Tainted Love {Natalie Bane}

[gabriel sutherland]

The Slytheirn common room was rather calm today, as it was any other day with a few snakes gathered here and there talking about this and that, each one comparing what they owned to those across from them. A few of the younger years stood back and watched, taking things in and sort of just figuring out how things worked around here. Every now and again, you would see one of the lesser years dare to poke his head into an adult conversation, doing their best to climb the social ladder, only to quickly find themselves thrown back down to the bottom rung once again. To the other houses this might seem heartless and just childish, but to those who had a sense of reality about them, they knew that this really prepared one for the cold hard world outside of these warm castle walls. It was no wonder that a majority of the uber successful witches and wizards in England were once members of Slytherin house, after all, drive and determination was what made the world continue to spin.

Gabriel Sutherland stood by himself, leaning against the far wall of the common room, arms crossed in front of him, his blue eyes carefully scanning the room watching this one and that one. He was dressed a bit more casual today, opting for khakis, a white dress shirt with the top button undone and brown shoes. He wore a brown corduroy jacket which indicated he was anticipating on leaving the dorms today. The look in his eyes showed that Gabe had been waiting longer than he wanted to, but the casual look on his face showed he didn't seem to mind, which indicated he either liked this person enough to excuse their tardiness or that he had already anticipated a longer wait than usual.

Gabriel was known within Slytherin house for the unusual amount of patience he possessed and that was really what set him apart from the others. He was always seen in the background but never in the front of things taking charge. Odd for a Slytherin but it seemed to work for young mister Sutherland as he was always praised by his professors for his marks and that he never really seemed to be seen in one episode of detention. It was like he was moving things behind the scenes, letting others take the glory for the rewards he reaped from their actions. If this was Gabe's intentions indeed, then he was a master at it, of course, with his boy next door looks and his baby blue eyes, it was easy. Everyone seemed to always trust those who looked perfect...even if they claimed otherwise. Looks were one of the most important things a person could have and while that goody goody part of you wanted to say otherwise...just take a look at the more influential people of the world.

[natalie bane]

Natalie was up in the girls dorm, wearing a long sleeved medium purple dress which was hugging her frame as it was tied neatly in the back to accent her curves. Her hair was already done, neat curls looped around one another and pulled back and pinned to show off just the ends of it. She was glancing in the mirror, her pale reflection glancing back at her with amusement in her dark eyes. Her make up had already been applied, she was just taking a second to make sure that she was still in place. After all why should a girl rush and make a rash mistake? I mean after all she was going to be spending the day with Gabriel Sutherland.

She couldn't help put take a deep breath in and let herself smile at the thought. There had always been this attraction between them, however now things were taking a more serious route. Through much hidden persuasion and implications her dad had taken notice of the young boy and had decided that he was a fit suitor for his daughter. Who went to who first was unknown. After all Natalie was sure that their families brushed each other on occasion seeing as how they were both pure blood. Either way Natalie didn't need the details as long as she was getting what she wanted. Now if they had picked a less satisfying husband for her, well her sweet act of innocents and obedience may have been blown long before it was absolutely necessary. Not that she was terribly afraid of losing her parents approval, or them in general.. I mean she did find them convenient and did hold some sentiment towards them mainly because she found she could persuade them to do the things she wanted. Of course this didn't apply to every decision they made but so far it rang true for the important ones.

She held a bottle in her hand, a dark green decorated with intricate silver winding about it. A spritz of fine mist sprayed onto her pale skin just below her neck and she could already smell the soft scent of magnolia and rose drifting up to greet her. She was satisfied, everything was in place and as it should be. She wouldn't make him wait any more, which she was certain was exactly what he was still doing. After all Gabe was your pretty punctual guy and when it came to Natalie, well she hadn't been disappointed.

She quickly tucked her things in to place and headed out of the common rooms. Of course the outside soft chatter was welcoming seeing as how she recognized many of the voice. However when she finally stepped into the room her attention darted around not to any particular voice or sound but to one face and one face alone.

Sure a slight impatience may have shown on his face but it was more than clear to her that she had been forgiven long ago. She smiled softly at him, her gaze being broke off as someone past in front of her. Of course as soon as the fluent blur slipped out of her vision there he was again. He was dressed nice, perhaps not as 'nice' as she was used to when she used this description but it seemed to fit him so well. She didn't need anyone to go over the top as long as they could play the part when necessary. Dress casual or not it was a ton better than this whole lot was usually seen wearing.

Her step was quick and certain as she made her way over to her partner, that coy smile playing upon her lips. Sure she knew what she was guilty of but why admit it? "You look nice.", was the greeting she opted for rather than something like 'How long you been waiting?' or 'Are you ready?' Besides, despite Gabe's cool nature he was only human and he liked compliments. Though she was sure there would be no repercussions because she was running late, well she might as well try to make things as smooth as she could from the get go. After all Natalie was a very quick lady to anger and once she was provoked she could cause real damage, physically or to a relationship.

She was usually a very dominant person, choosing to lead conversations and try to have confrontations and everything on her own terms. She liked to be very in control of her world... However she would have to let some of that slide. She had chose Gabe as much as he chose her and given the fact she admired him so much she would have to realize that he was at least worth following sometimes. "Are you going to tell me what you have in mind?", she asked as her dark eyes settled on his piercing blue ones. She hadn't really asked what he had planned but was now curious enough to ask. She didn't hesitate or wait for permission before her hand reached out to glide over the ridged fabric of is corduroy jacket. It was soft, and the way it fit him just right gave her the clear indication he had personally had this one made. Her hand slid around his arm and held on to it gently.

