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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
- 77
- 78
- 79
Aftermath

�You said to do with them as I would. I�ll handle this Mrs. Snape.� Kingsley whispered conspiratorially as he tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow and apparated them back to the Ministry.
Once arriving, he quickly negotiated the intricate hallways with surety to his gait, escorting Natalie unseen into a conference room where Natalie sank tiredly into a chair, casting a forlorn glance at the Auror who brought her here.
�Mr. Shacklebolt?� As Natalie spoke her head sank into her hands, elbows planted on the table.
�Yes?� Kingsley�s soothing voice washed over.
�Where are my brothers?�
�I � I don�t know exactly.�
�May I please see them?� She lifted her eyes; tired, dull blue eyes to meet his with such heart-sore pleading that Kingsley felt compelled to drop into the chair next to her. �Please, Mr. Shacklebolt?�
�I�ll see what I can do.� He pet her head softly, suddenly seeing a miserable woman, not a dangerous black witch. �Stay here. I�ll ward the door so only I can reopen it.�
Natalie nodded, then folded her arms on the hard clinical top of the conference table, and hid her face. She couldn�t tell how long she had stayed that way; head down, sensing Severus� relief at being healed, then his anger; Nolan�s outrage, Noah�s fear, Nathan�s urgency. She barely registered the smooth tones of Nathan�s baritone outside the door rising and falling in sharp counterpoint to the deep bass of Shacklebolt. She slowly pulled herself back to reality, a sharper toned voice snipping in staccato rhythm in between the voices of Nathan and Shacklebolt. McGonagall. She thought, despair washing further through her soul. A different voice interceded, neither deep nor commanding, but softly authoritative and strangely soothing. A knock on the door alerted Natalie to their preeminent entrance.
�Ms. Monterichelieu?� The softer, different voice called into the room.
�Yes?� Natalie answered in an equally soft voice.
�May we come in?�
�As you wish, Thomas.�
�Thank you, Ms. Monterichelieu.�
�You�re welcome.�
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minerva McGonagall, Noah, Nolan and Nathan Monterichelieu, Ana and Alexei Andropov, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks followed Mr. Thomas Cheatham, Esquire, into the conference room, all warily keeping their distance from the clearly distraught woman, each for their own very different reasons.
Thomas leaned down to whisper in Natalie�s ear, his comforting hand on her shoulder. He did not look at anyone in the room until his hushed conference with his client ended. He looked up at Kingsley and nodded.
�Ms. Monterichelieu?� Shacklebolt started, �We really need one question answered.�
Natalie slowly stood to face her interrogator, blanking her face of any and all emotions. She raised her head proudly, seemingly oblivious to the gore that still clung to her arm, the dried blood on her jeans, under her short nails, splattered across her face and neck, caked in her hair.
�Your question?� She spoke with quiet calm authority.
�Are you a Dark Lord?�
His turn of phrase baffled Natalie for a brief moment, she glanced at Mr. Cheatham, unsure how to follow his rapidly whispered advice. He smiled reassuringly at her and nodded, a barely perceptible nod.
�Mr. Shacklebolt, I can in all honesty answer that, I am not, a Dark Lord.�
An audible sigh of relief breezed through the room. Natalie dared now to look at her brothers, particularly Nolan, who had schooled his face to show no reaction. I am a lady after all. She silently sent the message forcing Nolan to duck his head and cough to cover his reaction.
Kingsley�s laughter rumbled over the sighs and whispering and he settled into a chair opposite the auburn-haired witch. Surreptitiously, Ana slid her wand from her sleeve, pointing at Natalie and whispered forcefully, �Scourgify.�
Natalie smiled at her old friend gratefully as she too relented and sat across from Shacklebolt.
�Well, then, now that we have that business out of the way, let�s get down to brass tacks.� He rumbled.
�Scrimgeour is marked.� Natalie stated simply.
�And you know this how?� McGonagall snapped, her blue eyes glinting angrily.
�I just do.� Natalie snapped back. �The same as I know the sun will rise again tomorrow and that it will end the day over the opposite horizon. As certain as I am that Albus made sure you would know all the details surrounding his so-called murder at the appropriate time.�
Natalie didn�t shout but her anger floated through the air to touch all those present. McGonagall�s eyes snapped fire and her lips thinned to a barely existent line.
