Destined for Greatness

Chapter I

A Matter of Honor

The great doors of the manor were opened and a countless number of upper-class people gracefully swept through in an inaudible array of laughter and chattering. Their fake smiles being shared as they greeted one another, and their idle methods of small talk; their garish dances and stuffy appearances.

Lucius Malfoy greeted his guests with a firm handshake and a plastered grin. Narcissa, his wife, stood beside him and in turn, greeted with her grace and elegance all those who passed by her.

The room smelt of perfumes, fine wines, and pipe weed. The older, more composed members stood near the sides of the dance floor, where, the younger less serene couples danced carelessly.

Some of the gentlemen sat at tables where they smoked their pipes and talked in boring tones. Every now and then, one of them would come up with something extremely boorish to say.

Lucius continued to greet his guests, and ever so often he'd analyze the room as if searching for something. Narcissa would raise a finely arched eyebrow at his gestures and then he'd glance at her briefly before returning his attention to the guest he was greeting. It was not long, though, till Narcissa realized what it was he was earnestly searching for.

"Where is our son, Lucius?" she asked in her well-collected, gentle voice.

Lucius eyed her in a way that confirmed that the person in question was the one whom he was seeking to find.

Narcissa touched him lightly on his broad shoulder before gracefully walking away from his side to find their son.

She strode up the staircase in a well-dignified manner.

.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy sat lazily in a chair positioned in his bed chamber. He was twirling a coin between his thumb and forefinger, while slightly tapping his foot to the faint rhythm of the music several stories beneath where he sat.

He had no desire to attend another of his parents' meaningless parties; he despised them immensely. All those phony, pompous beings, bringing their nonchalant, endless conversations, which bored him to no end.

Being wealthy came at a price, he reasoned, with everyone desiring nothing less than to be right up in your face wanting to know all the latest happenings in your life.

He blew a piece of hair from his eyes, which was to no avail as it only reassumed its previous position.

They were all like deceiving serpents, hiding behind a mask of pleasantness, though, all the while possessing the intention of destroying your reputation. Was this humanity; greed and selfish desires? No this couldn't be; this was so empty and unfulfilling.

Draco flipped the coin into the air and caught it without averting his eyes. He felt the smoothness of its surface, and the coldness if it's touch.

Money, this was what so many toiled after; what so many died and sacrificed for.

He observed the gold, shimmering within the light; its radiance and shining appearance casting a glimmer within his eyes.

It was merely an inanimate, material object, which brought so many people happiness. Well, not true happiness, perhaps satisfaction is a more appropriate word.

Draco flung the coin behind him and heard its "Clink" as it came in forceful contact with the hardwood flooring. He wasn't saying that being wealthy didn't please him, it pleased him greatly; but, rather, he was merely concluding that money shouldn't be placed at such a high value that, on occasion, it be considered more valuable than the life of another human being.

He believed it ridiculous to kill another over something that could be simply earned. The only way to be truly happy with something is to earn it.

"Draco, darling, are you in here?"

Draco turned his head to the sophisticated voice of his mother, thus acknowledging her presence.

"I'm here, mother," he answered almost monotonously, while turning his head back to its previous position.

He heard her soft footsteps enter the room and the sound of her glamorous gown as she approached him.

"Why don't you join your father and I?"

Draco shifted slightly in his seat and turned to look upon the face of the woman, whom he had come to admire greatly.

"Because, I do not wish to."

Narcissa sighed and knelt beside her son, "Why would you not wish it? It dishonors your father. Are you aware of this, my son?" she said looking up at his flawless face, which was an inheritance she was proud of.

Draco looked into his mother's gentle eyes and proceeded to answer her simple chide.

"I do on wish to attend because I despise it, you know this, mother. Those people down there have no more right to be here than the mudbloods at Hogwarts." He paused briefly to steady his rising voice, "and I furthermore, fail to see how the absence of my presence will dishonor father, as you say it will." He blinked slowly, "I do not see it as a matter of honor."

