2
Unknown Date, 1999
Draco had met his wife, Danica Barlowe, soon after 'graduation' when he went to pay his respect to those lost in the Second Wizarding War. She stood in front of a candle and photo of someone he didn't recognise, head bowed and eyes closed. A photo of Serverus Snape and an identical candle were set a few centimetres along the long table, and Draco had stood before it, eyes flicking toward her before settling on the soft, orange flame licking gently at the air around it. He had bowed his head and shut his eyes, both apologising and thanking the man in his mind.
When he'd opened his eyes again, he'd moved away with a quick glance around. Keeping his head low, he had pressed himself into a corner of the room, clutching a plastic cup he'd picked up on his way past a table. He'd kept his eyes down, well aware of his family's reputation.
Once he found the courage to lift his head, he'd found the woman's focus on him. It was at this point that he had noticed her light blue eyes, reminding him of the cheerful, light skies that he remembered from his childhood. Blonde hair had covered one eye as she looked down, shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and looked back up at him in what Draco thought looked like curiosity.
Draco had immediately looked back down to his shoes, unable to maintain eye contact. He'd finished his drink soon after and started to leave, getting as far as the front of the building before a voice called out to him. Draco had stopped but not turned back, shoulders stiffening as a hand landed on his back. "You look familiar." The voice had been soft and warm, unlike what he had grown used to at that point.
"I doubt it." He had grumbled as he started to pull away when a small hand had wrapped around his elbow, holding him back. Draco had, in the moment, thought about yanking his arm away from whoever was behind him; about snarling some choice words at the person.
But he just couldn't. So instead, he had turned his head a bit, just enough to catch the person in his peripheral vision. His eyes had widened in surprise. It was the blonde woman from the memorial. Finding as much of his signature Malfoy attitude as he could muster, he had grimaced; gingerly pushed her hand off his arm.
Despite this, the woman had given him a small but pretty smile, blue eyes glimmering with warmth. Draco had scanned her, feeling himself grow curious. He remembered struggling to maintain the grimace as she opened her mouth to speak and failing.
"Draco Malfoy, right?"
"Yeh? What? Oh wait, you want to berate me about my performance during the last stretch of the war? I assure you, I kn-" the woman had shook her head, sending him a sharp glare. It had been sharp enough to make his rant die in his throat.
"Nothing like that. I just want to be friends. Or at least, friend-ly. That's all."
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9th November, 2004
Draco groaned softly as the morning sunlight hit his face, disturbing his rest. He rolled heavily onto his back, flopping an arm over his eyes and taking a deep breath. He was almost back asleep when a noise disturbed him again. Another groan, this one louder, left his chest as he made another attempt to go back to sleep. A moment later (or maybe 2 hours, Draco didn't know), he was disturbed again by soft laughter this time.
Giving into the universes' attempts to keep him awake, Draco sat up, eyes closed and head hung as he waited for his eyes to adjust. He bent a leg, resting his arm on top and resting his head in his hand.
"No matter how many times I see this, it's always so funny!" A voice said through laughter.
Forcing one eye open, Draco found Danica leaning against the door frame, giggles bubbling up every few seconds. Draco shook his head but couldn't help the smile that found its way onto his lips. "One of these days, I will get up before you, and I will laugh at you as you wake up." He vowed valiantly, blearily glaring at the woman.
The woman in questioned scoffed, one hand resting on her chest in mock offence, "You? Get up before me? The Heavens will fall before that happens." Danica walked over to the bed, hopping up on top of the duvet. Draco reached a hand out to rest on her leg, giving it a light squeeze.
"Happy four year anniversary, lovely." Danica murmured, resting her hand over his.
"Happy four years, doll." Draco responded with a yawn. "Come, let's cuddle." He held his arms out invitingly.
"Nuh-uh, mister. You just want to sleep more. And you know that it will destroy your sleep cycle," Danica got off the bed again, closing her hands around his forearm and tugging. "Up, you lump. Come and have breakfast."
Draco groaned for the third time in as many minutes but followed his girlfriend, swiping the duvet and sheet to the side and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, wrapping his arms around Danica in a bear hug. Lowering his mouth to her ear, he smirked. "Cuddle time."
With that, he let himself fall back, cushioning Danica's fall with his torso. Danica, however, managed to escape his bear hug before he could tuck them back into bed, laughing heartily as she turned to face him, hair messy from the scramble to get away. "Cheeky."
Eventually, Danica did get manage to get Draco out of bed and eating breakfast, but it did involve a lot of laughter and wrestling. What a way to have spent their second anniversary.
Who would've guessed that Danica had hidden a silver ring in Draco's cereal?
Who would've thought Draco would say anything other than yes?
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28th June 2011
The day was here. The fateful day. Draco and Danica's wedding day. The day where Miss Barlowe becomes Mrs Malfoy.
Draco could barely contain himself. Ever since Danica had proposed to him 7 months prior, he had anticipated this day. It was an incredibly small ceremony (just their parents pretty much), but the two had still gone all out for their special day.
Flowers adorned the walls of the Malfoy Manor they were using, bright colours making the usually dreary room look as if someone lived there. Draco smiled to himself. It was just like him.
Lifeless.
