A/N: Thanks very much to all the reviewers! And thanks to my sister for editing this chapter.

There might be one chapter coming out later tonight. I am making changes to that chapter so I'll see how it takes.

Seeing as you guys enjoy Harry/OC fanfics, you may want to take a look at the fanfic, "Plus one" by U may say that I'm a dreamer. It's just starting out but it has a great, original idea and the writing's pretty good.

Disclaimer: Besides Kalissa and Natalie, I own zero percent of the wizarding world

Chapter 15- The Picture

"Are Kal – my mother and Professor McGonagall safe?" asked Natalie anxiously as they stepped into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. After Madam Pomfrey had examined her, she elected to wait outside the Hospital Wing for news about Kalissa, not wanting to see all the gruesome injuries many of the Aurors and a few Order members sustained. And Snape, despite his own vehement complaints, had been firmly ordered by Madam Pomfrey to keep her in his classroom.

"I don't know. Please don't trouble me. Sit down here and we'll see," snapped Snape, gesturing at his classroom.

"Well, professor, I do deserve some answers. In the middle of Christmas supper, thirty or so murderous Death Eaters invade my mother's house with only one goal in mind," retorted Natalie with a tinge of sarcasm.

"Do not talk back to me, Miss Malkae. I've already told you once and obviously, it fell upon deaf ears. I do not know, but I suspect we will soon hear," replied Snape harshly. "Now, please listen to me and sit down."

Natalie, who was becoming increasingly incensed at his unpleasantness, proceeded to sit down at the closest table to his desk. She was not going to succumb to his coldness so easily. Then, Natalie suddenly remembered that he had saved her life. She realized with a pang of shame that she had become so immersed in her worries about Kalissa and Minerva that she had forgot to thank him.

"Er, professor," said Natalie in a much softer, sincere voice. "Thank you for saving my life. I'm sorry about my curtness earlier, but I do appreciate what you did." She hoped that Snape could detect the genuine gratitude in her voice.

Snape did not even glance at her, but merely picked a book from his drawer and started reading it. Natalie's frustration with him quickly reappeared. She did not want to remain silent and grit her teeth as he had so blatantly implied. The recent events of the evening filled her with a tense and sickening restlessness. She was still trembling and shivering as fear and terror continued to claw at her stomach. She wanted to focus on the more personal implications later in the presence of someone slightly friendlier. But now, she needed to at the very least, achieve an adequate understanding of the circumstances behind the attack and Snape's mystical appearance while hoping that they would soon hear news about Kalissa and Minerva.

"How did the Death Eaters know about my mother's house? I thought it was impossible to find."

Snape lifted his head, with a look of utter annoyance on his face. "You're almost as annoying as Potter, just less dense. Obviously, the house is not impossible to find. The Dark Lord is quite a powerful wizard. He does have his ways of finding people."

Natalie ignored the mocking edge to his voice. She was, however, slightly unsettled by his reverential use of the 'Dark Lord'. "So you don't know?"

"Did I not answer the question?"

Natalie decided to question him about his role in the night's events. "So Professor, why were you there, tonight?"

Snape flicked through his book. "I was needed by the Headmaster to cast the spell that allowed for apparition out of the shed. Seeing as the Dark Lord had used very complex, powerful dark magic to set up anti-apparition walls within and outside your mother's house and, apart from the Headmaster who had been preoccupied with everything else occurring in that house, I was the only person from the Order who knew how to perform that spell."

Natalie looked at him in awe. She remembered Harry describing the man's role as a spy, but clearly, he was also quite a powerful wizard. "Isn't that risky for you as you are a spy for the Order?" she asked a bit too eagerly.

"That is none of your business. You are remarkably similar to Potter. He too has the nasty habit of poking his nose in far too many places."

Natalie stamped her foot on the ground. Not only did she want to snap at Snape, but she also was becoming progressively afraid that Kalissa had not evaded the Death Eaters.

