Chapter 14: Naked

Thank you again reviewers. This hopefully makes up for the clumsiness of the last chapter!


"Harry's seeing more and more. We must tell him that these things could be projections. There is no guarantee that Voldermort would not be able to put images into his mind."

The Order had met quickly after Sirius had talked to Harry about his dreams via the fireplace. Two weeks after Sirius had walked in on them, November had walked into the kitchen as he was pulling his head out of the fire and he had begrudgingly told her about their conversation. This was a danger that was not at all new but seemed to be getting worse. As always, Sirius was frustrated with the Order/Molly's instance that Harry be kept in the dark. But November had her own objections.

"But they aren't visions. At least not yet. If he had ignored what he saw as Nagini..." She trailed off and didn't meet Arthur's eyes.

Remus squeezed November's hand. Now that they were openly together (right timing it seemed since things had only gotten darker since their return) he was more affectionate than ever.

"But it is not beyond the Dark Lord's ability to do as Black says." The familiar drawl rang out from a corner of the room. Now that school was back in session, Snape had been removed from isolation. Though he reported the seeing-eye had not been located or blocked there was nothing more to do; it would draw too much attention to pull him for any time from Hogwarts. "And if Harry continues to do as poorly at blocking entry into his mind as can only be expected from–"

"You'll not talk about him like this!" Sirius shouted at Severus, hands planted on the table and ready to jump to his feet. "He certainly doesn't need Snivelus–"

"Back off!"

All eyes turned to November and it took her a moment to realize she was the one who had yelled. Her face burned and she pulled her hand out of Remus', folding them in her lap and staring intently at them. For the second she had looked around the table she had seen only surprise at her outburst and it angered her.

Sirius stared at her, disbelieving. "Looks like you've been spending too much time with Death Eaters."

Remus' wand was out before November could register he had moved. "Enough, Sirius."

The room became very tense and Tonks reached for her pocket.

"I'm not the one out of line."

"No. You are. Harry doesn't need you causing fights every time his name is maligned. We aren't at school anymore."

Sirius met no one's eyes but sat back, silent and sullen but clearly backing down. As soon as the tension had broken November was out of the door. She heard steps behind her and before she could disappear, Remus had her by the arm.

"By no means would I agree with Sirius on this count," he murmured, locking eyes with her, "but you know how he feels and Snape is just as far out of line."

She jerked her arm away and stared at him in anger. This had been building for a long time and Remus had pushed it too far. "You talk about being united and about how if Dumbledore trusts Snape you do as well, but it's all lies. You may trust him but you don't care about him even slightly. He is our biggest asset and he risks everything and you would not shed one tear if he were killed tomorrow for it. Sirius jumps down his throat every time he puts one toe out of line, but who's keeping Sirius in check? No one, and I'm sick of it."

November started up the stairs and Remus tried to catch her again so she whirled on him, wand at his neck.

"Don't defend me out there and lecture me back here, Remus Lupin. They know you don't mean what you say."

There was a crack and she was gone.

LINE

Much to his frustration Remus quickly realized she was nowhere in the house. Wherever she had gone it was not here and he was not likely to find her. He lay in bed, alone for the first time in what seemed like ages, with no other options but to think.

She was right and that was what annoyed him most. She had been forced into the position of having to rationalize and understand people that Sirius and himself had hated and shut out since their youth. Severus had covered her ass several times and he was truly the only other person who could understand her position.

Remus pulled at a loose thread in the bedspread before sighing and pulling the covers up under his chin. Slowly, he fell asleep.


Lucius could not sleep.

His son had related his suspicions that Helena was less than honest with him before heading back to Hogwarts. The Death Eaters were becoming annoyed with the ever-growing role she had in his life; she was a distraction. Even Severus had distanced himself from her, not wishing to be tied to her.

Surely he had not been played. Surely she had not manipulated him so easily.

The more he thought about this the more frustrated he became. Come hell or high water he would have his answer tonight.

He dressed quickly. It had been far too long and she had promised far too much.

In a moment he was outside of her house. From the street he could see her silhouette in the window, sitting on the couch and staring off at the wall. He approached the apartments and with a simple spell the door swung open.


November knew that in her current temper she would not be able to lie beside Remus that night. And since Sirius would probably start drinking and Sir Cadougan would try to be consoling, she had decided the best place for the evening would be the go-between-apartment. No one would look for her there and it would be perfectly safe, surrounded by Muggles.

