Astraea hadn't realized time how much time had flown by. She had been so developed in her thoughts, she hadn't realized she were only minutes from ground zero. She drowned in the thoughts of how she was going to pull this off. How was going to deceive the great Albus Dumbledore that she wasn't who she really was? Her brow furrowed at her thoughts before letting out a long sigh.
"What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into…" She whispered to herself, watching how the train slowly pulled into Hogsmeade station.
Soon, the train pulled into a stop and Astraea was quick to grab her bag. She opened the door into the hallway, wary of the many students rushing out from their own compartments. With them so close, Astraea felt the urge to run away. But she couldn't, not now. It was turn late to turn back.
Astraea's eyes narrowed as she exited the coach and began to walk across the platform. And much to her disappointment, Astraea could feel eyes on her. She felt the eyes of many watching her every move as she cut across the crowd. Still, she kept her eyes trained forward, her expression kept emotionless. Finally, Astraea reached the carriages. Her crimson eyes turned to Thestrals pulling the carriages. Her eyes traveled on the ink-colored skin, watched as their bones flexed against it.
Without a word, Astraea climbed into the carriage, quickly closing the door. She placed her case next to her and sat down with a sigh. Only for the carriage door to be opened. Astraea's gaze was quick to narrow as three Ravenclaw girls climbed in. One of the girls stopped when she saw someone was already occupying the carriage.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize this carriage was taken," the girl said gently, shrinking under Astraea's gaze.
Astraea looked over the girls, obviously intimidated. This wasn't going to get her any closer to her goal. She needed to gain the students trust if she was ever to achieve what she came for. Astraea forced her expression to melt before shaking her head.
"It's not," She finally spoke up, moving her suitcase from the seat.
The girls looked at themselves before smiling. The girl came sat next to Astraea, Astraea trying her best not to scoot away.
"I'm Cho Chang," the girl held out her hand, "I don't believe I've ever seen you around Hogwarts before, are you new?"
Astraea felt her body go rigid at the sight of Cho's outstretched hand. She felt herself slowly begin to panic as she thought of all the things that could go wrong. With one wrong move, the entire forest could be eviscerated. All due to a handshake. But Astraea couldn't let this opportunity slip. Slowly, she reached her gloved hand and shook the Cho's hand, careful not to grip to firmly or show how shaky she was.
"Astraea Glass," she said solidly, "I'm a transfer here."
Cho smiled as they pulled their hands away, "oh really, where are you from?"
"I was homeschooled."
It wasn't a complete lie, at least.
"That's wonderful," Cho smiled, "well, welcome to Hogwarts, I guess."
Astraea nodded wordlessly and tore her eyes to the window as the carriage began to pull away.
"Don't you think it's fascinating how the carriages pull themselves?" Cho said with a grin, her face peering out the window, "I wonder what kind of magic they used."
Astraea felt her body become rigid as her eyes cast over the Thestrals pulling the carriage.
"Yes, fascinating."
Finally, everyone had reached the castle and everyone was eager to get inside and avoid the rain. Astraea didn't find herself caring too much, favoring to stand the storm than be in the room with the people who could possibly send her to her death. Even so, she persisted. Everyone was ushered into the Great Hall after leaving their bags for the House Elves to retrieve.
Astraea felt her steps move slowly past the giant doors, her eyes casting up to the illusion of a sky. She couldn't bring herself to look away. It was more beautiful than she would have imagined. Slowly, her gaze lowered to the four tables for their respective houses. She watched as the various classes retreated to their tables, leaving only the first-years and other transfers standing in the middle of the aisle.
Astraea felt herself blending into the crowd, though it was quite obvious she was far from a first-year. Her eyes eyes scanned across the hall until they stopped on the Gryffindor table. They found him almost immediately. The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter, the one she came for. Astraea kept her eyes on the boy who she had spent months studying until Harry's hand flinched up to his infamous scar. Astraea tore her eyes away finally to look back up to the professors' table. Her eyes connected with dark onyx ones, making her become rigid. The man's gaze had taken her breath away in seconds. It was like a ghost had just passed through her.
The man's gaze was cold and cruel, something Astraea was all too familiar with. But she could feel a difference, a small but noticeable difference. Astraea kept her expression blank as her gaze remained on the darkly clothed man she had studied over the months, along with the other professors. The man that stared her down as if she was nothing but a sewer rat, was Severus Snape. Astraea's gaze lingered for a moment longer before she noticed the twitch in his eye and then she knew. He felt it.
Immediately she turned her gaze to Professor Minerva McGonagall who stood over the crowd with a stern expression.
"Listen up!" She said, stating her authority, "we shall begin with the sorting ceremony. First, we shall begin with the transfer students. Alexander Robier!"
Astraea watched as one of the few transfer students walked up the steps. All the while, she could feel eyes on her. It would be a lie if she were said she wasn't put off by their stares but she expected this to happen. She knew her appearance would make people look twice. Not many are used to crimson eyes.
"Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat shouted.
Astraea began to think about of how her plan was going to unfold from here. She had to get close to Potter and being sorted into Gryffindor would be a good start. However, she knew there ran a high chance that she wasn't going to be sorted into said house, not with her blood. Astraea hung her head, her eyes clouding with thought.
"Gryffindor!"
Even so, she was going to succeed, Gryffindor or not. Astraea's eyes welled up with determined fire. This was it, through trial and tribulation, Astraea was finally here. And there was no room for failure.
"Astraea Glass!" McGonagall shouted.
There a small silence as Astraea lifted her head to look up to McGonagall. Slowly, Astraea took her first step forward. It felt like the entire room was watching her as she took her second step and then her third. It felt like an eternity but Astraea finally made her way up to the stage. Astraea lifted her gaze to look into McGonagall's eyes. She could see the uneasiness in them but Astraea decided to ignore it.
Astraea sat on the stool wordlessly, keeping her eyes trained on her lap. She could her the few whispers traveling through the hall.
"Did you see her eyes?"
"...Yeah, they give me the creeps…"
"...She reminds me a lot of…"
"...She is kinda hot, though…"
Astraea's mind pulled away from the whispers when she felt the hat being placed on her head. She felt a chill run down her spine as she let out a sigh.
"Ah, such a tired mind," the hat squirmed around on her head, "you've traveled a long way."
Astraea stayed completely still, focusing on closing the right doors.
"It is truly an honor, to look into this mind twice in my lifetime," the hat said, "much like your father, you have a very powerful hold on your mind. Impressive for a fourth year."
The whispers began to sound like the buzzing of bees throughout the hall. Astraea frowned but she refused to respond.
"Hmm, brave, loyal, clever, cool-tempered, calculative, manipulative," the hat chuckled, "it's like looking into a mirror image."
Astraea felt a spark of anger surge through her but she quickly hid it under her emotionless mask.
"Hmm, it's a clear choice, Slytherin!" The hat shouted.
The Slytherin table cheered for their new addition as McGonagall lifted the hat from Astraea's head. Silently, she made her way down the steps, the first-years eager to step out of her way. She walked toward the Slytherin table and sat down in an empty spot. She let out a small sigh, doing well to ignore the stares of the Slytherins. Astraea lifted her head to look over her shoulder to find none of than Harry staring at her. He blinked in shock once their eyes connected and quickly turned away.
Astraea lifted a brow and turned back around. Perhaps this would be a bit easier than she thought.
