Draco rubbed his face dramatically, trying to conceal his reaction, "Astoria Greengrass. I was supposed to marry her. She was a nightmare." I watched as his expression changed multiple times in different varieties of embarrassment.

"So...," I thought for a moment, "So you slept wit' me on a dare?"

He shook his head and his arms wrapped around my waist, "That was just an excuse to do what I already wanted to. I would've found a way to get to you eventually. Halloween was just convenient." His eyes probed my face nervously as I recalled the memory over and over in my head. I twisted my fingers in his sweater as I thought of his younger self boldly convincing me to take his virginity, knowing exactly what he was doing. I could feel his hands tugging on my clothing impatiently as I considered.

"I want to see another one," I looked up at him briefly before moving to review the wall of vials.

He watched me go with a look of needing further closure on the topic. He continued to talk as he collected the memory from the bowl, "I don't want there to be any confusion, Madeleine. I genuinely had feelings for you at that point. I knew what I wanted. And I'm aware it was the wrong thing to do, I should've been honest about the bequeathment mark."

I ignored his desperate attempt to explain the circumstances of our betrothal as I scanned the shimmering glass vials along the wall.

"Did you hear me?" he demanded in a deep voice.

I turned to face him chewing on my lip, "Yes, I did." I felt uncomfortable and needed to digest the memory. It was too soon to discuss my thoughts on how we'd gotten together. Obviously he'd gone about it the wrong way, but in all fairness he'd been just as inebriated as myself while making the decision. My head was all over the place.

"Are you mad?" He leaned on the sarcophagus and crossed his arms. His eyes looked dark as he scanned my face.

I sighed and looked down at my boots, "No, not really. I...I don't know 'ow to feel about it. And as you 'ave said, it is so far in de past." I pointed my finger over my shoulder, "Can I watch one of dese ones labelled Astoria? I'm curious about 'er."

His eyes widened as he looked at the floor, "Why the fuck would you want to see that? If you're not angry about what you just watched you will be."

I pulled one down that said Home - Astoria - Courting, "Den why did you keep dese memories of 'er?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, suddenly appearing irate, "It's part of my past. How do you like having holes in your memories?" He opened his palm out towards me for the vial, "If you insist on making yourself jealous, then so be it. Maybe you'll finally understand how it feels. But this isn't the reason I brought you here so stick to our memories from here on."

I raised my chin at him with an amused smile as I passed him the glass. He put it into the bowl and the vapors coming out turned a dark gray color.

The memory began in the Manor lobby where Lucius was speaking with a portly, short man wearing a monocle. They were both puffing on cigars inside of the lobby without regard for the build up of smoke around them.

Off to the side Draco, Narcissa, and a tiny girl were waiting as the two men concluded the purpose of their visitation. Draco was no more than seventeen, pacing back and forth in a black hoodie, looking positively aggravated. His platinum hair was messy and unkempt like he'd been surprised by the visit on a weekend. Narcissa paused his pacing by grabbing his arm and pulling his hood down off his head where he'd been hiding in it.

"Well, Draco has reached an age where we feel he needs to set his marital priorities straight. The future of the Malfoy line must be secured, and to an acceptable partner. Surely you understand the offering, Calhoun," Lucius was drawling in his typical nasty, singsong voice. He raised an eyebrow at the man before him who was darting his eyes back forth between their two children.

The girl had long brown hair and dark blue eyes. She looked frail and thin, and her proud smile spoke volumes for how pleased she was at the possibility of marrying Draco. She was obviously a few years younger than him by her childish demeanor. He shot her a nasty glare which caused her to finally look away to her father.

"Yes..," Calhoun said slowly as he evaluated the Manor and it's occupants, "They would make a good pureblood pairing. An excellent opportunity to merge our estates, Lucius." He held out his hand and they shook on it, as though Lucius were merely buying a property from Calhoun, not sealing a marriage in such a short conversation.

Narcissa was boring her eyes into Draco who was still lodged in her claw-like fingernails. He made a disgusted face at his father filled with anger and betrayal. He indeed looked trapped and unhappy with the forced concept of marrying Astoria.

"Gentlemen, let us move outside to the tea deck. We'll leave these two to familiarize themselves more," Narcissa suggested in a regal tone. She gave Draco a look that dripped with warning as she released him.

Before he'd passed Draco, Lucius slammed his cane into the brick at their feet causing Draco's eyes to dart straight up to his father's leer, "Don't waste anyone's time Draco, the sooner you finalize this the better. Take Astoria upstairs and show her your room."

