After returning Hermione's book, Astoria had little reason to stay at the Weasley's, and after learning Astoria's name, Draco had little reason to stay as well. As such, the two quickly made their cases to leave.

"Shouldn't you still be at Hogwarts?" Draco asked as he faced Astoria while they walked down Diagon Alley, where she was to work soon, and he followed behind her. "For your last year."

"I went for my sixth year." Astoria answered, "But it was not Hogwarts anymore. My friends weren't there, and I was treated differently because of who I was. And I was always ahead of my year, so I didn't return this last school year." She explained simply, without facing Draco, though his eyes were glued to her.

"You knew who I was in the bookstore."

"Of course I did." She replied, finally facing him. "And it wasn't as though anyone else would've tried to help you."

"So that's it then? That's why you talked to me?"

"Does it really matter why two people start talking?" Astoria responded, turning forward once more. "To me, it seems it should only matter if they continue talking."

"Then why did you continue talking to me?" Draco replied and she stopped walking as she turned to face him. For a moment, she remained silent, only staring up into his grey eyes, but she eventually spoke.

"Because it's not fair that everyone assumes you should be Azkaban alongside all the others." She answered simply. "And it may seem like nobody wants to be around you, but things aren't always the way they seem, Draco."

"Well, the whispering and pointing usually is what it seems." He answered sharply as he tried to turn away from her, but she reached out and took hold of his wrist before he could walk away.

"People may not know what to make out of you and your family, but they still respect you, Draco. And it's not because you're respectable, it's because Hermione, Ron, and Harry have never said anything bad about you. They've said nothing but good things about you and your family whenever they're asked. It's just you make it hard to believe them when all you do is drink."

Draco stared down at Astoria, unsure of what to make of her. Like Hermione, she had a knack for telling the truth, even if it was hard to hear, but Astoria's words sounded much gentler than Hermione's words. He wasn't sure if it was from her words, or if it was simply her voice. All he knew, was that she had a way of reaching out to him.

"So you believe all the things they've said about me?" He asked.

Astoria only laughed as she started to walk and Draco walked beside her. "Well, just because they tell the public nothing but good things, doesn't mean the other side of the truth is unspoken behind closed doors."

"And what exactly does that mean?" He replied.

"It means I believe Hermione when she says you're a drunk. And I believe Ron when he says you're a cheat. And I believe Harry when he says you're a good man. But I don't know what to make of what Ginny says you are."

Then everything seemed to stop in his mind. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what she had said of him behind closed doors. Or even out in public.

"But that look only means one thing." Astoria commented and Draco faced her once more, doing his best to focus on her.

"And what's that?"

"That she's a heart breaker, too."