CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Good Times Bad Times

Natalia settled down into her bed with a heavy sigh. Taking care of four infants, running the pub and keeping one eye on her other two businesses was exhausting, but the sense of purpose she experienced made her feel good. She'd had the children for six months and was pleased to see them thriving and growing. The pub staff all pitched in, setting up little high chairs in the kitchen and giving them tastes of this and that as they worked. Natalia had hired Roberta, an elderly but very sweet old woman to come in around bedtime and sleep in the nursery with them. It was the only time Natalia had a moment's peace.

Enjoying the peace, she sipped some chamomile tea and was finally able to open the morning addition of The Daily Prophet and scan it for tidbits of Igor. However, for weeks there had been little news of him except for a photo here and there with sleazy witches; the flavor of the week, draped over him. Still she couldn't stop looking, even if it did make her feel like rubbish. Compounding her sick feeling was the increasing attention the paper devoted to the upcoming nuptials of Lucius and Narcissa. After his recent kindnesses she was beginning to have a soft spot for him but would never let him know. He would have to work much harder to redeem himself before she could forgive all his trespasses. Still, when she looked at how forlorn they both appeared in their engagement photos, she felt sorry for them.

She was gazing at Lucius handsome face and thinking about some of the occasions long ago when she felt attracted to him when she heard a noise outside the door downstairs. She glanced at the clock, it was almost midnight. More than likely it was just some drunk wanting a nightcap. Normally she would ignore it but she didn't want them to wake the children, so she decided to throw on a robe and go downstairs to shoo them away. She grabbed her wand just in case. One couldn't be too careful these days.

As she crept down the stairs to the door the knocking increased in volume and urgency. "All right, all right. Don't get your knickers in a twist." She flung the door open and hissed at them. "We're….." she paused, shocked by who she saw. "Closed."

Lucius, unshaven, drunkenly disheveled but still drop dead handsome leaned against her doorframe smiling devilishly and she knew immediately this little encounter was about to get complicated. He wore a black dinner jacket and his white shirt was undone at the top with his tie hanging loose over his neck. "Hmmm, twisted up knickers. I love it when you talk dirty. How about a night cap for ole' Lucius?"

She was glad to see him but knew that you couldn't allow him an inch of latitude or he would push for more, particularly in his current state. "I told you we're closed," she said with a frown.

"I've not come as a patron. This is a social call. It's my bachelor party." He made a move to step in the door but she pushed him right back out.

"Then go find some tarts to celebrate with. I'm not serving what your ordering tonight." She turned her wand on him and he put his hand up in surrender.

The smirk disappeared from his lips and his eyes became serious. "I don't want prostitutes or liquor. Actually I've already had my fair share of them tonight." He raised his eyebrows.

"Ugh," she grimaced. "You're disgusting!"

He composed his face to a more business like expression. "Yes, you've mentioned that before. How about some tea and conversation?"

"Conversation?" She arched her eyebrows. "Is that what you're calling it these days?"

"Natalia, please." He suddenly looked serious.

Although she had a nagging feeling that this was a bad decision, she was desperate for adult conversation with someone on her intellectual level, so she relented. "Fine." She stood aside to let him pass.

He looked around at the establishment as he sauntered in. "Love what you've done with the place. You've become an excellent business-witch. I'm very proud of you."

She rolled her eyes as he flopped down on the couch near the fireplace. "Incendio." He started a fire and warmed his hands as he began to sing or rather mumble a Christmas song. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire….Jack Frost nipping at your toes."

"Nose," she corrected sharply from across the room.

"What's that?"

"Nose. Jack Frost isn't nipping at your toes he's nipping at your nose." She handed him a steaming mug of tea. "I hate when people get the words wrong."

"Well, I've always had a bit of a foot fetish," he deadpanned.

Natalia burst out laughing. "You never change, Lucius. Even when I'm annoyed with you I do love your wit."

He smiled dreamily. "Do you?"

"On occasion." She looked at him and noticed the sadness in his eyes. "Why so melancholy tonight? It's three weeks to Christmas and only a week until your wedding. You should be happy."

"I don't want to get married to her."

"Then don't," she shrugged. "We've had this conversation several times. Did you come to have it again?"

"Sort of." He scowled and stared into the fire. "Last chance." He smiled and raised his eyebrows naughtily.

"Not happening."

Lucius chuckled softly. "I'm drunk and sad. Can't you spare my feelings for once?"

"I don't lie. Unless for some reason I am forced to."

"No. No you don't. You've changed little yourself. No, actually, you're prettier."

"Lucius, no matter what's happened I hate to see you unhappy. Call it off before it's too late."

He sipped his tea and gazed into the fire. "Really, it doesn't matter."

