♢
The morning of December 24th couldn't have come any sooner. Following Asteria's confrontation with her parents, the girl had remained locked in her room. Queenie was tasked with bringing her three meals a day, and there was an ensuite bathroom attached to her bedroom; other than that, Asteria was completely isolated. Her siblings were prohibited from visiting her, Althea and Perseus claiming that she needed to "sit with her actions and reflect." How being sorted into Gryffindor was her own fault, Asteria didn't know. Over the course of the week, however, Asteria could hear her brother continuously fighting with her parents; he argued that this was wrong, that locking their daughter up in her room simply because of her sorting was unethical. His efforts were fruitless, however, as they would not budge that this was Asteria's punishment.
Eventually, the arguments had died down, and Asteria resigned to suffer her fate. She wondered whether her friends had noticed her absence, or if they had forgotten all about her. Being back home brought the familiar feelings of lonesomeness and hopelessness. Asteria was right back to believing nobody cared about her.
That was until Queenie Apparated into her bedroom, staggering under the weight of at least five ball gowns. And although Asteria had been dreading the Fawley Gala, at least it was a chance for her to leave her wretched bedroom.
"Mistress Grey wanted me to inform you that you must start preparing for the gala," Queenie squeaked, "Mistress Grey picked out a few dresses for you to wear."
"She won't help me get ready?" Asteria frowned, flipping between the silk material of the gowns. Queenie, saddened, shook her head. Preparing for parties was the one activity Asteria shared with her mother, but even that was gone now.
"No, Mistress Grey is busy getting ready herself," Queenie replied, attempting to salvage the situation. "There is a lot of work to be done! The gala is soon, so soon, and you must be ready by precisely 5:08!"
Sighing, Asteria nodded. This was not her first formal event, albeit it was her first gala. Thus, her appearance had to be immaculate for her first true appearance in pureblood society. Although every nerve in Asteria's body was screaming for the crimson dress in the pile, the girl knew she had to wear a dress which would appease her parents. Her Gryffindor traits had gotten her into this mess in the first place, and there was no way she would risk infuriating her parents even more.
Appearances were everything, Asteria was no stranger to that fact. How one looked, how one presented themselves, how one spoke - everything mattered. At least, that was the common thinking of purebloods all around England. Everyone had to be perfect, all the time, and there was no opportunity for messing up. Any mistake could have unimaginable consequences, a fact that was drilled into Asteria's head since birth. One mistake, and everything that the Greys had worked for would go down the drain. The reputation that they cared about ever so much would cease to exist, and the blame would be placed on Asteria. Thus, although Asteria did not care so much about 'appearances' at the gala as much as her parents, the blonde made sure to do whatever her parents asked.
In spite of the fact that it was Althea's parents hosting the gala, the expectations about Asteria's appearance were not lowered. They still wanted her to look perfect, act perfect, be perfect. The Greys and the Fawleys had to look like the picture perfect pureblood family of everyone's dreams - everyone had to ache to be them, crave to have their lives.
Normally, Asteria would not protest against the preparations required to attend these sort of parties - the fittings, the primping, the hair salon. She found it to be kind of fun. But now, as she stood before the mirror and stared at herself, Asteria could barely recognize herself. Thick, wavy blonde hair that reached to just below her elbows. Big blue eyes, with light eyelashes that Queenie coated in mascara to make her features pop. Her face was rather round, still having its childish chub.
Though her time at Hogwarts had been little, it had served as enough time for Asteria to be able to understand who she was. She was not a pureblood princess, someone her parents could fold and bend to their every wish in an attempt to boast about their accomplishments as a family. She was not a Slytherin, but a proud Gryffindor. And she knew that terrified her parents.
Her mother soon entered the room, inspecting Asteria's progress. She didn't bother walking in, instead looking over the options on Asteria's bed and quickly making her decision. "You are to wear the green one," Althea commanded, remaining at the threshold. "It makes you look more pure, which is precisely what is needed after the horrid results of your sorting."
