Astra was devastated, disappointed, disillusioned. After the news she'd recently received the way Theadore had brushed off her justifiable anger and tried to make her feel like she had been overreacting when it'd been 'just a kiss' claiming that it hadn't been a big deal that he'd kissed Daphne Greengrass the pure blood witch everyone expected The Nott Scion to be courting and eventually marry who'd give him a ' perfect' little pure blood son. In that moment she was taken back to their Hogwarts days where she always felt like his dirty little secret. A half blood with 'filthy' muggle blood who was good enough to dirty himself with in bed with but dropped without hesitation for Daphne Greengrass the summer of their 7th year. It had been her finger the most ancient and noble House Nott's betrothal ring had been displayed on not Astra and while she'd accepted his reasonings their had always been doubt in her mind. Instead of giving her the reassurance she wanted the reassurance she needed Theadore brushed her off claiming it had meant nothing'. The fact that none of their mutual friends not even her cousin had been the one to tell her about it made the betrayal so much worst.
"Nothing?! Whats a kiss between two old lovers?" she'd felt her heart breaking but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry instead she channeled her Uncles teachings hid the hurt with spite turning to an unsuspecting Blaise who'd sat quietly watching the events unfold Astra took both men by surprise, by kissing said unsuspecting wizard making her stance abundantly clear as she purposefully slammed the door close behind her.
"You've done it now mate shes ragging mad , As someone whom constantly drives her mad I assure you this conversation is gonna come back and bite you in the arse. Hell of a kiss though ." Blaise who'd been the sitting across the Nott Scion when Astra had stormed into the room had kept quite throughout the whole ordeal was smugly smirking at one of his best friends. It was public knowledge that Astra Black was not easy to anger many had tried and failed and the few who succeeded never made the same mistake again, she had the patience of a saint an optimistic who always tries to find the 'bright side' of things. She had always been that way not even the horrors of what had happened or the people she lost before or during the war had stolen her outlook on life. It was that same kindness's that had Narcissia Malfoy reminding her son of his responsibility to look after his cousin when they where children and Draco had taken his responsibility seriously to this day if anyone was to mess with Astra they'd have to deal with a vindictive trigger happy Malfoy in her corner ready to extract revenge in her honor.
"Fuck off." Laughing obnoxiously at his friends misfortune Blaise made a snide remark about the kiss which earned him a death glare promising unimaginable pain which quickly had the Zabini Scion half way out the door wishing the Nott Scion luck. They'd all grown up together and as someone who had managed to anger her on more than one occasion Blaise was well aware that while Astra was a true Hufflepuff; loyal, kind, and forgiving she could be very Slytherin when properly motivated by the way Astra had stormed out of the room Blaise knew that Theadore was absolutely positively screwed.
If the kiss had not made her stance on their romantic relationship and where she stood her actions or lack off actions had made her stance all too clear. Where as Astra would often be found eating lunch with Theo in his office or vice versa during most work days or lounging in Theo's flat in one of his jumpers more often than at her own shared flat with one Ginerva Weasley even when said wizard was not home as many of their mutual friends and acquaintance's had quickly found out after seeking out said Wizard in his home only to come across said Witch either sitting in 'her chair' or lying on the shag rug near the fire place more than likely wrapped in a blanket wearing his jumpers with an open book. That was no longer the case while she continued to visit over the next few weeks she'd never be wearing his jumpers nor would she be alone it was Draco who dragged her along and while she still didn't outright ignore Theo she no longer Initiated any conversations with him and she'd made it a point to sit or stand as far away from Nott Scion and never in ' her spot ' next to or on the Nott Scion. While Theo had never verbally claimed Astra his actions and reactions when it pertained her made his stance crystal clear, so non of the other students in either of their years had ever come on to Astra or asked her on a Hogsmeade weekend the only brave or suicidal Gryffindor Cormac Mclaggen who'd made that mistake had served as an example of what would happen if you did.
With Theo seemingly out of the picture Astra had been bombarded with invitations to go out for drinks or to dinner overwhelmingly so that she was actually pleased when her Uncle had been unnecessarily nasty to a wizard that decided to try his luck reminding said wizard that his niece was part of the sacred 28 and any wizard that wanted to court her would have to follow certain protocol. After that either Harry or Hermione who both work for the ministry where seen often checking in on her throughout the workday.
