Marrying Lucius Malfoy

Selina had hated sleeping in the hospital. It was an expensive, private facility, with only the best of the service and staff, but Lucius had rarely ever come around after the day she was admitted. Ms. Laverne wouldn't allow Riley in to visit at all, and Pamela was banned from Selina's room because she was "an irresponsible little nitwit," so the only company she ever had was a tall, pale, fidgety nurse to serve her meals and Ms. Laverne herself. Though she wasn't happy to return to Malfoy Manor, with all its dank and shadowy rooms, it was a definite improvement from her bright, sterile room.

Ms. Laverne escorted her home from Greenwich Private Hospital for Witches and Wizards, and the manor seemed strangely empty of life when Selina entered it. Ms. Laverne also insisted on walking with Selina to her private rooms-she was probably on some sort of watch-but, thankfully, Pamela was waiting in Selina's small parlor when the door opened. She looked oddly pale, and Selina could have sworn that she saw a faint bruise, but she leapt up upon seeing her mistress and gave a little bow.

"Miss Selina," she said faintly, "I'm so glad you're home! Here, let me help you into your nightdress, and then I'll just slip off to my room." Pamela looked at Ms. Laverne expectantly, and when the elderly woman nodded in approval she broke into a relieved smile. "Good evening, Ms. Laverne," she said in a hoarse whisper.

"Just do your job correctly," Ms. Laverne snapped, and then, without even saying goodbye to Selina, she left the room.

As soon as the door to Selina's suites slammed Pamela loosened up a bit more. "Thank Merlin that woman's gone," she muttered more to herself than anyone else. Then, turning to Selina, she said, "Good to have you back. The manor was a bit...lonely while you were gone. Your friend, Riley Bryce, stopped by a few times, and we talked a bit, but other than that I was on my own." Pamela dipped her right hand in her pocket and added, "And some owls came for you. One had a package attached to it, and the other was an invitation to something at your stepson's school. I kept them a secret from Ms. Laverne, because she tears open anything the least bit private."

Setting both envelopes and the package on Selina's glass coffee table Pamela began walking towards the door. "I'll be back in a moment with your nightgown," she said, and, indeed, she returned in a few minutes with a deep, emerald green negligee that was a bit skimpier than Selina would have liked. Upon seeing her mistress's questioning gaze Pamela shrugged and said, "It was the most decent thing I could find. Ms. Laverne said that the house-elves were washing all your other nightgowns, and so she gave you a few replacements."

Satisfied with Pamela's answer Selina took the gauzy negligee and slipped into it behind a large screen. After stepping out and reassuring Pamela that she was all right Selina was left alone for the evening. She decided to leave the letters and package for the morning, and so she grabbed a romance novel off her bookshelf-'Flames of Seduction'-and slipped under the covers of her bed. She had only just gotten settled when the front door to her suite open and clicked shut.

"Pamela?" Selina asked, frowning at the interruption.

"Hardly," someone replied, and Selina's stomach dropped as her bedroom door opened and none other than Lucius Malfoy stood there. Suddenly the skimpy negligee made sense to her; Lucius had probably picked it out himself, as an arousing little number that he could rip from her body! The thought of fornicating with the man in front of her, her 'husband,' made Selina feel both disgust and fear. She well remembered the last time they had shared a bed-Lucius was rough and demanding, and he was a far cry from gentle.

"I'm tired," Selina muttered in hopes of escaping the evening her 'husband' had planned.

"Well, I'm not," Lucius contradicted. As he began to unbutton his crisp, designer black robe he added, "Don't make me bind you like last time. Sex can be enjoyable, you know." He chuckled softly, as if he had just said a witty joke. When Selina still didn't smile a sneer replaced his amused smirk. "For heaven's sake, Selina," he hissed. "I can't be that awful, can I?" Selina's silence seemed to infuriate him even more. "Bloody hell," he spat spitefully. "You are my wife, and I will not be reduced to raping you! Just spread your legs and think of something pleasant!"

Selina blushed bright red at his comment, but, sensing the trouble disobeying might cause, she did as he asked. Lucius was a tad less rough and needy the second time around, but the experience was far from pleasant. Lucius had forgotten the seventy-five pound difference between the two of them, and, as he sprawled his full weight over her much smaller form, Selina felt crushed by his body. He also, in the heat of his "passions," gripped Selina's left arm so tightly that it left a large, painful bruise.

