Hello guys! I started this chapter so late. My friend was forcing me to play Pokemon Go with her (so lame, lol). NikkiKorrine wrote pretty close to what I was going to write in this note. You have to understand that Theo isn't just going to come be all over Astoria again. Yeah, he wasn't very gentleman-like before, but he does still love her and he doesn't want to make her marriage hell. This story is definitely not about a love triangle, though I'm glad you guys enjoyed that element! I'm sorry if I'm fitting a lot of POVs in one chapter, I just have a lot of ideas as well as requests I need to get through, and not enough Drastoria to draw out with the chapters unless you guys are fine with some chapters not having as much of them, which still might happen anyway. I might change the info on this story a bit .. Just so there is more warning of added storylines. And yes! You would think Ophelia would watch herself better, wouldn't you? Then again, she's only seventeen as well as insecure. Leave your thoughts please! And thank you for sticking with me through my story! I'll never stop thanking you all for that.

I don't own anything from Harry Potter.

"She did what?" Narcissa stared at her son, putting a hand over her chest as she took in the information he was giving her from the strange Pensieve debacle.

Narcissa was appalled, yes, but she couldn't say she was really surprised at Freya's actions. She had always expressed her distaste to Narcissa over her family and her home, and she knew her home life was unfavorable. Still, to take such a risk and to destroy such a historical and beautiful piece of property seemed a bit much to her, but then again her and Freya Greengrass were entirely different women. She glanced around the hallway to make sure Lucius was not within earshot, not needing him to know anything of the sort. He would surely use the information against the family, foolishly as he had lost most of his sense, and only make things worse for them and Narcissa was tired of things only getting worse.

"Mmm. Brought it to the ground, covered in blood as well from all the glass and bits flying everywhere. She laughed like a madwoman after, she reminded me a of your sister actually," her son drawled, glancing around the gloomy room.

"Oh Draco, Bella was nothing like Freya. Freya has some good in her, I remember, and she raised your beautiful wife," she scolded him. She had stopped caring to make excuses for Bellatrix long ago, tired of pretending her sister hadn't been completely far gone.

Draco snorted loudly. "My cheating wife. Please, let me continue before you start lecturing me on my supposed need to adore the snake."

Narcissa frowned at her son referring to Astoria as a snake. As if the girl had intentionally plotted to cheat on her son, as if any woman in their place would put themselves in such a position. The only thing most of them wished to do was make the best of their marriages, and Astoria had always been far too compliant to want to cheat on Draco and possibly get herself thrown out to the streets had Draco decided to react in the same way a lot of men did in such a circumstance.

Even so, she was angry at the girl for hurting her son, and she knew he was very hurt. He had changed drastically in just a few years, hardened by the war, but she still knew her own son better than anyone, better than himself. He was not nearly as unaffected as he tried to make himself appear, and he was not cruel in the way he'd like to believe he was. He was fragile and had a weak stomach. He acted like he only cared for himself and his own approval, but he had lived attempting to gain the approval from her husband only to be compared to another throughout his childhood. It was normal for the children of their community to be compared to one another, to be competitive with each other, but it was a different matter entirely to be degraded for not being as good as a boy who was not relevant to their world at all.

Now, he was being compared to Theodore Nott by his own wife, the woman meant to live only for him and one day their children. It was her only job besides acting well in public, not to say that it was an easy one, and she had failed it already. Again, Draco was left to feel not good enough to the one person he had at the Manor, and Narcissa knew how the Manor only grew darker in loneliness, the halls only hauntingly longer.

But she couldn't hate the girl. She related to her and she knew her intentions were good, better than some of the women in their community. Draco would forgive her, he was a forgiving man, and she could see how he held affection for Astoria. She knew he would when she had decided her a good match for him, which was well before their marriage and well before Draco had matured enough into the much more reasonable man he was now. She had always loved her son, but he had been quite the brat. She had herself to blame for that, and Lucius, as she had always coddled him out of guilt for how his father had made him so insecure about himself. She wanted him to feel like a King, he was as good as a King to her, but to anyone else besides herself he was rather unbearable for most of his life.

