CHAPTER SIX
She looked like she'd been running and crying for hours all simultaneously.
"I didn't know where else to go." Was what he got out of her when he opened the door to see her standing there.
"Kenny, what is it?" Fred asked her, fear sounding in his voice.
"I…I…" She got no further before looking into his eyes and breaking down into a fit of tears again. Her body shook with each word attempted.
"Come inside." The man instructed, bringing his arm around her shoulders as he guided her into the house he visited again, and over into an empty room He immediately got in touch with his brother who flooed to the Burrow as quickly as he'd heard of Mackenzie's state and appearance.
Mackenzie was calming as Fred reappeared to her and sat down on a couch with her, hugging her until the tears subsided.
"It's Malfoy." She told him.
"What's he done? Has he hurt you?"
She shook her head back and forth. "No."
"What has the git done?" George inquired, coming into the room from behind the two.
"Oh George." Her arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face into his neck, as he'd just come in and run straight to her. Fred taking his cue, stood, giving his brother the couch he occupied with Mackenzie.
"I can't do it. They cannot force me."
"Mackenzie, you're scaring me sweetheart. What is the problem?"
She swallowed and drew in a long breath. "Daddy has made a deal with Malfoy and the Ministry. He's sold me like a possession."
"Sold you?"
She backed away from George. "Marriage. I'm to marry Draco Malfoy. The two have signed a legally binding contract."
"What?!" George stood, anger now filling his eyes. "When?"
"One month from now. And he was so cavalier about the whole thing. He confessed to me that it was his plan. He bullied a few Ministry officials, and…" She began to cry once again, fearing her sobs would never surrender.
"I can't marry him." She went quiet for a bit as she realized she hadn't heard a word from George since she'd told him the news and he'd began to furiously pace the room.
"I care for someone else." Mackenzie softly professed.
George smiled slightly. "One month?"
She nodded.
"There has to be a solution. A way out of it." He protested.
"I have researched everything I was able to find on arranged marriages and the laws pertaining to this topic in the wizarding world. It's not too unlike the any laws that would be behind a contract like this under muggle law."
George still silently paced around the room, acknowledging her statements as he did so. "What did you find?"
"The only way out of an arranged marriage is marriage. Which gives more complication and creates more of a problem. " She explained.
George lifted an eyebrow to her. She wasn't making sense.
Mackenzie shook her head, preparing to give detailed explanation to her statement.
"Thankfully for me, or more to the point because of me, daddy has many books pertaining to both wizarding and muggle law in the studies of Chase Manor. As Minister he knows the laws, but so clearly has not taken the time to either read the fine print involved or he has not bothered to do more than memorize the basic form of each law set."
"In proper English please." George requested.
Mackenzie nodded. "As I said, an arranged marital contract may only be broken by a marriage."
"And I'm afraid I don't understand that." George finally sat back down beside her. "It would make sense for a marriage contract signed by the Ministry to take effect or be broken when the prearranged couple has married because that is what has been approved, but I don't think that is what you imply."
"Very good." Mackenzie stated. "The further details of the contract and the law state that if one is bound in marriage to the person of choosing by agreement of two families, the only way that the contract may be broken is by another marriage. A binding contract of marriage to another person. Not to mention that any marriage that does take place will not be completely binding until a month has passed. And with that being the case, I'm afraid there is no way out of my duty as the Ministry calls it, to marry Draco Malfoy. That evil little prick set this up without any loopholes."
George was still quiet, but Mackenzie waited for him to speak. "There might still be a way to get you out of this." He said.
Mackenzie argued. "I've told you the only way out and I don't think foresee the slight possibility of that happening, so…"
"Kenny, my idea will have to work around that theory, but it is rather extreme and would require quick thinking and action."
"I'd do anything. The sooner the better." She stopped. "What is it?" Her uncertainty showed.
As she'd been talking and explaining in great detail the stipulations and laws behind her dilemma, George had stayed quiet, mentally contemplating a plan of action. Ready to reveal his plan to her as soon as she had asked, he realized he couldn't. It wasn't that he wasn't sure he could go through with it, but more that he didn't feel either were properly set to face the questions. He would give her the answers to her questions and to the current solution to the problem. And he would do it with one question. His only inner conflict with the question was being certain that any solution posed would not be immediately rejected, and the consequences that would surround the pair.
