Harry had spent the morning with Ron, listening to him go off about how Hermione had no reason to be upset, and how he and Lavender had perfect chemistry together. Now, he was in the library listening to Hermione as she ranted about Ron.
"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he likes," said Hermione as she put her books back on the shelves. "I really couldn't care less. Was I under the impression he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes. Now, given the circumstances, I had to make other arrangements."
"Have you?" Harry questioned his best friend.
"Yes. Why?"
"Well, I just thought seeing is not the risk at going with who we'd really like to, we should go together, as friends."
"Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione automatically regretted her decision on finding a date for Slughorn's dinner party.
"Who are you going with?" Harry couldn't think of anyone that Hermione may have been going with. Not because she couldn't get a date, something she definitely proved to the boys in 4th year when she took Viktor Krum to the Yule Ball. It was just that Hermione because she hadn't expressed any interest in any boy during the year, other than Ron.
"Um, it's a surprise," Hermione hesitantly said before changing the subject. " Anyways, you have got to worry about. You can't take just anyone. See that girl over there? That's Romilda Vane. Harry, she's been trying to smuggle you a love potion.
"Really?" asked Harry, mildly interested.
"Hey! She's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One."
"But I am the Chosen One." That remark made Harry earn a smack across the head by Hermione with a stack of parchment.
"Okay, sorry, um..." Harry shook his head. "Kidding. I'll ask someone I like. Someone cool."
Hermione, silently please that she had quite literally knocked some sense into the boy, decided to change the subject.
"Anyways, I was wondering..." dragged on Hermione. "Are you still reading Sirius's sister's journal? Astrid's?"
Harry looked off in the corner, debating whether or not he should lie. "No..." but one look at Hermione's face made him realize that she was going to find out the truth one way or another. "Maybe, a bit."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the boy before hitting him across the head with the piece of parchment again for attempting to lie to her.
"Agh, would you quit it. Yes, I'm still looking into Astrid's diary."
Harry then went off to explain everything he had learned so far about her. How Sirius had run away from home right before their sixth year, that James and Astrid became acquaintances in Defense Against the Dark Arts as they became study partners, and what happened to Astrid during the Christmas holiday.
"Rasbatan Lestrange? As in, the brother of Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix's husband?"
"Yeah, I didn't even know there was another Lestrange." Harry thought it was weird, how his father's potential ex-lover was supposed to have gotten married to a deatheaters. He wondered how his father had reacted to the news.
"Did she end marry him? Rasbatan?"
"I have no idea," admitted Harry. "I haven't yet read past the Christmas entry. I'm hoping to read more during the holidays."
"Well let me know if you find out anything else. You can probably find something about Voldemort and the Deatheaters in her diary. After all, if she was going to be courted by a known Deatheater, it is not far-fetched that she may have been one herself."
As Harry left the library to go find Luna Lovegood, he couldn't help but think about the possibility of Astrid becoming a Deatheater.
He knew how blood purist the Black family was but getting to actually see it through Astrid's memories gave him a whole new perspective about what Sirius and Astrid went through during their childhood. Sirius told Harry that he never got to find out where Astrid's true loyalty was during the war. But something told Harry that he was going to find out very soon.
-
Harry had spent the beginning of Slughorn's Christmas party laughing at Hermione's useless attempts to escape her date Cormac and chatting with Slughorn. But before he could finish his and Slughorn's conversation, they were interrupted by Filch dragging Malfoy by his collar.
"Take your hands off me, you filthy Squib," spat the boy as he was dragged by his collar.
"Professor Slughorn, sir. I just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party." Filch wore a smug look on his face, hoping that he had finally gotten a student in trouble for the night.
"Okay, okay," said Draco hurriedly as he looked to the side. "I was gate-crashing. Happy?"
"I'll escort him out," announced Snape as he approached the two, staring at Draco with intense eyes.
"Certainly, Professor." Draco wore a sour expression as he followed Snape into the corridor.
After Snape and Draco had left, Slughorn dismissed the two and quickly ushered everyone to carry on with the night. Once everyone went back to chatting and eating, Harry looked around before sliding into the hallway, making sure not to catch anyone's attention.
Harry stayed at the opposite side of the corridor, making sure not to be seen by Snape and Draco who were arguing amongst themselves.
"Maybe I did hex that Bell girl. Maybe I didn't." Draco was clearly annoyed and wanted to be left alone by his professor. "What's it to you?"
"I swore to protect you," said Snape matter-of-factly. "I made the Unbreakable Vow."
"I don't need protection," challenged Draco. "I was chosen for this. Out of all others, me, and I won't fail him."
"You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious, let me assist you."
"No. I was chosen. This is my moment."
Harry stayed quiet at the opposite side of the corridor, shocked by what he was hearing, before swiftly leaving to go back to the party before they were able to spot him.
-
Ron and Harry later that week found themselves back in the Hogwarts train, ready to go back to the Burrow to celebrate the holidays with the Weasley family.
"Unbreakable Vow. You sure that's what Snape said?" questioned Ron, feeling disbelieved by what Harry was telling him.
"Positive. Why?" asked Harry as he looked at Ron sitting across from him.
"It's just, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow"
"I-I worked that much out for myself, funny enough."
"You don't understand. Oh-" said Ron as he was caught off by Lavender who was peaking at Harry and himself through the door. The girl had fogged up the glass to write "R+L" on the glass of the window. "Bloody hell."
Lavender looked at Ron, mouthing "I miss you" through the window one last time before skipping down the Hogwarts train.
"Lovely," teased Harry, almost in a way to mock Ron.
"All she wants to do is snog me. My lips are getting chapped, look."
"Then I'll take your word for it," said Harry hurriedly as Ron tried to get closer to show off his chapped lips.
The boy's attention was caught once again when Hermione appeared on the outside of their compartment. But before she had opened the door, Hermione turned around and left after seeing the 'lovely' message that Lavender had left for Ron on the door.
"So, what happens to you?" asked Harry, breaking the tension. "What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow?"
"You die," said Ron heavily as he looked at Harry.
Harry now understood why Ron had been so weary when he had told him what Snape had said in the corridor. He wondered why Snape had taken an unbreakable vow for Draco, and if Snape wasn't as trustworthy as Dumbledore claimed he was.
YOU ARE READING
Keep Breathing ♢ James Potter
Fanfiction"I want you to understand something, Harry...James loved Lily. He truly did love you and your mother. But what Astrid and James had was more than just love. It was all things above love. It was a sacrifice. It was putting each other first. It was m...
