Chapter 32. The Burrow
Two days had passed since Slughorns party, Astrid hadn't breathed a word to anyone about what she saw or heard. The term had come to an end and students began to trickle out of the castle with their case towards the station to catch the Hogwarts Express back to London. Astrid was going to be joining the students on the train for the first time, she had never ridden a train at all before, Beauxbatons had a slightly more glamorous mode of transport to their school…
She levitated her trunk down her stairs and gathered her things by her chamber door, Everly was buckled into her travel seat, Astrid had checked they were secure three or four times before she no longer fretted, she didn't have full trust in the muggle contraption. Finally, a knock at the door, she had been waiting on Mr Filch to come and collect her trunk to take to the train, a small benefit of technically being a staff member.
Astrid opened the door but it was not Filch awaiting her answer, it was Severus Snape. Astrid went to close the door as quickly as she opened it, but the man barged in, pushing the door open abruptly.
"Excuse you, I don't remember inviting you in," Astrid shot at the man as she crossed her arms standoffishly. Severus didn't care, with the wave of his hand the door slammed closed.
"What are you-" Astrid was cut off being pushed against the wooden door roughly.
"Where are you going for this Christmas break?" Severus asked hastily.
"I'm not tel-"
"Where?!" Severus hissed desperately.
"The Burrow, the Weasleys invited me, not that it's any of your business," She answered snidely.
"You can't, you won't," Severus told her, backing away and bringing his hand to his mouth in thought, he paced for a second. "It's not safe, you will not go there,"
"Why isn't it safe? What have you done?" Astrid asked, her blood boiling she clenched her fists. Severus lunged for her, taking her roughly by the shoulders, he wrapped his fingers over her warm skin, digging them into her supple flesh.
"I haven't done anything, but you must heed my warning… stay at Hogwarts this Christmas Astrid,"
The night before….
"Ah Severus… finally, you made it, I was afraid we would start without you," The Dark Lord slithered. Severus had entered the dining room at Malfoy Manor and faced down a long table of familiar faces, at the end in his throne was the Dark Lord, leaning on one arm of his chair casually.
"Apologies, My Lord," Severus bowed his head, "I could not leave Hogwarts and earlier without arousing suspicion," Severus made his way down the table, eyes watching him the entire way. There he took his seat at the Dark Lords right hand side. Severus' eyes looked up to regard the man opposite him. Lucius looked worse than the last time he had seen him, he was paler even than normal, large bags under his tried eyes.
"First port of call, an update on our dear Draco if you please Severus," The Dark Lord gestured to the man.
"Draco has made multiple attempts on Dumbledores life, so far none have been successful, I've offered him my advice, my help on multiple occasions… but he refuses to accept it." Severus told the Dark Lord.
"Your boy is almost as foolish as you it seems Lucius," The Dark Lord snorted. Lucius stayed silent and bowed his head to avoid his master's distasteful gaze, his blonde hair falling over his face. "But it's you Severus, that is meant to be mentoring the boy, teaching him, yet it seems he doesn't trust his teacher's advice?" The Dark Lord tutted.
"The boy is too big for his boots my Lord,"
"My Lord, if I may," Narcissa butted in "I have been working with Draco… and Severus… on using a pair of vanishing cabinets… to gain access to Hogwarts undetected," She bragged.
"You have helped with this plan Severus?" The Dark Lord asked, turning to his most loyal follower.
"I have given instruction to the boy to fix the vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement, whether he will or won't is down to him," Severus told the Dark Lord calmly, his master nodded at his words.
"Moving on…" The Dark Lord slithered. "Bellatrix, I trust your assault on the Burrow is going ahead as planned,"
"Certainly," She laughed, her tongue running across her teeth. Severus' jaw tensed for a second as he watched Bellatrix's face twist into a psychotic smile.
"Good… I look forward to it… Next I wish to discuss a rumour that I heard… Astrid Moody has returned to Hogwarts… is this true Severus?" The Dark Lord was obviously displeased, displeased at the fact she was in, what Dumbledore had made, an impenetrable fortress, and displeased he was only just finding out about it.
