A/N: Written for Draco's Den Roll-a-Drabble Prompt in October 2018. My Roll-a-Drabble prompts were: Astoria/Ron and accidental eavesdropping. No beta other than Grammarly. Will be updating these for each month that I do them. They will have a variety of pairings, but all are starring a Slytherin. Ratings will be a solid M for curse words and possible smut. And the goal is to be between 100-1k words.

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The Dissolution and Arrangement of a Marriage


Astoria wound her way through the aisles of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes slowly. She picked up a few items, looked at them disinterestedly for a moment and then put them back again. Where was he? Ron had always been so prompt before. She'd come into the store, he'd spot her and whisk her away to his brother's apartment above the shop. They'd spend the afternoon fucking like rabbits, and then part ways. It was the perfect arrangement. And one she controlled entirely. Which suited her just fine.

She knew Draco was out fucking anything that moved, so why shouldn't she also get some on the side? Scorpius was grown and gone. He'd moved out of Malfoy Manor, leaving her there to rattle around by herself. Well, she had just had to take matters into her own hands. And she had when she'd stumbled across one Ron Weasley one afternoon at the Leaky Cauldron.

He'd been surprisingly funny. She didn't remember him being funny from school. Then one drink had turned into four and they had stumbled to a room upstairs. For weeks afterward, Astoria had been terrified that they had been seen. Her prenuptial agreement had been explicit. If she were caught being unfaithful, Draco wouldn't owe her a dime. The misogynist hippogriff shit was that Draco could fuck all he wanted. But Astoria couldn't. Which really meant she just had to be more careful.

After Ron had sent her a fifteenth owl, she finally responded by letting him know she needed more discretion in the future. Ron agreed and proposed the current plan. Which was perfect for Astoria. Or it had been, when Ron was around.

She wandered toward the back of the store and thought she heard voices. A glance over her shoulder told her that Verity was minding the till and not paying a lick of attention to Astoria. She moved closer to the back stockroom and knew she could hear Ron's voice, she just couldn't figure out what he was saying.

The back stockroom door flew open then and Astoria turned her back quickly, pretending to examine something on the shelf in front of her.

"... don't fucking care, Ronald," Hermione Granger-Weasley hissed. "You either end it or we're fucking done."

"Come on, Hermione," Ron insisted. "Don't be like that. There's nothing going on!"

"That's not what George says. Or Verity for that matter. I'm not a fucking idiot, Ron!"

Astoria froze. They were talking about her. Fuck. Did Hermione know who it was that Ron was cheating on her with? Was she about to get called out? She reached a hand into her handbag and pulled out her wand as slowly as possible. She tried to make her movements as small as possible to avoid attracting attention her way. She had no way of knowing whether she'd been spotted by the arguing couple or not.

"Hermione, I know you aren't an idiot. I'll end it. I'm sorry. Please don't leave me. I-I couldn't live without you," Ron whispered.

Hermione sighed heavily and Astoria felt her heart clench. She didn't think she had feelings for Ron, but it still hurt to hear that he would rather stay with his wife than her. The truth was, she was happier with Ron than she had ever been with Draco. And if Ron had given her any indication that he would marry her, she would divorce Draco in a heartbeat. She stole her heart for the coming confrontation with Ron. She almost felt bad for him, he was going to be having a very bad day.

"No, Ron. Actually, I'm done. I… I can't do this again. Not after the mess with Katie. I'll be out of the house by the weekend," Hermione said. Astoria heard footsteps walk away and she stayed as still as possible, hoping Ron hadn't seen her yet. But, of course, he had.

"Astoria?" Ron said from behind her.

Astoria whirled around her wand still in her hand to see Ron looking tired and drained.

"Hi, Ron."

"How much did you hear?" Ron asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"All of it," Astoria whispered. "Listen, I think this needs to be done."

She turned to go, but Ron grabbed her arm just above the elbow, stopping her.

"Astoria, wait," Ron said, shuffling his feet.

"Ron, it's fine. I knew what this was when we started it. A bit of fun. I'm not upset, truly. Go win your wife back."

"That's just it. I don't want Hermione. Not really. Godric, what a mess," he sighed and released her elbow. He ran his hands down his face and Astoria felt the need to comfort him but held back. He was obviously lying to someone, she just wasn't sure who.

"Ron, I heard you beg for your wife. You don't have to tell me pretty lies," Astoria said as kindly as she could manage. He truly was having an awful day, and despite her hurt feelings, she didn't want to hurt him more.

Ron stepped closer to her, placing a hand on either side of her waist. Twenty minutes ago, this would have made Astoria's heart beat faster. And now, well her heart was beating faster, but also, she was just scared he was going to do something that would hurt her more in the long run.

"That's just it," Ron explained. "I begged for Hermione because it's what's expected of me, but when she told me she was done? I've never been so relieved in all my life. It's you I want Astoria. Godric, you are all I've wanted for months. If I thought you'd leave Malfoy, I would propose on the spot," Ron breathed. His forehead was pressed against hers and Astoria could taste his minty breath in her mouth. She couldn't help herself, she pressed her lips to his and Ron responded immediately.

"Yes," she whispered pulling back just enough to get the word out.

"Yes?" Ron asked, a look of confusion on his face.

Astoria grinned. "Yes, I accept that backhanded marriage proposal. I'll file paperwork with the Ministry today."

"Fucking hell, yes," Ron hissed and pressed his lips more fiercely to hers. Astoria giggled as he tried wrestling her out of her cloak.

"Let's at least make it to the back room," she muttered against his mouth.

Ron hauled her up over his shoulder and turned on his heel. Astoria laughed as he banged through the door to the stockroom, locking it the moment it was shut. She decided that the moment she left Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, she would be heading to her solicitor's office. Then Ron kissed her again as he set her atop a worktop and she decided not to think for a little while.