A/N: The next two chapters will be the last chapters for about 2 and a half weeks.
Thanks to all the reviewers and my sister for diligently editing through these two chapters.
Disclaimer: Besides Natalie and Kalissa, I own nothing else of the wizarding wizard
Chapter 16- Telling Harry
Natalie,
Happy New Year! And a Merry Christmas (though it wasn't very merry for us, was it?)
How are you? How have your holidays been? (Albus has told me that you have given him a whacking in chess more than a few times!)
But I'm sure that you're not going to fall for my cheery mood. I'm extremely sorry for what happened on Christmas night. I did hope that we at least could have one day of normalcy this year. No 16 year old girl should have to dodge killing curses sent her way by the darkest and most disgusting wizards and witches in the world. I am glad, however, that all three of us managed to escape alive and without any lasting harm. I am forever in debt to Professor Snape for taking you back to Hogwarts.
Knowing you, Natalie, you must be very curious about the place where I am staying. I can happily inform you that my new home does not stand out as much as the previous home. I believe that both Albus and I made a very foolish mistake when we tried to pick out a location in September that was so isolated and alienated from the rest of the wizarding community. With that being said, I feel much safer and less alone in my new home. Please do not worry about me. I am within in close contact of a few members of the Order and Albus is very familiar with this location. It will take a great deal of luck and not magical ability for Voldemort to detect me! I know you are wondering whether I have decided to go under the Fidelius charm. My answer has not changed. I refuse to place Minerva and Albus in even greater danger when they have so much to worry about now. Given that the chances of me being found are very extremely low, the Fidelius charm would only add unneeded stress to our lives. I do know your preference for this charm. I will only employ it when the situation becomes dire which it is far from now.
Most importantly, I think with this new place that is closer to Hogwarts, we can visit one another much more frequently! I really do want to hear about you adventures at school and what's happening between you and Harry…(I rather enjoyed our conversation on Christmas night before we were rudely interrupted.) As I am sure you can gather, I am doing very well. Please do not spend your time obsessing about me. Enjoy yourself as much you can. Hogwarts is a beautiful place in the winter. By the way, how was New Year's Eve at the castle? Quite the fireworks display Hogsmeade has, doesn't it? I do think that we have faced the worst possible scenario and are now climbing out of it. The future looks bright for both of us!
There is one matter I will address but that I'd like to talk about even further when I next see you (Albus will give you the dates). Albus informed me that while I was dueling Dolohov, you met Bellatrix. I cannot imagine your reaction at seeing her horrible face and I feel ashamed for leaving you unguarded. I owe Albus so much for again he has helped me avoid a very fatal situation. But with regard to Bellatrix: I do not know what she said or tried to do to you, but remember, you are far superior to her. You are everything – kind, rational, compassionate and brave – that she could never be. Do not lose sight of you are. I know she unsettles you considerably, but it's your will and resilience that will affect how prevalent her image is in your mind.
That being said, I do look forward to our next meeting. Hopefully, we will scatter in some serious talk among all the laughs and jokes!
But now I have to go and cook my supper. Do well in school and enjoy yourself! I will as always write every week to you. I miss you unbelievably more than you miss me!
With love,
Kalissa.
Jan 2nd, 1997.
Natalie finished reading the letter, her eyes slightly moist. She folded it carefully and tied it up. McGonagall had personally delivered the letter from Kalissa to Natalie, accounting for the very candid and unrestrained nature of the letter. She really did miss Kalissa.
The holidays had been far from dull and boring since Christmas night. Much of her days consisted of reacquainting herself with the library's very expansive collection of Muggle and Wizarding fiction, playing intense but very exciting chess games with the teachers as well as talking and visiting them (her favourites were still Dumbledore and Hagrid) and then, exploring the castle, finding herself continually surprised at its vast hoard of secrets. But at night, as she lay awake for endless hours on her bed, she found herself going over the new predicament she and Kalissa had to face.
