Claimed

Dinner, after their guests had left, was an icy event. Lucius was explaining the importance of his attendance to the 'meetings'. Draco listened half irritated, and half uncaring. He was sure the Thurstons didn't mind his rapid exit.

"So Draco, are you looking forward to meeting Jessica again?" Narcissa asked her son, opting for a change of subject.

"Well, sure, I guess," Draco said, staring uninterestedly into his plate.

"She'll make the perfect wife," Narcissa said beaming.

"Well, don't I get a say in any of it?" Draco asked.

"Sadly, no. This is our decision," Lucius said strictly.

"But that's pointless. How do you know we won't hate each other?" Draco asked, irritated.

"Well, you can get to know each other," Narcissa said softly.

"It takes years for someone to decide on marriage," Draco said loudly.

"It will be a matter of months, if that," Lucius said before sipping his wine.

"This is ridiculous!" Draco shouted angrily, shoving back from the table, and storming away.

"I'll go talk to him," Narcissa offered.

"No, let him think about it for awhile," Lucius said, stopping her. She bit her lip as if restraining her thought, and resumed her dinner.

@----}--- ---{----{@

"Jessica darling? Are you home?" Mirabelle called up the grand staircase in their manor. Jessica decided on not answering. She was livid enough as it was.

"Dear?" her mother said upon entering the boudoir. Jessica turned toward her mother, her anger apparent on her face.

"I can't believe the two of you," Jessica said hushed with rage.

"What's troubling you, love?" her mother asked sweetly. She turned to face her mother, her arms crossed across her chest.

"You did it again. Why must you always do this?" Jessica demanded.

"I don't know what you mean," her mother said, sitting on a stuffed chair across the room.

"You left me to go visit that damned family of prats to discuss my future. Why do you always insist on leaving me here alone? Are you ashamed of me?" Jessica's voice jumping to a higher volume in seconds.

"No precious, we just didn't think you wanted to go," Mirabelle lied, trying to seem convincing.

"You always say that. I think you're ashamed of me. I'm not marrying into that family! I refuse! I could never love anyone like him! You've never even given me a chance to meet him yet! I haven't seen him in six years!" her tone startling her mother. Her father entered her room looking cross.

"Now Jessica, this is all for the best," her mother reasoned, but her father interrupted.

"You will not take that tone with your mother. We want what's best for you. We're very proud of you, and you know that! We had no need of your presence today, and you wouldn't have desired to go nonetheless," her father said, his voice softening. Jessica didn't respond, she merely turned and looked to the floor. Her parents didn't understand her. They were embarrassed of her for some reason , they had to be or they wouldn't just leave to visit her likely future husband's parents without her. It just didn't make sense. Her parents left, speaking in low voices, as she sat, alone and feeling undeserving of the very life she lived.

@}---}---- ----{---{@

-ten months later-

Draco entered the manor, taking in the surroundings he hadn't been familiar with for some time. Fresh out of Hogwarts, a newly acclaimed graduate of the highly regarded wizarding school. He'd been second out of his class, and Head Boy. His mood had been particularly sour noting that for the seventh year in a row, Gryffindor had won the house cup, as well as quidditch. His father had been mortified to discover this, and Draco drew pleasure from this, but didn't show it. He celebrated with house members, even though they hadn't triumphed that year. He wasn't going disclose the fact that he'd had thirteen girlfriends that year. He saw it as his own little bachelor party. After all, he was going to be married against his will.

Snape had done everything in his power to award the Slytherin house points, but in the end, it made no difference. They had lost by five points. Draco guessed it was because of Potter ridding them of Voldemort for the seventh consecutive year. He shrugged, unaffected. He knew somewhere along the lines, Potter's luck would run out. His mother ran to him, embracing him warmly.

"It hasn't been that long mother," he said modestly. He in fact enjoyed her attention and constant flattery. He never got it from his father, and his mother more than made up for it.

"I've missed you so," she said, wiping away tears.

"Narcissa, let the boy breathe. He's had a long trip," Lucius said smoothly. His mother released him, and Draco stared into the eyes of his father, the same cloudy crystalline as his own. He thought he saw a twitch, a spark of gratitude for his arrival back home. Maybe he had missed him, at least a little bit.

"Draco dear, we have wonderful news," his mother said, her excitement taking over her joy. Draco nodded, waiting for her response. "We are going to Blackrose Manor to visit the Thurstons," his mother said excitedly. Blackrose Manor was William and Mirabelle's most expensive estate. Draco had only been there once before, but he remembered how he'd stared at it's beauty and elegance.

"I expect you to be on your best behavior," his father said sternly. Draco nodded in apprehension. He knew why they were going there instead of them coming to Malfoy Manor. Draco wouldn't be able to just walk away from them in their own home. His mother began talking excitedly about their visit, but Draco's mind wandered. The time had come to grasp reality and understand. His future was the present, and his past a distant memory. He was going to meet his future wife. He shuddered at the thought, and retreated to his room.

@}---}---- ----{---{@

"Put the statues over there," Jessica's mother ordered. The sitting room was filled with people, polishing floors, arranging flowers, moving furniture and hanging tapestries. She entered the room, looking questioningly at the massive preparation for a simple dinner meeting.

"Mother? What's going on?" she asked, several of the workers stopping to look at her.

"We're getting ready for the Malfoy's," she stopped, seeing her daughter, then asked in a hushed voice, "what are you wearing?" Jessica looked down at her muggle clothing and stared at her mother perplexed.

"What do you mean?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Why are you dressed like that? Why aren't you in the clothes I laid out for you?" her mother asked, pulling her aside.

"I liked these better," Jessica said, looking down again at her red hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.

"This is unacceptable. The Malfoy's are arriving tomorrow and if you think you'll be dressed like that..." her mother stopped, laying her hand on her chest. Jessica rolled her eyes at her mother's dramatic action. Her mother always faked chest pains when her daughter grew unruly. Jessica spun around, and ran up the stairs. She felt caged in her own home. Her clothing was unacceptable, her speech was unacceptable, and her attitude was unacceptable. All she ever heard was that she wasn't suitable enough. She slammed her door hard. She was starting to believe it herself.

@}----}--- ---{----{@