Lauren's parents walked into the living room with mischievous grins on their faces. Either something amazing is going to happen, or my parents hatched a plan at my expense, she thought worriedly.
"Lauren, your mother and I have been conversing with a colleague of mine-" Ollie, her father, started.
"You see, we've been so worried about you, never being on a date and all. It just so happened that the man your father works with has a son your age!" Sarah, her mother, interrupted. Ollie nodded. Oh God, what have my parents done? Lauren asked herself, mortified.
"What are you saying?" she asked.
"I know you don't like us meddling in your life, but we thought it would be good for you." She looked expectantly at her mother to elaborate. "You see, we set you up on a date with Draco Malfoy!" Sarah brimmed with excitement.
Draco Malfoy...Why does that name sound so familiar? she asked herself. "Do I know him?"
"You should; you went to school with him," Ollie answered.
Lauren thought more. "Drac- oh..." Realization hit. "How could you do something like that? He's just about the worst person to force me to date! First year, he told me I was Moaning Myrtle's twin and that, if he could, he'd feed me to the giant squid!"
"I'm sure he didn't mean it, Lauren. That was your first year; I'm sure he matured since then," her mother tried to reassure her.
"He only got worse!" she exclaimed.
"You're supposed to go to the Malfoy's around 7 tonight," Ollie instructed, ignoring his daughter's protests. "The Malfoy's already know you're coming."
"But-" she protested.
"No questions, Lauren. Everything's already set; you don't want to be rude, do you?" Sarah asked. "You might want to start getting ready." Lauren glared, but stood and headed up the stairs to her room. Why didn't they just stab me to death with a plastic spoon? That would have been less painful.
Lauren aparated in front of the Malfoy's mansion and walked up the deteriorating stone steps to the massive black double doors. She knocked apprehensively and entered when the door opened. Immediately upon entering the large foyer, Lauren felt out of place. All color lacked in this stony place. Even the portraits of, what Lauren guessed to be relatives, left the onlooker with a hollow and forlorn feeling.
"You must be Lauren," a cool voice said, making her jump. She turned and saw a tall man with long blonde hair standing at the base of a grand staircase. She only nodded. He walked forward to stand in front of her. "Enchante, mademoiselle," he said, taking her hand and giving it a kiss. Lauren fought to suppress a shudder. "I am Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy. He should be down in just a moment-ah! Here he is," he said in his cool tone as Draco appeared next to his father. "Draco, this is Lauren." The two diverted each other's gaze. "Have fun, you two," Lucius said, seeming to not notice the hatred. He left the foyer, leaving Lauren and Draco alone.
"Let's go," he commanded without looking at her. She followed him without saying a word. The large doors shut behind them as they made their way down the stone steps. The two walked in pure silence, Lauren lagging slightly behind Draco. The silence continued even when they reached their destination: a French restaurant.
"This way, please," the waiter said with a strong French accent. They followed him to a table near a small fountain. He placed the menus in front of each of them and walked away. Lauren opened the menu and nearly panicked. The entire menu is in French! I don't speak a single word of it! And everything is so expensive! Well, it's not like he can't afford it...he's got more money than he could ever know what to do with. The waiter returned soon and asked for their order.
"We'll have the special," Draco ordered for them both. "And make it quick! The last time I was here, it too nearly half an hour to get my order."
"Oui, monsieur." Lauren thought she saw the waiter roll his eyes in annoyance when he turned to leave. Draco began moodily fidgeting with something on the table and Lauren stared into the fountain. Still more silence. The food came and Lauren smiled at the waiter, giving thanks. Draco ignored the man completely. Lauren picked up her fork to begin eating, but she soon set it on the plate.
"You're not going to even try to make this a pleasant evening?" Lauren asked coldly.
"It was as decent as it was going to get until you started talking," he retorted.
"What's your problem? You don't even know me!"
"I don't intend to either."
Lauren glared at him. "Oh, get over yourself!" she nearly shouted.
"Excuse-" Draco started.
"You think you can get away with anything you want! You always have!" Lauren interrupted.
"What-?"
"Ever since our first year in Hogwarts, you've been walking around like some sort of God, commanding people and ordering them around. I'm sick of it!" She had Draco's full attention now. "I don't want to be here either, and I have half a mind to leave! But I love my parents, so I'm doing this to make them happy. I, at least, am trying to make this night semi-pleasant, and I expect you to do the same!" Minutes passed in which Draco said nor did anything. "Unbelievable," she muttered, returning to her food. She hadn't taken a bite before putting down her fork once more.