𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑂𝑓 𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑇𝑤𝑜- 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒
Song- Breeze Blocks, By Alt-J
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"Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures"
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ASTRIA REGULUS BLACK was happy when Lunch had finally rolled around and she found herself sitting at the Ravenclaw table along with one Ginny Weasley and a Luna Lovegood. Neville wasn't able to make it, he was still currently knocked out cold. sleeping it away in the med bay.
"You're telling me you lived in a gothic cathedral, you found in the forest MOST OF SUMMER!" Ginny all but yelled, drawing ears their way.
Astria giggled along with Luna, "Yes Ginny." Not bothering to tell her to keep quiet, for the damage had already been done.
"That's magical Tria," Luna's voice was like a breath of fresh air. Astria loved hearing it. It was beautiful, a reminder of better times.
Many people say Luna's voice and Astria's sound remarkably similar, with the same dreamy air to all the words they speak. However, Astria talks slightly smoother than Luna, her words running along like water in a stream. They both have a very sweet tone to all their words, Lunas is sweet like pudding and cotton candy, but Astrias is sweet like Honey and Strawberries.
"I wished you could have been there Luna," Astrias eyes shone brightly at the friend sitting next to her, "You would have loved it."
The conversation flowed for many more minutes until the flash of a bright light coming from the Gryffindor table right behind the three went off.
The three girls turned their heads to look right behind them, where Harry and Ron sat, a boy, no older than a first-year, was holding a camera and smiling.
"Hi Harry!" the blond boy marveled, "I'm Colin Creevy, I'm in Gryffindor too!" The boy, Colin, stared in wonder at Harry as he spoke.
"Hi, Colin." Harry began, sounding very uninterested, "Nice to meet you."
Harry seemed very annoyed, and Colin looked like he was ready to continue talking to the boy before he caught the eyes of the girl sitting at the Ravenclaw table behind them.
"Oh, my," His marvel turned to horror faster than most people should be able to process emotions.
"That's Astria Black," He must have thought Astria couldn't hear him because the second she saw the camera the girl had turn back around, hiding her face from
the thing.
"Well, we call her Bonkers Black," Ron whispered, despite his efforts, it was more than loud enough for all three girls to hear.
Ginny looked about ready to start a fight on the spot, face flushing with anger, and mouth in a thin line. She could see the girl getting ready to stand up and say something before the moment was caught off by Dean's voice.
"Ron is that your owl?"
Ron's brown owl came diving into the great hall, however, Astrias attention was pulled away for a second as Neville slid into the seat next to
Ginny, across from where Astria was sitting.
They smiled at each other warmly.
The crashing sound of said owl hitting the table drew the attention of many students eating their food. Chips flew everywhere, kids laughing throughout the hall.
Astria frowned as Ron spoke, "Bloody owls a menace!" he said while plucking the red letter from the beak of the bird now laying on the table.
Astria couldn't stand to see the thing being treated so wrongly, so against any better judgment she stood and walked the short distance from where she sat to where the bird now lay on the pile of food.
If glares were money, she would be a rich woman.
She gently pushed Ron aside and brought a small hand up to the animal's forehead. Closing her eyes for a second, letting something unknown to her, run through her veins like blood.
The bird nuzzled into her hand, seeming in a vastly better state than 10 seconds ago. The brown old flew up and pecked Astria affectionately before flying away smoother than anyone has ever seen that bird fly.
"Cool!" She had to strain her ears to hear Harry's whisper.
"Look, everyone!" Seamus chimed, "Weasleys got himself howler."
Astria, who was about to head back to her seat, turned to look at the envelope resting in the red heads' hands. His face was red with worry, matching his hair almost perfectly.
Everyone around them started to laugh at him, and Astria was about to take her leave when she felt a hand grab her sleeve and pull her down to next to
them.
Her whole body lit up at the touch, and a wave of shocks danced through her arm, from where his hand touched her wrist.
The feeling was familiar as if a faraway thing she would never be able to completely remember. It reminded her of the morning after a wonderful dream, where you woke up slowly, a smile always adorning your face. She didn't want it to end.
Astria turned to look at the curly-headed boy who had pulled her next to him.
"What?" She asked him, taking her arm back, but making no move to leave.
"You helped the owl, might as well get to see what it brought." Harry shrugged, trying to seem calm, but failing.
His face was flushed a bright red, and his eyes were darting everywhere as he spoke. In another world, she might have smiled fondly at him.
