Astoria
Chapter 6: Blood Part 1 (1998)

Three months. Astoria has been without a best friend for three months, and it seemed like a lifetime. There have been times when she was reminded of her loneliness and it made her miss him even more. She would turn her head to where he would be in class, ready to snicker at Professor Hagrid stumbling over his words, but he wouldn't be there. She would doodle on the desk, awaiting Torrance's elbow to bump her because he preferred the window seat even though he was left handed, but no such exchange occurred.

No one cared that Torrance was gone. No one asked why. But so many students were being pulled from school, Muggleborns and Purebloods alike, because of the immanent threat that loomed over the school. Dumbledore's Army, run by a bunch of Gryffindors and a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, was making a splash, but not enough to actually help. The group was stupid and juvenile. At least, that's what Torrance would say…

Three months, and Astoria was depressed. She sat alone in their little alcove in the Slytherin Common Room. She read the books he didn't finish, just so she could keep a piece of him with her. She constantly worried about where Torrance was and if he was safe. She would walk to the Owlery and sit with her family owl, even though the steps killed her legs and made her lethargic, hoping that a letter from Torrance would drop onto her lap.

This behavior concerned Daphne, especially when she heard that Astoria stopped going to class. She wasn't expecting to see Astoria actually sick in bed, most likely triggered by depression. It was the only logical explanation Daphne could think of.

Daphne drew closer to Astoria's dormitory bed, which had the curtains firmly shut.

"Don't come any closer!" Astoria warned weakly. "I don't know if I'm contagious."

"Don't be silly," Daphne said, whipping open the curtains. She had to hold her gasp; she was not expecting to see Astoria completely pale and almost transparent. "Astoria!" She lunged over to her aid, but Astoria magicked the curtains shut once more.

"Don't!" Astoria cried. "I don't know what's wrong, and I don't want to give it to you."

Daphne attempted to open the curtains up, but they were sealed shut. "You can't just stay in there! I'm getting Madam Pomphrey."

"Please, no!"

But without another word, Daphne was gone.

Astoria panicked. She wasn't able to get up; her joints hurt too much to hold her up completely. She also felt lethargic and light-headed, so walking around was a no-go anyway. She felt so helpless. If Torrance was here, he'd know what was wrong in a heartbeat…

Astoria didn't realize that she had fallen asleep until her curtains were slashed open and Madam Pomphrey, Professor Snape, and Daphne all stood her up and floated her to the Hospital Wing for further inspection. She was so weak that she couldn't respond to most of Madam Pomphrey's questions.

She started to cry as she panicked again. "What's happening to me?" she asked quietly.

"That's what I am assessing, dearie," Pomphrey answered, examining a vial of Astoria's blood in the sunlight.

Daphne held onto Astoria's limp hand, and Snape stood quietly next to the nurse as she tested Astoria's blood. After a few painstaking minutes, Pomphrey said, "This is no ordinary illness… It's laced with a magic I've never seen before…"

"Well, what can you do about it?" asked Daphne rather impatiently.

Pomphrey gave her a stern look. "I will do everything I can, Miss Greengrass, I assure you." She turned to look at Astoria's anxious face. "You are in good hands." She busied herself with setting up more vials, cauldrons, and potions.

"I will alert your mother and father of your current state," Professor Snape nodded curtly to Daphne. "Miss Greengrass, you may stay here with your sister until curfew if you wish."

"Thank you, Professor."

Even with all of Madam Pomphrey's efforts, Astoria's condition did not subside. The poor girl couldn't even take her O.W.L. exams because she was bedridden.

Enough was enough. Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass were nervous that Madam Pomphrey was not able to treat their daughter properly, and since they had enough money get the best care St. Mungo's had. They made the executive decision to take her out of school to be treated "professionally". Although Madam Pomphrey was offended, she understood that they just wanted to have their daughter under their supervision.

Astoria cried, leaving behind everything that reminded her of Torrance. Even though she was sick, she wanted to desperately find him and keep him safe. Maybe if she told her parents about him, maybe they would understand…

But there was no way to tell them anything while they were so obsessed with making her well again.

Astoria was poked and prodded, examined and monitored, for days. She was seen by over five Healers, and still, her condition was considered a medical enigma; however, they were able to find a temporary solution to bring up her blood levels. She was feeling less lethargic, and her skin flooded with color. There was hope and happiness in the private ward for a few weeks. But that was just the temporary fix. The head Healer who was put in charge of Astoria's case had to break the bad news to the family.

"We have run every test we could think of and researched every case we've encountered that have experienced the same symptoms. It seems like you have a very rare blood malediction that has never been diagnosed before."

The family was silent for a moment. Astoria's heart dropped as reality set in.

"But she's getting better, is she not?" Mr. Greengrass asked, looking quite desperate.

"We are slowing down the process, yes. But unfortunately there is no known cure for this condition."

Mrs. Greengrass sobbed, while holding onto a stiff and silent Astoria.

The young girl, herself, was very unfeeling. She went numb and deaf all at the same time. Try as she might, she physically could not cry. She stared at her weeping mother and her angry father, and thought, in that moment, that the best thing to do was accept her fate, even if she didn't want to.

"…But we will do everything in our power to see this through," the Healer continued. "With the correct resources, we can create the right cure. That is, if your daughter wants it."

All at once, Astoria was brought back to reality with three pairs of eyes staring at her expectantly.

Astoria nodded slowly, wondering why there was an option to not receive treatment.

"Fantastic!" the Healer smiled. "Let me get the paperwork."