She was being weird again. Astoria had already caught Auror Moody shaking his head in amusement at her. She was waiting for Auror Potter to leave his office. When he finally did, she followed him. Astoria did not even realize she was in the men's loo until she was well past being in there. She was about to beat a hasty retreat when someone asked her what she was doing in there.

"I'm here to speak to Auror Potter if you do not mind," Astoria managed with some authority.

Harry's eyes widened and he slowly pushed open the door to the stall he'd been in. The man who'd been talking to Astoria looked over at him before nodding briefly and making his way out of the bathroom. "Mrs. Dolohov, you are aware that this is a men's bathroom, aren't you?"

"It's Astoria, and I didn't notice that it was until I got inside. Were you finished? I've been trying to get you alone since Monday."

His eyes widened dramatically. "What," he squeaked, taking a step backwards.

"Not for THAT," Astoria hissed, swatting at his arm. "We work together. How unprofessional do you think I am? I need to know where you live."

"What?" He felt like he was saying that a lot when he was around her. "Why?"

"So that I might stalk you, of course."

His wide-eyed look was very amusing. Astoria snickered and moved close to him. Harry backed into the stall and Astoria shut the door behind them. It was rather cramped. She cast a silencing charm over the space.

"For the meeting. I'm supposed to be there."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." They were in the Ministry. Was she crazy? His eyes narrowed slightly and he pointed to the walls.

Astoria raised a brow before she put put her hands on the sides of his face. He had to trust her and fast. This was the only way she knew of. To do with him as she had with Dean Thomas, to let him see in her a little. She was not certain what all she showed. She just hoped any making out with Marcus was not part of it.

Harry slapped his hands onto her wrists and pulled them away from his head. He had a headache, a very bad headache. Shaking his head and trying to clear the images she'd put there, Harry looked up at her. "I still have no idea what you're talking about." He couldn't tell her the coordinates for Grimmauld Place in the Ministry. Not here.

"Let's get out of here," Astoria said suddenly. "Right now. Anywhere you'd like to go. Anywhere at all. I'll just hold on to your arm."

"You don't think that'll look a little suspicious?"

"Not if everyone thinks like you do. I can weather rumors of us shagging if you can. Even though I told Burke I was gay. Which I am a little for the right woman. It's not a total lie. I just don't mix work with... that."

"I have a girlfriend," Harry said with a frown. "I don't want anyone to think that. With me, it's not just about work. It'll get to the papers."

"Maybe we're just going to lunch together."

"I already ate."

"Maybe you're hungry again. Work with me here, Potter. How on earth did you defeat the Dark Lord being this difficult?"

"Luck," he said. "Fine. I'm hungry again. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the bathroom and started down the hall. If the Prophet got wind of this, there was a very good chance there'd be a story, whether they were just co-workers going for lunch or not.

"Just tell her it's not true. She's the only one you're really worried for, and stop being so cross with me. It's not my fault you're being difficult."

He was still looking pinched in the lift. Astoria nudged him with her shoulder and received a harsh look.

"You had better hope Montague doesn't succeed in killing me. From the way you are glaring, someone might think you did it."

Harry turned to look at her with wide eyes. "What?" Can you say anything else to her?

"I was wondering about that and you. I was passed out, but the neighbors assured me they contacted the MLE. He attacked me in my flat. It was rather unpleasant. Auror Tonks visited me in Mungo's. I think. All I really recall from there was the pudding was fabulous. Healer Weasley helped me the most. I'm quite all right now. In fact I was well enough for my very first flying lesson on Saturday."

He blinked at her. "I knew about your first attack. Tonks filed a report. I was talking about you saying it like that, like you knew he'd try again, like he'd have another chance to finish you off." He frowned, "if you know he's going to attack, why not stay away?"

