Guys, it's getting way too warm way too quick! I am not ready for Spring, and I am most definitely NOT ready for Summer (yuck). I'm glad you seemed to enjoy the previous chapter! Lol, Draco definitely wasn't turning her into some sort of sex slave (and force myself to write that many sex scenes to fit that narrative? Unlikely. They are not my strong point). Oh gosh, you reread my chapters that much? The mistakes that must be found.. Yikes. Seriously though that's the sweetest thing ever, and all of you who just keep giving me feedback deserve prizes. I make great chocolate chip cookies. I'll make you some! I have finals this week, and I'm not excited for them. Who else has finals? Do all of you read on desktop? Because oh my gosh, how do you do it? It's hideous! I always read on the mobile app, and APPARENTLY on desktop it doesn't bold my author's notes which is.. So annoying.. Blegh. I recommend the mobile app! Anyway, this chapter is a bit longer. As always, tell me your amazing thoughts as I reread and cherish them!

I don't own anything from Harry Potter.

"What did Draco say? Did you convince him? Is he going to let me see her?" Daphne asked Adrian as soon as he returned back to their home and his eyes widened and he held up his hands.

"Woah there, treacle. Let me breathe for a moment, yeah?"

She glared impatiently, crossing her arms.

Adrian made a show of sucking in a few breaths as he leaned a hand on the canopy rail of his bed, crossing one leg over the other.

"Are you serious," she demanded flatly, narrowing his eyes at him.

He held up a finger, giving her a warning look. "The more you nag the slower I want to take my breaths."

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and tapped her foot anxiously, the desire to strangle him growing stronger. He thought he was so funny, didn't he?

"Draco was a prick as always, but I think I got into his head a bit. Saw some things in that Pensieve that were a smidge heavy for my tastes, but it was insightful all the same. I think he will let you back eventually, dove, but give it time. He pissed me off, really. I don't know how I've managed to stand him for this long. Are you going to get dressed? We have to eat with my parents, and then we have to go out to.. I forget which family's.." He trailed off, looking up at the ceiling.

"The Hadaways," she answered for him and he groaned loudly in response. "I am dressed. You just want me to get less dressed and into one of those less than lingerie dresses.."

Adrian's head snapped up and he grinned at her, eyeing her body. "I'd like to see you in less than lingerie. However, I don't care what you wear. Wear a sack if you will, but my mother on the other hand will have something to say about it."

Daphne scowled and went to him and turned, waiting for him to unzip the dress she was wearing now. Once he did so she slipped it off, going to her wardrobe to find a more suitable piece of clothing for the occasion. She ignored the feeling of his eyes on her body, determined to not feel so horrible about being in her undergarments in front of her own husband. A mistake, she quickly realized, as she wanted to run immediately to the bathroom to hide herself in shame.

"We should skip, and you can just stay in that. Or not. You could take the rest off too. I wouldn't protest," he suggested, a sensual lilt in his tone.

"We have to, Adrian," she told him, her face hardening as she fought a blush. "I don't want your parents upset."

"I always upset them by skipping," he said dismissively.

"Exactly. I want to be a good influence. I like your mother and I want her to like me," she said, hoping to impress at least one set of pure-blood parents in her lifetime.

She turned to blink up at him when he had crossed the room to join her at her side. His fingers slid into her hair as he cupped the back of her head gently, kissing her lightly for only a moment before pulling back and kissing her forehead.

"You're sweet. Thank you for being so respectful towards her," he murmured, his voice sincere.

Daphne looked down at his chest shyly, surprised by his sudden change of character as well as the kiss. "She's been kind to me, and I don't want to let anyone down. I'm already out of place here as it is."

"You're not out of place. You're exactly exactly where you're meant to be. You're Daphne Pucey, yeah?"

"I suppose," she sighed, looking up to meet his eyes. Hazel and warm.

"Though we've still yet to really confirm things," he pointed out, raising an eyebrow before glancing down her body which she covered instinctively. "How is the magic meant to set when we are not fulfilling our marriage duty? And why are you doing that? Think I don't like how you look or something?"

She frowned, forcing her hands back down before looking down at her own body, unsatisfied with what she saw. She had already put on weight only in the small amount of time she had been there, and though she knew and was reassured she looked better, still a part of her was horrified with herself. "I'm sure you have many better looking women to compare me to. Besides, you already told me how you thought I was too skinny."

