A/N - Hi guys! This is a story I started quite a while ago, and lately it's just been sat in my documents folder, collecting dust, but after a hell of a lot of encouragement (and nagging) from a certain someone, I've decided to post it. This is my first ever proper fic so please be nice and reviews are always welcome and are greatly appreciated, but no flames, please! Enjoy :)
I own nothing other than a laptop and set of Harry Potter books.
The atmosphere was stifling, static stacking up in mounds as the air grew suffocating. Peeling back the yellowing, moth-eaten netting, she peered out the window at the deserted garden, which stretched into the bleak darkness, reaching into the horizon as she squinted into the blackness that engulfed the outside world. The velvety sky, blotted with streaks of inky black, was clear, illuminated by the silvery moonlight. Towards the ends of her vision sat a lantern, illuminating the lone tree that stood beside it, bathing it in the haunting, golden light. The coarse mahogany bark twisted, engraved with intricate lines and swirls and etched with deep crevices; warped, jagged branches jutted from the rough surface like blades, reaching towards the night sky. Leaves of jade sprouted from the twisting spikes, hanging limp in the night. Beneath the shade of the tree sat a pond, burrowed deep into the ground, the glistening surface of the murky water glowing incandescently, reflecting the silver orb hanging high in the sky amongst the swirling shades of bottle green and sheer blackness, which danced iridescently atop the rippling water. Gleaming lumps of moisture bubbled at the surface, collecting around the willowy strands of greenery rising from the water like statues. Quietly, she unlatched the rusting lock, daintily pushing open the window with her fingertips. The crisp night air, still damp and humid from the rain that had cascaded from the granite sky earlier that evening, flooded in around her and she wrinkled her nose as the dank smell of decomposing leaves wafted in from the garden. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, her raven hair grazing her shoulders, and she felt her lungs swell as she sucked in the cool, clean air. A faint breeze whispered through the trees, lazily brushing against the leaves, and crept through the overgrown grass.
The lightbulb above her head, which dimly illuminated the shadowy room, flickered and footsteps echoed outside her door, growing louder with every step. Sighing, she opened her eyes and tugged the heavy velvet curtains closed. She drew her breath, internally counting down the seconds before the sound of knuckles rapping against wood rattled through her ears.
"Come in," She answered after a moment's hesitation.
Before the words had even finished tumbling from her lips, the door creaked open, streams of blinding light from the hall flooding the room, bathing the girl in gold. Alianora Black surveyed the room, her slender, needle-like fingers releasing the ornate doorknob as she glided through the doorway, an aura of poise and grace surrounding her. Her gaze settled on her daughter, and a faint smile played on her lips for the briefest moment.
"Astrid, have you packed?" She asked, her even tone lacking an ounce of emotion.
"Yes, mother." Astrid Black nodded, gesturing to the mahogany trunk in the corner, bound in a tangle of leather and silver buckles.
"Now are you sure you want to go?" Alianora inevitably asked for the hundredth time, "I mean, you only have one more year of education left, it makes sense for me to continue home-schooling you..."
Astrid cut her mother off with a sigh, exhaling deeply, "Mother, we've discussed this – I'm spending my final school year at Hogwarts."
"But..." Alianora protested.
"I'm going, mother." Astrid said, her voice laced with warning. She had spent years begging her parents to let her go to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, only to have them insist on home-schooling her so that her mind wouldn't be corrupted by headmaster Albus Dumbledore – now, at age seventeen, she wasn't going to let her mother deprive her of her final chance at escape. As it was, her parents had only relented upon learning that the Ministry of Magic was finally intervening at Hogwarts. This had greatly pleased her parents, who were ecstatic that wizards like Dumbledore and the famous Harry Potter could no longer taint people's minds, spouting drivel about their beloved dark lord.
Alianora sighed and perched on the end of the bed, smoothing the satin bedspread as she gestured for Astrid to sit beside her. Astrid obeyed, retreating to the bed, and tentatively lowered herself beside her mother, who sighed once more.
