Chapter 40- Family
A/N: This is basically an extension of the last chapter. I included it as a separate chapter because I wanted to update on Saturday and I was not sure if I could get this section written.
Anyway, it is a bit of a different shift from the other chapters.
I hope you enjoy!
Eddies and pools of sunlight floated over the glittering lake, the sparkles dancing as they disappeared and appeared at different spots. All of the rays of sunlight that escaped the trees' reach played and weaved together above the surface when they realized the lake's waters would not entertain them. The great mass, underneath which resided a vast spectrum of magical and Muggle creatures, stretched out across the ground like a drowsy, immense beast guarding the castle rising above it. It was not easily stirred, but when agitated, it awoke with devastating power.
Natalie sighed, taking a seat on a grassy embankment on the west side of the lake. The lake and its unnaturally black colour always unnerved her, but the beauty of this late afternoon was too enthralling for her to resist. And she needed the space and time for herself.
Today was exhausting. Ron, Hermione and Harry all were stunned, angered and disappointed with her but they, well at least Hermione and Harry, sensed and appreciated why she kept the secret for so long. However, it did not mean that any of them were too willing to talk to her. And Natalie expected nothing less from them; she would have been disappointed if no tension or discomfort existed. Hermione would no doubt be the first to approach her, but even Hermione needed some time to absorb and appraise what they knew.
Natalie pulled off her jumper. For once, no clouds blanketed the sky and a warm, gentle wind billowed through the air. She let a smile come at her face as she enjoyed the sunlight streaming over her, warming her skin. It was a very pleasant, soothing sensation. Gladly, the other students walking and relaxing around the lake as well as the two or three Aurors on patrol were far away.
She allowed her gaze to wander, appreciating the scenery. The late afternoon sun just flowed at a gentle trickle over the trees so that the watery beams of sunlight only struck certain leaves. And then only certain parts of those leaves let the light drape over them as the shadows of their nearby friends fell on other sides and edges. The stark contrast between shade and light, dark and golden yellow on the same leaf, gave the leaves a beautiful, striking glow, like embers on the ends of a coal rod. She much preferred this late afternoon incandescense in comparison to the early afternoon bathing of all the leaves in a golden radiance when the sun lay in a higher, more sweeping position in the sky.
The lower position of the sun to the west also allowed for shadows to lengthen across the ground, reducing the sunlight that managed to flow unhindered through the branches into mere slivers and patches. And as a result, the shadows painted the ground in fascinating, lifelike shapes. Below Natalie, a city spread across the grass; buildings, towers, spires of all sizes and shapes stretching to the lake, windows of light scattered through each structure.
The wind rose in strength, whistling through the trees behind Natalie. The branches
swished at each other, their flapping leaves making a crisp, rippling sound like the ruffling of feathers on a flock of birds when they take off.
As the wind subsided to its much milder brushing motion and the branches returned to sliding and shuffling among one another, another shadow flitted through Natalie's vision, obscuring the buildings below her.
And a second later, the snapping of a twig and the dull thud of someone falling accompanied the shadow.
Natalie drew out her wand, jerking her body around to see who managed to sneak upon her. She lowered her wand though when she saw a familiar pink haired Auror picking herself off the ground.
"Tonks," Natalie acknowledged with a nod though an uneasiness immediately gripped her. She remembered Kalissa's words too well and though she knew Tonks would not tell anybody, she could not help but feel exposed in front of the woman.
"Wotcher Natalie," said Tonks with a warm smile which eased Natalie's nerves slightly. "Sorry about my slip."
Natalie waved her off. "No worries. I didn't even notice you."
"I'm getting better at keeping my footsteps quiet," said Tonks proudly with a wink. "Though you're lucky it was me and not somebody else."
Natalie nodded, knowing she had been too immersed in her worries and observations to see if someone was coming. "I should have noticed."
"Mind if I take a seat?" asked Tonks, wringing her hands in what Natalie thought was an uncharacteristic sign of nerves.
Natalie was surprised that she did not find Tonks' presence intrusive even though she suspected the Auror was not here by accident. The notion that the woman was family strangely comforted her.
"Of course, take a seat," said Natalie, patting a spot on the grass right next to her.
Tonks smiled at her as she sat by Natalie's side.
"So you're not on Auror duty?" asked Natalie.
"Not now," Tonks replied, her eyes darting to the two Aurors walking around the lake a few hundred yards away from them. "I took the morning shift and I will likely have the evening one tonight."
"Busy life," noted Natalie, realizing how little sleep the woman must be getting.
Tonks shrugged her shoulders. "It's busy times and I like to keep my feet active. And patrolling Hogwarts is not such a stressful job- I reckon he's not going to attack very soon."
