The Story Of Mr. And Mrs. Black- REVAMPED !

[Timeless]

Hello,
I started writing The Story of Mr. and Mrs. Black (My first attempt at fan-fiction) last year but (ashamed to say this) left it incomplete.

When I discovered this story (somewhere stored deep in my computer, accumulating dust), I felt a need to make some changes in it and complete it.
The storyline remains the same but I've made some changes, which you would notice only if you have read it earlier.
I hope that in this one year gap, I've grown as a writer. Readers, please give constructive criticism. I'd really like to know what you think of my story.
Those who have read this earlier are free to compare it to the earlier one and post their comments. I'd love to hear from those who gave feedback last time.

Feedback link coming up soon. Ta, ta !

Diclaimer : Harry Potter and his world belongs to J K Rowling. However the rest of the characters are mine esp. Aurelia Nigellus and Nicholas Black.
-------------------------------------------
THE STORY OF MR. AND MRS. BLACK


Aurelia Elladora Nigellus looked out through the window of her room. She had bewitched the window so that each day, there would be a different view. Tonight she could see the star clustered sky, just like diamonds sewed onto a velvet veil, looking onto a sultry beach with the waves dancing to the shore. The dancing waves, the musical wind and the trees joining in to make a truly touching performance…Yes, they were all her friends. It was nice to know that whatever happened, the view would always be pleasant. Somehow she felt relaxed-far away from all her worries and insecurities.

At twenty three, Ella was quite pretty. She had long, waist length hair as black as the sky on a moonless night and a pair of astonishingly bewitching eyes. Her lips curved into a smile not often but when they did, her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes seemed to dance and she was truly a sight to behold.

Everybody on her father’s side said she looked like her great grandaunt Elladora Nigellus Black but Aurelia simply considered it as her bad fortune to be named after a witch who was slightly eccentric (though that seemed to be a fashion among her ancestors at that time). Ella positively winced whenever anyone mentioned her resemblance and the fact that Aunt Elladora had started the tradition of beheading house-elves after they got too old. Her great grandfather would probably roll over in his grave if he knew about this because Ella belonged to one of the oldest pure blood families in the wizarding world. And not to forget, respected, influential and tremendously wealthy families. Her father Marcus Nigellus was rumored to own the largest vaults at Gringotts filled to the brim with gold and jewels and was said to have hired two trolls for the vaults security, much to the displeasure of the goblins.

But times had changed of course. Sixty years had passed since Harry Potter had defeated Lord Voldemort. After the end of the war, pure blooded wizards and witches had become less prejudiced towards muggleborns and half breeds. Children of the pure blooded families were free to associate with anyone and their parents did not mind even if they weren’t sorted into Slytherin. Every pure blooded witch or wizard had some knowledge of the dark arts but they never used those powers to kill or to torture. However, some things never change and they still secretly prided themselves on their ancestry. They all still wished to keep the line pure and so the children must marry according to their parent’s wishes. The parents always chose the most deserving of all for their sons and daughters and so the children never really had any qualms.

Ella looked outside the window wistfully. This was going to be the last night when she would be looking outside from her special window and sat on the bed. She remembered how her mother, used to tuck her in every night when she was little. But she had stopped doing that a long time ago. She lay down on the bed thinking of the numerous holidays she had spent here with her best friends Syria Nott, Lily Potter and Roberta Weasley. Tiny pearl shaped tears slid out of her pretty eyes. Switching off the light with her wand, Ella prepared to go to sleep. This was the last night that Aurelia Elladora Nigellus would be spending at the Nigellus Mansion for tomorrow; things were going to change because she was going to marry Nicholas Alexander Black.

~~~~~

Nicholas Alexander Black could feel the cool breeze waltzing past his seductively. He was lying flat on his back looking at the stars shining overhead. He loved this place in the woods just behind Black Manor. The decorators had just left after putting the finishing touches for the wedding.

Nicholas took a deep breath and took in the sweet fragrance of the air floating around. Nick was twenty four, rather tall, undeniably good looking. He was, however, quite oblivious to the fact that women made a fool of themselves because of his enigmatic smile. But on the present occasion, though, there was no smile on his face. Instead, a deep, brooding expression rested there.

No, Nick wasn’t named after a great grand aunt or uncle but he had been close to being named after Sirius Black, his great grandfather Alphard’s favourite nephew. Alphard Black had helped Sirius when he had been casted out of the Black family at the age of fifteen. As a result Alphard had been disowned by the Black family and he had decided to go to Romania. Everyone thought he died there but he had married Pauline Vance in Romania and had his own family. However, when he had come to know of Sirius’s death, he had come back to England. Anyways, Nick was going to be named after him but his mother Virginia wasn’t very keen on the idea (The narrator suspiciously feels that was maybe because she was a Snape before her marriage) and so finally he was named Nicholas Alexander because his grandfather idolized Muggle Emperors.

Nick remembered the time when he and Ivy used to practise Quidditch here. He began to smile when he remembered the time when she had transfigured Filch Jr’s nose into that of a pig in only her first year. He was very proud of his sister. He knew she was a very clever and powerful witch, and beautiful too. She was very ambitious and wanted to be an Auror. Speaking of beautiful witches, his mind hovered back to Aurelia and the smile was again replaced by the brooding expression. He wondered how his marriage with Aurelia would be. He barely knew her. He didn’t even know what she thought about him, probably she didn’t care much.

He did not love Aurelia but he thought her very beautiful. Nick liked her eyes the most. Her eyes were like a deep ocean, full of mystery, as if holding a hundred secrets in its depths. He had last seen her at the Christmas Ball which the Ministry organised every year. She had looked stunning in black dress robes having a very intricate pattern of golden thread on them, in perfect rhythm with her eyes. He had seen her dancing with different people and noticed how gracefully she glided across the hall. But somehow her mind and her heart did not seem to be there. He could glimpse that faraway look in her eyes sometimes.

Of course he hadn’t asked her to dance. He was too shy. He had known that their parents were already talking about their marriage. He only enjoyed looking at her, as if trying to sort out a complex puzzle. Instead he had danced with Shelly Potter, one of his best friends. Nick, Shelly and Rufus had been best friends from the day the Sorting Hat had placed them in Gryffindor. They all were very different from each other but still had gotten along. Nick was a very quiet, noble, generous and clever wizard while Rufus was noisy, boisterous, yet loyal and brave. Shelly was a talented witch, vivacious, very unpredictable but was indisputably the Mother Hen. Shelly and Rufus were getting married soon. Both of them were very busy but had promised to come to his wedding.

Nicholas did not know whether he would make a good husband but he was determined to fulfill all the vows he would be taking tomorrow, with Aurelia Black.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Feedback

[Timeless]

Sleep still eluding her, Ella lay on her bed, with her eyes wide open. Her heart seemed to be fluttering a little more than the usual. She guessed it to be because of her nervousness for the wedding tomorrow. Her heart wasn’t into marrying Nicholas Black. She had nothing against him except for the fact that he was a complete stranger to her. How can anyone marry a stranger? She didn’t believe in arranged marriages. She had seen for herself how arranged marriages were.
She noticed the photo frame on her table containing her parent’s photograph. It had been taken many years back. Even in the picture they managed to maintain their pretense of a happy marriage and they looked like the perfect couple, content with each other. But Ella knew how it really was. She knew her parents had never been happy together. Ella really didn’t feel that any love had entered in their hearts for each other. But she knew they had been at least a bit happy once…before Ophelia died. She willed herself not to think about Ophelia. Thinking about her was still painful. Sweet, little Ophelia, she had really loved her younger sister. Then to really add salt to her wounds, her mother had left their home after another bitter quarrel with her father. Her world crumbled away that day and she had never been the same again. Her heart slowly tore into pieces as she waited each night for her mother to tuck her under the bed covers.

A lot of time had passed since then and everything seemed to have returned back to normal. The surface always appears calm and placid but nobody knows the mental anguish that people suffer underneath. It was the same for Ella. Everybody thought Ella had reconciled herself to the loss of Ophelia and Grayce. But nobody knew how Ella missed her and craved to see her again.

Aurelia had always been a bit different from her other friends. She was always a bit distant without anyone knowing. She shared everything that happened with Lily,Roberta and Syria but never what she truly felt. Lily and Roberta were very different from her and had led very sheltered lives. Maybe the reason why she didn’t share everything with them was that she felt that the only people who can really understand are those who are like you and have gone through the same things. It was as if she felt like she was searching for something precious and very elusive. Ella had never told anyone of the problems in her family. Ella felt trapped….she had always felt that. It was as if all through her life she had been forced to do things she didn’t want too. She felt suffocated in crowds. During the Christmas ball, she had felt like screaming and running away from everyone but no, she couldn’t do that of course. She danced throughout the night with everyone who asked her to in seemingly best spirits, like a true Nigellus.

That night Aurelia Elladora Nigellus cried her way into sleep, venting out all her frustrations on her pillow and wishing that somehow tomorrow would never come and she wouldn’t have to marry Nicholas Alexander Black.

