Rivals | D.M

53. Back to School

Aster's POV

The next week went excruciating slow. I spent my nights breaking into my dad's study to collate any information I could about protective spells and any research he had collected himself. Notes were always sprawled on various parchments, most nights I had to sort through the rambles and note them all down into my own journal. It felt odd, being alone in the dark inside my dad's study writing down his research, theorising, concluding. I felt like I was thirteen again, nestled in my favourite armchair near his fireplace, debating various theories with my father to pass time.

I spent a few hours every night researching, and spent the early hours of the morning meeting up with Blaise down at the beach. My mother had no idea I was still seeing Blaise outside the house. My father however, caught on quite quickly about my frequent visits to his study. Luckily I had him wrapped around my little finger.

He caught me huddled in my armchair one night, scribbling in my journal with an open textbook to my side. It was an advanced charms textbook, so I quickly explained that I was studying for school, completing an assignment. After that night, he let me use his study in the day but I was limited to textbooks about charms and I couldn't shuffle through his own notes like I wanted to.

He looked slightly better lately, colour started to return to his face, my mother was able to cut his hair, so his curls were no longer in his eyes. I gathered that the information he was required to give the Death Eaters was sufficient and he was able to relax and enjoy his research a bit more now.

My mother seemed slightly more herself, she was still strict about my comings and goings but with being so stressed during the day, she ended up being knocked out late at night and I was able to sneak out. A small feat in this never ending task.

I hadn't heard from Draco since that morning. Blaise kept telling me that he probably couldn't risk sending me an owl. It was probably for the best, I knew that once I got to school I would be distracted with helping him as well as trying to keep on top of my coursework. So for now, I focused on the research, breaking the protecting spell around the cabinet. It was annoyingly complicated, with the dark magic involved, the balance of breaking the protective spells was finicky. I really needed to actually test my theories on the cabinet itself but obviously that would have to wait until the new year.

The new year came by in a depressing blink. We spent it huddled outside in our back garden, just the three of us, watching the fireworks the muggles had let off down at the beach. I had consistently begged my mother and father to let me go meet Blaise but my Mother was determined to keep my under lock and key.

They still hadn't a clue where I went the day I went to Malfoy Manor. I felt like I was treading on eggshells for the first few days after I returned. I was certain my Uncle had told my father that I went to see him, I was even worried my mother would ask Blaise's mother about my visit. But no, nothing happened. Luck was undeniably on my side.

Before I knew it, I was back on the Hogwarts express, confined in a small compartment with Blaise by my side. It was eerily odd to not have Harper sitting opposite, but I wasn't going to start mourning her betrayal now. I had successfully pushed every thought of her out of my head during the Christmas break, something I didn't realise I was capable of doing.

Maybe I wouldn't be so bad at Occlumency?

"Have you seen Malfoy yet?" Blaise interrupted.

I had been stuffing my face with cauldron cakes since the Honeydukes express trolley had done its round.

"Nup" I mumbled, enjoying the sweet stickiness coating my mouth from the chocolate. 

"Do you think he will stick by his promise? That he will let you help him?"