Once their parents had cleared off Draco didn't waste anyone's time, including Astoria's. He swiftly turned and ran up the large stairs and Astoria cried out in outrage at the immediate and rude abandonment. I picked up my dress to run after them as she began screaming at him, "How dare you run from me! I will be your wife, Draco Malfoy!" Her voice was shrill and high-pitched and I winced at the proximity of her shriek next to me on the stairs.

He spun, a hard line of enragement had formed between his furrowed eyebrows, "I don't give a fuck! Stay the hell away from me." His deep voice echoed around the second floor stairs and both Astoria and I jumped slightly at his biting tone.

He kept climbing and she boldly continued to follow him. He looked back over his shoulder on the third floor with a loud of grunt of disbelief before taking off skipping the stairs now two or three at a time. Unluckily for him he couldn't dissapparate yet due to his age. A laugh danced on my lips as she chased him all the way to his bedroom door on the fourth floor where he'd slammed it shut and locked it.

She banged her fists on his door childishly and with vigor, causing the wood to shake in it's place. A terrible wail escaped her body that I found nearly impossible to believe had come from her petite form. I cringed next to her at the dramatic and immature display, "Draco! Draco you will let me in or I will go to your father and force you to let me in!"

He ripped the door open, seething on the spot. I could see the planet on his desk beyond, the one I'd now burned to a crisp in the rape incident. His hood was back up on his head as he glared down at her, "You're an absolute menace. Why do you need to come in my fucking room?"

Her lip quivered as she stomped her foot. The energy between them was horrible and I mildly felt bad for her, despite her annoying reactions. "You're supposed to want me. Why don't you want me, am I not pretty enough?" Soon a wave of ugly crying was escaping her face as he crossed his arms and leaned in the doorway impatiently.

He spoke in a light and cruel voice, "You're right, I don't want you. I've never liked you. You made my childhood insufferable. This is the worst idea my father has ever had." He stepped back into his doorway with a movement that suggested he was about to close it again and she took the opportunity to push her way in, nearly knocking him off of his feet in the process.

He groaned loudly and hung his head back in defeat. Before he could close the door again I snuck into the familiar quarters, flattening myself against the wall. He was next to me where he'd just closed the door, his head and hands pushed into the wood paneling as she wandered around touching his personal possessions without a care in the world.

As soon as they had begun the water works had abruptly stopped, making me wonder if she cried on command to get her own way. He turned around with an unmasked cringe. His beautiful sharp blue eyes were slits as he watched her pick through piles of parchment he had at his desk. There were multiple tools and hardware scattered next to the papers where he'd clearly been building model cars. I timidly walked across the room, still not used to being invisible amongst the memory characters. I peered down at the impressive sketches he had on the parchment showing blueprints, dimensions and scaled explosions of vehicle parts and pieces.

Astoria was making a mess of the parchments, throwing papers around the desk with haste as she looked through his artwork and plans. "Can you not do that?" he asked darkly from the doorway.

She sneered at him, "Why? It's just muggle machinery. It's not like it's valuable compared to magical cars." She had fanned out the carefully organized pile into a disaster.

He went and sat on his bed and put his head in his hands, covering his eyes as though if he ignored her she would vanish. Her eyes hovered on his body, on his toned forearms where the sweater sleeves were pulled back, his pointy noise jutting out between his long fingers. I felt myself flush at the idea that he'd had this girl in his life before me, even though he obviously harbored animosity towards her.

She walked to his bed and stopped in front of him, pulling his hands away from his face. She was giggling awkwardly and he snarled when she managed to rip down his hands. She pushed him backwards and pinned him down onto the bed, straddling him. My entire face was flaming as I realized why Draco had so reasonably suggested I not watch this memory.

"Get off me, Astoria," younger Draco was looking up at her with deadpan eyes where she had his wrists shoved into the bedding. There was no way he couldn't fight her off but I assumed that he was trying to avoid further crying and drama.

She leaned forward so quickly I hardly had time to register that she was going to kiss him. He let it hold for a moment before sharply pushing his head to the side, his eyes squeezed shut. She continued to kiss down his neck and jawline. "My father has told me about the mark you'll leave on me when we've gone all the way," she whispered into his ear and my hand shot to my face with horror. She had known, and she was trying to take the bequeathment mark right then and there.

She reached her hand down between his legs and grabbed him hard. He finally decided to fight her off with a growl, shoving her down onto the floor. He had to argue against her desperately roving hands as she giggled menacingly and ripped at his pants. He lost control of his patience and tangled his hand in the hair at the crown of her head, holding her away from him. They both panted in uncomfortable silence. I grimaced at how painful his grasp looked on her skull.

