( ASTORIA SLYTHERIN )

❝𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗❞

"slytherin? are you not going to speak to your cousin?" blaise zabini asked the older boy as he rushed to walk alongside him as the students of hogwarts exited the great hall. orion didn't say anything as he just glanced at the boy before shrugging. blaise stared at him deciding not to hound.

from the other side of the hall antoinette blossom picked up her novel which she had been reading throughout the whole feast, as she straightened out her robes before following the ravenclaws out of the hall back to the common rooms. she didn't notice some of the lingering looks she recieved from her fellow students as she was too occupied with the thoughts swirling in her head.

astoria slytherin noticed her within a minute of standing up, the girls aura held something that astoria had once cherished so deeply. she could see how the girl held hope within every bounce of her heel and how her eyes were scattered to the ceiling of stars probably daydreaming. the slytherin girl however was broken from her trance as she felt a hand on her arm, her head snapping in the direction with a raised eyebrow as she faced a girl with a pug face and raven hair.

"don't worry about her, she's a dirty blood traitor" the girl cackled as a witch like sound came from her throat, the words she spat held nothing but hatred in them making astoria slightly wince before giving a small nod and walking off to find the blonde she had just been seated next to.

she knew her father had sent her to the school so she would befriend some more purebloods who she could potentially turn to death eaters later on, but the girl would never think of befriending people who believed the same as her father. she would rather pray night after night that those people changed before it was too late.

students dispersed as she made her way through, due to her height not being the best the girl would be seen bouncing up every so often as she tried to spot margerie. no one dared speak to her as they were too afraid of what she'd say. everyone stared, some sparing glances to orion confused on why the pair weren't together.

"the girls a quiet one, dumbeldore?" professor mcgonagall asked the headmaster beside her as she removed her worried eyes from the girls retreating figure to the man who was frowning deeply.

"she's not used to being near to others her age" the man said shortly as he thought of her late older brother remembering how many photos of the boy he had seen when he went to visit the slytherin manor.

"what about her brother? isn't he around the same age?" trelawney asked as she looked up at dumbeldore from her seat with her large glasses which enhanced her eyes.

"the boy, nicolas,  passed last june" dumbeldore said gravely making the two womens mouths drop slightly unsure if dumbeldore would expand on the situation. "he was found dead, the killing curse" the man said before his whole face stilled and he began to walk away.

――――

astoria had been roomed with margerie after she had gone to dumbeldore's office the prior night asking to share, saying she'd rather not be alone all year. the two girls had acquainted themselves quite well and astoria had come to learn that the girl was indeed quiet a majority of the time. she had not seen her cousin for the rest of that night and wondered if he'd say hello, but highly doubted it.

"divination?" margerie questioned as her and astoria stood outside of the classroom, the two girls let other slytherins and gryffindors enter not missing the glares some gryffindors sent them and the wary looks everyone sent astoria.

"come on, it can't be as bad as it seems" astoria smiled gently as she grabbed a hold of the girls hand and slowly dragged her into the class. she noticed an empty table in the middle row next to a ginger and a boy with dark hair and bright blue eyes.

the two boys eyes widened as the two girls sat near to them. harrys eyes slightly turned to slits as he glared at the back of astoria's head earning a small whack from hermione.

"where did you come from"? ron asked as his eyes widened not remembering the girl coming in with them or seeing her sit behind them. however before she answered the women with frizzy blonde hair and glasses at the front spoke up.

"welcome, my children. in this room, you shall explore the noble art of divination. in this room, you shall discover if you possess the sight. hello. I am professor trelawney. together we shall cast ourselves into the future. this term, we'll focus on tasseomancy, the art of reading tea leaves" at this sentence the children all glanced to the cups in front of them.

so please, take the cup of the person sitting opposite you. what do you see? the truth lies buried like a sentence deep within a book, waiting to be read. but first, you must broaden your minds." the women said before astoria and margerie exchanged cups with wary glanced towards eachother.

as astoria glanced down at margerie's teacup the girl slightly frowned as she saw a skull, having no clue what it meant but knowing it wasn't a good thing the girls eyes darted to her book beside her and searched for the symbol. after finding out the symbol meant danger in her path the girls worried eyes looked up to see margerie giving her a similar look.

"how bad?" margerie asked the girl not daring to give astoria her teacup back not wanting her to know what she had.

