2
"Now I don't want you to cause too much trouble," Andromeda informed the four children.
"Meaning, don't poison anyone Tia," Dora teased her little sister.
"I make no promises," Asteria stated, and Hermione gave slight laugh. "As long as people respect my family."
"We'll make sure she doesn't go too far," Harry said.
He was forever grateful that Asteria didn't let up on Dudley. The number of times he had gotten sick over the years from small poisons that came from local plants was astounding. The dark-haired witch hitched her parasol up and huffed to herself. Ted shook his head, used to the demented thinking patterns of the black family. Andromeda still had them herself, and Nymphadora was lucky to be a prankster at the most.
"Right, let's get you all on the train," Ted said, picking up the basket that held Asteria pet snake.
"Briskly walk through the barrier," Andromeda said. "It will let you through, wait for us when you get through."
Harry nervously watched as Dora went through. Her form easily passing through the brick pillar that acted as the entrance to the platform. He would've been lost on his own. Asteria quickly joined her and looked around the crowded platform as Hermione joined. Families were milling about, some crying as they helped their children onto the train others stiffly standing there. Harry joined them, bumping into their trollies with his. His snowy owl, a gift from Hagrid, gave a low hoot as she woke up.
"Wow," Harry softly said, looking at the red steam engine train.
"Let's get you three a compartment," Ted said as Andromeda placed her hands on Asteria's shoulders.
"Dora's younger friends have their own compartment," Andromeda informed them. "But they won't mind you asking questions."
"Hufflepuffs are kind like that," Ted grinned.
Hermione watched a dark brow quirk upwards before smiling in amusement. Ted truly was trying to steer them towards his old house. They would listen to Andromeda and allow their sorting to happen as it should. She fixed her shirt, a blue jersey for Ipswich town. A gift from Ted and Asteria one Christmas. Their team, which amused the bushy haired girl seeing as Asteria supported Ireland when it came to Quidditch. A sport that she had to learn about, and hated that Harry seemed drawn to it.
"So many red heads," Asteria muttered. "Those must be the wealseys that Dora talks about."
"Watch out for those twins," Dora warned, walking up to the group. "They might give you a run for your money Tia."
"Challenge accepted," Asteria softly said.
"Asteria," Andromeda warned.
Said girl simply looked to the side as their trunks were placed above them and they nervously looked around the compartment. Harry heard the soft hissing of Asteria's snake and smiled slightly. All the red bothered the snake. The horned desert viper twisted around the rock in its container and flicked its tongue out. A soft hiss came from Asteria, and the snake calmed itself.
"I want you three to stay safe," Andromeda told them, gently patting each of their cheeks. "Don't let anything break your friendship, and please make sure that Tia doesn't kill someone."
"She wouldn't get caught," Harry quietly said with a strange frown.
"I won't kill anyone," Asteria sighed. "There are many different poisons to use that won't kill someone."
"No using Apopis," Andromeda warned, and the girl nodded sullenly.
"Right, we'll be off," Ted chirped too used to the warning towards the littlest of his family.
"Bye, Mr Tonks," Harry and Hermione chirped back.
"Bye, pops," Asteria softly said, giving him a slight hug.
Ted had come to terms that he'd never be Dad to Asteria, her still knowing that Sirius was still alive, but she did care for him in her own way. He grabbed Andromeda's hand and gently lead his wife off the train. Dora following behind and tripping on the stairs slightly. The trio took their seats and waited for the train to start moving. Hermione was a ball of nerves, knowing that things were going to change for them. The compartment window rattled as the train behave to move. The three turned and waved at the Tonks, Dora changing her hair to a bright yellow with streaks of black. It was amusing that they were still hoping one of them would end up in Hufflepuff. There was a knock at their compartment, and they all looked. It was slid open by a boy their age with short red hair and dirt in his nose.
"Sorry, is there room?" The boy asked.
"Yes." Was the unanimous answer after they all shared a look.
The boy sat down next to Asteria, and she stiffened at how close he was to her. Her eyes narrowed in slight distaste before her expression smoothed. Something about him was off and she didn't know what. The red head was staring at Harry, and she bristled, her hair frizzing slightly with her magic. She knew it was going to happen, Harry being a very well-known name in the wizarding world. It didn't mean she liked it.
"You're Harry Potter!" the boy exclaimed, not reading the compartment.
"Fabulous observation," Hermione dryly commented.
"Do you really have the scar?" The boy asked, ignoring the growing tension and anger.
"Leave." Asteria ordered, her tone frigid.
"What?" the boy questioned dimly.
"Leave." She repeated, her eyes narrowing. "Harry lost his family that day and all people seem to do is dig the knife of that fact further into his back."
"And who are you?" the boy rudely questioned.
Asteria's lips turned into a thin line as her mind raced with the different types of poison, she could use on him. He may have been a child, but so was she. Andromeda had raised her to think before speaking. She was sure his mother did the same. Hermione's expression mirrored her own as she stared at the boy with distaste.
"My name is Asteria Black," Asteria answered. "And Harry is one of my best friends."
"Black? Oh, so you come from one of the darkest families?" The boy stated and her expression darkened. "Everyone in that family's gone mental."
