Astriel McGonagall

Astriel Miranda McGonagall

By K. Ann Pietraszka

A short, blonde hared, gray eyed, somewhat stocky, but almost voluptuous girl stood before her mirror, carefully applying mascara. Her name was Astriel McGonagall, and she was seventeen, preparing for her first day of her seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She wore a short purple skirt and pink fishnet tights along with a white blouse that she wore unbuttoned to reveal a rather revealing pink T-shirt, which read "I am Pro-Wizardry".

As Astriel moved on from mascara to dark blue eyeliner, her best friend, Lily Evans lay sprawled out on her bed holding a magazine entitled Witch Miss. The radio played quietly in the corner. It was very peaceful and common scene and had been for a few years now, sense Lily and Astriel had been eleven and had met each other for the first time at Hogwarts.

"God Astriel, how much of that stuff are you going to put on?" asked Lily, seeing the amount eye shadow her friend was now applying. Light purple, sparkly eye shadow extended from her eyelids to almost her eyebrows. Astriel smiled at her friend and held out the make-up.

"Do you want some?" she offered. Lily looked at it disdainfully and shook her head.

"It's all right, you can look like the street corner prostitute. Does Sirius really go for this kind of look?" Lily asked.

"Well, it's not really a matter of what Sirius wants..." Astriel said complacently as she applied more shadow to her other eye. When she finally put the make-up away, she looked at Lily.

"What do you think?" she asked. Personally, Astriel thought she pulled it off well and that her boyfriend, Sirius Black, would be particularly pleased. Lily looked at her with an appraising eye.

"Yeah, I suppose it fits you, the whole 'look' you've got going on here... Your mum's going to have a fit though."

"Not if I'm wearing this!" she cried, running over to her closet then pulling out a long, tan trench coat, "I'll be wearing this when we leave the house for King's Cross and then the next time she'll see me I'll be in my Hogwarts' robes!" Lily rolled her eyes.

"Of course, all right, you do what you want..."

Minerva McGonagall said little when her seventeen-year-old daughter came running down the stairs into the kitchen in a trench coat, face decked out in an insane amount of make-up. She pursed her lips and simply continued toasting toast for the walk to King's Cross. Lily was close behind, dressed conservatively in a blouse and plaid skirt. Why can't Astriel do that? Minerva thought to herself, but of course she knew it wouldn't be likely that Astriel would change anytime soon.

"Morning mum! Are we almost ready to go?" Astriel asked as she bounded over to her mother, snatching up a piece of toast and shoving it into her mouth. Minerva rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I'm ready when you are. Lily, how are you this morning, were you able to get any sleep?" Lily nodded, and smiled. Astriel rolled her eyes.

"You know I do sleep mum," she said indignantly.

"You could have fooled me," Minerva muttered. She then handed out pieces of toast to the girls and ushered them outside.

"I've already apparated your trunks to the school, so I'll simply drop you off at the station and then see you there, all right?"

"Yep, okay mum!" cried Astriel.

"How do you get to school Professor McGonagall?" Lily asked.

"Portkey," she replied. They were all walking down King's Cross Station Boulevard, and every once in a while, Astriel would see someone who looked familiar, someone who was a wizard in incognito, just like her.

"Hello Astriel...Evans, looking particular attractive today, aren't we," James Potter greeted, as he gave Astriel with a courteous nod and warm pat on the shoulder, and grinned at Lily cheekily. Lily rolled her eyes, but at the same time hid a very small smile. They stood on the platform 9 ¾, giving it a few minutes beore they boarded the train.

"Where's Sirius?" Astriel asked.

"Back there, somewhere," he answered. Just as he said so, a tall, broad shouldered boy pushed through. His longish dark brown hair was in his eyes. He wore a comfortable looking sweater that was obviously James' because it was a slightly tight fit and it had James' name monogrammed on the right sleeve.

"Sirius!" Astriel cried. She rushed forward, and Sirius caught her in his arms and kissed her. He pushed her back and took her image in, and laughed, for she had removed the trench coat.

"Nice look Astriel, very nice indeed," he said, grinning ear to ear.

"Let's sit in here."

Remus Lupin pointed to an empty compartment on the train. He, James, Peter Petigrew, who had just arrived, Sirius, Astriel, and finally, with a slightly hesitant look, Lily, all filed in.