After what seemed like forever Lucius gave a long, sated moan and rolled off of her. He lay on his back on their bed, breathing softly, and it took Selina a few moments to realize that he had fallen asleep. She thought, for a fleeting moment, of leaving him uncovered to freeze in the manor's nightly drafts, but, after sighing deeply and straightening her negligee, Selina pulled the covers over him and scooted as far across the bed as she could. She lay awake for a few minutes, thinking about nothing but her miserable marriage, but finally sleep overcame her woes, and she joined Lucius in a deep slumber.

***

Dear me, Selina, you're easy to frighten.

But you're not so easy to control.

Do you really think that you raced out of your room of your own free will? Do you really think that your plunge down the stairs was merely a consequence of your panic attack? Oh, no-you have much more resistance than I would have expected you to. I needed to use a little...force to get you to take that tumble.

And thanks to your little episode you had, your husband thinks you're madder than a loon!

By the time I'm through with you, you really will be.

***

The next morning, when Selina awoke, she found that Lucius was still sleeping. He looked strangely angelic when he slept, as if slumber removed all his years of corruption. He almost looked kind, like the kind of man you would want to marry. In one moment of irrational feelings Selina almost bent down and kissed Lucius on his delicate nose.

The moment, of course, was nothing more than a moment, and she finally roused herself enough to roll out of bed and troop towards her bathroom. She shed her negligee distastefully and left it for someone else to throw away. Selina conjured up a pleasantly warm bath, with sweet-smelling blue bubbles, and had only just sunk in it when the door creaked open and Lucius strode in, a fluffy green towel wrapped around his lean waist. When he saw Selina he looked somewhat surprised.

"Did you only just get up as well?" he asked, continuing towards her bath.

Selina clenched her fists under water and gave a curt, "Yes." In case he didn't get the basic picture she added, "And I was just going to take my morning bath, alone."

Lucius got the picture well enough-his brow creased scornfully-but he didn't stop coming towards the bath. "Nonsense," he said in a way that was none too friendly. "I insist on keeping you company."

Selina gave up protest and folded her arms in an unwelcome defeat. Scooting to the farthest corner of the bathtub she gasped in surprise and covered her eyes when her 'husband' dropped his towel and stepped into the warm water.

Lucius just laughed quietly. "If you haven't gotten used to it by now," he drawled, motioning to his naked body, "then you never will. It's not as if you haven't seen me like this before." Having said that he slid gracefully into the gigantic bathtub and leaned back in the corner diagonal to Selina's. "This has always been the nicest bathroom in the manor," he said, closing his eyes and leaning his head back so that the tips of his silvery hair dipped into the water. "I used to come in here when I wanted some peace of mind."

Selina could have cared less. She might as well try and start a real conversation. "Are you doing anything on the thirty-first?" she asked. "Are you doing anything this Halloween?"

Lucius squinted his eyes as he thought. "I think that I'm going to be on business over in Germany that whole week," he said. "Did you have something planned out?"

Selina thought a moment before answering. "Draco's school is putting on a sort of open house," she explained, filling Lucius in on the events that would be taking place at Hogwarts. When she was done she looked at him hopefully. "Would you be able to clear some time for your son?" she asked.

Lucius snorted rudely. "Why should you care if anyone shows up at Hogwarts? Draco isn't your son, and you'd do well to remember that." Selina shrunk into the water and staid silent for a long time. After a while Lucius broke the silence. "Do you need your hair washed?" he asked.

Selina nodded. "Could you get me some shampoo?" she asked.

Lucius smiled, snapped, and just like that he was holding a clear blue bottle. Uncorking the top he replied, "I can do better than that." With a wicked smirk he swam across the bathtub in one, poised movement. He poured a dollop of the creamy liquid into his right hand and gripped her shoulder to stop her from moving with his right hand. "I won't bite, Selina," Lucius assured her as he began to rub the shampoo into her red curls.

He was unexpectedly gentle, and Selina found herself relaxing involuntarily. She leaned back to let him massage the shampoo into her scalp, and she almost sighed contentedly when Lucius began to pour warm water onto her head.

