The Legacy of Our Love

Chapter 35

ASRA

I allowed myself one day to grieve Lodgok. One day for tears. For silence. For mourning. There was no more time than that, with everything converging as the year drew to a close. O.W.L's were rapidly approaching, and with my studies being continuously interrupted by actively fighting a rebellion, the stress was getting to me.

But rather than slow down, and process this like a healthy person, I decided it would be best to bury it deep enough so that it couldn't resurface until I could no longer function. If there is one thing I excel at over all others, it's avoiding my problems due to their inconvenience.

I received a letter from Natti the morning before the end of the winter holidays, and its contents had me leaping from my reading chair and bolting from the room.

Would you please meet with me in the Great Hall? I have come upon a difficult time, and I need a friend.

Also, I received an interesting owl from Johanna Bickle about Harlow that we should discuss. I believe it may be the key to us bringing an end to Harlow's operation.

—Natti

Natti so rarely showed vulnerability, so if she was hurting, something was certainly wrong. After a brief goodbye to Sebastian and Ominis, I was sprinting to the nearest floo flame.

I spotted Natti over by one of the fireplaces, and hurried over to her. "Natti!" I called with a smile, and was relieved to see her expression lightened upon noticing me.

"I've been eager to speak with you. You're the talk of the school since you saved me from the Ashwinders." Natti smiled as her statement caught me by surprise.

"And how exactly does the entire school know about our vigilante antics?" I questioned, which earned me a sheepish look in response.

"I may have told my mother in the hopes that she would be more forgiving of what I have been up to if it came from me." Natti replied. "She likely told other professors, and news travels quickly. She might in fact, have been less forgiving than I had hoped." I winced at her explanation, feeling guilty at the idea of getting her into trouble with her mother.

"If she knew just how much we've been accomplishing, I suspect she'd be proud." I offered, knowing that it was an impossible conjecture but saying it anyway.

"If she knew more about what I've done, she would never let me out of her sight again." Natti chuckled.

"I'm sorry. Has Officer Singer done anything with the evidence we provided her from the hideout?" I questioned, attempting to delicately change the subject.

"She has not." Natti huffed. "Harlow is as strong as ever. Someone needs to stop him, whether it is us, or Officer Singer. If someone had stopped the monsters like him in Matabeleland, my father would be alive today."

"What happened to your father?" I pressed gently, knowing she wouldn't have brought it up if she didn't have something she needed to get off her chest.

"It was a beautiful day. My mother had gone to tend to a neighbor who was ill, and so my father and I were galloping in the savanna." Natti began softly.

"Galloping? Your father was also an Animagus, I take it?" I attempted to confirm.

Natti nodded, her expression melting into one of nostalgia as she recalled the memory. "He could become the most majestic giraffe—and he would carry me on his back, my arms around his neck."