Dear Miss Black
I am writing to inform you, due to the introduction of the Purity Preservation Act you are required by law to marry a fellow pure blood.
As you can appreciate, it is a pure blooded witch/wizards duty to preserve the purity of our kind. To make things fair, your name was added to a list of other eligible pure bloods and a most suitable match has been found.
You are required to come to the Ministry of Magic on July 31st at 9.00am to have your marriage to Mr L Malfoy finalised.
Since the desire of this act, is to produce pure blood children, you will be expected to have a child in a maximum of two years.
Here is a list of rules you must adhere to:
You must reside with your spouse.
You must not conduct any other relationship.
You must attend monthly interviews to discuss the progress of your marriage.
You must submit evidence that your marriage has been consummated.
If by the end of two years you have not had a child or expecting, members of the Purity Preservation Department will be dispatched to assist in aiding conception.
Any breaking of these rules will result in exile for the witch/wizard after being stripped of all worldly possessions. After exile, contact with anyone within the wizarding community is forbidden and punishable by incarceration for life in Azkaban.
Yours Sincerely
Dolores Umbridge
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic
Cassie Black found herself sat in the offices of the marriage registration department, re-reading the letter over and over again, hoping it was just a terrible nightmare, but she knew it wasn't. Just a month shy of her eighteenth birthday, she was to be married. Married to a man she couldn't stand.
"Mrs Cassiopeia Malfoy." She said to herself bitterly.
Her future husband walked in, moving as arrogantly as she expected, throwing a glare in her direction. She glared back at him as he sat down opposite her. Cassie refused to look away from his cold grey eyes, not wanting to show him any sign of submission or weakness. If she was going to be married to this man, she wanted him to know that this was certainly not her idea and not how she wanted to spend the remainder of her life. Her father would have been proud of the way she handled herself in Lucius' presence, especially after the withering look, he once again sent in her direction, she countered it with a look of her own; one that had made the nastiest person tremble in fear.
She looked around the room at all the other poor souls forced to marry against their will. Although she knew there wouldn't be many marriages taking place since pure bloods were the minority in the wizarding world.
"Miss Black. Mr Malfoy." A woman with greying hair called out, pulling Cassie from her daydream.
She stood up, picking up her bag that had all her belongings in. She waited as Lucius opened the door to the office, then barged in past him, making sure to flip her hair in his face, earning a small just audible growl from him. She followed the woman into a small chapel. What happened after that was a blur for Cassie, vaguely remembering that they had been declared legally married, then Lucius was instructed to take his new bride home. She sat down on her bed, taking in her surroundings. It was only then, the emotions she had been burying came to the surface and she let out a mournful sob. She turned when the door opened, a small house elf walking in.
"Mistress." She squeaked, bowing to her. "I am Sparky. The master told me to help you with your things."
Cassie at smiled at her. "Sparky. That's a pretty name. I'm Cassie."
"You look sad, mistress."
She wiped her tears away, taking in a deep sigh. "Not really how I wanted my life to go. Married to that man and this room is so dark, it's depressing."
"If it would please you, mistress, I could change it for you."
She stood up from the bed. "Could you do like the night sky with stars?"
Sparky clicked her fingers, changing the decor in the room. "Do you like it, mistress?"
Cassie stayed silent for a while as she studied the stars. Stars always reminded him of her father as he was named after a constellation. She felt closer to him when she could see stars, like he was always there. "I love it. Thanks, Sparky." She pushed away her tears, opening her back to organise her things, with Sparky's help. Her thoughts quickly went back to her father. If only he was still around, he could get her through this with the humour and tenderness that she adored him for. Although their time together as father and daughter was short, she had some memories that she would treasure and when she had children, they would know all about their wonderful grandfather.
The wind blew through Cassie's long, cocoa coloured hair, giving her welcome relief from the hot sun beaming down on her. Seeking shade, she found a wooden bench under a tall oak tree. She sat down, opening up her diary to write another letter to her dad. She knew he wouldn't ever see those letters, but it was cathartic for her to write them, to feel like he was still listening. She closed her eyes, resting her head back against the tree, taking in the serene surroundings of nature. Keeping her eyes closed, she heard movement around her and an extra weight on the bench. She opened her eyes, looking to her right to see the sad, haunted eyes of Draco Malfoy looking at her expectedly, like he was waiting for a barbed comment, only this time, she didn't have any. She sighed, giving him a sad smile. "Sorry to hear about your mother."
He let out an involuntary whimper, pushing back the threatening tears. "Thanks." He hadn't yet come to terms with his mother's passing, barely a month on and now his father was remarried, although his father didn't ask for it. "I guess you know how it feels to lose your parents."
