Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Aster! Hurry up!"

I jumped on my toes as I heard my name called from across the street. I waited for the carriages to pass, their horses slowly taking their time in an early morning stroll. The late summer sun heated the top of my head through my sun hat. Through the carriages, I saw my two friends waiting, waving me along so I wasn't late. Jessica, a pudgy, kind faced girl with eyes of milk chocolate and a smile worth a million gold. Natasha, the tall goddess of golden hair and eyes of the Mediterranean.

North of London, beyond Buckingham Palace, was a neighborhood beyond the trickles of coal fog. Life here was kinder; perfectly away from the chaos and the despair that had fallen over London. The skies blue, the grass green. Stately cottages and terracotta brick terrace homes lined the main road. Beyond, fields of late summer flowers and cobblestone streets which led to homes for the wealthy. All kind of folks lived in the little town, but the air of such a place was safe and calm.

Finally, the carriages had passed. I looked both ways for the third time before sprinting across the street. Behind my friends, was the entrance of the Kilper's Preparatory Academy for Intelligent Girls. A large, detached home that was once owned by a prominent, noble family but died away as old wealth does. The converted academy brimmed with the laughter of returning girls and word of summer travels.

"Oh gosh!" I ran into Natasha and Jessica's arms. We huddled together and in our excitement, began jumping about in place together. "I missed you both so much!"

Jessica was first to squeeze out of the huddle to look at me. "I missed you! The summer wasn't the same without you! How was America!?"

I beamed at her. "It was goo-."

"How's your hot brother?" Natasha’s Russian accent rolled off her tongue in a sultry question.

I tore my eyes away from Jessica and straight into Natasha's, who had already lifted a brow in her straightforwardness.

"Shut it!" I glared and reached for Natasha. I tried to slap her arm as I rolled my eyes at her obvious crush for my brother.

"Ladies! To class!" At the top of the academy steps stood an older woman with whitened hair and big wired glasses. She waved an arm at us to hurry along.

"Yes, Madame Kilper!"

We skipped to the classroom. A large room that was once a parlor or antechamber. The other girls had already taken residence to their seats. Some girls checking their makeup in compact mirrors, other gossiping loudly about summer and past social season.

"Before I was so rudely interrupted," Jess turned around in her seat to look at me but also shot a glare at Natasha. "Did the trip to America turn into just business for your father?"

"It was all business, yeah. But Newport was lovely! So warm and chic."

Jess’ eyes sparkled with delight. "Did you have dinner with the Vanderbilt's?"

"I did have dinner with the Vanderbilt's!" I began to squeal at my answer and Jess followed suit. "And the Wetmore's!"

Jess grabbed my hands and squeezed them in hers. "Oh my god! You're so lucky! The mansions must have been incredible!"

"It was unreal, like living a fairy tale~." I sighed as I slipped into a daydream. "The beautiful dresses and the unreal amounts of gold everywhere… It was a sight to behold… Enough about me though! How was your summer?"

I heard a snap of a compact beside me and a small exhale of a prideful snide. "I met a very cute farmer boy in the countryside."

Jess and I whipped our heads towards Natasha as she gave us the most self-satisfied of faces. "Oh really?"

Natasha flipped a hand through her hair for dramatic effect. "May have rolled around in the hay a few times together."

"Natasha! You're so bad!" I reached across the empty space between our desk and slapped Natasha’s knee playfully.

"Well! I did nothing fun compared to you two!" Jess puffed out her cheeks.

"Oh Jess, I wish my summer was boring. You're lucky to have relaxed the whole time in the sun with as many naps as you desired." I gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Oh please, I don't know if I would call studying the ancient history of Southern America, 'relaxing'."

We then all laughed together in joy. My heart full of indulgence just being with them once more.

"Oh Aster, you're actually here."

A snooty voice called out from across the classroom. I turned my head with a glare. "What do you want, Mary?"

Mary, the pretty strawberry blond that was the most desired for plenty of social seasons, stared at her nails as if she cared about them more than the conversation she initiated. "Did you enjoy your little trip to America? Hopefully you stomached the boat ride across the Atlantic well. Clearly you didn't fall off."

I felt my anger brewing in my chest, the little white lights of rushing annoyance in my eyes as my ears rang. I took a moment to collect myself with a steady breath through the motion of relaxing my shoulders. "You know, I did enjoy the excursion on the most expensive and fastest steam boat of the Atlantic. We had a coach suite on the top floor. Multiple rooms, lots of space and very lavish. Not that you would understand what that is, let alone comprehend having dinner with the Vanderbilt's. Your family’s wealth is failing quite miserably – you must think yourself so lucky to have such a pretty face so you can marry well. All the while I am going to be lined up with massive amounts of wealth for generations to come."

I watched as my insult ran over Mary and she scoffed to hide embarrassment.

"Ladies! Eyes front!" Madame Kilper’s heels rushed into the room and she slapped her hands together to get our attention to start class.

The day went by in a blur. Most of it spent by staring out the window at the gorgeous gardens I would rather spend my time in. A few times, when the light of the afternoon sun hit the atmosphere just right, I swear I saw suspended droplets of rain scattered about. The skies were clear which confused me greatly, but when I closed my eyes to get them to adjust there was no longer any rain to speak of. After lunch was had in the courtyard, Madame Kilper dismissed classes around 2.

"Bye Aster!"

"I love you!"

I had just parted from Jess and Natasha, running a finger on one of the brick walls along the road to home. I was singing to myself, enjoying the late summer heat that crept underneath my uniform. As I turned a corner, my thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a small, ghastly creature. Hobbling in my direction, I turned my attention to my finger digging into the grout of the brick to avoid staring too long. The creature that I had deduced as a demon, had large ears, sharp pointy teeth, blackened eyes with stark pupils.

Demons were a regular sight for me. They came in all shapes and sizes. As long as I didn’t stare too long and acknowledge them, they ignored me. Once the demon passed, I quickened my pace home. I ran through the gate of the front garden in a crash and watched as it closed hard behind me. I let out a stabilizing breath as I clutched my collar, finally able to feel safe at home.

The Button family estate was still surrounded by an extravagant garden, even that late in August. I calmed myself by looking at the areas of flowers that I had tended too for years now. My green thumb was passed down through my mother and I only had her to thank for my obsession of a hobby. My thumb let the flowers flourish and the soil be rich, just like her and her roses. The scrupulous nature of my gardens allowed for the plant life to thrive beyond their normal flowering time frames. I was never one to question such a blessing, as the bees were very happy they still had flora to gather from.

I paused near the strong-smelling lilies, the brightly colored delphinium, and thick bushes of lavender to watch the hundreds of bees buzzing happily in their dance of nectar. In the moment of relief, some of the working bees came over to land on my cheek and give me what felt like little kisses before flying away to go back to work.

"I don't CARE about your fucking theory, Fig. You leave my daughter out of this!"

A bee had just fluttered from me when my moment of peace was interrupted by the screech of my father. At the mention of myself, I stood and snuck into the estate to listen. Past the main foyer and the den, my father’s study door was left ajar. I could hear my father stomping his feet upon the old wood floors, but two more bodies made themselves known in the situation that I was slowly creeping into.

"I understand the want to protect her-."

"You don't understand a single fucking thing!" Father’s voice rattled my bones. He only ever screamed with such vigor if something truly sent him off the edge, and he was a man of calmly stern character.

"Theodore!" My mother screeched.

"Why do you think I built my wards? Why do you think I kept myself and my family away from the absolute filth of the wizarding realms?! I want NOTHING to do with it!"

"You cannot deny her destiny, Theodore." The older voice that I did not recognize was having a hard time keeping their battle ground steady around the angered bull.

"Fuck you and your thoughts of destiny, Fig!"

"Theodore, please. Just listen to him!"

"Do not take his side, Abigail!" I flinched as Father ripped at mother, which was so unlike him.

"I am not siding with him! I am thinking only of Aster! For God's sake Theo, she thinks she sees DEMONS! She's terrified!" Mother cried out.

"The only way for her to understand the existence of goblins, elves and other fae is to tell her the truth! Covering that with a lie is only hurting her!"

The older voice finally made a point that made Father’s stomping around the study cease.

"Theodore, please. You and I have known the truth for a very long time."

"Don't." I heard Father’s voice shake as if he was holding back tears.

"She's a witch, Theo. We cannot hide that from her any longer."

"No. She has not had an outburst! She has not done anything remotely significant! She can have a normal life with what she has!"

"Look at the garden!" Mother had finally lost her patience. "If you need any slight evidence that she has magic flowing from her fingertips, look at how she lets the flowers live. All of the flowers in our garden should have passed months ago! We should not have lilies or iris' or begonias in AUGUST, when they are June flowers!"

"It does not matter if she hadn’t a magical outburst yet, Theodore. She will have one if you continue to let her believe she is normal. Something will set her off in due time." The older voice had sided with Mother instantly.

"As long as she lives in my house, under my magic - that will never happen!"

"You can't protect her forever."

"Theodore, please…" Mother pleaded, I could hear her tears falling.

The world around me dripped into nothingness – the sound of voices drowned out by the rushing of an unknown fear that burned in my chest.

Magic, I had magic?

Stumbling into the garden outside, my stomach wished to rapidly turn inside out through my mouth and screamed out for me. It hurt, constricting in my chest to a point I could not breathe. I fell to my knees in the center, the grass beneath me still lush and green. I dug my fingers into the grass and forced them into the earth below. The ground still warm, releasing that gorgeous smell that made me feel alive.

Me, a witch? That's a bad thing; I'll be burned for that, right?

I started to cry. Unable to feel anything but so much of a mystery that I didn’t wish to solve. I didn't understand, but my mother was right. The garden – My Garden – was unnatural. It had been since I started tending to it.

"It can't be…"

I squeezed the earth into my fists as I grasped it harshly. I wanted the earth to save me, to heal me like it usually did, to hide me from the questions spinning in my head. I felt a pulse rise in me as the grass snapped sharply against my hand. It rippled like a drop in a still pond. Expanded throughout and crashed on the shore. I closed my eyes tight, trying to for everything inside by telling it was going to be alright.

That was when I heard the windows near the garden shatter. I heard the nature around me creak. When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by thorns. Viney thorns that erupted from my garden and destroyed my precious flowers. The grotesque and twisted vines mocked me in the place that was once my safe space as they slithered about as if they were alive.

I gasped and fell away from them, wanting to retreat in fear. I wanted to scream, but nothing came.

Instead, I felt arms wrap around me from behind. "Oh Aster, it's going to be okay." My mother stroked my hair and hushed me.

I sat in my father's study on the couch. My face felt crusty from the snot and tears. My mother sat beside me, holding my hands in hers. She was reassuring me everything was going to be alright. Father spoke harshly to the identified older gentleman who he called Fig. With the distance, the argument they shared was too far away to make any sense.

My mother tucked the hair that fell out of my updo behind my ear to keep it out of my face. Her face, much like my own, had fallen into older lines of regal exquisiteness and soft disposition. She was giving me a look of tender reassurance, one that made me feel like everything was going to be alright even though there was a pitch-black future beyond. 

I turned to her. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came.

"It's alright, sweetheart. The garden is fixed now."

"I'm… a witch?" I uttered pitifully.

Mother hesitated to respond, but after a time she nodded. "You are, and a very good one at that!" She bopped me on the nose and giggled.

I only blinked at her. "Are you…?"

"Oh, no, sweetheart. I'm very normal."

"And Timothy?" I uttered my brother’s name delicately.

