The Luckiest Man on Earth

The Luckiest Man on Earth

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and no trademark infringement is intended or implied - not to say that I would not like to but please do not sue.

Thank you so much for all the reviews!!!!! I love to hear what people have to say about the relationships. Please keep the feedback coming. Check my live journal for updates and hints. Marcus’s wild party is next interspersed with Katie’s talk with her mates.

Chapter 10: Natalya

Diagon Alley: Friday Afternoon:

Natalya smiled at the woman behind the counter in the elegant luxurious small private boutique in Diagon Alley. It was called Jolie Laide.

“Lady Natalya,” said the saleslady. “How nice it is to see you again.”

Isolde Bell looked at Natalya with a surprised look. She had known that the Flints were from an aristocratic family but she had no idea. Natalya caught her surprised look.

“My late father was a dispossessed Irish aristocrat. My mother married him for what she says were his looks and his title. She just loved being called my lady countess,” said Natalya airily. She chattered on. “My mother always felt quite cheated by the Russian Revolution. She missed her titles. My father always joked that all he had when he married my mother was a few dress robes, a hairbrush and a good bloodline. Their marriage was quite interesting. I really think my mother was a tad hypocritical when she objected to my marriage to Aurelius. She called him a fortune hunting rake.”

“I thought your husband was quite well off,” said Isolde with surprise. She sat down beside Natalya on a luxurious divan. The saleslady had melted away to get them tea.

“Oh,” said Natalya with a grin. “He is now. Before our marriage, the estates were in desperate need. My dowry allowed the estates to get back on their feet and Aurelius was able to diversify the famholdholdings. He says that they are not so dependent on the real estate or agricultural holdings anymore - whatever that means. Mother has eventually come around. Marcus had a lot to do with that. She’s still a bit angry with me for running off with Aurelius but I do believe she’s planning on leaving the bulk of her estate to Marcus. She lives with my sister in Paris. Tamara doesn’t have children though. Marcus is the only grandchild. I am afraid I haven’t quite worked up the courage to tell her about the wedding yet. Aurelius says that I have to tell her soon. I wanted him to tell her but he said that my mother is my problem. I am afraid they don’t care for one another.”

“Oh,” said Isolde weakly when Natalya paused for a breath. “We’ve told Rowan’s mother but unfortunately my parents have passed on and so has Rowan’s father.”

“My father died when I was fifteen,” said Natalya wistfully. “I do miss him. He was very merry and quite my mother’s polar opposite.”

“Do you look like your father,” asked Isolde curiously.

“No,” said Natalya. “I look like my mother. Aurelius likes to tease me and says I look more and more like her every day, the awful man. But Marcus has my father’s eyes. His eyes were so dark blue most people thought they were black. My mother used to call him her Black Irish rogue. She misses him too.”

“Rhys and Katie have their father’s eyes too,” said Isolde with a smile.

Natalya tried not to blush when she thought of Isolde’s handsome son and his hard sweaty body. She distracted herself by pointing out the lovely robes the saleslady was showing them. The woman presented Isolde with several photographs to show Katie.

“I swear Natalya,” said Isolde with a sigh. “That girl has to make a decision about the robe soon. She’s driving me mad with her indecision.”

“I brought you here for another reason,” said Natalya brightly. “This boutique makes wedding robes to order. Katie can take any part of the robes in the pictures that she likes and they will make her a robe to order.”

“It must be awfully expensive,” said Isolde pensively.

“Actually,” said Natalya with a brighter grin. “It is quite economical. All you have to do is indicate how many galleons you are willing to part with. And they will do the rest.”

As Isolde was commenting on the lovely robes, Natalya thought to herself that Isolde would never be the wiser when the boutique billed Natalya for the rest of the cost of the robes. Natalya had a word with the owner before she bought Isolde here.