It all came down to one night out with the girls in one of Blaise newly established Wizarding clubs to celebrate Astra's upcoming birthday that Ginny being the meddler that she was had made sure Blaise was aware they'd be there insuring that Theo would know as well. Ginny knew exactly why Astra had gotten engaged with Adrian she also knew that if her friend went through with the wedding she'd be absolutely miserable. Draco, Theo and Blaise sat in a VIP room up on the second floor watching it all go down. Well more like Theo and Draco, Blaise was snickering into his whiskey tumbler joking about going down to join the girls instead of hanging with his two brooding friends who'd been nursing the same drink for the past half hour or so. Both Blaise and Draco could see and feel the bubbling jealousy in their usually calm emotionally detached friend as he watched Astra taking shots at the bar with Ginny and dance much more than she usually would but their was no holding him back when seemingly out of the blue an all too familiar face , Adrian Pucey came up to Astra and kissed her. The tumbler in his hand shattered as he promptly stood up ignoring Blaise smart ass remark about it only being a kiss.
Even though she'd been on a handful of dates with Adrian within the last few weeks and both of them knew that they'd have to put on a show for the daily Prophet Astra had not been expecting the kiss. It was by no means their first kiss but it was the first public one that would be improper but the loneliness she'd been feeling lately told her to enjoy kissing the gorgeous wizard so she did instead of pushing him away like she should have after the photographer got his picture. Adrian took her lack of pushing him away as consent biting her lower lip in an attempt to get her to reciprocate or at least allow him access to properly snog her. Astra might have given it to him had Adrian not been abruptly pulled off of her by an irate Theo who then proceeded to make his displeasure known by breaking Pucey nose with his fist 'the muggle way'.
"Theo!! What the hell!!" Though it was his name she called out Astra had pushed past him to check on Adrian her 'fiancé' Who was smugly glaring at the Nott Scion. Seeing Astra fret over the smug bastard was not helping the situation both Draco and Blaise had to visibly hold the Nott Scion back. Ginny's stood besides her roommate acting annoyed huffing about Theo's over reaction to Adrian. Their was no doubt in Theo's mind that Ginny had planned this all out and he was reacting just as she'd expected him too. In that moment he didn't care pulling away from Draco and Blaise he took a hold of his swaying Witch transfiguring her barley there dress into proper dress robes before scooping her up and marching back up the stairs. He didn't care if he was making a scene. Hell he wanted just that. Though he was seething with anger he was gentle when he set her down on his recently vacated seat.
"What the hell is wrong with you Theodore!!! Where do you get off thinking you have any right to man handle me or attack the man I've been promised to marry." The image of Astra kissing Adrian kept replaying in his head swiftly followed by ways in which he could make Adrian regret even looking at his Witch because Astra Black was HIS always had been always would be. It'd be a cold day in hell before he let anyone swoop in and steal her away. If he'd had any doubts left about his feelings for Astra, those last few weeks with out Her just cemented what he'd already known . A Life without her would be a life full of misery. Blaise had been right, claiming the intoxicated kiss between Daphne and him had meant 'nothing' had been a grave mistake It was more than obvious to Theo what Ginny had done, basically recreating what happened that night, Astra had always been a light weight and he'd seen her shoot down multiple drinks with Ginny but that didn't make the kiss any less painful to watch. It was taking all of his self control not to go back down stairs and curse the living life out of Pucey.
"You marry HIM?! Ridiculous!!" He now understood why it was that Astra reacted the way she had. She had every right too be angry with him. He should have never allowed things to get this far. The first day she failed to show up to his office during lunch time he'd brushed it off as her still being upset with him. His arrogance had blinded him and led them to this. It wasn't unusual for her to keep her distance when he did or said something she disagreed with but one day turned into two, two into three and before he knew it a week had gone by. Then another and another the more time that passed the more she distanced herself. He was no longer greeted by the sight of his beautiful Witch in his jumpers when he got home, no throw blanket or scattered books, progressively as the days went on her noticed the framed photographs taken of them that he knew the house elf's constantly rearrange were missing replaced with moving pictures of him and his friends. None of them included her. The corner in his closet that had been filled with her things was emptied along with her toiletries and the beauty products on her vanity. He was no longer surrounded with the warmth and comforting weight of his witch in his bed cuddled up in his arms most mornings. He missed the warmth of her bare silky skin pressed against his the smell of her scent on his sheets. His flat didn't feel like home without her. He hated it. Now this. He was feeling murderous.
"And why not ? Whats so wrong about him wanting to marry me is it because he's a pure blood and I have filthy muggle blood running through my veins ! News flash Theodore! He isn't you. Adrian's never been ashamed to be linked with me, he's always been willing to look past my unfortunate blood status!" Every tears running down her cheek felt like a dagger in his heart. Seeing her looking so distraught he wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and deny her claims but the way she flinched away from him when he moved to do so was worst than being crucio. That was what Draco, Ginny and Blaise walked into a crying Astra which automatically set off Draco demanding to know what Theo had done to his cousin. While Ginny ever the good friend / roommate shot a hexed at Theo before leading the crying witch to the fireplace inside the office that was connected to the floo network before calling out their flat address then locking said flat's fireplace and cuddling crying witch on the couch until she fell asleep.
