DEC 03, Harry Potter, The Minister's Affair (3/6)
Um, I think I went way past drabbles, skipped over ficlet, and went straight to short story for this one. *oops* I promise the others will be respectively short.
DEC 03, Harry Potter, The Minister's Affair (3/6) Title: The Minister's Affair Part 3 Author:roma_fics Prompt: Ribbons Fandom: Harry Potter Characters: Harry/Astoria Rating: NC-17 Word total: 2000 Warning(s): Het Infidelity, character death (doesn't sound very cheery *g*) Note: These warnings are for the whole series, not for each chapter. Summary: Members of two families keep one secret to the very end. This will be a six part drabble story. Beta: The incredible eeyore9990
The Minister's Affair Part 3
The first time Harry Potter met Astoria Greengrass was when he guest lectured for Professor Binns in History of Magic in the fall after a summer filled with celebration.
He noticed her because she was the only sixth year Slytherin who proudly wore the house colours. Green and silver ribbons snaked through her long, wavy, blonde hair. She was limping when she entered the classroom. He hoped it wasn't a result of other students harassing her or the other Slytherins.
So much had been written in books that hit the shelves within a week after Voldemort's demise, and most were filled with lies and conjecture. He was hoping to set things straight. He would name houses, and names of those he saw defending Hogwarts and defending him, which included the young girl's sister.
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The first time Harry wanted to kiss Astoria was the following year, while guest lecturing for DADA.
Harry snuck into the Hogwarts' kitchen at midnight to ask for a late snack. To his surprise, he had found Astoria arguing with the house-elves over which sauce should be served with the following week's Christmas goose. Harry had barely listened as his nose was steering him towards a large copper pot hanging over the fire. Astoria, using a large paddle, was stirring something in it. Her hair, tied back with a loose ribbon, was falling around her face. Her cheeks were flushed. The scent permeating the room brought forth images of Christmas's he never had. He peeked inside as house-elves gathered around him asking how they could be of service. Inside the pot were small red fruits exploding as the liquid boiled.
"What is it?" Harry asked as he removed his glasses, wiping away the steam which had fogged them over. "It smells wonderful."
Astoria stopped stirring and gave a smug look to the elves. She dipped a ladle into the thick, red sauce and then blew on it before bringing the spoon to Harry's lips. "Taste and then tell these elves what you think."
The sauce was hot, but the flavours expanded as it cooled in his mouth. "Cranberries and cinnamon," he replied.
Her eyes brightened. It was then he noticed their bright blue colour with flakes of black. "I'm impressed you picked up the cinnamon."
Harry laughed. "Don't be, I used to cook for my relatives. My cousin loved cinnamon. But may I ask what you're doing in the kitchen?"
Astoria withdrew her wand from her apron pocket and lowered the flames heating the pot. "I'm going to open a restaurant in Diagon Alley next year. The house-elves let me use the kitchen late at night to try out recipes."
A grin spread over Harry's face. His first thought was that finally there would be a new place to go to lunch on Wednesdays when he visited Ron and George at the joke shop. The next thought came out of the blue. He wondered what it would be like to kiss Astoria Greengrass.
Courtesy of Astoria and house-elves, Harry sat by the fire in his guest quarters eating a hot lamb sandwich covered in gravy. A plate of fruit and desserts would be attacked next. He was looking forward to the following year when the Greener Grass opened its doors. In the mean time, he wrote Ginny a letter.
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The restaurant was a success.
Harry, Ron and George did frequent it at least once a month. His future brother-in-laws teased him for his obvious crush on the witch. Even after a few years, he would still stutter when ordering, and colour raced up his neck to his cheeks. Harry would roll his eyes at them, knowing that they both knew that Ginny had his heart. Ginny was his foundation, he loved her spirit and determination, but he never brought Ginny to the Greener Grass. He guessed she would recognize the attraction and probably hex Astoria Greengrass, especially when special dishes arrived with a wink and gentle tease. There wasn't anything for Ginny to worry about, though; Astoria Greengrass was out of his league. He often wondered if there was Veela blood in her family.
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The first time Harry ever kissed Astoria Greengrass was on Christmas Eve, five years after they first met.
It was on the forehead, and was given with a whisper of "Be Well." She had looked so frail. Her pallor had been close to the starkness of the hospital sheets. A plethora of potions including, Blood Replenishing, Skelo-Gro and Pepperup, covered the bedside table. He made space for the dozen blue roses he brought her.
It took him a little time to discover that the Greener Grass had shut down overnight, and where she was located. She teased him that only his stomach would miss her. Her eyes searched into his a little too long, as if daring him to disagree with her assessment. It was one dare he wouldn't take, but he knew she saw the same vision he did.
He wasn't sure what to say about her condition when she told him: a second bought with bone cancer. The first was the year he met her. Part of his heart tore, realizing he now wished her condition back then was because of hexes.
He strolled down the hospital ward, towards the lift. Healers and patients stared at him but didn't approach. Auror robes attracted attention but they also repelled people from advancing towards him. It was one of his favourite benefits of his chosen career. The lift door slid open. Draco Malfoy stepped out, holding a dozen red roses.