"It is true My Lord," Severus breathed. Bellatrix Lestrange let out an angry gasp somewhere further down the table.
"Why did you not inform us earlier?" The Dark Lord hissed.
"I thought her no longer relevant to our plans," Severus said simply.
"She may no longer be relevant to our plans… but I want to see her dead Severus, I want to see the light leave her eyes!" The Dark Lord yelled, he pulled his wand out of his black robes and aimed at Snape mercilessly, jabbing it at the man he yelled "Crucio!"
Severus fell out of his seat, his body thrashing with pain he flailed around on the ground. In his pain all he could think about was the time the Dark Lord had sat Astrid upon her knee and made her watch him be tortured, and then made her the torturer, using the cruciatus curse on her lover. He thought of her scared, shocked little face, and how she had shown him that almost identical look when he pushed her against the wall at Slughorns party. What a contrast it was to the time she nearly died of laughter when Everly had spilled milky sick down his back. Her laugh was beautiful, an enigma, that lit you inside. He thought of her laugh and the matching large genuine smile to help relieve the burning pain that seared through his veins.
"What was that, Severus?" The Dark Lord asked, breaking his spell. "I saw it, for a second, in your mind…" The Dark Lord wheezed a sly little chuckle. "Does Lucius know?"
Lucius looked up in confusion at the mention of his name.
"Do I know what, my Lord?" he asked weakly, was it to be his turn under the cruciatus curse again?
"For just a second then, I got a rare glimpse into Severus' mind, do you want to know what I saw Lucius?"
Lucius didn't answer he just gave a slight nod. Knowing his Lord, it wasn't going to be something pleasant. Severus still hadn't gotten up from the floor, he had no reason to, the Dark Lord was unloading the shameful glimpse he had gotten into Severus' mind, how could he be so weak, to think of her at his most vulnerable?
"Severus, holding your child," The Dark Lord told Lucius, the news hit him like a wave of jealousy, what he'd give to hold his child, his daughter, his Everly. "But there's more Lucius… I saw Severus pushing your beloved against a wall, his lips brushing hers, they were about to kiss," The Dark Lord told him with a sly smile. It was as if someone had stabbed Lucius in the back, the pain he felt inside was deep, it was more than just jealously, it was treachery. He balled his fists and clenched his jaw. The rest of the table looked on, silently enjoying the show. Especially Bellatrix, a large smile spread across her face as she watched the exchange.
"My… Lord…I… didn't… kiss her," Snape choked out from the floor as he tried to push himself up.
"What betrayal," The Dark Lord tutted, "Your best friend Lucius, trying to replace you, trying to become a lover to your woman, a father to your child, how does that make you feel?"
"There are no words, my lord," Lucius hissed.
"Then show me, show me how much you feel betrayed," The Dark Lord egged Lucius on, gesturing to Snape's body on the floor, he was still trying to find the strength to push himself up and stand. Lucius rose up out of his chair and stared at the trembling man on the floor. With a large inhale he slid his wand from his cane, grasping it tightly, and aimed it at oldest friend.
"Crucio!" Lucius sneered.
"You can't order me about Severus… you're not Dumbledore, if it's so important that I stay away, he would tell me that, not you,"
"Albus is travelling! He is not here to tell you; I am telling you! Do not get on that train!" Severus seethed, his raised voice unsettled Everly, who began to kick and fuss.
"Tell me why, and I might just listen to you?" Astrid countered, eyeing Everly over his shoulder.
"I cannot… you know I cannot… you have to trust me!"
"I don't trust you though Severus! Every time I start to, you give me a reason to not. You're sly, sneaky, and twisted," Astrid spat, trying to push past him to get to her now crying child. But Severus grabbed her wrist, pulling her back, spinning her into his chest, he wrapped a strong arm around her.
"You are in danger!" He told her desperately.
"When am I not? There is a war going on Severus I'm no-" Astrids words were cut off when Severus Snape planted a strong kiss upon her lips, roughly pulling her closer to his body. For a moment Astrid allowed the kiss to happen, and almost kissed him back, almost. She yanked herself away at the realisation of what was transpiring between them, and raised a hand, slapping the professor hard across the cheek.