November had crawled up on the couch and wrapped a quilt around herself, zoning out completely. She understood what made Sirius and Lupin the way they were about Severus but it had been years since all of that and none of them had managed to let it go. The childishness combined with her inherent dependence on Snape had begun to eat away at her tolerance.

She loved Remus but she hated having to defend herself against a room and him. If he could only be on her side…

There was a creak in a floorboard and her wand was out. Someone was in her apartment. Her hair flashed to red and in the next moment Lucius Malfoy was facing her.

Lucius laughed quietly at the look of complete surprise on her face. She was not dressed up as she had been every other time he had seen her and it turned him on even more. She looked so real and attainable this way, in corduroys and a button-down.

"I wasn't expecting you," November finally managed, suppressing the shock she felt.

"I had hoped to surprise you. I was thinking of you." He closed the door just as silently and the bolt slid shut, locking the door.

"Only good things I hope?" Her heart began to pound and she felt sick. She watched as he slowly pulled his cloak off, hanging it neatly on the hook by the door. His shirt was nearly see through and his muscles rippled beneath.

"Define good, Helena." He approached her, lightly taking her wand from her hand and setting it atop the nearby knick-knack shelf.

Subconsciously, she took a step back from him. "Positive things."

He took her hair in his hand and brought it to his face. "Very positive," he murmured in her ear before kissing her neck.

"Lucius," she stepped back quickly, "this is hardly the time."

His face grew dark and dangerous and his tone became sharp. "And when would the time be? I have waited for months, Helena. You know me as well as I have ever allowed another person. You have what you asked and there must be some reciprocation. Unless of course," he grabbed her wrists in a fluid motion and drove her back against the wall, her arms pinned above her head, "you have been less than honest with me."

Blank fear engulfed her as she realized what was happening to her. She could not win. If she refused him she would suffer, but if she accepted… And Remus… She stifled a gasp as she realized how this would look. He could reasonably believe that in her anger she had screwed Malfoy.

As Malfoy watched her he could read nothing, a feeling that only increased his determination. "I would elope with you if that was what you required. Do you realize that? You could have everything if you would only let me in."

His hard body pressed against hers, grinding his hips and his erection against her. The anticipation already had him hard. She felt his lips crash against hers and she did not resist. It became immediately clear how he intended to have her as he took her wrists in one hand, pinning them above her head and began to crush and grind her breasts with the other hand. Tears formed in her closed eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

Lucius knew he was capable of being much more romantic than this but he was far too eager. He had slept with no one since Narcissa had left and Helena had given him more than enough fuel for personal satisfaction. But it wasn't the same. It wasn't the same as breathing in her perfume, feeling her breasts in his hands, feeling her soft skin against his… Malfoy pulled back to look at her and November quickly hid her tears. He let her hands go and they hung at her sides like dead weights.

"Undress me." Malfoy's words were a command and he stepped from her to the center of the room, his back to the fireplace.

November walked to him and pulled his shirt over his head, her hands running up his torso and tossing it to the side. Kneeling in front of him, she pulled his trousers off, slipping them down his hips. Malfoy stopped her before she could begin on his underwear, pulling her back to her feet.

"My turn." His voice was husky with wanting and he fiercely began to rip open the button-down she wore, the buttons rattling into corners of the room. Lucius's teeth sank into her bare shoulder and she cried out in pain despite herself. His lips covered her breasts as he snapped her bra open easily, throwing it aside. Roughly, he yanked her trousers to the floor, kissing the inside of her hips.

Despite everything, despite knowing she should not, November began to cry.


Sirius had been fully prepared for an evening of moping and drinking. The only thing stopping him was guilt. He was too hard on her and it gnawed at him. He was beyond sick of being useless and now that Remus and November had one another…

Remus had said she wasn't in the house and had gone to bed. But Sirius knew where she was. Or at least he knew where he would be if he were her.

The longer he sat, picking at the scrubbed wooden table, the more he felt he owed her an apology. He had harassed her long enough and she and Remus were two of the few people who truly cared about him.

A handful of Floo Powder and a burst of green flame later and he stepped out of the fireplace in the go-between-apartment. What he saw sent a burst of flaming rage through him. November was nearly naked and Lucius Malfoy knelt before her, similarly undressed and kissing her stomach. The assumption that she was cheating on Remus with this monster made him want to snap her neck.

