Astoria missed her sister. The past week had been exceptionally rough on her. You-know-who had attacked her sister and Potter; then they disappeared. Everyone said they portkeyed away, but she knew better. Looking up at the ceiling of her room, she sighed in frustration. It was then that she noticed the common room was exceptionally quiet. She stood up and made her way down to the common. You could have heard a pin drop. She presumed that most students had gone to bed by now, so she made her way to the fireplace. Picking up a tattered potions book, her mind was a kilometer away from the words on the page. She had been antsy all evening, a knot of unease twisting in her stomach that she couldn't shake, as though the sushi she had eaten was bad.
She heard someone breathing. Looking towards the wall near the common room entrance, a shimmer materialized into the dastardly shape of an evil woman – as though a ripple of magic was ebbing through it. Astoria flicked her wrist, and her wand jumped to her hand as she eyed the encroaching figure. Bellatrix Lestrange. Every single blood cell in her body froze at the sight of the deadly-ass witch, her wild, black hair hugging a face that seemed dangerously unhappy. From behind her, another Death Eater followed – Dolohov. His sour expression and predatory eyes scanned the room with malicious intent. Then an unseemly pair surfaced after Dolohov. Young Theodore Nott and Vincent Crabbe. A nervous expression clung to their faces.
"Well, well, well…" the evil witch purred like a Kneazle, echoing softly as she began stepping closer to Astoria. "Isn't this cozy? The youngest Greengrass bitch, all by her lonesome. How awfully convenient."
Dolohov smirked and creepily licked his lips. Astoria, not backing up, raised her wand and snarled, "What are you doing here? Dumbledore-".
Bellatrix silenced Astoria with a quick swish of her wand and Dolohov chuckled menacingly like a hyena on a kill. Bellatrix cackled like a witch – high pitched and manic. "Oh dearie, we do not follow any rules! Not when there is unattended business. Your father refuses to choose a side in the war… well, let's just say The Dark Lord has grown tiresome of him! So, I thought a little… incentive might just persuade him otherwise."
Astoria's heart thudded in her chest. They were here for her. She took a step backwards and tried to keep her composure. "If you think that kidnapping me will make him join you creeps, you're mistaken. He'll never bow to anyone, let alone Voldemort." She stood her ground proudly.
"You dare say his name! CRUCIO!" Bellatrix screamed and Astoria fell to the ground in unbearable pain. Astoria felt the spell lift and inhaled as deeply as she could, fighting back her sobs.
Dolohov sneered; his wand hand became agitated. "Your father's pride will crumble when he sees his precious little daughter broken into."
Nott and Crabbe shifted towards the exit in an attempt to block the way, and even though Astoria knew she was outnumbered, she didn't let it cloud her mind. She focused instead. The Ancient Greengrass magic danced in her veins, a legacy she had only begun to understand and one which she was afraid of.
Bellatrix took a step towards her and aimed her wand at Astoria's chest. "Come quietly, child, and I might even let you live."
Astoria's grip on her wand tightened. Her mother always told her that the Greengrass family magic was meant for survival, for escape when no other option remained. Astoria hadn't yet mastered it, but in this moment, she didn't need mastery – she needed instinct.
"STUPEFY" she yelled, the red light flashing towards Bellatrix. The Death Eater deflected it with an annoyed flick of her wrist, grinding her teeth loudly as she fired a curse in retaliation. Astoria dove behind a couch, the spell just missing her.
Dolohov shouted, his wand sending streaks of green light across the room, but Astoria was already on the move. She ducked low, her mind racing as she remembered her mother's lessons. The family magic wasn't about fighting, it was about slipping through the cracks of reality itself. Apparition without bounds.
"Get her!" Bellatrix screamed, her patience thinning as Astoria darted around the room, evading every curse. "CRUCIO!" The couch Astoria hid behind exploded, and she stumbled, her back pressed against the cold stone wall. She could feel the magical pressure closing in around her as the four intruders tightened their circle. Nott and Crabbe advanced cautiously, their faces pale but determined.
