mickume/harry_potter_tiny · Datasets at Hugging Face

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"I hate you", he rasped as his tongue left a wet trace on her neck, "I fucking hate you."
And then he pulled away. That must be another punishment, Astoria thought as she was familiar already with his sadistic preference to humiliate her and others. That came as no surprise because Draco Malfoy was always himself and that meant a cruel bully still. Only now he seemed focused as he left her almost free with solely his body pressing her next to the wall. His hand moved slowly, tracing her body, sending shivers through her spine.
Always one step ahead –
Astoria whimper because he just wouldn’t stop. The worst part is he did it all while laughing. It was so obvious; Astoria didn’t even need to look at him to know he was grinning like he does so often in the hallways.
"I haven’t even started", Draco chuckled, "Try to resist it a bit, at least. Don’t make it so easy".
"Easy?", Astoria raised her voice as her face turned red.
"Yeah", he said, and he licked his bottom lip, "I keep telling you to stop being naïve and easy, easy to use and manipulate – "
As familiar fear took over Astoria, she tried to yank herself away from his grip, that’s when Draco tightened his fingers around her throat and stole beath away from her mouth with his lips. His kisses always tasted like that – consuming and sharp, like kissing a blade.
"Tell me, have you ever lost your mind?", Draco whispered next to her lips, and Astoria froze with fear as his hand released her.
Never, actually. That was the true answer to his question. At least a few centuries, a few lives back that she could remember. In all of them, in each life, there was always control to lean on. Controlling others, controlling everything she could manage, her family, people she loved and people she used. Didn’t matter, because control was the tool of the fearful and Astoria was terrified all the time.
Panic moved her forward and she tried to escape him. He held her down firmly, but Astoria still managed to meet his eyes, as Draco settled his knee between her legs and his teeth sinked in the tender skin next to her collarbone in a forbidden kiss that send shivers all over her brain.
"You’re fighting it.", he said as he sucked the skin and then licked the spot until white spots covered her eyesight from pain, "There is pleasure in that, you’ll see". His tongue teased her as it went down her chest to ravage more of her body and Astoria trembled from the wet sensation. "I want you to stop doing stupid and reckless shit", he let his teeth find her skin, as his fingers pulled her bra, teasing her before he removes it.
"I’ve never – ", is all Astoria managed to say.
"Yeah, I know", he cut her off and his other hand finally freed her wrists, moving now across her tights, lifting the tips of her skirt, toying with her. "Dumbledore sure kept you under lock all your life", he said but was interrupted from her quiet whimpers following his fingers further above her tight, now closer to her core, "So many bad things I got to show you first – ", another sharp kiss and Astoria almost screamed around his tongue, the sensation unbearable to both her mind and body, "See, Potter was wasting time on getting on with it, I just knew – " his fingers finally found their way between her tights and her body twitched with anticipation as if a plea was finally answered. "I just had to beat him in this too –".
"Stop talking about him", Astoria whimpered, struggling to shake away from his hold. "Especially when you’re – "
"You know, I knew he liked you and I still I did it", Draco chuckled, "I knew he liked you when he came rushing to save you from whatever magic you were torturing yourself with – ".
"And why didn’t you?", Astoria raised her voice.
"Careful, you’re forgetting yourself", Draco said with ice in his voice and his fingers drowned in her.
"You – ah-are foul".
"You knew that and you still kissed me on that dancefloor."
"You’re being so – cruel", Astoria wined or at least that’s what it sounded like with pleasure taking over her.
"I thought that’s what you liked about me", Draco chucked as he watched her body tense. He could feel it coming and when her inside’s tightened even more around his fingers, he pulled away from her.
Just at the right moment so she wouldn’t reach it but feel it take over and then – nothing. The feeling washed off her and Astoria rose to meet his gaze. So many mixed emotions, anger, fear, dissatisfaction, lust and want and need –
"Want something more?", Malfoy chuckled, "Beg for it".
"I can’t take it", Astoria whimpered. "Pleasee – "
Draco Malfoy grinned as he nodded approvingly, and his hands moved again in a rhythm with his tongue. She did taste like opium and burned like the sun – always warm. Hearing her beg more for him sounded like a lullaby in his ears and he hummed while he watched her plead and moan one after the other.
A wand pressed in her forehead and Astoria opened her eyes wide in shock, but it was too late as that spilt of a second lasted only long enough for their eyes to meet. While fear was pushing in her, Draco Malfoy looked calm, he looked satisfied in a way that had nothing to do with lust as his hips still pressed next to her body, but his presence was now inside of her. Inside of her mind.
Legilimency was more pure magical craft than a specific spell. It took months to master for those with the natural talent for it and years for others. Every dark wizard strived to achieve this success because legilimens could read a person’s mind and in one’s consciousness truths came before lies. Astoria knew that and with the feeling of him penetrating her mind she also had learned that Draco Malfoy was a natural, cunning like a snake with it.
