Book 1: Astoria Greengrass and the Muggle-Born Slytherin

Song rec: "Quiet as a Mouse" by Margot and the Nuclear So & So's

The morning of the last Task of the Triwizard Tournament had arrived. Astoria had just picked up a slice of toast when Draco Malfoy tossed a newspaper at her. Astoria didn't make reading it a priority. She would finish her breakfast before she started with Malfoy. It was the right decision; soon enough he jumped up from his seat and was shouting at the Gryffindor table, Harry Potter in particular. Many other students started laughing, all seemingly interested in a newspaper article. Draco was acting half his age, making dumb faces at the Gryffindors and having a grand time. He then turned to Astoria.

"Did you read it? Bet you won't think Potter's so great now," he said.

Astoria slammed her fork down on the table and picked up the newspaper. There was an article titled "Harry Potter: 'Disturbed and Dangerous.'" After somehow making it through the whole thing, Astoria did not have the energy left. Draco was looking at her oddly.

"What's your problem?" he asked. She ignored him.

Astoria did not have to know Harry Potter more than cursorily to know the article was full of lies. Within the article, it accused Harry of being unstable and dangerous. It said that he has an unnatural pain in his scar that could indicate brain damage. It said that he could speak Parseltongue, and it accused him of being involved with the Dark Arts. It practically blamed him for the basilisk attacks on the students two years ago, which Astoria had just learnt about. It said that he made friends with 'vicious creatures' like half-giants and werewolves. And worst of it all, the person behind these wrongful accusations was sitting right next to Astoria. It wasn't that anything in this article affected Astoria, but Rhiannon would be at breakfast in any minute. The accusation that Harry had incited the basilisk was more than libel. Astoria didn't want to see her friend fall apart again.

"Not amused, hm, Greengrass? Figures. Did you see the other article?" Draco asked.

"Other article, Malfoy? Look at what you put in this one," she snarled at him, throwing the paper in his food.

Her section of the table was looking at her. They had all taken delight in having a scapegoat for the basilisk that had attacked Muggle-borns — which came from their founder and crawled up from under their dungeons.

"People could have died, and you all think this is funny!" Astoria yelled at the group. "Learn what that says about yourselves — and yes, Imogen, I am that mud pie girl, thank you."

Astoria ran from the Great Hall before any professor could get to her. She saw Rhiannon on the way and tried to stop her.

"Don't go up there," Astoria said.

"Why not?"

"You won't like what you find. Draco's put an awful interview in the paper."

Rhiannon continued walking anyway.

"I'm serious, Rhiannon!"

"I'm seriously hungry! What do I care what Malfoy does, anyway?"

Astoria went back to the common room, hoping that people wouldn't throw comments at Rhiannon about the basilisk now that it was fresh in their minds. Yet for some strange reason, Rhiannon was smiling giddily after breakfast.

"Fifteen points from Slytherin. I can't go see the last Task tonight," she said lightly. "Good thing I'm already in detention with Moody, or I'd be stuck with Snape."

Astoria couldn't figure out why Rhiannon was so contented about that, or why she was still having detentions.

"I thought he wasn't really giving you anything to do… isn't that the part you didn't like?"

"Still better than Snape."

"Well… wait, what did you do?"

"What did I do?" Rhiannon asked, looking round the common room for an answer in what Astoria thought was sarcasm. "What did I do?"

"Really, Rhiannon, how did you get in trouble? Why can't you go see the last Task?" Astoria asked impatiently.

"I think I did something to Malfoy! I mean, I hope it was Malfoy, y'know?" Rhiannon said with a hearty laugh.

Astoria was bewildered.

"She splashed pumpkin juice on my clothes, that's what!" Draco shouted as he entered the room. His shirt collar was tinged burnt-orange, and if anyone knew it was a brand one didn't want stains on, it was Astoria.

"Oh, right, I splashed pumpkin juice on him," Rhiannon grinned.

"After what I did for you…" Draco hissed as he tossed the same newspaper to Astoria again. "Would you just go to the next page already? Not you, Clarke, you get away from me. Astoria."

Astoria took the newspaper as Rhiannon looked on. There, right after the article about Harry, was an article about Pariah.

