The Blood Curse (Draco X Astoria)

Chapter 4

A/N Hi, so I'm hoping to get back into the way of writing, but with exams and school is back and its all a big mess. Honestly I'm not sure if I like this story much, but then everything a write makes me cringe so... yeah.

None of these Characters are mine, as you know, and so that's it. Enjoy.

Astoria sat numbly on her bed, mulling over her latest encounter with Draco Malfoy. things had been going fine. She'd been doing well in her classes, people had gone back to ignoring her, just the way she liked and she'd gotten over her small period of loneliness. A storm has to get worse before it gets better, right? If Astoria thought Draco might have been avoiding her before, She was sure he was now. If Astoria walked in to a room through one door, Draco walked out through the other.

She watched her tiny, hyperactive owl zoom around her dormatory. Holding her arm out, she whistled and in it's haste to please it's owner, the small owl knocked over a pile of books and crashed into Astoria's lap. She shook her head, smiling slightly. 'you're the most pathetic excuse for an owl I've ever seen. Astorias father tried to persuade her to buy something expensive, and useful, but she'd fallen in love with the small creature straight away.

It hooted softly rubbing its fluffy little head on her chest. 'what am I going to do?' she spoke to the owl, 'He hates me. He can't even stand to be in the same room as me. Daphne hasn't spoken to me much either.' She smiled sadly as the owl, sensing her mood, hooted and flapped its wings in a futile effort to comfort its owner. 'At least you listen.'

The days leading up to Christmas went by in a haze, no one celebrated. Although students were allowed to go home, it wasn't for the purpose of celebrating, it was simply a listed holiday.

Astoria, as per usual, begged to stay at school, and, as per usual, she didn't get to. The Greengrasses, along side the other 'respectable' members of the sacred twenty eight attended the Malfoy family's annual Christmas ball. Astoria, now more than ever, was willing to do anything to get out of it. She didn't want to face Draco, their history was something both sides would rather just forget.

The twenty forth of december was fast approaching. Astoria had attempted the sick card... 'Mother, I'm not feeling great, I'm afraid if I attend the Malfoys family ball, i may be contagious.' Her mother had rolled her eyes. 'Every year Astoria, Every year you make up a new excuse. Why can't you be more like your sister? You look fine to me, and put that book down, its not lady-like!'

She'd tried threatening her Mother... 'Mother, if you make me go I'll throw such a tantrum you'll be so embarrassed that you were ever born.' She'd given Astoria a look that could certainly kill, 'If you don't keep your pretty little mouth shut young lady, you'll be sorry you were ever born. Every day you get more and more bold. It pains me to imagine what you'll not be like in a couple years.'

She'd tried bribing her mother, 'Mother please, I'll do anything, absolutely anything, just name it!' 'Astoria you're going to that ball, even if you end up a sack of bones.'

The day before the ball Daphne burst through Astoria's door with such girlish excitement it made her head hurt. 'Put that pen down. Who are you writing to anyway? so-' Astoria didn't have time to answer her sisters question before she started talking again. That was the trick with Daphne, sit and look at her, add a few mhm's and ooo's every so often, and when you want to leave, don't.

'So you have no idea how absolutely excited I am about this. Look at my dress isn't it stunning. I am so glad the ministry fell, we get so many special privileges, oh and I love the Malfoys house isn't it beautiful. I can't wait to see Draco...' At this point her sister gave a painfully girlish giggle that almost sent Astoria over the edge. Other than Astoria, not one girl in the Slytherin common room hadn't at some point, crazily in love, ran after Draco Malfoy, and, as far as the eye could tell, he absolutely loved it.

When Daphne was done with her long rant involving something about Flitwick's teaching and Draco's hair she sighed and said, 'Did you hear anything I said? anyway-' again, no time to answer, 'where's your dress, I haven't seen it yet.' Astoria was the one to sigh this time, and reluctantly, she set down her quill and parchment. While being preoccupied with trying to get out of the party, she'd never given much thought to the party. She didn't even know what her dress looked like.

Opening her large, walk-in wardrobe she picked out the long black bag, which contained the delicate fabric. Laying it out across her bed, her and Daphne carefully pulled the cover back, revealing a dark, emerald green dress. Small, diamond-like stones dressed its carefully fitted sweetheart neckline. The fabric went in at the waist and ended in a modest waterfall skirt. They knew it would look amazing. Green was definately Astorias colour, it brought out her eyes beautifully.

Just as Astoria put her dress away, pixie the house elf appeared in the room. Tea, miss Daphne, miss Astoria. As the girls made their way downstairs, Astoria felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. It was just like the old days really. Daphne and Astoria had once been inseperable, the best of friends. But Daphne had been Jealous of Astorias intelligence, and Astoria had been jealous of Daphnes beauty, and the attention the oldest girl received from their parents. Daphne clung on to that, and went from Astorias best friend, to her personal thundercloud.

Daphne bullied Astoria. She had always wondered why her parents didn't care. It was only until later that she realised they were the ones behind it. Her mother encouraged it, Daphne got whatever she wanted, and she knew it. Her father was no better, although he would never physically harm any woman that crossed his tracks, no matter what they had done, sometimes words can have the same effect. No one can see mental scars, sometimes not even the person who holds them.

Astorias father called her down to his office, he sat with a weary look on his once handsome, young face.

'Alright so, you know what to do in any situation, correct?' Astorias father asked. 'Yes father, for the one-millionth time, we know what to do, curtsey, smile, giggle with the ladies and don't speak unless spoken to.' Her Father gave her a hard look, scrutinizing her tone of voice. 'I won't have that kind of cheek Astoria, The Malfoys are a highly respected family, and I believe the Dark Lord could being taking refuge within their home. I need you to use some common sense, your a bright girl, you know what could happen if we make a wrong move.'

He didn't speak like he usually did, his voice was soft. Astoria stared at his face, he looked older, worry had taken it's toll. She found herself wishing He'd have shouted, this tone of disappointment made her cheeks burn, looking at her hands, she felt guilty. Swallowing the lump that had risen in her throat she brought her eyes back to her fathers. 'Does Daphne know? That you think this.' He shook his head slowly. His lips twitched as he watched his youngest girl.

'Daphne likes to talk. Shes shallow, the perfect model of an ideal pure-blood lady. You've always been more mature. I let her give you a hard time, Astoria. And I'm sorry, but its shaped who you are today, I'm proud of it. I just want you to understand the... situation, we are in.'

Astoria couldn't stop her tears from falling now. Her father had never been this nice too her. 'Go on. You'll need to prepare for tomorrow evening.' Astoria stood up and walked quietly to her room. She didn't know where her fathers sudden kindness came from, but she decided she could live with it perfectly fine. She didn't like the Dark Lord. What kind of leader treated their followers like that. Sometimes she wished she'd been half-blood, or something like the Weasley's, or Lovegood's, people that didn't disregard other people just for the sake of it.

The sorting hat had seriously considered putting her in Ravenclaw. Everyone said it was the place for her, but the fear of her family overran the desire to be successful, and the sorting hat took her decision into its utmost consideration. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but she slept in peace, knowing she was right and the Dark Lord wouldn't win this war, the world could hardly be so cruel.