A/N: Let the drama continue!
"Lupin…" Riley breathed. She instantly tried to cover herself and she blushed profusely. But he was no longer staring at her, just looking at the bedroom where Sirius had since awoken and was sitting on the bed, his mouth a thin line.
"Why are you in my apartment?" she asked but he held up a hand to her. He walked to the bedroom and closed the door behind him. Lupin muttered a spell to place a soundproof bubble around the room and then placed his hands on his hips as he looked down at Sirius, still sitting, half-naked on the bed.
"Never, would I EVER have thought you would have done this," Lupin said, his voice was shaking in rage. It was becoming very clear and sobering to Sirius just how big of a breach this was.
"I'm sorry Remus, it's not like she's underage…"
"I don't give a fuck if she's not underage. She's your mentee, your partner, YOUR responsibility!" Lupin said. He was glad for the silencing spell, because he knew things were going to get loud between them presently.
"She came onto me!" Sirus protested feebly, because they both knew he was lying.
"Like hell she did. I know you, I expected better but I should have known to let you alone with a pretty girl," Lupin rolled his eyes. Sirius stood up and began to put his clothes on. He looked for his wand and found it in the back pocket of his pants.
"Remus, please. It won't happen again, I swear. Just forget this happened. It was a mistake," Sirius begged his friend.
"She doesn't seem to think it's a mistake now does she? So you are telling me that after the bar last night you came here?" Remus was dumbfounded. He kept shaking his head.
"I…I didn't want her alone with Draco," Sirius said guiltily. He felt like a child being scolded, and completely deserving it.
"Draco knows well enough to protect her. Look Sirius, I think it's best you sit down when I tell you this," Remus sighed. His friend took a seat on the messy bed and looked up at the man in front of him.
"Riley is in the gravest danger. We've been getting tips that she's what the dark wizards that are springing up are after. She's what they want. We kept it from you and Harry…because, well…he didn't need any more pressure and I knew in my heart that if we placed her under your care, you would die for her because of Harry. I just never expected you would fight for her because you feel something for her," Lupin admitted. The threats and letters they had been receiving were horrendous, detailed Riley's impending death in excruciating detail. Her apartment was watched every night. All of the aurors had the ability to apparate in her house at will, breaking normal circumstances. Lupin usually sent Kinglsey to her place before she got off work to check for intruders. This had started happening about a month ago.
"Why would someone want to hurt her?" Sirius said incredulously. The reality had hit him like a ton of bricks. In the back of his mind, he was afraid that if he got too close to her, he might be blinded. But he had no idea that he could have allowed something to hurt her because he was too wrapped up in it.
"Take down Potter's closest, and you can make him fall. That's what the idea we are getting is," Lupin sighed, "The boy told you he loved her, didn't he?"
Sirius nodded. Lupin sighed again. He had known for a while, or suspected. The second they were getting these threats, he knew Potter had to feel something for her. And someone knew it.
"Does anyone else know? How would they?" Sirius panicked.
"I just assumed. You know. He told Ron. That's all, I already questioned Weasley about it. He didn't think he let it slip, but any conversation can be overheard," Lupin finished. He didn't know what else to say. The right thing to do would be to report Sirius, seriously question Riley, and possibly have them take a leave as Aurors. But he thought back to the shit he pulled when he was younger. And he thought back to late last night…
He couldn't blame his friend. If he did: He would be a hypocrite.
"Protect her until we have figured this out. Don't you dare touch her like that anymore. I don't care how tempted you are. I am trusting you Sirius, and not doing what you know I should do because I am a fool. But I am giving both of you a second chance to work together like adults, do you understand me?" Lupin said. His voice took on a new tone. Scary, undefined, guttural.
"You have my word Moony," Sirius said and Lupin sucked back his anger. He cleared the spell and walked out of the room. He saw Riley sitting on her small couch in a pink robe, looking confused. Lupin gave her a small smile, Sirius a dark look and then he was gone.
Riley started to sniffle back tears as Sirius came and sat down next to her.
"We're in trouble aren't we?" she asked bleakly and he gently brushed some hair off of her forehead. He looked at her and Lupins' words played in his mind once again. He couldn't believe this girl could be taken from him.
"A little," he smiled, "But it's nothing we can't fix."