NEW ROCK BAND TO RELEASE ALBUM NEXT MONTH

Four ambitious Hogwarts girls have decided to take their musical abilities to the next level, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Astoria Greengrass, Hestia and Flora Carrow, and Rhiannon Clarke, four Slytherin third-years, have recently been signed to Infinite Records under the band name Pariah. This label holds the names of famed bands such as The Weird Sisters and Spellbound, so these girls are under serious pressure.

"I think they're realising what hard work it is," says Tracey Davis, fellow student and daughter of the popular producer John Davis. "But I know they'll pull through, and they have great material!"

John Davis is the producer for Pariah and revealed their first album will be released next month.

"It started when my daughter asked me to have a listen to her friends' band. When I heard them play, I knew they had something going for them. They're composers at heart, and I think that's what makes the difference when you're that age and trying to get your feelings into music."

Another special thing, though, is the band's use of a Muggle guitar. Pariah manager Leonard Mongaby said that he tried to convince the guitarist, Rhiannon Clarke, to get a normal guitar. She preferred to use the Muggle one because she had always used it, and she was very inflexible. "Those girls know what they want," he said.

Only a small number of outsiders have heard the girls play so far. All four girls are enrolled in Music as an extra-curricular class at Hogwarts School. They have performed some songs to the other students there. Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year, said that he has heard them play, but only without vocals. "The guitar is odd," he admits, "but you can still recognise it's good music."

The use of a Muggle electric guitar should prove to be agreeable, as other bands had previously used them before the introduction of our own Wizarding effects guitar. If the band does have to resort to giving up the guitar, it will make little change to the girls' determination to succeed. The first album's release date will be announced shortly, and it will be available at Dominic Maestro's in Hogsmeade and various shops in Diagon Alley. x

Astoria was speechless. Draco was waiting on edge for a "thank you" because that was the kind of person he was. He was the kind of person to do something terrible and see nothing wrong with it. He was the kind of person to do something nice every once in a while and expect praise. He was the kind of person who sat right behind Astoria in her favourite class for the sole purpose of kicking her chair.

"Thank you for saying that you can appreciate our Muggle guitar, Draco," Astoria said. "I have it in print now."

"Don't take it the wrong way," he said, glowering at Rhiannon. She grinned back, happy as could be.

"I was the one who recommended that Skeeter write an article about you," Draco boasted. "Not you," he said to Rhiannon, his detestation growing at the same rate as her smiling.

"That was taking a chance," Astoria countered. "Usually her articles are appalling."

"No, Skeeter likes me. Anything I say, she goes along with," he said.

"Astoria's right, that was still risky," Rhiannon said.

"Clarke, I've had it twice over with you!" Draco shouted. "Leave me alone!"

Rhiannon stormed off to show the twins the article. Draco sat down on an uncomfortable leather couch.

"You know, Clarke's not the only one who owes me an apology," he said. "I had to get another plate sent up after you put the paper in my food. Goyle had touched that paper with his grubby fingers — I had to be safe."

"I'm not exactly sorry, since this wasn't the only article you inspired," Astoria said.

Draco played the pity card by fussing with his stained shirt. Astoria knew that feeling; once Daphne had utterly destroyed a dress of Astoria's by spilling pumpkin juice on it.

"Well, you could at least say you're sorry. I hear you're good at lying, Greengrass."

"Who said that?"

"Pansy."

"Pansy can go get hit with a Silencing Charm and a splash of pumpkin juice."

"No, no. You owe me an apology. As you would say, 'You wouldn't want a newspaper in your food, Draco Malfoy.'"

"Draco, all I can say is I appreciate you getting us in the paper. You didn't have to do that, and I'm honestly surprised you painted us in a positive light. So thank you. Now if you turn round and bully us or say it was all a prank, I…"

Astoria trailed off.

I would be so disappointed.

"Looking forward to hearing you tidy the rest of them up, Greengrass," he said, rolling his eyes at Rhiannon and the twins.

He left her company to go do whatever it was he had to do to be problematic enough for the day.

Dinner was replaced with a large feast in the evening. Astoria stayed at the Slytherin table because Philippe was there.

