Chapter 4: Miss Helena

An exclusive Ministry event had been announced and it was clear that the potential for Death Eater activity would be enormous. While everyone's attention was diverted to the event, the Death Eaters could slip by unnoticed.

This led to the next problem: of course Dumbledore would be there, but all other Order members would be noticeable and out of place there. All except for Remus and November.


As Remus pulled a sweater over his head, someone knocked on the door to his bedroom. He was surprised to see November there when he answered it. She had avoided his room since they had cleaned the house all those months ago.

"Favor, kind sir?"

"You've been talking to your grandfather again haven't you? Come in."

"Maybe," November passed Remus, keeping a slight distance from him. There had been a silent agreement of distance since the trip to Hogsmeade. November knew the proxy kiss had been pushing it and Remus was ashamed to admit how much he wished things had gone further.

"What's the favor?" Remus pulled up a chair for her and perched on the edge of his bed.

November pulled scissors out of her pocket, long and sharp. "I need someone to cut my hair."

"Molly…?"

"Is out. She took them to the station today."

"Ah yes…Sirius…?"

"Is drunk as hell. He'll take my ear off. It's for tonight, for the Ministry thing." One look at his face made it clear to her that Remus did not want to be involved. "Forget it. I can-"

"It's not that," he interrupted. "I just…your hair is so lovely and if I messed it up I would never forgive myself!"

"You can't though. It's so thick! It just needs to be here." She indicated somewhere halfway down her upper arm, a good six inches shorter.

Remus combed his own hair out of his eyes. "You cannot hate me if I ruin it then. Turn around."

"Oh thank you!" Pulling a brush out of her pocket, November began to brush out the thick brown strands. "I don't trust magical cuts. This is much better."

"We'll see." Remus's pocket handkerchief was transfigured into a cape and draped around her shoulders.

Cautiously taking hold of a section of hair, he gently measured out the right amount and made the first cut. November began to giggle and he immediately jumped back.

"What?"

"I was just thinking how funny it would be if I screamed or something. But I thought you might stab me. And I would probably deserve it."

"Wench! You certainly would!' But he lightly tapped her nose and smiled down at her.

After some silence, broken only by the snip of scissors, November decided to pose a question that had tumbled around her mind for a while. "Remus, why did you teach?"

"Sorry?"

"Why did you teach?"

He paused in his cutting. He knew he could trust her but was now really the time to 'break the news'? Another day would be more suitable, when fewer sharp things were around.

"I enjoy teaching. I enjoy the freshness of minds that are interested in learning and I enjoy giving students what they need to survive in our darkening world."

"So you wanted Dark Arts?"

"It was what I enjoyed most as a boy at Hogwarts and something I feel I am fairly good at."

"I always pictured you as a book tester or librarian," November teased gently.

"Jobs of interest no doubt. But I wanted to teach."

"I admire that. I have no patience and you are all patience. And they knew that about you too."

Again Remus stopped cutting to look at her. "How do you know that?"

"The Weasleys have been spilling their secrets to me since before they were Hogwarts students, m'dear," she answered with a sophisticated air.

Remus smiled to himself; it was a compliment indeed and considering his current position – essentially barred from teaching – it would be a treasured one.

"How have you known the Weasleys for so long? They were all above and below our years."

"Titus…" The name was a breath and Remus knew instantly this was the mystery man, the dead man the Boggart had impersonated.

"He was…?"

"My fiancé."

Remus had not been expecting that. The scissors slipped and he nicked his finger. "You're engaged?"
"I was. He's dead. Has been for some time."

The haircut was finished and Remus shook off the cape before taking her hands in his own. Her mouth twitched spastically and she squeezed his hands tightly.

"Sorry. I doubt my misfortunes are of any interest to anyone," she mumbled, not meeting his eyes.

"On the contrary. I have been curious for some time but it is hardly polite conversation to ask."

With a shaky breath November began in one long flow of words: "Titus Freyson was a Hufflepuff and the sweetest man I ever met. He invented charms for the Ministry. I was assigned to test them. That's how we met. He was younger than me and Charlie Weasley was his closest friend. Titus was killed by Death Eaters five years ago. I moved in with the Weasleys 'to help around the house' but largely because Charlie knew I had been cut from the Auror program. It was too much trying to grieve and study. Arthur found me a position as a secretary in the Ministry. He was able to pull strings since we are both Pure Blood families and had me situated under Mad-Eye. I resumed Titus's research – he believed that there were rare magical objects that the Death Eaters wanted and were just floating around – and was killed, same as him. Mad-Eye found me in a park in Canterbury after I survived my death and brought me here."