"Greengrass murdered Nero Zabini."

Narcissa blinked, completely caught off guard by such an outlandish statement she would not have expected coming from Draco. Nero Zabini? Ah, that man had not been on her mind in quite some time.

"Really? How interesting. Why?" She asked, slightly dumbfounded. "That was so long ago."

"You don't seem very distraught over this, now do you?" Her son mumbled irritably. "I'm not sure why. He was blackmailing Greengrass, and apparently had something on Freya. I'm not sure what, unless he knew about her destroying the Krat property or that Auror she murdered."

"She murdered an Auror?!" Narcissa demanded, her eyebrows coming together as disapproval washed over her.

What was the matter with that woman?

"Why is that more of a problem to you than one of our own being murdered?"

"Because she's a woman! That is not what we do," Narcissa huffed. "We don't destroy homes and murder people. Men exude violence in that way, not us. Women are meant to inflict revenge with our minds and wit."

Draco inhaled slowly through his nose, watching her with slightly irritated eyes. "Mother. What am I meant to do about Blaise? He witnessed all of it, and he certainly does not like Astoria at the moment."

Narcissa scoffed loudly. "What do you mean, Draco? You can't allow him to say anything. Your wife comes before your silly friend."

"Does she?" Draco muttered. "Blaise has never betrayed me, now has he?"

Narcissa narrowed her eyes at her son. "Don't you act like that," she growled. "Don't you act like a toddler about this. Until Blaise carries our name, Blaise is not meant to be put in front of any of us."

"Who is Mr. Zabini being put in front of?" Her husband's voice cut through the room as he entered and Narcissa stood, moving to help her husband on the couch beside her. "Is the new Mrs. Malfoy not to your liking Draco?"

"She's fine, father," Draco responded stiffly, his slightly relaxed posture straightening as his father's scrutinizing eyes fell on him.

Lucius hummed, sniffing and eyeing Draco with slight contempt. "She should be more than fine, but I wouldn't expect too much from the child of such people."

Narcissa smiled slightly, resting her hand on her husband's leg causing him to visibly relax, his face softening just a bit at her touch. "Your family was considering Freya for a moment, remember?"

Lucius scoffed loudly. "Ah, yes, before she was so openly inappropriate for being a young, pure-blood woman right in front of their faces. Yet, she acted properly in front of every other family, so it was our name she had a problem with."

Narcissa's eyes unfocused as she thought of what he was referring to. Freya was definitely something at school, but in front of those who truly mattered she was near flawless in the eyes of the most important.

"She did that on purpose," Narcissa said quietly, feeling a bit of warmth in her chest for her old schoolmate.

"Exactly, Narcissa. I just said that," her husband quipped irritably. "Complete nonsense. Though she was on her best behavior for families much lower than our own. It made no sense at all, she was a fool."

"No, Lucius. It was when my.. When there was a scandal in the Black family, and Bella was also acting less than appropriate. Your parents were always close in acquaintance with mine, but during that time they began to consider other options. They were having second thoughts on whether or not I would be best, and then Freya's father began talking more with your parents.. She did that for me," Narcissa explained, her eyes still staring off as she remembered looking on as Freya acted much more herself rather than the correct young woman she put on at such events in front of the Malfoys. She didn't do anything too outlandish, she just was not nearly up to par, and her father had been with them; absolutely fuming.

"How sweet," Lucius said, sneering the words slightly.

Lucius didn't like Freya for more than just that. She had disarmed him in front of his friends, and of course he couldn't stand Aldrich.

"It was sweet. I wasn't like her. You were who I was meant to marry from a young age. I never worked for any other family. I would have ended up disappointing my family had I lost you."

"Hmm. No other woman would have been better suited as my wife. It was fortunate my parents doubts were not long lived," Lucius said smoothly, his gaze falling over her with approval in his eyes that still had the power to make her nearly glow with pride.

