Book 3: Astoria Greengrass and the Legilimens of Hogwarts
Song rec: "Don't Pass Me By" by Laura Marling
Professor Snape had always had a way about him that left one guessing his intentions. Rhiannon had a faint idea of where the accusations of him playing favourites with the Slytherins came from, but it definitely was not as pronounced at the other Houses liked to think. All thirty-one fifth-year Slytherins had to meet with Professor Snape for career advice due to their creeping O.W.L.s, and not a single one of them wanted to. The only good thing about it was that Snape had scheduled right through the elective classes. That would mean Rhiannon got to skip Care of Magical Creatures.
"Meeting with Professor Snape can't be that bad, right, Astoria?" said Flora at lunch.
Flora was up to face Snape on Monday. Hestia was the first appointment on Tuesday and could not have been happier for the extra day away from him.
"It's not altogether bad," Astoria said, since she had had to meet with Professor Snape as a formality the previous year. "He basically tells you everything you're doing wrong and sends you on your way. I heard that Umbridge sat in on some students' appointments…thank goodness she's gone."
"So… it is bad," Hestia said.
"It's not different than anything else with Professor Snape," Astoria maintained. "He's very helpful if you simply let him get all of his opinions out first."
"His opinion that I'm doomed!" Hestia exclaimed.
"That's enough," said her sister. "He likes you. The only reason he yelled at you last week was because you and Rhiannon would absolutely not shut it during class."
"He hates me," said Hestia sensationally.
Nobody in their right mind could hate Hestia. On top of that, Snape was sure to like that Hestia was planning to make an honest potioneer out of herself. Rhiannon, on the other hand, wasn't sure what else she was going to do besides what she was already doing with Pariah. Pariah wasn't enough to pay for a house yet, so she'd have to pick up something. Music was her real path, though.
Rhiannon and Hestia met on the Grand Staircase before Rhiannon was set to visit Snape. Hestia was relieved that Snape had only a few "bad" things to say to her and that he had been especially accommodating in telling her about the field of potions. Rhiannon, not having the same interest in potions, still was weary of career advice, but the real issue was not Snape. Rhiannon hoped that she would not have to face Pansy Parkinson's new favourite person, Diane Carter, for any longer than necessary, since Carter had the appointment in front of her. Hestia offered to walk her down to the dungeons so she wouldn't have to pass by Carter alone.
"You'll be late to Professor Hagrid's," Rhiannon protested, since she genuinely liked him.
"What's another missing Slytherin to him, huh?" Hestia answered coolly, and so they descended to Snape's office.
Carter was in fact just leaving with a scowl on her face. That was no surprise to Rhiannon; the girl was about as bright as an Extinguishing Charm. Rhiannon watched her out of the corner of her eye as she passed by.
"What are you looking at, you ugly Mudblood?" Carter whistled through her nose.
"Didja say something, Farter?" Rhiannon asked with her hand cupped behind her ear.
Their words didn't amount to anything. Rhiannon had an appointment to keep. She kissed Hestia on the cheek for good luck. Professor Snape was hunched over his desk and looked particularly pleased to be crossing off Diane Carter's name from the appointment list. When Rhiannon took a seat, he leaned way back in his chair and folded his hands.
"Long time, no see, Professor," Rhiannon said, since she had double D.A.D.A. that morning.
"Indeed."
What was she supposed to do, impress him? He looked rather off-colour, which was saying something, since he was pale in the first place. Rhiannon remembered that Astoria said to let him talk first, but he wasn't saying anything. Rhiannon saw a wide array of course catalogues from different schools on Snape's desk.
"You are not planning to continue Divination, I would hope," was his opener.
"No, sir. I don't have 'the Inner Eye.'" Rhiannon said.
"Mhm. Few other institutions offer that course… No, you can't be that surprised that I've brought this up, Miss Clarke."
"The transferring to other schools thing?" Rhiannon sighed. "I know, I know, I'm the infamous Muggle-born Slytherin. Dark Lord and all that. Cleanse the House. I know. I hear it from Carter and them all the time."
Professor Snape did not seem as affected by her breach in formality as he usually might. For once, he looked like he was showing honest emotion. He slid the course catalogues to the edge of his desk.
"I am inviting you to consider other schools not to be over-anxious, but because the taunts of your classmates unfortunately possess more than a grain of truth. Fortunately, O.W.L.s transfer to other institutions."
Professor Snape seemed very calm about all of this. It helped Rhiannon stay calm, too. He had a much different approach than the Greengrasses, who panicked all through Easter holiday. He was very matter-of-fact about the state of the world. Snape really gave a damn. There was kindness there as he pointed out the Magizoology programme at Castelobruxo to Rhiannon, and she admired how advanced it was compared to Care of Magical Creatures held out by the garden.
"Miss Clarke, we still have Jessica Limmen as the family contact on your files," he said knowingly.
Rhiannon wasn't supposed to tell anybody that she lived with the Greengrasses, but it was more or less obvious to anyone who paid attention.
"You can keep her there. If Lord You-Know-Mort comes to get me, I'd at least like her to know I've died. She hates seeing owls, too, so go on and send all the owls you need."
Professor Snape resumed his usual stoniness at that and flicked more papers in front of him with his wand. He stopped talking to her. He was reading reports on her performance from other teachers. His attitude gave her the impression that he already knew that she had no idea what she was doing with her life besides music.
"Well, let's rule some things out," he huffed.
Here it comes.
"No Astronomy or Herbology for you, I take it. History of Magic… Miss Clarke, have you passed a single test in there?"
"Yeah, I've passed some, sir. My job in there is to make sure I don't get retained," she said honestly.
He glared and clicked his tongue, and then allowed Rhiannon to see her summary of progress. It wasn't bad, all things considered. D.A.D.A., Charms, and Muggle Studies actually gave her reason to be proud. The rest was probably mediocre in his eyes. Well, she tried her best when she felt it best to.
"What careers have you considered, Miss Clarke? — No, other than your little band."
"Erm. I guess something to pay the bills."
"'Something to pay the bills,'" Snape said slowly, looking like he was really hoping she would react to his disapproval.
The problem was that Rhiannon faced disapproval every day. It didn't have an effect on her. Professor Snape had become quite irritated both with her and the ticking of his grandfather clock. He stopped its sound. Rhiannon tried not to breathe as heavy on account of how much quieter it became.
"I don't like to see my Slytherins end up with 'something to pay the bills,' Miss Clarke," he said earnestly. "In your particular case… Well, it would be remiss of us to think that you were Sorted here for nothing, would it not?"
"Er… Maybe," Rhiannon said. "Maybe I could become an hit-witch."
Professor Snape's small black eyes widened, "And what do you think being a hit-witch entails?"
"Like Aurors but… more on my level, you know?"
"You need five O.W.L.s to become a hit-witch," Professor Snape humoured her. "It's a dangerous path."
