CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Author's Note: To all of my Suspended Reality readers, I deeply from the depths of my heart, apologize for not updating this story for so long (months). I have multiple reasons for not being able to update, but none that completely excuse. I've given you chapter twelvve, and now I give you the next installment of my story. Thanks again for reading and as always, Enjoy. Happy reading.
Their week spent in seclusion had been nothing short of spectacular. Although they were returning late, the couple felt incredibly relaxed as the port key brought them back to their starting point. The two arrived to a quiet house, immediately realizing something was up. Quiet in a Weasley house did not happen. Mackenzie nodded to the closed doors in front of them as a shadow passed under the door. George nodded and the two went for the door. Mackenzie reached out to open the door.
George stopped her before they were to enter the room, prepared to be showered with greetings of their return, and invasive questions of their honeymoon and time together.
"Mackenzie, I want to give you everything." He said, standing behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist, bringing them as close as they could get. " I know I may not be able to, but, the one thing I can always give you…"
Mackenzie turned her body to face his. She placed her fingers to his mouth. Her eyes met his. "George, you have given me the best part of you." She took his hands with hers. "I have your heart and your soul. I am the luckiest girl in the world."
George stared back down at his wife. The expression he gave was one mixed with intensity and obsession. He smiled at her.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything Ken."
Mackenzie raised an eyebrow. "Thank you for what?"
He shrugged. "Your love, your support, mending the parts of me that were beyond repair…"
Mackenzie stopped him from speaking. "Don't thank me love. Those are things that come naturally between you and me. There is no one else I'd rather do those things for. I love you."
"Thank you for marrying me Mackenzie." George finished.
She turned her head up to his. "Wild horses couldn't have kept me from doing that."
George grinned, pulling his wife to him again. He picked her up, lifting her feet from the ground, pressing his mouth to hers in a hungry uninhibited kiss. Before she knew it, Mackenzie had her back to a wall, pinned between it and her husband. Her legs had managed to wrap around his waist. George's left hand held to her waist, keeping her steadied to the wall, as his right ran roughly up her thigh, under the skirt she wore. His mouth fiercely manhandled her neck, gluing itself and sucking to each spot it found.
Mackenzie closed her eyes, repositioning her head to give better access to George. She couldn't help but think that even through the sybaritic, flawless infatuation the couple had with each other, an air of innocence had managed to stay to their relationship. Mackenzie felt it and she reveled in it. It made her certain that what they shared was real, it was true, and most important to her, it was unbreakable. With one hand kept on his shoulder, the fingers on her opposite hand made their way to George's hair, running through it. She knew exactly what it did to him, and she enjoyed the teasing it gave him.
He moaned into her neck, moving up to her ear. "Mmm…Stop it." He playfully spoke.
"You started it."
"And I have no intention on stopping."
"Do you think we could get away with it here?" Mavkenzie asked.
George sighed. "Probably not."
The two laughed quietly, but continued with the roaming of their hands and mouths. They were halted in their actions when the familiar clearing of a throat was heard.
Mackenzie closed her eyes, placing her face into George's neck. "Hello Fred." She mumbled, recognizing the interruption given.
George gently released his wife, setting her carefully back to the floor as he avoided the eyes of his brother.
"You two have no shame." Fred quietly accused, coming out of a room clearing filled with people.
George blushed, smiling at his wife, before meeting the reproving eyes of his twin.
"Would you if you were married to her?"
The brothers gave each other equally knowing looks.
"Probably not." Fred answered, winking at Mackenzie. He leaned down to hug his sister-in-law. "I thought Harry and Gin were bad. You're both worse than them. Welcome back."
"I swear Fred." Mackenzie smiled, hugging him. "If you catch us one more time…"
"No!" Fred insisted. "No I won't. I don't want to catch you two like this again. I do not look for the opportunity to do so. Don't jinx me. My fragile mind can't take it."
"Fragile?" George and Mackenzie scoffed in unison.
Fred laughed. "Okay, not so fragile." George and Mackenzie joined in his laughter.
"So," George asked his brother. "How long have you all been waiting for us to return?"
Fred groaned in frustration. "The morning. And mum had expected to be back by lunch, but clearly that couldn't happen. What took you all so long anyway?"
George cleared his throat, looking over at his wife. "We had, something important come up." He joked.
Mackenzie laughed. "Yeah. It couldn't wait. We just had to take care of it."
"I didn't need to hear that." Fred mumbled. "It was nothing close to subtle."
The newlyweds grasped hands. "Well, I suppose we should face them now then."
They took deep breaths before Fred opened the door allowing them to enter first.
