Book 4: Astoria Greengrass and the Curse of Quennell Park
Song rec: "Protège-moi" by Placebo

Students, freed from magic, started to fill the common room, and, seeing Astoria huddled on the couch in a blanket, they pointedly avoided her. The people who were now awake had either not been able to take the Dreamless Sleep potion or had decided they didn't "need" it. Everyone quickly concluded that they had had the same dream, and therefore, it must have been a true vision. They talked about Astoria as though she weren't there, looking right at her. Astoria left the common room to recover her wand. In the hallway, she passed Max Manson, who was strutting round with his hands in his pyjama pockets.

"Did you really sleep with the Dark Lord, Astræa?" Max pressed obnoxiously.

"You know I didn't, moron," Astoria said. "It was Rabastan Lestrange—"

"You slept with Rabastan Lestrange?" Max asked even louder.

"Oh, shut it! It was Rabastan Lestrange implanting a dream in everyone's head!"

"Whoa there!" Max smiled. "I wonder how he did that trick. Do you know how? Can you tell me? I'd like to try it."

"PISS OFF," Astoria spelled out for him, and she swept her wand off of the floor.

The boys' doors were closed now, both from Professor Slughorn's help and the people who had awakened. Now that she had her wand on her person, her Legilimency made her feel like a sponge. Everyone had such terrible thoughts about her whether they were supporters of Voldemort or not. Astoria walked back to the common room with her head down, trying to avoid further influx of their feelings and hide her face. Rabastan had got his wish, all right. She was ashamed to be in public.

"Well, that can't be true," Astoria overheard a fourth-year girl say. "Astoria Greengrass wouldn't do that. She was the frontwitch of Pariah, remember? I have her albums."

"She is already dating a Death Eater, you know!" the girl's companion argued. "Draco Malfoy!"

"Draco Malfoy's not the same as You-Know-Who!" the fourth-year said. "Listen, don't you know her best friend was that Muggle-born? There's no way!"

"She has a point," said a fifth-year boy. "I don't think You-Know-Who would do anything except put Astoria in Azkaban. She's always been against his cause."

A whole cluster of arguments broke out as Astoria pushed her way through the mess, trying not to be seen.

"She uses Dark magic, that part's true!"

"Er, so does everyone else these days. There's no way."

"I wonder if she's pregnant right now because of the Time Turner!"

"Pregnant! Ew! I don't see why we would even be allowed to know that information if it were true. So it's got to be fake! Death Eaters wouldn't let us know of that."

"Professor Sinistra said that's why we needed those nazars, because Rabastan used dream magic. She told my class! It's dream magic! He must have messed with our heads! We all had the same dream."

"Erm, hello! Professor Sinistra was married to Barty Crouch Jr! She's on their side! It's all got to be a trick to hide Astoria's pregnancy!"

"Yeah, didn't you hear Bellatrix Lestrange say something like 'you're an awful pick for him' when we were leaving D.A.D.A.? She must have been talking about You-Know-Who!"

"No, she was talking about Draco! Draco's related to her, I think! Bellatrix wouldn't want a Greengrass in her family. You know the Greengrasses like Squibs and stuff!"

"Right, and Astoria used to go round yelling at everyone who said the word Mudblood! You-Know-Who would sooner make a baby with Dolores Umbridge!"

"It was Astoria's friends handing out that Dreamless Sleep Potion, though. They were trying to cover it up! They were trying to make it so we wouldn't know! I didn't take that stupid potion. Now I know what they were hiding! Astoria's with the Dark Lord!"

"No, you're wrong! It was some freak dream the Lestranges wanted us to have so we would turn against her. She's a blood-traitor. Everyone knows that! She was part of Pariah. And Death Eaters attacked her family!"

"But they spared her at Quennell Park! She's probably baking the baby as we speak!"

"You're disgusting! They didn't spare her; she escaped!"

"Oh yeah? Then tell me why she's involved with Draco Malfoy."