But Astoria wasn't afraid of those snot-nosed brats, so she closed her eyes, focusing on the magic within her. She thought of safety, of freedom, and of her other half – her sister – who had disappeared a week ago. She focused on Daphne.
Bellatrix's wand slashed through the air, another curse on her lips. "There's no escape, girl!"
The air around her shimmered, and before Bellatrix could unleash her spell, Astoria vanished.
The silence that followed was extremely tense.
Bellatrix's enraged scream reverberated through the Slytherin common room, her wild eyes flitting to every nook and cranny around where Astoria had been.
Dolohov cursed obscenities and struck the wall with his fist in frustration.
"She's gone!" Nott said, his voice trembling. "How did she Apparate out of Hogwarts? That's impossible!"
Bellatrix turned on him, her wand pointed at his chest. "Don't question me, boy!" she snarled. "This isn't over. We'll find her—and when we do, she'll wish she had stayed here."
-oIo-
THUD!
Astoria felt her wind get knocked out of her lungs. The pain from the Cruciatus was unlike anything she had ever felt before. It hurt so bad. She opened her eyes slowly and a clear blue sky came into focus. The air was far crisper and cleaner, so much so that it made her a little light-headed. The distant murmur of human voices and absence of a magical hum unsettled her as they reached her ears.
She slowly got up to her feet and took in her surroundings. This was quiet. She stood at the edge of a beautifully green forest with towering pines that could have been standing guard for the small town that it contained. Smoke curled slowly out of the various chimneys, more so than usual in England. People were clustered and moving hastily towards a large clearing in the center of the town. They were dressed in some sort of medieval garb; she had seen paintings in the Greengrass library depicting similar attire.
As Astoria brushed the leaves and sand off her robes, she walked onto the gravel road and right into the middle of a tense standoff.
"Shit." was her first thought.
To her left, a group of villagers stood with makeshift weapons – pitchforks, hammers, and crude swords. To her right, a contingent of soldiers in polished armor and bearing the insignia of an unfamiliar empire. Both groups stared at her in shock, momentarily forgetting their confrontation. Astoria's heart raced as she realized the precariousness of her situation. She had to make a choice, and fast.
"Who are you?" demanded a gruff voice from the villagers' side. A handsome, broad-shouldered man with huge biceps stepped forward, eyeing her suspiciously.
Before Astoria could respond, a leader of the soldiers barked, "Stand aside, girl! This doesn't concern you. We're here for the traitors of Carvahall."
Astoria's mind whirled. Carvahall? She had never ever heard of such a place before. But as she looked at the determined faces of the villagers, something inside her stirred... These were ordinary people, defending their homes against what seemed like an invasion or some kind of oppressive force.
Making a rash decision, Astoria stepped towards the villagers. "I'm... I'm with them," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. Her right hand twisted to feel the length of her wand tucked in her robe's sleeve.
The soldier's face contorted with rage. "Then you'll die with them! Men, attack!"
"Huh-" she managed to say before the bicep guy stepped forward and roughly pulled her back to safety.
As the soldiers charged forward, Astoria froze in thought. She knew that she was in a muggle environment, and judging from her knowledge of fantasy novels, she knew that magic was often met with suspicion or ignorance in the muggle world. She had to avoid using magic. The Ministry would be on her in an instant! Shortly after Daphne's disappearance, her father sent her a letter explaining that the Ministry was crumbling from within and that You-know-who probably already had a silent grip on the Minister, which would explain his bloody refusal to acknowledge the return of the worst villain in history.
Something clicked in her mind.
A medieval festival.
It had to be!
She had read about the kinds of muggle reenactments where some people would be the Anglo-Saxons and others would be the Normans, they pretended to live in the past which looked much like this place. They would use wooden carts, old-fashioned tools and even recite long forgotten speeches from dead royalty. She'd even seen photos of one in The Daily Prophet once, accompanied by an article making fun of Muggle eccentricities. That had to be what this was.
But as she looked around the edge of the crowd, her stomach started clenching inwards. Everything was just too bloody real! The dirt roads, the leather on these people's shoes did not have symmetrical stitching, the smoke from the chimneys was stifling and not to mention the awful smell of human excrement… Why did it have to hit her nose right now?
