If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. LINDA SUNSHINE
That quote is mainly the idea that my thoughts on Daphne and Astoria are based around. This is the last bit, about Astoria's wedding. Enjoy!
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Thank all of you for reading my first chapter! I hope you like this bit.
Two years of courting had been long enough. They'd decided to become engaged shortly after that, at which point the vultures came flocking around. Her mother had forgiven her as soon as the relationship had gone public, of course. Draco Malfoy! Such a catch!
Her friends thought differently, but those who she valued would trust her judgement. Others watched them together, and decided that Astoria was doing this to regain her good name and reputation. There had been a spate of newspaper articles, a sort of Where Are They Now? feature on Dark families in the Daily Prophet. It had insulted the Greengrass family quite heavily, insinuating that they were providing the finances for two new families of Death Eaters to rise.
In Daphne's case, that might have been true. She had had one child already, a boy named Charles after his grandfather. All the bridesmaids from her wedding were married by now, Solecia to Christopher Warrington and Lilith to Blaise. There were, of course, new, pure-blooded young ladies who should have been surrounding Astoria on her walk down the aisle. But instead she had chosen Ellie Samson and Kate Popplewell, friends from work. Half-bloods, to her mother's horror.
Astoria had made it clear to Draco, soon after their engagement, that they were having the full circus of a pure-blood wedding. She might have preferred not to have most of those who were then invited present, but otherwise her parents might have cut her off from any money. And she refused to allow it to all go to the Notts. She would have a wedding just how she was supposed to – and then after her parents had settled half their money on her, she'd never speak to them again.
She'd been dreading the task of planning it – having to co-operate with her mother would possibly end in an Azkaban sentence for one of them. But Draco had come up with a solution that would give her mother the moral high ground, and spare Astoria the trauma. Dorea, Astoria's mother, had, after all, already arranged one wedding. Poor Narcissa, with only one child, had not yet had the opportunity, and she'd love to do so dearly. It would distract her from the loneliness with her husband in prison.
At least, that was how they presented it to Dorea, who agreed to allow Narcissa to handle it, leaving things best for all three of them. Astoria's mother got the chance to feel superior, and Narcissa assured them that she didn't mind. She did want to help organise the wedding, and she socialised very little these days.
It had almost been fun. Narcissa knew who Astoria had to invite, and could tell gossip about them from years back. Astoria hoped that Narcissa had enjoyed it too – she knew that Draco's mother, although her upbringing would never have let her show it, did miss Lucius.
Narcissa had seemed to understand when Astoria had insisted that Daphne be her Matron of Honour, although they'd not spoken since Daphne's wedding. And now the day had arrived. Ellie and Kate stayed at Astoria's flat the night before and were still there, helping Astoria do up the ridiculously tiny buttons at the back of her dress when Daphne, Narcissa, and Dorea all arrived at once.
Everyone began to fuss around her, all of them getting in each other's way so nothing could get done. Everything that Ellie or Kate did, Dorea felt she had to then do again. Just in case. Astoria sighed. "Now is not the time to start snapping at Mother. You have to get through a lot more than this." she told herself firmly.
She caught Narcissa's eye, and tried to transmit what she wanted. "Like mother, like son" Astoria thought victoriously as Narcissa understood exactly what she wanted and suggested to Dorea that they go and check everything was set up at the new Malfoy Manor, ready for the reception.
"Where's that hairdresser?" Daphne muttered, as every other part of Astoria - robes, shoes and make-up - was finished. Just then, the fireplace burst into flame. A head stuck through.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Greengrass," the woman began, but she was cut off.
"Nola isn't coming, is she?" Astoria sighed. Nola was her hairdresser.
"She's ill, I'm afraid."
"And just how is my sister supposed to prepare for her wedding?" Daphne snapped.
"You'll receive a full refund, madam, along with a free cut and style next time. But we didn't want to risk Miss Greengrass catching it, and having her honeymoon affected. But every other stylist is booked up today."
"Give Nola my regards," Astoria interrupted. "I hope she gets better soon. Thank you for telling us."
The woman's head nodded, and then vanished as the fire went out.
All four girls were silent for a moment. "We could go find another hairdresser," Ellie suggested.
"Anyone decent will be booked up on a Saturday in the middle of summer," Daphne said dismissively. "I'll do it. You two, go buy some hair grips. And some ornaments. Flower twirls. Do you know what I mean?"
They nodded and looked at Astoria, who nodded. They rushed out. Daphne muttered a charm to her wand, and began curling locks of Astoria's blonde hair around it.
"You haven't done my hair since I was ten," Astoria pointed out.
"It's not a skill you lose. It's like flying a broom."
"You haven't done that since I was ten either."
"Nine, actually."
"Of course. Because then you turned eleven and went to Hogwarts. And changed."