She could not completely appreciate Kalissa's advice to her about Bellatrix. Kalissa did not understand the full depth and ambiguity of Natalie's feelings for her mother. It had always been something that Natalie had to handle by herself. As the holidays progressed, behind the veil of laughter and cheerfulness, she found that the terror of inevitability, consisting of the frightening vision of Bellatrix taking her away from Kalissa and using her to hurt Harry, now amounted to a biting, clawing passion that managed to creep its way into some of her most trivial tasks. She was starting to suffer from excessive bouts of shame and uselessness. To both Natalie's rational and emotional sides, the possibility of confiding her secret in someone else became increasingly more attractive.
Strangely, Natalie did not feel the need to ask Kalissa for advice. Kalissa had always urged her to talk about Bellatrix with her. She had also frequently hinted to Natalie that a suppressed and ignored secret would eventually find a way to hurt her. She now realized that Kalissa was right. Her mother's image was relentlessly suffocating her; before, Bellatrix had accounted for a very unnerving, disturbing part of her that occasionally thrust her into a maelstrom of fear, anger and shame, but now that part had snaked its way around Natalie's complete perception of herself, vigorously entangling her.
As much as she tried to ignore the devastation her mother's complete lack of affection induced, she could not avoid the simple truth that she still wanted to see whether her mother genuinely cared for her. Bellatrix's image preyed on that sliver of hope, pressing the hurt of rejection against her and continually tightening its hold on her. She faced a deadly point of no return. Sharing this information with another person would resist that attacking passion, moving her away from it. The humiliation and feeling of uselessness would not be as ubiquitous, the defeat and hurt not as sharp. Since that Christmas evening, her resolve to tell Harry had not wavered. She only needed to outline a plan.
Natalie heard the faint whistle of the Hogwarts express returning. Tomorrow would be the first day of the new term. The arrival of the Hogwarts Express also meant that Harry would be returning from the Weasley's by the Floo network. Natalie wiped her face. She needed to compose herself. He obviously would have heard about the Death Eater attack from Lupin or some member of the Order. There would be numerous questions from both him and Hermione.
She had already moved back to the Gryffindor dormitories. She glanced over herself in the mirror in the sixth year girls' dorm and then slowly walked down the stairs, out of the Common Room and along the hall to McGonagall's office.
Natalie knocked tentatively on McGonagall's door. "Come in, Natalie," said McGonagall formally.
Natalie cautiously opened the door, stepping into the office. Despite her many visits during the summer and the Christmas holidays, she still marveled at the clean, structured and polished look of the office.
"I trust that you are here, awaiting Potter and the Weasley's," stated McGonagall who was sitting at her desk, looking at Natalie with an amused glint in her eyes.
"Yes, Professor," said Natalie, shuffling nervously on her feet.
McGonagall sighed. "Natalie, there's no need to call me Professor when we're alone. Haven't I told you that before? Oh, by the way, have you read Kalissa's letter yet?"
"Yes. She's doing very well. As usual, I do not know how she can be so enthusiastic."
The briefest outlines of a smile appeared on McGonagall's face. "Well that's Kalissa for you." She then added in a more solemn tone, "Natalie, there's no need to be pessimistic about things. We survived and Kalissa's much more secure now. And both of us will be able to see her often."
Natalie nodded. She could not help but feel annoyed that both McGonagall and Dumbledore had chose not to reveal Kalissa's location to her. It was a precautionary measure, but Natalie found it to be belittling.
"Potter should be coming any minute now. You're undoubtedly eager to see him," stated McGonagall, watching intently for Natalie's reaction.
Natalie's face flushed. "Well it has been a long time and he probably heard about Christmas."
McGonagall nodded, turning her head back to the essays she had been marking. After a few moments, she raised her head to gaze expectantly at the fireplace. Almost instantly, Natalie heard a loud explosion. Harry, Ron and Ginny spun into view with a thin layer of soot covering them.
"Good evening. Try not to get too much ash on the carpet," said McGonagal dispassionately.
"No, Professor," replied the three in unison.
Harry glanced at Natalie worriedly. He hurriedly cleaned himself on McGonagall's rug and then almost leapt to Natalie, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"How are you?"
Natalie smiled at him, grateful for his uncontrolled concern. "Not bad. It was a pretty eventful holiday." She then added in a hushed tone, only audible to the two of them. "I'll tell you about it later."
