Three days were all he took for visiting his mother although the headmistress had gave him more time. He would like to stay at the Manor for a longer time, but Narcissa encouraged him to go back. "Go home with her next time," She said. Her mother was truly excited about this falling in love business and bluntly showed it to Draco.

So when the time he had saw a girl with the green eyes, he began to feel nervous. 'Malfoy do not feel nervous!' he said to himself.

Astoria Greengrass was having a pleasant dinner with her friends at the Great Hall when Draco walked in to the room. He could see her, somewhat more clearly now - Her beautiful face, her smooth black hair, her fascinating green eyes, her cute smile, her everything.

"Drake, Don't just stand there." Blaise whispered from behind, "Everybody are watching you."

Right. Draco nodded his head and walked to their usual spot, where Pansy already took.

"How is your Mom?" Pansy carefully asked.

"She is fine." He answered lazily while looking at a certain girl again.

Both Pansy and Blaise exchanged their eyes in understanding. They were relieved that Draco himself looked rather fine, and even better. They could see some determination in Draco's usual eyes just like before the war had happened.

"Draco, who are you looking at?" Pansy began to suspect. But before anyone answered, Blaise nudged her with his elbow lightly. She understood and waited calmly for Blaise to tell her later on.

As if he did not hear Pansy's question, his eyes still fixed on Astoria. And with such obvious activity, Astoria began to feel uncomfortable. She looked up and found Draco in his seat, gazing at her intensely. Astoria cleared her throat.

To be honest, that grey eyes made her heart pounded hard, but it terrified her at the same time. It was just so intense. Astoria could not decided the intention of that gaze. Did he want to kill her? Or kiss her?

"What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." She got up from her seat; "I think I will talk to Malfoy for a second."

"Sure thing." Her friend shrugged, "I don't understand why you care so much about that messed up guy."

"He is my friend." Astoria glared before left.

Astoria walked rather nervously as Draco had not yet stopped his gaze. She suddenly felt that the floor was so interesting to look at and found out that it actually has a great colour and shape. The tiles are not simple squares! They are actually triangles! Fascinating!

"Good evening Greengrass." Blaise tried to stop Astoria who apparently almost missed their table.

"Oh, Good evening Blaise, Parkinson," She cleared her throat again, "Malfoy."

Pansy nodded.

Blaise kicked his friend when he did not react. When he came back to reality, Draco almost jumped to see her standing right next to him.

"Astoria." He said bluntly.

"Yes, err… Draco?" Astoria tried to calm herself, "How are you and your Mother?"

"We're both fine." He said finally, "Why don't you take a seat?" He patted an empty space next to him.

"Sure."

'Well this is awkward'. Pansy took her full attention to both Astoria and Draco. Blaise was pretending not to care. Astoria was nervous. Draco was in silent because he did not know what to say.

"How are you, Astoria?" He finally said. His heart pounded faster than it should.

"I'm good Draco," She smiled, happy that Draco began to have a conversation with her, "But I messed up at potion class today. I was useless without you there."

Draco chuckled, "I will make sure we do it splendid next time."

Astoria smiled, "I'm really happy that you're back now."

He suddenly felt an urge to kiss her, but contented it before he ruined everything. He wanted to make her as his, he had decided. The gaze was back again and Astoria felt funny in her stomach.

"Don't forget about qudditch practice tomorrow." Blaise suddenly spoke.

"Of course Blaise!" Astoria was too excited to her own likeness, "Well, see you both tomorrow then." She nodded politely to three of them before flea to her previous spot.

Astoria could not understand about what just happened. Draco Malfoy was suddenly looked a thousand more alive than before. His skin and lips flushed with warm colour. His eyes was gleamed in a new lighter grey tone, and help Merlin, they looked intense! Then the way he saw her, like there was something so interesting in her that no other person could see. One more thing, he was chuckling! He was never done that before in front of her – and cursed Merlin balls! She loved it.

She had never thought Draco more than a friend, but now she knew she could not see him in the same way again.