"What's that on your neck?" Fred subtly mumbled to his brother, causing George to pull his shirt collar up further.
"I bit myself shaving." George joked. The brothers laughed.
"Welcome Back!" The family members all shouted, throwing the couple off for a few seconds.
"How was your trip?"
"Was it fantastic?"
"Where did you go?"
All of the questions came at the pair immediately and all at once. Most of the questions were from Ginny and Hermione who tore Mackenziie from her husband to question her as George spoke to his brothers.
"It was beautiful." Mackenzie slowed their inquisition. "We had a fabulous time together."
Eventually the pair were reunited on a couch to recount some of the details to their getaway. They discussed where they'd arrived when keyed away, the sights surrounding their private stay, the sounds that they experienced, and all of the peaceful moments they spent just standing or slowly dancing in the moonlight on their terrace.
It was Harry who saw the owl approach the window sill outside. He quietly moved to open the window. It was holding a piece of silver parchment that once seen by all was instantly recognized by Mackenzie.
"He sure doesn't waist any time." She spoke, more to herself than the crowd. "It's from Malfoy." She stated, taking the page from the animal.
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked.
"It's his personal stationary. I'd know it anywhere. It's lucky that his owl is sent out to find specific people even if he doesn't know where to find them."
"So, he didn't send this here, knowing where I was." Mackenzie breathed.
"Not likely." Harry said.
She opened the paper and silently read the message he'd sent upon her arrival.
Mackenzie,
I've sent this letter to reach you upon your arrival back from wherever it is you've chosen to disappear to. I am unable to get away from a prior commitment today, and am sorry I cannot greet you as you return home. I only hope you know that I have spent a week missing you and look forward to all we will plan and do from this point on.
Signed with the truest of intentions,
Your friend.
D.M.
"Wow." Mackenzie breathed.
George took the letter from her. "He sure is on top of things." He reiterated.
Mackenzie shook her head. Don't worry about him sweetheart." She took her husband's hand."
She turned her head to her new family members. "So, how has Mr. Malfoy been behaving while we've been away?"
"Unppleasant." Harry replied.
"Disrespectful." Ginny added.
"Inappropriate."
"Tactless and uncivilized." Ron and Hermione both offered up.
"No change then." Mackenzie joked, intending to fix the insolent behavior of Draco Malfoy. "I should make a point to stop in and see him this evening."
"What?" George asked her. "Why?"
She turned to him and felt his disappointment. "If I don't go to see him this evening, he'll come to find me."
The family was in agreement. Malfoy was never one to let what he felt belonged to him out of his sight and hold for long if he could help it.
"I'll stop to see him shortly and return afterwards." Mackenzie reassured her husband again.
***************
As her luck continued, Draco had not arrived home at a reasonable hour when she had stopped in to see him. She waited for nearly an hour before leaving a message that she was in need of sleep and planned to return the following morning. She knew George would not be happy with her return to Malfoy Manor, but what could she do? She had kept aware of the consequences surrounding her and George if they were found to be married before any information should be known, and she constantly reminded her husband as well.
The next morning, Mackenzie awoke before George in order to avoid his disappointed and concerned stare. After quickly showering, she dressed in a pair of dark blue trousers, a white silk shirt and matching dark blue jacket. She ran a comb through her hair, brushed her teeth, grabbed her purse, and left the quiet flat the two occupied before moving into their house.
When she did arrive at the Manor, she was greeted at the door by a happier than normal looking Draco. Oddly enough, he had been the one to answer the door. He smiled as she approached him, and eyed her suspiciously as she walked closer to him. Mackenzie held herself back a few feet as he took her hands in his. Fortunately for her sake, she had placed her wedding band onto her right hand ring finger before her trip to see Malfoy.
"Hello again." She said as he pulled her closer, allowing her to enter his home again.
"I'm glad you're back." Draco returned, placing an arm around her waist.
She slid out of his hold, turning to face him.
"Did you have a nice time?" He questioned, searching for any answer to where she'd gone.
"I did. Thank you." She told him. "I'm glad to be back."
Draco led his fiancé into the parlor, closing the door behind them as they entered.
Mackenzie entered the bright room, offering immediately to make a drink for the man, just so she didn't have to face his speculating eyes.
"Are you still going to marry me?" Draco asked her as soon as the door closed.
Mackenzie turned her eyes to his. He looked like if she did tell him the truth in this very second, he would break. He would fall apart at this moment if he knew what she knew. It was not the time.
"Why Draco?" She asked him.
He shrugged. "I just thought that maybe you would change you mind and find a way out of this with a week to really think about our situation, and…" His voice trailed off.
"George." Mackenzie finished.