"Potter."
"Malfoy."
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The first time Harry ever held Astoria in his arms was on her wedding day as he danced with the bride.
The invitation was a surprise. He wasn't sure who initiated it, Astoria or the Malfoy family. Friends and family said he shouldn't go. Ginny refused. He took Luna as his date. The couple looked happy, and something deep inside hurt seeing them take their vows and kiss. He wondered if he and Ginny had looked the same a few years prior.
"I wasn't sure you would come," Astoria said as Harry carefully tried not to step on her toes.
"There were more reasons why I should than why I shouldn't," Harry replied. He caught Draco staring at them as he sipped champagne while talking with his mother.
"Anything to do with me or was it all Draco?" she asked. The question had startled him. He searched her face for a hint of what she was really asking. Was he reading too much into the attraction he'd felt for her or was she referring to the Malfoys's sordid past?
Maybe it was because of the two glasses of champagne on an empty stomach that caused the words to slip from his mouth. "Draco was why, you were why not."
Astoria tripped over Harry's feet. He caught her. The music ended. She put her hands on his shoulders and stood up on her tiptoes. "It would have been fun," she whispered in his ear. "But I think we'll both end up with happy lives."
Harry smiled and nodded. He agreed with both statements.
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The first time Harry Potter ever made love to Astoria Malfoy was ten years later.
Fate, destiny, or just coincidence had both of them in both in Paris alone. He wasn't sure it was her as he sat at the hotel bar, finally relaxing after a long day's meeting with his French counterpart.
It had been almost a decade since he'd last seen her. He would never have recognized her with short styled hair, but it was her slight limp and the green ribbons laced through her boots that made him look twice.
She recognised him immediately and walked over to the bar carrying what he guessed was more than one shopping bag. Her lips were red; he wasn't sure he liked it. The years had been kind to her, but still some of the softness had tarnished. She resembled a Malfoy much more than a Greengrass.
"Harry," she said and air kissed him on each cheek. She smelled of heavy perfume. He was amazed at how quickly a crush could dissipate.
"Astoria, what a surprise," he said and took a sip of his straight Scotch. "What brings you to Paris?"
She laughed and rolled her eyes while dropping her bag. It landed with a thud. "Shopping, Harry, shopping. It's all I ever do," she said with a sigh and hopped up on the leather stool next to him. The bartender came over; she looked at Harry's drink and gave him a wink. "I'll have what he's having." She then turned to Harry. "Are we having fun lives, yet?"
Harry coughed, trying not release the scotch still in his mouth. The crush was back. "For the most part," he replied. "Work is good, kids are good, Ginny's good, what more could I ask for?"
Astoria lifted the drink set before her; she wiped the counter with the small napkin, removing the wet ring the glass left behind. "Sex."
"Oh God!" Harry said and downed the rest of his drink. "I'm not sure we should be here having this conversation."
Astoria shook her head. "I know, Auror Potter, but it was fun to say." She took another long sip of the scotch. "But I'll admit to of having a fantasy or two when you would patronise my restaurant."
Harry coughed again. The bartender magically refilled his drink and added a glass of water next to it. Harry wondered if he looked as warm as he was feeling. He ran his hand through his hair. Yes, there was sweat at his temples. "You're not the only one. But that was a long time ago."
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His brain kept telling him to stop, just say stop, but his cock overruled.
It had been too long since he'd felt this much desire; hell he wasn't sure if he'd ever felt this much. He tugged his hands; green ribbons attached to the bed frame were cutting into his wrists. "Sweet Merlin," he growled as Astoria straddled him and lowered herself onto his hardened prick.
The heat was too much. Her face was too perfect as she took him in and let him know what she was feeling and wanting, with words he'd never heard a witch say.
He wanted to touch her, but she teased him as she rode him, lowering her body until her breasts rubbed over his face. His tongue stretched, reaching for a taste. His hips rose up and he swore as an orgasm ripped through his body without warning. He felt like a schoolboy with no control.
She laughed as her nails raked down his chest, fingernails scraping over his nipples.
"Fuck," he panted as his body calmed from the storm. His world was still spinning from the shots of scotch and the blood finally coming back to his head.
Astoria leaned over and released the ties. He caught his breath and even by the flames of the red candles, he could see the mottled flush on her chest. Her eyes were still wild, and he knew she hadn't come.
With two quick moves, he tipped her on her back and placed his face between her legs. The taste of his come mixed with her sweetness was like an elixir. Harry wanted more. His tongue teased her swollen clit as two fingers dipped inside. Her breath quickened as he added another finger and repeated the movements his spent cock had made moments before. Her body tensed and it took determination to keep up the rhythm when her hips rose of the bed and she cried out his name.
What struck him most as she crawled out of bed and lit a magical fire in the faux fireplace, was that there was no guilt. How could that be? He spooned around her body, one he was sure he could never get enough of, and kissed her bare shoulder. It felt so right. "It was worth the wait," he whispered.
Astoria grasped his hand resting on her stomach and placed it between her breasts. "Let's see how you feel in the morning."