Astra Blishwick – Nineteen

Hogsmeade was depressingly cold. Astra hugged her cloak around her and shivered. She hated the cold and felt it much more than anyone else she knew. It was just cold enough for her to be able to see her own breath in front of her face.

Hogwarts students from the third year and above bustled around, calling to each other and grinning. Bells kept ringing as shop doors were frequently opened and closed. Safe in the knowledge that all of her friends were sitting in secluded cafes with their respective dates for the day, Astra filed into Honeydukes and began picking up sweets.

Having replenished her own stock of fudge wands and bought Kendra some heart shaped chocolates that sang painfully high-pitched love ballads, she shoved everything into her bag and went to the card shop.

Cards were a relatively new thing to Astra, as they were to most of the wizarding world. A recent muggle custom brought to the country by the muggle Queen's new husband, a German Prince, Astra knew that Kendra would understand the reasoning behind it. Kendra had informed her that muggle cards were just that; pieces of card that people wrote messages on and gave to others. But the wizarding cards Astra was now looking through were all magically enchanted. Some had pictures that moved and danced across the card, others sang hymns or songs. Astra decided that she was putting Kendra through enough pain with the singing chocolates and moved away from those cards.

She was about to pick up a fairly plain looking green card when a drawling voice drifted across the shop. Astra immediately ducked behind a display of Bonfire Night cards that actually exploded when opened and listened, closely.

"Of course, what with our closeness to the Malfoy family, I should expect I'll be able to convince him easily. And, if not, he'll do it for Ursula's sake. He is so very fond of her."

It was a man, Astra was sure of it, and, by the sounds of it, a pureblood.

Then a voice that Astra definitely recognised chimed in.

"Oh, you are clever, my love. Just imagine what Professor Black will say when he finds out. His family will reward yours heftily, I'm certain of it." Aisling Rosier's nasally drawl added to her companion's.

Astra tried to remember her conversation on the staircase with Aisling, back at Eily and Valentin's house on Halloween. She had definitely mentioned a man; someone she was going to be engaged to, but Astra couldn't recall his name.

"How about this one, darling, this one has sparkles on it." The first voice droned, sounding utterly uninterested.

Aisling squealed and Astra had never heard sound so ridiculous. Usually, out of her friendship group, she was the one to demonstrate the most brainpower but now she sounded like a lovesick girl.

"It's wonderful, Joseph! She'll simply adore it, I'm sure!"

The man, Joseph, sneered, "She'd better. What with the lengths I'm going to for her. She'd better stay on Black's good side when they're married, I'm not dealing with the consequences if she doesn't."

Astra tried to concentrate on what he was saying, to remember it for later, but a large part of her brain was still trying to remember the name of this man. Aisling's words from the party whirled around inside her mind.

"Because he's rich, Blishwick. And a rich imbecile is the best any pure-blooded woman can do. You see, not only do I get all of his money, but I also get to control his every move because the man is so stupid he doesn't know right from left….."

Joseph Flint. That was it. So, Joseph Flint had some sort of scheme going on involving Professor Black and the Malfoys?

Astra didn't know the Malfoys personally. She had seen some of their family members at parties and balls over the years; they were fairly easy to spot because of their white blond hair. The only Malfoy she had ever met on a one to one basis was Augustin's mother, Drusilla. She had been a Malfoy until she married Antonin Prince, and she had the Malfoy hair to prove it. But Antonin's dark waves had been enough to ensure that all three of their sons looked like their father rather than their mother.

And then there was the Malfoy that Iola had mentioned. The one that was living with a squib and two muggles. Septimus? Septimian? It had been something like that. That was strange to her. Why would a pureblood wizard of such an esteemed family be living in that house? Unless he was a spy?

Astra withheld a gasp at the thought. Maybe the Malfoy who was living with the Hitchins muggles was secretly spying on Iola. That would explain Phineas' involvement. It was no secret to Astra now, that Phineas was desperate to know what Iola was up to. And he was absolutely convinced that she was up to something. But what did it have to do with this Ursula woman? How did any of it link to her marrying Phineas?

Astra pondered these things for so long that the shop assistant cautiously came over to her and asked if she was alright. Astra realised that Aisling and Joseph had long left the shop and she was currently the only customer.

"Oh, uhh, yes, I'm fine. Just this, please." She handed the green card over and paid.

-AB-

On her way back to the school, Astra passed Guildford Rowle and Christa Webb snogging on a bench. She avoided the cold glares of both of them, accusatory expressions daring her to stop and stare. Though she doubted that either of the two Hufflepuffs would actually hurt her, Astra had absolutely no intention of finding out.

Geraint and Francis Prewitt were arguing over the quality of their brand-new cauldrons in the entrance hall and Astra wondered whether everyone had suddenly become a Hufflepuff. Her absurd worry only increased as she passed Professors Abbott and Axton on the stairs.

It was almost a relief to enter the Slytherin common room and find a bunch of first and second years clad in their green uniforms.

