Whispers
Now that she has nothing to lose, she was free
(Paulo Coelho)
"Mrs Malfoy! Mrs Malfoy! What do you have to say about the rumours that your husband kept a vigil beside Miss Greengrass' bedside last night?" A reported cried out amongst the crowd gathered outside the hospital.
"Have you come to take your husband back?" Another called.
"Are you even sorry that Miss Greengrass is hurt?" another called, and that gave Hermione pause.
"How dare you!" she cried aghast. "Astoria is a good friend and what has happened is completely and utterly terrible!" she looked at the reporter and watched with some satisfaction as the reported shrunk back a little. "And let me tell you another thing! My husband cares very deeply for Astoria and you have no right to question any part of their relationship!"
"So there is something between them?" The reported dared to ask.
Hermione's anger flared. "Of course there is! They're friends! Have been for more than an age!" she said and then pulled herself up to her full height. "This isn't about whatever relation my husband has with Astoria, it is about what has happened to my dear friend!"
"My! Isn't that mighty big of you!" A very familiar voice called out above the noise.
"Skeeter," Hermione bit out.
"All married and now your husband's ex-girlfriend is your dear friend," she mocked.
"I don't have time for this," Hermione said shaking her head. "I can understand that you do not respect me but all that I ask is that you respect the privacy of the Greengrass family during this difficult time," Hermione said before turning and rushing into the hospital.
Without wasting any further time, she made her way up to the floor on which Astoria was. The private ward had been heavily protected and true to the reporter's words, Draco had kept a vigil beside Astoria's bed. As had Daphne, Theo, and Pansy and Harry. She put down the cups of coffee and pulled out the breakfast she had gotten them.
Draco accepted the cup of steaming coffee as Hermione took a seat beside him. He reached for hand, grasping it tightly in his hand.
"She's going to be just fine," Hermione whispered.
"She's too bloody stubborn to be anything but fine," Pansy said trying to sound sure, though the tears lingering in her eyes told a different story. She accepted the cup Harry handed to her. When he wrapped an arm around her, she hid her face, only for a moment in the crook of his neck.
Hermione felt tears of her own fall and she was quick to wipe them away. Though not quick enough as Draco caught her hand in his, lifting her chin so he could wipe away the remnants. Hermione laid her head on his shoulder and he pressed a kiss to her the top of her head.
"She has to be okay," Hermione insisted, her voice carrying in the very quiet room. The only sound apart from her voice was the steady beeping of the machines around Astoria. "We owe her everything. She set it all in motion." Hermione said looking around at their friends. "She came to us, all those months ago, with this utterly crazy idea and hope that maybe we'd be able to make a difference. She didn't ask for anything in return and now…" Hermione stopped, her voice quivering for a moment. "She has to be okay because she deserves better! She deserves her happy ending too. She gave it to us all, and I will be damned if it gets taken away from her!"
Daphne hiccupped and held tightly to her sister's hand. "Tori, please," she begged. "Don't give up. You have to fight. I know you're so tired but please … just once more." Daphne pleaded. "p-please…" she begged before dissolving into tears again. Theo caught onto her, holding her by the shoulders, whispering into her ear. Daphne looked up, "We're not done, Tori! We're just getting started and we need you! We can't do this without you! I can't do this without you!"
"Daph," Theo said softly, "Astoria is much stronger than any of us know. She's not going to give us so easily" he assured her.
Daphne looked up at him then, her face stained in tears. Theo gave her a sad smile as he wiped it away, before pulling her into his embrace.
"T-Theo this is all my fault," Daphne cried.
Theo jumped slightly only so that he could see her face.
"This is not your fault," he said sternly. "Don't you ever say something like that again!"
"It is! We knew what we were doing was dangerous … and I didn't think to check that she was safe!" Daphne insisted.
"But you did Daph!" Hermione objected. "You watched over her as best you could."
"No one here is to blame," Theo said, "But if you want to blame someone, then blame me. Because this happened only because of what happened in court last week."
"Theo, it's not your fault," Draco said quickly.
