The Potter, Weasley, and Malfoy children all boarded the Hogwarts Express, and all was well.
Or at least so it appeared. No one noticed the couple arguing while everyone else left the station. Astoria and Draco Malfoy were not acting like the Pureblood aristocrats everyone expected them to be.
"I broke a marriage contract. A BLEEDING MARRIAGE CONTRACT with the Parkinsons because of you! I loved you with all my heart. You can't leave me, Tori. Please! I need you in my life; Scorpius needs you. You can't just leave me. What did I do to bring this on? What could I have possibly done to make it so you don't love me anymore? Am I really so different from the man you once loved?"
"You are such a girl, Draco, stop overreacting. Marriages don't last these days, especially arranged ones like ours. I want a life. Scorpius is big enough he doesn't need me anymore, that's why I waited this long. You think I ever wanted to be tied down? Please, the only perk I got was the Malfoy vaults. I don't even know how Scorpius was ever conceived with that being the only perk in this sham of a marriage."
"I am not overreacting! Just because there was a marriage contract doesn't make it arranged, it was just the way my father did things. I wanted to marry you, and I want to stay married to you. I'm sorry I can't give you everything you want, but I can try." The plea was evident in Draco's voice, the love burning in his eyes along with the pain. The sneer in his Tori's voice hurt him almost as much as the words.
"It was a marriage contract on my end of the deal! You think I wanted to marry you right after the war? That I wanted a black wedding dress because I was still mourning my sister? No. My father told me it was my responsibility! So I acted the perfect little Pureblood wife. But, Draco, I can't do this anymore. This is not the life I want. I raised Scorpius, and I will try to be a part of his life, but I won't take him away from you. I need to leave though, Draco. Please, let me."
Tears started to form in the corner of her eyes; she wiped them away until she couldn't stop the flow anymore. She was crying for her sister, for Vincent, for all the friends she lost who would be forever marked as villains. She cried for all those she couldn't cry for before because of the marriage and she cried for her opportunities lost. She went to move into her husband's willing arms, her earlier shields breaking down. Just before he wrapped his arms around her, she pushed him away again.
"I'm sorry, Draco, I really am. The house elves have already packed my things. I hope you find happiness where I just can't give it to you. I really do love you Draco, I just. I just... can't."
And with that, she left. He heard from her on occasion, and she was happy. It eased Draco's pain just a touch to know she finally found what she was looking for. Though, the pain from knowing he could never give her that still overwhelmed him.
Written for the Amazing Writer Competition! Also Bet'ed by the wonderful charming beautiful megafoxyawesomehot teddylupin-snape! I owe her cookies for life because I am bad and I procrastinate!