Ever since the letters arrived, Y/n's life felt different, and going on as if everything hadn't changed in a stroke of her mothers' quill was difficult.

Of course, she and Draco had nearly every class together, and he was acting so differently when she was around. He wasn't her best friend, but he also wasn't insulting her or purposely making her trip in the halls. Of course, the two of them didn't know how to act around one another, resulting in plenty of awkward interactions. It was only September, Winter Holiday wasn't for months, and summer was much further, but the idea of it was looming.

"Alright, class, please find your new seats," Slughorn announced as the sixth years piled into his class.

Professor Slughorn had a knack for playing matchmaker for his student before he retired, and he certainly didn't plan on giving up his habit now that he was back. So, of course, when he noticed Draco's feelings for Y/n, he got to it.

"Bloody hell," Y/n muttered underneath your breath when you realized who your partner would be for the foreseeable future. "Morning, Malfoy," she said when she sat down. Neither of them wanted anyone knowing, so they had agreed to keep up appearances for the time being.

"Good morning, Blackwood," he said, not bothering to look at her.

It still stung a bit, she admitted. Around her second year, she'd had a bit of a crush on the platinum-haired boy, and she hoped that maybe he would start treating you like a human being. But, it was clear you were overestimating the Slytherin Prince's capacity for kindness. Despite that, something sparked in the pit of her stomach every time she spoke, but you just chalked it up to nerves and fear.

 But it all changed until Cedric Diggory showed up, asking Y/n to the Yule Ball, she felt different whenever she was with him, she felt loved, cared and wanted.He knew about the abuse at her home and he loved her dearly. They both knew there was a chance of them ending up together, cause Cedric was a pure-blood. It was all jolly and lovely until the third task, when Cedric was killed. Her friends help her come out of it and here she was.

On the other hand, Draco had fancied her since their first year, a feeling that had only grown since then. But, he couldn't let her know that, not now, not with everything going on. He could put her in harm's way. If something happened to her, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Draco would just have to push those feelings down till he carried out the Dark Lords plan, and until this was all over. Love was a weakness, and he wouldn't allow feelings for her to interfere with his duty to the Dark Lord.

But, Professor Slughorn interrupted her thoughts.

"Today, we shall be brewing amortenia, the love potion we reviewed last class. As we know, many potions require skill as well as patience, and amortenia is no exception. It will take roughly nine class periods, so settle in and try to be kind to your partners. The recipe is on the board and on page 27 of your books. Begin."

Amortenia, of course, this class really couldn't get any worse. It was as if the universe wanted to remind her that she was destined to a loveless marriage her selfish parents forced her into. Eventually, the hour-long period ended, Y/N and Malfoy getting along decently enough to start their potion off on the right foot.

The second Slughorn dismissed the class, she found her friends, and all of them hurried out to the Quidditch Pitch for try-outs where Y/N and Hermione happily resigned themselves to watching since neither of them are much of quidditch players. She watched Hermione nervously observing Ron and McLaggen, and  Y/N eyed her as she quietly sent a confundus charm McLaggen's way. Being the good friend, you are you didn't plan on letting her live that down anytime soon. As hard as everything was at the moment, being around the people you love never failed to help you feel a bit more normal.

Y/N spent all her time with them, studying, eating, walking to classes. It wasn't abnormal, but suddenly she was thoroughly intentional about who you were around and what you were doing. Even if it was something as simple as walking to the bathroom between classes, she was always sure to have a friend by her side.

-

Despite only having been at school for a week, tension was high around the castle. Everybody needed the chance to let loose a bit.

It's a well-known fact at Hogwarts that Gryffindor throws the best parties. Everyone years five and up are invited regardless of house. If there's one thing that can bond bold Gyrffindors and prideful Slytherin, its taking shots of firewhiskey side by side. No one ever snitches because if they were there, it means they were partaking. It was one of the few parties on-campus members of every house attend.

With the first week of classes over and the weekend here, it was the perfect time for a party. Over many years students crafted spots around campus faculty didn't know about hidden student lounges behind paintings with a password and rooms stocked for parties with couches and bottles of alcohol that would just appear. They would move every year so that if students returned as professors, they would not be found.

"You're coming to the party tomorrow, no excuse will get you out of it, and I will not take no for an answer," y/n said to Hermione on their way the last class of their day.

"But what if we get caught?" She said.

"They'll give us detention, they won't kick out all of the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. Anyways they won't catch us; that's the point of the rotating location."

"I have a paper to do."

"You are the smartest person I know. You'll finish it in the morning. You know what? I'll do it with you, and if I don't both finish, you don't have to go," y/n had a lengthy history of procrastinating on essays. They always took her far longer than they needed to.

