AN: This is the final chapter. Story finished, yay! I had almost forgotten about this story but a recent reviewer reminded me of it, so thank you for spurring me on finally finish something. No warnings for this chapter. Reviews are very very welcome. Thank you for making it this far!

Chapter Fourteen

Sirius carried an unconscious Remus up to the hospital wing, accompanied by James. Neither of them spoke. They were not invisible, but it did not matter. If a teacher came upon them they knew they would not get into trouble. It was quite a novel experience, but it not concern the two young Gryffindors as they took the lengthy route to the Hospital Wing. It seemed they had never quite realised how far the dratted place actually was.

The castle was deathly quiet, and it seemed the Hospital beds were all empty, no signs of life betrayed any person sleeping there. Sirius settled Remus down into a bed whilst James fetched Madam Pomfrey. She seemed surprised to see him, but once he had explained she came at once. She paled slightly when she saw the marks affecting Remus' body, and turned on the two young men. "You two had better be getting back to your dormitories. Leave Remus here with me, I shall attend to him."

"Can't I stay?" Sirius asked quietly. Madam Pomfrey shook her head, firmly this time. "I'm afraid not, Mr Black. Off you go. You may visit him tomorrow if he has improved."

She turned back to Remus, assessing the damage. She seemed to know what she was dealing with, as she seemed to know the exact sort of action to take. James pulled Sirius away, and with one last look over their shoulders they headed back the way they had came.

"How did he get those marks, do you think," James muttered as they strode along the corridor.

"It's got something to do with Lucius Malfoy. Remus was wearing his shirt," Black replied darkly.

James stopped in the hall. "What?" he hissed. Sirius then explained what had happened. They continued down the corridor, with James muttering his disbelief. Sirius allowed him to rant. It seemed suddenly he was too tired to join in.

The next morning they were accosted by Professor Dumbledore at breakfast. He would not answer their questions about how Remus was doing, but merely asked for their presence in their lunch break. James was relieved. At least they would be able to report Lucius' actions and have him punished for good.

The morning's lessons took an eternity to pass, but eventually they were walking up to Dumbledore's office. He stood there waiting for them, and they took the staircase that led up into the room where all the portraits of ancient headmasters hung upon the walls.

"Mr Potter, Mr Black. I need you to inform me of everything you know about what happened to Remus last night. He is carrying signs of dark magic being used to give him the burns on his body."

"He was in the Slytherin dungeons, Sir. We think it is a member of Slytherin house who has done this to him."

"We think it was Lucius Malfoy." James added.

Dumbledore looked at them. "How do you know he was down there, did he tell you?"

James stopped himself. He didn't want Dumbledore to know about the map they had created. "He was wearing a shirt which bore the initials L.M., Sir. Lucius Malfoy is the only member of the school to have those initials."

"But how do you know he was in the Slytherin dungeons?" Dumbledore demanded.

Sirius was looking worried. As Dumbledore turned to look at him, he said, "Remus muttered something about being down there before he fainted, Sir."

"Are you sure? Wearing Malfoy's shirt does not mean the marks were inflicted by him. I know of a number of Slytherins who would quite happily show some disrespect towards Mr Lupin. However, this is very serious dark magic, and I doubt there are many members of this school who would dare to practice such a thing, or know how to."

"Why don't you ask Remus himself, Sir?"

"He is too dazed by shock to answer any questions I am afraid. Is there anything else you can tell me, anything at all, gentlemen, before you leave." James and Sirius exchanged a look. "May I remind you of the seriousness of this situation?"

"Sir…" Sirius began.

"We know that Remus has had.. feelings for Severus Snape," James began. "We believe that Malfoy may have taken his revenge on Remus because he was going out with Snape at the time Remus visited Slytherin a few weeks ago."

Dumbledore frowned. "Is there anything else?"

The boys shook their heads. They were dismissed, and returned back to Gryffindor tower to collect their books for afternoon classes.

-----

Lucius found himself taking the exact same route to Dumbledore's study as James and Sirius had done only a few short hours ago. He was nervous, because he knew that he had not covered his tracks successfully. Remus could have told everything, and Lucius was bound to find himself on the Hogwarts Express coming home before the night was out. What on earth would his father say? Only a few short months ago he was being told to make his father proud. Being expelled probably wasn't what his father had in mind.

As he was admitted to the dreaded office, Lucius began to calm down. True, this was probably one of the worst scrapes he had ever gotten into, but unless Remus actually pointed the finger they had no evidence that it was he who had inflicted the marks. He must remember not to know too much. He also could guess, within a fairly safe degree of certainty, that fear would keep Remus' mouth shut.

The man smiled at him as he walked into the room, momentarily catching Lucius off guard. Then he remembered his composure. He sat down in the seat opposite Dumbledore, and the older wizard sat down also.

"Tea and a biscuit?" he smiled. "It's been a while since lunch, and I thought we could both enjoy some light refreshment before we go to dinner."

