Disclaimers: All characters featured in this story (with the exception of Rachel and Helena) belong to JK Rowling. All stuff belongs to their respective owners.

Chapter 3

The two looked at each other. Draco had gone pale when he saw Rachel standing in his fiancés flat. Even if he didn't love Astoria. Rachel stared at him, her face filling with a look her knew all to well: she was disappointed and heartbroken.

Astoria walked in as the silence continued. She wasn't surprised. She knew they loved each other.

So he hadn't said anything, Astoria thought sadly.

Rachel muttered a goodbye to Astoria and shoved past a stunned Draco, half running out of the flat.

Draco glared at Astoria and ran after Rachel.

Astoria didn't blame Draco. She wasn't in love with him either, but she had told Theodore about her engagement. She wished she could break this off, but her parents would hate her forever. Astoria was stuck unless Draco was ready to disappoint his parents. She closed the door of the flat and poured herself coffee. Sitting on the couch, Astoria waited.

Draco stalked down the street after Rachel. She wasn't far ahead, but was moving fast enough for it to be necessary to run to her so as not to lose her from his sight. "Rachel," Draco panted as he caught her arm.

She spun around, her face void of all emotions. Rachel wished she could cry; it would make her feel better. But her sadness, frustration, and feelings of betrayal surpassed tears.

Draco looked into her eyes and felt a pang of guilt. He had messed up. Again. She wore the look she had now for the second time in her life. And it was all his fault. It was always his fault.

"what Draco? What do you want me to say," she croaked.

Draco remained silent.

"what exactly were you planning to do, huh? Where you going to keep up the lies until one day you just disappeared? Do you know what that would do to Teddy?"

Again, Draco remained silent.

Rachel turned to leave, but Draco kept hold of her.

"Rachel, I love you. So much. You know that I do. I was going to tell you, but- my parents idea- I don't want this," he concluded. He looked at her, the way a kicked puppy would.

"Draco... I love you. And I know you love me, but you love your parents, too. You don't want to disappoint them. I understand that. But are you willing to marry someone you don't love to keep them happy?"

He looked away. Though nothing was said, Rachel had an answer.

"that said it all. Draco, I know you love me, but obviously not enough to disappoint you parents. Good-bye Draco," Rachel choked.

She turned away again, but this time, Draco let her go.

Draco arrived at Astoria's apartment a few minutes later. She looked up from her magazine when he came in, but said nothing. They looked at one another for a brief moment before Draco turned down the hallway towards the room he used when he had to stay here.

Although it was a few steps down the hall from the main rooms, Draco's mind raced, making the trip seem longer.

Rachel's words echoed in his head. 'obviously not enough', 'I love you', and the ones that hurt the most, 'good-bye, Draco'. He couldn't help thinking she was right. He tried to ease these thoughts, but to no avail.

Why couldn't she have cried and yelled and tried to hex him, he thought desperately. He could have handled that. Tears could be wiped away, leave a faint trail, but not a scar on the soul the way the silence and depression would. The look in Rachel's eyes when she said these things was so... hurt. Though her face lacked emotion, he knew that she felt betrayed.

He hadn't meant for this to happen.

When Rachel said good-bye, it felt as if she meant it. As if his only chance at happiness was being barred off, right before his eyes.

And no matter how hard he tried, he could not reach her.

When Draco opened the door to his room, he shut it softly.

Maybe I'm just an unfeeling ass. Maybe I'm afraid of disappointing my parents... My mum. Maybe Rachel was right.

And the thought that she was right hit him harder and faster than a speeding bludger.

Astoria was passing the spare room to enter hers when she heard him.

Draco roared and Astoria jumped. If she hadn't known it was Draco on the other side of the door, she'd have thought it came from an animal.

Astoria heard tables being thrown and glass objects being dropped to the floor. But after the raucous, she heard the thing that shocked her more than the rest. She heard the soft sniffling of quiet sadness.

Feeling worse than she had when Rachel stormed out, Astoria noiselessly entered her room and attempted to sleep.