CHAPTER 18

Mackenzie was having a beautiful day. She had left her husband early this morning, not to be with Draco, but to simply have a day of fun on her own. She had stopped off for a cup of coffee at her mother-in-laws home earlier, taken to stopping by the Ministry to see her father, her father-in-law, and as luck would have it, she ran into Harry who stopped off quickly to say hello to his sister. It was shaping up to be a good day. So, when she spotted the one out of place person in Diagon Alley before stepping into Flourish and Blott's, she couldn't help but hum the tune to 'One of these things is not like the other' as she recognized her very best friend, Bailey Simon. She hadn't seen Bailey or Lilah since just before her honeymoon, so her heart thrilled to see her friend, but wondered what Bailey was doing so far away from her own home and aimlessly wandering around here.

"Bailey!? Mackenzie called out.

Bailey's head whirled to see her friend and both smiled, running up to each other with a hundred questions a second. Mackenzie told her friend all about how wonderful her honeymoon had been and how much she was enjoying being married, despite the latest problems with Malfoy that they also discussed. Finally after much of Mackenzie doing the talking, she asked the most obvious question.

"What are you doing running around Diagon Alley? Mackenzie questioned, looking questionably at her friend.

"Looking around. Lilah is umm…" She hesitated, cutting off her response quickly, still not yet making eye contact with her friend. "I got a little curious and your sister-in-law Ginny was kind enough to show me the way. She's around somewhere as well."

"Oh." Mackenzie smiled as a new revelation hit her. "Well, be careful. I'd stay with you except that I'm about to go and meet George back at home. I'm trying to work out this hell I'm in. My head is literally spinning and I can't stop." She went into detail about the prenup she was meant to sign.

"I think you need a drink before you go home." Bailey suggested. "You need to calm down. And what kind of friend would I be if I let you run out of here with that on your sober shoulders."

Mackenzie undecidedly agreed to have one drink with her friend. "Okay, but then I have to go and meet George."

The two walked across the way to a café, and sat down together. They were deep into a conversation when Mackenzie saw the blond walk in with his new business partner, Blaise. She grimaced and tried to hide her face, but it was too late. He'd probably seen her before he'd come in. It was possibly he'd seen her before she herself walked in. She wouldn't put it past him to follow her. He smiled and she smiled back as best she could as he approached, waving his friend off. She waved at Blaise before receiving a smile from him as well.

"Kenny, I thought you were spending you day alone." Draco mentioned as he leaned down to kiss her cheek in greeting.

"I was." Mackenzie returned. "But then I ran into a good friend. Draco, this is Bailey Simon. She is one of my closest and best friends.

It didn't avoid Mackenzie's notice when Draco's eyes lit up as the blond smiled. She too like Mackenzie was striking.

"So, you are the infamous Draco Malfoy." Bailey spoke, unable to not smile at the man. "Fiancé extraordinaire."

"Infamous." He repeated. "Is that meant to be a compliment?"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound rude." Bailey looked over to Mackenzie quickly and Mackenzie motioned for Draco to sit with them.

He sat, shaking his head at Bailey, a smile forming on his face.

It wasn't difficult to see the unexpected interaction between the two. Mackenzie could not pass up the opportunity to use it to her own advantage.

"If you two don't mind, I am terribly worried that if I don't get into the bookstore, the book It won't be mine. I think I'm going to run and add it to my collection." She told the two.

"Another law book?" Bailey asked.

Mackenzie nodded. "I'm taking the bar exam next week and if I pass, I'll also have to know magical law to work at the Ministry."

"If you pass?" Bailey facetiously said.

The two smiled.

"I didn't know you were taking the exams next week." Draco commented.

"There's a lot you don't know Drake." Mackenzie said, placing a hand to his shoulder. She held her ground when his hand rested on top of it. "I won't be long. Play nicely." She told the two before being careful not to wrench her hand away from the man. She pulled her hand away politely, smiling at the two before walking away.

She hadn't exactly lied. She really did want to buy a book on magical law that she'd seen awhile back. So as Mackenzie left the café, she felt no true guilt for leaving her friends together. She made her way to the bookshop, in no big rush to return.

