Chapter Nine
The next day passed incredibly slowly. Michelle had received three more offers for dates (not counting the numerous times Malfoy had approached her) from two Ravenclaws and another Hufflepuff, and had turned all of them down for the simple reason that they weren't Remus. She knew he probably didn't feel the same way about her, but that didn't keep her from hoping that he actually did return her feelings.
Michelle waited impatiently for the last class of the day (Potions) to end; she was also doing her best to ignore the way Malfoy was looking at her as she stirred their potion. She really wished he would just give up. He was starting to scare her. He hadn't even said a word to her all day; he'd just stared hungrily at her, as if she were a side of beef he was longing to devour. It made her feel slightly ill, bringing up memories she'd much rather forget.
She did her best to focus on her work, wishing with all her might that the class would hurry up and get over. Finally, after spending the past five minutes sneering down at Remus' potion, Professor Abinger announced that it was time to turn in their work. "Finally, we're free," Michelle muttered to Grace as they made their way out of the room, pausing to wait for the others at the door.
"You can say that again," Grace breathed. "I thought that class was going to last forever."
"You and me both," Michelle said. "Malfoy was starting to freak me out, the way he wouldn't stop staring at me." Michelle shuddered as the others approached.
"Well," Grace said as they all walked back to Gryffindor Tower, "at least tonight you'll be able to find out who you're secret admirer is."
"Yeah," Lily said. "Are you sure you don't have any idea who it is?"
"Not a clue," Michelle said, glancing at Remus hopefully. "But I do know who I want it to be."
Jennifer smiled when she caught the glance. "Well, you never know, do you? It could very well be Remus. I mean, think about it. He probably knows you better than anyone, so he'd be the most likely to know who all your favorite poets and flowers are and everything."
"Maybe, but I don't want to get my hopes up if it isn't him." Michelle said, glancing over at Remus one more time as they took a shortcut behind a painting on the third floor that would lead them directly to the Fat Lady's corridor.
"Still," Lily said as they walked a little behind the boys, "I'm willing to bet that Remus is the most romantic of all those idiots over there."
Michelle waited impatiently as eight o'clock drew nearer. She was nervously sitting with Jennifer, Grace, and Lily at dinner doing her best to keep up with the conversation, but it just wasn't working. James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus were nowhere to be found, so the girls just assumed that they were planning some sort of prank and would show up eventually. They never missed meals.
As 7:50 came around, Michelle decided that she had waited long enough, and told the girls she was leaving. They looked up at her excitedly. "Good luck!" Grace said, her face showing how happy she was for her friend.
"Yeah," Jennifer said, smiling broadly. "Hope it isn't Malfoy!"
"Ugh, I don't think I could stand the disappointment if it were," Lily laughed. "It had better be Remus, or else!"
Michelle laughed as she walked out of the Hall to the library.
She failed to notice someone else following her out.
Michelle's heart thudded painfully in her chest as she approached her destination. She was slightly disappointed when the library appeared to be empty. However, it was unlocked, so she went on in, thinking that whoever she was supposed to be meeting might just be a little late. Again, she was so preoccupied with anxiety that she didn't notice as the same person who'd followed her out of the Great Hall slipped into the dark and empty library just behind her.
She did, however, notice as a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her, pulling her deeper into the library. Unbidden, a painful memory flashed before her eyes, and Michelle tried to struggle, tried to reach her wand, but couldn't. Before she knew it, her attacker had slammed her against the wall, causing her to cry out in pain.
"You'll shut up if you know what's good for you, you insolent little bitch," snarled a voice Michelle knew all too well. She was alone in the back of the library with Lucius Malfoy, who now had his wand out. He muttered a spell, and suddenly Michelle couldn't move anymore. Her arms and legs where now tied up with thick ropes, and she fell to the floor as she accidentally overbalanced.
"Let me go, you bastard!" Michelle yelled at the top of her voice, hoping beyond hope that someone would hear her. Malfoy just smirked down at her, enjoying watching her struggle as Michelle writhed, trying in vain to get free of the ropes binding her.
