Chapter 19. A Sordid Mistake
The winter break had passed incredibly quickly, New Years Eve had come and gone rather unceremoniously, and soon the morning arrived where Astrid would return to Hogwarts ahead of the students the following day. The young professor levitated her packed trunk down the stairs and into the tiled foyer of Grimmauld Place.
"That time already?" Remus Lupin asked from the dining table, a cup of tea sat in front of him, a chocolate covered biscuit in one hand. Sirius Black occupied the seat next to him, his head noseying over his daily newspaper.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Astrid huffed lightly as she plonked herself down opposite Sirius. "I have to go see what kind of state Professor Binns has left my classroom in," Astrid tried her best to hide her nerves, the thought of returning to the school made her mind frazzle with anxiety.
"Care for some breakfast before you go?" Sirius asked from over his newspaper.
"No thank you, but I would love a cup of coffee," Astrid smiled.
"Kreacher did you get that?" Sirius yelled from behind the paper.
"Kreacher heard, Kreacher will make the blood traitor coffee," The house elf muttered under his breath from behind Astrid as the creature apparated to the kitchen.
"I thought house elves were meant to be pleasant jolly things," Remus smirked.
"He never was pleasant that one, not even when I was a boy," Sirius remarked. Just then then he eyed something interesting in a column of the daily prophet. Raising his brows in surprise he folded the paper in half and then half again, spinning the paper around he flopped it down on the table in front of Astrid and leant back in his chair, crossing his legs and flopping his arm over the back casually.
"There's something here you might find… interesting," Sirius spoke eyeing the girl suspiciously. Astrid glanced over the newspaper; the main article on that page was something about a quidditch accident, the girl furrowed her brows, confused at her connection to the story.
"What? I don't even play quidditch," Astrid questioned. Kreacher appeared next to her unannounced, placing a cup of coffee and a saucer before her. She didn't thank the house elf, which was extremely unlike her, however he had grown tired of his rudeness and name calling over the last few weeks.
"Not that one," Sirius smirked, he leant forward and placed a ringed finger on a small story in the gossip column, which was obviously run by the infamous Rita Skeeter. With one hand Astrid sipped at her coffee, with the other she picked up the paper and brought it up to her face, reading it a loud under her breath.
"News just in, according to credible sources there's trouble in paradise at Malfoy Manor. Picture-perfect couple, Mr & Mrs Malfoy, file for divorce." Astrids eyes grew wider as she read on. Nausea started to bubble in her stomach like a cauldron. She set her coffee down and held the paper with two hands now, holding it even closer just to make sure she was reading it accurately.
"Keep going." Sirius nodded to the paper as he smoothed out his moustache.
"Allegedly Lucius Malfoy has filed on grounds of 'unreasonable behaviour'. Credible sources have also alleged that Narcissa Malfoy has filed counter papers, citing the grounds of divorce as 'adultery'." Astrid read, her voice faltering, the nauseous feeling began to grow and spread up her throat the more she read. "Get your popcorn ready readers, this will be the divorce of the century."
"I'm guessing your undercover task is going well then?" Remus asked as he nursed his cup of tea.
"I feel sick," Astrid muttered, she slapped the newspaper down onto the table and clasped her hand to her mouth.
"Clearly you've made quite the impression on him," Sirius concluded as he took his newspaper back, unfolding it before him.
"No, actual sick!" Astrid exclaimed as she jumped up from her chair and leapt for the waist bin next to the door, making it just in time she emptied still warm coffee and bile into wastebasket. Sirius dropped his paper and jumped to his feet, rounding the table he pulled an aged handkerchief embroidered with a swirly monogram 'SB' from his velvet jacket pocket and held it out to the girl.
"Thank you," Astrid heaved as she took it from his hands, his fingers brushing over her palm for just a second. Sirius held onto the girls' shoulders as she dabbed at her lips.
"Kreacher, a glass of water please," Sirius called over his shoulder as he helped Astrid to her feet. He set the young woman down in her chair gently. The bad-mannered house elf arrived quickly, a glass of water in his hand. Sirius snatched the glass from him and handed it over to the professor, who's skin was now pale and sallow.
"I'm guessing you weren't aware he was filing for divorce?" Remus enquired.
"No, I wasn't," Astrid said breathily as she sipped at her water. Sirius released her from his warm hold now and perched on the edge of the seat next to her, stroking her upper back comfortingly.
"I'm sorry Astrid, it wasn't my intention to shock you, I thought he would have told you," Sirius apologised whole heartedly.
