Perhaps, Perhaps Not

"Draco, hurry up or you'll miss the train!" shouted Narcissa impatiently. Normally, she would be sad that her son was leaving for Hogwarts. However, this time, she was glad to finally have a break from his attitude. Ever since he had found out that he was to marry the daughter of his father's associate, he had been absolutely unbearable.

"I'm coming...I'm coming," mutter Draco, as he jogged down the exquisite marble staircase.

"Do you have everything?"questioned his father. Draco simply grunted in response. "Good, then let's go."

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As the carriage approached the train station, Lucius stared at his son intently, noting his son's somber expression.

"Draco..." the young man didn't acknowledge his father had even spoken. "When you see Artemis today, you are to be polite to her. You will also apologize for your atrocious behavior this past summer."

"Yes, father," Draco spat without tearing his gaze from the window.

"You will also sit next to your fiancé on the train ride to Hogwarts."

"Yes Father." hissed the young man as the carriage stopped. He quickly made his exit. Lucius followed not far behind.

"You're coming with me?" Draco inquired. His father hadn't accompanied him to the platform since his second year.

"Yes. Problem?"

"No."

The two then set off for platform 9 3/4. As they neared the platform, Lucius abruptly slammed his son against the nearest pillar before hissing menacingly, "No one, and I mean no one, is to know of your displeasure with this situation. I had better not hear about any mistreatment of her on your part... or anyone else's for that matter. You are to defend her just as you would any other Malfoy."

"Yes... Father." Draco stuttered, suddenly frightened by his fathers actions.

"Good to hear, my boy, good to hear." The two continued on their way until they found the Hogwarts Express. Lucius grasped Draco's arm gently, just before he boarded the train and whispered, "Draco, I know you're angry, but this is for the best. Just try to get to know her. If you did, I'm sure you would be quite fond of her." Draco scoffed in disagreement. "And even if you aren't, at least you can rest assured that your wife will be more beautiful, than any witch your friends could scrounge up." Draco laughed lightly in agreement with his father. Lucius extended his hand which Draco grasped firmly and offered up a weak smile.

"I will see you at the first Quittach game," drawled Lucius before turning away and leaving the train station. Just as Draco was getting ready to board the train, he noticed that people around him were point at him and whispering. Draco, did not, for one second, doubt that this was due to the numerous engagement announcements his parents had placed in just about every magical magazine published in the magical world. Draco sighed loudly and boarded the train, for what was sure to be a very long year.

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Just as the young man cleared the entryway of the train, he collided with something knocking himself to the ground.

"What the hell?" Draco exclaimed, as he grimaced from the impact.

"I'm so sorry... I didn't see you..." Draco looked in the direction the voice had come from. "Oh, it's you, well in that case, I'm not sorry at all," the young woman said icily.

"Artemis, I believe I made myself very clear when I told you not to touch me." Draco stood and dusted himself off.

"And as I told you I have no desire to touch you." Artemis gathered her things and made to leave.

"Good.' Draco huffed.

"Great," replied Artemis as she rolled her eyes.

"Fab..u..lous" Draco drawled.

"Grow up!" Artemis then took off to the nearest compartment and slammed the sliding door, without taking her eyes off of Draco.

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As Artemis turned around to place her luggage away, she saw three stunned pairs of eyes starring at her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know it wasn't empty."

"That's all right, you can stay if you like, most of the other compartments are probably full," said a young woman as she smiled at Artemis.

"Or worse... full of Slytherins," stated a gangly young man as he shoved a chocolate frog into his mouth.

"That would be nice, thanks. By the way, I'm Artemis Fowlington."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Hermione, and this is Harry, and the boy shoving candy down his throat at break neck speed, is Ronald."

"It's nice to meet you all. I can't thank you enough for being so kind. This is my first year at Hogwarts.. It's all a bit new to me and I don't really know anyone yet."

"There's no way you're a first year." Ron stated as he stared directly at her chest. Which earned him a slap on the arm from Hermione.

"I'm not in the first year, I'll be in my sixth year, it's just that this is my first year attending a magical school... I've always had private tutors."

"Wicked," Harry and Ron said in unison.

"It had it good points but to be honest with you, I've been dying to get out of the manor. Daddy always kept a very tight rein on me." Artemis said staring at her hands as she was slightly embarrassed.

"Well, for the most part, everyone at Hogwarts is great. I just recommend you avoid the Slytherins at all costs... and Snape too. They're a pain and he's their leader." Ron said in warning as Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement.

"I'll remember that."

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As the train ride progressed Artemis got to know the three of her compartment mates better, and vice-versa. Nearly half-way thru their journey, the door to the compartment slide open forcefully.

"Well, if it isn't Potty, Weaselby and the Mudblood." Draco spat viciously. "What the fuck are you doing in here... with them.?"

"I was enjoying the train ride. So why don't you do me a favor and SOD OFF!" Artemis jumped up quickly and slammed the door in Malfoy's face. Just as she turned around to return to her seat, the door flew open and Draco firmly grasped onto her arm. He tried to yank her out of the cabin, but was unsuccessful.

"You are not to talk to them!" Draco hissed, his voice filled with malice.

"I will take to whomever I please." Artemis said as she tried to break his vice-like grasp on her arm, but he was too strong.

