I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment's gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes in curiosity.- Dust in the wind. Kansas.
Astra's classes went by without a problem and people started to forget that they had even wondered why she was still there. They called her by the name of Jensen instead of Snape and she seemed a bit happier. Her training sessions with Moony and the twins were also going quite well. She had learned how to block most curses and also how to use the curses that she was taught to her full advantage. She had learned the disarment charm from Harry earlier in the year and these training sessions she was forced to use it. There were times when the Weasley twins would sneak up on her and throw spells. She would try to counteract them but most of the time she couldn't. That was of course until today. Astra had left her room and started for the kitchen. She felt a prickle on the back of her neck. This was the only sign of trouble before she heard a voice mutter.
"PATRIFICUS TOTALUS!" She made a full turnabout to avoid the spell and pulled out her wand just before coming to face George Weasley. He had a huge grin forming on his face that faded as Astra pointed her wand at him and yelled. "EXPELIARMUS!"
The spell hit him and his wand flew out of his hand. It landed right beside Astra and she picked it up. Her eyes never leaving George as she put the wand in her pocket and smiled.
"You're getting sloppy George. Where's Fred?" she asked still holding her wand on him.
"Right behind you." Fred said in her ear.
Astra's eyes widened as she jumped away from Fred. She rolled a bit and landed on her knees facing the twins. She stood up and watched as Fred gave his bother back the wand that Astra had taken from him. Both of the twins looked at her with an evil grin plastered on their normally handsome faces. She matched their looks and knew what was coming. She wanted to run and cower before them but she would never give these two maniacs the satisfaction. All she could do was smile and say.
"BRING IT!" It was on. She was dodging curses that the twins were throwing at her while throwing her own at them. They didn't pay much attention to their surroundings and if they had they would have noticed the small audience they were quickly accumulating. Not just portraits either, Lupin had come down for breakfast but could get no further then the stairwell. He watched with amusement at the fray below. He also noticed that Molly and Arthur had come out from the kitchen to see what was happening. Molly looked frantic with worry but Arthur looked on with the same amusement as Lupin. Astra had definitely gotten good over the past few months. She was holding her own against her two attackers and she had not fallen yet. He was amazed at her agility and her prowess ness. Finally he watched as one Astra's curses broke through the twins lines and hit George. He fell back and was unable to move. Now it was just her and Fred. They continued their battle but mnow it seemed as if they were battling more like their lives depended on it. Or maybe Fred battled harder just because she had gotten George. Either way they both went at it more furiously. Just when it seemed like it was going to be a stand still Astra hit Fred with Expeliarmus. Fred's wand flew towards her and before he could get George's wand Astra she hit him with a full body binding curse. The boys both laid there side by side as Astra panted with exhaustion.
"Well done!" Lupin cheered. Astra looked up at her teacher and blinked with surprise. She had not been aware that anyone was there and was quite shocked to find Lupin coming down the stairs with a big grin.
"You did very well Astra!" Lupin praised. "You not only took out two attackers, but they were also more skilled with age then you were. Very well done indeed!"
Astra smiled weakly as Lupin moved over to take her curses off of the twins. She fully expected another attack once they were freed but they just smiled at her.
"Well done Astra!" Fred beamed "glad to see you have some fight left in ya!" "Yeah good job." George smiled. "We were so sure we had you."
Astra nodded and realized just how dry her throat was. She went into the kitchen and got her self a glass of water. Everyone came in behind her chatting madly about the fight between her and the twins. She was grateful that they were her friends. Because at this moment she had to fight down the urge to take the nearest frying pan and plant it upside their heads!"