This could go on all day, so Rhiannon thought it best to simply ask Professor Snape which field he thought would be best for her. He didn't look very pleased about being asked to tell her what to do, but really, Rhiannon only saw personal fulfilment in being in Pariah.
"If you are a hit-witch, you cannot be a rock star," he said coldly. "Putting yourself on show like that will only attract criminal attention, particularly with the rancorous nature of your music."
Rhiannon was shocked to know that Snape paid any attention to her endeavours. She quickly understood why. Slytherin's Blot was being too loud for her safety with Death Eaters running about, that's why.
"I get that I'm Death Eater bait," Rhiannon said frustratedly. "Really, my goal is to stay in the band and get successful. Like, maybe not Weird Sisters-level successful. I guess putting out an album sobered me up a bit, but at least… something more than a job I don't care about. That's what I want."
"Do not use this tone with me, Clarke," Snape said in a very low voice. "You are gravely mistaken if you think publicity at a time like this is a good thing."
"Well, I really don't have much to—" she started loudly, then caught herself, "to say here today, sir. My career goal is really just Pariah."
Professor Snape stood up and started circling the room. Oh, she was really in for it now. Why hadn't he given Hestia and Flora hell about the band? Why her? So what if she wanted to be a musician? Everybody looked down on that as a job, but then they went ahead and listened to music anyway. Like it just came out of nowhere! People worked on that song to allow you to just passively listen to it and brush it off as a joke of a job!
Professor Snape also started by shouting and then caught himself. Rhiannon never listened to shouting. She didn't much care for this growl he was pulling off, either, but she could not walk out.
"Since I am not making myself very clear, Miss Clarke, allow me to tell you a story about the Greengrasses that even your dear friend Astoria does not know," Professor Snape said, slinking all over the room. "In the 1960s, which you would know if you paid any attention in History of Magic, there took place Squib Rights marches. I happened to be a child then and have no recollection. You can imagine, I'm sure, that one of the championing groups within these marches was none other than the Greengrass family."
What does this have to do with anything?
"Anything to do with rights and protesting inevitably attracts the attention of the sort of people you hear from on a nearly daily basis, Miss Clarke. In almost no time at all, the Squib Rights marches were met by rioting pure-bloods, and those who thought themselves pure-blood, resulting in violence. Because of the Minister for Magic's quick response, there was only one death. The death was of Calhoun Greengrass, a great-uncle of your friend Astoria's. Calhoun was not singled out simply for being at those marches, nor was he a Squib himself. He did not fall victim to the violent confusion in the riots. He was personally attacked because Titus Lestrange found Calhoun's vociferous editorials on human equality unsuitable to his palate. Tell me, Clarke, how is this any different from your little stage parades? How is that any safer for you and your friends? Titus is long dead, but he left us two sons, whom, I might add, have escaped Azkaban."
"Astoria never told me about that," Rhiannon said to put off a conversation she did not want to have. "Professor Binns never said no one died in those marches."
"She cannot tell you what is kept from her," Professor Snape said, a sneer on his face. "And Calhoun Greengrass's death is but a small detail in an even smaller event in history, for not long after the riots came the First Wizarding War. See, Miss Clarke, I believed you could stomach the news about poor Calhoun. You will not be so indifferent if one of your friends meets the same fate due to your tempting of the Dark Lord's crowd."
"I really don't think Death Eaters wait for me to come on the wireless, sir!" Rhiannon said anxiously, but then she thought of Alecto Carrow showing up at her concert.
"They are not deaf and they are not idle — that is all I am trying to tell you. You are only a teenager. You should focus on your academics and your safety. Other things, like music, will come in due time to you. Perhaps not here, but somewhere. Some other time."
Professor Snape took a seat and followed Rhiannon's nervous eyes.
"You really think so?" Rhiannon asked, but it sounded stupid coming out of her mouth. Professor Snape did not grace her with a reassuring answer. He did not care a pin about music. Rhiannon did understand, though, that he cared about her safety.
"Did you tell the twins all this, too, sir? Are you telling Astoria?"
"They are all perfectly aware of what position this band puts them in. Was Alecto Carrow not harassing you over the holidays? That is why I am doing this now."
"Yeah…" said Rhiannon, finally pondering her lack of response to that frightening event. "Yeah… she did show up. I'm sure she knows all the Slytherin's Blot business… People are so bloody anal about this House — oh, man! I'm sorry, Professor. 'Scuse my language. I didn't mean to, er…"
Snape rolled his eyes to the side and reorganised his papers.
"Again, you are not here without reason, Miss Clarke. I expect all of my students to be able to reach the heights of their ambitions. I can only hope that the foundation I have built here will assist you in that. We are nearly out of time, so I ask that you take these guides regarding which occupations require which O.W.L.s. Even if your…" he sighed, "even if your chosen field is music."
"Thank you, sir," Rhiannon said, taking the stack.
"I expect an Outstanding on the Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., Miss Clarke. Nothing less than Outstanding. I don't care what the job applications say."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't run off yet," he said sternly.
Rhiannon had only taken two steps back, but the intention was there.
"Professor Babbling delivered this to me this morning, since she does not have you for class," Professor Snape said, and he held out her wand, which no longer looked like a Crup puppy's tail.
"Oh, she's really fixed it. Thank you, sir," Rhiannon said, taking the wand and making to leave.
"Not so fast, Miss Clarke! Sit down again if you're going to keep doing this."
"Yes, sir."
Rhiannon took her seat. Professor Snape put his elbows on his desk and his nose in yet another piece of parchment.
"Professor Babbling is the only person in this school I trust to repair wands, but even she cannot restore every nuance of the original creation. You will also see, now that you are not in such a hurry, that she has left me a note describing the differences in performance. I have never used this wand, so it means nothing to me. But she says that since the wand was repaired using the web of a dying Acromantula, it will be… well, she wrote 'greedy,' so I can only assume that this wand will not tolerate long periods of inactivity… 'It expects the most out of life…' Hmph. That should not be a problem, as you will only be subjected to the law against underage magic for another year. Defence capabilities of the wand are improved… good news for you… However, at this point in the wand's life, the sort of careless magic you demonstrated in my class will almost certainly break it next time."
"I understand, Professor. Thank you. I'll have to go tell her thanks. Oh, wait… Astoria's in double Ancient Runes now… I'll meet her afterwards," Rhiannon mumbled mostly to herself.
"Miss Clarke… the other wand," Snape said, extending his hand. "I will return it to Professor Sinistra."
"Ah, right… erm, well, sir, I have Astronomy tonight at eight. I figured I'd just give it to her myself. If that's all right."
"I don't want any news from her about how you tried to talk her into keeping that wand, or to know that Professor Babbling went through all that trouble for you to complain that it's 'not the same.' I already told you your wand will not be exactly the same. It is still your wand, Clarke," Snape chastised.
