mickume/harry_potter_tiny · Datasets at Hugging Face

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"We will take turns to come and spend time with you. We all have agreed to do so, so you wouldn’t be lonely", Hermione said and tried to touch her, but Astoria flinched away.
"I’m not lonely. I am never alone", she said as she glared at them angrily. One eye on her face shined red like rage and the other, originally brown, looked black in her rage.
"Dumbledore thinks Voldemort is going to make a move on the school. When the times comes, we will try to sneak you in again", Harry finally said, getting to the point.
"It was decided yesterday by the order. I’m not quite sure but they think there will be an attack. You can help us protect the school".
They didn’t ask her what she wants. They just asked of her to go and fight and prepare to die for a castle in which she spent most of her years being miserable. And they were going to make her fight against Draco Malfoy, the only one who made her time there meaningful in a way.
"What about Draco?", Astoria asked immediately. They hesitated.
"You can’t meet with him. He is a Death Eater", Harry said sharply.
"Maybe you can", Hermione protested as he looked at her with disbelief, "It could give us inside information. Maybe get him to spy for us".
"He won’t spy", Astoria cut her with ice in her voice.
"He’s changed", Harry sad cautiously, "I think you should know that. He isn’t like before. He’s not just arrogant and boyish".
"He’s tortured", Astoria snapped back at her.
"No. He’s cruel. He cursed a girl, tortured her and used her as bait", he said quietly, "You should know that. He might try to do it to you".
"I’ll help you", Astoria replied, her voice thining. "Anything to get out of here".
Hermione smiled back at her and left a book behind when she walked away.It started with bringing her the newspaper and then books, it worked for far better conversations and filled Astoria’s time. They weren’t torturing her, so that made it better in a way. But they were her captives. She was unstable to them, a liability; dangerous and untrustworthy. A lot more she heard about herself when she wondered around the house.
Harry stayed behind.
"I’m sorry it’s like this, Tori", he said softly. He was looking down on her as she still sat on the floor. Astoria finally lifted her gaze. They hadn’t spoken in months. It became a habit of everyday life to ignore each other. Astoria cried about it twice, but eventually got used to it.
"I hate this, how they treat you".
"I hate it too", she finally confessed.
"I’m sorry I treated you bad. I – I just blamed you for Sirius’s death. He was like a father to me, I miss him every day".
"I know", Astoria said softly and took his hand like they used to do when they were kids. He almost pulled back in surprise but he seemed to remember.
"It’s not easy. We can’t escape who we are, I think also, who we are supposed to be".
"I fear you will leave", he said suddenly as he sat closer to her, "I fear you will betray me".
"I might", Astoria replied bluntly, "I think about it sometimes. To go to my father. To be with Draco. It’s all I really want".
"Why haven’t you?"
Harry felt a stone sinking down his throat. It hurt hearing that from her. It hurt watching her change in front of his eyes and it hurt hurting her back. He wished he could see her again walking in the hallways to him. Sneaking on the ceiling of the castle. Climbing up countless stares together and complaining. Laughing, lying to Lockheart, running and hiding in rooms and being children once more.
"I find myself a loyal friend even when it inconveniences me".
He smiled back. She tried to respond but her face felt too tired. They sat like that for a while as he played with her fingers.
"If things were different, know that I would have loved you", he said softly. His face turned red as he looked at her. She looked surprised.
"I always thought you loved everyone else more than me".
"They told me the same", he laughed as his hand went through his hair. He did that when he was nervous.
"Are you lonely?"
"I am. I imagine you are as well."
"Yeah", she said softly. Their faces touched.
He grabbed her face in his hands and gently kissed her. It was a messy kiss there wasn’t passion in it. Just love, like a reminder to her lips "I’m still here". He wasn’t kissing her with his tongue but it still felt good. The feeling was unfamiliar to her now as time passed by. When the kiss ended Harry looked a bit embarrassed with a red flush on his cheeks. Astoria felt the same, yet hunger rose inside of her even if she tried to push it down.
"I’m sorry", Harry said softly but he was smiling and didn’t seem "sorry" at all. The difference in his expression and words made Astoria laugh.
"Yeah, me too", she said with a smile as she lied.
They kissed again, this time hungrier. His hands reached for her hair and as he twisted it in his fingers Astoria suddenly flinched. It reminded her of Draco and the guilt came instantly crashing on her. She looked confused when she looked at Harry who somehow understood he stepped a line.
"I’m sorry", he said again, this time meaning it.
"Don’t be. It was nice. It’s me", she said hesitantly.
"I’ll come see you again", he said as he got up from the floor.
Nicola Elroy was leaning on the wall next to the door with disgust on his face. Harry starred back at him as he couldn’t stand the bastard. He reminded him of Draco Malfoy, but somehow worst. Their eyes didn’t let go of each other as Harry passed. It was Nicola who closed the door behind him, loudly and demonstratively.
