Flowy. That was the perfect word to describe how Astoria was feeling. Not a particularly elegant word but, to be honest, she wasn't feeling particularly elegant and eloquent anyway. Yes, flowy was nice. The alcohol flowed through her veins. The music flowed through her body. Her hair flowed down her bare back. And giggles flowed out her mouth as she danced with Aria. Flowy.

Daphne had given the two of them much more to drink than anyone should ever drink. Perhaps she sensed that both girls needed a drink and a night of good fun more than they needed a stern older sister who sent them to bed early. Not that Daph would probably ever do that; it would be far too hypocritical. Besides, Daphne had never really been the stern older sister. She had never needed to; Astoria was always impeccably behaved and no one ever needed to watch or take care of her. Be easy. That was her motto after years of being a burden. Make her condition invisible, keep her problems to herself, lock her emotions away. So Daphne never really needed to be that watchful older sister.

Plus, Daph would have been horrible at that. She drank, she smoked, she slept around, she used vulgar language, and she could be, honestly, a little misbehaved. If she got in the right mood, it was like the Weasley twins were back at Hogwarts. Astoria adored her sister and she didn't care at all that Daphne spent her free time doing those things as long as she didn't mind how Astoria spent her own. But that didn't mean that Daph was role model material, far from it actually.

Astoria looked around the room and spotted Daphne dancing closely with Tatum, her closest friend and roommate. The dark-skinned girl had very curly hair with half of it put into two buns. She was always wearing colored eyeliner, which Astoria thought was very brave as she could never pull such a thing off. Tatum caught Astoria's eyes and smiled widely. Astoria gave her a lopsided grin in return.

How much have I drank? That was a stupid question. Too much. That was her answer. Though she probably didn't have as much as Aria, or, if she did, she was holding herself together a little more. Astoria rarely drank but she seemed to have more experience with it than her roommate, which was surprising considering her older brother, Enzo, and her crush, Theo, were both prolific partiers.

She felt her head spin violently but she shook it off. Pull yourself together. This is Aria's night to relax and let loose. You can't go losing your marbles. Be easy... be easy... be easy... Astoria resolved to drink a glass of water next time she went to the bar. However... drunk people weren't good at remembering things, especially intelligent things like drinking water.

The green lights flashed around the room. Astoria felt another giggle rise to her mouth. She grabbed Aria's hand—Aria, who was somehow still standing and rallying hard to everyone's surprise—and led her over to one of the couches now in the center of the room. People seemed to make way for them in the crowd, which Astoria was grateful for. She didn't really feel like trying to lead Aria through a horde of people, not when she sometimes felt the rush of alcohol that meant she was barely keeping it together herself.

Focus. Focus on your dress... strapless, white, tight... Focus on your makeup... silver, glittery, glossy... Focus on the music... loud, rumbling, fast... Focus on your body... loose, relaxed, wobbly... Oh no. She stumbled a little bit but still made it on the couch before she could fall, helping Aria up after her.

Still, Astoria couldn't bring herself to regret how much she had to drink. Should she have consumed that much alcohol? No. No one probably should have consumed the amount of firewhisky and green punch that Astoria had drank. But for the first time in a long time, Astoria felt relaxed. She didn't feel like she needed to be a graceful, elegant lady. She didn't feel like she had to play the role of "younger sister who is totally okay and happy with her big sister's engagement to her childhood sweetheart" when all she wanted to be was the "younger sister who felt completely alone now that she could no longer be truthful with her sister about the fact that she was maybe falling in love again with her fiance" role. Wow. I have issues...

But those issues were for another night. Tonight... well, tonight was for drinking and having fun.

Astoria noticed the way her friend was staring about the room. She was whipping her head around in a way that would definitely make Astoria dizzy if she were the one doing it. She's looking for something... or someone. But Astoria was so inebriated that she could hardly think of who or what it may be.

"Are you okay?" Aria nodded with a far-off look on her face."Who are you looking for?"

"I don't know. I feel like I was looking for someone but I can't remember who."

Astoria stopped moving to the music and tried to wrack her brain for who it might be. Daphne? No. Pansy? No. Oh! Maybe Enzo. "Hmm... maybe your brother?"