It had never struck Selina how the simplest of tasks could be the most intimate. She chided herself for thinking of anything with Lucius as 'intimate,' but it was true. Those precious few moments when Lucius had washed her hair had been very private in a strange, secretive sort of way. Perhaps it was because Lucius had let some sort of guard down. He had become uncharacteristically tender with her, tender in a way that she never would have associated with him. Of course, as things would have it, Ms. Laverne came bustling in just as Lucius was beginning to wash out the conditioner.

"Miss Selina, what in the world is taking-Oh! Mr. Malfoy! I didn't see you there. I expect that you two will see yourselves down to breakfast. Pamela will lay out an outfit for today." Ms. Laverne left as soon as possible, but the spell had been broken. Lucius shoved away from Selina unceremoniously.

"I'm done here," he said in a hurried voice. "I have to attend a business meeting in Bridgington, but I ask that you meet me for a late lunch there. We'll spend the evening there as well. I've invited a few of my colleagues in the Ministry of Magic for dinner this evening, and you can meet their wives."

"What if I don't wish to attend?" Selina asked. If Lucius was going to change moods so quickly, than so was she.

"Bring Ms. Bryce if you wish," Lucius said, getting out of the bath and snapping his fingers for a bathrobe to appear. "I won't force you to come, but your company would be nice. Ministry officials can get extremely boring when they start to talk."

Selina stopped sulking in the bath and began to consider Lucius's request. He had, after all, said that her company "would be nice." That wasn't much, but it was a small compliment. "I'll come if we don't have to share a bed for at least a week," Selina said after a long period of silence.

Lucius had dried his silvery hair by now, and he was beginning to dress, but he froze halfway through the process. He fixed Selina with a long, hard stare before asking, "You really hate it here, don't you?" It was more of a statement than a question, and Selina didn't answer. "I knew that you disliked leaving your home country to come and marry me, but I believed it was because you were just upset that you wouldn't be able to attend fast, raving parties anymore."

Lucius leaned up against the counter as if in a different world. "And I knew you didn't like me, either. I knew that you were having trouble adjusting, and I knew that you didn't like the rules that I imposed, but Merlin, I didn't know it was that hard for you." He looked as though someone had clubbed him over the head. "But you hate it here. I can't fully understand why-I buy you pretty clothes, I bought a house for your best friend, you have a wonderful home-but I can understand that you hate it now. And I can understand that your reasons aren't girlishly petty or grudgingly idle.

Lucius came to sit on the rim of the tub. He looked different, but not changed. "Selina, it'll take me a while to figure out why you hate things around here so much, and even then it'll take me a while to change who I am to make things better. I can't truly promise to change my whole personality though." Lucius paused again. "In the future, when we share a bed, I'll try to be more...understanding of your feelings." He sighed deeply and looked into the bubbly water. "Do you think you could ever love me as a wife loves her husband?" he asked.

Selina couldn't lie. "If things had been different," she began, but Lucius held up a hand.

"I cannot change the past. Things are the way they are. Don't say things like that, things that remind of all the mistakes I made," he snapped, and Selina nodded.

"No. How could I? Everything about this place was forced upon." She glared at her 'husband' for a moment. "You forced yourself upon me. I can't ever forget or forgive something as demeaning as that."

Lucius nodded slowly. "You don't need to come to the dinner, or lunch," he said. "Have Ms. Bryce over for dinner tonight, or go have a girl's night on the town. I'll be home late tomorrow, but I won't bother you for anything." He gave Selina a rueful smile. "Good day, Selina."

Selina watched as Lucius made his way out of his bathroom. She wondered if they could not be lovers, then maybe they could be friends. Lucius might make a nice companion some day.

But only some day...

~*~

It wasn't until mid-morning that same day that Selina remembered the packages that Pamela had presented her with. She returned to her parlor and read the letter from Hogwarts-it was simply an invitation to the Halloween festival-but when she opened the second letter the breath was stolen from her chest. There, at the top of the light parchment, printed in neat, girlish letters, was 'To Miss Selina Malfoy from Ms. Sydney Julliard.'

It was a letter from the grave! Selina took a deep breath a read on.

Dear Selina,

If you've received this letter, then I am dead, and you are married. It saddens me to think that I will never get to see you walk down the aisle, but I had this stored with a friend of mine just in case.

