Chapter 15

Ron had returned from work, and everyone was gathered around the table eating.

"Do you think we could get Harry to come here early?" Ron asked Mr. Weasley between humungous bites.

Mr. Weasley shot his youngest son a dirty look. "You know very well that Dumbledore doesn't want Harry coming to early, Voldemort's supporters are still looking for him. Keeping him safe is more important."

"But he'll be so unhappy," Sirius pleaded, clearly remembering the period he had been cooped up in Grimmauld Place. "He needs to be around his friends, or we'll witness another round of what happened last time. Remember?"
They all remember too clearly. Harry had become absolutely spiffing mad, and had yelled at everyone about being left out.

"Well," Mr. Weasley cleared his throat importantly. "That was dreadful, but it was for his own good, and besides, it's perfectly alright if he's angry."

"That's easy for you to say," Ginny grumbled. "He won't be mad at you."

"Ginerva Weasley, that is no way to talk to your father," Mrs. Weasley scolded. "Finish your salad."

"I hate salad," Ginny groaned.
"For a girl who is going into fifth year, you are acting very immaturely," Mrs. Weasley said severely. "Besides, salad will help you grow."

"To be quite honest," Ginny growled, "I don't need to grow anymore. I need to shrink."

Mrs. Weasley chose to ignore this remark, and turned to Ron, who was also picking at his salad half-heartedly.

"How was work, Ron?"

"Fine," Ron replied without gusto, pouring olive oil over the wilting lettuce. "Just spiffy."

Ginny cast Ron an alarmed look. "How come George and Fred couldn't make it to dinner?"

"They had some fancy dinner party they were invited to at some upper class twit's house," Ron said scathingly. "And of course, they didn't want to miss an opportunity to run around in their new muggle clothes."

Hermione looked up interest. "What were they wearing?"

"Something Armani," Ron snarled, annoyed that Hermione had shown interest in his brother's newfound wealth. "Bloody ridiculous if you ask me."

"Well no one's asking you, Ron," Ginny replied angrily, slipping her lettuce onto the ground slyly.

"Giorgio Armani is a very prestigious company," Hermione informed the others. "Very expensive."

This seemed to rub Ron the wrong way, and he set into his salad with such voraciousness, that Sirius edged away quietly.

"Well, that sounds splendid," Mrs. Weasley said brightly. "What did you do today Ginny?"

"I cleaned one of the bedrooms," Ginny said grumpily. "Had to get Mad Eye to fix me up after some strange crab-like thing bit me. Got me a upset and horribly angry."

"Hasn't all worn off," Sirius said wryly. "But you should have seen her then… Good lord, she chucked this ugly old lampshade at me, and almost took my ear off."

"Hmm," Mr. Weasley mused aloud. "Must have been a Crabifier, very interesting species. They do remind me of those little blue crabs you can buy at the market."

"Pardon?" Draco choked, nearly squirting milk out of his nose. "Did you say Crapifier?"

Everyone laughed, including Mr. Weasley

"No, no, a CraBifier," he said, emphasizing the 'B.' "Fascinating species, it won't wear off for another week or so, so stay out of Ginny's way if you like your ears."

"I am not grumpy," Ginny replied moodily. "And I am certainly not crabified."

"What did you do, Sirius?" Mr. Weasley asked, while Ginny went off into a tangent about how she hated her life.

"I cleaned out the ball room," he said brightly. "We should hold a ball there sometime when all of this has blown over."

"That would be wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Would I have to wear a dress?" Ginny asked doubtfully.

"I thought you liked dresses," Ron asked, completely befuddled. "I even bought you one for your birthday-"

"Put a cork in it, Ron," Ginny snapped.

"Oh, okay," Ron said hastily. "I'll talk to someone else."


Draco and Hermione were getting ready for bed, completely exhausted after their sumptuous meal of Mrs. Weasley's finest.

"We should show the necklace to Natalya before we go to bed," Draco volunteered after he had climbed into his pajamas.

"Sure, why not," she said tiredly, climbing under the covers. "You can do it."

"All alone?" Draco asked.

"Of course," Hermione sighed. "She's your relation, not mine. I don't want to have anything to do with her."

"You're not jealous, are you?" Draco asked in disbelief, hardly believing his ears.

She rolled her eyes. "Draco, I just don't think this is any of our business. What is dead is dead, and should not be unearthed. Remember, Mahatma Gandhi said if everything was eye for an eye we'd all be blind."

"Who's Mahatma Gandhi?" Draco questioned, waving the necklace box around in confusion.

"Never mind," she said, rolling over. "Just hurry up and get on with it, so I can go to bed."

Draco pulled out the picture of Natalya, who was still sitting on her chair, impatiently tapping her foot.

"I was wondering when you'd return," she said, pouting. "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

Draco sighed. "Of course I didn't forget about you. I brought something that you might recognize."

He opened the lid of the box, and showed her the ruby necklace. She smiled, and clapped her hands gaily.

"I remember that one," she said happily. "It was my favorite. I got it for my sixteenth birthday from Lucius."

"My cousin Ninian says that it's cursed," he said, closing the box. Natalya shrugged.

"It's only cursed for those who I don't like," Natalya explained. "Ninian's a sweet girl, but not worthy of the necklace."

"Who is worthy?"

"Me," she said importantly. "But I'm going to let Persephone have it. She'd look best in it. Unfortunately, rubies really don't suit my coloring."

"Oh," Draco replied, hoping he sounded like he knew what he was talking about. "By the way, did you know someone named Marissa Malfoy?"

"Of course," she replied happily. "My best friend. How is she?"

"Uh…" Draco trailed off. "I don't know how to explain what's happened…"

"What do you mean?" Natalya said, her voice suddenly sharp.

"Well, Marissa's brother, Mihangel, was murdered," Draco said shakily. Natalya grinned.

"I know, he and I talk all the time."

"He was killed by my father," Draco continued.

Her eyes flashed, and she stood furiously.

"He was always jealous," she hissed. "Of course. When I left him, I picked up with Mihangel, and I suppose he never got over that, did he…"

"You split with my dad?" Draco questioned, seeing her furious expression.

"Of course, the slimy scum was cheating on me with another woman, god damn him. So I left him for Mihangel, who loved me back. That stupid Lucius…"

"Well… I suppose you still want me to kill him," Draco said uneasily.

"Oh no," Natalya said gleefully. "I'm going to do it myself!"


A/N: Mwahahahah. I have to admit, I don't like Natalya much... which is sad, especially since she's one of my own creations... sigh. Ah well. Leave a review!