"No, I don't think so," Aria said with a frown.

Astoria just shrugged and plastered a grin on her face. Be the fun friend. "Well, that's okay! We can just dance then!"

The two of them giggled before continuing to move their bodies in ways that were definitely an indicator of how drunk they were. Astoria couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun. With Aria, she could be herself. She could put away the need to be someone perfect and just be herself. Aria didn't care how badly she danced or if her hairdo had fallen. Aria still grabbed onto her hand and danced with her anyway. This is what it's like to have a real friend... not someone who you need to pretend with. Because even though Astoria loved her sister dearly, she had to pretend with her. She couldn't risk Daphne ever saying anything to her family about her condition or anything. Not that she thought Daphne would but... still, it was better not to risk anything. Plus, with everything going on with Draco lately, Astoria definitely couldn't be truthful.

But Aria knew how it felt. Aria had a crush on her brother's best friend. Aria had to keep a secret from her only family while trying to let her love for Theo bloom. So even though their situations were a little different, they were more similar than not. There was a silent understanding between them, a shared bond. So as the two of them moved to the deep bass rhythm, they laughed their heads off. Not just at the feeling of firewhisky in their blood but because of something deeper, because of a deep friendship bonding them deeper than ever before.

Astoria pulled Aria closer. "I love you!" Her voice sounded distant, far off. I guess I'm drunker than I thought... drunker? more drunk?... Oh no, I can't even do grammar!... Do grammar?... Who even am I? Her head was swimming and her legs felt like jelly but, still, she kept a grin on her face. Because she was with her best friend and that was all that mattered.

"You're my best f-friend!" Aria shouted back over the incredibly loud music. Astoria just smiled and continued to move to the music, dancing rather horribly. She was moving much more seductively than she probably should have—running her hands up and down the tight, white dress that hugged every inch of her body. She put her hands through her hair and lifted it up, loving the way the curls flowed through her fingers as her ass—Merlin, did I just curse? she thought—shook on the couch.

Aria's eyes widened and she complimented Astoria on her moves. Astoria could feel eyes on her, watching the way her body seemed to have a mind of its own, becoming one with the song playing in the background. "I think we're the hottest ones in this room!" she said with a giggle, loving her newfound confidence.

But the girls were interrupted by a smooth, deep voice, one that had Astoria feeling a vaguely familiar warmth in her stomach.

"I agree," the voice said. Astoria turned to find an extremely attractive man in front of her, a smirk on his mouth. His skin was brown, like toffee, with chocolate-colored eyes and curls to match. He eyed her up and down, his eyes lingering on her cleavage. Astoria could feel her cheeks heat up at his gaze. The man was quite good-looking, one of the better ones at Hogwarts, probably, and yet... and yet something was wrong. Something was missing. Something wasn't right about him. Astoria shook the thought off as Aria took noticed of the brown-haired boy next to him.

"I know you! You're Adrian Pucey, aren't you? You're on the Quidditch team with my brother." It was then that Astoria recognized him through the fog in her mind. Merlin, I'm further gone than I thought.

"Oh, you're Baby Berkshire!" Adrian replied with a small chuckle.

Astoria could practically feel Aria's glower. "I'm not a baby." Astoria was certainly used to being called "Baby Greengrass". It was just something Hogwarts did to younger siblings, not that she would probably ever like it.

Adrian whistled and checked out her friend. "No, you certainly are not."

"Mind if we join you ladies?" The attractive man, the one with the accent asked. At the return of his velvety voice, Astoria couldn't help but let out a giggle and make room for him next to her. The two boys stood by each of them, cocky grins on their faces. "Diego Quintanilla at your service. And you are?"

She felt her cheeks heat up as a smile overtook her face. "Astoria Greengrass." She held out a hand, which Diego gently kissed. His lips on her hand felt like fire, a good kind. "And this is my friend Aria Berkshire."

Aria struck up a conversation with Adrian while Astoria was distracted by Diego's hot gaze. This is good. Maybe you can find a boy other than Draco. And so despite the fact that something felt missing, something in her heart that wished for something else, Astoria flashed a smile to the pretty man before continuing to dance to a song with deep, slow bass that a part of her knew she loved.

