A/N: Ok, so evidently I'm not the best at writing subtle plot twists (too subtle, I guess!) because there seems to be some confusion about the last chapter. I purposely didn't mention who was in bed with Astoria, just hinted that he was Daphne's man. In the last chapter it's revealed that (heavily pregnant) Daphne is married to Theodore Nott. So, yes - Astoria is sleeping with Theo and NOT Cedric.

P.S I would say belated happy new year but our stupid government has put us in lockdown again and so I'm not in the mood to celebrate what appears to be just another 2020. Love you guys though, and thank you for reading!

******

When Draco didn't show up the next day, I felt an unexpected knot of fear in my stomach.

"He can't come everyday without raising suspicion." Hermione gently reminded me when she noticed I'd left my dinner half untouched. "I'm sure he'll turn up when he can."

I smiled, making an effort to finish the cottage pie she'd made, but I couldn't ignore the gnawing uneasiness in the pit of my stomach as I thought about the mysterious cuts on his face.

Another day passed with nothing; then another... and another.

I kept going over our last conversation in my head when he said he'd return when he could, and so I just had to believe that he was held up doing something important.

It wasn't just me, Jack kept asking when his daddy was going to visit again, and got upset when I couldn't give him a definitive answer.

"Daddy's got a very important job," I explained after he'd sobbed that he only wanted his daddy to read Fantastic Mr Fox from now on because he did the best Farmer Bean voice. "He's helping to stop the bad men so that we can go Upstairs and see all the exciting things like birds and trees."

"And a merry-go-round?" He asked, his little face lighting up with hope.

"Yes," I nodded, my voice cracking as I tried not to cry. "And a merry-go-round."

I was frightened; frightened that Draco had somehow gotten himself into serious danger in his attempt to give us all a future worth living.

When two whole weeks had passed and still nothing, I went to Kingsley.

"Please," I begged, "I need to know if something has happened to him. It's killing both myself and Jack wondering where he is, and I know he wouldn't just abandon us."

Kingsley coughed; and, for the first time in his life, looked awkward.

"You know something," I said at once, panic constricting my chest. "Please, tell me, whatever it is, I need to know."

"The thing is," Kingsley said slowly, "Malfoy was here only this morning, delivering his weekly report on the Ministry's movements."

It was like a huge blow; one that hit me so hard that I was left momentarily winded.

"Did he- did he say why he hasn't been to see Jack?" Or me.

But Kingsley just shook his head pityingly. "I'm sorry, Blaire. But we must try and understand the impossible position he is being placed in. I cannot speak for him, but if it were me, I would feel as though I were betraying the people I held closest to my heart, even over something beyond my control. It is very possible he just wants to make things right first."

I nodded, blinking back the huge tidal wave of hurt, and instead tried to focus on the fact that Draco was okay - he hadn't been imprisoned or killed; and that's what counted the most.

Just why, oh why, couldn't he have confided in me? I would have understood, would have been able to explain to Jack.

But maybe that was just it - he couldn't say the words out loud, couldn't say goodbye.

******

Theo groaned loudly, his muscles going taut as his eyes rolled up into the back of his head.

"Fuck," he panted, rolling off and collapsing heavily down onto the mattress in a sweaty mess. "I needed that after the day I had."

Astoria clicked her tongue irritably, guessing she wasn't about to get her turn then.

"Yes, must have been hard work for you watching my sister give birth." She bit sarcastically, praying he wasn't about to go into the details.

"Hey, it wasn't easy. Wasn't pretty either - don't think I'll be going back down there in a long time. Still, at least I've got you for that department for now."

For now.

"Don't look at me like that," Theo said exasperatedly, obviously clocking her sour expression, "you know this is just whilst Daph and I are going through a dry spell. I do love her, but a man's got needs."

"Try telling that to my husband," Astoria muttered bitterly, glaring at the door, trying to recall the last time Draco had even stepped through it.

All she wanted was to be desired. Was that too much to ask of her husband? For him to come through that door and to fuck her like he wanted her?

Theo wanted her, she could tell by the way his eyes would dilate and swirl as they roamed her naked flesh; it was in the way he was hard before she even touched him and, best of all, his cry of sheer pleasure when he slid into her, grunting and groaning all the way to his very eager climax.

With Draco there had been none of that. Cold, dull eyes that refused to look at her, an incapability of getting hard unless he touched himself first, and the only cries that ever passed his lips were the sobs that wracked his body after it was over.

Surely no one could blame her for looking elsewhere for it?

And in all honesty she didn't want Theo, just his attention. It wasn't fair that, as usual, Daphne got everything. Daphne, the older, prettier sister. The sister who had been in Harry Potter's year. The sister who had a gorgeous man want to marry her. The sister who managed to fall pregnant first, thus carrying the first grandchild.

Bitch.

It gave Astoria such a thrill being in the same room as Daphne now, knowing that she was fucking her husband. It even made her resent her a little less.

But now Theo was already talking about this ending, and it made all the bitterness for her sister resurface.

"Best get back," he said, climbing off the bed to locate his clothes. "Daph wants us to try co sleeping with the bubs and I want to be there when we settle down for Milo's first night."

Milo, what a stupid name. It sounded like something you'd name a manky old dog.

If her child turned out to be a boy, and she hoped it would, Astoria was going to name him something simple and traditional like Daniel or Charles.

It was imperative that she have a boy to secure the Malfoy fortune; a fortune which was to be passed down to the eldest son. An old fashioned notion, sure, but one stuck in a magical binding contract for eternity. If no boy is born then the fortune just 'disappears'.

Where to? No one knows.

It was a lot to lose; the Malfoy's were notoriously the richest wizarding family in the country. You'd have thought Draco might crack a smile for that, he was literally a walking fortune.

Pah, Astoria would make sure her son spent it well; she already had plans for it. As mother to the heir, she'd have full access to the fortune without needing Draco's written permission every time she wanted to purchase something.

Not that he begrudged her any of it, but she hated having to ask; it was utterly demeaning.

A loud crack brought her out of her reverie and it took her a second to realise that Theo had gone. He hadn't even said goodbye.

Sighing heavily, trying to ignore the humiliating sting of being used, she picked up her wand and lifted the silencing spell. And then, with an afterthought, she flicked it again; unlocking the door.

Just in case.

******