CHAPTER 6: Who was he?
Ron Weasley kept his head down the whole day. He did not say a word until the next morning, when Hermione asked him, at the breakfast table:
-How are you feeling, Ron?
-Fine –he said dryly-. And stop asking.
-Well, I'm sorry Mr. Grouchy Pants! Maybe next time you'll keep your mouth shut.
-Oh, so now it's my fault that a dyke kicked me in the face?!
-Would you stop that, Ron? –Neville suddenly interrupted him- Astoria is actually the nicest Slytherin ever. If you hadn't insulted her she would have never hit you.
-Come on, mate, you're only defending her because she's friends with your lunatic girlfriend!
-Luna's not my girlfriend! –Neville hissed- And shut up already, Ron. You're only pissed because a girl beat you up.
-You call that a girl! –Ron yelled.
-Oi, Weasley, if you want some more just say the fucking word! –Astoria screamed back from the other side of the Great Hall.
Ron's eyes shoot daggers at her but his mouth remained shut. Everyone was looking at them, alternately. In the end, Ron looked away and kept eating in silence, which made everyone go back to their own private conversations. Sadly enough, most of those conversations were about Pansy, Draco, and how Astoria had attacked Weasley right after he had tried to hurt Malfoy. In a matter of minutes, half the population in Hogwarts was convinced that Astoria Greengrass was, after all, more similar to Daphne than everyone had thought, and that she was also desperately in love with Draco Malfoy. Oblivious to all this, Astoria finished her huge breakfast and three glasses of pumpkin juice. To someone who did not know her, she could have passed for anorexic. But after seeing her eat nobody considered that option as possible. She ate four times more than the rest of the girls she shared the table with. As she finished her last glass of juice, she noticed Blaise and Draco also observed her from the other end of the table. Uneasy, she raised a hand and made a slight recognition gesture at Draco, who 'waved' back. Not giving it a second thought, she opened her Charms book and started highlighting the sentences she thought more important about unit 1. She failed to notice the several pairs of eyes who had witnessed her gesture and were now convinced that she was another of Draco's admirers.
-Astoria, we need to talk –Helena grabbed her friend by the arm and led her away, trying to find a discreet spot to tell her what she knew.
-What is it?
-There are rumours going around. You know, about you.
-I know, I know –she rolled her eyes-. Weasley's been calling me a dyke for years, what difference does it make?
-It's not that! They say you and Malfoy have something! And that this is why he didn't want anything with Pansy or Daphne!
-You're… Not… Serious… -her eyes widened in anguish and disgust.
-Like a heart attack!
-Well… There's nothing I can do about it, is it? –Astoria shrugged.
-But… Astoria, do you have any idea what this means? If it gets out of Hogwarts you might get in trouble!
-Then let's make sure it doesn't, okay?!
-Hey, Astoria, have you heard… -Luna appeared out of nowhere and joined them.
-Just did, Luna.
-Is it true?
-Luna, what the hell?!
-Well, I'm just asking… -the blonde shrugged.
-But you were waving at him –Helena pointed out.
-What?
-Before, during breakfast. You waved at him. And he waved back.
-And why the hell would you be staring at the Slytherin table? –Astoria raised an eyebrow.
-Oh, I… -Helena turned pink on her cheeks.
-Riiiight, Zabini… -Astoria grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
-But I thought you didn't want to date him –Luna commented, a little lost.
-That I'm on a diet does not mean I cannot have a look at the menu, Luna. But anyway, don't change the subject, you bitch –she poked Astoria on the stomach with her index finger.
-Yes, I said hi, so what? –the girl rolled her eyes.
-Since when do you say hi to Malfoy?
-I don't know okay? I spent detention with him yesterday and found out he's actually not that bad.
-For a Death Eater –Helena pointed out.
-No, for a Slytherin sex god. –she laughed-. Come on, I'm already late for Potions.
-Be careful, Astoria –Helena warned her, serious all of a sudden.
-Oh, for Merlin's sake… What do you expect me to do with Draco Malfoy? –she made a face.
Astoria had already turned around; it was impossible for her to see the way Luna and Helena gave each other complicity smiles.
She had just walked into the bathroom. A couple drops of ink had stained her left hand and she thought it was better to try and wash it immediately. As she scrubbed her hand to try to get rid of the marks, she heard the bathroom door open. When she looked up, a pair of furiously green eyes was reflected on the mirror.
-What is it, sis? –she asked, non-chalantly.
