Astoria fiddled with the chain around her neck. The one that now held Draco's ring, the M branding her chest slightly. The heavy metal made the dragons push into her skin. She liked the sight of Draco's dark ring around her neck. But that didn't change the fact that there was another woman wearing a much more important, much more valid, much more real ring. And the fact that this other woman was her sister made it even worse.

"So, tell me about the flying," Aria said as she walked back into their dormitory. Though the two friends were going with separate people to the Quidditch match—Astoria with Daphne and Aria with Theo—they were getting ready for the match together. Astoria shoved the ring underneath the dark green Quidditch jersey. She didn't need to raise any questions, especially when she didn't know the answers to any. She was already confused enough about the fact that she adored the way her back said "Malfoy". You're going to be family, she told herself. It's normal. There is nothing wrong with it.

If Aria noticed Astoria's mental debate, she didn't let it on. Instead, she just continued talking quietly while getting dressed in a pretty, dark green sundress. "You said you fell? And Draco caught you?"

Astoria's adrenaline was so high by the time she returned to the dormitory. Aria was there, reading a book on astronomy, when Astoria walked in and couldn't contain herself. She told her about the flying lesson, saying Draco was teaching her to fly when he learned she had never flown herself, a fact that shocked even Aria, who had an even more sheltered childhood than Astoria. Aria gasped when she heard that Astoria fell but her shock was even more palpable when Astoria said Draco caught her. She left out the part about the most magical kiss she had ever had, of course, but the blush still rose to her cheeks when she thought about it so Aria probably knew something was going on anyway.

Astoria fixed her hair—down in large, black curls—and swiped on some of her signature strawberry lipgloss. "Yup. I don't think I've ever been so scared. Except, perhaps, during Tom's Dark Days."

"Dark Days?" Aria asked with confusion.

"Right. I keep forgetting that you weren't here for things like this." Aria had just transferred from Beauxbatons and, therefore, did her first six years of schooling elsewhere. "Tom is Mattheo's brother. They're both the sons of Voldemort—you know him, of course. Most powerful wizard of all time until Tom came along. Now Tom can do much more but he's slightly less evil so I guess people just tend to leave him alone."

Aria nodded. "Got it."

"Well... back in my second year, something happened. No one really knows what—well, maybe Mattheo does—but the sky was black for weeks. It was constantly raining and the castle was surrounded by fog so thick that no one could go outside. Not that they would want to. The Black Lake had giant waves and the forest had these sporadic fires that could hardly be contained. And Tom walked around the castle like Salazar Slytherin himself. He was terrifying. Even Dumbledore seemed frightened."

"Wow," Aria said, her eyes wide. "So what happened? How did the Dark Days end?"

Astoria shrugged. She had her guesses, of course, but no one truly knew what happened back then. It would make for an interesting story though, she supposed. "One day, it just stopped. The waves calmed, the fires went out, the fog lifted, and the sky lightened."

"Woah."

"Woah is right. I told you... Tom is powerful. But you want to know what I think?" she asked as she stepped into a black skirt, pantyhose, and slingback black heels. Aria nodded. "I think Tom fell in love. Maybe something went wrong and righted itself again. Who knows? Love is hard."

Aria blew a piece of hair on top of her head and mumbled, "Love is hard."

Astoria smiled and grabbed the ring resting secretly on her collarbone. Yes, love was hard. But when she thought about the feeling of Draco's lips on hers as he passionately kissed her, she thought that perhaps it was worth it all.

. . .

Daphne was grinning when Astoria walked in. "Took you long enough! You almost missed the beginning." Astoria was about to tell her the story of why she was almost late—a horrible story that involved Peeves learning about the concept of a water balloon, forcing Astoria to go back and redo her hair—but Daphne waved her hand. "No matter. You're here now."

Astoria looked at her sister. Daphne looked so pretty, wearing a dark green crop top and low-rise jeans that made her hips look great. Daphne had always had more curves than Astoria. Her long blonde hair and tan, freckled skin only added to her appeal. The sisters had some similarities, of course: their lean frames, pouty lips, and light green eyes (though Daphne's were a little brighter). But sometimes—on days like today—it felt like their differences were far greater.

Daphne must have felt her younger sister's eyes on her. "You look great!" she said, giving Astoria a once over. "Draco's jersey? I'm so glad you two are getting along. Perhaps you can be great friends."

Friends. The word made Astoria feel awful. I'm supposed to be friends with him and yet I'm kissing him. I'm making plans to see him again. I'm wearing his ring. At that moment, Astoria felt like the worst sister in the world. She felt like a traitor, a liar, and even a little like a whore. I'm a horrible sister. I'm horrible.

Daphne grinned at her before beginning to watch the game. I'm only going to hurt her, Astoria looked as she eyed Daphne from the side. Her pretty, pretty sister. I'm only going to hurt myself too.

