AN: Hi everyone! This is my first time writing fanfiction and posting it online. I hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, its characters, settings, or anything else. Credit for this wonderful world goes to J.K.R and whoever she sold rights to. I make no money from witing this and do so only for pleasure.
31 October 1981
On a grim, moonless night, the air at number four, Privet Drive, was unnaturally still, heavy with something just beyond perception. A thick, unnatural blanket of fog covered the area, as if the world was trying to hide itself from the tragedy that had occurred only hours earlier.
Just moments before, this seemingly normal street had borne witness to three most unusual visitors: one, a cat that became a woman; another, an old man with a long beard and twinkling eyes; and the last, a towering figure who rode a flying motorcycle. The three, of different minds about what needed to be done, ultimately agreed to leave a small, squirming bundle on the doorstep of what was believed to be its last living family.
Yet, despite the strangeness of these visitors who had just departed, the most unusual guest of the night appeared in a shimmering flash of starlight. The new visitor, had there been anyone to see her, would appear to be a broken woman. Her shoulders, once held straight with pride, bowed as if the weight of the world was laid upon them. The elegant black cloak that once conveyed an air of mystery and daring now seemed about to consume her as she curled into herself. However, the truest sign of her pain was in her eyes: deep violet orbs speckled with pinpricks of light that once shone with intelligence and curiosity now sat hollow and unfocused.
Standing at the edge of the street, where the drive of number four met the road, she fought an internal battle between what she knew she had to do and what she knew her actions would cost her. Placing a hand over her heart, she felt the pulsing of the twelve strands of magic that had woven themselves there earlier in the evening. Each strand represented what was most valuable to her: time and the opportunity to act. While beyond precious, she knew that one would have to be used tonight if she wanted to shift things from the dark path that the world was set upon. With one final breath to fortify herself, she stepped forward, and the weave of the world shuddered, pausing, waiting to see how the actions of one of its few chosen would affect its flow.
Eleven strands remain.
The price having been paid, the woman now moved quickly, knowing there was much to do and little time. Reaching the doorstep, she gently lifted the small, lightly squirming bundle into her arms, a small smile gracing her lips and a hint of the old warmth returning to her eyes. Here was the one thing she would give anything for, had already sacrificed everything for: her daughter, Iris Asteria Potter.
The instant she was lifted into her mother's embrace, Iris settled into a deep and contented sleep. Feeling the faint threads of her daughter's magic gently brushing against hers, Astra's heart broke a little more. Iris had indeed inherited her affinity, and she knew she would have to leave her here, at the home of someone who had, at different times, been stranger, hostile, friend, student, and finally family.
Knocking on the door, Astra stood waiting, feeling the precious moments trickle away. Luckily for her, after a soft shuffling from inside, the door was quickly opened before too much time was lost or she was lost to her spiraling thoughts. Standing there in the doorway was Petunia Dursley.
After opening the door, Petunia could only gape in shock at the sight before her. Were it not for the woman's distinctive violet hair falling in soft waves past her shoulders and the intricate mask covering the top half of her face, she might not have recognized the woman who had become so dear to her over the years. Far from the vivacious figure who had breathed life into her relationship with her sister and taught her that one did not need a wand to perform magic, the woman standing before her looked as though she was on death's door.
"Astra! What happened to you? What are you doing here? Where's Lily?" she asked frantically, a rising sense of dread building inside her.
"Hello, Petunia," Astra replied softly, the crack in her voice betraying a hint of the soul-deep agony she felt. "Can I come inside? I can answer your questions. There is a lot to tell, and then I must ask a great favor of you. Please, I have little time."
Stepping through the house's entryway, the two women walked in silence to the sitting room, where they joined Petunia's husband, Vernon, and sat.
"She's dead, isn't she?" Petunia asked softly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That madman found them and killed James and my sister." She could see no other reason for Astra to be there, looking as if she had lost a part of her soul.
"I'm so sorry, Petunia. They were betrayed. They entrusted their secret to Peter, and he sold them out to the Dark Lord. By the time I got there, it was too late. There was nothing I could do to save her; the Weave bound me and stopped me from taking any action. It took most of my power just to stretch that moment enough to say goodbye, and then weave the protection that both saved Iris and destroyed that madman's body." Astra's story tumbled out haltingly through the soul-wrenching sobs that wracked her body. The only thing keeping her from completely breaking down was the soft, loving caresses of her daughter's magic.
