Betrothed to Malfoy, the Ferret 

Chapter 5

            It was getting close to Christmas and Jilli was looking forward to her trip to Hogsmeade with Harry. Her last class, Transfiguration, was almost over.

            “Miss Ashwood,” Prof. McGonagall called to her, “I need you to remain here after class.”

            “Yes Professor,” she replied, wondering what this was about. She looked over to where Harry was sitting. He was watching her, she shrugged and mouthed to him, “I'll see you at dinner.” Harry nodded back.

            When everyone left the room she followed Prof. McGonagall to a parlor near the front of the school. The Prof led her through the door, then turned and left, shutting it behind her.

            Once in there she looked around and there sat her Grandfather with their house elf Mozzie beside him.

            “Grandfather,” she was rather shocked to see him here, “is everything alright.”

            “Yes Jillianne. Come sit down.”

            He looked so somber and serious, but he was always like that. He had never been a very affectionate or loving, but today he seemed more serious than usual.

            “There is news I need to tell you and it's important that I do so now. I realize that you never really knew or remember your parents but they left behind certain terms concerning you that I must now uphold regarding you. I know that you will or have already become interested in boys. Well, it's best I get this business out of the way before you get caught up in a serious relationship. Your parents betrothed you to marry someone when you were only two years old.”

            Jillianne couldn't speak, she was so in shock. She felt like her world was cracking apart. What was he talking about?

            “I know this is quite the shock for you, Jillianne, but this was your parents wish.”

            “Grandfather, you can't be serious. My parents are gone, this betrothal shouldn't even count. Besides, I love someone else.” Jilli had never argued with her Grandfather or stood up to him. He was now shocked.

            “Young lady, this betrothal contract is binding; there is nothing you can do about it. Whether I agree with it or not, the contract stands,” he stated angrily.

            “Grandfather, you can't do this to me,” Jillianne pleaded, tears pooling in her eyes. Her Grandfather turned away from her.

            “Jillianne, I suggest you forget about this boy you love. The family you are betrothed to is very powerful and they could make things very hard for you and this boy you like. When Christmas break comes you are to join your future husband's family so they can get to know you better, they have not seen you since your parents died when you turned three.”

            Jilli was close to a breakdown, tears streaming down her face and she felt like she was having trouble breathing. She was barely able to gasp out, “Who am I to marry then Grandfather?”

            He was already rising from his chair, getting ready to leave, he turned to her, “Draco Malfoy. You will be spending Christmas holidays with the Malfoy's.”

            And with that said her Grandfather left, telling the house elf Mozzie to see to Jillianne and then return home. Jillianne then let the tears pour, sobbing in her hands, feeling as though her heart was breaking.

            “There, there Miss Jilli,” the house elf Mozzie patted her shoulder, hugging her, “you mustn't get upset Mistress, it's not good for you.”

“Oh, Mozzie, what am I going to do. I love Harry. I can't go through with this betrothal. I can't marry that ferret, Draco Malfoy, I hate him.”

            “Mistress, you must go through with it. You don't know what the Malfoy's are capable of. You don't want to endanger yourself.”

            “I don't care,” Jilli said recklessly.

            “Well, if you love this Harry Potter like you say, then you better care. You don't want anything happening to him, mistress Jilli.”

            Jilli had not thought of that. She would in no way hurt Harry. What was she to do? She knew if she told Harry the truth of what was happening he wouldn't go for it, he would fight it if he knew she was being forced into it. There was only one way to keep Harry safe and out of this, and that was to make Harry think she didn't care for him anymore.

            The tears started again as she thought of how much it hurt and how much it was going to hurt Harry, he would never forgive her, but there was no other way. She would rather hurt his feelings than have him physically hurt. She knew she must avoid Harry for the moment until she could think of a way to break it off. She decided not to go to dinner that night.    …..

            How could her parents do this to her, Jilli thought, and what kind of people were they? It was true she knew next to nothing about them. Her Grandfather never talked about them and when she asked questions he avoided them. Why would her parents associate with the Malfoy's. She had heard things about the Malfoy's . She knew that they were all about pureblood. Well, her parents were purebloods, but Jilli had also heard that the Malfoys' had been in with Voldemort when he was in power and that Draco's father might be a deatheater. Had her parents also been some of the dark lord's followers? Jilli didn't want to think about it anymore, she just couldn't let them hurt Harry.

            Slytherin's were coming back from dinner; she ignored them all until she heard a certain one, Malfoy. Anger washed over her like a hurricane. She had to confront him about this.

            “I need to see you, Malfoy, in private.”

            All the Slytherin guys made catcalls and ooohhh noises, “Your wish is my command,” Draco smirked to the others.

            “QUIET!!” Jilli screeched. And immediately there was silence as they shut-up. She walked ahead of him into the study, shouting at the two people who were in there to get out; they all but ran from the room, realizing she was on edge.

            “Did you know?” she hissed in a low and deceptively, as if she were calm.

            “Know what?” he asked smartly.

            Jilli had never used her wand to hurt another but she jerked it out and quickly slammed Draco into the nearest wall, holding him pinned there, bringing her wand point up into his throat, drawing a little drop of blood.

            “Don't play games with me,” she hissed, “did you know about our betrothal,” she asked, anger glittering in her now dark violet eyes.

            A look of shock flashed on Draco's face and Jillianne realized he'd had no clue.

            “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Draco said, all serious now, despite the wand pressed in his throat.

            Jilli released him but kept the wand pointed at him.

            “My grandfather just informed me that you and I are one day to be married and this contract has been in place since we were two years old.”

            “Jillianne,” Draco said seriously, “I swear to you, I knew nothing about this.”

            “Well, it seems you are as much a victim as I am,” she sighed, lowering her wand.

            “Now I know why my parents were always asking me about you when I would come home for breaks. It makes since now. They told me they had some important news when I came home this Christmas.”

            “Yes, well it seems I am supposed to visit your family for the holidays,” Jilli sat down on a sofa in the room, she put her wand away, all the fight was gone out of her.

            “Jilli, I truly knew nothing of this,” Draco said sitting down beside her.

            “We will just have to inform them there will be no betrothal. My parents are dead; surely we can get out of this.”

            “No Jilli, I don't think we can. I know you have a thing for Potter, but you don't know how my father can be. He's very powerful and he has powerful friends. There is nothing you can do about this,” he spoke the truth again, which was hard hearing coming from Malfoy.

            Jilli looked at him almost pleadingly, “Draco, you could help me; surely they would listen to you.”

            Draco looked at her deeply, hating to see the hurt there in her eyes and the glitter of tears that made her eyes look like amethysts, “Jillianne, I can't go against my parents,” and he thought to himself, 'and besides, I don't want to stop anything that will break you away from Potter,' but he kept that to himself.

            The tears started running again down her cheeks, “I'm sorry Jilli,” and unbelievably Draco took the corner of his robe and gently wiped the tears from her cheek. He got up to leave.

            “Wait, Draco,” she called out softly, as he was walking away, “I need your help.”

            He stopped and sat back down. Jilli told him she had to let Harry go, but he must not know about the betrothal or he would fight it, so she came up with a plan that involved Draco. And Draco, hating Potter like he did, was only too happy to help.