The day following the raid, I woke up late and carefully sat up, putting my feet on the floor. Everything I moved hurt horribly. I tilted my head from left to right, letting the vertebrae crack. I put one knee up on my bed and winced as I bent it. It was more sore than the other from being hit with the stunner. I used it to crack both sides of my back and sighed some. God, it hurt so bad. No amount of training could've prepared me for that night. I yawned and scratched my head under my matted locks. I stood up carefully and stretched backwards, then forwards, then all over. When I could finally move freely with little pain I decided that I was okay to go and shower.

I went into my bathroom and turned on the spray, letting it get hot. I turned on the massage spray and let it hit me. It felt so good. I took a long, slow, hot shower, letting the water hit every part of me. And I do mean every part.

My eyes fluttered closed and leaned against the marble wall of my shower, panting some. I hung up the shower head and rinsed off again before shutting it off and getting out, dripping all over my fuzzy purple rug. I grabbed my towel down and dried off, then dried my hair some with it. I grabbed my hair towel and put it up after wrapping my own self in the folds of purple terrycloth. I went to my mirror and used my fist to clear the steam and sighed at my reflection. I looked a little rough, what with the cuts all over my face and neck and shoulders. I pulled out my wand and did a few healing charms and watched the red vanish.

I pulled open my drawer and pulled out my makeup tray and set it on the counter of my sink. I went to the bathroom door and yanked it open, letting the cool air wash over me. I shivered some and went back doing my makeup normally.

It was about that time that I heard talking from downstairs. I didn't really pay attention as I finished up, my hair now dry and done, as I went into my room and pulled open my closet, grabbing down my worn-out corset and skirt. I just finished tying it off when Lucius's cold voice struck a nerve of recognition in my brain.

And then I heard the second voice and couldn't stop the smile from spreading over my face.

Draco.

I looked myself over in my full length mirror, ruffling up my hair and fixing my eyeliner and lipstick before bolting from my room and hurrying down the stairs.

"Draco!" I said happily, but that emotion didn't last long.

I stopped next to the last step from the bottom and stared at him with his am around some tramp that I didn't recognize. She had short black hair, and her face reminded me of an old pug-dog that my Aunt Cylvia had once owned. The dog was an annoying little bitch, and from the looks of this girl, I guessed that they had come from the same litter.

"Who are you?" I demanded of her.

"Pansy Parkinson," she said snidely as she lay her hand on Draco's chest. "I'm Draco's fiancee...Who are you?" The ring on her finger looked big enough to sink the Titanic.

"Fiancee?" I said, my gaze moving to Draco and my eyes narrowing. "He didn't tell me that he was engaged." My voice was even, and calm. But if looks could kill, he would have been dead a year ago.

His lips pulled up to a smirk. "Oops," he said off handedly.

It took all I had to not pound him into dirt at that moment. That damn smug smirk on those damn perfect lips on his damn perfect face on his damn perfect body...

I wanted to pound myself into dirt for even thinking that... "You're an ass, Malfoy," I hissed before turning on my heel and going back up the steps.

"What a bitch!" I heard the little harlot say.

Draco laughed. "That's funny."

"What is love?"

"You just called the Dark Lord's daughter a bitch..." he snickered.

I didn't hear anything after that because I slammed my door and locked it.

Why did I keep bothering with him anyways...

Father had decided that it would be a good idea to host a Halloween Ball. I really don't know why, but part of me felt that it was because he was making a feeble attempt at throwing me a party. He really didn't know me well. I hated balls. And gowns. And dressing up. Most days...

I sighed as I got out of the shower the day of the ball and pulled on my sweats. I liked them a lot better in the cold weather than my night gown. I pulled on my bra and a tank top and lay on my bed, pulling over a book.

A knock on the door pulled me from my research and I looked up. "It's open," I called, sticking my nose back where it belonged, in the pages of my father's old spell book.

I heard the door open and shut again. "Why aren't you ready?" I heard Bella ask, her voice a defeated tone. It was like she didn't know what to do with me. She wasn't the first, either.

I raised my eyes from the inked words on my pages and looked at her. "Maybe because I'm not going?" I said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Your father is doing this for you, Layla." Thought as much.

"So? If he threw it, he can enjoy it. I'm. Not. Going."

"You have to," she insisted, trying to find the dress that she'd bought me in my closet.

"He can kill me, that's fine and dandy. I really don't care. I'm not going to the ball, Bella."

She gave me a look. "He is not going to kill you. You just have to go a few minutes...That's all the longer he's staying. Then you can leave and carry out your night of being lazy and moping."

"I am not moping!" I snapped as I threw the book on my desk. "Fine. I'll go to the damn thing, but you keep Draco and that...that cow he's engaged to away from me.

