Babe

I adjust the strap of my lacy black dress and stare into the mirror. A reflection of someone I don’t know anymore stares back at me. The last two weeks have been hell. But it’s been bearable with Theo by my side. He takes care of me, protects me, and shows me kindness. All things my husband should have been doing. And all it does is make me more angry at Malfoy. Now that I have had time to process everything that’s happened, I’m starting to figure out how I feel about it.

Pissed. That’s how I feel. I was sad at first, of course. And now? Now I’m fucking fuming. I feel how I should have felt that day in the drawing room with Daphne and Teddy. Malfoy embarrassed me. He humiliated me in the eyes of the public, and he got away with it. Or so he thinks.

No one is expecting me to show up to the wedding. Much less with the groom’s best friend on my arm. It is the best slap in the face I can think of right now. Theo has encouraged me to think of ways to hurt him back, pushing me to heal. All of the sadness I once felt over losing my marriage and my best friend are so long gone. I never ever want to see his pathetic face again, except when he sees me and Theo at his wedding. If he wants to humiliate me, make me out to be a foolish “other woman”, then we can play that game. He has no idea what I have planned.

I sharpen the point of my eyeliner with magic, making it so fine it could kill a man. My lipstick is a blood red shade, extenuating the plumpness of them. I stare at my dress in the mirror. I’m wearing a sparkly black fitted dress, covered in sequins. The skirt touches the tips of my toes, and the straps and scalloped bodice add extra support to my breasts, making them appear full and bouncy. I smooth my hands over my stomach, a bit nervous. This is a bold move to be making. But a necessary one.

I fiddle with my hair, swooping the silver locks over one shoulder. A couple of my loose curls fall and I hasten to fix them. Normally when I go to events, I keep my hair pinned up tight in an updo. Not today. Today my hair cascades down my shoulders, sleek and elegant looking. I added some simple waves and made sure that it looked as neat as possible. The result is stunning.

Once I’m happy with my appearance, I slide on my expensive, red-bottom pumps. My toes protest slightly as I squeeze them inside the shoes, but I don’t care. No one said dressing for revenge was comfortable.

I grab my clutch and study myself in the mirror. I look passable, I think. I certainly am going to stand out, but that is what I’m going for. I want to be noticed, I want to be talked about. I consider whispering a bra enhancing spell, but before I do, I hear the door open. I look around to see Theo entering the room. He is dressed impeccably, wearing a black suit with accents of red on the trims of his collar and cuffs. He smiles over at me.

“You look fucking stunning Ri-Ri. Malfoy isn’t gonna know what hit him.”

I grin back at him, walking over and fussing with his tie.

“You’re not so bad yourself Teddy.”

He laughs and the next second, his arms are swooping under and around me, and he lifts me off the floor. I let out a mixture of a shriek and a giggle as he spins me around. His hands wrap firmly around my legs. I can’t help but laugh, throwing my arms around him and burying my face in his neck. He continues to spin me once more before setting me back down on my feet. Theo steadies me, holding onto my arms. I look up and realise we are standing incredibly close together.

“Teddy…”

Our faces are nearly touching, with my arms still wrapped around his neck. His blue eyes roam over my face, settling on my lips. I can’t help it, I bite down on my lower lip and he makes a strangled sort of grunting noise. Feeling bold, I step closer. Our noses brush and I suck in a nervous breath. Theo nudges my nose softly with his and then…

And then his mouth crashes into mine. Our lips lock, desperate and heady. I grab the back of Theo’s head and push it further into mine. Fuck, this feels so good. This feels so right. After all the shit that has happened lately, this is finally something good. I moan into Theo’s mouth as his hands find my waist, gripping me hard. His tongue slips into my mouth, exploring me. A brief thought of his tongue in other places has me clenching my thighs together.

Theo breaks our kiss momentarily to softly moan, “Astoria..”

He never calls me by my full name, so hearing it whispered like this, like he wants me, makes my head spin. I grab him and pull his lips back to mine, kissing desperately. I know I’m ruining my lipstick; I haven’t had a chance to put a setting spell on it yet. But I don’t care, all I care about is kissing Theo as much as I possibly fucking can. He pulls at my lips, his arms wrapping tighter around my body. We stay like that, locked in a blissful trance for a minute, until he pulls away.

“Ri-Ri… fuck that was- that was perfect, but we have to go,” he says gently, tracing my face with his fingers. I part my lips slightly and gaze up at him, a slightly pouty expression playing across my face.

“Come on, just one more minute.”

“Fucking hell, why did Draco ever fucking leave you?”

He grabs me roughly and crashes his mouth into mine once more. We stumble backwards until we crash into the bedpost and I moan into his mouth as my back hits the wood. He groans in response and presses his body further into me.

“Oh gods,” I whimper as he moves down to kiss my neck, sucking hard on my sensitive collarbone. His tongue laves over the spot he bit down on, soothing the inflamed skin. I moan out loud and feel him press his hard-on into my leg.

He breaks our connection suddenly, pulling away and backing up several feet from me.