"I understand, sir. I promise I'll give it to her, no trouble."
"She'll see to it. Go on then," he said, shaking his head.
"Thanks for the appointment, Professor."
"Mm. Do not hesitate to come back if you want more advice besides 'don't get killed.'"
Rhiannon started to laugh. It was the very first joke she'd ever heard come from Professor Snape. He raised his eyebrows at her. Of course, she knew his other words were meant to be taken seriously. He knew she knew, so he did not snuff her chuckles. Alexa Crover, on the other hand, was profoundly baffled by how good a mood in Rhiannon was when she left the office. Alexa was next up for career advice, after all, and her talk was bound to be much different from Rhiannon's.
"Just let him nag you first, and then it's not bad," Rhiannon said. "The man knows his stuff."
Rhiannon and Hestia spent much of the evening going over the pamphlets Professor Snape had given to her, with both of them noting that the Department of Magical Transportation and the Department of Magical Games and Sports were not very strict about O.W.L.s. Rhiannon wondered if the same leniency would apply in other countries where she and the Greengrasses might relocate. She was under the impression that they would be back someday after the war, since the Greengrasses had left and came back before, so she did not bring that up to Hestia. The conversation would have upset her needlessly.
Their Tuesday Astronomy class was at eight o'clock, well before Astoria's. They went early so that Rhiannon could return Professor Crouch's wand. Rhiannon infrequently visited Professor Sinistra's office, preferring to pester Astoria whenever she didn't understand something. As teachers' offices went, this one was by far the messiest. Hestia looked unsure of where to stand (all of the chairs had papers stacked on them), and Rhiannon took advantage of the small walkway to Sinistra's desk. Professor Crouch's blue and gold Doppelvanga greeted her from its large cage in the corner. Its current mimicry greeting consisted of cussing in Professor Sinistra's voice, and it made Rhiannon laugh.
"Got my wand back from Professor Babbling, ma'am. Thanks for lending me this one," Rhiannon said, reluctantly holding out her hand.
"Certainly," Sinistra said, knocking over a stack of unopened envelopes with her elbow. The Doppelvanga anticipated her frustration and cussed for her, ruffling its feathers to a shimmer.
"Erm, shouldn't you Disarm me?" Rhiannon asked when Sinistra merely held out her hand.
"Why should I do that now?" the professor asked, making Rhiannon feel like she had said the wrong thing. "This wand has been swept through and through by the Ministry before coming back into my inheritance. I am glad it worked for you."
"It's just that it might not be useful to you, Professor," Rhiannon said, wishing that Hestia had enough space to stand next to her instead of behind her.
"I do not need it to be. I am going to bury it tomorrow morning. They say yew wands become trees over their owner's graves. I don't need to hold onto this anymore now that I have proof it's done some good. I think Jonah would like that."
"Er, are you allowed to plant big trees in the Hogsmeade Graveyard?" Rhiannon double-checked because Sinistra seemed a bit blank at the moment.
"No, you're not, but you're also not allowed to bury Barty Crouch Jr there, either."
"Ah. Well…" Rhiannon said. "I mean… it's kinda creepy there anyway, so who needs it."
Professor Sinistra smiled. Hestia took Rhiannon's hand. They went upstairs and waited for class. Rhiannon couldn't place it, but Professor Sinistra seemed much better lately. However, Rhiannon was starting to get more depressed as the week drew on. The assaults and deaths in the Daily Prophet reports really weighed on her, especially in combination with Professor Snape's words about her band. Would the concert next month really be the last hurrah for Pariah? Where exactly were the Greengrasses going to take her? How was she supposed to tell her friend P.R. at the music shop goodbye? The worst report yet sat in front of her breakfast the following Monday — a five-year-old boy named Zale Montgomery had been attacked by a werewolf and maimed so badly that even St Mungo's couldn't save him. Rhiannon wondered if the werewolf had been in the Voldemort crowd that Professor Lupin was investigating. She had no way of knowing if he was still safe from the kinds of werewolves that would kill. She thought about bringing it up to Astoria, but Astoria was busy listening to Malfoy complain about Potions and the Apparition test going on that day that he wasn't allowed to take on account of being sixteen. Rhiannon couldn't figure how Astoria continued to think that anything that came out of Malfoy's mouth was worth listening to. They had done more than a decent job of hiding their relationship, and to the untrained eye, appeared as nothing more than friends, but Rhiannon hated that a friendship had existed in the first place. Astoria could do so much better. Rhiannon could not help but interfere and thought of any possible way to get the two away from each other. Unfortunately, she no longer had the excuse that Draco was appearing in the Foe-Shard and had to get creative.
"Flora's been trying to get into that psychic book of yours," Rhiannon reported, having seen Flora try her hand at Legilimency earlier in the dormitory when Astoria was not there.
"She won't be able to get into that one. It's the third volume in the series. I can barely get past chapter four, and I've been working with Professor Sinistra for months. Flora's out of luck. I have to trade in the last book each time I get a new one, so I don't have the first one for her to try," Astoria said, not looking nearly as irritated as Rhiannon wanted.
"Why do you have to trade in each book?" Rhiannon asked to stall the couple's conversation.
"Well, she's lending them, not giving them to me," Astoria said simply.
Rhiannon hated how Malfoy got out of Transfiguration the same time Astoria left Arithmancy. She never knew when they would walk back to the common room together or not. Sometimes she made a point to meet Astoria after Arithmancy herself, because Astoria wasn't never back on time when she walked with Malfoy…
Astoria wasn't in the common room or the dormitory when Rhiannon and the twins got back from Astronomy that night. It was almost ten o'clock, which was past curfew. Rhiannon and Hestia were very nearly about to start a rant, but Flora beat them to it.
"One of these days, she's going to realise he's no good, and it's going to be too late."
"I had a talk with him," Rhiannon admitted. "He really does like her, but the only thing that tells me is that he's going to do anything to keep her. He's a selfish prat. He doesn't even make that much time for her overall, if you noticed. He's always AWOL, pretending he has to do prefect things."
"Wait — what if he's totally sneaking off with Parkinson?" Hestia gasped.
"No, he's not. And I ain't sticking up for him, either. But if he was with Parkinson, she wouldn't be so sad and angry all the time. I know for a fact she's got so much detention that Snape has to trade her with other teachers. Malfoy's got nothing to do with Parkinson and way too much to do with Astoria."
"I rather miss her," said Flora glumly. "It's almost like she's only with us when she can't find Malfoy. You two aren't like that. You're like, normal about it. You spend a normal amount of time together, and a normal amount of time with your friends. She drops everything when Malfoy comes back from his… I don't know. His sulk-fests or whatever he's doing."