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To say that he was surprised to see her was an understatement. He had not only not expected to see her today, but he certainly hadn't expected to see her at his shop. They'd been meeting on "neutral turf" as George had once called it when he and Kenny first began dating. He had remembered his sister's first few reactions to magic and the wizarding world. Despite her willingness and second nature ability now to pull her wand out to help her, he knew that scaring another female would not be a grand idea. Not good at all. But now, here she was, standing in front of him, in his shop, his magic shop, waiting for him to say something.

Oh, he thought, snapping back to reality. She was waiting for him to speak.

"Hi." He said to her. "I didn't expect… what are you…" Still his thoughts and words were not on the same path. "How did you…when?"

"Fred." She stopped him, her eyes looking straight at him as she walked closer, placing a single finger to his mouth. She smiled. "You're talking in fragments. Hello is just fine for now."

"I'm sorry. I just didn't expect to see you again yet. I missed you."

She smirked, turning away from him, her eyes now roaming around the shop. It was bigger than he had described during their first real conversation. That conversation seemed like such awhile ago. When in fact it had only been a few weeks. He'd gotten in touch with her after his brother's wedding. Knowing how much trouble they might get into, neither said anything to their friends or family about the other, keeping the nascent relationship a secret kept between just the two. Both found that having a secret like this was much more of a turn on than initially anticipated.

He stood back a bit, watching as she stood in a ray of light coming in from the window. She wore a pair of light blue denim jeans, a yellow t-shirt, and a silver butterfly clip in her hair. She was so beautiful to him, and she could seem almost innocent if he hadn't known better.

"I didn't think you were ready to come here yet." He said to her.

"Didn't think I could handle it?"

"Wouldn't want to frighten you."

"As if you ever could." The blond replied back, unknowingly encouraging his behavior.

"You're not afraid of me."

"No." She scoffed. "Should I be?" Her stomach started to tie into knots, as it did every time he was within close proximity of her, his eyes sparkling with that sense of mischief running through them. His eyes seemed to focus only on her as if nothing around them existed.

The next thing either of them knew, Fred had picked her up into his arms, lifting her feet off of the ground a few inches. Both held their breath as they placed their lips to the other. The kiss they shared was soft; it was slow, and warm. They appeared to know just how to kiss each other, as if they'd been doing it for years.

Fred sighed into their kiss before his girlfriend leaned back, opening her eyes to see him smiling at her as he replaced her feet to the ground. Fred was relieved that his brother had gone home for the day to meet his wife. He was starting to understand the feeling of loneliness George felt when he was without Mackenzie. The two spent a few more hours sitting in the shop talking to each other before the day ended and he lost the woman he was falling for. They said goodbye and left each other for another day.

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"Can I ask you a question Bailey?" Draco voiced, leaning back into his chair across from the brunette. "You seem to know my fiancée rather well."

"You can ask me anything within reason about her." Bailey told him, knowing what she should expect.

"This is about Mackenzie's relationship with George Weasley."

Bailey chuckled. "If you could call it that."

Draco lifting an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

Bailey leaned back into her own chair. "They had a brief affair. It ended badly. The way either of them speaks about it now…" She trailed off.

"Wait." Draco stopped her. "You've heard Weasley talk about her? What did he have to say?"

The woman shook her head. "I talked to him once briefly. He and Mackenzie had driven into things pretty bad. They were fighting and arguing."

"Do tell more." Draco urged her.

"You're asking a lot Mr. Malfoy." She told him. "Diving into your fiancée's past escapades is dangerous territory."

"I figure it's best I know as much as possible before we're married."

Bailey frowned. "I know all about how you tricked her into marrying you." She commented.

Draco attempted to answer her, but was interrupted when a hand hit his shoulder again.

"Welcome back." Lilah said, tearing her eyes from Draco.

"Did you find your book?" Draco asked.

Mackenzie held up her book. She sat down with the two, watching both. Something was off. Something had changed. There was a tone of sexual tension that Mackenzie recognized. Before her thoughts had a chance to elaborate, she kept watch of the way their eyes didn't leave the other.

"I assume you two were able to get along. Neither of you looks like you were harmed."

"We got on just fine." Draco answered, his eyes on Bailey.

"I've got to go now." Bailey said to Mackenzie, her eyes on Draco. "I promised Lilah I would meet her later after I finished walking around here. We're meeting Gi…" She stopped before finishing. "We're meeting with a friend." She stood. "Draco it was, very nice to meet you." She took his hand when he offered it.

"You too Bailey. Perhaps we'll see you again."

Draco's attention finally turned back to Mackenzie. "Are you staying?"

