Thank You For Smoking

Astoria stole outside, panting in disgust after finally escaping her captor. The Parkinson's were throwing their annual Christmas Party, which despite the Dark Lord's quiet infiltration of the Ministry still took place as usual. The house was filled with Death Eaters and Dark supporters, all toasting to their eventual success as they downed the never-ending flow of champagne. Marcus Flint seemed to have a thirst that could not be quenched by alcohol, and he had followed Astoria to a back corner and pinned her against a wall, citing the pretense of mistletoe that hung everywhere from the ceiling. She had managed to keep her cool as the man twice her size and eight years her senior sloppily tried to shove his hand up her dress, and she was able to knee him in a particularly sensitive area that got him rolling on the floor.

She desperately wanted to go home, but she knew her parents would want to stay for a few more hours. So instead she sought the solitude of the outdoor patio. The drastic winter temperature was a perfect shield for unwanted visitors, and she was more than happy to spend the rest of the night wrapped up in a stolen blanket and her new book.

Unfortunately it seemed she wasn't the first to think of escaping outside, as she forgot that there was one brand of person who would always step outdoors for a spell no matter what the weather conditions: smokers.

She almost turned to leave and find another spot to hide out when she recognized who the lone smoky figure was. It was Draco Malfoy.

Perhaps it was the soft light of the moon casting an illusion, but she found him looking horribly pale and gaunt. He had always been slim but these days he was looking down right emaciated. She of course had heard the rumors floating around the House and school of his secret task, but she had always dismissed it as another boastful story of a school boy looking for attention. Now however it seemed painfully clear that he was suffering something far over his head.

She didn't know what made her do it but she immediately cast aside her plans to find somewhere else to go and silently joined him at the railing, looking out at the grand view of the midnight grounds without casting a glance at him.

"You lost, Greengrass?" Draco asked stoically, blowing a cloud of smoke her way.

"I have an excellent sense of direction, Malfoy," she bantered, and was surprised at how nice it felt to see the ends of his lips flicker up into a momentary smile.

"I'm actually on the lamb," she explained, filling the empty night with conversation. "I just escaped a molestation attempt by Flint. I got him where it hurts and wasn't really moved to stick around till he gained his senses."

Draco let out a smirking laugh, and his gaze flickered up and down her body as though reevaluating her.

"Yes, Marcus did always have a lust for younger girls," he mused. "In fact I'm a bit surprised. You're a little more developed than he usually goes for."

"Ah, well, there's no accounting for standards when you're drunk," she replied, causing him to laugh again. The air was silent once more as Draco pulled on the last of his cigarette and flipped his sleek case open for another.

"Fag?" he offered through pursed lips, his long cigarette bouncing with the syllable.

"Mother would kill me if she caught me smoking…so yes."

He smirked again and passed her his lighted cig, taking another one out of the case for himself. She took in a deep breath and immediately began to sputter, desperately trying to keep from coughing like a fool.

"You know, Greengrass, for as witty and independent as you've always been it's hard to remember that you're only fourteen," he mused lightly, watching her try to catch her breath in amusement.

"That's funny," she sputtered, "because I came out here because it looked like you needed to be reminded that you're only sixteen."

Draco's amused gaze instantly morphed into a sneer. He ripped his eyes away from her and stared back at the grounds, muttering dangerously under his breath. Astoria was unmoved.

"My age has ceased to be a factor in my life," he spat, flicking the ash out into the night air.

"I don't necessarily think that's the healthiest outlook to have," she stated.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" he demanded, rounding on her menacingly. "You don't know anything about my outlook, little girl. And if you think for a damn moment that I need your help…"

"I never said you did," she replied coolly. "And you're right. I have no idea what you're going through or what you have to do. I can just see you're not really taking care of yourself, and that can't be helping you for whatever it is you're doing that has made you so…edgy this year."

Draco's grey eyes softened slightly at her response, and his smirking, superior demeanor seemed to have been deflated.

"You know sleep may also help," she continued, dancing over the loud silence. "And you should definitely think about getting some sun. And probably some food, too. Almonds are very high in protein and good for your…"

"I hate almonds," he interjected quickly, though his tone shifted back into that of casual amusement.

"Well you should definitely think about not smoking," she suggested kindly, putting out her still lit cigarette. "It'll give you cancer."

"In all honesty I probably won't live long enough to get cancer," he muttered, and Astoria got the sense that he was talking more to himself than to her.

"Well that would be a damn shame," she declared earnestly. Draco tilted his head, once again staring at her in reexamination. She felt a strange yet not completely unpleasant churning in her stomach when he looked at her like that. It was one of the most intense sensations she had ever felt, and she found herself fixated under his gaze.

"Are you trying to tell me you know of something worth living for?" he asked darkly, sliding his hand into hers slowly.

"There are plenty of things worth living for," she replied, though at that very moment she could only think of one. Draco smirked and quickly ashed out his cig, using his hold on her hand to pull her closer. She could smell the mix of his cologne and nicotine when he stood so close, and she had to admit she liked the mixture. He placed the palm of his hand over her cheek, rubbing circles against her smooth skin.

"You're so warm," he muttered softly, and he shifted uncomfortably as though he were struggling with something. Astoria on her part felt like she was burning up, and if Draco didn't do something to her soon she felt like she might just erupt.

"Astoria! There you are! What are you…?"

Draco quickly retracted his hand from her face as Mrs. Greengrass stepped out onto the balcony. Astoria stepped forward hastily, furious at her mother for breaking the mesmerizing trance. Draco merely leaned back against the railing.

"Astoria, have you been smoking?" her mother demanded, sniffing the stale air in front of her daughter.

"Yes," she replied quickly. "I always have a cig after shooting up and having a few rounds of unprotected sex."

Draco chuckled at her comment and returned to staring out at the grounds. Mrs. Greengrass grabbed her daughter's hand forcefully and pulled her back inside.

"You are not to talk to that Malfoy boy, do you hear me?" her mother hissed. "His family has been disgraced and disfavored with the Dark Lord, and I will not have you associating with him."

Astoria quickly shot her head back outside to try and catch another glimpse at Draco. His appeal had instantly intensified, and her new goal of the party was to escape her mother as quickly as she could to find him.

Unfortunately by the time she was able to make it to the balcony he had gone. She felt a wave of disappointment crash through her and she cursed her mother for dragging her away. She was about to leave when she noticed a glint of silver reflecting the full moonlight. She walked to the railing and found a silver cigarette case still full of rolled tobacco, purposefully abandoned by its owner.

She couldn't help but smile as she slipped it in her purse.