All characters and world belong to the lovely J. K. Rowling. Firct fic posted. Thanks!

Narcissa Malfoy sipped her tea from the Black fire crab shell tea cups that had been in her family for the past two centuries, the embedded jewels shining as if just polished. The mistress's of the house forehead was wrinkled in thought as she stared at the two documents laying by her empty breakfast tray, only the tinkling of dishes being put away by the house elves accompanied the hum of her brain.

The first document was the latest edition of Witch Weekly, where a familiar dark haired bespectacled boy was looking up at her from the cover.

THE BOY WHO LIVED: BRITAIN'S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR was the main feature's title.

Narcissa had read it. Twice. Three pages on twenty-year-old Harry Potter: his increased fame as the Appleby Arrows' professional Seeker, having led them to their first victory ever in the European Cup, giving them a shot at the World Cup; the places where he has been spotted hanging out frequently; an interview of him discussing his new charity with Neville Longbottom for patients at St. Mungo's suffering from insanity from the Crucio curse; pictures of his newly renovated estate, Grimmauld Place, and him on the Quidditch pitch, pale blue robes flying behind him; and also rumors about the break up that happened at the beginning of last spring with his then girlfriend Ginny Weasley and the short lived fling speculated upon with muggle-born wizard Terry Boot.

The article contained a quote from Boot, serving as the only acknowledgment of their relationship to date. Upon being questioned about the details of the relationship, Boot had commented, "Harry is a wonderful guy, and I enjoyed his company, but we are better off as friends. That is all I am willing to say about the matter."

The other document was a letter, the parchment lying open with the Gringotts official seal broken. Official and extravagantly curved handwriting stood out in purple ink:

With deepest respect to Mistress Narcissa Black Malfoy,

Gringrotts is writing to remind your family of the matters of settling Master Draco Malfoy's inheritance, as is decreed by the Malfoy Codex, as the mark of his 21st birthday approaches. All Malfoy heirs must enter into marriage with an acceptable partner by their 21st birthday to claim their inheritance. Failure to do so will mean disobedience to the Codex and will be grounds for the heir to be disinherited. To receive his inheritance, Master Malfoy must follow the traditions of the family or his vault shall be frozen until another suitable heir is presented.

Please present the completed marriage contract by midnight of June 5th to the Gringott's council to release the hold on the vault.

Noruk

Head Goldin of Gringott's Council

Draco's birthday was three months away, Narcissa thought grimly, and no negotiations for a marriage had proved fruitful. Most of the pureblooded families that would have been appropriate matches were shamed and shunned after the fall of the Dark Lord, and those who had survived were not willing to ally themselves with the Malfoys who were able to keep their wealth but no longer held the same prestige after their family activities were revealed. And Draco could not marry just anyone. The Codex demanded an acceptable partner, the term acceptable was followed by a list of the must haves and must nots. If Draco married someone whose blood did not pass the Codex, the contract would be considered unsatisfactory and his inheritance would be lost, and Draco would be shamed. They were running out of options, Narcissa admitted to herself as she picked up the Witch Weekly issue.

Those green eyes stared fiercely up at her, the same eyes she had seen in the Forbidden Forest that horrible night... Narcissa snapped out of her reverie.

"Dolly," she called a particularly small house elf. "Go to my personal library and bring all the books on wizard debts and bonds."

"Yes, Mistress Malfoy," the house elf squeaked and gave a curtsy. She lifted her fingers, ready to apparate herself with a snap-

"Wait," Narcissa stopped her. "Please bring me some parchment and a quill. I want to write a tea invitation for tomorrow."

"Right away, Madam," Dolly answered and disappeared with a crack.

There might still be one option they had not tried.