Author's Note: Hello! So this chapter isn't exactly what I had planned...but I hope it's still okay! =/ Also, sorry that I've been such a ruddy updater on this story...It's going to pick up very quickly from here on out.

Also! I read a fabulous Drastoria (3 chapters & it's complete) that I think you all might like! Its name is, "Views of a Romance" by Luthina. If you have time and/or interest, please go read and review it! I don't think you'll be sorry you did at all. =)

A Midsummer Night

The idea had formed over a year ago when Draco had taken Astoria to the Black beachfront property where in years long past, Narcissa's family had held a "Midsummer's Night" party. Attendees of said party had traditionally worn sparkling costume ball gowns with whimsical touches…And this year, Astoria had convinced Narcissa that they should once again throw the one-time notorious ball…

"I just can't believe what a turn-out we're getting!" Narcissa smiled as she looked up from the long dining table that she and Astoria had transformed into their orderly desk for all of the paperwork and plans they had in relation to the "Midsummer Night" party.

"I think it helps that we're turning it into a fundraising event to help build a new wing onto St. Mungo's for those with war-time and peace-keeping injuries." Astoria smiled as she added yet another reservation to the growing list they had going.

"That helps. But, in all honesty, people are nosy; and this is the first public event that we've held post-war and it was always bound to be very big…especially after so many war-heroes agreed to attend." Narcissa sat back in her high-backed chair as Astoria laughed. "Thank you for helping me with it all." Her expression was soft and fond as Astoria looked up with a blushing smile.

"I'm having quite a lot of fun helping you with it all." She put a few papers to the side to busy her hands as she spoke. "Ever since Draco told me all about this fabled party, I wanted it to exist again. It sounded so magical…" She laughed as Narcissa chuckled.

"I think it's because I always spoke so fondly about it in the stories I'd tell Draco." Her smile widened as she leaned forward onto the table. "But I was always very biased about the party, you know. It's the night that Lucius finally deemed the 'right moment' to ask me the question I'd been waiting on since graduation…I'm garnering Draco told you that as well?" She watched as an embarrassed expression crossed Astoria's face, making her laugh lightly. "Did he tell you that my Father proposed to my Mother at this same party?"

"No." Astoria shook her head as Narcissa nodded.

"It's a bit of a family tradition…" She smirked as she sealed another envelope. "Perhaps Draco will give you the best post-graduation present ever at this little party." Her eyes twinkled as an ill-concealed smile made it's way onto Astoria's face.

"Perhaps…" She had admittedly been hoping that this would be the case from the moment she had heard about the party…

"She's graduated now, you know?" Lucius stared across the desk at his son who smirked and nodded.

"Yes, Father. We did attend her ceremony." His hand instinctively went for the ring that he always carried in his pocket.

"Well, you ought to propose soon…before she realizes what a gem she is." Lucius's eyes were narrowed as his wife sat down on the arm of his chair.

"Shush, there's no point in rushing him." Narcissa smiled adoringly at her only child. "He'll know when everything is right…Although, I do think she's wishing for a proposal soon." She gave her son a pointed look before sitting back against the chair.

"How exactly did Dad propose again?" Draco looked towards his mother as she beamed and straightened up happily.

"It was the annual Black Midsummer ball…" Her voice was laced with a certain attachment as her husband smiled fondly while listening to her retell a story they had lived.

Flashback:

A young lady with flowing blonde hair that had been charmed into soft curls that were half up in a cascading bun that flowed down to meet the hair that hung against her back stood in front of a fountain. She was wearing a long white gown that was embellished with thousands of dainty and tasteful clear crystals. White tulle sleeves covered her arms; and small wings that glittered with clear crystals covered her back."An angel…How very appropriate." Lucius smiled as an eighteen-year-old Narcissa turned to look at him, a radiant smile covering her face, as they stood in a secluded part of the gardens where twinkling lights were strung from the trees and garlands of flowers were hung everywhere possible. The front of her gown had a sweetheart neckline that cinched at the waste before flaring out into a gown. The front had a high slit right up the center where Narcissa's legs could be visible from the knee down. She wore silver strappy heels that glittered as well.

"I see you opted for a darker look…a vampire?" She smiled as she took in Lucius' costume which was all black with silver embellishments. However, the cape that he wore was lined on the inside with deep plush burgundy velvet (Salazar forbid it look anything remotely like scarlet). She smirked and laughed as he pulled her to him with one hand and placed a kiss on her neck.

"Yes, this makes this appropriate all night long." He murmured jokingly as she wrapped her arms around his neck still laughing softly.

