The Last Man on Earth

The Last Man on Earth

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and am merely taking them out for a good time. No one will be harmed permanently.

Chapter 53: The Flints and the Bells

Flint Manor:

“I can’t believe you are condoning this,” hissed Rhys Bell to his brother Owen.

“What are you on about,” whispered Owen.

“That Slytherin boy has slept with Katie,” hissed Rhys.

“She is expecting a child,” hissed Owen. “I did know that!”

“She is only sixteen,” said Rhys with a frown. “That boy must be at least nineteen.”

“Merlin Rhys,” said Owen with a sardonic smile. “Its like you expected Katie to be a virgin.”

“Am I the only one,” said Rhys with a nod towards his parents. “Mum is completely bowled over.”

“Were you a virgin when you were sixteen?” asked Owen with a smirk.

“No,” said Rhys. “But Katie has been sheltered.”

“Katie has been on a Hogwarts Quidditch team for years,” said Owen with a laugh. “I am sure that she’s known what is what for years now.”

“I want to meet this bloke,” said Rhys stubbornly.

“Fine,” said Owen with a shake of his head, “I’ll find out when the next Hogsmeade week end is.”

“What?” asked Rhys quizzically.

“I forgot,” said Owen. “You went to Beauxbatons. Every three or four weekends, Hogwarts students are able to go the village.”

“You promise that we will be able to meet this bloke in person,” said Rhys suspiciously.

“Of course,” said Owen as he rolled his eyes. He turned his attention towards the conversation going on that table.

“Owen,” said Natalya. “What is your wife’s name?”

“My wife’s name is Isabelle de Montfort,” said Owen with a smile. “She was one of Rhys’s teammates on his Quidditch team at Beauxbatons.”

“Yes,” smirked Rhys. “Owen came to watch a game and ended up ignoring me as he flirted with Isabelle. I knew something was up when he came to visit every free weekend. Especially as after awhile, he didn’t even bother to pretend he was there to see me.”

“Why did you attend the European school,” asked Natalya with surprise, “rather than Hogwarts? I attended Durmstrang, myself.”

“I was still playing Quidditch,” said Rowan Bell. “I had transferred to the Normandy Raiders in the European league from the Arrows, so Rhys went to Beauxbatons instead.”

“Quidditch,” mused Natalya. “Marcus always said he wanted to play professional Quidditch.”

“Really,” said Rowan. “Has he had an offer from a team yet?”

“I am afraid that a career in Quidditch is not in Marcus’s future,” said Aurelius with a determined smile.

“Why not?” asked Natalya.

“Besides the child,” said Aurelius. “The family holdings do not run themselves Natalya.”

“Does Marcus know that?” asked Rhys with a raised eyebrow.

“Marcus has always known,” said Aurelius. “But I do believe he already has a interest in the textile division of our holdings. It seems he would like to start a Quidditch memorabilia owl order company.”

“That sounds very interesting,” said Rowan Bell with surprise. “And quite clever.”

“Clever rather than smart is a term I would use to describe my son,” said Aurelius. “I am relieved that he managed to turn this sport obsession towards something profitable.”

“Nothing compares to playing professional Quidditch though,” said Rhys. “It is an experience not to be missed. I am surprised the Falmouth Falcons have not come calling. Before I knew of your son, I had heard of him. Young up and coming players are well known the small world of pro teams. Take that Wood boy on Katie’s team. I heard Puddlemere United has an interest.”

“The Falmouth Flacons?” asked Natalya. She gave her husband a puzzled look. “Where have I heard that name before?”

Aurelius looked a touch uncomfortable then heaved a sigh. “The team has come calling,” said Aurelius lightly. “The large man with the briefcase last week was a scout for the Falmouth Falcons, Natalya. You gave him tea after our meeting. I believe his name was Jones.”

“Oh yes,” said Natalya brightly, “he was quite disappointed. He did want to speak to Marcus in person.”

“Why?” asked Rhys.

“Marcus will not playing for any team,” said Aurelius with an edge to his voice. “He has other obligations.”

“Quidditch isn’t for everyone,” said Rowan Bell as he deftly turned the subject. He gave his son a quelling look when it looked like Rhys was going to argue with Aurelius. Rowan loved his time as a professional Quidditch player but he was well aware that Marcus, as the heir to old pureblood family, was not permitted to choose his career. It chose him the day he was born.

“I’ve just had a horrible thought,” said Isolde out of the blue to Natalya. “What if it rains on June 24th?”

“Then we will have the ceremony indoors,” said Natalya.

Aurelius gave a small smile as he watched his wife. She was scatterbrained and sometimes oblivious but she was very good at organizing parties and running his household. As she spoke to Isolde, she beckoned discreetly for the house elves to take away the plates and serve another course. He also noticed that the menu was very English traditional with roasted meats and vegetables, no outrageous and inedible delicacies that would make the Bells uncomfortable. When Natalya looked in his direction, he gave her a warm smile. Natalya’s face lit up.

Later, in his study, as the rest of the party were having brandy or tea in the drawing room, Aurelius and Rowan signed the formal betrothal contracts.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather take the papers to a lawyer and have them looked over,” asked Aurelius politely.

“For better or worse,” said Rowan. “They are getting married. Besides, I have a law degree. I can see that the contract is straightforward.”

“A law degree,” asked Aurelius with a hint of surprise.

“I knew Quidditch wasn’t going to last forever,” said Rowan. “I see that you haven’t included the possibility of divorce.”

“There is no possibility of divorce,” said Aurelius succinctly. “The ancient magic they evoked made sure of that. As well, the Flints marry for life.”