Theodore on the other hand had no intentions of going home. Nor did he particularly care about how improper it would be to show up at Malfoy Manor as he had. The only thing he cared about was making sure whatever agreement their was between Adrien Pucey and HIS witch was null and void. Draco who was still upset about the state in which his beloved cousin had been in followed his friend into the floo and gave the order for the Malfoy house elf who'd tried to turn the Nott Scion away to do as asked and retrieve his master. Watching all the while as his usually calm and composed friend paced back and forward fist clenched looking like a raving bull.
"Lucius is still abroad as you well know Draco so I do well hope for your sakes boys that you have a good excuse for bargain into my home in the manner in which you have at this ungodly hour. Heavens known more than enough gallons were spent on your Etiquette lesson. " It wasn't the Lord of the house but the Lady, Nacissia Malfoy née Black who answered their summoning annoyed by her son and the Nott boy unruly behavior but she did have an inkling as to why Theodore Nott would barge into her home looking as he did. In truth Lucius and Narcissia had been expecting this to happen much sooner. Though it wasn't the Nott Scion who answered her but Draco who demanded to know why he was not informed that Astra was engaged to Adrian Pucey. Going of tangent about how bad of a choice Adrian was reminding his mother of the many rumors circulating for years about Adrian and his treatment of witches.
"His mother is a dear friend of mine as you well know Draco so yes I am well aware and I did take that into consideration before agreeing to the match though seeing as her options for a proper match were lowered due to her current condition and her less than proper living arrangements with Theodore . Seeing as time is not on our side given her delicate condition Adrian agreeing to marry so soon is for the best. He'll make a solid husband; comes from an acceptable family, quite bright and handsome enough." Every word he heard only made his determination to destroy Pucey more and more. Theodore knew that getting Narcissa and Lucius approval was not an easy feat yet that slimy git had managed to do so. Getting his mother to vouch for him and interfere on his behalf In Oder to get his Witch was a smart move. The one thing that stood out to him was the way Malfoy matriarch Emphasized how his and Astras living arrangement stained Astras reputation. While on parchment she lives with Ginny Weasley it was no secret that she often spent the night at his home. Delicate condition? She couldn't possibly be implying - Narcissia repressed her knowing smirk acting as if she hadn't purposely given away the information she'd promised to keep a secret and in her mind she hadn't betrayed her niece.
"Child nor no child. The only man who will call Astra his is standing right in front of you. I will not allow her to be pawned off to some imbecile. I'll have my lawyers send the official marriage proposal by midday today. " It had always been her. Even before he knew what love was he'd known she was important to him. Astra had always been a bright spot in his life and he couldn't imagine a life with out her even back then before Voldemort had been defeated Theo had always known he'd end up marrying Astra Black a half blood , blood purity be damed. He wanted a future with Astra and that had included a family of their own. It was one of the reasons he'd made the choices he had.
"We will review the proposal of course but seeing as how Adrian and his mother are well aware of Astras condition Ultimately It will be her choice of whom she decides to marry Theodore." The Malfoy matriarch did not even try to hid her smug smirk. She and her Husband had known of the feeling the Nott Scion had held for their niece for years. Even as children it had been more than obvious that Astra Black had captured Theodore Nott's attention. Draco being the possessive boy he'd always been had hated sharing his cousins affection as bad as he'd been Theodore had been worse. She still remembered how possessive of his new friend Theodore had become when Blaise Zabini had been introduced into the mix or how one of his first accident burst of magic happened after Vincent 'accidentally' tripped her niece into a muddy puddle ruining Astra's 'princess dress' making said little girl cry. When Astra had come to them in tears confiding in them about her condition asking them for their help and begging them not to tell Draco they both knew that once Theodore found out Astra was promised to another he'd be bursting into their home.
Narcissia was hosting a special brunch to celebrate Astras upcoming birthday just the two of them and while it was more than obvious to the elder witch that her niece was in no mood to do any celebrating to anyone else who had not helped raise her would have been easily fooled. While she had dressed the part and acted the part their was a lingering sadness in her eyes specially when her upcoming marriage was concerned. It was during this brunch that just as previously promised the marriage proposal was delivered by an all to familiar house elf. Mimi Theodore's Nanny elf one Astra was incredibly fond of and vice versa. Growing up the house elf had always been sent to cater to Theodore's needs and those of Astra going as far as calling her young Mistress even though Astra had no affiliation to the Nott family.
"Mimi does Theodore know I'm with child ?" Astra was taken back when moments after receiving the documents and scanning through them her Aunt who was hard to raddle handed her the documents instructing her to read them. By the time she'd been done doing so she'd been brought to tears.
