You are the Best of Us
When we arrived home that evening, my uncle and cousin were already there. We entered the main living room through the floo network, to find them waiting for us.
"Where have you been?" My uncle asks sternly.
"I told you, my love, we were spending the day at Diagon Alley, collecting Asteria's school supplies." My aunt states in an even tone, trying to defuse the tension that was already begging to form.
"Why was it necessary the process take so long?" He questions dryly, back still to us, facing out the window. I debated replying, but thought better of myself, knowing that anything I had to say would only make the situation worse.
"Asteria went through quite a few wands, before finding the one meant for her, and it seems the entire Hogwarts student body was there today, so lines were longer, and stores were more crowded." She states, "So sorry if you were waiting on us, my dear." Before turning to Draco, "How was your day at the ministry darling?" She questions him.
"Good. I got to see all of the interesting things father does at work!" He exclaims excitedly. My aunt and cousin talk quietly about his day. While my uncle leaves his perch in the window, walking over to me.
"Well, let me see this glorious wand that took so long to find." He demands. I nod softly and pull my boxed wand out of my bag. Knowing he will find a flaw within its light coloring and obvious differences from my families. I open the box slowly, so it doesn't fall onto the floor, pulling it out gently and holding it out for my uncle to see.
"Hmm...very peculiar. There is nothing special about it. Don't know why it would take so long to find that thing." He drawls, distaste is clear in his voice.
I shrug looking between him and my wand, "Mr.Ollivander said that we can expect great things from my uncle. That's a good thing isn't it?" I ask hoping to make him slightly less disgusted by my presence.
"What would that foolish old man know? He carves sticks for a living." He states matter of factly.
I inhale, of course, he wouldn't think there's anything special about my wand, it is mine after all, and I'm not special. At least not in his eyes. This isn't new information for me, but I suppose a small part of me will always be desperate for his approval. He is the closest thing to a father I've got... I just hope when Draco is my age and starting Hogwarts, he's kinder to him. Makes an effort to make him feel special. I don't want my little cousin to end up like me, a disappointment, someone who strives for the validation of a man who will never give it to her.
"Take all of this nonsense up to your room, and then come down for dinner." He demands. I nod once, collect my school supplies and drag all of it up to my room, setting it on my trunk that is now sitting at the foot of my bed. I tuck my wand safely back into its box and set it with the rest of my things. I begin my descent back down the marble staircase, and into the dining room where my family is waiting for me.
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✷Fred's POV✷ (surpriseeee, picks up roughly after the events at Diagon Alley)
I storm away from the Black girl, towards mum, thinking George is behind me. The nerve of her, to make assumptions about my family, talk about my father! It's not like her family is any better! The Blacks and Malfoy's are notorious for their beliefs on blood supremacy, only caring about pure-bloods and thinking that anything less was below them. She's probably just like them. If I never see her again, it'll be too soon. I finally make it to mum, I can feel the heat in my ears.
"Ah, there you are dear. What took so long? Where's George?" She questions. I look over my shoulder surprised he wasn't behind me. Seeing George still standing with the girl, talking. I can't believe he would stay talking to her, after knowing what she stands for. Her father was a murderer for crying out loud. George looks back at us, says goodbye, and walks away.
"Who was that George?" mum asks curiously.
"That was-" he begins before I cut him off.
"Asteria Black," I say in disgust. Mum stares at us in confusion eyes glancing over our heads at the topic of discussion.
"Oh, well, would you look at that." She states watching her walk towards Ollivander's, "I haven't seen her in quite some time. She's grown up rather beautifully. Last I saw her she was a tiny little thing. Oh, and so polite, would probably do you two some good to befriend her. Merlin knows she needs some friends." She says matter of factly, before spinning on her heel and walking into Flourish and Blotts.
George and I follow behind her staring at her in confusion.
"Mum? What do you mean it would do us good to be friends with her? She's a Malfoy." I ask in distaste.
"And what do you mean by she could use some friends?" George asks.