"I could see from my seat," She sighed, tucking loose hair behind her ear, before getting ready to head back to Luna and the others.
However, after realizing everyone was now staring at them, she decided to square her shoulders and stay put, which shocked most of the prying eyes.
Neville must have seen the shift in attention because he cleared his throat and spoke.
"Go on Ron, Ignored one from my gran once," Astria laughed at the memory from year one, "It was horrible."
Ron looked ready to hurl as he slowly opened the red letter.
Swiftly it flew out of his hand and up into the air before letting out a screech.
Astria couldn't help the flinch and the bad memories that passed through her at the sound of an adult yelling in such malice. Her body tensed and her mind went into flight or fight mode, however even in her state she didn't miss the harsh flinch and push towards Astria from the boy next to her.
She understood why he wanted to be closer to her, shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, because even with all the turmoil between them, Harry still brought her comfort and warmth, and Astria knew she did the same
for him.
She could see it in the way he looked at her, in the way he pushed himself towards her. She knew the feeling wasn't one-sided, she knew he felt the warmth as well. Whatever it was.
She couldn't stop herself from thinking about the flinch that came from the boy, and why it did. If it was anything near the reason hers did- well she didn't want to think about that.
"RONALD WEASLEY!!! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR?! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED!!! YOUR FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT!!! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!"
At that point, Ron looked like he might spontaneously combust, face scrunched up in a way that looked almost painful.
The howler wasn't done, as the voice turned sweet and looked to the Ravenclaw table, where Ginny, Luna, And Neville still sat.
"Oh, and Ginny, dear, congratulations on making Gryffindor. Your father and I are so proud."
Ginny smiled as she rolled her eyes at her mom and turned to continue talking to Luna and Neville.
The red note turned back to the other Weasley child and made an ugly sound at him before ripping itself up dramatically.
Ron's face was filled with terror, as he practically shook in fear from his mother's words.
"Wait-" Ginny's furious voice could be heard coming from behind them, "YOU STOLE DADS CAR!"
☽☽————- ★ ————-☾☾
After lunch, Astria and Neville were about to part ways from the two first years when Astria had a thought.
"Hey Neville and Ginny," The grey-eyed girl hummed, "Why don't you too head to class, I want to show Luna something."
"Alright Tria," Neville grinned giving her a quick hug, "I'll see you later!"
"See you later Nev," She hugged him back, before letting go and saying goodbye to Ginny.
☽☽————- ★ ————-☾☾
30 minutes later, one Luna Lovegood and One Astria Black laid in the middle of a meadow, hidden away in the forbidden forest, far from humanity.
The meadow was filled with green grasses of all heights, a small river carved through the land taking purchase at a pool of water. Towering trees encased the meadow, with mountains rolling in the background, framing the valley like a picture.
The wind was only a soft breeze, and cordial as it went, resembling a soft kiss on the cheek. It danced around the girls, innocent and sweet. The day was warm, sun rays peeking out from the limitless sky, heating the grass which the girls laid upon.
Astria could hear the flow in the creek, not far from where they lay. Deer and Elk pranced just beyond the etching of the water. The animals seemed content, feeding slowly on the grass beneath them.
"This is wonderful Astria," Luna smiled, her voice quiet as the wind weaved itself into it.
They had already discussed the fact they were skipping class, and they most likely wouldn't make it back until the last lesson rolled around. Neither seemed to mind, Astria was never one who enjoyed sitting in a classroom full of people who didn't like her, and Luna hated being confined to just a room.
"Truly," The girl hummed in agreement, her midnight black hair spread around where she laid, on the soft grass.
Seconds passed before Luna spoke, "Does Neville
know?"
The words surprised Astria, nevertheless, she recovered swiftly, knowing what her friend was referring to.
"He knows I ran away, and that the Malfoys weren't kind to me," She sighed, picking at the grass with one hand and bringing the other to grab Lunas.
"Does he know they hurt you?" Astria should have seen this coming, she had known Luna long enough to know how smart she was. All it took was hearing about her running away, and most likely the flinch at lunch, for her to figure everything out.
"Maybe," the wind seemed to warm in an attempt of comfort as it blew, "Maybe not," She inhaled the fresh air, "whatever he knows is enough for now."
Luna turned her head, looking at her friend's profile.
"Nightmares?" The blond asked, and Astria knew what she meant without any need for further explanation.
"Yes."
"How bad."