[gabriel sutherland]

Gabriel continued to wait patiently for Natalie, his blue eyes drifting from one person to the next as he did so. His mind carefully cataloged things about each individual that interested him, mentally filing that bit of information away for future use. Your basic body language or any sort of tick which would help him determine an individuals mood all served as great leverage when negotiating carefully laid plans and alliances. This was part of the reason why Gabriel had been so successful at staying just out of the spotlight, letting others do the work for him. Slight manipulations and long formulated plans weren't for everyone, but Gabriel had the patience for such things, but no matter how good he was it, Natalie just seemed to be better. This was one of the many reasons why he had set his sights on her, pulling every string he was connected to in order to manipulate this arranged marriage to her, however, Gabriel knew that he wasn't the only one who had been working overtime on such things and that only cemented the way he felt about Natalie. He was loyal to her and very protective of her, whether it just be out of some sort of love or just the fact she was his.

It didn't take Gabriel long to find his betrothed as soon as she made her silent entrance. It was if he were magically drawn to her, alerted to the presence of such a goddess. His eyes held fast to Natalie's curvaceous figure, never blinking for fear that he might be denied a precious second of seeing her. Such beauty was meant to be enjoyed every second and minute and Gabriel was not one to lose something so alluring. Natalie was dressed elegantly as always and Gabriel smiled a bit as he realized he was way under dressed when compared to her, but he knew she wouldn't mind, after all, casual or formal, he was handsome either way. The slight look of enjoyment on Natalie's face as she sauntered over in his direction showed her approval of him, and he pushed off the wall, brushing the front of his jacket off in anticipation of his future wife. He would not greet her sloppily, no...she deserved a proper greeting.

The smell of magnolia and rose greeted Gabe as Natalie drew closer and the mixture intoxicated him. His chest and ears grew warm and he inhaled deeply, seeming to become more alert. His heart beat a bit faster, pumping his blood through his body to compensated for the elated feelings. Gabriel's feelings for Natalie were genuine and very strong and while it was odd for someone like him to feel that way about another, he was very attached to miss Bane. She was his now, just as much as he was hers and that fact was not one taken lightly. Both were very jealous and possessive of the other, as some poor misguided individuals who dared to step in between the both of them in the past could tell you.

Natalie's compliment brought a smile to Gabriel's face and he bowed his head in reply, "And you are beautiful as always my dear," he said, turning his body as Natalie wasted no time in hooking her arm through his. "I have a bit of business at Borgin and Burke's to attend to, then I thought we might enjoy a bit to eat," he said, taking the lead as he guided Natalie to the hidden doorway of the common room. This act itself was appreciated by Gabriel as he knew Natalie was not one to be lead anywhere. "Then after all, we shall do whatever your heart wishes," he added, giving her a wink and smile, stopping as the common room door slid open.

[natalie bane]

What was it that attracted Natalie to Gabriel so? Hmmm... was it the way his face seemed to change, light up when he seen her? Perhaps that was part of it. However a large reason for this overwhelming pull was because he was a strong and ambitious individual. You might not see it at first but if one happened to hang around Gabe long enough you soon found out he was more sly than most gave him credit for. It all seemed to work out so perfectly. I mean sure if Gabe hadn't been an option that her parents would have accepted there was a few she could tolerate eloping with but it seemed all of their names were tied in one way or another to dark magic. Now whether they or their parents were dark wizards , well it wasn't know to her but a lot of people whispered stories. And as childish as stories may seem her family wouldn't have dismissed anything with any sort of ease. Gabriel, on the other hand had it all... the perfect neutral gray background, the dashing good looks, the manners, his manipulative side.. Of course she knew that he could be a dangerous creature but that's what tempted her to get even closer to her. For years now she had been yearning for more of him. During her younger years she was too quiet to engage him in any sort of conversation but it seemed that fate had it planned out for their paths to cross. And though many at school were displeased with the common pure blood marriage arrangements, well she was quiet pleased.

She studied his handsome features as she approached him. He seemed to straighten and brush himself off and Natalie wasn't so sure he did that because he was actually self conscious or because he was wanting to show her that sign of respect. Truthfully it did take a lot to impress Natalie but once you had her attention (be it good or bad), well let's just say it's hard to shake. She couldn't quiet put her finger on the cologne that he was wearing, only knowing the fact that she would like to bury her face against him for just a moment. She inhaled slowly, as she took his arm and he pulled her closer to him. His jacket was pretty thick, enough to at least block out the feel of his arm but she swore for a moment she could feel his warmth.

She looked up at him with her dark eyes as he divulged part of his plans to her. Borgin and Burke's. She didn't ask any more, really she didn't need to know. She was just pleased that she would have the chance to look about the shop. Sure it may have some pretty random items but every now and again you could find a real jewel. And though Gabe never really came out and said it she had pretty much figured out that his dad tinkered with dark artifacts. Perhaps he was doing business for him today... Then again it may have been his own. She merely smiled at the thought as he told her they could do whatever her heart desired and nodded her head in approval.

