Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 9

The day had arrived for Draco and my signing ceremony. A venue within wizarding London had been rented out for the ceremony, and everyone from pure-blood society was invited.

The signing ceremony was a tradition within pure-blood society which dated back centuries. It marked the day when the betrothal became official by the signing of the engagement contract. Traditionally, either family is allowed to back out of an arranged marriage before the signing ceremony with no penalties. However, once the engagement contract is signed, if a person wants to cancel the engagement their family has to pay the jilted fiancé steep monetary damages to recompense for the broken engagement.

Signing ceremonies, through the centuries had evolved into a celebration on par with the actual wedding. All the pure-blooded families would attend and after the ceremony had finished, a huge feast and ball were held by the groom's family.

My hair had been intricately put up in a braided up-do by a house-elf and I was dressed in a traditional white dress-robe with a kelly green embroidered sash. The sash was always in the bride's family's color. I nervously fiddled with the Malfoy engagement ring on my ring finger as my mother and Daphne fluttered around me trying to get everything prepared.

A knock was heard, and my mother rushed over to see who was at the door. "Oh Narcissa I'm so happy to see you," I heard my mother exclaim as she opened the door.

I turned around and saw my future mother-in-law looking statuesque in a sapphire blue dress robe. "It's a pleasure to see you too Eleanor, I was wondering if I could have a moment alone with Astoria."

"That would be no problem at all." My mother smiled and let Narcissa enter the room, "Come on Daphne let's say hello to your Aunt Irene."

Daphne called out to our mother to hold on for a second, and she then came up to me and gave me a hug. "You look beautiful Astoria, I'm so proud of you." Her eyes were shining from unshed tears and she had a genuine smile on her face. I returned the hug, squeezing tightly.

As Daphne pulled back her smile turned into a teasing grin, "Make sure you spell your name right when you sign the contract. We wouldn't want you to bring dishonor upon the family."

I laughed at her joke and gave my mother a quick hug before they both departed, leaving me alone with the Malfoy matriarch.

"I have to agree with your sister, you do look beautiful today Astoria." Narcissa smiled at me, breaking her typical stoic façade. "Please have a seat." She motioned towards the couch which was situated against the wall of the dressing room.

I tried to take a seat as gracefully as possible, attempting not to embarrass myself in front of my future mother-in-law. Narcissa sat down next with me, and for the first time I noticed that she was carrying a rectangular velvet box.

"Astoria," she paused and I heard the tenderness which emanated through her voice. "I remember my signing ceremony as if it was yesterday, my stomach had been tied in knots and I remember being so worried that I would do something stupid like trip in front of everyone or spill the inkwell when I went for the quill to sign my name." I grinned knowingly as she talked.

"Lucius' mother came in before the ceremony and gave me a long speech about what it meant to be a Malfoy wife and the duties that were expected of me. I'm not going to give you that speech. Now's a different time and I know that you understand the implications of marrying into this family." She paused momentarily, "I want you to know Astoria that I'm glad you're joining our family.

I'm strongly devoted to Draco and I want him to be happy, which is why I waited so long before arranging his marriage. I didn't want him to be married simply for strategic reasons, I wanted him to have what Lucius and I have. We were lucky, our parents didn't care about finding the right match for us but we were meant for each other and by some lucky chance we ended up being arranged to each other. But, I saw a lot of my friends get married off to men who they were never going to learn to love, and I just love Draco too much to force him into a loveless marriage. I wouldn't be able to bear living with myself if he was unhappy due to my actions."

Narcissa took my hand in her own and continued, "I know Draco and you don't love each other yet, but I know for certainty that you both are compatible and that it will come, probably when you least expect it. You're everything Draco needs. You're independent, intelligent, and from what I hear you won't ever let Draco push you around which is exactly what he needs. You'll challenge him and keep him on his toes."

She squeezed my hand gently and I smiled up at her. I didn't quite buy the idea Narcissa was implying that Draco and I were soul-mates, but I was glad that Narcissa had spoken to me so openly. Her love for her son radiated through her words, and I knew my respect for her had deepened. I hoped that one day I could be the type of mother Narcissa was. I was also relieved that she hadn't given me a speech similar to the one her mother-in-law had given her at her signing ceremony.

"Anyway," Narcissa interrupted my thoughts and handed me the box she had been carrying, "This was given to me to day of my signing ceremony by Lucius' mother. Malfoy brides-to-be have been given this necklace for centuries and it's now rightfully yours."

I took the box and tentatively opened it up. Inside was a diamond necklace that radiated light and took my breath away. The necklace had multiple large pear shape diamonds which hung from a string of smaller diamonds. The diamonds seemed so pure and as I looked down at the necklace the magnitude of what I was about to do struck me.