Ron had made his way to the two of them. "From what I've heard, pretty eventful is an understatement."
Natalie frowned. She did not want the attack to be a topic of conversation among the Weasley's and Harry. Taking in a slightly curious, but scowling Ginny, Natalie perceived that even she may know too much about what had happened to Kalissa.
"Let's go, shall we?" said Harry anxiously. He sensed Natalie's unease, strengthening his grip on Natalie's shoulders. "Thanks Professor."
McGonagall nodded at Harry. Natalie caught her eye, almost cursing the amused comprehension she detected.
As they trooped out of the office and back to Gryffindor common room, Natalie turned to Ron and Harry, ignoring Ginny. "How were the holidays?"
"Okay. We had our own little surprise on Christmas Eve. Rufus Scrimgeour came over, wanting to 'talk to me'," answered Harry grimly.
"Not kidding?"
"Serious. He gave some rubbish about how I should help the Ministry by advertising to show that they're gaining on Voldemort."
Natalie smirked. "How thick do they think you are?"
Ginny cleared her throat. "Er, sorry Harry and Ron, but I promised I would meet with Dean." Both Harry and Ron nodded. She quickly swept ahead of them, heading for the Common Room.
"I gather she hasn't changed much with respect to her attitude towards me," noted Natalie glumly.
Harry gazed in resignation at Ginny's receding figure. "Yeah, it's taking longer than I expected."
"So what did you tell Scrimgeour?" asked Natalie, keen on changing the subject.
"Basically to go stuff himself and that I'm not going to help the same people who called me a lunatic a few months ago."
"That's the famous Harry Potter."
Ron interrupted their teasing smiles at one another. "Natalie, have you seen Herm–"
"Hermione," exclaimed Natalie, beaming at the brown-haired girl who suddenly appeared at their sides.
Hermione returned Natalie's smile, grinning enthusiastically at she and Harry. "How were the holidays?"
"Pretty good. You wouldn't believe who came on Christmas day –" replied Ron excitedly.
"Natalie and Harry?" interrupted Hermione, refusing to acknowledge Ron.
"Not bad," chorused Natalie and Harry together.
As they reached the portrait hole, Ron stepped forward to say the password. "Baubles," said Ron confidently to the Fat Lady, who was looking rather paler than usual and winced at the loud voice.
"No," she said.
"Honestly, you never get anything right do you?" snapped Hermione. "Witherwings," she said to the Fat Lady in a much more pleasant, cordial tone.
Ron gaped at her in bewilderment. Natalie and Harry were also gazing at Hermione with puzzled expressions.
As soon as they stepped into the Common room, there was a loud squeal of "Won-Won!" and Lavender Brown came hurtling out of nowhere and flung herself into Ron's arms. Several onlookers sniggered; Hermione gave a tinkling laugh and said, "There's a table over there. Coming you two?"
Natalie looked at Hermione reproachfully. "What was that about there at the portrait?"
"Nothing. Being a prefect, he should know the password."
"Avoiding him is not going to work."
Hermione gave a heavy sigh. "Can we please sit down at the table? There are so many more important things."
"Okay," said Natalie, still scrutinizing Hermione.
"What happened to the Fat Lady?" asked Harry curiously.
Hermione shot him a grateful look, obviously for changing the subject. "Overindulged over Christmas, apparently. She and her friend Violet drank their way through all the wine in that picture of drunk monks down by the Charms corridor."
Harry then looked at Hermione a slightly pleading way. "Hey Hermione, do you think you could with Ron –"
"No, I can't," she said flatly. "So don't even ask."
"I though maybe, you know, over Christmas –"
"It was the Fat Lady who drank a vat of five hundred year old wine, Harry, not me. So what was so eventful about Christmas day that you wanted to tell me, Harry?"
She looked too fierce too argue at that moment, so Harry dropped the subject of Ron and recounted his meeting with Scrimgeour as well as all he had overheard between Malfoy and Snape before the holidays.