It was not a perfectly staged event where you would have telltale signs of background work.
And then, there was the emotion in everyone's faces. Expressions of despair or confusion. Fatigue in their eyes and desperation in their voices as they murmured to each other.
And then the soldiers. They had a mixture of bloodlust and fear at the same time.
Astoria's heart began to pound in her chest as the realization of this situation washed over her like ice water. These were not costumed actors. This was real. She had, somehow, time-travelled into the past!
She tightened her grips on her robes and ensured that her wand was out of sight again, she was in a place she didn't understand but felt dangerously unfamiliar. She knew it all too well. Witches and wizards were burned at the stake in this time.
"Kill them!" A soldier screamed, bringing Astoria out of her reverie.
The soldiers began rushing towards them.
Panic.
Although she knew using magic here could be dangerous, she just couldn't stand by and watch innocent people be slaughtered. Keeping her wand in her sleeve, she held it just below the tip and covertly pointed her hand towards the soldiers while she made it seem like she was ducking for cover.
"Protego Maxima!" she whispered, and an invisible shield sprang up between the villagers and the oncoming soldiers. The first wave of attackers bounced off it, stumbling back in confusion. Arrows were loose and they too stopped in mid-air and then fell harmlessly to the side.
Taking advantage of the soldiers' disarray, the villagers surged forward with a battle cry. Astoria kept her wand at the ready, using subtle spells to trip soldiers or knock weapons from their hands causing them to look at each other very confused.
In the chaos of the battle, Astoria noticed a woman with graying hair cornered by two soldiers. Without thinking, she pointed her hidden wand at the attackers and whispered, "Stupefy!" The soldiers crumpled to the ground, and the woman stared at Astoria with wide eyes.
"Are you okay?" Astoria asked, offering a hand. The woman eyed her suspiciously.
"Magic." She said. Astoria's eyes widened.
"Please-" she began but the woman pulled Astoria our of the way of a stray arrow.
"Fight now. Talk later. I will keep your secret." She told Astoria firmly and pulled out a knife from behind her.
Astoria nodded and together they rejoined the fight.
As the fight raged on, Astoria continued to use her magic discreetly, always careful not to cause lethal harm where possible, but a Bombarda exploded the head of one of the soldiers, drenching a few villagers in blood and grey matter. Her spells turned the tide of the battle, and soon the soldiers were retreating, leaving their wounded behind.
As the dust settled, the villagers gathered around Astoria, a mixture of awe and suspicion on their faces. The man with the biceps approached her.
"I don't know who you are or how you know magic," he said gruffly, "but you saved many lives today. Thank you, magician."
Tears were falling down her eyes. "I killed someone." She sniffled, trying not to show weakness but her shoulders shuddered as she broke out crying.
"Don't magicians always kill?" someone said untactfully.
"Oh, shush Delwin! She just saved our lives, be grateful!" a female voice reprimanded.
"Everyone, please, calm down. She is but a girl, leave her be. Killing is never easy. On anyone." The bicep guy said loudly.
Astoria was in a state of panic again. They knew. She should have been more careful. "How do you know I was using magic?" she asked slowly, glancing at all the villagers circling her, suddenly wary.
"Magicians here are usually taken away by the Empire," the man explained, "but thank you. I am Roran." He held his hand out expectantly.
Astoria nodded, accepted his hand, still catching her breath. "I'm Astoria. I... I'm not from around here."
"That much is clear," Roran replied with a hint of a smile while letting go. "But you've proven yourself a friend to Carvahall. Come, let's get you something to eat and drink. We have much to discuss."
Astoria relaxed and gazed at the crowd around her, many of the villagers were nodding their approval. At least they won't stick her on the stake and roast her. Yet.
As they walked towards the village, Roran turned to Astoria. "You've shown great courage today. We could use someone with your... abilities. Would you consider staying with us for a while?"
