Chapter 7: Dating and Duels
"Thanks," murmured Remus, holding the front door open for Tonks.
"Not at all," she replied cheerfully. The young witch could not help but notice the cloudy look on his face, however. "Listen. She still doesn't feel very sure of herself. Maybe you could pop up and calm her down?"
Remus searched Tonk's face. "Are you sure that would be a good idea?"
"You're the only one she wants to see," smiled Tonks, squeezing his arm before heading into the night.
Remus latched the door before leaning back against it. Tonight was the night. A story had been devised for November to use: her werewolf was killed when he went on rampage and she had to flee to a new home in Britain, though she had previously lived in Germany. It was believeable but vauge and werewolf rumors had been circulating for some time around the Black Forrest.
There was nothing he wanted less than to prepare her for her date and so Tonks had been asked in. Though Tonks was not a particularly feminine witch, she and November had been locked away for an hour and things seemed to calm down when she arrived.
He supposed he should follow Tonk's advice and go speak to November. He began to move toward the stairs when he looked up and saw her.
November stood at the bottom of the stair with Sirus helping her. She had not worn heels in the better part of three years and she was convinced she was going to die. Her dress was a phenomenal bright, deep blue, diving quite low in the front and falling in a satin cascade. Her hair was pinned in an intricate updo that could only have been due to Tonks and impressed Remus greatly.
"Ginny picked it out. I owled her and asked what worked for a red head and she suggested this. Tonks helped of course," November explained in response to the look he was giving her.
"Not to cuckold anyone," Sirius gave Remus a quick but significant look, "but you are the most divine female either of us have ever seen. Right, Lupin?" Sirius beamed at her.
Remus could not find words; all the emotions were a bit much at the moment. Blushing deep red he stammered a bit before taking off down the hall and hiding in the kitchen.
November watched him go with a sinking feeling.
"If it makes you feel better," Sirius whispered in her ear, "I've never seen him do that before."
In spite of the seriousness of the evening, November laughed aloud.
Lucius had reluctantly agreed to meet her within a few blocks of the restaurant they would be going to and so November slipped quickly into a bolero before leaving. Her fingers touched the door handle when she was aware that someone was behind her. Turning slowly she was face to face with Remus.
"I couldn't let you go without telling you…"
"Telling me what?"
Her eyes grew large with expectation and he could feel his own pulse quicken.
"How…beautiful you look." The let-down was almost tangible between them. Somehow Remus had to let his feelings be known, even if not directly, so he spoke quickly and with deep emotion, "If he harms you, I will kill him with my own hands."
The sinister tone in Remus' voice surprised November; he meant what he said.
"I will return unharmed. I promise," she gently held his face in her hands and smiled up at him. November turned back to the door and paused. She glanced back over her shoulder at him, her hand resting on the doorknob. Whirling around, she threw herself into Remus' arms. He held her tightly to him, hoping she would not leave, but finally she broke away. She took his hand and placed her ring into his open palm.
"Watch this for me?"
He nodded dumbly. The door shut behind her, leaving Remus with his worries and fears.
Lucis was pleased when he saw a red head appear at their meeting spot. Again he was struck by how pretty she could be. She was not inherently lovely, not like Narcissa, but she had a sex appeal Narcissa had always lacked. Even as she approached him, a coy smile flirted around her lips.
"You look stunning," he purred at her, taking her in with his eyes.
"I was about to say the same of you." Her hand ran lightly through his blonde hair and traced the line of his jaw.
She found herself in an unfamiliar area of London. It was a wealthy district to begin with and the passages they followed finally led out into a very wealthy sector for witches and wizards. November became immediately glad that she had asked for Ginny and Tonk's assistance.
After being led through what had to be a fabulously expensive restaurant, Lucius gently helped November remove her jacket.
"What in Merlin's name is this?" His voice had a tone of genuine surprise and November breathed a sigh of relief. She had placed a gash across her shoulder to give validity to her story; it hurt like the devil but it was needed. His hand ran across her shoulder and she shivered; his hand was ice.
"The werewolf," she answered quietly, taking the seat he pulled out for her.
Lucius' eyebrows jumped, showing clear alarm. "He didn't…?"
