Chapter 17
Draco sat in Theo's bar, facing the recorder in front of Astoria with a look of bewilderment on his face. He had just finished listening to it. He then shifted his gaze to Astoria. "You're serious? Snape and Bellatrix were ordered to use the Imperius Curse on Arthur?"
Astoria was nodding at him, her eyebrows raised. "Mmm-hmm. I had lunch with them at some muggle restaurant this afternoon. I brought up some stuff about how stupid it was that Arthur was promoting all the Slytherin propaganda and feeding the ever-increasing discrimination toward us. Then I managed to get Snape to admit, out of spite, how stupid it was that they had to be ordered to use the Imperius Curse, when it failed to accomplish its purpose anyway."
"What purpose was the curse supposed to accomplish with Ron?!" Draco glared. "If it wasn’t to rape Pansy, then what were they trying to get him to do?"
"I do think raping Pansy was just part of the scheme," said Astoria. "But they were probably planning to do more with him. Then their plans were thwarted when Ron simply went coo-coo…..and then regained his right frame of mind earlier today."
Draco felt a tug at his heart, as he was suddenly reminded of Hermione visiting the Weasley in the hospital. For a moment, he felt a wave of sadness sweep through him. If Granger wants to get back with Weasley, then so be it….she deserves to be with someone who would never make her feel inferior or discriminated against ever again.
"Draco?" Astoria snapped him out of his thoughts.
Draco blinked and met her gaze again. "Right…." he said. Then he frowned. "Now to figure out who exactly are they taking 'orders' from to do whatever it is they wanted to do with the Weasley git."
A wild cackle suddenly made Draco and Astoria flinch. Draco turned to see that Bellatrix was leaning forward from the benched table behind them, fixing a maniacal smile on him and Astoria.
"Oh have you not figured it out yet?" She laughed. "You heard about 'em when you were talking to that fool of a prison guard!"
Draco winced. "So the prisoner who's been secretly apparating out of Azkaban gave you orders to curse Ron and make him rape Pansy?!"
A shadow cast over Draco. He looked up to see Snape walking up to him with a sinister glare on his face. "That prisoner is the reason why we're here…" he spoke flatly.
Draco and Astoria blinked at him.
"Um….Severus, sir," Astoria muttered. "Do you mind starting from the beginning?"
"Yes please," said Draco rather irritably. He rubbed the side of his head. "There's just too much annoying info to piece together at once." And of course…Granger isn't here to hear this….
Bellatrix laughed maniacally while Snape crossed his arms and spoke in a quieter tone. "You will soon find it out from Arthur Weasley himself. We just finished speaking with him moments ago."
Snape then turned to walk toward Bellatrix's table behind them, and took his seat in front of her. And as Snape stepped out of the way, Draco was able to peer through the window where he saw Arthur Weasley speaking with Zabini. And….Ginny.
Now what in Merlin's name is Arthur talking to them for?! And why is Zabini holding hands with the Weasley's sister?! Draco felt like he was being hit with a new wave of questions every minute.
Astoria gave a sigh in front of him. "Well this is getting exhausting." She then turned to Draco and gave him a sideways smile. "You look like you're about to shoot yourself. How bout you grab us both a drink?"
Draco was fixing his eyes on Arthur as he shook hands with Zabini and nodded at him as the dark-skinned Slytherin walked away with Ginny. Then Arthur turned to walk the opposite direction.
"Dracoooo…" Astoria spoke suggestively. She rested a hand on Draco's forearm.
But Draco instantly got up and walked toward the door. He left the bar and called out to Arthur Weasley.