Author's Note: I apologize for missing last week. I was swept up in the bustle of the Holiday season – not to mention I saw the new Hobbit movie and was a bit preoccupied with some of that.

As an avid fan of the book I can vouch for the perfectly wonderful job Peter Jackson is doing in thoroughly, utterly, barbarously butchering of the series. Then again, when I ignore the fact that the movies are actually supposed to have some sort of comprehensive connection to the books, I can sort of close one eye and admit that I half-way enjoyed the film. Superfluously.

Anyway, I wrote a short novella about it, titled "milis agus searbh", that can be found on my profile if anyone thinks it sounds interesting. Yes, it is about Kili; isn't that original.

Anyway again, I hope everyone's had a marvelous Holiday break and a happy, happy start of the new year. And now to get on with it:

Chapter Ten – Other Disasters, Part 4:

It was spread all over the castle, or at least among the Ravenclaw first-years. Astoria had never before been so bombarded with such unfriendliness. She was met with cold stares, callous muttering behind her back, and lofty flips of hair wherever she went. Stephan and Mark actually had the gall to confront Astoria after Transfiguration to say they thought her a horrible friend and all-around dastardly person.

It would blow over, Astoria thought to herself. They wouldn't keep it up. No one had the right to say such things to her, Astoria Hemera Greengrass, pure-blooded daughter of Lyra Greengrass. Someone, sooner or later, would put a stop to it.

After all, the whole situation was ridiculous. It hadn't been Astoria's fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Livonia and Eris – who'd brought up the issue – or Sara herself, because if she hadn't been so annoying this wouldn't have happened in the first place. Astoria did not deserve this.

As time went on, however, it was becoming more and more difficult to ignore one irrefutable fact: she, Astoria Hemera Greengrass, was being shunned.

Sara and Melissa traipsed about the castle acting the part of the righteously indignant. They avoided Astoria like she was some kind of disease, and ignored her fully if ever they did have the misfortune to come into contact with her. They gave not a hint of a desire for reconciliation – of which Astoria was glad, because she didn't want reconciliation. She was glad to be finally shot of the Muggle-born.

Livonia and Eris were also avoiding her, and apparently spreading nasty rumors. Daphne cornered her in the entrance hall one day and dragged her into an empty side-chamber.

"You defended her?" she said after pleasantries had been abandoned. "You defended a Muggle-born?"

"I did not defend her!" said Astoria, "I didn't do anything wrong –"

"Then what are those two first-year girls talking about?" retorted Daphne, sounding high-and-mighty and intellectual, as if she'd caught Astoria in a lie. "They've been telling everyone how they did you a service and you turned on them –"

"Because they messed it all up!" said Astoria in exasperation, annoyed that Daphne didn't simply understand. "They've turned all of Ravenclaw against me and now it looks like all of Slytherin! If they hadn't attacked Sara this wouldn't have happened –"

"Why do you care if Ravenclaw is against you?" said Daphne, "I thought you didn't like it."

"It's still my House, Daphne! I have to live there."

"Well, as for Slytherin, you can earn back their respect as long as you start acting like you deserve it," with this biting remark, Daphne said something about being late for Potions and left.

As it was, Astoria found herself spending much of her free time in solitude. Because it was all too probable she would bump into an unfriendly glare in the common room she discovered sanctuary in the library. She found a cozy little corner, with a comfortable chair, table, and good lighting, and began to feel a certain fondness in her recluse.

In a cruel sort of irony Astoria realized something unexpected: she was finally beginning to feel like a Ravenclaw. As in she actually belonged there. Not only were her only companions books, but the books almost seemed to satisfy that companionship. Of course now that she had finally begun to feel as if she belonged, she was no longer welcome – that was why it was called cruel irony.

Books could not, however, satisfy everything a living, breathing, human friend could. Not all could talk, laugh at ones jokes, nor play exploding snap – at least not without a very tricky bit of magic, way beyond the scope of a first year. So after Astoria grabbed books at random off the shelves to read and got most of her homework done ahead of time there wasn't much else to do. Sometimes she would sit and think vaguely of sneaking a broom and flying about the Quidditch pitch, or other such schemes, but she didn't want detention on the top of everything else.

