Chapter Thirty-Three: Acts of Folly
Madame Pomfrey had checked over her three times already, and finally, with a satisfied exhale of breath, proclaimed her fully recovered. Despite this, Natalia was assigned to three more days of bed rest, though this time, she was allowed visitors. She was opening the window curtains when Snape walked into the room, the early morning light exploding on his face like a spilt egg yolk. "Good gods," he grumbled, "Do you have to do that this early in the morning?"
The girl grinned at the Potions Master, dismissing his comment. "Good morning, Professor," she greeted, gesturing to the nightstand, "Do you perhaps know who brought those?"
Snape scowled at the box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans on the table. "Perhaps one of Potter's cronies," he spat out, "I would not be surprised if they came in here against the wishes of Madame Pomfrey."
Natalia's grin widened as she opened the box of sweets. Extending her arm, she offered the box to the Potions Master. "Would you like one, Professor?"
Snape's scowl deepened as he refused the candy.
"Do you have a spare parchment?" she asked, covering her mouth as she chewed on a buttermilk-flavored bean.
The professor leafed through the pile of papers that he had left on the table, handing her a blank one. Blushing as she realized she had no writing utensil, she looked up at the professor, asking, "Sorry, do you have a quill with you?"
Snape smirked, looking through the pile of work he had left in the room, searching for his emerald quill. Handing it to the girl with an inkpot, he watched as she wrote a quick note on the parchment, signed it, rolled it into a scroll, and then handed it back to him sheepishly. "I apologize for asking so many favors of you, Professor. On your way to breakfast, would you mind giving this to Harry, Hermione, or Ron for me?"
Snape's face dropped into another scowl, but after a moment, a wicked grin crawled onto his reluctant lips. "Are you attempting to make a fool of me, Miss Slytherin?"
The girl's face passed through three shades of crimson as she drew the scroll back, saying, "No, professor, I – never mind. I shall just have Amicus send it."
The Potions Master frowned slightly and held out his hand, gesturing for the scroll. After a moment, the girl smiled quietly, handing it to him, whispering, "Thank you."
"And did you sign up for the chess tournament? I heard they're using real people as chess pieces!" Ron was discussing the newest activity that Dumbledore had suggested for the week with his green-eyed friend.
"What do you mean 'real people'?" Harry asked, "You mean Muggles?"
The redhead shook his head, mumbling through a mouthful of biscuits, "No, I mean wizards. Everyone from Hogwarts. Dean told me that it is wizard dueling and chess mixed together."
"So actual wizards are going to play the pieces? Who controls where they move? Are we–"
"Good morning, Potter."
Both boys stopped dead in their conversation, dreading the man that came with the voice. Harry's face formed into a glare as he saw the Potions Professor standing behind him with a scroll balanced lightly between his fingers. "Perhaps you will be more literate in reading a simple note than your quidditch handbook." The professor dropped the scroll in the boy's lap, leaving the flustered boys for the staff table. At that moment, Hermione clambered into the Hall, her arms littered with books. "Sorry I'm late," she said, "I had to get some books on mercury poisoning."
The redhead turned to Harry, waving his hands eagerly. "Well, open it, Harry!"
The boy looked at the scroll unsurely and slowly unrolled it an arm's length away from his face, afraid that it would bite him. Beautiful green ink stretched across the parchment in graceful slopes and curls.
"Dear Hermione, Harry, and Ron," he read, "Thank you for the lovely Every Flavor Beans you left by my nightstand. I am relieved to inform you that I have fully recovered." Harry looked up at his beaming friends as they gestured excitedly for him to continue. "Might there be any chance that I can see the three of you? Madame Pomfrey has assigned me to three more days of bed rest, but she is allowing visitors now. Thank you once again for the sweets. Affectionately, Natalia."
The trio looked at each other, smiling loudly to themselves. "Hey George, Fred!" Ron yelled down the table, "Natalia's recovered!" The Gryffindor House erupted in cheers as the news spread down the table. The racket caught the attention of the staff, at which Snape turned his head away, hiding the smile that crept onto his face.
"How well are you stocked on sweets?" Harry asked Ron. The redhead grinned, replying, "I'm sure Fred and George can help us out in that department."