"Your ring. It's from him then?"

November nodded. "I can't even look at the engagement ring. But this he gave to me the day before he died." The pearly silver ring shone up at the pair.

They sat in silence for some time before Remus spoke. "Thank you."
"For what?" She looked shocked.

"For trusting me with something so personal as loss."

Their eyes met and he wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I haven't told anyone that story since I started working for Mad-Eye," she spoke into his shoulder.

"How long ago was that?"

"Five years."

Remus knew at that moment that he had to tell her what he was and soon. If she trusted him with so much, he could not refuse her his own secret.


"The two of you need to get going!" Arthur's voice echoed up the stairwell to Remus and November's rooms.

Remus hurried down at the warning. New dress robes had been gotten for him, against his protests, and they were perfection. He had combed his hair back out of his face and it hung to the sides, showing the carved features of his face. A groomed five 'o clock shadow added to the effect, making him very attractive almost in spite of himself.

"Look at you," teased Sirius, ribbing him roughly. "How could November resist?"

"What about me?"

Remus looked up toward her voice on the stairs and tried not to gape. Her hair was back to red and had been done in some sort of twist to the side of her head. The rest hung in ringlets down her shoulder. But the dress was the real sight, low and scooping in backless black satin. The back, chest, and throat were covered in a sheer black with silver stitch work swirls working through them and down the side of the dress.

"Wow." Sirius took her hand to help her down the stairs. "I mean really wow, 'Vember."

Molly bustled into the room and cooed over the dress. Grabbing Remus she placed him next to November. "Don't they look the perfect couple, Arthur?"

November went scarlet and tried to hide behind her hair. Sirius sniggered and Arthur tried to think of a way to change the topic.

"You should probably change my face," Remus offered feebly.

"Indeed." She coughed and began. But right before her wand pointed at him Remus saw a glint in her eye, sharp and cold.

The sensation was always bizarre and he had begun to guess what he would look like based on the feel of it all. He could feel his skin tighten and his jaw square out. Someone younger, which was never a sad change, Remus thought.

When she had finished, Molly gasped aloud. "My dear, are you sure that's wise?"

"Let them look their ghosts in the eyes. It's the least they deserve."

Remus turned to face the mirror and was greeted with the face of the dead man from the Boggart's shape. He was her fiancé. Meeting her eyes he understood her purpose: he had reminded her why she was here and it had sparked her spite.

"It's not him anyway. It's still Remus. They could never place either one of them based on this."

"Well then, here are your ID papers and tags. Remus you're the photographer; try to take pictures of anything that could be of use. November, you're our new lead journalist for human interest. It should give you both enough room to poke around without too much attention."

November and Remus placed the Daily Prophet papers and tags in pockets and clipped to clothes.

"Figure out your story and stick to it," Arthur continued. "Whatever seems natural enough. Now get going!"

The couple was ushered out and into the night. They began to walk down the street, needing to get out of the Muggle crowded street before they could Apparate.

"I'll go by Helena –" November began once out of earshot of the Muggles.

"Your middle name."

November smiled at her companion. "You remember everything."

"Well, you told me."

"Only once!"

She could have sworn she saw a pink glow to his cheeks but it could have also been the cold air.

"Then I'll go by John, my own middle name. Should be easy enough."

Pausing they added their 'names' to the tags they wore. John Fforde and Helena Everdeen.

"I need you to promise me something," November said abruptly in a very serious voice.
"Any thing at all," Remus answered without a pause.

Her heart fluttered. If only.

"Should you notice me trapped with some crazy person, drunk, or overly sexual male, please save me by any means necessary!"

Remus let out a loud barking laugh. "Is this a serious concern?"

"Completely! I attract them and I do not know why! You must promise!"

"I swear on my life I would save you from a million men." He delivered the words with a silly air that covered half of their conversations, but he felt it more deeply than he would admit.

"Shall we?" 'Helena' held her hand out to him.

There was a crack and they were gone.


The ball was good enough, though neither took much interest in the event itself. Their eyes were for two purposes: 1) scouting out any activity that could be useful and 2) each other.

"They must work together often. Look at how he stares at her," one witch whispered as Remus passed by her.

November was better at playing the socialite but her glances were not as rare as she would have herself believed.

