So, this is the revised version I got back from my super amazing BETA garryxmrchairfan! She is great, amazing, and a God send!

I should be getting the 2nd chapter back soon so I'll repost that. Sorry, I got a little over zealous. I'll be post the 2nd and 3rd chapter tomorrow. Thanks!

Salem's Witches Institute was not a bad school. It didn't have all the fighting and howling that Hogwarts had. Despite the fact that it was on the other side of the world, many pure-blood British witches were sent there by their families. It was the most prestigious school in the wizarding world, and pure-blood parents lined up at the graduation ceremony to scout out potential wives for their sons. And one witch stood out to all the families. A tall witch with caramel skin walked onto the large stage and flashed the audience a crooked smile before starting her speech.

"Students, parents, teachers. Welcome, and thank you for attending the graduation of the students, year 2000. We are so pleased with the work we have put into our studies over the 7 years!

"As Valedictorian, I feel I should say thank you to all my classmates. You have taught me so much about myself. I didn't start out in this journey strong, but I personally, as well as all of you, have pulled through this. We have passed our N.E.W.T.s and we are all taking different paths. Some of us will take the honor of becoming healers, potion makers, and Aurors. Others will out down roots and proudly carry our blood to new generations, keeping the magic community alive. No matter what you choose, my friends, you will succeed, for you have the greatest education offered to any witch.

"I close with a quote from one of my dearest friends and favorite teachers, Professor J. K. Rowling!" The young lady grew a little teary eyed, but continued. "Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above the price of rubies. The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned.

"Thank you so much, my friends, for being the best class Salem Witch Academy will ever have the pleasure of walking through these halls." She blew a kiss to her class and smiled brightly.

The entire audience jumped up in a roar of clapping and whistling. A teacher dismissed her from the stage after shaking her hand and congratulating her, then waited patiently as the crowd quieted and all started to sit down. Finally, she started her own speech, congratulating the students on all their achievements and hard work. Her speech was longer and much more boring, but everyone clapped at the end anyways.

The teacher continued on about how the students would be receiving their real diplomas and needed to hold on to them with all their lives.

"And now, starting with our Valedictorian, we will hand out your diplomas!" the teacher said excitedly. Again, everyone cheered, knowing it was coming to an end. "Ms. Persephone West Casselman!"

Persephone apparated to the stage with a huge smile plastered to her beautiful face and took the diploma from her professor's hand. She faced the crowd and pumped the piece of paper in the air with a cheer, and for the third time the crowd busted into applause. She apparated back to her seat and enjoyed the rest of the ceremony without another word.

From the crowd, a pair of curious grey eyes watched the girl carefully. Though he was there to watch a friend's daughter graduate, he couldn't help but pay attention to a certain valedictorian. His wife had noticed his attention and scowled, but didn't say anything at first.

"Lucius, I wish you would stop fawning over a little teenage girl," she snapped at him after she had had enough. He gave her a dubious sideways glance, but said nothing. She wasn't pleased with his lack of response, but didn't bring it back up to him. The ceremony dragged on as he sneered at all the little girls running around like the world was ending, but finally it ended.

His wife was still cross with him even after they had apparated back to the manor, and he could understand why. He gave her a rare public sign of affection, grabbing her hand into his. She stared at the ground, but didn't break the contact.

"Narcissa," he said quietly, trying to get her attention. She didn't say anything so he continued, "I have been thinking about Draco. He is 20 years old and has never courted a woman, or even tried," the older Malfoy said, as if still in thought. His wife whipped her gaze to him in disbelief.

"Lucius, don't tell me you want to do this to our poor boy?" she croaked. But he looked determined to get his son out of the house.

"I take it you disagree with me?" he asked, looking at her. Once again she didn't respond, so he continued. "Draco is our last heir, Narcissa. The ministry gave us another chance. A chance to make right with ourselves, and most importantly, with our son. He can't do it himself, dear. He lacks social skills." Lucius felt a headache coming on in the form of his wife. Her blue eyes burned red in anger.

"You are incredible!" the woman snapped; clearly not open to the idea. "How dare you try to sell off our only son to some woman with some stupid school title? You don't even know anything about her, or her family!" By the time his wife was yelling they were standing in front of the door. A house elf had opened it, but closed it quickly after hearing the commotion.

"Now, dear wife of mine…" he started, trying to touch her face gently. She snapped, slapping his hand in response. The black-haired witch glared at him even harder, but he wasn't fazed. "Narcissa, we had an arranged marriage. I don't know about you, but I'm madly in love with you now. It's been 24 years…" he trailed off, smiling at her in a way he only did when they were alone.

"It's almost been 25," she stated. Lucius looked at his wife with a small smile.

"Maybe we can go back to Paris this year, enjoy it like we did on our honeymoon." He took his wife's hands in his own. He eyes were fading back to blue, he observed to his relief.

"I hardly enjoyed it!" She snorted. "You were the most insufferable prat I had ever met." Then it hit her. Would anyone ever have married her husband if she hadn't been made to? Yes, he was tolerable now, but it took years for her to love him. Narcissa sighed, dropping into his chest. She didn't want to give her little boy up to a woman she didn't know, but…

"I'll firecall the Casselman's and see if we can come by sometime this week," She conceded, defeated and suddenly tired. Lucius held her in a tight hug before opening the front door and helping his battered wife into their room so she could rest.

Reviews are awesome, I take advice and sometimes need to know where you guys want me to take the story! Thanks!

-Han