The wedding was extravagant, to be said. White and cyan drapes, White and magenta flowers, were covering all 500 square meter ceiling above the marvelous tiling. In the middle of the enormous room was a magical water fountain where some mermaid statues swam beautifully around it. There was harmonious music, played by some popular musicians from Scotland and England. Sea of people in gorgeous gowns and suits were there, having fun and not being squashed at all. It was truly a wedding that mirrored the two of the highest pureblood families' power in England well.
Draco Malfoy felt uneasy there, he had a feeling that he might have to meet some old friends from Hogwarts that day. He already saw some former Slyterins, but fortunately for him, no one came to greet him. They only shared a simple nod of understanding and respect towards each other.
"Draco, enjoy yourself, Darling," Narcissa Malfoy smiled bright, "It is a really wonderful party."
"I prefer to be at home."
"Nonsense." Her mother chuckled, "I know you excited about this party since last week."
Draco did not want to argue with her mother, so instead of telling the truth that he only wanted to see a particular girl among this sea of people, he nodded.
"Well, I'm going to greet some of my friends. I suppose you do it too."
She was gone in some next second, leaving Draco with his glass of white wine.
The room was full of chatters which made Draco's head dizzy, but he tried to ignore them and looked around for Astoria. He wore Green as she had asked before and he wondered how Astoria would wear that night. He bet she would look absolutely astounding.
He was not wrong, Astoria looked beautiful more than ever. His body was stiff when his eyes caught her body. She was not wearing a sexy dress, nor complicated and elegant dress, she was wearing a simple pure white dress which covered only until three centimeters under her thigh. Astoria was also wearing a crown of white flowers, making her looked like an angle.
Draco remembered then, it was a formal attribute for the traditional sacral wedding ceremony. As the sister of the braids, she had to look pure and clean, at least until the ceremony end.
"Draco Malfoy."
The calming voice entered his mind and he shivered, "Astoria. You looks beautiful."
"Thank you," She chuckled, "I'm wearing this for the ceremony."
She continued when Draco nodded his head lightly, "I have to go soon, Draco. See you at the garden."
Astoria smiled and passed him to go to the Nott's family Garden. As every strong boundary magical ceremony had to take place, so is the wedding have to happen in the middle of the garden. Soon the crowds have to go outside and gather in circle to share their magic to the couple.
As Astoria gone from his sight, Draco decided that he needed to sit before his legs gave up on him. It was maddening! She looked so different, and yet Draco knew it was her after all. It just a part that he did not know so well yet, a part that he had not touched yet. She showed him her pureness, her virginity, her true beauty. He shivered when he thought about it.
Draco noticed too, that she was not upset anymore. Astoria was always good with this game when she have to pretend that nothing had happened between them. He did not mind also, he had got used to it from a long time ago.
He remembered when the first time they began to play this silly game. It was a party for his house quidditch team. That day, Slyterins had beat Ravenclaw without mercy.
The party had been so wild as tons of firewiskey was somehow could get in the school and the students drank it like crazy teens. They were dancing in joy, which a feeling Draco had not felt even just a bit.
He had come late to the party, as he had intended to be. Draco was only there because of Astoria anyway, so he could skip the annoying chitchat part with the others. When the loud music entered his ears, he wondered if he supposed to just go back and finished his task in room of requirement. But Astoria eyes had found him first.
She was drunk, and still could find him easily in the middle of unpleasing crowds.
"Malfoy! I thought you would never come!" She giggled madly and ran towards him.
Oh she was drunk, all right.
She was stumbled in her last three steps and Draco had to catch her before she broke her nose. He had never understood how women could ever possibly walk on those wicked high heels. When their body met, Draco could not avoid thinking how soft she was. Her skin was smooth and warm on his hands.
Astoria grinned big and said thank you. Soon, she dragged Draco to the dance floor, which of course he did not want to be at all. He let his arms away from her, and she pouted because of it.
"Why you don't want to dance?"
Draco had to hold his desire to kiss her pouty lips before answered, "Not in the mood."
"Why? Dancing is fun." She began to whine a little, "Don't you want to dance with me? Don't you want me?"
