So, what are you all doing for President's Day weekend? My friend Isis is coming home from school for the weekend, so I'm excited to see her! We are going to get sushi (double excitement) aaand no jury duty for Monday, thank God. I really would have died if I actually had to attend jury duty. I am up far too late, as I usually am, and I have to get up early. Look, twenty chapters! Thank you so, so much for your reviews, as always. I count on them! Tell me what you think about this chapter and Aldrich as I'm introducing him. I love to hear your thoughts and read them all very carefully. I love you all! Happy reading!

I don't own anything from Harry Potter.

Narcissa Black entered the Hogwarts library, looking around at the occupied sitting areas before ducking her head and moving towards a more vacant area. She slowed when she saw Aldrich Greengrass sitting alone at his own table as he worked on his school assignments, his papers and books all arranged neatly in front of him. She moved to pass his table to find another place to sit but paused, seemingly debating with herself in her head before moving towards his table and sinking down in a chair near him slowly. When he didn't speak, or even look up at her for that matter, Narcissa set her books down and spread them out as she settled herself down to work.

After a few minutes, she broke her focus to look at the man beside her who was still deeply into what he was working on. He didn't seem to notice she had arrived at all. She studied his dark features, her grey eyes scanning what could be seen of his body above the table from the side of her eye, trying to not to be obvious about what she was doing.

"Are you here to study for your classes or are you here to study me?" Narcissa jumped when his deep voice filled their quiet workspace, her face going pink.

"Apologies, there weren't many other places to sit," she said, her words coming out a bit messed. She smoothed her hair back behind her head, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear as she gathered her composure after he had startled her.

"As I could gather. I'm capable of coming up with simple explanations, but thank you for assuming otherwise. That doesn't answer my question, and why you are invading my space is not what I asked," he said, his slow and careful words colored with amusement as his eyes flickered up from the pages he was working on to her.

Narcissa watched his alarmingly pale eyes that contrasted sharply with his dark hair and thick, black eyelashes before looking away and at the table. "Well, I haven't been around you since we were quite young, and I'm usually more familiar with people in our circle."

"Again," he said, his voice even slower. "That doesn't answer my question."

"I'm trying to explain why I was familiarizing myself with your appearance," she responded, looking slightly flustered and embarrassed. "Excuse me if I was staring."

"You were staring. There is no reason to add an if, as you are aware that that was what you were doing."

Narcissa scowled and shifted uncomfortably. "Excuse me, then. As I said."

"We will see," he replied gently, his quill moving slowly over his work.

Narcissa went back to her books, shuffling through them impatiently as she decided on what she wanted to study next.

"Be still."

She froze at his words before frowning at him. "I am being perfectly normal. May I not change my reading?"

"You are being perfectly loud, and if you insist on being in my presence I would prefer it if you weren't fidgeting all over me."

"I don't insist on being in your presence specifically," she muttered. "You just don't need a whole table to yourself."

"If you insist on that answer, Narcissa."

"What do you mean if I insist? Why must all men be so confident in being desired?"

"I said nothing about desire, you did," he replied, his voice becoming darker, a teasing air to it.

"You implied it!"

"What men are you comparing me to? I surely hope not Lucius Malfoy, I can't think of many greater offenses."

Narcissa seemed to struggle with an answer before she seemingly gave up, shifting through her books again.

Aldrich reached forward and took one of her books, examining the cover. "Occlumency," he observed. "Are you learning?"

"Yes," she answered, watching him hold her book in his careful hands as he opened it and flipped through the pages, scanning them.

"Do you fear someone is going to come rummaging through that fragile mind of yours?" Aldrich's voice was a low purr as he spoke, his eyes slowly moving up to find hers, his mouth curling into a slight smirk.

Narcissa swallowed, looking away from his eyes and back down at her book in his hands before clearing her throat quietly. "Perhaps," she quipped, taking the book back from him. He allowed her to take it, picking his quill back up from where he had set it down.

"Your sister knows a bit about that, doesn't she?" He asked, his question sounding more like a statement as he focused back on his work.

Narcissa looked confused at the mention of her older sister, but was seemingly determined to keep up with this man. "I think so.. Why? Do you know her well?"
"Are you close with your sisters?"

An irritated look crossed her face as he ignored her question, but she moved on from it. "Not particularly. They're older than me, obviously. I do love them both, but we are all very different. Especially Bella. Bella is-"

"Stop talking," he said suddenly, his voice simple as he interrupted her, his hand stilling over his work.

Narcissa cut off, her voice stopping in her throat mid-sentence to make an odd guttural sound. She looked around curiously, confused at why he stopped her. Aldrich was silent and still, his eyes unfocused as he seemed to be listening to something. He resumed writing after a few quiet moments, Narcissa still unmoving and watching him in her seat.

