The longest chapter yet, I'm thinking:) There's not enough words to express my gratitude for the support I've gotten for this story. 29 reviews is awesome, you guys rock! Not to mention the many favorites and alerts I get. They make my day in so many ways. Hope you enjoy!

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Draco looks at himself in the long mirror of the bathroom that connects to his room. He looks especially nice with his white blonde hair sleeked back and his dark green dress robes. His mother always taught him to look his best. Pure-blooded wizards were to always look presentable. Anything Draco learned was based around the appearance and personality of pure-blooded witches and wizards.

He makes his way into the parlor where he waits for Astoria. He remembers how he had to wait over two hours for Pansy to get ready when he took her to the Yule Ball. He didn't even think she looked that great. But Astoria is different from Pansy. Especially when it comes to getting ready.

"Ready?" Astoria emerges from the kitchens with a glass of pumpkin juice in hand. Draco's mouth falls open in shock. She's dressed in a long, crimson red gown that hugs her in all the right places. Her hair is down, slightly curled on the ends. There isn't much make-up on her face, just enough to accent her strong facial features.

"Take a picture Draco, it'll last much longer." She's smiling and takes a sip of her drink.

"How long have you been ready?"

"A few minutes. I could have finished sooner, but a conceited blonde-haired git was hogging the bathroom."

He's absolutely speechless. "You're unnatural," he finally says.

"Because that's what every girl wants to hear Draco, how very flattering of you." But she's not insulted. She knows Draco well enough now that everything about her redefines all that he has ever known about witches. Astoria likes that.

"No Slytherin colors?" he asks. She shakes her head.

"Green's never been my prefered color."

He smiles very softly. "I'd say not. But you do look beautiful." Astoria feels a slight blush in her cheeks.

"Let's go."

They disapparate, one after another to the Parkinson Manor near London. The Manor is formidable from a distance, with large white columns and gargoyles lining the tops of the roof. Draco swallows a gulp in his throat. The last time he was here had been awful. Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson asked him all about his future, which at the moment he wasn't sure of. At that time the only real thing occupying his thoughts was his mission to kill Albus Dumbledore. Astoria appeared with a pop beside him.

"Relax, it's just a party," she says.

He snorts. "That could end in my tragic suicide."

Astoria raises her eyebrows. "Life's what you make it Draco."

Draco opens his mouth to retort, but he doesn't. Astoria's his only good company of the evening, and he'd like to remain on friendly terms.

Draco offers his arm to Astoria. She looks at him for a moment before linking her arm through his. Neither of them comments on how they seem to fit perfectly together. They stride through the large doors of the manor into a glorious scene. The floor is pure white marble with no signs of scuff marks. Little tables are dotted throughout the room and have a single glowing lantern in the center that is made of pure ice. Ice sculptures dot the room, each with different faces and figures. One enormous sculptures resembles the likeness of Salazar Slytherin. A giant crystal chandelier drops from the ceiling, each crystal glittering like diamonds in the sunlight. It's breathtaking in a sense.

"Your girlfriend's outdone herself," Astoria teases.

Draco lets out a groan. "Please don't say that. The word girlfriend with my name is like picking a scab in a pool full of sharks. It'll send her into a frenzy."

Astoria laughs and moves forward, Draco following beside her. They sit down at one of the small tables in a corner, far away from the dancing. "I'm thirsty, get me something to drink please?"

"Why don't you go get it yourself?" Then she does it again. The pout. And Draco can't go against it.

"Bloody Greengrass," he mutters under his breath as he walks to the punch bowl to get two glasses.

"Draco?" It's a male voice.

"Goyle?" Draco hasn't seen Gregory Goyle since the Battle of Hogwarts. After it was over, Goyle and his family disappeared. "What are you doing here?"

"Pansy invited me. What are you doing here? I thought you were sent to Azkaban."

Draco shakes his head. "Mother was released, as was I. Father…" He doesn't say more. Goyle understands that.

"Where have you been?" Draco asks him.

"A lot of places where wizards weren't so frightened of the Dark Lord. America, parts of Africa, and this weird little country in Asia called Korkiea or something."

"I think you mean Korea."

"Yeah that." They talk for a few minutes before Draco remembers Astoria. He grabs a drink and rushes over to the table.

"Sorry m'lady," he says tipping a fake hat. She thumps his forehead playfully.

"You better be. Who's that?" She points to Goyle.

"Remember Goyle?"

Astoria's face turns sour. "Unfortunately." She sips her drink and turns away.

