The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

71. Surprise!

Sloane was trying so hard not to laugh. She really was.

But watching Astoria Greengrass stand in the middle of Professor McGonagall's office looking like a furious, overgrown toddler while her father sweated through his robes was making it incredibly difficult.

The silence in the room was painful.

Kingsley stood with his arms folded.

Professor McGonagall sat behind her desk, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

Narcissa Malfoy looked almost amused.

Joanna had stopped trying to hide her smirk entirely.

And Astoria looked as though she might spontaneously combust.

Mr Greengrass cleared his throat. "Well..." he began weakly.

"No," McGonagall interrupted sharply. "Not 'well.' You accused Miss Sage of trapping Mr Malfoy through pregnancy. You insulted her character repeatedly. You accused her of manipulating one of our students. You questioned her intentions and attempted to justify your daughter's actions."

The older man visibly shrank.

"I...yes."

"You will apologise." The words landed like a hammer.

Astoria's head snapped around. "Father!"

"Quiet." The single word surprised everyone.

Even Astoria looked stunned. Mr Greengrass swallowed hard before turning toward Sloane. For a moment it looked physically painful for him.

Then he bowed his head.

"Miss Sage..."

Sloane blinked. The man actually looked embarrassed.

"I owe you an apology."

"You think?" Joanna muttered.

Kingsley coughed suspiciously.

Mr Greengrass ignored them. "My behaviour was unacceptable. I made assumptions about your character based on absolutely nothing."

Sloane folded her arms.

Nothing? The man had practically accused her of orchestrating a pregnancy to trap Draco into marriage.

Still.

She remained quiet.

"I judged you unfairly," he continued. "I allowed my personal hopes for my daughter to cloud my judgement."

"That's one way of putting it," Narcissa said dryly.

"I have always turned a blind eye to my daughters reckless and irrational behaviour and I know that my wife and I have a huge responsibility in the way she behaves and her choices. She did something unforgivable and I will do everything in my power to ensure that she does not cause you our your partner anymore distress."

Astoria gasped, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. 

Mr Greengrass shook his head. "I am ashamed of both my actions and the actions of my youngest daughter."

"As am I," Mrs Greengrass nodded. 

Mr Greengrass looked as though he wished the floor would swallow him whole. "I was wrong."

Sloane almost fell over.

He actually said it. The words seemed just as shocking to Astoria. Her mouth fell open. "Father!"

"No." This time he raised his voice.

The room fell silent.

Astoria stared. Her father stared right back. "I have spent years defending you."