Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I making any profit from the writing of this story.

Chapter One.

Little Miss Astoria had grown up privileged. There were no two ways about it.

She had everything a small girl of eleven could possibly ever want. Two doting parents, a younger brother who worshipped her, a twin sister who did just about the same, four grandparents who loved her better than any witch or wizard this side of Hampshire could, a house-elf to get her things and clean up her small messes, and now Astoria had her very own Hogwarts' letter.

Barring a moderate disturbance in the past-and it has since been summarily swept from most everyday thought-when Astoria and her sister were infants-having to do with a Dark Lord and his dark minions, life as a Greengrass girl was very nice indeed.

Except for the small fact that Little Miss Astoria had a nemesis already, and that nemesis' name was, Draco Malfoy.

Of course Draco Malfoy didn't know he was the object of such acute hatred, but the story behind that is an explanation for another time.

'I loathe, loathe, loathe him!' Astoria would say daily-but only in her head. To admit anything like that out loud would have gotten her a swift reprimanding look from whomever was watching her at the time; and Astoria, like most eleven-year-olds did not like being reprimanded.

It was a fact of Wizarding life in Great Britain that all eleven-year-olds who could do magic were sent to Hogwarts. Letters of admittance were usually sent through the owl post to arrive on eleventh birthdays-exceptions were made and owls sent earlier if the new student turned eleven between 1st September and 30th November. Astoria and her sister Daphne got their letters in early August; and so, as the time for term was rapidly approaching, the Greengrass family made a hasty trip to Diagon Alley to purchase school supplies. Little Miss Astoria tried to put her vicious thoughts of Draco Malfoy at bay during this excursion-how else could she concentrate on getting more gifts out of her parents?-but it was very hard.

Attached to Astoria's Hogwarts' Admittance letter was a list of school supplies she would need. She needed a wand, of course; and a student-sized cauldron to brew brews in; and some Hogwarts'-style school robes; Astoria needed textbooks, brewing supplies (other than her new gold-platted cauldron), and a rather large-sized trunk to fit everything in.

She didn't need to purchase an animal however because she already owned one-a black cat whose name was Prince Samuel; Astoria was witness to her sister choosing a small grey owl-named Cunningham-, and both sisters were very pleased by the time most of their shopping was completed.

Among the un-listed things-and very much unwanted!-that Astoria received was a brand new meeting with Draco Malfoy.

The pointy-faced cul had been getting fitted for his school robes when Astoria and her mother walked into Madam Malkin's for that same purpose.

'Oh, it's you,' Astoria sneered under her breath, coming to a stand-still in front of the unfortunate-looking boy. 'I thought maybe you might have died. Pity.'

'Pardon?' Draco Malfoy asked, while Astoria's mum admonished Astoria to be more polite and speak up. 'Oh, I remember you,' he said. 'We met three weeks ago at my party. Your Daphne's sister. I hope you got my note? It was…ever so nice of you to come and see me.'

Astoria knew by Draco's pause that he was lying and sneered harder. 'Yes,' Astoria said. 'I'm sure it was.'

The customer standing beside Draco, getting fitted in Hogwarts' robes as well, made himself known to them both by snickering under his hand. Madam Malkin intervened, swiping at him. 'Stop that!' she ordered, and the boy blushed a brilliant red. 'I need you to remain still or the fit won't be correct!'

'Sorry, sorry,' the boy said, and quieted.

'I say,' said Draco, directing this at Astoria, 'you really will have to speak up. I noticed at my party that you had trouble speaking loud then too.' He turned to Astoria's mum. 'Hello, Mrs. Greengrass,' he said conversationally. 'Lovely day for shopping, isn't it?'

'Yes, we thought the same thing, dear. Why, Astoria was just saying how much she liked this weather compared to yesterday, weren't you Astoria? …Astoria?'

Astoria had gotten side-tracked by the unknown boy's black hair and green eyes. 'Hmm? Oh yes, mother, quite.'

'All done then!' Madam Malkin declared, shooing the green-eyed one off his stool. The boy paid for his purchases with a clerk at the front of the store and left without anyone else noticing. 'You're next, miss. Hop on!'

'Am I done, too?' Draco questioned-very impatiently, in Astoria's mind.