"Are you happy this is the last Task?" he asked.

"Very," said Astoria.

She didn't even want to go, after what happened at the last one. The year was so close to being over. So many things had been centred on this Tournament, and Astoria finally felt the impact of Philippe having somewhere else to be. Somewhere miles and miles away.

"Well, actually, no. The Tournament was the reason I met you," she said.

Philippe smiled, "I have a feeling we might have met anyway. Somehow… through Zéphir."

Astoria had no way to cool her face's flush. Did Philippe really believe that… that they were meant to know each other? It was a beautiful feeling, and she and Philippe cracked inside jokes in each other's ear throughout the feast. After the meal, Professor Dumbledore instructed the students to go to the Quidditch pitch. Rhiannon got up to go back to the dungeons. As much as Astoria was relishing in Philippe's light cologne and curly hair, she didn't feel like risking making a fool of herself again at the Tournament itself. She and Philippe had a little bit of time left during the last few days of school, after all… Maybe she could tell him she wanted to keep it this way… But for now, she stuck with her gut.

"I don't think it's a good idea for me to go. It's getting dark, and we all know what happened at the last one," Astoria said.

Philippe looked slightly disappointed. "Oh, okay."

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to pass out in the dark, or make stupid commentary and ruin it for everyone," she laughed at herself. "Rhiannon's not allowed to go, and she'll be the only one in here."

"That's fine," Philippe said with a reassuring smile.

He walked outside with Zéphir and Zéphir's paparazzi. Astoria went back to the dungeons. It felt like they had set aside their differences about this band. Rhiannon talked about what should go on the album cover. Astoria said that pictures of the bandmates as children might keep along with the themes they touched on. Rhiannon was thinking more along the lines of drawing Draco with an egg-shaped head.

"If we have pictures of us as kids, mine'll be the only picture that doesn't move… Oh well, maybe that'll make another point. I do love making points, Astoria."

"I know you do," she smiled.

They must have spent two hours just laughing and talking, but the time seemed to have passed quickly. From their dormitory, Astoria and Rhiannon heard a sudden increase in the noise level of the common room and decided to walk down. All of the Slytherins were back from the event, and something was horribly wrong. There were many girls crying and several boys pretending not to. Anyone who wasn't silent was talking nonstop. A lot of people were hugging, and Astoria knew. Someone had been badly hurt in the Task. Maybe even worse. She saw that even Blaise Zabini looked stunned, and her stomach lurched. Then Flora and Hestia staggered over to the girls, Flora practically carrying her weeping sister.

"What on earth's happened?" Rhiannon demanded.

"Cedric Diggory… he died," Flora announced with great struggle. "He died during it."

Astoria felt compelled to move, to speak, but nothing she did would mean anything. The fact that she had had a bad feeling about the Tournament all along somehow made it more sickening.

"We don't know how it happened," Flora said, helping her sister sit down. "We couldn't see inside the hedge maze in which the Champions were, but at the end, Harry came out of it really shaken. He was holding Cedric's body by the arm. I couldn't see what was going on after that, but everyone kept saying Cedric's dead. People were screaming so loud. I mean, we really saw people taking his body away."

"Horrible… horrible…" Hestia cried.

After nearly twenty minutes, Professor Snape entered the common room and stood at the top of the stone steps. He was shocked and out of breath; it showed in his speech.

"All of you are to go back to your dormitories. If anyone thinks that now is the time to cause trouble, you will be expelled," he said quickly, then dashed out of the room.

Rhiannon had to shake Astoria to get her to stand up and walk. Astoria felt so much pain; her mind raced so fast that it suddenly stopped thinking. Hestia and Rhiannon whispered together for most of the night, whilst Flora tried to conceal the fact that she was crying herself to sleep. Astoria lay awake in bed, watching the minute hand on her bedside clock move.

It was the dead of night when Rhiannon shot out of bed like she had been attached to a spring. She did not know that Astoria was awake and was fumbling all over the room, mumbling absolute nonsense about "leaving the country."

"Rhiannon," Astoria tried to say without waking the twins, "Rhiannon. We're in the dormitory. Be quiet. What are you talking about?"