"It does matter."

"Not really. I mean it's not like I couldn't still find someone. Everyone has affairs. I'll not be lonely, nor will she. Natalia would you ever consider..."

She cut him off before he could finish. "Please don't insult me again by asking what I think you are going to ask me."

"Why should we both be lonely?"

"Because I am not about to sleep with a married man. And besides, I am not lonely. I have a very full life right now."

"Oh?" A shadow crossed his face. "Someone I am unaware of?"

"Several someone's actually."

Lucius lip curled up slyly. "I am shocked but pleasantly so for perhaps you may add me to your list."

Natalia snickered which only served to increase his curiosity.

"I am quite serious. I think you would find me more...fulfilling than these other ones that you refer to."

"Doubtful. Would you like to meet them? They are in one of the upstairs rooms."

Lucius fidgeted in his seat trying to quell the erection that immediately sprang up for in his drunken state he was under the impression that she was inviting him to an orgy. This was well beyond his expectations, and visions of nubile young women and athletic Adonis like men writhing against each other on silk and velvet cushions while white gauzy drapes blew a warm breeze into the room blending with the scent of spiced oils and sex. He gulped and felt his blood grow hot with passion as he nodded his head.

If Natalia knew of his assumption she did not let on. Quite the contrary she took him gently by the hand and led him upstairs. He lagged a couple steps behind her so he was eye level with her swaying bum as they ascended. She took him to the end of the long hallway and he saw the glow of candlelight escaping at the bottom of the doorway.

"Are you ready to see what changed my life?"

"So ready,'" he breathed. She opened the door but his erection wilted as soon as he saw the rooms occupants. Four cribs lined the walls containing sleeping babies and an old crone sat snoring in a rocking chair in the corner. He gathered himself quickly enough to make a snotty comment. "You really should look into some birth control, Natalia."

She giggled and slapped his shoulder lightly. "Shhh, if you wake them I'll put you right to work."

Lucius walked over to a crib with pink bedding and peered at the sleeping little cherub inside. "Who are they?"

"Well this ones name is Katherine."

"No, no, I meant who are their parents? Where do they come from."

Natalia smirked at his comment. After all those years he still judged people by their parentage rather than on their own merits. She knew she had to be selective in what she told him thinking in hindsight it was imprudent to bring him here. What was it about this man that caused her to make so many bad decisions? "They are orphans, taken from the muggle orphanage where I was raised."

"Muggles?" he hissed with distain.

"They aren't Muggles. They are magical but they were left there. I have them here so they can be raised in a magical environment."

"My lord is aware of this, Natalia. He doesn't know where these children are but he is aware that someone is taking them in. Be careful. He is not displeased to my knowledge but that could change. "

"I will." The clock began to chime midnight. "It's late and they will be up early tomorrow."

"May I stay?" He moved closed but did not touch her.

"Neither one of us need the scandal."

"Is that your way of letting me down easy?"

"Yes." She slipped out of the room and closed the door gently after he followed, then walked him downstairs.

When they reached the bottom of the steps he turned quickly towards her with a final alcohol driven request. "I will give the children ten grand if you give me a hand job." He raised his eyebrows naughtily for he was only half joking. "Twenty if we can have it off."

"Phht," she snorted. "I don't need your money any more, Lucius. I have my own."

"It was worth a try. You know the wedding is Saturday."

"So I hear. My invitation must have been lost in the post."

"Would you like to come?"

Natalia shook her head no while pursing her lips.

Lucius slipped his hand around her waist. "How about a kiss for the groom?"

She bit her lip, which he found incredibly attractive. Was she doing that on purpose?

"Not for sale anymore, Lucius."

"Not for sale, but I see you're doing charitable works these days."

She giggled which encouraged him. "Think of it as a goodbye kiss." He watched her process this request. She wanted to kiss him, of that he was certain, but she was struggling internally with the morality of it or perhaps the wisdom of it. He cared little about the nature of the struggle, merely the result.

"Just a kiss," he whispered seductively.

"Yes," she breathed.

He pulled her closed but did not kiss her right away. He looked deep into her brown eyes and she met his with care and misplaced trust. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers and was thrilled when this caused her to closed her eyes. She liked his touch. He used his thumb to stroke her lower lip while her eyes remained closed and a soft breath passed from her mouth to warm his thumb. The sight was too tantalizing to continue to resist and he bent his head to press his lips softly against hers gently caressing them with his own. She sighed softly making his angst all the more palpable and increasing the urgency of his kiss ever so slightly pulling her just a little bit closer and sneaking his fingers through her hair but not controlling her lest she reject him again. She responded to his gentle manner by melting against him and ran her hands over his chest, which served to make him even more desperate. He knew he should hold back but he may never have this opportunity again so he seized it by pulling her firmly against him and seeking entry into her mouth with his tongue. She however rewarded him with parting lips and her hands weaving their way through his sleek flaxen hair. Lucius, though admired by many, was loved by none and he groaned heartbreakingly and eased her back against the wall. Surprisingly she did not resist a bit and he felt her breasts heave against his chest as she began to breathe harder. He vowed to take her right there before she changed her mind. His hands moved deftly and untied her robe. He opened it as he moved to kiss her neck and then there was only a thin bit of her cotton nightgown between them.

