A/N: Sorry it took so long. I'm dealing with a final right now (I'm taking a half semester class). Things are a little crazy this semester! Yikes! Anyways, thank you all for your lovely reviews (which is a joke, because I didn't get any...) and it was the turning chapter, too. Oh well. I know I'm losing a lot of fans due to the long period of time between chapters.

Anyways, there's a little note to this one. I know Lucius Malfoy doesn't know Remus is a werewolf in canon, but it just worked well here. Enjoy! :)

These characters aren't my magical doing; they're J.K. Rowling's.

Cricket and Max Mann (and their parents), Emily Steele, Charlie Ashfield, and Professors Mac, Shore, and Zinski are part of my spell :)


Dear Remus,

I'm sorry to say this, but I've met someone else. I've known him for a while and we've decided to get married. You're probably wondering who. Lucius Malfoy. I know we didn't get along the greatest at first, but I've gotten to know him and he's a really great guy. So it didn't work out with us, but it was never anything very serious.

Best Wishes

Cricket

Remus read the letter over and over, hoping the letters would rearrange into something other than what he was reading. He hoped what he was reading was just some kind of cover, but it wasn't. This can't be happening, he thought. He looked at the letter again, this time at the handwriting. It was Cricket's handwriting, a little sloppy, but it was definitely hers.

He finally realized what he was reading was the truth. The letter slipped from his fingers and floated to the ground. His eyes followed it until it landed soundlessly. Cricket... She... How could she...?

"What's wrong Moony? Is she standing you up?" Sirius smiled. Like Cricket, everyone was getting tired of Remus' constant reminders to come next week.

Remus didn't answer. He didn't even acknowledge Sirius had spoken.

"Remus?" James asked softly. "What did she say?"

Remus' only answer was to lower his head into his hands and his shoulders shook.

James picked up the letter and read it out loud for everyone.

"I knew she was no good. From the very beginning I knew she was a—"

"Sirius," Lily silenced him and moved to Remus. She hugged him tightly and asked, "Are you sure she wrote it?"

"It's in her handwriting," Remus finally answered. His eyes peered over the top of his hands and they were filled with tears. He unconsciously reached into his pocket and took out the small velvet box he had been carrying around for a week. It was an engagement ring. He was going to propose to her on Christmas, but it looked like all thoughts of that were gone.

"I don't think she wrote it," Peter exclaimed quickly. He hated seeing his friend grieving so much.

"Me either," James murmured. Everyone looked at him. "Think about it. She says she's getting married to Malfoy, who technically owns her."

A snarl came from Remus. "Don't say that!"

"Easy Remus. James has a point," Lily soothed him. "What if something happened to Cricket when she was at her house? What if Malfoy contacted her, or threatened her in some way. She might have been forced into writing the letter."

Remus looked at them with a look of hope. "I have to go to her mum's house."

"Wait," Peter squeaked. When everyone looked at him, he scrambled for an explanation. "Maybe we should wait. We've been fighting Malfoy on this and it hasn't worked out. Maybe we play along until we can pay off her dept?"

James smiled. "Great idea, Wormtail. Why don't we still invite her and Malfoy next week and we can see how she acts around him. We can tell if this letter is bogus or not."

"Don't worry, Remus. You'll still be able to marry her," Lily hugged him tighter.

"So we need to get some more galleons together so we can free her.

--

Two-hundred Sixty-two... Cricket's mind drifted to Remus once again and lost count. She was desperate to get her mind off of the anguish and tried counting the ceiling tiles. She could imagine Remus' face when he opened her letter and another silent, body-jolting sob broke through her. Her chest ached so bad she felt like clawing out the infected area.

She just barely heard the door click open behind her before she heard his faint footsteps approach her. The bed dipped behind her and his hand grazed her arm. She shied away, "Please, don't."

"I don't like to see you this way," his voice was soft and mournful.

Cricket only heard the words, though. "I'm sorry this is causing you such pain," she spat bitterly.