"So… Astoria Greengrass is it?" Pansy finally spoke after some times of silent.

Draco just shrugged. It was usual for him to tell about his crush on girls anyway. They would not think this one is special. But of course, he was wrong about that. Just the way he looked at her, it's just madness!

"You look at her like she's your prey." Pansy added carefully.

"She is."

"So nothing more than a sleeping buddy?"

Draco tilted his head, as suddenly he felt annoyed. He then said no with a strong defensive manner. "She is more than that."

"I can see that now." Pansy smirked, "good luck with her, Draco."

The next day, Draco tried to find Astoria before the practice with no avail. He was not really familiar with her schedule yet. He made sure he would in next couple days.

In his disappointment, Astoria was ten minutes late to the practice.

'What is it that take so much of her intention more than quidditch… and me?'

He stared her in irritation, making her felt guilty even more than before. Astoria could not even see his eyes when she apologized. She was sure that she will received a big mount of punishment from the captain, and she was right. Draco made her stay longer after the practice and Astoria could not run from it although she really felt tired and wanted a nice warm bath right now. It was already late in the evening after all. She just hopped he did not make her skip her dinnertime as there was a delicious rumor about the dessert, it might be a lemon meringue she loved so much.

Astoria shifted nervously when Draco walked to her direction. She realized that they were finally alone after the last time she had found him in his secret room. They were now both seated on a wooden bench near the changing rooms.

"Why are you late?" He asked coldly.

She was at first confused when he had not asked her in the first place, but understood that he did not want to waste time for her alone rather for the team in their valuable practice time.

"I wasn't finished with my activity this afternoon." She said rather vague.

"What activity to be precise?" Draco raised his eyebrow.

She was not replied until some seconds passed, "I was mentoring the firsty."

"Mentoring first year students?" He asked unbelievingly, "For what?"

"Well you see, they are a little bit lost because of the un-conductive surrounding we have now in Hogwarts. There is less guidance for them than the last time we were in first year, Draco. Especially for the Slytherin."

"Do you mean you do a mentoring program not only for Slytherin?"

"Well, don't you think it feels a little bit unfair?"

"What do you mentor them about exactly?"

"Whatever they need I guess," Astoria continued, "Their problems with teacher and friends, their grades and assignments, giving direction in this massive school and stuffs."

"And you do all this things with?"

"Just my two Hufflepuff friends."

Draco was shocked. What in the name Astoria Greengrass actually was? She is a Slytherin with Hufflepuff friends, who do a mentoring program for pathetic first year students from all houses!

Dear Merlin! She is not only a Slytherin! She is also a Greengrass, a little sister of the ice queen Daphne Greengrass! He thought he shocked him when she said she played quidditch, but he apparently knew nothing about her. He fell in love with a girl he did not know!

"Draco, I am really sorry that I was late. I promise it won't happen again in the future." Astoria began to panic when Draco stoned.

"Draco, are you alright?" She touched his arm to wake him up. It was effective as Draco blinked and gazed over her in a same way as the previous day. The effect on her was even greater at that time because he was looked rather gorgeous after the sweaty practice.

"Who are you, Astoria?"

"W-what do you mean Draco?" She was confused.

"I don't understand you."

"I think the feeling is mutual."

He ignored her, "Why are you doing all these?"

"Doing what?"

"You smile all day, you play quidditch, you help people with your weak Hufflepuff friends, you even helped me!"

"D-Draco, you do not look well."

"You were not supposed to do that!" Draco's head was in pain again. There was something in his chest, trying to burst out from its cage.

Astoria grabbed his face softly to calm him, "Breath Draco, calm yourself."

"You- you are not supposed to care!" He finished rather loudly.

All of the sudden, they were in silent. Only a harsh breath could be heard when some minutes passed. Draco's hands were white at both his side while he calmed himself. He could see worry from Astoria's face, but there was also a hint of confusion. He noticed also, her hands cupped and stroke his face gently.

"You are not supposed to do this." He continued breathlessly, "How can you do this to me? Why do you care?"

