"I just don't understand why we can not just make some rules for when you can and cannot start engaging me in practice I mean I can't be expected to be holding up walls 24/7 it just doesn't seem possible," Elodie huffed, settling down in the seat beside Draco in the great hall.
"I quite enjoy popping in on you fantasizing about me going down on you," He smirked, "Besides, if you want to know it all you have to be able to hold up walls constantly. Potter over there is constantly staring at you, and he's skilled in legilimens, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's the reason he can't help his staring problem. Until you pass my testing, you can't have any more information than you already do."
"And your team has passed?" Elodie said, sipping her pumpkin juice and pouting, "It's embarrassing when you barge in my mind during moments like that, can't you knock?"
"Astoria doesn't know everything because she can't manage to pass, but Blaise, Theo, Pansy and Daphne know everything," He said, chuckling, "Knocking wouldn't help the situation, Elodie, even if I could."
"If Daphne knows, Astoria knows," Elodie remarked, "It's sisterly science, it isn't possible for her to keep secrets from that one."
"You would be surprised what the prospect of working for me can inspire," Draco said matter of factly and picked at the food on his plate, "Besides, I also have barged into Astoria's mind many times, she has no clue."
"So you mean to tell me they all have their walls up all the time? That is insane, I would have never known," She said.
"Never known what?" Daphne said plopping down in the seat across from the couple.
"That you all know all of Draco's deep dark secrets and practice Occlumency pretty much constantly," Elodie said, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh Merlin you've told her? Why haven't you told us all that? Shouldn't we have discussed-" Daphne started before Draco interrupted her.
"Daphne, calm the fuck down," Draco said, "What is it with you two and rambling on like that. I haven't told her much yet, I'm teaching her Occlumency first."
"Well what have you told her?" She asked.
"Her is right here, can we not talk about me like I'm not sitting right here?" Elodie interrupted.
"I'm sorry Ellie, I just don't want to say too much or talk about anything you don't know, but I still want to be able to talk to you about this because I don't want you to think I was ever maliciously hiding things from you. I would never do that," Daphne said, clearly in a panic over the news.
"I don't think that, I promise," Elodie said.
"We'll meet later tonight in the room of requirement to discuss a few things," Draco said, finally.
"We're meeting tonight?" Pansy cut in, finally joining the table with Blaise and Theo at her side.
"Elodie knows," Daphne blurted out.
"Elodie knows?" Theo looked wide eyed.
"Alright, no more talk of this here," Draco snapped, and everyone but Blaised looked terrified and stopped speaking.
"You lot have no sense sometimes," Blaise said cooly, "I swear you have no idea how to improvise, no poker faces."
Elodie looked at Blaise, really taking in his handsome features and cool demeanor, as if seeing him for the first time. He was right, he was the only one of Draco's group that was always impossible to read. When she was more in the loop, she would need to help the girls work on controlling their emotions. English socialites were so much more emotional than they needed to be, she realized that was something she and Blaise had in common. Being a foreigner might come in handy for whatever Draco's plans were, maybe that is why Blaise was Draco's right hand, and why Elodie was his intended left hand. She observed the rest of the group bicker and discuss her as if she weren't there, and then her eyes fell back to Blaise, who hadn't spoken another word, just sat there eating his dinner and drinking his juice. He was so aloof, even surrounded by friends. His eyes held no emotion, his dark skin without a single worry or frown line, he sat there simply cool and distant. Elodie wondered how he managed to be in any sort of a relationship with a girl as easily dismayed as Pansy.
"Elodie, this is exactly my point," She snapped back to reality and pulled her eyes away from Blaise as she heard Draco's voice cut in, "I was in your head for every moment of that."
"I'm sorry, I'm trying, I was just lost in thought," She said looking down at her hands.
"No need to be sorry love, I just want you to understand why we need to practice more," He said, taking her hand in his, "and that is why I'm going to need you to keep busy during our meeting tonight. I have to tell them what you know, but I have some other news for them as well."
She nodded her understanding, stood up and smiled, before kissing him on the lips and excusing herself. She went to the library where she knew Hermione would be, she desperately wanted to get her mind off of these things, and didn't see her in the great hall for dinner. When she arrived she spotted her friend sitting alone at a table in the middle of the room and hurried over to it.
"'Mione, hey," Elodie smiled, "How was your holiday? I tried to owl you a few times."
"Oh right, yes I know, I got them on the last few days when I went home and knew it was too late," She sighed, "I wanted to visit you so bad, but I ended up staying with Ronald and Harry for most of it and I don't think their wards let your bird in."
"Oh that makes sense," Elodie sat across from her at the table, "That's a shame, but we can always make plans for the next holiday."