Astra felt a bit more relaxed now that she didn't have the twins jumping out at her all the time. Though she would never admit it to them she kind of like the fact that they would take her by surprise. It would prepare her for fighting a death eater if she ever had to. Classes were better than ever and her grades had even come up. Even in charms thanks in large part to her training that she had received from Lupin and the twins. She still spent most of her time in her room at the house with just Starla to keep her company. Even though she loved her cat she still found herself yearning for the open corridors of the school. She decided that it was time for her to ask professor Dumbledore if she could come back to the tower and resume school normally. She got out a quill and parchment.She then sealed the letter and placed a burning curse on it that was keyed only to Dumbledore. They had taught her this to keep her letters from falling into the wrong hands. She took the letter down to the kitchen and took a small pinch of floo powder. She threw it into the fire and stated. "Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore's office." The office loomed into view but Dumbledore was not in it. Astra threw the letter into the fire and watched as it went into his office. Fawkes was there and much to Astra's surprise he flew down and snatched the letter as it came to the other side. He dropped it onto Dumbledore's desk. Astra broke the connection and went back to her room. She would just have to wait for Dumbledore's answer. R
A knock came abruptly on Astra's door and she waited for the call for dinner to follow. It never came and the person knocked again. Astra got up to answer it. In the door way stood Mr. Moody and professor Dumbledore.
"Well, aren't you going to let us in my dear?" Dumbledore asked cheerfully. Astra blushed. "Oh yes of course, come in Professor Dumbledore!" she motioned for them to enter.
"I received your letter and have looked it over. I understand that you wish to come back to the school. Is this correct?" Dumbledore eyed her.
"Yes." Astra mumbled stroking her cat absently. "And you say that you defended yourself in an attack against both of the Weasley twins?" Moody growled.
Astra nodded. "Together?" Moody asked in astonishment.
Again she nodded. "It took me a while but yes. I did beat them both." She told them. Dumbledore and Moody exchanged looks and nodded as if they had a conversation without words. Then Dumbledore turned back to Astra. "We are willing to let you come back to school on one condition." Dumbledore told her. "The Weasley twins are to accompany you until the end of the school year."
Astra looked like she was about to protest when Dumbledore held up his hand to silence her. "You may be able to defend yourself against two attackers, maybe even three. But what happens when there are four or more than that? I cannot allow you to be hurt in anyway." He told her. "The only way that I will let you back into school is with the twins being your invisible body guards!"
Astra reluctantly had to agree with Dumbledore's reasoning. He was right. If there were more than a few attackers she would never be able to hold them off by herself.
"Very well professor. I agree to the terms." She told them solemnly. "Well then I shall let you get to your packing and go and tell the twins that they should also pack." Dumbledore told her.
"No need." They heard a voice suddenly say. They watched as Fred and George Weasley's heads suddenly appeared. They had giant grins plastered to their faces.
"This was supposed to be a private conversation you two!" Moody growled. "You can't just go anywhere you please!" "Sure we can!" George grinned. "With these wonderful cloaks we can go anywhere and no one would know."
"Just think of the possibilities!" Fred added. Moody gaped at them.
Astra watched as they continued to argue. The situation getting
more and more hilarious with each second that passed. Finally she
could contain herself no longer. Astra burst into laughter as Moody
turned his angry glare on her.
"Glad someone could find this amusing!" he growled.
"Well Alastor we should leave them to their packing." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling madly.
Moody reluctantly nodded and they left.
"Well best get packing." Fred stated as he started to leave.
"Yep. See you in a bit Astra." George said following his twin.
Alastor Moody arrived at the Snape family's hiding place just as they were sitting down to dinner.
"Alastor!" Serena smiled. "Come, sit down and join us." "Sorry Serena but I've just come to talk to Severus quickly then I have to be going." Moody told them.
"Can't it wait Moody?" Severus grumbled. "I'm afraid it cannot Severus." Moody said soberly.
Severus sighed and got up from the table. "Very well, we can talk in the front room." With that Severus walked out from the kitchen with moody following. As soon as they entered the front room of the house Severus turned to moody. "Now what is this all about?" he asked sternly.
"Astra is being permitted to go back to Hogwarts." Moody told him. "What? How can that be?" Severus stormed. "Dumbledore assured me that she would be safe."
