"It's complicated!"
The moon hung low in the night sky, casting a soft, silvery glow into the room where Astoria sat, her eyes weary from the weight of sorrow and exhaustion. The events of the past few days had taken their toll, leaving her emotionally drained. Looking across the room, she saw Draco mulling by himself and avoiding any eye contact.
Lucius and Narcissa had not taken kindly to the miscarriage.
"I am disappointed, Astoria!" Narcissa had disapprovingly said. "Lucius wanted you and Draco to separate. You have no idea how hard it was for me to convince him not to be so hard on you!"
These words had struck Astoria like lightning. Daphne spent all her days at St. Mungos, caring for her parents. None of them knew of Astoria's miscarriage. Her parents were old and weak, which was why Astoria reached out to her one day.
"Astoria, what's wrong?" Daphne asked as she entered.
Astoria, sitting by the window, looked up with heaviness in her eyes. Without any pleasantries, Astoria spoke, her voice soft yet laden with grief. "Daphne, I had a miscarriage."
Eyes widening in shock, Daphne collapsed onto the sofa. Still looking pale, she raised a trembling hand, "Oh, Astoria! Come here!"
Astoria snuggled into her sister, her tears dampening the fabric of her sister's robes. "I can't even tell our parents," she choked out, her voice muffled. "They are so desperate for a grandchild."
Daphne held her sister even tighter, her own eyes welling up with tears. "Astoria, it's not your fault. None of this is. You deserve so much better than this life."
Astoria pulled away slightly, her eyes searching Daphne's face. "I don't even know what I deserve anymore. All I wanted was a choice, a chance to live my life on my terms."
Daphne looked into her sister's eyes, "I can't pretend to understand what you're going through, but I can be here for you. No matter what, you will always have me by your side."
With a heavy heart, Daphne left the Manor before Narcissa returned from her Azkaban visit (to give Lucius updates) and Draco returned from the Ministry.
Days passed, and the atmosphere between Astoria and Draco remained frigid. They moved around each other like strangers, their interactions limited to mere necessities. Astoria's eyes were red-rimmed, her face a mask of sorrow, while Draco's expression remained impassive, his emotions locked away behind a facade of indifference.
In the evenings, they would find themselves in the same room, a silent chasm separating them. Astoria would sit by the window, gazing out at the darkening sky, lost in her thoughts. Draco, on the other hand, had taken to spending most of his time outdoors.
"He-he doesn't give me the time of the day, Daphne!" Astoria would tell her sister, who would sadly shake her head.
"Why don't you tell him?" Daphne asked. That evening, Astoria cornered Draco.
"You can't keep avoiding this, Draco!" Astoria's voice wavered, her frustration seeping through every word. "We can't keep living like this, in this loveless, forced alliance. It's suffocating, and I won't stand for it any longer."
Draco, his patience wearing thin, retorted sharply, "And what do you suggest we do, Astoria? Run away? Pretend none of our responsibilities matter? This is the life we've been thrust into, like it or not."
Astoria's eyes flashed with defiance. "I'm not suggesting we run away. I'm suggesting we find a way to live this life without resenting each other every day. We could at least try to be there for each other."
"This is nothing but a polite façade to mask the emptiness of our marriage. I won't pretend, Astoria. I won't play house just to appease society's expectations. It was stupid of me to get intimate with you so early. Perhaps we should have waited till you finished at Hogwarts!"
"Is it too much to ask for acknowledgement, Draco? A shred of kindness between us?" Astoria retorted.
Draco's gaze hardened, his resolve unyielding. "Kindness won't change the situation we're in. We're bound by duty, by tradition. You knew this when we got married. You knew it when we got intimate. Expecting more is foolish."
"We lost our baby, Draco! The least we can do is enquire about each other's well-being!" Astoria bellowed.
"Yeah, and somehow that will bring back the baby or the lost respect from Voldemort's association because we got married. Let's not behave like reckless and emotional Gryffindors, Astoria! As a Slytherin, you should know better!" Draco retorted.
Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, each refusing to yield. But beneath the layers of resentment and anger, there was something else – something neither of them wanted to acknowledge. An undercurrent of emotion that neither could name.