“We really, really have to go Ri-Ri,” he grits out, adjusting himself. I lick my lips as I glance down at his groin.

“Fine,” I say, tossing my hair over my shoulder and stepping in front of the mirror. “I have to get fixed up, I’ll meet you at the carriage.”

He nods once, before stepping out of the room. I’m now alone and am able to attempt to process what the hell just happened. I glance down at my collarbone in the mirror. I now sport a large red mark, shaped like Theo’s mouth. I run my fingers over the hickey, wincing as the skin stings. But I don’t make any attempt to conceal it or hide it. A wicked idea overcomes me as I fix my lipstick, leaning into the mirror and grinning at myself.

I am sick of being the victim. I’m sick of moping. I’m done with letting Malfoy steal my happiness. He and that Granger bitch have taken so much from me.

It’s time I claim something for myself.

The thestral-pulled carriage stops abruptly outside the large enchanted garden where the wedding is being held. A large arch twinkles with fairy lights and the field sports a large enchanted tent with a dance floor. It’s beautiful. And expensive.

Try as I might, memories of Malfoy and I’s wedding night flood my mind. Memories of him twirling me around a similar dance floor, giggling as he swung me through the air. His eyes had been ablaze with what seemed like happiness.

Bitterness wells inside me, bringing up all the emotions of the past month, and all of the reasons why this is a stupid idea to be here. I’m about to turn around and ask to leave when a hand slips down my arm and circles my wrist.

“It’s okay, we’re okay baby.”

His use of the pet name makes my knees weak. I clutch on to his arm as Theo leads me into the wedding party, through the gate, and directly into the lion’s den, literally.

The lights are blinding and the music is incredibly loud, but Theo and I manage to keep mostly out of the crowd. We want our entrance to be dramatic, and it would not do to be seen before then.

We have practised this so many times this week, at this point, it runs like clockwork. Theo slips into line to enter the tent, where the reception is being held. The actual wedding was earlier, a private ceremony. This is just for them to show off to all of their friends how supremely happy they are. Well… were. If everything went to plan.

The line dwindled until Theo and I were close to the front. I had made sure to keep my cloak on me until we were up next. The maitre d waited until I had fully removed everything, then turned to the room at large. I straightened my spine, readying myself for the onslaught I was about to face.

“Ms. Astoria Malfoy and Mr. Theodore Nott!”

The name had not been a coincidence, we wanted to throw them off as much as possible. The room quiets, the music dying as several of the musicians turn to watch the entrance. As the eyes fall upon us, gasps could be heard all around. Theo offers me his arm and I take it. He leans down and murmurs into my ear, making it look as intimate as possible.

“Keep your eyes on the prize love.”

I straighten even further and begin walking beside him. The room whispers as we walk by, I hear snippets of people commenting on my audacity, on my dress, and several- on my bravery. I smile, surveying the room until my eyes catch on them.

The happy couple.

Except neither look happy.

Malfoy is staring, shocked at us. His eyes roam from Theo to me and then to… my collarbone. To the hickey I have prominently displayed. I see his eyes widen further, realising the connection between us.

Granger looks confused, her eyes darting from me and Theo, to her new husband. I grin, this is almost perfect. I am relishing stealing her joy, after all, she did steal my husband.

We walk purposefully over to the couple, several people gasp as we draw near. I have waited for this moment for so long, and now that it’s here, the air tastes sweet and I feel stronger than I have in months.

Malfoy steps forward protectively, but Granger pushes him aside and walks up to me.

“What are you doing here Astoria?” Her brown eyes are piercing into mine.

“Whatever do you mean?” I ask slyly. “I was invited. Was it not from you?” The last part is genuine. I had thought that it had been her who had sent the invitation, a further slap in the face.

“Oh Merlin… It was me,” Malfoy groans, stepping forward. “But I never in a million years thought that you would actually show up!”

“Well here I am. I simply wanted to offer the happy couple my congratulations. And warn you, of course.”

Malfoy pales, clutching Granger’s arm and pulling her back from me.

“Warn us? Against what Astoria?”

“Against me, dear husband- oh do excuse me, ex-husband.” I smile cruelly, letting all of my anger fuel the cunningness with which I deliver my next line. “Against the secrets that will be exposed, yours, and mine.” Malfoy’s mouth drops open, as Granger looks confused. I give them one last look before turning to Theo.

“Teddy, shall we go back and fuck in the carriage?”

“You read my mind darling,” he replies. I don’t turn back to see the look of shock on Malfoy’s face, all I catch is a glimpse out of the corner of my eye as we sweep through the room.

Once in the carriage, we both rush in, giggling from the adrenaline. I tumble into Theo’s lap as we take off, and I press my lips to his. Everything went perfectly as we planned, and we definitely tainted their memory of this night. It’s the least they deserved, we could have been so much worse. All things considered, we were merciful.

I kiss Theo hard, grinding in his lap. He claims my mouth with his, our tongues meeting and roaming over each other. He presses into me hard and I moan. I'm finding a sick sort of pleasure in getting off to the idea of the revenge that’s yet to come.