With a startle, Natalie remembered her last experience with Snape. Though her attention was fixated on Bellatrix, she had mulled over the rather unpleasant and shocking memory several times. Thinking about the photo, Natalie could not doubt that Snape and Lily Evans were close friends; at least, at one point in their lives. Still, the most stunning suggestion of the picture arose from the look of pure yearning on Snape's face. If Snape had those type of feelings with that strength of intensity, then the man's uncharacteristic somber attitude and more crucially, his complete resentment for Harry could be explained.
A sharp, needling unease prickled against her chest. She instantly recognized the guilt. Harry deserved to know of his mother's past; he knew almost nothing about her childhood. A sense of obligation tugged at her, demanding that she tell him. Yet, Natalie remembered the intoxicated look of the younger Snape in the photo, the sheer intimacy and joy of the moment shared between only those two individuals. With an unpleasant lurch, she also recalled the raging fury on his face when she saw the photo. And Natalie, with the unease continuing to cut further into her insides, arrived at the conclusion that it was not her secret to tell, not her responsibility to violate the moment and intrude on the friendship which Snape obviously cherished.
"Natalie, what do you think about Harry's theory?" asked Hermione, awakening Natalie from her pool of thoughts.
"Er, sorry, I was daydreaming. What were you two talking about?"
Hermione shot her a curious look before answering. "Harry thinks that Malfoy's definitely up to something because Snape offered help to Malfoy and because Malfoy's apparently in contact with Fenrir Greyback."
Natalie suddenly realized the implications of Snape's conversation with Malfoy. "Wait, isn't Snape a spy for the Order?"
"Yes, but according to Voldemort, he's a Death Eater. To me, he's one too. He absolutely worships Voldemort, if you haven't noticed," said Harry harshly.
"You're wrong about him, Harry," replied Natalie defiantly. "At Christmas, he was there and he saved my life as well as that Auror, Nymphadora. He actually killed a Death Eater – I don't think he would do that if he was on Voldemort's side."
Harry looked absolutely gobsmacked at this revelation. "Well, um," Harry spluttered, looking around the common room, searching for an explanation for Snape's behavior.
"We are forever grateful to him for saving you two," said Hermione, also bearing an astounded but slightly pleased look.
Harry's shoulders dropped. "Yes, I suppose both of you are right. Snape would have to be on our side for him to kill a Death Eater. He actually used the Killing Curse on one of them? Snape?"
"Yes," said Natalie, frowning at Harry. She desperately wanted to tell him about Lily, but the livid expression on Snape's face held her back. "I know he's a real git to you Harry, but what he did was undeniably brave. The way he made sure that Nymphadora made it safely to the Hospital wing was extremely admirable."
Harry sighed at Natalie. "I am grateful to him for saving your life and Tonks' life," Harry said slowly, a pained expression unfolding across his face. "But he's so close to Malfoy, though."
"It does not mean that he is in cohorts with Malfoy," said Hermione severely.
"So you do think Malfoy is up to something?" asked Harry, looking triumphantly at Hermione.
"No I do not," Hermione protested. She looked at Natalie. "Why don't we ask Natalie for her opinion?"
Natalie pondered Hermione's question carefully. "I can see why Harry would think that Snape trying to help Malfoy is obvious proof that Malfoy is a Death Eater. Also, the link to Greyback, who from what I know, is a pretty nasty case, is quite suspicious. But Harry, you have to remember that the Malfoy family is notoriously dark so they're affiliated with that type of people. That doesn't mean that Draco Malfoy is involved in the actions of the group, however. I still think he is far too young and inexperienced to be a Death Eater. Ok after what we heard, there's no question that Malfoy's up to something. But I don't think he has either the intelligence or frankly the nerve to try something very dangerous and deadly. It seems like Malfoy is just trying some foolish stunt to show off, especially since his father's in Azkhaban. If Snape knows about Malfoy's activities and if Snape works for Dumbledore, then I'm sure Dumbledore knows about Malfoy and is trying to watch over and control Malfoy. So, you shouldn't worry about that, Harry."
"Both of you are unbelievable," said Harry, shaking his head. "We'll see who's right… you two will be eating your words."
Hermione yawned. "It's been a long day. I think I'll go to sleep now. I've heard enough about your Malfoy theory, Harry. Well, good night to both of you."
