Disclaimer: I am back my readers, I have been so busy. . BUT I promise, ideas are flowing right now and I will find time to update for you 3
As always, I do not own Harry Potter and it's affiliations. ENJOY!
Chapter 5
Astoria decided to face the day, since she couldn't bury herself in bed the whole time. Opening the door to her room, she saw her house-elf, Milla, standing there with a long box in her arms. She took the box from the small elf and nodded at her.
"Thank you, Milla. You can go," she thanked the house-elf, turning to go back into her bedchamber.
"Of course, Miss Astoria. Milla help Miss Astoria, and Milla goes now," squeaked the house-elf, bowing to her Mistress. Astoria closed the large door and threw the box onto her disheveled bed, knowing that it was the dress her mother ordered from Madame Wilhemine, a famous modiste for Pureblood socialites.
As she moved to go into her bathroom, Astoria caught sight of herself in an ornate mirror, and groaned at her hair. It looked like she got sucked through a wind-tunnel and back. With a wave of her wand, a Smoothing charm quickly fixed her tousled curls. Astoria proceeded to brush her teeth and wash her face, until a soft knock broke the dead silence of the room, the hollow sound echoing. She scowled and padded across the expanse of the luxurious bedroom, putting on a silk dressing gown as she went. Astoria flung open the door to see her beautiful sister standing there.
"Morning, Daph. What is it?" Astoria asked her sister, leaning against the doorway.
"The dinner has been cancelled, they decided to move it," Daphne frowned, pushing her blonde curls from her blue eyes. Astoria's heart leapt at the chance of postponing the meeting, until Daphne continued.
"It's in an hour and a half, Tori. Good luck!" smirked Daphne, before leaving to her room. Astoria growled and slammed her door shut, deciding to dress herself instead of calling someone in to help. She would only lose her temper and break something…
The girl with messy hair and tired green eyes settled into a cream-colored Louis XVI chair in front of an ornate dressing table laden with crystal jars and bottles. She needed work, and thought that some Beauty spells would help immensely. However, she hadn't got to ridding her eyebags when a large, handsome eagle owl tapped on her window. It carried a silver-wrapped parcel garnished with a green ribbon, bearing the Malfoy crest. Not wanting to open the pretty box, Astoria took it from the owl and flung it onto her bed disgustedly. "Bloody bastard dares to send a gift," she muttered as she returned to her table.
She resumed her beauty regime and proceeded to dab blush onto her flawless, smooth skin. It gave her a innocent look, while highlighting her high cheekbones. Astoria's full lips were painted a dramatic crimson. It wasn't a flashy red, but gave off an elegant, edgy, and glamorous air that fit her well. A simple spell outlined her large green eyes with pitch-black eyeliner and her lashes were thick and lush. They stood out against her pale skin, and made her gaze more piercing than it was. She looked into the ornate carved mirror, and saw a glamorous brunette with a smoldering gaze…That wasn't her. Astoria was a lost, troubled girl, not the beautiful, carefree woman she saw in the mirror. With a miserable sigh, she went to the large box on her bed, flipping the lid open. Lying in the masses and folds of tissue paper was an exquisite emerald green silk dress. Astoria ran her fingers across the silky fabric and held up the dress when the door burst in and the Greengrass matriarch stepped in. Mrs. Greengrass looked resplendent in black chiffon and glittering diamonds. She strode to her daughter and inspected her.
"They will be here in 15 minutes. Did Milla help you prepare?" she asked, smoothing out Astoria's pompadour and examining her make-up.
Wrapping one of the defined curls spilling from the back of the Pompadour around her finger, Astoria replied in a cold, blunt voice,"No. I did it myself."
She unbuttoned the pearl buttons on the back of the above-knee length dress as her beaming mother set a corset and stockings on her bed. "You will be pleasant and make good conversation. Show the Malfoys your gratitude for their generous gift." Mrs. Greengrass imperiously coached her unresponsive daughter as she opened the parcel. Inside the box lay a pair of white-gold combs inlaid with large egg-sized emeralds. Astoria buttoned up the lace corset woodenly, pulled the sheer stockings over her long legs, and slipped the silk concoction of a gown over her head. It settled around her gracefully, and felt like water upon her bare skin. She stared glassily into the mirror as her mother circled her, smoothing out the expensive French silk and performing tapering charms where needed. She set the glittering pair of combs into Astoria's updo, being careful not to mess the intricately set hair. The gems stood out in bright contrast against the dark hair.
"I knew the seamstress wouldn't let me down. It fits you beautifully," Mrs. Greengrass murmured triumphantly. She had had the gown specially made by her dressmaker in Paris, at great expense.
"Yes. They wouldn't dare to lose your satisfaction unless they want to be done in,"Astori muttered in a hiss. Her mother pointedly ignored the scathing statement, not wanting to argue on this special morning.
"Behave. Do not let us down, Astoria," her mother snapped in a harsh voice. She thrust a shoebox into Astoria's arms and strode out, calling out final orders to her servants in a commanding tone. Astoria opened the box and raised a brow at the silver pumps, before she slipped them on. She closed her eyes and stayed quiet for the last peaceful moments of her short life. Once those mesmerizing green irises opened, she would be plunged into a chaotic darkness with Draco Malfoy at the end of the tunnel.
"Tori, they're waiting," Daphne murmured, standing in the doorway. Astoria's eyes slowly fluttered open reluctantly, and her gaze was smoldering as she stared straight ahead. She wordlessly walked out of her bedroom and into the large East Wing hallway of the Greengrass Estate. She glided smoothly down the bright hallway with the polished wood floors, paneled walls with paintings of generations of Greengrasses, and tall windows. Her heels made a sharp resounding click as she made her way towards the main staircase.
There he was, standing in the foyer. Merlin, he looked charming. Too bloody well bad that he was an arrogant arse. A shadow of a smirk graced The Bloody Prat's face and Astoria did not notice that his eyes widened at the sight of her…