Love Never Dies

Chapter Thirty Three: Birthday Parties

DISCLAIMER: JK ROWLING OWNS HARRY POTTERRR!!!!!!

Dear Malfoy Family,

We are writing to announce that our daughters, Delaney and Dana, are having a sixteenth birthday party this Monday at 7:00. The girls actually turned sixteen on November 20 but they were not with us during that time. Delaney approached us with the idea to have the party during the Easter holidays when all their siblings and friends would be home from the different schools they go to. Not only is this a birthday party but Tom and I are going to be announcing Theodore and Dana's engagement. We would be delighted if you are able to attend.

The party at 7:00 is for adults and families of friends so Dana and Delaney are having a party later on at 9:00 by the pool. Draco is invited to attend that party as well if he would like. The girls would really appreciate his presences.

Tom & Kendra Riddle

Narcissa finished reading the letter aloud to her family. "Do we have to go?" Draco whined.

"Yes we do." Lucius said giving Draco a stern look.

"Samantha and Michael are arriving tomorrow but that only gives us today and tomorrow until the girl's party. Now I'm going to write a letter to Mrs. Parkinson inviting Pansy as your date." Narcissa said as Lucius stood up and walked out of the room.

"Now Draco," Narcissa started as soon as they were alone, "About the thing with Dana--"

"It doesn't matter Mum. Monday at seven she officially is betrothed to Nott."

"Drake, at the Christmas ball Kendra was upset after you called off the betrothal so we got in a fight. I told her you had a good reason for breaking off the engagement and it turns out that the Dark Lord did not inform her about what he told us. Now knowing that Dana is a stubborn girl I know she will probably not stand for this when Kendra tells her the marriage is to be announced at the party. Hopefully, for your sake, she will fight against marrying Theodore."

XoXo

(Monday 6:50 pm)

Dana was looking at her reflection in her full-length mirror when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in." She called turning her head slightly.

Kendra slipped in the room, her stomach far larger now. "Oh Dana!" She gasped, "You look simply wonderful!"

Dana looked down avoiding Kendra's happy face. Her hair was back to its silvery blonde color and straight. It was pulled up in an elegant bun with a few strands of curled hair framing her face. She was wearing a floor length blood red dress with no sleeves but there was a beautiful lace design on her chest that connected to a piece of material around her neck.

COPYTHIS TO THE SEARCH BAR SO YOU CAN SEE DANA'S DRESS!
http://www(DOT)velvetgarden(DOT)net/images/photos/20071018-42(DOT)jpg

"Thank you Mother." She replied quietly.

"Dana, look at me." Kendra commanded in a stern voice.

Dana brought her crystal blue eyes up and looked straight into her mother's hypnotizing brown ones. "You look beautiful and you are going to go through with this tonight. It is your party by the way so you should be happy."

"I am happy." Dana said in a monotone.

Kendra looked straight into her daughter's eyes then turned her head. "Finish getting ready. You will make your entrance with Theodore into the ballroom at precisely seven o'clock. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mother."

Kendra walked to the door and stopped before she closed the door behind her, "By the way, I will have Theodore come pick you up on his way to the ballroom."

"Okay Mother."

Kendra walked out of the room so Dana walked slowly over to the vanity in her bathroom. She applied dark red lipstick and dark eyeliner and mascara. By the time she finished it was 6:59 and she heard a knock on the door. "Coming." she said unenthusiastically.

She opened the door to reveal Theodore Nott, a boy she had never even met before that she was now going to marry. "Hello Theodore." She said her crystal blue eyes slipping to the floor once again.

"You look beautiful." He remarked, "Now let's go, we have one minute."

Dana took Nott's arm and followed him down the hall. When they reached the doors to the ballroom they heard a voice from inside. "Ladies and gentlemen; Friends and family of Miss Delaney Riddle and Miss Dana Riddle, I am pleased to announce the arrival of Miss Dana Riddle and her escort Master Theodore Nott."

Around the room was a polite applause. The ballroom was full of the parents, grandparents, and family friends only. Delaney and Dixie's friends were arriving at nine for a party by the pool. Of course Dylan, Blaise, Draco, Nina, and Jasmine were already at the party because their parents are all death eaters in her father's inner circles. The doors blew open as Dana and Theo stepped inside. They walked down the large flight of stairs while Theodore smiled cheerily around at all the guests and Dana starred blankly ahead.

