A Black Rose

A Lovely Rose

The Life and Times of Astriel M. Black

The Manor

Astriel McGonagall breathed deeply. She tried to regain control, to catch her breath, to keep her eyes dry. Now was not the time to have a breakdown. If Lucius knew how afraid she was, he would use it to his advantage, just as he had summers before. But this was hard to remember as the luxurious carriage, commissioned by her uncle, drew Astriel ever closer to inevitable doom.

The crumpled letter in her small, kid-gloved hand did not help the situation either, though completely unrelated to her current situation. She clutched it, however, as if it were a precious lifeline.

I am a horrible person, she thought. Completely deserving of whatever awaits me in that horrid place.

Carefully, Astriel smoothed the thick, cream-colored parchment. The ink was a signature green. He always wrote her letters in green. Normal letters, however, were embellished with sketches of vines and roses, thornless roses intertwining in the margins of the letter. There was nothing but words this time, the last time. Angry, hurtful words, but words that she ought to have.

The carriage began to slow. Thick red velvet curtains covered the windows, but Astriel now drew a set and looked out. A massive green lawn stretched out under a gray, moisture heavy sky. It had been raining off and on the entire journey. Set majestically on the lawn stood a large mansion built of dreary stone.

Malfoy Manor.

Astriel took a deep breath as she neatly folded her letter and tucked it into the breast pocket of the light blue cloak she wore over her robes. In a moment, her dear Uncle Lucius would strut out to the carriage, open the door, and escort her inside. And inside she would stay, tortured during the rest of her summer holiday.

"Miss Malfoy." The carriage door had opened. The tall, slender frame of Lucius Malfoy stood only a foot away from Astriel, causing her to involuntarily take in a sharp breath. A little smirk stretched across his face, arrogance gleaming in his eyes. He proffered a black-gloved hand. Astriel, reluctantly, took it. He kissed it, lips lingering for a moment.

"You seem to be looking well," he said, eyes following her voluptuous figure. Immediately Astriel regretted her choice in clothing. For some reason she had been favoring the lower cut robes partnered with corsets lately, and this evening was no exception.

"Thank you," she responded stiffly.

She lowered herself from the carriage, accepting minimal help from Lucius. Though the layers of gloves separated their hands, Astriel disliked the feel of their palms making contact. His grip was strong and domineering as he guided her to the imperious front doors of the manor.

"I expect the journey was comfortable. You enjoyed the coach I sent. I thought a bit of countryside scenery would please you."

Astriel said nothing. She kept her head high, looking straight ahead. Lucius, who had since taken a gentlemanly hold of her elbow, tightened his grasp like a vice. It hurt. Astriel sucked on her teeth, wincing slightly.

They reached the front doors and entered the dimly lit hall. Utterly alone with her uncle, Astriel started to shake. Flashes of summers past whipped through her mind. Lucius's hand was on her neck, thumb following her jaw-line.

"Every year I find you harder and harder to resist, Astriel. Someday... I might give in." He kissed her, harshly, biting her lip and drawing blood.

She barely breathed.

The Permanent Instillation of Misery

There were many reasons why Astriel hated Lucius Malfoy. Primarily, she hated how vulnerable he made her feel, cornering her in a place that was entirely foreign. The manor was Lucius-land, the epitome of all that reminded Astriel of what she truly was: a pureblooded witch, privy to a world that she did not want to accept, no matter what her bloodlines said. She was a Malfoy, no matter what her mother made legal documents say. Yes, a Malfoy in Malfoy manner, being terrorized by a Malfoy.

She sat in her bedchamber. It sincerely could not be called a bedroom for it was far too vast and bare for such terminology. Large, rich, velvet hung over a four-poster bed that stood in the center of the room, while a large, matching wardrobe settled itself at the far right of the room. Other than four massive windows and several, rather grotesque tapestries (all depicting various "heroic" acts -murders--performed by the more famous Malfoys) were the only other adornments in the room. The walls were stone, the floors were stone, all together a depressing, drab, gray room. Astriel could barely stand it.

Pulling her trunk up to the wardrobe, Astriel started to pull out the various dress robes and corsets she owned and hung them up. In drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe, she tried to put away a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts. I say tried because the wardrobe would not let her put her muggle clothes inside. As soon as she set a pair of jeans inside, they would be spit out.

