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Remus and I walked through Hogwarts corridors towards the grounds where wedding ceremony was being held. I am wearing heavy robes in green colors with silver embroidery, the green brings out my eyes if I say so myself. Dobby has braided my hair in a side plait with small emeralds studded in.
I look the best I ever have in my life. Then again I need all the help I can get to seduce Marvolo. I have shared my plan with Remus and he has promised to provide me some books that can help. Narcissa Malfoy met us just outside my rooms.
"Mr. Potter, I have been appointed by Lord Slytherin to provide you all information you need regarding ceremonies and I will act as your mentor for first few months of your marriage." She informed me tersely.
I had to control my anger at her words and attitude. What does Marvolo take me for? I am not a child in need of a mentor. I may be only 16, but I stopped being a child a long time ago. But I will control my emotions and won't throw a temper tantrum. It seems I have to earn respect of my husband's subordinates the hard way.
I nodded politely at her and started walking arm in arm with Remus. Mrs Malfoy fell in step with us and started telling me about wedding ceremony.
Whole Hogwarts has been decorated as wizarding world celebrated the end of war. Thank Merlin, only select few people has been invited to the wedding ceremony. Only Marvolo's inner circle and important members of Order has been invited to wedding ceremony.
And I have been informed that a Ball will be held at Ministry to celebrate our wedding tomorrow night. At least I don't have to deal with a media circus today of all days.
As soon as I came into view of Hogwarts gardens, I am left speechless. On any ordinary day, these gardens are beautiful. But today it just looks something out of my dreams. Hogwarts is only place I have ever considered home so I am happy to be getting married here.
All trees look luscious green and all flowers in full bloom. At the entrance of aisle, a gate has been made with different types of lily flowers. I am happy to see reminder of my mother on this day.
Mrs. Malfoy gave us some last minute instructions and moved to one side of aisle. Dumbledore does not look happy to see Remus here. Well I do not give a damn what the bastard thinks anymore. Music starts and Remus and I move forward, Marvolo is wearing heaving silver robes with green trimming.
He is about 6'4 tall, with broad shoulders and very fit body. He would look handsome if not for his face. He is again staring at me with those snake like eyes. I am getting bit unnerved as I cannot place emotions I see in his eyes. His face as usual is a stone mask not showing even a flicker of emotion. But he does not take his eyes off me so I will count all my preparations a success.
Soon we reach altar and Remus hands me off to Marvolo with a kiss on my forehead. I give him a tiny smile and move to face Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. This wedding and Ball at Ministry tomorrow are some of the last events Fudge will perform as a Minister as Lucius Malfoy will be taking over as Minister in few days. Good riddance to bad rubbish I say.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls…" Fudge started, I tuned out most of his pompous speech that followed lost in my thoughts.
There is no turning back from this path now. I am getting bonded to most cruel person I have ever met. If he ever finds out I am planning something my life will end for sure. I may be Consort Slytherin but I have no power of my own as made clear by Mrs Malfoy's attitude.
Then again I am a survivor, I will find a way to survive in this harsh new life. I am startled out of my thoughts my hearing Fudge stutter Marvolo's name.
"Do you, V-V-Voldemort Marvolo take Harry James to be your bonded husband, to love and honour, to protect and cherish for all eternity?"
"I do."
"Do you, Harry James take V-Voldemort Marvolo to be your bonded husband, to love and honour, to protect and cherish for all eternity?"
"I do."
"Then I bond you for eternity, Pro aeterno vinculo."
As soon as he cast the spell, both Marvolo and I are encased in blinding white light. I close my eyes, it feels like my magical core is getting stretched and invaded at same time. It is not a pleasant feeling and then I feel head splitting pain in my scar. I double over because of pain and Marvolo seems to be in similar position next to me.
It feels like eternity before pain stops and I feel lighter somehow. I can also feel presence of Marvolo in back of my mind and wedding ring on my finger. I touch my scar and open my eyes in shock when I find it gone. What the hell happened just now? I turn to Marvolo to ask him the same and freeze when I get another shock.
Merlin's Beard, the man is handsome; he has regained his human face and what a face it is. Even his eyes have changed color from red to whiskey. It is going to be a lot difficult to seduce him without losing myself in process.
"I present to you Lord and Consort Slytherin." Fudge's voice knocks me out of my shock.
Marvolo take my arm and lead me around to different guests. Death Eaters congratulate Marvolo and barely give me a nod as acknowledgement. Order members and Weasleys look ecstatic and congratulate me profusely.
Hermione and Ginny are ogling Marvolo like he is Merlin's gift to Wizard kind and Ron is looking at me with envy. I want to kill each and every one of them. Marvolo leads me to dining table and seat me to his left.
Mrs Malfoy takes seat on my other side and Lucius Malfoy on other side of Marvolo. Soon all guests are seated and Marvolo starts the feast. Food is good but I barely taste anything.
