Four days later, on Tuesday the 22nd of June, Draco found himself in front of Diagon Alley at 8:30 am. He was feeling a ridiculous amount of anticipation. He wanted to know who Astoria really was. He had been thinking and thinking and he couldn't come up with anything. She could have been sent to study abroad he supposed but that didn't account for the odd grasp muggle technology. She could be a squib except squibs were locked in their houses and forbidden to leave, often there was even a spell on them that would put them in a full body bind should they attempt to leave the premises without a parent. Draco knew for a fact that the Greengrasses would have done that. Daphne had complained enough about her strict parents to give everyone a pretty good idea what her home was like.

The unearthly amount of expectation had awoken Draco two hours before he had intended to awaken. After restraining himself from getting ready for as long as he could Draco had gotten up and picked out a button-up and khakis to wear. Still, ready entirely too early he decided to just rip the bandage off. He apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and walked out of Diagon Alley.

Astoria showed up five minutes late instead of the customary ten minutes early shocking Draco. He was glad she had to wait for the crosswalk to light up as it gave him time to study the girl before she found him amidst the crowd. Draco decided to forgive himself for not guessing she was Daphne's sister. The two girls hardly looked alike. She had the same nose he supposed, her cheekbones were at least prominent as Daphne's and her eyes were green like her sister's. That was where the similarities ended. Her face was heart shaped and her lips fuller. Her eyes were a darker green, more the color of the forest than Daphne's sea green ones. As she approached Draco he noticed one more thing about her. She had freckles! They were few and light colored, not the kind you were born with but the type you would get if you spent enough time in the sun. No pureblood girl would be caught dead with them; despite that Draco found them strangely endearing. He shook off that thought and decided he needed to make more friends he decided.

"Hey stranger," Astoria said as she walked up to Draco.

"Hello Astoria," she cringed as he said her name.

"Please don't, I hate my name. Sorry about running out on you the other day, my friend had an emergency. Okay, my friend had what she thought was an emergency but definitely was not…whatever, what's done is done. Did you at least finish your dream bar? I hope you did, someone should have gotten to enjoy theirs..."

Draco interrupted the girl before she could talk herself out of breath, "No, I didn't. I went home after that, I didn't realize my diet was so important to an unattached stranger."

Astoria rolled her eyes, she seemed to do that a lot, "Oh turn down the snark would you? I wanted you to enjoy a dessert, which is completely normal by the way. Also, we aren't strangers anymore.

"You called me stranger just now."

Tori sighed, "It's an expression. Now let's go make up for the loss of our sweet confections."

"Hey Alan we are gonna try this again, do you remember the order?" she asked as they walked into the cafe.

"You mean your usual? Yeah I remember," he laughed.

"Don't forget the Mocha Chino for my friend," at this point Draco zoned out and started to take in his surroundings. By the time he zoned back in their order was ready and Tori was still talking. This was no longer surprising to Draco. He grabbed the drinks and walked to the table they had sat at the last time. Tori followed him prattling the whole time.

"Do you ever shut up?" Draco asked no longer able to contain himself.

Tori laughed and responded with " Only when forced. You lasted longer than I expected, maybe there is hope for you yet. Now I believe I owe you a story?"

"Please, as far as I can tell you do not exist."

"Awwwwww you've been thinking about me. I'd probably be more flattered if I didn't know it stemmed from boredom and curiosity but hey, beggars can't be choosers."

"The story."

"Yeah, yeah hold your horses and eat your food. It's not really an interesting story anyway. I'm sorry for all the buildup; I am a little dramatic at times. Now the short version is that I don't have magic, my parents didn't want me, and after I turned 12 they sent me to America. The long version is much sadder and contains some blackmail and disowning but I'm in far too good of a mood to go into detail. Plus, as much as Daph may like you I don't know you terribly well and I don't feel like sharing my whole life story. I hope you understand."

"They deported you, for being a- not having..um? I mean I'd heard of parents doing that but I've never met anyone that was, you know…"

"A squib? It's okay to say it. Don't a couple of us work at Hogwarts anyway?" She asked with her breathy laugh. Draco supposed this explained some of her pureblood habits.

"Yeah. I just never really spoke to them or anything…"Draco trailed off.

"Goodness for Slytherin's smooth talker you do seem to be at a loss for words pretty often," She responded with a smirk.

"I'm a little out of practice what with the whole world hating me."

"That's part of your problem you know! One issue with the pureblood mentality is that you have convinced yourself that the entirety of the world is in your own little bubble. I think it's about time you popped yours. I mean how long can you sit around that manor until you realize you want to do something with your life?"

Though at first taken aback by her abruptness Draco stopped and actually thought about her question. "Not long. I just don't know what I want to do. It's not like I can get a job."

"In the wizarding world. What about the muggle world? No one there knows you from Adam."

"I don't know any muggle stuff, I'd be a pariah within a week."

"What if you had someone to teach you?"

"Like who? You?"

"Well, yeah. I'm about to take a year off anyway. Why don't I use it to help you adjust? Then we can get you into a college program and you can get a job and oh, it'd be wonderful. What do you say?"

"About entrusting my life to a stranger. No."

"What do you have to lose, Draco? A depressing home, hatred on every street, or self-pity? Don't you think it's time you move on and remember there is more to you than the mark on your arm? I leave in five days you can owl me by then whether or not you want to come, okay? Now, are you enjoying your caramel dream bar?"

