Changing Tides

Author's Note: Oh my goodness! I can't believe we're already on chapter ten! My oh my, how times flies. Anyways, thank you so much to everyone that has favorited and alerted this story. That is always so amazingly flattering!

An even bigger thanks to all of you wonderful readers who take the time to review! Your reactions and support tickle me and make me just oh-so excited. I am so happy and feel so very fortunate to have readers that continue to follow, like, and review this story. You all are wonderful! Ten Chapters Strong and More to Come!

Astoria let her eyes wander along the platform, trying to spot her friends...or on the off-chance Draco. However, she found that she wasn't having any luck despite the fact that her parents were actually too preoccupied with Daphne and Theo to care what she was up to. Ever since they had returned home from England, Daphne had been glued to Theo's side...taking on an almost Pansy-like fawning attitude over Theo - completely revolting in Astoria's point of view (something she was sure her Father agreed with her on).

"Ohhh! Where is he? Have you seen my Drac-y?" The unmistakable nasaly whine of Pansy Parkinson pierced the platform, causing Astoria's blood to boil. Did the girl never learn that she wasn't wanted? Unable to stand her screeching any longer, Astoria bestowed hugs and kisses on her parents in a rush before finding the same secluded compartment she'd always sat in on the train ride over.

"Are you sure that you'll be okay?" His voice was soft, so as to keep anyone from over-hearing as his mother smiled softly and fondly straightened out his jacket. But even as Draco spoke the words to his mother, he knew that he wasn't really willing to give up going back to Hogwarts. He couldn't wait to get away from his shell of a father; and the gloominess that seemed to prevade the Manor no matter how many reovations and how much redecorating his mother took on. "I don't really need to go back...I mean eighth year was just highly reccomended; and what does McGonagall know anyways?" His voice seeped a spark of his old skepticism and haughtiness...something he had been lacking for longer than his mother would like to recall.

"We'll be fine Darling. We want you to go back to school for your last year; and learn all of the things that were...neglected last year." She smiled tightly as her son nodded slightly. "You'll write me...like you did your first year. Won't you dear?"

As he gazed into his mother's soft eyes, he realised that for the first time in a very long time she wasn't worried or scared. She was almost peaceful. "Of course, Mother." He smiled as he kissed her cheek dutifully and shook his father's some-what frail hand.

His eyes darted about the platform uncomfortably as people bustled around them. "We'll see you for Christmas. Have a good year, Draco." Lucius Malfoy's sneer seemed more that of a wounded animal, than the whithering man he had once been. Unlike his wife and his son who were recovering and picking up their lives post-war, he seemed to be stuck. Too humiliated, too tired, and too dispassionate to rebuild. Physically, he was still frail and he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to find rest again.

Her high-pitched cry reached Draco's ears before he could place exactly where she was, sending a prickling feeling through his body. There were some things...some people...he'd rather keep in his past. And Pansy Parkinson and her claws were certainly in that category. "I'll see you then." He gaves his parents a forced smile before he darted away from them and onto the train in search of an empty compartment and/or depending on his luck Astoria.

Astoria grinned as she found her friends' trunks and followed them into their compartment before halting in shock. "Oh holy hell...no, no, no, no, no!" She groaned as her nose wrinkled in distaste and her eyes closed.

"Oh, Astoria, don't be so dramatic!" Her best friend, Odessa Grandfall, admonished as she pulled away from Kenton Bascombe...Astoria's other best friend and a Ravenclaw.

Astoria peeked through her fingers as Kenton peered at her thoughtfully and Odessa sat against him smugly. "I thought you two hated eachother...what happened to that?"

"You know, there's a very thin line between love and hate..." Odessa grinned mischeviously as Kenton nuzzled his head against her neck kissing it.

"Oh, this is just...I am not sitting here for hours watching you two..." She ran a hand through her long dark curls before shaking her head. "See you at school. Have a nice ride."

"We will...!" Odessa sang as Astoria shoved the compartment door closed and went in search of a new compartment.

Draco let his long legs stretch across the compartment to the bench in front of him in mild satisfaction. He'd managed to avoid any unpleasant run-in's, which was fortunate. All he needed was to be cornered by Pansy or run-in to Weasley to make the start of this school year stellar. He was lost in his own thoughts watching the countryside whiz by him in a blur of green when he heard the compartment door slide open with a slam.

She could feel her cheeks burning pink as the door slammed into its casing noisily. She'd been up-and-down the train searching for a new compartment to no avail. Unlike last year, the train was completely full. "I'm sorry, the door was umm jammed." Astoria refused to look up to see whom it was she was about to intrude on. She'd rather not know under the pretense of mortification. "Mind if I sit here? All of the other compartments are full..." She began pulling her trunk in as someone else bent down and effortlessly threw it atop the baggage rails.

Perhaps fate was finally on his side, Draco thought with a smile as he recognized Astoria's voice and her dark curls that swung loosely against her back. "I think most people aim to make graceful late entrances, Astoria..." Draco smirked as Astoria snapped her head up much quicker than she should have.

