Chapter 4: Redemption
We look before and after,
And pine for what is not;
Out sincerest laughter with some pain is fraught
Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.
Percy Bysshe Shelley "To a Skylark"
Severus looked for Astra on the school grounds and could not see her. He guessed she must still be in the Gryffindor tower. He had thought of the best way to apologize to his little girl, he would get her a pet. Something she would like more than anything, she had her eye on this cat in Hogsmead for a while now and he had decided to get it for her. He was, now, carrying the box that contained the small creature and headed toward Gryffindor common room. Once he got to the portrait he suddenly realized that he had no clue what the password was. He decided to wait for a Gryffindor to show up and persuade them to help them get the gift to his daughter. The one person he had not expected to show up on a weekend came up behind him.
"And what do you think you're doing here, Severus?" McGonagall said sternly tapping her foot impatiently.
"I. . ." He faltered then cleared his throat. "I came here to give something to my daughter, Minerva. Not that it is any of your concern." He said coolly.
"She is a Gryffindor and my student therefore it is my concern." Minerva shot back at him.
"Look," Severus growled through gritted teeth "If I can't get in will you at least give this to her?"
"Very well. . .no curses on it?" Minerva asked eyeing him suspiciously.
"Why in Merlin would I curse my own daughter?" Severus shouted. "And why in the hell would you think I could? She's my baby Minerva, my blood, I would never hurt her."
"Very well, Severus. I will give her your gift." Minerva said taking the box from him and heading to the portrait hole.

Minerva noticed as soon as she walked into the common room that everyone was huddled around a very tearful Astra. Thinking they were attacking her Minerva quickly started to make her way over to her students. As soon as she got within earshot she heard exactly what everyone was saying and she sighed with relief. Every one of the Gryffindors had apologized to Astra and was now making friends with her. When the group finally started to break apart and do their own things Minerva made her move. "Astra?" Minerva called to the young girl.
"Yes, Professor?" Astra said as she approached.
"The headmaster would like a word with you. Also, your father asked me to give you this." She explained as she handed Astra the box.
Astra took the box and eyed it for a moment.
"I made sure there were no curses. It's safe to open." McGonagall said reading Astra's face.
Astra nodded and sat down to open the box she got the ribbon and pulled open the top. Out sprang the Black and white Kitten she had been begging her father for. Astra squealed with joy as she picked up the kitten and hugged it to her body. Everyone crowded around her to see what the commotion was.
"Aww" one boy said "How cute."
Everyone moved in to pet the animal as Astra looked back in the box, she notice a note inside. She carefully unfolded the letter and read it quietly.
My darling Astra,
I cannot express how sorry I am for hurting you.
Your mother and I feel just awful. We should have given you some time to adapt to the Idea instead of springing it on you (even if it was not your decision whether or not he attended) we hope you accept this apology, we never meant to hurt you.
Your Father,
Severus Snape
Astra put the letter back in the box and threw it into her bag. She was still angry at her parents but this was a start. She took the kitten from the group and cradled it in her arms.
"Astra, it's time to see the headmaster." McGonagall said softly.
Astra nodded and followed the headmistress out of the portrait hole still cradling the cat. When they reached the headmaster's office McGonagall quietly said the password and preceded her up the stairs. After knocking on the door she then pushed Astra in and closed it behind her.
"Ahh-- Astra." Dumbledore said. "Please have a seat."
Astra went and sat down in front of the headmaster's desk and began petting her cat.
"I first must begin by apologizing to you." Dumbledore said. "It was not my intention to hurt you by letting your brother in early. I personally thought it was best for him. However, I must confess I did not foresee it causing so many problems for you, though I should have. But know it would not have changed my decision and Sarul would still have entered school early."
Astra just stared. She was being apologized to by the headmaster. Well some what of an apology, but she never expected this at all.
"I hope that you will accept my apology for hurting you but this was necessary i assure you." He finished gravely.
Astra nodded. "Yes, sir."
The twinkle came back into the headmaster's eyes, "Glad to hear it. Now, I see you have brought a friend with you." He looked at the small cat in her arms and smiled.
"Yes, sir." She said "My father gave her to me today."
"Ah, and have you given her a name yet?"
"I was thinking perhaps, Starla."
"A very nice name indeed." He beamed at her. "Now I will not keep you and Starla here any longer."
Astra got up and left the headmaster's office. She headed back to the Gryffindor tower. She just reached the portrait hole, when she heard a voice.
"Do you like her?"
She whirled around to see her father leaning against the wall.
"Yes, I do."
"Good. Honey, I am sorry about the way we sprung this on you. We should have told you and let you get used to the Idea even if it wasn't your choice. You are my daughter and I love you." He said as he took her into his arms.
"I love you too, daddy." She sobbed into his chest. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that." She finished looking up into his eyes.
"Well, we can't change it, but you can learn from it. Maybe the next time something happens that you don't like or approve of you will be able to remain cool and logical about it." Severus looked down sternly at his daughter before stroking her hair, "I do, however, understand how easy it is to loose your temper. It takes a lot of practice and even I have yet to be able to keep my temper in some situations."
"So does this mean you'll drop the detention?" She asked hopefully.
"Not a chance." Severus frowned.
"Ok, can't blame me for tying." she grinned sheepishly. "well I have to be getting back, Daddy; but thank you for Starla." Astra said as she pulled away gently.
"Starla?" Severus blinked.
"Mm-hmm." Astra nodded. "That's what I named her"
"Ah, well, you are welcome." He watched her enter the portrait hole with a big smile on her face.
His heart lightened considerably as he heard everyone in the common room great her with cheers and laughter. He knew she would be alright.

