arranged / dm

01

December 22nd.
-one year after the war-

Amara Blackwood made her way, alone, down the dark streets of town with her head down low. After the war, folk like her had been scowled at. Frowned upon. The fact that she was nothing more than a teenager was not of concern.

Her one goal was to make it home without a single rough encounter. Her streak had extended three months without an incident and she intended to keep the record clean as possible. Her mind was set on sitting in front of the huge fireplace with a book, letting her mind run free with ideas of what the world should be like. What the world could've been like if she had simply been born into someone else's life.

The only people who seemed to understand this feeling her and her mother had been experiencing were the Malfoys. While they had never been kind to the Blackwood line, they knew how to be hospitable when it was required—Narcissa knew when a break was due and when to keep her mouth shut about past decisions.

The girl made it to a safe spot away from those shopping around her and slowly drew her wand, holding it tightly in her fist thinking of the tall Manor in the woods. With a swift motion and a turn on her heels she was sent into dark, small tunnels carrying her through the world and dropping her on the doorstep of her childhood home.

The door was left cracked open—something the family had learned to do for the off chance that someone apparated with someone. A fear that was reasonable.

After the war, some wizards turned to violence against those who fought in support of The Dark Lord—they believed they deserved worse than Hell itself and wished to bring the agony onto the evil ones themselves. The good side believed the evil side should be punished in worse ways than being sent to Azkaban—as many have been—and prayed that they would run into a former Death Eater on the street in broad daylight. Most former followers had locked up in their homes, only leaving for necessary items in hopes that they'd avoid the danger of being taken. Several people have gone missing and most are younger. Young Death Eaters who had been safe at Hogwarts nearly three years ago were fearing going outside for simple interactions. For this reason, Amara usually travelled with her mother with high hopes that it would hinder the eagerness to punish her for her wrongdoings.

"Mother?" her voice echoed through the near empty hall as she laid her coat on the small table opposite of the door. "Mother, I'm home." the girl took slow steps toward the kitchen, weary that someone might have come home with her mother hours earlier. Her footsteps rang in her ears as she gingerly pushed the door open revealing her mother standing at the sink. She let out a sight and dropped her shoulders. "You scared me. I thought something bloody happened."
 
"Amara, dear, we have guests." her mother said sternly, gesturing to the two people sitting in chairs not too far from the girl. Amara's eyes dragged along the wall and landed on the guests in question, her eyebrows furrowing at the sight of them.

Draco and Narcissa Malfoy sat in her kitchen staring intently at her. She shot her mother a look before forcibly smiling at the Malfoy pair. "What brings them here?" Amara glanced at her mother.

"They've come to propose a deal. Darling, you may want to sit down." she said in a warning tone, her eyes darting between the blond boy and her daughter.

"Lucius proposed this and rightfully so." Narcissa began, her hand going to pat Draco's knee. "We are the two richest wizarding families. We must keep that line going."

"The pureblood line?" Amara quizzed with raised eyebrows. Narcissa's face dropped. Amara knew the Malfoy woman would never push to continue a pureblood line. She knew the woman in front of her does not agree with her husband. But she knew the boy beside her. That was what she was worried about.

"No, of course not. He's trying to put that behind him. He would, however, want to keep the riches in one line. He wants the Malfoy line to remain rich." she paused and glanced at her son. Her eyes met Amara's again as she forced the next words out of her throat. "Lucius would like the two of you to marry."

Amara stopped breathing for a moment. Her head spun as she stared into the eyes of the woman. "I'm sorry?" She choked out. "That doesn't seem logical. He hates me and I feel the same. This won't work." she explained desperately. "Trust me, Blackwood, I'm not too keen on this idea either." Draco scoffed at her. Amara let her eyes roll and looked back at her mother. "I'm afraid Lucius will not be taking objections. He believes it would be good for the two families."
  
Amara's mother remained silent, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "He wishes to see the two of you tomorrow at our Manor to begin planning." Narcissa stood, holding her coat tight in her hands. Her heels clicked on the ground as she approached Amara. "It was good to see you, truly." she mumbled to the two women. Amara nodded, staying stiff as Draco passed close by her. The two locked eyes for a moment, his eyes softer than usual.

The door shut and a muffled snap was heard telling the Blackwoods that the Malfoys had left the property. "How could you agree?" Amara immediately began, throwing her arms in the air. "You know we have nothing in common and we want nothing to do with each other!"

"You heard Narcissa. Lucius isn't taking an answer other than yes. Besides, your opinion on him may change over time. You should learn to tolerate him, you will be spending your life with him." Amara groaned as her hands hit the countertop. "This is completely unfair. What does Father have to say?"

"Your father is fine with it. He spoke with Lucius while you were out. You know your sister was married in a similar fashion and she-"

"Don't tell me how happy she is in her arranged marriage Mother, I've heard it before." Amara interrupted angrily, her eyes shooting daggers at her mother. "Darling if this is about that Indigo boy, he's been married too. Last week." her hand met Amara's back and rubbed circles to comfort the girl.

"I know." She muttered, her eyes dropping. "I'm going to go to my room. I'll see you for dinner." her voice was quiet, almost so quiet her mother barely heard her.

The walk to her bedroom was silent, not a single house-elf speaking to her. All house-elves had been let free after the war. Mr. Blackwood felt wrong owning them and allowed them to be free. The family had learned to clean and cook for themselves, keeping them quite busy.
  
Amara sat against the wall, her knees pulled up to her chest. Images in her head angered her. She saw herself standing before Draco Malfoy in a beautiful white dress in front of many people. She groaned again and let her head hit the wall behind her. Her eyes glued onto a small envelope on her desk. The letter was written by James Indigo, her former fling, alerting her of his marriage and that he must cut ties off with Amara. She had read the letter twenty-five times since last Thursday when she received it.

She buried her face in her hands and let tears fall. Tears she had been withholding for months finally fled her system. Her body shook as she cried, her emotions taking over her senses and leaving no room for anything else. She believed she had control over her life—believed her parents would never marry her off. She believed wrong and this crushed her world. Everything came tumbling down on top of her as she desperately held up the pieces, hoping to salvage her life. Though deep down she knew, there was no salvaging this and her fate had already been decided for her. The stars knew what would happen. Now she had to just let it be.
  
And that, she believed, would be the death of her.