She was bred, born and raised into a society where this was something they had waited for, for so long. How could she oppose them, oppose it? Maybe she just had to stay on the sideline, protecting her loved ones and hold a neutral pose.

She could not be neutral as in 'between The Dark Lord and the other side', but rather support the cause and not be a part of the vile behavior. Mina wouldn't be like the monsters, never. How could she?

She flipped her quill between her fingers as her thoughts went back and forward like the pendulum in a clock. It wasn't particularly easy being able to see both sides of a cause in a world where either of them would get you killed.

She was lucky to be born into a privileged family; maybe that would keep her alive. She started to write words with intricate writing, shaping her Potions homework. It was about the more intricate uses and researches of wolfs bane – and it had to be three feet long. It was rather ridiculous, yet she scribbled down.

She had already written one and a half foot and the words were crisp as the air outside. Normally she would find some pleasure in doing her homework, but she wasn't that lucky now. The feeling of Lucius' hand on her shoulder still burned like soothing hellfire; if that was even possible. That morning when she had stood on top of the clock tower; gazing down at children who healed so fast from grief, he had stood there with her. Words had been unnecessary, all that had been between them – the connection, were his hand on her shoulder. She had accepted his touch and he had been quiet. They hadn't needed anything else, just the cold air and a warm palm. They hadn't stood there for long, just long enough to see some lad get hit a little too hard with a frozen snowball; the crisp color of red mixing with pure white was visible even from so far above.

Small drops of blood among velvet snow.

Inked formations of a very particular future were sealed inside a regular sized envelope with an emblem that the receiver would never mistake for anything else. The form of two snakes entwining into each other like lovers and warriors caught in combat at the same time was never to be confused with anything else than the Malfoy emblem.

With unsteady hands and slightly damp palms the receiver held it while he sought refuge down in something that once had been a wine cellar. He felt a little ridiculous; like another friend of his he had run down to a cellar as soon as a letter with the family sigil was on a letter. On the other hand, he was not freaking out about it. He had expectations he didn't want to bring up into the light; he hadn't even opened the letter. It was either good news or dreary news – and he most certainly wanted the good news. Maybe things had changed for the better? Oh, he was so tired – so ready for good news... The last weeks had been occupied with sneaking around at night, doing all those things that easily would've gotten him expelled in a ridiculous pace. None of that mattered right now though; the only thing that mattered was the letter in his hand. It seemed to contain more than just words; it was rather thick and kept him from knowing the content.

With palms almost sweaty he opened the envelope, revealing a few things he had been waiting for, for at least five months now. He unwrapped the letter with the slightest smile on his face, leaning towards the wall with his legs crossed. The smell of cold dirt and stone had never been more pleasing, even the sound of dripping water further into the room was perfectly fine when he sat there with a letter that made everything he had done feel like it was worth it.

In some degree he may have committed treason against the Ministry of Magic, but he did it so that he would be worthy enough to finally get way he wanted.

Without folding the letter again he leaned his head against the wall and grinned for himself. It wasn't usual for him to actually grin, but he couldn't help but to do it right now. Victory blew up like a great firework inside his chest and Lucius couldn't help but to feel utter bliss right now. He grabbed the rest of the content in the letter; a ring.

Without thinking twice he jumped up from the bench he'd been sitting on, ready to approached what might could be a rather... Well, he didn't know how this would turn out. He ran up countless of hallways covered in dull, grey stone while thinking out countless of scenarios with too many outcomes. As he reached the Slytherin common room he looked around himself like a madman, his hair was hanging loose around his shoulders, but his school uniform was spotless.

There weren't few who stared at him, but Lucius couldn't care less. His mind spun around for two seconds before he set his course for the exit, and so he did.

He quickly reached the dungeons where the Potions classroom was, and then he ran up the stairs and headed for the grand room with all of the staircases. He made his way up to the staircase in an unbelievable pace and set his pace to the library in the third floor. Without hesitation he made his way past the people that already were in the stairs; almost jumping when the stairs were too slow.

He ran down a hallway with the ring in his hand and his heart sat for the door on the end of the hall. The door was a great, dark wooden one with a golden door knob. It seemed like that very door was the entrance of something new and exciting that would change his life for the better. The door opened for him, as if it was afraid he'd run straight at it. While ignoring the grumpy librarian that strolled around the library ever so often he set his coarse straight for the inner parts of the library. As he was moving around huge amounts of books and paper he searched for the figure of a blonde woman with divine eyes. He found her furthest back in the library; where there was none else than her.

She had braided her hair and it was neatly laid down the front of her shoulder, reaching to her stomach. A frown between her eyebrows showed how concentrated she was – probably some transfiguration homework.

By the look of the table she sat by it looked like Severus was lurking around somewhere; probably looking for a new book to add to his monstrous pile that were stacked on the table already. Mina didn't look up at first, but when she faced the slightly heavy breathing Lucius she couldn't help but to now frown at him, instead of her homework. His hair was hanging loose around his shoulders and his school uniform was remarkably spotless; especially for a man who looked like he had done some running. His eyes seemed to hold something she had waited for, for so long; life. The cold grey eyes were smiling, so was his lips.

There were obvious signs of lack of sleep on his face, but that was almost completely erases when he smiled. He was rather beautiful like this, yet his sudden transformation of temper and facial expression seemed to ring a bell of 'isn't this strange, Mina?'

Without giving her more time to figure out what he was pondering on, he made his way so that he stood next to her. As some senses were flowing out of her head he got down on one knee and looked up at her with something that could only be described as pure, innocent hope.

