Right Where You Left Me
In the next two weeks, Astoria's health deteriorated at an alarming rate. Ruby kept insisting that it was because she wasn't fighting anymore. That her will to live had to return if she had any chance. She simply couldn't find it in herself to do so. She was sick of fighting, sick of being tired, sick of being sick. Ruby would be the only one that would care when she was gone anyway, and she would be okay. She was planning on asking Theo if Daphne might let her live with her once she was gone. She hated speaking to him now, but there was no avoiding it, so she just tried her best to pretend like she hadn't practically thrown herself at him. It was a small comfort that he seemed to buy her story of feeling faint that night.
Due to Daphne's involvement in the current conversation, everyone was currently talking about her like she wasn't here. They had left to speak in the adjoining sitting room since her father had been stupid enough to say her sister couldn't see her but hadn't said something more limiting, like contact or communicate with. Theo was currently arguing that she be taken, against her will she may add, to St. Mungo's. Daphne was being persuaded, by the promise of Theo's dick, Astoria was sure. She rolled her eyes as dramatically as possible. She had forsaken all her finishing school lessons. Draco and Hermione thought it was too risky, but Theo insisted that he had reviewed all of the medical documents Ruby copied and that he could avoid anyone that may be in cahoots with the Greengrass patriarch. Draco tried making the point that he was in the final rounds of potions testing. Finally, Theo had enough and told them he would be taking her. He was her healer and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if she got worse because he wasn't fully licensed and trained. Even if the potions were ready, they didn't know which she needed. He was certain his mentor would help and keep it quiet. Hermione and Draco would remain at the manor, and Daphne would return to the Greengrass estate to keep her father from being suspicious of her whereabouts.
They were only at St. Mungo's a few moments when it all went wrong. Daphne's screams could be heard on the whole floor. She was screaming for Theo to get Astoria out of the hospital. The problem with that was, Daphne was Theo's priority, not Astoria. Theo grabbed Astoria, pulled a few pins from her hair, and transfigured them into a walking aid with a small seat to hold her up without assistance or let her ride. He put her in the seat and ran towards the source of the screams. When they came face to face with her sister and father, Theo was vibrating with rage. Daphne was begging Theo to get Astoria to safety and Theo was refusing to leave her. They were at an impasse. Astoria wasn't sure why it mattered so much to Daph, she had one foot in the grave already. It didn't matter much if she died today or a few weeks from now.
"Please Theo, get her back to Draco, she at least has a chance with the potions. We're so close." Daphne sobbed.
"I can't leave you with him" Theo's voice was shaky when he replied. "Don't make me choose."
Her father sneered, "It seems you already have Theodore. You could have taken Astoria and run at the first sign of trouble, but you ran headlong into it and brought her so Daphne can watch her die."
Theo stumbled back a step and a little to the right, close enough that he put a hand on Astoria's shoulder. "He's right, Tor. I'm so sorry." He looked stricken. Making eye contact with Daphne, something passed between them. Suddenly, everyone was moving. Theo's hand slid from her shoulder, down her arm to her hand and he clasped it tightly. Daphne hurled herself towards him and he caught her with one arm around her shoulders. Theo tried to apparate them out, but their father grasped onto the bottom half of Daphne's body. She used one leg to kick at him and try to free herself, but it was no use. Theo apparated all four of them to the gates of Malfoy Manor.
Daphne's screams became pained, and Astoria could see blood pouring from her sister's leg. The back half of one calf was gone. She'd been splinched. Draco and Hermione joined the fray, and realizing they were in danger, Draco moved to position himself between her father and Hermione. Astoria doubted Hermione actually needed his protection, but he would give it anyway. Theo was tending to Daphne's wounds, and he too, had placed himself in the line of fire, protecting the one he loved from the wrath of their crazed father. Astoria was the target, and she was the only one with no one protecting her. She had very little magic left, as sick as she was; she was essentially defenseless. Draco at least called for Ruby, and she appeared right in front of Astoria. A protective position, and Astoria smiled. She did have someone that cared. She saw her father prepare to cast over the small elf's head and did not hesitate. She grabbed Ruby into her arms like a child, and turned her back towards her father, just as the sectumsemptra left his lips.