Harry Potter and everything inside it are not mine

Slytherin table was not as crowded as it should be because not many student dared to come back after the war, and many new kids pleaded to the sorting hat to not put them into the cursed house. No one knew it yet, but this epidemic will bring the house to its glory day several years later. The Slytherin's students will learn to work together in many things, from the lesson in classes to the quidditch game. Several years later, Slytherin's students will remind the other, that quidditch is not all about chasing snitch, but also team work between seeker, beater, chaser and keeper. But it won't happen this year, not when everybody still in the sorrow mood the war had brought for them. This year, Slytherin's students will turn their heads low, speak only a little, feel scared and guilty, haunted by nightmare about their families and friends.

He was right there, sitting calmly like usual between his two best friends, but he was no longer alive. His grey eyes became colder and emptier than usual, made them looked like polished stones. Draco Malfoy was there for his 8th year in Hogwarts to finish his N.E.W.T exam like several other students from last year who dared to come back. Some of them will take the free pass if they already learnt enough last year, but Draco Malfoy was not one of them. He had to redo all his 7th classes due to his lack of intention of studying in the previous year. Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott and seven others joined him. From Slytherin house, only Daphne Greengrass and her best friend will be able to join the fast track. In other houses, it was almost equally divided between the fast track students and the normal one, but their number was ten times better than Slytherin's.

For the one who joined the normal classes, they had to study with theirs junior classes sometimes if the class fit them. The green house was often getting this opportunity because of their lack of participant. And that just how Draco Malfoy would meet his future wife, Astoria Greengrass.

From the edge of her eyes, she could see him clearly, but not decided yet to start a conversation. Astoria Greengrass was standing right beside Draco Malfoy in their joined potion class, his usual favorite. When being paired up, Astoria could not believe that she had been stuck with the dying Malfoy, but there they were, standing in front of the empty wooden table. They had not talked at all for the last twenty minutes as the potion professor explained their task today.

Astoria finally looked up to his face when she could not stand it anymore, only to be surprised on how empty Draco's expression was. She could not decided if the man still alive or not, so she called his name to be sure.

"Malfoy."

There was no answer, so she called again several times without getting any reaction from him. She touched his hand finally in order to wake Draco up. When he came back, no one knew from where, he stared at the girl with big green eyes beside him with confused expression.

Astoria let go a heavy breath in relief and then smiled a little, "I thought you would never come back."

"Who are you?" Draco asked after had stoned for several seconds.

"I'm your potion partner for the next whole year, Malfoy." Astoria said it slowly with a hope that he would understand, "I'm Daphne's sister, you don't remember?"

"Astoria Greengrass."

She was a little bit shocked that he actually knew her, but then she smiled again, "I'm glad you remember me, but now we have to start working."

"What do we need to bare?"

"The Elixir, a healing potion."

Draco had brought his finger to his chin before spoke, "Easy one."

Astoria eyes widened, "Actually, the professor said it is the hardest one and we will need to make it again at the end of semester to see how we have progressed."

"Really?" he sounded a little bit disappointed.

Astoria laughed, "I feel terribly lucky right now. Let's start then, Malfoy."

Astoria Greengrass was terribly lucky indeed, as her potion score became as high as it could be that year.

When she first had seen Draco Malfoy, Astoria had never guessed that she would become a friend with him. He had that exclusive aura which made people do not want to be too close around him. They were getting closer and closer everyday; from doing some classes together, relaxing and studying in the same common room and on quidditch ground.

At first, Malfoy had refused to play quidditch again, but Astoria had succeeded convincing him at the shared common room.

"The field was not the same without your leadership, Malfoy." She began to speak, "Theo was not bad, but you are better."

"I haven't played for two years." He said with lazy tone, "And since when you joined the team?"

"Since two years ago of course." Astoria smiled.

"How do you know I'm good?"

"I heard rumors, and I often watched Slytherin's training and matches."

"Are you good?"

"Merlin beard, Malfoy! Haven't you heard the buzz? I am the only one who could match Ginny Weasley."

"No one could matched the red haired girl before" He looked shocked.

Astoria smiled proudly, "you should see it by your self."

"I'm not sure."

"I think you should play again, Draco," Blaise, who had sat in front of them from the beginning of the conversation, suddenly added, "Losing up some tenses."

"Is that true that she could matched the potter girl?"

"She is better."

"This is interesting," He stared at Astoria who smiled a little, "I'm in."

