A/N: I finally got this finished up! It was a beast and I actually did not have it beta'd properly, so please forgive the awful mistakes!

Hope you all enjoy it!

Astoria and Draco returned from Paris and began settling into life at Malfoy Manor.

Traditionally, the younger Malfoy's would have found other housing after their honeymoon but Draco wanted to stay close to his Mother for now. He had mentioned they might look for something in the next few months but for now, this was home.

Their wing had a small sitting room and dining room, a reading room where Astoria could take tea and a study for Draco. There were a couple other small rooms that were decorated as guest rooms but the one that was directly adjacent to their room with a door that joined them was bare. Its walls were light yellow and had a navy tray ceiling with twinkly star lights speckled with constellations.

She wandered into the empty room, letting her fingers trail along the molding as she walked the perimeter before finally settling on the bench seat in the window alcove.

"Do you like it?" Narcissa appeared in the doorway with a tired smile, leaning heavily on her cane.

Astoria shot to her Mother in Law's side, guiding her by the elbow to the window seat and joining her there.

"I do," Astoria gave Narcissa a small but charming smile. "A nursery, a presume?"

Narcissa gave a shy smirk, that reminded the young witch of her husband. "It was Draco's, many, many years ago.."

"Really?" Shock colored her voice at hearing this. It wasn't traditional for the younger generation to move into the Manor until the elder had retired to a smaller property.

"Yes. Lucius and I lived in this wing until his father died, which was rather long," Cissy replied, her eyes distant, remembering a life from long ago, "Draco spent the first 2 or 3 years in this room. When I moved in," she grinned in memory, "The walls were a deep emerald green with black finishings. I was appalled! For a Nursery! There was a pewter snake chandelier and dark carpets. Looked a macabre version of a nursery… I immediately changed it."

"I like the yellow," Astoria said quietly, "Although, I'm not sure how soon the room will go to use," Tori confessed, thinking of their one failed attempt at consummation. The one that had ended abruptly and certainly not in his the way that would ensure a Malfoy heir.

The rest of the week of their honeymoon they had shared a few kisses. Nothing passionate or even friendly… they were chaste and quick– obligatory. He always had a tightness to his mouth that tasted like guilt.

He felt like he was cheating, she reasoned. Like he was cheating on Hermione Granger with his own wife. The resounding sting had been enough that she didn't try anything else.

"I'm sure you two will in your own time," Narcissa smiled. "Children bring such a happiness to your life. I can see your worried but I assure you it's quite normal, you know." The elder witch patted Astoria's knee and the blonde witches brows knitted tightly in confusion.

"Normal?"

"To be worried about fertility. I think every witch has moments of doubt when they first start trying to conceive-"

"Oh, no it's not that. I just -" Astoria began wringing her hands together and stared sadly at her lap.

Cissy reached out placing a shaking hand on hers.

"You're a lovely girl, Astoria. Be patient with each other."

Narcissa called for their house elf who arrived suddenly.

"Poppy, can you take me back to my sitting room. I'm rather tired."

"Yes, Mistress." The elf held out her nobby hand.

Narcissa placed a kiss on Astoria's temple and then grabbed onto the elf's hand, apparating away silently.

Astoria was left in the emptiness of the room and she filled it– filled it with dreams and ideas for furniture and tapestries. Filled it with visions of her rocking their blonde headed baby to sleep.

Hope was born in this empty room.

Days passed.

Maybe a week or two.

Astoria wandered the halls and went out shopping. She ate dinner with the Malfoys and then read in her sitting room until Draco would come to bed.

Some nights he wouldn't. She knew he was there, in the Manor, but he wasn't in their bed and even when he did join her there, it was so late she often pretended to be asleep and he was gone before she woke.

During this time Blaise returned, she'd spotted him once or twice around Diagon Alley and was photographed with Draco on occasion. Apparently, her ex forgiven Draco. It was still crickets for her, which she wasn't surprised about but the truth of it still stung.

Astoria had been shopping in Diagon one Tuesday afternoon before meeting her sister for lunch when she happened across Draco's office. She paused, about to stroll past and head onto the cafe at the corner when something stopped her.

She peered at the front door and decided to pop in for a quick hello– maybe ask if Draco wanted to join her and her sister for lunch or if she could bring him anything after. She climbed the wooden stairs that creaked with history of its former tenants until she found herself in the empty foyer of Malfoy Consulting.

Her nose scrunched at the lack of decor and silently amended that she could help by dressing the entry up. She was walking towards Draco's office when she passed the conference room and stopped mid-step upon seeing Blaise, chatting easily with Theo in the conference room.

"Well, Missus Malfoy," Blaise said with a tight click of his jaw, "Marriage looks good on you."

"Blaise," she breathed, her heart plummeting.

"Hey, Astoria," Theo greeted absently, distracted by the file in his hand and none the wiser of the tension unfolding before him, "Draco's at the Ministry, did you need something?"

Blaise stared at her with amused eyes that she didn't understand and she shook her head, waking herself from her trance.

"I was meeting Daph and passed by," she replied with her eyes transfixed on Blaise, her heart aching to be in his arms for just one more moment. "I didn't realize Draco would be out. I'll just–"

Theo interrupted her, licking the pad of his thumb and flipped a page, "Still preliminary but Draco signed us up to help with some Dragon issue that Granger is heading up. Should be pretty huge for us, lots of publicity with the Golden Girl on it."

Astoria paled slightly and her hands tightened on her pocketbook.

"Granger? Hermione Granger?" her eyes flickered from Blaise to Theo, her teeth grinding against each other.

"Yea," Theo's eyes bounced up to her, a smile playing on his lips. "Is there another Granger?

Blaise's eyes tightened and watched her carefully and she felt she could rip the seams of her robes if she might just be able to get a full breath.

"Right. Brilliant. That'll be great for you all," Astoria gulped. "I'm off."

She turned and Theo called out, "We will be sure to let Draco know you stopped by!"

"It's not important," she murmured and backed towards the exit.

She heard Blaise mumble something to Theo and his steps quickly behind her as he caught her elbow.

"Tori," he hissed at her when she tried to snatch her arm back.

"What are you doing here?" she reared on him, tears welling up in her eyes for any number of reasons.

He snorted, "I work here. Draco offered me the position, and I thought, 'What the hell?'"

"You forgive him so easily? But not me?"

"I don't not forgive you, Astoria. Was I not allowed a reaction to you marrying my best mate? I knew it was an inevitability but it still sucks. I'm still the one who's not married and now single."

She wiped a tear from her eyes.

"It's not like that, with Draco and I. We aren't... " she didn't know how to say it, "It's just not like that."

Blaise gave her a sad smile and squeezed her upper arms gently.

"For your sake, I hope it will be someday. You deserve to be happy, Tori. I wish-" he seemed on the brink of a declaration and stopped, remembering that she was now Draco's wife. "I wish nothing but the best for you both."

She chewed on her cheek and nodded, turning to leave.

"It's her then? Granger? The girl Draco fell for in Colombia?"

She gave a broken little laugh and shook her head. "Yes. The one he never fell out of love with, actually and the girl who I'm going to be competing with for the rest of my life. I might laugh if it wasn't so damn tragic."

"Tragic?"

"Tragic that I left the man I love, to watch my husband pine over the girl he wants more than anything. Some girls get all the luck."

At lunch, Daphne was practically vibrating with anxious energy as she sat across from Astoria, her foot twitching back and forth and shaking their small table until Tori snapped.

"Are you alright?" Tori said with a harsh edge to her voice. She took a calming breath, trying to remember her ire was not with her sister.