"Temper, Miss Malkae. I can still take points off from Gryffindor."

Natalie was about to say something particularly nasty before she heard an urgent knock on the door. Snape lazily flicked his wand, opening the door. A thin, very tired looking man with sandy hair stood at the doorway, looking concernedly at Natalie.

"What happened to my mother?" blurted Natalie, realizing too late that this visitor might not know anything about Kalissa.

"Hello. You must be Natalie. Your mother's doing very well. Professor Dumbledore is currently transferring her to a different location. Minerva is also safe – she is accompanying your mother to this location and will be returning to the school," responded the man in a very kind, gentle manner.

He then nodded towards Snape. "Thank you so much Severus for helping Nymphadora – Poppy told me." Without any acknowledgement towards Natalie, Snape gave a brief nod of his head to man, before sweeping out of the room.

Natalie's spirits lifted immensely. Kalissa was alive, but they were still separated; this time, for an indefinite period of time. A tinge of disappointment and the empty feeling of loneliness started to grow within her. She knew that these feelings were very childish and selfish.

"Who are you, sir?" asked Natalie, much more politely than she had been talking to Snape.

"Remus Lupin. If Harry hasn't told you already, I was one of his dad's best friends and I taught Defense Against the Dark Arts at the school three years ago," said Lupin, taking a seat on the table next to her.

"Oh yeah, Harry told me a lot about you. So you were one of the ones fighting the Death Eaters?" Natalie recalled several conversations in which Harry described in vivid detail his father's adventurous group of friends called the Marauders. Remus Lupin, she remembered, was the werewolf who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts in third year.

"Ah no. I was at a Christmas party. Kingsley Shacklebolt, an Auror who's part of the Order, sent me his Patronus, giving me instructions to convey the news to you," answered Remus, smiling at her.

Natalie began to notice his rather disheveled and very wearisome appearance. "Are you all right? You look very exhausted."

"Has Harry told you about my condition?" said Lupin grimly.

"Oh, yes," replied Natalie, wondering why she did not make that connection. "I'm very sorry."

Lupin laughed, his eyes sparkling in mirth. "Don't be – I've had it for so long that it barely bothers me anymore."

'I still think you should see Madam Pomfrey," said Natalie, frowning at him.

"I will eventually. Anyway, I hope Harry did not tell you anything particularly unpleasant about me," said Lupin jokingly.

"Of course not. He said you were one of the nicest people he knows. He also told me about your guys' pretty exciting third year with Sirius Black and that, er, Peter Pettigrew."

Lupin smiled wistfully. "That was quite an interesting year. I hadn't met Harry till I came to the school and Sirius hadn't seen him since he was a baby. Oh, I see you know about our little miscreant, Peter."

Natalie shook her head darkly. "Bloody snitch."

Lupin laughed. "You sound just like Sirius."

Natalie remembered something. "Hey, how did you know about Harry and me being friends?"

Lupin raised his eyebrows at her. "From what I've heard, you two are more than friends. But yes, I did see him yesterday for Christmas Eve at the Weasley's home."

"Oh. How is he?" Natalie could not help but feel resentful that he was languishing with his friends while she and her mother had to battle Death Eaters. She also did not at all like the idea of him being so close to Ginny.

"Very well. He doesn't know about tonight, of course."

Natalie groaned inwardly. Harry would eventually hear about the Death Eater attack. And she would have to deal with his numerous questions and suspicions.

Lupin was now gazing at her worriedly. "You look awfully pale. I don't know why Severus decided to take you to the Dungeons."

"No, I'm fine. Just a bit tired and scared," replied Natalie nonchalantly.

Lupin smiled. "You've just had to endure and survive a very vigorous Death Eater attack. It's perfectly normal to feel terrified. Even after all the Death Eaters I've seen, I can't ignore the agitation or restlessness that comes afterward."