Natalie and Harry nodded at her. She hurriedly walked to the stairs to the dormitories and disappeared from sight, keeping her eyes away from the wrestling match that Ron and Lavender were engaged in at the center of the common room.
Harry turned his head intently to Natalie. "I think I need to hear about your holidays."
"Oh, they were quite good."
Harry rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean," he said seriously.
Natalie nodded, her mind very confused. This seemed like the opportune moment to tell him, but it also looked to be too early.
"Let's go outside. It'll be much quieter," suggested Harry, casting Ron and Lavender an annoyed glance.
"Yeah, that would be better. There's a bit too much Won-Won in this room for me."
Harry laughed. They walked together out of the common room, earning a few suspicious glances from huddles of girls around the room.
Once they stepped outside and away from the Fat Lady, Harry wrapped his arms around Natalie's waist, pulling into her a deep, prolonged kiss. After a few, very long and enjoyable moments, Natalie pulled back, breathless and exhilarated. She immediately knew with that degree of intimacy, she could be confident in his trust.
"That was er –"
"Amazing. I was waiting two weeks for that," whispered Harry in Natalie's ear, his lips gently brushing her earlobe.
"Me too," whispered Natalie, her insides purring at his lips' touch.
Harry pulled away, leading her into the empty classroom – the same classroom, Natalie recognized, in which they first kissed.
He placed his arm around her shoulders. The worried, but eager expression returned to his face. "Now tell me what happened."
Before she responded to his question, Natalie quickly cast a Silencing charm on the room. She then took a long breath. With a slight hint of reckless abandon, Natalie decided to release everything about her. A numbness and hollowness seemed to pervade throughout her body as she sensed a definite transition point in her life. "I have a lot to tell you, Harry. Some of it about me – things you don't know – will be extremely shocking. I have one extremely dark secret. So please promise me that you will not judge me. You're the first person I've decided to confide in."
A look of surprise flickered on Harry's features. To Natalie's relief, he composed his face into an expression of pure warmth and understanding. "Of course."
Natalie stared at him cautiously before proceeding. "Ok, you know that Voldemort has been looking for my mother. Well, he found her. On Christmas day, McGonagall came over for Christmas supper. That evening, a whole hoard of Death Eaters invaded my mother's house. Fortunately, my mother had prepared me for such a terrible situation. But, I've never been more afraid in my life. I actually believed that all three of us would not survive." She paused, feeling Harry snuggle closer to her. "Thankfully, we managed to hold off the Death Eaters for about ten minutes before the Aurors and Dumbledore came. A massive battle ensued. Professor Snape managed to take me back to Hogwarts. He saved my life. My mother and McGonagall made it safely away as well and from what I know, the Order did not suffer any casualties – only injuries. So we escaped disaster, at least for the time being."
Harry stared at her in silent shock. He then breathed and cleared his throat. "That's terrible. How did the Death Eaters find you? I thought Dumbledore had made that house impenetrable," said Harry furiously.
"I don't know. But Dumbledore thinks he picked a location that was too far away and easier for Voldemort to detect."
"You were really brave. Lots of people would have just collapsed with shock. To fend off a pack of Death Eaters, that's bloody brilliant," said Harry in admiration.
Natalie blushed, squeezing his hand. "Thanks. But that's not all I have to say."
Natalie could feel Harry's intent gaze pressed upon her. "Ok. What's the shocking secret?"
Natalie turned her face towards him, forcing her eyes to bore into his. "Kalissa is not my mother."
"What?" asked Harry in confusion.
"She's my adopted mother. My blood mother is still living and as you knows, my true father died a long time ago."
"Who's your blood mother?" asked Harry. Natalie could tell that his mind was running profusely.
"I say, again, please do not judge me. I'll tell you the story about her before I reveal her identity. I think you'll be too shocked to listen to my story if you know who she is."
"Okay, go on." Natalie felt a surge of relief to see the gentle compassion saturate his face again. She gave his hand a quick squeeze.
