－CHAPTER ONE

arrival I

THIRD POINT OF VIEW

astra always knew she was special. she was weeding the garden like an obedient maid for her aunt, when she met a garden snake. it talked to her in a strange way and weirdly enough, she could talk back! it told her about things she didn't understand as a young seven year-old child who was oblivious towards the world and told her to go to one place, diagon alley.

"why should i go there, mr. snake? i'm not allowed out, only on school days and church, or else my aunt and uncle'll punish me." astra said, weeding out another weed from the flowerbed. "don't be sssilly, hatchling. what could sssome weak mugglesss do to you? you are a powerful witch, and a sspeaker too!" the snake exclaimed, slithering around her. astra scrunched her nose in thought. "muggles? witch? hatchling? what is this silly snake saying?! " she thought, sighing and she wiped the beads of sweat forming on her delicate forehead.

it was a very sunny day, as would be of a normal august afternoon. yet astra sat outside, hunched in the blistering heat with no form of protection against the unforgiving sun and nothing to cool herself off except the light warm breeze. it didn't help she was wearing her cousin, dudley's large hand-me-downs that did not help at all in keeping her body cool.

"i still don't understand anything you're saying, mr. snake. anyways, they won't even let me out of their sight. i have too many chores today anyways." astra huffed, dropping the garden shovel on the floor before stretching out her arms and back. the snake only 'laughed' in a way a talking snake would laugh. "sssilly girl, don't worry. jussst go at night, i'll lead you there." the snake reassured.

astra stopped in her tracks as she was replanting another flower, and iris. she finally sighed and looked back at the snake. "should i trust this talking snake? what if someone sees me and calls me a freak for talking to snakes? i don't want aunt petunia to berate me again for humiliating her with my freakishness." astra turned to look at the snake with a smile. "just have faith, astra. nobody'll notice if you're gone. nobody cares for you anyways." "sure, i'll go with you then, mr. snake."

the snake grinned, eyes shutting as he gave a content slither, almost like a "whoop" in celebration.

astra toyed with her hair as she was curled into a tight ball on her 'bed'. she had spent the rest of the day awaiting nighttime to fall, and had done all her chores in a rush because she couldn't contain her excitement. although it was strange, a seven year old following a snake to a place with a strange name. the teacher had always warned the students to never follow strangers, but everyone was a stranger in astra's opinion. she simply didn't care.

she peaked through the crack of the cupboard's door; it was the middle of the night. astra was getting drowsy but forced herself to stay awake as she waited for the snake. at night, it was quiet and peaceful in the dursley house. you could faintly hear the loud snoring of vernon and dudley from upstairs, or the soft wind blow against the house's strong outer walls.

astra found herself staring a photo on the wall outside. there was the whole dursley family, smiling, like a happy and complete family. astra felt a pang in her chest as she bit her plump, pink bottom lip. she was a pitiful orphan. no parents, they betrayed her by dying as drunks in a car crash, leaving astra all alone with her mean and abusive aunt. she shook her head violently as she pinched her skinny leg through the thick hand-me-down pants. she would not cry. not when she would have a chance to escape this wretched household.

astra found herself getting impatient. she had waited an extra 15 minutes for the garden snake, but he wasn't there. "could he not find me? what if he can't get through the front door? what if he was the one waiting for me outside?" astra thought, paling in worry. she quickly got up, as quietly as she could, and slowly pushed open the cupboard door, trying not to make much noise. she snuck over to the door, steps as light as they could be, and winced as the front door made much noise. she froze as she heard vernon stop snoring, but as the bed made creaking noises and she heard him snore once more, she sighed quietly in relief as she rushed out of the house, leaving the front door wide open; moonlight spilling into the house.

astra panted as she ran to the garden, gulping in the cool night air. her long, obsidian unruly black hair that went past her elbows blew slightly in the wind as she made it to the garden. hands to her knees, she found it hard to breathe as she gasped for air, little sweat drop coming off scarcely from her forehead. she looked around, only to see the very same garden snake curled together in slumber, the pale moonlight illuminating its bright green scales, making it seem like it was glowing.

astra sighed in relief. she was glad the snake was still there, and that she hadn't been late. she crept slowly towards the snake, the sounds of grass rustling waking him up. the snake opened his eyes and gave a 'grin' to the young girl. "i sssee you have finally come, i have been waiting." the snake spoke, circling astra. astra scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. "sorry, mr.snake. i thought you'd come into my 'room' but i guess that wouldn't be possible considering circumstances." she replied. "not to worry ssspeaker. follow me, and i ssshall bring you to take a blood tessst."

"b-but.. mr. snake," astra drawled out nervously. the snake tilted its head as it stuck out its tongue. it was cute, of course, but it a snake way. "what isss it, sspeaker?" the snake asked. "how are people going to respond to a young girl in basically rags following a snake around? i d-don't even know your name for goodness sake.." astra sputtered. the snake laughed and circled around the worried young girl.

"sssilly sspeaker, do not fret. i have already thought about that. just place me into your sssshirt and we will be on our merry way!" the snake exclaimed. astra flushed. "mr. snake! but that's embarrassing. why would i p-put you in my shirt!" she sputtered. the snake just closed its eyes. "ssstupid ssspeaker! if you are thinking what i think you are, we snakes are not like foolissh humansss. i only mean the bessst intentionss. now, ssshall we go?" it hissed, and astra reluctantly let it slither into her sleeve with a shiver after giving a curt nod.

"great, let the journey begin."

*NOT EDITED. LAST OPENED NOV. 24 2021