Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to the lovely Ms. Rowling. I am merely borrowing it.
CHAPTER THREE
Tons of differently marked owls flew through the open windows of the dining hall at Hogwarts. Astoria took a quick gulp of her orange juice, then quickly grabbed the letter from her mother's owl. Tearing it open, she scanned the letter quickly, not really paying attention to the descriptions of lavish parties and society gossip. Toward the bottom, her gaze caught on the word Draco. Slowing down, she read the rest of the letter carefully.
Draco Malfoy escorted his mother to Mrs. Parkinson's cotillion last night, it was a most wonderful surprise to see him out. He looked pale; have you talked to him, darling? He mentioned going to one of your Quidditch games, apparently he quite enjoyed himself. Have you talked to him recently?
Astoria rolled her eyes at her mother's single mindedness. The rest of the letter lost her attention quickly. She was just scanning the final lines when a huge eagle called to the other owls, which startled in a flap of wings. Astoria looked up just as the eagle descended to the table before her. Her face reddened as she took the letter from its leg. It felt like the whole hall was staring at her.
She opened the letter, and read:
Miss Greengrass,
I greatly enjoyed visiting your Quidditch game; it has been a while since I have seen a game. I have been giving the offer of flying together great consideration, and I will make time for a fly and picnic on your next Hogsmeade weekend, if you are not otherwise engaged.
Draco Malfoy
Astoria shook her head at his formality. However, there was an undertone to his letter- a sort of urgency. She tried not to read too much into it. Still, she read and reread the letter all day, waiting for the moment when she could pen her response.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mr. Malfoy,
I am glad to hear the Quidditch game was up to standard. I would be delighted to accompany you on a picnic. Will you be needing a school broom? The next visit to Hogsmeade is two weeks from now. Please let me know if I should get any food from the kitchens.
Astoria Greengrass
Draco laughed to himself at her wit. Will you be needing a school broom? From anyone else, it might be true concern, but he was sure Astoria was poking fun at him. She probably did want to know if he had a broom, he mused. Smiling, he wrote a response.
Miss Greengrass,
I am happy to hear you are able to make time for me. I will not be needing a broom, thank you. If there is any specific food you would wish to have, please feel free to pack it. I will be bringing a picnic basket from home. I will meet you just outside the gates at eleven thirty.
Draco Malfoy
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Is that your boyfriend, Story?" Grace teased as Astoria read Malfoy's latest note.
"I don't know…" she murmured, carefully folding the paper and putting it in a pocket.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Astoria woke up early the day of the picnic. She went into her dorm's bathroom, and indulged herself with a long, hot shower. She brushed out her hair, deciding to let it dry naturally. Humming quietly, she sat at the edge of her bed and contemplated her outfit.
Not much later, the other girls in her dormitory woke. They chattered and giggled as they prepared for the Hogsmeade weekend. Many were going with a date; Grace had been asked just the day before. Astoria was glad. She had been worried that Grace would be on her own while she was with Draco.
"Who are you going with, Astoria?" Helena Nott asked slyly. She shared a look with her friend, conveying how doubtful she thought it was that Astoria had a date at all in one glance.
Astoria's cool mask fell over her face.
Helena noticed this, and pressed the point. "I mean, you are going with someone, aren't you?"
There was a long silence. Helena laughed, drawing in breath to say something more.
"I do have a date," Astoria said. Helena turned sharply to look at her.
"Oh? Who?"
"Draco Malfoy." Astoria's voice rang in the room. Helena turned white. She had been one of the 'potential brides' Mrs. Malfoy had tried to set Draco up with.
"I don't believe you," she said flatly. "Draco Malfoy has far more important things to do than to visit a school-girl at Hogwarts."
"Do you think that because he didn't visit you?" Astoria's dig hit its mark. Helena's pale face reddened. She opened her mouth to continue, when Headmistress McGonagall's face appeared in the fire, a vaguely disapproving expression on her face.
"Miss Greengrass, your…" McGonagall hesitated as she obviously searched for the correct word to call Draco. "Friend," she settled upon, "is here."
"Thank you, Professor, I will be right up." With a smug smile at Helena, Astoria headed to the headmistress' tower.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Draco stood, a large picnic basket settle by his feet. McGonagall had just flooed Astoria, and they were once again standing in uncomfortable silence.
Footsteps began climbing the stairs at a sedate pace. Draco smiled slightly as he heard McGonagall let out a faint sigh of relief. A few moments later, Astoria appeared in the doorway.
Draco gasped quietly. Her honey coloured curls were floating around her face. She was in muggle jeans and a simple shirt, but she made them look like the most expensive silks in Paris. A pilot jacket was slung over her arm.
Draco straightened, picking up the huge picnic basket.
"Shall we go?" Astoria suggested.
With a nod to McGonagall, Draco followed Astoria out of the room.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The couple paused in the stairwell. Astoria looked at Malfoy uncertainly. He smiled. Knowing her, as a Slytherin, she would have an act she wanted to put on but was not sure how to suggest it to him.
He raised his eyebrows. "So how are we going to play this?"
A shark-like grin flashed. "I'm glad you asked," Astoria said.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Students, Gryffindors and Slytherins alike, stopped in their tracks to stare at the spectacle of an ex- Death Eater millionaire and one of their own.