"Yes!" she almost screamed and Tori flinched. "Well, I asked you to come here because," Tori felt her stomach church with concrete and fall deeper into her gut, "I'm pregnant!"

Tori was listening - she was most definitely listening but everything was muddled behind a constant whooshing noise in her ears. She was smiling, wasn't she? She pulled her cheeks tight so widen her grin and she must have been doing a good enough job because Daphne was prattling on about her first trimester and her Obstetrics healer, who she apparently adored.

Astoria nodded in all the right places and offered her congratulations along with a fierce hug but something nagged at her deep in her own belly.

One night a week, Tori and Draco usually made an effort to be seen about town. He had owled her earlier that day letting her know he'd made reservations at the Toad and Lily but that he wouldn't have time to come and collect her, so would she mind just apparating and meeting him at the maitre'd desk?

Her husband. Ever the romantic.

She dressed in a simple form-fitting black dress that ended just below her knees and draped her fine cloak over her shoulders before Apparating to the nearest point near the Toad and Lily.

As she approached the restaurant, she made out the broad shoulders of Draco leaning near the front door, bathed in the warm yellow light from the streetlight.

"Draco?" she called with her hand in the air. He turned his eyes bright, only to darken and tighten upon seeing her. He recovered quickly and walked to her side, offering his arm and giving her a dry kiss on her cheekbone. "How was your day?" she asked in a perfunctory manner.

"Dull. And you?" He opened the door wide for her and she stepped into the clatter of the busy restaurant.

"Daphne's pregnant," she replied dryly, her gaze locking on his, studying the way they tightened and his nostril flared at the news.

"Congratulations," he said with a nervous gulp. "We'll be sure to send her something. You're going to be an Aunt."

"And you an uncle," she supplied with a tick of her brow and he ran his tongue over his teeth.

"I suppose that's how it works." Draco gave a barely-there smile and placed his hand gently on her lower back ushering them forward. Speaking to the Maitre'D he announced, "Reservations under Malfoy,"

"Oh, yes," the older gentleman scoured his ledger for a brief moment. "It will be just a moment, sir."

Draco bristled, "A moment? We have a reservation."

The Maitre'D fixed him with an annoyed glare. "I am well aware, sir. As you've just announced it for the second time. Your table is being prepared and will be ready momentarily." He gestured with an open palm that they could wait just off to the side and Draco's teeth bared in a predatory fashion.

"I have never in my life," he mumbled to himself and took a step off to the right, just as someone collided into his back and he cursed, ready to hex whoever had offended him.

Astoria turned with an arched brow and felt her throat constrict.

It was her.

Hermione stumbled and her cheeks turned a shade of crimson. "Oh, er, hello…" she tucked a loose curl behind her ear and Astoria could sense her husband's discomfort. The curly-haired witches gaze fell onto Tori, who straightened her spine like a good little Pureblooded witch, relishing when Hermione seemed to pain at the sight of her.

There was an overwhelming part of Astoria that was overjoyed at her rivals discomfort upon looking at her. She pursed her lips to keep from smiling as Hermione struggled to maintain eye contact.

"Miss Granger!" the Maitre'd gushed from behind them, "Why the rest of your party has already arrived! Can I escort you?"

"Pardon me, Malfoys. I guess being the Gryffindor Princess has its perks," she smiled tightly and made a quick exit.

"Bloody fucking brilliant," Malfoy cursed under his breath. "Maybe we should go somewhere else?" He looked almost pained as Draco watched his witch move lithely through the crowded restaurant.

"That'll just make you look weak. Let's just take our seat and try to ignore her," Astoria offered, knowing that it was an impossible task.

Instead, they spent the majority of their dinner watching the brunette throw her head back in laughter as they ordered round after round of wine service. The entire table of Gryffindors was in a rare mood as they spilled laugh after laugh into the air and set Draco's teeth on edge.

Mercifully, the dinner ended and the Malfoy's made their way to the door, but Astoria didn't miss the long glace Draco took at his witch before they left.

A few weeks passed and nothing much changed, the only thing that did was the ever-present tension that seemed to stretch tighter between Draco and Astoria.

She spent countless hours in the nursery, thinking about his motives in marrying her. She had given him a way out, had explained in no uncertain details they could walk away from all of this without another thought. Still, he had persisted in their union.

She knew it was to save his mother– there was no deceit there but there must have been other ways of going about it. Why string her along into a marriage he had no intention of even participating in?

She settled into the bench by the window, kicking her shoes off and drawing her legs up to her.

Who would have guessed in a house this big, filled with so many living souls - that she could feel so utterly alone.

Every week Astoria managed to get a few of her girlfriends together for a dinner but tonight had somehow spiraled into a rare evening with some classmates from Hogwarts, mostly her Slytherin class but there had been a few from the other houses as well, mostly spouses or co-workers of the Slytherin's present.

Usually, Astoria didn't indulge in more than 2 drinks when she was out… it wasn't entirely proper, especially without her husband present. But then again, who the fuck cares, she thought with a mischievous smile as she sipped on her third martini.

She had invited Draco along but he had declined quickly this afternoon, stating he had a work dinner. She wasn't surprised. The idea that he would attend an event with her where it wouldn't be photographed as evidence of their happy marriage, well that just wasn't in the cards.

She was chatting with Malcolm Mclaggen, a Ravenclaw in her year that had always had a terrible crush on her. She was grinning into her chilled martini glass, enjoying the doting way Malcolm was staring at her and bragging about his work with… with… what exactly did he do again?

Honestly, she thought it just felt bloody good to have an ounce of attention.

The crowd roared when Tracy joined, punching her friends playfully in the arm and laughing loudly as she greeted everyone. Her eyes landed on Astoria and she rushed up to her old friend, wrapping her arms around her neck and squeezing firmly.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Tracy grinned, holding Astoria at arm's length and studying her face. She always thought Tracy had a bit of crush on her too, but she never had anything other than suspicion to go on.

"I've missed you! How are you?" Astoria adjusted in her seat and turning from Malcolm's attention briefly and smiling widely at her friend.

"Oh good, you know how work can be," she rolled her eyes and Astoria smiled politely back at her. But no, Astoria didn't know work could be… she'd never worked a day in her life. "Merlin, I haven't seen you since your wedding! I would ask where Draco is, but I just saw him down the street. He's keeping strange company these days," Tracy nudged her with her elbow and Astoria stiffened.

"Sorry?" Tori turned her ear towards her, pretending she couldn't hear because of the noise.

"Just, when did he start taking dinners with Hermione Granger? I barely…" Trace kept talking but the blood was pulsing so loudly in Astoria's ears she couldn't comprehend a single word.

"I'm sorry, Tracy," she interrupted, rushing to her feet. "I actually just realized I need to be going." She fished into her pocketbook for a few spare galleons and tossed them on the counter. "Let's catch up soon, yeah?" she leaned in and brushed her cheek against the other witch in a fake kiss.

Astoria was still vaguely aware that Tracy was talking but she left without another word, stepping out into the rain and casting her umbrella charm into the air. Her heels clicked mercilessly against the wet pavement as she stormed the two blocks west.

She couldn't believe Draco would be so bloody insensitive as to cheat on her in right in Diagon Alley. Her teeth were grinding flat as she let her rage boil and burn in her chest.

Astoria approached the restaurant and pushed the door open, ignoring the Maitre'D and letting her eyes scan the room for the curly-haired whore and her cheating husband. By the time that she found them, she had lost the element of surprise.

She was utterly shocked to find that it wasn't just Draco and Hermione at a cozy table in the corner, canoodling and holding hands. It was, in fact, a business dinner – with Hermione Granger, Theo Nott, and Blaise Zabini, and all three of them were staring right at her.