There are only two emotions so overwhelming they work effectively in breaking another’s mind – fear and lust. Both defined by the forceful tearing of control from the person you were trying to break into. And in this case the roles were reversed.
"Tell me, do you love your Saint Potter?"
"I did", Astoria found herself confessing the unthinkable to Draco Malfoy especially in a situation like this.
A memory flashed around them – the highest point of the castle, just two kids hiding in the shadows next to a small window, laughing. One wore red, the other green. One was a boy, the other a girl. Both happy.
"And you still let me do the things I did to you? You really are evil, Astoria", Draco chuckled and pressed his wand harder into her forehead, Astoria taught he really could pierce through her skull with this force.
"You were just – I, ah, thought, better than him" and Astoria covered her lips with her hand, trying to keep them shut from speaking more.
"I might even reward you for this", he smirked but his greys eyes quickly turned cold and serious. "What is this power you use on me?"
"Breaking into your mind, you mean?", Astoria spat out and pressed her eyes shut, trying to find the connection in her mind and break it, only it was hard when he kept moving his hands over her skin, "It’s a hereditary technique, no one can replicate it".
"Your father doesn’t have it", Draco hissed.
"My father isn’t an accomplished wizard", Astoria said and a gasp of surprise followed. Her fingers twisted in fists, but the words wouldn’t stop. "I will kill you Malfoy, I will twist your mind and I will make it so much worse".
It was the truth, it had to be, because Draco knew he was still in control as long as he could maintain this connection between physical stimulation and mental penetration, all those separate energies intertwined perfectly and just tight enough to create a loop in her own mind. She spoke sincerely and he felt uncomfortable for the first time in her presence just like the others would tell him.
"I’d like to see you try", he hissed as he pressed her against the wall, crushing her down with his body, "I’m better at you in everything and you know it."
"You’re not me", Astoria moaned, "You’re not accomplished – ".
His hand slipped over her throat, and he broke the connection because he didn’t want to know more. Not after this conclusion, not after what he had just learned. And what it meant for her life and for his as well. Draco collapsed over her and his hands were no longer cruel.
"Don’t tell me that secret", Draco whispered.
Astoria removed his hands off her and faced him with one eye red and one brown – both afraid.
"Not yet", she said firmly. "I’m not an accomplished wizard of my family. But I will be. I don’t need you to get me pregnant and to have a son. I don’t need a son. It’s me, it’s already done".
A month passed since they last saw each other. When Harry would catch a glimpse of her, she always seemed foreign to him, always standing too far away from him to truly remember her. Now, Astoria was leaning next to Malfoy. It was an unfortunate thing to admit but the pair made more logic now and appeared less of a shocking match. Not that Harry found them to be fitting for each other, Astoria was headed towards a dark path and Malfoy was the reason for it. But they seemed to make sense in the way that she was different, a whole new person that one morning had more in common with Draco Malfoy – not just the name, the wealth or even the looks but the eerie sense of tragedy around them.
"Potter", Draco hissed as he saw him approach and put his hand around her shoulder. His behavior was bolder than ever, as if he was putting on a show. It made everyone suspicious.
"Malfoy", Harry glared at him with rage.
"Can we help you?", he replied.
"Tori, I need to speak to you".
Saying her name like that felt like a lie; like calling out for someone no longer present. But she wasn’t dead even though Harry often felt like he died in that comma. A part of her at least. But it was still Astoria, staring him down, looking for answers in his eyes. How could he tell her he missed her? How could he tell her he needed her?
The girl didn’t say anything, just leapt forward and started walking towards the library. Draco Malfoy shot her an unapproving look but she didn’t react to it.
"Thank you", Harry said quietly.
"What’s wrong?"
There was intentional distance between them and a natural one as well. Astoria imagined he would come to her only out of necessity. They didn’t meet at the top of the castle anymore. They didn’t meet anywhere anymore.
"I need a favor", he admitted as he tightened his jaw.
"Let me hear it".
"I can’t deny your power. What you did to me, what you did to Malfoy. I need you to come and help me train others", he said to her.
"I do not wish to join", Astoria cut him off yet continued walking with him.
They both knew what was left unsaid. That "army" he was gathering, that war that he was preparing for and those people who hated everything Astoria was.
Harry felt another presence behind him but he didn’t turn. However, he saw his shadow on the ground and his body shivered. They had met before but his presence was never something to get used to.
"That’s fine. I just want you to help us, teach us something you think can be useful".
"Why?", Astoria asked as she seemed annoyed, "Who are you going to fight?".
The question seemed unnecessary to him. There was only one battle that approached and there was only one enemy. The war had begun no matter if others refused to acknowledge it.
"Voldemort", he said firmly, and the sound of the forbidden name shocked her a bit. There was a pause. He hesitated if listening to his instinct was right this time.
"I will always help you in that battle", Astoria’s words were sincere as she looked at him. "As much as I can."
"Can you come tonight on the third floor? I will wait for you".