Draco nodded. "Yes."
She took a deep breath before walking toward him, handing him his drink. He nodded his thanks to her.
"Draco, I admit that I did think about George a bit while I was gone. It was kind of hard not to. But it was good therapy."
"Good therapy?" Draco scoffed.
"Yes. I am very angry with him, and that is something I must deal with. It's been hard for me to move on from where I started and where I have ended up, so dealing with my problems with George is something I must do."
Draco set his drink onto a table, turning away from Mackenzie. "I can't help but think I am losing you. I'm fighting a battle that you will not let me win no matter what I do."
Mackenzie saw this opportunity. She had to take it. He had admitted that he knew he wouldn't ever truly have her. It wasn't an admission to defeat, but it was close enough to something that she could use to her own advantage.
"This isn't a battle Draco. You aren't losing me. You cannot lose what you never had, what you cannot completely take hold of."
He turned to face her again, his eyes now pleading with hers. "How do I get you to be mine completely. I want to know the pieces of you that you keep so closely guarded Kenny. How can we get to that point?"
"I don't know." She told him. "We are very slowly getting to know each other and becoming friends Draco, but my life and my heart are not things that I will to others upon request or demand. We have to take these things slow. I'm forced into marrying you, but I will not be forced to surrender the pieces of me that are not yet deserved."
"Deserved? " Draco's voice grew slightly in volume. Obviously her statements had fueled fire in him. "Mackenzie, I'll be the first at this point to admit my mistake of approach to you. I shouldn't have forced this, but now that we are in this spot, I only think it fair for you to give me even a small clue to where we go next."
"I don't know Draco." Mackenzie rose her own voice in frustration.
Draco looked down briefly before turning his head back up to her. "Move in with me." He suggested. The look on his face told her that the words had slipped. It was a reaction to the beginning disagreement they were forming.
"No." She replied.
"Why not?"
"Because we are not married and I will not allow you to use our situation against me in gaining the benefits of marriage."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Draco insisted.
"You know what it means. It means Malfoy that…"
The sound of the large Grandfather clock in the room stopped Mackenzie. It was now nine in the morning. George would be arriving to work at nine. She missed her husband. She wanted to see him. Even if only across a crowded street, she would be happy just to meet his eyes briefly.
"I don't want to argue with you Kenny." Draco informed the woman in front of him. "What do you say we stay in today and have a bit of fun getting to know each other.
"We have far too much planning to do for this wedding." Mackenzie disagreed, unable to think of anything other than seeing her husband.
"Can't it wait?"
"No."
"Mackenzie…" Draco whined. "Let's just stay in and play video games."
"You only want me for my WII." She stated.
Draco held in laughter. "Is that meant to be a very bad euphemism ?"
Mackenzie looked back at him, staying quiet for a brief second before both broke into fits of laughter. Each laughed until they were in tears. When they finally stopped, both were breathing heavily.
"So, what do you say? Can we stay in?"
Mackenzie shook her head. "No. We have too much to prepare for before the wedding. I want finalize the settings, and our invitations should be ready. We have to pick those up. There is so much we haven't thought to do yet." She grabbed his hand, pulling him behind her as she exited the Manor. When they finally stepped outside, her hand dropped from his. "Did you manage to get the rings while I was gone?"
"I did." Draco said, attempting to keep up or slow her down. "I also picked something more out for you." He mentioned, stopping his own quick walk.
Mackenzie stopped her pace when she realized she'd left him behind a few steps. She watched him reach into his pocket, to pull out a small box, a box Mackenzie realized was small enough for a ring.
"Draco we don't have time to stop."
"We have time for this." He returned to her. He stepped towards her, taking a hand to hers.
She fought the urge to recoil. "I know my approach in questioning isn't the way it should be, but Mackenzie, please marry me." He opened the box to her, showing a massive diamond ring.
"Never one to do things half way." She said, in a bit of shock.
"You don't like it?" He stood back a foot.
She saw the look of disappointment cross his face again. "No dear, I do. It's beautiful. Thank you." She smiled with mock sincerity.
She allowed them to place the ring to her finger, kissing his cheek as his head bent closer to hers.
Draco looked up at her in shock from the action.
"Thank you Draco."
"It's nothing." He said.
Mackenzie smiled, surprisingly enjoying the calm that now surrounded them as they walked to the appartion point to arrive in Diagon Alley.
The pair arrived outside of the crowded streets, walking to the stores they needed to stop by. Mackenzie was happy to spend the day in town knowing she could spot her husband somewhere at anytime. Expectation filled her with happiness until she felt a hand grab hers. She pulled her hand away when she saw that it was Draco who had reached for her. She then saw the concerned look on his face.
