Revelations and Kisses

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the graveyard as a sombre crowd gathered to bid farewell to Daphne Greengrass. Astoria stood tall, her eyes swollen from crying, her face pale. Beside her, Draco Malfoy, his usual stoic expression softened by empathy, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

It was early September. Only last June, Astoria's parents had succumbed to Dragon Pox. And now, Daphne's resting place was beside their resting place. A few of their old friends and relatives stood, weeping softly.

The name on the tombstone read, "Daphne Greengrass: 1980 -1999."

Astoria's eyes moved to the tombstone on the right of Daphne's tombstone. Draco's eyes followed hers and he read the names aloud.

"Sylvanus Greengrass: 1939-1999."
"Eleanora Greengrass: 1950-1999."

"How?" Draco wondered to himself. "Daphne seemed all fine, you said you both even went shopping. You both met George Weasley at his joke shop."

With a sob, Astoria buried her head in Draco's chest, her muffled voice explaining as his arm instinctively wrapped around her, "It - it is a blood curse that has affected our family for generations! This is a particularly nasty curse that results in frequent miscarriages and deaths. Many of our ancestors have had their lives cut short by a curse they could not escape. My parents weren't insisting on our wedding just for political connections, Draco. They might have died from Dragon Pox, but they knew either Daphne or I would succumb to the blood curse."

"Why was this blood curse placed on your ancestors? Who did this?" Draco asked gently.

Astoria shook her head, "All we know is this happened generations ago. Daphne and I were the last surviving children of my parents, actually. My parents had a boy as early as 1972, named Reginald Greengrass. He died in Mum's womb itself. After his death, my parents were too scared to try again for a few years. That is why we we born in the 1980s."

Draco held her closer, "I am sorry to hear this, Astoria! Perhaps if you know more...?"

The small crowd around them gradually dispersed, leaving Astoria and Draco alone, her muffled sobs were the only sound cutting across the graveyard.

Astoria pressed her face into his chest, "No, Draco! We don't know any details! All I know is that I am all alone in this cruel world now!"

Draco pulled her from himself and grasped her shoulders, "Don't even think of that! You have me!"

Astoria bent her head. Draco insisted, "Do you hear me?"

Astoria burst into tears and Draco pulled her close yet again, this time fondling her hair and rubbing her back. Astoria's sobs, mixed with her thanks, were muffled by his skin.

As the sky grew darker, Astoria looked up at Draco, "I am sorry about your shirt!"

There were tearstains, some amount of snot, and a little grease on the front of Draco's shirt. Even the skin was damp around his heart.

"Nonsense! This is washable!" Draco wiped her eyes. "Listen, Astoria. Your worth is not defined by someone else. And you are not alone in this world. Do you understand?"

Astoria nodded, trying to give a watery smile.

"Good!" Draco said, squeezing her shoulders.

Even as the couple returned to Malfoy Manor, Narcissa stood tall by the entrance. Lucius gave a look of disapproval.

"Where were you, bitch? Who is going to cook and clean the entire Manor if you spend your lazy arse outside all day?" Narcissa screamed like she had been doing since the Parkinson's event.

"Mum!" Draco said. "Please don't hurt her. Her sister's just died!"

"Good riddance!" Lucius said coldly. "Draco, I think we should get you remarried. This old maid will never carry the Malfoy legacy forward! Weak blood!"

"Dad!" Draco said in shock. Astoria's eyes were streaming now.

"What - what did I ever do to you?" Astoria wept.

"You let that baby in your womb die!" Lucius growled.

"Lucius, no. Let's not bring that up. Rather, the fact that she is unfit for pureblood customs and even more useless for a Malfoy wife!" Narcissa said, looking at the young couple in disgust.

"Our child died because that death eater wanted revenge on me, Dad! And it was because of you and your allegiance to Voldemort! Astoria had nothing to do with it!" Draco protested.

"But the child died! She should have died and kept the baby safe!" Lucius spat. "After all, who does she have in this world? Her parents and sister are all dead!"

"It was MY child as much as HERS! By your logic, I also have no one left on this planet!" Draco stood defiantly between his parents and his wife. "Besides, how will she keep a fetus alive out of her body and die even before it forms into a baby? Especially when she did not know of her pregnancy?"

"Enough! Go inside!" Lucius raised his hand intending to slap Draco hard. But, a swift hand caught his hand.

"Narcissa, don't stop..." Lucius turned and froze. Narcissa stood rooted to the spot, not having moved an inch, her face betraying shock and disblief.

Astoria was the one holding Lucius' hand. Her eyes were redrimmed, her face contorted with fury, and she glared at Lucius like a hungry tiger.

"Don't you dare touch my husband!" She growled.

Lucius' face contorted with fury, "Leave me, bitch!"

"Don't call her names!" Draco shouted.

"Don't take that tone with your father!" Narcissa screamed shrilly.

"Then you both better treat my wife with respect and dignity!" Draco bellowed.

"What dignity and respect does she have?" Narcissa spat. "That dratted blood curse, that miscarriage, her uselessness in pureblood society, and not being part of Pansy Parkinson's noble, pureblood gang at Hogwarts!"

"Astoria was not Pansy's year!" Draco said.

"But Daphne was! And she wasn't part of Pansy's gang either!" Narcissa said.

"I won't allow you to speak of Astoria like this!" Draco stepped forward but Astoria stopped him.

Astoria and Draco met each other's gaze - her redrimmed eyes and his grey eyes - and Draco relaxed.