He was returning to his old self. Slowly, but surely.

"Still," she offered fairly. "She could have taken you from me had she tried. The Malfoy family would have rivaled the Greengrass family in her father's eyes after she herself took the Nott family out entirely."

"Yes, well. I can't entirely despise the woman for that. Her betrayal of them certainly benefited us," he mused, a smirk gracing his tired and worn features.

Though what she had done had made no sense whatsoever and was something that always perplexed Narcissa. She thought of Freya writing to Aldrich's parents that day when Freya had betrayed the Nott family, the people she had given the family's secrets to.

Narcissa slowed as she entered the common room after coming from her dorm, spotting Freya sitting alone at the tables, stiffly writing a letter as her eyes seemed void of emotion. She had been acting so odd in the recent weeks and after openly breaking down and distancing herself she had lacked her usual feisty spirit. Narcissa felt a pang of guilt, knowing she should work harder at trying to find out what was wrong or at least tried to be there for her. Freya may not accept her as her friend openly, but out of every girl in their house Narcissa felt Freya the most real.

She came next to Freya slowly, looking over her shoulder to glance at the letter without reading it outright.

"Are you.. Writing to the Greengrass parents? About the Notts..?" Narcissa asked in confused alarm.

"Do you make a habit of reading people's personal letters, Black? You know what they say about curiosity and cats," Freya replied stiffly before signing her name and folding up the letter.

Freya sat up, her hands folding in her lap as she stared ahead in an eerie, lifeless way.

"You know they.. You know what that family is known for. What's going on? I know you and Joseph haven't been close.. But.."

Freya said nothing, ignoring her words and Narcissa swallowed, unsure of what to say. She shifted awkwardly where she stood, the silence hanging in the air for a long time. "Are you coming to breakfast?"

"No."

Narcissa looked down and nodded. "Okay. I'll see you after then," she told her, her voice small as she went to breakfast, only to find Freya in the same spot when she had returned, though the letter was no longer in her hand.

She scowled and went up to gather her things for her class that she had coming up, returning to Freya. "Aren't you going to get ready for class?"

Narcissa watched as a second year girl hurried over to Freya who didn't reply to Narcissa's question, handing her a letter before shuffling off and out quickly, the letter adorned with the Greengrass seal. There was a small box along with the letter that Narcissa noticed, and she craned her neck to see in her extreme curiosity. Freya unrolled the letter and there were only a small amount of words, enough for Narcissa to catch before Freya had burned the letter into ash.

"We are so delighted to see that you have chosen to play the game with us, Miss Krat.

Welcome to the family.

Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass"

Narcissa thought the words over to herself in shock and stared as Freya opened the box stoically to pluck a glittering engagement ring from it and slip it on her finger without even fully looking at it, the ring flashing with a glow of magic that sunk over her hand before disappearing. Families would sometimes provide the ring months prior to the marriage ceremony as a way of protecting their bride from ruining themselves or backing out of the arrangement by enchanting the rings until the ceremony was finished.

It seemed Freya's choice was final.

"Freya, I don't understand," Narcissa said, following Freya as she began to gather her things, seeming unfazed. "Why would you agree to this? The Notts would have been favored over them.. What did you tell them about the Notts? You despise Aldrich, don't you? Why would you marry someone you can't stand over your best friend?"

Freya stopped as she was walking out of the common room as Narcissa addressed Joseph as her best friend. "You yourself said I had a hatred of men," Freya replied lightly, a cold humor in her voice. "What better way to see a man suffer than hurt the one that trusts me the most? I'm just a traitorous bitch, Black. Nothing more to it."

Freya left the common room, Narcissa following a bit behind as she watched her dumbfounded, confused thoughts running through her head.

"Good morning, Narcissa." Narcissa jumped at Joseph Nott's voice as it sounded beside her as she walked in front of him while watching his friend. "What's been going on with her? Do you know?" He motioned toward Freya, though he didn't seem fully engaged or concerned with the matter.

