Theo's home would rarely be described as a home. In comparison to Malfoy Manor it was still relatively large decorated in the Gothic style. It could still be described as a dark place adorned with beautiful stain glass windows and flying buttresses, but the beauty was only on the outside. The inside of the home was bleak, black paint on the walls and dark tapestries describing the Nott Pureblood lineage made the home look more like a museum than a place a child would be raised. Astraea abhorred Theo's house, but since she received the mark Thuban Nott could only speak praises of her.
Her favorite place was the backyard. The garden was vast and open; she often found herself lying in the flower patches just to feel the Earth vibrate beneath her. When her and Theo were children his mother would watch as they zoomed around on the gardens on their brooms. After Theo's mother passed away the gardens remained empty. Astraea could never figure out if Thuban actually missed his wife; her death was rarely spoken of and was still a sore subject with Theo.
Today the backyard air felt a bit humid. Her baby hairs were stubbornly stuck to her face as she lied in the garden. There was a shift in the Earth as her palms sensed the cadence of footsteps. "Rae!" Smiling to herself she could see the stupid grin that would adorn Theodore's face. She flattened her palm in the grass and quickly pulled her hand down to her side, pulling the Earth beneath her. Behind her was a heavy thud, and she chuckled hearing Theo's gasp.
"What the hell?" She turned over to watch Theo slowly pick himself up, he was already muttering nonsense to himself with an annoyed expression. "Do me a favor and hold off on the elemental magic for once?" He rubbed his thigh trying to soothe the pain.
"Where is the fun in that?" She enjoyed teasing him. They were close, and his mother always said they fought like siblings.
"Can I just have one summer—one summer without injury?"
"But you see," she lifted her index finger at him as if to scold "that ruins tradition, and if there is anything we Slytherins know how to do, it is to upkeep tradition."Astraea patted the space beside her. "Besides if you returned to Hogwarts injured Greengrass will have an excuse to dote on you." She wiggled her eyebrows and watched as Theo's cheeks were instantly flushed.
Nudging her shoulder playfully he took his seat next to her. "I'll let it slide since it's your birthday."
"You know I hate my birthday." Astraea stared off at the large oak at the end of the garden, just before the forest. She could feel the air move through each strand of her hair. Taking in a deep breath the floral scent mixed with maple left her at ease.
"I know," Theo said smirking. "Which is why you'll absolutely hate your gift."
She tilted her head and brought her hand into her line of vision. Waving her hand back and forth the air shook the leaves in sync with her movements. "Planning on torturing me on my special day? How kind." She sighed in defeat crossing her arms over her chest. "When does he come?"
"With Blaise in about an hour."
"I do not know how you two put up with him."
Theo laughed sardonically. "You know Malfoy asks the same about you. Zabini and I have a bet running."
A bet? Her ears perked up instantly. "About?"
"How long you are going to last before kicking his ass."
Astraea snorted, "I give it two hours."
"I'm shocked you think you can last that long." He watched as she rolled her eyes. "You know he thinks you're a shit witch."
"Yes, just because everything is based on marks in Hogwarts. That definitely determines a witch's ability," she retorted sarcastically. It wasn't that she was a "shit witch" as Malfoy had put it. She loved to learn, but Hogwarts felt limiting and she yearned for that action. If every exam was based on a duel she was sure she would be top of her class. "He shouldn't make such hasty assumptions. He actually hasn't seen what I can do."
Zabini and Malfoy arrived just after dinner. Both boys matured over the summer. Zabini's skin was darker than usual, a fresh tan from the Italian coast she would assume. Blaise and his mother often returned to her home town in Italy, and it would be a nice get away from the Dark Lord as well. Over the summer Malfoy grew a few inches, there were new bags forming under his eyes. Theo had informed her that Lucius had been released from Azkaban that morning. She had expected Malfoy to come to the Nott home with haughty banter, but he was quiet. Malfoy looked as if he was the one locked in the cupboard under the stairs. He was so pale, Narcissa must think that being indoors and shielding him from the world would keep him safe. He only looked miserable.
