"I'm just saying: if I had to pick between a lizard or a ferret as a pet, I'd pick a ferret," Astoria said with a laugh as she walked into the dorm room. "I think they're kind of cute in their own way."

Aria made a face of disbelief. "Ferrets are not cute."

"Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I just don't think I could have a lizard. Their scaly skin kind of creeps me out."

It was later in the day and the two girls were having one of many animal-related debates. Astoria's favorite class may have officially been charms but she had always been an animal lover. She secretly adored the Care of Magical Creatures class with Hagrid. But her grandmother insisted that it was unladylike and that Hagrid was too big of a brainless oaf so Astoria dropped the class after her fifth year, using the extra period to study Ancient Runes instead. Ancient Runes was fine, of course, but... but it wasn't what she enjoyed. She loved learning about all of the different creatures, the ways to tame them, and how to make them like her. They were all so fascinating in their own way. Sadly, her grandmother was right. Magical Creatures didn't fit in with her persona so that hobby was pushed to the side.

Still, that didn't stop them from having many creature-related discussions. Sometimes the creatures were magical. Other times, like today, they weren't.

"I was going to go to the owlery now to check on Enzo's owl. I swear he never takes care of the poor thing. Want to come?" Aria asked, slipping on a warmer jacket. It was cold today, the bitter chill of fall finally reaching their doorstep. To be honest, Astoria didn't really want to go to the owlery. She didn't have an owl—her sister did—and she was looking forward to an afternoon inside to read her book. She was finally getting to the good part when the childhood friends became lovers. But Astoria was a known people pleaser. She always put aside her happiness for the sake of others. She told herself that it was what a lady would do but to be quite honest, she just didn't want to be a burden to anyone by saying no. The owlery could be fun, she thought as she tried to convince herself. Normally, that was how it worked. She convinced herself that what they wanted was what she wanted. Today was no exception.

Astoria nodded. "Yeah, just let me take my pills real quick." Aria didn't know of Astoria's condition—hardly anyone did—but she knew by now that her roommate took daily pills. A beta blocker meant to lower her adrenaline and her heart rate. But when Astoria opened her vanity, the drawer where she kept her medicine, confusion flooded her brain. Instead of the usual orange bottle, a black bottle remained in its place with a note tied around in black silk ribbon.

My love,

These should work much better. Can't have my girl taking generic.

- D

Her mind flashed back to Draco's conversation at the common room party. My goodness, could that have been only last night?

She smiled as she gazed at the bottle. There was no denying that Draco cared for her. It seemed he took every possible opportunity to prove that she was his number one priority. Astoria liked it. It made her feel warm.

Popping a pill into her mouth and swallowing it, Astoria turned to her roommate. "So, owlery?"

The walk up to the tower was filled with another animal debate: brown owls vs snowy owls. Both girls actually agreed that they felt the snowy white owls were much cuter. Astoria had one named Twick, an odd name that Daphne had chosen when they were kids. Astoria liked the little owl; she was always so nice to her, nuzzling up to her cheek after a long journey. And, let's be honest, Astoria was the reason behind most of Twick's journeys. She would have an idea for a perfect outfit and would set out to buy everything via a letter to the Diagon Alley shopkeepers. Even in school, Astoria's shopping addiction never seemed to cease.

"How was Daphne's?" Aria asked. Astoria turned to her, confused, but thankfully the girl continued. "I was looking for you but Theo said that you stayed at her dorm last night."

"Oh... um... good." Merlin, Astoria was a rubbish liar. Thankfully, she was excellent at steering the conversation away. "How is Mr. Nott? I saw him this morning in the room and he was absolutely smitten with you."

Aria blushed. "He's... he's great. He makes me so happy. Oh, Azzy, I wish you could find someone that makes your heart thump like this." Astoria's mind immediately flashed to Draco holding her in his bedroom, telling her he loved her. They had embraced for a while before Draco needed to meet up with Blaise. She went back to her room and read a little bit of her novel after getting ready. But this time, Draco's ring sat tucked underneath her sweater, the cool metal warming against her skin. It was odd. Sometimes, whenever she was thinking of him, she swore she could feel it getting warmer, like a piece of Draco knew her mind was on him.

