CHAPTER 20

Draco was hyperventilating, trying to concentrate on anything Mackenzie said after she had spoken the words "already married to George Weasley for the last month".

"Mackenzie, we are supposed to be married within forty-eight hours. Do you have any idea how many people are scheduled to show up expecting us to be married, and you've been married to a Weasley for a month. Have you… What have you been doing all of this time while you've led me to believe differently? You've been lying to me." His tone and volume were surprisingly quiet and calmer than expected. Almost scary calm. He sat on the couch, running his hand methodically, soothingly through his hair, still trying to grasp the reality of this new revelation, and that Mackenzie was not joking. She had set the ring he'd given her in his hand only seconds before now. He thought it was seconds. It could've been hours. Time was not exactly running accurately in his head.

"If those pictures hadn't come out in the Prophet," Draco speculated. "would you have waited another two days to tell me you never planned on really marrying me? Would you have left me standing at the altar? Would you have waited to break my heart then instead of now?"

"That's not fair Draco." Mackenzie sat beside him, her head lowered, her hands at the back of her neck.

"What about our situation has ever been fair Mackenzie?"

"You never wanted me out of love Draco."

"That is not the point Mackenzie!" He now shouted, standing. "You've been lying to me for so long. That's what isn't fair!"

"I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted any of this." She returned to him, her eyes full of tears now streaming down her cheeks.

"Well, it's done. Now you've got it."

Mackenzie stood, placing a hand hesitantly to his arm. "Draco, please."

He jerked away. "Don't. Just don't… don't touch me. " The cruel reserve had come out in force. Draco Malfoy, the real Draco Malfoy had returned.

Mackenzie stepped back. " What can I do Draco? What can I do to make this better?"

He only shook his head. "Nothing. There is nothing that you can do. This is now a legal matter." He informed her.

"What do you mean?" She asked, able to stop crying.

"You've broken the marriage contracts Mackenzie. You've broken wizarding laws. You and your…husband. It's out of my hands and yours."

"You can't be serious Draco."

"I am. " He coldly looked at her, the hostile expression quickly turning sad. He hid the pain from her, turning away. "I have to go. I have to get out of here. I have to be…away from you."

"Draco please don't go."

"Goodbye Mackenzie." Was the last thing he said before disappearing out of the door. Mackenzie heard the front doors open and then close with a hard bang.

She sat back onto the couch, pulling her knees to her chest. She sat there for as long as she could hoping he would come back. He didn't, and she could not sit at the scene of this horrific battle, this crime scene any longer. She wanted to be alone so that she could cry, but she wanted a pair of strong arms wrapped around her to comfort her as well. She wanted George. She wanted him sitting beside her, holding her, telling her that this could all work out now, that it would be okay, that she didn't need to cry because he was with her always, and they would stand together. She wanted to go home.

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As soon as she walked into the house, she fell to her knees. The concern, the trouble, and the sorrow she had caused and felt, all overwhelmed her at once. She could no longer hold back. Even before her knees hit the floor her sobs began to shake her body. She hadn't been crying for more than a minute before those familiar arms wrapped to her body. They pulled her close, hugging her in tightly. Fingers stroked through her hair, and she turned her body into her husband.

"I'm so sorry." She repeated over and over. "I'm sorry." Her arms wrapped around George's neck and he picked her up off of the ground into his arms, carrying her into the house. He carefully sat down , keeping her in his arms, on his lap as she continued to cry.

"He saw the pictures." George finally said.

Mackenzie nodded, still crying. "He went to my father's office at the Ministry. He threatened him, had his wand out. He turned it to me for a minute, but…"

George's body stiffened. "He did what?" The red head literally started to see red. "I will kill him. He pointed his wand at you?"

"George he was angry." She explained. "Think about how he felt, seeing us happy together. Reverse the roles again."

"I'd never pull my wand on you sweetheart, no matter how much of a challenging pain in the ass you can be." He smiled.

Mackenzie punched him in the arm. "What about on him?"

"I see your point." George eventually said. "I don't want to, but I guess I do."

"So, I told him everything. I told him that you and I are married, that we have been for some time now, and that I've been lying to him from the start." She started to cry again. "He hates me so much now. I knew it would hurt him. I just never stopped to realize how much he would hurt. I never considered his true feelings as my friend. I couldn't see past you and me to see him."

George's arms wrapped to her again. "Honey, it's out now. He knows. It'll all be better very soon."

"No it won't." She grabbed for a Kleenex on the side table. "According to Draco, the marriage contracts have been severed illegally and it'll be up to the laws, the powers that be to determine what happens next I suppose. This is not over George. If the Ministry gets hold of this before the next forty-eight hours, we're screwed."

"There's nothing we can…"

"Nothing. Nothing we can do. We just have to hope that…"

The two were interrupted when their floo became active again. Both Samuel Chase and Arthur Weasley appeared through a stream of green fire and smoke.

"Mackenzie! George!" The two called, turning to see the worried and surprised couple.

