A Beautiful Cacophony
Draco Malfoy X Astoria Greengrass
Disclaimer – I do not own the Harry Potter series.
A/N: Important!
Please go to Chapter 21 for an important note about this story! It is discontinued!
But feel free to read it!
Prologue
The parchment crumpled in her firm grip, breaking the tense silence that had descended over the Greengrass family from the moment the letter had arrived at their stately manor house. Astoria clenched it to her chest, and gazed intently at the thick, crimson carpet that smothered the floor of the Drawing Room.
The room was situated in the Southern Wing and, although not very big, could easily hold all four members of the Greengrass family inside its interior with room to spare. The huge arched window was adorned with heavy drapery, and two squashy sofas sat facing an impressive fireplace, which at present, held no fire. Astoria was sat on one of the sofas, whilst her parents and older sister paced the room impatiently.
Astoria glanced up, caught her mother's apprehensive gaze and nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
"You were right, mother. It's my Hogwarts letter. I got in, of course."
Her sister, Daphne, opened her mouth to speak. "I don't know why you were so worried, Tora. Not all witches and wizards perform accidental magic. You're just a late bloomer, that's all. You're not a squib. No-one in our family has ever been a squib. We all have magic in our blood. There's no shame in our family."
Astoria sighed. Daphne was right, of course, but that hadn't stopped her worrying. Her sister had shown so much promise by the time she was Astoria's age.
Her family legacy was something of great pride in her household; purebloods, and great wealthy witches and wizards. There was a darkness, of course. One that didn't just extend to her family.
If it wasn't for the Death Eaters (for that is what she assumed most of her parents' associates were), then her- No. It would do no good to dwell on a past that can never be changed.
She closed her eyes slightly, and opened them again with fierce determination. She withered slightly under her sister's cold stare, and smiled anxiously at her concerned parents.
"I know that. It's just…I don't want to let you down." Her silvery eyes glimmered with uncertainty.
Her mother gathered her up in a choking embrace. "Oh Astoria, dear! How could you even think that you could let us down? You are so clever, so beautiful… A perfect daughter, just like Daphne!" Astoria cringed inwardly at the comparison. "As long as you keep away from trouble and strive to be the best you can, then how could we be anything but proud?"
Her mother straightened up, releasing her youngest daughter from her grasp, and desperately began shifting her robes back into a presentable fashion. Her mother was a vain woman, who prized appearances over physical interaction with another person, and so her embrace was enough to send Astoria's mind into turmoil. Her mother was just flattening down a stray wisp of platinum hair, when Mr Greengrass spoke.
"Your mother is right. Just try your best and we could not ask for more. Do not forget that Daphne will always be there to set you right if needs be." His eyes reflexively appraised Daphne's haughty demeanour, and he smiled slightly. His black eyes quickly shifted back to Astoria, regarding her with a heavily veiled disappointment.
Daphne suddenly clapped her hands together with a delight of which its origins were unknown to Astoria. The source of her sister's happiness, however, was quickly revealed.
"Mother! Father! We absolutely have to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow and pick up mine and Tora's new school things. Besides, Pansy told me that there are these wonderful new robes in Madam Malkin's…"
She went on to give a very detailed description of the pretty dress robes that she had been told about, stopping only to pull a small photo from her day robes that she flourished with delight in her mother's face. She finally gushed with what she deemed as the best part of the 'amazing' robes.
"And they are coated with actual fairy dust which makes them shimmer like liquid gold. They are simply beautiful. Oh, and I saw Serene Purenote wearing them on the cover of last week's Witch Weekly."
Astoria rolled her eyes. Of course it was something to do with Daphne's favourite singing witch, Serene Purenote, who she idolised with the utmost devotion. Astoria watched as her father mockingly sighed, his own subtle gesture of love. Her mother simpered, betraying her adoration of fashion and celebrities.
"Serene Purenote, you say? Surely not that famous singer who did a divine version of 'Drinking Up Your Love Potion'? Her emphasis lay on the word 'famous'. "She is such a pretty young girl, isn't she? A lovely little pureblood, and so very young! How old is she again? Eighteen? Nineteen?"
Daphne nodded eagerly and Astoria could already tell her sister was going to get exactly what she desired, so she settled herself by reading through the booklist that had come with her acceptance letter. She sat in a thoughtful silence as her family debated the price of the dress robes and how they would journey to Diagon Alley the next day. Astoria was content at the thought of getting ahold of some of the books on list, as they looked really interesting.
She could feel excitement bubbling up inside her; she was really going to Hogwarts.
A/N: So here is the prologue of my first Harry Potter fanfiction; a love story between Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. It would have been up sooner but after a very interesting read of NectarAndAmbrosia's thoughts on how Astoria would have been, I went through and edited some of the minor details. Anyhow, I hope y'all enjoy it and please review :D