All she wanted was to tuck tail and run, but she had lost that opportunity as soon as they had set eyes on her. Bollocks, she cursed under her breath.

She steeled herself and marched through the dining room, standing just behind Draco's seat as he prattled on about something or other.

Finally, after so long that it was becoming painful, Draco looked over his shoulder. It was a frantic darting of eyes then as he panicked and looked at Hermione, while she looked at Blaise and Blaise stared back at Hermione with wide, amused eyes. Interesting.

"Draco, dear," Astoria managed sweetly, leaning down to kiss him on the cheek with a rigid back, hiding her shaking her hands.

"Astoria," Draco drawled through gritted teeth, "What are you doing here?" he tried for more casual.

"Well, I was just up the road for my weekly girls' dinner and ran into Tracy. She said she'd been here for drinks and saw you all and I just had to stop in and see for myself," Astoria took a shallow breath and turned towards the witch on her left. "Hello, Hermione," she nodded politely.

Hermione coughed at the simple greeting, choking violently on her Champagne. Theo moved to tap her on the back and Blaise spat out the champagne in his mouth, laughing hysterically.

"Sorry, wrong pipe," she continued coughing and wiping at her mouth like a savage.

"Wrong pipe?" Astoria's face curled up at the foreign turn of phrase.

"Muggle phrase, I guess," Hermione winced.

"Ah," Astoria nodded politely, her eyes tightening, "Anyhow, I was just popping in to see if you aren't done with your…" she eyed the bottles of champagne and empty whiskey glasses disdainfully, "Work meeting? I thought you might escort me home."

Draco closed his eyes and licked his lips. He looked as if he were trying to focus and channel his energy somewhere.

"Of course," he finally breathed, "What kind of gentlemen could refuse?" He threw his linen napkin against his plate and the resounding clang from the silverware made her wince. "Charge it to the business account," he nodded at Theo.

Draco stood and gestured that Astoria lead the way and he followed her out.

Once they were out of the restaurant, Draco's hand reached out to grasp at her elbow, squeezing too tightly and she reared on him.

"How fucking dare you?" She hissed into the rain.

"How fucking dare I? You interrupt a business meeting and make me look like a complete arse–?

"Oh, you need absolutely no help from me to look like an arse, Draco Malfoy. What are you doing parading your whore out for dinners for the public to see?" Draco bared his teeth and stepped dangerously into her, "Do you realize how pathetic you make me look? Have the decency to take your trash out of town." She ripped her elbow from his grasp and stormed past him but he was in her path in two strides.

"You will not speak of her that way. Not in my presence, nor out of it. I have absolutely no personal relationship with Hermione Granger. Blaise, your Blaise, invited her to our team dinner." His voice was a low, menacing warning and she could feel his quiet words spreading over her skin.

A good pureblood witch would apologize… she would eat her words and back off. But that wasn't Astoria.

"Well you," she shoved her pointer finger into his sternum, "Should have respected," at the word Draco threw his head back and gave a cruel roll of his eyes and it distracted Astoria from her point, "You should have respected me enough to decline. Draco," she sighed, defeated, "I'm your wife. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Draco studied her face for a long time, the rain pelting off their skin and ignoring the staring passersby.

Finally, he licked his lips and nodded his head. "You're right, Astoria. I'm sorry, okay? There were things that needed to be discussed and I had no control over her invitation."

Astoria's chest let out a hollow sob and Draco hesitated briefly before taking her in his arms and wrapping her in an awkward, forced but welcomed embrace.

"Let's get home." He whispered into her hair and she nodded. He took her hand and led to her to the nearest Apparition point. Astoria couldn't help a small smile from playing on her lips; she felt like they'd had a breakthrough of sorts. This was a changing point for them.

Astoria was anxiously sitting on the stiff paper in the Obstetrics patient room, her feet dangling and her fingers tapping nervously against her thigh.

She hadn't wanted the bloody appointment in the first place but Narcissa had gone through so much trouble to set it up with her healer, insisting that a little peace of mind in regards to her fertility would make her feel so much better.

Astoria was in no way worried about her uterus. She wasn't getting pregnant because they weren't bloody trying, they weren't even holding hands, let alone any activity that would be a prerequisite for conceiving a child.

But here she was - scowling at the salmon covered walls and cursing the tiny moving kitten portrait that was staring at her.

There was a light rap of knuckles at the door and a young healer entered with a gracious smile and a file folder clutched to her chest.

"Missus Malfoy! A pleasure to meet you," she reached her hand out enthusiastically and Astoria took it begrudgingly, staring down her nose at the tiny witch. "I am Healer Shelby. I'm curious what we can do for you today?" Shelby leaned against the counter and crossed one ankle over the other, her bright young face full of joy. Ugh.

"This appointment was actually at the insistence of my Mother-in-law. She seems to think I'm anxious about conceiving a child," Astoria laughed nervously and straightened her perfectly manicured hair.

"And are you?" Shelby's asked genuinely, her brows falling slightly.

Astoria chuckled darkly, mostly to herself, staring at her hands wringing themselves anxiously in her lap. "If I'm being honest Healer, my husband and I haven't– I meant to say, we don't– Our marriage is arranged." She lifted her eyes to the other blonde witch then and tilted her chin proudly. "We haven't been together long enough that intimacy has become habitual."

A look of sad acknowledgment washed over the witches face as she pushed up from her leaning and smiled knowingly at Astoria.

"I understand. Are children something you want eventually?" her face tilted and her eyes slightly squinted as she pried.

Astoria took a moment to think about it. No one had actually asked her if wanted children someday, it was simply expected that she would.

"I think so," she allowed. "When the time is right, I still feel rather young."

Shelby surprised her by laughing, "You feel that way because you are young. You have plenty of years to be a mother but I'm curious… how is your relationship with your husband?"

Astoria visibly flinched from the question and Shelby noticed, her eyes knitting together in concern.

"It's fine," Astoria clipped– her spine straightening.

"You can talk to me," the witch encouraged, "I'm your healer and I'm here to help you in any way you need."

Astoria gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes, "Truthfully, everything is fine. It's nothing I didn't expect and I'm coping with the changes. I am in no way devastated not to be caring the next Malfoy heir at this time and would love to be able to go back to my Mother-in-law with good news to relieve her of her worry."

The young healer studied Astoria for a moment, clearly wanting to say more but not wanting to push her luck. She resolved to say nothing, it would seem, as she drew her wand and instructed Astoria to lie back and lift her shirt to expose her belly.

Healer Shelby cast a wordless charm over Astoria's belly and a glowing hologram appeared, hovering inches about her bare stomach. Shelby spent several minutes twisting her wand and studying the diagnostic charm, saying nothing. She was silent for so long began to actually worry something may be wrong but before she could voice her concern, Shelby dropped her wand and smiled.

"All appears in working order, Missus Malfoy. I don't foresee any reasons you should have trouble conceiving when the right time comes." Astoria released a strangled breath she hadn't realized she was holding and her eyes flickered closed in relief. "Are you interested in discussing anything else with me?"

Astoria gave a tight smile and shook her head. "I think that about covers it. Thank you."

Shelby moved towards the door and opened it, "I'd say, all things look perfectly, Missus Malfoy," the healer boasted with a smile. "I look forward to seeing you very soon," the healer turned to return into the exam room but paused and said, "And, hey! Congratulations!" She said it with deep sincerity in her eyes like she was trying to see the positives in this situation Astoria called her life. "There will be a new little Malfoy before you know it!"

