Author's Note: I spell it Asteria because that's how JKR spells it on the Weasley family tree.
"Out of my way," Draco grumbled, waving his hands at the white peahen staring dumbly at him. When it still didn't move, he swept to the side with a huff. "Blasted things. All dumber than a box of hair."
Asteria looked around the grounds of Malfoy Manor where two other peafowl stood, one peacock spreading his tail while the peahen beside him ignored this display. She glanced up at her boyfriend and was struck by how his hair looked like a halo in the bright sunlight. She stifled a snort at the thought and focused her attention again on the birds. "Why is your father so fond of them?"
"It's actually rather funny." He sat down in the seat next to hers."You remember that special Animagus class McGonagall does for all her seventh years?"
She did indeed. For the first class for the final year of Transfiguration, McGonagall offered to reveal the Animagus forms of her students in the hopes it would inspire some to study further. While transforming oneself into an Animagus was an incredibly complicated bit of wandless, non-verbal magic, performing the spell on others was less so.
"That's his Animagus form?"
He grinned. "Yes, it is. From what I've heard, a few of his friends – and my Mum – took the mickey out of him for it. Dad, however, decided that such an elegant, majestic bird was one of the few good enough to decorate the ground of Malfoy Manor."
She smiled into her cup, partly at the story but more at the details. Father and Mother were for strangers and in public, spoken in a bored drawl and accompanied by a look of studied coolness. Dad and Mum were for close confidences, spoken with affection, his eyes alight with emotion.
"And the doves?" Asteria asked, pointing back towards the dovecote.
"Mum's."
She didn't ask after his and he looked grateful for it. Asteria remembered her sister confirming that Draco was, indeed, a white ferret in-between her mentions of Goyle-the-ox knocking over several desks and Pansy, the-snubbed-nose Niffler, trying to hide behind her bookbag.
"What was yours?"
"A cat." Asteria could still recall the feeling of surprise when it felt as if she had shrunk and McGonagall came up to her with an approving look and a small mirror so she could see her new form. She had been tall - for a cat - and slim with sleek black fur and blue eyes.
Draco tilted his head, as if considering this. "I like it."