It was a surprise when Hermione, out of the three of them, bodily moved him. The compartment door slammed behind him as she evicted him. Asteria looked at her friend in surprise. Hermione was never the sort to get physical with someone. It was nice to see, really. Hermione sat back down with an angered huff and the two dark-haired children shared a look. It was a mental agreement not to make Hermione mad.
"And people are scared of Tia," Harry couldn't help but say.
"Don't," Hermione warned as Asteria gave a light laugh.
The train ride turned to a game of Go between Hermione and Asteria, the game being taught to them by Ted. The new-blood lawyer liked seeing the two and their different play styles. Hermione was an offensive player that had a strong defense. Asteria was a defensive player that did distracting plays to finish off her opponents. Harry watched with fascination as the two-toned pieces were flipped one way and then flipped another. The compartment door slid open, and he watched as the two girls didn't even pause in their action.
"Are you the little firsties that kicked our brother out of the compartment?" A red head said, and Harry noted the identical one standing next to him.
"To be fair, he was being an insensitive prat," Hermione commented as she placed a tile down.
"He also insulted me based on my last name, I'm very aware of the stipulations that come with being a Black," Asteria mumbled before turning a tile and protecting her territory.
"Oh, no" One twin started.
"We found it quite funny," The other added.
"Brilliant really-"
"Couldn't do it better ourselves."
"Did you have to work on that, or is it some kind of subconscious legilimency?" Asteria asked, looking up from the board.
"Close," One twin said, sitting down next to her.
"But not too close," the other said, plopping down next to Harry.
"We're warning you now, we'll most likely go to Slytherin," Hermione briskly informed them, not giving them time to speak. "Asteria likes to use poison on people, and honestly unless you can get used to that you'll never make it."
"I don't take kindly to people who harm those I care about," Asteria shrugged. "This is a small curtesy we're giving you."
The two twins shared a look and seemed to be having a mental conversation. It made sense that the group would stick together. They recognized the Black surname, and the hair that came with it, and Harry Potter. The other girl was a muggleborn, one that had bodily carried their brother out of the compartment. Oh, they were going to turn Slytherin upside down. The twins would happily watch it crash and burn.
"Well, I'm Gred," one twin said.
"And I'm Feorge," the other said.
"Fred and George," Harry translated with a nod.
"Anything off the trolley?" An elderly voice asked.
Soon, the compartment was filled with a few choice candies. The oddest, was the mint teeth. It was a magical candy that kept one's teeth clean and fresh. Hermione and Asteria seemed to enjoy that one more than the other candies. They went back to their game, only stopping to say something when one of the twins prompted them. Fred and George brought Harry into a game of exploding snap, which then devolved into a test to see who could distract the girls long enough to mess with their game. It proved fruitless, Asteria and Hermione seemed unlikely to stop their fake unless it was on their terms. Harry bit into his chocolate frog, something Andromeda had gotten him used to so he wouldn't stand out too much.
"I've got Dumbledore," Harry stated. "Next time I get a La Voisin I'll make sure to trade you for one of your newts."
"Of course," Asteria said, smiling slightly at her friend.
They ended up playing every flavoured bean roulette. A sly smirk appeared on Asteria's face as the twins began to wonder if she somehow didn't have any taste buds. The future Slytherins, honestly they seemed far too likely to end up in the house of snakes than lions, had wonderful poker faces. A vomit colored bean was tossed into Harry's mouth and he finally let out a facial expression. He gagged, loudly. Fred pumped his fist into the air before looking out the window.
"We need to get back to Lee," Fred stated. "See you ickle firsties later."
"Don't do anything we wouldn't do," George said. "Or do, we love the chaos!"
The changing of robes was quick and Hermione loved the small personality that Madam Malkin had added to Andromeda's specifications. Hermione had a few extra pockets for her dentist approved candy and some extra ink. Asteria had lace and a heavier fabric for the entire year. Harry had bits of color and pockets for his wand and a small watch that Ted had gifted him so they'd make it to class on time. The train came to a stop as they pulled on their dress shoes, the girls being forced to wear shoes with heels compared to the boy's uniform having regular dress shoes. They got out with the other students and noted a large figure standing out against the crowds. Hagrid was there, a giant lantern in his large hands.
"Firs' years this way!" His voice boomed over the sounds of students talking.
He led them to a bunch of rickety boats. The three clambered into one, and an icy glare from Hermione and Asteria stopped the twins younger brother from joining them. A boy, with dark hair and a toad clutched in his hand, joined them instead. The boats slowly glided over the murky waters and revealed to them the sight of an old castle a small cheer went out through the first years. Asteria brought a fan out of her robes and hid behind it, her silver eyes watching the students in thought. That continued as a severe looking woman had them wait in a small room before their sorting.
"Oh my," a rather plump man said, his spectral form floating before Asteria. "I don't believe we've had a poisons mistress in a good century, not since Alice Kyteler."
"Pity she was lost to history," Asteria softly said, and the man nodded.
"Sad to say you won't end up in my old house," he commented. "However we ghost are here to help when needed."
