A/N: This is a fic I wrote for Farmer's Market Fest over on Tumblr. Check it out!
Draco had walked into her room expecting to see Astoria lying on her bed utterly bored as she was most days. The house was quiet. Her parents were out, no doubt searching for other pureblood families to match Astoria off with. He knew the Greengrasses were desperate to match Astoria off with someone, but she was not having any of it. She refused to be nice to anyone her parents presented her with; she'd even kicked Blaise Zabini in the shins. Draco also knew that it was only stubborn pride that kept the Greengrasses from ever visiting the Malfoys. His father and Astoria's father did not get along.
So, Draco was surprised to find Astoria running around her room like a wild hellcat, grabbing clothes and trying to stuff them unsuccessfully into a luggage.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
She glanced up at him, brown hair frizzing and falling into her face. Her eyes were big, the pupils blown wide and only showing the smallest hint of their normal hazel. She seemed frozen in place, with her hands on the top of the clothes she was trying to shove into her suitcase.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, confusion clear in the way her brow furrowed.
"I came to visit," Draco said, leaning against the doorframe. "You didn't answer my question."
"I'm leaving," she answered, once again starting into motion and turning back to her dresser to retrieve more clothes.
"Leaving?" Draco pushed off the doorframe and moved into the room to sit on her bed. "What does 'leaving' entail?" He glanced into the luggage that was filled with all sorts of Astoria's clothes. He spotted a blue piece of lace at the top of the pile. Hooked his finger into the side of it, he lifted it from the pile.
"Just what I said. I'm leaving." Astoria turned back toward him, arms full of clothes. When she spotted her underwear in his hand, she glared. Stomping over to the bed, she snatched them from him, placing them back in the pile and covering them with more clothes. "My parents are being overbearing and crazy. I don't want to deal with them anymore. So, I'm leaving."
"Where do you plan on going?" he asked. Then he pointed his wand at the luggage and all the clothes fell neatly into the luggage.
Astoria continued to glare at him. "Wordless magic isn't that impressive, you know."
Draco shrugged. "Maybe not. But extension charms are helpful."
"Whatever," she said.
"So what's your plan?" he asked, watching her turn back to her dresser and grab more clothing. "Are you just going to pack up your whole wardrobe and go spend the night in the gutters of London?"
"No," she said. "Actually, I'm going to Paris. My aunt has a flat there that she's going to let me use. I'm staying there until my parents cool down. I've already been to Gringott's and gotten some Muggle money. I've worked it all out."
"Muggle money?" Draco exclaimed. Astoria's relationship with her parents wasn't the best right now, but running away, especially to the Muggle world, seemed a bit extreme. Draco couldn't imagine living without magic, let alone in a strange city without magic. The thought was terrifying. "You can't be serious."
"I am," Astoria said. "I'm going. I don't want to stay here."
"Well, can't you just stay with your aunt?" he suggested. Astoria's aunt was her mother's sister. She was known to be a little eccentric, choosing to wear bird feathers in her hair and robes that tended to be on the short side. Most of pureblood society didn't really talk about her or acknowledge her, but Draco knew that Astoria was close with her.
"No," she said. "My parents need to know I'm serious."
"Serious about what?"
"About not following their plans."
Draco thought that there was certainly a better way to show them that she was rebelling than running away.
"So, that's it? You're just leaving then?" he said. Since the war and her graduation, he and Astoria had grown closer. He hadn't really paid attention to her while they were in school, being preoccupied with Potter and Pansy. Besides, she was two years younger than him and didn't really hang out with any Slytherins, though that was the house she belonged to. She spent most of her time with the Ravenclaws. Now, they both avoided people at the parties their parents hosted; Draco because most of the people there despised him, and Astoria because she couldn't speak to a boy without her parents suggesting she marry him. They spent a lot of time together during those parties, and eventually outside of those parties. Draco couldn't imagine life without her now.
"I'm not leaving," she said. "I'm taking a break."
A break? Merlin, where was the sensible girl he knew?
"You can't just take a break," he protested.
"And why not?" she said, standing tall and staring straight at him. "I'm a grown woman. I can do as I please."
Draco huffed. "Fine, but don't owl me when you figure out you hate Paris and don't know how to tell your parents you're coming home."
With that, he turned and strode from the room.
Draco tried not to think of Astoria traveling on her own. (Tried not to think of her meeting some dashing Muggle and disappearing to Paris forever.) He told himself that she would be fine; be home in a few weeks actually because that's how much she would hate Paris. He told himself that she didn't need him to tag along. He told himself that he was going to stay home and relax for a few weeks, maybe even start reading a new book.
He failed miserably.