"Yes it is Draco," Theo said. "At least in some part. He punished Astoria for what happened in court last week. You know he did."
They all looked at the unconscious form of Astoria laying in the bed and a horrible wave of guilt threatened to take them.
"Stop it!" A voice ordered from the doorway. They all turned sharply, wands raised to see who their intruder was.
"Weasley," Theo said uncertainly.
"Nott," George greeted before entering the room. He swallowed nervously and stood and the foot of the bed uncertainly.
"I didn't know your sister nearly as well enough as you did," George said, "But I do know nothing would piss her off more than hearing you lot blame yourself for this." They all had the good sense to look slightly ashamed at that. George was right, nothing would piss Astoria off more than if she woke to their pitying stares.
"W-why are you here?" Daphne asked confused, a moment later.
"We …. She….." George flustered.
"Oh Merlin, you're her match aren't you?" Hermione asked.
George sighed, "Yeah," he answered with a small smile.
"But she didn't tell me she had found her match!' Daphne said frowning.
"She was going to but she wanted to wait until after the news of your own engagement had settled," George explained. "She said you deserved the spotlight for once."
"Wait… you're really going to marry my sister?" Daphne asked him.
"I think so," George answered frowning. "If… if she still wants to marry me, I guess."
"George," Hermione began, "How did you and Astoria …. I mean I know the spell put you two together but there have been a few people who have contested it and I guess I just thought well you and Angelica … you know and I –"
"Mya, love breathe," Draco reminded her.
"Right… sorry," she said stopping her word vomit and simply looking at George expectantly.
George looked around to see everyone looking at him rather expectantly. "It's a bit of a long story," He said.
"Well it's a damn good thing we're not going anywhere Weasley," Pansy told him. "Sit," she said motioning to the chair beside the bed. "And explain."
"Is this an interrogation?" he asked, raising a brow at them.
"Yes," they all answered.
"Or if it makes you feel better we could go with what Mya likes to call it," Draco mused looking at his wife.
"Who's Mya?" George asked confused.
"Hermione," they answered.
"Draco hates the nickname Mione," Hermione explained chuckling at the displeased look her husband wore.
"Cute," George commented. "So what does she call it?" he asked.
"Truth-telling," she answered with a smile.
"Sounds dangerous," George replied.
"Usually is." Pansy retorted, "Though we're usually armed with a nice bottle of firewhisky … or scotch."
"Well we'll have to do without it this time," Hermione said. "Now quit stalling George Weasley!"
"I got tired of being reminded that Fred is dead," he said after a moment. They all looked at him in surprise. "Every time mum or Angelina looked at me, I got the feeling all they saw was Fred. I'm pretty sure we were only together because we both missed him. Plus, it made mum happy. She … cried less. I'm not saying I don't miss him. Bloody hell sometimes it hurts so bad I can barely breathe... but I can't move on if the people around me still look at me and see my dead brother. Anyway, when I got the letter, I owled Astoria to see what she thought of it all and she let me know from the get-go that her father was furious at our match. The only good thing he seemed to care about was that the Weasley's are Sacred 28."
"Yeah sounds like my father," Daphne scoffed.
"What happened then?" Harry asked.
"We started having coffee once a week, just … talking." George answered. "And then it was twice a week and then coffee turned into lunch and dinner and then one day I asked her if she planned on contesting the match and she simply asked me if I wanted to contest it."
"What did you tell her?" Hermione asked.
"That I didn't know," George answered honestly. "And now, we're here." he sighed looking at the unconscious Astoria.
"You like her," Daphne observed.
"That surprises you?" George questioned in reply.
"My sister can be a very complicated person," Daphne reasoned. "She can be ... quite difficult when she wants to be."
Draco and Pansy both snorted. "That's Daph's way of saying Tori can be a bit of a snob when she wants to be," Pansy said chuckling slightly.
"Oh I know," George said laughing too.
"Then why are you still here?" Daphne asked confused. "What do you want with my sister?"
"Why is it so difficult for you to believe that I actually just like your sister for the person that she is?" George asked curiously.
