Astoria's P.O.V

This year has been nothing but a pain in my arse, first of all I gained a crush on Mr. My ego is so big I can't get the broom off the ground, Second, some nut job escapes Azkaban, thirdly, the Dementors try and kill everyone, fourthly, Parkinson thinks she is worth something and she has the right to bully me and now my future husband has been decided for me and thats just the first part of this years insanity. I wouldn't change it for the world though, adventure is what I live for and now that I'm back at Hogwarts it feels like home. I lugged my trunk through the hallways and down to the dungeon, wait why were all the lights out in the common room? I took a few cautious steps forward and then the lights came on and Draco and Blaise shouted, "Surprise Happy return to Hogwarts day."

My heart was now pounding in my chest from the shock and my already pounding headache got worse I forgot how loud those two idiots were. Blaise spoke up and said, "Since we know you had a CC we decided to get you gifts well I did any way and I'm sorry its not as expensive as Draco's gift." He waved his wand and a huge stack of books appeared it could make Flourish & Blotts look like a second hand store. I didn't know what to say so I breathed out, "Thank you and what's a CC?" He smirked and said, "It's short for Crappy Christmas I came up with that one myself aren't I a genius?" I felt the urge to face palm but I resisted and said, "I have gifts for both of you."

I popped open my trunk and pulled two packages out, I handed Blaise his unwrapped one first and he squealed like a girl, that's it my life will never be the same again. He smiled and said in a sickly sweet tone, "This is the holiday special on chocolate frogs all two hundred flavors are in here. It looks like a chocolaty paradise, thank you so much" He then wrapped me in a crushing hug, the thing about Blaise is sometimes he forgets that he is all muscle. Which means he can literally crush tiny people like me even though he doesn't mean it. At least Draco knows how much force I can take, he has never once left a bruise on me. Blaise spun around and then said, "I heard you two are going to get married after she finishes Hogwarts, I'm so glad I'm going to be best man right?"

Draco and I snorted at the exact same time and Blaise took a step back and said, "It wasn't a match made by choice was it." Draco growled and said, "If by choice you mean my father saw her, liked her and decided she was my soulmate than yes it was our choice! My father is cruel to condemn Astoria to arranged marriage. Love is something that is formed when two people have a connection it isn't created by someone's beck and call!" My heart jumped, Draco could have me for himself no questions asked but he was still trying to protect my ability to chose. It made my heart flutter Draco really had changed. Blaise simply shook his head and said, "I'm going to go dig into these chocolate frogs in my room, yell if you need anything"

Draco laughed and said, "Well that should last him a couple of hours" My tone was light as I said, "It was the biggest size they had. Oh, remind me to hex him if he comes and blames me for the awful stomach ache he is probably going to have later. Oh I almost forgot your present." I started to dig through my robe pocket and then I found the little green and black box, I pulled it out and handed it to Draco who eagerly opened it like a child on their first Christmas.

He held up the chain that had a dragon and a phoenix hanging from it and in the center was the Slytherin house crest." He closed his palm around it and said, "Thank you it's wonderful I will wear it every day" My tone was soft as I said, "Your welcome, I would have put a bear charm on there too to symbolize Blaise but I decided to do that as a separate gift later on. The necklace is full of protective charms by the way, cast by yours truly, now I will feel relaxed when your out on the pitch fifty feet in the air. Don't worry it doesn't increase your chance for victory so you will still be winning or losing fair and square I know how important that is to you."He nodded and said, "Yeah I'm really trying to turn the team around and thank you so much for the gift maybe I can stay out of the medical wing now. He put it on a and stuck it under his white button up shirt.

My tone was sure as I said, "We should use the rest of our free time to work on the Patronus charm. The sooner you master it the less of a headache I'll have." I then picked an extra shoe up and lobbed it at Blaise's door. He didn't responded so I picked up another one and literally hurled it at the door, unfortunately Blaise opened the door at that moment and got waylaid by the shoe and said, "Bloody hell woman is this some kind of murder plot. First you feed me then you kill me what kind of bloody plot is that" Draco and I just shared a look and he said, "She wasn't trying to kill you food for brains if she were you would be dead. We have Patronus training to finish and try not to cause a fruitnado, even though I know how much you love your banana." A twitch appeared by my eye now their making sexual fruit joke, this caused my headache to return."

We made to the training space in one piece thankfully there were a couple of times when I thought about dismembering them. My tone was firm as I said, "You have the wording and wand motion for the spell nailed down all that's left is to actually form a spectral guardian animal. You do this by searching your mind for happy memories and using your strength of will to power the spell. I can't help you on this part, you have to do this on your own."

Blaise closed his eyes and gave a serene sigh and yelled, "Expecto Patronum" Then to our surprise a Grizzle bear erupted from his wand and gave a humongous roar and then looked at us. It lumbered over to Blaise and snuggled into him well it tried to but it wasn't solid. It then nodded and vanished in a puff of smoke. That's when it got really weird Blaise began to do this weird dance and he also began to sing, Eye of the Tiger. It was kind of disturbing actually, he finally said, "Well it looks like you've got the rest handled I'm heading back to the dorm."

