interrupted them repeatedly.

Astra went to sleep at 3 in the morning, and for the first time since November 1, 1981, she was not alone.

***

The next day after breakfast, she returned to her godparents and uncle, and they told more stories. She spent the afternoon playing chess with her uncle because her godparents said that they needed to check on their son, a boy called "Harry". She then started reading Hogwarts: A History late into the night, trying to remember every fact that she was told. 

The next few months flew by, and she spent time reading all of her books, memorizing front to back, playing games or chess with her godparents and uncle, or listening to stories of the people's time at Hogwarts. She was excited to make her own memories there, and pull pranks with the inside information of her Marauder friend.

She was also told about Lily and James's son, Harry, and she couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. The orphanage, by any means, was not great, but it definitely wasn't a cupboard under the stairs. Lily also updated her regularly on Minnie, which Astra had started calling her because of James' influence, and her quest to adopt Astra. It looked like she would come a week before Hogwarts started, but would still go to Kings Cross and board the train. It seemed like since her eleventh birthday, Astra's life had turned upside down, changing in ways unimaginable.

She was not alone anymore and had great friends, even if only she could talk to them. She had explanations on who her father was, and that he was not a murderous traitor. She was going to go to a magical school, like all of her new friends. She might be adopted by Minnie, and would never have to return to the orphanage.

***

Soon enough, the end of August was coming around, and, as expected, Astra was called for another visitor.

"Astra, you have another visitor! The professor is back."

Astra nodded and went back into the main room where she met Professor McGonagall in the first place. Her Uncle Reg was going with her because James and Lily were with Harry.

"Hello, Astra," Astra noted that the professor used her first name that time instead of calling her Miss Black. "I have come this time because I have decided to adopt you. Now, I will still be your professor, but you will be spending the next week and your future summers at Hogwarts. We will leave today and then you can get acquainted at the castle. How does that sound?"

"Amazing," she said breathlessly. She knew it was coming, her Uncle Reg was telling her about it for quite a while, but it was still incredible that it was actually coming, and that she, Astra Black, would not be staying at an orphanage any longer.

"Good. Now, gather your things. Today, we will be taking a portkey, as you cannot apparate onto the grounds of Hogwarts." She nodded and turned around, going to get her bag full of books and the few possessions and clothes that she had.