Collision Course

Chapter Sixteen

Those two weeks were definitely spend up to two days.

We left ten minutes after Astoria came back from IM ing that Minerva person. From what Draco said, I've learned that she's recently become the headmaster of Hogwarts, after the last two died in the past two years. A little bit over kill right? My favorite part was that they were killed. They haven't just died. They've been murdered in cold blood.

Draco looked a little shady during that part, and I didn't bother him. If he didn't want to share, I wouldn't make him. I'm not really sure I wanted to know. I reached the era where secrets that don't in any way hurt me, can stay secrets from me. Forever.

I hope Draco appreciated that.

I know Astoria did. She had smiled, her eyes pleading a thank you to me, when I had kept my mouth shut.

I was becoming a better person. I think. (Hope.)

But the way we were traveling was new. But mostly unknown to me, and I've been told it would stay that way. Draco told me I was going unconscious. Grrr. I guess I still wasn't trusted enough yet.

At that moment, I heard a knock echo through the halls. Was that seriously louder then the doorbell?

Astoria went, and answered it, and walked into the room with a boy with black hair, and very pale skin. Something seemed off with him. I shivered. The room seemed to drop about ten degrees as he walked in.

"Tira," Astoria said, "Meet Nico di Angelo."

I smiled widely. "Hi!"

He nodded stiffly and swiftly. I felt my smile drop, at his lack of enthusiasm.

"Hi," I whispered again, softer. His eyes seemed to soften a tiny bit, but that was his only response.

Astoria walked over. "I'm sorry about this Tira, but... Good Night."

I felt something slam into my head. Ou- Blackness engulfed my vision.

*****

I awoke, and we were outside. It felt like I was in a bed of grass. I noticed Nico was gone. Astoria was feeding me something, that... tasted like buttered popcorn pudding.

I groaned weakly. It was so good. This was my new favorite food. Buttered popcorn flavored pudding. Yum!

I felt something I my stomach start to burn. I pushed Astoria's hand gently away. If I ate any more, I would probably puke. Or something worse.

I slowly rose into a sitting position and looked around. I gasped. Thi-this was Hogwarts?! That can NOT be right.

This... This was the palace from my dreams.

Draco came to my side, and into my view too. He sat next to Astoria on the ground. "Do you like it?" he whisper, something sounding like hope, threaded into my voice.

I nodded.

That was the right answer. He smiled widely, before blushing slightly. "Good."

He blushed wider as Astoria leaned in and kissed his cheek. I tuned my head and mimed gagging.

He turned and saw me, and turned an even darker shade of red, like, even darker then a fire engine.

Astoria jut laughed sweetly. She didn't seem to lose any sort of self confidence anywhere. It seemed like she just went with everything. I wonder what had made her that way, but again, I didn't think I wanted to know her answer.

"We'd better get to the main hall," Draco said.

Astoria and I started walking inside, next to each other. Draco went ahead of us, and opened the main door for us.