"Lucius." The sound of his name from her lips encouraged him further and he ran his hand up her thigh and over her bum to find her without knickers. He groaned desperately and began a clumsy attempt to undo his belt. Her hands were immediately on his, which pleased him for it was far sexier for her to do it but she did not. Instead she held his hands firmly. "Lucius, this isn't right."

"I don't care. I want you." He moved to silence her with his kiss but she turned her head sharply and his lips were on her ear. "Please just once. I'll make you feel so good. I want you more than ever. "

"We can't, Lucius."

"Please, I love you. I have always loved you."

"But I don't love you."

"I don't care." He continued to trail kisses along her neck. "No, that's not true. I do care. I want you to love me but right now I just want you to want me."

"I do want you but that's not enough."

"Why not? It keeps this utterly uncomplicated for you." He ground his hips mercilessly against hers. "I will give you unparalleled pleasure for hours tonight and you'll walk away with a smile on your face and nothing more."

"That isn't enough for me."

"What can I do to make it enough?" He was willing to sell his soul if need be for this instant gratification. "How much do you want?"

"What?" She tried to push him off gently but he didn't move.

"Name your price. I have more money than you can imagine and I'm dying to fuck you."

"I don't want your money." She continued to try to move him away.

"A new business venture then. They're starting a new Quidditch team in Edinburgh. I could make sure you get a piece of the action if you give me some action."

Natalia shoved him off hard and he shook his head seemingly coming to his senses. "I'm not your hushed up whore!"

He blinked several times, still dazed. "I never thought of you that way. I...I just wanted you and that was my only hope." He tried to sound pathetic for he was wickedly horny and not one bit above a pity fuck.

"You need to leave right now."

Lucius' anger detonated and he punched a hole in the plaster wall just above her shoulder causing her to flinch. " You little tease. How dare you leave me hanging tonight. Do you get off on that? Well do you?"

She cowered under his rage and began to make what he found to be pathetic excuses. "I'm sorry, Lucius. It's been so long and you look so good but I made a mistake. I can't do this."

"Still not over that retarded Russian rube I see." He was inches from her face gritting his teeth as he spoke with liquor breath on her face while she shook under his wrath. "Mark my words, you foul temptress. One day you'll come crawling on your hands and knees BEGGING for my help and let me warn you; my price will be dear. You'll look back on this wasted opportunity with a mountain of regret and I will be merciless."

His remarks seemed to trigger some resolve within her for she clenched her jaw and raised her chin defiantly. "I hope you have a lovely wedding, Lucius."

Her sarcasm pleased him on some level but he didn't back down. "Just remember what I said, for that day will come and when it does, I will be waiting for you."

Natalia fearlessly rolled her eyes, walked over to the door and opened it, motioning for him to leave. He stopped in front of her gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear then trailing his finger over her cheek before gently raising her chin. "I will be waiting," he whispered before walking out the door.

Natalia slammed it shut behind him and immediately warded it heavily while cursing herself for being so careless. What had come over her? Had it been so long since she'd had attention from the opposite sex that she would become putty in any man's hands? Lucius looked so wonderful and could be so charming but then there was their twisted history. She felt she deserved him to be angry with her, for after she led him on she should expect nothing less. It was a foolish thing to do. She should be glad all she got was an argument. She vowed not to be so careless again as she trudged back up to her room and collapsed into bed hating the life she found so satisfying just an hour ago. Was this as good as she could expect?

The evening of the aforementioned nuptials arrived and Natalia was fortunately too busy with a big crowd in the pub to dwell on the lackluster love life of Lucius. After the dinner rush she'd spent a few precious moments with the children upstairs in their room, which was under a silencing charm to shield them from the noise downstairs. Though it was anything but quiet in the room when they were all awake. All were sitting and crawling and two were beginning to toddle about on wobbly little legs. After Katherine arrived, another girl, Ella appeared and then one evening Sirius brought her two little boys, Curt and Donald. Curt was the oldest but only by a month and the others marveled at his new accomplishments and tried to keep up with him. By nine they were running out of steam and when the nanny arrived, she and Natalia got them ready for bed. They peered out of their little cribs listening to Nanny read their story as Natalia quietly slipped out of the room.