"danger in your path. what about me?" she asked as she stared the girl directly in her eyes, they ignored whatever trelawney said as they were too focused on eachother's fates in that moment.

"you had a cross. trials and suffering" the girl said before astoria scoffed and put down margerie's teacup leaning her head in her hand.

"i've been through enough suffering lately, what's the worse that could happen?" the girl asked sarcastically as she began to stir margerie's teacup with her quill letting the symbol break and remake itself every time. the blonde didn't know what to say and instead opted for placing a soft hand on top of astoria's.

"oh, my dear boy!" trelawney exclaimed as all heads snapped to her, the womens mouth open slightly "my dear... you have the grim" the women squirmed as astoria's eyes began scanning her book to see what it meant.

"the grin? what's the grin?" the ginger boy beside the girls asked as his eyes widened and a small glaze of worry washed his orbs.

"not the grin, you idiot. the grim" the girl behind them said as she scowled at the boy. astoria's eyes snapped to her and she observed her, she was gorgeous to say the least but didn't look like she wanted to be in the class at all.

"taking form of a giant spectral dog. it's among the darkest omens in our world. it's an omen... of death" margerie spoke up as the class silenced as she read the description she had in her book. astoria felt her lips tug into a straight line as the whole class went deadly silent. who was this boy?

――――

"margerie?" astoria whispered as the two girls trailed behind the class towards the forest for care of magical creatures. margerie halted slightly as she let astoria link arms with her.

"who's the boy that sat next to us in class?" she kept her voice low as they were still surrounded by gryffindors who seemed to be in the same house as the boy.

"ron weasley?" margerie asked confused as she raised an eyebrow confused on why the girl wanted to know about ron. astoria tilted her head assuming margerie was speaking of the ginger. "oh the other one! that's harry. harry potter" margerie giggled as she finally understood, the girl didn't look at astoria's face as she continued walking well also pulling her along.

"the, harry potter?" astoria whispered in shock surprised that the boy went to hogwarts not having been informed by her father. she didn't even remember her brother mentioning anything of the 'boy who lived' to her when he was still around.

"yes, now come on we don't want to be late" margerie urged as she pulled the girl to the group, standing to the side-lines.

people would admit it was odd to see margerie with anyone, the girl usually kept to herself and didn't talk to others. so to say they were shocked when seeing her with the heir of slytherin they didn't know what to think. 

draco stared at the two girls as crabbe and goyle stood by his side. his book under one of his arms as a look of distaste took over as he stared at margerie. he was confused on why a pureblood like astoria slytherin was hanging around with a blood traitor like margerie blossom. people thought she was far too nice to be in slytherin and should've been a hufflepuff but draco knew how cruel the girl could be at times, her words cutting as deep as a knife.

"that's it. come on, now. come closer. less talking, if you don't mind. i got a real treat for you today. a great lesson. so follow me. right, you lot. less chattering. form a group over there. and open your books to page 49" the large man astoria knew to be hagrid informed his class.

the two girls unlinked arms as they pulled their books from their bags that hung on their shoulders, astoria's had been shut with no belt or spell like others but she had simply learned to tame it. margerie's however had a brown leather belt to keep it shut. it probably tried to eat her astoria thought to herself.

"exactly how do we do that"? draco spoke up as he looked at the boy weirdly, astoria turned to the boy remembering his grey eyes from the hall the day prior. he was a pretty boy she thought. she was sure she had seen him before, where she didn't know but she most definitely had. maybe at a family ball.

"just stroke the spine, of course" hagrid said as though it were breathing, astoria did it with no hesitation before the book opened itself into her palms.

a boy from gryffindors looked too scared to do it as he held the book loosely, the thing shaking in his hands before he began stroking it and it went to bite him making him yelp and drop. the class laughed well astoria rolled her eyes and walked over to the boy extending a hand with a gentle smile. 

the whole class stared with wide eyes except margerie who smiled to herself, neville's eyes widening as he just stared at her hand. "don't tell me you're going to make me look like a fool in front of everyone?" astoria whispered lowly with a soft giggle as she gestured for him to take her helping hand which he did after regaining his senses.

"t-thank you" the boy stuttered out as the girl removed her hand and stuck it out for him to shake.

"i'm astoria slytherin, you?" she asked as she started to feel everyone's eyes burning into her, it happened a lot but it didn't mean she was used to it at all.