"Daddy. Arthur. What are you doing here?" Mackenzie stood, George pulling up with her.

"We had to get here before the owls were sent out. There is trouble coming." Arthur spoke, placing a hand to his daughter-in-laws shoulder.

"Draco Malfoy has been to the Ministry." Samuel informed them . "Lydia Price is in an uproar. Angelina Johnson has been fired , and there are crews of journalists on their way out to find you. Fortunately this place is hidden so well that it will take them more time than is available."

"I knew he wouldn't keep his mouth shut. That slimy weasel!" Mackenzie swore.

"Calm down Kens." George took her hand. "We'll do this together."

"Why did you say there were owls being sent daddy? What for?" She stayed as focused as she could.

"They won't find you, but the owls are carrying summons papers to appear before the Wizengamot. "

"You're the Minister." George said. "You are head of the Wizengamot."

"Not through this I'm not. The panel and Mr. Malfoy all feel it is a conflict of interest as Mackenzie is my only child, for me to keep unbiased opinions about my daughter. They are looking for a temporary replacement for when you appear."

"Perhaps the owls have been to the Manor daddy." Mackenzie said. "Perhaps you should go and check."

"Dad, maybe there is something at your house as well." George mentioned. He looked down at his wife and back at their fathers.

Mackenzie hugged both her father and Arthur before they left. George was stopped before Samuel flooed back to the Ministry.

"I'm here if you two need me, but Mackenzie will need you most of all right now George." He said. "Your marriage has hit a bump, but don't let it deter you from the path you two have been on. I've never seen my daughter as happy as she is with you."

George agreed. "She has me until the end of time Samuel. She's my wife. Nothing could dissuade from protecting her in every way possible."

The two said goodbye and the Minister was gone again.

"I cannot believe this!" Mackenzie yelled, roaming through the small house, banging around, making noise simply to calm herself down, to help relieve some of the sadness that had now turned into anger. "This is completely absurd! "

"Kens, come on." George found her. "Yelling will not help us here. There has to be something that can be done. The Wizengamot wouldn't summon us if they thought we couldn't defend our actions. They look to fight during their proceedings."

"George, this isn't the time." She stopped him short, gaining a look of indecision. She had never pushed him away like this. "Please just let me scream for awhile."

"Fine." He said. "Although it won't do any good." He mumbled.

Mackenzie glared at her husband. His comment was insensitive. She knew he was right, and she knew she wasn't specifically angry with him, but both her frustration and fury had all started to be forced out of her. George just happened to be her closest unlucky target.

"You're right!" She yelled at him. "It may not do any good, but let me do it!"

"Alright." He unhappily surrendered, turning and storming from the room. He walked loudly through the house, slamming the door to their bedroom after he entered.

Mackenzie groaned in annoyance. He was angry with her now. She didn't want to fight with George, and really hadn't meant to come off so cruel. It was inevitable. They had to fight sometime. Their honeymoon period couldn't last forever. But all of this trouble had built into an impossible climb. She found her way into the kitchen, jumping up to sit on a counter. She couldn't get through any of this friction without George and he was angry. She didn't want to apologize this time either, but because she was at fault, she ultimately knew she would have to. She could think about Draco and his evil ways later. She groaned again, jumping back down from the counter space. She turned and stopped when George rounded a corner into the room and stopped a few feet across from her, barely out of reach. Both stayed quiet for a few moments.

"I'm sorry Kenny." George finally said. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"You haven't upset me George. And I'm the one who is sorry. I'm not angry at you. It's Draco I'm upset with."

"Yeah." George went on, moving closer to her, now within reaching distance. "I didn't think about what it must have been like for you to tell him everything on your own. I can't imagine. You're far stronger than me on my best day."

"I don't know about that."

"You are."

Mackenzie grabbed him, forcefully pulling him to her, throwing her arms around his body. "I don't want to fight with you."

"Me either. You can yell and scream all you'd like. You've more than earned a good long loud outburst."

"Just wish I could direct it at Malfoy instead of you."

"Me too." Mackenzie looked up at him as he leaned down to kiss her. This was the best part of her marriage Mackenzie thought. It wasn't the sex, although that was also beyond all words. It was the moments that she and George shared together in private. It was the way he held her so close when she needed it most, giving her every opportunity to know how much he cared, loved, and supported her. She stayed held close to him for so long before reluctantly moving back.

"We need to do something about all of this."

George agreed. "You're the law expert. What do we do first?"

"We start at the beginning in this case." She stated. "I'm going to do a little more research into these inconsistent magical marital laws. You run through the contract again. See if you can find any holes in it."

"What kind of holes?"

"You'll know when you see them." Mackenzie kissed her husband on the cheek. "I'm going to retrieve a few books from daddy's house. Back in a few." She left, and flooed to her father's manor.

When she arrived inside of the Manor, she was met by her father and Arthur and Molly Weasley, all enraged at what sat on a table waiting for Mackenzie. She hadn't had a chance to say hello to her parents at all before unsurprisingly the letter jumped from the table, sprouted a mouth and began its direction.