"Go on," he ordered her evenly.

"What was that? I don't understand what you were listening to. It's very rude to interrupt you know. Especially when you asked me the question," she huffed, looking around them again.

"I said go on," he said carefully, thoughtfully. "It's quite a simple direction, pet. Surely you are capable of figuring it out."

"Hmm," she replied irritably, considering her options. "Alright. Well, Bella is a bit.. Off. I'm sure you've heard stories."

"I've heard stories," he confirmed.

Narcissa squinted at him, adjusting her robes. "Of course you've heard stories. As I've heard stories about you."

"They must be decent tales seeing as you're so interested in me."

"As I was saying," she said, changing the subject. "Bella is difficult. I prefer Andromeda."

"But you aren't close with her?"

"Well.." Narcissa said slowly, thinking this over. "Well, yes. I suppose I am."

Aldrich paused for a moment, his head tilting slightly before resuming.

"Shame."

Draco was pulled from the recollections of the memories he had witnessed when Pansy's voice cut through the room. Her voice had always been particularly piercing. "Theo, don't you fancy yourself a wife soon?" Pansy Parkinson asked Nott who was sat near Blaise as he usually was. "Surely your parents must be pushing you."

Blaise had since calmed down since the incident, though he seemed entirely unwilling to stick around should it be mentioned, so no one had. Not that any of them seemed particularly interested in discussing his revolting, blood traitorous activities with the hideous Weasley female. Draco never did understand why so many had been taken with her. She was nothing special and the hair color was alarming, an eyesore. As well as that she acted as if she were a man, especially when she played Quidditch.

"Surely your parents must be pushing you, Pansy," Nott replied, raising an eyebrow at her. "Best you be concerned about yourself, no?"

Pansy rolled her eyes at him and tossed her dark hair back behind her shoulders. "Yes, they have. I will get to it eventually. I've been considering traveling first, maybe find myself a hobby abroad. I'm a bit sick of the wizards here. Bored, really," she said, her voice slightly a drawl as she tried to portray carelessness.

"Or you'd just like to run from your reputation," Draco said, looking to her lazily.

Pansy seemingly ground her teeth at his comment but gave him a cold smile. "My reputation is quite fine, thank you, fine enough to be comfortable. There are many men who would be perfectly content with having me. More than three pure-blood families exist, you know," she told him confidently, smoothing her clothes.

Pansy had always tried her best to put on a strong face, though she was quite weak in her true character. At Hogwarts she had desperately wanted him to commit to her as she offered herself to him so many times, seeking his affections, as if he could find anything worth being interested in as someone as shallow as her.

As if he could find anything worth being interested in anyone with as shallow as he was.

Still, she had been loyal to him, and he could appreciate that for what it was worth, Unfortunately for her, what she could offer him was worth very little. Pansy came from a very good name as far as bloodlines go, but as far as appearances and reputation her name was nothing favorable at the moment. If she had been a bit smarter about her choices and played the game correctly then perhaps she could have done some good to her name.

But of course, Pansy was an idiot.

She believed herself clever in that if she gained Draco's adorations then with how much Narcissa favored her son then she might arrange him to someone of his choosing, that someone being Pansy. It was quite a weak plan, but she had stuck through it throughout their school years despite the fact that Draco never committed to her and never showed her any care outside of a bit of friendship. Besides, she had overestimated Narcissa's affections for him, never would she have married Pansy to him. He suspected he would first be disowned before his mother allowed that to happen.

Pitiful girl.

He had to hand it to her, she was still proud and kept her head up, despite how ridiculous she seemed to so many. She kept her composure still, even when the other boys in their house would mock her for her pining, or when he would touch other girls right in front of her, knowing how it upset her.

Reveling in it.

"Whatever reason I may have, I need space from home," she said firmly, nodding to herself.

He couldn't imagine Pansy out on her own, trying to find a future outside from him, and he doubted she could imagine that herself, which was why she was needing to convince herself of it now.

"The Ministry won't let us leave," Blaise said, eyeing her.

Pansy waved her hand dismissively. "I've spoken to them and they've said I can be cleared to leave if I cooperate with conditions. The only ones fully fucked are actual Death Eaters." Pansy looked at Draco, tilting her head up. "You and Nott are basically on house arrest for who knows how long."

"I've left the Manor many times. As for the area: no matter. I have nothing to run from," Draco responded, uncaring.

"Some would disagree," she muttered, turning her slightly flattened face from him.

"What was that, Pansy? Did you have something worthwhile to say?" He asked her, narrowing his eyes slightly. She did have a habit of getting a nasty attitude when she wasn't getting her way, and she didn't get her way very often.