"How could you," Astrid scoffed, tears forming in her eyes. "Lucius is your closest friend, he trusts you! And you go and do that." She shook her head as she unbuckled Everly bringing her to her chest and hushing the baby.
"It was not my intention, I-"
"Get out," Astrid cut him off with a whisper. She pressed her cheek against her calming infant, bouncing her gently. "Just leave,"
"I apologise for my actions, profusely, Astrid," Severus choked as he headed out the door.
On the train, Astrid sat with Harry, and Ron, since she was spending the holidays with them at the Burrow anyway. Everly was happily sat upon Astrid's knee, grabbing fistfuls of the blonde's hair. Harry told the group he had overheard something of great importance, something to do with Snape and Draco. It soon became obvious to Astrid he had also been eavesdropping in that corridor that night.
"An unbreakable vow, you're sure that's what Snape said?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"Positive, professor Moody heard it too, didn't you?" Harry asked, turning to the professor who was leaning comfortably against the train window.
"How do you know that Mr Potter?" Astrid asked.
"I heard Snape threaten you," Harry admitted awkwardly.
"Oh, so you weren't going to jump to my defence?" Astrid scoffed.
"Nah, teacher on teacher is fair game, besides you can handle yourself," Ron quipped jokingly. The red headed boy sat back a moment and thought, "It's interesting, you can't break an unbreakable vow you know," Ron told the group.
"I… I worked that thing out myself, funnily enough," Harry quipped sarcastically.
"I can't understand," Ron furrowed his brows, just as Lavender Brown pressed herself against the compartment window, breathing on the glass she carefully drew a heart, followed by 'R+L' in the condensation. Astrid and Harry found themselves trying to ignore the cringey exchange, Harry playing with his seat, Astrid tickling Everly's stomach. She mouthed 'I'll miss you' through the window and disappeared as quickly as she came, prancing off down to her carriage.
"Lovely," Harry said blankly.
"That was… interesting, how long has that been going on?" Astrid asked, eyeing Ron amusingly.
"Too long," Harry breathed.
"All she wants to do is snog me… my lips are getting chapped, look!" Ron puckered up and moved towards Harry, who slinked away.
"I'll take your word for it." Harry told the red head.
Hermione appeared at the compartment door, it was clear she wanted to come in and join them, however upon spotting the message on the glass she rolled her eyes, clenched her fists and carried on further down the train. The compartment silently eyed each other awkwardly before Harry broke the silence with another question.
"So, what happens to you? What happens when you break an unbreakable vow?"
Astrid and Ron answered in unison…
"You die,"
Arthur Weasley was the one to pick up Astrid, Everly and the two boys from the station, taking them back to the burrow via a well-hidden portkey. The five of them landed in a grassy area, just outside a swamp, Astrid was glad she used the muggle travelling contraption when they landed, Everly's carrier fell out of Astrid's hands, reluctantly landing the right way up.
"Don't you just love portkeys," Arthur piped up as he landed securely on his feet, whilst everyone else groaned from the ground. "You each have your own, out there in the swamp, just in case of… evacuation," Arthur laughed nervously, "I'll show you them later, for now let's get settled!"
A tall house stood before her, the only building for miles, it looked as if it was once a cottage, and eventually it was built up and up and up. Its various extensions didn't match, some of them were even lopsided and held up by stilts, but Astrid loved it in a charming homely way. It felt like a proper home even before she stepped a foot inside.
"Ohh Harry, Astrid! Welcome! And of-course little Everly, come to Auntie Molly!" Molly hugged the two guests as they came through the door and instantly took Everly out of the carrier, snuggling the baby against her chest.
"No hello for me then, mum?" Ron asked rolling his eyes and pushing his way into the house and up the stairs.
"Thanks for having me Mrs Weasley," Harry said politely before following Ron up the stairs. Arthur was making quick work of levitating the trunks into the house.
"There we are, I'll pop it in the bedroom on the right on the third floor Astrid," Mr Weasley smiled as he passed by them.
"Come, come, dear, would you like a cup of tea?" Molly Weasley asked as she made her way to the kitchen.