Astoria hesitated, her thoughts racing. She needed to find Daphne, but she also felt a strange connection to these people. The weight of her decision sat heavily on her shoulders. On one hand, she had a responsibility to her family, to find her sister and return home. On the other, these villagers had shown her kindness and were clearly in dire need of help. She bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously tracing the outline of her wand hidden in her sleeve. What would Dad advise her to do? He would say to help where help is needed of course. But Daphne…
"I... I suppose I could stay for a bit," she replied cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked up at Roran, searching his face for any sign of doubt or suspicion. "At least until I can figure out my next move."
Roran nodded, a hint of relief softening his stern features. "Good," he said, his voice gruff but sincere. "We need all the help we can get. And someone with your abilities could be invaluable." He paused, glancing around at the other villagers who were busy tending to the wounded and clearing the battlefield to go to their houses. Luckily nobody had died.
As they made their way through the village, Astoria couldn't help but marvel at the rustic beauty of Carvahall. Despite the recent battle, there was a certain charm to the thatched roofs, the smoke curling from chimneys, and the sound of livestock in the distance. It was so different from the magical world she knew, yet there was something comforting about its simplicity. He led her to a wooden double story house that looked far grander than many of the others. Its sturdy construction and intricate woodwork spoke of skill and care. As they neared, Astoria saw a kind-faced woman step out onto the porch, wiping her hands on her apron.
"You can stay with Horst and Elain. They're good people, and they have room. Plus, their home is one of the most defensible in the village."
"Roran!" the woman called out, her eyes widening as she noticed Astoria. "Who's this?"
"Elain," Roran said, his voice softening slightly, "this is Astoria. She helped us against the soldiers. Astoria, this is Elain, Horst's wife."
Elain's warm smile immediately put Astoria at ease. There was something motherly about her that reminded Astoria of her own mother, and a pang of homesickness hit her unexpectedly.
"Welcome, dear," Elain said, reaching out to take Astoria's hand. "You must be exhausted. Come in, you look famished."
Astoria smiled and followed Elain in hand. "Thank you." she said softly.
"It's my pleasure, dear. After all that magic, you must be exhausted!"
"Errr... yeah. I am hungry." Astoria was cautious again.
Inside, the house was warm and inviting. The scent of freshly baked bread and herbs filled the air. Her stomach growled like the tiger she saw at the Five Sister's Zoo in Scotland. What a loud reminder that she hadn't eaten in a long while. Also, the Family Apparition did a number on her sense of time.
Elain led them to a large kitchen come dining area where a big, burly man who looked like a mini-Hagrid was seated at a table. "This is my husband, Horst," Elain introduced. Horst stood, towering over Astoria, but his gentle demeanor belied his imposing stature. "Roran asked if she could stay here awhile."
"Welcome to our home," he said while nodding to his wife, his voice deep and reassuring. "Any friend of Roran's is a friend of ours."
As if on cue, thunderous footsteps echoed through the dining room. Two teenage boys who looked as though they would be fresh out of Hogwarts suddenly appeared and then froze at the door. They were dressed in what would be considered noble attire but had soot covered forearms. The blonde boy looked strikingly like his mother and the other boy appeared to be a smaller version of his father outside.
"Good afternoon, milady!" the blonde boy walked in front of her, grabbed her hand, curtsied and kissed her knuckles. "You are as fair as the brightest spirit in all the lands."
"Pathetic." The dark-haired boy laughed playfully. "Please do not take anything my brother says to heart, he has no manners. I'm Baldor and this is my brother, Albriech. It's a pleasure to meet you, what is your name?"
Elain flurried towards the boys and put herself between them. "Hush now, leave her be. Sit down and get ready to sup, your father is almost finished while you two are constantly wrestling like Urgals."
They bowed their heads and sat down, clearly, they had a lot of respect for their mother.
"My name is Astoria; it is a pleasure to meet you too." She responded to them with a bit of a smile. Albriech turned red and Baldor sniggered. Roran walked in with another person. A redheaded woman that reminded Astoria of the Weasleys.
"As such, she is our guest for tonight." Elain continued while dishing food for the boys. "you two shall not make a sound and allow her a good night's rest."
