Title: "I Plead The Fifth"
Authoress: Invader Nence, formally: Give the World for Mr. Black
Fandom: Harry Potter
Chapter Info: 4/13
Rating: PG-13, just b/c slash should be supervised… ^.^ (A bit of language, though! haha!)
Warning: Slash. M/M. ^_______^ It's harsh. ^_____^
Pairing(s): JP/SB, RL/SB, LM/JP, and SS/RL.
Year: WMMP+L, Seventh Year
Spoiler(s): Uuuuuuuuuh? ::Shrug:: Nodda, I guess!
Dedication: This is for you, Amandi!!!!!!!! ::Hugs:: You r0x!
Disclaimer: I don't 0w/\/z it… ::Sob::
Summary: "I plead the fifth!" is the cheater's way out of answering a question. But what if that's the only answer?
A/N: REMUS AND SEVERUS ARE TOGETHER THIS CHAPTER!!! THERE IS SLIGHT SNOGGING!!!! I PROMISE IT!!! You've been warned! ^.~ Always--Ms. Snuffles.
Extra note: HUGE thanks for Amanda, whose sister has now joined the threatened… Y'know you love her! ^_____^ haha!
Chapter Four: The Burden of Desire
*Thursday, October 25th*
(At dinner.)
*Remus' PoV*
He was sitting right next to me. It made me twitch. It made me choke. It made me happy. You could see it in my pants how happy I was, actually. I kept adjusting myself on the wooden bench to hide my happiness.
"So, Moony," Peter squeaked from across the table, "Where were you last night?"
I gulped. "What do you mean, Peter?" I glanced around nervously. Sirius, on my left, was wringing his hands under the table. Lily, next to my right side, was lost in James' eyes, who sat across from her, and beside Peter.
"Your bed was empty… not that I looked or anything, but your cloak was gone, too," his voice was tweaking out.
"Pettigrew!" I snapped, sounding much madder than I had intended. "Stalker," I hissed, reddening at the idea of Wormtail's greasy hands fondling my beautiful possessions.
"What? I was worried about you!" he covered.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen you since---" James stopped himself. He had almost said, 'since you caught Sirius and I in the bathroom snogging'. In fact, this was the first time since Transfiguration that morning that all four of us had been together. Sirius and James had dropped Divination over the summer, and I had been transferred to Advanced Divination. Padfoot had taken up another Care of Creatures course, while Prongs had jumped at the chance to try the new class called "The Complete History of Quidditch".
"Since…?" Peter prompted, never knowing when to stop talking.
"Transfiguration!" Sirius said a bit too quickly.
"I just went for a late-night walk, that's all," I insisted, rubbing my sweaty palms together. "I didn't feel good after afternoon classes, so I walked around the perimeter…"
"Oh," the rat sounded disappointed.
"Well, I best be off to bed… seeing as I didn't get much sleep," I mumbled, waving my wand at my half-eaten food, making it disappear. "See you all tomorrow at Care of Magical Creatures!" I stood without a word and didn't even hear the footsteps come up behind me.
-*!*-
*Sirius' PoV*
I had to follow him. I still hadn't gotten a chance to talk to the rascal after the comments he had made yesterday to Lily. He had almost given away James' and my secret, and he wasn't about to get away with it. He might be my best mate, but James was my potential lover, and there was a huge difference.
Not much had happened since I had left Narcissa in the hallway. In Transfiguration, all four of us had been separated and Professor McGonagall had not been in the mood to deal with us four. Our afternoon classes were split up, care of Professor McGonagall again, who didn't think we could handle our studies if we were in the same room. So, the only classes we had together were Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, and Charms, all of which we had with the Slytherins.
Now, following Remus, I realized that a werewolf has to mate before its seventeenth birthday. Remus' seventeenth birthday was… I racked my brain for an answer… in two weeks! I wondered who he was looking at for a potential lifelong girlfriend. I knew he was terrified of letting anyone know his secret, but I also knew he took all the principles of being a werewolf very seriously.
"Moony!" I yelled, causing him to jump.