"She will still be safe Severus. She will have an invisible escort that will be there to protect her." Moody told him. "The Weasley twins will be her escort and will follow her around the school when she is not in the tower."
"THEY'RE WHAT!" Severus thundered. "Those two idiots are supposed to protect Astra?" "Severus they are not idiots. They may be major pains in the arse but they are not idiots." Moody interjected. "besides Astra asked Dumbledore to allow her back into school and this was the best way we could figure to protect her."
Severus nodded. "Very well, but keep me posted. If anything happens I want to know!" Moody nodded and left.
Astra looked about her room in the Gryffindor tower and thought that it was good to be home. She had just started her packing when a knock came on the door. Astra turned as the door flew open before she could even answer it and Hermione and Ginny came in with huge grins.
"Welcome back Astra!" Hermione squealed. "Thanks, but how did you know?" Astra asked as she hugged a very giddy Ginny. "No one was supposed to know just yet that I was back." She told them.
"Fred and George have taken a room in the boy's dorm and they told Harry and Ron. It was just a matter of time before they told us." Hermione pointed out.
"But I haven't even unpacked yet!" Astra protested. "Well then we'll just have to help you then." Hermione told her.
They then helped Astra unpack and put her room back into order. As soon as they were done they went down to the common room. Everyone cheered as she entered the room.
"Welcome back Astra!" Harry said as he hugged her. "Thanks Harry." Astra beamed.
She then felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see who was there. She turned to face Aiden. "Welcome back Astra." Aiden said as he kissed her cheek, then blushed and ran.
Astra watched Aiden's retreating back with amusement. 'When this is all over I am going to have to give that boy another change.' She thought bemusedly.
The next morning Astra awoke and got dressed. She then made her way to the common room and hoped that Fred and George were there with her. She made her way towards the great hall and had just gotten to the bottom of the stairs. She heard a cold voice behind her.
"So they finally let you roam the school again I see." Draco Sneered. Astra turned to face Malfoy. "And I see that they finally let you out of the zoo." She sneered back. "Big mistake if you ask me. Wild animals should really stay where they belong."
Draco's sneer disappeared. "I told you that you should watch what you say to me." He then snapped his fingers and not only did his two goons come out from the dark corner behind him. But three others came out as well.
Astra prayed silently that the twins were truly with her as she took out her wand. "I hear that you have been training with some unknown wizards. Let's see just how good you really are shall we?" Draco stated then motioned for his goons to attack.
Astra dogged a few curses and watched as the Weasly twins took out two of Malfoy's ranks from behind. The others got a bit shaky as their mates were taken out by some unseen force. That gave her the advantage that she would need. Astra took out a couple more of the fighters with her own curses as the Weasley twins took out Crabbe and Goyle. This just left Malfoy. He looked at her with contempt and shouted.
"WHO HAVE YOU GOT HELPING YOU?" The Weasley twins moved beside Astra and removed their hoods, they smiled at Draco as he raised his wand. He tried to cast a spell but before he could get even a syllable out all three of them had hit him with a curse. The twins then replaced their hoods and they all calmly made their way into the great hall. Astra walked calmly up to the head table and whispered what had happened in the hall. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly as he turned to Professor McGonagall. Astra then walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down as some of the Professor's got up and made their way out of the hall.
Harry turned as Astra sat down. "Wonder where the Professor's are going." "Oh they're just going to mop up what's left of Malfoy." Astra said as she began to eat.
Harry gave her a questioning look but thought it better not to ask. He simply shrugged his shoulders and began to eat.
The last day of school had finally arrived. Tomorrow everyone would be going home. This was something that Astra was not looking forward to. She had awoken this morning and felt as if her world would crumble at any minute. She had been allowed to take her owls oh potions so that she could take her newts next year and not have to spend seven years in a class that she would not really need. Today was Harry, Ron and Hermione's graduation day. Again another thing that she was dreading. This meant that next year she would just have Ginny, Aiden and Kaden. Not that she didn't like Ginny and the others. It's just that Harry was a ton more fun and she would miss him terribly. Astra walked into the great hall and sat down beside Ginny as Harry came in.
