Chapter 2
Draco felt like he just caught two people who were meant to be hiding.
Astoria's gaze reluctantly detached from Theo.
Draco could have sworn he saw a tear, but decided it was just a light trick.
As Draco extended his hand, a wave of self-consciousness washed over him. How absurd he must appear to Astoria, his hand reaching out in a manner more suited to a formal encounter than a personal introduction. Time seemed to stretch on indefinitely until Astoria delicately placed her hand in his.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she spoke, her voice trailing off with a hint of uncertainty.
A slight smile had graced Draco's face, he wanted her to feel like she could trust him, "Please, call me Draco. I feel ancient when people address me as 'Mr. Malfoy.'"
Astoria giggled a little, putting Draco's mind at ease.
Draco stared at Astoria, really taking in her beauty. She was starring right back at him, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
Draco had forgotten all about Theo and his big bowtie, until he cleared his throat. "You two should make your way to the parlor. Everyone has been waiting on you, Tori."
Astoria tore her eyes from Draco and they landed upon Theo. The same look that Draco swore was a light trick just a few moments ago, was back.
She opened her mouth like she was going to say something but only let out soft sigh. She began to walk toward the parlor, Draco and Theo trailing behind.
Astoria's mood shifted as soon as they entered the parlor. Her face was bright with a smile that said, "yes, I am very happy. Thanks for asking." A swift exchange of greetings with Draco's parents followed, and she settled into a chair across from him.
Meanwhile, Theo gracefully navigated the room, extending offers of more tea and inquiries about everyone's needs.
Draco observed Astoria's gaze as it trailed Theo's movements, a peculiar scene unfolding before him. It felt as though he were a spectator to a game, where the rules remained a mystery to everyone but the players.
More small talk was made, until the clock chimed that an hour had already passed since they arrived.
"We should move to the Great Hall to go over the ceremony details briefly," Mrs. Greengrass suggested in a soothing tone. "And while we're rehearsing, could you handle setting up dinner, Theo?" Her smile added warmth to the request.
"Certainly, ma'am. I'll attend to it immediately," Theo replied, briskly exiting the room.
Astoria exhaled as Theo left the room, a release of tension she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying.
At the sound of her exhale, Mrs. Greengrass met her daughters eyes. "Is everything okay, Astoria?" the warmth in her voice had faded a bit.
Astoria's eyes briefly darted to where Theo had stood moments ago, then returned to her mother. "Everything's fine, Mother," she assured,
Something told Draco that everything was not fine.
His parents had not noticed anything amiss, chatting about anything under the sun with Mr. Greengrass.
As the group made their way into the Great Hall, Draco saw that the venue was decorated in a lush tapestry of emerald greens, sage hues, and delicate pearl accents, woven seamlessly into the floral arrangements and décor.
As Draco stood, absorbing the ambiance, Astoria gracefully approached, her presence a silent question mark beside him.
"Is this everything you dreamed of for your wedding, Mr. Malfoy?" Her words carried a subtle edge of sarcasm and it was almost too quiet for him to hear.
He glanced her way. Her fingers were plucking petals off of the roses in the floral arrangement, anything to avoid his gaze.
"I wouldn't say it's precisely what I envisioned, but it's certainly wonderful," Draco replied with a slight pause, his smile gentle. "And please, call me Draco." He noticed the widening of her eyes, realizing she hadn't intended for him to overhear her remark.
Before Astoria could say anything, her mother was calling them both over, to run through the ceremony.
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After an hour of endless rehearsals, Draco found himself nearing the brink of wedding-related exhaustion.
The insistence on perfecting every word of the vows puzzled him. Sure, he grasped the significance of the soul bond and its intricacies, but couldn't they just trust in the sentiment? In his defense, whoever concocted these vows must have been the same individual responsible for all those confounding tongue twisters from his childhood.
His father finally spoke up, after the 100th time of Draco fumbling over his words, "maybe we should take a break for dinner and then rehearse once more."
Mrs. Greengrass shook her head, "yes, I think a break for dinner is a wonderful idea."
Mr. Greengrass, on the other hand, merely regarded Draco with a silent gaze, his expression speaking volumes without the need for words. The narrowed eyes and downturned lips conveyed a message that Draco understood through and through.
They made their way to the dinner table, Draco moved at a snails pace, wanting to keep away from the group.
When he entered the dining room, he realized that Theo had been tirelessly at work. A impressive spread adorned the table, boasting an array of delectable dishes ranging from soups and salads to roasts an array of side dishes.