Lost
And then Danica found him. Like a rescue dog in the snow, she dug him out of the hole he had been placed in; the hole he had spent many unsuccessful years convincing himself he wanted to be in.
Draco was broken out of his thoughts by his mother leading the reverend who was performing their ceremony down the makeshift aisle. "Come, Draco. Let's begin the ceremony," Narcissa muttered as she passed him. "Your bride is outside those doors." She nodded at the double doors she had likely just come through.
With a nod to himself, Draco took his place on the altar, closing his eyes for a moment, and gathering his bearings. The music began and Draco opened his eyes again, looking toward the doors. They opened to show Danica, a bouquet of flowers in one hand and the other wrapped around her father's arm.
She had her bottom lip trapped between her teeth and eyes trained on the ground a few metres ahead of her. She looked as nervous as Draco was, but a bright smile appeared on her face when she looked up and met his gaze.
Danica's gown was form-fitting to an extent, mostly around her waist. A light cape covered her shoulders, sown to the gown at the back, near the clips running down Danica's back. Danica had opted for no train or veil over her face for reasons unknown to Draco. Not that he wanted to know either. It was her choice, and Draco would accept that no matter what.
Her hair was restrained in a complicated-looking hairstyle that looks like it would've taken hours in the muggle world. Here? A simple wave of a wand (or a hand, if the witch or wizard was particularly talented). One curl was loose, draped loosely over her right shoulder and brushing the neckline of her wedding gown. Danica had opted for light and natural make-up rather than heavy and dark. It gave her an angelic appearance, and if Draco didn't know any better, he may have thought that exact thing.
Before he knew it, Danica had completed her walk and kissed her father on the cheek, smiling fondly as he murmured to her. Draco reached a hand out once her attention returned to him. Danica took it with a smile, changing her bouquet to her other hand.
The ceremony passed in a blur for both the bride and groom. Vows were made, rings exchanged, and the kiss had. The applause from the new in-laws broke their embrace, and the two stepped down from the altar, went to their respective parents one after the other.
Finally, Draco sighed, it was over. He was forever bound to Danica, his soul mate, his wife.
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1 May, 2021
Danica screamed.
There has never been pain like the pain she's feeling in this moment. She felt her voice break at the peak of a scream, sending a dull spike of pain through her throat.
Why, oh why, did she ever agree to carry a baby? This had to be breaking the pain scale, right?
The nurse at the end of the bed called to her but Danica didn't hear over the megaphone in her brain broadcasting one message: PAIN.
The pain subsided for a moment and Danica relaxed back against the pillow behind her, damp with sweat. She could vaguely feel Draco holding her hand, the coolness of his wedding band pressing into her sweaty hand. She tilted her head up to look at her husband, giving his hand a light squeeze. His eyes were filled with worry, watching the midwives bustle around the room closely, as if he was trying to analyse every movement they made.
His gaze shifted to Danica when he felt the squeeze, taking a second to note how tired she looked, yet there was a sense of happiness in her eyes. They had been trying for at least 3 years before they conceived this little one, still in the long process of entering the world. Then, as if on cue, another contraction wracked Danica's body, and another scream left her throat. Draco flinched, then leaned down, resting his lips against the skin of her forehead.
"You're doing wonderfully, Starlight." He murmured in comfort, using the nickname he'd given her in their first year of marriage.
After another strong contraction, Danica relaxed back again, eyes closed and chest rising and falling sharply. The Obstetrician at the end of the bed lifted a small bundle of blankets with a smile. "A little girl, Mr and Mrs Malfoy. My heartfelt congratulations!"
Draco let out a little shocked laugh as the doctor passed the newborn to him. The baby was so tiny in his arms that he found himself in disbelief. He glanced between his wife and daughter, a grin on his face. Danica smiled sleepily, head tilted toward him against the pillow.
"A little girl, Starlight. We have a little girl!" He gasped softly, crouching down so that Danica could see. His wife nodded, unable to summon words.
"How about Astoria?"
Draco hummed, thinking for a moment. He then nodded, glancing up at Danica. "It's perfect."
Their little girl was here.
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6th July, 2021
It began as any other day did. The parents rose at the crack of dawn, roused by the wails of their infant daughter, either hungry or needing a change, or both. Danica wandered over to the crib where the baby lay, staring blankly at the ceiling between her heartbreaking wails.
Draco went to the ensuite, using the toilet before washing his hands and heading down to make breakfast for his wife and himself. He took his time, knowing that Danica would likely breastfeed in their room and then bring Astoria down with her while she ate.
Once they'd finished their respective breakfasts, Draco began to prepare for his day. He was taking Astoria with him to meet with some friends he'd made through Danica and their children.
Astoria was dressed once Draco came back downstairs, fixing his hair. He took a moment to love on her with kisses to her forehead before looking for his wife. He found Danica checking the bag that sat underneath the seat on the pram, quietly talking to herself. He greeted her again, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. She giggled, shrugging him off with a mock scolding.
It was just shy of an hour later when Draco pushed the pram out the front door of the Manor, nodding slowly at the reminders Danica called to him as he left.
Draco doesn't know what happened once he left, but he knows it doesn't sit well with him.
It had seemed almost impossible that by nightfall, she would have disappeared, and yet.
She had.