She laughed some and looked at me, her eyes glittering. "I told you. You fancy him."

I turned on her with a glare. "You cannot tell anyone, especially Father," I told her, not even bothering to deny the fact that she was convinced she knew. "He will slaughter me. The muggle way."

She just grinned at me. "I know. Get dressed!" \]

I grabbed the dress from her and went to the bathroom, stripping and changing into the massive amounts of black and blue fabric and lace. The dress was Victorian styled, my favorite era, and had small ruffles of hand-sewn black lace adorning it. I put on my makeup, making my face and chest look slightly paler. I looked like a vampire. I was already pasty white, despite living in California for six years. Bella helped me get my massive amounts of hair up in chopsticks (Bella knew what it was like. We curiously had the same type of hair). I pulled on my boots and sighed.

"Happy?" I snapped sarcastically at her

She just smiled. I sighed and pulled on my little black lace gloves and followed her down to the banquet room.

Father was waiting on me and he looked me over, and gave, what I assumed was, an approving nod. He entered the hall ahead of me.

We headed to our table which was at the front of the room. His followers stood and waited for us to sit down before seating themselves. Father stood up again after drinks were poured and spoke. I didn't really pay attention to him or what he was saying. I didn't really care. I instead sat looking around the hall. It was done beautifully. There were fairy lights all around the ceiling, and the soft white light was all that there was in the hall. It was like being in a dream. There weren't too many people there. There were the thirty or so followers of my father, each sat at a table with their own family and another. Then there was Greyback, who had about twelve or thirteen younger looking weres at two tables with him. After that there was one or two tables with supporters from other countries. I recognized a few from America.

Draco sat at a table with his mother on one side of him. On the other side sat the pug-nosed little bitch that decided to show up out of no where and exist all of a sudden, and her family-her father, mother, and two sisters. At the long main table where I was sitting, Bella sat to my right, my father on my left, and Lucius on the other side of him. I assumed, had Bella's husband been still living, he would have been seated on the other side of Lucius. However, I realized, that before me, Bella and Lucius would have been his main two members. Then Lucius had gone and gotten himself caught. Ass...

There was a small amount of applause and Father took his seat again. He looked at Bella over my head and she smiled. They stayed a few moments longer, finishing up their drinks, and then Father stood, raising his hand and music slowly drifted through the hall. Father stood and kissed my head.

"Happy Birthday, Layla."

I managed a small forced smile. "Thank you, Father..."

He swept out of the hall, Bella and a few others following him, leaving me alone with all of the followers.

I stayed in my seat, sipping on the champagne that had been given to me, and trying to make myself not focus on the taste. I hated champagne, but it was the only alcohol in the room.

Some of my father's followers kept looking at me, thinking I couldn't see them staring and talking. I made eye contact a few times and they would bow their heads a little in respect. I'd give them a short nod, and they would resume their conversation.

I sighed as I took the last swig of my drink and stood up, heading for the door.

"Having fun?" I heard the cool voice ask me. The back of my neck prickled and my cheeks started to burn, as well as my eyes.

"No, I'm not having fun," I spat, not facing Draco. "Hence, why I'm heading towards the door."

"Wanna dance?" he said

"No, I don't want to dance. Your fiancee will be upset."

There was a small moment of silence between us before he said, "So?"

I sighed heavily and turned to face him. "You told me that your parents wanted you to marry her, not that they were already planning it, Draco."

"Why do you care?" he said, looking confused. "We shagged a few times, that's it."

I rolled my eyes. "It's a little awkward to know that I was sleeping with a boy who was planning his wedding."

He made a face. "I'm not enjoying it, the whole wedding-fiancee thing..."

"Well, you could have fooled me," I said softly, crossing my arms.

"Sex and being married. Two completely different things. I'm with her because our parents want it, and because she's an alright shag. That's it."

"Why are you following me?"

"I wanted to dance with you..."

I bit down on my tongue and groaned a little. "Ugh...fine...One song, then I'm going to bed..."

He smirked some and took my hand, taking me to the small dance floor, and taking my hand and waist. I sighed and placed my hand on his shoulder, trying to keep him at a distance.

It was quiet between us for a while as we just swayed to the music. I finally opened my mouth to diffuse a little bit of the tension.

"So...After you're married to her, you're still going to look for other girls?"

He chuckled some. "Most likely."

"What if it wasn't Parkinson?"

His shoulders shrugged some under my hand. "Maybe. If it was someone I actually wanted to be with, someone I picked myself to be with for the rest of my life, I guess then I wouldn't..."

"Wouldn't that mean you'd find a girl that you loved."