“So,” asked Natalya as they left the exclusive boutique. “I have reservations at that lovely new bistro down the Alley. You can owl Katie the pictures from the post office after lunch. Do you know where Marcus is taking Katie on their honeymoon? Aurelius claims he doesn’t know.”

London: the Bell Townhouse:

“Rhys,” called out Owen as he flooed into the townhouse. “Are you home?”

“Yes,” said Rhys as he wandered into the sitting room. He sat down on the sofa with a Quidditch magazine in one hand and an apple in the other.

“You barbarian,” said Owen with a smirk as he looked at his half-naked brother sprawled on the sofa. “Most people wear clothes.”

“I’m alone,” protested Rhys. “Who is going to see me?”

“What if I had brought Isabelle?” asked Owen with a raised eyebrow.

“Isabelle has seen me naked,” said Rhys with a smirk at his brother.

“What?” said Owen with a glare.

“We were on the same Quidditch team brother of mine,” pointed out Rhys.

“I knew that,” said Owen with a look of relief.

“Sure you did,” said Rhys. “Not that I don’t relish your visits but what do you want?”

“I need a favor from you,” said Owen.

“This isn’t one of those please take my wife’s friend out kind of favors is it?” asked Rhys with a groan.

“Kind of,” said Owen with a pleading look at his brother.

“No,” said Rhys firmly. “Your wife gets mad at me after I do you one of these type of favors. Remember that friend of hers, Lana or Hannah?”

“Isabelle was angry with you because you shagged her friend then didn’t call her again,” pointed out Owen. “She had a point.”

“But she was boring in bed,” said Rhys with a look of consternation.

“You should have at least bought her dinner or a drink first,” argued Owen. “Most men have what we call a conversation with a woman before they take them to bed.”

“Write that word down for me,” said Rhys with a smirk. “Conversation. I’ll try it after my Quidditch career is over. Right now, I don’t need it. Woman are slipping their knickers off without too much of an effort of my part.”

“You are such a slut,” said Owen with affection. “And our mother thinks that you are as pure as the driven snow. How do you do it?”

“I never tell my witches where I live so they can’t floo me,” said Rhys with a shrug. “Most of them wait for me after a game anyway. By the way, have you heard?”

“Yes,” said Owen. “Do you think the Arrows will call you up to the main team permanently after the World Cup?”

“Coach says if I keep playing well,” said Rhys with satisfaction. “I’ll be on the permanent roster next year.”

“Please do me this favor,” pleaded Owen.

“What does she look like?” said Rhys with an inward sigh and an unspoken hope that she had dark eyes and delicate hands like Natalya Flint.

“Isabelle says she’s the sweetest girl,” said Owen with a glint of triumph in his eyes.

“Merlin,” said Rhys. “Okay. But if I shag the girl, make sure your wife doesn’t try to hex me again.”

“You have to make that bargain with her yourself,” said Owen with a laugh. “You know her.”

“I do,” said Rhys with a shudder. Owen’s beautiful wife was also extremely tempestuous and fiery.

“Dinner is tonight at eight at my house,” said Owen.

“Tonight!” said Rhys with surprise. He sighed and nodded.

“It’s a bit dressy,” said Owen as he eyed Rhys’s tattered shorts.

“Fine,” said his brother. “I’ll put clothes on.”

“Good,” said Owen as he stretched back on the sofa. “By the way, where’s Mum?”

“She went shopping with Natalya Flint,” said Rhys. He looked at his brother and impulsively asked, “What do you think of her?”

“Natalya Flint,” said Owen. “She strikes me as a woman who knows her place in life and is very happy with what she has.”

“Not that deep crap,” said Rhys with a glitter in his eyes. “How old do you think she is?”

“Merlin Rhys,” breathed Owen as he sat up straight. “Not even you would dare.”

“What are you implying my dearest brother?” said Rhys innocently. “I just was going to point out that she doesn’t look a day over thirty. Oh, and her breasts are very pert for an older woman. I’ve been wondering how it would feel to touch them.”