"Maybe around ten?’
"Let’s make it earlier, I have plans for the night", her voice was ice cold.
The realization hurt. It was no surprise to him after Snape’s class. Somehow Astoria shifted from being his friend to being with Draco Malfoy. But Harry was sure Malfoy was involved with the Death Eaters as he was positive at least his family was. Lucious Malfoy – he saw him with his own eyes. There was no doubt about that, and it put Astoria in a sensitive position in between.
The were all dark wizards, what did you think I am – her words still haunted him. Hermione had told him and warned him multiple times that there Is no other path for her. It was no coincidence she was in Slytherin. Now that was obvious.
"You can’t trust him. You can never tell him", Harry finally said. Like I could never trust you, not again.
"I don’t trust him", she lied.
"I know you say that, but you’re being careless, he could be a Death Eater", Harry said and stared into her face to search for a reaction.
"I won’t tell him anything. I am first your friend and then his lover", Astoria tried to hide her surprise when she realized they were already suspecting him.
"Or maybe you agree with him?", Harry continued to dare her.
"Do not question my loyalty", she hissed at him. Anger had found a permanent spot in her heart as she held her tongue now less.
"To whom? Cleary not the resistance"
"To you", she said firmly, but she was also loyal to another and they seemed on the opposing sides.
Harry looked at her with disbelief. Hadn’t she betrayed him already just by laying with Malfoy? What loyalty was there left?
They needed her. He needed her. Prideful as he was, he felt like he needed her. Not like Ron or Hermione, but only with half his heart. Maybe she felt the same.
Harry nodded in agreement and turned to leave. A shoulder brushed in him, intentionally painful. Two red eyes shined in his mind as he walked down the corridor. There was no one there, no one saw what he saw, or maybe he just felt it.
He worried now more than ever that there was no turning back for her.
The same night Astoria waited for him in the hallways. It felt a bit stupid, standing in the darkness alone. She was in her fighting attire and she almost blended with the night. Harry didn’t say anything when he finally approached her but handed her a blindfold and she didn’t ask questions when she put it on.
The sensation of their skin meeting again after so long was nostalgic. His hand grabbed hers, strong and steady as he spun her in a circle to confuse her sense of orientation. Astoria didn’t protest. It felt like forever until he finally changed direction and started guiding her. She walked slowly next to him.
Whispers surrounded her. Slow movement. She could feel the warmth in the room, filled with people. Harry removed the blindfold and she looked around in surprise. It was a room she had never seen before or ever heard about for all five years in Hogwarts, yet there could be no doubt that they never left the castle. A great hiding place, indeed.
"How is this possible?", Astoria gasped, looking around in astonishment and then turned to Harry "Is this your magic?".
"No, the castle is helping us", he answered. It sounded a bit ridiculous yet what was there to challenge this take.
"I don’t think she should be here", Ginny’s voice cut through the silence in the room and grabbed both of their attention. Her blue eyes were staring at Harry, clearly displeased with him.
"What can she even teach us?", Neville Longbottom added to that. Astoria knew his parents were tortured into madness by a Death Eater. She read about their case in the library and cried in horror, thinking it was her father only to later find out it was Draco’s aunt that did it instead. The burden felt just as heavy.
"I know that Dumbledore took to himself to personally train her. He wouldn’t do that if he suspected her in betrayal", Harry said firmly. "There is a lot we could learn from her."
It was an argument he used so his Gryffindor friends would leave her alone, yet it was something she never heard someone bring up, something she herself never thought of. Dumbledore trusted her. Maybe because he didn’t know her true potential, yet he risked training her. And he trusted her, he trusted her and never turned against her. Not in this life, at least. Astoria tried to remain calm as this hit her deeper than anyone knew.
"Have you forgotten what she did to Ron?", Hermione protested.
And Astoria turned to find Ron’s eyes. The hatred was familiar. If he could, he would burn her alive. But she felt like she deserved it. An apology pushed but she kept quiet.
"Let’s just get it done before she tells her Death Eater friends about us", Ginny hissed through her teeth.
It wasn’t hard to figure out why Harry wanted her here. Astoria fought in a very rare style. That made it hard to avoid attacks as well as counter them. They saw that with their own eyes. The other reason, she hoped, wasn’t part of the motive behind the invitation, but there was so much dark magic in her own magic. It was detectable in everything she did. There was no one better to practice with if he wanted to face off the Dark Lord.
"What is the first thing you need to protect when you face a dark wizard?", Astoria asked as she stepped forward the girl she once though as her competitor.
"You don’t scare me,", Ginny hissed back at her as she stepped closer, inches from her face.
Gryffindor’s bravery. That was it. Stupidity and undeniable courage that somehow brought them luck. She was a Weasley but not like Ron. Harry’s friend always seemed weak to her. This one was better. And it made sense why Blaise Zabini was in love with her, because the girl was also ruthless like him.
"It’s Elroy to you", Astoria stared her down as Ginny’s wand was next to her neck. "Answer the question".