Astoria returned her kindness with a wry smile and turned to walk back down the long echoing corridor when her eyes fell on the pale and shaken Hermione Granger, staring at the exchange between herself and Healer Shelby.

There was a moment of brief inner turmoil; she should tell her she wasn't pregnant, she would want that courtesy if the roles were reversed. A deep flame ignited in her belly, a protective, jealous rage that consumed her kindness –causing her lips to tighten into a flat line and her chin to upturn just a fraction, just enough to keep the control in the silent battle.

Let her think whatever she wants.

Astoria turned down the corridor, the only sound greeting her was of her own clacking heels against the cheap tile. As she neared the exit and placed her hand on the handle to exit, she turned briefly over her shoulder. Hermione Granger: champion of the underdog, fiercest heroine and the most brilliant witch of their age, was slouched against the wall where she had stood only moments before.

She felt a twinge of remorse in her belly, but before she could act on it the door was closing behind her.

The meeting had stirred something in Astoria and she had left with a desperate feeling of wanting to connect with her husband over something...anything. She resolved to tell Draco about her appointment with the healer. It's not as though she initiated the meeting, she reasoned. Surely wives told their husbands about their day and their health - it couldn't be that odd.

She dressed down for bed and waited on the balcony until about ten o'clock. Her warming charm was having a hard time keeping up with the autumn chill so she retired to the reading chair in their room and picked up a romance novel she kept on the end table. She read for an hour… then two. She then alternated staring at the page without reading and staring at the clock on the wall.

Around one o'clock she slammed her book shut and stood with an angry groan, pacing back and forth with only the sound of her shuffling feet for company.

She finally couldn't stand it another moment before she whipped their bedroom door and marched towards Draco's office, expecting to find him sitting at his desk, maybe snoozing since it was so late.

But as her feet crossed the threshold and her eyes raked the empty space, her shoulders slumped.

He wasn't there.

She clucked her tongue and opened the door directly across from his study, an empty guest room. She checked her tea room and another guest room, still nothing.

She gave a resounding sigh, standing in the rich hall surrounded by sleeping portraits when one finally spoke.

"Pssst! Mrs. Malfoy," an elderly wizard with a crooked nose and mischievous eyes whispered into the darkness.

"Lumos," she cast and a soft glow spilled from the tip of her wand. "Yes?" her brows arched as she took another step towards the enchanted portrait.

"Are you looking for your husband?" his voice croaked.

She bristled and tilted her chin up aristotically, "Yes. Have you seen him?"

"He stumbled in there," his finger, covered in age spots, pointed to the door just behind her and she nodded her appreciation, turning abruptly on her heel.

She shoved the door open to the small library open, her ire returning easily. Astoria was prepared to scream but her voice fell quiet in her gaping mouth.

The fire was roaring on the wall to her right, Draco was dozing on the cushioned loveseat directly in front of it, his leg hanging off the edge and his head propped at an uncomfortable angle. There was a stack of books piled atop the coffee table next to a decanter of Firewhiskey and an empty tumbler. He slept with his hand resting on his chest clutching a small piece of strange paper.

She rolled her eyes and summoned a small throw pillow, about to place it under his neck so he wouldn't wake up with a sore neck, but when she moved closer something sparked her curiosity. She stared at the small square piece of paper in his hand and realized that the material was rather odd, a thick almost plastic covering the back.

She reached out with a steady hand and grasped the strange object in her hand, as she turned it over her breath caught in her throat and she fell to her knees softly in front of her snoring husband.

It was a truly lovely photograph of Hermione Granger, no one could argue that. Her wild curls were splayed all around her and an infectious grin wide on her face.

Astoria swallowed thickly, a knot wedging its way in her tight throat. Her eyes roamed the peaceful face of her husband, his lips quirking up in an almost smile before settling back down into a relaxed jaw. He was lost in a dream that she was certain she wasn't apart of.

Astoria was speechless, her hands limp in her lap and staring at a stolen moment of Draco and Hermione's. Her eyes lifted slowly, her breath coming slowly and almost sadly and her eyes caught the title of the book he had fallen asleep reading.

"Marital Law: Betrothals, Prenuptials, and Blood Magic."

She lifted it easily and found it open to a list of reasons to annul the marriage and she snorted as she read the archaic list– not that it was her first time, but it would never cease to shock her.

Draco Malfoy had fallen asleep gripping the photograph of the woman he loved while researching ways out of their marriage.

She placed the book and the photograph on the table purposefully, thinking he may notice and know that he had hurt her– even if he didn't care– and left the small library wordlessly.

She lay awake from too long, long enough that sun had begun to crest over the hill to the east. When she heard the soft steps pad down the hall she sneered and grabbed the edge of the duvet, turning and tugging it over her head to shield her view of him.

She listened with quiet tears falling down her cheeks as he showered and dressed, then left without a word.

What a stupid witch she was, to have ever thought they could have a real future together. Draco was incapable of letting her go.

Two days later, in her best robes, she sached down the dreary ministry hall behind a young woman who seemed to be Miss Granger's assistant. She had thought about making an appointment but thought Hermione might not take it, it would also give her the opportunity to cancel. So she had simply sprung a surprise visit, thinking it may just give her the upper hand.

The receptionist gestured into the plain office and Astoria almost grinned at Granger's nervous stammering.

"Miss-" she faltered and grimaced, "I'm, I mean… Missus… Missus Malfoy," she smiled too brightly and Astoria lifted her well-manicured brow.

Hermione waved anxiously at the chair in front of her and Astoria took it demurely, crossing one ankle over the other and laying her hands over the pocketbook in her lap. The tension was palpable as their magic swelled in defense, sensing their distress.

Calm. Proud. Collected. You are the one who is being wronged here.

"I'll get straight to it, Miss Granger," Astoria tilted her chin up but she could feel her jaw shake ever so slightly. "I would like my husband back."

There was a beat of silence as the curly-haired witch tried to understand what she had just heard. Astoria waited.

"I'm sure I don't-" Hermione replied with a bewildering look in her eye but Astoria raised her hand to silence her.

Tori took a deep breath in and then sighed, trying to remember the speech she had been rehearsing to herself. "I imagine in your version of this story, I'm the villain. Am I right?" she stared down at her gloved hands, playing with a loose bit of thread, "I imagine I am," she repeated sadly. "This Pureblood witch who came and stole Draco away. Who gets to live in this giant house and have his babies and… well, I get to love the man you love," she lied easily. "I can only imagine how you must feel about me," Astoria gave a delicate snort and shook her head solemnly.

Astoria met Hermione's gaze, her own eyes rimmed red with unwanted tears.

The blonde witch re-crossed her ankles and fussed with her hair, a lone tear leading the way down her porcelain cheek. Before she spoke again, she sucked in a broken breath.

"Did you know I was in love? Madly, actually," she said with a smile, remembering her affair with Blaise. "With a pureblood who didn't have a marriage contract and was ready to take me to be his wife. We almost eloped," she laughed to herself, "But, we didn't. We didn't and I stayed and now… I'm Missus Malfoy," she huffed out a breath of air and wiped at the tears falling, "If I hadn't, Draco's inheritance would be gone. More importantly, Narcissa would have suffered – she's been like an Aunt to me in my childhood. I wasn't close with Draco growing up, I was a bit younger and a girl. But I saw him around and he was friendly enough. Not like Crabbe or Goyle who tortured me and my sister," she continued with a roll of her eyes. "Draco always had a bit of nonchalance about us Greengrass girls. But I've known Narcissa, loved her, even. She's been a dear friend of my mothers... I need you to know that I forfeited a lot here too. Maybe you and Draco forget that."

