"Master Malfoy? Master Malfoy? Breakfast is served, and Ms. Parkinson is waiting in the foyer."

The twenty-one-year-old Draco Malfoy looked over his book at his faithful servant, Vlad.

"Yes, Vlad. Please inform Pansy that I shall join her in the dining room in a moment."

"Yes, Master Malfoy."

At the sound of the click of the door, Draco primped himself frantically. Today was the day that he was going with Pansy, his girlfriend since his Hogwarts years, on a Wizard Cruise. On the trip, he was planning to propose to her.

He didn't know why he was so nervous. She was going to say yes, no questions asked. Maybe it was the fact that he was a Malfoy, and the thought of being with one woman for the rest of his life was unnerving. Maybe it was that he was scared that he would become his father, and abuse Pansy after they were married. He shuttered at the thought.

His father had been gone for several years, and for good reason. Draco had changed since he was younger. He was not going to turn into his father...

Draco practically flew down the spiral staircase that led to the dining room. He could feel the sweat dripping off of him as he fingered the ring in his pocket.

As he got closer to the door, he slowed down to make a graceful entrance. He turned slyly into the entrance of the spacious room, when his eye caught a depressed Pansy.

"Pansy, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Draco. My sister's getting married."

"And that's bad news?"

"The wedding is in France."

"So?"

"In ten days?"

"In ten days?"

"Now I can't go on the cruise with you."

"Sure you can! We can work it out! The cruise is three days long. That leaves seven days for you to get ready for the wedding."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple...there's dinners, and fittings, and showers...I've got a million and one things on my mind."

"Can't one of them be me?" said Draco hurt. Then after thinking, he came up with a plan.

"Well, you'll only be gone ten days! We can on the next cruise after you get back."

"That won't work Draco...I'm going to be gone for a month."

"A month! The wedding's in ten days, and you're staying a month?"

"My sister's asked me to watch over my mother while she's on her honeymoon."

"Yeah. I'm sure you're gonna spend the entire month with your mother!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I've seen how those guys act in France! They're all over the tourists! You'll be parading around the city, frolicking around with who knows who!"

"It sounds to me, Mr. Malfoy, that you think I'm not to be trusted!"

"Pansy, I'm..."

"I should have known better to think that you'd understand," responded Pansy as she stormed out of the room, and out of the manor.

"Good riddance, then!" Draco exclaimed after her.