Aw my darlings, thank you so much for all your kind words! I'm exhausted today (so much work this week), but I thought of you all, gritted my teeth, and got to writing.

Hope you like this chapter!

Astoria drums her fingers on the dining room table, trying not to look bored. Mother and Daphne are out shopping for Christmas presents, so it's just her and father at dinner, and he seems more engrossed in his latest business deal – in fact, he's speaking to one of his associates through the fireplace as they dine – than in keeping his younger daughter entertained.

As the house elf, Sweepy, pours her another goblet of pumpkin juice, Astoria finds her mind wandering, as it has often in the past few days, to the mysterious Draco Malfoy. Since the incident that occurred the day of her disastrous break-up with Corwin, she hasn't spoken to either boy. Corwin has passed her in hallways with his chin raised and an almost wounded expression, and Draco has simply been, well, nowhere to be found.

"Whatever happened to your tutor?" Clarisse had asked one night just before the holidays, as they made their way to the library together, making sure to skirt around the table where Corwin and all of his Ravenclaw friends sat.

"I dunno. Reckon he's been busy." Astoria had shrugged and tried to ignore the glares coming from the Ravenclaw table. Corwin already had a new girl, a curly-haired Ravenclaw, clinging to his arm as he perused a book. Her cheeks burned.

"Ignore them," Clarisse had muttered, shooting daggers with her eyes back at the table. "He's a right prat that one. And such a slut for going out with another girl so soon!"

As much as Astoria had appreciated Clarisse's support, she couldn't bear to tell her what was really bothering her – the strange absence of Draco Malfoy, and the stranger fact that she was missing him.

Thankfully, her family has accepted her brooding over the holidays, after Daphne whispered to them loudly to dinner one night that Astoria was having "first heartbreak problems." She doesn't mind the extra fussing – her mother allows her to eat more sweets with no word as to how it will destroy her figure – and her father even gave her some extra spending money. And it gives her an excuse to sit around and mull.

On her third day home, she is up late thinking about those last moments on the Quidditch pitch with Draco before he ran away, and how lovely they are. She is also thinking of the darkness in his features as he stood in front of that hallway, staring intently at the wall. Two sides to him, she muses. And she can't decide which one is truer – the nice, sweet boy she sees peeking through, or the dangerous one that everyone else sees.

She's lying on her bed, wearing flannel pajamas and wrapped up in a down-feather comforter cocoon when the thought occurs to her –

She could write him.

It's insane, of course, and they don't even have any sort of a working relationship, but as soon as the thought enters her mind, she can't seem to convince it to leave.

First, she tries to read one of her sister's romance novels, a story of a young witch who falls for a destitute Muggle (no wonder Daphne hides this trash, her parents would die if they discovered them). Then she curls up in her cocoon and tries to fall asleep. But to no avail – her mind is still on the same idiotic thought – that she should write to Draco.

Well there's no harm in just writing a letter, even if you never send it, she reasons with herself. In fact, it's even known to be therapeutic to write letters to people that you will never send. Maybe it will help me get to sleep.

She drags herself into a sitting position and knocks over half the things on her bedside table in her attempt to find a quill and some parchment.

"Lumos," she says softly, casting a glow over her bed so that she will be able to write. She furrows her brow and nibbles at the end of the quill thoughtfully. Then, haltingly, she begins to write.

Dear Draco,

Hello there, it's me, your young protégé! Just kidding, it's just Astoria Greengrass, your miserably failing Potions tutee who most likely didn't fare that well on her final exams (since her tutor mysteriously disappeared prior to aforementioned exams).

I just wanted to drop you a line to see how you are doing, and how your holidays are coming along. I hope you're having a nice time at home – it's quite dull here actually. Father's always in meetings (during the holidays!), and Daphne and Mother go dress-shopping all day long. I like having a couple pretty things to wear, but when Daphne goes shopping, she'll linger in a shop for hours. It's miserable. I always bring schoolwork when I go with her, because I actually get quite a bit of material in my head while I wait for her. Last time I went, I read two hundred pages on Vampiric Law while she was in just one shop. Incredible, isn't it?

I owe you a gift for all of the Potions help you've been giving me. Hope you're doing well.