"Yes Mother." They replied in unison.
As the evening progressed, Horst had returned, and Astoria had learned a lot about this place – Carvahall. Although everyone's eyes seemed to contain a hint of sadness, they were nothing but the most pleasant hosts. Albriech, truly seemed taken by Astoria's beauty and he blushed every time she caught him staring at her. The family peppered her with questions, which led to her explaining that she was from a land far east of Alagaësia, but she gave no names and presented twisted truths.
"So, you're a magician?" Baldor asked, his eyes wide with wonder and a hint of something else - was it fear?
Astoria shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of her wand hidden in her sleeve. "I... have some abilities," she said evasively, glancing at Roran for support.
"Leave her be, Albriech," Elain chided gently, coming to Astoria's rescue. "The poor girl's been through enough today. Come, let's eat. You must be starving, Astoria."
As they sat down to a hearty meal of stew and fresh bread, Astoria noticed that the woman with Roran was unusually quiet. Her eyes were red rimmed as if she'd been crying, but she managed a small smile when she caught Astoria's stare.
"This is Katrina," Roran introduced her as he noticed this interaction, his voice softening noticeably. Astoria didn't miss the way his eyes lingered on Katrina, or the gentle way he held her hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Astoria said politely.
Katrina nodded quietly, inhaled deeply and dug in.
Throughout the meal, the conversation turned to the recent events in Carvahall. Astoria listened intently, trying to piece together the situation that had brought her to this strange place.
"It all started when Eragon disappeared," Horst explained, his voice low. "He was just a farm boy, but then he ran off with old Brom, and everything changed."
"The Empire started taking an interest in our little village," Roran added, his jaw clenching. "They sent soldiers, demanding we hand over Eragon. But he was long gone by then."
"And now they won't leave us alone," Katrina said softly, her eyes downcast. "They keep coming back, making threats, demanding information we don't have."
As the night wore on, Astoria learned of the struggles the villagers had faced - the constant threat from the Empire, the mysterious Ra'zac that seemed to be hunting for Eragon, and the difficult decision they now faced to leave their homes. The more she heard, the more her heart went out to these people who had shown her such kindness.
After supper, a sense of melancholy pervaded the house. Astoria felt beaten by this point and required a very long sleep.
Elain, as if sensing Astoria's fatigue, appeared and began leading the way to a small room with a simple bed and a worn quilt. "It's not much, but I believe that this should keep you warm enough," Elain said softly.
"It's perfect," Astoria replied, smiling with gratitude.
She lay in the small but comfortable room Elain had prepared for her, staring at the ceiling, thoughts of home and Daphne mingling with concern for these new friends. The wooden beams above her seemed to dance in the flickering candlelight, casting strange shadows that reminded her of the moving staircases at Hogwarts. She was far from home and probably in a different time. Daphne had gone, along with Potter, to Merlin knows where. Yet, sleep was not far behind.
When the others finally retired for the night, Astoria's mind was whirling with all she had learned.
She must have dozed off at some point because the next thing she knew, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night. Astoria bolted upright, her hand instinctively reaching for her wand. Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to stabilize herself in the unfamiliar room.
Another scream, this time closer, jolted her into action. She leaped out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cold and rough, wooden floor. Without a second thought, she rushed out of her room and into the hallway, nearly colliding with Baldor.
"What's happening?" she asked, gripping her wand tightly and feeling wood splinters between her toes.
Baldor's face was pale with fear. "The Ra'zac," he whispered. "They're here."
Just then, Roran's anguished cry echoed through the night. "They've taken Katrina! The Ra'zac have her!"
Astoria felt a chill run down her spine. She had heard about the Ra'zac during dinner - terrifying creatures that served the Empire. Without hesitation, she ran down the stairs in pain, Baldor close behind her.
The scene that greeted her was chaos. Villagers were running in all directions, some armed with makeshift weapons, others simply trying to flee. In the center of it all stood two tall, cloaked figures. Their faces were hidden beneath dark hoods, but Astoria could see curved beaks protruding from the shadows.