"Another error", he hissed at Astoria.
After that Harry didn’t come to visit her again. Not once.
The first snow came around Christmas this year. It left her speechless in shock as Astoria started counting days that turned into months she’d spent alone in a tiny room. Somehow she froze in time and life stopped. Harry and his friends were returning from Hogwarts, a whole semester had passed and all Astoria did was re-read the same books Hermione left her from summer. Nicola talked with her occasionally, but the loneliness she felt was his as well.
A gift came from her father, a small package of the size of her fist, but when she opened it redness spilled like blood in her hand only for her to figure out it was in fact silk. It was a beautiful red dress in her family’s color with a note. The ink was gracefully laid on the paper; she could tell he wanted to write it down carefully, to make it look pretty.
Know that I think of you often. I hope we get to meet soon. There is much to discuss.
Reach out to me and I will come. They needn’t know. Mine or yours.
Take care of yourself.
I wish you a happy Christmas!
This was supposed to be the highlight of the night for her. Maybe even for the week, for the past month, for the month ahead. Time always stretched endlessly in this room. The note was sweet but it left her sad. The idea to meet was something he proposed in previous letters. There was guilt in admitting she hoped to see him, to get to know him better. Letters came in often, it was already clear her father was aware of her location. At first this left her paranoid and a few sleepless nights rolled in time, but each morning the sun appeared brand new on the sky, the day begun and no one attacked.
However, it was also undeniable that Ilay was somewhat oblivious to her actual situation, the best way to describe as polite imprisonment. Astoria couldn’t wear the dress, there was no occasion for her to put it on. No one spoke to her, barely, only to communicate some daily needs. No news were delivered to her, no information was shared with her. Astoria was probably considered dead to the world outside. Maybe it was better that way.
Harry Potter, once her childhood friend, was distant. The way he looked at her, the way his body never faced her. Nothing in comparison to the prolonged looks and excuses to put his hand a bit closer or maybe stand on the other side of a table, only to be close to Ginny Wesley. This was a logical resolution, as if their lives were following a plot, a grand story written by someone else who had power over them and who they were. Ginny and Harry were obviously heroes, so they had to fall in love, and Astoria was the monster they kept locked on the upper flow, a secret not to be revealed to the outside world.
But when Ginny turned to him with longing in her eyes, Harry turned away. He was always avoidant like that, uncertain about girls. Now as just an observer it all clicked to her that maybe he could’ve loved her. It wasn’t Astoria who was the problem, it was Harry, being always unsure and anxious to commit. She understood. When one was already promised to Death it was hard to promise life to another.
A creak stretched in the silence of her room. The door was like this for the past few months, only so few people visited Astoria, that it spared her the irritation. Hermione had just entered the room with tea. She smiled but didn’t utter a "Hello" or another word like it was forbidden to disturb such silence that lasted for months with Astoria.
Her fingers wrapped around the hot mug. Astoria felt her body relax instantly when the heat spread. They’ve kept her cold for far too long.
"I’ve noticed you like this tea. My mother used to make it when we visited our villa in the province. Chamomile grew everywhere there."
Astoria only smiled in response. She liked it because it reminded her of Dumbledore. They used to drink tea together in the afternoons. He still hadn’t come to visit her. Hope abandoned her eventually and she forgot about it.
"Anything new?", she asked hesitantly.
"We’re still waiting for more information. There are no new orders from Dum- from the Order."
"He likes playing God, ordering you around to sent you to die", Nicola said as he walked behind their guest and sited himself on the bed.
Hermione didn’t flinch when he did that. At the beginning he scared her but she got used to him eventually and viewed him with more curiosity than fear. Nicola in return liked her best. An odd observation on Astoria’s part was that he would come frequently when she was in the room and talk. It was amusing. To test him Astoria even shared with him that Hermione had no magical relatives which was supposed to be a great disgrace in the eyes of pureblood families. Elroy found it hilarious; it only made him take more interest in her.
There were no insults, no funny comments or mockery, no fooling around. Sometimes Nicola would share positive observations on her behalf and grew to respect her when she started to challenge his opinions. That also made Astoria like her and in this time of imprisonment in a single tiny room
"I don’t think he is like that", the dark haired girl quickly responded, catching up quickly on who he meant with that insult. "However, I do suspect there are problems. "
"His never ending greed and blinding arrogance are the biggest problems you have. You think otherwise because you never knew him like I did", Nicola hissed back.
