Warning:
Some parts may be slightly graphic for young readers. Viewer discretion is advised (I've always wanted to say that!)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling; I own nothing you recognize and all the ideas you don't. This is semi-AU fiction, though I'll try and stick to canon as much as I can.
I'd like to thank everyone in the Harry / Fleur Discord Server. Without their help and constant encouragement, this fic would probably never have seen the light of day.
Lastly, I'd like to give my utmost thanks to MJ Bradley / DarknessEnthroned for taking out the time and beta reading this chapter for me. It truly has made a world of a difference.
Chapter 2 - Tiny Acorns
Her ears were still ringing.
She pressed down hard onto the gash on her arm. It felt like a swarm of ants were tearing into her skin.
"We need to get out of here, now." Harry Potter's voice was soft, but firm.
Astoria's eyes blinked back into focus.
Her gaze followed his to the three assailants lying still in what was now a rapidly growing pool of red.
She stumbled to her feet.
"Are they… dead?" She whispered, unable to take her eyes off them.
"It's fine, they're still breathing."
"But... all this blood. We– they need help, now!"
"You're right, they do, but we cannot afford to be seen here." His voice was calm but firm. "And our assistance is entirely unnecessary."
She whirled towards him. Unnecessary?!
He stood tall and unbothered. His calm demeanour baffled her. How is he not affected by this? Her heart was racing a mile a minute.
"Just breathe." He said soothingly, one hand rose to her shoulder in an attempt to placate her.
Staring back up into those intense green eyes, she paused and took in a deep breath.
"Are you able to walk?" He kindly asked, his concern warming her. She had managed to stem the bleeding in her arm. The adrenaline was helping keep the pain at bay. It'll do for now, I suppose.
She cracked a weak smile, and nodded her assent.
The distant sound of rushing footsteps reached her ears.
Astoria froze.
That shockwave probably has the entire castle scrambling in our direction!
"Under here, quickly." He said drawing closer as he draped something over the both of them.
Is that an invisibility cloak?
Following a silencing charm to their shoes, they fled the corridor. Astoria allowed herself to be guided by Harry as he swiftly led her through a maze of hidden passageways and staircases that she had never known to exist.
With the help of his invisibility cloak, the use of a whole lot of hidden passageways that she was unaware of and by what was probably just sheer dumb luck, they had managed to furtively slip away.
After what felt like a lifetime of running, they had finally stopped to seek refuge in what appeared to be an unused classroom she didn't recognise.
"Where are we?" Astoria managed between pants, as she crashed into the bench closest to the door.
"Abandoned classroom, somewhat close to the dungeons," he murmured, back turned, as he waved his wand at the door multiple times, his chanting too soft for Astoria to decipher.
She raised an eyebrow when he finally turned around seemingly satisfied.
"Silencing, locking and notice-me-not charm. While this room looks like it hasn't been opened in years, I really don't fancy my chances; I have the worst luck." He grimaced.
She graced him with an amused smile.
Tonight, that makes the two of us.
"Your arm, how is it?" He asked, approaching her.
The adrenaline was wearing out, she could feel the searing pain, slowly intensifying.
"It's not too bad, don't worry about it." Astoria winced, putting more pressure on the wound. "It's not like we can afford to go to the infirmary tonight."
"Show me." Harry insisted, kneeling before her with that concerned expression she was starting to familiarise herself with.
Astoria briefly hesitated, eyeing him warily but nodded eventually.
He held her arm gently, his grasp featherlight as he slowly moved the hand holding her wounded appendage out of the way, so he could get a better look.
Astoria gasped as blood began flowing out the wound once more.
"This is going to sting a bit, brace yourself." She barely registered his words, the throbbing of her arm had her undivided attention. "Vulnera Sanentur!"
Astoria muffled her scream into her shoulder, biting down hard. She was panting heavily as she struggled to regain her composure.
What an arsehole!
"It's okay, the worst is over. You're fine now." He said, casting a scourgify on the wound and the rest of her clothes for good measure, ridding her of any remaining traces of blood.
He actually has the audacity to smile!
Astoria glared at him.