'Not yet, young sir, not yet. If you'll just wait a moment, I'd like to get this young lady started, and then I'll finish you up right quick, how's that?'

Draco sniffed. 'I need to get my wand now, Madam.'

'I don't see your mother anywhere,' Astoria observed. Eleven-year-olds needed their parents with them for this milestone; Astoria's father, in fact, was with Daphne right now, purchasing a wand.

On the other hand, Astoria wasn't surprised Draco's parents didn't want to be near him.

'I don't need my mother to get me my wand,' Draco retorted snobbishly. 'I need only Ollivander.'

'Well, I've already gotten my wand,' Astoria bragged at him, puffing up in pride under her black tent of robes. 'It's nine inches and maple and has a hair off a unicorn's mane.'

'I thought they only used hairs off a unicorn's tail,' said Draco, undermining Astoria's bragging.

'Well, you were wrong,' Astoria said. 'Because everyone knows hairs off the tail of any magical creature are much more explosive and incompetent.'

'A wand can't be incompetent, you dullard,' Draco replied, giving Astoria what was probably his second-best sneer. 'It's the wizard who's-.'

'Children!' Astoria's mum finally interrupted. Astoria and Draco stuck their tongues out at each other. 'Why don't we talk about something else? How are your parents doing, Draco? I spoke to your mother just last week, and-.'

'So now we exhaust every avenue of polite discourse,' muttered Astoria. 'Good job, Mother…' For lack of anything better, Astoria looked around the robe shop. And where had that other boy gone off to?

The point was that Astoria Greengrass came away from that little argument hating Draco Malfoy all the more.

Now Astoria was on the train-her sister in a separate car-heading towards Hogwarts. A more excited Greengrass female you wouldn't find.

'I can't wait, I cannot wait,' she chanted repetitiously in her head, while bouncing in her seat and glancing at the open book in her lap. 'Most auspicious. The stars were all in alignment last night. Beautiful sunrise this morning, just beautiful. Can't have anything better.' All Astoria really could ask for was that her trip remained undisturbed. She and her sister Daphne had been proactive enough to be some of the first children onto the train this morning and Lady Luck had rewarded Astoria so far by making her trip to Hogwarts a quiet one.

Once she got to Hogwarts, Merlin knew Astoria's time wouldn't be so quiet. Not only would her loud twin always be around, but 'rumor' had it that Harry Potter would be at Hogwarts this year; and any hopes for a peaceful term could probably be buried on sight of the boy. Astoria didn't really have any hopes or aspirations of befriending someone so famous, but the possibility of meeting him was surely praying on everyone else's mind-everyone else being unqualified sheep and taken to crass behavior.

To shake the melancholy, Astoria allowed herself a brief fantasy of The-Boy-Who-Lived being born an elf.

Wouldn't that be something!

If that were the case, Harry Potter would probably come to Hogwarts with a glamour to hide his pointed ears. Everyone knew elves had pointed ears. To have an elf-child at Hogwarts would be very exciting indeed. Astoria could have Daphne ask him questions about his queen, and maybe, if her sister ingratiated herself enough, they would summer together at the Fairy Palace.

'Hello.'

Astoria's head snapped up. She could not wait to learn spells that would lock doors.

'…I see you're all alone,' said the voice in a femininely brisk tone. 'I've been up and down the train, looking, but it seems every spot I go to has somebody. Or two people. Or three people. Sometimes four…'

'Sometimes four?' Astoria gasped sarcastically.

'Yes.' The person nodded her bushy-haired head. 'So you see, I've nowhere to sit-.'

'Tragic.'

'-And so, I…well, yes, I guess it is a bit tragic,' the girl said diplomatically. 'How good that you point that out, because I was just thinking the same thing…an all-day train-ride to a place I've never been before with people who all seem to want to ignore or insult me, and nowhere to sit down…it is a bit tragic, once you think about it.'

Astoria gazed at the girl in awe. 'Do you ever breathe?' she questioned.

The girl blinked once at the demand. 'Well, yes, of course I do; what an odd thing to ask. Of course I breathe. How would I live if I didn't breathe? I mean, my body would just collapse from the loss of oxygen…'

'You need to slow down,' said Astoria, thinking how sore her own throat would feel if she ever did that much talking that quickly. 'You'll get an ulcer.'