'Yes!' "No."
Astoria rolled her green eyes, "Fine, Malfoy." Then she went back to dance with her girl friends.
He rolled his eyes too and walked towards the nearest couch. From there, he still could see her well. At least he could have a little pleasure from seeing her body moved, oh so seductively. The way her hips sway made Draco wonder how good will it feel when it strokes his hard groin. Yes, Draco was hard as granite. It had been a long time since he pleasures himself due to his clouded mind these days. He did not really think there would be a proper time to do it in the middle of his terrible faith, but now he could not care less. He just wanted to imagine her body when he did it later on. The pleasure was gone though, when a younger boy than him tried to get near Astoria.
Astoria seemed to not notice the boy who now danced so closely to her body. Draco was beyond fumed to find his hands travel around her hips. He got up quickly and gave the boy a death glare from across the room. Even from there, the boy could feel the dangerous aura and turned around his head to find the source. When he had found it, he flew away so fast from Astoria.
Draco still did not happy with it. He wanted to kill him and broke his neck, but then again, Astoria saw him first.
"Draco! You finally realize how right I am!"
"No." He said nothing else and pulled her back to his previous couch. Draco did not miss a beat though when she had said his first name so gleefully.
She was surprisingly did not mind at all when he asked her to sit next to him. She grinned and seemed tired from all the dancing she had done. Astoria put her head on his chest and rounded his mid body with her delicate arms.
"You smell so goo-ood. Like woods and mints."
Suddenly Draco heart beat hard and his body lost the ability to move as pleasure built up inside his groin. He stared at the limb body and wondered what he needed to do next with it. He did not need to think so hard though because suddenly Astoria pulled her body up to sit on his lap.
'Fuck, Merlin!'
"Why are you so stiff, Draco?"
Not allowing himself to devour her body with his eyes, which would make his condition worse, he cleared his throat and looked at her eyes intensively. He definitely had to wank madly after this.
"You're drunk." He said with hoarse and trembling voice that he did now until that time that he could produce, "You have to go back to your room."
"Are you coming?" She giggled.
'Yes!' "No!"
"So like gentleman, aren't you Draco? " She smiled sweetly suddenly, "I think you deserve a reward."
Then she kissed him, so lightly with her red lips. With that, Draco snapped. He planted his mouth roughly to hers and made her moan in pleasure. His hand dragged her hips toward his until theirs mid sections met excitedly. Another moan escaped her lips and Draco did not miss the chance to explore her mouth with his tongue. She tasted wonderful, so hot and delicious.
Astoria's fingers dug into his soft blond platinum hairs in the way that made Draco's mind blurred. He wanted to touch her everywhere, made her feel good and happy. He wanted to make her moan and scream his name again and again.
He then traveled his mouth to her slender neck. There were teeth marks on her flawless skin now as he kept claiming her. He wanted her body, her soul, her life.
"Draco…" She said breathlessly.
"Astoria…" He moaned her name before kissed her again deeply.
As he was letting her go to take a breath, her green eyes caught him again. That green colour that he loved so much, covered with lust, power, and beauty. It had stunned him well, but not as strong as her shy smile and pink cheek did to him.
He wanted her. He wanted her love.
He loved her so much. He loved her too much.
When the realization hit him, it had hit him in a painful way. He did not afraid of love, he longing for it even, but he knew he would not able to love her properly right now. There would be a war soon, and he would be either dead or gone to the dark side, depends on the stupid cupboard he had to fix.
He felt awful then and asked himself why he did not realize the feeling sooner. Astoria was always caught his attention since the first time he had met her. She was beautiful in the way he could not explain. The attraction was not hard to notice, but the love was too sneaky for Draco to spot. Slowly, in every time they met and had conversations, when they flew together in quidditch ground, when they shared the same common room and table in great hall, his love for her grew. Like a flower after winter it felt like, it blooms out of nowhere and Draco just knew it now.
Draco kissed her again, now slowly as he tried to pour his feeling. He hoped Astoria could taste it, the desperation and need from his heart. So she did.