"It's fine, honestly, I just feel so bad… his wife, she must know…" Astrids guilty conscious took hold of her thoughts.
"Don't feel bad for Narcissa Malfoy, she is a piece of work," Remus commented as he dunked his biscuit in his tea and took a bite.
"You know her?" Astrid asked as she dabbed at her lips again.
"We went to Hogwarts with her," Remus informed her. "And with him."
"I would love to see Malfoy's face when he finds out he's destroyed his family for nothing, when he realises, you're just using him," Sirius mused.
"Yeah," Astrid nodded nervously adding a small fake laugh, she stared into her glass of water, trying her best to avoid the eyes of the two men beside her.
"How are you finding that pompous arse? He's not cruel, I hope," Remus asked, suddenly concerned about the young woman's wellbeing.
"If he hurts you Astrid just forget the task, tell us straight away and I will ensure he's dealt with," Sirius said reassuringly.
"How exactly are you going to deal with him from the confines of this house?" Remus smirked.
"I have my ways," Sirius retorted, flicking a finger over his nose.
"No, he's perfectly charming, just as you said Sirius," Astrid spoke up as she took one last sip of water before placing the glass back into the table. "I'm so sorry to ruin your bin and just up and leave, but I must really be going," Astrid cringed, embarrassed at her bodily outburst.
"I hated that bin anyway," Sirius smiled warmly as he took the young lady's hand and helped her up out of the chair.
"Thank you for having me these past few weeks, you have been the most hospitable host," Astrid smiled politely as Sirius stepped her out into the foyer. Remus followed behind, tea in hand.
"You have been a wonderful guest, thank you for gracing me with your beauty and brains Miss Moody," Sirius schmoozed, causing Lupin to stifle a laugh and roll his eyes. "Albus has arranged a portkey for you, it's the music box on the side there, it should take you right to your chambers, and you can use it to travel back here whenever you like, you're always welcome here,"
"Thank you so much… oh and lovely to see you again Remus," Astrid smiled curtly, she grabbed her trunk and stepped towards the music box on the sideboard, but suddenly remembered the item in her hand.
"Oh Sirius, your handkerchief!" Astrid gasped, spinning around and holding out the wrinkled cloth square.
"Keep it," Sirius smiled. Astrid nodded, a shy smile spread across her lips, she placed the token in her pocket and within an instant disappeared as she touched the golden music box.
"Thank you for gracing me with your beauty and brains," Lupin mocked, "She is old enough to be your daughter,"
"You are a bore in your old age you know that Moony," Sirius exhaled, brushing some stray curls from his forehead.
"If Mad-Eye heard you talking like that with his daughter… merlin help you,"
Back at Hogwarts in a flash, the feeling of sickness overcame Astrid once again as the portkey sent her hurtling to her chamber floor, her trunk tumbling to the ground.
"Urgh! Not again!" Astrid pleaded with herself as she clasped a hand over her mouth and ran for the bathroom, only making it just in time. She hurled into the toilet basin, gripping the porcelain with two weak hands her knees dug into the cold tile.
Knock, knock, knock.
Astrid tried to shout for the door, but was preoccupied by emptying the contents of her stomach.
"Did someone party too hard this New Years?" The monotonous voice of Severus Snape echoed through the tiled bathroom. Astrid rubbed stray hairs back off her face as she reached up and flushed the chain.
"No, I just don't travel well by portkey, makes me feel, ugh," Astrid groaned, she pulled the handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at her mouth, her tongue, lips and throat felt as if they were on fire. Severus' lip snarled up as he read the monogram on the cotton fabric.
"Blacks lack of shame really has no bounds," Snape snarled.
"Its just a hanky," Astrid groaned as she pushed herself up from the cold tile floor, she tucked the handkerchief into her pocket, out of sight, out of mind. "What did you want anyway Severus?" Astrid asked rather snappily as she fumbled for her wand.
"I came to bring you this Miss Moody, but if you continue with the attitude I'll take my leave instead," Snape retorted, pulling a paper out of his robe.
"Accio toothbrush," Astrid said lazily as she flicked her wand, she reached up and grabbed the blue and white toothbrush from the air and plodded over to the sink, ignoring the Daily Prophet that Snape held out to her. "If it's the gossip column article about Malfoys… I've already seen it," Astrid sighed as she squeezed some toothpaste onto the brush and began scrubbing at her teeth and tongue relentlessly.
"Quite the shock even for me… how do you feel?" Severus asked in his usual tone. Astrid spat into the sink and turned to the potions master, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I feel like… he's making a huge mistake," Astrid said honestly, Severus raised his brows in surprise.