"Can't we just use a Portkey?" Draco whined for the fifth time. They were currently standing in a Muggle train station waiting for a train to take them to France. It was crowded, and the people here were very rude; always pushing and shoving each other or running into others and not stopping to apologize. Draco found the noises distracting. (If he was honest with himself, they reminded him of the Battle of Hogwarts.)
"No," Astoria said. "My parents would find out. They have connections in the portkey office."
Of course they did. Damn Hyperion Greengrass. Draco muttered under his breath about the Muggles and their annoying clothing as they got in line to board this bloody underground train.
"If you're going to complain the whole time, you can just stay home," Astoria said as she glanced over her shoulder to glare at him with those piercing hazel eyes.
Draco sniffed. "I'm not complaining."
He fidgeted with his clothing while he tried to stay quiet. How did Muggles wear these things? Astoria had dressed him in what Muggles called trousers. They were loose and long, but Draco couldn't get used to the sensation of having no robes drag next to his feet. Thankfully, the trousers were black; unfortunately, his shirt was not. It was some fluffy blue monstrosity that Astoria insisted was popular with Muggles. Draco had nearly hurled while putting the sweater on.
Astoria's outfit was much nicer than his. She was sporting a nice white blouse with long sleeves. The top to buttons were undone, allowing the tops of her breasts to peep through. (He was sure her parents would find that completely inappropriate.) The skirt she had on was brown and tight. It hit her midthigh and hugged her arse perfectly. Draco wished she wasn't wearing those black tights under it so he could get a glimpse of-
"Draco!" Astoria snapped. Quickly, he averted his gaze from her arse. "Are you going to stand there and brood or are you going to get on the train?"
Draco rolled his eyes at her tone and followed her through the doors of the train. The inside of the train was full of open seats. There were no compartments like the Hogwarts train had. A man bumped into Draco's shoulder interrupting his train of thought. He was about to turn and berate this man, but Astoria grabbed his arm and hauled him over to their seats.
"You can't just stand in the middle of the hall like that," she said before shoving him down in the seat closest to the aisle and climbing over him to get into her seat. (He tried desperately not to look at her breasts.)
"And how do you know all of this?" he asked once she was settled into her seat.
"Auntie loves Muggles," Astoria said. "She helped me learn all about them for my trip."
"She helped . . ." Draco shook his head. "Of course, she did. Well, while you were planning this trip, did you bother to see if this train had private compartments?" The last bit was hissed in her ear, but Astoria didn't seem to be bothered with his annoyed tone.
"I'm sure they have some kind of option for a private space," Astoria sniffed. "But that would cost more money."
Draco glanced at the kid across the aisle with his finger up his nose. "Well, I would have paid the extra cost." The kid pulled his finger out of his nose and proceeded to show his mother what he'd found. "Happily."
The ride to Paris was tedious and annoying. Draco spent the whole time trying to refrain from yelling at the annoying woman behind them who kept gossiping about her friend's affair. Astoria seemed to be enjoying herself though. She chatted the whole way about what she wanted to see and where she wanted to go. Draco was almost excited himself, but first he wanted a nap after that annoying trip. Astoria had other plans though.
Draco refrained from muttering under his breath as he and Astoria walked towards some Muggle museum while Astoria munched on a blueberry scone. Apparently, she just had to see the Louvre today. Sleeping was not an option.
"How long is this going to take?" Draco finally asked when they opened the door to the Louvre.
"However long it takes," she answered stubbornly.
A man called out to them in French asking if they had already bought tickets. While Draco answered in the negative, Astoria gaped at him. After paying the man, Draco took the tickets and pressed the other hand to the small of Astoria's back to get her moving through the museum.
"You didn't tell me you spoke French," she said as they stopped in front of a painting of a woman with curly white hair.
"You never asked," Draco said as he studied the painting. The collar around her neck was hideous. "My mother made me learn it when I was young."
Astoria looked mildly impressed, though she didn't say anything. Instead, she turned to the portrait. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco watched Astoria study the painting. Her hands were laced in front of her in a relaxed stance. Her hair fell over her shoulder in dark waves, which Draco refrained from touching. As he glanced at her face, he noticed that her lip was pinched between her teeth. He wondered what-
Astoria abruptly turned to face him. "So, what do you think?"
Averting his eyes, Draco coughed. "She needs to get a better wardrobe."
She swatted his arm. "Oh, really, Draco, she's from the 14th century. It's not like they had trousers and sweaters then."
That comment earned her a glare.
"Well, she didn't have to wear a collar around her neck," Draco snapped.
Astoria just rolled her eyes in response and moved father into the museum. Reluctantly, Draco followed her. The next portrait they came upon was of someone with curly black hair. He almost recoiled because the painting reminded him of his aunt Bellatrix.
"That's Louis XIV," Astoria said softly. "He was called the Sun King, and he built the palace at Versailles. He was particularly fond of ballet and was actually in several. He loved literature, theatre, all the arts. I would kill to have been here when he was king."
