A/N: I haven't posted in a really long time, and that makes me feel really bad. I'm SO sorry for the wait, but I'd like to thank Zenith for this chapter. It was originally written from Astraea's point of view by Zenith (Astraea's creator), but in this version it's from Isla's perspective.

"An ornate roof atop, a ruby red room inlay with a thick velvet carpet, in its grandeur, gleaming pillars of ivory hold firm this mighty structure." The eagle doorknocker intoned. It was obviously a snob.

"Can't you just let me in? I want to see Astraea!" I said grumpily.

"Anything you can tell her you can tell me," the eagle doorknocker said. "She's probably studying, like a good student and Ravenclaw. I'll forward your message to her."

"It's private. Very private," I said, looking aside.

"Well, you can't see her. Not unless you answer the riddle." The doorknocker turned it's beak up at me. "No siree, you cannot come in unless you answer the riddle."

"Fine. I'll answer the riddle." I racked my brain for answers, and then: "McHunting Palace!" It was the ancestral home of a strange organization that claimed to be the descendants of King Arthur. It did, in fact, match the description.

"NOOOOOOO!" The eagle screeched. "Wrong answer!" And, being a Ravenclaw like he was, he added: "I take unduly pleasure in refusing your entry into MY common room."

"It works, even if it's not the right answer. You've learned something new," I said.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" And with that, a silvery-white haired head popped out of the common room door.

"What's all that commotion? I'm studying, as are several others, Samhain, couldn't you quiet down-oh, Isla, how nice to see you!" Astraea stepped out of the common room.

The doorknocker sniffed, then gave a perfunctory nod. "She gave the wrong answer to the riddle." He repeated the riddle that he had given me earlier, and she nodded.

"Oh, yes, a mouth! Very clever. But what did she answer?" Astraea looked confused for a moment, then said "Oh! McHunting Palace! We've been learning about it in History of Magic. It makes sense that you would think of that, Isla…"

"You're fair," said the doorknocker. "Be a judge."

"We bloody well don't need a judge," I interrupted. "I wanted to talk to Astraea from the start." And, turning to her, I asked her: "Do you mind? I have something…very important to tell you."

"Of course." She said.

After finding a quiet place where hopefully no one would care to look, I forced myself to begin. "You see…Astraea…we're friends…so I've decided to tell you…"

She smiled. "Come on, spit it out."

"My dad is Sirius Black and he's a mass murderer but actually he's innocent and my mum is dead and my real name is Isla Nigellus Black and yeah," I blurted.

"Sirius Black is innocent?" Astraea said, seeming to have lost me by the third part of my confession. "Are you helping him?" she asked, looking worried. "He could kill you!"

"Did you not fully register that? My dad never killed anyone. He's innocent!"

"That's what he wants you to think," Astraea replied, brows furrowed. "I don't see how you could trust someone who-who worked for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"

Then, sudden understanding dawned on her face. "That's it…" a sneer manifested, a dark cloud upon her almost angelic visage. "You're just the same as Harvest! Either this was all an elaborate trick to spite me or you think that being spawn of a Death Eater is cool and you think that if you pretend to be one, I'll be impressed."

"No, no, it's all true! I swear!" I had felt sure Astraea, of all people, would understand.

"That's what they all say," she said snidely. "You and your Pureblood friends don't know what it's like to have lost your entire family- mother, father, little sister, twin brother-to the very people that you-you, Titiana-idolize! And to think I had thought the Sorting Hat was wrong about you! Gryffindor, my foot!" And with that, Astraea got up, turned her back on me with a muffled sob, and stormed off.

"Wait!" I cried, standing up, but she didn't even look back.

My legs were weak, yet there I stood, watching my best friend (Fred and George did not even enter my mind) walk away from me. Why would she think I was fooling her this entire time? What had I done wrong? I sat down, tears sliding down my face.

I stared down at my hands, lost in miserable thoughts, when I heard a footstep. I looked up and saw Harvest.

"It's alright," she said silkily. "I heard it all, and I believe you."

A/N: *cue dramatic music* Thank Zenith for the first part of this chapter. But please don't hate on Astraea! She's been through a lot, even if she currently is steaming mad at Isla. At least someone can start calling Isla by her real name, even if it is Harvest.