Astra

LX - The Date Quest

THE INVITES TO THE YULE BALL continued from multiple people, some from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Hogwarts. The first few she had tried to let down lightly, to different reactions, though after a while, she simply started saying no before they could even ask. Astra admitted it was a bit rude, but it was definitely getting on her nerves.

Hermione had hinted a few times at wondering whether she was going to go at all, to which her response was still negative.

Coming closer to the date, the time of the electrical storm was actually going to come the day before the Yule Ball, which would actually allow her to come. Yet, she still wasn't interested, and would much rather test out her flying abilities.

The animagus potion was complete, so all she needed was to wait for the electrical storm where she could say her spell. Then, her animagus form would be revealed and Minnie would help her fill out the forms for the register.

Meanwhile, Harry was having an existential crisis of deciding whether or not to ask Astra.

Hermione had been trying to ask the girl in question about her opinion, yet constantly coming back with no response. Ron was trying to be a wingman, having become a closer friend to Astra himself, yet wasn't making as much of an effect.

"I'm telling you, you just need to go up there and ask her. If she seems iffy, then just say 'as friends' and it'll be fine!" he said through a mouthful of toast.

"Oh, Ronald," Hermione sighed, though she gave a glance to Astra, who was sitting at the Ravenclaw table with Luna that morning.

"You know what, alright," Harry said, for reasons he could not explain. He most definitely was not asking her, yet with Ron's confidence, he decided to try.

***

"Are you sure you aren't going to take anyone?" asked Luna dreamily.

"No," Astra responded shortly. "I mean, why would you go out with people who you don't even know when you could fly around as an owl and try to drop dung bombs on them?"

Luna looked a bit confused for a moment before nodding, as if she understood Astra's ideas. Astra herself knew that some people didn't understand that; after all, Hermione had been asked by Viktor Krum the day before when they were studying in the library. However, their attention was taken away by a group of Durmstrang boys who were talking in hushed whispers across the room, glancing at Astra every so often.

"I think those are about to ask you, though," she stated, making Astra look in that direction as well.

She scowled, "Why won't they ever learn? Honestly, I wished that I was back in the days where they all thought I was the Heir of Slytherin."

Luna shrugged and spread the butter over her toast. "Well, you'll need to turn them down again."

Sure enough, one of the boys was coming her way, looking quite smug in a way that Astra thought was horrendous.

"Fuck that, I've got a better idea."

With that, she got up on the table, knowing she would definitely get a detention later, but put her wand to her neck and cast the sonorus charm. 

"I SWEAR, IF ANYONE ELSE ASKS ME TO THIS BLOODY BALL, I'M GOING TO MURDER THEM AND PUT THEIR FINGER IN A CASKET!"

She smirked as the boy who was about to ask her turned slightly pale and returned to his friends, and said, "Don't worry, Minnie, I'll show up for detention tomorrow."