Author's Note: This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, and I am so excited to be writing it. I'm going to try to update as often as I can, but with the fall right around the corner, I can't promise anything.

Astoria X Draco

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

Ch. 1: First Day

Three months ago, my acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrived in the mail. My parents pretended to be surprised and happy, though all of us knew that they weren't.

Today is my first day, and the nerves are threatening to eat me alive. Living life in the shadow of my perfect older sister makes it hard- no, impossible- for me to do anything right. Though we get along, it is obvious that my parents favor her. The fact that I don't want to be a Slytherin doesn't help me, either.

It's not that I don't want to be a Slytherin, it's just that I wish that a person could grow up in the house of ambition and cunning and not be feared. A person can be a Slytherin without being a Death Eater and hating the world. That is possible. The ministry is such a band of hypocrites, claiming they want everyone to be equal while clearly shunning anyone connected to that house.

Anyway, my sister and I are running through Kings Cross station, late, of course. Daphne wouldn't leave the house without looking absolutely idiotic first. She claims she looks amazing. Thanks to the sanity that I, unlike her, possess, I disagree. And it is all in an effort to impress "the amazing, absolutely wonderful Draco Malfoy." Her quote, not mine. I seriously worry about her mental state sometimes. From what I've seen at the few balls I've been allowed to go to, Draco seems like nothing but a great git.

I follow my sister through the platform barrier to get onto platform 9 ¾. Since I don't want to make friends on the chance that we get put in enemy houses, Daphne agreed to let me sit with her on the train ride, something that I am dreading. Sitting with her means sitting with her friends as well. But, unfortunately, I have no other option.

"Do try to keep up!" Daphne yells over her shoulder. I roll my eyes, not bothering to point out that it's her fault we're late in the first place.

She leads me into a crowded car full of her third year Slytherin friends. As soon as the door closes, the car goes silent and they look up. Unfortunately, I recognize the silver eyes and white-blond hair of Draco Malfoy among the others. And, also unfortunately, he is the first one to break the silence with a not-so-subtle attempt to piss me off. He almost succeeds, until I realize that I won't give him that pleasure.

"Who the bloody hell is this?" He asks, glaring at me.

I still feel the blood rush to my cheeks, but I deny him my answer, instead taking a seat on the other side of the car near the window. Maybe if he asks me nicely next time, I'll answer him. Until then, I'm content to allow him to keep his ignorance. I look up at Daphne, who is blushing in embarrassment at my not-so-subtle display of my immediate dislike for the arse.

"That's my little sister, Astoria. She's a first year."

I glare at her menacingly.

"Must you tell the bloody prat everything?" I ask, ignoring the collective gasp that my word choice earns. Daphne glares at me, again blushing at my behavior, and takes a seat on Draco's left side. His right is already claimed by an ugly, pug-faced girl that seems to be attempting to attach herself to him. I recognize his arm candy as Pansy Parkinson, Daphne's best friend. I wonder how they deal with each other crushing on the same guy.

At Draco's dark chuckle at my bold insult, the conversation starts up again, nobody bothering to talk to me. I'm quite all right with that arrangement, content to tune out everything.

Suddenly, I feel the train begin to slow to a stop. The power flickers, and the windows become covered in a frost that permeates through the car. The temperature steadily drops, and I feel like every happy emotion in me has been sucked out.

"W-What's that?" I stutter nervously, not liking this at all. Draco turns to sneer at me, mocking me before he stops cold, either because he feels the depression sinking in, or because of the power suddenly going out.

I turn back to my window after smirking at him, watching in horror as a long, shadowy figure floats past. A dementor. But why would a dementor be here?

A few seconds later, the train resumes motion.

The rest of the ride passes by uneventfully, and soon Hogwarts Castle is visible through the window. And what a magnificent sight it is.

I follow my sister out off the train, merging in with the stream of new students walking towards a number of boats. I choose one randomly, not bothering to talk since we could end up becoming enemies.

When we arrive at the castle, an old witch who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall gives us a speech, leading us into the Great Hall, where all the older students are already seated at their house tables. The time for the Sorting Hat ceremony has arrived.

The group begins to thin quickly, since there are many names ahead of mine. I wait anxiously until my turn finally arrives.

"Astoria Greengrass!"

My mind suddenly blanks, and not in a good way. It takes all of my will to slowly make my way toward the stool. I ignore the whispered conversation coming from the Draco Malfoy fan club and stare out across the sea of witches and wizards as the hat is placed on my head.

Hmm…it says in my head. Plenty of courage in a brave heart…a ready mind…compassion…cunning and ambition…you have qualities from every house. But where to put you? You're a Greengrass, a family full of Slytherins, yet…you could do great things in any house…

"GRYFFINDOOR!"

I don't hear the cheers erupting from the Gryffndoor or the protests of my sister. All I can think about is my world crumbling at my feet. My parents will not be pleased.

I take my seat at my surprising new table; grief-stricken and worried about the punishment I will most likely receive from my parents. This has got to be the last straw. My parents will surely disown me as soon as I am of age for them to do so.

How could this have happened?

The rest of the ceremony goes by in a blur, and I don't even taste the food that I force myself to eat.

When it is time to leave the great hall, I believe that I am mostly over the shock, though I still can't believe that I was sorted into Gryffindoor. I was expecting Ravenclaw at the worst. Not this.

Although I can't deny the secret happiness that I am trying to prevent myself from feeling. This is what I wanted. A chance to prove that I am not at all like my manipulative family. But what will this cost me?

Once the prefect leads us to the common room, I immediately flee to my room. I claim the bed closest to the window, and stretch out, staring at the ceiling.

I almost don't notice when my roommates come in, lost in my daydreams and other thoughts.

"Hi!" One of the girls says to me, picking the bed next to mine. "I'm Liana Terril."

A muggle-born, naturally. But unlike the rest of my family, I don't have a problem with muggles, so I smile.

"Hey! I'm Astoria Greengrass, but I go by Tori because Astoria is much too long and fancy."

She nods, smiling.

"So, you're a pureblood?"

"Unfortunately," I mutter.

The other girls introduce themselves as Selene Ringer, Raquel Martin, and Kyara Travert. I have a feeling that I'm going to like these girls. It turns out that they're all half and half.

Later that night when my new friends are asleep, I write the news to my parents, knowing that I'll probably receive a howler tomorrow.

When the horrid job is over, I slowly drift off to sleep.

Author's Note: So, how was it? Let me know if I need to revise or anything, and ideas are welcome. Please press the review button and take a couple seconds to tell me what you thought. It means a lot, really.

Next chapters are major events from her 2nd through 5th years, and then it skips to their adult lives.