"Doesn't Harry look great?" Ginny said wistfully as she watched Harry walk towards them. "You fancy Harry don't you Ginny?" Astra asked.
Ginny jolted. "What?" "I said you fancy him."
"Don't you dare tell him Astra!" Ginny squealed. "Why not?" Astra smiled evilly and got up.
"Astra! no." Ginny Hissed as Astra got up and made her way to sit down beside Harry. "So. Harry got any plans for your future?" she asked simply.
"Well I was thinking about becoming an Auror." Harry told her. "Well that's fine and dandy but what I mean is have you got anyone special that you want to share your life with?"
"Why are you asking me this?" he asked her suspiciously. Then he grew a worried look. "Surly you can't think that you and I could ever."
"What? No!" she chuckled and watched him relax a bit. "But I do know a very lovely girl that thinks you are the greatest guy in the world!" she smiled.
"Oh? And pray tell who this lovely girl is?" "Ginny Weasley." Astra said sweetly.
"Gin?" Harry looked from Astra to a very red Ginny. Sure he had know that Ginny had a crush on him in his second year but he had thought that she had gotten over that. Especially after he had shown no interest in girls after that Cho Chang mishap. But now that he had gotten a look at Ginny he found the idea of seeing her romantically might not be such a bad idea. Harry cleared his throat. "Um. Hey Gin, do you want to go for a walk?" Ginny nodded and they left the hall arm in arm.
Ron looked up in time to see his best friend and his sister leave the great hall arm in arm. "Did I miss something here?" he asked turning to Astra.
Astra chuckled. "No Ron you didn't miss a thing." She said as she rolled her eyes. "I'm just playing matchmaker with Harry and Ginny is all."
"Oh." Ron said as he turned back to his conversation with Hermione. Then as the realization of what she had said hit him he turned back to her. "YOU WHAT?" he shouted.
As heads turned their way Astra hissed. "Will you keep it down! In case you haven't noticed Ron she's a big girl now." Ron grumbled but wisely kept quiet. R
They had all returned to the common room where Ron and Hermione announced that they were engaged. The congratulations were going around as Harry and Ginny came in. immediately Ron turned on them.
"And just where have you two been!" he stormed. "Talking. Why?" Harry asked. "What's wrong?"
"You two dating is what's wrong!" Ron thundered. "Whoa. Wait a minute dating? Who said we were dating?" Harry asked
Ron pointed at Astra. "SHE DID!"
"I DID NOT RON!" Astra thundered back.
"But you said that you were playing matchmaker with them!" "Yeah and that was all I said!" she glared at him. "That doesn't mean that they are dating. You really need to find out more before you jump to these conclusions Ron!"
Ron gaped at her. "We're not dating mate." Harry told him.
"Yeah Ron," Ginny tried to reassure him. "We were just talking about the possibilities. But that doesn't mean that in the future we won't date. Nothing is for certain."
"Yeah mate. Nothing is set in stone." Ron looked at them then nodded his defeat. He may not like the fact that his best friend and his little sister might date but he also knew that there was nothing that he could do about it.
"So, what were you talking about before we came in?" Ginny asked. "OH!" Hermione squealed. "Ron and I are engaged!"
"Hermione, Ron congrats!" Ginny squealed as she hugged her brother and future sister in-law in turn.
"Good luck mate!" Harry smiled at Ron. "With Hermione as your wife you'll need it."
"Thanks mate." With that all of them sat down and everyone started talking about their plans after school. Since Astra was only done with her first year she felt out of place in this conversation so she bade them good night and went to her room. She laid there for a while and thought about tomorrow. She finally fell asleep dreading what tomorrow would bring.