Chapter 50: 3-3

"Do you have a favorite flavor, Potter-san? —Ah, I see. In that case, let us use the tea leaves that Draco-onii-sama prefers. I am sure they will be to your liking."

...What is even happening in this situation?

I averted my eyes toward the empty teacup, trying to avoid the gaze of the small lady before me who was smiling, her soft and delicate hair swaying. I tried to recall the sequence of events.

I had parted ways with Draco—was heading toward the Great Hall to find Harry for the time being—and then she appeared right in front of me—

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Potter-san. I am Astoria Greengrass. I have something I wish to discuss regarding our mutual associate, Draco Malfoy-sama, and I would appreciate it if you could spare me some of your time. Would that be acceptable?"

And before I could even decide if it was "acceptable" or not, I was whisked away—leading to the present.

Where even is this place? Some kind of private salon for the nobility? ...Wait, seriously?

"Um—Greengrass-san?"

"Please, call me Astoria, Potter-san."

"Oh, then you can call me Maria."

"No, that will not be necessary. Since Potter-san and I will likely become enemies in the future, I shall continue to address you as Potter-san."

"Enemies...?"

My face twitched at Astoria’s blunt drawing of battle lines.

...Was she always this kind of person? I barely remember her, but from my direct impressions and what I heard from Draco and Scorpius-kun, I had the image of someone delicate and ethereal. At the very least, she doesn't look sickly now. She seems like a very composed young lady.

"Er—well, Astoria. What did you want to talk about regarding Draco?"

"Yes. I would like you to reconsider, once more, how you measure your distance from Draco-onii-sama."

I was struck dumb by such a head-on warning. In the meantime, Astoria poured tea into our respective cups with practiced ease. Even high-born ladies brew their own tea, apparently... And Draco, you—are you really making your future wife call you 'Onii-sama'? I didn't want to know about my partner’s specific tastes like that.

"So, basically, you're saying we’re too close?"

"I am relieved you are so quick on the uptake."

Smiling, Astoria gracefully tilted her teacup.

Somehow, she... I didn’t sense the radical passion of a girl in love from her—nothing like Pansy Parkinson. She was calm to a fault; it almost felt businesslike. Her words were sharp, but her aura was cool and collected.

"...Um, Astoria? I think you’re probably misunderstanding something. Draco and I aren't—"

"You may use your usual tone of voice. I have heard that Potter-san carries herself rather boyishly."

"...Draco and I aren't in that kind of relationship. You might not trust me given our history, but from now on, I’ll be careful and keep you in mind."

"Why would my name come up there?"

"Why? Because..."

I was completely at a loss. True, I hadn't heard her own feelings for Draco from her mouth. But she looked at him with those eyes.

"Is it because you believe I harbor affections for Draco-onii-sama?"

"Y-yes—well, yeah..."

"Then that is unnecessary concern. —For I do not desire a relationship with Draco-onii-sama beyond what we have now."

"What?"

I stared blankly, forgetting to even touch my tea. She—Astoria—has no intention of becoming Draco’s lover...?

Oh, honestly! Draco, you should have told me the details of your romance with Astoria more clearly! How on earth did you manage to get married from this starting point?!

"Then, why come to me?"

"—Because you are not a Pure-blood."

I fell silent involuntarily, and Astoria continued with a direct, honest gaze.

"I will not demand that you, raised by Muggles, understand everything about the position Draco-onii-sama holds. However, for a Pure-blood aristocrat—especially now that the House of Black is effectively extinct—the title of the Malfoy heir is immense and heavy. It is precious. As the sole heir, he must eventually take a daughter from a renowned Pure-blood family and become the Head of the House of Malfoy. ...Regardless of what Draco-onii-sama himself may think."

Astoria straightened her already beautiful posture even further, speaking without letting a hint of girlish emotion show.

"I shall be blunt. —You are unsuitable."