~~~~

Nicholas couldn’t help but look proud as Ella walked through the aisle, her face unreadable. Her velvet dress robes showcased the natural grace of her movements. There was a hushed silence as everybody admired the beautiful bride.
As he took her hand, he startled slightly as he felt something in the environment. Something inscrutable, something almost magical….

For a moment, it seemed as if both of them were oblivious of the bored-looking ministry official reciting the vows. Oblivious of the people admiring the couple, oblivious of their friends and well-wishers, wishing for their happiness. Their eyes were locked with each other and Nick could see a tinge of a blush on her cheeks. He felt a sense of belonging, a peaceful tranquility.
It was only after some while that they noticed everyone staring at them and realized that Ella was expected to hold out her hand so that Nicholas could fit the ring onto her finger. The atmosphere suddenly changed and Nick felt the magic ebbing away. Nick looked quizzically at her as her face changed back to the former unfathomable look. Bewildered, he took his vows mechanically and before he knew it, the ceremony was over. Aurelia was now officially his wife, his better half.

~~~~~

~~~~~
“My, my, you are looking fabulous, Aurelia dear. You and Nicholas do make a very handsome couple. “

Do we? Maybe…

Mrs. Nott, a good natured and loquacious witch, was gushing over Aurelia. With her, it always was difficult to get in a word edgewise. Ella smiled and before she could reply, Mrs. Nott said, “The decorations are so lovely. I just loved the orchids at the entrance. They look so exotic. How nice to have a wedding in these woods!

Well, it surely is nice to be here at this beautiful place. Only, I wish it were someone else’s wedding.

“My wedding was at the Ministry Hall. How dreadfully dull, I must say! I wanted to run away with Syria’s father, you see, but he doesn’t really have any sense of adventure!”

Wish I could run away, Mrs. Nott.

“Having a boring wedding was so not my idea but eloping really did sound so much fun at my time, ha ha!”

Well, she could run away….

“Aurelia Elladora Black! Are you listening to me?”

Ella jerked back to reality at Mrs. Nott’s exclamation.

“Oh, I am sorry”, said Ella, “I seemed to-“

“Aha, already lost in dreams of the conjugal bed, are you, Ella?” said Mrs. Nott with a shrewd expression.

Blame it on Mrs. Nott to say the most shocking things.

“Oh no, Mrs. Nott, I-“

“No, no, don’t try to deny, young lady. I know how the young think! You know, when I first met Mr. Nott, I thought he was a most insipid man. But however dull he may seem to be, let me tell you this, “she continued with a faint blush,” he certainly does have a sense of adventure at, er, some places.”

Ella couldn’t help but grin. No wonder she loved this woman. She had, in some way, filled the gap that Grayce Nigellus had left in her heart.

“Mrs. Nott, have I ever told you how glad I am that you are there in my life?” said Ella, with a smile.

~~~~~~

The music for the ceremonial dance was starting but Ella suddenly wished that she were all alone, and she could do what she wanted to do, that is, Think!
The idea of running away was swiftly gaining centre stage in her mind. Her mind was in war with her heart. Her mind told her to act wisely and not be reckless but her heart? Her heart wanted to soar in the skies, free from all bondages. But there were so many things to consider. What would her father say?
‘Always doing the wrong things, aren’t you? You are just like your mother!’
She could hear her father’s disapproving words, echoing in her ears.
And what about Nicholas? Wouldn’t he be publicly embarrassed, just like his father had been, when Grayce Nigellus had left him?
Aurelia Elladora Nigellus Black had never once been reckless in her life.
What to do and what not to do ?

Her heart beat accelerated as she saw Nicholas coming towards her, no doubt for the ceremonial dance…

~~~~~~


“Can I have your hand for the dance, Aurelia?” asked Nicholas with a smile.

Why was she so pale?

“You don’t seem to be alright. Is there any problem?”