Before anything else was said he was leading her to the common room wall, which slid awkwardly open, the bricks seeming to turn on one another and getting smaller (or so it seemed) until it opened up to show a stone pathway flanked by a more solid wall. The hall ways were empty now and she was certain that most kids would be enjoying their free day outside, probably socializing at the quidditch pitch or by the Black Lake. She was thankful for this because that enabled her to walk freely beside of Gabe, still securely holding onto his arm. She had been quiet back in the common rooms but out here she was able to be a little more at ease. "You know you could get a girl like me in trouble with a promise like that." She glanced up at him with a smirk playing across her lips. She was wondering if he would know what she was referring to - the fact that he would do anything she wished to do. She pulled at his arm, stopping in her tracks just enough to make him follow suit. She quickly stepped in front of him and let her finger traced down the opening of his jacket, her pressure growing lighter before her hand slipped gracefully away from him just past his belt. "I'm not sure you're ready to see what lurks around in my mind just yet." She grinned and bit her lip playfully, watching him closely for his reaction. Of course it wasn't a secret that she desired Gabe... had for quiet a while now. He was one of the things that she wanted that took the most planned to get. And even now she had to admit that she felt a certain 'tension' around him but what could they really do about it (at the moment)? She had worked hard to remain a 'lady' unlike the rest of her school mates and now that she knew her name wouldn't be as sullied for it... if someone found out, well it seemed like they were under the every watchful eye of her parents. Time spent together was at school for the moment and though they could go to extreme lengths, well she was a lady and her standards were still as such.

[gabriel sutherland]

Gabriel did not have to look at Natalie to know that the idea of looking about in Borgin and Burke's interested her. Her family was the type to cower away from all matters concerning the dark arts, but unlike some of the others who shunned the darker side of things, it was because they did not want to sully the good family name. To the Banes, appearance was everything, and while being pure blood meant a great deal, it was how they were perceived which came first. Being whispered about and having fingers pointed at you just didn't set well with their sort and Gabriel assumed they found it embarrassing, however, that seemed to be one trait which Natalie did not inherit or learn. Attention was one thing, but it was reputation which seemed to interest Natalie more and she liked having others reflexively withdraw from her at the first sign of anger or some other strong negative emotion. Gabriel would feed this desire and give her what her family had denied her, a doorway into the dark arts.

Gabe tucked his arm in tighter, drawing Natalie closer to his body as he felt her squeeze his arm a bit. This sort of public affection didn't bother Gabriel, as it was a reminder of just who held the attention of Natalie Bane. It was a way of marking his territory you could say, but just one of the many. Very seldom did one see Gabriel openly lose his cool with someone over Natalie, but there was talk of things which happened to others in dark corridors and other vacant places. Of course, Gabriel would always deny such accusations that he would or had willingly assaulted someone out of anger, always giving a sly little wink to almost let the truth slip.

As the hidden entrance to the common room closed up, Natalie slipped more into character, letting a bit of her true self out in the open. Not many saw this side of Natalie, save for Gabriel. She teased him with her touch, as she had been doing for a while now, but as of late, it seemed to become more and more intimate. It was clear that more sinful and physical ideas were beginning to break through and that her resolve and patience was wearing thin. Natalie was a lady and unlike some of the other girls around the school, she hadn't sullied herself with the lesser stock walking about. Normally, allowing a girl to lead him on like this would not be allowed to happen, but with Natalie, Gabriel's rules changed dramatically. Natalie was given far greater grace than anyone else in his life, as she should be given and he seemed to go a bit more out of his way to please her.

Her comment about what went on inside mind made Gabriel smile again and he watched his betrothed intently. He arched one eyebrow in interest of what she had to say and offer. "Well, when the times comes I'm sure the wait will be well worth it," he said, tilting his head to the side just slightly, "However, I wonder if miss Natalie Bane is ready for things I have planned?," he asked, teasing her once again with vacant and vague promises of great things. Gabriel had made it clear that he was going to go far in the world and that he would take Natalie with him, but as far as to how and what he meant...well...that was still a mystery. He seemed to enjoy teasing Natalie this way, as it had a way of bringing about the real her.

[natalie bane]

How did Gabe remain so cool as Natalie came on to him? This infuriated her a bit and surely as he dismissed the idea of granting her a sneak peak he could see the disappointment that flickered across her dark eyes. Gabe drove her crazy, of course she didn't really like that fact all that much - the fact that he seemed to have more pull over her than she had on him. She was growing tired of waiting, tired of denying herself the things she wanted and if Gabe was going to start opening up this world of her temptations... well one of the first things he'll have to give her is his self, all of him. But instead of granting her a touch, a taste, he merely said something positive about waiting longer. Perhaps it wasn't the right place for him. After all Natalie wasn't one to go about clinging and snogging someone right in front of everyone else but that's the problem. See here at Hogwarts you hardly had a moment alone with your lover to indulge in things that made others uncomfortable, that others found inappropriate. And it just so happens that they were alone right now, no prying or judging eyes laying on them. She inhaled deeply fighting back her slight anger and exhaled slowly, dropping her hands back in front of her and playing with her fingers, her gaze locked onto Gabe's. "I guess you are right. But perhaps the first mistake a gentleman can make is assuming that a lady is going to wait forever." She turned back around, ready to walk with him. His words seemed promising, offering her more than she could hopefully imagine.

