The Great Hall was banked in all of the schools finest decorum. Each of
the houses represented had its own banner flying high above their table,
and the golden plates and goblets adorned the table top. There was an
uncertain tension that rose among the students as they took their places.
Draco never seemed to notice when Ron Weasely became tangled in Hermione's
robes, and the two crashing down to the floor. He didn't care that Harry
Potter still remained the hero of Hogwarts, and was greeted with a firm
applause as he entered.
Watching as Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall began the sorting ceremony, Draco's eyes were fixed to the entrance of the Great Hall. Until now, no student even remotely resembled anything of his betrothed. It was only after the sorting hat had finished with the large group of first years that the doors opened once more and several tiny house elves had formed two lines between the two middle tables.
They knelt on their knobbed knees and bowed their heads with gracious honor as tiny footsteps passed them. Draco's eyes widened. She had arrived. She was more beautiful than he had expected. Her long auburn hair tumbled down her back as she walked, her head held high and her poise never altering. As she reached the head table where Professor Dumbledore smiled down at her, she lifted her chin and gave a slight bow of the head.
The white haired man remained standing and held up his hands. "It is my great pleasure to announce our newest student. Princess Oliana, heir of Salazar Slytherin, and daughter of his royal highness, Bale Rumier Slytherin himself."
The stir of echoes rose quickly at the mention of this information. It had only been Draco's second year when rumors of Harry Potter being the heir of Slytherin had plagued the school. His icy blue eyes remained entranced upon the Princess as she awaited her sorting. It wasn't needed really. The old tattered hat had merely been three inches above her head before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
Draco Malfoy stood, walked to the head of the Slytherin table and knelt before the princess on one knee. A hush came over the school as hundreds of eyes watched this kind gesture.
"Rise, Draco Malfoy. I am but a student here, just as you." She held out her hand to him and he accepted, letting their fingers linger a bit longer than anyone had expected. Her smile took his breath away. Surely she was older than eleven, he thought. He escorted her to his normal seat between Crabbe and Goyle, and scowling at them both, they rose and allowed the princess to take a seat. They soon found themselves sitting to the left of Draco, confused by this newfound fondness for first years.
The golden plates before them soon filled with savory food, in which Draco could not bear to eat. He had a feeling of nervousness and confusion as he watched her. He took a deep breath, letting the scent of her perfume fill his senses, sending him soaring into oblivion. All too soon it was over, and the students were being led by the prefects to their rooms. Draco shot Professor a pleading glance and was given a slight nod in return. Now smiling, Draco gently touched the princess's shoulder and whispered in her ear.
"Would you like a proper meeting?" He asked shyly. With some confusion, for he had never acted this way around a girl before. Usually he would be more demanding, with more of a teasing drone to his voice. And now, he stood before this little girl, feeling his knees quivering.
Her jade green eyes met his, and she nodded. They walked together silently up and down the halls of Hogwarts, and when they had arrived at the marble stairs that led to the Slytherin tower, Draco suddenly felt weary. He never wanted to let her go.
"Oliana, tell me about yourself. Mother and Father didn't seem too keen on revealing much about you. If we are to be married," he stumbled through the words, "I want to know all there is about my wife."
"I was born to become a part of you. To serve you as your own. To become the mother of the newest Malfoy generation."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "To serve me? I don't need servants. I don't need a wife right now either."
"You do not agree with the betrothal?" Her voice became frail, but still had its touch of dignity.
"I don't know what I want." His words were stopped short as she touched his lips with her fingers.
"I may be just a little girl to you now, Draco Malfoy. But rest assured, I have been taught the ways of marriage and you will never want for anything. I will become your world, just as you mine."
She left him at the foot of the steps, feeling the soft tingling sensation her fingertips had left on his skin.
Watching as Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall began the sorting ceremony, Draco's eyes were fixed to the entrance of the Great Hall. Until now, no student even remotely resembled anything of his betrothed. It was only after the sorting hat had finished with the large group of first years that the doors opened once more and several tiny house elves had formed two lines between the two middle tables.
They knelt on their knobbed knees and bowed their heads with gracious honor as tiny footsteps passed them. Draco's eyes widened. She had arrived. She was more beautiful than he had expected. Her long auburn hair tumbled down her back as she walked, her head held high and her poise never altering. As she reached the head table where Professor Dumbledore smiled down at her, she lifted her chin and gave a slight bow of the head.
The white haired man remained standing and held up his hands. "It is my great pleasure to announce our newest student. Princess Oliana, heir of Salazar Slytherin, and daughter of his royal highness, Bale Rumier Slytherin himself."
The stir of echoes rose quickly at the mention of this information. It had only been Draco's second year when rumors of Harry Potter being the heir of Slytherin had plagued the school. His icy blue eyes remained entranced upon the Princess as she awaited her sorting. It wasn't needed really. The old tattered hat had merely been three inches above her head before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
Draco Malfoy stood, walked to the head of the Slytherin table and knelt before the princess on one knee. A hush came over the school as hundreds of eyes watched this kind gesture.
"Rise, Draco Malfoy. I am but a student here, just as you." She held out her hand to him and he accepted, letting their fingers linger a bit longer than anyone had expected. Her smile took his breath away. Surely she was older than eleven, he thought. He escorted her to his normal seat between Crabbe and Goyle, and scowling at them both, they rose and allowed the princess to take a seat. They soon found themselves sitting to the left of Draco, confused by this newfound fondness for first years.
The golden plates before them soon filled with savory food, in which Draco could not bear to eat. He had a feeling of nervousness and confusion as he watched her. He took a deep breath, letting the scent of her perfume fill his senses, sending him soaring into oblivion. All too soon it was over, and the students were being led by the prefects to their rooms. Draco shot Professor a pleading glance and was given a slight nod in return. Now smiling, Draco gently touched the princess's shoulder and whispered in her ear.
"Would you like a proper meeting?" He asked shyly. With some confusion, for he had never acted this way around a girl before. Usually he would be more demanding, with more of a teasing drone to his voice. And now, he stood before this little girl, feeling his knees quivering.
Her jade green eyes met his, and she nodded. They walked together silently up and down the halls of Hogwarts, and when they had arrived at the marble stairs that led to the Slytherin tower, Draco suddenly felt weary. He never wanted to let her go.
"Oliana, tell me about yourself. Mother and Father didn't seem too keen on revealing much about you. If we are to be married," he stumbled through the words, "I want to know all there is about my wife."
"I was born to become a part of you. To serve you as your own. To become the mother of the newest Malfoy generation."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "To serve me? I don't need servants. I don't need a wife right now either."
"You do not agree with the betrothal?" Her voice became frail, but still had its touch of dignity.
"I don't know what I want." His words were stopped short as she touched his lips with her fingers.
"I may be just a little girl to you now, Draco Malfoy. But rest assured, I have been taught the ways of marriage and you will never want for anything. I will become your world, just as you mine."
She left him at the foot of the steps, feeling the soft tingling sensation her fingertips had left on his skin.