After a few songs, Astoria could feel the fog from her head slowly lifting. No... not yet. I'm not ready for the fun to stop. I'm not ready to remember again. Astoria turned to Diego and smiled again. "I'm going to go get another drink. Be right back?"

"I'll come with."

"You sure?"

Diego winked. "You can't expect me to let a pretty girl like you go off alone. Someone might snatch you up from me." Her cheeks heated up again. She liked the idea of belonging to someone like that... she just wasn't sure if she wanted that someone to be Diego. No. This is good for you. Perhaps you can find happiness with someone else. You can be free from him.

She shook off her thoughts, thoughts of a certain blond, and asked Aria if she could be okay with Adrian for a few minutes. Aria nodded and Astoria went off to the bar, Diego trailing behind her with a light hand on her arm. He ordered her another punch and handed it to her with a grin. "Bottoms up, babygirl." The nickname made her flush again.

"So, how is someone like you single?"

Her eyes widened as she took a large sip from her drink. Okay, so maybeit was more than a sip. The drink was almost empty. Diego just smiled and ordered her another. "W-what do you mean?" she stuttered.

"I mean... you're beautiful, sexy, intelligent, and charming. So either you have high standards or you have gone completely undetected by bloody idiots." Diego flashed her a heart-stopping grin, one that brought the heat back to her stomach. Still, something felt wrong about it. Astoria just ignored it. He's nice, he's good-looking, and he's complimented you. What else do you need?

"Umm, thanks," Astoria said with a blush, kind of unsure of how to respond to his words.

Diego moved closer to her and tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. His touch felt like fire and yet for some reason, Astoria didn't want it to continue burning her. She told herself to just ignore the feeling and focus on the boy in front of her, the boy who kept moving closer and closer as the alcohol continued to flood her brain.

The familiar fog took hold of her brain and Astoria had to blink a few times to get her bearings. Her body felt tight and immovable, her brain sluggish and slow. The edges of her visions began to blur and Astoria had to force herself to take deep breaths so she wouldn't pass out. That drink was stronger than I remember it being before... was something in it? She took a look at Diego's charming grin. No... he wouldn't. Would he? But the next thing he said confirmed her fears.

"I'm dying to see what you look like under this sexy dress. When can I get you all to myself?"

Astoria was at a loss for words, her throat dry. Diego stepped closer, his hands reaching toward her as if he was about to grab her. He opened his mouth, about to repeat his question but he was interrupted by something.

A pair of hands wrapped around her waist, a warm body colliding with her back as the deep rumble of a familiar voice vibrated against her body.

"Unfortunately, Astoria won't be going anywhere with you, Quintanilla. I thought that was rather obvious. Or perhaps, from the way you keep intruding on the personal space of a woman so clearly uncomfortable with it, you need a little extra explaining... so let me clarify this once and for all." She gasped as the hands on her waist tightened with possessiveness. "Astoria is my girl and I'll be damned if you get your filthy hands near her again."

Draco.

. . .

***Bonus scene ahead!***

Daphne smiled as she watched her dance with her new roommate. It was good that she had a friend, someone a little more like her. Daphne was well aware that her sister's friends pretty much just consisted of Daphne's friends, who weren't much like her. So she was happy to see that Astoria was making new friends, friends like Aria who could relate to Astoria and bring out the fun in her. After the childhood that Astoria had... well, she needed some fun in her life. She needed to relax and let loose (which is why both Daphne and Aria collaborated to get her drunk tonight). And, honestly, Astoria needed a close friend of her own, someone to confide in who wasn't Daphne. Especially if Daphne was going to get...

Married. She shivered despite the hot, smothering air in the dungeons. Draco was a nice guy but Daphne definitely didn't want to marry him. She wanted to marry the one she loved, not someone chosen for her out of duty.

