It was weird having friends. Having people willingly spend time with her, seek her out, laugh with her instead of at her. There were time that she couldn't help but worry if she was right in thinking that they were friends; after all, she hadn't had one before.
But on days like this one, where she was sat in the shadow of a gnarled oak tree reading in the quickly setting sun, she felt comfortable in that presumption. Especially as she heard the laughter of the boys trickle down to her, followed by the sounds of running, looking and standing up just in time for Blaise to skid over to her.
"There you are! We've been looking for you all over! Theodore was worried sick, I tell you! Sick!" Blaise lamented making Theo roll his eyes.
"We looked in the common room and the library. Hardly the entire castle." He said as he walked over at a more sedate place.
"I told you that I was coming out here though?"
"Yes, I did say that. That would require him to pay attention, however." Theo pointed out dryly, smirking as Blaise cried an indignant "hey!" at them both with a pout.
"Just because it's true, doesn't mean words don't hurt." He sniffed before shrugging "or so I'm told. Anyway, to the reason we searched for you," he span to Aster, "apparently there's a rumour going round that Fawley is disappearing this week again. So we may get Quivering Quirrell again."
"And this was urgent news, why?"
"Because he sets you on edge..." Blaise stated as if she was thick, before rolling his eyes. "I may not seem to pay attention all the time, but I do with the important stuff. I didn't want you going in blind. Or, well, more blind."
"You're hilarious. Truly." She snarked before softening. "Thanks, Blaise." It was things like this that made her think they were firm friends. Not just anyone would do things like that, would they?
"No worries. Between you and Nott here I think you've got a full blow fear of the bloke." He prodded before sitting down on the grass. Aster shared a look at Theo but at the shake of his head, decided not to approach the subject.
"I think it's because his stammer is so obviously fake it just makes us want to know what he is hiding." Theo hedged as he leaned against the tree, watching the other students dotted about the grounds.
"You've got a point there." Blaise thought, he'd met stammerers and stutterers before, but there was just no cohesion or pattern with his that it just made things clear it was a farce.
"I still don't understand how out of all the other teachers who could step in when Fawley is away, that it's him who does the classes." Aster complained, blowing her fringe out of her face.
"Yes, well, this is the school that almost dared us all to go to the third floor corridor to get ourselves mauled." Blaise waved away.
"Mauled?" Theo frowned.
"Hmm. Heard one of the upper classmen who had heard it from one of the Gryffindors that there's a magical beast up there."
"Yes, because Gryffindors are so reliably honest." Theo bit back. "Especially if it comes to daring pursuits."
"Wonder what kind of beast?" Aster pondered out loud. Seeing their incredulous expressions she crossed her arms defensively, "what? There're a fair few that could fit there. And it would need to be something that had a failsafe or something in case it got loose."
"Careful, your Gryffindor is showing." Blaise warned, gaining a smack to his arm.
"Oh shove it. Its interesting, that's all." She defended.
Theo agreed, "You do have a point actually. It would be interesting to know."
"Why don't you just ask Longbottom? He's apparently faced off with it already."
"That's the Gryffindor?" Aster wrinkled her nose. "Ugh. I don't know why I'm surprised."
Blaise sniggered, "He was one of a few what I can tell." He heaved himself up to his feet, offering a hand to Aster. "Come on, let's get inside. It's frigging cold out here. How you've lasted being here for so long, is beyond me."
They trouped upto the castle, bypassing Longbottom and Weasley who were staring at them suspiciously. Clearly they were up to no good.
"You know," Theo began, "one day I'd actually like to do something to make them suspect us for a legitimate reason."
Blaise scoffed, "We're Slytherins, mate. That's reason enough."
"Yeah, why is that?"
The boys stopped. "You...don't know?"
"Only the basics. What Slytherin supposedly stood for, that a whole load of Dark Wizards come from our House."
" The Dark Lord was a Slytherin, Aster." Blaise said under his breath, darting his eyes about to make sure they were alone.
