When Astoria was small, only seven years old, she had wandered into Estella's alchemy lab. It wasn't the golden simmering cauldron that drew her attention, nor was it the ancient tome of knowledge that smelled of strange, wonderful aromas that was left wide-open for her prying brown eyes. No, Astoria was drawn to the softly glowing plants in the little box by the cracked-open window. Her chubby little hands reached towards the plants, but before she could touch, Estella had come in and snatched her out of the lab.
"That's Mummy's lab," Estella scolded as she set Astoria back down outside of the door. "I've got dangerous plants and ingredients in there, and I don't want you getting hurt. Do you understand?"
Astoria's lips said yes, but she wanted to see the plants again.
After the incident, she began taking care of some muggle flowers that were growing in the back garden in attempt to show Estella that she was indeed responsible enough to be near the magical plants. What she didn't notice was how unusually easily plants flourished at her touch, how they seemed to be glowing when she played in the back garden. Daphne could've sworn she'd seen it once or twice, but she banished it from her mind.
While Daphne would play with Pansy Parkinson or the Malfoy boy, Astoria would be out of sight, watering her garden or simply just watching the peonies sway in the breeze. Being out alone in the garden that reminded her of the fairies in her storybooks made her feel as if she herself was a fairy, resting in her elegant meadow where all wishes and dreams came true. It was a silly, stupid feeling, yes, but all the same it made her happy.
When she was eight, she toddled into the Greengrass private library and began tearing any book about plants she could find off the shelf. Magical and non-magical both, all she wanted to know about was how they worked, why they grew and where to find more. Her stuttering tongue stumbled over the word "Herbology" comically, stumbling and tripping and falling epically. She began reading in her garden about them, and could even be heard sometimes reading to the flowers she loved so much.
It was then that Estella began to notice her daughter's aptitude and interest in Herbology, but she didn't say a word.
When Astoria was nine, and Daphne was eleven, off at Hogwarts, she was jealous. With Daphne writing about her wonderful times and the dratted Harry Potter and the Slytherin dorms, Astoria couldn't help but feel upset. She wouldn't get to go for another two whole years! She'd decided that she would make Daphne jealous. So she began stealing some of the smaller, less harmful plants she recognized from Estella's lab.
While Daphne wrote about Transfiguration or Charms or Potions, Astoria began trying to find more and more. She'd make Daphne wish she hadn't left her behind. She'd show her!
Finally, in December, the remaining pureblood families that "stayed true to their heritage" had come back and had met for a party of sorts. The adults chattered in the parlor over tea while the school-age children talked about school excitedly.
Astoria sighed. They wouldn't notice her or even look outside. Despite the England weather, despite several of the flowers dying, the magical ones had thrived and were blooming in the snow. She had spent many hours out there to make it so and tried so hard to make it impressive, trying to make it pretty.
She stormed up the stairs, not caring anymore whether anybody saw her work. She was just little Astoria Greengrass, the girl that nobody ever noticed ever. Estella and her father ignored her. Daphne, now that she was going to Hogwarts ignored her. All of Daphne's friends, who had tolerated her and treated her like a little pet for their gang now left her in the dust. She wanted to cry, it was so unfair!
Astoria only looked up, as if sensing danger, to see the others coming out of the house and already Crabbe and Goyle were tearing up the plants! She threw on her coat and didn't bother lacing up her snow boots as she leapt down the stairs, and tumbled out of the house.
"STOP!" she cried, running towards the rest of the moonflower patch. "Those were my flowers!"
"Wait, you grew this?" Draco Malfoy asked her. "You aren't even in Hogwarts yet."
"Who do you think grew it?" Astoria snarled. "Last I checked, Malfoy, you weren't exactly doing well in Herbology!"
"Well obviously Mummy helped it," Daphne said logically.
"Mummy doesn't even know or care," Astoria said. "I tried to get her out here several times, but she was always busy! I did this all by myself and you just don't want to admit it!"
The kids just laughed and walked back inside, and Astoria began to kick the snow angrily.
"Is this what you were doing?"
Astoria turned to see Estella, who was examining her daughter's moonflower patch with exquisite interest.
"Yes, Mum."
"It's beautiful, sweetie," Estella said, hugging her daughter. "And moonflower no less! How did you get it?"
"I took it from your lab," Astoria admitted.
"Well, they certainly look pretty here," Estella murmured. "My goodness, you made them survive in the winter! You've got quite the talent for Herbology Astoria!"
No one was surprised when Astoria went on to become one of the renown Herbologists alongside Neville Longbottom in years to come.