"neville longbottom" the boy said as he squirmed slightly as he watched the girls eyes slightly become soft, not understanding why.

"longbottom?" the girl repeated as she tried to search her memory to where she knew that name. "my mother! my mother went to school with yours, they were in the same year" she said in recognition as she smiled widely thinking of her mother.

neville's face broke out into a smile glad she didn't mention his parents state and instead told him something he didn't know. margerie had joined astoria's side as she stood near neville, everyone else breaking off into small groups.

"witty. god, this place has gone to the dogs. wait until father hears dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes" the blonde with grey eyes spat making harry storm up to him.

"shut up, malfoy" harry threatened as everyone stood back and watch the scene unfold, before the blonde said anything back a look of terror took over his and his friends faces before pointing up to the sky behind harry.

"dementor! dementor!" he yelled out causing everyone to whip around with fear in their eyes, even astoria and the girl had been around thousands of dementors growing up, but never up close. when they saw nothing a chuckle broke up before the blonde and his goons threw their hoods up pretending to be dementors.

"who's that?" astoria scoffed at the boy not liking his behaviour at all or the way he joked about such creatures just for a laugh.

"malfoy, draco malfoy" neville said in distaste as he looked at draco with a scowl, astoria figured out why she recognised him now. his father was lucius malfoy. he's a vile man who would come to the manor sometimes and was invited to a few of the balls. 

"come along" hagrid called out to the class as he began to bring a large creature towards them on a rope, the animal was large and looked like an eagle and a falcon but had the body of a horse. astoria was very familiar with the sort of animal it was considering her brother used to own one.

"isn't he beautiful? say hello to buckbeak" hagrid said to the class as the students stared with wide eyes of amazement and fear of the creature.

"hagrid, what exactly is that?" ron weasley asked as his voice slightly wavered as the creature moved to stroke its own wing on its beak.

"it's a hippogriff" astoria spoke up for the man making his smile widen, before gesturing the girl forward.

"ah, astoria slytherin" the man acknowledged before she sent him a smile and nodded her head. the class confused on how the girl knew but not exactly surprised all of them assuming she must've been smart.

"you're brother, nicolas, right? he was studying to be a magizoologist, it seems he rubbed off on you" hagrid said solemnly although the way he spoke of nicolas brought a sense of pride into astoria's heart.

she remembered her brother as she thought of how all he wanted more than anything in the world was to work with magical creatures and keep them safe. he wanted to protect them and help them evolve. she remembered how he would tell her stories of how he helped out the half0giant with his creatures back in his sixth year.

"he was very intelligent for his age" she laughed slightly as she didn't want to get too much into the conversation of the boy. she was unsure if people even knew that one of the oldest heirs to the slytherin throne had passed. next in line would be orion then her considering they were the last ones left.

"nicolas, nicolas slytherin. i remember him, he was a prefect for slytherin. what does she mean was?" harry whispered to hermione as he looked at the girl who was conversing with hagrid well looking at buckbeak.

hermione turned to harry and gave the boy a grave look as her lips tugged into a frown, harry didn't need her to answer as he could already tell what she was going to say. "have you not heard the tragedy of the slytherins?" hermione asked softly as harry shook his head confused. "i'll explain later in the common room" hermione promised as harry nodded.

"first thing you wanna know about hippogriffs is that they're very proud creatures. very easily offended. you do not want to insult a hippogriff. it may be the last thing you ever do." hagrid said breaking everyone out of their trances. "now, who would like to come and say hello?" hagrid asked as everyone in the class stepped back except harry who was too slow.

"well done, harry. well done" hagrid said as harry began shaking his head but astoria had already begin to lead the creature forward. "now... you have to let him make the first move. It's only polite. so... step up. give him a nice bow. then you wait and see if he bows back. if he does, you can go and touch him. if not... well, we'll get to that later"

harry cautiously moved a step forward as he slowly began to bow, ignoring astoria's eyes as she watched him curiously "nice and low" hagrid cautioned before buckbeak broke from astoria's rope making the whole class freeze in fear.

"back off, harry, back off!" hagrid warned the boy "keep still" he said as a wave of fear washed over the boys face. astoria not daring to move either incase it scared the animal. the animal eventually bowed back down to harry making everyone sigh out in relief.