"I would love one thank you Molly," Astrid smiled as she sat at a large family dining table. Molly took a seat too, with the swish of her wand a tea seat appeared before them, the teapot raising into the air magically, it poured each of them a cup.
"Is my father coming for Christmas do you know?" Astrid asked curiously as she poured some milk in her cup and popped in a sugar cube.
"I'm sorry dear, he has urgent business, there's been some awful things going on out there, you know Olivander? The wand maker? Poof, vanished! Your father and the Order are working tirelessly day and night to stop these abductions," Molly sighed.
"Gosh, that explains not being able to go choose a new wand then," Astrid breathed taking a sip of her tea.
"Onto cheerier subjects! I can't wait for this little one to open her Christmas present, she's going to love it!" Molly beamed as she bounced Everly against her.
"You're not down here giving my wife baby fever, are you?" Arthur smirked as he plodded down the stairs.
"You know me Arthur, I always have baby fever," Molly told her husband, Arthur rolled his eyes, kissing his wife on the head lovingly.
"I think seven's enough, don't you?" Arthur laughed.
Quickly Christmas was upon them… there was no snow this year, but the Christmas spirit in the Weasley house was more than enough to make up for it. They were joined by the twins, Fred & George as well as a surprise appearance from Remus and Tonks.
Everyone opened their presents in the morning by the fire, Ron received a hand knitted scarf in Gryffindor colours, big gold R's emblazoned all over it. Harry got another jumper, 'HP' knitted into the front in red. Fred and George received knitted waistcoats, both matching in style and design but in different colours, Fred's green, and George's orange. When it came to Astrid and Everly, the young professor was shocked to find there was a gift for each of them.
"You really shouldn't have Molly, you're too kind,"
"Nonsense, you're basically family, now open up!" Molly ordered in a motherly way. Astrid opened hers first, a yellow knitted cardigan with pink and blue flowers hand embroidered upon it.
"It's beautiful thank you," Astrid smiled, then she moved onto Everly's whom she tried to get involved opening it, but the infant was just too young so Everly pulled open the paper for her. Inside hers was a sage green knitted swaddle blanket, a pink E in the middle of it.
"Molly that's so kind thank you," Astrid smiled Molly moved down onto the floor next to the young woman, taking the blanket she laid it out.
"Now I know you know how to swaddle, but you don't know how to swaddle like a Weasley! So, you lay her here," Molly explained, lifting Everly onto the 'E'. "And then you take this bit, and wrap it over here…"
After everyone had stuffed themselves with Christmas Dinner later that day, Harry, Remus, Astrid, Tonks and Arthur sat down for a little chat about what they heard in the hallway.
"So, Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy for a mission," Remus spoke a loud, gathering his thoughts.
"I know it sounds bad," Harry started.
"Has it occurred to you, Harry, that Snape was simply pretending to offer Draco help?" Remus asked level-headedly. "So that he could find out what he was after?"
"That's not what it sounded like, right?" Harry said, turning to Astrid.
"It most definitely sounded like Snape is involved, I'm sorry Remus," Astrid sighed, she smoothed out her short white dress over her bare legs. It was a light airy thing, made of polka dotted dobby mesh. It had a ruched middle for comfort, she had to put her Christmas Dinner somewhere after all, and an off the shoulder neckline with short ruched poofy sleeves.
"Perhaps Harry and Astrid are right, Remus." Tonks sighed, clasping her hands together. "I mean to make an unbreakable vow…
"It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledores judgement…" Remus began to lecture the younger order members, "Dumbledore trusts Snape, therefore I do,"
"He threatened me," Astrid told them, her words getting hitched in her throat slightly, "Harry heard it."
"It's true, he did," Harry nodded. Arthur simply sat silent through the exchange, a pillow tightly pressed onto his lap, his hands pressed together, he looked deep in thought.
"And then on the last day, he came to my chambers and…" Astrid trailed off, sickly guilt began to burn inside her, a lump forming in her throat.
"And?" Tonks asked curiously.
"He… it doesn't matter," Astrid swallowed.
"Dumbledore can make mistakes, he said so himself," Harry told Remus with an exasperated sigh.