"I'm sorry Draco." She stopped walking. "I'm trying."
"We're friends Kenny. We're taking things slow. I only want to hold your hand."
Mackenzie nodded, reluctantly smiling, also remembering that they were the couple to be seen. There were people watching them, wanting details of their relationship. If the public saw their unease or discontent, the stories would change for the worse. She did not need speculation into the reality of her life. She placed her hand out to him, linking it with his.
"What is first on our list today?" Draco asked her.
*******************************
The couple had run through much of their plans, purchases, and sightings during the morning, and decided as one o'clock hit, they should rest up before getting as much more as they could finish and finalized done in the span of the day.
It happened five minutes after one. Mackenzie spotted her husband crossing the street. She smiled at him for a second before realizing she was being held in Draco's grasp. She could not run to George's arms. Her expression turned to one of temporary discord as the red head approached.
"Keep away from her." Draco demanded before either George or Mackenzie were able to start a fight or say anything for that matter."
"I have no desire to be anywhere near her." George lied.
Mackenzie saw the look of pain in his lie cross his eyes.
Draco nodded to the man, instantly pulling Mackenzie close to him. "My conditions still stand." He whispered to her.
She knew what he meant, and knew that she had no choice but to go along with kissing him, so as his face moved to hers, she had to allow his mouth to capture hers. The kiss was short lived as Mackenzie saw a flash of red move quickly. She backed away from Draco in time to see George swing at Draco, knocking him back a foot.
Draco placed a hand to his lip that now bled. He grew angry at the sight of blood on his fingers. Before Mackenzie knew what was happening, both men were swinging, throwing punches, and rolling on the ground in a bloody mess. She searched the streets and spotted Fred and Harry running to where she stood.
"Fred, Harry, please help me. Pull them apart." She ordered the men who stepped in and pulled George away from Draco as Mackenzie had to attend Draco while still letting George know she cared. Her eyes drifted to him as his met hers.
"I'm fine." He mouthed to her. He winked before being pulled away by his brothers.
"See you tonight." She mouthed back.
"Draco, are you okay?" Her hand touched to the side of his face as she wiped away the blood at his right eye. Her eyes shined down at him.
Draco saw the concern in her. His heart lifted slightly until he remembered that her concern was strictly out of friendship, if that.
"I'm fine Kenny." He sat up from where he was, allowing her to help him up.
"Maybe we should take the rest of the day off. We'll continue our plans tomorrow. We'll go back to Chase Manor and spend the rest of the day in seclusion."
"Really?"
"Yes." Mackenzie smiled, as they apparated to Chase Manor.
Mackenzie through open the door, happy to back here where she felt at peace again.
"Daddy?" She called out. "Daddy are you home?" She heard a door open down the left corridor.
"Mackenzie?" Samuel called out.
"Yes daddy. I'm back home." She turned to her left to see her father walking to her.
The two hugged while Draco stood idle watching the greeting.
"How was your holiday?" Samuel asked his daughter. "You must catch me up on every detail." He said before acknowledging Draco.
"Mr Malfoy. I hope your well. I see from your state that you've been in a bit of an altercation."
"I'll live Minister." Draco replied. "Nothing to be concerned over."
"Draco and George decided to get into a physical row a few minutes ago." Mackenzie explained. "I thought Draco and I should hide out here while the boys calm down."
"I agree." Samuel said. "May I speak with you dear?" He asked his daughter. "It is rather important."
Mackenzie nodded, curious to her father's actions. The tone in his voice was not one she recognized.
"Of course." She turned to Draco. "You may wait upstairs in my room. I'll be up shortly."
Draco nodded and began walking up the staircase to Mackenzie's bedroom.
Samuel immediately pulled his daughter into his study. He kept his voice low as soon as the door locked behind the two.
"So, you've married George Weasley."
Mackenzie was speechless. How could he have known? How did he…
"How did you find out?" She whispered.
"I'm the Minister."
Now Mackenzie looked worried. If her father knew, then how many others knew , and how short a time would it be before Draco found out.
"Don't worry dear." Samuel assured her worries. "No one at the ministry knows. I only happened upon the license by chance. No one will know as I've hidden any evidence to the subject." He looked at his daughter. "You've involved me in a dangerous game Mackenzie. You should have told me."
"I wanted to tell you daddy, but how could I. I didn't want you to be involved. You can get into trouble for knowing. "
"Mackenzie, if Malfoy finds out you've married someone else…"
"Daddy, as long as the date of my wedding to Malfoy stays to what we've agreed, there will be no problem. My marriage to George will be legal. I won't have to marry Draco anyway."
