A/N- Hey guys! I am starting to write the chapters in 2nd POV cause, I feel more comfortable writing that way.

You awoke to sunlight streaming into the common room, your head screaming, you felt worse than nasty, and all you wanted was to go back to bed. But, you slowly and quietly got up, contemplating whether or not to wake up Ron, ultimately deciding to leave him and let him sleep. He had the opportunity to have a good day, unlike yourself, and you didn't want to ruin that for him.

As you approached your dorm room, his words from last night rang through your head, 'Look presentable.' Of course, he would demand that of you. Yet you did as you were told, not wanting to risk another interaction like last nights. Lucky for you, when you slipped into your room, all of your roommates were fast asleep, including Hermione, meaning you wouldn't have to answer any questions just yet. Desperate to not wake them, you quietly grabbed your things and slipped out of the room to the showers.

Your shower wasn't long, and it didn't do much to help your head, but it did feel good to wash off the grime of last night. Still, the boiling hot water couldn't wash away your new reality. So you finished, stepped out, and used a spell you had learned from a Gryffindor girl in the year above you to dry and style your hair. You put some light makeup on and threw on what you hoped Draco would deem presentable. You caught yourself in the mirror and felt your heart lurch. Who is that? You didn't look much different, but you couldn't help but feel different, like something was wrong, and you didn't know how to make it better. But, you swallowed your anxiety, dropped Ron's clothes he had let you borrow on your bed back in your dorm, grabbed a small black baguette bag, and headed to the Great Hall where you assumed you'd be meeting Draco since you didn't necessarily have time to discuss the details last night.

When you entered the hall, Draco was in his usual spot at the head of Slytherin's table. When you saw him, you froze. Now that you weren't drunk off your ass, you could finally process precisely what had happened last night, everything he said to you. That you really weren't your own person, that you hadn't been before, and that you wouldn't ever be. You don't know how long you were standing there for, but at some point, Blaise Zabini broke you from your trance.

"Hey there, Y/l/n, I hear you are sitting with us today," it's likely he had come up to you because Draco sent him to retrieve you, but there was an edge to his voice that you didn't understand. Like he knew something you didn't.

"I guess," you responded quietly, you were confused, overwhelmed, and seriously hungover.

"Brilliant, let's go, I'm sure you need a cup of tea after last nights activities," he said, each word intentional, gazing at your hickey and started towards where Draco and his crew were sitting, expecting you to follow, which of course, you did. Had he seen you with Harry, or did Blaise assume Draco made the mark?

Once you made it to the table, you noticed that the only seat available was directly next to Draco. You sat silently in what was clearly your new assigned spot, and Blaise pushed a cup of tea in front of you. You wondered if Ron had gotten up yet and if he was wondering where you were. Or, if Hermione had seen you on the couch when she had gotten back last night. You wondered if they would come looking for you today to find you sitting with the people who had tried so hard to make both of your lives hell for the last six years. You kept to your thoughts as you sipped at your tea as you let your mind wander, not interested in whatever the Slytherin's were talking about.

"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours, darling?" Draco asked, interrupting your train of thought, and startling you.

He had been acting oddly even before the letters arrived, which, of course, had been a subject of conversation amongst your friends. Harry assumed he had become a Death Eater, which you didn't doubt, while Hermione figured it was just what happened at the Ministry last term, and his father's arrest that was effecting him. Either way, there was something sad and focused about him this year you hadn't seen in him before. Instead of being the entitled school-yard bully, he was focused, elsewhere, and no longer troubling himself with tripping you in the halls. Yet, at this moment, he was the same Slytherin Prince who ruled the school you had known from the years before, and it scared you.

"I've just got a headache," you said quietly. He called you darling, that had to just be apart of the show.

"Well, push that aside, we've got a whole day ahead of us, love."

When he called you love heard Pansy Parkinson scoffed. Shit. You forgot about her and her little crush on Malfoy. You would just have to add that to the list of things you would be glancing over your shoulder for this year. You just nodded in response to Draco, ignored Parkinson, and continued sipping your tea, too queasy to eat, allowing the Slytherins around you to continue with their conversation and breakfast while keeping your eyes on the grand doors.