Her voice resonated uncomfortably in the space. That was how much I was focusing solely on her words.

"...Is that 'renowned daughter' not you?"

"No. That is impossible."

Astoria didn't show even a flicker of hesitation. From the start, she had sat down at this table with a hardened will.

"It is true that the name Greengrass is unshakable, being among the Sacred Twenty-Eight. I say this with humility, but our lineage is beyond reproach for a bride entering the Malfoy family. —If it were my older sister."

I squeezed out a name while Astoria took a breath. ...Daphne, was it?

"—I am a failure."

At those harsh words, I almost stood up, but she shook her head with a modest smile that reminded me of a polished gem.

"It is an objective fact, so please do not fret. I was born with a defect. ...From your reaction, I assume you have heard something from Draco-onii-sama. Who would take someone with such 'baggage'—likely only someone as kind as Draco-onii-sama."

"If that's the case—"

"That is precisely why—even if Draco-onii-sama desired it, even if both Houses gave their consent, I would not nod. I, at least, will not allow it. —Rather than becoming a burden to Draco-onii-sama, I would sooner perish alongside this curse."

Even I could tell those were sorrowful words. And yet, she was... transparently noble.

"You... you really do love Draco. And Draco loves you, too."

"Yes. He cares for me. And I—I am 'in love' with him."

There was no violence in her words. No roughness suggesting she would take him by any means necessary. —Nonetheless, the girl had the face of a maiden in love.

"That is exactly why I will not forgive myself—nor you. For instance, should he choose you, the burden on Draco-onii-sama would become infinitely heavy. That kind man would surely suffer. For the sake of Draco-onii-sama’s happiness, I am willing to be hated or resented as much as it takes. I will push through with this overbearing love. —That is the only way I can repay Draco-onii-sama, who looked upon me when I was but an outcast of my family."

There was nothing but sincerity in her graceful, dignified declaration.

...To think such a declaration of enmity could exist, so devoid of malice and overflowing with love.

"Therefore, I, Astoria Greengrass, shall stand in the way of you and Draco-onii-sama. Let this meeting serve as my declaration of war."

When she smiled, it wasn't the perfect mask from before; I could finally see a bit of the child in her. Seeing that innocence for the first time, I actually felt a sense of relief.

"...You're strong, aren't you?"

Despite being only eleven, she understood her position entirely. How many children could do what she does? At only eleven years old.

"Yes, I suppose I am. Because I have this body—in exchange, I have made my heart strong. My heart is stronger than anyone's."

The girl puffed out her chest proudly, looking so adorable that I couldn't help but laugh. Even though her mouth called me an enemy, her attitude and expression didn't match at all; I realized then that she was just an honest child. What a devious girl.

"But you know, Astoria. —You're wrong about one thing."

I finally took a sip of the tea and enjoyed it before giving her a wide, mischievous grin.

"Draco and I... we’re really not like that."

"............"

"The secret we share is just too big. Our relationship is more like 'bad influence' friends, or brothers-in-arms—probably something in that neighborhood. I don't look at him as a man."

"............"

"In short—you’re worrying over nothing."

Astoria blinked her brown eyes rapidly, looking stunned. "Oh—well—then—this means—Draco-onii-sama is—"

She went silent for a moment.

"You are definitely still my enemy."

"Wait, why?!"

How did it end up there?!

"That is just—unfair."

"I don't even know how it's unfair..."

I slumped as the girl across the table pouted. I had a sneaking suspicion, but—this girl is quite a handful, isn't she?

"—Hey? Astoria."

"Yes, Potter-san."

"Could you... maybe stop calling me 'Potter-san'?"

"Would you prefer 'Potter-kun'?"

"You're too quick on the uptake... no, that's not it. Not that—I was thinking I'd like to be your friend."

Astoria blinked again, looking quite young.

"...Does anyone ever tell you that you are strange?"

"It’s an insult, but I hear it often."

