Ok here is my idea of a multichapter Draco/Astoria story, because really, who didn't almost scream for joy when it was announced that Draco didn't end up with Pansy?

Draco snorted delicately at the parchment he held in his hands, he forced himself to stay aloof and roll his eyes at the letter as he read it for at least the twelve times. He set it down and strode out of the room.

What did they think they were playing at, inviting him back to Hogwarts to repeat his seventh year properly. McGonagall must have been out of her mind when she sent that to him.

He continued down the long hallway of the manor until he reached the gardens, wincing slightly at the sudden brightness of the light in his eyes he made his way to the table that had been set up with afternoon tea. Draco Malfoy hated afternoon tea, or at least that's what he tried for years to convince him of.

But now, the war being over and his life settling down more so, he indulged in the normalcy of scones and tea at 2 everyday. His mother started this tradition that the two of them now hold, mostly as a way to insert that normalcy back into his life.

Just as Draco sat in his chair and glanced out over the newly planted grounds he heard the swishing of his mothers robes.

Narcissa Malfoy sparred her son a brilliant smile before it slowly slide from her face, it was no secret that she had been suffering greatly due to the loss of her husband, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after the war. It was difficult for her to move past the loss and she relied heavily on her son these days for silent moral support.

It had been exactly 64 days since the end of the war and Narcissa couldn't have been more thrilled with the life she saw in her son, for at one point in her life she had fallen under the assumption that Lucius and herself had ruined him. And that had nearly killed her.

Narcissa's face turned sly for a second as she sipped her tea delicately, "is there anything you'd like to share with me darling?" she asked innocently.

Draco set his tea down before his eyes met his mother's, he was unnerved by the gleam there that he hadn't seen since he was a child, "no mother…?" he replied unsure.

Narcissa's hand slipped into her robe as she produced the letter from earlier, and Draco's face paled considerably, "Surely the house elf didn't open your letter" she said as she began to read from the letter, "To Mr. Draco and Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is pleased to reopen its doors to-"

"Stop" Draco said suddenly, "Don't buy into it mother, they don't want me back, how could they? I was a monster, I am a monster," he muttered darkly, casting his eyes off into the distance.

His mother grasped his hand securely, "no more thinking like that Draco, you will finish your schooling at Hogwarts then you will return home and the manor will be yours by right"

Draco was so shocked his eyes flew to his mothers, "but mother, he- he isn't dead"

Narcissa winced, "I've asked him to sign the title to you immediately, he wont ever be out so there is no sense in him holding on to it" she said, a cool air in her voice.

Draco squeezed his mother's hand warmly, recognizing her chilly demeanor as her coping mechanisms for dealing with her newfound loneliness.

"I received another letter today" she said, skillfully changing the subject away from her weakness, the way only a pureblood woman knew how.

"Oh?" Draco asked as he retracted his hands and sipped his now chilly tea.

"Yes, a party invitation, to a ball" she seemed eager about something, though Draco could not guess what. His mother didn't want to go to these functions as much as he didn't. She didn't want to be talked about or to necessarily. She was in no mood to be pitied either. It didn't help that she really hadn't left the house since the war ended, house arrest or not.

He frowned, "really? So soon…" he remarked quietly.

"Yes well did you really expect the pureblood families to cast aside everything, despite the war?" she asked waving her hand slightly, as she retrieved the invitation.

"I suppose not, it just seems sudden… you weren't thinking of going were you?" he asked suspiciously eyeing the message in her hands.

"Only if you invite me darling, after all you represent the family now, I would simply be your date… unless you have another in mind?" she asked, not even bothering to mask her eagerness at this as she leaned forward in her wrought iron chair.

Draco stifled a groan, of course this was what she was getting at, she wanted him to be married. That was all she ever wanted for him, happiness, family and love.

He made a face at his mother and held out his hand, "can I see the invitation?"

She hesitated before handing it to him, "you remember their daughter, yes?"

"Greengrass" he muttered as his hands worked over the green and silver invitation, "yes, Daphne was in my year…" he sighed and looked up at his mother.

"She's a lovely girl Draco," she hinted not at all bashfully.

"Yes, lovely in appearances mother, her personality would make you purposely straggle yourself with a-"

"Draco!" Narcissa scolded, not being able to stomach any violent remarks since her time with the Dark Lord living in their home.

"Sorry" he muttered, finishing his tea and rising, "no, I have no one in mind to take, and I would love for you to accompany me" with that he set the invitation next to his Hogwarts letter and strode angrily into the house not bothering to wait for a reply from his mother.

Whatever happened to calming afternoon tea with his mother? Oh that's right, his mother the matchmaker seemed to find a need to ruin it.

He grumbled as he strode back into the house, passing the drearier areas that had suffered damage during the time's Voldemort stayed with them.

Shivers flew down his spine as he passed the now permanently locked dinning room where a Hogwarts teacher had been murdered and eaten right in front of his very eyes.

Draco shoved the images and memories from his mind and walked slowly on the stairs, tomorrow was Monday, and he was to return to 'work'. He sighed again and stepped into his personal library, finding solace in the quite, low lit room, he melted into a large deep green leather chair and retrieved a book from the many littered around the room, diving into the enfolding story.

Please tell me what you think, even if you hated it... actually I hate when authors beg for Reviews.

Ehh review if you want.