Chapter 52
Astoria Greengrass seethed with anger as she made her way down the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts. Earlier that day, a first-year student had dared to call Hermione a mudblood to get some clout with the other First Years. She hadn't caused a scene then, but the boy would regret his words.
Entering the first-year dormitory, Astoria cast a silencing charm around the boy's bed. Pointing her wand at him, she whispered, “Crucio.” His body arched in agony, his screams muted. She held the curse for several long seconds before releasing it, leaving him panting and terrified.
“Next time, think twice before insulting Hermione Granger and tell your little friends the same,” she hissed. Satisfied, she lifted the charm and left, her rage subsiding as she headed to Draco’s dormitory.
Inside, she found Hermione and Draco waiting. Hermione lay serenely in bed, Draco beside her. “Is everything taken care of?” Draco asked.
“Yes,” Astoria replied, climbing into bed. “He won’t say anything like that again.”
Hermione looked at her concern, “Who said what? .”
Astoria cupped Hermione’s cheek. “Nothing. It’s silly. Just a first year that didn’t know better. It was simple to educate him.”
Hermione kissed her gently, and Draco smirked, his hand resting on Hermione’s hip.