The girl sat down and peered like an owl into Astoria's lap. 'That's impossible,' she directed this into the book Astoria was holding. 'What is this? What are you reading? I brought a book along, too, see.' She showed it to Astoria. 'Have you read it? Hogwarts: A History. It breaks down the-.'

'The history of Hogwarts, yes, I know.' Imbécile, Astoria thought. 'It says so in that title.'

The girl gave a loud sniff. 'Oh, so you do know it. …My name's Hermione, by the way. Hermione Granger. What's yours?'

'Astoria Greengrass. You're a Muggle?' Despite this, Astoria gave the hand that was held out in front of her a firm shake. 'That's going to be unfortunate.'

The girl snatched her hand back. 'I'm not a Muggle!' Hermione exploded; scooting as far away from Astoria on the bench in their compartment as space would allow. 'I'm a witch, just like you. I have magic! I don't understand what all this prejudice is about anyway. I have just as much right to be here as you! As all of you! Maybe more, because at least I'm giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, whereas people like you, and…and Dracotis Mellow-.'

'-Oh, so you've met the twat!' said Astoria happily. 'How marvelous.'

Hermione shook her head like she was rattling out the kinks. '…I…I…apologize to me,' she ordered finally. 'Then, after that, like a civilized human, you will tell me how you know him. Is his name really Draco…Dracotis? ...Did he insult you, too? Oh! I know! Are you Muggleborn?'

'Of course not,' Astoria said primly. When that comment made it look like Hermione the Muggle would set herself up in a grand snit again, Astoria made an effort to move her hand off her book and pat the other girl on the arm. 'There, there,' Astoria comforted, 'I didn't mean it in a bad way.' Astoria was in fact, fascinated by Muggles. They were like brightly-colored insects one wanted to collect.

'I don't see how there is any other way you could have meant it,' Hermione said.

Astoria shrugged. 'Well, Muggles are an oddity, you must know.'

'No, I do not!' Hermione snapped. 'My parents are Muggles, and they're some of the best people out there! Why, they're dentists!'

'What-ists?' asked Astoria, with real curiosity.

'Den-tists,' Hermione repeated. 'They fix your teeth…how is it that you don't know what they are? I thought everyone knew.'

'Well, my teeth don't need fixing,' Astoria pointed out, smiling for evidence. 'Maybe that's why I've never heard of them? Do they make good money?'

Hermione thought about it. 'I suppose we're more well-off than some people,' she said. 'Why?'

'Well, I can't talk to you if your parents aren't swimming in it,' Astoria said. Then after a beat, she added, 'sorry, but it's true.'

Hermione nodded. 'You can forgive me being Muggleborn,' she said philosophically, 'but you can't forgive me being poor? I understand.'

'Good.'

'…So…'

'So…'

Hermione shifted again to get a look at Astoria's book. 'So, what are you reading?'

'It's a soft-porn novel.' Astoria held it out magnanimously. 'Would you like to switch?'

Hermione wrinkled her nose. 'No, thank you.'

The two girls dove into their respective readings. From then on, Astoria wouldn't call Hermione Granger a friend, but she would, in her nicer moments, consider the fact that she and the little Muggle had a little somethin' somethin' going on.

Draco Malfoy on the other hand, Astoria knew, was still as much as a complete ponce as he'd always been.

True, Malfoy might have been only one of many spoiled, pale, aristocratic, obnoxious, pointy-faced purebloods that so abounded in British Wizarding Society-to single this small boy out for only two gross misdeeds was probably intolerance at its worst and Astoria would have done well to be more open-minded but she didn't seem to care; Astoria just could not help hating him.

Draco Malfoy was the sort of boy who annoyed Astoria most, just in the aspect that his kind existed.

Couldn't one be real? Astoria asked. Couldn't one pick a personality and stick to it?

Astoria had seen Malfoy be sycophantically pleasant one moment-the scene in the robe shop with her mum came to mind-and absolutely, arrogantly horrid the next. Just because he was a Slytherin-in-the-Making was no excuse. Astoria was a Ravenclaw-Shoe-in but did that mean she spent all her time transcribing Divination tomes written in Arabic? No.