I bought this present in Germany, and it struck me as something pretty that you could pass on to your daughters. Be careful, though. What's enclosed in this box is not something to be trifled with. Do not ever give it away to a friend, or most grave consequences will follow.

With that set aside, forever may you be happy with your new husband. I hope you two have all that you need, and remember-though we were not close, we were sisters. Love eternal, sister.

Forever,

Sydney

Sydney's letter was strange, enigmatic, and intriguing, but then again, Sydney had been all of those things rolled into one. Selina set aside the letter and opened the box carefully. Inside was a beautiful purse, made of multi-shaded blue dragon scales meshed together. A silver clasp held the purse shut, and a delicately thin chain was looped through a small hole attached to the clasp.

Selina held the purse up into a shaft of light to inspect it better. She gasped softly when the purse changed from a dazzling array of blues to a fiery combination of red and orange. Of all the wedding gifts she had received, this was the best. Selina set the purse down carefully with the letter on the stand beside her loveseat. She would store the purse later, and save it until a truly special occasion.

Selina left the room then, humming softly to herself. The letter from Sydney had put her in a strangely good mood, but it was only the beginning...

~*~

The next two weeks leading up to Halloween passed uneventfully. Selina planned the ball, with help from Riley and Pamela, and she had a few civil conversations with Ms. Laverne. Her encounters with Lucius were always awkward, but he never bothered her for sex, and that was well enough.

Selina had not been planning to attend the Halloween festival-after all, she was only Draco's stepmother, and Lucius certainly wasn't going-but, the day before Halloween, she received a frantic letter written by her stepson. It was addressed to Lucius, but, seeing as he wouldn't be home until late, Selina opened it anyway.

Dear Father,

I know that we Malfoy men are to be noble and without weakness. You have taught me this many different ways, and I value your lessons. But would it be so hard to attend the Halloween festival?

Everyone-even Millicent Bulstrode-has someone to attend. I'd look foolish and uncared for if no one appeared representing the Malfoy name. No doubt Weasley would get a kick out of that. He's be an insufferable git since Potter let him have the position of captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, and it would be entertaining for 'us' to beat his whole family.

Your Son,

Draco Lucius Malfoy

Selina set the letter down. Her decision was made. She had to find a way to get Lucius to the festival, by any means possible.

~*~

Lucius yawned and stretched. His eyes were still closed, and he spent the first few moments of the new mornings laying in silence. Lately he had not had time to take in the glories of the morning, so he had long forgotten what a nice pastime it was. The warmth of the sun streaming through the window, the soft fabric of his bed...

The whistle of a train...

Lucius sat strait up, looking around wildly. To his utter bewilderment, he found that he was not in his bedroom but in a train compartment. The seat the he had been sleeping on had been enlarged to fit his tall frame, and a heavy blanket had been draped over him. Large, open fields whizzed by and, outside the compartment and in the corridor of the train, Lucius could hear voices conversing softly with one another.

Where in all that was magic was he?

Some things about the compartment seemed familiar to him-the smell of Pumpkin Juice, a soft red fabric of the seats-and the scenery looked oddly memorable, but it wasn't until he was fully awake that he realized where he was.

The Hogwarts Express!

After that, the pieces of the puzzle began to fly together. Today was Halloween, the day of Draco's festival at Hogwarts. Selina had been badgering to go since she had found out about it, too...And so she had kidnapped him!

'Well,' Lucius thought irritably to himself, 'at least things couldn't get much worse...'

The compartment door slipped open and Riley Bryce stepped in, a cup of some steaming brew in her hand.

She looked as though she had been laughing, but her face turned ugly when she saw that he was awake. Her brow knitted together in annoyance as she sat down across from him, and she tapped her right foot impatiently, as if she were waiting for someone.

After a few minutes of silence Lucius worked up the nerve to ask, "I assume this was Selina's idea?"

Riley grinned for a second and nodded. "She thinks that you and your son should spend some quality time together. She knew you wouldn't come on your own, so she drugged the warm milk you drink right before going to bed and levitated you into the carriage. I came along to help subdue you if the potion wore off too quickly."

Lucius rubbed his head and stretched again. "And where is little Miss Alabama?" he asked.

