The Spellfull Sixties

Chapter Fourteen: The alice band

Andromeda had never felt so lonely. There were of course many times when she had been alone before. She would haunt the halls of her home silently, strolling about in an aimless manner. But eventually, she would find someone, like Alphard or her sister. Friends and allies. But she didn't want to talk to her sister, and quite frankly after what had happened at the boathouse, she could not stand to speak to any of her sisters' friends, nor did they seem to want to make conversation with her. She was a traitor. An outcast. She had found herself excluded all because she just wanted to help. Though that was not a new occurrence. Just this time it wasn't over a small game or an argument for sweets. It was much more important indeed.

She moped silently at breakfast, overhearing whispers of what had happened the day before. Nothing stayed much of a secret for very long at Hogwarts. One hiss would get out and the entire school would know. It'd be top news in an hour if Rita had anything to do with it. However, the girl seemed to have her mouth shut, internally gloating about how she had saved them all from being expelled. Rita the saint and saviour. It was a ridiculous thought, especially since she was the reason in the first place that they had all ended up in that situation.

Astrius watched every so often as Bellatrix glared up at her sister, almost spilling her breakfast over onto the table. He couldn't stand everything being so tense. He wanted no part in it. The first chance he got he slipped away from the Great Hall and to the dormitory to retrieve a book. He then found a windowsill that he could perch himself on, resting his book on his thighs to flick through the pages. It was far more peaceful and calm there. He could hear the birds chirping outside, and feel a cold chill seep in through a small crack in one of the window panes. Snow was coming. The world had fallen into an undeniable freeze. It would be there soon, turning the dying grass white and the sky a purplish grey.

He had just found himself a couple of pages into the book when a shadow came creeping up behind him. Astrius expected it to be Rita. She would always show up out of nowhere to pester him, and there was a good chance she had gotten bored of being quiet at the dining table. "Yes, yes Rita- well done", he droned without looking, underlining a sentence with his finger.

"I'm not Rita".

Astrius slowly raised his head, leaning it against the stonework. Molly Weasley, bundled up to her nose in wool, stood beside him. In her hands, she held a green alice band, which she jutted towards him. "What's that?". He slowly took it, examining it in the light. A spell had been cast on it, and it shimmered at certain angles.

"I got one of the older year girls to change its colour", she replied, "Well Fabian did". The mention of Fabian made Astrius frown. "...You were friends, weren't you".

"For a while", he replied honestly, before forcing himself to become more 'proper', "Not that it matters. What matters is why you have given this to me?".

"I want you to give that to Andromeda".

Molly was either stupid or too trusting of Astrius' better, kinder nature. He could very well have lobbed the item out of the window, desperate, as Bellatrix was, to keep Andromeda away from the likes of a Gryffindor. That is what had almost gotten them into trouble in the first place. "Why would I do that?".

"-Because you seem to be the only Slytherin that my brothers...and Andromeda doesn't have much of a bad thing to say about. That must mean you are nicer than the others...". Astrius went to stop her, but she continued. "Please, please, please. I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important. Give it to her and tell her that I am sorry...".