"You're playing a dangerous game Mackenzie."
"I know."
The two further discussed any plans, arrangements, and ideas to keep their family safe. Their conversation ended with Mackenzie hugging her father, who by the end of things said, understood, or seemed to understand, and had insisted on his daughter bringing her new husband to dinner with her father.
"Thank you daddy." Mackenzie quietly said before letting go and moving to the door.
"There is one more thing you should know Mackenzie." Samuel offered to her before she reached the door.
She turned to her father again. "What is it?"
"He came to see me." Samuel said, walking to a chair, sitting down.
"Who came to see you?"
"Draco. After you left he came to the Ministry insisting on seeing me."
"Why?"
Her father hesitated. "You had left without so much as a clue to where you'd gone. He demanded I tell him where you were. Then he began accusing you of running away with George Weasley, and…"
"Wait." Mackenzie stopped him. "Why would he accuse me of leaving with George?"
Samuel was quiet for a few moments but couldn't stop from being honest with what had happened during her absence.
"I'm not too certain of the details, but as I've heard from other sources, Mr. Malfoy had an encounter with another Weasley… Ronald I believe. He found that George was also missing for the time, and he…"
"He assumed I was off with George."
Samuel nodded.
"I have to fix this." Mackenzie spoke before tearing off down the hall and up to her bedroom where Draco still waited. She opened the door as calmly as she could manage, closing it behind her.
"You went to see my father." She charged the blond before he had a chance to say anything. She knew that if he'd dug deep enough he could find the truth, and then she'd be in real trouble. Her job now was to keep him from wanting to look for any truth behind her relationship with George. She would charm him. She would go to the lengths that were within reason for her to use. She faced him.
"Yes." Draco confessed to her from where he stood beside a table with pictures of Mackenzie and her mother, and Mackenzie and her friends.
"Why?"
Draco crossed his arms as he step towards his bride-to-be. "Do you want the truth?"
"That would be nice. Yes."
He approached her and was only a foot from where she stood. "Because I wanted to know where you'd gone off to."
"So you decided to try and bully my father for details? I told you I was going away to be on my own."
"But…"
"But you assumed that because I had run off on a personal holiday without you, I was with someone else?"
Her accusation hit Draco like a knife. Minister Chase had told his daughter of their conversation and whom he had managed to think she'd run off with.
"Your father told you."
"My father told me that you had an row with Ronald Weasley. Yes. He said that whatever was said between you two gave you the belief that I was with George Weasley."
"Were you?" Draco's eyes were stern and cold. She hadn't truly seen this side of him yet, the side that those around her had told her of. To this point, the worst she'd experienced in his stares was concern or condemnation, mostly over George.
"Don't be ridiculous Draco." She tried to turn away from his eyes. His hands grabbed to her shoulders, turning her to face him again, forcing her to look at him again.
"Please Mackenzie. Look at me and tell me that your getaway was for you, and that you were alone."
Mackenzie did what she could to soften the man holding her in place. She escaped his hands, taking one of her own to the side of his face. She placed her palm lightly to his cheek.
"Draco, I was on my own. I needed time alone. And now that I've had it, I'm here with you."
Draco breathed in.
She had done it. His sharp silver eyes returned to the peace and calm she knew was there in them. His hand reached up to hers, keeping it to his cheek. He leaned down to her, coming inches from her face before she backed away, pulling her hand from his.
"No Draco."
Draco straightened. "For crying out loud Mackenzie, what will it take? We're going to be married. You'll have to kiss me at some point. Am I really that off putting?"
She didn't look at him. "No. But I told you that you and I will take things slow. Just because I smile for the society surrounding us while we're in public and because we have slowly become something that resembles friends does not mean I'm ready to give in to your charms."
"You've seen nothing of my charms Kenny." Draco told her, smiling, gaining a short-lived smile from her too. He stepped closer, placing his hands to her shoulders. "I have given into the idea of a slow progression, but can we possibly move faster than we are?"
"You've forced me into our marriage. You will not force me into anything more." She hurtfully told him, turning to him.
Draco didn't want to fight with her right now. The hurt and pained emotion behind her words stung. He really did want only happiness for her.
"I don't want this to turn into a dispute darling." He softly spoke. "I can honestly tell you that if I could take this away and do things properly between us, I would." He explained to her.
"Then please Draco, don't force this. Don't force this marriage. Sign it away."
"I can't do that." Draco said. His voice was still quiet.
"Why not?"
"Because once contracts are signed in the wizarding world, they're binding. There is nothing that can be done."
"Bullocks!"
"I'm sorry Mackenzie. I really am."