He turned around slowly, face red, "Padfoot…"
"Hey… I need to talk to you about a few things," I mumbled, watching him turn his back to me and keep walking. "Hey!"
"I don't have time for this, Sirius… I have to sleep…"
"I'm sure you do, Moony, but we've got things to talk about!" I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him, careful not to irritate him as much as possible.
"Right here, right now, or I'm not talking," he hissed, scaring me. Normally, he'd do anything for a friend, but now he was hissing and going just about mad!
"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Remus," I warned, glancing around at the doors to the Great Hall and the long corridors surrounding us.
"Fine, then we're not talking," he stated plainly, beginning to walk off again.
"Moony!" I screamed through gritted teeth. "Come on! I'll talk here, fine… But, don't say I didn't warn you…"
He stopped, but kept his back to me.
"Remus… what you saw… between Prongs and I… that… That's enough to startle anyone! But, you cannot tell a soul, you here me? If word gets back… that, well, I'm not straight, well… my reputation can't handle it…"
"Maybe you should've thought of that before you went of snogging James, then!" he snapped.
"Now, wait just a minute! You, Remus J. Lupin, the one who told me to settle down and stop shaggin' around! You are mad at me for doing just that?!"
"I didn't mean with one of our friends!" he countered.
"What if he makes me happy, Remus?" I asked, feeling genuinely concerned about Remus' rage.
"Well," he said, looking at me and letting me see the tears that were on the edge of dripping angrily down his saddened face. "What if I could make you happy?" His eyes widened at his own words, and I could feel mine mirroring the effect.
"What?" I stammered.
He turned back around and started running toward the Slytherin dungeons. I was still gaping at his quickly-retreating back, wondering what the hell had just happened.
-*!*-
*Lucius' PoV*
Severus was catching onto me, I'm afraid. My showing up and leaving at odd times was beginning to make him wonder. He always had questions for me lately and I was running out of lame excuses.
In Transfiguration that morning, the Gryffindor Four was separated and it would've been my chance to work with James, to let him think about where I got my information from, but Professor McGonagall put me with the Squib of a wizard, Pettigrew. I didn't see the damn Potter until just now, as I stood in the shadows outside the Great Hall, watching him.
The mood at his table was tense and I saw Remus get up to leave first, Sirius following. I retreated into the darkness, a pillar blocking most of the sound. I leaned as close as I could, trying to hear them while still concealing myself.
"… I need to talk… a few things," I heard Sirius mumble, before he yelled, "Hey!"
"… time for this… sleep…" This was Lupin now.
"… sure you… got things… about!"
"Right here, right now…"
"… good idea, Remus…"
"… not talking…" This was starting to get interesting. I leaned closer and strained my ears. Lupin turned and faced me now and I could see the tears forming in his pale hazel eyes.
"Moony! … I'll talk… don't say… warn you…" There was an intense silence. "Remus… between Prongs and I… startle anyone! … cannot tell a soul… not straight… reputation can't handle…"
"Maybe you should've thought of that before you went off snogging James, then!" Lupin sounded furious.
"… wait… you, Remus… settle down… shagging around… mad at me… doing that?!"
"I didn't mean with one of our friends!"
"… me happy, Remus?"
"Well…" Lupin faced Sirius again. "What if I could make you happy?" Sirius' face was priceless and I could only imagine Remus' face wasn't much different.
"What?"
I saw Remus pause for a moment before running away, toward the dungeons. Sirius stood there, dumbstruck, before jogging up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower.
I grinned maliciously, realizing just how twisted this situation really was. I leaned back against the stone wall, thinking about how to talk to James alone. Sirius and Remus had taken care of each other. Peter, Lily, Severus, and Narcissa were the only ones that I had to deal with. Severus and Narcissa were easy, now it was only those Gryffindors. I stood straight and walked toward the Great Hall doors, motioning to Severus and Narcissa.
-*!*-
*James' PoV*
Sirius either was ashamed and continually avoiding me, or he fancied Remus. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure which one I preferred.