Natalie sighed. He was right. She realized with a lurch that the triumphant relief of escape had dissipated. A flood of emotion was rapidly climbing up her throat. An intense sadness and desperation begun to penetrate her with the knowledge that she might not see Kalissa for a very long time. Her meeting with her mother – Natalie shuddered – had brought forth the hidden trepidation in response to the growing awareness that she and Kalissa could not navigate around the fatal future that had now brashly shown its head. There was also the unquestionable significance of this encounter that Natalie did not want to address too thoroughly yet.

"You should ask Poppy for a Dreamless draught and have a nice, long sleep. It really does wonders for the mind," said Remus.

Natalie nodded, returning to their conversation. "Hopefully not here though," added Natalie sarcastically, gesturing around the room. "With some of these portraits."

Lupin laughed. "I have tremendous admiration for Severus, but he never had a positive outlook on life."

"I can already see that."

As they stood from their seats, Dumbledore suddenly entered the door. The brutal anger Natalie had last seen on his face had become much more suppressed, but he still looked unnervingly tense and stoic.

Dumbledore smiled at her. To Natalie's relief, the smile contained the same compassion and warmth that she had come to associate with the man. "How are you, Natalie?"

Natalie thought this to be a completely inappropriate question given that he knew what she just had to traverse through. "Okay," she responded awkwardly.

He then turned towards Lupin. "Remus, I need to talk to you for a few moments." His gaze returned to Natalie. "Natalie, I have to talk to Remus about a few matters dealing with the Order. I'll come back to tell you about your mother."

Natalie nodded. She felt very much irritated that the affairs of the Order held more importance than her own knowledge about her mother's safety. Lupin placed his hand on Natalie's shoulder. "It was nice talking to you. Undoubtedly, I'll see you soon."

Natalie gave him a weak smile. "You too, sir. Thanks."

Once the two left the room to talk outside, Natalie let her head fall into her hands. The tears that had threatened to drown her face now came with ardent fervor. She cried for everything that had gone wrong tonight and for everything that had gone askew with her life. Kalissa and their forced separation. Voldemort and the Death Eaters who had created all this unnecessary terror and hatred. Even Snape who took great displeasure in keeping her alive. And the most agonizing truth: a mother, who now most certainly knew Natalie was her daughter, solely wanted Natalie for intents of pleasing that terrible man.

As the tears continued to stream down her face, the adrenaline of the attack quickly departed, a sinking despair overcoming Natalie. Since she first learned the identity of her birth mother, a small and very shameful part of her occasionally envisioned, when her days were devoid of worry and drenched in Kalissa's closeness, the image of Bellatrix showing an affection and at the very least, a tinge of appreciation towards their connection. The eager curiosity that Natalie had detected on Bellatrix's face lifted these hopes because perhaps, her mother had not presumed her dead. A surge of shame and anger throttled her at the way in which she allowed Bellatrix to carry her below the bank and so easily intertwine in their minds.

However, the longing on her mother's face was infested and poisoned with the pure, savage craving of exploitation. Natalie agonizingly understood that despite the unearthing of their relationship, Natalie would never even represent a drop of obligation and loyalty to that woman. She was merely another victim to use to please Voldemort; this time the plot was much more intimate and, therefore, for that disgustable creature, intimacy meant exhilaration.

The empty, useless sensation of isolation and self-humiliation that she had experienced frequently before this year quickly reappeared, now disseminating throughout her body. Her life seemed to mirror one of those vast exotic colorful paintings that to the casual observer, appears to be entrancing and gaudy, but upon closer examination, it is a meretricious, vapid entity, lacking any relevance or a need of existence.

Unsettling her even further, she felt someone wrap an arm around her shoulders. With a lurch, she jerked her head to see the calm, gentle and sad smile of Albus Dumbledore. Her face blushed immensely. She did not need him to see her in such a state.

"I'm sorry, Professor," said Natalie, quickly brushing the tears off her face and desperately attempting to hold them in. "I'm being far too dramatic."

