Disclaimer/Author's Note: Okay, this is the fifth time I've said this... Anyone else beginning to feel this is just pointless and repetitive, yet, or am I alone? It's just something to fill up more room at the top of my stories. Oh, yeah, I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. Are we good now? Good. Thanks, Mo, for reading and commenting on my story! Love you like a sister, girly. Now, on with the story...

Chapter Five

Dawn took a deep breath, her eyes closing as she did so, and her fingers curling into fists at her sides. That arrogant prick. How dare he use her transformation against her to keep her from pushing him away. But, she couldn't allow him to go to her father about it, or Nicholae would be even more angry with her than he already was that evening. A moment later, Dawn felt a hand slip into her's, and she opened her eyes to see Sai looking up at her.

Sai shook her head when Dawn forced a smile to come to her lips, "I don't believe that one for a minute, Dawn. Aubrey's a prat, and doesn't deserve your attention. Not one little bit of it..." She complained, squeezing Dawn's hand and looking over at Draco, who had taken up glaring after the retreating Aubrey, "You're not really going to have to marry him, are you?" She asked, turning her attention back to her cousin.

Dawn could only sigh at this question, taking a deep breath before attempting to answer, "I might have to, Sai. It's not unheard of in the Wizarding world for two families of Pure-blood to arrange a marriage between their children, often without telling both of the children involved until absolutely necessary. And, it seems that this is what had happened in this case..." Her voice was low, a defeated tone slowly making it's way into her voice, her eyes fixed on the ground.

Draco stepped forward before Sai could speak, his lips twitching into a frown, "There are ways of getting out of it, though, Chandler..." He muttered, keeping his eyes on the house before him, "Not that I honestly care, but if you truly want to get out of it, I'm sure you could come up with something. You're not stupid, not in the slightest, so put put that brain to good use and get out of marrying that stupid prat. I should go back now, but I hope to see you at Quidditch try-outs when school starts back..." He bowed his head once before walking back towards the house, his cloak snapping behind him.

Sai watched him go, as did Dawn, before they started back towards the entrance to the house, neither of the two girls speaking aloud, keeping their thoughts silent. Dawn's mind whirled with the ways she could possibly get out of the marriage contract, of ways she could be rid of Aubrey without causing harm to herself. While she began to work this out in her mind, Sai was thinking of the one who'd just left. A child-like crush for the older Slytherin was beginning to form with this young girl, though she didn't realize that that was what it was at that time.

When the entered the house, Dawn led Sai straight to her room, closing the door behind her with a rather loud slam, and sitting one the edge of her bed. Sai sat on the window seat, covered in a soft black velvet, pulling her knees to her chest and propping her chin on her knees.

It wasn't long before their silence was shattered by the door opening, this time not even a warning knock was used by Nicholae. He stepped inside and narrowed his eyes, "Sai. Go to the guest room with Kyanna. I need to have a talk with Dawn..." He paused, not speaking again until Sai had gotten up and hurried from the room. Then, his gaze moved to his still quiet daughter, her eyes glaring at him, "What the hell is on your shoulder, Dawn Nyria Chandler?" He demanded, slamming the door shut behind him.

Dawn continued to glare at him as she stood and removed the cloak from her shoulders, revealing the rose tattoo, "What does it look like to you, Father?" She growled out through clenched teeth, anger burning in her eyes.

He rolled his eyes, stepping forward and grabbing her by the shoulder, looking down at her, "I cannot believe you would do this, and then dress like some lowly whore while we have guests. I have taught you better than that, Dawn. That's not even the worst part. I saw your little magic trick outside. Aubrey did not need to tell me. How could you do that after I forbade you to go any further into becoming an Animagus? You disobeyed me, Dawn, and yet you have the stupidity to anger my further tonight." His voice was low, and held a dangerous egde to it.

Dawn did not flinch, just looked up at him, her gaze locked on his and her lips clamped together. She refused to speak, knowing it would serve no purpose but to make him even angrier. His grip tightened on her shoulder as he pulled his wand from his pocket. Releasing her shoulder, he grabbed her left arm by the wrist, twisting it so that the bottom of her forearm was exposed, and in the process bringing a yelp from her lips.

"You refuse to join the Dark Lord. You disobey my orders and become an Animagus, an unregistered Animagus at that. You get that thing put on your shoulder. You dress like some low-class muggle whore in front of my guests. And, you expect to get off without punishment?" He tightened his grip on her wrist, placing the tip of his wand on the skin of her forearm, a sadistic smirk on his lips and a malicious gleam in his eyes. Without saying another word to her, he murmured a curse.

As he did so, an excruciating pain shot up her arm, making her want to fall to her knees. She cried up, but stayed on her feet, clenching her teeth and closing her eyes tightly. The pain continued for several moments before Dawn couldn't take it any more. She opened her eyes, but as she did so, her vision blurred and her mind blanked. A moment later, she'd fallen to the floor, her father having released her when she'd begun to pass out. The pain slowly faded away, but it left a reminded on her arm. A skull with a serpent slithering from it's mouth and coiling about the skull. Lord Voldemort's Dark Mark, the very same one that she'd resisted for three years.

Nicholae chuckled softly, looking down at his daughter, before lifting her up easily and placing her on the bed, then turning and walking from the room. She'd awaken soon enough and discover his handiwork, and in the morning there was very likely to be an arguement, but for now, he'd let her sleep. Tomorrow would come soon enough, for the both of them.

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Author's Note: Well, this one was a bit shorter than the others, but like I said, it was going to have to be a bit shorter because of my longer chapters prior to this one. Now that Dawn's been given quite a few challenges to overcome, let's see how she does. All this and the poor girl hasn't even gotten to her Sixth year at Hogwarts... Tsk. Tsk. Bad Nicholae. Always causing trouble. Right then. Well, read and review, as always. I love to hear what you thought, your opinion, whatever you'd like to call it.