We're in this Together. ✷ Fred Weasley✷

Ch.6 The Letter

Staring at the black calligraphy on the envelope, flipping it over, and taking in the emerald green wax seal, embossed with the Black family crest. Inhaling deeply, I open the envelope. Ready for the answers inside of it.

Inside the envelope, I find several pages of parchment, all stained by loopy calligraphy, along with a necklace and ring. I stare at the objects now laying on my bedspread, I gently set the envelope to the side. Ready for the pages to return to it when I finish reading them. I stare at the pages before me, hands shaking, with nerves and excitement, this is the only thing I have received from my father, the only telling of his story from his mind. It's unbiased, true, his side of the events that lead to my life being the way it is now.

Inhaling deeply, I pick up the stack of parchment, and begin reading.

Dear Asteria, my Little Star,

If you're reading this, it means I'm gone.

I hope you are under your Uncle Sirius' care, as that is what I wished for you in case of my passing, I know he would take good care of you, let you forge your own path. Whatever that may be...and I hope he was the one to give you this letter, but if it was Mr.Ollivander, then I can only assume, you are under the care of someone else. If it is my mother, Walburga, I'm Sorry. She's dreadful, and I hope you get out as soon as you can. If it is Narcissa, and Lucius Malfoy, then again I'm sorry, I can't imagine the lies you have been told about me by Lucius... I would hope my dear cousin has a little more tact than that, but nonetheless, I am sure you've heard all there is to hear about my failure, and betrayal of Voldemort, and while that may be true, I did betray him, it isn't for the reason, I'm sure my mother and cousin-in-law, have told you.

I betrayed him for your safety, I knew if I didn't get out you would be stuck on the same path that had been paved for my brother and myself, and while Sirius was brave enough to stray from it, and pave his own, I, unfortunately, didn't make that same decision until it was much too late. Maybe if I had made that decision earlier, things would have been different, but I didn't, and things are the way they are.

My dear Asteria, all I have ever wanted for you is to be happy, no matter what that happiness may be. I feel like I owe you an explanation. For my absence in your life. You see, when your mother, Elodie, and I discovered you were on the way, we made the decision that for your safety it would be wise for me to leave the Death Eaters. You see your mother was a part of the Order of the Phoenix, a group of witches and wizards who were fighting against the rise of Voldemort, it was her, who told me about the order, and put me in touch with Dumbledore. He helped me escape, he helped welcomed me to their side with open arms, when everyone, even your Uncle Sirius, were doubtful of my allegiance. He's a good man, and always offers his help to those who ask for it, Elodie and I were no different, you can trust him.

Your mother was about four months pregnant with you, when everyone at the order began to trust me completely, though I'm sure some of them still had their reservations about my presence, I was welcomed, and so were you.

When Elodie and I found out we were having a little girl, we knew she would be cared for always by those around us.

For a while everything was peaceful, I had my brother back, and had gained three more in James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, as well as sisters in Lilly Evens/Potter and Marlene McKinnon.

They all celebrated you, the first child of our chosen family. It was this same family who named you. Your mother and I wanted to keep the star theme, but not as literal as a constellation, it was Remus and Lilly who came up with the name Asteria, who was the Titan goddess of falling stars, their noses have always been shoved in a book, so it was no surprised when they came up with a muggle goddess as your name, but it none the less it stuck, however, it was Sirius and James who kept the goddess names going when they came up with Hecate, the goddess of magic and witchcraft, which the two found hilarious. So that's who you became, Asteria Hecate Black, however when you were born, things began to take a turn... it was the night of your birth, February 11th, 1978, when, St. Mungo's was attacked by Death Eaters, in search of your mother and I, the order fended them off, while Ellie gave birth to you, with me by her side, you came into the world screaming, and full of life, but with you're entering into the world, your mother had to exit, she lost a lot of blood...there was nothing the healers could do for her.