Author's Notes: This is an epilogue.and, uh, still don't kill me?
Disclaimer: See part one.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Midnight, with a September cold that penetrated the bones of the people gathered in the graveyard. They were all wearing dark mourning robes, and were all gathered around a small, white marker.
Silence ruled over all of them. At the front of the small group of mourners, Draco Malfoy stood with his husband, looking down at the grave of his daughter.
"She would have wanted to be buried at midnight," Harry whispered at last. "She and I belong to the night." Draco nodded silently. "She...I loved her. I still love her."
"She loves you, wherever she is," Draco assured him. "Never doubt that." Harry nodded slowly.
The mourners began to leave; they all came up and murmured almost- meaningless condolences to Harry and Draco. The Necromancers left first, then the Order, then Hermione and Dumbledore. Remus rested his hand on Harry's shoulder for a moment before moving to wait for Sirius, who came as soon as Harry called him from Africa. Sirius hugged Harry tightly, nodded at Draco, and then left them to their thoughts, with a swift glance at the two older graves, near to the new one.
Finally they were alone. Harry slowly pulled something from his pocket. It was a silver skull clasp, polished to that it shone brilliantly in the darkness. He stepped forward and placed it on the grave.
"I wish I could have seen her grow up. I wish I could have protected her - it's all my fault, I was careless.
"We talked about this, Harry," Draco reminded him gently. "It's not your fault - the Others would have found a way of getting her, at some point or another."
"I know. I can't really help it."
Draco drew him close and kissed him, then they left the graveyard. They would grieve, and then they would tuck Nathalie away into a special place in their hearts, never to be forgotten. There would be other battles to be fought. There would be other children to help fill their hearts and lives.
Before then, they had each other. And for once, they knew they were happy.
And somewhere, past the Abyss, past the Creators, past all understanding, Nathalie knew this, and smiled at them as she twirled, her black plaits whistling through the air and her grey eyes shining.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The End.
Don't kill me. Take a deep breath. Good readers.
Author's Notes, take two: Yes, this is the end. No, there will not be a sequel in which Harry brings her back - she went into the Abyss, or weren't you reading?
Many thanks to (takes deep breath): All my reviewers, mostly for putting up with my cliffhangers (I really started using them in Chained, and I love them now!). Also special thanks to T.K. Yuy for her surprise. It's the background for my desktop now, and I fall more in love with Nathalie every time I see it. Thanks also to my mother, for putting up with my mood swings as I tried to figure out whether Harry was being a prat or not. Thanks to my brother, for comforting me when I cried after writing chapter 22.
As ever, thanks to the Goddess who is JK Rowling.
I am starting to write a new fic, the new chapter of which may or may not be up tomorrow night, England time. However, I do start school again tomorrow (Thursday) and so will have a lot less time to write/update.
Until next time,
Sparks.
Disclaimer: See part one.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Midnight, with a September cold that penetrated the bones of the people gathered in the graveyard. They were all wearing dark mourning robes, and were all gathered around a small, white marker.
Silence ruled over all of them. At the front of the small group of mourners, Draco Malfoy stood with his husband, looking down at the grave of his daughter.
"She would have wanted to be buried at midnight," Harry whispered at last. "She and I belong to the night." Draco nodded silently. "She...I loved her. I still love her."
"She loves you, wherever she is," Draco assured him. "Never doubt that." Harry nodded slowly.
The mourners began to leave; they all came up and murmured almost- meaningless condolences to Harry and Draco. The Necromancers left first, then the Order, then Hermione and Dumbledore. Remus rested his hand on Harry's shoulder for a moment before moving to wait for Sirius, who came as soon as Harry called him from Africa. Sirius hugged Harry tightly, nodded at Draco, and then left them to their thoughts, with a swift glance at the two older graves, near to the new one.
Finally they were alone. Harry slowly pulled something from his pocket. It was a silver skull clasp, polished to that it shone brilliantly in the darkness. He stepped forward and placed it on the grave.
"I wish I could have seen her grow up. I wish I could have protected her - it's all my fault, I was careless.
"We talked about this, Harry," Draco reminded him gently. "It's not your fault - the Others would have found a way of getting her, at some point or another."
"I know. I can't really help it."
Draco drew him close and kissed him, then they left the graveyard. They would grieve, and then they would tuck Nathalie away into a special place in their hearts, never to be forgotten. There would be other battles to be fought. There would be other children to help fill their hearts and lives.
Before then, they had each other. And for once, they knew they were happy.
And somewhere, past the Abyss, past the Creators, past all understanding, Nathalie knew this, and smiled at them as she twirled, her black plaits whistling through the air and her grey eyes shining.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The End.
Don't kill me. Take a deep breath. Good readers.
Author's Notes, take two: Yes, this is the end. No, there will not be a sequel in which Harry brings her back - she went into the Abyss, or weren't you reading?
Many thanks to (takes deep breath): All my reviewers, mostly for putting up with my cliffhangers (I really started using them in Chained, and I love them now!). Also special thanks to T.K. Yuy for her surprise. It's the background for my desktop now, and I fall more in love with Nathalie every time I see it. Thanks also to my mother, for putting up with my mood swings as I tried to figure out whether Harry was being a prat or not. Thanks to my brother, for comforting me when I cried after writing chapter 22.
As ever, thanks to the Goddess who is JK Rowling.
I am starting to write a new fic, the new chapter of which may or may not be up tomorrow night, England time. However, I do start school again tomorrow (Thursday) and so will have a lot less time to write/update.
Until next time,
Sparks.