Some information was gathered in the overhearing of conversations and legitimately interesting stories were gathered by November; she almost wished she were really writing this story for the Prophet.

The time drew on them to disappear and scout out the unoccupied areas of the Ministry.

Unfortunately, a rather grabby middle aged wizard had cornered November out of Remus's vision. She had been trapped by him for the better part of fifteen minutes when November finally gave up and sent a Patronus after Remus. It was not subtle but it would not be out of place; she had seen it done by others in the same situation.

She was completely unaware that this was the chance another wizard had been waiting for.


The silvery owl caught Remus's attention quickly. "Hey! Why don't you make good on that promise you dope!" it hissed at him in November's voice before evaporating away. Glancing around he made out November on the far side of the room. He began toward her, but half way across the room he froze. The sight before him nearly stopped his heart.


"Ah, dearest. I was wondering where you had gone."

At first the silky voice did not register with November; she was just glad someone had taken pity on her. But as the hand took her own and she followed it up to the face of the owner she would have gladly gone back to Mr. Octopus (as she had dubbed him in her mind).

Lucius Malfoy returned her gaze evenly. He wore silvery robes embroidered in black, which matched hers as if they had planned this. His long white blonde hair hung in a loose but very neat ponytail. He was stunning as always, like a hooded viper.

Lucius slipped an arm around her tenderly and kissed the crook of her neck affectionately. Goosebumps broke out on her skin and she fought the reflex to jump away. The other wizard balked and stammered.

"You will excuse us I'm sure," Malfoy drawled before gently leading November away.


Remus felt alternating waves of sick panic and hot anger as he watched Lucius lead November to the dance floor. This was multiple levels of bad. The goal had been to not attract any attention let alone the attentions of a head Death Eater!

Remus was in fits. He could not stay here and just stare at her; it was too obvious. But to leave her alone with that vulture… He headed quickly out into the hall. He would wait some time here and then go back.

Besides, the sight of them together made him want to put his wand through Lucius's eye.


November had never been a good dancer but Lucius was an excellent lead.

"Forgive me, but I saw you could use the assistance," he said, taking November's hand in his. His hands were large and rough, which surprised her.

"I appreciate the rescue, Mr. Malfoy." November forced herself to sound charming. If she played this right it could help them all in the future and it was worth the discomfort.

"Not mister. You make me sound old and distant," he smiled easily at her. How much older than her was he anyway? She was clearly younger, but not so much younger.

"Then what shall I call you?" November forced herself to maintain eye contact. Dark witches did not stare at the floor and that was exactly what she would have to be for the remainder of her time with him. She straightened and her demeanor changed from laughing charm to proud charm.

"Lucius? A man lucky enough to see you again?"

November could not stop herself from blushing; she was still herself no matter how she pretended.

"Perhaps too forward," Lucius backtracked smoothly. "Let us begin with your name."
"Put your mind at rest on that count," she purred, feeling ill. "I am Helena Everdeen."

"Lovely." His hand moved from her waist to her back, pulling her subtly closer to him. She realized that the danger in Lucius Malfoy was not what she had long thought. The danger was that he was genuinely charming, that if he wanted you to like him it would be hard to resist. "Your robes are conveniently similar to my dress. How might that have happened?"

Lucius smiled at the playfulness in her tone. "Quick transfiguration was perfectly satisfactory. I thought it might lend to the credibility of the lie. You are here with the Prophet?"
"Quite astute. You use your eyes well."

"You put them to good use."

November decided to try a different approach. Winning his favor was one thing, but giving him reason to seek her out was dangerous. If she could offend him just enough maybe she could get away in one piece. "Your attention seems an easy creature to catch, Lucius. What value could I possibly give that?"

The dance ended but it was clear he wanted to stay with her. She allowed herself to be lead toward the center of the room.

"My attention is not so easy to catch. You have had it for some time."

"Shallow attention it must be then," she replied quickly. "You cannot possibly have good intentions."

"Not so bad as you might think."

"That is not what I am accustomed to hearing. Past accusations might attest to that as well."

Lucius stepped menacingly toward her and she realized she had crossed a line; this was a Ministry event and no time to provoke his anger.

November needed to regain the favor he had expressed. Taking a deep breath, she closed the distance between them, her body pressed to his. She was tall for a woman and it was to her benefit, as their faces were now quite close.

"Not that I mind the thought," she added in an undertone. "I appreciate…strength of will and dedication to a cause in a man."

Lucius caught what she was hinting at quickly. "And yet your job – "

"Is a perfect way to gather what I might need to know."