"They've always been round each other — I dunno!"

Astoria was incorrect to think that she could run away and hide from this. In fact, trying to get out of the common room was creating another slew of comments about her attempting to hide what happened. People were starting to think she had just returned from the past with a Time Turner! Astoria wanted to stifle this once and for all.

She knew, though, that stating her position out loud would ruin her chances of ever playing it safe round the Death Eaters again. But she had to honour her own beliefs and stand up for herself. No more hiding. No more appeasing Alecto and Amycus. No more pretending to be compliant to make Draco and Professor Sinistra feel like she was safer. It obviously didn't matter either way — she was not safe at all. Astoria hoisted herself up on a chair and cast an Amplifying Charm on her voice.

"Hi, everyone," she tried to say with as little anger as possible.

It felt like she had a thousand eyes on her. She started to get a migraine, and she took a moment to reign in her Legilimency.

"Hi. Sorry. I wanted to say that I had the same dream you did. Erm. I know it seemed real, and I wanted to tell you that it isn't. I can tell some of you have already made up your minds about me. I know the dream was extremely realistic. I don't believe in You-Know-Who's cause. I never have, and I never will. Every day, I miss Rhiannon Clarke. A lot of you bullied her. She had to leave the country with my family. I've heard some of you saying the Death Eaters spared me. They didn't. Their wands were in my face trying to kill me as much as they tried — and succeeded — to kill other members of my family.

"I am a blood-traitor. I don't believe in blood purity. Alecto's been using propaganda to try to trick people like me into that mindset. Sometimes, it's even worked on me. Like, I don't want the oceans and atmosphere to have industrial waste. I don't like how misogynistic Muggles can be. Things like that! But nobody should be in Azkaban because they're Muggle-born! I know that announcing this is going to turn some of you further against me. I don't even care. I'd sooner go to Azkaban than have anyone think I would get involved with You-Know-Who, especially sexually. What the hell was that?

"Anyway, Rabastan Lestrange stalks Professor Sinistra, who, yes, married Barty Crouch Jr. That's why you've seen Rabastan send her Howlers. I'm an astronomy nerd, so I'm near her a lot, and that's why Rabastan came after me. He wanted to put me in danger to manipulate Sinistra, and he wanted to humiliate me. I'm totally ashamed that you had that dream, because I saw it, too. He used a branch of a Nightmare Curse that works remotely in our thoughts and dreams. That's why we had nazars, but he Imperiused a student to take them out of our rooms. Hestia made Dreamless Sleep Potions to try to protect us. No one here seems to have had that potion. Anyway, I'm not pregnant. That pervert made that up.

"A lot of us are pure-blood. As you can see from tonight, that doesn't make us safe. Neville Longbottom's parents were both pure-blood. Hannah Abbott's mum was pure-blood. Death Eaters kill a lot of pure-bloods. Pansy Parkinson — we don't get on because she's prejudiced — she's bleeding pure blood all over the hallway because of Rabastan Lestrange! I don't like how the Death Eaters objectify us. You see these silver bands we wear? We can't take them off because they code us based on blood purity. It bothers me how Death Eaters want us to 'purify the race' or whatever. Some of you believe in it, and you can go ahead and fight me. But be warned, I do use Dark magic. Why? To protect myself and my friends. I watched my family die. It changed me, but it didn't change what I believe in. I'm a Mudblood-loving, Squib-loving blood-traitor. There's nothing that makes me prouder than to say that now! If you think I had sex with You-Know-Who and want to spread rumours about me, go on then! What a stupid joke! Just make sure you tell everyone that sex with him would have been the most disappointing three minutes ever."

Astoria stepped down from her pulpit, certain that she had earned herself a cell in Azkaban. Already, she saw more faces crowding the Foe-Shard bracelet on her wrist. Then, Professor Slughorn came out of the hall with Flora and Parkinson Levitating in front of him. Flora would be under the Nightmare Curse for a long time.

