Well, here it is! The arrival of the hate mail!
I won't keep you, so I'll be brief.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and all that, but the plot line is mine!
Astraea was laughing softly as she entered the hall with her new friends.
"And then," said Draco, who was trying not to laugh himself, "He turned in a huff and walked out of the room, but by that time, everyone knew what had happened,"
"It was the best Yule ball we ever had," sniggered Blaise, "They never could top that afterwards,"
"I can imagine," chuckled Astraea, as they walked towards the Slytherin side of the hall.
"Miss Potter," said Draco courteously as he held out her chair for her.
"Thank you," said Astraea, chuckling at him.
"So, what would you like to do first?" asked Blaise.
"I don't know," said Astraea, "What do you usually do?"
"Well, we-" started Pansy, but was cut off by Daphne.
"Weasel and co coming this way," said Daphne, and the five turned to see Ron, Seamus and Lavender walking over.
"What do they want now?" hissed Astraea irritatedly.
"Dunno," said Blaise, "But this promises to be entertaining,"
"Joy," said Astraea, rolling her eyes.
"Weasel, leprechaun, slut," said Draco, glaring at the three.
"Sod off Malfoy," said Ron; glaring at the blonde, "We've come to talk to Astraea,"
"I didn't think you would have anything else to say to me," said Astraea coolly.
"We would like to say sorry for the misunderstanding," said Ron, looking a little pasty.
"Misunderstanding?" snorted Blaise.
"Which misunderstanding would that be?" asked Astraea raising an eyebrow.
"Trying to burn your things," said Seamus. At least he had the decency to look slightly ashamed.
"And why would I forgive you?" asked Astraea.
"Because we're your friends," said Ron.
"I doubt that," said Pansy.
"Shut up, you pug faced bint," snapped Lavender, before turning to Astraea, "Stop playing around and come back to where you really belong,"
"And where is that?" asked Astraea.
"With us," said Ron, smugly.
"And what makes you think I belong with you?" asked Astraea.
"Because Slytherin's are evil, and Gryffindor's are good," said Ron, "And you belong with the light,"
Suddenly, Astraea felt a flash of annoyance at the redhead.
"You sound like a two year old, spouting off a bedtime story your sheep mummy told you," she hissed, "DO tell, what makes us Slytherin's so evil?"
"They're all practitioners of dark magic, and they're all death eaters," said Lavender, taking on an air of superiority.
"Don't try to sound intelligent Brown," said Daphne boredly, "It highlights your stupidity,"
"And we're not death-eaters," said Blaise, "I can say for sure that my father, none of my stepfathers or my mother have ever been a death-eater, and where would I ever get the chance to become one?"
"You're all evil, and you should stay away from Astraea," said Seamus.
"And what gives you the right to tell them to do so?" asked Astraea.
"We're your friends," said Lavender.
"I didn't know that your definition of friend was to attempt to set their things on fire," said Blaise conversationally.
"That's none of your business," said Ron.
"I think he has a point," said Astraea, "and for the record, I was never friends with you Lavender. I simply had the misfortune to share a room with you,"
"Why are you arguing with them Astraea," said Pansy, "Don't let them bring you down to their level,"
"Good point Pansy," said Astraea, "Off you go,"
The three took on chagrined expressions.
"Make us," said Ron.
Draco hexed them lazily, and they left, trying to undo their now brown and orange spotted faces.
"Oh well done Draco," giggled Astraea.
"I can't believe they would have the nerve to come over here," growled Draco.
"Especially after yesterday," added Blaise.
"Good morning," said Theodore Nott, sitting down beside Draco.
"What took you so long?" asked Daphne.
"My alarm broke," said Theodore, stifling a yawn.
"What kind of wizard are you?" asked Pansy.
"I only woke up 20 minutes late," said Theodore, "What did I miss?"
"Draco hexed Ron Seamus and Lavender," said Astraea, summoning a cup of coffee.
"Really?" asked Theodore, "What'd you do?"
"I added to their ugly features, and I loosened their bowels a bit," said Draco smugly.
"And?" asked Theodore.
"What do you mean and?" demanded Draco
"I mean, was there anything else, other than your rather boring hexes?" asked Theodore, leaving Draco spluttering, "So allow me to introduce myself," he said, turning to Astraea, "I am Theodore,"
"I'm Astraea," said Astraea.
