Sweet Soul

chapter 1: invitations

"I'm hosting a small tea party with my friends tomorrow in the east wing at 11," Daphne announced as she walked into the library, "Mother and Father agreed to it if I allowed you to participate in it." Daphne now stood in front of Astoria with her arms crossed, "they're worried about you since you've locked yourself in the  manor since you've returned home from France."

"I haven't been locking myself in the manor, I just haven't returned home in a while and I didn't realize how much I missed it." Astoria replied, taking her eyes from the French muggle novel she was reading, "But, yes I will attend your tea festivity tomorrow, so mother, father, and you aren't worried any longer," she retorted to Daphne's doubtful eye roll.

"With that agreed upon, I will get going, remember 11'o clock at Garden's View in the east wing. Be dressed for tea and gossip, I haven't told my friends much about you, so be careful about the impression you leave."

"Who will be attending?" Astoria inquired, she was curious of which of Daphne's friends did she need to make a good impression to.

"Pansy, Millicent, Tracey, Blaise, Theo, and Draco, you know I'd never invite anyone who isn't close back home," Daphne responded sitting beside her on the rather large armchair in the library.

"Mother and father won't be home, right?"

"Do you really think our mother and father would let Draco, Blaise, or Theo into our house?" Daphne laughed.

"Mother and father weren't keen on your friendship with them since your first year, I thought time would change that."

"Time, I don't think time can tell if we've changed or if it's them who changed. Daphne replied after pondering Astoria's words. "But in this case, Mum and dad's impression of them might have changed for the worse after Draco's involvement with the Dark Lord, and Theo's and Blaise's friendship with him doesn't help with their reputation," Daphne sighed.

"Do you think they've changed or do you think you've changed?"

"I think we've all changed, yet we are the same because we keep pretending what is between us is the same," Daphne said, brushing her hair back with her hands.

"Two years is a long time, but two years also feels like a second that just passed by," Astoria replied, not wanting to pry about Daphne's individual friendships as if to judge and criticize her.

"Two years is a long time," Daphne said in agreement as she leaned on her shoulder looking out of the window.

- - -

Astoria did not have many housemates in her time at Hogwarts, unlike most Slytherins, Astoria befriended intelligent individuals regardless of their blood status. (mostly Ravenclaws if we're being honest) Her education at Hogwarts proved the pureblood ideals her parents had attempted to engrave in her mind to be a disillusioned and prejudice mindset, a mindset that could limit opportunities in learning and so on in life, a mindset that only hurts people, and hurting people was never something she desired in her heart. Following her 4th year at Hogwarts (after Dumbledore's death/the Half-Blood Prince) Astoria's parents transferred her and her sister to Beauxbatons, her mother's school because the possibility of Voldemort overtaking Hogwarts was a likely possibility, and that possibility would be a danger to her life. (her blood malediction/curse) Neither of Astoria's parents was ignorant of the fact Voldemort cared only for himself, and with that knowledge, neither of Astoria's parents chose a side during Voldemort's 2nd regime, (or the 1st) the safety of their family was of most importance. So because of Astoria's parents' tight protection, Astoria lost contact with most of her friends at Hogwarts as she completed her education at Beauxbatons, far from the war and devastation in England, far from the cruel bitter reality the students of Hogwarts suffered under Voldemort's regime.

As a freshly graduated student from Beauxbatons, Astoria returned to London after living in France for three years. Her parents insisted she stayed with her relatives in France during the holidays, that she'd only return to London after she completed her studies because by then the Wizarding World in England would be in a safe rightful state that would not be detrimental to the treatment of her health or cause further stress on her.

It had been three weeks since she returned home silently, but somehow news of her return traveled to Hermione Granger, a former fellow member of the Charms Club (a Ravenclaw-dominated club, and the only club she was a part of) as Hermione sent her an invitation to the Ministry's Charity Gala that would be taking place next week. Along with the invitation, Hermione also penned an inquiry if she was interested in taking a job in the Ministry, as the Ministry still had many vacant positions for qualified and intelligent witches and wizards. In specifics, she was asked if she was interested in a position in Wizarding Relations, a temporary department under the Public Relations branch with the purpose of uniting all members of the wizarding world regardless of blood status. Though Astoria held a slight interest, she would need the approval of her parents to accept the position, so with that in mind, she accepted the invitation to the charity gala and returned Hermione's letter stating she would need some time to consider her inquiry.

"Astoria, it's time for dinner," Daphne announced after knocking on her door. Hearing her sister's voice she quickly cleaned off her desk and opened the door to follow her down for dinner.

"Daphne said you agreed to the tea arrangement," her mother said as she and her father casually set down the silverware in her hands.

"Yes, I did Mother," Astoria replied as she set down the cutlery in her hands.

"Tomorrow we expect the best behavior from you both, your father and I will not be home, but that doesn't mean you both can do as you please."

"Yes, mother, yes, father," they said in unison.

Before her parents could pick their silverware up Astoria began to speak "I was invited to the Ministry Charity Gala that will be held next week, and I accepted my invitation."

"Do you know why you were invited?" Her father asked; everyone knew the ministry sent out invitations to the families, typically the head, they were never ones to send out individual invitations to events such as this that required a donation.

"The ministry was inquiring if I was interested in a position in Wizarding Relations, the temporary department under the Public Relations branch."

"Have you accepted their invitation to work in that department?" Her father asked solemnly.

"No, I thought I should run it through you and Mother before I decided."

"Good," her father replied letting go of some of his seriousness. "Your mother and I do not expect Daphne or you to have a career, we want you both to spend your life doing what you please, the only thing we expect of you both is a suitable and happy marriage."

"Yes, Father."

"But please think of it thoroughly, working at the Ministry is not what it seems," her father said before picking up his silverware, and returning to his meal.