TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

Trials and Tribulations is a Harry Potter fan fic which is loosely based on the Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite stories of all time. In this story, the characters will share similar behavior traits with the characters in Pride & Prejudice.

Disclaimer: I do not pretend to own the genius of J.K. Rowling, or that of Jane Austen, of whose works I have alluded to in this fanfic. The first line of this chapter was copied directly from the first line of Chapter I of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Chapter 1: A Single Man of Good Fortune

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

It was in this frame of mind that old Mrs. Lathers showed Draco Malfoy one of the flats that she was renting out. Prone to a curious and motherly nature, she was, of course, concerned that a nice boy like him should be single.

The poor dear, she thought, twenty-one and still unmarried! I shall have to introduce him to that lovely Ginny girl who lives next door.

"I'll take it." Draco said abruptly, disrupting her reverie. "It's a bit smaller than I would like, but it will have to do. In the middle of nowhere too! How disastrous! I doubt I'll meet many suitable people here."

"Country manners, I think they're charming." Blaise Zabini interrupted, having come along to help his best friend pick a flat.

"Very good, Draco dear, just sign the papers and it's all yours." Mrs. Lathers said kindly.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lathers." Draco said politely, feeling guilty about having insulted the flat.

After having Draco sign the rental agreement, Mrs. Lathers prepared to Apparate home. "Oh, one more thing, dear, I shall be back later to introduce you to your neighbors. Do take care of yourself." Then with a smile and a nod, she disappeared.

"Nice old lady," Blaise remarked congenially, with a charming smile on his face.

"Quite." Draco murmured distractedly. "I have no clue what I'm going to do with this place."

"And to think, Draco, you were complaining that it wasn't big enough!" Blaise laughed. "Imagine what you would do if you had to furnish a place larger than this!"

Draco smirked. "I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am, when am I ever wrong?" Blaise smirked as well, almost an exact copy of the smirk on Draco's face, a testament that they had spent way too much time together over the years.

"Want to get something to eat?"

"Let's go."

The duo headed towards the door, already starting to discuss what Draco should do with his new place.

What on earth have I gotten myself into? Draco wondered, as he followed his friend out of the flat.