Astoria had intended to go in guns blazing, but now it felt like she was begging. The saddest part was that she didn't care.

"Astoria… are you ok?" Hermione's soft voice broke her reverie. "Is there something I can get for you? Tea?"

"I get it," she snapped and Hermione jumped in her seat, "I'm not stupid. I might not be the most brilliant little witch Hogwarts ever saw, but I'm not exactly a barn cat. Draco came home and he told me all about you. He begged for a way out and my heart pained for him. I tried my best to help him and as we suspected, there was no way out. So, I put on my white dress and marched down the aisle. I got him a big fat inheritance, saved his mother, and gave up my family name," she shook her head in disbelief, "Lady Malfoy. One of the longest lines of Pureblood magic… and jealous of a Muggleborn." Astoria's face crumpled in disbelief at her last words. "You see, he has you on this pedestal. This pedestal that's so high, I merely exist in your shadow. I'm terrified of your memory and all the ways that it's going to haunt me and my family for the rest of my life."

Hermione was about to speak but Astoria barely gave her a chance, she wasn't finished.

"I know I'm the villain in your version of this story," Astoria repeated, "But… can you imagine, just for a moment, that you might be the villain in mine? I am stuck in a loveless marriage with a man who is allowed to walk out the front door and fuck whoever he wants."

Hermione flinched when she cursed and even Astoria found that the word sounded harsh on her lips.

"I live by some archaic set of rules that are so…" her voice trailed off and she swallowed tightly, "I can't even critique my mother in law over linen choices, lest she decide that I have insulted her and give her son all the reason he needs to divorce me," she laughed dryly, "A divorcee by 21. I'm sure you can imagine how well my prospects might look in the future. Not that Narcissa would do that, of course… but… it doesn't matter."

Astoria wiped the final tears from her cheeks and straightened her spine, meeting Hermione's concerned gaze with one of her own disapproval.

"You represent choice, Hermione Granger. A choice my husband will never get to have. I'd like to learn to love this man and have a marriage I can be proud of. Generations of Purebloods have done so before us and I know we can too. But I can't while you're still consuming his every thought."

"Astoria… I am not, in any way, trying to interfere with your marriage-"

"Don't," Astoria's green eyes flashed dangerously, "Don't. It's insulting. I am simply asking…" she gulped thickly, like there was a snitch in her mouth she was trying to work down her throat, "I'm begging. Give him back to me. Leave my marriage and my husband alone."

Hermione opened her mouth to defend herself but then snapped it shut and instead, simply nodded.

Astoria didn't say another word. She rose elegantly, her robes swirling around her as she made far too grand an exit for the space she was in.

Tori was on her fourth… no her fifth glass of champagne. The gala was truly a spectacle and she recognized Blaise's handiwork in every detail. The chiffon that rippled in waves from the ceiling had been charmed to change the varying colors of fire and smoke swirled around their feet.

Blaise had arrived alone, blessedly, and she could barely tear her eyes from him when she'd first spotted him, he had always looked exceptional in a set of dress robes. He had that mischievous look in his eyes as he spotted her too, letting his gaze travel slowly down her frame before returning to his conversation with Lady Parkinson.

For the next few hours she was flitted around the room like a trophy wife– sometimes introduced, other times ignored– as she clung to her husband's arm and snagged every passing Champagne tray she could.

She has lost count around the third glass of champagne of people who had asked when they planned to fill the Manor with tiny Malfoys and her polite smile was beginning to wane into an annoyed sneer.

She was sipping on her fifth–or was it sixth– glass of champagne with Missus Bulstrode who was prattling on and on about the merits of Motherhood and how rewarding it could be, nodding politely along as she could muster when Draco suddenly appeared and requested a moment with his wife, his charming smile ever present on his mouth.

Astoria bid the Bulstrodes a happy evening and was shocked to find herself swept up in her husband's arms and twirling around the dance floor.

"Draco," she chided lightly. "I've just spilled my drink," Astoria murmured looking down at her dress.

A server passed by with a tray and Draco plucked the half drank glass from her fingertips and let it float away with the nameless man while Astoria pouted.

"What on earth has gotten into you? I don't know that we danced at our own wedding –" Astoria was almost playful with her words as she stared at the intensity on his face.

"We did," he grumbled out of the corner of his mouth, his eyes raking over the crowd or swirling guests. She almost gasped as she felt his hand dip onto her lower back and press her into him and her eyes snapped up to study him. He was staring over her shoulder intently and she happened to chance a look, even though she didn't need to. She knew who was there.

Hermione Granger in all her stunning glory, spinning in the arms of the most handsome Weasley by far. Astoria sighed but didn't say anything, she let Draco lead her through their dance as he imagined dancing with someone else.

If her heart hadn't been so terribly damaged already, she imagined it would have cracked another time. There was nothing left.

The song faded to silence and Draco stopped them, turning them towards the stage, his eyes still searching Hermione. Astoria's jaw tightened and she wanted to hex the both of them, instead she grabbed another glass of champagne and smiled falsely up at her husband, who it seemed could give her just enough attention to chastise her.

"You don't want to have too many more of those dear," he scolded with a tight smile, lest anyone be watching the pair of them. "Wouldn't want to make a scene in front of so many important clients."

"Oh, is that so, darling? But you can go around eye-fucking that curly haired little whore–"

Her insult was cut short by the snarl that escaped his lips and the tight hold he had on her hip.

"Haven't I warned you about speaking of her like that. It's not her fault, she didn't do anything –"

Blaise had begun a rapturous speech in the background, must have been hilarious by the laughter bubbling from the crowd. Draco and Astoria were in a bubble of mutual loathing and the hissing insults being passed back and forth.

"She didn't?" Astoria laughed brightly. "My ass. I'm your wife, Draco. You need to respect me as such."

Draco opened his mouth to say something and then snapped it shut again, his eyes crinkling at the edges. She gulped because even though he hadn't said a word, she knew what he was thinking.

He wanted out.

"Our fearless leader, Draco Malfoy," Blaise's voice boomed and cut through their bubble, their eye contact breaking for the first time, "and the one and only, Hermione Granger," the light hit her and the crowds parted.

Astoria's heart went cold in her chest as Draco left her side to escort Hermione to the limelight.

She would not cry. Not here and not over Hermione-sodding-Granger but try as she might she could feel the lump of anxiety swell in her throat and stick here, painful teardrops prickling the sides of her eyes.

She stared at the brunette witch as she made a sparkling, light-hearted speech. Singling out Blaise who seemed to be so close with her that an entirely new depth of despair opened in her belly.

She wanted to scream, wanted to yank at her hair until she left bald patches and claw that stupid bints eyes out.

Granger's eyes found Astoria's briefly, who was seething in her anger and tilted her chin proudly one last time. One last stand of authority.

She was Missus Malfoy.

As Hermione stepped to the side and Charlie Weasley escorted three truly adorable baby dragons out onto the stage, Astoria tore from her spot in the audience and rushed to the nearest washroom.

When she was finally in front of the wash basin she braced both hands on the side of the sink and hunched over in defeat, letting one broken sob escape before she slapped her hand over her mouth.

He was going to divorce her. After less than three months… why? Why did he put her through this entire ordeal? He needed to see her get shagged by Weasley in order to realize that he couldn't live without her?

Astoria couldn't quell the rage building up in her and in a burst of accidental magic, the lights flickered on and off. She tried to slow her breathing and regain her composure, her eyes lifting to appraise herself in the mirror.