"Lovely to meet you," said Theodore
"Oh, the mails come," said Astraea.
"Brilliant," said Blaise, "Oi Draco, mail's here!"
"Really?" asked Draco, perking up.
"Is he always like that?" asked Astraea quietly.
"Yeah," said Theodore, "It's like he's bipolar,"
"Hey!" protested Draco.
Astraea laughed, and unwound the Daily prophet from the leg of the delivery owl before paying it.
"Hey, looks like you made the front page," said Pansy.
Astraea groaned as she took in a photo of herself in her new uniform.
"How did they get a photo already?" she moaned.
"With great difficulty," said Daphne.
"Thanks," said Astraea. She flicked through the article, picking up on the key phrases, like 'declaring her previous house of betrayal' and 'gaining the immediate support of the house of snakes' and 'new alliances already formed and ready to go. It was like she had been planning this for months'
"So they seem to be thinking that you're the next Dark Lord," said Blaise.
"Lady Blaise," said Draco, "Dark lady,"
"Well, maybe not yet," said Daphne.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Astraea.
"I blame it on your upbringing," said pansy.
"Well I think I turned out pretty well, considering my childhood," said Astraea.
"So now what?" asked Daphne, filing away that fact for later.
"Well, usually the mail's co-ordinated enough so that everyone has time to read the article pertaining to whatever event, and then the hate mail comes," said Astraea, "It's like I can't please anyone,"
"Well, here it comes," said Draco.
"Yay," said Astraea sarcastically, as she stared with dread at the incoming flock of owls. Within moments, it was raining mail.
"Oh it looks like you got a howler," said Pansy.
"Great," said Astraea, grabbing the red letter before it got buried.
"Well go on," said Blaise.
"Hold up!" said Astraea, lunging suddenly.
"What?" asked Draco worriedly.
Astraea returned a moment later clutching a bedraggled owl.
"I had to catch Errol," she said sheepishly, before propping the poor creature up on the mountain of letters.
"Open the howler," said Draco, "It's smoking,"
"Alright, don't get your panties in a twist," she said, as she broke the seal on the letter.
"Hey!" said Draco, but his indignant cry was drowned out in a roar that shook the ceiling.
"ASTRAEA POTTER HOW DARE YOU!" screamed Mrs Weasley "I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE ASHAMED IN MY LIFE. YOU WILL GO BACK TO THE HEADMASTER AND APOLOGISE. YOU WILL BE RESORTED BACK INTO GRYFFINDORE, AND YOU WILL STAY AWAY FROM THOSE EVIL SLYTHRIN CHILDREN!"
Astraea stared at the screaming howler with shock.
"AND FURTHER MORE, HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE MY POOR RONNIE OF ATTEMPTING TO SET FIRE TO YOUR BELONGINGS, YOU UNGRATEFUL GIRL! YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE A FRIEND LIKE HIM! YOU GO AND APOLOGISE! I AM ASHAMED OF YOU! WHAT WOULD YOUR PARENTS THINK, WHAT WOULD SIRIUS THINK? YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE WHEN YOU COME BACK FOR THE SUMMER!" and with that, the howler tore itself to shreds in front of a seething Astraea.
"How dare she!" she hissed.
"Uhh, Astraea," said Draco hesitantly.
"What?" said Astraea shortly.
"You have another howler," said pansy.
"Oh great someone else to yell at me when they have no right," said Astraea sarcastically, reaching for the red envelope on the top of the pile of letters. She ripped it open viciously.
"ASTRAEA," boomed the calm voice of Remus lupin, "I HAVE TIMED THIS LETTER IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID MOLLY'S NO DOUBT VOCAL HOWLER. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU!"
His proclamation caused a sudden hush in the hall, as everyone turned to stare at the Slytherin table.
"I AM GLAD THAT YOU WOULD GO WHERE YOU SHOULD BE, DESPITE WHERE YOUR PARENTS, SIRIUS OR EVEN I WENT. I AM GLAD THAT YOU ARE YOUR OWN PERSON. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SIRIUS AND JAMES AND LILY WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON," the letter burst into flames, leaving a bar of chocolate in its wake, and a sniffling Astraea.
