an invitation

"happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."                      - albus dumbledore  (harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban)                                 

°

Astoria made her decision and kissed him back. After what seemed like only a second, he broke away, smirking. "That wasn't too bad, was it?" 

"Oh, shut up," Astoria said, smacking his arm. "You're one to talk. You look happier than I've ever seen you."

"I guess you win this round." 

"I guess you do."

°

Hermione caught up to Astoria in the corridor a few days later, an apologetic look on her face. "I was walking by that part of the castle - accidentally peeked inside that classroom... and, um, accidentally saw you and Draco-" 

Astoria laughed. "It's okay, Hermione. We weren't doing much."

"I know! I just feel bad. It was a personal moment and I ruined it."

"I didn't notice you," Astoria reassured. 

Hermione bit her lip. "Draco did. And he gave me the biggest death stare he's ever given me."

"Well, it looks like some things never will change."

"Thank you," Hermione said. "I, er- better get back to Ron and Harry." 

The informality with which she pronounced the names of her best friends surprised Astoria. She'd grown used to the way Draco said their names - coldly and with much disdain. Still, now that she kissed the boy, she could probably find a way to pass off his hatred for all things Gryffindor as a lovable quirk. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, the Slytherin nodded, "Of course. I'll see you later." Never would she ever have imagined that she'd have confided in Hermione Granger. But then again, she'd never have guessed that she'd be host to a blood curse, so anything could happen.

Someone bumped into her a little too hard, causing her to lose her grip on her heavy bag and send it to the cold floor, where it burst open, scattering books everywhere. 

"Oops," Pansy Parkinson said innocently, laughing mirthlessly as she glided by accompanied by Millicent and a few more Slytherin girls. "Better watch where you're going next time." 

"I'd give the same advice to you," Astoria said, "Seeing as you didn't realize when you crossed the line between jealousy and desperation."

Millicent wrinkled her nose. "Just because Pansy's been crying at night for the last week doesn't mean she's -" 

"Shut up!" Pansy shrieked, hexing her friend immediately. Astoria backed away slowly, trying to stop a smile from spreading across her face. 

°

"Why are you so happy?" Draco practically spat as he walked her to her next lesson. 

Astoria smiled up at the blond boy. "Oh, you know, birds chirping, sun shining, Pansy utterly humiliated by Millicent -"

He smirked. "And you thought you weren't a proper Slytherin."

She rolled her eyes. "Do you really need to bring up the time when I almost slapped you right now?"

"Almost slapped me?" he asked, a crease forming between his eyes. "I thought you were about to kiss me." 

The girl wrinkled her nose. "There are so many things you don't understand, Draco. Why would I have been about to kiss you if you were yelling at me and being a general - (she said something that made Draco wince) - for the last half hour?" 

"In all fairness, you've been pretty willing to kiss me in my experience, especially over the last few days," he said, the smirk coming back to his face. Then, he looked around to make sure they were alone. Seeing that everyone else had gone to class, he said, "So the Snow Angel Ball is coming up..."

"Icicle Ball, Draco," Astoria corrected him, experiencing an odd deja-vu moment. 

"Whatever. I'm wearing a green tie, so you'll probably have to wear silver. I won't be seen in your presence if we match."

"Charming," the girl muttered. 

"And we're in the same house, so I won't have to pick you up... besides from waiting in the common room, but I don't care about that. And I'll keep my wand close by just in case Pansy tries to hex you out of anger or jealousy." 

"I don't understand," Astoria said, looking at him. 

He rolled his eyes. "I'm taking you to the Snowman Ball, Astoria."

"Icicle, Draco."

"Does it look like I care?" 

"No, but then again, it never looks like you care."

"Not this again," he groaned, walking away from her quickly. 

"See you at the ball, Draco!" she yelled after him, noticing his wince. He was not into public displays of affection. Or, she thought with a slight frown on her face, at least not PDA with her. He'd always been fine with Pansy draping herself over him... Shaking her head slightly, she pushed the thoughts out of her mind. Draco had broken up with Pansy and was now dating her. 

She had nothing to worry about.