"Oh, I don't think so, my dear," Malfoy said as he put his wand away. "You see, I did warn you that I don't take no for an answer." Then, he was on her, straddling her, allowing his hands to roam over her body, enjoying the way she squirmed beneath him. When Malfoy began to tear at her shirt, Michelle felt tears rolling down her cheeks as she called out for someone to help her. Smirking even more, Malfoy leaned down to whisper in her ear, "No one's coming to help you, Michelle. Everyone else is at dinner."
Suddenly, Michelle remembered that she was supposed to be meeting someone here. She wondered were her secret admirer was now. Then, it occurred to her that this might have been just an elaborate set up. What if it had been Malfoy who'd sent her the letters? What if no one else was coming?
"This is stupid, Remus. Didn't you tell her to meet you at eight? If you don't hurry up, she'll think it was just a trick, and you'll miss your chance!" James yelled in exasperation. He, Sirius, and Peter were currently up in the boy's dormitory doing their best to convince Remus to get over his nerves and go find Michelle. But he wasn't listening.
"But guys, what if she sees it's me and she's disappointed? I don't think I could stand that," Remus said as he paced around the room.
Sirius sighed. "Look, Remus. I'm almost positive she won't be disappointed. Besides, you'll never know if you don't meet her."
"Yeah, and you did promise to meet her, even if she doesn't know you're the one she' supposed to meet." James said. "She'll be upset if no one shows up."
"Yeah, like Prongs said," Peter told Remus. "What if she thinks it's all just a joke? Michelle might end up thinking that no one'll ever like her. You don't want that, do you?"
Remus finally stopped his pacing and looked around at his friends. He sighed in resignation. "All right, I'll go."
Sirius smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit, mate! Now go get her!"
"Yeah, good luck!" James and Peter said as Remus hurried out of the room.
As Remus was hurrying down the dark and seemingly deserted corridors, he went mentally through everything he wanted to say to Michelle. He just hoped she wasn't disappointed. When he approached the library, however, Remus noticed a couple of people standing at the entrance, people who shouldn't have been there.
"Cooke, Lestrange, what are you two doing here? It's after curfew, you shouldn't be out," Remus said as he walked up to them, carefully reaching for his wand in case they decided to cause trouble.
"We could ask you the same thing, Lupin," Andrew sneered. He and Rudolphus also reached for their wands.
"I'm a Prefect, Cooke; I'm allowed to be out after curfew. Now why don't you two run along back to your common room before I have to put you in detention?" Remus said. Just then, however, he heard a loud crash come from inside the library, followed by a scream for help. It was Michelle.
Remus suddenly realized why those two were here. They were standing guard. Acting as fast as he could, Remus shouted the first spell that came to his mind. Not pausing to see the results of his attack, Remus ran into the library. Throwing the doors open, he quickly followed the sound of Michelle's cries to the back of the library, near the Restricted Section.
Michelle kicked and screamed with everything she had. She didn't care if no one could hear her; she wasn't going to give in to Malfoy without a fight. Finally managing to get him off of her, Michelle used a nearby table to pull herself to her feet.
She was sure she heard voices outside the library. If she could just get whoever was out there to hear her, they might be able to help. But as she tried to hobble away, (her feet were still tied) Malfoy got back to his feet and lunged at her once more, causing the both of them to fall into a bookshelf. As they went down with a resounding crash, Michelle let out another cry for help.
"I told you before, girl, no one is coming to help you," Malfoy sneered at her as he began to take off his pants.
"No! Please, don't!" Michelle cried, squeezing her eyes shut as he straddled her once again. "Please just leave me alone!"
Malfoy just laughed cruelly as his hands once again moved over her body, touching her everywhere. Michelle sobbed even harder as his hands found their way up her skirt. "Please," she begged him, "please stop."
"I think I'm going to enjoy this," Malfoy said as he began to remove her skirt.
Suddenly, Michelle saw a blinding flash of red light, coming from the end of the end of the row of books they were in. Then, Malfoy seemed to still, before his weight was lifted off of her. Looking up to see who had come to her rescue, Michelle felt a wave of relief pass through her. It was Remus.
