Song- The Only Exception

Draco attempted to sit still as Blaire combed through his hair, smoothing down the natural curls to be a more presentable, straight hairdo.

"Perfect," she said, pulling the comb away. She lifted his crown, and rested it upon his perfect hair.

"I hate crowns. They feel so heavy," Draco grumbled.

"Well, they are solid gold."

"Silver is better anyways. And I didn't mean like that. It feels like the weight of responsibility," Draco admitted.

"It is." Blaire said nothing more, just touched up his hair and smiled at the end result.

"Thank you," Draco murmured, standing and hugging her. "I'm leaving in a few minutes. Have a good day."

"You too, my lord," she said, giving him a mock bow. Draco laughed and threw a shoe at her head.

The door suddenly opened.

"We're leaving," Pansy said, giving him a small smile. She opened the door fully, revealing her long green dress. "Ready?"

Ready? Draco thought.

Ready for what?

For his wedding, just two months away?

For a lifetime of dissatisfaction with someone he never loved that way?

For a child with someone who never wanted kids?

For the ties of responsibility to pull him down until he was broken?

"Yep," Draco replied easily, smiling at her. He held out his arm and she took it, leading him out of the room.

"Goodbye," Blaire murmured as the door slammed behind them.

********************

Draco smiled from the top of their carriage, waving to the common people below them. Pansy was next to him, also delicately waving to the people on her side.

Cheers greeted them; people smiling and yelling and jumping and throwing roses and carnations and wildflowers.

Draco caught one of the wildflowers from a brown haired girl, holding it up to his nose to smell it.

He handed it delicately to Pansy, pointing out the girl who had thrown it.

Pansy's expression seemed to shift slightly upon seeing the girl, but she said nothing, just smiled.

Draco continued to catch as many flowers as he could, smiling and thanking everyone for coming.

Honestly, they could have just sent out invitations. They didn't have to make this grand gesture to tell everyone they were getting married and they were invited.

But that was Draco's parents, always needing the publicity.

Draco scanned the crowds, smiling, before his eyes caught on someone. His smile slipped away.

The boy had black hair, and casual clothes. But that wasn't what caught Draco's eye.

This boy had the brightest, most beautiful green eyes Draco had ever seen.

They seemed to pierce through his very soul, his very being. These eyes were ethereal, downright stunning.

He almost gasped aloud, before remembering where he was.

He couldn't take his eyes off of the boy. The boy was staring right back, lips parted slightly in shock.

Draco, in that moment, could not come up with a single word to say.

And then they continued driving, and the boy was gone.