I don't think I really should have to say this, but, "I do not own Harry Potter (duh) I'm not making money off of this story. The end."
Also, there are some spanis words in here and I couldn't figure out how to do the thing over the n's so if you know how, tell me, if you don't, don't crap yourself over it because if I could do it I would.
It was odd, to say the least, that Narcissa Malfoy was calling her son to the drawing room at such a late hour. It was particularly odd, not because of the time, but because of the fact that Narcissa and her son had not spoken since the day she had told him of the task given to him by Lord Voldemort. Ever since that day Narcissa had been going off on extended trips to some far away destination, often without telling Draco, but he did not mind seeing as her presence did not bring him any closer to the final goal of killing Albus Dumbledore.
As Draco descended the long circular staircase of Malfoy Manor his mind raced with thoughts of what his mother could possibly want now. His mother, who had spent fifteen years fawning over him, had suddenly cut off all contact. Draco had scarcely seen her all summer, and though his desire to talk to anyone was not high, he did wish that his mother would at least pretend to pay the same sort of attention to him as she used to. He rounded the corner toward the drawing room, eagerly anticipating the long awaited meeting with his mother.
Maybe the Dark Lord has taken back his request. Draco thought hopefully. Maybe he's found someone else.
He slowly opened the old wooden door and leaned his head into the room. His mother was sitting in a large red armchair by the fire, and didn't bother to turn as he entered the room.
"Come in Draco," She drawled, "I've been expecting you."
"Yes Mother." Draco said, sitting down in the armchair next to her.
"As you know," His mother began, "I have been gone for most of the summer, trying to restore the family name."
Oh, so that's what she's been doing. Draco thought.
"It was your father's wish to see that the Malfoy named be preserved even through the latest…humiliation." Her face tightened at the last word.
"And what…" Draco began, "Did he have in mind?"
"A wedding" She said curtly, "not now of course, but an arrangement, with some pureblood family to insure the success and pure blood of the Malfoy line."
Draco was quite taken aback. A marriage? To whom? When? How? He was only sixteen years old, how could his parents be thinking about marriage? With all of the things he has to worry about now he has to deal with a fiancée?
"So I'm—I'm—" Draco stammered.
"Betrothed." His mother finished his sentence for him.
"Let me guess." Draco said, trying to retain his cool, "Pansy Parkinson?"
His mothers lips tightened, "No"
"No?" Draco repeated, "But I always thought we were sort of an…informal…agreement."
"Well," His mother began, choosing her words carefully, "you were. But ever since the…incident…with your father…the Parkinson's seem to feel that…"
"I'm not suitable for their daughter." Draco sighed sinking more deeply into his chair.
"Who is it then? The Boots? Their daughter is a bit young, but I suppose after a few years she'll be a nice girl. The McNabbs? I've met their daughter once or twice, but she's a Hufflepuff . Please don't say the Bulstrode's mother I'd take a Granger over her."
"No" Mrs. Malfoy said. "I had to go a little…er…farther out of my way to find…"
"A family that would have me?" Draco said solemnly.
"Well its just…with the current circumstance in Britain…" His mother tried to explain.
"It's alright mother. I understand." Draco said, trying to save them both the humiliation.
Narcissa Malfoy drew in a deep breath. "Her name is Adelina Castillo. She is from an old pureblood family that lives in southern spain. She attends La Escuela de Magica in Spain which is a highly prestigious all girls academy. She is fluent in English, French, and Latin, and she is also, from what I have seen, extremely beautiful."
Draco paused for a moment, "And why would a woman so reputable choose to have me as her fiancée?"
His mother got a strange look on her face, as if she was trying to figure out exactly the right words to say. "Well, Draco, it seems that Miss Castillo is…err…well…"
Draco had never seen his mother stammer before, and was wondering what could possibly be so bad that she could not find a nice way to say it.
"Well…she's…not very nice…"
Draco almost burst out into laughter, "Mother, I'm not very nice."
"Well…" She said. "I suppose you'll have to meet her and see for yourself. She arrives tomorrow."
Draco's stomach did a flip. "Tomorrow? Tomorrow? How could you do this mother? I'm not in the least bit ready I have so many things…"
His mother held up her hand. "Do not argue with me. Don't you think I understand the situation that you are in? Her father insisted on her coming to live with us tomorrow. As she will be attending Hogwarts this year…"
"She will be WHAT?" Draco cried.
