I'm changing the format of this story because of the really short chapters from before! I hope your guys like it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Except Astoria's personality and Maxwell the Chameleon!
31st December, 2000
10.30 pm
~Astoria~
Astoria Greengrass sighed happily on her couch in the small single-room apartment she'd rented in London. Although she wasn't asked to leave her home at Greengrass Gardens, Wiltshire, Astoria was adamant about starting her life by herself. And the first step in doing so, she'd claimed, was living by herself. So, for the first time in her life, she waited to celebrate the coming new year by herself, in the apartment. Although, it was be wrong to say she was by herself. She had the company of her pet chameleon, Maxwell, as she'd named him, who was sitting on her shoulder, completely invisible, save for the small, occasional shimmer of light.
"So, Maxwell, I recon it's going to be a great year" Astoria said, putting the book she'd been reading down on the table to stand and stretch. She'd got the evening off after working two straight double-shifts for her boss at Gringotts bank, a nice bloke named Bill Weasley. He'd been hailed as a hero of the second war and Astoria had been smitten with him, until she'd met his beautiful wife and even more precious daughter. Since then, Astoria had decided to leave love out of her life until she was really prepared.
A 'pop' in the room beside hers' surprised Astoria, who walked over and found her sister, Daphne, standing in the muggle shower looking a little spooked.
"Daph, what are you doing here?" Astoria asked, frowning. Daphne looked at the shower quizzically, before stepping out the shower and walked to the bedroom.
"I'm going to a party" Daphne said, randomly, "So, I thought, I'd do you a favour and invite you along" she added, looking through Astoria's closet. Astoria frowned.
"I'm having a great time reading my book, Daph" Astoria said, "Go by yourself"
"Who said you had a choice, Tori?" Daphne said, raising her eyebrow at her younger sister. Astoria's nose scrunched up.
"What kind of nick-name is that, Daphne?" Astoria asked as Daphne handed her a few clothes.
"Wear that" Daphne commanded, "Don't make me strip you" she warned. Astoria groaned as she dressed in the dark blue halter dress that her sister had picked out for her.
"I don't remember buying this dress" Astoria admitted, walked out wearing it and then looking down at herself.
"You didn't" Daphne informed, "I did" she added, pulling out her wand. Astoria frowned at her.
"What's that for?" she asked. Daphne grinned.
"Make-up" she said. Astoria shook her head.
"I can do that myself" she insisted, walking to the dressing table and putting on some glossy lipstick and some mascara.
"See? Done" Astoria said. Daphne rolled her eyes.
"Let's go" Daphne said as Astoria brushed her waist-length curly hair meticulously to preserve the natural curls, "It's right down the street" she said as Astoria grabbed her purse and keys and checked for Maxwell by patting her shoulder, where the chameleon usually sat. Then, she let her sister drag her down the four floors and down the street to the local muggle club.
"A club?" Astoria asked with disbelief as they entered with ease, "You're mad" she decided as Daphne lead her through the crowd of people, mostly muggles to another crowd, mostly wizards.
"Daphne! You made it!" someone called and Daphne responded by a wave of her hand.
"Of course I did!" she yelled.
Soon, Astoria found herself meeting and greeting several of Daphne's Slytherin friends. Although Astoria and Daphne were sisters, Daphne was a Slytherin and Astoria was a Ravenclaw. Her parents, of course, didn't approve of it, but Astoria was fine with it. She had great friends in Ravenclaw and she even spent quite some time with Cedric Diggory, before he'd been murdered. Astoria claimed him to be ler first love. Her thoughts frequently drifted back to the days she'd spent with him, while he talked about some quidditch match she had never seen or heard of. He fascinated her in every way. Then, he was gone. And Astoria had felt a part of herself die with him. Now, she wondered if she would ever recover enough to love anyone ever again.
"Tori, come on!" Daphne said, pulling Astoria by the arm onto the dance-floor.
"Daph, I can't dance!" Astoria said, pulling her hand away.
"You don't have to"
Astoria frowned on hearing the male voice. She turned towards it and found herself looking at a blonde-haired boy, with grey eyes, staring at her with a smirk on his lips.
"Draco! You came!" Daphne said, excitedly. Draco Malfoy smirked.
