Marriage is a bonding of two people, a symbol of their undying love for each other manifesting in the most pure, unadulterated fashion which civil society has come to recognize. This union between two people is seen as an almost holy thing; something which cannot be touched, harmed, or destroyed. The bond of marriage is a strong one, seeing as it is the only union of two individuals completely driven by the concept of love. Wedding rings come to physically represent their devotion to each other, yet other, not so visible symbols of love, are often more useful in depicting the relationship of two spouses. Regardless, the end result is the same: marriage bonds two hopelessly devoted individuals to each other.

This was not the case for myself.

Just this very morning, I was faced with the reality of my situation. I spoke those two sacred, gentle words intended for someone of my own choosing, to a man —no, not a man, but a boy— who I have never cared for in my entire life. Given, my life may not have been that long, spanning just eighteen years thus far, but that makes it all the more depressing. That I uttered an "I do" at such a young age, to someone I didn't want to say it back... to avoid the reality that we would be married.

My parents at least honored my wishes of having a small wedding, their only condition being that the "small" group constitute only pureblood relatives and some friends, pureblood as well, of course. His parents were accommodating of this request, too... no surprise there.

The only downside was that the wedding was much grander, more extravagant than I'd have liked it, but that was no shock to me. A marriage between a Malfoy and a Vitelli was certainly going to be one of the most expensive weddings of the century, if not more. I couldn't deny that it was a pretty wedding, no expense was spared. However, that didn't mean that I had any say in it. I could have handled everything being picked out for me if I could have at least chosen my own groom.

I remember my mother and Narcissa making all the arrangements the minute this engagement was announced.

Just a month ago, I was sitting down, desperately trying to avoid the gaze of my then-just-schoolmate Draco Malfoy in his drawing room. I sat at the chair by the largest window and pretended to read the Daily Prophet while I wished that I would be anywhere but here.

An excited looking Lucius Malfoy barged in, with a rare smile donning his arrogant lips. My father followed him shortly after and stood next to him with a glint of mischief in his eyes. It was a look in him that I'd never seen before, but I knew something was up his sleeve, as always.

He took my hand and led me over to the couch where Draco was sat, many feet away. Lucius took the opportunity to then stand by my father and begin the formalities.

"As you both know, our families have known and trusted each other for quite some time," Lucius began. I didn't know where to look; at Draco would be bad enough, but his father with the way this conversation was going, would be worse. I settled for my father who was focused on his blonde associate.

"There isn't a better companion for a Vitelli to have than a Malfoy," my father interjected, looking directly at me. His thick Italian accent had always comforted me, but the words he spoke now sent a chill down my spine. I wanted nothing to do with these people.

"Nor for a Malfoy to have than a Vitelli," Lucius agreed, staring down his son.

"Which is why we've come to an agreement, to ensure the... longevity of both our houses," my father continued. The smile on his lips turned somewhat mischievous. "As well as the prosperity regarding finances and other assets you children shouldn't worry yourselves with."

"What kind of agreement?" I interrupted the men who clearly desired to be left in peace to speak freely. My father gave me something of a warning glare.

Lucius looked from his son to me, then from me, back to Draco.

"A marriage between the Vitelli and Malfoy family to bond our dynasties as one."

I glared at my father. I knew he could be conniving and arrogant, but to offer up his own daughter like bait as some... political advantage?

I stood up from the couch and flew into an anger that abrupted all at once. "Marriage?! Father, you're marrying me off? And to Malfoy, nonetheless!"

"Watch your tone, y/n, you're very well aware that the Malfoy family has been nothing but good to us since we moved here, and well before that through family relations. Now, I suggest that you apologize to your father-in-law at once for disgracing his name."

"Father-in-law?" I retorted, staring at Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy, I mean no disrespect to neither you nor your son, but I simply cannot take part in this marriage. Despite it being an agreement between the both of you, I refuse to have my own choice in marriage be taken from me!" I tried to keep as much a level head as possible, but my anger so obviously slipped out.

Lucius rolled his eyes. "I'll consider that an apology. Anyhow, Miss Vitelli, I'm sorry but you have no choice in the matter. This was decided upon years ago; we only found it applicable to announce now." His eyes shifted to Draco, who must have stood up at some point during my rant. "Son, you surely don't have any objection to this?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "It's not like I had a choice," he sarcastically responded.

"You knew about this?" I asked him.

