Chapter 13: Lucius
"What the hell?" Lily watched as Sara walked dreamily back up to the castle. It wasn't like Sara to
just take off and not say why. She probably told you why, you just weren't listening. Again. Lily felt
bad. She hadn't been the best of friends to anyone lately, but Sara (and Autumn) were still sticking by her. It was
just so much easier to be in La-La-Land than to be at Hogwarts. She could be as miserable and self deprecating as she
wished there, with no one to scold her.
The bush behind her rustled again. Jeez, how many giant rats are in that bush anyways? She decided to keep
walking before the rodents of unusual size jumped her. That was when the voice came from behind the bush.
"Finally. I thought we'd never be alone," Lucius Malfoy stepped out from the shadows. Lily automatically
reached for her wand, but Lucius was too quick. His was aimed at her before she even reached her pocket.
"Now, now. Be nice." Lily froze and glared daggers at him.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
He gave her a leery, appraising look. "You, for starters." He began to walk lazily towards her, his eyes
crawling over her body. Lily grabbed her wand but Lucius was two steps ahead of her.
"Accio!" Lily's wand shot out of her hand and flew into Lucius'. He gave it a disinterested glance
before snapping it into pieces and tossing the remains carelessly over his shoulder. "That takes care of that
problem." his wand was still aimed at her face.
Lily backed up until she hit the trunk of a large tree. She turned to run, but Lucius caught her hair as it streamed
out behind her. He pulled, slammed her back against the tree trunk and pinned her there with his body.
"Now, Evans, don't make this any harder than it has to be. Unless that's how you like it. . . " He
leaned in and inhaled the scent of her hair.
"Let me go!" She turned her face away when he tried to kiss her. He slapped her across the face. Lily blinked
and saw stars dancing in front of her. Lucius leaned in and bit her ear roughly. The filthy Mudblood tasted awfully
good. . .
"Not that I'm into tasting Black and Potter's leftovers. I just want to see what all the fuss is
about." His tongue crawled down her neck and Lily thought she would be ill. She pushed against him, but he shoved
her back against the tree. Lily tried to hit him, but he grabbed her wrists and held them away from him.
"Lucius, please," she begged. She tried staring into his eyes to invoke some kind of pity, but it was too
late. She had already pissed him off.
"Not as friendly as you are when it's your little Gryffinsnots doing you, are you? I told you to play
nice!" He shoved her again against the tree. "Let's see if you taste as good as you look," as he
pulled her, struggling, to the ground.
***************
She deserves everything she's getting. She has it coming.
Then why are you trying to ruin it?
I'm not. I'm just going to talk to Remus. I'm not going to even mention the girl.
You will.
"Stop it." Calista actually put her hands over her ears as if she could block out the arguing voices in her
head. She didn't know where that other voice had come from. The one that was trying to convince her to tell someone
what was happening to Lily Evans. It was absurd. Calista didn't help people. Hell, she never did anything unless it
benefited her in some way, everyone knew that!
So, where did the voice come from? She looked up and happened to spot Remus Lupin walking across the grounds. Alone
again. She froze and watched him. He looks sick. . . Of course he did. Tonight was the full moon. She so
wanted to go over and talk to him. To tell him what was happening, so he could stop it--
What was wrong with her?! Surely, a mild physical attraction couldn't give her a conscience. Could it?
No, she wasn't going to help Little Miss Perfect Evans. She deserved what was happening to her for being everything
Calista wasn't. She was just going to go have a casual conversation with Remus . . . about what? What on earth
would a Slytherin and a Gryffindor have to talk about?
If you let this thing happen to Lily Evans, absolutely nothing. He'll never see you as anything but a slimy,
sickly, treacherous--
She had walked up to Remus without realizing it. Calista took a deep breath and spoke.
"Remus. We have to talk."
Remus bit back a sigh. "About what? You're as bad as a Grim, you know that? Except instead of death, you bring
bad news. What catastrophic event is going to happen now? Or are you just stalking me for laughs now?" Remus
instantly felt guilty. He hadn't meant to snap at her, even though it was Calista Serene he was dealing with. It
was just that with none of his friends being on speaking terms and the impending full moon, he wasn't in a very
good mood.
"I'm sorry, Calista, what did you need to talk about?"
Calista stared at Remus as though she'd never seen him before? A Grim? He was comparing her to a filthy, scummy
Grim? And she was desperate enough to stalk him?! Well, she could deal with that.
"I'm sorry," she said coldly. "I forgot I was dealing with a silly werewolf. Go bite someone
else's head off. I'm not in the mood to be supper for a freak tonight. Thanks anyway."
Calista turned and stalked off, fuming. So that's what he thought of her. Fine. And as for Evans, well, she had it
coming. She hoped Lucius made it hurt. It didn't bother Calista one bit. No sir.
**************
Lily tried vainly to throw Lucius off of her, but he was too strong for her. He had a hand over her mouth and the
other was tearing at her robes. Her head was throbbing. She was terrified. Her normally rational mind was freaking out
on her. She couldn't see any way out of this.
A jet of reed light blasted out from the trees and hit Lucius. He was flung back a few feet---off of Lily. She took her
opportunity and ran as fast as she could towards the castle. She heard Lucius get up and try to give chase. Lily put on
more speed and ran flat out, as fast as she could. Her eyes were blinded by the tears that were finally coursing down
her face. She couldn't really see where she was going, so of course she ended up running into someone.
"OUCH! What the--Lily?" Lily blinked away her tears to find she had run smack into James. Something finally
ended up semi-right! The one person her heart was crying for at this very moment was the one person she had ended up
running into. Without a word she flung her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
James was floored. One moment he'd been moping about the grounds, halfheartedly looking for Peter, the next Lily
was crying on his shoulder like the world had ended. She'd come out of nowhere too.
"Ummm, Lily? Lily, I kind of want my shoulder back. . ." It was too weird for him to have her suddenly
clinging to him like this. He gently pushed her away from him, and that was when he saw her face. The bruises, the
twigs and leaves in her hair. Noticed her torn robes. Saw the fear in her eyes.
"Oh, god, who. . ." James brushed her hair out of her eyes and wiped the blood off her cheek. She started to
sob again and he instantly pulled her into his arms. "Shhh. . .It's all right. I'm here. I won't let
anything happen to you. Shhhh. . ." he rubbed her back as he whispered in her ear that all would be well.
Over her shoulder, he suddenly noticed Remus standing a few yards off. He whistled, catching Remus' attention. His
eyes widened when he saw Lily and James. James gestured for Remus to come over. Remus was at his side instantly.
"She needs the hospital wing," James whispered. "Help me get her there?"
Remus nodded and gently took Lily's arm. "It's ok Lil', everything's ok." A true friend, he
didn't even ask any questions. He just helped. James suddenly felt horrible for how he'd treated Remus. It
wasn't his fault what had happened. Remus must have felt what James was feeling, because he looked him straight in
the eye, gave him a mischievous wink and a quick grin before returning his attention to Lily. James grinned inside. His
friends rocked.
Lily let Remus take her arm but leaned against James. Her mind was still in revolt against rationality. All she knew
was that her James was here and nothing could hurt her now.
Lily was still leaning against James' shoulder as they walked to the hospital wing and he realized he had no
problem with her being there. He had his arm around her waist supporting her. He wanted to keep her in his arms. God he
was a moron. As soon as things were calmed, he would tell her he loved her the way she'd told him weeks ago. James
didn't ever want to be apart from her again. And he would make sure whoever had hurt his Lily would rue the
day.