Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but I own the plot.

FOR CHAPTER TEN: The whole dragon thing is made up. There is a First Emperor, and he did have loads of concubines (or so I hear), but I don't think there's ever a bride of a dragon necklace, so…yeah, nothing like that actually happened. Oh, if anyone's interested, yes, I am Oriental—let's say…er…a quarter Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese! ^^

A/N: Why is it that I can't seem to keep my updating promises anymore? *wail* This chapter is really hard to write, so let's assume that's the excuse, all right? Besides, I'm really busy, and really tired lately with schoolwork.

The good thing is: Molly will make her appearance near the end of the chapter, which means…Draco and Ginny and everyone else will be safe. Let's start then. It's probably the last of the overly long chapters, which had persisted since chapter nine? *shuts up at murderous looks*

Bride of a Dragon

By: Katrina

More Surprises

It was, however, too soon to celebrate.

A breeze from an unknown source suddenly blew, putting out all the torches that had previously been lighting the dark chamber. The only source of light now was the fireplace, where a fire that was definitely not of this dimension sprung up, emitting not heat but dire chilliness.

"What's going on?" demanded Cho.

Silence met her question, till-

There rose a figure before the fire, her grisly face illuminated by the glowing flickers. There was no doubt of her identity. "What's going on, you ask?" she said slowly, her drawling voice filled with sickening mirth. "Why, I've merely decided to invite all of you to a game. And what game, you'd ask? It's just a normal game…in which the only penalty is instant death."

Ginny grabbed Draco's hand automatically upon hearing the last horrible words, which was clammy. Draco could not believe for his life that this…creature before him had been his beautiful fiancée. True, Colette was scary and horrible, but she was never ugly. But this creature was beyond ugly. She had a grayish glow about her, and her perfect figure had become distorted. It was extremely wide on the bottom, her legs thick as tree trunks, and abnormally slim on the top, resembling a snake in overlarge trousers, although the comic side was completely gone. Scales covered her body, wings sprouted from her back, and her abnormally long fingers were curled around a wand, her nails incredibly long and sharp.

The worst was her face. Her mouth widened, and was currently curved up into a hellish smile, so that her teeth were exposed, and Draco wondered why he never noticed how sharp they were. Her scarlet eyes were bulging out, her ears flapping at the side of her head, and her nose snake slits. It was also dotted with scales, but a lot more prominent that those on her body. The whole outlook was completed by her hair, long and dark, which hung all the way to her ankles. Like the zombie I once saw in the cemetery, Draco thought, squeezing Ginny's hand tightly. She wasn't human anymore.

"I guess my potion worked perfectly, no?" said Colette, examining her nail with the same air she had when she was still the pretty French witch. Interested with an unmistakable air of arrogance at her own ugliness. She sounded extremely pleased at the fear she'd incurred. "It just brings out the animal within you, to a frightening real degree I must comment, and I suppose mine is the serpent mixed with other creatures. I happen to quite like it." She grinned at Potter, as if she'd just noticed him. "Why Harry Potter! I'm glad you joined us for the fun. I'll be most delighted to be the one to inform your daughter Lily that I killed her father, her father who's supposedly the savior of the world, whom she was so proud of. And then…perhaps Grandfather could use some potential Death Eater."

"Don't you dare!" snarled Potter. "Don't you dare do anything to Lily."

"Try me," answered Colette simply, her eyes scanning every member of the room, her smile growing wider and wider at each surprised and fearful face, till they rested on Draco. She took a few steps toward Ginny and Draco, and extended one long finger to graze Draco's cheek mock lovingly. "Draco, my chér fiancé. We could've been good together, you know that, don't you? We have the beauty, the brains, and the power. Oh, and of course, the riches."

Draco stared back uninterestedly. Get to the point.

"In fact, my dear, we can still work out a deal. Let's say…you kill this redhead and her friends there, and I'll tell Grandfather. Together, we will control and command bride of a dragon, and dominate the world as Grandfather's right-hand people. Won't that be wonderful? And of course, after our wedding, I'll make myself beautiful for you, and we can live in this mansion together, and I'll show you all the secret passages and all of that. It'll be quite fulfilling, and I'll get a few house-elves just for you to practice the Cruciatus Curse on."

"And what will I gain from all of these inhumanity?"