Lily managed to find a seat not next to James, who was fervently trying to catch her eye. She stubbornly sat down between Astriel and Remus. Lily was rather nervous. For the last six years, she had been loosely attached with this group, but they were not her main group of friends. Many of her friends had been in the year ahead of her, but now, in her seventh year, Lily found herself becoming more associated with these people.

"So, how was your summer?" James asked Lily. James had somehow managed to situate himself across from Lily.

"Fine. Why do you care?" she replied.

"I'm just curious. But I'm glad it was fine..." James drifted off, loosing some of his overly buyout confidence. Lily felt a slight twinge of guilt. She really didn't need to burst his bubble like that.

"She had a wonderful summer! We went to the sea, and a muggle fair and we met her sister's muggle boyfriend, some horribly fat Vernon fellow!!" Astriel announced to what seemed to be the whole train. Lily rolled her eyes and settled further into her seat. Everyone now seemed to give her curious looks, considering they were all from wizarding families, and weren't too familiar with the muggle world.

The group discussed Quidditch, considering Astriel was their Keeper, Lily one of their chasers, and James being the Seeker, all on the Gryffindor team. Finally, they reached Hogwarts; it's magnificent form appearing in the distance. Every time it took Astriel's breath away. Soon they would all be boarding the horse-less carriages and riding up to the school to have a wonderful feast. But there was still some uncomfortable business she would have to take care of once she arrived. Sirius had been giving her furtive looks the entire ride.

"Oh, thank God, I'm starving!" Astriel cried.

"You ate practically the whole food trolley back on the train!" Lily shouted back. Astriel gave a foolish smile and snatched up a tureen filled with meatballs. Astriel wished Lily wouldn't care so much about what she ate. What did it matter anyway?

"Astriel, are you on for tonight?" Sirius asked. He had found a seat next to her after having to fight off Amos Diggory for it. Astriel only looked at Sirius from the corner of her eye.

"I don't know Sirius," she mumbled. He looked her uncertainly, and then started to shove food in his mouth. She knew this was coming.

"I mean-Astriel-we made plans-I convinced James-to-lend me his cloak," he said in between mouthfuls.

"I really don't think it's a good idea," she replied.

"What? Do you not think I'm any good, or that you'll be any good? I mean, neither one of us has done this before, so we can't really tell anyway, so..."

"I think that kissing is just fine." Sirius looked at her like she was crazy. "Just have some patients, okay? We'll discuss it later. He turned away from her and didn't say anything for the rest of the night.

"I'll meet you in the common room in a bit, okay? I've got some Head Girl thing I need to see about, you know," said Lily as she and Astriel got up from dinner.
"No problem," Astriel said, starting up the marble staircase. She walked up alone; the boys were still in the Great Hall.

"Hello Astriel," came a deep, rather unnerving voice. She turned to see Severus Snape standing just a step below her. He was so creepy, sneaking up behind her like that.

"Yeah, hi. Please go away." Astriel didn't have a good relationship with Snape, considering the way he had treated Lily, and that he was such a slimy git. He moved up a step, so he towered over her. He looked down at her, but not into her face, he looked down in almost a peering way. She adjusted her robes, covering up what she could.

"How was your summer?" he asked.

"Did I not just tell you to go away?"

"This is a public stairway, I can stand where I please. Why don't you leave?"

"I will!" Astriel tried to move her feet, but they would not budge. A sticking spell, hopefully not a permanent one.

"Hmm, can't seem to move, can you?" Snape smiled. She grinned back sardonically.

"Let me go."

"Perhaps a kiss first, then we'll see."

"I think not."

"Oh, is that how it's going to be, is it?"

"Yes."

"Let her go Snivellus," came Sirius' voice, echoing up the hallway. He came marching up towards Snape, wand in hand, pointing at Snape's chest. Snape looked at him, eyes filled with loathing.

"And what'll you do if I don't? Attack me?" Snape said tauntingly.

"If I have to, and you know I will."

"Not if I get you first."

"Ah, but you won't. Let her go, now." Snape took out his wand, but didn't point it at Sirius, but instead at Astriel's feet. She was unstuck.

"Hope your happy now Black," Snape said.

"Quite happy, thank you," he replied. Astriel glared at Snape, clutching Sirius's hand. Snape turned and stalked away, his robes billowing behind him. Sirius turned and looked at Astriel, clutching her shoulders in his hands.