None of the other students seemed to try and talk to Asteria after that. Harry listened to the whispers around them and watched as Asteria simply flicked her fan open. Apopis was curled around her wrist and he watched the small tongue flick out before the snakes head moved up. It wanted to know more of their surroundings. Asteria's quiet hissing caused it to pause before slithering back under the robe.
"It's a hat," Harry deadpanned.
"A singing hat," Hermione added, raising a brow. "Miss Tonks does more impressive magic on her own."
"I think Mum would've been happy to hear that," Asteria quietly chuckled.
Hermione turned a light pink as the hat, that had seemingly split in two and began to sing at them, went quiet and the severe woman held up a long piece of parchment. She cleared her throat once, and the great hall went quiet. Asteria looked up at the enchanted ceiling, something that Hermione had enjoyed reading about when she got her hands on Hogwarts a History. The new witch wrung her hands together and only stopped when Asteria's and Harry's pulled them apart. Her friends were a strange source of calm. Abbott Hannah went first and went to Hufflepuff after a few seconds on her blonde hair.
"Black, Asteria," was called by the severe woman, and her lips became a thin grim line.
Asteria broke off from her friends and calmly walked up to the stool. There was a soft murmur from the older students, some of them were old enough to remember the man that was in Azkaban. The teachers, one in particular, knew it from her coloring and wild hair. She primly sat on the stool for the students and waited for the hat to fall over her eyes. She closed her eyes the second it did.
"Oh my, your head is incredibly macabre," a faint voice said and she smiled slightly. "This is going to take a while. The only house you shouldn't be in is Gryffindor, even if the courage to be yourself would see you fit in perfectly."
Asteria could see that. She started to tap her fan against her palm as the hat dug through her mind to find the best place for her. She had agreed with her friends, they'd go where the hat told them to go. She heard the hat muttering to itself before getting confused with a conflicting personality trait. It it had hair, she didn't doubt that it would be tearing it out. A part of her enjoyed being a hat stall, she just hoped that her friends would be as well. With as much crazy things she did to them, they should. Eventually, it came to a conclusion.
"Slytherin!" The hat yelled.
The table with the students in green, black, and silver gave mute applause and she rolled her eyes as the hat was removed. The woman was giving her a thoughtful look and she smiled serenely. It seemed to unnerve people when she did that. It also made her seem unassuming.
"Thank you, professor," she quietly thanked before heading off to her new school house.
"Black, like the house of black?" An older student asked her.
"Yes," she admitted as another student was called.
Hermione soon joined her and Asteria inwardly cackled at the annoyed looks on her fellow Slytherin's faces. Her best friend looked towards the students yet to be sorted and watched Harry gave them a slightly worried smile. They ignored the hushed whispers of "Mudblood" around them. It wasn't the house of pureblood, it was the house of cunning and ambition. It didn't matter what your blood was, you could be ambitious. Harry was called and the two shot icy looks at their new classmates before watching him walk up to the stool. He sat down and placed his hands in his lap, the hat falling onto his unruly black hair.
He was a hat stall, just like her. Asteria couldn't keep the mirth off her face as a groan went through the student body. Eventually, she could see his lips moving. It was a little funny that he didn't realize that the hat was talking in his head. She crossed her legs and smirked when a smile appeared on his face.
"Slytherin!" the hat roared.
The great hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. The hat was removed and the professor watched him in complete confusion as he headed to the Slytherin table. He sat on Asteria's side and ducked his head when she bumped shoulders with him. A clap went out through the great hall, and another joined it. Asteria looked around to see the twins clapping, the Hufflepuff table quickly joined. The scattered applause was a nice sentiment, but Asteria knew it was all grandeur. The feast started without a word from the Headmaster and Asteria helped herself to some Chicken curry and rice.
"Harry, I think our head of house in confused by you," Asteria quietly warned, eyeing the blonde prat from the robe shop. "He must've known someone that looked like you."
"I hope he doesn't hate them," Harry muttered, watching as Asteria slyly placed a liquid in someone's cup when they glared at Harry.
"Hopefully, the professors here are able to act professionally," Hermione sniffed, narrowing her eyes as two lumbering boys nearby began to sloppily eat their food.
"We can manage," Asteria said, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice as the blonde began to cough. "Granted, it might be incredibly easy to get back at people here."
"No common sense," Hermione agreed.
"The reliance on magic is palpable," Harry added.
Oh, she had trained them so well. She hid her smile as dinner ended and they were led into the dungeons. The commons rooms were cold, and Apopis curled further into Asteria's robes to escape the chill. The two girls broke off towards their dorm and gave Harry a nod. He nodded back and accepted the small vials from Asteria. He knew what to do, and wouldn't be upset to do it. All he knew, was that they'd have to work on warding and jinxes.
"Must not be many students in Slytherin," Hermione commented as they looked around the two person dorm.
"Works for us, hopefully Harry had someone neutral in his," Asteria stated, stretching her hand and allowing Apopis to curl up on her new bed.
"Of course," Hermione agreed. "Lavender or mint?"
"Mint," Asteria answered, watching as a stick of incense was lit. "Sleep well, Hermione."
"You as well, Tia."