Arranged marriage

Harry had just returned from his job, it was a long day for him. But now he could just sit on his plush couch, with a cup of hot cocoa and some snacks watching his favorite TV show. The mere thought of it sent a warm thrill through him. Beside it was Friday. So he had a long weekend to enjoy. But for the cruel twisty of faith all of this was ruined by just one single call.

As he stood on his doorstep, with the key in his hand, he felt his mobile phone vibrate. Harry saw the number of his only cousin, Dudley Dursley on the phone screen. Dudley is the son of his mother's sister, Petunia Dursley, and Her husband was Vernon Dursley, a fat blonde man, who would always remain as a monster in Harry's worst nightmare. But sadly they were the only family Harry was left with.

His parents died in an accident when Harry was just a baby. Though he had no good relation with the Dursley family, he had to keep in touch with them, as often he had to help them with money.

After moving out from the abusive relatives Harry never wanted to stay in contact with them, the people who abused him every day of his childhood, but they blackmailed him saying when Harry was a little kid, they provided him with roof over his head (a store room for first 11 years and then Dudley's second bed room after he turned 12) and fed him( the food they were left with after Dursley family had their meal), and sending the money every month was the least payback they could ask for the things they have done for Harry. Vernon even said, it was Harry's job now, to look after his family. Dudley never got a good job. He worked as a part time salesman in a company. The boy was never a bright student and very lasy, so, getting a high paying job was not his cup of tea, aside from that, he believed, Harry was their family's all time servant. This is why it was his cousin's job to look after the family. Not his. Not only that, Vernon and he would go to clubs and parties almost every weekends, to waste money, and most of Dudley's money went with that. With all these happening, Harry really was their only way for surviving. 

Harry did not earn a lot, as he was still in junior position as a art professor in the college. What he got every month in his bank account was enough to pay his bills for every month, and have a easy life. But an additional job of looking after the Dursley's were not that easy with that earning. Harry really did not know how he will come out of this situation, since he had too much of a big heart to deny his so called family.

Harry's phone kept ringing annoyingly reminding him he needed to receive it.

The man sighed. He can very well guess why the call was. They needed money. But, it was already end of the month. He knew it was impossible for him now to give them money. Harry wanted to ignore the call. He really wanted, but he couldn't. Cursing his big heart who could not say no, Harry opened the door and picked the call at the same time.

"Hello, Harry's speaking." Harry answered after putting the keys on the bowl on the table beside the front door.

"Harry!!!! I'm sorry to call you now as I know you have just returned from your job. But I had no other way, please, Come home, now!" He heard his cousin's voice on the other side. The voice seemed odd, a little concerned.

"What happened Dudley? " He asked, frowning. he was about to open his shoes but stopped.

"Many things have happened. Just come to Privet Drive. Please." Dudley panted. "I can't tell you everything over call. But you really need to come here. We need you" 

And with that the call was disconnected. Harry frowned. Standing in front of the open door, still the office bag over his shoulder, he questioned himself, Should I go?

Maybe something happened to Vernon? Maybe he's needed to be admitted to the hospital? They need him. Of course they needed him. After all, they looked after him in his childhood, it is his job now to look after them, Harry's brain supplied him the same word he was blackmailed with.

Harry made up his mind. He decided to go the Dursley's house. Puting the bag near the table and taking the house key, Harry locked the door. Then he booked a cab, though the Dursley's house was not much away from his apartment, Harry did not take any risk of being late.

After fifteen minutes the cab brought him to the house, which he had already left when he was eighteen years old. Harry took a deep breath and knocked the door. Harry did not know why but his heart was pounding like mad. He never felt this frightened before.

After seconds Dudley opened the door, smiling, which was unfamiliar for him.

"What happened ?" He asked eagerly, not entering the house. "Is everything fine?"

"Yes, little brother! Just come inside. There is some of good news for you." Dudley said sweetly as he pulled Harry with him.

This is strange. Harry frowned at his cousin. This behavior was not at all like Dudley. And not to tell he sounded so frightened in the call. So what's with this all happiness? Was that fake, to bring Harry here?

Harry hesitantly entered the house. His eyes traveled to the small store room, under the stair where he slept for 11 years of his life. The room, which is one of the many reasons for his short height. The room where sometimes he was kept locked for days when Dudley did any mischief or got scolded in school. The room where he had to sleep alone with many insects from when he was just a toddler. The room where no one came to hug him when he woke up from a nightmare. Those days were a nightmare. Harry looked away, not wanting to remember those days and walked to the living room where his aunt and uncle were sitting.

