"I cannot believe the Malfoy boy would do this! Who does he think he is!? Embarrassing us. Embarrassing you!"

As the loud rant continued, Astoria begrudgingly but quietly agreed, giving noncommittal answers while petting her childhood pet, Gladys the Persian cat, and staring out the window.

"Oh Lucius is so lucky we never drafted that contract in time. I would have sued his arse for everything! How dare they insult us like this! Draco running off with some…muggleborn and refusing to enter into a betrothal with you?" Her mother made a disgusted noise. "It's unsettling, unbecoming! I'm sure he will just come running back when he's had his fix."

Astoria sighed, petting Gladys and wishing she was with Daphne in the states now. The voice of her mother drifted off into white noise, and so she pretended she was on the beach with her sister, laughing as they eyed up men who walked by, waking up late and eating whatever they wanted. She envied Daphne so much, her letters explaining how fulfilling it was to live on her own, and Astoria could do nothing but live vicariously.

If her mother ever found out she was still in correspondence with her sister, she may have gotten an earful and possibly even hexed. Daphne had emancipated herself immediately after the war, not coming back to finish school and took off to find a job anywhere that would hire her. She came to Astoria the night before she left, the two sisters crying hysterically and wishing each other to get the lives they've always dreamed of.

Daphne had asked her to come with, but Astoria, still young and unsure of herself, refused. Her sister had given her a teary eyed smile, requested she'd visit and promised to write frequently.

To say her parents had lost it was an understatement.

They were angry first, yelling, screaming at her, at each other, at any house elf, then came the denial. They went to the Ministry, demanding they find her, but with the trace gone and proper paperwork claiming Daphne was no longer entitled to anything of the Greengrass name, they legally could do nothing. Next was sadness. It hit her father the hardest. He retreated into his study everyday, taking his meals there as well and when she'd pass by in the hallways, she could hear faint sniffling. Sometimes she would sit outside the door, resting her back on the wall and cry with him during the first weeks of Daphne's departure. He never knew, but it was nice to share her sadness with someone.

Her parent's never reached acceptance, or rather, her mother didn't. Astoria suddenly became the center of her world, but it felt like she was under a magnifying glass. After she graduated from Hogwarts, her mother sent her to a school in Paris, where pureblood witches can learn to be a proper wife and mother. It seemed her mother was desperate to clear the memories of what Daphne had done and ensure Pureblood society they were still abiding by their traditions despite the scandal.

"Mother, I had plans to work. I received an acceptance letter for an internship at a sanctuary for endangered magical creatures." Astoria said with a smile though it was tight with anxiety.

"Your father has already paid the tuition. It's in Paris, darling, far better than working. You leave in a month." The woman's tone was final and so Astoria kept her mouth shut and her opinions and objections to herself.

As soon as she returned, she was instructed that she had a date with Draco Malfoy. Astoria frowned as her mother began to explain the steps to their contracted engagement. Three dates in the span of three weeks, in case other wizards wished to pursue Astoria, then if all goes well, their families will draft the contract and they should be married by winter.

Astoria had a panic attack, wheezing over a floo call to Daphne, crying hysterically.

"I-I don't know him! I don't want to be married! I'm only twenty!" She wailed.

"I'm so sorry Astoria, I can't believe they're doing this. I'll—I'll come back so you don't have to do any of this. It's my fault—"

"No! Don't you dare come back!" Astoria gasped, the vision of Daphne's fiery head blurry through her tears. Her lip quivered. "One of us has to be free."

Astoria had no idea who Draco was as a person, only knowing him through the whispers of Hogwarts and what her sister had told him he was like in school. Honestly, she was terrified of him during Hogwarts, so when he greeted her with a stiff lip and made even stiffer conversation with her, the preconceived notions about him were slightly confirmed.

On their second date he was cold and bitter. Astoria had tried to have a genuine conversation about what their families were planning to alleviate some of the awkwardness. She was stunned into silence when he made a cruel remark.

"From what I gathered," She began after taking a polite sip of tea, "They were hoping we'd marry come winter." She looked up trying to gauge his reaction but his face was stone, eyes looked at her twice all day. "It doesn't really…doesn't really give us the time to really learn who the other is." She offered a forced laugh. "Actually I'm sure if they had it their way—"

"I'd be marrying Daphne and not you? I wouldn't be forced to endure such a lifeless afternoon and probably a lifeless marriage as well?" He spat and Astoria clenched her jaw. She didn't even care about Draco, but his comment had sprung tears to her eyes. Blinking hastily, she looked away. She was at least trying, was she really that awful to be with?