"Draco…" She breathed his name again.
Without a word, Draco scooped her body on his arm and lifted her to her room. Nobody really noticed them and the party roared as it had been before.
Inside her room, Draco found her surprisingly colourful bed and put her body slowly on it. She sighed in comfort when the soft mattress touched her skin. Draco smiled at her and Astoria seemed to be captured by it. She gazed on his face and followed his movement with her alluring eyes patiently.
Draco cupped her face and kissed her lips slowly. He wanted to say goodbye and Astoria understood somehow although her head was so dizzy and sleepy. But he had not gone just yet. Draco touched her bare feet and let her shoes off. He enjoyed doing it and took his time to sooth and kissed her delicate skin while smiling bitterly.
"Good night, my Love." Said him carefully and kissed her temple before he went out to his own room.
He was not able to sleep that night.
Three days after that, they met again. He could see something different with Astoria's eyes and he noticed her flushed skin when she saw her, but other than that, she acted normally as just noting had happened to them before.
Draco played along and even felt grateful. He did not want to make her confuse with his explanation nor pushed her out from his life. They even talked more often than before, perhaps about three times a week, which were more than enough for both of them. Sometimes, when Draco could not hold himself, he kissed her. Sometimes softly, sometimes desperately and sometimes lustfully, either, Astoria did not mind although she would forget about it in their next meeting. A silly game it was, but somehow they understand each other really well to not speak about it.
"Draco! Long time no see!"
Draco almost jumped when a big warm hand tapped his weak shoulder. He of course knew by instant that he was his best pal in Hogwart years, Blaise Zabini.
"Blaise."
"So tense?" He grinned and took a seat across him, "Something happened?"
"Nothing much," He said lazily, "You?"
Blaise snorted, "Oh, good you ask. I though you already don't care. Why you don't reply my invitations?"
"Busy."
"Ah. Another inventions?"
"You know me so well." Draco rolled his eyes, "But seriously, how have you been?"
"Good as always." Blaise laughed, "leading my big profitable companies, shagging, snogging, all fun stuffs."
"You became talkative, I see."
"And you are dying."
"I haven't live better that I am now, Blaise." He gritted his teeth. Blaise won't understand.
"I doubt it."
Before Draco could reply him with a sneer, Blaize continue seriously, "But I can see clearly that you have made some good progress with Astoria."
Draco kept his lips locked.
"And you do looks alive when you talked to her."
Draco wanted to argue, but could not as he knew Blaise was telling him the truth. He did feel alive when he was with Astoria. How could not he anyway? She was his love and his soul; she just did not know it just yet.
"Yeah." He said boringly as he refused to show any feeling about it. At least by agreeing to it, Blaise now knew not to go after Astoria.
"Great to know." Blaise nodded before talked to him seriously, "Draco…"
"What the hell! A Gryffindor?"
"What?"
"Is that little Weasley?" Draco tried to get a better view of the red haired girl, "And Pansy is talking with her?"
His companion only smiled big, he seemed to compose his laughter well. Draco sure was funny when he wanted to be. Blaise was always entertained when he was with him, and perhaps that why he was loyal to him.
"Yes, Draco. That is Ginny Weasley talking to Pansy Parkinson."
"What happened to the world?"
Blaise snorted as he was not able to hold his laughter, "World is happening Draco, you are not."
Draco knew what Blaise had meant; he was not really paying any attention to his social life nowadays. But still, he could not understand how they could be friends. Pansy was laughing freely with Ginny Weasley!
"So, they are friend now?"
Blaise laughed so hard that his tears began to appear.
"I always amuse you, don't I?" Draco sneered. Blaise will be always be fucking Blaise, he assume the world is a huge circus ground and his life is a game no matter how suck the game is. To be honest, Draco jealous of him a little bit, he wanted to be so carefree and enjoy his life too sometimes.
"Wait, wait." Blaise still laughed, "It's not the best part yet!"
Blaise pointed his head when the girls walked towards them. 'Oh fuck! What should I say to Weasley? Sorry my aunt killed your brother. I hope Potter has not done a suicide yet because of stress."
