Astoria

Astoria is introduced in the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, only as the wife of Draco Malfoy and mother of Scorpius. We never meet her in Cursed Child, sadly, but we hear so much about her and the kind of person she was.

Her name was originally revealed on J.K. Rowling's old website, in a small family pedigree scribbled onto a piece of paper, squeezed between the extended family trees of the Weasleys and Lovegoods. Her name was revealed to be Astoria, a younger sister of Daphne Greengrass, a Slytherin in Harry's year at school.

Fresh information about Astoria was later published on Pottermore in J.K. Rowling's further writings on Draco Malfoy, which disclosed some of Astoria's family background. 

The name etymologies of Harry Potter characters are often very revealing about a person's traits and quirks, and the Greengrass family are no different. 

The female name, Daphne, means 'laurel' in Greek. Laurels were said to be the sacred symbol of the Greek god Apollo who pursued Daphne, a nymph, until eventually she was transformed into a laurel tree.

One interesting thing to note is that Apollo is recognised as the god of truth and prophecy. As such, he was the patron of the city Delphi where Pythia the High Priestess (named for the Python, the snake), also known as the Oracle, sat and interpreted prophecies. Laurels (or Daphne) are very much associated with Delphi and the prophecies made there.

There is no Astoria in Greek mythology, although there are some deities with similar names. 

One Titaness was named Asteria which quite literally means 'of the stars' or 'starry one.' Asteria has been described as a patroness of nighttime divination, usually by way of dreams or astrology. In myths Asteria has been credited with delivering prophetic dreams. 

There was also a minor goddess named Astraea, who was the patroness of purity and innocence. Like Asteria, her name relates to the stars, meaning either 'starry maiden' or 'starry night.' 

Astraea is closely associated with Dike, the personification of justice, moral order and fairness. She is believed to have been the last immortal to live on earth, bringing blessings to mankind during what is commonly referred to as the Golden Age of man. 

Things soon soured, and Astraea became so dismayed with the world and the perpetual wickedness of men that she ascended into the heavens and became one with the stars themselves. Some now know her by another name – Virgo. 

The constellation Virgo is just within reach of Libra, the symbolic scales of justice, of which Astraea and Dike were closely associated. It should also be noted that close to Virgo and Libra is the constellation Scorpius. 

I for one find all of the above very fascinating considering the overall plot of Cursed Child. 

Draco and Astoria's only child is named Scorpius, which is understandable, as the Black family had an affinity for naming family members after stars and constellations. Scorpius's name certainly follows this convention. It could be argued that Scorpius's name is also inspired by the Greengrass family's Greek influence. His middle name is Hyperion, and there is no doubt that he was named for the Titan god of heavenly light.

Scorpius Malfoy, portrayed by Anthony Boyle.
From Cursed Child.

Like the Malfoy family, the Greengrass family appear on the 'Sacred Twenty-Eight' – an exclusive list of the purest magical families in Britain. It's not exactly an equivalent for Muggle aristocracy, as families such as the Gaunts and even the Weasleys appear on the list, but it's close enough. The majority of names who appear on that list would likely consider themselves to be aristocratic. 

Lucius and Narcissa would have been pleased to match Draco, their sole heir, with Astoria Greengrass. She was an eligible candidate, a pure-blood, a Slytherin, and her parents were probably within their social circle.

The Greengrass girls were raised to believe the same pure-blood doctrine that Lucius and Narcissa had instilled in Draco. Daphne and Astoria would have been taught to be proud of their pure heritage, and to look down upon so-called blood traitors, Mudbloods and Muggles. Like the Malfoys, however, the Greengrass family also went through a conversion which completely changed their outlook. 

Lucius in particular didn't like Astoria very much. He thought of her as too weak and too Muggle-loving. Snarling, arrogant Lucius Malfoy clearly thought such compassion was a weak trait, but thankfully Draco was different to his father. He defied his family for Astoria, and it was the bravest thing he ever did. 

However Astoria was not destined for old age. She suffered from a rare blood malediction passed down from a cursed ancestor. Astoria was just unlucky that the the curse resurfaced in her. I imagine this is akin to hereditary or genetic diseases in the Muggle world. 

It is painfully ironic that as a child Draco Malfoy bandied about as a pure-blood prince, spouting out racial slurs such as 'Mudblood' and other offence words. In the end, Draco fell in love and married a woman literally blighted by 'dirty blood.'