"What's the matter?" She doesn't answer, instead starring off into space. Draco swears under his breath and goes back to Goyle.

"Sorry mate. The lady's being a handful." Goyle notices Astoria and whistles under his breath.

"Nice one mate. She's a looker. Greengrass isn't she?" Draco nods, but he feels this sickening feeling in his stomach. And soon he understands why.

"DRACEY!" Pansy's enthusiastic cry rings throughout the room as she dashes over to Draco. "I was so worried you wouldn't come! You didn't answer any of my letters for such a long time, and I was ever so worried something had happened to you. Oh Dracey!"

She launches herself into his arms before he can run. Draco doesn't say anything, Pansy never gives him the time to. "I've been waiting forrrrever to dance with you Draco. You have no idea how many wizards these days cannot dance one step…"

"Pansy I…"

"And they dress so untidy, not like you Dracey…"

"Pansy I can't…"

"Not to mention some of them are an absolute bore. Honestly, you think they'd been interested in decent conversation. All anyone talks about is the end of the war and Quidditch…"

"Pansy…" he starts again.

"But you're here now Dracey and I'm so very pleased. I had hoped you'd be here so we could go back were we left off during school…"

"PANSY WILL YOU SHUT UP FOR FIVE MINUTES!" The yelling felt good. Draco feels like he just released years of hidden disgust. Pansy looks shocked at his outburst.

"Dracey are you feeling well?" She tries to press her hand to his forehead but he ducks away.

"I'm fine. As I was trying to say, we can't be… Together."

Pansy lets out a shriek. "What? But you said…"

"I never said anything." Draco glances over to the table Astoria occupies. She's sipping her drink with a smile on her lips. Draco knows this whole scene is amusing her. Draco quickly runs over to her and grabs her by the hand. He leads her back over to Pansy, who stands there with her mouth open.

"I have a girlfriend Pansy. This is Astoria."

Astoria smirks and holds her hand out to Pansy. "Nice to see you again Pansy," she says pleasantly.

But Pansy doesn't take it. She looks as if she's about to explode. "The Greengrass brat! You're dating her! Over me!" Pansy's screams echo throughout the manor. Astoria has to hold back the laughter.

Then Pansy directs her rants to Astoria. "YOU! How dare you try to destroy the relationship Draco and I have cherished for so many years! You're nothing compared to me!" Astoria lets her go on. Honestly, Astoria doesn't mind the yelling. Her mother yelled enough through Astoria's young life, so it was something she was used to. She simply stands there, wearing the famous Greengrass smirk that boils Pansy's blood.

Eventually Pansy's screams subside and she stomps away muttering curses and threats underneath her breath. Draco turns to Astoria with a grin. "Care to dance?" Astoria smiles and nods.

He leads her out onto the dance floor, gripping her waist with one hand and her hand in his other. They don't speak until Astoria snickers and gestures her head to one side.

"Pansy's going to murder one of us in our sleep tonight."

Draco casts his eyes over towards Pansy. She's glaring at them and fingering her wand. "We might be safer at your apartment with the Death Eaters," he remarks.

Astoria laughs and squeezes Draco's hand.

"Want to make her more jealous?" he asks.

"I could do with a bit of fun," she answers with a devilish look on her face. She removes her hand from his and places it on his other shoulder before laying her head on his chest. He in turn keeps his hand on her waist and lays his head on top of hers.

"Is she fuming?" Astoria whispers.

"Beyond fuming. If she gets too close to the sculptures, they might melt." Astoria laughs and pictures Pansy.

"Hold me tighter if you really want to get her worked up." Draco brings Astoria closer to him. She can hear every beat of his heart and wonders if he can hear hers. Draco kisses the top of her head and her ear.

"Keep it up and we'll have to clean Pansy guts off the walls," Astoria says.

"That'd be quite the sight," he replies grinning. Draco likes this, he likes this a lot. "I wonder what'd she do to me if I kissed you right now."

Astoria raises her head. "Probably torture you, set you on fire, disembowel you, torture you again, and then proceed to kill you in some unspeakably horrible…"

Draco cuts her off by pressing his lips onto her. It feels amazing, better than anything he's ever dreamed of. Her lips are soft and warm, and she tastes like pumpkin juice and chocolate. It feels so good to him, so right.

And then it's over. She pulls back and stares at him, green eyes on grey. She steps back from him, trembling just a little.

"Astoria I…" But she disapparates before he can finish his thoughts.