"Yeah," Astoria just said softly. "Me too."

She should have told Aria. Aria was her best friend. But something held her back. A part of her knew that whatever was going on between her and Draco—because it wasn't like they had defined it—should stay between them. Secrets between friends weren't ideal but Astoria just couldn't take the risk that Daphne would find out. The less people that knew, the better. Draco had already blackmailed one person so he clearly felt the same way.

"I know you don't want to talk about it," Aria said as they climbed the stairs. "But I know you at least used to like Draco so I can't imagine what you're going through with the betrothal. But just know that one day you'll find someone who will give you the world, who will do everything to make you happy."

Yes... Draco. He would give her the world if she asked him to. She knew that without a doubt. And that thought? That was scary. Because she couldn't afford to give herself to a man who couldn't afford to take it. And yet she knew that there was a part of her that continued to fall for him as if it was as easily as falling asleep. Because with him? With him, it was. Her heart needed Draco like her lungs needed air. She could try to deny it all she wanted but with every passing day, it became more and more true.

The worst part? He cared for her just as much, if not more. And yet the following June would continue to loom like a ticking time bomb.

Don't think about that. I'll take care of it, Draco's voice appeared in her head as if she were standing right next to him. So Astoria sighed and pushed her thoughts away. "You're right," she said, faking a smile for Astoria. She might not have been a good liar but she was a darn good actor. "I'm happy for them. Truly. I'll find my own great love someday and have the wedding of the century."

Aria grinned. "There's the Astoria I know."

But who is the Astoria you know? She wondered. Because, sometimes, I hardly feel like I know her myself.

They finally reached the owlery where Aria walked over to her tawny owl, Pickens. Well, technically it was Enzo's owl but he forgot it existed half the time and Aria must have enjoyed taking care of him, similar to Astoria and Twick. While Aria gave the owl a little treat, Astoria gazed down at the castle. Even from this high up, she could see Draco's flash of white hair in the courtyard near a tree. Hold on.

"Aria, do you think you'll be okay up her for a bit?" Astoria asked distractedly. The gears in her mind were too busy spinning for her thoughts to fully gather. "I need to go check on something with Twick."

"Yeah, I'll see you at dinner?"

"Sounds good." Astoria whistled for Twick and hurriedly walked down the stairs. The snowy owl followed her with a happy coo. She had always been so good with animals.

The walk down to the castle was much quicker than the walk up. Perhaps it was because she was going downstairs, not up, or perhaps it was because she was eager to see if her mind was correct. Astoria finally reached the edge of the courtyard and took a moment to regain her breath. The new medicine must have already been working well because she didn't feel as peaked as she normally did. Her cheeks were flushed but that was because of the fall wind, not her condition. Wow. Draco's medicine really does work better.

Draco. The man she came to observe. Astoria tucked herself in the shadows of a column and watched the courtyard in front of her, away from the view but close enough to hear what Draco and Blaise were saying. Draco was lying under a tree lazily munching on an apple with his eyes closed while Blaise stood in front of him, ranting about something about Quidditch it would seem. Draco seemed to be in his own little world, smiling to himself as Blaise paced in front of him. They seemed to be the only ones in the area; today was rather cold.

"Come on, Twick," she said softly. Then, she grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled something on it.

Madam Malkins,

Please send a short black halter dress with black slingback heels to Astoria Greengrass at Hogwarts. You may charge it to my family's account.

Sincerely,

Astoria

It was an outfit she had debated on getting—it seemed perfect for a date but, then again, she didn't know how many of those she would be going on. However, for her investigation now, it was perfect. Astoria handed the little slip of parchment to Twick along with a treat and a pet for the soft owl. "Take this to Madam Malkin's in Diagon Alley, please," she said to Twick. She chirped happily and took off.

Astoria watched the owl. She was trying to figure out how Draco knew about her secret shopping. Did he send an owl to intercept hers? Did he give instructions to Madam Malkin knowing Astoria might do this? Did the dressmaker send a note to him whenever she placed an order? Astoria watched Twick fly in the sky and waited to see if Draco reacted.