"Do not put that filth inside of me," the wardrobe told her in a rather austere voice. Astriel rolled her eyes.

"You've got to be kidding me," she replied, once again making an attempt to put away the rest of her clothes.

"Most certainly NOT!" said the wardrobe, tossing the clothes out again. Astriel shot up and threw the clothes back into her trunk.

"FINE!! Gods! Even the furniture is racist here!"

"I would hardly call it racism," said a voice from Astriel's doorway. She spun around. Her face paled slightly, having not expected to see Severus Snape standing in the frame. It was uncanny, how quietly he could slither in and out of places. Far too many times she'd been caught alone with him in a classroom at school unwillingly.

"What would you call it then?" she asked, glaring at him.

"Good sense. And you know those muggle rags hardly suit your... form," he said wryly, giving her the once over.

"Yes, well, you would know, wouldn't you, being the fashion guru at Hogwarts. I suppose all the boys where faded out undies now?" she asked with a little smirk. Snape's pallid skin became less pallid for a moment. Obviously the memory of James and Sirius's torment still pained him and Astriel couldn't help but take pleasure in it.

He took a step further into her room. Astriel did not protest. If there was one person she was prepared for this year, it was Severus. He was so clearly following the path of a dark wizard that Astriel looked to him as practice. Recently she'd applied for a position as an Auror-in-Training at the Ministry of Magic. If she wanted to deal with dark wizards in her career, what better practice than one that was in love with her? He'd never stop plaguing her.

"I see Uncle has invited you back in another hapless attempt to keep me away from Sirius," she said mildly, pulling out her slender willow branch wand, stroking it gently with the tips of her fingers.

"I don't know how hapless it will be this summer. Lucius has informed me that you will be kept to the confines of the Manor and the parts of the grounds directly adjacent." Astriel scoffed at this.

"You can't be serious? Honestly, the things he thinks he can get away with..." She shook her head in disbelief. Her face flushed in anger and kicked at her trunk. "Absolutely ridiculous. I always go out to the far fields to practice for Quidditch while I'm here. He doesn't honestly expect me to just--"

"I believe he does. Or, you might be allowed to go a bit farther, with appropriate supervision. That being myself," he said, sidling closer to her.

Astriel laughed, tossing her sheet of golden hair. She watched for Snape's reaction. As much as she loathed him, it was always fascinating to watch his face when she did that sort of thing. She supposed that was why she was called a tease.

In fact, Severus seemed quite distracted and Astriel could understand why. As most of her robes did, this particular set (a lacy, red and black set, fully equipped with "boosting" corset that flattered certain, already flattering, aspects of Astriel's figure), hugged her curves. And, much to most boys' pleasure, Astriel was very petite; small in height and limb. All in all, a quite attractive girl that most of the opposite gender had a hard time not liking.

"Severus, are you all right?" she asked brightly, smiling seductively. He shook his head quickly, face having gone rather slack.

"Quite all right..." he muttered, pushing a few strands of greasy dark hair from his eyes. "I suppose I ought to leave you to prepare for dinner. Lucius said that we are expecting guests. May I suggest you put on something less... er..."

"Flattering, so as you won't have a hard-on for the entire meal, much like you have right now?" she asked with a disgusted expression, gesturing towards the indiscreet bulge where Snape's crotch would be located.

Snape truly blushed this time and turned away, muttering, "Blasted tits... letting them hang out as if they were jewelry. Can't control the bloody thing, can I..." Astriel burst into shrill laughter at hearing this, the noise quite shocking her. Quickly, she covered her mouth with her hand, stifling the laughter to a quiet giggle. Maybe this summer wouldn't be so horrible.

Dinner in Malfoy Manner was always, kindly put, an experience. There was a large, dimly lit, dining hall used for special occasions. Lucius had put it to use that evening, for he had seen it fit to invite various wizards into his home. They were all male, all pureblooded, and therefore, chauvinistic jerks who couldn't hold they're liquor.

As Astriel took her seat, she quickly realized that she was one of only two females at the table (odds better than most summer meals with her uncle). The other young woman present was Narcissa Black, Lucius' very young fiancée. Narcissa was only a year older than Astriel and had just left Hogwarts. She sat demurely by Lucius' side, eyes slightly glazed over, staring at her plate.