"No. He was killed. The people around the Black Forest are rather…fearful."
A smile played on Malfoy's face and he leaned forward. "That was you?"
"Not personally, no. But indirectly, yes. However, it is all over now. A dead werewolf and lingering suspicions has sent me to take up residency in England."
"This explains your being rather hard to find. And how is the Dark Lord taking this?"
She sighed heavily before grinning up at Malfoy. "I may have stretched the truth in claiming I was of any importance to him; it works with your thugs but I never intended you to become a part of all of this. The truth is I wanted closeness to you and had already been working along these lines, if you will." She leaned over, revealing even more of her chest than already was uncovered. "I do hope you will come to forgive me."
Malfoy was torn. Currently he was looking at a lovely eyeful of Dark Witch; he knew he should be angry at being misled, but it was not as if he had any intention of a long-term relationship with this witch. And it was quite flattering really, that she would lie in order to bring herself closer to him. The current crowd of witches were either out of their minds, like Bellatrix, or so stiff they could be snapped in half in a breeze. But Helena was young and fluid…
Sensing the changing tide in his thinking, November turned his hand over in hers and began to trace the lines in his palm. Lucius watched her, contemplating the right reaction. She deliberately traced out his love line, before smiling at him playfully and reading it closely.
"What do you see, Helena?"
"A strong desire…long and powerful…your love line that is, of course." She leaned back pulling her hand back from his. The expression he wore told her clearly she had won; desire had burned up any anger.
"I must admit, Helena, how I do admire your cleverness. It seems you could have nearly anything you wanted."
"I do generally get what I want," she returned seductively. "That's part of what makes me so very bad."
Malfoy grinned before leaning back to contemplate the menu. It would be a divine privilege to bed her.
November went through the evening as one watching a play. Her mind had long since turned off and Helena reigned supreme. She watched Helena move through the evening with ease. Helena had great chemistry with Malfoy and he charmed her as well. But this, as before was the real danger; under no circumstances was Helena to win out. It was November's body and November's soul that would suffer for allowing Malfoy in.
When the night came to a close Lucius gallantly insisted on escorting her home. She did not doubt part of this was cunning on his part; he would not forgive her if he ever discovered she had tricked him again.
"But my home will not be even a slight fragment as nice as yours. It will be an embarrassment I assure you, " she had argued.
"My home is a crypt." The fervent emotion in those words surprised November; he felt trapped in some capacity.
She took his outstretched arm and there was a loud crack.
"Very charming" were the first words from Malfoy's mouth as he observed her street. She had dropped them in the park nearby the rented flat. It had been agreed that she would remain there for an hour before returning to Grimmauld.
She punched him lightly in the arm and a surprised smile traced his thin lips. "I told you it was horrible."
"No such thing. Your home contains you. This is a vast improvement over mine."
She looked away, forcing a satisfied smile. A ripple of thunder rolled overhead. A drop of rain hit them through the trees. Then another and a moment later a torrent rained down on them.
"Here!" Lucius pulled off his robe and draped it over November. They began to run until he heels tripped her up. He caught her as she feel, saving her from the mud. She could not help but laugh aloud and as she looked up she was hit with a wall of conflicting emotion.
He was sexy to begin with but soaked with rain he was irresistible. His long hair hung back from his face and his white shirt was plastered to his muscular arms. And any man in a suit vest was a turn on. But was that enough?
Though November was contemplating her own reaction, Lucius had decided his long before this moment. Pulling her to him, his lips crashed onto hers. She clung to him and mechanically kissed him back. It felt as if she were selling her soul, but else was there to do?
They finally broke apart.
"Helena, I shall be quite honest with you," Lucius announced, holding her tightly. "I desire you."
There was clearly more that he intended to say on the matter but November had already been thinking of a tactful way of postponing what was clearly the endgame for Lucius.
"I know. However…" November turned on a playful smile as she saw Malfoy's face fall. "I am not to be won quite so easily."
"You have made yourself hard to find and have avoided answering my request, both of which I am very aware required initiative on my part. Surely that is worth something?"