Still, no matter what the consequence, he would save her. He would save himself. He had to save the both, and if it meant taking such a drastic measure into hand, the more he was willing to fight.
"Can you get away with me tonight?"
"Of course." Mackenzie agreed. "What time?"
"Midnight. I'll need you to meet me in Diagon Alley, at the shop. No one else will be there, so we will have all of the privacy we need."
"Alright." Mackenzie hesitated.
George ran his hand across her cheek. "And don't look so worried. This will all work itself out."
Mackenzie gave a wary smile to him, but was further comforted when his arms wrapped around her. The two sat in silence for another hour before Mackenzie stood, preparing to exit.
"I'll see you at midnight." She kissed George's cheek before leaving the house
As soon as the door closed, George immediately went to work on the details of his plan. The first person he went to was his father, claiming a hypothetical situation to his problem so that he did not worry or shock his parents into early graves. Once he had the answers he needed, his next stop was his sister, who immediately upon hearing his plan, shrieked in excitement. He couldn't keep his plan hypothetical with her as he'd needed more than information. He did however, swear her to absolute secrecy. She wasn't even permitted to speak about the subject to her husband. Under duress, Ginny agreed.
When midnight came, Mackenzie arrived at the shop. It was the most wonderful place she'd seen. It was colorful and big. It was like every dream you had as a kid. Every kind of wizarding, muggle, and otherwise joke you could imagine sat inside this space. There were things she'd never thought to create in her own mind. There were skiving snack boxes, puking pastels, sweets from floor to ceiling. It had a set of stairs off to the side. The detail was amazing. It was truly breath taking. She had dressed casually, but not so casual to feel all together comfortable. She wore a short pink skirt with a white pin striped shirt. She thought perhaps that it was not the clothing that made her uncomfortable, but the lack of information George had given her before meeting her here. He'd simply told her to meet him at his flat above the shop at midnight. Nothing more, nothing less.
She had entered the shop to find the only light shining into the room from a set of stairs off to the side. She carefully followed a path towards the area, attempting not to bump into much, if anything. As she reached the staircase, she saw each stair set with a white rose. There had to be twenty stairs climbing upward. She followed the staircase up to the door, hiding the twins' flat above their shop. She knocked on the door, but received no answer. After a lengthened period of waiting, Mackenzie touched her hand to the doorknob. It turned in her hand. She slowly peered into the room as the door cautiously opened.
"George?" She called out.
She found more of a surprise inside of the flat than she had expected. There were small lights hanging from above, giving just enough light to show the magnificent setting transformed in the room. Lights and flowers littered the entire room. It was the most beautiful sight Mackenzie had ever seen. She stepped further inside and called Georgre's name again. There was no answer. She worried that she had heard him incorrectly or that he'd forgotten to meet her until she heard her name softly spoken behind her.
"Mackenzie?" The soft sound of his voice was exhilarating, intoxicating, and energizing to each of her senses. She turned around to see him standing beneath the single stream of moonlight that shot into the room to that exact spot just inside of the doorway.
He looked unbelievable standing there. He had also changed his clothes, but now wore a pair of black trousers, and a buttoned red shirt. It was hard for her to believe that he was real standing there before her.
"You look fantastic George. I feel so out of place and under dressed." She complimented him.
George grinned as he walked towards her. "The most beautiful girl in the world could never look out of place in any situation no matter what you are wearing." He replied, bringing a smile to her face as well. " Plus, I only figured it appropriate if I plan on doing this properly."
"Do what?" Mackenzie hesitated as he reached her and took her hands into his.
He didn't answer her yet. He first led her over to where a couch sat in the middle of the room.
"Let's sit down Ken." He suggested, motioning her to do so first.
"What's going on George? You're going to frighten me." She sat, her hands still held to his, bringing him down beside her.
"I want to talk about this complication with Malfoy."
"I don't." Mackenzie stated, taking her hands from George.
"Please Kenny. I think I have a solution."
"I do not want to talk about Draco Malfoy!" She insisted.
"Nor do I. I want to make a suggestion solving the hindrance that is Malfoy.
Mackenzie lifted her eyebrows in questionable curiosity. "I'm listening."
George nervously shifted his position, no longer looking at Mackenzie.