�How would you know what Albus made me aware of?� She snipped between clenched teeth.
Natalie merely met her cold gaze with her own. Two formidable witches squared off against each other with the crowd in the room visibly dividing down the middle. Shacklebolt finally stood, moving towards Minerva�s side to whisper in her ear.
�There is no need for further secrets, Mr. Shacklebolt. I�m fully aware of the operations and purpose of the Order of the Phoenix.� Natalie avowed with a cool tone. Kingsley raised his head to peer at the witch, stunned. �I�m fully aware that you abandoned a boy to do a job even a full-grown Dark Lord could not complete.�
All eyes were riveted to the angry witch.
�Placing all your hopes on the too small shoulders of a barely grown boy. Dunderheads.� She snarled in a disturbingly familiar fashion; upper lip curled in absolute disgust. Mr. Cheatham reached out a hand to try and placate her, to pull her back to her cool, distant reserved self. She glared at his interruption for a full minute before turning her softened gaze to Alexei.
�My students?� She asked him, knowing he would fully understand what she longed to hear.
�All safe, Natalie. All back at Durmstrang.� Alexei tried to smile reassuringly at his old friend. With his news, she relaxed just the smallest amount.
�The circle worked then.� She stated breathlessly.
�Like the charm it was meant to be.� Nathan added as he moved to his sister�s side to place his calming hand on her shoulder.
�Where�s Mairead?�
�Home.� Noah added this information in a tired voice.
�The boy and his friends?�
�Outside, waiting to talk to you.� Nathan whispered for only her ears although Remus� keen hearing understood every word.
�Severus?� She lifted her blue eyes to meet Kingsley�s warm brown eyes.
�He is in the medical ward being healed.�
Natalie sighed, dropping her head back to stare up at the celing. She let her eyelids drop shut.
�Now what are we going to do with Scrimgeour?� She asked, not wanting to open her eyes.
Voices from all directions assailed her senses; overwhelming her already taxed system.
�ENOUGH!� She shouted.
�Thomas, you and Mr. Shacklebolt confer and inform me of what you wish for me to do. Mr. Shacklebolt, I wish to see Severus, alone.� She glared menacingly around at everyone, dismissing them instantly.

�Natalie?� Nolan asked quietly for her attention.
�What?�
�What about us?� He reached out for her hand.
�Someone needs to take care of Nicholas and Daddy�s bodies.� She clung to his hand for support. �Nathan needs to stay here. You or Noah need to go back to Durmstrang with Alexei.�
�I�ll take care of the funeral arrangements.� Noah stepped up to the plate figuratively and to his sister physically, kissing her on the top of her head and leaving the conference room.
�I�ll go with Alexei then.� Nolan kissed her cheek and motioned to Alexei and Ana, all leaving Natalie quite reluctantly.
�Nathan, go with Thomas.� Natalie asked more than commanded. He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and left quietly.
Minerva, Remus and Tonks stayed behind staring at the forlorn woman with great curiosity mixed with fear and sorrow.
�I�m afraid, on advice of counsel, I cannot answer anymore questions.� Natalie told them firmly. Tonks seemed to sense her great sadness and hurried to her side, reaching for both hands, she looked deep into Natalie�s blue eyes and whispered, �I trust you,� just before tripping from the room.
Outside the conference room, in the larger office space with its neatly ordered desks in military rows, crowds of people parted as two Aurors escorted Snape through a door. His former students were shocked to see him appear in once-crisp white shirt, liberally stained with the dark russet red of Natalie�s blood, and trousers; no robes, no jacket. He looked neither left nor right; acknowledging no one as he strode straight to the closed door, his hands held in front of him, bound in magical manacles. The smaller Auror knocked tentatively on the door, answered by a sharp, �ENTER,� from within the room itself.
The other Auror opened the door, allowing Severus to enter of his own accord then slammed it shut behind him. Each Auror took up guard posts on either side of the door.
Natalie flew from her seat to Severus, her hands tried to be everywhere at once, searching for scars she knew should be there, assuring herself that his wounds were healed.
�Cease.� Snape barked angrily, grabbing her hands between his own manacled ones. �Do not touch me.�
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- 78
- 79
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After Party