She sighed lightly, letting his words dance around her before she even started to think of a reply to him. She felt her anger dissipating, especially when she looked back at his calm face. "We'll find out, won't we?", she responded in return. Natalie had not once since their engagement was announced had questioned or doubted Gabe and the life that he was going to give them. After all that's one reason why her parents acceptance stuck. She had made sure she slipped in good comments about him here and there, just enough to draw attention to him but not enough to hint that she had her heart set on him. She glanced at him again, "And when are you going to tell me just what you have in mind for us?" She highly doubted that he was going to really indulge her with any details.. so far everything had been skirted around - kept safe. And Natalie didn't know if it was because they were still being monitored at school for the moment or if perhaps he was superstitious and afraid that if he revealed too much before things fell into place that nothing would work out right.

Natalie kept watching Gabe's expression, trying to judge what sort of reaction that he was trying to get from her. Did he really expect her to remain this passive while he teased her like this? He was throwing these little hints out at her feet, fishing for her interest but every time she made a grab for something it seemed she couldn't get a good hold of it. Then again perhaps Gabriel was doing this to test her strength, see how long she would go before she fell to temptation to just take what she wanted. Sure on the outside she seemed like a well behaved girl but when Natalie wanted something bad enough, well she'd do almost anything in this world to get it. She had went beyond the boundaries of most people's morals, at least as long as it didn't effect her body. After all she was a vain creature and wasn't going to be marked or scarred for anyone, well not anyone at this current moment.

[gabriel sutherland]

Natalie's impatience and the look of frustration she was doing her best to hide amused Gabriel, as it always did and he took a moment to let her indulge in her eagerness, just to see what would happen. It wasn't as if he was trying to torture her or humiliate her, he just wanted to push her to be the best, to bring about the real her. Natalie, like Gabriel, hid most of herself from the students, allowing a brief glimpse here and there just to let others get the idea of who and what they were dealing with. However, she still hid some of herself from Gabe, even if it wasn't her intention. Natalie's upbringing had made her into the ideal pure blood lady she was today, but at the same time, her parent's obsession to distance themselves from anything dark in nature, had damaged Natalie. It was if she were afraid to delve fully into the darkness, or maybe it was just that she really didn't know how. Gabriel did not fault his betrothed for this, it wasn't her fault after all, and had decided to help her overcome this stumbling block. He wouldn't just give her his help or advice, no...he would push her, forcing her to make those decisions on her own. Natalie would take her steps into the dark arts on her own, not because Gabriel held her hand and led her there.

The way Natalie dropped her hands and moved her fingers about caught Gabe's attention and he expected some sort of physical retaliation, but Natalie resisted that urge. She always reserved herself when dealing with Gabriel and yes, Gabe did enjoy that reserve, but he also wanted to see that forceful hand of hers as well. It meant she wasn't some mindless plaything for him to just move about on a whim. He knew the fire was there and wanted to see just a spark of that resistance in their relationship. He didn't want full blown defiance, but just something that would challenge him and keep him on his toes.

"The third floor corridor," he said simply, arching his eyebrow to gauge Natalie's reaction. The third floor was generally off limits to students for some reason or another, but if one was determined enough, they could find a way there. Gabriel had already scouted out a room where he was certain he and his lady would not be disturbed and had taken measures to ensure that. It had taken him months to put up the necessary wards and enchantments, but it was finally done and now that Natalie was giving him a vocal conformation of his own assumptions, he figured it was time to put this part of his plan into action. "After our day today and much into the night," he said, giving out no more information than was necessary. He knew it would drive Natalie crazy and that would only make the date that much more enjoyable.

[natalie bane]

Natalie held her hand with Gabe, although she was highly tempted to get more physical with him. Perhaps she really was concerned with what he thought about her. I mean after all he was also raised up in a prestigious pure blood family and they had these ideas of how women were to act at all times. Truthfully she was more bold than her parents (or any others) would dare approve of just by admitting that dark thoughts lingered in her mind... impure thoughts about him. But she was human and had desires, hungered for things that one can't keep their body from longing for. She would wait a while longer hoping that Gabriel would give her some indication that he approved of this, and if not... well her patience was something that had been known to wear thin. She would eventually make a much bolder move, one that would take physical retaliation to dodge. And if Gabe wanted to go that far perhaps he wasn't the man for her at all. But why was she doubting him? Hadn't he dropped several hints that he liked her, her personality and looks?

She let this moment pass and tried to keep up her good behavior and posture. Of course she couldn't hide the excitement as he mentioned going up to the third floor. Her dark eyes flashed around to him and her red lips parted a little in surprise. A smile finally found it's place on her mouth and it lingered there until she spoke, her tone playful. "You know, Gabriel, most would think twice before taking a girl like me to a secluded area like that... There's no limit to the things I could do to you." There was a bit of seriousness in her words, not that she was going to hurt him physically... that wasn't her intentions. Well at least not any more than necessary to add to the pleasure. And she watched him carefully for any indication that he approved of this idea. She felt strong chemistry between them, even now she yearned for his touch. There were places on her body that she ached for him to touch, explore, taste. Of course she had similar feelings before but none this strong, no one before had driven her to the point where she'd actually let down her defenses to pursue these feelings.

