Thank you to everyone who leaves suggestions and reviews, and thank you to absolutely everyone who is still reading this! I hope that this chapter clears things up a little bit more. I don't really know about this one...it always seems weird to me when I reread my chapters out of context I suppose. Anyway, I hope it makes sense to you all. Please enjoy!
Standing in front of a large bookcase in the library, Draco frowned and rubbed his chin. He flicked his wand, summoning a book about magical identification and tracking towards him. This was nearly the seventeenth volume scattered around his chair. He seated himself and opened it to the index. I want to learn how to use magic to reveal a person's location, he thought to himself. It took half an hour to read one chapter on invisibility cloaks, but he decided that concept would be highly irrational in hiding an entire family. He sighed. This was a lot more difficult than he ever expected. Draco closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he attempted to come up with more ideas and explanations as to why the Greengrass family was just completely gone.
His concentration was interrupted though when a loud bang reverberated through the room. Lucius had burst into the room, swinging the double doors shut behind him. "Draco," he greeted simply. "Father," the young man responded. He watched as his parent approached another bookcase and summoned a volume from a higher shelf. A pause in conversation ensued. "And may I ask what it is you're doing here, my son?" said a reading Lucius. Draco sat up a little straighter mechanically. "I was just researching,"
"Curious boy,"
"It's important though, so I had to take quite a few volumes out."
"I see you've achieved a great pile. What is it that interests you so?"
"It's nothing. Nothing important."
"Now now, Draco. Don't hide things from your father."
"You wouldn't like it, so I'm sparing you from having to raise your voice."
"What gives you the impression that I would instantly be against this topic that interests you?"
"Because it has to do with Astoria Greengrass."
"…the guest."
"See? I knew you'd have that reaction. Why can't you feel anything towards her? She was cursed by Dark magic, she's stricken with a lifelong debilitating illness, her whole family is gone, and she's a wealthy pureblood!"
"…Goodness, Draco….You're in love with her."
Draco froze. This was not something he'd expected his father to deduce so soon. He knew he couldn't lie—there was no escape; he was trapped. He stalled by looking down towards the ground. "Why on earth would you say—"
"My son…in love with a Hufflepuff….breaking a long-standing family tradition of only courting Slytherins….what a shame…."
"She's a pureblood."
"She's filth, Draco. Get it through your head. There's a reason why her family that once held such high esteem abandoned her and her alone. She's only drawing you in because she knows you have money and she's got nothing right now. This 'illness' is only a tool in her game. I don't approve of you chasing after a woman that isn't a Slytherin, but I abhor the fact that you're chasing after her."
"…You're being completely irrational, Father. May I remind you that the reason why she's so sick is because of a Dark curse that was set upon her during—"
"DON'T YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, DRACO?! YOU'RE DISHONORING MY ENTIRE FAMILY FROM GENERATIONS OF PERFECTION BY PERSUING A WOMAN THAT DOESN'T DESERVE A MALFOY!"
Draco stared hard at his raging father, who was now quite red in the face and was standing rather close as he shouted. "Father," he said, surprised at how calm his voice sounded. "She's a pureblood. A pureblood boy loving a pureblood girl is something you've always stressed to me since I could make words. It's not like I'm getting involved with a mudblood or a blood traitor. What harm am I doing to these 'generations'? Not every Malfoy has to be a Slytherin. It doesn't matter if she deserves me—what matters is whether or not I deserve her."
"You disgust me, traitor." Lucius hissed.
"Then disown me. Turn your back to me so you don't have to see it. Because I'm not stopping simply because you threaten me or try to bring me down."
"Look at you—you sound just like your mother!"
"Well maybe we're both right. Maybe you're outnumbered in your own house. Wait…that's right…don't all Malfoys have to be in the same House? It looks like two are breaking away from that, hm?"
