A note- I decided to write this one shot because I wanted to spread awareness about the dangers of smoking. It's unhealthy, it's not cool and definitely not sexy. I don't own anything, not even cigarettes.

Draco Malfoy studied the young woman sitting in front of him. Astoria Greengrass wore a rather stoic expression on her face. Not that it stopped Draco from admiring her. She was tall, thin, pretty with light brown hair and blue eyes. Perfect, almost too perfect. Pity he wasn't marrying her for her looks.

"So," she said, fumbling with a cigarette case, finally drawing out a thin smoker, " as far as I'm concerned, this marriage is for financial and political purposes, isn't it?"

"It is," He affirmed.

"So this means that we may live together?" Draco nodded.

" I'd like to remind you to not interfere with my life, personal or professional. I'll bestow you the same courtesy." She took a long drag from her cigarette.

"I understand, though we may be matrimonially related I have added a clause stating that we are free to date."

"Well enough, I assume we should be signing these papers and I'll be at your house with my belongings by Wednesday."

And that's how it all began.

Draco had to admit -living with Astoria was easy. She leave for work after him and come back late at night. They barely conversed. Draco was busy with his career and she was busy with hers. It was almost the same as living on your own.

The only time they'd ever be in the same room for longer than ten minutes was at weekends when they'd sit in the living room on opposing couches, lost in their own affairs, the smoke of Astoria's cigarettes filling the air.

He had tried seeing people but nothing worked longer than a week. He'd always end up getting distracted and completely forgetting about his dates. It didn't happen over night, but Draco had grown to care for her. Whatever she was to him.

At times he'd leave a coffee in a thermos for her. She'd say nothing, but in the morning, he would find her flask empty. Sometimes she would fall asleep on the couch and he'd put a blanket on her, making sure that all the cigarettes were out.

Occasionally he would offer her an ashtray, which she accepted without a word.

He was falling, hard.

It was hard as he walked up to his office, seeing all those shops glinting in front of him. Clothes, makeup, jewellery- you name it. He could easily afford them for her but what use was it for? She wasn't anything to him but a business deal, something to secure his future.

Draco soon started enjoying her presence. On weekends, he'd keep on gazing at the woman in front of him, as she set fire to her lungs.

One day, when he couldn't stand it, he finally asked her-

"Why do you smoke Astoria?"

At first, she seemed startled, very much like a young colt. Then she extinguished the cigarette out and pulled out a new one, her lighter at the ready.

"It's a habit I picked up when I was alone, I guess"

"But you aren't alone now."

At first Draco thought that she would never respond, never accept his offer. But instead her pink lips curved into a smile as she put the cigarette back and tossed the pack behind the couch.

"I guess I'm not."

That was when Draco realised that their relationship was more than just smoke.