Adrian grimaced, shaking his head. "First of all. Don't listen to me when I'm being an arsehole. It'll happen often, but just ignore it. You look much healthier already. Second of all. My wife is not being compared to anyone. Ever," he told her firmly, tilting her chin up so she'd look up at him once more. "You're not competing with anyone anymore. I'm yours. This is your home."

You're not competing with anyone anymore.

He kept making her emotional, and she was sure he was tired of her hugs by now so she refrained as she felt a smile break across her face. She leaned up to kiss him as she felt her eyes well up, hesitantly wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling even more vulnerable with her arms raised. Somehow, she felt oddly comforted, safe in this moment as he returned her kiss with a slowness that allowed her to explore how his warm mouth felt on hers on her own accord. He broke the kiss when saltiness from one of her tears joined their mouths and he scowled, wiping another tear with his thumb.

"I swear you make me feel like shit that you get so touched by the smallest things I say. You're giving me way too much credit, love. You're just used to extreme pricks," he muttered, searching her eyes "At least wait until I'm actually trying to charm you. This is far from my best work."

"It's good work, still. I appreciate it. A lot," she told him sincerely, tightening her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry if I'm.. Frigid. I can tell you're trying. I promise I am too."

"I know you're trying, Daphne. Don't be sorry for anything. Now, as much as I enjoy your new affection, we have to go eat before we leave."

Daphne nodded, pulling away from him to grab one of the less offensively revealing dresses and slipped it on, going to the bathroom to touch up her face. "I need a proper vanity in the room, Adrian," she said loudly for him to hear, irritable at having to do her makeup and hair in the bathroom.

"What?" He asked and she could practically hear the squint of his eyes in his voice. "You want to do what to my bedroom, woman?"

"It's our bedroom," she corrected, adding a bit of curl to her hair with her wand and dabbing perfume onto her neck before stepping back out. "There are a few changes I'd like to make, actually. It's much too.. Bachelor in here."

"Mama? Is that you?" He asked incredulously before offering his arm as he scoffed at her.

Her gaze narrowed and she took his arm, allowing him to guide her to the dining hall to meet his parents who were already chatting along with each other when they came to sit as Daphne greeted them politely.

"You are so gorgeous. You will make the best babies," Olena exclaimed, turning to Adrian before a string of fast words from her own language left her lips. Daphne blinked and glanced at Rhys who raised his eyebrows at her and took a drink.

"Don't worry. I can't understand them either when they do this. We are in the dark together."

Daphne smiled at him, glancing at Adrian when he responded back to her fluently.

"She's a fraud you know. She can speak English much better than she acts like she can," Rhys went on, eyeing his wife who stopped to give him a look.

"I'm not a fraud," she said, scowling to Daphne. "It's just easier to act like you can't say a lot of words back when someone is telling you a lot of words you don't care about."

Daphne noticed her accent was lesser now, though still present, and her words were much more fluent. She wondered why she had kept up her apparent act in front of her up until this point. "So.. You act like you can't speak English very well so you don't have to work as hard as a hostess?"

Rhys snorted with laughter and Olena tilted her head considerably. "Well it doesn't sound good when you say it like that!" She exclaimed before swatting at him. "Of course I can speak English well after so long of living with this one. As if he can try and learn my language."

"I did learn it, but you know I can't understand when you speak as fast as you do."

"Well it is not my problem you're an idiot! I'm not going to just talk slowly just for your sake. That's not my job! I'll sound like everyone who talks to me like I'm stupid," she huffed. "No need for everyone to talk to me like I'm stupid, I can understand them without them yelling slowly at me like a child."

"You choose to seem like you can't understand them very well," Rhys pointed out.

"Doesn't excuse the yelling. What makes them think I cannot hear? Because English is not my first language I am now unable to hear? Daphne, how many languages can you speak?"

Daphne was trying to get over the fact Olena had called her husband stupid at the dinner table and she shook her head slightly in surprise before replying. "Four. English, German, French, and Italian."

"Hmm. Yes, and Adrian can speak more than I know with everywhere he travels when he likes to leave his poor family and upset us. Yet.. My Rhys can speak only English," Olena quipped, cutting into her food.

