Envy

Draco Malfoy had never really given thought to the future. He'd always been stuck in the now. Voldemort, as far as he knew, owned him and his family. What future could he possibly have? Draco thought he would die before he even reached seventeen years of age. He was wrong though. He made it there.

His father currently warmed a cell in Azkaban, minus the Dementors. His dear mother was still at the manor, living on house arrest for the next year. Draco was the luckiest, he'd only gotten two year probation and it wasn't very limiting to what he could and couldn't do. The bottom lines had been, no violence and make yourself invisible.

Draco had done that perfectly. He finished school, at Hogwarts, without speaking five words. He had even graduated fourth of the class, Granger being the first, some Hufflepuff the second and Neville Longbottom the third. Draco still wondered how the imbecile pulled that off but it wasn't his business and he didn't need any trouble.

But the future after school? What about that? Who would give him a job and really who did he want to work for? Did he even get a choice? Draco had two months left of his probation and this was probably the sweetest payback from the gods he was sure. Harry Potter was his Probation Officer.

Apparently the boy who lived didn't want to save the world from bad guys. He wanted to punish the bad guys someone else caught!

It didn't bother Draco as much as he thought it might. He met Potter every two months for a review of what he had and hadn't been doing. It was unnerving but Potter knew every single thing he did. He knew every place Draco went, every person he spoke to, he even knew every whore Draco slept with.

That had only happened once before Draco swore to celibacy or at the very least his left hand. Potter never commented on that part of his life, thank Merlin.

That's where Draco was headed right now, to see Potter and hear about his violations of his parole. There was always at least one. His guess was that potter was required to find something horrible about him.

"You're on time, Malfoy." Potter said with a tone of surprise.

Draco said nothing; he usually didn't during these meetings.

"I actually don't have any violations for you this visit." Potter continued as if Draco hadn't ignored him.

Draco smiled, thinking that meant the visit would be short.

"I do, however, have a message from your father. Kingsley thought I would be the best person to give it to you."

Draco stilled and looked at Potter for the first time in months. Potter was different, handsome and happy. Draco envied his happiness more than he thought possible. But really what happiness did Draco deserve? Potter deserved all the happiness he could get. Draco spotted and glinting wedding band on his finger and sighed.

He thought he knew what the message would be about.

"He wants you married. He says that you have a year or he will choose a bride for you, but he can't do that from Prison. So I guess you have until he gets out."

Potter was still stupid, it seemed.

"He can do it. He's the head of the family. All he has to do is speak the binding words and I will be forced to marry who he picks. Unless of course you've stripped him of his magic."

Potter was stunned into silence and Draco wasnt surprised. It was the first time he'd spoken during these meetings.

"Well, then. I don't know what to tell you. I guess you're getting married. Congratulations."

"You're a dick." Draco snapped and stood from his chair angrily. Potter pulled in a shocked gasp. "Excuse me! I was being polite!"

"Polite! A man like me should never have to force himself on someone! It's different for me, Potter. My marriage will be loveless and full of resentment because people hate me. They hate what I almost did. These people will never forget! I see it in their stares when I walk down the damn street! And now my father wants me to ruin a good family's reputation but forcing this marriage? I don't need congratulations. I need a miracle. Happen to have anymore with you?" Draco asked sarcastically.

Potter sat with his jaw open staring at Draco like he was turning into a hippogriff. Draco sank into his seat and rubbed his temples. He couldn't lose his mind completely in front of Potter. He had some dignity.

"I didn't realize it was still that bad for you. I thought people had forgotten. My friends have."

Draco looked up at Potter, "Well good for them. I wish I could forget. Or actually I wish I'd died in that stupid war. I was supposed to. But no! You had to save me! Mother had to save me! Why! Tell me why!"

Potter stood up and gathered his things. "I couldn't let you die and while I don't care about you, Malfoy, I wasn't going to let you die that way. Or did you want to be burnt alive by Fiendfyre?" Potter asked sarcastically. Oh Draco had offended him somehow.

"No, I didn't. Thank you, I guess. But I wished you would have dropped me on my neck afterwards. Or that Weasely would have grabbed me instead. He would have done it."

"I assume It's because she loves you. I wouldn't know why though. You're a real piece of work."

"What are you on about?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Your mother. She saved you because you're her son and she loves you. Maybe you should talk to her about this. She might have a miracle."

Potter left, leaving Draco to ponder what he said. His mother had never said those words to him as far as he could remember. He'd always assumed she tolerated him and he had been a very cute child.

Perhaps it was time to have a heart to heart with his mother.

A/N: Here's my newest story. It's short I know but as the story progresses I think the chapters will be longer. Let me know what you think!