"Deal," Hermione said, underestimating how badly she wanted her at that party. "So how's that potions project with Malfoy going?"

"Shit, don't remind me," y/n groaned. "Let's just not talk about Malfoy this weekend."

-

"Mate, you've got to get laid tomorrow night, ever since we've gotten back to school, it's like you're a different man," Blaise said.

"I'm not tense. I'm just no longer interested in school-boy antics," Draco bit back. None of the boys around him could understand half of what he was going through.

"Boys, take a shot every time Malfoy makes a bullshit excuse for his shitty attitude," Nott said and chuckled, earning a glare from Draco.

"It's Hogwarts, not a tavern. I don't have to be in a damn good mood all of the time," Malfoy responded bitterly.

"Yeah, but you don't have to be a git all of the time. We just want you to destress a little mate, it's not a bad thing," Blaise said, leaning back in the plush armchair.

"Just go to the bloody party Draco, it's not going to kill you," Theo added.

"Fine," Draco said under his breath. "Now, let's get back to studying?"

-

"The effects of muggle philosophy have had an impact on the development of spells that is unmatched by other influences. The opportunity for these philosophers to have collaborated with witches and wizards would have simply increased the advantages which we already benefit from today."

"In all of our years of school, you have never written an essay that quickly," Hermione, astonished, said as she read y/n's your concluding sentences.

"I had some motivation, now let's go get ready! C'mon, it's your very first Hogwarts party!"

"You are the absolute worst Y/n," she groaned, as she started putting her essay and writing tools back in her bag.

"And you love me, so you're going to have to work that one out," y/n responded with a terribly overexaggerated wink. "Now come on! Maybe we'll get Ron to stop being so daft and possibly ask you out," she dragged her blushing friend out of the common room and up to their dormitory to get ready for the highly anticipated event.

-

There was something about how free she felt at these parties that had her coming back for more every time. Maybe it was the alcohol, perhaps the too-loud music and having to yell to speak, the mingling of sweat, old furniture, and cigarettes, or all of the above. Whatever it was, she loved it.

Y/N wore her favorite ensemble with a signature deep red clinging to your lips. Although, your pride and joy of the night was Hermione Granger in a tight red dress, somewhat tamed and defined curls, and just a tad bit of makeup. Her best friend is beautiful, she just loved the opportunity to dress her up.

You and Hermione stepped into the cozy room wrapped in ornate red wallpaper about forty minutes after the party's official start, which had her nervous until you convinced her that was the way things were done, and she had to let you take the lead here. This was your area of expertise, not hers. You walked in and instantly found two fresh drinks, handing her one and offering a toast.

"To your very first Hogwarts party," y/n said with a wide smile.

"You make me nervous, Y/n," she responded, peering into the cup with fear in her eyes.

"That goes away with a few drinks, I promise," With that, both of you threw back the concoctions. Y/N took it without a second thought. Meanwhile, Hermione started coughing, not yet used to the punishments of hard alcohol.

While she and Hermione made their way through the party, with fresh drinks in hand, to find Harry and Ron, Draco and his crew entered. Draco was wearing an oversized black button-down with the sleeves rolled up his alabaster arms tucked into slick black pants that fit him perfectly. He sauntered in with Blaise, Theodore, Crabbe, and Goyle behind him. As always, he commanded the attention in the room; everyone knew the Slytherin Prince had arrived.

"Hey, your husband just walked in," Ron whispered to y/n, a little too loudly for her liking.

"Ron. Shut your bloody mouth right now," she said through her teeth. He was drunk enough to not care, y/n weren't. "I'll tear you to pieces."

"Ooh, maybe you should have been a Slytherin, you're soo scary," he said and chuckled at his horrible joke.

"Ron, you're acting like a git, shut up," Hermione said, jumping to her defense.

"Harry, wanna grab one more?" y/n asked, in an attempt to change the subject off of her and Malfoy.

"Sure!," he said quietly to y/n. 

"Sounds good, Potter," she quipped as he walked towards the bar.

Across the room, Draco Malfoy watched them with a close eye. The instinct to protect her hadn't yet faded, and it was currently manifesting through stalking her at parties. Blaise noticed his friend's gaze on y/n, but he let his friend be. Maybe this would be his opportunity to find out what's been occupying Malfoy's brain.

It wasn't long until Harry returned to y/n's spot with four bottles and no cups in sight.

"That's it, Harry, it's official, you're insane," Hermione said, quickly putting two and two together.

"Oh, just take the bottle, Hermione! You don't have to drink the whole thing," he said and handed her a bright red bottle of fire whiskey.

He handed y/n the same then passed an open beer to Ron, considering he was already pretty drunk. She graciously accepted the bottle and took a swig, the whiskey burning, but it didn't bother her as she was rather used to it at this point.