He exited and that just left Draco and I alone, again. Why do I always end up alone with him,the only explanation I can think of is the world must hate me. My tone was soft as I said, "Okay now that Blaise has all of his issues sorted out, it's time to work on you." He laughed and said, "Blaise mastered the spell but he will never have all of his issues straightened out, that's like saying a Dementor will change its ways and learn to cuddle." I smacked him on the back of the head and said, "You need focus now stop making jokes and concentrate." He cast the charm and nothing happened and it continued on like that for about an hour.

I finally said, "Hold it, what kind of problem are you having?" He had an ashamed look and said, "I can't seem to find any happy memories from my childhood, it was pretty crappy to be honest" I face palmed and said, "You dodo it doesn't have to be from your childhood it can be from any time in your life. Now try again" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and said, "Epecto Patronum" Then a huge dragon appeared and gave the loudest roar I had ever heard it even caused me to cover my ears. It then vanished in a puff of silver smoke. I dashed over to him and threw my arms around his neck and said, "I was wrong your not a complete idiot my torture is over." He rolled his eyes and said, "I'm glad you think so highly of me" My tone was soft as I said, "What's your happy memory if you don't mind me asking" Then something shocking happened he blushed unashamedly and stuttered a little bit and said, "My happy memory is your laughter" This caused me to blush but I managed to say, "We should go check on Hagrid." He nodded and followed me out.

We walked to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the front door. Hargrid through it open and said in his usual booming voice, "Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Greengrass its a pleasure to see you this fine afternoon, please come in I have some fresh cinnamon and mandrake root tea brewed." That was impossible to turn down cinnamon and mandrake root tea is the greatest drink on the planet. We entered Hagrids homely hut and took a seat at the table. Draco was the first to break the silence and said, "How is Buckbeak doing?" Hagrid froze and a sniffle sounded through the hit and he said, "For attacking Mr.Goyle Buckebeak has been sentenced to death by order of the Committee of dangerous creatures." Tears began to flow down my cheeks and I said, "It's not fair, it was his own fault he didn't listen to what you told him about Buckbeak being proud. Buckbeak shouldn't have to die!" I couldn't stop my tears Buckbeak was one of my babies. Hagrid dried his tears and said, "I think he would like to see you one more time. You can come along too Mr.Malfoy."

We walked into the pumpkins patch and saw Buckbeak laying there with a heartbroken look on his face, it was like he knew what was going to happen. I fell to my knees and buried my face into his feathered neck and just cried as he laid his head upon mine. Draco kneeled on the other side and began stroking his other side and said, "Its alright buddy we're here for you" Buckbeak gave a weak cry before gently pecking both of us and covering us with his wings. Hagrid came back out and said, "I'm sorry but you have to get back to the castle. Thank you for taking the time to visit Buckbeak, he cares about both of you very much" I gave Hagrid a quick hug and Draco shook his hand and with that we were off to the castle and I was out for Goyles head on a stick.

We made it back to the castle and my eyes were scanning the halls looking for one big blip that didn't deserve to exist. He wasn't hard to find considering he was the size of a giant he was whining to the other Slytherins about how Buckbeak almost took his arm off. That pathetic attention hungry hideously grotesque giant was not going to get away with this infraction. My tone was aggressive as I yelled, "Hey coward meet me in dueling club if your not afraid, your going to have one of my animals killed that's unacceptable." He laughed and said, "Alright tiny I will be waiting to turn you to dust, it will feel good to knock the supposed Slytherin princess off her pedestal." He pushed me out of the way and headed off toward dueling club. Draco was trying to talk some sense into me but I wasn't listening, Blaise saw my agitated state and tried to intervene as well, I simply growled at him and continued on to the dueling area.

I saw that Parkinson and Crabbe were already in attendance they wouldn't dare try anything with Blaise and Draco around though. We took our places on the platform and he tried to cheat but I expected that and blocked his spell. He looked surprised and began to fire off more spells and hexes and I deftly deflected all of them. A toddler could have beaten him and after he was done casting them at me it was my turn to go on the offensive, he couldn't keep up with the ferocity of my spells and he was quickly defeated. I walked over kicked him in the face and then blew past my stunned friends, anger wasn't an emotion I indulged in for obvious reasons but hurting one of my animals infuriated me. We finally made it back to the common room and I slumped on the couch. My fury gave way to heartbreak and my adrenaline gave way to exhaustion. Blaise poked my cheek and said, "Its alright princess we're here for you, just let all of those tears out" Draco also put his arms around me and said, "That was bloody brilliant remind me never to get on your angry side. Your one of the fiercest duelers I have ever seen he didn't even know what hit him. Not that he was intelligent to understand what hit him." This caused a small laugh to escape me it had been a whirlwind day and I was glad it was coming to a close, we hadn't heard anything about Sirius Black which was worrying. Well there was time to think about all of that later right now I was content to just let all the pain and sorrow ebb away in my friends arms.