"Are you all right? He didn't touch you or anything, did he?"

"No, I'm fine. Let's just go up to the common room."

"Astriel, why won't you, you know, do it with me?" He asked. It sounded funny, hearing this from Sirius. He was normally so open about sex and wanting that it seemed unusual for him to be tiptoeing over the subject like this.

"Well, it's definitely not you," she replied. Sirius, grinned, then stopped, suddenly looking very serious.

"What is it then? I promise I won't hold it against you," he said.

"I'm just not ready yet. Ask me later, later this year or something, but I'm just not ready for you, and trust me, you don't want an overly emotional, naked me on your hands if we tried to do it now." She said.

"Fine, sounds good, I suppose."

The two walked hand in hand down the hall to a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.

"Mmmm, you two are late getting back here..." She said.

"Caput Draconus." Sirius said, then looked at Astriel, "Remus told me the password downstairs." The portrait swung open and the climbed through a hole into the Gryffindor common room. It wasn't that late, only nine o'clock, so a few students still sat out in the common room, including James, Remus and Peter. Sirius took a seat in a chair by the fire. He pulled Astriel into his lap.

"What kept you two?" Remus asked.

"Snivellus," the two answered together. There was a mutual nod from all. They all knew Snape had been perusing Astriel since their first year. No one bothered to ask what had happened, there were more important things to discuss.

"Guess what!" James started.

"What?" Astriel asked.

"I asked Lily out," he answered. Astriel looked at him curiously.

"How is this at all significant? You do that every year." She said.

"She said yes."

"Really! Oh James! That's wonderful! Finally you have a girlfriend! Now I won't be stuck with just a gianormous group of boys. Finally I'll have Lily to save me from your perverted raunchiness!" Astriel cried with a giggle.

"Astriel, your as bad as the rest of us!" Remus cried, laughing.

"But won't you miss being our only girl?" Peter asked. Astriel was reluctant to say anything to Peter regarding her relationship with the rest of them. Astriel paused a moment, trying hard to repress a cringe at him talking to her. Perhaps it was the superficial side to her, considering he wasn't at all attractive, or perhaps it was the fact he cheated off of her tests in Defense Against the Dark Arts all the time, but there was just something about him she never liked. It was rare she ever said anything to him.

"No, it had be a lot less pressure, to be honest," she finally answered.

"Yes, all the pressure in having to serve the sexual needs of four teenage boys," replied Sirius.

"Sirius, darling?"

"What?"

"Shut up."

So, life went on at Hogwarts as it always had, with the exception of the greatest amount of homework that the seventh years had ever faced.

"Good lord, if I have to make one more enhancing potion I'm going to scream!" Astriel cried one afternoon after Potions. She was walking down the hall arm in arm with Sirius, James and Lily walking to her left, Peter and Remus to her right.

"But you're so good at them," said Peter.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but it gets boring when you're good at it. I can't wait for Divination. I'm horrible at that!"

"Then why are you in the N.E.W.T. class?" Lily asked, just finishing up a kiss with James.

"Yes, well, we all know I'm a good liar..." Lily rolled her eyes and then went back to kissing James.

"Honestly, you two the only people in the world who can walk and kiss at the same time!" said Remus with a laugh.

"No, no they aren't!" Sirius said, and started to kiss Astriel.

"Tut, tut, tut..." Came a quiet, drawling voice. The group of teenagers stopped in their tracks. Astriel and Sirius, James and Lily, all unglued their lips from each other. Before them stood a tall, blonde, very, very richly dressed man, Lucius Malfoy. "How shameful to see my dear little niece amongst such company... A mudblood, a half-breed, and a couple of blood-traitors..."

"Oh get your arse off your high horse Malfoy!" shouted Sirius.

"If I hear you call her a mudblood one more time...!" shouted James.

"I ask you, dearest Uncle Lucius, who is the half-breed?" Astriel asked, the only one who seemed to be completely unfazed by his appearance. Lucius only sneered. Astriel dared not even wonder how he knew Remus was a ware-wolf. Perhaps Snape told him... "So, why are you here?" she asked.

