Disclaimer: I do not own the original canon nor am I making any profit from writing this piece. All works are accredited to their original authors, performers, and producers while this piece is mine. No copyright infringement is intended. I acknowledge that all views and opinions expressed herein are merely my interpretations of the characters and situations found within the original canon and may not reflect the views and opinions of the original author(s), producer(s), and/or other people.

Warnings: This story may contain material that is not suitable for all audiences and may offend some readers. Please exercise understanding of personal sensitivities before and during reading.

Author's Note(s): This turned out more cracky than I was aiming for. Also, I think the war broke Draco just a bit.

Challenge/Competition Block:
Stacked with: MC4A (Ship Sp6)
Individual Challenges: Star Maiden (Y); Colors of the Sky; Slytherin MC (x2); Ravenclaw MC; Sandbox; Reader; Cinematic; Companions; Dreamers (x3); Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion (x2); Short Jog; Bucket Listing (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Greatest Gift; Two Cakes (Y); Crack Addict; Bi Bi Bi; Booger Breath; Setting Sail; Lunar Era; Rainbow Connection
Other MC4A Challenges (Prompt): SpB [5B](Rabbit/Hare); TrB [4A](Bullying the Dragon); Ship (Star Maiden)[SpBig (Ball; Flower); SpMic1 (Daemon; Fusion/Crossover); SpMic2 (Pink); 5B (Hobby)]; Chim [Owl](Flamingo; Daemon AU); Hunt [Sp Items (Flower); Sp Con (Water); Sp WD (Bi/Pan)];
Representation: Astoria Greengrass/Draco Malfoy; Greengrass Sisters; Daemon AU
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Bechdel Test; Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still; White Dress; Odd Feathers; Pocky Pockets; Wabi Sabi; Demo 1 (Unwanted Plates; Spinning Plates; Lovely Coconuts; Where Angels Fear; Trickster's Union; Muck & Slime); Demo 2 (Unicorn; Creature Feature; Head of Perseus; Misshapen Pods; Tomorrow's Shade; Machismo; Bast's Blessing; Hot Stuff)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Terse; Toad)
Word Count: 1045

-= LP =-
Ballroom Daemons
-= LP =-

Astoria kept one hand on the back of her leopard daemon as she moved around the ballroom. Dana was solid beside her, a faithful supporter that was excellent at deterring most of the pure-blood boys who got it into their head that she would be interested in them. Ever since Daphne had made it very clear that she had less than zero interest in anything they had to offer, they had been focused on Astoria instead.

Not that she could really blame them. While the war had disrupted some of the betrothal contracts, there was still precious few pure-blood families with daughters who had not been promised to anyone yet. There were even fewer who would be willing to let their daughters go to families with known affiliation with the fallen Dark Lord. Families like the Greengrasses were rather unique in Britannia at the moment. They were wealthy and pure enough to please those families that had sided with the Death Eaters but because they had staunchly maintained their neutrality despite the harassment from Dumbledore's forces, they had come through the war with enough social capital they were the new leaders of high society, especially since it had been less than a full year since the end of the war.

And because Daphne had bonded her beloved Tracey, Astoria was seen as the grand prize for so many matrons hoping to make a match for their families' heirs. It didn't matter that she was the second born daughter or that her parents also had a son who would serve as the next Head. It did not even matter that she had tested positive for the blood curse that had killed so many members of her family over the centuries.

"Try not to look so angry," Daphne advised as she came up beside Astoria. She handed Astoria a glass of sparkling water that had several slices of strawberries along with whole blueberries in it. Daphne was resplendent in her pale blue gown accented with dark blue ribbons. A fall of blue-violet aconite flowers from the hair comb in her chignon made the whole outfit.

The cut of the gown left the shiny black tattoo that wrapped around her wand arm on display. It was the mark proving that Daphne had completed the training to learn the secret for lengthening the distance she could be from her daemon. Astoria knew that it was unlikely that her sister's raven was anywhere farther than the span of the ballroom, if only because Tracey was likely somewhere in the room. Probably tucked away in a corner where she wouldn't become overstimulated as easily.

"I was just thinking of the matrons," Astoria replied before taking a larger sip of her water than would have been considered polite.

She boldly made eye contact with one of the matrons who was looking a bit too much like she was thinking of how to approach the two sisters. As if Astoria would ever be able to take seriously anyone who would wear a gown the same color as flamingos in public. Not to mention that Astoria thought that the flamingo-wearer was Ernie Macmillan's mother. Astoria would rather play eat a Puking Pastille than consider the jerk.

Maybe she should throw a blueberry at the woman.

"Mother sent me," Draco said as he stepped in between Astoria and the flamingo matron. He looked almost as peaky as he had during his sixth year. He eyed Daphne's hair comb as if it was a deadly viper that could strike at any moment. "Please just let me talk to you for a few moments to appease her. I swear I won't follow when you leave if you do."

"And why should we?" Daphne challenged. Her expression was as cold as the icy blue of her eyes. Both Draco and the rabbit daemon beside his feet seem to hunch in on themselves under her gaze. Astoria smacked her on the arm.

"Can't you see that you're scaring him?"

"Good," Daphne countered with a purr as if she was the one with the feline daemon. "He should be afraid of me. After the way he acted, he is lucky that I don't make of a show of eating his heart in the marketplace."

"Should I be thankful that you're not a man?" Draco asked. Immediately, he blanched as if he had surprised himself by saying that as much as he had the Greengrass sisters. "I mean—"

"You know Much Ado about Nothing?" Astoria interrupted to ask. So many purebloods had no clue about muggle authors, not even ones as famous as the Bard of Avalon. It would be a wonderful change of pace to finally have someone other than Daphne and her wife to discuss the topic with. Draco looked unsure, but eventually he gave a nervous little nod. Astoria gave him a bright smile that seemed to just make him even more nervous.

"Oh, now you've done it," Daphne said as if exasperated. Draco's eyes darted back to her. "You're officially stuck with her for the rest of your lives. She's been looking for another person to talk to about William Shakespeare for years. Good luck with this." Daphne stepped close enough to Draco that it would have been scandalous if she weren't a married wix. "If you hurt her in any way, your mother will be leaving flowers at an empty crypt. Nod if you understand me, Malfoy."

Draco swallowed hard enough that Astoria could hear it, but he nodded just the same. Daphne graced him with an actual smile before she turned on her heel and marched away towards the corner farthest from the orchestra and greeting line. Draco watched her go as if he was more than a bit surprised that he had survived the encounter.

"Don't worry about Daphne," Astoria said as she patted his shoulder in consolation. "She hasn't killed anyone since the war ended. She says it was too messy to continue as a hobby."

He didn't look reassured by that. So Astoria distracted him by peppering him with questions about his favorite Shakespearean play. By the time dinner was announced, she had drawn him out of his shell. She had also decided that Daphne was right about Astoria keeping him.

-= LP =-
The End
-= LP =-