Author's Note

Cover art by boaillustration, who you can find on tumblr. She's an exceptionally talented artist who previously drew Harry in an Auror dress uniform, which (after squealing in delight) I realized resembled something from the Regency era. I immediately thought of Draco from my fic, and so I sought her out to do this commission.

Nothing from the wizarding world of Harry Potter is mine, and I make no profit off of my writing. The fact that this story is on this site obviously implies that I am a fan writing fanfiction. Because if I did own them, then I would be on my own private yacht in the Mediterranean sipping sangria from a goblet made of diamonds.

~ Refictionista, March 22, 2016

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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a young wizard and scion of a pure bloodline, must be in want of an equally well bred wife.

However little known the proclivity towards marriage for one particular such wizard, this truth was so well fixed in the mind of his mother that the young man found it necessary to move out of his family manor entirely.

"My dear Lucius," said Lady Malfoy to her husband one day in the morning parlor, "have you heard that our son has carried through with his threat to vacate our home at last?"

Lord Malfoy replied that he had not.

"Well, he has," she continued, "for I found the house elves moving the last of his trunks and they told me all about his leaving."

Lord Malfoy made no answer.

"Do you know where our only son has taken lodgings?" cried his wife impatiently.

"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

This was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know that Draco has stated that his focus must be on his work, his work I tell you, and that he has no time to involve himself in my matchmaking schemes. He said that if I persisted in my endeavors that he would take his possessions and get his own flat. Which he has done!"

"Where is this flat?"

"Diagon Alley, or so our house elves have told me."

"The more fashionable side of Diagon Alley, of this we can be certain."

"Of course it is, my dear, to be sure! At least, we can only hope. A single wizard of good breeding shouldn't be seen anywhere else!"

"Yet, you're in such a ruffled state."

"My dear Lucius," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome? You must know that he must marry a witch, one of these days, and his moving out of the manor is clearly in an attempt to remain a bachelor."

"Draco will marry when he feels it is the right time to do so."

"The right time! Nonsense, how can you talk so? I have information that he plans to attend yet another ball without escorting a witch. How is he to marry if he persists in behaving thusly? I fear that it is very likely that he may become too absorbed in his career to carry on his familial duty, and therefore you must visit him as soon as possible."

"I see no occasion for that. I daresay Draco will come home for Sunday dinner to see us; however, I will owl a few lines to remind him not to forsake his mother and her tiresome arbitrations for grandchildren."

"Husband, you take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves."

"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I heard you mention them with consideration during the war."

"Ah, you still do not know how I suffered when the Dark Lord was here in our house." Lady Malfoy began to fan herself with an embroidered handkerchief.

"But I hope you will get over it and remember how Draco suffered the most in our home when that half-blooded pretender was here. Perhaps those memories are the reason he left."

His wife threw down the handkerchief, her vapors forgotten. "I already told you that he wants to focus on his work. He works, Lucius. At a job. The first Malfoy to do so in at least seven generations."

Lord Malfoy blinked at his wife, having just concluded a moment earlier that he should retire to his study to catch up with his work on the estate's accounts.

"My dear," he said, standing as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "I feel I should go visit Draco immediately." Lucius bowed to his wife and took his leave.

Lady Malfoy smiled to herself, happy that her husband saw things her way.