Ok, so I've had this idea swimming around in my head since I was 14 years old. My dear friend addielouwho on ao3, who is also beta-reading/editing for me, finally writing her story inspired me to write mine. I always wondered how a girl would handle Harry's adventures so I went looking around if anyone had the same idea and all the stories I found inspired me to make my own. Before anyone asks "Astraia" is an alternate spelling of Astraea who was a Greek virgin star-goddess of justice. Hence the title. But you should definitely look into her myth. The name just kind of fell into my lap and it was perfect for a fem!Harry.
Also, disclaimer: I did take bits from the movie and the book. So I don't own anything you recognize.
Chapter 1: Prologue
Across the wizarding world of Britain, magical creatures of all kinds celebrated. At long last, the war was over. All thanks to the sacrifice of one family and, in particular, one very special little girl.
Witches and wizards across the continent raised their glasses and toasted, "To Astraia Potter - the Girl Who Lived!"
That is, all but one. In Little Whinging, Surrey, in a neighborhood not at all suited for magic, there was a cat. A very peculiar tabby cat with square like markings around its eyes, and if you squinted, they looked remarkably like spectacles.
This unusual cat appeared to be waiting, and had been waiting and watching throughout the day and long into the night. Unfortunately, the cat's waiting was interrupted.
At the end of the street, a figure had appeared with a loud and resounding pop! This figure held up a silver device, flicked it, and the light went out in the first lamppost on the street. He continued to do this until all the lamppost lights had been extinguished.
However, the cat was undeterred. This appeared to be exactly what it had been waiting for.
With the keen eyesight of a feline, the cat could see the figure was dressed in purple robes, had a long beard that reached to its navel, and walked towards it with a long and purposeful gait.
As the figured neared, the cat jumped from the fence it had been perched upon and, in the process, made a smooth and flawless transformation. It appeared the cat was not a cat at all, but a woman. A woman with spectacles, black hair neatly smoothed back into a severe bun, and wearing emerald green robes.
The woman hurried to meet the approaching figure, quitely exclaiming "Albus!"
As she reached Albus, she asked frostily, "If you would be so inclined as to tell me just what I've been doing here all day, watching these people as you requested?"
Albus merely smiled enigmatically in response and replied, "Well, hello to you too, Professor McGonagall."
Professor McGonagall reddened and said, "Well, yes. Hello, Albus." She seemed to remember her initial question and followed with, "Now if you would please answer the question."
Albus ignored her and checked his watch. He commented idly, "Hagrid's late."
Professor McGonagall was baffled and asked, "What does Hagrid have to do with anything?"
"I've come to bring Astraia Potter to her aunt and uncle. They're the only family she has left now."
"You don't mean - you can't mean the people who live here?" cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at the house marked number four. "Albus - you can't. You couldn't find two people who are less like us. And they've got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Astraia Potter come and live here?!"
"It's the best place for her," said Dumbledore firmly. "Her aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to her when she's older. I've written them a letter."
"A letter?" repeated Professor McGonagall faintly. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand her! She'll be famous - a legend - I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Astraia Potter day in the future - there will be books written about Astraia - every child in our world will know her name!"
"Exactly," Dumbledore replied, "Her life here will be quiet. You know very well that there will be certain things expected of her. Best to let her live without those expectations until she's old enough to handle it."
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, "Yes - yes, you're right, of course. But how is she getting here, Dumbledore?" She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Astraia underneath it and realized something.
"You-you can't mean to let Hagrid bring her?!" She questioned.
"I would trust Hagrid with my life," Dumbledore replied.
Professor McGonagall harrumphed. "Yes, well, Hagrid is very sweet, but you cannot deny that he can be quite careless. Is it really wise to let him handle something this- what is that noise?"
The sound that interrupted Professor McGonagall was the far off rumbling sound of an engine. It got progressively louder as it neared. What appeared to be a headlight hovering in the night sky glowed brighter as it got closer. Eventually a huge black motorcycle reached the ground as it landed at the end of the street. It rode closer to where Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall awaited. The figure that rode the bike appeared to be quite large and had a large bundle strapped to his chest. He cradled the bundle as he dismounted from the motorcycle.
"Hagrid," Dumbledore greeted, "How is she?"
"Alright now, sir," Hagrid replied. "She was crying so much that Madam Pomfrey had to spell her to sleep, the poor thing."
Dumbledore and McGonagall bent to see inside the bundle of blankets. Inside rested a small toddler, a little girl, fast asleep. Deep black hair that reached the base of her neck and rosy cheeks plump with baby fat. Just underneath the hair on her forehead was a curious scar in the shape of a lightning bolt.
"Is that where -?" whispered Professor McGonagall.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "She'll have that scar forever."
"Couldn't you do something about it, Dumbledore?"
"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well - give her here, Hagrid - we'd better get this over with."
Dumbledore took Astraia in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys' house.
"Could I - could I say good-bye to her, sir?" asked Hagrid. He bent his great, shaggy head over Astraia and gave her what must have been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog.
"Shhh!" hissed Professor McGonagall, "you'll wake the Muggles!"
"S-s-sorry," sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it.
"But I c-c-can't stand it - Lily and James dead - and poor little Astraia off to live with Muggles -"
"Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found," Professor McGonagall whispered, patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore walked towards the Dursley's front door. He gingerly set Astraia down and propped her up against the wall. He took a letter out of his cloak and tucked it inside the blankets. He took a step back and all three took a moment to look at her and consider the life she was now to live. Hagrid's shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out.
"Well," said Dumbledore finally, "that's that. We've no business staying here. We may as well go and join the celebrations." He took one last look at at Astraia and murmured, "Good luck, Astraia."
The three hurried to leave as it wouldn't be long before the muggles started to awaken to start their day, unaware that life of one family had been forever changed.