Written for smutty_claus livejournal. Thanks to my beta, drcjsnider. I spell it "Astoria" because my recipient for the fest requested that spelling.
December 24th
"Do you ever regret it?" he asked, smoke curling in front of him as he spoke. His eyes weren't on the woman next to him but on the happy couples inside as they laughed and danced under the garlands and fairy lights.
Pansy glanced over, her own cigarette clutched in her gloved hand. "Not having children? Never. I liked my freedom and figure too much for that. Why? Do you want to try for another?"
Draco scowled at her and in return, her smirk only deepened. Wearing a dress of pink satin brocaded with beige leaf patterns and her hair once again in a short bob, she didn't look much different than she had at the Yule Ball thirty years before. They could be fourteen again, outside to steal a few sips of Firewhisky with their entire lives in front of them.
"So ...what happened between you and Astoria?"
"You haven't been keeping up with the latest rumors?"
"I've tried, believe me, but the mystery behind the Malfoy separation is just that." She paused to brush a fallen leaf off the lacy pale beige sleeve of her dress, frowning at it as if it had offended her by existing. Glancing at him, she continued with a shrewd look in her eyes. "Unless I'm willing to believe that Astoria has been conducting some long-standing affair with Oliver Wood behind your back, which I'm not, no matter how deliciously scandalous that would be. Astoria has that pesky obsession with honesty that explains why she wasn't sorted in Slytherin. And it can't have been some known arrangement as, let's face it, dear, you're not capable of having anything but the most conventional of marriages -"
"Some would find the idea of arguing with their spouse over who gets their shared boy-toy this weekend to be disturbing." He still wondered if the tales of their extramarital exploits were actually some long-running joke Pansy and Blaise had decided to play on him.
Pansy positively came alight at that, giggling and biting her lip. "Trust me, if you knew what Claude was capable of with that tongue of his, you'd understand."
"Claude? What happened to André ? And why do I know any of this?"
"Living vicariously through us?"
"Hardly."
She shrugged. "If you say so. So will you be getting a divorce?"
He rolled his eyes and took another drag of his cigarette. "Why? Is there opening in your lineup?"
"You're a bit older than we like, I'm afraid." she said consolingly, rubbing his arm before he jerked it away. "Seriously, Draco, what is all this about?"
"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you unless I was ready to see it show up on Page Six of The Prophet," he snapped.
Pansy was clearly wounded by that but he couldn't find it in him to much care. That he didn't know how this had happened only made it that much more frustrating. He'd spent the past three weeks going over every conversation they'd had, every minute they'd spent together, looking for answers and finding none. He had his suspicions but sometimes he wondered if it was just as others had said: with Scorpius raised and out of Hogwarts, Astoria hadn't seen a reason to stay.
The idea that she'd been biding her time all these years was the most hurtful one of all.
"Well, back to my original topic. Scorpius; how is he doing? Does he still have that little netsite thing," she asked, crinkling her nose. "The Daily...News?"
"Word," Draco supplied. "And yes, he does. And it's still as obscure as ever, thank God."
"That bad?"
"It certainly hasn't improved." He had, at first, gave some encouragement to Scorpius' idea. Draco could admire the ambition into getting into what his son insisted would be the "media of the future" even if Draco thought that was an overly optimistic view of what appeared to be a ridiculous fad device favored by those on the outskirts of society – and his son. Draco had wanted to believe that this was a sign Scorpius was finally becoming serious about his life.
Then he had started following The Daily Word.
Scorpius seemed to have a personal goal of topping each previous "edition" with one that was even more outrageous in its views. First he had argued that all Magical Beings – from Giants to ihouse-elves/i- should be invited to study at Hogwarts as wizards were. In that same edition he had insisted that Muggle Studies be made mandatory and suggested the curriculum include classes on other Magical Cultures and language classes that taught Mermish and Gobleddygook, like they did at Beauxbatons. Another edition had him asserting that anything less than a formal constitution and Muggle-style elections was tyranny. Apparently, having the Wizengamot chose the Minister and then allowing the Minister for Magic and senior member of the Wizengamot vote on new members was insufficient. Lest he'd be mistaken for having views only slightly more radical than most of his generation, Scorpius had also opined that having a government at all was a restriction on freedom and that perhaps the entire thing should be abolished and self-rule become the new law of the land.
In his latest edition he had shown some real "chutzpah," as Astoria's granny would say, by arguing for unrestricted access to books concerning Dark magic, including instructional ones. Even with the almost-snappy talking point of "criminalizing knowledge of the Dark Arts ensures only criminals will know how to wield the Dark Arts," Draco could not agree with his son showing any public support of Dark magic.
"I'm not surprised he doesn't have any interest in a job with the Ministry but Astoria tried to get him a job with the W.A.D.A, let him put those creative urges to good use. He turned it down."