But Draco did not have to say anything yet as Blaise stood up and walked to Ginny. Blaise hugged her small body and kissed her cheek sweetly, "I missed you already."
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Go away you moron."
"Love you too, babe."
Draco life was suddenly stopped and his head spun fast in order to grasp this event in front of his eyes. Blaise and Ginny were together now! How about Potter? Did she ditch him for Blaise?
'click'
"Draco, are you stunned or something?" Pansy clicked her fingers in front of his head again and again.
He snapped his head up, "No, Pasny, I'm all right."
"Good." She sat next to him, "it has been a long time, isn't it?"
"Yeah." He nodded slowly while his eyes followed Ginny who now also took a sit next to Blaise and Pansy.
"Malfoy." She said politely.
"Weasley."
"Oh come on guys! Don't need to be polite to each other!" Blaise laughed again, "My girlfriend and my best mate should have fun together."
"Shut up Blaise!" Pansy glared at him, "Don't make Draco and Ginny even more uncomfortable. They were not that close in Hogwarts anyway."
"Nor did you, Pansy."
"Exactly and you know we take some times to get a long."
Ginny grinned, "Yeah, if not because you wear that shoes at that time, I don't think we could be this close."
"You still remember!" Pansy laughed, "That was so embarrassing."
"Oh girls talk again, I should hang myself but unfortunately I did not bring my safety ropes today."
Ginny punched his arm, not lightly, "Don't be such a drag."
"How long have you been together?" Suddenly Draco asked rather gloomy. He felt somehow weird in this situation. He missed so many things it seemed to be. How long has it been since the last time he met his friends, around two years perhaps. He was too busy for himself to make his life right again.
"Spring last year." Ginny answered, "We met in quidditch match when I won against cannon and got to know each other since then."
"Yes. You were so sexy at that time, you know?" He kissed her playfully and made her cheek blush.
Pansy rolled her eyes in disgust, but said nothing. Blaise was really felt in love with this girl and it's better for everyone not to insult her in any possible ways. He was rather evil and nasty when he wanted to be, Blaise he was.
"Oh Draco, ask Pasny who is she with now!" Blaise eyes suddenly twinkled.
"Do I really want to know?" He arched one of his eyebrows.
"Of course you want to know, sweet thing." Pasny giggled as always when they were talking about her never ending love life. "I am with Nevile now."
Draco head began to spin again. What. The. Hell.
'click!'
"Draco! He was different now you know!" Pansy felt offended by his shock, "He is the vice-head of the leading science and herbology in Scotland."
"Sorry, I'm just still not use to his new image, I guess." Draco knew really well who Nevile was now due to his own research, but he still could not really forget the old Nevile everybody had used to know.
"Well, get used to it." She huffed, "In fact! Let's have dinner together sometimes! You can bring your girl with you too."
"And we will be there too." Blaise added with a coy grin.
"That's a good idea," Ginny nodded, "I haven't seen Navile lately."
"Oh he is really busy, dear. He only have a little time for me too."
"Anyhow, just let me know when the dinner is."
"Sure, Blaise, I will owl you. Draco?"
"Yeah, sure."
With his approval, Blaise and Pansy were actually a bit shocked. Draco had always rejected their invitation with business as his reason. The silent was not last long though as Pansy smiled happily, "We really miss your snide comments and sarcastic jokes, Draco. I'm glad you back. "
To be honest, so did he.
The ceremony went smoothly that evening. The couple had been inside the manor to finish the ceremony privately in their room and now guesses went back inside the building to celebrate. Mr and Mrs Greengrass and Nott had shown their gratitude by doing some speech for couple minutes before the dinner turned up magically all over the room.
Draco sat back to his previous table, but Narcissa was the one who company him now. "Oh dear, I think I'm getting to old for this."
"Take a rest for a while Mother. I'm sure you are fine, it's just the effect after the magic sucking ritual."
"Have you met some of your friends?"
"I talked to Blaise and Pansy just before we went outside." He was silent for a moment before continued, "And Ginny Weasley."
"Oh yes, they look really well together, don't they?"