"So stubborn, just like your father," She paused, tilting her chin as she looked at her daughter with eyes so dark that they were black holes, the irises blending seamlessly into the pupils, "I just want what's best for you,"
"I know," Astrid recited, knowing her script by heart by now. Truth be told, she knew that her mother didn't want that. Her mother didn't care what was best for her. However, she also knew exactly what her mother wanted to hear.
"I don't want you to be corrupted by all those filthy mudbloods," Alianora spat, disgust flickering in her eyes.
"I won't even look at them." Astrid replied without missing a beat.
"Nor the disgusting blood traitors?" Alianora wrinkled her nose in revulsion.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Astrid answered quickly, her crossed fingers concealed behind her back.
"Good." Alianora nodded, considering this to be a sufficient answer, the corners of her lips tugging upwards as she strained to attempt a faint smile, "I don't want filth like that tainting my daughters mind."
Astrid nodded, feigning agreement with her parent's backwards views on blood purity and all that nonsense. It was simpler that way.
Alianora sighed once more, somewhat sadly, and looked carefully at the girl beside her.
"Look at you, so grown up now," She started softly, brushing her daughter's raven tresses back from her face, tucking them behind her ear in an attempt at an affectionate, motherly gesture; the result feeling mechanical and robotic.
"Seventeen is hardly grown up," Astrid pointed out, smiling faintly.
"To think, only one more year before you join us, fighting at the Dark Lord's side as we restore purity to this world." Her eyes misted over, her mind elsewhere as she thought of the near future, the future they had been planning Astrid's whole life.
Astrid winced, wrinkling her nose at her mother's words. She loathed the constant reminder of her future as a Death Eater, following the Black family tradition started by her father, Sylvanus Black, when he and his cousin Orion Black first heard of the initial rise of the Dark Lord years ago. Thankfully, Alianora was oblivious and Astrid's reaction went unnoticed as she ploughed on, "Your special gift will be very useful to the Dark Lord, Astrid. Very useful, indeed." She mused.
Astrid flinched once more. She despised the fact that her parents saw her greatest weakness to be a gift, mere leverage to get themselves in favour with their master. Granted, she had a power, a very unique and rare power possessed by only a handful of witches and wizards over time, but it was certainly not a gift. No, it was a curse; a burden.
"I know." She choked out quietly; scared to think of how badly the Dark Lord would abuse such a power being at his disposal. It would be chaos. Closing her eyes, Astrid shook her head, ridding her mind of such thoughts.
"It's getting late." Alianora said finally, rising to her feet, "Goodnight Astrid," She planted a reluctant kiss on her daughter's forehead, before wordlessly retreating out of the room, the door closing behind her with a soft click.
Astrid sighed and whispered into the darkness, "Goodnight mother."
~MischiefMismanagedMischiefMismanagedMischiefMismanaged~
The station was heaving when the Black family arrived at the platform, muggles dotted around everywhere. Nerves bubbled up within Astrid, a lump rising in her throat as she tried to calm the wild butterflies fluttering inside her. Stifling a yawn, she raised a hand to her mouth. She hadn't been able to sleep the night before, nerves eating away at her, gnawing at her insides as she began to overthink every thought that passed through her mind in excruciating detail until eventually every thought blended into the next, tumbling into a jumbled blur. She'd tossed and turned, tangled in her sheets, worrying over every single thing that could go wrong as she willed her own inner voice to shut up, scrunching her eyes closed as she tried to force herself to sleep. She trailed behind her parents, pushing the heavy cart as she maneuvered around obstacles, cringing and apologising profusely as she clipped agitated muggles, accidentally ramming her trunk into them. Sylvanus Black led the way, with Astrid following close behind her mother. Alianora held her head high, her upturned nose stuck in the air as she eyed everyone with disdain, tutting every so often. Astrid kept her eyes fixed on her mother as she followed, hoping to recreate the elegance and grace her mother walked with. Alianora's dark, silk robes swished around her ankles as the crisp breeze billowed through the fabric, her gaze remaining confident and superior as muggles cast odd looks in her direction. Her platinum hair was scraped back tightly in an elegant chignon, which bobbed with every step she took, and her pale skin had an almost haunting glow surrounding it. She strode with pride and authority, much like her husband, in great contrast to the meek girl trailing behind, stumbling to keep up.
