The Flashback

Hermione looked over at Draco, who was undoubtedly nervous.

"Astoria has really hurt him," Hermione thought. "She cheated on him with Blaise Zabini! I don't know what she sees in Blaise, anyway. He's as shallow as anything, and he had the nerve to just walk up to Malfoy like that after everything he has done to him. How long were Malfoy and Astoria married? Why would she want to cheat on him? What did he ever do to her? She's a prat for doing this to him. I don't understand why he married her so soon after graduating. Just getting out of the War, and being a huge part of it, I would have thought he would have wanted to take a break. Who is this Astoria, anyway?"

The movie was playing for about a half-hour when Hermione looked at Draco again to see that he was relaxed now, laying back on the couch just like her. No longer leaning over in that awkward-looking position with his elbows on his knees, which was satisfying to see.

Draco sensed Hermione watching him, and when he looked over, there was a warm smile on her face. One that said, "I am glad you are here". He realised this could be a great friendship if he wanted it. He also learned that right here was a woman who didn't just want sex. In the past, many women had come up to him, yes, even while married and asked if he wanted to have a "good time". It warped how he thought of women, never having a reference before Astoria. Even Pansy only cared about his looks. Times like this would happen when he was shopping with Astoria.

He had a flashback to a specific day, the last time they went shopping together:

They arrived at the shopping mall. Astoria was wanting to purchase yet even more clothes, though she had closet-fulls already. This was one of the many advantages of marrying into extraordinary wealth, even more than she was used to.

They arrived at one of her favourite boutiques, "The Frilly Bouquet."

"Such a ridiculous name," Draco thought.

She already had ten skirts hanging over her arm within five minutes of arriving, when an employee came hurrying over.

"Mrs Malfoy! How lovely to see you!" Said a happy voice. "Here, here, let me grab these skirts for you. And, may I say, you always have the best taste," the voice added.

This employee's name was Brenda, and she had worked at "The Frilly Bouquet" for years. It was quite evident to any observer that she did not care for Mrs Malfoy at all. In fact, It was the constant business Astoria brought them that gave Brenda this cheery appearance. Of course, Astoria did not notice. She loved being waited on, and the endless compliments made it all the better. Sure enough, Brenda was still yapping them away.

"Oh, that aquamarine looks absolutely remarkable, Mrs Malfoy! And your earrings!" Brenda went on and on. "Let me show you something that I think would match those earrings wonderfully!" And, still hauling along all of Astoria's choices, she hustled to the back where, sure enough, the most pricey items were. "This ring would look splendid on you, Mrs Malfoy!" Brenda called to Astoria with enthusiasm.

Draco was letting Brenda's voice fade out when two women, about his age, walked up to him. One of them had auburn hair, cut into a bob style. The other woman had long, curly, dirty blond hair. He was sitting on a bench like all partners did when their partners started shopping.

"Why, hello!" The woman with the bob haircut greeted Draco, and he looked up.

"Hello, Miss." Draco gave her a reluctant half-smile, then turned to watch Astoria again, who was still at the counter with Brenda. Sensing the women were still there, he turned back to them. "Can I help you with something? I don't work here."

The two women looked at each other and giggled, which he found irritating. "You looking for some fun, sugar?" Asked the woman with the blond hair. He just stared.

"I am married, but thank you for your most kind offer," he answered sarcastically, hoping the women would get the hint and let him be. However, they did not leave.

"Oh, come on, honey! I'm sure your lady will be okay for a few minutes on her own," the woman with the bob haircut insisted. They both looked over at Astoria who was holding several pieces of jewellery and then back at Draco.

"Besides. I'm sure we can do things your lady can't," the blond lady added, which made them burst into giggles again.

Draco lost what little calm he had. He stood up and pointed to the door. "You both need to leave. I am not going with you."

The women stopped giggling. They turned around and walked out, peeking over their shoulders as they went.

Astoria walked over as soon as Draco had sat back down and looked at the door the women walked out of.

"What did those bitches want?" Astoria sneered. "They can't afford anything here."

"That's my Astoria, sharp as a needle," Draco thought.

From that day forward, Draco resigned to think that there was no woman out there who cared about anything other than sex or money.