As he entered the room, his aunt embraced him in a tight hug.

"Oh my Harry darling, how nice to see you...How are you, sweetheart?" The middle age women asked, smiling at Harry.

Harry felt like he is going to be sick at that point. Sweet was never his favorite thing anyway. And not to mention this sweetness were so unusual and seemed too fake. It felt like he was offered poison coated with chocolate. His aunt was still looking at him and he had to reply something. He can't be rude, "I'm fine I guess." He replied noding his head.

"Harry my boy...." Vernon said, his voice was also bitterly sweet like the other two Dursleys, "Take a seat. We need to talk." He gestured at Dudley's favorite chair, which Harry was not even allowed to touch.

Harry felt a bad thing is going to happen to him. His sixth sence shouted at him to run away but he did not listen to that, as it was too late. So taking deep breaths he tried to get himself ready for what ever going to happen. He took a sit on a sofa, instead of the chair, in front of Vernon and Petunia. Soon Dudley joined the family, a tray of snacks in his hand.

"Harry you have turned 25. Don't you think it is time to getting married and settle in life? Your parents should have told you the same if they were alive today. But since they left you in my care, I guess it is my responsibility to get you married." Vernon went straight to the point. "And we found you the perfect partner,"

"What?" Harry cut him off. "You don't have take my responsibility. You have done enough. "

"We are doing what your parents would have done for you Harry. It's our duty. " Petunia tried to smile at him making it look more creepy.

"You called me hear, with fake frightened voice ruining my Friday night for all these?" Harry said looking at his family. Who did not say anything but only smirked. "You should know, MY parents would never have get me married with a stranger without even asking for MY permission." Harry said looking straight in her eyes, though he did not raise his voice. He could not.

"I choose a handsome husband for you Harry." Vernon continued as if Harry did not just protest against this."We know you prefer boys over girls, so we choose him. Believe me, he is a good guy. Has his own company, and earns a lots of money. You'll have a great life."

"No, I'm not going to get married. It does not matter to me who they are. " Harry said. He knew he should have left already, but something inside him kept him glued to his sit. Blame the Dursley's to train him this way.

"We have already given them our word, Harry." Vernon said, his voice rising a little. "Why are you so ungrateful? I just gifted you the best future and you are denying?"

Harry opened his mouth for reply. To say it was their fault to give them their words without acknowledging Harry, But he was interrupted.

"Next month, you are going to marry Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy. And this is final. " Vernon said in a matter of fact. " I am not listing to any of you fucking bullshit. "

Harry's tried to protest, saying he did not have to be so thoughtful of Harry's bright future. He can make that for himself. But Vernon was not listing. Not to tell Petunia was also crying saying, "I have done some mistake in raising Harry. Cause how can he became --- such an ungrateful person? I have failed you Lily, my dear sister! " And there was Dudley looking disappointedly at Harry even ignoring the foods on the small coffee table.

And Harry had to agree.

Although he never knew, agreeing with this he lost everything at that point. His freedom, his life that he had dreamed of since a little boy, and his joy, which he had earned after so long waiting.

That night while laying on his bed wide awake Harry promised himself to not to listen to Dursleys again.

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One month later Harry found himself, getting ready in his wedding attire, and standing in front of his soon-to-be husband, Draco Malfoy, whom he was meeting for the first time. The man kind of refused to meet him the one month they were left with for the marriage. Harry told himself, the man was not ready for this marriage just like him. And that is why he did not come.

The wedding was small, held in a church with only the presence of Malfoys and Dursleys. As all these were decided in hurry they could not arrange a grand wedding for newly wed couple, despite the Malfoys being one of the wealthiest person in the city.

Harry was well aware that his husband, would not love him at the first sight at it is impossible but despite all he anticipated that his husband would at least like him. Become his friend. Because he was desperate for a friend at this point. He was lonely. Harry have always been a loner. But now he needed one friend.

With a lots of hope, Harry looked at his husband but he found the man was glaring at him. Harry could feel the boy was marrying him unwillingly, and that is why he hated Harry with his whole heart. Harry looked down. He felt like crying, his eyes began to fill with water. Why does This happen to him? Why he can't be happy? Why his uncle and aunt have to ruin his life, which he only have just started?

