Bind that corset tighter still, make sure that it panis me to breathe. Make sure the hair is culed to perfection with no hair out of place. Squeeze my feet into a pair of shoes a size too small and two inches too high. Pretend that it's all okay. Take a deep breath and say it's okay once more. Take a deep breath in and blow all the troubles out. Gaze at the woman I seem not to recognise. Something didn't feel right. But the ability to put my finger on the problem seemed to have left me. It could have been because I had been forced into marriage to 'protect' myself. My mother wanted to continue my pureblood heritage and I was engaged to one.

From a respected Pureblood family. I would be safe in his life, protected from harm with his money, influence. I smoothed down the fabric of my wedding dress as I gazed into the reflection in the mirror. I could barely recognise myself, my hair was down, curled and there was a slither of red lipstick across my lips. "I must be perfect, I must be good, and I must obey." I could hear myself mumbling out loud but nobody was around to hear me talking so it didn't mean much. Marrying someone I knew little of, purely to keep my families good name alive.

There was no way about it. It had to be done. Lucius Malfoy was to be my husband.