Loose brown curls fell over Astoria's shoulder. She examined her reflection in the mirror. Her powder blue dress made her look fourteen instead of eighteen. She scowled as she heard a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in," she answered.
Daphne entered. Daphne's short red dress highlighted her curvaceous figure that Astoria always envied. Her golden blonde hair was tied in an updo with little stands of hair framing her face. "Theodore Nott may just faint when he sees you," Astoria examined. She wondered why the only similarities she shared with her sibling were their pale skin and bright green eyes.
"That's the plan, little sister," Daphne responded. "Let's go disturb the peace of Zabini's and Davis's engagement party."
Every pureblooded function was the same. The children, if allowed, would have the garden to play in. The adults and adolescents would mingle. Since the war, the parties were fewer since so many pureblood Slytherins were determined to salvage the remains of their reputation. "I'm going to find Theodore Nott," Daphne said with a devilish smile. Milicent Bulstrode shook her head as she tried to squeeze into Tracey Davis's conversation with her fiance.
Astoria rolled her eyes before accidentally bumping into Narcissa Malfoy. "Mrs. Malfoy," she said politely, "what a pleasure to see you!" Although the Malfoys were the joke of the wizarding world; however, Narcissa kept her head high. She worked hard to regain the appearance of a respectable witch. Although her husband had disappeared from sight, she wouldn't give up as quickly.
"How's your mother, Miss Greengrass?" Narcissa asked.
"Suffering from a terrible migraine, presently. It's such a shame she couldn't make it to this delightful party," Astoria replied. "How's Draco doing."
"He's doing quite well considering," She answered," Would you be a dear and find him for me?"
"Of course," Astoria answered. She was certain she would find the Malfoy heir with Pansy Parkinson. She had often wondered why he allowed that cow to keep a leash on his neck as if he was her pet.
Finally, she heard Pansy's voice coming through the ballroom. "How'd she get so lucky? That knobby kneed bitch shouldn't even be thinking about getting married before me," Pansy screeched. Her harsh brown eyes met Draco's cool grey eyes. He seemed completely uninterested in his girlfriend's ramblings.
"Draco, Pansy asked in an overbearingly sweet tone, "do you ever think we will get married?"
"Draco," Astoria said as she stepped onto the floor. Pansy glared at the younger Greengrass as if she were a huge ugly spider. "Your mother is looking for you."
He followed the younger girl into the kitchens. "I thought you said my mother is looking for me," he asked amusedly . Astoria bent down as she grabbed the bottle of firewhisky from the cabinet under the sink.
"I did, but I would need something to calm me down if I was around Pansy for as long as you. I figured I give you a break from your obiligations to the women in your life," she replied with a coy smirk. She uncorked the bottle of firewhisky before taking a sip. She handed him the bottle and commanded, "drink."
Obeying her command, he took a gulp of the liquid. "Thanks," he responded.
"My pleasure," she purred as she rested her elbows on the counter. She took a drink of the liquid before grinning at the bottle.
"Enjoying the party?" he asked.
"Would I be here if I was?" she responded.
"I'm surprised you're not with your sister," he mused as she took a sip of the liquid.
"She's with Nott so I have to entertain myself," she replied before sliding the bottle to Draco Malfoy. He seemed to be watching her as if she was a rare creature. He had talked to her only a handful of times, and he had heard Pansy complain about her. However, Astoria had the grace of an Unicorn, and she never failed to make an impression. He doubted he would forget stealing drinks of Blaise Zabini's secret stash of Firewhisky.
"Shame," he said. He recalled being a child and sitting at the children's table in the garden. Daphne and Astoria would talk amongst themselves as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle talked about their new brooms. He had never seen Astoria alone until that moment, and he felt incredibly fortunate.
"Isn't it?" she asked before corking the bottle and hiding it from Zabini and anyone else who might enter the kitchen. "Are you ready to see your mother now?"
"It's not like I wasn't. You dragged me here, remember?"
She shrugged before leading him to the massive foyer of the mansion. Before either Malfoy could thank her, she had disappeared. Narcissa looked at her son and said, "I'm surprised. She has grown up to be quite a lady."
"I can't agree more, Mother."