Chapter 1
“Astra Breakfast!”
Astra woke up with a start from hearing her dad's voice.
Astra has two dads, both of whom she loves dearly. One she calls papa and the other dad. Astra rolls out of bed, her dark curls a mess at her shoulders. She walks down the stairs, and on the way down she sees her Uncle Padfoot who seems upset to be waking up.
‘ Morning Ast.’ he says sleepily. Ast has been her favourite nickname since she could remember.
‘Morning Uncle Pads’ she says while blinking the sleep out of her eyes.
She smells bacon and gets excited,
Bacon and eggs! She thinks my favourite! She greets her dads and sits down at the breakfast table.
‘God you look like hell.’ says Papa to Unce pads.
“Mhm got that right Reg '' Uncle pads replies while unenthusiastically biting into his toast.
“Excited for today Ast?” her dad asks from in front of the stove. Astra felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Today was her first day at Hogwarts. She was terrified because, though all the adults said it didn't matter what house she was in, she always felt like she needed to get into Gryffindor or Slytherin, but there was this nagging feeling that whichever house she got into, she's gonna disappoint one of her dads or uncles and aunts.
‘Ast? Earth to Astra.’
“Sorry, sorry,” she says, flustered
“Erm yeah I'm alright.”
She says although it's not true
“ You sure? You've barely touched your bacon?” her papa asked.
“Mhm I’ll be alright,” she said while biting into her bacon.
“Morning people!”
A voice from the doorway.
Marlene was there, her blonde hair a mess, and her clothes sagging off her body. She sits down and gets breakfast.
A few minutes later Astra sees Lily and Dorcas walking in together.
“Morning marls!” Dorcas says to her wife.
Soon Poppy, Xaiden and their dad, Uncle Moony come in.
“Where is everyone else?” James asks no one in particular.
“Sleeping… Sirius, you're up?!” Uncle Moony asks. Sounding very surprised. Sirius just shrugged,
“I wanted to be asleep, but I couldn't fall back asleep. Is it such a surprise to you?”
“To be fair you do sleep in a lot,” Regulus adds. Sirius just glared at his younger brother.
***
After everyone ate breakfast Astra made her way upstairs to get changed.
She pulls on her outfit and shoes. As she's walking back down the stairs, she hears Xaiden walking down at the same time.
“I’m so scared.” He says.
“It’s gonna be ok, just have to get in Gryffindor or Slytherin,” she replies.
“I know but I'm worried that if I get into another house then Gryffindor, then Dad will be upset.”
Astra gets confused for a minute then realises “Oh because your dad's got in Gryffindor?” she asks.
“Yeah I'm worried that they’ll be disappointed if I get in a different house,” he replies uncertainty.
“Well, one thing I know is that even if they're disappointed, you can get their approval back by pranking.”
He laughs at that.
“Thanks, Ast, you always know what to say.”
“Come on! We haven't got all day!” Yells a voice from the hallway.
***
“Here we are then!” her dad says.
Her dad then crouched beside her saying “It's ok Ast, I get it. I was terrified on my first day too.”
She gives a smile which she hopes is reassuring.
“No, you weren't! You were so excited, practically bouncing up and down on our first day!” Come from a voice next to them. No surprise it was Uncle Padfoots.
James puts a hand beside his mouth and whispers
“Shut up, I'm trying to be comforting!” Everyone laughs at that, even Astra. After a hug, James gets up and next it's Regulus’ turn to crouch down beside her.
“Hey, Ast. I know your dad was trying to be comforting, but honestly, I was even more terrified.”
“But why Papa?” she asks curiously.
“Sirius got into Gryffindor after our whole family being Sythrins for centuries, and it certainly didn't help that my Mother was whispering stuff in my ear about what she’d do to me if I got into Gryffindor as well.”
A cold feeling runs down her spine at those last few words.
She’d heard a bit about her grandmother, not much, but she’d seen the scars on the backs of Uncle Padfoot's Legs and knew she mustn't have been that great. Walburga. Even her name was horrible. Astra was glad her name wasn't as bad as Walburga.
“Really? That's what she said to you?”
The voice brought her out of her thoughts and back to the present.
“Mhm”
Just at that moment, the train gave a loud Noise signalling the last minute to board the train. Quickly she hugged her papa and got hugged by so many people so quickly it was hard to keep up. First from Uncle Padfoot, then Uncle Moony, Uncle Barty and Evan. Aunt Pandora and Lily, followed by Aunt Marlene and Aunt Dorcas. Finally with Aunt Mary and a pat on the back from her muggle fiance, whom she’d only ever seen once or twice.
She boarded the train and found an empty compartment with Xaiden, Poppy, Harry and Phoenix. She pressed her face to the glass and waved furiously.
All the adults waved back.
As soon as they were out of sight she sat down and exhaled loudly.
“Something wrong Astra?” asked Harry.
“I don't know, I'm just worried about the house I'll get.”
Poppy, phoenix and Harry all got into Gryffindor, putting even more pressure to get into Gryffindor.