She was a beautiful witch, and she didn't mean that in a vain sort of way – it was just a fact. Centuries of good breeding had left her with beautiful cheekbones and full lips, her hair was twisted neatly behind her, a few flirtatious wisps falling from her hairline and her dress was absolutely stunning, ivory silk that hung loosely from her curves and exposed her naked back.

With a final sobering breath, she straightened her spine and marched from the washroom intent on making her way to the Floo and back to Malfoy Manor.

Long fingers wrapped around her forearm and stopped her midstep, she was just about to hex the fool who would dare touch her, when she realized it was Blaise. Her breath left her in a huff and she paled at being so close to him again.

"Blaise?"

"Dance with me, Tori," he lips pulled up crookedly and before she could answer, he was leading her to the dance floor and pulling her into his arms.

"This is hardly proper," she said through pursed lips, looking around the room to see if anyone else would recognize the scandal.

Blaise let out a cheerful laugh and brought her in closer, "No one knows we were ever a thing, remember? For all they know, I'm just pushing my boss's wife around the dance floor a time or two."

She leveled him with a playful glare, "And do you always keep your hand so low on other men's wives?"

"You know, I'll tell you, I don't normally do wives. But for you, I'm almost always ready to make an exception." His eyes sparkled and he gave her a cheeky wink.

She felt a blush stain her cheeks and she stared off into the crowd, ever aware of the way Blaise's thumb was skating little circles along the curve of her back.

"How've you been?" she asked cooly, an air of nonchalance about her.

"Been better," he replied easily. "I miss you like crazy."

She stiffened in his arms and her eyes flickered closed for a moment.

Dangerous, Tori. He spun her around the dance floor without pause, as if hadn't just made a declaration to her. She studied the lines of his face as he looked down at her, his impossible full lips, his sharp cheekbones, and mischievous eyes. Her life had been simple and beautiful; full of love that left her weak in its wake.

"You can't talk to me like that," she breathed, shaking her head to clear it from his confession.

"It's the truth," he said with an arched brow. "What? You don't miss me?" his cocky tone made her eyes roll and she stepped pointedly on his foot.

"Oops!" she said falsely with wide, innocent eyes and a smirk playing on her lips.

"OW! I've danced with you enough times, Astoria Greengrass, to know that was no accident," he smiled wickedly at her.

She arched an amused brow, "It's Malfoy, now."

"Oh that's right…" his feigned ignorance and took a quick step back, flourishing her in an over exaggerated twirl.

"The song's over," she remarked, staring up at him.

"Nothing's over until we say it is," he smirked slyly at her. All she wanted was to rest her cheek against his chest and breathe in the scent of his rich cologne, let her hands close around the nape of his neck.

As the crowd started to thin she was shaken from her daydream and took a step back from him.

"I should go," she smiled weakly at him, tears threatening to spill over yet again. "Thanks for the dance, Blaise."

"Tori," he rushed, reaching out for her fingers. He caught them quickly but she yanked them back, fussing with her dress instead. No one appeared to be paying them any attention, but she couldn't take that chance.

"I should find Draco," she gulped and turned, taking a few determined steps in the opposite direction.

"Why Tori?" his voice was pained and she halted her exit to chance a look over her shoulder. "You deserve so much better than this life you're parading around in and you know it," he was getting angrier with each word and stomping to stand in front of her yet again.

"I'm married to your best mate," a tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it frantically away with the tips of her perfectly polished fingers. "You shouldn't be talking to me like this."

"He's in love with her. What end are you hoping for? Maybe she finally moves on and gets married, maybe then he'll look at you as a possible back up? You guys fucked up and I hate seeing the two people I love the most in this world so miserable."

"Oh," she snorted, "So sorry this has been hard on you."

"Just tell him, Tori," he gave one last effort to get through to her. "Tell him you want out. Tell him you want to be with me because I still want you. I'm still in love with you," Blaise stepped dangerously into her space and pushed one of her loose strands behind her ear. "And if I can only have you in the shadows… if my lot in life is to be your dirty little mistress? I'll take it. I'll take it with a smile and be grateful every day I wake up that I get to call you mine."

The tears were streaking angry paths down her cheeks and she was trembling as he spoke.

"Blaise, I can't do this. I need to find my husband…" he pushed past him, nudging him with her shoulder and rushing from the ballroom towards the foyer.

"Tori...TORI!" he called off after her but each step took her further and further away.

She resolved just to leave, she would come up with an excuse for Draco when she saw him.

But as her heels clicked angrily along the expensive marble she spotted the broad shoulders of Hermione Granger's date and slowed her gait. She studied the scene before her with a sick feeling in her gut.

Hermione Granger, with freshly ruffled curls, was standing at the top of the stairs, looking over her shoulder at not one, but two wizards. Those two wizards were staring at each other knowingly, their chests puffed up and their breathing shallow.

Her eyes raked over her husband, his messy hair and bow tie untied and hanging around his neck. She gasped and took a stunned step back.

Hermione was gone and Draco gave one low warning to Charlie Weasley before turning on his heel and storming back towards the event.

"Draco," she hissed, sobbing. "DRACO MALFOY!"

He stopped and turned towards her with a cold look in his eye.

"I'll meet you at the Manor," he replied through a tight jaw.

She made quick steps to follow him and grasped desperately at his dress robes but the expensive fabric slipped through her fingers.

"Draco," she pleaded. "Please."

He stopped abruptly and pinched at the bridge of his nose, his eyes clenched closed and breathing erratically.

"I will speak to you later, alright. We will sort everything out later, I just – I need to go, Astoria."

He was gone before she could even ask him to stay, or maybe ask him to take her home… ask him to leave.

Damn all that blasted Champagne… she was now weeping openly, passerby's having witnessed her humiliation were now whispering to each other as they walked by in hushed tones and judgemental sneers.

"C'mon, Tor," Blaise's arm wrapped around her shoulders and she didn't fight it, she melted into him and let him lead her to the Floo's.

Back at the Manor, Tori walked the dark halls at a begrudgingly low pace, her heels in her hand and her sore feet pushing her forward. Each step bringing her closer to the inevitable; to the end. Closer to her failure as a wife, as a daughter, as everything she had once aspired to be.

She wanted to soak in a shower so hot that it melted off the first layer of skin, wanted to burn the visions of Draco cheating out her mind.

She wasn't cloaked in prideful ignorance… she knew their marriage was a lie. Hell, even using the term marriage was an insult to husbands and wives everywhere. But, she had thought… had honestly believed if she put enough effort into it, she could save it. She wanted to just give him time to grieve and move on. Astoria knew full well how unhealed wounds left nasty scars on broken hearts; she hadn't wanted that for him.

But her patience was wasted. It was completely in vain as he had instead chosen to fall deeper in love with the little swot.

As she approached their suite, she noticed the flickering light of a fire under the door of his study and paused. Without thought, her tired hands reached out for the handle and pushed it easily open.

It'd been hours since she'd left the Gala. Blaise had Floo'd them to his flat and sat with her while she cried silent tears, filling her tumbler with Firewhiskey until her eyes were heavy with drunkenness.

It seemed Draco had a similar idea, he was sprawled along his small sofa in front of the fire, an empty decanter tipped on its side on the floor near his outstretched hand. Damn, could have used another drink.

She trudged slowly into the room, her bare feet barely lifting off the plush carpet with each step.

Astoria sank onto the wooden coffee table facing him, her hands lying lamely in her lap as she watched the shadows of the fire flicker over his face again and again.

The hash shadows bringing the deep set lines of his face and his swollen lips into reality. His handsome face was twisted in broken sleep, she wanted to reach out – to smooth the wrinkles from his forehead for just a moment.

This was the end.

