TITLE: Taking the Blame

GENRE: General (because I don't know)

RATING: K+

SUMMARY: Astoria takes the blame for something that Draco does - that's the start of their story.

AU (Alternate Universe): none, canon-ish

WARNING: bullying, blood

Taking the Blame

By RowenaHermioneRavenclaw

The love story of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass is strange.

It starts off in the courtyard, during Draco's eighth year and Astoria's sixth.

It's a completely normal day. Nothing strange. The sun shines. The sky is blue. Birds fly overhead.

Astoria and Draco are on opposite sides of the courtyard. Draco is sitting with his friends, talking. Astoria is reading a book, completely engrossed in it.

Then, suddenly -

"OW!"

Astoria's head whips up from her book to see a little second year falling to the ground. The little boy's leg is bleeding. The blood spills onto the floor, and Astoria flinches, remembering the numerous piles of blood on the grounds of the castle during the Final Battle.

The little boy starts to cry.

Draco snickers discreetly, but Astoria has excellent hearing. She glares at him. "Did you do it?"

"Of course I didn't," Draco chokes out, but his lie is completely see-through. He's laughing now as the little boy's cries become louder and louder.

Astoria makes her way over to him, her green eyes narrowed. "Why did you do it?" she snarls.

Even with her petite height, she looks intimidating. Draco stops laughing.

"Why did you do it?" Astoria repeats. She fingers her wand, which is tucked inside her sleeve.

"Because -"

But then, the sound of footsteps approach. Even though Astoria cares about other students' welfare, she's a Slytherin. Quickly, she slinks back to her spot on the grassy ground and re-opens her book.

"What is happening here?"

Professor McGonagall is not pleased. Astoria can tell that much.

A beat.

There's this urge to speak up for Draco inside Astoria, but she doesn't know why. He's mean and a bully. Why would she stand up for him?

But Astoria's gut has never led her astray.

"It's my fault." In the silence of the courtyard, Astoria's voice seems so much louder than it really is.

Professor McGonagall's eyes widen. "Miss Greengrass?"

"Yes, Professor."

"You...did this?" The Headmistress gestures at the second year still on the ground.

"Yes, I did." Astoria's bravery starts to waver slightly.

"Why, Miss Greengrass, did you do this?" Professor McGonagall asks, and by the look in her eyes, Astoria knows that if she continues this, she'll be in detention for the rest of her life.

But a little voice says inside her head, Give him a second chance.

And Astoria believes in second chances.

So she continues.

As she does so, Astoria glances at Draco, who now looks surprised. Surprised and guilty. And sorry.

She's glad that he is. Learn from your mistakes, Draco Malfoy.

[Hogwarts] Assignment 12: Photography Task #9: The Loch Ness Monster - Unknown (1934): Write about someone taking credit or blame for something they didn't do.

WC: 429