Chapter 37
Daphne Greengrass paced the Slytherin common room, her irritation bubbling just below the surface. She had been up early, unable to sleep due to the weight of her thoughts. The tension with Astoria had been eating at her, and she hoped that an early morning walk would clear her mind.
As she turned to head back to her dormitory, the sight of her sister emerging from Hermione Granger’s room stopped her in her tracks. Astoria was wearing the same robes she had on the night before, her hair tousled and her eyes bright with a mix of exhaustion and excitement.
Daphne’s anger flared. She stormed over to her sister, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Astoria, what are you doing coming out of Hermione’s room at this hour?” she demanded, her voice low and sharp.
Astoria’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked it with defiance. “What does it look like, Daphne? I spent the night there.”
“Spent the night?” Daphne echoed incredulously. “Do you have any idea how inappropriate that is? And with Hermione, of all people?”
Astoria’s expression hardened. “You just don’t get it, do you? Hermione is my friend. She cares about me.”
“She’s using you, Astoria,” Daphne snapped, unable to contain her frustration. “She’s manipulating you just like she manipulates everyone else. Can’t you see that?”
Astoria’s face flushed with anger. “No, Daphne, it’s you who doesn’t see. Hermione isn’t the villain you make her out to be. She’s been nothing but kind and supportive to me, which is more than I can say for you lately.”
Daphne took a deep breath, trying to rein in her temper. “I’m trying to protect you, Astoria. Hermione has a way of drawing people in and using them for her own purposes. She’s already caused enough damage in this house.”
Astoria shook her head, her eyes filled with hurt and defiance. “You’re just jealous, Daphne. Jealous that I have someone who actually cares about me.”
Daphne’s anger turned to a cold, hard fury. “Jealous? I’m your sister, Astoria. I care about you more than anyone else. But you’re too blinded by your admiration for Hermione to see the truth.”
Astoria stepped back, her eyes narrowing. “If you really cared about me, you’d accept that Hermione is important to me. But you can’t, can you? You’re too caught up in your own prejudices.”
Daphne felt her control slipping. She reached out, grabbing Astoria’s arm. “You’re making a mistake, Astoria. Don’t let Hermione drag you down with her.”
Astoria yanked her arm free, her expression resolute. “The only mistake I’m making is letting you control my life. I’m not a child, Daphne. I can make my own decisions.”
With that, Astoria turned and walked away, leaving Daphne standing there, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and despair. She watched her sister disappear down the corridor, feeling more helpless than ever.
Daphne sank into a nearby chair, her mind racing. She had always tried to protect Astoria, to keep her safe from the dangers of their world. But now, it seemed her efforts were pushing her sister further away.
She needed to find a way to get through to Astoria, to make her see the truth about Hermione. But how? The bond between them was fraying, and Daphne feared it might break entirely if she wasn’t careful.
As she sat there, the first rays of morning light filtering into the common room, Daphne resolved to find a way to save her sister. She couldn’t stand by and watch Astoria be led astray by Hermione Granger. Not when so much was at stake.
For now, all she could do was hope that Astoria would come to her senses before it was too late. And in the meantime, Daphne would do everything in her power to protect her sister, even if it meant confronting Hermione directly.