Astoria was forced to conclude that she was lonely. She had never felt so dejected in her brief and miserable life. Sometimes she even felt desperate enough that she thought she would have given anything to talk to someone else – even if it was just to say hello, exchange a smile, and sit in companionable silence – even if it was Sara the Muggle-born.

Astoria watched as Sara and Melissa came in through the library doors. They walked over to a table and pulled out some rolls of parchment. Astoria carefully hid behind her book, and chanced another peak over the cover just as Sara glanced over.

Sara's eyes met hers. Astoria felt her cheeks burn and was thankful for the cover of the book. Sara scowled and said something to Melissa that Astoria couldn't hear. Melissa glanced over to Astoria and frowned. Both girls gathered their things left the way they had come in.

Astoria sighed. She looked at the pages of her book and discovered it was upside down. She sighed again and clamped it shut. It was only the second week.

After Daphne had consented to talk to Astoria again, Astoria had tentatively addressed the issue.

"I think you should make up with Livonia and Eris," was Daphne's advice. "You haven't done anything wrong to that Muggle-born and it is too bad it's evolved this way, but I don't see any way out of it. Start affiliating yourself more with Slytherins."

"I try, Daphne!"

"Try harder. Remember you haven't done anything wrong. So, no matter how much she pressures you, don't ever feel obligated to apologize to that Muggle-born."

That had been yesterday. Maybe Daphne had been sincere in her advice, but it didn't help Astoria much now. She watched the door swing shut behind Sara and Melissa and decided she was currently fed up.

She packed up her things and followed the two girls out, dawdling enough so that there would be plenty of space between them. Astoria let herself into the corridor and began walking in the direction that led to the Ravenclaw common room.

"You know, though," drifted a voice some way ahead of Astoria. It seemed to wafte on the air although on a light breeze. "It's rather muddy out – and I have Herbology – it would be very uncomfortable to go out in one's bare feet."

Astoria rounded a corner in the hallway just a boy's voice sniggered, "Would it? That is too bad."

"Oh yes," replied the first voice, "very uncomfortable, you know." There was some sort of commotion going on in the corridor ahead. Astoria proceeded with caution, spotting the backs of Sara and Melissa as they approached the group of people ahead of them.

"Well, we haven't got your shoes," said another boy's voice roughly.

"Oh, I thought I saw you smuggling them out the other day."

"Well, I guess you didn't."

"Yeah, you're barmy, Lovegood."

"Loony." And the two boys erupted into laughter. The light, breathy voice laughed as well, a sound like the tinkling of bells.

"Even so," said the girl, "I'd like them back – regardless if I'm barmy, you know."

"Haven't I told you? I didn't take your shoes."

Astoria felt her stomach clench. Suddenly it came to her who this girl was, and what was the significance of the scene. It was Luna – Loony, as she was called – Lovegood. Daphne had warned her about her. A Prefect had warned her about her. Some of the other first-years had warned her about her.

Astoria had seen Lovegood on occasion in the Ravenclaw common room, head buried in a gaudy magazine labeled The Quibbler, and wand stuck behind her ear. Astoria didn't need to be warned; Lovegood was obviously a person to avoid.

Astoria faltered in the shadows, lest she get near enough to be drawn into the scene.

"Why don't you go check down a toilet?" said one of the two boys.

"That would be a good hiding place," agreed Luna Lovegood, "Very unexpected."

The two boys roared with laughter.

"Leave her alone," said a voice, and Astoria almost squeaked in shock – in exasperation. It was Sara Hibburt. Her back was to Astoria and her hands were on her hips. Melissa was skulking behind her as though hoping she wouldn't be seen.

"Who are you?" demanded one of the boys.

"I'm Sara Hibburt and I think you're being mean!"

"You do, do you?" replied the boy – his friend had dissolved into a fit of hysterics. "Well you can go check down a toilet, too, while Loony's at it."

"I'll get a teacher if you don't stop!" Sara said.

"If you do, you'll be sorry!"