Astra bounded up to her dormitory and tossed her bag onto her bed. Then she came face to face with Iola Black.

The dark-haired girl was reading contentedly, but she looked up when Astra burst in.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Iola said calmly.

Astra shook her head, nudging the door to make sure it was shut before returning to her bed.

"I just overheard Rosier and her boyfriend in Hogsmeade. Joseph Flint, his name is."

"Oh, yes." Iola nodded, seeming familiar with the name, "His sister's insanely keen on Phineas."

"Ursula?" Astra guessed.

If Iola was surprised that Astra knew, she didn't show it. She simply nodded again.

"Well Joseph just told Aisling that he's going to convince the Malfoys to do something for Phineas and that in return Phineas will marry Ursula."

This did seem to rile Iola. Her eyes went wide and she chucked her book onto her bedside table.

"The Malfoys in general or a specific member of the family?" She demanded, suddenly taking on the role of an interrogator.

"Uhh, just one person, I think. A man. I didn't get a name though." Astra told her honestly, "I was thinking it might be the Malfoy you mentioned, the one living with the muggles and the squib."

"Yes, I'm thinking the same thing." Iola said, looking visibly distressed.

"Well, do you think he's trustworthy? Would he rat you out to Joseph Flint?" Astra found herself doing the interrogating now.

"I…I don't think so. He's like family to me." Iola said, but her voice was shaky now.

Then a thought popped into Astra's head.

"Let's go and visit and find out." She suggested, a devious smile spreading across her face.

Iola shook her head vigorously, "No! Astra, how on earth would we get there?"

"We'd apparate of course. Well, you would apparate, since you know where we're going."

"You can't apparate inside Hogwarts grounds." Iola pointed out.

"But it's a Hogsmeade trip today. We can go from there."

"Side along apparition leaves more room for error. For splinching." Iola pleaded.

"It'll be fine, Iola. Surely you want to know the truth. If this Malfoy man grasses you up to Phineas, you're dead." Astra told her sternly. She knew that Iola knew she was right.

"Fine." Iola gave in, finally. Astra grinned.

-AB-

The apparition had gone smoothly. Astra thanked the heavens because, in all honesty, she had not been sure Iola could pull it off. But her cousin had impressed her and Astra made a mental note not to underestimate her again.

"They live here." Iola pointed to the second house in on the street they had appeared in.

Astra looked up curiously. The house was a terrace, made of red brick and covered in vines. Foliage also grew around the entrance and up the steps to the door. The door itself was incredibly narrow and taller than Astra imagined it would ever need to be, unless the Hitchins were inviting giants to tea.

The street itself was quiet and narrow. Astra could not even make out where it ended. The row of houses seemed to go on forever and every single one looked exactly the same. There was absolutely nothing fancy about this place. It smelled vaguely of sewage and, as Astra looked down, she realised that the road was piled high on either side with horse manure.

"Ugh!" Astra cried, side-stepping to get away from it. She caught Iola's eye and silently apologised. Obviously, the Hitchens did not live on this street out of choice; they likely did not have much money and, from what Kendra had told her, Astra knew that even being able to afford a place to live was considered being well-off in the muggle world.

"We have to be back before the feast." Iola reminded her cousin.

Astra nodded, and they trudged up the steps to the doorway. Iola knocked firmly and then they waited. Astra took one last look at the street behind them and decided that it must be a lie. There was absolutely no way that a Malfoy lived here.

She was proven wrong almost immediately.

The tall narrow door swung open with an uncomfortable creak. A figure appeared behind it and Iola smiled nervously.

"Hello, Septimius. Is anyone else home?" she asked timidly.

Astra tried not to snort. That was Iola's polite way of asking if they could speak to anyone that wasn't him.

"Iola." The man said. Astra looked him up and down. He wore casual clothes; a shirt tucked into some trousers and laced up boots. He had a thick scarf wrapped around his neck that looked homemade. His signature Malfoy hair swept gracefully past his shoulders and his pale complexion was almost perfect, light blue eyes shining at them.

"To what do we owe the pleasure?" he continued, and his voice sounded like liquid caramel. Never before in her life had Astra understood the idea of instant physical attraction…until now. She gawked at the man, open mouthed and dumbstruck. She was on the verge of asking him whether he was, in fact, a god in human form, when Iola spoke.

"Just a social call, Septimius." Iola said calmly, "May we come in? This is my cousin, Astra Blishwick."

Septimius regarded Astra with a look of mild distaste and Astra shut her mouth immediately. She felt herself flushing and clenched her fists. You look like such an idiot! she internally yelled at herself.

Then the beautiful white blond man stepped back and motioned for them to come in.

"Thank you." Iola told him gratefully.

"Yeah, thanks." Astra said. He raised a brow at her doubtfully and she bit her lip. She had met this man a mere minute ago and he already thought she was a moron.

"Roberta and Michael are in the living room. I believe Philip has gone to purchase some bread but he ought to be back soon." Septimius said over their heads, "Do go on in. It's extremely….cosy."