"Right," Hermione smiled, "I didn't even think about it until I was home. Ron's parents are quite paranoid, very strict wards."
"I see, that makes a lot of sense of course," Elodie said, "What are you working on already? We've only been back a day."
"Oh I just like researching honestly," She motioned to the stack of books next to her on ancient wizarding customs, "I sometimes find myself being confused by things that are quite common and mundane to purebloods and half-bloods, I hit a few speed bumps over holiday that made me want to learn a little more about some silly things that I should already know by my age."
"Well, I may be a little off as well, I am French after all our customs differ a little, but I am quite pureblooded, I can probably help you with that, without the use of all these books."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out," Hermione frowned, "It must seem so silly to you."
"Not at all, it makes perfect sense," Elodie smiled, "What brought this on, 'Mione?"
"Well, one of Ronald's brother's is getting married, and I've been completely lost in the customs. I'm supposed to be involved in a lot of it, but I'm just so confused," Hermione laughed, "And truthfully a lot of these books have very little to say about marriage customs."
The girls sat engaged in conversation for some time, Elodie filled Hermione in on what is formal pureblood courting, engagement and marriage. They discussed everything from arranged marriages, which were mostly out of fashion but still occasionally practiced here and there, rings, which gifts were appropriate, gestures that you only do for fiance. Elodie taught Hermione everything she knew about wizarding marriage customs, and it felt like hours had passed before they finally stood from their table in the library and started walking toward the head boy and girl tower.
"So, you mean to tell me if I'm not married by the time I'm 25, no wizard will marry me?" Hermione said, aghast.
"Yes, unless they are a widower, but even then, it's rare," Elodie chuckled, "If you're not engaged by 21 you become a pariah."
"That just seems so young," Hermione shook her head.
"Think of all of the wars we've fought throughout the years," Elodie said, "We move quickly in the wizarding world, just in case we die in another war."
"So, if Ronald ever presents me with a family heirloom-"
"It's similar to a promise ring, a gesture that he wants to marry you eventually," Elodie sighed, "Draco did that to me once, that's why I left him for a while at the beginning of the year."
"Oh no," Hermione gasped, "That's awful, that was way too soon for a gesture like that."
"Now I just wish I had accepted it, so we wouldn't have lost time together, so that awful night never happened to me," The girls both slowed to a stop outside of the dorm that Draco and Hermione shared before Elodie spoke again, "I'm not even sure if he's here right now, maybe I should go to my room for once."
"If he's not, you could always wait for him," Hermione shrugged, "Ronald will be up here soon, but I have a little time to wait with you, if you want."
Elodie nodded, and the girls walked inside to find Draco sitting in his chair by the fire, reading a book.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," Hermione smiled before walking to her door and shutting it behind her.
"I wasn't sure if you'd come tonight," Draco said, closing his book and standing to face her, "After the way you ran off I thought you were upset with me for something."
"I was upset, not with you, just in general," Elodie said, approaching his bedroom, "Can we go have a lay? I'm tired today."
He nodded and the two walked into his room and went straight to the bed to lay down. Elodie pulled out a book from her bag and put it on the table next to his bed before stripping out of her robes and pulling one of his baggy shirts over her head.
"What's that? Occlumency text? My lessons not enough for you, love?" He said lightly, running his fingers over the cover of the book on the table.
"I'm just trying to move faster, I don't like being out of the loop. That's what's had me in a funk today," She plopped herself into the bed and pulled the covers high, snuggling into the soft warm fabric.
"I should have figured, but I will say, you've improved," He said, stripping out of his robes as well before climbing over her to join her under the covers, "I haven't been able to slip in your mind at all since you've returned from whatever thrilling thing you and Granger were up to."
"Really?" She snapped up and beamed, "I wasn't even trying! That is amazing."
"Yes, well, I suppose that means I can open the door a little wider on what you know," He said, "If you tell me what you and Granger went off doing?"
"You-," she glared at him and smacked his chest, "Always has to be something in it for you?"
"Yes, and I'd love to know," He chuckled, "And stop hitting me, you're going to leave a nasty bruise one of these days. I have a very delicate complexion."
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but we were only talking about marriage customs," She said.
"Well that is interesting actually, why is that?" He raised an eyebrow.
"She had questions, she was raised by muggles, you know," she smirked.
"Yes I obviously know that, I'm just confused why she was interested."
"One of the litter of Weasley's is getting married, and she must have done something offensive or something confused her, I'm not sure exactly."
He reached over her and opened the drawer and pulled out a small box and plopped it on her stomach. She raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms before glaring at him.