Our Mum rolls her eyes and shakes her head in irritation, at what I don't know, before speaking "First of all Fred, she is a Black, not a Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy is her father's cousin, and she began living with them after her grandmother passed. Second of all, I said that being friends with her would do you two some good because she has always been a polite and nice child from the times I've met her, though your father would be able to tell you more, he sees her at Ministry events more then I do. And third of all George, I said she could use some friends because the poor thing has been locked inside all her life, studying, and practicing whatever silly discipline her Lucius Malfoy decides, with only her little cousin as company. She could do with some friends her own age. Now, let's collect your school materials, and go home." She finishes her rant before walking deeper into the store, my brother and I watching her go.
"I think you were too hard on her Freddie, clearly mum thinks she's alright, so why shouldn't we? Besides, I think you hurt her feelings." George says nudging me softly. I purse my lips and look over at him shrugging carelessly.
"You heard mum though. Even she said she hasn't seen her since she was young, how do we know she's still the "polite little thing" she was when mum last saw her?" I ask him curiously, trying to prove a point that I could still be right.
"We don't. Mum said Dad's seen her around the Ministry a lot, maybe we could ask him?"
"Why do you care so much about convincing me we should be friends with her?" I ask confused by his sudden interest in a girl we had a 5-minute conversation with.
"I don't know Freddie...I just have a good feeling bout her. Like she's going to be someone important to us." He states before following after our mum. I stare after him, looking back over my shoulder to where we had been standing. Before following my twin.
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Back at the Burrow (time skip)
✷Freds POV✷
After arriving home from the burrow, George and I went and found our dad.
"Hey, dad?" We ask in unison, he looks up from whatever random muggle artifact he's tinkering with.
"Ah, hello boys. What can I do for you?" He asks us folding his hands infront of him.
"We-"
"Were-"
"Wondering-"
"What you know about Asteria Black?" We ask together, hoping to gather more information on the girl, my twin and I had come to different conclusions about.
"Asteria Black? What do you want to know about her for?" He questions us in confusion.
"Well, we ran into her at Diagon Alley today..." I begin.
"Fred was a bloody git after he found out she lived with the Malfoy's and mum said that she was polite when she had met her but-" I elbow George.
"That you would know more about her." I finish glaring at George.
"Now boys, I don't want to hear any more about you two being rude to that girl. She has had a very difficult life, in ways you two would never be able to imagine. Am I understood?" He asks us, leaving no room for arguing. We nod once, waiting for him to continue. "Asteria Black is a very kind and soft-spoken girl, very shy, doesn't get very much interaction with children her own age. She has an enormous amount of pressure placed on her shoulder from a very you age. You see she is the last Black. Her father..." he trails off
"Is Sirus Black?" I finish, "the mass murder?"
"No." He states, "Sirius Black is her uncle. Her father was Regulus Black. Sirius' younger brother." Was? I thought to myself... "Her father died when she was a child, he had turned his back on you-know-who after she was born, began working for the Order of the Pheonix, and Dumbledore. He was on a secret mission when he died, no one knew what he was doing. Not even Dumbledore. He never returned, leaving Asteria in the care of Sirius, until, well you know what happened to the Potters after Sirius was arrested and taken to Azkaban, Asteria was left in the care of her grandmother, Walburga Black, dreadful woman. She was with her grandmother until her passing when she was 7 and that is how she came to be with the Malfoys." He tells us.
"But dad how do you know so much about her?" George asked.
"You're mother and I were in the Order of the Pheonix with her father, mother, and uncle, she was a rather bubbly, happy child. Played with the two of you and your older brothers a couple of times at meetings. But after her father died and Sirius was locked away, that was the last I had seen of her until she came to live with the Malfoys. I saw her again for the first time at a Ministry party when she was about eight or nine. She was no longer the bubbly little girl I knew, she was quiet, reserved, and polite, it was a little sad, if I'm being honest, it was like the soul had been sucked out of her... but she held a conversation with me like she was a grown woman. I've seen her at several Ministry events since then, she is a very kind girl, who cares very deeply about those around her, boys, and her family name is not a reflection of who she is as a person. I will not hear of you two tormenting that poor girl. I think the three of you would do each other some good." He stated firmly, looking between the two of us.
"I told you so," George stated, walking away from us. Dad and I watching him go.
"What does he mean by that?" Our father asks me curiously.
"Georgie seems to think I miss judged her. That he has a feeling she's going to be important to us. Whatever that means." I grumble.