Narcissa took the necklace out of the box and gingerly placed it around my neck and clasped it. The necklace was heavy against my throat and my first reaction was to raise my hand to touch one of the larger pear shaped diamonds, disbelievingly. The Greengrass family had an extensive jewelry collection, but we had nothing which measured up to the level of this necklace. Narcissa smiled gently at my reaction.

"Well we better be heading towards the hall, the ceremony is going to start in about five minutes." Narcissa moved to get up but my hand shot out and I held her wrist to pause her.

"Thank you."

Her smile widened, "You're welcome dear, and welcome to the family."

I followed her as she got up and left the room. She led me to an antechamber separate from the main hall where I spotted Draco, his father, and my parents. They were all standing around and chatting. As Narcissa and I walked in the conversation everyone within the room paused and they all turned to look in our direction. I could feel my cheeks begin to redden at all the attention.

Draco broke away from the group and approached me, a grin gracing his features. His blond hair was neatly combed and he was dressed in a traditional black and white dress robe. I couldn't help but note how debonair and handsome he looked, and my blush deepened.

As he got to me his grin widened, "You look breathtaking Astoria." He leaned forward and gave me a chaste kiss which emanated affection. My heart fluttered at his tender kiss, and I shyly smiled back.

Narcissa had joined her husband and my parents and they were all now sharing furtive looks as they all looked upon Draco and my interaction with each other.

"Any moment now," my mother said to no one in particular in regard to the commencement of the ceremony.

Before anyone could respond a crier was heard declaring "All rise in the presence of Judge Hawthorne." There was a cacophony of sounds as everyone in the hall pushed back their chairs and rose. Draco and I stiffened as we heard the commotion in the room next door. We steeled ourselves as we prepared to go out.

Another voice, that of the judge, rang out clearly across the hall, "You may all be seated." The judge paused and we heard the rush of sound as everyone sat back down. "I ask to now see the parents of the betrothed," boomed the voice of the judge, piercing through the antechamber.

Both sets of parents left the room, leaving Draco and I together. For some inexplicable reason, I felt my hand reach for Draco's. He clasped my hand and gave it a tender squeeze of assurance. I pressed his hand in return, letting his calm energy flood over me.

From outside we heard to judge ask, "May the parents of the groom please step forward."

Then Lucius' voice called out, "We, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, present our son, Draco Malfoy, before you all today for the signing of an engagement contract with Astoria Greengrass."

Draco leaned into me and whispered, "Here we go." He then dropped my hand and walked out of the antechamber, leaving me alone.

Whispers broke out across the crowd as Draco entered the hall. I began to fiddle with my engagement ring again, waiting for my parents to summon me.

"May the parents of the bride please step forward," the judge called out.

I suddenly heard my father nervously clear his throat and I couldn't resist smiling a little at the image of my father that I was picturing. "We, Ervin and Eleanor Greengrass, present our daughter, Astoria Greengrass, before you all today for the signing of an engagement contract with Draco Malfoy."

Taking in one more deep sigh, I moved towards the door and walked into the hall. There were over a hundred and fifty people seated facing a raised dais, where the judge sat facing the audience. Between the dais and the audience was a table with two chairs facing the judge. On the right, Draco was already sitting with his parents standing beside him. The left chair was empty and my parents stood to the side of the chair waiting for me.

As soon as I stepped into the hall, everyone turned to face me and another wave of whispers erupted at my appearance. Ignoring the buzzing, I made my way to the empty chair and took a seat next to Draco.

The elderly judge peered down at us from her elevated position, "Today we are all here to bear witness to the signing of an engagement contract between Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass. The engagement contract is an honored tradition and is not to be taken lightly. Do the betrothed understand the consequence of signing their names?"

Draco and I said, "Yes, your honor," in unison.

The judge nodded her approval, and her gaze turned to our parents, "Do the families of the betrothed understand the consequences to befall upon them if a breach of contract is to occur?" To which they replied yes.

"As a servant of the law I now give my permission to the betrothed to sign their names upon the engagement contract. And I bear witness towards their actions."

I turned towards Draco and saw that he was looking at me as well; we both shared a shy smile and then went to grab the quills that sat in front of us. I dipped my quill cautiously in the inkwell, hoping to Merlin that I didn't spill it.

Luckily, no such catastrophe occurred and I finished signing my name at the end of the contract with a flourish. Once the judge had seen that we had both signed the contract she said, "May the betrothed arise." Once we had she continued, "With the power vested in me, I declare the betrothed officially engaged in the eyes of the law." The room came alive as everyone rose to their feet and applauded. Draco and I bowed slightly to the judge before we turned around to face the audience. The applause intensified and I smiled out towards the crowd, feeling my cheeks burst into a blush at all the attention that was being directed towards me.

