onism | sirius black

prologue

1971

"Now, remember, honey, stay close to your brother until the Sorting Ceremony," Magda Malfoy walked in a fast pace beside her daughter, her hand placed carefully on her shoulder.

Anyone paying attention to the two Malfoys could visibly notice a rare worried expression on Mrs. Malfoy's face. But she could no longer hide it, she couldn't hide the fear of spending four months without seeing her sweet daughter.

"Don't worry, mom. I will be alright." Asteria sent a weak smile towards her mother, trying to calm her down, "Didn't you like your stay at Hogwarts?"

They stopped walking before they reached the mass of parents and students, hugging each other and saying their last goodbyes. Asteria glanced at a few familiar faces, identifying some of her childhood friends in the crowd, some of them already entering the old-fashioned train.

Magda crouched in front of her daughter and took her face in her hands, "Of course I did, sweetie. And I know you will love it too. It's just that these are tough times for everyone."

Asteria sighed, knowing exactly what her mother was referring to, "Not for us."

"I know, Ria. Just be careful, okay?" Mrs. Malfoy caressed her daughter's cheek with her cold trembling hand, "Stay close to your brother and write to me at least once a week, so I know you're alright."

Asteria nodded her head, feeling her eyes watering. She had never spent more than a week without her mother and just to imagine spending such a long time without her favorite person in the world almost made her wish she was a squib, just so she wouldn't have to be apart from her mother, "I will, mom. I promise."

"Oh, and if you have one of those accidents, you know what to do, right?"

The eleven-year-old Malfoy looked at her dark truck and nodded her head slowly, "I will take my medication and go to the infirmary to get an opinion."

"Good girl," Magda kissed her cheek one last time before getting up and looking for her son, "I just wish I knew where your brother went without telling me."

Asteria shrugged, "I don't need him. Ethan is right there, I will just meet him."

Mrs. Malfoy shook her head, still looking around for her oldest son, "No, honey, family is supposed to stay together."

The witch sighed deeply and grabbed her mother's hand, her small silk glove touching Magda's cold skin, "Mom, I will be fine. I'm smarter than Lucius and much friendlier, so you don't have to worry. If he survived his first year, then so will I."

"I know, but you're my little girl, Asteria," she caressed her rosy cheek with a sad smile, "Promise me you will owl me if you need anything, or if you see something suspicious," her mother lowered her voice as she crouched again in front of her daughter.

"Something suspicious? And what could that be? It's Hogwarts, mom, the safest place in the world," Asteria pointed out, "Stop worrying, okay? Now you're getting me nervous and that's not something we want."

"You're right, honey, just give me one more hug," Asteria made a small smile and hugged her mother, noticing how she was slightly trembling.

The previous year, Asteria accompanied her parents when they brought Lucius for the first to the Platform, and none of them were as nervous as her mother was while she was saying goodbye to her daughter. What was happening? Something definitely changed.

Magda squeezed her arms around her daughter and wished the next few months passed quickly, so Asteria and Lucius could be home again for Christmas.

"Asteria, we should go. The train is leaving in a couple of minutes." The two Malfoys pulled away from each other to glance at the young Evan, who was starting his first year as well.