Control ? Ron Weasley [2]

XVI. RESOLUTION

      He held out his hand, and Astoria took it. His skin was warm, like he had been holding them up to a fire. "Astoria Greengrass."

      His smile widened. "Daphne's sister!"

      She was so confused that she ended up nodding blindly. 

      "Daphne's a good friend. Why aren't you with her?"

      Astoria shrugged. "Needed a break."

      He nodded his understanding. "Well, you're welcome to sit with us for a spell." He moved away from the door. Astoria wondered if he had done some sort of wandless magic on her, because she felt her body moving against her own will into the compartment. The two people already in the compartment stared at her, though not unkindly. They were just curious. "Astoria, this is Konstantinova and Theodore Nott."

      Theo's nose crinkled. "Just Theo, please. And don't bother trying to say Konstantinova. She won't respond. It's Nova."

      "Nova can speak for herself," the girl responded, rolling her eyes. "But, yes. Nova is fine. You're Astoria Greengrass, aren't you? Daphne's little sister?"

      Astoria nodded. "Nice to meet you."

      "You as well," Theo said, kicking his feet up and placing them on the bench Blaise and Astoria were sitting on. It wasn't in a rude way, however, since they were far enough away from the two that it didn't interfere with Blaise and Astoria's seating arrangement. "So, any ideas on what house you'll be in?"

      Astoria couldn't help it. Her eyes welled up with tears again.

      "Nice going, mate!" Blaise yelled, smacking Theo's leg. 

      "I'm sorry!" Theo stuttered out, blinking wildly. "I didn't know!"

      Astoria waved him off. "It's fine," she managed. Once she had taken a few deep breaths to calm herself down, she continued. "I'm just...a little overwhelmed. My whole family is Slytherin and I just...what if I'm not?"

      "Who cares?" Nova asked. Her voice was cold, but her expression was anything but, so Astoria figured she wasn't meaning to sound rude. "The other houses are perfectly respectable. Besides Gryffindors, but even if you end up there, you'll be fine."

      It was the first person to say that Astoria would be fine. The word seemed so nice. "Really?"

      "You'll do great wherever you end up, Astoria," Blaise said, nudging her side. "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are great. Gryffindor is fine, but it's more the people we dislike rather than the house itself. Nova's right. You'll be brilliant, even if you're in Gryffindor."

      "But will my Slytherin friends feel the same?" Astoria asked bitterly.

      "Screw 'em if they don't! We'll still be your friends," Blaise responded.

      Astoria knew it was irrational, for her heart to skip a beat over a boy she'd just met. But here he was, reassuring her in the span of one sentence. "And are we? Friends, I mean?"

      He wrapped an arm around her. "'Course we are. A Greengrass sister is a friend of mine, believe me."

      At the mention of her sister, Astoria grimaced. "Speaking of which, she's probably freaking out. I should get back to her."

      Astoria stood, making her way out of the compartment. Before she could completely get away, Blaise stuck his head out again.

      "Hey, Astoria!" he called. She turned, facing him with a raised brow. "It's a bit of a mouthful. Mind if I call you Stori?"