Astoria stepped forward.

"I may not have been born into a family as esteemed as the Malfoys, but I have something you both lack—compassion, empathy, and the ability to love beyond the confines of bloodlines! I still have Draco Malfoy, my husband. The memories of my parents and sister will always be a part of me even in death! Daphne and Draco, along with my parents, are far better people than the both of you combined!" She spat at Lucius and Narcissa.

"You are nothing but an outsider!" Lucius growled.

"And yet it was you and your wife that made the contract with my parents so Draco and I could get married! But you know what? I am grateful that you all did so! I have Draco, and he is more family to me than either of you will ever be! Your bitterness does not define my worth. I will not crumble under your cruelty."

"Look at your arrogance!" Narcissa raised her hand, but Astoria swiftly caught it.

"Haha, nope! Not happening!" She forcibly pushed Narcissa's hand away. "Shame on you and Lucius! Mrs Tonks, having lost her daughter and son-in-law, already grieving her husband's death, and having to raise little Teddy all on her own, is still hopeful that her sister - you - would forget old prejudices and make up for everything. And what do you do instead? Make me the doting aunt, shed a few crocodile tears, and exploit Andromeda's vulnerability! I know my old professor. Professor Lupin was a kind man, a helpful professor, and a pleasant personality to be with! And Tonks was an energetic young woman. You think she and Draco here never corresponded? They are cousins, as you so nicely explained that day, Narcissa! Your other sister, Bellatrix, shamelessly killed Tonks and Sirius. Remember Sirius Black, your cousin? Sirius and Tonks are a million times better than you or Lucius could ever aspire to be!"

"Come, Astoria. They won't understand these things for a long time!" Draco sourly said. "We're nothing but tools to carry forward prejudices in the name of tradition and machines to carry forward the family genes in the name of legacy!"

Draco swiftly walked away, leaving his stunned parents in his and Astoria's wake.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains casting a gentle illumination. Astoria sat by the window, her slender fingers tracing the delicate patterns on the glass. Her eyes were red and puffy from the tears she had shed in the confrontation with Lucius and Narcissa.

Draco, having followed her into the room, watched her silently for a moment. He could sense her vulnerability, her sadness, and her frustration as he sat on his favourite armchair. Taking a deep breath, he approached her, his footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet.

"Astoria," he said softly, his voice breaking the silence of the room. She turned her head slightly, acknowledging his presence but not meeting his gaze.

Draco hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside her. He reached out a hand, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek. Astoria looked up, her eyes meeting his. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a connection forged in the face of adversity.

Without a word, Draco pulled her into his arms. Astoria's face pressed against his chest, her petite form trembling against his massive frame.

Amidst her sniffles, Astoria managed to speak, her voice barely audible, "For the first time since our wedding, I'm actually proud of you, Draco." Wiping her tears against his chest, she looked up at him.

"For standing up to your parents when they were being nasty."

Draco swallowed hard, his arms on his lap.

She kept her hand on her belly and rested her cheek against his shoulder, "For defending our little hope that was taken away from us so abruptly."

Draco shook his head, "I am equally proud of you, Astoria. Not only for standing up for yourself but also for speaking about Aunt Andromeda and her family. I remember my third year at Hogwarts. You wouldn't have liked me back then. But Professor Lupin and Tonks were amazing people. It's sad that they died."

"I am sorry I accused you of killing them!" Astoria's tears flowed freely into Draco's chest.

Draco's hand brushed against her cheek, his touch gentle yet reassuring. "You didn't know me back then. Besides, you were dealing with so much, just like me. It's natural you would feel resentment."

"I hate the war. I hate Voldemort. I hate all those prejudiced fanatics!" Astoria choked. "What is going to happen to Teddy?"

"Teddy has his grandmother, Godfather, The Weasley and Potter family, and finally, you and me. We'll navigate this together, Astoria," Draco whispered, his voice a soft murmur that resonated with sincerity.

"Promise?" Astoria said.

Draco nodded, "Teddy is a Metamorphmagus like Tonks. Imagine growing up being surrounded by the Weasleys, the Marauders, and a bubbly, energetic Tonks!"

This resulted in Astoria lifting her head from his shoulder, with a chuckle.

Her watery, chocolate-brown eyes met his grey eyes. The wind ruffled her brown hair and his blonde hair as though in sync. Leaning in, Astoria and Draco met each other's lips. It was the first genuine kiss they had ever shared - before or after their wedding.

Without a word, Draco gently cupped Astoria's face in his hands, his touch tender and comforting. Astoria looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and Draco leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. Their lips met, the world around them fading away into insignificance. Draco felt the softness of her lips against his, a gentle and tender touch that spoke volumes. Astoria's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as she deepened the kiss, a silent acknowledgement of her gratitude.

They gently broke apart and pressed their foreheads together.

"I am so proud of you, Draco!" Astoria panted. "I love you!"

"I love you, too, Astoria! You have become my world in the last several months now! I can't imagine what I'd do without you!" Draco panted.

For the first time since they met, they had genuinely fallen in love with one another and openly proposed. Their vulnerabilities were like an open book with one another now.

They walked over to their bed, where they sat. Astoria's head lay firmly against Draco's chest and the two would occasionally bring their lips closer. With a genuine warmth in his eyes, Draco smiled as he held Astoria even tighter, savouring the rare, genuine connection they had just shared. Astoria, her hopes for a happy future with Draco flaring brighter than ever, snuggled closer into him.