When Astoria woke, she was a little mortified, a little hot, and a lot satisfied.

Draco's arm was draped over her stomach, holding her tight to his chest. They somehow shifted positions during the morning and he was now spooning her from behind. It was nice but not at the same time; his heavy limbs were pushing on her bladder, making her feel like she was about to burst.

Black hair was completely covering her face. Now, she was awake enough to be embarrassed enough over her looks. She always looked put together. Normally, she went to bed with her hair in rollers, her eyes covered with cooling patches, and a hydrating face mask on her skin. Sure, she probably looked like a zombie but from the moment she woke up and stepped into the bathroom, she felt pretty. Her skin was smooth, her eyes bright, and her hair lusciously curled.

The uglier you go to bed, the prettier you wake up, her grandmother had told her. When you finally wake up next to a man, make sure what he sees is absolutely gorgeous. That's where you'll hook him.

And Astoria knew for a fact that she wasn't pretty right now and she definitely wouldn't be hooking him. That clearly wasn't acceptable—not to her at least—so she decided to sneak back over to her dormitory, make herself look presentable, and sneak back to Draco's. It would be quick and definitely worth it.

She somehow managed to pry his arm off of her waist and ease off of the bed. Draco frowned in his sleep and murmured, "Astoria," under his breath. "Astoria, darling..." She froze for a moment. Is he dreaming about me? There was no question that he was still asleep; his breaths were slow and his body was a deadweight. And yet it was her name he said. Not Daphne's.

The thought made it smile as she stood up. With wobbling legs, she grabbed Draco's white button-down on the floor. The pajamas were nowhere in sight and the shirt was long enough to cover her going down the hall. Apparently, Astoria's modesty went out the window as soon as Draco stuck his hands between her legs. I can't believe I slept naked in front of him. Though it wasn't like Draco was wearing much himself. I can't believe we did that. And even now—sober and in the middle of daylight—she didn't regret it. Her legs were shaking, her body still a little tired, and her heart was thumping wildly and it was all because of him.

What was he doing to her?

Astoria practically skipped as she hurried back to her dorm room. Okay, I don't have time to shower so I'll just put on cuter pajamas, brush my teeth, put on perfume, do some light makeup, and fix my hair. A solid plan, one she could do quickly. She burst into the door and immediately ran to her closet, grabbing a much more acceptable white nightgown. Hopefully, Draco wouldn't notice the switch but if he did, the world had suffered far worse things than a girl sneaking out to look pretty in the morning.

As she was digging through her closet, a voice sounded through the silence. "Fun night with Malfoy?"

She screamed

Astoria turned to find Theodore Nott in her dorm room. Yes, that Theo. The brooding, chainsmoking, intimidating eighth year tucking his wand into the pocket of his jeans in her dorm room.

For a moment, Astoria wondered if she had gone into the wrong room. But Aria's astronomy figurines and textbooks were neatly beside her bed as they always were and Astoria certainly recognized the many dresses in the closet, her vanity filled with tons of makeup and skincare creams, and her vase white garden roses by her bedside underneath the many romance novels (enchanted ones that always stayed pretty, a gift from Daphne on her sixteenth birthday). Everything was the same. Beds perfectly made, the smell of two perfumes lingering in the air (strawberries and linen for her, lavender and vanilla for Aria), and curtains drawn to let as much sunlight in as the dungeons allowed.

Astoria hissed in a breath of air, trying to force her heart rate to slow. Deep breaths, Astoria, she told herself, placing her palm on her chest in an effort to calm herself. Theo frightened her and fear wasn't exactly good for arrhythmia. Plus, her scared leap into the air was the closest she had been to exercising in quite a while.

Once she was finally certain that her heartbeat was fine, she fixed Theo with a fierce glare. "Merlin, Theo! Don't scare me like that." He should know better than to frighten a lady in her own dormitory. "Wait... What are you doing here?"

