Author's Note::

Hey guys! This is going to be my first Draco and Astoria fic. I've actually never read one either, but I read this immensely powerful thing on the interwebs that stated how mangled Draco was after the war and Astoria was the one to put him to pieces. Since then I've been trying to sort that out. I've discovered (in my own little world) that I love Draco, and I haven't always been a fan. I think I've sorted out what I think Astoria's personality and family situation would be, and I think I've created a pretty round about character.

This is going to be rated M for language, violent situations, and maybe sex (not that smut that we all love). Hopefully I'll be able to make you laugh and make you cry. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please just let me know.

I'm looking for an editor of sorts! If you're interested please shoot me a message. I need someone to bounce ideas off of (I have the basic plot line and things I want to happen but I need help sussing it out) and some help with my poor spelling.

One last thing, I'll be starting one more story within a couple of weeks and I'd like input on what you'd like to read. I'm either going with a story about how George is dealing with Fred's death and how he's moving on with his life and getting closer with Angela. It would also deal with Percy and Penelope's life how they got married, dealt with Percy having to work his way up the ministry again, and rejoining the Weasley family. Another story idea I had was following the Marauders through the end of their sixth year to the end of their seventh year, this includes Peter too, because he's one of the most interesting character in the books in my opinion. We'd be watching as James and Lily got together, why Peter betrayed them, the jealousy of Severus and of course our favorite bachelors Sirius and Remus and what they were up to.

October 10th, 2001

I could see the look of surprise on everyone's faces as I walk in to sign up to be a healer. It was even more of a surprise when the sweet looking old receptionist looked up at me and said, "What are you doing here?"

I stumbled over my words, tried to get it out. "Er," I stammered, "I wanted to sign up for the Healer Apprenticeship."

"You realized we help people of less worthy blood status don't you?" she spit back. She gazed at me with harsh, cold eyes.

"Yes, I understand that but-"

"But you only want to help purebloods?"

"What? Absolutely not!" I said, probably a little too loud, if people weren't already watching me, they certainly were now. "I just want to sign up for the Healer Apprenticeship. I have all the credentials."

The woman glared at me as she handed me a form. I looked at the limp paper in my hand and looked back at her, a little annoyed. "Can I have a clipboard?"

"I thought pure bloods were better at magic than us muggle-borns? Surely, you can conjure up a writing desk," she said.

"I could, but not because of my lineage, but because of my skill, I doubt you scored eight 'O's and four 'A's on your NEWTs," Draco snapped back. He kept eye contact while she handed him a clip board. Draco turned and sat in the lounge furthest away from everyone else as he could and silently filled out the form.

About half way through, the bell jingled and a young woman clicked her way to the front desk. Draco watched her long strides and her black hair swish around her back. She stood with confidence as she asked the receptionist for an application for the Healer's Apprenticeship. The receptionist handed her one- and a clipboard without a word. The woman turned and caught me looking at her. This time I was surprised when she made her way over to me.

"Draco Malfoy?" she said offering me her hand. I shook it before she sat down. "I'm Astoria Greengrass, nice to meet you."

"You're Daphne's little sister, right?" I asked as she pulled a quill out of her bag, apparently the receptionist had forgotten to give her one.

"Yes, but I hope my sister's reputation doesn't precede me, we're quite different," Astoria said with a smart smile. She looked over at my papers, "Oh, you're signing up for the apprenticeship too? How exciting." She got to work on her own papers, starting with her name and address.

"Yeah," I said getting back to my paperwork.

"You were the same year as my sister, yeah?" she said pushing her raven hair out of her face.

"I was," I said, trying to think of my greatest accomplishment.

"That means you've had three years to sign up, why now?" Astoria asked. I tried not to take offense to her abrasiveness.

"My family's name was cleared four days ago," I said looking her in the eye. I was half expecting her to recoil, but then I remembered who she was. A Greengrass, she was probably in the same boat as me.

She gave me a half smile. "I understand," was all she said. We didn't say anything else after that.

I finished my application before her. She looked up at me and gave me a smile of good luck. I strode over to the receptionist, this time the woman just said, "I'll put this in the pile with the others, if a Healer likes you, you'll get a call. We have nine positions with three different Healers open. If you are chosen, you will be working with two others and the Healer." She looked up at me, "Any questions?"

"No, thank you," I said and turned to leave.

As I pushed on the door, I heard a voice call "Good luck." I turned to watch as Astoria Greengrass winked at me. Not thinking much about it, I apparated away from St. Mungos and back to Malfoy Manor.

I appeared just outside the great gates and made my way through the uncut lawn and the uncared for grounds. Now that the family name is clear, we're working on hiring people to get it back to its pristine condition.

I walked slowly to the great doors and looked up at the weathered doors. I remembered when they were a bright and happy chestnut color. Forgetting the memories, I tugged on the door and it pulled open with a creaking sound, alerting everyone in the house that I was home. As I walked in I kept my eyes on the floor, because I could still picture the woman's screams and the look of terror on her face. As I strode past the deep mahogany table, I held my breath, I swear I could still smell him.

"Draco?" It was a quiet voice, my mother's voice. I looked up to see her standing on the stairs, looking at me with a worried expression. She fluttered down the stairs with as much grace as she held in my childhood. She moved towards me and came to hug me, "Why don't you just apparate into your room?" She asked as she held my head to her chest.

"I'm fine, mother," I said pulling out of her embrace. We looked at the table together. It hadn't been used in three years and you could visually see the dust that had collected over the years.

"I should do some cleaning in here," mother said.

"No, we'll hire someone for this room," I said, pulling her by the arm to another room, swallowing my fear. We walked together up the stairs, where the Death Eaters were not permitted to enter. The bottom floor and the basement was for His use, he left the second story for the family, thankfully.

I sat my tired mother on the couch and went to the bookshelves to find her something to read. "Where is father?" I asked looking for a selection.

"Out, I think he's out trying to get his old job back," mother said.

"They'll never have that," I said.

"Hermione Granger has been kind," she said. I flinched at her name as the guilt of my past flooded into my memory. I had treated her the worst. "She works with the ministry."

"We're a wealthy family, can't father just retire?" I asked.

"He wants to feel important," she said.

"He is important, to us," I said pulling down an old favorite of mine Stranger than Magics by Melissa McCarthy. I handed it to her. "Have you read this," I said changing the subject.

"A long time ago to a different boy," she said fondly.

I couldn't think of anything but how she was so wrong.