She || Drastoria

12 - Dance Floor Confessions

Dearest Ly,

Do you remember that time in London when we stumbled into that funny little shop full of teddy bears? Benji couldn't stop looking at this cute little koala bear with big eyes and we relentlessly teased him about it, and he refused to buy it because he said that nine year old boys didn't own cuddly toys.

I found myself in there today. I saw that same koala bear, and I bought it. I don't know what to do with it, Ly.

I miss you, I miss Benji.

I'm so tired of missing people.

*****

Astoria's heart raced as she stood behind her sister, admiring the white gown which clung perfectly to her uncursed body as their father stood proudly arm in arm with her, ready to give away his eldest daughter... his only daughter.

She looked down at her own dress. Green, of course. Fit for a Slytherin wedding.

Clutching her posy of hyacinths, Astoria shakily followed Daphne up the aisle; forever the bridesmaid, never to be the bride.

Her breath grew tight and shallow as they neared the front, the guests blurring into nothing around her as she became aware of one person and one person only.

White-blond hair, grey twinkling eyes.

Her eyes stung from the sheer effort of trying to look at anywhere but at him. Her ears filled with the roaring rush of blood as Daphne and Theo exchanged vows. In sickness and in health, till death do us part.

The ceremony had been the easy part. She didn't know how she was going to survive the rest of the wedding. When Daphne and Theo were declared husband and wife, Astoria found herself standing quite exposed near the remaining groomsmen as they watched the happy couple skip back down the aisle.

Her father gave an awkward cough and mumbled something about escorting her mother out. He walked away without even looking at her.

Astoria remained rooted to the spot, watching as the wedding attendees in the pews all began to shuffle out, eager to be wherever the bride was.

She didn't know how long she was stood there for when she was hit with a dizzying familiar scent as a tall figure drew up beside her.

"Astoria."

Blinking out of her trance, she slowly lifted her head, and as silver eyes pierced down at her, she found her breath quite literally stolen away. It was too much, he was too much. And the lump that formed in her throat rendered her speechless.

"Astoria," he repeated gently as he touched a hand lightly to her elbow, causing her to shiver. "We need to follow. The uh- photos."

She realised now that Blaise was stood behind him, his eyebrows raised as though attempting to suppress a smirk.

Slowly, she nodded, trying her best to swallow down the lump. "Oh- um, yes sure. The photos. Of course."

Silently cursing herself for acting so flustered, she moved away from him and walked determinedly up ahead, along the now deserted aisle, clutching her flowers so tightly that they were being crushed beneath her trembling fingers.

The second she stepped outside, the photographer (an angry little long grey haired wizard with a sharp tongue and a large flashing camera) grabbed her arm and roughly thrust her next to where her sister and parents were standing without any consent whatsoever.

It was all rather chaotic. Luckily, chaotic enough for her to avoid Draco most of the time. She hid herself amongst the crowd, desperate for the time to Apparate to the wedding reception where she could at least have a fucking drink.