"I guess we have no choice, really... But, Mina Ophelia Lestrange, will you willingly – "Her hand gestures made him stop for a slight second and something stopped in his eyes.

"What do you mean, Lucius?" Mina tilted her head and when he took out the pure white golden band with a large diamond she gasped.

"Will you, without hatred or resent... Oh, for Merlin's sake, Mina. Will you marry me?" She pulled her hand up to her mouth and covered it in shock. She couldn't believe that this was happening – not able to grasp the severity of it. While carefully retracting her arm from her mouth she stretched out her left arm and gave it to Lucius.

She was confused – taken by so many thoughts and emotions at the same time.

He placed the ring at her finger and it all was so real suddenly – was this really how it was to be? Was she engaged now, was she engaged to Lucius? While staring down at her left hand with Lucius holding it she really tried to grasp a concept of this.

What was that?

A spark of something inside her chest exploded as his eyes caught hers, a feeling of something unbelievable and unreal as his grey eyes met her green.

"I know that this isn't ideal or anything, but I want us to work with it. I could make you happy." He whispered so softly as he held onto her beautiful eyes. He knew with all his heart that he was in love with her, but he also knew that she needed time.

They didn't really notice it, but hidden behind some bookshelves stood Severus with a smug smile on his face.

As if he hadn't seen this coming.

It had been late afternoon when they had made their way down to the Great Hall. Her and Severus had walked together; him with a smug smile and her with a confused glint in her eyes. Lucius had left an hour ago, he had other things to do; probably send his father a letter. Mina knew that she couldn't have said no, and she probably wouldn't have, but it was probably for the best that she couldn't.

The only thing that confused Mina now was that Roman had actually let her go. But for how long – how would he now keep her on a leash? She couldn't grasp this.

She knew that Roman didn't was to let go of her, but now she was to be married off? Oh, this was too much for her tired brain.

Severus knew better than to talk about Mina's engagement, so instead he would keep walking on with a grin on his face. It seemed like it was rather confusing for the rest of the students that walked by them, especially to see Severus Snape grinning like it was Christmas morning.

Mina on the other hand was walking with her left hand close to her hips and her right hand clutched around her waist. She looked rather odd, but it was all to comfort her confused emotions. She wasn't really ready to be a wife, but she was never going to be ready for it anyway.

She probably had to suit up and act like the woman she ought to be. As she took a deep breath the straightened her back and let her right arm down. Severus raised his eyebrow as he looked at her with a grin, yet some surprise.

"Time to let go of girlish worries, I guess." She said with a more confident voice.

It was remarkable how fast she could change her attitude and confidence; but she saw it as necessary now.

"Suit up, I guess." He laughed, for the first time in so extremely long.

They reached the Great Hall after a few minutes and as they walked through the doors they couldn't help but feel the eyes glaring at them. Some had developed fear for certain Slytherins already, but some were ready to fight. Mina and Severus didn't care; none of them could hurt them.

With grace and poise Mina sat straight course for the Slytherin table where her cousin and Lucius awaited. Rodolphus probably knew already, and she had no idea how he had reacted.

Hell – he had nothing to say about this matter, neither did she. Mina sat down between the boys with a small smile that wasn't confused for shyness, only politeness. Lucius looked over at her with disguised devotion; only he knew how happy he was to see her already, especially without her avoiding him.

"I guess I ought to congratulate you, Mina." Rodolphus smiled, actually happily at her as he kissed her cheek like a proper gentleman. He looked rather tired himself; her suspicions rose, but now she knew that she would be in the middle of the cause. Nothing could stop her from taking care of them now.

"Thank you, Rodolphus." She smiled at him with the utmost courtesy, but Rodolphus saw the plans swirl inside her eyes. The new flame in her eyes, the spark that had ignited, did almost scare him a little. He had a feeling that Mina had plans now; plans that he probably wouldn't like. But he couldn't say anything, all he could do was to smile at his cousin and shake Lucius' hand as the perfect gentleman he was. He didn't completely grasp what her ideas were, but he had the feeling that it would involve being involved.

As she turned her attention away from him and rather onto some women talking to her from the other side of the table he couldn't help but to look at Severus, as if he said:

What just happened right now?

While lying in bed she couldn't help but enjoying how opportunities had opened up for her. Her mind was racing in the speed of light as she saw all those opportunities as a way to cope with her life as an aristocratic wife.

She had to be the lady that stayed home; probably with the children, but when they came home she would be there. If she was married off to anyone else than Lucius she might've be torn away from Lucius, Rodolphus, Rabastan and Severus. How could she ever have lived with that?

The main meaning of her future life was to protect her boys, all of her boys. She knew very well that the outcome would've ended up so different than it had.

She couldn't help but to think how it would be like to marry Lucius. She would live her life in richness and wealth – but would it be a good life? Oh, how she wished for rainbows and sunny days; but she wasn't that hopeful. But maybe, what if?

She was taken by Lucius, she would probably fall in love with him at some point too – but would she love him, would she give him her heart? She truly wanted to, she wanted to live a life in happiness and have a marriage filled with love.

There couldn't be anything better than that; and that could all be hers. She felt like the happiest girl alive in a cursed world, a world of pain and suppression.

She looked down at her left hand with the band of white gold, decorated with one medium sized diamond. It wasn't Lucius pick, it was probably Abraxas Malfoy that had chosen her ring and given it to him. She didn't know if it was new or if it had belonged to anyone before her – maybe it had? She smiled slightly at the ring, something that made her feel a little silly. That ring signalized her bond to Lucius – her bond to the Malfoys.

Was it a blessing or a curse?