She expected him to cuff her or rebuke her, but he remained silent and still. "Walk with me." It was a statement, but had an underlying question in it.

"Must I?"

"Only if you wish."

Cricket rolled over on her back and studied him. His hair was pulled back and tied with a black ribbon, allowing her to read his face clearly. His brow was scrunched with worry, his eyes held a hint of cluelessness, and his lips were turned down into desperation. All emotions a Malfoy stubbornly refused to express. Yet here Lucius Malfoy was laying it all bare for her to see. "Alright."

She allowed him to hold her hand as he led her through a twisting maze of stairs and corridors until they were standing in front of two large doors. They opened by themselves and gave Cricket the view of a large ballroom. There were windows across one wall, but all of the heavy drapes were pulled closed. She could barely make out the grand chandelier and intricate wooden floor.

Malfoy released her hand so she could explore and she slowly walked to one of the windows and opened it. Light stretched into the room, filling every corner and crevice. She moved towards the center of the room, feeling an odd peace engulf her almost like the light engulfing the room. She turned to face Malfoy, who had moved towards the window she'd opened. He was staring at her with an odd expression. "Do you like?"

"Yes," Cricket whispered.

He held out his hand to her again. She thought of refusing but Voldemort's voice broke through her subconscious:

"Every time you do wrong, he feels it."

Her body took over and she placed her hand in his as she neared him. His hand was ice-cold, completely opposite of Remus' fire-hot ones. Stop comparing them, she shouted at herself. She watched him reach into his pocket and pull out a small jewelry box. "Malfoy, please—"

"I told you to call me Lucius." He opened the box and took out the large diamond ring. Cricket thought it was quite gaudy, but didn't protest when his slid it onto her ring finger. "Marry me."

Cricket looked up at him. "Why are you doing this?" she asked tearfully.

"Because I like you. I want you by my side, always. I want to see you rounded with my child—our child," he said sincerely. He lifted his hand to wipe away her tears, but lingered to stroke her cheek. Cricket tried to move away, but found his other hand was already supporting the back of her head. Before she could stop it, Malfoy's lips descended onto hers. Cricket pushed on his chest with all her might, but it did nothing against his strength and his hands were keeping her face connected with his.

Just as suddenly she felt her control slipping. What's going on? N-No! Of all times for there to be a full moon! The hands on his chest suddenly gripped the loose fabric of his shirt and pulled him closer, making him stumble. While Malfoy regained his balance, Cricket took control of the kiss and leaned into him, causing them both to stumble against the window. By now Malfoy had regained his senses and was responding just as eagerly. Cricket began scratching his chest lightly while he bit her bottom lip gently, causing Cricket to regain her control.

She immediately jumped back away from him. They were both flushed, and Cricket didn't doubt her eyes were a bright red. She rubbed them frantically, completely ashamed of herself, before looking back to Malfoy. He was still short of breath and leaning against the window.

Before he could comment, there was a squeaky voice near the entrance. "Young Master Malfoy, Master Malfoy wishes you in his office," said a small house elf wearing what looked like a pillowcase.

Malfoy slowly braced his hand against the wall as he stood straight. He straightened his clothes and stared at Cricket as he walked by. He didn't say anything as he left. "Young Missus Malfoy—"

"Did they tell you to call me that?" she interrupted the house elf. When he shook his head negatively she said softer, "Please don't. I am not a Malfoy."

The house elf tugged his giant ears harshly and scampered towards her, "You mustn't say such things loudly! Young Master might hear. Dobby hears Master speaking of bad things. Dobby hears friends of Young Missus Malfoy are in grave danger. If Master or Young Master know Dobby said anything, Masters would beat Dobby— Dobby shouldn't have said that..." he whispered panicked. He suddenly fell forward, stiff as a board, and continued to beat his head against the floor, shouting, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

Cricket crouched down, "Please, stop! You did nothing wrong in telling me. What else did he say?"

"Master says Young Missus Malfoy will listen to save her friends."