"Indeed. It was worth this evening. But I do not know you, Lucius Malfoy. You are a figure to me, not a man, and I'll not take a figure as a lover."
"I assure you, you could know me quite well," he breathed, his voice deep with longing. He pressed against her and she could feel his hardness pressing between them.
"As could you," she cooed in return, gently caressing his thigh. She withdrew though, putting space between them. "With a little conversation. Give me reason to trust you; let me know you and I will be yours."
Lucius seemed to be debating and she could not guess at his thoughts. But he was wondering what this was worth. She was devilishly attractive and slippery as an eel, well worth whatever material investments he might need to make toward sleeping with her. But an emotional investment was a different thing entirely. His divorce had been long, messy, and quite honestly very painful. But, it was also not so unreasonable, her request. All she probably wanted was to know she would not be taken advantage of, and, as much as he wanted to take advantage of her, it belied a shrewdness on her part that he was beginning to appreciate. He was willing to play on her terms, for now.
"Then we surely must meet again, Helena. I would hate to lose such a prize as you."
November grimaced inwardly at the word "prize" but held her tongue.
"I look forward to your owl," she smiled, giving him a mock curtsey. She turned to leave.
With unexpected fervor, she was spun around and kissed one last time. It was an impressive kiss and, for a moment, she feared her own resolution. But a picture came to mind: Remus, asleep on the hall steps, waiting for her to come home. She broke off from the kiss, bade him goodnight, and disappeared into the apartment building.
Lucius walked away, a bit in shock. He had never actually been turned down before. He could not think of a time when he had been denied the sex he craved.
In his younger days that last sweeping kiss had always worked. Maybe it was his age, which was a terrifying thought.
He found it hard to believe that she meant what she said, but she was a minx and a trickster. It was always possible that the trickster was wary of being tricked.
He headed out into the night, hoping for a glance of November changing but disappointed to see curtains, and with a loud crack he was gone.
November woke the next day to a light knock on her door. Her clock showed noon, which was unheard of for her, but she hadn't returned to the house until 2 am last night either. Remus had been exactly as she had pictured his, which alarmed her a bit. LeviCorpus had placed him in bed and she herself had gone to sleep almost as soon as she hit the bed.
"Come in," she called out, pulling the quilt up to her chin.
Remus' shaggy head poked around her door and a smile lit up her features.
"If it's a bad time…" he began.
"You've already woken me up. No point in not coming in."
He seemed torn before deciding to come in. The door gently closed behind him and November patted to the side of the bed. He smiled softly and, gently lifting her up, leaned back against the wall so she could rest against his side.
"Glad you are alright."
She snorted. "Safe, yes. Alright, no."
Concern clouded his features and he went rigid. "What happened?"
"It's just…complicated."
"Please."
November wanted nothing more than to just act as if nothing had happened but Remus had asked her not to leave him in the dark. And he was her dearest friend; if she did not tell him, she would tell no one and eventually explode. There was Sir Cadougan but conversing with a painting of a relative really was not the same.
She sighed and charged through her thoughts in one breath: "It's clear what he wants and I know that I've lead him in that direction. At the time it seemed like a grand idea to hold his attention but now I have no intention whatsoever of fulfilling this. However, I can really only stall for so long. I've played off of his sense of honor, but honor only lasts so long with men. Then what?"
"That's a negative view, 'Vember," Remus mused. Without realizing what he was doing, his hand began to weave its way through her thick hair.
"It's Malfoy. It's not you."
Remus' attention was piqued. "Meaning?"
November looked deep into his amber eyes. "Meaning I know I would not have to play your honor to get you to treat me with respect. You always have and I know you always will."
She turned to smile up at him and was caught by his eyes. His face was so very close to hers and the feeling of her body snuggled up to his as he played with her hair…She broke eye contact quickly, afraid of what could happen with her caught in that gaze. "At any rate this does not answer my question."
"Personally, I will have to refer you to Sirius on this one. Or even, as much as I hate it, Severus. I've never 'played the field' so I am of little use in all of this and Severus knows Malfoy better than any of us."
"That's what I like most about you though," she commented absently. "There's nothing sordid about you."
Remus was shocked. "I'm a werewolf!"
"But that's an occurrence; it's not who you are."