"No. I can speak French, and-"

"Every man with a bit of money can speak French," she cut him off dismissively. "You are not special."

"And I can speak yours, but you must go slow," he finished, looking unbothered by her interrupting him.

"Yes, well. Daphne will learn and then you will be the only one who can't understand. German? Your grandmother was German, I know. I met her before! My mother and I were here for a while, before I moved permanently, and it was some sort of large event. I don't remember which. They all become one after time. Anyway, she was the only one who couldn't speak English well like my mother. Sweetest woman I've met! I saw Freya too. She just was stuck to her the whole time, all shy. Much more timid than she is now. Shame she is gone and you were never able to meet her," Olena prattled, frowning.

Adrian shifted slightly next to her and there was an odd expression on his face that Daphne couldn't identify. "My mother doesn't really talk about her, but we do visit that side of her family sometimes. My uncle and grandfather live in Germany near them now, as their home was destroyed years ago and they prefer the pure-bloods there. My great-grandmother is still alive. I like her best there."

"That's right it was destroyed! So sorry to hear about that. From what people say it was a beautiful and historical home, and it was a shock to have it lost. Were the people who did it found? Who could know who would do it? Our people have many enemies don't they? So glad to know you keep in touch with your roots. I'd love to meet this grandmother of yours. How is Freya doing? I've always liked her. I was only here for the last few years at Hogwarts, but I always found her funny. Don't think she likes me much. I won't take it personally. I don't think she likes anyone. Oh, wow. I remember in class, I was partnered with Sylvia Nott, who was one of us, did you know? More in our circle? Well, Sylvia said something to Freya about her mother. Oooh, wow! Freya got up and went to her like she was going to do attack her in the middle of the lesson. Then, the teacher made threats about if he saw their wands come out, so Freya took both her and Sylvia's wand and threw them across the room and got in her face like she was going to fight her without a wand! Oooh! They were separated before it happened, but I did not sit by Sylvia anymore. I can't be in that line of crazy. No thank you. After that her and her friend Joseph never let up on Sylvia, and then Sylvia had to marry him! Crazy! No?"

"Talks a lot, doesn't she?" Rhys said, widening his eyes at Daphne. "Love, we actually need to eat before we leave."

Olena grumbled to herself incoherently and nodded. "Yes. We will eat now. We will discuss this later. Oh! Speaking of, my mama will actually be coming here. Don't make that face, Rhys. Rude," she said, not even looking at her husband's face to know it was covered in a grimace. "You can meet her and she will love you. Such a beautiful girl. Beautiful babies."

Daphne could only really smile and nod, not knowing which to reply to first. Luckily, Olena didn't seem to be waiting for a response as she switched her attention to her food for a while before talking to Adrian again, leaving English behind once more.

"How are you settling in, Daphne?" Rhys asked her, his voice calm and kind.

"Ah.. The best I can, Mr. Pucey. It's much different than I expected. I hope to not embarrass you, but I think I attracted the wrong attention at your party," she told him apologetically, shifting in her seat.

"You'll be fine. There are so many of them, a couple parties of you wondering around like a frightened mouse will be soon forgotten," he told her reassuringly.

Olena gasped and pointed her fork in Daphne's direction. "That made me think of something! Did you see Terence? Do you know Terence Higgs?"

"Yes. I spoke to him. He told me I was doing a very horrid job of being a Pucey."

Olena jerked her head back, looking highly offended. "How rude. How is he insulting my personal pick for my own family? Rude. So rude," she muttered, glaring at the table as she thought to herself. "Adrian, why is your friend insulting my daughter?"

"No idea, mama. I'll have to ask him myself."

"He did give me good advice not to take anything from Adrian's friends," Daphne said, defending Terence slightly as she looked to Adrian from the side of her eyes.

"Don't take anything from Adrian either. He's very bad. Very bad boy. Anyway, what was I saying before you told me that boy was rude? Oh! Yes, Terrence's older brother married a woman similar to you years ago. She fits nicely now, could be better, but. It's good, it's fine. She's fine." Olena waved her hand, nodding. "Charlotte is her name. Charlotte.. What was she before, Adrian? You went to school with her."