The adults were all crying now, the loss weighing heavily on all of them. Petunia grieved for her sister. They had been so close in their youth but had drifted apart after Lily had learned about magic and gone off to school. Jealousy had seeped into her heart and twisted their relationship until the day Astra had walked into her life and asked the simple question, "Why ever would you think that there is only one way to do magic?"
That simple question had sparked a profound change in her life. Slowly, she was shown that even the most mundane things could possess magic all their own. Petunia discovered a true talent for the magics of home and family: simple thread magics woven into cloth for protection, warmth, and durability; culinary magics for health and growth; and small rituals of protection and love. Each of these may have seemed small and almost insignificant to those who wielded wands, but to her, someone who supposedly had no magic of her own, these were priceless treasures.
Astra had taught her that one did not need to possess their own magic to perform feats of it, saving her from drifting into bitterness and hatred. This wisdom allowed the strained relationship she had with her sister to reignite and grow back to what it had been in their childhood. The process of teaching also brought Astra and Lily closer together, transforming what had once been friendship into something more. Finally, during one summer that the three had spent together, Astra and Lily had soul-bound to one another, inexorably tying their lives together.
That thought brought a screeching halt to Petunia's reminiscing. "Astra, weren't the two of you soul-bound? With Lily gone, how… how are you still here?" she asked hesitantly, the earlier sense of pain and fear only deepening. "How long did you get?"
After witnessing the bond that had tied Astra and Lily together in magic and soul, Petunia had sought more information about it. Astra had been hesitant to share many details, but a few important ones had stuck with Petunia: the couple shared thoughts, emotions, magic, and even their lives. It was said to be like two parts merging to create a more perfect whole, and thus, in almost all cases, when one of the bonded died, the other followed. However, in a few rare instances, the surviving partner might endure for a short time, but it would be a half-life filled with pain, for who could truly live without half of their soul?
Astra gave her a sad smile that hinted at how lost she truly felt before she answered. "My case was quite special. Lady Magic knew I would have unfinished business after the bond broke, so she granted me twelve strands of magic that bind me here. Each time I take action to alter fate or for every day I live, one strand is broken."
The news hit Petunia like a ton of bricks. Twelve days! This young woman would only have twelve days to spend with her daughter. Wait, she said that even taking an action that could alter fate would also cost a strand, so that meant sitting here and talking to them had likely cost Astra one of those days. Her mind churned furiously as she quickly tried to process all the new information and its implications for the future.
"So how long do you actually have left, and why are you here? You know we don't want anything to do with the wizarding world and have no interactions with it, so why come here?" she asked, feeling this was the most crucial point to start.
"Ahhh, well, you can blame that meddling old coot, Albus, for that. Right after Lily and the Dark Idiot died, Sirius showed up quickly, followed by Hagrid. Sirius was going to take Iris as was his right as godfather, but Hagrid demanded he hand her over, supposedly on Dumbledore's orders. I'm not sure what went through that fool's head, but he handed over Iris and ran off, probably to look for Peter. By bringing Iris here, it's clear the old coot is up to something, but I don't really know what, though I have a few ideas." Astra's reply held a range of emotions, from a hollow chuckle to exasperation, marked by thinly veiled suspicion and mistrust.
"As for your other questions, I've got only eleven strands left, as coming to speak with you has cost me one. I'm sorry to say this, but with Albus meddling, my trying to take Iris anywhere else is pointless. My only option now is to make the best use of the cards I have left to ensure that Iris has the best future possible."
Vernon and Petunia exchanged a long, telling look before turning back to face Astra. "That's the favor you want to ask us, isn't it? You want us to take in and raise Iris?" Petunia asked, emotions flipping rapidly between fear of being roped into the wizarding world, pity for Astra, and love for the daughter of two women she regarded as family.
"Yes, that's right," Astra answered, her voice tinged with the barest hints of trepidation. "I know many of your fears and worries, so I bring an offer of several things that you may find very helpful to persuade you to accept."
Petunia fought against the instinct to reject any offer outright, knowing that this was something Astra felt she had to do as a mother.
