Chapter Twenty-One: What Flows Through Us
Natalia doubled over with laughter. Tears sprouted from her eyes as she clutched her stomach, guffawing uncontrollably. The giant boy that stood in front of her turned bright red, and asked,
"Do I really look that funny?"
The girl took a deep breath and answered him in between giggles,
"Harry, you almost look like Hagrid!"
The boy broke into an embarrassed grin. His face was nearly as red as a stoplight. After much insisting, Natalia finally reversed the Engorgement Charm she had cast on him. Flitwick had paired the students together to practice various charms on each other.
"Now let's try it on you."
"Oh no!" Natalia protested, "I am not going to turn into a giantess anytime soon."
He grinned at her, tapping his wand threateningly against his chin.
"Perhaps a Shrinking Spell would do the trick."
Harry ended up casting a Tickling Charm on her, leaving the girl rolling on the floor with laughter. After the charm faded away, Harry offered her his hand and helped her up. Natalia met the green eyes behind his spectacles and burst out in laughter again. The boy wrinkled his nose and smiled at her.
"Come now, Natalia, this is Hogwarts. We aren't supposed to have any fun, remember?" he said with a grin.
They settled down at the table, taking a break from casting charms.
"Natalia, can I ask you a question?"
The girl smiled at her friend. Harry always had a way of making her feel completely elated.
"Of course."
He started out slowly, careful not to offend her.
"Are you by any chance part veela?"
The Slytherin's eyes widened.
"How did you know?"
Harry answered her, blushing furiously,
"Well, you see, you have this certain aura about you, and you're, well, you're very – you know."
The apples of the girl's cheeks turned a ripe pink.
"Yes, well, I am a quarter veela."
Harry smiled, glad that she was not the least bit slighted.
"So the lady that came to Hogwarts yesterday – was that your mother?"
She nodded, surprised that anyone had seen her Mother.
"Yeah, Hermione told us that you don't have white hair probably because your Father had black hair, and being a wizard and all…"
The girl smiled, amused at his insatiable curiosity.
"I doubt there is a thing that Hermione does not know about."
Grinning, he asked her yet another question.
"How long have you played the cello for?"
Natalia looked at him perplexed.
"That was you at my door the other night?"
"Well, all three of us, actually."
"You should have said so," she replied, "I thought it was Pansy or some other Slytherin."
She looked around the desk for a parchment to write her charm-casting report on.
"I have played since I was five. My Mother started me on it after I heard the Muggle cellist Jacqueline DuPre on the radio. I kept on begging her for weeks until she finally gave in. You can imagine the objection she had to her daughter playing a Muggle instrument."
Harry frowned slightly at the last statement.
"Do you have the same beliefs as her?"
"No, of course not." she said, her eyes softening, "My Father brought me up on Muggle morals as well as those of the wizarding world."
The Gryffindor gave her a confused look.
"But…he was Salazar Slytherin's son."
She got up, walking towards Flitwick's desk for an extra parchment.
"It is a long story." she said over her shoulder.
The boy watched his friend walk away. Her poise had made a big impression on him since the first time he met her. He marveled at the amount of grace at which she held herself. All her movements contained a fluidity and elegance that was far beyond her years. He certainly held a particular fascination for her. She had a true aristocratic demeanor, and yet, was completely humble altogether. He doubted she had a shred of arrogance in her. Smiling to himself, he thought of how fortunate he was to meet someone that contained so much beauty, inside and out. He rarely felt so…almost sanctified around anyone else. The serenity and quiet joy he felt was nearly overwhelming. Never had he felt this close to the border of intense vitality, so close that he could feel its vibrating warmth reverberating against his sanity. He watched her walk back to him, easing her face effortlessly into a smile while meeting his admiring eyes.
"Harry, you are staring." she scolded lightly.
He blushed, something in him yielding to her smile.
"Natalia, have you ever watched Quidditch before?"
The girl's eyes lit up.
"I adore Quidditch! I have never had an opportunity to play, but I do love watching it." She sat down next to him, continuing, "I hear from Colin that you are quite an amazing Seeker."
Harry smiled, pride swelling in his heart.
"Well, I'm not that good." He looked at Natalia, coming up with an idea. "Why don't you come watch the Gryffindor Quidditch practice tomorrow?"
Natalia beamed at him.
"May I? I would absolutely love to watch!"
The boy's smile broadened, and at the bell's ring, he walked the girl to her next class.
The heat from the simmering potion only added to the already apparent blush that had spread on her face. She could feel a pair of cold blue eyes boring into her, taking in her every movement. Dread had filled her when Snape paired her up with Draco again. She tried her best to concentrate on making the Liquid Disguisement Potion correctly. Carefully slicing the chameleon skins, Natalia placed them in the potion, watching to make sure they did not shrivel up. She realized that the next step in the procedure required her partner's help. Tentatively looking up at Draco, she was met with a look of remorse. The Malfoy seemed as if he had just pillaged an entire colony of children. Natalia frowned, determined to prevent concern from entering her mind.