"Yeah, me and Hestia aren't gonna stop hanging out with you. It's because it's Malfoy. If it was anyone else, she'd be in the common room right now. Ugh. I don't even wanna think about it."
"We could go on a hunt," Hestia said cheekily with both fists balled.
"Nah, I'm sure she'll be back soon," Rhiannon said, but they had all fallen asleep without her there.
The lamplight from the hallway washed gently onto Rhiannon's face, who opened her eyes to see the still-empty bed next to her.
"Blimey, it's a million o'clock at night, Astoria," she grumbled.
"I know, I'm sorry," Astoria whispered.
Rhiannon rolled onto her back. Hestia was still sound asleep to her left, and in the bed beyond her, Flora had fortunately not jumped up.
"We gotta talk," Rhiannon said, and she cast the Muffliato charm on the twins.
Astoria was shrouded in darkness, so Rhiannon couldn't see her expression as she ushered her into the bathroom. The door clicked lightly behind them, and Rhiannon lit the lamp.
"I'm sorry," Astoria said again.
"You don't need to be out this late with him," Rhiannon said. "Any reason he doesn't spend time with you earlier in the day can't be a good one. You know I don't like Malfoy, but I'm saying this as your friend. About any bloke."
"I know, I know," Astoria said, looking in the mirror and not at Rhiannon.
"Astoria."
"Yes?"
Rhiannon dried the tub out and took a seat in it. Astoria stood there like this wasn't going to be a long conversation. So, Rhiannon motioned for her to sit at the other end of the tub, and she didn't argue.
"What's going on?"
"I lost track of the time, and then we had to keep taking the long way to avoid the Aurors and Mr Filch… and now it's really late, and I'm so sorry I woke you up."
"I'm not even worried about being woke up. I'm worried about you, running out this late… er, I mean early. See, now I sound like your parents. The point is I'm your friend, and you can talk to me. Even — Even if it's about Malfoy. So, what's going on?" Rhiannon said, but her gesturing about had made one of Astoria's hair products fall off the bath shelf and into her lap.
This wasn't as easy as she had thought. Somehow, Rhiannon came to believe that it was all her fault. She wasn't there when Astoria needed her, and now this. Maybe Astoria knew about Rhiannon and Hestia's increasing closeness. Maybe she felt peer pressure because of them. Maybe she was trying to act older because she was promoted a year in school. Rhiannon felt awful.
"I don't want you to think that just because me and Hestia… er…"
Astoria gave her a vacuous look at first, then blinked quickly.
"Oh! Do you need to talk about anything?" Astoria asked.
Rhiannon really didn't want to turn this conversation in on herself. She was rather surprised Astoria had asked her so openly, though.
"N-No, not really." said Rhiannon.
Now that Astoria had asked, Rhiannon was starting to get embarrassed. Could she really talk to Astoria about something like that? Here, in the tub, with Hestia asleep right outside? They were all friends. It would be weird to tell Astoria how Hestia didn't care about her freak basilisk arm or her stretch marks, and how much that meant… The way Hestia traced the lines of Rhiannon's back tattoo, saying all sorts of things Rhiannon could never put into words… It would be way too weird!
"Er… do you need to talk about… something?" Rhiannon asked Astoria instead.
Rhiannon should have known better than to bother her with that question. Astoria had parents and religion and stuff like that, which was for the best. That kept Astoria out of trouble. But she had to make sure that her best friend was okay. Astoria had looked out for Rhiannon when Asenath was in the picture. Astoria was a very responsible person.
"Well, erm, actually…" Astoria said, and looked at the nearest bath sponge like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Noooooooooooo, Astoria, nooooooooooooo!
"Sometimes I wish I did have more to say," Astoria said with a bleak giggle.
Oh thank goodness, Rhiannon thought, letting out an even more pathetic sound.
"Is that bad? Is that rotten of me to say?" Astoria said, laughing into her hand. "I'm sorry, Rhi."
Yeah it's bad — it's Malfoy! Come on!
"I mean, I can't, er…say…" Rhiannon said awkwardly. "I mean, I'm sure it's different for each person, like… what they were taught… And, er, who the other person is. I dunno."
Rhiannon wasn't very good at talking about this.
Astoria kept on grinning, "Well, I wasn't taught to wish I had some big story to tell you."
"Yeah, I didn't think so…" Rhiannon said. "Er, I'm sure you know I'm not wanting any big stories… It's really early on, I think… We're in school and all."
"Oh, I know, Rhi. Don't worry. We're not near that point," Astoria said. "It's wistful thinking on my part."
"I don't think 'wistful's' the word, Astoria," Rhiannon managed to giggle.
"Cut it out! You asked! What about you, then, hm? This is the first I'm hearing it!"
"I really wasn't counting on telling you about it in the ruddy tub."
"Was it in the tub?" Astoria squealed, smacking Rhiannon's arm.
"Merlin, Astoria, settle down! What's happened to you‽" Rhiannon responded, since Astoria was literally never vulgar.
"I'm sorry," she said in a much smaller voice. "I couldn't help myself. I really thought… you would have talked to me about things."
"Well, there's not much to… to say like you think. I mean, I would tell you," Rhiannon maintained, since it was obvious Astoria was troubled.
Rhiannon knew the feeling, since she had objected to Astoria's being secretive about Malfoy not so long ago. She really wanted Astoria to be able to come to her about anything, big or small. The difference was now, though, that she didn't feel so entitled to the information. She truly wanted to be there for Astoria no matter what. If they couldn't talk to each other, who else could they talk to?
"I didn't mean to leave you in the dark on purpose, Astoria. It's just you're, erm… straight and religious… and those things usually don't add up to me being able to talk."
It sounded very blunt out loud, but Astoria was unfazed. Oh, that was right. She was pure-blood. They didn't hate people for being gay; they just hated people for being Muggles.
"Straight and religious? Rhi, that doesn't matter. You can tell me anything," Astoria said cheerfully. "Because if you talk to Flora, she would strangle you for messing with her sister."
"Yeah, she would… Well, anyway, you can talk to me too if you need, because Flora would also strangle Malfoy if it came to it," Rhiannon said.
"I was under the impression that you would strangle him."
"Oh, I will, but like, in a less Dark-artsy way than Flora."
"Wow, thanks, Rhiannon. Means so much," Astoria said. "He's scared of me anyway."
"As he should be."
"No, he thinks he's going to ruin my life or something. He's always worried about me, worried he's bad for me, and he's oblivious to any hints, er, whatever, you know… It really wrecks the mood sometimes. Not that I… er… You know what I mean."
Rhiannon was extremely relieved to hear it and tried her best not to show that. What mattered more to their friendship, though, was that they both could talk openly and look after each other. Even if it had to be in the tub after midnight.