"How unexpected Miss Moody… I thought you would be quite pleased with yourself," Severus' lip twisted into a small smirk.
"Do you really think that little of me Severus? That I would enjoy splitting up a family, bask in ruining a marriage? You think I enjoy being a homewrecker?" Astrid breathed sadly as she turned back towards the mirror and began brushing once again, she eyed Severus in the reflection behind her, he leant against the tiled wall and crossed his arms across his chest.
"What I think is irrelevant." Severus stated harshly. "I'm not implicated in it all... It's what you think that matters here Miss Moody," Astrid snorted as his words and spat the last of her toothpaste into the sink, and ran the tap for a few seconds, rinsing the basin and her brush before placing it back in its little cup.
"You most certainly are implicated Severus," Astrid retorted as she turned to the professor, "You are the one who put me up to engaging with Lucius in the first place remember?"
"A sordid mistake," Snape hissed, "besides, I didn't task you to grow feelings." Astrid sighed deeply at his words, shaking her head in frustration she bit her tongue, locking the words she wanted to scream at the man inside, for fear it would get her into trouble.
"If you're quite done Severus, I have things I need to be getting on with," Astrid exhaled as she strolled passed Snape out of the bathroom, the young woman marched towards the door, Snape quick on her heels. Her blonde waves bouncing as she pulled the door open dramatically and waved her hand out the door. Severus didn't hesitate and stalked straight out of the young woman's chambers, the door slamming behind him.
Students filtered back into Hogwarts, backpacks slung over shoulders, ready for the spring term ahead.
"Morning Mr Longbottom, morning Miss Lovegood." Astrid greeted students left and right as she walked the halls to her classroom, a strong cup of coffee in hand.
"Morning Professor, glad to see you back," Luna smiled kindly at the professor.
"Miss Parkinson don't let Professor Umbridge catch you with that non-regulation uniform," Astrid warned the Slytherin girl as she passed.
"Professor Moody!" A high-pitched voice called over the sea of students. Minerva McGonagall made her way through the crowd, the students parting like the red sea for the professor.
"Professor McGonagall," Astrid greeted her senior warmly.
"You're feeling better, I trust?" Minerva asked, looking over the young woman. Pomfrey was right, not even a mark where her head had split open. The rest of her looked perfectly fine too, Astrid was well dressed in a yellow flowing calf length skirt and a white blouse, paired with little white heels, a white waist length cape with an embroidered edge hung from one shoulder, it tied with a bow around her slender neck. Her hair was styled, makeup applied. She looked shiny and new, even if she didn't feel it on the inside.
"Yes, a bit nervous coming back, but other than that I'm fine thank you Minerva," Astrid smiled.
"That's to be expected, I'm afraid there's still no news on identifying your attacker, without witnesses it's proving extremely difficult, in fact we may never be able to know who it was for sure," Minerva said as she touched Astrids's upper arm supportively. Astrid nodded along.
"I understand professor," Astrid breathed, trying to keep her poker-face.
"Dolores has called a faculty meeting tonight, eight o-clock in the great hall, she's kept the details to herself but I have a feeling it's about school security," Minerva informed the young professor.
"Thank you for letting me know, eight in the great hall," Astrid smiled, repeating the meeting details for her own memory.
"Any problems at all today, come see me," Minerva smiled before turning sharply and striding down the corridor.
Astrid made it to her class with a few minutes to spare, she set her coffee down with a sigh and began chalking the date and subject matter onto her blackboard with shaky hands, as students trickled into the class and found their seats.
"Morning third years, so good to see you all, I hope you didn't give Professor Binns too much hassle in my absence, now if you'd like to turn to page two hundred and ninety-three in your textbooks, we will jump right into our new subject, the witch trials of 1692,"
Astrid fell back into teaching quickly, finding her feet by lunch time, and finishing the day at the top of her game again, it felt good to distract herself, even just momentarily. Teaching wasn't a chore for her like it was with some of the other professors, she loved her subject, and thoroughly enjoyed passing that love for history onto her students.
Astrid decided to take her lunch and dinner in the safety of her classroom, there was very little chance of running into Draco Malfoy there, it was her safe space. The great hall however would be a challenge in the future, knowing he would be seated somewhere among the sea of green at the Slytherin table.
At 7:45 Astrid put down her pile of homework from the holidays, she had managed to work her way through half of it when she decided to set off to the Great Hall.
When she arrived Professor McGonagall was stood outside, speaking lowly with Professor Snape. As Astrid approached Minerva reached out to her.