"First, I've set up a trust account to help with raising Iris and covering any expenses she may have, with a friend of mine." Astra said, setting a folder down on the small table between them. "He is a squib who was kicked out of his family for not having magic but found he had a small talent for divination. He's using it to become a successful investment banker. All his information, the trust details, and a letter of introduction are in the folder. He can help you a lot with financial matters and has a vast network of contacts to assist you in getting any needed information from the magical side while remaining anonymous."
This first offer addressed nearly all of the couple's worries about taking in the child. The financial support promised they could provide the best for her, and the connection to someone who could ease their transition into the wizarding world made them feel more at ease, knowing their questions would have answers.
"Second, here is a detailed list of everything Iris will need to know before she is taken back to the wizarding world at age eleven," Astra continued, placing another thicker folder on the table. "Inside are names of books that will provide the necessary information, as well as lists of possible activities that would be of great benefit in gaining essential skills."
The second folder also lifted a great deal of the Dursley's concerns as neither really knew what a magical child would have to know for when they went to school. Petunia was ready to accept raising Iris by this point but also wanted to see what else Astra was willing to do and how far she was able to act before she ran out of time.
"Finally, I'll leave you with a couple pieces of magic that should help you. There are some wards—essentially magical walls or protections—set up by Albus before he left, but I'll be altering them. I don't really trust him, and from what I can feel, he did a pretty poor job of it. When I'm done, you'll be as protected as I can make you, and the wards will keep any uninvited magicals away while also allowing any spies the old fool sends to see only what he expects them to.
The next thing I'm offering is a pair of enchanted glasses for each of you. They can change into any shape or style you like and will always fit your eyesight, but most importantly, they will allow you to see magic. This will help ensure that you never unintentionally come into contact with any magical items.
The last bit of magic I'll leave you with is what's often referred to as a wizarding space. This will be a door that opens onto a large empty space. You can use it for storage or anything else, really, but its most crucial use will be as a place where Iris can practice magic without interference from the Ministry or putting anyone in danger."
With one final look at each other and a quick, silent conversation, both Dursleys knew they would accept the responsibility of caring for Iris. They had known from the start that there was no way they could turn down the woman who had already done so much for their family, but the offers she made would allow them to do a much better job.
"Thank you for all that you have offered us, and yes, we will raise Iris," Petunia said, turning back to face Astra.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Astra seemed to sag into her seat as the tension left her body. "Thank you, Tunie. I know it was a lot to ask of you, but I'm so glad that Iris will be able to grow up with someone I know I can trust. Give me just a moment, and then I will go. There is one final thing I need to do."
Sitting up straight, Astra gave a quick flick of her wrist, and what was unmistakably a wand appeared in her hand. Petunia stared at it in awe. She had seen Lily's wand many times and thought its intricate carvings and craftsmanship were beautiful, but all of that paled in comparison to the one she saw now. Where Lily's wand had obviously been carved from wood, Astra's wand looked to be crafted out of some type of living crystal. Swirls of violet, blue, and black interspersed with pinpricks of light traveled the length of the wand.
Placing the tip of the wand to a spot just over her heart, Astra began to chant. Unintelligible words flowed from her mouth in a soft, almost musical cadence as her wand started to glow slightly. As the chant continued, Astra slowly drew her wand away from her chest, several glowing threads trailing from its tip, before pressing the wand to Iris's chest. With a small flash of light, the chant ended, and Astra sagged once more into her seat, looking even paler than before.
Motioning weakly with her now wand-free hand, Astra indicated for Petunia to take Iris from her. Swiftly crossing the small distance and gently taking the child, cradling her in her arms, Petunia looked at Astra with deep concern etched onto her face. "What did you just do? Why do you look even weaker now than before?"
"I did the only thing I could to protect her now and into the future. The greatest gift I could give, five chances to change fate. With those threads now bound to her, the original protection I wove is also anchored, and I will always be able to find or watch over her no matter where I am. Each thread will allow me to intervene in some way should she ever find herself in true danger and give her a chance to come out the other side."
Astra's reply momentarily stunned Petunia as she realized what had really just happened. "So you gave up five of your last days so that she could be protected," she whispered, the words hanging heavy in the air.