"No, I.. I'd imagine that I don't know nearly as much as her childhood friend," she mumbled, watching as Rhys crossed her to grab her arm in a concerned manner. Freya's left arm jerked and she grabbed her hand, pulling away from him and twisting the ring sorely around her finger.

Joseph was frozen next to her, his attention now completely on Freya as his eyes searched over her in bewilderment. "Who?" He asked her quietly, his tone holding an odd mixture of emotions.

"Greengrass," she responded, not looking at him as she began to step away from him.

"Why..?"

"I-I'm not sure, but I have to go. I'll be late," she spluttered, ducking her head guiltily as she left the concerned looking man.

"Yes it did," Narcissa agreed, clearing her memory as she sat next to her husband in front of our son. "The Notts are now below us in status, thanks to her."

Draco found Astoria balled up on the floor, her back pressed up against the couch with her arms wrapped around her legs as tears fell from her eyes.

"Draco, please, they won't stop," she whimpered and he stopped walking towards her as the Pensieve filled the room on its own accord.

A much younger Astoria weaved herself through the tables of a dinner party at the Blythe home, smacking into Joseph Nott as he was readying himself to sit down in his seat.

Astoria stumbled back dizzily and Joseph caught her arm before she fell, bringing a huff from the small girl's lips before she scowled up at him. "I apologize, sir, but how come you are just standing there instead of sitting at the table?"

Joseph's eyebrow quirked and he straightened, releasing her arm. "I was not just standing here. I was preparing myself to sit down. Why are you running about without watching yourself instead of sitting at your own table?"

"I'm running from my mother," she quipped back, tilting her chin up. "Then I'm going to find dessert. She won't let me eat any dessert! It's so stupid."

Joseph snorted slightly, sitting in his chair as his nose twitched while he tried to hide his amusement.

"If you see her, don't tell her you saw me. Okay? You have to keep my secret!"

"I can assure you that I won't be telling your mother anything, child."

"Good," Astoria answered sternly, nodding. "You don't want to anyway. She's mean. I guess we can be friends then. But only if you don't tell. Once you tell, you'll be sorry."

"Well, I certainly would not want to be sorry," he said quietly, pulling his glass closer in front of him.

Astoria examined his plate in front of him nosily. "Can I have that?" She asked, eyeing the elegant dessert there.

"Astoria," Edric Greengrass half groaned as he put his hand on his sister's back to push her forward and to the table where she was meant to be sitting. "You may not go asking men for the food off of their plate. That is absolutely incorrect. Mother would kill you."

"He's my friend's father. Which means it's okay."

"No, that means it's even less okay. Besides, Nott isn't your friend, Astoria, and his father certainly doesn't like you enough to where it's acceptable for you to be asking for the food off of his plate."

"But I just want some cake, Edric," Astoria pouted. "Look. I ate the healthy stuff. May I please just have some?"

"Not here. I'll give you something at home. Otherwise, it would just be taken from you as soon as mother sees you eating it."

"I hate her," Astoria grumbled. "She's so mean. Look, she's a nice mother."

Astoria pointed to Narcissa with her son across the room and Edric smacked her hand down, ordering her not to point.

Astoria held her hand gingerly, looking up at her brother with big eyes as they began to water. "Yes, and her son is a twit. Obviously being a nice mother is not always the right way to go about things."

"That hurt.."

"It did not. Stop being dramatic, you know I see through it," Edric told her, rolling her eyes.

Astoria sniffled and looked down, holding her hand closer to her chest as her shoulders fell pitifully. Edric watched her dully before taking her hand and kissing it. "I'm sorry. Forgive me, alright? I'll get you a present next time I'm out if you forgive me."

"Okay! I forgive you," Astoria exclaimed, beaming. "At least I'm not stuck talking to a bunch of old people like Daphne."

"You will be stuck talking to 'old people' like Daphne soon, Astoria."
"Stupid," Astoria grumbled, grabbing onto the sleeve of Edric's suit as she glared. "It's all so stupid. What's the point?"