"You know that my father was a Muggle called David Claggerton. My mother came from a very traditional and conservative pure blood family. They had a brief affair and after those few days, they split apart. My mother was married to another person at the time and she felt disgusted for associating with a Muggle – remember she was the typical pureblood who hated Muggles. After those few days, she found that she was pregnant, but because she was married, she assumed it came from marriage. When she gave birth to me, she realized who I was – a half blood and a symbol of her filthy connection to the Muggle world. I meant complete shame and disgrace to her. So being a very cold and heartless woman, she connived a plan to kill me and my father. I assume that she wanted to cover for my birth by saying that I died of some health related complication. She killed my father and left me to burn in my father's house. But before I could die, Kalissa, who lived in the same neighbourhood as my father, intervened – Kalissa had found out about her affair with my father – and she saved me. From then on, Kalissa has raised me as her daughter and I love her like my mother. I regard her as my mother and not that woman who tried to kill me and who still lives."
Disgust and rage had filled Harry's face. "What type of person does that to her own daughter?"
Natalie smiled weakly. He was handling the new information the way she had hoped. "I'm sure a few people come to your mind and she's one of those people."
Harry's eager curiosity reappeared. "So who is your mother?"
"She's a Death Eater."
Harry nodded slowly, a slight frown taking form on his face. Natalie could almost see his mind flash through the list of Death Eaters.
"She's Bellatrix Lestrange."
Harry chuckled. "Nice joke but please be serious. You know, we were having a life changing discussion."
Natalie stared at him, no teasing or mocking glint in her eyes. Harry's face suddenly morphed in understanding. "She's your –"
"Yes. The resemblance is not quite there, but having seen her, you can see where I get some of my features." Natalie found herself saying these words at an excessively fast pace, subconsciously trying to ignore their boggling implications.
Harry abruptly released her shoulders, stepping away from her. He wrapped his hands over his face. Natalie felt a wave of panic and dread bottle inside her throat. This was not the way she had envisioned it.
When Harry revealed his face again after what Natalie deemed an eternity, the compassion in his eyes had disappeared. A nauseating horror had unfolded itself onto his features. He opened his mouth to speak, but initially, no words came out. After a moment of opening and closing his mouth, he finally managed to summon his voice. "Your mother's Bellatrix Lestrange – her," breathed Harry slowly, not bothering to conceal his appalled disdain. A look of stunned realization peeled itself onto Harry's features as if a new, detestable perspective had opened itself for him.
Natalie felt her heart take a terrifying lurch. "Yes, I do but I am only related to her in bloo–"
"Do you have any idea who that person is?" asked Harry, his voice becoming louder and increasingly saturated with undeniable contempt.
"Yes," replied Natalie evenly. "I know what she has done."
Harry raised his eyebrows." What she has done? She killed so many people before either of us were born, tortured Neville's parents – I hope you know that – and killed my godfather!" On the last word, Harry's voice mounted to a frustrated shriek.
Natalie felt her temper boiling. "I told you not to judge me. I am not anything like her. I despise her actions. But I do not take responsibility for what she has done," stated Natalie coldly.
Harry looked at her in shocked exasperation. "Natalie, your mother is a woman who practically kisses Voldemort's feet. Have you even seen Neville's parents? What? Do you want me to just say 'That's fine' and let us continue our snogging?"
Natalie stared at him furiously. He had completely ignored what she had said. "Honestly, how idiotic are you? What I expect is for you to understand the difficult situation Kalissa and I are facing and not have a fit of self-righteousness. Unless you haven't noticed, Harry, some of us also have hard lives and unlike you, luck isn't there to save us from stupidity more than once." She glared at him venomously.
"Don't you dare make this about me. I know you suspect that I'm some arrogant, attention seeking snob, but in case you haven't noticed, you're the one who has a maniacal murderer for a mother," said Harry vehemently, returning Natalie's threatening glare.
"You know what, forget about this! I was foolish to even think I could confide in you. You're just as judgmental and naïve as the rest of your bloody Gryffindor clan. Really, go stuff yourself, Harry." Natalie felt like her all of her worries and fears that had accumulated over the past few days would overwhelm her. Before tears flowed out her eyes, she stamped her feet on the ground and began to stomp out of the room. Before she reached the door, Harry grabbed her, turning her to face him. He then let go of her and stared at her. The disgusted shock had left his face to be replaced by a nasty expression of cold, detached anger.