Astoria looked at him. "Some things are unavoidable, Harry. Wouldn't you agree? He does try again. A couple of times actually. He doesn't succeed as far as I know. "

"As far as you know," Harry repeated as the lift doors opened to the atrium. "That's not very promising." He strode out to the apparation points, her hand firmly in his. He got a weird look from Eric Munch, but he ignored it.

Astoria waved politely at Eric and smiled brightly.

"Did you want to-"

"I side-along like a champ. I'm not even sure I can apparate myself. Real ladies don't do that and all that rot, you know. Lead on, Potter."

Harry decided the easiest thing would be to go to a park near Privet Drive. He hadn't been there in years, and he highly doubted anyone would suspect him to go back there willingly in the first place. The small park brought back memories. He felt like he should tell her about them. 'Hey, look, other there is where my cousin almost had his souls sucked out by dementors' or 'right there is where I saw Sirius for the first time, even though I didn't know it was him'.

Deciding against that, he gestured to a swing set that was very rusted and would probably break apart when she sat on it.

Astoria gasped and rushed at them. Muggle swings. She had always been fascinated. She situated herself and her skirt before she started swinging. It was difficult for her to tuck her long legs under, but she managed. Ladies did not swing. Astoria giggled.

"I'm surprised you don't know where I live. There were death eaters outside of the place my entire seventh year." He watched her swing, wondering if he'd ever had that much fun at this park. No.

"I was not a Death Eater. I was a bird in a gilded cage, never exposed to any of it. I was sold to the highest bidder. My husband didn't even want to be a Death Eater, so what makes you think I knew anything about that? That they would have told me anything? Do you tell your sofa what your plans are for the day? Let the kitchen sink or the bed linens know when you'll be home late? I was a possession, Harry. Quite beneath information."

Astoria slowed her swinging a bit.

"So... the gathering. They want me, your foes, and I am disinclined to allow it."

"So Mad-Eye says. You and your sister. Am I supposed to believe it? Is it true? Your sister tried to murder one of the most important people in my life."

"Daphne is not perfect, but she is trying to atone. I've dreamed her death so many times, in so many ways." Astoria's eyes watered. "To lose her is to lose myself. I have already mourned her once. I could not survive it again. Daphne makes awful mistakes, but she's gone and fallen for someone who has changed her way of thinking."

She paused for a moment.

"I really don't care what you believe. It's true, and I know it to be true, so do you tell me? I swear I'll never pop in unexpectedly."

"The house has charms, and my house-elf has a good taste for people. If he thinks someone's not supposed to be there, he'll take care of them." Tried to kill me second year to keep me safe. He frowned. "I'll tell you where I live. You'll be at the meeting because, as you said, you're supposed to be there." He took a step towards her. "However, if you or your sister are lying to me or anyone else, if you put the lives of people I love in danger, there will be no hiding for either of you."

It was the truth. He'd lost far too many people to take a risk on someone and have that risk mean the lives of his family.

"I look forward to you getting to know me a bit better, so that you will know how ridiculous that threat is. Would I have really brought Auror Moody into this if I planned something shady? I might be flaky and as Daphne puts it 'weird and creepy', but I am not stupid."

"Let's hope, for you and your sister's sake, that that's true." He pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it to her. "Moody told me yesterday that you might be coming to find me. I had this ready." Just because he'd known it's what she'd wanted, didn't mean he was ready to give it. He knew that Moody trusted her, knew that he even trusted Daphne a little, but Harry didn't give his loyalty so easily.

"If you do pop in, Dobby likes biscuits."

Astoria smiled and took the slip of paper. "Just you wait."

She did like a challenge. Respect and loyalty were especially earned with this one. Astoria was no longer in the habit of shying away from things she truly wanted. She was on Harry Potter's side because she had seen what happened to the other side when you were left behind. She knew where her pieces fell, and she wanted him to know it too.

"Should I put my lipstick on your collar to be convincing about our affair?"

Harry rolled his eyes before turning and apparating back to the Ministry.


{SUMMARY} Astoria corners Harry to get information.