Claimed

Claimed

The figure of man stood proudly where once an unsure, self-conscious boy had once stood. His appearance, although at no time below expectation, had even further progressed him into an amazingly attractive young man. He contentedly admired himself, his muscular, powerful frame, his eyes the color of smoky rock crystal, his hair of spun white gold, characteristically plastered to his head. He could only break a charming grin at himself. He hadn't been the completely conceited type, but he was aware of his appearance more often then most of his acquaintances. His father, now aging, but still holding the erect, debonair Malfoy look, stared at his son.

"Are you quite finished? They will arrive any minute," Lucius asked in his deep, sharp voice. Draco turned swiftly around, surveying himself one last time, then venturing after his father. They entered the sitting room, Narcissa waiting for them.

"Draco dear, you look lovely," she said in her soft voice. She spoke more feminine than one would think. Her outward appearances seemed more firm than they really were. Draco smiled, and nodded at his mother.

"The guests have arrived," one of the oldest house elves, Millie, reported to them. The three in the room stayed silent, their visitors entering the grand, exquisite room. They greeted each other warmly, exchanging friendly words.

"How are you William?" Lucius asked a middle aged man, dressed very fancily for the occasion at hand.

"Fine, and yourself?" William replied. Lucius went on about his work and the problems he was having with muggles. His mother was chatting excitedly with William's wife, Mirabelle. She was a much younger woman, her dark hair and golden skin making her nothing less than stunning. Looking at her, Draco guessed there was about ten, maybe fifteen years between the two of them.

"Draco is doing excellent in school. He's at the top of his class," Lucius boasted importantly. Draco knew he was lying, but he surely wasn't going to say 'well, he's almost the top of his class, but a Mudblood girl is a step ahead of him'. Draco smiled to himself, drawing amusement out of small things. His father's 'meetings' or so they were called, were predictably boring.

"Our Jessica is excelling herself as well. She won an award last week," Mirabelle crowed. Draco smirked to himself at the way the adults showed off so. Jessica was the daughter of William and Mirabelle Thurston. She was the same age as Draco, and he'd only actually met her a few times when he was younger. He hadn't seen her in six years. He wasn't quite sure why the Thurstons always had insisted on not bringing her.

Whenever Jessica's name entered into conversation, the talk of marriage erupted. Draco knew very well that his father wanted to see Draco married to a girl from a prestigious family. Narcissa thought Jessica was that very girl. Jessica's parents wanted nothing more than to see their daughter married off to a Malfoy. Their parents had planned on it for longer than he could have imagined. He wondered if she'd changed since when they were eleven. She was seventeen now, the same as Draco, and she attended a ritzy private school in France. Draco never saw her enough to know what she was really like, but he figured she was a rich, spoiled brat who could bend her parents to her every whim. Much like himself.

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His parents and the Thurstons began to talk of Draco and Jessica's next meeting. They wanted it to be sometime soon, but they weren't sure when. He realized that all socialization towards him had stopped. They were now talking about him, and saying how wonderful it would be for he and Jessica to marry. He listened to his mother, who was already explaining the perfect place for the wedding to be held. Draco was appalled by the thought of his eager parents. Both families were doing this as a lifelong investment. Lucius knew there'd be money, and he was sure William knew that as well. Wealthy families such as theirs don't coerce mating between their younger heirs for the thrill. Although, he was sometimes unsure of their motives.

"Mother, may I be excused?" Draco asked politely. His mother's jaw dropped, and his father glared at him. Narcissa looked to her husband, who gave a disappointed nod, then replied.

"Yes, of course dear," she said, her voice shaking slightly. Draco stood, courteously bade adieu to their company, and went to his room. He knew what he'd just done was a bit rude, but he cared little. It bored him greatly to sit around and listen to the mindless chatter of his delusional parents. Getting to his bedroom, he carelessly pulled off his tie, and dress robes, leaving him in regular clothing. He stared out the window, knowing he would be reprimanded for his lack of respect, but not impacted by it. He sighed, tired of the way he lived. There was little to look forward to knowing that his life had already been intentionally designated for him.

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