Astoria and Draco each held one side of the picnic basket's handle in one hand, a broomstick in the other. They swung the basket between them as they laughed and talked. Boys stared at Draco's broomstick; it was the latest, most expensive model. Girls turned green with envy to see Astoria with one of the most sought after bachelors of an aristocrat's world.
Draco and Astoria pretended not to notice anyone as they practically skipped to the front of the line. Astoria was cleared to leave immediately, to Dennis Creevey's consternation. He had been standing in line for over an hour to get out; what right did that girl have to skip the line just because she was with that Malfoy prat?
Astoria sensed his hostility and giggled. Draco sensed his hostility and glared.
Just outside the gates, they got on their brooms and zoomed off toward the Forbidden Forest.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Draco watched Astoria as she soared through the air. He had taken the picnic basket when they began flying, so he was not quite as daring with his antics. Astoria was gleeful. He understood, vaguely, that she had gotten one over a roommate with their display. Now, she zoomed her broom up and down, paying no heed to the laws of gravity, a smile on her face.
He flew slower, flying a straight line as she cavorted around him. He was watching her so attentively that he almost missed the turn.
"Astoria!" he called. He pointed to their destination. Looking slightly abashed, the girl flew sedately beside him the rest of the way.
They landed in a clearing, a smallish oasis of green, green grass. Wildflowers dotted the ground. Draco set his broom down beside him and set out the picnic blanket while Astoria gazed around her. He tapped her on the shoulder, and gestured toward the blanket. She smiled and sat down daintily. He chuckled. If she had been wearing a skirt, she would have spread it out around her. He took a seat beside her and opened the basket.
The food was pretty much gone by the time they began talking. Draco was stretched out on the blanket, elbow supporting him. Astoria was sitting cross-legged, leaning back on her arms, propriety abandoned.
"The grass is so green," she commented, breaking the silence.
Draco laughed, throwing his head back. Astoria giggled as well, noting that the shadow that had hung over his face ever since he arrived lifted.
"Well, Greengrass, was the food good?" Draco asked, snickering.
"I would come over and hit you, but I'm just so full…" Astoria sighed, laying on her back and looking at the sky. Draco smiled, looking at the pretty picture she made.
"Hey, that cloud looks like McGonagall!" Astoria cried. Draco lay down to look at the sky as well.
"Maybe in her cat form," he guffawed. Astoria stuck her tongue out at him.
After a moment, she spoke again. "No, I was wrong." Her eyes took on a mischievous glint. "It looks like a ferret."
"Why, you…" Draco sputtered, before giving in and laughing with her. He hadn't been able to shake that nickname in the years since he had received it; in fact, it had seemed to spread even more.
They quietened.
"I'm glad you said I could come," Draco said suddenly, sitting up.
"I like spending time with you," Astoria replied, sitting up as well. She watched his profile warily to see how her comment was received.
He gave her a half-smile. "I suppose I'm quite a catch?"
Astoria put on an affected air. "Yes, although your handwriting is atrocious."
"Hey!" he protested.
"Admit it- you got rid of the frills as soon as you left school."
He shrugged. "I didn't have any use for them, and they were slowing me down. Although YOU have to admit that they add a little something to my signature."
"Ah, the signature of Draco Malfoy!" Astoria exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. "I am not worthy to possess such a thing!"
"You're worthy," Draco said, startling them both into silence. After a moment he cleared his throat. "Tell me about the girl who didn't believe you when you said I was coming to see you."
Astoria threw her head back, soaking in the sun. "Ah, yes, the lovely Helena Nott."
Draco nodded. "Theodore's sister."
Astoria snorted. "Yes, well, being the younger sister…she's spoiled. Rotten, like a wormy apple. She gets whatever she wants." She made a face.
"Everything?" Draco mused.
"Whatever she wants," Astoria said in a sing-song voice. "And as of now, she wants you."
Draco barked out a laugh. Astoria frowned as the shadow fixed itself on his face again. "Yes, well, her mother wants her to have me too. I assure you, I am not in the least bit interested, if that was what was worrying you."
Astoria smiled hesitantly, although her frown lingered.
Draco got up abruptly. He made a show of checking his expensive muggle watch. "I believe it's almost four o'clock. You'll have to be back at school soon."
Astoria inwardly sighed. She had said something- he had remembered something disconcerting. She wanted to hug him, but it wouldn't be proper. He picked up the picnic basket and got on his broom. She flew beside him as they flew back to Hogwarts, thinking.
He stopped at the gates, and she alighted next to him. They stared at each other, neither knowing what to do next.
"I won't go in- I think I'll just apparate home from here," Draco said. Astoria nodded. "Well, goodbye, then," he said, shifting from foot to foot. He was there, but she could see he was also somewhere else in his mind. Moving forward, she kissed him on the cheek. He stiffened.
"Goodbye," she replied, turning to go back to school.
"Wait!" he yelped. He jogged up a small hill to reach her. "Can I – Can we - that is, can I see you again?"
Astoria smiled brilliantly. "My next Hogsmeade weekend is two weeks." With that, she disappeared into the gates.
Draco felt strange as he headed to the apparition point. When he reached it, he looked back at the Hogwarts gates. Yes, he would see her again. After all, it would be a shame to leave her dateless on a Hogsmeade weekend.
A/N: Read and Review :)
