Written in the Stars | Lucarry Soulmate AU

| The Mark of Destiny

Harry Potter sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the clock on the nightstand. In just a few minutes, he would turn sixteen. It was a milestone he had been both anticipating and dreading for months. The magical world he lived in dictated that at the age of sixteen, everyone would receive the name of their soulmate written on their arm, a tradition that had existed for centuries.

"Who do you think it'll be, Harry?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence in the Gryffindor common room. She and Ron had stayed up with him, knowing how much this moment meant.

Harry shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "I don't know. Whoever it is, I just hope they're not a Death Eater."

Ron chuckled nervously. "Yeah, that would be pretty terrible."

The clock struck midnight, and Harry felt a sudden warmth spread through his left arm. He rolled up his sleeve, heart pounding in his chest. The skin tingled, and then, as if written by an invisible hand, a name appeared in elegant script: Lucius Malfoy.

The room fell silent. Hermione gasped, and Ron's jaw dropped open.

"Lucius Malfoy?" Hermione repeated in disbelief. "There must be some mistake."

Harry's mind raced. Lucius Malfoy, the man who had always looked down on him with disdain, who had served Voldemort so faithfully. How could this be?

"There has to be a mistake," Harry murmured, echoing Hermione's thoughts. "This can't be right."

But the name remained, clear and unchanging. Harry's heart sank. If this was true, his life was about to become infinitely more complicated.

The next morning, Harry was still in shock. He avoided looking at his arm, the name a constant reminder of the impossible truth. As he made his way to breakfast, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread. How could he be soulmates with Lucius Malfoy? What cruel twist of fate had decided this?

In the Great Hall, whispers followed Harry as he walked to the Gryffindor table. News of the soulmate marks had spread like wildfire, and everyone was eager to see who had been paired with whom.

"Hey, Harry," Neville called, trying to sound cheerful. "Who did you get?"

Harry forced a smile. "Lucius Malfoy."

Neville's eyes widened in shock. "You're joking, right?"

Harry shook his head, lifting his sleeve to show the name. The reactions were immediate—gasps, murmurs, and looks of astonishment.

"This has to be a mistake," Hermione said again, her voice filled with concern. "There must be a way to fix it."

Harry didn't respond. He didn't know what to think or feel. How could he possibly be connected to someone like Lucius Malfoy?

As the day went on, Harry found himself distracted in classes, his mind constantly drifting back to the name on his arm. During Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin noticed his lack of focus.

"Harry, can I see you for a moment?" Lupin asked after class.

Harry nodded and stayed behind as the other students filed out. Lupin closed the door and turned to Harry with a gentle smile. "I heard about your soulmate mark."

Harry sighed, rolling up his sleeve to show Lupin. "I don't understand, Professor. How can this be possible?"

Lupin examined the name thoughtfully. "Soulmate marks are powerful magic, Harry. They reveal a connection that goes beyond our understanding. It's not always about compatibility or shared values. Sometimes, it's about what we need to learn from each other."

"But Lucius Malfoy? He's a Death Eater. How can I be soulmates with someone like him?"

Lupin placed a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder. "I don't have all the answers, but I do know this: destiny has a way of bringing people together for reasons we can't always see. Trust in the magic, Harry. It may not be easy, but there's a reason for everything."

Harry nodded, feeling a little better. He still didn't understand, but Lupin's words gave him a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a reason for this strange twist of fate.

As the day ended, Harry found himself staring at the name on his arm once more. Lucius Malfoy. His soulmate. It was a daunting thought, but Harry knew he had to face it. Whatever lay ahead, he would confront it with courage and determination. After all, he was Harry Potter, and he had faced worse odds before.