Pairing: DracoAstoria

Prompt: 596. Open Door

Word count: 447

Open Door

Our door is always open, Draco. Open to any girl you wish to marry.

Those had been the words spoken to him by his mother not even a month ago. When he had started leaving the house more often and making up stories about where he was going, she had worked it out. She had been delighted. Draco had been surprised.

Now, he stood in front of the closed door with a heart beating faster than was normal and a beautiful woman next to him. She smiled at him encouragingly.

"Are you going to let me in, Draco?" she asked.

He nodded silently and turned to knob. It was silent in the entrance. Were his parents even there?

"Er, Mother?" he called. "Father?"

At first there was no response or sound, but after a moment footsteps could be heard coming from the floor above.

"Is that you, Draco?" came his mother's voice.

On a normal day Draco would have responded with a snarky comment such as asking how many children she had; but today he could only manage a quiet yes.

His mother finally reached the bottom, and when her eyes fell on the young woman beside her son, delight spread across her face.

"Oh, and who might this be?"

Draco cleared his throat. "Is… is Father around?" he asked.

"No, dear, he's out on business." Her eyes never left the woman's.

"Oh, right, well…." Draco cleared his throat again. "Mother, I would like to meet… her… I mean, Astoria."

"Astoria!" his mother exclaimed. "What a lovely name! What family are you from, dear?"

Smiling at the warm greeting, Astoria answered quickly. "Greengrass, Mrs Malfoy."

It only took a moment for his mother's expression to falter. "Greengrass," she said as if to herself. "I see."

There was a very uncomfortable silence that filled the entrance. Draco waited for someone to say something, but when no one did, he had to step in.

"So, shall we go and have a cup of tea?"

Draco's mother only looked from her son and his intended, and left without a word.

Astoria stared after her with a hurt expression. "Did I say something wrong?" she asked.

Draco shook his head, putting an arm across her shoulders. "No, love," he said. "She's simply living in the past." He kissed her temple. "I love you, Astoria."

Astoria returned his words with a weak smile and sighed.

Draco shook his head. He guessed that the open door policy his mother had put in place was only valid to a select few.

And in her eyes, Astoria was not one of them.

He kissed her again. "I'll love you no matter what," he assured her.

This chapter is written for Rayniekinnz for placing in a competition of mine.

If you read this, and haven't seen a pairing or character you'd like to read, please PM me with your request. I am more than happy to write it!