Aster snorted. "Well that's ironic." At their confused look, she sighed. "I don't know much. And this goes no further, understood?" She pointed at them before they nodded, "But he was the one who killed my parents. Tried to kill me too. Dunno what happened, but something must've gone wrong for me to be still here." She ran a hand through her hair, wincing as she caught a tangle from being in the October breeze for too long. "Grandfather only knows the basics, and he's trying to figure it out so he can tell me." She shrugged before blowing out a breath. "Either way, it's bloody stupid to let a few rotten apples ruin the bunch."
"To be fair - it's more than a few." Blaise offered as they set off to the dungeons again.
"So," Blaise began with a bounce in his step, "What'd you get me for my birthday?"
"You'll find out on your birthday." Theo quipped.
"Aw. But what if I don't like it?" Blaise whined.
"Then deal with it. You get enough stuff as it is."
Blaise gasped. "Aster! Can you believe what he said? You'll tell me, won't you?"
She rose her eyebrows at him in mocking disbelieving, "I know! How shameful!" She gasped back, getting an arm over her shoulder and Blaise bringing their heads together.
"You'll tell me, won't you?" He cajoled, tightening his hand on her shoulder.
"Of course I will, Blaise." She said placating, putting a hand on his chest as she caught Theo's eye.
"I'm getting you a gift." She beamed before skipping away and waving to him as she slipped through the portrait hole which was already opening for Davis.
Now for her to actually think on what to get him.
She spent the next few days flipping through books and catalogues trying to figure out what she could give him. As Theo pointed out - he wanted for nothing and would surely get a whole load of tat. It was the first present she was ever going to get him, well give to anyone to be honest, and she wanted it to be good.
She remembered how Blaise said the girls got him sweets, and by the indifference he tended to show the desserts at the table, except sorbet, he wasn't overly fussed with them.
While he was open to reading he wasn't like her, and definitely not Theo, so that was out of the question. He more read if he was well and truly stuck on what to do.
She briefly toyed with the idea of joke gifts like a mirror, but didn't think they'd had quite solid enough of a friendship to do such a thing.
Buying gifts was bloody hard. Now she knew why the boys winced at the idea of them.
It took her an embarrassingly long time to come up with an idea which seemed suitable. He had told her early on that he enjoyed Herbology, and had talked to her a fair bit on his interest in plants, but had limited exposure to how to actually look after one.
Deciding to run with that she proceeded to rummage in the library on plants that a beginner could look after. She had already quickly learned that Blood Purity was rife in her House so discarded any plants that were Muggle - even if apparently they were used in Wizarding houses and gardens.
Instead she settled on an asphodel. Although Muggles were aware of it, it was more widely used in the magical world. Its flowers were pretty, which Blaise would confidently appreciate without caring on whether it was masculine or not, and it could grow for years. As sappy as it sounded, she hoped it would symbolise them - not that she was going to say that. She'd never live it down.
Once her decision was made she wrote to her Grandfather with a side note to Jospo if he had any that he would be happy for her to pass on as a gift. She knew it would be in perfect health, unlike if she bought it from an external source.
When the plant itself arrived, well a sapling, Aster decided to also write a list of advice and random bits of information about it. She figured he'd look up the stuff anyway, but it added a bit more of a personal touch.
So on "National Blaise Day" - as he so called it - she caught him just before breakfast.
"Happy birthday, Blaise. Listen, um, I've got your gift but to be honest, I don't know if you'd appreciate the others being there. I mean, I know you won't care what they think, but if they start laughing then I'm going to be crushed and - "
"Aster! I'm sure whatever it is, I'll love it. But, if it makes you easier, you can give it to me when we're alone." He waggled his eyebrows at her.
"Or Theo."
Blaise pulled a face. "I didn't need that image, Fair Flower, thanks."
"You're ele - twelve, Blaise. Don't be so - so, bligh."
"...Bligh?" He blinked.
Aster nodded. "Bligh."