"Why are you like this, Draco? Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?" Astoria's eyes welled up with hurt.
"This wasn't my choice!" Draco shrugged with a scowl.
"You think I'm thrilled about being stuck with you? You're insufferable!" Astoria made no attempt to wipe away the moisture from her eyes rolling down her cheeks.
Draco's hand rose instinctively and he adjusted his collar quickly to hide it. "And you're not being a true Slytherin!"
"A true Slytherin is not about being prejudiced or a death eater, Draco! It's about cunning and self-preservation!" Astoria insisted.
"Just leave me alone!" Draco waved his arms, resulting in the glass on the window shattering. The back of Draco's hand began to bleed. Astoria let out a small scream and began sobbing. She clutched Draco's bleeding hand and applied medicine, "You are such an arse, Draco!"
"Leave it!" Draco tried to writhe his hand away from her grip but she held it tightly, "Don't be so pathetic, you blithering idiot!"
"How dare you!" Draco snapped. But Astoria paid no heed and within seconds, the hand was properly bandaged.
Panting, Astoria glared at Draco, "You talk of Gryffindors being reckless. Being a Slytherin, you are more reckless than Gryffindors!"
Draco rolled his eyes, "Leave me alone, I said!"
Draco made to leave when a sudden crash made him turn back. The box of medicines now lay scattered on the floor.
"ASTORIA!" He ran towards her, catching her in time before she fell to the ground. She was unconscious. Her head was nestled into his chest as he led her to the sofa.
Minutes later, a Healer finished examining Astoria and looked up from the bed. "She is undergoing severe stress. Has anything significant impacted her lately?"
Narcissa shrugged, "Just that miscarriage."
The Healer was shocked, "And you are saying this so casually, Mrs Malfoy? You - Mister - are you taking care of her after the miscarriage?" She snapped at Draco.
Looking guilty, Draco averted his gaze.
"I thought so!" The Healer said indignantly. She thrust a note into Draco's chest, "Take care of her! She needs you the most during this time! And give her these medicines on time!"
"You don't get to give my son orders! Just do your job!" Narcissa furiously led the way out. Draco swallowed hard and sat on the bed next to Astoria.
It was evening when Astoria woke up.
"Where am I?" She asked in confusion. A strong pair of arms helped her up from beside her. Looking up, she saw Draco looking guilty.
"Draco?" She asked in concern. "What happened to me?"
Draco shook his head, "You haven't been eating well. The Healer has prescribed some medicines."
"I want love. I want a happy family, Draco. Not food." Astoria's eyes brimmed with tears.
"Nonsense! Everybody needs food to survive! And who says you don't have love?" Draco pulled her close. "Take your medicines regularly. You will be fine in no time!"
Astora sniffled into Draco's chest. "My parents, Draco. I am worried."
Draco held her close, "I am not avoiding you or anything, Astoria. You are in your final year at Hogwarts. I want you to focus on your studies. Already, you don't attend regular classes at Hogwarts. I am also currently looking into business opportunities. I am busy with that. It's not about you."
"I think you both should go out sometime," Narcissa said, a short while later. Astoria lifted her head as Narcissa continued, "After you recover, of course."
That was why a fortnight later, the young couple made their way to Diagon Alley for dinner. The evening sky was brushed with hues of twilight. The ambience was sophisticated, the tables adorned with flickering candles, casting a warm glow across the room. Astoria's eyes sparkled with excitement while Draco wore his usual composed demeanour, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
As they settled into their seats, Astoria couldn't help but comment on the diverse crowd around them. "Isn't it wonderful to see witches and wizards from different backgrounds mingling harmoniously?" she said, her voice filled with admiration.
Draco, however, raised an eyebrow. "It's just a facade, Astoria. People like to pretend, but deep down, they still hold onto their biases."
Astoria frowned slightly, her optimism undeterred, "Anyway, have you heard that The Ministry is working on new legislation to promote equality, and many pure-blood families are finally opening up to change?"
Draco scoffed, "Legislation won't change deep-seated prejudices, Astoria. People are set in their ways. You're being overly optimistic if you think a few laws can erase centuries of ingrained beliefs. Muggle-hunting is banned across most wizarding societies, but loads of dark witches and wizards still do it illegally and in secret!"