Dumbledore's grip strengthened. "Natalie, please do not say that. This evening you faced a group of murderous Death Eaters, an event that most people never hope to experience. And above that, you met the very woman who I'm sure you've allotted a great deal of thought to."

Natalie nodded, staring at the floor. Under his hold, she again felt strangely exposed, but at the same time, undeniably secure and comforted.

"When I saw her, I just felt so numb and powerless, like something large had overcome me."

"Fear, Natalie. It does not give any care towards reason. We cannot prepare adequately for something so personally immense and grand."

"How's Kalissa?" whispered Natalie, her thoughts returning to the woman who she could not survive without for so long.

"She's very safe. She too is quite taken aback at what happened. Other than that, she has come back to that usual exuberance we all love in her."

"Where is she?"

"I'm afraid I cannot say, but it's much closer to Hogwarts and a place I can keep a very watchful eye on. That does mean that with the proper precautions, you can visit Kalissa far more frequently."

Natalie's eyes widened in hope. "Really?"

Natalie could sense Dumbledore smile brightly. "I daresay one visit a month will be allowed."

A smile of pure pleasure and contentment crossed Natalie's face.

But then she remembered with grim curiosity another question that she had yet to answer. "How did they –"

"That my dear, I do not know. I will of course be looking very thoroughly into the cause, but I do suspect that the distance of Kalissa's location and her presence outside of a Muggle community made her far more exposed to Voldemort's inspection than I had anticipated. My judgement was faulty and it almost cost the lives of three of my favourite women. I apologize. "

Natalie could almost hear the physical pain in his voice. She wanted to reassure him. "It can't be your fault. Someone must have betrayed the confidence of the Order."

"Unfortunately, that seems to be part of the cause as well."

"So is the place where Kalissa is staying more difficult for Voldemort to detect?" asked Natalie intently.

"I do think so. It's less conspicuous and does not stand out as much with regard to magic. I also have a very strong familiarity with that area."

Natalie felt relieved. Dumbledore's mere presence had infused her with a new strength. She realized with an embarrassed lurch that Kalissa would be extremely unhappy to learn that she had been sulking about her current predicament. Like Kalissa, Dumbledore and even Harry, she had to embrace her circumstances and continue to plod along.

Still, one image, in its colossal and grotesque vitality, remained entrenched in Natalie's mind: the insatiable yearning on Bellatrix's face. "Er, Professor, can I ask you a question about, er, my mother?" asked Natalie, her voice falling on the last two words.

Dumbledore positioned his face to look directly at her with that unique expression of utter compassion and unnerving intensity. "Yes?"

Natalie inhaled. She would have to compose herself to articulate her current feelings. "When I saw her today, she looked as she almost wanted me. Not just like a typical victim. But something she felt, er, linked to… It was like she was desperate to confirm something. And I believe she did. How would she know that I, er, survived?"

Dumbledore considered her question for a very long moment. He still peered at her intently, this time with a slightly surprised comprehension. "I don't know if I can answer that properly. From what I can recall, Kalissa said with certainty that Bellatrix presumed you to be dead. But, your observation does not contradict Bellatrix's recent behavior, which has been very strange, even for her. From what I've heard, she seems to be pursuing something with a new vibrancy that makes me conclude that this object of her search is very personal to her. And I think you found out the answer to that particular question tonight."

"Oh." That nauseating fear of inevitability infested Natalie's stomach. "She knows who I am now because of –"

"Legilimency," completed Dumbledore, smiling sadly. "I imagine you saw many of her thoughts and memories as well."

Natalie shuddered. "Not just her thoughts, but it was almost like I could feel her emotions. I never knew you could experience another person's feelings through Legilimency."

"Ah," said Dumbledore, stroking his chin contemplatively. "This is a very interesting insight. Normally, you cannot because in addition to Occlumency shields which are consciously formed, there are also barriers keeping emotions within one's body – these barriers are subconsciously erected, thereby being much stronger. However, I suspect Bellatrix was far less guarded with you than any other person in her life and as a result, her emotional shields were far weaker. And I imagine, both consciously and subconsciously, she wanted for you to see more of her. Consequently, it is quite possible, especially with the strong connection that formed between the two of you, an emotional trigger, such as surge of happiness or anger at the right moment, could have broken through those barriers."