“I see there are arrangements in place for widowhood,” said Rowan with a frown.

“Katie will be well taken care of regardless of what may come,” said Aurelius.

“I can see nothing that needs to be changed,” said Rowan then he signed the parchment. Aurelius signed as well.

“There is just one thing,” said Rowan with a determined look at Aurelius. “I can’t let you pay for the entire wedding.”

“You won’t,” said Aurelius genially. “You are responsible for Katie’s robe.”

“You know what I mean,” said Rowan stubbornly.

“Because Marcus is my heir,” said Aurelius seriously. “There are necessary extravagances that I do not expect for you to pay for. The guest list will be enormous because I have to invite many business contacts. I do not expect for you to pick up that tab. Besides, if you really must know, Lucius Malfoy is picking up most of the expenses. I made a schoolboy bet with him a quarter of a century ago.”

“Malfoy?” said Rowan with a raised eyebrow.

“My dear cousin bet me that his son would be betrothed before mine,” said Aurelius with a slow smile. “It was a substantial bet that was fueled by a bottle of very fine brandy. Both Marcus and Draco were but distant thoughts, never mind realities. Trust me, it made only a slight dent in Lucius’s very deep pockets.”

“If you are sure,” said Rowan reluctantly.

“Positive,” said Aurelius. “And you can invite as many people as you like. I do believe the final guest tally will be about 1,600.”

“People,” said Rowan with a slight look of horror.

“Mostly wizards and witches and some veela here and there,” said Aurelius conversationally. “Although I will be inviting a few goblins. Must keep the Gringott’s goblins happy, eh?”

Later after the Bells flooed home, Aurelius gave his wife a warm smile and said, “That went better than I had expected.”

“Yes,” said Natalya as she sat down on the chaise beside her husband. “There is ever so much to do, but I think Isolde is coming out of her shock. I think the wedding will keep her mind off of the coming baby.”

“I believe that Rowan has decided not to think of the child until later,” said Aurelius. “But the youngest boy has me a touch worried.”

“Yes,” said Natalya. “He is not happy with the thought of Marcus and his sister together.”

“I expect that he will be paying Marcus a visit soon,” said Aurelius with a wry smile.

“He won’t hurt Marcus, will he?” asked Natalya with a frown. Aurelius put his arm around her and pulled her closer. He could smell her familiar scent of violets.

“It will serve Marcus right for shagging a girl with large brothers,” said Aurelius. “They won’t hurt him permanently. He’s a big boy, he can take care of himself.” He nuzzled his mouth into Natalya’s neck and kissed her throat. “Have I told you what a good witch you have been tonight?”

‘No,” giggled Natalya. Aurelius looked into her dark eyes and was transported to the day he first met her. She smelt like violets that day as well. He had been introduced to her by a friend of his mother’s at a ball in Paris. She had been young and very impressionable. And he had needed to marry money. He ran his finger down her high cheekbone and gave a satisfied smile.

“Do you remember the night we met,” asked Aurelius with passionate look into his wife’s eyes. “You had violets in your hair and that purple silk dress robe on with the little sleeves.”

“You remember what I wore?” said Natalya as she gave a surprised smile.

“I remember what happened later in the garden,” said Aurelius lowly as he undid one of the buttons on her dress robe.

“I was so wild,” said Natalya. “I blush to think what I let you do. We had only just met.”

“Out there in the warm summer night,” said Aurelius seductively. “I undid that lovely silk dress and pulled the flowers out of you hair, and did what I wanted to do from the second I met you. It was lust at first sight. I wanted to be deep inside you and then I was. You were moaning so loudly, I thought your mother would come out and catch us.”

“Merlin, I’m blushing,” said Natalya. She gave a soft moan when Aurelius’s hand slid up her thigh. Her face flushed when Aurelius gave her a wicked smile and slid to his knees in front of her. He slid her robe up her thighs and pulled her pants down her legs. He gave her a gentle kiss in between her thighs then began to lick her wet cleft. Natalya moaned and then wrapped her legs around his head.

“Aurelius,” moaned Natalya as he began to suck on her clitoris insistently. “I remember that this is how you persuaded me to take off my dress that night. Merlin, it feels just as good as it did that night.”

“The smell of violets can still get me hard,” said Aurelius as he kissed her heaving belly. He slid a long finger into her clinging wetness with a smile when he heard her give a sigh of pleasure.

“I know,” said Natalya as she urged him up her body. She gave a moan of delight when he sank his erection deep inside her. Her hips urged him to ride her hard so he did. “My mother was so angry with me when I ran off with you. She said you were a rake and a fortune hunter.”

“I was,” said Aurelius as he captured her mouth in a hungry kiss.

“I know,” said Natalya as she caressed the back of his head. “But you were my rake and you are still so very good at this.” She moved her hips enticingly under his driving body.

“Natalya,” whispered Aurelius as his hips moved faster into her welcoming depths. “Do you remember that suite at that Paris hotel we ran off to?”

“We didn’t leave it for nearly a month,” said Natalya with a grin. “We got dressed only once, to get married.”

“Best thing I ever did,” murmured Aurelius as he grasped her hips and began to move his hips faster and deeper into his wife. A few moments later, Natalya gave a high loud moan and spasmed against his driving body. He arched his back as he poured his passion into his wife with a groan of satisfaction.

A few hours later, in the darkness of their suite, Aurelius folded his body around his wife’s and pulled her closer. He stroked her hair and gave a small grin, as he smelled the violet scent that clung to her. As he fell asleep, he thought to himself that she smelt like home to him.