It wasn't long until Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny walked in, all scanning the entire hall for you as Ron likely alerted them that you were missing this morning. It was Hermione who locked eyes with you at the Slytherin table and mouthed 'Bathroom?' to which you nodded.

You put a hand on Draco's arm, interrupting his conversation.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to head to the lavatory before we walk to Hogsmeade?" You formed it as a question, but you were standing and departing just before he could agree. You walked as fast as you could without being suspicious, meeting Ginny and Hermione in the girls' lavatory nearest the Great Hall.

"I don't have long. They think I'm peeing," you said quickly.

"Merlin, Y/n/n, are they keeping you bloody hostage?" Ginny asked.

"You could say that. Last night Draco caught me with somebody, and he didn't really take it well. He pulled me out into the hall and basically said it was time to start dating in order to appease our parents," you said as you rubbed your temples, recalling the memory making your headache worse.

"Is that all? Did he threaten you?" Hermione asked.

"It's my parents I'm worried about 'Mione, he just reminded me that this was all real and that I didn't have a choice."

"Of course you have a choice," Ginny said.

"Ginny, are you joking?!" you exclaimed. "If I had an inch of control over my life, I wouldn't live with them anymore! I wouldn't be marrying Draco! I'd have run away or- I don't know, but I wouldn't be in this situation," you said, fighting to push your sadness and anger down. None of your friends would ever understand. You'd met Molly, she's the perfect mother she would never lay a hand on one of her children, much less force them into an unwanted marriage. "I don't have an inch of control over my life, much less a choice of what happens in it."

"I'm sorry-"

Ginny's apology was cut short by Pansy sauntering into the lavatory, "Y/l/n!" You heard her call your name. "Are these two bothering you?" She asked as she stood next to you and took her arm in yours as some sort of display of dominance.

"Don't worry about it, Pansy," you said, clearly made uncomfortable by her presence. "I just finished."

"Well then, let's go, your boyfriend is waiting for you," she said, fake kindness outlining her voice.

You gave Ginny and Hermione a look that said, 'I'll tell you everything later, I am so, so sorry' as Pansy dragged you back to Draco. You felt awful for raising your voice at your friends, but you hoped that they would understand, and at the moment, something else concerned you. First, it was Blaise shepherding you to Draco, now Pansy. It was as if Draco was trying to tell you that his people were watching you when he couldn't. It was just as you had said to Ginny, you had no control.

Pansy made sure you made it back to Draco quickly, not caring to make any small talk with you. You were sure she was pissed about Draco making her babysit you instead of taking her out on a date, and you were positive this wouldn't be the last time.

You noticed Draco standing in the hall waiting for you, and Pansy passed you off to him when she saw him, the two exchanging a nod that only confirmed your earlier thoughts.

Draco wrapped his arm around your shoulder once you approached him, "How were Ginny and Hermione?"

"They weren't wrong to be worried," you responded quickly. You knew that Draco wasn't stupid, and you wouldn't treat him as if he were.

"Well, you look lovely today," he said. It was a genuine compliment, which wasn't something you were ready to believe.

"So, what have you planned for our date?" You asked, trying to change the subject.

"I know how you love bookstores, so we're starting at Tomes and Scrolls, after that is a surprise," he answered coyly, which surprised you. How did Draco Malfoy know that you liked bookstores? You had never told him, and your passion for books only came after befriending Hermione Granger, so how did he find out? And why did he care to know?

"How did you find that out?" You asked after you thought for a moment.

"I'm sorry?"

"Between last night and this morning, how did you find out that I love bookstores?" You asked.

"Why do you continue to doubt me, Blackwood?" He questioned you back.