She entered a rowdy scene downstairs; music blasting, people she hadn't seen before we're about half of the crowd. They were dressed to the nines and dancing badly, as a flustered Roxanne buzzed around behind the bar trying to make drinks. "Need some help?"

"Desperately." Roxanne brushed the sweat off her brow and tucked a blonde ringlet behind her ear. "I don't know where all these folks 'ave come from t'night."

Natalia didn't know either. They were an eccentric looking bunch, slightly on the dark side, but no one was making trouble and she was glad to have the additional business as well as the distraction. It kept her mind off Lucius and his farce of a wedding night. They were a lively bunch and ordered expensive liquor and food. She and Roxanne kept them accommodated and entertained.

The crowd thinned out a bit after midnight but then the door burst open with another group of about ten people also dressed to kill but of a slightly edgier and far drunker attitude. She thought she recognized the first two men but couldn't place them. Then Regulus Black entered and she approached the door to greet him.

"Regulus! Why it's been ages!" She beamed as she approached him and then was even more thrilled to see Severus walk through the door. "And Severus! Merlin's nightgown it's like a homecoming!"

Severus made no expression but marched directly over to her and took her firmly by the arm. "Come with me."

"What? What's this about?" She nearly stumbled as he pushed her to the far end of the bar.

"Stay back here. I tried to get them to go someplace else but I couldn't stop them," Severus hissed under his breath.

"Tried to get who to go someplace else? Severus, what's going on?"

The answer to her question came in the form of a commotion coming through the door. A wizard stumbled in and loudly announced to the entire pub, "Never fear ladies, the Suave Slav returns!" Igor laughed loudly as did the first two wizards who entered the pub and the gaggle of cheap looking witches that were with them. Natalia gaped at the scene with a mixture of excitement and terror.

He wore some kind of old fashioned fedora hat pulled over one eyebrow and large blackout sunglasses although it was pitch dark out. His tuxedo jacket hung open and his shirt was unbuttoned down to his waist revealing his muscular chest with a smattering of hair trailing down to his groin. He wore two necklaces, one with a Durmstrang crest dangling from it and the other some kind of dark beads. His facial hair was

thick but trimmed closely and shaped sharply along his jawline.

Natalia couldn't help but watch him as he staggered over to the couch by the fire with a witch on either side. The two trashy looking tarts were fawning over him and he was relishing the attention, which broke her heart. He turned to the brunette and kissed her indulgently, roughly fondling her breast as he did. She could see their tongues licking each other's lips as the knot tightened in her chest. Then the blond on his other side began to feel left out. She ran her hand up his leg and began to grope his crotch. What a slut. He growled seductively and turned his attention in her direction, while the brunette began sucking on his neck, and sliding her hand under his shirt across his shoulder. In another moment they would be having it off right in the middle of the pub. Then a third woman walked up behind him, this one with auburn hair. She whispered something in his ear, and his eyes grew wide. He smiled turning towards her. He reached behind him and snaked an arm around her neck, then whispered something back to her, making her laugh. All the while, the other two continued to paw at him, taking turns stroking his crotch and kissing his neck and chest. He snickered, but his smile was forced and tense which was not lost on Natalia. No one else would have noticed that, but she knew him best. He had that same look prior to each task in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He was in over his head.

She wanted to run but would be damned if she would let him see her defeated. A confrontation while he was dripping in an audience of sleazy women was surely to go in his favor, so she searched for something to busy herself. She ducked behind the bar and began to tidy up what was already immaculate.

"Evening, Nataila." Regulus greeted her formally.

"Oh, oh my heavens where are my manners?" She's forgotten that she never did greet her old friend properly. "It's lovely to see you again, Regulus. What can I get you?"

"Pumpkin juice for me. I've had enough. Get Severus a fire whiskey." Regulus nodded to Severus who was taking a barstool nearby. "He looks like he needs another round."

"Right." Natalia nodded nervously, served Severus his liquor and began to pour the pumpkin juice. However she was too busy watching the Igor show on the other side of the room and spilled the juice. "Oh shit!"

"Relax, Nat." Regulus vanished the mess for her and levitated the glasses to he and Severus.

She looked back at Igor just in time to see him extract himself from the skank fest, and begin to swagger towards the bar. There was nowhere to run so she turned her back to them and busied herself straightening the bottles behind the bar and wiping them down manually, though they were not remotely dusty.

"Regs!" She could hear him practically fall on the bar and felt the head radiate off his body, certain she was the only one who felt it. "Regs! I'm about to shag both these birds. I told them they were both lovely and couldn't choose. Guess what? They told me I didn't have to." He paused to giggle drunkenly. "Merlin knows I can handle it, but this third chick, she's a freak. She's scaring the shit out of me." His words were slurred. "You've got to take her off my hands, my friend."