He shook his head but did not argue. He pulled her ring out of his pocket and handed it to her. "For you."
She slipped it on her finger where she began to twirl it absently. He sensed that was the most he would learn of the evening but it was enough. One particular statement had raised his hopes immensely: she had announced she had no intention of sleeping with Malfoy. Indeed it was the source of the current conflict. Maybe she could really be his…
"Thank you, Remus." November's voice cut through this thoughts and jerked him back to the cloudy rainy morning he was a part of.
"What on earth for?"
She shrugged her angled shoulders. "Everything really. You do more than you know."
The next two months contained series of dates mixed with early October and November snow. With each date she managed to win Lucius over a little more and convince him to wait a little bit longer. It was an odd combination for November: he was becoming more attached to her while she was being repelled further from him. The more she knew about him the less she liked.
They were all very cautious, making sure she never wore the same clothes twice and leaving her ring always with Remus. November had explained in more detail how her 'alibi' had worked but how she was sure another breach of trust could be her last.
In the blur of activity, two dates stood out sharply.
In October, November had arrived early at Malfoy Manor. Severus had informed her about a localized Death Eater meeting that would be going on there and the Order had decided it would be a good opportunity for her to glean some information.
She had arrived through the Floo off of the rented flat and had immediately come up against a problem.
November began to make her way to the dining room, now familiar enough with the Manor to find the larger rooms in the maze of it all. Turning a corner near to the dining room she had run up against someone. Someone large, hairy, and wolfish. Someone who was Fenrir Greyback. Her heart had stopped and she was covered instantly in chills.
"Watch where you're going!" She had barked, forcing volume and power into her words.
"And who exactly might you be?"
Instead of backing off he had pushed her to the wall, hand planted against the wall next to her head, cutting off her path.
"Helena Freyson. I know who you are well enough. Let me pass!"
He looked her over and she felt sick. "You're what Malfoy has been tying himself in knots over aren't you?" He leaned close and breathed in deeply. "What a pretty piece of flesh."
Knowing some display of power was needed, she sent a Patronus to the dining room before flicking her wand under Fenrir's chin. "One more word, Mr. Greyback."
"But I like it when they fight back," he growled, lurching toward her.
When Lucius dashed around the corner, he was stunned to see Fenrir lying on the ground and bound with vines that grew tighter with each exhalation. Her Patronus had alerted Malfoy that she was in the manor and he had come looking for her. "Let him go, Helena! Are you mad?"
To be honest, November was sure she was. She had not actually intended to attack Fenrir but when he had moved at her the spell had just torn out of her. She was as trigger happy as Bellatrix.
The vines loosened at her silent command and Fenrir tore them from him snarling. "You will pay, bitch!"
November tried her hardest to ignore him and maintained eye contact with Lucius. "Call off your dog."
Fenrir began to protest but he was drowned out by a roar of "Leave us!" from Malfoy. The werewolf snarled at November before turning the corner. In reply, November hissed loudly back at him.
Once he was out of earshot, Lucius pulled her close to him. "Do you wish to die?"
"Your 'companion' was about to forcibly sample your goods! He's lucky." She spat the words out at him and yanked herself out of his grip.
Lucius' eyebrows shot up and a smile began to curl his lips. "So he is. I will… 'speak' to him." Something seemed to cross his mind and he cast her a sideways look that she could not read. "Fenrir does have a taste for women. We cannot both have you, of course. Though, one cannot tell about the future…"
November's blood froze. It was a very thinly veiled threat: if this ended badly Fenrir would get exactly what he wanted.
She needed to change the tone of conversation and quickly. "I am sorry if my timing was poor. I was only looking forward to seeing you."
He smiled at her, his face relaxing. "A bit early, but nothing inconvenient. I have a few matters yet to attend to so you may join me if you wish. It could be quite educational."
November had agreed and had regretted it. But for the time being that was her lot.
When she had returned home that evening, she had made it half way up the stairs before breaking down completely. Her sobs had brought Remus running to her, bare-chested and in pajamas. He had scooped her up in his arms and carried her silently to the alcove. Without one word, he had held her tightly to him, rocking her in his arms as she sobbed out her terror. She had told him everything, a rare occurrence, and begged him not to do anything about it. It was the hardest promise he had ever made in his life.