"If you hurt me, you'll be sorry!" Astoria had never heard Sara speak in such a way. The closest thing it reminded her of was Sara's outburst on the Hogwarts Express – which had seemed more like distress than actually bravery. Now it was as if Sara was a different person. Gone was the miniscule, ignorant, chirping, irritating Muggle-born, replaced by a smart little girl with bright, flashing eyes and a face red from pent up anger.

"There's nothing you can do to stop us, first-year," growled the other boy, having recovered himself. Mirth was replaced by brimming rage on his face. Astoria uneasily backed away, in case the scene should get ugly. Hazy thoughts began drifting through her mind, of running away and pretended she'd never seen this, or running away and trying to find a teacher. Astoria didn't want to get pulled up in this, didn't want to be a tattle…didn't necessarily want Sara to get hurt, even if she was annoying.

"Excuse me," intercepted Lovegood's voice, soft like she was only breathing. "Thank you for your help," she told Sara, "but I really don't need it. They can't help themselves, you know. Their minds are garbled. You wouldn't believe the Wrackspurt infestation around here…."

"You are you calling garbled, Loony?"

"See what I mean?" said Lovegood to Sara.

"You should stand up for yourself!" said Sara, impassioned. "What they're doing to you is wrong –"

"I've already told you! Stay out of it, first-year –" one of the boys stepped forward threateningly. Melissa squeaked in terror and fell to the ground, tripping over her own feet in her haze of panic to get away. No one noticed her.

Astoria was too preoccupied with Sara, who had straightened her shoulders and was staring defiantly into the boy's face – a head and a shoulder taller than her as he was.

"I'll scream if you come one step closer!" Sara said.

"Just try!" and quicker than Sara could open her mouth the boy had drawn his wand and made a slashing motion at her face, "Silencio!"

Astoria's breath clogged her throat, as if the spell had worked on her, as well. Melissa made a noise that sounded like a mouse had been trodden upon. Sara's face went from red to white, working her mouth but no noise issued from her lips.

"Oh no," said Lovegood in a tone that sounded like casual despair.

"I'll teach you not to bloody interfere again –"

"Zack, stop, this is going too far –"

Run, run, Sara, run! screamed something in Astoria's head.

"Let go of me, Levi –"

"What if she tells a teacher?"

"You won't tell a teacher, will you, first-year? Not after I'm done with you…."

Somewhere in her astonishment and panic, Astoria had forgotten that none of the group knew she was there, that she was of free rein to run herself and get help. Suddenly this thought came back to her and without thinking further she turned and tripped away, working up into a sprint.

"What was that?"

"Footsteps."

"D'you think someone saw –"

Astoria didn't think about tattling, or about not being Sara's friend anymore. Her feet pelted the stone ground as fast as they could carry her, mind rushing to the beat of her heart: help, help, run, help. She thought only of Sara – tiny, ignorant, innocent little Muggle-born – facing down those two much older and much stronger boys, virtually alone….

Astoria rounded a corner and slammed into something tall and hard. She staggered back several steps, a hand wrapped around her shoulder to steady her, and she saw that it was Professor Lupin. Unutterable, trembling relief plunked its way into her stomach, making her go cold.

"Astoria, what –"

"Please – Professor – Sara – two boys – going to hurt her – hurry – Lovegood – silenced her – didn't know what to do – Please don't tell them it was me!"

Astoria was not sure how Professor Lupin managed to glean any comprehension from the rush of sounds issuing from Astoria's lips, but somehow – miraculously – he was rushing away, down the corridor in the direction Astoria was flailing her arms.

Heart beating wildly, Astoria followed him barely realized where her feet were leading her. Again she was thinking only of Sara – facing those two boys – utterly helpless – turning pale in fear….

When she reached the corridor there was silence, which made her heart stop dead in fear. And then Astoria heard Sara's voice, "Professor Lupin!"

"Did they hurt you?"

"No, they ran. We heard footsteps. They were frightened away. They thought it might have been a witness…."

Professor Lupin offered a hand to Melissa to help her back to her feet. Lovegood was pressed against the wall, her things scattered around her feet as if one of the boys had shouldered her into the wall before running away. Sara was standing in front of Professor Lupin, chattering animatedly.