His face remained stoic but she swore she saw a hint of humor in his dark grey eyes. They weren't like Draco's greys. No, they were much darker. Just the thought of Draco made Astoria feel giddy again. She already couldn't wait to go back to him. "You can avoid my question if I can avoid yours," Theo said. Those words sounded vaguely familiar and yet she couldn't put her finger on it.

She glared at him again, this time with a little more anger behind it. Well, as much anger as she was capable of putting into a glare. Astoria might have been a little sassy at times but that was more annoyance. Otherwise, her temper was pretty much nonexistent.

"Is there something you wish to tell me, Astoria?" he asked, giving her a pointed look. He definitely knew something but she wasn't going to confirm a thing.

A lady radiates confidence and poise wherever she goes. Her grandmother's voice echoed in her head wherever she went. Make sure you have both. She honestly didn't have much poise at the moment—not while wearing a shirt that was more suggestive than she would like—but she definitely could have confidence. Astoria straightened herself, fixing her shirt and smoothing her hair. She wiped any remaining mascara off from her eyes and stood up straightly. She pinned her gaze onto Theo and said, "No." But her voice shook.

So much for confidence.

"Astoria—I happen to know quite a lot about secret relationships." Yeah, I know. You're terrible at keeping a secret. You're just lucky that Enzo is the most ignorant person at Hogwarts. It was a good thing that Draco was the secret, not Enzo. If Draco was the most observant man she had ever met, Enzo was the least. Draco noticed everything—that much was clear last night—but Aria and Theo were so obviously together and Enzo, her own brother and his best friend, didn't know a thing. It was a little funny. "You can tell me anything you want to know."

He knows. He knows way too much. Even Aria didn't know. Astoria would probably never tell her. She wanted to, of course, but there was a part of her that felt like her relationship with Draco was just meant to be between them. Things were far more complicated in their situation than just a protective older brother.

She just shook her head and forced herself to stare at her feet. Count to ten. You can do this. "Daph can't know. If she knew I spent the night with her fiance... she'd be crushed." Theo snorted, though Astoria didn't know why. She ignored it. "Please. Don't tell anyone."

He shook his head. "I won't. As long as you keep Aria's secret, I'll keep yours." Of course I'll keep Aria's secret. She's my best friend.

"Thank you. For all of it."

"All of it?" he questioned with a quirked eyebrow.

She just smiled softly and began to put some makeup on her face. With each layer of concealer, foundation, powder, blush, mascara, you name it, she felt her persona come back. Astoria Greengrass, the confident youngest daughter of a prestigious pureblood family. Astoria Greengrass, the elegant witch with grace and dignity wherever she went. Astoria Greengrass, the kindhearted Hogwarts student with a bright mind and a brighter smile. They were all part of this image she had created long ago, this Astoria she made when she decided she would no longer be a disgrace to her family.

The only problem with creating an image?

She wasn't sure what parts of her were real and what parts of her were fabricated to suit this woman she was constantly trying to be. And the only person who did seem to see past it? The only one who somehow knew exactly who she was at her core?

Engaged to another woman, lying in bed waiting for her to return.

Draco loved her. She didn't doubt his words, not anymore. Was it smart to love her? No, not at all. She came with her own baggage (the baggage was Prada but it was baggage nonetheless), not to mention he was completely off limits. But did he love her?

Yes.

Did she love him?

She was afraid of that answer.

Astoria brought her attention back to Theo. "For everything. Keeping Draco and I's secret." Because there was no doubt in her mind that he knew. His lack of shock when she mentioned Malfoy's name all but confirmed it. Her memory started to resurface a little. Theo and Draco speaking in the hallway, Draco cornering Theo into keeping their secret (Draco was always so clever, so so clever) when he saw that Nott was carrying Aria up to her room. Based on the fact that Theo was still here, it was safe to say that Astoria wasn't the only roommate who didn't sleep alone. "Taking care of Aria last night. Making her so happy."