It was a long time ago since Draco Malfoy flew around with his flying broom, and now he could not get tired of it. Flying, after all, was one of his favorite activities before all the chaos hit him and destroyed his family.

He was glad that he joined the team. What shocked him though, that he was picked as a captain team again. His skill apparently had not gone after two years away from the field and his broom. Moreover, his team still respected him. Draco did not get as many players as usual, but he proud enough with his new team and members, especially Astoria who was really a magnificent beater.

Draco had to be used with this excitement feeling he rarely got anymore because right now, he felt really weird and shocked at the same time, as he never had a thought that he would once again lived as a normal teenager witch.

When he thought everything was going to be better, something bad happened like usual it did to him. A letter from his mother came late, as the information had been spilled to the magical world's newspaper. Lucius Malfoy had died a night before in the prison after had taken the deathly kiss. Another death, he could handle, but imagining her mother's sorrow won't do. Her letter was unreadable with the shaking words and the evidence of tears, many of them.

The headmaster had called him to discuss his visit to the manor, but he did not come out from his room that entire day. No one could get in into his locked room accept for Blaise Zabini, his only best fellow beside Pansy. Strangely, with some consideration he had made, Blaise did not want to get in to the room at all to make sure that his friend is all right. But not strange enough, he gave the password of Draco's room to the one and only, Astoria Greengrass.

Having no choice as she already took the responsibility somehow, Astoria let herself get in to his dark and cold room in the middle of the night.

"Malfoy." Once again, there is no answer.

In fact, there was no one inside the room. If this was the reason why Blaise did not want to get into the room, Astoria swore she would curse his balls. It took all of her courage to finally entered the room, braveness was never became one of the green house's characteristic anyway. Having a little bit more trust in Blaise, she explored the room again, this time more carefully.

Queen size bed was in the centre of the room, covered by black sheet and a wool blanket. One big cupboard and two sides table, were looked really clean and neat. Inside the big bathroom, there were only a big bathtub, a highly decorated sink and a human size mirror without any sign of living creature.

When she decided to get out from his room however, she realized something weird hanging on the wall near his bed. Thanks to her ancient runes lesson, she recognized the painting as one of the treasure inside this castle. It was supposed to be a picture of a snake killing a lion, what an epic painting. But now, there was only a bored lion in the middle of the savanna.

Astoria touched the painting in curiosity but nothing happened until she remembered how the painting works. Carefully, she opened the side table's drawer and found some snakes rings inside it. She picked the biggest one and showed it to the picture. When it still did not work, she threw the ring with all her trained ability as a beater, and the snake ring hit the lion head. Seeing the snake became alive and chased him, the lion ran away even further to the painting, it was indeed a really epic painting. Then the painting cracked and opened as a door to another dark room where she felt sure that Draco was hiding inside.

"Malfoy." She called again.

Draco Malfoy was sitting on the big couch, with his eyes on the fire in front of him eating the black woods. Draco's sleeve was rolled up, showing his dark mark on his arm clearly. The view of the hollow eyes came back again and Astoria frowned because of it. With careful steps, she got closer and closer to him until she was standing right in front of him. However, Draco did not give any reaction or realization that Astoria was there.

There was no use calling his name again, so Astoria began to stroke his arms lightly, touching the dark mark. With a sharp breath, Draco awoke in shock.

"Malfoy, It's me, Astoria."

He looked confused at first and then angry when he realized Astoria was touching his dark mark. He pulled his arm rudely and glared at her.

"How did you get in?"

"Blaise gave me the password." Astoria began to feel uncomfortable.

"Blaise had never found me before."

Astoria just kept her mouth shut when she did not know what to say and waited for whatever next happened.

"How do you get in, Greengrass?" Draco asked with a dangerous low voice, "No one had found me before."

Astoria had cleared her throat before spoke, "I read many ancient runes books, Malfoy. And accidentally, I have red about the snake and lion painting."

Draco tried to collect that information and calmed himself, but failed when his body began to shake and his mind became cloudy again. He desperately held his throbbing head with his hands.

Worried, Astoria pulled Draco face with her hand and directed it to hers.

"Calm down, Malfoy." She stroked his face lightly, "It's okay, Malfoy, just calm down."

Failed on his second attempt, Draco's breath became heavy and tears running slightly from his eyes. His dark memories consumed his brain again. That tortures and blood of the muggle-born flashed and hurt his head like needles.

Astoria brought her temple to his, "Draco, look at me."