"Mmmm, only if we're hidden in the gardens…" She smiled before kissing him once softly, her tongue just dipping inside his mouth before she pulled away from him smiling coyly as she let her hand glide across a string of the lights as she moved away from him. "…And only if you can catch me." Her eyes twinkled as she dipped behind a bush and into a maze of shrubbery and twinkle lights, Lucius hot on her heels.

"Cissa!" It wasn't that Lucius didn't enjoy it when his bonded challenged him, because he did. What he didn't enjoy was when his best laid plans went astray due to her inane ability to stay fixed to his routines…that and her general liking of pushing him out of his comfort zone. "Cissa!" His voice was a harsh whisper as he very nearly had to jog to keep up with the girl that was running ahead of him laughing as her heels never completely touched the lush ground. She was gorgeous in ways that she didn't yet know…

"Come Lucius! I know you can run faster than this…" She taunted as she sent one devilish smirk his way before rounding a corner at the same time his arm wrapped around her waist and caused her to squeal causing them to both laugh before Lucius righted Cissa and got down on one knee.

"Cissa, I truly love you more than anything; and I would do anything for you." He stared up at her adoringly as she nodded, a small smile on her face.

"I know, Lucius." She pulled on his hand softly. "You'll ruin your trousers. Come, stand up." She smiled as he rubbed the pad of his thumb softly over her hand, not making a move to stand. "Everyone will be wandering where we're at…"

"Cissa, shush." He smiled as her eyes widened and she looked at him. "You're missing the moment." He smiled before kissing her hand. "I love you, Cissa. And I don't want to wait another day to let the world know your mine…and that I'm yours. Will you marry me?" He pulled a tiny glittering white-gold ring out of his pocket where a large diamond sat amongst a bed of scattered pearls and emeralds.

"Of course!" Forgetting about her dress she met him on the ground kissing him as he lifted them both up and slid the ring onto her finger. "Oh Merlin, it's beautiful." She looked down at the ring before kissing him again causing him to smirk happily.

"He asked!" Bella's loud and distinctive voice called through the air as the guests waited a moment for the answer to the question they had all been waiting on baited breath to hear. "And Cissy said yes!" She grinned as her sister laughed and hugged her. Bella looped her arm through her baby sister's before leading them into the fray of people that were clapping and chatting excitedly at the prospect of another Black wedding - leaving Lucius to follow behind them all-smiles. "I'm so happy for you Cissa." Bella petted her sister's hair lovingly before leaning into her ear, a smirk overtaking her face. "But if he steps one foot out of line, I swear to Salazar you'll happily be the widow and sole inheritor to his Manor and Gringott's vault…"

"Merlin, you look gorgeous." Draco smiled as he kissed Astoria at the entrance to the Black home. Her dark hair was up in curls; and she had on a hairpiece that shined with emerald, blue, and clear stones. She wore a form-fitting white sheath dress, where the sheath itself glittered silver. Emerald, blue, and clear crystals were scattered onto the dress making her positively shine. "And everything looks amazing. You did a great job." He smiled as she wrapped her arms about his neck before kissing him softly.

"Thank you." She dusted invisible lint off of his dark dress robes before pulling back to look at him. "You look rather dapper yourself, Mr. Malfoy." She teased as he raised a single eyebrow.

"Mr. Malfoy?" He wore a puzzled expression as she winked and nodded.

"My Malfoy." She kissed his again before holding his hand and leading him to the back gardens which had been transformed to look exactly as they had when Narcissa was young, with a few minor improvements (ie: a stage and a band). "Are you going to dance with me?" She bit her lip as he pulled her close and twirled her round to a word-less/tune-less song.

"I love that you're out of school….That you're always around." He smiled against her cheek as he kept a firm hold on her waist. "I want you to always be with me, Storia…"

"Me too." She smiled her heart fluttering as her sister's voice broke through the otherwise peace.

"There you are, Stori!" Daphne, clad in a gold ensemble, made her way over to her sister. "I need you to tell Mother that chocolate would be an awful color for the drawing room…" She tugged her sister away from Draco and into a throng of newly arrived guests.

The next time Draco spotted Astoria she was on stage with his mother presenting a check to Angelina Weasley for the new addition to the hospital, which could now be completely built with luxury items thanks to the party. He couldn't help but smile as Astoria stood between his mother and Angelina (an arm around each) looking completely at ease as she spoke with the two and took pictures for the Daily Prophet.

