Marriage Meeting
Harry thought he was ready for his parents to present the wizard he could be marrying, he really did, up until said wizard strutted into the room. Sitting across an impassive Draco Malfoy, as the adults discuss the benefits of their houses unifying under the banner of marriage, the young boy tried not to sweat through his dress robes.
Something about the pureblood heir made him nervous, in a strangely good way. It was like he wanted all of Malfoy's attention on him but every time their eyes meet, Harry looked away, desperate to disappear feeling excited and embarrassed all at once.
Malfoy quickly grew bored, turning his attention to the garden outside the fancy magical french restaurant the adults choose to meet in. He remained disinterested in the room at large, staring blankly at the birds flying around the flouting feeding areas. He folded one leg over the other, his royal blue robes falling in waves over his shoulders as Malfoy claps his hands in his lap.
The sunlight streamed in from the large window and with the lovely bright white and blue of the walls, it brought out the pale blonde of his hair, lighting up his facial features as if though they were contour by sunlight itself.
He looked like a painting, perfect in every stroke of a brush, come to life. So beautiful Malfoy almost seemed fictional, despite the fact he was sitting right in front of Harry.
Harry kept his eyes on his feet, face feeling hot as if though he stood in the sun for too long but every so often would peak up at the blond. He wanted his parents to finish the marriage meeting as quickly as possible. This one seems to drag on longer than any of the previous ones did.
It was a tradition in the Potter family for the parents to pick a spouse for their children but one that skip a generation. His father, James, had been free to choose his mother, Lily, but Harry's grandfather had been engaged to his grandmother since before they were sent to Hogwarts.
Most purebloods had the same tradition but the Potters were more lenient in the fact they allowed a few of their bloodline to choose for themselves.
Harry had been raised with the knowledge that the various marriage meetings were to carefully select a good spouse and more importantly someone who would bring honor and something of value to the Potter name.
He had been tested for his magical compatibility at age two, as all magical kids have, and through it, his parents were made aware his magic could bond with both males and females which gave the more wiggle room to find someone for him.
Witches and Wizards' magic had a certain level of Compatibility that allowed them to have strong, powerful, and good-looking children the higher their compatibility was. The Compatibility could indicate if the child in question would grow to fancy males or females, should the pair be the same sex then they could blood adopt.
By blood adopting, they would be given a Squib toddler who best matched their own magic. Through a ritual as old as Merlin, their compatible magic would mix in the child changing them to be the pair's by blood and by magic.
Not all Squib children matched an eager childless couple before they reach five years old- the cut of the ritual working- which is why a few grew into adults without ever accessing magic but the lucky ones who were blood adopted became a regular witch wizard able to use their core.
According to Malfoy's profile, the one sent to his parents to review, Malfoy's magic only matched with males with a high Potion and Runes magic. It went well with Harry's high Defense and Herbology magic, to the point their Compatibility was an astounding ninety-seven percent.
It was the only reason his Dad had been willing to meet the Malfoys as Lucius and he never got along back at Hogwarts.
"Thank you for meeting us today, Lord Malfoy, Lady Malfoy, and Heir Malfoy" Mom suddenly say her voice smooth and sweet, though her smile was strained.
"It was a pleasure, Lady Potter." Lady Malfoy replied, dipping her head respectfully as she stood, "I do hope we can continue this discussion in the near future. An owl will be in contact with you soon."
"We look forward to its arrival," Dad says in a tone that promises the poor bird will be shot down if it enters the Potter's air space. "Good day, Lord Malfoy, Lady Malfoy, and Heir Malfoy."
"Good day," The blond boy says his voice sending goosebumps all over Harry's skin. He never knew a voice could sound like honey before.
Realizing they were leaving and that he hadn't seen a single word, Harry hastily rose. He meant to say "Good day" or "Thank you for considering me for your son" or something along those lines. But all that came out of his mouth was a choking squeal.
Malfoy's frown and odd look made Harry so red he actually hid behind his mother. The blond child rolled his eyes, tilted his chin up in dismissal while strutting out of the room after his parents.
