Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own Harry Potter.
June 30, 1998
Draco Malfoy lugged his and Astoria's luggages down the train steps onto the King's Cross Station Platform 9 ¾. His sharp gray eyes darted around, looking for any familiar faces. He only saw other students being reunited with their family, laughing and crying. The Slytherin crisply sat down on a bench and waited. And waited.
Astoria sighed, sitting next to him. "Draco, let's Apparate to Malfoy Manor. It's already been 20 minutes."
"Astoria, my mother is running late. She'll be here any moment now," his voice was strong but his eyes were downcast. The witch's dark eyes shone with understanding and her small hand intertwined with his.
They silently waited on the bench, ignoring the hateful glares, whispers, and wide space they were given.
Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass were the only ones at the station, sitting on the bench, lost in their own worlds.
"We should go," the last Greengrass stood up, held her luggage in one hand and offered the other to the young wizard. He wordlessly took her hand, holding his luggage in his other and they Apparated to Malfoy Manor.
Draco fumbled with the key, and somehow managed to open the door. They were met with several wands pointed at their faces.
"Expelliarmus!" boomed one of the wizards, catching both Draco's and Astoria's wands. "Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are sentenced to Azkaban!"
But the Malfoy's attention was only on a defeated witch, restrained by two wizards. "Mother!" he cried, rushing forward, but one of the Aurors waved their wand and ropes wrapped tighter and tighter around him. Draco gagged, desperately tugging at the rope at his throat.
"Draco!" shrieked Narcissa, struggling from the two Aurors.
"Mo-mother," choked her son, trying to inhale the precious air and failing. He collapsed onto the floor and the ropes finally released his throat. Narcissa let out a terrifying scream, rushing to her son.
"Draco," she sobbed cradling him to her ear. Tears shone in her eyes. "He's breathing." Astoria felt her knees buckle with relief.
"Stupefy." The mother fell to the ground, stunned. The Aurors swarmed around the two Malfoys. Ropes tightly wrapped around Narcissa, and the two bodies were levitated to Azkaban.
The last Greengrass blearily blinked, finding herself collapsed onto the hard floor, burning her skin.
"Can't they see the Malfoys have already suffered enough?" she asked softly. "Why is the world so unfair?"
Astoria Greengrass's bitter sobs echoed throughout the cold and empty manor. "Why?"
Thank you for reading! :)