The Story of Anastasia Black.

Based off of a live stream bye The Dandy Lyon Club, Monday 14th August.

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As Spring stretched into the Summer of 1789, after the sun had long since set and cast the sky in a deep black, speckled with stars, Anastasia Black was born at a mansion owned by the House of Black.

Small and weak, Anastasia entered the world near silently.
At first, her parents worried she may not have survived, and then they worried that her weekend state may have weakened her magic.

There was no use for a Squib in the family, after all.

But much to their delight, Anastasia Black survived, and showed all the signs of possessing magic.

As Anastasia grew, she grew into a hard working young girl.
It was rare to see her without a book in her pale hands, even rarer still to see her doing nothing of importance.

Even at the young age of four, Anastasia had taken up many of the rolls and beliefs held by her family, as that was her duty.

When Anastasia was seven, her parents noticed something odd about the girl.

She didn't seem to be taking in their lessons on Purity.
She didn't seem to believe in their teachings on Muggles and Muggleborns.

Instead, Anastasia seemed quite admiment in showing respect to all those she met, treating each person with the same respect she treated her own family.
Her mother worried their was something wrong with the girl.

It was rare to see Anastasia outside of her punishments.
Usually kept by her fathers side, out of trouble. Only allowed to leave the Mansion while accompanied by her father, mother, or elder family members, and only on special occasions.

Anastasia hated it, though she never complained.
Instead, she merely did as told, and followed the line that was drawn out for her.

She knew how her life would go, and she had always known.
She would attend Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she would get into Slytherin House, pass her O.W.Ls with high scores, and then leave to help her family.
She would aid her family in their lessons, punishing those who disgrace the name of Wizard.

She would marry a Pureblood Wizard, have children, teach them the same teachings, and the cycle would repeat.
Over and over until their goals were reached.

No other life was of any option to Anastasia Black.
She didn't even know of other possibilities.
This was life, and this was how it would stay.

Right up until she was lead to platform Nine and Three Quarters, and found herself standing inside The Hogwarts Express at the young age of eleven.

She was tall, thin for her age, with black hair that fell down to the middle of her back in a loose braid, streaks of white intertwining with the ink black hair.
She already dawned her uniform, hands clasped infont of her as she walked silently onto the train.

The train was a cacophony of noise and a flurry of motion.
Young witches and wizards flitting about, attempting to find a cabin to sit, or people to talk to.

Anastasia walked silently through the crowd, making her way down the train.

She turned when she saw something.
She wasn't sure what drew her attention to the girl her age, pressing herself hard against a compartment wall, looking very afraid.

But her attention was grabbed.

Anastasia hesitated, phantom pains sparking over her frame as she remembered the last time she spoke to a person her age.
But, her parents were not here.
They were far away now.

The young Black tilted her head slightly, before walking over to the girl.

"Hello"

The girl, short brown hair that curled messily and bright blue eyes, stared at her in slight shock.

"H-hello"

"Are you alright? You seem distressed"

"I- I can't find- I can't find anywhere to sit- everywhere is so loud and- I grew up in a Muggle town!" She cried, and Anastasia nodded slightly.

"Well, come with me, we'll find somewhere to sit together"

The girl looked over her wearily, before nodding.
"Okay"
The girl, Laura she later introduced herself as, was as small as they come, but with the intelligence of someone much older.

Anastasia found herself captivated by the girl, listening to her talk as they sat in a compartment, far from everyone else.

She found herself avoiding answering questions on her own family.

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"A tough decision, this one," the Sorting Hat groaned, almost darkly, in Anastasia's ear, mumbling to himself as he deliberated over the choice, the choice which Anastasia felt should be quite simple, as her only choice was Slytherin.
That was how her life was planned out and always would be.
Thats just how it was and nothing would change that so why was it taking so long to-
"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Anastasia blinked.

After a couple seconds of stunned silence, she realised she was supposed to get up and walk to her table now.
Anastasia blinked again, and then stood from the stool and made her way to her cheering housemates.

Laura had gotten Ravenclaw.
Laura had known she'd get Ravenclaw, they'd discussed it on the train.
So why had Anastasia gotten Hufflepuff?
She was supposed to be a Slytherin!

What would mother think? What would father think? What did this mean for her? What would this change?
This wasn't what mother and father had planned for her! This was so very different! Could she have been placed in any opposite of a house?!

Anastasia mutely followed her Housemates around the tour, listening to the Prefect cheerfully explain everything about everything.

As they entered their dorm room, Anastasia blinked as she realised her robes had changed.

