Draco loosened the tie off his neck. He was ready to take off the suit already. Ready to go back to his dormitory and wrap his arms around Astoria. Perhaps they would fuck a few times before falling asleep in each other's arms. Don't get him wrong—he definitely liked the fucking—but there was something about falling asleep while his arms were wrapped tightly around her that made his heart clench. I love you for always, he wanted to whisper in her ear as she slept soundly in his brace. I am so glad I finally caught you.

Maybe tonight he would tell her. Draco had always told Astoria that he loved her and he had never shied away from telling her how beautiful she was but perhaps tonight he would finally have the courage to truly explain how he felt. That he looked forward to seeing her face morning, noon, and night. That he saw his future every time he looked into her eyes. That he wanted to spend the rest of his life dedicated to her happiness. That he was more than just in love with her. That he was completely and irrevocably wrapped around her little finger, every ounce of him devoted to her and her alone. Yes, on this day of love, perhaps it was time he finally told her.

Draco wondered if Astoria was already in their room—yes, he had begun to think of it as their room long ago when everything that was his became hers, even him. If she was there, what did she think of the gifts he left her? A large bouquet of white roses with an emerald and diamond necklace to match the bracelet he gifted her for Valentine's Day. He already had the matching earrings purchased to gift her for their anniversary if he could stand to make it that long. Knowing him, he probably would cave long before it and give them to her early. Oh well. He had a lifetime to buy her gifts and he certainly intended to make the most of it.

"Thank you for tonight, Draco. I'm not usually one for holidays or tea shops but this was surprisingly fun," Daphne said from where she walked next to him. They were on their way back from dinner at Hogsmeade. Her mother had arranged the date around Christmastime, insisting that they needed to do better appearing as a couple now that their wedding was just over a year away. Draco hadn't told Astoria about it because... well, actually, he wasn't entirely sure why he didn't tell Astoria. Perhaps he would when he saw her later, though he saw no reason to. It was just a date and it didn't mean anything to him. Daphne had never meant anything to him and Astoria knew that. A simple Valentine's Day date that he hadn't even planned didn't need to worry her. She knew that she was the one he loved.

"I agree," he said with a small smile. It wasn't a lie because he really did have fun with her. Sure, she wasn't the one he wanted to be with but Daphne had always been a good friend. The conversation flowed between them easily, even now while they were engaged. She was always doing odd things, like singing off-pitch karaoke at parties or reading his palms at the table on their date. Draco always knew that he could count on Daphne for a laugh. She was a good friend like that.

But he much preferred her sister. He would always prefer her sister.

"Thanks for putting up with my family's antics. My mother can be... overbearing at times."

He chuckled. "She just wants her children to be happy. I think all mothers do."

Daphne's face shriveled. At that moment, she reminded him of Astoria. Merlin, I miss her. He just wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her senselessly. He wanted the taste of tea to be washed out by her strawberry lipgloss, wanted the smell of Daphne's thick perfume to be drowned out by her intoxicating scent. He wanted to watch the way her eyes lit up when he walked into the room. My Astoria.

"I dunno," Daphne said, breaking him from his thoughts. "Sometimes, I wonder if my parents only care about my happiness. They pretty much ignore Astoria."

He stiffened at the mention of his girlfriend. Draco was always a good liar but it was hard at times to hide how he felt for her. That was usually why he avoided ever bringing her up at all. "Oh really?" He had to force himself to keep his voice steady.

"Mmhm," Daphne replied absentmindedly, something odd hidden behind her voice. "That's why she can be a bit... excited to talk to others. I'm so glad you two have begun a friendship." Right. A friendship. "One day, she'll meet a man who puts her first. I'll be so happy when I see that."

The idea of another man with Astoria was enough to send a rush of anger mixed with jealousy through his body. Fuck another man. No one could put her first like he could. No one could satisfy her like he did or spoil her like he could. No one could make her as happy as he did. But Draco forced himself to stay calm and said, "Yeah."

Finally, they reached the castle. Draco quickly walked Daphne to her dormitory before taking off toward his. I'm coming, my love. But when he reached his room, it was empty. There was no sign of Astoria anywhere. No perfume lingering. The flowers weren't touched and the necklace didn't seem like it had even been looked at. Her clothes were gone from his cabinets, the only difference from this morning.

Perhaps she had a house elf fetch them to be washed. It certainly wouldn't be the first time she did so. And perhaps she is just in her room waiting for you. That would have been odd considering Astoria had never had any qualms about letting herself in and his girl wasn't patient enough to wait for him to initiate things most of the time but it was the only thing that made sense. Why else would she not be here?