"Last I saw her, this tall, freckly, red head of a man was chatting her up..."

Lucius stood up very quickly. "Red hair? Freckles? Where?"

"Down the train a bit. Said his name was Fred, sounded real roguish..."

Lucius gave a small gasp of horror and bolted out of the compartment faster than humanly possible. If anyone saw Selina 'flirting' with a Weasley...Oh, Merlin, he'd be over!

~*~

"I told you, Fred, I'm married!" Selina giggled in a girlish voice.

"That's fine by me, love," Fred whispered huskily. "I have a thing for red heads. Remind me of me, really, and I've never seen a woman with hair as red as yours..."

Selina primped her hair and smiled flirtatiously-she hadn't had this much fun in a long time! "Well, if we make it quick, I suppose...My husband's the jealous time, don't you know!"

Fred winked. "A real blowhard, eh?"

Selina nodded. "Very much so," she purred.

"Thank you so much," a cold voice cut in, "for the resounding endorsement."

Selina's skin went an unhealthy shade of white, and Fred's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. "L-L-Lucius Malfoy?" he stuttered, staring at the regal figure who was sliding his arm around Selina's waist.

"Well, I told you I was married," Selina muttered. Her eyes were wide with fear.

"Yeah, but we were just joking, right?" Fred asked. To Lucius he said, "Nice woman you've got there." And then he was gone, not running but walking very quickly down the hallway.

"Having fun?" Lucius asked in an acidic tone.

"Until you came along," Selina snapped.

"You do know that he was a Weasley, don't you?"

Selina shrugged. "We were just having fun, Lucius," she explained, starting down the corridor and towards their compartment.

"I should lock you up for all you've put me through this morning..." Lucius started, but he trailed off when the train began to slow down. "We'll discuss this later," he snapped, grabbing Selina's arm roughly and dragging her to the nearest exit.

"What about Riley!" Selina protested.

"She'll find her own way," Lucius retorted.

They were some of the first off the train, and they were able to grab the best carriage available. As much as Selina insisted that they had to wait for Riley, Lucius ignored her. He was in no mood for games, so Selina held her tongue most of the way up to the castle.

When the majestic towers came in to view, however, she risked her 'husband's' wrath by saying, "Draco will be happy that you're here."

Lucius grunted.

"And I'm glad you didn't go back to the manor. You need a rest."

Another grunt, this one a little more agitated.

Selina was very quiet after that. She looked out the window, her green eyes misted as she sank into a deep thought. As Lucius watched her his anger faded, and, despite his instincts, he began to anticipate the day. Perhaps coming to Draco's school was for the best.

After all, wasn't this a prime chance to show the whole wizarding world that Malfoys equaled winners? Maybe there would be a big, golden trophy...Had Selina mentioned a prize? By the time they arrived at Hogwarts Lucius was imagining beating that Weasley brat and winning a large, fancy medal. Everyone was clapping for him and...

"Lucius, we're here!" Selina cut through his fantasy of victory with a curt, hasty announcement.

"I can see that," Lucius hissed in reply. He threw the carriage door open and stormed out, catching the attention of all the families standing nearby. Selina stepped out after her husband, frowning deeply and muttering unladylike curses towards her 'husband.' As they made their way up the lawn and towards a large stage where everyone else was gathering Selina heard someone call her name.

"Selina Amberly Julliard! You stop walking right this instant!"

With a sinking feeling Selina realized that Riley had caught up to her. Turning around she came face to face with her seething best friend. "Riley, darling, Lucius said-"

"I don't care what you're stupid husband said! You dragged me along here because you want company, and then you turn around and leave me! Thank god Fred here came along and let me ride with his family up to school!"

"Fred?" Selina asked, staring at the red head man behind Riley. "Well, isn't this a small world!"

Fred looked more than a little frightened now. "You two know each other?" he asked. Turning to Riley he queried, "These are the people you came with?"

Riley nodded. "And I know that you'll hold true to your word and stay on our team because every team needs a lot of people, and we only have four."

Fred looked back at a group that must have been his family-they all had hair as red as his, and they all looked the tiniest bit shabby-and Selina would have bet her wand that, at that moment, he was regretting even attending the festival. "I-I-I suppose I could," he stammered.