"I do. Although you feel a sense of personal loss. Me, I just feel cheated."
Draco felt a burning sense pity for his new step mother. She had no memories of her mother and very few of her father. After Sirius went to prison, she was sent to live with Andromeda Tonks, and they raised her as if she were their own. "If it makes you feel better, my father is even more miserable."
"When he is never not miserable?
"Good point." Draco let the silence settle between as they sat in the hot sun.
Cassie was the first to break the silence. "I take it, you have to leave the boundary of the manor before you can apparate?"
"Planning to escape already?
She snorted, turning to look at Draco. "No. I have to be at Bill Weasley's wedding tomorrow. Tell your father, I'll return eventually."
"Will do."
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief when she apparated to the Burrow. It was a relief to be in familiar surroundings, with people who cared for her. She needed to be away from Malfoy manor and the man she was forced to marry. By the time she had left, some shady characters had arrived, making her exit hastier. She knew that Bellatrix' arrival was imminent, and Cassie couldn't trust herself not to try and rip the woman apart with her bare hands.
She walked past the massive marquee, towards the house, just as Hermione and Ron had started their usual round of bickering. She laughed as she watched for a while, eventually approaching the pair. "You two are like an old married couple." She joked with a smirk.
"Cassie!" They both said in unison, moving to hug her. "I thought you were coming yesterday." Said Ron, pulling back from his hug.
Cassie smiled awkwardly, just trying to bury the memories of yesterday, at least temporarily. "I had some things to take care of first."
"Percy's helping dad and others set up."
"I need to get changed first." Cassie really didn't want her to see her boyfriend yet, if she did, she might cry and then she'd have to explain herself. She wasn't ready to tell anyone yet.
"You can get dressed in Ginny's room. I'll let Percy know you're here."
She sat in front of the mirror, applying her make up, unaware someone was watching her from the door way. Catching sight of her reflection, she let out a small, just barely audible sob. She was looking at Mrs Malfoy, not Miss Black and her mind had started to notice the difference. She jumped as a hand touch her bare shoulder, making her look up to see the worried eyes of Percy looking down on her. "Hi." She said quietly.
"Hi." he said in response, a gentle smile on his lips. "Ron told me where you were."
"Of course he did." Sighed Cassie as she faced the mirror again. "Did you get the tent set up?"
Percy nodded. "Yeah, Charlie and Dad were great."
"Great."
"Where have you been?" Asked Percy, bypassing all other pleasantries.
"At home." She stood up, slipping her feet into her heels before walking towards the door.
"I haven't seen you in a month and that's all you have to say to me?" He said quietly, the hurt of her coldness evident in his voice.
Her shoulders slumped as she leaned against the door frame. He wasn't his fault, the position she was in, he didn't deserve the disregard she was showing him. "I'm sorry. I'm just not in a good place right now."
Cassie allowed Percy to pull her into his arms for a hug. "It's a happy day so let's enjoy it."
"You're right. It's Bill and Fleur's day."
The wedding was in full swing and Cassie managed to forget her worries. She laughed and joked with Harry and Ron, caused mischief with Fred and George, and danced several times with Percy.
Percy and herself found themselves a quiet corner of the garden so they could spend time alone.
Cassie didn't think she could hold back what had been plaguing her. "Percy, I need to tell you something."
"What is it?"
Before she could reply, she noticed a strange ball of light appear in the sky aiming towards the tent. "Come on."
Together they ran back to the tent to listen to the voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt emanating from his Patronus.
"The Ministry has fallen."
"Scrimgeour is dead."
"They are coming."
"They are coming."
Panic spread across the guests, many apparating away. It wasn't long before Death Eaters appeared, spells and curse lit up the tent.
Cassie grabbed Ron's and led him through the crowd, pushing him towards Hermione and Harry. "Go. Now!" She ordered.
Only the Weasleys, Tonks and Lupin were left along with Cassie to be interrogated by the Death Eaters. She was separated from the others, but no one actually asked her anything, so she could only assume that they knew that she was the new Mrs Malfoy.
She dreaded the moment that they revealed the news to the others. That moment came sooner rather than later. A Death Eater escorted her back to the tent where the others were. "What about this one?" The Death Eater asked.
Another Death Eater approached Cassie, giving the once over. "Ahhh, the new Mrs Malfoy." He had the temerity to caress her face. "How fortunate a man, Lucius is."
Cassie had no qualms in reacting violently, releasing a spell that knocked him back, shocking the Death Eaters.
In a flash, she was gone.