He slowly nodded. "Yeah..."

"That doesn't exist," I informed him harshly.

He just shrugged again. "Maybe, maybe not."

"It doesn't." I muttered. "Trust me, it doesn't."

He just looked down at me. "Then I guess I won't find it..."

I pulled back from him, heaving a sigh. "If love existed..." I started, but my voice wavered and I bit my lip.

He pulled my back to him, holding me close. "If it did, then what?"

I was searching for something to say. "If...if love existed...then..." I was stammering as I desperately searched. "Then things would be different..."

"Like?" he prompted me.

"A lot of things..."

He spun me in a small circle and dipped me backwards, leaving me no where to look but up into his bright blue eyes as I held onto his neck. My breath hitched and my heart fluttered.

"It's not real...It's not real..." I muttered as he slowly pulled me back up. "It's not real..."

He stroked my face as he stared back into my eyes. "It could be..." he whispered softly into my lips before pressing his to mine.

I was stunned. I slowly kissed him back, my eyes closing.

It only lasted a moment before I felt someone grab my hair and rip me away from him.

"YOU BITCH!" Pansy screamed. "Get your filthy lips off of him!"

I stumbled backwards and hit the floor, gasping.

Draco grabbed her and pulled her to his side and a little behind him, in some sort of attempt to put himself between her and I. "Calm down..." he told her softly.

I looked up at them, dazed. "Don't you ever touch him again, you whore!" she screamed at me, making Draco smirk some.

He led her away back to a table, smirking back at me the whole time.

Some of my father's followers were watching, a few chuckled at the scene. I got up and stormed out of the hall, the doors slamming closed behind me.

I ran to my room and slammed my door, screaming, tears running down my face. I hated him! I hated that bastard! How dare he make me look like an idiot?

I saw my Death Eater robes laying on my chair and I grabbed them, my breath heaving with anger an hurt.

How could he say all of that to me? How could he say that he'd make it real, then go and defend her like that. How could he even do something like that to me?

I held the soft robes in my hand and I looked up at myself in the mirror.

My hair was starting to get frizzy, my makeup was running. My chest was heaving up and down inside the bodice that Bella had me laced in. My whole body was trembling with anger.

I looked down at the robes in my hand again and opened them up, slipping them on and fastening them. I looked into the mirror and pulled the hood up, my eyes hidden in the shadows.

No one makes a fool out of Layla Riddle. No one.

I grabbed my wand and headed back down towards the hall.

I didn't touch a single door on my way there, they all jumped open ahead of me, my rage flaring dangerously.

The doors to the hall slammed open and the lights went dim. Everyone turned to look at me. I strode to the center of the room, where my father's banquet table was sitting, and I jumped up on it. "Draco Malfoy," I growled. "You and your bitch..."

He stood up, keeping Pansy behind him. "What do you want, Riddle?"

I flicked my wand at him, using Imperius, and made them walk to me. Draco looked ready to grab for his wand at any moment. I jerked my wand up and broke the curse.

They stood in front of me, looking up at me. "Bow, you bitch," I hissed, looking at Pansy, jumping down from the table and landing in front of them. They both backed up a few steps.

"Never..." Pansy whispered.

My eyes flashed and I slapped her across the face, making her fall back onto the floor clutching her cheek. "I said bow!"

She cowered on the floor as Draco kneeled down beside her, his eyes locked on me, as if to ask me why I was doing this.

I glared at him and turned my focus back to Pansy. "Crucio!"

She screamed out, writhing on the floor, sobbing. Draco stared at me, stunned. "Layla, stop it!"

I stopped and looked at him, my anger just mounting more and more by the moment.

"You do not order me, Malfoy. Ever. Crucio!"

He gasped, screaming in pain, his body twitching on the floor beside Pansy, who was in the fetal position, whimpering and trembling.

I broke the curse on Draco, who pushed himself to his hands and knees, panting.

I went to Pansy and grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to her knees in front of me. Draco looked up at me. "Layla, let her go..."

I shot him a glare. "You're next, so shut up, Mafoy," I hissed before flicking my wand out and muttering, "Shearo..." My wand became like a knife in my hand and I grabbed Pansy's hair from behind, pulling her head back and exposing her neck.

"What the hell are you doing?" Draco cried out, looking terrified.

I held the blade to her neck and looked at him. "You were right..." I said quietly to him. "It could have been between us...But now...it will never be..."

"Merlin you are thick!" He yelled at me.

I stopped and looked at him, shoving Parkinson down to the ground on her face. "Excuse me, I'm the thick one?" I yelled. "You're the one that goes around not even telling the girls you're with that you're engaged to this mutt! You can't be honest about anything for just ONE single second of your life! I am not the thick one!"

