Draco kept his word and wrote to Astoria at least once a week for the entire school year.

The first letter arrived on the third day of school. Astoria was at breakfast when an owl swooped down and nearly landed in her eggs. Wondering who could be writing to her so soon, Astoria took the letter from the owl and ripped it open. It was Draco's handwriting. A smile crept onto her face.

"Who's the letter from?" her friend Elizabeth asked.

"Draco," replied Astoria.

"Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes of course, Liz. How many Dracos do we know?"

"You hate him," said Elizabeth, confused.

"We're friends now," said Astoria simply and with that she began reading the letter.

Dear Astoria,

I told you I would write to you, so that's what I'm doing. There's not much to say, considering you've only been gone a few days, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. There's nobody to talk to here. Mother still refuses to leave her bed and Father is still shut up in his study. I don't have any interest in talking to my old school friends. I don't know why, but I don't feel like I have anything in common with the anymore.

I miss you.

Draco.

A few months passed and the letters kept coming. One morning in early December Astoria received another owl. By this point, Elizabeth didn't even bother looking up from her newspaper. "Draco?" she asked in a bored tone.

"Yeah," said Astoria, opening the letter.

Dear Astoria,

The holidays are coming up soon and I was wondering what your plans are. I don't think my parents are going to be in the mood for much celebrating, so I thought you could join us for Christmas to liven things up. If you have to spend Christmas with your family I understand, but I hope we can still meet up at some point over your break.

Please reply soon.

Draco.

"He wants to me to spend Christmas with him," she told Elizabeth.

"Of course he does. He fancies you.

"We're just friends, Liz."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, Astoria."

So Astoria spent Christmas at Malfoy Manor. Draco gave her a necklace.

"It's beautiful, Draco. Thank you!" she said, admiring it. And it was. A silver A encrusted with tiny emeralds dangled from a silver chain. It was simple, but elegant.

She went back to school and she and Draco continued to correspond regularly.

They spent the summer together. Draco took Astoria to fancy restaurants in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and Astoria took Draco to cruddy muggle pubs.

Once again he accompanied her to King's Cross Station. As she was about to board the train, she stood on her toes to give him a kiss like she had done the previous year. Only this time it was on the lips.

"Bye Draco," she said and she walked away, leaving a stunned Draco Malfoy behind.

Astoria graduated from Hogwarts and went on to get a job as a healer at St. Mungo's.

One Friday afternoon, three years later, just as Astoria was about to apparate back to her flat after a long day of work; Draco appeared in the hospital lobby.

"Hey," she said, greeting him with a kiss. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm taking you out to dinner," he said. He grabbed her hand before she could protest and they disapparated.