"Now wait just one moment," Lucius snapped, adding his voice to the conversation. "Weasley here is going to be our fifth team member? That's absurd! If anything we should be competing against those sorry excuses for wizards."

"Say what?" Fred was losing his beaten look of defeat and starting to look quite angry. "Say what about my family?"

No one but Selina seemed to notice the eerie silence that had befallen the crowd. Everyone was staring at the group now, and those who knew the rivalry between the Malfoys and the Weasleys began to nudge each other expectantly, as if they could smell the fight that was sure to ensue.

"I said that your family was a disgrace and I'll not have a fool like you anywhere near my wife," Lucius hissed, and suddenly everyone's attention was turned to the pretty woman with curly red hair standing in between the two men.

"Don't you mean your daughter?" Fred asked coldly. "That girl's my age! You're a pedophile pervert! You're just jealous that she flirted with me on the train instead of listening to you blather on!"

"How dare you even speak of her like that!" Lucius growled.

By now Fred's family had gathered behind him, as had several people who were probably close friends. With a surprised gasp Selina realized that just as many people-including Draco, no less-had gathered behind Lucius and she. Everyone who wasn't involved with the argument had created a large circle around the two men and their families. Some spectators even egged the spat on.

"Tell him who's the boss, Freddie!"

"Show him what pureblood really means, Lucius!"

"Duke it out!"

"Come on, fight it out like men!"

Finally, however, the professors of Hogwarts noticed the developing scene and the crowd parted like waves to allow Dumbledore and Snape to reach Lucius and Fred. Snape glared at Fred disdainfully, but when Lucius caught his eye he looked strangely downcast. Dumbledore noticed that too, and maybe that was why he turned on Lucius angrily.

"Mr. Malfoy?" he asked. "Would you care to explain your actions to me? I must admit, you're setting a bad example for your son, and I do believe that your wife is quite embarrassed with you." When Fred snorted rudely Dumbledore added, "And the same goes for you, Mr. Weasley. I do believe the young woman glaring at you from over there is your girlfriend?" Fred looked bashfully at a pretty, tall, thin black woman shooting him venomous looks. Lucius too was regarding his better half with a careful manner.

"Now, if you two gentlemen will be content with merely standing here and listening, Severus will explain the rules to everyone." Dumbledore waited for a moment before he turned to Snape. "If you'll be so kind..."

Snape nodded. "Yes, Albus," he muttered before bringing out a piece of crisp parchment. "There must be twelve players on each team," Snape began, "and everyone has already been assigned to teams by the Sorting Hat. To ensure that there is no cheating," and Selina could have sworn that Snape looked right at Lucius, "we will have a professor fill the twelfth spot on each team. Now, we've realized that, should every team here compete, it would take days to finish. Therefore everyone will vote for the ten teams they think should compete the most. You will all receive ballots within a few moments so that you might do that.

"Once the ten teams are selected they will compete against each other in five different challenges of both the magical and non-magical sort. At the end of each of these challenges a panel of judges will award points, and the two teams with the least points will be disqualified. I might add that the judges will be names randomly selected from the Sorting Hat as well, and that there will be new judges for each competition.

"As you might have guessed, at the end of the day the two teams with the most points go head to head in one final contest. The winners of that challenge will receive a prize, and the masquerade being held tonight will be in their honor." Snape finished reading the parchment and rolled it up. "Before each competition we will announce if wands can be used or not. We will also give more detailed rules for each competition before it begins. To break one of the rules during the course of the game equals instant disqualification. Does everyone understand?"

There were scattered murmurs of "yes" and "get on with it!"

Dumbledore stepped forward, his face beaming excitedly. "In that case, let's get voting!"

Suddenly a thin stack of parchment appeared in the hands of each of the attendees. A hush fell over the grounds of Hogwarts, broken only by the sounded of quiet, consulting whispers. Selina ignored Lucius's advice of, "Vote only for Slytherins!" and began to read through the packet.

She barely knew any of the people at Hogwarts, so she voted almost always at random. When she came across her team-(Lucius Malfoy, Selina Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Riley Bryce, Pamela Duraford, Lindsey Duraford, Robbie Duradord, Karo Chang, Nami Chang, Cho Chang, Taro Chang, Severus Snape)-she, of course, checked them off. Her eyebrows had perked at the name 'Pamela Duraford', and she wondered what her maid was doing there. She had, after all, given Pamela the day off.

