Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition - Season 11, Semi-Final

Team: Holyhead Harpies

Position: Keeper

Word Count: 1,320

Prompt: Orchideous Symphony

Summary: Blaise ruminates on an old relationship as he acts as best man for Draco

Notes: Words have been extra hard while trying to process through some grief over the past two weeks, so please forgive me if I didn't quite reach a level of 'pining' I was striving for. And Blaise may be somewhat out of character, because who doesn't love a hopeless romantic in spite of their upbringing.

She smiles at the wedding

One would believe that having the mother Blaise had, he would be vehemently against marriage, but he lived in eternal hope that one day the woman he loved would be his wife. The only woman he had ever loved.

Daphne Greengrass.

He would dream of a time that he would get to wake up every morning with her. He imagined a lifetime of memories with her; their first home together, travelling across the globe… Sometimes he would even imagine children – should that be something she would want, of course. If she didn't, then he would be okay with that too. He just wanted to be with her. Whatever her conditions were.

However, Daphne had made it abundantly clear, those few years ago when she had walked away; she never wanted to marry. So Blaise continued to let people think his mother had deterred him from the idea of marriage. All he would have to do is remember the arguments, the crying, the drinking after another husband had died… Then he could almost believe the lies too. He was even grateful to Daphne for never telling anyone his secret of wanting to live happily ever after with someone – no, not someone, Daphne. Keeping his secret had enabled him to continue with the charade without other women trying to take her place.

It was only ever her he imagined married life with.

"I can't marry you, Blaise. I can't leave Astoria alone."

"You know she'll always have a place in our home."

Daphne shook her head sadly. "She wouldn't accept that. She'd rather be alone before she'd allow herself to be a burden to anyone, no matter what I said." She took his hand, her grip painfully tight. "I can't stay with you if this is what you want. You deserve to be with someone who wants it as well. You'll make a wonderful husband."

Blaise shoved the memory back down as he focused on the present; Draco and Astoria's wedding.

As he stood by Draco's side, playing the part of best man, he kept looking past the happy couple to Daphne as she beamed at her sister, all the love she had for Astoria emanating brightly from her features. His heart thudded painfully at how much he'd missed her the past few years.

While the wedding plans had taken place, Blaise, as best man, had always been careful at what he would take part in, so that he could avoid seeing Daphne. Now that Astoria had found her own happiness, Blaise's hope had taken flight from the moment Draco had announced they were to marry, but he wanted the moment to be absolutely perfect before he approached Daphne with a very important question.

Blaise looked back to the officiant when asked for the rings to be presented. He kept his nerve as he felt Daphne's eyes watch him place the rings on the book held out to him, making sure to only catch Draco's eye with a small smile when his part was done.

When he knew Daphne's attention had returned to her sister, he stole another glance at her as she gently dabbed a tear away with the tip of her finger while Astoria placed the ring on Draco's finger. He was sure Astoria looked radiant, as any bride does on her wedding day, but nothing could surpass Daphne's beauty in his eyes.

The deepest, darkest of blues Astoria had chosen for the colour scheme – so dark it could be mistaken for black in the wrong light – only served to make Daphne's olive skin bloom with health and life. Her hair, falling in long dark waves past her shoulders, framed her face in such a way that it was like it knew it should never hide her face from the world. Her light green eyes glittered with unshed tears, while holding a world of happiness and love for her sister.

He wasn't expecting it when her eyes sharply met his, looking past Draco and Astoria as they shared their first kiss as a married couple. It sucked the air out of his lungs and made his heart beat erratically. The attendees cheered loudly, but the sound was dulled as he revelled in the smile Daphne gave him. The only smile she ever reserved for him. It sent that hope he'd been holding onto for years racing through his limbs, making them tingle and shake ever so slightly.

Before he could return the smile, they were being swept away down the aisle with Astoria and Draco. One day this would be for him and Daphne. And as quickly as that thought had crossed his mind, it left traces of determination behind that he would make it so. Even if she no longer loved him, he would woo her, dine her… Anything that would give him an ounce of her love in return.

He lost sight of her as they left the church. Once Draco and Astoria disappeared in their own carriage, to be taken up to Malfoy Manor, Blaise pushed through the crowd, searching desperately for her, knowing that she couldn't have Apparated due to the wards the Malfoys had always had in place. The plan was for the attendees to take a pleasant stroll through the village, following the carriage, and be met with drinks at the entrance.

He had no luck searching for the dress she was wearing, trying to find that particular shade of blue like a beacon of light that would see him through the storm. He returned to the top of the steps leading to the church entrance, hoping the high ground would give him a better view. Even with the crowd dispersing into the village, there was no dark blue dress to be seen, only various shades of greens, greys, and the odd black suit.

Blaise felt his shoulders droop, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. When she'd given him that smile, he knew he wanted to speak to her now, while they could have this moment alone, but now he would have to wait until the dancing had begun, when the best man and bridesmaid wouldn't be missed for a few minutes.

As he took his first step back down the stairs, there was a delicate cough behind him. He half-turned his upper body to look back and stumbled at seeing Daphne standing there, delicately clasping the small bouquet of daisies in front of her. She laughed a little as he corrected his stance to gain his balance and face her, all words now gone from his memory.

"I'd like to think you were looking for me," she said softly.

Blaise swallowed against his dry throat. "I've never stopped."

She nodded, a hint of sadness flitting across her features with a slight frown. "I am truly sorry for everything, Blaise, but you know why I walked away, don't you?"

"And is that what you still want?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Daphne sighed gently. "I was hoping that one day, if you have the capacity to forgive me, that you would ask me again?"

Words be damned, Blaise strode over to her, her arms already open to accept him, a hearty laugh escaping her, as he pulled her into the tightest hug he had ever given anyone – and he didn't give many of them out.

"I don't think I could ever stop loving you," she whispered in his ear, nuzzling against his face.

He put her down, holding on to her waist, staring into her eyes. He spotted the officiant still wandering around inside the church. "How would you feel about now?"

"Now?" she asked, her eyebrows rising high.

"I don't want to wait a moment longer. Astoria has her someone… it's time you did too."

The surprise was replaced by a hesitant smile. "Okay," she said with a nod.

"Okay?"

"Okay!" she shouted, jumping into his arms once more.