“I think I ate something wrong, “said Aurelia, without once looking him in the eye,” I am feeling giddy. Could you please excuse me? I think I’ll have to go the washroom.”

~~~~~~

“Aurelia? Are you okay?”

Twenty minutes later, Nick was standing outside the door to the Ladies Washroom, worried as Ella was taking too much time. He knocked again but there was no answer. He felt his wedding ring burning his finger. Instinctively feeling that something was wrong, he unlocked the door through magic.
It was empty. There was no Aurelia in here. The only remnant of her presence in the room was a thin parchment with her neat handwriting on it.


I am sorry.
Please don’t try to find me.

- Ella.


He simply continued to stare at the parchment, dumbfounded, not knowing what to do or what to think.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmnnn...so what do you think ? FEEDBACK

[Timeless]

Lily Potter had been preparing to make a midnight snack for herself when the bell rang and someone flooed in through the fireplace.

‘Nicholas Black! What are you doing here?’

‘I was wondering if you know where Aurelia is.’

‘Ella? Nicholas, if I remember correctly, today is your wedding night! Shouldn’t she be with you?’

‘She isn’t. She’s gone. She left this note,’ replied Nicholas, obviously pained.

When Lily read the note, she was surprised, very surprised. Now she knew the reason behind Nick’s announcement during the ceremonial dance that Aurelia had taken ill. It was so unlike Ella to run away.

‘Tell me where she is, Lily.’

‘I honestly don’t know, Nick.’

‘Ah, you are lying. I know you are the first one to know whenever Aurelia does something.’

‘I truly didn’t know she was going to go off like that. Do you really think I’d have let her go?’

‘Oh well, I guess its no use asking you were she is. Thank Merlin mother and father are on their way to Romania. It would have been really difficult to explain to them that their beautiful daughter-in-law just ran off, leaving their beloved son in the lurch.’

Both of them were silent and maybe both of them were thinking why Ella had run away.

‘Err, Lily, do you think she ran off with someone?’

Lily couldn’t help but laugh at the look on his face and at what he was suggesting.

‘You mean, you are considering that she eloped with someone?’

‘It’s not funny, Lily! Tell me, was she in love with someone?’

‘No way! Ella is not the type of person who falls in love so easily. I pity the bloke who’d fall in love with her. She’d never ever admit it to the guy if she loved him too.’

Nicholas said nothing but sighed. Lily wondered whether what she said had consoled him or depressed him more.

‘Oh well, I don’t know where to start. Do you have any idea where she could be?’

‘Maybe in Romania. Roberta’s there with her grand uncle Charlie.’

‘Well, I am going to find her and bring her back. I can’t let her embarrass both of our families. She’s been very immature and when I find her I am going to give her a good lecture on how a silly naughty girl she’s been.’

Lily smiled and said,’ you’ll still have trouble finding her. She got top marks in concealment and disguise during her auror training. She knows all the tricks of disappearing and she obviously doesn’t want to be found.’

‘I will find her, whatever it takes’

‘Give her some time, Nick. She’ll come back in two days. If she doesn’t, I’ll marry the Giant Squid. If I were you, I wouldn’t worry much about her. She knows how to take care of herself.’

‘Let me know if she comes here please, Lily’, said Nick and turned to leave. Lily watched him whirling in the bluish green flames and then he was gone.

[Timeless]

The stillness of the atmosphere, only interrupted by the occasional rustling of the trees made it evident that she was walking in a graveyard. She was finding it hard to find the way due to the thick fog enveloping her.
A rare breeze stalked past her and she shivered. Was it really cold or just the effect of the gloomy atmosphere?
So many stony graves were scattered in the landscape. Sometimes she felt as if she heard someone whispering as she passed some of them.
The fog seemed to reach over to her and take her in its arms. She tripped over a stone and fell onto the ground. She winced at the pain and just as she was sitting up, her glance fell at a neighboring tombstone. She felt her heart crack as she saw the words inscribed on the hard surface.

Grayce Marcus Nigellus.

Nooo…she wasn’t dead! She couldn’t be! She had just…left. Tears rushed out of her eyes as she felt the loss of a mother that had never been with her.

“Crying, my dear? I thought you never cried.”

Ella startled at the voice, coming from behind her. She recognized the voice but was afraid to turn, afraid of being disappointed, yet again.

“Can’t believe I am here, Ella? Turn, my child, you won’t be disappointed.”

Strangely reassured, Ella turned and stared in to the face of her mother.

Speechless, she said,” You are dead.”

“I will never be truly dead, Aurelia, as long as I am there in your heart”, said Mrs. Nigellus, with a smile lighting up her delicate features.

“I have found you now. I will never let you go. Ever.”

Grayce smiled secretively and her form slowly seemed to fade away.

“Nooo…don’t go! What will I do without you? I am all alone…”

As she started to run after her, another voice echoed in the silence.

“Let her go, you fool. She was never fit enough to be a Nigellus, even if she may have been a pureblood!”

Ella gasped as her father came into view.

“You’re just like your mother, Aurelia Black, just like your mother!”

Ella, overwhelmed and afraid, was crouching near her mother’s tombstone as her father’s figure came bearing down on her. She saw his face contorted with anger and fresh tears flowed out of her eyes.

“You left your husband too? Didn’t you? Made him suffer the same pain and humiliation that your Mother made ME suffer when she left.”

“You never could be a good daughter. You and your mother have made me a miserable and hateful man.”

She felt the resentment and the anger locked up inside her for so long, waiting to rush out of her like the eruption of a volcano but strangely could not move her herself to hurt him. She loved him, how could she hurt him?

She trembled as the pitch of his face rose.

“You think you are running away from Nicholas? Oh no, Ella, you are only running away from yourself. Too cowardly to face things. I feel ashamed that I call you my daughter!”

“Noooo…I am not a coward…go away!”


Aurelia woke up with a start. She was trembling, her pillow was wet with her tears and her robes drenched with sweat. Slowly, she calmed down, realizing that it was just a dream. But somehow, that was hard to believe. She shievered as she could still feel the chill of the graveyard, the haunting rustle of the leaves and the strange whispering behind her back. But no, how could that be? Of course, she was not in a graveyard. She was in a rented room, at a small muggle inn, not far away from London.

She got up from her bed and her glance fell on her wedding robes and a copy of The Daily Prophet lying on a chair near a small window. She had searched the paper whether people knew that she had run away but there had nothing in it except an announcement about their wedding. Nobody knew and nobody cared.
Her father was wrong. She hadn’t done the wrong thing. She had only for the first time in her life done what she really wanted to do.
She opened the window and saw the early morning sun rising in the sky. It was the start of a new dawn. The time had come….to fly….to pursue her dreams….

----------------------

Okay, so you better tell me whether you liked it or not. Feedback link in my signature ! Ta, ta !

[Timeless]

Two days went by and there was still no news of Aurelia. Nicholas was very worried and now Lily was getting anxious too. She was sure that Nick would tell her if she’d come back.

Lily had just come home from St. Mungo’s. Life was very busy as a Trainee Healer at Mungo’s but she loved all of it.

She went up to her room to change into fresh clothes but she found someone already sitting there.

‘Hello Lily, nice to see you.’

‘Oh, so your highness has finally decided to grace us by her presence’, Lily replied back sarcastically, taking out her coat and flinging it on a chair.
Ignoring her, she made her way into the bath and started washing her face at the basin, as water magically trickled out from a tap.

”I ran away”, shouted Ella as the sound of the water threatened to drown her voice.

”I always knew you’d do something foolish.”

Ella rolled her eyes and prepared herself for the inevitable lecture that was going to follow.

”Aurelia Black, do you even know how immature you’ve been? Running away like an eight year old…. Do you even know how much amount of embarrassment you could have caused for Nick and your father if the world happened to know what you’ve done?”

‘Don’t call me by the name Black.’

Now it was Lily’s turn to roll her eyes.

Sighing, Lily came closer to Ella and said softly,”What’s wrong with you? You have never done something like this before.”

”I have my own reasons. I didn’t expect you of all people to rant and rave at me like that. I thought you’d understand!” replied Ella, crossing her arms over her chest.

Lily said,’ I do understand, Ella. Don’t you think I would have told Nick about your little place in London if I didn’t understand? I presume you spent these two days there.’

Aurelia silently nodded.

”Nick was very worried about you when you ran away. He came here at that night.”

”Nicholas was here?”

”He was really very worried about you.’

”As if he really cares.”

Lily said nothing. She knew it would be useless to try to persuade Ella.

”What did you do these two days?” said Lily, breaking the silence.

”Preparing to get away from England. I convinced old Teddy to get me a muggle passport.”

”Teddy? That little hufflepuff wizard that you saved from drowning in our fifth year?”

”And now why are you here? I presume you wanted some gold to get away.”

”Ah, Lily you hurt me. Can’t I come to meet my dear old friend?”

”Melodrama doesn’t suit you Ella, out with it.”

”Ah, you know me too well. I do need some gold. I don’t have much at present with me and I don’t think I want to go to Gringotts, the present circumstances.”

”When are you leaving?”

”Today, after I apparate to the airport from here.”

“Fine. I’ll give you the money on one condition. You will send me a letter every two days and if I don’t get them, I shall go straight to Nicholas Black!”

”Okay, okay, Lily. I promise I’ll write letters, really long ones. Now be quick and lend me the gold. I have to dash, the plane’s in half an hour.”

---------------------------------
107 views and no feedback ? Not fair ! :-(

[Timeless]

The Ministry was almost deserted. The only person probably still left at the Ministry was a tall, dark haired wizard sitting in his office on Level 2.
Nicholas stared at the fireplace, hoping that somehow the flames would turn greenish blue and a beautiful witch with long black hair and beautiful eyes would step out of it.
Sighing, he turned towards his desk and looked at the memo he had received some hours ago from Mr. Davenport, his boss. Somewhere in Egypt, a riot was brewing but all he could think of was Aurelia. He did not want to go to an empty house.
He felt his ring grow warm and for a moment, he seemed happy but as it grew cold again, his face once again took on its earlier dark appearance.
There was no one he could pour out his heart to, no one to console him or sympathise with him. When he was in a crowd, he would easily mask his feelings. Nobody even knew that Aurelia had gone. But when he was alone, he could not put on his air of being a happily wedded person.
He felt betrayed and wondered why she had run away. He wasn’t a dark wizard, neither was he cruel nor a tyrant. There seemed just no reason for her to run away.
He was hurt, very hurt. Even though Ella had, in a way, betrayed him, he somehow felt no change in his feelings for her. He had no bitterness in his heart for her. He was just upset that she had left him.
Nicholas tore himself out from his reverie and apparated to the Black Manor.
He somehow felt more depressed than ever at the Manor. For the last two days there had been only Aurelia in his mind. He wished more than ever that Aurelia was here, right here in his arms, and then he would never ever let go.
He poured himself some fire whisky in a goblet and got miserably drunk before finally falling asleep.

Far away from him, Aurelia flinched as the ring on her finger grew hot and almost burnt her finger.

