Aster had thought she could handle coming back to Hogwarts.
It was so hard, walking through the corridors that Cedric used to accompany her in. Walking the grounds that Cedric had spent time with her at. Seeing the looks some of the Hufflepuff's still gave her, and being unable to speak with the Weasley's or Harry or Hermione. Dumbledore had said it would be best if they acted as though they still weren't familiar with each other, just to be safe. Aster had a feeling there was an ulterior motive to his reasonings, but she couldn't find the strength to pursue it.
All Aster could do was practice the calming exercises from Sirius, and trudge along. It was her second week, and it was her first class with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She had heard rumors about Dolores Umbridge, and if the rumors were true, then the woman would be in for a surprise. If she dared to say anything about Voldemort and Cedric the way she had to Harry, Aster hadn't a clue how she would react. She only knew it would not be good.
The lesson started unassumingly enough, the annoyingly pink woman clearing her throat with that ridiculous hem hem as she explained the course objectives, making it clear that they would not be using their magic at all. She told them their assignment, and sat at her desk, staring around the room at the students who dutifully got out their books and began reading.
Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw girl, had her hand raised and a peculiar look on her face. Aster, as well as most of the students in the room, paid close attention, as Umbridge called on her.
"Professor Umbridge," Luna began in her dreamy voice. "Aren't we in this class to learn defensive spells? So that, when Voldemort attacks us, we can protect ourselves?"
Everyone was paying attention now. They had all heard what happened to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger when they asked the same thing, although they perhaps hadn't said it as bluntly as Luna.
Dolores Umbridge's eyes narrowed, and she gave an entirely fake smile. "Ms. Lovegood, perhaps you are mistaken.. I know you have all been told a certain Dark Wizard has risen from the dead, but that is incorrect. It does not do you well to listen to tall tales from mentally unwell people, now, does it?"
Many of the Slytherin's were snickering, including Draco Malfoy. Aster felt her ears burn as she processed what Umbridge was saying, and her head became light as she found herself raising her own hand. She was breathless as Umbridge called on her, and she willed herself to calm down.
"So what's your explanation for Cedric Diggory, then?" the words flew out of her mouth in a heated question, her head becoming dizzy. She was so upset, her hands were shaking. The laughter tapered off as the other students heard her words.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident," Umbridge blinked at Aster, the smile still on her face. "All wizards who entered the tournament knew the risk."
"To claim that Cedric died of his own accord and foolishness is wrong!" Aster leapt up from the table, her chest heaving as she glared at the toad-like woman. "Cedric was a bloody brilliant wizard, and for you to diminish his death to a mistake on his part makes you-"
"Detention, Ms. Snape!" Umbridge cut her off, simpering that disgusting smile. "I don't believe your father will be very happy to hear about this."
"I don't give a bloody fuck about detention!" Aster yelled at the woman, her hands shaking and her breathing haggard as she scooped her bag up from the floor. "I doubt you know anything at all about loving and losing someone, you disgusting toad!"
With those as her parting words, Aster ran out of the classroom, ignoring whatever rubbish Umbridge called after her. She went straight out to the grounds, finally falling to the grass underneath the special tree she had shared with Cedric so long ago.
Tears slipped out of her eyes, and she dug her fists into her sockets, wishing desperately she could go back and hex the blasted woman. She had never wanted so badly to hurt someone as she wanted to hurt Dolores Umbridge.
She looked behind her, at the tree she had carved Cedric's name in, and she ran her finger over the indentation. He would hate to see her like this. Mad at the world, mad at everyone. Crying at every little thing. He would want her to be happy, but dammit, it was so hard to be happy without him.
Eventually, she knew she had to go face her father. He would be upset, she was sure, but hopefully he would understand at least a little. Walking into the castle, she received looks and the whispers began, and she knew they were talking about her outburst, just as they had done to Harry last week.
Aster entered Severus' office, slamming the door behind her with a loud bang.
Severus looked up with an indignant sneer across his face, which dropped into a frown when he saw who it was. "I was wondering when you would come."
"I hate that woman!" Aster shouted, pacing the desk Severus sat behind. "She's foul, she's evil, she's-"
"Your teacher," Severus cut her off. "And a member of the ministry. She's also just been made High Inquisitor, which gives her power over determining who can remain a teacher. It also allows her to enforce new rules to her will."
Aster's mouth dropped. "My merlin, has the ministry gone absolutely mad?"
"One might think so," Severus pursed his lips. "They don't want to believe the Dark Lord has returned. They plan to silence those who say he is, and to ban students from believing so. Therefore, I was able to get your detention taken down to just one week rather than the two she suggested, after explaining your situation."
"She disrespected Cedric." Aster spat out, her hands shaking as she relieved the moment.
"Yes, I am well aware of what happened," Severus paused again. "The Slytherin students were spreading the news."
"Of course they were." Aster huffed, crossing her arms.
"You must learn to bite your tongue around this woman," Severus said harshly, his tone hard and serious. "You must stay unassuming and under everyone's radar. The Dark Lord surely has his spies here."
"So, when are my detentions with it?" Aster ignored his words, again pacing the floor.
"Your first one is tonight at seven pm." Severus sighed, calling out a protest as Aster fled the room.
Obviously, he would be no help. She stalked through the hallway, heading for the Great Hall, planning on getting dinner and then heading right to Umbridge to get her detention over with sooner.
"Aster!"
She looked behind to see Harry running towards her, and she stopped. "Harry."
"I heard about what happened with Umbridge," Harry paused, his green eyes searching her identical ones. "Are you alright?"
Word surely traveled fast in Hogwarts. Aster shrugged. "I want to hex the daylights out of that woman."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I know how you feel."