"Lupin probably thinks I'm a…I'm a…" she couldn't bring herself to say it. He hugged her close to him and shushed her. He was dealing with a girl who was more innocent than he had previously thought. And Lupin was right, she was his responsibility. He looked at the clock.
"No, not at all. He knows how persuasive I can be," Sirius winked at her, "But for now, get ready for work, I will see you there," Sirius said quickly and apparated. He was scared to leave her, but knew that the department must have a million spells on her place. He was hurt they didn't tell him, and now Harry was the only one who didn't know.
Riley was only a few minutes late to work. Draco said a quick hello to her and judging by her face, he figured that Sirius had told her what was going on. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him as they passed in the hall.
"Riley, I'm so sorry," Draco said. He looked pained. Riley's mouth almost fell open. How could he know? Was she office gossip? She was so embarrassed that Draco knew she had slept with Sirius literally twenty minutes after their date. She blushed.
"No Draco, I'm so so sorry," she said and broke away from him, not able to look him in the face anymore. And why was HE apologizing anyway? Oh Gosh he was such a nice guy…what had she done?
Riley continued her pseudo-walk-of-shame through the hall of their small nook in the ministry. She passed by Hermione who looked like she had been crying. Neville had shut himself in his office. Tonks and Kingsley were in an intense discussion. Mad-Eye was hobbling around cursing. Riley kept on to the end of the hall where her small office was. When she walked in she breathed a sigh of relief that Sirius wasn't in there. She sat down and took another long breath. This morning had all been too much. And she wasn't entirely sure if she could look Lupin in the eye again after he saw her in the skimpiest underthings. She shuddered.
"Riles, we need to talk," Harry said, sneaking into the office. He gulped. And he had used her nickname. So this was either going to be a very good conversation, or a very bad one.
She motioned for him to close the door. He sat down in front of her, he didn't look like he had had much sleep in the past few days. She hadn't really been around him much lately, and when they were around it was awkward or they fought.
She couldn't believe how much had changed in just a few short days. It was mind-numbing.
"What is it Harry?" Riley asked, trying to hide the nerves in his voice. Did he know too?
"I broke up with Cho, Riley, I don't love her," Harry admitted and Riley's heart gave an unexpected lurch. She couldn't figure out if she was relieved or just downright happy about it.
"Harry, I'm proud of you, but that must have been hard. It's good not to string her along, you did the right thing," she said, happy that this wasn't about Sirius. Harry grabbed her hand across the table, pushing aside some old parchment.
"I know, I know, but the thing is, I had to do it. There is someone else. I'm really in love with someone else…" he said, looking into her eyes. All she could think was I slept with your godfather, I slept with your godfather…
"Well, then tell her how you feel," Riley said, still naïve and oblivious. Everyone knew but her.
"I am Riley, don't you get it, I love you," Harry said.
Riley inhaled sharply and ducked towards the wastebasket by her desk. She threw up everywhere.
"Lupin, every one is going insane, this is not a good thing," Tonks swallowed as she pulled Lupin aside. Nothing was getting done. They weren't getting any closer to finding out where the threats were coming from, and the new aurors were acting like children. The whole place had gone to shit in 24 hours time, and she was personally a little worried. If it didn't stop, she knew the minister would be on them presently.
"I know Dora, it's giving me a headache. Something needs to give," Lupin sighed, her pressed his fingers to his temples in attempts to quell his headache. The noise level grew in the small office. He saw Riley and Harry come out of her office. She looked positively sick and he looked shocked. Lupin had enough.
"All of you, listen!" Lupin shouted at them, the whole space came to a screeching standstill. All eyes turned to him, it wasn't very often the quiet man raised his voice.
"I am tired of this madness, every one, pull yourselves together. Harry, take the day off. Hermione do the same. Riley I want you with Tonks this afternoon. Neville and Draco meet me in my office," Lupin shouted. Everyone took a second than began to move. Riley touched Harry's arm.
"Sorry, that wasn't the reaction I wanted to give you. Harry, I feel the same way, I just…" Riley murmered, embarrassed.
"It's just…Draco." Harry said resolutely, shook his head and walked away from her. He grabbed his coat then looked at Hermione, "Let's go," he snapped and the two walked out of the department.
Riley had never felt more confused, or hurt, or scared than at that very moment. She wondered if things would ever be the same again.
A/N: Please please review! I'm taking a break for a few days, so please give me some lovely feedback and I will come back shortly! I love your encouragement and love! xo