~~~~~~

Nick woke up with a terrible hangover the next day. He vowed never ever to get drunk again. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom. When he looked into the mirror, he was surprised to see a haggard, tired, unshaven face staring back at him. He was disgusted with how he had let his misery govern himself. He was proud of his good looks. What had he done to himself? Wasting over some immature woman who didn’t even care what happened to him? At that time he remembered that that immature woman was his wife and she was still missing. It was high time he started looking for her.

He came downstairs shortly, after having groomed himself to his satisfaction, ate some breakfast that Minty served him quickly and apparated to the Ministry with a crack.

”Hey, you almost landed over me!” exclaimed a harried looking wizard. He had messy grey hair, extremely green eyes and a scar which would never be forgotten. He was obviously not in the prime of his youth.

”Err…Sorry, Mr. Potter. “

”Oh it’s you, Black. Glad to see you. I hope you’re doing well.”

”Very well, sir.”

”I was expecting Aurelia to be back at work yesterday. Is she coming today?” ,asked Harry Potter.

”She’s a bit not well, Sir. Down with some fever and a headache. I don’t know when she’ll be alright. The Healer asked her to rest for sometime.”

”Oh!,”said Mr. Potter, clearly disappointed, “we are a bit short handed at present and need volunteers to go to Egypt. Plenty of work to do. You know about the new Dark Lord, don’t you?”

”Yes, Sir. Mr. Davenport informed me yesterday.”

”Right, I hope Aurelia will be back soon. See you later, Black.”

Saying this Harry Potter turned to take the lift which would take him to Level Two, The Auror Headquarters.

”I just don’t get it from where these new Dark Lords keep popping out from. I thought they’d stopped making them after Voldemort”,sighed Harry Potter after he'd entered the lift.

[Timeless]

Another Update coming...

This post is dedicated to Faile Aybara


----------------------------------------

Aurelia stared down at the letter she had just written.

Dear Lily,

I am now in Valencia in perfectly good health, both physically and mentally. So you can stop worrying now!

It was a bit tiring having to travel the muggle way. Magic is surely less tedious but all the same, I had fun looking at the strange muggles at the airport.
I am staying now at a muggle inn which is very near to an all wizarding village. I had a bit of a problem getting here due to my, er, excellent Spanish. I asked the taxi driver to take me to this inn and I blissfully fell asleep. I woke up when we reached the place. When I got out after paying the fellow, I could only see lots of trees and pigs around the place. At first I thought it was odd that Spanish inns also offer rooms to pigs but then I realized that the taxi had dropped me at a farm! I must confess, my Spanish sucks.
Anyways it had gotten quite dark and I didn’t expect any more taxis to be hanging around here. So I decided that I had to spend the night somewhere here. I had no broom and apparating was out of the question since I didn’t know where I should be apparating to. I knocked on the door of the nearest farmhouse and asked whether I could stay for the night.
The door was opened by a very formidable muggle, with very round black eyes, an equally black moustache and a paunch. He invited me inside and kept casting sheep’s eyes at me. I felt like clawing his eyes out of their sockets. I fled from there before he realized it. Can you believe it? Aurelia Elladora Nigellus spent the night with the pigs!

Speaking of pigs, does Nicholas have any idea about where I am? If he gets suspicious, tell him I am in Hawaii.

I went to the village in the morning and bought some lovely Spanish dress robes for myself. I entered a pub and all the men started flirting. Thank Merlin for the wedding ring on my finger! After I flaunted it a bit, they all backed off and I finally got some peace and quiet. At least the blasted ring served some purpose. It keeps getting warm and last to last night, it almost burnt my finger. And it doesn’t even come off!
I wonder if Nicholas put a permanent sticking charm on it…the stupid git!

