Platform 9 3/4 always provided Astraea with a sense of calm; it meant that she would meet familiar faces and be free of Snape's watchful eye. This year felt a bit different already. Her, Theo, Blaise, and Draco dragged their trunks across the platform scanning for other Slytherins. The noises and pungent smells had Astraea wincing in pain and wishing that she had a hangover potion. Her ear drums were pounding and the voices of parents wishing their children goodbye were sending her just over the edge.
"Told you not to drink too much," Nott cheekily remarked. Astraea shot him an annoyed expression mouthing "shut up." She scanned the crowd once more hoping to find a familiar face, quickly she spotted Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass. Astraea groaned internally, both girls have been less than civil with her on several occasions. Pansy perked up the moment she saw Draco, immediately attaching herself to him like a leech. Daphne blushed as Theo greeted her with a polite smile. Astraea knew they both fancied each other, but were too idiotic to act on it.
"Have a pleasant summer Astraea?" Pansy asked.
Astraea couldn't hide her look of surprise, Pansy asked her a question—a civil one at that. "Are you confused? Or did you experience blunt force trauma over the holiday?" Pansy's eyes grew dark with rage. Yes, Astraea thought to herself. This is the Pansy I'm familiar with, low insults and a lack of wit. Pansy's eyes slipped from Astraea's and quickly peaked at Astraea's left forearm, looking for the outline of the mark. Realization dawned on Astraea; Pansy was being civil because she knew. Astraea sized her up deciding to use this opportunity to take advantage of Parkinson's vulnerability. "Care to take a look at how my summer went Parkinson?" Pansy moved slightly behind Draco as Astraea closed the space between them. Pansy's eyes looked small as she cowered into herself and Astraea decided that fear was just as ugly on her as arrogance.
Draco narrowed his eyes at Astraea, already annoyed with the girls' exchange. "Oh come off it you two. Let's get on the bloody train. The faster the year begins, the closer it is to winter holiday." Their group quickly boarded the train finding an empty cart toward the back. Astraea leaned back in her seat listening to Daphne brag about all the Pureblood summer socials. Theodore mentioned them to her when they first became friends. He always described them as "match-making parties" and always remarked how he refused to attend any of them. Now, Theo looked like a good golden retriever, hanging on all of Daphne's words waiting for his treat. Astraea never had an interest in those events. Why be paraded around as live stock? So older men can ogle at her and upset their wives? Snape saw summer as an opportunity to learn more. She hated it, but understood his intentions.
"Did you hear?" Draco addressed the group with a glint of authority. "We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"We have a new professor every year you prat." Astraea shot him an annoyed look. Malfoy was intelligent, but she never expected him to be this dense.
"Will you let me finish?" He shot back. "She is from the Ministry, the Minister of Magic's personal secretary; Father had the pleasure of working with her personally." The group fell silent at the mention of Lucius Malfoy. They all knew he had been released from Azkaban, but it was known that the Malfoy family didn't take the imprisonment well. Lucius was quickly released based on Potter's "false accusations." Astraea knew that money talked, but the Dark Lord's will screamed. Draco leaned into the group as if he had a secret to share. "Rumor is the Ministry is trying to remove Dumbledore." Pansy gasped, and Daphne looked around the group in surprise. Astraea wished that Tracey was sitting with them; her tolerance for stupidity was relatively low today.
Placing her hands on the cushioned seat Astraea pushed herself up. "While you ladies gossip, I'm going to change and head up to the Prefect cart." She looked at Nott, playfully hitting his shoulder, Daphne watched their interaction with heated cheeks. "I'll catch you later?"
"Yeah, don't torture too many children," Nott called after her as she exited the cart.
The Prefect cart was packed to the brim. She didn't know who her male counterpart was going to be. Across the cart she could see Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, needless to say she wasn't surprised that they were chosen. It's always Dumbledore's favorites, she thought to herself. Weasley never liked her, he openly slandered her almost as much as Potter spoke of Malfoy.
"Never quite understood why the blood traitor hates you," Malfoy stated as he moved a Ravenclaw to the side so he would have enough room. Astraea groaned, the last thing she wanted was to spend more time with Draco Malfoy. "Don't look so excited Wilkes, we have all year to be the best of mates," retorted Malfoy. They awaited their instructions from the Head Boy and Head Girl. They were tasked with conducting rounds on all the carts making sure everyone was ready in their robes. Malfoy flanked her right side as they roamed from cart to cart alerting nervous first years to get ready.
Down the train Astraea could see the top of Graham Montague's head, his dark hair a complete contrast to his icy blue eyes. He smiled sinisterly as he caught her gaze, quickly making his way over to the pair. "Draco," he gave the blonde a curt nod. "Have a good summer?"
Draco rolled his shoulders back. "As good as it can be."
Montague's gaze immediately turned to Astraea. "Nice to see you have blossomed this summer." His eyes roamed her body hungrily.
Astraea held back a snarl that was forming in the back of her throat. "Piss off Montague."
"Still feisty, you should know better than to talk to a superior like that."
"You lost my respect a long time ago," she growled.
