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After Party	By : pittwitch Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > General Views: 19051 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Natalie's Haunting

Leaning back into her battered armchair, Natalie re-read the letter from her dearest friend.

Dear Natalie:

My husband is quite upset with your siblings. He does not desire that which his uncle is forcing upon him. He is such a superstitious man, wanting to believe in the old gypsy's words. Please come to dinner. I do not know how you managed in this awful place. I'm slowly freezing to death.
Ana

She let the piece of stationery fall on to her lap, her tears falling to stain the pale gray paper, lost in her thoughts once again.

*~*~*
"I saw Nathan's newest jewelry, Natalie," Alexei shouted at his friend. "Matches Noah's and Nolan's. Are we not good enough?"
Natalie's lip trembled, and she bit it hard. "I do not want to bind another soul to mine!. You shouldn't be forced pledge to anyone." Natalie fought the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.
"I stand beside you, no matter vat." Ana scooted closer to her friend, pulling Natalie's hands into her own. "Ve trust you." Ana;s watery blue eyes gazed deep into Natalie's, letting the woman see deep into her mind.
"Let me do this, Natalie. Please? We'll be able to go in with Nolan," muttered Alexei.
"What?!?" Natalie screeched.

"Uncle Antonin will force me to take that bastard's mark, if you claim me first, his stupid mark can be nullified later, right?"

"If I could claim you,” Natalie nearly choked, trying not to sob. "My magic is bound. I cannot perform the ritual."

"Noah sayz ve can pledge ourselves freely." Ana held her friend steady. "Veell eet still vork?"

"I ...” Natalie stuttered a bit, "I don't know for sure if I will be able to reverse another's mark unless I make the claim first."

"Who does know, Natalie?" Alexei interrupted.
"Mairead." Natalie sighed resignedly.
"Then I will go to her first. Wait here." Alexei drew his wand with a flourish and disapparated on the spot.

"Ana, I don"t want you and Alexei to lock your lives to mine."

"Ssshhh, Natalie, eet ees our choice. To tie our lives to some one 'onorable, een stead off 'orrible." Ana soothed her friend, stroking her hair.
"What if I turn out to be just as horrible?" Natalie asked before collapsing into sobs on Ana's smaller but steadier shoulder.
"You veel not." Ana murmured. "I know you veel not."

"I know as well." Alexei apparated back in the same instant, Mairead in tow. Alexei picked up the smaller woman, holding her close to his chest, letting her soak his shirt as his wife pressed against her back to hold her close as well.
*~*~*
Once again, silent sobs wracked Natalie"s body, she fell forward her head in her hands, feeling not only her own pain, doubt, and remorse, but the phantom pains, pains she shared with those she was bound. What a horrible mess I've made of everyone's lives. She continued to sob with only the horses to comfort her.
Not very far away from her, Voldemort cackled in malicious glee, holding his cruciatus on Snape in short, excruciatingly painful bursts. Nolan eased to his Lord's side, head bowed waiting to be recognized.

"Find out where the old man goes!" Voldemort screeched at the quivering man on his hands and knees at his feet.

"Nolan, come." He commanded, whirling to stalk away. Nolan obediently followed, forcing himself to not look at Snape as he did.

When they entered his private quarters, Voldemort smiled. His chess board stood ready and waiting, two glasses of brandy glimmering in the soft candlelight.
"Tell me again about this clein of your mother's, the ccoileneyder Urley?" He hissed as he settled into the game.
"The clain are all avengers, magical, my lord."
"Hired assassins." Voldemort asked with a gleam in his red eyes.
"No, my lord. One cannot hire the Urley. You do not find the ccoileneyder. The ccoileneyder find you when you need them."

"Well, I need them!" Voldemort hissed, taking Nolan's bishop violently. Nolan smiled secretly pleased as the Dark Lord fingered the captured piece almost lovingly, knowing that the potion coating the chess piece would seep through his scaly skin.
"I will try to mention that again, my lord. But, again, I must tell you that I am persona non grata with my mother's clein at the moment."
A timid knock on the door interrupted Nolan.
"Come!" Voldemort bellowed. The rat-man scurried around the door, wringing his hands, his beady eyes glittering in fear.
"What is it, Wormtail?"
"Be, Bell "" The rat-man stuttered.
"Bellatrix is toying with my potions master again?" Voldemort finished for the stuttering lump, aggravation clearly coating his tone.
"Y-y-yes, my Lord." Pettigrew again stuttered, lowering his eyes.
"Wait here." Voldemort commanded Nolan.
"Yes, my lord." Nolan softly agreed.
The Dark Lord and the rat-wizard disappeared, leaving Nolan alone with Voldemort's other pet.
"Nagini,” Nolan hissed softly, calling the snake in the parceltongue he learned at his father's knee. The great viper slithered to him happily, hissing back.
Meanwhile, too far away, and high on the Astronomy Tower of Hogwarts, a lone eagle perched, keen eyes watching for the esteemed Headmaster.
~*~
"Natalie, I don't think the boy knows yet." Mairead almost whined to her niece. "That dodgy old codger doesn't really seem to tell him anything, according to Fawkes anyway."
"What the hell kind of games does he think he's playing?" Natalie sat back from the table, mind racing.
The days passed in mind-numbing routine for Natalie. Rise, worry. Coffee, worry. Horses fed, worry. Stalls cleaned, worry. Horses exercised, worry. Tack cleaned, worry. Horses fed again, worry. Finally the weather started to break, the days hot and the evenings cool. Another season passed. She set to work mending fences, and doing other odd chores in the heat of the day; the hard work keeping her body strong, her mind somewhat quiet.
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- 71
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After Party