The Letter
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.
Inside the envelope, I find several pages of parchment, all stained by loopy calligraphy, along with a necklace and ring. I stare at the objects now laying on my bedspread, I gently set the envelope to the side. Ready for the pages to return to it when I finish reading them. I stare at the pages before me, hands shaking, with nerves and excitement, this is the only thing I have received from my father, the only telling of his story from his mind. It's unbiased, true, his side of the events that lead to my life being the way it is now.
Inhaling deeply, I pick up the stack of parchment, and begin reading.
Dear Asteria, my Little Star,
If you're reading this, it means I'm gone.
I hope you are under your Uncle Sirius' care, as that is what I wished for you in case of my passing, I know he would take good care of you, let you forge your own path. Whatever that may be...and I hope he was the one to give you this letter, but if it was Mr.Ollivander, then I can only assume, you are under the care of someone else. If it is my mother, Walburga, I'm Sorry. She's dreadful, and I hope you get out as soon as you can. If it is Narcissa, and Lucius Malfoy, then again I'm sorry, I can't imagine the lies you have been told about me by Lucius... I would hope my dear cousin has a little more tact than that, but nonetheless, I am sure you've heard all there is to hear about my failure, and betrayal of Voldemort, and while that may be true, I did betray him, it isn't for the reason, I'm sure my mother and cousin-in-law, have told you.
I betrayed him for your safety, I knew if I didn't get out you would be stuck on the same path that had been paved for my brother and myself, and while Sirius was brave enough to stray from it, and pave his own, I, unfortunately, didn't make that same decision until it was much too late. Maybe if I had made that decision earlier, things would have been different, but I didn't, and things are the way they are.
My dear Asteria, all I have ever wanted for you is to be happy, no matter what that happiness may be. I feel like I owe you an explanation. For my absence in your life. You see, when your mother, Elodie, and I discovered you were on the way, we made the decision that for your safety it would be wise for me to leave the Death Eaters. You see your mother was a part of the Order of the Phoenix, a group of witches and wizards who were fighting against the rise of Voldemort, it was her, who told me about the order, and put me in touch with Dumbledore. He helped me escape, he helped welcomed me to their side with open arms, when everyone, even your Uncle Sirius, were doubtful of my allegiance. He's a good man, and always offers his help to those who ask for it, Elodie and I were no different, you can trust him.
Your mother was about four months pregnant with you, when everyone at the order began to trust me completely, though I'm sure some of them still had their reservations about my presence, I was welcomed, and so were you.
When Elodie and I found out we were having a little girl, we knew she would be cared for always by those around us.
For a while everything was peaceful, I had my brother back, and had gained three more in James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, as well as sisters in Lilly Evens/Potter and Marlene McKinnon.
They all celebrated you, the first child of our chosen family. It was this same family who named you. Your mother and I wanted to keep the star theme, but not as literal as a constellation, it was Remus and Lilly who came up with the name Asteria, who was the Titan goddess of falling stars, their noses have always been shoved in a book, so it was no surprised when they came up with a muggle goddess as your name, but it none the less it stuck, however, it was Sirius and James who kept the goddess names going when they came up with Hecate, the goddess of magic and witchcraft, which the two found hilarious. So that's who you became, Asteria Hecate Black, however when you were born, things began to take a turn... it was the night of your birth, February 11th, 1978, when, St. Mungo's was attacked by Death Eaters, in search of your mother and I, the order fended them off, while Ellie gave birth to you, with me by her side, you came into the world screaming, and full of life, but with you're entering into the world, your mother had to exit, she lost a lot of blood...there was nothing the healers could do for her.
So in her last moments, she held you close, peppering you with small kisses, telling me and this is a direct quote; "Regulus, I swear to Merlin, if you let my dying stop you from caring for our child, I will kill you. You üst be strong for her. She will need you." And just like that, she was gone...She was always a scary woman your mother, she had a fire within her that I see in you.
What was once supposed to be three became two, and I have never stopped trying to keep that promise to her. Our Elodie.
For a while you, Bill, Charlie, and Percy Weasley were the only children running around the order meetings until the twins joined us, the three of you have grown rather attached to each other, Sirius and James like to joke that you're going to end up marrying one of them, they even have a bet going...Sirius thinks George, and James thinks Fred, idiots, the both of them. Molly, Lilly, and Remus agree with me, Arthur finds the entire subject amusing.
We have had a little over a year together my star, and it has been the best year... you have brought so much light into my life, and those around you.
Unfortunately, I am embarking on a rather dangerous mission...one that not even Dumbledore knows the details of, it isn't safe for anyone else to know. You see, I am in search of the Horcruxes Voldemort created when he was still Tom Riddle, it is only when all of these dark objects have been destroyed will he truly be defeated... I have found the location of one, that is where I am heading, to destroy it. I know there is little chance of my return...so here I sit, writing you this letter, and making arrangements for your safety, in case I don't make it back to you.
You are downstairs playing with the Weasley twins, James and Sirius, we're waiting for the remainder of the Order to arrive, where I will tell them my plan, in the vaguest of details, and then early tomorrow morning I will take my leave, leaving you in the care of my brother.
I can hear your giggles echoing through our meeting location, how I'm going to miss those giggles while I'm gone... in case I don't return to you, I have left you everything I own, which now includes all of your mother's belongings, Dumbledore has the key to our vault at Gringotts when you're ready to receive it. After my mother passes number 12 Grimmauld place will be yours.