"Rhiannon?" Rhiannon asked bizarrely. "Astoria? Mother? Mother, help."

"Wha—? You're sleepwalking. Rhiannon."

"No one will hurt us, no one. Aurora!"

Astoria rolled out of bed and grabbed Rhiannon by the arms. Rhiannon clung to the touch with one hand and put her other hand over her mouth tightly. She was in tears. This was not the first time Astoria thought the girl had gone mad. The twins were awake, but Astoria had no explanation to offer them.

"Rhiannon, please, you're making no sense. What is it?"

"Please don't hurt me," Rhiannon raved, spinning in circles out of Astoria's arms and clutching her head. "I'm always in effing pain…"

Astoria lit her wand and shone it right in Rhiannon's crazed face. Her eyes had genuinely rolled back. Astoria stepped back in distaste and fright. Rhiannon's eyes then rolled forward to focus on the light and spilled into tears.

"I… can't, Aurora… it's like fog…"

"What in the world are you talking about, love?" Astoria asked gently, holding Rhiannon at the shoulder once more.

Rhiannon shook her head and mirrored Astoria's action, touching her shoulder. She shook her head again, and Astoria quickly had to support her as she slumped. Astoria could barely manoeuvre her and shimmied her back to the bed with Hestia's help.

"I was dreaming. I musta been dreaming. Sorry," Rhiannon said. "I feel awful."

Rhiannon studied the room like there was something new about it, grabbed her head again, and looked at Astoria for an answer. Astoria and Hestia sat next to her. Flora had rolled over and was simply trying not to get involved.

"It was like you were sleepwalking during a nightmare?" Astoria guessed.

"I feel like… Well, I don't know. I don't feel good. You shouldn't turn a telly off by unplugging it, right? You should use the buttons. I feel unplugged. Whiplash or something."

"Rhiannon, I've no idea what you've been talking about for the past five minutes. I'm only being honest. I think you need some sleep."

It took more rambling before Rhiannon started making sense again and felt a bit better. She finally went to sleep, unlike Astoria. Astoria tried to put Rhiannon's outburst from her mind, but there was something terrible bubbling in her own head. It was more than a headache from sleep-deprivation; it felt more like Astoria had taken a potion she shouldn't have. Even though she was lying still in a quiet, dark, room, she felt like she was looking at herself from above the bed. She could see all of her messy, tired features, but she couldn't feel her fingertips. Her thoughts jumbled, and she thought she was somewhere in Hogsmeade. There was a tall, turreted house with an empty pair of shoes waiting by the door, and Astoria couldn't make her body get there. This was not the first time she had seen herself from the outside, either. She had once seen her own body… but it hadn't been her…

Astoria felt like the room wasn't real. It was all an illusion, and it started dripping away like rain on a windowpane. Astoria didn't want to leave, though, and she slammed her eyes shut. She could hear Rhiannon snoring. That meant whatever had bothered Rhiannon had passed her over, and it could pass over Astoria, too. Astoria came back to reality.

"Rhiannon, I think I saw something by the music room," she gasped, but when she saw that Rhiannon's sleep was undisturbed, she didn't try to wake her again.

There was very little said the next two mornings and no official statement on Cedric Diggory's death. It was like no one knew how he had died during the Task. The headmaster, one of the few people still showing up at the staff table, arrived at breakfast half an hour late on Monday and made an announcement that caused more turmoil. He did not give details. Astoria wasn't sure if it was better that way or not.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts will not meet this last week. We have found that Alastor Moody has sustained a good deal of trauma."

Professor Dumbledore then requested that no student bother Harry Potter, since he had obviously gone through great trauma as well. Many kids stirred in their seats with the events of the Third Task still fresh in their minds. Astoria shuddered. She had no idea what was happening beyond her breakfast table. Rhiannon's own distraught expression was making it worse.

"You've heard about everything from the Task?" Philippe asked, approaching the Slytherin table.

Astoria nodded. He took a seat next to her and remained there. After he recounted what he had seen, which was not any more informed than Flora and Hestia's account, both were in silence. Yet Philippe's company made Astoria feel so much better, at least as much as it could.