Astoria sat there looking at her father, at a loss for words. She didn't understand the words that had just come out of his mouth. Arranged marriage? Why would anyone arrange marriages anymore? Then the words he said after that flooded into her mind. Preserving the bloodline. Of course this was all about blood, what else would it be about? It certainly wasn't about love like marriage was supposed to be. She realized around that time that her father was expecting a response, so she asked the most obvious question she could think of.

"Who?" Astoria asked her father quietly, trying not to over react yet. Maybe it would be someone she could get along with, to eventually come to love. That was still a possibility in her mind. After all, she heard about people being forced into a marriage only to come to love each other. There were a few people she would rather die than marry, but hopefully her father was smarter than that and didn't arrange a marriage with those families. Surely her father had more common sense than to arrange a marriage for her with any of the families that had fallen since the end of the war. Her ranting inside her head came to an end when she heard her father reply.

"Draco Malfoy." He told her calmly. It almost seemed like he was waiting for the reality to hit her, and too soon it did.

Astoria didn't comment, she didn't know what to say. Her mind was running away with the news though, not even taking a moment to breathe. How could her father arrange a marriage with the Malfoys after all they did? After the whole fiasco with the war? Why couldn't she marry into a nice family like her sister Daphne? Daphne got to marry into the Borgin family. The man was a few years older than her, like Draco was to Astoria, but they at least got along. Astoria didn't get along with Draco in the slightest. While they were in school he was too concerned with the war and his father, and after the war Astoria hadn't spoken one word to him.

While she knew there was a chance her marriage would get arranged she hadn't expected it so soon. After seeing her sister get married off a few years earlier Astoria had done everything she could to find an appropriate pureblood she liked that she could marry. Apparently that wasn't good enough for her father. But her father of course had an explanation. The contract was made just after she was born, meaning she had had no choice her whole life but to marry Draco Malfoy. Why she hadn't been told that sooner Astoria could only wonder.

Quickly she excused herself from her father's study, making her way up the stairs to her room. It was only once she made sure the door got completely shut behind her did Astoria finally start to cry, the tears falling fiercely. This just wasn't fair. She couldn't stand Draco and yet now she was expected to marry him? How her father could have ever thought this was a good idea was something that still baffled her. Astoria knew her crying was pointless. She had no choice but to marry Draco. Regardless of all the things she had hoped for and dreamed for it wouldn't make a difference now.

Astoria would be marrying Draco Malfoy. Her mind still wouldn't comprehend those words. She was sure the contract probably held all the specifics; how long they had to plan, how long they had to conceive, all those things she wasn't ready to think about but would soon have too. But as the tears continued to run down her face she wondered did Draco even know? If he did know, how long has he known? Astoria hated to think that he knew back when they were both at Hogwarts. All those times she had passed him or avoided him and he could've known? A shiver ran up her spine at the thought even as the tears continued to fall. At least when she was still in school she could imagine she would have a happy life with someone she fell in love with. Perhaps those hopes made the news that much harder for her to hear.

The tears fell for a few more minutes before Astoria could manage to stop them, a few deep breaths helping keep them from falling anymore. Slowly she dried her face, using the back of her hand since she didn't have anything else handy at that moment. Once she was sure she was composed she carefully got to her feet, making her way over to her desk in the corner. She took a seat in the chair with a sigh, glancing around her desk for a moment. Finally she opened her drawer and pulled out a fresh piece of parchment, setting it on her desk before pulling out her favorite quill. Reaching over to uncap her ink bottle she considered what to write, doubting anything she would write would sound good. Eventually she dipped her quill into the ink, giving up on trying to sound correct and instead simply sound sane.

Dear Draco,

I have just been informed about the marriage contract our fathers' arranged. It certainly came as a surprise to me, having not expected my father to arrange a marriage for me. However what's done is done, and I will work through it. I imagine we will need to meet soon to discuss the details of the contract as well as start planning the wedding. If you could let me know a time that is good for you soon I will find a place.

Yours,

Astoria

Astoria knew the letter probably sounded cold and distant, if not a bit disappointed. When she read it again though she couldn't even bring herself to add a bit of cheerfulness or happiness to it. She certainly wasn't happy, and there was nothing to be cheerful about in her opinion. As she sealed the letter she stood up, walking over to her owl by the window. Carefully she got her owl out of its cage, attaching the letter securely to its leg. Astoria walked it over to the window and opened it, watching as her owl flew away with the letter that would change her whole future, whether she was prepared for it or not.