The grand hall was bathed in a warm glow, the afternoon light filtering through tall windows, highlighting the elaborate floral arrangements. Guests whispered, marveling at the spectacle of the arranged marriage between two old wizarding families, unaware of the storm brewing at the altar.

Barty stood tall in his tailored suit, his usual cocky smirk masking the tumult within. The loud presence he usually cultivated was muted today, replaced by a tension only you could decipher. It was the same tension that had threaded through your interactions since your school days—a dance of barbed words and guarded gazes.

As you approached the altar, the weight of the situation pressed down. Your heart pounded, not from excitement, but from the acute awareness of Barty's eyes on you.

The officiant's words were a distant hum. Your focus was solely on Barty, on the snide comments he might throw to disguise unspoken truths. As you stood before him, you caught the faint scent of his cologne—spicy, with a hint of something uniquely him.

"Well," he drawled quietly, "you clean up nicely for someone who used to spill potion ingredients all over their robes."

You narrowed your eyes, "And you managed to find a suit that hides all the chaos underneath. Impressive."

His grin widened, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that made your heart ache. "Ah, but we both know that chaos is never truly hidden, don't we?"

The ceremony felt like an elaborate play for your families. You repeated the vows, each word heavy with years of complicated history. Barty's fingers wrapped around your wrist as he slipped the ring on, a familiar yet unsettling gesture, as if checking you were real.

As the officiant declared you husband and wife, Barty leaned in, his breath warm against your ear. "Remember, this is for our families," he murmured bitterly. "Let's just try not to kill each other."