We're in this Together

✷3rd POV✷

The ride to Hogwarts began rather quietly, for three newly established friends, on one side of the compartment, a set of twins sat whispering rather animatedly, one gesturing towards the other occupant, and the other franticly shaking his head in worry, on the other was a girl, she was sitting quietly staring out the window, aware of the scene happening across from her, but choosing to ignore her two new friends.

"SO!" George shouted, startling not only the girl across from him but his twin, both flinching from the sudden volume from the boy, in the otherwise silent compartment, "let's get to know each other shall we?"

"You don't need to shout Georgie, we'll both hear you." Said Fred in a slightly embarrassed manner.

"Shhhh Freddie, the grown-ups are talking." George teases, "So Asteria, tell us about yourself."

✷Asteria's POV✷

'Tell us about yourself.' What is there to tell? Well let's see, both my parents are dead, I live with my aggressive evil uncle and passive aunt, and sweet little cousin, my uncle is a murderer who's locked up in Azkaban, and the rest of my family are avid supporters of death eaters. That will get them to like me. Not. So instead I settle on;

"I'm really not that interesting..."

"Nonsense," George says, "there must be something."

"Well..." I trail thinking about it.

"Well...?"

"Common Black there must be something. What's your favorite color? Though I'm sure I could guess." Fred interrupts impatiently.

"Well, now I want to hear your guess..."I say.

"Black. Obviously. Or green. Judging on your usual outfits, and the ring on your hand."

I look down at the ring, then back up at them, "actually you're wrong. It's not black, it's yellow, and as for the ring it was given to me by my father."

"Yellow huh?" Said, George.

"Wouldn't have guessed that..." finished Fred.

"That doesn't seem like a very Malfoy manor-appropriate color." They say in unison.

"Believe me, it isn't." I say flatly while gesturing to my outfit, "why do you think I dress like this? Anything lighter than a navy blue and my uncle loses his mind, and that's barely acceptable. This skirt was an argument in itself." I state rolling my eyes.

"So how did you pick yellow then?" George questions.

"Well..." I begin, debating if I should reveal the truth behind my favorite color. Deciding that the Weasleys are a progressive family in the wizarding world, I tell them. "Well, you see, the house-elf at the manor, Dobby, he likes to bring me little flowers. Daisies, actually."

"You're-"

"House-elf?"

"Yes. Dobby." I insist, hoping they'll use his name.

"And this...Dobby? He brings them to you often?" Fred asks.

"Yes. He's been bringing them to me since I began living with the Malfoys."

"Why?" Asks George.

I pause before answering, considering the reason. "Well, he's kind of been my only friend..." I begin softly, afraid they might laugh, "I don't have any siblings, and my uncle has always been rather adamant about keeping my little cousin away from me, afraid I'd be a bad influence, so when I wasn't in my lesson's and Dobby wasn't busy around the household, he would come to visit me, he'd let me draw him, and we'd have tea." I finish telling him.

"You're telling me, that up until we," George starts, gesturing to his twin and himself, "a house-elf was your only friend?"

"That's kind of...sad love," Fred states softly.

I nod, going back to look out the window at the rolling grass hills, and mountains, fog beginning to roll in, so it's most likely be raining soon.

"Well then-"begins George.

"I suppose-" continues Fred.

"WE'LL-" they say simultaneously.

"Have to be your best friends." Fred finished strongly, a wide smile stretched across his face.

"We'll even introduce you to our siblings." Says George, "you can have them if you want."

"Yeah, especially Percy. He's a know-it-all." Fred agrees.

I look back at the two of them, a smile slowly stretching across my face, "really?"

"really." They say together.

Suddenly there's a knock on the compartment door, the three of us look over, to see whose there, through the glass there are three red-heads visible on the other side.

"Speak of the devils," Fred says, as the door opens, and the three join us in the compartment, filling the empty seats.

"Hello boys," says the one next to me, "who's your friend?" He asks glancing at me.

"This is Asteria." Introduces Fred.

"Steria, this is Bill, Charlie, and Percy," George says gesturing to their three brothers, Charlie is sitting next to me, with Percy next to him, and across from us next to the twins was Bill.

"Hello." I say softly, lifting my hand up to wave at the three new Weasley's, "nice to meet you."

"Awe! She's so shy, and polite!" Say's Charlie, "what's she doing with you two?" He teases.

"Hello, Asteria. I'm Bill, it's nice to finally put a face to the name we've been hearing so much about." He says while laughing at Charlie's joke. The twins slump down in their seats, seeming embarrassed by their brother's presence.

"What do you mean?" I ask in confusion, what do they mean they've heard about me...? Were the twins talking about me?

"Well, after the twins ran into you at Diagon Alley, they came home, asking all sorts of questions to our father, and to us of course, demanding answers." Bill begins, a smile still stretched across his face.

