When: January 5, 2000 Character/Pairing: Terry, Mandy/Nathan Rating: R (mild for M/N, isn't it!) Warnings: None Summary: Terry hates how things ended with Mandy and decides to contact her.
Terry couldn’t get Mandy off his mind. It didn’t matter that his life was finally starting to work itself out, that he and Lisa were dating now. His life felt incomplete without Mandy in it, and he knew it was breaking Lisa’s heart that he and Mandy weren’t friends anymore. It was incredibly difficult for him to remember their years at Hogwarts together and all the things they’d helped one another through. The fact was, though, he was afraid to forget, and he didn’t really want to forget. He wanted Mandy to remember, for it to be enough to show her that she was in a very dangerous, destructive relationship.
Terry knew Nathan’s type: the charming Pureblood on the outside; controlling, obsessive sociopath on the inside. Mandy was just too sweet and trusting to see the truth. He loved her too much to let her ruin her life over Nathaniel Nott without doing whatever he could to help her. He’d hoped to enlist Lisa’s help, but when she’d told him to butt out and let Mandy live her own life, Terry knew she’d be no help to him in this matter.
He wasn’t sure how to get through to her, though. If he could just get her to talk to him again, he might be able to get her to see reason, he just didn’t think it likely that she would willingly talk to him considering the way they’d left things the last time they’d spoke. Finally the idea came to him. He hated the idea of deceiving her, but he had to do whatever necessary to save her from that man. With his mind made up, Terry sat at his narrow, worn-out desk and picked up his ragged quill. As he dipped it in his cracked inkpot, he vaguely thought that he was getting low on ink and would need to pick more up soon.
Mandy, he began, his penmanship almost embarrassingly neat.
I know I’m probably the last person you want to receive post from, but please at least read it all the way through before deciding whether to reply or not. I know I don’t deserve such consideration, but I’m asking it of you. Please.
Terry ignored the guilt that began to eat at him. It was very difficult for him to write the words that he considered half lies, but he reminded himself that it was for her own good. He owed it to her after so many years of friendship.
First, let me start by apologizing. I shouldn’t have attacked you that way. Everything that happened that year was very difficult, and it has taken me a long time to accept that I shouldn’t feel betrayed by your choices. I understand now why you did what you did. Lisa has helped me to put things in perspective. We’re dating now, did you know? I’m sure Lisa probably already told you.
I’ve been especially nostalgic lately. We had some really fun times at Hogwarts. Do you remember in sixth year, how Lisa tried to teach us how to ice skate out on the lake? How many times did I fall down? I can’t even remember. What I do remember is that you were unbelievably graceful, and I teasingly accused you of pretending that you’d never done it before. It was as though even then we knew that a major change was coming, and we were trying as hard as possible to have as much fun as possible before that happened.
I guess what I’m getting at is that I miss you terribly. You’ve been my best friend for so many years that I hate to have it end, especially like this. Please, won’t you meet me? Maybe on Friday at 4, for tea. We could catch up, put everything behind us.
I hope you can forgive me. Write back soon with your answer. Please.
Love from,
Terry Boot
Finished, Terry read through the letter. The tight knot in his stomach loosened a bit as he realized the letter had only a few half-lies. He did miss her, and he hoped that his letter would be enough to at least get her to talk to him again. He hated to think how Nathan would end up hurting her if he couldn’t get through to her.
With a sigh, Terry grabbed his cloak and left to go to the Hogsmeade Owl Post Office. He sent his letter, and then, considering how much money he had left (which wasn’t much), made his way to the supply shop to pick up more ink. He’d have to find more work and soon, or he’d lose more than just his next meal. He hoped his luck would change, and soon.
* * *
Mandy hung her damp towel up, and then wrapped the short, silk robe around her still moist skin, tying the belt absently. She left her hair down in damp curls that fell just a few inches above her hips. She went into the bedroom with a smile on her face. Nathan was still asleep, which didn’t surprise her so much. Nevertheless, she didn’t want to leave without telling him good bye.
Climbing onto the bed, Mandy trailed her fingers down the side of his face. Leaning down, she pressed her lips against his. She let out a yelp of surprise against his lips when his arms came around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He deepened the kiss, and she positively melted into it, into him.
She pulled her lips away reluctantly, a light laugh spilling from them.
“Good morning, my love,” she said, humor, love, and desire in her eyes.
“Almost,” he said with a lazy smirk, his hand slipping under her robe.
Her body tingled and melted against him almost immediately, but she pulled further away reluctantly. Still, she kissed him once more, and then held his hands in hers. She knew he wasn’t above persuading her.
“I’d love to, you know I would, but I have an early meeting at La Vie,” she reminded him with an indulgent smile.
In one swift movement, he reversed their positions. He held her hands above her head in one of his hands. His other hand quickly undid her belt and opened her robe as he kissed and nipped at her jaw.
“Be late,” he suggested, and she was having a hard time remembering why she shouldn’t
It was incredible, the way he could make her feel with a touch, a kiss. Her back arched as his lips moved over her chest. They made love, slow and sweet. They moved together, and it amazed her that it could be like this every time. When they’d found completion in one another, she curled against his side, her toes stroking the inside of his calf intimately.
“I love you,” she said, her head tucked just beneath his chin. “But, I really do have to get going.”
She felt his lips press against the top of her head. “And what if I want to keep you in bed all day?”
“This meeting is really important to me,” she said softly, a touch of hurt in her voice. And then she looked up and saw the look in his eyes. She glared without any heat at him. “You’re such a tease.”
Mandy leaned up and kissed him lightly, and then rolled out of bed. She used her wand to freshen up, and then she pulled her clothes on. She heard the tap on the window, but ignored it, as Nathan was already moving to the window. She was just charming her hair up into a sleek twist when Nathan handed her a sealed letter.
“It’s for you,” he said as she took the envelope.
She heard the curiosity in his voice and, curious herself, opened it right away. She recognized Terry’s handwriting immediately and part of her wanted to toss it in the fire without even reading it. She knew she couldn’t do that, no matter how much he’d hurt her or how angry she was at him. So, she read the letter, her emotions playing over her face as she did.