One of the Ra'zac held a struggling Katrina in its grasp. Roran was charging towards them, his face a mask of fury and desperation and his left arm hanging uselessly.
Astoria knew she had to act fast. She raised her wand, aiming carefully to avoid hitting Katrina. "Bombarda!" she shouted, her voice lost in the cacophony of screams and shouts.
She didn't care if anyone saw her or not. She focused her aim on the Ra'zac with a sword, the other held Katrina.
The spell hit the Ra'zac square in the head. There was a sickening crunch, and the creature crumpled to the ground, its cloak billowing around it as it fell.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
The remaining Ra'zac let out an inhuman shriek, a sound that sent shivers down Astoria's spine, almost like the Dementors that patrolled the castle not too long ago. It tightened its grip on Katrina who kicked and screamed but it began to retreat, moving with inhuman speed. Roran let out a roar of rage and gave chase, but even his impressive speed was no match for the Ra'zac. Astoria tried to aim at it with another spell, but the creature was moving too fast, weaving between buildings and using Katrina as a shield. Astoria had no choice but to hold her fire.
In a matter of seconds, the Ra'zac had disappeared into the night, taking Katrina with it. The village was left in stunned silence, broken only by Roran's anguished cries.
Astoria stood there, her wand still raised, her breath coming in short gasps. She had just killed a creature she hadn't even known existed a few hours ago. The reality of what she had done, of where she was, came crashing down on her as she put her hands on her knees while leaning over to rest. She killed twice in less than twenty-four hours. She tucked her wand away and looked around.
Slowly, the villagers began to gather around the fallen Ra'zac. Horst approached it cautiously, prodding it with a long stick. "It's dead," he announced, his voice a mixture of awe and fear. A few others dared to venture forward and give it a kick or two.
Roran suddenly returned through the crowd, his face a mask of grief and rage. He looked at Astoria, his eyes wide with tears. "You... you killed it," he said, his voice hoarse. "Katrina's gone."
Astoria nodded, lowering her wand. She may have killed, but it appeared he lost something more valuable. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop the other one," she said softly but Roran shook his head.
"You saved us all," he said. "If you hadn't been here..." He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
As the adrenaline began to wear off, Astoria felt exhaustion creeping in. But there was no time to rest. The villagers were in a panic, and decisions needed to be made.
"We can't stay here," Horst said, voicing what everyone was thinking. "The Empire will send more soldiers, more Ra'zac. We're not safe." He looked at Astoria, concerned about whether she would be okay, he knew that killing changes people.
Roran nodded grimly and fresh tears fell. It looked as though his shoulder had been injured by the Ra'zac.
-oIo-
As the first rays of dawn began to peek over the horizon, Astoria heard Roran's voice.
"Come."
It was loud.
Astoria jumped out of her bed and freshened up with a few quick spells. She tucked away her wand and made her way downstairs. Baldor and Albriech joined her as she exited the house, their faces grim.
"Come."
Astoria stood with Horst's family; her wand hidden but ready in her sleeve. She looked around at the faces of the villagers - tired, scared, but determined. These people had become her friends in the span of a single night, and she was prepared to do whatever it took to help them.
Roran climbed onto an overturned cart, his eyes scanning the crowd. The weight of leadership sat heavily on his shoulders, but there was a fire in his gaze that spoke of unbreakable resolve, of fight and hurt and anger. As he opened his mouth to speak, Astoria glanced around, noticing the villagers increase in number.
"People of Carvahall," he began, his words cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "Last night, we suffered a grievous blow. The Ra'zac, those foul servants of the Empire, struck at the heart of our community. They took Katrina, and with her, they took a piece of my- our soul."
His voice cracked slightly at the mention of Katrina's name, but he pressed on, his resolve strengthening with each word.
"But I say to you now, this is not the end. This is not where our story finishes. The Empire thinks they can break us, that they can scatter us to the winds like dragon dung. They are wrong!"
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. Roran's eyes flashed as he continued.
"We have a choice before us. We can stay here, cowering in fear, waiting for the Empire to pick us off one by one. Or we can take our fate into our own hands. I propose we leave for Surda, to join the Varden in their fight against the tyranny of Galbatorix!"