Happy Christmas, Draco.

-Astoria

She bites her lip as she rereads it. She had hoped to come across as breezy and entertaining, but she's afraid that she sounds just like a silly little girl, writing a letter to some older, more sophisticated boy. She shrugs to herself. Well, that's what she is, isn't she? Tying up the parchment with a piece of green ribbon that she usually uses to tie at the end of her braid, she clucks to call over the family owl, Quest. She had been allowed to name the creature, and she did so when she was just six years old and obsessed with a board game that involved a magical map and medieval character pieces called Quest.

"Hullo, old friend," she says softly, tying the letter to his leg. He nips affectionately at the tip of her finger, and she giggles. "To the Malfoy Manor, please."

The owl gives her a questioning look, before hooting and flying out the window. Astoria watches him go off into the distance, and then settles down, pulling her comforter around her shoulders as she falls asleep and dreams of falling from a distance and waking up to worried gray eyes…

When she wakes up, the sun is already pouring through her window. Downstairs, she can hear the plinking of piano keys – Mother must be up, then. She rubs her eyes and the plinking continues, ending in a series of terrible unharmonious chords. And Daphne is up as well, taking the dreaded piano lessons from Mother.

Astoria pushes herself into a sitting position. Only then does she notice the rolled up piece of parchment lying on her pillow, sealed with a black dollop of wax.

Her breath catches in her throat as she opens it, a bit dazed and disbelieving that Draco actually responded to her so quickly.

Dear Astoria,

Thank you for writing. I've been meaning to say something to you, but I felt like such a prat for leaving you that night (after you had just suffered a terrible fall, no less) that I was too ashamed to approach you before the holidays. I hope that you will find it in yourself to forgive me.

Please don't bother yourself with buying me a gift. It was no trouble at all – and to be honest, you aren't terrible at Potions at all. I'm sure you did well on your final exams without my aid, and that Professor Snape may have even ventured a rare smile when he graded your exam. I've heard rumors that he has been known to smile, you know.

I want you to know that if I sometimes get… strange, not to take it personally. There is a great deal going on right now that I can't explain to you.

Have you finished all of your Christmas shopping? I still need to buy something for my Mum, and I'd love to meet you in Diagon Alley if you have the time. Today or tomorrow, perhaps? Let me know.

Best,

Draco Malfoy

She feels dizzy for a moment, and then a small laugh bubbles from her lips. Draco Malfoy wants to go shopping with her? The idea is so ludicrous she doesn't know what to make of it, but clutching the piece of parchment, she runs downstairs barefoot – ignoring Sweepy who carries a pair of slippers running behind her, squeaking, "Miss 'Tori, you must put on your shoes! The floor is cold, Miss 'Tori!"

As she enters the drawing room, out of breath, both her mother and Daphne look up from the piano in surprise.

"Whatever is going on, Astoria?" her mother says, arching a fine eyebrow. Both she and Daphne are already dressed for the day in simple dresses in dark colors, and they look expensive and beautiful.

"I was wondering," Astoria asks, out of breath. "If I could go to Diagon Alley by myself later today."

"Well I can't let you go all alone," her mother says, frowning. Even when she frowns, her eyes sparkle and her hair – which is pulled back into a low bun – is impeccable. Astoria can see why sometimes, when they are sitting at dinner together, her father says nothing and simply stares at her from across the table. "That'd be dangerous. At least take Daphne."

Daphne rolls her eyes and Astoria can see that she is about to protest – she hates babysitting Astoria, as she puts it – so she moves in to interject. "Well, actually, I won't be alone. I'll be going with a school friend."

Daphne narrows her eyes and looks at her suspiciously. "But I thought you said Clarisse was going to France for the holidays. Oh Merlin, please don't tell me you've reconciled with that little twit Conrad…"

"It's not Corwin," Astoria says, her cheeks firing up in embarrassment. Before she can help it, the words slip out of her mouth, "I received an owl from Draco Malfoy. He asked if I'd like to meet him at Diagon Alley today to finish our Christmas shopping together."

Two pairs of perfectly formed eyebrows shoot up simultaneously.

