Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit to J.K Rowling for the creation of the Harry Potter universe. I just found a plot for this ship.

Warning: Later chapters will contain adult themes. There is an M rating for a reason. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected.
There will also be the use of profanity.

Beta love goes to Ihrin for working on this story for us. I am so very grateful. If you are reading this we have updated this chapter. If you still find errors please let me know in a PM. Thank you. My goal for this story is to get it polished like a brand new penny and get to 1k favorites and reviews. :)

Ran through Grammarly, 7-2017

Music speaks to my muse. I usually have songs on repeat or a playlist for stories as I write and edit them.
This chapters song was: Dare you to Move, Switchfoot
Lyric of choice: Maybe redemption is right where you fell?

Charmed to You

Chapter 2
When Blood Does Matter

Draco Malfoy had been accused many times in his life of being a coward. He was a Slytherin after all; bravery was never one of his strongest character traits. Being cunning, however, definitely was. So, when it had been abundantly clear that the marriage law would pass, Draco Malfoy had met with the Minister of Magic himself in order to make an educated and well thought out decision on his stance on it.

What he had learned had been shocking. For generations, Pureblood families had spoken in nothing but whispers about the low birthrates and stillborn infants that plagued them. It had been assumed, of course, that something had to be going on but never had it been whispered that their very blood was the problem.

Sitting back as the Minister had explained about genetics, Muggle science, and something called nondum-natus had been illuminating to say the least. He had met with the scientist the next day; he wasn't as stupid as he had been as a boy. Where before he would have dismissed the Muggle man as worthless and inferior, he knew now that muggles had been forced to come up with some pretty amazing things while living life without magical talents. And like their composers- who were of course far superior- it would seem that their healers had some talent too.

Draco had spent the next three days locked in his room, with every Muggle book on genetics he could find. He was a rather bright man; it didn't take very long for him to know that the Ministry was on to something. So he had sat his mother down and had one of the most difficult discussions of his entire life with her. How many miscarriages or stillbirths had she kept quiet about? Pureblood families, after all, had healers come to them. They didn't have to sit in a ward at St. Mungos where anyone could know their business!

The number had shocked him.

Seven.

His mother had miscarried five pregnancies. And even more startling, she had lost two more infants in the first few weeks of their short lives. Draco had learned that this was from a blood disease that also affected royal families in the muggle world, which was all down to inbreeding.

But there was no way he could tell his mother this, or his father for that matter. Blood meant something to them and if they knew that the Ministry had discovered that their own blood had led to such tragedy, he wasn't sure how they would react. If they even believed him, anyway. It was, after all, a Muggle scientist providing the evidence, so it was very unlikely his parents would listen to anything that was being presented to them.

Draco had to tread carefully here, very carefully. His mother watched him pace, silent tears running down her face. "They discovered this about me? The Ministry? Are they going to announce it, to shame us?"

Draco shook his head. "It affects all Pureblood families, mother, even blood traitors. And yes, it's going to become well known soon. We all have been tested for this, all Purebloods. They have a way."

His mother looked like she might faint. She gave a soft gasp and looked panic stricken over to his father, who was staring at his wife with a mixture of anger and remorse.

Draco turned and then said sharply. "You will have the same problem, father. It lies in both of your-" he hesitated and then finally said, "families."

His father nodded, his face tight. "And this is why they have sterilized us and our children?"

Draco grunted and nodded, throwing himself into a chair. "Beside the fact that we supported the Dark Lord, yes. This is why they sterilized us and put a hold on our marriages. If I were to marry Astoria, as you and mother wish, we would be lucky to have one surviving infant. It's almost assured that the infant will pass on this–" again he picked his words carefully, "burden to the next generation."

Lucius Malfoy nodded and stood up. "Others plan on fighting over this law. Nott has informed me that he is organizing an honor battle."

Draco snorted in disdain. "Bloody stupid of them. That will just galvanize people in favor of the law. Nobody wishes to fight anymore."

Lucius's eyes flashed and then he nodded. "I leave it to you to decide, Draco. Shall we fight alongside them?"