"I hate you", he rasped as his tongue left a wet trace on her neck, "I fucking hate you."

And then he pulled away. That must be another punishment, Astoria thought as she was familiar already with his sadistic preference to humiliate her and others. That came as no surprise because Draco Malfoy was always himself and that meant a cruel bully still. Only now he seemed focused as he left her almost free with solely his body pressing her next to the wall. His hand moved slowly, tracing her body, sending shivers through her spine.

Always one step ahead –

Astoria whimper because he just wouldn’t stop. The worst part is he did it all while laughing. It was so obvious; Astoria didn’t even need to look at him to know he was grinning like he does so often in the hallways.

"I haven’t even started", Draco chuckled, "Try to resist it a bit, at least. Don’t make it so easy".

"Easy?", Astoria raised her voice as her face turned red.

"Yeah", he said, and he licked his bottom lip, "I keep telling you to stop being naïve and easy, easy to use and manipulate – "

As familiar fear took over Astoria, she tried to yank herself away from his grip, that’s when Draco tightened his fingers around her throat and stole beath away from her mouth with his lips. His kisses always tasted like that – consuming and sharp, like kissing a blade.

"Tell me, have you ever lost your mind?", Draco whispered next to her lips, and Astoria froze with fear as his hand released her.

Never, actually. That was the true answer to his question. At least a few centuries, a few lives back that she could remember. In all of them, in each life, there was always control to lean on. Controlling others, controlling everything she could manage, her family, people she loved and people she used. Didn’t matter, because control was the tool of the fearful and Astoria was terrified all the time.

Panic moved her forward and she tried to escape him. He held her down firmly, but Astoria still managed to meet his eyes, as Draco settled his knee between her legs and his teeth sinked in the tender skin next to her collarbone in a forbidden kiss that send shivers all over her brain.

"You’re fighting it.", he said as he sucked the skin and then licked the spot until white spots covered her eyesight from pain, "There is pleasure in that, you’ll see". His tongue teased her as it went down her chest to ravage more of her body and Astoria trembled from the wet sensation. "I want you to stop doing stupid and reckless shit", he let his teeth find her skin, as his fingers pulled her bra, teasing her before he removes it.