"Not my type." Regulus cut him off.

"Not your type? Bugger your type! This girl is ready for action. She keeps talking about reverse cowgirl …I don't even know what that is but it sounds brilliant!" He dissolved into roars of laugher and she could hear his hand slap the bar. "But we have a very short window of opportunity. One more drink and they'll pass out. So will I for that matter."

Natalia winced thinking this couldn't possibly be any more excruciating.

"Pull yourself together, Karkaroff." Severus was completely disgusted by his friend's behavior as evident in his tone. "Regulus, help me get him out of here."

"Oh don't be such a drag, Snape." Igor turned on Severus who's gallantry was about to be mocked. "You know what's wrong with you? You need to get laid. Maybe you need that reverse cowgirl action. Yippe-ki-ya mother fuckerrrr!" Igor whooped and laughed while in the mirror she could see him swipe the drink sitting in front of Severus and down it in one shot. Severus merely glared at him in stony silence.

"Mmmm!" He paused to shake off the burn from the drink. "Now that I think about it, I don't think you could handle the Rhinestone Cowgirl over there, but we'll find you someone. Oh, see here." He pointed at Natalia's bum. "Look at the arse on this bartender."

Natalia felt her neck and cheeks grow hot under his disgusting observation.

"Shut up you idiot!" Severus hissed at him. It was an admirable yet entirely futile attempt to save her from the humiliation to come.

"Blood-dy hell! De-fucking-licious! I'd fancy getting balls deep in that myself." He slapped Severus on the chest with the back of his hand. "Don't tell me you don't want to take a bite out of that. Grrrr." Igor continued to laugh, finding himself most amusing. It didn't occur to him that he was the only one laughing, such a good time he was having.

"Knock it off, Karkaroff!" Regulus was also trying to help but to no avail.

"You shut it." Igor pointed his finger at Regulus, then he turned back to Snape. "Watch, and learn from the master." He would have been comical if her heart wasn't in shreds.

"Oi, sweetheart. What do you think of my comrade here?"

She tried to ignore him, but it was pretty obvious she wasn't going to be able to.

"Hey! You! Not very friendly are you?"

"Come on, Igor. Let's go check out the cowgirl." Regs tried to coax him away.

"Oh fuck that! What is this witch's problem? Is she deaf? Hey! You know snotty bartenders make terrible tips." He snarled, and turned to Severus. "And I don't care how bloody exquisite her ass is." Then he turned back on Natalia, "Why don't you turn around?" He attempted to whisper to Severus but was very loud. "She must be a butter face. You know what that is right? Nice body but her face…Oi!" He slapped the bar and roared with laughter yet again. He was the only one who found his jokes funny.

Finally she could take this humiliation no more. Knowing full well that this confrontation would be unavoidable, she whirled around on him. She clenched her jaw tightly to keep her lower lip from quivering. Under no circumstances would she allow him to see how he'd broken her heart again. Recognition was immediately obvious in his eyes, for they softened a bit, his shoulders dropped, and she swore she saw the beginning of a smile. It wasn't there for long, as he seemed to recollect even in his drunken stupor, why he loathed her. He stared at her, blinking several times before his eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips together. She knew that look well. He was planning his attack.

"Well, look at you." He hissed. "Bartending at The Three Broomsticks, thank goodness you were able to…work your way through school for this." He raised his eyebrows mockingly.

"For your information I own this establishment. I also own Honeydukes and the book store. You see I actually earn money rather than spending it on debauchery hand over fist."

"Oh yes." He smiled evilly, leaning over the bar. "I'm well aware of your penchant for earning your own money. While I spend it on debauchery, it appears you earn it through debauchery." Damnit! She cursed herself for walking right in to that.

She narrowed her own eyes, mimicking his look and planning her own verbal assault. "I can't believe you joined them."

"Know what I can't believe?" His eyebrows shot up again, creasing his forehead. "That you took my father's money."

"Of course you can't. You've never been without money in your life. You don't know the desperation when you think you won't survive. You can't eat your principles you jackass! You've been coddled and indulged your whole life. And just look where it's gotten you."

"You are the one who compromised your integrity!" He accused her, slamming his fist on the bar.

"Says the Death Eater." She hissed right back at him. Two could play this game.

Regulus and Severus sat on either side of them looking at first one, then the other like they were muggles sitting center court at Wimbledon. "What did they do, lure you in with the promise of free snake tattoos and skeleton masks?" She was yelling at the top of her lungs now and heads all over the pub were turning in their direction.

