Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Term 14
HSWW: Arts and Crafts - Task #5 - write about someone being helpful/useful to someone else.
Additional challenges listed below
Warning:
Word Count – 1371
"Draco, we're going to be late!" Astoria yelled from the door.
"I'm here. I'm here," he replied, leaving his bedroom. Draco Malfoy would never yell, that's for sure.
Daphne had sent Astoria to pick up Draco at home, since she couldn't very well make Portkeys for each of her guests. Well, at least that's what she had told Draco. Astoria knew that she wanted them both to spend some alone time. It was no secret that her little sister was pining over the Malfoy heir for the better part of a year.
"What took you so long?" she asked, her arms crossed in front of her. "The party started over half an hour ago."
"It's called being fashionably late," he replied with an infuriating smile. "Plus, as long as we arrive before midnight, no one will really care."
"Yeah, it's going to be very fashionable being yelled at by my sister."
"You can blame it on me, don't worry," he said, reaching out to the Portkey.
"It is your fault," was the last thing she said before that horrible feeling took control over her body, and she found herself standing in the gardens of the Krum estate.
The gigantic mahogany was a bit much for Astoria, but she wondered if it was normal for Quidditch players to have that much money, or it was just the Krum family. Either way, Daphne had married well. Not only because of the money, but because Viktor Krum was as nice as a person can be.
When Draco and Astoria entered the gigantic New Years party Daphne had organized, Viktor was the first person to come greet them. He looked fantastic, as he always did. His white shirt looked a number too small for those big arms, but they fit perfectly around his torso.
"Astoria!" He gave her a big bear hug. "Your sister will murder you."
Astoria gave a hearty laugh. "Believe me, I know."
"Of course, Malfoy is the reason you are late. Hello, mate." He and Draco shook hands. "Whatever you two were doing, you could have waited until the end of the party."
Astoria knew she was blushing violently. She begged silently for the ground to open up and swallow her up. It looked like her darling sister had told her husband about Astoria's crush.
Draco's cheeks were only a soft pink. He was used to Viktor's humour.
"We weren't- I wasn't- He was just-" Astoria wasn't able to finish her rambling mess of a sentence.
"There you two are!" said Daphne with a sweet, but very fake smile. When she hugged Astoria, she made sure to squeeze her arms and say through gritted teeth, "You're late."
"His fault," Astoria pointed a finger at Draco.
"Nark," he retorted.
Daphne directed them to the corner table where the rest of their old friends were seated, all the while giving them an earful about how late they were. Astoria smiled at Millicent, Pansy, Gregory and Blaise, while Draco gave each of them a hug.
It didn't take long for everyone to leave the table and mingle with the other witches and wizards, and Astoria to be left alone at the table. Not that she minded, really, but she was getting hungry and the waiters were paying more attention to the tables full of people than to hers.
She tapped her fingers against the table annoyingly, as she shared her attention between the two objects of her desire,both in the hands of someone else. Food and Draco Malfoy, who was dancing with Daphne.
"You should go dance with him," said a voice next to her, startling her.
"For someone so big, you really are a silent person," she complained. "What are you talking about, Viktor?"
"You were watching him all night. As was him, if I dare say," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. In some ways it was.
"You and Daphne talk a lot to each other, don't you?" She asked, annoyed.
"We're married, Astoria. Of course we do."
When Daphne got engaged to Viktor Krum, Astoria was mad. Who was he to take Daphne away from her? All the way to Bulgaria, nonetheless. It pissed her off to no end. Until she saw the two of them together. Viktor Krum was a genuinely nice guy, and he made Daphne happy in a way that Astoria could only dream of being.
"It doesn't take a genius to know that you have a big crush on him," he said. "Go dance with him. I'm sure he's just waiting for you to give him an opening."
Draco had been coming to the table periodically, indeed. He would have a sip of whatever was in his glass, try to start a conversation with Astoria, but it would never go very far. She's tried to think of ways to extend the conversation, but the words would die in her throat. She felt like an awkward teenager again.
"I'm fine here, thank you," she replied, trying to sound casual. "I doubt he wants to dance with me."
"Astoria, please," Viktor sighed. "You're worse than your sister. Just believe me."
"Viktor, please," she mimicked him. "You're worse than my sister. Just leave me be."