Astoria is pleased for a moment, to see that she has completely dumfounded both her mother and her sister, who are normally so unflappable and poised. They both look at her, and Daphne's mouth even drops open in a rather unflattering way. Astoria stares back calmly, even though she can feel her stomach flipping.

"Well then," her mother finally says, her tone surprised. "I'm sure Draco Malfoy will be a fine chaperone for you. But really, Astoria," and she still sounds baffled, "I had no idea that you were friends with the Malfoy boy."

Astoria shrugs and Daphne shakes her head at her disbelievingly.

Before they can say more, she mutters, "Thank you," and runs upstairs to pen a quick note to Draco that she sends of with Quest:

Hi Draco,

I do actually need to do some shopping. I can meet you at Diagon Alley at around 3 in the afternoon today – I need to be home by 6:30 for dinner, but that should leave us plenty of time to find gifts.

-Astoria

"Back to the Malfoy Manor, Quest," she murmurs. The owl hoots and flies off.

She is going through her closets, looking for something to wear when she hears a throat clearing behind her. When she turns around, Daphne is standing there, still looking entirely shell-shocked.

"I was wondering," she starts off. "If you needed any help with your outfit, or your hair, or your make-up."

She can tell that her sister is just dying to ask about what her relationship to Draco is, and that she's hedging for an answer by asking all these questions that pertain to Astoria's appearance to see if she is, in fact, going on a date with Draco Malfoy. Astoria ignores this and shrugs her shoulders.

"I was just looking for whatever's warmest," she fibs, even though her stomach is in knots at the thought of what she should wear or look like.

"Oh, okay." Daphne lingers for a moment longer, then crosses the room and fiddles with Astoria's hair affectionately, in that way she always does. "You know, you can tell me anything, right?"

Astoria looks back at her sister, into her large imploring eyes and nods.

"Good," Daphne says, smiling a bit hesitantly. "You should tell me about how boys treat you, and if they treat you poorly or… if they hurt you. Because I am your sister, and I care about you."

"Thanks," Astoria says, a bit awkwardly, though she's pleased by Daphne's rare shows of sisterly affection and protectiveness. "I'll come to you if I need anything, I promise."

"Good," Daphne says, looking at her expectantly.

Astoria looks back at her in silence for a moment, and then finally says, "Can you French braid my hair for me? I can never get it right myself…"

A few hours later, she finds herself standing in front of the family fireplace, clad in a gray wool skirt and emerald green cardigan, with her hair tied back into a thick French braid pulled over her shoulder. Daphne had finally convinced her to put on a bit of blush and just a touch of pink lipstick. "You won't look unnatural!" she had exclaimed. "You'll just look pretty and sun-kissed."

"Have fun, dear," her mother says from where she sits primly on a chair, taking tea with her father. Astoria waves nervously and throws a pinch of floo powder into the fireplace, taking a deep breath.

"Diagon Alley, please," she calls out, and steps into the fireplace.

When she steps out again, she almost falls over after bumping into a very, very solid body.

"Ouch," she mutters, trying to gain her footing as she looks around. A pair of slate gray eyes peer back at her and before she can control herself, she blushes wildly. He looks the same as always – pale and thin, with those same eyes and the fine blond hair. But when he sees her, his eyes change from their usual hardened look to a softer gray.

"Astoria," he says, just like he did when she showed up on the balcony. "You made it."

"Yes," she says, smiling at him hesitantly. She holds up her pouch of spending money and shakes it, feeling stupid as she says, "And all ready to buy gifts!"

He ignores her nervous comments though and steps forward, wrapping his arms around her awkwardly. She gasps for a moment before leaning into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He's not a very good hugger (and to be honest, she isn't either), but as she breaths in his clean, almost grass-like scent, she feels her face warm up and her stomach do some strange flips.

"It's good to see you," he says, though his voice muffled and his breath hot against her hair.

"It's good to see you too," she says.

When they pull away, they look at each other a bit uncertainly, and finally both smile.

"Well," he says, holding out an arm for her to take. "Let's go shopping, shall we/?"

And Astoria thinks, This is going to be a very interesting afternoon indeed.

Aaah, that was a longer chapter than usual . Hope you guys enjoyed! Please click the review button and send me a note if you feel so inclined!