Astoria grew sickly and weak after the birth of Scorpius, but it was a price worth paying for her. Astoria loved Draco dearly and desperately wanted a child to keep him company once she was gone. They both did. She was resilient and strong in nature, but the birth of Scorpius weakened her body considerably. In order to conserve her strength and protect his son, Draco hid Astoria and Scorpius away. 

And then the rumours started...

Rumours sprang up that Draco and Astoria were unable to have children. Draco and Lucius, both being so keen and desperate to have a powerful Malfoy heir to carry on the family name, were said to have used a Time-Turner to send Astoria back. Scorpius, an innocent child, was rumoured to be the son of Lord Voldemort himself. This may sound a little far-fetched, but it's not when you consider the wider context of the wizarding world and the Malfoy family's place in it. 

Lucius Malfoy was once one of Voldemort's most trusted Death Eaters. Voldemort even trusted with Lucius with one of his precious Horcruxes, the diary. It was under Lucius's watch that this first Horcrux was destroyed by Harry Potter using a Basilisk fang in the Chamber of Secrets. There is no doubt that Lucius lost face for what would later prove to be a fatal mistake.

When Lord Voldemort was resurrected in 1995 in the graveyard at Little Hangleton, Lucius was again berated by his lord and master. He was criticised for not seeking out his master like others had, for seemingly renouncing the old ways and ideals they had all shared. 

Then, at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Lucius failed to procure the Prophecy from Harry. Not only that, he was captured and imprisoned in Azkaban.

For his father's failings, Draco was charged with the responsibility of killing Albus Dumbledore, a worthy punishment, Lord Voldemort thought, and a way to further embarrass and torment the Malfoy family. If and when Draco failed, it was assumed that Lord Voldemort would kill him. 

After Severus Snape killed Dumbledore on top of the Astronomy Tower, Draco was permitted to live while his father and the other captured Death Eaters were freed from Azkaban, though the Ministry kept this all hushed up. But then Lucius was forced to forfeit Malfoy Manor, his ancestral home, and later his own wand to help further Lord Voldemort's cause. 

Then, in the Forbidden Forest during the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort made a terrible mistake. He sent Narcissa Malfoy to check if Harry was alive. Narcissa Malfoy, a mother, desperate to find her son and know if he was alive or dead. Once again, Voldemort proved himself to be completely ignorant and bereft of the power of a mother's love.

In the years after Lord Voldemort's downfall, it makes complete sense that rumours would spring up about the possibility that he had had a child, through fear, ignorance or perhaps even a small shred of truth turned into gossip and passed along the grapevine. 

The wizarding community ultimately decided to rub salt in the wound. They kicked the Malfoy family while they were down, a further punishment for a family seen as traitorous and disloyal. This time, they chose to target a young married couple and their innocent son. 

We know from Cursed Child that numerous books on the life and times of Tom Marvolo Riddle were written following his death, so there was obviously a keen and receptive audience wanting to read about all things Dark Lord. Naturally, people would also come to their own conclusions and judgements. They weren't entirely wrong. Lord Voldemort did indeed have a child, it just wasn't Scorpius.

Astoria would have spent much of her time consumed with guilt, thinking of the life she had inflicted upon her son. After all, it was she who had pined and longed for a child for them, herself and Draco. It was she who was ill, sickly and dying, unable to refute or put an end to the slanderous gossip and absurd claims surrounding her son's parentage. And now her beloved child was to grow up in a world which believed him to be the spawn of darkness, a child of the most evil wizard the world had known, and Astoria was powerless to stop it.

Scorpius and Draco Malfoy,
portrayed by Samuel Blenkin and James Howard, respectively.
From Cursed Child.

Thus Scorpius was brought up in a very sheltered, albeit not entirely reclusive environment. He struggled with social interaction, possibly inferring that the only interaction he knew was amongst his immediate family, particularly his mother. He grew up lonely and isolated in the imposing Malfoy Manor, poring over the many books and tomes the vast libraries there held. 

And so Scorpius learns everything there is to know about Harry Potter and his family, the wizarding wars, and the eventual downfall of Lord Voldemort. Essentially, Scorpius became a huge fan of Harry Potter. He idolised both Harry and his friends who fought so selflessly for the future of the wizarding world.