Astoria would be leaving the Manor and an ache settled deep into her belly when she wondered sadly if Hermione would move in – wondered how long it would take him to propose.

Her hands brushed the expensive fabric of his jacket next to her thigh and she paused – letting her fingers wander along the rich stitching, she lifted it gingerly and brought the labels up to her face, breathing in the scent of him.

She buried her face there and felt something rub against the thin silk of her dress, cold and hard. She sighed in relief as she recognized the shape of a flask and prayed it was empty.

She retrieved the flask, but her brows knitted together as her fingers brushed a foreign material wrapped clumsily around it.

She stared for several minutes at the objects in her hand.

A circular little flask with a snake tangled around an intricate 'M', the Malfoy crest and a set of small, modest, black lace knickers; ones she'd never set eyes on in her life.

A violent rage exploded in her chest and she closed her fist tightly and stormed from the room dropping the flask and the jacket on the ground and slammed the door behind her.

She marched drunkenly and determinedly towards the owl post in their wing, the knickers still clenched in her hand.

Sunday she spent the day in their wing with a bottle of very expensive liquor as her constant companion. She wandered from their suite to her tea room and finally collapsed in a drunken heap on the floor of the would-be nursery.

Astoria had an overwhelming sense of loss and she felt the need to grieve, even if the marriage had been far from happy… hell, it had hardly been tolerable.

She had been living up to these impossible expectations of her family – these archaic standards for witches that left her stifled and unbearably lonely.

Maybe that was the death she was mourning – the one of the witch she was supposed to be.

There had always been this feeling of helplessness when it came to Astoria's future. Every decision had been made by those deemed more competent, more important. Even the decision to end the blasted marriage had belonged to Draco.

She clamped her jaw in anger and wished suddenly this room was furnished, just so she could tear it apart.

She felt a delicious little thought creep to the forefront of her mind and her brows fell low over her eyes as she tried to formulate her plan.

Maybe… maybe it still could be her decision…

Her hands were shaking as the elevator made it's slow climb towards the penthouse, her eyes staring as the numbers lit up indicating each passing floor.

Finally, as the elevator slowed to a stop, her gaze fell to her heeled feet and the small duffle sitting next to them. Astoria wasn't sure she could handle another rejection – she clung to the way he had stared at her at the Gala, the feeling of his thumb running circles on her lower back.

"There she is," he smirked cool amusement coloring his voice.

She felt her lips quirk up in a smile as she peered up through her lashes at him.

"Hi," she breathed.

Blaise tilted his head as he studied her, his hands shoved into the pockets of near black denims. The sleeves of his white oxford were rolled, pushed up to reveal his muscle of his forearm.

Long enough passed that the elevator threatened to close and Blaise's arm shot to halt it, blocking it with his arm and staring intensely into her eyes.

"You coming in?" he brows quirked up and she let out a relieved sigh.

He reached down and grabbed her bag as she made cautious steps into his flat, everything here felt at home to her. They had napped on that couch and made love on that counter, they had read the paper together in the plush armchairs over by the window and had a disastrous attempt at crepes in that kitchen.

She pulled at her fingers, a nervous habit she adopted when she had nothing to do with her hands.

She heard her duffle drop to the floor and his soft footsteps come up behind her. Tears were welling at the corner of her eyes for reasons she couldn't name and when he finally came up behind her and wrapped his long arms over her shoulders she sank into him, letting him support all the baggage she couldn't carry anymore.

"Does Draco know you're here?" he rested his chin on the top of her head and pulled her flush against him in a one-sided hug.

"No," she clipped, her jaw raising slightly. "But, I don't really care about what he has to say about it."

Astoria turned in his embrace and let her palms rest on his chest, arching her back into him while he pulled her impossibly closer.

Her words were cut short with a soul-crushing kiss, his fingers threading into her silky hair at the nape of her neck, twisting her to meet him in a familiar dance.

Their kiss was wet with her tears as she returned each press eagerly. Her hands wound up to his neck and pulled him down to her, willing their bodies impossibly closer.

"I – missed," she managed between his hungry kisses, "You."

She heard a low rumble deep in his chest and his hands skimmed her back and palmed her backside, kneading her arse and she let her neck relax, her head falling back and exposing the long lines of her slender neck.

"You have no idea," he left a trail of greedy, wet kisses up her neck, suckling the hollow of her jaw until she was stifling her moan. Her hands retraced every inch of him she could reach, allowing herself to refamiliarize the planes of his body.

Astoria felt her knees weaken and when she very nearly swooned, he scooped her up into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist and their kisses became ravenous from prolonged starvation.

They had always had two very different sexual persona's. They had safe, vanilla sex that was painstakingly slow – slow enough that it was almost torture while she waited for completion to find her.

The other was rough and rushed, almost violent in the way they lavished each other's bodies.

There was no doubt who they were tonight.

He didn't make it to the bedroom, he dropped her roughly on the dining table and she gasped when his fingers tangled in her golden hair, tugging firmly and wrenching her head back. He wasted no time in biting into the flesh where her neck and shoulder met and when she yelled and clawed her perfectly manicured nails into his chest he lavished a wet kiss over the mark.

She tore away at the buttons of his oxford and deftly yanked open his belt. Her hand dove between them and gripped the steely length of him– pumping once– and smirking as he groaned into her skin.

Blaise's rushed hands snaked up the skirt of her dress, gripping at the creamy flesh of her thighs until they parted and he stepped into her space.

Her lover set a frantic pace, tugging at her knickers until they slid down past her ankles. Grabbing her hips Blaise slid her forward on the table and laid her back as he pooled the fabric of her dress at her hips and slid into her roughly. Grinning at the moan that escaped her lips.

Her knee hitched up as he filled her and he caught it, pressing it to his chest and sliding out of her. He watched her with a hungry intensity, her back arching into the air and he drove into her again.

"Blaise," she gasped as he set an almost punishing rhythm into her. His fingers yanked down the sleeves of her dress, her nipples pebbling at the sudden exposure.

His head fell to her breast and his tongue flicked out against her peak while his other hand massaged the flesh of the other.

He had a way of worshipping her when they fucked like this– treating each inch of her body as though it was sacred ground. He was unsparing in the kisses he peppered along her exposed chest and he continued to thrust into her with a reckless passion.

"I'll need you to come soon, love–" he smirked against her breast and she gripped the back of his head, her fingers wrapping around the back of his neck and he moved his affections to her jaw.

"Oh fuck–" she cursed as his hand wound between them and his thumb glided over the sensitive bundle of nerves and he stood victoriously, looking down at her with lusty eyes.

He continued the delicious curling around her clit as he fucked her with relentless fervor.

She clenched her eyes shut as she recognized the familiar knot tightening deep in her belly, her mouth forming a tiny 'O' as he grinned and pressed into her again.

"Come for me, love."

She unraveled at his words, her thighs tightening around his waist and her fingers clawing at the wood table underneath her.

There was a deep growl in his chest as he watched her, his eyes darkening and his hands stilling. He slammed into her twice more before joining her, his eyes never leaving hers.

They lay in oversized bed, a tangle of limbs and sheets and a thousand unspoken words. After the third shag, a subtle tension coiled between them. There were things that needed to be said, actions that needed to be atoned – and she'd no idea where to begin.

His hand drew long lazy lines down her spine while her cheek rested on his chest, her fingers running through his chest hair and circling his belly button.

"So, how is this going to work then?" Blaise murmured into her hair.

"Hmm?"

"I just mean, have you thought about this? About how you plan on working this out? Will you swing by on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving Friday nights open to still make dinner with Draco?"

