Chapter One:

I'm scared, I may derail. You can follow them to hell.

Astoria sat at the table, her fingers drumming a steady beat on the marked and scratched wood. Today marked her seventeenth birthday. It also marked two years since she had been on the run, the respected and once powerful Greengrass family forced into hiding after Voldemort had successfully killed Harry Potter and his supporters at the battle of Hogwarts. Astoria and her parents fled the country when word got out that the Greengrass family were Muggle and Muggle-Born sympathizers. The only Greengrass safe was Daphne thanks to both her relationship with Theodore Nott and the Carrows' praise of her efforts in her final year.

A year ago Astoria and her parents were in Belgium and today Astoria was sitting in a dingy New York Muggle bar by herself. Her parents were captured and most likely dead, tortured first Astoria presumed. Any information on their youngest daughter's whereabouts taken from them before their lives were ended. It was because of this Astoria was forced to move from place to place, country to country, city to city; hoping and praying to whoever would listen that she would not be found.

Astoria's eyes roamed over the other bar patrons, the corner of her lips raised in disgust. Muggles, Astoria thought. While it was known that Astoria was a sympathizer, there were some acts that Muggles partook in that Astoria could not and did not want to understand. For example: the two males in the corner who had been eying her all night. She almost wanted them to try something, her fingers almost itched to claw someone's eyes out.

Although it was now her seventeenth birthday, Astoria knew better than to think that whatever magic the Ministry used to watch over young wizard's wands would be lifted. Death Eaters were still searching for her, they would use whatever magic they could to keep the locater spell on her wand. Astoria's eyes flickered to the clock on the wall, half past twelve. Thirty minutes into her seventeenth birthday, most witches and wizards would have casted over half a hundred spells and curses at this time. But that was before, and Astoria lived in after. She knew better than to risk it, and if asked Astoria wouldn't even know which of her two bags she had on her held her wand. She did, however, remember everything about it. Nine inches, made of rosewood and a dragon heartstring core. The details on it had been her favorite; almost like there were actual roses growing from the fine brown wood. The thought of never being able to use her wand again made Astoria's heart ache.

The brunette rose from her seat and made her way into the bathroom. Making sure to lock the door from any unwelcome visitors, Astoria looked in the mirror. Almost having to squint because the mirror was so dirty, the girl stared at herself. Even to her own eyes she was completely unrecognizable. Her once long hair was now a messy and choppy pixie cut, while her eyes were dull. The black under her eyes had been there for so long she could barely remember what good sleep even meant.

Noises from the bar drew Astoria's attention, her eyes widened when she heard what sounded like a body being thrown at a wall. She hoped it was a bar fight, but knew somewhere deep inside her that it wasn't. Astoria quickly searched the bathroom, looking for a way out but finding none. Her breath quickened as she backed up, her back hitting the other wall in the small room. Her heart was racing ten times faster than possible she was sure, her nails digging deep into her palms. She was stuck, her wand left in her dingy motel room. Apparate! A voice screamed at her. Do it! Do it now!

Drawing in a quick breath and picturing the alleyway she had seen before entering the bar, Astoria vanished, the door opening seconds after.

Astoria made her way to her motel room from the alleyway, being careful to not draw any attention to herself. Upon reaching her motel room she knew something was wrong. Everything was still in place, but something was off. She looked around the room, her eyes noting everything and comparing it to the image in her head. The door, she thought. It was closed, but she remember leaving it open. Carefully, Astoria made her way to her bags and prayed to Rowena that the first bag she opened held her wand. After grabbing it, Astoria stood.

She wondered what her next approach she be, having never been in this situation before. Sure, her parents had gone over what she should do: Run and don't stop. But Astoria was done running, she couldn't do it anymore. She was still contemplating what curse to use when the door opened.

"You can put that down," the intruder said, putting his hands up to show that he did not have his wand.

"And why should I trust you Death Eater?" Astoria snarled, keeping her wand trained on him as he made his way towards her.

The man visibly winced, which Astoria found odd and would have made a comment if she wasn't certain that this whole thing was an act. He continued to walk towards her, but stopped on the other side of the bed. His eyes roamed over her face, as if he were taking in everything about her. "You should trust me, Astoria, because I'm not here to hurt you. Or take you in, I'm here with news."

"If that is true, then tell me your news and leave. I will never trust you, Malfoy."

"You might have to."

A/N: Wow, um. I don't know what to say about this. I was hit with inspiration, I guess? Also, I like writing Astoria as a badass and yeah. Soooo, tell me what you think, por favor?