Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 51: A Most Suitable Young Man
Having avoided arrest after the debacle at the Department of Mysteries, Lucius Malfoy remained as opinionated as ever. He learned that his daughter had a boyfriend on a Tuesday evening. It happened by accident.
He was attending a small gathering at the home of an old acquaintance, discussing Ministry appointments, recent developments at Hogwarts, and the increasingly disappointing standards of certain pure-blood families. The conversation was proceeding pleasantly enough until Augustus Nott mentioned Draconia.
“Your daughter seems to be growing up, Lucius.”
Lucius raised an eyebrow.
“She is seventeen, Augustus. I should certainly hope so.”
Nott chuckled.
“Quite. Quite. I meant in the romantic sense.”
Lucius set down his glass.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Well, I hear she’s found herself a young gentleman.”
Lucius stared at him.
“A young gentleman?”
“A boyfriend, apparently.”
For several seconds, Lucius said nothing. Then he smiled. It was the carefully controlled smile of a man who had just received unexpected information and was determined not to reveal that he knew absolutely nothing about it.
“Ah. Yes.”
Nott nodded knowingly.
“These things happen, don’t they? Sixth year, seventeen years old. A perfectly natural age.”
“Indeed.”
“Do you know the boy?”
Lucius lifted his glass.
“I am acquainted with a great many young gentlemen, Augustus.”
Nott laughed.
“Of course, of course.”
Lucius took a measured sip.
“Did you happen to hear his name?”
Nott shook his head.
“Unfortunately not. Only that your daughter has been rather happy lately, and that there’s a young man involved.”
“I see.”
“Still, I imagine he’s a Slytherin.”
Lucius inclined his head.
“One would naturally assume so.”
Nott smiled.
“Well, congratulations, old friend. Perhaps we’ll be hearing wedding bells before too many years have passed.”
Lucius smiled politely.
“Perhaps.”
But behind that smile, his thoughts were already racing. Draconia has a boyfriend. And she hadn’t told him. By the time Lucius returned to Malfoy Manor, he had considered the matter from several angles. The news itself was not especially troubling. Draconia was seventeen, beautiful, accomplished, and the sole heiress to one of the oldest wizarding families in Britain. Naturally, young men would be interested in her. Indeed, it would have been surprising if they weren’t. What troubled him was the secrecy.
Draconia had always been reasonably forthcoming about her acquaintances. He knew the families of most of her Slytherin classmates, and he had occasionally entertained the possibility of suitable future matches. The Selwyns were respectable, although he understood that young Adrian Selwyn had recently become attached to Georgina Goyle. The Notts were an old family. The Averys, the Parkinsons, the Greengrasses ... There were possibilities. Lucius entered the drawing room, where Narcissa was reading beside the fire. She looked up.
“You’re home early.”
“Apparently, our daughter has acquired a boyfriend.”
Narcissa lowered her book.
“Oh?”
Lucius paused.
“You knew?”
“I knew she’d been in rather good spirits lately.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Narcissa smiled faintly.
“No, Lucius. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.”
He sat opposite her.
“Augustus Nott mentioned it this evening.”
“Did he say who the boy was?”
“No.”
“Then perhaps it’s merely a rumour.”
“Perhaps.”
Narcissa studied her husband.
“Does it bother you?”
Lucius looked offended.
“Why should it?”
“Because you’re sitting there looking as though someone has stolen the family silver.”
“Narcissa.”
She smiled.
“Lucius.”
He sighed.
“Our daughter is approaching an age when such matters must be considered seriously.”
“She’s seventeen.”
“Precisely.”
“Not twenty-seven.”
“That is hardly the point.”
Narcissa closed her book.
“Well, I hope he’s kind to her.”
Lucius blinked.
“Kind?”
“Yes, Lucius. Kind.”
“Naturally. But there are other considerations.”
“Of course there are.”
“Family, education, prospects, reputation—”
“And whether he makes her happy.”
Lucius gave her a patient look.
“My dear, happiness is a most agreeable consequence of a suitable marriage.”
Narcissa raised an eyebrow.
“Is that what you told yourself when you married me?”
Lucius stopped. Narcissa smiled sweetly. He considered his answer with unusual care.
“Naturally, our circumstances were exceptional.”
“Naturally.”
“And you were an exceptionally suitable bride.”
“How romantic.”
Lucius sighed.
“You know perfectly well what I mean.”
“I do.”
Narcissa’s smile softened.
“But I also remember being seventeen.”
Lucius rose and walked towards the fireplace.
“I assume the boy is a Slytherin.”
Narcissa looked at him.
“Why?”
He turned.
“Because Draconia has always preferred the company of her own House.”
“She has friends in other Houses now.”
Lucius frowned.