The first Potions Class of the morning marveled at the professor's lenient mood. He had not lashed out at the students once and assigned a hard but thoroughly instructed potion for the morning. Draco was free of classes on Tuesday mornings, therefore took the chance to visit Natalia. During breakfast, Crabbe overheard the Gryffindors' talk of Natalia's recovery and had told Draco before the first class of the day. He now snuck quietly down the halls and carefully opened the infirmary's door, cringing as it creaked open. Peeking his head inside, he quickly scanned the room for Madame Pomfrey, and seeing that she was not present, headed to the back of the wing. Natalia's hand greeted him as it drew the curtain back, anticipating her long-awaited visitors. As she realized that it was Draco who had come, her face fell subtly, allowing the slightest trace of disappointment to leak onto her face. Draco noticed this and stood back for a moment before taking a seat next to her. Natalia saw his face fall a bit and smiled warmly, hoping to reassure him. "Thank goodness someone has come to see me," she said with a grin, "I thought I was going to go crazy for a while." Draco smiled in wonder at her, amazed at the picture of health that replaced the comatose body that had lain there just days ago.
"How do you feel?" he asked gently, afraid of breaking her pleasant reverie.
She glanced down at her hands, smiling. "A lot better, actually. Thank you."
"For what?" he inquired, raising his brow in question.
"For asking," she replied, looking up at him, "For coming."
The boy smiled, the bruise on his chest throbbing a little. "Natalia," he started, looking intently at her, "Have you an escort to the Gala?"
The girl looked at him, completely perplexed. "What gala? I apologize, but I do not know what you are talking about."
Draco frowned, pulling a jade-colored scroll from his robes. "You haven't received one of these?" he asked, handing it to her. She unrolled the scroll, reading the silver letters that laced onto the green silk.
"Master Draco Donovan Malfoy De Beauvais, Wizard First Class, Son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy De Beauvais, Slytherin House. The Imperial Court of Shambhala cordially requests your presence at the Gala of the Coming Year in honor of the reclamation of the Shangri-La on the thirty-first of December, one thousand, nine hundred, and ninety five."
"When did you receive this?" she asked after reading the elaborate invitation.
"Two nights ago. Every Magical should have received one as we are all expected to attend."
Natalia looked away, nodding thoughtfully. "I see…I guess will not be going since I have not received one."
Draco frowned, thinking intently for the reason behind her lack of an invitation. "Perhaps," he started, "It is because you were here, instead of your chambers. You see, they were sent to us during the night. Maybe it's in your room right now."
The girl smiled to herself in relief. "Hopefully. I had thought for a moment that…" She trailed off, not wanting to state the obvious.
Draco smiled, touching her hand, causing her to look up in a start. He blushed faintly, saying, "The invitation. Could I…"
"Oh! Of course, sorry!" Natalia exclaimed, slightly embarrassed. He rolled the parchment back into a scroll, tucking it into his robes.
"Natalia," he said softly, leaning on his knees, "If you do go to this gala, I was wondering if…if I could be your escort?"
The girl smiled, nearly chuckling aloud at the way he had asked her so formally. "Do you mean will I be your date for the Gala?" she asked with a teasing smile.
The boy turned beet red, looking down at his shoes. "Um…yes." he whispered, smiling sheepishly. Laughter erupted from Natalia as she watched Draco squirm from embarrassment. "Of course I will, Draco! I cannot think of anyone else I would like to go with more." Her giggles quickly turned into a fit of coughs as she gestured to the pitcher of water by Draco's side. He hastily got a glass and poured some water for her, handing her the glass. His sleeve rose up a little as he reached forward, causing her to notice the bandage around his wrist. She drank the water greedily, thanking him as she set down the glass. "Draco," she started, gesturing to his arm, "What happened?"
The boy instinctively clutched his wrist in defense, looking like someone had caught him in the act. He looked to the ground, the memories of the past few days suddenly flooding back. His lips came together in a frown, his jaw contracting into a tight line. Memories played to him like an old muggle movie – broken, faded. Terribly muddled. Natalia gazed curiously at the silent boy in front of her, watching as his features contorted through phases of angst. "Draco," she whispered, touching him on the knee, "Are you all right?"
