After The Magic Has Faded

"Yeah,"he said with a soft smirk,"It has been weeks... And I couldn't tell you where I've been... I probably smell like rotting dirt..."

Astoria couldn't hold back the soft chuckle that escaped her lips. "Okay. Here's what we'll do." She looked down at him. "I'll get you the bucket and soap. I'll set it up outside, at the back of the tent and while you bathe, I'll clean your clothes. My father owned this tent so there's a few spare shirts and pants."

"I couldn't tell you the last time I wore different clothes either,"Joey said with a smirk, slowly pushing himself up,pedaling caked mud off his shirt.

Astoria smiled slightly and patted his shoulder before grabbing the bucker and filling it up. She carried it outside to the back of the tent and boiled it with magic. She set the soap to the side and started a small fire so he could keep warm. She then went back inside of the rent and found a button up shirt and jeans, handing them to him.

"Thanks, I'll bring my clothes back after,"he said before head in around the back, stripping slowly by the fire. It was such an odd sensation to be nude after such a long time a dirty clothes. The water was shockingly hot, more shocking than the cold air in fact. He realised how fragile he had become.

Astoria sat in the tent with her photo album once more, looking through all the happy memories that will never occur again. She hummed softly as she turned page after page, familiar faces smiling up at her and waving.

The snow become brown as he finished washing, standing by the fire to dry. He felt so refreshed and nice. His face actually felt clear and sharp. He pulled on the new clothes, feeling like a new person. He entered the tent, noticing the scrapbook and staying quiet.

She kept turning back to the same page. The one with her and her sister, hugging and waving. She wished that pictures had sounds, so that she could hear her bright laughter and soft voice. Something dropped onto the picture and with a start, she realized that she was crying. She wiped her tears away, angry that she allowed herself a moment of weakness.

Joey noticed the tears and he sat down beside he slowly, patting her knee,"Is that your sister? You two look awfully alike."

Astoria glanced at him, and she almost didn't recognize him. He cleans up really nicely. "She was my sister." She whispered, looking back down at the picture one more time before slowly closing the book.

Joey nodded, wrapping an arm around her back, giving her a soft squeeze. Everyone lost someone in the war. Unfortunately, it was more common than not.

Astoria only allowed herself to enjoy his warmth for a moment before pulling away. "I don't need your comfort." She said, her voice broken. She pushed the book under her bed once more, taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

"No, but I'm here if you want it,"Joey said softly, calmly as he watched her.

Astoria felt her hands begin to shake and she clutched at her wand that's in her pocket. "And why would I want comfort from a Muggle like you?" She asked, without looking at him, her voice harsh. She didn't want to say these things, but that's all she knows how to do. Protect herself by being mean to others. Her hatred towards Muggles.

"Because by the looks of it, this dirty muggle is all you have,"Joey said before pushing himself to his feet and walking outside to the dying fire. He found more wood and let it grow until he was warm.

Astoria watched as several sparks flew from her wand. She set it on the table and wrapped her arms around her knees, taking deep, shuddering breaths. She closed her eyes, trying to take herself away, mentally, where she wouldn't feel this way anymore. She slowly laid on the cot, her eyes still closed, and she slowly dozed off.

Joey stayed outside, still not feeling welcome into the tent. He continued to feed the fire well after it got dark, the flames providing entertainment.

Astoria saw things in her dreams that she never wanted to see again. When she woke up, her cheeks were wet and her eyes burned. She sat up and wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly. She wiped her face and sniffed, her body and brain slowly waking up.

Joey started up at the moon and stars, sighing softly. Thennighttime was his sanctuary, his safety. He rose to his feet and walked around the back of the tent, sitting there in the dark and cold for a moment.

Astoria grabbed her wand lit a few candles with it, the light making her feel a little better. She slowly stood up and stretched. She yawned and went outside, to cook some beans.

Joey could hear her out by the fire and slowly came around, staying just outside the reaches of the light. Was he welcome anymore?

Astoria heard movement and she looked up, her eyes meeting Joey's through the darkness and the flicker of flames. She looked back down and put some beans in a plastic bowl. She put some bread on the side and stood up, handing it to him.

"No, Thank you,"Joey said, shaking his head slowly,"I'm not hungry." He gently walked around her and to the tent, stepping in.

Astoria watched him go, sighing softly. She took her place back by the fire and ate her dinner, not in very high spirits. After she finished, she stayed outside for a while before stepping inside of the tent. "How are your bandages?" She asked.

"Oh... Fine, I guess. How are they suppose to be?"Joey asked unsure. He peaked one off his hand, checking it out.

Astroria zipped up the entrance to the tent and walked over to him, gently taking his arm and examining the bandages she could see. "I just want to make sure your wounds didn't re open." She said softly. "You seem fine."

"That's good,"Joey said quietly, awkwardly. He didn't know how to talk to her, what to say. He started at the ground and sighed.

Astoria retracted her hands and watched him for a moment. She didn't know what to say. "Joey." She said softly, waiting to speak until he looked her in the eyes. She swallowed uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, about earlier."

"It's fine. Muggles are Muggles, right?"He sighed and looked at the ground. He felt so inferior and poor compared to her.

Astoria looked away, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "You're.. Different. An okay Muggle." She whispered, a grimace on her face.

"You don't have to sugar coat it,"Joey said, looking up at her,"And... Ill be out of your hair soon."

Astoria's throat tightened painfully, and she felt like she was going to choke. She closed her eyes briefly before standing up. "If that's what you want. Then.. I won't stop you." She went and laid on her cot, her back to him.

"It's not, but you don't seem like you want me here,"Joey said to her, watching the back of her head.

Astoria slowly rolled over so that she was staring at the ceiling of the tent. "If I didn't want you here, I wouldn't have brought you here. I would have let you die."

"Then what do you want, Astoria?"Joey asked, rising to his feet.

Astoria turned her head and watched him. She felt helpless. Afraid. "I.. Don't know." She admitted. She didn't want to admit to weakness.

"Well, then you need to decide if you want me or not,"he said as he approached her cot, kneeling down beside her,"Because I need to know if I am welcome."

Astoria turned so that she was facing him. She took a deep breath and watched his face, reaching out to touch his hand. "You are welcome." She whispered.

Joey nodded and squeezed her hand,"I'm not bad. I wish you could see that..."

Astoria watched his sincere eyes, and sighed, looking away. "I want to believe it, Joey." She said softly, squeezing his hand back.