CHAPTER 3: If only you knew.
-Aaargh!
Luna and Helena laughed at Astoria's growl. They had been waiting for her, sitting under the shadow of a big oak, enjoying the last rays of sun. Astoria dropped her book on the soft velvety grass and sat down, Indian style. Luna smiled at her, dreamily, and Helena gave her her usual 'what's-up-bitch' smirk.
-Your sister again? –she asked, quite amused.
-God, she's gross… Can you believe she was just hitting on Malfoy right after he had made Parkinson cry?
-Meh… -Helena shrugged- Who gives a fuck about them, anyway.
-I know, but it's just… Ew. I mean, we are family. Am I suppose to let her taint the Greengrass reputation just like that?
-Okay, that sounded really Slytherin-like –Helena laughed while brushing her fringe off her face.
-I am in Slytherin, Lena…
-I like your shirt –Luna said, out of random.
-Thanks! I like your earrings… What are they exactly?
-Avocados.
-Oh.
Helena smirked again when her dark chocolate eyes found Astoria's black ones. They were both much more similar in character to each other than to Luna, but the blonde was the piece that kept them together at all times, nevermind how freaky she got. That day she was wearing a long green coloured skirt and an orange cardigan, baby blue Mary Janes and an orange hair flower that contrasted horribly with her platinum blonde hair. Astoria guessed she had wanted to look good for her first school day. Helena, on the other side, was wearing a pair of micro shorts that revealed her tan, slender legs, a pair of red wedges and a black halter top with tiny cherries printed in red. Her dark auburn hair was wavy, and she had put red lipstick on.
-You want a piece of me? –she asked Astoria, seeing as the girl wouldn't take her eyes off her clothes.
-Sorry, I just realized I should not be blaming my sister for being a skank. God knows she is just trying to copy your style.
-Very funny, Gothzilla!
Helena laughed when Astoria gave her the stink eye. They were not exactly similar physically: basically, Helena was a hottie. Half the boys in the school had tried something with her, but she was actually kind of frigid in that sense. Astoria did not really know about anyone she had had an affair with. Rumours circulated about her being a lesbian, but that was something anyone who knew her would qualify as false. Talking about men was Helena's number one priority.
-By the way, have you seen Zabini this year? –she purred.
-What is it with you and Slytherins? –Luna giggled.
-You know me; I like my men tall, dark and handsome.
-You like all men, Helena, don't try to fool me –Astoria grinned.
-Whatever. So Pansy was actually crying? –Helena smirked.
-Yeeeeah –she laughed-. As if she had expected Malfoy to change after the war, you know?
-Seriously, how many years as he been abusing her for? –Helena frowned suddenly- Isn't it time she got over him?
-Meh… I really really really don't want to go to the dorm tonight.
-Who are you stuck with this year?
-As usual: Daphne, Pansy and that autistic bitch from my grade. God, I wish I was a Ravenclaw…
-We, the chosen, are very scarce in number –Helena shook her head and her thick, dark waves danced around her face.
Helena was a very proud Ravenclaw. Everyone in her family had been a fervent student of that house, and she was even named after the creator of the House.
-Oh, by the way, Astoria… -Luna sat up, for she had been lying on the grass, staring at the clouds- Did you finally get it?
-Get what? –she looked up, with a cheesy grin on her sharp face.
-You bitch! You got it! –Helena squealed in delight- Come on, show us!
-Uh… It's kind of private…
-Come on, there's no one around!
-Fine, fine!
Astoria got up, brushing leaves of grass of her baggy jeans and looked around to see if anyone was coming. Then, she brought her hands to her shoulder blades and pulled her shirt up to show her friends her newly decorated back. Both jaws dropped at the sight of her new tattoo: a black dragon which crossed her back diagonally. The head was tattooed on her right shoulder blade, and the tail was, supposedly, going down her left butt-cheek.
-Show us your butt! –Helena laughed.
-Nooo, it doesn't go down my butt, you moron –she laughed as well-. It goes down my hip and finishes on my thigh.
Astoria was still holding her shirt up and laughing when Draco and Blaise passed by, whispering to each other. Both boys stopped dead on their tracks at the scene. Draco had never seen a real muggle tattoo in his whole life, and that one was preposterously huge. The drawing extended across her tiny back and further down her pants. A dragon. Zabini elbowed him on the side, as if it had been necessary.
