𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃| ✎

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄|𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐆𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

HARRY WAS SHAKING slightly. His head was pounding, and his eyes seemed to burn even when they were screwed shut. At first, he felt the urge to puke, but something was preventing him from doing so. His throat was dry, but if felt like a tight knot had been embroidered it. He swallowed thickly, massaging his temples.

Genuinely, it all seemed like a horrible nightmare. Or at least that was his anticipation as he reached around for his glasses. Wait. This isn't the eighth year dormitories. I'm not even in my bed. Where am I?

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open. His vision blurred like a foggy window, but as the barely visible shapes and colors in front of him started to clear, Harry realised the three people standing before him. Professor Snape, Headmistress McGonagall, and Madame Pomfrey. He felt a hand feel his forehead, as Madame Pomfrey held up a small goblet to his mouth.

"Drink this dear," she crooned. "You'll feel better. Oh you poor thing."

Harry took hold of the goblet and drank down the thick liquid. He tried not to make a face although he couldn't help scrunching his nose. His expression as if he'd been sucking on a lemon. It wasn't an awful taste, but it definitely wasn't good either. And it definitely didn't taste like pumpkin juice.

The Gryffindor wiped his mouth with his sleeve before handing her back the goblet. "What did I just drink?" Harry asked quietly, his voice cracking.

"Just a simple calming draught, dear. It's to help level out your stress. Circe, if I'd gotten news like this I don't know how I'd take it. You are incredibly brave." She smiled sympathetically, patting his shoulder.

"I..." Harry started, however his words died on the tip of his tongue. His eyes trailed to Professor Snape, who was deliberately watching his every move. McGonagall, on the other hand, had a worried expression on her face. Her lips were pursed as she seemed to be looking anywhere but Harry.

"You fainted. Right when I told you about your betrothal. Remember?" Snape mentioned broadly. His skin were a ghostly shade of pale and he had faint bags under his eyes.

For a moment, something seemed to flash in Harry's mind. The sentence that overwhelmed him, that made the muscles in his arm clench and quiver as the pain in his arm had return. Not only did he feel his whole world collapse, but he had as well. Quite literally.

"Harry Potter, I regret to inform you that you have been permanently betrothed to Draco Malfoy."

Those words made him shudder violently, and suddenly, he moved abruptly to a sitting position.

"Oh my gods," he panicked. "Oh my gods! I've been bloody cursed!" he put his hands on his head.

He heard a sigh inflict across the room. "Mr. Potter, please calm down. Allow us to explain everything to you," McGonagall reasoned, briefly nodding her head to Pomfrey as she exited the infirmary. "You need to promise to stay calm and attentive. Panicking is the last thing we'd need right now. We need clarity." she spoke softly.

Harry switched his gaze briefly back to Snape. "Okay... well, I know of the marriage bond. I know I'm betrothed," Harry cringed and mentally gagged at the thought of ever marrying his school nemesis. "but how did this happen? And what does it have to do with the invisible mark on my arm?"

"Forearm, Potter." Snape corrected him. "And don't ask questions we cannot entirely answer. We don't know how this happened, or who or what cursed you, or if it was just fate —" Snape paused, glancing at McGonagall. "but we are able to identify that it was in fact a marriage bond. Those marks you have on your forearm are relevant to one."