It was a simple letter. There was nothing special or spectacular about it. It was just a letter from his father. Well, it would be if it wasn't for the last line.

Your contract has been signed, be prepared to meet her.

Draco couldn't believe his father would do this to him. It was unspeakable and unacceptable. He'd already informed his father that he wouldn't be marrying a woman. I guess that doesn't matter to him.

Draco looked over the Great Hall, specifically to the Gryffindor table. Harry was talking to Ron with a bright smile. Harry turned to face Draco at that moment, almost like he could sense Draco's eyes on him. His smile widened, if possible, before turning back to Ron.

How am I going to tell him I'm engaged?

Draco was acting weird. He kept glancing around and avoiding any questions Harry would ask. Ever since Draco received that letter he'd been different. Worst of all, he'd been distant. It was unusual and Harry was worried.

"Do you want to meet outside later?" Harry asked for the third day in a row. It was their thing (and didn't that sound cheesy) to meet after curfew outside by the Herbology greenhouse, or, in the middle of winter, inside it. Harry never had to ask before, but since that letter he'd been left alone more times than he cared to count.

"Can't," Draco said, flickering his eyes away from Harry's. "I'm busy."

Harry knew he was lying. It was obvious in his actions and words. The question was, why? "A-are you sure?" Harry asked, cursing his stutter.

"Yes!"

Harry stepped back when Draco's voice suddenly rose in volume. "O-okay," Harry said, hunching his shoulders. "Sorry."

Harry walked away, not seeing the sad eyes following him.

He couldn't keep doing this. Lying to Harry was the hardest thing he ever had to do. But I can't tell him. Draco shook his head. He should just tell his father to stuff it.

Wait, he thought. Maybe I should do that.

Draco started to pace his dorm room. If he just told his father to stuff it, tell him he wasn't marrying the bimbo picked out for him, then maybe he wouldn't have to tell Harry anything. He could continue on with their relationship and Harry never needed to know about the engagement.

This could work, Draco thought as he sat down at the desk. He had a letter to write.

Draco was back to normal. He was smiling at him again and meeting him at night. In fact, Draco was almost paying a little too much attention to him, almost like he needed to make something up to Harry.

Harry didn't like it at all.

They were walking down a corridor, hand in hand. Harry still shivered slightly with the contact but he was able to ignore the fear now.

"Oi! Malfoy!"

The pair turned around and came face to face with a petite blonde girl that was vaguely familiar to Harry. She was shorter than both boys, Harry thought she might be a third year, and her features were contorted into an angry scowl. She was walking – because purebloods don't run – but her steps were angry and powerful.

"What is it Greengrass?" Draco drawled.

"Greengrass?" Harry knew this wasn't Daphne Greengrass, the Slytherin from their year, but he could see the similarities between the two.

"Harry, meet Astoria Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass' younger sister."

"Nice to meet you," Harry said with a smile. Astoria barely glanced at him.

"Have you heard about what our parents are planning?" Her voice was hard and unforgiving. She waved her hand in front of them and for the first time, Harry noticed the letter in her hand.

Draco stiffened beside him and his hand clenched around Harry's. Could this be Draco's big secret?

"How could they think we want this?"Astoria continued, accepting Draco's silence as agreement.

Harry was starting to feel worried. What could Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass have in common? They were in separate years at Hogwarts and Draco had never mentioned the girl before. And why are their parents involved?

"Astoria, shut up."

Harry looked at Draco in surprise. He was nervous. Draco was never nervous, at least, not this openly. Harry's hand clenched inside Draco's. I'm not so sure I want to know.

"I mean," Astoria said, ignoring Draco, "how could they expect us to get married and without even giving us a choice."

Harry felt like the world just turned upside down and back to front. His legs wobbled and his vision blurred. He started to shake. "Married?" Harry asked, his voice weak.

Astoria didn't seem to notice the effect her words were having, too busy ranting about the injustice. "Yes, married. We're already engaged and everything. I mean, I'm only 14 years old for Merlin's sake. How dare my parents try to marry me off like that."

Harry pulled his hand away from Draco's. "You're already engaged?" he asked, looking to Draco.

"Harry," he said, stepping forward with his hand raised.

Harry didn't let him get any closer. How dare you," he said.

"I wasn't going to go through with it," he said, his arm dropping even as he took another step forward.

Harry took another back. "That doesn't matter. You're engaged."

"I didn't choose to be!"

"I know that!" Harry was still backing away. His vision blurred again so he wiped a hand over his eyes, his sleeve coming back wet. "You still should have told me." Harry turned and ran, disappearing in an instant.

Draco's shoulders slumped as he watched him leave.

"Oh," Astoria said from behind him. "I thought you already told him."

"No, Draco said, "I didn't."

But I should have.

(w.c 962)

WolfWinks –xx-