"No." She said. "I promised my father I would stop into the Ministry. He'll be waiting." She kissed his cheek. "But we will make plans tomorrow."

"Alright." He sulked again. Mackenzie swore she heard Blaise Zabini chuckle from where he sat. "I'll owl you in the morning." He kissed her cheek.

The two women walked away, and once she thought he was out of earshot, Beiley began her commenting.

"Wow Ken." She breathed. "You get to spend time alone with that every day? You should send God flowers and wine."

"Thanks Bay." Mackenzie derisively responded. "I'm going to meet my husband." She said once they were out of the café. The two hugged and waved goodbye, going their separate directions.

Evening had approached and Mackenzie was grateful to be the one place she knew Draco couldn't find her. She was home. She couldn't wait to see George again. She knew he'd taken off work early to help find a way to get around Malfoy not finding out about their marriage yet. They had one day left before the Minister held the next decision, and Mackenzie had not made a dent in Draco's insistence.

Mackenzie loved her new house, the house she shared with her husband. The home she and George were unbelievably given, and unable to refuse was small and incredibly charming. Truth be told, it was probably just the house the two would've chosen together if they'd had to search on their own. Although small, it reminded Mackenzie of a fairy tale cottage, something seen in Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, before the castles took over. The gray stone that stood covered with green moss on the outer walls, the small garden settled out front, just beneath the stone steps leading up to the remarkable large oak door. The trees surrounding the house, hid the two from any sort of public view. Not that anyone would think to look for the couple here.

George wasn't home when she arrived. She wandered through the house, turning on lights, or lighting candles in different rooms. George had been so wonderful during their ordeal with Malfoy, and Mackenzie wished for one minutes she could find the right words to properly thank him. Nothing she thought of could do justice of any action she'd ever take.

Resolving herself to the reality that her husband was home, she started a fire in their pretty little stone fireplace. She sat beside the fire wrapped in a blanket across a couch. She read through a few of her books, including the newest book that might help her to eradicate her problem.

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When George arrived through the door, the lit candles were low, some threatening to spark out. He lowered his head a bit, he was not only late, but that he had potentially stood up his wife after they'd planned to meet at home today. He hadn't intended to have his time spent helping Harry to calm an argument between Ron and a nearly due to give birth Hermione. He couldn't avoid being dragged from his house by Harry, but he felt like a rotten husband for allowing his wife to think he'd simply left her on her own to find solutions. They had so little time together as it was since they'd returned from their honeymoon, and with days seeming to run into each other and overlap with the date of her wedding to Malfoy coming up, he needed her in his arms even more now.

His eyes moved over the room, spotting his wife asleep on the couch beside the fireplace. The fire was dying, almost out, giving the house the slightest chill at night if you happened to not be wrapped in a pair of loving arms. George re-lit the flames beside his wife before sitting on the floor beside her. His fingers traced along the side of her face, evoking a sound of comfort from Mackenzie. He stared at her for what could've been seconds, but had in actuality been about five minutes. Time passed so quickly these days again. Her face, perfect in his mind had taken on so much grief and pain lately. And now as she lay peacefully sleeping beside him, George wondered how it could seem so effortless for her to endure so much from him. She had given him so much, and in return he made her hide the love he knew she felt for him. That alone would be bad enough, except that it wasn't all she'd been asked to do. Dealing with Malfoy had to send her out wishing for that proverbial bridge to leap from.

He kissed her forehead, unintentionally but happily waking her. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and he smiled brightly.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"I knew you'd be here soon." Her hand touched the side of his face.

George closed his eyes, loving the feel of her touch. "I'm so sorry I'm late. Ron and Hermione had a blow-up and it took me and Harry to get it all together again."

Mackenzie sat up from the couch. "You're not late. You're here now."

"I am." George sat on the couch beside her, pulling his arms around her body, bringing her as close as he could get her. "I'm here now…and forever." He whispered.

"Forever is good with me."

The two lay in each other's arms for the remainder of the night, falling asleep in the same position.

Morning came too early for either one, but when George awoke on an empty couch, he looked around for Mackenzie. He heard rustling and cursing coming from the kitchen. He wondered how safe he'd be to go in and see what she was doing. He stood, stretched, and cautiously walked into the kitchen. He saw her sitting at the table in the center of the room.

"Ken, what's going on?" He asked, leaning down to her. He kissed her cheek and then her ear. "Good morning."