"And the man watching you all evening?"

"A jealous co-worker." At least that was not a lie. The thought made her stomach ache.

Lucius seemed to be appraising her, and the feeling made her hair stand on end.

"I have business to attend to this evening or I would ask the privilege of continuing this conversation elsewhere. How might I contact you?"

"Not easily I am afraid." She had meant to sound regretful and it came out as seductive. She kicked herself inwardly.
"Tell me. It is well worth the effort if I may see you again." A smile played on his lips. This woman was quite something. She had a fast quip for anything he might say and her manner was inviting to say the least. If she was really be what she claimed in regard to her allegiances she would be ideal.

Pulling him closer to her November spoke into his ear, allowing her lips to brush the side of his neck. "Severus Snape."

Heat erupted from where her lips had grazed and swooped across his body.

She moved a few paces back from him. "I am afraid I cannot help you more than that. My location must be kept quiet for the benefit of our cause." She curtsied hurriedly and disappeared into the remaining people.

Lucius was left in a hazy testosterone cloud; he would find her and he would bed her. She would be a challenge and a rewarding conquest, of that he was certain. He must speak to Severus the following day.


Remus was relieved to see November hurrying out of the main room. She was shaking when she reached him however.

"Are you okay?"

"We're in public. I'm fine."

"What did he want?"

"You know perfectly well. He's a single man now."

"What did you-?" His words were cut off as November grabbed his lapels with unexpected strength. A push slammed his back against the wall and she shoved her face in his.

"I have no interest in talking about what I did or did not do, Remus John Lupin. You will not ask me again. It makes me sick enough to just think about it."

She let go of him and took off down the hall again. Remus was shocked. That was a much more violent reaction than he would have ever suspected from her. Something had gone wrong…

They ducked into an elevator and punched the level for the Department of Mysteries.

Reaching into a pocket of her dress November pulled out their street clothes. "Change," she ordered, handing them to Remus.

"Here?" They weren't supposed to change until they left; the current dress should have been disguise enough for the time.

"Yes. We've been compromised."

"You mean…Lucius?"

She looked like she was going to hit him again. Regardless, Remus could see it for what it was: something was bothering her and she was lashing out. It was easier to feed on anger than face what was upsetting her for the current time.

"We may need Helena Everdeen yet. It would be best not to tarnish her image," November answered. While it was still veiled, Remus felt as if he had swallowed a boulder. "And I'll not risk you by your connection to her."

Her hand slipped into his and he could feel her shaking. She had been running on adrenaline and now was crashing. Impulsively he hugged her close.

"I swore to protect you from a million men and I meant it," he comforted.

November soaked up the moment, in his arms, protected by him. She finally pushed away. "We need to change."

Changing in the elevator together could have been more exciting had both of them not been strung so tight. Everything hinged on them not being recognized either as themselves or as their fake identities now. There were only so many faces and names they could remember.

The elevator stopped and the doors whispered open.

"I think we should go as ourselves," November whispered. "Assuming we aren't seen it won't matter. But if we are it should throw them off and we are both hard to find."

Remus agreed and a moment later his face was his own. Red hair darkened to brown and he was looking at his beautiful friend again.

They crept down the passage, wands out. Voices were plain by the Department door, but it was impossible to catch who they were. Reaching the end of the passage they could clearly see Death Eater robes but faces were masked. The figures discussed the fortifications on the Department and dispersed.

After all of the fuss upstairs, it was very anticlimactic. The pair sat in the shadows for the better part of an hour before deciding that no more was to happen that night. They crept out of the ministry to the Floo and after seeing no one near, transported back home.

In the warmth of the kitchen, the night seemed unreal. Molly stopped her bread making and hurried over to them.

"Any news dears?"

Remus turned to November. She looked sick. She spun her ring distractedly on her finger.

"Afraid not. Saw a meeting but nothing eventful. Did not inform as to what they want but they clearly want something. We will go through it all tomorrow at the meeting."

"Well at least you got to go to a wonderful party! Are you alright, dear?" Molly turned her attentions to November.

"She was a bit ill when we left I'm afraid," Remus lied quickly. "I'll make sure she gets straight to bed."

November squeezed his hand gratefully.

"Very well. We won't wake the two of you until later."

Good nights were said and the pair climbed. But neither headed for bed. Both mutually knew that this was a time for the alcove if there ever was one.

