Chapter 5: Full Moon
I suppose you could call this chapter AU depending on how you feel about the whole werewolf transformation process in the books vs. in this. However, considering the amount of AU everywhere else I hope it will not be too off-putting. :-)
"Sirius?"
The shaggy man looked up from the message he had been working on. The Order had come across some coded messages and they had promptly been given to Sirius to work on.
"Have you seen Remus?"
Sirius grinned at her. "Can't go a moment without him can you?"
But November did not respond and only looked at him distractedly. This worried Sirius; November would gladly fight back against any tease unless something was wrong.
"What's the matter?" he asked, giving her his full attention now.
"It's almost one in the afternoon…" she answered, her voice sounding unfocused.
Her worries began to come together in Sirius's mind. "And you haven't seen him out of his room?"
"No…"
Almost as one person the pair bounded up the stairs.
"Remus!" Sirius banged on his friend's door. "Moony!"
There was a moan from within. Impatient, November shoved Sirius aside and flung open the door. She gasped aloud and flew to Remus's side.
Lupin lay on the floor and judging by the way the covers were yanked about and piled on top of him it was clear he had tried to leave the bed and fallen. He was shaking and shivering, though his body was damp with fever. Luckily, he was clothed and Sirius quickly helped November lift him Remus back into his bed.
November neatly summoned a washcloth and shot cold water onto it from her wand. She mopped Remus's face off, refusing to let him speak until she had finished. Of course Sirius had seen this "ailment" before and he was well aware that night was the full moon, but Severus's potions had kept Lupin tame for so long that Sirius had almost forgotten how violent the transformation could be.
November tended Remus for a full two hours, finally lulling Remus into a sleep after the first half an hour. But there was nothing she could do for Remus and the pains returned even stronger than before. The futility of it all angered Sirius and he finally decided enough was enough.
He lifted her up from Remus's bedside and sighed heavily, meeting her eyes. "November, he's-"
"Going to tell her himself," Remus rasped out. The pains had gone down for the moment. "Give us some privacy?"
Sirius nodded, relieved it would soon all be out in the open and shut the door behind him, but not wandering too far away. If the situation soured he wanted to be available.
Remus's golden eyes flitted around November's face before resting in her gaze.
"I have very shamefully not been as honest with you as you have been with me, November."
He tried to read her but she only looked at him, her face showing only attentiveness.
He took a deep breath and continued his confession. "I am a werewolf. Tonight will be the full moon. Since my youth this curse," he broke eye contact with her, "has driven so many away and harmed so many others. I will understand if you would prefer to disassociate from me. You would not be the first."
There was a very long, tense silence. Remus felt sick in multiple ways and could not stand it anymore. He looked over to November and was met with the shock of his life.
Tears were pouring down her angular face and the look she gave him was one of deep empathy.
"I know, Remus. I've known since our first watch together. And I'm so sorry. No one deserves this less than you."
He was too stunned to respond. She had known? All this time? So her affection had been with full knowledge of what he was? This changed everything. This opened up possibilities he could not have dreamed of. His square hand gently wiped tears off of her face, his own tears starting to fall.
"Thank you, November."
Unfortunately these were some of the last words he was able to manage that evening. The battle with the inner creature had begun and the pain exploded, drowning out thought and words.
November stayed with him until Sirus finally forced her physically out of the room.
"You can't be there when it happens, 'Vember! He'll kill you!"
"And what of you?" she screamed at him, furious at being overpowered.
He gave her a long look before shifting into the form of a large black dog. Not the biggest revelation of the day, November rubbed her eyes and murmured "Padfoot" under her breath.
He shifted back to a man's body and reached a hand toward her.
"Of course you're a damn Animagus!" She shoved him hard and stormed down the hall. She yelled back at him as she jogged down the stairs, "Is there any way to help him? To make it easier? This could do damage by itself!"
Sirius looked uncomfortable. "Only one thing I know of."
She stopped on the stairs. "Yes?"
"Severus Snape. There's a potion that will leave Moony calm and in his right mind. He's always provided it before. I don't know why he has not this time."
Sirius could almost see the thoughts floating above her head as her eyes widened and then her face hardened.
"Don't even-" he began, lunging for her.
November was back in her rooms with a loud crack. A few fast charms on the door left Sirius locked out, but this did not stop him from hurling himself against the door repeatedly.
"November! Don't do anything stupid! November!"