If Colette had known that such a thing as sarcasm existed, her face did not show it. "A lot, of course. For one, you'll glorify your family name, which hasn't been on the bright side since your father, I must say. And secondly, all the power and prestige in the world, and of course, the one thing you love the most: wealth. Isn't that right? That's why you wanted to marry me in the first place, isn't it? Perfect, non?"

No, because I'll just doom my life by being your slave. Your money-counting, bloodthirsty slave! Draco balled his hand into a fist. He might be foolish and shallow before, but he wasn't about to make the same mistake his stupid father did. "No, it isn't great. I won't be your slave, Colette Devinette. I'd rather be poor than to have the granddaughter of Voldemort in my arms." He looked at Ginny, who looked at him encouragingly. "I'd rather marry the woman I truly love than a monster who's probably going to kill me in cold blood."

Colette's eyes narrowed as she threw a look at Ginny. "Are you sure? She can't offer you anything, while I can serve the whole universe to you on a platter…that is, if you prove yourself worthy of such a gift."

"I'd rather skip that appetizer," answered Draco coolly. He could feel the stunned silence from the so-called heroes. Well, take that, Weasley! he thought triumphantly.

"Very well, I see that you've sunken." Colette pursed her lips. "Which makes everything all the more interesting. In fact, I think it's about time the show begins. What show, you ask?" No, we didn't ask. She went over to the fourth stone wall and pointed her wand at the wall, biding her time for a while to let the suspense build. Ginny clutched onto Draco even harder, and even Weasley was too busy watching Colette to say anything. "Outside this door, my friends, are ten Death Eaters. There're six of you. I'm sure that a dueling match between the sixteen of you will be quite a spectacle. This chamber, after all, is not made for so many duels."

She's trying to let the chamber crumble upon us! Draco realized, color draining out of his cheeks. He saw the huge grin on Colette's face. He couldn't stand it. "And what are you going to do? Wouldn't you lose all your Death Eaters?"

"I can resurrect them using your necklace," said Colette. "No more questions, my dears. I'm sure you're all itching to start. Since I'm not quite as inhumane as Grandfather, I'll give you six a bit of time for a last reunion." She suddenly gave a harsh laugh. "Don't try to come up with any plans. I can tell you right now that it won't work. Two minutes."

Draco knew that there was really nothing more to say, but when Ginny started heading toward her brother and the others, he had no choice but to follow. He'd look pretty stupid by himself, with nobody to look at but Colette. Potter frowned in deep thought. If he could think, that is. "Everyone," he said. "I'll hold her and the Death Eaters off. You go and try to get help by Apparition or Portkey." He looked at Ginny. "Or your wishing."

Ginny shook her head. "I've been trying, but it stopped working."

"It doesn't matter," Granger said. "You guys just try to Apparate back to Britain no matter what it takes…and if you can't, go to the English Channel and see if you can get a boat to the other side, while we hold her off."

"One minute," said Colette lazily.

"Hermione, you aren't staying with me!" Potter said.

"My last name is Potter too. If she wants the last Potters to be done with, then count me in," Granger said with a roll of her eyes.

"In that case, I'm staying too!" Weasley put in. Oh, the inseparable trio!

Potter just gave them an exasperated look. "You two are impossible," he said. Then he turned his attention to Draco. "Malfoy, you do know this place somewhat, don't you?"

"Potter, I've been taken around in tours more than ten times," Draco said. "Of course I do!"

"Then get Ginny and Cho out of here," he said urgently. "Just try and get to the Ministry and get help, all right? As much as you want to see us dead, she's not going to let you go either and-"

"Time's up, my dears," announced Colette. "Break it up or do you want to die altogether?"

Potter and Granger moved to the left, while Weasley moved to the right. Cho hesitated for a moment, but she joined Weasley. Draco thought he heard she snap something to Weasley about to the Chinese, emotions were more important than anything else. Oh, the noble good guys, he thought, holding onto Ginny's hand tightly so she wouldn't try to be heroic herself. Not only for the fact that he didn't want her to die—mind you, he had to say that Potter had a point, and that he didn't want any of them to die just like that, especially not by Colette—but he'd hate to know what the Weasleys would do to him if he didn't protect their youngest girl.

Colette muttered something, and the stonewall slid open. To everyone's surprise, the ten Death Eaters weren't waiting there for Colette, who cursed angrily in French. "NOW!" shouted Potter, and Draco was only too glad to comply. Just as Colette turned around, he tugged on Ginny's hand and practically dragged her up the stone staircase, steamrollering over the ten shocked Death Eaters who just arrived.