Once classes resumed and her life went some what back to normal Astra began to drop her guard. With her brother in free reign of school and not in their parent's rooms, she should have realized that dropping her guard was a very bad idea.
She was walking down the corridor to potions when she heard snickering behind her. She was about to turn around to tell the person off when she was hit with a rush of ice cold water.
Astra shrieked as the water hit her. Her shriek was so loud that all of the teachers and students along the corridor rushed out to see what was wrong.
"What in the..." a boy started but Astra turned her glare on him and he paled. Others could be heard snickering as she stormed toward the potions class muttering a quick drying spell at her self. Vowing vengeance on whoever had humiliated her. She had a pretty good idea who it was that had dumped the water on her. Sarulan would be the focus of her retaliation. She had formulated a plan while in potions class but to put it into motion she would need help. She remembered Harry telling the others about using an invisibility cloak. She was sure that she was not really meant to hear that particular bit but now she would use it to her advantage.
Astra walked up to Harry with intent. "Harry?" she said in a barely audible whisper. "Yes?"
"Can I speak with you privately?" Harry looked suspicious.
"Look, I'm not going to hit on you! I need your help!" she growled so only he could hear. "Although . . . if it would help the cause." She added wiggling her eyebrows at him.
Harry blushed furiously. "Uh...no. we can speak over here." He said as he led her to a private part of the common room. "Harry, how would you like to get back at Draco Malfoy?" she said bluntly as they sat down.
Harry looked at her skeptically. "Why?"
"What would you say if I could humiliate him in front of the whole school?"
Harry raised his eyebrows. "How?"
"You'll just have to trust me, but I need to borrow your invisibility cloak."
Harry sat back in his chair and watched her with interest. "Why should I trust you?" he said after a moment of pause. "How do you know about my invisibility cloak and how do I know you won't go to your father?"
"What? You honestly think I don't have my own reasons for doing any of this? Draco is simply to make it worth your while." She grinned evilly. "And as for how I know about the cloak, I over heard you talking about it with Ron and Hermione."
"I think I'm going to like you." Harry said getting up. He headed for the boy's dorm and stopped briefly at the stairs to raise his eyebrows at her. Then he proceeded to climb.
Astra rose and followed.

Astra had the cloak and was ready to begin, except for one small detail. She had no clue as to the where a bout's of the Slytherin common room. But she knew where she could get that information. But persuading her father to tell her where it is? That would be a miracle if she could pull it off. She made her way to her father's potions classroom and hoped he would be there alone.
She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "Yes?" Severus growled.
"Daddy?" Astra squeaked, opening the door.
"Yes Astra, what is it?"
"I need to talk to Sarul."
"Well. He should be in the great hall later."
"No daddy."
"No?" he muttered in surprise.
"I need to talk to him alone. Can you tell me where to find the door to Slytherin common room?"
"Why?" Snape looked at his daughter suspiciously.
"I can't tell you that daddy." She said bluntly.
"Well, if you can't tell me then you don't need to talk to him that badly."
'I can't tell him yet.' She thought. 'Got to string him along a bit more'
"Daddy, I need to talk with him but it's between him and me. Now if I tell you then you could ruin the surprise and that just wouldn't be fair."
"Astra." Severus sighed. "Look. I know your brother pranked you. I also know that you are more than likely looking for a way to get back at him. I cannot give you the information you seek because that would give you a way to get him close to home and I will not do that."
"Well daddy. To tell you the truth..." She stopped for a moment and blushed as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a box of chocolate frogs which was Sarul's favorite candy. "I wanted to give him an apology gift. It's not much but I can't have you or anyone else do it. It has to be me."
"All right Astra. I'll tell you where to find the Slytherin's door." He then proceeded to tell her the instructions on how to get to the common room door. "But." He concluded. "I will personally hold you responsible for any pranks pulled on any of my Slytherin's."
"Daddy. I assure you that my intentions are nothing but good." Astra smiled sweetly. 'But then your version of good differs from mine.' She thought amused.
"Well. Let me say that I am not assured." He said to his daughters retreating back.