"I’ve never – ", is all Astoria managed to say.

"Yeah, I know", he cut her off and his other hand finally freed her wrists, moving now across her tights, lifting the tips of her skirt, toying with her. "Dumbledore sure kept you under lock all your life", he said but was interrupted from her quiet whimpers following his fingers further above her tight, now closer to her core, "So many bad things I got to show you first – ", another sharp kiss and Astoria almost screamed around his tongue, the sensation unbearable to both her mind and body, "See, Potter was wasting time on getting on with it, I just knew – " his fingers finally found their way between her tights and her body twitched with anticipation as if a plea was finally answered. "I just had to beat him in this too –".

"Stop talking about him", Astoria whimpered, struggling to shake away from his hold. "Especially when you’re – "

"You know, I knew he liked you and I still I did it", Draco chuckled, "I knew he liked you when he came rushing to save you from whatever magic you were torturing yourself with – ".

"And why didn’t you?", Astoria raised her voice.

"Careful, you’re forgetting yourself", Draco said with ice in his voice and his fingers drowned in her.

"You – ah-are foul".

"You knew that and you still kissed me on that dancefloor."

"You’re being so – cruel", Astoria wined or at least that’s what it sounded like with pleasure taking over her.

"I thought that’s what you liked about me", Draco chucked as he watched her body tense. He could feel it coming and when her inside’s tightened even more around his fingers, he pulled away from her.

Just at the right moment so she wouldn’t reach it but feel it take over and then – nothing. The feeling washed off her and Astoria rose to meet his gaze. So many mixed emotions, anger, fear, dissatisfaction, lust and want and need –

"Want something more?", Malfoy chuckled, "Beg for it".

"I can’t take it", Astoria whimpered. "Pleasee – "

Draco Malfoy grinned as he nodded approvingly, and his hands moved again in a rhythm with his tongue. She did taste like opium and burned like the sun – always warm. Hearing her beg more for him sounded like a lullaby in his ears and he hummed while he watched her plead and moan one after the other.

A wand pressed in her forehead and Astoria opened her eyes wide in shock, but it was too late as that spilt of a second lasted only long enough for their eyes to meet. While fear was pushing in her, Draco Malfoy looked calm, he looked satisfied in a way that had nothing to do with lust as his hips still pressed next to her body, but his presence was now inside of her. Inside of her mind.

Legilimency was more pure magical craft than a specific spell. It took months to master for those with the natural talent for it and years for others. Every dark wizard strived to achieve this success because legilimens could read a person’s mind and in one’s consciousness truths came before lies. Astoria knew that and with the feeling of him penetrating her mind she also had learned that Draco Malfoy was a natural, cunning like a snake with it.

There are only two emotions so overwhelming they work effectively in breaking another’s mind – fear and lust. Both defined by the forceful tearing of control from the person you were trying to break into. And in this case the roles were reversed.

"Tell me, do you love your Saint Potter?"

"I did", Astoria found herself confessing the unthinkable to Draco Malfoy especially in a situation like this.

A memory flashed around them – the highest point of the castle, just two kids hiding in the shadows next to a small window, laughing. One wore red, the other green. One was a boy, the other a girl. Both happy.

"And you still let me do the things I did to you? You really are evil, Astoria", Draco chuckled and pressed his wand harder into her forehead, Astoria taught he really could pierce through her skull with this force.

"You were just – I, ah, thought, better than him" and Astoria covered her lips with her hand, trying to keep them shut from speaking more.

"I might even reward you for this", he smirked but his greys eyes quickly turned cold and serious. "What is this power you use on me?"

"Breaking into your mind, you mean?", Astoria spat out and pressed her eyes shut, trying to find the connection in her mind and break it, only it was hard when he kept moving his hands over her skin, "It’s a hereditary technique, no one can replicate it".

"Your father doesn’t have it", Draco hissed.

"My father isn’t an accomplished wizard", Astoria said and a gasp of surprise followed. Her fingers twisted in fists, but the words wouldn’t stop. "I will kill you Malfoy, I will twist your mind and I will make it so much worse".