"Good morning." She repeated to him, trying not to sound so defeated. It didn't work. He sat in the chair beside her, looking straight at her, demanding answers without having to speak a word.

"I got up early this morning. There's coffee in the there." She pointed. George stood, still listening to her talk. "I was looking for a way out of this contract, a way not to sign it without having to so brutally reveal our marriage to others. I won't sign this. Despite the fact that I couldn't now anyway, there is nothing in any of these books or the books at the Ministry to help argue against this. No solution that I've found yet." She sighed. "We're guilty George."

"Guilty of what Ken? We haven't done anything wrong. I mean not technically. We got married. That is not a crime."

"Please don't misunderstand me." She said as he sat back down beside her with two cups of coffee, one for himself, the other a fresh cup for her. "I don't think we were wrong in getting married. I don't think it's a crime. But magical law does. If I don't sign this, we're going to be guilty in the public eye."

"We're guilty in the public's eyes Ken, not ours."

"We'll be guilty in the eyes of wizarding marriage."

"So, what do we do Ken? What do you want to do?"

"I want to fight George." Mackenzie stood up and began to walk around the small room. "I'm going to keep my husband. I intend to fight for what we have no matter what. I think if that means going public at this point, then so be it." She was adamant. "I'm not hiding if there's no useful reason to. What do you want to do George?"

"I have an idea." He pulled her down to his lap before she passed him. "Why don't we shag right here." He suggested. His eyes moved to the table. "It's sturdy and it'll temporarily take your mind off of Malfoy.

Mackenzie loved that George knew her so well and could cheer her up so easily. Of course there were times when she realized he wasn't joking, so she chose to be careful. When his eyes turned back to hers, he was smiling. He was joking. She laughed as he hugged her closer.

"We'll get through this too Mackenzie. We just need to find the right first step. Where do we go first. Your dad is the Minister, and he wants to take this into his own hands. He also can't be caught figuring out a way to get his daughter out of a marriage contract because she's already married to someone else."

"George, I think I know someone who will help, but you will have to be the one to ask her."

"Her?" George lifted his face to hers. "Ask who Ken?"

Mackenzie took his hands in hers, softening her voice, using a tone that always had George eating out of her hand.

"Angelina." She said.

George shook his head. Even after he'd asked so much of her, this was the first thing he'd ever denied her.

"You can't ask me to do that Ken."

"I know I shouldn't George. It's beyond anything I should ever ask of you, but we can use her to our advantage. We get what we want and she gets what she wants."

"What's that?" He groaned.

"Your friendship. She wants your friendship. She misses that. She knows that you and I will never give each other up, so friendship is…"

"How do you know all of this Kenny?"

"The portkey." She confessed. "It was Angelina. She found the marriage license as well. She works under Lydia Price. She promised to keep quiet…"

"If I decide to talk to her again."

His wife nodded.

"Isn't there another way?" George moaned.

"What's so bad about just talking to her?"

George gave her an exasperated look, but Mackenzie went on, ignoring his childish looks.

"She told me the other side of what happened between you both."

"And you believe her?" George defensively started to accuse.

"No. Not completely." Mackenzie explained. "But I can sympathize with her."

"How?" George questioned. "Why?"

Mackenzie ran her hand through his hair and over the back of his neck, keeping her eyes locked with his. "George honey, think about it this way. Put me in the situation."

"Don't Mackenzie." He said.

She didn't listen. "Keep in mind that I wouldn't go about things the way she did, but…"

"That's the point Mackenzie."

"Think about it George." She challenged him. "What if I came to you and said I'm going to go and finish pursuing a goal I've had for years."

"I'd only want you to be happy."

"And if I said I'm going to go back and take the bar exam?"

"Only your happiness Kenny." He said.

"Okay George, I'm going to go and take the bar." This time it was statement. "I've been meaning to do it for awhile, but with the wedding and Malfoy, it go pushed back."

George smiled. "I think it's great Ken. You'll be great at the Ministry as a lawyer."

Mackenzie grimaced. "I'm only going to be working magical law at the Ministry half of the time. The other half of my time will hopefully be spent in muggle courtrooms, no wands, no hexing, no Ministers…"

"Oh." He said. He thought for awhile about what she'd said, and why she had made a point to say it all. "I think I see your point sweetheart." He pulled his arm around her waist.