"Keep in mind that earlier I mentioned that this solution would be extreme and possibly dangerous if others, Malfoy specifically find out, but I know from a reliable source at the Ministry, this will work. It will break the marriage contract between Malfoy and your family. In turn taking away the task of having to marry Malfoy."
"Well, what is it?" Mackenzie excitedly asked. Her eyes lit up, causing George's heart to soar. His worrying escalated from there. He feared her rejection of the solution. More so, he found himself fearing her rejection of him.
"George?" Mackenzie pushed after he'd not answered her.
"Ken…" he said, standing from the couch. He pulled the red box from his pocket and held it perfectly still for a few seconds. "I know that we are still getting to know each other and we've not been together for very long, but I know that I don't want to lose you to anyone or anything else. Not only do I not think my heart could bear have that happen again, but you are…we are…"
"George." Mackenzie placed a hand to his side as she still sat listening to him speak.
"Sorry." He apologized. "What I'm trying to say is…" the box turned over in his hands.
Then before either of them knew what was happening, Mackenzie found herself unable to breathe. George was down level to her now, kneeling on one knee with a red velvet box in his hand.
"Oh my…"
The box opened, revealing the simple small jewel set inside of a silver band. "George, I…"
"Mackenzie, will you marry me?"
The ability to form a word was impossible for her. Yes. No. Neither word was physically possible to be spoken. The silence between them became deafening.
"Kenny?" George broke her lack of thought.
"George, I…we…"
"We're still getting to know each other. I know all of the reasons we shouldn't do this. But I also know every reason why we should. I know I'd do anything to keep you with me. I will not have you married to Malfoy."
Mackenzie sat back against the couch. "So you're doing this out of spite, rather than feeling or emotion, or some strong deep insatiable need to be with me? You're doing this so that I won't be with anyone else. It's a means to an end."
George pulled himself up beside her, sitting on the couch, tasking her hands into his again. "Mackenzie Chase, don't you know me better than that? I wouldn't…I mean…" he paused. The box with the ring in it sat on George's knee.
"I figured we'd be to this point somewhere down the line anyway, so emotion is absolutely involved, but I won't allow Draco Malfoy to take something from me that I couldn't bear to lose. Someone that I am…falling for fast and hard."
Mackenzie met his eyes. "I must admit that I feel the same George, but what if it doesn't work? What if we fall apart because we are forced into this?"
He shook his head. "No one is forcing my hand here Kenny. I asked you to marry me for good reason. I'm not taking it back. And as for your concern over us not working out, Kenny, what if things work out better than we plan them to? I have no doubt with the way I feel this minute, sitting here with you, that I'd have eventually fallen to both knees to ask you to marry me. Why shouldn't we take this chance and be happy?"
Mackenzie stayed quiet, reasoning through his logic. Valid as her concerns were, George did make just as legitimate points himself. She picked up the box from his knee, tracing her fingers over the outside, then moving it back into his hands.
"Ask me again George." She told him.
George was caught off guard by her request. Finally regaining his calm seconds later, he found her hand with his, her eyes with his, and questioned her.
"Kenny, will you marry me?"
"Yes. Yes George, I will." She leaned into him catching his mouth with hers.
The two were happy and they would be alright. They would get through this chaos together.
"You're getting married!? Are you mad?"
"Don't you think it's too soon?"
"You barely know each other."
Arguments and objections filled the flat that George and Mackenzie occupied, making plans, and further learning more about one another. Not an hour had passed after George proposed to Mackenzie when the two heard the knock on the shop door. George rushed down to open the door, only to find his sister, his brothers, Harry, and Hermione all standing in front of him with confused looks on their faces. Ginny had not kept his secret. She had told Harry, who of course told Ron, who then told Hermione, and as they discussed the topic, in walked Fred on their conversation.
George ushered his family up the stairs, quieting them down as he explained.
"It was either this or she'd have had to marry Malfoy. What would you do in our situation?"
"In that case, welcome to the family." Ron joked, gaining short laughs from both George and Mackenzie.
"What happens when everybody finds out?" Hermione questioned. "You can't hide this from Malfoy forever."
"We know." Mackenzie replied.
"This information has to be kept between only the people in this room." George said. "Mum and dad will of course know, but no one else. If Malfoy finds out before he is supposed to marry Kenny, we're screwed. We have to be married for an entire month before the Ministry can't touch our marriage."
