"Marry me," he says, absently thumping his thumb against the ring.
Astoria draws back, brows raised. "Excuse me?"
"Marry me," Draco repeats.
Her hands rest firmly on her hips, lips pursed. She hates the tone of his voice, as though it isn't really a proposal but a demand that she cannot refuse. But that's always been Draco. Never asking, always demanding. "Why?"
Her question seems to through him off guard, and Astoria silently gloats over this small victory. Seeing the always arrogant, collected Draco shift uncomfortably and tug at his shirt collar is too delicious.
"Because I want you to marry me," he says dryly, as though that should be enough.
"Why?" she asks again.
He squirms, grey eyes shifting to his trainers. A little more pressure, and he'll snap. He'll decide that she isn't really worth it, and he will be able to stop pretending that he cares for her and move on. After all, Astoria has already made peace with the fact that he's only with her because it's what their families expect.
"Because I'm in love with you," he says, eyes still cast downward. "And I want to go on loving you for the rest of my life. So... Marry me, please."
Astoria can only stare at him, eyes wide and jaw slack. She'd always believed he didn't love her, that they were just fulfilling their duties. But now, she can't be so sure.
"Say something."
"Ask me. Properly, I mean," she says, regaining her composure at last.
"Astoria Greengrass, will you marry me?" he asks, sliding the ring onto her finger, and she can finally hear it in his voice. He wants her, needs her, loves her.
"Yes."