Chapter 149:

Partial Truths

Draco and Narcissa stepped out of the floo and into the foyer of the Greengrass household.

"Good evening, Narcissa, Draco. Thank you for coming," Mr. Greengrass said, reaching out his hand towards the Malfoys, Astoria silent at his side.

"Thank you for having us," Narcissa replied, automatically gracious.

"Please. Come in. Dinner is almost ready," Mrs. Greengrass continued, guiding them into the dining room, where both Daphne and her mother were already seated.

Draco moved to greet his girlfriend, chastely kissing her on the cheek before coming to sit in between her and his mother.

"Right. Why don't we just get down to it," Mr. Greengrass said, as soon as the dinner appeared, courtesy of house elves. "What is the intention moving forward?"

"I intend to continue to date your daughter, Sir. More formally, now that we are at the end of our schooling. With your blessing, of course."

Raising his glass, Mr. Greengrass gazed down at the students in question over the rim, though when speaking, only addressed Draco. "And why should I give it?"

"Why wouldn't you, Sir? I come from a good, traditional family. I honour our traditions and am making alliances with the correct people, to better secure my future."

The older man sneered at him. But Draco had prepared for this. Astoria had helped him.

"And if you were to continue? Would you allow Astoria to continue her...venture into a job?" It was clear just how distasteful the man found the prospect, even given all that had happened, all the progress the world was beginning to make forward.

"I would…for now. Once we get more serious about this relationship, I will reconsider," he replied, more nonchalantly than he felt. He knew what Mr. Greengrass wanted to hear; if he and Astoria wished to continue seeing each other, he needed to appease the older man.

"And what about home maintenance? I know you don't have any house elves left."

"Magic takes care of most of the maintenance, Sir. And we do have a human servant; the Ministry cannot take that away," he replied carefully, his gaze slipping to Astoria. They hadn't discussed this yet. Now, he knew needed to.

"What do you plan on doing following your schooling?"

"Business, Sir. Continuing to form new and stronger alliances and promote the strength of our power," he said. It wasn't a lie. It was just that Mr. Greengrass, much like his own father, had different interpretations of views than he did.

Mr. Greengrass did not respond immediately. Simply looked them over. Finally, he spoke again. "I'll grant it. For now. best prove it a good match, young Malfoy. I will not see my daughter dishonoured."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Sir."

"Good." His gaze slid towards his younger daughter. "You may accept the offered Ministry position, but know it is on a…temporary basis."

"Yes, Father. Thank you."

Beneath the table, she felt Draco squeeze her hand and she squeezed back. For now, it would be okay.

Coming through the floo two days later, Astoria glanced around. They were really making this work. As promised, Draco had removed any restriction on the floo for her, allowing her to pop-in as she liked. Moving the now semi-familiar path towards the office, she found the door ajar. Pushing it open, a greeting died on her lips as she saw him seated comfortably across from a girl their age; one she vaguely recognized from their Hogwarts days. And if she wasn't mistaken, she was wearing Draco's clothing.

Realizing who had entered the room, Draco rose. "Astoria, please, come in," he said, gesturing to his now-vacant seat. "I thought you weren't stopping by until…" he glanced at the timepiece on the mantle, surprised to find it later than he had thought.

Moving to greet her with a gentle kiss, he asked, "How was your first day?"

"It went well, thank you. I – I'm sorry, but who are you?" she inquired instead, turning towards the seated girl.

"Right, sorry. Astoria, this is Ariella. Ariella, Astoria."

"It's nice to meet you," Ariella said, leaning forward to shake the other's hand.

"Do you remember when you joked about me having a secret chef? And then what I said to your father at our formal dinner?"

"You told him you had a human servant. Is she…are you…?" she asked haltingly, looking between the two. Draco nodded, answering for both of them.

"She is. Ariella lives here with Mother and me."

"Oh. Why didn't you say anything?"

Astoria didn't miss the quick glance between Draco and Ariella before he answered. "It's not a…standard situation. We're still navigating our own relationship; I didn't want to add another adjustment for you while you're still getting comfortable being public and coming here on your own."

Ariella began to rise. "I should go. Let you two talk – "

" – don't," Draco interrupted, his tone harder than Astoria was used to hearing from. Allowing himself a moment of weakness, Draco ran a hand down his face before closing the door and pulling over his father's chair.

"Astoria, what I am about to share with you cannot get out. Even to your family. While it's not the best kept secret, we are trying to be selective about who knows this information."

"I don't need to know. If it's a family secret, you don't need to tell me."

"If you're going to be around more – which I hope you are – then yes, you need to know some of this."

Draco breathed out slowly, before looking to Ariella again and swallowing hard. "Servant isn't the correct term. Slave is. It's the reason she followed me around at school."

"Is that why you said to my father that the Ministry couldn't take it – sorry, her – away?"

"It is. She is magically bound to my family."

Astoria looked between him and his servant. "I see," she said slowly.

"Right now, you simply need to be aware. So that you aren't shocked to see her here consistently or when I order her about," he explained, before turning towards Ariella. "You are allowed to talk about the bond in front of Astoria. For now, I would prefer if major questions went through me, or at the least were discussed while I am present."

"Yes, sir."

Turning back to his girlfriend, he leant forward, taking her hands briefly. "I know it's a surprise. Did you have any questions now?"

"How long have you been their servant?"

Astoria didn't miss how Ariella's gaze darted to Draco's before she answered, nor how she only spoke once he nodded.

"Most of my life. I don't really remember time before living here."

Astoria's gaze widened. Draco squeezed her hands. "It's complicated and involved. Right now, you don't need to be. If we…if and when we become more serious, I'll tell you more. It doesn't have to effect you much now. Promise."

He could see her thinking, processing what she'd been told so far. Slipping his gaze back to his servant's, he clicked his tongue when he saw her nervously toying with the edge of his old shirt. Her eyes darted up to his. Draco nodded towards the door. They would finish later. Bowing her head to him, Ariella obeyed, silent as she could be, careful not to disturb the other woman.

She didn't succeed. Her movement alone started Astoria, who retched back.

"You're safe," Draco assured immediately, recognizing the movement. "Just us. You're safe."

Astoria took a few deep breaths, before glancing up to where Ariella stood, frozen in front of the seat.

"Sorry. I tried to be quiet. I didn't mean to – "

" – it's fine. You startled me, is all," Astoria interrupted, a shake in her voice. "It is nice to formally meet you."

Ariella gave a small smile in return. "You as well. I – I'm sorry if this is out of turn, but thank you for making him happy."

Astoria and Draco both expressed their surprise, though Draco quickly masked his. He gave her a single nod; both thanks and pardon if needed. Neither said a word as she left them.

"I make you happy? Truly?"

"Yes. I'm glad we officially received your father's blessing. This would have been much harder to continue without it," he admitted.

She smiled, giving a small laugh, which was quickly cut off as he leaned forward, kissing her. With the kiss, her concerns about this, about her new job, even about him having a human servant…all of it disappeared for a moment. For this moment, she relaxed into his touch, feeling safe. Feeling loved.

Happy New Year!