Graham moved closer, invading her space. "About time I earned it back then."
Malfoy looked between the two with a stoic expression. "Wilkes and I have to finish our rounds. I'll catch you at practice." Malfoy moved passed them and began marching forward toward the next cart.
Astraea began to follow Draco when she felt Montague grab her wrist and have her face him. His pupils were dilated as he tightened the grip on her wrist. "Better watch yourself Wilkes."
She roughly removed herself from his grip shaking with anger. Quickly moving down the aisle she decided that her Prefect duties would be done for the day. Ripping her cart door open she found her fellow Slytherins gazing at her curiously. Theo immediately snapped out of his trance and rushed to her side. He was rubbing the sides of her arms trying to calm down her breathing. She didn't realize that she was on the verge of hyperventilating.
"What the fuck is wrong with her?" Draco questioned as he appeared in the doorway.
"Shut the fuck up Malfoy," she gritted through her teeth.
Nott bent down to meet her eyes watching as they turned that glint of red. "Rae you need to control your breathing, you can't have an outburst here." Pansy looked between the two in fear. Theo felt the train halt and quickly ran towards the exit. The carriages would be taking them up to the castle. "Astraea, go into the forest and blow off some steam. I'll cover for you. Just—just make it back for dinner."
She ran as quickly as she could. When she knew that she was out of view she cast a silencing spell and screamed. Red and orange flames were released from her mouth, licking the humid air. Astraea was sure that she hated Montague more than she hated Malfoy. Graham was a predator always stalking for prey. He was infamous for taking advantage of girls that were much too young. But Astraea was his greatest conquest, a challenge as he described it once. Severus always warned her to keep her distance from him, but since they were in the same house it was nearly impossible to avoid him. Astraea leveled her breathing as she headed back to the carriages.
Waiting there for her was Tracey Davis, a fellow Slytherin and a half-blood. Both got along so well since they both convinced themselves that they didn't really belong.
"Another tantrum?" She questioned arching her brow slightly.
"Ran into Montague," replied Astraea dully.
Tracey shifted her weight and uncrossed her arms. "I never understood why you don't just put him in his place."
"You know I can't," deadpanned Astraea.
"I know—I just—I just hate seeing you lose yourself." That was Tracey's favorite new phrase since Astraea got the mark. She assured Tracey that she would protect her at all costs. "Theo let me know where you were. Daphne didn't look too happy about that."
"What a kind older brother," replied Astraea sarcastically.
They both hopped onto the last carriage sitting in silence for quite some time before Tracey broke the air. "Draco asked what was wrong."
"Didn't expect him to care."
"Neither did Pansy."
Astraea knew Parkinson wouldn't try anything this year, especially after she was marked. "We should be fine. She fears me now." Tracey shrugged indifferent.
They entered the Great Hall just as the sorting ceremony finished. Theo moved aside creating space for Astraea. Across the table she could feel Malfoy studying her. She didn't know what he was searching for, but his gaze remained throughout dinner.
Dinner went by quickly and Astraea and Draco guided the first years down to the common room.
"The password is fiddles,"Astraea informed the first years. "Look for the new password on the announcement board weekly." They all entered the common room and Astraea finally felt as if she were at home.
The black marble radiated the cold atmosphere as the Black Lake glistened beneath them. Water always put Astraea at ease and she often enjoyed taking midnight swims. None of the creatures bothered her and there were moments when the mermaids had sought out her help.
"Astraea, Draco! Over here!" Theo was lounging on one of the leather couches next to Daphne and her sister Astoria. If Daphne hated her, then Astoria wanted to murder her. Astraea never understood why, the girl was two years under them and quite bright for her age. Astoria's downfall was failing to mind her own business. Astraea took a seat at the arm rest of Blaise's chair, quietly observing the group. She only really considered Theo, Blaise, and Tracey her mates. Everyone else she would have considered acquaintances. The group was eagerly planning their first trip to Hogsmeade, or as Blaise put it the "annual whiskey run."
"You coming Rae?" Blaise asked. Without him or Theo no one would ever invite her.
She shrugged. "Think I might sit this one out."
"Why?" Draco blurted out suddenly.
"Figured I'd like some peace and quiet for once."
"Not enough at Spinner's End with Daddy dearest?" Astoria spat. Her eyes narrowed at Astraea like a cat ready to pounce.
Astraea offered her a sarcastic half smile. "So sweet of you to care Astoria." She wouldn't push her today. Astoria will pick fights with her the rest of the year anyways. "You lot have fun; I'm going to bed," she announced. As she was walking up the stairs she could hear Tracey throwing insults at Astoria —she could always rely on Tracey to have her back. It wasn't enough though; Astoria went on complaining about Astraea. She peaked down the stairs and saw Astoria sitting on the couch like a proper lady. No leaning back into the cushions lazily; Astoria left the perfect amount of space between the couch and her back. Astraea flicked her hand forward and watched as Astoria slammed her face into the wood coffee table.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Astoria screamed as blood gushed out of her nose.
Now that's the perfect way to start the year, Astraea thought to herself as she finished climbing up the stairs to the girls dormitory.