When she returned home that day, she begged her mum to stop the engagement. But her mother tersely explained there were no other options interested in associating with the Greengrass name since Daphne had caused a stir. And since the Malfoy's had fallen many rungs down society's ladder since the war, they were the only family interested in a marriage as well. Astoria cried herself to sleep that night and refused to letter Daphne for a week.

On their third and final date, Astoria was waiting to be received by Draco in her home. But five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen. He hadn't shown. Her mother frowned then requested she floo over to the Manor and see what the issue was. Astoria found it a bit invasive and knew her mother was desperate if she had told her to arrive unannounced. Sighing in defeat, she shouted 'Malfoy Manor.'

Their house elf received her, she requested she be brought to Draco. The elf popped them away and they landed in the library. The sight before her made her gasp loudly, her jaw fell to the floor and eyes flew out of her head.

There in front of her was Draco Malfoy snogging the absolute hell out of the one and only Hermione Granger. Not only that, but Granger was sitting on top of a desk, legs wrapped around his middle as one of Draco's hands was under her shirt.

She was only granted a second, not even, at the scene before they both pulled away, eyes wide and cheeks flushed while they panted.

"Oh fuck." Draco said in horror.

The elf popped away, making a small whimpering noise and Astoria was left to shift her eyes between the pair. Granger hopped off the desk while readjusting her shirt. Draco took a half step to her but stopped, totally lost for words. The air was thick with tension, then all of a sudden, Astoria's face cracked into a grin, then a smile, then a giggle erupted followed by a loud booming laugh.

She probably looked insane. Standing there laughing while the man that she was supposedly going to marry was snogging and fondling the girl he openly hated since they were children. She couldn't contain herself. The world seemed to be ending.

"You're—oh my gods! Are you t-two—together?" She asked through her chuckles, tightening her lips to suppress the noises.

Hermione looked at Draco who found her stare, almost in a challenge for him to misspeak. Astoria found the moment endearing and she suddenly felt entirely sad that she has never experienced unspoken communication with a lover before.

"We've been seeing each other since, well, since January. Of this year." He admitted and she saw something sparkle in Granger's eyes.

After a ten minute conversation between the three of them—Draco apologizing for being rude to her, Astoria saying she understood his anger and wishing them all the success— she left for home. Not even five minutes later, the Malfoy owl delivered mail, calling off the arrangement. That was three weeks ago, and news had finally broken of Hermione and Draco's relationship, thus leaving her mother in a fit of hysterics.

"I almost feel bad for Narcissa. Having to endure seeing her son parade around with some—some mud—"

"Hermione Granger is a nice girl, mother." Astoria snapped. "And she's the brightest witch of our age. Plus they look very happy. Who cares?" She said, and as soon as the words left her mouth, she could almost see the smoke leave her mother's ears.

"Who cares? Who cares!? This young man has made a fool of himself and you! It shows society that a muggleborn was more preferable than a pureblood witch. It's ridiculous!" She shrieked and Astoria had to get up.

"No, it shows Draco preferred a different witch over me. No labels, no blood, nothing. He found someone to like and love and that's it. Period. Can you just shut up already!?" Astoria's hands were shaking. It was the first time she openly shouted at her mother. But she just couldn't take it anymore.

"Astoria Selene Greengrass you do not speak to your mother that way!" Her mother stalked after her, yanking her by the wrist but Astoria released her hand and accio'd her robes, then headed directly for the floo. "Do not walk away from me!"

Astoria jogged, her jacket half on, half off as she grabbed floo powder and shouted 'Diagon Alley.'

It was an exhilarating feeling, yelling at her mum like that. But she knew when she returned home, there would be a verbal lashing and a conversation about what would be next for Astoria. Her mother had already hinted at possibly extending their search for possible husbands outside of the UK, but she couldn't even fathom that. She just wanted a choice, a life, decided for herself by herself.

She hadn't realized she was crying, nor did she even realize she walked into Sugarplum's Sweets Shop. All of a sudden she stood with an armful of cauldron cakes and a worried looking clerk staring at her as tears strolled over her cheeks.

"Uh, that'll be one galleon and eleven sickles, miss." He said and Astoria sniffled while reaching inside her robes. Her heart sank and she shuffled deeper inside her pockets, feeling all around for her purse or loose money. She looked back up to the clerk with teary eyes.

"I'm—I'm so sorry. I thought—" Her skin flushed with heat and suddenly her chest was aching harder than before. "I thought I brought my purse, oh I'm so embarrassed. I'll just go put these back—"

"I got it Jeffrey. Can you add these to the bill as well? Thanks." A kind voice spoke up from behind. Astoria looked over her shoulder and watched as Neville Longbottom withdrew money and paid for hers and his treats.