Dad stares at me in silence for a few seconds, before giving me a half-smile. "I think he could be right. I know you have heard a lot about the Malfoy family, but I think if you were to give her a chance you would see she isn't a bad person. I think she is one of the good ones. She's just been dragged down the wrong path. One her father wanted to get out of for her sake, one he died trying to protect her from. Give her a chance Fred." He states before looking back down at his trinkets. "Now go finish packing your trunk, and help your mother with dinner." I nod.
"Thanks, dad." Before leaving him to his toys. Maybe I was wrong... maybe I judged her too quickly. Dad seems to believe she's alright, maybe I should give her another chance? She was rather pretty...no Fred, not even 10 minutes ago you couldn't stand the thought of her. Maybe I should apologize when I see her again... I walk up to George's and my room flopping on my bed on my side of the room.
"I think you're right Georgie..." I trail staring at the ceiling.
"I'm always right Freddie." He states.
"You wish."
"I am. You just don't like being wrong."
"George no one likes being wrong. You can't hold that against me."
He laughs at me. "Okay, Freddie, whatever you say."
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Malfoy Manor
✷Asteria's POV✷
After a quiet dinner, I head back to my room, in hopes of packing my school trunk and then reading the mysterious letter from my father. I open my door, and see a tray on my bedside table, with a pot of peppermint tea, and a teacup, next to it a daisy, making me smile at Dobby's kindness. After adding the daisy to the others, I open my black leather trunk and begin organizing my school supplies, books at the bottom, largest to smallest, my cauldron, potions set, my telescope, a rather large roll of parchment, an obscene amount of quills, and ink pots. On top of that layer, I place my school uniform, black cloaks with the Hogwarts insignia, several white button-downs, dark gray skirts, long socks, and a few ties, her gloves and warmer cloak for the colder months, and her black hat, still in its box, to protect its shape. Finally, I reached for the box that held my wand. I stared at it for a moment, before opening it. I pulled my wand out, feeling the warmth that spread through me, I think back to what Mr. Ollivander said to me today, how we can expect great things from me, about the letter my father left for me, the path he took to protect me from the life he had lived, only for me to live it anyway... I continue to stare at my wand when I hear a knock on my door.
"Come in," I call softly. My door opens revealing my aunt on the other side. She walks in and joins me, sitting on the black leather bench that sits at the foot of my black, four-post bed, she smiles at me and looks at my wand.
"It is rather pretty." She states looking at it, "what did Ollivander say it was made of again?"
"Applewood, Phoenix feather core, 11 1/2 inches, surprisingly swishy," I repeat the information I had memorized by heart, in hopes of finding the answers he hinted at when I arrive at Hogwarts.
"Hmm... it's rather different than the rest of our families, don't you think?" She questions looking at me with a soft look in her eyes.
"Yes," I state looking back at her.
"It makes sense if you ask me." She states smiling softly at me, "You have always been different than us. Not in a bad way... I believe you are the best of us. Just like your father and uncle were like my sister is." She states.
"Uncle Sirius was a murderer? How was he the best of us?" I ask, "If he was the best of us, I think that's a bit concerning, and I should be worried..." I trail laughing slightly. Her smile grows and she rolls her eyes jokingly.
"Sh. You know that's not what I meant. There was a time when we were young, he would have done anything to escape our life, and for a while he did, with James Potter actually, that's part of why I'm not completely convinced he did it..." she trails, before looking back at me. "That's beside the point though. You remind me a lot of Sirius actually, when we were children he was always questioning our families ways, got in a lot of trouble for it with your grandmother, as I'm sure you can imagine, and his beliefs were only solidified after he was sorted into Gryffindor during his first year. Your father, however, was desperate to mediate, make life in their house more peaceful, I think that's the only reason he followed the path he did, your uncle had already abandoned our family, I don't think he had the heart to do it to their mother twice. It wasn't until he had you, that his views really changed. He wanted you to grow up in a peaceful life, free to make your own choices. Did you know before he disappeared, he left you in the care of Sirius? Knew that he would encourage you to follow your own path." She asked looking at me.
"No... I didn't know that." I fib, thinking back to my discussion with Ollivander.