Tears formed in Mackenzie's eyes. She was upset, she was angry, and she only wanted to be held in the arms of her husband. She took in a deep breath before the crying started. As she cried, she felt Draco's arms wrap around her. She allowed it only because she could momentarily lie to herself, imagining it were George holding her, but she had to be careful. She stopped her tears, wiping them away from her now red eyes and cheeks.
"I'm sorry Kenny."
A knock on Mackenzie's door interrupted the calm debate being had by the two.
"What?" Mackenzie called out.
A timid house elf opened the door, entering through the room.
"What is it Carrie?" Mackenzie asked, moving away from Draco.
"Ms. Mackenzie, there is a Harry Potter waiting downstairs in the sitting room."
"I'll see to him immediately Carrie. Thank you."
"I'm sorry miss." The elf said. "Master Potter is here to see Master Malfoy."
"Why would Potter come here to see me?" Draco's eyes turned down to Mackenzie as if his question were directed to her.
She shrugged.
"What does he want?"
She shrugged again. "Perhaps you should go and see."
Draco's eyebrows rose in reservation, causing Mackenzie to roll her eyes at him.
"Do you really expect him to go away if you don't?" She walked away from Draco to sit on her bed. "I haven't known him half as long as you have, and even I'm not daft enough to wait for that to happen."
The blond sighed. "Well in that case, I won't be long. Will you be in here when I've finished?"
Mackenzie met his intense gaze. "Would you like me to be?"
There was a glint of concern for a few brief seconds. "Yes."
"Then here is where I will be." She gave a mock smile and watched him leave the room.
Draco roamed down the corridor to the staircase, slowly making his way down the stairs, and into the small sitting room at the front of the house. He entered with a cold cavalier demeanor.
************************
George awoke earlier in the morning than he had normally done. He awoke without the familiar presence of his wife's warm body hugging to him in bed. She wasn't in the room the temporarily shared that would soon be left behind to begin their new life together. After he reluctantly left the comfort of the bed he laid in, he showered, dressed, and moved out to the kitchen to see his brother already awake as well.
"Up early." George commented, seeing that the chair Mackenzie had left her purse on the night before was empty. She had left very early in the morning without saying goodbye, and George could only imagine where she gone.
"Good morning." Fred responded. His brother grumbled a reply.
"I'm a bit surprised that you and Kenny were willing to keep the volume down last night."
"George glared at his brothers joke. Again he grumbled something inaudible.
"Aren't you the ray of sunshine when you're wife is gone." Fred tried again to get a smile or audible response from his brother. "Where's Kenny gone anyway?"
"Where do you think?"
"Malfoy?"
George nodded.
"So brother dear, go and get her. Find a way to spend time with her today and give her another much needed Malfoy-less day."
"How?" George accepted a cup of coffee handed to him.
"Hey, you're the one with the secret marriage. You plan the mysterious and wicked details." Fred smiled. "But once you figure it out, I'm here to help. And Harry is on his way over. He needs to drop off some documents from the Ministry."
"What documents?" George questioned.
Fred busied himself with papers. "Nothing important. Just stuff for the shop and some information on…" his explanation trailed.
"Information on what?" George was interested now, seeing his brother's lack of eye contact. "If it has something to do with Mackenzie…"
"No." Fred insisted. "Not directly it doesn't."
"It indirectly deals with my wife?"
"Sort of."
Fred explained to his brother over coffee about his own secrets, leaving George gobsmacked by the end.
"Don't tell Kenny."
"Not even if I wanted to. Where would I start?" George assured his brother.
George then set upon the task of gaining his wife back for the day. He needed his wife to be with him today. He wanted to hold his wife for the entire day and do nothing at all.
When Harry walked through the door of the flat, George watched his brother and brother-in-law whisper in conversation off to the side.
"Harry!" George jumped up, interrupting whatever he said to Fred.
"What?" He turned.
"I need you to do me a favor."
Harry looked worried by the frantic expression set upon George's face. "I need you to go and talk to Malfoy. I have a plan to spend time with my wife."
"I really hate that you have to devise plans to steal your wife away." Harry said.
"Tell me about it." George returned.
"Okay. What should I talk to him about."
The men listened to what George had planned, agreeing to help their brother. What else could they do? The three set off out of the flat, through the shop, and into the streets of Diagon Alley, to see Kenny across the street, standing with Malfoy. She smiled only briefly before her expression changed as George made his way across to his wife.