Amist the chorus of groaning from the floor below and shouting from her door, November forced herself to focus. Her hair would have to be red and she could not do this without a clear mind; she had actually set her hair on fire once when distracted. Breathing deeply, she watched as red seeped through her thick hair. As soon as it had finished she began to change.
Sirius was in mid leap when the spell hit him. He landed with a thud, body frozen. A very sad and very suggestively dressed November looked down on him. "I'm sorry, Sirius. But I have to try. I love him."
She unfroze him and Sirius stood quickly. But she held up a hand to caution him. "If you try to stop me I will bind you and drop you in the attic. And if you tell Remus what I said, you will have boils the size of quarters. Understand?"
Sirius knew he had lost. She would do this with or without him so it may as well be with. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "Why not just tell him, 'Vember?"
Her eyes were sad as she looked up at him. "Maybe I will when I return."
There was a loud crack and she was gone.
November had expected better defenses around Malfoy Manor but at the same time it was probably assumed you would not be here unless you needed to be. She pulled the door open and entered.
The hall was cold, decorated in white and silver and shadow. This seemed to represent what she knew of the Malfoys. She shivered and tugged at the sleeves of her dress. Of course the damn thing had long sleeves but a low neck and tiny skirt. That made sense, right?
Footsteps broke her sarcastic musings though. She looked up to find two male Death Eaters.
"I wish to speak to Severus Snape," she ordered, straightening and deciding it was better to take initiative rather than wait to be asked or told what to do.
"Can't, luv. His time is given by Lucius Malfoy."
"Malfoy or not, our lord will be more than a little annoyed to have his own mission put at risk for scheduling details," November clipped. She let her natural anger at the situation rise in her, powering her words with a confidence she did not feel.
From the top of the grand staircase in front of her, just out of sight, a pale eyebrow jumped up on Lucius Malfoy's forehead. He had not expected this; what a welcome surprise.
The second Death Eater stepped a bit closer to November. She hid her fear with feigned disgust. "M'lady, I'm sure we could work you in, assuming you aren't above certain favors."
"Bring your 'favor' any closer to me and you'll be missing it," she hissed back. She had deliberately left her wand behind to look non-hostile but she could still do some damage without it.
"That's a threat, isn't it?" the first sneered.
"Indeed it is." There was a cat like grin and a swift flick of the wrist.
November was fortunate in her timing; she anticipated the hex and threw a reflecting shield around herself. The hex bounced off to the second Death Eater who went limp and began to twitch in fits.
"You will bring me Severus Snape!" November commanded as firmly as she could.
"I would do as she says," drawled a voice on the stairs behind the lackey; this seemed like the right moment to "save the day."
The hex was lifted and the Death Eaters withdrew quickly, grumbling they'd never seen her before and how should they know.
"Lucius," November purred, feigning a slight curtsy when he reached her. She shuddered a little as his eyes roamed over her tightly clad body.
"Of all the intrusions I expected, this is a most pleasant surprise," he kissed her hand lightly, holding her gaze the whole time.
"Less pleasant for me, I am afraid. I must speak to Severus Snape."
"He is quite busy."
"This is a matter of my own safety and the secrecy of my position."
"For the Dark Lord?"
"But of course. I thought I made that clear enough."
Lucius looked into her eyes. There seemed to be no lie there.
"What is the urgency?"
"My werewolf is ill. Severus has supplied him with potions in the past and I must have one now."
Lucius was surprised. "You keep such company?"
"As do you. Anyway, I prefer the element of danger in a man," November murmured, pressing her breasts against him while holding his gaze.
"So you chase after half-breeds?"
November could not prevent the flush that colored her cheeks, but she could change the way it would be perceived. "You insult me much, Mr. Malfoy." She withdrew, standing a meter away from him and glowering.
"Now Helena," his voice was consoling as he moved behind her and gently gathered all of her hair over one shoulder. "I never meant to insult."
"I would think it should be perfectly…" she lost her train of thought as Malfoy gently traced his hand along the bare curve of her neck, "clear what sort of man I desire."
"True enough," Lucius rumbled next to her ear. "But why suppress the transformation? Loose him on Muggles!"
November fought to stay in character and not smack him. She whirled on him angrily. "That would be most inopportune if one were trying to stay undercover. Perhaps I would follow your suggestions if I did not mind throwing away years of work."
Lucius laughed gently. "No need to take offence, Helena. You are right enough. Severus is indeed busy but I suppose I could make an exception for you. Through here, please."