"GO AFTER THEM!" shrieked Colette, but her voice was drowned in a series of loud explosions down in the chamber. Smoke billowed out everywhere, and soon the chamber below was hidden from view.

"We have to go and help," Ginny protested.

"I'm not letting your brothers murder me," snapped Draco. "And we will only hinder them. They've been through these things; we haven't. What we should do is to alert the Aurors while trying to get out of here." He squinted through the darkness. All the Muggle appliances had been turned off, and everything was in a state of utter darkness. "Let's…head to the right."

"Draco, do you know this place at all?" demanded Ginny.

"Not in the darkness," Draco said snappishly.

Ginny sighed. "Lumos!" she said, lighting a path before them. Draco did the same thing, even if it would give away their locations. But once we get out of this protected place, we can just Apparate, he thought comfortingly, and by use of the wand they got out of this chamber to exist out into a long and wide corridor, with a staircase before them and tons of rooms on either side. "Now that it isn't dark, let's get somewhere. The staircase?"

"No, this staircase is a ruse," Draco said. "I think it leads back over here after you go a few steps." He tried to remember. Was it the left or the right? He knew that there was a hidden tunnel that led right into the Moon Garden somewhere, which was how Colette got there earlier. Knowing Colette, the tunnel must've been well hidden. And Colette never told him much of the secret passages here either.

There was loud pounding on the stairs behind him. "Nox!" Draco and Ginny shouted together, and meanwhile Draco led Ginny to the right, which seemed a bit more welcoming.

They ran and ran, but the corridor seemed much longer than it really was. Draco knew that there must be some chamber here that held some secret passageways, but he didn't know which. He stopped for a second, listening. The pursuer stopped too. There's only one, he thought. If Ginny and I go into a room, chances are we'll be able to knock him down. He felt along the wall quickly till he held a crystal doorknob, and then he and Ginny entered whatever this room was, which happened to be the Music Room.

The Music Room lit up automatically when the two entered, revealing a huge baby grand piano flanked by several other instruments. There was a glass door leading out to the balcony. "Let's try the balcony," suggested Draco very quietly, after performing a series of Locking Charms on the door.

The balcony, however, was a fake. It merely looked into another room instead of a garden.

Ginny, on the other hand, had started to examine the piano, muttering something under her breath. "You say that there are secret passageways here?" she said, frowning as her slender fingers traced over the shining piano keys.

"Not necessarily in this room," Draco said.

"How many keys does a piano have?" asked Ginny suddenly.

What kind of a question is that? Draco eyed the door nervously, debating whether he or Ginny should go or not. He suddenly heard clinking sides on the left, and realized that the Death Eater pursuing them was trying every single door to see if they were here. And then his blood ran cold, hearing conversations in the background. Colette sent more than one after them. "Ginny, stop with the piano! There won't be a passage in the pi-"

He stopped as the piano moved aside to reveal a round hole in the carpet previously unseen, just enough for a person to squeeze through. "What is it that you said?" taunted Ginny in a sugary sweet voice as she lowered herself in the hole. "C'mon! I can hear them coming!"

Draco didn't need telling twice. He followed Ginny inside the hole, and once they were well inside, he heard the piano slid over them again.

They were in complete darkness again.

~*~

Ginny had to stifle a grin at the look of astonishment on Draco's face when she found the tunnel. It really wasn't that hard, actually. A piano had eighty eight keys, and that piano had an extra key on the far right. And it doesn't hurt to try, she thought.

Once again, she and Draco lit the place up, and found themselves in a very narrow tunnel. There were walls on all sides of them, and the only way was to go down. Conversation was few in the tunnel. Neither had the heart to really talk. Ginny felt a bit uneasy that they might not get out, and that it might be a dead-end, but she figured that if that should happen, there was always the necklace. She couldn't understand why the necklace didn't work.

And then there was bride of a dragon

As much faith as she had in Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Cho, she knew that they needed help against the Death Eaters. Hell, they needed help against Colette alone! Colette wasn't just any Death Eater; remembering how powerful Tom Riddle had been as a sixteen-year-old memory, Ginny could only guess how powerful his granddaughter at the age of twenty-five could be.

But how does the dragon come alive?