Draco looked back up at her, startled. "I…" escaped from his lips, hanging suspended in the air like a hovering fly. He sat up again, brushing his fingers through his hair distractedly. Looking out the window, he bit his lip, unsure of what to say. "I…it was yesterday. I had…" He trailed off, running his hand over his face in agitation. Natalia looked intently at him, taking in his gestures, his demeanor. She understood. But she did not understand why. No, she knew why, but could not comprehend the weight of what he felt. She took his hand, looking at him steadily. "Was it your father?" she asked quietly.
"No," the boy answered, looking away, "He didn't do this to me. Rather, he…" Taking a breath, he started again. "He gave me a potion. Ordered me to give it to you. I didn't though. But…" his voice dropped to an inaudible whisper, "I almost did."
Natalia dropped his hand, leaning back against the bed. "You did…what?" she asked, her voice barely coming out of her body. He looked guiltily up at her, swallowing in frustration.
"It was an extraction potion, one that would have killed you. I didn't know this at the time and decided to give it to you, hoping that Dumbledore would call the Healing God."
The girl sank back into her pillow, shocked from what he had just said. "Why…why couldn't you just have…" she asked feebly, half to herself.
Draco clasped his hands together, looking at her anxiously. "Well, I…" He looked down, not wanting to mention his father. "He demanded that I do so, lest…"
She suddenly noticed the dark bruise on the boy's cheek. Her gaze fell from his cheek to his bandaged wrist and back. It all came together, slowly and surely. Oh my god…she thought, staring in dismay at the grieved boy in front of her. She immediately realized what he had done. "Draco…" she uttered, the words barely coming out of her, "Did you – how could you have…why did you do that to yourself?"
He looked up at her, his eyes dark and vulnerable. "I…" he whispered, choking back the pain that was rising once again. "I thought it would save you." he whispered, quietly and simply.
"You…you thought it would save me?" she asked, not believing the things that she was hearing.
Draco looked helplessly at her, feeling irrational and accountable for his actions. He ran a hand over his eyes, sighing deeply to himself. "I couldn't go through with the potion task because I…I care for…your–your well being. And I knew that if I disobeyed my father, I would…" he trailed off, unable to finish presenting his reasons. Natalia sat shaking her head, her eyes burning underneath her lids. Finally, he finished. "I thought it best to just remove the problem."
"Draco," she said, her voice low and hurt, "You didn't have to…not even my well being is of enough value to replace your…your life." She turned away from him, bringing her hands to her face. "My God…I cannot believe that…how could you do such a thing to yourself? Had it been successful, I would have…" She looked up, trying to keep the tears in her lids. Looking back at him, she leaned forward, taking his hand. "Please," she whispered desperately, "Please promise me you won't try that again. I mean…" she wiped the tears that ruined her composure, "There are things to live for, Draco. Life still goes on whether or not the problem is solved. Things still turn out for the best. There are still things to look forward to, things of value in life." She turned her gaze down to the hand that she held in hers before looking back up at him again. "There are still people that care greatly for you."
Drops ran freely down his face as he realized for the first time in his existence that someone had taken to heart the value of his life. Even he himself had never thought of that. He shook as he tried to speak again. "I'm sorry. It's just that…" his voice choked back in a sob, "I never thought that anyone had actually…actually minded my presence. I had always just thought that as long as I had things that people needed, wanted, I would be remembered. But then…then damned Potter came along and I saw that–" he looked down, blinking away the tears that clouded his eyes, "I saw that he needed nothing, wanted nothing, but people still loved him, treasured him. And then I knew the difference between he and I." He looked out the window, his gray eyes reflecting the blue of the sky. "People value him even though there is nothing he can give them other than his being, and yet, I, who can give the world to anyone that asks, cannot attain the same value in my person, my life." He added bitterly, "And there is just so much more proof of that from my father. I've always furtively wanted…" He sighed quietly as he rubbed his hand wearily across his eyes. "I never thought, never realized that I would be missed." He looked up at Natalia, revering her above all else in the world. "You've saved me yet again," he whispered, smiling sadly to himself. "It is true, you know," he said, "What they say about you being the savior. You do so without even being aware of it."
