A/N: Sorry this has taken so long. There are 10 chapters all together and I'm going to post 3 to make up for my long absence. Remember if you like what you read leave me a little note. Or even if you don't like it.

Chapter 4

Remus Lupin silently watched the couple in front of him. Hermione's strong scent had drawn him into this seemingly deserted room, only to find the two of them together.

The smell of her arousal mingled with the sight of her took him back to that night in the Shrieking Shack. He had lost control then. As he felt the now familiar desire course through his body, he was tempted to let his baser instincts take over. However, the full moon was now past, and he was once again in control. He would not - could not - take advantage of Hermione a second time.

He was furious seeing them together, and it took considerable effort for him not to tear Malfoy's heart right out of his body.

When he had control, of his thoughts and body, he spoke in a dangerously low voice.

"What is going on here?"

The couple broke apart in surprise, and Hermione quickly moved away from Lucius. Lupin glared at the older wizard. He had seen where Malfoy's hands had been, but he tried not to dwell on it, as that was treacherous territory indeed.

"Professor Lupin," Hermione whispered in a shaky voice. She sounded as if she were about to cry.

Remus glared fiercely at the other wizard. It was safer than looking at the distraught young woman in front of him.

"Professor," Lucius smirked. "So good of you to join us."

Ignoring this remark, Remus' eyes bored into the other wizard as he instead addressed his student.

"Leave now, Miss Granger," he whispered hoarsely.

"Please, Professor, I…"

He shifted his focus to her, his eyes wild.

"Now!" he bellowed, his face reflecting the tortured rage he felt.

As she fled the room, a sob escaped her.

Damn.

He hadn't meant to snap. He was holding a tight rein on his emotions, and he wasn't sure how long he could last. Hermione had no idea what was going on. Although his heart ached for her pain, his body reacted to the beautiful sight she made …

Her hair was slightly messed, and her lips swollen from the other man's kisses. He just didn't trust himself around her. He was torn between anger and desire.

Once she left the room, he was able to channel all that frustration to where it rightfully belonged.

Lucius Malfoy.

"Tsk, tsk. Poor girl," the blonde wizard murmured with more amusement than sympathy in his voice.

"I should have known better than to trust you…" Lupin said angrily. "You are incapable of keeping your word."

"That is completely irrelevant. However, on this occasion, I assure you I did in fact keep my word."

"Right, Malfoy," he said, his face livid. "You swore never to touch her and yet your hands just happened to be under her skirt…your fingers inside her panties."

"I swear it was not my fault," Lucius stated innocently. "She put them there."

He was torn between his rage and the image that Malfoy's words produced. He could visualize the innocent Gryffindor placing Lucius' hand inside her knickers, urging him to touch her as she moaned out his name.

Remus' name.

He needed to get control, to focus on his anger toward the other man.

"Of course, Lupin," Malfoy continued. "You must realize that this is all your fault."

"My fault! I fail to see how this is my fault! You were the one making love to her. I had nothing to do with that."

"Think about it, my dear professor," Lucius explained patiently. "If Miss Granger had her memory of the other night…" he paused watching the younger man uncertainly run his fingers through his already tousled hair. "And I suspect you had something to do with that memory loss. If she still had her memory then she would never have come near me…let alone assail me as she did."

Remus wanted to punch the smug smile off Malfoy's face as the truth of his words stuck home. Hermione would never have let the other wizard get close to her if she had remembered…Oh God! It was his fault.

Suddenly it was just too much for him. His emotions were boiling over: guilt, anger, remorse, and lust.

Definitely lust.

The constant internal battle was exhausting him, and he just wanted to put an end to it all.

But most of all he wanted Hermione to be safe.

From Lucius.

And from himself.

The only way to protect her from his own feelings was to remove Lucius from her life. Then he could go back to treating her just as a student. As it should be.

Remus unexpectedly dropped to his knees in front of Malfoy. "I am tired of fighting, Lucius." Going by the look on his face, Malfoy was obviously caught by surprise at this interesting development. Remus raised his hands up. "I'll do whatever it takes to remove you from Miss Granger's life. Just tell me what you want." His clear blue eyes stared up at the older wizard.

"So noble, Lupin, really," Malfoy stated dryly. "Giving yourself to spare the innocent Miss Granger. And also very foolish."

Lucius tried to disguise the desire that washed over him at the sight of the man on his knees before him. He also felt angry although he wasn't entirely sure why. "What if I asked you to betray the Order? Or kill Potter? Or even to kill yourself?"

Lupin couldn't speak as he watched the rage that suddenly consumed the other man.

"You think you know what I want! You think you know me?" Malfoy sneered as he moved even closer. "You have no idea!"

Suddenly his right hand reached out and grasped Lupin by the throat. "I could kill you so easily," he continued as he tightened his hold. Lupin stared ahead, his body calm.

The hand on Lupin's throat moved to his jaw, forcing him to look at up.

"Do you have any idea what I have gone through over the years?" Malfoy hissed.

"If you wanted me dead, I would be dead already," Lupin stated calmly, although his heart was beating wildly. "You know I will not betray the Order or kill anyone for you. I know what you want, Lucius. Now you can have it."

"You have no idea…"

"On the contrary," he continued softly. "I do know, and I am the only one who can give it to you."

Lupin reached up and gently grabbed the hand the still held him. Malfoy was breathing heavily as he stared at the man he had obsessed over for the last twenty years. He was suddenly conflicted. Voldemort would undoubtedly kill him if he found Lucius did not use this to the Dark Lord's advantage. And yet he had waited so long…had never thought he would actually have this chance.

"Well, Malfoy?" Blue eyes were locked into gray ones and neither man could look away. "Stay far away from Miss Granger, for good this time, and I will give you what you want. What you've wanted for so many years."

"Tell me then," Malfory said, his voice raw with emotion. "What is it that I want?"

"You want me … the part of me that cannot be tamed."