"Parenthood must bring such complex joys." Pansy Vanished the butt of her cigarette with a snap of her wand. "Well, I must be going, our Portkey leaves at midnight. I'll give Claude your love."
She kissed him on the cheek as he bid her a good-night.
Taking a drag from his cigarette, Draco watched as Pansy made her way out of the tent only to be stopped by a familiar blonde.
She looked stunning, there was no point in pretending otherwise. She wore a pale blue chiffon gown that hugged her body and flowed around her. The bodice was accentuated with several blue and white crystals, the decoration only drawing attention to the deep v-neck and her pert breasts. Unlike nearly every other women there, she wore her long blonde hair down, falling in waves over her shoulder. She could have been a not-entirely-chaste angel, complete with an ethereal glow surrounding her.
His relief at her brief conversation with Pansy ending was short-lived, as she soon turned her attention towards him.
"Draco, I 'eard you were 'ere!" Gabrielle Delacour exclaimed, gliding towards him. Over her shoulder, Pansy watched the scene with an arched brow.
"I 'aven't 'ad a chance to talk with you since I arrived," she said, hugging him tightly and kissing each cheek in turn. Her face clouded over with a look that could only be described as delicate disgust. "You smell 'orrible!"
"It's not me, it's the smoke." He waved at the potted trees with his wand. "They imported those from America, they're made specifically to draw in the smoke and turn it into fresh air but as you can tell from all the fallen leaves-"
"I need to get out of 'ere," she interrupted, giving a small cough. "I don't know 'ow you stand this."
He was tempted to feign ignorance until she left on her own. But they still had one more week of working together and she had proven crucial to getting the Goblins to agree to their terms.
"Let's go back to the Atrium then," he said, walking ahead of her without offering his arm.
Once outside the tent, she touched his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "I wanted to thank you. This 'as been a wonderful opportunity for me and I know you were responsible for me being offered this chance."
"You were clearly the best person for the job."
She smiled at him and all the candles and fairy lights seemed all the dimmer for it. "You are too kind!"
"It's one of my greatest flaws."
Gabrielle opened her mouth but something behind him caught her attention. " I am sorry but my niece is 'ere and I must say 'ello to 'er. We will talk again, yes?"
He truly hoped she was giving him the brush-off, it would make life so much simpler. "Of course."
"'appy Christmas, Draco!"
He gave a curt nod and made his way towards the dinner tables. It didn't take him long to find his sister-in-law and her girlfriend still sitting together, Daphne resting her head on Millicent's shoulder. What he didn't see was Astoria.
Scanning the crowd as he walked around the room, Draco had nearly convinced himself of the worst when he spotted the pair on the make-shift dance floor. Wood was in some rented tie and tails, looking as if he was working hard at not stepping on her toes. Astoria made the best of it, moving with ease and grace, even laughing at his botched attempt to twirl her.
She looked so happy it was almost hard to breathe.
The song ended and Draco moved without thinking. It wasn't until he was on the dance floor, standing beside them, Wood's face darkening at his presence, that he realized this could be very embarrassing.
"You don't mind if I cut in, do you?" he asked, looking at his wife.
She sighed, Wood sputtered, and the band started up the next song.
"Thank you," he said, taking Astoria's hand and leading her away from her partner.
It was strange to have her in his arms again, to touch her, when they hadn't spoken in weeks. He was at once on edge – painfully aware of his every movement and her every reaction – and completely relaxed in a way that reminded him of coming home to his own bed after a long day.
"You look beautiful," he told her, for want of anything better. She was dressed to the nines in what had to be a new gown of black lace over white silk, her dark hair straightened and pulled back and her green eyes rimmed in kohl. It wasn't hard to imagine later, after she had let her hair down, her face flushed, lipstick smeared, and eyes shining bright as pulled off her black gloves and asked him for help in unzipping her dress.
But it wouldn't be him she would be asking.
"Thank you," Astoria said politely. The candlelight overhead made the diamond earrings she wore glitter, they were the same earrings he'd bought her for their tenth anniversary.
"How has work been? I heard Daphne mention you've been spending time in Muggle London, visiting record shops and the like."
"Yes, I have." Seemingly compelled more by duty than interest, she added, "And you? I hear you're working long nights again."
That she'd been paying any attention at all to what he'd been doing gave him some hope. "I am. I think we're close to a resolution, however. After eighty-hour work weeks, most of which are spent babysitting Goblins and temperamental foreigners, I am anticipating the light at the end of this tunnel."
"Are you?" she asked quietly, her lips drawing into a tight line and her gaze focused on their joined hands. Her hand rested lightly in his, as if even this much contact was too much.
"Scorpius and I will be having dinner at the Manor tomorrow," he said, feeling as if he were hanging from a ledge and grabbing for any solid surface in reach. "If you'd care to join us."
