DISCLAIMER: In no way do I own any of the characters in JK Rowling's Wizarding world. I am but a fan who has run away with her imagination.

Chapter 1

"Oh come one mate! Aren't you the least bit curious how everyone's turned out?" Blaise reasoned with the blonde wizard in front of him as he sat in one of the plush chairs in his office. Blaise had spent the last hour trying to persuade Draco Malfoy that the upcoming Hogwarts reunion was a good idea and was something they should attend. This was, of course, after stumbling upon Draco's discarded invitation in the bin next to his desk.

"Seeing if saint Potter has grown warts? Princess Granger gaining weight to resemble the Weasley matriarch? And maybe, just maybe, the weasel sporting a beer belly to go with his wife's growing frame?" Draco pretended to care, his gray eyes alight with fake enthusiasm. "Joy." He deadpanned clearly still unconvinced.

"You can be so boring sometimes Draco." Blaise pointed out as he watched Draco return his attention back to the rolls of parchment on his desk. He's been signing papers and reviewing numbers since 10 this morning and hasn't even had lunch. It was already 3 and his nagging headache was knocking against his skull. Blaise's efforts to drag him to this god forsaken stupid reunion were adding to that headache.

"I'm not boring mate. I'm being practical." He pointed out scribbling notes and revisions on a certain report. "I don't have time for stupid reunions Blaise. I have companies to run." He almost snarled.

It wasn't entirely false. He did have companies to run. As Finance Officer and co - CEO of Malfoy Integrated Companies, he had responsibilities resting on his shoulders. Not to mention the pressure of impressing his father and keeping him happy and at bay. He sighed remembering how hard his father had been on him. Lucius Malfoy did not wait for Draco to get accustomed to running the company. As soon as he graduated, Draco was thrust into a 4 corner office and into a management's meeting. It was right after the war and Lucius's desperation to bring the Malfoy name back to it's former glory was a necessity. Society had branded them as enemies but he pushed on despite the way others viewed them. He focused on bringing trust back to the company and the companies it was handling and it worked. He introduced his only son as part of the growing effort and many saw this as Lucius's attempt to bring new blood to the system. Many didn't mind and even praised him for this.

Much has happened since then. Draco smiled inwardly at himself. He was proud of how far he'd come and how much his father trusted him now. As far as Draco was concerned he didn't want to break the streak and so poured himself more into work. He rarely had time for himself - correction: he rarely made time for himself. Blaise had pointed this out earlier too. Blaise didn't think it was healthy but Draco thought he didn't have a choice.

"Come on mate. Please. Astoria and I are looking forward to spending some time together. By the beach amongst friends. You'd benefit from a bit of rest and relaxation as well. You're always cooped up in this office. If you're not here you're somewhere meeting with someone closing some deal. Just think about it. 3 days of rest that you so deserve. You work too hard mate. You should have more fun." Draco snorted. "What ever happened to the fun Draco I'd chase poor unassuming first years with? Or the Draco who's get wasted with me before exams or Quidditch games. Come on mate." Blaise tried one last time to convince his best mate.

"Blaise..." Draco started what was already a rehearsed reply.

"The least you can do is think about it." Blaise smiled. The blonde sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Fine. But only because I need you out of my office. I have a meeting with my staff in a few minutes." Draco replied. That was good enough he thought. He'd try to think about it then back out just at the right time.

"Yes!" Blaise stood up feeling accomplished. "That's good enough for me mate. I'll catch you later then." And with that Draco was alone again. He put his pen down and exhaled loudly. He felt tired after discussing the reunion with Blaise. Could it be worth it? He hadn't made enough friends to keep in touch with after graduation. He was just too busy and preoccupied to keep friends, he reasoned with himself. Well, it was either that or people really didn't like him much. He leaned back into his chair feeling more exhausted. He could feel it in his body.

The years had been good to him. He hadn't much changed in appearance and still looked immaculately handsome as ever with his sleek blonde hair, piercing grey eyes, aquiline nose and flawless pale skin. But he couldn't deny that the late hours he put into his work was slowly taking its toll on him. He didn't even have time for himself anymore. He could hear his mother nagging him to take some time off and find a decent witch to settle down with. 'You're of the right age Draco. And you're not getting any younger' she said once over dinner. Like most things he didn't pay much mind to it and casually brushed it off with a quick 'I don't have time mother'.