"Miss Greengrass, you should come to the Hospital Wing for your injuries," Professor Slughorn called to her, then addressed the rest of the students, "as well as anyone who was hurt by the Sleep Paralysis Curse! Please follow me!"

Astoria first went back to her dormitory to make sure the door was still shut. It thankfully was, and because they had taken the Dreamless Sleep Potion, Hestia and Alexa were still safely asleep. Astoria then caught up to Professor Slughorn after she left the common room. Curtis Evercreech, who had a cursed boulder roll over him, followed her, too, without being afraid of her or thinking the dream was true. Astoria kept her eyes on Flora, whose face was scrunched up like discarded parchment. She made frightened noises in her sleep and said things that made no sense. Almost no sense.

The Hospital Wing had been crowded this year due to the Carrows, and now there were even more injured students due to the Lestranges. Madam Pomfrey had to conjure three beds for Astoria, Flora, and Parkinson since all of the equipped beds were full. Astoria felt like she was only taking up space and wasting the Matron's time. After all, Professor Slughorn had already taken care of her injuries. He simply wanted her to come here for a lie-down. At least this way she got to be next to Flora, and mercifully, Professor Slughorn did the explaining so Astoria wouldn't have to say a word.

"Well, good riddance to them!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed upon learning the Lestranges were leaving early.

Astoria refused the Dreamless Sleep Potion the Matron offered her and sat awake in bed with her arms crossed. She watched the Healer medicate and cast spells on Flora, knowing that hours later, Flora would wake to hallucinations. Astoria hoped she would still be next to her when that happened, but with as uncooperative as Astoria was being, Madam Pomfrey might declare that she was perfectly fine and discharge her before then. Madam Pomfrey walked over to Parkinson's bedside and started trying to invigorate her with magic.

"Since you're staring at me instead of going to sleep, why don't you tell me what was cast on Miss Parkinson?" the Matron said to Astoria.

"The Imperius Curse, but she was also floating above the ground for a while. Her eyes were open and moving like she was in R.E.M."

Madam Pomfrey sighed something about "Bewitched Sleep" to herself and went to consult the scrolls in her office for a solution for Parkinson. When she came back, she started to rouse Parkinson out of it. Astoria occasionally watched Madam Pomfrey work. Other times, she watched storm clouds move across the black sky through the window and listened helplessly to Flora's strange murmurs.

Parkinson woke up with a yelp and looked at Flora like she was something unclogged from a shower drain. She, too, refused the Dreamless Sleep Potion, but asked to have it by her bedside for later. Madam Pomfrey threw up her hands and left a phial for Parkinson, then went to make rounds to check on the other students. Parkinson wrapped the blankets tighter over her and drew her knees up. Then she put her head down on them and started crying quietly. Astoria looked back out the window. When the crying stopped, she glanced over to find Parkinson staring at her. Astoria dived into her mind uncontrollably and discovered that Parkinson had apparently spent her free time talking to Rabastan at the door to Astronomy Tower.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" Astoria snapped, even though she had been the one to take information. "I didn't sit on You-Know-Who if that's what you're wondering. I happen to not have a thing for murderous sociopaths."

Parkinson shut her eyes hard and rubbed them.

"I was wondering if you knew if my roommates were okay…"

"Well, did they take the potion Hestia was handing out?"

"Yeah, er, they did. Does that stop… does that stop this from happening?"

"Yeah, why else would Hestia be giving it out?" Astoria sneered. "You clearly didn't take any. You could have killed everyone with that curse on you. I hope you realise that."

"Okay," Parkinson barely chirped.

She put her head back on her knees and pulled on her braid. Then she started crying again. Astoria looked back out the window.

"Is Draco…?" Parkinson asked anxiously.

"Draco is a brilliant wizard. His magic's so strong, he Occludes in his sleep. He has to live with Rabastan, remember? Devine quoi, that's not a good thing, Pansy," jeered Astoria.

