After many heartbreaks and many losses, Aster Potter now has to go on a journey to the past to save her ancestors from the very man who is out to kill her. What better way to do it than to go back to the beginning, where their magic hadn't yet evolv...
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Gryffindor Common Room – Late September, 1977
The warmth of the Gryffindor common room was a stark contrast to the heavy burden James Potter carried. The flickering fire cast a cosy glow over the room, and the plush armchairs and sofas were occupied by students relaxing after a long day. James sat in one of the armchairs, his demeanour unusually subdued.
Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Lily Evans gathered around him, their faces etched with concern and curiosity. The diary lay open on the coffee table, its worn leather pages visible to all. James had asked for this private meeting to explain the gravity of the situation. Peter Pettigrew had not been invited; his recent distance from the group had made James hesitant to include him in this intensely personal matter.
James took a deep breath, looking at his three closest friends. "Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice steady but carrying a weight of emotional exhaustion. "There's something important I need to share, and it's... it's difficult."
Lily leaned forward, her eyes filled with empathy. "James, whatever it is, we're here for you."
James nodded, his gaze dropping to the diary. "This diary is from my daughter. I know it sounds impossible, but it's true."
Sirius's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. "Your daughter? How is that even possible?"
James glanced at Sirius and then at Remus and Lily. "In the future, Lily and I have a daughter. Her name is Aster. I was told to read this."
"Then we do it together," Lily said, her voice firm. She had never thought of James in a romantic light before; to her, he had always been a mischief-maker and a bully. But the idea of a future where they had a daughter together made her reconsider him entirely.
James nodded and opened the first page. A letter fell out, and Sirius quickly reached for it, unfolding it with a mix of curiosity and solemnity. He began to read aloud:
To Dad,
Or James, as you are not yet a father at this moment. If you are reading this, it means Bjorn Ironside has kept his promise. I imagine you know of him and feel a connection to our Nordic heritage. I find some comfort in knowing that this letter has reached you.
The path ahead for our family is fraught with heartache and conflict, and though it pains me deeply, I am grateful that you and Mum are spared from witnessing it firsthand. I was born on July 31st, 1980. We had a precious fifteen months together before the darkness descended. You and Mum sacrificed everything for me—your lives, your love. You gave us the chance to escape, but it was not enough.
On that fateful night, Mum faced the Dark Lord with unparalleled bravery. Her love was her shield, but it was not enough to save her. As the Dark Lord turned his wand on me, Mum's final act was one of selfless protection. Her sacrifice created a shield of love that saved me, but it cost her her life. It was not until my first year at Hogwarts that I began to understand the power of that love and the magic it invoked.