"I was in first or second year when she graduated," he snorted. "I'd hardly say I went to school with her. Charlotte Blythe."

"Yes! Maybe you two will be friends?"

Daphne laughed loudly, covering her mouth apologetically. "Ah.. I know of her, Mrs. Pucey," she replied politely, clearing her throat.

Adrian gave her a knowing look and Olena blinked at the two of them. "Okay. I will be outside of the joke this time I think," she said, looking at her husband before fussing with his clothes.

Ophelia watched Edric for a while, surprised at his sudden interest in her. Well, she shouldn't be too surprised, seeing as what had just happened during their class. "About my birthing situation you mean?" She asked him, feeling slightly defensive.

"If you'd like. If that's something that's a large part of you. If it's not, then no," he answered levelly.

Ophelia opened her mouth to answer when she felt something brush against her leg and a small shriek left her lips. She scrambled away fearfully, instinctively towards the tall and study man next to her, knocking into him.

He seemed to slightly cringe at the noise she made before his face became neutral again and he motioned to the grey cat eyeing her, flicking its tale. "Careful. She's a vicious creature," he said dryly, leaning away a bit as she was touching him.

A sigh of relief left her lips before her face heated up and she scooted away from him, apologizing under her breath in her embarrassment.

"You are rather loud," he observed, brushing his clothes slightly and she scowled at his hands that were brushing the invisible residue he seemed to think she had left on him.

"Is that your cat?" She asked, nodding to the animal as it blinked at her and came to rub against her again.

"Mmm," he confirmed.

Ophelia pressed her lips together to hold back a giggle at the thought of the intimidating Slytherin choosing such a pet. "What's her name?"

"She has a collar if you decide to be observant."

Ophelia narrowed her eyes at his rudeness but decided against complaining as she reached for his pet's tag, reading the name. "Titania. That's cute," she commented. "You really like Astronomy." She let the cat climb in her lap, purring as it rubbed against her.

"Does your mother?" He asked.

"Does my mother what? Oh.. Does she like Astronomy? No, actually my name came from Shakespeare."

"Ah. A woman who loved a man who treated her horribly, eventually went mad, and died if I recall correctly. Quite a character to be named after," he remarked.

"Interesting that you're familiar with Shakespeare," she said slowly, watching him oddly.

"Not terribly interesting. I've read a bit of his work for comparison purposes," he replied indifferently.

"And?"

Edric made a sound that indicated he was not very impressed and Ophelia rolled her eyes. Of course he wouldn't be.

"How is it being Head Boy?" She sniffed, looking back down at her work which was now halfway covered by the cat in her lap.

Of course he was Head Boy.

"I recall asking about you," he pointed out, his voice graced with his usual annoyingly charming and almost patronizing lilt.

She went quiet for a moment, scratching behind Titania's ears as she thought. "My mother was attending a private school on a program that allowed for particularly promising students to attend in limited amounts on scholarship. This is where she met my father who aided her in becoming pregnant with me at only sixteen, you can imagine the disgrace, and of course on top of that it was a religious school. My father couldn't be associated with such a scandal, and she was forced to drop out of school to have me. He offered her money in assistance.. But that was the extent of it. Oh, and this necklace your sister complimented," she laughed without humor, touching the pendant that hung at her neck. "My mother refused his money out of pride and so she had to try to raise me mostly by herself on less education than she would have gotten had she not had me to worry about. She works very hard, but I know she feels like she's the worst mother. It's been harder lately because my grandmother recently has become incapable of taking care of herself completely on her own, and my mother has had to take off time at work to take care of he. Sometimes I feel like she should have just taken the money, but.. I feel she may have grown to be feel even lower about herself if she had done that. Pride, of course. Always pride. After your mother threw her pity money at her she went home and to her room where I assume she cried for hours."

Edric paused to look up at her, watching her calmly. She tried to read his expression from where her eyes were trained on the ground, but she was forced to meet his eyes.

"It is unfortunate you have had to pay for mistakes that weren't yours. I apologize for my mother, her behavior can be alarming, but I assure you that she does not hand out pity and that is not what it was."

"Yes, well. It isn't the only thing that is out of my control that people look down on my family for."