"Right. I'll try not to be so 'bligh'." He shook his head. "Anyway, if you'd rather it was just the three of us, then no bother." He threw her a grin before grabbing her wrist and tugging her along to the Great Hall.
The teachers at the Head Table were sitting down in their usual spaces when they heard a cry of "Make way! Make way! Man of the Hour coming through!"
Albus looked up in amusement, his eyes twinkling merrily at the sight of young Aster being tugged along by Mr Zabini, who was currently shooing people away with his free hand as they moved to the Slytherin Table.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Minerva asked as she stared at the scene in bemusement.
Beside her Severus heaved a sigh. "It is Mr Zabini's birthday. As you can see he is deciding that modesty is best thrown out the window."
"And he's dragging Miss Potter...why?"
"How should I know? It may astonish you to know, Minerva, but I do not in fact own omniscience over the Slytherins."
"I never would have guessed, Severus. After all, whenever there's been trouble and a Slytherin is involved you certainly seem to know what went on."
"Or Mr Longbottom and Mr Weasley." Albus jovially added.
Severus pursed his lips. "Yes, well, it has been proven that I'm their only champions."
"I rather got the impression that you disliked Mr Longbottom and Mr Weasley." Minerva snarked, not wanting to hash out inter House politics in front of the school.
Allowing the dodge, he rolled his eyes. "Oh good. My cover remained in tact."
Albus chortled as he drizzled more honey on to his porridge. "No longer, I'm afraid with that admission."
Deciding to not respond they continued eating in silence for a while.
"Ifan sent a letter to me about a week ago." He told his colleagues, gaining their attention. "Apparently young Aster had sent a note to Jospo, their elderly Elf, for a sapling of asphodel to give to Mr Zabini."
Minerva arched a brow at him. "And you're telling us this why, Albus?"
"Well, I suppose it shows that she has well and truly settled here. And we three are particularly invested in that." His brows furrowed as he glanced down the table at another man. "I just hope it remains that way." He murmured before clearing his expression.
The three teachers continued to watch as the majority of the first year Slytherins greeted Blaise and with only a few hesitating to greet Aster in turn. There would likely always be a marginal distance between them as she was the only welcomed Half Blood who interacted with them on a daily basis.
Breakfast had soon finished, with Blaise ripping into the paper of his gifts. He had the customary sweets and chocolates from the girls, which Crabbe and Goyle were salivating over, and a book on Quidditch from Avery (which Blaise tossed to Malfoy and Theo when he wasn't looking). He received credit notes from Crabbe and Goyle for Honeydukes (they said they knew they'd end up eating whatever they bought otherwise), a book of poisons from Malfoy, and from Theo a folio of flora specimens and their uses. Nobody noticed the lack of one from Aster, except Theo who frowned. He was sure she got him something.
Thanking everyone profusely for their gifts, breakfast continued on for some time. It was a Sunday so there was no rush and everyone was happy to laze the day away.
Once the three of them managed to get away, Aster lead them through the dungeon corridors and passed the common room before coming to a halt in front of a door.
She stood there staring at it for several minutes, muttering under her breath before Blaise sighed and reached out to open the door making Aster jump.
"Come on, Fair Flower. I'm sure I'll love whatever it is." Blaise prompted her gently.
Blowing out a breath she walked into the room, the candles she had placed their flickering to life, revealing an old and disused classroom.
She had pusher the broken and rotted desks to the edge of the room and sat three chairs around the teacher's desk. It wasn't cosy, but it was, hopefully, the start of something they could build.
"What is this place?" Theo murmured as he took in the dim and dank room.
"Er. I was, um, hoping its be a - er - something we could all use and, well. Do something with." She grimaced at the state of it before continuing, "it's nothing to look at, I know but -"
"I love it!" Blaise cheered, already imagining ways they could utilise the space and make it theirs. "Best birthday gift, ever! Oh, no offence Nott."
