Chapter 12: Attack

November could not help but smile as Remus gathered her hair over one shoulder, focusing his lips on the other.

"You can try to distract me but this is serious," she spoke amusedly, turning to face him. She kissed him amorously before pushing him away from her. "Please."

The older man sighed and flopped into a chair at the small table. "I know it as well as you, 'Vember–"

"If not better."

"As you say. But why now? We shall have nary a second alone the moment we return to Grimmauld and now we have three more days completely alone together."

"But this is why we're here."

"Hardly the only reason…"

November blushed and turned away from him to stare out of the small window over the sink. "I would prefer if no one knew for a while when we get back. The timing just seems so…"

"Romantic comedy?"

"Exactly!" She spun back around grinning at him. This was one of the things she loved about Remus; he understood what she meant.

"I have no qualms with that. Why let Sirius believe he can mastermind our lives?"

"It was a rather good idea, though," November admitted, a new sexy tone seeping through her words. He loved that new tone.

"Regardless," her voice became business-like again, "maybe we should send an owl to them. This is more than we expected. Go over it again for me: I'm still fuzzy on this."

"Kobolds and hobgoblins," Remus began to recite as if reading from a book. "More common out here in the countryside than somewhere like London. These lack the tiny amount of warm feelings our bankers possess. Now, the very idea that they would approach us is an alarm; it indicates that they are either looking for or expecting witches or wizards. The body we found is also indicative of something sinister. They are rather hard to get rid of and in the case of kobolds, take a massive amount of hatred. Both of these things seem to point clearly to Death Eaters."

In the back of November's mind something struck a chord. There was a noise…

"Now," he stood smoothly and wrapped his arms around her, "I must have you. We will owl first thing this evening."

Her ears pricked again as his lips worked with hers. "Remus! Stop!"

He stood back a little, surprised. "I'm sorry if–"

"Shhh! Listen!"

November had gone white and he listened, not moving a muscle. Then he heard it too. The sound of rushing wind. The sound of a flying pillar of smoke. The sound of a Death Eater landing nearby.

"Get down!" Remus dropped quickly and yanked November's arm with all his might. In her panic, she did not catch herself as he had expected she would and there was a thud as her face hit the edge of the sink.

But better that than a face full of fiery glass, for in the next moment the window where she had stood exploded and a pillar of fire burst into the room. Pulling both of them as close against the wall under the window as he could, Remus pulled out his wand to heal November. Her eye was swelling and it would be an impairment when they would need to fight.

"Leave it!" she shouted, over-loud. The explosion had buggered her hearing for the moment. "They can't recognize me!"

Remus was loath to leave her this way but he nodded before they rushed into the next room. Dropping down in front of the couch they were somewhat protected and could see out the windows. Two Death Eaters paced around the cottage, hooded and wands at the ready.

"Any ideas?" Remus whispered, turning to November. He jumped a little at her now white-blonde hair. She could have been related to Malfoy with hair like that.

"None. We'll just have to give it a go. Ideally, we fight them out there; this is about the worst place imagineable for a fight."

"The woods, then?"

November nodded and they grabbed hands. There was a crack and the pair of them reappeared in the wood that grew past a field next to the cottage. The Death Eaters, obviously hearing the sound, dove into the air in a swirling pillar of black smoke.

As best as they could, November and Remus attacked, using the field the Death Eaters were crossing to bolster their offense. Moments before they were to land, a hex of November's hit home. The Death Eater plummeted into the ground and bounced, rolling away. A crumpled mask and hood lay off to the side and long pale hair blanketed the ground around the prone man.

November gaped. How could it be Lucius? Of all the people in the wide wizarding world?

Remus's hand closed around hers and they tore away into the woods. "We've got to hide you!" he hissed to her as they ran.

"No! They'll kill you if you're alone!"

"And what do you think will be your fate if they find you here?" There was true panic in Remus's voice and November began to realize how deeply he felt for her.

A tree exploded above them and a branch crashed loudly between them. Diving to opposite sides, November and Remus managed to get away with only gashes from the branch.

Both now unmasked, the two Death Eaters walked slowly toward them. Digging in her robes, November threw a sweet into her mouth and tried not to choke on it in her panic. Remus gave her a confused look, still watching the Death Eaters.

Lucius Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov stopped meters away, wands ready and tensed to strike.

"I don't recognize you," Lucius drawled to November, pinning her with his gaze. "And I know every Ministry fool who follows Dumbledore."

"You wouldn't, you pompous fucking ass."

Remus's eyes went so big they looked like they would shoot out of his skull. Not only was this really the wrong time to provoke Lucius, but her voice was almost comically high. It sounded as though a cartoon character was telling Malfoy to f-off.

Lucius on the other hand turned purple. "How dare you, you bitch?" he raged, unable to find words for his wrath.

"I am already dead," November squeaked, preparing to strike. "There is a lot I will dare."

November's talent for unspoken spells gave her a priceless advantage. The ground under Lucius exploded like a landmine, throwing him into a tree and covering him in dirt. She grabbed Remus and the pair raced off to a small clearing; it would give Malfoy and Dolohov the same advantage that it would give them, but they had to get out of these trees.

From that moment on the spells were fast and thick. Remus tried again and again to come between November and Lucius but Dolohov, though he was unable to overpower Remus, was more than able to keep him from getting to November.

November on the other hand moved quickly and efficiently, ignited by her hatred for her 'lover.' Though Lucius was the more experienced duelist, November was far more angry and far more daring. If there was anything familiarity with Malfoy had given her, it was a knowledge of the patterns he used. She was able to anticipate to a degree what his next move would be and this often helped her.

But there was a clear downside to this that never entered her mind. As he fought, it became clear to Lucius that somehow this woman had fought him before or known him in some way. The insult was too personal and her attacks were too well placed and precise. But who could she possibly be…?

Inevitably, November grew sloppy in her defense and it was then that Lucius was able to trap her. Behind her grew a blackberry patch and Lucius forced her back until she found herself entangled in it, the thorns cutting her arms and legs and wrapping around her robes. A quick spell ensured that the thorns curled around her like pythons, squeezing until blood dripped from hundreds of different punctures.

Drawing closer to her, Lucius could not help but smile. To their right Remus was doing all he could to work his way over to her. Terrified, November said nothing; she only hoped that she had angered him enough to give her a clean death.

Lucius' wand came up.

If there was anything he could do, Remus had to act now. For November, it was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

"Obliviate!"

There was an explosion without sound. Then there was a scream of pain and Remus lurched forward, dropping clumsily.

Without realizing it, November was screaming and ripping the briars from her. Her foot caught and her head connected dully with a tree. Everything went black.


So I know this is a mini-chapter and horrible of me to leave you like this, but I could not resist!

Thank you for those of you who have been reviewing, especially DZAuthor and javalon14!