In a Land called Diagon.

Chapter 5: No.

Hermione awoke late that next morning, having had only two to three hours of sleep and the fact she then had to work a six hour shift ahead of her, only dulled the usual brightness of the morning.

Draco awoke at around twelve the next morning, afternoon. This surprised him as a maid was usually sent to wake him at around mid morning, nevertheless it was a surprise he enjoyed.

All the talk around the dark and gloomy castle was not about war but the fact that two masked wizards or witches had been spotted in muggle Londsmeade the night before.

Draco kept his head down as heard two maids gossip about the latest scandal. Two youth being in the muggle part of the town without a chaperone. He did though, internally hit himself, he should have been more careful. Chaperoning was a part of the tradition of courting. Even though he and Hermione weren't courting to the rest of the world it looked like they were.

If he and Hermione had started courting all those months ago their wedding would have been organized and right around the corner, to their unfortunate luck that was not what had occurred. Instead they were running around secretly in the dead of night like ruffians.

The thought of Hermione instantly brought a smile to his face and for that reason exactly was why he decided to not think about her. In Malfoy Manor smiling was deemed suspicious, all that was allowed was a conniving smirk or a wicked grin, perhaps an evil laugh but that was just about it!

He dragged his brain from the farthest thing somewhat related to his love, but that alone was a struggle in itself let alone keeping concentration.

His father was discussing battle tactics with Sir Pucey and Lord Avery, Draco walked in just in time to hear the end of their conversation.

"-You can't go after that mudblood!" Exclaimed Pucey.

"Potter probably has protection all around her!" Avery pointed out.

"It's not as if we are or would attack Lady Lily. We are talking about a disgusting 15 year old slave, a weak mudblood!" Lucius stated.

Draco's heart jolted.

"What weak mudblood, father?" He asked pretending as if he had just stepped into the room.

"Oh Draco son, we are just discussing a recent abduction plan for Lord James' nasty little mudblood girl."

Draco had to stop his eyes from bulging out of their sockets.

"Why abduct her?" He asked with fake disgust.

Lucius looked back towards his battle plan modules.

"She is powerful, for a mudblood, if we get her on our side of the battle it will help us, if she doesn't join our side I'll crucio her into oblivion. Hurting her would hurt Potter, and I will hurt anyone who disrespects a Malfoy." He spat.

Draco took a deep breath. "Father do you really think all of this is necessary? It was a simple stunning spell, it was not even a reducto spell or an imperius curse. Is really worth all this anger, war, bloodshed. It will divide the Kingdom in half."

Lord Avery and Sir Pucey nodded.

"The boy has a point Lord Lucius. Do you really want your grandchildren growing up in a divided land?" Sir Pucey asked.

Lucius stiffened. "Potter attacked me, he will pay for what he has done. Draco's children will fight for their grandfather, on my dying wish."

Draco's stomach twisted into a knot. A dying wish wasn't something to be brought up playfully. In the Land called Diagon a dying wish was always granted. It had an extremely old enchantment around it.

Usually a dying man would ask for health, wealth, or a good future for his family, anything and everything besides being brought back to his original healthy state. What Lucius had just asked for would doom Draco's children to a life of darkness, war and despair.

All three of the other men, besides Lucius, stood gaping.

"Now Lucius you wouldn't!" Exclaimed Lord Avery.

No Lucius. Not his children as well!" Sir Pucey protested.

"Yes, now must I remind you that I have family matters to discuss with my son?" Lucius questioned.

The two other men stepped back.

"Draco m'boy sit down." Lucius ordered.

Draco cautiously took his seat at the right hand of his father.

"With this approaching battle if anything were to happen to me you would have take on my role of the Noble Lord of Slytherin sooner than expected...." Lucius explained. "....and if anything were to happen to you we would need a new heir, otherwise our prestigious role would be passed to the Lestranges so I have come to the conclusion that you are taking much too long deciding on a wife..."

Draco's heart jumped in horror of what was to come.

"This Saturday Eve you shall marry Lord Avery's niece,"

Draco couldn't move he was so furious.

",you both shall have concieved a child within two months, understood!?" Lucius ordered.

Draco stood up raging.

"No father this is most certainly not understood. My bride is my choice. I will not wed Camillia Avery!"

"Draco you will obey me. You shall marry Camillia come Saturday's sunset, and you shall have concieved an heir within the first two months. She is willing, you will be too!" Lucius spat towering over his fifteen year old son.

"I'd rather marry the mudblood!" Draco spat back.

Lucius looked appalled. "Do not even joke about such a preposterous thing Draco! Mixing her kind with ours!"

Even Sir Pucey and Lord Avery objected.

Draco had had enough of this pureblood superiority.

He took off his Lordship crown and slammed it down on the mahogany table.

"Have fun it battle father, you'll have to find yourself a new heir. I renounce my title!"

And with that we walked out of the room, out of the manor and out of his old life.