She took in a deep breath and held it for just a moment, her mind swimming with what may be happening tonight. After all he did mention they would still be together in the later hours. She should have known what Gabriel was doing, after all she'd seen him move people here and there several times over the years. Not to mention that Natalie Bane wasn't one easily moved. Wouldn't that be something for him to toy with her to the point where she broke under the pressure? By refraining from acting out it only drove her to be more aggressive with the situation. And though Natalie wasn't one to be easily manipulated, well she wasn't one to be denied what she really wanted either. Perhaps they would both find themselves on top of the game in the end.

She continued to walk right beside of him, giving a side ways glance to admire the way he seemed so collected all of the time. It was a chore for her cause most of the time she had these eccentric emotions building up behind the surface. And many more times than she'd like to admit they bubbled up to the top, causing her to explode. She was a passionate woman to say the least. And even now though she was itching to know just what Gabriel had in store from her she didn't dare ask. She was sure that she was going to find out soon anyway, no matter if her stomach was knotting up in anticipation or not. She did put her arm through his again and pull her body closer to him, she would give herself that much right now. Besides with the way things seemed to be heading she would get a taste of so much more.

[gabriel sutherland]

Natalie was far more impatient than Gabriel by far and her actions with him right now were only following suit. Natalie had a habit of letting her emotions get the better of her, and while that might have been a drawback, Gabriel just saw it as a sign of passion and commitment to what she wanted. Natalie wasn't afraid to reach out and take what she took a liking to, nor was she worried about what others might think for such bold actions. It wasn't like she went out just acting without thinking all the time, it was quite the opposite. Natalie's desires only seemed to fuel her need to plan things out and to put her schemes into motion. As a matter of fact, the only times when Gabriel had noted Natalie acting without thinking too clearly were times when her anger got the better of her. It was a fault, but one Gabriel found attractive. Her anger was a sign of the fire burning inside of her and that assured Gabriel of a very interesting marriage and future with miss Bane.

The way he kept his cool only drove Natalie more, but when he mentioned the third floor corridor and their late night plans there, then Natalie's anticipation grew two fold. Her desires for Gabe, the physical ones that is, were growing in number as of late and they were beginning to wear through Natalie's natural socialite defenses. All those rules and regulations of how a lady was to act in front of a gentleman seemed to be disappearing one by one, but thankfully on when she and Gabriel were alone or out of sight of the others. Natalie had enough resolve about her to at least keep her demeanor in line in front of the other students, unlike some of the trailer trash running around here as of late. All those unruly street urchins snogging here and there in the halls and behind statues, finding wherever they could to fulfill those base desires of their physical bodies.

Now, it would be a lie if Gabe were to say he wasn't feeling the same lustful desires as those that Natalie was feeling for him. She was beautiful in every aspect in which Gabriel looked at her and the way she dressed just drew him in further. Natalie didn't have to dress slutty, letting everything she had hang out. No, Natalie knew how to give just a peek of what was there without letting the whole world see ever inch of her. Subtle, that was what you could call it and while others might think it being prude, Gabriel had found being subtle quite effective in his seven years here at school. One's imagination was far more effective at moving one about, making them work harder for the hint of something that might or might not be. It was just curiosity which no human could deny for long.

Natalie's little comment made Gabriel smile, albeit, this smile was a bit darker than usual. It wasn't the one he wore just to make everyone around him a bit more calm, no...this seemed to fit him better. It was a hint of the real Gabriel Sutherland that lurked beneath that boy scout facade. The way his eyes darkened just a bit hinted at the naughty things which circled about his mind and no doubt, this was what attracted Natalie to him. That taste of something forbidden, the taste of something which she had always been denied. "And that is why I plan on taking you there my love," he said in reply, watching his white queen as she once again slipped her arm through him, taking her place at his side.

[natalie bane]

Natalie followed Gabe in silence for quiet a while, letting him lead her around the school because that was what good girls did. And whether or not it was because they were in their younger stages that she was so readily following him was yet to be seen. It was strange for her to be so submissive, and at times it felt as if it were about to kill her, but she wanted to impress Gabe, wanted him to still look at her with affection. Which was partially why she was being quiet now. Her heart was beating quickly and she could feel the rush of warm blood as it surfaced up to her pale skin. So he was going to take her somewhere private here. She bit her tingling lip as she thought more on what that offered her. She had been denied physical indulgence for far too long and she was ready to take it. But on one hand she was concerned that Gabriel would find her behavior unacceptable. What if they got behind closed doors and he rejected her aggressive advances? Would she even be considerate of his feelings? It was hard to really say at the moment. After all she was a selfish creature and she had been good and played the part of a lady for so long now, it seemed to be building up to some sort of rebellion. And right now the thought of his skin, all the good stuff that had been kept covered in front of her, just touching it seemed to get her adrenaline pumping. She had wanted Gabriel for a long time and it had been so long since she had shared any intimacy that her body honestly felt like it needed it. She wouldn't dare mention to him that she had fooled around before, and she especially wasn't going to tell him that it was with girls. Up until recently she had felt more attracted to them, drawn to them... perhaps because she felt she understood them better. But now that didn't matter because that was a lifestyle she could no longer delve into...... right?