Asteria said nothing in response, only nodding and concealing her frown. The crimson dress was gorgeous, but she knew her mother left no room for questioning. Althea nodded, before continuing her spiel. The same spiel Asteria had heard a hundred times, though this time with additions about how Asteria was to behave at the gala. At some point, Asteria had cared to listen; she viewed her mother's lecture as a token of her caring for her, but the girl had soon come to the realization that her mother did not care about her, only about the family's reputation. The lecture ended with the same thing it did every time: "Keep your posture upright. Make sure to speak to the right people. And above all, do not embarrass the family."
"Yes, Mother, I understand," her voice remained in the same monotone she always used when speaking to her parents, never faltering.
"Good," Althea nodded, "I shall see you in the Atrium when you are finished."
Asteria nodded, and finally felt herself able to breathe when her mother left. "Can you give me an updo, Queenie? Perhaps something with braids."
The wizened elf nodded and drug a stool behind Asteria's chair, scrambling up onto it. Even with the chair, Queenie still could not reach Asteria's hair comfortably - the old elf's hunch took at least three inches off her height, and made her much shorter than the average house elf.
"It would be Queenie's pleasure," the creature said happily. "But first, Miss Asteria must put on her dress." Of course, the dress. Asteria had forgotten that it would make absolutely no sense if she was to do her hair first, and risk it getting ruined in the process of putting on her dress. Smiling sadly, Asteria got up and went over to the part of the room that had been sectioned off for her fitting, and let Queenie bring the dress to her. It was a ball gown, of course, but with a modern twist on it. The sleeves were short but off shoulder, emphasizing the blonde's delicate figure. The top was a light pink color, embellished with flowers that were the main focuspoint. The skirt was an abrupt difference from the top, a dark emerald green. It was solid all the way through, though flowers adorned where the skirt meant the top. With the black flats that Asteria had chosen out, her outfit was sure to match her mother's expectations.
Slipping on the dress with Queenie's help, Asteria looked herself over in the mirror. The gown fit her like a glove, flowing elegantly from her waist and spilling out towards the ground. She loved it, and despite it not being her first option, Asteria was content with the choice. "Thank you Queenie, it's amazing. Truly."
The old elf had been the one to make the dress, from scratch, so Asteria thought that she should let the creature know just how much she loved it. No one ever thanked the elf for her effort, but she still worked persistently.
In her dress, Asteria made her way back to her chair and sat down, allowing the elf to begin the primping of Asteria's blonde hair.
♢
After what felt like forever, Asteria was done. Her hair was done perfectly, feeling as if it weighed a hundred kilograms with the amount of hairspray on it; her nails were painted and polished; there had been a debate of what shoes to wear, but ultimately she settled on a pair of pastel pink ballet flats. With the amount of dancing she'd have to do, comfortable shoes were key.
Overall, Asteria felt like a princess.
Nodding at Queenie that she was ready to meet her parents, the blonde took the elf's hand and they Apparated to the Atrium with a pop. Her parents were already there, and as soon as her mother saw her she drug Asteria closer and began to inspect her. Queenie Disapparated away, not wanting to be there if Althea found something she didn't like in Queenie's handiwork.
Lucky for the old elf, her work was perfect. It was only a moment before Asteria's siblings showed up, all looking gorgeous and put together. It looked as if the entire family had transformed into a different, more wealthy version of themselves; Asteria was used to seeing her siblings in robes or casualwear, and now her sisters stood before her in the most beautiful attire.
Selene was dressed in a beautiful golden gown, catching the light with her every step. Much like Asteria's, Selene's top had an off the shoulder neckline; it was fitted, giving the illusion of a corset but not quite. The top was embedded with jewels that looked like real gold, the gems cascading over the skirt. The material of the skirt seemed to be made out of clouds, fashioned by the gods to form the most elegant dress Asteria had ever seen. It cascaded behind her, and as Selene walked, Asteria could see gorgeous heeled boots peeking from beneath her skirt. Her hair had been pinned up as well, with two strands curled to frame her face. As usual, Selene opted for a fierce elegant look. The only accessory she wore was a necklace, matching with her sister; an emerald green choker to honor the houses of Grey and Fawley combined.