She smiled at him and brought her fingers to his damp cheek. "You are of value, Draco. So much more than you even realize." The bell indicating the end of the first class suddenly rang, shattering the nearly consecrated atmosphere in the infirmary. She leaned forward and placed her lips gently on his brow, whispering in his ear, "Thank you for coming, Draco. Please do care for yourself as I do you." She leant back, squeezing his hand tenderly before the boy got up, leaving with a surreal smile on his face.
Natalia drifted off to sleep as the soft billow of the winter clouds floated past her window, the blue of the sky reflecting off her dark lashes. She fell into a pleasant dreamless sleep, so deep and fulfilling that one could only wake up deep within themselves, heavy and filled with rest. She awoke to the gentle shaking of her shoulder and a quiet, whiny voice in her ear. "Natalia Slytherin! Natalia Slytherin! Dobby brings Miss nice lunch, yes, Dobby is!"
Natalia reluctantly opened her eyes to see the skinny shriveled face of a house-elf peering eagerly down at her with its large green eyes. "What?" she whispered, her voice coming out in a hoarse rasp.
"Dobby brings Miss nice lunch, yes, Dobby is. Headmaster said Natalia Slytherin is to eat lunch now, yes, now. Dobby brings rolls and cold cuts and pumpkin juice and all foods!" He moved the nightstand over with a quick flick of his wrist, setting a large tray of food onto the table. Natalia's brow lowered in curiosity before she turned to thank the house-elf. "Thank you for the food," she started, "Would you like to join me?"
"Oh…no, no, Dobby not eats with Natalia Slytherin. Foods all is for Miss, not for Dobby. Yes, is for Miss, not Dobby."
She smiled kindly at him, looking at the food. "There is more than enough food for five people here. Surely I cannot finish it all by myself."
The little house-elf frowned in confusion, gesturing to the food. "Natalia Slytherin not likes food? Dobby is very sorry, very sorry. Dobby goes back down and gets other food. Is food not good?"
The girl laughed lightly, shaking her head. "No, no," she replied, "It is fine. I was just wondering if you would like to eat with me, since I cannot finish this much food by myself."
"Oh…" Dobby said, still not quite understanding, clasped his hands together. "Miss wants Dobby to test food for Miss?"
She shook her head, laughing. "No, no, no…I want you to eat with me, to share my food with me. Be my dining companion."
Dobby frowned deeply, staring at her in disbelief. People never offered anything to him. Other than Harry Potter. But Harry Potter was…well, Harry Potter. "Dobby is very sorry Dobby not understands. Miss is offers Dobby food?"
Nodding, she replied, "Yes, yes. Would you like to share my food with me?"
The house-elf frowned deeper in confusion, saying, "But, Miss is a, is a…Slytherin. Slytherins is never kind to Dobby, Slytherins not likes Dobby. Is Miss not a Slytherin?"
Natalia sighed, seeing the fault in her efforts to be courteous. "Yes, I am a Slytherin. If you do not trust me, I will not hold you accountable for refusing my offer."
Dobby shook his head frantically, protesting. "No, no! Dobby is not says Dobby not trusts Natalia Slytherin. Dobby trusts Miss, Dobby not trusts Slytherins. Dobby, he likes Miss! Dobby, he eats food with Miss. Dobby be Miss'es 'dining companion'."
Natalia shook her head, chuckling to herself. "All right, that is fine. Let me go get a chair for you."
"Oh, no!" he cried out, waving his hands excitedly, "Miss Nurse say Natalia Slytherin is not to move. No, no, Dobby gets chair." With a crisp snap of his fingers, a tall stool appeared next to him. Natalia gaped in wonder at the magic he had used.
"How…how did you do that?" she asked, amazed at his ability to conjure items so effortlessly.
"Dobby not understands, Miss. Miss wants to knows Dobby do what?"
She gestured to the chair with her hand. "How did you conjure that so easily without saying any spells?"