He said nothing to this, and they were quiet for a long time before she spoke again. "He has other children. With his wife. I see his family in the papers. It's.. An odd feeling. He's never tried to contact me. As a little girl I would get very upset about it, which would really kill my mother, but now I just.. I don't know how I feel. I do know that it drives me insane that my mother was so shamed and looked down on for dropping out of school at such a young age to have a child, but the man who was just as responsible was able to graduate, go on to University, and has never stopped receiving praise for every little thing he does just because he's famous for his family's company. My mother took responsibility, she works hard, she hurts, and he.. He just has everything for no reason," she said, a bitter sadness coming over her voice.

"Why do you wear his gift then?"

She looked down at the pendant and picked it up to examine it. "I've considered selling it. I'm sure I could pay for a lot of things I actually need with this," she told him, shaking her head slightly. "I don't know. My mother gave it to me when I was ten. It just.. I don't know. I really don't know why I keep it or wear it. It's not for materialistic reasons. I don't want you to think that. I don't need to cling to something just because it's expensive."

"I didn't think that."

She studied him for a while, wondering why she felt so comfortable telling him these things. Perhaps it was because he didn't try to smother her with pity or give her regurgitated and cliche advice. He came from a similar world her father had. Actually, it seemed he came from an even more bigoted and old fashioned one. "I'm sure you see more from my father's side."

He seemed to consider this for a while, and she waited for him to say something back to that but he never did. She wasn't sure what that meant.

"Your family is very beautiful. Your sisters are sweet," she told him, changing the subject slightly.

"One of my sisters complained about mudbloods right in front of you, and the other is more mischievous than anything. I believe sweet was not the word you were looking for," he offered.

She pursed her lips, feeling odd now that he had acknowledged his sister using the term.

"And is that what you think of me?" She asked quietly, nervous for his answer.

"Mmm?"

"A mudblood."

"It's best not to ask questions that you are not prepared to accept either answer for," he responded smoothly.

"Is that a yes?" She asked, swallowing as she tried to fight her feelings from being too hurt by this.

"That's not what I said."

She frowned, confused by this and decidedly changed the subject back to his sisters instead, as he was right and she would react poorly if his answer was yes. "You seem to love them very much."

She caught his face softening slightly. "I do."

He became even more attractive to her then as he showed her a more emotional side of himself, a loving side. Even if it was only a glimpse. For a moment he became much more human to her, rather than this handsome and unapproachable being that she had oddly become taken with against her better judgement.

"Oh.. I never got to tell you. I'm sorry about Charlotte. I heard you two were engaged," she told him after a while awkwardly, grimacing uncomfortably.

"I don't care about her, and as you could tell my family wasn't torn up about it."

"Yes, I could tell that," she breathed, not understanding them or how they worked at all. "She was though. I felt really horrible. Your mother didn't have to do that in front of everyone."

"My mother doesn't have to do a lot of things and yet you will find she does them anyway."

"Her father looked so angry.. I feared he was going to hit her."

"Perhaps he did," Edric said simply and her head snapped up to his.

"You don't mean that, do you? You don't think he actually hit her?"

"I wouldn't be surprised."

Ophelia put a hand on her temple, guilt burrowing in her stomach for the girl. She didn't like her at all, but she didn't want to be the cause of something like that.

"You were cruel. How you reacted after. Like she was worthless."

"You believe that I was cruel?" He chuckled. "You should have been paired with another pure-blood to really show you what cruelty entails."

A chill ran through her at his words and she fiddled with her quill, shifting uncomfortably.

"Don't feel bad for her. She wouldn't feel bad for you, I can assure you of that."

"That isn't a reason to not feel bad for her," she said firmly. "Two wrongs do not make a right."

He snorted loudly at that and she saw him roll his eyes, much to her irritation. "Well, I can assure you she will try to right your supposed wrong at any moment, and I would keep an eye out."

"What do you mean..?" She asked him worriedly, frowning as his lips curled up slightly.

"You didn't think you could take a pure-blood's husband without repercussions did you?"

Weeks after he had told her this, she was in the hallway outside of the Deputy Headmistress's office with her mother who had been called to Hogwarts and escorted specially into the castle just to discuss the "fighting" Ophelia had been participating in. It was absolutely ridiculous the efforts they had gone to just to bring her muggle mother into Hogwarts for such a reason, but Charlotte's parents had demanded Ophelia the same treatment Charlotte had received. Though, Ophelia was the victim, and had only been defending herself.

