Birds of a Feather

Chapter Five: Permanent Responsibilities

Astoria sobbed into my arms as aurors bombarded us. I held her tight and promised everything would be alright even though I knew I was lying through my teeth. Nothing would be alright. Everything sucked, blah blah blah. I cringed when I realized that I sounded like Blaise. Blaise. He was always good in tough situations. I needed him here, I realized with a jolt. All I had to do was send him a letter and he would be at my door, but I didn't want to bother him with this. I almost didn't write to him, but I remembered our oath.

Back when Blaise and I were still dating, he made me promise that I would come to him if I needed something since he knew I hated asking for help. I made him promise me the same, and so we'd been relying on each other ever since. Even after I broke up with him and effectively broke his heart.

"Astoria, honey, everything's going to be alright. You're safe here with me. We'll figure something out," I murmured into her hair even though I didn't know whether I was telling the truth. "I'm here for you, no matter what." That part was true. When she wasn't crying and screaming and I knew she could breathe fine again, I told her I needed to write to Blaise. She nodded to me and wiped the remaining tears with the back of her hands.

"Can I sit with you while you write?" She asked, rubbing her eye.

"Of course, Tori," I whispered, taking her hand and leading her to the family owlery. I considered going into my father's office, but if he was here, I would never have been allowed in and I didn't want to disrespect him by walking in in his absence. Or at least, part of me wanted to disrespect him. The other part of me wanted to scoop up all his office supplies and chuck them across the room for hurting Astoria.

She held my hand the whole way to the owlery. Then, she rested her head on my shoulder as I wrote to him:

Blaise,

I'm picking raspberries tonight, do you wanna join me? We can meet at your house or mine, I don't mind. I miss you more than the rain.

Love,
Daph

Blaise and I had created all sorts of codes while we were dating, the effects of crazy parents. Picking raspberries had always meant that one of us was in trouble. It was easier to ask for help if you didn't need to say the words I need help. Only him and I would know that anything was going on. I sent the letter with my owl: Priscilla. She was a beautiful brown owl with feathers that looked nearly golden in the sunlight. My parents had bought her for me when I started at Hogwarts, though they rarely let me send letters with her. She cooed at me and gently nipped my fingers before she flew off, happy to be helpful. I turned to Astoria and her tear-stained eyes behind me. "Maybe we should go to sleep," I whispered. She nodded behind me. "Come on, Tori," I said, reaching for her hand and leading her towards the bed.

I walked her through the motions of getting ready for bed, knowing that she always struggled to complete her normal tasks when something jarred her. I stood with her as she brushed her teeth and attempted to brush her hair. I handed her her face wash and moisturizer and comforted her the whole time. "Are you tired?" I asked as she turned to look at me.

"So tired," she whispered, signing as she spoke. She kept her voice low and quiet, as she often did. She had always been a mousey girl, but I didn't mind because I loved her more than I loved the sunsets and the rain and ice cream. I would give all of those and more up for her. I kissed her forehead as she turned back, Priscilla waiting in the doorway for me, as she had been for a while. "Goodnight, I love you," she whispered, hugging me.

As I hugged her back, I whispered, "I love you too, Tori."

After she walked away, I turned to Priscilla. "Hello, my love," I whispered, petting her head. I kissed her head as I took the letter gently from her leg.