Astoria slipped back her hands fast, but Draco caught one of them in his hands and kissed her palm and fingers while closing his eyes.

"I- I don't know, Draco." She finally said when she got back her voice. It was shivered and weak.

When he opened his eyes, Draco snapped back to his common sense. He had let go her hands immediately and murmured sorry before got up and walked away.

"Don't be late again next time, Astoria."

She was anxious when she walked to her charm class that day. It was not the studies that worried her; it is a particular boy in that class she feared.

Astoria had not been able to attain dinner last night, as she felt weak and strange. She could not yet put the feeling in her chest in to a decent word until now although she had thought about all night long. Thankfully, her nice and caring friend brought her some food and her favorite cake without bothering her with questions she did not want to answer. She was feeling better today and able to have breakfast in early morning before walking around the lake. But now, it's time for her charm class.

To her pleasure, Astoria could not find the white-blond haired boy when she entered the class. She delightfully took a spot in front as it was her favorite seat. Charm is one of her expertise other than ancient runes.

Astoria was preparing her quill and books, humming happily as she was looking forward for the lesson.

"Something good happens today?"

The time seemed to stop abruptly and the humming followed. Astoria had never felt so nervous before in her entire life. She was usually confident and prideful about herself that make her looks strong and calm every time, but never more she guessed.

Before she could answer the voice, Draco sat next to her as nothing had happened a day before. Astoria decided to play along, not wanted to feel self sided about the rumbled feeling inside her chest.

"Charm is one of my favorite subjects."

"Ancient runes is the other?" Draco smirked knowingly, "and potion is your least one. You are so predictable sometimes."

Astoria just watched him unbelievingly as she remembered how frustrated Draco had been a day before when he had claimed that he knew nothing about her.

"Yeah..." That was all she could say.

"Hey! That's my spot!" Miranda Avenue was standing with her hands on her hips in front of Draco.

"I don't see your name here." Draco shot back so quickly, none of millisecond was passed. It's all thanks to a practiced defense mechanism in Draco's body.

"Excuse me, Malfoy. But my best friend sit there, which makes your spot exclusively mine!"

He snorted, "That's an idiotic theory and I don't care. I can sit wherever I feel like to."

Miranda was going to throw another words, but Astoria decided to stop this nonsense. "Miranda, it's my fault I let him sit next to me. We can move to another table but it seems that they are all already occupied. Do you mind to sit with another person? I will meet you after class."

"Fine!" She said before huffed to the back of the classroom.

"Such a delightful person she is."

"Don't start Draco." She warned him.

"Don't pout."

"I am not."

"Yes you are pouting."

"And you are being annoying."

Draco did not utter another word due to the appearance of his teacher. He enjoyed their small conversation and her expression was priceless. Draco had never seen Astoria pout before. It was so cute and adorable yet sexy at the same time, he want to devour her at that exact time in class in front of all people. She was going to be the death of him.

The class started with some explanation from the professor about the new assignments they have to do in pairs. Draco did not want to miss his chance and asked Astoria right away before Miranda came back to their table. She could not refuse him.

Five hours passed quickly since Draco's last conversation with Astoria in charm class. Five hours that suddenly felt empty and gloomy. Draco was walking calmly through the corridor, wanted to find his source of life again.

His heart was aching and his head dizzy in frustration. He had never guessed he could be so depended to other people so much like this. To be true, Draco did not like it at all. Gone all his pried that he had carried through his entire 18 years of living because of this strange girl.

Without her, Draco could not feel anything but sadness. His thought became dull and his sight was covered by mist without her presence. He needed her to be alive again, and it terrified him.

Sighed in frustration, Draco continued his searching. But suddenly, from the corner of his eyes, he could recognize three Gryffindor students came from the other end. He hoped they were not the golden trio.

Ever since the great fucking Potter had saved his life, he could not face the boy directly anymore. There were shame, guilt, horror, hatred, and every other bad feeling he could think of in every time he saw him.

