Chapter 4: Finally Free

Draco's POV:

It was on his family tree. His family's evil blood, evil intent. It was on his family tree and he was just seeing it.

As a young child, Draco would stare at the tree for hours, seeing how the branches intertwined, and how he was related to Auntie Bella, Uncle Regulus, and Uncle Severus. Even at a young age he was intrigued by it. But as he got older, he recognized his family for what they really were - evil.

Unforgiving.

But there still was a child's heart inside him, for he wasn't strong enough to leave them.

By the time he realized they were putting up facades around him, it was during the Second Wizarding War.

And by that time, it was too late.

Astoria's POV:

Astoria sighed quietly, hoping upon hope that her sister would make it out okay. Whenever her ego was getting out of control, Daphne was the one to bring her to her senses. She humbled Astoria, and for that, she'd be forever grateful. She was going back to Hogwarts to repeat her sixth year in a couple weeks and Daphne planned on going back for her seventh. But first came the trial.

"Daphne Greengrass. The Wizarding Council finds you guilty of: consorting with Death Eaters, aiding the Dark Lord, and endangering the life of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World as a whole. You were not underage at the time of these incidents. You are hereby sentenced to Azkaban where you will spend the rest of your days being watched by our new cell guards." The older wizard said from his seat in the stands.

"No!" Astoria cried out. They'd already taken her mother and father to Azkaban but found Astoria herself innocent seeing as she was underage at the time of the occurrence. No punishment whatsoever. Draco, a close friend of her's was found innocent because Harry Potter vouched for him and his mother. "No!"

Astoria tried running towards her. Towards her dear sister. "Queenie!"

"No," Draco said softly, holding her back with the help of his mother. Astoria stopped struggling and looked him in the eyes, tears slowly trailing down her face. He sighed and wiped a tear away. "It's just us now."

She hugged him and never let go.

Draco's POV:

Draco sighed, his legs stretched out, feet on the seat across from him. Queenie and Astoria sat across from him, next to his feet, on the compartment bench. Next to him were Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, and Theodore Nott.

It was his seventh year of Hogwarts, but he didn't care. He didn't care that Severus Snape, his Godfather, was Headmaster this year. He didn't care that Voldemort was quickly coming to power. He didn't even care that there was a Death Eater mark on his left forearm. He only cared about two things:

He was responsible for Dumbledore's death - whether he was the one that killed him or not.

And he was dating the wrong girl.

Astoria had never seemed more beautiful to him than she did on the train ride to Hogwarts that year. He'd gotten a lecture from his mother and Auntie Bella before school started about his behavior that summer.

"Cheer up," Narcissa had said. "You'll get to spend time with that girlfriend of yours…"

"Pansy?" He'd asked, horrified. His father had arranged for the marriage and Draco figured it was only best for the marriage to seem real to others by dating her publicly.

"No silly boy," Auntie Bella said grinning. "The girl you actually like."

Draco gaped at the two women in front of him, faintly hearing Bella's cackle of glee. They knew? He asked himself. Well of course they did.

"I don't know who you are referring to Mother."

"Oh lighten up, Drakey… You've been so down lately. I know! A nice murder. That'll cheer you up!" Auntie Bella grinned at his stricken expression.

"Bella! He's had enough for one summer don't you think? What with Lucius and the arranged marriage…"

Auntie Bella - a name by which Draco did not call her anymore - simply smirked then Apparated without so much as a "goodbye."

Draco groaned in frustration and Apparated to King's Cross before his mother could say anything else.

"I'm sorry Astoria," Draco said quietly on the train. It was just the two of them in the compartment this year. Blaise was off moping somewhere because his girlfriend was in Azkaban and Draco kicked Pansy out. Lily Moon, a Slytherin in his year, came by to give Astoria her 'condolences' one might say but soon left to find Blaise.

"It wasn't your fault, Drake," she whispered.

"That's it." Draco stood up and left the compartment without a word, leaving the Slytherin section without so much as a blink.

"Drakey-poo! Where are you-" Pansy began.

"I'm breaking up with you." Draco said simply before leaving and heading towards the Gryffindors.

He came up to a compartment crowded with people. He slowly knocked on the door three times and heard the compartment go silent. "I'll handle it," he could hear Potter say and quickly took a deep breath. The door slid open and Potter stepped out. "Yes, Malfoy?"

There was no malice in his tone, only tiredness.

"I need a favor."

It'd been two weeks since they arrived at Hogwarts and Astoria still wasn't happy. Draco had done everything he could to cheer her up but her mind wouldn't leave her sister. They were in the Great Hall for breakfast and it was Astoria, Blaise, and Draco sitting in their own group.

"Where's Potter?" Blaise asked simply, taking a bite of his french toast.

"I asked him for a favor… The fact that he's not here means McGonagall approved." Draco said, smiling a little. "I just hope it works."

"It worked," a male voice said behind Astoria, causing Draco to look up.

"Thanks Potter. Guess I owe you one?"

"Butterbeers on you next Hogsmeade trip?" He asked, adjusting his glasses.

"Sure. Sounds good." Draco smiled, actually smiled, as Potter walked away.

"What was that?" Blaise asked, grinning. "Are you and Potter friends now?"

"If this worked like he said it did then yes, we very well might be."

"If what worked?" Astoria asked.

"Hey," a girl whispered behind her and Astoria whirled around.

"Queenie?"

"Hey sis." Astoria bounced out of her seat and hugged Daphne tightly.

"What? How- When-" Astoria sputtered. "What?"

"Draco called in a favor from Potter I hear?" Daphne flicked her wand in the direction of the Gryffindor table and Astoria noticed a small package appeared in front of Potter. "Well, this is what happened…"

Blaise looked at Draco with the biggest smile he'd ever seen. "You did this?"

"Yeah…" Draco grinned and looked at the joy in Astoria's eyes. "Anything to make her happy."