As Petunia was about to press for more information, Astra seemed to receive some kind of signal and shakily made her way to her feet. "My time here is almost over, and I still need to fix the wards. It will only take a minute."
Stretching out her hand, the air before it rippled, and the most beautiful thing Petunia had ever seen appeared in her grasp. Where once there was empty air, Astra now held a long staff. It looked as if it were fashioned out of a piece of the night sky, standing just slightly taller than Astra, and was capped with a ring that contained what must be a single star.
As the glowing ritual circle appeared at Astra's feet, Petunia felt tears start to prick at her eyes. The sight before her, combined with the building sensation of magic in the air, reminded her of the times she had watched and occasionally participated in other rituals with Lily and Astra. Most of those had been simple affairs, intended solely to give thanks to Mother Magic for her gifts. The ritual before her now was far more complicated, and she watched attentively, knowing that this would likely be the last time she could witness such a thing.
As much as she wished things could go on longer, the ritual quickly concluded with a ripple of magic flowing out of the dimming circle. Everything seemed to pause, then shimmer for a moment, and Petunia felt a noticeable shift in the world around her. A previously unnoticed pressure lifted from her shoulders, and a brief feeling of familiarity and safety enveloped her before fading back to normal.
"There we go. The wards are now complete. I altered those terrible excuses for blood wards that Albus set up, transforming them into soul wards. The new wards will protect you from more than those pitiful safeguards Albus created and will aid in both security and secrecy now." Astra smiled wistfully, feeling the new wards literally singing in joy as they settled and began to merge with the protective weave surrounding Iris.
Breaking out of the reminiscent daze the ritual had put her in, Petunia was on the verge of pressing for answers to the questions she had so far held back when the clock in the sitting room began to chime midnight.
At the first chime, Astra instantly stiffened before letting out a weary sigh. "It looks like my time here is up. I must leave now before all my efforts tonight are rendered useless."
Quickly approaching a once more stunned Petunia, Astra enveloped her in a gentle hug before leaning down to place a soft kiss on Iris's forehead, whispering a final heartfelt goodbye. "Grow strong, grow wise, live a life of joy, and above all, live a life filled with love. You, young Iris, are my greatest achievement. I have always loved you, and I will continue to love you forever."
Stepping back, Astra didn't bother to hide the tears that trickled down her cheeks. "Goodbye, Petunia. Watch over her well. I know I haven't been around much recently, but you were always a dear friend and a better sister. Lily and I could not be more proud of you." Turning quickly, Astra marched out of the sitting room, already making her way to the front door before Petunia could break from her daze and chase after her.
Reaching the door just in time to see Astra at the end of the drive, Petunia hurriedly called out, "Astra, wait! Where are you going? Why leave now when you said you only had a few days to live? Please tell me!" She begged, her own tears falling freely.
Pausing at the end of the drive, Astra, still with her back turned to the house, looked up into the night sky. "There is only one place I can go and still keep my word to watch over Iris. The one place that exists inside the flow of time yet is unaffected by it. I will go to the Crossroads above the Astral Sea. I know not how long I will be able to keep vigil there, but it is the only chance I have."
As she stood there, gazing at the sky, Astra felt the weave of the world settling down once more now that her chance to intervene had ended. She smiled faintly through her tears, sensing the Weave aligning into a new configuration. She didn't know where this new flow would lead, but through her connection to it, she felt that the path ahead was much better than before.
"Goodbye, Petunia. Live well and know that you were always loved," Astra called out before whispering one final prayer and disappearing in a soft shimmer of starlight. "My lady, please watch over my child. Let her revel in your mysteries, let her see the wonder in the world you helped to shape, and may all the bonds you tie for her be strong."
Standing in her doorway, Petunia cried. She cried for the death of the sister she so dearly loved, for the child she held now forced to grow up without her parents, and above all, she cried for the woman who had been a friend, a mentor, and a sister. Astra had made sacrifices again and again, all in the hope that her loved ones could lead better lives, yet seemed fated never to find rest.
In that moment, the dimming spark of determination inside her was rekindled once more. Looking at the place where Astra had disappeared, she whispered her promise. "I won't let your sacrifices be in vain, Astra. I will raise Iris to be strong and wise. She will know joy and love. I will do my best to ensure she is prepared to face the challenges of the magical world and to confront the trials her life is sure to bring."