Astoria → Draco Malfoy

CHAPTER FORTY

"I have intended to ever since I escaped," he began, "the Auror security is weak, easy to manipulate, nothing like the Dementor security from the past. Kingsley Shacklebolt created a mess of the system."

"A mess? He stopped the mass breakouts!" She had remembered learning all about it only a few months ago, Shacklebolt was one of the most respected Aurors, already his acheivments had been spoken about by hundreds. "He revolutionised the wizarding prison system!"

Adrian scowled at her, "he got in the way. He placed a target on his back, a target I plan to aim towards. Now, enough of this, come with me, now."

She shook her head, she would not come easily, she wouldn't be defeated by him, "Expelliarmus." Astoria watched as his wand was snatched from his grasp.

"Foolish girl," he smiled. "You believe I need a wand to perform magic?"

She took a step back, his wand now in her hands. "Stupe-"

He cut her off, "Flipendo!"

Astoria fell to the ground, her hands barely able to catch her on the gravel ground. "Shit!" She exclaimed, wiping the gravel off of her hands and rising to a stand.

"Come with me Astoria, we need not fight."

"Let go of Daphne! Then we can talk!" She raised her wands again, pointing both of them directly at him, "I'm not afraid to stop you."

"Oh," he sneered, "I believe you are afraid. I believe you are very afraid Astoria. You know you will die soon, why not die with me? Living a life of luxury, doing what must be done."

Astoria rolled her eyes, "I would rather die!"

Her father tightened his grip on Daphne, causing her to cry out in pain. "Really? The same death as your mother? Let me show you what awaits Astoria, what can be avoided if you join my cause. We can find a cure, a delay, a way to ensure your survival, as long as you agree to join me."

Astoria could feel her defence melting away, her wands lowering. "There is no cure..."

"Not yet, but with time, dark magic can be repelled, it can be siphoned, your life could be prolonged. Let me show you," he took a step forwrds, dropping Daphne to the ground, "Petrificus Totalus."

Daphne fell, paralysed by his side.

"Give me your hand," he instructed her, taking another step closer.

Astoria dropped her wands to her side, "show me how she lived."

"You will see how she died," he took her hand, transporting her into a memory.

Astoria watched on from the edge of the room, her mother laying, frail in the bed. Her eyes were sunk deep within her face, reddened.

"Adrian, please," her voice waivered, so weak it could barely be heard. "Let me see Astoria, let me see Daphne."

"You are too weak, they are too young, their energy could harm you." He placed a hand on her arm, weary of the blackened bruises that ran up it.

"Please," a tear formed in her eye, barely strong enough to fall, "just one alst time." She knew it was her end, she knew her journey ended here. She just craved her children, their sweet smell, one last time.

Reluctantly, Adrian nodded at his wife, motioning to their house-elf, "Dippy, please bring the children."

With a snap, Dippy left the room, returning shortly after with the youthful Greengrass sisters. Astoria smiled at her younger self, she couldn't have been any older than five, so sweet, so blissfully unaware.

"Mummy!" She called out, her younger self clambering up the bed and into her mothers arms.

Daphne snapped at her, "gentle Astoria! Mummy's ill!"

Her mother shook her head, "not for long baby," she stroked their faces with her hands, tracing their soft skin. "Mommy's going to go away soon," the tear in her eye began to fall, Daphne wiping it away.

"Where are you going?" She questioned her.

"I'll be with grandma and grandad, somewhere safe." She tried to smile, but her body couldn't, she simply didn't have the energy.

"Can we come?" Grinned Astoria, taking Daphne's hand in her own, "we haven't seen them in a long time."

Her mother shook he head again, "no baby. It's a special place, for us old people."

"Mummy's silly!" Daphne looked over at her father, who seemed to be sobbing, "she's not old."

"She is," her father cut her off, wiping away his tears, "she's fragile." He looked over at his wife, now locked in a body she didn't belong in. Her collar bones where her wedding dress had once sat, now potruded from her skin, dotted with blues and browns.

"No, mummy can still play with us!" Astoria pressed onto her mothers chest, sitting on her stomach, "let's go and play! Let's go to the beach again mummy!" She inhaled the sweet smell of roses from her mothers chest, "come on mummy." Astoria pulled at her arm.

"Stop!" Her fathers voice was harsh, cutting through the air. "She can't come out and play! She can't!"

Astoria gulped, removing her hands from her mothers chest, revealing new pinkish bruises in the shape of her hands. "Mummy! I hurt you!" She began to sob, her father quickly pushing her away and sweeping her off of the bed.

"Astoria, what have you done?" He screamed at the child, scolding her.

Daphne took her sisters hand, "she didn't mean to mummy."

"No no," her mother protested, "it's okay Astoria, give mummy a kiss you two." She beckoned them over with just her fingers, using all the strength she could muster.

Her father cut her off, stopping her in motion. "No!" With each of his arms, he grabbed a child, pulling them forcefully away from their weak mother. "Don't touch her again!"

Astoria began to sob, tears forming in Daphne's eyes. "Please," they pleaded, longing for one last moment with their mother.

"Dippy," her father roared, "take them away. Take them away!"

The world around her faded away as Astoria was brought back to the train tracks, her lips parted in shock.

"You saw how ill she was, she could barely speak, and you two killed her." Her father spat at her, "you two are the reason she is dead, having children killed her."

"So why do you even want us?" Astoria cried out in response, her eyes filled to the brim with tears.

"She can't have died for nothing!" He retorted with haste, anger dripping from his lips, "she can't have died for nothing." He repeated to himself quietly.

"You denied her of her wishes, she wanted to touch us, to kiss us both one last time..." Astoria held her wand tightly in her hand, it might have still been lowered, but she had to be ready to strike.

Her father took a few steps away from her, closer to where Daphne lay, her body frozen. "Come with me Astoria."

She shook her head, "no." She couldn't. If death were coming, she would welcome it with open arms, whether that be in months or years, Astoria would let it come.

"You leave me no choice then," he lifted his arm, revealing his own wand back in his possession. He stepped backwards, aiming his wand at Astoria "Cruci-"

Astoria gulped, closing her eyes and bracing herself for the pain, but it never came. When she opened her eyes again, her father lay on the ground, stunned with two familar blonde figures behind him: Lucius and Draco Malfoy.