"How will you keep this from Malfoy?" Harry directed his question to Mackenzie.
She shrugged. "I suppose I will have to play the part for now. I'll have to go along with plans and make it seem as if I'm willing to marry him without condition or doubt."
"He'll get suspicious." Hermione pushed. She looked around at the group of people standing in the small room with her. "If I know anything about Malfoy, it's this… much as I hate to admit this out loud, Draco Malfoy is incredibly intelligent. He was second in our class at graduation, only to me. He won't be fooled by your sudden change of heart, especially if he knows you are even remotely friendly with George."
George and Mackenzie exchanged glances. "She's right." Mackenzie submitted. "I can't up and change all of my ideals and thoughts of him and his plans overnight. He'd know the very minute I went to him with such a drastic transformation in my behavior."
"Maybe you can change overnight." George interrupted her. "As it happens, maybe you can change this very second, standing here."
Everyone around him looked stunned, confused by his suggestion.
"If Malfoy thinks you and I have had a severe row over you telling me that you and he are to be married, serious enough to part us for good, he'll have no reason to believe we are married, and that you have more reason to marry him.
"George you're brilliant." Mackenzie kissed him. "Because just as easily I could call planning my marriage to him an act of revenge and vindication of a breakup between us if I'm angry enough."
The two were in complete agreement.
"But, can you play the part convincing enough to make Malfoy believe you?" Ron asked.
Mackenzie smirked in his direction. "You leave Malfoy to me. After I talk to him next, he'll think I'm ready to walk down the aisle tomorrow."
It was late when Blaise Zabini had requested an impromptu meeting with Draco. The two had been working together over the past month and a half to find the best ways of merging the media companies each owned into larger more successful, and possible worldwide conglomerates.
Not one retreat or pass up a successful business endeavor, Draco had taken countless late meetings with multiple persons and companies. This was no different, aside from the fact that Blaise was also a friend. Business discussions could easily turn to personal discussions with the two, which was what Draco was dealing with now as he did his best to dodge question after question from Blaise who'd had the lucky fortune of catching his friend slip up in conversation about the Minister and his daughter.
The conversation had been going along perfectly normal until Blaise began to tell Draco about how he'd met Mackenzie, how beautiful and intelligent she seemed, and how she had chosen to spend her god given time and talents with George Weasley. Draco then smirked and a little too loud mentioned how she would soon not worry about Weasley once she was married. Downhill in a blazing ball of fire was the only was Draco could think to describe the rest of the conversation. He hadn't wanted to answer or give any further details, but Blaise was good at his job, and being able to pull things from others.
"She's going to marry you?" Blaise questioned in disorientation. "You're going to marry her?" He sat down on the couch. "When the hell did this happen? She's been so chummy with Weasley. When did you…"
Draco sighed as he poured himself a drink from behind the bar. "I don't want to talk about this. We have business to discuss."
"Fuck business. You're my friend. I want to know when the hell you were going to tell me you were getting married. Has Mackenzie told George?"
Draco shifted uncomfortably. "We haven't told anyone yet. She's not exactly very approachable about the idea of all of this."
"Bloody Hell. Fuck me." Blaise muttered, hearing that the two were under contract to be married and had no choice.
"No thank you." Draco returned. "Last I heard, that is Finnegan's job. Or are we onto someone new this week?"
Blaise returned a condescending look to his friend. "Cheap shot."
"You said it."
The two were laughing and joking after more time. The knock on the front door brought their conversation to a halt. It was raining outside. No one could've possibly aparrated in this weather. No one would've wanted to. The two men waited for the late night visitor to either be let in or shown away by one of the Manor's house elves.
"Who could that be this late in the evening?" Blaise asked.
"Don't know." Draco replied.
"I know in this weather it isn't a rival business you're looking to gain." Blaise grinned. "You don't have some late night visitor helping you with your…needs?" Blaise half jokingly asked. "You know that kind of thing won't be tolerated by your fiancé or her father the Minister. If we don't have him on your good side…"
Draco gave a look of annoyance. "I'm engaged to Mackenzie Chase. Have you seen her? What do I need with some slag?"
"I've already made my opinion of Mackenzie. I'm gay and I'd shag her."