"Of course" he said, snobbishly, "It's my party!" he declared. Daphne rolled her eyes and then smiled at Astoria.
"He's all yours', Tori" she whispered, before being whisked away by some boy Astoria had never seen before.
"Astoria, right?" Draco asked, "Come on" he said, leading her by his hand on her waist to the centre of the floor. Astoria frowned and tried to leave him.
"I'm sorry, excuse me" she said, moving away. Draco grabbed her hand.
"No, you're not" he said, "You're just avoiding me" he said.
Astoria was familiar with the Malfoy boy. He was a loose-person. He would do anything and everything with anyone.
"So let me" Astoria said, with a straight-face, "You're not going to get what you want anyway" she told him. Draco Malfoy smirked at the clueless girl.
"Daphne brought you here for me, darling" he told her, "So, for now, you're mine" he said. Astoria frowned and slapped him right across his face.
"I belong to no one, Malfoy" she said, sternly as Draco nursed his cheek, "And get your slimy hands off me!" she said, pushing him away and then walking through the crowd of people with relative ease and making her way out of the club.
11 pm
~Draco~
Draco Malfoy frowned as he watched Astoria walk away, leaving him in the middle of the dance floor. He had been planning this night for the last two months. He had been smitten by her since he'd seen on Old Hallow's eve, the 31st of October. Since then, Astoria had been the only person he thought of. He had to beg Daphne to get her there. So, he could work his magic. Draco frowned, rubbing his cheek. He was not going to give up that easily.
11.13 pm
~Astoria~
Astoria nuzzled against Maxwell on her shoulder and shivered in the halter dress as she walked home. How stupid of her to walk out wearing such skimpy clothes. Honestly, what was she thinking.
"I wasn't thinking" she remembered and then shook her head.
"I guess chocolate sounds good right now" she thought, walking back slowly, even though she barely felt her toes.
"Astoria! Wait!"
Astoria was surprised by the voice and stopped with shock. She spun around and stared at the figure running towards her, hands flailing. Astoria frowned.
"How strange" she muttered, "That looks like Cedric"
As the figure got closer, Astoria's expression changed from curiosity to annoyed. It was Draco Malfoy: the unsuccessful avenger.
Astoria turned on her heel and began to walk away, as fast as she could. But, that wasn't very fast, since her feet were frozen.
"Wait!" his voice came, closer now and soon, he grabbed her with his right hand on her shoulder, bringing her to a halt. Astoria scowled.
"What, Malfoy?" she asked testily. Draco huffed as he bent over himself, trying to catch his lost breath. His breaths came out as puffs of mist.
"Astoria" he said, looking up at her, his breathing back to normal, "I have something I want to say" he said. Astoria frowned.
"I don't really want to listen" she said, looking away and trying to escape from his firm grip on her shoulder. It really hurt, she wondered if it would leave a mark. Draco frowned.
"You must be freezing!" he cried, noticing her state of dress as he quickly pulled off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. Astoria felt Maxwell jump up onto her head before returning to his place, now on a warm coat.
"Thanks, I guess" Astoria said, honestly glad for the extra warmth.
"Here" he said, nodding towards a small coffee shop, "I'll get you something warm to drink. It'll heat you up instantly" he said. Astoria was tempted to accept, but she shook her head.
"My flat's right there" she said, gesturing to the building across the street, a few buildings down. Draco looked taken aback.
"I see" he said, looking down. Astoria groaned.
"Ok, come on, my treat" she said, "Since you shared a little warmth" she added, noticing his sudden, happy expression. Draco nodded and followed her into the coffee shop, which was warm and smelled of coffee beans and vanilla.
"I'll have the hot chocolate fudge" Astoria ordered and looked at Draco for his order, as did the waitress and smirked and nodded meaningfully towards him as well.
Draco smirked a smirk that would've caused a million hearts to break.
"I'll have a coffee" he said, "Decaf" he added. The waitress nodded and went off. Astoria let out a happy breath, soaking in the heat the place had to offer.
"So, what do you want to say to me?" she asked, looking at Draco. He shrugged casually.
"I just wanted to make you stay" he said, smirking, "I needed a reason"
Astoria rolled her eyes.
