(Don't) Gimmie Shelter
Relief swept through Astoria's body as she all but stumbled into her room, and she happily kicked off her heels and collapsed onto her bed. She grabbed one of her pillows and held it close, deeply inhaling the scent left on it for comfort as she reflected upon her night.
She had just escaped from the worst date of her life. He had been obnoxious, abrasive, and completely wrong for her, and she still kicked herself for agreeing to go out with him. The whole time she sat there her mind had been far away, desperately recalling happier times and superior company. Popping off her bed she made a mental stance that she would never see the man again, and was ready to fight in every way possible to ensure it.
She quickly slid off her dress and wrapped herself in her silk robe. The date had left her mentally drained, but she was determined not to have her night wasted by such a thing. She began to pace back and forth in hopes that the activity would lift her spirits.
She did not have to travel far to reach her goal, for after her third turn she was torn from her thoughts by a knock on the window. Grinning ecstatically she jumped over her bed and rushed to open her curtains.
He was early, and he couldn't have gotten there sooner.
Dressed in his usual dark robes, Draco ducked his head as he climbed smoothly through her fourth story window, easily finding his feet and shutting the pane behind him.
"And how was your date, my sweet?" he inquired casually, producing a delicate stem of snow orchids from his jacket pocket and presenting them to her officially. Astoria beamed at their pure beauty before elegantly arranging them amongst her other nightly flowers on the vase by her bedside table.
"I'm back by ten, aren't I?" she replied simply, admiring her collection intently while trying to suppress her grin. Draco's aloof façade cracked momentarily as his eyes narrowed at her flippant response. The full extent of her smile was released when his arms encased her waist from behind as he pressed his body into hers.
"So you're saying, had you liked him, that you would have stayed out later? Perhaps ended the date at his place?" he inquired darkly, running his fingertips lightly down her exposed neck.
"No, not if I really liked him," she replied sultrily. "I'd want him to live if I did, and if I went home with him my boyfriend would surely kill him."
"You're damn right," Draco growled in her ear, swiftly picking her up and laying her on her bed. Astoria laughed as he settled in next to her, the air filling with the living aroma of the scent that had hence forth only been found on her pillow. He stared down at her intensely, resting his head against her hand as she lifted it to stroke his face and hair.
"Oh Draco, it was absolutely horrible," she expressed solemnly. "I feel so terrible each time Mother makes me go on these dates, like I'm betraying you. And the men she picks keep getting worse and worse, I can hardly stand it!"
"Trust me, I'm not too keen on seeing you go out with other men either," he replied bitterly, his eyes darkening at the thought. "But your mother will kick you out if she finds out we're together…"
"That may not be an issue for too much longer," she replied quickly, grinning up at him mischievously. She paused to take in his inquisitive look before pushing him aside gently to grab an open letter off her nightstand. She handed it to him eagerly for him to read.
"It's from the Ministry," she explained excitedly, "from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes."
"You got the job," he stated, a grin forming on his face as his eyes slid down the parchment.
"I got the job!"
Draco immediately tossed the sealed letter to the side and grasped her face to kiss. Her hands instantly shot up into his fine blonde hair to bring him closer, having ached for this action all night.
"Can you believe it?" she exclaimed happily as his attentions began to wander down her neck. "I finally get to be an Obliviator! I'll be able to move out and then it won't matter what Mother thinks. You and I can actually be together."
Draco's kisses stumbled slightly at her last words, and his hesitance caused her heart to fall asunder.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" he inquired, running his hand along her stomach as he avoided her gaze.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, stopping his hand from its light touches as she glared at him intensely.
"Do you have any idea what your life will be like if you're associated with me? I have a lot of enemies, and most people just hate me. You could lose your job over it, or worse. There are people out there who aren't above going after me through you, and there is no way I'm letting that…"
"Stop it," she interrupted sternly, a firm scowl plastered on her face. "Don't you dare talk to me like I'm some naïve simpleton. You don't think I knew all of that before I got into this? You don't think I realize who you are? I'm not some weak little thing that needs to be sheltered and I'm sick of being treated like I don't have a mind of my own. I get enough of that from my mother, I don't need it from you!"
"You know I don't think you're weak or naive," he replied quietly, looking at her solemnly. "You're the strongest person I know. I just don't want to ruin your life."
"Draco, you're the best thing I have in my life," she expressed, staring at him intently. "I decided a long time ago I wasn't going to let other people's expectations or desires dictate who I am or what I do. If you don't want to be with me because you don't care about me that's one thing, but I won't accept any other reason. I love you, Draco, and I'll never apologize for that. I am more than ready to take the consequences that come with being with you."
