As It Was *Complete*

42. Pest Training

This time she healed a lot quicker. There was nothing that could be done for the curse. Just a pain potion for the after-effects. And as for the hip, it was a cursed knife that caused the wound which meant no potion or spell would close it. Instead, she had to have a muggle-practiced Healer perform what was known as stitches meaning her skin was literally stitched back together. She felt like a bloody quilt patched up with a needle and thread.

"Astra?"

She opened her eyes to see all the usual suspects around her bed. Her heart dropped.

"We were so worried," Theo sighed.

"Where you?" She asked not caring how rude she sounded.

"Of course," Pansy gasped.

"What happened?" Maddi asked.

"Goyle...again," Astra said.

"What did he do?" Draco said noticing the blood on her bedsheets.

"Crucio twice and he stabbed me with a cursed dagger," she winced. "Although the pain potion has been amazing! This time he let me go because he had a message to rely and a task for me."

"Sorry?" Blaise said confused.

"Well, first I was to say thank you to Draco and Theo for telling them that I was Snape's daughter and Harry's sister. He had no clue and says, you are very helpful boys."

Draco and Theo paled.

"Then he told me to ask you guys what you wrote in your letters to your families?" She said not really knowing what that one meant.

"Maddi you too. He said your letter to your mother I had to ask you about."

"No," Maddi said shaking her head.

"Why?"

"It was...private."

"About me?" Astra asked.

"It was...I mean it could be...taken out of context."

"Maddi, please tell me. If you don't he will."

Maddi's lip wobbled. "Astra... please... I-"

"Just tell me!" She snapped now fed up.

"I said that I didn't get to spend time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and it was because of you." She sighed. "You fell out with Harry and I wanted to be on your side because you were talking to Blaise for me."

Astra could see her eyes well up with tears.

"I said that you were very dramatic this year...taking after Harry and I was tired but I swear I meant -"

Astra cut her off. "Doesn't matter. And you guys?" She looked at the four Slytherins.

"He wants us to look bad," Blaise said. "This was before we knew you."

"Tell me please?" Astra squeaked.

Theo spoke. "That day that we met you in Diagon Alley? It was planned. We wanted to meet you and take you out to befriend you. Being friends with you, who saved so many would make us look good. So we planned it all. But we ended up really liking you."

"Anything else?"

Pansy sniffed. "We would write to our parents about befriending you and would call it 'pest training'. It was a joke which we have stopped. Long ago."

"So this is why we are friends? Why you wanted me around? To improve your reputation?"

"We are sorry Astra," Blaise said.