The Untold Story of Astoria Greengrass

Chapter 15

Astoria's eyes flickered open as she felt Greg move.  His arm had slipped away from her and in her burred vision she watched him get up hastily. He was leaving her. 

She sat up confused and unsure as to what was going on and then she remembered coming back to the garden. She must have fallen asleep.  Then it was all a dream. 

A single cold drop of rain fell onto Astoria's head and dripped down across her face. She picked up her sweater from the ground and quickly slipped it on as she climbed to her feet, noting it would be raining hard within the next few minutes. She turned to look at Greg, about to tell him they should go inside but then she saw he was way ahead of her on his way to the back entrance.

"Greg..." She shouted, trying to catch up to him. He was taking long determined steps, his arms crossed about his chest. She wondered if he could hear her. 

The drops of water began to fall from the sky cautiously and again she shouted out. Still- Greg did not turn.

"Hey, Greg, wait up." she said, quickening her pace to a run. Now she was within earshot and called his name again.

"Greg.. oh." She called out in surprise and slight pain, she had tripped over a rock in the field and was suddenly on her knees.  

Greg stopped and turned to run towards her immediately.

"Are you okay?" He said kneeling infront of her and wiping her knee off. Both knees were caked in mud but fortunately there was no blood. He reached out to her and pulled her to her feet.

"yeah. Didn't you hear me calling?" She said, dusting herself off. She looked up but he was already turning to walk away.

"Yes." Was all he said, hurrying his steps again. 

Astoria stood there dumbfounded for a few moments, not sure what to think. She began running again, this time as fast as she could until she was in front of him, facing him. She put out her hand and pushed him back, trying to get him to stop but he just tried going around her. 

"Wait, stop. Is something wrong? Because you're acting really strange?" she said, stepping about to avoid him going around her. Greg stopped and ran his fingers through his hair as if in exasperation. Astoria could see something was bothering him.

"It's going to rain, we should hurry." He said, not looking at her but down at the ground. He tucked his hands into his pockets and kicked a nearby stone. 

"Um, yeah but there's obviously something wrong. you're upset, I can see that. Did i do something?" She said, reaching out to put her hand on his shoulder but he flinched away.

"I'm sorry if i said anything or did anything..." she began, scanning her mind for something she may have done.  He let out a sigh of exasperation.

"Sorry? Why are you apologizing when you don't even know what's wrong?" He asked, annoyed. Astoria was taken back by his sudden shout. His voice had risen, there was some silence.  She watched his shoulder move from how fustrated he was. Astoria  wanted to reach out to him again, but instead she took a step back.

"I would like to know but I'm a witch not a mind reader." She said breathlessly. 

"Draco?" He asked, his eyes fixated on hers. Astoria was still, the drops of water had begun to fall around them now but she couldn't feel a thing.  

"What?" Was all she could mutter.

"Malfoy, right? Draco Malfoy. That's what's been keeping you so worried. The reason you are so distant, so stressed all the time, Draco Malfoy? How in the world? You... you. such a sweet and generous person... over Draco Malfoy?" He said, everytime he said Draco's name the knot in her stomach became tighter.