"Nah," Natalie said with a gleam in her eye. "One destructive event a year is enough for him I think."
Tonks laughed. "That's a brilliant way of putting it."
Following a brief pause, Tonks again spoke, "It's a beautiful afternoon."
"Yes it is," said Natalie with a wry smile. "Though I wish I had less on my mind."
Tonks gave a shaky laugh. "I think we all do." She twirled a blade of grass in her hands. She lowered her gaze to the ground, her voice becoming lower and more cautious. "Remus and I saw Harry today-
"I imagine he wasn't too happy," said Natalie, her stomach taking a steep lurch.
"No he wasn't," Tonks agreed, her voice rising in confidence again. "He actually demanded that I leave so that he could talk to Remus alone."
Natalie took a breath. She knew Tonks was curious but she could not talk about Snape right now.
"I know why he was so upset and there is plenty of reason," said Natalie slowly and as kindly as he could. "But I'm sorry Tonks; I just cannot tell you right now what's bothering him. I don't have the right to tell you at the moment; maybe Remus can but not me." She ignored the irony of her words when she assumed such a right for the last few months.
Tonks shifted on the grass, moving closer to Natalie and placing a hand on her arm.
"I figured as much Natalie and there's no need to feel bad. I was worried about Harry; when he is in these moods, it quite frankly scares me."
Natalie swallowed, the guilt rising within her. "Don't worry you are not the only one."
Tonks gave another nervous laugh. "Glad to know."
They passed into an awkward silence. Both stared at the Black lake, neither knowing quite what to say or how to address the memory wrapping around both of them.
After a few moments of her insides writhing and churning anxiously, Natalie heard Tonks swallow. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the woman wet her lips.
And then Tonks turned toward her. Natalie felt obliged to meet her gaze.
"I want to thank you for saving my life that night with Bellatrix," said Tonks, her brown eyes sparkling and her expression solemn.
Natalie's cheeks flushed. "Really Tonks it was not-
"No," said Tonks firmly, again placing her hand on Natalie's arm. "Kalissa told me that you allowed Bellatrix to take you as long as she left me alone. You saved my life or at the very least prevented a horrible torture. Thank you- it was extremely brave of you."
Tonks' words snapped something within Natalie. An exhilaration pulsed through her, her previous uneasiness and anxiety appearing much more distant and unimportant. The gratitude lacing her voice and expression cemented the conviction within Natalie that Tonks was not disgusted or angered at her identity.
And so Natalie said the next phrase that came to her, even though the words seemed to carry a reckless abandon.
"Well that's what family is for," said Natalie, her cheeks reddening the moment she said the phrase.
Tonks stared at her in astonishment. She opened and closed her mouth several times, her expression somehow becoming more dazed with each failed attempt.
And then just as Natalie was starting to believe she had completely misevaluated the situation, Tonks burst out laughing, rolling onto the grass and slapping her hand on the grass.
Now it was Natalie's turn to stare in bewilderment. But as she realized the hilarity of the situation, she joined Tonks, their laughter seeming to ripple across the lake and ring through the trees. She noticed some of the other students cast them perplexed glances but she ignored them. It was very funny. Cousins who could only laugh with each other about a near death experience involving their aunt as the perpetrator.
Once both of them calmed down, Natlie, still smiling to herself, spread out her legs on the grass. Tonks returned to her position besides her.
"I have heard some funny things," Tonks commented, her eyes sparkling and her hair changing colours at a surprisingly fast speed. "But that has to top my list."
"It was certainly a nice way to break the tension," Natalie noted.
Tonks' hair settled on the usual pink colour. She drew a deep breath, seeming to calm herself. And then she starting biting her lip and wringing her hands again. Natalie presumed that a sharp awareness of the moment had struck her.
Tonks fidgeted with the blade of grass in her hands. "Kalissa told me about Bellatrix being-
"My mother," stated Natalie, still surprised at how comfortable she felt. "I suppose you know the whole story about my father being a Muggle and what Bellatrix did to him."
Tonks stopped fidgeting with the blade of grass. "Yes. I'm so sorry Natalie."
Natalie turned her face towards Tonks. "You don't have to feel nervous. I am not angry or scared that you know who I am."
Tonks' entire body seemed to relax, a smile spreading across her features.
"Thank you Natalie," Tonks whispered. She paused before continuing. "I am really very sorry about what you have had to endure. And the fact that Bellatrix is your mother changes nothing about the way I look at you; you are still as brilliant and strong as I've seen and heard."
Natalie could not help but smile at the strength of conviction in Tonks voice, the warmth and sincerity in her fervor to ensure Natalie knew she was telling the complete truth. And Natalie knew.