Smirking at her joke, he retorted. "This is something I believe in, magical utopia."

"Magical utopia?" She laughed, mocking him. "Is that the same thing as reverse cowgirl?" She paused and then took a good look at his face. He looked different. His cheeks were hollow and his eyes bloodshot. He looked unhealthy with all the signs of a hard life. Then she noticed why his face looked so different and smirked. "Are you wearing eyeliner?" She paused to look more closely at his kohl rimmed eyes as her upper lip curled in disgust.

Igor, who previously thought he looked quite ravishing, now felt like a simple schoolboy who was trying too hard. His fury increased so rapidly that he was unable to articulate a scathing retort.

But Natalia was not at a loss. She had a head full of steam. "Go back to your bitches. I think they're in heat. Or perhaps you're just priming them to get passed around to your Death Eater friends like hot hors'devours."

"You shouldn't believe all the lies you hear about them." He sputtered.

"Why?" She was shouting loud making everyone uncomfortable. "You believe all the lies you hear about me."

"What lies? So you didn't have an abortion? You didn't carry Lucius Malfoy's child and lie to me about it? I think that's a big fucking secret to keep from your fiancé. How could I ever trust anything you say?"

He'd struck a nerve with that one and her tough exterior crumbled as she choked out her response. "It wasn't that simple."

"It was exactly that simple!" He bellowed, now attracting the attention of a majority of the patrons. "As if that wasn't bad enough you hid it from me. I had to endure the humiliating experience of having my father tell me."

"I was ashamed." She cried.

"As you should be." He boomed. "Not only were you irresponsible, you aborted a pureblood innocent."

"Listen to yourself! 'Pureblood innocent!' You sound like a fanatic. You don't know anything! Merlin! Will you never cease to talk out your arse prior to getting your facts straight?"

"He was too smart to let you trap him." Igor stooped over the bar, banged his elbow down on the table and pointed his finger at her like he often did when passionately arguing a point.

"I never wanted him." She screamed, tears beginning to burn their way through her tear ducts like acid.

"So he forced you?" He cocked his head to one side, raised his eyebrows questioningly and half-smiled as he waited for her to walk into his trap.

She didn't want to answer that. Considering their history, it wasn't simply a yes or no answer. While he forced her many times, there were just as many that he didn't. Furthermore, she was getting dangerously close to saying too much and breaking the unbreakable vow.

"Not so mouthy now are you, kitten?"

"Oh, Igor." How could he call her that now of all times?

"Oh Igor what?" He was still bellowing, out of his mind with fury. "Something you want to tell me? It's a simple question, either he did or he didn't. If he forced you, you should have turned him in to the authorities, so perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle."

"Igor, you have to understand. I had no money. I was going to have to leave school. I would have been living on the street."

"He helped you? Paid you off you mean?"

She merely glared at him, tactically trapped and unable to respond. It was precisely what Lucius did, but when Igor said it, the story sounded a hundred times worse. She looked at the floor while desperately trying to steady her wobbling chin.

"Then you're nothing more than a common prostitute."

She jerked her eyes back up and stared at him dumbfounded, unable to speak. How could this man she loved, and still loved, say such a thing to her? How could someone she knew had such a kind and loving heart, cut her to the core like that? Why couldn't she make him understand that she didn't want to live that way? He stared at her unblinking for several seconds, now seeming sober as death. Then he gunned down his drink, slammed the glass down on the bar, and left. The thud of his hand hitting the door on the way out was so violent, everyone's head turned with a start in his direction.

Regulus was the first to speak. "Is that really what happened?"

"That's none of your business." Natalia quickly vanished Igor's glass, wanting to eliminate all evidence of him being there. She began wiping the counter with a vengeance.

"Lucius just married my cousin, it is my business."

"Narcissa knows what she's getting into." Severus gallantly answered for her, his deep voice bringing calm to the otherwise turbulent situation. "Telling her would only endanger Natalia. Then you would have me to contend with." Natalia never had a more true blue friend than Severus Snape, and that was the moment she realized it. Lily was surely an idiot not to see the potential in this man.

"Ever the defender of women." Regulus smirked and pushed his glass away. "I won't make trouble for you, Natalia. I'll talk to Igor for you too. He'll come around."

"Don't bother." As soon as she uttered the words she thought she sounded like a spiteful child and moved to retract them. Regulus meant no harm, quite the opposite. "I mean that's very kind of you, Regs, but if he can't listen to me, it will never work. I'm sorry you had to witness that. Please don't stop coming here because of this incident."

"All right then." He patted her hand before standing. "I'm going to get these girls out of here."

"Ahh, thank you Regulus." That was a welcome relief.

"How chivalrous." Severus heckled him.