The next morning, almost as though the tub conversation had Summoned her from clear across the country, Mrs Ciel-Greengrass surprised Astoria by showing up at breakfast in the Great Hall. She looked sad that Daphne and Astoria still did not sit anywhere near each other and made quite the scene of bringing them together at the side of the table. More than half of the Slytherin student body found this to be hilarious, but Astoria was ignoring them. Rhiannon knew that anxious look on her face. She was thinking that her mother was only at school because somebody had died. Fortunately, that was not the case. Katie Bell, the Gryffindor who had been cursed six months prior, was finally back in school, and since Mrs Ciel-Greengrass was a volunteer tutor at St Mungo's, she was helping Katie with the transition of coursework. Mrs Ciel-Greengrass took that job very seriously. (She only popped in to talk to her daughter every single time she was not with one of Katie's teachers). Rhiannon, Hestia, and Flora all observed that Malfoy avoided Astoria the entire day her mother was there and hoped that Astoria would notice the red flag. She did not.
Everything started to get busy for Rhiannon and Astoria anyway. The Hogsmeade concert, where Pariah would open for Spellbound, was on the seventeenth of May, and O.W.L.s were scheduled from the ninth of June to the twentieth. Nearly any time that wasn't spent in class was spent in the Astronomy library, where the group realised how much more preparation they should have been doing for the exams. Even Flora, whose nose was rarely outside of a book, suddenly realised that she had no recollection of her entire first year of Arithmancy and that the notes from that class no longer made sense to her.
"I can't believe I can do all this and not understand the basics anymore!" Flora exclaimed as Astoria tried to calm her down.
Fortunately, each of the girls had different skills, and they had started taking turns on which study sessions to lead. Rhiannon obviously led Muggle Studies for Hestia and Flora whilst Astoria would go to the main library with Montel to study Ancient Runes. Rhiannon also led D.A.D.A. and Charms with duelling practise, which really helped her confidence, whilst Hestia was in charge of Herbology and Potions. They split off for the electives, with Rhiannon and Hestia getting quality time (and a small amount of studying done) for Care of Magical Creatures, whilst Astoria and Flora continued on with Arithmancy. Flora managed Transfiguration and was the only one who knew what History of Magic was about. It went without saying that Astoria tutored for Astronomy, reminding them over and over again about what would be visible in the sky during the time of their practical O.W.L. The only times they weren't allowed to hide out in the Astronomy library were when the first-years needed it and when Astoria had her creepy Legilimency lessons. It was during one of those lessons when Rhiannon and the twins used the excuse to take a break from studying and played cards in the common room. They were so engrossed in the game that Rhiannon hardly noticed when Theodore Nott came barrelling in, claiming that Draco Malfoy had been nearly killed in a fight.
Flora was the one who turned her head and processed it first, and her hesitation for her next move in the game made Rhiannon revisit the noises from Theodore she had just heard. Malfoy, nearly killed? Huh, that sounded sort of important, didn't it?
"Should we, er, go get her?" Hestia asked. "I mean, it's nearly dinner, so she's probably about. Maybe she already knows."
"Yeah, maybe she does," Rhiannon said, trying her best to conjure up some sort of opinion on the event. She could not help but think Malfoy had done something very bad to have got into a duel so vicious. But she didn't want him dead or anything. Theodore was going on and on to anyone who would listen… Harry Potter… an ugly curse… blood loss…
"Is he dead or what, Nott?" Rhiannon called.
"No, he's not dead, Clarke!" Theodore shouted. "Thanks to Professor Snape! He saved his life! Draco was torn all up—"
"Good old Snape," said Rhiannon. "Always catching us before we get mauled by them Gryffindors."
"I do think this is serious, Rhiannon," Flora said quietly. "We ought to meet up with Astoria whether she already knows or not. You know her."
"Yeah, alright. Let's go. Remember your hands, you two, because I'm nearly winning this game," Rhiannon said.
Astoria was not at the dinner table, which could only mean that she was already at the Hospital Wing. They found Astoria sitting on one of the new seats that Madam Pomfrey had finally allowed to be put in the hallway, looking completely shocked to see her friends arriving and stood to greet them. Rhiannon wasn't sure whether she was supposed to be offended or complimented by Astoria's surprise.
"Well?" was all Rhiannon could croak out.
"I only know what Myrtle told me," Astoria said. "If you can find Myrtle, she'll give you a first-hand account. I haven't talked to anyone but Myrtle and Theodore. I've been sitting here."
"What did Myrtle say? It was in a lavatory, then?" Hestia asked.
"Yes, apparently Harry Potter came in. Draco was at the sink, and they started firing spells. Myrtle said Harry Potter cast some curse called Sectumsempra… Flora, do you know that curse?"
"Never heard of it in my life," said Flora. "Sounds highly unpleasant."
Astoria rubbed the corner of her eye. She wasn't very talkative.
"Draco lost a lot of blood," was all she said, and sat back down. "He's on potions."
Rhiannon took the seat next to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulders.
"He's gonna be okay, Astoria. Theodore said Snape took care of him before even bringing him here."
Astoria nodded. The Hospital Wing doors were locked, and there was very little noise coming out of them. About ten minutes later, more Malfoy admirers arrived. Theodore, Myrtle, or somebody else who caught wind of the event had succeeded in getting Parkinson there. Astoria was only watching her tightly folded hands; Rhiannon thought she might not even know Parkinson was nearby. Theodore came later and tried his best to see through the crack in the doors. He ended up folding his arms and pacing round. The pacing brought Astoria's attention upward, and she noticed Parkinson. They did not say anything. It was more than disturbing. Rhiannon thought since they were so close to the Hospital Wing, they might have a go at a duel of their own. But they stayed very quiet. If there was any noise at all, it all ceased the moment when Snape's figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
"Go to dinner, all of you," he said roughly.
"When will—?" Astoria dared.
"Later," Snape hissed, and went alone through the double doors.
Astoria ate lightly, occasionally having to stop and pat her eyes. Rhiannon noticed the difference between her quiet anxiety and Parkinson's empty anger. Parkinson was already telling her own version of the story, making sure to keep part of her energy devoted to gesturing at the Gryffindor table and another part devoted to watching when Astoria would finish her meal. Rhiannon knew that meant Parkinson was trying to beat her back to the Hospital Wing, as though that mattered. They'd both just have to wait more. And even Rhiannon knew Malfoy didn't care to see Parkinson.
"You don't have to come if you don't want," Astoria said to her friends as her plate cleared.
"We'll stick with you, Astoria," Hestia said, squeezing Rhiannon's hand under the table. "We know you're worried. It'll be okay. I don't want you waiting with Parkinson all by yourself."
"I can handle her," Astoria replied firmly, "but I appreciate the company. I just know that—"
"Nah, it's all right. For something like this, we'll all go," Rhiannon said, taking the cue from her girlfriend.