Hermione was standing next to him, still on her feed with arms cross around her chest and a sharp look of disagreement had curved her eyebrows. Astoria sighted and took a sit next to her other half. A tale as old as time. When Nicola finally got around, she realized he was really bitter about it. One could even say the greatest wizard of his time held a grudge. Of course, she imagined she’d also haunt someone if they actually killed her. And they were friends. Like Harry and her. That friendship also ended. Maybe she’d haunt him as well after death. Maybe anger lingered on and so did sadness.
"You’re such a sore loser", Astoria rolled her eyes.
They found that funny.
"I’m sorry I didn’t bring a cup for you", Hermione sad as she looked at Nicola, who at times seemed as just a boy to them all, "I wasn’t sure If you’d show up."
"You’re the only one who treats me with the respect I deserve in this house", he said as he smiled. It was still a shy smile, he had forgotten how to grin or light up with happiness.
The affection Nicola had towards Hermione was confusing, but the truth was simple. Nicola Elroy was very confident, in times narcissistic even. He would only respect those who seemed "worthy" to him in some way and the scale was himself. If he found someone equally talented or filled with great potential, he welcomed him. Once, he shared a few details about his first love, his only love. A name he never confessed, but Astoria could feel the deep respect for his lover.
Talented, he had said and what was Granger if not the brightest which of her time? A true magical protegee in her own league.
"How are things with Harry?", Astoria asked cautiously.
"He’s worried. He dreams of Voldemort again. Nightmares of him killing people".
"He seems distasteful in his manner of it", Nicola commented on the Voldemort’s part. He took little interest in him and rather just knew they should avoid him at all cost.
"Yes, you could say that. Barbaric is how I would define it".
"Killing is a necessity. You don’t know that because you were born in a time of temporary peace, but in the history of wizards there has always been a war. One great wizard after the other, each with even greater ambition then the last".
"I still don’t think killing is something you have to accept. You can choose not to do it, to be a better person", Hermione resisted. They often had such arguments and Astoria got lost in them. Choice was taken from her long ago.
"They will come for your loved ones and you will find yourself with no morals and no limits", he quickly disagreed with a low tone. It was experience speaking.
"No, I will stun my enemy, I will immobilise them. There are also spells that work on the mind, make you dizzy. Or the eyes perhaps. Blindness is a great disadvantage in a fight!"
Hermione sounded as smart-ass as ever to Astoria, but she didn’t hate it now. Somehow Nicola’s warm feeling had affected her and she found herself taking a liking to Hermione. In a way, that was a new friend for her, the only friend now in this house.
"I hope you live, Granger. People like you are not good at war, but they are essential after it", he said as he turned and smiled to Astoria.
"And people like us", she added coldly, "they’re used to win wars".
"Yes", Nicola nodded, "Violence is like dancing, you will find you are much better at it. But you need to be smart, no need to fight front line."
Redness flushed on her face. He was making fun of her.
"You dance?", Hermione joined on his laugh.
Astoria’s heart suddenly tightened in her chest. Her dancing skills were beyond saving, but with Draco to lead it was different. The night of the Yule ball was the most magical thing she had experienced. It changed her life, her image of herself and how others viewed her, but more importantly it made her heart turn.
Quickly Astoria lifted her eyes and composed herself, but their faces had changed. They probably figured her out.
"He’s different now, you know", Hermione said quietly. "Distant. Harry say’s he saw him rooming the corridors alone at night. But he seems different, ill even".
"They’re torturing him".
"Probably", Nicola concluded. "I shouldn’t have let you fall for him. It costed us a lot and the boy suffered as well".
"You feel that?", Hermione gasped with surprised, then added quietly – "I can only imagine".
"Please don’t", he cut her off as they all laughed. Astoria blushed in embarrassment.
"He’s handsome. I’d give you that. As just a boy".
"Not handsome as me", Nicola grinned.
"As you can see, we grow bored in this room", Astoria hissed as she pinched him on the shoulder.
"I’m sorry it has to be like this, they refuse to trust you", Hermionie admitted.
"I wouldn’t trust me either", Astoria said back to her and she meant it.
"I never trusted you before", Hermione replied immediately in the same challenging tone she had when arguing with Nicola. "Somehow I do now".
Astoria smiled but couldn’t find herself to say anything in reply. It was definitely an interesting acquaintance to make. Herminie had a lot of stories about the muggle world; she was also very opinionated on politics and social rights. Astoria was amused by all that, but she knew – this will fade in time like everything else. This was only for the moment, a blink of happiness, a game of pretend.
"If we weren’t at war and I wasn’t kept hostage in your order, I’d call you my friend", Astoria said and Nicola smiled at Hermione.