He regained his composure and leaned towards her with wicked, bright eyes, "Enough! This is rape Astoria. I'm not going to sleep with you. You'll never get that Malfoy Crest on your neck, if it's the last thing I do."

She grinned up at him like a pestilent child, "Don't be silly, Draco. You've waited long enough, and now you have permission. I know you want to lose your virginity." Her fingers slid forward on the carpet again and his eyes narrowed at the movement.

He snorted, "Of course I want to. Just not to you. I need to get some air. Do whatever you want." He let her go with a mean shove and marched swiftly to the door. I ran after him but he'd already slammed the door and my ghost form fell right through the plank in a sickening manner. He was flying down the hallway at breakneck speed towards the back stairwell that ran down to the abandoned wing.

I had to run to keep up with him, his legs were long and he was young and strong in his stride. I almost tripped on his slumped form when I rounded the second floor landing. He'd stopped and sat in the middle of the frigid stairwell, crying softly into his hands. His shoulders heaved as he wept from the horrible forced relationship. As I sat next to him, watching the unusual display of sensitivity, I realized she had probably left him feeling terribly violated.

When my vision cleared again in the tomb he was leaning very close to me. I looked up into his eyes with sympathy, "'ow could I be jealous of dat? She was 'orrible to you."

In the glow of the bowl his stare into my eyes was intense, "I had to endure her visits for an entire year before you came along. Somehow I managed to keep her at a distance but she was always like that. Harassing. Determined. I could never let my guard down around her." His lip curled with disgust and I instantly decided I wouldn't ever want to see anymore of his memories with her.

He let me go on to watch several more memories we'd shared at Hogwarts and the Manor together. By the time I was ready to leave I felt certain that we'd been in love before and my heart was aching for the loss. I was able to watch his memories of our past but mine would always be taken from me, leaving only a chasm of darkness in their absence. And he would continue to obliviate his at random intervals. We were a lost hope at retaining any kind of consistency.

The walk through the dreadful dungeons was quiet as I let Draco lead us back. Back in my room I took a bath while he left for his own room with the promise to return. I changed into a tiny silver dress and sat in a fluffy chaise by the wall of windows.

I was afraid of the coming days and all of the changes. I'd grown wildly attached to him and it would be immensely painful having to leave.

When he finally did return I noticed he'd changed into clean clothes and his hair was damp. His eyes flew to my short dress when I stood abruptly. "Is it okay if I sleep with you tonight?" he asked, trying to hide the fact that he'd just been staring like a predator. He didn't move any farther across the room until I'd nodded vigorously.

He seemed extremely anxious as I approached him where he'd stopped to lean against the white bricks of the fireplace mantle, watching the inviting flickering of the flames within. His hands were in his black sweatpants and his breathing was rapid. I couldn't for the life of me understand why he was so nervous all of a sudden.

"Is something wrong?" I asked in a quiet voice.

His bright eyes appeared grey in the lighting as he looked at me and shook his head, "No. There's just something I want you to have back." He pulled a black box out of his pocket and pressed it into my hand. I felt his attention burning into me as I opened it to find it was a white, ornate ring with a small glowing blue stone in the centre.

"Your wedding ring," he explained. "It took me weeks to find one with moonstone in it. You weren't wearing it during the accident and I've been hanging onto it." His gaze never left my face as he watched me begin tearing up.

I put a hand to my mouth to contain the emotions welling up. I shook my head in disbelief at how beautiful it was. Concern blossomed in his expression, "I don't expect you to wear it - only if you want to Madeleine."

"I want to wear it," I reassured him as I swiped away at my tears and he reached across assertively to put it on my finger. He'd wasted no time at all reacting, and I could see a faint smile on his lips.

"Will you entertain the idea of re-doing our wedding at the end of this war?" He asked curtly, still holding my hand.

"Oui, I would like dat very much," I smiled up at him. I knew our original wedding had been upsetting solely because he'd furiously refused to let me see the memory. Despite my burning curiosity I had let it go for the time being.

He shocked me by reaching his arm under my legs and picking me up in his arms to carry me to the bed. His eyes were hooded and love struck as he put me down onto the covers and pressed kisses onto my lips. I closed my eyes and pulled him on top of me, letting his hands flow freely around my body. All the while as I twisted his hair in my fingers, the weight of my wedding ring was a welcomed addition on my left hand.