This is part one of a drastoria series, so stay tuned!


Draco was in hell. He could not have been more sure of that. He sat in the near-empty common room, staring into the fireplace with wide eyes. If someone had asked him how he envisioned his sixth year, practical hostage to the Dark Lord would not have been his ideal answer.

But there he was, stiff and hopeless on a black leather couch. The Vanishing Cabinet was still unusable, and there was no way he could kill Dumbledore himself. His parents were going to be murdered, and it would be all his fault. He thought about the black ink that marred his arm. There was a time he might have been prideful at being marked in such a way, but now all he felt was nausea.

He leaned forward and put his head between his knees, attempting to steady his breathing. He was minutely shaking, cradling his head in his hands. He would be thoroughly embarrassed if he wasn't confident that the common room's only occupants couldn't hear him having a meltdown. Just when he was sure he would completely break down, he felt a tentative hand on his shoulder. He reared back, meeting the almond eyes of the girl who dared to approach him.

Astoria Greengrass.

"Hi," she breathed. "Sorry, I um. I thought you looked like you could use some chocolate." She broke off a piece of the half-wrapped chocolate bar in her hands and offered it to him with a warm smile.

He attempted a sneer, which he was sure did not look as intimidating as he intended. "Shouldn't you be in bed, Greengrass?" To his shock and curiosity, she took a seat next to him. Dangerously close to him, in fact.

"I thought you gave up your prefect duties?" she said in a lilting voice. Draco scoffed. "It'll make you feel better." She took a bite of it herself, as if to prove she hadn't poisoned it. He searched her sparkling gaze for any sign of treachery. Upon finding none, he took the proffered piece and took a bite. He could feel the cold dread seeping from his body at once. He closed his eyes and let out a deep exhale through his nose.

"Better?" she asked softly, head tilted slightly. He nodded almost unnoticeably. "We haven't formally met. I'm Astoria Greengrass."

"The fourth year, I know. And you already know who I am, so there's no need for introductions." He knew he was being rude to someone who had just done him a kindness, but he couldn't help it.

She sighed, but she was not discouraged. "You're right. Thought I'd try the formal thing, but it's so exhausting being 'pureblood' all the time. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Well, I'm fine, so you can go." Disappointment flickered in her eyes for a brief moment, but it passed as quickly as it had come.

"I'll leave, but know it's not because you want me to. I have arithmancy early tomorrow morning and I have to get to bed." She stood up and pretended to dust off her sweater. He looked up to her, furrowing his brows. "Everything is going to be all right, you know."

He watched her back as she walked down the stairs to the girls' dorm. For someone so young, he thought she moved rather slowly.

He leaned back into the couch, ruminating over her words. He could only hope she was right.


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