The next time Harry woke up it was already early afternoon and he felt like he had been run through a washing machine without the overall wetness, groaning he pulled himself out of bed cursing the after effects of dreamless sleep, he knew that without the potion he wouldn't have slept at all last night but he wasn't in the mood to feel charitable and it made him feel better to blame the potion for his current loopy state. He staggered to the bathroom and climbed in the shower even though he had taken one last night. After getting himself well cleaned off and at least decently awake he went downstairs for breakfast.

Krecher came in with a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and potatoes as well as hot tea. Harry was pleased that he had gained the elf's' favor, he was now a great help to Harry even though he was getting up in years.

After breakfast was completed he was in his study writing a letter to Ron and Hermione telling them how he was doing and asking about how France was. He would have been lying if he said he wasn't just a tad bit jealous that they had taken a vacation, but truth be told they needed a break from everything, including him and in that he understood.

He heard a tapping on his window and saw a large brown barn owl at his window he let the creature in and it stuck out its leg. He untied the scroll and the bird flew off without a second look, Hedwig from her perch hooted indignantly as if saying that was not how she thought an owl should behave. He chuckled at her indignation but petted her feathers before turning to the letter. He was slightly surprised because it had the ministry seal on one corner, and he wondered what the ministry wanted from him this time, *probably some function they wanted the "boy-who- lived-and defeated the dark lord" as he was now called, to attend,* he thought to himself. He opened the letter and nearly fainted at what he saw.

Dear Mr. Potter

We are pleased to inform you that one Lucius Albatrax Malfoy has claimed a life debt over you, as you probably know it is of the utmost importance to settle this debt. Mr. Malfoy has decided that the payment for the life debt will be as thus:

You willingly entering into the "Vita Delegatio Condicio" also known as the "Life Debt Marriage Contract."

We have sent a copy of Mr. Malfoys contract with this letter for your perusal the date of the ceremony and other details can be taken care of by you and your future husband. The neglect in fulfilling this life debt repayment is arrest, not to mention the detrimental effects to your magic. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office at any time, we congratulate you on your up-coming nuptials

Sincerely

Miranda Girshlin

Legal Offices

Ministry of Magic

Harry re-read the letter again before tossing it on his desk and pouring himself a tumbler of fire whiskey and immediately downing it, and then pouring another. He sat staring at the papers nursing his drink. Warring emotions coursing though his body he took up the contract and read through it.

The contract as far as he knew was air tight. It said the only way for him to escape was for either someone else to whom he owed a life debt, to also claim the life debt marriage contract or for Lucius fucking Malfoy to fall over dead. It went over the other technicalities of the "marriage" if you could call a farce like this something as sacred as marriage.

Anger was the emotion that won his internal tug-of -war he threw his empty glass at the wall and cursed to himself. He was being forced to marry Lucius Malfoy known death-eater and all around prick. Harry shook his head just when he though things couldn't get any worse this happens. Why couldn't his life just go the way it was supposed to just for once?

He could really see no way out of this because the only other person that had ever saved his life was off God knows where and though he knew his ex-professor didn't hate him calling them friends would be a stretch, they had worked flawlessly together in the war but that didn't mean that the man would come to his aid now. Harry wouldn't even ask it of the man he had already sacrificed enough for the wizarding world and Harry.

So with that thought in mind, he went to the living room picked up the phone and called Hermione's emergency cell. The phone rang three times before she answered and when she did it was slightly panicky "Harry what's wrong? Is everything ok?" Harry chuckled internally *always like Hermione to get right to the point* "Hey Herm yeah something's up but it's not life or death so calm down' he paused' but listen I have and issue with Malfoy senior here, he's entered me and him in something called a 'Vita Delegatio Condicio" at her audible gasp he smirked *only Hermione!* "I'm guessing you've heard of it?" he asked though he already knew the answer. "Harry, oh my… yes I've heard about the contract, it's very old and not in use a lot, it fell out of favor because the debtor has complete control in the marriage, Harry this is not good," she said, and bright as she was Harry knew she had a thing for stating the obvious. "I know that" he said "What I need to know is how can I get out of it?" there was a pause "I don't know but Ron and I will return tomorrow and help you sort this out" she said, but it didn't sound as hopeful as Harry would have liked. "Okay Herm, I'm sorry for wrecking your vacation but I really need your help." "No problem Harry we'll see you tomorrow" she said. He said his goodbye and hung up the phone thinking * if anyone will find a way out it will be Hermione.*