Astria turned her head to look at her friend's eyes meeting,
"Better now."
"You know," Luna looked back up at the blue sky, filled with scattered clouds and stray birds.
Astria always adored the sky, it could be blue, pink, black, orange, and almost any other color. It was nature painting a picture of how it felt. Grey when it rains, blue when it's happy, orange and pink at the end of it all, and purple when the sun goes to sleep.
The sky was limitless, never-ending. The sky has seen everything since the start of it. The first humans learning to survive, the wars that followed, the people left mourning after, the night Lily and James Potter died, the day Astira was pulled away from her dad. And now, two girls laying on green grass hidden far away from humanity.
It saw everything and all at once, it was limitless with no boundaries. But it was alone, no way to talk to the people it watched over, no way to say how it feels without colors.
Maybe that's why it rained, the sky couldn't help but cry as it watched us all.
How sad the sky must be, too far away to speak to us, but close enough to see it all.
"A tragic thing can get a little better and still be tragic," Luna finished her thought, still eyeing the blue above.
Astria smiled, "But not as tragic as before."
It's true, over the summer she was haunted by the memories of the Manor, and the things that happened behind closed doors. Some nights her mind would poison her dream world, with toxic thoughts of things she went through, things no child should go through.
But like all things, with time it got better. Some nights, the darkness would torment her, but others the light shone brightly.
It was getting better, she hoped it stayed that way.
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Minutes passed where the girls stayed peering up at the sky before Astria sat up from the ground, then Luna catching on and following suit.
The stormy-eyed girl grinned, "Are you feeling hot as well?" She asked, now standing and helping Luna up as well. Luna gleamed, brushing some dirt off Astrias face.
Astria shook the green grass off her overalls and fixed her hair so it stayed out of her face as she spoke.
"As a matter of fact I am," The blond caught on quickly, and Astria turned to eye the pool of inviting water, watching it as it flowed peacefully through the river bed, weaving itself around rocks and plants.
Giving one look to Luna, before they both tore off their shoes and began to run toward the creek.
Now barefoot as she went, the grass felt soft on her feet, not hard and painful like some grass.
Now nearing the welcoming water, Astria grabbed Luna's hand, laughing.
Animals turned to look at them in wonder, but nothing seemed to fear them. They simply stood and watched the young girls giggling together.
With one last breath and a tight hold on each other's hands, the children jumped into the sparkling water.
Astria didn't let go of Luna's hand as they hit the water, feeling a split second of shock at the cold temperatures. They both fell under, bubbles in casing their frames, and black and white hair swimming around their heads.
Astria finally let up on Luna's hand as she broke the surface. Hair clinging to her back like a lifeline, and crystal clear water dripping from her eyelashes like liquid magic.
They both laughed, splashing water at each other. Swimming around until the class Astria was supposed to be in, with the new teacher, was surely over, along with Luna's broom flying class.
Nevertheless neither were bothered, because, at the moment, that's where they were completely.
In that little pool of water with her friend she missed so dearly, she forgot about the world outside of the valley, passed the trees, away from Hogwarts.
Because for the time, Astria Regulus Black chose to live in that moment, and that moment only.
☽☽————- ★ ————-☾☾
Some hours later, Luna was now off hanging out with Ginny, and Astria and Neville sat in the grass outside of the castle talking about the two classes she had missed.
"-and then they hung me on the chandelier like a Christmas ornament," Neville huffed, picking at some of the soft grass which they sat upon.
"The students or the Pixies?" Astria questioned, laughing a little.
"Both?" Neville sighed, dramatically moving his arm around, "It's all a blur!"
Astria burst out into giggles, eyes gleaming with laughter. Neville joined only seconds later, both now loudly laughing on the ground, drawing the attention of many bystanders and curious eyes.
"I'm glad you and the pixies are okay," The girl said as they calmed down, patting her friend on the shoulders.
Astria and Neville continued to talk for a moment before a group of children in red and another in green caught her eye
"Where do you think you're going flint," Oliver Wood huffed as he walked up to said boy, Gryffindor Quidditch players following behind him.
"I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today!" He said once they stood in front of the team clad in green.
Astria sighed, pushing dark hair from her eyes,
this is going to end beautifully. She thought sardonically, casting a glance at her friend.
"I've got a note," One of the boys stated, presenting it to the others.