She had an attitude often.

"It's not as if Death Eaters are particularly favored in the public eye at the moment now are they, Draco?" She asked boldly, sitting up straighter and crossing one leg over the other.

"When did we start caring about what the public eye thought of us?" Nott scoffed, adjusting his sleeves as he watched her through slightly narrowed eyes.

"We always have. Don't play that, Theo. Pure-blood opinion matters first, yes, but we can't possibly hold much power without a decent public image. Draco's father had power in the Ministry before this, and now he's-"

"I suggest you shut your mouth about my father, Parkinson," Draco said softly, his voice low. "This is my home." As much as Draco resented his father at times, he still grew up looking up to him, and his pride for his family was strong. Much too strong to tolerate belittling.

Pansy closed her mouth and looked away from him, her defined jawline twitching. Yes, she was still obedient to him even now, even now that he was married and there was absolutely no trace of hope for her.

Because she loved him.

Or at least she had convinced herself of as much. He wasn't sure what she believed herself to love, as he never showed her any real part of him, whatever those real parts may be. He was sure she had invented him a personality for her to love, and over the years she had deluded herself into thinking that it was real. He supposed he was just all she had known, what she had latched onto from the beginning, and now she was too far gone to be able to break herself off without a fight.

"Come now, Pans," Nott cooed. "You know Malfoy only ever liked your mouth for one reason, and that wasn't for the words that come out of it. Consider a man who cares about more than that, I'm sure you'd be less miserable."

"Why? Are you offering yourself to me now, Nott?" Pansy said flatly, looking unamused at his mocking.

"Oh no. Sorry, love. I'll have to decline on having a go at Malfoy's leftovers."

"Interesting you say that, Nott," Draco said, narrowing his eyes at him. "As you seem quite interesting in having a go at my wife."

Nott turned his attentions on him and smirked before chuckling lightly. "The fact you're so bent out of shape about it must indicate that there is a possibility for me to succeed."

Draco's expression didn't change and he looked back to Pansy who was watching Nott irritably. He would love to see him even attempt to succeed passed his petty flirtatious comments toward Astoria. "Why would you ever be interested in Daphne's little sister?" Pansy said, wrinkling her nose. "She's so boring, and she's not even that pretty."

A witch was definitely gorgeous if Pansy felt the need to downgrade her looks, and of course, his wife was absolutely stunning. Pansy was decently attractive, and her body was good, but she was nothing next to Astoria.

Absolutely nothing.

"Who said I was? I don't recall confirming it. Malfoy is terribly insecure it seems. Understandable, seeing as Daphne's little sister seems to be the one interested in me," Nott said smoothly, tsking. "Poor Malfoy. Can't even get the baby Greengrass girl to only focus on him without her eyes wandering to something better."

"I don't recall her even looking your way in quite a while, Nott, and when she did it was over your advances. Your delusions have come quite a long way, haven't they? Do you dress up as me at night and stare in the mirror as you daydream about being me? As it seems all you've ever wanted was what I've had," Draco drawled, keeping his anger down.

The last thing he wanted was to award Nott with a reaction.

"I don't understand it either, Pansy. I think the girl is absolutely awful," Blaise commented, narrowing his eyes slightly as he spoke, causing Pansy to perk up a bit at his insult.

"The only reason she would be looking at anyone else is the fact that Draco probably has no interest in the twit and she's feeling lonely," Pansy quipped, looking slightly crossed at Draco arguing with Nott and showing care about arguing over another woman.

"Pansy, how lovely to see you," Astoria's voice came into the room clearly as she passed through the sitting him, stopping to stand near where he was sitting to smile at the incredibly bitchy faced woman.

"Wisteria, odd I nearly forgot your face," Pansy replied, looking her up and down with an unimpressed look. "Don't worry, being plain in appearance can be just as fine. It will help the better genes come out when you have children."

"I appreciate your positive encouragement about Draco and I's children. I will keep that in mind," Astoria replied sweetly, her smile widening.

Draco raised his eyebrow in amusement as Pansy puffed up slightly in irritation, not making any effort to stop any squabble that might rise between them. He wouldn't mind seeing his wife fight with another woman, though he doubted she would. "Hopefully your family history won't repeat itself and both your daughters and sons will turn out just fine should you have both," Pansy said tightly, smiling coldly at Astoria. "Don't want any to go missing."

Astoria gave a soft, incredibly chilling laugh that caused Draco to look up at her, slightly surprised at the sound that came from her. "As I hope the same for your future. I would hope you don't end up in a lowly bar somewhere, caught cheating on your husband with several random muggle men covered in your own drunken vomit to find yourself on the front of many papers that circulate our community. That would truly be unfortunate. Now, I'll have to ask you to please not attempt to insult me or my family again in my house after doing your sheer best to degrade me in front of my husband," Astoria said, the corners of her mouth falling in a childlike frown. "I will only ask you once."

