A/N: Written for the Quidditch League Round One. I am a reserve writing for the Captain 2 position for Puddlemere United. Prompt is "The number 13 - write about someone getting betrayed. Optional prompts are "character: Dean Thomas," "setting: Astronomy Tower," and "spell: Alohomora." Story is 1072 words minus the Author's Notes. This is Dean Thomas' perspective in their fifth year, while Dean is in Dumbledore's Army and before he begins a romantic relationship with Ginny.
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Daphne Greengrass. Even her name is stunning, just like the rest of her. I'm lucky she wanted to be my girlfriend. Sure, it caught me off guard - only one other girl has ever wanted to hang out with me, Ginny Weasley, and she is a fellow Gryffindor, not a Slytherin. And even then, the relationship hasn't gone anywhere. I guess Daphne must have noticed me in our shared Potions class? I'm not really a stand out student, so I'm not sure. Anyway, somehow Daphne noticed me. We can only meet in secret though. She's concerned about her reputation with her house mates, since she's a pure blood witch and I'm a half blood wizard. She sees me as a pure blood, it's just her classmates that don't, so we can't be seen as a couple publicly.
Anyway, we've made plans to hang out tonight, at the Astronomy Tower after dark. Before that, though, I have a meeting with Dumbledore's Army, our secret club to fight back against our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge. Instead of teaching us to fight back about Dark Arts, she's barely even allowing us to study our books, let alone practice spells. So we're teaching ourselves, a small group of us. Or rather, Harry Potter is, since he's already had too much experience with the Dark Arts. He's one of my best mates, plus one of my dorm mates. Harry is a good one to have on your side.
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Later, in the Room of Requirement after the Dumbledore's Army meeting
"What's on your mind, Dean?" Asks Harry.
"Er," I stammer, "nothing much. Why do you ask?" I feel my cheeks warm.
"You seemed a little distracted tonight, that's all," Harry says. "Those Slytherins haven't been bothering you again, have they?"
Oh, if only he knew how close to the truth he is. But, unfortunately, I plan my response a little too long.
"...Dean?" He asks, hesitantly. I realize that Harry is the person I could trust with this, if there's anyone at all I could trust.
"Well, you see, Harry… I'm meeting Daphne Greengrass after this, up in the Astronomy Tower," I reply. He looks taken aback at first, but recovers.
"Oh! Daphne from our Potions class, then, right?"
"Yeah."
"In the Astronomy Tower, huh? That's off limits to students unless there's a class." Harry points out.
"It is, yeah," I say. "But, well, she doesn't want us to be seen. She didn't want me to tell anyone about our relationship. I probably shouldn't have told you even but I know I can trust you." I know I'm rambling. I'm sure Harry can hear my nervousness.
"I see," Harry nods. We're near the door to the Room, about to leave, when he adds, "Just… be careful, okay, mate? I don't want you to get hurt. I've seen the damage that Slytherins can do. And you haven't told Daphne about the DA, right?"
Oh, shoot. "Er… well… I may have mentioned that I was coming here before meeting her. I'm sorry, Harry. I broke our secret. It's just that I really like her. I got nervous and I was thinking about keeping the DA's secret. I'm sorry," I say again.
Harry takes a deep breath. "Ah, it's alright, Dean. Hopefully nothing will come of it. Have a nice evening with Daphne." He smiles weakly before leaving the Room.
I count to 20 before leaving after him, so as not to arouse suspicion from Filch, the groundskeeper who has been reporting our DA activities to Umbridge. If one of us is seen, we can make up a reason we were in the halls, but if two or more of us head out of the Room together, we could be dragged into Umbridge's office. I shudder at the thought, then leave, pulling the door closed just before it disappears. I make my way to the Astronomy Tower, waiting at each corner before turning to ensure a lack of Filch or Mrs. Norris, his cat. As I climb the 13 stories of stairs to the top of the tower, I wonder why the Hogwarts builders would use such an unlucky number in the construction of the school. Why not 12 or 14 stories? I can see why Professor Trelawney uses a different tower for Divination. Of course, I'm not superstitious - why would you think that? - but many witches and wizards are. It really surprises me that that number is found anywhere in Hogwarts.
I reach the top of the stairs, winded from the climb. I try the door. It's locked. No matter, I'm a wizard, and since I've been in Dumbledore's Army I've learned exactly what to do. Even though we learnt the spell in our first year, most students wouldn't be able to open a Hogwarts castle door. We've been practicing, though, so I take my wand out of my robe pocket, point it at the doorknob, and whisper "Alohomora" at the doorknob. It doesn't work. Maybe I wasn't firm enough. I try again. This time, I say the spell like a command with a slightly louder voice. It works! The lock undoes itself the same as though I had used a key. I turn the knob and open the door. I step into the room only to hear… voices? Why do I hear voices? I didn't think Daphne was here yet.
"Yeah, Pansy, he already mentioned it once and we weren't even in private! I just know I'll get Dean to tell me all about Dumbledore's Army," Daphne's voice says. My heart drops as she said that last part in a sickening voice, one I know means that she doesn't approve of the DA. Oh no. This is bad. If she's telling Pansy Parkinson about us, that must mean that Umbridge either already has confirmation about our group or will soon. After the two are done giggling their high pitched giggles, Daphne confirms my fear. "I just know Professor Umbridge will reward us for sharing the information!"
That's it. I've heard all I need to. I turn around, still unseen, and creep back through the door. I don't bother relocking the door - let them wonder what happened. All I can think is "I've been betrayed" and "Harry was right" as I flee to the Fat Lady's painting, a signal that I've made it back to the safety and comfort of the Gryffindor common room and sleep.
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A/N: I do not know if the Astronomy Tower is actually 13 stories up. There are seven stories of classrooms and other rooms in the castle, but I cannot find any information for how many additional stories up the towers are. All I could find is that the Astronomy Tower is the tallest tower in the castle.