𝐵𝑒𝓆𝓊𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 | 𝒟...

The following week was heavy. On Sunday, Snape had reminded me that I still needed to write several finals that were missed during my time at the Malfoy Manor recovering from Quidditch. Thankfully, the Slytherin Quidditch team was currently suspended from any more games until February due to multiple incidences of injuries which required investigation.

Between classes and during the evenings I sat in the bookstacks cramming as much information as I could until Pince kicked me out late at night. Sometimes I would notice Malfoy dragging his feet behind me down the hall, seemingly coming out of thin air. He didn't bother me, just watched where I was when outside of classes or the dorms. He always knew where I was even when I hadn't told him, and his expression was consistently blank, stealing sideways glances at me that didn't last more than a second or two.

I had also tried without success to reconjure the mysterious, wandless, blue flame magic. At night I would study down in the common room late, and when my brain couldn't handle anymore I would attempt to implore feelings of respite and anger upon myself. Clenching my fists, or laying my palms out flat, picturing Malfoy and all the things he had done to me, involved me in. But the flame would not come as though it were offended by the effort.

It was Thursday, the day before I had to write and complete all of my exams in order to be caught up. I had skipped many of my classes simply opting to cram as much as possible in the library on that final day. The ancient book stacks provided their typical comforts from peering eyes and interruption. I had been there for almost six hours when a disruptive smack occurred to my left.

I looked up feeling bewildered by the inappropriate library conduct to see Harry Potter standing at the end of the bookstack, his closed fist glued against the wooden frame where it had been smashed against. He had a sharp look of determination on his dark features. Hermione Granger was hovering behind him looking displeased but also awkward.

"What is Malfoy to you?" Harry jumped straight to the point, "Don't lie to me either. I've seen you two around, heard the rumors. What is he planning?" He had stepped within a foot of me as I begrudgingly stood up and squared my tired frame to face him.

"Well..." I looked down to the side, not even sure what to say to them, "He is my, how do you say, my betrothed?" My words were coming out thin. I didn't have the energy or the permission to grant them any real information. I stood watching Harry's eyes widen and narrow.

"How can that be?" He asked in complete disbelief, "You never even spoke of him really. Now all of sudden you're, engaged?" He looked to Hermione who's face had fallen into a despairing, uncomfortable look.

I glanced between them, realizing that Hermione had kept the secret of my bequeathment mark to herself. "Harry, it is so complicated. I am fatigued." I started collecting books into a pile and Harry stepped his foot down onto one of the texts I was pawing at.

I glared up at him as he pushed further, "Madeleine, is he threatening you? Is he forcing you into something you don't want? We can tell McGonagall, we can help you." His face was incredibly serious, irate even, as he clearly believed his own words to be true. Which they were.

I left the book on the floor and straightened myself again to level my eyes with his, "You would not understand even if I tried to explain." I knew my face was unfriendly, but it was better kept that way. Hermione looked at her shoes.

Harry maintained his powerful glare, "Try me." His persistence was distinguishing, that much was certain.

I swallowed. Hermione reached a delicate hand forwards and placed it on Harry's shoulder, "Harry..." She began before he cut her off abruptly.

"What Hermione? Why are you acting so...odd?" He squinted at her now, "Do you know something?"

She suffered to stand still, suddenly fidgeting with the metal clasp on one of her books and darting her eyes around the room. "Harry, Madeleine is entitled to her privacy. But," her brown eyes fell on me pleadingly, "Maybe if we ask nicely, she will assist us with anything she can."

They both looked at me then and I closed my eyes to think. I could tell them everything and risk countless lives, but the possibility that they would hold the secret long enough to help was also probably worth a shot. I hadn't even told Hilda, why would I tell two Gryffindor's that I knew half as well? I heard a rapid whooshing and then a thick, dusty book cracked into the crown of my skull.

"Seriously?" I cried in outrage, rubbing my head. That problem had seemingly disappeared months ago, only to re-emerge as I was having to make a very intense decision. I would have to bring it up to Pince. I redirected my attention to the two, having made a partial decision, "Okay fine, but not 'ere. Follow me." I bent to grab my final text from the floor, and spun on my heal to leave the library swiftly. I looked back to see they had indeed followed.

We made our way to the exterior walls of the castle to the top of the pathway that led down to the lake. I paused to wrap a Slytherin scarf around my neck. I scanned around for Malfoy, wondering if he was up to his usual stalking.

"Who are you looking for," Harry said, unable to apparently control his involvement, "Malfoy?"

Hermione's eyes looked furrowed, "He...does follow you around a lot. I've noticed it myself, actually."

I ignored them, squinting desperately at every crevice. There were students milling around in hoards making it difficult to discern a hiding individual, "He is 'ere somewhere, you can bet on dat. Nevermind 'im, he usually keeps 'is distance. Let's go."