"Just like me." Mother stroked my face as she spoke. "In fact, the wizard school thought Timmy was magical, so they sent a letter of admittance for him. But he is boring!" Mother giggled, cracking a joke to make me laugh.

The joke worked, but I only smiled at her.

Mother returned a grin as she succeeded. "Are you scared?"

I nodded. "Father acts as if it's a terrible thing. He's being so…"

"Defensive." Mother sighed. "Your father is… very scared too. It is not a bad thing that you were given such a gift. He just worries that… well, to put it blankly, that you won't survive in that place."

"Survive?"

"Your father is not… fond of the magic realms and those that are in it. He vowed to keep that life behind him so he can live peacefully."

"Did something… happen?"

Mother nodded in deep thought before she answered. "Yes, but… it is not the time to tell you though."

The chattering across the study came to a stop. Father came over to Mother and I. He sat on the wooden coffee table before me. He looked at me for a moment, before taking my face gingerly in his hands and kissed my forehead. My father, who was usually a stone-cold statue of grand poise, was showing emotions of agony and remorse. I clung to him, beginning to cry again.

"Professor Fig, would you like to have tea?" I felt Mother lift from the couch, offering a distraction in her perfect manner that could never be denied.

"I would love tea. Thank you, Lady Button."

My mother chittered as she left the room with Professor Fig, leaving me alone with my father.

"Professor?" I muffled in his arms.

"He is a teacher at the wizarding school of magic called Hogwarts." A hand of Father’s ran over my hair just as he did when he comforted me from my worst of nightmares.

I nodded as if I knew what he talked about, but the truth was it was all going in one ear and out the other.

Father then moved me away from him, allowing me to sit back into the couch once more. He shifted himself to the couch, replacing himself in Mother’s spot. "I understand how hard this is to comprehend, sweetheart."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I choked on the tears I held back.

Father thought for a moment before speaking. "The truth? I didn't want it to be true. I only wished for you to enjoy your life with a sense of normalcy." His hands reached for my own and took them into his grasp. "Plus, they never caught wind of your magic. I thought even if I had seen it in you, it wasn't enough to threaten that stable future for you."

"Oh yeah… the stable future of a woman." I grumbled as my emotions on the certain subject began to bubble.

"You know fully well; I wanted you to have the life you dreamed of." Father reminded me firmly.

"I know…" I sighed.

"Good news is that you will continue your education beyond this year." Father did the curling effect with his voice when he wanted to lure me into a different thought. I looked him like he had 3 heads and he laughed. "You'll be going to school until your 18."

"Wait… so I can continue my education?" Father just nodded at my confusion, my fingers beginning to twitch as the thought process rushed over me. "So-so instead of finishing my final year at the preparatory academy… I can instead continue my education for a few more years and… not have to become a Lady and-and get married?" Exhilaration about the idea grew the more I realized I wouldn't need to be subjected to marriage to a boy I hardly knew for a couple of more years.

"Yes, but you will be learning magic."

I stood frantically and began rushing about the room to random corners as I thought out loud. "I don't have to learn etiquette anymore? Or-or the right way to hold a spoon during dinner? Or have dreadful piano lessons? And spend my days with frumpy, hoity toity, girls that want nothing more than to be a baby maker?!" I looked at him with anticipation, my hands out grasping for an answer I wanted to hear.

Father paused in the silence, dreading the answer he would need to give. "Yes."

I jumped through my whole body when he confirmed and then shook like I swallowed a ton of bees. "I'm in! I'm so fucking in! If-if it means I don't need to go through that torture anymore! This means - AH, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, DAD?" I squealed with excitement as I turned around in circles. "I can pursue my own knowledge and what is more important- like, like the happenings in Africa or the devastation of Ireland or the stagnant discourse in Scotland or the depressing rising percentages of the poor in London or the massacre of the natives in America. I can-."

"Sweetheart, you will be learning to hone your magic to a place of perfect control. You will not have the time to become the ultimate Humanitarian."

I snapped at him as I stopped turning in circles to talk back. "PISH-POSH! I CAN AND I WILL!"

"Aster." He reprimanded me quickly.

"I have the chance to learn all the history and all the knowledge I need to make a difference. For women and future generations. I'm doing it!" I heaved a breath as I spoke so quickly even I had a hard time making sense of it. "Even if that means, I need to perfect this magic in me so I can make my dreams come true - It's worth it Dad, even with the risks!"

Father shook his head at by final words as he stood from the couch. He approached me to take my hands and led me back to the couch to sit. He was giving me one of the looks he gave when what he was about to say would break my heart.

"What…?"

"My love, you are a special girl - Just like your mother. Those qualities are what make me love you so much, to a point that you are my entire world. I am so proud of how strong you are, but I need you to understand that the scope of the world's problems doesn't stop in this reality."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a plethora of reasons as to why I abandoned the wizarding world entirely. One of those reasons is… I could not stomach the blatant racism and complete disregard for races that were less than human." I stared at him. "We both know this world we live in is unkind and cruel… but I would argue that the wizarding world is worse than the real one we call home."

"Truly…?"

My father sighed and rubbed my hands in his like they are freezing. "You know the 'imps' you see? Big ears, wide eyes, rags for clothes, torn up feet?" I nodded in response. "Those 'imps' are actually Elves."

"Elves?! Aren't elves supposed to be-?"

"Majestic and regal." Father huffed air that seemed painful. "There was a time when the elves had such qualities. However, due to their naive and gullible nature, the elves were taken and conformed… as slaves."

My entire body tightened, my blood running cold.

"Wizardkind… breed elves to be slaves. They create an environment that forces them to believe that being a slave is their only option. Elves are actually highly intelligent beings, with an innate use of magic. Yet witches and wizards berate them into believing they are far less than they truly are. They can be set free by being given gifts, but any freed elf is swiftly captured once again, stripped of the gifts and jailed to become a slave once more."

Father finally looked into my eyes. My rage made my cheeks hot and I was shaking against my want to scream.

"That anger, hold on to it. Be angry with what you see. Let it fuel you to be better than them and use your empathy in your favor. Because the moment you notice how complacent you've become in seeing the horrors, is the moment you have lost your will to care about those in less fortunate circumstances -

"It is vile and cruel. It will make you ill to see the treatment of elves and goblins around you. You will want to do everything in your power to stop it, but that world is so fucked up - you will be the only one wanting change in a sea of evil -

"It is the same story with the treatment of goblins as well. In fact, goblins and the Jewish are very similar. They have such parallel qualities to their cultures, to a point that many hypothesize that goblins and the Jewish were one and the same at the beginning of their time. Yet, Wizardkind hates goblins. They push Goblins out, remove them from having positions of power, force them into a little box while destroying the roots of their culture, murdering them in cold blood for just stepping with the wrong foot first."

As Father spoke, he stood from the couch as he untangled my hands from his. He proceeded to solemnly approach one of the cellarettes that hugged a bigger cabinet filled with books and opened it, revealing his crystal decanters. Taking two glasses from the cellarette, he filled them both slowly with a burgundy brandy as the words he spoke stabbed him as deeply as they stabbed myself.

"That's antisemitism." I growled.

"It is, but they don't care. Wizardkind want to be on top of everything. They don't want to live in solidarity. They want to rule the domain of magic and let everything stay under their boot, all the while they destroy the goodness in magic." Father picked up the glasses of brandy and walked back over to the couch.

"That should be illegal!"

"You would think that would be the case, sweetheart. Except, wizards and witches are greedy. Gluttonous fools who want ultimate control over the domain, because they could never have a grip on the true reality of the world." My father handed me a glass of brandy before he repositioned himself beside me on the couch. "I know you do not like these things, but I am asking you to remember them when you go. You will uncover more things you do not like, find things you think are worse than this. And trust me, it exists. So, hold on to your anger and acknowledge it as it comes. Hold tight to your morals and truths. As that's the only way you're going to survive."

I gripped the glass of brandy as I stared into the gorgeous color. The reflective alcohol looked enticing, but my stomach was ill by everything my father spoke. "Maybe I shouldn't go."

"That's an excellent idea." My father took a quick sip of brandy and then set his glass on the coffee table. I watched him stand once again and move to a different cabinet on the opposite side of the room, behind his desk.

I paused, "Are you just saying these things to make me change my thoughts of leaving?"

Father faltered just as he opened the cabinet. Again, even though I could not see his face, he was methodically choosing his words before he answered me. "If I said no, I would be lying. However, I am also saying these things as they need to be said. I would never want to send you to a place such as that. I like to believe I am a good father, and no good father sends their child into a war zone."

I smiled at him as he glanced at me over his shoulder. Father was good - so good. He was strict and demanding, but he never once looked down on me for my opinions. He was always the first one to come running when I needed help. There by my side to fight tooth and nail when I did something stupid. Always ready to hold my hand and always there to embrace me close after a nightmare. He and my mother created a wonderful environment for the family. That was something I could never deny.

He finished opening the cabinet he stood in front of. He then took out a long wooden box with a silver clasp. Holding it in his hands for a moment, as if he reunited with nostalgia, he approached me with the box held out for me to take. I took the box and opened it to find a wooden stick.

"My wand. You'll need one to begin learning the basics." Before I could ask, Father explained what I was staring at. "Since you'll be leaving in a few days’ time, we don't have the luxury of getting your own."

"Don't… you need it?" I scrunched my face as I took it out of the box and held it like a fragile porcelain spoon.

"Well… no. I have a few spares in the crawl space. You wouldn't believe it, but I was once a very clumsy young man with two left feet. I broke my wand frequently - mostly which by just sitting on it."

I looked at him with an arched brow and a curious eye saying nothing in return.

"Don't look at me like that… You look too much like your mother." Father cleared his throat embarrassedly. "I only loosened up and recalculated my footing as your mother forced me to take… ballroom dance lessons."

I let out a loud, snorted laugh. He let me laugh for a bit, letting the emotions I was holding inside roll out in hilarity. "Mom has known the truth all this time?"

Father nodded, "I was very open about the truth to her about myself and you. She is the most open-minded woman who genuinely treats everyone with love no matter what. I felt the most comfortable telling her when we met, and she was unfazed. She also never looked at you differently once I knew there was something there."

I twisted the base of the wand between my thumb and pointer finger. "When did you know I had inherited your magic?"

Father looked to the coffee table remembering tender memories. "You were 3, when I found a wooden block floating beside you while you were playing in the den. You didn't even take notice to it; I believe it just happened. We left you alone for too long, and you got bored. So we started giving you something to catch your interests more and more, and it never happened again." Father smiled as he brought back fond memories he kept locked away for safe keeping. "I am proud we taught you how to register your emotions as you grew. To eb and flow with them, while being open to what they were so you could communicate how you truly felt. That was important to keep the magic from consuming you."

"That… doesn't sound great." I strained my voice as I looked at the wand.

"It will be alright. As you continue to do so while you train, your core will be only that much stronger." In that, he sat beside me once more and held me again in a tight hug. "Tomorrow you will begin learning, but for right now, you should rest."

"Is there a choir, Professor Fig?" I said, harshly swallowing the breakfast I had in my mouth.

"Swallow your food before you talk." Father didn't even look up from behind the newspaper. His voice lectured me loudly, as usual.

I woke in the early morning as the sun had just crept out from behind the skyline and filled the sky. I slept like a rock after two glasses of strong brandy and when I had finally registered what I was going to be doing that day, I jumped out of bed in a flurry. I had dressed myself in something less than formal and finally had a chance to meet Professor Fig over breakfast.

Professor Fig laughed, "There is a choir! Are you interested in it?"