Narcissa raised a delicate hand and placed it over her sons, "Draco, it is a matter of honor."

"Honor for them? Those false people? ...They deserve no such honor from us." Draco calmly retorted.

Narcissa shook her head and slightly tightened the grip she had on her sons hand; she looked up into his eyes, which resembled so much his fathers. She looked into them sternly.

"No, not honor for them, honor for you, honor for us, honor for our family."

Draco stared into her intense gaze for several fleeting moments. Until he brought his free hand over hers and caressed her soft skin gently. He gave her an understanding smile. If this was important to her and his father, than he would certainly not disappoint them, and, with great reluctance, he stood and took his mothers arm.

"Come on then, I do not wish to bring dishonor, though, I don't quite understand what affect it would have if I did not attend."

Mrs. Malfoy patted his arm, "One day you will, my son. One day you will."

.

The pair strode with pride down the grand staircase to join the many guests waiting. Draco eyed them with contempt, but hid it with a forced smile. They all appeared pleased to see him in their midst, but, he saw past their thick masks; their lying eyes and treacherous smiles.

"Go and greet your father, son." Narcissa urged him.

Draco nodded and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek, "of course, mother."

He then left her to stand beside his father.

"Evening, father," he greeted warmly.

Lucius nodded and gave him a strong handshake, "evening, Draco. I'm pleased to see that you have decided to join us."

He flashed a brief, grateful smile in his wife's direction, who returned it. Draco observed this affectionate exchange and all his previous regrets of emerging from his room were diminished. He had made his parents proud, thus he'd given them something they had deserved.

"This must be your charming son, Draco." A woman beside Lucius inquired.

Lucius nodded and turned to Draco. "This is Mrs. Emblefin, and she is a very respectable woman." He had emphasized the word respectableto provide Draco with a helpful hint at to what his next course of action should be.

Draco caught on and turned to the elegantly dressed woman before him, "an honor to meet you," he said smoothly then bowing low and taking her hand in his. He placed a small kiss on her fragile hand, and then straightened as the lady eyed him with approval.

"Very fine boy you have, Lucius."

Lucius bowed gratefully and then turned to join another group. Draco followed suit and greeted person as best he could, though all the time feeling that they deserved no such attention from him.

The night was bore to the younger Malfoy, as he made himself known to guest after guest, and each one being similar in false behavior and standards.

They would eye him with approval as if they actually thought he felt their opinion mattered. As if it was something he sought after.

These were not the sort of people he sought admiration from. They didn't really care about him, only accepted him into their little affairs and bothers for even attending. They were the ones that were seeking after acceptance, not he.

"Do you dance, lad?" an elderly Gentlemen presently inquired of him.

Draco eyed him slowly before replying with a gentle nod. "I do, sir."

He observed the delight that suddenly crossed the man's features, "Excellent!" He said with a jolly grin, "and may I have the pleasure of introducing you to my daughter?"

Draco was about to reply but closed his mouth as he saw the man had already summoned her over.

"This is my daughter, Melinda."

Draco, not knowing what else to do, bowed and placed a brief kiss on her hand, "a true pleasure to meet you, indeed." He said politely, though not to sure he had truthfully meant his words.

He straightened and examined the young woman. She was smiling, though, hardly and genuinely, and her dark eyes seemed as if they masked some hidden truth behind them. She was the same as the others, he decided.

Then he noticed the expectancy in her father's eyes, and concluded that he wished for him to dance with his daughter.

"If you will, excuse me." Draco smiled vaguely, then turned and stood beside his parents.

"Have you enjoyed yourself at all?" His mother asked him in an exquisitely subtle voice.

Draco caught her eye in such a way that thus relayed he desired to be anywhere than where he currently was.

Narcissa nodded knowingly, "Well, not much longer, darling."

Draco gave her a relieved smile.