Astoria revealed the truth about Draco being her boyfriend to her family. They were taking the news a lot better than she thought they would. Her mother didn't faint, although her face turned sickly green. She plastered on a false smile and gave Astoria a short speech about accepting him. Meanwhile, Daphne was slowly absorbing the information.
"Are you serious? You're seeing Malfoy? Draco Malfoy?" asked Daphne.
"That would be the one." said Astoria.
"I think I saw him around the same time you were meeting your boyfriend at that cafe." said Daphne.
"He used a charm to change his face." said Astoria.
Clara thought back to that time as well. "We ran into Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy a few times too."
"They were probably spying on me and him like you two were." said Astoria.
"You knew we were watching you?" asked Clara.
"It's not hard to miss my own mum and sister. The Malfoy's weren't being discreet either. I wondered why they were always there until he revealed himself to me."
"Are you saying you didn't know it was him until much later?" asked Clara.
"We both hid our identities in the beginning. I smothered him with a pillow that I douse with sleeping potion. I didn't know if he'd want revenge."
Clara's mouth fell open again. "You did what?"
"What did he do?" Daphne asked.
"He was disturbing my sleep."
Daphne laughed. If it was any other person she wouldn't have reacted like this. It was Draco Malfoy, one of the biggest git in Slytherin. She was sure her younger sister humbled him. Astoria was laidback but if you offend her, you best prepare yourself for what's to come. This was the reason Daphne tread lightly around Astoria when they were younger.
"And he still wanted to see you after that?" asked Clara.
"We made a truce. Relationships between us grew from there."
"But Blaise told me Draco was seeing a Muggle-born and she is...pregnant." As Daphne said this, her eyes fell to Astoria's stomach. "Don't tell me you and mum are both pregnant!"
Clara gasped.
"No. It was a misunderstanding. I clarified it with him already." said Astoria.
"He thought you were pregnant. Does that mean…" Daphne paused to think.
Astoria's face turned red as her mother and sister realized she and Draco are sleeping together. Clara's mouth fell open but she didn't speak. Daphne had a large smile on her face.
"So, is Muggle-born his pet name for you?" teased Daphne.
"Daphne, what name he calls her or what they do alone together is between them." Clara said.
"Tell me about it when we are alone." Daphne said to Astoria with a grin. "But by the pet name he gave you I can imagine what sort of bed games you two play."
Astoria ignored Daphne's comment.
"Is he good to you?" asked Clara.
"He treats me well, mum. He respects me. He loves me."
"Good." said Clara. "I can't wait to meet him."
"Knowing you, you probably got him under your thumb and following your every command." said Daphne. "You've got to train him early to know who is boss."
"I always hold your advice in my heart." said Astoria, which delighted Daphne.
Astoria didn't tell them about Draco arranging dinner with his family yet. They need time to take everything in.
The next day, Clara was picked up by Sirin, who drove them to the hospital. Daphne and Astoria were in the house, getting ready to leave for work.
"Astoria! You ready to go yet?" Daphne called to Astoria from the living room.
Receiving no response Daphne walked into Astoria's bedroom. Astoria's clothes were on the floor. She was in her bird form, standing on her desk with white and back feathers. Daphne went to Astoria and gently cupped the small bird in her hand.
"Oh, Astoria." said Daphne.
Normally, when Astoria transforms into her bird form her feathers either turn sold white or solid black. Whenever her feathers are white and black it meant trouble. The last time this happened was two years. Astoria went to school and worked multiple jobs to support them. Although her mind kept running her body became overwhelmed. Her body involuntarily transformed into her bird form to force her to recuperate. They took her to a healer and he told them no amount of magic would turn her back into a human, only when her body was fully recovered. She was stuck as a bird for a month. It was then that Daphne and Clara had to learn how to live without Astoria. After that incident they always made sure to remind Astoria not to overwork herself again and share their responsibilities.
Astoria while in her bird form they developed ways to communicate with her. When she chirped twice it meant yes. One chirp meant no. For more detailed responses Daphne used an old Muggle board game with words on it. Astoria would walk over the board game and tapped her beak at the words.