Draco felt awful when realized that her Mother already had known the news before him. He was supposed to be Blaise best mate ever! He saw both of them just to prepare an answer for her Mother. They really looked well balanced together just because they were almost the exact opposite, at least that about their appearance. Their characters were actually quite similar as they both were passionate.
"Yes they are."
"Hmm… Is that Astoria Greengrass?"
He quickly looked at the direction her mother coded him, and suddenly he could see the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had changed her dress to emerald green, just as her eyes colour. It covered all her chest to her neck, but there was none to cover both of her arms. Her raven black hair was in a neat bun, only leaving some treads of hair to frame her lovely face. The dress reached the floor and swift flawlessly.
"No wonder you like her so much, Draco."
"Good evening Mrs. Malfoy." Astoria said when she reach his table, "Thank you for coming today."
"Oh, it is a lovely wedding Astoria. I'm glad you invited us." Narcissa smiled. "And call me Narcissa, dear."
"Please don't mind it… Narcissa"
"Well, I will leave you two young birds now. Nice to meet you, Astoria."
"Nice to meet you too."
When his mother walked away, Draco composed himself in order to talk normally with her. He let her sat next to him and had a small conversation about her family and his. Family was not the best topic he would choose to speak with anyone, but it seemed that Astoria was curious and Draco was more than happy to tell her. Malfoy and Greengrass after all were the oldest pureblood family in England which history could be easily tracked, besides Nott, Black, Weasley and Lovegood. Works was also included in their conversation. He actually enjoyed her company really much although they were only talking because she was everything but dull and plain.
They also danced for couples of songs and met Blaize who could not hide his smile when seeing them both. Surprisingly, Astoria knew Ginny really well. But then again it not supposed to be surprising because they were in the same year and perhaps had had classes together back in Hogwarts.
Another hour had passed when they got back to their previous spot, now without knowing what to do or talked about. Astoria was the first one who broke the silent.
"I don't have any plan next week." She seemed to state it carefully, "How about you?"
"Same with you."
Then the silent came back. Draco wanted to kill himself for not asking Astoria to go with him somewhere and now she looked upset again and even hurt. As what he had predicted, Astoria would ran away that instant by saying some excuses. But someone called her name from behind.
"Ms. Greengrass. You look lovely as always."
He was Mr. Hawk, stood in front of his son.
"Mr. Malfoy." He only glanced him a second before went back to Astoria. "Please meet my son, Edward Cerberus Hawk."
Draco wanted to snort. His name was way too good for him. The guy was spoiled and could not lead his own way; it was really easy to notice from the way he stood behind his father almost painfully. He offered his hand both to Draco and Astoria slightly with small smile.
Mr. Hawk surely had something in his mind because he suddenly moved his body and started a conversation with Draco. Feeling a bit respect for the old man, he complied and sadly leaving Astoria with Edward. Draco sure she would be fine and Edward would be easily dismissed later. But Draco forgot that he had made Astoria upset a minute before, and it seemed that Slyterins traits began to appear from her. He could tell she was plotting revenge at him.
Soon enough, he could hear her giggle. It made him worry because she had never giggled in front of him before except when she drunk. Then from the corner of his eyes, he could see Astoria fingers on the guy shoulder as if she wanted to feel her muscle.
He wanted snatched away her hand and kick away the guy, but he reminded in his place, talked nonsense with Mr. Hawk.
It was not bearable anymore though, when Astoria move her body and head to his. Maybe she wanted to whispered something, maybe she wanted to smell his brand new cologne, maybe she wanted to kiss him, maybe she wanted to hear his unrecognized last sentence, he did not care. Draco pulled her body until it met his softly. Astoria gasped because of this, "Draco, what's wrong?" She sounded so innocent; he knew she was playing with him.
He did not say anything to any person who looked astounded by his action and drag her body as far as he could from that fucking Edward Cerberus Hawk. The event was too similar, excluded the drunken lady in his grip.
"You hurt me." She said when they were already outside the room and alone.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Draco saw storm in her eyes that he had never seen before. It was anger, and he did not even familiar with the idea that Astoria Greengrass could possibly be angry. But then maybe he should not asked in the first place.