After several times, Draco finally opened his eyes only to see a pool of emerald green. "Draco, it's okay. Everything is going to be okay."

She murmured multiply of sentences to him until Draco began to breath normally. Astoria did not realize that Draco actually could not listen to her voice clearly, as he was drowning and being mesmerized by those green eyes she had.

Astoria put his hands back to his arm slowly and stroked it again. Draco tried to pull his arm again when Astoria stroked the mark, but now she grabbed it quite hard. "It's okay." She pulled her head away from him and smiled.

At the end, he let him and stared at her until he got his calmness again. Before Draco could let out a word, however, Astoria started a conversation.

"Draco, you have to go home." She paused to make sure that Draco listened to her word, "Your mother needs you."

A wave of sadness stroked him again. Draco closed his eyes in order to hold his tears although it did not work. Astoria made her body close to him again, letting him to cry on her chest while stroking his head and back to make him feel warm. He was not moving and not trying to get away either, he just cried in silent.

"I'll let the headmaster know." Astoria smiled on her way back to his room.

"No. It's okay, I'll tell her later."

"Okay Malfoy, get out whenever you are ready."

Draco just nodded his head.

"Astoria." He called suddenly, "Thanks."

Called by her first name, Astoria felt something funny inside her stomach. But then she smiled again, "You're welcome, Draco."

One day later, Draco finally decided to go home to the Malfoy's Manor to meet his mother who is in the state of grief. Narcissa Malfoy could not be happier to see Draco and hugged him tightly, he was the only one person left for her. In Draco side, he felt relieved. However awful the tragedy was, her mother seemed fine. Looked sad and paler, but fine.

At dinner, Draco moved himself and his chair next to her mother from across the table. Without Lucius Malfoy around, no one really care about pureblood tradition anymore. Narcissa Malfoy was always a woman with a free mind and heart. She could turn awful thing in to a beautiful one just by saying so, and that's just how she survive the Malfoy's men attitude.

"Lovely isn't it?" Narcissa smiled, "Pity that your father ordered such big dinner table for three of us."

Draco could only smiled back. Her mother was always this comforting and kind to him in many ways.

A house elf then appeared and prepared their dinner with a questioned looks on her face. Never in her entire life she had seen such disarranged position in Malfoy Manor, but she kept her duty as usual without any words.

"I am glad you are fine, Mother."

"Thank you darling." Narcissa could not keep her smile again, "I am glad you are fine too. In fact, you look so much better than the last time I saw you."

"Really?" He could not realize how different he turned out to be. Well, he felt calmer and somehow more alive than before.

"Yes you are darling, does Hogwarts brings you something good?"

It shocked him when a flash of Astoria's eyes were appeared first in his mind, so he kept silent for a moment before answering, "Yes mother, I met old friends."

"That's not it isn't it Draco?"

"W-what?"

Narcissa smirked, "Who is she?"

In his life, Draco had used to her mother ability to read him like an open book. It was one of many things he loved about his mother, but sometimes it also felt frightening. Narcissa after all was a true Slytherin in her heart.

"What do you mean, mother?" He tried to look calm although he knew it was useless.

"Is she nice to you?"

Draco felt there is no use for other denial and nodded his head a little bit. Narcissa eyes suddenly filled with stars and sunshine, knowing his beloved son finally met someone special rather than wasting his time with random girls.

"Who is she Draco?"

"Mother, please, I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh Darling, you really like your father when it's come to woman." Narcissa seemed even more excited, "A very shy boy."

He didn't like to be compared with his father, nor having any similarities in their personality. But this night, if it's made her happy, then so be it.

"He always confident and cunning, but in women case, your father could not have any bravery to even start a conversation with me." Narcissa began to laugh, "I was the one who always encourage him. Oh, Draco, I missed that time so much."

Draco just nodded slightly although he was quite surprised to discover one of his father's school stories.

"You know Draco, Malfoys are always hard to fall, but when they fall, they fall hard." Her mother became serious suddenly, "For your own good son, don't ever let her go. Pursuit her for your entire life."

Draco's eyes widen due to this. He had not had any thought about falling in love, and absolutely not a love for the rest of his life. "I-I'm not sure about that, Mother."

Narcissa smiled in understanding. "Do you mind tell me who is she, son?"

He was unsure about telling the truth to his mother, but again maybe this one time he would. "Greengrass."

"Daphne?" Narcissa gasped, "I thought she was with Nott."

He shook his head, "Astoria Greengrass."