Babe

“I- what?”

I stare at the house-elf in disbelief. You have got to be kidding right? My sister? What the hell is she doing here?

“I don’t- no, oh Merlin,” I croak, realising what I look like right now. I have been sobbing alone in my room for a week. Even though I got ready today, I’m not exactly in the best shape to have visitors. Before I can even fully commit to what I want to do, I hear Daphne call me.

“Stori? It’s me, your sister!”

I sigh. I’m not exactly sure what I can say that will get her to leave. All I know is I don’t have the strength to deal with her games and questions.

“I brought someone to cheer you up..” Daphne calls hesitantly.

Oh Salazar no, she brought Draco here. Oh fuck, she thought it would help me. She thought seeing my husband would help. Merlin I have to get rid of them, I have to-

“Hey darling,” Theodore Nott sticks his head around the door, grinning broadly. “I brought alcohol.” He holds up a bottle of gin. My face breaks into the first real smile in weeks.

Theo and Daphne have settled into the sitting room. I watch my sister as she eyes the decoration, the unused sofa, the cold unapproving Malfoy portraits. I stare at the floor, while Theo pours each of us a drink. Daphne accepts hers with tight lips and she barely takes a sip before setting her glass down on the side table. She turns to me, her blue eyes staring intently at my face. Daphne has always been gorgeous, with thicker, blonder hair than me, and a pretty face. She works for the ministry now, a charm-breaker. She shifted the duty of being the perfect Pureblood daughter to me. And I fucked it up. I quickly lower my gaze to the floor.

Theo sits down in what used to be Draco’s chair. I can’t help it, my eyes flicker over to him. I quickly look back down, but Daphne speaks and I’m forced to confront the situation.

“So, he left. He moved out.”

It’s not a question. A statement. As though I needed to hear it. Maybe I did.

“Yes,” I respond, disgruntled. I play with the olive in my glass, uncomfortable.

“We haven’t heard from him. That’s to say, I… I don’t keep in contact with him,” Theo says awkwardly.

“That’s kind, but he’s your friend Theo, I wouldn’t want you to lose that on my behalf.” I sip my drink slowly and then add, “I wouldn’t want him to lose that either.”

Daphne’s lip twitches. It’s a small tell she’s always had, a sign she’s displeased. I narrow my eyes at her.

“What?” I ask, annoyed now. I wish she’d just come out and say what she’s thinking. But we weren’t raised like that so I can’t exactly blame her for being incredibly vague.

“I just don’t think, in this situation, you should be doing him any favours.” She purses her lips and I see Theo rolls his eyes in my peripheral vision.

“Daph, we were married because of a contract. A political arrangement. Nothing more. You know this, it was for show, it was never-”

“Do not give me that bullshit Astoria!” Daphne gets to her feet angrily. “You loved him, you loved him, and he was fucking her the whole time!”

I wince. A tell of my own. She nods her head. Daphne sits back down, taking a sip from her drink.

“Daph, what does it matter? It’s over and-”

“It matters because you are my baby sister and I will never forgive that traitorous scumbag for hurting you.” She punctuates her words with a sharp hiss. I look over to Theo.

“And you? You what? Hate him because he slept with someone else? On my behalf?” I ask incredulously.

“He’s a fucking git Ri-Ri. And you deserve better,” Theo says softly and kindly. I smile at the nickname only he can call me. “Say the word and I’ll curse his dick off.” I laugh and Daphne smiles politely. Merlin she’s so uptight.

“That’s alright Teddy,” I smile. He grins back at me. I’ve always known Theodore Nott to be an attractive guy, but looking at him now, with the light hitting him just so, I can see he’s grown into a very handsome man. His curly brown hair falls so naturally and his eyes are the bluest blue, brighter than mine and Daph’s. There’s an air about him, of mystery and fun, like he’ll explode your world and leave you wanting for more.

Theo lifts his glass and stands.

“To Malfoy’s dick falling off!” I burst out laughing.

“Honestly, you two! Such children,” Daphne chides.

I shoot Theo a small smile of appreciation as I stand and raise my own glass. He smiles back, his blue eyes filled with kindness and admiration.

“Are you joining us or not Deer?” He asks Daphne.

“Oh for Merlin’s sake, grow up,” she chides, standing nevertheless.

“Grow down!” Theo and I chant together, just like we used to when Daphne would catch us charming the garden gnomes to attack the dining table, or when we’d track mud in the house after splashing around in the puddles all day.

Theo drains his glass and Daph and I follow suit. I grin. I feel like myself again. This happiness, I can‘t describe how natural it feels now, but before today, I thought I might never be happy again. I hope it lasts forever.

Well that didn’t last long. Theo and Daphne had only left about an hour ago when it started. I felt it first. In the kitchen, I’m looking around for the extra fancy glasses so I can put them out next time Theo comes. I stand on my tip-toes as I try the very top cabinet. Coming up empty, I slump back down and sigh exasperatedly. Then I hear a noise. A knock. A singular slow knock. I look around confused. Perhaps Theo or Daphne had left something and they are returning to collect it. I secretly hope it’s Theo. I would much rather interact with him than my sister. I hurry to the door and open it smiling.