Draco had loved you for so long, of course, he knew. He'd never forget the day you bounced into the library just after everyone had returned from Winter Holiday your third year telling Hermione of the bookstores you had visited in Paris. You described every single detail, focusing on one first edition of Pride and Prejudice that your parents hadn't allowed you to get. The sheer joy in your voice at the recollection of the bookstores you had experienced was enough to send Draco over the moon. At that moment, he hadn't cared that you weren't talking to him. All he cared about was listening to your melodic voice recant the ivy that wrapped itself around the bookshelves in the shop off of the Seine. It wasn't until Madam Pince shushed you that Draco's trance was broken. Although Draco knew he couldn't share this with you, he had already broken your heart. He knew that he didn't deserve you and that whatever he said, he would never be able to get you to love him back. So, instead of sharing his story, he resigned to walking with you in silence.

Depending on the company and the weather, the walk to Hogsmede can either take twelve minutes or twelve years. Today, with Draco by your side, it took millennia. Since neither of you knew what to say, you each chose silence, which was possibly worse than pestering one another. Although anytime people would pass by you, Draco would all of a sudden start talking to you about anything that came to mind. You assumed it was one of his way of keeping up appearances.

Eventually, the two of you made it to Tomes and Scrolls. Although you still weren't sure why Draco wanted to watch you look at books and call it a date, you wouldn't refuse the opportunity to browse their collection.

"Go ahead and look around, I've got to pick something up from the front, alright?" He said, and you happily complied. Any chance to get a break from the decently awkward silence, you left your boyfriend's side and quickly made your way to the history section.

You took a deep breath when you arrived, the smell of books, black tea, and dusty cushions filled your nose and brought you a little bit of peace. You browsed silently, excited by the books you hadn't seen before, and of course, picking up the ones that called to you. Eventually, after having your fill of the history section, you made your way to spells where you found another book you just couldn't resist, sorting through all the insanely beautiful and magical texts. While turning around to look at the bookshelf behind you, you bumped right into Draco, holding something behind his back.

"Well, it looks like you've found something," he said.

Forgetting about your predicament for a moment, you held up the first book you had found, "well this one is about the Salem Witch Trials and the muggle's understanding of what happened. Apparently, some old writer wrote a play about it! And there are transcripts of the testimonies from the muggle court proceedings. Then," you held up a second book. "This one is is about occulemency, it was in the spell section, which obviously isn't where it belongs, so I picked it up to put it back, but I'd honestly really love to learn more about occulemency, and this copy makes it look so interesting, so why not?"

Draco couldn't help but fall deeper in love with you as you rambled on about the books you had found. How one person could find so much passion in something so many find boring, he would adore about you forever.

"I'm glad you found something, dear. I've also got something for you," he said.

"Oh?"

"I'm sorry it's not wrapped," he apologized as he handed you an old beat-up book.

"Draco, is this?"

"One of the first printed editions of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen," he said, nerves biting at his voice.

You missed the nerves in his voice as you were focused on your own confusion. He, Draco Malfoy, but you a muggle book? But, why? How could he have known you had been searching for this book for ages, that it had slipped through your fingertips in Paris. Where in the world was this extension of kindness and care suddenly coming from?

"Draco I-"

"Don't ask, Y/n, just take it, please," he said, placing the book on top of your pile. "Now, let's get you a bag for all of these."

After checking out, and Draco refusing to let you pay for the books, not sure what was next, you followed him out of the shop out into Hogsmede. He led you down to Honeydukes.

"I was thinking we could get some sweets, then go over to the Three Broomsticks," He said, sounding almost shy. "The- uh surprise was really just the book."

You nodded, "that sounds lovely, and thank you, Draco, I've been looking for this copy for a long time," it was awkward, but you really wanted to find some way to properly thank him.

The two of you entered Honeydukes, the warm waft of sweets pleasantly wrapping around both of you, causing a smile to grace your lips.

"Draco, what's your favorite sweet?" you asked.

"Crystalized pineapple," he said and picked up a bag.

"I love chocolate frogs," you responded. "But crystallized pineapple is good too."

This kind of awkward back and forth continued while you both browsed the store you already knew so well. You'd comment about the new colors of the sugar quills, and he would ask if you wanted anything from the chocolate section, which of course, you said yes. While shopping, you picked up some items for your friends.

"You like pumpkin pasties?" Draco asked a sour look on his face, clearly displaying his distaste for the pastry.

"No, they're for Harry," you said without a second thought.

