Note: Sorry that took so long! But this chapter's totally worth it! Really! Or at least, I hope it is.

Disclaimer: I own Maxwell the chameleon and Astoria's short temper(sadly!)

8th January, 2001

7.30 am

~Draco~

Draco sat up, not having slept a wink the entire night. It was understandable. Astoria had claimed she'd go out with him if he survived the Weasley wedding. Although his parents knew nothing of this, Draco realised, the moment his father found out, he'd be the laughing stock. Of not just this household, but of every household in a ten mile radius. Draco frowned as he picked out the best neutral-coloured suit he had. Then, telling himself it was just some wedding, decided to dress for it properly.

9.01 am

~Astoria~

Astoria yawned as she sat up from bed. She was tired. She'd barely got enough sleep. And because she'd also been to Italy that week, she was particularly tired. That, followed by Daphne's little incident had practically drained the life out of her. Until that morning. When she woke up, she felt refreshed. She had slept for quite some time, Astoria realised. She sat up and noticed that Ginny was already missing. A note, however, was left for on the side-table.

"I let you sleep-in 'cause you looked so peaceful. Wedding starts at 11 in the garden. Be there - Ginny"

Astoria rubbed her eyes and looked around for the time. Astoria's eyes burst open on seeing that it was already nine. She quickly apparated home and changed into a light yellow sun-dress that she'd picked out for the occasion. It fell to her knees and had short sleeves. Astoria looked herself over, put on some mascara and lip gloss and looked to Maxwell.

"Do I look awful?" Astoria asked. Maxwell shook his head and made a soft, soft sound that meant he liked it. Astoria smiled at him thankfully and quickly sorted out her hair. Just as she meant to leave, Astoria remembered Draco Malfoy. Against her judgment, she apparated to the said tavern and found him waiting for her. Astoria frowned and checked the time. It was still a quarter to ten.

Draco grinned at her and walked up to her, greeting her by kissing her cheek casually.

"You're early" Astoria claimed. Draco nodded.

"As are you, love" he said, "Shall we get going then?" he asked. Astoria nodded and lead him through the village to the Burrow.

The wedding party was set up in the huge garden that the Weasleys' had. According to Bill, he'd married there too. The garden was decorated in beautiful wedding colours of whites and had roses all over the place. Astoria frowned. She hated roses. They were just so... creepy.

"Don't you like roses?" Draco asked, noticing her expression.

"No" Astoria admitted, letting him lead her through the tables to where the ceremony would be held, "They creep me out" she admitted.

"Odd" Draco said, "Usually, girls like things like roses, especially red ones" he said.

"May be" Astoria said, haughtily, "You should consider the possibility that I'm not like other girls?" she suggested. Draco grinned.

"I already know that, love" he claimed, "So, what's your favourite flower?" he asked. Astoria frowned, pursed her lips and sighed.

"Yellow-eyed Daisies" she admitted, "And cherry blossoms"

Draco frowned.

"Cherry blossoms?" he repeated. Astoria turned to him and nodded, holding his gaze.

"Sakura, as the Japanese call them" she explained, "They look beautiful when they're blooming. Spring's the best shot to see them" she informed. Draco nodded.

"Strange girl with strange likes" he commented softly.

"Astoria! Over here!" Bill called, waving to her. Astoria walked up, leaving Draco's side. Draco followed behind, looking as pleased with himself as possible.

"Malfoy, nice to see you again" Bill said as Draco reached where they were.

"I'm afraid I can't say the same" Draco said, "But since she looks so happy, I guess I can let that go, eh?" he said, nodding to Astoria, who was giggling with Victorie, whom Fleur was holding. Bill shook his hand.

"Be good, Malfoy" Bill warned in a whisper, a harsh, firm whisper, "If you hurt one hair on her head, I swear I'll make you regret it" he said. Draco stared at him with disbelief.

"You can try, Weasley" Draco said, "However, that won't come to be, since she's the only girl for me" he said. Bill nodded and walked over to where Astoria was.

"Come, I want you to meet Charlie" Bill said, leading Astoria by her hand.

Charlie Weasley looked a lot like George. He was short and stocky and had huge rough hands with callouses. His head of flaming red hair identified him as a Weasley, as did the face full of freckles.

"Charlie!" Bill called, making the man look up and smile at the oldest brother.

"Astoria, this is Charlie" Bill introduced, "Charlie, Astoria Greengrass" he said. Astoria shook his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Weasley" she said. Charlie smiled at her warmly.

"Charlie's fine, darling" he told her, "I'm pleased to meet you too" he said.

"Charlie, this is the girl I was telling you about" Bill said. Charlie looked at his brother, then at Astoria.