"You see Asteria, we knew you when you were just a tiny little thing. We used to play with you during order meetings. Of course, back then you were almost bald and significantly louder, you liked to pull bill's hair." Said Charlie, "of course you didn't know any better at the time. But naturally once the two of them got whiff of us knowing you, they had all sorts of questions."

"Even though we didn't know much more than them." Grumbled Percy, "I'm Percy by the way. Can I suggest you run as far away from these two whilst you still can?"

"Shove off Perc. Don't be such a downer." Said Fred, rolling his eyes still slumped in his seat.

"Whatever. I'm going to go find my friends. See you all later." And with that Percy left the compartment.

"Ignore him, Asteria. We all do." Says Charlie jokingly, as he scoots over to make more room between us.

"So you guys knew me when I was a baby?" I ask softly, receiving a nod in return from the two of them. "So you knew my mother and father then?" I ask, desperate for more information about them.

The compartment got quiet, the twins back and forth between Bill, Charlie, and I. The two older boys look at each other, then back at me, a silent conversation happening. I hold my locket in one hand, spinning it back and forth, waiting.

"Yes." Says Bill, "we knew them. Not very well though. We weren't around them much, only when mum and dad went to order meetings... but they were very nice people. Your mum was a funny lady."

Charlie nods in agreement, "yeah, she always used to bring us sweets, and sneak them to us when mum wasn't looking. Your dad was funny too, he was kind of quiet though, looking back on it, I don't really blame him, I would be too if I was on the run for ditching the evilest wizard in the world."

"He came out of his shell when his brother and his friends were around. Always throwing sarcastic comments. Merlin did he love you and your mum though, he always had to be with her, she moved, he moved. After you were born, he hardly set you down, unless he had to, and even then he only really trusted you with Remus or Lilly. Occasionally your uncle or James would steal you from him. They all used to call you something...Little...Little storm...?" Bill trailed trying to recall memories from 11 years ago.

"Little Star..." I finished.

"Yes!" He said snapping his fingers, "Little Star, that's it! Wait how do you remember that?" He questioned.

"Yeah...kind of odd, you were so little when he...you know..." said Charlie, not thinking about it, until it was already coming out of his mouth, receiving a kick from Bill, and two identical glares from the twins.

"Before he died?" I finished for him, looking down for a moment to collect my thoughts, before looking back up at them, "It's okay, you know? You can say it. You aren't the first person to say it, and I'm sure you won't be the last...My uncle likes to remind me when I've disappointed him." I tell them all quietly, "besides, I know you didn't mean any harm by it. It was an accident." I offer him a small smile, so he doesn't feel bad.

They all stare at me for a moment processing my words, before suddenly I'm yanked from my current seat, and into Charlie's arms. He squeezes me tightly, I freeze, not knowing what to do. I don't think I've ever been hugged before, at least not that I can remember. I slowly relaxed and hug him back, releasing a breathe I didn't know I had been holding. I began to feel a variety of new emotions, emotions I only ever felt in the dreams with my father, I felt safe, and cared for, by a complete stranger too. I hug Charlie tighter, pressing my head into his chest, I can feel his hand on the back of my head, gently petting my hair, I sigh taking that first feeling of comfort in, a feeling I had been deprived of almost my entire life, I feel my eyes begin to burn, an indication I was going to start crying if I didn't pull myself together. I begin to blink quickly, willing them back to where they came from. In an effort to distract myself, I focus on the environment around me, 5 things;

Taste...I lick my lips and taste a hint of salt, and indication, I had let a tear or two fall.

Touch...I can feel the material of Charlie's well-worn maroon sweater, I clench the material in my fingers, holding on to this feeling.

Smell...I can smell the scent of body spray of some sort, it was strong, but not unpleasant, and smoke, like he had been near a fire.

Sight...I can see the colors of the compartment around us, the cream-colored walls, and the deep blue plaid benches.

Sound...I can hear the pattering of rain against the window, indicating the storm had started, and the chatter of students passing the door.

I feel myself calm down. Still in Charlie's arms, when someone clears their throat. We pull away from each other, I, more reluctantly, and I run my hand down my face in an attempt to remove any evidence of crying, before facing the boys around me.

"Steria...are you crying?" George asks softly.

I shake my head, trying to avoid their stares, bringing my hand up to grasp the locket hanging around my neck.

"Asteria." Charlie begins, "Why are you crying?"

I let out a shaky sigh, looking out the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass, before I turn back to them.

"It's just...I've...I don't know..." I shake my head trying to get my thoughts in order, "I've never been hugged before..." looking down at my hands that are now resting in my lap, picking at the dry skin of my thumb.

"What-"

"Do-"

"You-"

"Mean-"

"You've-"

"Never-"

"Been-"

"Hugged-"

"Before?!" The twins yell in shock.