"How was your first day back dear? I didn't catch you at lunch, or dinner," Minerva asked, a slightly worried expression on her face.
"It was good, in fact it was great, like muscle memory I just jumped straight back in, I had lots of marking to do from the winter break so I took my lunch and dinner at my desk," Astrid explained, Minerva nodded understandingly whilst Severus just eyed her with a bored expression.
"Shall we?" Astrid asked, motioning to the large doors leading into the Great Hall.
"We shall, are you coming Severus?" Minerva asked as she took Astrid's arm, leading the girl towards the doors.
"I'll be but a moment professor," Severus spoke.
Astrid and Minerva entered the hall and travelled down the channel of benches towards the back of the hall where Umbridge stood at Dumbledores extravagant pulpit, shuffling and organising pieces of parchment as she waited for all the staff to arrive and be seated at the benches usually reserved for students.
Professor Moody and McGonagall took a seat with Professor Sprout at the Ravenclaw table. A large bearded man with long curly hair entered the hall and plodded towards them. Large was actually an understatement, Astrid thought he must be part giant surely because he was humungous.
"Astrid, this is Rubeus Hagrid, our groundskeeper and Professor of Care of Magical Creatures," Minerva introduced the two.
"Ah! I've heard so much about you Hagrid, it's great to finally put a face to the name," Astrid smiled politely, shaking the man's hand which made hers look like that of a small child in his.
"All good things I hope," Hagrid smiled as he sat down on the Hufflepuff bench on the other side of the alley between them, the bench bowing slightly under his weight.
"We just have a few more to arrive and we will get started," Umbridge announced after clearing her throat. Astrid looked around to see who was missing, all the professors bar Snape were there, even Dumbledore stood hands clasped together at the side of the Great Hall. Astrid looked around and saw the unfamiliar faces of some school governors and her stomach flipped with eagerness, she looked for a head of white blonde hair, but saw none.
The Great Hall doors opened and closed as two figures slipped through them into the large room. Making their way down the main channel between the tables was a very bored looking Severus Snape, and to Astrids surprise, a stony-faced Lucius Malfoy. Both dressed elegantly in black their robes flowing behind them dramatically as they came to a standstill at the back of the meeting. Severus and Lucius chose to stand than to sit at the benches like they were teenagers again. Lucius leaned both hands on his cane as he watched Umbridge closely, his intense eyes flashed to the girl dressed like sunshine at the Ravenclaw table and his gaze softened for just a second.
"Now that we are all finally here," Umbridge squeaked, "our meeting can commence, first order of business is sadly, the security of this school."
All eyes fell to Dumbledore for his reaction, but the man stood emotionless, allowing Umbridge to run the show and tarnish the school to its staff.
"The perpetrator of Professors Moody's attack is still at large; Hogwarts is not safe." Umbridge announced. "A group of students are engaging in secret meetings, practicing dangerous magic behind closed doors,"
"You know this for certain Professor?" Astrid asked aloud, other professors and governors glanced at the young woman briefly with wide eyes.
"I will not be interrupted!" Umbridge squawked, "I know this for certain, the group is led by a Mr Harry Potter and my inquisitorial squad are on the cusp of catching these felons' red handed!"
"Felons? They're children Dolores, teenagers, even if they are meeting how do you know they're practicing dangerous magic and not just being teenagers and… say… hanging out?" Astrid piped up again, Minerva shot the professor a look of warning as Astrid pushed Dolores' buttons.
"Enough Professor Moody! I will forgive your… misconduct, I'm sure that bump on the head has clouded your judgement. Now I have written a new policy on negative reinforcement of behaviour, blood quills are available for collection from me for any professor who so wishes to use them as a behaviour deterrent. Now moving on to my inquisitorial squad, I have granted them more powers in controlling…"
The meeting went on for another forty-three minutes. Forty-three minutes of Dolores talking at her staff, putting into place her new policies and rules. The mood of the room grew more and more drained as the meeting went on, by time it finished the overall vibe and moral of the staff was so low it was as if it had been sapped from them.
Umbridge dismissed the meeting, Dumbledore slipped away without a word, he had watched from the side lines without interruption, his silence only added to the disheartenment of his staff. Minerva escorted Astrid out of the hall, one of the first to leave, they spoke through hushed tones as they meandered into the corridor.
"How can Dumbledore let her do this?" Astrid whispered.
