A/N: The nerves and inexperience of putting up stories on ffnet led me to forget about the author's note.

Sorryyyyy…..

So, a little information. I hope to update this fic at the earliest, mostly every friday. This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction. The story is loosely based on the manga A Royal Fiancé. I will not be completely copying out the manga. Hope you like the changes. Reviews are appreciated…

Disclaimer: The characters belong to the amazing series of Harry Potter….

Chapter 2:

Three years ago

Draco Malfoy had always believed that he would be home-schooled for all the degrees that he wanted. It was after all what his mother had wanted and he had been happy to oblige. He hadn't wanted to leave his country either. But, his mother had died in a tragic illness when he was young, resulting in his cold demeanor and loss of childishness. The company of other kids was brain-numbing for him and he refused to attend classes with them. The fact that he could soak up any knowledge provided to him like a sponge, allowed him leeway from his tutors. But his Grandfather had finally put his foot down; and as a result he had to go to school, the one whose halls had been graced with the presence of a Malfoy since the past three generations.

The first day of school had felt like hell on earth. Everybody was either in awe of him, or jealous of his patrician features and fortune. There were some girls (and guys!) who envisioned themselves as his future bride, while there were others who would scoff at his attempt to behave like a common man by attending a normal school. He had finally had enough and decided to skip the last class of the day. Turning around the corner, he was almost run over by a small canon ball. Steadying both himself and the person who had dashed into him, he looked down only for liquid silver to meet a startled emerald.

Very soon the startled look changed into that of a sheepish grin and the cheeks of the petite, messy haired kid blushed in embarrassment.

"I am so sorry…. I wasn't looking where I was going…. And I shouldn't be running in the hallways….. But the bell had already rung and I was going to be…."

"OH MY GOD! I AM LATE… Professor Moody is going to kill me now..I should better go… Ummm…. Yeah…. I am going now… See you…."

Never before had he come across someone who had treated him normally. Draco was fascinated. Though the meeting could hardly be called normal, here was someone who wasn't bending over backwards to please him. Or was making a stuttering fool of himself in front of him. Or had looked at him in contempt.

He wanted to know more. But to do that he would have to continue in this hellhole. Well, small sacrifices for the bigger objective. Very soon Harry James Potter would become his obsession.

Now

Harry rolled the pen across the desk and let out a sigh. The last and final test was done and he was sure that even if had messed up in a few places, he would pass with acceptable marks. The prior week had been miserable and he was really glad to have it behind him. Not only did he have to prepare for the finals, he had also somehow managed to lose the photo album containing the pictures of his parents. Oh sure there were other pictures, but the album had a sentimental value. It had been a gift from Remus, with little annotations to each picture from many other people who had known his parents, after they had passed away. It contained all the happy memories, memories that somehow made him feel that they would always watch over him.

The other cause of his morose feelings would be his exam partner. The rumors had been true after all. Prince Draco had taken the finals the same weekend as Harry. That was hardly a problem, the Prince always kept to himself and never bothered with common frivolities. It was the way in which he observed him that unnerved Harry; making him feel as though he were an insect under a microscope. It had been stressful as half his brain kept trying to figure out the reason for this while the other half concentrated on his tests.

But after the last exam, Draco had walked out of the room without a single glance in Harry's direction. Anyways….. Harry was just glad that it was over. Tomorrow would be the last time he would have to attend school for his transfer papers. Now the only thing left for him to do was to pack his stuff and move to the house where he had agreed to take up the job of a housekeeper.

"Should meet up with Ron and Mione tomorrow before I leave. Hmmm… Let me have lunch first. The tests have made me hungry!"

Packing up his utilities, Harry walked out of the classroom without a single backward glance.

The meeting with Principal McGonagall had gone as well as could be expected. Draco motioned his guards to wait for him outside while he took some time to contemplate his life.

"But we are supposed to be with you" interjected Crabbe.

Draco scowled, the brainless hulking humans that he had as bodyguards always managed to get on his nerves. "I can't really go anywhere else from here no, can I?" He motioned towards the enclosed terrace. "Just leave me alone for a few moments."

Azkaban, a small country that was just a group of small islands floating on the Mediterranean. All the islands had a rich produce of fruit orchards that supported the industries scattered all over the country.

The royal family was housed in the largest of the islands and oversaw the smooth governance of the nation.

The Royal and Noble House of Malfoy was nothing if not a staunch follower of traditions. Darco had grown up to adore and advocate those traditions. But not everything in life can be flawless. The one rule that set his teeth on edge was the one that was most important for him. His cold, aloof demeanor may have fooled a very many people, but deep within Draco was a romantic.

His thoughts drifted to Harry Potter. After today he would never meet the boy, whose face was a mirror to all his feelings and emotions. Even if Harry shut himself in, one look into his eyes could bare his soul to anyone who bothered to look. Oh how he fascinated Draco! But that was all he was, a fascination; he could never become more because Draco had no power over who he wanted as a partner in life.

A softly exclaimed "Oh! Prince Draco!" drew him away from the turn his thoughts had taken. He turned around to see the very emerald eyes that had been plaguing his thoughts.

"Excuse me, I will just leave…"

"It is fine, my time is over any ways. You are welcome to stay here," Draco was thankful that he could talk to Harry once before he left forever to face the unknown.

Harry had had an eventful morning. He had cleaned out his apartment, gone to school, gotten his transfer papers and then spent the rest of the morning receiving little farewell gifts and well-wishes from all his friends. After being completely overwhelmed by all the fanfare, Harry decided to escape to the terrace for a quiet lunch.

Opening the door he stepped into the windy area, and came across a tall figure already standing in the space he frequented.

The platinum blonde locks were a dead giveaway to the identity of the trespasser.

"Oh…. Prince Draco!"

The beam of sunlight that caught on the gold hoop on his ear, added an ethereal glow to his face as he turned. The very air around the prince seemed to sparkle. Harry felt mortified as he realized that he was staring and a hot blush crept up his neck. In order to avoid further embarrassment he decided to retreat.

Nope, he wasn't running away. It was just a tactical retreat.

"Excuse me, I will just leave…" he muttered.

"It is fine, my time is over any ways. You are welcome to stay here," the prince called out.

Harry cleared his throat "The school is ablaze with the news of your marriage….. Congratulations." And then he wondered why he had said that. Bright red, he mentally kicked himself for opening his mouth before thinking. "I am sorry for saying this so suddenl…."

"It is fine" Draco waved him off, "I haven't met my fiancé yet; it is one of the traditions in Azkaban. The predecessor chooses the partner for the present king. I don't even know if they are male or female."

"Male?"

"Gender doesn't matter in our country. The people believe that beauty and compatibility should not be based on something as trivial as gender. It doesn't have anything to do with me, I am just following orders." Harry saw sadness in those unusual silvery grey eyes. But it was shut off immediately.

Turning to leave, the Prince said "But I will accept your congratulatory words, Thank you."

"Ah….Um…. It will be alright you know. For someone like you they will definitely choose a person who is great," Harry stammered. Those eyes had held such sadness; Harry didn't want the prince to be sad for some reason.

Harry squirmed under those silvery pools as they looked at him in shock. Before he could apologize for being too forward though, those eyes softened with something akin to affection and the prince chuckled.

"You're right."

As the prince left the terrace Harry couldn't help but feel lonely. 'I will certainly never see him again,' he thought as he clenched his hand over his heart that was still remembering the small smile that the prince had given him before he had left.