But as she looked up he knew this was not what it seemed. Her face was puffy and wet from crying and her wrists were bruised. There was a bite mark on her shoulder that was purpling as well. Whatever this was, it was not willing.

Lucius was now aware that there was a third person in the room and began to turn toward Sirius.

"Stupefiy!" It was the only spell Sirius could think of that would not also hurt November. As it were the force of Lucius flying into the wall took her with it. Both lay in a heap, unmoving, and Sirius rushed over, pulling November from under Malfoy's unconscious body.

November's first thought was for cover. She curled up, shielding her nakedness from Sirius until he draped the quilt around her. He was yelling but her ears only made a roaring sound. She watched, unmoving, as he kicked Lucius in the ribs and head repeatedly. But something went off in her head and she begged him to stop.

"STOP?" Sirius shouted, gesturing wildly. "He would have raped you!"

November had been able to hold things together until the mention of that word. Wailing sobs broke from her and Sirius's guilt increased. He pulled her to him, soothing her and magically gathering up her clothes. They had to get out of there before Malfoy came to again.

"There has to be signs of struggle," she panted between sobs. "He'll think it was a trap."

Sirius marveled at how she could even think right now but nodded. Releasing his fury he stormed through the apartment, destroying anything he could lay hand to. Banging started up on the front door and Sirius made the mental leap that the neighbors had as well: there were loud crashing sounds and a woman crying, what else could be assumed? A gash in his palm left blood smears across the wall and doors and the person at the door went away.

Outside, the sounds of Muggle police sirens screamed through the silence. The pair traded looks and Sirius threw Lucius's clothes into the fire, leaving his cloak half outside of the fire where the flames began to lick at the carpet.

"We'll leave him then," Sirius grumbled, more to himself, as the police cars stopped outside the building. "Can't have them find a body with my blood on it. But we've got to get you out of here. Hold these." Sirius dumped her clothes and wand in her lap and picked her up clumsily. There was a crack and they were gone.


Remus woke with no external stimuli, but with a feeling that something terrible had happened. Moments later his door opened, showing a wide-eyes Sirius. A glance at his bed and back at his friend's face told him all he needed to know.

November had been left with Kretcher and the house elf had to dive out of the way as Remus exploded into the room. Her weeping grew as she saw him and she tried to hide in the blanket. But it was too late; Remus had seen the bite mark and seen enough to guess at just how much she was not wearing.

"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?" he roared at Sirius. Remus did not even know what to think. November had reappeared sobbing, naked, and hurt with only Sirius for company.

November stared; Remus rarely yelled and this was nearly an explosion. Quickly, Sirius explained what he guessed had happened, which was surprisingly accurate.

"Is this true?" Remus whispered, looking at her with an expression she had never seen before.

November nodded, her sobbing finally calming down. "I swear on the family of Cadougan I don't know why Lucius came."

Remus had November in his arms within moments. It felt like hours before anyone spoke again, Remus holding November and Sirius collapsed on the floor by the wall.

Mercifully, November fell asleep and Remus was able to dress her and get her into their bed. For a short moment after she was in bed, Remus stepped out of the room and to talk to Sirius.

"What brought you there?"

"I was going to apologize for being an asshole. I still haven't."

A ghost of a smile flicked over Remus' mouth. "Oh, I think you have. You saved her, Sirius. Thank you."

There weren't words for how he felt so Sirius only nodded. He walked away, deciding to go to bed for the first time in ages.


Lucius woke to the sounds of people yelling and wood splintering. It was scalding hot and he was in only his underwear.

He pushed himself up and saw his lovely blonde hair dripping blood. As he sat up he realized the blood was from his mouth, nose, and ear. It hurt to breathe.

For the first time he became aware of the fire in the room. The paint was actually curling with the heat and his clothes were nowhere in sight.

The voices were louder and the door gave way. He had to get out of here. He could not, would not, be taken by Muggles.

He Apparated to his room in his home. After shouting for his house elves, he found time to question how this had happened. Someone had entered through the Floo network. He hadn't seen who, but he had heard the voice.

Helena was missing and her place was now a smoking wreck.

Lucius collapsed onto his bed, his house elves tending to his wounds.

Things he had been noticing ever since he met her began piecing themselves together as he allowed himself to fade into blackness.