She could hear the rising agitation in his voice but she didn't understand the reasoning behind it. Blaise had any number of excuses to be sore with her, but she was utterly confused by what he was going on about.

She propped up on her elbow, clutching the sheet to her bare chest.

"Excuse me?"

"Are you planning to let Draco know? Or just shag me on the side? I meant what I said – I want you in my life in whatever capacity I'm allowed – but I'm just trying to make sure the boundaries are laid out for me so I don't go cros– stop smiling like that," he flustered.

She was giving him a wide, easy grin, her shoulders shaking with laughter as he spoke.

"You really are such a dolt. Do you know that?" she rolled her eyes and gave a delicate snort. She flopped back down next to him with a huff. "I'm not taking you on as my mistress. I'm leaving Draco." The last words she spoke softly, they were the first time she'd ever said them and it was sobering to hear them aloud.

"Leaving him?" It was Blaise's turn to pop up and he studied her face, searching for the joke. "You can't leave him." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Well, that's technically true. And if I didn't loathe that Granger-bitch so much, I might ask her to take up the horribly antiquated marriage laws with the Wizengamot next –"

"Get to the point, Tori," Blaise rushed, his eyes full of eager hope.

"I can't divorce him," she said plainly. "But, my extra-marital affairs annul our marriage contract. The closest I can get to leaving him is cheating on him."

"Tori," her lover's eyes widened, "You can't do that. He'll have your dowry, you'll have nothing!"

"I'll have you," she said sweetly, reaching up to kiss the tip of his nose. "If you'll have me," she shrugged.

He scoffed but didn't relent in his studious appraisal of her.

"You're sure?"

The ding of the elevator alerted them both and they sat up straight in the wide bed.

"Expecting someone?" she panicked.

"I have only one guess," he rolled his eyes at her.

"Zabini!" Draco's thundering voice boomed through the flat and Astoria felt her heart quicken. She knew there would be a time for this, but she wasn't as prepared as she wanted to be.

"I'll get rid of him," Blaise assured her, sensing her dread. He threw his legs over the bed and found a pair of grey sweats that he tugged them up around his hips.

"ZABINI!" Draco roared again and Astoria felt lightheaded, her fingers curling into the bedsheets.

"I'm coming you prat!" Blaise called back but he stilled as he heard the elevator ding again, his brows falling low in confusion. "Did he leave?" he turned to Astoria, his voice hushed now.

"I don't want him to catch me like this," she pleaded. "It'll feel sneaky and… wrong. I don't want–"

"I hear you, love. Sit tight," he leaned over the bed and brushed a quick kiss over her lips and rushed out of his bedroom.

There were a few minutes of murmured voices, she could hear her name being tossed around but when she heard the distinct shrill of Hermione Granger, Astoria's vision framed red on the edges. An indescribably rage surging up through her chest and she tore out of bed, grabbing at the first thing she could find; Blaise's white oxford.

She smiled to herself as worked at the buttons and stomped determinedly out of the room.

"Have you seen Astoria? She hasn't been home. I thought you might have spoken to her?" She could hear the agitation in his voice and she relished every morsel as she rounded the corner.

"Uhhhhh, hmm… Astoria, you say?" Blaise called from his study.

"Right here, Darling," Astoria's eyes glittered with joy as she watched Hermione's jaw slack.

Astoria turned her icy glare on Hermione, who appeared to be attempting to catch lacewing flies with her mouth – her palm frozen in the air as if she were waiting for someone to place a trinket

"Astoria," Draco sucked in a breath through his nose and ground his teeth, "What in the fuck are you doing here?"

"Don't put on that jealous husband routine on my account, dear. I know you were shagging this little bint not but 48 hours ago," the blonde turned her head again towards Hermione, her lips curling up into a condescending sneer. "You ought to shut your mouth, sweetie, you'll catch bugs if you leave it open it like that."

The curly haired witch mouth clamped shut.

"BLAISE!" Draco shouted, his eyes trained on Astoria with an icy edge, "Will someone please tell me what in the actual fuck is happening here?"

Blaise came out grimacing and dropped a key into Granger's hand, which she quickly closed around it.

"Well, mate-" Blaise started but Astoria quickly interjected.

"Well, once I found out that you were still fucking your little mistress here-" she glared again at Hermione, "I decided I'd be the bigger person and let you out of this sham of a marriage. I'm sick of it, Draco. Sick of playing second string to her. So there, you're free. I broke my marriage contract and you are free to have your galleons and your little muggleborn whore."

"Astoria…" Blaise scolded and turned to his new found friend, "She didn't mean that last bit. I think she'd like you, Hermione, if she got to know you… which I doubt she will," he winced.

Hermione hurried to her feet and started slamming her thumb into the elevator button and Astoria's smiled at her fleeing the scene. Granger may have had the upper hand when it came to Draco but Tori knew how to command a room.

Draco hissed some profanity under his breath and quickly snatched Astoria by the elbow and dragged her into the kitchen.

He slid his fingers through his hair and slammed his palm onto the counter.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he hissed, his body vibrating with pent up anger.

"Oh, do fuck off, Draco dear," she rolled her eyes at him. "You've been cheating on me and I'm just done. I'd rather live at my parents' house as a divorcee for the rest of my life than be paraded around like your fucking peacocks. I am not an object for rich men to trade amongst themselves, I am not going to let my value be determined by you."

"Astoria, that was never–" she held out a palm to stop him and surprisingly enough, he obeyed.

"Don't. Don't patronize me, not now. You used me to get what you needed–your money. Well, you have it and you have your little slut to go along with it." She crossed her arms across her chest and peered up at him in disgust. "We're done here. Begin the divorce proceedings and I'll sign them in front of a Magistrate as soon as they are complete."

Draco's eyes softened as they raked over her face, a defeated breath ghosting over her.

"I'm sorry, Astoria– for all of it."

She didn't want to say it was alright, because it wasn't but she didn't blame him. She wanted out just as bad as he did and she had married him knowing he was in love with someone else– just as she was.

She gave him a curt nod and pushed past him, leaving the kitchen from the opposite entrance so she wouldn't have to lay eyes on that awful woman again. She waited as she heard the elevator doors close, just as Draco screamed her name and finally when Draco departed she stepped out from her hiding spot.

Her hands were shaking from the adrenaline fading from her body and she rushed into Blaise's waiting arms.

"Well, you sure know how to make a scene," he laughed into her hair, squeezing her closer to him.

"Ugh," she groaned, burying her face in his bare chest. "Well, it's over now. Just have to tell my parents."

"And the rest of the wizarding world," he amended and she poked him hard between his ribs.

"What am I gonna do now?" she wondered aloud, unsure of what the next step in her life was even supposed to be.

"Now–" he released her and looked at her squarely in the eyes, "Now, you do whatever it is you want to do."

She chuckled, "What a novel idea." She rested her hands on his slender waist and arched her back into him. "And what if what I want to do is you?" her voice husky.

"Well," Blaise made an exaggerated show of considering it, "I would say, who am I to deny you?"

He bent swiftly at the knees and slung her over his shoulder, her legs kicking into the air and her hands swatting at his bum.

"Blaise Zabini! What on earth–" she laughed carelessly as he drifted back towards the bedroom.

He tossed her playfully onto the bed and crawled atop her, her wrists linking easily at his neck and a smile on her lips.

"I love you, you know," she confessed with a shrug.

"Yea I know," the side of his mouth twitched and before she could injure him with a spare elbow or knee, he caught her and kissed her fiercely, her breath catching in her throat as he crushed his lips against hers. "I am helplessly in love with you, Tori. Now, shut up and let me snog you."

She did.