In opposition to her house, Callie wore a solid jade green dress that complimented her beautifully. It had a dipped sweetheart neckline, the top being made out of a beautiful silk with sleeves that seemed to almost reach the floor. The skirt was fitted to Callie's figure, though it was made out of a satin fabric to compliment the silk of the top. It trailed behind Callie as she walked, her footsteps echoing as she descended down the marble staircase - a glimpse of her stilettos revealed them to be white. Her hair was left down, brown curls cascading down her shoulders, pinned back by a beautiful green chrysanthemum clip, a representation of the house of Grey. Like her sister, she donned an emerald green choker; however, she had chosen to wear silver earrings, with silver rings to match. Though she was a Ravenclaw, like her father, Callie looked like a Slytherin princess.
Adonis and Perseus had opted for dress robes, of course. Adonis's matched his eyes, a deep shade of blue with a white blouse peeking from underneath. Perseus's were purple, to compliment his wife's attire, and his blouse was a gorgeous amber yellow, matching Althea's dress. Althea radiated elegance, sophistication, and tradition, despite her gown being a more daring choice. Her gown was a beautiful honey yellow with a sweetheart neckline, contrasting her ebony hair. The sleeves were puffed as well, gathering at her elbows before reaching down to her wrists. The skirt cascaded down to the ground; there was a small slit on the right side, and with every step Althea took, her black pumps could be seen. A black string was tied around the waist, a small bow trailing down the skirt. Layered necklaces were bunched up around Althea's neck, with dropping gold earrings as the only form of accessorization.
All together, the Greys looked like the picture of grace.
Gathering in the entrance for a final onceover, the family finally left the Manor and awaited their carriages. Asteria was used to appearing at events by Floo; however, given that this was a gala hosted by her own family, it was decided that a memorable entrance needed to be made. One that was fitting for a family of their stature. Naturally, horse-drawn carriages were the solution.
Asteria's eyes widened when she saw the beginning of a carriage appear in the clouds. The horse was gigantic, much larger than average, with utterly majestic wings. Their wingspan stretched double the size of a man, carrying the creature through the air with remarkable grace. The carriage came to a slow stop before the family, the horse bowing its head as Perseus approached it. A house elf opened the door for the family, and Asteria entered last, planning to sit as far away from her family.
Upon her entrance, she realized that the carriage had been enchanted to be as large as the inside of a cottage. The interior was much larger than she had expected, lined with couches and a table in the middle boasting food and sweets. Smiling excitedly, Asteria approached the table but was stopped by the disapproving "tsk, tsk" of her father. Sighing, the girl frowned and took a seat on one of the couches by her brother.
The two conversed for the entirety of the trip to the Fawley Manor. They caught up on the events that Asteria had missed while locked in her room, which wasn't much. Resembling a teenage girl, Adonis gossiped about what his friends had been up to; Asteria delighted in hearing the dramas of third boys, laughing and adding surprised exclamations when needed. At some point, Selene and Callie joined them; sitting at a far enough distance from their parents, the siblings spoke freely, comforting Asteria and telling her that they had all fought their parents at least once to release her from her confinement. She couldn't help but smile, happy that though her parents were furious with her, her siblings continued to support her.
An hour and a half later, the carriage began its descent onto the Fawley Manor grounds. Though the trip normally would have taken four hours, the horse managed to shorten the trip due to its large wings.
"We're here," Althea stated, and waved Asteria over to where she sat. "Smile, frowns give you wrinkles."
Asteria plastered a polite smile on her face, perfected with years of practice. She allowed her mother to scrutinize all aspects of her appearance, tucking any stray hairs away and pinching her cheeks to make her look less pale. At the end, she was still dissatisfied; something was always wrong with her daughter. The blonde pushed past all feelings of dejection and took her place behind her brother, ready to descend from the carriage when the house elf opened the door. She felt her heart begin to beat faster, her hopes sore as she prayed to see Magnolia at the gala. Though she had received no letters from her Slytherin friend, Asteria remained excited to see her pureblooded friend. She needed something to keep her sane, stop her from losing all sense of hope that being at Hogwarts had given her.
As was expected of the Greys, they arrived precisely on time. Not too early, not too late, but at the precise moment where their arrival would garner the expected attention. One by one they exited the carriage, a house elf helping them down, chins held high and posture straight as they walked up to the wizard guarding the entrance to the Manor. The wizard was a large man, though he had a large scar down the side of his face that scared Asteria.
