A/N: Hello everyone! This is a new story…I may still be working on the other story but I hope you like this one! Please review and thanks!

Chapter One

The world felt like it was stopping before his eyes. He could not hear anything his mother was saying anymore; it all seemed like a blur now. He ran a hand through his platinum blonde hair which suddenly was irritating him. He then realized that his black attire was producing sweat quickly. He hastily removed his black coat; when did he begin to hate it so much? His mother attempted to talk to him again but he shrugged her off angrily.

"Why did you do this, mother? I'm old enough to make my own decisions and certainly this one is mine to choose," he explained turning around to face her. She was becoming old and frail but her blue eyes were always cold and stony.

"Draco, I didn't decide this. It was your father who suggested. I didn't have a choice but to listen," she answered. Draco Malfoy sighed in exasperation and sat down on his bed. You always do what he says. He felt like his insides were going to burst. Narcissa sat beside him hesitantly. "An arranged marriage is not so bad. You have known this girl all your life at Hogwarts. She's beautiful and…"

"Mother, you're describing Astoria Greengrass! How could she be the perfect woman for me?" he complained angrily.

"She's a pureblood. If you find any pureblood better, you tell me," Narcissa replied. Draco looked at her. She looked sympathetic but he was sure it was the instinct to get him to accept Astoria. He stood up and began pacing.

"You have to help me, mother. Please, just for once, do something against his decision because I don't want to spend the rest of my life with some daft, senseless woman," he pleaded. She sighed and nodded, meaning she would try her best. He was a Slytherin; of course he was a coward. He could not face his father just yet. He watched as his mother exited the room. Draco grabbed his wand and Disapparated.

He found himself in Diagon alley. He quickly made his way through the crowd, pushing past people until he made it to his destination – the leaky cauldron. He opened the creaky door and scanned the crowd until he found him. He looked down at his clothes; he looked like a downright mess. He headed towards his friend at the bar and dropped himself on the stool beside him.

"Blaise, I've got my hand this deep in dragon's shit," Draco showed Blaise the depth. Blaise sighed and turned to him.

"Is it your arranged marriage with Astoria?"

"How did you know?"

"Mate, you're a Malfoy. It's not bound to be a secret for this long." Draco groaned and slapped his forehead hard. "Whoa, calm down. Didn't you tell your mother?"

"I did. She will try and help me; at least that's what she says."

"Don't worry, mate. I'm going to help you. And I found a solution. We look for another pureblood," Blaise explained triumphantly and drank down his butterbeer. Draco turned to the bartender and ordered one. "I know, you're wondering, aren't you? Where the bloody hell is there another pureblood in our sophisticated society? Well, we just have to see for ourselves, shouldn't we?" Draco's face brightened up. Blaise was not sure if it was because of his plan or because of the arrival of his butterbeer. He confirmed that it was because of his plan when Draco smirked.

"You might have something there, Zabini. We just have to go look in the records, which means we need courage, which makes us bloody Gryffindors!" Blaise shook his head.

"Being sneaky is very Slytherin, Draco," Blaise protested.

"I don't get it. Why did they arrange this and tell me now, when I'm still eighteen? Am I going to marry this early?"

"No, it's just to inform you and give you a vivid glimpse of your future. In my opinion, I think being with Astoria for the rest of your life is going to be a horrid, horrid future," Blaise said. Draco glared at him and Blaise immediately backed down. "No offence, mate, but still, don't worry, I will help you."

"Why are you so keen on helping me, Blaise?"

"Well, because I don't really want to buy wedding gifts for you two," he said. Draco shook his head.

"Even if I get a new pureblood to marry, you still have to buy a wedding present," Draco smirked. Blaise shrugged and finished his butterbeer. "Well, when should we check the records?"

"They're at the ministry. Do you think Potter can help?" Blaise asked. "He's training to be an auror so he's probably at the ministry most of the time."

"When were we ever nice to Potter?" Draco frowned.

"It's a start."

"No bloody way I'm going to that war hero and asking him a favour. There's no way." Draco complained.

After half an hour, Draco and Blaise found themselves at the heart of the ministry as Harry was making his way towards them. He looked older; his hair was not as messy as before and he looked tough. Maybe it was because of his auror training. Draco felt aimless all of a sudden.

"You wanted to see me?" Harry asked. His tone of voice was not so friendly but it was not unwelcoming either.

"Potter, we just need a little favour from you," Blaise explained. Harry raised his eyebrows. "We need the records of all the purebloods ever born," Okay, he was exaggerating a bit but he was excited. Draco groaned.

"Let me guess, Malfoy does not like his soon-to-be fiancée," Harry chuckled. Blaise seemed to chuckle as well. "I see. Well if I help you, what's in it for me? When have you ever done anything nice for me, considering the fact that I saved your arse, Malfoy during the war?" Always the one to remind me about that, Draco thought. He was in a bad mood but he was honestly grateful even though he was not showing it. Draco shrugged.

"What do you want?" he asked. Harry thought for a moment. "Honestly, Potter, I don't have all day. And neither do you." Harry sighed and leaned forward, punching Draco on the cheek. Draco did not show how strong the blow was but his cheek was becoming redder and obviously visible due to his pale complexion.

"That was for all the years of being tormented but you saved my life. You and your mother did," he explained. Draco felt proud inside. Coming from Harry Potter made him feel like he did something useful in the war. However, he did not smile. Blaise watched the exchange.

"Good choice, Potter. If I had the chance to punch Draco in the face, I would've…" Blaise's voice trailed off.

"Blaise, nobody asked you. At least Potter didn't ask for something so big. Just give me the records," Draco muttered.

Harry nodded. "You've changed during the war even though you're not showing it, Malfoy," that was all Harry said as he left to get the records.