"Yes, it is the tennis bracelet again," He smiled as she huffed and he cut her off before she could even begin, "If you want to know what is going on then this has to be discussed now, Elodie."
"What needs to be discussed? Your need to lay claim to me?"
"Sort of, our parents made an arrangement," He took a deep breath waiting for impact, but nothing happened, she didn't even move, "Are you ok? I was expecting to be hit again."
"You better go on," She said, her voice shaky, and he wasn't sure if it was anger or sadness.
"In June of 1991 your parents attended a gala at Malfoy manor while you and Pansy played at the Parkinson manor. I believe it was the last time your family visited England until last year when your father came to speak with me and my father, does that sound right?" She nodded, so he continued, "That was the month of my 12th birthday, do you know what that means?"
"Deadline for an arrangement between families is the 12th birthday of the eldest of the children in question," she put her face in her hands, "Go on."
"Our parents got on quite well and decided to join houses Elodie, we've been arranged ever since. I was quite aware of the arrangement, but my parents told me that you were not to be told until you were of age. That is why I never dated anyone, Elodie. There is a full contract with a clause in it that states you were not to be told until you were 17, but your parents decided when they came last year, that they wanted our relationship to form organically, so they never told you."
"You all really did play me," she chuckled, brokenhearted.
"I did not, Elodie, I would have told you, but I wanted it to be organic too, because what I feel for you is real, not just because our parents drew up some stupid contract when we were children. I love you, I have loved you, I will always love you."
"Then how could you keep something like this from me?" She snapped up from where she laid and glared down to where he laid still, "How could you lie to my face every day?"
"Because I found a loophole, Elodie, the contract is void if you do not want to be with me. The contract states we will give our bodies to each other, but neither of us were virgins. If you do not want to marry me, you do not need to. When I found it, I brought it to my father, because I was no longer interested in being a part of an arrangement, he told me to meet you before tearing the contract to shreds. He knew I would love you, want you, need you. So I met you, and I wanted it to be real with you, so I tried for you, and I'm giving you what you need to leave should you not be able to get past this, but I hope that you stay, and I hope that you put that bracelet on."
She sat still for a long while, listening to his slow, steady breathing, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. More than anything, her parents betraying her was the worst of it all. She felt the bed shift as he sat straight, back against the headboard.
"Elodie, I love you, these last few months have felt like years. I know this isn't what you planned, I know this is moving so quickly, but I have never been so sure of anything in my life. I know that you will make the perfect wife, and I know that you are so much more than just a wife. I can and will give you the entire world, anything that you could want or need for, and more. I promise to never let you forget how beautiful you are, and how kind you are, and how strong you are. I promise to fight for you, to be on your side, to-"
She turned and threw her arms around his shoulders, pressing a kiss into his lips. Tears continued to fall from her eyes rolling down between their cheeks. He felt every drop fall, and it broke his heart, but she was warming it all at the same time. She kissed him with such ferocity and passion, he knew this meant yes.
They broke apart for a moment, and her hands felt around for the box. She opened it to see the beautiful diamonds catch the light, she smiled and unclasped it and hurried to put it on. She stopped remembering tradition and handed it to him, sticking her left arm out so he could fasten it for her, solidifying their arrangement. He smiled, took the tennis bracelet and fastened it around her wrist. As he did so, a green glow started at the clasp of the bracelet and circled both of their wrists and sunk into their skin. It was official, the arrangement was finalized, and now they were bonded by contract.
"Don't you ever hurt me, Draco Malfoy."
"As long as you promise the same, Elodie Brodeur."
Talk around school ran rampant about Elodie's new gift from Draco. Elodie received several owls from her parents about the new confirmed arrangement, congratulating her, but she ignored them all. It would be a long time until she was ready to talk to them again, and she decided that for the next holiday break she would spend the entire break at Malfoy manor, willing Narcissa and Lucius to agree. Draco wrote them to make that request a few days ago, but still hadn't heard back from them. The Malfoy's congratulatory owls sent chocolate and flowers to Elodie and fire whisky, aged almost 20 years, to Draco. How they managed to get that past Hogwarts wards, Elodie couldn't figure out.
The weeks went on, and as they passed Elodie practiced her Occlumency with anyone who would sit and practice with her. She was almost at a point that Draco couldn't even penetrate her mind in her sleep, which was the final test before she could truly become a part of the inner circle. Harry Potter began giving Elodie looks of dismay, and she knew that Draco was right, that he was constantly practicing legilimency on her, and he finally couldn't anymore. She was now so grateful that she knew very little about what was going on, because if she did, Potter would have surely caught on. She wasn't even sure if anything would even concern Potter, but she knew that even if it didn't, he would meddle in it, simply for Draco's involvement.