"I found them making fun of her and I told them to stop it or I'd get a teacher. They didn't and then threatened me so I said I'd scream, but then they –"

"Who were they, do you know?" said Professor Lupin, checking Lovegood to see if she was also alright.

"I don't know their names," said Sara. "They were both tall. One had brown hair and the other blond – probably both Slytherins…."

"One was a Hufflepuff," squeaked Melissa weakly.

"They were both talking to me," said Lovegood. "They weren't being very nice so then she – I'm sorry, I don't know who you are."

"I'm Sara."

"Hello Sara! My name is Luna, but most people call me Loony."

"That's terrible! I think Luna is a very pretty name!"

"Yes, girls, and what happened?" said Professor Lupin.

Sara explained exuberantly. Lovegood smiled dreamily on and Melissa shivered.

Then Professor Lupin said, "I know a thing or two about vigilante groups. But next time I think it would be best if you abandoned all pretenses and came to get a teacher first." And then he offered that they go to his office to discuss things further.

Lovegood collected her things. Sara handed her a green onion that had rolled out of her bag and Lovegood thanked her, telling her, "It's a gurdyroot, you know. They ward off Gulping Plimpies."

They then followed Professor Lupin down the corridor. Astoria watched from a shadowy alcove, still trying to muffle the beating of her heart.

"How did you know to find us, Professor?" Sara asked. For the second time that afternoon, Astoria felt her heart stutter. "Was it the person we heard? Before the boys ran away?"

"Yes," said Professor Lupin – Astoria waited – "A student came to get me, saying there was something important going on down here and that I should come quickly." Astoria again felt her shoulders relax in a merciful shiver of relief. Professor Lupin lead the three girls away and said no more about the student who had come to get him.

Astoria crept from the shadows and made her way back to the library. She realized her hands were trembling and stomach twisting from the aftershock of the ordeal, but otherwise she felt quite fine, rather clear-headed and good of herself, in fact.

That night in the common room Astoria overheard as she passed them in a corner, Sara declaring to Stephan that Professor Lupin, "absolutely, positively has nothing whatsoever to do with Sirius Black's break-in! I was silly for ever thinking so."

Astoria leaned against the wall outside the Potions classroom, waiting to be let in by Professor Snape. Sara and Melissa were talking on the opposite side of the corridor. Astoria tried pointedly to ignore whatever it was they were saying, because it was of no interest to her.

She saw as Livonia, with Eris, Cheron, and Europa turned into the corridor as a group. Livonia and Eris were walking in front, their feet kept darting forward as if trying to beat the other to the first.

"And then Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus – he's a faun –" said Sara.

"A fawn? You mean a satyr? I didn't think Muggles knew about them," said Melissa.

Livonia and Eris shot Astoria matching cold glares. Astoria felt her stomach doing a complicated set of tumbles. She swallowed hard and took a step forward, going over the conversation she had rehearsed in her head many times that morning.

"And you said Lucy got into Narmia –"

"Narnia."

"Hello, Livonia, Eris," said Astoria quietly, trying to get the volume of her voice up but finding the dial was stuck somewhere behind the block in her throat. Livonia and Eris looked at her as though she was a ferret that had been viciously mutilated by a hippogriff.

"Yes?" said Eris. Astoria wondered at the amount of disdain one could pack into one syllable. She fought the retort that threatened to plummet off her tongue.

"She got in by going through a wardrobe?" Melissa was saying, "How did that work? Is there an extension charm on the wardrobe, or something? It must be a very big one if you can fit a whole world into it."

"What's an extension charm?"

Astoria pushed away at the voices, pushed away at the lump in her throat. She had not counted on it being so difficult, at finding her words so hard to grasp and force out of her lips. She found it almost hurt, as their sharp edges scraped up her throat.

"I – I wanted to," Astoria swallowed, feeling her chest constrict. It was strange, but she could never before remember saying the words of free-will before, "I wanted to apologize." Livonia and Eris were still looking frosty. "I – I made a mistake, back after Christmas. I – I shouldn't have – shouldn't have said some of the things I – I did…." she somehow couldn't remember all the things she had been planning on saying.

