Draco refused to make eye contact with any one in the room. He continued to stand like a statue in front of the lectern studying the people seated and awaiting the start of the ceremony. The blonde had only been in this room once and that had been when he was ten. His second cousin, who's name he couldn't remember, had married some bloke from Durmstrang in this very same room.
There were only about forty people in attendance, which was vastly shadowed by the hundreds that had attended his cousins wedding. All of the people here now had the same look of cold boredom.
It amazed him that none of these adults seemed to have a problem with what was about to take place. In fact they made it seem like forcing two teenagers into a binding, magical wed lock, was an every day occurrence.
Despite all the minister had said the night before, Draco had refused to believe that grown men would believe that the solution to the current war was to have him bond to Potter. It was insanity, pure and simple.
Draco also tried to avoid looking straight across from him. Potter's usually vibrant green eyes were dull and glassy. The minister had only been partly right in statement regarding Harry's health. The Gryffindor had awoken in an hour but he was far from fine.
Draco had been forced to listen to him moan in pain through a vast majority of the night. He kept mumbling stuff about his insides being torn apart. It continued like this for hours, nearly driving the Slytherin mental. No one came to check on them and Draco was forced to calm Harry in the best way he could think of. He had pressed cold rags he had found in the adjoining bathroom, against Potter's flushed face murmuring words of meaningless encouragement which seemed to stem Harry's rambling.
He only comforted the boy because the moaning had been driving him slowly insane. It was easier to concentrate on the Gryffindor, than to think about the Bonding ceremony in his all to near future.
Morning had come and still Harry was in considerable pain. The minister's solution had been to force a couple potions down his throat leaving him in a drugged state. Draco tried hard to forget the tears that had ran down Harry's cheeks while auror's poured the foul liquids down his throat.
Now Harry stood in a semi-drugged state not all to aware of his surroundings. His green eyes would occasionally flicker around the room as if trying to process something and when it alluded him he would go back to staring at the ground.
"I believe everyone is here, so shall we proceed?" Scrimgeour's voice sounded harsh to Draco despite the unpleasant smile on his face. The magistrate that stood just in front of Draco and Harry nodded and the ceremony began.
Much like his cousins wedding, Draco didn't bother to listen to the magistrates words. The dread that had been filling him since his capture had finally reached its limit. This wasn't a joke or a prank as he had so desperately been praying it would be. His hands were shaking and he glared at the metal bands around his wrists.
He felt the absence of his magic now more than ever.
"Mr. Malfoy, if you would take Mr. Potter's right hand." One look at the minister's deadly gaze had Draco delicately holding the Gryffindor's hand. Clouded emerald eyes met his own crystal gaze.
"Draco?" The voice was barely more than a whisper. Harry seemed to be gaining a bit more clarity. "What..." His voice drifted off when Draco gently squeezed his hand. The Malfoy heir could see apprehension in the emerald eyes.
Harry was his enemy, his arch rival. The boy had nearly killed him during the school year when Draco himself had tried to cast an unforgivable on him. Their history was rockier than the roads in Knockturn Alley. Despite all of this, they were still being bonded.
The blond couldn't decide which was worse, the fact that the bond would ensure they would be together for ever, or the fact that Harry really had no clue as to what was going on. When the drugs wore off, and they would, Harry would want answers and Draco didn't know if he could provide them. How could he answer someone else's questions when he himself felt so clueless.
"I pronounce you, by the order of the Ministry of Magic and Law of Merlin, bond." The witnesses all stood and Harry was given a push towards him forcing Draco to catch him around the waste to keep him from falling. The voices of the witnesses rang in his ears.
"Mind"
"Body"
"And Soul"
After the ceremony Harry and Draco were taken to a room were they were given robes to change into. Scrimgeour informed Draco that 'their' reception was to begin in an hour and he had that time to prepare himself and his spouse before greeting guests.
The room was the typical brown paneling found in most of the ministry offices. Two robes were hung in the air. They were black with the ministry insignia on the left side. His own robe came with dress pants as well as a blazer.
Harry's were slightly different with intricate embroidery on the sleeves and hood. His pants were softer and he had a green button up shirt that would easily draw attention to his eyes.
"Malfoy, what is going on."
Draco turned to Harry almost surprised to hear him speaking so clearly. He had assumed the Gryffindor would have remained in his drugged state the rest of the evening.
"Look Potter, I don't have time to explain anything right now. I need you to change into these and not ask questions for the moment."
"Why do I have to change? Where are we?"
"Damn it Potter, I said don't ask fucking questions. Are you to stupid to comprehend?" Harry recoiled at Draco's shouting moving away from the blond. He pressed himself against the wall farthest from the Slytherin and glared for all he was worth.
Draco pulled the robe Harry was supposed to be wearing from the air where it was magically suspended and tossed it to the raven-haired boy. He then began changing his own outfit, trying desperately to ignore Harry.
"Look, Malfoy, for some reason I don't really know what's been going on and I'm not feeling so good." Draco watched as the teen across from him moved a hand to cover his stomach. It seemed that whatever had been done to him was still causing him a bit of pain.
Harry, it seemed, had decided to follow his lead and change. Draco was surprised that the teen had actually stopped his line of questioning. If anything Draco had expected the Gryffindor to pitch a monstrous fit. It was then that he noticed just how bad Harry was shaking. The boy could hardly do up his robes.
Slowly the Draco approached him. Harry watched him warily, though Draco noticed his eyes seemed to loose focus every now and then. With a deep, calming breath, the Malfoy heir began to act as his pureblood training had taught him. He covered his own fear and confusion with a mask and began to do up Harry's buttons.
"Why can't a focus on anything?" The question was asked so hesitantly.
"I imagine it is because of all the potions that have been shoved down your throat the past two days."
"Is that why my body hurts so bad?"
"Probably." Grey eyes rose to meet emerald. "Potter, I know we aren't friends or anything but I ask that you trust me. I need you to trust me!" The desperation in his voice was not lost on the Gryffindor.
"Are we going to die?" It seemed like such an absurd question but considering that it was Potter, and attempts at his life were probably ordinary to him, Draco chose not to snap back.
"We won't be dying today Potter. Now, I promise on all that I am that I will answer all of your questions as soon as I can. Until then I need you to go with the flow and avoid doing anything rash. Merlin knows you Gryffindors always seem to overreact in a panic."
At Harry's nod, Draco continued to do up the buttons. He paused at the last one which was right at Harry's throat. With the robe buttoned up all the way, the silver collar that was wrapped around the boys throat was hidden. The sound of the door opening had him jumping back from Harry, putting as much space as possible between them.
"Ah, my boys, your guests await." And with that, the two were led to their reception.