Soon March arrived, and Elodie was finally a part of her first meeting with the inner circle. They met in the room of requirement just after dinner.
"Alright, Elodie, welcome to your first gathering with us," Pansy said, pouring several glasses of wine and handing them out to each person at the table, "Today we're going to do a lot of backtracking so we can catch you up on the goings on. Draco's filled us in on what he's told you so far, which is not much, but that's okay. We probably won't go over every detail today, but I'm sure whatever questions you have by the end, Dracco will fill you in on."
"Who is it, the anticipation is honestly killing me and I don't know if I can take another day of it," Elodie said quickly and erratically.
"Me," Blaise stood.
"I'm sorry, what?" Elodie laughed nervously, "You're 18, how are you going to lead an entire following?"
"I won't be coming forth for a few more years, my first step is getting Draco in office," Blaise said, cooly.
"I'm so confused, I thought that our parents were all a part of this? They're following a teenager?" Elodie said skeptically.
"First of all, I am of age, I'm not simply a teenager," Blaise started.
"He's been taking polyjuice before every meeting with our elders," Draco added, "They think he's a 45 year old, white man," He added with a laugh.
"Are your ideals even dark, Blaise?" She raised an eyebrow.
"They involve normalizing dark magic, going back to our routes, less about destroying all muggles and more about tossing our rules about dark magic in the trash. I mean for fucks sake, the dark arts involves hundreds of spells, tell me why we've outlawed all of them, when only four are unforgivable. Tell me why we cower in fear at the thought of muggles, when we are the superior beings? Tell me why we have muggle studies class here, but no classes that teach muggle borns our customs? Tell me why muggle borns are made to feel so isolated, because they know nothing of our culture, but theirs is rammed down our throats? No one leaves the wizarding world for the muggle world, so why do they push their ways on us? My ideals are not dark, they are just old fashioned, I suppose," Blaise shrugged, "I'm a man with a lot of ideas, Draco is a man with a lot of influence, together, we are going to make this happen."
"What is my role?" Elodie asked.
"Aside from being Draco's wife, you have a lot of influence in France which is going to be our top ally," Pansy said, "We'll need you to help spread the following around in France. You'll also be largely considered in all of our operations, we'll need your input as our token foreigner."
"So what, are you just all going to be on Draco's council then?" Elodie asked.
"No," Daphne cut in, "I handle his public appearance, so I'll be doing that for you as well, Theo is essentially security, he's a charms expert, Pansy will be on the council."
"What I will be doing is reducing the size of the wizengamot to thirty or so members. I will be taking one from each sacred family of England and employing them to my council. I have to win some over, but it will be done by the time I'm assigning my wizengamot. Most of the people I have chosen will be from our parent's generation, I'll be getting a lot of heat about my age from anyone who follows the order of the phoenix, I'm sure of that, and keeping the wizengamot largely older will help," Draco said, "Pansy was a much better fit than her mother or father though."
"And how do you think you're going to win over the sacred families that you don't already have?" Elodie asked.
"We all have plans for various families, the Weasley council member is mine, obviously," Daphne chuckled, "We've chosen Percy for the Weasley seat, he's already essentially estranged, and would likely be very easy to sway. I mean imagine being a Weasley and having a girl like me come for you, it would be impossible to resist the temptation of the dark side."
"I've got the Abbotts," Theo said, "Not that they're pure anymore, but that helps the image. We aren't blood supremacists anymore, we're just old fashioned, you know?"
"So you've got this all planned out then? What if I didn't agree to be involved, what then?" Elodie crossed her arms.
"Draco had a back up," Blaise interjected before anyone else could speak, "But you were my preferred pick for him anyway."
"You have a say in who he marries?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, I have every aspect of my take over planned. You were the perfect choice, keeping the Malfoy line pure and respectable, you don't require any teaching on how to act in polite society, the fact that your French helps quite a bit too, for foreign affairs."
"Who was the back up?" She asked, getting further annoyed rather than relieved.
"Ginevera Weasley," Blaise said, completely straight faced.
Elodie immediately burst out in laughter.
"Oh my Gods, Ginny? Oh that would have been fun to watch," She said between fits of laughter, "Oh that would have been more work than anything else, she wouldn't even know which fork was for salad and which was for fish."
"That's right, laugh it up," Draco rolled his eyes, "I wanted nothing but you, so no need to worry ourselves over the work we won't have to do."
"You're all insane," Elodie trailed off, looking over Blaise, taking in his dark features. He had never looked as serious as he did in this moment, and he always looked stoic, "But I'm in."