While thinking, Ginny had reached a door at the end of the tunnel. There was only one way out, so she opened it, and came up…the now familiar place, the Moon Garden. The moon had long gone, but everything else seemed the same. Ginny looked around. The garden seemed to have no boundaries, stretching on and far in all directions. But if this is only one of her gardens, there must be more, Ginny decided. Then, there must be one that leads to the front gate. Suddenly, she remembered Draco's broken nose. "Hey, Draco…which garden were you when she broke your nose that day?" she asked, trying hard to keep the giggle out of her voice. This was no time to be funny.

"The Trash Garden…and don't ask me where she got the stupid name," said Draco. "I think…we need to pass a few special flowers in order to get to the Trash Garden…"

"Aren't there any other way out?" Ginny asked.

"You try and find one," said Draco.

Ginny threw up her hands in disgust. Idiot! With a sigh, she started to follow Draco, who started to follow one of the paths leading to the left, which seemed to be the right way, since more and more flowers appeared, followed by more and more exotic trees. They were walking very fast, knowing that Colette and the Death Eaters could catch up with them any moment.

But definitely not fast enough.

"My friends, leaving so soon?" came a teasing voice from behind. Ginny stiffened, but Draco urged her on.

"She isn't that close," he told her.

"Come, come, you didn't even try to play my game," she said, her voice sorrowful. "But there's still a chance of winning, you know."

The grass was high in this part of the garden. Draco crouched down behind a tree stump, putting his arms around Ginny from the back so that she couldn't be seen either. Breathlessly they waited. Colette's voice was drifting closer and closer. "Must I come and find you?" she said, her footsteps now audible. "Your friends have lost already. Don't you want to see them before they die?"

Ginny made an abrupt movement that cost dearly. She half-rose, and before Draco could pull her down, Colette's cold hand closed around her wrist. "Now here's a good girl," she said, her voice frightening yet gentle, her scarlet eyes glowing purple. "Come along, now."

"Expelliarmus!" came Draco's voice, knocking Colette off balance a few steps.

Ginny quickly struggled out of the grasp and started to run, Draco still shouting curses before following her. None of them cared where they were running toward anymore. There was only one way, and that was away from Colette, wherever that should be. However, this escape turned out to be short-lived. Draco didn't even have time to shout that Ginny was a huge dork for giving them away when he himself tripped over something. And it wasn't an accident. Once again, Colette had appeared behind them, this time her hands digging into Draco and Ginny's shoulders so hard Ginny winced, sure that an artery had split. Ginny started to scream and scream. It used to work with her brothers, but Colette was apparently deaf. Her hands still on their shoulders, she muttered a spell, causing both of them to fall over, chained in heavy and durable chains.

Colette no longer had that playful voice. "That will teach the two of you," she said. "Bring them on."

Ginny's eyes suddenly shut as a strong ray of light lit the whole garden up. Colette conjured up a grayish orb above them, acting as the light source for the time being. She rolled painfully on her back, bring her legs to her chest in a fetal position so she could see better. Nine of the Death Eaters came into view, eight of them assembling themselves around their mistress, while the ninth waved his wand and set a huge cauldron in the center of the circle before joining them at his place. In a moment, the tenth one appeared, with a huge cage behind him, in which Ginny was sure her brother and the others were.

NO! she wanted to scream. Let them out! This cage the Death Eater set beside the cauldron, and the circle of the Death Eaters was completed.

"Ginny Weasley, I'll make a deal with you," Colette said, pointing at the cage. "You will help Draco make the dragon come alive to be under my control so my Grandfather will be resurrected, and I'll promise I'll spare one of them worthless buffoons. How's that?" She held up a bag with four wands inside. Ginny could see that everybody's hands were handcuffed to one of the bars on the cage, their heads lolling limply. They were all out cold.

"No," Ginny said. "I won't make a deal with you. It's either all of them, or none, and I won't help you with the dragon either."

"Is that so?" Colette said, tossing the wands aside. "Then should I perform the Cruciatus Curse on them to make you change your mind?"

Ginny bit her lips. She had to go with Colette, even if she didn't want to, and then she thought hopefully that the dragon would only obey the wearer of the necklace. That didn't comfort her, since Colette could just as well grab the necklace from her once it was awakened, but it was worth a try. She looked at the cage again. "Fine," she said. "But I can't make the dragon come alive either."

"Draco?" Colette said. "One last chance."

Draco sighed resignedly. "Fine," he said. "I'll help."

Ginny had expected him to put up some semblance of a struggle, but instead, he merely sat up, and moved as close to Ginny as his chains would allow. Ginny huffed, wanting to move away from him, but something in his eyes made her move closer to him as well, till their heads were touching. "I heard Chang say that the Chinese are big on emotions," he said, his lips barely moving, but Ginny could hear clearly what he was saying. "Do you have any idea what that means?"