I leaned across the table and brushed a stray hair out of Lily's beautiful green eyes. She was my steady girlfriend and if Sirius was going to be a total git, then I might as well settle for what I had.
Settle? Since when did James Potter settle?!
"Lil'?" I said in my sugar-sweet voice.
"Yeah, James?" she smiled.
"I've gotta talk to Sirius about Quidditch practice… Mind if I jet?"
"It's no big deal… Peter and I have to study for Divination tonight, anyway!" Peter grinned, obviously thrilled at the idea of alone time with a girl, even if the girl was dating me, one of his best friends.
"Okay… thanks!" I leaned closer, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, standing up and making my way out of the Great Hall.
Outside, Narcissa and Malfoy were arguing. Apparently, they never spent any time together anymore. I, personally, suspected Malfoy to be shagging some Seventh Year on the side. The young Black glared at her boyfriend, stomping off in an angry huff.
I noticed Snape step out of the shadows, as if next in line. That sneaky git never knew when to mind his own business.
"Severus," Malfoy drawled.
"Lucius," was Snape's slimy reply.
"Tonight, I wish you to keep Narcissa company… I have more pressing matters that need to be taken care of…" It was only then that I noticed the triumphant gleam in Malfoy's eye. He was trying to get rid of everyone!
"As you wish," Snape said simply, heading in the direction of the Slytherin dungeons.
"Potter," he addressed me. I gulped, realizing he knew I was standing there the whole time.
"Yes, Malfoy?" I replied, trying not to twitch.
"I need to speak with you… Where are your henchmen?"
"Henchmen?" I laughed. "If you mean my friends, they are all preoccupied at the moment… What do you need?"
"To speak with you, as I have mentioned… Follow me, to the dungeons, if you may…" He began walking the same way that Snape, Narcissa, and, had I been there moments ago, Remus had also gone.
"Speak with me? Why, to what do I owe such a pleasure?"
"Nothing at all, Potter… I just have something of yours you might want back," he murmured, making my body shudder.
"Oh?" I tried to hide my fear, as we arrived in front of a small closet door. "In here?"
"No, with me… this closet just hasn't been used in a long time, that's all… I can guarantee us privacy…"
"Privacy? What of mine do you have that needs privacy?"
"Something personal, I assure you…" I gulped, as he reached into his bag.
-*!*-
*Snape's PoV*
Lucius and Potter were following me. I could here them. I could also smell Remus. His smell was around here somewhere. The two behind me were slowing down and Remus' scent was getting stronger. I knew I'd be caught if I didn't run… or hide? I glanced around and saw a partially concealed door. I yanked of the handle, revealing a small broom closet. The Remus-scent was still strong and I figured he had been around here, as I settled myself among the Quidditch supplies.
I heard their voices loud and clear through the door. I whispered a quick spell so I could see through.
"Oh?" James sounded terrified as they arrived in front of the door. "In here?"
'Oh, God… please, GOD, not in here!' I willed in my mind.
"No, with me… this closet just hasn't been used in a long time, that's all… I can guarantee us privacy…" Lucius' voice was confident and I snorted to myself.
"Privacy? What of mine do you have that needs privacy?" James just kept getting more nervous as Lucius got more confident.
"Something personal, I assure you…" I heard James gulp, as Lucius reached into his bag and pulled out a small blue book.
"That's my…" James was scared out of his wits. I was thoroughly enjoying this.
"Yes, Potter… that's your…" Lucius' grin was wicked.
I heard a faint gasp behind me and I jumped, startled at the presence of another person in the closet. I saw bright hazel eyes glowing in the darkness behind me. 'Remus!' my mind registered, explaining the strong scent.
"What are you doing here?" he hissed at me, eyes narrowing. I couldn't handle it. We were too close. My mind couldn't process anything besides how great he smelled and how soft his lips looked. I couldn't control myself. Which is probably why my mouth was suffocating his, a moment later in a very sloppy, very wet, and very spontaneous kiss.
-*!*-
A/N: Oh, I'm evil! Review! Please! ^_^
-Invader Nence.