"Well, to visit Narcissa Black, of course. After all, she will be my fiancée as soon as she leaves this school," he replied. Lucius was only six years older than Astriel and the others. He had been a seventh year their first year at Hogwarts. He had given them Hell then. He was the much younger brother of Astriel's father.

"Yeah, forgot you were dating that wench..." Sirius mumbled.

"I'd be careful about what you say, Black, or else I'll report it to your mummy, mmmm?" Lucius laughed quietly.

"Doesn't really matter to me, if you talk to the old bat. I don't live there any more," Sirius said.

"Yes, well, we'll see if that matters. I must be going. I'll see you, dearest niece." Lucius kissed Astriel on the cheek and moved on down the hall.

"That slime," she muttered, wiping the spot where Lucius had kissed her. The group continued down the hall so as they wouldn't be late to their next lesson, but all seemed a bit flurried about the appearance of Lucius.

"Why do you tolerate him so?" Lily asked.

"He's family, we are bound to treat each other civilly," Astriel replied.

"But your father didn't, he left the family and changed his name," James said. Astriel shrugged.

"Someday my connection to him may be helpful. He's filthy rich. Got my dad's inheritance when he left."

"Yeah, or it could kill you! Either one works, doesn't it?" muttered Sirius. Astriel rubbed his back gently for a moment.

"C'mon, lets get to class."

And fall turned to winter and winter into spring. Nothing happened of great significance, other than several detentions on Astriel's part (not that James and Sirius didn't get their fair share, if not more). But with spring's coming, came exams, the feared and/or revered N.E.W.T.s, the most difficult exams laid before any Hogwarts student.

"I feel like my eyes are going to fall out," Astriel complained to Lily as they sat in the library.

"Maybe we could take a break," she said. Astriel's eyes widened. Never had Lily offered up the idea to take a break. She slammed her book shut and took out a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans. She shoved a handful into her mouth. "How can you eat them like that?" Lily asked.

"If you get some gross ones, the flavor is disguised a bit," Astriel explained.

"Hello," Sirius appeared at the table, pushing Astriel out of hers but then taking her into his lap. This kissed for a little while before any more conversation was continued. "How goes it studying?" He asked.

"All right, I just better get into Aurora training, otherwise I'll go mad," Astriel said.

"Mmmm, not kidding, you've been reading like fiend," Lily said.

"I've barely seen you during the past few days, or should I say weeks!" Sirius put in. Astriel smiled. She was glad to be here, relaxing with her boyfriend and best friend, but she was also proud. She could see all the hard work she'd been putting in unfolding before her. Astriel was most positive she would be accepted into the Aurora training program.

"What time is it Sirius?" Astriel asked. Sirius looked at his watch, then his eyes went wide.

"We better get to the Great Hall, our Defense Against the Dark Arts exam starts in five minutes!" Astriel shot out of her chair, grabbed her bag and booked it out of the library. Sirius burst into laughter.

"She should really learn not to take me so seriously! That exam isn't until tomorrow!"

Astriel did get to her Defense Against the Dark Arts exam the next day, and got through it very well. In fact, in all her exams, she passed with flying colors. It had been expected and hoped for. If she got the grades she had wanted in the classes she was taking, she would easily be accepted into the Aurora training programs. And, as the school year came to a final close, a letter came from the Ministry of Magic, acknowledging her interest in working for them.

It was during breakfast, at the second-to-last day of school, when a gray-brown owl from the ministry dropped a heave, parchment envelop on the breakfast table in front of Astriel.

"Oh, what's that?" Remus asked.

"I'm not sure, it's from the Ministry," said Astriel. She picked it up and gently slid a nail across the top, opening it. Her eyes quickly flashed over the sheet she held in front of her. Sirius snatched it away from her when she was done.

"Dear Miss Astriel McGonagall: We at the Ministry have recently received a record of your N.E.W.T. scores. We are indeed very impressed. We have also been informed of your interest in becoming an Aurora. If you are in fact interested, we would very much like you to contact us concerning your training and installment amongst our fine dark wizard catchers. We also would like to remind you that this is not an occupation to be taken lightly. It is time consuming and very, very dangerous, especially of late. Once again, please contact us if you are interested.

Have a delightful and safe summer,

Alaster Moody "

"Well, well, well, congratulations Astriel," came an unwelcome voice. It was Snape. He stood behind Astriel, one hand resting gently on her shoulder. Sirius rose, taking out his wand.

