A/N : I just wanted to thank everyone for sticking it out with me. I never even imagined that I would go this far with any of my stories, let alone this one. I'm very grateful for everyone that has read these and I hope you continue to encourage fellow authors. If you'd like to see the dress that Riley's wearing go to this link .com/shop/dresses/viewitem-PD584724 . If you'd like to see her updo, enter this link in to your browser .com/short-hair-updo-styles-formal-hairstyles/ . Again, I thank everyone and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Bitten:

Meeting the Family

Riley looked at herself once more in the mirror, turning her face this way and that. She pulled at the strands of hair that fell in front of her face, smoothing them a bit. She took a deep breath and barely kept herself from placing her hands on her face. Her body shook with small tremors and her stomach was queasy with butterflies. Why was she so nervous? It was just a perfunctory dinner. Her silvery eyes opened and were unable to look away from her image in the mirror.

"What's happening to me?" She asked her reflection softly. Her face was flawless—the wonders of make-up. Her skin was smooth and soft, with a touch of blush on her cheeks to give her face a bit of colour. She had on light, black eyeliner on her top lid that topped off with mascara that curled her eyelashes innocently. A gentle, white eyeshadow highlighted her eyes to create a natural look. Her eyes turned down and looked at the rolled parchment. That little piece of paper had caused Riley to be the talk of the campus for the last week. Many of her friends had even avoided her because they had no idea why she would have been associated with Malfoy. She sighed, shaking her head. Her fingers ghosted over a contact case. Stephanie had suggested them for Riley. She said that while Riley's silver eyes were beautiful in their own spooky way, tonight she needed to be elegantly beautiful. With deft fingers, Riley unscrewed the lens case. She looked down at the bright blue opaque contact lenses. She bit her lip and placed the lenses on her iris'. After blinking a few times, she looked back in the mirror. For a moment, she didn't even recognize herself. She turned her face sideways.

"Is this really me?" She breathed. Her clock struck a quarter till five and Riley stood. She grabbed the invitation off her vanity, placing it in her purse. The ring on her finger glinted in the white light and Riley stared at it for a second. A feeling began to bubble up inside of her. But she had no time to do a divination so she would just have to wing it. She'd already memorized the directions to Draco's so she wrapped her shrug around her shoulders and turned off the lights in her dorm.

Riley looked up at the large house. For some reason, it felt like it glared down disapprovingly at her. She swallowed hard and walked up the front steps. She looked for a door knocker and didn't see one. However she did see a golden rope. She looked for anything other than that rope, but there wasn't a knocker or a doorbell anywhere. She sighed and gingerly pulled on the rope. A clamorous amount of bells went off from a tower high above her. The air was filled with the bronze, steel, and golden bells as they serenaded the night. Her eyes widened and she glanced above her to see the sky filled with a horde of bats. She made a face totally unbecoming for her make-up.

"Seriously? Bats? How stereotypical can you get?" She hissed shakily. After her initial shock, she heard a rancorous sound from inside. There were rushing of little feet—house elves most likely—and the hushed whispers.

"She's here! Get out of sight, you grotesque creatures!" Hissed a female voice. Riley's stomach churned. She had a feeling this was going to be a long night.

The door opened and Riley shielded her eyes from the sudden onslaught of light from inside.

"Welcome! We're so glad you could make it! Please, come inside." Ushered a female. Riley opened her eyes, careful of her contacts, and looked up. The woman was beautiful, however she seemed prematurely aged. She had long, fine blonde hair and blue eyes that stood out from her pale skin. Her complexion was perfect, contrasting with the lines that had been sculpted in to her face from stress. She ushered Riley inside, taking her coat and throwing it at something in the corner. Riley's eyes glanced to the house elf who shuddered in fear and disappeared with the coat.

"Oh, how rude of me. Let me introduce myself. I'm Narcissa, but you can call me Cissy if you'd like." She gushed. Riley blinked.

"My name's Riley Sterling. It's very nice to meet you." She said softly, curtsying slightly. She glanced back up at Narcissa. "Are you Draco's sister?" Narcissa blinked then laughed gently.

"You're a sly one, Riley dear. I'm his mother." Riley was actually a bit stunned. For as aged as she looked, Narcissa had retained the youth in her face.

"Come come, let me introduce you to my husband and Draco's father." She said, guiding Riley in to what seemed to be a sitting room. The house—despite the bleary exterior—was painted with cremes and golds and had very Victorian era decorations. It was a very open kind of place. But what Riley couldn't get over was how large it seemed to be. Even though on the outside it had looked large, the inside just seemed to go on forever. A man was standing in front of the fireplace, poking at the inferno. He had long blonde hair with streaks of grey beginning to emerge. His back was to them. Riley studied his outline. He was slumped slightly with his shoulders drawn inwards, as if his shoulders were heavy with regrets. He had on dark beige slacks that were cinched at his waist with a brown belt. He had on a silk-like, button-up black shirt with long sleeves. His hands were placed slightly in to his pockets as he watched his newly added wood be devoured by the flames.