Livonia and Eris were still looking cold and unreachable. Astoria's voice was getting higher and more difficult to slip up her throat. Her hands were balled into fists to keep them from shaking.

"I – I didn't mean what I said. I was upset – I – I shouldn't have…."

"Yes," said Eris, "That's right. You shouldn't have said some of the things you did. After all, we were only trying to help you." She shot an ugly glance over her shoulder, to Sara whom was saying:

"So anyway, Mr. Tumnus gets Lucy to come home with him for tea. While she's there she falls asleep, when she wakes up she finds she's been there for hours –"

"But you were upset," said Livonia slowly.

"Yes," said Astoria quickly, "I didn't mean any of it." She couldn't quite remember any of it she had even said. All the details seemed to have blurred into one gigantic, scrambled mess.

"I'm sorry if I offended you," the last bit was tacked on in hopes of sealing the deal. Somehow it was easier to say, perhaps because Astoria had already gotten the worst of the apology over with, perhaps it was because Astoria was not altogether certain it was true….

"Well in that case I suppose it's alright. As long as you realize you were wrong."

Clearly Livonia meant for Astoria to say yes, she had been very wrong, but somehow the words couldn't come up. She nodded instead, neck feeling unusually stiff.

"Apology accepted, then," said Livonia. Eris was looking ugly and unforgiving. "You can sit with us if you'd like."

Despite Eris's coolness, Astoria felt giddy at having won back her friend's acceptance. She wondered what Sara and Melissa had been talking about anyhow. She then reminded herself spitefully that it hadn't been any of Astoria's interest.

Just then she became aware that Cheron and Europa Shale were giggling and pointing at the Muggle-born. Astoria whirled around to look at Sara as well, unconsciously taking a step backward, further in the Slytherin's midst.

Sara had noticed the Shale twins, had turned red, but appeared to be putting up a front, continued to talk to Melissa as if nothing was happening.

"What is she even wearing?" said Europa Shale.

Sara turned even darker and shuffled her feet, clad in fluorescent yellow trabs.

"What in merlin's name did she do to her hair –"

"You leave her alone!" it was Stephan, having become aware to the situation and looking angry. "Don't listen to them, Sara. You look fine."

"Yes," said Eris, cutting in quickly and bitingly, "listen to your boyfriend. You look fine."

"M not her boyfriend," Stephan muttered, his ears turning red.

"Stephan and I are just friends," Sara said loudly, turning away from Melissa finally to face them. "And you can leave me alone. Nothing you say could possibly have any bearing –"

"What's that noise, girls? Do you hear something? Like the little insignificant buzzing of a fly…?"

"I wrote my mother about what happened on the train," Sara continued, "And she said that bullies like you are just insecure, petty individuals, whom have to bring other people down to make yourselves feel good –"

"Poor little baby, crying to her mummy…."

"And I shouldn't believe anything you say because it's all lies and untrue –"

"It isn't a lie to say Muggle-borns are stupid," said Livonia flatly. "It's a fact."

Several of the other first-years were beginning to weigh-in, the Ravenclaws making sounds of objection and the Slytherins nodding their heads in agreement to what Livonia had said. Astoria felt her heart sink, wondering what she had unleashed – until she remembered she hadn't had anything to do with it.

"And it doesn't matter what people like you think about me because you're probably not going to end up very far up in life, anyway. All that matters is what I think of myself, and if I have a few trustworthy, honest, and kind friends to back me up –" Suddenly Sara's eyes were sweeping past Astoria's and Astoria had a very poignant urge to look away.

"Won't get very far up in life!" Eris cried. "We're already farther up in life than you! And we always will be! Purebloods like us will always better than Muggle-borns –"

"I told you to leave her alone!" Stephan leaped forward, Mark by his side. A couple of Slytherin boys stepped in front of Livonia and Eris as though they were bodyguards. Tiffany and Aurora had somehow become engaged in whirling insults back and forth between the Shale twins.

And then the classroom door opened and Professor Snape swept into the corridor.