It was one thing to have to give up searching for a way to kill Dumbledore for a few days, but to be distracted by some pretty Spanish Senorita during the school year, how was he supposed to get anything done.
"Draco, how do you expect to get to know your fiancée if you don't spend any time with her? I don't want to hear anymore about it. Now go up to bed and get some rest, I want you looking your best tomorrow."
"But…Mother…"Draco protested.
"Goodnight, Draco" his mother said finally, and she got up and exited the room.
Draco, however, remained by the fire for at least another two hours wondering about what this new development could possibly mean for his life.
Adelina Maria Castillo came from the most pure line of wizards in Spain, and she did not let anyone forget it. She was an exceptionally pretty girl with long curly black hair, rounded chestnut eyes, tan skin, and a slender frame. She was at the top of her class at La Escuela De Magica and attended stately balls on the weekends, while during school she studied Latin, French, and English. On the surface Adelina seemed as though she was the ideal match for any sixteen year old pureblood who was trying to keep his name from being tarnished, but underneath Adelina had one glaring personality defect. She was extremely rude.
How she had come by this rudeness, no one was quite her. Her mother was a lovely woman, who had died when Adelina was very young. Her father was an extremely handsome diplomat for the Spanish Ministry and was rumored to be one of the richest wizards in the world. Adelina had been taught from a very young age the proper way to greet, and speak to guests, but even then she rejected formal niceties for blunt, often rude, truths. Her father often left her home from balls and galas in which it was very important that he make a good impression, because to her it seemed that she need not impress anyone but rather that they needed to impress her. She didn't have very many friends because of this, but she did have a close group of girls who followed her around like puppies who she commanded as if they were her servants. They were usually stupid, rather ugly girls who felt as though being around the beautiful, intelligent pureblood made them in some way better.
Adelina had had boyfriends in the past, none of them lasting very long. Not because they wanted to give her up, but because their undying affection for her soon grew tiresome and she found that love, not matter what the circumstance, was always a sign of weakness. The idea of an arranged marriage had never once bothered Adelina. She understood that to keep the purity of her family that she would probably have to marry someone of her fathers choice. Her opinions on love also helped with the fact that her marriage had nothing to do with her own opinions. Adelina was usually a very headstrong girl who was extremely adverse to allowing others to tell her what to do. The only person who she allowed to do so was her father, because he was the only person who she even held the slightest bit of respect for.
After all, she thought, he's the one who made me as perfect as I am.
When Adelina came down for breakfast that morning, her thoughts were hardly occupied with marriage. She was annoyed about the house elf not properly fluffing her pillows, and about the fact that her ex boyfriend kept sending her owls even though her last message to him was an envelope full of dungbombs. She pulled her pink robe tightly around her, cursing the cold of old Spanish mansions and sat down at the table awaiting her father.
When Senor Castillo finally arrived he seemed abnormally happy. He was holding a letter in his hand and he sat down, not in his usually seat at the head of the table, but on the side next to Adelina.
"My darling." He said, starting off the conversation in English, "I have wonderful news."
Adelina hated when her father used English. She thought the entire language was harsh and ugly, and if her father hadn't insisted upon it, she never would have learned English in the first place.
"Yes Father?" She said, sipping her tea.
"I have wonderful news." He began. "I have found you, a husband."
Adelina almost choked on her tea. She didn't even know that her father had been looking for a husband, let alone that he'd found one.
"And?" Adelina replied, "Who is it?"
"Draco Malfoy." Her father said proudly.
At this point, Adelina actually spit out her tea. "No Papi! How could you? A Malfoy? You know where their father is? Do you know who they've been linked to? Ay Dios! What have you done?"
Her fathers voice grew stern, "Well Adelina if you hadn't turned away all of the other nice Spanish boys who came to see you…"
"None of them were good enough, they were all pigs." She scoffed. "But this..this..British Malfoy I'm sure he will be no better."
"It is not your decision to make." Her father replied. "I will have Rosario pack your things."
"WHAT?" Adelina shouted, which was very rare, Adelina felt that she never need to shout to get her point across that what ever she had to say could be whispered and everyone who is worth anything would pay attention.
"You are leaving today. Now go get dressed, wear your green travel dress, that is by far the best one." With that her father left the room leaving Adelina extremely confused and extremely angry.
She rushed upstairs to put on her good dress, and though she tried to be conscious of what she was doing she couldn't help but just stare at her reflection in the mirror and wonder what this new change might mean for her life.