astronomy • marlene mckinnon

thirty one

Astraea Black breathed out a sigh of relief, as she heard the door close, leaving her alone inside the dark walls of Grimmauld Place. Her parents and Regulus were at a Gala which she couldn't attend due to a certain dark-haired man visiting her.

The seventeen-year-old peeped out of the living room door, and into the hallway, to make sure she was indeed alone in the house before she took a step outside and was about to go into the large library in their house when she saw a flash of green light in front of her and the sound of a fire lighting up and then extinguishing immediately.

Her eyes narrowed as she took out her wand and instantly turned around, wordlessly casting a stunning spell at the person in a black tux who already had his wand in his hand and was now pushing his dirty blond hair out of his face after casting a protection spell to defend himself.

"I have absolutely no idea why I expected this," Evan Rosier shook his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips, "But thanks for the warm welcome."

"Show up unannounced once more and you'll be lucky enough to get it again," The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes and made a face.

"I'll remember that," The boy grinned. "So, why weren't you at the gala?"

"The dark lord wanted to give a visit," Astraea shrugged and started walking towards the library as Evan let out an, "Oh."

"About the Dumbledore business?" The blond asked as he followed her. "I've heard about it, but you have to be careful."

"I know what I'm doing Evan, thanks for the concern," Astraea scoffed as she opened the door to the library and the two entered.

"Oh, I have no doubt about that," The boy rolled his eyes, "It's just that, Victoria has been assigned to find a way into Hogwarts-"

"They're trying to get into Hogwarts?" The girl whirled around and looked at him, her grey eyes wide and shocked.

"Shush," Evan hissed. "We aren't supposed to know, I just overheard Bellatrix talking about it with Narcissa."

"There's no one home, relax, and it's not like the walls can hear what-"

"The portraits can."

"Shut up," Astraea snapped at him, knowing very well that he was right, as she started to open another door.

"Hey, hey, wait," His eyes suddenly widened as his hand grabbed her wrist and pointed to a sign. "I don't think you're allowed to go the part where it's labeled as 'Orion Black's Office,' which I translate to stay the fuck away from whatever stuff is in there."

"Evan let go of my hand," Astraea's eyes were fixed on the hand around her wrist which immediately loosened, and let go of her as soon as she said it.

"Sorry," He muttered, scratching the back of his neck, following the girl as she went inside anyway. "But you know, me and Reg were just talking and he said that you can't go anywhere near it, and most of us used to be tutored here Rea, even I know that-"

"For the last time," The girl turned around to face him, her eyes dark with anger she was trying to keep buried deep inside, "My parents aren't here, and even if they were, they can't do anything. Now you could either stay and help me find my fucking letters or you can get out of my house."

Evan's jaw clenched and his expression hardened, as he stared at the girl for a while, none of them daring to break eye contact, that would be accepting defeat, and none of them were taught to do that.

"Fine," Evan nodded, biting the inside of his cheek, but not letting his eyes travel even an inch away from the girl.

"Great," She made an annoyed face as she went behind her father's table and opened two drawers at once, and began to look through the number of files.