Astra Blishwick – twenty

'Cosy' turned out to be Septimius Malfoy's version of the word 'tiny'. Astra guessed he must be far more used to living in an enormous house with grand furnishings and, compared to that ideal, the Hitchins' house was very small.

Shuffling into the living room behind Iola, Astra noticed that 'living room' was also quite a loose definition. The kitchen was also in this room and took up about half of the available space. There was one rat eaten sofa and three chairs all squashed into the other end of the room and a single, square window, which allowed a small amount of light in. Floating candles hung above, just below the ceiling, providing a little more light.

As they entered the room, a tall woman with short red hair leapt up to greet them.

"Iola!" she gushed, pulling the small girl into her arms and hugging her tightly. Iola returned the embrace, her face lighting up at the sight of the redhead.

"Bob!" she smiled, her voice thick with an odd mixture of relief and joy.

Astra watched them hold each other for a few moments before they separated and the redheaded woman turned to her.

"Oh, this is my cousin, Astra Blishwick," Iola said hurriedly, "it's alright, we can trust her. She's going to get us the potion I told you about."

Bob smiled at this and extended a hand towards Astra. Astra took it and shook it, offering a small smile herself.

Bob had excited brown eyes and a round face. She was almost as tall as Astra herself and therefore half a head taller than Iola. She had a few smile lines at the corners of her eyes but she looked quite young. If Astra was guessing, she'd have put the woman's age at around twenty, if that. Her stomach was only slightly swollen and, if Astra hadn't known she was pregnant, she probably wouldn't have guessed.

Behind Bob, and sitting on one of the dilapidated chairs, was a man with curly grey hair and a tired, lined face. He looked kind and had an approachable air about him, but he also looked exhausted, as if he might collapse and die right there and then. Astra hoped he didn't.

"Hello, Astra," Bob was saying to her in a friendly tone, "this is Michael Bones." she gestured to the old man in the chair, "My brother, Philip has just popped out shopping, and of course you've met Septimius Malfoy."

Behind Astra, Septimius grunted in agreement. Astra felt herself flush again.

"Do have a seat." Bob encouraged her. Astra noticed that Iola had already sat down in the seat next to Michael and was asking him about his carrots and whether they were growing fast enough.

Avoiding the chair from which Bob herself had just gotten up, Astra sat carefully on the sofa. She was rather worried that her weight would cause it to collapse because it was so full of holes. She wondered why Septimius didn't just use magic to fix it but she didn't dare ask. The wizard in question surveyed the room quickly and then, with obvious resentment, sat down next to Astra on the sofa.

"Don't mind him," Bob leaned over to Astra cheerily and nodded towards Septimius, "he likes to pretend he's a miserable old sod but it's not true."

Astra forced a chuckle and avoided Septimius' gaze, which she could now feel boring into the back of her head.

"We're here on a rather delicate matter actually, Bobby." Iola began and Astra assumed that 'Bobby' must be a pet name that Iola used for Bob when she wanted something.

"You know you can share anything with us, Iola." Bob said, frowning slightly. The furrowed brow didn't suit her, Astra decided; she looked much more natural when she smiled.

"Well," Iola said, looking around at all of them, "we have reason to believe that the Flints are trying to catch me out. Prove that I'm consorting with muggles, as they would phrase it. And we think they're going to try and extract that information from you, Septimius."

The blond did not look at all surprised to hear this and Astra wondered whether he had already spoken to the Flints.

"Well," Septimius said, his voice like melting butter, "it is not unexpected. We knew they would suspect as such eventually. I presume the Flints' curiosity stems from suspicions that your own family harbour, Iola?"

Iola bowed her head sadly, "My brother, Phineas, is convinced I'm involved in something I shouldn't be."

Bob took Iola's hand gently and the two shared a small smile. It wasn't hard to realise that they were in love.

"I'd say that you can rest assured I shall not divulge any such information, Iola, but I fear that may not stay your worries. If you would like, I will make the Unbreakable Vow with you." Septimius offered.

Astra audibly gasped. Everyone looked at her and she quickly apologised.

"Sorry, it's just, that's a rather serious thing to just offer up."

Septimius looked at her as if she had just proposed that they all jump off a cliff.

"We are family here." He said firmly, "Related or not. And family will do anything for each other. I'd die before I let Iola's secret escape."

His words were heavy with reality. Astra suddenly wondered whether she would die before letting Iola's secret escape.

"The Unbreakable Vow is not necessary, Septimius." Iola assured him, "We just thought we ought to check and to warn you that Joseph Flint might start harassing you for information."

Septimius nodded.

The conversation then turned to the baby. Iola told them that Eily had given birth just the other week and that Astra had held the child. Bob spent a long time quizzing Astra on how it felt and telling her how perfectly she had imagined it. Iola listened attentively the entire time, squealing excitedly in all the right places and putting her hand on Bob's stomach.

Michael reminisced fondly of his own children and wife who had apparently all died from cholera when they were quite young. His croaky voice broke as he recalled wishing he could've been the one to fall ill instead of them. Astra stayed silent at this. She didn't know how to deal with upset and crying people and she had not come prepared. Bob and Iola both hugged him and rubbed his shoulders affectionately. Septimius watched on coolly. It seemed that he, too, was not very good at comforting people.

