Authors note: Hey readers. This is my final chapter. I'd like to thank those who followed my story and stuck by me until the end despite my novice abilty. I hope you enjoy the ending! And if you have any suggestions as to another story idea, I really like Dahlia, I've grown attached to her despite her attempts at breaking up one of my favorite couples.

Chapter 10

Reasons

Harry and Ron stared at Dahlia. They had never murdered anyone. Technically.

"You must be mistaken. We haven't murdered anyone." Ron explained. He saw Dahlia's grip on Hermione tighten again. Hermione began wimpering, as the pressure of Dahlia's arms forced down on her chest and he began to get angry. Angry at Dahlia for tricking him. Angry at himself for falling for such a snake.

Dahlia laughed. "Come here, Sombrelune." Ron's eyes grew wide. Did she just say something in what he thought she said it in. His stomach twisted.

"No," Hermione gasped. "You can't be..." Harry stared straight at Dahlia, wondering who she was calling for.

"I am here Mistress." Came a voice from the doorway. Harry turned to see who else was in on the plot, but saw nobody. Suddenly he felt something around his ankles. Looking down, he saw it, slowly moving towards its master.

Dahlia let go and shoved Hermione towards Actovious, who grabbed her by the wrists, as if she were handcuffed. Dahlia leaned down and picked up who Harry could only assume was Sombrelune. "Isn't she beautiful? She's an Egyptian asp. Many Egyptians worshipped these snakes as a sign of royalty, but who could blame them. She's gorgeous."

Hermione looked at Dahlia, stunned. "You can talk to snakes? That must mean..." Hermione shook her head. "No. It's impossible."

"It's time to face the facts, Hermione dear. They've been in front of you all along. I'm surprised you didn't notice before," Dahlia stroked Sombrelune, "No use in doubting it now."

"How can you be the heir of Slytherin if Tom Riddle never loved?" Hermione asked, still trying to wrestle free of the man's grip, but failing. Ron and Harry's mouth dropped.

"You, beautiful you came from that ugly thing?" Ron asked. Hermione glared at him. "Just saying..."

"Aww, even when you are about to die you're sweet." Dahlia said blushing. "However, as to answer Hermione, there is more to romance than love. You can live your entire life without finding love, but lust, lust everyone finds. My mother was a veela, even my father couldn't resist her charms. It was a onetime thing, but somehow she still conceived."

"That would make you a half-veela then, wouldn't it?" Hermione asked, finally giving up on Actovious.

"Look who's finally catching on," Actovious sneered.

"Don't be so rude, Actovious dear." Dahlia frowned. "I apologize for his behavior. He's been kind of testy lately. He hasn't enjoyed his girlfriend kissing other guys."

"So, my mouth has touched the mouth that touched his mouth? That's disgusting!" Ron said, scrunching his nose.

"Yes." Dahlia said, and then laughed. "Well, let's get back down to business. Actovious, keep those two out of this. This is between me and my father's murderer." The serpent slid down her leg and joined Actovious by keeping Ron occupied.

"I hate spiders, but I really don't like snakes either." Ron complained backing away. Dahlia pulled her wand out of her boot. "Shall we begin?" Dahlia flicked her wand, barely giving Harry time to roll out of the way. A shot of sparks soared past his head.

"I don't want to fight you Dahlia." Harry said.

"Of course you do, Harry. You have to end the Slytherin family line here. You can't have us Riddles continuing to exist. We might destroy your entire life." Dahlia said. She was no longer smiling.

"Just because you're Riddles daughter doesn't mean you are evil too." Harry said, avoiding the death curse.

"Of course I'm evil. Avada Kedavra!" she sent again. "My mother was a veela, she lured men to their deaths and expected me to be perfect despite the fact that I have human blood, which can only lead to mistakes." She sent out purple sparks, the ones Dolohov had used in the Ministry. No doubt had she received her training from her father.

"And what of your father? You must have learned these spells from him," Harry replied.

Dahlia flared with anger. "Crucio!" It missed. "My father had me learning from the Death Eaters since I was five. I learned potions and the dark arts from them. He thought that since he had a child, he might as well make sure she was worth being called his daughter." More sparks flew from the wand.

Hermione and Ron were kept in the corner, unable to move. Hermione still had her human handcuffs on and Ron was paralyzed with fear from the snake that stood there. Actovious was interested in the fight between his girlfriend and the Chosen One. Hermione looked at the snake. "Ron," she whispered. He looked at her.

"I'm sorry Hermione. I didn't know-"

"Shhh! Ron! Petrificus Totalus." She told him, jerking her head toward the snake.

"What?"

"Petrificus Totalus. The snake Ron!" She told him when she saw his blank stare.

"Ohhh." Ron said and watched Actovious, to be sure he wasn't watching. He slowly pulled his wand out of his pocket. "Petrificus Totalus!" He yelled, pointing his wand at the snake. The snake froze, its tongue sticking out of its mouth.

"What the-" Actovious started as he turned toward the noise, but Hermione took advantage of his bewildered state and yanked one hand free. She elbowed him in the stomach.