Oliver snatched it from the hands of the Slytherin and began to read blankly, "I professor Snape, hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, for the need to train their new seeker,"
At this point, Astrias eyes trained on Hermione and Ron, then to where they now stood next to Harry.
"You got a new seeker, who?"
Astria sighed in sudden exhaustion while she watched Draco waltzed forward in the group, holding a brand new broom. Which coincidentally was the same room the rest of the team was holding in their hands.
"I'll be back Nevy," Astria whispered, walking up to the groups but standing by a looming tree so she was out of sight.
The smirk on her cousin's face was enough to know he had slid perfectly into his old habits. Astria was unsurprised, however, that didn't mean she wasn't saddened by it all.
"Malfoy?" The unmistakable voice of Harry Potter grimaced.
Malfoy squared his shoulders, "That's right, and that's not all that's new this year."
"That's the Nimbus 2001," Ron marveled, an intrigued look playing on his freckled face.
"A gift from Draco's father," a team member explained, smirking at the redhead.
A gift from Draco's father, Astria felt sick at the smugness that boy radiated when he talked about Lucius. Bile seemed to taunt her throat as he went on.
"See Weasley," Draco started, "Unlike some, my Father can afford the best."
Astria couldn't help but wonder how tired Draco must be, of willingly becoming this horrible person and speaking of his abusive father like he's a king. Astria knew deep down, he hated his father for everything he did to him, but regardless, said man has manipulated and wired himself as something he's not in Draco's young head.
However that didn't give him a pass for acting this way, it was an explanation, a reason, but not an excuse, never an excuse.
Hermione was quick to retort, "At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in, they got in on pure talent." she finished, leaning towards Ron at the glares she was earning herself.
Astria mentally applauded the girl for replying so confidently.
Draco moved forward, and Astria hated where this was going.
"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little mudblood." The blond spat at the fluffy-haired girl.
Astria saw red and that was the final straw.
The pale girl moved from where she was leaning on the old tree, her skin red from the contact with the bark. She then walked swiftly over to the groups, holding her head high.
Gasps were racketing throughout the kids at Draco's use of the slur, and Hermione's face morphed into something sad.
Astria could see the broken wand clutching in Ron's hand.
He's not gonna use that thing is he, She wondered.
The redhead clenched tighter about to pull the wand out.
Okay so he is, she shook her head at him.
"I see your superiority complex is pleasant as ever, Drac," Astria smiled a sickly sweet smile, while gracefully sliding In front of Ron and Hermione, causing them to step back.
The group's peering eyes were wide and staring at the black-haired girl whose voice sounded like honey, but words dripped with poison.
"A-Astria?" Draco was frozen, smugness tumbled away from his face like stones in a racing river.
Astria could see the distress on his face from knowing she had heard him, and his eyes were screaming with the plea that she wouldn't be mad and that he was sorry.
You weren't sorry before you got caught, Astria bitterly thought.
Astria stood, still smiling sweetly, "You have no right to say that Draco, and why don't you check your privilege before you keep talking."
The Gryffindors were beaming at her words and cheering her on after, on the other end some of the Slytherin turned to glare at Draco for letting himself get talked to that way.
Dracos shoulders slumped, and maybe he might have said sorry, maybe things would have set a different path for him starting there. However the team captain whispered something in the blond's ear and he turned, red with embarrassment, back to the Black-Lupin girl.
"Words from blood traitors like you have little meaning to me Tria"
At his words, Astrias felt the bile rise again and her eyes glazed with a memory from her mind's eye.
☽☽————- ★ ————-☾☾
Astria went cascading to the shinny ground, the world spinning and wrapping around her and the only noise in her ears was the beating of her own heart.
Her back met the cold floor with a harsh thud, a horrible pain shooting up her spin as a bullet would from the chamber of a gun, and a wrenching sob.
"Don't speak you, blood traitor!" The man bellowed once again, his voice broke through the sound of her own beating heart and made its way into her head.
☽☽————- ★ ————-☾☾
Astria almost dropped her smile as it slowly moved into a smirk, catching Draco and the others off guard. Most of them have never seen her without a smile on her soft face.
The young girl tilted her head to the side before she spoke.
"Did your father teach you that one, or do you simply remember watching him call me that?"
Draco lost all composure, shoulders slumping and eyes dimming as they seemed to recall a more than unpleasant memory.
Astria stared at her cousin, saying nothing. However, She could feel the anger continuing to radiate off Ginny's brother behind her.