This is a slight contrast to his father, Draco, who also grew up as an only child at Malfoy Manor, though he was able to socialise with the children of his father's Death Eater chums. 

Scorpius was, however, about the rumour surrounding his parentage when he left for Hogwarts at the age of eleven. It is impossible for anyone (perhaps apart from J.K. Rowling or Jack Thorne) to know how he discovered this. Whether he overheard his parents talking, or they told him outright, we just do not know. What we do know is that Scorpius went to school with a certain expectation of being judged, vilified and tormented. It's heartbreaking when you later discover that Hogwarts was the one place Scorpius had longed to go ever since he had first heard of it.

Knowing how much her son would struggle, Astoria gave Scorpius a bag of sweets on his first train journey to Hogwarts. It was an attempt to help him make friends, almost like an inferior making an offering to some greater or superior being. I suppose the sweets could also be taken as a metaphor. If Astoria believed that her son was going to be bullied at school, she may have given him sweets as a gesture to sweeten them up, to bribe the bullies into taking pity on the sweet and unassuming Scorpius. 

The sweets acted as an ice-breaker for Scorpius who was very much socially inept. Though Rose Granger-Weasley rejected Scorpius's offer of sweets, Albus Potter was keen to accept. And so it is partly thanks to Astoria that a Malfoy and a Potter became the unlikeliest of best friends.

Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter,
portrayed by Anthony Boyle and Sam Clemmett, respectively.
From Cursed Child.

It was during Scorpius's first year at Hogwarts that Astoria's health began to decline. The bullies at school were relentless and Scorpius was suffering enough at home. At the start of second year, Draco spoke to Harry Potter, now a public official at the Ministry of Magic. He pleaded with Harry, begging him to quash the defaming rumours once and for all, but to no avail.

Another year went by, and when Albus Potter met up with his best and only friend at the start of third year, he found him completely different to his usual self. Scorpius was numb, upset and grief-stricken. His beloved mother, Astoria, had died.

Scorpius was closest in the world to Astoria. His world caved in, his heart was broken, and he was in considerable pain. He was lost for words, which is most unlike Scorpius. He couldn't even confide in his best friend that his mother had died. 

Scorpius's relationship with Draco worsened after Astoria's death. They were unable to talk, unable to reach other, or share their mutual grief. 

Scorpius, portrayed by Samuel Blenkin.
From Cursed Child.

In the dark, alternative world, Astoria is thought of again. Scorpius recounts how Astoria knew Draco was a better man than he showed, and for the first time they talk about her candidly – how the Malfoy family are historically murky and ill-famed – but she was both the literal and metaphorical light in the darkness.

The alternative world where Lord Voldemort reigns supreme is infested and patrolled by Dementors. Much like his hero, Harry Potter, Scorpius is strongly affected by them. When they come near he hears Astoria, just like Harry hears Lily. In his mind he hears Astoria pleading with him, begging him for help, but Scorpius is utterly helpless. He is consumed by the dark and ill-thoughts the Dementors are bringing to the forefront of his mind, likely recounting the illness and eventual death of Astoria. 

Scorpius finally breaks away from the Dementors after thinking of Albus Potter, his best friend, the friend he happily shared sweets with on their first Hogwarts Express journey. The friend Astoria helped him to make.

When Scorpius and Draco, along with Harry, Ginny, Albus, Ron and Hermione, bear witness to Lord Voldemort callously murdering James and Lily Potter on Halloween 1981, they both crumble. When Lily Potter pleads for the life of her only child and Voldemort cruelly cuts her down, they undoubtedly think of Astoria.

Scorpius and Draco Malfoy,
portrayed by Anthony Boyle and Alex Price, respectively.

It is credit to Astoria that Scorpius is fond of Rose Granger-Weasley; a fiery, assertive, and independent young woman. It is likely Astoria was much the same before she became ill. We do know Astoria was the one to put her foot down and refused to allow Scorpius to be raised hating those deemed to be less pure than he was.

It is thanks to Astoria that we have Scorpius, a character beloved by so many people. We can also thank her for the redemption of Draco Malfoy, a boy consumed by dark and murky thoughts for so long, until he met Astoria, who made him brave and truly good. She was his guiding light in the murky and foggy darkness. 

For me, Astoria is very much the heart of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Though we never see her, we see her heart and soul in Scorpius.