Betrothed

1.

"Potter, there is a owl at your window." Blaise said in a distracted voice, still looking through the documents in his hands.  

"I'm tired of owls, Zabini. It'll fly away after a while." Harry muttered in an irritated voice, not even bothering to look at the owl. 

"I think you should receive this one." Theodore's voice made Blaise look up but Harry simply grunted, not taking him seriously. 

Blaise glanced at the bird and had to blink when he realised whose owl it was. Moreover the envelope in its claws had the family crest on it, pointing out the importance of the letter. 

"Harry, recieve it." Blaise said firmly. 

Harry blinked and looked up this time. The two Slytherins never called him by his name, unless it was something important. With a sigh, Harry extended his hand towards the owl, who gave an annoyed hoot but flew onto his arm. Untying the letter from its claws, Harry gave him a few strips of bacon that he kept ready for the owls that came in frequently. After having the treats, the owl hooted again but then flew away through the same window, soaring high above in the air. 

"Okay, this letter looks different. And this is clearly a family seal." Harry muttered, squinting at the seal to get a better look. 

"That was Lord Lestrange's owl." Theodore informed after Harry kept staring at the seal uncomprehendingly. 

"Lestrange... Why would Lord Lestrange contact me? Especially after that incident. If it was a cursed letter, it wouldn't have the family seal." Harry said completely baffled. 

"Well, for starters, you can just open the letter and read it, you know. Honestly Potter,  why I put up with you, I'll never understand." Blaise huffed but after almost five months, Harry wasn't even bothered with it. He knew, Blaise meant nothing by it, and he was just being his sarcastic self.  

"Good idea." Harry returned with a grin, making Blaise roll his eyes. 

Harry carefully opened the envelope and then pulled out the high quality parchment from inside. He was a little bit flattered by the clear effort and impressive stationeries, that were used to get his attention. But as he read through the letter, his face went slack with shock and disbelief. 

"This has got to be a joke." Harry spluttered after he had done reading. 

"Hardly Lord Lestrange will waste his time joking with you, that too by owl." Blaise said dryly, but eyes were staring at him expectantly.

"He.. He wants me to consider a betrothal contact between his eldest and me." Harry choked out. Blaise and Theodore blinked, clearly shocked, much like Harry. 

"His eldest would be Rodolphus Lestrange, whose wife you publicly humiliated." Theodore stated in a blank voice. 

"Even though it is ex wife now, after her sudden, suspicious death." Blaise frowned.

"Now you understand, why I said, he got to be joking. This is clearly some farce way of trying to get back at me." Harry huffed out, glancing back at the parchment in his hand with an annoyed look. 

"There are hundreds of way to get back at you. Why would he propose a betrothal. Once that contract is signed, he cannot actually harm you. I do not understand." Theodore  muttered, perplexed beyond belief. 

"You do have to meet him atleast once, even if it is to say no." Blaise sighed out. 

"I don't really have to go in the first meeting. It is supposed to be between the participants representatives." Harry shrugged, remembering the little bit he learnt about bonding while he trained to become a Lord, two years ago.