Khaat's House in Hogsmeade--(open)

"I keep hearing and seeing Remus, telling me I deserved all this for losing the duel and costing everyone everything," Khaat confessed. "Costing Shacklebolt his arrest, losing Hogwarts, ...everything. He keeps telling me I deserved what I got. It won't let me do anything else but hide away here--or try to." Khaat tried hard not to cry, in her great exhaustion.

"Stop this. You know Remus wouldn't say that really. The curse is more like a Horcrux than not. It taunts you when its stuck within you and it takes the form of the on you look up to the most or something to that effect. Remus wouldn't blame you for what happened, Khaat and you know this. Be strong child."

Narcissa hugged Khaat tightly and willed her to keep fighting. She wouldn't have the chance to get the remaining curse out of her body with all of those people in the house. She just wouldn't have the time. If Khaat could last then she could do it later. Narcissa released Khaat and motioned for them to go back into the other room.

"You'll be fine. Just relax."

"Just stay close, huh? I don't know how much longer I can look normal around them," Khaat said, insecure. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come. You're a good friend, you know. I suppose we'd better get back before they toast a student or two." She followed Narcissa back.

When she heard steps, Miseria turned her face away from Majere and looked at Khaat and Narcicca who have came back. “Eeh, are you OK?“ she asked Khaat, making a suitable soft smile on her face. Holding again a cup with hot coffee, she had a close look at Wilson, who was quite quiet right now and Majere.

"Yes," Khaat managed a soft smile, "Sometimes all it takes is a friend or two. Sorry to leave you alone with these two characters. Did they treat you respectfully while we were gone? I am presuming they did or you would have called us." She didn't see how she wold ever like this man in the least, and she didn't see that she would ever like or trust Wilson ever again. Khaat's stomach growled embarressingly loudly. She hadn't eaten since before the duel. "Excuse me," she said softly. "I hate to eat alone, and since we're all here, it seems like we should put some food out on the sideboard for anyone who wants it. Narcissa, can you conjure something simple and elegant, please?"

Narcissa walked back into the room and sat down beside James with a small smile on her lips. Despite the fact that the poison in her pocket was teasing her she was able to keep her cool. She wondered what she would do to get rid of it. She’d gone through the episode in her early years where she wondered if she could use the poison but now having an old friend within reach she was becoming skittish - how tempting was it now? Would she take her own life or continue to live because of duties.

Narcissa waved her wand and a selection of meats both warm and cold as well as cheeses, grapes and other things appeared on the sideboard. She even took care to have a selection of wines there as well. She idly wondered where it all came from but was pleased to have wine within her reach as she had yet to get something to drink.

Narcissa got up and took a glass from the side board. She tapped one of the bottles of wine and it uncorked itself. Narcissa picked it up and poured some of the sweet red liquid into the glass. Narcissa walked back over to where James was sat and settled down beside him once more.

“I hope that’s alright, Khaat.” Narcissa spoke hesitantly. “Its simple enough with an aspect of elegance I believe.”

OOC: I don’t know if Wilson is actually sat on a couch but he is now

OOC: Works for me.

"It looks beautiful. Thank you, "Khaat said, "Come get something to eat, everyone." She went to the dining room and made herself a small plate with meat, a little cheese, and a sizeable bunch of grapes. While she was there, she conjured two little bowls on the floor wth fresh fish in them for her two cats. She refilled her coffee cup and took her cup and her plate into the living room and sat down. She began to share her grapes with Archangel, who was always greedy to get fresh, sweet fruit.

Narcissa took a sip of her wine and studied Khaat for a few moments before putting the glass down. The child needed the rest of that curse removed. It showed how incompetent most people were when handling unforgivables.

"Khaat perhaps we could speak some where a little more private?"

"Certainly," Khaat said, "Lets go back to my study." Khaat got up and took her coffee and went towards the study. She was very glad Narcissa was here tonight. Archangel flew over and landed on her shoulder, eyeing her grapes, greedily. She knew he was hungry. "Accio!" she called for a small plate of meat and grapes for him to come from the dining room. She looked at Miseria, "Would you join us and give Archangel some meat and grapes, please? I know he's hungry. Bring your plate if you want."

Narcissa picked up her glass of wine and followed Khaat into the study. She settled herself back down in one of the chairs and raised an eyebrow at Khaat.
"Why do you have the effects of the Cruciatus curse, Khaat?"