"The point doesn't matter, Tori," he sighed before kissing her forehead. "It just is, so make the best of it."

When the memory cleared from the room Draco flicked his wand to cover the Pensieve, wincing at Astoria's choked cries as she seemed to be struggling very hard to hold them back. His chest ached slightly as he looked to her, curled in on herself as she held the sides of her head in distress, blatant pain etched deeply into her features. He strode over to her, picking her up from the floor to pull her into his arms as he sat on the couch, holding her in his lap. Her body trembled and he tugged her forward to lean into him as her body sat upon him stiffly before she relaxed enough to bury her face in his chest, giving in with a shudder.

"You shouldn't come down here with it," Draco sighed, hesitating before he rested his hand on her back to rub it lightly, her body moving unevenly as she would hold her breath for as long as she could in order to hold in her tears.

"You can cry, Astoria. I don't care if you cry."

Astoria shook her head furiously against his chest, curling her hands into his jacket tightly.

"You've cried in front of me before."

"I am not to cry over a blood traitor," she replied, her voice strangled as she forced the words from her mouth.

Draco said nothing as he stared ahead of them, unsure of what to make of her words. He wouldn't argue, and he wouldn't push her when it came to this.

"My mother was asking about you. She talks about you every time I see her," he told her, changing the subject completely in attempt to distract her.

He felt her hands relax slightly in his jacket and she sniffled quietly, listening to him.

"I'm not sure if it's the best place for them. I almost feel that the Manor is safer, but the Aurors and you are here, and my father is best not to appear in front of either of you. Though I will say he was seeming much more himself tonight. More himself than I've seen him in a long time. I don't want my mother there. She is fairing alright, she's a strong woman, but I know she is unhappy. She deserves to be happy. She's held my family together through such hard times," he murmured, finding himself rambling in his attempt to take his wife's mind off of her sorrows.

"She's lucky to have a son like you," Astoria whispered, adjusting herself in his lap before looking up at him, her eyes slightly reddened.

"Is she?" He thought he was a twit, according to her former sibling.

"Yes. Not all children know how to care for their parents properly, and you love your mother very much. I'm sure there is nothing more important to her that you could give her other than your love."

Love. Love had only mocked him in his experience with it, and he was tired of hearing of its supposed blessings.

"Are you finished with this now?" He asked, his voice clearing of the slightly vulnerable tone it had taken on before as he motioned to the two of them.

Astoria nodded, moving to remove herself from his lap before he held her there by her waist, examining her face. "I'm serious, Astoria. I don't want you down here alone, and I've told you before to stay in my bedroom when I'm not home. My room has more wards than any in this house. Why are you incapable of doing as you're told?"

She frowned, looking down. "I'm sorry. I just don't like being stuck in there by myself. You leave for long periods of time some days. What am I meant to do?"

"It doesn't matter. These are special circumstances. So many families are in hiding while we are not. We are in an old base camp for the Death Eaters, which means we are an even easier target. You have to suck it up, just as my mother is sucking it up. You need to be safe, and you need to listen to me. When this passes, if it passes, then things can change and you won't be locked up anymore. You'll be able to go out with friends and go shop or do whatever it is you women do all day."

"I don't know what I'd do all day," she replied quietly. "And I don't have any friends, Draco."

Draco rolled his eyes, of course. "Your sister then. Don't come back in whatever the hell she was wearing the other night though. It is not in my tastes."

Astoria's mouth twitched and she looked up at him, her eyes lifting at his words. "You would never see me in anything like that, I can assure you."

Draco nodded curtly before sliding her off of his lap as he stood. "Good. Now I need to go look at some things before we eat, but I'll meet you in the dining room in a bit. I'll have the house-elf inform you when I'm ready."

"Draco?" Her soft voice stopped him as he walked away from her towards his study.

"Mmm?"

"Thank you. Thank you for understanding."