Harry watched him go with wonder never before had a seen someone his own age look so regal.
"What did you think Harry?" Mom asks after they leave crouching down to look into his very same pair of emerald eyes. "Did Mr. Malfoy seem-"
"He's so pretty!" Harry blurts taking the woman by surprise. "He so pretty, and elegant and Mom, did you see how soft his hair looked? Did you notice how amazing his sitting was? He looked like a Disney Prince!"
"W-well if you think so, I suppose he is," Mom says hesitantly shooting a look at Dad. The man in question had put his head into his hands, looking dismayed. Harry understands, he was nearly too overwhelmed by how pretty Malfoy is too.
"Do you think Mr. Malfoy is prettier than Leo?" Dad's voice is muffled by his palms but Harry hears it all the same.
"Much prettier!" He has known Leo all his life and while he was not ugly he was nowhere near Malfoy's league. He is the son of his Godfather, Sirius, and his husband Remus, both of which were Dad's best friends through all of Hogwarts.
Leo was Harry's best friend too since their parents saw each other so often, they shared everything even being compatible with both witches and wizards. Of course, their dads had them tested to see their Compatibility and the two were at a seventy-nine. Up until Malfoy, that was the highest he ever match with someone.
Harry had overheard Uncle Sirius proclaim they would wed one day if no other match could be found to which all the adults toasted to. Leo had wrinkled his nose when Harry told him later about it that night during their sleepover.
"Don't get me wrong Harry, but I like you as a best friend, not someone I want to marry" Leo had said tucking him in because Leo liked to make sure Harry was warm. He liked to care for people in a way Harry liked to too, but more so when he was the one doing it. "I just think it is like Dad and Uncle James getting married."
"Gross they're brothers."
"And we're cousins."
"I won't have to marry Leo, will I?" Harry asks his Dad, who has yet to raise his head. A cold sense of dread settled in his chest. He knew that some kids didn't get a choice, that they would marry who was selected for them but his parents weren't like that, were they?
"Harry....you are almost eleven." Mom starts looking pained. "All witches and Wizards have to be engaged before entering Hogwarts if they aren't muggle-borns. It's the law."
"I know"
"Malfoy is one of the last wizards unclaimed, it would have been rude not to meet them so we organized this marriage meeting even if we never....both sides didn't take it seriously Harry. Leo has already been made your fiancee and I suspect the Malfoys are going to go with Theodore Nott."
Harry gasps outraged. "Nott!? Malfoy has been promised to Nott!? He's so boring! All he did at our marriage meeting was read!"
Dad raised his hands to give him a sheepish smile. "Sometimes someone who reads is the better choice for a boy like Mr. Malfoy. I'm sure you will like your life with Leo once your older-"
"I don't want Leo!" Harry protested hotly. How could his parents do this to him? "I want Malfoy!"
"Harry please understand, Leo is much better-"
"No!"
Mom steps forward biting her lip. She never liked this part of the tradition she married into, as a muggle-born she hated the idea of pairing off her child. It was something he heard his parents argue at night but in the end, there was nothing she could do. Harry is a Half-blood and by law, he must be engaged. "Is there really nothing that can be done, James?"
"If you can convince Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Nott, and Leo to break the arrangements before you turn seventeen then yes," Dad said after a long pause. "But that will be very difficult to do and if you can not succeed then you must marry at seventeen. You will be on a time limit."
"It's okay! I know Leo won't mind. He fancies Nott" Harry brightens then slaps a hand over his mouth once he realized he accidentally exposed Leo's secret. "Please don't tell Uncle Sirius or Uncle Remus, Leo doesn't want them to know he fancies Nott."
Mom shakes her head looking oddly shocked. Harry had no idea why. Leo wouldn't stop talking about Nott for nearly three weeks straight after their marriage meeting, gushing about the fact the other boy had read him a story while their parents spoke.
"I can convince Nott and Malfoy! I solemnly swear it!"
Dad threw his head into his hands and screamed but Harry knows he supports him either way.