After Party

Neither Can Live

“Mr. Potter?”

Harry turned to look expectantly at Natalie.

“Naunt Mairead has explained things to you?” She asked softly, maneuvering closer to Voldemort. Harry nodded his assent. “Are you prepared?” Natalie asked very softly; her voice tinged with regret. They were interrupted rudely as from across the room, Bellatrix regained consciousness with Rodolpus helping her to her feet. The insane witch launched herself across the ballroom floor at Harry. Neville spied her approach first, bellowing in unintelligible rage as the sword of Godric Gryffindor appeared in his hand. Wielding it high above his dark head, he swung, years of pent up anger pushing the heavy goblin-made weapon cleanly through the pale, already bloodied neck of Bellatrix Lestrange, her inanimate head falling to the floor with a sickening thunk; its crazed eyes locked in wide open horror for all eternity.

Voldemort stared gaped jawed at the dark-haired boy. Rodolphus cast the Avada kedavra in Neville’s direction, only to have Nicholas apparate instantly in front of the green colored curse destined for Natalie in Rodolphus’ distraught mis-aim. His stocky body crumpled to the floor in a heap. Natalie fell on top of him screaming in rage, grief and pain, cradling his lifeless shape to her breast. Snape hit Rodolphus with a vicious sectumsempra, severing his wand arm which fell to the floor. The Death Eater screeched in unholy pain, only able to watch as new slashes appeared everywhere on his body, ending his life in a few bloodied minutes as Rabastan ineffectually tried to stop the curse.

Harry and Voldemort turned their attention back to one another, wands drawn in a final face off.

“Neither can live while the other survives.”

“Wait.” Natalie’s tear-sodden voice rose from the floor. Mairead moved to her niece’s side, extending one hand to help her rise.

Natalie ignored the Dark Lord completely as she focused completely on Harry.

“Are you prepared for this act?” She whispered hoarsely. “Prepared to become a murderer?”

Harry’s eyes widened and he drew a deep breath to steady himself.

“What are you talking about you blathering idiotic woman?” Voldemort insulted Natalie with utmost disdain. Snape inched his way towards his mate with Lucius covering his back. All around them, the battles ceased, seeming to understand the gravity of this moment.

Natalie turned on the snake lord, hissing in parceltongue, fury passing through her lips as her remaining brothers drew closer, sensing her distress.

“Uneducated wannabe.” She hissed.

Harry coughed violently, caught by Ron’s steadier arms. Voldemort launched himself at her, wrapping both hands around her neck, eyes red with malicious glee as he felt her pulse weaken and slow under his grip. Natalie offered no resistance. Nolan held tight to Snape’s wand arm, preventing him from interfering. Noah and Alexei held their breath, feeling their hearts pounding in rhythm with hers. As her body relaxed into the death grip, Natalie allowed her eyes to close, and her fingers to tighten around the dagger in her waistband. Stilling her heart much like a serpent in cold-stasis, she slumped further, lulling the Dark Lord into a false sense of triumph. He dropped her to the floor, cackling in victory. He cast his crazed glance around the room, wand pointing at each defector in turn.

“You dare defy ME!” He roared. Distracted, he never saw Natalie leap from under his feet, driving her blade home under his rib cage, twisting, and then drawing it sideways across his abdomen to effectively gut the snake. She hissed at him as his life’s force and internal organs oozed from the gaping wound she created.

Eerie black shapes rose from the floor, swirling menacingly around the dying wizard, darting in to touch his cooling body, earning a pained scream with each contact. Natalie withdrew her contact with the dying Tom Riddle; her arm bloodied to nearly her shoulder, her dagger dripping onto the once spotless dance floor under her feet. The unnamed shapes grew stronger and more daring descending on the last of the Dark Lord in a horde, reminding those present of ethereal dementors attacking a luckless victim. He fell face first to the floor, the shapes receding back to the depths from which they ascended.

Natalie muttered, still angry, “Now, you may live.”

Harry nodded moving involuntarily to the woman who had just freed his entire world to put his hands on her shoulders in a motion of comfort.

“Thank you.” He whispered huskily, tears already forming in his green eyes. He released her and stepped quickly away as Nolan released Snape and he sped to her side to wrap his arms around her, heedless of the gory mess with which she was lathered. All around them, the remaining Death Eaters fell to their knees in surrender, holding wands out in front of them.

Kingsley came storming through the manor with a wild-eyed Ana close on his heels. He stopped in the doorway, stunned by the scene in ballroom. Bloodied dead bodies littered the floor; both human and serpentine. Ana skimmed over the floor to throw herself in Alexei’s arms. He caught her, lifting her above the filthy floor.

“Eet ees over, oui?” She nearly sobbed in relief, her hands clasped to both sides of his face.

“Almost, mon Cheri.” He whispered, then kissed her soundly, needing the contact to ground him to a more pleasant reality.

More aurors poured into the ballroom, rounding up the still moving Death Eaters at wand-point. Three more vicious looking wizards cornered the Malfoy family who were now gathered in a far corner, both Draco and his father comforting Narcissa.

“NOT THEM!” Natalie’s voice rang out over the hubbub and din, freezing them in their tracks.

The story nears its conclusion, finally you all say. There are still some unaccounted for Death Eaters and neither Natalie or Snape are going to get off scott-free. This chapter is un-beta’d. Thank you again to Trickie who looks over and fixes anything and everything I send her, and a hearty thank you to all of you for being so loyal and patient.