But to her surprise, she watched as the white bird took one long swoop around the castle before immediately turning around and flying right back to the courtyard. No, Twick! she thought. You're supposed to go to Diagon Alley.

Twick didn't go to Diagon Alley. Instead, she descended gracefully to the courtyard and went right over to where Draco lay beneath the tree. He opened one eye at the sound of flapping wings before smirking and taking the note from Twick. Draco handed a treat to the bird and said, "Thank you, Twick. You can go rest now."

That traitor! She thought as she watched Twick fly right back to the owlery, content to have a nap rather than another journey. Draco had somehow found a way to bribe her owl. That jerk!

Without really thinking, Astoria stormed over to where Draco lay. "Ahh, come to see what real men do on their Sundays, Greengrass?" he said with an arrogant tone and a smirk on his face. His reaction would have made her blood boil had she not seen the happiness hidden behind his eyes at her appearance. As soon as she stomped over there, he sat up straighter and his body language became even happier. The tone, it would seem, was a facade.

"Hi, Blaise," she murmured to the dark-skinned man with an annoyed face.

"Hello, Astoria. I was just leaving to find Pans," Blaise said coolly before walking off, leaving the two of them alone.

Draco immediately stood up with a grin. "Hello, my darling," he said softly. He brought his hand up to her jaw and gave her a whisper of a caress. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Astoria scowled and grabbed the note from Draco's hand. "What is the meaning of this? Bribing my owl? Interfering with my shopping? I can buy whatever I'd like, you know—"

"I do know," Draco said calmly as if he were talking to a crazy person. It just annoyed her more.

"So why did you butt in, you git?" Draco's lips quirked up in the corners as he stared at her with light grey eyes that seemed to dance in the chilly air. "I'm glad you find this amusing. Maybe I can leave so you can keep laughing at me."

She turned to storm off—well aware that she was probably acting a little irrationally but Draco had the tendency to make her emotions go crazy—but before she could even take one step, a cold hand grabbed her wrist. "Don't leave, baby," Draco murmured, pulling her back to where he stood underneath the tree. "I'm not laughing at you. I just think you're cute when you're mad. As for your other accusations, I will not pretend to have not bribed your owl and interfered with your shopping but I did it for good reason."

"And that reason would be?"

He smiled softly. Not smirked. Smiled. I like this look so much better on him. She could already feel herself melting at the edges. "Because I want to take care of you as you deserve to be taken care of. You deserve the finest things in life, my love, and I want to provide them for you. So yes, I have bribed little Twick, and, yes, I take your orders from her, but I send them to the stores myself using my money."

Astoria could feel herself soften. "Why?"

"Because," he said softly, staring up at her eyes with a minute sense of vulnerability. Draco tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and softened. "I want to give you the world, Astoria. I want to do everything I can to make you happy. You're my girl and I take care of what's mine. I am more than capable of spoiling the hell out of you so I've decided to start small."

Her eyes widened. "Dray... I've spent hundreds of galleons in just one month. I'd hardly call that starting small."

He smirked. "Oh, darling, your little purchases are nothing for me. Why don't you let me buy you something actually expensive before you get all prickled."

She frowned at the word. I'm not prickled. Draco laughed. "Okay, no. That was the wrong word. I can see in your eyes that you didn't like it. I just mean that you and I both know that you like being spoiled so let me. You can buy whatever you want to your heart's content as long as I'm paying for it."

Astoria smiled softly. "Whatever I want?"

"If you want the moon, all you need to do is ask," he whispered before lightly kissing her forehead.

She smiled and leaned into his lips. "I just want you."

"You already have me." Draco brought his hand to her neck and rested it there for just a moment before pulling back in shock. He grabbed the chain and brought it out from underneath her sweater. "You're wearing it?" he asked breathlessly.

Astoria stiffened. Was I not supposed to? She couldn't read the expression on his face. Was he happy about it? Upset? She could already feel insecurity flood in, making her stare at her feet in an effort to avoid his piercing gaze. "Yeah... sorry..." she murmured.

Draco grabbed her chin and brought her eyes back up to his. To her surprise, another smile rested on his face. It made the lines on his skin softer, his eyes brighter. He was happy, truly so. "Don't be sorry. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am to see you with it."