"Dear," Narcissa began gently, " Draco's date is here." The man straightened, turning to face the two women. Riley was struck by how alike Draco and his father were. The elder Malfoy regarded Riley with his cold grey eyes, neither approving or disapproving. She felt insignificant under his gaze, but refused to let herself fret. She curtsied to him, lowering her head and closing her eyes.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, sir." She said with a steady voice that rang clear in the high-ceiling-ed room. Everything was still for a moment, but he chuckled.

"I see. So this is the girl." He said, his voice deep and chilling. "I am Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father." Riley opened her eyes and straightened. A soft smile curled on to her lips. Lucius blinked, seeming to be taken aback by her sudden warmth.

"Pardon me if this is strange," Riley said, looking down," But you and your son are very alike in your regality." Her smile broadened and her eyes softened. Both Lucius and Narcissa were stunned by this girl's softness. Narcissa looked up at her husband who returned her gaze. Could such a fragile looking creature have freed their son from bonds such as he was bound?

"Oh, Draco should be down any moment." Narcissa said. Riley nodded, looking back at them. She felt her hair shifting and quickly placed her hand on it. Her eyes bulged slightly.

"Uhm," she squeaked. Narcissa hurried Riley to a powder room where they took care of her hair. Lucius shook his head and strolled in to the dining area. It was almost six. The ball would be beginning in two hours.

"Draco!" Lucius boomed, "What is taking you so long? Surely you aren't primping like a schoolgirl?"

"Father!" Draco shouted from somewhere in the house. It was followed by loud grumbles and complaints. "It's these dumb clothes!" Lucius sighed, rising from his place at the head of the table.

"Honestly son, you're hopeless." He said, walking to where the mutterings of his son were coming from.

Lucius and Draco had decided to wait to put on the robes till just before they were to leave for the ball. Draco sat at his spot next to his father at the table with his arms crossed.

"What taking them so long?" He hissed. Lucius looked at Draco and regarded him calmly.

"What's the rush? Are you anxious to see your blushing bride?" He asked. Draco blinked and looked at his father with an unguarded look.

"What are nonsense are you spouting, old man?" Draco said evenly. Lucius was quiet a moment, but then chuckled slightly. He turned his attention elsewhere.

"Oh, nothing." A silence hung in the air for a moment, "She's cute. If she's pure-blood she'd be perfect to bring in to the family." Draco shot his father a look.

"What?" He whispered sharply. A nonchalant look crossed the elder Malfoy's face as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I didn't say anything." Draco let out a frustrated breath and let his head fall against the back of his chair. A few minutes later there was the pattering of feet down the stairs. Draco sat up in his chair, turning his head to the opening in the dining room. His mother appeared through the arched walkway and he seemed almost disappointed. Lucius saw this and laughed to himself. Draco shot him another glare and huffed as he settled back in to his chair again. Narcissa sat down in her chair to the other side of her husband, setting her napkin on her lap. Her face was aglow with a youthful cheeriness that no one had seen in years.

"Riley should be down in a moment." She said with her lips stretched in a wide smile. There were a few clicks on the stairwell as another descended the stairs. They all turned their heads to look. The sound of a chair scraping against the floor filled the silence. Draco had risen slightly, his body turned towards the grand staircase.

The decorative comb that helped pull Riley's hair back in to a swirl glinted in the white light of the home. Her embellished, silver strappy heels peeked out from under the black edge of her floor length dress. The white chiffon dress that darkened to black at the edges swished about daintily around her legs. The empire waist, accentuated with a black waistband that had a black and white jewel piece gave way to embellished sides of white, grey, and black gems. The strapless, sweetheart dress showed Riley's curves perfectly and modestly. She stopped at the bottom of the staircase where Draco's feet had taken him.

"Riley," He whispered. He couldn't stop looking. She looked so different. She looked down, her face turning a gentle pink. She touched the straight strands of hair that framed her face nervously.

"Does it look weird?" She asked, her voice shaking. Draco was speechless. He opened his mouth, but then closed it. He turned his body slightly away from her.

"Who told you to dress to draw so much attention?" He grumbled. Riley's lips turned up in a soft smile. But then she was surprised when she realized he was offering his arm to her. Draco flinched a bit when he felt Riley's hand slip around his bicep. He blinked, feeling something inside of him twist. However, it wasn't all too unpleasant. Mentally shaking it off, he lead Riley in to the dining area for dinner. For some reason, he hoped that his parents wouldn't embarrass him too much. This idea struck him odd as he pulled Riley's chair out for her. Why would he care if his parents embarrassed him or not?