As It Was *Complete*

19. What I Go To School For

Astra spent the rest of the day thinking about her interaction with Professor Snape. It was clear that he cared about her. That he regretted ever giving her up but he no alternative. But that did not make up for the miserable upbringing she had?

But was that really his fault?

She had no idea any more.

It was a week later in Defence Against The Dark Arts that they got word of the test results. Astra usually spent this class, hiding in her seat or, during practical lessons, staying at the back and hoping Lupin didn't call on her. This lesson was a theory and they were busy taking notes on Nogtails.

"Now, Newt Scammander tells us that 'Nogtails are demons found in rural areas right across Europe, Russia, and America. They resemble stunted piglets with long legs, thick, stubby tails, and narrow black eyes. The Nogtail will creep into a sty and suckle an ordinary sow alongside her own young. The longer the Nogtail is left undetected and the bigger it grows, the longer the blight on the farm into which it has entered.' The Nogtail was a demon that resembling a stunted piglet, but with narrow black eyes, a thick stubby tail, and long legs."

Astra was scribbling away in her notebook as he spoke, trying to take as detailed notes as possible as Remus went on to describe where they could be found and what exactly made them dangerous as well as giving each of them an illustration to add to their notes.

It was as he was wrapping up his little speech with "Exceptionally fast and hard to catch, the only way to make sure the Nogtail would not come back was to chase it away with a pure white dog. The Pest Subdivision of the Ministry's Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures maintained a pack of a dozen albino bloodhounds specifically for this purpose. In our next lesson, we will be looking into the history of these beats and what Newt Scammander found while trying to rehome a pack of three he found in Italy."

The bell rang out signalling the end of the lesson and in fact the end of the school day. "Before you part," Lupin called, "I have been asked by Professor McGonagall to make you aware that the results of your tests will be published tomorrow morning and you are to stay behind after your breakfast to meet your match."

There were a few excited murmurs and a few groans as everyone began to pile out of the room. "Miss McKenna, could I have a word please?" Maddi and Theo both looked to Astra as they passed offering her a sympathetic smile and Maddi offered to save her a seat as she closed the door leaving Astra and her godfather alone.

"Astra," he sighed leaning against his desk as she approached the front of the classroom. He looked a little rough and she imagined the full moon this month had really taken its toll on him. While living with him, she had learnt that he took a wolfsbane potion every full moon which, although it didn't stop him from turning into a wolf, it allowed him to keep his human facilities meaning he was Remus in mind. His conscious intact but he still locked himself in his basement which he and Sirius had designed to hold a werewolf fully formed without even the slightest chance of him escaping. When Astra lived there she and Andromeda would look after Teddy while he was down there. A few times Astra had delivered food and bedding to him down in his cage. The potion may have stopped him from acting like a werewolf but it did cause him to be more irritable than usual.

"Sir," she responded.

"Astra, it has been a very difficult few weeks for me. Actually a few months, without you in my life. I was so relived when you came to live with me. You were such a remarkable young girl and I really enjoyed your company. Getting to know you and seeing how special you were for myself. Teddy and Andromeda adored you as well. You became part of my family. A very important part. I have missed you immensely lately. I want you to know that I never intended to hurt you that night when Snape and Sirius came to visit and I never wanted you to feel that I was taking Harry's side rather than yours."