If Astoria was forced to go to another one of these ridiculous "Pureblood Society" parties, she was going to scream. Perhaps throwing a fit might be a bit more effective, or maybe even faking an illness, if it came down to it, but that would probably just upset Priscilla further and then Astoria would be forced to attend even more of these horrifically dull events. And now, Stephen isn't here to be a sufficient distraction.
This is a baby shower. Honestly, if she weren't forced to be here, Astoria would probably have never stepped foot inside a baby shower. She didn't have anything against kids, exactly; in fact, she had long ago resigned herself to the fact that she would have kids one day. But as the day drew nearer and nearer, she found herself resenting that fact more and more. Perhaps she was a bit selfish. But now Astoria sat, surrounded by hormonal women sharing birthing stories and nanny secrets (in other words, what nanny to hire). The thought of raising your own child? Preposterous!
"Alfred just wasn't helpful at all." Drawled one of the women. "Hire a nanny and get back in the marriage bed—that's all they care about! If I didn't then he would have found somebody else!"
Astoria winced at the cruel reality of this. Men can do whatever they want, and if that 'whatever' extends to a 'whomever', it happens to be perfectly acceptable. Almost expected, even. Sometimes it amazes her how much women put up with.
"Octavio had a mistress" Another woman added her input. "So I used the toenail growing hex. Hexed him every day for months on end, a couple times a day when he met with her—made him think that it was bad luck to cheat on me. "The woman smirked, reveling in her ingeniousness. However, the other women around the room gave her disgusted looks and exchanged glances with one another, deciding to ignore her.
Astoria smiled to herself secretly admiring the woman. Elizabeth Vaisey had been of "questionable heritage" before she married her husband Octavio Vaisey. Now of course, she was invited to parties and treated like an almost-equal, with a few behind-her-back whispers when she said strange things, which happened quite often.
Astoria decided that after that little stunt she quite liked Elizabeth Vaisey and vowed to remember her funny little tricks if ever something similar were to happen in her own future marriage.
It was then, while glancing around the room, that Astoria noticed Narcissa Malfoy. She was sitting by herself on a couch, her hands completely still in her lap, her posture stick straight, staring directly in front of her. Her eyes were focused on something in particular, but from her vantage point, Astoria couldn't quite make out what it was.
She was truly isolated from the group of Pureblood women. Though whether she was being shunned or whether she had chosen her isolation, Astoria wasn't quite certain.
And then Astoria was taken back to the days after the battle. Everyone was in chaos, confusion, scrambling to figure out what exactly had happened. One moment, Harry Potter was dead and the next he was fighting Voldemort in the middle of the Great Hall. And then Harry had given his statement, giving his pardon to Narcissa and Draco Malfoy.
The world was in shock: Why them? And then, somehow, word had gotten out: Narcissa Malfoy had saved Harry Potter.
This woman had lied to Voldemort,. She was the key reason that he was gone, but she did it out of purely selfish reasons. She wanted her son to live. And so people shunned her, she was a turncoat, a liar, a deceiver. But wouldn't have others that were put in her same position do exactly the same thing?
Astoria respected Narcissa Malfoy. She decided that if one were to look at the situation logically, one could even conclude that Narcissa Malfoy was brave. She lied to one of the most evil, powerful men in the world and one lie brought about his downfall.
If Astoria was honest with herself, she would wonder whether Draco was even really worth saving. Though she supposed that his mother was certainly biased. Astoria herself had encountered him before the chaos, while wandering the halls of Hogwarts. He had come off as rude, proud, obnoxious, and quite frankly he acted like a spoiled brat.
But everyone saw the changes that he went through during his later years at Hogwarts. Gone was the obnoxious boy that everyone knew and detested, and here was the ghost version of his former self. He was thinner, with dark circles under his eyes, he isolated himself from the attention of his peers that he had so craved earlier.
What kind of parents would allow their son to be put in such a situation?
Astoria studied Narcissa Malfoy carefully, but she barely seemed to be breathing, let alone moving.
They must have been scared. The "Dark Lord" had taken over their home, threatened their family, they would have done anything to keep themselves alive. Voldemort was a twisted monster—he fed off of fear and fake adoration. He used love as a weapon relentlessly. It would only be logical that they were frightened. They loved their family and would do anything to protect themselves. Wouldn't the average family do the same?
Astoria pondered this for a few moments. Would she lay down her life for her family? She wasn't quite sure. The Weasleys had, and would do it again. But her family was different from most; they didn't have the intense bond that most families had. In fact, she often felt like a stranger living in her own home. The Malfoys were lucky to have the sort of bond that glued them together, that made them care about the other's wellbeing. That was their greatest strength, but quite possibly their greatest weakness as well.
Astoria was torn from her thoughts as a collective giggle was given by the ladies as the next present was opened. And suddenly, emboldened by her thoughts, Astoria stood up gracefully and went to sit next to the unmoving Narcissa Malfoy.
Mrs. Malfoy didn't move as Astoria sat next to her. If she was even aware of her presence, she didn't show it. She continued to sit stock still, staring straight ahead. Astoria decided to mimic her motions, sitting as still as she had always been taught to sit, staring directly ahead. It was then that she noticed that Narcissa Malfoy was staring at a clock.
