The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

98. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

There were quite a few people listening now. Far more than Sloane was comfortable with.

What had started as a bitter argument between a handful of girls had rapidly become the most interesting thing happening in the ballroom. Conversations had slowed. Dancers had stopped dancing. People standing nearby were pretending not to stare while very obviously staring.

Sloane could see Draco and Blaise trying to push their way through the crowd.

Neither looked amused.

Draco's face had gone completely blank.

Which was never a good sign.

Blaise looked ready to commit several crimes.

Meanwhile Pansy stood frozen.

Sloane could practically feel the panic pouring off her.

She was trapped.

The secret she had spent weeks protecting was hanging by a thread.

And Astoria knew it.

The blonde looked positively delighted with herself.

"Tell us, Pansy," Astoria smirked loudly, making sure anyone nearby could hear. "Where were you that weeke—"

"She was with me." The words left Sloane's mouth before Astoria could finish.

Several heads turned.

Astoria blinked. "What?"

Sloane smiled pleasantly. The sort of smile that looked sweet but was actually anything but. "She was with me."

The blonde frowned. "No she wasn't."

"She absolutely was."

Astoria shook her head immediately. "You're lying."

"No." Sloane folded her arms. "I had a stomach bug."

Pansy immediately caught on.

Daphne did too.

Both girls looked relieved.

"A really horrible stomach bug," Sloane continued. "The kind where you spend two days questioning every life choice you've ever made."

A few people laughed.

Even some of the crowd listening nearby smiled.

"I was incredibly sick." She shrugged. "Pansy stayed with me."

Astoria's confidence faltered. "What?"

"I needed help." Sloane gestured towards Pansy. "So she looked after me." Pansy's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Madam Pomfrey was called because I was ill."

Sloane continued smoothly. "Not because of some big mystery."

Astoria looked between them. Confused. "No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Astoria." Sloane sighed. "I had food poisoning."

The blonde opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

"But she was gone for days."

"In isolation." Sloane shrugged. "School policy."

Hermione, who had appeared nearby during the commotion, immediately nodded. "Actually, that is school policy."

Astoria looked horrified. "You are all lying."

"We aren't." Sloane was beginning to enjoy herself now. "I had to remain in bed for forty-eight hours."