"How dare she just disrespect Cedric like that," Aster shook her head, biting her lip harshly. "I have detention with her tonight. An entire weeks worth."
Harry winced. "I hope she doesn't give you the quill."
Aster gave him a questioning look, and he explained. "When I have my detentions with her, she gives me her special quill. It uses my blood as ink, and cuts the words onto my hand." Harry held out the back of his hand to her, where she could see the white scar that said I must not tell lies.
"That can't be allowed!" Aster shouted, grabbing his hand to take a closer look.
"Really, now, Potter?"
Aster and Harry both turned to see Draco Malfoy striding towards them with a cocky grin on his face. As Aster had noticed in the bookstore, he had grown a few inches, and it seemed to give him all the more confidence his narcissistic self didn't need.
"I mean, I understood Diggory, he was fit for a Slytherin, house aside, but Potter?" Draco drawled the words out, smirking as Crabbe and Goyle laughed next to him.
Aster's anger returned, and she strode forward to Draco with her wand raised. She dug the wand into his neck, breathing in the scent of his expensive cologne. It was the closest she had ever been to him, and she couldn't stop herself from thinking the arrogant arse looked rather attractive up close.
"Say that again, Malfoy." Aster spat out, her wand pressing into his windpipe.
Draco's eyes flashed, and before she could react, he grabbed her hand and twisted it away from his jugular. The sudden motion caused her to drop her wand, the cold of his family ring digging painfully into her skin. She found she didn't mind the pain.
"You ever raise your wand to me again, Snape," Draco's words dripped with venom, his lips against her ear. His breath washed over her neck. "And it will be the last time you ever do."
Draco shoved her roughly away, Harry catching her, before he left into the Great Hall. Crabbe and Goyle followed him, smirking and grinning like idiots.
"You alright?" Harry asked, concerned, picking her wand up off the floor. Aster nodded, feeling very flustered. For whatever reason, when Draco had threatened her… she had felt alive, for the first time in months. To her embarrassment, she felt a tingling in her stomach from the way Draco had handled her.
"Malfoy is a prat," Harry muttered, glaring after the boy who had long since disappeared. "Dunno why he had to be made prefect."
"Aster!"
Harry and Aster turned to see the twins heading for them.
"Good to see you!" Fred said, wrapping Aster in a big hug. Aster hugged back tightly, her nose wrinkling at the smell of gunpowder that seemed to emanate from him.
"Good to see you, too." Aster grinned at the twins, shoving Malfoy to the back of her mind. She would deal with that later.
"Heard about what happened with Umbridge earlier-" George began. "Completely wicked how you stood up to her." Finished Fred, giving her another big squeeze.
Aster grinned again, accepting their appreciation. Together, they all walked into the Great Hall, reluctantly parting as Aster went to the Slytherin table. Thankfully, it wasn't completely full yet, so Aster was able to sit a few seats down from Draco.
She could feel his eyes on her, as she pushed her food around her plate. She hadn't been eating well again, with no one watching her, and the little weight she managed to gain back that last month at Sirius' was long gone, her school uniform once again beginning to hang loosely off her frame. She had taken to wearing a belt she had nicked from Harry over the summer, just to make sure her skirt didn't fall.
After swallowing a few bites of potato, Aster decided it was time to face Umbridge. She left her full plate at the table, hiked her bag onto her shoulder, and headed for the ghastly pink office that waited for her. It was only six o'clock, but she hoped she could just get it over with.
Knocking twice on the door, Aster went inside after hearing an awful hem hem that signalled to her Umbridge was there. The office made Aster sick, and she was glad she hadn't eaten much at dinner.
"Ms. Snape," simpered Umbridge, who pointed to a small table draped in lace beside which she had drawn up a straight back chair. "Take a seat."
A blank piece of parchment paper lay on the table, and Aster got a heavy feeling in her stomach as she sat in the uncomfortable chair.
"Now, I have been lenient enough to reduce your detention to just one week," said Umbridge, a sugary smile on her face. "Given your unique circumstance."
Aster bit her cheek so hard blood flooded her mouth, forcing the words she wanted to say to stay in her mouth.
"Ms. Snape, you are going to be doing lines for me," Umbridge continued, reaching in her desk drawer. "No need to grab your quill, you will be using my special one. Here you are."
She handed a long black quill to Aster, who took it hesitantly. It was unassuming and small with an unusually sharp point, and she held it carefully in her hand. She eyed it warily, and Umbridge gave a small chuckle.
"I want you to write. I must be respectful," Umbridge told her softly.
"How many times?" Aster asked stiffly, swallowing hard.
"Oh, as long as it takes the message to sink in," said Umbridge sweetly, that nasty smile still on her face. "Begin."
Aster thought of asking for ink, but had a feeling it would make Umbridge more amused. So, holding her breath, Aster pressed the quill to the page to write the first letter. Immediately, it was written in what appeared to be shining red ink. But with a gasp of pain, she felt the words carve into the soft skin of her inner forearm, as though traced there with a scalpel, yet as she looked incredulously at the cut, the skin healed over again, leaving the place her it had been slightly redder than before but quite smooth.
Aster looked at Umbridge then, who was looking at Aster with quite a toad-like grin.
"Yes?"
"Nothing." Aster replied defiantly.
She slid her robe off her body, and pressed the quill to the paper, writing the words again. The searing pain went through her arm again, and still she pressed on. It healed within seconds, just to be sliced open again. And yet, as the time went on, Aster found a certain comfort in the pain. The searing hot slice into her arm made her forget for a moment all the other things that bothered her.
So again and again, she wrote the letters, the feeling slowly becoming numb.
thank you for the reviews last chapter! hopefully you all enjoyed this one.
-TheFlyingGraysons