"It's completely ridiculous that you've been brought here, mum," she muttered to her as they left the office, looking at her mother's work uniform. "I'm sorry."

"It's completely unlike you to be getting into fights at school," her mother said stiffly, her eyes traveling around the castle uncomfortably. "I raised you better."

"I'm not getting into fights. It's Blythe who keeps coming after me. What am I meant to do? Just let her attack me?" She asked her, shaking her head.

"And why does she have a problem with you?" Her mother's voice was cool, and Ophelia stepped back at the clear disappointment for her in her voice. "She certainly doesn't look like anyone who would even be associating with you in order to have a problem with you."

"I.. I didn't do anything. I just-"

"You did something. In that book shop. You said something, and I saw her look at you. Then that woman went off on her. You did that. What did you do."

"Nothing, mum.. I just saw her being inappropriate with a professor. I wasn't watching my mouth and I said it out loud. She was supposed to marry Edric, and that was his mother in the shop, but-"

"That boy," she interrupted her, anger filling her eyes. "This is all over that boy? You're humiliating other girls over that boy?"

"No. It has nothing to do with him. I told you-"

"It has everything to do with him," she snapped. "Don't act like it isn't, Ophelia. You knew what you were doing. You may buy your own innocent act, but I know you better. You do not step over others to get what you want in life, and as of right now you want what you will never have so I suggest you stop making unnecessary enemies along the way to your disappointment."

"Oh really?" Ophelia scoffed, shocked and offended her mother was taking Charlotte's side of all people. "Seems to work great for people like them!"

Her mother stopped and narrowed her eyes, walking towards her so her face was near hers. "Do you think that woman in the shop goes home to a happy life? Do you think her life is fulfilled being the soulless creature that she is? Is that what you want to be?"

Ophelia took a step back, nearly fuming now. She hadn't done anything to deserve a scolding like this. "All I know is that her children don't have to work over breaks to help make money for the family, her children don't have to worry about being able to afford all of their school supplies, and her children don't have to miss apparition lessons because they can't afford only twelve bloody galleons," she ground out in her frustration, her voice growing louder as she spoke.

Ophelia regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth and her heart sank when her mother stumbled back slightly as if she'd been slapped, a shuddering breath leaving her lips.

"Mum.." She started apologetically, reaching for her.

Her mother stepped out of her reach, shaking her head as her face hardened. "You can't make me more ashamed of myself or the life I've given you than I have already made myself," she said softly, her voice breaking before it got louder, angrier. "But don't you dare make me ashamed of you too."

With that, her mother turned her heel to walk away from her before she could reply, joining the man who had helped her into the castle so he could return her back to their muggle world.

Draco stared at his sleeping wife next to him, conflicting thoughts in his head. He hadn't meant to fuck her the way he had, hadn't meant to touch her at all, but the memory of Nott had been far too much for him to handle. Did Nott honestly think he had a right to claim Astoria as his? Astoria Malfoy? The woman who had Draco's ring on her finger and whose magic was bonded to him and him alone?

She was his witch.

Draco narrowed his eyes and trailed a finger down her arm, watching the fine blonde hairs on her skin rise as goosebumps appeared under his touch. He would like to see Nott put his hands on her once more after he had magically branded her. Dark magic that he had learned in his time alone in the Manor while he had needed distractions to keep his mind off of everything once the war had ended. Her skin would appear unflawed as it always had unless Draco deemed otherwise, or until a man with feelings such as Nott came along to try and put his hands on her. He almost hoped Nott would, just so he would see who she truly belonged to.

His and his alone.

Yet still there was something in his chest that pained him when he looked at her with the knowledge that she was in love with another man. She loved him still after what he had done to her, after he had admitted that it had started as a plot to ruin her. Still, she loved him.

Draco had no idea how to make her love him.

He pulled his hand back, going over the thought again. Was that what he cared about? Whether or not she loved him? Of all the things he should be caring about, and he was thinking about how his cheating wife didn't love him.

Ridiculous.