Lucius was slightly suspicious, but then this was nothing out of the ordinary. Dumbledore was famed for offering sweets and tea before lecturing. He helped himself to a biscuit as Dumbledore poured the tea, one cup for both of them. Realising that Dumbledore would not slip anything into a drink he was going to be consuming himself, Lucius bit into the biscuit and took a first sip of tea. It was pleasantly warm.

"Now, I have a few questions to ask you, Mr Malfoy. Can you tell me where you were and what you were doing in the later hours of yesterday evening?"

Lucius smiled. "I was working in the library, finishing Transfiguration prep for Professor McGonagall, Sir. Once I had finished, I lay in wait for Remus Lupin, as I knew he was also working in there. When he came out, I knocked him out, and took him to Slytherin house."

There was a pause. You fool, Lucius! The headmaster hasn't drunk any of the tea! It has a truth potion in it. You have no hope now.

"And what did you do then, Lucius?" the headmaster asked quietly.

"I covered him with my invisibility cloak and levitated him, making sure nobody walked into him. The Slytherin common room was practically empty, so I took him up to my room immediately and bound his hands together. Whilst he was unconscious I performed the curse of Incendus Cruciatus, so my hands would cause him pain whenever I touched him. When he awoke I cast Cruciatus on him, and whilst he was screaming I took off his clothes."

Lucius paused again. He knew he was done for. There was another silence, but this time he rushed to fill it himself. "I had the intention of raping him. He had touched what was mine. I relieved him of Cruciatus and soothed his body. I intended to prepare him but then suddenly found that I could not go through with it."

Dumbledore looked at him, shocked. "Why did you feel you could not?" he asked softly.

"I felt sorry for him. He was so pathetic lying there in front of me that I truly did not have the heart to continue. Mercy is not usually in my nature. I untied his bonds, gave him clothes to wear and took him out of Slytherin house. I did not use a memory charm on him, because I felt I had caused enough damage."

"Even though you might not have been caught if you have cast a memory charm."

"Yes. I felt sick with what I had done."

Dumbledore sighed. "That you are remorseful is good, but it does not override the fact that you caused great pain and harm to another human being and member of my school, broke the law by performing illegal magic and also a thousand school rules in the process. At the very least I should expel you, or perhaps I should even have you arrested and sent to Azkaban for performing an Unforgivable."

Lucius hung his head, awaiting the inevitable.

"Can you give me your word this will not happen again, Lucius. That you will not break any more rules and will not harm another person whilst you finish the year in my school?"

"In truth I do not think I would dare. But I may stray again if I am given the freedom to." Curse this truth potion!!

"Then I shall not give you that freedom. Do not think this will go unpunished, Mr Malfoy. I will be writing to your father to inform him of what you have told me, and to express upon him the seriousness of the nature of your offence."

Oh, shit.

Dumbledore continued. "You will give Remus Lupin a public apology, and you will do whatever he asks of you. Also you will serve detention for the remainder of this term and until the half term exeat of next term. I expect your marks to be of the highest standard. If I do not feel you are applying yourself 100 to your studies, I may reconsider my decision to be so lenient."

Lucius gasped. "But with all those detentions Sir when am I expected to get my work done?"

"In all other remaining free time that you have. I do not intend that you have a lot of it. Visits to Hogsmeade are now cancelled for the remainder of the school year. Now, I am going to confiscate your invisibility cloak and your private collection of Dark Magic books. Are there any hidden in your room which you will seek to keep from me?"

"One or two, Sir. They are hidden under the floorboards and protected by an advanced locking charm in my bedroom."

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy. I shall expect you to bring the items to me within the hour. You will still be under the effects of the truth potion, so I will ask you again if there are any objects that you have kept from me. If you have, you will be expelled. Do you understand me?"

"Perfectly," Lucius said through gritted teeth. Rage consumed him, at being treated by this, but also an intense fear which had been coursing through him since Dumbledore had mentioned writing to his father.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what punishment his father would deal him.

"Then you are dismissed. Take another biscuit before you go."

-----

Remus awoke slowly, and groggily. Immediately, he felt a hand on his own and someone speaking to him, although it was a few moments before he realised it was his own name. Stretching and opening his eyes, wincing in pain, he looked up. Sirius and James sat either side of him, Sirius holding his hand and looking at him with a worried expression.

"You silly git," Sirius said affectionately. "How are you feeling?"

Remus leaned back and smiled at his two friends. "Better, though tired. Drugged up, to be frank. What had Madam Pomfrey been giving me?"

"They are restorative potions to help heal your burns," James explained. "And also painkillers."

"Oh God…I remember…Lucius…where is he?" Remus mumbled, as flashes of memory came flooding back.

Sirius' grip tightened on his hand. "He has been dealt with by Professor Dumbledore. He has confessed everything and will be publicly apologising. It has also been made known that he owes you a debt. Unfortunately the bastard hasn't been expelled-"

"But he has been punished. You remember his father?" James queried.