Fortunately, they were only 5th students, all dressed in red robe proudly. They sneered at him when they were close, but Draco could not pretend to care. In that exact time, his defend mechanism was working, preventing him to feel anything.

"Shouldn't be you rotten in Azkaban, Malfoy?" One of the boys shouted.

Draco did not even blink and continued walking calmly.

"Not even a word back? I guess you are nothing without your Voldemort, ey?"

"Poor poor Malfoy." The boy teased, "You missed your dead daddy?"

No. Not even a flinch, Draco ignored them completely.

The boys laughed hard behind him and left him alone when they knew Draco was not going to respond.

It was easy for him to close his heart and erased his feelings, but it's hard to get them back. Now Draco felt numbness he had not felt since the death of his father. He kept walking forward although he was not sure where he was going anymore as his body moved by it own.

But soon he felt suffocated and dizzy. He knew he was having another panic attack he usually had before, so he ran towards the hall to find a private place for himself. Draco Malfoy was not going to show his weakness to the world!

Unfortunately, or fortunately, Astoria had come out from nowhere and hit Draco with a full force. She fell to the floor, followed by Draco on top of her, and he squished her body without mercy.

"I- I can't breathe." Astoria gapped. But that's the exact same thing that Draco felt right at that time. He could not breath.

He pulled himself fast from her though, and sat on the floor next to her lying body. Draco tried to calm himself without a bright result as he began to see black spots in his vision.

When Astoria saw his condition, which felt like a déjà vu to her, she forgot about her own back pain and tried to talk to him.

"Draco, breath. You need to breath."

As if he did not know how to do it before, Draco inhaled a lot amount of air from his nose and mouth.

"And let go."

He obeyed her instruction again and again.

"Do you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"

He shook his head weakly.

Astoria put her hands to his face to sooth him, as she believed that it comfort him quite well before. She was right about it and Draco felt so much better with the warmness from her hands.

He looked at her with confusion. How come she always found him in his miserable state?

He only stared at her green orbs eagerly, as if he could find his answer from them. But there was no answer, only a mirrored confusion and a beauty of kindness.

Astoria was curious at him, but she was not going to ask any question which may disturb or annoy the boy. Although she was sure she had plenty of them. What happened to him, why is he acting so different these days, why is he so depressed, why is he talking to her so much lately.

Could not stand his gaze anymore, Astoria turned her head down shyly. "Stop looking at me like that, Draco."

"Why?"

"Nothing," She shook her head, "Are you feeling alright now?"

"Yes, thank you." He said and stood up with her hands in his to help her got up too. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to tutor the firsty again today." She smiled, "You want to join?"

Draco snorted at the idea. He could not picture himself, tutoring little kids without scaring them out. Although he would able to see Astoria more often, he still thought that it was a ridiculous offer to accept. To his pleasure, she pouted again for the second time today.

"You think it's a stupid things to do, aren't you?" She did not know why she felt upset suddenly. All her friends thought that she was crazy and ridiculous, and she did not care, but she had hoped that Draco would react differently.

"No, I think that's a good and right thing to do," He smiled, "But I'm not the right person to be requited." He really did think that it was a kind and effective method to help the young students out from the post war condition in Hogwarts. It's just he would not do it practically.

Astoria saw his rare smile and blushed madly. He definitely needed to smile more!

"W-Why not? You are really smart and have a lot of leadership experiences. You are absolutely suitable for the job."

"I don't think the children will like me." His eyebrow joined in confusion, as he did not understand why Astoria could think that he would join her somehow.

"We would not know that if we do not try, right?"

When Draco did not utter any other words, Astoria took his arm gently. "I'm sure they will really appreciate you, Draco. These children need as many helps as they could get when many people can't think anything but themselves right now in this condition."

She stared at his now calm grey eyes, "Would you like to try helping them with me?"

'Would you please just give me one chance to proof how much a better person you are than what you think?' She said it in her head.

Astoria was evil; she knew he could not refuse her. She could feel the desperation from him and she knew he needed her. That what were all Draco could think of before nodded his head submissively.