Seas of Emerald

By Shahrezad1

Summary: Not that he was, in fact, running away. Just disappearing for a while. And he was of age. So it shouldn't make any difference. No, far better to go (mostly) Muggle. A Drastoria fanfic from a different direction.

Disclaimer: A-Draco went a-courtin', he found a lady Green, he was so happy for her, he made her Malfoy Queen. But J.K. owns the story, I canna claim but naught, if I did the court would catch me; my money tied in knots.

(A horrible poem, but you get the idea. XD )

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Chapter 4 Version 3.0

"I can do something for the ribs, but I suggest leaving the black eye," she stated with some dryness as she absently fingered the wand in her hair.

Draco looked up at her ironically from where he was trying to staunch the blood flowing from his nose, then spared a glance down at his once-pristine shirt with a expression that said that he was never going to get the stain out.

Which didn't quite make sense to her, possessing magic as he did, but she filed that little impression away for later. After all, being the snobbish git that he had been it was possible that he had never learned housewifery charms.

"And may I ask why?" he queried politely, but that civil inflection was only due to the sudden re-arrival of Madeline. She presented him with a free breakfast of thick country bacon, ham, oat porridge, buttered toast and a pot of tea, which he silently took as his due. And maybe it was, after his attempt at saving her. She wasn't quite sure yet, having known him and his attitudes from their youth.

But then again, maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought she had, childhood persecution aside. Only time would tell. For now he seemed at a loss now that the battle was over…and he hadn't come up the victor. It was to their benefit, as their hosts merely assumed that he was reticent and not Muggle-phobic. But she thought that the emotion was doing Draco good—it had a humbling effect on him that she thought might be helpful in the long run, even though he might not see it at this moment.

Clearly, Astoria would have to see about finding out why a former Dark Wizard was up her neck of the woods…and doing good deeds.

Madeline left, blushing, and Draco absently tucked in to the meal.

Meanwhile Astoria's answer was practical, "It'll serve to spread the gossip further and remind the locals of the good that you did today. With some success."

Good which Madeline, Gerald, and even Lily had been witness to. The Americans' actions had enraged the pub owner, caring for Astoria as a daughter and knowing just how much the mysterious blonde bloke was paying for a little 'peace.' Lily had become even more horrified in the knowledge that he and Astoria were actually schoolmates. Sort of. From that point on it had been a blur of motion and then sudden quiet. Lily had been the one to take stock of the damage and Draco had been given a clean dishrag to hold to his nose and then an icepack for his eye, which was amiably melting beside his plate. Now, at nearly ten, the early lunch crowd was trickling in. Leading Lily to remove them to a private table in the back, where they couldn't be heard.

Astoria, however, could pick out the repeated use of her own name by the hushed voices in the main room of the public house. And was trying hard to ignore it.

"And why would I want to do that?"

Back to the moment at hand. This topic of conversation he seemed interested in, but only in the half-attentive way that males were when they were presented with food. Despite the bruised knuckles, however, he held his mug of tea carefully. Genteelly. Like a true Malfoy would.

"Because you're trying to blend in with a closed village society, that's why. Although I'm not completely sure about that myself, Mr. Malfoy. Why don't you explain the real reason to me, if I'm wrong? And in the meanwhile, you might want to explain what you're doing in Lanconshire instead of London. Much less coming to the aid of Witches in Distress," she folded her arms on the table and leaned forward, smiling blandly. She was immediately met with his trademark scowl. Ah, now that was the little snot she remembered shoving her into walls and tormenting her at Hogwarts.

"I feel no need to divulge anything, Miss Green—."

"It's got an 'e' on the end now. Bear that in mind if you ever have to write it down," she interrupted sweetly, then partook of her own meal. The meal that those rough Americans had interrupted. Something which their delicate female companions had profusely apologized for, the poor girls.

Those two had been allowed to finish up their stay by Gerald, who had appeared just as Draco had hit the floorboards. The rest were tossed out to find other lodgings. Their tour guide, a gruff mustached man from Leeds, had not been amused.

