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An Aster Among the Thorns

- Chapter Nine -

In the next months, Astoria slowly began putting all thoughts of the Dark Lord and Draco's possible misdoings to the back of her mind. Days were spent more and more inside as the weather cooled, and with the grounds cloaked in a layer of snow, it became almost impossible to imagine anything evil could exist outside the warm glow of the common room fireplace.

Astoria sat curled up in an armchair, intently reading the book in her lap. It was all about magical plants and their healing properties. She had filched it from Neville Longbottom's bag earlier that day. Longbottom had plenty of books just like it though - Astoria was sure he wouldn't even miss it.

Most of the Slytherins were absent from the common room that evening. Astoria assumed they were off terrorizing second years again. Either way, it meant more uninterrupted time to read.

However, a loud crash from overhead ripped Astoria from her peaceful state. A moment later, Blaise came ambling down the boy's staircase.

"Oy, Greengrass," he called when he spotted Astoria, "Draco seems to be convinced you stole something from him. He's turned the entire dormitory over looking for whatever it is. Keeps saying you're the only one who knew about it. Do you know what he's going on about?"

Astoria's eyes clouded with confusion. "I have no idea."

Draco appeared at the top of the stairs. His features were contorted with rage.

"Don't lie, Astoria!" Draco roared. "The potion! Where is it?"

All at once, Astoria realized what Malfoy was talking about. She shook her head several times, as if trying to dispel water from her ears.

"Draco, I didn't take it. I have no use for it."

"Did you tell anyone about it?"

Astoria opened her mouth but reconsidered. She had told Cora about the liquid luck potion, but she had a feeling it would be wiser not to mention that fact to Draco.

"No," she said at last.

Draco pulled at his pale blonde hair. He looked truly afraid.

"You were the only one who knew. I didn't even tell Crabbe or Goyle I actually stole some. I need it to -" he broke off, as if he had said too much.

"I'm sure it's still there." Astoria offered gently. "Would you like me to help you find it?"

Draco's expression hardened. "No. I don't need help from anyone."

Blaise took advantage of the break in the heated conversation and slipped out of the portrait hole quietly; annoyed he was not allowed to know what the other two were referring to.

"Look, Draco," Astoria began in a low voice, "whatever you had planned, maybe it's best if you just forget about it -"

"What do you know about what I'm planning?" Draco hissed.

"N - nothing. But whatever it is, I'm sure you don't have to do it."

A hollow laugh left Draco's mouth.

"Trust me, I have to."


The next day, Astoria could hardly get out of bed.

"I think I've caught something," she rasped when Cora found her still wrapped in her blankets after breakfast.

"Get up," Cora said, tugging at Astoria's comforter, "there's a Hogsmeade visit today! Be sick tomorrow, if you have to."

Astoria groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. She refused to go anywhere feeling the way she did.

After much back and forth debate, Cora finally accepted there was no way she would be getting Astoria out of the castle, and left to join the rest of the students going off for a day of leisure.

She must have been developing a fever, for soon Astoria was shivering uncontrollably, even though she was covered up completely. Searching through her trunk for her favorite jumper, something strange caught her eye. Astoria pushed aside a pair of socks, and there glittering up at her was the missing vial of Felix Felicis. She sucked in a breath sharply, unable to process what she was seeing.

How could have it possibly found its way into her things? She definitely hadn't put it there.

"Draco's going to kill me if he finds out I've had it all along," Astoria muttered to herself. She slipped it into her pocket, deciding she would figure out how it had ended up among her things before giving it back to Draco. No one would get hurt if the potion remained missing a bit longer, she reasoned.

There was a flurry of gossip going around when everyone returned from Hogsmeade that afternoon. Apparently some Gryffindor girl had been injured, although the details varied from person to person. Some claimed they had seen a Death Eater hex her, while others insisted Harry Potter had finally snapped and attacked her.

Astoria pressed Cora to give her own account, knowing her friend would likely be the most reliable source.

"Honestly, Tori, I didn't even know anything had happened until I got back. All I know is someone handed that Katie Bell girl a cursed necklace. I bet you could get a glimpse of her if you go to the Hospital Wing and ask for some pepperup potion."

Astoria didn't quite like the idea of going just to ogle at the poor girl, but the prospect of feeling a bit better won her over at last, and she agreed to see Madam Pomfrey.

Astoria wrapped her winter cloak around her thin shoulders and set off down the drafty corridors to the Hospital Wing. The heavy wooden doors leading into the infirmary were locked, however, to give Katie Bell privacy.

Disappointed, Astoria began to make her way back to the Slytherin Common Room empty-handed. Along the way, she began to feel rather hot. She plopped down against the wall, her eyes closed and head lolling to the side. There wasn't anything in her mother's rules of etiquette specifying if such behavior was acceptable, though it didn't much matter to Astoria at the moment. It felt as though a fire was spouting from her aching temples, and consuming her tired body. She tumbled into the hot black abyss, all reasonable thought burned away in the inferno….

"Greengrass…Astoria…Astoria."

"Stop the rocking." Astoria muttered softly as she came to. Her eyes fluttered open. At first all was blurry, and she wasn't sure why she the world was moving so much. And Merlin she was roasting.

"Enlighten me, Greengrass, as to what you were doing passed out on the floor in an empty corridor back there."

