"Draco, come on!" Astoria said, giggling. "Can't you walk any faster?"
"I can't believe I agreed to this," Draco muttered as he trudged up the hill. His blond hair was tousled, sweat trickling down his face. "This was such a stupid idea."
"This picnic was not a stupid idea," she said, frowning. "It's high time you go out and enjoy life, Draco, you cannot stay cooped up in that house any longer."
Draco stopped walking, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not going any further. You can set it up here if you want to, but I'm not walking another step. Merlin, why we couldn't just Apparate…"
"Fine, sit here then," she said, plopping down on the ground. Closing her eyes, she leaned back and lay down on the grass, her golden locks spread out over the earth like tiny tendrils. She looked so exquisite that Draco stopped breathing. She was an angel.
He sat down beside her, stunned. "Astoria, what exactly -"
Before he could finish, however, she seized his hand and pulled him down. Letting out a very un-Malfoyesque squeak, Draco landed on the clump of grass with a thud.
Astoria let out a shriek of laughter, her blue eyes full of mirth. "Now tell me, Draco, wasn't that fun?"
"Oh yes," he said irritably, rolling over to face her. "Yes, that was fantastic, absolutely spiffing."
Still laughing, Astoria propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him, touching his arm. A while later, Draco realized her fingers rested on top of his fading Dark Mark. He withdrew his hand as though it were burnt.
Astoria didn't look hurt. Cautiously, she took hold of his arm again, looking him in the eye while she did so.
"Why do you do that?" he asked, tearing his eyes away from her, ashamed. "This part of me – it's vile. It's one thing I want to forget. Why do you touch it?"
The scar was almost gone; he could hardly discern it from his pale skin. However, every time he saw it, it served him as a reminder for what he had been. Draco felt guilty. He couldn't forgive himself for falling in love with Astoria. She deserved someone pure, someone who didn't have a dark background. Someone who was not him.
Astoria closed her eyes again, looking deep in thought. "It's a part of you," she said finally. "It's something that'll be with you forever. If I love you, Draco, I love all of you, including this mark."
"But Astoria -"
For the second time, she silenced him. This time, however, she kissed him softly on the lips. All thoughts were driven away from his mind as he felt her soft lips on his. Subconsciously, Draco's hand found its way into her hair, his fingers curling around her locks.
After what felt like an eternity, they broke apart. "I love you, Astoria Malfoy," Draco murmured.
Standing up, Astoria grinned. "I love you too, Draco. Now let's go!"