The Malfoy Bride
Prologue
August, a few short months before Voldemort's attack on the Potter residence.
On a quiet late summer evening, two cracks disturbed the peaceful country side surrounding Malfoy Manor. Two people, wearing faded hooded cloaks, stood at the front entrance. The shortest of the pair held an infant in their arms. The doors of the manor opened after three quick knocks. A small house elf ushered them inside, leading them through the dimly lit grand foyer and down a few long hallways. From their portraits on the walls, Malfoy ancestors silently watched them pass by, all eyes on the oblivious infant. Finally, they reached their destination somewhere deep in the Manor. The house elf disappeared the moment they settled themselves on a stiff sofa in the cozy study.
"Is she still asleep?" The male said, pushing off his hood. A shock of red hair contrasted with the dark and elegant environment.
"Mhmm," His wife replied, handing their daughter over to him so that she could take off her own hood, and smooth down the red hair she had thrown up in a bun. She gazed around the room, taking it all in. Occasionally she nodded to herself, murmuring. "We're doing the right thing."
"Yes, you are." They looked over at the entrance of the room to see the Lucius Malfoy, and his wife, Narcissa. A sleepy blonde boy, not yet a toddler, was in Narcissa's arms. "Good evening Arthur, Molly." Lucius went over to the desk that sat near the fireplace and pulled out of one of the drawers a long piece of parchment. He beckoned over Arthur to join him. "Firewhiskey? We should celebrate. This is, after all, a happy occassion." Lucius called for a house elf, a different one from the original greeter. It carried a beautiful silver tray, with wine glasses filled with warm amber liquid.
"Over on the table, Mitzy." Lucius ordered. The house elf did as she was told and promptly disappeared from sight. "Now, all we need to do is sign this, and perform the necessary bonding spell, and our children will be attached to each other."
"If you don't mind Lucius, I would like to just go over the arrangements one more time to make sure we're still on the same page.. and to avoid any surprises." Arthur said, taking up a glass of Firewhiskey.
"Of course," Lucius waved his wand. The parchment floated up in the air, magically enlarged so that all in the room could read it. "As you can see, it says that our children, Draco and Ginevra, are to be bonded with the intent of marriage once they have both graduated from Hogwarts. Regardless of their houses, they will be tutored together on the appropriate subjects that Purebloods should be well versed in; your daughter will spend her summers here at our home, starting at age three, until she is at Hogwarts alongside Draco. Once she has joined him at school, only three weeks will be required of her to be spent here, though of course if she so chooses she may stay longer." He paused, allowing the Weasleys to read this information to verify the accuracy.
"As you can see, once your daughter is officially bonded to my son, she will receive her own vault at Gringotts, with gold deposited on her birthday, Christmas, and various times a year as Narcissa and I see fit. Your daughter will want for nothing. When the Dark Lord succeeds, as he surely will, she will be protected. That in turn will protect the rest of your children." He did not say if that would protect Arthur and Molly, though it was acknowledged that this contract would increase their chances of survival.
"And if your side loses…." Molly asked softly.
"Then our family is protected from the backlash that would happen with association with the Dark Lord, and our line is ensured to continue." Narcissa answered, who had this entire time sat in a chair with a sleeping Draco on her lap. The boy, like his future bride, had no idea what this agreement would mean for their families. Whether they would be on the winning or losing side of the war, the results would mean little, as both families were in high positions for their respected allegiances.
"Let's sign it Arthur, and be on with it. I don't want to be away from the boys for too long." Nodding, he looked over the agreement one more time, chanting as spell to check for hidden clauses. When finally he could find no fault with it, he picked up a quill and signed his name, handing it over to Lucius. The men traditionally always signed first, and then their wives. Once Molly and Narcissa had done so, the tricky part came. The ancient laws that dictated the bonding ceremony required the two intended to be alert and conscious.
"Wake up my darling boy," Narcissa cooed, gently waking up Draco. Molly, across from her, did the same to Ginny. Immediately both howled with protest at being awakened. After calming them down, Narcissa and Molly stood with them facing each other in front of the fireplace. They spoke the few short lines of the bonding spell, waving their wands over their children. A pink light washed over the two. Molly gently took Ginny's left hand and placed it in Draco's, and the light changed faded and then intensified to a brilliant red, tying a loop over the joined hands before disappearing.
The writing on the parchment turned gold briefly, and an infinity symbol appeared beneath all the signatures. Whatever the outcome of the war, one thing would at least be definite: the eventual marriage between Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley.