Draco woke the morning after, feeling a bit hungover. Luckily Blaise has clearly anticipated this and left two vials on his bedside table. One pepper-up and one hangover potion.
Draco swallowed both quickly, before taking a quick shower and putting on a T-shirt and a pair of joggers. He left his wing and made his way down towards the dining room. On his way down the old manor, he couldn't help compare the house with Hermione's mansion. The manor had dark floors, dark walls and was filled with dark furniture and curtains. Even the lamps were dark and only a few of them had lid candles. He wondered how the chandeliers of Hermione's place were lid and if it was possible to get that at the manor. When he finally reached the dining room, Draco had decided that the manor was in need of a serious makeover and knew just the person to do the job - and where to find them.
As the door swung open, he was greeted by Blaise and Theo already seated at the table with a lavish brunch spread in front of them.
"Had a good sleep?" Blaise asked with a smirk, as Draco sat down.
"Yes," Draco gritted out, while turning red.
"No judgement, mate. I think all 3 of us had a good night's sleep after last night," Theo laughed.
Draco started filling his plate with fruit, hash browns, bacon and toast.
"Theo, I was wondering if Potter is doing any jobs these days?" Draco casually asked.
Theo started coughing in his juice.
"Wait, what? Why?"
"I'm thinking about hiring the both of you. I think this place could use the best dark art curse breaker to get rid of all the old portraits, artifacts and stuff from Voldemort's time here," Draco explained. Both Theo and Blaise looked at him as though he had suddenly grown two heads.
"But why hire me then?" Theo asked.
"Honestly, after last night I realised just how gloom this place still is and how it's possible to have a mansion that looks both expensive and inviting. I'm actually a bit miffed that I hadn't considered doing this sooner. I mean if I really have to raise a child here at some point, I don't want to be the same kind of father as Lucius."
Both Blaise and Theo nodded, almost afraid to speak and break Draco's sudden openness. Draco grabbed a mimosa and popped a strawberry into his mouth, almost getting hard again just thinking about Hermione and last night.
"So, what happened?" Blaise asked quietly. Draco considered how much he should tell and even could. But considering all three of them had been there, he thought it wouldn't trigger the vow.
"I'm still a virgin, technically if that's what you're wondering," Draco confessed. "I don't think I was ready to throw that away just yet. But I was wondering, how come you two haven't considered saving yourself? I mean, Hermione said something yesterday about the idea of saving oneself for marriage was as old-fashioned and wrong as blood prejudges. That it's probably about making sure I don't fall in love with someone and get an heir that's not pure. Do you guys think she's right?" Draco knew he was babbling and every thought since last night just came right out of his mouth.
Blaise and Theo looked at each other, like they were non verbally contemplating how to proceed with this conversation.
"Do you want the honest explanation or the short answer?" Theo asked carefully.
"The explanation, I think," Draco said after a couple of minutes of contemplation.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with waiting with sex until marriage if you're doing it for the right reasons. Like if two people who love each other and both are virgins and want that experience to be something special that they will share with only each other," Theo quickly said.
"But you don't love Astoria, do you?" Blaise asked a bit rough.
Draco shook his head.
"I think she seems nice, but…." he didn't know how to continue.
"But she's not Hermione." Theo stated matter-of-factly. Draco looked at them both, feeling like a deer caught in the light.
"We all know that your attraction to her is more than a sexual crush. You've been obsessed with her forever and this idea of keeping yourself pure for a marriage your father has planned is…" Theo stopped for a second and looked to Blaise.
"It's definitely a ploy to make sure the bloodline stays pure and that you won't do anything to ruin Lucius' plans for you, like getting a child out of wedlock and perhaps even a halfblood child as well." Blaise said before he finished with: "He spent all that time teaching you how sex is something you do to get an heir, not a word about how to enjoy it. If that's not proof this idea of keeping yourself pure for marriage, really is about blood, I don't know how to convince you."
The silence after that statement was almost painful. But Draco could not object to Blaise's or Theo's statements. The three of them kept eating in silence, until the door opened up and Narcissa entered the room.
"Late morning, boys?" She said with a lifted eyebrow. They all nodded, while Draco turned red again.
"Were you somewhere special yesterday?" She asked as she looked at Draco.
"No, mrs Malfoy, just a visit to the pubs before Draco is busy with his new wife," Blaise said smoothly. Narcissa nodded before turning to leave. She stopped at the door, however and turned to look at Draco with a sharp look.
"Your future wife will be here shortly to discuss the final details and a last dress fitting as well. I suggest the three of you remember that the shenanigans of teenage boys need to stop so Draco can take his responsibilities seriously and focus on Malfoy enterprises and getting his heir." She said as her final words before leaving.
Draco looked down, while the pressure of his future was making it hard for him to breath. Had he looked at his two best friends, he might had noticed the pained look on Blaise and Theo's comforting hand on Blaise's shoulder.
##
"Astoria, come in please" Draco said with a smile.
The young girl stood nervously in the door to Draco's study. She nodded and slowly entered the room. As she watched the dark bookcases and the barely lid room, Draco once again thought about Hermione's mansion and his future life with Astoria.
"Your mother suggested we had tea together before I returned home," she almost whispered.
Draco was struck by the idea that Astoria seemed uncomfortable around him and that she might felt even more trapped than he did. Why had he never noticed this before?
"Astoria, you'll be my wife soon, you are always welcome to join me for tea," he sai
At the same time a house elf appeared with a tray full of a tea set and finger sandwiches.
Draco motioned towards the lounging area and they both sat down while the house elf served the tea.
"Thank you so much, Mily," Draco said to the house elf, who smiled happily at him.
"I actually wanted to speak with you," he said, when Mily had left. Astoria looked alarmed, and Draco again wondered how he had missed her discomfort for so long.
"What do you think of the manor, Astoria? Is it to your liking?" He finally asked.
Astoria looked as though she was ready to cry.
"This is your home and legacy, Draco, if you like it, I like it." She said, looking like she hoped she had passed the test.
"Astoria, we are going to be a family soon. Have children of our own, I want your honest opinion and for you to be happy and comfortable here. I have no desire for you to be unhappy." He said and he could not quite read what the emotions on her face meant.
"I'm considering renovating the manor completely, when you move in," he settled on. "I want your opinion every step of the way, so it will become our home and not just a place that carries the weight of the Malfoy past," he said.
Astoria looked a bit relieved.
"I really do appreciate the thought, however I don't want Narcissa to feel like I'm trying to take her place as lady of the manor. If you are going to renovate the manor, it should be your decision. Narcissa was very clear on my future position in this house. Thank you for the tea, I better return home." Astoria said before getting up and leaving the study, leaving Draco behind wondering what had gone over his head, as he was clearly missing something big.