"I grew up, Astoria. It happens."
"If everyone stopped flying brooms when they turned eleven, we'd have very strange Quidditch games. If everyone stopped playing made-up games when they turned eleven, we'd have no stories. But of course. It isn't ladylike. Or it's too common, whichever."
"Well it is."
"And showing even a speck of emotion on your face is also far too common for a Greengrass. Sorry, a Nott."
"You can hardly talk about last names. You're about to become a Malfoy, Astoria." Daphne sighed suddenly. "I need to talk to you about that."
"About what?"
"Don't play stupid. You can't exactly fool me."
"My natural intellect just shines from my every pore, does it?"
"Ree…"
The name froze Astoria in her seat. Daphne had never called her Tori, like her friends did. Just like she had never called Daphne, 'Daph', as her allies did. But when they'd been younger, they had had nicknames. Whatever game they were playing, adventurers, mermaids, Quidditch players – it was Ree Fearless and Nee Fearless. The amazing duo, the team of sisters.
Daphne continued, crouching down in front of Astoria so that two pairs of identical green eyes stared into each other. "Don't do this. Don't marry Malfoy. It's not worth it, marrying someone you don't love, just to be well-thought of in pure-blood society."
"Like you did?"
"I'm not you. You don't care about the same things that I do. You don't think the same way that I do. Theo and I entered our marriage knowing what it would be like. Knowing that it would be like our parents, and his parents. An alliance, not a relationship. We hoped we would make friends along the way. Some do, some don't."
"Did you?"
"That's not the point, Ree. You want more than that. Even if it means that Mother never speaks to you again."
Astoria laughed, trying to ignore how Daphne had refused to answer about her own marriage. "Don't worry. I can see how it looks to you. But I'm not. I do love Draco. I'm not marrying him because it's the only way I can be restored into the high opinions of inbred cretins. I don't want to spend my life analysing how the earrings that a woman is wearing are a sign of the strain in her marriage. I enjoy my job. I like my friends. I'm not going to give any of it up. I'm scared, sure." She glanced at Daphne. "What's it like? After the wedding?"
"It's….if Draco loves you, he'll be gentle. It will hurt. You might bleed-"
"Daphne! Ravenclaw's eye! I didn't mean sex! What are you, some sort of nymphomaniac? Besides, I'm not a virgin."
"You're not?"
"No. Is it fun in the Dark Ages, where you're apparently still living? Not that I want to discuss it with you, it's way too weird, but it's been a while since I was pure enough to be wearing white. And I'm pretty sure I know what Draco's like in that way."
Daphne got to her feet, and stood behind Astoria. Both girls were blushing. "Well, that ruined the moment." Astoria commented. "Thank you, though. For saying what you did. For trying to protect me, even if it disagreed with your entire outlook on life. And I want you to know, even if we never speak again, that you'll always be welcome at my house. No matter why, no matter if you've fallen out with every respectable person this side of the Equator."
"Ditto. Now can we please change the subject? I've already done my make-up, and you're going to make my cry."
"Cry? I thought you were the Ice Queen?"
"Don't tell anyone, but I am human."
"I never would."
Five minutes later, Astoria's friends returned, triumphant and with purchases in hand. Daphne deftly pinned the hair from the front that she had curled to the back of Astoria's head, ending up with a mass of curls that blended perfectly into the curls at the back. She twisted a few blue flower twirls in to complete the image. Astoria had chosen turquoise as a colour scheme. Partly because both green and blue suited her. Partly because it was Slytherin green and Ravenclaw blue mixed together. Mostly because she liked the illusion it gave, of a peaceful sea.
"And Daphne ought to be grateful," she thought. "It's so much more flattering to her than that awful dress I wore at her wedding."
Draco was waiting for Astoria. Perhaps to decrease the impact of her unsuitable companions, he had chosen typically for his. Samuel Nott and Veridon Avery were his ushers. Blaise was his best man. And he watched as the bridal procession entered.
Astoria's two friends came first. They were both wearing smiles across their faces. It is what people normally do at weddings - just not this type of wedding. The next three people bore remarkable similarities to each other. All three had shining green eyes and light blonde hair. Daphne was walking a few feet ahead of Astoria, who walked on her father's arm.
Daphne and Astoria looked stunningly alike. Their blonde hair was worn in different styles, true. One wore it down, a sheet of silk over her back. They wore different coloured dresses, though they were equally elaborate. Yet their skin was of the same pale shade. And both tilted their chins, noses in the air, the epitome of arrogance.
But Draco knew that Astoria was doing it as a joke. A joke meant for him, since there were few others present who would get it. "This is why I love her," he knew.
This one was shorter, I know. But I had a lot in the last chapter that I just wanted to make clear about Astoria.
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