"Very much so!"

"She has a beautiful singing voice. It would be a shame to not join it." Mother beamed as she leaned onto the table in a happy rock. She did quickly change the subject with a clear of her throat so we could switch to a more serious discussion, "If you can provide any insight on what she would need at Hogwarts, we can get it together-."

"We will mail out the bulk of her things after she leaves. Aster must have a sense of what she's doing. She doesn't have the time for stifling through old things." Father again spoke out from behind the held up newpaper.

I pulled my mouth and shook my head at Father’s attitude. "I don't mind if you pack for me, Mom."

"Oh! That sounds fun! I will do that for you then, so you have all the time to focus on your magic." Mother began to daydream about what to put into what trunk that I already had.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Professor Fig get my attention with a throat clear and he spoke softly. "Whenever you are ready, we can begin."

I threw my head at the garden immediately, overcome with excitement. The two of us excused ourselves from the table and headed into the garden. Walking through it, it wasn’t the same as yesterday. Even after father cleared out the thorny vines, the gardens were desolate. The life they once had all but disappeared. I felt the want to weep bubbling in my chest.

"I apologize for my father's ruthfulness, Professor." Instead, I created a subject of distraction. We moved to the open part of the garden as I squeezed Father’s wand in my hands.

Professor Fig waved a hand about the way older men do when they want to dismiss what had been said to them kindly. "Oh, I do not mind in the slightest. Your father is a very determined man with an unmovable protection of the ones he loves. If he wasn't, that would be a concern." He winked at me and placed the tip of his wand to his nose. "Now, we will start with your wand handling and basic throw of magic…"

Professor Fig showed me how to hold my wand and explained to hold it in any way it felt more comfortable. That part was fairly easy. When it came to casting spells however, everything kept fizzing out. I stood there staring at the wand after it sent a static shock through my wrist with a large pout. Professor Fig began hypothesizing what was going wrong, until Father came out. He stood to the side, trying to make himself unknown but he was glowering as usual, so it was quite hard to ignore him.

"Why are you holding your wand with your right hand?" Father raised his voice across the garden and made me jump.

I froze, "It felt right-."

"Don't try to fool yourself with your ambidextrous talent." Father snapped. "You are predominantly left handed - hold the wand in your left hand."

I nodded reluctantly and switched hands. It felt weird at first, but after a moment of adjusting, a spell came simply. A green light shot out and flew towards the estate fence, but fizzled out before it hit anything.

"Very good, Aster!" Professor Fig celebrated.

"Much better, well done." Father spoke.

I beamed at them both.

Basic casting came so much easier after switching my hand. Professor Fig had summoned a wizard dummy from nowhere, which made me scream. After hours of beating up a dummy man, my hand began to cramp. Professor Fig decided to work more on the core of oneself.

"I have taken notice that you are uneasy." Professor Fig addressed me with caution.

My breath hitched in my throat as I went to answer him. I then threw my shoulders up in dismissal. I wasn’t about to start complaining about my garden, it felt silly too.

I heard a breathless puff of a chuckle. "Is the garden a place you feel most centered?"

I grimaced. "It is, but…"

"The thorns are gone now, nothing else should come from it. Meditation will do you well." Professor Fig motioned for us to go to the place I was yesterday when my magic lost control.

I nodded reluctantly. We sat together in the center of the front garden in the grass. I stared at the damage that was most visible at the bed of the soil. It still saddened me so much that I felt tears begin to well. I could no longer hear the substantial humming of bees that laughed in sweet delight as they worked. I could no longer see the spider den of my Ladybird friend that always followed me about when I gardened. It was far too much to bear after it all.

"Aster?" Professor Fig called to me. I turned and a tear escaped. "When you casted the thorns, what did you feel?"

I paused as I hugged myself. My hands rubbed my arms as if I was cold in the late summer warmth. "A pond of empty sadness with still water. A droplet fell into it, and I felt the ripples of the water flow through me."

A look of determination took hold of Professor Fig’s expression. "Focus on that emptiness."

I closed my eyes and focused. I felt a surge in me once more, I homed in on the sadness I felt of my garden. The pond now filled with a dark reflection of what it once was. When the droplet fell like a tear, I heard a bee buzz to my ear and land on it gently. The sudden touch of something so wonderfully familiar, made me open my eyes and found my garden was back to normal. A bee landed on my cheek as I let my tears go with a miserable laugh.

"Magnificent, isn't it?"

I smiled with the utmost gratitude. I was unable to answer, but I still felt a small kiss on my ear as the bee there flew away.

"The insects do not bother you?"

"Why would they? They are a very important part of the ecosystem we live in." I shook my head strongly, fighting back as many tears as I could. I scooped the bee on my face with a single finger and watched her, she licking up the salty tear that had been dragged along with her in the transfer of surfaces. Just like the other, she left gingerly and flew towards the lavender. "Bees are cautious but are inherently good creatures - so much so they can sense that goodness in others. They can also sense those with evil intent, and will act upon it if needed."

"And the spider?"

I couldn’t believe Professor Fig’s question that I looked at him with widened eyes. Nevertheless, my gaze tore ass to my other hand in my lap that he was staring at, and I could no longer contain my sobs. There she was, in all her perfect glory. My Ladybird spider that was the size of my palm looking up at me with a tilted head.

"Hi baby girl." I brought her upwards to my face as I whispered. Her front legs lifted in a wave of hello, reaching for me so cutely, I couldn’t help by laugh. "Curious and strong. Highly intelligent. Spiders know when you fear them, but also know when they are safe." Just as she was in reaching distance, she grabbed ahold of my nose and tapped me a few times with her mandibles. She then turned to Professor Fig, lifted her legs up at him with a wave and turned back to me with the sweetest look. "A fully matured, female, Ladybird Velvet spider. Isn't she lovely? She's lived here for a few years now. I am proud that the garden is where she raises her offspring. She trusts me, and I trust her." I moved my hand away slowly and let the Ladybird spider walk off. She skittered across the grass with great speed towards the garden and I beamed as she disappeared into the new greenery that grew from my concentration.

"I fancied the idea that you would follow in your father's footsteps upon reaching Hogwarts, seeing how driven you are by your pursuits. However, I am seeing that you will be following your mother's steps if she were a witch."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Your mother is a delightful Lady. Poised and kind. Compassionate and Considerate. Patient and fair. You have gathered her traits well."

"Oh, I see. Thank you, Professor Fig."

It was well past dinner; I was sitting in the study with Father and Professor Fig as I practiced a spell that Professor Fig taught me. I learned the movements for Lumos, a wand lighting spell. He asked if there was anything specific I would like to learn and my answer was to get rid of one of my biggest fears - the dark.

"Theodore, do you think she should learn about Wards before she leaves?" Professor Fig was sharing a glass of brandy with father. The two were chatting quite cryptically about the good old days, until he brought me back into the conversation.

Father did not hesitate at the suggestion, and he nodded strongly.

The wand in my hand froze mid movement and I looked to my father. "What are Wards?"

"Wards are a form of Charm magic that your father perfected while he was at Hogwarts. So much so that he is heavily mentioned in the Charms textbook." Fig smiled like a proud grandfather as he spoke of Father's success.

I blinked, trying to comprehend the magnitude of what Professor Fig spoke. "You're in a textbook?"

"Constantly ahead of yourself, Fig." Father shook his head at the over flattery as he moved out of his armchair to sit beside me. "Focus."

I nodded and turned to him.

"Wards - also known as glyphs or fields - are used for many methods. Their main focus was purely protection. To keep whatever is inside the ward from exiting, or to keep things outside of the field of scope from entering into the space."

"Incredible!" I gasped.

"Your father has had your family home warded since your brother was born. He specifically wanted to keep out anything that could harm the family."

I puckered out my bottom lip in confusion. "But we could leave and come back?"

Professor Fig winked at me. "That is where perfection comes in."

"Wards were incredibly difficult to manipulate as they were set as a single purpose to do what is intended - to protect. However, manipulating already known strokes in an inscription or even creating your own strokes to encompass what you want the Ward to do, is incredibly easy. It's all a matter of mind over magic. Once mastered, the creator of the ward does have significant standing over the properties it creates, which other wizards and witches still idiotically argue against."

"Now keep in mind, Wards are not shields." Professor Fig interjected quickly.

"A Shield Charm is always centered on the mage that cast the shield, as its intended use is to keep things away from yourself in a small field that surrounds you. Wards are written. Meaning you can write a Ward and walk away. The Ward will usually keep it's magical properties as long as you keep a focus on the Ward. Now, if you Master Wards-."

"You can write a Ward, walk away and forget about it?!" I squealed loudly as I cut my father off to answer.

"Precisely." Father looked proud nonetheless.

"Your father's ward, that is in the center of this office, was written 19 years ago and hasn't faltered since."

I looked over the study to see if I could find the ward Professor Fig spoke of. I caught a glimpse of a dim glow on the floor. A written symbol glitched in and out of existence. It was in the shape of a circle, but inside laid a formulated inscription that bent and curved like methodical cursive. One stroke after the other creating a symbol that I could not comprehend at this moment.

"Just so I know I am understanding this correctly…" I stared at the spot on the floor where the ward was but was hidden out of sight. "If I wanted to, could I close out a ward from people leaving and entering, while also adding properties like invisibility, noise suppression or anything else that I would need for that Ward? Then if I mastered Wards, I could walk away and forget about it?"

I looked between Professor Fig and my father, who both nodded at my question.

"Dad! That's so fucking cool!"

"Language!" Father scolded me with his eyes closed, as if he wasn't surprised by my reaction but was still annoyed by my foul use of language.

"Sorry." I giggled, "But… Wards are stationary?"

Father relaxed into the couch with his arms crossed. "They are."

"Okay, but if I wanted to, could I write a Ward on my hand with ink and then that ward can be stationary on me… where I then could move around and that ward will move with me?"

Professor Fig made noise before he spoke. "I do not believe so. Wards are written with your wand in light. Writing on yourself with that magic would prove difficult. Now, I do not recommend this, but it could be written in blood. So if you wish to carve into yourself…"

I screeched at the suggestion, "Oh gosh, no!"

My father cleared his throat suddenly. I then found a smug smirk across Father’s lips and a single eyebrow lifted for measure.

Professor Fig sat completely stunned across from us in the armchair he occupied. "You're joking…?"

"I couldn't go around Hogwarts writing Wards on any surface I could. My theories would have been halted before I scratched the surface. So I practiced on the most unstable surface, myself. When I was able to write a Ward on myself without it malfunctioning or fizzing out, I also mastered Wards in every other department."

Professor Fig hung his head as he smiled. "I should have known."

"Don't tell the students that though. They'll go writing invisibility Wards on themselves instead of using a disillusionment charm." Father then stood from the couch and moved to his desk. "Now, I do not know what Professor Fig has planned for you, but you are going to master Wards before you leave this house."

"Theodore, she needs-."

"She will not leave this house without a single stable way to protect herself. She is learning Wards above anything else.

Professor Fig nodded with hesitation.

"With that," I felt the magic around me dissipate and Fig's eyes widened. "You are going to rewrite the Ward that I made to protect this home."

"Theodore! It's your best Ward! You're asking her to do the impossible."

"She is my daughter. She will get it." I felt the wand in my hand be pulled away by an unseeable force and it flew into my father's hand. With a slow swish, Father summoned a desk that was covered in books out of no where. "Come, Aster."