"Oh," said Natalie, remembering the bout of anger that started her onset into her mother's mind. "When she saw Harry in my memories, there was this horrible burst of anger and I suppose that broke the shields."

"Yes, that sounds reasonable," noted Dumbledore, watching her intently. "If you mind me asking Natalie, what did you see or feel in your mother's mind?"

Natalie sighed. She was hesitant about sharing those sensations, but at this moment, the desperation and sense of defeat was so strong that she did not think she had the energy to conceal the emotions she saw and experienced.

"It was very strange," said Natalie, picking her words. "She had some sort of hungry longing for me, but I don't think it was because I was her daughter, but more so because she felt she could use me to please Voldemort. I suppose, when she realized she might have a half blood daughter, it only strengthened that desire to prove to Voldemort she had nothing to do with Muggles." Natalie gulped, a wave of dread and shame rolling through her. "I think she sees me as a type of trophy she can present to Voldemort especially since I know Harry pretty well. Anyway, I also saw Voldemort's image in her mind. She had this sick devotion to him, as if she would do anything for him."

Dumbledore nodded, bringing her to his chest. "You must not feel ashamed of yourself, Natalie. Any child would want even the smallest acknowledgement of affection from a mother. Sadly, your mother, like Voldemort, has tampered with Dark Magic for a very long period of time. The magic, I presume, has affected her personality, creating this horrible desire for power that I believe is reflected in her devotion to Voldemort. She may be the only Death Eater willing to sacrifice her entire happiness for his sake; an admirable selflessness, but one that makes her extremely violent and dangerous. While she may have shown some semblance of care for you at birth, I'm afraid her attachment to Voldemort has rendered her incapable of showing such love."

Natalie swallowed, unable to stop the feeling of defeat from sinking deeper into her. "I realized that when I saw her mind."

"It's a terrible realization to come across," said Dumbledore. "There's plenty of people who care about you; Kalissa, myself, Minerva, Harry and your friends."

Another frightening thought struck her. "She will come looking for me now, won't she?"

Dumbledore held her gaze for a moment before he spoke. "Yes, I do believe she will want to bring you to Voldemort. As you correctly inferred, she regards you as a means for her to further affirm her loyalty to him. I am very sorry Natalie; Kalissa and I had hoped your identity would not have become known to her so quickly. I promise we will take all possible measure to ensure tonight's encounter is not repeated."

Natalie directed her eyes towards the floor. She did not need to ask the question for after seeing and feeling the insatiable craving within Bellatrix for her, there was no doubt she would come after Natalie. However, the idea of a ruthless and diabolical person like Bellatrix searching for her brought so many people into danger, not only Kalissa who had sufficient worries for a lifetime, but also anyone affiliated with her – that included Harry who did not need both her mother and Voldemort coming after him.

Dumbledore let go of Natalie, not taking his eyes off her face. "Natalie, I am pleased that you chose to express your fears to me. I will be tracking Bellatrix's movements very closely and will tell you if I see anything that might concern you or Kalissa. But now, I think you should rest. This has been a very bothersome and unsettling night for you. Sleep can only be beneficial. Argus has already set up your old room, just outside of Minerva's office."

"Are you going?"

"Yes, I have to handle some affairs with the Order. Professor Snape will take you back to your room and Minerva will return soon. She will check on you and if you feel the need, she can spend the night." With a cheerful, pleasant smile, he then added, "I have to say I am quite pleased that you will be staying the rest of the holidays with us. The castle does tend to get lonely at times."

"Er, Professor Snape does not need to take me. I know where the room is," said Natalie a bit too rashly.

Dumbledore smiled. "Very well then, but I do have to warn you that Argus does get himself into quite a temper at this time of the evening.