"You're blinded by hatred!" Remus raised his voice slightly.
"I'm not!" Harry protested.
"Yes you are!" Remus scolded the boy. "People are disappearing Harry, daily!"
"Olivander," Astrid sighed sadly, remembering the sweet old man, the first time she stepped foot in his shop and got her wand would be burned into her memory forever.
"Yes, like Olivander," Remus sighed, "We can only place our trust in a hand-full of people, if we start fighting amongst ourselves, we are doomed."
"If you'd seen what I'd seen at the Manor Remus then-" Astrid began, but was cut off by marauder.
"Yes, the manor… plenty of us had plenty of reason to think of you as an instrument of betrayal Astrid, your daughter, bred willingly from a death eater, is just one of them, but Dumbledore put his trust in you, and your story, so we must put trust in Severus all the same,"
Astrid had no words, she was thoroughly annoyed, hurt, insulted by the man before her, she stood up abruptly, opened her mouth to quip something, but thought better of it and just walked away, to fetch her darling daughter from Molly in the kitchen.
"Nice, Remus," Tonks sighed, standing and following after the younger woman.
Tonks found Astrid taking her daughter out of Molly Weasleys arms, the babe was fast asleep, swaddled in her new blanket.
"Forgive Remus, sometimes his words… they're harsher than intended… especially close to a full moon," Tonks explained with a sad smile.
"Did people really think that of me? That I had turned to the death eaters?" Astrid asked, it wasn't just a throw away comment to her, it was an attack on her person, her character, did they really believe her of such atrocity, such betrayal?
"It was a question that was brought up, but I never thought it, most of us didn't think it," Tonks reassured her. "You're just still so young and…"
"In love," Astrid sighed sadly, placing a delicate kiss on the sleeping infant's head.
"Personally, I thought it quite romantic, star-crossed lovers, like Romeo & Juliette," Tonks smiled dreamily. Astrid lips upturned slightly as she remembered back to that conversation with Lucius, about Romeo and Juliette.
"Something like that, but… doesn't out for them in the end though does it?" Astrid asked Tonks with a heavy sigh. Tonks silently pulled the girl in a hug, being careful not squish the sleeping babe she wrapped her arms around the young woman and whispered in her ear.
"If it's meant to be, it'll be,"
Tonks pulled back from the embrace, and ran her thumb delicately along Everly's cheek.
"I have some news, but… Remus wants us to wait to tell it," She smiled happily down at the baby. Astrid had inkling she knew what the news would be, she reached out with her free hand and squeezed Tonk's shoulder lovingly.
"I'm really happy for you," Astrid smiled knowingly.
"Thank you," Tonks breathed, "I'm afraid it's that time, I must gather Remus from wherever he's got to, give our thanks and go, it's been lovely seeing you dear, Merry Christmas," Tonks smiled, pulling Astrid in for one last hug before scuttling off to find her heated husband.
Astrid suddenly for the first time in days found herself alone in the Weasley home, the twins had disappeared upstairs along with Ginny, Ron and Harry … it was just her and Everly once again.
"Shall we go to bed, little one?" Astrid whispered to her slumbering infant, she made her way to the staircase, passing by the open front door where Remus, Tonks, Arthur and Molly made their goodbyes.
"It was delicious Molly, really," Tonks gushed to the red-haired woman.
"Are you sure you won't stay?" Asked Mrs Weasley, always the hospitable host, that woman would do anything for her friends.
"No, we should go… the first night of the cycle is always the worst," Tonks sighed sadly. "Remus?" Tonks asked as his attention seemed to be somewhere else, he stared out across the swampland.
Astrid picked up on it too, the silence, the eerie empty silence. Instead of moving towards the stairs, Astrid stepped over to a window and listened. There was no noise, in fact the air almost felt artificially silenced it was that quiet, the others seem to have noticed too, as all the adults fell silent and listened.
Out of the sky raged a fireball, which engulfed the grass around the Burrow, circling and trapping them within. But the fire didn't stop there… Astrid jumped back from the window, and shielded Everly, wrapping her swaddle loosely around the infants face, as streams of black smoke and flames ripped apart the tall house. Mrs Weasley screamed as she was dragged by Arthur to the grass, the house catching a light quickly.
