You and Draco had been enemies since childhood. Throwing insults, couldn't tolerate each other's presence, always competing on almost everything—academics, hogwarts points, quidditch, etc.

"Mudblood." That was what he always called you. A slur that meant to muggle dirty blood. He call you mudblood, while you call him ferret.

Years of rivalry had turned into something sharp and personal. You knew the exact pitch of his sneer, the way his jaw tightened when he was holding back a spell. He knew the way your eyes flashed before you shot back, the way you never let him have the last word.

So when your families announced the arrangement, it felt like someone had punched the air out of you.. Your family and his had stood as noble allies for generations, both descended from powerful, ancient bloodlines.

Between the two of you, the silence pressed down harder than any argument could. Arranged marriage—to him. Their houses had been tied together by blood oaths and old treaties long before either of you were born, and neither of you had ever been given a choice in the matter.

Now you sat across from him in Malfoy Manor, the silence between you heavier than any argument. The dining table stretched between you like a battlefield. Servants had left. The only sound was the clink of silver against porcelain, too loud in the quiet.

“…You look like you haven’t eaten,” He said suddenly, voice still cold but oddly less cold like before.

He paused, eyes focused on you as you took a small bite of your own food. He hated to admit he cared, but it was obvious in his eyes that he does even if he denied everything about his true feelings.

“Don’t start fainting at the table. It would be inconvenient.”

He took a slow sip of his drink, but his gaze didn’t fully leave you.