She began to mirror his soft grin. "I'm happy to be wearing it."

"Good. Because I never want you to take it off."

"Why?"

"Because you're mine," Draco smirked. "And no man with any sense would dare approach a woman wearing a Malfoy ring. Plus... it makes this feel more real, y'know? Like the woman I love is truly in front of me wearing my ring."

Astoria bit her lip and remained in thought for a moment. More real... is that what this means? She didn't know. "Dray... what are we?"

"Whatever you would like to be," he said with a simple shrug, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear again. The wind kept blowing them out so it didn't seem to be much use but she let him do it anyway. "You are everything to me, Astoria. Whatever label you want to put on it is fine with me."

Heat filled her cheeks. Draco laughed at the sight. Why could she never seem to control her blushes when she was with him? "Oh," she said softly, trying to get her emotions under control. Whenever she was with him, she felt like the composed persona she spent so long composing went right out the window in favor of butterflies in her stomach and a fluttering heartbeat. "Maybe we could be..." She hesitated. Could she really do this to Daphne? To her family? To Draco?

"Yes?"

"Maybe we could be in a relationship. Unofficially and secretly, of course." Her cheeks burned from having to force those words out of her mouth.

When she finally looked up from her cloud of mortification, Draco's smile was wide. His eyes were bright and his body jittering as if he could barely contain his happiness. "Of course," he finally managed to say after several moments of opening his mouth and closing it again. "I've always been yours and you've always been mine. The label just makes it even better."

"Draco Malfoy, my boyfriend." Those four little words made her heart soar with complete and utter happiness.

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Yeah? Don't get used to it, my love."

She immediately stiffened. "W-what? Why?"

Draco came closer and brought his lips to beside her ear before whispering sensually, "Because before long, I intend to be Draco Malfoy, your husband. So don't get too comfortable with your last name, Astoria, because I intend to change it as soon as I can."

The sensible part of her should have said that it was impossible to do that, that he was engaged to Daphne and therefore couldn't change her last name. But the sensible part of Astoria took a backseat to the blushing and smiling Astoria that was just happy to be in Draco's arms. He'll take care of it. Everything will work itself out. She had to believe that or a pit of despair would open up in her heart.

"Draco Malfoy, my husband," she repeated softly with her lips turned upward.

He groaned. "Darling, if we were alone in my room, I would be rewarding you thoroughly for that little statement."

Astoria giggled. "Sadly, I don't think Filch would look too kindly on that."

"Sadly indeed," he grumbled bitterly. Then, his expression brightened again. "I have a few assignments to wrap up this afternoon. Will you come over tonight?"

"Yes." She nodded a little too eagerly, which just brought another chuckle out of him.

"And will you stay again?" Astoria bit her lip. That wasn't the ladylike thing to do and she didn't have firewhisky to hide behind for her decisions. Draco sensed her hesitation and pouted, sticking out his bottom lip in a way that made him look far too kissable. "Please, my love. I don't think I can sleep without you safe in my arms. I promise I'll make it worth it."

"How?"

He grinned. "How about you bring your little romance book over and I'll massage your neck and feed you chocolate-covered strawberries while you read? Is that enticing enough? Perhaps I can draw you a hot bath as well?"

Her eyes widened. "Your dormitory has a bath?" Hers certainly didn't.

"I'm a Malfoy. Of course my dormitory has a bath. How else am I supposed to bribe black-haired witches to stay the night with me?"

She bit her lip again. It was beginning to become raw but she had never been able to kick the habit. "What about Blaise?"

"With Parkinson. Why do you think I chose him as a roommate? Blaise hasn't stepped foot in that room since the first day."

She could hardly contain her smile. "Oh, alright. But only if you promise to extra nice to me."

Draco grinned. "My love, I'm always nice to you."

Yes, that's the problem, she thought as her heart continued to swell with an unfamiliar feeling. You're too nice, Draco Malfoy. And I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to let you go because of it.

Not much of an author's note on my end! I just love how Draco spoils her constantly. We all love the princess treatment, am I right? Lol have a good week everyone! Hope you are liking the story xx