"Are you going to drink all of that?" Dracos' highly judgemental voice came from behind her spot on the couch.

"Excuse me?" she asked and turned around to see him looming over her. "Did you come here just to judge me? This is a party, you know, drinking is kind of the point. And, why are my drinking habits any of your business?" y/n questioned, a slur slowly starting to take over her voice.

"You know exactly why it is my business," he said as if each word was causing him terrible pain.

Y/N handed off the bottle to Harry, stood, and spun around to face Draco. Instead of making her clumsy, whiskey grants her grace. She was not a sloppy drunk. She placed a hand on Draco's chest and leaned in close enough for the interaction to be intimate. She was drunk enough now, and the man in front of her was far too sober.

"I am not your wife; in fact, I am not yet your fiancée. We are to be married, we aren't engaged. And that does not give you the right to control me, Malfoy," she said, sneering as she uttered his surname. "Now let me live my life before I am subject to you for the rest of it," she was seething, not once breaking eye contact with him as she took out the anger she had towards her parents on him.

He responded by grabbing her chin rather roughly, "Watch the way you speak to me."

Y/N slapped his hand away, "Don't bloody touch me like that."

"I'll touch you in whatever way I want," he said, just as angry as her. The two of you held your staring contest before he stormed away from y/n towards wherever alcohol was.

To put it lightly, she was livid. How dare he treat her like some object he could throw around. Tears welled up in her eyes, and all she could think was that she wanted to hurt him back the way he had hurt her.

"Y/n, are you alright?" Harry asked.

"Give me back the whiskey, please," y/n responded.

Harry complied, passing the flaming red bottle your way. If there was one thing, childhood trauma taught her, it was how to drink.

She drowned herslf in the bottle, finishing it off to your friend's shock. "I am perfectly fine," she said, putting the bottle down and wiping the water away from her eyes. "Ron, Hermione, if you don't mind, Harry and I are going to go on a walk."

The suggestion in her voice wasn't evident to anyone but Harry, who knew exactly what she was getting at. It wasn't uncommon for the two of them to snog at parties when each of them was drunk enough. It never got in the way of their friendship, and it wasn't romantic in the least. It was just something the two of them do on nights where either one wants the chance to forget.

It wasn't long until you found a spare corner, and the rest of the fire whiskey did its job. Harry made quick work of pushing y/n up against the wall and placing his lips on hers. One didn't need passion to be a good kisser. She reached up her hand and gripped his hair in an attempt to pull him closer to her. The closer he was, the further away Draco would be, right? And Harry obliged, kissing her harder and wrapping his arms around her waist. But, this time it wasn't working, she couldn't get the thought of Draco's hands on her out of your head. Even his scent was lingering, he was infuriating. She continued to try and push the notion of Draco's lips on yours by letting Harry move from her lips to her neck.

Not far away, Draco watched the Chosen One snog his betrothed, jealousy tightening its grip on his heart. It hurt more than he could care to admit. Y/n had some power over him he didn't know existed before this moment, and he knew that it was dangerous, that caring about her was dangerous. But at this moment, all he wanted was for her to get away from Harry Potter.

"Mate, what is going on?" Blaise asked, breaking Draco from his trance, and handing him a drink.

Draco took the drink and let out a breath. "My parents have decided that Blackwood and I will be married this summer. We both found out Monday."

"Didn't I just see her in a corner snogging Potter?" He asked, his voice rigid.

Draco took a sip from the mystery cup and nodded.

"That's right disrespectful, and it's clearly bothering you, go bloody do something about it," Blaise reasoned.

"I don't know. I think I may have brought it on," Blaise could feel Draco's tension, and he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"It was her decision to pull him into a corner, now get her out of it," he advised, and Draco nodded, y/n shouldn't be going around kissing other guys, particularly not Harry Potter.

"Thanks, Blaise," he said and set his drink down on a nearby surface before heading over to their little corner.

Harry's lips were back on hers, there was likely a mark on her neck, but that wasn't anywhere near her thoughts. No, even with Harry's tongue in her mouth, her mind was still on Draco fucking Malfoy.

"I hope I'm not bothering the two of you, but I'm going to need a word with Y/n," Draco said, causing y/n to pull off of Harry and turn towards Draco. Despite his evident anger, he had a sense of decorum about him.

"Draco, darling, I'm busy, can't you tell?" she teased in response.

"I'm sure you and Potter can spare a moment for me," he said tightly.

But she ignored his anger and turned to Harry, who was disheveled, confused, and disappointed by the loss of contact. "Love, would you mind if I stepped away with Mr. Malfoy here for a moment?" she asked sarcastically, not expecting an answer.