Soon, the game started. Enzo—the captain and Aria's brother—took off with the quaffle, flanked by Nora Rosier—Mattheo's supposed sworn enemy—and Adrian Pucey, a decently attractive guy, though Astoria had never quite been interested in him. Meanwhile, Mattheo was hitting the bludgers around while Vincent Crabbe looked like he didn't quite get what was going on. Hufflepuff stole the quaffle from Nora, something that Mattheo would probably chastise her for later in front of everyone, but Miles Bletchley, the keeper, blocked the shot. Astoria didn't see Draco but he was probably out searching for the snitch. He was a good seeker, she had to admit it, but she didn't want to think about him.

No. It wasn't that she didn't want to think about him. It was that she couldn't.

Soon, Draco zoomed past him on his broom. Astoria couldn't help but think that, while he was going fast, he wasn't going nearly as fast as this morning. He surely broke some kind of record when he flew to save her. "Your fiance is very fast," Astoria muttered.

Daphne looked over at her and grinned. "I suppose so. He's always been good at Quidditch. I remember that from when we were kids."

When we were kids. When she and Draco danced to their hearts' content. When they kissed in that empty ballroom. When they played hide and seek within the library. When she fell in love with him.

Astoria felt her heart ache.

The game continued, with the Slytherin chasers scoring thirteen goals in all, a wicked run against Hufflepuff. Enzo proved why he was captain, scoring more than half of them himself. But it was Draco, who quickly caught the snitch once it was found clear over by the Black Lake, who won their house the game.

The stands roared with cheers as he flew back, the small golden ball in his hand. "Brilliant catch by Draco Malfoy," the commentator said. Astoria didn't recognize his voice. "Slytherin wins!"

Though her head and her heart felt heavy, Astoria still let out a small smile as she clapped. That was the view that Draco had when he flew up to their stands. He grinned. "I won for you, my love." Then, he blew a kiss. "I'll see you soon." With a wink, he flew off, down to the field to join his team in what would soon be a night of festivities.

She didn't blush. Anyone nearby would have assumed that Draco's words and actions were for Daphne, his fiancee. It was a reasonable assumption and it was undoubtedly what the correct answer should have been. But she knew. She knew and he knew that he was doing it for her, for Astoria. His kisses, his flirty, witty little remarks. Both of those were from Astoria.

Even when he should have been doing it for Daphne.

Daphne. Daphne. Daphne. The girl who was holding her hand as they walked back to the castle together. The girl who was telling some story about her roommate, Tatum's, mission to get back at Peeves this year. The girl who couldn't stop smiling as she kept subtly mentioning Draco to her. Daphne. Her sister.

The girl she was betraying.

Astoria fiddled with the ring around her neck. M for Malfoy. A last name that she would never have. A last name that, in about a year and a half's time, Daphne would instead have. You're a terrible sister, a small voice in her head said.

She looked back at the Quidditch pitch. There was a flash of blond hair only for a moment but it disappeared. It is for the best, Astoria thought as she resolved, once again, to be done with Draco Malfoy.

"You alright, Tori?" Daphne said, looking at her with wild eyes and one of her captivating grins. Daphne Greengrass, the girl who could not be contained. Daphne soon-to-be-Malfoy. The thought made Astoria's heart feel heavy again.

"I'm alright," Astoria said softly before squeezing her sister's hand. "Just happy for you."

A lie. Astoria wasn't a liar—she was staunchly against it, actually—but she felt like, lately, she was being turned into something different, something she wasn't. A liar. A traitor. A bad sister. What else was she going to add to the list? I'm supposed to be a lady and yet I'm being a tramp.

Daphne looked over at her, oblivious to her inner turmoil. "Thanks, Tori. You're a good sister."

That felt like a lie too.

Astoria looked over at Daphne. "I love you, sissy," she said softly, wrapping her arms around the blonde. At least this, she thought, doesn't feel like a lie. "And I love that you've found someone you can be happy with."

And it wasn't a lie. Even if it meant that Astoria felt deliriously unhappy, she was still delighted that Daphne could be happy with someone as wonderful as Draco.

Astoria fiddled with the ring once more, enjoying the feel of it around her neck, knowing that when she got back to her dormitory, she would be taking it off and giving it back to him. Because she couldn't afford to get her feelings crossed with Draco Malfoy. Not anymore.

"Oh, sissy," Daphne said with a half-hearted smile. "You'll find your Draco."

She smiled sadly, looking into Daphne's bright green eyes, the ones that matched her own. And a fleeting, heartbreaking went through her mind. I already have.

The next THREE PARTS will all be about the common room party. If you want a little sneak peek of what you may see, you can read the three common room party chapters from Smoke & Stars since they have little snippets of Draco and Astoria.

Thanks to everyone who have been reviewing and following. It makes me feel so good! :)