Astoria sighed softly, her determination unyielding. "I don't expect change to happen overnight, but we have to start somewhere. Muggle-hunting is not only illegal but is morally also wrong! Ignoring such issues won't make them disappear."
"The world remains the same, Astoria!" Draco said as they began dining. "Regardless of whether ignoring anything makes anything disappear or not!"
"The world is changing, Draco, and you refuse to see it. You cling to these outdated beliefs as if they define your worth." Astoria scowled at her food.
"And you think blindly embracing every change is the solution? You're naive, Astoria. Not everything new is an improvement. Some traditions have their value." Draco left his food halfway too.
"Traditions? You call discrimination and prejudice traditions? Draco, we're wizards. We're supposed to be progressive, open-minded. But all you do is perpetuate the same toxic mindset that's held us back for centuries." Astoria shook her head. Their voices had begun raising.
Draco stood up, "You're oversimplifying things, Astoria. It's not that black and white. There are complexities you fail to understand. We can't just discard our heritage and adopt every Muggle-born ideology that comes our way."
This made several heads turn their way - some in shock and others in outrage.
It's not about discarding our heritage, Draco. It's about evolving, adapting. Muggle-borns, pure-bloods — we're all wizards. We should be united, not divided by these senseless prejudices." Astoria stood up, too.
Draco puffed his chest, "I am proud of my heritage. I believe other purebloods should, too!"
"That does not mean we stay prejudiced!" Astoria snapped.
Draco slammed money on the table, "We are leaving!"
"We aren't done yet!" Astoria defiantly said.
"You're so quick to embrace change that you forget the importance of our wizarding heritage. We have our ways, our customs, and they shouldn't be dismissed outright." Draco walked towards the exit. By now, several murmurs of outrage had begun echoing off the walls. People incredulously pointed at Draco.
"Can you believe that man?"
"Look at him!"
"Speaks a lot about his upbringing!"
"Who brings up such topics on a date?"
Astoria caught up with Draco meanwhile, "I'm not dismissing our heritage, Draco. I'm advocating for progress within it. We can preserve our traditions without being blinded by them. It's time to break free from the chains of the past and move towards a future where every wizard and witch is respected, regardless of their blood status."
"Likely to happen!" Draco scoffed, leading Astoria to frown. The date had become a massive failure as the couple fumed all the way home.
When they reached home, however, they found Narcissa in the drawing room with Daphne. Daphne's hands trembled, her tear-stricken face sent shivers down Astoria's spine.
Daphne, her eyes moist with grief, stepped forward and enveloped Astoria in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, Astoria," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't believe they're gone."
Astoria's world crumbled then and there. Sobs erupted from her throat just as Narcissa made her way forward with a calculative expression.
"Daphne and Astoria," she said, her tone dripping with insincere sympathy. "I can't express how sorry I am for your loss. Lucius and I send our deepest condolences."
Astoria, her face streaked with tears, nodded weakly in response. She felt the facade of Narcissa's sympathy, but in her grief, she didn't have the energy to confront it. Daphne pulled away from the embrace, her own eyes red-rimmed from crying.
With a fake smile, Narcissa said, her voice laced with eagerness to leave, "We should let you two have some privacy to grieve. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
Draco hesitated before following his mother.
"I see nothing has developed between you and Malfoy." Daphne bitterly said.
"Nothing! And he still believes in his age-old prejudices! We were arguing about that even during our dinner in Diagon Alley this evening!" Astoria sobbed, "But, Mum and Dad are gone! I can't believe this!"
"Shh! I am here to handle it, Astoria! You focus on yourself and Draco Malfoy. let this sister of yours handle everything." Daphne assured her.
"Are you alright?" Astoria asked her sister.
Daphne couldn't meet Astoria's eyes. "Yeah, I'm good."
"No! You are lying to me!" Astoria said.
"A little of this and that. It is not important, Astoria." Daphne held her sister's shoulders, "You and Draco Malfoy - is what matters now!"
Astoria stayed with Daphne for two days where the sisters grieved together. Daphne convinced Astoria to return home as she would handle everything.