"Remind me to give him a hug when I next see him," she said, smiling.
"Well, there's someone else who approves," said Pansy, smiling back.
"Why don't we get started on the rest of the mail," said Astraea.
Great," said Blaise, diving in.
"He's strangely enthusiastic," said Theodore.
"I always thought it looked interesting," said Blaise, tearing open a letter, "Hey, this one says that Astraea is an attention seeking whore who needs to stop pulling these stunts, and let people get on with their lives,"
"I wish they would be more original," sighed Astraea.
"I can't believe that this many people would have time to write to you," said Pansy.
"You won't believe how much fan mail I get," said Astraea, "I actually have a bin for it in the owlery, and I go through it every Sunday. It's usually pretty sweet on a smooth period,"
"Smooth period?" said Daphne, pulling a pile of letters towards her.
"On those down periods when there are no incriminating articles about me," said Astraea, "Oh hey, I have a marriage proposal,"
"What?" asked Blaise, Theo and Draco at once, leaning over towards her.
"It's from some guy called Terence Smith," said Astraea.
"I know him," said Theodore, "He graduated three years ago,"
"And he's proposing?" asked Astraea.
"Well, you are the girl who lived, and one hell of an heiress," said pansy, "And now that you're in slytherin, you'll probably be getting a lot of proposals from former Slytherin's,"
"But I don't want to get married," said Astraea, frowning.
"Then you need someone to decline," said Draco.
"Why can't I do it myself?" asked Astraea.
"Because if you tried to do it, you would probably end up being the target of the entire pureblood society," said Daphne.
"I thought I was," said Astraea.
"No, you are the focus of the masses, not the elite," said Draco.
"Suddenly I feel unloved," said Astraea.
"They notice you, but if you went against tradition, they would probably go out to completely wipe you out," said Pansy.
"So what do you suggest I do?" asked Astraea.
"Find someone to represent you," shrugged Theo.
"Okay," said Astraea.
"We'll deal with it later," said Blaise, "because you have to read this one,"
"What does it say?" asked Astraea.
"Dear Astraea," said Blaise, putting on a falsetto, "my mummy told me that you are a slytherin, and mummy told me that Slytherin's are evil. So does that mean you're evil? Please don't be, cause you're my hero, and I have a picture of you next to my bed.
Love,
Mia,"
"Mother of Merlin," said Astraea, staring at the letter in Blaise's hand.
"That is hilarious," said Draco, chuckling.
"What about this one?" asked Daphne, holding out a pink piece of paper.
"You filthy girl! I hope you die! Stay away from my drakie-poo you bitch," read Astraea, raising an eyebrow, "Who is that from,"
"Draco's stalker," said Daphne and Pansy at once.
"Hey!" said Draco.
"You have a stalker," said Astraea, raising an eyebrow at the indignant Malfoy heir.
"He has a fan club," said Blaise.
"I thought that was just me," said Astraea, "Though I still don't know who the president is,"
"Well, poor Draco, not only has a fan club composed of all the girls he hasn't dated," said Theodore.
"He also has a hate club of all the girls he has," said Pansy.
"I know," said Astraea, "I used to be vice-president,"
"What?" asked Draco, staring at the brunette.
"That means you know who the president is," said Daphne.
"I do," said Astraea, "And I'm not telling,"
"What?" whined Draco.
"So who is Draco's stalker?" asked Astraea, turning away from the pouting blonde.
"Actually, their identity is still a mystery," said Millicent Bulstrode, sitting down across from Astraea, before sticking out her hand, "Millicent Bulstrode,"
"Astraea Potter," said Astraea, looking over the other girl. She had changed from second year, going from bull-like to curvy, though maybe a little plump.
"Would you mind if I looked through the mail?" asked Millicent.
"Not at all," said Astraea, and the larger girl nodded, and started to open a letter.
"Oh, look at this one," said Pansy, "It's from some old witch who wants to say that she hopes Astraea can change the tensions between the other houses and Slytherin,"
"How sweet," said Daphne.