The altercation that took place may have gone away and left George and Mackenzie to feel empty and upset until they saw each other that same evening had it not been for the blond man placing his lips to Mackenzie's, his hand sliding around her back, bringing her closer and closer. George could not take it. He knew he had to expect moments like this before he'd married Mackenzie, but now that she was his wife, it was impossible to watch. He certainly did not blame her, as he saw the look of recoil in her just before she was kissed. George drew back his fist, and the moment after his wife drew herself out of the way, he struck Malfoy across his jaw. He heard the cries of protest coming from his wife, begging the two to stop their silly fighting. She called to Harry and Fred to help. As the men pulled him away, George caught Mackenzie's eyes. He saw her concern and fear for his safety. He quietly told her of his own safety, winking at her before he left, They would meet again, sooner than she expected. He hoped.
*********************
"What do you want Potter, and it had better be of life and death importance for you to come here without any notice to interrupt myself and Mackenzie after what your family member did to me in the streets." The cruel cold Draco, the only side of the man Harry had ever known was now showing.
Harry's demeanor showed to be just as indignant and unsympathetic. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't important Malfoy. I honestly don't want to be here talking to you anymore than you want me to, but I am here on behalf of those I consider friends. One of those friends is Mackenzie."
Draco scoffed. "What do you want Potter? Get to the point. Why are you here?"
"I'm here because of George and Mackenzie."
Draco looked at the man standing feet from him with interest. "What do you mean? What about them?"
"There are things between them that I think has to be dealt with for either of them to move on."
"Mackenzie is completely over that…"
"Watch what you say Malfoy." Harry's hand touched to the wand on his side.
Draco sneered. "She is gladly with me and over Weasley. If he isn't over her, then that will be his cross to bear." Draco turned to exit the room. "You know your way out Potter."
"Can you tell me she isn't even the slightest bit angry over or troubled still with him?" Harry questioned before Draco was out the door.
Draco stopped walking. "I…" He turned to face Harry again. He couldn't answer the question because he knew the truth. The truth was that no matter what she said, deep down, Mackenzie Chase was not happy about her break-up with George Weasley. She wouldn't admit it to Draco, knowing how he felt about her former partner, but she was cross with the man, she was hurt by him still. That was the truth of it.
"Of course you wouldn't see it Malfoy. Your selfishness only blinds you to the truth. But you should try and see it in their eyes."
"See what?" Draco stoically inquired.
"The pain Malfoy. The hurt two people have caused to each other. Albeit that hurt was to do over a third party." Harry glared at the blond. "There is a moment in time when two people know that they're not over each other and cannot get past the damage done to them unless…"
"Unless?" Draco interrupted.
"Unless they face their problems face to face, head on."
Draco crossed his arms. He was growing bored of this confrontation and conversation. To think that this man was suggesting this ridiculous idea to him was a joke. But he let it go on.
"You're saying they should see each other then? Why? Mackenzie will surely get over this soon enough, and by then we will be married. As for your brother-in-law, I don't think I should be obliged to help either of you, unless you can come up with a better plea than he is not over my fiancé."
"Look Malfoy, I didn't come here expecting you to willingly agree to this, and I understand that the emotionless heart sitting inside you can easily move past those it hurts in the process of getting what you want, but George is still torn apart by what happened between him and Mackenzie. And I have to say that the look in Mackenzie's eyes showed the same pain today when I saw her attempting to stop you both from killing each other earlier today. I do not see my brother moving on until he has closure to this. If I know anything, it is that Mackenzie is still as hurt as George. That in turn would say that you and she must be suffering privately over your own relationship."
"That is not your concern Potter." Draco spat.
Harry blew off the comment. "I'm trying to help everyone here Malfoy. That includes you. Just consider my offer. Let them talk. It will help."
Draco sat on the couch nearby. He contemplated results of allowing a private meeting between the ex couple. If Mackenzie did have resolution to this problem, then perhaps she might allow herself to be closer to Draco. Just maybe they could become in shorter time the couple he hoped them to be. At the very least it was worth a try. It wasn't as if he'd have to worry about a reconciliation. It wouldn't do any good as Mackenzie would marry Draco.
"Alright Potter." He agreed. "I will suggest this to Mackenzie. You arrange it, and I will convince her to meet with George. After all, it can only benefit me."
"Always thinking of yourself Malfoy." Harry mentioned, passing by him to leave the Manor.
Draco left the same room a few minutes after Harry had left the room. He took a few minutes to figure out the best way to approach Mackenzie about facing George. He knew that she wouldn't do it if he didn't have a good argument. Again he admitted that she was far better at disputing points of reason, even if they were difficult or totally irrational. He'd have to be a stubborn as she was. Hell, he'd even have to lie if it came to it, which he had no problem doing, but didn't want her to think that his suggestion was in fact being made for his own self seeking reasons. Then she'd never go along with this. He left the room and made his way back up to Mackenzie's bedroom to find her sitting on her bed, reading a book. She placed it off to the side when she realized he had returned.
