Chapter Thirty Six - Tori's Perspective
Severus Snape was in his office; throwing empty jars against the wall, raging at his failure. Failure to keep close enough watch on the little bastard Draco Malfoy. Now the over stuffed peacock was dead. The stupid boy had just tried to violate another student, and he wasn't able to stop it. Try as me may to hate her because she was a Gryffindor, the young girl had endeared herself to him.
Sure he ended up giving her many detentions for her cheek, but it was rather difficult most of the time not to laugh when she simply smiled and shot back some sort of witty, and grudgingly adorable, retort. He could see so much of her mother in Astoria Greengrass, which made it difficult not to like her. It didn't hurt that she was as talented at Potions as her older sister.
"Damn that girl." he muttered to himself as he sat heavily in his office chair. "I warned you Albus." he continued in a tired whisper. "Where do we go from here Albus? Where do we go from here?"
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In the Hospital Wing, Daphne was by her sister's side the entire time. From when madam Pomfery revived her, through the tests, and questions, up until Astoria finally fell asleep with the aid of a Dreamless Sleep Draught. Looking around the ward, she could see her parents speaking quietly with Minister Bones, the Director of the DMLE Arthur Weasley, and Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall at the far end near the entrance.
Mobius, perched on the foot of her sister's bed, had been quietly and constantly trilling his comforting song for the past hour without stopping. Padfoot was sitting on the floor next to Astoria's bed with his head resting on the edge, looking up at the young girl with a very sad look on his canine face. She saw Harry , Neville and Dennis standing near Pomfrey's office. Daphne could tell Harry was tense as he spoke to the younger Gryffindor, whom had rushed into the Hospital Wing as soon as he'd heard her little sister was in there. Her husband's arms were crossed, and had a frown on his face.
Dennis, however, looked on the verge of tears, and would occasionally nod his head worriedly at a question Harry would ask him. "Perhaps the Greengrass women's pattern of meeting the love of your life early is continuing with Astoria too?" Daphne thought to herself with a smile. Her mother had become quite enamored with her father quite early in their school years as well. At that moment Hermione appeared next to her and handed her a much needed cup of tea before sitting down in the chair next to her.
Samuel Greengrass was furious beyond all measure. Someone had dared to lay a hand on his youngest daughter, and if she hadn't killed him herself, Samuel would have been all to happy to end Draco Malfoy's life himself. Fortunately, his blinding white hot anger hadn't prevented him from contacting his solicitors to prepare a defense for his daughters.
While his oldest had caused fatal injuries using a venom impregnated sword, his youngest had actually been the one to abruptly end the Malfoy scion's life by blasting the boy's head across the wall. To have done that in the condition she was in spoke of his youngest daughter's strength of character.
Madam Pomfrey had told them that the potion Astoria had been dosed with should have been impossible to overcome at all. That she'd managed to move even a little during the ordeal was incredible. To have the presence of mind to lift a wand and cast a spell was unheard of.
He was very worried though. Worried about how this incident would change his little girl. Daphne had told her mother how relieved Astoria had been when Madam Pomfrey informed her that everything was "still intact". She'd been unable to feel her body at all during most of the ordeal so she had been unsure. He just hoped she wouldn't lose what made her Astoria. What made everyone love her. He hoped this wouldn't harden her over all outlook on life.
"It's unlikely that any legal action against your daughters would be successful." Said Arthur Weasley in a low voice. "Mrs. Potter acted in defense of her younger sister, and Astoria had just been through a very terrifying ordeal, and was under the influence of potions administered by Draco Malfoy himself. So in a sense, he committed suicide."
"Yes," Dumbledore cut in, "But we must take every precaution to ensure that neither young woman ever sees the inside of a cell."
"But," began Minister Bones "with the support of Houses Potter, Longbottom, Black, Greengrass, and Bones along with the Office of the Minister and the Chief Warlock, supporters of the Malfoys wouldn't dare vote to convict or even indict."
At that moment, the Hospital Wing's doors opened, letting two very worried looking identical twins into the ward. Fred was carrying a very large bouquet of yellow, red and white roses (at least five dozen) while George had a very large stuffed brown bear, that took both his arms to carry, and a dozen large balloons in Gryffindor colors. Those who knew the young girl well were aware of her love for stuffed bears.
Dumbledore smiled sadly at them before gesturing to where Astoria was sleeping. The twins rushed to her bedside quietly. Though she appeared to be sleeping peacefully, seeing the bruises on her face as well as the evidence of a recently broken nose, their faces were thunderous before deflating into sorrow for not being able to protect their unofficial little sister and mischief apprentice.
Fred and George had seen Ginny out in the hallway being comforted by Luna. The incident hit the youngest Weasley hard, and was unable to stand seeing Astoria in such bad shape so she rushed back out into the hall almost immediately.
Harry walked up and greeted the twins with a grim face.
"We came here as soon as we could when we got your message." Fred said in a whisper.
"It's true that it was that little shit Malfoy?" George asked.
