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Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count: 439
A Lucky Man
Astoria checked her reflection in the mirror one last time, ensuring her coral dress fell exactly right, before she left the room. She was meeting Draco for coffee, and while she knew the meeting wasn't going to be a happy one, she was determined to show him what he would be missing.
She arrived, exactly on time, to find him already there at a table, a coffee in front of him. When he spotted her, he smiled, an honest smile. She had to remind herself that they were friends, before they were betrothed.
They could hold onto that friendship, if only she could conceal her hurt.
"I wasn't sure what you'd want," he admitted, after kissing her cheek in greeting. "So I thought it best to wait until you got here."
She snorted. "I'll have an iced mocha, please."
He nodded and left her at the table, rejoining her a few minutes later with her drink in hand.
"For you, m'lady. How are you?"
"I'm good, you?"
Draco shrugged. "I'm always fine, you know that."
Astoria wrinkled her nose. "So… I don't think we should get married."
"I don't have a choice," Draco replied, and there was a flash of hurt in her chest before his eyes widened. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. If… If I had any interest in women at all, Astoria, you know that you'd be the only one I'd consider. Tell me you know that."
Astoria grudgingly nodded, because she did know that. It was just a shame that Draco had zero interest in females.
"Besides, you know I don't actually have a choice in this," Draco added. "My father—"
"Is in Azkaban," Astoria cut in, a little cruelly. "Besides, I'm not talking about you calling it off. I don't want to be in a loveless—romantic, dumbass, I know you love me—marriage, and lucky for you, my daddy cares what I want. If I tell him that I'm serious about not marrying you, he'll cancel the contract."
"You… you'll really do that?" Draco asked, and even though it was hurting her to admit that she knew she wasn't wanted, she smiled at the renewed hope in his eyes.
"You owe me something pretty," she told him, grinning. "And a standing dinner date at least once a fortnight."
"Done and done," he replied, reaching across the table to take her hand in his. He squeezed it gently before releasing her. "Thank you, Astoria. Whoever is lucky enough to encapture your heart is a lucky man."
Astoria nodded. "I know. I love you, you dork."
Draco snorted, rolling his eyes. "I love you too."
Written For:
Showtime: 14. "I don't have a choice."
Forecast: 24. Astoria Greengrass
Monster Petting Zoo: Wyatt the Wendigo: Pet Him: Coral