He spent the most of the remainder of the day reading through the contract and not liking what he was seeing. He was told that shortly Lucius would contact him as to the details of their wedding, details he had no say in, he added mentally. It also said that if Lucius died after the wedding he was partial heir of the Malfoy estate as well as young Draco Malfoy, which he really didn't care about in the least. It said Harry could divorce Lucius after the end of one year *oh well that's good,* unless he became pregnant *not bloody likely* in which case he would be forced to stay married to Lucius until the child reached majority, unless Lucius died then Harry would have to remarry or lose the child.

Harry wondered at some of the clauses but thought best to wait to find out what Hermione knew on the subject. After reading the contract thoroughly he had a migraine and decided to pull himself up to bed earlier than usual but he wanted nothing more that to escape the day altogether. That night Harry dreamed of the last night of the battle the night he was released and Voldemort destroyed for good.

Harry lay, still chained to the dungeon walls, he didn't know how much time had passed since he was first brought here, but it was long enough for him to hate it thoroughly. He heard movement outside the door to his cell he shrunk into himself waiting for another rape or torture to grace his life. Lucius Malfoy himself came in the room he walked up to Harry and wordlessly healed all his scrapes and bruises and gave him water to drink. Harry cautiously accepted and watched as Lucius severed his bonds and pulled him to his feet he shoved a worm toga like thing at Harry who swiftly pulled it over his head "come along boy, you have a mission to complete." He pulled Harry out the door up a flight of stairs and out into a darkly lit room where Severus Snape stood. Lucius dragged him over to Snape and said to the other man " Here, now my part in this is played, you remember your promise, you go destroy the dark lord I get off clear because I helped" with that he let go of Harry and turned and fled. Snape looked at him and said "Well Mr. Potter, shall we get this done with?" Harry nodded and followed when Snape started moving, he was lead to double doors that Snape pulled open, inside was empty except the already poison weakened Dark Lord. Snape and Harry walked up to the shivering mass that was sitting lifelessly in a chair, Snape wrinkled his nose and spoke "your time is at an end my lord" the last word were filled with venom, Harry didn't know if Voldemort heard for the only movement he made was the ever constant twitching. Snape erected a force field around Voldemort and told Harry to cast fiendfire into the field. After he cast the spell a terrible shriek came from the dying Dark Lord. Harry spewed up the meager contents of his stomach as he watched and listened to the scene play out his only thought was *I've committed murder* he knew the sadistic bastard deserved it, that it had to be done but that made it no easier. After the fire burned out Snape canceled the force field and surprisingly wrapped Harry in his arms. "I'm sorry" Harry whispered after getting control of himself a bit, Snape shook his head "never be sorry for taking a life even one as despicable as his." after that they just walked out, no battle no climatic ending just simply walked out. Harry knew that this meant that Lucius had sent away or warned the other death-eaters, the man might of let him loss but he was still a no good waste of space in Harry's mind. But it was all over, and that was okay. The other death-eaters would get rounded up all in good time but he was done. And that was a happy thought.

Harry awoke far less shaky than the night prior because though the night the dark Lord died was not one of Harry's favorite memories it was far better than the horrors of his captivity. With that hought he rolled over and went back to sleep, ingoring the want for dreamless sleep so that he could be fully awake for tomorrow and what would happen then.

Sorry it took so long i had a bit of trouble with how i wanted this one to go because after this chapter the real fun begins he he and i wanted it to be great and tell you what you'll need to know for the continuation so hope you like it so far, please read and review tell me if you like it or not :-)

prince