Astoria shook her head softly to clear it of the fogginess, and her cheek grazed something that felt like cloth. With a gasp, she realized her head was nestled against someone's chest and two strong arms encircled her.

"Draco, why are you carrying me?" The absurdity of her inquiry made her already flushed cheeks burn even more.

"First why don't you answer my question?"

"I was just resting. I haven't been well."

Draco's chest rumbled with his laughter. "Resting on the stone ground?"

"It was comfortable enough." Astoria grumbled. Although, she had to admit being in Draco's arms was a bit more inviting than the cold dirty floor.

"Well, to answer your question: I saw you, nearly delirious and burning with fever as I was walking by and what was I supposed to do? I'm not completely heartless, whatever you think."

"Thank you."

Draco cleared his throat; the sincerity in Astoria's voice seemed to have taken him off guard.

"The doors to the Hospital Wing were closed." Astoria announced, simply to change the subject. "I couldn't get pepperup potion because Katie Bell hasn't been moved to St. Mungo's yet. You heard about what happened to her, right?"

Draco shifted Astoria in his arms. "Er, yeah."

"I can walk now." Astoria said. Draco set her down gently. She swayed, and her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck to steady herself. When she realized what she had done, she quickly dropped her arms and focused on her shoes as they began walking side by side.

"I hope she gets better. Even though she's a Gryffindor and everything, she didn't deserve what happened to her."

A strange sort of strangled cry came from Draco. "It wasn't meant for her! It went all wrong -"

Astoria looked up sharply at her companion. She was surprised to see his mouth twisted with remorse.

"Draco…."

"If I had had the Felix Felicis, she would have been fine." Draco stared straight ahead, but his eyes were unfocused, as if he were talking to himself. He had all but forgotten the slight brunette next to him.

Astoria staggered and immediately she clutched at Draco, though all she wanted to do was get away from him. It made sense to her now, part of it at least. Draco had been the one to give Katie Bell the cursed necklace and whatever his plan had been; it had backfired because he hadn't had the insurance of the liquid luck.

"Astoria, are you -?"

She pushed away from Draco's proffered arms. "No. Draco, it was you, wasn't it? Katie Bell nearly died because of whatever you did!"

He didn't deny it.

"I don't understand you," Astoria whispered; her voice could hardly contain her emotions. "You're always conveniently there for me whenever I need someone, but - but then you go and hurt an innocent girl without a care."

Draco stepped back as if her words had physically hurt him. His lip twitched as he restrained the urge to yell right back at her.

"Of course you don't understand," he snarled, "You're just a silly little girl who always needs saving. You could never know the responsibility that's on my shoulders. You could never know how much I regret that Katie Bell had to suffer because of me. Don't you dare say I don't care about it!"

Astoria surveyed the grey eyes glaring back at her. At one time, they had almost resembled her own. Now his were darker, haunted with the things they had seen. And under his anger, there resided fear. Fear like Astoria had never seen before. As if he stared at Death day in and day out, and couldn't tell a soul.

"I think I can walk back fine by myself now." She said at last. He was right, after all. She couldn't understand what he was going through. And she wasn't sure she wanted to.


Astoria was bedridden for the next few days, and with Katie Bell still needing constant assistance, there was no way Astoria could get pepperup potion to alleviate her symptoms.

Whenever she was alone, Astoria pulled the vial of liquid luck out of her pocket, as if staring at it would tell her who had put it in her trunk. She knew the most likely person to have done it was Cora, but she was unsure of how to bring up the subject with her friend.

It was one of those particular moments that Astoria was holding the golden potion in front of her, when Cora herself entered the dormitory. Astoria tucked it away quickly, but not before the red-head had spotted it.

"Alright there, Astoria?" Cora stooped to adjust her sock. Her hair fell to form a barrier around her face.

"Hi, Cora." Astoria said softly. She regarded the other girl with a sharp gaze.

"What was that you were holding?" Cora asked, breaking the pregnant silence.

"The potion Draco lost. It was in my trunk."

Cora nodded, her eyes on the wall behind Astoria.

"You wouldn't know how it got there, would you?"

Cora rolled her eyes. "Yes. I stole it from him. Are you happy now?" she burst out.

"Why would you do that?"

"Why do you sound so accusing? He's a suspected Death Eater, for Merlin's sake, Astoria! It's dangerous for someone like him to have power over their luck!"

Astoria frowned. "If he had had it, Katie Bell would be fine right now."

"You can't be serious," Cora growled incredulously, "you're making it sound like I'm the bad one now!"

"You could have at least told me." Astoria shot back. Irritation flooded her body.

"And have you talk me out of it? Don't deny it, you would have! You fancy him, as if you hope you can turn him into a better person or something."

Cora scoffed at Astoria's bewildered glare.

"I don't fancy him! My mother raised me to avoid people like him."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time now you've defied your mother, now is it?"

Astoria lunged for her wand. Red sparks shot from the end of it. "Get out!" She cried.

Cora gave her one last withering look before turning on her heel and marching from the room. Astoria's head fell into her hands. A horrible sense of sadness replaced her rage, leaving her feeling as though she were a balloon someone had just deflated. It seemed as though lately everyone's good intentions were leaving them in the worst of situations.