"Well, problem solved."

"Not quite," Draco said. Harry came back a few minutes later, clutching a file. He handed it to Draco. He felt hopeful as the file touched his hand. "Thanks Potter," Blaise had already flooed out of the ministry. Harry nodded. "Look, I am grateful for what you did. And you're right, I don't show it," he explained.

"I'm glad you've come to your senses, Malfoy. Good luck in the pureblood thing," Harry extended his hand. Draco took it and they shook hands. "See you around," Harry muttered and left. Draco held the file in both hands and headed out of the ministry. Blaise was waiting for him impatiently.

"Let's go! We have bride searching to do," Blaise said as they Disapparated to the Malfoy Manor. Draco's parents were currently absent. They headed to Draco's room and opened the file on the bed. Blaise began searching as Draco paced the bedroom. "Well, so far, all these purebloods are getting married to someone else or they're already married."

Draco paused and looked in the file as well. There were pictures of the purebloods from Hogwarts like Pansy, Astoria and Daphne… so far, he hated all of them. Draco was giving up. He closed the file angrily and fell back on his bed. "What do I do now, Blaise?" Draco asked.

"Hold on, Draco," Blaise said suspiciously. Draco sat up and saw Blaise looking at a picture that fell out from the file. "This girl never went to Hogwarts with us," he explained. Draco grabbed the picture and looked at it. A beautiful girl was on the picture, black hair cascading down her back with brown eyes. Draco smirked as Blaise opened the file and searched for her page. "Her name's Mariana Winston. She's seventeen but this is all it says," Blaise was confused. He turned to Draco who was still looking at the picture. "Draco?"

"She's perfect."

"Except, we don't know where she is or what school she went to or…" his voice trailed off. Draco got out of bed.

"I need to tell my mother," he said, heading out of the room. Blaise followed him. "She looks much better than Astoria," this guy was in a trance. Blaise shook his head as they went to the living room. Narcissa was sitting on the sofa. "Mother, you're back," Draco sped down the stairs. Narcissa looked so calm.

"Yes, I was about to go and look for…" her voice trailed off as she spotted the picture Draco was holding. "Where did you get that, Draco?"

"I went to the ministry for the pureblood file. I think I found someone better than Astoria," he handed her the picture. Narcissa stared longingly at Mariana's picture. "I've made my decision. I want her."

Narcissa shook her head. "Draco, there's something I need to tell you about Ms. Winston," she beckoned him to sit down. Blaise came down as well, curious more than ever. Draco furrowed his brow, waiting. Narcissa sighed. "Mariana Winston lives in America."

"She's an American witch?" Draco asked confused.

"No, she lives in America. She's an English witch. Her parents were here in London. Her mother was a dear friend of mine…" she seemed to tear up a bit. "Her parents were at St. Mungo's for a few years but sadly, they died. And before her mother died, she made me take Mariana to a muggle family in America. She was so deranged but I had to do it. She did not want her daughter in England because she was so scared for her. She did not want her to suffer the same fate, you see."

"I don't understand."

"Voldemort wanted the Winston's to become death eaters but they refused, causing his followers to cast the Cruciatus curse on them. That was long ago, when Mariana was a baby…" she was about to crack up again. "Voldemort, being so cruel, left them to suffer. A few years later, when Mariana was thirteen, Voldemort found them again after your fourth year when he came back and asked them again to join. They still refused, being more courageous than ever. They went crazy after that punishment…"

"What was the punishment?" Draco asked. A tear rolled down Narcissa's cheek. "Mother, what was the punishment?"

"They gave Mariana the mark," she said, as calm as she could. There was a pregnant pause. She has the mark?

"Why didn't she go to Hogwarts? I'm confused." Blaise rubbed his temples.

"She was late," Narcissa muttered. Draco and Blaise exchanged more confused glances. "She did not get her powers early. She was supposed to get them as usual but she didn't. She got them when she was thirteen during the summer of the punishment." Draco's eyes widened. "Her mother in the hospital made me Obliviate the poor girl. She forgot everything," Narcissa was crying now. Draco came up to comfort her. "She does not know anything because of me!"

"No, mother, you had to do it for a dying friend. It wasn't your fault," Draco tried his best to comfort her. "That is why we have to bring her back now. It's safe. Voldemort is gone," Draco explained. Narcissa nodded, unable to speak. "Mother, I'm still on my decision. I will bring her back from America and we let her remember everything," Draco said.

"We will bring her back from America," Blaise stood up. "Don't worry, we will. You shouldn't regret anything you did." Narcissa smiled behind all the shedding tears. Draco took Mariana's picture and looked at it closely. It wasn't a moving picture. He looked closely to see her brown eyes the same exact replica of Draco's, the type that was emotionless, hiding all emotions. But he could make out a hint of depression in them. He felt really bad for this girl.

"I should have told you two earlier. You could have been closer. She was the perfect one for you. You knew her when you were a baby but I'm sure you don't remember a thing," she was sniffing. It was very unusual to see his mother in that state. "You liked each other so much but Voldemort came into the picture. You would've been good friends," she looked so weak. Draco felt bad for everyone. He closed his eyes and tried to remember his past but nothing came into his mind. "Her parents died when I Obliviated her. I had to Obliviate your mind as well because you knew her during your first year until Voldemort came back," she was blabbering so fast. Draco's eyes widened as Narcissa accioed a memory potion. He drank it down. "When you wake up, you'll remember everything."

Draco went back to his room with the picture. He stayed up all night as well, staring at the picture. She was in the same exact situation as him. She had the dark mark as well. He made a decision. This girl is going to make me redeem my image. It is going to show everyone that I've changed and did a good deed. He smiled to himself as sleep began to take over him. He placed the picture on his nightstand and fell asleep instantly.