Gasps and whispers erupted from the villagers. Roran raised his right hand for silence.
"I know what I ask is not easy. We would be leaving behind our homes, the land our ancestors tilled. But what good are fields and houses if we are not free to enjoy them? In Surda, we have a chance not just to survive, but to fight back, to reclaim what is ours!"
His gaze swept across the crowd, locking eyes with individuals, infusing them with his passion and determination.
"And we are not alone in this fight. Last night, we were saved by a stranger, a magician who stood with us against the Empire's forces. Even killed one of the empires disgusting servants. Astoria," he said, his eyes finding her in the crowd, "will you stand with us again? Will you join us on this journey and lend us your strength?"
All eyes turned to Astoria, and she felt a surge of emotion - fear, excitement, and a deep sense of hesitation. She needed to find Daphne. She knew Daphne was here. She could feel it, but she also knew she had to these people. Last night she gathered that she was not on her own planet. And she found it terrifying. But she had to help. Or at least, use them until she finds Daphne.
Stepping forward, she nodded firmly, her voice carrying across the square. "I will."
Roran's face broke into a fierce grin. "Then let it be known, people of Carvahall, that we do not go as refugees, but as warriors! We go to join a cause greater than ourselves, to fight for our freedom, for our future! Who stands with me?"
A roar went up from the crowd, fists pumping in the air. The atmosphere was electric, fear giving way to determination and hope. Astoria felt as though she were in the Quidditch stands for a second. As the cheers died down, Astoria made her way through the crowd to Roran. She could see the pain he was trying to hide, the way he favored his shoulder where the Ra'zac had bitten him. Her mother had taught her a lot of healing spells, maybe she could put it to good use.
"Roran," she said softly, "let me look at your shoulder. I might be able to help."
Roran hesitated for a moment, then nodded, allowing her to examine the wound. Astoria glanced around, making sure no one was watching too closely, then discreetly drew her wand.
"This might feel a bit strange," she warned, before whispering a simple diagnostic spell. A soft blue light emanated from her wand, enveloping Roran's shoulder.
"It's poisoned." She said. Another woman, quite elderly, walked up to Roran and Astoria.
"I have some clean cloths if you need?" The woman suggested, "I cleaned his wound last night, but could not get rid of that foul smelling substance."
"It's alright mam, I should be able to help." Astoria smiled gratefully. "I think it's best we go inside, and I treat you there."
"Come to mine, it's closer." The woman said.
"Yes, thank you Gertrude," Roran said, then looked at Astoria and added, "Gertrude is our healer."
Astoria nodded in understanding.
When they were inside, Gertrude guided Roran to a bed and assisted in opening his shirt more.
Astoria shook her head, "No, it's okay."
She pointed at the wound and enchanted, "Vulnera Sanentur!" She held her wand steady as a black liquid oozed out of the wound and burned his as it trailed down his ribs causing him to scream in agony. Gertrude quickly used a few clean cloths to wipe the poison from his skin which had started bleeding. The wound started closing by itself, with Astoria remaining super focused it. He gasped as the pain receded and the wound closed fully.
"Thank you," he said, gasping for breath. He sat up and began rolling his shoulder experimentally. "Your magic... it's scary. But I'm grateful for it, and for you."
Astoria smiled, tucking her wand away.
"We're in this together now," she said. "Whatever comes next, we'll face it as one. But, if I find my sister, I must leave to be with her. I hope you can understand that." Roran nodded in understanding, his eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and renewed determination. As they turned to join the villagers in their preparations, Birgit made her way to Astoria and Roran.
"Young girl." Birgit called. Astoria and Roran both turned to face her.
"Hello, Birgit." They said in unison.
"Interesting. I wanted to thank you, Astoria, for yesterday, saving my life. You have my sword should you ever find yourself in need of it." Birgit vowed.
"Thank you, Birgit. I was just trying to help." Astoria smiled. She realized that she could benefit the villagers quite a lot the longer she remained with them.