"Yes you are! I wanted something and you said no! I actually wanted to be with you and you said no to me! So yes! Yes you are the thick one!"

"You did not want to be with me!" I screamed, getting in his face. " I ASKED you! I asked you if it was the shagging that you liked, or if it was actually me! You said it was the shagging!"

It was silent in the hall as everyone's eyes were turned on us.

"I only said that because you seemed like you didn't want to be with me!"

"And I was trying not to fall in love with you so you could keep your life! If my father found out about-"

"Layla..." came the cool voice from behind me.

I froze and my face paled. I turned to face my Father and fell to my knees in a bow. "F-Father..."

Draco paled too, and bowed beside me.

"What the devil is going on in here?" he said, looking around the hall.

I paused for a moment before slowly looking up into his face. "It was me...Parkinson got in my way and I freaked...I overreacted..."

Pansy stared at me. "You bitch, you were going to slit my throat!" she screamed at me. "Not to mention the fact that you've been sleeping with Draco!"

I closed my eyes, willing her to just shut the hell up. Father's gaze slowly turned back to me, his eyes burning.

Draco stood up beside me. "My Lord, it was my fault..."

I grabbed him by the bottom of the robes and pulled him down to his knees on the floor again. "Stay. Down!" I hissed at him, before getting up and going to my father.

"I was alone...Draco wanted to be my friend, and I used him. I seduced him and put him under spells to get my way with him. I was jealous and I let it get way too far out of control."

"Layla, shut up, let me take it!" Draco hissed, getting up again and coming to stand at my shoulder.

I waved my hand some and put him under a silencing charm to keep him from getting killed. He glared at me, but I didn't really care. I looked up at my father. "I'll take my punishment..."

Father looked down at me, his eyes furious. "I told you that I would find someone for you, someone that I found appropriate for you! And you went and slept with him?"

I slowly nodded, my eyes stinging. I knew the disappointment that I was. "Father, I'm sorry...It was before you told me...and I broke it off the moment that you did, I swe-"

His hand connected with my face and I gasped, holding my cheek. "We will discuss this later." He looked around at all of his followers. "Leave," he hissed.

Draco went to Pansy as everyone left and helped her up, holding her close and walking towards the door with her.

Father turned to watch them. "Parkinson, you may leave. Malfoy, here. Now."

Draco looked down into Pansy's eyes and kissed her head before sending her on her way and coming back to stand beside me in front of my father.

He stared at us both for a moment before putting us under the Cruciatus curse.

I screamed out, falling to my knees on the floor, the pain was horrible, like my blood had been turned to fire, and was eating its way through my veins and body. My vision was white with agony and pain and tears ran down my faith.

And as quickly as it had been laid on us, Father lifted it.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Father roared.

"Wh-which one of us?" I gasped out.

"Both of you!"

I looked up at him. "Father, it was me...Please, leave Draco out of this..."

He looked at me, his eyes so disappointed. "I had picked someone for you. I was going to tell you tonight after the ball." I covered my mouth and let out a small sob as he continued. "He's a young pureblood wizard...I thought he would have been good for you."

"Father..." I said sniffling.

"What?" he snapped, looking at me.

"Father, I'm sorry!"

"Did you think that I wouldn't find out?" He yelled at me.

"I really hoped you wouldn't!" I admitted. "It was only a few times! As soon as you told me that you would pick someone for me, I stopped it!"

He studied me for a moment, turning his head to Draco. "And you?"

I looked over at him, letting the spell I'd put on him to keep him quiet go, and begging him with my eyes to agree with me, knowing that Father would kill him.

Draco looked at me, then up to the face of my father. "That's it, just a few times, then it stopped. Everything stopped," he said, his tone somewhat bitter.

I let out the breath I didn't realize that I was holding. "Father?" I said softly. "Who...who was it?"

"My choice?" He said looking at me, then to Draco. "My choice was going to be Draco..."

I stared at him as he turned and left. I felt my heart break inside my chest. I sank to my knees, crying hard.

Draco came over to my and kneeled down beside me, his hand on my back. "Are you okay?"

"Just leave..."

"No..."

"Yes!"

"I'm staying..." he insisted.

"Why?" I snapped. "So you can torture me some more?"

"I didn't want to torture you!"

I got up and shoved him some. "Yes you did! You wanted to play games with me! You wanted to watch me suffer!"

"I wanted to make you jealous!"

"Well, you did what you set out to!"

"Exactly!

I just glared at him and raised my hand to hit him across the face, but sighed and dropped it. "Just...run home to Pansy...Have a wonderful fucking life!" I screamed, running out of the hall and up to my room, locking my door behind me.