astronomy • marlene mckinnon

eight

t.w. abusive parents

Astraea sat down next to Regulus and let out a low hiss full of pain as she accidentally hit her leg on the table in front of them.

"What are we waiting for?" She asked him, as she scanned the room.

Orion Black was sitting on the couch opposite Regulus and Astraea, scanning the daily prophet.

The living area was clean now, there was no sign of any blood.

Not on the coffee table, when Astraea had hit her knee on the corner, not on the couch, where blood had been dripping from her wounded cheek, and not anywhere near the doorway, where Astraea had tried to control a heavy nosebleed.

Not a single trace of what was happening inside the walls of number 12 Grimmauld Place was left.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK OPEN THE DOOR AND GET DOWNSTAIRS OR I'LL BLAST IT OPEN RIGHT THIS SECOND!" Walburga's shrieks echoed throughout the house.

Astraea and Regulus had flinched and the two had gripped each other's hands as they watched Orion look away from his newspaper and to the doorway.

His eyes then flickered to Astraea and Regulus who immediately sat straight, before he returned to the daily prophet, again.

"That," Regulus whispered. "We're waiting for that to be over."

"I guess we'll be here a long time then," Astraea whispered back and Regulus bit his lip as he nodded.

Walburga came stomping in the room a few seconds later, fuming as she opened the cabinet and took out the bag of floo powder.

The next minute, the sound of a door slamming echoed, followed by loud and angry steps on the staircase as Sirius entered the room, anger burning in his eyes as he smirked at his parent's disapproving scowls.

"Change it." Walburga snapped at Sirius as she looked at the leather jacket Astraea had gifted him.

Astraea's hands went to the locket Reg had gifted her and sighed in relief as she felt the heart-shaped metal with her fingers, securely tightened to the chain.

"Nevermind now," Orion shook his head and got up. "We're already running late, I doubt Druella is fond of tardiness, and we do not have time for silly tantrums."

Astraea and Sirius shared an annoyed look, which they so often did in the presence of their parents.

"I expect you all to behave and if you don't, well, you know the consequences." Orion continued. "Regulus go first."

Regulus nodded and took a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.

"Rosier-Black Manor." Regulus dropped the floo powder and he disappeared as green flames consumed him.

"Astraea." Orion looked at the girl who looked at Sirius who gave her a reassuring nod.

Astraea got up and walked towards her mother, to the fireplace. Perhaps Walburga had noticed the slight limp in her walk, her slight smirk was yelling so.

The fifth-year Slytherin scowled as she grabbed a fistful of Floo powder and stepped into the fireplace, her hand outstretched.

"Rosier-Black Manor." Astraea dropped the floo powder and her vision was clouded with bright green flames as she spun around, passing various fireplaces before she finally came to a halt and stepped out of the fireplace, wiping the dust off her skirt as she ignored the sick feeling.

"Astraea, dear!" Astraea was wrapped into a hug by her overly affectionate yet also strict aunt. "How lovely to see you again."

"Good evening Aunt Druella." Astraea smiled politely at her as they broke apart.