Lucius was only seven years older than her, not a great distance, but enough to make her uncomfortable with his seniority. And to feel badly for Narcissa; she didn't have a chance. Then again, she was a Black, a well-known dark wizarding family. But Astriel didn't hold any qualms. After all, she had been dating Sirius Black, Narcissa's cousin, for four years.

Well, no, that wasn't true. She did hold qualms. It wasn't as if Narcissa had ever been kind to her or any of her friends, therefore giving Astriel no real reason to pity the situation she was in now: being engaged to Lucius, a womanizing and scathing man. Perhaps, Astriel thought as she picked at her slice of wild boar, the choice of meat that evening, this was something Narcissa wanted. It was obvious she wasn't about to combat the match that had been made.

"Well, I think the whollot oughtta b' wiped out," slurred a man named Nott, obviously drunk, interrupting Astriel's thoughts. She looked up upon hearing this, attention caught immediately. This always happened when Lucius had friends to dinner. They would all become decidedly drunk and the ranting would begin. The busting of the soft Ministry in their treatment of muggles, how Hogwarts was falling apart because far too many students were mudbloods, and that the pureblooded children were becoming far too desensitized to the non-magical world.

"Here's to that," called out another man. His name escaped Astriel. An outbreak of "here here's" quickly followed, causing Astriel to push her plate away from her. Looking to her Uncle, she pleaded with her eyes to be allowed to leave. Lucius seemed to be the only one who wasn't exactly drunk, but that certainly didn't prevent him from participating in then hearty conversation about the abolishment of muggle and muggle-borns' rights.

"Astriel, would you like something?" he asked coolly.

"I was wondering if I could be pardoned from the rest of the meal? I believe my appetite has left me," she replied, tone just as icy. Lucius nodded his permission, but the look in his eye clearly said she would pay for leaving early.

"Thank you, Uncle," she said, rising from her seat.

"Ah, now, you're letting the eye candy leave, Lucius," said yet another diner. The men burst into laughter, except for Lucius, who merely smiled quietly. Astriel blushed and started to turn away, but stopped when her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled back towards the table.

The assault came from Sirius' father, a man she referred to as "Master" Black with as much contempt as she could muster. As loathed this man as much as she loved his son, which was saying something.

"Now, now, not so fast. Let me get a good look at you. You're never about Grimmauld Place now, m'dear, now that Sirius has up and left us, the bastard. Yes, yes, he's a bastard I say!! Isn't my boy, I'll tell you that. But you... you were the best thing that happened to him. Sweet, pretty little pureblooded thing, you are. Won my heart and his mother's. And you're a sight more attractive than anything else we have in that house. Come round again, won't you?" Astriel tried to pull away, but Black only pulled her closer.

"Please let go, sir..." she muttered. She was sure to not let her fear show, not to let him see how nervous he made her. He didn't see it, she could tell that much. He laughed, however, he sour breath passing over her face.

"Hear how she calls me 'sir'? Hah, yes... Sirius isn't deserving of a girl like this, no, not at all. Lucius, why haven't you taken the creature? Of course, my niece here is an admirable choice," at this Black winked in Narcissa's direction, "but this one is quite the woman, don't you think?" Lucius' eyes narrowed at this comment.

"She is my niece, Black, hardly an option," he said coldly.

"Bah, what's that to us men? You see a girl who strikes your fancy and you take her! You can't say you don't like what you see," Black said, slapping her behind. "Besides, you're only half! Her grandmother died years and years ago, leaving your poor father to find a new (and more attractive) wife and here you are, the product. Only half... And an uncle. Makes no difference."

"I would appreciate it if you let go of Astriel's wrist. I am sure she would like to retire for the evening," Lucius said. Black shrugged and let her go, but his eyes, along with all the other pairs, followed her out of the room.

In the back of her head, Astriel berated herself: Why do you let them do that to you?

The Triumphant Return of Sirius Black

Over the week, Astriel did her very best to keep to herself. For the most part, she had a great deal of luck with this. She had the on going excuse of studies, a time where she would closer herself up in her room, do her summer work for her N.E.W.T. courses and write owls to her friends, hoping they were having a far more pleasant holiday than she.