Father moved out the seat for me before he turned the wand in his hand with the handle to me so I could take it back. I approached him reluctantly but I sat down under his gaze, not able to ever defy him. Knowing Father, whatever was about to come was going to be intense. To a point that caused Fig to react as he did like my father was asking me to kill a kitten. I was beginning to worry.

"Deep breaths, you can do it." A kiss to the head allowed me to breathe. "Let's begin."

"Again!"

"Dad!" I screamed, on the verge of losing my god damn mind. I was kneeling on the floor, surrounded by papers and charms textbooks. The ward I began writing was blown away by Father before I even got to the fourth stroke. "It's been 2 days! I'm trying to- It's not-."

"I don't want to hear excuses. You have another 48 hours to get it right. You are on the right path, keep going."

Father’s words were strict as they usually were, but as tired as I was, they were like knives being thrown at my pride. All I could do at that moment was put my head down and curl into a fetal position. "Give me a second…"

In my own desperate way to keep my sanity inside my skull, I heard rustling around me.

"These 3," Father's voice was close and gentle. I lifted my head and saw 3 sheets of parchment with the ward symbol written in ink being held before me. He had moved from his standing position, once looming over me like a Commander of war, to his knees to share the same demeaning air as me. "What do these 3 have in common?"

"They're failed attempts?" I tried really hard to stop my voice from shaking my weak vocal cords.

"No, each stroke curves into the other." Father corrected me.

"But, to get the barrier to allow for entry and exit of specific people, I have to break-."

"You can not break the strokes when writing an inscription. I have told you this a thousand times. Breaking the inscription creates an unstable nature to the ward and it can be incredibly problematic. Especially with a Ward of this magnitude. You must connect each stroke simultaneously."

I did. I did hear what he said about a thousand times. It was all just too hard to understand. I had never felt more stupid in my entire life. It was all too much to grasp that I became so overwhelmed, I could only cry.

"Sweetheart -."

"Let me cry! Fuck!" I screamed at him as I snapped back. "FUCK!"

I heard Father take a breath to stabilize his own uneasiness. He then stood and left the room for a moment. When he came back into the room, he had a glass of water in hand and by that time I had calmed some.

"Try again, slowly."

I continued practicing until the morning dawn. The late summer morning birds brought a small sense of solace with their songs. Father was sitting in one of the armchairs and I had gotten up to use the bathroom quickly. When I returned, I stood over the carnage of my work. Hands on my hips, I felt the sleep I was deprived of for the last 60 hours tease my eyelids. I kept my eyes open at the ink inscriptions I wrote on the paper Father had held out to me hours before. The room began to spin a bit, but finally in that audacious spin of exhaustion, I finally saw what I needed.

"Wait…" I uttered, snapping myself awake. I stared at the papers and my stomach lurched. "I'm so stupid, how did I not…" I fell to my knees and fished for a new parchment. With ink, I wrote the inscription I concluded in my head in a fury. "I'm so fucking stupid." I picked up the wand and began writing on the floor. My father did not stop me this time. Every stroke formed together and I finished the inscription with a circle as intended. I watched as the Ward surged and set into the floor.

My father stood quickly.

"Did I get it?" I began to sob, screaming with desperate pleas. "Did I get it?!"

He turned out the door, I following as I stood in a fury. He rushed through the house which then turned into a run towards the front gate. He reached out to touch the barrier that fluttered in the light around the property. His hand was stopped as he pushed against it but he looked up, as if he was dissecting my work in perfect order.

"We can't leave… and we're invisible."

"Oh god." I wanted to throw up.

"However! You are not stupid and don't tell yourself you are." Father gave me a much needed smile. One as bright as the sun that rose in the East. He finally showed me just how proud he was, even though I was beginning to doubt it . "You got the base of it down wonderfully. All that is needed is some edits to the strokes and intention."

I screamed and jumped about in the open front door happily. The sense of relief that flooded over me was every bit as sweet as I was wishing it would be.

"Write it a few more times now. You'll get it."

Oh, and did I. Took about 4 more tries, but I successfully wrote the most complicated and most intricate Ward ever in existence. In celebration, I laid sprawled out on the floor next to it and just cried until I fell asleep.

"Oh my sweet girl, I'm going to miss you." My mother squeezed me in her arms.

"I'll miss you more." I didn't want to let go, but she was the one that peeled away from me.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

Mother gave me a look that was both full of excitement and cheerful. There was also a hint of emotion that I recognized. One that was afraid of letting go but knew that it had to be done. I could feel the matched emotion within myself, as I didn't want to leave her nor did I feel ready to leave her either.

"Remember, keep practicing your Wards." Father stood beside Mother. Together we gathered near the carriage that Fig had summoned for he and I. "Once you get them right, you can start placing them without needing to write them all the time."

"I know, Dad."

"My charms textbook-."

I tapped the chest of my jacket, where a small inside pocket was. Inside, my father's original Charms Textbook shrunk down to fix nice and snug. "Small and in my pocket."

"Good." Father then reached for me to say his own goodbyes. He kissed the top of my head and held me close. "I will see you soon when I drop off your things. I love you."

"I love you too."

Chapter Text

I stared at the vial in Professor Fig’s hands as he placed the glass stopper back into the neck. He watched me for a moment as I was trying to comprehend the memory we saw. At the same time, also make sense of his hypothesis that the glow I was seeing was the same resolve to the enigmatic conversation between two strange men I witnessed.

We stood together in the odd, octangular, dark blue marbled cavern that was connected to the Gringotts vault. The atmosphere unsettled me greatly, especially after witnessing someone else’s memory like a play. An air that was lowly dank and thick like smog, with a smell that reminded me of a smoking gun. As if the dust of time and the nature of such an impermeable room being disturbed after so long, had lit aflame and stuck to my nostrils like cordite. 

What I wanted to say in response to Fig; I was not a fan of the semi suffocation I had to endure to watch someone else’s memories in a pool of wetless water. Instead, I spoke the question that kept bouncing around my head as it was more appropriate to my clause.

"Can I… see magic?"

"Traces of an ancient magic to be precise. A source of magic Miriam had believed to exist but could never truly grasp what it was…" Professor Fig turned to me, a determination in his eyes that was unmatched. Something about it made my insides uneasy, there where this was leading was going to be greater than I could imagine. "Miriam - and George - died in pursuit of this knowledge that has been dormant for centuries and you, it seems, are the key to understanding why-."

"Who were they?"

"I don't know, but sir, you cannot be here."

Professor Fig’s explanation was cut off by voices outside the blue and copper door. The voice of the sweet goblin from before who led us to the vault itself, was pleading to another. Suddenly, the doors swung open with intense force.

"Well, well. How am I not surprised?"

A group of goblins busted through the doors together. The sweet goblin I chatted up while trying not to panic on the awful suspended track to get the vault was following behind, what looked to be, a bunch of thugs. The guard from before that I sussed out as odd with the red arm band was among them. However, the one that led the pack, was none other than the Goblin on the daily prophet.

"Ranrok." Professor Fig snarled loudly as he ripped his wand out of his coat. He moved to stand before me as he took a few steps forward.

"I know my reputation precedes me, Fig, but no need to be so shocked by my presence." The threatening posture and the tilt of the head increased the sarcasm that fell from Ranrok’s lips. "I was beginning to believe no one would ever visit the lost Button vault."

That is when time stopped for me. My heart – my blood, both ran cold and I felt as if I was overcome by the internal scream of a banshee. Lost ‘Button’ vault? While making our way through the cave system, the sweet goblin explained that the vaults were owned by magical families. He explained very specifically that one like the vault we went too was one of a very prominent and rich family. If what Ranrok said… it was my family vault?

"Now, there is no need to fight. Why don't you give me what you found and all will be forgotten." Even I could sense the betrayal that would come from Ranrok if we were to agree with his terms.

"Um, sir. They did have the key to the vault." The sweet goblin tried once more. His lawful nature only caused Ranrok to stare with murderous intent. "I must insist that the rules clearly state, I am only to grant access to the one with the key. They were allowed to enter and as such, you should not-."

It was so simple, the way the goblin I connected to before died. Ranrok just lifted a hand and he went flying into the air. Suspended for a moment, Ranrok then threw his hand down and the sweet goblin fell as well. Slamming into the ground with a crushing slap that hardly covered up the cracking of bones and the splatter of his head. I gasped so loudly as I felt my knees wanting to bring me to the goblin but only froze in place.

"I have no patience for traitors."

"Why would you do that?!" I yelled out without thinking, my chest wanted to curve into itself with the rising empathic pain that overpowered me. "He's just doing his job; you didn't have to hurt the poor thing for that!"

I felt Professor Fig’s eyes turn to me as I begged internally to see some movement from the goblin that was brutally assaulted before me. His words were barely an utter, "Aster-."

"What is your role to play here, child?" Ranrok looked over me for a moment. He stared at me, watching for an sign now that I made my presence known to him.

"Honestly," I did the best thing I could think of in that singular moment. I clapped my hands together for dramatic effect and began trying to compromise with fear itself. "I'm more of a passerby. In fact, I'm only here because I wanted an adventure and was down for a good time. I have no idea what is going on! So! I think we should all take a moment and breathe, so we can talk about what's going on. I am very confused, and I truly think this is a great misunderstanding. Wouldn't it be a great idea to sit down and have a chat?"

Ranrok looked at me like I was deceiving him, which I didn’t blame him for thinking as such, but then saw I was being genuinely stupid. "A chat? Child, I have no idea who you think you are, but I'm in no mood nor want to have a conversation with the likes of you."

"Well, that's very rude! I'm only trying to understand what's going on. There's no need for hostility." I threw my hands to my hips in a motion to regain my dignity, but I think it made it worse.

"Aster, stop."

I began to sputter, my terror taking over. "Look, everything is fine! We just-."

"Keep convincing yourself of that, child." Ranrok held a hand out to me, palm facing the ceiling. His palm began to glow with the same snarly, twisted red magic that blipped in and out of a subspace blackness.

My stomach and my heart became one as they jumped to and fro. I took a step back instinctively. I guess I was scared to a point that my magic reacted on its own. My father's ward I got down to a perfect projection, sprawled out from my foot as it settled in a new place on the marble floor. The Ward’s magic surged around Fig and I; my eyes turned to the floor as I squeaked over my own reaction.

"A Button." Ranrok growled as if he found the Caribbean treasure of a lifetime. "What a victorious day."

"Oh, fuck me!"

I shrieked and magic began flying around us, Fig in attempts to protect me and Ranrok in attempts to get to me. Ranrok's large ball of magic collided with the ward causing it to shatter. The abrupt dissipation of the ward caused a wave of energy to surge from the center, and pushed Fig and I to the opposite side of the room. I don’t know if the room was reacting to outsiders, or the threat of wanting to destroy the room for unattainable information, but the ground began to turn into water around the pensive. It molded black, and one of the giant, steam, mech soldiers formed out of the ground with a large sword. Fig and I watched as it began fighting Ranrok, its large sword the size of one of the supporting pillars, swinging low and splitting the ground.

"Aster, we need to leave. Now!" Ranrok’s magic pushed the mech soldier back and it collided with the wall, disordering a pillar nearby.

I looked around frantically and saw another mirror like the one in the ruins. "Professor, there!"

Professor Fig grabbed my arm and we ran together, dodging falling debris.

"You can't run forever, Button." Ranrok called out to me, his voice low below all the noise of destruction. I looked over my shoulder to see Ranrok giving me a snide sneer as I put my hand on the mirror.

The force of wanting to get away with our lives, caused Fig and I fall out of the translucent mirror that disappeared behind us. Now no longer in a vault or strange room in between nowhere and everywhere, we crashed into the middle of a forest.

