In the living room of Parkinson Manor in Berkshire, England, Draco Malfoy set down the Daily Prophet and discussed dropping out of school with Professor Parkinson across from him.
"Are you really not going to reconsider?"
Professor Parkinson looked at the pale-faced Draco and said softly, "Severus has always hoped you would return to Hogwarts and finish your education."
"Whether I finish my education no longer matters to me." Malfoy looked up at Professor Parkinson, tugging faintly at the corner of his mouth in self-mockery. "Keeping the Malfoy family line alive is what I should be doing most."
Yes, Draco Malfoy was married.
It had happened half a month ago.
The bride had been his former girlfriend: Pansy Parkinson.
They had kept the wedding quiet. Only a few acquaintances had attended that day.
Such a wedding would certainly have been unacceptable to the Parkinson family, but Severus Snape had helped Malfoy persuade Old Parkinson.
After Old Malfoy had inexplicably lost his life, Severus Snape, an old friend, had personally gone to discuss Draco and Pansy's marriage with Mr. Parkinson.
Originally, Snape had no standing to represent the Malfoy family in discussing this matter with the Parkinson family. Unfortunately, Lucius Malfoy was already dead, Narcissa Malfoy's whereabouts were unknown, and Bellatrix Lestrange had vanished outright. The remaining Andromeda Tonks had been cast out by the House of Black and was clearly unsuitable as well. This left Draco Malfoy entirely alone, so in the end, Snape, whom Lucius had entrusted with great responsibility, had to handle the matter.
Fortunately, Snape was Voldemort's right-hand man, the current headmaster of Hogwarts, and a formidable figure whom everyone had to show some respect to. That was why the young couple had been able to marry smoothly.
The union of the Malfoy and Parkinson families was