New Year's Resolutions
A/N: Hey! This was an idea I had for a one-shot that I've now made into a very short story. I thought you'd like it as it's festive and is filled with lots of Dramione goodness! I have everything written out and ready so this will be finished before New Year's Eve – the quickest story I'll probably ever write! I hope you like it! The first two chapters are a little bit darker than the rest, simply to set the story up – they will get lighter and more festive! Please review and let me know what you think! xxx
Summary: Draco calls off his engagement to Astoria Greengrass because of his feelings for a newly divorced Hermione Granger. Proud of himself, he turns up at her house on New Year's Eve, a free man intent on making her his again. But life was never supposed to be this easy... Please R&R!
Chapter One: Matters of the Heart
It was a known fact that Draco Malfoy never did things by halves. It simply wasn't his style. If there was something to be done, he saw no sense in doing it without the full attention and drive it commanded. And breaking off his engagement to Astoria Greengrass was certainly no exception.
Their marriage had been fixed between their fathers, one cold night in a secluded pub, over a few fire-whiskeys. Incredibly... romantic - completely worthy of any penned novel by Jane Austen, or feel-good film featuring Hugh Grant. Their union was vital in order for both families to make an absolute fortune, gain more important contacts in different fields and expand their empires further. Money, honour and respect were what mattered, not silly things like love and happiness. When did they ever get anybody anywhere?
Everything was full-steam ahead for seven months. Plans were made, rings were exchanged, and contracts were written up. It seemed that everything was falling into place, and nothing could go wrong...
Until the prospective groom had an epiphany one morning in the shower.
Yes. It was amongst fragrant shower gel and an infinite amount of thick steam that Draco Malfoy came to the realisation that he was in love with his ex girlfriend, and that his feelings could no longer be ignored. He knew that she'd recently split up with her husband and, whilst she might not be entirely ready to jump into his arms straight away; the fact that she was available presented him with a chance. An opportunity that he was completely intent on taking full advantage of, because in his mind, if he still loved her after all of this time, there was hope that part of her felt the same way. He couldn't marry Astoria Greengrass when his heart belonged to someone else: he wouldn't allow himself to.
He'd not written a speech or mentally rehearsed his actions prior to his announcement; there was no point. Nothing he said would be able to make it all ok, and he knew that his parents wouldn't respect him for attempting to sugar-coat it. All he'd done was send an owl to all that it concerned, asking them to come to the Manor the next day as he had made an 'important decision that they'd all be affected by'.
That was putting it mildly.
He entered the main living room of Malfoy Manor and saw his parents, Astoria's parents and Astoria herself all seated in the plush chairs sipping their tea delicately. They all turned to look at him, impatient expectation twinkling in their eyes. He saw Astoria smile politely at him, and he held back a grimace. This was going to be interesting…
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," he started in a formal tone, almost as if he were initiating a meeting of extreme importance. He thought he'd stick to the business tone, seeing as feelings had never been considered throughout the whole arrangement of their marriage. "I do hope I haven't inconvenienced anyone?"
Mr Greengrass shook his head whilst Lucius rolled his eyes impatiently, causing Draco to smirk. Leave it to his father to be silently blunt. He strolled into the room, every inch the arrogant aristocrat he was known for being, and stood by the fireplace, his face the mask of serenity.
"I've called you all here today so that I can say what I need to once. This may come as quite a shock, so I suggest you all remain sitting down, just in case."
Narcissa, placing her cup down gently onto its china saucer, quirked a thinly shaped eyebrow at her son's words, but said nothing in response. She could feel her husband's impatience radiating from him, and thought it best not to add to it by saying anything. She was intrigued, however, at her son's behaviour. His appearance and demeanour gave nothing away, but she could see from the stricken expression in his eyes that this was something serious, something of extreme importance to him that would clearly prove problematic for the rest of them.
"I can't marry Astoria."
The silence was deafening.
No one spoke for what seemed like hours. Draco's eyes flickered from each person in front of him and he noted, with amusement, that no one seemed to have moved a muscle. He could feel his father's eyes fixed on him, heavy with a mixture of disappointment and rage, and put all of his strength into evading them.
"Draco," his mother said in a voice that was just above a whisper. "What in Merlin's name are you talking about?"
"I can't marry Astoria, mother. I'm sorry. But I've made my decision."
"Why the hell not?" exclaimed Mr Greengrass, standing up abruptly, his cup and saucer crashing onto the marble floor. "What seems to have changed? Do you think she's not good enough for you?"
Draco's eyes flickered from the broken china to his mother's horrified face, and bit back a smirk. The best china was his mother's pride and joy, and consequently she began to glare at the older man with contempt, her son's news momentarily forgotten. Mr Greengrass took a step towards him and Draco forced his attention back to the matter at hand.
"She can't be – only one girl is. And that's why I can't marry her. Because I'm in love with someone else."
"Who?" Astoria asked, speaking for the first time in a sharp tone. Her face was passive and her eyes were reserved; she was clearly putting on the classic upper-class society face that covered any sort of emotion. But he could see that her hand had tightened around her tea cup, so much so that her knuckles had gone white. It was evidence for the humiliation and anger she was feeling at being rejected, at being told that she wasn't good enough. And unsurprisingly, he didn't feel any sort of remorse.
"It doesn't matter. She'll never be accepted by anyone here. And I thought that it mattered, but I've realised that it doesn't. For what it's worth, I'm sorry," he said quietly, his eyes piercing hers with a sincere look.
And a small part of him did mean it. The part that was usually insignificant to him because it made him weaker. He knew it wasn't Astoria's fault that she wasn't a bushy-haired muggleborn with an encyclopaedia for a brain and a face more beautiful than any other on the planet. She was never in love with him, and never claimed to be either. She recognised that she, like him, was a mere pawn in her father's business game. But she also represented a lot of things about society that he'd always hated; the falseness and pretence, the bitchy smiles devoid of all emotion, and the disregard for anything that had the potential of a bad reputation, even if it involved sacrificing happiness.
"Sorry? You think that a simple sorry makes it all ok? We had a deal!" exclaimed Mr Greengrass furiously.
"It's the best I can do," Draco replied, un-phased by the older man's evident anger. He was more concerned with his own father's eerie silence.
After a few moments of Astoria's father hurling insults and Draco responding with replies dripping in arrogance, Lucius Malfoy rose. He locked his gaze with his sons, and suddenly, it was as though there was no one else there. Draco saw no emotion in his father's eyes, but he knew he was furious. There was probably some sort of tornado going on in his mind, and it was taking all of his self-control to not explode. He was probably contemplating which of the 'Unforgivables' he'd prefer to use on his only child – it wouldn't be the first time. Imperio? Avada? No, Crucio was much more Lucius' style.
"Draco," he said in a low tone. "Do you understand that your selfish actions will cost our family the most important business deal in Malfoy history? That your total disregard for anyone's feelings but your own could jeaopordise the future of our empire? That you are bringing shame upon our entire dynasty?"
There was a pause in which Draco could almost hear his mother's silent prayer to anyone that would listen, begging her son to have a change of heart. Draco swallowed thickly and kept his head held high. It was now or never. He'd opened this can of worms, and he was going to see it through to the end.
"Yes."
It wouldn't be until 3 hours later that Draco awoke on the floor of the living room, alone and bleeding heavily.