"What are you scared of? Do you think he's going to reject you?" She didn't reply. "I can assure you he's not. He's spent the whole night talking about you with Daphne."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Prove it," she demanded.
"How am I going to prove it? It's not like I have a Pensieve right here with me." He was getting exasperated. She could tell. "Are you just going to stay here, missing out on the party?"
"I'm fine here. I've told you that already," even if she wanted to go dance, her pride wouldn't let her do it anymore.
"i don't get it. If you're not afraid of getting rejected, then what are you afraid of?"
Astoria didn't say anything. She just looked over at Draco and his perfect hair that she hated. He spun Daphne, and she laughed with him.
"You know," Viktor tried again. "Falling in love is terrifying, but it's worth it."
Astoria's eyes went big. "Who said anything about love?"
"It's the only reason you don't want to put yourself out there."
"I liked you better when you had bad English and a thick accent, and I could barely understand you," she muttered.
He let out a barking laughter, and hugged her shoulders. "I know you can be brave, Astoria."
"You don't know shit," she told him with a smile. "But fine, I'll go there. Don't think this was your doing, though."
"I would never." He raised his hands in redemption, but the cocky smile on his face told a different story.
Astoria made her way to the dance floor. Her palms were sweaty and her stomach was twisting and turning, but she shoved the fear deep down and approached Daphne and Draco as soon as the song was over.
"Tori!" Daphne threw her hands around her sister. "Are you enjoying the party?"
"Yes, thank you. It's lovely."
"Speaking of lovely, I should find my husband and dance with him," she said, giving Astoria a pointed look and leaving.
Draco smiled at her, and extended his hand for her to take. "Would you give me this dance?"
As soon as she took his hand, a cold spread through her. She was screwed. There was no way she wouldn't fall in love with him.
He pulled her close to him, and before they could take the first step, Astoria's stomach complained. Loudly. So did Draco's.
"We should eat first, then," he offered.
"Yeah. We should."
As Astoria sat down next to Draco and the waiter laid down their plates, Astoria smiled. Now, she was on the same table as the two objects of her desire. Food and Draco Malfoy.
Writing Club April
Record Collection - 14. Almost, Tamia: Write about someone missing out on something.
Elizabeth's Empire - 23. distance - Christina Perri / (plot point) pining after someone
Liza's Love - Ginny: 20. (Plot Point) Having a crush - (shiny - bonus)
Marvel Appreciation - 4. Iron Man Suit - Write about someone wearing armour (figuratively or literally)
Lyric Alley - 6. Don't you tell me what you think that I could be
Forecast Says… - 13th: Rain: tapping fingers on a desk/table.
Entitled - 9. O Come All Ye Faithful - (setting) party
Hobby Hole: 19. Genre: Romance
Spring Funfair
Milkshake Bar: 4. Aero - (trope) mutual pining
Spring Fling: 16. I wanna dance with somebody - Whitney Houston
Cherry Blossoms: 1. Chrysanthemum Cherry - (scenario) Your main character arrives late to an event.
Urban Safari Checklist: 2. Baboon - (setting) a large, extravagant gathering of your choice
Wingardium Levi-Kart Racing: Amortentia Cup - 2. A character included in a very common ship (more than 600 tagged fics)
Paint a Rainbow: Red - 8. "Falling in love is terrifying, but it's worth it."
Tree Planting: Cherry - 2. (color) pink
Teddy Bears Picnic: 8. Chicken drumsticks - (dialogue) "Prove it!"
Birdhouse Building: Step 3 - (emotion) Pride
Spring Petting Zoo: Rabbits - (color) white
Bunny Races: (character) Astoria
Egg and Spoon Race: Team 1 - Characters: Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass
Egg Hunt: Purple Egg - Viktor Krum
Spring Parade: Winnie-the-Pooh - Winnie-the-Pooh (emotion) hungry
Would you rather
New Years or Easter - New Years
Leaving on a Jetplane
30. Los Angeles: (Character) Daphne Greengrass
Spring Seasonal Challenges
Days of the Year: March 26th - Good Hair Day: Write about a character with great hair.
Aquarium Month: 8. Substrate: Write about someone wanting the ground to swallow them up.
World Theater Day: 7. Hairspray - Hairspray!AU - alt: 'One little touch, now my life's complete'
Crayon Day: 2. Bittersweet
Spring Colours: 5. Soft pink.
Hufflepuff OTPs: 3. Draco/Astoria