I fell to my knees in the dirt, staring blankly at the moss under my hands to ground me. I groaned, hearing my father's warning in my head clearly. Dragon Attack, Ruins, Gringotts, a murderous goblin, ancient magic I can see, magical trials - my head was spinning and that was a enormous underestimation.

"Ranrok… How did he become so powerful? I have never seen a Ward shatter like that under such intense magic. Let alone a goblin do such a thing before." Fig began to pace. I could see his feet trample the lush moss in my peripheral. "Something is not right. Terribly wrong, in fact."

I tried so hard, so hard to understand. Hard to reason with Ranrok before anything got out of hand. I wanted so much to discuss what was going on, but there was clearly a pain behind Ranrok’s eyes that would never be fixed through a simple talk.

"What happened to him that made him hate so intensely?" I spoke to the moss as if it could give me an answer.

"Aster? Are you alright?"

I felt the air move around me as Fig crouched beside me. I finally sat up straight through my spine to look at myself. Immediately, I wanted to swear profusely about the rip in my mother's skirt and the dull strain in my left hand from the frantic casting of magic I didn't understand. I took a breath to calm myself instead, "No. I'm just slowly piecing together how right my father was about this whole thing."

"Don't give up quite yet. You've only just begun this adventure." Fig offered me a hand to take. "As you said, you're here for the good time."

I chuckled at Fig’s poke at my earlier attempts to lighten the mood and stood with his assistance. I then dusted off my knees and looked around us, "Where are we?"

"Ah yes!" He looked around and exclaimed in happiness. "Whoever was in the memory at the pensive, wanted someone like you to find what we have found. Not to fear, we are safe now. Hogwarts is only a short walk away."

"Finally…"

Fig and I entered the castle after rushing through the forest and a dim lit pathway towards the castle. I kept my complaints of my fears about the dark but stayed close to Fig as we rushed through dark open fields. Before we reached the large castle, he took my hand and used a green powder that zapped us instantly across the property. The fast travel had me turned around sideways even after Fig tried explaining to me what happened. However, the voices of other students finally traveled to our ears, drove us forward with hardly any discussion. The thrill in the small entrance hallway was positively bone chilling.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Fig has just slid one of the large double doors open, when a voice rang out from behind. The entire hall erupted into a vibrating mixture of screams and celebration that shook the hallway floor.

"Holy fuck!" I uttered in shock without thinking.

Fig gave me smile at my shocked reaction, whether it was to giggle at me or share his own excitement that I was to have such a moment. In the comedown that flickered into a gentle chatter, Fig stuck his head in through to peek around one of the large doors. He exhaled with relief, and he turned back to me joyfully.

"We made good timing. Come, let us try to sneak in quickly." He motioned for me to step before him.

Before I could take a step, a strong hand caught the door. I jumped back instead as the door was forced open.

"You're late." An older man with a goatee glared down at Fig and I as he gingerly moved beyond the door and pushed it closed with his shoulder. His stature was extremely similar to my Father’s. Bold, sharp, poised but there was a lingering sense of fragile dignity that radiated from the gentleman’s eyes.

"Headmaster Black," Fig sighed. "We are not entirely late. There are still a plenty of new students to get sorted."

Headmaster Black only stared at me, that little dignity I sensed trying it’s hardest to assert some sort of dominance. "Are you going to explain to me your tardiness or are you going to give an excuse as usual?"

Fig took a gentle side sliding step to stand before me. He was clearly uncomfortable by the uncouth staring I was receiving. "No matter if I explain or not, you will still think ill of the truth."

"We fell into a precarious situation which delayed our time quite substantially, Headmaster." I spoke up, my etiquette repertoire taking the reins in my head and piloting over my anxiety. "A particular angry dragon tried to kill us, so I think that's a great excuse to be late."

Fig gave me a warm smile as a silent thank you. "Phineas Nigellas Black, Headmaster of Hogwarts, this is Lady Aster Button-."

"I'm well aware of who she is." I swore I heard a light sneer behind Black's words.

I watched in curiosity, but I curtsied perfectly in response. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Black."

"How trained of you." Black made a snide comment.

Fig grimaced, fighting the eye roll he wanted to produce in response to Black. Instead, he placed a hand on the back of my shoulder to give me a supporting gesture. "Very good! Now, if she is to be sorted, she must enter."

Black continued to stare until a double blink broke him free. "You look just like your father."

I shook my head at his sudden words and watched him turn inside with the same soft slide from before. The door was left open as he entered, and Fig sighed.

"I apologize for that, Aster. Do you need anything?"

"A double shot of the strongest Ouzo in all of Greece." I was absolutely dead serious at that moment even though my nerves were flaring, which Fig picked up on.

He laughed as he shook his head. "Anything else?"

I lightly pouted at Fig for a moment, not getting my liquid courage any time soon. Quickly, as my apprehension pounded in my chest, I dusted off my skirt. I took off my jacket but with nowhere to go, I floundered for a moment before I decided to throw it into the corner. Yet, Fig swiftly took it from my hands before I could and folded it over an arm, which I breathed a thank you in response. After, I straightened my collar, I slapped my cheeks a few times, patted down my hair and pinched my lips sharply. The stinging hurt in my lips that were causing them to feel red and swollen, which grounded me for a moment as I held my shoulders firm and prepared. With a deep breath and hands folded at the stomach, I nodded at him.

He beamed at me. "Confidence is key."

Whispers filled the hall as I morphed in with Professor Fig beside me. My shoulders taut, daring like knives to protect the nerves. I could feel my breath hitching in my chest as the assumptions lingering in the floating talk began to fill my ears. The eyes were a lot, that was certain, but the condensing whispers were nothing new.

"Oh! I didn't see her before."

"Where did she come from?"

"She just walked in with Fig."

"Isn't she an adorable porcelain doll?"

A set of feminine murmurs set my ears aflame, and I homed in on them. I stepped forward as another student in front of me was placed into a house, but I was far too busy focusing on the conversation from afar to figure out what was going on at the front of the room.

"Is she a first-year student?"

"Does she look 11 to you?"

"Gosh, no. With that posture, she looks ready to throw down with anyone that looks at her sideways."

"I find that wonderful in a Lady."

I snickered, keeping my expression straight. I felt compelled to play with my ponytail as I listened to their playful gossip. But I stopped myself as I caught my hand reaching past my shoulder.

"She wanted to play with her hair. Poor thing, so nervous."

"Seems the high class etiquette school didn't beat that habit out of existence."

"You think so?"

"I know so. She has to be at least 15. That air of Upper Class Society is radiant."

"And she's just showing up? That's bizarre."

"When is this place not bizarre?"

Another step forward and I dipped my head in acceptance to the observations the girls were making.

"Wait… oh my gosh! Is that…?! It is!"

"What?"

"Girly there, is wearing a skirt of silk brocade!"

"Shut up!"

"With intricate embroidery! I guess someone is RICH… What's important about a skirt?! Godric's Ass, you're a violent fool. That skirt is at least 400 pounds."

"If she doesn't join our house, I'm gonna be so fucking pissed… Shut up, Sebastian! No one asked you for your unintelligent opinion."

I took another step, and while keeping my mouth closed, I pressed my tongue to the bottom of my top teeth. Their energy was the perfect distraction, until I realized I was up next and I was just standing there staring at the floor while I listened to the far away murder of some teenage boy. I looked between the adults beside me expressionlessly.

"Aster?" Fig squeezed my shoulder to shake me out of whatever trance he thought my anxiety threw me in.

"I'm sorry… I checked out for a moment."

"Do not worry, Lady Aster. The hat will not bite." The women before me smiled beautifully, a hat with a wicked floppy face held in her hand.

"Not bite physically, right? Where does that fall in the mental department though?" I quickly looked down at the raised platform that had a few steps upwards. I took a step up cautiously.

"Quite questionable."

I laughed out loud to calm my nerves, but it was quite high in volume and I snorted as I abruptly breathed in for air hastily. I placed my fingers to my nose in surprise. "I'm so sorry."

"Come sit, dear." The woman motioned to the stool, suppressing the smile she held behind her eyes to a low degree.

I let my hand fall away and nodded. I stepped forward onto the top raised platform to sit on the wooden stool beside her.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Oh!" The woman exclaimed happily. "Guess you won't be bitten after all."

I stood startled, just staring at the hat flabbergasted with eyebrows jumbled together and mouth wide open. I didn't even get to sit down and the hat in her hand bellowed out. That stupid fucking hat absolutely just read me like a book, knocked me down for size and spit in my mouth just to call me typical. No matter, the hall practically gasped together at the placement and cheers erupted.

"Following in your mother's provisional footsteps." I felt Fig pat my shoulder. "I'll come find you later, we will need to discuss what happened in the vault. Keep what happened between us for now."

He held out my coat and I took it from him. He winked and stepped away in nearly a second.

"Aster, come stand with me for a moment." The woman who was holding the hat, had placed it onto a table in the back of the platform, and motioned for me to approached. I shuffled off to the side and stood with her. Black began speaking to that hall, but she whispered to me, turning her full attention to me. "You will need a school uniform. I presume that you wouldn't like to magically alter your current outfit as Professor Fig did not do that beforehand?"

I covered my skirt with my hands quickly as if it would save them while giving her the same courtesy of attention. "Please, no. The skirt was my mother's."

"Ah, I see." She nodded. "It is torn in quite a few places."

I looked down and whimpered dejectedly at the rip in the side seam and the fraying of the embroidery. Magically, I watched the rips in the embroidery pull itself back together and the seam pull tight as it should. I looked up and she was putting her wand away in her sleeve.

"Much better. Well then, if you tell me your measurements, I will fetch some new clothes and have them for you by the morning."

I swallowed the urge to cry that was building in my throat. "Thank you, Professor…?"

"Professor Weasley. It's an honor to finally meet you, Lady Aster."

"It's wonderful to meet you as well, Professor Weasley."

"As Deputy Headmistress, I will be showing you to your quarters this evening. However, I am also here to answer any questions you have about the school, your classes, your new founded magic… Just about anything you need." She motioned forward with a sophisticated swoop of her hand out towards the hall. "Have you eaten?"

I finally noticed we were alone in the giant hall. "I have not."

"Not to worry, we will be passing by the kitchens. We can grab you something before you rest." She nodded her head to me to follow and we walked the length of the hall. We turned out the double doors together, I finally felt like I could embrace comfort in her presence. "I must confess, I am surprised your father let you come to Hogwarts."

I stayed silent and took a lengthy breath at her words.

"Are you regretting your decision?" I realized she was watching me, and I met her gaze.

"I do not regret it. It's more overwhelming than anything. I have no idea what I'm looking at or what I'm doing." I rolled my shoulders to give them a break from being stiff. "I'm also partially terrified… I really could not imagine what I was getting myself into."

Professor Weasley took a moment to think on what I said. "Good news about that, is you have 3 days until classes truly begin. You can familiarize yourself with the castle at that time, so you can get that under your wing quickly. Getting lost here is the fastest way of learning how to use floo powder magic effectively. I may also suggest you introduce yourself to your Professor's as well. They will be incredibly vital for you to learn the utmost you can about magic in a very short amount of time. All of them are prepared to answer any questions you have and teach you diligently to get you up to speed in no time."

I nodded as I stared at the ground, my eyes following the jagged lines of the rug runner in the stone corridor.