He didn't even bother looking up, "Names?" he barked.
Althea cleared her throat, crossing her arms, "You know who I am."
At the sound of her voice, the wizard looked up. His eyes were unkind, but widened in recognition when he saw the Fawley daughter and immediately stepped aside. "My apologies, Mrs Grey, Mr Grey. Do come in."
Smiling smugly, Althea led her family in, the Grey siblings following behind their parents. Before they could enter the ballroom, Perseus stood back and grabbed Asteria's arm. "Listen carefully, daughter," he hissed, spitting the last word with more venom than the girl had ever heard. "You will behave appropriately, and will not taint the family name any further than you already have. It is a blessing that your mother's parents allowed you here in the first place. Do you understand?" Afraid of what he would say if she disagreed, Asteria simply nodded. "Good. We must make our rounds first, but after that you will socialize with other children and grow your connections. Understand?"
Following Asteria's nod, Perseus led her into the ballroom. The room was massive. A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, its candles enchanted to shine brighter than the sun. It illuminated the entire room, showcasing the paintings of Fawleys over the centuries lining the walls, which were coated in what seemed to be gold. They had been created by famous artists centuries ago; the Fawleys had built their manor during the renaissance, and had kept it well kept over years with magic. The ceiling had been enchanted to look like the night sky, much like Hogwarts; however, constellations dotted the sky, shooting stars hurtling across every now and then. Pillars, with gold coils around them, held up the ceiling; carefully sculpted statues lined the perimeter of the room. Large windows on one side of the room provided a grandiose view of the grounds, displaying the sunset. The floor had been cleared to allow room for ballroom dancing, and a quartet had been hired by the Fawleys to provide music. Despite Asteria's sinking feeling, she couldn't help but be enamored by the place, as if this was the first time she'd ever seen it.
Perseus had a pleasant smile on his face as he entered the room, as if he had not threatened his daughter merely seconds before. Blinking her tears away at having been spoken to so aggressively by her father, Asteria plastered a similar smile and greeted everyone that came up to her father politely. After at least fifty introductions, Perseus led Asteria to where the rest of her family was sitting; an intricately ornate table, with a blooming bouquet on top and a tablecloth made of the finest silk. Members of the Fawley and Grey family were scattered around the country, and this gala was the only event that brought them all together. They could be found all around the ballroom, making conversation with members of other pureblood families or discussing business plans. At the table, apart from Asteria's immediate family, three women and one man sat. Her father immediately joined his wife in a conversation with her mother, Clio Fawley. Damon Fawley was engaged in a discussion with Adonis about the family business, while the two women seated at the end were conversing amongst themselves. Those were Freya Grey and Carman Grey, perhaps Asteria's favorite relatives.
Asteria was not all too close with her mother's side. Clio and Damon Fawley were all but strangers to the young girl; they were not doting grandparents, though they did send her expensive jewelry every year for Christmas and her birthday. They were the heads of the elusive and powerful Fawley family, wealthy beyond measure. As well known as the Greys were in the pureblood community, the Fawleys were revered. One of the most, if not the most, powerful families in the Sacred 28, the Fawleys remained secluded and only made an appearance at their annual gala. They were not ones to deal with the stares and whispers that followed them everywhere; the family was rooted in secrecy and the Dark Arts, and everyone knew of the immense influence they had on the Ministry. Their reach spread everywhere.
Clio and Damon had three children: Diana, Icarus, and Althea. Asteria had not seen her uncle in years, and was surprised he didn't attend the gala - she had thought it mandatory for all members of the Fawley family to make an appearance. She had rarely any memories of her uncle, though she remembered him to be an intimidating man with runes all over his skin. Asteria did not remember him to be married, though she had heard rumors of the man having children; perhaps, somewhere out there, she had cousins, but there was no way for her to know for sure.
