"What are you doing here?" she snapped. Talia's chest heaved and her jaw trembled slightly.

"That's hardly an appropriate response for your, dear, loving ex-husband." Nicholas took another sip of wine as he looked at her. "I thought I had taught you some manners." His eyebrows arched slightly.

Talia felt her hands balling up into fists, but she didn't feel the comfort of the dagger that was usually tucked up her sleeve, as her current outfit had none. "You taught me a great many things, Nicholas. None of them involved giving you any sort of courtesy."

"Temper, temper" he said calmly as he rose from his chair and set the glass on the nearby end table. "and to think, when we were first married, I used to love the fact that you were so feisty. Made it a challenge for me to tame you." He eyed her carefully, noting her aggressive stance and unusual outfit.

"You didn't know me as well as you thought, did you?" came the sarcastic reply.

"I know what I need to. Which is a great deal more then you believe I do." He smirked slightly, placed his arms behind his back and rocked back onto his heels slightly. "For example, I know that our young Miss Chang moved out last week. Pity she never reached her destination. Seems she ran into some trouble with her dear cousin." He paused slightly for effect before continuing. "I also know that your brother needed to return to his home, and that he will run into some trouble there, as well." He shook his head slightly in mock-pity. "That just leaves you. But don't think I left you out. I know you went shopping with Narcissa today, and the outfit I see before me is the product of said trip." He motioned to her outfit slightly before returning to his confident stance. "Your wand is upstairs in your bureau. I also know that the cutlery you are so fond of wearing has been significantly decreased due to the fact that your unusual choice of clothing. It doesn't provide many places for them, does it?"

"If you think that means I'm defenseless, you're sadly mistaken." she snapped.

"Of course not. I give you more credit then you give me. But you are the portion of the equation I do not wish to contend with." Talia felt something pierce her right shoulder slightly before her world went black.

Authors notes:
GRRR!! What is he doing back? How did he escape Azkaban? And... how did he get to her shoulder when he's still across the room from her?

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