Astra left her father's classroom feeling quite proud of her self. She headed to the Gryffindor tower to retrieve the cloak and check on the potion she had been brewing. This of course was another advantage of being the only girl first year in Gryffindor. She didn't have to hide from other students that would have shared her room. The potion was done when she checked it last night so she knew she needed to get on with the plan. She put the invisibility cloak on and peaked out the door. No one was coming so she quickly slipped out of the room closing the door behind her. She went down the stairs, carefully to avoid bumping into anyone and made her way to the common room door. The portrait swung open and Harry muttered "good luck" as she passed him. She made her way down to the Slytherin common room and waited for a Slytherin to come by so she could hear the password. She didn't have to wait too long because just as she settled her self for a long wait Draco Malfoy came down the corridor with his two goons in tow. She was glad it was them because she could figure out how to include Crabbe and Goyle in this little plan of hers. She would throw them in for fun. She listened intently as Malfoy said the password. "Basilisk."
'Basilisk?' she thought. What in bloody hell kind of password was that? Oh well. No point in trying to ponder a Slytherin, your head would explode for lack of oxygen.
Astra quickly followed them in and went exploring to find the rooms she would need to locate. She went up the boy's stairs and found Sarul's room. Then Upon exploring further she found the other three's rooms. At least two of them shared a room so it would be a bit easier for her to get this done. She went back down into the common room and waited for the door to swing open again. The moment it did she snuck out past the two incoming Slytherin girls. She made her way back to the Gryffindor common room. The portrait swung open just as she reached it and she snuck in passed Ron and Hermione leaving.
'Probably going some where to snog in private.' She thought while smothering a giggle. She went up to her room and proceeded to bottle up the potion. She shrunk the bottle and put it in her pocket. Then gathering up the cloak and placing it in her school bag she once again left out the portrait hole. This time she made her way out onto the grounds and went to the Quidditch field. When she got there she went into the Gryffindor's tent and found four of the robes. She then generously applied the potion to the robes and left before anyone could see her there. She went back in just as the dinner bell rang.
It was time. While everyone was heading to dinner, Astra made her way to the Slytherin common room door. She was grateful that there wasn't a portrait covering this door to betray that she had been there. She had entered an empty room on the way and slipped on the cloak. Then she slipped back out without anyone noticing. As she approached the door she said the password. The door swung open. She went to Sarul's room first and found all of his robes. She quickly applied the potion to all of his robes so that no matter which one he chose he would still be pranked. Then she put the robes back where she got them and went to the other boy's rooms and did the same. She left the rooms exactly as she found them so that no one would suspect anything was wrong. She then left the Slytherin's common room and ducked into a different classroom and took off the cloak, then the one she had put it on in. this was so no one could say they saw her enter and leave the same room. When the cloak was safely in her bag she made her way to the great hall. She got there just as Dumbledore was finishing making his announcements. She sat down next to Harry.
"Where have you been?" he whispered in her ear.
"You'll see." Astra beamed. "Oh and by the way, thanks." She said as she handed Harry the bag she had stuffed his cloak into.
He looked at her for a moment, then shrugged and began to eat his dinner.

Severus had watched his daughter enter the hall. She was glowing and grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh Merlin!" He said under his breath. "What has she done now?"
"What dear?" Serena said looking at him.
"Oh nothing. Just mumbling is all." He said quickly. Serena gave him an odd look. "You seem to be doing that a lot lately." She mumbled then continued to eat her dinner.

Astra went to bed excited for what the morning would bring. She rose bright and early and made her way cheerfully to the common room.
Harry was already there. "Morning!" She sang as she entered.
"Why are you so cheery?" Harry asked her. "You'll see." Was all she said as she headed out the portrait hole.
She practically skipped the way to the great hall and sat down at the table. She sat there watching intently as the other students began piling in. as Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle entered the hall she followed them with her eyes but never moving her head. Then Sarul entered the room with Harry, Ron and Hermione right behind him. Sarul made his way to the Slytherin table while Harry and the others sat beside her.
"It's time." She whispered to Harry. And as if that was the key word there was a rush of red and gold that flew past everyone and made its way to the Slytherin table. There was an audible smack as the red and gold attached itself to the four chosen Slytherin's. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Sarul jumped all at once and looked around to see what had hit them. Attached to their robes were the Gryffindor Quidditch robes.
The whole hall broke into laughter. Snape came into the hall expecting a normal morning. He was sadly mistaken as he heard a rush of wind and saw red and gold fly past him. He heard the smack and saw the Gryffindor Quidditch robes attach themselves to four Slytherin's.
'Oh for Merlin's sake!' he thought as he turned his icy glare on his daughter. Astra looked at her father with a look that plainly said. "And you expected anything less?"
Severus sighed. No he didn't expect anything less. Hoped maybe but not expected.