The two went silent when the door opened, surprised to see the woman standing in the doorway, holding books and pages of whatever it was that Draco was not sure he wanted to recognize.
"Mackenzie?" He acknowledged.
"Good evening Draco. I still can't get used to those bloody house elves. They scare the hell out of me. I thought we could get started on plans for the wedding. It is only a month away. I haven't even picked out a dress yet. I'm doing that tomorrow." She rambled as she walked into the room with the men. "I suggest you get to work looking for a tux tomorrow, although first we should try picking out colors for the tie and all. Are you going to have groomsmen? Should I have bridesmaids?" She only stopped her self from talking when she looked up to see both men standing with their mouths wide open in shock of her behavior. She wanted to laugh at her rather surprising acting skills, but knew she couldn't.
Draco was speechless. "I…"
"I should be going anyway." Blaise took his chance to get the hell out of dodge "Good to see you again Kenny."
"You too Blaise." She kissed his cheek as he did the same to her before leaving the room.
"He calls you Kenny. Does that mean I get to do the same?"
"Not on your life Malfoy. That right is reserved for my friends. You forfeited that right." She stated. "And don't change the subject. I'm not here on a social call. We need to get started on these details." She flipped through a few pages that sat on a table in front of her.
Draco looked confused again. "Might I ask what has brought on such a quick and accepting change of heart?" He kept standing as he watched the woman in front of him separate pages into piles a top the table.
"Does it matter?" She sounded a bit dejected and troubled. Hurt.
Draco moved closer to her, sitting across from where she sat. "I have to assume it does. I only think it best for me to be aware of anything that has graced you with such an accepting ability to marry someone which whom you so violently had your wand pointed at during the last face to face encounter."
"Look Malfoy, I'm not happy about marrying you, but I don't exactly have a choice, so here I am. I'm willing to do this. Let's just leave it at that."
"Can I presume then that ALL of the Weasley's are out of the picture if you are so willing?"
Mackenzie threw the pages she held onto the table in front of her in aggravation. She stood and walked away from Draco. She stopped beside one of the large windows and gazed outside of it. She didn't like him pushing about George. Not in any form. She wanted to keep George off limits. Acting or not, it hurt her when she knew that no matter what he said, this was killing him. She knew it was killing him, because it was killing her.
"How much more clear can I be?" She chastised. "I don't want to talk about it. Can we just focus on the bloody wedding?"
"Sorry." Draco walked up behind her. She could feel him near her and pulled all of her strength not to run.
She was beginning to really hate the way he was able to sneak up on her. She hadn't expected him to be so close. She hadn't even heard him move the chair to stand. So when he touched her shoulder, it frightened her, causing her to spin and face him.
"Don't apologize." She said, keeping her eyes away from his. She feared that if he looked into them, he'd know. She was afraid he would see her deceit. "It's nothing you did." She stopped and thought. "Well, yes it was to begin with, but, you aren't the one who broke up with me in such a harsh manner."
"So then it's over between you two?"
"Of course it is." She lied. " He was so angry. Would you stay with a woman who is to be married to a man you despise?"
Draco smiled. "Probably not." He saw the sadness cross her face again. "For what it's worth, I am sorry."
She looked up at him when his finger lifted her chin up. "Don't be." She maneuvered her chin from his grasp. "When I left from telling him, I thought about it, and realized looking at myself that I am better than that. I deserve better. I am practically royalty." She believably and smugly stated. "I should be treated as such. He is not worth my time or my tears."
"Told you." Draco whispered to her.
Mackenzie leaned back a bit, hitting the wall with her shoulders. "I only wish I could get back at him in a much bigger way." Mackenzie offered.
"Marrying his enemy isn't enough for you?"
"No." She affirmed. She placed a hand to his. "He called me cruel and insensitive, not to mention other things that I will not repeat as they are not very ladylike words. It doesn't seem I have a choice in who I marry." Her eyes met his. "I've looked through the law books. So now I'm just interested in showing him just how cruel I can be." She breathed in. "I intend on throwing this in his face. And you're going to help me."
She walked around the blond and went back to the table. "I've already agreed us to an announcement in the Daily Prophet, there should be an announcement within the Ministry as soon as morning, there are public appearances, the wedding plans, everything. I want it all."