It took her just a little while to realize that Gabriel might start wondering what she was thinking if she didn't speak up and socialize. She let her dark eyes wander over to study his profile. He was very handsome, of course his features totally betrayed him. He looked like an all around good guy, wouldn't do anyone wrong and such... and though that type of guy was 'attractive' the fact that they had no spines usually kept them from being marriage material. And though Gabriel had never been harsh with her, she'd never given him a reason to be, she saw just how cunning and devious he was. She really needed someone like that in her life, that knew how to treat her but someone that knew what sort of lifestyle that they deserved and willing to use people as pawns to get there. Of course they shared certain views about mud bloods and muggles and he seemed as if he really wanted a better world for all witches and wizards. Of course it was hard not to be biased when you where pure blood, especially if you were put into slytherin.

A smile played across her lips as she admired him undetected for a moment. "Dare I ask what's going on in your mind, Gabriel?" Her voice was soft and teasing, hoping that he wouldn't mind her small attempt to delve into his inner workings. He wasn't like normal people therefore he was hard to read. And given an opportunity like this to stay silent, well it just made one wonder if their mind was working overtime. She wasn't sure what questions to ask so she was prodding him to start her out in a direction. Hopefully by now she had earned a great deal of his trust. After all she didn't tell anyone what was said between the two, especially if it happened to be something controversial. And given the fact that she was going to be his wife soon, if he still felt some doubt about her loyalty it was best to test it now.

[gabriel sutherland]

Gabriel escorted Natalie through the dark dungeons and up the stairwell to the main floor of the castle. There were a few people about, but not many. Most were either in their common rooms or off and about doing whatever it was that other people did. Gabriel and Natalie merited about as much attention as usual which was fine with Gabriel for he was off and thinking about something else. He was often like this, quiet and to himself, silently observing the comings and goings of the others, keeping track of their routines and odd little social habits. Gabriel did his best to know everything and anything about anyone who crossed his line of sight and interest. To him, everyone had a purpose, it was just some were more important than others. This is why he had the odd view on other blood lines and what not. Sure, pure bloods were the elite in his eyes, even if he questioned more than a few of the families. Half bloods were more like the middle class, capable of small meaningful tasks, but nothing too complex for it was far out of their range. Mud bloods however, were nothing more than house vermin, such as elves. They were nice to keep around to take care of the things far below the standards of real witches and wizards, the janitors of the magical world you might say. As for muggles, well....they meant almost nothing to Gabe, but every now and again, one did come along with something good that could be modified and made useful. Don't get him wrong though, they really meant nothing to him and whether they lived or died was not a decision he really had time to debate.

Natalie's voice brought him fully back to the world and he smiled, his eyes drifting over to her as he pulled her closer to him. Natalie was the only one whom was made fully aware of what Gabriel was thinking and what he was up to. Narcissa was a good confidant, but she just didn't' have that level of trust which Natalie did, however, perhaps that had to do with the relationship which Gabriel and Natalie shared. "Lucius Malfoy," he said simply, throwing the name out there as if it were nothing, "Tell me what you think of him," he said to her, curious as to where his betrothed stood on the subject of the self proclaimed Prince of Slytherin. Lucius had the eye of many a lady here at school and while it was Narcissa who was rumored to be betrothed to him, it didn't seem to stop Lucius from wandering just a bit. Gabriel knew Natalie had expert taste, I mean, she had manipulated her position with Gabriel so that said something. Was she as enamored with the young mister Malfoy as the other ladies of school were, or was Lucius' charm not quite potent enough to woo her?

Gabriel continued his slow walk, waiting for Natalie's answer. He might have been calm about school and with most of the others, but inside, Gabriel was a very passionate individual. Natalie was his and he was not content to share her, even if it were only as eye candy. Jealousy ran through him strongly, but an admittance on Natalie's part that she found Lucius attractive was not enough to merit anger. Beauty could be admired, but lust was another story altogether. Brain Vein was bad enough, always hanging around Natalie and trying to slip her inside his bed. It had been a constant thing through the years and Gabriel had battled him long enough to finally win out.

[natalie bane]

Natalie looked at him with interest in her eyes as he admitted to thinking of Lucius Malfoy. Was there something going on that Natalie was unaware of? And why did he ask her what she thought of him? She hoped that he wasn't going to use her to help judge the boys character because Natalie didn't know him well enough to trust him. Like most Slytherins they knew each other in passing and she didn't have any reason to not like him. She wasn't sure how to answer him at first and she hoped that he wouldn't be offended by his delay. How were you supposed to answer a question when you didn't understand the persons intent fully? She found herself smiling and shrugging her shoulders a bit. "I think that he's... " what word was she looking for? I mean he was a good representation for Slytherin, but how could she sum up in few words why? "I think that our house is fortunate to have him. Not that we couldn't function without him but he gets quiet a bit of attention, as you may have noticed.. And he gives us a good rep in that lime light, at least from what I've seen." She hoped that her short summary of him would be enough to please Gabe. She thought she could be satisfied just answering him but after a split second she decided that she wasn't. She needed to know why he was thinking about the 'Prince' himself. "Why do you ask?" Her voice was soft and she hoped that he wouldn't mind discussing this with her, not knowing of course how serious.. or irrelevant this subject may be.

They were getting closer to the third floor corridor and she tried to be nonchalant about it, although she felt a little giddy inside. She really didn't have a clue what Gabe had in mind but she knew that if they got caught they would be in some serious trouble. Of course he was smooth enough to keep that from happening and if something were to flaw his perfect plan, well between the two of them their should be smooth sailing. They both had the looks, the etiquette, and charm to lie their way through almost anything. A smirk played across her lips as she thought about this... Not that she wanted to get caught cause even though she was nervous thinking about the possibilities while being alone with Gabe, well she was just as anxious for it too.