The cut had in fact healed perfectly, not even a scar remained, but Astoria couldn't care any less. That had hurt like a bitch!
"There, there. Stop pouting, it wasn't that bad."
"Shut up. I don't pout."
He grinned back, further infuriating her. But before she could call him out on it, the grin slipped from his face, replaced once more by what Astoria now considered as his trademark concerned frown. "In all seriousness though, how's your arm feeling now?"
Astoria sighed.
She flexed the concerned appendage, moving it about, before shyly smiling back at him. "It doesn't hurt anymore, I mean it feels a bit strained, but otherwise fine."
"That is expected, try and rest it as much as you can though. It'll feel right as rain in a day or so." Harry said, rising from his kneeling position to sit on the bench beside hers.
"Wasn't that quite an advanced healing spell? Astoria asked, hesitantly. "How did you come to learn it?"
"Yes, Vulnera Sanentur is an advanced restoration spell that specially comes in handy when dealing with deep gashes. It was taught to me by a dear friend of my father's, specifically for occasions such as these." He answered with a sour smile. "A rather common occurrence in my life."
Astoria winced. I'm so sorry.
"Oh, before it slips my mind," He said, slipping something out of his jeans pocket. "Here's your wand."
Astoria accepted it with a grateful smile, and held it close to her chest revelling in the warmth it brought her.
That just about does it. Doesn't it?
Shaking her head, she held out a hand. "My name's Astoria by the way. Astoria Greengrass."
Harry accepted her hand and shook it firmly, mirroring her grin. "It's nice to meet you, Astoria. I'm Ha–"
"Harry Potter, yeah. I know." Astoria chuckled. "Who wouldn't recognise you Harry?! That unruly mess you call hair does exceptionally well to stand out from everyone else here at school."
"My… hair?" Harry slowly repeated after her, looking completely bewildered.
"Yes, your hair!" Astoria insisted, with a straight face. "I swear, it would allow anyone to differentiate you from a mile away."
Harry eventually cracked a smile, it seemed he was finally catching on.
"I'm so glad to have met you tonight, Harry." Astoria frowned down at her shoes. "If not for your intervention, I don't know what they would have done to me."
Astoria shivered.
Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Raise your head Astoria, what matters is you're fine. They won't be getting out of the hospital wing anytime soon, if at all." His voice was firm but reassuring.
"This won't stop them, you know? Draco won't let this slight to his person go unanswered." She whispered, head still down. "And he's going to want answers for what happened tonight."
Even Daphne won't be able to stand up to his entourage all by herself, no one else in Slytherin has the balls to go against Draco Malfoy anyway, they fear his father far too much.
If only I was stronger.
"Let him come." Harry declared with a ferocity Astoria wasn't expecting, and she looked up in surprise.
Is this real? Is he actually angry, for my sake?
"But… I'm a Slytherin! Why would you… and Draco won't be playing around, not this time. He's a psychopath! He's going to want blood… you might get—"
"Let. Him. Come." Harry's eyes blazed with a repressed rage.
He wants to stand by me?
"Why.."
"Astoria…" Harry paused, taking a deep breath. "What Draco tried to do to you, was wrong and absolutely uncalled for. He crossed a line tonight." The wand in Harry's had emitted red sparks, the look on his face promised retribution. "And if he thinks he can hurt you and get away with it again, then he has another thing coming."
His words touched something deep within her, and Astoria felt a fluttery feeling stirring, making her blink. No one besides Daphne has ever stood up for me.
"He's still dangerous, you know?" She voiced, half-heartedly trying to dissuade him.
"Oh I'm well aware, but he's nothing short of a bully, and I've got a lifetime of experience dealing with the likes of him." Harry insisted, not budging.
Astoria sighed.
"Thank you, Harry, but what are we going to do?"
"Don't worry, there's a lot that can be done." Harry smirked. "But for now, let's get you back to your dorm before our absence is noted."
Oh shit… Daphne's going to be so pissed!
Author's Note
Slightly longer than the last one, and much earlier than I anticipated.
Hope you guys are liking it so far. I intend to have the next one posted in Feb.
Thank you,
Serenity