Draco huffed and cut another piece of ham, clearly taking the, 'whatever,' frame of mind to her question. And thus she repeated herself again. More kindly this time, her voice hardly above a whisper.

"Seriously, Malfoy. What are you doing here? And I swear it better be on the up and up," her voice was half pleading, hope warring for control. Which seemed was the correct way to go about the situation, for he stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth. Then sighed.

Serious grey eyes met hers and she sat back in surprise, spooked by the image of ghostly sadness. Those were two terms she would have never used to describe the spiteful pureblood in his glory days. But something else reflected from their depths, as though he'd acknowledge a truth and had come to accept it. Whatever that truth seemed to be.

"I'm not here for…to start any mischief," he stated slowly, honestly, steeping his hands together in a delicate fold. The fingers were long and slim, like her fathers. Piano hands, made to be graceful and elegant in whatever task they were doing. But now they were very thin, as though the meat had been stripped from them in payment for his services to the Dark Lord. Services everyone had read about in the paper.

"And really, I didn't know you'd be here. I honestly chose the town at random, searching for some place as far away from ho—the city as possible," he looked tired as he said the words, "would you believe me if I said that I didn't even remember who you were when I first saw you? It's been that long…for me, anyway. And besides, all my old 'victims' tend to bur into one another after a while."

His chuckle was sad and a little desperate. And in it she found the iron thread of truth.

"On that…yes, I do believe you," she finally answered in a mutter, staring at her hands, "you never really saw my sister as an individual, much less me. So I doubt you'd remember pushing me. Or tripping me at Hogsmeade. Or making fun of me. Or pulling pranks just before Christmas every year. Or knocking me off my broom when I was practicing on the field and trying out for Quidditch. Or even that I bumped into you after the battle at Hogwarts, before you sat with your family."

He looked stricken and a tad guilty as she mentioned his many sins, but it was worst with the last. When that one came he swallowed painfully and nodded, looking away. Then Draco muttered quietly, almost to himself, "alright, then. If I've caused you that much trouble, then I'll leave." He stood as though to go, but froze under her touch. She'd placed a firm farm-handed grip on his bony wrist, stopping him. And it was as though that touch was a wakeup call. He stared at it, surprised. And Astoria half-wondered when it was that he'd last been touched at all in a kind, non-violent way. With fondness or even some semblance of affection.

"I never said you had to go. After all, that was years ago. I was just sliding a little 'just deserts' in there for old times. And you did 'save' me. Although I probably could have taken them down myself with magic," she threw as a slight defense before softening, "still, if you're not up to any trouble…and you are not aiming to hurt any of the townsfolk…then I can definitely repent of my ire-inducing words by saying thank you. And offering to help you out here. You seem a tad lost. I know that the Muggle world can be a strange place, especially for a displaced Wizard or Witch. And if you've chosen this town then, well, who am I to displace you? Neither of us need go if we can manage to help or ignore one another peacefully."

Which, of course, was not what he had been expecting. Draco Malfoy, heir to one of the oldest pureblood families in Europe, gaped outright as Astoria only smiled. He sat back down in his shock and she let the hand go as silence fell between. Then something, a certain emotion he could only define as warm-hearted teasing, although he was utterly unfamiliar with it, passed from her to him when he failed to respond.

"I said thank you, remember, so…of course, this is when you say, 'You're welcome.'"

She said the words with the unease of one accustomed to using humor as a defense, finally uncomfortable as she retracted her hand back.

Only then, finally, did a wry smile came to his lips in an expression that didn't quite fit on his face, and Draco nodded and picked up the mug sitting before him, "you are welcome. Miss Greengrass. For my efforts, my bumps and bruises and my blood spilled."

She relaxed imperceptively.

"Nicely done. Although, as I pointed out, you might wish to call me something a little more suitable for the location that we're in," she smiled wryly, "as you accidentally noticed, in Lanconshire I'm known as Tori Greene, with an 'e' on the end."