"You alright?" Tatum, Daphne's closest friend and confidant, asked, grabbing her hand to tear Daph away from her thoughts. Tatum was the only person who knew how Daphne felt about it all. She told her everything and Tatum's response was—instead of insisting she follow love—to grab her in a hug and let her cry it out. She supported Daphne wholeheartedly, even encouraging her plan to get Draco and Astoria together. Perhaps it wasn't exactly the best thing—letting her fiance cheat on her with her sister—but Daphne didn't care. To hell with morals and social ideals. She wanted Astoria to be happy; getting to be with the one she loved too was a bonus. Anyone with eyes could see that Draco and Astoria belonged together and Daphne would do whatever it took to make them realize it, including pushing them together at every possible turn.

Plus, Tatum—one of the most down-to-earth and compassionate witches Daphne knew—was on board, which meant that it had to be at least somewhat sensible. Tatum even was the one who suggested letting Astoria party on her own tonight, hoping that Draco would seek her out if Daphne wasn't there. It was a smart idea, she had to admit. However, it didn't mean that Astoria would be spending the whole night getting drunk off her ass and leaving to fuck a boy. Daphne still kept a distant, yet watchful, eye on her baby sister. If Astoria ever seemed too incoherent, Daphne would intervene and bring her up to her room. She might not have been good at watching out for her when they were children—leaving her alone in that awful estate, assuming (wrongly) that Astoria wanted to be left alone in there—but she would raise hell if anyone tried to even touch a hair on Astoria's head.

Which is why when Daphne saw Astoria leave Aria to get a drink from the bar with that sleazeball Diego, her haunches were instantly raised. Diego was a known fuckboy and Astoria was just drunk enough to follow him to the bar, despite his reputation as a handsome yet greasy guy trying to get in every girl's pants. Mattheo did warn me that boys would be a lot more interested in her, Daphne thought. But why did it have to be this boy?

She was just getting ready to leave Tatum dancing by the wall and save Astoria when she saw something by the door. A flash of blond hair—freshly showered after the Quidditch match from the looks of it—followed by what could only be described as pure rage.

Draco looked at where Astoria stood with Diego with a clenched jaw and fisted hands at his side. His light hair stood out amongst the crowd, especially since Draco had hit a growth spurt in recent years and was now much taller. Daphne could see even from across the room the way his grey eyes darkened with cool fury. As Diego inched closer to Astoria, Draco seemed to be getting angrier.

The boy smoothed back the hair on top of his head and took a deep breath before striding across the room with lengthy steps. Daphne began to relax when she saw him wrap his arms around Astoria and slowly pull her away from the fuckboy. The space between them, coupled with the arrogant and furious smile on Draco's face, had the tension leaving Daphne's body. Draco would take care of her sister, she knew that. Actually, as long as Draco was around, Astoria would want for nothing. And based on the jealousy oozing out of his body language, Astoria would be getting nowhere near Diego (or possibly any other boy) again.

Daphne smiled as she looked at them, watching the way the blush filled her sister's cheeks when Draco began to kiss her neck. Astoria seemed comfortable with him, sinking into his embrace like there was nothing more natural than being held by Draco. I'm happy for her. I truly am, Daphne thought despite how odd the situation may have seemed to outsiders. She turned away just as Draco attempted to lead Astoria over to a couch at the edge of the room, Diego's eyes now lit up in anger as he attempted to compete for the pretty girl. But no one could compete with Draco, not when he wanted something and made it his mission to have it. And thanks to Daphne's meddling, he wanted Astoria. It was all going according to plan. In a few months time, the wedding would be called off and everyone could be happy again.

Daphne turned back to Tatum, grabbing her friend's hand as they danced on the edges of the room. Her friend smiled at her, apparently noticing the same exchange Daphne did. She returned the grin, stealing one more glance back at the happy couple. Astoria was positively beaming under Draco's attention and he was more than happy to give it to her.

That's it, she thought, still holding Tatum's hands in her own as the two spun around. Fall in love. Fall in love so I can fall in love too.

Fun fact: this chapter was originally going to be all in Daphne's POV but I just loved writing the party from Astoria's perspective. However, I still wanted a little bit of Daphne so I included the bonus chapter! Next part will be from Draco's POV and I already know it's going to be soooooooooo good.

Please consider reviewing! It means so much to me. Have a good week all :)