Oh well, basically I am enjoying myself a lot here but I sure do wish you, Syria and Robbie were here. I am sorry I won’t be able to come to your sister’s wedding, given the circumstances.
I sure am hungry for some news, Lily Potter. You better leave everything you’re doing and start writing a letter to me this instant!

Love,
Aurelia Elladora Nigellus





My dear Ella,

I do feel a lot better now that I’ve got a letter from you. I am glad that you are enjoying yourself. I also wish that I could be there with you but I have no plans of getting married at present and anyway it would be the height of bad form if we both ran away from our husbands on our wedding nights.

I can’t help but be interested in that ring of yours. I don’t think Nick would put a permanent sticking charm on it. He’s just hopelessly good. But I’ll try to get it out of him if I can.

Ella, you sure have left me in such a predicament. Nick flooes in almost every two days to ask me whether I’ve heard from you and I feel so guilty for not telling him where you are. I think he’s very upset and also anxious about you. He still hasn’t told anyone about you yet, not even your father. To tell you the truth, I think it would be better if nobody came to know this. This news is a bit of perfect scandal material. Nick told grandfather that you are sick when he asked him when you’ll becoming back to work. I don’t know how he’s going to explain your absence at the wedding this week. The wedding is in Dorset, where the McKinnon’s live. Your father will of course be there. He will sure be surprised when he doesn’t find you there.
I don’t have much time on my hands, what with all the preparations for the wedding and my healer training. A large part of making the arrangements has fallen on me and Grandmother as Grandfather is very busy at the Ministry these days. Grandmother is also a bit busy as she’s helping Aunt Hermione with her SPEW activities. She is going to organize a rally next month.
I am working under Healer Stephen Fawcett who turned out to be Rufus’s cousin. He is going to be his best man. Rufus wanted Nick to be his best man but he refused. Rufus was disappointed but didn’t say anything. I think he felt it too that he wasn’t in the best of spirits.
I am going to be Shelly’s bridesmaid. I have these really charming green robes that go well with my eyes. And grandmother is going to give me her emerald necklace to wear at the wedding.
Sigh…I do wish that mother and father were alive. They would have wanted to see Shelly get married.
Robbie is in Romania, with her cousins there. I still don’t know whether she’s coming or not. As always, too lazy to answer my letters. Syria will of course be coming. Can’t help being her social butterfly self.
I will have to stop writing this letter since I have to go to the cake shop to order a giant wedding cake. Shelly will kill me if I forget to do that. It’s always a big risk to test her dreadful temper these days. I guess she’s just a bit nervous.
Please keep on writing letters or I shall do as I threatened you earlier. Take care and don’t do anything more foolish.

With lots of love,
Lily Potter

PS Did you really sleep in a pigpen? Sounds like you really fancy pigs a lot….especially one particular pig…..

PPS I am not going to say that you’re in Hawaii! Nick will probably go there ASAP and I don’t want to send the poor fellow on a wild goose chase. You’ve caused him enough anxiety as it is. And you don’t even feel guilty! Shame on you Aurelia Elladora Black!

[Timeless]

Lily and Shelly Potter are the granddaughters of Harry and Ginny. Lily's Mother (Harry's daughter) and father are dead. Nicholas is not an Auror. He works in the office of International Relations (The Auror headquarters are also on same level and a part of it). And also, Aurelia has only just started at the Ministry. She just finished training. So technically they have never worked together even though they knew who the other was.
I hope its all clear now. :-)

Keep reading ! Enjoy !


-----------------------------

Nick woke up when little rays of sunshine decided to drop in through the window and illuminate the room. He got up cheerfully and looked out of the window. It was such a good day. The sun was shining exuberantly and its little rays seemed to be dancing to the tune of the humming of the birds in the woods. The sky was a clear blue, no shades of black or grey to spoil its jolly countenance today.
Nicholas was feeling so very good today that he didn’t even notice the empty side of the bed. He got up and dressed himself, looking very handsome in a mature sense of way, in deep purple robes. At the same time he managed to look very vulnerable, just like a puppy you’d want to cuddle.
Nick quickly apparated to the McKinnon’s place. The McKinnon’s had a modest bungalow in the neighbourhood of Graceman Street.
Mrs.Mckinnon, a short and plump woman, beamed with pleasure when she saw Nick and exclaimed how he had gotten more handsome than ever. Rufus McKinnon reacted very differently. When he saw Nick, he kicked him on the back.
"That’s for coming late, boy!", said Rufus in mock anger.

Nick grinned and said,"Glad to see you, mate".

************

Nicholas took his seat among everybody else. The wedding ceremony was about to start. The band had started playing. The door to the hall opened and Shelly Potter entered, dressed in light pink robes. Shelly wasn’t particularly pretty but today she was looking very lovely, happiness shining through her face. She nervously stood next to Rufus and a ministry official (a different one this time) started reciting the vows.

Nicholas couldn’t help but remember his own wedding and how different it had been from this. Very few people had been invited to this wedding, apparently only family and close friends. The decorations were not lavish but still very beautiful.

Nicholas glanced through all the people sitting in the hall. Almost all of the McKinnon’s seemed to have come but there were only Mr. and Mrs. Potter and Lily from the bride’s side and also Syria Nott.

The dancing began when Rufus led Shelly onto the dance floor. There was a new band playing called ‘The Dancing Humdingers’. Lily and a brown haired wizard were dancing and many other couples had started to join them on the dance floor. The elder wizards and witches had started their conversation again which had been interrupted by the entrance of the bride.

He took a drink from an elf, wearing a black coat on which was embroidered in silver thread ‘Elfy’s Catering Enterprise’. He settled himself in a corner when Lily joined him.

"Hello Lily, that brown haired wizard looks very handsome, doesn’t he?"

Lily blushed and said,"How are you, Nick?"

Before Nick could reply, a small owl flew onto Lily’s lap with a letter clutched in its tiny claws.

"Oh, not again! He always brings letters directly to me instead of waiting for me to come home. "

Lily extracted the letter from the owl which flew away as suddenly as it had come.
She suddenly became nervous and hid the letter quickly in the pocket of her robes. Nick only saw Lily’s name on the letter. The handwriting seemed familiar.
He decided not to ask her who had sent the letter.