"Yes, well of course you know what happens to your uncle." She finishes. "My point is, my dear, that you are special, and I know Lucius doesn't make you feel that way, but I want you to know that no matter what he tells you, about the sorting, and your duties as a pure-blood, I will support you no matter what. No matter what house you are sorted into, you will end up exactly where you are meant to be. You have heart, and you're so strong. So much stronger than I ever have been. And your father? He would be so proud of you." She states firmly, bringing a hand up to wipe a tear off my cheek that I hadn't realized fell.
"Thank you, Aunt Cissy..." I say. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What happens if I don't get put into Slytherin?"I question, knowing that even though she says I have her support, my uncle would...I don't even know what he would do... but I know she would have to play along with his games.
My aunt releases a long sigh out of her nose, "Well, I think Lucius would lose his temper, and your cousin and I will most likely have to play along...but as I said I will always support you, even if I must do it in silence."
"Which house do you think he'd be the least angry with...?" I ask.
"Well, obviously, he wants us all in Slytherin, but after that, I'd say Ravenclaw, it'd mean you're smart and have a good head on your shoulders, he'd think that would be useful when the Dark Lord rises again, then I'd say Gryffindor, surprisingly, it's mean you were brave, and he'd know you would be handle everything that would be required of you, and I think he would be most disappointed if you were sorted into Hufflepuff... he has always believed those in the Hufflepuff house are spineless, and weak, with no real talent for magic... the only redeeming quality he would find would be your loyalty, the Dark Lord needs more loyal followers, so many of them have been locked away since the first war." She states after a moment of thinking.
"What house do you think I will be sorted into?" I ask, nervous for her answer.
"I don't know dear, you may be a hat stall like Peter Pettigrew was. The hat may have a hard time sorting you. You hold so many of the traits that each house represents, you have ambition, you want to prove yourself, yet you are so wise, far beyond your years, you are quietly brave, I know you have an internal battle going, about what the right path for yourself is, and the fact you are questioning it, with the knowledge of what going the opposite of your family has always done could potentially cause for you, that is incredibly brave, but you are also kind, to everyone, even those our kind can think of as less than, like the house elves, the Weasley's," I open my mouth to say something, "yes, I know about the measly boys you ran into today, I saw you through the window of the bookshop," she smiles at me, "you're loyal, always have been, to your father, even though you have few memories of him. So truthfully dear, I do not know which house you will be sorted into. I suppose only time will tell." She says softly.
"I dream about him you know." I tell her quietly, "what life would have been like, had he lived." She hums in acknowledgment as she begins to remove the hair ties that keep my braids in place.
"What would it be like? Tell me about it." We're speaking softly now, our voices almost whispers, as if sharing dark secrets. The crackling of the wood in my fireplace is the only other sound.
"We live in a cottage by the sea, I have a cat, and our living room is cluttered in books, both wizard and muggle authors, we have all of our meals together, sitting in the kitchen, and we talk, about everything, there are no secrets..." I trail thinking back to my dreams, "he hugs me a lot, calls me a few different pet names..."
"What does he call you?" She asks beginning to unbraid the left side of my hair.
"Honey, Hon, Little star..." she pauses for a moment, fingers stilling in my hair before they continue what they were doing.
"He used to call you that you know?"
"He did?"
"Yes. His little star... said that you were the light in the dark. All of the books of photos he used to put together of you, or any letter he wrote about you, you were always labeled as Little Star..." I can feel my eyes begin to well with tears, I sniff softly to hold them back. "What else is there?" She asks.
"He's happy. He smiles all the time, and jokes with me..."
"I wish the two of you had the chance to experience that with each other." She says as she finishes unraveling both my braids, now running her fingers through my blonde hair softly.
"Me too," I state softly, staring into the fire. She sighs softly finishing her job on my hair, before kissing my head, taking my wand from my hand, placing it in its box, and tucking it safely into my trunk.
"Get some rest." And then she's gone. Leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stand from my place on the floor and change into my pajamas, pouring myself a cup of peppermint tea, and retrieving the unopened letter from my bag. Staring at the black calligraphy on the envelope, flipping it over, and taking in the emerald green wax seal, embossed with the Black family crest. Inhaling deeply, I open the envelope. Ready for the answers inside of it.
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