"Merlin, no," he scoffed and placed his hands on his hips. "Not to you, anyway. I knew I'd be married off to some pureblood broad at some point, but I had no idea it would be you. Trust me, if I did, I would have put in a request for someone else," he sneered, giving me a wicked glare.

"Son, it was my understanding that—" Lucius began, but I cut him off, not wanting to hear his incessant babbling.

"So you're just going to accept this like it's no big deal? Like your freedom isn't being taken from you as much as it is mine?" I inquired to Draco, who still seemed unbothered as he had when he was sat on the couch reading his book.

"I suppose. There's not much I can do about it, Vitelli. Not much either of us can do about it."

I rolled my eyes. If there was one time for the Slytherin Prince to cause a commotion, it would be now. "You're utterly hopeless. If you had an ounce of the confidence that you portray at school then we could figure a way out of this mess!"

I noticed an anger swelling in Draco's gray eyes that were reflected in the scowl that played on his lips. Probably from my insulting his character, but that was the point— to get some emotion out of him and want to hate this as much as I do.

"Y/n, that is very much enough! Now, apologize to your fiancé here for your unprovoked offenses and then make your way into the kitchen to meet with your mother and future mother-in-law," my father insisted.

"Whatever for? And there's nothing to apologize for, not to this one at least," I motioned to Draco. "If anything, I deserve an apology for this entire situation!"

My father scoffed. "I understand you think you're not ready, y/n, but that is of no consequence to the reality of this. We can discuss this further at home, without offending your in-laws, but for now, you're excused to meet with the ladies of the house to discuss wedding arrangements."

Of course, that's what I needed to go for. I knew the men wouldn't be caught dead entertaining wedding plans— not that I was agreeing to do this, but simply being practical about the situation. It was tradition that the women from both sides of the family make the wedding arrangements, while the men typically worked out family business plans to take place after the nuptials.

I decided that the best possible card I could play would be the unhappy daughter one. I'd tried upset, laced with furious, accusatory, insulting... I may as well try to be the sad little girl that once appealed to my father.

"Papa," I cooed, using the Italian name for him I used to call him as a child, "I just don't love this boy. I can't marry someone I don't love." I made my best efforts of looking truly miserable, which I was, but in a more emotional, pathetic way that might tug at his heartstrings. I forced some glossy eyes and pouted my lips like a child being denied a toy.

I'd always used to use this when I wanted something as a little girl and it worked then, but a part of me knew that it was hopeless, after seeing how dedicated they both were to this matter.

"Darling, I know you don't love this boy," my father appealed, but much more sweetly than he had been before. That was a start. "There's nothing I want more than your happiness, but this isn't personal. It's business." That was a horrid conclusion, Father.

"Even if I don't love him?"

"You'll learn to love him."

With that, I nearly started crying... nearly. I didn't let myself break down in front of them, they didn't deserve the satisfaction. Especially not Draco, who I could see snickering next to me. After some more arguing with the men (to no avail, clearly) I reluctantly made my way to meet with my mother and Narcissa. I had no problem with her, she was always rather kind to me, especially as a child. She even gave me an apology for this marriage arrangement. Allegedly, she didn't want this to happen either but she had no control over what Lucius and my father decided upon.

I found comfort knowing that she felt similarly toward this as I did. My mother, too, but I wished she would have put up more of a fight for her own daughter's choice to marry. Her pity meant little to me, as she should have regarded my feelings enough to say something to my father or Lucius. Narcissa was different; she had no reason to offer up her condolences for anyone but her own son. I found that respectable.

My efforts to thwart this marriage were for naught, clearly.

Today, just a month after that cursed engagement (for lack of a better term) was announced, I had become a Malfoy. Legally, anyway. I insisted that for my final year of Hogwarts I still go by the name Vitelli; I couldn't bare to finish school with his name on all my assignments.

Our parents were hesitant about us returning for our final year of school at all. However, the one thing Draco and I could agree on, was that we both wanted to finish properly. Our parents saw it a little unnecessary, figuring that we could hire private tutors and finish our education at home, but we both pressed on that we wanted to finish traditionally, and with our own friends at school.

I also refused their offer for us to share a dorm room; I much preferred to spend my last year with my own friends in my own room. It felt a bit silly, truly, to be married and not stay in the same room as my husband, but if this was my last bit of freedom (if it could even be called that), I would cling to it as much as possible.

Anything to retain my last piece of individuality.