What was once just a black robe, now dawned the Hufflepuff symbol proudly.
The inside of the robe was a bright yellow, her tie resembling a bumblebee where it stood out against her white shirt and black robes-

Far from the green and silver colours she had been expecting.

The dorm room was warm coloured, plants stretching beautifully across the walls and ceilings.
Fires crackled invitingly close by, surrounded by comfortably plush sofas and chairs, with books piled around the room in an ordered chaos.

Soon enough she was lead into her dorm room, shared between herself and some other girls.

The beds looked more inviting than the ones at home.

Anastasia blinked as she ran her hand over the warm coloured wood that made the bed frame.

Finally, she decided that there was no changing this now.
She was a Hufflepuff.
She just... wished she knew what that meant for her future.

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Anastasia's family had not taken the news of her Hogwarts House well.
They blamed her, told her she was betraying their teachings by being in a house other than Slytherin.
Anastasia stood and accepted the verbal lashing, agreeing with her parents on everything they said.

She wasn't unhappy in Hufflepuff at all, however.
She was quite happy in the house of the bager.

She had a couple friends there, not that she'd ever inform her parents that she had befriended Half Bloods and Muggleborns.
Anastasia was sure that she would die if they ever found that out about her.

So when she was at home, she played her part.
The doting daughter, doing everything her parents required.
But once she entered the Hogwarts Express, she dawned a bright smile and acquired a slight bounce in her step as she made her way to her friends.

She worked hard in every class, getting the highest grades in Potions and Herbology in her year.
She supported her house every Quiddich Match, even if she didn't personally enjoy the game as much as others seemed to.

She was the perfect student.

And then she realised something about Laura.

Laura was beautiful.

It was such a simple sentence.
But it changed everything.
Suddenly Anastasia realised that Laura wasn't just pretty, or smart, or funny-
She was gorgeous, and a genius, and hilarious-

She was beyond perfect in Anastasia's eyes.

From the way her messy brown hair curled, to the way eyes shone in the light.
From the way she twitched her hands when nervous, messing with her wand habitually, to the way she smiled when she got something right, when she did something and got praise for it.

Laura was... perfect.

And Anastasia realised quickly that no man made her feel this way.

The fourteen year old Hufflepuff ran her hands through her straight hair, gripping it tightly as she sat on the edge of her bed in the dorm room.

She liked women.
She only liked women.

But she had to like men.

If her parents found out she didn't- well, Anastasia didn't even want to think about what would happen.
What would happen if mother found out? Or worse, father?!

Releasing a slow breath, Anastasia tried to force herself to calm down.
It didn't work.

What could she do to fix this?

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"I do not wish to marry him, mother"

Anastasia, aged only twenty, stood before her mother and father.
Beside them stood Artimus Malfoy, the twenty year old son of the Malfoy family.
He was tall, and pale, with blood Purer than his white hair.

He stood there, looking at her with grey eyes.
He didn't seem entirely happy with the situation either.
It was the only reason she felt obligated to share her emotions with this situation, in hope that Artemis would feel a little more at ease.

Of course, it didn't work in her favour.

Instead, she was dragged out of the room and thrown into her room.

"You must marry Malfoy."

"I don't want to, and it seems neither does he-"

"It doesn't matter what you want, what matters is the continuing of our bloodline! You know this, Anastasia!"

"But I don't want to get married, mother!"

"It is not up to you! You are a Black! Now act like it."

"You mean deranged?"

Anastasia regretted the words as soon as they left her lips.
Her mother glared murderously at her, before storming out of the room.

Anastasia heard the door lock, and fought the urge to try and blow it open with something.
Instead, she dropped onto the yellow and black covers of her bed.

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Her mothers grip on her arm was painful, nails digging like claws into her skin.
Anastasia was sure she was drawing blood.

The light of the full moon was filtered through the deep green leaves of the trees above them.
Branches cracked beneath their feet as they ventured deeper and deeper and deeper still.

Anastasia hadn't asked where they were going.
She knew she would get no answer.
Her mother hadn't spoken a word since they left her room almost two hours ago.

Anastasia wss wondering what they'd need to go so far into the woods for, when her mother suddenly wrenched her forward, sending her sprawling to the ground.

"If you wish to act animalistic, then you must suffer the consequences" her mother spat, before apperating.

Anastasia stared at the spot her mother had once stood, before she screamed angrily into the night air.

Forcing herself up off of the woodland floor, she cursed at her mother, screaming at the night air as though it were her mother.

She screamed until her voice was hoarse, until the tears running down her face had dried, and all she felt was exhausted.

Panting, the young girl decided to push on.

If she stayed here too long, she may not make it to morning after all.

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