"I will warn you now," I felt a tender hand on my upper arm and Weasley caused me to stop our walk together. "This year's finals for both Fall and Spring Term are going to be astronomically difficult, and I do not mean that lightly. As you will be catching up with everyone, you will have multiple exams for your courses split between the two exam periods. Some of the Professors have agreed to consolidate the work into 2 exams only per exam period. While some have decided to give you more than that to push you to your limits."

Weasley gave me the worst news possible – Now I am fucking regretting it. I closed my eyes, and I felt my whole body deflate in an upset puff.

"If I know anything about your father, it is that he promoted education greatly in your household. Your brother is studying at Harvard Law and now you are here to become a witch of the Button family line. I know you are fully capable of taking this all head on." Weasley continued on even though I wanted to fall over.

"Thank you for having faith in me, Professor Weasley. I definitely need it." I could no longer keep my composure and let my shoulders fall with a growing frown.

"We all need a little push of encouragement to get ourselves through." Professor Weasley continued on with our walk.

"How did you know my brother was at Harvard?" I skipped a few steps to stay be her side.

Professor Weasley laughed to herself for a moment. "When we mistakenly sent a letter to your brother about 8 years ago, your father wrote back to us, chastising the mistake we made. He said your brother was going 'farther in his life as a natural human in Harvard, than falsely setting foot in Hogwarts'." Professor Weasley reminisced for a second. "There were also many more colorful words involved, but I beg not to repeat them."

I laughed short, a smile growing at something my father would absolutely do. "I don't know if you were aware, but my father is sending many of my personal items up soon, since I couldn't take them with me. I'm not sure when though…"

"Thank you for telling me that your more personal items will be arriving soon. It is comforting knowing you didn't come here with only a coat." Professor Weasley began descending a spiral staircase. "Now some small housekeeping things…"

As we descended the spiral staircase, she swiftly told me the rules of the school. There was much power behind her reciting the rules, which reminded me greatly of Madame Kilper. Strong and attentive, holding an air that made me feel like I could be vulnerable with her at any moment. It was a nice reminder of home for those seconds.

Together, we then turned into an open doorway and found the kitchens. I would have been in awe; except for the fact the kitchen was crawling with elves. I stared at them as she spoke to one of them. I gripped my coat, holding back the yelling I wanted to give. My stomach fell into the pits of darkness against the ick that filled my body. They were so tiny, working in a human sized place. It was awful to witness. An elf walked by close to me carrying a platter, and I watched them for a moment. The elf had a smile, but the rags for clothes and the torn-up feet made me want to cry. As they passed me, I witnessed them trip on an uneven stone. I caught the platter before it hit the ground and the elf themself in the other arm.

"Oh, thank you, ma'am." The elf squirmed in my arm as I stabilized the platter with one hand making sure nothing fell, and I released the elf quickly thereafter.

"Sorry for grabbing you suddenly." I apologized as I looked it in the eyes.

"Coop appreciates it no matter! You saved Coop from scraped knees!" They smiled at me as I stayed crouched to the floor beside them.

"You're very welcome, you shouldn't… have to get hurt as you do." Their sweet grin was tearing me apart.

The elf only radiated their thanks at me. My heart ached; they were so stinking cute. They took back the platter from my hands and I watched them continue on as if there was no issue. As I stood, I found Professor Weasley watching me. There was no malice behind it. Her gaze was clear of any negatives. In fact, it resembled reserved happiness if anything. She held a plate in hand, and a cup in the other. She silently motioned to the door and I nodded.

The door shut behind us, "Must this place use elves?"

She turned in surprise and I glared at her. She watched me, as if to read the emotions I let out.

"I would like to tell you that it's better here than anywhere else, but that truly does not matter… as the subject itself is a slippery slope." Professor Weasley looked down at the empty plate and cup. "I will attempt to ease your heart, in that it is strictly forbidden to bother or berate an elf here, which is something I have pushed intensely. Improper treatment of any Hogwarts elf is no laughing matter."

"That's great and all, but they're still slaves. I don't care if you give them room and board as their payment." I condemningly rolled my eyes. "That's still the definition of a slave by proxy."

"You are correct." Professor Weasley agreed quite quickly. She paused before she spoke more, "I take it you have a more humanitarian view due to your life outside the realm?"

"A view? Humanitarianism and Buddhism are the very center of my being. That doesn't change regardless of what realm I'm in." I scowled.

"That is refreshing to hear." She took a deep breath, as if she was breathing fresh air. "Word of advice; do not be afraid to speak your mind. Fight tooth and nail on a subject that matters to you most, even if that means you have to scream to be heard. You will find the views of others here will not fit to your standards."

"I've been made aware."

"Good." Weasley passed me a smile of acceptance.

"Permission to thrash anyone who decides to put their hands on the elves?" I started to bottle up my anger on the subject to calm my uneasy heart.

"Denied. However, I do not have jurisdiction outside of school, so take that as you will." I thought I saw a quick wink from her, which caused me to flick an eyebrow. "Come, let's get you settled."

Opening the common room, the two of us walked inside. The chatter of the first day back came to a halt. Professor Weasley seemed unphased by the eyes that turned towards us. She moved me through the common room, and we turned up the rounded stairs. On the upper floor, she opened a round door for me and I slipped inside. 3 girls were already sitting in their beds, lively chatting.

"Alright, ladies, this is Aster Button." Professor Weasley moved to the center of the room. "She is just starting out as a 5th year, so be courteous and kind."

"Of course, Professor Weasley." The smaller girl with short black hair smiled, holding a giant puff of hair in her lap.

"Aster, this is Poppy Sweeting, Adelaide Oakes and Charlotte Morrison. Your new roommates."

"Nice to meet you, Aster." Adelaide and her warm voice soothed my ears.

"Nice to meet you all. What is that…?" I uttered quietly at the puff ball.

Poppy laughed and the puff ball turned in her lap. Its big round eyes looked at me and I screamed. "This is Gerald; a Puffskein! Gerald is harmless so don't let him frighten you. Though, he will stick his tongue up your nose if you're not paying him enough attention."

"Poppy has a tendency to bring magical beasts into the common room when she is not allowed." Professor Weasley spoke sharply. "However, we have allowed her to keep her Puffskein. The puff is quite young and needs a lot of attention."

"He's just a baby!" She smiled big.

I curled my body into itself, unable to contain the cuteness overload. "He's so cute. I-I can't look at it anymore, I want to squeeze it so hard."

"The cute aggression is quite normal towards Puffskeins. Just make sure you don't actually squish them to death." Charlotte relaxed into her headboard.

"Your bed is here, Aster. Get a shower and some rest before tomorrow. When you want to eat, take the plate and cup in hand. The food shall appear instantaneously." Professor Weasley smiled as she set the cup and plate on the nightstand. "Now, measurements?"

"Yes! Um…" I looked around for paper frantically, but Professor Weasley held out a quill and pad of her own. "Thank you."

"Very good." After I wrote down the measurements, she turned in her heels. "Goodnight, ladies."

"Goodnight."

I sighed as silence came over the room. I approached the bed that I was assigned, and felt my body come to a complete halt inside. I flopped onto the new bed with a grunt.

"I heard you're from London. You must be exhausted traveling that far." Adelaide made small talk.

I groaned into the mattress and then turned over. "You have no idea. My body feels like it's ripping apart."

"That's quite dramatic." Charlotte laughed at me.

"I have a tendency to over exaggerate my feelings, but at the same time - it's also accurate to how I feel." I laughed at my own expense.

"The sorting hat hasn't automatically placed someone into Hufflepuff in a while. It's very special you're here." Poppy moved to place her little Puffskein to a makeshift basket bed on her bedside table.

"Last time was… 3 years ago, I think. The small boy that tripped up the stairs." Adelaide thought out loud.

"Oh Styx, you're right. The poor thing was so embarrassed." Charlotte sighed.

"No matter, welcome to Hufflepuff." Poppy shot up straight in bed. "I do hope we have some classes together."

"Agreed! They split us up between the mandatory classes. Makes it more manageable for the years." Adelaide instructed me quite simply. Listening to her voice was very similar to a benevolent governess or a preschool teacher.

"I wonder if I will have a class with Garreth or Samantha." Charlotte dreamed.

My ears immediately perked up, my interest piqued selfishly for the drama. "Crushes?"

"Just the peers Charlotte currently fawns over. It changes quite frequently." Adelaide giggled.

"I'm more interested in seeing how everyone has changed since May." Poppy began getting into bed. She was already in her PJ’s, her hair slightly damp as if she bathed quickly. "Who's gotten more awkward, who's gotten more confident - it's always a fun guessing game."

"I can show you where our lavatories are." Charlotte smiled at me.

The thought of a shower or bath caused my body to throw itself out of bed. "That'd be lovely, thank you!"

Charlotte led me back downstairs. The common room was dispersing with other students, who were wandering into their rooms for the night.

"So did your dad truly keep you locked away from Hogwarts?" Charlotte asked nonchalantly, thankfully with no one around.

I blinked at the ridiculous question. "Oh… no. I had no idea I possessed magic until a week ago."

"Oh." She looked shocked and then her face molded differently as she tried to comprehend how just discovering magic at 15 worked. "I would think that a Button would take pride in his children having magic, being a Slytherin and all. I guess the rumors are wrong."

"My father only wanted to protect me. My magic was very dormant and wasn’t a threat, so he was hoping I could have a normal life."

"Ah, I see. That's quite endearing of him."

We exited out of the Barrell entrance for the common room and immediately crossed over to the one before it. The barrel across the way opened to the lavatories and we entered. I bit my lip as the humidity of the air hit my nostrils, that was mixed with the smell of teak wood and incense. The light mixture of Asian and Roman bath was incredibly regal. The main room was scattered with mirrors in gold frames, vanities of toiletry items and two rows of sinks back-to-back. The baths and showers were open, but gender coded behind long curtains. I could see the showers that lined the walls, with the large wooden tubs in the center.

"I'm sorry I assumed." Charlotte spoke up after I took the bathroom in with quiet delight.

"Oh don't be sorry, I don't mind."

She blushed a bit at my kind dismissal, "Well I might be asleep when you come back. If I am, I hope you sleep well. Take as long of a shower as you need."

Chapter Text

The next morning, I woke up at half past 10. I was so shocked at the time on the alarm clock, that I jumped out of bed with a scream. In doing so, I scared Adelaide almost to death who was reading quietly in bed. The widened brown eyes of fear and a blush laid on her fair skin that darkly contrasted against her blond hair. Almost immediately, she apologized to me for not waking me sooner, as if it was her fault entirely. At the reaction of her worry and empathy, I blushed and apologized profusely for scaring her. There was a round of sincere apologies before we both started laughing about the situation. I couldn’t help but stand there a moment as the energy died around us, watching Adelaide and the way her full cheeks accentuated her smile. There was something about Adelaide's air that made me relax around her. The smoked honey tone of her voice had a power of its own when she spoke.

"Professor Weasley dropped off a uniform for you."

At the foot of the bed, laid a new uniform. There were a few options to choose, from skirts to trousers or suit jackets to waistcoats. It took me a moment to choose something particular that fit my preferred style. Adelaide beamed at me when I finally slipped on the house robe, stating the colors suited me well.

"Are you going to be walking around alone today? It's a good way to get to know the castle. If it's too overwhelming, don't feel bothered to ask me - I'll come with you."

I could only thank Adelaide for her kindness as I did want to wander by myself. I wanted to see the realm in the sunlight and what glories it had. I could only imagine such reprise that awaited me outside. I skipped out of the common room after saying goodbye to her and decided to wander.

