Author's Note: As you might have guessed, I own nothing that has been mentioned in JKR's books. To make a short presentation, the action takes place right after HPB, starting in the summer vacation, before what should be Harry's 7th year at Hogwarts. Also, allow me to introduce the Craide family: pureblood wizards and supporters of Voldemort – you'll learn more about them as the story unfolds.

1. The Party

A knock on the large wooden door broke the silence of the room. Riana had just finished dressing and was sitting before a mirror, pushing back a loose strand of blonde hair that didn't seem to want to stay where it was supposed to.

"Come in." she said, absently.

She was a little nervous, and with good reason. Her father had mentioned to her that they, she and her brother, were to meet some 'very special friends', which in her book clearly spelled 'Death Eaters'. She always hated being around such people – they were unpredictable and dangerous, not to mention disgusting. But Riana had no choice but to follow her father's orders. Speaking of the wolf… she thought, as she watched the tall, blonde, blue-eyed man enter her room.

"Aren't you ready yet?" he snapped at her.

Deke Craide seemed even more nervous than she was, which was rather unusual for him. Of course, she knew the reason: she had been the only Ravenclaw after a very long line of Slytherins in the family. That had made her mother proud, but her father had been very disappointed. He was always harsh to her, when she was to be in the company of his aquaintances.

"Actually, I am." She replied coldly, moving toward the doorway.

Deke only nodded and extended his arm to her, which she took reluctantly. Leaving the door for a House Elf to close, he walked Riana through a long corridor, to a set of stairs. From the top, she could see the familiar living room, now filled with a great number of people. Obviously, her father had thrown another one of his elaborate parties, to mask a meeting with certain people. And it took Riana only a few moments to spot some key figures: Lucius Malfoy, and his son, Draco. She frowned. They definitely weren't the kind of people in the presence of which she could spend a pleasant evening. Unfortunately for her, the Malfoys had been friends with the Craides for generations, and Lucius and Deke had always seemed to be particularly fond of each other.

Her father was just starting to get impatient, when, from the other end of the hall, the figures of Rebecca and Garren made themselves seen. Riana was a little surprised to see that her mother was wearing her black hair loose, something she hadn't done for years. Her brother looked particularly distinguished as well: he was the splitting image of his mother, after all. For a brief moment, she wondered if it all had a reason, but the thought was quickly thrown aside.

As her mother and brother reached the stairs, Riana could hear her father whisper a "Took you long enough" under his breath, but immediately after, he put on his polite smile, took his wife by her waist and made their entrance downstairs. Garren followed them, his posture proud. Riana chuckled to herself. Her little brother wanted to seem relaxed, but instead he managed to spread the impression that he had a fairly long broomstick shoved up his rear.

The whole scene was too familiar to the woman, and what was to come, far too predictable. Deke and Rebecca had stopped right in front of Lucius, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. Riana and Garren followed.

"Wonderful to see you all here." Deke began, with a small bow.

Riana rolled her eyes, as her father repeated the gesture to both mrs. Malfoy and her son, and they returned a similar greeting. He couldn't have meant them… We've known them for ages. She thought, trying to throw another look around the room, as discretely as she could, intending to spot the person her parents wanted her to meet. Unfortunately, just then Deke turned everyone's attention to her, and she had to give up her search in favor of a pleasant smile and a nod to the Malfoys, as her father told them:

"Of course, you remember our daughter, Riana… our son, Garren."

Riana had distinctly noticed a superior look from Lucius, a cold and indifferent one from his wife, and an equally arrogant and mocking one from Draco. The boy had been in his first year when she was in her last one at Hogwarts. One year was enough time for him to notice that she had been equally friendly to Muggleborns, and that was enough to earn her the label 'Blood Traitor'.

As they started to comment on the weather, Riana resumed her scanning of the room. They were definitely supposed to meet someone, so why were they wasting time talking nonsense. Unless, they haven't arrived yet. She thought. Then she caught a glimpse of Draco's expression. He was grinning, his eyes expressing irony. So he knows who it is. And the thought made her dislike the situation even more. Her brother, on the other hand, was throwing Malfoy inquiring looks, hoping that his fellow Slytherin would give him some clue as to what they were waiting for.

And, without warning, a low voice spoke from right behind them.

"Good evening, Deke, I hope we find you well."

Riana turned around, along with the rest of her family, only to meet the familiar face of her old Potions Professor, Severus Snape. He's got some nerve, showing his face in public! The news of Dumbledore's death – where and how it happened – had obviously spread with the speed of lightning.

As her father was going through the polite exchange of greetings and showed the unbelievable hypocrisy of pretending that he didn't expect to see him there, Riana noticed that Snape hadn't come on his own. There was a man standing next to him. A man that made chills run through her spine. He had sharp fangs and claws, and he hadn't even had the decency of dress into something that wasn't stained with blood.

Her eyes still on the man, and overcome by repulsion, Riana returned her attention to the conversation just in time to hear Snape introduce him.

"Fenrir Greyback."

A quick look behind her revealed a grinning Lucius and a rather uncomfortable and slightly more pale Draco. Turning her gaze to Deke, she noticed, by the expression on her father's face, that he knew the man, and that he was the one they were expecting. They shook hands, and mr. Craide muttered loud enough for the Malfoys to hear as well:

"Let's get to business."

Without a single word more, he made his way through the crowd, with the rest of the group right behind him. Rebecca had remained behind to see to the guests, who seemed to be clueless, as always, about the real reason they were there.

As they left the room, Draco made his way to Riana's side.

"Your Mudblood friends doing alright?" he asked, mockingly.

"Actually they are, thank you." She replied coldly. She decided she wasn't going to lower herself to his level.

"Just wait 'till you see what plans they have for you." He continued, in the same tone.

This time, a drop of fear made itself noticed on Riana's face. No, she definitely didn't want anything to do with any of them. Her father wouldn't make her get involved with them… Or would he? Seeing the expression on her face, Draco laughed.

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep her calm.

But the boy never had a chance to answer. They had reached Deke's study, and entered. Draco left her side, to join his father's. Just then Riana noticed that Narcissa had also stayed behind.