"I don't understand what you mean when you say you will handle everything, Daphne. At least, let me help you!" Astoria said.
"Why fear when Big Sister is here?" Daphne winked at Astoria jovially. Astoria still felt uneasy, her heart kept forbidding her to leave.
"I can stay here..." Astoria said.
"No, go and sort things out with Malfoy at the earliest, Astoria. I will be fine!" Daphne said.
That evening, for the first time since her parents' deaths, Astoria was back in Malfoy Manor, watching as the sun set in a blaze of orange and gold. Astoria stood by the large window in the drawing room, her eyes fixed on the darkening sky.
Astoria's eyes glistened, "I-I miss them. I never asked for this marriage. I want my parents back!"
A huge, warm frame enveloped her from the back, "I understand. I am sorry for my outburst the other day, as well as on the day of the memorial. I will truly change myself. I have written to Potter asking him to enquire about Dursley's wellbeing from your and my side."
Astoria burst into tears and leaned into him, the back of her head pressing against his chest, "All that I ask from you is this, Draco. I am not interested in your wealth. I merely ask you to be more open-minded."
"I promise!" Draco said, turning her around and rubbing her back, allowing her emotions to flow freely into his shirt. In the backdrop, stars began winking at the couple.
But everything was short-lived, for Narcissa chose that exact moment to announce, "Good news! Lucius is getting released from Azkaban tonight!"
Astoria shivered against Draco, letting out a muffled sob, "Wasn't it a life imprisonment?"
"Dear, everything can be purchased with money and powerful connections." Narcissa laughed shrilly, "You are so naive!"
Astoria looked at her husband with terror. Draco, however, looked away.
"Won't you say anything?" Astoria demanded as Draco let go of her.
"What shall I say? And why should I?" He shrugged.
"He was a death eater responsible for the torture and deaths of countless innocents!" Astoria demanded.
"He is still my father! Don't talk about him that way!" Draco shouted.
Lucius' entry into the house was marked by Astoria and Draco screaming their lungs at each other even as Narcissa warmly welcomed her husband home.
"Do they always shout like this?" Lucius asked.
"It's Astoria. She is one insufferable naive fool!" Narcissa rolled her eyes.
"Discipline her! What are you there for, being her mother-in-law?" Lucius demanded.
"Theirs is a never-ending drama. You tell me, Lucius. Is everything ready?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes, summon Draco to our room!" Lucius ordered, his arrogance still showing even after his multiple stints in Azkaban.
In the dim light of the fading day, Draco stood at the threshold, his gaze meeting Astoria's with a cold detachment. "I'll be gone for a few days," he stated, his voice as icy as his expression. It was three days after Lucius had returned - three days of intense bickering between Draco and Astoria. Not that Lucius and Narcissa ever cared.
Astoria, never one to back down, rolled her eyes, her defiance evident. "Go fuck yourself for all I care," she retorted, her tone sharp and cutting.
Draco sneered at her, his patience wearing thin. "I was looking at my parents, not you," he shot back, his words laced with disdain. "You can go fuck yourself."
Their exchange was punctuated by expletives, a volley of harsh words that echoed in the hallway. With a final, contemptuous glance, Draco turned away and walked out of the house, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.
As the door closed behind him, Astoria's eyes welled up, her emotions betraying her stoic facade. She couldn't explain the sudden surge of feelings that washed over her, nor the tears that stained her cheeks. Even Narcissa, no stranger to family drama, offered a comforting pat on her back. "Don't worry, dear," she said soothingly. "Draco will be back soon. This is for him - and for you. If he succeeds in making that deal with the merchant, Draco and you can shift abroad. You can start afresh near Dumstrang amidst proper purebloods, unlike the filth around here!"
Astoria turned towards her in shock. Not only because of Narcissa's choice of words but also because Narcissa seemed genuinely concerned this time. It was a new side to her, despite the usual pretence and calculative measures.
Outside, Draco found himself inexplicably drawn to the back window, his eyes fixated on the house he had just left. Longing, heartbreak, and a profound sense of loneliness gripped him. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was leaving something important behind, something he didn't fully understand.