astronomy • marlene mckinnon

one

t.w. mentions of abuse

Astraea Cedrella Black lived by a simple rule.

She could do whatever she wished to do at Hogwarts and just make sure that her mother and father never get to hear about the fact that she doesn't agree with their views.

She stuck by her parent's rules while she was at home for the summer holidays, and occasionally during the Christmas holidays as well.

Unfortunately, her twin brother did the exact opposite.

"Sirius, stay still." Astraea hissed at her twin who was sitting on his bed, a large cut on his left cheek, the reminder of what would happen if any child crosses Walburga and Orion Black.

"What?" Sirius frowned and winced. "It hurts."

Astraea crossed her arms and looked at him, setting the bowl of healing potion on the side table.

"What was the need to go and start a rebellion?" She snapped. "Especially, when you know what happens after."

Sirius shrugged, "I don't know."

Astraea sighed, "You do know. You want to show your differences from the people we call family."

"You call them family," Sirius shook his head. "Not me."

"I don't have a choice, Siri." Astraea bit her lip as she dipped the cotton into the healing potion and then pressed it on Sirius's wound.

Sirius shook his head and took the cotton from Astraea's hand, and rubbed her hand. "You do Rea, you do have a choice. We- we can run away, we can go far from here, and we'll never have to see or talk to them ever again."

"Sirius-"

"No, shut up. James- His parents, we can go to their house, they're brilliant Rea, you'll love them. We can be happy."

Astraea closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall.

She couldn't go.

And she didn't know what to tell Sirius, because she didn't want to tell the truth.

She was afraid.

Astraea Black was scared of her parents and their wrath. She was scared of the destruction they caused. And she hated it.

She hated her parents, and she hated how they made her afraid.

Walburga and Orion Black would be more than angry if she ran away. Astraea didn't want to face it.

Astraea Black was scared of leaving Regulus alone. He's a boy who has been forced into handling the work of being the heir to the Black's.

She was terrified of what would happen if she left him alone with the two people she hated the most, and Astraea knew her younger brother well enough to know that he wouldn't come along with them.

Astraea Black was scared of something happening to Sirius. She didn't know how she would be able to cope with Sirius gone.

She was terrified because she wasn't brave enough to stand up to her parents.

She was terrified because she wouldn't be able to survive if anything happened to Sirius or Regulus.

And Astraea Black was even more terrified because she knew that she would never be able to admit her fears.

"I can't," She finally said, desperation clear in her voice. "You know I can't."

"Is it Regulus?" Sirius asked, shifting so he was sitting right next to Astraea. "We'll take him too, we all can be happy. It would be just like the old days."