She clasped the pink haired woman's hand. "Thank you Tonks. You have no idea how much I appreciate the support."
Tonks nodded. "And you need to know that I will not tell anyone, not even Remus or my mother."
"You do not need to tell me that," said Natalie softly. "And anyway, I think more people should know. I'm not fully ready yet but soon." She surprised herself with the statement. Having her mother as Bellatrix still bothered her but it did not define her and that Natalie felt, made the biggest difference. At some point, she would be able to tell others without feeling so exposed and vulnerable.
Tonks winked at her. "Anyway, I think my impression of you improved once I realized she was your mother. We're cousins!"
"Yes we are," said Natalie, a brilliant warmth spreading over her.
Tonks cast her arm around her. "I never thought I would have a cousin I actually liked."
Natalie also wrapped her arm around Tonks. "I rather think I'm a better alternative than Malfoy."
"Yes you are." Tonks rubbed at her eyes with her other hand. "Sirius would have been so happy to hear about you."
Natalie squeezed Tonks' shoulders. "I would have loved to meet him."
"He would have loved you," said Tonks in a rather choked voice. " Of course, I imagine first he would have been amazed that Bellatrix could have produced something so wonderful."
Upon seeing Tonks' emotion at the mention of Sirius, a thought occurred to Natalie. A twinge of unease quickly accompanied the notion. She saw herself as separate from Bellatrix but not for that purpose. Not yet at the least.
The thought however continued to dominate her mind, bringing with it an anticipation that she struggled to quell.
"I imagine it is quite shocking to learn that she had a child with a Muggle."
Tonks frowned. "It is though mum always said Bellatrix was a much different person at one point."
"I can see that," said Natalie, a heaviness settling in her stomach as she remembered those memories.
A contemplative expression unfolded across Tonks' face. "I remember mum saying that Bellatrix never really became obsessed with the pure blood nonsense till she met You know who."
"That's reassuring," commented Natalie softly.
The anticipation broke free, rising within Natalie. She swallowed as the unease fought against the building emotion. The decision lay before her; right now would be the most opportune moment.
Tonks thankfully did not notice her internal struggle. "I imagine it is though I can't really think of her as a sister or as my aunt. I mean the last two times I've met her, she hasn't exactly been merciful with me."
Natalie laughed at the veiled humour. Tonks winked at her.
And then suddenly, the unease fell away. As Bellatrix was Tonks' aunt, so was….and Natalie made her decision. She may not be ready yet, but this was not about her. Others deserved to know more than she needed to feel comfortable.
Natalie cleared her throat, trying to pick her words. "Tonks, you know I would like to keep my identity a secret but if you want to tell your mother or even father, it is fine."
Tonks' eyes widened. The hope saturating her expression gave her an endearing air of vulnerability.
"You are fine with it?" said Tonks breathlessly. A distressed look appeared on her face. "Natalie, when I was talking about my mum, I did not mean to goat you into-
"No I know," said Natalie more firmly. "They deserve to know- they are my family as well." And with that last sentence, a deep rooted conviction came over Natalie that she made the right decision.
"Yes they are," said Tonks, her expression glowing.
Natalie smiled at her. "Just make sure they do not tell anyone else."
"Oh don't worry I will," said Tonks, a mischievous glint in her eye. She hugged Natalie tightly. "I know this must be a big step for you. Thank you so much Natalie."
"Like I said, your mum is my aunt," said Natalie, a wave of emotion rolling over her.
"She will be so happy to know about you," said Tonks, her expression absolutely radiant. She seemed to be bouncing up and down on the grass.
"As will I." Natalie could sense the emotion bursting through within her. She considered Minerva and Kalissa family but she never had people in her lives she could legitimately label as family. A wonderful, liberating joy rushed through her at the knowledge that she and Tonks shared this connection. And then the notion she also had an aunt and uncle was just as heartening.
"Sorry," said Natalie, her voice quivering. "It's just very nice." She brushed at her eyes, embarrassed that the tears were already forming.
Tonks rubbed her back, gazing out over the lake. "I know."
A/N: How did you like the Tonks/Natalie dynamic and Natalie's decision to make her identity known to Andromeda and Ted? It's one of the nice things about being Bellatrix's daughter is that she literally has her family so close at hand. It is a shame that Sirius is dead at this point in the series; I imagine he and Natalie would have been very close!
The last three chapters have been very conversation rich and been more about the interactions between characters within the context of their relationships.
The next chapter will have some more action. As I said in my last update, I will be leaving next Thursday for holiday (out of town). I plan to write as much of the next chapter as I can but I might not finish and there will probably be a delay in the story (3-5 weeks). I'm very sorry and thanks in advance for all of your patience and support.