Chapter 19

"Introducing Astoria to my parents didn't go so well…" Draco told Andromeda at their next meeting.

"What happened?" Andromeda asked.

"They were excited to meet her at first, but then we got onto the topic of blood purity, and she – and I – said that we didn't care about people's blood statuses – even though I used to. They weren't exactly all too pleased with that."

"I see," Andromeda said, looking not at all surprised. "Did your parents – do anything? Did they – kick you out?"

"Oh, no!" Draco said, feeling like he ought to defend his parents a little. "They said I'd still inherit the manor when I get married – even if it is to Astoria."

"That's good," Andromeda said. "I wasn't so lucky."

Draco didn't know what to say. He had already known this – his mother never talked about Andromeda. "Yeah…." He decided to change the subject. "Astoria said she wants to introduce me to her parents now."

"How do you feel about that?" Andromeda asked.

"Um… I don't – know…. I guess I'd like to. I just don't know what exactly to expect. Hopefully, it at least ends up better than when she met mine, though…."

"Hopefully," Andromeda agreed.

O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O

Draco was eating dinner with his parents, when an owl swooped down onto the window seal and rapped on the glass.

"Oh!" Narcissa exclaimed. "What is this?" She went over to the window and opened it to let the owl come in.

The owl was much smaller than Draco's eagle owl and was a light golden-brown color with white speckles. She had a letter attached to her leg and hopped across the table to Draco. He untied the letter, which he saw was addressed to him from Astoria. He had somewhat expected a letter from her at some point.

Draco,

Would you like to come to my house at 2:00 on Wednesday to meet my parents? We can meet at the Leaky Cauldron and apparate from there.

Astoria

"What is it?" Narcissa asked.

"It's–" Draco started. "An invitation.

"An invitation to what?" Lucius asked.

"Er – you know – my girlfriend's house…." Draco held his breath for a second.

Narcissa and Lucius both exchanged glances but said nothing.

"I'm just… going to go to my room now…." Draco said and got up from the table. He lifted the owl onto his shoulder and walked upstairs to write his response.

Astoria,

Yes, I'll be at the Leaky Cauldron at around 2:00 on Wednesday.

Draco

Draco sent the speckled owl off with the letter.

O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O - O

On Wednesday, Draco was looking forward to seeing Astoria. He was, however, quite nervous about meeting her parents. What if this is a total disaster? What if I just make a mess of things? He took a deep breath. It'll be fine… because I'll be with Astoria.

At around 1:30, Draco slipped out of the manor and set out for the Leaky Cauldron.

When he got there, he waited, in anticipation, for Astoria to arrive.

When she appeared, she smiled at him. "Hey, Draco."

"Hi," Draco said. "Uh…."

"Should we go now?"

"Yeah."

She held his hand – Draco felt a little tingly – and they disapparated. They arrived at a place that didn't look to be quite as big as Malfoy Manor but was still a pretty decent size.

As he and Astoria walked to the front door, he could feel his heart rate speeding up. Keep it together, Draco!

Astoria opened the door, and they walked inside. "Hey, Mum. This is my boyfriend, Draco," she said.

Astoria's mother turned around. "Your boyfriend is Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes," Astoria said.

"I'm – uh – I'm very pleased to meet you, then, Draco. I'm Isabella Greengrass."

"Pleased to meet you, too… Mrs. Greengrass," Draco said.

"I'll go tell Hyperion you're here. I'm sure he'd quite love to meet you." When she left, Draco looked at Astoria, wondering what to make of the situation.

"I'm not too sure that your mother likes me very much."

"I think she's just a little suspicious of your status as an ex-Death Eater," Astoria said.

Draco felt a sudden pain in his chest and clutched at it.

"Are you okay?" Astoria asked. She pulled out a chair from a nearby table for him to sit down.

Draco sat and nodded. "I'm – fine–" He breathed. "You didn't tell your parents who you were dating?" Draco asked.

"Well… no," Astoria said. "But to be fair, your parents weren't aware that I'm a 'blood traitor' before I met them."

"True."

