To my lovely reviewers:
Books_Don't_Just_Tell_Stories: Thank you, I'm glad you like it so far.
Drizzle_Wizzle: I actually wasn't thinking about that, but you're right, it's an interesting connection.
Astoria did not say so much as a word over dinner She picked absentmindedly at her food, scarcely eating anything.
The Weasleys, for the most part exchanged stories and laughs. One of the other children, a boy named Charlie, was apparently visiting from Romania. Molly, Arthur, and Ginny were too absorbed in his dragon tales to notice that Ron was not listening. Ronald Bilius Weasley did not take his eyes off of Astoria so much as once to a point where it was beginning to make her uncomfortable. Astoria, deciding she wasn't that hungry anyway, quickly excused herself and headed upstairs.
When she got to the room, Astoria found an owl waiting for her on the windowsill. Had Theodore replied already? He was awfully fast.
She opened the window and snatched the letter greedily, eager to see the boy's response. But to her dismay, it wasn't from Nott. In fact, it was not addressed to her at all, but to Ron.
Partially out of curiosity, and partially for revenge, Astoria read the letter anyway.
Dear Ron,
I have fantastic news! Professor McGonagall said that I could return to school next year so I can take my N.E.W.T.S. Isn't that just wonderful?
I got a friend for Crookshanks; he's a rescue from a local shelter. His name is Winston after Winston Churchill, England's muggle prime minister during the Second World War (the muggle one with Hitler, not Grindelwald.) He's a Russian Blue, I believe. I can't wait for you to meet him! Chrookshanks isn't quite used to his new companion yet, but I'm sure they'll be friends in no time.
As you know, I have been working on relocating and reviving my parents. Merlin, I can't remember when the last time I used the Internet was. They recently invented this site called "Google" where you can type in just about anything you like and it will show up. I need to show it to you someday. Your father is welcome in my flat as well; I think he would be fascinated.
Harry is doing fine as well. I imagine the weeks have been rather hard on him; it's hard on all of us really. With the Slytherin crisis and whatnot. He's considering moving back to Godric's Hollow - - against my wishes, I might add. I think it may bring up rather unpleasant memories, don't you? Still, you know him. Once he gets his mind set on something, there's no changing it. Teddy said his first word yesterday, did you hear? Harry and Andromeda were pushing his buggy through the park where they saw a man walking an Irish wolfhound when he pointed at the animal and shouted, "woof."
Anyway, I really do hope you will join me next year. It'll be rather lonely having no one my age with me.
Love,
Hermione Granger
XOXOX
"Aw," Astoria said sarcastically. "How sweet." She rolled up the parchment and went downstairs. The Weasleys were engaged in an intense game of wizard chess between Ron and Charlie. She cleared her throat.
Everyone turned to look up at her. Ron's eyes were on fire. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Ron!" Molly scolded.
"I just wanted to give you this note from the Mud - - I mean Granger," she said quickly.
Ron jumped up. "Did you hear that?" he cried. "Did you hear what she just called Hermione?" Ron's entire face was nearly as red as his hair/ he looked as if nothing would make him happier than Astoria dying a gruesome death right there and then.
Ginny and Charlie had to physically hold their brother back from charging at her like an angry rhino.
"Why are you taking her side?" he demanded. "Did you hear what she said? Did you?"
"She stopped herself," Molly pointed out, but even she sounded trouble.
Ron came up and snatched the letter out of her hands. "Why don't you just go back upstairs?" he suggested. "We all liked it better when you were gone."
Astoria did.
The next morning, Astoria woke up with a blanket on her face. No, wait, not a blanket.
"Ugh, Venus, get off!" she cried.
The kneazle meowed and jumped to the floor. She went over to the where she promptly began to scratch.
Astoria opened it, letting the cat run out and then closed it again. She didn't want to have to go down and face the Weasleys.
