Secret Arrangement

Consequences

Draco stood in the garden at Malfoy Manor, scowling down at his appearance. The garden was starting to fill with guest for Lucius' Birthday party. Draco was dressed in black slacks and a grey shirt with a few top buttons undone. He was still scowling at his appearance when his best friend, Blaise Zabini walked up to him. 

Blaise handed him a glass of firewhiskey. "Whats up with you?" 

Draco shook his head. "I don't know. Hermione went to the office early this morning so I woke up extremely late. I had to rush to get ready and now I feel as if i've forgotten something but I haven't a clue what it is." 

"Is that why I haven't seen her here?" Blaise asked, looking around for any sign of his best friends wife. 

"Yeah, she left a note saying she would meet me at the party." Draco said with a frown. 

"Maybe she's what you're missing. You two are usually inseparable." Blaise offered with a shrug. 

"Maybe. I did barely see her yesterday and by the time I got home she was already asleep, then she was gone when I woke up. I feel like it's been ages since i've talked to her." Draco said with a sigh. Blaise gave him a knowing smirk and Draco just rolled his eyes, looking around the party in search of his wife. 

His eyes flitted over the guest until they caught on two girls making their way towards them. Daphne was dressed in a light blue sundress but what caught Draco's attention was the blonde girl walking next to her. She was in a skin tight Slytherin green dress that ended right above her knees. It seemed like something one would wear to a cocktail party, not a casual garden party. The blonde had a huge smile on her face and her eyes were focused on Draco. 

"Shit! What the hell is Astoria Greengrass doing here?" He whispered to Blaise. Blaise gave him a weird look. 

"I don't know. Daph did say she just finished school in France so maybe she's home for a visit. Why does it matter anyways?" Blaise asked with a shrug. He looked to see Draco flinch and glance away, eyes sweeping the party. "Draco, what are you hiding?" 

"I uh- might have forgot to tell Hermione about the arrangement with Astoria." He mumbled, not making eye contact. 

"What?! You mean the arranged marriage you agreed to and then promised us you told her about when you started dating? That arrangement?" Blaise asked, anger evident in his voice. 

Draco flinched again. " Yeah, that one. What am I supposed to do?" 

"Well first, you need to set it straight with Astoria, since given the way she's making eyes at you i'm guessing she has no idea that the arrangement is off. Then you need to tell you wife, hopefully before someone else does, and pray to Salazar that she forgives you." Blaise spat, angry to be complicit in a secret he had no idea he was keeping from Hermione. "You better fix this Draco." He warned with a final glare before turning his attention towards the two women who just walked up.  

"Astoria, I didn't know you were back." Blaise greeted her with a tight smile that she failed to notice. "How long are you staying?" 

Astoria smiled at him before turning her direction towards Draco. "Im back for good. Did you miss me Draco?" She asked with a flirty smile. 

"Oh, um yeah-" 

"Oh I missed you to!" She said, flinging herself at him. Draco stumbled back with the force of it, his arm coming up to her back in order to keep them from falling over. Blaise looked away with a scowl and Daphne glared at him. Draco quickly removed her from his arms but she kept close, one hand latched onto his arm as she talked away about how excited she was to be back.