With wide eyes and a slightly horrified expression, Astoria watched him hand money to the clerk, and turn to her with a cheery smile. He pocketed his chocolate frog and cinnamon gum. The clerk bagged her cauldron cakes, extending his hand out to her but she didn't see him. She was too focused on the tall Gryffindor she hadn't seen since the war.

Neville looked between her and the clerk before grabbing her bag himself then handing it to her, with that same nice smile.

"Thank you." She finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'm so sorry you had to cover for me."

"Not a big deal. I understand anyways. I need a fixing for cauldron cakes at least once a month." He joked, and Astoria only grew more embarrassed. She had just bought five cauldron cakes, planning to head home and devour them all in the comfort of her room cuddling her cat. She did not plan on anyone actually seeing her in a state like this.

"Oh yeah, um." She awkwardly said, pulling out two of the cakes and offering them up to Neville. "As a thank you? Or if you write down your address I can owl money over once I get—"

He cut her off with a chuckle and raised his hands.

"No need. Besides, if you're having a bad day, you'll need them more than me, right?" He said. It didn't feel like an intentionally harmful statement, but to point out she was having a less than ideal day made her furrow her brow and pout.

"I'd like for you to have them. To thank you for your generosity." She held them a little higher and Neville looked at the cakes then back up to her face.

"It's alright, honest. You should have them—"

"Well I don't need five so take these two since you paid for them." She suddenly snapped and then relaxed. Her arm fell down to her side and she shook her at herself, not believing she just talked to a stranger like that. "I'm so sorry. I'm just having a rough day."

Neville smiled, some pity behind it but she didn't see it.

"S'okay. I understand. And for what it's worth…I'm sorry." He said and Astoria frowned then looked back up to his face.

"About what?" She asked confused and Neville shifted uncomfortably on his feet. His cheek twitched, like he didn't want to say something and she could faintly remember the exact expression from when the Carrows ordered him to crucio first years during his seventh year. She recognized it because he was about to do something brave.

"About…Malfoy and Hermione." He said, face growing weary. Astoria's mouth parted and she released a knowing sound.

"Oh that's not—" She huffed a laugh, tucking her hair behind her ear and suddenly realizing how she must look storming into Diagon Alley, crying, arm full of sweets the day news broke of Draco and Granger. "I'm not upset by that. I'm actually quite happy for them."

Neville was an expressive type. His emotions always came out on his face, something she learned in the five minutes she interacted with him. He showed it all, not afraid of the world seeing who he really was.

"Oh. I thought that, well since you two dated you may be—"

"We didn't really date. It was…procedural. Neither of us wanted to do it. I'm—" Astoria took a breath, wondering why she was explaining herself to Longbottom. "I'm not upset by that. It's something different."

She expected him to nod at her, not care for her problems and tell her to enjoy her sweets then leave so she could be on her way. But Neville looked over her face, less red from her humiliation and sadness, but her eyes still looking dull with tiredness. His head tilted to the side, eyebrows raised.

"Is everything okay?" He asked and it felt like such a loaded question Astoria wasn't even sure how to respond. When was the last time anyone had asked her that she didn't know. Or the last time anyone had ever asked how she felt about anything going on in her life, she was also unaware.

She tilted her head down, inhaled once and blinked back her emotions. The public would perceive her as weak if anyone caught a glimpse of her reaction right now. Her mother would have her head for eating so many sweets and especially for letting a random man pay for it. As if she suddenly remembered her duty, Astoria lifted her head, a shield in front of her face and gates caging her heart.

"Perfectly fine. Just some minor issues I've overreacted to. Thank you again for covering my thoughtless actions and please accept this as a gesture of repayment." Astoria smiled at him, though it lacked any genuine emotion. She took the bag of her cakes and handed all but one to him then quickly left the store while hearing his confused protests.

Astoria dashed home, locking herself in her room for the remainder of the day listening to sad music. She wished Daphne was here to talk to and hug. She wished Daphne hadn't run away but that was selfish to think. She wished Draco would have actually tried to get to know her for the sake of just making her life easier. She knew it was wrong to want to abandon her family like her sister when they were just trying to provide the best for her. She wished she was brave, but instead, she just hoped the next person her mother had lined up for her was nice. Because through all this, Astoria just wanted to feel less lonely.

Her mother had forgotten their quarrel and was giddy when she revealed there was a possible prospect for her from Russia. The wizard in question came from a wealthy family, indifferent to the war and the mistakes of Daphne and arranged for a meeting in the coming weeks. He didn't speak a lick of English and he was nearly twenty years older than Astoria.