"Thank you for telling me, Dobby. You should go before you get into trouble—"

"Leave Dobby," Malfoy said from the entrance. Cricket stood up and faced him while Dobby ran from the room with his nose scraping against the floor. "You're a werewolf?"

Cricket's eyes widened in surprise. "How—"

"Your father had a loose tongue. He let it slip to my father during a night of gambling. Which just happened to land you here as well." He moved closer. "The side effects of werewolves...are they true?"

Cricket bit her tongue. That was the last thing she wanted him to know.

"I'm guessing yes, by both your lack of answer and your actions a few minutes ago." He smirked when she lowered her flushed face. "This explains so much."

"What do you mean?"

"You and Remus. I'm guessing he is a werewolf as well. It explains why you both went missing for a period of time and came back beaten. I finally understand."

Cricket stared at him warily. She had a feeling Remus being a werewolf as well wasn't what this speech was about.

"So you and Remus never really did like each other."

"I love him," Cricket defended strongly.

"Ah, but you only think you do. Think about it, dearest Cricket. You met each other just before a full moon. Hormones were raging and it was convenient for you both. You both needed a release, so you turned to each other. You couldn't have done it otherwise, without having to share your dirty secret. Do you think you would have been together if you weren't werewolves? You're both so introverted you would have never talked to each other."

"Stop it!" Cricket shouted through her tears.

"Do you really think it would have last? How long do you think it would take before he realized he didn't love you, but someone else? When he realized it was just easy to be with you."

"I said stop!" she shoved past him and ran from the room. Somehow she found Malfoy's room and jumped onto the bed, her sobs renewed.

It's not true! He told me he loved me, it isn't true! Despite her thoughts, Malfoy's voice kept ringing in her ears: "It was convenient..." "It was just easy to be with you."

Then just as quickly, Malfoy's image changed to blood red eyes:

"Every time you do wrong, he feels it."

"But I think I shall start with Mr. Lupin. He seems to be your favorite."

She sat up quickly, thinking of Max and Remus. She had just run away from Malfoy, which would most likely end up hurting Max. She had to find him and apologize.

"It is time you learned to live your life for others"

Just as she stood up Malfoy came into the room. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have run like that." When Malfoy only stared at her blankly, she grasped at him, "Please don't hurt Max! Please!"

"What about Max?" he asked.

"Please don't hurt him!" she repeated.

Malfoy gripped her arms and lowered them both to the bed. "Calm down, Cricket. What about your brother?"

"Voldemort has him. He said he'd hurt Max if I ever did anything wrong. I'm sorry; I won't run from you again—"

"No, don't apologize." He gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. "I never told them to take your brother. I'll work my hardest to get him out of there. I promise."

Cricket looked up at him tearfully. "You'd do that? Won't he get really mad at you?"

"Yes, but I don't want you to lose your family."

For the first time she initiated contact between them more than holding hands. She launched herself into his arms and held him tightly, "Thank you."

They lounged in his room the rest of the night, not really saying a lot. Just before they got into bed he broke the silence. "Umm, Cricket?"

"Hmm?"

"About werewolves..."

Cricket looked up to study him. "What do you want to know?"

"Do you always act like that before the full moon?"

Cricket managed an affirmative squeak while blushing furiously.

--

Malfoy was always a heavy sleeper, but for some reason that night he jumped at the slightest sound or movement. So when Cricket started crying softly, also causing the bed to shake a little, he was immediately awake. He was already curled against her back with an arm around her, but he lifted himself to see her face. "Cricket?"

"My Mum," she managed.

Malfoy tensed. "Did the Dark Lord...?" Cricket nodded. "Sweet Cricket," he rested his forehead against her temple. "I'll get Max out of there."

Neither got a lot of sleep that night. Cricket was finally able to mourn for the death of her mother and her missing brother. Malfoy stayed up with her, holding her, whispering comfort into her ear and grieving with her.


A/N: Hope all is well! :)

Review? :) Please?