OPEN | CLOSED

Title: When The Party's Over **

Movie/Book: up to you! You could totally start from the beginning (but yikes does that sound like a lot of work) or establish the beginning and start somewhere later

Love Interest: Draco Malfoy

OC Name: Astaria Langeston **

Faceclaim: Aisha Dee ** (I would prefer someone who looks like, sweet, like her? run by me first)

SUMMARY

"I'VE LEARNED TO LOSE, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO."

In which Astaria Langeston has lost everything so she's not sure she's strong enough to fight for him.

FACTS

—oop I am so bad at writing summaries oops I'll just explain it here in bullet points

—Astaria is a Hufflepuff in the same year as the golden trio & Draco

—She's known and loved by all

—She has a heart of gold, seriously. Like think of the kindest, softest, sweetest person you know. Like, even the Weasley twins don't prank her, because she's just too nice to mess with. (but I could totally see like Pansy picking on her & her not reacting)

—Astaria is a pureblood wizard, but she lost both of her parents young. They were killed in the first Wizarding war after being caught housing muggles and squibs by death eaters. Astaria only survived because her parents had sent her to live with her grandparents to protect her.

      —While initially I don't think Draco would even look at her, they get forced to be partners in Charms class. They're stuck working together even outside of class, and despite Draco's taunts and 'I'm-better-than-you-attitude,' she never gets upset or is any less kind to him. Slowly, it breaks down his exterior.

—I know what you're thinking; "But, that's not Draco. His exterior wouldn't break down." To that, I argue, he broke down and confided in Moaning Myrtle so uh.... It's possible.

—Slowly, I see him falling for her. For how different she is. For how different she treats him. For how she sees the good in him when no one else does.

     —Total soft slow burn.

      —I imagine that one day, after maybe a run in with Harry or his dad getting on his case, he'd snap back to his old ways and be a total dick to her. And when she's calm and kind, he'd FREAK OUT & be all "How do you do that? How are you always so nice?" & she'd say something like "I imagine you could use someone being nice to you, Draco." & he'd kiss her.

     —He'd want to keep whatever is between them a secret for appearances, but the rumors of their relationship would spread through the school. The Golden Trio would warn her about him, as if she can't take care of herself (this might be the one time in the story her kindness breaks and she gets upset, because other people don't see him the way she does)

—Total angst of Draco fighting everything he's meant to be and everything he's been total. Because none of that seems right when he's with her.

—When he gets the dark mark, I could see her breaking down in front of him for the first time and just sobbing, letting out the pain of what happened to her parents, telling him she's not sure she could do this anymore

—perhaps they'd go their separate ways then, but I imagine the story ending at the Battle of Hogwarts with Lucuis calling Draco over to join the Death Eaters, and her gathering the strength to take his hand and say "You're just a boy. You don't have to."

—JFKDSNJS that's just me though up to you.

EXTRA

—After she breaks down Draco's walls, he totally would only be soft with her when it's just them. I could see him slipping back to being a dick to her when others are around, which would weigh on her but she'd try not to show it

—She'd fight with both the crappy Slytherins and the golden trio, but like in the calmest way. I could totally see her saying to Harry "Why would they ever be anything but bad if that's how you treat them?"

—She's so wise and strong but soft at the same time I love her

—This would be so complex bc picturing Draco with a soft Hufflepuff is so hard to do but she is pureblood and it would take some TIME of them being partners and being alone together, yanno?

—This story was inspired by the song "when the party's over" by Billie Eilish & that's where the quote in the description comes from!

—I feel like the quote "I've learned to lose, you can't afford to" fits them so well for when Astaria starts realizing she's losing Draco to the Death Eaters. Like, this girl has lost everything. She can handle it. She knows with all of the pressure on him Draco doesn't know how to turn away, but she also can't hurt herself anymore for him.

—This is a very loose plot because I love to give creative freedom but I do have a more structured plot in mind for if I were to write this, so if you need help or have questions please ask!

QUOTES

"I reckon you could use someone being kind to you. We all can."

☆☆☆

"He's just going to hurt you, you know?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm the one person who can help him. I'll never know if I don't try."

☆☆☆

"There is so much I would do for you, Draco. But this? I can't make this decision for you. And I can't stay with you when I know which side you're going to choose."