"I do not know, it's madness, I must go speak with him immediately dear, I have grave concerns for this school and her pupils," Minerva said sadly as she squeezed the young professor's hand. "I will see you tomorrow dear,"
Astrid watched her superior head off in search for the headmaster, and glanced towards the small crowd that exited the Great Hall. She casually searched for the chairman of the governors, spotting him eventually strolling out with Snape, his can clicking on the stone floor. Severus whispered something into Lucius' ear as Astrid approached the duo.
"Mr Malfoy," Astrid cleared her voice, "I was wondering if I could have a word," Astrid was weary of the staff and governors around her when she spoke, she guessed that everyone had seen the paper, or heard of it in the gossip that ensued. She didn't want to arouse the suspicion of her peers, suspicion that she was the one who ended his marriage.
"Certainly, shall we meet in my office and conduct business there?" Lucius asked in his perfectly polished voice.
"Yes, your office it is," Astrid nodded.
"I will meet you there, Professor do let yourself in… I have some… business to finish with Professor Snape first," Lucius voice had a hint of something under the surface, but Astrid could not pin point what it was exactly, but it irked her.
Severus and Lucius spoke gravely as Astrid walked away, their voices were hushed, the girl could not hear what the two were conversing about. She eyed them briefly over her shoulders as she climbed the steps in the direction of the governors' offices, Snape was calm and collected as usual, though his jaw looked a little tense. Lucius however had gritted teeth and dark eyes; he gripped his cane hard.
Astrid did as Lucius said, letting herself into his office, it was the one with his name carved into a plaque on the door. She entered quickly, and softly closed the door behind her, leaning her back against it she eyed the room before her. It was not as vast as she imagined it would be, but it was still a large office. Bookshelves lined every wall, filled with texts, rolled parchments, trinkets, artifacts and nick knacks.
A large desk sat in the middle of the room, made of dark wood it was almost black, a green leather inlay was cut into the middle of the desk in front of a green leather arm chair. Two smaller green arm chairs sat in front of the desk, angled slightly inwards. A large fireplace engulfed the wall behind the desk, a portrait sat above, it was a man who looked a lot like Lucius, but different, perhaps a relation? Astrid pushed herself off the door and rounded the desk to view the various items sat upon it. A jar of bone quills, a small bevelled glass ink pot, a neat pile of blank parchment, a box of cigars, and a single photograph in an ornate silver frame. It was the Malfoy family as Astrid knew it. Astrid perched on the desk and took the photo in her hands, examining it. Unlike most wizard photos this one did not move, if it did then the lack of animation must have been due to the family's static pose. Astrid did not imagine Lucius to be the candid type, no he was very much a stand still and pose kind of man. The photograph showed Lucius, Narcissa by his side, her arm wrapped in his, and Draco stood in front of them. Lucius had his hand upon the boy's shoulder, he was younger, perhaps eight or nine. They looked like the perfect family, happy, healthy, well to do. Astrid looked upon the photo with great sadness, guilt overwhelming her quickly.
"Don't be fooled, we were as much unhappy then," Lucius spoke from the other side of the desk, startling the young woman. She hadn't heard the soft open and close of the door, or the clicking of his cane against the wooden floor. Lucius rounded the desk, passing Astrid by and taking a seat in his chair. He leant his cane against his desk and clasped his hands together, eyeing the girl with great thought.
"I saw the paper," Astrid breathed as she set the photo back down on the desk where she had plucked it from.
"You and the rest of the wizarding world," Lucius muttered as he stared into the fire.
"I didn't know it had come to that," Astrid said sadly, "I feel… awful," Lucius smirked at her words, as he glanced at her briefly before his stare returned to the fire.
"You don't believe it was because of you, do you?" Lucius said, his words came out harsher than intended as he watched the dancing flames. It took Astrid off guard, she had presumed he was divorcing his wife for her, perhaps she had presumed wrong. That particular feeling hit her hard in the chest, her heart rate quickened, the beat growing stronger.
"Well… I thought… I saw it said…" Astrid fumbled over her words nervously as she couldn't decide what to say, what was appropriate to say?
"It's been a long time coming, you were just the catalyst," Lucius sighed as he rubbed at his temple.
"Well… either way, I'm sorry… it must be hard to go through," Astrid reached for Lucius' hand that rested on the arm of his chair, but he recoiled at her delicate touch.
"You have no idea," The blonde man growled into the fire.
"Are you mad at me? I didn't intend to set this into motion Lucius,"
"Not everything is about you Astrid." Lucius snapped, his furrowed brows and intense eyes burrowed into Astrid, penetrating her skin and burning her from the inside out. "But since we're on the topic, what exactly did you intend? What is it you want from me?"