Quickly, Draco walked back up the stairs until he reached the room Astoria shared with Aria. He could hear muffled talking through the door; she was definitely in there. It sounded like her roommate was there too. Did she have a fight with Theo that Astoria was helping with? Normally Astoria left a note when she wasn't planning on spending the night with him but she might have forgotten.

He knocked on the door and the talking immediately ceased. Weird... Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing a furious-looking Aria rather than Astoria. Her blue eyes were steely with anger. "What do you want?" she spat out.

He furrowed his brows. "Is Astoria here?"

"Yes, and she isn't speaking to you."

Not speaking to me? What the fuck? "Just let me talk to Astoria."

Aria's jaw clenched. "No. Leave."

"What the fuck is going on? Astoria?" Before Aria could shut him out, Draco placed his hand on the door and forced his way in. And what he saw broke his heart.

Astoria was curled up on the bed, her usually impeccable hair frizzy from where it lay strewn on the bed. Her normally bright eyes were dull and sad, her cheeks reddened from dried tears. Draco rushed over to her and crouched down beside the bed. "Astoria, baby, what's wrong?"

But she just turned away. Her body looked so frail and small there on the bed. Draco had never seen signs of her condition before, not physically, at least, but he could see it now. She looked so weak curled up in a tight little ball. His heart clenched. "Astoria, talk to me," he pleaded. "How can I help, my love? What's wrong?"

She whipped over to face him and... and glared at him. What the fuck? What did I do? Everything was so perfect this morning and here she was crying and staring at him like she wanted him dead. "What's wrong?" she hissed. Her voice was hoarse from what sounded like hours of sobbing. "Let's see. My boyfriend who isn't actually my boyfriend was on a date with my sister, a date he failed to tell me about when he lied about being busy this morning."

Oh fuck. Oh no. Oh fuck. Oh no. Those were the only words running through his mind. This was bad. This was very, very, very bad. "Astoria, baby, it wasn't what you think. I—""

"Wasn't what I think? Let me tell you what I think. I think you never had any intention of breaking off your proposal to Daphne. It's been months now since we've been together and you haven't done anything. I think that I'm the sister you want but not badly enough to do anything about it. I'm the sister who you fuck on the side before taking the other one—the one you're really in a relationship with—on a date while I was just supposed to sit at him and wait for you to decide when you actually want to be with me."

He flinched at the sound of the curse word coming out of her mouth. Astoria never cussed. It sounded so foreign coming from her soft, sweet lips. "No, darling..." But he trailed off. Because she was right. He hadn't done anything so they could be together. He hadn't proven to her that he actually wanted her. All he had done was keep her on the side.

Astoria chuckled bitterly. "That's what I thought. Get out. I don't ever want to see you again. We're done."

Draco felt his entire world shatter around him when she said those words. Done? They couldn't be done. He couldn't just ignore the only woman he had ever loved just like that. He had made a mistake—he realized that and accepted it wholeheartedly—but to be done with Astoria?

No. No, no, no.

"I do want you, Astoria," he pleaded. "I'm trying. I want you more than anything."

"So then write a letter. Write a letter to your parents right now saying the engagement is off. Tell them you want to be with me instead."

Write a letter? He couldn't just have a conversation like that over a letter. This was a big deal, far too big of a deal to do over a letter. He planned on seeing them later this spring to plan the wedding. A conversation like this—canceling a betrothal to a prominent pureblood family—involved a little more than just a simple letter. Besides, he didn't even have a quill or ink or parchment or an owl, and—

"That's what I thought," Astoria said in a cold voice that sounded so unfamiliar. Where was her warmth? Her smile? Where was his Astoria? "It's easy to be all talk. It's much harder to take action."

She sighed and folded her hands in her lap before wiping away a few tears that had strayed from the path. Standing, she turned and looked at him with sad green eyes. "I mean it, Draco," she whispered. Fuck. Not Dray. He was in trouble. "Get out. I never want to see you again. We can be in-laws but that's it. We're done."

"My love—"

"But that's just it," she said, her voice cracking as she gave him a gentle smile. "I was never really your love, was I?"

And then Aria pushed him out of the room, leaving him in the hallway alone and heartbroken.

Two posts in one night? It's a miracle! Don't forget that Mattheo's story is starting Saturday for those of you who want an enemies to lovers :))