He knew exactly why she did that to him. He had hurt her so many times, he made her wait for so long and now he could not even made any move yet. She might be as well felt that he was playing her, he understood.
However, Draco was right. Astoria Greengrass could not be angry, somehow. But the storm was still there, covering her green eyes, which made it looked even more intense.
"Doing what exactly, Malfoy?"
Oh, she back called him that.
He did not know what to say. He did not know what the rules of their games anymore. Was he allowed to tell the truth now? But more importantly, was he prepared to tell the truth?
"I'm sorry I hurt you." He said finally and let her arm go.
Her face soften only because of his quite voice, "It's okay." She rubbed her hand slowly.
Another silent covered the empty room until Astoria let go her breath in defeat. She wanted to go away from him and his maddening attitude. She also wanted really badly for Draco to speak, but it seemed impossible now.
Draco was panic as she began to withdraw her body back. Astoria was giving up on him at it was terrifying. She had always come to him before, even from back to Hogwarts. How it would feel to not own a hope of her, he did not want to imagine.
"Wait, Astoria." He grabbed her arm again, now a bit too tight, "D-Don't go."
"Draco, you hurt me again."
"Sorry." He murmured.
"Do you want to say something? If not, I need to go back to Edward and explain."
"You called his first name already?" His voice was harsh.
"I called everyone by their first name if they were in my age." She replied coldly.
"No you don't," He began to lose his control, "Don't lie to me!"
Astoria laughed bitterly, "You always love it when I lied and pretend in front of you."
"No, I don't! I hate it!" Draco was telling her the truth.
She composed herself and tried to leave once more time, "I think it was enough conversation for both of us, Draco."
And once again, Draco pulled her body back. Her back hit the cold wall and her instinct made her drew her wand quickly. The slender wand was now pointing dangerously near Draco's face, but he did not care about it.
He pushed aside her arm easily and covered her lips with his. She had stoned for a while, but kissed him back afterwards. He moaned in approval. He had missed her lips so much, and now he could taste her mouth again. The same taste, but even stronger than before.
"Don't leave me, please." He said in the middle of their kisses. "Don't give up on me."
Astoria did not answer, but dropped her wand and began to deepen their kiss by grabbing his head. It was good to acknowledge that she still wanted him too.
He pulled away from her slowly to breath and thought what to say next.
"Dinner?" She asked while touched his chest with her long fingers to make him growl.
"Yes. Yes, Dinner..." He leaned back and licked her ear, "Anything."
"Owl me?"
"Yes." He bit and sucked her jaw line, "Owl you."
She sighed happily and stroke Draco's back with her finger while enjoying his hot tongue and warm hands on her thigh. He growled in annoyance, however, when his lips met the fabric on her neck. Why she had to wear that dress today, only Merlin knows.
Hearing his another growl, Astoria chuckled. She pushed away his body softly and smiled calmly. He nodded his head in understanding although his head felt fuzzy and his hands were itching to tear her dress off. They should not do this in Nott's manor in her sister wedding where everybody could possibly saw them in inappropriate situation.
The night fell and the darkness covered the room. Draco was in the middle of his bed, thinking only about Astoria again that night. They were so close today and he still could feel her body against his.
His eyes could not let her go for the rest of the evening and she knew it. She gave him a delicious view every time she walked, ate, talked and breathed. But maybe they were only in his mind like usual, crazy about her.
The room felt hot and Draco sweated as the pleasure built up. His hand stroked his painful erection desperately for a good release. In his head, he saw her spared on his black silk bed. Her body was flushed red and she was moaning his name in pleasure. Her black hair blurred as they were mixed with the colour of his bed, her legs were opened wide for him to enter her, her green eyes covered with a pure lust and want, her breath hoarse and rough, her chests bounced with her wild hip's bucks.
'Faster, Draco! Please…' she screamed, 'Fuck me harder!'
He complied and deep trusted her again and again so desperately.
"Astoria…" Draco breathed her name in the middle of the night.