I shrug, feeling a little embarrassed. Bill hits each of them on the back of the head. I feel Charlie scoot closer to me, grabbing my hand, noticing my thumb beginning to bleed.

"Asteria, love, what do you mean?" He asks softly.

"I mean what I said. I've never been hugged before, not as far as I can remember." I say, "in case you haven't noticed, my uncle isn't exactly the warm and cuddly type."

"Not even by your aunt? your Cousin?" Bill asks.

"No, the Malfoy's aren't very big on physical affection...or any affection really," I state dryly.

There are a few minutes of silence before Charlie speaks again.

"Well, I don't know about my brothers, but whenever you need a hug...you come and find me okay? Anytime." He says, looking over at his three brothers. Bill nods in agreement.

"Absolutely."

"Yeah, and Freddie and I aren't going anywhere either. Okay?"

"Yeah, we'll give you so many hugs you'll be sick of them." Says Fred.

"They're serious ya know?" Charlie asks, "we all are."

I nod softly, giving them a small smile.

"Perfect. It's settled." Said Bill standing up, "we've got to go find our friends, before doing Head boy duties."

"Right! We'll see you three later! Good luck with the sorting ceremony!" Said Charlie on his way out, before popping his head back through the doorway, "Oh, and Asteria? Remember what we said." And with that he was gone, leaving the twins and me alone in silence.

"Steria?" Fred asks.

"Hmm?"

"What are you holding?" He gestures to the locket, still clenched in my hand.

"Oh, it's a locket. My father left it, and my ring for me with a letter before he died..." I only received it that day at Diagon Alley. He left it with Mr. Ollivander." I tell them both.

"Why with Ollivander?"

"He said that it was the only place where whoever ended up caring for me after his death, wouldn't think to look for it, but he knew I'd end up there eventually, even if it was only once, he knew I'd get it."

"What'd the letter say?" George asks.

"Maybe one day I'll tell you...what was in it still hasn't completely settled with me," I respond.

"Can we see the locket?" Asked Fred.

I hesitated, afraid it would disappear. After a moment of thinking I pull it off my neck gently, handing it over to him. I watch as he pulls the pendent up to his face, George pulling his wrist towards him so he can view it too. I watch Fred's finger come up and trace the moon and star, before flipping it over and reading the engraving on the back.

"You are the best of us. ~R & E" Fred reads, "what does that mean?"

"I'm not sure..." I begin, "My father said it in the letter too. I think the only one who really knows would be him, maybe my uncle Sirius, but we all know where he is..."

"Who's R & E?" Questions George.

"R is for my father's name, Regulus, and E is for my mother's name, Elodie."

"Can...Can we open it?" George asks softly.

I nod and watch as they open it gently, observing the two photos closely. They focus on the photo of my mother first, glowing from her pregnancy, observing her smiling face, and laughter, before traveling over to the photo of my father, observing his soft smile, and sharp features, my small hand reaching up towards him.

"You look like them." Fred states.

"You think?"

"Yeah, it think you take after your mum though..." he responds, looking back down at the photo's before closing the locket and handing it back. I take it from him and put it back where it belongs.

"What about the ring? Your father left you that too?"

"Yeah," I say slipping it off, handing it over to them.

They study it closely, before noticing the second engraving.

"Ahhh so that's how you knew about the nickname? The ring?" George asks.

"Well partially, that and it was in the letter as well. My Aunt also confirmed it for me, when we were talking about him."

"I'm surprised the Malfoy's talk about him..."

"They don't. The only reason my uncle will bring him up is to remind me what happens if I don't follow what he says... and my aunt, well, he was her little cousin...she'll bring uptake happy memories she has of him, before the war, but only if we're alone, and there's no chance of it getting back to my uncle." I continue to watch them, as they look at one of my prized possessions, watching as Fred tries to fit it on one of his fingers, it not going much further than his second knuckle.

"So tiny..." he says, holding his hand out, looking at the ring while still on his finger.

"That's cause it wasn't meant for you, bloody git." George scoffs.

"Well, obviously I know that Georgie. I was just making an observation." Fred responds rolling his eyes while pulling it off his finger and handing it back. I slide it back on my finger, laughing at the two of them.

"Well, look at that Georgie..."

"I see it, Freddie..."

I look at them in confusion, "see what?" I question.

"You're laughing..." George begins.

"I don't think we've ever seen you laugh..." finished Fred.

"Well, then it's a train ride full of firsts isn't it?" I say as I glance out the window, the sky had darkened significantly, the sunset behind the tall mountains, and I rise from my seat, taking my bag with me.

"Where are you going?" They ask together.

"I'm going to go change, it looks like we'll be arriving soon." I inform them, and as I open the compartment door, a warning chime goes off, "told you so."

"How did she know that?" George asks.

"No idea..." responds Fred.

And that's all I hear before the door shuts behind me and I go in search of the bathroom.

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