They woke up the next day, curled up together on the couch in the alcove, November half draped on top of Remus, her face resting on his warm chest, and his arms still around her.
The second came in mid-November. The actual date had been fine. November had again been present for part of a Death Eater meeting and they had left for dinner from there. Unfortunately, Aurors had been placed on their trail.
November had arrived back to Grimmauld Place without her coat and soaked through around midnight. Sirius had been crossing the hall and watched as she tore through the front door, slammed it shut, and fell back against it. For a moment it seemed as if she was just out of breath, but in the next moment she fell forward, her face slamming into the floor.
"REMUS!"
Sirius had thrown books and candles to the floor as he cleared the table to lay her on it. Pulling his arms back, he was shocked to find them soaked in red. Her back was covered in warm blood. Sirius had turned her over quickly and ripped away the dress from the wound.
This was of course the moment when Remus entered the room.
"What are you doing?" he shouted at his friend before he fully took in the situation. Once he noticed that Sirius was covered in water and blood it was clear enough what Sirius was doing.
For a moment they both stared; a long gash sliced open her back, not deep but oozing blood. Working quickly they were able to patch her up before sending an owl for Molly. She arrived as soon as she received the letter and forced the men from the room, insisting on November's decency.
Sirius bit back a snappy comment about the value of that, knowing it would only upset Remus. In his less fine moments he had taken to harassing November about her current 'occupation' until one day she threatened to "curse him out of his f*&%ing mind" if he did not back down. He was not Remus; he did not deal with this calmly and hold in his frustration. Unfortunately, he was unleashing it in all the wrong places. So for once, he held his tongue.
When the whole story came out the next day, it turned out that Lucius and November had been ambushed during their meal. Kingsly had been one of the Aurors sent for this and he and November had managed to place themselves so that the two of them were dueling alone in the sleet outside. Even then, real injuries had to be inflicted for deniability's sake. She had blackened his eye with a levitated board to the face and had turned to run. While Kingsly had intended her escape, his partner had not. She had felt her back tear open and had Apparated to Grimmauld.
Early in their 'relationship,' November and Lucius had agreed that were anything to happen they would not contact one another as they did not want to draw attention or identify themselves unintentionally. The plan had been for herself and Lucius to see each other two nights later but when that day came, November was still horribly sick from the cold and injuries.
Remus had stayed beside her and had taken care of her, as she had done for him the past three moons. He was able to bring a smile to her face if nothing else and that was worth a lot.
November had sent an owl to inform Lucius that she was ill and staying with a friend. She had fallen asleep before the reply arrived, but Remus was reading when Malfoy's owl came.
The first thing that he noticed was that it was not a letter Malfoy had sent in reply. There were two objects, wrapped in paper. One was a pot of orchids, very expensive in the month of November. The second was a long, elegantly patterned scarf of deep teal silk. The card was not sealed or enveloped so Remus flipped it over and read: "So sorry to hear that you are not well, though I take pleasure at finding you have not fallen into other ills. I was ready to act should I have received any word that you were in need of me. Hopefully this friend of yours can adequately care for you, though I would, of course, rather be there myself. One should know the healing power of a kiss. I grieve the loss of our time together and send you these small tokens to raise your spirits. I look forward to seeing you as soon as you are well again. Sincerely, Lucius Malfoy"
Remus' blood pressure rose as he read the card and upon the line about the kiss a loud ringing began from the blood pounding in his ears. He crumpled the card with fury and threw it under her bed. He would have liked to have burned the presents as well, but he knew it would upset November. Leaving them on her bedside table he stormed down the stairs.
Sirius caught him as he was pulling on a coat.
"Where're you off to?"
"A walk. I need air."
"And if November asks for you?"
"She won't." The tone in his voice was dangerous and Sirius did not push him further.
The door slammed behind Lupin hard enough to rattle the wall of the house.
Thank you to everyone who has added the story to your alerts.
I made 'cover art' for this story if you are interested in such things (the links are in my profile). It's not super talented but it makes me happy.
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