Life and the Choices we Make

Prolouge:

He walked by the lake, eyes clouded, not knowing where he was headed, not unlike his life. He never knew what exactly was in store for him and at the moment he knew only one thing. Wherever he was headed, it was not good. This, this could only end up badly.

You see this young man had a problem: he was getting married. However, he wanted nothing to do with the woman he was to marry. He was in love with someone else. If anyone ever found out, he would be rather worse for wear, to put it mildly. His father was counting on this marriage to be a success. It was the 'perfect' pureblood union: Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.

Draco stared out across the lake, foreboding rising in him like the rising sun. He was going to be expected at the altar in 5 hours: 12 am exactly.

"Young Master! Young Master!" A squeaky voice called out to him. No sooner had he turned around, a rather energetic house elf, whose name he thought to be Rinky, rammed into him. "Oh sorry master! Binky is bad sir! Binky will burn his hands on the stove sir! But, Master want to see Young Master right away sir! In his office sir!" The house elf then scurried off back to the manor.

Draco remembered the last time his father called him into his office. It hadn't turned out well. It was 6 months ago, Draco's 18th birthday. He was home because You Know Who had finally been defeated by that damnable Potter and school was let out early. His father was released from Azkaban after he claimed to have been under Imperius. All that was on Draco's mind at the time, however, was his secret crush and how his father would react if he ever found out about said person. He was surely to be disowned. He really did not care about what his father was about to tell him.

He walked into his father's office and asked what he wanted. His father started taking immediately in that cold hard voice of his. "As you know Draco, you have finished school and are a licensed wizard and now I see fit that you marry."

"What?"

A loud resounding crack was heard throughout the room as Lucius hit his desk with his cane. "How dare you show such insolence! You will be married in six months time to Miss Pansy Parkinson. I will hear no complaints against this and if you as so much do a single thing that will ruin this union, I will disown you no questions asked! You are dismissed."

Draco was brought back into the present as he knocked on his father's office door.

"Father. You called for me?"

"Yes. I have moved the wedding up from noon to eight. I feel the sooner the better. That is all. You are dismissed."

Draco walked numbly out of his father's office. He was pissed. Why did his father feel that he had absolute control over him? It was his life. He should be able to live it as he felt fit. Draco decided that he mine as well get ready. He only had less than an hour until his life would be ruined forever.

"Draco!"

Draco jolted awake.

"Draco get up! You're supposed to be at the altar. Pansy is going to be walking down the aisle any minute now!"

"I'm coming mother, I'm coming." Narcissa left the room. "Ahhhhh!" Draco let out a frustrated scream as he left the room.

Draco stood fidgeting by the altar as Pansy walked down the aisle. She smiled an awful smile which made Draco visibly grimaced.

Draco didn't hear a word the priest said as he stared at Pansy. He looked at her awful yellow teeth and the way her face looked like that of a pug. He looked at her bleached blonde hair and thought about how much more awful she looked when she smiled. Draco was brought out of his thoughts by the priest's voice.

". . . until death do you part?"

Everyone looked expectantly at Draco.

"No. No! I will not marry this woman for more than one reason," Draco stated calmly. "I never wanted to marry this hideous woman. My father arranged this whole thing. I have always thought that Pansy was a rude, obnoxious, ugly little bitch. She is vindictive and cruel and if I ever see her again it will be too soon. Quite frankly, she repulses me." Pansy looked at Draco with unadulterated hate in her eyes. She slapped Draco as hard as she could muster and stormed out.

"I am in love with someone else." He looked out towards the audience. His mother was crying and his father's face was so red with anger he thought his head was about to explode. Draco thought that he had better finish off his speech and get the hell out of there. "Not to mention, I'm gay!" Draco shouted this last part at the top of his lungs. The whole church was stunned into a shocked silence. Draco left the church and apparated home. He gathered all his belongings and shrunk them to fit in his pocket. He was about to apparate away when his father barged into his bedroom.

"How dare you? How dare you make such a spectacle of your mother and me! From this moment on, you are no longer a son of mine!"

Draco just looked at his father with indifference in his eyes. He then apparated out of the manor for the very last time, dimly aware of his father's shouts.

"I never want to see your face again!"