Zabini warmly smiled at Astraea greeting her politely, but Malfoy could barely look at her. Theo had mentioned that Malfoy had been jealous that she was marked, but she wouldn't use this information against him. Astraea would never wish the mark upon anyone, not even Draco Malfoy.
"I thought you said she wasn't coming Nott," growled Malfoy.
"Malfoy, we can all pretend that you aren't a git for one day," she shot back.
Draco immediately rolled his eyes, looking like a stubborn child that had just been denied candy. Astraea resisted the urge to irritate him further, although seeing him change into a new shade of magenta would have been an excellent birthday gift to herself.
"Nott, can you keep your girlfriend from staring at me for too long?" Malfoy huffed. She hadn't realized that she was staring, but a tinge of pink reached her cheeks. His nose scrunched as if he smelled something terrible. "What are you going to do Wilkes? Going to show us what you can do now that you are one?"
Her brow raised immediately, he hadn't referred to her as a Death Eater. He simply could not make the statement. She marched forward rolling up her sleeve with full intentions of invading his personal space. "Why don't you call it like it is Draco? Say it—say I'm a Death Eater." His eyes quickly took a look at her tattoo, and she never thought he could be paler. When he remained silent she pulled her sleeve down once more. "Good to see your balls dropped over summer," she stated sarcastically.
Before bed they decided to venture to the backyard and reminisce on previous years. Zabini brought the Firewhiskey that he took from his mother's reserve.
"Thank Merlin your mom is a drunk," Astraea said as her fingers gripped the shot glass.
Blaise coughed down his first shot, "She never notices anything, unless it has money and is walking." Astraea smelled the cinnamon radiating from her shot, she liked their drinking escapades. It actually provided her a sense of normalcy that she lacked at Spinner's End. Small moments like these are what she appreciated the most, she didn't have to think about the mark or the demands of it. Her eyes lit up as she downed her second shot.
"You lads want to really make this fire whiskey?"
Malfoy eyed her cooly. "What are you going to do? Light a match like a pathetic Muggle?"
Nott elbowed her in the ribs, "Rae, don't…"
She straightened her back ignoring Nott, "Care to find out Malfoy?"
He lifted his brow surprised by the challenge, "grab a lighter will you Nott?"
Theo rolled his eyes and began to stand up, "If we're doing this, then you are coming with me Malfoy." He grabbed Draco by the collar and pulled him up. Astraea leaned back on her elbows and watched the pair walk towards the house
"Why get matches when they have me?" Her response tickled Malfoy's ears as he turned towards her with a curious look.
"Rae, stop. Snape will have your arse for this," seethed Blaise.
Rolling her eyes she scoffed, "What the man doesn't know won't hurt him." Malfoy's eyes glittered with interest. She had him right where she wanted him. Shit witch, I'll fucking show him.
"What are you going on about Wilkes? About t show us a pathetic trick are you?" Theo and Blaise shot daggers in her direction. She desperately wanted to put Malfoy in his place, but the boys were right. Now was not the time or place. Malfoy chuckled darkly, "It's best you remember that you aren't special. That mark doesn't make you the witch you think you are. You are no better than the rest of this lot."
Astraea felt heat seep into her cheeks. Theo grabbed onto Draco's elbow pulling him back towards the house.
"Rae, breath don't do anything stupid," Blaise whispered. Blaise studied her carefully he knew she had a temper and when she was upset it was like a ticking time bomb. The last think he wanted was to explain why the Nott residence caught on fire. Flames licked her fingers as the glass shattered in her hands. "Bloody hell Rae! You can't let him get to you like that!"
"You should be proud Zabini, he walked away without any damage," she gritted. "Hand me the bottle will you?" He rolled his eyes and handed her the bottle; she took a large swig allowing it t burn her throat.
"You're going to get sick," Nott noted as he sat back down, Malfoy following in behind him.
"Well happy birthday to me," she replied sarcastically pouring them all another shot. The boys carefully lit their shots on fire. Theo offered a toast as their glasses clinked together. The night moved on in laughs and slight banter as they finished off the bottle and went to bed.
Astraea's head was swimming, she knew she was buzzed and would surely regret it in the morning.