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The fact Astoria was off to the side instead of in the fray told Draco that something was wrong. Grabbing a glass from a passing tray, he made his way to where she stood off to the side of the party.
“Not having fun?” He smiled, though Astoria could see it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh, but aren’t you just having a ball?” Astoria laughed as she turned to look in the direction her father was in. They needed to be seen talking to each other. Otherwise, coming to this party would have been a waste.
“Of course. You know I love it when mum throws a ball.” The sarcasm leaked from his voice so thickly that Astoria felt she might choke on it.
“Look at them all. Following so blindly in his path.” The contempt in her voice was obvious, even as Draco shot her a sharp look.
“Watch your mouth.” The dangers of speaking out of turn were not lost on him. Draco had learned his lesson the hard way. Astoria, it seemed, hadn’t quite learned hers.
“Please, they’re not paying any attention to us.” The young Slytherin girl wasn’t wrong, but it was always dangerous to speak out of turn around so many mind readers.
“It’s one thing to say it when it’s just us, love. Another thing entirely to say it in a room full of his Inner Circle. Over half of which can read minds.” His tone was clipped, and the shock that flashed across her face told him Astoria hadn’t thought of that. The mood simmered as he gave her a small smile. Astoria wasn’t wrong; some things weren’t worth the risk of saying out loud.
Silence stretched between them for a moment before he gently bumped into her, earning him a hard won smile. It was a game they had played when they were younger. Trying to make the other laugh at inappropriate times. It had done what Draco had wanted, however, as a true smile bloomed across the dark haired girl’s face.
“Oh what a tangled web parents weave, when they think that children are naive.” Astoria snorted at his comment, even as she rolled her eyes.
“The question is, is will it be worth it?” Astoria wasn’t wrong to question it. More important people had been killed by the Dark Lord for what they were about to try to pull. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill them if he found out about their plans.
“The chance alone that this might work makes it worth it.” Draco’s lips barely moved as he slid up beside her and rested a hand at the small of her back. Leaning in, he rested his nose at the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent.
Let them think they were two love struck teenagers. Better that than the truth.
“Can you get away tonight?” He pressed a kiss into the crook of her neck, smirking when she relaxed into his hold. The minute nod of her head gave Draco his answer. Pressing another kiss into the hollow of her throat, he smiled when she let out a sigh. “Part mission. Part personal.” Astoria leaned up and pressed a kiss to his mouth before he cupped her face in his hands and truly kissed her.
Releasing her before anyone forced them apart, he stepped a few paces back before giving her a smile.
He could see his mother’s disapproving glare from over the top of Astoria’s head. Public displays of affection were fine, as long as they were tame.
Their kiss had been anything but.
Draco figured their engagement was part blessing, part curse. They had had more time alone before the engagement. He couldn’t understand the logic behind it, but it was the life he was cursed with. A siren just within his grasp, but far enough away she was slipping through his fingers.
“Part personal, you say?” Astoria raised an eyebrow as Draco laughed.
“I do plan on spending some time on you.”
“Don’t you mean with me?” The perfectly manicured eyebrow she raised caused him to laugh again.
“Why can’t I mean both?” The laugh he drew from her lips would sustain him for the rest of the evening.
Draco watched as she pushed a stray hair back into place, even as he itched to run his fingers through her hair. The fact she was hardly allowed to wear her hair down anymore wasn’t lost on him.
To remove the temptation, after they had been caught in a compromising position, or so that was what her mother had said. The fact their parents had caught onto his fascination with Astoria wearing her hair down said they weren’t as careful as they should have been.
The fact the Dark Lord had practically demanded the match wasn’t lost on either of them. A reward for their services.
They were just grateful The Dark Lord had broken his engagement to Pansy Parkinson. That had been a disaster waiting to happen.
“Mmm…you could. I’m sure we’ll find something to do to pass the time.” The fact they were plotting right under their parents' noses wasn’t lost on them. It felt wrong, but oh so right at the same time.
“I’m sure there will be plenty to keep us busy.” Draco allowed his fingers to graze over her arm, his eyes locking onto the shiver that ran through her body at his touch. The fact he was tormenting her wasn’t lost on him. She had the same effect when Astoria chose to do the same.
“Do you miss her?” The non-sequitur threw Draco, even as he bit back a sigh. He did his best not to think about Hermione. Not after how things had ended between them.
“You know you have my heart.” It wasn’t a lie, nor was it the entire truth. She’d never have his whole heart, Astoria was a smart girl. She had figured out early on that Hermione would always hold a part of his heart. Whether the brown haired witch knew it or not.
“Your heart's big enough to love two people at the same time.” Draco sighed for real that time. It wasn’t the first time Astoria had brought it up. It wouldn’t be the last either.
“Last I heard she was with Flint.” Astoria’s eyes flew wide at the new information, even as she glanced around in alarm. “Relax. I threw up privacy wards when I walked over. We’re safe.” Privacy wards didn’t mean they were safe.
Not in Malfoy Manor, and Draco should have been wise enough to realize that on his own.
“When did Flint join her?” Astoria kept her voice low, as she locked eyes with Draco. That was definitely new information.
“A couple of months ago. Listen, I heard the Dark Lord is sending us to Italy. I’m not sure where, or why, just be prepared.” Astoria absorbed the new information with a stoic face. Her usual poker face slid back into place as she processed this.
“That can’t be good.” Draco shook his head as he swallowed hard.
“Just keep your eyes and ears open, and we’ll be okay.” Draco leaned forward and pressed a kiss into her hair before latching onto her ear with his teeth and letting go just as quickly. When he pulled back he glanced around once, before nodding once he was sure they weren’t seen. “Tonight out by the lake.”
Astoria nodded as she watched him walk away with a demure expression on her face.
Let the games begin.