"What did Harry want?" She inquired as soon as Draco entered the room.
He looked at her with a serious tone to his expression. "He had a suggestion for an issue he seems to be having."
"Oh. Alright." She said. "So, where were we in our previous debate over this forced relationship?"
Draco looked sat across from her on the bed, taking her hands in his. "We were discussing why you will not move in with me." He said, not really interested in this debate any longer. It was not what weighed on his brain anymore.
"Right. Draco, look…"
"I want you to go and see Weasley." He blurted out.
Mackenzie was taken aback. She stood, taking her hands from Draco's. Sure her heart had almost immediately leapt for joy, but she kept her stoic demeanor over George. She thought about seeing him fighting with Draco. She saw him being pulled away, the dangerous protective look in his eyes. She desperately wanted to see him right this second, but getting past Malfoy by agreeing at once would not work.
"What?" She questioned Draco.
"You heard me."
"Why?"
"Because I think it will be good for you…for us. My little talk with Potter downstairs was more enlightening than I'd originally thought it would be. I think seeing Weasley will give you closure before we get married."
"That's very funny Draco." She laughed off his suggestion, secretly still jumping for joy over the suggested opportunity. Although she couldn't help but really think that maybe Draco was setting her up to see if she would take the bait to a trick of seeing if she would agree. If she did agree, he had her number, knowing that there might still be something there, giving him reason to look into more details. If she didn't agree… well then she'd not only miss the chance to see George sooner than later, and have to endure more time with Draco.
"I'm not joking Kenny."
"I cannot believe you are asking me to go and see him." She straightened her hair in the mirror off to her right, avoiding the man's still intense eyes. "Doesn't that break one of your cardinal rules to our compromise? No seeing Weasley."
"Not if I go with you."
Mackenzie scoffed, still disbelieving him. "Okay Draco," She now turned to the man. "Now I don't actually think you're kidding."
"I'm not. I told you that I think it will be good for us and for you more importantly."
"No." Mackenzie protested, playing the actress. "No I can't. I cannot face him after what he said to me, after the way things ended."
Draco stood, moving to her, taking her hands, holding them gently in his again.
"Mackenzie." He reasoned, bringing her to sit in a chair. He kneeled down to face her. "It ended between you two. It ended in a brutal way. You have obviously accepted that ending as you are willingly planning a wedding to me, but you cannot be angry with him anymore if you intend to walk into our marriage clear headed. It isn't healthy."
"And what would you know of the health of my relationship, my former relationship with George Weasley?" She stood, forcing him away from her. "You know nothing about it, and asking me to talk to him, to face him, is… unacceptable."
Draco sat on the floor, allowing her to yell at him and his suggestion. He knew she would not take this well.
"Kenny, I didn't mean to upset you. You're welcome to lash out at me as you like," He moved up to sit in the chair she'd been in moments before. "But, please understand my reasons for making this suggestion. I want all of you and I don't have it with your anger for Weasley still between us. I will only have half of you as long as that anger stays."
"That is selfish Malfoy. You're asking me to do this so that you can benefit even further."
"I'm only thinking of you Mackenzie."
"No you're not." She returned.
He stopped her, grabbing her hand. His voice lowered and softened. "Kenny, I will hold your hand the entire way. I only want you to be happier. I enjoy seeing youe smile and I want to see you do that with me, more often. I only think you should do this to benefit you more than me."
She knew it was a lie, but she had to go along with it and agree now.
"Alright Malfoy, I'll go." She looked down at his hand, smiling up at him.
"I only want you and your happiness Mackenzie."
"Thank you Draco."
The two smiled. Draco brought her hand to his mouth, kissing it gently. "Why don't we stay in for the remainder of the day." He offered.
"No." Mackenzie said. "There is something more I have to take care of."
"What's that?" Draco asked curiously.
Mackenzie thought quickly. Saying she was off to see her husband was not an option, saying she was off to see any member of her family in law was not an option either.
"I've got two friends I must check in on. They're muggles." She told him, gaining a short look of disgust and disinterest. "I've not seen them since my mum died. It's important that I go."
"Well then how about we meet for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"Dinner." Mackenzie offered, wanting to spend another day with her husband behind closed doors.
Draco agreed, kissing Mackenzie's cheek before he left the room, moving down the staircase, and out of the Manor.
Mackenzie waited a few minutes before flooing herself to the Weasley household. She couldn't wait to invite her new husband to Chase Manor to meet his pleased and awaiting father-in-law.