"You're buying him, sweets, now?" Draco asked through his teeth.

"Draco, he's my friend. I haven't forgotten our conversation from last night. I can still buy my friends gifts," You said and grabbed the few things he had in his hands and headed to the checkout counter. You quickly handed the witch working the galleons to pay for the sweets.

"You minx!" You heard Draco shout playfully.

"I have to get you back for that book," You called without looking at him, insinuating that you weren't yet done, as you put your things in separate bags.

"That was so quick," he said.

"I've got a couple tricks up my sleeve," you said as you picked up the bags and spun around to find Draco, who was just an inch away. You paused for a moment, the closeness causing your stomach to turn. Trying to push out the weird feeling, you handed Malfoy his bag.

"Three broomsticks?" you asked quickly, to which he nodded. "Brilliant, let's go."

As the two of you made your way out of the shop, one of your uncomfortable silences quickly falling back over you, Draco bumped into none other than Harry Potter.

"Oi, watch it, Potter," Draco sneered at him, somehow even nastier than usual.

You lightly grabbed Draco's forearm as an attempt to keep him calm.

"Or what Malfoy? You'll tell your father?" Harry retorted.

"Boys, stop it, now" you hissed, looking around at the crowd that had gathered in a circle around you.

"Do you want another bloody nose job Potter, I really tried to help you that last time," Draco shot to Harry, ignoring your warnings.

"Well I'm surprised, the only way you can get a girlfriend is through blackmail," Harry bit back.

Draco whipped his wand out. "Say it again, go, ahead Potter since you're so brave, say it again."

"Go ahead and hex me, Malfoy," Harry leaned in close enough so that you couldn't hear. "Get her to hate you forever."

Draco considered Harry's words and lowered his wand slowly. "Stay away from us," he said, bitterly conceding.

You were mortified, unsure of what to do, but Draco took your hand in his and pushed your way out of the crowd and away from Hogsmede.

"Draco," you said as you entered the mouth of the path to Hogwarts. He didn't respond, so you spoke up, "Draco!"

"What!?" He shouted, stopping in his tracks.

"When you said that about Harry's nose, did you-"

"Yes, I broke his nose, but are you really taking his side?" Draco demanded. "Did you not hear what he said?"

"Yes, but," he cut you off again.

"But what? But he's my friend?" He said, mocking your voice. "You really are stupid, aren't you," he said nastily.

"Excuse me, you think that's the way to be friendly? By calling me stupid?" You didn't want a repeat of last night, you would stick to the deal, but you wouldn't let him treat you like shit.

"I'm sorry but really Y/n, taking his side is just-" He said, realizing what he had said wasn't okay.

"Draco, I tried to get you to walk away before he even said anything! Don't call me stupid because I care about my friends. Now I'm sorry that Harry was a jerk, and I'll talk to him, but you need to not be a jerk yourself, alright?"

"Alright," he said, a bit quiet.

"Great, now let's go back to the castle together so that nobody suspects we've broken up after one date." You said, and took his hand. At least you two weren't yelling at each other so much.

Draco walked you back to your common room, keeping an eye on you until he couldn't. Just as you were ready to be rid of him for the evening, he put a hand on your cheek and leaned in close enough to kiss you, causing you to draw in your breath and hold it.

"You did a fine job today. Keep it up," he said, returning to his new cold self, examining you, dropping his hand, and leaving.

The second he turned the corner, you released your breath and quickly uttered the password to the Fat Lady, who for once didn't bother you and just let you in. You entered a packed room, but immediately picking out Harry and Ron, who were going over plans for their upcoming game.

"Harry James Potter, what is wrong with you?" You asked, causing Ron to jump.

"What? It's not like you fancy the prick," Harry retorted.

"That doesn't mean you also have to make my life hell. He's enough, but you making a spectacle out of things is worse," you said.

"I'm sorry, Y/n I didn't think about it like that," he said, his voice genuine.

"Of course not, because you're not the person who has to deal with the bloody ramifications, you get to walk away," you said and left, headed straight to your dorm. When you threw open your door, Ginny and Hermione were sitting on your bed, clearly waiting for you.

