TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual harassment, bordering on assault (not graphic). Reader discretion advised.

As soon as Thea and George headed out of the love room, Liam was waiting for them. "George, if you would go with my colleague, Marcus here, he'll get you sorted-that way Thea and I can finish our conversation." He was eyeing her the way he had been eyeing George earlier, and he wasn't after money this time.

She felt George tense beside her, and a part of her wanted to ask him to stay, to refuse to be alone with Liam because she could hear Liam's thoughts and knew what he wanted. But if she did that, it could blow their cover. She would just have to find another way out of this situation. "I'll be fine," she said softly so only George could hear her. She could only hope that she was right.

George nodded, though he didn't look happy about it. He turned toward Marcus. "Hey, Flint, long time no see. How've you been? I heard you had to attend Hogwarts an extra year. Umbridge flunk you?" he asked, following the former Slytherin to the other side of the room.

"Why don't we head into the love room?" Liam suggested.

Thea cringed. "Why don't we just talk out here?" Thea asked him, trying to keep her voice calm.

"What I have to say is private Unspeakables business," Liam told her, before grabbing her arm to steer her in the direction he wanted her to go in.

Thea stiffened, but Liam didn't appear to notice.

"Amor revelare," he said, pointing his wand at the doors, and the door to the love room popped open.

Thea tried to pull back, but Liam's grip on her arm tightened. "Come on now," he told her, pulling her into the room. He shut the door behind them.

When he released Thea, she stumbled away from him.

"Now then, where were we?" Liam asked.

Thea righted herself and took a step away from him. This was bad, very bad. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. "Look, me wanting to be more involved in the department notwithstanding..." She managed to get out, despite feeling as if there was no air in her lungs.

"Come on, Thea. You wouldn't have dressed like that if you didn't want to rekindle our relationship."

Really? Why did guys think that women wore dresses just for them? Thea stepped back again, sucking in air and trying to keep calm. "Liam, I made it clear to you eight years ago that under no uncertain circumstances..."

"That was eight years ago, Thea." Liam moved closer. "Surely your opinion of me has changed now. We work together, and..."

Thea shook her head, backing into the fountain of Amortentia. "I watched you kill a house-elf the other day, watched you torture one today and yesterday. You haven't changed. The only thing that's changed is that you've seen me in a dress now."

Liam closed the remaining distance between them to put his arm around her. Thea flinched as his hand moved lower. She tried to move away, but he only held on tighter. "You're not going anywhere."

Thea's gaze darted toward the door, but she couldn't get there-not with Liam in the way. There was no choice. Thea pulled out her wand. "Flipendo," she said quietly. The spell did little more than knock Liam back a few feet and to the floor, but it was enough.

"You-you..." Liam sputtered at her.

"I know," said Thea. She could read his thoughts, and she knew exactly what he planned to do as the result of her little knockback jinx.

"You're going to regret that," Liam threatened from the floor.

"Maybe." Thea was still shaking as she headed for the door, opening it with a flick of her wand-and she very nearly ran into Jax.

"So that's where you keep disappearing to." He blinked, his expression changing from annoyance to concern in a heartbeat. "What happened?"

"Liam." She glanced over her shoulder. "Just look."

"Legilimens," Jax muttered, and after a moment, his eyes widened. "Go. I'll buy you some time-give you a head start."

"What about George?"

Jax shook his head. "Let me worry about George."

Thea nodded and made a beeline for the door. Only when she had reached it-and Burke, who was waiting to escort anyone out-did she look over her shoulder. Jax was trying to talk to Liam, but Liam was moving steadily away from him and across the room.

"Leaving already?" Burke asked.

Thea merely nodded. "You don't have to escort me-I know my way out."

Burke shrugged. "Okay sure." He really had no reason to be suspicious thankfully.

Stay calm. Stay calm, she told herself as she fought the urge to look over her shoulder.

Burke stepped aside, and Thea cast a non-verbal spell to find the correct door and headed for the lift. How long did it take to call the Aurors? She didn't want to wait to find out. Even with Jax attempting to stall Liam, she didn't think it would take him long.

As soon as she was out, she headed to a nearby alley, disillusioned herself, and disapparated.