"Don't stress. You've done this a million times," Draco whispered into my ear as I snuggled in closer to him. His arm that was around my waist tightened to provide some comfort for me which I was so desperately aching for.

"That doesn't make it any easier."

"At least exams are over, and you aced them all," he smiled. "You should be proud of yourself; I know I am."

"Coming from the man who got to skip half of his finals because his grades were so high, that means a lot," I sarcastically replied, earning a chuckle from him.

"Very funny, y/n, they're our parents. How many times have we faced them?"

"Yeah, but not together. Not like this anyway."

He sighed, knowing I was right. He looked out the window of the train, taking in the sights to perhaps calm himself down too. My eyes followed his, landing on giant masses of white snow that all blurred into just one moving picture. I found little comfort in the fast moving vision of white and decided that my attention would be better suited to Draco.

"It's not like they'd be upset. If anything they'll be happy that it's worked out this way between us."

"Happy for themselves, you mean. More so happy that it worked out for their arrangement."

"Don't say that, y/n. Try to have a positive outlook on the situation and just be happy that we're together after all this."

I stayed silent, but wanted to bring up the fact that we weren't necessarily "together". Sure, we were married, but we could be married and hate each other like we did before. We haven't talked about our feelings for each other, despite how we physically displayed it through kisses and contact, we hadn't had the conversation about what was going on.

It was strange, really. It was essentially dating someone you're forced to be with forever. Whether or not it works out doesn't matter; you're stuck with them.

It was the experimental period of whether we were compatible.

I didn't want to confess to our parents we were seeing each other. "Seeing" was a stupid word considering our marriage, but I didn't know what else to call it. I feared that if I told my parents that we were romantically interested in each other, they'd pat themselves on the back and claim the arranged marriage was a huge success. Next thing I knew, all of our other friends would be thrown in arranged marriages that would be doomed to implode.

If it didn't work out, I'd be screwed there, too. Especially if I told them that we were seeing each other, they'd be even more upset if I somehow ran crying to my mother about how Draco and I weren't meant for each other. There'd be no solution; he'd still be my husband at the end of the day, regardless of how we felt about each other.

"We told our friends about us," Draco prompted, trying to lighten the mood. "They were thrilled, weren't they?"

He ran his cold fingertips up and down the exposed skin of my arm, leaving it feeling like it was tingling with each touch. It was a strangely sensual feeling; the intimacy of the comforting feeling was one I wasn't used to from him. I smiled small, but found not much solace in it.

"I suppose, but that's different. They didn't force us into this. It just happened."

"Try not to let it trouble you, darling. I can't bear to see you upset about anything."

He repositioned his arms so that they wrapped more securely around my waist before he pressed a kiss to my temple.

I breathed out, trying to settle my nerves. His touch was calming, at least.

"You're sure you want to tell them?" I asked, hoping he would say no but I knew better.

"I can't keep something like this from my mother."

"You can't?" I looked at him, raising a brow.

"How could I hide it that the girl I've wanted for ye—," he cut himself off before sighing. "Actually, if you really don't want to tell them, we don't have to. It's up to you..."

"I'm not sure. It's just such a toss-up... they can't get their hopes up."

"Hopes up about what?" he inquired, his voice suddenly laced with concern.

"That their agreement is some roaring success. I mean, you and I have only just started... whatever this is between us."

"A relationship, isn't it?" he asked.

His eyebrows were tugged together, causing his forehead to wrinkle. He often looked confused, but not like this. It felt like he was clinging onto every word, grasping onto the last syllable that I would let out and have his mind compute and process it a hundred times over. I couldn't pinpoint what he was doing, but some wheels in his mind were definitely turning.

"Is it? We haven't confirmed anything."

"We... we're married, y/n. Do we need confirmation?" he choked out, almost like he was holding in a breath. His lips were parted, sort of like a dog staring.

"Not legally, I suppose. But just between the two of us, it might be nice to talk about it at some point."