"This skinny little girl?" Charlie asked with disbelief, "Don't joke with me, Bill" he said, laughing, "The elders will laugh at me if I suggest we pick a scrawny little girl for the replacement"

Bill grinned, put his hand around Astoria's shoulder, who was very confused and totally lost and looked Charlie in the eye.

"She's a Ravenclaw" Bill told him, "She's the best bet you've got"

Charlie frowned.

"Well, I'll talk about it with the others" Charlie said, shrugging, "I can't promise anything though" he said. Bill grinned.

"That's great, Charlie" he said. Astoria looked up at Bill.

"What's all this, Mr. Weasley?" Astoria asked, curious. Bill grinned.

"You'll come to know soon enough" he said, "Now, go enjoy the party with your date" he said, giving her a gentle nudge towards Draco, who had been watching the exchange take place with murderous eyes, especially since Bill put his arm around Astoria's almost bare shoulders.

"What was all that?" Draco demanded. Astoria frowned at him.

"Why should I tell you?" she asked. Draco frowned, backed off and sulked.

Astoria sat in her seat on the Groom's side and waited.

12.53 pm

~Draco~

The ceremony was beautiful. Well, as beautiful as Weasley ceremonies could get. Draco frowned. He had been sulking since the morning. He'd gotten off to a great start, but one little loss of cool and Astoria had been furious with him since. She barely turned in his direction, let alone talk. He had been so happy talking to her like a normal person. He groaned. Well, not on the outside. On the outside, he looked smug and happy. On the inside, he was sulking.

"Ria, do you want to dance?" Draco asked, deciding that it was now or never. Astoria turned to him for the first time since the little incident in the morning. She stared at him for a moment before sighing.

"I guess a dance couldn't hurt" she said and let him lead her onto the dance floor. Well, the dance ground, since the whole affair was taking place outdoors.
Draco relaxed when he saw that Astoria was no longer frowning. Instead, she was staring at the bride and groom, almost looking sad or hurt. Draco's heart slowed down with the tune and they began to slow-dance.

"So, apart from the little tiff in the morning" Draco started, hoping to win her back, "What do you say? We'd make a good couple" he said. Astoria laughed. And since she was so close, he felt his heart and soul resonating in her laughter.

"Hardly" she said, "A good couple would be like George and Angelina" she said, "or even Bill and Fleur" she said, nodding towards the two brothers who were dancing with their wives.

"Give me a chance, Ria" he whispered to her.

"This is your chance" she said, pulling away to look at him, "How many more do you want?"

"As many as it takes to win you over" he said. Astoria stared at him. There was uncertainty in her eyes. Draco saw it.

"I'm not as perfect as you think I am" she said, looking away, "I mean, I work in a bank, I live in a four-floor walk-up apartment in the middle of muggle London and I have a chameleon for a pet" she said.

"What's a chameleon?" Draco asked, frowning. Astoria turned to her right, where Maxwell was and nudged him with her cheek. Maxwell turned green and visible for a moment and then became invisible again.

"Oh" Draco said, frowning, "But, I don't care about that. I mean, I like you because of all your quirky habits and strange fondness of muggles" he said. Astoria looked at him.

"No, you don't" she said, "You think you do, but you don't. I get weirder by the day. My own father hates me"

"Your father loves you, Ria" Draco told her, "As do I" he said. Astoria stared at him, her eyes wide and cheeks flushed.

"But, you will be disappointed, one day, or another" she told him.

"You could never disappoint me" he told her, "Go out with me, Ria" he begged.

Astoria looked at him. His grey eyes, usually cold and harsh had a sort of warmth to them. She looked at him. And she looked and looked. Astoria sighed.

"Now! It's time to toss the bouquet!" George announced and the girls cheered and gathered around.

Astoria stared at Draco, her eyes fixed on him.

"Ok" she whispered, "We'll try it out for a couple of months" she said. Draco grinned, wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. Astoria stood still, frozen solid as a rock until Draco let her go.

The girls cheered and Astoria looked in the direction just in time to watch Ginny catch the bouquet.

4.08 pm

~Astoria~

"I think I should head home now" Astoria told Bill. Bill smiled at her.

"Alrighty then" he said, "See you Monday" he added. Astoria nodded. George and Angelina had already left for their honey-moon and Astoria had stayed back to help clean-up.

"Come visit us again" Fleur commanded. Victorie giggled and cooed.

"Yes I will" Astoria said, grinning.

"Bye" Ginny said, hugging her. Astoria felt strange by the sudden contact and froze up, just as she had when Draco had touched her.

"See you guys" Astoria said, picked up her broom and apparated home.

"I'm so beat, Maxwell" Astoria admitted, falling into bed without even changing. Maxwell made a sound that said he too was tired.

"Good night" she whispered, drifting off to sleep.

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