Aftermath

CHAPTER 1: DRACO MALFOY IS AN ICON OF CHANGE

"So, what are you trying to say Astoria?" Draco stared at the fire, burning, as his emotions did too.
"All I'm saying is that, I'm leaving." Astoria clenched her knuckles in both hands, seeing the unbothered features of Draco Malfoy.

"Leave then." Draco said coldly, without even looking to Astoria's eyes, because he knew what would happen if he did.

"Just like that? Pleasing you, pleasing your parents, just like that?" Astoria started to scream again, releasing the anger she feels within.

Draco and Astoria have been set in a soon-to-happen marriage for about a year now. And Draco wasn't at all in favor of it; whilst Astoria had fallen in love with the man in blonde hair.

"I am not my parents, they seem to like you for me because of their intentions in your family's business, but as I've said, I am not them, therefore I don't have the same vision. Feel free to leave," Draco said calmly, even if he hates to admit it, he feels the same way as what Astoria may have been feeling right now, but not exactly.

Ever since the Great War had ended, they all continued with their lives, continued going to Hogwarts 'til they graduated. As for Draco's parents, the Ministry has sentenced his father to Azkaban for life, and granted her mother pardon for helping Harry Potter against Voldemort, and as for him . . . he was branded as the boy who didn't have a choice and lived the remainder of his Hogwarts life under the fog.

He wasn't sent to Azkaban nor received the dementor's kiss, unlike the others, going back to Hogwarts after the war, with a dark mark has been hell for him already.

That's the price you get for being a coward and a total prick—but that was . . . ten years ago.

"Are you even listening?" Astoria glared and made her way in front of Draco, covering the fire place that he was continuously staring at.

Draco and Astoria was eachother's best friend after the war, but never did Draco looked at Astoria as something more than a friend, she's more like a sister he never had. Draco hated seeing Astoria like this. If only his parents did not force the relationship, Astoria's eyes wouldn't have this look of anger and disgust towards him.

"As I've expected. You're still the coward Draco Malfoy, ten years ago."

And from there, Astoria Greengrass had crossed a line.

"Do you think this is easy for me? More than 10 years of friendship, do you think I wanted every single one of it to be laid in waste?" Draco glared to Astoria, but with his heart aching.

Astoria was tired and Draco was eager, eager to save Astoria. Their friendship. Draco knew that he did not deserve Astoria's love, and that's why, when his Mother told them about the news of the arranged wedding, Draco started to slip away, went out with other women just to make Astoria give up on him, but for a year Astoria was patient and reluctant—but tonight was an exception.

Draco does not want to make Astoria's life a living hell, marrying someone who can't love her back, Astoria deserves more than what he can only give.

If this is the only way to save her and not make her repeat the mistakes of his mother, Narcissa, so be it.

"Do you really wanna be cooped up in a mansion as grand as this, but have no love in it? Tell me, is that what you really want Astoria? Think wisely, because to be honest, I don't! These walls give me the nightmares, these floors give me the shivers when it's supposed to be a home! I don't want your children to be Malfoys, Astoria. It's just not what they deserve." Draco started to weep. He knew that Astoria knows it when he's being sincere.

Astoria kneeled on the floor and held Draco's hand that was clamouring his hair, facing down the floor, sitting on the emerald chair, frustrated and emotional.

"I—I understand." Astoria said in defeat and placed Draco's hand on her cheek, gently making it carress her face.

"P—Please just please. You are important to me and I do not want you to end up like my Mother, A. A-And your children, suffering from the deeds of their own father. You know what I've been through at Hogwarts after the war." Draco meant every word as he looked at her in sincerity, caressing her face with his bare hands. Astoria looked into those deep gray eyes and she knew that if he's calling her A, he's being honest.

That's the sick and beautiful part of Draco Lucius Malfoy, he's too honest—well just ever since after the war, that the real Draco emerged from the shadows and she witnessed it.

"I guess this is good bye then," Astoria smiled bitterly but still full of hope. Why is that every time Draco decides to be honest, she completely forgets about all the anger she has stored within, towards him.

"This isn't good bye, this is just the continuation of our friendship and not the other way around." Draco said calmly and pulled her up, so that she could sit on the chair's arm rest, beside him. He leaned on Astoria's hip and continued to stare at the blazing fire that reminds him so much of someone.

"What would our parents say? Everyone in the wizarding world knows that we are about to get married. That's a complete disaster if the news comes out, that we are not pushing it through. And what about the understanding between our empires?" Astoria sighed, who's now also staring at the fire place. Thoughts compelling in her mind.

"That—I didn't thought through yet, but there's always a way, A. Let me fix this mess, and let me handle my parents and yours." Draco murmured, but still Astoria can understand every word. That's how close they were. And maybe this love she has for him, it is just mistaken for romantic love.

"How about you go on that trip?" Draco suggested.

"What trip?" Astoria asked with that look on her face. "The one you've been wanting me to go with you after the wedding, Paris. You said you wanted to travel muggle style. Do it." Draco reminded her and as soon as she remembered, her eyes brightened as if she just found the cure for muggle cancer.

"That would be great, Draco." Astoria sighed in relief, looking forward on this new adventure that Draco just suggested. She really wanted to spend the honeymoon, just muggle style in Paris but she guessed that there would be changes—it's without her supposed to be husband.

* * *

During those ten years, since the great war had ended, Draco experienced all sorts of discrimination that he once did towards the other students when he was younger, especially those of what he used to call mudbloods and blood traitors.

There was this muggle saying, karma is a bitch.

He laughed a bit, remembering reading it in a local muggle cafe.

Though the years had given him countless eyes that sneered with evident disgust, he managed to pull himself together and made his way through. Especially from a certain—foe.

"Granger." He muttered as he saw the brown haired lady making her way inside the Three Broomsticks. Smelling the evident smell of the lady, jasmines. Ten years had never really changed the features of Hermione Granger, he thought—but without the bushy hair. Her hair was now tamed but still she was this intelligent woman who always wears a sarcastic smile on her face every time a man tries to mingle with her.

Draco just sat in a corner finishing his shot of fire whiskey.

At twenty eight, Draco Malfoy was already as successful as his father used to be, and the ones before him. Given the fact that his family was already wealthy, he had managed to regain the trust of his family's business colleagues—well of course, except of the Greengrass', that's why there's an agreement of a said marriage.

While his father is still in Azkaban, he had succesfully convinced the wizarding world that he is far greater and different than his father.

And everyone knew that Draco Malfoy isn't just a wizard, he was an icon of change.