"Yes. It is pretty good. A little sweet"

"Yeah, it can be at first. I brought Daphne one time and she barely kept herself from spitting it out! Thought it was spiked with some magical sweetener that'd turn her hair blue or something," Astoria laughed at the memory, "well I suppose you had to be there. Do you have any funny stories about my sister? I've missed out on nearly six years of embarrassing stories, I could use a couple."

"It would hardly be proper for me to speak of a lady when not in her company."

"Oh, you are no fun! I know that was a cop-out. You just don't want to tell me anything and are hiding being your 'manners,'" Astoria pouted.

"I will refrain from commenting."

Astoria rolled her eyes again and Draco asked if she had a twitch that made her do it so often. Her surprised laugh and wide eyes shocked him. He expected to be ordered to apologize at the very least. Instead, he was given a quick, "Yeah, it only happens when I'm around incredibly stupid people."

"Looking in the mirror must be difficult then."

"At least my own paleness won't blind me."

That comment sent Draco into the first real fit of laughter he'd had in a long time. He hadn't had a good verbal spar in years. Once he could speak again he offered a hand to the grinning Astoria, "truce?"

"I will accept nothing less than a surrender, sir. I don't know what kind of people you've been hanging out with but I play to win."

His hand dropped, "That makes two of us."

"Then I suppose we are at a gridlock of sorts," she said raising her eyebrows, " I propose a temporary ceasefire," it was now her that presented her hand.

"I accept," Draco said while grasping her hand. The two both burst into laughter during the handshake. After he stopped laughing he noticed how perfectly manicured her hands were. Despite her callouses from drumming, her hands were exactly what a pureblood's should be. Perhaps she didn't hate her heritage as much as she seemed to?

"Good. I have to get going I'm meeting up with Daphne about five minutes ago so I better head out. Think about my offer, you have five days, remember. Happy Birthday," she squeezed his shoulder as she passed and he watched her walk away.

Draco could now say that he had his questions for her answered; the only problem was that she had left him with quite a few to ask himself.

When Draco returned to the Manor he was still caught in a trance of sorts. On a whim, he went to the piano, which he hadn't sat at in a long time. After magically tuning it and going through a few scales he began to play whatever came to him. The music quickly turned angsty and dramatic. He supposed that fit well enough. He was trying not to think about Astoria's offer but it kept coming back to his mind. He stopped playing and rested his head on the instrument. He couldn't leave his mother alone here. She needed him now more than ever and besides he didn't want to run away with some strange girl into the muggle world. What would his father think? Not that it mattered as he didn't want to go anyway. Draco had always been good at lying to himself but apparently his talent was waning.

The same thoughts turned around in Draco's head for the next two days. The piano became his haven from thought; when it became too much he'd simply play until his brain was emptied. Eventually, Narcissa came in during one of his more…passionate songs- meaning he was practically demolishing the piano keys.

"Not that I do not enjoy the music, it is quite lovely if a little loud, but I would appreciate it if you told me what has upset you so much," Draco's mother had to cast a sonorous simply to be heard.

Draco started and turned to face his mother, "I am not upset. I am simply exploring the intricacies of fortissimo music."

"I have been your mother for nearly two decades, Draco, do not lie to me."

"I was approached with an offer- a ludicrous one at that- and yet I do not seem to be able to stop thinking about it," Draco told his mother somewhat reluctantly.

"An offer, of what sort?" she joined him on the bench.

"I am unsure. I believe it was given as an offer for a friendship but I cannot say for certain. It is as irrelevant as it is impossible."

Narcissa smiled, "We both know if it were impossible you would not be entertaining the idea. What is the offer Draco?"

"Job training and assistance in finding a suitable career."

"That hardly seems impossible. Tell me the entirety of it dear,"

"It would all take place in America, I would need to leave within a couple days. I only just met the person who offered and… it would all take place in the muggle world. I hardly see how she thinks…"

"She! I was unaware that you met anyone, Draco. Who is she? Is she a muggleborn? Not that it matters to me of course of you really like her- but your father…"

"It is not like that, Mother. She is not a muggleborn. She is a squib. She claims to be the Greengrass's other daughter who they shipped to America."

"You believe her."

"Yes. It never occurred to me not to. Besides, her sister sent me a letter last night saying that if I went with Astoria and hurt her in anyway Daphne would personally break every bone in my body, force Skelgrow down my throat, and then repeat the process until she felt satisfied."

"That is quite a descriptive threat" His mother laughed.

"I gave you the censored version."

"I think you should go, Draco."

"What?!"

"Calm down, son. I think that if, after that threat, and your dislike of hard work, you are still considering the offer you really want to go. It will not be easy. You will have to learn an entire culture and adapt to living without magic, but I think it will be good for you.'

"What about you, Mother? I can hardly leave you here alone."

"Why not? I survived six years with you attending school. It is not unheard of for a young man to not live with his mother. Besides, we both know you will not be as miserable as you are now"

"I am scared, Mother." He finally admitted

"I know. I think that is one reason you need to do this."

And so he did. Draco Malfoy made what was perhaps the first truly courageous choice in his life. He left everything he had ever known for a chance at happiness. It all started when he pinned a letter addressed to Victoria Greenwich.

Dear Victoria,

I am interested in your offer. I would like to know what I need to bring in terms of money, clothing and any other items you think I would require. I also need to know where and when to meet you for our departure. Thank you for this opportunity, I will see you soon.

Draco