The Honeymoon Phase
Astoria was outraged. It was a state she had found herself in a lot since getting married. Well, since the marriage contract was finalized. This had all been extremely embarrassing to say the least. She was still positively incandescent with rage over the Daily Prophet’s picture and story. Draco was still insisting that his bachelor party didn’t get out of hand. Well, insisting was probably too strong a sentiment. He had returned to the manor this morning and started ascending the stairs without so much as a word or look in her direction.
He looked disheveled, the most out of sorts she had ever seen him. She had quite sternly inquired if he had been hungover. He stopped in his tracks, looked at her with a blank expression and said a simple "no". Did he think she was stupid? She felt she could safely assume she did not want the answer to that. She couldn't think of any other reason to his adverse reaction though. Sure, she supposed he had told her he did not want to kiss at the end of their vows, but she had known he was just trying to be proper and protect her pureblood image. Times were changing though; she had attended a lovely pureblood wedding a few months prior, where the couple had kissed, clearly very much in love and the crowd had eaten it up. There were coos and whoops celebrating with them as their lips met in front of family and friends.
Why then, was Astoria mortified by the scene playing out on the Daily Prophet? She had decided to surprise Draco with a kiss, something sweet, chaste, and fit for public consumption. She envied that other couple's joy, and that everyone had been so happy for them. She wanted a memory like that for her wedding. So much of what she planned in her head had not played out as she dreamed. She was trying a new approach. She would show Draco that she wasn't a stick-in-the-mud, pureblood princess. She could be fun and spontaneous.
Tears filled her eyes as she watched the looping picture on the front page of the paper, showing her grabbing Draco—her husband—and stealing a kiss. Unfortunately, it also showed him promptly moving back to end their contact, turning, and throwing up in the planter behind him. She supposed it was a blessing that there was no sound. The audible gasps and choking sounds from nearby guests had made her second guess herself. She had wondered if perhaps she and Draco's station was too high for this sort of display, but hadn't had time to really think it through, because there were shouts from the audience and Harry Potter had stood, looked at Draco and told him, "meet me at St. Mungo's".
Draco had so many emotions flitting across his face, she had a hard time discerning how he was feeling. She hadn't seen him show that much emotion since their fight in the garden over roses. She saw when he put his occlumency walls in place, and with a stony sneer, told her, "I'll deal with you later". He had disapparated on the spot. Astoria had felt such shame when she had to walk back down the aisle alone.
People in the crowd were having an array of reactions, some shooting her pitying glances, some staring at her with open distain, a lot were avoiding looking at her all together and whispering to those around them. She caught her sister's eye, hoping at least she would look supportive, and wished she hadn't. Daphne looked so disappointed in her that her practiced composure almost broke. Leaving the ceremonial hall, she quickly went to the room where she had been stuffed into her formal dress robes and beauty charmed heavily, but tastefully to retrieve her wand. The reception had already been paid for, but it could go on without her. Astoria decided she would just go home. After all, she was now mistress of Malfoy Manor. At least that couldn't go wrong. Maybe starting some redecorating would improve her mood.