The Arrangement

Selene Damaris stared at the letter in her hands, the parchment trembling slightly as she read the words for what felt like the hundredth time. The news still hadn’t sunk in, and yet, it seemed like her whole life had been leading up to this moment. An arranged marriage to Draco Malfoy, a fellow student from Hogwarts, and one of her few genuine friends from those formative years. She couldn’t help but think back to their time at Hogwarts, the laughter they shared, the study sessions, and the late-night conversations about life and their dreams. It was hard to reconcile that friendship with the reality of marriage, especially one arranged by their families. Taking a deep breath, Selene tried to gather her thoughts. She had to be civil about this, for the sake of their families, if not for their own. The letter mentioned that Draco’s parents were eager to solidify their family ties with hers, strengthening their pure-blood lineage. It was a union born of pragmatism and tradition, rather than love or passion. Selene made her way to the library, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Draco and their impending marriage. She found a quiet corner and pulled out a book, trying to distract herself from the anxiety building inside. As she read, she couldn’t help but wonder what Draco would be like as a husband, and whether their friendship would be enough to sustain them through the challenges ahead. Meanwhile, across town, Draco Malfoy sat in his family’s manor, staring out the window as he processed the news himself. His parents had informed him of the arrangement with Selene’s family, and while he wasn’t entirely surprised, he couldn’t deny the mix of emotions swirling inside him. Draco and Selene had been friends since their first year at Hogwarts, bonding over their mutual acquaintances and shared experiences as students. He remembered her as the clever, thoughtful Ravenclaw who always had a kind word and a listening ear. But marriage was a different beast altogether. As he turned back to his room, his gaze fell upon a photo of him and Selene from their Hogwarts days. They were smiling, carefree, and completely unaware of the paths their lives would take. Draco felt a pang of nostalgia wash over him, followed by a sense of responsibility. He would do his best to ensure that their marriage was a successful one, for Selene’s sake as much as his own. The next day, Selene received a visit from Draco, who arrived at her doorstep with a courteous smile. “We should talk,” he said, and Selene nodded, inviting him in. Their conversation was stilted at first, but as they sat in her cozy living room, surrounded by familiar comforts, they began to find their footing. They reminisced about Hogwarts, shared stories of their families, and tentatively broached the subject of their marriage. It was clear that neither of them was thrilled about the arrangement, but they both seemed determined to make the best of it. As they parted ways, Selene felt a small sense of relief. Perhaps, just perhaps, this wouldn’t be as difficult as she had imagined. Draco, too, felt a sense of hope. Their friendship was a solid foundation, and if they could build on that, maybe this marriage wouldn’t be so bad after all. He made a mental note to be more mindful of Selene’s feelings, to listen to her and support her as they navigated this new reality together. As they went their separate ways, they both knew that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn’t yet imagine. But for now, they had each other, and a fragile thread of friendship to cling to.