"T-Tri-" Draco never got the chance to finish his sentence, for Astria was shoved to the side roughly.
"You'll pay for calling Hermione that Malfoy!" The redhead exclaimed, whipping out his, very, broken wand.
"I wouldn't do that-" The Lupin-Black girl tried to say, however she was ignored.
"Eat slugs!" Ron's magic shot out from his wand in the wave of green light, bouncing off the air and flying back at him, sending his feet away and onto the damp grass.
"-if I were you" Astria frowned and trailed off as she finished her sentence, too little too late.
"You okay Ron!" Hermione shouted as all the Gryffindor team members ran over to the green-faced boy.
Astria sighed sadly at the laughs of the Slytherins, before slapping a smile on her face and rushing over as well.
Kneeling next to Harry and earning herself a glare from Hermione, Astria began to help Ron off his back so he was facing the ground, rubbing his back for comfort and holding him steady.
Hermoine scoffed, "What are you-"
The young girl's words were halted when Ron's face went as green as the grass below him and a slug flew out of this mouth.
Everyone around the kids, excluding Harry and Astria, started a choir of ews and words of protest. And the slug on the grass was now sliding away, leaving a trail of slime in its path.
Astria smiled sympathetically, retrieving a red handkerchief covered in roses, from where it was bunched up in her pocket and using it to wipe the slime off the redhead's face. Earning herself a distance thank you from the Weasley boy and a slightly louder one from Harry.
Astria was busy treating Ron to worry about the photo being taken behind them, leaving Harry to deal with it.
Nevertheless even as she helped the freckled boy stand, leaning him into her shoulder, a thought ghosted the back of her mind. Like the lightest touch of fingers on skin.
If he wasn't so distracted from being ill at the moment, he would be utterly appalled she touched him.
She pushed those bitter things away, for they did no good.
Ron's face scrunched up as Harry started to speak,
"Let's take him to Hagrid's!"
Astria rubbed his back whispering reassuring words as he spat out another slug, readjusting so Harry could help carry the sick second year.
Astria was more than ready to help Ron down to Hagrid's hut or farther before she was pushed out of the way, Ron almost following to the ground in effect. However, he was poorly caught by Hermione who now stood where Astria once did.
"You stay here," She smiled a sickly sweet smile, "His friends will help him."
Astria sighed, practically watching the steam leave her ears.
"Alright." Astria smiled brightly, keeping up the glow in her eyes, "Tell me if you need anything."
Hermoine rolled her brown eyes before turning away, beginning to walk again before Harry swiftly stopped her efforts.
"Wait Astria-" Harry frowned at the Granger girl before turning to the girl who lived, "Thank you," He tried his best to hold a smile with the feel of Hermione's harsh glare beating down on him.
Astria unwillingly softened, "Of course Potter," He melted slightly at her kind voice, "Anytime."
Hermoine must have finally had enough of the two, because, with a final glare, Harry and The curly-headed girl headed off towards Hagrid's hut, Ron looking no better than before.
The Lupin-Black girl turned around and was met with the stare of both teams still standing there.
She hummed, fixing her gaze on Draco, "Do you feel good about yourself now?"
The stares were still grasping onto her figure like an illness as she made her way to Neville and out of the courtyard.
☽☽————- ★ ————-☾☾
Not long after the sun had set, Astria found herself wandering the halls of the castle, fighting off a painful headache.
Unlike the rest of her friends tonight she found no appeal in heading to the great hall for dinner. She instead took it upon herself to take Kimora for a walk in the corridors, smiling kindly to any other students while she went.
Being alone was something that Astria had gained a strong love-hate relationship with. For she did love being on her lonesome, with only the wind in her ears and nature dancing around her as her companions. However, the loneliness also gave her thoughts the ability to run rampant, free of distracting conversations and situations. She would easily find herself drowning in her thoughts, zoning out from reality completely.
Remus, her dad, had always noticed when her mind had left the world and taken her with it. He would tell her how her stormy eyes would look right through him, unblinking. He told her that when he managed to snap her out of it, it was like waking a sleeping child from a vivid dream, like pulling someone out of one reality and into another.
Most of the time the spike of adrenaline from being pulled out of her mind spooked all memories of what she was thinking about far away. Astria had always tried her best to remember, but it would be like nothing was ever thought in the first place.
Her Dad also told her stories of Regulus having the same habits. His mind wandering off and him following after. He said sometimes they would spare a glance at him during dinner, lunch, or breakfast and find him with a plate full of food staring off into nothingness.