It sat above the fireplace, on the mantle and was perhaps one of the most delicately ornate clocks that Astoria had ever seen. Its golden hands shone under the candlelight, reflecting upon the walls of the mansion. Even the hands of the clock were gold and they moved slowly, one by the minute, one by the hour as most clocks do. Time seemed to slow down, just as it always did as you were looking at a clock. The minutes ticked by slowly and the hands seemed almost as unmoving as the ones in Astoria's lap.
And so Astoria Greengrass and Narcissa Malfoy sat, side by side, watching time tick by, unnoticed by the rest of the party.
And then he came in. Him: the reason why there were all sitting here today. Whether he knew it or not, liked it or not, he had saved them all. He was the reason harry got back to the castle, it was his wand that Harry used to kill Voldemort.
He stepped out of the fireplace nonchalantly, and dusted himself off. Just his mere presence was enough to tear Astoria's dedicated eyes from the golden timepiece, but not his mother's. She stared, completely unperturbed by all the noise and the sudden appearance of her son.
His grey eyes were cold and calculating as he approached the women, though Astoria liked to think that if he were capable of showing any emotion, he would have looked surprised. But perhaps she flattered herself too much.
Narcissa stood slowly; apparently she had realized the presence of her son at one point and she walked over to Ophelia Vergbound and kissed her on both cheeks and then went over to her son. Astoria had been watching her, but as soon as Narcissa reached Draco, Astoria couldn't quite help but look at the man. He was staring at her so intensely that in almost made her flinch. She only kept her clam composure because of her Pureblood etiquette.
She tried to look into his eyes but this time, she didn't see that haunted look that she had seen previously. She saw nothing. If eyes really are the window to the soul, his grey orbs were like steel shutters, effectively blocking everyone and everything, every single emotion, out. He then nodded at her, and if she had blinked she would have missed it. It was a quick inclination of his head, and then he escorted his mother to the fireplace, his hand on the small of her back as he guided her frail figure.
Astoria glanced back at the clock, realizing form the placement of the golden hands that only a few minutes had elapsed, though it felt like so much longer.
Warm breath in her ear awoke Astoria from her dreamlike state. "Susan Cornfoot is here." Her mother whispered hurriedly. "Put a smile on your face and come meet her."
Immediately, Astoria plastered a smile on her face, hoping against hope that Stephen had not had a conversation with his mother recently. She decided not to say anything to her mother as it seemed foolish to inform her that she might have already ruined the possibility of marriage already.
"Lady Cornfoot, this is my youngest daughter, Astoria Greengrass." My mother introduced me, pushing me forward slightly.
Susan Cornfoot looked every bit like the stately lady she was born to be. Her dark robes flowed around her beautifully and her dark hair and eyes reminded Astoria so much of Stephen. She had the hint of smile lines on her pale face, and her slightly rosy cheeks gave Astoria the impression that this woman was as different from her mother as one could get. Her presumptions were proved correct as Susan Cornfoot kissed both of her cheeks warmly, even smiling at her as she greeted her.
"Hello, Astoria. It is so nice to finally meet you. I have heard much about you from Stephen." She said, her voice like soft velvet.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well. Forgive me if I offend you, but Stephen has yet to mention much about you." Astoria replied wittily, a light smile on her face.
Susan Cornfoot laughed graciously, and Astoria found herself almost sagging with relief. The woman had a sense of humor. If perhaps Stephen decided to get his head out of his arse and into the present time when women weren't thought of as objects, then Astoria might even consider marrying him, just for his mother. Having a mother-in-law like Susan Cornfoot could prove to be rather lovely, certainly the situation could be much worse.
"I wouldn't expect Stephen to speak of his mother while he was in the presence of such a beautiful young lady like yourself."
Astoria found herself blushing slightly at the compliment.
"You flatter me, Lady Cornfoot, but your thoughts are accurate. Stephen and I often converse over extremely important things like the dictionary and other important books."
"Sounds like a conversation after my own heart." Susan Cornfoot smiled.
Priscilla Greengrass's head swiveled between the two, trying to figure out what she was missing aas her daughter conversed and joked with one of the most important women in the Pureblood society.
"Well, I must be leaving." Lady Cornfoot said reluctantly. "However, Astoria, I certainly hope that somewhere down the road we attend another one of these events together. Perhaps with you as the main even instead of Ophelia Vergbound.?' She leaned forward and kissed Astoria once on each cheek, pausing to whisper into her ear. "He said I would like you."
And then with a swish of her robes, Lady Cornfoot was out of the room.
Astoria stood frozen in horror. Had Stephen's mother just insinuated that Astoria would be in this similar situation, at a baby shower, somewhere down the road? Did she just say that Astoria would bear her grandchildren?
Priscilla smiled beatifically at Astoria, patted her gently on the arm, and made her way voer to Ophelia to give her wishes.
Astoria stood still; it seemed that the marriage issue was going to be coming up sooner than she thought. And if she wasn't careful she might just be married off to Stephen Cornfoot, who wasn't exactly gracing the top of her "Favourite People in the World" list right now. Something was going to have to be done about this. Before it was too late.
A/N: A little more information about the Malfoys! And a bit more of Draco...not my favourite chapter to write but it was necessary for the plot later on.
Let me know what you think!
~wwccd