"I mean-"

"Just come with me," Draco said, interrupting Harry, not caring one bit what he had to say. Again tightly grabbing her wrist, as he pulled you out of the party and out into the hall.

"We just have to stop meeting like this handsome," she said, placing a hand on his chest, softer than she had earlier.

"You're drunk," he said, distaste for her inebriated behavior clear as he pushed her off of him.

"Awe, you're handsome when you're mean," she said, a playful pout on her lips.

"Shut it, Y/n, listen to me. I need you to take this seriously, are you listening?" He asked hotly.

"How could I ignore words coming out of pretty lips like yours, love?" she asked, an enticing drawl to her voice, pushing him off the edge.

He wanted so badly to push her up against the wall and reclaim her lips. He knew the words out of her mouth were just drunken prattle, and she didn't mean a lick of it, but he couldn't help, but he couldn't keep the butterflies from flooding his stomach every time she flirted with him or called him love. But, it wasn't real, it couldn't have been, why else would she had just been up against a wall with Harry? Merlin, Draco hated how badly he loved her.

"Y/n, listen!" He had started shouting, causing y/n to draw back into herself and sink into the wall. "You said it yourself, whether we like it or not, we're getting married this summer. This winter, you'll be at my house with my family planning our wedding. If you decide you don't want to comply, they'll kill you. So you're going to listen to me and do as I say. Your bloody life depends on it."

Y/N just nodded, suddenly at a loss for words. In the state she was in, she couldn't help but see her own father in Draco at that moment. Survival instincts told herto comply.

"We are going to start dating, we'll be nice to each other in class, eat together, go on dates, study, and keep up appearances as our parents requested. That being said, you're not to go around snogging other boys, especially not Harry Potter, and I won't be snogging girls in corners at parties." she could sense the bitterness in his voice. "The second you broke the seal on that letter, you confirmed your fate. No matter how much you ignore it, there's no escaping it, so stop trying, and bloody accept it."

"Draco I-"

"Why do you assume that marrying me is a death sentence?" He wasn't done. He was deeply hurt by your words and actions over the course of the last week. You made his heart twist, but to you right now, he was just angry. "I'm not as awful as you and your friends constantly make me out to be."

"All you've ever done is hurt me, Draco," she said, any air of drunken playfulness gone now, tears were threatening to spill out of her eyes. The alcohol was making it impossible to gather her thoughts. "Since we got here, calling me bloodtraitor, every time you got a chance to, you would remind me of how my parents thought of me and what they do to me. All that shit you pulled for all those years, making me feel inferior. You always confirmed that I deserved the abuse, the terrors I faced at home. And now all of a sudden, we're supposed to get married, and you care in your weird twisted way?" she could not hide the hurt as it streamed down her face and the confusion that laced her voice. "You can't do that to me!"

Draco broke inside, watching y/n hurt because of him. But he didn't know how to tell you that he cared and that he wanted so badly to love her, but he didn't understand how. "That doesn't change our family's choice. Learn how to live with it because, as of tomorrow morning, you are my girlfriend, I put that hickey there, not Potter, and I don't care how nasty your hangover is, you'll wake up, get dressed and look presentable, and you'll go on a date with me to Hogsmede tomorrow. Do you understand?" There was no room in his voice for disagreement. He sounded livid.

The tear that slipped down your cheek as you nodded broke his heart. It hadn't even been a week, and all he'd done was hurt you. You were right. He was a monster.

"I understand," you said, and he knew you wouldn't forget this tomorrow morning, so with that, he stormed off.

The second he turned the corner, y/n slid down to the floor, she was sobbing, and she couldn't breathe. He was right. It wouldn't be the wedding that would change her life, it had been the letter. You were his, and that wasn't going to change. No matter what, you were stuck. The panic attack just got worse as you sat there, unable to move. But, apparently, you were there long enough for someone to realize you were gone because, at some point, Ron came out to find you in your predicament. He didn't say anything, he just picked you up and carried you to the Gryffindor common room. He set you down on a couch near the fireplace and sat on the floor next to you as your sobbing shifted to silent tears, and bit by bit, her breathing started to return to normal.

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked sweetly, no matter how much Ron joked and teased, he cared.

But she just shook your head no, and when he walked away, you assumed he was going to bed, but he returned with a large shirt, shorts, and a glass of water.

"Y/n, I don't think you can make it up to your room, please put these on and drink this."

Y/n nodded and did as he told the common room was empty, so all it took was him turning around to give her the privacy to change.

"Do you want me to stay here with you tonight?" he asked gently. It was obvious she didn't want to talk, and it was clear that Malfoy had caused this, but he didn't want to leave her alone.

Y/n just nodded, so he grabbed a couple of pillows from around the room and two blankets. After placing one on her, he lay down on the ground next to her and fell asleep.

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