Chapter: The Next Day

'This is thoughts.'

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Gryffindor Common Room

"You're back, Harry. Did Dumbledore want to talk to you about anything important?" Hermione asked Harry as he walked into the common room.

"Nothing much, just that I am marrying Malfoy," he responded, flatly.

"Seriously, what is Dumbledore say?" Ron said with a little chuckle.

"I have to marry Malfoy," he repeated. "Well, it was Malfoy who told me I have to marry him, but Dumbledore didn't disagree."

"Harry, just tell us what happened in the meeting," Ron said annoyed, still not believing that Harry was telling the truth.

Hermione studied the face of her friend of five years, and said, "Ron, I don't think he's lying."

"That's impossible. Why would you have to marry him?" He said, his voice laced with venom.

"There is contract that stipulates I have to marry him," he said as tiredly as he looked.

"Did you see the contract?" Hermione asked.

"No, but Malfoy told me there was no way out of it."

"You cannot take his word for it. Can you get a copy of it?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask."

"What do you mean you didn't ask? This is the rest of your life, and you were going to take the word of someone who has made your life miserable for years. We need to get it to look for loophole!" Ron shouted at his long time friend.

"Ron, please lower your voice. I have a headache. Tomorrow, I will go to Malfoy and ask for a copy. It's been a long day, and I just want to go to sleep. We can talk about more tomorrow if you want," Harry said as he yawned.

"It's okay, Ron and I understand that this must be a lot for you to handle. We will learn more about the contract a figure a way out of it," she said to him and she gave him a small smile and a quick hug. "Good night." After that, Harry went to sleep.

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Slytherin Common Room

"That went better than I thought," Blaise said as he and Draco walked in the common room.

"What do you mean? At first, he didn't want to believe it. Then he practically went mad for second there when he found out the day we are suppose to marry. I don't think it went 'well' at all."

"He didn't try to kill you. Hell, he didn't even hex you," Blaise said in return. "What did you expect, for him to run into your arms and confess his undying love for you?" Draco blushed slightly and started to protest, but Blaise noticed a look on his face. "You actually did believe that would happen, didn't you?" Blaise asked rhetorically. "I can't believe it."

"No, I did not expect that to happen. It would have been nice surprise, but I knew that it could never happen."

"In my opinion, it went well," Blaise said bluntly.

"I didn't ask you for your opinion."

"But, I know you know wanted it. I could see it in your eyes," he replied with a devious smirk.

"Why do I put up with you?"

"Because you think I'm beautiful," He answered, batting his eyelids.

Draco just laughed at his old friend.

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"Malfoy, there you are," Harry said as he spotted the blonde. "I've been looking for you all day. I need to talk to you about the contract."

"Of course, this is my free period," he turned to his best friend. "Blaise, you can go on without me. I'll meet you in the library."

"I'll leave you two to 'talk'," he said with a wink.

Harry watched him leave with a confused look on his face. 'What did he mean by that?' He shook off this thought, and turned to Draco. "I need a copy of the contract. There has to be a loop hole."

"Harry, I have gone through that contract multiple times. There is nothing we can do about it," Draco said trying not to show his disappointment. 'I don't know why I feel this. I did not expect him to just accept this without a fight.'

"Right, I'm sure you have… wait did you call me Harry?

"Yes. I figured since we will both be Malfoys soon we have to stop calling each other by our surnames."

"What make you think I will take your name?" Harry inquired.'The nerve of him, who does he think he is? Why does it have to be me who gives my identity?'

"It's a clause in the contract." Draco replied, forgetting about Harry.

"Why would that be in the contract?"

"My grandfather knew Malfoys rarely have more than one child." Harry still looked slightly confused as to what this had to do with anything. "He knew that if I took your name then the Malfoy name would likely die out."

"But, I am the last of the Potter line. That's not fair. If I take your name then my line would die out."

"If it means that much to you I am sure we can find a compromise." Draco said. "We can make it Potter-Malfoy if you want. That's the best I can give within the restrictions of the contract."

"Why are you willing to compromise?"

"It wouldn't be prudent for us to start this marriage with one of us resenting the other. We have to make the best of this situation."

Harry looked at him wearily and said, "I guess your right."

Draco laughed when he said this.

Harry scowled at him, crossed his arms, and asked, "What's so funny?"

"I thought I would never see the day the Great Harry Potter would agree with me," he replied with a smile.

Harry chuckled. "Don't get used to it. I doubt it is going to happen often." Harry retorted.