Astoria held her confident expression rigidly as she waited for his reaction. They had never said "I love you" to each other, even though she had known she felt that way for weeks. Draco stared at her, and though his eyes only widened slightly and his lips just barely parted, she could tell he was completely taken aback. She didn't care if he returned the words or not, that wasn't why she told him. He needed to know the seriousness and deepness of her feelings for him, and that she wasn't giving him up without a fight.
"You're mental for loving me," he muttered softly, pulling her back into his arms as he stroked her hair affectionately.
"Nobody ever said I wasn't," she replied seriously, happily returning to her place beside him. He gently ran his hands down her side before catching her lips in a kiss. She returned the sentiment in a frenzied passion, pulling on his neck so he rolled on top of her. He readily complied, never breaking the kiss as he used his hands to gently peel off her robe.
"These are nice," he commented smugly, running his hands over her new black lacy bra and knickers. "You buy these for me?"
"Well, I figured if you didn't like them my date would," she bantered as his kisses slipped down her neck. He bit her avidly in response before descending down her frame. Astoria wriggled in anticipation as his hands slipped into her knickers, eagerly awaiting his next extremely skillful maneuver.
"Astoria, are you back already? You were supposed to be out until… Dear Merlin!"
Astoria was pulled out of her pleasure state as her mother came into sharp focus. She quickly sat up as Draco rolled off of her, the scene of her being practically naked with a boy in her bed shining all too clearly in her mind.
"What are you doing!" her mother shrieked in demand, clutching her chest at stumbling upon the scandal. Astoria turned to face Draco who held a stoic expression to the world, but his worry could not escape her trained eye. She was instantly filled with a drive for protection, and she rounded on her mother fearlessly.
"Pretty much exactly what it looks like," she replied, wrapping herself up casually.
"You!" she exclaimed loudly, rounding on Draco. "How dare you defile my little girl and try to steal her purity! You get out of my house this instant! Astoria, you are never going to see him again!"
"That's not going to happen," Astoria stated firmly. "He's my boyfriend and I love him and he's not going anywhere. And we took care of my 'purity' months ago."
Draco couldn't help but smirk smugly at the comment, and he felt a deep wave of affection toll through him as he watched Astoria battle her mother.
"Boyfriend? You don't have a boyfriend!" her mother spat haughtily, her voice shaking at the prospect.
"Oh, just like I haven't had a waitressing job for the last year? Or that I haven't been studying my arse off and just become an Obliviator?" Astoria inquired, shoving her acceptance letter in her mother's pedicured hand.
"How…how…when?" her mother sputtered, her eyes wide in shock.
"Pottery class? Book club?" Astoria replied, crossing her arms. "Even I'm shocked that you bought it for this long."
Mrs. Greengrass stared at her daughter as though she had never seen her properly before. Completely flabbergasted, she was so taken aback she even stared at Draco for further answers.
"Hi, I'm "ballroom dancing lessons"," he greeted, smiling confidently off of Astoria's strength.
"No!" Mrs. Greengrass cried, completely losing it. "This ends this moment! You're my daughter, and I forbid you from seeing him anymore!"
"Fine," Astoria replied nonchalantly. "Then I'm moving out."
"WHAT?" her mother demanded in conniption. "No you will not! You haven't any place to go!"
"She'll stay with me," Draco interrupted seamlessly, cutting apart the conversation. Astoria turned to face him quickly, her turn to be shocked for the night.
"Are you serious?" she asked, a grin filling up her face.
"Of course," he replied, grabbing her hand. "You'll stay until you find your feet…and maybe even after."
Astoria beamed at him before grabbing his face, kissing him hard at the invitation and the underlying gesture. He held her tightly, and for a few moments she was able to drown out her mother's wailings.
"Astoria, I swear if you leave with him you can never come back!" her mother cried dramatically, crossing her arms and glaring like a three year old.
"If that's how you feel," she replied calmly. Astoria's mother glared in complete and intense anger at her daughter, and for a brief moment Astoria wondered if she would hit her. Instead her mother chose a different reaction; she broke down into tears.
"Astoria, don't do this!" her mother pleaded sorrowfully, falling to her knees. "You can't leave me!"
"Mother, it's time for me to go," she replied calmly, kneeling down and stroking her hair. "Let me go and you won't lose me. Try and keep me and I promise you you will."
Astoria's mother let out a relenting sob before she climbed to her feet, rushing quickly out of her room. Astoria and Draco both stared at the door in sobering silence for a few moments, waiting to see if she'd return. After a confirming passage of absence Astoria quietly went around her room and with Draco's help began to pack her things.