"The plaintiff, Mr. Draco Malfoy, has begun a detainer action against you in Wizengamot court which holds session at the Ministry of Magic, level two in the department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Mackenzie listened through a few more words before again becoming angrier. The talking notice continued.

If you wish to oppose this matter, you or your attorney must appear before the Wizengamot court on Thursday morning at nine am.

A trial has been set for nine am on Thursday, the second day of February.

IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT THE COURT HEARING ON THE ABOVE STATED DATE AND TIME,A JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT WILL BE ENTERED IN AGAINST YOU IN YOUR ABSENSE.

"That's in three days!" She shouted again. "These bloody laws are impossible!"

"What does all of it mean?" Molly asked.

"It means they've given us three days to prepare for a sham trial over nonsense. It means that the court is going to attack me and George over our marriage, despite all facts pointing to the null and voided contract that I never signed." Mackenzie said.

"They've given you no time to request a continuance of the trial." Samuel commented.

"They'd have overruled that option anyway." Mackenzie returned. "Our family members and any other witnesses will have to play witness to the jury if willing." She turned to Arthur and Molly. "We have a pre-trial conference in two days." She explained. "That's where we produce evidence supporting both sides of the case. Both sides give copies of any available opinions of expert witnesses and names of those willing to be witnesses."

"We'll be there for whatever you need." Both agreed without hesitation.

"There is something I have to do." Mackenzie settled, taking the summons in her hand, flipping it back and forth for a minute. "There is someone I need to go and see about this before it gets out of control anymore."

"Mackenzie I'm begging you, don't go." Samuel asked his daughter, having a clue to where his daughter was headed.

"I have to face him again daddy.

She said goodbye to the three still standing in the room discussing the new circumstances of the children's lives. She left the Manor and immediately appeared just outside of Malfoy Manor. She didn't expect him to see her, or speak to her, but she had to try, and she was angry enough to face him straight on without crying this time. Sure she was in this position because of her own actions, but that didn't mean she couldn't be a little infuriated at the blond man now so willing to attack her after professing his friendship to her.

She knocked on the door a few times, waiting for an answer. She was ready to leave when the door opened. There he was, standing in front of her, looking angrier than he had earlier. She hadn't thought it possible.

"WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS?" Mackenzie furiously screamed at him.

Draco, his eyes cold, took the envelope in her hand. When he spoke, his voice was again that scary calm.

"Looks to me like a court summons."

"You're going to attack me in court? You don't have the courage or decency to do things in private, personally, but you'll drag my father, my family, and me through hell over this matter?"

"DON'T YOU DARE BLAME ME FOR THIS MACKENZIE!" Draco yelled.

Mackenzie preferred the scary calm.

"You brought this on yourself. You broke the law."

"No. I got married. I was contracted to get married, and so…"

"I'm not going to do this with you." Draco backed away from the door. "Do not pick fights that you are not willing to lose."

"You arrogant piece of…"

"I hope you have a good lawyer Mackenzie. You're going to need it."

"The best." She told him, backing away as well. "Didn't you hear, I've taken the bar exam. I'm sure I passed. The results will arrive very soon. And I am better than most lawyers who've been working courtrooms for years."

"And you call me arrogant." He returned to her. "You no doubt will be a good lawyer Mackenzie. You're a great liar. A lot of guilty people will go free thanks to you." Draco immediately closed the door as nothing more could or would be said between the two tonight.

Mackenzie stomped her foot to the ground. Her anger had not dissipated any, but grown. She had research to do. She went back to her father's house, and got started.

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He had waited long enough at their house for her to return. He had actually fallen asleep, waking to find her still not returned. George was worried that she hadn't come home yet. It was getting light outside. She had been gone all night. He flooed straight to Chase Manor where Mackenzie had said she would be.

He found her still at Chase Manor in what was still considered her study. She was sitting behind a large oak desk, concentrated on a book in front of her. There was another stack of books to her left on the desk. She waved her wand at the shelf behind her, bringing another book to her, keeping her eyes glued to the pages she skimmed through.

"Good morning sweetheart." George softly said, walking into the room.

She looked up at him, then out the window. The sun was rising. She'd been up all night long.

"Oh no. I'm so sorry George. I got wrapped up in reading and trying to…"

"It's okay Kenny." He hugged her as he approached her still sitting.

"Find anything yet?" He pulled a pen from behind her ear where she had placed it.

She shook her head. "Nope. Nothing. But daddy says they've found a temporary to sit in as head of Wizengamot through our trial."

"Who's that?" George asked, amused to hear the answer.

"Some wizard named Scrimgeour. Daddy says he's not very clever, but that he is likely to look for the flaws he ees rather than the positive."

"Scrimgeour?" George questioned in shock. "He's the ex-Minister Kenny. Why would he be chosen to do this? What motive could he possibly have to do this?"

"That's a good question." Mackenzie said, touching her husband's hand as he placed it onto her shoulder.