It was the truth, it had to be, because Draco knew he was still in control as long as he could maintain this connection between physical stimulation and mental penetration, all those separate energies intertwined perfectly and just tight enough to create a loop in her own mind. She spoke sincerely and he felt uncomfortable for the first time in her presence just like the others would tell him.

"I’d like to see you try", he hissed as he pressed her against the wall, crushing her down with his body, "I’m better at you in everything and you know it."

"You’re not me", Astoria moaned, "You’re not accomplished – ".

His hand slipped over her throat, and he broke the connection because he didn’t want to know more. Not after this conclusion, not after what he had just learned. And what it meant for her life and for his as well. Draco collapsed over her and his hands were no longer cruel.

"Don’t tell me that secret", Draco whispered.

Astoria removed his hands off her and faced him with one eye red and one brown – both afraid.

"Not yet", she said firmly. "I’m not an accomplished wizard of my family. But I will be. I don’t need you to get me pregnant and to have a son. I don’t need a son. It’s me, it’s already done".

A month passed since they last saw each other. When Harry would catch a glimpse of her, she always seemed foreign to him, always standing too far away from him to truly remember her. Now, Astoria was leaning next to Malfoy. It was an unfortunate thing to admit but the pair made more logic now and appeared less of a shocking match. Not that Harry found them to be fitting for each other, Astoria was headed towards a dark path and Malfoy was the reason for it. But they seemed to make sense in the way that she was different, a whole new person that one morning had more in common with Draco Malfoy – not just the name, the wealth or even the looks but the eerie sense of tragedy around them.

"Potter", Draco hissed as he saw him approach and put his hand around her shoulder. His behavior was bolder than ever, as if he was putting on a show. It made everyone suspicious.

"Malfoy", Harry glared at him with rage.

"Can we help you?", he replied.

"Tori, I need to speak to you".

Saying her name like that felt like a lie; like calling out for someone no longer present. But she wasn’t dead even though Harry often felt like he died in that comma. A part of her at least. But it was still Astoria, staring him down, looking for answers in his eyes. How could he tell her he missed her? How could he tell her he needed her?

The girl didn’t say anything, just leapt forward and started walking towards the library. Draco Malfoy shot her an unapproving look but she didn’t react to it.

"Thank you", Harry said quietly.

"What’s wrong?"

There was intentional distance between them and a natural one as well. Astoria imagined he would come to her only out of necessity. They didn’t meet at the top of the castle anymore. They didn’t meet anywhere anymore.

"I need a favor", he admitted as he tightened his jaw.

"Let me hear it".

"I can’t deny your power. What you did to me, what you did to Malfoy. I need you to come and help me train others", he said to her.

"I do not wish to join", Astoria cut him off yet continued walking with him.

They both knew what was left unsaid. That "army" he was gathering, that war that he was preparing for and those people who hated everything Astoria was.

Harry felt another presence behind him but he didn’t turn. However, he saw his shadow on the ground and his body shivered. They had met before but his presence was never something to get used to.

"That’s fine. I just want you to help us, teach us something you think can be useful".

"Why?", Astoria asked as she seemed annoyed, "Who are you going to fight?".

The question seemed unnecessary to him. There was only one battle that approached and there was only one enemy. The war had begun no matter if others refused to acknowledge it.

"Voldemort", he said firmly, and the sound of the forbidden name shocked her a bit. There was a pause. He hesitated if listening to his instinct was right this time.

"I will always help you in that battle", Astoria’s words were sincere as she looked at him. "As much as I can."

"Can you come tonight on the third floor? I will wait for you".

"Maybe around ten?’

"Let’s make it earlier, I have plans for the night", her voice was ice cold.

The realization hurt. It was no surprise to him after Snape’s class. Somehow Astoria shifted from being his friend to being with Draco Malfoy. But Harry was sure Malfoy was involved with the Death Eaters as he was positive at least his family was. Lucious Malfoy – he saw him with his own eyes. There was no doubt about that, and it put Astoria in a sensitive position in between.

The were all dark wizards, what did you think I am – her words still haunted him. Hermione had told him and warned him multiple times that there Is no other path for her. It was no coincidence she was in Slytherin. Now that was obvious.

"You can’t trust him. You can never tell him", Harry finally said. Like I could never trust you, not again.

"I don’t trust him", she lied.