Though her uncle was a stranger to her, Diana Fawley was not. It had been years since Asteria had seen her aunt, but she had always revered the older woman. In her childhood, prior to the Greys' isolation from the rest of their family, Asteria vividly remembered Diana appearing with a different husband every year at their family reunions. She was the eldest of her siblings, and had remarried countless times, her husband always dying of natural causes - Asteria had always been suspicious, but was petrified of bringing the accusation up. Although, her mother's disapproval of her sister all but confirmed Asteria's suspicions. And perhaps that was why part of Asteria looked up to the older woman, who was currently waltzing with a man Asteria knew to have been recently widowed, her dark black hair properly styled and her pale purple dress swishing by her legs.
Diana had two children, Lysandra (who everyone called Lyssa) and Calix, from her first husband. Despite her numerous marriages, she had never gotten pregnant again, knowing what a scandal it would be to have multiple children from multiple fathers. The two were much older than Asteria - 12 years, to be precise - and thus, she had never been all too close to them. She'd only met them once, when she was much younger, and had never seen them since. However, given the early death of their father, her children had taken the Fawley name - it never hurt to be associated with a name as powerful as the Fawleys. Not that either Calix or Lyssa needed the extra power, both being well-known for their capabilities in magic. Asteria spotted the latter cousin in the corner of the ballroom, discussing in hushed tones with someone who she presumed to be Abraxas Malfoy, simply because of his similarity to Lucius; on the other side, Calix was dancing with someone vaguely familiar, though Asteria couldn't quite place why. She debated going up to them and introducing herself, but decided it was not the proper time - besides, what could she possibly talk to them about? They were almost double her age, and no doubt held the same elitist ideas as the rest of her family.
Asteria's father's side were less menacing, though that did not mean they were any less powerful than the Fawleys. Although not part of the Sacred 28, the Greys had made a name for themselves by accumulating enough wealth to live generations without working, if they so desired. Though the patriarch of the family, Atlas Grey, had died before Asteria was born, Freya Grey kept the family's status high. She was a kind woman, the only relative other than her siblings that treated Asteria affectionately. The two had been incredibly close when Asteria was a child; she had been Asteria's primary caretaker, treating her like an angel especially when Althea's dislike of the girl had started to show. In fact, Althea's mistreatment of Asteria was a prime source of argument between the two families. Tonight, however, those quarrels were put to rest. No scene would be made tonight.
Despite Freya's many pleas to take Asteria in, Perseus and Althea had always denied her. It would be a disgrace to have one of their children raised by a grandparent, a reflection of them as parents and as people. Eventually, Asteria's parents had isolated them from the rest of the family, only seeing them during holidays.
Atlas and Freya had two children; Perseus and Carman. Though Perseus had lived up to his father's expectations, partaking in the family business, Carman was the complete opposite. Since childhood, she'd had a rebellious streak; though sorted into Slytherin, Carman was anything but a pureblood princess. She had joined the Slytherin team as a Chaser, the first girl on the Quidditch team in centuries; following graduation, she'd pursued the career of a Curse-Breaker, a field much frowned upon by any pureblood family. Though Atlas disapproved, Freya had always kept her daughter close. It was clear that mother favored daughter, and father favored son. Carman was rarely around, too busy travelling; Perseus rarely referred to his sister, stating that it would be of "no good to associate with a blood-traitor." Asteria suspected Carman had either married or had relations with a man of non-pure blood. Despite her daughter's disgrace, Freya never strayed from Carman.
Upon catching sight of her granddaughter, Freya stood up gaily.
"Ah, you have brought Asteria tonight as well!" the old woman exclaimed, gracefully walking over to the blonde girl despite her age. She wrapped her in a tight embrace, whispering, "My darling girl, I have missed you so," into Asteria's ear. The girl melted in her grandmother's embrace, holding back tears as she felt what was a true, loving caress from a relative for the first time in a long time.
"Oh, how you've grown," Damon Fawley's voice rose above the rest, an unnamed expression on his face. Asteria let go of her grandmother, facing her grandfather with a tight-lipped smile. He scared her, and she had no idea how to act around him. "You're at Hogwarts now, yes? A Gryffindor?"
She should've known her parents would not be the only ones ashamed of her sorting. Though her grandfather would not make a public spectacle showcasing his disappointment, every phrase he uttered would be passive aggressive. Althea's face darkened as she cast her father a look, wordlessly asking why he had to bring that up. Damon only smiled, his smile widening when another family approached.