"I'm not saying Angelina's leaving you was your fault. It wasn't. But neither of you is blameless. Perhaps…"

"Perhaps I should talk to her briefly if it'll help us."

"Thank you." She kissed him. " Now about this idea you had about shagging on the table…" She suggested. "You can't make a suggestion like that and think that I won't take you seriously."

"I wasn't." He defended.

"That's the problem." Mackenzie pulled on his shirt, slowly biting down the side of his neck as she stripped him. She was sitting on top of the table as he pushed her backwards onto the surface. Both were happy and content to continue all day with their lovemaking along the surfaces of their house, until they heard the floo network working in the living room. Someone was coming through their unlocked fireplace. Mackenzie and George both groaned, looking at each other, ignoring the first sounds of someone coming to visit them unannounced until they heard voices.

"George? Kenny? You both had better be dressed. " Fred shouted from the opposite room.

"That's it. I've had it!" Mackenzie swore quietly. "For Christmas, he's getting a better sense of timing."

George laughed aloud, giving away their position in the house as they quickly redressed.

Everyone soon entered into the kitchen to see Mackenzie helping to re-button the top button of her husband's shirt.

"Come on in." She laughed. "We were just…well it's not important what we were doing."

"No. It isn't. I don't want to know anymore than my mind can think to imagine." Fred mentioned, gaining an elbow to the stomach from George before the hugs all ran through the room. Along with Fred had come Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione, so they made a party out of the impromptu arrival of family.

George and Mackenzie proceeded to tell all of the details of what had been going on lately and what they planned to do about it.

"I am not going to sleep with Malfoy to get out of a contract!" Mackenzie argued a point to Harry as he'd made a few suggestions to the problem. He looked at her as she'd taken the previous statement he'd made out of context. He'd only meant that she should offer for him to have sex, not necessarily with her obviously. If she felt that all Malfoy really wanted was sex, he should get it.

"I'm certainly not saying you should Ken." Harry defended.

"Then what are you saying?" All three women, Fred, George, and Ron all angrily questioned, insulted by the suggestion.

Harry winced. "I'm saying…there's got to be a logical, moral, a better way around the contract of servitude, so that he doesn't find out anything yet, so that no one does."

"Didn't that contract say something about paying out of a contract. Why couldn't you refuse to sign and just pay out. You'll get out of it that way." Ron said.

Mackenzie nodded. "But any money I use is tied to my entire family. My father. And my husband." Her eyes turned to George. "Paying out of it beforehand would only create trouble for my marriage."

George sighed, placing his hand to hers. "We're closing in on this wedding date. He's going to find out anyway Kens."

"That's not the point George." Mackenzie argued. "He won't find out like that. He's my friend now, and I…" Her argument stopped as she looked over at Fred, an idea forming in her head.

"Bailey!" She excitedly exclaimed.

"What about Bailey?" Fred looked at her, confusion on his face, both eyebrows raised in question.

Mackenzie placed her other hand to Fred's. "I was thinking Bailey could be our 'ace in the hole'."

Fred looked worried. "How do you mean? How can she help?"

Mackenzie leaned back into her husband's chest. "Well as it seems she is currently single, and she happens to be one of few people I not who is not currently seeing a Weasley brother."

"You knew?" Fred's eyes went wide.

"Of course I knew." She smiled. "I knew something was up when I started to see her in Diagon Alley more often. And then yesterday Bailey was in town too. She started to say something about Lilah. I blew it off, but when I started thinking about it,…"

"Damn too clever for their own good lawyers." Fred mockingly swore.

Mackenzie put a hand to his shoulder and he smiled up at her, showing that they were okay.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew?" George asked her.

"Didn't seem important. " She said. " You knew. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Fred told me not to."

"Kind of pointless a request." Mackenzie stated, sticking her tongue out at Fred.

"You always keep Fred's secrets?"

"Yes." George said.

"Good."

"Back to Bailey." Ginny said. "How does she help us with Draco Malfoy? She's a muggle. Draco Malfoy will never…"

Mackenzie looked at George.

"Do you really think it will work?" He asked.

"You didn't see the way those two were looking at each other yesterday. It was like…it was the way George and I looked at each other when we first started dating. It was there. I saw it. And don't you trust me sweetheart?"

"Unconditionally." George told her.

She winked. "Then it will work. Trust me, I'll barely have to say or do anything to push them together. You leave it to me."