Draco stood up and glared into the fireplace. This was the moment of truth, really; he knew his father was giving him a choice. Draco didn't take this choice lightly, nor was he unaware that the fact his father was allowing him this choice was a bloody huge concession. He rocked on his heels for a moment before he rounded on his parents and said grimly,

"No, we shall not. I am going to volunteer to be drafted into this new law," Draco made his voice firm and confident.

He waited a moment for his parents to calm themselves and then went to work on appealing to their pride. He needed their support for this to work and he was fairly certain he could get it with the next bit of information he was to share with them.

"They have developed a charm, a rather ingenious charm, to match me with a witch who will at least not drive me to an early grave. I am told that I will be put into a pool with all females who do not have the gene themselves."

His mother frowned. "Gene?"

Draco grimaced at his slip. "The same condition as you, mother. From that pool of witches, they will find a match who has a ninety percent or greater compatibility with me."

His father frowned, his face rather pale. "What does that mean?"

Draco ran a hand through his hair. Here is where the conversation became trickier because he wasn't very sure how this all worked himself.

"I don't know, actually. I had to fill out a ton of forms and they took a sample of my blood and my hair. That muggle-born Granger is responsible for the new charm. Knowing her, it's bound to work. The charm decides if two people are compatible."

Her mother snorted. "A mudblood came up with it? It's bound to be tripe then."

Draco narrowed his eyes at his mother. "That word is taboo."

His mother flushed. "The wards-"

Draco cut her off. "Do not say it again, mother. We are working very hard to reform our good name with the Ministry."

She went pale and glanced at his father, who nodded although he was still glaring at Draco.

"Has this charm been tested, that the witch came up with?" Lucius asked, his tone a bit harsh.

Draco nodded and tossed out his ace. "They claim anyone the charm matches can be soul bound, father."

His father's eyes went wide and his mother gasped.

The binding ceremony was an ancient piece of magic that had fallen out of practice. It required two souls who could perfectly complement each other, and as far as Draco knew there hadn't been two people who could safely complete the ceremony in living memory. It was so rare, in fact, that families had stopped even testing for it. Well, Pureblood families still did. Two bound souls, when matched in the ceremony, intensified their magic and the magic of their offspring. It was an incredible honor, and no Pureblood family would ever not try for more honor. Add in their constant ambition for more power, and it was the perfect combination to lure any Pureblood family into the pool, something Draco was sure the Ministry was aware of.

They had just found the gold at the end of the rainbow for the Sacred Twenty Eight.

"So you will be matched with someone you can bind with?" his mother said, her voice awestruck.

Draco nodded. "That is what I have been promised. Kingsley says that the ancient magic office will send me a report once they have found my match."

Narcissa Malfoy looked at her husband, her eyes greedy. "We would be the first Pureblood family with such a thing to happen in generations! Centuries even!"

Lucius Malfoy's eyes had gone greedy as well, although his face was calculated.

Draco knew his father was already thinking of how he could use such a thing to his advantage. That was all right though. Draco didn't wish to discourage that trait in his father, as long as it was channeled properly it was highly advantageous.

Draco did need to disabuse his mother of the notion that he would be the first wizard bonded though. "I don't know that we would be first, mother. Any Pureblood who signs up will–"

His father waved him to silence. "I will see Shacklebolt first thing tomorrow."

Draco smirked. "And what makes you think he will strike a bargain with you that our family will be placed at the top of the list?"

Lucius's eyes flashed. "I know what Nott and his band of misfits are up to."

Draco nodded. Yes, of course. His father would sell out his friends to insure that his son was the first Malfoy and wizard in memory to be soul bonded. Slytherins were loyal, but not stupid.

Draco inclined his head. "As you wish, father, but understand that it all comes down to the charm matching me with someone. I am not sure how many will actually volunteer. It could take time."

Notes:

Nondum-natus is a condition I have made up. I combined a few genetic disorders for this, but you should recognize Hemophilia. That would be the royal disease also sometimes called the 'royal shame'.

Did you catch on that Draco has let go of his hate of all things muggle? This out of character trait is however due to a very in character trait. He's very Slytherin my Draco.