Draco was quite happy she wasn't there. (He was perfectly content to have her next to him.)
"And you like this Sun King?" he asked.
Astoria turned to face him. "Yes. Why?"
Draco sniffed. "I was trying to refrain from commenting on his hair."
She huffed and marched on to the next painting, leaving Draco with a faint smile on his face.
Astoria insisted on seeing every exhibit that the museum housed. By the time they were finished, it was 5:30, and Draco refused to go anywhere else until they ate. Thankfully, Astoria agreed and they picked up some sandwiches to eat as they walked. Draco thought that they would head back to their flat now, but she insisted that they had one more sight to see before going back there.
"I refuse to get in that thing." Draco had stopped once he saw the box that was lifting people into the air.
"Draco," Astoria hissed, pulling him off to the side. "That's the only way to get to the top. You have to get in it."
"Then I don't need to see the top," he insisted, turning away from the ugly metal tower.
Astoria grabbed his elbow, and Draco thought he'd been lit on fire. Warmth spread up the length of his arm as his heart began to beat faster. As he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes locked with Astoria's. Merlin, he could get lost in those eyes if given the chance.
"Please," she said, glancing down before looking back at him. "I don't want to go alone."
Damn her, she knew exactly how to get what she wanted.
"Fine," he muttered.
A smile lit up her face. It was worth whatever torture he was about to go through to see that smile.
They made their way back over to the tower and were able to be the last two to go up in the yellow box. As the doors closed behind him, Draco closed his eyes and pretended that he was standing at home on ground that didn't move beneath his feet.
He heard a man laugh. "Afraid of heights, eh mate?"
"Yes, he's terrified," Astoria replied.
Draco's eyes popped open to shoot her an annoyed look. Heights were not the problem. The problem was that this stupid box could drop from the sky and they'd all be crushed. Astoria offered him a shrug, but no apology. Instead, she turned to look out of the window of the box. Draco closed his eyes again to stop himself from being sick. When they finally reached the top, he was the first one to hop out, even though Astoria looked at him like he was an annoying child.
"That was the most terrible experience I've ever had," he muttered. "More terrible than this awful sweater you've put me into."
Astoria merely rolled her eyes. "Well, I thought it was fun." She glanced over him once. "And blue suits you."
Draco watched her closely as she walked over to the edge to stare at the view. She'd never complimented him like that before.
After he was able to calm himself down, he moved to join her.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said, her gaze fixed on the city below.
Draco had to admit that it was an interesting sight. All the parks were visible, and you could see little people walking through the streets. "It's alright."
Astoria glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled. "Thanks for coming with me." Surprise ran through his body. He hadn't expected Astoria to thank him. In fact, he thought he'd annoyed her today. "You didn't have to do that, but you did."
"Right," he said, not knowing what else to say. "Why did you want to come to Paris anyway?"
"I told you," she said. "To get away from my parents." After a moment, she sighed. "But also because they want me to get married and had planned on setting me up with some boy later this week."
Draco nodded. "But you always worm your way out of those." He turned to look at her. "What's different this time?"
"This one doens't care about the curse." There was so much defeat in her voice when she said it; Draco wanted to reach out and hold her. Instead, he pressed his hands firmly into the metal of the railing.
"I thought that was a good thing," he said.
She whipped around to face him. "If you don't want to get married, it's not."
Draco nodded and avoided her gaze. She was correct, but there was nothing he could say to make the situation better. So, he stared out at Paris as the sun slowly set.
"Mom and Dad were insisting that I impress this one," she continued. "Be fun and flirtatious." She sniffed. "I just felt sick to my stomach. And trapped. But there was nothing I could do, but leave. I don't have any money of my own, and I wouldn't know where to begin as far as getting a job goes. Grabbing what money I could and leaving seemed like a pretty good idea."
Draco bit his lip and glanced down at his hands. Merlin knew there was nothing he could do to fix this situation, but he could offer her comfort. (Even though he was terrible at comforting people.) Gently, he slid his hand across the railing and wrapped it around her smaller hand. She turned to him, her mouth open and eyebrows softly raised.
"We can stay here then," he said. "However long it takes for your parents to forget this stupid scheme of theirs. We'll stay however long it takes."
He was unable to look at her. (He didn't want to see her face fall if he said the wrong thing.) Then he felt arms wrap around his chest, and Astoria was burying her head into his chest muttering 'thank you' over and over again. For a moment, he stood there with his hands in the air, not sure what he was supposed to do; then he let his arms drop around her and rested his chin on top of her head.
His whole body relaxed and felt like he was floating on the clouds, now that he knew he'd comforted her correctly. He looked out over the tower again, enjoying the view of the city and the attractions it had to offer. If every night could end with Astoria in his arms, he supposed living like a Muggle wouldn't be so bad.