"Don't touch her, Snivellus! I warned you before!" Astriel shot up, whipping Snape's hand off her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it Sirius! Let me take care of this," she said resolutely. Sirius reluctantly backed away. This would be the last time he would bother her. "Follow me, Severus..." she beckoned him away from the table and out of the Great Hall. She led him up the marble stair case, and then down a hall, all the while she was thinking, give me a place to get this done quietly, and some place comforting, like my room at home... And there was a door, and it looked remarkably like the door to her bedroom at home. It was the Room of Requirement, changed to look her own, if all had gone right.

"In you go," she said to Snape roughly as she opened the door. She followed right behind him. It indeed did look exactly like her bedroom. Her ebony canopy bed stood in the middle of the room. A large standing radio stood in the corner. Posters of various wizarding and Muggle bands hung on her wall, along with several, mysterious hanging plants, one looking uncomfortably like a devil's snare. And all over, there were silver, copper, and gold wirly-gigs humming quietly from their perspectives spots.

"What are we doing in here?" Snape asked.

"Finding out what it's going to take to make you never speak to me again," she answered. The corners of Snape's mouth turned up and he found a seat on the bed. He patted a spot next to him.

"No," she said flatly. Snape looked slightly deflated for a moment, but then perked up again.

"If I don't get what I want, then I'm afraid I can't give you what you want. The wizarding world is small, if I want to find you, I will, you know I will. Plus, I know more about Remus, Peter, James, and Sirius than you think. I could have them all thrown into Azkaban, if I wanted." Astriel's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, one being that your friends are animagus... Illegally. Also, you lost your virginity to Sirius only last week, and I feel that the school authorities would be quite interested in knowing that, considering it was done in school grounds, actually, quite close to the Forbidden Forest too, wasn't it. Dumbledore wouldn't be pleased about that. Oh, plus serious had has 18th birthday last month, while you still seventeen. Illegal, isn't it, to have sex with a girl who is a minor when the man is an adult? In addition, there is the fact that Remus is a ware-wolf and students and parents wouldn't be pleased to hear about that." Astriel was shaking with anger. What business was all this of his? What gave him this right? But what would keep him from turning in her friends?

"What do you want?" she asked, finally.

"Come sit down and find out," he answered. She did. Immediately Snape grabbed her and kissed her. His hands wandered over her body, groping shamelessly. He kissed her greedily, pushing her down onto the bed. He climbed on top of her, panting with excitement. Astriel's eyes were closed, teeth gritted. This was it; he had gone far enough, she wasn't going to let him go on.

"Stop!" she shouted, starting to get up.

"No" said Snape, who had started to undo the silver fastenings on her cloak. He pushed her back down on the bed. What have I gotten myself into? She thought miserably to herself. And as Snape explored excitedly, Asia fumbled for her wand. She grabbed his crotch mercilessly and twisted, then placed her wand at his temple.

"Will you get off of me now?" she asked sweetly. Snape gave out an inaudible squeak and then nodded. Astriel let go and got up, but before she could completely get up, Snape took one more kiss, and took it so roughly, that he bit her lip, making it bleed. Astriel slapped him. "And if you ever, ever come near me again, I will kill you," she said. And left.

When Astriel returned to the common room, lip bleeding, hair ruffled, Sirius immediately leapt up, taking her in his arms.

"What did you do to him? What did he do to you?" Sirius asked. Astriel looked at him, tears in her eyes. "You didn't kill him did you?"

"No, no, it was just hard," she replied. Sirius didn't pry; she obviously didn't want to talk about it. Astriel never told him about what had happened. The next day they graduated from Hogwarts, Astriel was relieved. She wouldn't have to look at Severus Snape again, or so she thought.

It was the first day of Aurora training. Astriel was scared out of her ever-loving mind. She would be training under one of the most renowned Aurora's of her time, and one of the most dangerous, Alastor Moody. She was walking up the cold the London street from her apartment that she was sharing with Sirius. The two were still dating, and she figured they would get married some day, just they weren't sure as to when. It seemed they might wait until the wizarding world's future was a bit more certain.

As it was, things were looking dangerous at the moment. A wizard had appeared in the world with obviously evil intentions. He had been around for a good decade all ready, but lately he seemed have gained many followers, a few of which she happened to know, one of which she was related to. Sirius' brother had joined him too.

