I already could hear the buzz of people filling the lobby of the manor. Tonight was a big night and I couldn't wait. It was sure to be full of fine drinks, laughter, dancing, and photographer's flashes. I was sitting at a large vanity in my bathroom, casting a spell on my hair to make it stay just so.

A knock on the bathroom door alerted me of his presence, "Show time."

"I'll be right out," I smiled over my shoulder and watched him push himself away from where he had been leaning on the door frame. He walked down the hall and out to the top of the stairs. He looked incredible tonight, dressed in a dark suit. The emerald-green tie did wonders as well, it really was his color, brightening up his normally pale features.

I followed him shortly after. Floating candles hovered just below the tall ceiling. Light caught on everything in the room causing a sparkling effect.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming, it truly means the world to us that we have so many people willing to share this special day with us," my husband purred as he leaned over the balcony, looking down at all of our guests.

I joined him at the railing, my face lighting up instantly. These gatherings were one of my favorite thing about being a Malfoy.

"And you all know how much Astoria loves these little things." He pulled my hand to his face, kissing the top of it.

I could hear the crowd "aww". After all we were the ideal relationship in the public's eyes.

Placing a hand on the small of my back, he guided me down the stairs. I watched as people started to filter into the ballroom.

We were greeted by his parents at the bottom of the stairs. His father looked disinterested as always, but his mother fluttered around us like a mother hen. "Draco, you look fantastic darling." She pulled her son in for a hug. He towered over her but returned the hug. She turned toward me, "And Astoria, as beautiful as ever." She kissed my cheek. "Happy anniversary!"

"Thank you," I smiled at her softly. Narcissa was my life saver in this family. She use to terrify me, I always worried that I wouldn't be able to live up to the role of Lady Malfoy as she had. She helped me every step of the way. We often spent days together, gossiping in the tea room where Draco and I had talked all those years ago. We went shopping together, even taking extended vacations together when our husbands were too busy with work for us.

Draco was now the owner of Malfoy Apothecary, the business that had been in his family since founded in 1971. It was rare for Draco or his father, who assumed the role of Draco's right hand man, to actually step foot in the store itself. They were heavily into the business aspect. Draco was a perfect businessman. Levelheaded and just, unlike his father, but conniving and ruthless, much like his father. The two men were often locked away in their respective offices, leaving us ladies to spend time together.

Speaking of business, Draco was approached by a short, stubby man wearing a navy blue suit. "Mr. Malfoy, your presence is requested by Mr. Knock. He wishes to finish the discussion started last night."

Draco nodded, "I'll be right over."

Narcissa spoke up, "It's your anniversary party! You shouldn't be doing business now."

"Narcissa…" Lucius warned.

Draco rolled his eyes at his mother, "Astoria doesn't mind, she understands." He turned to me, "don't you dear?"

"Of course." I was use to this.

"See mother? I'll only be a moment." He moved away from me after places a chaste kiss on the top of my head.

Narcissa just shook her head, clearly unhappy with the situation but knowing better than to say anything.

To add even more stress to the situation a particular dark-haired women made her appearance known when she came rushing toward where we stood.

Pansy Zabini hated me, always had. She had once been very good friends with my sister and hated me then because I was just "that annoying kid". When Daphne "betrayed" us all by running off with a muggle, Pansy had made sure everyone knew. She also wasn't shy about telling everyone how the Greengrass name was forever tarnished.

Pansy had always thought that she would be the next Lady Malfoy. She was absolutely shocked when Draco declined. He had never wanted to marry her, and his parents didn't like her bloodline as much as mine. And after the Parkinsons and Malfoys had a falling out after a botched business deal, the thought of Draco marrying her was nonexistent.

"Narcissa!" She screeched as she tugged her husband along behind her, trying to put herself right in front of the older Malfoys.

"Oh why, hello Pansy," Narcissa let go of where she was holding my wrist, admiring the new bracelet I had gotten from Draco. It was easy to tell she had been the one who had picked out the gift.

Pansy went to hug Narcissa but was stopped by her protruding stomach.

Lucius turned to Blaise, "expecting another I see."

Blaise's face lit up, he was nothing if not a proud and happy father. "Baby number two, our little Alleah will be getting a sister in a few months."

"No son yet?"

"Not yet," Blaise stiffened, it was no secret that he was very happy to be having another daughter. He often joked that he wasn't sure anyone could handle another Zabini man around.

"Well keep at it," Lucius gave a pointed look toward Pansy's stomach. "We'd all hate to see the Zabini name go out." His eyes glanced my way, "it's always a shame when that happens simply because a wife can't do her job properly."

"Excuse me?" Pansy glared.

Lucius was about to speak again, probably about to put her in her in what he thought was her proper place, but Narcissa interjected. "Pansy! Why don't you come with me, I have someone I'd love for you to meet." She dragged her away with a quite pissed off Blaise trailing behind.

And then it was two.

"Isn't it about time that you gave us an heir to the Malfoy fortune?" Lucius sneered at me. He constantly acted like it was my fault that there was no child yet. It takes two...

"I'm trying…" I mumbled softly.

"Not hard enough."

"I am! But Draco just-"

"Do not try to blame this on my son!"

Speak of the devil, my husband chose that moment to show up. He slipped his arm around my waist, drawing me closer to him. "Is there a problem, father?"

Lucius changed instantly, still angry looking but no longer interested, "of course not."