November said not a word as Remus reclined on the pouffy couch. She simply curled up against him, her head against his shoulder and body resting against his own. His arms encircled her and worked their way through her thick hair.

"That feels good," she murmured sleepily.

He continued to work through her hair for some time when she broke the silence again.

"What are we, Remus?"

"Pardon?"

"What are we?"

The question was at the heart of the last week, this very evening, and the future. But what answer could he give her? Could he allow his jealousy and desire overturn his common sense? She still did not know what he really was…

"We're friends, 'Vember."

She nodded against his stomach. "That's what I thought."


The next day was spent mostly in avoidance of each other. The evening before was too sharp and real. It threw too much light on their feelings for each other, feelings which must be put away for a variety of reasons, or at least so it seemed.

Night came and the meeting began with the meal. When Severus arrived in time for dessert, November's heart hit the floor. The look he gave her made her position very clear.

"What news do you bring, Severus?" Dumbledore asked pointedly.

"I have a rather interesting request from Lucius Malfoy."

There were whispers on all sides and she could feel Remus stiffen beside her.

"What might that request be?"

"A date with Miss November," Snape sneered, barely hiding his mockery.

There was an outburst and November seriously considered the value of Apparating the hell out of there. But Remus's hand in her own calmed her and she interlocked her fingers with his.

Dumbledore looked unruffled however.

"It would appear our November caught his attentions quite accidentally last evening as a Miss Helena Everdeen. After pursuing her he was finally able to find some contact point to her, though she was very secretive. This happened to be myself." Snape looked November squarely in the eyes through his entire account, talking to her alone though he spoke to the room.

"He asked me this morning about this Helena and after a physical description it was clear who had caught his eye. I explained 'Helena' is in hiding for the Dark Lord's cause and I could act for him in asking her to dinner with him. I added it may take a few requests as she is quite coy."

"And what the hell did you do that for?" Sirius barked, furious. "You know very well that would only spike his interest!"

"Oh, November seems to have done that just fine on her own." His lips curled as he spoke.

Dumbledore held up a hand to silence the room. "November, would you kindly recount the events of last night?"

Slowly and clearly, November recited every gory detail. The room was silent when she finished.

"Severus has acted as I assumed he would," she finished, sounding weary. "He has verified that Helena is a Dark Witch and has made it clear that she may or may not even respond. The ball is completely in my court. Or ours, as the case may be. I acted under the assumption that this interest may be useful to us in the future."

She looked straight at Snape. "Believe me, it gives me no pleasure."

Remus spoke without thinking. "But surely you won't?"

November only turned to look at Dumbeldore. He gazed at her in return, non-threatening and absorbing.

"This is something to consider indeed. Remus's account of the Death Eater activity combined with Lucius's own comments gives us good reason to think he could be key to their plans. However, this must not be ventured lightly. He is a dangerous man and a false relationship with him, however brief, would be exceptionally dangerous. I commend your quick thinking and ask that you give no answer for the time being."

Relieved, November nodded. It was as though a weight had been lifted from her. Conversation resumed with Molly loudly declaring anything of the sort was much too dangerous.


November laughed behind her hand as Remus concluded the story of how he ended up being chased by hexed books in his fifth year.

"You have the oddest tales!" she tried to muffle her laugh. They were outside her room and the rest of the house was asleep.

"I had odd friends," he shrugged, with an easy grin.

A comfortable silence settled on them. Remus had been thinking over what he would say to her since the night before. His answer of "friends" had been less than satisfactory and both knew it.

"November…"

"Yes?" Her wide eyes were luminous and she took a step closer to him.

"I was not completely honest with you last night."

Her heart skipped a beat. Where was he going with this?

"You are not simply a friend. You are my closest friend in this miserable place. I…adore you. I do." He took her hands in his own. "Promise me you will not keep things from me. Were something to come between us…it would kill me."
"But if anything happens with Lucius, it will only hurt you to know. Like last night." November could not help but feel that it was odd to be having this conversation though the issue at hand – their feelings for each other – had never been addressed. It was present and fully real but neither would admit to it for a host of reasons.

"I would rather know. I would rather die of anger at Lucius Malfoy than not be there for you when you needed me."

Their faces were so very close.

"I promise," she breathed.

He took a shaky step back, not wanting to move away from her. "Good night, 'Vember."

The moment he was out of hearing she answered him. "Good night…my love."


Yet another appology for the long time in coming! Break is more busy than the normal work year!

As always please review! I'm dying for some feedback! :-)