Perfect Illusions (Drastoria)

Chapter Eleven - Struggle

Chapter Eleven: Struggle

Our honeymoon went very well. We rented a beach house in Cornwall and stayed there for 10 days. I never wanted to leave; it was amazing. But I had a good thing to look forward to at home.

Draco's parents had another house that they owned, in Cambridge, that they were going to let us use. The house was gorgeous, a huge two-story in tan and dark blue.

My father was over at my mother's when we got home, and he approached us within the first 15 minutes and asked to see Draco alone for a second.

Draco told me to go on and take my things to the car so we could be ready to leave for the house.

I lugged my suitcases out into the trunk of the car, then came back inside to wait for Draco.

"Go ahead and drive to Cambridge," my mother told me, "Draco says he'll apparate there from here later."

I was getting a weird feeling about this. But I started to drive home anyway.

***Draco's POV***

"So Draco."

"Yes sir?"

We were sitting in the study, Mr. Greengrass and I.

"I hear your parents were involved a great deal in the practice of Dark Magic."

I hesitated, "Yes."

"And I also hear that you've been around a bit in the Dark Arts yourself?"

Oh, no.

"Yes," I said hesitantly after a while.

"I see," Tori's father sighed and leaned back in his chair calmly; but I could tell he was furious, "Pull up your left sleeve, would you?"

I closed my eyes, letting out the breath I was holding. Oh, no. Everything inside of me screamed not to do it, but my right hand reached down anyway and lifted the sleeve of my shirt, and I grimaced.

"And you think you have any business marrying my daughter?" he asked in that same calm tone, and looked straight at me, making eye contact.

I froze.

"Well?" he asked, a bit more aggression and volume in his voice.

"I didn't think I even had a chance with someone like your daughter. And I mean, I really screwed up. I made all the wrong choices. But Tori was the one who helped me to make the right choices I've made. I don't even want to think about where I'd be without her. She's helped me change."

"Hmm," he said, "Well it's not really the fact that you changed, is it? It's the fact that you were one of them in the first place. Do you realize that people like you kept me from my family for eighteen years?! EIGHTEEN!! How ironic is it that my own youngest daughter gets married to one of the same people who kept me from watching her grow up?!" he was shouting now, his face getting closer and closer to mine.

I had nothing to say. I was angry, and confused, but mainly, I was horribly, horribly regretful.

"I would rather have died than hurt Astoria," I said, my voice cracking.

"Then why didn't you?" he said coldly and started for the door.

"Mr. Greengrass-" I started, but then realized I had nothing relevant to say.

"Mr. Malfoy," he turned around at the door, "My daughter made the wrong choice by trying to help you make a right one. You two shouldn't expect me to stay in touch."

And with that he left.

I stared down at my left arm. The tattoo just laid there, torturing me. And I knew I would have this mark for the rest of my life.

I was going to be sick.

I quickly disapparated to the inside of our home, in the bathroom. I turned and got sick in the commode. My head was spinning and pounding.

I needed to get the tattoo off.

***Astoria's POV***

When I got home, I grabbed my things and walked in, setting them down beside the door.

Then I heard the sink in the bathroom running.

"Draco?" I said softly and walked toward the bathroom. The closer I got, I could hear what sounded like someone crying.

I rounded the doorframe to the bathroom to see Draco, hunched over the sink, sobbing. I stood, shocked, and watched as he frantically scrubbed his left forearm. The skin all around his tattoo was enflamed, rubbed raw by his efforts.

"Draco," I could barely choke out more than a whisper.

When he noticed I was there he let go of the dishrag he'd been scrubbing with and dropped his head, still sobbing. I'd never seen Draco break down this way; it was scaring me.

I walked up to him, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Draco, what's wrong?" I whispered.

"I did this... I did this..." he kept repeating.

"Draco, it's over now. You're ok. What happened?" I asked.

He regained his composure and wiped his face with the rag.

"Your father found out."

I sighed. I knew this would happen sooner or later.

"And what did he say?" I asked.

"He basically told me that he wouldn't keep contact with us."

I blinked a few times, registering this. I had just gotten my father back, and now I was losing him again?

Draco continued, "And it's all my fault... I'm so sorry, Astoria."

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his shaking torso, hugging him tightly.

"Draco, it's okay. Shh, it's okay..." I whispered comfort to him until he stopped crying.

I looked up at him.

"Draco, what in the world would make you think that this is your fault? You had no clue. None, whatsoever. You didn't exactly jump on the band wagon either. So it's not your fault. I promise. I'll love you, always. No matter what," and I stood on tippy-toes to kiss his cheek.

True to his word, my father never did write or call. I only saw him from then on at holidays when the whole family was together. And he was still cold to me. He wouldn't even look at Draco. He usually ended up leaving quickly as soon as the holiday meal was over.

Mom and Jason ended up getting engaged. My father wasn't happy about that either. We saw him less and less. I don't think he even came to their wedding.

About two and a half years after Draco and I got married, we found out I was expecting. We were so happy, until we went in for an ultrasound. Nothing was there. I went home and cried for days. Draco was there to console me the whole time. Then about six months later, we found out I was expecting again. It was a boy! We named him Scorpius Hyperion. He was gorgeous; he looked just like his father. My mother and Daphne adored him.

Myself and Draco were very happy, even with the circumstance with my father. We knew that life must go on even in the face of trial. And I knew I was the luckiest girl alive to have him to lean on and trust. And I was ready to spend the rest of my life with him, wherever it might take me.