He pointed his finger to her in a deadly accusatory way. "You lied to me."
Natalie clenched her fists. Her eyes brimmed with hot, raging fury. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing? First of all, you stupid boy, I never told you anything about having an adopted mother so there were no grounds for me to lie on. But more importantly, do you think that I would tell you about something like that when we knew each other for only a few weeks? You should be grateful that I'm being so honest after only four months. But obviously, I made a colossal mistake." She placed a nasty emphasis on the last word.
"That night in the Room of Requirement," said Harry in a dangerous, low tone. "You told me she killed your father, but you never told me about her being your mother. It must have been crossed your mind, did it not? You clearly had little trust in me then. Moreover, I confided in you; I told you about some of my deepest insecurities and all that time, you were nursing this information."
"I didn't lie to you Harry!" Natalie shouted. "I only told you that she killed my father and that was true!"
"The technicalities never matter, Natalie. You hid something from me and that's the fact. You acted as if you and your mother were some sort of noble partnership with nothing to hide or be concerned about. And now, what do I know?"
Natalie was now shaking viciously. "I thank you for being so candid with me, but if you manage to wrap your thick skull around what I'm saying, then you'll realize that this secret holds too much danger to be revealed so easily. Stop thinking about yourself, you thick oaf," hissed Natalie.
Harry started to look at her in a more calculating, perceptive manner, still with the bitter anger etched all over his face. "Why did you decide to tell me, now? Obviously to you, our relationship has not progressed that far to merit honesty, but coincidentally, after the Death Eaters attack you and your adopted mother, you decide to release this to me."
Natalie gritted her teeth. He was being unbearably irrational. But moreover, this type of instinctive detective thinking, surveying her like she was some dark mystery that he had to unravel, infuriated and unsettled her. "Unlike how you have foolishly deducted, I do value our relationship. And after the attack, I needed somebody for comfort. So I naturally turned to you." The words were out. Natalie felt like she was presenting her last scrap of proof and justification to him.
An expression of sickening realization became draped over Harry's face. He again lifted his finger towards her. "You met her that night, didn't you? And she knows. You figured you might as tell somebody now that the secret is already out in the open," stated Harry flatly, resentment laced his voice.
Natalie breathed deeply. Her spirits were tumbling far too rapidly. She did not know what to say but the truth. "If you want to know the truth – obviously you cannot handle it – I did meet her for the first time. And she used Legilimancy to find out who I was."
A triumphant gleam passed into Harry's eyes like he had confirmed an important fact. "See, you're still lying to me! You never cared about our friendship. This is all about protecting you and Kalissa."
"How did you come to that wonderful conclusion, Sherlock Holmes?" spat Natalie disgustedly.
Harry gave a mirthless laugh. "Now that dear Bellatrix knows about you, you're so desperate that you want to bring all of us along with you – myself, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, McGonagall into this great mess that you, your adopted mother and Bellatrix have created."
The suggestion that she somehow had caused her own situation and had brought others into danger aroused massive surges of guilt. This guilt fueled her temper. She ran towards Harry, slapping him harshly in the face. "You are the thickest, most stubborn, selfish person I've ever met! How could I think that you would actually accept me?" shrieked Natalie, tears finally bursting out of her eyes.
Harry looked back at her with a baffled and slightly hurt look. This only made Natalie more upset. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" yelled Natalie, her face contorted in anger.
An apologetic expression crossed Harry's face. "Look, maybe we can talk this over. I said some bad things," said Harry quietly.
Natalie stabbed her wand in his chest. "Get out," she hissed in a low, dangerous tone. "Or maybe I'll be like my mother and show you how to do the Cruciatus curse."
Harry gawked at her in a mixture of anger and stunned apprehension. Walking backwards, he approached the door and with one last astonished glance, he ran.
As Natalie heard his footsteps fade, she collapsed on the desk, sobbing uncontrollably. She felt like she had just fallen off a cliff. Unfortunately for her, the landing would never come.
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