Astra

II - The Dead

THE WOMAN LOOKED AT HER with kind eyes. She elbowed the man next to her.

"See! I told you! She was the one! Isn't it exciting?" She asked in a hushed tone.

"Calm down, love. You were right, I get it." They were interrupted by the man sitting on the chair, who looked a bit younger than them, no older than 18.

"I think we should probably tell her who we are first."

"Yes, you're right. Sorry, dear. Maybe close the door first and then we'll introduce ourselves."

Astra closed the door behind her and put down her bags full of new books. Seeing as the bed and the chair was taken, she just stood by the door, a confused look in her eyes.

"Alright. I'll start. I'm James Potter and this is my wife, Lily. We're your godparents." Astra's eyes widened. If she had godparents, then why didn't she live with them. Why could she only see them now? Why were they sitting on her bed. Her eyes darted to the other man as he started talking to them.

"And I'm Regulus. I'm your uncle. Your father's brother."

Taking a breath of confidence, she started to ask all of her questions. "I don't understand. If you're my godparents and you're my uncle, then why didn't you take me in? Why do I live in an orphanage? Are you magical too? Did you go to Hogwar-" She was cut off by James speaking.

"I guess there's no real way of saying it nicely, but the reason you never saw us until now, is that we're dead."

Astra's eyes widened with shock again. Before she could say anything, the red-headed woman, Lily, spoke.

"Well, you see not all people can talk to the dead. Actually, nobody can talk to the dead except for maybe two or three in centuries. You have a special ability that is now unlocked because you turned 11. When people die, they can become a ghost or simply be a spirit. Ghosts can't talk with spirits, but they can talk with humans. Spirits can only talk with other spirits and the few humans who have the ability. We came here because we are the closest to you, and to talk with you."

"So, you're really my godparents and uncle." They nodded. "So my mother isn't dead." They looked at each other nodded again. "Well, she doesn't seem like a good person. But, then again, I guess my father wasn't either." At this, the others immediately made outbursts saying "No, he was amazing!" "He was my best friend." He was incredible." But the one that caught Astra's attention was Lily saying, "He's innocent."

"He's innocent?"

"Yes, he was framed by another man that we thought was our friend, Peter Pettigrew. People thought that he was the one who betrayed us, but it was actually Peter. Then, they were told that Sirius blew up a street of muggles, but we watched and Peter actually caused the explosion, but turned into a rat and ran away. We don't know where he went."

"So I can free him? And then I don't have to live in the orphanage?"

James, Lily, and Regulus shared another sad look and Regulus answered.

"No, you can't. As much as we would love for Sirius to get out of Azkaban and for you to actually have a father, not many people will listen to you because you don't have any evidence except us. But you can't tell anyone about us. The ability you have is very rare and it's best that no one can hear about it. But I have complete faith that one day, he'll escape."

"But, I don't think you'll have to stay in the orphanage for longer. From what we hear from Minnie, she's looking into adopting you," James said.

"Minnie?"

"Professor McGonagall. I think that she's going to look into adopting you, and then maybe you'll be able to stay at Hogwarts during the summers."

"Really?" Astra asked as her eyes widened. They nodded.