“What did you forget because I’m not giving it back without a-
Oh.”

Dra-Malfoy shifts uncomfortably. My smile fades instantly.

“I… I came to get the rest of my stuff. I need some stuff for work and it can’t wait, I- I’m afraid.”

I just stare. I just stare at him. At the man who decimated my life and my heart and has the gall to look me in the eyes. He opens his mouth to speak but then closes it. I see his eyes roam over my face, taking in my appearance.

“Are you well?” He asks quietly.

I almost laugh.

“Am I well? Am I WELL?? You know, I don’t know Draco, am I well??”

He pales and tucks his tongue between his teeth. His shoulders tense and he looks as though he’s bracing himself. Good.

“Let’s see. My husband, out of nowhere, told me he’s leaving me, that he is in love, that he has been having an affair with the wizarding world’s most beloved witch! He moved out, left me all alone, and was pictured the next fucking day, in the Prophet, gushing and glowing about his new woman!! AM I WELL?? NO!” I scream, my throat tearing and my eyes watering.

He winces at my tears and quickly reaches into his pocket for a handkerchief. Holding it out to me, I see his grey eyes search mine guiltily. I swat his handkerchief away angrily.

“Toro, please, I’m so-”

“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare call me that. You have lost every right to call me that!” I yell viciously. He winces again and rubs his brow.

“Astoria. Please, hear me out, I am so so sorry. I did not ever mean to hurt you and-”

“Well. You. Did.” I say coldly. His shoulders deflate.

“Astoria please, we didn’t love each other. Our marriage was a sham and you know it. An act to please our parents and nothing more. We had no real feelings for each other, other than friendship,” Malfoy pleads.

“Well I did,” I say softly. His eyes widen in shock. His hand that was raised, gesturing in surrender falls to his side. “I was happy Draco. I was safe. I was- you took something from me. You took this marriage from me and you have ruined my life.”

“Astoria, I- I didn’t understand. I just thought…we’ve been such good friends our whole lives, I thought…” he doesn’t finish though. He just leaves the sentence hanging in the air. He’s good at that. I grimace.

“Yeah well, I did. I thought that maybe you would too, in time. And now I find out that it was never going to be me.”

“Look. We are friends and I have no intention of hurting you. I never did. I want us to remain friends and I-”

“Remain friends?!?” I choke out, shocked. Malfoy’s eyes widen in surprise. “I don’t EVER want to see your repulsive, little lying face around here ever again!!” I’m yelling in his face now and I don’t care. He simply stands there, avoiding eye contact.

“TAKE YOUR SHIT AND GO. AND NEVER COME BACK. AND I SWEAR TO SALAZAR DRACO YOU BETTER KEEP THAT STUPID LITTLE TROPHY WITCH OF YOURS-”

“Don’t you dare talk about her like that.”

Malfoy’s voice is cold and commanding. His lip curls and he now stares into my eyes menacingly. “I understand you are upset Astoria but it gives you no right to talk about Granger that way. I won’t hear it.”

“Then take your shit and go. Cause it’s shit-talk Granger night and I’ve got a lot to fucking say.” I snarl angrily at him, crossing my arms.

Malfoy brushes past me angrily, stomping over to the staircase. I slam the door shut and sink down into a chair in the sitting room. Five minutes later, Malfoy storms downstairs with a trunk packed. He walks right by the sitting room, only stopping to pause at the nearly empty bottle of gin on the table behind the sofa nearest the entryway. He picks it up and examines it.

“Who gave you this?” he asks.

I stand, holding his gaze defiantly.

“Theo.”

“Theo?” I see his eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

“Yes. You can’t honestly think this would go over well with our lot Draco.”

He tenses and places the bottle back down with a sigh.

“To be honest, I don’t care Astoria. I’m happy. I wish for you to be happy too.”

“I’ll be happy once you’re dead in the ground,” I sneer. He flinches.

I watch his retreating form all the way to the door. He turns to glance back at me once, before stepping out and closing the door.

I collapse. Sobs and screams pour out of me like wine from an overflowing glass. My hands grasp at my throat as I fight for breath. Tears slide down my cheeks, ruining all the makeup I did earlier. I heave and rock back and forth, clutching at my throat desperately. I can’t breathe, I can’t think. I can’t stop crying. Oh Merlin, make it stop. Make it stop, please. I don’t even realise I’m wailing aloud until I hear someone calling my name. My knees ache from the cold marble and my chest screams in agony. My heart feels like it’s been cleaved in half by an axe, torn, shredded, and discarded. I can do nothing but scream.

“ASTORIA!!!”

My vision is blurred with tears and all I see is someone running over to me, grabbing my arms and trying to speak to me. But I can’t hear it. I can’t see, I can’t hear, I can’t feel anything but grief. It’s choking me. It’s killing me. It’s… it’s fading to black. My eyes close.