Draco, Louise and Alex arrived at Malfoy Manor at around 11:00am. Bellatrix, Narcissa and Lucius were all waiting for them in the living room.
"Mum? What's going on?" Alex asked, a look of confusion on his face.
Lucius cleared his throat. "Sit down you three" he instructed.
The three teenagers hesitantly sat in a row on the green leather couch opposite their parents, or in Alex and Louise's case, their parent.
"We feel that as three highly intelligent, mature young purebloods, now is the time for you to become engaged; to approved, pureblood young people of course" Lucius spoke carefully.
"Hang on...you're arranging engagements for all three of us?" Alex asked.
"We have got particular, suitable people in mind" Bellatrix nodded.
"But don't worry darlings, we have selected people who you know and like" Narcissa cut in soothingly, seeing the startled expressions on the faces of her son, niece and nephew.
"Who?" Draco asked cautiously.
The three adults exchanged a look.
"Alex, I have chosen Penelope Greengrass for you" Bellatrix told her son.
Draco and Louise looked up at the mention of Daphne's older sister, who, like Alex, was in the year above them.
Alex looked thoughtful.
"What do you think darling?" Bellatrix asked her son.
Alex nodded slowly. "I like Penny, I think I could live with her" he said eventually.
Bellatrix looked relieved. "That's brilliant darling! I'll write to her parents immediately, they thought it was an extremely good idea, they tell me she speaks very highly of you" she beamed at her son who had gone red.
"What about us?" Louise asked.
"Well sweetie, I have chosen Theodore Nott for you, at a request from his parents who say he is extremely taken with you" Bellatrix told her daughter, watching with baited breath for her response.
Louise's eyes widened and she looked at Draco with a shocked expression. He smirked at his cousin, nodding his approval.
"Does he know?" Louise asked hesitantly.
Bellatrix shook her head. "His parents are eagerly awaiting your response before they tell him" she replied.
"Okay..." Louise said slowly.
"Does that mean you'll agree?" Bellatrix looked hopefully at her daughter.
Louise nodded. "I suppose it could be worse, at least Theo and I get on pretty well" she said finally.
Bellatrix looked delighted. "Oh sweetie, I'm so proud!" she exclaimed, smiling at her daughter. "I'll send an owl to his parents right away!"
Finally, it was Draco's turn. He looked nervously at his parents, unsure of what to expect.
"Son, the girl we have chosen for you is Daphne Greengrass" Lucius announced.
The colour drained from Draco's face and he exchanged a horrified look with Louise.
"Darling? What do you think?" Narcissa asked.
"No way" Draco shook his head. "I can't get engaged to Daphne!"
"Why ever not?" Lucius looked shocked by his son's reaction.
"Daphne doesn't see me that way...and I don't see her that way" Draco protested.
Lucius exchanged a look with Narcissa, who began to speak to her husband and her sister in a panicked tone, speaking too quietly for any of the teenagers to hear what she was saying.
Draco slumped back on the sofa, looking miserable.
Louise patted her cousin's shoulder comfortingly. "What if it was Pansy?" she asked him quietly. "Would you get engaged to Pansy?"
Draco met the knowing gaze of his cousin. "If it was Pansy...of course I would!" he replied, looking embarrassed when he realized what he'd just admitted to.
"It's okay Dray, I know how you feel about her" Louise murmured to him. His eyes widened in horror. "I'm your cousin, I can tell" she shrugged. "You act differently with her than with Daphne or me. It's okay, neither of them have noticed"
Draco looked slightly relieved by this, but looked wary as Louise got to her feet.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
"I'll only be a minute" she replied, not answering the question.
Louise walked over to her Aunt, Uncle and Mum.
"What is it sweetie?" Bellatrix asked her daughter.
"I've got a suggestion" Louise told the adults.
"Well let's hear it then" Lucius sighed.
"Why not let Draco get engaged to Pansy Parkinson?" Louise asked. "They like each other and her parents would probably agree"
Narcissa nodded thoughtfully. "I've always liked Pansy" she mused. "She's the pretty one with beautiful manners"
Lucius thought for a moment. "Alright, I'm considering the Parkinson girl, but tell me one thing Louise, why is my son so against becoming engaged to Daphne Greengrass? I thought they got on?"
Louise nodded. "They do get on" she confirmed. "But Daphne and Blaise are really close and we suspect that they'll be dating before long, they both like each other...a lot." she explained.
Narcissa looked sharply at her husband. "Well that settles it. Draco will not be engaged to Daphne, we can't break up the bond she has with Blaise! Draco can become engaged to Pansy" she smiled.
Lucius nodded. "Very well" he sighed. "She was on the list of suitable candidates anyway..."
Louise beamed and went to re-join her cousin and her brother. The three adults followed her.
"Draco, Louise has explained to us the situation between Daphne and Blaise and so we have decided that instead of Daphne Greengrass, you will be engaged to Pansy Parkinson" Lucius told his son. "I shall go and owl her parents now" he left the room, followed by his wife and his sister-in-law, who were both smiling happily.
Draco hugged Louise tightly. "Thank you so much Lou!" he exclaimed.
She smiled at her cousin. "No problem" she replied.
Alex was also smiling. "Well I guess this could have worked out worse than it has" he mused. "At least we all like the people our parents have chosen!"
His sister and his cousin couldn't help but agree.