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Draco Lucius Andrew Black Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, paced his living quarters, also known as his room, frustrated and filled with anger.

What were his parents expecting? Happiness and no worries? Possible and 'happily ever after' outcomes? The power to be the most successful kingdom ever? Well, probably yes to the last one, but seriously, what were his parent expecting?

King Lucius was a very frightful man, but he wasn't evil or cruel, although he did occasionally lose his temper when it came to house elves, and he earned his respect. He was the sort of man you were uncomfortable with when you first meet him, but who wasn't nowadays? His tone made it seem like he was always thinking the best of himself, and although he sometimes was, he still respected other kingdoms, although he disliked the Gryffindor kingdom immensely, and his subjects. But the worst part about him was that he was very persuasive.

This was the reason why Draco had to accept this unreasonable command. It was only a few months before his eighteenth birthday, the day he would become of age. Draco was excited and eager for that day, that is, until he had that talk with his mother and father at breakfast.

"The law runs for all other princes in faraway kingdoms," said the queen.

"It's not hard to find a beautiful and elegant princess, my boy," said the king.

"We shall have a ball next week to help you meet stunning girls," said the queen.

"A marriage with any princess can be arranged, son," said the king.

"In just a few months you may become King yourself," said the queen.

"Pass the butter over to me, would you, Draco?" said the king.

But Draco still disliked the law. He didn't want to be forced to marry some girl before his birthday. But being a royal bachelor on your becoming of age was preposterous; it simply wasn't done. But Draco wasn't like other princes, although most didn't exactly enjoy the law either. He wanted to marry for love, not for beauty or manners or money. But nevertheless, he agreed to find a bride before his birthday, and the upcoming ball was a good way to meet one.

Why couldn't the king just try to bend the law a bit? Why did he have to marry at that certain age anyway? If he didn't marry, why would his rightful position at the throne be given to the steward, the greasy Severus Snape? Why was it that, say, Harry, Prince of Gryffindor, was allowed more time to find his bride, when he was the same age as Draco, although a few months younger? And why did the king prefer the butter to marmalade, when just the day before, he complained that the butter was too greasy?

Draco thought about all those questions as he paced. Finally, his feet were falling asleep and he was getting bored. What else to do except mope around all day in a hot, stuffy castle when he had no classes and thoughts of marrying a random princess running around in his head?

That's right: sneak out on horseback to the village where Slytherin and Gryffindor meet.

Now Draco had more problems. Should he change so he looked like a peasant or ride out in his fancier-than-thou-rags clothes? Should he put fancy saddles on his horse or not? Which horse would he bring?

Draco decided to keep his nice, yet casual-to-him, clothing on and ride bareback on his favorite stallion, Nightshade.

It wasn't difficult to sneak out of the castle, mainly because there was a secret exit that only he knew of. He casually walked through a few corridors before finally finding the correct, deserted one. A small, unnoticeable door on the floor was covered in dust until Draco spread it out with his boot. He wrenched the handle and brought the door slightly upwards so he could slide through.

He jumped down, still holding the handle on the bottom of the door, and landed six feet below on solid ground. He stood up, brushing some dirt off his beautiful, yet simple, clothes. A flaming torch fastened on the side of the wall lit up the darkness. He remembered when he told a house elf, Dobby, that he was going to sneak out, and Dobby, being his partner-in-crime, scurried off to light it before Draco got there.

He picked up the torch and used it to guide his way down numerous, lumpy steps to the end of the long corridor. He finally reached another door, but this time, it was small and went through a wall, not the floor. Draco clasped the torch to another space in the wall before cracking the door open and sliding through.

Closing the small door behind him, he found himself to be close to the stables. He kept his back to the castle wall and walked to the stable boy, Blaise.

"Hey, Dr-" started Blaise before he noticed Draco press a finger to his lips.

"Blaise," the prince whispered, although there weren't any people around as far as he could see, "I need you to cover for me."

"Cover?" Blaise raised an eyebrow at him. Of course, he wouldn't know what the king and queen had just told him a while ago.

"I'm going to Hogwarts," Draco told him. Hogwarts was the village that connected Slytherin and Gryffindor, the subjects of both King Lucius and King James marketing in the area, although some of both kingdoms lived in small cottages and huts there.

"Hogwarts?" Blaise raised the other eyebrow. "Why you going there?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Obviously, I'm going to run away for the day."

Blaise nodded. "I won't ask. C'mon, let's go fetch your horse. Which one, by the way?"

"Nightshade." Draco followed his lowly friend to the stables, where many majestic and beautiful stallions and mares rested.

Nightshade was on Draco's left, two pens down. He wasn't the best looking horse out of all of them, but he was beautiful. He was a black stallion with a black mane and tail. He was well groomed, clean, and didn't smell like manure. His coat wasn't as shiny as the other's, but Draco didn't care. Nightshade was his first horse, only a mere pony when first bought, and he loved him and treated him as a close friend.

"Hey, boy," he whispered, petting Nightshade's nose. "We're going out for a ride."

The horse snorted as if agreeing to go, and Draco led him out of his pen.

"What should I say," asked Blaise, "if the king and queen ask where you are?"

Draco shrugged. "Say you don't know, that I stole Nightshade when your back was turned and wouldn't stop when you tried to call me back. Whatever you want."

"I'll figure something out." Blaise waved and walked back into the stables to brush a new brown mare.

Draco leaped over his horse and kicked him slightly so he would gallop away from the dreaded castle.

The cold wind rushed through Draco's blonde, messy hair as he rode to Hogwarts. He rode for less than an hour before finally seeing the small village, the castle gone from view. By then, he was a bit hungry, having not eaten much when his parents ruined his life over a pleasant breakfast of toast and eggs, but he slowed Nightshade into a trot and rode into the village.

When he reached the first hut, he stopped his stallion and jumped off, holding him by the reins and leading him through the busy streets. Apples, he thought. Nice, red apples would be good for a snack. The prince walked in search of a grocer, some villagers and serfs greeting him, as he was the prince. It was always fun hanging around Hogwarts; no one really cared if he was a prince or not here.

Finally, Draco spotted the grocer corner, many different farmers and ranchers trying to sell their fruit and wheat before others.

"Apples! Apples for sale! Fresh apples here! Only three bronze coins per piece!"

Draco turned to the voice. Seeing a girl about his age (he could mostly tell because of her voice) holding a basket, he pulled Nightshade's reins slightly so as to move closer to her. He saw her hand a small boy a red fruit, even though he had no coins.

Draco smiled. It was very rare to see such a kindhearted person.

The girl's brown curls were tangled, but they still looked soft, and they were tied back with a dirty, white shawl. Her dress was simple and a soft pink, and, like the shawl, it was slightly dirty. The girl was facing away from him, but he could clearly see her from the side. She had noticeable curves and a gentle frame, but she looked like a hard worker.

The girl continued shouting about her apples before turning towards Draco.