"Ginny, I'm sorry about earlier. I really didn't mean to react like that," you said from your spot in the door, rushed but genuine. "I am so so sorry."

"Merlin, Y/n, don't apologize. It wasn't fair of me to say, now come sit down, you've clearly got a lot you've got to talk about," Ginny responded, instantly calming you down.

You nodded, exhausted by the last twenty-four hours but desperate to talk to people who genuinely care about you, you plopped down on the bed between the two.

"I don't even know where to start," You said and let out a breath. "So last night Draco rips me out of the party and loses his shit on me," you started, which made Ginny giggle, encouraging you to crack a smile. "Being the incredibly kind and caring person he is, the git reminded me that if I did not do as I was told, my father would do the same to me that he did to James."

"He didn't!" Hermione exclaimed, the shock evident on her face.

"Oh, it gets worse," you responded. "He says that we're going to be a couple, I have to go on dates with him, and keep up appearances. Basically, that I am all his, and that my fate had been sealed the second our parents agreed that we'd be married."

"Shit, Y/n/n," Ginny said and shook her head.

"That was just last night! Wait till I tell you about today's outing!"

You told them everything about your day, not sparing a single detail. You knew Draco had at least told Blaise, so what was the harm in telling Hermione and Ginny? As you were talking, you changed into pajamas. It was nice to be able to speak freely and laugh at the ridiculous nature of your situation. If you didn't, you feared you would go insane.

"And the best part?" You asked as you opened a chocolate frog for Ginny, who was braiding your hair. "Harry decided today would be the perfect day to pick a fight with Malfoy."

"Of course he did," Hermione said, falling back onto the bed. "What a prick."

"So Harry purposely bumps into Malfoy, and both of them turn into ten-year-olds," you said and laughed. "It was fucking ridiculous. There was a whole crowd around us, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's all we hear about for the next bloody week."

"Well, did anything happen?" Ginny asked. Luckily the news hadn't traveled that fast.

"I mean, they were jerks to each other," you said. "Harry said, and I quote, 'the only way you can get a girlfriend is through blackmail. But they didn't exchange any spells, thankfully."

"He's such an idiot," Hermione said to which all of you nodded.

"And apparently, now I'm speculating a bit, but I think that Harry was late to the feast because Draco broke his nose on the train."

"That would explain the blood," Ginny muttered, and Hermione nodded.

"Anyways, we walked back here, and he was his usual Malfoy self," you said.

"How odd," Ginny commented, and you agreed excitedly.

"Right?! Thank you! I've been going crazy over it all."

"Well, I say we all get to sleep, it's been a long weekend, and the year isn't going to get any easier," Hermione commented, prompting nods of agreement from you and Ginny.

-

You awoke Monday morning to Hermione's alarm feeling decent thanks to the full night's sleep, which you were deeply grateful for. Thanks to Hermione, you had time to get ready without any rush, and the two of you made your way to the common room to meet up with Harry and Ron so you could make your usual walk to the Great Hall. However, they weren't there, and neither you nor Hermione planned on waiting for them. Your walk transpired, free of abnormalities, things only appearing astray upon your entrance to the Great Hall. For one, Harry and Ron had arrived before you and Hermione, which was unheard of, and second, your seat next to Draco was open yet again.

You looked at Hermione, then looked at the open seat, silently communicating your thoughts.

"It's probably better that you go sit with him, you know, to stay on his good side. And maybe I'll be able to figure out what's going wrong with Harry," Hermione said, picking up on your glances.

"This is why everyone says your so smart, isn't it?" you said.

"That or I'm just incredibly logical," she said and shrugged.

"You're a genius, 'Mione, I love you," you said, blowing a kiss her way as you walked to the Slytherin table.

Breakfast wasn't as bad as the day before, although that doesn't mean it was fun. Crabbe made fun of you for finally eating, considering you hadn't eaten the day before. Blaise and Pansy each observed your every move when you buttered your toast and the way you picked up your pumpkin juice. Draco basically ignored you, despite willing you to sit with them. The worst thing were the hoards of people whispering both your and Draco's name. The whole school must have known at this point, and for the first time this year, Harry's name wasn't on everyone's lips. It was yours.