"Yeah." Harry answered. "She was the one to finished him though. Blew his head right off with his own wand once she was able."
The twins looked at the sleeping girl with pride in their eyes, but also great sadness. They knew she may never be the same again after having taken a life. Even if it was a would be rapist.
They noticed Dennis take a seat next to Padfoot as he took Astoria's hand in his. Fred and George walked up behind him and each put a comforting hand on his shoulders.
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Later that night Ron Weasley snuck stealthily into the Hospital Wing three hours after lights out, completely unaware of the large half Kneazle whom had taken this opportunity to sneak out of the tower and make his way to Astoria, slipping quietly through the large doors behind the gaggly red-head. The ward was thankfully empty other than the third year Gryffindor.
He quietly snuck up to her bedside and set a small stuffed bear amongst the others that various well wishers had brought though out the day. He'd managed to convince his brothers to stop down in the village to buy a bear for her with the little money he had.
"I'm sorry for everything I said." he whispered to the sleeping girl before turning to walk away.
He still couldn't face them all yet, so here he was sneaking through the night to leave a small token for a girl he'd once said terrible things about out of stupid pride and petty jealousy. His mission complete, he quietly snuck from the ward and back toward the tower. He never noticed the large black dog that had taken up post under Astoria's bed nor the violet, red and gold phoenix perched next to a snowy owl in the rafters above.
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Astoria slowly came back to the world of wakefulness as the fog of sleep lifted around her. Opening her eyes, she blinked said sleep out of her eyes before focusing on her current location. By the amount of light coming through the windows, one could see it was well before any sane person would wake. For a moment she was confused as to why she was in the hospital wing, but the memories of the day before came flooding through her mind, nearly crushing her under the weight of fear, revulsion, sorrow and self loathing.
Shaking, she curled into a fetal position, pulling the bed sheets tighter, and sobbed silently into her pillow not wanting to alert Madam Pomfrey. After a few moments, she felt a shift at the foot of her bed, along with a soft rustle of feathers. In the back of her mind, she knew it was either Mobius, or Hedwig. Feeling another shift on the bed next to her, she looked up and saw Crookshanks next to her on the bed.
The large Kneazle-cat cross approached her and affectionately bumped his head to her hands which had a death grip on the white linens. She still managed a sad tearful smile as she unwrapped herself enough to pull Crookshanks close, taking comfort from Hermione's familiar. The sound of soft phoenix song suddenly filled her with warmth and comfort causing her tears to slow.
Looking down toward the end of her bed, she saw both Hedwig and Mobius perched side by side. She had been vaguely aware of furnace like heat and flames which saved her from Malfoy, and now guessed that it had been of the Phoenix's fury. She remembered his battle cry. It had been absolutely terrifying, yet it gave her strength enough to do what she had to. If not for the majestic bird's song, the memory of taking a life, no matter how despicable, would have caused her to completely break down again.
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Daphne's emotions were in turmoil. Her sister had just been through one of the worst imaginable nightmares of any girl. She thanked Gaia that they'd gotten there just in time. She was currently digging through Astoria's trunk at 6:30 in the morning, searching for fresh under garments to bring to her little sister. She'd found a few pairs of panties and bras when she happened upon a diary.
Not wanting to intrude on her sister's privacy, she picked up the small book to move it so she could find Astoria's thick woolen socks she loved so much. Her hands were still shaking a bit with emotion though, and her grip loosened, nearly dropping the diary. When she caught it by the front cover, a small, slightly aged card fell out of it's pages.
Picking it up off the floor, she recognized it immediately, remembering the day she'd gotten it so clearly. That had been four years ago.
Hi Daphne,
Hoping you're having a Happy Valentine's Day
-Harry
She'd wondered where it had gone, having been very depressed at having somehow lost it after she'd gotten home for the summer. The same summer they thought a deranged killer was out for Harry's blood. She remembered how exchanging letters with him made her feel so much better. She hadn't looked at the note since before school had let out. She was sure she'd packed it away but found it missing. She had been distraught thinking she'd left it at school, and that it had probably been cleaned up as rubbish by the house elves.
Her curiosity got the better of her and she opened Astoria's diary to the first page. It seemed she began keeping it that very same summer.
Astoria's Log July 11,1993-10:32 A.M.
I was going through Daphne's school trunk while she was having her bubble bath this morning, hoping to find anything I could to use as blackmail, when I happened upon a very interesting note. FROM A BOY!
Some boy named Harry. Mum hasn't mentioned anything about any boy Daphne might have written her about. Wouldn't it be brilliant if it were "The-Boy-Who-Lived", Harry Potter himself? Imagine that. My big sister getting married to Harry Potter. (Le Sigh)
Astoria's Log- Supplemental- (I'm such a dork) *smiles* 4:09 P.M.
Daphne seemed depressed after her bath for some reason. Dunno what it could be, and she wouldn't tell me. She was moping around until a beautiful snowy owl arrived a few minutes ago in the family room. Big sis' entire attitude changed on the spot when she saw it. She jumped up, quick as she could, and took the letter, and the owl up to her room.