If you're reading this, that means you are now eleven. Congratulations my beautiful girl, and happy birthday! That also means you are about to head off to Hogwarts. How exciting! I hope those halls bring you joy, laughter, and happiness, I hope you make friends that become family, and you discover just who you're meant to be. Don't worry about where you are sorted, the hat is never wrong, and it sees things in our minds that we don't even know are there, if you get Slytherin, welcome, that was my house, don't let others opinions of it deter you, not all of us are evil. If you're a Gryffindor, I'm sure my brothers and sisters are thrilled, that was their house, as I'm sure it will be the Weasley children's as well...well maybe not Percy... I'm pretty convinced that boy will be Ravenclaw, always spouting out facts. If you are a Ravenclaw, well that was your mother's house, she'd be over the moon, I'm sure she's yelling I told you so to me...and finally if you are put in Hufflepuff, well I wouldn't be surprised. You have been smiling since you arrived, you love everyone and everything you come into contact with. Don't let other students make you feel bad about it either, ignore their comments about it being the leftover house, I have always believed those in Hufflepuff are the best of us... there is nothing wrong with being kind, loyal, and gentle, those are things you have always been, I hope my absence hasn't changed that about you.
Asteria...my little star...my light...my love... you are the best of us, don't forget that. I love you so much my star, your mother loved you so much. I know Sirius will take care of you, you have a whole family of people in the Order who will protect you, James, Lilly, Remus, Peter, Marlene, Arthur, Molly, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, they all love you, and whoever comes along down the line, I know James and Lil's are expecting, a boy, Harry I believe, they will all love and care for you.
Remember, do what you think is right, I will love and be proud of you no matter what. I love you my star. Daddy and mummy love you so much, to the moon and back.
All my love, always.
Daddy
Regulus Arcturus Black
P.s. enclosed I have left a few things for you, a locket your mother picked out for you, you are too small to wear it now, inside you will find pictures of us, our little family, and a ring I have chosen, a small gift so you know I am always with you.
I set the letter down, I can feel the wet streaks going down my face, indicating that the tears had finally fallen. I take a few calming breaths, thinking about what I just read. My father knew there wasn't a chance of him coming back from his mission to find the Horcrux he was searching for. So he prepared for that, he made plans for me, I was supposed to be with my uncle Sirius, the supposed murderer...
My dad was friends with the Potters...
They helped name me, I was supposed to be close with them, and all these other people I have no memory of...
Sirius.
James.
Remus.
Peter.
Marlene.
Molly.
Arthur.
Bill.
Charlie.
Percy.
Fred.
George.
All of these people are supposed to mean something to me, and I to them... but we don't... the only people from that list I have any memory of coming across was Arthur and Molly Weasley, and obviously Fred, who completely hates me, and George, who doesn't really care...
My mother...Merlin, how could I forget about her...?
Elodie.
Elodie...
Ellie, as my dad, referred to her.
Elodie what? Could I have another family out there? If I do, do they know about me?
Elodie...Mummy. Mum. Mother...
Regulus.
Regulus...
Regulus Arcturus Black. Daddy. Dad. Father...
Ravenclaw and Slytherin.
Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
Elodie and Regulus.
Regulus and Elodie.
Regulus, Elodie, Asteria.
Daddy, Mummy, Baby.
Little star...that nickname, the one that has been featured in so many dreams, was real.
He was so sure of what his path was after he left, what he wanted my path to be...
Who I was supposed to be...
Happy, care-free, loved, safe, I was supposed to be and have all of that, but I don't. Yet, I can't bring myself to blame him... I can't blame anyone, my life just didn't pan out like he thought it was going to after his departure...
That's okay...he loved me.
She loved me.
They loved me.
I refuse to let deaths be in vain. I will finish what they started. I'll be someone they can be proud of, someone, who is happy and making her own choices.
I pick up the letter and fold it gently, and as I'm sliding it back into the envelope, I notice the light from the fire catching on two small objects, the locket, and the ring. I pick up the locket first and study it closely. It was gold on a long gold chain, the circular pendant couldn't have been smaller than a silver sickle, on the front was a star and crescent moon engraved and inlaid with small, diamonds, I flip it over and engraved on the back in loopy cursive writing was "You are the best of us. ~R & E", I run my finger over the engraving before opening it up. On the left side, there's a picture of a young woman, who looked to be pregnant, but still very pretty, with long blonde hair and brown eyes, she was smiling at whoever was taking the photo, that smile only grew as she began to laugh...eyes crinkling, and nose scrunching ever so slightly as she threw her head back. Elodie, Mum. My eyes travel to the right side of the locket, where I see a young man sitting down, long legs crossed, holding a baby, and looking down at it, as the small hand reaches up and touches his nose, I can see a smile begin to form and his head moves up, looking for whoever was taking the photo, to see if they saw that too, his features were sharp, strong cheekbones, and a chiseled jaw, grey eyes, that seemed slightly red from crying, small pieces of his dark hair was shaggy, curled, were falling into his face, his smile grew, as he watched the small being in his arms in amazement. Regulus, dad.
They were beautiful. He was exactly how I imagined him, tall, dark hair, kind eyes, and happy, despite the obvious emotion in his eyes. She was beautiful, a kind smile, and beauty marks, several freckles littered her face, alight with joy, and a youthful glow.
I set the locket down, still open, and pick up the gold ring. Upon further inspection, I find that it is inlaid with tiny emeralds all the way around the band, and on the inside, an engraving, reading "My Little Star."
Both objects are incredibly beautiful. It's clear that a lot of thought went into the two objects. I carefully slide the ring onto my finger, fitting perfectly, and pick back up the locket studying my parent's faces, burning them into my memory.
Tonight, I dream of that cottage by the sea, where not two people live, but three.
All undeniably, irrevocably, incandescently happy.
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