Sorry this is slightly late, I was working on schoolwork and forgot what day it was this morning. Now, here we see a bit more progress with getting Ron into the picture, as well as find out some of the history of Aster Keeney.
Chapter 7
Avalon students begin their magical education at the age of seven when they begin learning Magical Theory. At eleven, like their Hogwarts counterparts, they receive their wands in an elaborate ceremony dating back to the eleventh century AD when wand use was becoming more popular as opposed to the traditional use of magic. They then begin the practical application of the theories they have memorized as note taking is strictly forbidden. Their "Muggle" education is not neglected and students are required to take courses in Mathematics, Muggle History, Sciences, and Languages. This allows ease of movement if students choose to do a semester or year at a non-Avalon school or a Muggle school.
-Avalon Education Since 1930 p. 345
At breakfast the next morning, Ron was surprised to see all the Avalon students in attendance at their respective house tables. He took his usual seat, which coincidently was near his sister and began gorging himself on his usual breakfast of hotcakes, bacon, sausage, toast, and scrambled eggs.
The students didn't appear interested in the food at all, rather more interested in whatever parchment they had in front of them. From his perspective, he could see some sort of astrological chart as Potter was pointing at something. He caught the tail end of what he was saying. "..going round Sahmain."
"Why not the holidays?" Ginny asked, examining another chart. "It's bound to be easier to see the North Star then."
Potter shrugged. "Don't know. Although, I reckon Tonks just wants a confirmation she's in the third slot by New Year's."
He spotted Malfoy and Prince walking their way, despite many glances and the not-so-covert hissing of the Slytherins. "So, what's on the timetable for today?" Malfoy asked, sitting down with far less grace than he seemed capable of.
"Transfiguration and Defense in the morning and double Potions in the afternoon." Hermione Granger recited. Ron noticed she seemed particularly eager about this. "Astronomy's tomorrow night and tomorrow we have our electives as well."
"I'm taking Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," Prince said, batting her eyes at Malfoy who looked slightly green. "You're not…serious…are you?" he asked. "I mean the Divination teacher's batty and well, Hagrid's teaching Care of Magical Creatures."
"Come off it, Dray, he's not that bad." Harry said, as they got up to head to their first class. "Not that bad," Malfoy echoed. "This coming from the idiot who once ate dirt for a bet." Harry turned slightly green at the memory and didn't respond, so grumbling, he went to work trying to convince his girlfriend to transfer to another class-any class but Divination. ("Seriously, Abby, Arithmancy is much better and it'll give us another Maths credit so we're not behind").
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It was slightly unnerving to see the group of mismatched students sitting together. Of course, Professor McGonagall had seen weirder combinations of students, just not all at the same time. She noticed, with a mental sigh, that they did not have notebooks with them, but rather had their copies of Advanced Transfiguration sitting in front of them, open to chapter one.
Catching Neville Longbottom's somewhat tired stare out the window, she pounced. "Mr. Longbottom, where are your notebooks?" Neville broke his wayward stare with the lake and cocked his head to one side. "We're not allowed notebooks at Avalon, Professor," he said. "And why, may I ask, is that?"
This time Abigail Prince answered. "Never leave evidence or get caught sooner." she recited, as though this had been repeated throughout her childhood. "It's also a disciplinary tactic," Malfoy said, "Improves memory and encourages you to pay attention the first time rather than encouraging reliance on something that could easily be destroyed."
Internally, Professor McGonagall sighed. This was going to be a long year.
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*Flashback*
Titanica
Kent, England, 1978
"Aster, be reasonable-"
"I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THEY'RE ONLY BRINGING THE TWO OF THEM! WHAT ABOUT PERCY? WHAT ABOUT FRED AND GEORGE? AND WHY IN HELL HAVEN'T THEY TOLD THEIR PARENTS?"
Evan Johnson glanced at Regulus Black across the table. They had been trying to reason with Aster for over two hours now. But the newly-inducted Lady of Avalon was having none of it.
For you see, Gideon and Fabian Prewett (the last remaining Avis in their family-this generation at least) had brought their young nephews to Avalon for Aster's induction, finally realizing that some of the things Aster had been mentioning for the past few years might not just be cock-and-bull Divination but actual predictions. The two had brought only Bill and Charlie-something that peeved Aster off even more.
Which led to their current predicament of a raging bull pacing the solar at the Titanica in Kent. Evan had long since given up trying to get Aster to calm down-the Keeney family had tempers like an insulted Hippogriff if provoked. Regulus, for his part, wished Severus were here. He was quite possibly the only person who could reason with Aster when her temper flared. But then again, he reflected, taking another sip of wine. Severus had a temper to match hers.
"They're going to split that family apart, I just know it." She said, slamming her glass onto the table with such force that it threatened to keel over and break. Regulus winced. "It's Henry the Second of England all over again. Only this time instead of three idiot boys vying for who has the most power, it's going to be at least five, two Avi, three who have no clue as to what the hell is going on, and two parents with one huge mess that they can fully blame on their kids' uncles."
She sat down rather ungracefully in a chair. "Why couldn't they have stuck to two kids, no more?" she groaned, pouring herself another glass. "Things would've been simpler if their first was a girl."
Regulus and Evan knew the succession was…touchy at best with Aster right now. With no daughter of her own, Aster's current choice (that wasn't either married or disowned by her real family, at any rate) was Nymphadora Tonks. But if the Weasleys had a girl…Arthur Weasely's family was as old as the legend of King Arthur, Avalon-born up until 1913, when the family relocated to the Burrow in Devon. They were in fact, more close blood than young Nymphadora, but still very distant, a long shot.
Evan sighed, reflecting on his own situation. He had three children of his own-all boys. Edward, Richard, and Geoffrey were not werewolves, like he was, thank Merlin, but his wife had recent werewolf ancestry, so his next might be one. He figured he'd deal with that when it came.
Regulus, however, looked thoughtful. "Well," he said, tapping his glass with a finger. "You could always get pregnant." he suggested, cowering under the gaze Aster gave him. "Hear me out: get pregnant by someone the people will accept as the kid's father, have a girl, and then this is resolved."
"There is a fucking war going on, I cannot get pregnant, when Avalon is in danger." Aster said, sounding for all the world, like his least favorite cousin.
And yes, he was talking about Bellatrix.
"Riddle finds me pregnant, he can either kill me and the baby or kidnap me, wait until the kid is born, kill me then, and raise the kid under his control. He will then, by effect have control not over Brittania, but also Avalon." Aster thundered, as the chandelier rattled. "Molly and Arthur Weasley will not leave Brittania, and even Fabian and Gideon cannot convince them. The least I can do is make sure that those kids grow up with a greater knowledge of the world so they can protect it. Bill is the classic Gryffindor, Charlie acts more like Robin Hood every time I see him. Percy, if we're not careful, will lead his family into darkness, all the damn while seeing it as the right thing to do."
She took a deep breath and Regulus saw this as his chance, "But if Molly were to have a girl-" Aster cut him off. "Than she'll be hauled straight here and go to Avalon Academy. There's enough room here for the family and her father will still be able to work at the Ministry. Only if things get out of control will they go to Avalon. I will not stand to have Avi blood within Riddle's reach if it kills me."
*End Flashback*
We-ell we get a little more on Aster (and Regulus's) background. While Evan Johnson is a minor character, he's someone to watch. You'll see more as the story progresses.
Now, what is it you'd like to see in chapter eight?