This wizard, who called himself Lord Voldemort, was preaching horrible things. He said anyone who was not of pure wizard blood did not deserve presence on this earth. That it should only be true wizards aloud to live. Of course, there had been people before him who had agreed with such a theory. One of the founders of Hogwarts felt similarly. But this man was dangerous, and needed to be stopped. That was what the Aurora's, of late, had been out to do it.

Astriel's training program would be quickened a great, great deal for their need of Aurora's working in the field. Only the finest students had been chosen for this excruciating program. So, for the next few months, Astriel's entire mind would be bent over the thought of becoming an Aurora.

"You, girl, will eat, breath, and make love to the Dark Arts. You must learn how they think, feel, and function. You have to be able to know the most complicated curses, spells, and potions to the most simple. You will be able to disguise yourself to the point that your own mother wouldn't be able to recognize you! Do you understand?" Alastor Moody shouted, practically in her ear. He was a tall, heavily scared man, with long dark hair that was in slight need of a wash.

"Yes sir, I am!" Astriel shouted back. Moody cracked a slightly mangled and insane smile.

"Your a good girl, McGonagall, you really are. I'll have you out of here before the rest of them. I know I will. You were born for the job, and there are fair few I would say that to, if any." It took Astriel aback, to see this gruff man giving compliments so easily. "All right, let's get started on the most commonly used curses, spells, and potions, then we'll go out for some field practice." He said. Asia was surprised.

"Field practice, already?" she asked.

"Yep, we need to get you accustomed fast, real fast."

At eighteen, Astriel was the youngest Aurora ever instated. At eighteen, Astriel was engaged...

"Astriel, why don't we go out tonight? We'll invite Lily and James and have a night out on the town," offered Sirius. An exhausted Astriel looked up at him from their bed. She was naked, lying under the covers, feeling tired in a good way. Sirius was standing beside the bed, naked too, making this offer. It actually seemed quite humorous.

"Only if I don't have to get dressed..." Astriel mumbled, sitting up. Sirius climbed onto the bed and kissed her passionately, running his hands up and down her body. He slid back under the covers with her. Astriel giggled quietly, then moaned a little bit. He was broad and muscular, smelling of sweet sweat and slightly of aftershave. His dark eyes peered at her softly as he kissed her gently. Sirius looked very pleased, with himself and the body of his girlfriend.

"Astriel?"

"Mmmm, that feels so good Sirius... Yes? Oh! Yeah... mmmm," she answered. Sirius groaned a bit, pleasurably, as Astriel switched her position a bit.

"Astriel, will you marry me?" He asked. Astriel stopped, immediately.

"What?" She cried. She jolted up, and Sirius was distracted for a moment, watching her bounce a bit. Then he shook his head vigorously.

"Will you marry me?" The shocked, naked young woman sat on her bed, just staring at the naked young man before her, who had just proposed to her. Finally, she nodded slowly.

"Of, of course I will Sirius Black! I'll marry you! Will you marry me?" but then she laughed, "Of course you'll marry me, you just asked!"

"Good, now, where were we..."

"Wait, no, I've gotta tell Lily! We should go out with them, right now! C'mon Black, let's go!" Sirius rolled his eyes, and joined his fiancee in the shower, cleaning up for their evening.

"Oh, you two, this is terrific! I knew you'd get married, I really did!" Lily cried. Astriel and Sirius blushed. James laughed.

"I always knew you two were perfect for each other. Between tempers and intelligence you make the perfect match," James said. Everyone laughed.

"So, when is the wedding?" Lily asked.

"Well," said Sirius, looking at Astriel, "We haven't really discussed that." Astriel nodded.

"Yes, considering we only got engaged tonight, and he proposed while we were shagging," Astriel said. James cracked up, and Lily flushed.

"Yeah, Astriel is a good shag, aren't you?" The laughter continued.

There was a double wedding four months later. Two pairs of teens stood at an alter, surrounded by their friends and family. James was Sirius' best man and Sirius was James' best man (there was a similar situation for Lily and Astriel). Remus and Peter stood at the alter with them. Astriel was eighteen, and everyone else was nineteen (Astriel's birthday was in mid-October). There was a long scar stitched up along her face, extending from her ear down through her cheek. Scaring from dark wizards was one of the many hazards of being an Aurora. It was because of Astriel's job that the group had decided to get married to quickly. Sirius didn't want his fiancee to die before he could marry her.