“Merlin Rhys, you are such a slut,” said Owen heatedly. “And with the wedding coming up, it would be like you to make the chaos all that more chaotic. Her husband would hire a hit wizard if you laid a hand on his wife.”

“Aurelius Flint would never even think anyone would dare,” said Rhys with a speculative gleam in his eyes. “I don’t understand why a man who had a woman like Natalya at home would go out for take away, so to speak.”

“Where have you heard Aurelius Flint cheats on his wife,” asked Owen with curiosity.

“Around, brother, around,” said Rhys. Aurelius Flint did not know it but Rhys had entered the Merlin Club a few weeks ago with teammates just as Flint and Malfoy were leaving with a couple of very young women.

Owen got up to leave. “Tell Mum and Dad I said hello and you better be on time tonight,” warned Owen. “And get the bad thoughts out of your mind straight away. You cannot try to pull Natalya Flint! At least wait until after the wedding, you git.”

“Fine,” said Rhys with a melodramatic sigh. “But if she looks even the tiniest bit interested Owen, our bargain is off.”

“Why would she be interested in a disreputable wizard like you?” teased Owen.

“Sex,” said Rhys with a shrug. “That’s what most unmarried blokes have more than once a week, Owen. In case you have forgotten what it is?”

“My dearest brother,” smirked Owen right back. “Have you forgotten who I married?”

“Lubastbastard,” growled Rhys.

“I know,” said Owen with a bright smile. “See you at eight.”


Diagon Alley: Late Afternoon:

Natalya saw Isolde Bell off in the floo hub with a cherry wave and a luncheon date on Monday. She turned and looked around her with interest. She rarely was able to get to Diagon Alley. She spent most of her time on their estate in Wiltshire. She wandered through the maze of shops with the air of a woman who was able to shop without looking at the prices.

Natalya saw a wonderful old antique racing broom in Quality Quidditch and bought it for Marcus. She drifted by a jewelry shop and saw a lovely pair of emerald earrings that would look wonderful on Katie. A pair of leather gloves caught her eye and she bought them for her husband. She was drifting over to Flourish and Blots to buy a few novels when she saw a familiar back. It was Aurelius. She tried to catch his attention but he seemed to be in a hurry and she was unable to catch his eye.

“What a lovely surprise,” thought Natalya as she began to follow her husband through the maze of alleys. “I wonder what brought Aurelius to London? I thought he had a business meeting in Edinburgh today?”

Natalya quickened her pace and saw her husband enter a quiet restaurant in a small alley off of the main thoroughfare. She smiled to herself as she entered the small but very pretty bistro. She wandered into the small bar looking for Aurelius.

“Can I help you,” asked the bartender in the quiet bar. It was late afternoon and they, as a rule, did not get customers with the polished patina of this elegant woman standing in front of the young man.

“I am looking for a gentleman named Aurelius Flint,” said Natalya with a gentle smile at the young man.

“Oh,” thought the bartender. “She was one of his ladies. Not his usual sort, this one.”

“Mr. Flint is in one of the private rooms,” said the bartender and he turned to lead her to the room. He stopped in front of the door and left with a discreet nod of his head.

Natalya opened the door and froze. Her heart began to pound uncomfortably hard. The occupants of the room turned and looked towards the door. A young woman had a scowl on her face at the intrusion as she clutched her open robe around her nude body. The lazy smile on her husband’s face faded as he saw his wife standing in the doorway.

Silence reigned until the young woman asked Aurelius who she was.

“Do excuse me Aurelius,” said Natalya with a dignified nod at her shocked husband. “I was unaware that you were occupied.” With a straight back and an expressionless face, Natalya closed the door quietly. She walked away with her head held high but her heart was hurting.

“I have always known about the other women,” thought Natalya in shock as she held back suppressed tears. She walked down the street in a daze. “But I never thought I would ever see it. It makes it so real.”