"Daphne and Millie are hosting Christmas this year. My entire family will be there. I already said I would be attending."
"You can come before. Or after. During, even, if your Uncle Lelantes is there and wants to rope you into another investment scheme – word on the street is edible brooms are going to be the next big thing," he joked, mimicking her uncle's leer.
"I don't think so," she said, stilling as the song ended.
Astoria pulled away from him, her eyes searching his face as she said, "I thought we needed a change. Neither of us are the same people we were twenty years ago, why should we lead the same lives?"
He couldn't speak, he didn't know if he wanted to mock her empty platitudes or fall on his knees and beg her to come back. Maybe both.
"Good night, Draco." She turned and walked away.
He cupped her arse, pulling her closer to him, and she couldn't help the small moan that escaped her mouth. Rose could feel him hard against her thigh and she had the sudden urge to push him against the wall, fall her to knees, and suck him off right there.
"C'mon," she whispered while nipping at his jaw. "You wanted to see my desk?"
"I did, Auror Weasley," he breathed against her neck, her ears heating up with those words.
"Let's go then," she said, grabbing his hand and leading him towards her cubicle. Not daring to use Lumos lest someone walking by should see them, Rose guided him through the dark office to the small cube she shared with Heather Thomas.
"Christ, you are a neat freak," he muttered, taking in her spartan surroundings. Everything was neatly tucked away into drawers and filing cabinets, and everything from the calendar to the quills and the inkpot were Ministry standard. The only sign that the cubicle was hers at all was her nameplate on the wall. Rose had found she rather preferred it that way.
She sat down on the desk, thankful for the slit in skirt that allowed her to wrap one leg around him while pulling him closer by his lapels. Kissing his neck while slowly unbuttoning his waistcoat, she told him,"We Aurors have to be prepared for anything, you know."
He shrugged off his coat. "I bet you say that to all the boys you bring up here."
"Nope."
He didn't respond immediately, trying at first to unzip her dress and settle between her legs at the same time. "No?"
She pushed him back so she could stand. "You're the first boy I've used it on."
With that, she slipped out of sequined chocolate-colored dress that had eaten most of her last paycheck. Maybe later she would blame the three martinis she'd had but she wasn't scared. The danger of it all only excited her more.
"You little minx." She could hear the smile in his voice. "I knew you weren't wearing anything underneath."
Rose snorted at this. "That's because you spent all night feeling me up."
He gave a lazy shrug at this, tossing his shirt and waistcoat on top of his jacket. "Well, yeah."
"Pervert," she said as she sat down on the desk once more, her arms behind her and her legs slightly akimbo. Even in the dark she could see his gaze shift downward.
Pushing her knees apart with his thighs, he settled between her legs, his right hand coming up to cup her breast. His breath hot against her skin, he ghosted his lips over her neck and his hand slid down her body, stopping when he reached her center. After a day of dirty messages to each other and a heated snog session in the lift, she was ready for this. The feather-light movement of his slick fingers against her clit had her spreading her legs for more while the brush of his mouth against her cheek made her turn her head expectantly.
"Tart." He kissed her quickly. The combination of his tongue moving against hers and his fingers slowly pumping in her killed off any response she had.
It really was an awkward angle, her perched on the desk, lying down as much as the cubicle wall would allow and her legs wrapped so tightly around him Rose feared she might get a cramp. But with his tongue teasing at her breast and his fingers making her moan and rock her hips for more, she found she couldn't care as long as he didn't stop.
So naturally, Scorpius pulled his fingers away. Before Rose had a chance to scream in frustration, she heard the familiar rustle of fabric as his trousers slipped down his thighs. She watched as he did the necessary charms, her hand moving down between her legs as she enjoyed the brief glimpse of him the blue light from his wand provided.
"You're killing me here, Rose," he groaned, his knuckles brushing against her hand as she touched herself.
"Then hurry up."
Needing no further encouragement, he entered her in one slow stroke.
"Hold on," she breathed, nearly hitting head against his as she tried to kiss him while he nodded his reply.
Rose moved her hips slowly, her wet fingers still moving over her clit. Scorpius met her movements, his broad shoulders taut as he tried to restrain himself. The angle soon became more maddening than awkward; she felt as if she were being teased rather than properly fucked, her position not allowing him to go deeper or her to spread her legs more.
It hurt and she knew she'd be sore later but she couldn't stop herself from urging him on, thrusting against him as much as she could until the sound of slapping skin seemed obscenely loud in the quiet office. Chasing her own release, she clenched around him, earning a surprised moan from Scorpius. She did it again, the second time enough to make her toes curl and have him buck against her hard.
"Rose-" he gasped, his movements loose and jerky as his came. Nails scratching his shoulders as she rode it out, her disappointment mingled with her desire.