"R-Right…" Parkinson sniffed, and reached for the tissues at her bedside.

Astoria had a front-row seat to the cacophony of Parkinson's snot. Even worse, Parkinson kept trying to talk to her after the fourth tissue.

"Er, Astoria…?"

"What?"

"What… what all did I… do?"

Huge tears fell onto Parkinson's knees as she squeezed them tighter. Astoria shifted on the bed and looked at Parkinson, who hid her face again.

"Well," Astoria said, clearing her throat, "Flora saw you Imperiused. You cast some spell that opened everyone's dormitory door. Then you Summoned all of Professor Sinistra's nazars that you could reach, which was more than usual. You Reducted them so Rabastan could use Dark magic. Flora and I woke up because we didn't take the full dose of potion, and we tailed you to the boys' dorms. You were, er, floating above the ground. You cast a curse on us that backfired, and you got hurt. Then Rabastan got into the common room whilst I was trying to stop the curse. Flora staunched your bleeding, but she didn't get everything before Rabastan attacked her. He left you bleeding on the floor and cursed Flora, and then he came after me and put that dream in everyone's heads."

Parkinson nodded without looking up. She took the Dreamless Sleep Potion shortly thereafter and snored in Astoria's ears. The Hospital Wing doors opened quietly, and Astoria stood up. It was Draco. They nearly collided trying to reach each other so fast. Astoria drank in his comfort, his messy hair, his soft pyjamas. She couldn't let go of him.

"I am so sorry, Astoria," he rasped.

"Did you have the dream, or did you hear about it?"

"Crabbe and Goyle told me when they woke up… We got into a row… Astoria, are you okay?"

"Snape wouldn't let me attack Rabastan, so I could be a lot better," Astoria snorted.

"Oh my God," Draco said for lack of words, and he pulled her tighter, rubbing his hand on her head.

"Let's have a seat," Astoria suggested, since she couldn't exactly breathe against Draco's chest.

He sat on the edge of her bed and clasped her hands whilst she told him everything from start to finish. He kept saying he was sorry, but Astoria wouldn't let him take any personal responsibility for Rabastan. Draco then shifted the blame to Parkinson, who was sleeping peacefully at last.

"You know, about Parkinson… just let it go, actually," Astoria sighed. "She was like a moth to a flame. Just stupidity. I don't think she's going to live this down."

Draco gave the back of Parkinson's head one final glare. Astoria admired his face even then. He had a nice jawline, especially when it was set like this. His chin was pointy but oh-so cute. She mulled over all of the blood-traitorous, anti-Voldemort things she had announced in the common room and realised something awful: she might really have to let Draco go to keep him safe. After all, it was one thing to announce that the dream wasn't true, and another thing to say "hey, I'm a major Mudwallower and Voldemort probably lasts three minutes in bed." There wasn't a way to come back from that, was there? Yikes.

"Draco…" Astoria pronounced.

"Astoria, nothing that happened tonight changes anything. You're the most wonderful person I've ever known, and I will always be here for you. Through everything," Draco said.

He wrapped his arm round her waist and held her close. Draco had been an unforeseen source of support and strength for her, even though he answered to those who had caused all of her problems. He was so unlike that. It was iniquitous that Voldemort held him on such a leash. Astoria's chest ached. There was no way round it; Draco would only jeopardise his safety by staying by her side. Voldemort lived in his house. Draco couldn't be mixed up with Astoria after her outright declarations against Voldemort's new government. He would kill him. Astoria loved Draco, and she had to do the right thing. She choked up with the words right on her tongue, but Snape rushed into the Hospital Wing and marched straight to her. His usual pomp and affectedness had been ripped from his appearance, and he presently spoke with absolute candour.

"Miss Greengrass, you need to give me your memories about your encounter with Rabastan immediately, and everything you know about his pursuit of Professor Sinistra. I have just been to inform her that the Lestranges are no longer here," Snape panted desperately. "She is not in Astronomy Tower."