"I am getting bored, Miss Potter. Fancy a dance?"

~~~

After coming home, the first thing that Lily did was read Aurelia’s letter.

Lily dearest,
It’s really a shame that I won’t be able to attend your sister’s wedding. Of course by the time you get this letter, the wedding must be over. I quite like weddings. I only don’t like them when it’s me who’s getting married. Do tell me how it went.
I am getting quite bored here. I’ve done everything that a tourist can do over here. I must have toured the village a hundred times. The bartender in the pub offers me free cherries with my drinks now. Its seems this pub is really very popular. Of course I don’t know why exactly. I didn’t really like it. It’s always full of mushy teenagers. And the smooching noises that they made were annoying. Much like the cry of a Fwooper when it’s being strangled. Oh my, I almost forgot to tell you about my visit to the magical biological park here. The Ministry of Valencia set up this park about fifty years ago to conserve most of the magical species. Magical creatures have been collected from all over the world. It’s spread over a thousand acres of forest area and it takes at least four days to tour the whole area. I went there yesterday and had the misfortune of being trapped in the bus between two very fat witches with a dozen small children. Lily, I‘ve seriously decided that I am never ever going to have any children. I just don’t get along with them. Although there was a still a lot of space left in the bus, one of the children, a girl of about four had to make herself comfortable in my lap. Already I was feeling very cramped between the two huge witches. The girl’s indulgent mother smiled sickeningly at me and said “Isn’t she so cute?”, as she looked at the girl sleeping peacefully in my lap with her mouth open and her drool wetting my beautiful green robes. To make matters worse her brother started asking me annoying questions. ‘Why don’t grindylows fly in the air?’ ‘Why are horses big?’ ‘How are small babies born?’ ‘Why isn’t that mermaid wearing any clothes?’ ‘Why doesn’t she have any legs?’ ‘Can I have a banshee for a pet?’
Finally, I cast a temporary sticking charm on his lips when the mother wasn’t looking and pinched the girl in my lap so that she woke up and started crying. I was so relieved when her mother took her away from me to quieten her down.
It really wasn’t so bad after that. The kids thankfully left me alone when we saw a unicorn. It looked heavenly, all gold. We also saw two Erumpet’s fighting with each other. The bus sure shook when one of them exploded. Thankfully the bus had been charmed earlier to stand shocks as a safety measure. I also saw a Jarvey which started calling me rude names. It became annoying though when one of the children started imitating it. Then a Billywig bit one of the children (who kept opening the windows and prying out) as a result of which he floated around in air for about fifteen minutes. The only other fascinating creatures that we saw were a Griffin, a Fire crab and a Clabbert swinging from one tree to another.
After I came back to the inn, a horrible feeling of loneliness came over me. I started missing the children, can you believe it?
I am thinking of going somewhere else next week. Its getting dull here but I haven’t thought of where I should go next. Any ideas?

Lots of kisses,
Ella.


Dear Ella,

The Magical Biological Park sounds fascinating. I am glad you had so much fun with the children (There’s a very naughty smile on my face as I write this). Admit it, Ella, you do like children, don’t you? As for deciding not to have any, I’d like to know what Nick has to say about that. You know, I would love it if one of your children were named Lily. Ofcourse, I will be her godmother even if you don’t choose me as one.

The wedding went very nicely. Grandmother almost cried when Shelly came in, looking lovely in pink and Grandfather looked very proud. The music was very good, played by a new band whose name currently escapes from my mind. Shelly was very happy and Rufus didn’t really need fire whiskey. He was already drunk with happiness. Everybody clapped vigorously and hooted when he kissed her at the post-wedding party. Nick sang a song in honor of the occasion, can you believe it? I never knew he could sing so well. As if the words were coming from his heart, rather than his brain.

I think I danced too much. Four dances with Stephen, two with Nick, one with Marx, one with Grandfather and one with Rufus! I suspect Rufus cast some charm on me which made me want to dance more and more. Nick told me that Rufus once did that to Filch at the Halloween feast in their second year. Rumour has it that it finally led to Filch proposing to Madame Pince, after years from loving from afar (By the way, I think proposing anyone on Halloween is weird). When I confronted Rufus, he flatly denied it of course but I could tell he was lying from the mischievous glint in his eyes.

I finally got a reply from Roberta. She’s coming back to London in a week. Actually she sent the letter to you (At Black Manor) by mistake. Her absentmindedness probably at work again. Nick forwarded it to me after he saw my name on it. I hope Robbie does not write any mushy love letters to Marx. It would be terribly embarrassing if she sent it to his father, Mr. Malfoy instead. Remember the time she splinched herself when she forgot where she was supposed to apparate to? We all laughed to fits when she got the howler from Aunt Penny.
I am really missing our time at Hogwarts. We are all so busy now that we don’t even have time to spend with each other. Syria drops in occasionally and complains about you not writing to her and er…I told her about what happened. I mean, about you going away and all. She wasn’t much surprised though like I was when Nick told me that you ran away. Actually her exact words were “There’s predictability in all her unpredictable actions”. She raved a bit about how you shouldn’t have run off like that and should have trusted your father’s choice for you. I have never known Syria to be in such a mood before. She was always like a child. Now I see more of a child in you. I supposed she was hurt when you didn’t tell her where you were. Predictably so. I think you should write a nice long letter to her. I bet she’d love that.
By the way, your father couldn’t come to the wedding. Grandfather got a letter from him apologising for not being able to come. He said he had some important family engagements which he couldn’t miss.
I wish you’d stick to one place and not go roaming around. But if you really want to go, then I recommend India. Stephen was saying something about it yesterday but I didn’t pay much attention to what he was saying. I was too busy drowning myself in his beautiful brown eyes. Ella, I think I am falling in love.
As for the ring, I didn’t have any chance to talk to Nick about it. He seemed to be in a good mood at the wedding and I didn’t have the heart to upset him by asking anything about the ring and reminding him of you.

Love,
Lily.

P.S. Syria just came in and says she’ll send you a howler if you don’t send her a letter. She also informs me that she’s got engaged to Ketcher Belby, the chaser in The Chudley Cannons. Nobody knows of this yet except their families and now you and me. I think she’s just come back from a date with him. She’s blushing furiously now.

P.P.S Syria recommends seeing The Taj Mahal at Agra in India. She says it looks very beautiful and also very romantic, especially at night.



----------------

I know the family trees are confusing. In case of any more doubts Roberta is Percy and Penelope's daughter. And Marx (although he isn't one of the main characters) is Draco's grandson. (Draco is dead, ofcourse)

More coming soon. Please do not forget to leave FEEDBACK (link in my sig). :-)

[Timeless]

Thank you for the feedback, raven_moon09 and Faile Aybara ! Please keep reading and commenting. :-)
I hope you like this update...

__________

“Nicholas, I want you to go to India and meet their Minister of Magic. Inform him about the condition in Egypt and everything that was discussed yesterday at the meeting called by the Minister. I hope you didn’t sleep through it like Tiberius Ogden. About time the old fellow retired.”

Nicholas grinned and said,"I was paying attention, Sir. When am I to leave?”

“I asked Denham to book a portkey for tomorrow. You’d better check with him”, said Roger Davenport.

“That I will. I heard Balmer left for Bulgaria for the same. Is that true?”

