astronomy • marlene mckinnon

five

October had rushed past quite faster than anyone had expected, it seemed like a short month and everyone was most surprised to realize that it was the end of the month already.

The Halloween feast was just the same as it was the other four years Astraea had attended Hogwarts. And before any of the kids or professors knew it, the leaves on the trees were brown and were barely hanging on the trees.

The humid weather went away, and the slight breeze turned into a gentle cold wind.

November Third arrived just as suddenly as the end of October did and in the fifth-year Slytherin girl's dormitories, Astraea was woken up with Isabella throwing a pillow at her face.

"For Merlin's sake Rea," Isabella sighed and pulled the covers Astraea was underneath. "Get up!"

Astraea tried to pull the covers over herself again, though her eyes were still closed as she mumbled. "But it's my birthday."

"I know it's your birthday, and Happy Birthday, but that doesn't mean you get to skip classes."

"What about just the first class?" Astraea offered as she opened one eye.

"Get up Rea, you can sleep in History." Isabella rolled her eyes as she stared at the raven-haired girl still in bed.

"I always sleep in History." Astraea protested.

"Get up." Isabella crossed her arms and gave a look that strangely resembled Professor McGonagall's.

"Fine." Astraea groaned as she got up and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready for school.

"Do you think Nott has a mommy kink?" Astraea asked as she tied her hair into a bun and took out her school uniform.

"What?" Isabella almost choked on nothing and almost dropped her hairbrush.

"You know, maybe he has mommy issues so-"

"I don't care if it's your birthday." Isabella cut off Astraea and gave her a glare that could rival Marlene McKinnon's look which was specifically reserved for a grey-eyed Slytherin. "I will kill you."

"I'll help." Astraea shrugged. "But don't drown me alright, Oh! You could stab me with a shiny knife-"

"Get into the washroom." Isabella pointed at the open door, her hairbrush still in her hand.

"Yes ma'am." Astraea grinned as she smirked at the brown-haired girl before she went into the washroom.

Before she had started Hogwarts, Astraea and Sirius's birthday was celebrated with a huge gala, and Walburga and Orion would invite every single member of the sacred twenty-eight families, not to celebrate their children's special day, but to show their increasing power as the heirs to the family grew older and gained access to more power.

Power.

Power must be earned, not stolen or given away.

Power must be respected not exploited.

It was a pity that Walburga and Orion Black did everything they shouldn't do with the power they have access to.

Perhaps if they did use it in the best way they could, the present situation would be different.

But it wasn't.

Astraea was sure that the kingdom they tried so hard to build would one day turn on them and they would be left broken, just like they have left their children.

Hurt.

Cracked.

Damaged.