"I'm sure my parents will like you once they get to know you," Astoria reassured him.

When Isabella reentered the room with Hyperion, Hyperion fixed Draco with a long stare, which was making Draco feel quite uncomfortable.

"Dad, this is my boyfriend, Draco Malfoy," Astoria said. "He's been really good to me these past years."

"Wasn't he a Death Eater?" Hyperion asked.

"Yes, but–" Astoria started, but Draco cut her off, standing up.

"I've changed."

"Only because your side lost," Hyperion pointed out.

"Father!" Astoria exclaimed.

"I–" Draco started, not really knowing what to say to this, as it wasn't entirely wrong. "It's true that my family and I didn't exactly defect until towards the end. We had lost all our wands and couldn't fight. All that mattered at that point was that we were together again and safe. We didn't fight for either side in the final battle."

"That's not saying much…" Hyperion said, glancing at Draco's left arm. Draco involuntarily jerked his right hand over and caressed his left sleeve where his Dark Mark was concealed.

He's right…. I'm not a good person. I don't deserve Astoria.

"Draco, are you okay?" Astoria asked. "You don't look too good. How about you come over and sit on the couch." She began leading him to the living room. Draco saw her shoot a glare at her parents before leaving them by themselves. "I'm sorry about that," Astoria said. "I really am. I'll have to talk to them about this. Do you want any tea?"

"Astoria," Draco said. "Your father was right. I'm not a good person, and I don't deserve you. You bring nothing but love and happiness. I could never amount to that."

Astoria furrowed her brows. "Now that is just ridiculous, Draco! You may not realize this, but I need you just as much as you need me. Remember my blood curse?" Draco nodded, and Astoria went on. "I want someone to always be by my side during the hard times, and – and I thought – I hoped that person – would be you, Draco! I love you."

Draco responded to her words by lunging forward and hugging her. "I love you, too."

"So we'll be together?"

"Always."

They pulled away. "So do you want some tea?" Astoria asked.

"Sure," Draco said.

Astoria came back with the tea. "I'm going to go talk to my parents. They were being unfair." She left the room again.

Draco sipped his tea as he waited for Astoria to come back. When she did return, it was with her parents.

"Let's try this again," Astoria said. "Mum, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Draco."

"It's nice to meet you, Draco," Isabella said.

"Yes… very… nice," said Hyperion.

Draco stood up and set his tea on the table. "It's nice to meet you, too."

"We're sorry… about earlier," Isabella said.

"Yes… we are," Hyperion put in.

"Look," Draco said. "I know my family isn't the greatest. I've done a lot of bad things, myself. My past is something I'm not proud of. The war shook me and left me broken, but these past years have given me a chance to reflect and learn. I really want to be a better person. I just don't really know what to do. Astoria has helped me a lot." Draco gave her an affectionate look.

"Oh, Draco." She came over and affectionately rubbed his arm. "You've been helping me a lot, too." She hugged him.

"They do really love each other," Isabella whispered to Hyperion.

"Yes," Hyperion agreed. "Although I'd like to talk to Draco alone."

"Wait - what?" Draco jerked his head around.

"Dad, you don't have to–" Astoria started to say, but Hyperion cut her off.

"I just want to ask him a few questions is all." He turned to Draco. "Does that sound alright?"

"Y-yes… sir," Draco said.

Hyperion took Draco into another room, and they sat across from each other.

"So," Hyperion said. "You really love Astoria, huh?"

"Yes, she's amazing," Draco said.

"And you're going to marry her, I take it?"

"Well – I – haven't thought much about that – but – yes. I do wish to marry her someday." The question had come as a shock, but Draco really did want to eventually marry Astoria, and now he was even more sure of it.

"I can see now that you two are very devoted to each other. Astoria told me you stood up to your own parents for her. I respect that. But still – it's hard letting my daughter go like this. Daphne moved out about a year ago. Just promise me one thing–"

"Yes?"

"That you take good care of Astoria and make her the happiest she can be."

"I will," Draco said, and his heart swelled with love for her. I need to ask her to marry me soon.