"You can't be serious." Astoria asked her mother who ripped the profile of the wizard out of her hands.

"I will hear none of that Astoria. His family is well perceived in Russia, lower standing than what we would have normally accepted but this is a good thing. We will portkey to Moscow next week."

The wizard, Fredek, had a bit of a butterbeer belly, stood only a few inches taller than her and didn't even attempt to speak once. Astoria had tried with the translation spells for him, but he nodded, shrugged or gave her questioning looks.

A week after they returned home, they received a letter, stating Fredek would not marry Astoria since she was 'too ugly and too short.'

She had to hide her glee as her mother furiously wrote back to the Russian family, saying they should be so lucky that 'their slob of a son would even be considered for Astoria.' Since her day had significantly turned around, she decided to head into Diagon Alley, wanting to visit Magical Menagerie to see what new creatures had arrived.

There were a few new ferrets and rats, a snake that had been brought in from Australia and a very tiny looking owl. It was gray with a white face and black eyes. Softly squeaking as the occupants walked past her cage. Astoria stopped in front of the little owl, smiling at the timid animal.

"Not for sale Astoria. She still has another couple months before she's fully grown and can be adopted." The shopkeeper, Ms. Breen, came up beside Astoria and handed her a treat so she could feed herl.

Astoria poked the nut through the cage, smiling when the owl hopped closer and cautiously took it from her fingertips. She brushed it's neck with her finger before turning to Ms. Breen.

"When did you get her?" She questioned.

"She came in about two weeks ago. Was rehabilitated after she was found with a broken wing. She's growing stronger everyday though. Oh! Good afternoon Mr. Longbottom! How are you dear?" Ms. Breen peered over Astoria's shoulder to welcome the new guest. She tensed a bit during the revelation of who it was then slowly turned her body to offer him a stiff smile.

"I'm lovely Ms. Breen and yourself?" He said, looking fondly at the crates of cats purring at him. He bent down to pick one up, who cuddled into his arms, unperturbed by the sudden movement.

"Great, dear. Are you here for Donnie?" She asked and Neville smiled brightly.

"I am here for Donnie." He replied, putting the cat down and walking to the two women.

"Hello Astoria, it's nice to see you again." He greeted with a warm smile. She looked up into his big hazel eyes, trying to remember in the years she has gone to school with him, if he's ever said her name.

"You as well." She mumbled, almost confused.

"How was the cauldron cake? You really should have taken all of those. I spoiled my entire dinner scarfing them down." He joked and Astoria felt a faint smile curse her features.

"It was delicious. Thank you again." She replied honestly.

"I was going to stop through Sugarplum's after I pick up Donnie. Are you heading that way?" He asked and something turned inside her belly. The possibility of accompanying Neville to pick up more sweets suddenly sounded like an enjoyable afternoon.

"Who's Donnie?" She then asked and Neville chuckled, the sound floating above the small sounds of all the creatures around them.

"Donnie is a double headed Taipan. Highly venomous, one of the deadliest known snakes." He explained.

"But…they don't sell deadly snakes here." She said almost in a question, then Ms. Breen reappeared with a clear glass container and a yellow snake laying in the sand.

"Correct. But Ms. Breen is loaning me her personal pet, Donnie, for the weekend so I can run tests on a new plant breed I created." He said while taking the container from Ms. Breen. Astoria looked at the calm snake then back up to Neville, feeling thrown off that she didn't know what he did for a living. Typically she had profiles of every man she would grow friendly with, a habit of being a pureblood and one currently seeking a fiancee. But she knew nothing of the Gryffindor or his life. It felt relieving to ask a question she did not know the actual answer to.

"I'm sorry, what do you do for work? Assuming this is for work?" She said and Neville smiled. Merlin, he smiles so much.

"I'm a herbologist. I work for a company that manufactures plants for another company to create healing potions for hospitals. Amidst other things too. A bit confusing, but I get to experiment and research a lot." He replied.

"You can bring him back Monday whenever you're free, dear." Ms. Breen said then headed to the cages for rodents, going to clean them out, leaving the pair alone.

"Thank you again." He said sweetly then turned his attention back to Astoria. She felt curious about him.

"What are you working on that requires one of the deadliest snakes then?" She asked and before Neville responded, he tilted his head at her again, like he was trying to get a read on her. It was a tad unnerving, but Astoria was used to being assessed constantly.

"Would you like to join me at Sugarplum's? It's a complicated explanation but I can also try giving a shorter version if you prefer?" He said calmly, looking hopeful and welcoming. Astoria wondered if she ever knew a man to show so many of his emotions at once.