"Oh," he sighed, "I don't know what you need confirmation for. Don't you know how I— it's fine. I just figured we didn't need that."

"You don't think we should discuss it?"

I was a little disappointed at that, but it would explain why we didn't have that conversation just yet. It would make sense that if he thought it wasn't necessary that we wouldn't talk about it.

"What's to discuss? You're mine."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean, Draco."

He didn't look like he did. While I had tried to chuckle and lighten the mood, he seemed less entertained, like that "you're mine" comment was dead serious. His eyes were narrowed and focused like they always were when he was in thought.

"I don't."

I furrowed my eyebrows, confused at his sudden monosyllabic responses. Why was he so distraught all of a sudden?

"We can talk about it some other time," I shook my head. "I'm not asking for that here on the train."

"Right," he slumped in his seat a bit, his arms loosening from around me. "I'm going to try to sleep. Wake me up when we get there, y/n."

He removed his arms completely, shuffling into the corner of the seat and resting his head against the top of the seat and the train. It didn't look comfortable at all. I was going to offer that he could lay his head on my shoulder or lap if he wanted to, but by the looks of it, he was isolating into himself. When he got like this, I couldn't try to help; he wouldn't want it.

———

"Y/n, darling, it's so good to have you home!" My mother engulfed me in a giant hug, followed by my father's much more simple and short one.

"I trust your finals went well?" my father asked, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Yes, papa," I assured him. "I'm just glad that I'm home for the Christmas now."

"And you, Draco?" my mother asked, pulling him into a hug as well after he shook my father's hand. "You've always been such a smart boy, I expect nothing but Outstandings from you," she smiled.

"I'm not one to boast," Draco did his best to feign modesty, almost making me laugh. "But yes, indeed I did."

"There's nothing wrong with boasting, Draco. You're an excellent young man and have deserved your success; and my daughter would do well to recognize that sooner or later," his eyes narrowed on me, obviously making a dig at how I haven't liked him thus far, at least as far as they're aware.

"Y/f/n!" my mother interrupted. "I'm sure the kids are getting used to each other more each day. Isn't that right, y/n?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but Draco beat me to it.

"You're absolutely correct. In fact, the two of us have gotten along better than you might expect."

I glared at him through the corner of my eye, not wanting him to give much away just yet. If anything, our talk on the train just made me more confused. We acknowledged a problem, a potential issue that needed to be resolved sooner or later but we simply postponed it. At some point, we'd be forced to address it and I feared we were waiting too long.

"That's simply lovely," my mother offered. "Nothing makes me happier than to hear you're getting along."

My poor mother; I almost felt bad for keeping the real nature of our relationship from her. Then again, she's the reason I'm even in this situation. I decided that she didn't deserve to know until I was ready. She hadn't earned it.

"My daughter hasn't been giving you too many headaches?" my father asked, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Papa!" I tried to shut him up.

Draco, on the other hand, looked amused as ever. He had on that smirk he wore so well like nothing could knock down his confidence.

"No, Signor Vitelli. None that I can't handle, anyway."

My father gave him a satisfied grin. almost matching the level of Draco's smugness. "An opportunistic gentleman, I see. I've clearly chosen a good match for my daughter."

My mother rolled her eyes, noticing the red flush that was tinting my cheeks. I couldn't hide my embarrassment at their masculine encounter right in front of us.

"I think that's quite enough from you two," my mother interrupted, turning her attention back to Draco and I. "Your room's all fixed for the both of you. Draco, dear, your parents will be joining us this evening for preparations."

"How nice," he tried his best to plaster on a smile, but I knew he didn't care. His mother, perhaps, but I knew he didn't care if he saw his father.

"I'm sure you must be exhausted from the train ride over. Feel free to reconvene with us over dinner," she continued.

My father chimed in, "Unfortunately I'm finishing up some Ministry business at the present moment. I'll be happy to speak with you, Draco, and your father this evening."