"I need your help." she said softly.
The coldness in her voice stabbed into him like light in utter darkness. He slowly walked over to the girl, trying to keep his disposition from falling apart. Standing next to her overwhelmed him; just her scent alone threatened to send him reeling into anguish. She turned, her ever-warm green eyes meeting his.
"Draco?"
His heart lurched in his chest. He barely breathed, lost in the moment when his name had formed on her lips. She had said it in a whisper, so softly that it seemed to drift by him like the quiet flutter of a butterfly's wings. He caught himself staring at her, but could not help it. Is that concern I see on her face? he asked himself. It was so subtle that he could not be sure. There is a fine line between concern and disgust…What I would give for it to be the slightest trace of care, he thought bitterly, If only…
"Draco…"
His skin melted beneath her touch. The slightest shake from her hand brought him back to reality.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "What were you saying?"
Natalia looked at him, finally letting worry settle in her mind. The pain she had seen revealed on his face was nearly unbearable. It was like watching snow melt away to the painfully barren ground underneath. Her hand still lay on his arm, reluctant to move. She pulled away instantly as if she had touched a scalding hot iron, realizing that she held on to him for too long. Turning away, she said in a quiet voice,
"I need you to stir the potion while I pour the pumpkin juice into it. Then we have to add the finished Liquid Disguisement Potion to the Truth Serum to make the Truth Serum take on the appearance of the pumpkin juice."
Draco nodded, dipping the ladle into the cauldron, stirring slowly while watching Natalia pour the potion. A thousand apologies sat on his tongue, begging to be verbalized, pleading to be presented to the girl that stood beside him. But the boy stayed silent, knowing that a single word could endanger her in the future. Hot tears stung his eyelids as he closed them, trying to focus on stirring the potion with his shaking hand. His heart sank when they finished the potions, allowing her to leave him to socialize with the Gryffindors. He could not bear the despair that he felt when he was near her, and yet, he could not stand the desolation of being away from her. His eyes followed her idly around the classroom, each of her features burning themselves into his mind. Unable to withstand it anymore, he closed his eyes, escaping into darkness.
The crisp autumn air blew at the Gryffindor's Quidditch robes gently. Amongst the sea of red and gold, a solitary figure in silver and green stuck out. After a brief word with the Seeker of the Gryffindor team, the figure went to watch their practice from the Quidditch stands.
The Gryffindor team strode out onto the pitch, and incidentally, the Slytherin team did so as well. The opposing houses scowled when they saw each other. Harry marched up to the Slytherins and confronted them.
"We reserved the pitch for today. Practice another day, Slytherins."
Draco met up with him and stood before the boy, nearly half a head taller than the Gryffindor.
"I don't think so, Potter." he said acidly, "Perhaps next time you Gryffindors want to play catch, you should ask for a note from old McGonagall."
The Slytherins snickered as Draco produced a signed scroll from the head of the Slytherin House, Professor Snape. Harry read the note carefully and saw that it permitted the Slytherins to use the pitch as they had the first game of the season and the Gryffindors did not. As Harry was reading the scroll, Draco's eyes wandered to the lone figure sitting in the Quidditch stands. His face fell when he recognized the figure as Natalia Slytherin. He turned back to Harry, snatching the scroll from him with his gloved hand.
"Listen you mudblood lover," he sneered, "I will allow you to practice today because I do not want your stench stinking up my robes any more. But," he narrowed his eyes, saying icily, "You better have the pitch raked to perfection for the Slytherin practice tomorrow." Turning quickly, he and the Slytherin team left the field.
Natalia's face was flushed pink from the chill in the air. She smiled as Harry did all kinds of tricks on his Firebolt, showing off his newest moves to her. Even though she was watching the Gryffindor Seeker, she could not keep her mind off of Draco's strange behavior during Double Potions the day before. As she was lost in her thoughts, she heard someone walk up quietly beside her. She turned and saw the Potions Master standing next to her, his black robes swaying gently around his legs, contrasting the deep scowl he had on his face as he watched the Gryffindor team.
"I thought I had reserved the field to Slytherins only today." he muttered under his breath.
"Good afternoon, Professor."
Snape looked down at the girl and scolded her lightly.
"Don't you know better than to watch amateurs play a child's game?"
Natlalia smiled, saying very directly,
"I am not the only one in the stands."
The professor smirked, amused at the new witty streak he was seeing in her. He effortlessly eased himself next to her on the bench.
"The Headmaster would like to meet with us about your Offense Against The Dark Arts training."
The girl turned, inspecting the slender hook of his nose.
"Is that what we call it now? Offense Against The Dark Arts?"
He gave her an irritated look, saying in a contesting tone,
"And what would you call it, Miss Slytherin? Meet The Boggarts?"
Natalia glared at him.
"When does he want to see us?"
"Right now."
She frowned, slightly disappointed at the timing.