"Uh, sure." She replied and received a very wide, toothy smile. Her lips curled upwards and something in her chest tightened.

Even with a snake in hand, Neville opened the doors for her, guided her through the entryway and walked on the outside of her on the sidewalk. Astoria wondered who had taught him pureblood manners, having known what happened to his parents.

Neville excitedly explained what he did for work and kept it as short as he could. Astoria could tell he was truly passionate about his job and it seemed to fit right into his do-gooder personality that Gryffindor's were notorious for.

"St. Mungo's asked the potion company we work with to find a stronger healing potion for poisonous snake bites. The common one pulls the venom from the inflicted, but it can cause blood clotting while doing this. So the potioneers broke down the ingredients and hypothesized there could be five different reasons for this, one of them being from a root used in the base of the potion. So they tasked my company to alter the components of the plant so it wouldn't strongly interact with the bloodstream but still aid the other ingredients to help pull out poison. I reworked the root, and now I have to test to see how it will react with the venom."

Astoria listened attentively, something she was good at when it came to interacting with men. Only this time, she didn't have to fake interest or ask a question that she didn't care about. Her response was as easy as breathing.

"Fascinating. And how long did it take to create this variation of the root?" Astoria asked, turning to watch Neville assess the wall of candy as he thought about the timeline. His eyebrows creased and jaw rotated to the side, a low, thoughtful noise lifting from his throat.

"Mmm. Well it was actually my first assignment since being with the company and I've been with them since graduating Hogwarts. So one year to research, eight months to successfully grow about two hundred variations and now two weeks to test them all." He said, reaching for fudge flies.

Astoria was impressed. Actually impressed. Most men she interacted with spoke of how they inherited family businesses, hardly worked or only dealt with monetary sides of business. Neville was doing labor and research, all on his own since graduating? It seemed like a lot, but here he was, acting as if it was nothing.

"That's—wow." She said stunned, cursing herself at the lack of clear response. Neville turned to her, grinning a bit sheepishly.

"I know. It's a long time, but I'm so close to making this successful. And if the root truly is the problem, then the potioneers will have correctly identified the issue and have an entirely new potion by the end of the year. Once their own trials are done." He said shaking his head, eyes twinkling as he looked up as if in a dream.

"That's remarkable. I hope you are successful. And if you have any trouble with Donnie, you should change the lighting to warmer hues and increase the temperate. Taipans can be known to be temperamental in colder climates." Astoria offered and Neville tilted his head.

"Thank you for the suggestion. How did you know that?" He asked and Astoria opened her mouth but shut it, squinting her eyes at him. She was nearly about to disclose that she was fond of all creatures magical or not and was going to make a career somehow involving animals. His warm eyes and pleasant conversation made her guard slip and she decided to let it, just for a moment.

"I—I was rather fond of care for magical creatures in school. I still keep up on it now, but more so of a hobby." She said turning to pick up a cauldron cake and eyeing him suspiciously when he plucked his own as well.

"Oh that's wonderful. Is that what you do for work then?" He questioned, the two of them turning to head to the clerk.

"No, I er, I don't work."

Was that something he preferred? A modern woman who works? A hard worker who valued making her own money? It's not that Astoria didn't want to work, but it was something that her mother wouldn't have approved of, or her future husband.

"Do you want to? Ms. Breen mentioned something about needing part-time help." He suggested, absentmindedly taking money out for both their items. Astoria didn't even notice because the question had caught her so off guard, she choked on air.

"What?" She asked, shocked beyond belief.

"Yeah, mentioned it to me a few weeks ago. It seems like she likes you a lot, worth mentioning to her next time you visit. If that's something you're interested in." He said, then handed her the other cauldron cake. She took it without realizing he had bought her another flavor. Too trapped in her mess of thoughts and confusion.

"It-it is. Thank you for the suggestion." She replied, a heat crawling up her neck when he smirked. Not a smile, a smirk paired with lowered eyes. She didn't think Gryffindors were capable of smirking like that.

"You're welcome. I should be off though, I'll see you around Astoria." He said, raising his eyebrows at her. She swallowed and nodded slowly, confirming his hopes.

"Yes, I'll-I'll see you around." She replied then watched as he smirked, gods, at her again then left her in the store. She plucked open the cauldron cake and frowned at the other one, now just realizing she held two instead of one.


A/N: So obvs not Dramione lol. But i was inspired by a mutual to create this for her since she has helped grow my following and is just such a lovely person. This will be another short fic and is nearly completely written so updates will come fast. Please read, even if this isnt your ship. it would mean a lot to me :)