Rachel bit her lip to keep from screaming. The HORROR, the PAIN of it all was absolutely unbearable and it seemed to have absolutely no end. She could feel the temperature of her blood rising and dropping as she tried to work her way through such mental anguish. Narcissa, Bellatrix, and a lot of the other female Death Eaters inhabited one of the ballrooms, making arrangements for the wedding. Rachel, herself was standing quite uncomfortably on a footstool while Mrs. Zabini worked on her dress. Now you would think that Rachel, as the bride, would have some part in her own wedding plans, or at least be consulted about her opinions. That was very unlikely, given the fact that she had absolutely no idea as to what her wedding would be like. They told her it was to be a typical Death Eater wedding as befits their rank and status of nobility, and that it would be a wonderful affair.

"Mother? Are you ladies DONE yet?" Draco asked from the other side of the door. "Rachel and I had PLANS..." This was, of course, a lie. He knew that the preparations were a rather swelling pain in the backside for both of them and thought that the only possible way to get them out of all the chaos was to allow the adults to think that they were forming a relationship.

"You can have her in just a few minutes!" Mrs. Zabini snapped. "I'm almost done with her dress!" She played with the skirt a bit and pulled out a few pins. "Done." Even though there was so much noise in the room and so much chaos going on, all the women stopped unanimously and stared at Rachel.

"What, is it that horrid?" Rachel had picked the design for her dress from the selections that Ressala Zabini had set out for her a few weeks ago. She thought it was pretty. She stepped down and looked into the mirrored wall at her reflection. Her dress had a blood red bodice with black lace trim and a black, semi- puffed out skirt. The sleeves were black poufs and the whole thing was very form fitting and it was beautiful on her. She turned around, watching the skirt flare out and she grinned at her reflection. When she finished admiring her dress, she looked over at the women in the room. They were all looking at her with pride, some close to tears, and Narcissa had her hands clasped over her mouth in joy.

"You look so beautiful..." She breathed, walking over to Rachel and fussing with her dress. "If only your Mother was here, shed be so proud..." Narcissa blew heavily into a handkerchief. Bellatrix handed Rachel a blood colored rose and stood back to admire the complete picture. She hadn't done her hair or make-up any special way, leaving it down and her eye shadow the heavy gothic way it always was, but it was so beautiful.

"Hello! Getting impatient out here!" Draco's voice interrupted the moment. "I'm coming in there!"

"Draco Thomas Malfoy! You come in here and I will KILL you!" Narcissa shrieked, a lot tougher than anyone in the room thought she could be. "You cannot see Rachel in her dress before the wedding!" "I'll be out in a few minutes!" Rachel assured. "I love it, Mrs. Zabini, thank you..."

"You're welcome, dear." She pat Rachel on the shoulder. "Why don't you change into your normal clothes, well take care of the dress."

"Okay." Rachel reached behind her and started to undo the laces that held the dress on her, letting it slip down to the floor where she stepped out of it and handed it off to Mrs. Zabini.

"This is getting quite annoying," Draco leaned on the door, which apparently hadn't been bolted properly because he fell right into the room, knocking right into Rachel. Into Rachel in her UNDERGARMENTS.

"YOU BASTARD!" She threw him off of her and jumped behind the closest piece of furniture. "We TOLD you not to come in here!" "I didn't do it on purpose!" He spat as he got up from the floor. "Besides, I didn't see anything I wouldn't see eventually anyway." He smirked at her.

"Oh, don't be so sure about THAT!" Rachel came out from behind the couch, fully dressed due to a flick of her wand.

"Now you two," Narcissa warned. "Just try to get along!"

"Fine." Rachel sighed.

"Fine?" Draco choked.

"Fine." She nodded. "Are we on for dinner still?"

"Uh, yeah..." Draco said a little shocked.