“Yes, he went today, half an hour ago. That reminds me. Ask Brown to meet me. He has to go to Salem.”




Exactly nineteen minutes before seven in the morning, Nick apparated to the Ministry with a small backpack and in muggle clothes.
Several wizards and witches had already started flooing in. He collected his portkey pass from his office and went towards the Portkey Station which was situated quite near the Ministry building.
The glass doors opened magically and a busy reception greeted his eyes. A blonde witch sitting behind a counter was giving directions to a short and bald wizard. Behind her were giant flashboards which listed the timings of the next portkey travel.
Straight ahead, was a glass door. The sign above it said it was a waiting lounge. To his right, were escalators (though they probably worked with magic rather than electricity) leading to the first floor.

Nicholas wasn’t new to travelling by portkey. Taking the escalator, he quickly reached the first floor. The flashboards had been placed on the walls here too. His portkey was going to be in Terminal 12 and leaving in five minutes. He placed his pass in the slot and felt a warm sensation as the pass began to glow. From somewhere he heard the smooth cool voice of a witch “Portkey in Terminal 12 leaving for New Delhi, India at 7.00 am.” Within two seconds, Nicholas felt the familiar jerk and the churning of his stomach. After another few seconds, he landed on some soft cushions as he dropped the portkey from his hands. At about the same time, he heard a male voice announcing something in a language which Nick didn’t understand. The wizard repeated the message again in English - “Portkey arrives in Terminal 5 from London, United Kingdom at 12.31 pm.”

He was finally on Indian land.

* * *
Nick had never been to India. He was surprised to see that people here too dressed in the same way as in Britain, except they didn’t wear dress robes. He had seen witches dressed in something which seemed like a large piece of cloth wrapped around a skirt and a blouse and he thought it looked very sensual as he passed a pretty witch who would have looked just like Aurelia if it hadn’t been for her dark skin.

Nicholas decided to meet the Minister the next day because it was quite late now. The formalities in the Foreign Visitor’s Office had taken a lot of time. He had taken an apparation test so that he could have a license to apparate in India. Foreign visitors had to be registered before they got a license and apparating without a license amounted to three months in the prison and a heavy fine. The license was valid only for a week as Nicholas didn’t feel the need to stay here for more than four to five days.

It was almost seven in the evening. He hadn’t even eaten and was quite exhausted.
He checked into a motel and quickly fell asleep on the particularly soft bed.

-----

Aurelia woke up and sat on her bed. For a few minutes, she didn’t quite realise where she was. She pondered over the dream she’d had. She faintly remembered something about being in a large hall with hundreds of large square boxes stacked on the walls. She also remembered it had something to do with Nicholas but not exactly what. She was a bit annoyed with herself, maybe because she felt she didn’t have any business seeing Nicholas in her dreams. She got up, half expecting to bump into more of the large boxes that she had seen in the dream but then realised that she was in a cheap motel in a muggle street called Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. The room was small and stuffy. She vowed to change hotels the next day.

Ella opened the window for some fresh air and was immediately taken aback by the sight of crowded street. Somehow she seemed to not like the hustle bustle of the street and the noise made by the blaring horns of the vehicles, fusing with the music from a radio coming from a tea stall just opposite her motel.

After taking a bath, Ella set out to explore. She passed many small shops and eateries and came to a restaurant called “Raja’s Royal Lounge”. Apparently she was the only one who could see it for she heard a witch exclaiming as to why the Municipal Corporation didn’t clean up the garbage dump here. “It always stinks so much whenever I pass this dump!”
Ella pushed open the door to find a lively pub which was crowded with some couples dancing in a corner to some loud Hindi music on her left and many wizards and witches seated to her right. A waiter, dressed in a loose grey shirt and pants, was serving tea to a bald wizard. She wondered whether all his hair had been bewitched to form his ridiculously long curly black moustache. At a table next to him, were two witches in saris who seemed to have come here after a whole lot of shopping. A wizard with very greasy hair was sitting nearby on a table, reading a newspaper.

Aurelia consulted her ‘Wizarding Guide Book to India’ and curiously, kicked a life like statue of a plump wizard, wearing a turban, on his large stomach. She jumped with shock when the statue screamed and hurled abuses in Hindi which she didn’t understand much. No one in the room paid any attention to the noise. She thought that they were used to it as a door appeared to her right. She opened the door to find a large street which was crowded so much that Ella wondered whether there was any space for her to walk on the road.

* * *

Nicholas looked at the inscriptions of the different faces of the moon on the quaint locket with curiosity in the antique shop. His work at the Ministry over, he had decided to come to this well known Wizarding Street behind “Raja’s Royal Lounge”. The owner of the shop, a portly fellow with a long black beard and twinkling black eyes was selling the locket for twenty-two swarna mudras (The Indian wizarding currency). Nicholas bought it and came out of the shop. He spent a few minutes admiring a white peacock in the Aviary and then continued walking ahead. Something in his heart told him to turn back and he obeyed surprisingly. He turned back to face to face a shop which was selling wizarding clothes. Through the glass window, he could see a dark witch draping a handsome blue cloth over a pretty witch with long black hair. He felt something flip in his stomach when he realised who she was. Aurelia.

* * *

Aurelia was looking into the mirror, quite pleased with the way the sari accentuated her figure and made her look more self-assured.

“How much does this cost?” She asked the thin salesgirl who had taught how to wear a sari.

“Eighteen swarna mudras, madam.”

“Please pack this for me.”, said Ella as she handed over some small gold coins to the girl.

Ella looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was looking quite attractive in simple jeans and a white sleeveless cotton shirt. The mirror also reflected the street behind her. She saw a good looking wizard staring at her. He looked like someone she had seen before. Ella stood dumbstruck as realization finally dawned and she recognised the image of a person she didn’t have any intention of meeting. Nicholas Black.

She came to her senses when the salesgirl came and handed over the package.

“Thank you, Madam. Please come again.”

“Yes….er…right…”

The next moment, Ella had disapparated.


It was clearly Aurelia. Nick was deciding whether to follow her or go onto the shop and confront her, when the ring on his finger grew hot. Momentarily distracted, he looked up again to see that she had disappeared.

He was visibly annoyed. What the hell was wrong with that woman? What did she expect him to do? Neither could he keep running after her nor could he keep on making excuses for her and lie to everyone about her being sick! They were husband and wife. Why couldn’t she understand that? Oh no, she wasn’t going to get away so easily...Now he wasn’t going to rest until he found her.


Ella heaved a sigh of relief as she boarded the plane to Alexandria, Egypt. That was a close miss, she thought.

After disapparating from the shop, she had returned to her room, checked out with all her belongings and headed straight for the Indira Gandhi International Airport. She was sure that Nick wouldn’t have thought of her using a muggle portkey for getting away. Wizards never thought of that for it took too much time. She was a bit annoyed with herself for being cowardly but she really did not want to go back to the same nauseating atmosphere where she was expected to do what others wanted.
