I stared out the window at the grey sky and sighed. My life was boring. That was the best way to put it. I had tons of money, a big mansion, and nothing to do. I loved my family; that was for sure. Summer was always better. That was when Scorpius was home and Astoria was happier. Then we could spend time together or go somewhere, like the south of France. But now, in the dead of winter, it was boring; drab and dull. I heard Astoria coming down the hallway, humming slightly. I straightened up, trying not to look as dead as the old apple tree in the garden, grey and rigid. Staring out the window, I waited. She was a happy person. Her heart was warm and kind, but she wasn't a pushover. I admired her strength. It was something I wished I had. Astoria turned the corner, carrying a beautiful black cloak, and spotted me. Her humming stopped and she dropped the cloak on a side table, walked over, and wrapped her arms around my waist. "Draco, what's wrong?" she asked, putting her chin on my shoulder. I sighed, "Nothing." She knew me too well. My emotions to her were as clear as glass. I could tell she was frowning; I knew her well too. "Are you going to answer me?" she asked, a bit of frost entering her voice. Astoria knew when I was lying as well. That was something she didn't tolerate. I turned around, putting my hands on her shoulders. "I'm fine," I lied again, looking her in the eyes, trying to be convincing. Obviously, I had failed because Astoria gave me fleeting look of loathing. That surprised me. I'd never been given a look like that before. Well, at least not in a while. "No, you're not, Draco," she said firmly, pushing my hands off her shoulders and crossing her arms, "Just tell me." I sighed angrily. I didn't want to say it, but I guess….I had to be true. "Astoria, I'm bored," I said. Astoria's green eyes narrowed. "I've got nothing to do, nothing that interests me, no one to talk to-," the look on Astoria's face made me stop. "You have nothing to do? You have nothing that interests you? You have no one to talk to? Damn it, Draco!" she shouted, "Talk to me!" I stared at her, terrified. I'd seen many scary things in my life but nothing scared me more than Astoria's rage. She stormed a few steps away then turned around, her dark green dress swirling. "You've been moody all month, even more than that. A few months, even before Scorpius left for school," her eyes were flashing, "and I thought I'd give you some time. I thought you'd come around. But you've only gotten worse! You won't talk to me! You won't go out and do anything! You don't even pay me any mind! Every night, I wait until you've fallen asleep and then I cry because you've forgotten me." Tears bloomed in her eyes and she swallowed. "Do I even exist anymore?" she cried. I felt my throat tighten. What did I say? She meant the world to me; I couldn't believe she thought otherwise? Had I really been like that? Did she really cry herself to sleep? I wanted to hold her in my arms and to speak but the words wouldn't come. I just stood there, wide eyed and mute. Astoria threw her arms out to the side. "Are you even going to answer me?" she shouted, her voice raw with emotion. Tears poured down her cheeks, inciting my own eyes to water. Slowly she dropped her arms and walked over to me, raising her hands to the side of my face. "What happened to the witty, dashing wizard I fell in love with?" she whispered, her voice thin and high, wavering slightly with her tears, "What happened to his smile, his laugh? What happened, Draco? Is he even there anymore?" Still, I couldn't talk. She stared at me hard. I wanted to cry. But pride, stupid pride, stopped me. There was no way I was going to let a woman, especially my wife, see me cry. I blurted the first words I thought of. "I'm fine, Astoria, there's nothing wrong with me," I realized I had made a bigger mistake than staying silent would have been. Astoria's hopeful gaze turned angry and fire burned in her eyes. She let go of me, stepping back and bearing her teeth with rage. "That's it, Draco," she spit and I flinched. Never had I ever heard such hatred directed at me. "That's it. I'm leaving," and she whipped around, snatched the cloak of the floor and put it on. She paused. "You're weak, Draco," she hissed. In a whirl of green, black, and blonde hair, she was gone with a crack. I stared at the spot where my livid wife had just been. I sank onto the window sill, shaking. Tears finally fell from my eyes and clutched the stone wall, crying for all I was worth. Slowly I slid to the ground. I put my head between my knees, sobs racking my chest. She was gone. She'd left. Who knows when she'd come back? I cried harder, my wails echoing around the ancient hall. What had I done? What had I done? A swishing sound echoed down the hall from me. I looked up hopefully. Maybe she'd comeback. Maybe she'd see my tears and realize I couldn't go on without her. But it wasn't her kind green gaze I saw. My father's cold blue eyes looked down on me from their dark sockets with distaste. His lip curled slightly, showing his gnarly yellowing teeth. As he limped away, I caught a word. "Weak," he muttered. I down the hall at the spot where he had been, listening to my own panting and the swish-click-thump of my father leaving me, dying on the floor. Weak? Was I weak? Suddenly I was back on the tower, lo those many years ago. He was right there. I could have done it. I could have staunched the light in his eyes. I could have ended it all. But I was….weak. I hadn't done it. I hadn't….. Weak. I was weak. Fresh tears blossomed in my eyes. Weak….weak….weak…..