After the ceremony had ended, everyone apparated to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, where the Malfoys hosted the traditional feast and ball. The food was rich and decadent and the manor had been beautifully decorated for the occasion. White roses ruled supreme in the dining room and the ballroom. I spent the night dancing with Draco as well as some of my other guy friends from my Hogwarts days. Portia had been invited to the ceremony and after-party at my request and she'd rushed me at the first available moment to gush about the food, the necklace, and the groom.

The last dance finally came after hours of festivities and Draco and I moved onto the dance floor for the waltz. Wrapped within Draco's strong arms as he swept me across the dance floor, I felt secure and cherished. Draco and I didn't love each other, but a deep regard was beginning to grow between us. As we danced, the gap between us began to shrink until the end of the dance where I was leaning my head against Draco's chest, listening to his heart beat in rhythm. The music slowly came to a stop and so did we. However, before we let go of each other, Draco whispered in my ear, "Let's go back to your place tonight."

The champagne I'd been drinking throughout the night made me bold enough to accept his suggestion, and the first moment we could escape we both side-apparated to the front door of my apartment. I dug through my purse for my keys, but before I could find them I felt Draco gently push me up against the door. His left hand grabbed my hand and pinned it the door as his other hand began exploring my curves. My free hand grabbed the back of his head and we were enveloped in a passionate kiss.

After awhile Draco pulled back and began showering my neck with kisses. "Draco, stop it I need to find my keys." I whispered as he continued his ministrations.

" Draco." I stopped and gasped as I felt Draco teeth tenderly graze my earlobe. "Draco, the sooner I get my keys the sooner we can go inside and be alone, if you know what I mean."

Draco stopped and raked a hand through his disheveled hair. "Okay, okay I'll stop… for now."

I chuckled as I bent over to pick up my purse which I had dropped in the heat of the moment, "That's all I'm asking for."

Finding my keys, I quickly unlocked the door. Draco pulled me inside, and I moved into his arms, as I pushed the door closed behind me haphazardly. Maybe it had been the wine I had been drinking earlier that evening, or maybe it was intoxication that came from Draco's kisses, but my mind did not register the fact that my living room lights had been on when we both had entered which was not ordinary.

Draco was about to lean forward and kiss me again when we were suddenly both thrown out of our own little world when an unknown voice cleared their throat.

The heat of passion drained out of me and my stomach plummeted out of fear. Suddenly I spotted the figure that had just gotten up from the coach and my mouth suddenly went dry and the color drained from my face.

Not knowing who the person was and confused, Draco moved forward to protectively block me from the intruder, his face livid. "Who the fuck are you?"

The man nonchalantly replied, "I'm Astoria's boyfriend. Who you are?"

A/N: I'm back! Oh my god I can't believe (a) that it's been so long and (b) that it's 6:30 AM right now. I'm exhausted but since you all waited so long for the newest chapter, I felt it was unfair to all of you not to edit it right after I finished writing it. So just for the record I spent this weekend rereading all of An Arranged State and I cleaned up the typos as well as some of the grammar. There's also a few jokes here and there that I added when the mood struck me. Nothing radical has changed, though. So don't feel like you're required to go back and reread the chapters. However, I can say that formatting on is a pain in the ass. I spent a decent amount of time trying to make the headers in Chapter 1 look all nice and pretty, and I failed miserably. So curses , curses.

Anyway I do have one quick request for all you dear readers (besides the whole reviewing thing ^_^). I just completed my first year of law school, and I definitely did not have any time to keep up with fanfiction during the past year. I'm looking for recommendations of good fanfics from all of you. I prefer Lily/James, Draco/Astoria, Andromeda/Tonks, and Rose/Scorpius, so if any of you have some fanfics within those ships that you highly recommend pretty please send them my way. I don't move to Paris to start my internship until June so I have a few weeks of pure bliss and nothingness to do, so I want to catch up on fanficition.

Anyway! Thank you everyone for sticking with me, I love you all. Please review and let me know what you thought. And yes expect a new chapter out before the end of May.

Eek! I almost forgot, Astoria's necklace in this chapter is based off the Napoleon Necklace in the Smithsonian. So if you're curious, just google it and bask in its splendor.

1/30/15 A/N: Hello everyone! I've decided to revisit this story after a 2.5 year hiatus. I'm going through and cleaning up my writing in the meantime before I start writing some new chapters. This chapter has been re-edited.