Astra's mother sat her down. "Now, I think there's a chance that you might be in Ravenclaw instead of Slytherin, and that's alright. You're a more book smart girl."

Astra looked up at her "Um... Mummy..." she started, and then paused in hesitation. She had been worried, for a while, that she was not good enough for Slytherin, but she had been too afraid to bring it up, but now somebody else had brought it up. "Am I not good enough for Slytherin because of my condition?" she blurted out.

"No. Plenty of half-bloods end up in Slytherin."

"Did any of them ever have - "

"Not that I know of," her mother said, cutting her off, "but I still don't think that's why."

"Is it because we're supposed to be prideful, and I'm just weak and pathetic?"

"No," her mother said, firmly. "You are not weak and pathetic. You used to be just as prideful as the rest of us, and just because your pride got lost, that doesn't mean you won't find it again. Maybe getting out of this manor and going away to school is what you need to get your pride back, and I think you should get it back whatever it takes. You are my daughter, and you are a Malfoy no matter what."

Astra threw her arms around her mother.

A few days later, the Malfoy's went to the World Cup. Astra had been nervous, because she had trouble being in crowds, but her family had insisted that she had to get used to crowds. She had been allowed to bring Starbeam, her cat, who always helped with her fear.

She had been sad when her mother refused to hold her hand, reminding Astra that when she got to Hogwarts she would not be there with her at all, but the world cup had still been fun for a while. The fun didn't last.

Astra knew that she should be excited and not scared by the dark mark, but she was scared. When their parents ordered Astra and Draco to wait for them, Astra was horrified and was soon trembling in fear.

Draco picked up Starbeam, and handed her to Astra. "Thank you," she whispered, taking her cat into her arms. Starbeam didn't mind Astra holding her for comfort, even though she had recently spent an entire Quidditch match on Astra's lap.

Astra could not help but witness Draco's confrontation with three people he obviously knew. Astra had heard of them, and it was not long before she figured out who they were.

"Have it your own way, Potter," he said. "If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are."

Draco could certainly be mean sometimes, but that had been meaner than Astra expected. Although, she had rarely witnessed him interacting with people he did not like.

Astra Malfoy sat on the stool. She looked down at Starbeam, who stood on the floor beside her.

"Interesting," the hat said. "Very interesting."

"Please put me in Slytherin," she thought, pleadingly.

"Just because your family is in Slytherin, doesn't mean you should be. You're different from your family."

"Draco and I both have unicorn hair wands. That must mean something."

"Well, you're not the complete opposite of your family members."

"Maybe Ravenclaw would be better for me."

"That is not the house you need."

"But, where else would I go? Hufflepuff?"

"Gryffindor!" the hat said, out loud.

Astra was shocked. Gryffindor seemed like the last house she should be in. She considered herself a weak little coward, and not just because her brother had called her that more than once. There was a reason why Astra's cat had been enchanted to enhance the calming effect she had on her.

Harry was stunned, while some of the younger students started to clap. Seconds later, Harry smiled, and he started to clap, but then he realized that nobody else was clapping anymore, and his smile faded.

Most of the other Gryffindor's were staring at the girl, who sat frozen on the stool, with a look of terror on her face. Her cat jumped onto her lap, and rubbed against her chest, and she barely noticed.

Harry looked over at Draco and couldn't help but feel anger at the way Draco was looking at his little sister.

Professor Snape whispered in Draco's ear, and then Draco nodded.

Professor Snape went and stood in front of the girl. "Miss Malfoy needs to be re-sorted," he said.

As he spoke, Draco got up and rushed to his sister's side. He grabbed her hand and pulled her up, as her cat jumped off her lap. He dragged her down the ail and out the door.

The door closed on the cat. The cat mewed, and the door opened a crack, and then closed again once the cat had gone through.

Harry wanted to go and make sure that Draco wasn't berating the girl, but he knew that would be a bad idea. He wondered if Sirius's sorting had gone this badly.

"I'm sorry, Astra," Draco said.

Astra looked up at him, and she knew that he was not going to tease her right now. She let the tears come.

After everyone else was sorted, the Malfoy siblings were ordered back into the room. They walked down the ail, holding hands, followed by Starbeam. They stopped by the Slytherin table.

Draco looked at Astra.

Astra let go of him, and then she went up to the stool and sat down. She looked down, as the hat was placed atop her head.

"Gryffindor!" the hat exclaimed.

There was loud applause. Astra looked up to see all the Gryffindors clapping for her, and many were even cheering. She looked over at Draco, to see him clapping. Even though it looked forced, she appreciated his smile.

Astra got up and went and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Starbeam jumped into her lap. Astra placed her hands on Starbeams soft fur and managed to look at her classmates and smile.

During dinner, Harry kept on looking down the table at Astra. Her smile had quickly faded, and she sat there, slowly eating and not interacting with anyone but the cat on her lap. He looked at Ron and Hermione. "We should go and introduce ourselves to Astra," he whispered.

"What?" Ron asked, shocked. "Why?"

"She's not the first Gryffindor to come from a family of pureblood Slytherin's."

The three of them got up, took their plates (Hermione didn't have a plate, because she was going on a hunger strike, but Harry and Ron each did.), and went and sat across from Astra Malfoy.

"Hi," Harry said, looking right at Astra. "Welcome to Gryffindor. I know it's not what you expected, but this is a good house. It's nice to meet you. I'm Harry." Harry held out his hand.

Astra looked up at him, fear in her eyes.

"It's okay," Hermione said, gently.

Astra slowly brought her hand up, gently grabbed Harry's, and they slowly shook hands.

"I'm Hermione," Hermione said, holding out her hand.

Less hesitant this time, Astra took Hermione's hand and shook it.

"And I'm Ron," Ron said. He hesitantly held out his hand, and Astra shook it.

"What's your cat's name?" Hermione asked.

"Starbeam," Astra said.

"I have a cat too. His name is Crookshanks. I don't take him to meals with me though. He's not as well behaved as Starbeam. He'd try to eat everyone's food."

Astra smiled, briefly at that, and then she looked at the table, in front of Hermione. "You're not eating any food."

"I just found out that house-elves prepare the food here, and I think that house-elf slavery is wrong."

Astra looked intrigued, by this.

"Hey, Astra, did you hear about how I freed Dobby?" Harry asked.

Astra nodded.

"I got an anonymous thank you letter, afterwards."

"It was me," she said. "Do-do you know what happened to him?"

"No, although I heard he was trying to get a paid job."

"That's good. I hope he was able too. Are we allowed to go down to the kitchens and talk to the house-elves. Maybe one of them would know."

"I think we are, but probably not right now. Maybe one of these days we could all go to the kitchens together."

"And then, Hermione, you can see that they like to work," Ron said.

When Harry got the chance to tell him, his godfather was going to hear about this.