"right. i think you can go and pat him now" hagrid said gesturing harry to walk forward, astoria's followed the creature forward as she began to untie the broken rope on its neck. harry watching her cautiously, well slowly stroking the animal.

"they like it when you stroke their heads "the girl spoke up breaking him out of his trance now meeting her eyes before stuttering out an 'okay' not expecting the girl to speak to him.

"does he get to fly him?" margerie asked out loud making heads snap to her, a few boys smiling at the pretty girl and some of the others just a bit shocked she was speaking out, although she was a very inquisitive girl.

"i think he may let you ride him now" hagrid said to the boy making harrys eyes widen before feeling himself being picked up by hagrid and onto buck beaks back." you too astoria, make sure harry doesn't fall off" hagrid said before picking the girl up not giving her time to protest.

"don't pull out any of his feathers, because he won't thank you for that" hagrid aid to the two who looked scared before hitting buck beaks behind making the animal take off quickly leaving everyone in dust.

astoria and harry let out screams before the girls arms instinctively went around harrys waist and her head on his back, she was terrified as the wind went through her hair and the two zoomed through the sky. although harrys was yelling out in joy making the girl slowly open her eyes to see them flying smoothly over the black lake.

harry felt the girls grip loosen slightly before feeling her head remove itself from his back making him slowly turn to her, his wide smile still on his face making her smile slightly and a small chuckle to escape her lips. "are you alrig-" harrys question was cut off as the creature turned quickly and went higher into the sky.

the teenagers screams mixed, both of their ears burning from how loud they screamed. the harsh wind hitting against their skin and droplets of water rising to hit their faces, astoria's tight grip back on harry. they felt the wind slowing down and the animal lowering itself before they felt the impact of the landing.

"well done, harry, astoria, and well done, buckbeak" hagrid said as the class excluding malfoy and his goons cheered for the two as hagrid helped them off, harrys hand on astoria's shoulder as the girl regained her balance.

"thank you" she smiled as him as she flattened her hair. harry had forgotten all about her being a slytherin in that moment and possibly having something to do with sirius black as he looked at how innocent she looked in that moment. he couldn't stare any more though as margerie rushed up to her looking her over for any injuries.

"that was wicked, harry!" ron exclaimed as hermione held a worried look but ron looked amazed, harry approaching the two smiling widely. "and astoria was hugging you!" the boy jumped happily for harry.

"oh, please" draco scoffed as he watched how everyone watched the two with amazed looks as though they had found a spell to bring someone back from the dead.

"well done, well done. how am i doing me first day?" hagrid asked as he slightly lowered to speak to the golden trio with a worried look.

"brilliant, professor" harry said smiling as he encouraged hagrid considering the man was handling the class well.

"yes! you're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute!" draco said in anger as he angrily stormed up to the creature making astoria grab margerie's hand pulling the girl back away from the creature incase something happened.

"malfoy, no!" hagrid said before buckbeak pushed back on his back legs, his talons hitting draco across the arm before the boy dropped dramatically. "buckbeak! no!" hagrid yelled as he ran towards the creature calming it down. "away! you silly creature" hagrid said to it before it took off probably back to the hut.

"it's killed me! it's killed me!" draco said dramatically on the floor as he clutched his arm rolling around in the dirt, the gryffindors and even a few slytherins including the two girls to scoff at his dramatics.

"calm down! it's a scratch" astoria spoke up as she walked over, bending down next to the boy grabbing his arm rolling his sleeve up to see three scratches which could be healed in an hour.

"he has to be taken to hospital, hagrid!" hermione urged the man knowing even if it wasn't bad the school has to know making hagrid nod before going to pick the boy up in bridal style with his bag left on the floor.

"you're going to regret this! you and your bloody chicken!" draco called out as hagrid dismissed the class, astoria scoffing before picking his bag up and turning to margerie.

"i'm going to take this to the hospital wing, meet you at lunch?" she said before margerie smiled nodding before taking her bag and leaving with the rest of the class.

"what's she doing helping, malfoy?" ron sneered as a look of annoyance took over his face at the thought of the blonde slytherin boy. astoria slowly leaving the trios eyes.

"i don't know but hermione i need you to tell me about her and her brother" harry said determined as he turned to the girl. her nodding before grabbing their hands and beginning to drag them towards the library.

"okay, but not here"