I felt a complicated emotion as I remembered a certain Ravenclaw boy and Cedric. What part of me is strange?

"To offer friendship to a woman who just declared herself your romantic rival."

Astoria completely stripped away her lady-like mask, rested her chin on her hand, and gave a mischievous laugh.

"Maria, you are a weird person."

"—Draco, if you ever make Astoria cry, I won't forgive you."

"...Can you not speak without being so abrupt?"

In the middle of the Halloween feast, I happened to spot Draco trying to leave the Great Hall and caught him instantly. I marched him to a blind spot in the corner of the corridor and cast Muffliato—which brings us back to the start.

"I just became friends with Astoria."

"I'd like an explanation for that first? How does one even manage that?"

It was a perfectly valid question, so I explained in detail about the tea party I was suddenly abducted into. It seemed Astoria didn't hide her feelings from him either, as Draco looked like he had a headache.

"What is she doing, Astoria..."

"She was quite different from what I heard from you and your son. Was she always like this back then?"

"No."

Draco shook his head solemnly.

"To begin with, we only really acknowledged each other after the Second Wizarding War. It started because we both questioned Pure-blood supremacy. So, to be honest—I don't know much about her at this age. But—there is definitely a discrepancy occurring."

We sat down unrefinedly in the corridor. The feast seemed to be reaching its peak, as the halls were deserted. The clamor behind the doors felt like it belonged to a different world.

"First, Astoria's curse wasn't discovered until after we were married. But here, she has been frail since the moment she was born. —In other words, the way her family treats her has changed significantly."

"The way her family treats her..."

"The Astoria I knew was a younger daughter raised with care... she had that specific sweetness of a child who received plenty of affection. But—if you've spoken to her, you know. This Astoria... she likely isn't treated well. That is what it means to be born as a child of the nobility."

I couldn't answer. That kind of suffering is something I could never truly understand.

"She didn't act like a child at all, did she? I think that's her own way of defending herself. —She felt she had to be a perfect, flawless lady to keep those around her silent."

That's why—that's why her smile was so beautiful. It was the clinical beauty of a finished product.

"I will never abandon Astoria. Even if she isn't the woman I knew—even if she doesn't want me to."

"Yeah."

I took Draco's hand and nodded firmly.

"That's the Draco Malfoy that Scorp-kun was so proud of."

In the end, Draco Malfoy never remarried—no matter how much his parents urged him, he kept Astoria as his one and only wife for life. In this world, I am likely the one who knows the depth of his love best.

Because Astoria existed, Scorpius-kun was born, and because he had Astoria and Scorpius, Malfoy was able to change.

"She’s a tough one, Draco. But you’re just as stubborn, troublesome, and persistent. I'm sure she'll give in eventually."

"Don't give me that."

I chuckled at Draco's bitter expression.

He put me through so much with that persistence during our school years. If there's a chance for a bit of payback, I'm not letting it slip. I'll tease him no matter how old we get.

"Actually—there's something I really want to ask you."

Still holding both his hands, I lowered my voice even though no one could hear us.

"...I think making your future wife call you 'Onii-sama' is a bit much."

"—Th-that's not it! It's not like that! Stop looking at me like I'm some pervert! That's just Astoria, no matter how many times I tell her to sto—hey, are you listening!"

The feast seemed to have ended, and the corridor suddenly grew noisy, so I lifted the Muffliato. Once the soundproofing was gone, even Draco couldn't shout. Swallowing his words, Draco's face turned beet red reflexively.

"Come on, let's get back to the common room before a Prefect finds—...It’s noisy."

What should have been a jovial atmosphere was shattered by a scream from somewhere, and the students were descending into chaos. Teachers came sprinting out of the Great Hall. Where were they heading—?

"Ah."

Halloween—just like Quidditch, it was the cursed day where trouble occurred every year like clockwork.

What happened during our third-year Halloween?

"—It’s Sirius."