It felt good him pulling her against him, natural but in the same time everything her parents wouldn't want if they knew the truth.. And just what Natalie wanted. She didn't care if his father had a simple job such as making dolls and such, she knew that he was much more capable of other things too. And she had seen the clothes that his mother made, very impressive. They were what she desired, but all low key enough to pass under her parents radar. And truthfully wasn't that best? I mean if anything ever did happen and they were going off leads to find dark magic and such, well it would be hard to accuse his family if one didn't really know them. And maybe Natalie could live that sort of double life, which didn't seem possible before. She always felt like she'd either be trapped in the life her parents wanted for her or she'd fall off the edge completely and shroud herself entirely with a questionable life style. Gabe had a good enough cover to keep them in that posh pure blood life, one where they didn't judge so openly about blood lineage (even if you knew they highly discriminated) and were accepted by the rest of society.. But she'd be able to delve in the things that really drove her. All in all Gabe was perfect. However if she could change anything about him it would be his passion for her. He seemed too composed sometimes and though that was well when others were watching she wanted a man that she could move, so to speak. After all she was dedicating her whole life to him she didn't merely want to be a shadow or a puppet. She wanted someone that just fed the flames and someone that would make her want to please them because she saw them as deserving in her eyes. It was a little worrisome, thinking about how someone could change after they graduated from school. I mean mostly it was only fictional horror stories but you often hear of great men being womanizers... She didn't have it in her to idly sit by and be victim to that. She deserved to be treated well and she surely hoped that he wasn't foolish enough to think that she meant so little that he could share himself with others. He was going to be just as much hers as she was his and if he thought other wise she would have to teach him different or kill them both trying. But then again that's just a thought coursing through her mind, not that he had given her much reason to believe he was like that.

Then it hit her, she was a jealous creature... would he be also? A mischievous smile passed across her lips before she put it to rest. She gave a slight smile and pressed her lips together, "He's almost too perfect, don't you think?" She was hoping that he would remember they were talking about Lucius. She would say whatever it was she had to to get a reaction from him, unless she gave up all together after reaching her limits. Perhaps she too needed to fuel the fire to see Mr.Sutherland's worst and perhaps most appealing side.

[gabriel sutherland]

Gabriel watched Natalie for a moment, searching out her facial features for some sort of hidden hint of her thoughts on Lucius Malfoy. He wanted to know just where Natalie stood on the subject of Malfoy, but more for personal reasons than rational ones. Lucius was a direct rival to Gabriel and while Malfoy was far more public and political, seen as the unofficial figure head of Slytherin house, Gabriel still counted himself as an equal to Lucius. They had chose different paths in life, Lucius choosing the more public road and Gabriel choosing the darker more private one. It was easier for Gabriel to operate this way, but it was very thankless. He never publicly received the recognition which Lucius seemed to receive, and while that was alright to an extent, it was beginning to wear thin with Gabe. He wanted to be the one standing there for once, as the victor and having everyone know it was him which had orchestrated the victory and the one who had the brains and will power to come out on top. However, the things which he was beginning to delve into weren't exactly the things which were accepted at this point in time and so, he would sit back until he could step forward and claim what was rightfully his.

Natalie's assessment of Lucius almost went unnoticed as Gabriel discovered he had become lost in the beauty of the most stunning young woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her eyes were strong and intimidating, her hair was flawless and moved with such elegance which was only matched by the grace of Natalie herself. She was the embodiment of beauty and strength and the only woman whom Gabriel dared to call his love and his equal. It was her approval whom he sought after and no one else's. Her happiness with him was what kept him motivated and so determined to be successful and it was this same obsession which sparked his jealousy now. She had gave a rather honest assessment of Lucius, but now....she referred to him as 'perfect'. This of course, made Gabriel stand a bit straighter and divert his gaze straight ahead now. It was a small thing really and had any one else said it, it would have been nothing more than just words, but with Natalie.....it meant much more. Her opinions carried a lot of weight with Gabriel and hearing her call Lucius perfect just hit him hard. Natalie didn't throw words like that around as other less educated individuals did.

"Perfect?," he asked, repeating the word out loud, narrowing his eyes, giving a smirk of anger. "I think that if it wasn't for his family name, Lucius wouldn't be nothing more than another waste of space in a house which he doesn't deserve to be in," Gabriel said and yes, a bit out loud. It was socially dangerous to say such things about such a prominent member of Slytherin house, but at the moment, Gabriel wasn't thinking too clearly. He was seeing Lucius as an interloper in his relationship, which for all anyone publicly knew, wasn't true. Jealousy was a strange and vicious creature and if Natalie continued to play her cards right, she just might have found the very thing which she could use to move Gabriel in the way she needed him to move.