Ella sat down on her seat next to the window. The next seat was empty. She hoped nobody would occupy it. Her mind was in too much of turmoil and she needed to be alone right now. She closed her eyes and waited for the sinking feeling that has settled in her guts since the time she had seen him through the mirror. But she couldn’t really figure out why she was feeling angry with herself when she should be happy that she had gotten away from him again.

* * * *

Aurelia woke up when she heard a male voice announcing about the successful take off. Aurelia was surprised to see that someone had occupied the seat next to her. Ella hoped that the person wouldn’t bother her. She couldn’t see his face as it was hidden by a newspaper that he was reading.
She turned towards the window when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“So we meet again, Mrs. Black.”

Oh no! It couldn’t be! What the hell was he doing here?

Aurelia stared at Nicholas without realising that she looked quite foolish, with the way she was gaping at him, with her mouth slightly open. He had caught her quite unawares.

“Dear, I know I am very good looking but you don’t have to stare at me like that!”

“What…are you…doing here?” said Ella clearly confused and shocked.

“What a question, Mrs. Black! I thought we were going to Alexandria on our honeymoon. You surely can’t imagine a honeymoon without your dear husband, can you?”

Ella scowled and chose to ignore him completely. Honeymooning with him? What a joke! She was already busy making up plans to get away after landing at the airport. She unconsciously smiled at the thought and the smile reflected on her face.

“You seem very glad to see me. Don’t worry, you can hug and kiss me all you want later.”

Ella restrained herself with difficulty. How she would have loved to give him a befitting reply! But she thought it was best to ignore him.

“Hmmmnnn….now that you’re in a mood for a tête-à-tête, I’d like to ask you why you ran away?”

Ella raised her eyebrows but said nothing.

“Come on, don’t you think you owe me some explanation?”

Why did I run away? How can I tell him? He just wouldn’t understand! Nobody really ever tried to understand me and what I want anyway and now this guy, who I barely know and who barely knows me, asks me why I did one of the first reckless things that I did in my life! Did he really expect her to answer?

Nick saw a ghost of a sad expression in her beautiful eyes on her seemingly impassive face and decided not to pursue the subject any longer.

“Oh well I forgive you!,”said Nicholas in a mock pompous tone.

The faraway look in her eyes promptly disappeared and an angry glare replaced it. Nick was slightly amused and didn’t feel the need to tell her that the glare was serving no purpose. To him, she looked irresistibly appealing. He wondered what she would do if he kissed her right then.

“Ah, what a priceless expression, Mrs. Black! I wish I had a camera right now. It would have been useful thirty years later to show our grandchildren.”

Ella mentally snorted and flipped open a glossy magazine.

“Speaking of grandchildren I think we should have seven children.”

Ella couldn’t control herself any longer and said incredulously,” What the heck will you do with seven children?!” She had a mental image of herself with a swollen tummy and dozens of black haired toddlers crying and one of them throwing a tantrum for a new toy. She was seriously considering jumping off the plane.

“Well, I’d have my own Quidditch team…”

Ella looked at him disbelievingly.

“I was thinking of naming them ‘The Roller back Snidgets’ but I thought ‘The Black Bludgers’ would be better. What do you think? You can also help coach…”

His words drowned as another image of floated into her mind. She was riding a room whose tail was on fire. A small dark eyed girl was sitting behind her and bawling at the top of her lungs. The other children were flying around on small brooms apparently trying to beat each other with the clubs, while Nicholas was dozing peacefully on the ground under a large beach umbrella. Oh no, she wasn’t going to let that happen...

Nick was enjoying himself looking at the expression on her face. He was slightly amazed at the rapidity with which her expressions were changing. But he was glad that he had gotten her to say at least something.

“You know you don’t have to worry about the children. I am ready to stay up at nights and look after them.”

“And what makes you think I have any plans of having children with you?”

“I’ll also change their diapers, if you want”, said Nick with a very serious expression on his face.”

She looked at him with a very odd expression, shook her head and turned towards her magazine. She saw an advertisement of Gladrag’s Wizardwear featuring a dark haired wizard wearing stylish purple robes. Ella thought he looked quite handsome, a bit like Nicholas actually. Come to think of it, Nicholas is a bit good looking too, said something in her mind. 'Oh no, he isn’t’, said Ella to herself. ‘Come on Ella, admit it, you do think he’s good looking. You just don’t want to see the good in him’.

“Ah, you are thinking of me, Mrs. Black?”

“Would you please stop calling me Mrs. Black?”

“Oh okay. Anything for you, my sweetheart.”

“I don’t like that either. Call me Aurelia. Or Ella.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes and said,” Okay Aurelia or Ella. Now don’t avoid answering my question. I can tell you were thinking of me.”

Ella would have rather had those seven children rather than admit it to him that she thought he was good looking.

“Oh really? And what makes you so sure?”

“The ring,” he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Eh, what about the ring?”

Nicholas raised his eyebrows and said,”Don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out yet.”

She glared at him and he continued with a smug expression on his face,” Well, I’d rather not tell you if you don’t know. I rather enjoy seeing that expression on your face. Makes you look enchantingly beautiful.”

She ignored his last remark even though she felt a bit…pleased…that he said she looked beautiful. She scowled and said,” Did you place a sticking charm on it?”

He grinned and said nothing.

“You insufferable, annoying ---“

“….pathetic pig,” Nick finished for her and then said,” You know, Ivy said the same thing once when I turned her hair purple…er…accidentally of course.”

He continued to drone about Ivy and how proud he was of her, and then about his friend Rufus and his great grandfather Alphard Black. Ella wished that it were possible to disapparate but didn’t want to break the law. She thought up all the options available to her and sighed as she realized that presently, there was no way out. The only option she had was to listen to Nicolas talking about all his mad Black relations.

“….and then he went upto where the Minister was sitting with a jug of water and threw-“

Nicholas stopped speaking as he realized that Aurelia had fallen asleep. He smiled as her head drooped down and rested conveniently on his shoulder.

---------------

Howzzzzaatt ? Do tell me. :-)

[Timeless]

A cheerful Nick and a sulky Ella walked into the airport lounge together. Nicholas was cheerful because Ella was with him and Ella was sulking because she was with Nick.

He said something in whispered tones and Ella irritably asked,”What is it?”
He said nothing and continued to walk ahead as if in deep thought. He finally stopped at the inquiry counter (Ella tagging along behind him) and bent to speak to a good looking girl in a blue uniform sitting there.
When he turned back, he saw huge droves of people passing by and the bright neon lights of a burger joint but no Ella. Surprisingly, Nicholas smiled to himself and turned to ask the girl where he could change his currency.


Ella had a big smug grin on her pretty face as she made her way through the crowd in a hurried manner.
What a stupid man! He hadn’t even noticed that she had escaped from right under his nose. However the smug grin on her face vanished after a few moments when she felt something pulling her from behind. She felt as if an invisible rope had been tied around her waist and someone was pulling it at the other end. She stopped and took a few steps back. She could go back but why not in the forward direction?
In the distance she could see Nicholas talking to the girl. She felt something like anger in her stomach and she realised what he had whispered when they had entered the lounge. That scheming insufferable egoistical pig! How dare he bind her with magic! Clearly he had cast some spell on her due to which she couldn’t go far from him. Reluctantly and with a very furious face, Ella made her way back to the tall and dark haired man who was her husband.