A month had passed since Astoria had caught Draco glancing at her in the great hall. She wondered if he thought of her as much as she thought about him. Their was something about the arrogant,smirky boy that made her feel funny. And it was mostly in her chest.

She couldn't breath,she dropped things. Her cheeks heated and she constantly felt like an idiot. She laughed to herself slightly. Mostly in contempt. She couldn't belive it she was such an idiot. She was falling in love with her fiancee.

She couldn't do that...it wasn't done. Her union would be one for for heirs. One filled with sadness on her part and mistresse's on his. She couldn't help but think of Pansy when she thought of him having a mistress and that bothered her a bit. She was just about to force her mind to think of anything else when she heard a low groan.

Astoria froze,nearly dropping her wand in the darkness. Damn,perfect rounds. Her and Lucas had thought themselves to be so cunning and brilliant when they had divided up the round in order to finish in half the right now she wished she was not alone.

She knew sometimes his followers patrolled the castle. She knew no one would hurt he,but dememntors might. She glanced towards the door the groan had come from. It was moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Oh...it was just Mytrle of course. Astoria was about to laugh at her own foolishness,when the moan echoed thru the coridoor again.

She froze. Glancing over her hsoulder as a female voice,muffled by the walls added something in. She listened more. Knowing she had hear Myrtle talking to someone. Unable to satisfy her curiosity she made her way down the hallway and towards the door.

She stood out their a moment longer,listening in before letting herself in. She hoped it was not some worse Dumbeldore's Army. THey had been known to curse Slytherin perfects when they were out on their various missions,usually vandalizing the school.

Astoria peeked in spotting black robes and Myrtle whirling around over the individual,who she was going to guess to be a boy. Astoria peeked in further to try and figure out who had their head in the sink,and was white knuckiling the side of the sink with such force.

"A girls here! A girls heeeeerree!" Myrtle screamed before disapeering into a toilet and consiquently flooding the bathroom. Astoria made a face as the water rushed over her patent leather school shoes. She stepped forward to demand to know who was there when,Draco turned around. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows,his dark mark pulsing violently a dark color.

She felt her eyes widen as she glanced across his face. His eyes had deep circles under them, his face was wet and so was his hair,which was falling over his forehead. "-Astoria." He looked surprised his eyes widening as he glanced at the girl who in turn felt her own eyes widen.

"Draco-" She whispered walking over to grab his hand from him,examining the mark. She had seen her father under the Lord's power seen he was in pain so were his followers. "Astoria,leave." He hissed his teeth cleanched as he grabbed for the sink,again swearing to himself as she felt her face set in determination.

"What part of you can't tell me what to do,do you not get?" She demanded as Astoria grabbed his palm again. "-Just go." He muttered,the words not sounding nearly as sincere as before. Astoria rolled her eyes. Stupid boy. "Is he mad?" Astoria asked needlessly as Draco gave her a look to confirm her question was stupid.

"Sorry." Astoria muttered as she moved to sit on the unflooded spot of the floor. Holding her arms out for Draco she was sure he would call her a little girl again. Or reject her completely. She was prepared for either. But instead he sunk to the floor besides her.

She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders,without thinking. He allowed her to do this. "You don't have to talk." Astoria added not wanting him to feel pressured or anything. She felt him nod as she rubbed his shoulders. He leaned his head against her shoulder and Astoria looked down watching Draco close his eyes as she looked down at the floor.

She wondered how bad it hurt. Wondered what Draco was feeling. "It's not only the pain. " Draco explained as she moved her hand from his shoulder to his hair to brush it from his face. "What else is it?" She asked genuinely curious.

"A lot of confused jumbled up stuff. I've used the cruciatus curse before." Astoria tried not to let her eyes widen in horror and a very slight fear. "Oh-" She whispered attempting not to look as scared as she felt. "I'd never use it on anyone again." He added. She knew the conversation was over as he shifted to sit up and lean his head against the wall.

"Want a hug?" Astoria sounded young still...but she didn't let it bother her as much as it once had. Draco gave a slight laugh before sort of shrugging. Which she took as a yes. Astoria wrapped her arms around Draco,sitting on her heels so she was as tall as him.

She pulled him closer trying to fold him into her as if she could protect him,like her mother had done when she was little. She felt his face against her neck and a moment later he made the slight amused laugh again. "-I can hear your heart." Draco murmurred his voice muffled into her skin.

Astoria smiled leaning closer to press her lips to his head. "Why have you been staying away from me?" Astoria asked attempting to keep her voice level. "I've been preoccupied with some tasks the dark lord asked me to carry out-and...the thing is,Astoria your younger-"

Again with her age. Astoria rolled her eyes in annoyance and forced Draco's face up to look at her. "I am old enough to know what I want...and even though your self obsessed ,a jerk and an all around egotistic bullying some reason unknown to me I want you. And what I want i get."

Astoria was amazed at her finally being able to put into words her feelings and sat back in amazment as Draco finally spoke. "You want a relationship." He nearly sneered the tone of disgust evident. "No,but I want us to be able to bear one another...we've been given no choice in this,you've distanced yourself from everyone...let me in."

She looked down feeling too open and vunerable as Draco glanced up,his eyes narrowing in thought.

"Perhaps we could be friends." He added as she nodded. "That is all I ask," She allowed. She wanted more. Wanted to be loved and-maybe it was just her being a romantic. But she wanted her husband to adore her,love her...she knew this to be impossible but she would 'd give everything.