Dobby frowned, scratching his forehead. "Dobby never thinks how Dobby does it, Miss. Dobby just does." He snapped his fingers again, "Like this." Out of the air came a butterfly that flew around his head and out the window.
"That is incredible," Natalia uttered as she watched the butterfly float out the window. She turned to the house-elf, looking at him eagerly. "Do you think you can teach me how to do that?"
Dobby poured some pumpkin juice into a cup for her and looked at the ham thoughtfully. "Dobby is likes to, yes, but Dobby does not knows how to teach. Dobby thinks over and he tells Miss later?" he asked, looking up at the girl.
She smiled, nodding in agreement. "Yes, that would be lovely, if you do not mind. Thank you."
"Oh, no!" the house-elf protested, "Dobby not minds at all. Dobby delighted Miss wants to know house-elf magic! Dobby not understands why, but Dobby delighted!"
Natalia nodded, saying, "You see, back at home, we never had house-elves. My mother enchanted the house to do the chores on its own, so I never saw an elf actually do any magic before. I have heard of elven magic, but never seen it, until now."
Dobby frowned, shaking his head. "No, no, Miss. Natalia Slytherin must not confuse house-elves with real elves. Dobby and other house-elves not real elves. No, no, we have different magics, not elven magics. If real elves hears Miss say so, elves gets very mad. No, no, we is different."
The girl's brow furrowed in thought. "Oh? How so?"
Dobby's eyes widened half in awe and half in fear. "Elves is much, much, much more powerfuls. Yes, elves is much olders too. Elves is very different, very different."
Natalia quirked up an eyebrow in interest. "Do you think they have books on elven magic in the library?"
The house-elf scratched his head thoughtfully and said, "Perhaps…" he patted Natalia on the hand, adding, "Miss stays and finishes lunch. Dobby goes to library and finds Miss books on elves."
With that, he disappeared from the stool, leaving Natalia alone with her lunch. He never ended up eating anything after all.
As she finished her last steaming spoonful of potato soup, Dobby appeared once again, his timing just perfect as she finished her lunch. In his arms were three heavy and ancient looking books, all covered in thick layers of dust. "Miss likes lunch?" he asked, setting the books carefully on the stool.
"Yes, very much, thank you." she replied, looking at the books. "Thank you for getting the books for me. What are they?"
The house-elf snapped his fingers and the tray quickly disappeared, clearing the table of all traces of food. He placed the books on the table and wiped the dust off the cover of the top one, so the words "History of Elven Magic and The Descendants of The Light" shone in a soft shimmering silver. "Dobby apologizes for the dirtiness. Dobby never means for books to be dirty but books is too old. Miss wants Dobby to leave all books here?"
Natalia traced the silver letters with her finger carefully, saying, "Yes, thank you for bringing them. You are very kind for having gotten them for me."
Dobby blushed and smiled sheepishly. "What Miss wants Dobby gets. Dobby leaves Miss now and Miss reads. Dobby be back later with supper. Dobby hopes Miss finds books interestings and brings more if Miss likes."
The girl nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you very much, Dobby. I would be bored out of my mind if you had not come. Thank you."
The house-elf nodded and smiled, disappearing once again to the kitchen.
Natalia had nearly finished the chapter on the land of Valinor and the Noldor, or the Deep Elves, when she heard a whole lot of snickering and giggling outside the hospital wing. She looked eagerly past the opened curtain to see four redheads poke in, followed by a brunette and a black-haired, green-eyed boy. "Natalia!" they all exclaimed, talking all at once as they approached her. In their hands were basketfuls of sweets, ranging from Every Flavor Beans to Chocolate Frogs, colorful packages of candy peeking out from the wicker weaving of the baskets. Hermione set down her basket and gathered Natalia in a warm embrace. "We were so worried! And we missed you very much!" she gushed, smiling like a child on Christmas Eve. Suddenly, an insistent chirping rose from Natalia's lap as everyone looked down at the wooden ladybug that demanded for attention. Natalia laughed in delight as she picked up the bug. "It's Golli! Am I ever glad to see you!" She took up the bug and set it on her nightstand, looking back at her friends. "Well?" she said, "Tell me what I've missed!"