"Because, with the exception of the people in this room, no one has ever just wanted us for us... we're always pawns in someone else's game," Daphne explained. "My sister has suffered enough."
"I won't hurt Astoria," George promised.
"You can't promise that," Daphne argued.
"You're right I can't," George admitted. "But I'll promise nonetheless, not to intentionally hurt her."
Daphne looked like she was contemplating his words before nodding albeit reluctantly.
"So what exactly are we going to do about this?" Pansy asked a moment later. "We know it was Alcott," she said looking at Daphne, "He did this as punishment. He's punishing us all by hurting someone we love, so the only question worth asking is, what are we going to do about it?" she asked of her family around her.
"I didn't take you for such an advocate for justice, Parkinson," George mused. "It's very Gryffindor of you," he said laughing slightly.
"I'm marrying the Savior, Weasley. I guess that damned Gryffindor hero complex he wears so well is finally rubbing off on me," she replied sarcastically then chuckling slightly at Harry's objections.
"That's not the only thing he's been rubbing off on her," Theo whispered into Daphne's ear. Daphne burst into hysterical laughter, only to clasp her hand over her mouth to stop herself. She swatted Theo across the chest, hand still clasped over her mouth.
"Sod off Nott!" Pansy and Harry said at the same time, no doubt trying to imagine what comment Theo had made.
"Anyway, Alcott's made this personal. This isn't about justice," Pansy told him.
"Then what is it about?"
"Vengence," Pansy said simply. "So what are we going to do?" she asked again.
"For now, nothing," Draco answered.
"Why?" Pansy asked angrily. "He thinks he's won!"
"Exactly! He thinks he's won," Draco said smirking, "And we're going to use that to our advantage."
"You have a plan?" George asked.
"Astoria was usually the one with the plans," Draco said with a sad smile. "Guess it's our turn now."
"Then let's not disappoint her," Hermione said determinedly.
They all nodded, pulling themselves closer to the bed, as they began planning to protect the one person that had truly brought them all together.
They had filled Astoria's hospital room, all morning, lunch had been brought in for them and still, none moved, even when the skies darkened and the stars twinkled. They had grown tired though, having bounced ideas back and forth all day. Theo had transfigured the small couch into a much larger one and both he and Daphne slept, with Daphne still clutching Astoria's dainty hand in hers. Draco and Hermione had nodded off on the other couch on the other side of the room; Hermione using Draco's shoulder as her pillow as he held her securely in his lap. Pansy had her head in Harry's lap as they slept on the transfigured couch. Harry's glasses were askew and his jacket was thrown over Pansy's shoulders. Finally, George had taken his place of vigil at the foot of Astoria's bed, his feet propped up on the bed, gently resting beside Astoria's still ones that were hidden underneath the covers.
It was well past midnight, Draco had woken after he had developed an awful crick in his neck, but he didn't want to move for fear of waking of Hermione. Instead, He shuffled ever so slightly and when she began to stir, he gently ran his fingers through her hair soothingly. She mumbled something but soon settled again. Hermione's breathing had lulled him back to sleep. When he woke again, it was to the sound of hushed whispers in the dark room. He stilled for a moment hoping he hadn't drawn attention to himself. When the voices continued, Draco strained his ears, to listen. The Medi – nurse had come in, shocked at the sight of all the bodies filling the room around the petite woman.
"What a wonderful thing, to be loved so fiercely by so many!" She mused quietly before turning and leaving the room once again.
"That she is," Theo whispered into the dark. Daphne grasped tightly at his shirt and he looked down to see she was awake. "Your sister is going to be just fine." He promised careful to keep his voice just barely above a whisper so as not to wake the others.
Daphne sucked in a steadying breath and then bit her lip in thought.
"What is it?" Theo asked.
"Very soon, you're going to be my family too. I mean you've always been family to me… but now its going to be official." She explained, "And I just… I can't lose any more of my family. Not after we've come so far."
"I promise you won't lose your family, love." He assured her. "It's like you've said, we've come so far, and not to lose everything now."