They probably wish they never took me in, she thought rather bitterly. She knew that she couldn't stay in her room forever; she had to come down sometime. Her stomach growled in agreement.
Sighing dramatically, she made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. There she saw Arthur, Molly, and Ginny (Charlie had left late that night.) Astoria took a muffin and some pumpkin juice for her breakfast. She sat at the end of the table as far away from the people as possible. She was about halfway down when Ron came down the stairs, still looking mostly asleep. He bid his family a semi-intelligible good-morning, and walked past Astoria without a word.
He barely sat down, when there was a loud screech. "Ronald," his mother said, "be a dear and go get the mail."
Rom grumbled something and got up. He walked over to the window and after a couple of seconds groping for the latch, he opened it an the owl flew in. "Hey, Pig," he said, still sounding somewhat groggy, "what'cha got there?"
"I think it's for me," Astoria spoke up, realizing that she recognized the owl as the one she sent the letter to Nott from. "I'm expecting something from a . . . friend."
"Why would your friend send you a note using my owl?"
"Because that's the owl I sent to him."
Ron's eyes widened as if he had been punched. Suddenly, he no longer sounded tired at all. "You used my owl?" she voice was shaking with rage, "without my permission?"
"I-I just assumed . . . "
"Well, you assumed wrong!"
"Can I have my note now, please?" she asked innocently.
Ron held up the letter. "I bet she's writing to all her Death Eater friends to plan a raid on us!" he looked around at his family members, shaking the letter for emphasis. "Don't you see? We're housing the enemy!"
"Ronald Bilius!" Molly cried, "Give Astoria her letter this instant. You are eighteen years old and it is about time you started acting your age!"
He obeyed, but not before giving Astoria another venomous glare.
Astoria looked at the note. It was indeed from Nott, she ran up to read it at once.
Astoria,
Yes, I had heard rumors about your current residence, I figured you would confirm them for me. It seems as usual, I was right. I also wanted to let you know that I am deeply sorry about what happened to your family. They did not deserve their sentence. Daphne wouldn't hurt a fly. As for your other question, well, I have my ways . . .
As a matter of fact, I have been keeping in contact with Malfoy; I actually paid a visit to Malfoy Manor the other day. Next time I see him I will be sure to give your regards, I'm sure he'll greatly appreciate it. And, yes, Potter did testify for him. Don't ask me why, for I haven't a clue.
Speaking of clues, I recently found a job as a private detective. It's pretty boring for the most part, lots and lots of paperwork. I don't think they actually trust me with a real assignment. Oh well. At least I'm better off than most. Higgs, although not nineteen years of age, was badly injured during the final battle, so he's in St. Mungo's instead of Azkaban. I hear there are protesters lining up for miles, telling the healers to take care of someone who deserves it.
Harper and Baddock ran away from their homes. Can you really blame them? They were staying with the Bradstones and the Wespurts. Baddock's currently in Manchester. I'm not sure where Harper is.
You will be pleased* to know that the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, is doing "everything in his power" to release Azkaban's prisoners as quickly as possible. In the meantime, the Minister is trying to get rid of the dementors guarding the place. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the Ministry was less than enthusiastic about his offer.
*Note I say this sarcastically
Hang in there,
Theodore Nott
As the days dragged on, the Weasleys' futile attempts to communicate with Astoria had all but stopped. Ron continued to give her the death glare, and on occasion, Molly would mumble a polite greeting, but other than that all signs of acknowledgements between her and the Weasleys remain few and far apart. Despite that fact that she was living their house, the Weasleys knew next to nothing about her, which was the way Astoria liked it.
The Slytherin girl spent nearly all of her time in her room, only coming down during meal times. She had spent countless hours reading and rereading her textbooks. Her life seemed to follow the same dull routine every day, until something happened.
It had been just short of two weeks since her arrival at the hellhole known as the Burrow. Astoria was sitting at the kitchen table for breakfast (as far away from the Weasleys as possible, she might add,) when a small Elf Owl made its way into the kitchen. This in of itself, was nothing abnormal, Pig came almost every morning to deliver the post.