[natalie bane]

Almost as soon as the word perfect left her lips, given a moment of shock to assess the full meaning of her words, she noticed him stand up straighter, stiffen a bit. Of course she was watching him closely, surprised that he reacted to such an 'innocent' statement this much. Perhaps despite the fact that he acts like he is the perfect gentleman with all the responsibility and control, maybe he does desire Natalie beyond that rational mark. And though part of her wanted to push him further, to dream up something to say about Lucius that she had never thought nor felt before she held that part of her back. She only wanted to test his emotions right now, act casual about the little hints she drops. Besides wouldn't it become obvious if she started groveling over someone that she hadn't openly shown much attention to before? Not to mention the fact that she didn't want him resenting her for false statements. What she had said was close enough to the truth. Lucius had his family name, their wealth, and though he didn't always appeal to her as very attractive he had some impressive features.

She felt the malice in his voice as he repeated her word, the tone alone almost twisting it's entire meaning into something disgusting. Obviously perfect wasn't a word he would use to describe Malfoy. And as Gabriel started talking again it became clear that he didn't hold any brotherly affection for the boy. She was stunned for a moment, her lips unresponsive and confused at this new side of Gabe she was trying to draw out but soon she smiled, realizing that he did have some passion to him. She wasn't going to make him explode or anything but she was going to slyly smooth this over, plant a few more seeds of jealousy. This was almost humorous, despite the fact that it was serving her purpose. Why he had more to worry about with Brian than anyone else at Hogwarts. "Now, Gabe.. a lot did come with the family name but I think that he does do well representing the house. Besides, look at some of the other people we have in there. I figured that you'd like the fact he took got the spotlight himself and made it easier for others to go about almost unnoticed." That may have been a slight stretch because Lucius himself could sometimes be very elusive. He was often quiet and if you didn't give anyone anything to say about you, well they sort of lost interest after a while. It came and went, as it did with all students, their obsession with someone followed by feigned interest.

She didn't want to poke any more at this situation, clearly wanting to let him know that on some level she was still on his side... if there was sides when it came to this at all. "I didn't realize that you would want to talk about him while we are together. Is there something going on that I should know about?" She glanced innocently up at him, wondering if Gabe was jealous of him long before now. I guess it would be kind of hard, that is if Lucius met his expectations. He was more well put together than most gits at school. Natalie was pleased she didn't have this sort of rivalry. She didn't really see anyone as a threat and most females she didn't care to get along with at all anyway. They were more baggage than she cared to handle with their constant problems and shifting hormones. Of course it could also be the fact that she was quiet possessive of the things she 'owned' and females had this delusion that you would share or they could sample your 'goods'. Either way to politely put it she also had a bad jealous streak. Not that she though anyone here was suitable for marriage but guys were known to slum around when they are younger and dumber and she didn't want something like that to hide from everyone else. Another persons mistakes should not cause her any humility herself.

[gabriel sutherland]

Gabriel's outwardly calm demeanor and charismatic smile might have led others around him to believe that boy next door look, but his true face was far from that facade. Sure, he never publicly assaulted anyone, unless under the guise of self defense, and he always seemed to be rather tolerable of everyone around him, but that was all just part of the game. Gabe was a thinker and a he never made a move without at first plotting two moves beyond that. He had drive and ambition far beyond that of his other house mates and while that meant taking a back seat publicly to others such as Lucius, it did not mean he enjoyed it at all. With ambition came a desire to be praised and applauded, however, Gabriel knew he did not have enough pull or wealth to rival other more established pure blood families. So, Gabriel held his vanity back a bit and allowed himself to fade into the shadows, finding what joy he could in being the one pulling the strings and not the one getting to dance in the spotlight.

Patting Natalie's hand, Gabriel smiled, "You know more of what goes on inside my head than I do my love," he said trying to appease her a bit, but deep down he knew it would not hold her at bay for long. Natalie was not one to be swayed by pretty words so easily and especially not by someone as interesting as Gabriel. She knew him too well and as a result, it was getting harder and harder for Gabe to manipulate her while it was getting easier and easier for her to pull and sway him. That might have been her goal all along, for she was in a way, the more cunning of the two. Sure, Gabriel had a way of drawing you in and finding out everything about you and yes, his looks did help in manipulating others, but Natalie took everything to another level. She saw the small minor things which escaped Gabriel's eyes and she capitalized on them at every turn. That was yet another reason why Gabriel admired this beauty and why he wanted her at his side. With her, success was doubled for them both, and that was something the two of them could not pass up.

"Lucius holds more sway within Slytherin than I'm comfortable with, but I'm afraid that's something neither you nor I can change," he said, taking a deep breath and letting his gaze drift forward again, as if in deep thought, "He is a pivotal player in my schemes, but I value your opinion on a great deal of things and I just need to know if you think him worth all the hype," he went on, giving Natalie a glance from the corner of his eye, "I'm sure the other ladies talk greatly of him, I mean, they hang all over him constantly, something which I'm sure Cissa does not like," he added with a smile. Cissa was the only other person who could get close to Gabe, albeit not as close as Natalie. The two were confidants to one another and rumor that Cissa was to be betrothed to Lucius had circled the common room more than once.

Things were moving at a greater pace anymore and the time for Gabriel's carefully laid plans to go into effect was coming to a head. Lucius was emerging as the dominant figure in things and while he was gathering a rather select and elite crowd together, it was another he seemed to be working for. The talk of a new dark wizard was becoming more common place and while the Ministry did its best to cover things up, they were being outwitted in the end. Gabriel wanted on this train and he was going to take his future bride with him. This new group emerging seemed to have everything within their grasp and Gabriel was not about to be left behind.