Right after her team came the Weasley team-(Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Percy Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall)-and it suddenly struck her that the only reason she was even attending was because a Weasley had made fun of Draco. And after all that that Fred character had said...

Selina shrugged and checked off their name as well. It might do the Weasleys well to learn a small lesson...As soon as she checked off their name, her ballot disappeared with a small 'poof'. She once again ignored Lucius-he wanted to know who she had selected-and turned her eyes to the stage. It had only been a few moments when...

"Miss Selina! Miss Selina! There you are!"

Selina turned around to see Pamela charging towards her, dragging a young man and a young girl along behind her. Lucius snorted rudely and muttered something about their team "going to the dogs" and Riley sent a kick his way. Draco broke up the argument and distilled the fight soon after it had started, and he blushed readily when Riley hissed that Draco was twice the man his father would ever be. Selina smiled when she saw that.

'Interesting,' she thought to herself. 'It would almost seem as though Draco has a small crush on dear Riley...'

But she almost immediately forgot about Draco's blushing when she turned to speak with Pamela. "What are you doing here?" Selina asked. "I thought I gave you the day off. You said you were going to spend it with your family."

"And I am, Miss Selina," Pamela replied brightly. Pointing to the girl-she looked to be about fourteen-she said, "This here is my little sister Lindsey. The handsome fellow trying to hide behind her is my little brother Robbie. Lindsey's a fourth year Hufflepuff, and Robbie's a seventh year Slytherin."

Draco broke his silence and said, "I've seen you around the common room. You're friends with Taylor Parkinson, right?"

Robbie nodded, but he didn't say anything. He seemed strangely shy to Selina for a Slytherin, but she took her focus off him and began speaking with Pamela and Riley. "Do you think we stand a chance?" Riley was asking over and over.

"Don't know," Pamela answered. "I was pretty popular when I came here. What about your stepson?"

Selina shrugged. "I don't have a clue as to how many friends he has. He looks like his dad, though, so that might get us a few votes."

Her comments brought a surprised silence from everyone. "Are you saying you find me handsome?" Lucius asked, and he sounded quite pleased.

Selina blushed but shook her head. "I'm just saying-"

But luckily for her, Dumbledore stepped on the stage at that moment and shot green sparks into the air to silence everybody. "Our teams have been selected!" Dumbledore cried, and there were loud cheers from several large groups of people. "The first team consists of..."

Selina barely paid attention to the names he said. Instead she avoided Lucius's silvery gaze and fiddled with the lace on her sleeves. She was brought back to the real world when Riley muttered angrily, "Oh, the Weasley team? How enjoyable!"

Selina looked up and saw the nine red heads and two friends march proudly up onto the stage. "How many teams left?" she asked.

"One," Pamela told her.

By now the crowd was completely silent. Dumbledore was holding a piece of parchment, and he was smiling softly. "And now I'll announce the last team," he said in a magically amplified voice, "though I might add that they got the most votes of all, besides the Weasleys."

"I bet it's another Gryffindor team," Selina heard Draco mutter.

"Patience, Draco," Lucius reprimanded, tapping his son lightly on the head. "We might still make it."

He was right.

"And the last team consists of: Lucius Malfoy, Selina Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Riley Bryce, Pamela Duraford, Lindsey Duraford, Robbie Duradord, Karo Chang, Nami Chang, Cho Chang, Taro Chang, and Severus Snape."

As she and her teammates made their way up to the stage, Selina was surprised by the cheers they got-mostly from young girls who winked at Draco. He smirked devilishly back at them, confirming Selina's suspicions that her stepson was some sort of womanizer.

When they finally reached the stage, Dumbledore smiled at Selina and said, "I'm glad you came," in a quiet voice. Lucius raised a fair eyebrow, but he was distracted when Dumbledore began speaking again. "The first competition will be a Scavenger Hunt!" he said jovially, missing the derisive snorts that came from Draco's way. "The rules will be explained when you arrive at the quidditch pitch an hour from now. In that time the teams will find headquarters, choose a team name, and elect a team captain." Having said that he raised his wand and shot several star formations into the sky. "So, without further ado, let the games begin!"