Before Dumbledore could turn and leave, Natalie gripped his arm. "Does Kalissa know about, er, what happened with Bellatrix?" She was barely able to utter the last word.

Dumbledore smiled at her, placing his hand on her arm. "Yes, knowing how protective she is, I thought it would be best for her to know as soon as possible."

Natalie breathed in relief. "Thanks, Professor. I don't think I could be up to the task of telling her."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I thought as much, though, I expect the next time you write or see her, Kalissa will want to talk about your mother."

"Of course," said Natalie, not looking forward to that conversation.

Dumbledore squeezed her arm. "It is in Kalissa's nature to be forward about such things – it is the one characteristic I admire the most. I am certain that talking about your mother with Kalissa will be nothing but helpful."

"I suppose," said Natalie, giving a small smile at Dumbledore's warm expression.

He then swept out of the room, leaving Natalie to again let her mind unravel itself over the new situation with her mother. A revelation sprung to Natalie's mind, bringing its own bouts of severe, stiffening fear. Her secret had finally emerged from its dark, enclosed corner, yet there was no infusion of relief, no sense of fulfillment at the lifting of a great burden. In spite of all the satisfaction and enjoyment this school term brought her, through all the moments with Harry, Hermione and even Ron, she never moved away from the torrential of emotions pouring forth from her mother's specter. Instead, the familiar self-deprecating humiliation appeared, more acute than ever.

She desperately wanted to distant herself from her mother, not allow herself to experience the same crushing devastation again. An intense urge surged through Natalie to open this secret and release all its self-hatred, anger and disappointment. She wanted to feel that infusion of relief; enjoy the exhilaration of separating herself from her mother's stranglehold. For once in her life, there were people who she could fully trust. She needed to prove that she would not let this secret continue to erode her conscience, driving her into constant despair and shame.

With a startle, Natalie felt her resolve harden. Clear, crystalline truths cut across her mind. Harry and perhaps Hermione deserved to know who she truly was. And moreover, she wanted them to know. Natalie sighed, knowing that somehow she had now fully stepped crossed a line she could not retreat over.

She breathed heavily, the exhaustion finally sweeping over her as her thoughts cleared. A headache started to pierce her mind; no doubt the effects of maintaining such a strong link with her mother's mind were beginning to show.

After a few minutes, Natalie decided not to wait for Snape and go to her room, hoping Filch was not as alert during the holidays. As she carefully walked through the doorway, with her head down, Natalie bumped into Snape. A picture fell out of his pocket. Feeling slightly sheepish, Natalie quickly bent down to pick the picture only to be shocked by its stunning familiarity.

She saw a younger, surprisingly less somber and brighter teenage version of Snape. His hair did not seem to be as greasy, his face not as pale and his presence not as overbearing or confronting. But the 15 year old or 16 year old girl in the photograph caught Natalie's eye. She immediately recognized the effervescent smile of complete compassion, the excited readiness and most amazing, the eyes that held so much promise and replenishment in them. The red mane of hair only confirmed the girl's identity: Lily Evans.

The two were laughing and jesting like two very close friends to Natalie's stunned bewilderment. There did not seem to a physical or emotional tension. They were poking one another and smiling on a clear, summer day outside of what appeared to be a small village. But the most striking feature of the picture remained the occasional glances of pure wistfulness, wonder and what Natalie could only define as full bodied, vigorous love on Snape's face.

"Give me that picture, you nosy little brat," said Snape quietly. He was shaking violently, his fists clenched, his eyes staring at Natalie in a mixture of outrage and fear.

Natalie was at a loss for words. "You and –"

Suddenly, Snape pushed her, snatched the picture out of her hands and then gripped her savagely. "You are not to tell anyone of this, do you hear me? GET OUT of my office. NOW!" He sent her hurling painfully through his door, slamming the door with an emphatic thud.

Natalie ran as fast as she could. There were just far too many things to think about.