Rhiannon noticed that not very many people jumped up to go visit Malfoy. It was weird; he had been so popular when Rhiannon first came to Hogwarts that it seemed like he could snap his fingers and the whole House would bow. Yet the Quidditch team seemed satisfied that if he wasn't dead, he didn't need visiting. Blaise Zabini, his roommate, didn't even budge when he was done with his plate. Snape had saved Malfoy, and that was that. Rhiannon even got the impression that Crabbe and Goyle were only going with Parkinson out of sheer curiosity. With Rhiannon, Hestia, and Flora also satisfied that Malfoy was out of the woods, Rhiannon realised that his only genuine visitors were Astoria and Theodore. Times had really changed.
Rhiannon wanted to get on with her evening, but she stuck out the wait for Astoria. She nearly felt like she was waiting out those two's relationship on the whole, but she had to show her support or else Astoria wouldn't readily talk to her about it. Rhiannon was at first relieved when the double doors opened after ages of sitting, but she quickly sat back in her seat when she saw that it was Draco's mum leaving. The woman looked very angry… She had one of those faces for sure, but this evening she looked very, very angry. Professor Snape was close behind her. Malfoy Mum stared upwards during her catwalk past the students but must have remembered something and turned back.
"Theodore, I have moved your things to Mrs Goyle's," she said summarily.
Goyle, as per usual, looked like he hadn't a clue what she was talking about. Rhiannon guessed that with a dad in prison and a dead mum, Theodore had had nowhere else to go except the Malfoy's. Now he was being relocated.
"Oh… thank you, Mrs Malfoy…?" Theodore said inquisitively, but Malfoy Mum did not say anything else to him.
Rhiannon felt the woman's eyes fall way down onto her and did not make a move. Astoria did quite the opposite. She stood up straight. It was unthinkable to the rest of them — Rhiannon could feel it in the air — but Astoria spoke to Mrs Malfoy right on the spot.
"Is he well enough for visitors, Mrs Malfoy?"
"Yes, Madam Pom—" Professor Snape reacted, but he was swiftly cut out.
"What makes you think he wants this sort of company, Miss Greengrass?" Malfoy Mum sneered.
Damn, Astoria, sit down. Just wait for her to leave if you have to.
"I cannot assume that he does, Mrs Malfoy," Astoria said without a shiver to her voice.
"Well, dear," Mrs Malfoy said coldly, "the Matron only allows six visitors at a time. Do not think about it too hard."
With a final glare at Rhiannon, Malfoy Mum escorted Professor Snape past the eight students and down the corridor, even though he was likely supposed to be the one escorting her. She probably had some Death Eater rave to attend. She was not nearly as tame now that she didn't have to suck up to the Greengrasses anymore.
"She was talking about me and Hestia leaving, wasn't she?" Rhiannon asked proudly as Astoria was looking in to see Madam Pomfrey's official signal.
"No, she wanted you and me to leave and let the other six go in," Astoria said offhandedly, not caring an ounce that Parkinson was listening.
"Oh, really? Hm. I don't speak rich bitch," Rhiannon whispered.
"I'm fluent," Astoria said readily, and she led the charge through the double doors.
Although Crabbe and Goyle looked ready to be the ones to stay behind, Hestia and Rhiannon cemented themselves in the threshold.
"Hello, Astoria," Malfoy said, a rare breach in their secrecy.
He looked thrilled to be in the Hospital Wing and to have attention coming his way. Rhiannon had not seen him this happy in a year.
"How are you now, Draco? We've heard terrible things," Astoria asked; Rhiannon knew it was taking all of her might not to hug him.
"They say I'll be better, but I'm still in a lot of residual pain from the curse," Malfoy whinged, motioning slowly along the dittany-soaked Plasterleaves all over his chest.
Hestia rolled her eyes whilst Malfoy started telling the group his own version of the event. This was the third or fourth time Rhiannon heard it, and it definitely was getting gorier with each retelling. She knew of the animosity between Harry and Malfoy, and, seeing that Snape had fixed Malfoy all up, Rhiannon couldn't help but partially blame him. Malfoy's dad, a grown man, had literally attacked Harry in the fight at the Ministry. It was all over the papers. Harry shouldn't have used the curse he did — that much was true — but Malfoy must have tried or succeeded at something equally nasty at some point. Hestia and Rhiannon sat back down; Flora was doing a fine job of guarding Astoria from Parkinson.
When Malfoy must have finished his account (Hestia and Rhiannon had stopped paying attention), Parkinson grabbed the courage to ask him how he was feeling herself. Her voice was shrill and echoing. Rhiannon leaned forward to see what would happen. In comparison to the theatrical whinge he had given Astoria, Malfoy's response could not have been more subdued.
"I'm fine, Pansy, thank you."
Parkinson looked heartbroken anew; she wasn't even given fussing privileges anymore. Past Crabbe's potatolike head, Rhiannon saw Malfoy tugging on each ear one at a time, like he was counting them. Then he made a face at Parkinson when she wasn't looking. Astoria found this display very entertaining.
"I think we can go. Flora's got everything under control," Rhiannon said to Hestia's relief.
Astoria was not herself after Malfoy got minced (he was fine by the end of the week, by the way). It was not unusual for her to skip a Quidditch match, but it was unusual for her to be so overtly sour. Rhiannon noticed that Astoria was spending more time reading the near-constant stream of letters her parents sent her and making hardly any conversation. She was not as prone to tell the other girls where she was spending her time, but Flora eventually figured out that Astoria was hiding in Pince's library.
"She didn't even notice me," Flora said, not realising that she was a very quiet girl herself. "Look what I found crumpled up under her chair when she left."
Rhiannon couldn't help but chuckle at first, but then she felt awful about having done it. Astoria had drafted a letter to the headmaster about violence in Hogwarts. Rhiannon could tell why it was crumpled up, since the letter lacked Astoria's usual eloquence, but there was a list scrawled emotionally onto the parchment.
Acts of Violence in Hogwarts
1. Basilisk attacks on several students
2. Death of Cedric Diggory
3. Sectumsempra curse used on Draco Malfoy
4. Dolores Umbridge's quill that carved into students' hands
5. The other parts of that Triwizard Tournament that didn't involve a student dying
6. Detentions being held in the Forbidden Forest? The same one with man-eating creatures?
7.
Astoria must have run out of ideas, but Rhiannon had enough knowledge to fill in at least four more spaces, not neglecting the attack Parkinson made on Astoria. Seeing the list got Rhiannon thinking, and not only because some of those things on the list involved her. Over the years, Rhiannon had come to expect being hurt physically. But really, she shouldn't have to fear that sort of thing at school, which was nowhere near her parents.
Rhiannon, Hestia, and Flora planned to talk to Astoria when they got into the dormitory.
"Legilimens," Astoria chanted, her covers wrapped round her shoulders. "I said Legilimens!"
"No luck with chapter five?" Rhiannon asked.