"If I tell mum she's going to blame herself again. Stress isn't good for the baby." said Daphne.
Chirp, chirp. Astoria agreed.
Daphne thought of what to do. "Does Draco know about your Animagus?"
Chirp, chirp.
"Good. How about this, you stay with Draco until you turn back into a human?"
Chirp, chirp.
"I'll tell mum you are taking a vacation with Draco for two months. Stay with him, relax, and come back when you are ready. Don't think of work. I'll take care of everything."
Chirp, chirp.
Daphne placed Astoria on her shoulder and gathered Astoria's bird things. After she was done she had Astoria in a bird cage. They traveled to Malfoy Manor to see Draco.
"Daphne? What are you doing here?" Draco asked when he saw her in Malfoy Manor.
Daphne opened the bird cage to release Astoria. Astoria flew out and land on a small table.
Draco looked at the bird. He recognized it, although he noticed he change in color.
"Astoria exhausted herself. Her body transform into a bird to force her to rest."
Draco looked from Daphne to Astoria. He knelt in front to Astoria, who walked to him.
"This is all my fault." said Draco. He told her to stop working, let him care for her, but did she listen? No. Now look at her, she was trapped as a bird.
"Don't blame yourself." said Daphne. "Astoria is too diligent for her own good."
Draco opened his palms to let Astoria hop onto them. He stood up to address Daphne.
"What can we do to help her?"
"She will turn back to a human after a month. Can she stay with you until then? You can't tell our mum, though."
"I'll take care of her." Draco said. He stroked Astoria's head with his finger.
"Two chirps means yes, one chirp means no. Or you can use her word board." Daphne gave him Astoria's bird items with written instructions.
"I'll study these when I can. Also, how do you know Astoria?"
"I am her sister."
Draco stared at her. "What?"
"I am her sister." Daphne repeated.
Draco looked from Daphne to Astoria. "Sister?" he said the word over again until it sunk it. "My Astoria is Astoria Greengrass? She's a pureblood?"
Daphne gave him a funny look. "She is Astoria Greengrass." she studied his confused expression and thought back to what Blaise told her. "You thought she was a Muggle-born!" She scooped Astoria in her hands and away from Draco.
Draco reached for Astoria but Daphne wasn't allowing him to touch her.
"It's not like that!" he said.
"You have been seeing her for months and you don't know her last name or her blood!" Daphne shouted at him. She cupped her hands over Astoria, blocking her from his view. "Thank Merlin she doesn't know what is going on! I'd hex you but she would want that honor!"
Draco didn't hear Daphne. His only focus was on Astoria. "Let her go! You're hurting her! She can't breathe!"
"Astoria will be fine once she gets away from you!" Daphne said. She walked past him, toward the door.
The thought of someone separating Astoria from him nearly drove Draco mental. "Give her to me!" he went after Daphne and blocked her only exit with his body.
Hearing the commotion, Narcissa and Lucius entered the room to see what was happening.
"What is going on?" Lucius demanded to know.
"You're not taking her from me!" screamed Draco.
"Your son is a git. That's what going on." Daphne told them.
Narcissa gasped and was quick to defend her son. "Excuse me, young lady?" she turned to Draco. "What happened?"
"I'm going home." announced Daphne.
"Both of you stop this instant." ordered Lucius. "Please, explain yourself and we will allow you to leave."
"You can go but Astoria is staying with me!" said Draco, he took out his wand.
"There is no need for a duel. Draco put your wand away." said Lucius.
"You can try!" said Daphne. She brought out her wand too. "Your prat of a son was seeing my sister for almost a year and didn't know who she was."
"It's not true." denied Draco. "Daphne made her own assumption and is overreacting. Give me, Astoria."
Daphne held Astoria closer to her. "Over my dead body."
Astoria poked her white little head between Daphne's thumb and index finger. The sight of her made Draco relaxed an inch. He was able to think clearly. Daphne was protective of Astoria. She wasn't going to give him Astoria until he came up with reasonable lies. He put his wand away to show her his sincerity.