Daphne smiled, "Draco finally got his head out of his arse and married the only woman good enough for him."
Draco smiled at hearing this, silently holding Hermione closer to him.
"Pansy actually looks like she's happy for once," Daphne went on. "She told me the other night, that her nightmares aren't so painful anymore."
"Potter," Theo accurately guessed.
"They're good for each other I think," Daphne said. "They'll help each other in ways we can't help them."
"Potter's not so bad and if he takes good care of Pansy then I have no complaints," Theo told her.
"Pansy also told me what my father said … in the chamber," Daphne said and Draco could hear the sadness in her voice.
"Daph – " Theo started with just as much sadness.
"Merlin, I know the man is a bastard but how … how could he? I – we're supposed to mean something to him! How could he think so little of me?" Daphne asked looking up at Theo, "and then to hurt Tori like this. He's every bit the monster I remember."
"I know," Theo sighed in resignation.
"Thank you," Daphne said suddenly. Theo looked at her surprised. "For defending my honour. Especially against the one who should have been protecting it."
"I promise you Daph, he'll never hurt you or Tori again," Theo vowed. "This is the last time he's ever going to make you cry."
"I don't know what I ever did to have you love me so much Theo Nott, but I promise I will spend the rest of my days trying to make it up to you," Daphne said.
"I don't need you to make it up to me. I just need you." Theo said softly.
"You have me, now and always," Daphne answered without missing a beat.
There was a rustling and when Draco raised his head again, he saw Theo pressing a kiss to Daphne's forehead.
Draco smiled in the darkness and laid his head atop his wife's who was still resting peacefully on his shoulder and closed his eyes allowing his tiredness to take him away.
It was still dark out when Daphne heard the hushed voices. She trained her ears and looked to her sister's bed to see another figure sitting much closer. She tensed almost immediately, but the gentle voice stopped her from doing anything too hasty.
"Quite the little family you've got here," A voice that Daphne recognised as George's. She lifted her head just an inch and saw George seated much further up on Astoria's bed. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Astoria awake! But something in her held her back from embracing her sister. She felt like if she did then she would be interrupting, undoubtedly what was a quiet precious moment between the two of them.
"Yes," Astoria answered, her voice still weak. "They're rather amazing. I hope Draco and Theo didn't give you too much of a hard time."
George chuckled softly, "Only what I deserve… I think. I don't blame them. I have a sister too. I know what its like to want to protect her."
"She's very lucky," Astoria said.
"So are you," George responded."At least that's what I hear."
"My father's wand work has improved quite well. War will make better casters of all of us." She said quite sardonically. "His aim though could do with some work." She said laughing a little.
"Hey, it could have been much worse," Geroge replied worriedly.
"But it wasn't," she insisted. "Believe me, George, I've suffered worse."
If it was meant to console George it did the very opposite. He scowled, grateful, the darkness of the room hid it somewhat.
"I wish you wouldn't say it so casually," George told her.
"It's the truth George," Astoria replied. "Would you rather I lie?" she questioned.
"I would rather there wasn't a need to speak of such things," He replied honestly.
"I know," Astoria mumbled.
"How bad was it this time?" He asked a moment later.
"Bad," Astoria breathed. "He was furious for what we had done. Of course, he didn't know that I was just as much involved."
"Thank Merlin for that," George mumbled.
"Yeah, I… think he would have probably killed me if he found out what I had done," Astoria said. She looked up at him and in that moment, he was struck with how small she looked. She looked at him and allowed herself for the first time to let her fears show. "I… I know I'm difficult and I can be rather cynical but I … George, I don't' want to die." She whispered.
He grasped her hand in his immediately and she held on with such a grip that it took George by surprise.
"What did he tell you?" George asked. When she said nothing George shuffled closer, "Ria, What did he tell you?"
Despite her best efforts, she smiled a little at that horrible little nickname he had for her.
Instead of answering his question, she asked him another, "Are you going to contest the match?" she asked completely throwing him.
"What?" George asked. "That's not really important right now."
