The Untold Story of Astoria Greengrass

Memories, Part 3

°May 2nd, 1998°

I walked out of the lady's Lavoritory, bemused and surprised at what I saw. I had manged to be late when Headmaster Snape had summoned us to the Great Hall- my stomach had not been well for many days. I had been ill with a fever and had been very much unable to get out of bed. I staggered, trying not to fall as i held on to a nearby wall. Where was everyone, where were my housemates going? I saw the Slytherins leaving the castle as fast as they could. 

"Daphne!" I tried to call out but my throat was dry. I had hardly spoken for days I had been so ill. She must think I am already on my way out, there is no way she would just leave me behind.  I leaned against a wall, I could hear the students running around within the castle and looking ahead of me, I decided it would not be possible to catch up to them. I pulled myself together and stumbled  back into the lavoratory. I should have insisted someone help me but they were never the caring sort. Slytherins weren't know for their sense of compassion, my sister least of all.  I took a look in the mirror, what a mess. I had lost a tremendous amount of weight over the last year, but more than anything in the last week or so. My face was gaunt and my eyes looked as if they were sinking deeper and deeper into my face. The only reason I had not gone to the infirmary was because I knew Madame Pomfrey had her hands full. I splashed some water on my face, it felt good as it dripped down my chin. Without drying myself properly, I decided I needed to find a way out. I began to walk quickly, thinking if I slowed down I wouldn't make it. As I rushed down the staircase, i tried not to bump into the other students, but my robe was making it hard to get around. Without really thinking, I unclassped my robe and let it fall, not caring for the first time in 5 years that i was or wasn't a real Slytherin.

"Harry Potter?" I asked, suddenly frozen in my tracks. Harry stopped and stared at me, trying to place my face in his memory. I had no real interaction with Harry and his friends over the last 5 years, except for maybe once when he helped me find my way to the great hall as a first year. He hadn't come to Hogwarts this year. 

"I thought you had all left" he said, referring to the slytherins. I guessed he had finally placed me as such. 

"I... I..." i began to stutter, feeling the ground begin to come up beneath me. I felt Harry's arms go around me.

"What's wrong with her?" i heard a girl's voice ask. 

"She's burning up, help me get her out of here" he said, as they moved me to an empty doorway. I felt the girl's hand go on my forehead. 

"Worst time to get sick..." she said, pulling away from me. 

"She'll be fine here for now... we have to go." I heard Harry's fading voice say as I slipped into absolute darkness.

I awoke, my ears bursting from the sound of a nearby explosion, or at least it had to be. I could hear screaming and crying near by as people ran in all directions. I stood up, trying to keep my footing straight and peered out from the empty doorway I had been left in. My mouth was open wide in horror as my school lay falling into pieces. How long I had been out for I had no clue.

I felt the door way begin to cave and jumped out of the way just before it could crash down on me. 

There was a pang of pain coming from my left leg... i was bleeding. Slowly, i pulled myself up to my feet and noticed someone lying across from me. That explosion had knocked over a few others. 

"Astoria? What are you doing here?" I turned to look up at Draco, who began to pull me to my feeet. 

"I... I'm not sure" i muttered. Draco and I stood still, there was a sudden silence.  We noticed the students around us walking to the front of the school and without another word we followed.  The day light hit me hard, making my eyes burn. It was sobriety- and then we watched in utter dismay as Lord Voldemort and his followers approached the school, Harry Potter in Hagrid's chained arms