No, fellow witches and wizards, it did not.

Another reason to dislike Draco Malfoy was that he was the only boy who seemed to have a knack for finding Astoria in busy train hallways.

'I see you still need a minder,' Draco declared, sidling up next to her and trying to force Hermione the Muggle to leave them alone with a glare. 'Your mother's not here, and that fool twin of yours is still getting dressed, so I suppose it's my job…'

'Don't touch me!' Astoria flicked the knuckle Draco Malfoy had just cuffed her on the chin with as hard as she could. 'Monstre!'

'Ow! Greengrass! Watch it!'

'Stop whinging, you big baby,' said Astoria. 'You'll make The Giant come over.'

Draco glanced around quickly. Astoria had figured that such a small boy would be scared of him. 'No, I won't,' he decided after a moment. 'We're not even off the train yet.'

'Well, we're going to be soon,' Astoria sniped. 'Move away.'

'But I like annoying you,' Draco complained.

'That's too bad.'

'Oh, come on-.'

Hermione the Muggle, Astoria was learning, could not abide immaturity in any form. 'Dracotis, Astoria said to leave!'

'Are you talking to me, Mudblood?' Draco asked. 'How singular. And my name is Dray-co. You, however, may call me 'Master.''

Hermione gasped, but Astoria only rolled her eyes. 'Excuse me? Malfoy?' Draco turned his head back to look at her. 'You need to not call her that. I mean, as a Pureblood scion, I thought you were above such vulgar name-calling, but apparently…'

Draco, his ears turning mottled red, opened his mouth to say something cutting, and then, thinking it over, snapped it shut again. 'Very well,' he nodded and then bowed at the waist. 'I'll save you a seat after The Sorting, Astoria.'

Astoria and Hermione watched him walk away. 'The arrogance!' Astoria said snottily. 'The complete arrogance that would make him think I would sit next to him to eat my dinner. Even if we made it into the same House, which is obviously impossible-there was never a more obvious Ravenclaw than I-I would never share my bench. The absolute arrogance. Not to mention his presumption in addressing me so familiarly! He knows my sister, but am I her? No. That boy is obviously soft in the head.'

'…I can't believe he called me that,' Hermione said, still in horror, looking to Astoria like she needed to blink away a tear or two. Astoria softened against her will. 'It's an atrocious word. Atrocious. I can't believe they let anyone speak it.'

'Treat it like a nickname,' Astoria advised.

'Of course I won't!' said Hermione. 'Why, if I let one person slide on that, then I'll have to let everyone slide, and where will progress be then? Nowhere, that's where. Progress will be nowhere.'

'I didn't tell you that word so you would get hung up about it,' Astoria replied. 'I told you it to educate you. Though, it is a shame that twats like him give the rest of us a bad name.'

Hermione giggled. 'Are you calling yourself a twat, Astoria?'

'Of course not,' Astoria said quickly. 'That's not what I meant and you know it.'

Seeing that all the first years were forming a line, Hermione made an unsuccessful grab for Astoria's hand. Astoria, having a thing against strangers touching her uninvited, moved it aside. 'Come on!' said Hermione, undaunted. 'We should go! That Giant Man you talked about earlier is getting everyone into boats…'

And so signaled Astoria Greengrass's first look at Hogwarts.

Though she will deny it vociferously afterwards, so magnificent was Hogwarts' outer appearance that Astoria was left momentarily with a mouth hanging open.

Astoria let the emotion of the moment wash over her, rejoicing in the feelings she received. Her blood charged and her soul smiled. Her heart quickened and the wand in her hand thrummed in anticipation.

Astoria had always wanted to live in a pretty castle.

A/N: In the books, Astoria Greengrass isn't mentioned until the last chapter of Book Seven, and then only as: 'Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat.' JKR, in an interview with Time Magazine pulls the wool off a little by adding (when asked the question of whom did Draco marry): 'Astoria Greengrass, younger sister of the Greengrass family.' I'm making Astoria Daphne's twin, because I want Astoria and Draco in the same year. Astoria is still younger however, by seven minutes.