Remus said she reminded him a lot of her uncle, he said the way she worked things out and her mannerisms would be more than enough for someone to tell she was a Black. Not that she needed those for people to tell, the black hair, grey eyes, and bone structure gave it away.
The blacks always had strong genes, their looks and traits overpowering the other set of genes when a child was born into the family. All black family, cousins included, looked scarcely alike, picking up almost no traits or looks from the contradicting parent.
Not that Astria knew who her contradicting parent was in this situation, and if she had any luck she hoped she wouldn't find out.
She didn't like the possibility of who it could be.
Maybe the fact Astria looked so much like Sirius is what had her deciding for many years he was her father. He certainly looked the job.
However, she knew it wasn't just that, because she also resembled Regulus to almost to a tea.
Maybe she was just trying to come up with reasons why her mind called a murderer father.
She may have stayed in that state for hours, mind drifting while her body walked down the hall Kimora walking by her side.
However, one Harry James Potter rammed right into her, yanking her head back into her body, and inducing a feeling of vertigo as she tried to stand straight.
"A-astria?" Harry stuttered as he helped the black-haired girl onto her feet.
Astria blinked, noticing Harry wasn't alone, behind him stood Hermoine and Ron, staring at Astria in suspicion.
"I-" The girl began to respond before a snake-like sound ceased her words.
The sound seemed to be coming from the walls, and Ron and Hermoine showed no sign they could hear it. However, Harry was wide-eyed, whipping his head around as if trying to find it.
Astria must have been showing the same signs because the boy who lived gaped at her.
"You can hear it too?"
She tilted her head, confused.
"Yes?"
He stared at her, bemusement and shock painted onto his face.
Astria looked back at him, then to Ron and Hermoine who seemed even more confused than her. Swiftly she understood the situation.
"No one else can, I'm guessing," Astria stated, bending over to pick up her cat and bring it safely into her arms. Holding Kimora as close as possible as the cat began to purr at the contact.
Before anyone could say anything the sound returned, and word roughly forming this time.
"kill, let me kill"
Astria spun around, cat in her arms, looking for any sign of where the voice was coming from. However all she could tell was that the voice was moving away from them and down the hall.
"It's moving," Harry and Astria said in unison, however, neither seemed to notice they did so, for both began to rush down the hall, following the whispers.
Astria held her cat close as she ran, Harry, at her side and Ron and Hermoine trailing behind them asking questions as they went.
The voice reminded Astria of something deep in the corners of her mind, packed away with all the other memories she would rather forget. She tried to grasp it and pull it to the surface, but her efforts were fruitless. It felt as if her mind didn't want her to remember.
Harry and Astria came to a halt when their shoes met water, creating a small splash as they stepped into it. The girl looked around for a second before her black cat started to meow loudly as if telling her where to look.
Following her cat's eyes, they walked down the echoing hallway, only to stop at the sight of spiders crawling out the windows
Astria could feel the fear radiating off the small creatures, the feeling seemed to bounce around in her head before settling.
"Strange," The messy-haired boy behind her whispered, "I've never seen spiders act like that."
Astria kept her eyes on the spiders, "They're scared."
The group grew silent at her words, all thinking the same thing but none saying.
Of what?
Astria couldn't help but wonder if they should be scared as well.
"Doesn't matter, I don't like spiders," Astria peeled her eyes off the spiders at Ron's words, hearing the uneasiness in his voice.
"That's okay Ron, but they won't hurt you," The curly-haired girl smiled at him, not winning a smile in return.
Kimora began to meow again, looking up at the wall. Astria followed her eyes.
"Oh no," Astria observed, causing the others to turn around.
Written on the wall the message, 'chamber of secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir... beware.' was dripping with crimson red.
Hermoine began to read the words but Astria's attention was drawn to the animal frozen to the wall.
Sadness washed over her at the sight of an animal in such a state, she began to walk forward, the group copying her actions.
She could feel her cat tense in her arms at the sight.
"it's Fliches cat," Harry announced from where he now stood next to Astria, both peering in wonder and horror at the animal.
Astria wanted nothing more than to help the poor cat, she had a feeling that it wasn't dead, nothing was ever that simple. But before she could lose herself to those thoughts, a swarm of students filled the hall.