Remus nodded. He recalled seeing Malfoy senior a couple of years ago at Kings Cross Station. He seemed a formidable man, and had caused the hairs on the back of Remus' neck to stand up.

"Well, he has been written to and is expected to punish his son with methods far greater than any Dumbledore could dish out," James said with a pleased venom. Sirius grinned.

"The main thing now is for you to get better. I've realised now I was an idiot. When I saw you when you fell into my arms in the common room, I realised just how much I need you. And as I know you do not feel anything more than friendship for me, then that is what I will take. I want to be friends again, Remus," Sirius finished.

Remus smiled in pure gratitude. "I would hug you if it did not hurt to move," he laughed.

Madam Pomfrey came bustling in. "Ahh, you're awake. If you could just take a swallow of this for me, dear." She didn't wait for an answer but held out a spoonful of the most vile smelling liquid imaginable. Remus grimaced, and swallowed.

"Now, that's quite enough excitement for one afternoon, I think," she said. "You boys can go now and can return tomorrow morning if he is awake." She would not listen to any protests, but just waited for James and Sirius to leave. Once they had, grudgingly, she smiled at Remus. "You look exhausted. That medicine I have given you will make you drowsy again. I will wake you in time for dinner. In the meantime, you're better off going to sleep."

As she left, Remus did feel the lures of sleep calling, and found them irresistible. He awoke intermittently several times, and once thought there was someone standing over him. He tried to see who it was but his eyes would not seem to open. All he knew was it was a dark figure. Sirius, he assumed sleepily. Either way, he could not resist succumbing to dreams once more and floated peacefully away.

-----

Lucius returned to Slytherin house after a very long detention. God Professor McGonagall was a bitch, he thought. He could have performed the tasks she had asked of him in two minutes using magic, and she had left him to do it all by hand. It was gone midnight and he was exhausted.

He entered the common room, and found it virtually deserted. Only one figure sat in the corner, a candle burning in the air in front of him. He wandered over, due to curiosity, and found Rosier sat, drinking wine. He wondered where the hell the boy got all his alcohol from. "Want a drink, Lucius? You look exhausted from detention." Rosier smiled at him.

Lucius sat down and glared at him. He waited for Rosier to finish his drink and he transfigured a nearby pen into another glass. Rosier opened a new bottle and poured for both of them. Lucius swigged, and let the pleasant taste soothe his throat. Almost immediately, he felt himself feeling a somehow familiar sensation. He looked at Rosier, suddenly struck by the amount of desire he felt for the other boy. Rosier grinned, and leaned forward to kiss Lucius. Lucius moaned with longing and the power of the sensation running through him, and kissed Rosier hungrily back.

-----

Remus had recovered, and was attending classes again. He sat with his friends, looking about the hall, pleased to be out there again amongst the noise and bustle. He cast his gaze over at the Slytherin table and was shocked to find Severus' gaze on him. They held eye contact for a few moments, before Remus blushed and looked away. He looked back a few seconds later. Severus' gaze was still on him.

Sirius noted the exchange, and scowled. He still didn't like the Slytherin, but after a warning glance from James said nothing. Peter chirruped happily away, with nobody listening to him.

Lucius approached the table, arm in arm with Rosier. They looked as happy as Lucius had looked with Severus only a few short weeks before. A glow of radiance surrounded them.

"I want to apologise to you, Remus," Lucius began seriously. "I am truly sorry about the wrongs I have done you and if there is anything that is within my power to do, I swear I will make it happen to make it up to you."

Remus looked at him. "There is nothing you can do that will make it up to me, Lucius," he said clearly. "However, there is something."

Lucius looked at him expectantly, waiting for the request.

"I would like it if you stayed out of my way. I am going to, after lunch today, ask Severus Snape if he wants to go to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday. I do not want you to cause me any grief in this area."

Lucius looked at Remus as if he were mad. "Why on earth should I care if you want to go out with Snape? He and I barely know each other anymore. You have my word on it though."

Remus looked from Rosier to Lucius, confused. However, he dismissed it, although James did indeed notice the catlike grin on Rosier's face.

Remus nodded, and Lucius and Rosier walked off back over the the Slytherin table. The hall had noted this exchange, and Severus was no exception. As he walked out of the hall once he had finished eating, he waited for Remus to follow him. He did not have to wait long. They faced each other, both expectant.

"I am sorry about what I said to you, Remus, the night you came to see me in my room," Severus said softly.

"I have something to ask you. Would you consider going with me to Hogsmeade on Saturday," Remus said quickly, hoping desperately.

Severus appeared to consider it, before quirking an eyebrow. "I do not believe I am doing anything else that day," he said.

Remus smiled in pleasure and relief. When he moved forward to lightly touch their lips together, he found arms coming round to envelop him, and an answering warmth of which he had longed for for longer than he could remember. He grinned around their kiss, and pushed his body closer.