Bound by Fate

Chapter 23: The Arrangement

The silence in Malfoy Manor had become thick, almost oppressive. Days had passed since that night in Draco's room, when the pull between him and Hermione had nearly led them into something they weren't ready to face. Since then, they had kept their distance—both overwhelmed by the intensity of what was happening between them. Draco had thrown himself into estate affairs, trying to distract himself from the gnawing feeling that lingered whenever he thought about her. Hermione, for her part, had spent most of her time in the library or walking the grounds, doing anything to avoid being alone with him.

But no matter how hard they tried, the tension between them was impossible to ignore. And Narcissa could see it.

It wasn't just the occasional lingering glance or the way they avoided each other's company—it was the air itself. Thick with something unspoken, something both of them were clearly struggling to understand. Narcissa's eyes followed them both carefully, though she said nothing. She knew the pull would only grow stronger, but there were other matters pressing for Draco's attention.

On the third morning of their mutual avoidance, Draco sat in his father's study, sifting through letters and documents when a particular letter caught his eye. The wax seal was unmistakable—the Greengrass family crest. He frowned, tearing it open, his eyes scanning the neat handwriting.

As he read the letter, his blood ran cold.

Draco,

I trust this letter finds you well, considering the circumstances surrounding your father's passing. While it brings me no joy to disturb you at such a time, I must address an urgent matter concerning an agreement your father and I made before his death.

The agreement, as you may be aware, was sealed by an Unbreakable Vow—a promise binding the Malfoy and Greengrass families through marriage. The arrangement was made with the understanding that you, Draco, would marry my daughter, Astoria Greengrass.

The terms of the vow are still in effect, even after Lucius's passing. As such, we will need to move forward with the arrangements for the marriage. I trust you understand the importance of this alliance and the necessity of keeping our pureblood heritage strong.

Please inform me of your earliest availability to discuss the next steps.

Regards,
Arcturus Greengrass

Draco's fingers tightened around the letter, his jaw clenched as a wave of anger surged through him. A marriage arrangement? He hadn't known anything about this—hadn't been told by Lucius or anyone else. And now, not only was he bound to marry Astoria Greengrass, but it was sealed with an Unbreakable Vow.

That meant there was no way out. Not unless someone wanted to die.

"Bloody hell," Draco muttered under his breath, crumpling the letter in his fist as he stood from the desk. He could feel the rage boiling in his veins. Of course, this was something Lucius would do—making decisions about his life, even from beyond the grave. He had always treated Draco like a pawn, and now it seemed that hadn't changed.

Without thinking, Draco stormed through the halls of the manor, his heart racing as he searched for his mother. He found her in one of the smaller sitting rooms, seated by the window with a book in her hands.

"Narcissa," Draco said sharply, his voice betraying his fury as he strode into the room.

Narcissa looked up, her calm demeanor unshaken by Draco's obvious anger. "Draco," she said smoothly, closing her book. "What's happened?"

Draco didn't bother sitting down. He thrust the crumpled letter toward her, his chest heaving. "Read this."

Narcissa took the letter without a word, her eyes scanning the contents as she unfolded it. Her face remained unreadable as she read through the lines, though Draco could see the subtle tightening of her grip on the paper.

When she finally looked up, her expression was composed, but Draco could see the tension in her eyes. "I see."

"You see?" Draco snapped, pacing the room. "Lucius arranged for me to marry Astoria Greengrass, and I didn't even know about it! And now, there's an Unbreakable Vow involved. Do you realize what that means?"

Narcissa stood slowly, her posture graceful but firm. "Yes, Draco, I understand what it means. But you must calm yourself."

"Calm myself?" Draco shot her a glare, incredulous. "How am I supposed to calm myself when I'm being forced into a marriage I had no say in?"

Narcissa sighed softly, stepping closer to her son. "Draco, I know this is not what you wanted, and I agree that your father should have told you. But you must remember, Lucius did what he thought was best for the family."

"The family?" Draco's voice was filled with bitterness. "He didn't care about me, Mother. He never did. He only cared about the Malfoy name, about keeping our bloodline pure."

Narcissa's eyes softened, though her voice remained steady. "That may be true, but we cannot change what has already been done. The Unbreakable Vow cannot be broken, Draco. If you try to go against it—"

"One of us dies," Draco finished, his voice tight with frustration. He knew the rules of the Unbreakable Vow all too well, and the idea that his life was now bound to a promise made without his knowledge or consent filled him with a helpless anger.

"There may be a way out of it," Narcissa said gently, her eyes searching his. "But for now, you need to maintain appearances. The Greengrass family will not take kindly to any hesitation on your part. We must keep them happy while we figure this out."

Draco exhaled slowly, his mind racing. "And how exactly do we figure this out, Mother? I don't want to marry Astoria. Hell, I barely even know her."

Narcissa placed a hand on his arm, her touch soft and reassuring. "I will help you, Draco. We will find a way. But until then, you need to do what is expected of you. The pureblood families are watching closely, and any sign of discord will weaken our position."

Draco clenched his fists, the anger still simmering beneath the surface. But he knew Narcissa was right. The pureblood families were always watching, always waiting for any sign of weakness. If he didn't handle this carefully, it could bring even more trouble down on the Malfoy name.

Forcing himself to take a deep breath, Draco nodded. "Fine. But I won't be rushed into anything."

Narcissa gave him a small, understanding smile. "Of course."

Draco turned to leave the room, but before he could step through the door, Narcissa's voice stopped him. "Draco."

He paused, glancing back at her.

"I know this isn't easy," she said softly, her gaze filled with sympathy. "But remember, you're not alone in this. I will stand by you, no matter what."

Draco's chest tightened, but he gave her a curt nod before leaving the room, his mind still swirling with anger and confusion.

Draco spent the rest of the day in a haze of frustration, unable to focus on anything for long. The weight of the arrangement with Astoria hung over him like a dark cloud, and no matter how much he tried to push it aside, it kept coming back to haunt him. He thought about the Unbreakable Vow, about what it meant for his future, and a cold sense of dread settled over him.

And then, there was Hermione.

He hadn't seen her since that night in his room, and the distance between them had been both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, he couldn't deny the pull that still existed between them—the pull that had only grown stronger since Narcissa had revealed the truth about their bond. But on the other hand, the idea of facing her now, with this new weight of an arranged marriage on his shoulders, was almost too much to bear.

Draco let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair as he stared out the window of his study. Everything felt like it was spiraling out of control, and he didn't know how to stop it.

He had never felt so powerless.