Written For:

Quidditch Fanfiction League Competition: Caerphilly Catapults - Round 4 - Keeper
Write a story inspired by the prompt 'Asylum'

Betas: CupCakeyyy, S L Blake

Seeking Asylum

Astoria knew it was coming. She had heard her sister whispering with Tracey Davis. She was only a fifth year, so she knew she could hope that it wouldn't affect her. It wasn't like she'd be expected to fight. What good would someone with only the education of a fifth year do? Still, she was scared.

It might have not been very Slytherin to admit, even to herself, that she was scared, but she had never considered herself to be a true Slytherin. In fact, she was kind of surprised that the Sorting Hat hadn't chosen Ravenclaw for her. She loved to study and thought her actions out before making any decisions. She was never the type to jump into a situation before thinking every possible scenario through. At the same time, she wasn't very cunning.

And what she was thinking right now was that she wanted to be as far as she could be from the upcoming war.

She tilted her head, watching Daphne hold court in the common room. She was like the queen of her year, with all of the peasants flocking to shower praise at her feet. 'Maybe I should tell Daphne how I feel,' Astoria thought for a moment before she shook her head, quickly ridding it of the ridiculous thought.

Daphne was eager to take the mark. If she was allowed to take it before her seventeenth birthday, she wouldn't hesitate to hold her pale, unblemished arm out and get branded with the ugly tattoo. And worse, Daphne would tell her parents, and she'd be an even greater disappointment in their eyes.

No, she couldn't go to her older sister with this. There had to be someone that she could go to for help, though.

The answer came the next day. She got paired with Ginny Weasley in Herbology. She and Ginny weren't friends by anyone's definition, but they were polite to each other and there wasn't any of the animosity that usually existed between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

She knew, in her heart, that Ginny wouldn't turn her away if she asked for help.

As the class ended, Astoria whispered, "Can you stay back for a minute?" She was careful, making sure nobody would overhear her.

Ginny shrugged. "I guess. What is it?"

Astoria bit her bottom lip for a moment, nervously twirling a stray lock of hair that fell out of her ponytail and hung down against her cheek.

Ginny waited patiently.

"Okay, I know you probably can't say much, but I know war is starting to build up. The Slytherins aren't quiet about what their parents are doing. And I want no part in it. But, I know because of my family, I'm going to be forced to do something. Something I don't want to do. I can't go to Daphne for help. She's as manic as our parents are about what they deem to be a righteous cause. I need help. I need asylum."

Ginny's indifferent expression softened to one of kindness. "Why are you coming to me? There has to be someone else you can go to. Someone you know better."

"I don't know who else to go to. I know not all Slytherins are dark. Some of them are neutral or may even lean towards the light side. But I don't know who, and I definitely don't know who I can trust. If I approach the wrong person, I could be signing my own death warrant as a traitor. The ones who feel the way I do know just like me that it would be suicide to make noise about their true loyalties. All they can hope for is to get through the war unscathed if they stay quiet. I just… I want to live. I don't want to fight. I don't want to be forced to hurt anyone." Astoria sighed. "I probably sound like a Hufflepuff."

"You sound like a kid. Like a scared kid. And that's nothing to be ashamed of," Ginny softly spoke, her tone not making Astoria feel bad about her cowardice. "And I want to help you. I think we should go to Dumbledore. He'll know what to do."

Astoria was afraid of that, but she knew Ginny was probably right. They were just fifth years. What could they do without an adult's help? She nodded reluctantly and instead of going to their next classes, they went to Dumbledore's office.

X

She knew she'd be safe at 12 Grimmauld Place when she was taken there. Before Dumbledore's death, he had made plans for her safety. Before the funeral was even over, Remus Lupin shepherded her away to the safety of the large house that was still hidden under a Fidelius Charm as the war started. You-Know-Who was done hiding.

When she was there, Astoria watched as others came and went. She mostly saw the Weasley family. Although Ron Weasley looked at her with suspicion at the beginning, she suspected Ginny must have said something because his attitude soon changed.

Harry and Hermione were polite, but they didn't know her and never knew what to say to her. Astoria usually stayed close to Ginny, the one she knew the best. She felt bad for taking over Ginny's attention. She was sure Harry must resent her just a little bit for it, but she could see their future. 'That relationship won't last,' she thought as the drama began to unfold between the couple. And sure enough, Harry and Ginny had soon broken up.

When Harry and his friends left on some kind of secret mission, Astoria comforted Ginny. "They'll be okay," she said, despite having no way of knowing whether her words were true.

Ginny stared at her. "Don't make empty promises."

Astoria stood on the sidelines while Molly Weasley tried to convince Ginny of the dangers of returning to Hogwarts. She bit her lip, knowing it was hopeless. Ginny understood the danger, but her Gryffindor nature wouldn't let her sit back while everyone else suffered. It didn't matter what her mother said. Ginny would go to Hogwarts, even if it was only to shield those that she could.

She admired Ginny; Astoria just wasn't that brave.

The night before Ginny was to leave, the two of them sat side by side on Ginny's bed, staring at the packed trunk.

"You really must think me a coward," Astoria murmured, flushing in embarrassment.

Ginny took her hand, her thumb caressing Astoria's knuckles. "Slytherins are mostly about survival, aren't they? And that's what you're doing. Surviving."

"I wish I was a little more like you," the Slytherin admitted, keeping her sky blue eyes averted.

Ginny brushed Astoria's hair away from her shoulder and the light touch made Astoria look up in surprise. "I think you're fine the way you are. You don't have to be like me or anyone else. Just be yourself. Not everyone is made to be a Gryffindor. I think it was very brave of you to ask me for help that day after Herbology. It was a different type of bravery, but it was still bravery. You sought safety. Protection. Asylum."

Astoria remembered that was the word she had originally used when asking for help. "I never thought I'd seek protection with Gryffindors. My family must be disgusted by me."

"Their loss," Ginny murmured, tilting her head closer.

Astoria's heart hammered, but she scooted away on the bed before their lips touched.

A flash of disappointment crossed Ginny's features. "Sorry if I overstepped. I thought you wanted…" She trailed off.

Astoria quickly shook her head. "I didn't. I mean… you didn't overstep. But… It hasn't been that long since you and Harry broke up. And you'll be going to Hogwarts tomorrow, facing unknown dangers. I'm stuck here. Most likely until the war is over. I would love to kiss you, but maybe we should wait until the war is over, to see where our feelings stand?"

Ginny nodded. "I guess that's fair."

"That means you better survive this year. Be careful?" Astoria said, even though it sounded more like a question.

"Always," Ginny promised. She reached for Astoria's hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"We'll talk when this is over," Astoria whispered, getting up and leaving the room before she went against her former words and gave Ginny the kiss of her lifetime.

Maybe when this was over, she would have a chance with Ginny. She hoped so, but first, they had to get through this war.

XX

(word count: 1,414)