Bound by secrets

Chapter 14

I woke up feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest.

The realization of the soul tie between Draco and me still hung heavy in the air, suffocating almost. I could still hear Dumbledore's words echoing in my head, explaining the bond that tethered us—how it could never truly be broken, how we could feel each other's pain and distress.

I couldn't shake the shock of it all, the gravity of what it meant. Soul ties were rare, powerful, and life-altering. I had never imagined something like this would happen to me, let alone with Draco of all people.

Sitting up in bed, I rubbed my eyes, trying to dispel the remnants of my restless sleep. I didn't have the luxury to dwell on it now. Astoria was coming back to the castle today, and we had to confront her.

It had been days since we found out she was connected to my attack, and now was the time for answers.

I got dressed slowly, the usual routine feeling strange under the weight of everything that had happened. The bruises from that night had faded, but their memory was still raw.

I pulled on my outfit, smoothing it down as if I could iron out the tension inside me. Today was the day. Today, we'd finally confront Astoria.

When I made my way down to the Slytherin common room, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Nora and Pansy were sitting close together on one of the couches, whispering about the plan.

Blaise, Lucas, and Theo were standing by the fireplace, talking in low voices, their expressions serious. And Draco—Draco stood off to the side, his face a mixture of exhaustion and something deeper, something I couldn't quite place. He looked like he hadn't slept again.

"You okay?" Nora asked as she looked at me, her eyes soft with concern.

I nodded, though I wasn't sure it was entirely true. "As okay as I can be, considering..."

Pansy stood up, brushing her hands on her skirt. "We've got a plan. We'll spread out and search the castle. We know she's been lying low since she got back, but she won't be able to avoid us forever."

Theo crossed his arms, his usual playful demeanor absent. "Once we find her, we bring her back here and get her to talk."

"Are we sure this is the best idea?" I asked, though I knew it had to be done. "I don't want to ambush her, but... we need answers."

Draco's voice cut through the tension. "She doesn't deserve a gentle approach. She played a part in orchestrating your attack, Y/N. We have to make her talk."

His words made me shiver, but I knew he was right. Astoria had played a role in one of the worst moments of my life, and I needed to know why.

"Let's do this," I said quietly, steeling myself.

We split up, moving through the castle in pairs. I was with Draco, and the silence between us was thick as we walked through the dimly lit hallways of Hogwarts. I could feel his unease, and I knew he could feel mine. It was impossible to hide from each other now, not with this soul tie between us.

After searching what felt like every corner of the castle, it was Pansy who finally spotted her—Astoria, sitting alone in the shadows near the abandoned Transfiguration classroom. Her face was pale, and she looked as though she hadn't slept in days, her eyes darting nervously as if she expected someone to find her.

"There she is," Pansy whispered, her voice barely audible.

Theo nodded to Blaise, who stepped forward, his presence looming over Astoria. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, Greengrass," he said coldly.