"We will take turns to come and spend time with you. We all have agreed to do so, so you wouldn’t be lonely", Hermione said and tried to touch her, but Astoria flinched away.

"I’m not lonely. I am never alone", she said as she glared at them angrily. One eye on her face shined red like rage and the other, originally brown, looked black in her rage.

"Dumbledore thinks Voldemort is going to make a move on the school. When the times comes, we will try to sneak you in again", Harry finally said, getting to the point.

"It was decided yesterday by the order. I’m not quite sure but they think there will be an attack. You can help us protect the school".

They didn’t ask her what she wants. They just asked of her to go and fight and prepare to die for a castle in which she spent most of her years being miserable. And they were going to make her fight against Draco Malfoy, the only one who made her time there meaningful in a way.

"What about Draco?", Astoria asked immediately. They hesitated.

"You can’t meet with him. He is a Death Eater", Harry said sharply.

"Maybe you can", Hermione protested as he looked at her with disbelief, "It could give us inside information. Maybe get him to spy for us".

"He won’t spy", Astoria cut her with ice in her voice.

"He’s changed", Harry sad cautiously, "I think you should know that. He isn’t like before. He’s not just arrogant and boyish".

"He’s tortured", Astoria snapped back at her.

"No. He’s cruel. He cursed a girl, tortured her and used her as bait", he said quietly, "You should know that. He might try to do it to you".

"I’ll help you", Astoria replied, her voice thining. "Anything to get out of here".

Hermione smiled back at her and left a book behind when she walked away.It started with bringing her the newspaper and then books, it worked for far better conversations and filled Astoria’s time. They weren’t torturing her, so that made it better in a way. But they were her captives. She was unstable to them, a liability; dangerous and untrustworthy. A lot more she heard about herself when she wondered around the house.

Harry stayed behind.

"I’m sorry it’s like this, Tori", he said softly. He was looking down on her as she still sat on the floor. Astoria finally lifted her gaze. They hadn’t spoken in months. It became a habit of everyday life to ignore each other. Astoria cried about it twice, but eventually got used to it.