I immediately got lost in the Viaduct right outside the Great Eating Hall. Though, even in that moment of feeling lost, I stood near the stone wall to look out to the lake before moving on. The late morning sun made the breathing air warm but the chill of the Scottish Highlands nipped at my legs underneath stockings.

I forced myself away from the southward view and kept moving along. I somehow stumbled upon the Grand Hall as I crossed over a large stone bridge over a ravine. I didn't even try to figure that one out as I ducked inside with a bunch of other students. The sound of excited chitter chatter and those reuniting was extravagant in the echo of such a Hall. I got psychological chills as I descended down the stairs, but my attention was pulled elsewhere before I could take it in completely.

"Is… is that a greenhouse?"

My heart skipped a beat. The oxidized copper double doors with intricate bronze detailing pulled my soul. I hesitated like I was going to intrude upon heaven. Walking down the stairs and pushed open the door. Even in the entrance hall, the smell of trapped sun and happy plants filled my nostrils.

"It is a greenhouse! Oh my gosh!"

I couldn’t control myself if I tried. I ran down the staircase and pushed through the second set of doors. I was almost moved to tears. The scent was just what I needed to ground me. I walked in a circle around a giant tree in a trance, trying to decide where to go. There were so many doors to choose and a pathway that led to a tree centered fountain. I felt overwhelmed with so many possibilities, I could never truly choose where to go when I wanted to see it all at once. So, I looked to the tree I stood beside first.

"Sit down, take it all in. Then go look. Yes, good plan Aster."

I sat myself down at the base of the tree. Nuzzling my body to conform to the roots I nestled into. I sat, breathing gently. The trunk of the tree felt like it was hugging my curves. I let the smell and the atmosphere soothe me calmly. While watching the butterflies flutter about the ceiling, I felt sleep come. I tried to fight it, but I fell asleep against the tree. That comfort was something I could never deny.

Though short lived, as I was awoken by the touch of something soft.

"Oh, Bouncing Billywigs!" I turned my sunken head to find a stunning redhead crouched beside me. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"That's alright." I stared with a few blinks. Her long, braided, red hair and dark hazel eyes blended so well with the greenhouse backdrop I thought she was a benevolent spirit at first. I spoke again in a bit of trance, "Am I okay to sit here?"

"Oh, of course! I was only hoping to make you more comfortable." She fluffed the wool blanket some more and then laid it on my lap.

I nodded and smiled under her own that she gifted me. Her energy was infectious, and it was then I came to realize she was real and not a fragment of my imagination.

"You must be Aster- …I say that as if I wasn't at the sorting ceremony." The women shocked herself with her own attempt of an introduction, and I laughed as she did to fix her own mistake. She waved a hand and then sat on the grass nearby. She fixed her skirts and turned her upper half to me. "Ignore that. Of course, you are Aster. I am Professor Garlick; for your Herbology course."

"Oh! Professor, I apologize for not being more aware. It's wonderful to meet you." I bowed gently since I couldn't curtsy.

"Oh, my Chomping Cabbages, you are so polite." Professor Garlick hugged her hands to her heart. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well! It is not every sorting ceremony that the hat calls out a Hufflepuff placement before it even gets a chance to speak to the student."

I pulled my mouth to side and into my cheek. To counter act my awkward response, I laughed. "That took me incredibly off guard."

"Even so, I think the hat was absolutely correct with its placement." Her energy simmered as she looked to the canopy of the tree above us. "Only a true Hufflepuff can find solace falling asleep under a tree without a single worry in the world. On top of that," Professor Garlick’s eyes moved from the canopy and she looked to me tenderly. "The fact that you are so unphased by spiders, speaks volumes."

I blinked and followed her head tilt that she gave me with an adverted gaze downward. On my chest, we're two male jumping spiders, playfully dueling each other with their arms up. I laughed in shock as they waved at each other, side stepping in a circle without taking their eyes off each other.

"How did you not feel them running all over your face but felt me putting a blanket on your lap?"

I looked back to Professor Garlick and beamed. "Insects just don't bother me. I hardly feel them most of the time, and when I do, I get more excited about them choosing me as a place to stay for a while." At that, I slowly took my father's wand from my pocket. I placed the tip between the two boys fighting and scooped one up swiftly. Before it could jump on my face as I raised my hand, I put him to the tree above me. The other I scooped with my free hand and set into the lavender on the other side of me. "Goodbye, little friends."

Together we sat and watched them scurry along, no longer bothered by the little duel for authority. Professor Garlick cleared her throat when they both disappeared out of view. "Well then, would you like a light, speedy course on the plants you will be introduced to in class? I won't give any deep details, but I think giving you a fair warning about some of them is the least I can do."

"Yes, please!"

I got up from the grass with Professor Garlick and entered the greenhouse classroom with wool blanket on my arm. She introduced me to the chomping cabbages and the screaming naked mandrakes. Magical plants were fucking bizarre, but at least Professor Garlick laughed when I called the Mandrakes 'big fat babies'.

Leaving the greenhouse after the crash course, I entered the Great Hall with a calmed heart. I felt much more at home and bit more grounded about my choices. The only unsettling thing about my reentry to the very boisterous hall, was that it was disgustingly quiet. So quiet, a pin could be dropped on the opposite end and you would have thought someone dropped glass. I felt compelled to check the time because it felt like it was a quarter after midnight with the sun out.

"If you think I am going to send my daughter to the wizarding realm and not come to check on her - you're more complacent and madder than I assumed, Black."

Father's voice echoed loudly in the great hall which made me jump back in shock.

"There is absolutely no problem with your presence, Lord Button. I am uncertain where Lady Aster will be at this moment, but we will find her if you wish to chat first." Instead of Headmaster Black responding with strength, Professor Weasley spoke out firmly, taking action before anything escalated.

"Thank you, Matilda. There is much to be discussed about my daughter's well-being in this Hell Hole." My father growled, he beyond petty and irritated.

"Dad?!" I raised my voice as I quickly ascended the stairs that led down to the Greenhouse.

What I found at the top of the stairs, was something that should have shocked me but more made me flick an eyebrow at my father’s typical behavior. Father was face to face with the Headmaster that patronized me the night before. Both men of the same height, glaring beams of lightning and heated squinted glares at each other. They stood near the mermaid fountain, with other Professor's standing by. Professor Weasley was standing close to the two grown men that were acting like quarreling children. She was clearly sweating from the possible attempts of murder that could occur at any moment. She had a fist pressing into the base of her neck as she gripped her forearm with the other hand. Almost as if she tried to mediate the situation with a stern hand but failed, yet was still ready to step in quickly if need be. An older woman in her 70s stood nearby with her hands folded over her stomach, as another gentleman of my fathers age stood beside her. Both had a very amused expression as they watched in coolness.

Father turned towards me as I rushed over from the stairs, finally retreating from his stand off with Black. He scooped me into his arms easily and squeezed me like he missed me for an eternity. Even though I was only gone for 24 hours. Upon parting, he looked at the Hufflepuff robe and beamed at me as he held my face.

"Just as expected." He looked so proud. I couldn’t help but get a little misty. He straighten his stance from our hug just as he released my face, and turned to Professor Weasley once more. "We may chat later, Matilda. For right now, I wish to be with her."

"Of course." Professor Weasley nodded with her eyes closed, as she tried her best to cover up the relieving sigh that came with the distraction I made.

"Sharp, I'll come find you later." My father spoke to one of the other professors quickly. The middle-aged gentleman, standing beside the older woman, nodded silently and turned away with leave. In my confusion, Father grabbed a hold of my hand and tore me away from the group of professors that gathered. "I have your things, let us stop by your common room quickly."

I could only nod as we ascended the stairs together. I did look behind me for a moment. I found Professor Weasley quietly reprimanding Headmaster Black as they two walked away together. The other two Professors watched me leave with Father; the older women holding a smile that only left me wondering what it was for.

"Lord Button?" Someone called out to Father as we reached the top of the stairs. A taller Slytherin boy with stark blond hair and Nordic features came striding over in confidence. A hand laid on his chest. The prepared gentleness that anyone of high society was taught. "James Gore. I hope that I am not interrupting you-."

"No, not at all. Gore, you said?" Father reached out a hand for a shake; his brow furrowed as he acknowledged the boy.

James shook Father's hand with grace. "Yes, sir."

"Poor boy, I am sorry to hear that." Father ultimately failed to have his filter on. A filter that wisely chose his words. Ultimately, he spoke his thoughts out loud, coming off crudely. I silently winced at my Father’s own belligerence, but Father looked at James’ robe and grinned with recovery. "However, as a Slytherin, I say you give your family a better name."

"Thank you. You know my mother, actually." James smiled at the compliment. His next words causing my Father to react much differently going further. "Siobhan Greengrass."

Father tried to suppress the laughter that came but he still allowed the nostalgia to flood his face. "Know your mother? I dated her when I was still in Hogwarts. How is she?"

I couldn’t help but gasp and then giggle to myself.

"She's very well, sir." James gave a very pointed nodded and a straight shouldered smile.

"So unfortunate, she had to marry your father - No offense." Father meant every offense with his words. I could tell by the way he breathed his apology without matter.

"None taken, my late father wasn't the best of men."

"Oh he's dead?" Father blinked, his voice having no condolence for the death of the boy’s father. "Well, Siobhan must be living her best life now."

"You truly have no idea." Not that James minded, in the slightest. In fact, I sensed James was happy that his own father was no longer on earth, with the stupendous grin that formed on his face.

Father seemed to give his condolences to James' mother. His face fell into more fonder lines, a look I've seen him give only to those he cares for. "Good, good. She has such a good heart and kind disposition. It brings me great joy to hear she is well. Are you the youngest?"

"Yes, sir."

Father tilted his head to help his memory, "And you have an older brother?"

"Yes, sir."

The smirk that fell on my father's lips was wicked. "Ahh, you must get away with murder."

James matched my father's smirk quite perfectly. "Yes, sir."

"Very good, as you should. You are older in age though, yes?"

"Yes, 17.”

"About to graduate! Congratulations, and where are you headed?"

James gave my father a small shrug, as if the thought had crossed his mind but he didn't care much of the result. "I have options but I haven't chosen a path yet. I might travel the world a bit with my special someone and figure it out when we return."

My father beamed. If my father knew the boy better,  I swear a shoulder pat would have accompanied my father's delight. "That's lovely. You should do that. The outside world is gorgeous."

James and I then made eye contact. I was so lost in the conversation, as I usually was. When James acknowledged me there, I jumped a bit. "I apologize, sir, but your daughter-."

"Sweetheart, come." My father beckoned and I took a wide step towards them. "My daughter, Aster. James Gore, a 7th year."

With a perfectly rehearsed smile, I curtsied at James.

Father placed a hand on my back as I finished. "If there is anything you need, sweetheart, look for a Slytherin. They will make it right, faster than you can blink."

"You bet we can." James chuckled. "But to be quite forward, just look for me. I'm Head Boy, after all. There's no better help in the entire castle."

"Thank you very much, James!" I smiled at his offer of help. I had no idea what the concept of 'Head Boy' meant, but to have his generosity was enough for my heart to feel at ease.

James turned back to my father. I noticed his confidence lightly fluttered with what he said next. His pride for his house was as thick as it could be. "If you would like, sir, I will absolutely open the common room for you, if you would like to take a trip down memory lane."

"That's a tempting offer, I might take you up on that." Father thought for a moment. "But I really should get her things in her room."