"Listen, I'm not in the habit of helping you out…And this is a strictly one-time thing…" Daphne's voice was off-handed as she stood beside her soon-to-be brother-in-law, a small smile betraying her true caring emotions. "…But you should know that Astoria will exit the stage back by the fountain that is hidden by the pear trees. In case you want to catch her…" She smiled as Draco gave her a grateful grin before darting off to the fountain where sure-enough Astoria was sat alone eyes-closed.

"I would say that you're a roaring success…or will be once this all hits papers." Draco leaned against a tree as Astoria's eyes remained closed but she smiled. "How did I get so lucky to have you?" He smiled before sitting down beside her.

"Because you turned into the man that I never thought you would when we were little…Because despite your flaws you managed to change." Her eyes opened slowly as she turned to face Draco. "Because one day sitting under a tree at another birthday of yours that I expected to fade into the background, you found me…And I knew that I could fall in love with you."

"I didn't know that…" Draco's voice was hoarse as he thought back to a day that had seemed to dark to him…to think that for her it was a bright moment… He kissed her softly pulling her close. "The moment that I realized I would most likely lose everything of any value to me…the moment I received my mark…I knew that I counted you among those very few people that I valued. I think I began falling for you before I was even aware of it."

"Hmm I thought it was our first kiss…" Her voice was teasing as a smirk covered his face arrogantly.

"Well that helped fuel the whole process of course." He chuckled as she rolled her eyes happily before kissing him. "In fact, I think snogging is one of our best joint accolades." He chuckled as he felt her chest move up and down as she giggled.

"Let's just stay here. They won't miss us…and I just want to be here with you." She smiled into his neck as he softly pushed her away to get a look at her face before kissing her lips slowly and softly, his hand reaching inside his pocket.

"Storia, stay with me forever. I'll promise to always do whatever I can, in my power, to make you happy….If you'll say you could love me forever, flaws and all. Because I know there will never be anyone for me besides you." He was down on one knee as she sat on the edge of the fountain – tears in her almost-black eyes. "Marry me, Storia?" He looked hopefully up into her eyes as she nodded and he slid the ring onto her hand.

"I love you, yes." She smiled as tears ran down her cheeks and he hugged her to himself before she kissed him in a searing kiss that she would've been quite okay had it gone on forever.

"I think we did quite a fine job." Mairead smiled as she stood beside Narcissa and their husbands spying on the young couple from a secluded balcony a ways
away from the fountain.

Narcissa smiled as Lucius wrapped an arm around her shoulders as the party went on below. Astoria was exactly what the Malfoys had needed – someone with a kind and forgiving heart that valued traditions while still being able to usher in a new age of thinking and living…someone that could charm them all into being better people without realizing it.

In Response: Thanks for all of the reviews, per usual! You're all very wonderful and make me so happy!

India'TeamStarkid'J: Hello India! Haha, I think that both you and Astoria both like yet find Odessa annoying. I really tried to incorporate a wide range of characters that don't always get so much attention last chapter. I definitely think Tullia needs to make a come-bach, haha. I'm glad you enjoyed the cottage scene and the Pansy show-down, lol. I think Tracey would be amused at being Daphne's bridesmaid...and would enjoy teaming up on Pansy with Astoria.

Aleera: Haha, Blaise+Odessa was a fan request...But I have to admit, I had funw ith it for sure. And good! I think Draco would've had to have changed quite a bit post-war...would've had to mature and really grow into someone. Self preservation...

Bucky5: Haha...well someone has to spoil there moments every now and again. The best things are worth all of the roadblocks, haha. Sorry I took so long to update!

snitchstar: ...Wha? I rather idolize Pansy. =P Just kidding, haha. She really is a piece of work!

speedsONEandONLY: Where Bodessa went at it! Haha, most assuredly not - Draco wouldn't want to burn his favorite trousers. =P Haha, just a chest.

GeeImKate: Hello Kate! And yes, things have been a lot brighter! I hope you like it. :)

Dancer4756: Why thank you very very much! =] That type of comment always makes my day!

midnight blue08: Haha, yes! Poor Stori and Draco...their best mates going at it in the bed they had intended to use for the same purposes, lol. Pansy is a hot-mess...well not so hot...more a pug-faced mess - poor thing, haha. And I think that Tracey was very amused by the entire situation. - Being a bridesmaid in Daphne's wedding, Astoria's behavior in concerns to Pansy...I think she just enjoyed teaming up with Astoria because she never really liked Pansy herself, but now she had an ally.

Anyways, thanks for the reviews! Please continue to review. =]