Aster shook her head. "This isn't your birthday present, Blaise. This was just a...bonus? Er, anyway your gift is on the desk." She pointed, and Blaise didn't need much more encouragement - something that warranted a hide out must be good.
Strutting to the desk he saw a cylindrical box, about eight inches in length, along with an envelope saying Open Me Second.
Throwing a questioning glance at his friend he slid the box towards him, before sliding the lid off and blinking at what he saw.
Inside was a small plant inside a terracotta pot, with which looked to be handpaited filigree patterns in silver. Crouching down he looked it up more closely, taking in all the minute details Aster had painted on.
"It's beautiful." He murmured before looking at her. "What is it?"
She gestured to the envelope, "I've tried to put as much information as I can in there for you."
Snatching up the parchment he opened it with pertinent details as to what it was and how to look after it. Looking up, he gave a watery smile.
"Thank you, Aster."
"It's, er, it's nothing. I was gonna get a non magic plant but didn't want to risk it, so though asphodel was a happy medium." She blushed.
"Well now my present is definitely terrible." Theo sniggered before walking to the desk. "Hey, did you paint that?"
Aster shyly nodded, ducking her head so her hair covered her face. "Yeah. It's not...brilliant I know, but I thought it was a nice touch." She smiled, happy at the gushing the boys proceeded to make over everything from her painting, the plant to the room.
They had been sat in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, wondering if Professor Fawley was ever going to turn up when the door at the back creeped open, just enough for their temporary professor to slip in and scurry towards the front.
"G-g-good m-morning. P-p-p-profes-s-sor Faw-fawley is awa-away t-t-today. S-so I'll b-be s-stepping i-in." He giggled nervously while wringing his hands.
"Merlin help us, not again." Malfoy whined lowly. "I have to do extra reading he's so...incompetent." He sneered as Blaise agreed and Pansy sniggered.
"How his actual students understand him is beyond me." Blaise muttered, leaning back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling.
Aster and Theo quickly glanced at each other, making faces in agreement before looking at the front again.
Aster couldn't help but flinch. Quirrell was glaring at them as if he could, he'd set them on fire. His hands were clenched by his side, and his nostrils were flared, and again she saw his eyes stain red for a moment.
She breathed a sigh of relief as he turned his attention to Longbottom, who wasn't being nearly as quiet as the Slytherins in his whinging, the majority of the Gryffindors laughing in agreement. Quirrell seemed to be shaking and stumbled his way into the darkened corner, bowing his head and rapidly mumbled to himself.
It was another five minutes before he came back to the front, his jumpy persons back in tact.
"S-settle d-d-down ch-children." He tried but it seemed to have no effect, making him clench his jaw. "Enough!" He shouted, slamming his hand on the desk, his entire face seeming to darken.
The class fell silent immediately gaping at the man.
"N-now, t-today y-you w-will b-be p-p-practicing t-the b-basic s-shield ch-charm. P-p-p-profes-s-sor Faw-fawley ha-has s-said y-you kn-know t-the in-inc-incantation. P-pair u-up a-and be-begin." He ordered, slowly falling back into his facade after his slip. By the end he was back to his quivering mess.
Quietly everyone got to their feet, flinching as the desks moved to the walls without warning.
"Later?" Theo whispered to her, his eyes wide.
"Later." Aster agreed, gulping, not wanting to risk saying more where the man could possibly hear them with his seemingly freakish hearing.
So they spent the remaining two hours attempting to raise their shields, and as their classmates started to talk normally, brushing off his uncharacteristic outburst. Theo and Aster stayed quiet with only murmured encouragement when their efforts were weak, not noticing Blaise send thoughtful looks at the teacher who remained silent for the rest of the lesson.
A/N:
Bit of a filler today, sorry. But thought it'd be a good way to show Aster and Blaise a bit more as Theo gets mentioned a lot more.
Random Cookie Ninja - awesome name BTW! Thanks for my first review- it made me smile! I'm glad you're enjoying it :)