Back in the private room, Aurelius stared at the closed door with a heavy heart.

“Aurelius,” said his current mistress with a scowl. “Who was that woman. Another one of your little flings?”

“Be quiet,” said Aurelius sternly as he got to his feet and began buttoning up his robe.

“Where are you going and who was that woman,” said his mistress with a stamp of her foot.

“My dear,” said Aurelius coolly. “Rest assured that I will make sure that you never see her again.”

“Good,” said the foolish woman.

“That woman was my wife,” said Aurelius quietly as he prepared to leave the room. “I believe I am done with your services my dear. My lawyer will be in touch with a settlement.”

“What?” stuttered his shocked mistress. “But Aurelius…”

“That woman was my wife,” said Aurelius with a hard tone. He thought to himself that dispensing with his mistress’s services might buy him a little leeway with Natalya. Merlin knows that he was going to need it. He left the room without a backward glance to find his wife.

Hogwarts: Late Afternoon:

“Angie, Ally,” asked Katie as she caught up to the chasers as they were headed for Gryffindor Tower. “I’ve been looking for you for ages.”

“What is it,” asked Angie curiously.

“What are you both doing tonight?” asked Katie with a faint blush.

I don’t know yet,” said Alicia.

“I know that I have been neglecting the two of you horridly lately,” said Katie with a blush. “Marcus is having a boys night out and I was hoping you two haven’t written me off yet and we can do something together.”

“That’s a wonderful idea Katie,” said Angie with enthusiasm.

“Yes,” said Alicia. “We haven’t been together in ages.”

“Good,” said Katie with relief. “I half thought that you would slag me off for neglect.”

“Why would we do that love,” said Angie lightly. “You have had a lot to deal with lately.”

“What do we want to do?” asked Alicia with a gleam of mischief.

“Should we ask the boys to join in?” asked Katie hesitantly. She was refering to Lee, Fred and George.

“Oh,” said Alicia. “I’ll have to cancel on George tonight. I’ll talk to him at dinner. Maybe we can join them later?”

“Yes,” said Angie. “Girls only to start then the boys can join in.”

“What is your man up to by the way,” asked Alicia curiously.

“He and his mates are going out drinking and courousing,” said Katie with an affectionate smile. “Marcus promised me that they wouldn’t get arrested this time or caught by Snape. Speaking of, Marcus and I had a narrow escape last night. He nearly caught us…studying in Marcus’s room.”

“Studying,” said Angie with a smirk. “That’s what you two call it, eh? What does he mean by arrested?”

“Marcus wouldn’t tell me details,” said Katie with a grin. “But I have my suspicions.”

“I guess Adrian will be occupied tonight,” said Angie with a sigh. “He’ll get around to telling me sometimes later. That boy may be gorgeous but he is forgetful.”

“Tell me Katie,” said Ally lowly. “Is Higgs really dating Daria Greengrass?”

“Yes,” said Katie with a troubled look on her face. “Are you and he still…”

“No,” said Alicia with doubt in her eyes. “I don’t know, really.”

“What do you mean,” asked Angelina with a rapt gaze.

“He and I had a little run in the other night,” said Ally in a low voice. “I don’t know what it is about that boy but I can’t tell him no.”

“Merlin,” whispered Katie. “You didn’t shag him!”

“No,” hissed Alicia. “But it was a near thing. I mean George and I are dating. I really hate this attraction between us. Granted the sex was incredible.”

“The sex between you and George or you and Higgs?” asked Angie with curiosity.

“Terry, of course,” said Alicia absently as they went in the portrait.

“Hell,” thought Angelina. “I’ll second that motion. It must be all the practice he gets.”

“Let’s have the rest of this conversation later,” said Katie up in their room. “When we are alone.” Katie looked at their other roommates with a significant glance.

“Yes,” agreed Alicia. “We need to talk about a lot of things.” First thing, thought Alicia, was that she needed to get this whole thing with Terry sorted, once and for all.