"Oh, I've got it now," Astoria said unfeelingly.
There were grip marks on the book cover where Astoria's nails had dug in. The girls didn't end up interrupting her that evening, although in next morning's Potions class, Ginevra Weasley made known that she had officially got tired of Astoria's staring. Rhiannon hadn't been glaring at Ginny like Astoria, but she wasn't exactly conversational with her, either. Even to Rhiannon, it seemed unsavoury how Ginny started dating Harry the exact same week he tried to dice up Malfoy.
"It's obviously bothering you," Ginevra said to Astoria, who had kept a close eye on her over their maturing Strengthening Solutions.
Astoria didn't answer, and Rhiannon listened more intently.
"Just so you know, Malfoy tried to cast the Cruciatus Curse seconds before Harry cast that spell. Also, Harry saw the incantation by itself in a book and used it without knowing what it did. But I'm pretty sure we all know what the Cruciatus Curse does," Ginny said.
"The Cruciatus Curse — are you serious? That could be something Harry's simply telling you," Astoria replied.
Ginny looked nearly ready for a row, but she settled herself. Rhiannon admired her self-control.
"Yes, I'm serious. Harry doesn't lie to me. I guess I can't blame you, what with Myrtle conveniently choosing to leave that part out as she spreads this rumour all over," Ginny said.
After class, Astoria broke away from the group. The Slytherins all had double Charms next, and the break between wasn't as long as Astoria's face looked like she needed it to be. Rhiannon didn't know where she thought she was going.
"Erm, Astoria?"
"I'm going to talk to Myrtle during the break."
"Myrtle might tell you only what she wants to."
"Oh? That's not her decision anymore," Astoria said severely.
Rhiannon signalled to Hestia and Flora that she would take care of their dissolute friend, and she dashed past the multitude of eyes now following the two.
"You can't use that psychic spell on a ghost, silly," Rhiannon said, trying to keep it jovial.
"I can try."
"No — no you can't, even if it will work," Rhiannon said, finally getting a hold of Astoria's arm and, hopefully, her moral compass.
They were now way ahead of the group, but Rhiannon only had a few moments to privately get out what she wanted to say.
"I know you're really into Legilimency because you grew up where everyone tells lies to protect you and stuff. Or they hide things from you. So I get how it seems tempting, and I get how it's frustrating to not be able to 'read' Draco at all. But I think the real issue here is that you feel you can't trust what comes out his mouth. Which, as we've seen before, is kind of true! If you can't take his word for it what that fight was like, then maybe you need to stop and think about what sort of relationship you wanna have."
Astoria inhaled, but their classmates were nearing them once more, and she kept on storming forward to the nearest bathroom. Rhiannon followed her, but nothing happened yet. They had to wait for Amy Frome to leave. Then, Astoria shot a beam of light down the sink.
"Myrtle, I want to talk to you!"
Myrtle arrived very quickly since she wasn't used to people asking to see her. She had been crying recently, but oddly enough, she looked like she was trying to stifle it. Usually, she wailed on and on.
"I have a friend who told me that Draco tried to cast the Cruciatus Curse. Did you or did you not see him try to cast that?" Astoria got right to the point.
"I don't know about that — it happened very fast…" Myrtle stalled, adjusting her glasses.
"'Fast!' Time is irrelevant to you. You are a ghost," Astoria said. "Did you or did you not see him try to cast the Cruciatus Curse?"
"What do you care?" Myrtle wailed. "You know what happened to poor Draco! Blood all over — he was nearly dying!"
"I care because I happen to have a close relationship with Draco and an equally strong distaste for the Cruciatus Curse!"
"You… then you must be… the girl he…" Myrtle said, tearing up again.
She started to scream, and turned on all the taps, taking care to splash about in the sink she had arrived through, getting Astoria right in the face with water. Astoria didn't act like she noticed, but Rhiannon expected a rant about the state of her hair later.
"Maybe…" Myrtle said, having calmed down after seeing Astoria and Rhiannon's lack of reaction. "Maybe you know what to do, then… I don't seem to do anything right… I'm scared for my Draco."
"Malfoy's still in danger?" Rhiannon asked incredulously. Surely Harry wasn't going to try something again. Myrtle was always overreacting.
"It's something he said that scares me. I don't know what he meant! It's so awful… I feel so bad for him!"
"What'd he say?" Rhiannon pressed.
"Right before Harry came in and they started fighting, Draco said, 'he says he'll kill me.' I don't know what to do! I don't think he was talking about Harry, although he might as well have been! Why are so many people unkind to my Draco…?" Myrtle cried.
"Who says he'll kill him?" Astoria stepped forward to the sink, which was still overflowing.
"I don't know! I don't know! Draco hasn't come back to see me since… since Harry ruined it! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP!"
"I don't know either, Myrtle, but we're doing all we can, aren't we?" Astoria said, drying her face off in her sleeve.
"YOU CAN'T TELL ANYONE, ASTORIA! YOU CAN'T TELL HIM I TOLD YOU! YOU JUST CAN'T!"
"I won't, Myrtle. Thank you," Astoria said.
They had to leave her crying in there (she was called Moaning Myrtle for a reason) and make their way to Charms. Astoria asked Rhiannon to dry her off, and Rhiannon did her best, but Astoria's hair did end up quite as frizzy as her own.
"Alright, I'm confused," Rhiannon said. "Who's trying to do Malfoy in? Is he saying that to get attention?"
"No, he's not. Haven't you seen the change in him? He's getting even worse. There's something going on that he's not telling me. I have a bad feeling that I know what it's about."
"Let's hear it, then."
"The Lestranges. They're on the loose. Bellatrix is Draco's aunt. I bet they all got in contact with the Malfoys. One of those brothers must have threatened Draco. Maybe they even used the Cruciatus Curse on him; that seems to be their favourite. It's no wonder it was on his mind to cast it in an emergency."
Rhiannon nodded, but she wasn't entirely convinced. Astoria had a bad habit of jumping to conclusions based on limited information. A few notable examples included the assumption that Rhiannon had been smitten with Malfoy and that Professor Sinistra had helped her husband resurrect Voldemort. The Lestranges were out there for sure, but Rhiannon doubted that Malfoy Mum would let them harm her precious child.
"What if it's nothing to do with the Lestranges and he was saying that for added effect? You know how he is round girls who like him. Even if Myrtle is a spook," Rhiannon said carefully.
"It has to be the Lestranges."
"It doesn't have to be the Lestranges."
"Well, I'm going to talk to him at some point, aren't I?"
"Is he going to answer honestly?"
"Rhiannon!"
"I don't want you dating someone who lies to you! I don't care if it's Malfoy or Merlin himself! I don't want you to get in the habit of relying on Legilimency for the rest of your life. You deserve to have people who tell you the truth, mind-reading or not," Rhiannon argued. "How'd he become such a good Occlumens anyway? I doubt he let his mum cast that on him!"