Love. Ginny remembered the first time in the hotel the necklace gleamed. She had been thinking of Draco. And all the subsequent times…Draco and her were protecting each other, or at least trying to, and they certainly didn't dislike each other at those times. She remembered the last time the dragon had come alive. She and Draco had been kissing. And Ginny realized that that was when she truly admitted to herself that she liked this blonde Slytherin, he who had caused her family so much embarrassment in the past. He had changed in some way, in that he'd learned to love, her no less. Ginny nodded slightly as an answer, so that Colette wouldn't know what they were talking about, and instead merely trying to make the dragon come alive.

"I'm waiting," Colette said.

Draco seemed to be waiting too. He didn't seem to understand what Ginny had figured out. Ginny twisted her hands a bit so that the chains fell to her wrists, a little looser, and she tilted her head up and lightly brushed her lips against Draco.

He didn't respond at first, seemingly perplexed.

"What do you think you're doing, you silly girl?" demanded Colette.

That might've decided the matter. Draco leant over and kissed Ginny back, to annoy Colette if anything. He seemed to brush against hers as well. As he lifted his head however, he leant deeper into the kiss. Ginny found it hard to keep her balance, so she leant into the kiss deeper as well. She was sure that Draco, too, could feel the steam radiating from Colette. All the more reason to snog harder.

That is, they would, but something better happened. Ginny felt the familiar glow, but this time, it only took a few seconds for a full blown dragon to suddenly materialize into the sky, having broken off from the chain, its large golden wings shinier than the orb, and its eyes gleaming madder than Colette's crimson ones.

The chains immediately disappeared from Ginny's wrists and legs. She dove hurriedly, retrieving the four wands Colette had tossed into the grass, and started to run for the cage, now that everybody's attention was focused on the dragon. Draco joined her there, and with alohomora they unlocked the cage, freeing the four people inside. "We need to get help," Ginny said, watching the dragon nimbly dodge every curse out of the corner of her eye. "I really don't know what bride of a dragon is capable of doing."

Draco threw the handcuffs out of the cage and started to revive everyone. "We can't be far from the Trash Garden," he said.

"Wha?" yawned Ron, opening his eyes. He winced as his wounds stretched, and even more when he saw Draco so near him. "Malfoy!"

"Shush," said Granger, herself waking up. She stared up at the dragon. "Wow, what is that?"

"Is that bride of a dragon?" asked Cho. "I thought that was some legend."

Apparently it wasn't.

"So now what, that this dragon is supposedly protecting us?" Ron asked.

Ginny shrugged. The dragon didn't seem to be doing much. It merely dodged the curses. "I guess we help," Draco said, shooting a Stunner at the nearest Death Eater.

"I've an better idea," said Harry. "Maximus incantatum!"

The Stunner spread all around till all the Death Eaters fell to the floor in an unconscious heap, leaving Colette standing alone. Her potion was wearing off. She was turning back into her normal form, the pretty witch, which wasn't extremely help if she was trying to be scary. She didn't give up. She seemed to be trying to leash the dragon and using the Imperius Curse to force him to resurrect Voldemort, yet the dragon merely darted around in the sky, not disagreeing and not agreeing.

Finally, though, the dragon seemed tired of the exercise, and it yawned lavishly. Golden flames erupted from its mouth, surrounding Colette, turning into chains. Stunned, she stood there, her eyes narrowed, uttering the Killing Curse. A jet of green light soared up to meet the dragon, who promptly flew toward Ginny, turning back into a pendant, leaving the green beam to disintegrate in the air.

"Wow" was all everybody could say.

Colette turned sharply to face them. "You aren't done with me yet," she said. "The dragon might've freed all of you, but I can still beat you." And it was true. The chains fell from her, and even without the potion her twisted face looked frightening enough.

Thankfully, everybody was saved from another fight. There were numerous pops all around as French Aurors appeared on the scene. Twenty of them immediately started to tie up the Death Eaters, while the remaining held Colette at wand point. Magical or not, Slytherin's heiress or not, Colette could not possibly take fifty Aurors at the same time. Her eyes spitting flames of hatred at them, she stood there, not moving.

