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"Ah, Draco. There you are. Please sit down, darling."
As he walked into the room, Draco had a bad feeling in his gut. "Hello, Mother. Father." Lucius nodded and Narcissa smiled. "You called me to talk about something important?" he asked.
"Yes, sweetheart."
"Don't baby him, Narcissa. This is important."
Lucius almost backed away from his wife after the glare she sent him. "Don't tell me to not baby my only child, Lucius. Voldemort is gone and none of us need to pretend, anymore. I will give him all the love in the world."
Draco refrained from smirking at his father's sigh. There really was no arguing with her. Ever. She always got what she wanted... which is why he was so nervous. She definitely wanted something.
"Anyway, Draco, we called you in here because my uncle is very ill, as you know, and he is..." she frowned, "on his way out." Draco's whole body filled with dread. He couldn't move, think, or breathe. "Now that Voldemort is dead and we don't have to hide our heritage, it is time to start readying you to take over the throne." When he didn't say anything, her face softened. "I know it's frightening, darling, but you'll do fine. Don't fret."
"Why can't you take it?" Draco managed.
"Because I'm too old to."
"You're not old," he said incredulously, earning a brilliant smile from her.
"Thank you sweetheart, but the people will want a young ruler, one who is with the times. One who they know will rule well, fairly, and be alive for a long time."
"What if I don't want it?"
"There is no one else who can take over. It has to be you. It is your right and your responsibility."
"Potter's distantly related, can't he take it?"
"He's far too distant; he most likely doesn't have any Black blood in him at all. I'm sorry, my love."
"What about Lupin and Tonks' son?"
"He's a baby, Draco."
"What if I got a girl pregnant? That child could take the throne."
"Draco!" Draco cringed; that was his father's no nonsense tone. "You will cease this childish behavior at once. We know that you do not want this, but we also know that you will be a fine ruler. We've looked at the Black family tree and there are no other close descendants. This must go to you. It is your duty."
"But why? Why do I have to? Why can't the public pick someone else? What if I got killed or ran away? Wouldn't that have happened back in the old days? What would the people do, then?" He was getting more and more frantic.
Narcissa noticed that Lucius was about to explode, so she placed a delicate hand on his to calm him. "Lucius, shouting won't do anything but push him further away." She turned back to her son. "Back in those days, the minimum amount of children people had was roughly three. Most had five or more. There were relatives all over the place, so the royal family never had trouble finding an heir. If one ran away, the next in line would take their place. If the family was taken over by a warring country, then that family took the throne and ruled for however long. I'm sure you've noticed that you are an only child... something I regret deeply, but that is my own body's fault... believe me, I know you aren't happy about this but you are the last person - well, the last of-age person - with Black blood." She looked thoughtful. "Oh... well there is Neville Longbottom..."
"No!" Draco looked affronted at the thought of Longbottom ruling over Wizarding Britain.
She smiled. "Please don't do this to yourself, us, or the people. Yes, I am next in line, but no one will be happy about it if I am coronated. I am too associated with Voldemort, unfortunately."
"So am I! That's why I won't be a good fit."
"Not as much. You have a much better case than I. You were forced into everything you did. Harry Potter even spoke for you in court."
"Mother," Draco interrupted, "I almost killed Dumbledore. You don't get it. People either want my money and fame, or they hate me. Everywhere I go, I get glares, hateful whispers, pointing, and the like. No one will want me to rule."
Narcissa looked very concerned. "I didn't know this!"
"Oh come on, mum. Don't you get that, too? Don't you, father?"
They shook their heads. "I don't go out anymore, Draco," Lucius said, "and no one would dare be impolite to your mother after all she has done for charities, the city, and because she saved Potter's life."
Draco's forehead hit the table. "I'm doomed."
Narcissa stood and rushed over to wrap her arms around him. "I love you so much, my Dragon. I would never force you into anything, but this is of the utmost importance. Please, please don't force us to take on the responsibility of ruling. I was never trained because my cousin was alive when I was growing up. After he died, I was given a rushed education and since, it has faded from my mind. I know you will be a phenomenal leader. You just need to believe in yourself as much as your father and I do."
"You won't force me?"
"No, precious. But if you don't, I will have to step up. It will give us time to think of a solution, but it's entirely up to you."
Now he felt like an ass. He couldn't let his mother take on such a responsibility. She was in no way old, but she was right; she was too old to go into this new at her age, even though mages lived longer than muggles. He sighed and put his hands on hers, which were still holding him. "I'll do it, mum."
She kissed his cheek. "You still have time to make that decision, but I'm glad that you're leaning towards acceptance. Thank you, my love. I apologize if you feel guilted; that was not my intention. However, choosing now is wise so you can get ready before uncle Alphard passes."
"Yeah..."
"I'm proud of you, Draco," his father said. "It is a hard decision to make." Lucius was never a man of many words, so that actually meant a lot to Draco even though he wanted no part in this. He spent his life trying to please his father, not knowing until after Voldemort's death that Lucius had been proud of him the entire time.
The nervousness he felt when he first walked in had increased ten-fold, and turned into dread. He knew this would come eventually, especially after Potter killed Voldemort. Narcissa had gone back to her seat after kissing his forehead; he looked up at them. "Will I be forced into an arranged marriage?"
His parents glanced at each other, then back at him. "We will not force you into anything," Lucius said, "but it would be easier for you to choose from a list of nobles than find love with one."
"So she must be a noble?"
"It is best if she is," his mother said, "but not absolutely necessary. You do not have to get married anytime soon, however, it will look better to the public if you were married before or right after taking the throne. Think about it, love."
Draco stood. "May I be excused?" They nodded. He made his way to the door of their dining room, then turned back to ask them one more question. "Will you please not announce this to the public until I must take the crown? I don't want the press all over me, writing foolish things in the papers and taking photos of me everywhere I go. I would like to get a job and live on my own, have a normal life, for as long as I can."
Narcissa felt her heart breaking for him. "Yes of course, my Dragon. Would you like us to know where you are or not?"
"Of course we should know where he is!" Lucius interrupted. "We are his parents, Narcissa, and he has an important role to play very soon. We should know what he is up to."
"He's twenty-three, love. He can do this. Trust me, he doesn't want his parents barging in on his private life while he still has one."
Lucius looked mad when he faced Draco. "You will promise to write and visit us at least once a week."
"Of course. And I'll have a floo. I don't want you to not know where I am. I just want to do this on my own."
Lucius nodded. "Very well, then. Find an apartment and we will pay for it."
"No, I will find a job first and then pay for everything myself."
His parents looked surprised. "That is very mature of you," Lucius said. "Alright. If you wish it."
"Thank you."
As he left to find Blaise, Pansy, Theo, and Daphne, he felt his life slipping away through his desperately grasping fingers.
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