A/N: Just a short little story written for lazysundaydrabs over at livejournal. Enjoy, reviews are welcome :D
The Way We Met
He could not remember the first time he saw her. He had probably been young. She would have been even younger.
Their parents were not close, though they were part of the same social circle. He remembers seeing her at all of the big elaborate parties he was forced to attend. Kids would always be stuck together. Forced to socialize. Forced to make friends. He guessed it was at one of these that they had first seen each other.
Even if he does not remember the first time he saw her, he does remember the first time he really saw her.
He was at The Leaky Cauldron at the time. The night was slow. This suited him just fine. He did not enjoy big crowds. He sat at the bar alone, pouring bottle after bottle of firewhiskey down his throat. His drinking had gone up dramatically after the war. He didn't know any other way to suppress his memories of the last couple of years.
As he was about to start his fourth bottle, a couple walked into the bar. He recognized the pair immediately. The two were sisters, the older being his own age. Both Slytherins. Both part of that social circle he had despised.
He couldn't help but keep his eyes on them. No, not on them, on her. He had never really noticed her before. She was younger than him, and therefore he never really found a reason to interact with her.
But now, she was all he saw. He was entranced by her movements which were so smooth, so light. He was captivated by the way her long dark hair fell in waves down her back. He wanted to know how the strands would feel running between his fingers - are they really as soft as they look? Then there were her beautiful grey eyes. They were not like his own cold, steely ones which even he could tell lacked life. They were dark, the color of storm clouds and they were full of laughter and joy and a youthfulness that was rare in those who had to live through the war.
Before he had realized it, he was standing up. And just as suddenly his feet were carrying him towards the table were the sisters had settled in. He was being pulled towards her by some unknown force. His breathing was uneven, and his heart beat fast as he stumbled past outlying chairs and tables. He didn't know if his sudden lack of equilibrium was because of the firewhiskey or the sudden intoxication of seeing her. He still to this day does not know which it was.
"Daphne, Astoria." He loved the way her name rolled off his tongue.
"Draco."
"Do you mind if I join you for a couple of drinks?" He looked straight at Astoria, trying very hard not to slur his words together. She was even more striking up close.
"No, take a seat."
And he did.