"Let go of her ferret face!" shouted Ron as he withdrew his wand and pointed it at Malfoy's face. Draco didn't even flinch.

"Need I remind you of our... situation?" Draco whispered into her ear.

"That is neither here nor there."

"You are my fiancé, my wife in training, and you will respect me as a wife ought to respect her husband. You will not make a fool of me," hissed the livid young man quietly.

"You're right, I won't make a fool of you, you're more than capable of doing that yourself." Artemis struggled to free herself, but was again unsuccessful.

"Draco, maybe you should loosen your grip," interjected Goyle, who was standing right behind Draco. "You're hurting her." Draco didn't loosen his hold. Noting this, Goyle began to pry Draco's hand from around her arm. After a few moments he was able to free her from his grasp. Goyle then pulled his livid best friend out of the compartment.

"It was nice to finally meet you Artemis," Goyle smiled softly and then turned to the other three stunned passengers and nodded at them politely. Once the intruder's had left, Harry finally voiced what everyone was thinking.

"What the hell was that all about?"

Artemis didn't really want to explain everything, but decided that she probably should. She was quite sure that nearly everyone at Hogwarts would already know that she was engaged to Draco, though no one know the details. There were sure to be rumors and she would rather, her new friends hear the truth from her. So, she started at the beginning and explained all of the depressing details.

"Wow... that sucks!" Stated Ron, his face solemn.

"Way to state the obvious Ronald." Hermione rolled her eyes at the boy before continuing, "so, you're sure there is no way out?"

"Positive. My Dad's a big shot persecutor for the Wizengamot, he could write a marriage contract with no loopholes in his sleep. This is what he wants for me, there's no way out... I'm stuck." Artemis exclaimed completely exasperated. The rest of the journey was filled with pointless chit-chat. Upon their arrival at Hogwarts Artemis pulled her new friends aside.

"Guy's, I know that most of the school probably already knows about the engagement, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't discuss anything I told you with anyone else. The articles only said that we would be getting married, it didn't say that it was an arranged marriage or that we weren't exactly thrilled about it." Artemis said apprehensively.

"Sure, no problem," replied Hermione completely understanding Artemis' position.

"Yeah, our lips are sealed" replied Harry. Ron only nodded, he couldn't speak, as his mouth was currently occupied with a licorice wand.

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When Artemis entered the castle she was floored. It was even better than she had expected. As the students were ushered to the Great Hall for the welcoming Feast and Sorting Ceremony, she tried to take it all in.

"Now, we will begin the Sorting Ceremony," stated a cheerful headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. After all of the first years had been sorted, the headmaster called for everyone's attention.

"Now, I am sure that you are all aware that we have another new student joining us, aside from our entering first years, of course. Artemis Fowlington, would you please come forward, so that you may be sorted into the appropriate house." Albus smiled at the embarrassed young girl. As the sorting hat was placed on her head, she noticed that her fiancé was staring daggers at her.

"Ravenclaw!" shouted the sorting hat. The Ravenclaw table erupted into a round of applause. Artemis walked over to the table and sat between two girls who had been frantically waving her over.

"Hi, I'm Cosette and this is my friend Abigail. We're sixth year's also."

"It's lovely to meet you." Artemis replied happily, relieved to have met some friendly people within her new house.

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Meanwhile, Draco continued to stare menacingly at his future bride. "Draco... earth to Draco... hey, mate!" shouted Blaise Zabini finally succeeding in getting his friends attention. "Man, maybe you ought to try blinking once or twice this evening." Draco just glared at Blaise and then went back to staring at Artemis. "Draco maybe you should ease up on her a bit. This has got to be hard for her too. A new school and everything." Blaise stated trying to make his good friend see reason.

"Maybe you should Fuck off!" shouted Draco, attracting a great deal of attention. "What?" he shouted, everyone who had been staring, went back to their own conversations.

"Dude, you should see the way Pansy is staring at you. She looks pissed!" Goyle said, hardly able to control his laughter. "Any idea's how you're going to handle that little problem?"

"I've already handled it. I told her I found someone else and that we were gonna get married, so she and I were done." Draco stated flatly. "I didn't really care about her anyway, she was just an easy lay." The young man's friends laughed loudly. Throughout the feast Draco continued to stare at Artemis as she enjoyed her first meal at Hogwarts.

"This just isn't right!" exclaimed an agitated Draco, getting his friends attention. "Why is she enjoying herself? I'm not enjoying myself! She's not allowed to be happy about this."

"Did it ever occur to you Draco, that maybe instead of being an ass about the whole thing, maybe you ought to try and make the best of it?" Draco didn't respond and just continued to brood. "Forever is an awfully long time, my friend, and you'd do well to remember that the marriage contract doesn't state that she has to put out, after the deal's been sealed the first time. So unless you want to spend your life taking matters into your own hands, I'd give the girl a break. Get to know her. Besides she's a hell of a lot hotter than Parkinson." Draco tore his gaze from Artemis and directed it towards his smirking friend.

"I really wish people would stop telling me what I ought to do!" Draco shouted loudly, grabbing the attention of everyone present. Once the hushed whispers began, he decided he'd had enough and stormed out of the Great Hall.