The owl even squawked at being grabbed up like a baby before Daffy (I'm calling her that because she was acting like a mad woman) ran out of the room with it. Hilarious I tell you! Mummy just shook her head at it all while daddy got up and poured himself a drink muttering about boys and killing curses. I am certain it had to be the same boy named Harry. I'm going to keep a close eye on this. If nothing else it's going to be funny. I just hope this boy doesn't hurt my big sister. He seems nice enough though, if he thought enough about Daffy to send her a note.
Astoria's Log July 12,1993-9:39 A.M.
Daphne was acting very sappy this morning at breakfast. She had a silly grin on her face. Probably because of the boy. Daddy was scowling until mummy jabbed him in the ribs…
Skimming through the rest of the pages, Daphne realized, becoming somewhat irritated, that it was a diary entirely devoted to Astoria's observations on her love life. She had to agree that her little sister was a dork.
She'd been hooked on these Muggle shows called "Star Trek" in all their various incarnations, of which, there were still two different series on the tele. She remembered how disappointed Tori was when the series with Patrick Stewart went off the air, but was delighted when they'd all gone to the Muggle cinema to see the movie. In fact, they were set to go see the newest release during the upcoming hols.
Thinking it over, Daphne pulled out her wand and made a copy of the diary before replacing the note and put it back into Tori's trunk. She really wanted to see things from her sister's perspective.
Daphne heard a noise, and realized it was one of Tori's dorm-mates waking up. When asked what she was doing there, Daphne simply answered with a stern look that dared the girl to challenge her for going into her sister's trunk before she walked out with Tori's unmentionables and various toiletries, copy of the diary safely tucked into her coat.
Walking back into her quarters, she put Tori's stuff down on the coffee table in the sitting room, and decided to read a little more before going to see her. Sitting on the large comfy couch, she skimmed through, passing where Astoria snooped around to find it was indeed Harry Potter, until she found a promising passage.
Astoria's Log August 16, 1993 1:03 P.M.
Oh my! That boy is in trouble! Harry has already set Daphne off. We were almost finished up with lunch with mum today when the beautiful snowy owl, Hedwig, made an appearance. Daphne seemed to be happy, then scared, then mad.
She told mummy that she was going to give Harry Potter a piece of her mind for being a stupid git and running off by himself when there was a crazy mad man on the loose. And mummy let her go! To see a boy! ALONE!
Can you believe it? Good thing daddy was at work for lunch today. After Daffy left, mum started humming a bridal march to herself as she cleaned up. I think she thinks Harry and Daffy are gong to get married one day. How about that? Harry Potter and my crazy sister? Will the wonders ever end? I almost feel sorry for the boy! Ha! Just kidding! (smiles)
Skimming through some more Daphne found a passage from just before Astoria started at Hogwarts.
Astoria's Log August 31, 1994 - 9:33 P.M.
Tomorrow I start at Hogwarts. I'm so excited! I know what I'm going to do. The twins tried to take the mickey out on me by saying the sorting would hurt really badly. Harry set me straight and said they used a hat to sort us. I used a shrinking solution on the twin's underwear for that one. Never heard boys shriek like girls before. Anyway, as I was saying, I know what I HAVE to do. I'm going to march right up to the hat, and demand I be put in Gryffindor. And if it asks me why, I'll tell it I need to keep an eye on my sister's future husband, and keep other girls away from him so they can get married and have lots of babies one day, and if it says no, I'll just have to set it on fire. I really hope they do get married one day. Harry is such a nice boy, and Daphne is happy when she's with him. I just want her to be happy. I'm such a sap….
Daphne had tears in her eyes as she chuckled at Tori's musings. She'd always wondered what she'd said to the hat to make it laugh before it sorted her, but her little sister wouldn't spill.
Looking over at the clock, she saw it was just after seven. Deciding Tori would probably be up by now because of Madam Pomfrey's incessant hovering and examining, Daphne marked her place in the diary before walking quietly into their bedroom and putting it in her beside drawer, being careful not to wake her sleeping husband. Walking back into the sitting room, she picked up Tori's things and packed them in her empty book bag before making her way to see her little sister.
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A/N: There it is. Funny how an entire chappie can just appear on the screen when all you start with are a few words. I never plan my chapters out. When I'm stuck, I'm stuck. But when I finally get an idea for a start, it usually just spills out, just like this chapter and a few others before. I felt that a little more focus on Astoria would add a bit more to her character. She IS a lot of fun to write. Astoria's love for things Muggle makes a relationship between her and a muggle born more plausible I think. They have a common ground.
Maybe a bit more on Snape to make him seem more human than just an all around douche bag, and to show that even an asshole like him is helpless against Astoria's charm. I think it also makes what happened to her seem so much worse, don't you think? Anyway, Read and let me know in reviews.
Live Long and Prosper - Edward