It was true to an extent. He was always busy but he too didn't make much time for other things. Drinking with Blaise was the extent of his activities outside work. He and Astoria made sure that he had a life outside the four walls of his office. He was grateful for that at times especially when stress at work was just too much to handle. Merlin how much he's changed. He was, to an extent, a slave to his work but he had reasons. He sighed thinking of the last time he did something for himself... the clock ticked on for what felt like ages but he quickly brushes the feeling off as soon as a knock came to the door.

It was half past eight when his last meeting concluded. He looked at the clock on the wall and sighed. He was already an hour late to dinner. Dinner. His tummy rumbled in protest as he remembered he had not made time to eat today. There was just too much work specially when he was so close to closing a deal he and his father had been working on for the past three months. He knew he'd hear from his mother about how late he'd get home. Oh well. It couldn't be helped. He collected his things, his coat and his wallet before walking to the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and uttered his destination.

Draco had just stepped out of the fireplace and already he could hear Narcissa Malfoy calling for him.

"Draco? Is that you?" the clack of her heels was echoing through the hallowed house.

"Yes mother. I just got in." He brushed dust off his shoulders and shrugged off his coat. Narcissa Malfoy rushed to her son helping him with his coat. She was immaculately dressed in head to toe black, her hair pinned up away from her face. She was never out of style and would never be caught dead looking less than perfect.

"Come into the dining room. There's still food. Your father and I have been waiting for you." She rushed away carrying Draco's coat and handing it to the waiting elf by her side. Draco sighed. He had a feeling this was going to be another long dinner.

Lucius Malfoy had gone over all possible business status in the past hour and a half. Like what Draco predicted, dinner was more like a status meeting. His father talked about work at the dining table even if Narcissa didn't like it much. He's used to it and doesn't really mind. He prefers talking about business to his mother's incessant plan to pair him up with young deserving witches. And just like every dinner he decided to grace his presence with, tonight his mother was trying to pair him up with none other than Pansy Parkinson.

"Pansy? Pansy Parkinson?" He almost spit in shock. "What would I want with Pansy Parkinson?" He sounded like it was the most absurd thing in the world.

"Well why not Pansy?" His mother pushed on. "You two attended Hogwarts together, share a history…"

"A very short & brief history mother that shouldn't warrant her any place at all in this conversation." Draco cut in before his mother could say anymore. "She's shallow, superficial and plain crazy."

"Oh hush Draco." She swatted his arm. "You shouldn't talk about her like that. And anyway, you have no choice in the matter I'm afraid. She's attending that Hogwarts reunion this coming weekend so you and Pansy will have time to reconnect." She smiled almost looking feline.

"What?" Draco had to stand from what he had just heard. He was perplexed. He could feel his temper rising like bile in his stomach. He hated it when his mother refused to let him be. It was like her sole goal in life is to marry him off. He breathed through his nose trying to keep his cool especially when Lucius had given him a look of warning.

"Well then, I guess I really won't be going to that reunion - suits me well. It was my original plan to work on the elves contract this weekend anyway." He started to leave, happy that his wish to skip the bloody reunion had worked out for him.

"Oh I don't think so Draco." You could hear the smile forming on Narcissa's lips. "Your father and I just made a donation to the event and you will be going on our behalf." He spun on his heel and squinted at his father.

"Don't look at me like that Draco." Lucius raised his hands in front of him in surrender. "I had no choice." His eyes glinting playfully as he let Narcissa take the wheel.

"It would be highly disrespectful of you to not attend after we made such a generous donation." Draco was about to protest but Narcissa had raised a finger and continued. "I already sent in your confirmation for the event and pre-registered your name for the rest of the activities. Plus, I have already asked Avener to start packing for you." Draco did not know what to say. Yet again he found himself in the middle of one of his mother's infernal traps. He huffed and puffed unable to voice out his anger without disrespecting her.

"It'll be good for you Draco. Treat as some sort of break. A well-deserved break." She stood up and smiled at him sincerely. "You'll go won't you?" She beamed hopeful.

"I have no choice mother." He said through gritted teeth.

"Great! Make sure to say hi to Pansy alright?" with that his fate for the weekend was sealed. He had no choice and he hated it. He slumped his way back to his room, anger tingling his skin. He knew he was not going to like this weekend. Not one bit.

Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for reading the first chapter. I'm new to this sort of thing but since I like making up stories in my head, I have decided to give it a shot! If you were wondering it's a Draco - independent character pairing. Not a Dramione one, although I love my Dramione. 3 Anyhow, your comments an suggestions are most welcome. Have an awesome day! :)