Someone tapped Draco on the shoulder, speaking in rapid French. Draco and Ginny looked at each other, and looked at the Auror, who promptly switched to English. "What 'appened?" asked the Auror, as the heiress to both the Slytherin and Atort legacy was forced into the same cage she'd held Harry, Ron, Cho, and Hermione in, a cage that disallowed any magic. "Who eez 'at woman?"

"Long story," said Draco. "Long story."

~*~

It was well into the morning before the French Ministry of Magic finally let all go after fussing over everyone's wounds, the exact account of what happened in the garden (with looks of disbelief), when Potter, Weasley, and Granger were forced to use their Hero Identity to get out of the questioning room. After signing a few autographs, they got their Apparition permits and all Apparated back to Britain.

"Shouldn't we get some recognition too?" Ginny asked playfully as the group neared the Potter house with Potter and Granger, while Weasley and Cho went back to their house to tend to their son. "After all, we did save the day too."

"Trust me, Rita Skeeter will make sure of that," Granger said, giving Draco a meaningful look, and he looked away, his cheeks flaming at his immaturity.

"Mommy!" shouted a voice as soon as the door opened. Ginny bent down and opened her arms as Molly flew into them, her arms around her neck. "I missed you so much, Mommy!"

Draco had an inclination to move away and join the Potters in the house, but after a moment's consideration, he stayed. This was his own daughter, and why would he want to join those two anyway? So, he stood around awkwardly with his hand on Ginny's hair as Ginny and Molly embraced for a full minute, before Molly broke away and looked up with her Malfoy eyes, and spotted Draco gleefully. "Daddy? You came too!" she said, jumping up to try and hug Draco, who promptly knelt down and closed his daughter in his arms, a gesture that came to him as naturally as it had been the first time he'd seen her.

When Molly finally decided to let go, her face shone when she saw her parents standing so close. "So you two aren't mad at each other anymore?" she asked.

Ginny blushed. Draco put his arm around her, wondering how he'd ever thought that anyone was prettier than Ginny Weasley, as he kissed Ginny on the cheek before Molly. "What do you think, little girl?" he asked, smirking at his daughter, who smirked back.

"That's great!" she said. "But not on the mouth?"

Ginny caught Draco's eyes and started to laugh. "Nope," she said. "Not now. Let's join your Uncle Harry and Aunt Hermione inside, shall we?"

Molly nodded and led the way to the Potters' living room, where Potter and Granger were sitting with a girl who had to be Lily on Potter's lap. Molly scrambled up beside Lily immediately, and the two of them ran up to Lily's room to play. Ginny forced Draco down on the sofa opposite the Potters and then everybody sat in awkward silence. Draco realized that he hadn't exactly exchanged a word with them ever since the garden scene.

"Well…" began Granger. "Can you tell me the story…from the very beginning?"

Ginny twisted her hands nervously. "You promise you won't tell Ron the-"

"Tell me what?" asked Weasley, entering with Cho and his son. His eyes lingered on Draco with dislike before he sat down beside Hermione. "Oh, Ginny, how about you tell me about how you and this filthy git here got yourself in such a mess? Colette was yelling something about revenge and bride of a dragon but I didn't really get any of it, trying so hard to stay alive."

Draco held back a comment he was about to make.

"Um…well…" Ginny tried to begin again, but this time she was interrupted by Molly.

"Hey, Uncle Ron! Did you know that Mommy and Daddy kissed?" she yelled from the top of the stairs.

 

A/N: That's the end of the near-death actions. ^^ That isn't a cliffhanger. That is just to end because I am too lazy to write further. No, this fic hasn't ended yet. There're two chapters left (both of which I'll write extremely fast) with the Weasleys, what will happen to Colette and the necklace, a wedding, and an epilogue to end it all. Okay? Don't ditch me yet.

Why didn't the necklace work later on? I'll cover that in the epilogue. Have patience.

What will happen to Colette? Find out in the next chapter.

Review on how this chapter is—I hope I kept my word on making this better than ten, at least! I rewrote this four times!

