[twenty]

When Viktor Krum agreed to take his graduate studies under the esteemed professor McGonagall, he never expected it to come with an arranged marriage. Ever since the news of the law, he has felt nothing but regret for choosing to come to Hogwarts. It seems as if every time he decides to come to this place, something horrible happens. 

At first he thought it was all because of Harry Potter, but it seems as if the bad luck is really just rooted to the school itself. 

He wasn't involved in any romantic relationships as of the moment. Hermione was the last, and he had come to Hogwarts hoping there might still be something there, only to find not one, but three men already vying for her affections - Ronald Weasley, Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott. 

Viktor couldn't take it against her, she was an exceptionally beautiful and brilliant witch. Men were bound to fall on their knees at the sight of her. 

"Viktor Krum, fancy seeing you out here." a voice said behind him "I would've pegged you for the Quidditch Pitch type of thinker."

He spun around to find Celine Zabini approaching him with a dazzling smile "Quidditch isn't all there is to me." Viktor chuckled and skipped another rock across the lake "I happen to like skipping rocks. It helps me think." 

"It's been a while since I last saw you." Celine pointed out "You should have told me you had plans on pursuing further studies when we shot for Witch Weekly two years back."

"I hadn't really decided on it when I last saw you." Viktor chuckled "How are you, mademoiselle?"

"Oh you know, worrying about who I'll end up with, like everybody else around me." Celine chuckled humorlessly "And you, monsieur?" 

"Worrying about who I'll end up with, like everybody else around me." Viktor said, repeating after Celine

The pair laughed "Crazy how if you and I both decided to stay where we were, we wouldn't need to go through with this." 

"I wouldn't need to." Viktor said "You, on the other hand, might still have to. I heard they're adapting this type of rule every where else."

"What a time to be alive." Celine said, her words dripping with sarcasm

"You don't have anyone in mind, do you?" Viktor asked

Celine wouldn't be a horrible choice. She was a pureblood witch from a wealthy family. At fifteen years old, she was a celebrity already earning for herself. Her heart was good, and her manners were perfect - it wouldn't disappoint his parents if he took someone like her home. At least he'll end up with a friend. 

"I actually do." Celine smiled sadly "I'm not sure I'm the one on his mind, though. So, that's a bit of a bummer." 

Scratch that thought then, he mentally sighed. This was going to be difficult. Maybe he'll have more luck by submitting his name for sorting in the next week. Get this thing over with.

"You're an amazing lady, Celine. He'd be mad not to have you on his mind as well." Viktor smiled at her comfortingly 

"What about you?" Celine asked, refusing to dwell on the fact that Theo has remained silent about this particular elephant in the room

"All the ladies I've set my eyes on have been spoken for, unfortunately." Viktor laughed coldly "I might just let the ministry choose for me in the next week." 

 "Well, Viktor, whoever you'll be paired with will be lucky to have you." Celine smiled "Who wouldn't want an overly handsome world champion Quidditch player by her side?"

"There is more to me than Quidditch." Viktor repeated with an eye roll and a smile 

"I know, I'm only kidding, Viktor." Celine chuckled softly "You have a good heart. They'll be crazy not to see that. You were surrounded with people who were dark and prejudiced your entire life. Some of us weren't brave enough to not let it get to us, but you were. That courage to keep your heart and intentions pure? I don't think people will be able to find that elsewhere that easily." 

Viktor was speechless for a moment. He hadn't realized that others actually saw that side of him. Most people would only see him as the world-famous Quidditch player. "Thanks, Celine. That actually means a lot to me." 

"I know you're just waiting for someone to notice." Celine smiled, giving him a light pat on the shoulder "It might seem impossible to find a love that'll fit you with the amount of time we have, but I have this feeling that you will. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to meet my friend Astoria." 

"Go ahead, Cel." Viktor smiled 

Celine found Astoria at the foot of the owlery, looking rather glum "You alright?" Celine asked worriedly

"People seem to be asking me that a lot today." Astoria sighed, but smiled at her friend nonetheless "I've just sent an owl to my parents informing them of my choice to get sorted. They're not going to be happy."

Celine frowned, she knew how pureblood parents were. They insisted on arranging your marriage for you if your choice wasn't suitable enough for them. The Greengrass' are part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Absolutely no taint of muggle blood, and Celine knew that they'd rather keep it that way. 

"Here's to hoping you'll be paired with another pure-blood, then." Celine smiled comfortingly and gave her a tight squeeze 

"What about you?" Astoria asked "Any luck with the man waiting for you upstairs?"

"Who?" 

"Theodore Nott asked to come with me when he found out I was meeting you here." Astoria smiled "He's up there waiting for you." 

"Waiting for me?" Cline squeaked 

"Yes, Cel." Astoria laughed and gave her friend a light shove "Go on. We can talk later." with one last wave, she turned to leave for the Slytherin dungeons, leaving Celine in shock. What was Theo doing waiting for her at the top of this tower? Celine drew in a breath, she knew there was a reason why she wasn't sorted into Gryffindor.

She wasn't ready to hear his rejection.

"Celine." Theo greeted upon seeing her at the entryway. He was petting his snowy owl, slowly giving him treats after every few strokes "Astoria told me you'd be coming here."

"You could've waited for me in our common room." Celine said pointedly

"I wanted to speak to you alone." Theo sighed "I want to...make a proposition." 

A proposition? Celine thought "You've piqued my interest. Continue."

"I know how you feel about me, Cel." Theo said "You've made your interest very clear."

"You're not wrong." she almost choked on her own spit, she knew what she wanted but she didn't know that it was that obvious to everybody else "What about it? I know you're still hung up on Hermione." 

"That ship has already sailed. Gone." Theo waved off, though he seemed to wince at the mention of her "I want to talk about , Cel. That night we watched the meteors."

"Ah, our kiss." Celine raised a brow as she settled for a comfortable position against the small window, hopefully no owl was on its way, otherwise there'd be feathers in her hair "You seemed quite intent on not bringing that up. Why now?"

Theo groaned, this was getting frustrating "I don't know how to do this without sounding like..."

"Like you're using me? Looking for a reason to do this with me? Sounding like you're being forced to do this with me?" Celine tried to finish for him with a light laugh "Teddy, I understand you. This stupid law is a pureblood family's A marriage for convenience? Opportunity? Power? We've all be through that introduction."