With that, my father said goodbye to James with a firm handshake. Once parted, I watched over my shoulder as Father and I climbed the next set of stairs. Seeing as my curiosity got the best of me, I watched as James headed over to a Gryffindor boy that sneakily stood off to the side. The two talked to each other quite closely, until the Gryffindor boy and I made eye contact. In a moment of awkwardness and recovery, I couldn't help but smile at him, before turning away completely.

"Dad?" I addressed Father when we were away from a lot of ears.

"Hm?"

"Why were the Professors all huddled around you?" I questioned the original scene I walked into.

"Ah, I'm not allowed to be here."

I blinked a few moments. My eyes looking off into nowhere with shock. "What? Why not?"

"Because of a stupid rule, that does not apply to me, which has now been made extremely clear."

I stared at him as we moved beyond the Viaduct and entered the Grand Hall. His answer had confused me greatly. I couldn't understand why he wouldn't be allowed on campus. What school didn't allow parents to visit their children? It seemed a bit preposterous that such a rule was ever in place to begin with. After a few moments of not being able to understand completely, I shrugged it off.

We moved beyond the Grand Hall and down the spiral staircase into the basement. We then entered the common room together. Though, Father did place a ward down before we entered. I wasn't sure why, until the obvious happened. The ale barrels clearly did not want him in the common room at all. But the ward he placed, slowed down the reaction. When we had already stepped inside, when the barrels spewed vinegar on the floor behind us. At least the mess gave us a good chuckle. He then followed me upstairs promptly, to the other Hufflepuff's dismay, and we entered my room.

With a flick of the wrist, all of the travel chests mother had packed, appeared at the foot of my bed. Some of the furniture changed slightly as well. The short dresser turned into a vanity, and my blankets from home appeared on my bed. Father even informed me that he and mother would send me letters, through a little jewelry chest which could be found on the vanity that appeared beside my bed. He plucked a letter out that was already in there with mother's handwriting and handed it to me.

Hi, my sweet girl!

I miss you so much already. I have addressed the academy that you will no longer be attending. I did have to tell Madame Kilper that a possible marriage could assume in America, which is where you went in my lie. I'm sorry, I couldn't think of anything better to tell her. She's so demanding... Natasha and Jess miss you so. They have come by expressing their sadness that you left without saying goodbye, but I did explain to them it was for the best that you didn't, as you would be away until the Spring. If you need anything, write to us! Your father is going to be very fortuitous in checking your progress and making sure you are safe.

I love you! - Mother

"I miss them already…" I muttered to myself as I finished the letter. I folded it up in a trance and gently let it fall from my fingers, onto the comforter of my bed.

"Your mother?" Father was pretentiously going through my things without me realizing it, but I didn't even mind.

"Of course I miss her, but no, Jess and Natasha… we went everywhere together." My heart ached. I had no friends, and I knew absolutely nothing about where I was. There was a sense of loss and homesickness that was building at the bottom of my stomach that I was trying really hard to ignore.

"You will make new friends, sweetheart." My Father dismissed my worries with his own confidence in my extroverted behaviors.

"I just hope not under the pretense that I'm your daughter... So far, that's the only thing people bring up when we talk."

Father finally paused in his pursuits of rummaging through my things. He stared at me for a moment, before coming over and kissing the top of my head. "Come, let's take a small tour."

Good, a well placed distraction. Just what I needed. 

We headed back to the Great Hall together. We chatted very little. I kept getting caught up on my own thoughts. I couldn't exactly tell him the truth about my travels here. Though, Father was giving me a look that he knew something was amiss already. Instead, I focused on the whispers of other students as we descended the halls. So many newborn rumors of what ifs. Little specks of my travels to get here. Except all blown out of proportion clearly. But I couldn't help them from wandering into my thoughts. All of which, I tried to ignore.

Father and I then turned down a dark hallway, tucked away in Central Hall. Black cauldrons stacked ceiling high, were haphazardly placed near the entrance of a doorway. A waft of strong herbs and medicinal agents hit my nose. It nauseated me for a moment, but I decided to ignore it as Father pushed beyond the doorway in an excited stride.

"Sharp!" Father bellowed out with boyish delight. As if calling to an old friend.

"Button, you were almost smited, my friend." A tired, but gentlemanly voice strained for a moment in a laugh and quiet tease. A little grunt followed and a mix of chuckles.

As I turned the doorway, I watched as two grown men hugged each other like long lost friends.

"I would like to see Phineas try." Father proclaimed as he pulled out of the hug. He immediately looked down while leaving the embrace. "How's your leg?"

The gentleman I could only deduce as Professor Sharp, sighed. He shuffled a little bit with a terrible limp as he tried a more comfortable standing position for himself. "Getting sore as it gets colder, but otherwise the same."

"I can place a-."

"Don't even think about it. Do you think I want to constantly stare at your glowy little ward in the center of my classroom? No." Father tried to propose placing a Ward for Professor Sharp, but Professor Sharp denied so fast and kind of patronized Father for even thinking about it.

"Fine, fine. I just wanted to offer." Father turned to me when he remembered the topic at hand. "Sharp, my daughter."

Professor Sharp acknowledged me silently with a nod and smile. "She isn't getting any special treatment because she's your daughter. In fact, I expect great things."

I took a deep breath and sighed at that. Father angrily glared at his old friend. The stare could have been given to Professor Sharp if he had just murdered someone, rather than deny me easy passage.

"No, it doesn't matter anymore if you're older than me. She needs to catch up, so she will be expected to do the work needed to do so." Professor Sharp stuck to his morals. He even stuck up a weary finger at Father for emphasis.

I really didn't want to speak out of turn, but the possibility burned my cheeks. I dreaded the next question that came out of my mouth, yet I needed to ask it. "May I ask… if this is one of the subjects I won't have condensed exams in?"

"Precisely."

"Excuse me?" Father growled.

My Father's slow turn glare at Professor Sharp was honestly one of the more hilarious expressions I had ever seen on Father, but I was too devastated to truly appreciate it. "Some Professors have agreed to give me condensed exams for term finals. However, some expect me to take the full amount of what I missed."

"Don't give me that look, the answer is no. She can do it." Sharp smirked to keep the laughter of Father's overreaction inside. "Dinah is also not allowing for condensed exams."

"Damnit Dinah!" Father cursed loudly with anguish. "She's not going to do well in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Professor Sharp over dramatically threw his hands around his shoulders and turned away with an exaggerated sarcastic tone. "Oh no, what are you going to do? Looks like you'll have to talk to Dinah, just as she wants."

Father's face fell into a place of exasperated annoyance. "Why is she like this?"

"I stopped asking myself that question years ago." Professor Sharp cleared his throat as Father took my hand once more and headed for the door. "Drink later?"

Father shook his head to Professor Sharp's request. "I must return to my beautiful wife before sundown, or I will turn into a cockroach. Otherwise, I would absolutely take you on that offer."

"Oh no, what a shame." Professor Sharp was full of sassy sarcasm. 

"I will see you soon, Sharp."

"If you continue to be overbearing, I expect nothing less."

With annoyance falling on his face, Father walked me through the dark hallway once more and turned left outside double doors. Through a tiny courtyard, we ended up in what could only be called the Dark Arts tower. Even though he looked unpleasant and deep with thought, Father let me enjoy myself. The lavish marbled tower was stunning to take in. Even the echos of such a tower gave me chills and I had to let out some loud hums just to hear the reverb.

On a floor that I lost count of, a door for the classroom was open. Father let out a dreadful garble upon seeing it. He released my hand with hesitation, before sweeping in with admirable grace.

"Dinah?"

"Theodore!" A hunched over, older woman was standing in the center of her classroom, as if she expected us. It was the exact same woman I saw before. The one with the gaze that left me wanting to know more. 

Father's shoulders fell and he went to her. He planted a tender kiss to her cheek, that she leaned in to. A hello Father gave without hesitation.

"You look worse for wear." Father whispered.

"I don't feel it. Could do a jig on the table if I wanted." She laughed, a little mischievous smile crossing her lips.

Father then turned to me. I noticed how his hands remained folded in the woman's. His solemn look was a bit shocking to me. "Dinah, my daughter."

She smiled at me. That looks of curiosity returning. "Those eyes surely could not be mistaken when she arrived."

"Sweetheart, Professor Hecat saved my life right before I left the wizarding realm."

I blinked for a second after hearing his explanation but then gave a quick curtsy. "It is wonderful to meet you, Professor Hecat. Thank you for saving my father."

"Has he told you the story?" With a head tilt, Professor Hecat questioned.

I shook my head, "I know nothing of it. Even my mother refuses to speak on it."

"Sounds just like him." Professor Hecat patted his hands that were still in hers. "Just know it is a better world with him in it."

"She's going to fail, Dinah. Look at her." Father whispered, giving her a pleading look. As if his charm was going to work on her. 

"She will do great, I believe it so."

I blinked at Father. My brows furrowing in an annoyed stare. "What does that mean?" I spat a bit offended.

"It means you're soft. Defense Against the Dark Arts is not for the empathetic." Father cleared his throat as he gave his answer. 

I wanted to bite back, but fuck, Father was right. "Yeah… I am soft."

"As long as you show the initiative in learning the Dark Arts to understand the dangers that it encompasses, you shall pass."

"And the exams?" I asked without missing a beat.

"We will be working together closely when it comes to exams. They aren't 5 written exams at once, trust me on that. I believe that a hands-on experience is above reading something in a book."

A massive weight was lifted from my shoulders. My Father and Professor Hecat then exchanged a look.

"Sweetheart, may you give us the room?"

"Of course." I turned on my toes, feeling my anxiety ease my heart a bit. I left the room and stood outside as they talked. I turned into the wall and leaned against it as I waited. After a moment, raised voices hit to my ears.

"What is Fig thinking?! I will kill him, I swear."

"Talk to Matilda, Theodore, before you act. She has the sharpest eyes here and has been pulling as much information as she can about this. Has Aster told you nothing?"

"Not a word! I knew something was wrong! She's being quite finicky."

"I, too, would be mortified to speak up if a dragon attacked my carriage, where I then ended up in a very weird location, and then sequentially disappeared off the face of the planet for 6 hours."

"This is unacceptable!"

"I agree! Don't misunderstand, I hate this as much as you do, Theodore. Matilda will have more light than I do. I have no idea what happened, however! I am going to do what I need to do! Let's work together to make sure Aster is safe, especially given the bloodline she possesses."

"You don't think Black will-?"

"No! I told you a million times. I have no idea what led to the massacre of your entire family! I do not think the Black family was involved! Stop dragging him into it when he holds no responsibility!"

Silence hung around which was more deafening than any banshee's scream. "Fine… I will talk with Matilda."

Before I could comprehend the conversation I overheard, Professor Hecat and Father joined me in the hall. Father gave me a huge hug and a kiss goodbye. Both things he did reluctantly, especially letting me go.

"I must speak with Professor Weasley, sweetheart, so I might not see you beyond this." He squeezed my hands in his, while giving me his sympathetic look I had only ever seen when he was telling me bad news. "I am just a Ward away. If you need me, I will be here."

"I understand, Dad."

"Good. I love you so much." For a moment, he looked over my face with a gentle comfort, until a wash of his own anxiety settled into the fine lines of his aged face. 

My father, physically anxious? I would have laughed if someone told me it was possible. Until now...

After a moment, Father stood and Professor Hecat smiled at me. "I will see you the first day that classes begin. Get your rest before then, it will be a tough day."

Professor Hecat and Father then left me standing in the tower, completely oblivious with what was about to come.

Tough wasn't even a word to accurately describe the first day - abysmal would be more fitting.