"I'm sorry, Daphne. I knew who she was. I was testing my parents. And everyone." He added the last part quickly, recalling that Blaise said he saw Daphne recently. Blaise must have told her about him and Astoria. "I love, Astoria. I would never intentionally hurt her. Please, let her stay with me."
Daphne looked down at Astoria's black little eyes.
Chirp. Chirp. said Astoria.
Daphne calmed down. Maybe she was over reacting? This was a delayed reaction to knowing that Astoria's secret boyfriend was Draco. Astoria loved him and she should support her. Of course he knew who Astoria was. He wasn't an idiot like he was in Hogwarts.
"Sorry about that, Draco." said Daphne. She released Astoria, who instantly flew to Draco.
Draco held his palm out to catch Astoria. He cautiously cupped her in his hand and stroked her back, feeling how soft her feathers were.
"Are you all right, love?" asked Draco.
Chirp. Chirp. said Astoria. She rubbed the side her of face against his palm. Lucius, Narcissa, and Daphne watched Draco and Astoria in bewilderment.
"Sorry." Daphne said to the Malfoys.
"You are protective of your sister. It is natural." said Lucius.
"And admirable." added Narcissa.
They watched Draco, who moved away from them. He was mumbling something to Astoria. She chirped enthusiastically back to him.
"Astoria is going to be staying here for a two months for vacation. Well that be all right?" said Daphne.
"That will be fine." said Narcissa. "Right, Lucius?"
Lucius was busy watching Draco's interactions with the bird.
"Right, Lucius?" Narcissa repeated.
"Right, dear." He said and turned away from the couple to address Daphne. "That bird is your sister, Astoria, is it not? She is a human."
"Astoria's Animagus form is a bird." Daphne told them.
"Thank goodness." muttered Lucius.
Meanwhile on Draco's end.
"I knew what your last name was all along, Astoria Greengrass." Draco told her and waited for her reply.
She didn't answer and merely stared at him. These have got to be the most frighten beady black eyes he had ever encountered. He was beginning to squirm under her scrutiny.
"Does your silence mean you understand?" he asked, although he could already guess her answer.
Chirp.
He thought it was best to confess before she pecked his heart out. "I'm sorry, Astoria. I…I didn't know your last name. I thought you were a poor Muggle-born since the beginning of our relationship. And I didn't care. It's because I love you. It's indescribable how much I love you. I've never been in love before. I can see that it turned me mental. I didn't care who you are or your blood status. All I cared about was you. Do you forgive me?"
Astoria could understand why he thought she was a Muggle. She had almost completely adapted to their ways over the years. He was accepting of it which was good.
Chirp. Chirp.
Draco would kiss her if he could. He had to substitute a kiss with patting her feathered back. She leaned closer to his hand and closed her eyes.
"You're a cute bird."
Chirp. Chirp.
"Draco?" said Daphne. "Astoria can stay with you. I'm going home. Promise you'll take care of her."
"I promise." Draco said.
"I'll visit you every day, Astoria." Daphne told her.
Chirp. Chirp.
After Daphne left Draco brought Astoria to meet his parents. They were waiting for him in the other room.
"Mum, dad, this is Astoria Greengrass. My girlfriend."
"Lovely to finally meet you." said Narcissa.
"It's unfortunately, we have to meet under these circumstance." said Lucius.
Chirp. Chirp.
"Two means yes. One means no." explained Draco.
"That's how you communicate with her. Fascinating." said Narcissa.
"When is she going to turn back in a human?" asked Lucius.
Draco explained Astoria's predicament to them.
"Poor, dear. You can stay as long as you please. I'll have a guest room prepared." said Narcissa.
"Astoria is staying with me in my room." said Draco.
"Do you think that's wise?" said Narcissa.
"It's not like we can shag with her like this. I'm not one of those perverts who get off with animals."
"Draco, watch your language." warned Lucius.
Chirp. Chirp.
Draco apologized.
Not wanting to hear anymore objections, Draco carried Astoria to his bedroom. He was pleased he got his wish. He finally had Astoria all to himself. He was not going to let her being a bird ruin it.