"Keep this up, Malfoy" she said, encouragingly, "And you'll end up all alone as a bitter old man" she added. Draco snorted.
"It's not like you're any better, Astoria" he said, stressing on all the syllables in her name, "Daphne tells me you're incapable of love"
Astoria snorted as the waitress got her order. Astoria frowned at the sundae.
"I actually wanted a lot more hot fudge" Astoria said, looking at the waitress. The waitress gave her a look that was both annoyed and tired.
"I'll put some more" the waitress said, annoyed, before taking the sundae back. Astoria nodded.
"I'm not incapable of love" Astoria informed him mildly, "I just haven't found the one worthy of my love" she said. Draco laughed at her.
"You're just vain" he told her, sipping his coffee and gagging.
"This is bitter" he said, glaring at the cup. Astoria snorted.
"It's coffee" she said, making him look up quizzically, "it's supposed to be bitter"
Draco pushed the cup away and eyed Astoria's sundae as the waitress brought it back, hot fudge dripping from the sides of the glass.
"Thank you" Astoria said, smiling at the waitress, who sighed and walked away. Draco frowned as he noticed the smile. Astoria had charmed the waitress with a smile. Not the magical kind of charm, the kind of charm he'd been put under to: the love/lust kind.
Astoria dug into her dessert happily while Draco stared at it longingly. Rather, he stared at her longingly. In his many years, Draco had never, not once, envied a food stuff. Now, he found himself burning with jealousy of the sundae: how dare it had the permission to touch Astoria's lips and produce such happy moans when he had to sit across the table, a million miles from her, drinking bitter coffee?
Astoria frowned when she noticed the longing look on Draco's face. Then, she groaned.
"If you want a bite, just say so" she said, "Don't look at it like that! You'll give me a tummy-ache!" she said. Draco shook his head.
"It's not that" he said, picking up the coffee again and taking a sip. Then, realising it was bitter, scrunched up his nose and put the cup back down.
"Weird food-starer" Astoria said, finishing the last of her ice-cream.
11.47 pm
~Draco~
Draco watched as Astoria paid the waitress, received a warm smile from her and stood to leave.
"You can have your coat back" Astoria said, taking it off and handing it over. Her shoulders were creamy white, as was her exposed back, but it was tinged with pink: she was still cold.
"It's ok" he told her, pushing the coat back, "You're cold" he said. Astoria smiled at him, only a little, before pushing it back towards him.
"I live across the street" she argued, "You'll need it for the trip home"
"I live a pop away" he said, "And I end up right next to a warm fireplace" he said. Astoria rolled her eyes and stood, leaving the coat on the table.
"Happy new year" she said, turned on her heel and walked out of the shop.
Draco frowned, grabbed his coat and followed her.
"Why do you avoid me, Astoria?" he asked as she crossed the road. She stopped and turned to him.
"I don't become friends with strangers" she replied, grinning as she watched him cross the road.
"It's already our second meeting" he argued. Astoria frowned.
"This is the first time we've actually interacted" she said. Draco frowned and shook his head.
"Don't you remember Hallowe'en?" he asked. Astoria pouted, thinking back.
11.59 pm
~Astoria~
Astoria thought back to the said day. She remembered going with Daphne to some masquerade party. Then, she remembered waking up in her flat, drunk and smelly.
"I hardly remember going to a party" Astoria confessed. Draco frowned, seemingly worried.
As the countdown to the new year and millenium began, Draco clearly tensed.
"Zero!" some passerby yelled happily and shouted out new Year's wishes to anyone who would care to listen.
Astoria noticed Draco lean forward and down towards her, his eyes solemn, his lips a little pink. Astoria frowned. She knew what would happen next. What she didn't know was why her body refused to move at all. She just stood there waiting. Draco's eyes remained open until the moment his lips touched hers'. Then, they closed.
Astoria's remained open and unblinking. Finally, when he attempted to deepen the kiss by licking her lips, her senses and bodily functions returned and she responded to him by kneeing him in the stomach, followed by elbowing him in his left shoulder: basics of all muggle defence courses. Draco winced as he felt the injuries she'd inflicted on him.
"That was a step too far, Malfoy" she informed him and then hurried into her flat.
That's all! Review please!