She turned over tiredly to face him in her sleep, her face delicate and peaceful in her deep rest. Her curls fell over the side of her face slightly, covering her lips that were marked with a bit of dry blood from where his teeth had assaulted them. He brushed her hair out of her face gently, assessing the lightened rings under her eyes. His eyes moved from her face and down her neck and chest, examining the marks he had made with his mouth, feeling a fresh wave of possession roll over him. He remembered the sound of his name come from her lips during her pleasure, the pleasure he had not intended to give her, but had been unable to help himself at the idea of her thinking of another man when he touched her.

Not to mention how bloody good she was. Obedient and pure, still and sweet for him as he did what he wanted to her just until the end when she truly couldn't handle it anymore and disobeyed him with her embrace as she had clung to him. Knowing how well she controlled herself her break of control had been an odd sort of triumph for him, and it made him want her all the more. The sounds she made were music to him, raw and real, none of them made to sound overly sensual or rehearsed. She was his sweet and innocent witch who didn't have to make an effort to be sexy or desired, but simply was sexy in her natural and youthful state without trying or knowing it.

The voice of her professing her love to Nott violated his train of thought and he turned away from her, bitterness clawing at his throat. How easy it was to forget his anger for her, but not as easy to forget the hurt he was feeling for a reason beyond him.

She had claimed to care about him, but he did not see how that could be, as he had done nothing to make her care about him. He had been trying to make the marriage work somewhat, yes, but he certainly hadn't been attempting to charm her as Nott had or attempted to let her in. So was she honest when she had said this? Could he believe the things she told him even if they sounded as sincere as they did?

He thought of his mother and how she loved his father even now when he had gone completely mad. She loved him still through all he had put her through. Draco didn't want to be like his father, but he didn't want to be vulnerable either. He had been the slightest bit vulnerable with her and it had ended in him being hurt, and he had to accept now that it had been more than just his pride that had been hurt. He was in danger of becoming just as much hers as she was his, and in more than just a physical sense.

He let out a slow breath through his nose, unsure of what to do with her. She would wake up soon, and he should leave before she did.

Didn't he always avoid her?

He did always avoid her, and for good reason. She consumed him and made him feel trapped, and some of the things he had found in her head he didn't know how to feel about.

He stilled when she stirred, her eyes opening halfway tiredly to find him, reaching for him sleepily before stopping herself and tucking her hand beside her. A rip of desire to drag her to him as she reached for him went through him as he watched her retract her hand, following his orders not to touch him, and he half wished she had touched him anyway.

"You're still here," she said curiously, her voice thick with sleep.

"Mmm. So are you somehow," he replied, forcing his tone into its usual coldness with her.

"Thank you," she told him, frowning.

"Sit up and I will call for food. You look better when you eat properly."

"You want me to eat in bed again?" She asked grimacing. "Shouldn't we eat at the table?"

He raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to proceed. "By all means then."

Astoria nodded and gathered the sheet around her to stand only for a few moments before sitting back down. "Maybe I will eat in bed just once more," she murmured, gathering herself back onto the bed. "For lunch I will eat at the table."

"Mhm." Yes, that's what he thought. Her body had already been weak without all of their activities from the night before.

"Why are you still here?"

"It's my bedroom."

"Yes, but. I expected you to be gone."

"I'm not."

"I can see that," she said, her voice nearly short as she scowled.

"Attitude already and I've only just allowed you back in my presence?" He asked challengingly,

She apologized and he shook his head, calling for the elf to bring her some breakfast which she seemed to eat just fine.

"Have you been using my father's Pensieve?" She asked after awhile, appearing nervous.

"Yes."

She looked to him expectantly, obviously wanting him to go on with what he had seen and experienced.

"You will see for yourself," he said dismissively.

She pressed her lips together and nodded after a few seconds. "So what am I allowed now?"

"Meaning?"

"You locked my out of the library and the gardens, and you've kept my sister from coming. So what am I allowed now?"

"We'll see."

"See what?"

"You spread your legs once and suddenly you believe you have a right to everything again," he said shortly, watching her look down in slight offense to the words he had used.

"I'm sorry I just.. Have been trapped with my thoughts. I just want to get away from them," she said softly, licking the dried blood from her lip.

Ah, how he understood her completely.

"I'll owl your sister."