~Katrina

Thank you immensely:

Eternal Queen-I promise I will. ^^ Sokorra Lewis-well, she isn't thrilled, but she does enjoy making a great impression. Dannie7-unfortunately Ron's out cold while Draco and Ginny are snogging, LOL! Sydney Lynne-yup, you're right. =) And I thought it'll be more fun with the trio here! tricklingdust-thanks for liking the chapter and Ron! I just wasn't happy with the whole explanation thing, which is just weird. KeeperOfTheMoon-thanks, and of course I'll update, for you reviewers! Crystal-aww thanks so much! SugarGirl-don't worry. Draco isn't beat up yet. Maybe later… Ezmerelda-well, they did, even if they are a little dense. MelissaAdams-I really tried to update, but everything just wasn't right. I'm really sorry. Angelic-pen-wow, thank you! That made me feel so good. CHampagne-sorry for missing you, and glad you like the chapter anyway despite its boringness. Rainpuddle-my, your beautiful review! All I can say is that I'm really moved and it really makes me feel good. SAKURAnTOKYO-LOL at the end I did get kind of high. Sakura1287-hmm, well I guess Colette's just really good at hiding her evilness. And the rest…I can only say thank you because I'm really touched. Crystal Lily-don't worry about Draco. He'll be fine…in the emergency room. No, I promise he won't do that bad. Gabie-really? You didn't think they're a bit too many details? *nervous* Wow, thanks! Tickleboom76-lol well we need a way to beat up Draco…*smile* meLisSa-you're being nice, aren't you? But I love you anyway! Princess Amelia-I tried *wail* but I couldn't! Magic Girl2-I know, the dragon thing was nearing supernatural, which I didn't plan. And Ginny courageous…let's say the necklace did it. *runs away* kim-yup, at the end I was high on sugar… Tifa-ah, but Colette has her scary Death Eaters. Damn her, LOL. Louisa Potter-really? Thanks for being so nice. fawkesyPhoenix-really? I'm glad you liked it. Ohepless Oramtnci-sure, and thanks! giggles-^^ yup. Neni Potter-of course they're in love. Molly will have more scenes toward the end. oranfly-I know, and I planned to expand on that, but I was too lazy and tired. So let's say the dragon protected them… Enter the Red Age-whoa, got me scared there. ^^ Raclswt-well, you'll see. But let's just say I favor happy endings. Dashara-I won't stop updating, don't worry. I just delayed a bit. ishical1-really? I'm flattered. =D Lizzie Malfoy-really? You aren't just saying that to be nice? Wow thanks then! CupNoodle-*grin* thanks! dreammaker128-you watch Pokemon too? Yeah! iceheart-04-I promise that Molly will play quite a role. hpangel-thank you! *sobs being so touched* Americasweetie-that's all right. You reviewed, and that's what counts. I know, Colette's off her rockers. SAngel-thank you! London-I promise they'll live the life you envisioned. DA_FUDGE-thanks! Roller coaster ride…I'm honored. DracoGinnyfan-it's a bit late…don't hate me! Lolita-thanks for the sweet review and the tomatoes. nnette-don't beg, I'll be happy to write. frananddragon-I should've gotten a thesaurus…anyway, devinette is a real word. Glad you think it's unique, and you're perfectly right about the necklace. xangelcrisisx-nope! She's still giving our heroes troubles…but now she is. Venus-thanks for saying that the fic's good. On the pairings…I sail HMS Pumpkin Pie, and Fire and Ice as a lurker. I don't mind D/Hr and H/C I suppose, but R/Hr is a no-no for me, meaning no offense. Leeta-thanks. Fernanda-really? That means a lot to me. CoolBlue-I'll try. *runs away* Imagine-hey, I joined, but I'm not sure of how to post my story. Help! Skitters/Ice Maraud-wow, so many reviews! Thank you, and I'm glad you like the fic. goldenstar555-there won't be a lot left. I'm officially brain dead. FZ-thanks, and yes D/G rulez! kitkatgalie-I figured he just had sex with a veela. Yes, you're right about the necklace. enoimreh-oh that's so sweet, wishing for the next chappie. =) Violet Princess-I don't mind your rambling. I love your review all the same. Oh, vol means theft (dictionary lol) so I guess the name means theft of death, probably he wants to be immortal or something. Silindro-Colette will die. I promise. Goddess of Darkness-there'll be more chapters…but probably no sequels. Sabrina-but I like cowardly Draco! ^^ But thanks, I'm really flattered. jane-valar-thanks! I hope I won't disappoint with the action. PaintedDragon-ooh thanks. Italian? That's cool. I want to learn all the romance language, but since my French sucks… WindWalker-that's so sweet of you! Thank you. smile-you didn't have to wait long =D PinkChubbyMonkey-here! Here!

People I missed on review list: tell me or email me and I'll add you during the revision.

People I missed on mailing list: tell me in your reviews and put your email address.

Sorry in advance!