Breathing hard, he stood silent for a moment and she wrapped her arms around him. She was still on edge but, truthfully, her wrist was starting to hurt and the idea of getting herself off on her desk wasn't nearly as appealing as the sex had been.
Scorpius pulled away suddenly and Rose didn't even have time to adjust to the loss when he dropped to his knees in front of her.
"What are you doing," she managed before the first swipe of his tongue. "Oh."
Holding onto her waist tightly, he sucked and licked her clit, the feeling nearly overwhelming her. Her cries came in small gasps and she realized she was both trying to move away his mouth and spreading her thighs for more, her hips moving at a restless pace. She was completely at his mercy, the entire Auror Squad could interrupt them now as she wouldn't be able to stop.
His hands slid down to her legs, pushing them apart, his fingers digging into her skin as he held her open. It was too much; she came with a low moan. Rose bit her lip before she could make more noise, trembling and breathing hard as his tongue moved slowly over her sensitive skin. Finally, she pushed him back so she could close her legs and find some relief.
Scorpius kissed her knee before standing.
Resting on her elbows, she watched as he moved around the quiet office, gathering his clothes and hanging her dress over the wall of the cubicle.
"You're so pale," she said, eyes on his perfectly-formed arse as he stood with his back to her.
"I'd think you'd like that," he said over his shoulder. "Easier to watch me in the dark."
With that, he grabbed his trousers from the floor and – giving an exaggerated wiggle as he did – pulled them back on.
"I wasn't complaining," she laughed.
No longer comfortable sitting on the desk, Rose stood and reached for her wands. A few quick Charms and both she and her cubicle were clean and the smell of sex no longer hung in the air.
"Both our parents are downstairs, you know," Scorpius said softly as she pulled on her dress.
She hadn't a clue where he was headed with this but she'd be surprised if her was embarrassed by what they'd done. Their first time had been in the orchard behind the Burrow while they were supposed to be picking apples for her grandmother. And just last week he'd had his hand up her skirt, trying to get her off in his father's office while the elder Malfoy was busy one room over in a meeting that featured half of her extended family.
"I know."
"Be a good time to tell them about us, don't you think? Christmas Eve, they've had a few, they're bound to be in a good mood." He zipped up her dress. "Well, your parents at least."
Rose turned to face him. "Don't you think it's a bit soon to be thinking about that?"
Even in the dark she could see him frown, his eyebrows knotting in surprise and hurt. "No, not really as we've been seeing each other for four months now."
Silence hung over them as Rose tried to find the words for the great reluctance she felt. Wringing her hands, she finally told him, "I just don't see how that's necessary. At least right now."
"You don't see how that's necessary," he repeated, drawing out the words as if he were trying to make sense of them.
"I don't know why we have to make any formal declarations to our families."
"Right." He pulled his jacket on. "And we can keep our options open by staying quiet about this."
"I thought we were just friends having a bit of fun and seeing where it went. That's what you said!"
"Four months ago, yes," he said, crossing his arms.
"Scorpius," she sighed, placing her hand on his. "I think we need more time before we take any big steps. There's so much going on, I've started with the Aurors and between that and getting my paper published, helping my uncle with the shops and my Mum with G.N.A.W. - I've been so busy I hardly have time to think."
She could feel him relax under her touch.
"I know."
Rose smiled, rubbing his hand. "And to be very honest, I never thought you of all people would be interested in something serious. Least of all with me."
"Really?" He cocked his head to one side and Rose had an urge to run her fingers through his messy hair.
"Well, yeah. You like to run off to the continent for months at a time and you still live at the manor and have no intention of moving out which makes it hard to spend the night." He gave a wan smile at that and Rose felt bold enough to press on.
"It's been more than a year now since we left Hogwarts and you still haven't settled on a job and you spend most of your time at the pub or playing pick-up Quidditch matches with my cousins. A serious relationship doesn't mesh with all that." She gave a small snort. "A serious anything doesn't mesh with all that."
"I have a job."
For a moment Rose wondered if there was something vital she had missed, then realization came over her and she just felt peevish. "You have a site where once every whenever you feel like it, you post one whole article to a devoted audience of dozens."
He scoffed. "Well, I'm sorry I don't have a daddy who can get me a job with the Aurors."
"Fuck you." She gave him a small push and stalked away from him. "You have more money than all my relatives put together, your father is well-placed in the Ministry of International Magical Cooperation and your mother is one of the musical directors for the Academy of the Dramatic Arts. You've no right to act hard-done-by."
"I think having a girlfriend who's ashamed of me gives me some right."
"I'm not ashamed of you."
"You have a funny way of showing it."
He walked off without another word as if he expected her to run after him. Taking a deep breath, Rose held her ground and watched him go.