At the end of the stair case Dana let go of Theodore's arm and walked next to him towards the group of Slytherin sixth years. Theodore greeted them happily while Dana just stood next to him starring blankly at the ground. At the use of her name Dana looked up. She saw Pansy Parkinson starring at her expectantly. "Sorry, what did you say?" Dana asked flatly.

"How is the engagement going for you? You're absolutely glowing next to your groom-to-be." Pansy smirked holding tightly onto Draco's arm

"It's great. Theodore is very sweet."

Nott grinned at her answer then chuckled, "Oh Dana, we're getting married, call me Theo."

Dana didn't respond but just moved her eyes back to the floor, "I think I'm going to sit down. Dinners about to start." Dana said heading towards one of the large circular tables Delaney set up for the girls and their friends and dates.

Five minutes later Dana was sitting at the table full with occupants. Theodore, Nina, Blaise, Dylan, Draco, Jasmine, Samantha Malfoy, her fiancé Michael Reymont, Justin, Nick, Thomas, and Dixie were all seated around her.

Throughout dinner everyone except Dana was attempting to make polite conversations that included everyone else. Every time someone would say something to Dana she would give them a short answer then return to pushing the food on her plate around.

Across the room at the long table set up for the Dark Lord and his death eaters Kendra sat starring at Dana. She kept looking between Dana and Draco. Draco was attempting to be a part of the conversation between the rest of the members at the table but Dana kept her eyes trained on the plate in front of her.

When the dinner was over Voldemort and Kendra stood up and the room instantly quieted. "Thank you all for attending this dinner to celebrate our daughters sixteenth birthdays." Kendra started, "It's hard to believe that sixteen years ago my daughters Delaney Melody Riddle and Dana Hermione Riddle were born and it's even harder to believe that fourteen years ago they were taken away from us along with our other children. The sixteenth birthday is a big event for teens now and an even bigger event has taken place that has to do with Dana. I would like to announce an engagement between Dana Hermione Riddle and Theodore Timothy Nott. Now they will have their first dance as an officially engaged couple!"

Theodore stood up smiling and held his hand out for Dana. She grabbed it and stood up. They walked out to the middle of the dance floor and a slow song began playing. Theodore pulled Dana along with him as she just held onto his neck. Nina leaned towards Blaise and whispered, "What's wrong with Dana? It's like the life was just sucked right out of her."

Draco over heard her comment and couldn't help but silently agree. There was no trace left of Hermione the Gryffindor princess or Hermione the bookworm. There was no trace of Dana the Slytherin or of Dana the loveable up-beat girl they had accepted into their group. All that was left was a girl who was doomed to marry someone she didn't love. The girl in front of them dancing with Theodore Nott wasn't the Dana Riddle they all knew. There was no trace of that girl in Dana's dead crystal blue eyes and there was no shy smile playing on her lips.

They saw a girl they didn't know dancing there. A girl who had dealt with too much in her sixteen years and she did look just as if a dementor had sucked the soul right out of her.

A/N: Don't hate me! Please I beg you don't hate me! This is where I will end the tale of Dana Riddle. I will however put up another story… a sequel… I would like to thank all of you that stuck with Dana throughout this story. You were incredible.

THE SECOND STORY IN THE TALE OF DANA RIDDLE:

Their World Turned Upside Down

Has Jasmine finally found true love? Is she okay with Dana marrying Theodore? She used to date him and doesn't see him as the type of person Dana should be with... Will she interfere? Draco has to marry Pansy Parkinson, a girl who has been in love with him since they met as kids. Does he share the feelings? The couple that has been a couple for as long as anyone can remember, Dylan and Madison, is no longer a couple. While Nina works with the now single Dylan to get Dana back to Hogwarts for seventh year she doesn't have any time to spend with Blaise. What's a guy to do? Dixie stops her goodie goodie façade after cracking from the pressure left from worrying about her older sister Dana. Sweet young Dixie will discover that even though making trouble is exciting will she be able to handle the consequences? Delaney refuses to leave her twin sister while she is in this state but when her mother insists she goes back to school she decided to transfer to Hogwarts. Then she can at least keep an eye on one of her sisters and be closer to home where her other sister is being kept locked up. Dana is stuck at home with Sofia and Ryan to look out for since her mother is always in a bad mood from staying up all night with the new baby. Dana's in no condition to look after even herself which means she's in no condition whatsoever to take care of three young children. She's no longer herself and no longer smiles or laughs. It's not possible to die from a broken heart is it? It looks like the teenager's world has been turned upside down.