"Right, well excuse me while I steal my wife away. It is our party after all."

Lucius may have tried to speak again, always wanting the last word, but Draco had stolen me away before he could.

"Thank you."

"He is a piece of work," Draco rolled his eyes. He didn't get along with his father as well as most thought. He tried to keep up appearances of it to please his mother.

I giggled at the statement as we entered the ballroom. The decorations were beautiful, everything shimmering from the grand chandeliers. Narcissa had been in charge of decorations and she had never failed to impress.

Pictures from our honeymoon were shown. We had went to a place that I had always dreamed of going. My parents had traveled a lot but they never allowed me to go, I was always left with a nanny. Venice, Italy was the place that I wanted to see more than anywhere. As a child I had hung onto every word that my mother would say as she told tales of her trip to me. Draco and I stayed at one of the finest hotels, the Luna Hotel Baglioni. The Giorgione Suite was a double level room that was to die for. It had a private raised wooden terrace that looked over the bay of San Marco and the city as well. I spent hours on the terrace sipping fine wine, Italy's best of course, and watching the city. Draco surprised me and we went on a helicopter ride above the city. The country was truly beautiful, the rainbow of colored rooftops and billowing sheets hung out to dry decorated the land. Seeing all the street vendors selling their products on the cobblestone footpaths. The famous canals blew me away, their intricate highways mapping out the city.

That was the first of many of our trips. I believe that Draco starts to feel bad about how much he works about once or twice a year. He apologizes and then sweeps me away to someplace foreign. Hey, I'm not complaining.

We spent the night the center of attention, people admiring our relationship and constantly trying to stay or get on our good side.

As the night wrapped up Draco grabbed a microphone and spoke, his voice coming through the surrounding speakers. "I'd like to thank you all for coming but unfortunately this night does have to end." People booed. "Hey now, you know there will be more," he winked as people were starting to be ushered out. He turned to me, "would you liked to say anything?"

I knew I should, but I was terrible with public speaking. I couldn't capture their attention in the way that my husband's smooth, low voice could. His very presence demanded attention, he was perfect to be in the limelight. I was a very happy background part, never wanting to draw too much attention to myself. "No…"

"People have come from all over to wish us a happy anniversary…" he started in a hushed whisper.

I knew he was right and grabbed the black microphone out of his hand, standing from our table by his side I spoke. "Hello, hi, thank you all for coming. It has really been…an amazing night." I rushed out. I saw Draco nod, telling me that that was enough. He knew I would start rambling if he let me go on.

People clapped for us as we walked towards the door, saying individual goodbyes to our guests. I loved these parties, but they always wore me out. So many fake smiles and false friends. I think that's why I loved them though, for a night I was able to be something that I wasn't.

When we finally got rid of the last guests Draco's parents bid their farewells and took off. Something I was very happy for. I just couldn't wait to sleep.

Still, when we got into our room after the long night I couldn't let what his father had said pass. Not again.

Biting my lip, cautiously I spoke, "Your father was harassing me about children again." I struggled to unzip the heavy sequined dress I was wearing.

He came around the bed to unzip it for me, "Oh?"

I let the dress fall, stepping out of it."I've been thinking about it lately as well…" I really had. The last time Pansy had a child and I saw the beautiful baby girl, I fell in love. I wanted a child desperately. For the next year or so I pestered him constantly, trying to get him into bed any chance I got. Tried to distract him every time before he could cast a contraceptive charm. I had even tried asking him not to before that but it always ended in an argument. Seeing Pansy pregnant again was like taking a knife to my heart, but seeing Blaise be the happy father was what killed me.

"It'll happen when it happens," Draco gave a dismissal wave as he loosened his tie. I watched him toss it aside.

I sighed, we had this conversation almost every time that we saw his parents. "It can't happen if we're not trying…" For someone who was nicknamed the Slytherin Sex God, he certainly had a low sex drive…at least with me.

"I'm not ready to be a father yet," he was facing away from me, looking out the large window of our bedroom. Unbuttoning his shirt and letting it fall to the ground. A house elf would have it gone before the morning. He was never ready...

"Could you tell him that? He blames me." I slipped on my sleepwear before moving to remove my makeup.

I heard his belt buckle come undone. "Tell him what? That I don't want kids anytime soon? He'll just have one of his little fits. He'll go on and on about how we should have them before your biological clock runs out of time."

"See? It's always my fault. Draco, that's not fair!"

"Astoria, I don't feel like discussing the topic any further," he snapped at me.

As I climbed into bed I knew arguing with him was pointless.

Our marriage had been falling apart over the past two years. The first two were fine, we we're in the "honeymoon stage", so many good things kept happening for us that we never had the chance to realize we were a horrible match. Nothing about our personalities went together. My father was probably right when he said Daphne would have been a good match for Draco.

I tried to play the happy wife, the woman that wasn't bothered by the fact that her husband always spent time away from her. I knew he worked a lot but I swear it was so he wouldn't have to come home to me. He did care about me, it was clear. He was rarely ever mean to me, and when he was he apologized for it, he never let his father be cruel to me either. We treated each other with respect, we just didn't love each other. I did a convincing job, everyone thought we were the perfect couple. There was even an incline in the amount of arranged marriages after people saw how "successful" our was.

To the public I was the beautiful Lady Malfoy, the loving wife of the successful Lord Draco Malfoy.

But when I was alone, as I often found myself, I was just Astoria.