Astria closed her grey eyes at the echoing footsteps that seemed to taunt her as they grew closer, pulling herself together and getting ready for the stares. Yes, the girl was used to them by now, but from where she was currently standing, and the last name she carried around. She had no doubt they would try and pin the red words on her.
The boy and girl who lived turned to the crowd they now stood in front of, eyes burning into them like flames. Astria could hear the loud gasps and whispers from kids and professors from where she was next to harry.
"Is that bonkers black?" a rather loud male voice declared, setting a chain recruits rude insults about her to begin. All ranging from the situation at hand to simple cruel things that had nothing to do with what was currently happening.
Astria sighed, hoping someone would jump in and end the chatter about her, holding her Kimora tight against her. She would do it herself, but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to at this moment.
Maybe it was the exhaustion taking over her, creeping up into her bloodstream like a sedative. The predicament she had now found herself in seem to drain every little bit of lasting energy right out of her body.
"Enemies of you air beware," The Lupin-Black girl could simply tell by Draco's loud voice that he was annoyed at the chatter. The blond seemed to be ready to say something else before his eyes met Astrias and he sighed as if he was abandoning his previous idea.
"Well at least we know what they want," He said instead of whatever he planned to say before.
Astria met his eyes, mouthing a thank you.
"What's going on here," Flich growled as he made his way through the group, joining the people in front. "Black, what are you..."
Fliches words trailed off and his face went pale, sickling so, no doubt noticing the cat hanging behind them, unmoving.
"Norris, you too murdered my cat," Harry began to shake his head, "I'll kill you," he chanted, eyes filling with tears.
Astria sighed, "It's not dead," Her soft voice turned eyes to her, "It's frozen, not dead." She realized too late that what she had figured out made her sound increasingly guilty.
The group parted as more professed joined, with Dumbledore in the front. He looked like he was about to say something before stopping to read the red words decorating the wall.
"Everyone proceeds to the dormitories immediately," he declared after seemingly reading the words, the expression on his face turning dark.
Everyone began to leave, "Everyone except," He pointed at Harry, Astria, Ron, and Hermoine, "You four,"
The four kids breathed, standing still as the rest of the students were rushed away. Leaving them now alone with the Professor and the message on the wall.
"Argus, Astria is correct, she's not dead, she has been petrified" Dumbledore started, smiling warmly.
A man Astria did not recognize began to chatter rather annoyingly, "Thought so! so unlucky I wasn't there, I know exactly the counter curse that would have spared her!"
Everyone looked at him, unconvinced.
"Wait who are you?" Astria spoke up, she assumed he must have been the new teacher, however, she had skipped that class with Luna, so she knew nothing of him.
The man stood, looking highly offended, as everyone else tried to hide their snickers at the girl's words.
Thankfully before he could answer, Dumbledore went on.
"But how she's been petrified I cannot say."
Flinch scrawled, "Ask those two" He pointed a shaky hand at Astria and Harry, "It's them who did it, you saw what they wrote on the wall."
"Harry didn't do anything," Ron argued, then he peeked at Astria, "Can't say anything for her though."
Astria held her feline close to her and stood still unwavering at his words.
Some bitter part of her wanted to tell Ron off, after everything she did for him today, he had no right to go around throwing blame at her. However, she mentally slapped herself for thinking that way. Because as much as she would love to change the way he was acting, it was him acting not her, and she couldn't do a thing about his choices. Only her own.
"It's not true Sir I swear, I didn't touch Norris," Harry defended himself, looking around for support from the other teachers.
"Rubbish," Flich cried at the boy.
Astria felt a strong wave of empathy for the man, she knew how devastated he must currently be. The thought made her want to help him, even though she was more than sure he wouldn't let her.
"If I may Sir," Snape cut in, "Perhaps Potter, Granger, and Wesley were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Of course, he wouldn't add me in. Astria mentally rolled her eyes.
"However I've never once seen Astria with this group and the circumstances are suspicious," He continued, "I for one don't recall being Black at dinner." He dragged his words out as he walked towards the four kids.
Saw this coming.
Astria met his gaze, holding a smile on her face, "I was taking my cat for a walk, Sir," Her words were sickly sweet as she spoke looking around at all the Professors showing them Kimora, who meowed in agreement.
Why isn't he questioning Harry? The girl thought to herself.
You know why, came the afterthought.
"And we were just getting Harry from detention with Lockheart," Hermoine explained, "We had just found him when we ran into Astria and he said-"
"Yes?" Snape urged the frizzy-haired girl on.