She felt tears sting her eyes before she was even able to speak. "Oh!" She clamped her hand against the back of her neck, hoping that it'd somehow magically make her feel all better.

"Are you alright?" Draco felt terrible as his face wrinkled in distaste. "I didn't mean to startle you..." He pulled her into the seat beside his as he pried her hand away from her neck before gently massaging it.

"It's okay..." She bit her lip softly trying to keep her tears at bay as he held her close. "Umm...hello anyways. How are you Draco?" She blinked her eyes as she stared up at him, attempting to plough through any potential akwardness.

"Alright." Draco smiled weakly as he shoved his hands into his trouser pockets uncomfortably. Leave it to him to injure her within five minutes of being in the same compartment with her... "And...yourself? Besides the uhh neck, of course."

She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips as she finally loosened up, causing Draco to smile hesitantly. "Alright. Finding a compartment was dreadful! I was going to sit with Odessa and Kenton as usual, but..." She shook her head in distaste as he watched her with interest. "...they've always hated eachother. I mean thoroughly hated eachother. And I walk in to see them snogging like they're head-over-heels."

Draco laughed as she made a disgusted expression. "I'm sorry. That must've been..."'

"Traumatizing, yes." Astoria smiled as she laid her head back against his shoulder. "I found Daphne. But she and Theo are just as revolting. And helping Pansy search for you was clearly out of the question."

"Well I'm glad that you happened upon me then." Draco smiled as he snaked his arm about her waist.

"Sorry to intrude upon your solace. I promise to remain as stoic and quiet as possible though." She teased as she let her eyes droop closed, suddenly very sleepy.

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't mind your company, 'Storia." Draco smiled as he played with a strand of her hair, wrapping a dark curl around and around his index finger.

"Mmm...that's nice." Astoria mumbled as she slipped into a comfortable state of sleepiness, her brain whirling as dreams overtook her.

Draco chuckled as he relaxed, holding Astoria close to him as she slept against him for the entire ride up to the castle. Once the train jerked into place at the station, he found that he had an increadibly hard time rousing her. Completely due to the fact that he liked watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful and every once in a while, a small smile would flit across her face. Not to mention that she had somehow snuggled very close to him, ending up positioning herself half atop him. "Astoria...wake up..."

Astoria cuddled up to the seat, curling herself in a ball as she mumbled groggily. "Five more minutes, Lolly..."

"Lolly?" Draco's nose curled in revulsion as he heard himself being called a name that oddly sounded house elf like... "Astoria, wake up, or..."

Astoria snapped up at the sound of Draco saying her personal house elf's name. "Sorry I fell asleep on you." She covered a yawn with her hand as he led her out of the train and into a carraige. "Why were you talking about my house elf Lolly?" She cocked her head to the side as she looked at Draco in confusion.

Draco raised an eyebrow mock-amusement evident in his posture. "Apparently you mistook me for your house elf." He smirked as Astoria blanched. "You told me or should I say, Lolly, to let you sleep five more minutes."

"Oh." Astoria felt her neck and cheeks heating up uncomfortably as Draco continued to stare at her. "Well if you were going to be compared to a house elf, at least it was Lolly. You're lucky in that fact. Honestly, she's wonderful Draco. So sweet and fun..." She giggled as Draco stared at her like she had multiple heads that were speaking in multiple languages all at once.

"Lucky to be compared to your house elf...?" Draco raised an eyebrow as Astoria threw caution to the wind and kissed his cheek, still shaking with laughter.

"Not just any house elf, Draco. Lolly, my house elf." Astoria grinned as Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh, just wait until break. You'll come to love her too! It's impossible not to."

"Love a house elf?" Draco tasted the acidic skepticism in his words as Astoria softly ran a hand through the back ends of his hair.

"Of course. She's like family to me Draco..." She smiled sweetly at him as he half nodded, one side of his mouth downturned in uncertainty.

"I suppose..." Draco helped Astoria down from the carraige giving her a noncommital look. He couldn't help but hold her hand tightly in his own. He'd been avoiding looking at the castle for some time now; and he felt his stomach seem to bottom out as there was no more time to stall reentering society at its fullest.

She felt her heart wrench in compassion for the older taller boy in front of her. She couldn't imagine what it was like for him to be on top of the world and then fall so far from what had always been his norm. "It'll be okay. Different, but okay." She whispered softly to him as other students bustled about them in excitement.

He nodded, unable to swallow his nerves. He felt so weak and low being the one that needed encouragement and someone's hand to hold. But as she pressed her lips softly to his, he figured that maybe this was what it was like to be in a relationship with someone that really loved you and was your equal...

AN: As far as entering the realm of writing a fluid story (instead of jumping around from one year to the next), how do you think I'm doing? How did you like this chapter? - I'd love to hear your view, so please review!