Astra and Draco walked through the great hall, with the other first years.
Astra had Starbeam in her arms, and Draco's hand was on her shoulder, yet she was still a little nervous. She looked up a the ceiling, remembering what she had read about it, and it did look grand.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History," someone said.
Astra had loved that book, and was surprised that somebody else had read it. She looked behind her, trying to figure out who had said it, but she couldn't tell.
Astra had been concerned, while reading about the sorting hat, because the book said that the sorting hat was going to read her mind. She had mentioned the concern to Professor Snape, while he was delivering her potion one day, and he had assured her that the hat never went about blabbing about what he read in any of the students minds.
The sorting hat sang its song. The last verse really stood out, because she found it hard to believe.
"So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands, though I have none, for I'm a thinking cap!
Astra's fear that she and Draco would get different houses kept increasing, until Starbeam and her calming enchantment were no longer enough to keep Astra from trembling.
Draco whispered, into Astra's ear. "On the small chance that you get Ravenclaw, I'll beg to be in Ravenclaw too. If that doesn't work, father will hear about it and he'll make them re-sort us so we both get Slytherin."
Astra smiled at Draco. She loved him so much, and she knew that him asking father would work. He had a way of getting father to do what he wanted, although it helped that their father still loved Draco. It was easy for both of them to get their mother to do things they wanted, but she only really had power within the family.
Astra watched as everyone was sorted, and Gregory and Vincent both went to Slytherin.
"Malfoy, Astra," Professor McGonagall eventually called. Astra slowly stepped onto the hat and sat on the stool.
She looked down at Starbeam, in her arms. "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."
She cringed. "Draco and I both have unicorn hair wands. That must mean something."
"Well, I haven't met Draco yet."
"Maybe Ravenclaw would be better for me, but I want to be in the same house as Draco."
"Ravenclaw is not the house you need."
She trembled. "But, where else would I go? Hufflepuff?"
"Gryffindor!" the hat said, out loud.
Astra was shocked. She was afraid of everything?
She trembled some more, as Starbeam rubbed up against her. Keeping a hold of her cat, she slowly stood up and walked over to the Gryffindor table.
The hat was placed onto Draco's head. "Put me in Gryffindor," he thought to the hat. "My sister needs me with her."
"I was going to put you in Slytherin, but you do act like your sister's hero. If you're sure, Gryffindor," he said.
Draco sighed, in relief, and then went and sat down beside Astra.
He placed a comforting hand on hers, and she gripped it tightly. She smiled at him, and he smiled back.
Draco glanced at Harry, who was giving him a confused look. Now that he and Astra were in Gryffindor, maybe Harry would give him a second chance.
At first, everyone was talking about Hogwarts, but later the talk turned to families. Seamus mentioned being half and half.
"Astra and I are both purebloods," Draco said, "and us Malfoy's are one of the best families in Britain." No one seemed to care.
Astra had been listening, but not speaking, throughout all of dinner. Eventually she found herself listening to Hermione, whose voice she recognized as the girl who had read Hogwarts: A History, talking to Percy about classes.
That evening, Draco wanted to walk Astra up to her dorm.
"You can't," Astra explained. "The stairs will collapse if a boy tries to go up to the girls' dorms, but boys are allowed to go up to the boys' dorms. For some reason, the founders thought girls were more trustworthy than boys."
"Was that in Hogwarts: A History?" Draco asked.
"Yes."
Astra set Starbeam on the floor, and she and Draco gave each other a long hug goodnight. Astra picked Starbeam back up and went up to the girls dormitories.
The dorm wasn't nearly as crowded as the great hall or the common room, which was nice. The luggage had been left by the door, presumably by house elves- and the other girls were picking their beds.
Astra set Starbeam on the empty bed, next to Hermione's. She then went and got her trunk. She dragged it and set it at the foot of the bed.
Astra got her magical fold up water bowl, from her pocket. She placed it on the floor. She pulled out her wand, and pointed it at the bowl. "Auguamenti," she said, filling the bowl with water.
Starbeam jumped onto the floor and started lapping up the water.
Hermione turned and looked at Starbeam. "She's cute," she said, with a smile.
"Thanks," Astra said.
"So, you've read Hogwarts: A History," Hermione said.
"Yeah," Astra said. "I love books and knowledge."
As Draco was lying in bed that night, it suddenly occurred to him that it might be easier to get Astra her potion, without anybody knowing, if at least one of them were in Professor Snape's house.
Maybe Professor Snape would have some good ideas. After all, he was the one who was employed to make sure Astra secretly got her potion.