"I hate this, how they treat you".

"I hate it too", she finally confessed.

"I’m sorry I treated you bad. I – I just blamed you for Sirius’s death. He was like a father to me, I miss him every day".

"I know", Astoria said softly and took his hand like they used to do when they were kids. He almost pulled back in surprise but he seemed to remember.

"It’s not easy. We can’t escape who we are, I think also, who we are supposed to be".

"I fear you will leave", he said suddenly as he sat closer to her, "I fear you will betray me".

"I might", Astoria replied bluntly, "I think about it sometimes. To go to my father. To be with Draco. It’s all I really want".

"Why haven’t you?"

Harry felt a stone sinking down his throat. It hurt hearing that from her. It hurt watching her change in front of his eyes and it hurt hurting her back. He wished he could see her again walking in the hallways to him. Sneaking on the ceiling of the castle. Climbing up countless stares together and complaining. Laughing, lying to Lockheart, running and hiding in rooms and being children once more.

"I find myself a loyal friend even when it inconveniences me".

He smiled back. She tried to respond but her face felt too tired. They sat like that for a while as he played with her fingers.

"If things were different, know that I would have loved you", he said softly. His face turned red as he looked at her. She looked surprised.

"I always thought you loved everyone else more than me".

"They told me the same", he laughed as his hand went through his hair. He did that when he was nervous.

"Are you lonely?"

"I am. I imagine you are as well."

"Yeah", she said softly. Their faces touched.

He grabbed her face in his hands and gently kissed her. It was a messy kiss there wasn’t passion in it. Just love, like a reminder to her lips "I’m still here". He wasn’t kissing her with his tongue but it still felt good. The feeling was unfamiliar to her now as time passed by. When the kiss ended Harry looked a bit embarrassed with a red flush on his cheeks. Astoria felt the same, yet hunger rose inside of her even if she tried to push it down.

"I’m sorry", Harry said softly but he was smiling and didn’t seem "sorry" at all. The difference in his expression and words made Astoria laugh.

"Yeah, me too", she said with a smile as she lied.

They kissed again, this time hungrier. His hands reached for her hair and as he twisted it in his fingers Astoria suddenly flinched. It reminded her of Draco and the guilt came instantly crashing on her. She looked confused when she looked at Harry who somehow understood he stepped a line.

"I’m sorry", he said again, this time meaning it.

"Don’t be. It was nice. It’s me", she said hesitantly.

"I’ll come see you again", he said as he got up from the floor.

Nicola Elroy was leaning on the wall next to the door with disgust on his face. Harry starred back at him as he couldn’t stand the bastard. He reminded him of Draco Malfoy, but somehow worst. Their eyes didn’t let go of each other as Harry passed. It was Nicola who closed the door behind him, loudly and demonstratively.

"Another error", he hissed at Astoria.

After that Harry didn’t come to visit her again. Not once.

The first snow came around Christmas this year. It left her speechless in shock as Astoria started counting days that turned into months she’d spent alone in a tiny room. Somehow she froze in time and life stopped. Harry and his friends were returning from Hogwarts, a whole semester had passed and all Astoria did was re-read the same books Hermione left her from summer. Nicola talked with her occasionally, but the loneliness she felt was his as well.

A gift came from her father, a small package of the size of her fist, but when she opened it redness spilled like blood in her hand only for her to figure out it was in fact silk. It was a beautiful red dress in her family’s color with a note. The ink was gracefully laid on the paper; she could tell he wanted to write it down carefully, to make it look pretty.

Know that I think of you often. I hope we get to meet soon. There is much to discuss.

Reach out to me and I will come. They needn’t know. Mine or yours.

Take care of yourself.

I wish you a happy Christmas!