"I know you say that, but you’re being careless, he could be a Death Eater", Harry said and stared into her face to search for a reaction.

"I won’t tell him anything. I am first your friend and then his lover", Astoria tried to hide her surprise when she realized they were already suspecting him.

"Or maybe you agree with him?", Harry continued to dare her.

"Do not question my loyalty", she hissed at him. Anger had found a permanent spot in her heart as she held her tongue now less.

"To whom? Cleary not the resistance"

"To you", she said firmly, but she was also loyal to another and they seemed on the opposing sides.

Harry looked at her with disbelief. Hadn’t she betrayed him already just by laying with Malfoy? What loyalty was there left?

They needed her. He needed her. Prideful as he was, he felt like he needed her. Not like Ron or Hermione, but only with half his heart. Maybe she felt the same.

Harry nodded in agreement and turned to leave. A shoulder brushed in him, intentionally painful. Two red eyes shined in his mind as he walked down the corridor. There was no one there, no one saw what he saw, or maybe he just felt it.

He worried now more than ever that there was no turning back for her.

The same night Astoria waited for him in the hallways. It felt a bit stupid, standing in the darkness alone. She was in her fighting attire and she almost blended with the night. Harry didn’t say anything when he finally approached her but handed her a blindfold and she didn’t ask questions when she put it on.

The sensation of their skin meeting again after so long was nostalgic. His hand grabbed hers, strong and steady as he spun her in a circle to confuse her sense of orientation. Astoria didn’t protest. It felt like forever until he finally changed direction and started guiding her. She walked slowly next to him.

Whispers surrounded her. Slow movement. She could feel the warmth in the room, filled with people. Harry removed the blindfold and she looked around in surprise. It was a room she had never seen before or ever heard about for all five years in Hogwarts, yet there could be no doubt that they never left the castle. A great hiding place, indeed.

"How is this possible?", Astoria gasped, looking around in astonishment and then turned to Harry "Is this your magic?".

"No, the castle is helping us", he answered. It sounded a bit ridiculous yet what was there to challenge this take.

"I don’t think she should be here", Ginny’s voice cut through the silence in the room and grabbed both of their attention. Her blue eyes were staring at Harry, clearly displeased with him.

"What can she even teach us?", Neville Longbottom added to that. Astoria knew his parents were tortured into madness by a Death Eater. She read about their case in the library and cried in horror, thinking it was her father only to later find out it was Draco’s aunt that did it instead. The burden felt just as heavy.

"I know that Dumbledore took to himself to personally train her. He wouldn’t do that if he suspected her in betrayal", Harry said firmly. "There is a lot we could learn from her."

It was an argument he used so his Gryffindor friends would leave her alone, yet it was something she never heard someone bring up, something she herself never thought of. Dumbledore trusted her. Maybe because he didn’t know her true potential, yet he risked training her. And he trusted her, he trusted her and never turned against her. Not in this life, at least. Astoria tried to remain calm as this hit her deeper than anyone knew.

"Have you forgotten what she did to Ron?", Hermione protested.

And Astoria turned to find Ron’s eyes. The hatred was familiar. If he could, he would burn her alive. But she felt like she deserved it. An apology pushed but she kept quiet.

"Let’s just get it done before she tells her Death Eater friends about us", Ginny hissed through her teeth.

It wasn’t hard to figure out why Harry wanted her here. Astoria fought in a very rare style. That made it hard to avoid attacks as well as counter them. They saw that with their own eyes. The other reason, she hoped, wasn’t part of the motive behind the invitation, but there was so much dark magic in her own magic. It was detectable in everything she did. There was no one better to practice with if he wanted to face off the Dark Lord.

"What is the first thing you need to protect when you face a dark wizard?", Astoria asked as she stepped forward the girl she once though as her competitor.

"You don’t scare me,", Ginny hissed back at her as she stepped closer, inches from her face.

Gryffindor’s bravery. That was it. Stupidity and undeniable courage that somehow brought them luck. She was a Weasley but not like Ron. Harry’s friend always seemed weak to her. This one was better. And it made sense why Blaise Zabini was in love with her, because the girl was also ruthless like him.

"It’s Elroy to you", Astoria stared her down as Ginny’s wand was next to her neck. "Answer the question".