SUMMER'S END

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Pairing: Draco/Astoria

Rating: K+

Word Count: 732

Summary: She held herself still; her heart was hammering in her chest.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Spoilers: Specific HBP, general entire series.

Author’s Notes: Comes after ‘All Good Things’. Remember, these are ficlets set in the same ‘verse, not chapters. Written for rarepair_shorts

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The uneasy peace that succeeded Damon Greengrass’ announcement lasted until the following Monday, when it was unceremoniously disrupted by a knock on the front door. Astoria stirred from her perusal of a certain blond head positioned near to her knee, and twisted in the armchair she was occupying to look through the bay window. Her heart promptly sank as she saw who was stood outside. Shortly after, her mother admitted the imposing figure of Professor Snape into the living room.

“Sir!” Draco exclaimed, rising swiftly to his feet. Another, less articulate cry escaped him as a second figure stepped into the room.

Narcissa Malfoy was a tall, slender woman with an unassailably elegant air about her. As a consequence, she looked decidedly out of place in the Greengrass’ living room. The moment that she spotted her son, however, the cool exterior crumpled. A second after that she had her arms wrapped around him in a fierce embrace. The fine tremble that ran through Draco’s shoulders told Astoria all she needed to know about the strength of his reaction.

In the doorway, Milena gestured for her to get up and leave the pair to their reunion.

“Draco is going to be leaving us,” she said quietly, as Astoria joined her in the hallway. “He is going home, to his family. I know you’re upset, but try to be happy for him.” At the mortified look that appeared on her daughter’s face, Milena smiled softly. Wrapping an arm around Astoria’s shoulders, she hugged her, and added, “You’ve been spending a lot of time together, and he’s a good-looking boy.”

Astoria lingered in the hallway after her mother had gone, unable to decide what to do next. What she really wanted to do was press her ear up against the living room door, and listen to the conversation going on within. It seemed to take an age for anyone to emerge.

Draco’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes sharp and bright. When he spotted her, his lips split into a board, seemingly involuntary grin. His hand closed around hers before Astoria even realised that she had extended it. She found herself being tugged forwards.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. Taking a step backwards, towards the front door, she added, “Come with me.”

Draco followed, his voice spilling out in an animatedly. Astoria led him away from the house, and towards the weeping willow that stood at the end of the garden. She ignored his surprise when she pushed aside the lush green foliage that spilled down to the grass, and led him into the cool shelter within. It offered about as much privacy as she could hope for, though Draco had to stoop slightly to stay on his feet. Sunlight dappled his pale face and hair as she turned to look up at him, her eyes wide and a small frown marring her brow.

His smile faltered as he noticed her expression. “Astoria…”

“We should write to each other,” she said, trying to ignore the lump in her throat.

“Okay,” Draco agreed, nodding slightly. He looked almost as unsure of himself as Astoria felt. Trembling a little, she forced herself to open her mouth again, knowing that the moment was already becoming uncomfortable, but that she was not ready for it to end.

“And you have to promise me that you won’t do anything stupid. Because, really, Draco, you do the stupidest things sometimes and…”

A peculiar, almost desperate look swept over Draco’s features. He leaned forwards sharply, prompting Astoria to gasp and sway backwards in surprise. “Sorry,” he said, his cheeks darkening.

“No,” Astoria said, feeling absurdly stupid as she realised what he had been attempting to do. She made herself take a small step towards him.

Draco began to lean forwards again, this time more steadily. Tentatively, he placed a hand lightly on her hip, leaving Astoria wondering whether he thought that she might try to run away again. She held herself still; her heart was hammering in her chest. The tip of his nose brushed against hers, against a line of tension running the length of Astoria’s back. She started, and then flushed, embarrassed by her reaction. Draco’s hand slipped from her hip, to her back, and he smiled.

Then his lips found hers, and her nerves vanished.

It was not bad for a first kiss, as Astoria imagined first kisses went.

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Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you to the people who are reading these one-shots. I've been surprised by the number of you doing so, considering the fact they are one-shots and the fact that it is such a rare pairing. I think I've replied to all of you who have left feedback, but if I haven't I just want you to know that it's all appreciated. Finally, I'm sorry about the long wait between updates on this. RL got in the way.