This was supposed to be the highlight of the night for her. Maybe even for the week, for the past month, for the month ahead. Time always stretched endlessly in this room. The note was sweet but it left her sad. The idea to meet was something he proposed in previous letters. There was guilt in admitting she hoped to see him, to get to know him better. Letters came in often, it was already clear her father was aware of her location. At first this left her paranoid and a few sleepless nights rolled in time, but each morning the sun appeared brand new on the sky, the day begun and no one attacked.

However, it was also undeniable that Ilay was somewhat oblivious to her actual situation, the best way to describe as polite imprisonment. Astoria couldn’t wear the dress, there was no occasion for her to put it on. No one spoke to her, barely, only to communicate some daily needs. No news were delivered to her, no information was shared with her. Astoria was probably considered dead to the world outside. Maybe it was better that way.

Harry Potter, once her childhood friend, was distant. The way he looked at her, the way his body never faced her. Nothing in comparison to the prolonged looks and excuses to put his hand a bit closer or maybe stand on the other side of a table, only to be close to Ginny Wesley. This was a logical resolution, as if their lives were following a plot, a grand story written by someone else who had power over them and who they were. Ginny and Harry were obviously heroes, so they had to fall in love, and Astoria was the monster they kept locked on the upper flow, a secret not to be revealed to the outside world.

But when Ginny turned to him with longing in her eyes, Harry turned away. He was always avoidant like that, uncertain about girls. Now as just an observer it all clicked to her that maybe he could’ve loved her. It wasn’t Astoria who was the problem, it was Harry, being always unsure and anxious to commit. She understood. When one was already promised to Death it was hard to promise life to another.

A creak stretched in the silence of her room. The door was like this for the past few months, only so few people visited Astoria, that it spared her the irritation. Hermione had just entered the room with tea. She smiled but didn’t utter a "Hello" or another word like it was forbidden to disturb such silence that lasted for months with Astoria.

Her fingers wrapped around the hot mug. Astoria felt her body relax instantly when the heat spread. They’ve kept her cold for far too long.

"I’ve noticed you like this tea. My mother used to make it when we visited our villa in the province. Chamomile grew everywhere there."

Astoria only smiled in response. She liked it because it reminded her of Dumbledore. They used to drink tea together in the afternoons. He still hadn’t come to visit her. Hope abandoned her eventually and she forgot about it.

"Anything new?", she asked hesitantly.

"We’re still waiting for more information. There are no new orders from Dum- from the Order."

"He likes playing God, ordering you around to sent you to die", Nicola said as he walked behind their guest and sited himself on the bed.

Hermione didn’t flinch when he did that. At the beginning he scared her but she got used to him eventually and viewed him with more curiosity than fear. Nicola in return liked her best. An odd observation on Astoria’s part was that he would come frequently when she was in the room and talk. It was amusing. To test him Astoria even shared with him that Hermione had no magical relatives which was supposed to be a great disgrace in the eyes of pureblood families. Elroy found it hilarious; it only made him take more interest in her.

There were no insults, no funny comments or mockery, no fooling around. Sometimes Nicola would share positive observations on her behalf and grew to respect her when she started to challenge his opinions. That also made Astoria like her and in this time of imprisonment in a single tiny room

"I don’t think he is like that", the dark haired girl quickly responded, catching up quickly on who he meant with that insult. "However, I do suspect there are problems. "

"His never ending greed and blinding arrogance are the biggest problems you have. You think otherwise because you never knew him like I did", Nicola hissed back.

Hermione was standing next to him, still on her feed with arms cross around her chest and a sharp look of disagreement had curved her eyebrows. Astoria sighted and took a sit next to her other half. A tale as old as time. When Nicola finally got around, she realized he was really bitter about it. One could even say the greatest wizard of his time held a grudge. Of course, she imagined she’d also haunt someone if they actually killed her. And they were friends. Like Harry and her. That friendship also ended. Maybe she’d haunt him as well after death. Maybe anger lingered on and so did sadness.

"You’re such a sore loser", Astoria rolled her eyes.

They found that funny.

"I’m sorry I didn’t bring a cup for you", Hermione sad as she looked at Nicola, who at times seemed as just a boy to them all, "I wasn’t sure If you’d show up."