As they all heard the door creak open and close again and a redheaded man peered into the living room, arms full of bread, Astra realised the time. It was getting incredibly dark outside and they still had to walk back to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade.

"We should go." Astra told her cousin warily.

Iola nodded. She greeted Philip Hitchins quickly and then apologised to Bob.

"We really have to leave, I'm ever so sorry." She told her. Bob shook her head fondly, "Nonsense. You both go now, we've taken up enough of your time. We'll see you soon. It was lovely meeting you, Astra. Give my love to your sister and the baby."

Astra nodded, knowing she could do no such thing. Then Iola said goodbye to the others and grabbed Astra's arm tightly. Within a split second they were back in Hogsmeade.

-AB-

"How old is Bob?" Astra asked as she trudged back up to the castle for the third time.

"Nineteen." Iola replied, "She'll be twenty before Christmas though."

There was an elongated pause and then Astra blurted, "Septimius Malfoy is very handsome."

Iola threw back her head and laughed. Astra frowned, "What?" she asked.

"Nothing, nothing." Iola waved a hand around, "It's just that he is handsome, as you say. But he's also far more interested in other men than he would ever be in either of us, cousin."

And then it dawned on Astra. That was why he was living in a house with two muggles and a squib. That was why he was putting up with the cramped conditions and unpleasant smell.

"But, if his family know, then why are the Flints still acquainted with him?" Astra frowned.

"His family don't know, Astra. He left of his own accord because he knew they wouldn't accept him for who he was. They think he left because of a disagreement over money. They think he'll be home before next summer, begging on his knees to be taken back in."

It was so unfair, Astra thought. Not only did their pureblood families have a problem with muggles but Septimius Malfoy had had to move out because he couldn't be with another wizard! It was never a concern that had even crossed Astra's mind growing up. But now she thought it must have been incredibly difficult for the beautiful man. And for Iola.

"I'm sorry." Astra said suddenly, "I'm sorry if I was ever mean to you over the years. I'm sorry if I ever ignored you in favour of my friends. I'm sorry."

"Astra, I don't need your sudden sympathy just because you now know who I truly am." Iola said, fixing her cousin with a judging look. "If you ever thought I looked lonely and ignored me for your friends it was because it was the easy thing to do. If you ever said anything mean to me over the years it was because it was the easy thing to do. It was not because you were under some misapprehension that my sexuality made me a freak."

Astra hung her head in shame. Iola was right. She was trying to blame all of her poor behaviour on the fact that Iola was different. On the notion that she had somehow known this, somehow sensed it.

"You're right." The taller girl told her cousin. Iola watched her closely.

"You're right. It was poor of me try and say such a thing. So I'm sorry for that. And I am, truly, sorry for mistreating you in the past. I'm no brave Gryffindor but there are definitely times when I've been a coward. Forgive me." Astra meant it. Every word.

"I'll try." Iola promised, "After all, when I needed help, you were there for me. Many others weren't and that means a lot."

When they finally reached the castle, the pair of Slytherins headed straight down to the dungeons and to bed. It was incredibly late and they were both shattered.

-AB-

At breakfast the next morning Astra received cool stares from her friends who immediately stopped talking as she approached. Gerbold and Elias refused to even look at her and Venusia and Kerrick had worried expressions on their faces. Kendra looked at her with anger.

Astra was taken aback. She sat down, tentatively, and turned to address them all, "What's wrong?" she asked, "What's with the cold attitudes?"

They all shifted to look at Kendra and Astra followed their lead. Brown eyes met blue and Kendra sniffed.

"Percival asked me to marry him yesterday. And I accepted." She said coldly.

Oh, shit.

Astra had completely forgotten about that after she'd started talking to Iola. Her best friend had gotten engaged and she hadn't even been there to congratulate her. She had specifically gone to Hogsmeade to get her a gift for the occasion and then run off to a muggle terrace house with her cousin.

"That's- that's wonderful news, Kenny." She managed weakly, "I'm really pleased for you. I'm- I'm sorry I couldn't be there."

"Couldn't?" Kendra challenged.

Astra inwardly cursed. She had no way of explaining this. She couldn't tell them where she had been because that would reveal Iola's secret. But saying she had completely forgotten sounded absolutely pathetic.

"I…I can't tell you why." She muttered lamely.

"What?" Elias accused harshly, "You can't tell her why? Where on earth have you been, Astra? Spying for the Ministry?"

"Elias, give her a chance." Venusia hissed.

"Of course I haven't." Astra snapped at the redhead before turning back to Kendra, "Kenny I swear to you that if I could have been there, I would have. And I can't tell you where I was so you'll just have to believe me, but I am so, so sorry I wasn't around."

Kendra met her friend's eyes again and nodded slightly, seeming to believe the Slytherin.

"I mean it." Astra told her, "Every word."

The silence as they all ate was only slightly less uncomfortable than it had been when she'd walked in.