Another Beautiful Part
by EMPG22HoPe

I've been waiting so long
Nothing is going to tear us apart

Draco entered Astoria's room, grey eyes searching the space for what she'd asked him to look for. Her room was spacey, and filled with the softest of pastel colors. A small smile graced his lips at the sight of it. It was very… well, very Astoria.

As he riffled through drawers for Astoria's Slytherin scarf, he came across a particular drawer on her bedside table. He shifted through the colorful pens and found a letter. Had it been any other letter, he would have easily ignored it and went on. But it had Draco's name on it, addressed to him to Malfoy Manor, dated only three months ago.

A part of him held himself back, knowing it was none of his business. But he was also curious. When Astoria was still in Hogwarts after he graduated, letters were their favorite way of communicating. He never went a week in Malfoy Manor without receiving at least one letter from her. So what made this letter draw him to all the others that Astoria had sent?

Not being able to bear it any longer, he took the letter from the recesses of the drawer and drew it up to him. He tore open the white envelope and released the parchment within. He braced himself for what looked to be the longest letter Draco had ever seen Astoria write.

August 18, 2002

Dearest Draco,

We have said things to each other, ones that we would never admit aloud. I am happy for the trust that we've given each other. But I fear I have forgotten to tell you one little thing that I never truly had the courage to tell anyone.

I don't think I could bear telling you the news myself, so I think the written word will do my explanation a bit more justice. You may notice how sickly I can get. It's not just because I have the weakest immune system any witch could hold, but because it stems from generations ago.

Draco, I am cursed.

The Greengrass curse had been with my family for centuries. More, even. It hasn't appeared in any of my grandparents or great-grandparents. Until… it resurfaced in me. This blood malediction may be my doom. I might never reach old age. I probably never will.

I didn't have the heart to tell you because I was so scared of losing you. I feared that if I ever told you or any of my friends that I feared you would all leave. That you would never see the point in being in love with someone that's going to die soon anyway.

There is no cure. I don't think there ever will be. The curse is uneven, and I never know when my last breath will be. Perhaps even before I have this letter sent that I might just drop dead and never see you or anyone again.

Please don't be angry with me. I didn't know how to tell you, but you at least deserve the truth. I understand if you don't want to be with me anymore, that a cursed girl like me is enough burden as it is.

I want nothing more in giving this information to you than to have it kept as a secret. I know that I've said that I didn't care about my reputation, but this is a grate one too far. A cursed witch is enough to draw people away from me and my family's station. And I don't want to lose everyone that I love.

I would understand if you decide to leave this letter unanswered. I would even understand if you simply decide I'm not worth the effort to love anymore. Just please know that I never meant to keep this secret long from you, except with the greatest fear of losing you.

I am currently at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for the rest of the summer. The Healers say that I might not ever get out of this place… well, alive.

And so in the case of my final words, I implore you to see light, Draco. There will always be hope for you, even if there's none for me. Some people deserve it better than others, as harsh as it may sound. But you deserve it even more.

All my love,
Astoria Greengrass

Draco's hands rattled as he held the parchment. He knew Astoria had been sick most of the summer, hence why he wasn't able to see her much except visit her every now and then in St. Mungo's. But he didn't know it was more than just some usual problem within her immune system. It was… it was so much more than that.

He fell to sit on Astoria's bed, still shaken by the words he had just read. Did Astoria not trust him enough to tell him about this? He had only been courting her for the briefest time after he graduated, but he did not expect her to keep this secret from him for so long. Astoria always told him everything.

A sort of indifference set within him. Astoria voiced her fears in the letter that was unsent, and he wondered what he would have done if she had simply told him herself or sent it. Would he run the other way like she had feared? Consider her a waste of time afterwards?

Draco shook his head violently this time, feeling his grey eyes burn with tears. Of course not. He loves her with every aching beat of his heart. He would never do that. Of course he wouldn't. But he just wished his beloved didn't keep it so secret…

"Draco, have you found it—" Astoria's voice carried from outside.

What he should have done was bolt from that bed and shove the letter back in her drawer. But when the door opened to reveal Astoria, he simply sat there with the letter in his hand. He lifted his head and watched as horror set on Astoria's face, her green eyes darting between Draco and the letter.

Astoria was always prepared for many things. She was prepared for her imminent death, prepared for the frailty that's to come that would destroy her from the inside out, prepared for what the gods have planned. What she was not particularly prepared for was Draco sitting there with the letter she had kept away and did not bother to send when she had gotten better after her time at St. Mungo's.

And she was certainly not prepared for him to find out about her blood curse in this way.

The hairs on her skin rose when Draco lifted the letter in his hand, looking quite indifferent as he asked, "Would you please explain what this is?"

"Draco, I…" Astoria started, unsure how to go on as she closed the door behind her. She always had eloquence for words, but that seemed to fail her now as she carefully walked into the room towards Draco. "You weren't supposed to know… I… not yet, anyway."