Daphne glared at her sister. God, how she hated her. Ever since they were little kids, Astoria had to spoil everything. What was wrong with her, she didn't know, but Daphne was almost sure that Astoria obtained pleasure in hurting her parents by contradicting and disobeying them. Always questioning their ways and ideas, as if she was in favour of muggles instead of wizards. She had been fourteen when she had her first piercing done, on the lip, and ever since, she hadn't stopped mutilating herself. Whenever the Greengrass family was invited to a social gathering, they had to make up excuses for Astoria, for how could they present her with metal rings all over her face and muggle tattoos everywhere else? Everyone knew of her existence, but very few actually knew of her appearance. Looking at her through the mirror, Daphne could see Astoria was not really ugly (she was a Greengrass, after all), but she was, indeed, repulsive.
-There are, like, 300 guys in this school.
-Don't tell me you just realized.
-And you had to sleep with the only one I'm interested in.
-What?! –Astoria squealed, much to her distaste.
-You. Heard. Me –Daphne crossed her arms on her chest.
-I haven't slept with anyone!
-Don't lie to me! Everyone knows it.
-They don't know shit! –Astoria thought she was about to throw up- Nothing happened, I'd never do that!
-Were you or were you not with him last night?!
-Yes, scrubbing cauldrons! –she screamed- For detention!!
-That's not what they say!
-Get out of my way! –Astoria pushed her sister aside and ran out of the bathroom, hyperventilating.
As she ran through the halls she could feel people STARING. It made her extremely uncomfortable, but tried to ignore it until she reached the Slytherin common room. Some people were there, chatting, playing chess or reading. Blaise and Draco sat close to the fireplace, as usual. She walked up to them, enraged.
-You! –she yelled, in a whisper.
Draco looked up at her, and so did Blaise. She had expected to find a pair of high-voltage smirks, but all she found were serious expressions.
-What the hell did you say? –she rambled on, a little taken aback by their gravity.
-I beg your pardon?
-Everyone talks about you and me!
-Oh –he blinked-. Yeah, I'm sorry. It happens.
-It happens? What do you mean, it happens?!
-Well, you don't believe I've slept with all the girls they say, do you?
-Eh… -she switched her weight from one foot to the other.
-Even a Malfoy needs to sleep every now and then, Astoria.
-Look –she raised her hands-, I don't care who you sleep with okay? It's none of my business and I INTEND to keep it that way, so could you please just confirm that the rumour is false?
Draco laughed softly, and Blaise smiled, raising his eyebrows. They did not need to say anything else in order to make Astoria understand they would not get involved.
-God, you're disgusting! I'm asking you to tell the truth, nothing else!
-Why do you even care? –Blaise intervened- Hasn't this boosted up your popularity in Hogwarts?
-You don't understand! –she bent down to look Draco in the eye- Everything needs to go back the way it was before!
-Astoria, I have more important things to discuss right now –he nodded towards Blaise.
-Draco… -her cold hand gripped his arm tightly in a wordless prayer- Please…
If you had asked him, he wouldn't have been able to point out what it was, specifically, what moved him. Maybe it was the way she was desperately holding onto him, or maybe the way that her jet black eyes started watering. Then again, it could have been the fact someone needed him for something. He looked at her for a couple seconds before yelling out loud:
-So you think you can reject me and then ask me to stay friends?!
His frozen tone was enough to make everyone turn around to witness the scene. Mouths were open in disbelief: Astoria Greengrass had rejected Draco Malfoy? Something was horribly wrong with that statement.
-But… I… -she didn't know what to say.
-You made it very clear, Astoria, you don't want anything to do with me. Let's leave it like that. I guess I should have known better.
-Known what? –she frowned.
-Not to hit on a lesbian, duh! –he made a face and then turned around to restart his conversation with Blaise, who gave Astoria a look that could very well mean 'Now would be the right time to get out of here'.
That was definitely better. Judging by the way Slytherins gossiped, in a couple hours everyone would be back to their previous beliefs about her sexuality. As she stepped out of her common room, her pulsations started decreasing their rhythm until they were, once again, back to normal.
-Hey there, lesbo.
She rolled her eyes at his welcome. His back to her, he was already working on the dirty cauldrons, his shoulders moving rhythmically.
-Ha ha, Malfoy.
-I know it wasn't exactly subtle, but I thought it would be the best thing to do.
-Because you think I'm a lesbian.
-No, because I think you don't want any male specimen approaching you.
As she carefully measured his words, she started working on her pile of pots. She rolled her sleeves up so her 'Memento mori' tattoo was visible again.
-Well, thank you for that. Sorry it ruined your reputation –she chuckled.
-There's not much of it left, anyway. So tell me, who was he?
-Who was who?
-The guy who abused you.
The cauldron she had been scrubbing fell deafeningly against the stone floor, bubbles of soap still forming on its surface once the sound had subsided. He thought it was funny how it had not startled him. Nothing really did startle him, lately.