As soon as everyone settled into their seats, Theo meticulously detailed each dish gracing the table, his voice resonating with pride and care. "And to cap off our meal, I've prepared Tori's favorite: chocolate fudge cake." A bittersweet smile flickered across Theo's lips.
For a moment, Draco felt a pang of jealousy. Theo and Astoria seemed to be close. How long had he been employed by Mr. Greengrass? Had Theo and Astoria grown up together? There seemed to be a lot of history between them.
Draco was forced out of his own head when he noticed that Astoria had opened her mouth like she had something to say, like earlier in the hall.
Before she could speak, Mr. Greengrass intervened, casting a glare toward Theo. "Thank you, Theo. We'll let you know if there's anything else we require. You are excused to the kitchen."
With a slight bow, Theo backed out of the room through the door that Draco assumed led to the kitchen.
Astoria's gaze remained fixed on her father, gradually intensifying into a piercing glare. "Theo was simply trying to offer me comfort, Father. There's no need to be so harsh with him," she asserted, her voice steady despite the undertone of frustration.
The tension between Mr. Greengrass and his daughter was thick. Everyone around the table could sense that the mood had shifted.
Lucius cleared his throat before speaking, trying to get the attention off of the awkward family stand off happening right in front of everyone, "How have things been progressing with your charity? I caught wind of the splendid gala you hosted last month, and we were truly regretful we couldn't be in attendance."
With the attention off of what had just been happening, everyone chatted politely and ate dinner.
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As soon as everyone couldn't eat another bite, it was time to run through the ceremony one more time.
This one more time, turned into another five before Mr. Greengrass called it.
"Lucius, your son must be prepared for tomorrow or this wedding simply will not be happening."
Draco sensed his father's gaze fixed upon him, yet he found himself unable to meet it, his eyes instead drawn downward to the floor.
"He'll be impeccable tomorrow. You have my word," Lucius affirmed with a tone that made no room for an argument.
With a silent agreement passing between them, Draco's and Astoria's parents opted to excuse themselves, probably to finalize arrangements for the impending ceremony. Undoubtedly, part of their conversation would involve Draco's mistakes.
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Astoria had retreated to her room as soon as her father ended the rehearsal for the night, leaving Draco with no opportunity to talk and get acquainted with her.
He got tired of waiting for his parents and decided to walk around the house. He'd always been someone who enjoyed exploring new places. He liked a good mystery.
Wandering through the maze of hallways, Draco eventually found himself standing before a modest door, a stark departure from the grandeur of the rest of the house. Taking in his surroundings, he noticed the stark simplicity of this wing—it lacked the ornate decorations and portraits adorning the walls elsewhere. The windows were draped with faded gray curtains, and the carpet, matching the curtains in hue, gave off an understated vibe. While not in disrepair, this area simply didn't align with the opulence found in other parts of the house.
On the other side of this modest door, Draco could make out muffled voices. He didn't know exactly what was being said, but he could tell the conversation was an unhappy one.
Curiosity tugged at Draco's senses, compelling him to press his ear against the door.
In moments like these, he momentarily forgot his wizarding abilities, as if the allure of eavesdropping transcended the bounds of magic itself.
He was about to pull out his wand when the door suddenly opened. Draco fell forward and landed in the room. He could feel eyes on him.
"Can I help you, Mr. Malfoy?" a soft voice that was tainted with a bit of fear hit his ears.
As he looked up, he saw Astoria.
Lifting his gaze, Draco locked eyes with Astoria. A rush of embarrassment flushed his cheeks crimson until he realized that the other muffled voice was Theo's.
In an instant, embarrassment morphed into a potent mix of jealousy and anger.
"I'm sorry. Was I interrupting something?" the tone of his voice surprised even him.
"No sir," Theo's words came out slowly, like he was thinking of something to say, "Tori was just... bringing me a book." He reached for a book that laid on his desk and held it up, "Thanks for this. I'll make sure to return it as soon as I'm finished."
Astoria, for the third time that day, opened her mouth like she had something important to say.
Draco noticed a certain look in Theo's eyes as they watched Astoria. The look made Draco sick to his stomach.
Draco stood up, "I'll walk you back to your room, Miss Greengrass. You should be resting for tomorrow, it is our wedding day after all."
Silently, Astoria gave Theo one last look, and then walked out of the room.
Draco followed just as silently to her room.
"Goodnight, Miss. Greengrass. I will see you tomorrow."
She didn't say anything in return. Even the door sounder somber as it closed.