"Oh?" Draco asked plainly as he put the letter down beside him.

Astoria inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to draw tears. But her resolve was a lot weaker around Draco, and she felt the tears slip down her cheeks as she bowed her head. This was it… the moment she was dreading. Draco finding out and deciding she was a waste of time. There were many dreams of hers that involved this moment, most of that dream ending with Draco leaving without even an opportunity for Astoria to explain. Now that dream was turning into a wretched reality.

"I wanted to tell you," Astoria said with a sniff as she rubbed away the tears from her eyes. So much for trying not to cry as she had told herself before if she were to tell Draco. "Whenever you visited St. Mungo's in the summer, I wanted so very badly to. But I couldn't bear to waste what little moments I thought I had left with you. I wanted to tell you long before being bedridden long in the hospital, but… I was afraid…"

"Afraid you'd lose me." Draco finished for her.

Astoria nodded then took a deep breath, her head still bowed and her green eyes focused on the soles of her pink slippers. "I'm so sorry, Draco. I'm so so sorry… I wish I could go back and change the course of things, but I can't because… because I'm a coward. You always told me how brave I am, but I'm not… I'm really not. It's all a façade. I am so very terrified of tomorrow because I don't know what it will bring. I don't know if I'll ever live to see tomorrow, live to see… to see you…"

Her voice choked at the last few words, and she held onto herself, even though her face crumpled into fits of tears.

"If you want to leave…" Astoria started, but was interrupted by Draco's voice.

"I won't." Draco said firmly, causing Astoria to look up to him with reddened eyes. He stood up from her bed then glided towards her. His look of indifference had change into something else entirely. "I don't think I'm capable of doing that."

Astoria sniffed as she met his gaze. "But you won't love me anymore."

"I'm never gonna stop." Draco shook his head before taking his hands in hers, lifting them to his lips to press gentle kisses on her knuckles. She melted into his touch. "I love you, Astoria. You are the light of my life. I just wish you trusted me with this a lot sooner. I could have found a cure…"

"There is no cure." Astoria inhaled sharply as she closed her eyes. "All the Healers… they've tried everything."

"Not everything," Draco declared, and Astoria opened her eyes. "They haven't tried to add me to the equation."

Astoria tilted her head to the side. "So you're not mad at me?"

"Why would I be?" Draco asked before sighing. "Astoria, if you think I'll leave you because of some bloody curse, then you have another thing coming. I'm not that superficial."

"It's not that you're superficial." Astoria tried to explain. "It's that… you wouldn't see the point of being with me for long because I could die at any moment. How could I do that to you?"

Draco blinked at her owlishly before smiling at her sadly. He pulled her close to him this time, an arm around her waist. He pressed his forehead against hers and spoke. "I would have you in every way I can, cursed or not. I'll be damned if you depart from this earth unhappy. And that's all I want, Astoria… for you to be happy."

Her heart swelled with love as she looked into Draco's eyes. Astoria leaned in and pressed her lips against his. She inhaled his scent of sandalwood and mint, and gasped when Draco pulled her forwards. A yelp escaped her lips when Draco tripped before her, and she tumbled on top of him. They had fallen onto the bed.

A bright laugh escaped Astoria's lips as Draco chortled underneath her. He lifted his hand to caress her cheeks, causing the apples of them to turn a very scarlet color.

"I am always happy when I'm with you." Astoria declared with a radiant smile. "You have given me so much hope for tomorrow. I suppose that's why I survived still from St. Mungo's months ago, because I held onto the hope that we could still be together even after everything."

"Then you have nothing to be afraid of now, Astoria." Draco said as his thumb caressed her cheek delicately. "Because your curse is just another beautiful part of the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of loving."

Her heart swelled at his words. If there was anyone who would truly love her for her, it was Draco. Just as she would love Draco for being himself. She believed his words that day, as she had always believed in him.

Fanfiction Writing Month - July: 2,029 words

Eastern Hogwarts FunFair: Penny Slot Machine - 22. Draco Malfoy / 50. (word) trust / 51. (word) beloved

Fortnightly Challenge - Going Postal: Sending the letter - Object - Letter

Insane House Challenge
386. Word - Eloquence - (Beauty and persuasion in speech)

365 Prompts
207. Plot Point - A character finds something

Writing Club - July
Showtime - 36. Hurricane - (emotion) Indifference
Lyric Alley - 19. And I'm tryin' not to cry

Hamilton Mania - July
Act Two: 7. Having an argument - (genre) angst
Optional Prompt: 19. (dialogue) "I'm never gonna stop."

AN: This was definitely an unconventional way of Draco finding out about Astoria's blood curse, but I'm happy to end it on a sweet note. It shows much Draco himself has grown because of Astoria. The effect Astoria has on him is such a good one, and Astoria realizes that now. I hope you enjoyed reading, and please don't forget to review! :')

EMPG22HoPe