There was nothing Asteria wanted to do than tackle Magnolia into a hug. The Slytherin's face lit up when she saw Asteria, and it seemed both wanted to run at each other. However, with both families watching, that would hardly be deemed appropriate. A small family of four, the Averys looked like a stereotypical pureblood family. Each was dressed in a different shade of green, complimenting their darker skin tones, and loaded with serpent-themed accessories. Magnolia herself was wearing a beautiful green dress, a few shades lighter than Asteria's. It was held up by two straps, with the top mimicking that of a corset. The material of the dress was lace, though it was patterned lace. She had worn a simple golden necklace, with golden earrings to match. Her hair had been pulled into a sleek ponytail, baby hairs brushed out of her face. Compared to Asteria's family, Magnolia's attire was simple - daring, elegant, but simple. Nevertheless, the Slytherin still looked gorgeous and far older than she actually was.
The families greeted each other, exchanging pleasantries one would only hear at galas of this sort. They then continued to discuss matters of no importance to Asteria, whose eyes began to close due to boredom. Magnolia noticed, biting back a giggle. Asteria looked back, smiling at her friend before slowly approaching her, seeing if her father would say anything. He didn't notice, enraptured in a conversation with Magnolia's parents. Freya did, however, but only gave her a small wink, before turning back to her discourse with Carman.
"Merlin, I wondered when we'd be able to get away," Magnolia breathed as soon as they were a safe distance away from their parents. "I swear, adults talk about the most boring things. I never want to grow up."
"Me neither," Asteria agreed, casting a look back at her family. Adonis was still talking with Damon, but she noticed Selene had disappeared. She almost voiced her question of her sister's whereabouts aloud to Magnolia, but soon caught a glimpse of Lucius Malfoy following after a golden dress. Of course. Asteria wondered how they'd be so bold as to meet up in public, at a gala where Narcissa Black was present.
Speaking of the Black family.
Magnolia's eyes widened, looking at something behind Asteria. "Bloody hell, is that-" she was cut off by Asteria's gasp of surprise upon turning around and seeing Sirius Black in the corner of the ballroom, a boy almost identical to him standing beside him. She frowned upon seeing him, her frown only deepening when Sirius saw her and gave her a wide grin, dragging the boy to where Asteria and Magnolia stood.
Asteria flashed him a sickly-sweet smile as he approached for her father's sake, one that Magnolia grimaced at the sight of. She placed a hand on Asteria's hand comfortingly, trying to reign the girl's temper in because she knew how their families would react.
"I certainly did not expect to see you here," Sirius said, despite knowing that it was quite literally Asteria's family hosting the gala. The boy beside him bristled, clearly uncomfortable with his company. He seemed younger, perhaps a year or two, and had many physical similarities with Sirius. They had the same piercing grey eyes, the same facial structure. Though they had the same dark wavy hair, Sirius's was much longer and messy as usual, while the boy's was slicked back. Asteria presumed them to be brothers. She couldn't help but wonder why he had never mentioned having a brother before; then again, she spent the majority of their interactions insulting him and not really talking about their families - not that either would.
"I'm sure," Asteria rolled her eyes, exchanging a glance with Magnolia as the two looked at the other boy quizzically.
"Ah, allow me to introduce my dearest younger brother. Reg, this is Asteria Grey and Magnolia Avery," Sirius spoke with the same dramatic flourish he did at Hogwarts.
"My name is Regulus," the younger boy quipped softly, before plastering a charming smile on his face. It was fake, of course, but Asteria didn't question it. All pureblood children were raised with the same ideals, and a fake smile was one that each perfected at a young age.
"It's nice to meet you, Regulus," Magnolia spoke, ever the charmer. The tension between Asteria and Sirius could be cut with a knife. The latter was smiling triumphantly, but the blonde girl's eyes were narrowed. Truthfully, Magnolia couldn't figure out why her best friend seemed to despise Sirius so much. Perhaps it was playful bickering between two friends, but at certain points it seemed as if Asteria was truly ready to strike. Ultimately, she settled on the fact that the two were simply much too similar; their Halloween prank was evidence of that. Magnolia could still remember the glee Asteria exhibited when she found out that the boys had gotten a month's worth of detention because of their fiasco, while the girls had gotten away unscathed.
