A/N: (sob) I just couldn't get this idea out of my mind… so, this is how I imagined Draco and Astoria's wedding to be like. I do not own any of the characters.
It was with a heavy heart did Draco Malfoy step out into the open, ready for the ceremony that would change his life-he was about to be married to Astoria Greengrass. In a ceremony he had had no say in whatsoever.
His eyes fell on her the moment they stepped out together, while the crowd rose as the wedding march started. No one could deny that she looked stunning, dressed in a long white gown studded with crystals and diamonds. Now, if only Draco loved her. She was intelligent, beautiful, Slytherin and pure-blooded, meeting all the Malfoy family's requirements perfectly. But how could things be so simple? No, they couldn't, was Draco's reply to himself.
The Bonder started droning on in a monotonous voice. "Today, we are assembled here to celebrate the bonding of two souls in holy matrimony…" Always the same. For every single pure-blooded wedding Draco had attended, it was always the same. Through the couple's eyes, he could tell that there was no love between them. It was the same, exactly the same, for Draco and Astoria.
The ceremony was a mindless one. Both of them recited their vows in dispassionate, unfeeling tones; looking around, Draco realised that the two of them were the only ones unenthusiastic about the whole event. Everyone else in the audience was beaming, or gushing, "They make such a cute couple!"
Draco sighed. How I wish those days of blood prejudice could be gone with the war.
"I, Draco Malfoy, take you, Astoria Greengrass, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
The words meant nothing to him. It was merely a sentence that he had dutifully memorised, for an addition into her life that, honestly, he did not love.
With each word he uttered, a small part of him died.
"I declare you bonded for life," the Bonder proclaimed. "You may now kiss the bride."
He lifted his wand and a silvery stream of light shot out, wrapping itself tightly around Draco and Astoria's hands. That was it. It was too late to turn back.
With trembling hands, Draco lifted Astoria's veil. He knew she could see the regret in his silver eyes; he saw it mirrored in her ice blue. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed the new Astoria Malfoy.
Amidst the cheers and applause from the crowd, Draco thought he saw a head of bushy brown hair in the crowd. But he blinked, and then it was gone. Yet he was sure it was there, she was there, the woman he loved but could not marry.
No one noticed the other girl, standing all the way at the back, run away.
No one noticed the silver streaks of tears streaming down her face.
No one noticed the expression of hurt she wore.
No one noticed that as she left, she brought the groom's heart with her.
No one noticed that she wore white too.