Blissful Oblivion || a collection ||

Hope

Astoria gnawed on her bottom lip as her hand stabbed a pen into a plush pillow. She didn't know how she came to find herself in such a position, only that she was too nervous to stop the action from ceasing any time soon. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, threatening to come out with every painful beat.

She was certain she wanted to marry Draco. There was no doubt in her mind about it. But as the clock ticked in a way that seemed to tease her, she couldn't help but regard how nervous she was moments away from walking down the aisle.

No longer able to hold back the nauseating feeling in her chest, Astoria stood up abruptly, the pillow and pen falling onto the floor as her white wedding dress hopped up along with her. Her feet carried her to the full-body mirror, and then she smiled. She was not particularly vain, but she found she looked quite beautiful in the dress. It was simple and elegant, and it truly screamed Astoria as though the dress was born to be fitted onto her.

Where there should be color on her cheeks, however, there was none. She looked as pale as a corpse. Before she could reach up the pinch some color into them, the door of her room swung open to reveal one of her closest friends.

Sue Li, clad in her robin's egg blue bridesmaid dress, entered the space before she surveyed Astoria from head to toe.

The white-faced Ravenclaw pinched her brows together. "What's wrong?"

Astoria's eyes widened into saucers as Sue closed the door behind her. "Nothing's wrong. Why would anything be wrong?"

"Are you getting cold feet?" Sue asked then crossed her arms on her chest. "Because if you are, we can just cancel the wedding—"

"No!" Astoria interrupted defiantly, whirling to look at Sue fully as though she were mad. "I would never do that to Draco."

A smirk graced Sue's lips. "Merlin, you really are mad for him. I wish you'd prove that by not making your fiancé wait at the altar."

Her heart leaped from her chest in fear. "Am I late?"

Sue nodded.

Astoria quickly bolted for the door and opened it to find her sister Daphne and their parents on the other side.

Her mother sighed in relief. "Oh, goodness, there you are! Honestly, what are you waiting for? Do you want to get married or not?"

"I—" Astoria started in the hopes of apologizing.

"Listen to me, Tori," Daphne put her hands on her younger sister's shoulders. "Draco Malfoy is mad for you. Completely. He's up there waiting and probably losing his mind wondering if you'll even show up, which I hope you will, because this wedding cost more than the fingers and toes we can count on our bodies."

Astoria couldn't help but laugh nervously as she nodded. "I'm sorry I kept you all waiting."

Her father waved a dismissive hand, disrupting their sisterly bond. "Nonsense. Let's get you up that altar and marry you off to that boy."

The Greengrass family, along with Sue, finally made their way to the entrance of Malfoy Manor's ballroom. Astoria heard the faint sound of chatter when Sue, Daphne and her mother squeezed themselves between the small cracks of the double doors to enter. When the door was shut tight once more, Astoria was alone with her father.

"Papa, I'm nervous," Astoria sighed as she looped her arm around her father's.

"Nervous because you fear he might not show up?" Her father asked, dusting off invisible dirt from his crisp black suit. "Or nervous because you fear in the end, he will leave you because of your blood curse?"