After a series of rooms Lucius motioned for her to wait in front of heavy wood paneled doors. He left the door ajar as he slipped into the room and November could hear him speaking.
"You have a visitor, Snape."
"Surely you are not serious. The Dark Lord knows well enough that I – "
"Oh, not him."
The door was opened and November was led into the room. It was fortunate that Lucius was fastening the door when Snape first saw her. His eyes bulged and he visibly started. He had not expected her at all. But he was a very clever man and he quickly realized something serious must surely be behind this visit.
It was also fortunate that she could not see the look Lucius gave Snape over her head. It was a look that revealed his intentions towards her too clearly.
"I must have the potion, Snape," her voice was commanding but not distant, which would give them away as actors rather than friends.
"Potion for…?"
"Lyco_. It is the full moon tonight."
"Ah…I cannot help you."
November's anger became real and she gave vent to it. "What the hell do you mean? You have provided this for him every other time." She slammed her hand into a heavy table, quickly regretting it as her hand throbbed.
"I have had my own orders from the Dark Lord, Helena. These orders have kept me rather busy as of late and your needs have not been my top priority."
November wilted inwardly. She could not argue with that; Snape endangered himself on a regular basis for them and he could not risk this for Remus Lupin.
"And what would you propose?" she hissed at him. "The Shrieking Shack?"
"You know as well as I that the Dark Lord would be livid to find a werewolf in one of his homes." There was an emphasis on the last half of what he said and November started a little. That was huge. "You will just have to charm him in," Severus continued. "You know you are capable of this."
"I was hoping you might be of more use."
"I am sorry to disappoint."
November was halfway to the door when Snape changed his mind. "Helena, one moment."
She stopped, playing up her annoyance.
"Lucius, might we have a private word?"
"Of course."
When the heavy doors were closed, Snape's hand clamped around November's arm and dragged her close to him. "What do you think you are doing here?"
"Remus could die, Severus. He looks horrible and-"
"And you decided to come looking for me here? What makes you think you can get out of here alive?"
She dropped his gaze and he knew. "November, that's –"
She yanked her arm out of his grip. "Oh, burn up! You've never even liked me. What do you care?"
Once she was out in the hall, Lucius kept close to her, a hand resting lightly on her mid back. "I am sorry that you were not able to receive what you came for."
"That does happen," she clipped, still furious at the lack of results.
"You handle disappointment much better than most of us," Lucius smiled, pulling her to a stop on the stairs and holding her shoulders loosely in his hands.
"If you expect me to throw a fit and scream like Bellatrix you will be sorely disappointed. I have my answer and, unfortunately, I must leave as soon as possible. I have a werewolf to hide."
Lucius gently rubbed her arm and shoulder. "Of course. I would not suppose that you have given my request much thought with this weighing on your mind?"
"I have given it thought." November forced herself to change her tone and moved closer to him, looking up at him through her eyelashes. "But must I give my answer this night?"
"I have taken considerable risk in letting you see Severus and allowing you into my home unquestioned. Surely this is worth a simple meal?"
The message was clear; she would have to pay for her favors. But this she had expected.
"I thought it might be well so long before I left my home, Lucius." She rested her hand lightly on his hip and he responded by moving closer to her.
A smile broke across Lucius's face. "You are a terrible minx. But I must have an answer, my dear. You are far too beautiful to lose a second time."
November looked him directly in the eyes and gave her answer.
The front door slammed and Sirius took the steps in huge bounds to get down to November. Loud cries of pain reached her ears and she shook a few flakes of snow out of her hair.
"You're here! In one piece!" Sirius hugged her, obviously more worried than she would have expected. But it was impossible for him to not notice her stiffness. "Are you okay?"
"I need to change…"
"Did you talk to Severus?"
"He cannot help us. It's not his fault."
Sirius gaped. "Then what do we do?"
"The Shrieking Shack is occupied. We will have to charm him in."
Sirius swore loudly. But he quickly resigned himself to the task and his curiosity about November's journey resurfaced. "But how did you get back? Did you agree-"
He was cut off by a forceful push against his shoulder, slamming him into the front door. Her hand pinned his shoulder against the door and the other was poised, ready for his throat. Her eyes burned and the muscles in her neck were tensed. For a lightning moment Sirius worried she might kill him. But the moment passed.
"Not another word," she hissed through clenched teeth. Sirius nodded dumbly and she let him go roughly. "We need to clear out a room."
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