"I don't know, Rhiannon. Let's just go to Charms."
"Astoria, please, wait."
Rhiannon couldn't take it anymore. Astoria should have never started dating somebody like Malfoy. It had been hard for Rhiannon to argue with her about it before, because what she feared most was losing a friend, or at least losing Astoria's trust. Maybe Malfoy wasn't in the Foe-Shard anymore, but there was unmistakably something bad going on with him ever since his dad went to prison.
"I think this Legilimency stuff has given you false confidence. And no, I'm not saying this 'cause I'm jealous. I don't want you to end up like Sinistra. She uses Legilimency so much — I think I seen her use it to check the time when other people look at their watches! But you know that didn't help her in the end, did it? With Crouch?"
"You're likening Draco to Barty Crouch?" Astoria said, offended. "Professor Sinistra doesn't like how you keep his mask, you know! She knows you have it!"
"I don't care if she knows! You're only bringing that up to distract from the real point!"
"Maybe I am!" Astoria cried out. "Professor Sinistra thinks it too, deep down! She thinks I'm going to end up… She thinks… Well, she doesn't understand!"
"Astoria, please get rid of Malfoy. I'm not going to try and tell you why because you already know better," Rhiannon said.
Needless to say, Astoria did not get rid of Malfoy. She did not meet up with her friends to prepare for the concert, either. She stayed out late after her Astronomy class. Rhiannon felt helpless. What bothered her almost as much as Astoria's blindness was that she knew that Malfoy truly and honestly cared for her. Rhiannon and Hestia had a long talk about how they might approach Astoria in a more helpful way, but it still amounted to nothing. One morning, they all received mail from Mr Mongaby that the Hogsmeade concert had been cancelled. The frontwitch of Spellbound, the band they were opening for, had been receiving death threats from a blood supremacist. The people at Infinite Records were working on a new date, but Rhiannon was fed up. After Transfiguration, she took Hestia to their favourite spot on the rickety bridge.
Hestia had always had a habit of waiting for Rhiannon to speak. Rhiannon was aware of her own habit of talking first. Hestia shouldn't have to wait for her loud mouth all the time, though. She shouldn't base her opinions on Rhiannon's. Rhiannon tried to be gentler this time.
"So… the concert," she said.
"Yeah… that's awful, isn't it? Death threats!" Hestia said. "I was really disappointed about the concert at first, but I guess it's for the best it's cancelled."
"Yeah."
Hestia was wearing dark blue lipstick, which she had worn at the last concert. It was bolder than she was used to, but it suited her. Her nails were neon green — well, pure-bloods never used the word "neon," they always said "fluorescent." Either way, Hestia could never be without colour all over. Rhiannon always felt a bit sloppy and drab in comparison. She conjured a flower and placed it in Hestia's silky brown hair.
"Oh? What's this for?" Hestia smiled, touching the flower.
"Something bright on a grey day."
"Hold still, Rhi," Hestia said, and she proceeded to conjure tiny flowers on the side of Rhiannon's head.
"Whoa — that's too many!" Rhiannon giggled.
Hestia ignored her protest and plaited flowers all through Rhiannon's hair. She had such freeness about her, happy to keep conjuring little blossoms that fell round their feet. She sent even more to float downward over the edge of the bridge. Rhiannon didn't know how to bring up what she was thinking. Everything that Professor Snape had told her, combined with Alecto's visit to the concert, Astoria's wild assumptions about the Lestranges, and now the death threats… it all seemed like Pariah should come to an end. At the same time, it seemed like the worst possible moment to try to disband. They would have done all that work for nothing. Rhiannon had spent her whole life brassic, and they were at the highest point in their popularity now. She had to protect her friends, though. And she had to protect her Muggle-born self. Being safe started with the end of Pariah. It was so unfair.
"Rhi," Hestia said, for she noticed Rhiannon's grimacing.
Rhiannon wrapped her arms around her. They swayed side to side absentmindedly and took turns trying to make eye contact. Rhiannon didn't want to put any ideas in Hestia's head. She was so tired of all of these serious conversations.
"Can I tell you something?" Hestia asked.
"You don't gotta ask first."
"I think we should take a break from Pariah. I've been worried ever since the Azkaban breakout, but now it seems like the Death Eaters are running out of ideas. They're going after 'blood-traitors' in general, and… and little children…"
"I think you're right, Hestia."
"Y-You do?"
"I think that's the wisest thing to do at this point. I'll write to Mongaby tonight… No, let's both of us do it."
"Well, Mongaby, you know what he's going to say. We owe Infinite one more album on this contract. We're finally selling records."
"I'll say 'hiatus.' If he gets snippy, I'll get the Greengrasses involved."
"The Greengrasses… Sometimes I wish I lived with those Greengrasses," Hestia sighed.
"Someday we're not gonna need to wish that."
Hestia flushed almost to the colour of the flower in her hair.
"Hestia, I been meaning to tell you, I think I'm gonna have to leave until this war's done. I think I'm gonna have to leave with the Greengrasses. They don't know when."
"Oh…" Hestia peeped, and her grey-green eyes welled with tears.
"I'm sorry, Hestia. They started talking about it over Easter and I didn't know what to say. I don't know what else to do."
"No, Rhi. I'm happy," Hestia said, and buried her face in Rhiannon's shoulder. "I'm so thankful that they're looking after you. Because I can't. I'm useless. I can't do anything to protect you."
"It's not your job, Hestia. Calm down. It's not your job."
"I can't stand the thought of anyone hurting you. Are you finishing out the year? Are you taking your O.W.L.s?"
It was hard to understand Hestia with her mouth in Rhiannon's shoulder blade, but Rhiannon figured it out and said that she highly doubted Mr Greengrass would let them get out of taking the O.W.L.s. Hestia repositioned and placed her chin up, closing in more.
"I'll miss you so much."
"I'd take you with me if I could, Hestia. And I'll come back once I can. I don't know when that is, so… you don't gotta wait for me."
"You already know I will," Hestia murmured, poking Rhiannon's belly.
Relief. Rhiannon finally felt she was worth Hestia's time.
"I'll wait for you no matter what. Er, Hestia?"
"Yes."
"I don't know how you'd go about this, but maybe you could ask Astoria to help you with Occlumency a little. I don't want to leave and have them still be able to find out you're a blood-traitor."
"They already know I'm a blood-traitor."
"I mean a 'big, honking Mudwallower' as Diane Carter put it."
"Can I be frank with you on this? The thought of Astoria using Legilimency on me as an exercise is scarier than the Death Eaters using it on me wholeheartedly."
Rhiannon laughed and squeezed Hestia tight. They ended up playing with the band on the day of the concert — a harmless jam session alone in the Music room for old time's sake.