The children spoke all at once, events and news spewing from their mouths like leakage from frostbitten pipes. Natalia listened frantically, catching short phrases here and there, piecing together that the Gryffindors had won a game over Hufflepuff, the previous Snitch was still gone so a new one was used, Fred and George had gotten their Gasping Bouncy Coasters confiscated by Professor McGonagall, and Ron had managed to get a week's worth of detention from Snape (although he did not give the details of his incriminating act). Finally, when they had all expounded their tirade of the events that had passed, the air relaxed into a settled silence. The Gryffindors all grinned at her like awestruck puppies before Hermione asked, "How are you feeling?"
Natalia smiled, almost forgetting her own health in the confusion of their chatter. "I am doing much better, thank you. And thank you for coming to see me. I have been looking forward to seeing all of you very much."
Suddenly, Ron spoke up, urgently and worriedly. "Natalia…you – you aren't going to be playing in the chess game are you?"
The girl frowned slightly, not knowing what he was speaking of. "Pardon me, what chess game?"
He replied in a rush, "Well, you see, there's this chess tournament that Dumbledore's issued this week between the houses, and real wizards, meaning the students, are going to play the pieces. And well, if you play for Slytherin – you know…"
Natalia chuckled at his request, saying, "I probably will not even be the person controlling the pieces, Ron, so you have nothing to worry about."
"Oh no!" he said, cutting in, "You see, they aren't doing it like regular chess where the pieces get taken when it is not their move. In this game, the wizards duel on each move so the more powerful of the two wizards wins, letting them taking over the piece. So, if you don't play, we might have a chance at –" Hermione quickly jabbed Ron in the ribs, forcing an "Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?!" out of him. The girl glared at him and turned back to Natalia.
"Don't mind Ron. He's just a bit competitive when it comes to chess.
Actually, I think it would be good if you did play, then you can
warm up on your magic again since you have been…indisposed for so long."
Natalia grinned at her
bickering friends, saying, "Oh, I doubt you will have anything to worry about,
Ron. After all, you do
have Fred and George in your house, and I fear what pranks they are planning to
do to the other players. And also, I
probably will not be able to play until the end of the week since Madame
Pomfrey is requiring me to stay in bed for three more days."
Ron rolled his eyes, muttering, "Great. That means she'll play in the final game. Much of a chance we have."
Natalia's grin widened as she cocked her head, raising her brows skeptically. "I am not that good of a witch, you know."
The redhead snorted, shaking his head in disbelief. "Says the girl that knocked Snape off his bum," the boy retorted.
"Hey, hey," Ginny interrupted, putting her hands up, "Be nice children."
They all snickered, though stopping immediately when Ginny suddenly started shushing them. "Shhh!" she whispered through her teeth, "Snape's outside!"
Sure enough, a dark cloaked figure loomed in the hallway, sweeping into the room in a whisper of black robes. "Gryffindors." he spat out, "Shouldn't all of you be in class presently, seeing as the lunch hour is over?" He glared at each of them, scowling as his gaze fell on Harry. "Ah…Mr. Potter. I should have known that you were part of this mischief. What kind of idiot brings a sick patient sweets?" He added under his breath, "Only Gryffindors…" Crossing his arms slowly, he glowered down at them, delighting silently as the children squirmed about like worms under his gaze. "Now," he snarled out slowly, "If all you despicable wretches are not out of my sight in one minute, I will see to it that you all join Weasley for a month's worth of detention."
The children shuffled out just as Snape caught Harry rolling his eyes. He snaked his fingers forward, yanking the boy back by his collar. "Was that a show of disrespect I saw, Potter?" he whispered dangerously in his ear. "I will have you know, yet again, that any sort of impertinence is not to be tolerated at this school. Is that understood?"
The boy gulped, muttering, "Yes, sir."
The Potions Master shoved him forward, satisfied. "Good. See me tonight at exactly eight about your next three weeks worth of detention then."
Ron turned around at this, gaping at his friend as they trundled out of the infirmary.
Natalia frowned up at the man that stood at her bedside watching the befuddled children leave. "You didn't have to be so…awful, you know."