"When I said I wasn't hungry, we were heading back to the common room we found Mrs. Noris but Astria-"
oh.
"-I don't know why she was not at dinner, and she was wandering the halls away from this area when we found her." Harry finished, looking guilty at his words.
Snape seemed to lose interest in Harry and he turned to the Black-Lupin girl and glared.
"How did you know the cat was alive," He asked, searching Astrias face for any sign that it was her. snarling when he found nothing he could work with.
"I guessed," She supplied, "This was not me, I would never do something like this." The seriousness in Astria's usually Honey like voice surprised the group. That alone seemed to throw Snape off his power trip.
Snape gave her one more glare before turning to look at Dumbledore.
"Innocent until proven guilty Severus," The headmaster informed, giving the greasy-haired teacher a pointed stare.
Astria sighed and looked at what she could as a sign of faith that Dumbledore didn't believe this to be her doing. She couldn't help think it was pathetic of her, scrapping around for approval and hope like an addict. She wanted nothing more than Remus to tell her that he believed her, she wanted nothing more than that feeling of warmth and validation at a parent's praise.
Pushing the self-depreciation aside, she couldn't blame herself for melting at any approval or kind comment. Because for the last 2 years now she has experienced those things so little, she felt starved. Starved of a parent's love, starved of physical touch, starved by the people around her who hated her for nothing but her name.
Even though she portended none of this affected her, she was hungry. Hungry for any love she could get, any kindness from a stranger, any adult validation.
Anything that reminded her of the little cottage in the woods where she grew up, untouched by the world that despised her so desperately.
Anything that reminded her of home.
"My cat has been petrified. I wanna see some punishment!" Flich wailed, looking ready to collapse onto his knees any moment. He stared right at Astria as he spoke as if he was imagining all of the said 'Punishment'.
Dumbledore pulled the attention back to himself, "We will be able to cure her," He turned to Madam Sprout,"As I understand Sprout has a very healthy growth of mandrakes, when matured a portion will be made that will revive Mrs. Noris," He smiled reassuringly, "in the meantime I strongly recommend caution."
The Lupin-Black child could hear the underlying message in his words. As if he was telling them to stay clear of these things next time and that he couldn't calm the masses forever.
That made Astria think, if he knows it's not her and Harry who did this, why is he leaving it up in the air. Why not say something and save both a load of hate from the people around them.
Dumbledore has more important things to deal with than my feelings, She mentally slapped herself for being so selfish.
Holding her cat tight to her chest, she began her descent back to the common room.
Harry and his group followed a ways behind her, and she hoped to everything green they wouldn't try to speak with her.
She never had much good luck anyway.
"Astria!" The voice of the one and only Harry Potter called, "Wait Astria!"
She didn't slow her walk, or acknowledge his existence at all. She would have liked to keep it that way, but the boy decided to run up to her anyway.
"Astria about before-"
Astria scoffed, "You know Potter," She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him, "I was beginning to think we could be friends after all," Her voice wasn't cruel, nor patronizing, it was soft as always. But her worlds carried enough meaning.
"But not anymore."
"Astria please I was just trying to show them it wasn't me-," Harry's expressions what's the definition of defeated, he looked tired like the guilt was weighing him down.
At the expense of someone else, Astia frowned, they weren't friends, she couldn't help but think she should have expected this. It would have saved her the hurt.
"Friends don't throw friends into the line of fire," Astria looked at him, mentally noting Hermoine and Ron standing behind him.
Harry seemed to regret his actions, but she couldn't dismiss that fact that at the moment that is what he thought best to say. To blame everything on her with no proof but his suspicion.
She had hoped, naïvely at that, she and Harry could become friends. They shared so much, not only a scar, but they were the boy and girl who lived. She wanted to be there for him. The more she thought about it the worse it sounded. He didn't like her, he wouldn't have done that if he did. She had simply read his actions from earlier in the day wrong. There was no other explanation.
She shouldn't have gotten her hopes up for him.
"Good thing we aren't friends Potter."
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The Vally
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7400 words later and what we have learned from this chapter is that Astria has some crazy self-worth issues.
One more chapter of year 2 and then the book is gonna really kick off.
Please leave feedback I love your guy's comments and support It means the world to me. also make sure to check out aesthetics, because I posted some new ones recently and the new trailer.
Also please tell me if you found any mistakes I hate leaving those.
Question- Who do you think Astria's biological father is???
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