I strolled silently into my study hoping to get away from all the hustle and bustle going on around the manor
"Draco!" My fathers very annoying voice came bellowing through the halls of the manor. Without a second thought I jumped out of my chair and stashed the muggle book 1984 that I had been reading under the bookshelf in my room, and hurried downstairs to my fathers study.
"Y-yes father?" My voice quivered. He peered at me with the his sharp slate eyes.
"You have till the end of summer after your seventh year." He spoke softly.
"I have to the end of summer to do what?" I immediately regretted asking that question. He whipped his wand out and pointed it square at my chest.
"How dare you interrupt me! Did you think I was finished speaking? You vile child." He spat at me. A yellow bolt of light shot out of his wand and I felt an agonizing pain down my right arm. I cried out and crumpled to the floor. "Honestly Draco, you should be use to the pain by now. Stand up!" he ordered and I swiftly followed it. I knew if I dared to disobey my injuries could be much worse. "Now you need to find a bride." He paused and looked me in the eyes to test my reaction, I kept a straight face and let no emotion show in my eyes. I had perfected that over the previous 17 years of my life, just like my father had told me.
"Okay." I muttered when I was sure he wouldn't retaliate.
"and frankly I don't think any girl is daft enough to you take you as her husband. Even a mudblood. " I scowled at the man who criticized me since the day I was born. "If you don't have a bride by then, I will marry you off to Ms. Parkinson. "
"..but fath-" His hand hit hard across my face. I silenced instantly.
"I'm not even sure she will take after how you treated her." He sat behind the desk in the study. "You may leave." He waved his hand carelessly at me an I quickly scurried out of the room. How the bloody hell was I going to find a bride in a year. Stupid traditions, stupid Malfoy standards. I growled as I climbed the stairs to my mothers drawing room.
"Mother!" I yelled when I was getting close to make sure that she was there. "Mother!" I shrieked again.
"Yes Draco dear." I heard her angelic voice float down the hall. Quickening my pace I stormed into her room.
"Did you know what Lucius just told me!" I screamed at her back.
"Hunny don't call you father by his first name it's disrespectful." She didn't turn around and continued to paint a picture of our garden.
"I don't give a damn, that man doesn't deserve any respect." I could see her shoulders slag, she sighed. My mother would never actually say she was disappointed in me. I knew that, but her body language more then said it. I walked over to her and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Mum, I'm sorry. Really I am, but its just so hard. He wants me to pick a bride by the end of the year or I'll have to marry Parkinson."
"I know." she sighed again and I could tell she was still hiding something.
"You knew? How long has he been planning this?" I slouched onto the bench she was sitting on.
" He's been planning this since last year, I just didn't have the heart to tell you. I thought you would find someone you were interested in. The Malfoy's do marry young you know that."
"Seriously I'm seventeen. Times have changed, people don't marry that young anymore." I glanced at her. Her face was wretched and withering in the wake of my fathers hatred. She used to be so young and beautiful. When I was young she would dance in the rain, let the droplets wash her fear away into the soil and sooth her maddening soul. When my father found her one day laying in a fresh puddle of mud, he banned her from leaving the house unless it was to keep up an appearance. I remember that day so vividly. He beat her till she was an inch from death. Her cries continuously echo throughout my head. I'm surprised I haven't been driven mad by them. She lifted her arm and I saw fresh scars scratched across it. I turned away from her. If I saw anymore I would break down.
"I'm very sorry dear." She stood up and limped to the window. I winced as she sighed in pain. "Please go." I left her looking out that window and went back to my room.