"Another first. You're laughing with me and not at me." Harry smiled again. "You see I'm not the evil bastard you thought I was." He looked at his betrothed at got an idea. "Why don't we start over?" Harry gave him a puzzled look. "You agreed we shouldn't start our future on the wrong foot. So, why don't let past remain there. Instead of bringing old arguments into the marriage, we should start over. I'll start." He held out his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Draco Malfoy."

Harry grabs his hand and replied, "Hi, I'm Harry potter. Nice to meet you." Draco smiled and held on to his hand a little longer than what is acceptable. Harry smiled back, and when he realized how long they were touching, he hastily pulled his hand back. Then he nervously said, "Umm, I'll see you later." He turned and left.

As he walked way Draco bit his bottom lip, and stared.'This might be easier than I thought.' He thought with a smirk. When he saw Harry turn around, he quickly changed his expression to the innocent one he could muster.

"I almost forgot. I need a copy of the contract. You never know, there might be something you missed. And even if there isn't, I want to know what's in it. I don't want be caught off guard like I was with changing my surname."

"I understand. I don't have a copy with me right now, but I can make one for you later. You can meet me in my room after dinner to get it."

"Okay, I'll see you then."

As Draco walked away, he thought about the progress he made with Harry.

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"So how was your talk with the lovely Harry Potter? I don't see any bruises, and you don't look like you've been hexed, so I'm guessing it went well," Blaise said as he saw his long time friend.

"It went well. We now have a truce."

"So that should make getting him into bed easier," he said with an innocent look.

"Is that all you think about?"

"No, sometimes I wonder what I am going to eat next."

"How is it you don't end up like Crabbe and Goyle?"

"My fast metabolism and my extra-curricular activities," he replied with a smirk and a wink. "Have you figured out a way to seduce him yet."

"I have some ideas."

"You can't leave it at that. Tell me your ideas, so I can mock them."

"No." Draco said plainly, and resumed writing his essay.

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Harry arrived in the common room, and sat in his favorite chair. 'Did I just seal my fate? What if he was trying to lure into a false sense of security just so he could ruin my life? He didn't seem to have a hidden agenda. But he's a Slytherin, they always have a hidden agenda. I don't know why but I just don't think he was trying to trick me. If he was being sincere, I guess this won't be two bad.'

"Harry, did you get the contract from Malfoy."

"No, but…"

Harry was cut off by Hermione, "Harry you can't keep playing with your future. You need to get that contract soon."

"Hermione you didn't let me finish. He didn't have a copy on him so I am going to his room after dinner so I can get a copy from him."

"Oh."

"You see, I am not that thick. I listen to you." Hermione raised her eyebrow. "Most of the time."

"He told you where his room was."

"I knew there was something I was missing."

"I knew he would try something. After dinner try to get him before he leaves, so you can get that contract."

"I will."

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It was the end of dinner and Harry spotted Draco and Blaise leaving the Great Hall.

"Harry there they go, hurry up before they leave," Hermione said in a hurry.

"I know I saw them." He replied in a slightly annoyed voice

"Mal… Draco can you wait up a second." Draco turned around to see who was calling him. 'Did he just call me by my first name?' "You never told me where your room was."

"I must have forgotten to tell you. Why don't I show you? Can you follow me right now?"

"Yeah."

Draco turned to Blaise. "I'll see you later."

"Do I have to go? I always miss out on the fun things." Blaise whined. Draco gave him a stern look. "Alright, I'll go. Have fun in 'talking' in Draco's room." He wagged his eyebrow and left.

"Is he always like that?" Harry asked with wonderment.

"Sadly enough, yes he is always like that." He said as he walked towards the room. Draco led Harry to his room in silence because neither of them knowing what to say to one another. The route Draco was taking seemed familiar because of his second year. The blonde finally stopped at his portrait. He whispered his password a low as possible, because he didn't want the other to know it was his name. When they were finally in his room he headed straight for his desk. "There it is." He handed the parchment to Harry.

"Thank you. See you tomorrow."

"Harry, Dumbledore moved the first Hogesmeade visit to this weekend. Would you like to accompany me? I would like to get to know you better."

"Er- yeah, sure."

"I'll meet you at the front doors that morning."

"Okay," Harry said with a smile.

Author's note: I know it's been a long time, and you guys probably hate me. PLEASE Review. If you do, I'll love you forever and a day. For those who have already reviewed, if you review again I'll love you forever and a three days. AND I'll give you a cookie.