"Daphne, I need you to take Scorpius for a couple days." Draco said to his sister-in-law.

"Is it Astoria again?" Daphne reached out for her nephew's hand.

"Nothing worse than before." he said it as if that was assuring. Last time Astoria had been on her deathbed for a week. Scorpius had stayed with Daphne that whole week too. "We're just being cautious."

"You'll let me know?"

"I'll owl you the second we get news." Draco turned from the door, but paused for a second. "Do you want to see her this time?"

Daphne pursed her lips. She shoved Scorpius inside her house before she answered. "Yeah." she chocked back a few sniffles. "You still think Scorp shouldn't see her?"

"It'll destroy him." Draco stood firm.

"And if his mother dies before he can say goodbye?"

"You sound just like Astoria."

"Then listen goddammit!" Daphne screamed.

"She isn't going to die. You're looking for a cure!"

"Then I as well as anyone should know there isn't one. Let your son say goodbye."

"No." Draco spun on his heel and stomped away.

Daphne returned inside. Scorpius was sitting on the floor with tears slipping down his face.

"Mum is dying, isn't she." he began to sob. "And daddy doesn't want me to know."

"He's just trying to protect you, love." the aunt rushed he her nephew's side and kissed his hair. "Now I know you're scared, but what do you say we forget about this and spend time having fun."

"Auntie, you're crying." Scorpius looked more scared than any of the other times he had been forced to stay over because of his mum. Perhaps more scared than ever. This had been the first time that Daphne had let slip that she was scared too.

"I'm sorry love," she murmured. "Why don't you go find up a book to read. I got you the new Sterne Kuchera-Morin book. I know you love them."

"Thanks Auntie! Where'd you put it?"

"In your room, on the bookshelf. They're with the others." Scorpius ran off to go fetch it and left his poor aunt to clean herself up.

***

The day after Draco had gone to find Astoria, Draco found himself alone sitting in his kitchen. Once again, he never expected to see Astoria again. This time, though, he felt oddly more... devastated.

But that didn't last for long. Once again he had been wrong. He saw her when she showed up that day.

"Hi." she was shivering. "It's been snowing for hours." she remarked. "Can you believe it, though? I mean it was bright and sunny yesterday." Draco said nothing. He let Astoria in and followed her to the kitchen for her usual raid. This time she only found one bottle that Draco hadn't even opened yet. "You're doing better!" she squealed. Astoria turned to him and frown. "What's the matter? Was I wrong?"

"Where were you yesterday?"

"I'm sorry, I had a date."

"With who?" Draco's eyes narrowed and Astoria's eyes widened.

"I didn't think that was any of your business." she took a step back with offence.

"But you- you've been coming over here..."

"I never meant to lead you on, Draco, but I've only been coming over here to make sure you don't kill yourself."

"Why would you care?" Draco spat

"Oh, I don't know!" Astoria screamed sarcastically. "Maybe because I'm a decent person!"

"Oh, so you just come here day after day to clear your conscience?" Draco paused a second. "I think you should leave, and don't return."

Astoria was taken aback. "Fine then." she said bitterly. "When you die from liver disease, it won't be my fault." she spun around and began to stomp away from him and to the door. He brown hair spun behind her.

"Astoria-" Draco called after her, but cut himself off. He wasn't sure what he had wanted to say. "I-"

Astoria faced him again. Her face wasn't as angry, but was instead almost sad. "If you ever actually leave your house, let me know. We could get coffee or something."

"Last time I left my house, before yesterday, was The Battle."

"Yesterday?" Astoria repeated, "Why did you leave yesterday?"

"You're not understanding me. Everything out there reminds me of the War."

"So you have PTSD! We all do!" Astoria threw her hands up in frustration. "But we move on together." She took a step closer to Draco. "And you can't tell me this house doesn't bring up old memories. You-Know-Who lived here, goddammit!"

"The people." Draco mumbled "It's the people."

"What the hell, Draco." Astoria walked up to him and jammed her finger in her head. "You're punishing yourself because you don't like what others think of you? Merlin, you're a dumbass."

"I'm scared."

"Screw you."

They kissed. Neither knew if they had been the one to kiss or if it had been the other. All they knew was they were kissing.

A/N: I've been sleeping really awfully recently (falling asleep at 4am waking up at 1pm) but last night I actually had a good sleep! I even woke up at 9:30, so I'm in a good mood this morning. -J.C