"She'll only ask you once, Parkinson," Blaise commented mockingly, eyeing Astoria with amusement. "Who knows what she'll do should she have to ask again."

Yes, who knows. Draco was curious to find out since it seemed that his wife did actually carry out her threats seeing as what had happened with Blaise.

Pansy's eyes flashed horribly at Astoria's references to her mother and she moved forward in her seat, staring Astoria down. "How worried I am of your warning," she spat. "Don't worry, your family is incredibly ordinary to have much to say about. I mean.. Your father is so far from spectacular and your family is so lackluster that he has to hold things over nearly every person to gain this sort of false respect that was only received out of blackmail."

Astoria smiled and tilted her head, watching Pansy curiously for a while, and Draco began to think she wouldn't respond at all. It was quite a weak insult, but Pansy wasn't ever very clever. "Your mother has told me a lot about you. I've had quite a few conversations with her actually, sweet woman, very honest. It saddens me how.. Upset she is at her failure to have a son. It saddens me for you as well, Pansy. I know it must be hard to grow up with a mother's resentment who always wished you were something else, someone else. I mean, showing up first year with all of your hair cut off in result of your mother's drunken rage as she desired you a boy, well.. That's not something anyone would have an easy time dealing with. Unfortunately, alcoholic mothers do tend to produce rather pathetic and horribly envious children." Astoria paused and Draco ran her words through his head, surprised at the coldness in her overly sweet tone. "You want what you can't and will never have. It's terribly unfortunate, and I advise you not to touch what isn't yours. I'd advise you especially not to touch what's mine. I pity you, Pansy. Truly, I do, and let's not begin on what your father thinks of you. Oh no.. Though I have to say maybe your mother had the correct idea. You are not a proper witch in any sense, it might be best to be rid of your hair again, don't you agree?"

An odd expression crossed Pansy's upset and angry features as his wife spoke the last words in a deliberate and silken voice, a voice Draco could hardly recognize as hers. Astoria watched Pansy intently as Pansy slowly grabbed onto her shoulder-length hair with a shaky hand as unusual tears filled her eyes, her wand coming up underneath it next to her ear, seemingly about to comply with Astoria's words.

"Pansy," Blaise hissed, his eyes wild with confusion and alarm, looking from Pansy to Astoria.

Pansy froze for a moment, realizing what she was doing before standing quickly to point her wand at Astoria angrily, her eyes wild. Draco went to draw his own wand, intending to protect his wife again from another one of his friends she had upset, but Pansy was already disarmed, her wand in Astoria's hand. Draco watched in surprise, surely Pansy wasn't that incapable as a witch.

"You're very predictable, Pansy," Astoria said, scowling with false concern. "You ought to improve that. Now, I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave. I asked you once about your manners and you were unable to listen, and if I'm to have dogs in my house they at least need to be trained."

Draco heard Nott snort from across the room, his snort cutting off into a bewildered laugh.

Pansy stared at her, her body fully trembling now and she glanced at Draco and then to the other two men, seemingly wanting their help. No one offered her assistance as they were all equally stunned and not certain on how to react, especially since Pansy was not someone any of them really cared that strongly for.

"You're right.. I should give you time to learn. I mean, you have to be good for something," Astoria said sadly, her lower lip pouting out slightly and Draco watched her more intently, a desire for her coming over him as he watched her mock his previous lover.

She walked forward slightly, watching Pansy with even more intent than she had prior before smiling eerily. "Here," she offered softly before throwing Pansy's wand from the room and into the area of the main entrance of the Manor, not breaking her gaze she held with her.

Pansy's wand clattered against the wall in the other room but Pansy didn't move or flinch as Astoria watched her calmly.

"Fetch."

Draco studied the scene, a chill going through him as a tremor went through Pansy right before she dropped to her knees and began moving towards the direction of her wand.

Like a dog.

Blaise stood up and went to Pansy, picking her up roughly and spinning her to look at him as he looked at her as if she were completely mad. Pansy seemed to regain herself somewhat and yanked away from him forcibly, stumbling back before rushing out of the room, looking incredibly disturbed and upset. Silence hung in the air after the Manor door slammed in response to her exit.

"That was cruel, Astoria," Draco said slowly after a few moments, unsure of how to respond to the scene he had just witnessed. It was cruel. Cruel and unnerving, and he wasn't sure what exactly had happened.

Astoria blinked at him before a small laugh came from her throat, an odd knowing look crossing her eyes. She quickly controlled her laughter before she nodded calmly. "I'll be in the gardens."