-I think we've got some company –Luna said, all of a sudden, in an amiable tone.
Astoria turned around harshly, her black eyes shooting daggers at the guys. Draco needed a couple seconds to regain his composure.
-Sweet Merlin, Astoria, that is one hell of a tattoo –Zabini approached them with a radiant smile.
-Yeah, well… Glad you like it –she rolled her eyes and, rolling her shoulders, let the shirt fall back on its place.
-Hey, there, ladies –his attention quickly went from his Slytherin companion to the Ravenclaws. More accurately, to Helena.
-Hi Blaise –she smiled back at him-. How was your summer?
-It just got better… -he raised one eyebrow, checking her up and down.
Astoria snorted and made a disgusted face. Luna smiled dreamily at her, and actually invited the boys to sit down with them. Black eyes pierced her hatefully. Draco hesitated. Sitting down with Ravenclaws was exactly what he would call a social faux-pas. Then again, he thought about how he despised the Slytherins as much as the rest of the students. The only one who was still on his good side was Blaise, and quite frankly, he deserved some 'action'. Ever since Draco's parents had been arrested he had done nothing else than worry about him.
-How are you, Draco? –Luna asked, surprisingly. Her high-pitched voice contained no sarcasm whatsoever, and Draco did not know whether to scowl or be polite.
-Ehrm… Fine. Thank you.
He did not really know how to act in front of Luna Lovegood, seeing how she had been imprisoned in his own house. He had never, of course, done anything to the prisoners, but he was positive that Luna remembered him being there.
-I heard about your parents. I'm sorry.
Everyone looked at Luna with extremely wide eyes. Draco included. He had never thought someone could actually bring the subject up. And the fact she did not even do it to hurt him was very awkward.
-Thank you –he muttered, his voice almost inaudible.
He lowered his gaze, not knowing exactly how to feel. He was kind of ashamed, and he did not even know why. He was still proud of being his parents' son. Blaise gave him a questioning look, as if to make sure he was alright. He then proceeded to change the subject.
-So, Helena… -he scooted over to her- Do you want to go for a walk, or something?
-Not really, no –she shot him a radiant smile-. Thanks for the offer, though.
Blaise's grin faded away until the only thing left on his face was an expression of complete confusion. Helena seemed to be responding to his active flirting with him, but as soon as he asked, she moved away from him. Maybe she was a lesbian, after all. A lesbian who enjoyed torturing guys for a little while, before things got too serious. His dark eyes met Astoria's. The girl was giving him a pretty dirty look, and he suddenly felt kind of threatened. As he excused himself, he got up, brushing leaves of grass of his elegant trousers and nodded at Draco to go with him. The blond muttered a goodbye and left after his friend.
-Okay, Lena, I've got a question for you –Astoria said-. How come you never ever date anyone?
-Look who's talking –the brunette laughed, throwing her head back.
-Yeah, but… You've got two hundred guys on their knees. There's got to be someone decent in Hogwarts for you to date.
-I don't want to date any of these losers, okay? It's complicated. I know you all think I have a great life because I'm pretty or whatever. But it doesn't work like that, you know. Every time someone approaches me I know they're only thinking about one thing. I wish I could actually talk to a guy who would be listening, instead of checking out my legs.
-Have you tried wearing normal people's clothes?
-Why would I do that? I like the attention. But I'm not going to let these guys feel me up just because they praise my body.
-I've heard girls saying you're a lesbian –Luna commented, smiling.
-You know I don't give a fuck about what other people think.
-That's you –Luna nodded.
-That's us –Astoria palmed her friends' legs with both hands and smiled wide.
-I bet she is.
-Come on, Blaise, you've got to admit she doesn't look like a lesbian at all.
-And how is a lesbian supposed to look like? –Blaise mocked Draco.
-I don't know… Skinnier. Uglier. Probably like that Astoria girl.
Blaise laughed at Draco's face. He was still shocked about the tattoo thing. It was probably the fact that it reminded him of the Dark Mark he would have to hide for the rest of his life. He was very grateful for the weather in England. That way he could spend all the years ahead of him wearing long sleeves.
-Mate, that's cruel. She's actually not that ugly.
-You find everyone snoggable –Draco said, with a face.
'If only you knew, mate', Blaise thought to himself, 'If only you knew'.