Snape turned around, his glare softening into a smirk as he looked upon the girl. "Ah, Miss Slytherin, that is where you are mistaken. Once you learn the joys and amusement aroused from distressing Gryffindor ruffians, you will completely agree with me that what I just did, was completely necessary."
She rolled her eyes, muttering, "Yes, of course."
The professor frowned in brief annoyance before taking his spot in the chair near her bed. "Natalia, I came to discuss the chess tournament with you."
The girl brought a hand up to her temple, shaking her head wearily. "Good grief…why does everyone keep asking me that question?"
"What are you talking about?" Snape demanded, aware of the fact that he had put her in an irritable disposition.
"Ron," she replied, waving a hand behind him toward the door, "He wanted to know if I was playing so he could convince me not to."
The Potions Master rolled his eyes, "Why am I not surprised? And they suspect the Slytherins of treachery." He turned his gaze back on her and asked, "Are you planning on taking part in this tournament?"
She fiddled with her thumbs, looking to and fro between her index and her pinky. "I suppose so, though I will not be able to play until the end of the week. Madame Pomfrey wants me to stay in bed for three more days, so I –" She suddenly stopped as her gaze shifted to the door behind Snape's shoulder. Natalia's face unexpectedly pulled back into a wide smile as she let out a surprised cry. "Mother! What are you doing here? I thought I wouldn't see you until…"
The refined woman glided past an astonished Snape, placing a chaste kiss on her daughter's brow. "Would not, dear, not 'wouldn't'." Natalia bit her lip, saying a quiet 'sorry' under her breath. The woman took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of arrestingly bright sea-green eyes. With her other hand, she tilted her daughter's face up with a gloved hand, inspecting her throat. After a moment, Aurelia's face eased into a graceful smile, as she whispered, "Not a mark left. I see Asklepios has worked his wonders on you." The loving undertones in her voice betrayed not a hint of the deadly Reviving Philter that she held in her purse. Straightening back up, she nodded courteously at Snape, saying, "Good afternoon, Severus. It has been ages since I last saw you. How have you been?"
The Potions Master swallowed hard, his steadfast composure dying away under her fierce gaze. "I…I have been well, thank you. And yourself?"
The witch turned her lips in a calculating smile, replying, "My work flourishes as always. I see you have taken my dear Natalia under your care."
The man looked to the girl, smiling as he remembered that she too was in the room. "Yes, she has proved to be the most…industrious of students."
Aurelia turned back to her daughter, reaching in her purse. "Natalia, I had this sent to me while you were ill." She handed an elaborate emerald silk scroll to the girl, "I surmise that you have heard about the Gala already?"
Natalia nodded, taking the scroll from her mother. "Yes, I was told about it this morning."
The older witch smiled furtively, placing a delicate hand on her daughter's hair. "I have found an escort for you to the Gala. He is a seventh year from Durmstrang, very successful and –"
"Mother –" Natalia cut in, "I…I am already going with someone else."
Aurelia's eyes flashed as she raised a challenging eyebrow, saying, "Oh? And who is he?"
The girl looked down at her hands, biting her lip nervously. "Draco Malfoy." she whispered almost inaudibly.
Her mother's face held it's challenging look, not revealing a trace of the anger that boiled inside. "Who did you say?" she asked in a whisper.
Natalia turned away, blinking in frustration. "Draco, Draco Malfoy."
Snapping her purse shut, Aurelia curtly said, "That will not be acceptable. I expect you to go with the person I have chosen for you, and if not, you will –"
"Aurelia," the Potions Master said, his voice cutting hers away instantly, "Perhaps you should let Natalia go with the person she desires to go with, for if it is a mistake, it will be hers to make."
The witch slowly turned around to face Snape, her eyes frigid with anger. "Oh, really, Severus? I wonder if you would have had the same view about another Malfoy years ago?"
The professor went silent, watching the woman that stood in front of him. "Perhaps we should discuss this outside," he suggested quietly, turning away from the door, unable to look at Natalia.
The woman sneered, leading the way out of the room. "Yes, perhaps that would be best."
And so, Natalia watched in confusion as two very compelling Magicals walked out of the room, leaving the air searing with intense power.