I led them down to the oak tree in silence. Surprisingly, there wasn't an alarming level of tension between us as we trudged through the January snow. Harry and Hermione had no snide comments to offer, no sarcastic quips about the circumstances - it was relieving somewhat to be with other people besides Slytherins for once. I kept scanning the distance between us and the castle for Malfoy, fully expecting him to show up for this momentous occasion if ever, but his figure was not visible.

We stood by the edge of the lake and I felt the corner's of my eyes tearing from the icy draft. Harry shoved his bare hands into his pockets looking impatient, "Madeleine, there are really imperative reasons for why we came to you today. The world could depend on it." I rotated my head to study the plea in his eyes, "The Malfoy's are involved with the dark lord, aren't they? They're Death Eaters."

I suddenly felt very cold and helpless with the sharp confrontation, "Even if dey were 'arry, I could not tell you." My voice was weak to match my own state of pitiful bravery. I fumbled with lint in my pocket to deviate my attention from blossoming anxiety.

"Right because he's your betrothed?" Harry was actively bitter. I watched as his glasses fogged up from his breath and he stuck a finger in savagely against the glass to rub it away, "Do explain this to me Madeleine because it's obviously forced."

I took a deep breath of the frosty wind. My extensive locks of hair danced around my shoulders and face rebelliously. Hermione shocked me by placing a hand on my shoulder. Her eyes were comforting and supportive and I knew it was time. It wasn't as though the mark was necessarily a secret to any of the other students, more than half of the Slytherin common room now new about it. 

I grabbed at my wild hair and contained it into a bundle, pulling it away from my neck to show Harry. He stepped forward and inhaled sharply, stupefaction marking his features, "Is that the Malfoy family crest on your neck?" His mouth was open with disbelief. I nodded solemnly.

"A bequeathment mark to be exact," Hermione interjected as if on cue, "It's an ancient form of an unbreakable vow, very old and dark magic that ensures that whoever bears the mark of it's giver will follow suit from taking their virginity and marry into the family. Initially it was enforced by families of the Sacred 28 to keep order and civility, to ensure that their bloodlines could be controlled properly, but many have disowned the practice with modern times. I suppose the Malfoy's of all families wouldn't have the decency to abolish such a principle. Harry, you must understand the gravity of this situation. Madeleine must marry Malfoy. It is that or she will...she will perish." Her voice will filled with sympathy as she said it. 

Both Harry and I were speechless for probably separate reasons. I was perversely cognizant that Harry now knew I had slept with Malfoy. I stared down at the ice covered rocks under my boots feeling nauseous and unstable. An unbreakable vow? I would die if I didn't marry him?

"Originally, I thought perhaps there would be a way to break it or legally object to it. But I've been doing some research on the marks, and I'm certain now that nothing can be done about it. The magic is so old, I doubt anyone could even dissect how to counteract it." She continued explaining in her classic ramble as Harry and I stood wide eyed digesting the information.

"Did he rape you?" Harry practically screamed it at me, hardly giving Hermione a chance to finish speaking. I shook my head wildly, feeling a stab of discomfiture at the confirmation. His eyes roved over me hungrily, looking at me in an entirely new light. My face felt white hot as I looked back at him, fighting not to shut my eyes and escape into the darkness of my eyelids. 

"Then I don't feel sorry for you," he bluntly replied and Hermione quickly swung her satchel at him with force.

"Harry Potter! Just exactly how is this any better? He has enslaved her to an ancient, barbaric marriage bond that she had no forewarning about!" Her frizzy hair was sticking up from her head and she stood back to smooth it, "We have to help her through this if we have any sense of morality."

He narrowed his eyes at her, then to me, seeming to come to some decision, "Fine. Then we'll trade our so-called support for information. Starting with my bloody map!" He looked at me squarely and I could see his jaw clenching, "Madeleine, have you ever seen Malfoy with a map? Something very important to me has gone missing and I believe he has it."

"A map?" I asked quizzically, trying to think if I had seen such an item in Draco's hands, "Non?"

He seemed unconvinced, "It...it would look like a piece of parchment, only not. It would show people's names within the castle. Foot steps as they walk. That sort of thing."

I scrunched up my nose trying to picture the concept, "So, et would allow you to see where every one is at all de time?" I pondered aloud.

"Yes, precisely." He nodded.

I gasped with awareness, "Oh non! He can see us right now? 'ere?"

Hermione paled, "She's right Harry, how did we not think of this earlier? We should start walking back." She closed her satchel and tightened it around her frame. As we turned to leave Harry continued speaking.

"If you do see it, don't hesitate to try and get your hands on it. It's really important that we get it back." He was waving his hand around as he spoke, the fingers stiffly straightened.

"Okay, I will try," I muttered, unsure if I could even be sneaky enough to remove a personal item of Draco's without him knowing. He was so incredibly attentive to detail and always in control of our interactions, and I feared what he might do to me if he caught me snooping.