By that point, I must've been so red in the face that a doctor could've been called for me. I did my best and eventually succeeded in pulling Draco away from them, although it appeared that his ego was taking a favorable boost in speaking with my father.

"He seems pleased to see me," he smugly noted as we entered our shared room.

I'd finally grown accustomed to it during our last trip here, but I certainly missed my own room. Maybe now that we were more romantically inclined, it would start to feel more like home and I wouldn't feel the need to slip back into my own room at night.

"And you seem pleased to hear what he has to say," I scoffed, flopping on the bed.

"A man is entitled to his due, isn't he?" he smirked, laying down next to me.

"I don't think you're 'due' such flattery just yet."

"Haven't I? I've won the heart of his daughter after all." He moved closer to me, his mouth mere inches from mine. His hot breath against my lips made me tremble under him as he used one hand to prop himself up above me and one hand trailed its way down my waist to rest on my hip. "It wasn't an easy task."

I opened my mouth to shoot back a witty remark, but he instead took the opportunity to press his lips against mine, effectively shutting me up. He moved slowly but with passion, like he was trying to savor every taste of me. It wasn't sloppy or messy, but calculated and precise. This restraint of his wasn't necessary; he could have me whenever he wanted. I think he knew that, though, and it was all the more reason to assert his dominance like this. He did it simply because he could.

He always seemed to kiss me like this when we were alone. It was all consuming; like he owned every bit of me... and he did. His lips against mine was nothing if not euphoric. They were soft and inviting, unlike the rest of him which was cold and reserved for himself. His lips were the only part of him that always seemed to actively invite me to try more, urging and begging to be felt and comforted.

His hands always chose different parts of me to claim whenever he had me like this. Usually they'd find their way around my waist as he'd roam up and down, but during the kiss he decided to change where they'd settle. One was around the back of my neck, gently forcing me up to his mouth and keeping me in place. He could make sure my full attention and future actions were on him that way. His other hand decided to dig into my hip, lightly pushing me up to press against his cold torso.

When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes. It was the most sensual part about him. His eyes were one of his more striking features, but to see them so close and filled with passion was something I loved knowing only I got to experience. It was reserved for only me, regardless of whether our affections for each other grow and develop, or it doesn't work out between us. Nobody else got to have those eyes; they were for me.

He pressed another soft kiss to my lips before smirking.

I felt the vibrations of his chuckle against me and I raised a brow, wondering why.

"What was that for?" I breathed out, still heaving in pockets of air to recover from our kissing. I wanted to know what his chuckle was meant for, but I had a hard time asking.

"Just thinking."

His voice was deep and husky, with a certain rasp to it that made me thankful we were lying down or otherwise my knees would've buckled. I couldn't handle all of him... his messy hair, swollen and reddened lips, deep voice.

"About what?" I managed, brushing a few straggling strands of platinum out of his face.

His eyes scanned me. They looked me up and down before settling into my gaze again and smirking. Not like he had all day, but with a certain innocence to it. It wasn't self smug like he'd been offering before, rather it was giving hints of wonder or disbelief, like he couldn't believe what he was thinking.

"How long it took to get you here."

My breath hitched at his words, suddenly feeling self conscious at his carnal state. I already was blushing due to his kisses, but his words heightened everything. I always seemed to fall more for his verbal affirmations than anything else, it held more clarity to it.

His eyes seemed to darken for a moment, narrowing unlike the widened expression they held a moment ago. He let out a throaty hum that made my stomach tighten with a sensual churning.

"And how fucking amazing it feels to finally have you."

---

A/N: Okay, truth time here. I'm gonna do a little QnA and y'all better respond in the comments.

It could be anyone, but more particularly someone who's unconventionally attractive or most people think isn't good looking, or maybe have a weird sense of style.

Mine's definitely Machine Gun Kelly. One of my friends says he's basically "alt Draco" which would explain my type ig LMAO.

I just felt like doing a random little survey bc I thought it was funny. Thank y'all for reading, I love you to the moon n back!!

Vote + comment!