"She does have a point," said Theo, "Astraea's sorting into Slytherin might just end the prejudice against Slytherin,"
"What about this one?" asked Daphne, "It's from some guy called Doug, who wants to say that Astraea is evil, and ought to be killed for betraying the light,"
"Such a positive outlook," said Pansy sarcastically.
"Oh, I found one from Weaselette," said Draco. Before he could open it, it was snatched out of his hand be Astraea.
"Sorry, but it's private," said Astraea, tucking the letter into her jacket pocket.
"Fine," said Draco, "We won't interfere in your private correspondence with your girlfriend,"
"Hey!" said Astraea, "you're just jealous that she's writing to me and not to you,"
"That is now true!" hissed Draco, "To even think that I would lower myself as to wish to receive a letter from a Weasley is disgusting!"
"Whatever," giggle Astraea.
"You know," said Blaise, "She only does that to irritate you,"
"And I think that means that it's Astraea: 3, Draco: nil," giggle Pansy.
"Is not!" said Draco.
"Is too," said Daphne.
"Is not!" protested Draco.
"Honestly Draco," sighed Astraea, "why must you be so childish,"
"Hey!" said Draco, as the group dissolved into laughter.
"And what is going on here?" asked a voice behind them. The group spun to see Albus Dumbledore standing behind them with a well-practised look of disapproval.
"We're going through the mail," said Astraea.
"I believe that this is a breach of privacy Astraea dear," said Dumbledore.
"Firstly, don't call me dear, secondly, they have my permission," said Astraea sweetly, "And thirdly, you have never complained in previous years,"
"Astraea, aren't you worried about them reading your mail?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"No," said Astraea, "I trust them. And it's only mail from people I don't know who are responding to the article about me in the Daily Prophet,"
"Is something the matter Headmaster?" asked a voice from behind the old man, and Dumbledore stepped aside to reveal Severus Snape.
"Not at all my boy," said Dumbledore merrily, "I was just talking to Astraea about a rather troubling situation I saw her in,"
"And what situation would that be?" asked Severus silkily.
"The Headmaster didn't like the fact that my new friends were helping me get through this pile of mail," said Astraea. She watched in amusement as a faintly pained expression crossed the man's face, before he drew himself up.
"I don't see any troubling situation here, Headmaster," said Snape, turning back to Dumbledore.
"This is a Breach of Privacy my boy," said the old man.
"If she wishes to have her friends read through her mail, I will not stop her," said Snape.
"Very well," said Dumbledore, shooting both Snape and Astraea a look of disappointment, before walking back to the Teacher's table
"I trust you will not cause any more disruptions," hissed Snape at the seven of them, before stalking back to the Teacher's table.
"Why did he support me?" asked Astraea.
"Slytherin's always support each other," said Draco.
"I guess I'm not used to it," said Astraea.
"Well, you can start getting used to it now," said Theo, "Cause we'll stick up for you,"
"Thanks," said Astraea, smiling.
"Hey, check this one out!" said Blaise.
"We were having a moment here," said Draco irritatedly.
"I know that, but you have to hear this one," said Blaise.
"All right, read it out," said Daphne.
"Dear Astraea Potter," read Blaise, "I have recently received word of your induction into Slytherin. I would like to offer my condolences on being sorted into such a horrible house. I would like to offer my assistance in any way that will get you back to the house that you belong in. if, however you truly are evil as they say, I wish you a painful death for your horrible betrayal.
Sincerely
Armand Smith,"
"Really?" asked Astraea.
"Yep," said Blaise.
"Isn't he that Zack Smith's father?" asked Pansy.
"Yes," said Millicent
"Why is he even writing to me?" asked Astraea.
"Because he's a pompous windbag," said Draco.
"You know, it's time for class," said Pansy.
"Already," whined Theo.
"We can finish this up later," suggested Astraea.
"Why not," sighed Draco, "Walk you to Potions Astraea?"
"Sure," said Astraea, "You coming Theo?"
"I just gotta get my things," said Theo.
"We'll meet you there then," said Draco, linking arms with Astraea.
"Sure," shrugged the brunette.
"See the rest of you in Defence," said Astraea, as she and Draco left the table.
"Of course," said Daphne.
Well? What did you think. I couldn't put to many letters in, cause there were some time restrictions, and I didn't want to bore you all.
I hope it met your expectations!