"Pleasure's all mine, Avery," Regulus responded, ever so mannered. He seemed not to notice the glares Asteria was sending his brother - or if he did, he said nothing of it. Magnolia sighed, knowing that whatever their environment, Asteria would always be at Sirius' throat.
"So what brings you here, Regulus?" Magnolia asked, choosing her words carefully, "The Fawleys have made it clear they don't want children at their gala." Despite the fact that an eleven year old was hardly more than a child. But Magnolia did not mention that out loud.
"Mother and Father couldn't bear leaving their golden boy at home, all by his lonesome," Sirius answered, throwing an arm around his brother. Regulus scrunched up his nose, trying to move Sirius's arm off to no avail.
"I can speak for myself, Sirius," Regulus spoke up, pressing his lips together. "Mother and Father chose me to represent the Black family," he said proudly, which caused Sirius's smile to falter a bit, "I anticipate attending Hogwarts next year. Though unlike my brother, I'll be sorted into Slytherin."
The words were said in a nonchalant manner, but Regulus immediately realized his mistake when Sirius's face dropped. He stood his ground, however, straightening his posture and not daring to look his brother in the eye. The brothers clearly had tension between the two of them, stemming from the results of Sirius's sorting. Given Asteria's own experience, she guessed that Sirius's parents were not too happy about him being a Gryffindor, either.
"You say that like being Gryffindor is a bad thing," Asteria stepped in, defending Sirius. Magnolia blinked, surprised at Asteria's rapid change in character. From fuming at his presence two minutes ago, to defending him; Magnolia could never keep up with her blonde friend's antics. Her eyes were narrowed as she stared at the younger Black brother, and for once, Sirius was glad Asteria's anger was directed at someone else.
"I didn't realize you were a Gryffindor as well," Regulus' eyes widened in understanding, "But Mother had mentioned something about the Grey family and a disgrace. I presume this is what she was referring to."
"Why you-" Asteria was ready to launch herself at the younger boy, but Sirius and Magnolia grabbed her shoulders.
"It's only going to make things worse," Sirius whispered to her, before glaring at his brother. "You're being even more of a wanker than usual tonight, Reg. Mother and Father are off, take a break from being the perfect son for a night."
One could see the internal dilemma taking place in Regulus's brain, debating whether he should continue firing at Asteria or call it a night. With a final sigh, however, the boy shrugged. "It was a pleasure meeting you both, Asteria, Magnolia. I hope to see you around next year."
Asteria glared at the boy's back as he walked away.
"I hope to see you next year," Asteria repeated Regulus's words in a high pitched tone, causing Magnolia to frown and Sirius to chuckle.
Still frowning, Asteria turned to Sirius. "Does being a git run in the Black brothers?"
For once, Sirius did not laugh. Instead, his chuckle died in his throat. "Never call my brother a git again," he said, tone completely serious.
Asteria faltered for a moment; had he not been the one telling Regulus off mere moments ago?
Magnolia cleared her throat, sensing the start of another argument. "Asteria, you never responded to my letters."
"You sent me letters?" Asteria asked after casting Sirius a confused look. The boy remained silent, drinking water from a goblet he'd snapped from a nearby table. "I haven't gotten any."
"Ah, I was wondering why I never got a response from you," Magnolia shrugged.
"Maybe the owl got lost," the blonde girl suggested. If Magnolia's letter hadn't arrived, maybe that meant that her other friends had sent her letters too? And she simply hadn't received them? Perhaps her friends hadn't forgotten her after all. All her worries had been for nought; once she arrived back at Hogwarts, she would be reunited with Lily and Remus and everyone else once more.
Before Magnolia could say anything else, her horrid twin brother appeared. He merely sneered at Asteria and Sirius; though Magnolia had managed to remain in her parents' good graces, she still received a scolding due to her choice in friends. Fortunately for her, Dominic and Caterina Avery were much too intrigued with their ongoing pursuit of knowledge of the Dark Arts to be concerned that much with the company their children kept. As long as they weren't befriending Muggle borns. Max Avery grabbed Magnolia's hand and dragged her away, muttering something about their parents wanting her to meet someone. Magnolia sent her friend an apologetic look, to which Asteria only shrugged, before settling her gaze at Sirius.