He was sure Lucius was going to hit him. Just smack him right across the face with a loud crack. But it didn't happen. Instead, the taller blonde male pursed his lips and threw the library doors open, walking away from Draco and heading straight for his chambers. Shaking, Draco rose from his chair, stunned at what he'd just said. He quietly padded out of the room. As he walked past the entrance hall, he saw his mother tying a letter to the leg of a fluffy gray owl. She beamed when she saw him. "Draco," she called, beckoning for him to come closer. He hesitantly followed. He just wanted to be with Astoria…
Narcissa opened the window, watching as the owl took off into the distance and become a tiny speck against the blue sky. "I've found them. Her parents. That was a letter addressed to them, detailing the condition of Astoria and where she is." she gasped breathlessly, knowing her son would be thrilled. Draco felt himself smile. "Mother…that's amazing! How on earth did you ever—"
"I was in Diagon Alley this morning to pick up a few dresses I ordered for her in hopes that someday she'll be able to walk again. When I reached the shop, there was a poster in the window begging for someone to offer information about the missing Greengrass daughter. I inquired within, and they told me that the family escaped to Poland during and after the war to avoid any confrontation with…with some of those in the dark organization." she couldn't bring herself to even say 'Death Eaters'. "But anyway, they couldn't tell me why Astoria was left behind. So I asked the family in the letter I just sent. It should only be a few days until we hear back. Just imagine, Draco—she'll be so happy to hear that she can go back to living with her own relatives!"
Suddenly, Draco felt something drain inside of him. What if Astoria went back with them? Surely they wouldn't approve of their pureblood daughter associating with someone who once used Dark magic himself (as well as his family). Not to mention her sister Daphne had 'talked' about him often. He knew he had to tell his mother about these affections. But what would she say? What would she do? He gulped, deciding to wait a bit until the time became more pressed. Maybe he could talk to Astoria about it first…someone he felt more comfortable with.… "Mother, you're truly amazing." he murmured, pulling her into a hug. She beamed even more at her son's approval of her actions.
Draco made his way back upstairs to the east wing. He paused in front of Astoria's door. Very quietly, he entered, knowing that she would be sleeping around this time of day. Sure enough, she was all bundled in her blankets, resting with her back to the doorway. He crept over to her bed, taking in the peaceful sight. Her brown silken hair. Her pale skin. Her dark eyelashes. Her dainty frame and hands. Getting used to expressing his affections with her, he bent down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "It's going to be alright, love." he breathed almost inaudibly, more to himself than to her. "Just tell me that, Astoria." But she remained silent, because she was fast asleep and unable to hear his request. Draco smiled at her unfailing beauty. He renewed the heating charm on her blankets wordlessly, then turned to leave her to rest.
What met him in the doorway nearly shocked him beyond repair.
Lucius had been watching the entire time from the hallway, his lips still pursed, his expression still cold. Draco held his gaze silently as if daring him to make another accusation. Without thinking, he simply pushed past his father to leave the room and continue down the hall to his own chambers. Once Astoria's door was soundly shut, Lucius's voice halted him right in his tracks. "Your mother found the family. She's contacted them this afternoon by owl." Draco froze. This was old news to him, but why was his father suddenly concerned with it? "What do you care? You probably hope they return to take back their scum of a pureblood." he scoffed.
"I hope they return and can stay here in this house."
This really upset Draco's sense of balance inside. What was this about? "Have you lost your mind, Father? One moment you're screaming at me in the library that I'm a traitor and might as well be disowned and yet now you're wishing that the girl you disregard has an extended stay here?"
"You're happy with her."
"But you're not, and whose opinion really matters in this house?"
"Draco, please, I'm trying to reach out to you…."
"Why? …I feel confused…"
"No, I don't approve of my only son, my heir, courting a girl that comes from Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin. I don't know that I'll honestly ever be able to accept that. But when you were a baby, I vowed to give you everything you could possibly want. …She's what you want. And I know that. Forgive me for confusing you, but…sometimes the Azkaban Lucius comes out when I least expect it, clouding my judgment and ability to think."
"So…you're alright with my affections towards Astoria?"
"No, Draco. Honestly it unsettles me. But I think over time…I could possibly come to terms with her as a human. I've never even spoken to her before. But if she makes you happy, then…I'll pretend to ignore the fact that she's not a Slytherin and try to focus on the things you called to my attention—that she's a wealthy pureblood. Achieving two out of three requirements isn't all that bad, I suppose…."
Draco finally turned around to face his father fully. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what was causing this switch in temperament. Perhaps it really was what Lucius had said—sometimes the Azkaban would just come out in him and he couldn't handle it. But now that everything seemed smoothed over for the time being, Draco realized that perhaps his father would be willing to allow this to continue; even if that meant he had to be completely silent to avoid lashing out against the idea. He felt warm inside. Draco gave a slight nod to the taller man. "Thank you, Father." he murmured. Lucius returned to small head bob. Simultaneously, they turned their backs to each other and headed separate ways down the hall, Astoria's door in the center of their parting.