"You’re the only one who treats me with the respect I deserve in this house", he said as he smiled. It was still a shy smile, he had forgotten how to grin or light up with happiness.

The affection Nicola had towards Hermione was confusing, but the truth was simple. Nicola Elroy was very confident, in times narcissistic even. He would only respect those who seemed "worthy" to him in some way and the scale was himself. If he found someone equally talented or filled with great potential, he welcomed him. Once, he shared a few details about his first love, his only love. A name he never confessed, but Astoria could feel the deep respect for his lover.

Talented, he had said and what was Granger if not the brightest which of her time? A true magical protegee in her own league.

"How are things with Harry?", Astoria asked cautiously.

"He’s worried. He dreams of Voldemort again. Nightmares of him killing people".

"He seems distasteful in his manner of it", Nicola commented on the Voldemort’s part. He took little interest in him and rather just knew they should avoid him at all cost.

"Yes, you could say that. Barbaric is how I would define it".

"Killing is a necessity. You don’t know that because you were born in a time of temporary peace, but in the history of wizards there has always been a war. One great wizard after the other, each with even greater ambition then the last".

"I still don’t think killing is something you have to accept. You can choose not to do it, to be a better person", Hermione resisted. They often had such arguments and Astoria got lost in them. Choice was taken from her long ago.

"They will come for your loved ones and you will find yourself with no morals and no limits", he quickly disagreed with a low tone. It was experience speaking.

"No, I will stun my enemy, I will immobilise them. There are also spells that work on the mind, make you dizzy. Or the eyes perhaps. Blindness is a great disadvantage in a fight!"

Hermione sounded as smart-ass as ever to Astoria, but she didn’t hate it now. Somehow Nicola’s warm feeling had affected her and she found herself taking a liking to Hermione. In a way, that was a new friend for her, the only friend now in this house.

"I hope you live, Granger. People like you are not good at war, but they are essential after it", he said as he turned and smiled to Astoria.

"And people like us", she added coldly, "they’re used to win wars".

"Yes", Nicola nodded, "Violence is like dancing, you will find you are much better at it. But you need to be smart, no need to fight front line."

Redness flushed on her face. He was making fun of her.

"You dance?", Hermione joined on his laugh.

Astoria’s heart suddenly tightened in her chest. Her dancing skills were beyond saving, but with Draco to lead it was different. The night of the Yule ball was the most magical thing she had experienced. It changed her life, her image of herself and how others viewed her, but more importantly it made her heart turn.

Quickly Astoria lifted her eyes and composed herself, but their faces had changed. They probably figured her out.

"He’s different now, you know", Hermione said quietly. "Distant. Harry say’s he saw him rooming the corridors alone at night. But he seems different, ill even".

"They’re torturing him".

"Probably", Nicola concluded. "I shouldn’t have let you fall for him. It costed us a lot and the boy suffered as well".

"You feel that?", Hermione gasped with surprised, then added quietly – "I can only imagine".

"Please don’t", he cut her off as they all laughed. Astoria blushed in embarrassment.

"He’s handsome. I’d give you that. As just a boy".

"Not handsome as me", Nicola grinned.

"As you can see, we grow bored in this room", Astoria hissed as she pinched him on the shoulder.

"I’m sorry it has to be like this, they refuse to trust you", Hermionie admitted.

"I wouldn’t trust me either", Astoria said back to her and she meant it.

"I never trusted you before", Hermione replied immediately in the same challenging tone she had when arguing with Nicola. "Somehow I do now".

Astoria smiled but couldn’t find herself to say anything in reply. It was definitely an interesting acquaintance to make. Herminie had a lot of stories about the muggle world; she was also very opinionated on politics and social rights. Astoria was amused by all that, but she knew – this will fade in time like everything else. This was only for the moment, a blink of happiness, a game of pretend.

"If we weren’t at war and I wasn’t kept hostage in your order, I’d call you my friend", Astoria said and Nicola smiled at Hermione.