"Avada Keda-" Dahlia began again, but she was suddenly wandless. She turned to see Ron with his wand pointed at her. Her snake was on the ground petrified, and Actovious was on the ground as Hermione pointed her wand at him.

"It's over Dahlia." Hermione said.

Dahlia kneeled down on the ground. Bewildered at first, but suddenly began to cry. "I don't care anymore! Why can't I be loved? My mother didn't love me because I wasn't perfect. My father never loved me because it was impossible for him. Ron never loved me. He only felt what my father felt for my mother because he was under a spell. He-" Dahlia pointed to Actovious, "doesn't love me! He only believes that being with me will make him the most powerful wizard alive!"

"But Dahlia, I do love you." Ron said. Hermione gaped at him. "Of course it isn't the same way I love Hermione, but... I love you in the way I love Harry, or the way Harry loves me. You opened up to me Dahlia. We connected that time we were together, even though you didn't tell the whole truth, you trusted me. That's all love needs."

Dahlia cried harder. "I loved the time we spent together," Harry continued, "It was fun hanging out with you. You were so upbeat and I couldn't help but feel better when you were around. Maybe you were acting, but it was still you."

"Dahlia," Hermione started. "I can't honestly say I loved you, but we had some fun times together. The time you helped me get ready for the party, I had so much fun and I felt relaxed. If you hadn't flirted with Ron, kissed him, or used a polyjuice potion and convinced my boyfriend that I didn't want to be with him anymore, I'm sure I could have loved you. I'm offering you another chance."

The sobbing stopped. Dahlia looked up, waiting to see which one had their wand aimed at her ready to finish her off, but all she saw were three faces staring back at her. Actovious took advantage of the moment and cast a spell at Harry.

"Sectumsempra!" He shouted, but Dahlia with her veela dexterity tackled him to the ground. Actovious' head hit the wall, and he was knocked out. Dahlia whimpered in pain. She rolled onto her back and Harry, Ron, and Hermione gasped.

"She was hit!" Hermione shouted. She got on the ground next to Dahlia. "Please, Dahlia, take my offer. I'll give you another chance."

Ron joined her on the ground and grabbed Dahlia's hand. "You were right Harry. She is cold."

Harry watched both of his friends join the Riddle girl on the ground. Wow, they were both quick to forgive. Ron forgave her for tricking him and Hermione forgave her for, well, stealing her boyfriend, impersonating her, kidnapping her and even trying to kill her. These two have more in common than I ever thought. He pulled out his wand and aimed it carefully at Dahlia's wound. He softly said the words that Snape, the Half-Blood Prince, had written in his potions book. Her wound slowly began to heal; however, she passed out from exhaustion.

Harry and Ron sat on a bench in the middle of campus as Hermione joined them. "How is she doing?" Harry asked Hermione, the only one of the three allowed in the dorm room they shared.

"Fine," Hermione replied, "but I haven't checked on her for over an hour." Hermione pulled out her textbook and began reading.

Harry and Ron looked at each other. "I'll be right back," Harry said. Hermione nodded, still reading. They sat there quietly for a few minutes after Harry had gone.

"Hermione?" he asked.

"Hmmm." she said, reading.

"I know we've had some issues lately, but I was wondering... are we together?"

Hermione sighed. "Yes Ron. The break-ups were just an illusion created by the power of a half veela, half Voldemort girl." She turned her attention back to her law book. She had to study since she had a test tomorrow.

"Then I hope you don't mind me asking..." Ron started, and then paused, "Hermione, will you marry me?"

Hermione stopped reading and looked up at him, surprised by the question. "What?"

"We've been best friends since we were eleven. We've fought several real battles and several emotional battles... together. I just wanted to make it official. Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

Hermione shook her head. "Ron..." she trailed of and then she smiled, "Of course I will." She leaned toward him and they embraced. She had never felt this excited, not even when she aced that exam last month.

Harry ran up to them. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Hermione, you're door was left open and your stuff rummaged through."

"WHAT!" she said, jumping up and running toward the dorm with Harry and Ron following closely. When they arrived, they found Hermione's things thrown on the ground and Dahlia missing. "That no good dirty snake!" Hermione shouted. She went to the bed and found a note. She read it, and then she carried it over to the guys and handed it to Harry.

Dearest friends,

I'm sorry to leave so suddenly and without warning. I'm sorry for the troubles I have caused you. Ron and Harry, I love you too. I felt like I could open up to you, and Ron, you especially, I never believed I was going to share so much information about my life with you that time we were together. That was no trick that was truly me. Harry, I think you know now why I was cold-skinned only to you. I hope that if we do meet in the future, you might be able to shake my hand without trembling. If not, I'll remember to bring gloves! And Hermione, my biggest apology goes to you. After everything I have done to you, you still chose to spare me, and give me another chance. I have left you a large bottle of that potion for your hair if you choose to use it. Who knows, you may need to look your best one of these days. I hope that we meet again, and that I have things to tell you of love and real romance, like the kind you have.

-Sincerely Yours,

Dahlia Grace

P.S. Sorry about the mess. I wanted my shoes back...