Nearly a year to the day after her first date with Draco, Astoria sat alone in an unoccupied yet accommodating tent. All that remained in the space was a vanity desk, with accessories scattered around the outside of the fancy drawers. She peered into the mirror in front of her and observed her silky, strapless white dress and then her hair that was neatly styled into a chignon.

"I'm getting married," she muttered to herself.

She tried to conclude to why her heart was pounding so violently beneath her chest. Under the belief that she was not nervous, Astoria did not realise that her nerves were straining under her skin. Her emotions were relieved as soon as Tallulah crawled into the tent.

"Hey," she greeted. "You look great!"

Lost for words, all Astoria could manage was a quiet, "Uh..."

"Come on, Tori, it's time. Everyone's waiting for you."

"Oh, I'm not late am I?"

"No, of course not," Tallulah assured. "Well, Daphne's getting a little impatient. She is dying to see you in that dress."

Typical of Daphne, Astoria thought. Giving out a final sigh, she stood from her wooden stool. As Tallulah led her best friend out into the gardens of Malfoy Manor, an audience awaited for her arrival.

A beautiful night was showing itself to the balcony outside Astoria's room. Dressed only in her nightgown, her bare feet were starting to freeze on the wood below. She would have prepared herself if she had known Draco was dropping by.

He too, was standing on the balcony and smelling the night's fresh scent. The city's lights flickered throughout the view. This calmed him down a little. Deep inside his nearly emotionless exterior, he was shaking like a furless animal struggling through winter.

"I loved you for so long, Astoria," he said, taking her hand. "And our relationship does nothing but make everything better."

"Yeah," she agreed. "It's been great." She felt guilty for not saying any more.

"And I know it's been less than a year, and it's alright if you're not ready for this," Draco then pulled out a small box and flipped it open. "But I'm asking you to marry me."

Looking down at the violet gem topping the gold ring, she could not hide her shock and excitement. Without breaking eye contact, he downed onto one knee with the box still sitting neatly on his palm. He took in a breath to calm his quivering insides.

"Astoria," he breathed out. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth with both hands.

Astoria held back her cries of joy while Draco slid the glistening ring onto her finger. As soon as he stood back up, she immediately threw her arms around him. He caught her embrace and a euphoric cheer squad instantly set off in his mind.

"Thank goodness," he sighed.

"Do your parents know?"

"Yep. And your parents too."

"You told them?" she said. "When?"

"Just before I came here, actually. They knew that you were going to say yes."

"Really?"

"Yeah. In fact, they said that they were glad to have me as a son-in-law."

She looked at him in surprise. Draco held back a laugh only for him to burst out in amusement a second later. Astoria could not help it either and joined him in the moment of laughter. She eventually managed to hold back long enough to speak.

"We're getting married!" Astoria cheered, and Draco grabbed her face, and they kissed each other as hard as they could.

The audience of guests stood to see the glamorous bride stride down the aisle. All eyes were either on her, or on her sobbing mother who was whispering repetitively (in an almost comical manner), "My baby..." The splendid image of a pure bride finally reached the front of the ceremony, thus meeting the smiling groom in a flawless suit.

Metres of white cloths hung along the back of each of the seats and often ended at vases that were overcrowded with flowers. Not a single guest had the wrong mind to turn up in a casual or inappropriate attire.

After everybody was seated, not a single ear bothered to hear whatever the minister had to say about the unification. Nothing could distract their sights away from the bride and groom, except for their relief of not seeing Pansy Parkinson seated among the audience.

Astoria shyly stared onto the ground, knowing that she had to share her vows in the next upcoming moments. She glanced down at the bouquet of flowers that were calmly clenched between her hands. Finally the minister faced Draco with a look that resembled cheerful pride.

"Do you, Draco Malfoy," he spoke. "Take Astoria Greengrass to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Staring deep into Astoria's eyes, Draco replied, "I do."

"And do you," the minister faced the bride. "Astoria Greengrass, take Draco Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do you part?"

Smiling for the first time in the ceremony, she did not hesitate to say, "I do."

Someone cheered "Yeah!" within the audience, before the couple laughed and looked at an excited Theodore Nott seated near the back. Anticipating the next part of the ceremony, several other friends and relatives were whooping and chuckling to themselves.

"You may kiss the bride," the minister said.

As Draco began to slowly lean his head towards her, Astoria trusted her temptation and leapt onto him, kissing her husband whilst he was still wide-eyed from her leap. This erupted a large chorus of cheers and everyone jumped out of their seats in congratulations. The couple faced the crowd as the crowd applauded and the photographers flashed their cameras like they were photographing celebrities.

"Throw the bouquet!" Tallulah yelled.

As the noise quietened, Astoria turned her back to the guests, preparing for a backwards throw. Mentally counting to three, with all her strength, she hurled the flowers in the air towards the audience. When she turned back around she was just able to notice Anna reaching her arms out and catching the bouquet, sending out another round of applause.

After a brief minute of signing the marriage certificates, Astoria rushed to reunite with her best friends in the middle of the garden. Tallulah and Anna invited her in their group hug and loud squeals of joy. All three women felt the need to jump up and down aimlessly and babble without properly thinking about what they were saying.

"I am so proud of you, Tori!" Tallulah exploded.

Although excited, Anna was the least extravagant out of the trio. "I hope you'll have a great marriage," she said.

"Oh, I will, Anna!" Astoria replied with a strong confidence.

In the midst of her two friends shouting mindlessly, Astoria blinked up at the altar, to see her husband stare back at his bride. He was focusing on her despite being in a conversation with Theodore, Marcus Flint and Claude, his most recent friend. She gave him a look that tried to say, "Have you been staring at me all this time?"

His cheekily growing grin gave it away.