"It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Why don't you help me?" He sounded so much like Sirius, when he proposed that it was uncanny. "It could have an interesting payoff."

Severus looked back at Natalia. Her head was down as she wiped up the bar for the tenth time, obviously not knowing exactly what to do with herself in that moment. A single tear escaped and spattered on the bar but she wiped it away almost immediately. "No. I'll stay here for a while."

Natalia sniffed hard. "You don't have to, Severus. Go have fun."

"I would rather stay here." He said softly. "You know that's not my nature."

Natalia smiled weakly. "Come on." She took his hand and led him over to the stairs. As she stepped on the second stair he stopped her.

Looking nervous, he gulped. "Where are we going?" He worried that she might have misinterpreted his kindness for something deeper. What would he do then? Further rejection would have a devastating effect on her.

She must have sensed his apprehension for she giggled. "Relax Severus. No reverse cowgirl for you tonight. I want you to meet my two best friends."

"Two best friends? I thought I was your best friend."

"Mmmmhmmm." She led him up to her room on the second floor. It was small, but neatly furnished. She walked over to a small refrigerator and pulled out two pints of ice cream. She tossed one to him and then pulled out two spoons from a nearby drawer. "Meet Ben and Jerry. We pass many lonely nights together and they always make me feel better."

Severus smiled and opened his pint. While Natalia dove right in and shoved a huge spoonful into her mouth, Severus was more tentative and scraped only a small taste onto his spoon. Tasting it, he winced a bit at the sweetness.

"Oh I forgot you don't care much for sweets. Would you prefer some crisps?" She opened a cabinet drawer and tossed a family size bag of crisps at him.

"No thank you." He watched her shove another enormous spoonful into her mouth and then shudder. Her shoulders drew up and she thumped at her forehead with her knuckle. "Are you all right?"

"Brain freeze." She gasped, while slumping down on the edge of her bed.

Severus chuckled. "You know what I like about you, Natalia?"

"Hot body?" She groaned, rocking back and forth and still thumping her head. "Great business head? Betty Davis eyes?"

"You always did use humor to cover pain."

"So what? You use sarcasm."

"Correct. What I like is that no matter what you've been through, you keep your innocence. You haven't become spiteful or dishonest. You're still the same."

"No, I'm not. I'm resentful and only share half the story. I am neither innocent nor the same. Not by a long shot, Severus. I don't trust anyone. Well except you, maybe Sasha. I'm lonely. I'm sad all the time. If I didn't have my work I don't think I could have enough strength to get out of bed in the morning. I dream of being in love and being loved in return but day after day goes by and I think it's an impossibility. "

"I wouldn't have guessed." He looked sadly at his friend.

"Depression is a very productive state for me. I can't bear to think of what was or what could have been, so I throw myself into work. It helps me forget."

"I can certainly relate to that." He took a seat beside her and dipped back into his ice cream.

"I know you can." She smiled. "That's why we're friends." She clinked her spoon against his.

Igor staggered drunkenly about the streets of Hogsmeade, feeling positively livid. He was furious all over again at Natalia for lying to him and humiliating him in front of his family. He was furious that she saw him behaving badly with those despicable whores. He was furious at himself for the ungentlemanly things he'd just said to her. But most of all he was furious that she was merely blocks away, yet he couldn't be with her. For despite all that happened since they parted ways, he'd never gotten over her. He'd thrown himself into other things, he'd tried hard, so hard to forget her, but the shock of seeing her again was too much. His heart physically hurt, a dull, longing ache, his breathing was irregular and his hands were shaking. How could she still have such an affect on him after all these years? That lying witch that broke his heart, he should hate her, but instead he was a slave to her.

Why must he still be so hung up on her? Why could he not move on? His fiery speeches made pureblood witches grow moist in his presence and he availed himself regularly of all the charms they had to offer. The pleasures were decadent, but much like rich food, they failed to nourish him, and he felt vacant inside afterwards. He'd stopped counting his conquests long ago, what did it matter? There was only one witch that mattered.

He staggered back to The Three Broomsticks but was too ashamed of himself to go inside. What could he possibly say to undo what had already been done? In his drunken stupor he could think of nothing to do short of falling at her feet, weeping and begging for her forgiveness. Certainly she would throw him out on his ear if he dared set foot inside again. He stood at the door trying to work up his nerve but could not, so he stumbled across the street and sat down on the curb, watching the building for any signs of her. The downstairs was dark, but there was a light on upstairs. Perhaps that was her room. He could see her shadow. She paced back and forth in the room. Was she upset about their argument? He hoped she was, for if it didn't upset her, if she was thinking about anything else at the moment, he would be crushed.

