Chapter 2: The Man by Her Side (has driven her to insanity)

A/N- prompt used: [Title] The Man by Her Side (has driven her to insanity)
Word Count- 518

Draco didn't leave Astoria's side throughout the entire wedding reception.

It was maddening.

It's not as if he were being particularly bothersome or overly affectionate. In fact he was the perfect gentleman. But… well, he was acting like they had attended the wedding together… as a couple… like they were each other's plus ones.

And they most certainly were not (no matter how much she had dreamed them to be.)

She probably wouldn't see Draco again after tonight. He was clearly flirting with her because he had no better options, which was why his constant presence at her side was starting to aggravate.

Theo flagged them down while dinner was being served, asking for advice on his Best Man speech.

"It sounded good to me, mate," said Draco.

"You know how much I love your eloquence," said Tori. "You really needn't have bothered asking for input. It's perfect."

Theo snorted, his cheeks reddening at the high praise. Astoria had told him this truth about himself many times before, but it never seemed to stick inside that thick brain of his.

"I especially like the part where you warned Blaise off pursuing your pseudo-sister," Draco mused.

"Oh yeah? You liked that? Well, it looks like I'll be having a similar conversation with you in the near future, you prat."

Draco laughed and Astoria startled at the ease with which he let Theo's statement just roll right off his back. How could he just let this charade continue? How could he be so callous with her heart? Draco really was a Prat.

Astoria turned and strode away. She heard Draco bid Theo a quick good luck and then the soft pit-pat of his leather shoes on marble floor as he caught up to her.

"Hey, you okay?"

Astoria was certainly not okay, but like hell was she letting Draco know. "I just find it so strange how you're able to keep up this act just to annoy me. It's like you want everyone to think we're together."

"Yeah, probably because I want us to actually be together," Draco replied. He smiled at her for a moment, hope in his eyes. When Astoria simply blinked like a bloody owl, his grin fell, replaced by a sneer. "How foolish am I, that I thought you were thinking similarly?"

It took Astoria a moment too long to comprehend what Draco was saying. She'd read him all wrong tonight. Gods she must have been mad to think Draco would be so callous towards her. That wasn't Draco anymore. Draco had been different since the war.

Astoria surged out a hand to stop him in his tracks when he made to walk away. She pulled on his wrist until he faced her once more.

"I plead momentary insanity. Forgive me," Astoria implored.

Draco stared at Astoria for a long time, almost looking through her, into her, right to her very soul.

A small smirk appeared on Draco's handsome face. "Do you want to get married?"

Yeah… so Draco had officially driven her to insanity, because she didn't even hesitate when she answered.

"Yes."