“It's alright. If you get in Gryffindor then we can watch Phoenix and his dumb friends, trying to act cool." Everyone laughed at that, Phoenix didn’t though, he looked thoroughly unimpressed.
“Shut up, Poppy,” he said. Poppy just poked her tongue out at him.
***
After a long train ride, with poppy and phoenix bickering the whole time, Harry had started a conversation about quidditch, with Xaiden. So Astra went to sleep.
“Firs, years, firs, year! Over here!”
Call a big loud voice. When Astra saw the man whose voice it was, she was stunned. He was very tall and wide, with long brown hair and a long brown beard.
All the first years followed him and got in these boats rowing across a large lake. The castle was huge! Astra was going to get lost in there, for sure!
After the boat ride a woman named “Professor McGonagall.'' She told them the house names and brought them into the great hall.
The great hall was huge. Four long tables and different colours on each, She saw Poppy, Harry and Phoenix all sitting near the end of the table, waiting for her. Astra thought.
“When you hear your name come and sit on the stool please.” Astra felt a giddy feeling in her bones, to her right she saw Luna Lovegood. She hadn't been there this morning. She's Pandora's daughter. She also calls Lily her mother.
After a few students, Astra hears,
“Astra Black-Potter”
Oh no.
It's her turn.
She slowly makes her way up the stairs, careful not to trip on her robes, as she walks up.
She sits on the stool and an old hat is placed upon her head.
“Ahh, Black-Potter you say?”
A voice in her head.
“Black sounds like Slytherin, but Potter? Hmm?”
After a few moments, she hears
“GRYFFINDOR!”
Applause breaks out across the house and she runs up to the Gryffindor house table.
“See I knew you would make it!” Poppy says,
“Good job Ast!” She hears Harry say.
After another couple of students, she hears
“Xaiden Black-Lupin”
As Xaiden walks up, he looks green in the gills.
Fortunately, the hat has only been placed on his head for a few seconds before it calls
“GRYFFINDOR!”
Another round of applause breaks out and he comes over to the table looking relieved.
During the feast, Astra meets another girl, called Ginny Weasley. They talk. She's nice.
After the feast, Astra goes up to Gryffindor Tower to her dorms. She's sharing a dorm with Ginny and a couple of other girls. Astra doesn't talk much and goes to bed quickly.
***
***
The next morning a letter comes in for her.
“Who's that from?” Ginny asks beside her.
“Probably one of my dads,” she says as she carefully opens the letter.
There is a note from her papa and a note from her dad.
It says
Dear Astra
Congratulations on making Gryffindor.
Your Dad has been nonstop saying how proud he is of you. I'm hoping you made some friends. Molly's last child Ginny went to Hogwarts this year.
Don't forget to write, or James will be very upset.
Lots of love
Papa Regulus
Astra Felt a little sad she couldn't hug her parents but that was okay, she still had two more letters to read.
Astra
OH MY GOD GRYFFINDOR!
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Although I can, anyway.
Regulus had to stop me from sending a howler to tell you how proud I am of you!
If you don’t write back I think I might die.
Have fun and say hi to Minnie for me.
Uncle Moony says hi to Poppy for him! (Madam Pomfrey not Poppy, Poppy)
Astra laughs at that.
Can't wait to see what happens in your first week!
Xoxo
Dad, James
Astra Smiles Fondly and pulls out the last page.
Have Fun at Hogwarts Astra!
-Aunt Marlene and Dorcas
Good Job on Gryffindor! So proud Astra!
-Aunt Pandora, and Aunt Lily
Couldn’t have gotten Slytherin?
Congrats on Gryffindor!
Evan, and Barty.
Congrats on Gryffindor Astra! Yay!
- Aunt Mary, Tyson and Nova
Congrats Astra! Gryffindor!
-Uncle Moony and Padfoot
Astra Reads through the letters again and smiles to herself.
‘This is gonna be a good day’ she thinks to herself.
Beside her, she sees that Xaiden got the same types of letters from his parents.
The School week is quite boring, most of the lessons just reading from the books she bought. She had already read them, she was too excited.
But at the end of the week, she was so thrilled to write to her parents.
Dear Dad and Papa
Goodness Dad, calm down!
I got into Gryffindor, it’s not the end of the world! I love and miss you both so much!
The first week of school has been boring. I swear I'm the only person who's read Hogwarts a history in my year! Most of the lessons have been pretty much the same, just reading.
I have made friends with Ginny and we are roommates. I have also become Friends with Luna. She's nice, although she keeps going on about Nargles. If you know what they are, let me know.
Mcgonagle has said, and I quote ‘Please make sure that Mr Black and Mr Potter do not die of excitement, and make sure to tell them hello from me.’
Madam Pomfrey also said ‘Make sure Remus takes his Wolfsbane potion please.’
How is home? How are Tyson and Nova? I feel bad that I can't be with them. Also, I found out that Draco Malfoy is Narcissa’s son. I swear I'm related to everyone somehow.
Sorry if his letter is a little too long,
Write back soon!
Astra