They ground to a halt, suddenly, with Astrid almost crashing straight into her parents at the abrupt stop.
"This here is the barrier, now, you remember what to do?" Alianora began, smoothing her daughter's hair.
"Yes, mother." Astrid nodded, batting her mother away.
"And you're certain that you want to go?" Alianora asked once more, luckily for the final time.
"Yes, mother."
"Promise?"
"Yes, mother."
"Okay, very well then." Alianora nodded, stepping back, "Goodbye,"
"Goodbye mother," Astrid smiled faintly before turning to her father, who remained silent. Astrid was far from surprised that he was yet to utter a word to her, he rarely ever did. She only ever really recalled him uttering more than a single sentence to her when she was being scolded. He'd always preferred to communicate with her through her mother instead. He stood oozing superiority, his unyielding gaze fixed on the wall behind his daughter, his eyes looking straight over her head. Astrid looked up at him, drinking in his appearance. She knew he was considered to be a somewhat attractive man, with a muscular build, a chiseled jaw that could cut glass, cropped, inky hair, which was greying at the temples, and pale eyes that could look straight through a person. But the man had no depth; no soul; no heart. Astrid was baffled as to how her mother, who she supposed at least had some good in her, could love such a man.
"Father," She spoke quietly, unsure of herself.
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to look his shaking daughter in the eye, his expression unreadable as he waited for her to say more.
"I'll miss you." She said after a moment, doubting the truth behind that.
He drew in a sharp intake of breath, his eyes widening in momentary surprise before he spoke, his tone cold and emotionless, "And you."
Astrid nodded, doubting that even more than her own comment, and began to retreat away from the pair when her mother suddenly reached out, grabbing hold of her sleeve. She pulled her into an unexpected hug, and Astrid softened slightly into her mother's stiff grip, gently patting the woman on the back. Astrid had only ever seen such affection from her mother on a handful of occasions as of late, and was touched by the gesture. It's was moments like this that gave Astrid a glimmer of hope that her mother truly did love her, because despite all her faults, Astrid still loved her mother dearly – she was all she had left.
"Write to us." Her mother said plainly, drawing back to look her daughter in the eyes.
"I promise." Astrid smiled, releasing her mother, who was clearly still uncomfortable with such displays of affection.
Without another word, her parents disappeared into the crowd and Astrid found herself alone. Taking a deep breath, she turned, securing her shaking hands around the handlebar of her cart, her fingers tightly curling themselves around the metal. Drawing her breath, she scrunched her eyes shut and launched herself forward, staggering towards the barrier at full-force. She flinched, prepared for the impact that never came as she hit the wall. All of a sudden, there was nothing but darkness, swallowing her whole, but before it had the chance to fully engulf her, she was on the other side, bathed in light. Beams of golden sunlight hit her face as she tilted her chin upward, igniting her skin. Opening her eyes, she felt her breath hitch in her throat as excitement welled up within her. On the tracks before her was the familiar Hogwarts Express that she'd heard so much about. Billows of smoke rose from the scarlet steam engine, dancing around her and drifting lazily up into the vibrant, azure sky. Noise flooded around her, rattling through her ears as throngs of people ran past her, clambering excitedly onto the train. It was everything she'd hoped it would be and more. Smiling to herself as another student brushed past her, she followed suit and climbed aboard the train, ready to take the first step towards freedom.