Her shadow sat down and her hands went to her face. Was she crying? Maybe she just had a headache. No, her shoulders were shaking and he could hear the faint sounds of her sobs through the window. Oh, how could he have done this to her again? A painful vibration shook his chest. Then another form appeared, and embraced her. He was still quite drunk and the sight of another man's hands on his Natalia made him physically ill. How dare they? It was his place and his place only to comfort her, to dry her tears, to embrace her and make everything better. But she was lost to him, and it was his own doing.

The realization made him feel physically ill. His stomach tensed and he began to taste the bile rising in his throat. With a shudder, he fell to his side and wretched loudly in the otherwise silent street. His body shook violently as everything he'd consumed in the last twenty-four hours was expelled from his body. Finally he was down to painful dry heaves that nearly paralyzed him with pain, and then slowly, they subsided. Breathing heavily, he used the sleeve of his dress robes to wipe the vomit off his chin.

When he looked back up at her window, the male form was looking out at him. He couldn't make out who it was, but the form quickly moved away from the window, presumably to come outside and confront him. Igor was in no condition for a fight but not in great condition to escape. He was too drunk to apparate away, surely he would splinch himself if he tried. Having no other option, he attempted to run, but could only stagger down the street.

He hadn't gotten far when Severus Snape burst out of The Three Broomsticks after him. "Karkaroff. Get back here."

Igor whirled around on him a little too fast, staggered, reeled, and nearly fell backwards. "Fuck you, Snape!" He slurred. "What the hell are you doing out here? Looked like you were getting ready to shag my witch? Oi! Not man enough to seal the deal, eh?"

"Your witch? If that isn't a laugh." Severus drawled calmly as he stalked down the street.

"Yes, MY witch." Igor sputtered, beating his chest, so furious and trashed, he couldn't articulate his thoughts. He wanted to hurt someone and Snape was the closest potential victim. He reached for his wand but wasn't quick enough.

"Expelliarmus!" Severus had him easily disarmed.

"What the? You mother fucker."

"Muffilato!" He was easily silenced. Severus picked up his wand, grabbed Igor by the collar and apparated them back to Spinners End.

"Where are we?" Igor mumbled as Snape was shoving him through the front door.

"My house."

"I'm going home." Igor started to leave but Severus pushed him down on the sofa.

"You're not going anywhere but the couch. Shut it and go to sleep." Severus walked to the hall closet to remove a pillow and blanket.

"What's going on with you and Natalia?"

"Nothing. I don't ball every woman that looks twice at me." Severus threw the blanket at Karkaroff and it smacked him in the face.

Igor snarled at him. "How long has she owned the pub?"

"Since a month after you broke your engagement. She's worked very hard you know. She had to. The business was failing when she took it over and now it's not only thriving, but she's acquired two more and looking at a third. She's quite successful." Severus went over to a wall cabinet and began examining small vials, looking for something

"I always knew she would be." A sense of melancholy fell upon Igor as he remembered the hard working little girl from the pub, and the pitch, and the potions lab. He remembered how hard she tried to learn his native language because she wanted to please his family and blend in to his life. "She is intelligent and hardworking. Success would of course follow her."

"I'm sure that's what you meant to say rather than calling her a…what was it…oh yes, a prostitute." Severus handed him one of the vials. "Take this. It will sober you up so you won't feel like rubbish in the morning."

Igor examined the draught, not sure he trusted Snape. Then decided he didn't care what the potion did to him and downed the whole thing. It was extremely bitter and he made a terrible face as he handed the vial back to Snape. "Is she seeing anyone?"

"No. She works constantly. Says she has no time for fun though she's asked out quite a bit. And don't you go getting any ideas either."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means stay away from her."

"Oh so you have designs on her, eh?"

"No, but you need to understand your position. Let me enlighten you. You're married to the movement now. Any woman you bring into your life becomes endangered. Narcissa, look at her. She's married to Lucius but if the Dark Lord takes a fancy to her, that's over. Anyone you get close to has a target on their back. Am I getting through to you?"

Igor felt a chill run down his spine. Severus was one hundred percent correct. No matter how he felt about Natalia, they could never be together now. Not that she would want him after his performance tonight. He nodded.

"Good. Getting dumped by you was the luckiest thing to ever happen to her. You know it took her a long time to get over you. I'm not sure she ever did."

He winced and the pain in his chest intensified. "Don't tell me these things."

"I will. Why should you be the only one without a broken heart?"

AN: Thanks so much to all who are following the story. Not sure if I will get another update in before Christmas so this one was a long one. Hope you all enjoy your holidays! We are heading to Harry Potter World in Orlando and so I am busy picking out my outfit for the Yule Ball-haha! If you leave me a review I'll make sure one of the Durmstrang hotties asks you to come too:)