Theo's cheeks slowly turned a pale shade of pink. This was probably the closest she would ever get to seeing him showing any sort of emotion. It was nice, seeing him lose his mask like that. He looked younger, nicer too. Like Draco when he smiled. Why does my mind always return to him? "I... it's nothing."

She giggled. "I like you, Theo. I never realized that before. You're always so quiet. As long as you keep making her happy, I'll keep liking you."

Feeling much better—her hair smoother, her skin brighter, her breath more pleasant—Astoria left Theo in the dorm room and snuck back to Draco's. Thankfully, she didn't encounter anyone. The conversation with Theo made her completely forget to change into the nightgown she grabbed so she was still wearing Draco's button-down.

Astoria reached his dorm and carefully opened the door. She tiptoed into the room and quietly closed it behind her. But there was no point in sneaking around.

"I thought you left me," a voice behind her said as arms wrapped around her waist. They were cold but they held her tenderly, pulling her body back into a strong and firm chest. Draco sounded almost... pained by the fact that she left. But that couldn't have been right... could it?

"I'm back," she whispered. His arms trailed all over her body leaving trails of heat wherever they went. Her thighs, her butt, her stomach. Draco touched like a lover would.

"Thank Merlin," he said with a breathless voice, tucking his head into her neck and kissing it lightly. His kisses were delicate and sweet, so unlike the passionate ones from the morning. "You have no idea how crushed I was when I saw you had gone. I... I thought you regretted being with me."

That one little stutter was the closest she had ever seen Draco to being flustered and unconfident. He really was scared... he really does care for me. "I don't regret it," Astoria murmured. "I probably should but I could never regret you."

Hot, shaky breaths cascaded over her collarbone. "I don't think I could handle it if you regretted me."

Astoria turned around. Draco's arms remained on her waist, pulling her close to him. On the outside, he may have appeared to be the same confident, almost cocky, Malfoy he always was. But she could see the small rips of insecurity in his persona. His grey eyes were clouded, his light hair hanging down on his forehead as he looked at her, his body was tense, only relaxed wherever he held her. Astoria wrapped her arms around him, bringing him even closer than before. Draco's body stilled for a moment before he relaxed around her.

Being in his arms like that made her feel safe, cherished. Astoria was sure she would always feel like that around Draco. Something about his soul called to hers. As they stood in the doorway, Draco's relief at her return palpable in the air, Astoria felt something in her shift.

Her life would always be measured with him. Her life before Draco, after Draco, and now, with Draco. She could never go back to being the little child that played outside with her sister nor could she be the timid girl that hid in the library after her diagnosis. Those parts of her were tucked away, perhaps forever, hidden by a persona that was now tangled up in every fiber of her being. But something about being with him, being with a guy who adored every single part of her, even the diagnosis, changed her. Draco brought out bits and pieces of Astoria she didn't know she had anymore. The girl who believed in true love, the girl who was always happy whenever chocolate and strawberries were in the picture, the girl who could be a little adventurous outside of all of the dresses and formalities, the girl who was desperate to be loved. The girl who was tired of feeling like a burden to everyone, who was tired of feeling like anything less than perfect when she spent her whole life trying to be just that. Draco... Draco changed all of that. She didn't feel like she had to pretend. She didn't feel like she was a burden. She didn't feel like she wasn't perfect. She just felt loved. Effortlessly and incandescently loved.

"I love you, Astoria," he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

Astoria sighed and leaned into Draco's chest. "I know."

What do you all think of the story so far? It's so hard to tell what people think of the characters, plot, chapters, etc. but hopefully it's living up to expectations!

Also, funny story for those who care, I went out with some friends last night and had a little too much (iykwim) and for some reason, I could NOT stop thinking about ideas for this story and for Tom & Evelyn's story. I just think it's funny how even under the influence, this book like invades my thoughts. Haha, have a good week everyone!