DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: This is a DH disregard. Astoria and Draco are entering their 7th year at Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the "gang" are also still at Hogwarts and are still working tirelessly to destroy Tom Riddle.

I pack my case. I check my face.
I look a little bit older.
I look a little bit colder.
With one deep breath, and one big step, I move a little bit closer.
I move a little bit closer.
For reasons unknown.

For Reasons Unknown; The Killers

Astoria POV

"Avada Kedavra!" a sickening flash of green lit up a small room, then an innocent looking young girl was lying on the floor, her hands limp on her stomach. Another girl runs into the room and seeing the lifeless body screams and clutches it in her arms. Cackling laughter bounces off the walls.

"You!" the girl screeches, pointing her wand at a man and woman who bore a striking resemblance to her and the girl in her lap, "You killed her! Daphne, your own daughter! How could you? H-how could you?" The girl held the older girl's body to her as hot tears ran tracks down her flushed cheeks. "Daph, come on. Wake up, Daph, wake up!" Hugging Daphne's body even closer, the young girl kneeled on the ground and sobbed with a grief that no child should know. She stroked Daphne's raven black hair, so different from her own blonde and stifled her sobs until they were just small gasps. The door to the nursery opened and framed in the light was a woman with black, curly hair. She inhaled sharply and quickly walked to the mourning girl's side.

"Come now, Astoria, we mustn't show weakness. You are a Greengrass, your sister is a Greengrass-"

"Was. Was a Greengrass." Astoria looked up at Bellatrix with a cold glint in her bright green eyes and took a deep breath. "Don't be silly, Miss Bella. She is dead now." Astoria turned her youthful eyes back to her elder sister and gazed at her tenderly.

Bellatrix LeStrange was shocked to hear such formal, grown up words come out of such a young, naïve mouth. Nodding slightly, Bellatrix grabbed Astoria's hand and pulled her up, Daphne slid out of the fierce grip that Astoria had had on her. Gently pulling her away from the crime, Bellatrix left the smaller girl without once looking back.

Sitting straight up in bed, Astoria Greengrass instinctively grabbed her dragon heartstring wand and held it out in front of her. She slumped back into her multitude of excess pillows when she realized that her wariness came from the dream she had just endured. Unlike so many dreams she had experienced, this one did not make her wake up with screams razing her throat and tears flooding down her face. Now, ten years later, Astoria seemed almost immune to death and pain.

She pushed her bed covers aside and slipped her feet into silk slippers. Astoria Greengrass regarded her reflection in the intricate mirror that stood in one corner of the room that she was occupying. Her blonde hair had grown long and now touched just below her waist, it was naturally pin straight and highlighted with lighter, natural almost white streaks. She sighed and pulled it up into a messy bun and then padded over to the mahogany wardrobe where she pulled out a pair of khaki slacks and a simple forest green, long-sleeved blouse. She entered the bathroom and began filling the enormous tub with different colored waters which, in turn created different sized bubbles and scents. But on second thought, she turned the flowing water off and climbed into the shower instead. After cleaning up, she muttered a few spells to dry her hair and then tugged her clothes on. Astoria scrutinized her appearance one more time and then said a few spells to hide the long scar that traveled from above her eyebrow to below her right eye. Sighing to herself, she walked out of the room and down an extravagant staircase and into the gaze of Draco Malfoy.

"Hello, Astoria." Draco's eyes traveled up and down Astoria's tall body and then returned to her fierce emerald eyes.

"Good morning, Draco. I trust you slept well?"

"Yes, thank you. And yourself?"

Rather than answering, Astoria just nodded slightly and began walking to a door located behind Draco.

"Come now, Astoria. You mustn't treat your host that way." Draco's voice carried to Astoria and she could almost hear his smirk in it.

"You're quite correct, I'm sorry. Would you be ever so generous to forgive me of my trespasses? I would be eternally grateful, Master Malfoy." Astoria turned and raised one eyebrow at Draco's smug features. Suddenly, they both burst into raucous bouts of laughter. Clutching her side, Astoria walked over to the boy in front of her and flung her arms around his neck.

"I missed you so much, Draco." She murmured into his neck.

"I missed you too, Tori." He responded equally softly.

"Are you ready for today?" Astoria questioned. Draco's relaxed body suddenly turned stiff and he removed his arms from around her waist. Astoria pulled away and stared at him in surprise.

"I suppose that I am as ready as I'll ever be. We should get to breakfast, my Mother will be missing us. Not to mention Aunt Bellatrix." Without waiting for a response, Draco turned sharply and headed through the white and gold door. Astoria followed and was soon in a room that housed a small table with croissants and tea on it.

"Ah, Miss Greengrass. We were wondering when you would join us." The statement came from Narcissa Malfoy, who was currently nibbling on a plain croissant.

"My apologies, Mistress Malfoy, I did not realize how late the hour is." Astoria bowed her head in respect and stared at the marble floor.

"Not to worry, Tori! Draco was almost as late as you; he just walked in a few moments ago." Astoria looked up to find her guardian, Bellatrix LeStrange, motioning to Draco who in turn bowed his head, hiding a smirk.

"Thank you for understanding, Miss Bella. I appreciate it very much. May I say that you look very lovely this morning?"

"No need for flattery, my dear, at least not when I am in your presence. Merlin knows that you are much more beautiful than me!" Bellatrix cackled a laugh and then gestured to Draco once again. "Right, Draco?"

Draco coughed on the chocolate scone that he had just taken a bite out of and then cleared his throat.

"You're quite right, Aunt Bella." He slyly winked at Astoria who stopped herself from rolling her eyes just in time. At that moment the door behind her slammed open and Lucius Malfoy stormed into the small dining area.

"There you two are! What are you still doing in here, eating breakfast! You must come with me at this moment if you are to be ready to be presented to the Dark Lord in time." Without looking back to see if Draco and Astoria were following, Lucius Malfoy strode out of the room and down a long, dimly lit hallway. Astoria rose from her high-backed chair and quickly followed the man out. After a few steps, Astoria felt Draco's presence beside her and she quickly relaxed as she prepared herself to be made ready for the Dark Lord.

A/N:

Well hello there! This is my attempt at a FanFiction after my last one… dwindled to a saddening abandonment. I have a plot planned out for this one and I'm much more excited to write it because it is Draco/Astoria which is my favorite type of FanFiction. I realize that this chapter is a bit short and I hope to lengthen my chapters as the story continues. Beginnings are very difficult for me so please bear with me. Thank you and please review it and if you have any suggestions for me, I welcome them.

OnlyPureBlood, over and out :)