Ron, who apparently had been expecting a letter, gave his owl and annoyed look. "Well, it's about time! Where the bloody hell have you been?" The owl hooted indignantly and ruffled its feathers as he helped himself to some cornflakes. Weasley rolled his eyes and took the note. He skimmed the letter quickly and made an announcement. "Mum, Dad? 'Mione's coming over for a couple of days, okay?" the way he phrased it made it sound more like a statement than a question.
Astoria nearly choked on her porridge. "The Mudblood?" she cried incredulously.
Before she even had a chance to realize what she had just said, Ron lunged at her, grabbing a handful of Astoria's robes.
Astoria drew her wand. True, it was against the rules to use magic outside of school at her age, but the Ministry had far bigger problems to worry about than underaged sorcery.
"ENOUGH!" Molly shouted, causing both teenagers to freeze. She turned to Ron. "Your behavior is completely unacceptable! Let go of Astoria's robes this instant!"
"But - -"
Astoria smirked. "Listen to your mummy, Ronald," she mocked.
Ron's face turned a rather prominent shade of pink. "But, Mum," he protested, "she called Hermione - - "
"I heard what she said!" Mrs. Weasley snapped, "But that is irrelevant. In this household, we do not strangle our guests, no matter how rude or obnoxious they are!" she turned to Astoria, who was giggling. "And you," she said, "We do not say that word in this house. Nothing, I repeat, nothing, gives you the right to speak in such a manner. I don't care how you speak at home, but as long as you live under my roof, you will follow my rules, and one of those rules is not to use obscene language such as 'Mudblood'. Understood?"
Astoria, unsure of what to say, nodded vigorously.
Satisfied, the much calmer Molly Weasley turned back to Ron. "Now, what time did you say that Hermione was going to show?"
"I dunno. As soon as she's done packing, I suppose. So she'll probably be here around - -" there was a loud CRACK outside, " - - now."
Sure enough, the heard the curly-haired brunette knock on the door only seconds later. Mrs. Weasley opened it for her and embraced the girl in a tight hug.
"Oh, it's so good to see you, dear! Please, come in."
Hermione beamed when she saw Ron, and hugged him as well, which the redhead somewhat awkwardly returned. Hermione gave him a quick peck on the cheek and Ron practically melted. Astoria smirked.
"Anyway," said Hermione, "look who I brought," she held up a large pet carrier that seemed big enough to hold a dog. But as Hermione opened it, Astoria saw two cats walk out. One was orange with a round, brachycephalic face. The other, slightly slimmer and somewhat smaller, was a handsome blue-grey cat with a silky coat and stunning green eyes. Astoria guessed they were Crookshanks and Winston.
Sensing the other animals, Venus, who had previously been taking a nap, cracked one eye open sleepily, glancing at the Mudblood's pets curiously, but did not move from her spot.
Hermione turned to Astoria, grinning broadly. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger. You must be Astoria - - can I call you that? Anyway, it's nice to meet you." It extended its hand.
If Granger thought for one second that Astoria would take it, she was kidding herself. Greengrass stared at the girl's hand blankly, then said, "No, you may not address me in that way, you will call me 'Miss Greengrass', and 'Miss Greengrass' only. I don't want you near me or any of my things. I do not wish for them to be contaminated by the likes of you!" And with that, she scooped up Venus and marched up the steps to her room, not coming out for the rest of the day.
So there you go, chapter two. I have a couple more written in my notebook that I have yet to type, but I have a very good idea of where this story is going. Still, suggestions are always welcome. Please let me know if you want anything to happen in the story. I can't promise I will use it, but I will take it into consideration.
Even if you don't have any suggestions, please review to let me know what you think the more reviews I get, the faster I will update.
Coming up, Ron throws a tantrum (what else is new?) and Hermione attempts to befriend Astoria.