"Do you take Harry Potter as your husband?"

"I do" He heard Draco say, with gritted teeth.

"Do you take Draco Malfoy as your husband?"

Should he agree? Or just say no and run away? He could feel four pairs of eyes digging glare at his back. Harry sighed again, and said, slowly, "Yes, I- I do." Sealing his happiness with it.

After the marriage, Harry came to his new place, where he is going to live from now on. (He was not asked where he wants to stay he was just ordered, he would live with the Malfoys) The big mansion was called the Malfoy Manor, owned by his in laws. Standing in front of the big gate Harry felt the house was just like a palace. With Draco he entered the Manor, and found his in-laws, sitting on the couch. They have left the wedding venue before Draco and Harry. The older couple greeted the younger formally and were asked them to take a seat.

Draco's parents introduced themselves to him. Harry knew Lucius, Draco's father. They met few days before the ceremony, to talk. This man seemed very cold. He never knew how a father is like.

Draco's mother Narcissa Malfoy seemed a sweet lady. She smiled at him. Coming to this house for the first time, Harry felt safe seeing her.

Lucius politely greeted Harry to the family, "Harry, welcome to the Malfoy family. And congratulation for the start of your new life."

Harry gave him a small smile.

Harry and Lucius had talked for few times before the meeting. In the beginning Vernon was against him meeting with his in laws, but just before the marriage he let Harry talk to Lucius some how.

Narcissa began to ask him questions about his life with a genuine smile playing in her lips. She wanted to get know him. Harry felt like in this house hold only she was someone he could get along with.

But, after some time, Lucius told him something, which ruined every hope of him. "You're not going to continue your job. We don't want one of our family member to work in a cheap art collage"

"You can't do that!!! What will I have if I lost my job? That is my passion." Harry protested at that.

"You can continue painting but you're not going to that college. We have a reputation to uphold. " Lucius' voice became a little cold.

"You should have thought about this when you decided to get me married to your son!! We met one or two times before this marriage. You did not tell me anything then. I agreed with all your conditions back then, from staying with your family to other things. I am not agreeing with this. " Harry said looking at the elder man's eyes.

Lucius looked at him straight in the eyes. The younger man had points. He could not deny. "Fine, you can continue the job, but you have to give all the money you earn from the job to the Dursley family. You would have none."

Harry nodded. What could he do more. He doesn't want to protest anymore. He had enough of all these. Now he just wished to go to bed, and cry his eyes out. But the fact is the bed, he was going to sleep is not at all familiar to him was not at all comforting.

"You still want to do this job? " Narcissa asked.

"Yes. The job isy everything. I love my students. I can't let that go just because I'm married. I don't need the money. I hope you will provide me with food and clothes though. I won't ask for much. " Harry said not looking at any body.

Lucius frowned. "You will make you a separate bank account and give you money every month, to spent however you want. "

Harry felt like he was getting paid for marrying Draco. It was also odd to talk about money in his first night of marriage.

Narcissa felt Harry's distress. He gave a look at her husband. Then looked at the poor boy sitting beside her son. She spoke, " We can continue this later. They are tired Lucius....Draco and Harry go to your room.

"Do I really have to share my room with him?" Harry heard Draco for the first time, his voice was full of hatred and disgust. The blonde man was sitting beside him all this time, mouth tightly shut listing to all the talking.

"Yes, Draco. We've talked about this." Narcissa said sternly. "He is your husband. You are going to share your life with him. So sharing a bed room is very easy. "

Draco left the room immediately. Lucius too went to his room. Harry sat blankly.  Narcissa approached him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, I am glad to have another son, like you. " She said softly, "If you need something, just come to me. Okay? I'll be your mother"

"I had only one mother, and she is Lily Potter. she left the world when I was four. And from that day, I Know I have no mum." Harry replied softly. "I don't want to give that place to anyone.

"Oh, dear!!!" Narcissa hugged him. "You don't have to call me Mom, love. And I can never be the one for you. But you are still my son. Please call me Narcissa. We are family. " She said.

"Narcissa... " Harry whispered. Then pulled away from him.

"You are a very good person Harry. Very good person. " She said looking at her, eyes wet with tears.

"Please, If don't mind Narcissa...I need to take a rest. Im very tired. " Harry said with a weak smile.

"Of course dear. I'll take you to yours and Draco's room."