Chapter 1
Draco wasn't happy with his mother's decision. "Why? What is she to me? Why can't I get a say in this?" he asked every time his mother as much as tried to mention Astoria. She had stopped trying to talk to him now, but that didn't mean that she'd call off the engagement.
Draco was sitting in his room at Malfoy Manor. A few weeks ago he had been told that he was expected to marry Astoria Greengrass. He vaguely remembered her from school; he hadn't talked to her much, nor had he talked much to her sister, Daphne. But now he was set to marry her. He wasn't a child, he was twenty-three. He wanted to run off, to get away. Go to Ireland, or further, to the main-land. Somewhere secluded in Europe, or perhaps go all the way to Asia. But that might be a bit far, he had decided, so thus far he was planning on Europe. He had no idea if he'd get away, and if so, how far he'd get. All he knew was that he needed to get away. He could go to Bulgaria, to Durmstrang – finish school there, it wasn't as if his seventh year had been much of school. Or he could go to France and finish at Beauxbatons. He just didn't feel like going to school, though that might be his best cover-up. But there were other possibilities. Go somewhere they wouldn't look for him – Asia was back in his mind, and America popped up too – somewhere far away or stupid. Maybe somewhere cold, up north – Russia or Northern Scandinavia – or somewhere hot, like South America and Africa.
But as all these thought flew through Draco's head, along with many others, he knew he couldn't leave. Not because of his wedding, or his mother. Not because of the trouble it would cause him. No, it was because of himself. What he'd done, who he was. It belonged here, in Britain. Most of it belonged at Hogwarts. He belonged there too, now. He wanted to go there, wanted to finish school. But he couldn't. It would only give him one year, one year of knowing about the marriage he didn't want. No, he'd rather be over with and get on. Get a life. A house, a job, a family. He couldn't do that if he abandoned Astoria.
Next day, Draco went to visit Astoria. He hadn't met her much, neither before or after the engagement. He didn't want to, but on the other hand he didn't want to marry her without getting to know her. If she was all happy-ish about the engagement, then he might be a bit more tempted to go back to school.
Draco knocked the front door of the Greengrass' house. It wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either, and it had a touch of magic without being too obvious. It was in the middle of a muggle town. He sort of liked it.
Mr. Greengrass opened the door. "Oh, Mr. Malfoy, please come in. Astoria is expecting you," he said. "Thank you, Mr. Greengrass," Draco replied with a polite smile, wondering if it was normal to call you soon-to-be son-in-law by his last name. But then, it might not be normal to call you soon-to-be father-in-law by his last name. Truth to be told, Draco had yet to hear what Astoria's parents were named.
Draco followed Mr. Greengrass to a lounge were Astoria sat, a rather stiff smile on her face. This cheered Draco up a bit; she was as much against the engagement as he was. But it could also be that she simply was against marrying someone so much older – perhaps she preferred if he was to marry Daphne, who was his age.
"Hello Draco," she said, her voice only slightly more welcoming than the smile on her face. "Please sit down. Tea?" She spoke a bit too fast, Draco noticed. He sat down beside her and poured himself a cup of tea. If nothing else, at least he had been properly raised, he knew not to ask anything of her just yet.
Mr. Greengrass left the lounge. Before he left, however, Draco noticed a sly smile upon his face. He had been setting up this engagement, Draco realized. He'd known all along, of course, he'd just sort of hoped that it might have been Astoria herself who'd requested the engagement. That would mean she had some spirit, some will. Would've been wonderful, but I'm afraid I'll have to deal with this, Draco thought.
"Draco, I know neither of us want this marriage, so lets just get one thing clean," Astoria said. She seemed less stiff now that her father had gone. "I don't care one bit about you. And the only reason I agreed to this engagement is that Daphne is already married. If not, I would've convinced them to take her. I know it don't matter to you."
"You're right. What do I care, if I marry you or Daphne. Preferably neither. I would've run off, but that didn't seem fair to you. I might not care, I still don't want to hurt you. Now, however, I can see that it'll only cheer you up," Draco said, not in any particular tone. If anything, he sounded like one who was simply keeping a boring conversation alive. "Well, run away if you so please," Astoria said indifferently. "I might," Draco replied. They sat in silence for a while, drinking their tea.
"If you do run away, where will you go?" Astoria asked. "I don't know. Somewhere far away where they can't find me," Draco said thoughtfully. Astoria narrowed her eyes and looked at him. "Why run away? Will you be more free then, do you think? Don't you think they'll find you? Or is it because there is a girl?"
"That," Draco said, "I don't know. I don't know if I will be more free, I don't know if they'll find me. All I know is that I want to get away. I don't want to marry you, or anyone else. I want to go somewhere different, somewhere that my parents don't make decisions for me. I don't want this Astoria. I want to decide for myself who I am to marry," he said seriously, frustrated. Astoria nodded sympathetically. "So do I. I do have a man I love. But I cannot marry him, simply because he's a muggle. I don't care, why should they?" she said. Draco was surprised to find that Astoria loved a muggle, but it didn't annoy him much. All the better, it meant she could be sort of happy. If just it hadn't been a muggle. "If you love him, go marry him, I don't care. All the better," he said. Astoria looked at him curiously. "I thought you were for the whole blood purity," she said. "I am. But if it means that I needn't marry just yet I can deal with it."
"Of course. You're a tolerant man for a pure-blood Draco."
"No, I am not. I am simply a desperate man."
"Then run away. Go home now, I don't want you here. Go home, pack your stuff and run away. I will cover for you. Say that you would be leaving for some wedding plans, I don't know. But get away. Get out of this marriage, none of us want it." When Astoria finished her speech, she seemed out of breath. She sank back, into the couch.
"I will," Draco said quietly. He met Mr. Greengrass in the hall. "So, did you plan anything yet?" he asked expectantly. "Yes. I will be leaving to get some stuff for the wedding – outlandish, only the best is good enough, and I don't trust those people who claim that they'll bring it," Draco said. Mr. Greengrass nodded satisfied.
When Draco got home he immediately started packing his stuff. He wanted to leave that very same night, before he got himself talked out of it. He had yet to find out where to go, but he knew that he had to get there by muggle means. He would be too easy to track if he travelled by magical means.
