As It Was *Complete*

18. Tests

As far as the first few weeks of school went, Astra had to admit that hers was not bad. They had got very little homework yet with most classes opting to give a bit of a course refresh on previous years. She was surprised how easily she fell into castle life and routine.

She went to class, ignoring Snape and Remus except when answering questions in the classroom. She rushed through her meals and always made sure that she was either in the library until curfew or the Astronomy Tower where both Lupin and Snape never seemed to venture.

She would transfigure the bench into a squishy armchair and spend hours in that tower, thanks to a warming charm.

It was almost three weeks before Astra was called to take her test to find a potential love match. She had grown quite nervous about the test, worrying about who she would be matched to and what they would think of her being an orphan. She had spoken to Professor McGonagall who simply shrugged and said if someone liked her they wouldn't care about her history. But she was still nervous.

She was in the middle of charms class when a memo flew into the room and Professor Flitwick told her and Pansy that it was their turn to head down to the Great Hall.

"So what do you think they will ask of us?" Pansy asked as she linked Astra's arm and they headed down.

"I imagine it will be more about getting to know us. Our likes and dislikes and what we want to do after graduation so they can match us with someone with similar aspirations," Astra said more trying to convince herself.

"You nervous too?" Pansy said stopping to look at the girl in front of her.

Astra sighed. "Who would want to be matched to me? I am not as beautiful as you or Maddi and not as smart as Hermione. Also, I am an orphan so I don't even have family. Like Draco said -"

"Hold the wand," Pansy interrupted. "Never listen to Draco. He is an ass! And he for some reason likes to torture you more than anyone. He doesn't even mean it. He just says it to get a rise out of you."

"I know and it doesn't annoy me....but that's because what he says is true to a point."

"Nope. Not having it. You are amazing Angel. You are the kindest and purest soul I have ever met and you have just the right amount of sass to make you a true gem. We all adore you, Draco included although he would never admit it."

Astra laughed as they continued walking. "Of course he does."

"At least you don't have to worry that the guy you are paired with will not curse you out because of your mother's Death Eater status. He may even resent me because of who I used to be...a bitch." She bit her lip and sighed.

Pansy was usually very composed and always looked her best but today she was a little...out of sorts. "Pansy anyone who has spent time with you knows that you have changed. You aren't as...em -"

"Bitchy?" She smirked.

"Well yeah, as you once were. You are an amazing friend and if whoever you are partnered with doesn't see that, then they do not deserve someone else as amazing as you." Pansy beamed. Not her usual smirk but a genuine, beautiful smile. She looked radiant as it lit up her whole face.

"Let's get this done so I can meet Mr Maybe Right," Pansy laughed as they opened the door to the Great Hall.

The tables were gone and instead, there were sets of couches spread out around the hall.

Astra could already see Padma Patil with Professor Trelawney on one couch and Ron Weasley with Professor Sinatra at another. Theo was currently laughing with Mr Breannan.