"And do you, Astriel Miranda McGonagall, take Sirius Amnesty Black, as your lawfully wedded husband?" asked the Justice of Peace.

"I do," she replied with a broad smile. The Justice smiled back.

"Well, then, I pronounce you four husbands and wives. You may kiss your brides!" Sirius grabbed Astriel and kissed her long and hard.

"Get a room!" someone shouted (it sounded oddly like Albus Dumbledore). And the whole event ended in a burst of laughter.

The party afterwards was one that would be remembered for many years to come. Astriel and Sirius announced the coming of their first child. Lily and James announced the coming of their first child also. And then, right in the middle of a dance, the music stopped, and Albus Dumbledore appeared. He looked grave, and Astriel new immediately that he was not going to be giving toast.

"Lily, James, Astriel, and Sirius, my newly weds, could I speak to you for a moment?" the four hurried over to their former headmaster.

"What is it Professor?" James asked.

"I've grave news. Voldemort has announced certain intentions this night. He is after you Lily and James. I don't know why, but I intend to find out. Just out of curiosity, all four of you, when are you due?"

"Lily is due in July, I'm due in May," Astriel said. He nodded, seemingly resigned to some fact.

"Astriel, you've been called to the ministry. You need to leave immediately. Sirius, James, and Lily I need you to round up anyone from the Order who's here, all right? Meet me back at the headquarters." All nodded, but obviously disappointed they wouldn't get to spend the kind of time they had hoped for with each other.

Over the next several months, Astriel nearly died several times, including during the birth of her daughter, Miranda. Being an Aurora is a hazardous job, and it is only made worse when you are pregnant. Astriel worked up until a week before her due date.

Astriel sat on the porch of the small cottage she and Sirius had recently purchased in the countryside. She was sitting with Lily, both ladies sipping tall glasses of cold pumpkin juice. Both had large, protruding bellies, but especially Astriel, considering that she was due any day now. It was hot, and she was irritated by it, as was Lily. Both were tired and hot, waiting for their husbands to return home.

They had been overly worried and cautious of late since Voldemort had declared his open animosity towards the Potter's. There was talk amongst the Order to see what they could do for them. The plan to have a secret keeper came, and a plan was formed, but they would wait until the babies were born.

"Oh God, I wish this heat would let up. Not the strongest cooling spell could help me now," Astriel moaned.

"I know, I know. And I feel bad for you! You're due so soon, that little baby's becoming quite the burden," said Lily. Astriel nodded and laughed. Suddenly, there was a loud crack, the sound of someone apparating close by. The women were suddenly very tense, watching carefully for any sign of what could be a death eater. Astriel had immediately pulled out her wand and had waddled out of her chair. A tall, blonde man slinked out in front of them from behind the house. Lucius Malfoy, carrying a small blonde bundle of joy, his newly born son, Draco.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my darling niece and her mud-blood friend. Not wise company in this day and age," Lucius said. Astriel's eyes narrowed, and would have hexed him then and there if it hadn't been for the fact that he carried a helpless baby.

"Surprised to see you out of your death eater's garb," Astriel spat, "sorry I held you up last week, but you didn't expect me to let you get away with killing three innocent muggles, did you?" Lily had disappeared into the house. It wasn't at all safe for those who had muggle ancestry these days.

"I had to visit my wife in the hospital anyway, it doesn't matter. You could arrest me now, couldn't you?" it was a very tempting offer. Astriel could feel her heart starting to beat faster. But she couldn't get excited, not with the baby coming soon.

"No, no I won't," she answered.

"Oh! When has anything such as pregnancy or the welfare of a child ever stopped Astriel Malfoy?" Lucius kept pushing, but Astriel wouldn't let him get to her.

"My last name is McGonagall. My father changed his name for a reason."

"That doesn't change you ties to me, or to the Dark Lord and his noble work." Astriel's blood was at a boiling point. He knew just how to push her buttons.

"Leave NOW! Leave immediately, or else I shall hex you, baby and all!" Astriel screamed at him. And then she screamed again as she felt a sharp pressure down below. She cried out and Lily came rushing out as Lucius disaparated. He had accomplished just what he wanted.