"I did not think a mudblood like you will know proper etiquette of dining." Mrs. Malfoy said in hushed whisper next to me. I need to find out why she is being so antagonistic towards me.
"For your information Mrs. Malfoy, I am no mudblood; I have two pureblood parents and one muggleborn." I informed her tersely. "And yes my dad taught me all about ways of purebloods."
"That does not make you a pureblood, you still have mudblood in your veins." She is really getting on my nerves now.
"By that standard Mrs. Malfoy, your Lord has more mudblood in his veins than me." She turned ashen at my words. "Anyways, I will rather be a mudblood than a pureblood spoilt brat with no potential like your son."
She looks like she wants to take my head off. And Marvolo has appointed this woman as my mentor, what was he thinking? If Sirius has not taught me everything I need to know I will be hopelessly lost in this sea of pureblood sharks like her.
Soon the feast is over and it is time to depart for my new home. I say my goodbyes to Remus and promise to write to him soon and ignore everyone else. I left the only home I have known behind in an abraxan drawn carriage with only my husband for company. He pretty much ignores me and I am too lost in my thoughts to bother with his behaviour much.
Mrs. Malfoy's attitude towards makes it clear that she has something personal against me. It may because of my issues with her son and husband, but I do not think so. There has to be something more to it, but for life of me I cannot figure out what.
And then there is my husband. He has wanted to kill me since I was just a babe. So why the sudden change, from wanting me dead to marrying me? I am not naive enough to think that he fell in love with me or something equally ridiculous like would not have married me for mere lust either. It cannot be for good publicity as majority of Wizarding Britain has hated me since the news about prophecy came out, fickle sheep that they are.
So what did he want from me? Soon we alighted in front of Riddle Manor. The Manor has been renovated and expanded; it no longer looks like a muggle Manor. Mrs. Malfoy is waiting for us at doors along with a house elf.
"Narcissa show him around." Marvolo orders and leaves without another word. Mrs. Malfoy gives me a disdainful look and strides down the hallway. I am left alone in entrance hall with no clue about where to go. What a welcome home! I think bitterly.
"I is Mimsy, the head house elf, I welcome you to Slytherin Manor, I be showing Master Harry around if he wishes." The house elf says bowing deeply.
I love house elves, I will prefer their company over witches and wizards on any day. I incline my head in agreement and Mimsy starts leading me around in Manor. It is a huge Manor with four floors and lots of rooms. There are lots of bedrooms, two or three potions labs, one huge ballroom, one huge formal dining room and two smaller informal ones.
I have my own parlour where I can entertain my guests. It is decorated in light green colors. My suite contains a huge bedroom, bathroom, living room and a study. All room are decorated in beige, light blue and grey colors. It looks beautiful and peaceful. Mimsy informs me that my suite is connected to Master suite through a door. My luggage is already in my bedroom and I call for Dobby to unpack and follow Mimsy to library.
The library is huge almost as big as Hogwarts library. I need to think about my education. I have not got my OWL results yet, but I am confident that I did well enough. I don't think that Marvolo will let me return to Hogwarts for next year, so I will need to do self study to sit my NEWTs.
Perhaps I can ask Remus to tutor me. I promise myself to start with my studies as soon as possible and follow Mimsy out to gardens. The gardens are beautiful, I can see myself spending a lot of time here in gardens. Gardening was one of the chores I was willing to do at Dursleys, I have always loved plants and flowers.
I sit under an oak tree and ask Mimsy to bring me my lunch there. After lunch, I return to library and pick up a book of basics of potions. I have never put much effort into learning potions as I have hated Snape from day one. But I am no longer willing to let that man hinder my education any further.
I spent a few hours studying, it was getting dark outside when Mrs. Malfoy found me. "Change and come down for dinner in half an hour." She ordered and left.
I need to do something about this woman, I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep my temper. I went to my rooms and changed into one of the robes Sirius had ordered for me. It was in light purple and silver colors, the Black house colors. I called for Mimsy to show me to dining room.
Mrs. Malfoy was already there and she looked even angrier on seeing me in Black house colors. May be she is angry that Black estates went to me and not her son. But Malfoys are rich on their own, they don't need Black money. Soon Marvolo arrived and we ate in silence.
"Narcissa, you are excused for the day, Come tomorrow morning at 9 to take Harry for shopping." Marvolo orders as soon as dinner was over. "Mimsy take him to his rooms and prepare him for my arrival." Marvolo leaves.
Mimsy took me to my bathroom and bathed me with lemongrass scented water and then arranged me on bed naked and left. There is no use in fighting the inevitable and I will be lying if I say I am not scared. In fact I am terrified, only sexual experience I have is one sloppy kiss with Cho. Not much to count on. But I was a passable Gryffindor for five years, I will face whatever is coming with a brave face.