Asteria and Sirius were left alone for the first time ever. At Hogwarts, Sirius always had James, and Asteria always had Lily or Magnolia.
"This isn't strange at all," Sirius uttered quietly, voicing Asteria's thoughts. He looked up at her quizzically. "You know, I don't understand why you dislike me so much."
"Right to the tough questions then, eh?" Asteria gave him a small smile. Instead of answering his question, she simply looked around the room to make sure her parents were occupied, before looking at the boy once more. "Fancy a walk to the gardens?"
Without waiting for a response, Asteria ducked out of the ballroom. There was a small passageway which led out into the courtyard, a passageway that Asteria had discovered many years ago. With Sirius in tow, the two children found themselves coming out behind a giant willow tree on the outskirts of a garden. Bushes lined the perimeter of the courtyard, trimmed into beautiful shapes and animals. House elves had spent hours perfecting the serpent and the gargoyle bushes, the animals representing the Fawley family. Flowers sprouted from below, exotic plants the likes of which couldn't be found anywhere else. The sky had darkened by now, tendrils of red and orange disappearing as night arrived. The moon was peeking from behind a cloud, its light reflecting off the water that had pooled in the gargoyle fountain hidden behind a rotting gate. It was toward this fountain that the pair walked, the gate creaking as Asteria pushed it open. It had been a while since someone had used them, the garden long forgotten by the manor's residents. Asteria took in the lost garden with a breathtaking expression on her face. It had been much too long since she'd visited.
"I don't dislike you, you know," Asteria began, dipping her fingers into the water as she perched on the ledge of the fountain, dress be damned. "You just really know how to get on my nerves."
And it was true. Over the past few months, Asteria had gotten a lot closer to Sirius and James, mostly because of her friendship with Remus. At this point, she had forgotten why she didn't like them; only that she enjoyed berating them and would continue to do so. The boys weren't completely intolerable. In fact, they were kind of fun to be around. Their spontaneous energy was contagious, and she often found herself feeling more alive than she ever had while around them. Perhaps it was the start of a budding acquaintance, if not a friendship.
"Sorry 'bout that," was all the boy said, sitting down beside her. He paused for a moment, taking in his surroundings. "I don't do it on purpose, you know."
"Hm," the blonde replied, a whirlwind of emotions present in her eyes. She didn't know what to say. This was the first time the two had been civil towards each other, and she didn't hate it. Looking around the garden, a nostalgic smile spread across her face, "I come to this garden every time I visit my grandparents. I'm pretty sure they forgot this place existed; look at the state of this place. It's a safe haven, I suppose."
She didn't know why she was telling him this.
Maybe, a part of her knew he'd understand.
"No one else knows it exists?" he asked.
Asteria shook her head.
"Then I'm honored to be the first," Sirius offered a smirk, to which Asteria rolled her eyes with a pointed look. "Right. Erm, sorry."
He fell silent for a moment. "You come here to hide, don't you?" he finally asked. Asteria didn't answer. She didn't need to. "I get it. My parents are a pain in the arse, too."
Asteria laughed a bit. "I guess your holidays were as good as mine then, yeah?"
"If by good you mean absolute shite, then yes," Sirius shrugged and looked up at the stars, pointing out his own when he found it. "My parents are not the best people to live with."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
She was about to say that it was her fault, because it was her family that was hosting the gala that he was forced to attend. Her fault that he had to go back home to his awful family, just as Asteria had to go to hers. Neither said anything, however; Asteria, who knew not what to say, and Sirius, who was watching the stars. There was no need for words though, not really. For now, they were just two children. Two children from two families who prioritized reputations over wellbeing. From families who didn't like them when they were stripped down to the cores of their soul by a hat.
It would be hard for Asteria to treat Sirius with malice now. Not when she'd seen him in this light.
One thing was for sure. Sirius Black was as much of a black swan as she was.
✧･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
a/n: a longer chapter :) also a snippet of family history and the introduction of my favorite character mr REGULUS BLACK!!!! ok i hope u like this chapter next chapter they're back at hoggy warts