"My Children!" She yelled painfully, dropping to her knees.
Fred, George and Harry had thankfully acted quickly, grabbing Ginny and Ron they jumped from the third-floor window, casting a spell to keep them from hitting the ground. Molly Weasley ran to her children, falling to forward she wrapped her arms around them desperately.
"Astrid!" Tonks shouted with sudden realisation, running into the burning building
"Dora!" Remus shouted after her, but she had already disappeared into the thick black smoke, Tonk's found Astrid knelt upon the ground near the staircase, her baby in one arm, clutching her chest with the other. She had lost her breath, with her heart beating wildly, and thick plumes of smoke filling her lungs.
Outside black smokey figures circled the house menacingly, causing Arthur, Remus and Harry to draw their wands, everyone huddled together, ready to face the oncoming attack.
Bellatrix Lestrange landed before them with a little girly twirl and a sickly smile, she was soon joined by her black-clad posse, Fenrir Greyback landed nearby, his imposing build was evident in the moonlight, he stared down Lupin with a threatening smirk. Yaxley arrived next, holding his head high he stared down the group before him, his hand gripping his wand tightly, ready for the fight. The last death eater to join the attacking force landed to Bellatrix' right hand side, his blonde hair blowing in the wind, it was Lucius Malfoy.
"Are they out the house yet?" Remus whispered to Arthur, who looked over his shoulder briefly.
"Not yet," Arthur swallowed.
Inside the house, Tonks had wrapped one arm around Astrids shoulders, the other shielding the baby in the young woman's arms,
"Come on, we gotta go!" Tonks shouted as she guided Astrid through the smoke and flame. It was almost impossible to see where the front door was through the black that filled the room. "This way," Tonks coughed, leading Astrid in the direction she though the doorway was likely to be.
"I killed Sirius Black!" Bellatrix sang, "Are you gonna come and get me?" She provoked, staring down the boy who lived with devilish eyes. Harry moved to spring at the woman but he was stopped hastily by Arthur and Remus who both took a shoulder, holding the boy back.
"No! It's a trap!" Remus yelled, pulling him back and holding him tightly.
"What a heartless monster you are, Malfoy," Arthur stepped forward, clenching his fists, Bellatrix simply laughed at the senior Weasley, as Lucius narrowed his eyes on the man.
Everyone's attention was suddenly gripped by lots of coughing and heaving, and to Lucius' horror, the cries of a baby, as Tonks appeared from the burning doorway, Astrid tucked under her arm protectively. They both fell to their knees in the grass as they coughed up the black smoke from their lungs. Lucius' heart skipped a beat, his blood practically freezing in his veins as he saw his beloved doubled over in the grass om all fours, choking on smoke, her skin and white dress dusted partially in black. He looked for the source of the cries, his eyes darting around the two women.
"Dora!" Remus shouted, alerting his wife to the threat before them. Tonks looked up, spotting the death eaters she pulled out her wand, aiming it at the attackers. Astrid coughed her last cough and sat up, she worriedly pulled the swaddle from Everly's face and inspected her screaming baby. Everly thankfully, was okay due to Astrid's quick thinking. Astrid planted kisses on the child's forehead lovingly as she held the child tight against her chest, her hand cupping the back of her little blonde head.
"What a night!" Bellatrix laughed wildly, "Not only do we get the boy, but also the girl and the baby! The Dark Lord will be most pleased!"
Astrid looked up from her child, and to her horror saw many familiar faces. Bellatrix, Fenrir, Yaxley… and Lucius. Astrids heart nearly stopped when she locked eyes with him across the grass.
"Astrid," Lucius breathed jaggedly, his wand hand trembling. Molly Weasley pulled Astrid to her feet and pushed herself in front of the girl protectively.
"Do we all remember where are evacuation port keys are?" Asked Mr Weasley under his breath. Everyone gave very subtle yeses and Mr Weasley inhaled deeply. "On the count of three we run for it… 1… 2…. 3!"