"What," he said silkily, all signs of the ruckus disappearing almost as if it had never happened. Stephan and Mark paused mid-launch, looking quite foolish with their mouths falling open. " – Is the meaning of this?"

Several people started to explain at once.

"Silence!" said Professor Snape, and that was what he got. It was immediately made apparent that his first question had been rhetorical. "I am not paid to settle petty squabbles amongst first-years. Take your seats."

The first-years shuffled through the classroom door. A heavy, looming kind of silence hung over their heads, something that breathed of gloom and unsettled arguments. Astoria realized she wasn't feeling well, wondered if Livonia's invitation to sit with them still held, and tried to avoid any glance Sara or Melissa might be sending her way.

Professor Snape closed the door behind them as the last first-year filed in and Astoria deposited herself at a desk behind Livonia and Eris, well away from any of her Ravenclaw housemates.

Astoria slumped to class Monday morning, and as it was becoming customary, waited in the corridor slightly apart from the other Ravenclaw first-years. Sara and Melissa were talking again, close to the Transfiguration classroom door, giggling forehead to forehead, evidently spewing secrets and gossip…and nothing at all that would interest Astoria.

Astoria shuffled her feet, trying to relieve pressure on her left-heel, and inadvertently took a step closer to the two girls. Their whispering wafted through the hallway, indiscernible because of the other first-year's talking.

Astoria wondered what it could be Melissa had said to make Sara laugh to heartily, whole face turning red, before she remembered it wasn't anything interesting – couldn't possibly be anything interesting.

Suddenly Astoria's bag strap slipped from her fingers. It crashed to the floor and her things scattered from its open mouth. Quills rolled into cracks and crevasses. Papers fluttered in every which direction. Books fell so their spine opened and covers splayed outward.

Every Ravenclaw first-year turned to look at her. Sara and Melissa stopped in their conversation to look at her. Astoria had the grace to blush. She didn't know why she'd done that. A sudden, wild desire to make Sara and Melissa look up, to look at her, to at least acknowledge her presence had come over her and – and Astoria didn't know why she had done that.

For the first time in her life, Astoria really wanted to swear. She very nearly did, except at that moment the door to the classroom swung open and Professor McGonagall came out, "You may come in – Miss Greengrass, what have you done?"

"Was an accident, Professor," Astoria mumbled.

"Very well, clean it up and take your seat straightaway."

Astoria fell to her knees to gather her things. Sara and Melissa filed passed her, into the classroom with the rest of the first-years. Surely they would not be looking at Astoria, so Astoria did not look up at them as they passed.

The weeks slogged by and Astoria tried to tell herself there had been improvement. But whenever she tried to convince herself of that, she remembered that she was still a Ravenclaw, Eris and Livonia still Slytherins, and the rest of Astoria's house still unwilling to redeem any friendship. Then Astoria would have to remind herself that she didn't want any friendship with them, anyway.

There was a very large dilemma half-way through January, in the form of the Slytherin versus Ravenclaw Quidditch match. Astoria could not not vote for her own house, something Livonia and Eris, and even Daphne (when Astoria made the mistake of mentioning it to her) simply could not understand.

"It's my house!"

"But you don't like it."

"It's still my house, Daphne! It doesn't matter how much I'd rather be in Slytherin – I still want Ravenclaw to win."

"That doesn't make any sense, Tori."

It didn't help matters that Ravenclaw ended up losing – marginally (it was a good game. Chang just missed the Snitch at the last minute and the dark, pretty fourth-year was now officially Astoria's least favorite person) but still losing.

It also didn't help matters that the game took place in the middle of a blizzard and when Astoria, Livonia, and Eris had gotten back into the castle all three of them were frozen to their boots, white with snow, and stiff with cold so that it did not help their tempers any.

Suddenly Astoria was yelling at them to leave her alone with their I-told-you-sos (they bloody wouldn't shut up about it) and Eris and Livonia were stalking away indignantly. Astoria was alone in the entrance hall and the next morning none of the girls were talking again.

Once again, Astoria was spending what free time she had in the library. As if fate was being kind to her, some of the professors had sprung an unusually large amount of homework on them and Astoria found at least some mercy in studying.