Her first owl was to Lily Evans, who was spending her holiday in the South of France with her parents and sister. Astriel, of course, had been invited along, as she was Lily's best friend, but unable to join them, having been tied down by her familial obligations.

That owl was returned quickly. Lily even sent her a care package of chocolate, an attractive scarf ("For covering up if you find the need," the attached letter had said, showing how well Lily knew her best friend), and some rather fine wine. The evening Astriel had received that letter turned out to be quite nice.

Her second letter had been sent to James Potter, who was almost as expedient as Lily. In the typical and obvious exaggerations that were James, he described several of his adventures with his family and Sirius as they had their yearly camping expedition in Norway.

"The dragons we saw were magnificent! All we could think of was how excited old Hagrid would be. I wanted to snatch a ridgeback's egg for him, but Dad caught me before I could make off with it..." He had told her in the letter.

A third letter was then sent to Remus Lupin. An answer was not expected, but Astriel felt she needed to write him, despite herself. He can't hate me forever, she thought to herself. And, of course, there was no response.

The last letter Astriel wrote and sent was to Sirius. This letter was unlike any of the other letters. She was far more candid, far more pleading. It was obvious she needed the company of someone who wasn't a psychotic muggle hater.

But this letter's return was not nearly as prompt as Astriel would've expected or hoped. Days after James and Lily's responses came, she had still not heard from him. This worried Astriel, wondering what it meant. As usual for her, Astriel worried the situation to the point of being unreasonable.

"Perhaps he found another girl while camping with James, and James hadn't the heart to tell me!" she thought to herself, conjuring up images of Sirius and some mysterious and beautiful (and thinner) girl clasped together in each other's arms. But a voice in her head (one that sounded distinctly like Lily) would wake her to reality. Sirius would never cheat. He cared for Astriel as much as she cared for him. A perfect circle of love and trust. Though, in the very far reaches of her mind, where Astriel kept the less pleasant things, she didn't entirely doubt she deserved a cheating Sirius.

Of course, however, the worrying did not cease. With the thought of cheating dismissed, a new thought came into being. What if he'd been hurt? Times were growing dark. Everyone sensed it. Perhaps a renegade wizard chose to attack Sirius or put him under some sort of spell. It might even be the work of Lucius or Snape!

One chilled August evening, Astriel lay on her bed, looking at a photograph of Sirius. She missed him a great deal, but had given up on hearing from him. Deep down, she was perfectly aware of his ever-present love, but something was detaining his answer, but nothing dire. She had to be patient.

And the patience paid off.

There was a slight rattle against the stained-glass window just to her right. It startled Astriel from her longing gaze. The rattle happened again. The sound catapulted her from the bed and over to the window.

Carefully, she cracked it a few inches, just to have a peak outside. A piercing blue eye met hers.

"Sirius!" she shrieked, whipping the window open and pulling him inside. A slightly startled Sirius stumbled into the room, longish, dark brown hair looking windswept, his lean form slightly off kilter.

"How did you get here?" she whispered loudly, realizing how shrill she had been. Hopefully half the house hadn't been woken.

"Look outside," Sirius said, jabbing a thumb out the window. Astriel peered out the window. A large, black motorbike was hovering a foot or so away.

"It's terrific!! Oh, Sirius, where did you get it? How is it so quiet?" she squealed. Sirius put a hand on her shoulder to quiet Astriel as she bounced about with glee.

"I have a silencing spell in her, so I wouldn't wake anyone when I came to get you--Shhh... calm down Astriel, yes, I'm bringing you to the Potters, good lord. I bought the bike off of Hartley Hayes last month. Good investment, I think. Better than you and James's stinking brooms." Astriel scoffed, then grinned.

"Well, perhaps if you had any talent for riding one, then you wouldn't be so judgmental," she said, taking a step closer to Sirius.

"And you think you're so good at riding a broomstick, don't you?" Sirius said, stepping closer to her.

"You know I'm good at riding a broomstick..." Astriel kissed him firmly, passionately.

"Right, right, well, let's be off. Um... You best get your things together and I'll tether the stuff to the bike and we'll go. Quick now!"

Astriel hurried about the room, emptying her wardrobe and filling up her trunk.

"Where do you think you're going?" the wardrobe asked snottily.

"Away from this hole," Astriel replied.