"I think we should get going," you said to Draco and Blaise as class drew closer, although you predominately just wanted out of under the school's gaze.

"You're probably right," Blaise said as he scooped his bookbag off of the floor. "We'll see you fools later," he said to Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson.

Following Blaise, you stood up alongside Draco, unable to block out the words floating around you.

"Merlin are they really together?" you heard a fourth year Ravenclaw speculate.

"Why else would she be sitting with them?" their friend responded.

Draco must have heard them too because he picked up your bag for you, grabbed your hand, and leaned in to whisper, "Don't listen to any of them, they're just jealous, darling."

You swallowed the tension that rose in your throat and forced a smile to come upon your lips, following a nod in recognition. With that, the three of you walked off to the dungeons for your potions class. You filed into the class, and since you were still working with Draco, you didn't have the opportunity to speak to Hermione, and your thoughts were quickly interrupted by Professor Slughorn.

"Alright, this is the last day you'll have with your amortentia. If you were successful, you should be able to smell what attracts you the most in your potion by the end of class. As Miss Granger kindly noted on our first day of class, a properly brewed bought will also have a mother of pearl sheen. Please call me over when you believe you are done."

In approaching your potion, you begrudgingly admitted to yourself that it wasn't half bad and that it may possibly turn out to be good. You and Draco worked quietly and efficiently to finish the project with the hopes of receiving good marks. Although Harry and Ron were the first to complete the potions, which was most likely thanks to Harry's annotated textbook, which didn't bother you much.

Not shortly after, your potion shifted from a flat red to a shimmering white, and you looked at Draco, indicating for him to raise his hand to summon your Professor. Slughorn noticed the blonde's hand and shuffled over to your shared workspace to view your potion. After looking it over approvingly, he glanced up at both of you.

"Could you please tell me what you smell, Mr. Malfoy?" He asked Draco as this was apart of the criteria for completing the project.

Draco nodded and leaned over the cauldron, "I smell vanilla, old books, peonies," he paused a moment, "and firewhiskey."

"An exceptionally exciting lady, you've got your mind on there!" Slughorn said with a chuckle, then gestured to you. "Now, if you don't mind, Miss. Blackwood."

You nodded and took your spot above the potion, breathing in. "Green apples, expensive cologne, and," you took another breath "I don't know Professor, it's hard to tell."

"No, no darling, sometimes if our feelings are confused, we have a hard time smelling Amortenia! I doubt this is a reflection of your potion brewing skills as you, my dear, are top of the class. This is a wonderful draught of Amortentia you two, good work, you'll be getting top marks," Slughorn explained, causing you more concern than joy. "Feel free to enjoy the rest of the period for yourselves," he said to dismiss you both.

You turned back around to look for Draco, who was already nearly out of the classroom. You quickly picked up your bookbag and rushed after him. Being that his legs were longer than yours, you had to call out his name once you were out of the classroom.

"Draco!" you shouted from across the hallway.

"What?" He turned around and bit at you, not bothering to walk towards you.

"Why did you rush out? We received top marks," you asked.

"I figured you wouldn't want to spend any more time with me than you had to," he said, his explanation clearly rubbish.

"Oh, alright, well let me know when you want to plan a study date or anything of the sort," you said and nodded, and he didn't give a moment to process, just turning around and returning to his long strides towards the Slytherin common room while you stood in the middle of Hogwarts dungeons.

Had it been Draco you smelled in that potion? It certainly wasn't Harry, he often smelled of soap and the quidditch pitch, and he rarely wears cologne. It wasn't as if there were any other boys around Hogwarts you thought that much about.

'Vanilla, old books, peonies, and firewhiskey'

It couldn't be you he smelled in the Amortentia. Draco despised you, you were sure of it. What other explanation could there be? He had to hate you. How else could you explain his constant attitude? But then there was the book yesterday, how could he have known about that? Why did he care to know? And why did he care enough to order it in for you? You were paralyzed in your confusion. He could have lied about what he had smelled, Slughorn wouldn't have known the difference, so, why? 

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