"Yes, it is," Astoria insisted. She looked him, her stubborn eyes boring into his, "Are you going to contest this match?" she asked again.
"No," he answered without hesitation. "Do…do you want me to?"
"No," Astoria answered. She bit her lip deep in thought.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I've been used a pawn in men's game all my life," Astoria explained. "I'm …. I don't know …. I'm –"
"Scared," George offered.
"Yeah," she agreed slightly hesitant.
"Don't be," he told her.
"It's not that easy," Astoria scoffed. "The thing is I don't want to contest this because I trust you. More than I should, and I don't easily. So I trust you with my life but … my life has never been my own and now instead of being just me, I'm going to be someone's wife. Your wife."
"How about, for now, you just be my friend?" George offered.
"You'd be okay with that?" Astoria asked looking rather surprised at him.
"Yes," George answered.
"And when we're married?" Astoria questioned. "You wouldn't want more?"
"Well, when that times, it would be whether you want more," George answered.
"And if I don't?" She asked.
"Then that would be okay too," George said honestly. "Though I hope that no matter what happens, we'd still be friends."
Astoria smiled but didn't say anything. A moment later she asked, "So, now what?"
"I don't know," George said laughing a little. "I'll leave that up to you to decide."
Astoria looked at him rather astounded, "Thank you," she whispered.
"I haven't done anything," George said confused.
"Yes, you have. You've given me a choice, and that is more than I've ever been given before." Astoria told him.
George felt his heart break a little at that. He had come to admit that he had been rather naïve about what he knew of his fellow Slytherin's lives. It took meeting Astoria and getting a daily dose of her honest albeit slightly cynical humour that made him realise the world was a lot bigger than he thought. And more importantly, there were others who were suffering and hadn't been suffering far worse and far longer than he had. His favourite thing about Astoria was not that she saw him as just George, but that she was honest about what she saw. Plus, he liked it when he actually got her to laugh.
Daphne smiled into Theo's shoulder, her heart soaring for her sister. It was long overdue that someone treated Astoria with some respect and kindness and George Weasley was willing to give it to her without expecting anything in return.
"We should probably tell your sister that you're awake," George said a moment later. "I'm pretty sure she's going to hex me when she finds out you've been awake and I didn't tell her immediately."
Astoria chuckled. "No, she's not."
"I don't know if you've realized Ria, but your family is slightly frightening," George teased.
"Oh, are you telling me that the brave Gryffindor is afraid of a few snakes?" Astoria asked smirking at him.
"Now, we both know those 'few snakes' are more than what meets the eye," George replied.
Astoria hummed in agreement, before resting her head against the pillow and looking at George now, "You don't have to worry about Daphne," Astoria said, "If she wanted to hex you, she would have done so a long time ago, right Daph?" Astoria asked looking towards where her sister slept.
"Tori, when did you realise I wasn't asleep?" Daphne asked moving cautiously towards her sister.
"You really should know better than to try and fool me Daph," Astoria said smirking.
Daphne gave her a watery chuckle before launching herself at her sister. George stepped back giving the sisters some space as they embraced.
"I'm so sorry Tori," Daphne whispered, tears running down her face as she held her sister close. "I'm so sorry," she repeated over and over.
"Daph, please stop apologizing. It's not your fault," Astoria though her words were mumbled in Daphne's embrace.
The commotion was enough to bring the others in the room out from their sleep. Almost immediately, they all descended upon the bed, hugging Astoria. Geroge stood by the watching and waiting for the medi-nurse to come in and check on Astoria.
George looked into the room towards the bed, catching Astoria's eyes over Daphne's shoulder. She gave him a hesitant smile and he grinned back.
"Lucky girl," the medi – witch commented with a smile as she passed him entering the room.
George smiled at that, "We're the lucky ones, I think."
AN: Hi!
Thank you to all the wonderful dear readers who have followed, favourited and reviewed this story! I am so glad that you are enjoying this story. There are a few more chapters to come though I have not yet written the ending ...
Please do review and tell me what you think of this chapter!
xoxo
Immortal Dragon Empress