"That is a pity. I was just starting to delight myself in amateur sports." she said, grinning at Snape. He rolled his eyes before saying softly,
"Come, we should not keep the Headmaster waiting."
Dumbledore looked at the two dark-haired persons sitting in front of him. He smiled, saying lightly,
"Well, Severus, I am glad that you have finally found some use for yourself."
The Potions Master scowled at the old wizard. The smiling man looked at them seriously once more.
"This training course will prove to be most beneficial for you, Natalia. Therefore, I will approve of it completely."
The Slytherin girl beamed, relieved that her life had a purpose once again.
The two left for the dungeons to prepare her new curriculum. They settled in the Potions office, contemplating how to go about planning the course. Snape fell into a silent lull until he came up with a solution.
"Why don't we ask your Father? He should know what is in store for you now that his is out of the physical realm."
Natalia looked at him, completely confused.
"How are we supposed to do that?"
Snape went to the bookshelf, taking down a heavy book.
"Have you already forgotten about the Answers From The Dead book, Miss Slytherin?" he asked, slightly irritated by her poor memory.
"Oh, yes, of course."
She opened the book and let it flip to the middle. Upon seeing the words Whom do you call upon, she summoned for her Father. From a distance, a man with hair darker than night appeared. His piercing green eyes shone brilliantly, causing shadows to cast on the slender features of his face. His lips formed into a smile at seeing his daughter.
"Kjærtegn, I have missed you."
Joy born from deep grief choked her heart; she brought a trembling hand to her mouth, tears spilling effortlessly down her face.
"Father…" she whispered, trying hard not to sob.
"Shh…don't cry." he said gently, wanting to comfort his heartbroken child.
The Potions Master went beside Natalia and greeted the son of Salazar Slytherin.
"Strages," he began in a cultured tone, "My deepest condolences. If I had known that –"
"Severus," the green-eyed spirit said, "Do not burden yourself with the past. What has been done cannot be undone."
Grief and silence permeated the room, making Natalia's suppressed sobs seem like harsh wails.
"Kjærtegn, I have the answers that you need in your preparation for the apocalypse." he said softly, "Do you truly want to do this?"
She nodded quietly, unable to find words to verbalize her answer. The lament and anguish that had built up in her over the years finally flooded over at the sight of her Father. Strages smiled at her soothingly.
"Severus, you will have to expose Natalia to the Dark Powers as much as possible. I suggest that you actually train her in the Forbidden Forest. As for the more subtle forms of the Dark Arts," he looked meaningfully at Snape, "I am certain that you will be more than sufficient in teaching my daughter the art of defeating the Dark Powers."
He turned back to Natalia, saying tenderly,
"Love, I have to leave you now. But before I do, you must make a promise to me."
Natalia choked back a sob, despaired that he would be gone – again.
"You must remember this," he looked at her grimly, "Beware the arachnid that flows in your veins."
The girl looked at her Father sadly. He smiled at her gently.
"Jeg elsker De, Kjærtegn."
Tears flowed down her face as she smiled weakly back at him.
"Jeg elsker De, Papa."
Snape watched them with grief in his heart. He looked on as Strages drifted slowly back to the spirit world. The girl stifled a sob when her Father disappeared. Just as he did, a knock came from the door. The grieved professor put a reassuring hand on Natalia's shoulder before turning to open the door. A pair of pale blue eyes met the Potions Master's black ones.
"Lucius." he growled.
The white-haired man sneered at the professor and smiled furtively when he saw Natalia sitting at the desk.
"My, my," he said softly, placing a gentle hand on the back of her neck, "It is not everyday that we see Aphrodite in tears."
"Bother someone in your own class, Lucius." Snape said dangerously. He turned to the girl, saying in a softer tone, "Natalia, you may go back to your chambers."
She got up, thanked him silently, and left. Lucius followed her with his eyes and relished in her soft curves as she walked out the Potions door. He turned to Snape, smiling like a well-fed cat.
"I do not know how you can abide by the rules of Hogwarts with that siren roaming around the school grounds."
Snape gave him a disgusted look.
"What do you want, Lucius? I am not in the mood to deal with imbeciles today."
Lucius scowled, his voice turning as cold as the Potions Master's.
"I have come to escort you to the Dark Lord."
The professor smiled defiantly at the pale man.
"I am not a Death Eater any–"
His voice fell short as he collapsed in pain. His legs buckled as he fell to the floor, writhing in agony. Every nerve in his body was on fire, feeling like shards of glass flowed in his veins.
"Lucius!" he choked out, "Damn you, damn your – AUGH!!"
The white-haired man sat down, smiling to himself in a satisfied manner.
"Severus, Severus, Severus," he said cajolingly, "Did you think the Dark Mark was gone? How could you ever assume that the Dark Lord would not find out about the Shangri-La freeing you of your ties to him?" He leaned down, clenching the professor's face in his hand.
"No, no," he said in a deadly quiet voice, "You see, the Dark Mark now flows within your blood."