“Yes. I’ve heard.”
“She’s growing up, Lucius.”
“That does not require abandoning one’s standards.”
“No one said it did.”
“Perhaps Theodore Nott.”
Narcissa tilted her head.
“Perhaps.”
“Or one of the Averys.”
“Possibly.”
“Although I should hope she would consult us before becoming too seriously attached.”
Narcissa smiled.
“Would you have consulted your father before deciding you wished to court me?”
Lucius looked at her.
“That was different.”
“Of course.”
“Our families were already acquainted.”
“Yes, dear.”
“And the match was eminently suitable.”
“Naturally.”
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
He sighed. Then he returned to his chair.
“At least we can be reasonably certain that she has chosen someone appropriate.”
Narcissa looked into the fire.
“Can we?”
Lucius frowned.
“Of course.”
“Draconia has always had a mind of her own.”
“She is a Malfoy.”
“Exactly.”
Lucius considered that, apparently deciding it supported his argument rather than hers.
“Well,” he said, “I shall write to her.”
Narcissa looked up sharply.
“Lucius.”
“What?”
“Don’t interrogate her.”
“I have no intention of interrogating our daughter.”
“You have precisely that expression.”
“Narcissa—”
“Write her a pleasant letter. Ask how her studies are progressing. Tell her we miss her.”
Lucius looked dissatisfied.
“And the young man?”
“Let her tell us when she’s ready.”
He considered. Then nodded reluctantly.
“Very well.”
The following morning, Draconia received an owl at breakfast. She recognised the Malfoy family seal immediately.
“Father,” she murmured.
Victoria, sitting beside her, glanced at the envelope.
“Anything wrong?”
“Not necessarily.”
Draconia broke the seal. The letter was brief. My dear Draconia, I trust that your studies are progressing satisfactorily and that you continue to distinguish yourself in all matters befitting a young lady of your position. Your mother and I have heard that you are enjoying your sixth year and making new acquaintances. Naturally, we are pleased to learn that you are taking an interest in the social opportunities available to you.
I should be delighted to hear more about your friends and activities when you next write. Your mother sends her love. Your affectionate father, Lucius Malfoy Draconia read it once. Then again. Her stomach tightened. Victoria noticed.
“Draco?”
Draconia slowly lowered the parchment.
“Oh, no.”
Georgina leaned closer.
“What?”
Draconia handed them the letter. Victoria read it. Her expression changed.
“Oh.”
Georgina looked over her shoulder.
“Oh, Merlin.”
Draconia stared at the table.
“He knows.”
Victoria swallowed.
“Not necessarily.”
Draconia gave her a look.
“‘Taking an interest in the social opportunities available to you’?”
Georgina winced.
“That’s rather specific.”
Draconia took back the letter.
“He knows I’m seeing someone.”
Victoria nodded slowly.
“But he doesn’t know who.”
Draconia looked at her.
“How can you be sure?”
Victoria pointed to the letter.
“Because if he knew Alex was a Muggle, this wouldn’t be a polite enquiry about your social opportunities.”
“It would be a Howler.”
Draconia closed her eyes.
“Or a personal visit.”
All three girls were silent. Then Victoria frowned.
“Wait.”
Draconia looked up.
“What?”
“Your father thinks you’re dating someone from Hogwarts.”
Georgina nodded.
“Probably a Slytherin.”
Draconia stared at them. Then she began to smile. Slowly.
“Oh.”
Victoria looked at her.
“Draco?”
Draconia folded the letter carefully.
“Well, then.”
Georgina raised an eyebrow.
“Well, then what?”
Draconia looked remarkably pleased with herself.
“Father has made an assumption.”
“A rather important one.”
“And I see absolutely no reason to correct him.”
“Draco!”
“What?” Draconia asked innocently. “He hasn’t asked me a direct question.”
Victoria grinned.
“Very Slytherin of you.”
“Thank you.”
Draconia tucked the letter into her bag.
“I shall write back this evening. I’ll tell him my studies are going well, that Mother shouldn’t worry, and that I’ve been spending time with some very agreeable people.”
Georgina laughed.
“That’s all?”
“Naturally.”
Victoria shook her head.
“You’re wicked.”
“Darling, I’m a Malfoy.”
At Malfoy Manor, Lucius was already imagining the sort of young wizard his daughter might have chosen. Tall, he hoped. Well educated. From an old family, naturally. Ambitious, but respectful. Someone who understood the obligations attached to the Malfoy name. Someone who would appreciate the privilege of courting his daughter. He had absolutely no reason to imagine a seventeen-year-old Muggle boy who liked camping, wanted to learn to drive, played arcade games, and thought Draconia’s hair smelled of jasmine and vanilla.
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