Draco let out a breath of his own. "He must have really hurt you with whatever he said to you because you are positively evil when you're angry. Definitely a woman scorned by…love?"
Mackenzie lowered her head again, the pang of guilt hitting her chest, ready to pop out. "No. Not love." She flipped through a few more papers. "He was a good shag." She arbitrarily stated. "Which is what I initially walked into his presense wanting." She stopped and held back a sigh. "Only…" she trailed off before finishing her sentence.
"Only what sweetheart?"
She lowered her voice. "I only wish that we could make this celebration bigger. But a month is not long enough to plan such an event. Guest lists and invitations alone will take a week to have set and prepared."
"Bigger and better then?" Draco smiled.
She lifted her chin. "I am the Minister's daughter after all. I think I deserve the wedding I want. Big. Expensive. And befitting our status."
Never let it be said that she wasn't a brilliant actress, Mackenzie thought to herself.
Draco was in awe of her turn around now. Sure he was taken aback and disbelieving at first, but here it was, and it was beautiful. A change he couldn't have imagined.
He smiled at her still.
"Don't get me wrong beautiful, I think we both deserve a big celebration and the wedding of your dreams, but …how much more time are we talking here?"
"Are you negotiating this with me?"
Draco cleared his throat, pulling the chair he'd occupied earlier beside Mackenzie's. He sat down and leaned back a few inches.
"I'm compromising. I don't do it often, but since you are so willing, I should make at least a small effort."
She turned to face him. "What are the terms of your compromise?"
He faced her just the same. "A happy engagement. Public appearances as a happy couple, and…" he moved closer to her, bringing a hand to her waist as he pulled her to an inch from him. "…certain advances met."
"I'm not going to sleep with you yet Malfoy." She pushed him away.
"Yet?"
"Back off Malfoy."
He kept her close still. "I'm only asking for you to be more accepting to behavior like…" he leaned in closer to her. "this." He finished before lightly capturing her mouth with his, pulling away after just a few seconds.
"Do you agree?"
"You have no other terms?" She caught her breath after he'd kissed her. She couldn't deny that he was a good kisser. His lips were soft. His kiss was gentle. The contact between them, gentle as it had been was also filled with a complex sense of heat cooled by an innate appeasing. He felt like fire and ice. But she had no feeling for him. This would take more than acting. It would take a complete overhaul of her personality with him. She was going to have to become two completely separate women.
"These are my terms." Draco replied. "And no more seeing Weasley. Take them or leave them."
"I accept. And that is not something you'll be needing to worry about. George will never forgive me. Now, I have a few terms of my own."
"And they are?" His eyes focused on her, a desire to feel her skin to his once more, consuming him.
"Well, only one term so far."
He gave her a look, urging her to speak.
"Two weeks. That's it. Two more weeks to plan our perfect in your face wedding."
"Nothing more?"
"Nothing less. Agreed?"
"Yes." Draco nodded.
"Great." Mackenzie spoke, picking up the stacks in front of her again. "Colors? Locations? Guests? You know you really should at least go and…"
"Mackenzie dear, happy as I see you are to begin any preparations, it is rather late. Unless you intend on staying and finding more creative ways of keeping me awake, I'm afraid I'm quite tired."
"I have no intention of staying the night with you."
"No one said anything about staying the entire night. Just until we've both reached our…"
"Blow me Malfoy."
"Is that a request?"
Mackenzie rolled her eyes as his suggestive expression met her eyes.
"I thought not." He said. "I'll walk you to the door."
The two walked slowly to the front door. Draco kept his palm to her lower back, feeling the heat seething through her.
"I'd like to see you tomorrow." He opened the door for her. "There are a few things we should do to finalize our engagement. Plus we should certainly take the opportunity to be seen together as you have clearly stated that our engagement announcement will be made by the next few hours."
Mackenzie gave a look of contemplation. "Alright." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Meet me at Chase Manor around eleven. We'll go and have luch together. And who knows," She said, " maybe we'll see Weasley. I'd love to give him something to feel truly awful over."
Draco chuckled, bringing her closer to him, his hand still on her back. "First chance I get, I will snog you right in front of the bastard." He kissed her again until she pushed him away.
"Good night Malfoy." She backed away and left his sight.
"Good night Mackenzie."