"He Does young mistress." The parchment in her hands reflected that, in every single clause. Whether it be where they lived, how she and any of their children would have complete access to any and all the Nott's assets disregarding blood status or capability to preform magic. In regards to the Blacks vaults those where for her to do as she pleased he would have no say. Which went against every norm, usually in marriages of their predecessors the men always gained control of the women's finances. She should have been happy. Theodore sent a marriage proposal. But she couldn't help the nasty voices in her head taunting her reminding her how it was only now that he knew she was with child that he'd done so. Out of Obligation not love.
"Aunt Cissy, i know about the arrangement Uncle broker with Lord Pucey but I think it best you write to Lady Pucey and express my gratitude and reward their discretion by paying off her husbands gambling debts as was promised since it's me who's breaking this farce. One I should have never agreed too to begin with." No Astra wasn't happy. She made that all to clear by tearing the piece of parchment in two. She was feeling many emotions but none of them where happiness. She'd always known their had to be a reason why Adrian had agreed to marry her. To his credit he had been kind to her but she'd seen the sadness he'd tried to hid. She'd asked Ginny to look into Adrian past and last night she'd received her answers. He had been involved with a muggle women for the past few years and broken it off because of her. She would not be the cause of another women's misery. Just like so many times before Astra found herself in sheltered in her Aunts loving embrace as she cried.
"My Darling girl, let it all out I'm here. I'll always be here. We'll get through this." Narcissia heart went out to her niece. She known that Theodore's offer would be rejected. While she knew he had the best intentions they didn't not translate well on parchment. Narcissia had raised the girl after all and while her husband and herself never made HER feel less for being a half blood, they knew others had not felt the same way. Theodore had done what he had to do to keep her safe in her 6th year neither Lucius or herself held that against him but it was coming back to haunt him.
"I've behaved deplorably. I knew better, I was raised better. I know that my bad choices don't just reflect bad on me. I'm sorry Aunt Cissy. I've disappointed both you and Uncle Lucius and I know what I should do but I can't... Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted a love story like Uncle and yours. I promised myself I would only marry the man I loved who loved me too." seeing Astra so distraught was heartbreaking for Narcissia. She remembered the countless times she'd put Astra to bed and the little girl had asked her for stories about how she'd met her Uncle Lucius. While her husband had his flaws his love for her and the two children they raised together had never been lacking. In private he showered them with love. Something others would never expect from her proper blood prejudice husband.
From the corner of her eye she saw Theodore and her son briskly making their way towards them. Mimi trailing behind them. She saw the change in Theodore's demeanor the instant he noticed the emotional state Astra was in. Unlike his best friend who'd slowed and had come to a stop at the sight of his cousins tears Draco had all but broken into a run out of habit looking her over for any physical harm before pulling her into his own arms and assuring her everything would be okay. Promising to do everything in his power to make it so. Reluctantly informing her that Theo had arrived with him with that sobs turned into sniffles. Her pride wouldn't allow her to let Theodore see how bad he'd broken her.
Theodore watched as Draco comforted Astra. Knowing that he was the reason for the state she was in made him feel sick to his stomach. While he wanted to be the one comforting her he'd never been good at showing emotions even worse at dealing with others emotions much less in public something else he could blame his father for. The only one who'd managed to wrangle them out of him was her, Astra. She was the only one who had always been allowed to freely touch him she'd respected unspoken his boundaries. Astra who had always been a physically affectionate ray of sunshine, it was why nobody was taken by surprised when she'd been sorted into Hufflepuff. No matter how much his peers had teased him for having a first year Hufflepuff glued to his side. He had not cared because he knew that scared Hufflepuff trusted him with her life and he would never let anyone hurt her.
It was tearing him apart knowing that he was the one who had hurt her the most. Theodore knew what he had to do, and it just so happen to coincide with what he wanted to do. Draco noticed Theo's intentions and took a step back allowing what need to happen to happen. Astra turned to Theodore red rimmed swollen grey eyes locked on him. The bitting words about her rejecting his proposal where on the tip of her tongue ready to inflict the pain she was feeling inside but before she could utter one single word she found her self cocooned in his arms. Both arms wrapped tightly around her around her waist and across her upper back left hand holding onto the back of her neck , his much larger body hunched over her his face buried on the side of her head in her hair.
"I love you Astra, I've love you even before I truly knew what love was." Astra could hear and feel his rapid heart beats. When she tried to move away he pulled her in closer. The words he'd wanted to say for weeks came spilling out of him in hushed whispers for only the two of them to hear. He apologized not only for what had happened that day in his office or last night at the club but for everything he'd ever said or done to make her feel less than everything he needed or wanted. Claiming that while it had been hard to stomach seeing her in the state she'd been because of him, it was something he needed to see.