Finally it seemed as if the rest of the Ravenclaw first-years were beginning to wind down their animosity toward her. Tiffany and Aurora even pleasantly asked her to come down with them to breakfast one morning. However Astoria was beginning to fall into a habit and still spent much of her time in solitude.

There was something roguishly enticing about being a loner – when one got over the fact that one was alone.

Amongst the backdrop of everything that had been happening, Astoria received an owl from home that brought the news that her Aunt Aquila had had her baby. Lyra Greengrass' sister, Aquila was twenty-eight, short, pretty, and giggly, almost the complete opposite of her older sister. She tended to treat everything as a stupendous comedy put on for her own entertainment.

She had married a Greek dignitary Varro Lelantos whom was dark, strict, and laughed at almost nothing. He had always treated Astoria and Daphne as inconveniences and Astoria wondered how he would react to his new daughter, whom was named Phoebe.

Astoria wasn't incredibly excited about the news. She had never particularly liked babies; Daphne had always found them impossibly adorable. Astoria was awkward around babies. She didn't like to make a fool of herself trying to get them to smile and never knew how to hold them without the fear of dropping them on their head.

More than that, the news was of the kind that Astoria felt was supposed to be shared. And as Astoria hadn't any friends to share it with she was not overtly enthusiastic.

She folded the letter, feeling strangely and pointedly unhappy – even though she was sure a baby wasn't anything righteous to be unhappy about.

Suddenly Livonia was there, in front of Astoria's table, frowning and looking nasty.

"Haven't you anyone to sit with?" said Livonia.

Astoria's mouth opened in utter disbelief.

"Maybe if you'd been nicer I'd have asked you to sit with us," and then Livonia was gone to meet Eris at the doors to the library. They left with snarky glances thrown over their shoulders.

Astoria sat very still, unaware that the letter was crumpled into a ball in her hand. That had – that had been – completely – that had been completely uncalled for.

And then another familiar figure was standing in front of Astoria. It was Sara, with Melissa hovering by her side. Astoria hadn't even realized Sara had been in the library, but was suddenly, uncomfortably, horribly aware that the Muggle-born had heard exactly what Livonia had said.

"You've quarreled with Livonia?" said Sara.

Astoria didn't know how to answer, didn't know of what circumstance it was to Sara, didn't know what was coming.

She thought wildly, suddenly, utterly incongruently of blurting out that it had been she who had gotten Professor Lupin that day, when the two boys had been harassing them. But Astoria stopped her tongue, stomach swimming at such a notion. She didn't know why she didn't want Sara to know, why she was slightly ashamed at the memory whenever it was brought to the forefront of her mind.

Possibly the boy hadn't actually been going to hurt, Sara. Surely he hadn't been. Surely Astoria had acted rashly and foolishly, had needlessly brought herself into a situation that might have resolved itself….

Either way, Sara was better off thinking Astoria had nothing to do with it. Astoria didn't want the Muggle-born to get a whole lot of funny ideas about Astoria wanting to renew any friendship – because Astoria didn't.

She didn't.

Astoria recalled that Sara was there now, standing before her and perhaps waiting for an answer. But Sara didn't wait for an answer. "That's too bad," she said and she and Melissa left.

It was worse even than Livonia. Astoria had never imagined Sara could be so casually uncaring, so deliberately malicious – it was a side of her that did not make sense, had never before revealed itself. It was – Astoria blinked – it was decidedly too much.

A tear slipped down her cheek, which she caught with her hand and pinched away between her fingers. She was not going to cry. There was no reason to cry. It was absolutely ridiculous to cry….

Astoria hadn't deserved that, hadn't done anything…. It wasn't – wasn't her fault –

She would have liked to have told Sara so, would have liked to scream to the Muggle-born's face to leave her alone, perhaps pushed her to the side as Astoria stalked away, perhaps –

But none of that really mattered because Sara had gone, with Melissa. Livonia had gone, too. And Astoria was alone.

Author's Note: I'm cautiously optimistic I'll be back on a Friday by Friday schedule. I hope everyone is still enjoying this. I would love a couple more reviews – they make my day!