Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! After finishing this chapter I wished that I had stuck it at the end of the last one instead, because it's quite short. The next chapter is almost finished, and I'll put it up as soon as I get a couple of reviews ;) Also there's a little part in this chapter which you might find offensive, but it's meant to be controversial and I put it in there because I see the Malfoys as being very prejudiced and narrow-minded. You'll understand what I mean when you get to the part. Enjoy!

Four: The Decision

Draco was ecstatic for the rest of the day, anxiously waiting for the party so that he could tell his friends about the invitation.

"Have you thought about who you'll take with you?" Narcissa asked hopefully.

"Of course! Pansy will be thrilled when I tell her that we get to spend a romantic week in Paris to-"

Lucius raised his eyebrows, while Narcissa looked shocked. "Absolutely not! There is no way that I'll let my fifteen year old son go off to another country unsupervised with a girl who we barely know!"

Draco's mouth fell open, his excitement dropping to the floor with a crash. "That's not fair! I'm not a child; I should be allowed to take whoever I want!"

"Your mother said no," his father calmly said. "And I have to agree with her. You kids are too young to go by yourselves. Moreover, I hardly think that Pansy's parents will allow their daughter to go with you."

Draco realized glumly that his father had a point. He could probably bully his parents with guilt to change their minds, but it wasn't likely that the Parkinsons would let Pansy go to France with him.

"Who will I take now, then?" he grumbled.

His mother gave him a surprised look. "Why, one of us of course!"

"What?"

"And what exactly is wrong with that?" she demanded.

Draco couldn't believe this. Surely his mother wasn't going to ruin this opportunity for him, when it was the first time he was getting to do something grown-up?

"Oh Narcissa, let the boy enjoy himself with his friends," Lucius said. "He deserves that at least."

Narcissa was most displeased at this.

"I guess I'll have to bring Crabbe or Goyle along," Draco said, sulking. His two friends were alright when he needed something done, but otherwise he really didn't fancy their company. They were boring and dim-witted, and all they ever wanted to do was eat. He didn't want to be stuck with either of them in France for a whole week.

"What about Zabini? Maybe he'll want to come," he said then, relieved that he had thought of someone else whose company he actually enjoyed.

Narcissa again looked displeased. "Darling, you know that I don't approve of you associating with, er, people of his type."

Draco didn't understand what his mother was trying to say. "But Blaise is a pureblood, mum."

"That, er, isn't what your mother means. It's just that...well, people should only be in the company of...er, other people of the same kind. Do you understand now?"

This made absolutely no sense to Draco. "But Blaise is like us. He's a pure blood and he's in Slytherin."

His parents looked at each other awkwardly, which irritated Draco. "No matter which House he's in, we don't want you to invite him," Narcissa said finally.

He still didn't understand, but he figured there was no point in arguing. He didn't know the Zabini boy that well anyway. "What about Theodore Nott? Is he, you know, our kind? Whatever that means?"

His parents looked immensely relieved. "Yes, Draco, the Notts are a fine family. You have our permission to ask him."

Draco was also relieved, and he promptly headed upstairs to send Theodore an owl.

"I still don't approve of this, Lucius."

"I don't see any harm in allowing the boy to go with Nott. They're both good kids. You're worrying for nothing, Narcissa."

"What if something happens? Draco is still a child!"

"He is perfectly capable of looking after himself for one week," said her husband. "You're overreacting. Besides, he won't be alone. There will be lots of reputable witches and wizards around, and with all the events they've packed into the week, the boys won't even get a chance to get into mischief."

Narcissa sighed. "I suppose you're right, and that I'm being foolishly overprotective. I mean, you were a fifteen year old boy once, and you were well-behaved and obedient. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, they say, right?"

"Er, right. Exactly," Lucius replied awkwardly. This last argument was actually making him rethink his judgment.

"Although I do wish that he would want his mother around more," she mumbled to herself.