"Secrecy from the Miss Greengrass?"

"I believe that we have the same goal of anonymity in mind, is all."

"And why might you need such anonymity?"

"I'll answer that if you explain why you were running away from the city."

He sat, uncomfortable under her direct look, then slowly nodded, "touché I suppose."

"Indeed. Although running away does unfortunately cause some complications," Astoria responded absently, tapping her chin.

"What are you talking about?"

"Draco Malfoy, how much do you know about the Muggles that you've decided to live amongst?"

He gaped at her direct query, "they…don't use magic."

"Yes, and?"

"And they have a different form of currency. I made sure to exchange some of mine before I came."

"Well, that's…helpful. What else?"

The blonde's silence was answer enough and she nodded at the truth of her conclusion, "you know nothing about them, do you? Never mind, don't answer that. Well, it's a good thing that I'm here to help you through the transition. Be warned, however, if you do stomach up the effort to stay permanently then we're probably going to have to summon up some official paperwork regarding schooling and work experience. We'll also probably have to create a story of how we know one another. Because the reality of an absentminded bully and sideswiped victim aren't going to cut it, particularly for the town gossips you just entertained into thinking that you're a knight in shining armor. Or worse, a beau."

"What?" of all the things she could have said, these startled him the most. And startlement, apparently, looked good on one with grey eyes. Kind of like a Patronus shining through. Astoria smiled. Then held out her hand for him to shake.

"Draco, maybe it's providence that you landed here. If it's that case, then I can honestly declare that it's a pleasure to re-meet you. I've needed an extra pair of hands, and I'm with Potter on the second chance bit. But we really need to get our facts in order."

He flushed crimson, "sorry." Then his surprise added more color. Maybe he himself didn't know that he was able to so comfortably apologize?

"Don't fret about it. Elsie and Hannah were in the back, and they're so old that all they have time to do is natter. It does tend to make our situation slightly more difficult, but they would have gossiped no matter what you did. So sit back down and at least be grateful that what they have to work with is positive and not negative," he did so gracefully, and slowly returned to eating. So she talked.

And immediately blew him away with her candor.

"You wanted to know why I desire anonymity? I have been placed here by the Ministry of Magic in order to monitor Death Eater activity and keep it from impacting this village a second time."

Draco gaped, "you're…what?"

"Draco," her blue-green eyes darkened, "this town was the victim of a Death Eater attack. It's why I reacted the way I did. I'm sorry for my harshness and my suspicion. I just had to know your motive for being here. And I hate to say it, but I'll have to keep a continual eye on you. No offense meant, it's just part of the job. But if you don't do anything then I won't feel the need to report you to the Ministry. As for the actual 'why' part of my presence…"

She paused, as though hesitating to tell him the whole truth. But soon enough he could see her coming to a decision, "the castle ruins here hold some very dark magical artifacts…and some very good ones, too. When He-Voldemort's followers couldn't get at them, they took it out on some of the villagers. Now do you see why I was worried?"

Draco swallowed, "yes. Yes I do."

"Then you'll also have to understand that if I do find you up to something, anything at all, I won't hesitate to bundle you up like a Christmas gift and send you off to the authorities. Got it, Malfoy?"

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AN: This one was a long time coming. It's actually the third version of chapter four, although it has been revamped and edited four times. I was writing it out and I realized that I liked both the harsh response and the kind response to Draco's presence. And while I initially had both responses on two separate documents I quickly realized that in order for the plot to move forward I have to have both options in the same chapter. Because while, yes, she is willing to give him a chance, she also has a job to do. And being the person that she is, she's more likely to be upfront with him about her responsibilities and the expectations then to hide her actions. Plus, which does Draco need more: more trust issues brought about by discovering her real motives after the fact, or the option of having actions versus their consequences laid before him. With the latter option he has his path clearly laid before. If he doesn't do anything wrong then they'll get along fine. If he tries to hurt anyone in 'her' town then he'll be cursed and hexed before he can say, "Potter Stinks."