Just Around the Riverbend

serin Blackmoon
Voracious Reader
sirsevchick
HarryGinny4eva
Heidi191976
Anathema
meankitty69
amd2175
Holly
LaBibliographe

ANd thank you ALL for stopping by and reviewing my little story. I hope you all like this newest update, and I'll try to get the next chapter out sooner, it just took a while for me to get this one the way I wanted it.

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“You want me to do what?” Phelan asked.

Lucius looked down at the scruffy young man, trying his damndest not to sneer at the shoddy state of the boy’s clothes.

“I want you to accompany myself, Hermione, and Daisy to the Ministry Ball.” He said. Phelan blinked once, and then threw his head back and came quite close to howling with laughter. “Think I’m funny, do you? That I’ve come down here merely for your amusement?” Lucius asked, his eyes going glacial. Phelan’s head snapped down, and all laughter was gone from his face. It surprised Lucius, though not a facial muscle twitched, that the boy could go from one extreme to the next so quickly.

“No. I don’t think it’s funny at all. Do you know how many- who am I kidding? Of course you know how many Ministry officials are going to be there. Half of which have either been maimed or have known someone who’s been maimed by my father.” Phelan hissed.

“I wasn’t aware that you and your father had suddenly become the same person.” Lucius said. Phelan’s mouth opened in disbelief.

“And here I thought you were a smart man. My father’s shadow covers every part of my life. Just look at me! I’m a carbon fucking copy!” he snapped. Lucius was silent, wisely letting the boy vent. “I know you’ve wanted to know since day one why I was even in the forest at the same time as your cousin. I’ll tell you: I was running away from my father. We got into a fight the night before, when the moon was full. He ran me off the next day. He told me I could only come back if I was prepared to kill him. I ran and Apparated across country all day. I was getting ready to pass out in those woods.” He said. He wouldn’t mention anything else about the forest lest he incriminate himself.

“Apparated?” Lucius asked lightly.

“Why not? My father taught me. I’m not Traced, because I never went to Hogwarts. Not that I’d have been allowed to go…being a slavering beast, after all…” Phelan said, and laughed a bit madly.

“The Minister himself fought shoulder-to-shoulder with a werewolf.” Lucius said in a bored tone. This young man was too self-deprecating.

“Ah, yes. The famous Remus Lupin. I remember vaguely when he tried to convert some of the members of father’s pack towards the Light. He might have had a bit more success if he hadn’t been such a puling bitch. He had his head up his arse and he smelled of the Wolfsbane Potion and humans. He wasn’t a soldier for them. He was a pet.” Phelan snarled. “And even if it means that the whole world hates me, I will not get on my knees and put out my head to be petted like a good little wolf-boy.” He said, his anger fading gradually.

There was silence between them for several tense moments.

“Besides…even if I did decide that I wanted to brave your little Ball…I have no robes to go in, and no money to pay for them.” Phelan added rationally. Lucius regarded the young man in front of him. He looked up, his sharp eyes taking in the state of the garden house.

“You’ve done a miracle with this shed, boy. It was falling apart. I’m sure the gold I would have invested to replace the roof at the very least will buy you a few sets of robes, and a costume for the Ball.” Lucius said.
A few more moments of silence rang between them.

“Why?” Phelan asked finally.

“ ‘Why?’ What?” Lucius countered.

“Why are you doing this for me? Am I some sort of charity to you?” Phelan asked. Lucius thought quickly. This boy would refuse all help if he thought that this was some sort of charity case. He had to think of something that the boy would accept.

“Perhaps I feel it would…encourage you to go easy on my dear little cousin when you finally call in your life debt.” Lucius said. Phelan smiled toothily, almost a grimace.

“Knew it! Some sort of selfishness on your part. Well….if that’s the case…then I suppose I could accept payment for the work I’ve done on this shit hole.” He said, leaning against the outer wall of the garden house. Lucius inclined his head slightly to Phelan.

“Very good. Now…I think it’s time for a clothing acquisition trip.” Lucius said, looking suspiciously more like Christmas had come early.

“You mean shopping?” Phelan asked, his nervousness showing despite himself. He hadn’t been shopping….ever.

“No. Shopping implies that we’re going to skip down the street giggling at the cutest pumps this season.” Lucius said testily. He hated that word. Phelan narrowed his eyes at the older wizard, and stepped back once. “Exactly. Since that isn’t going to happen, we’re going on a clothing acquisition trip.”

Phelan shrugged. Then there were a few more awkwardly silent moments.

“Are we leaving now?” Phelan asked.

“Why not?” Lucius replied, and turned to walk back up to the house. Phelan followed behind him, his powerful legs keeping in time with Lucius’ long stride.

~~

Phelan walked nervously behind Lucius down the sparsely populated walk of a well-to-do market lane. He felt twitchy around all of these people, and his senses were on overload for potential threats. Not to mention he couldn’t smell up from down because of the heavy perfumes some of the women were wearing. A large woman wearing voluminous purple robes strode past the two, and Phelan sneezed as the wave of flowery perfume slapped him in the face.

Lucius turned his head to the side to regard the young man behind him.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

“Perfume.” Phelan replied, reaching up to rub his nose. “There’s so much. It’s killing my nose.”

“Well..we’re here, anyway.” Lucius said, turning into a rather nondescript boutique. Phelan stopped dead at the door. Though the outside was plain and unassuming, the inside was filled with decadent fabrics and pre-made garments of high quality.

“You can’t possibly…” Phelan squeaked. Lucius chuckled.

“Relax, boy. Half of this…stuff is purely for show. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with your clothes.” Lucius reassured him.

A curvy witch with wavy black hair stepped towards Lucius, clapping her hands together with delight.

“Ah! Mr. Malfoy!” she said animatedly. He inclined his head towards her.

“Suzy.” He said politely.

“Are you here for yourself? A new costume for the ball, perhaps? I have some great concepts for an Oberon costume, and I’ve been waiting for the right man to fill it. I think you might be him…” she said, clearly flirting.

“Actually, Suzy, I’m here with a….friend. He needs some clothing.” Lucius said, stepping aside and waving a hand at Phelan. The curvaceous witch approached the young man, her brilliant gold eyes boring into his. He shivered, but couldn’t look away. It was almost as if she were reading him…

“Hello, dearie!” she said suddenly, and clapped her hands much like she had done with Lucius. Phelan colored slightly, unused to such attention. “You have such unique coloring. I think something in dark blue would go well with your eyes.” She said, and immediately ushered him towards the other side of the store.

“Suzy.” Lucius called. Suzy turned around, still beaming. “He doesn’t go for lace and ribbing. He’s very simplistic.” Lucius said. Suzy just grinned, showing even white teeth.

“Of course, Lucius! I could see it in his eyes.” She said, and continued ushering Phelan across the store.

Phelan gulped, but was strangely relaxed in the woman’s presence. Her scent was pleasant, but not overpowering as some women had been. She had a smile that reached her eyes, and she hadn’t sneered when she saw him, even at the shoddy state of his robes. Perhaps this trip wasn’t going to be a total crap=fest.

“All right, my dear….” Suzy said, and ushered him into a large changing-type room with a mirror. “You’ll need to strip.” She said.

“What?” Phelan yelped.

“I need you to take off your outer robe so I can get a better look at your body type. I can’t just slap you in an outfit and send you on your way…” she said, as if explaining it to a small child. Phelan nervously unclasped his robe, and slipped it off, revealing a threadbare shirt and pants beneath.

“Oh dear…” Suzy said softly. Phelan bristled.

“What?” he asked.

“It appears we’re going to have to start from scratch. You’ll need everything.” She replied. Her eyebrows rose when she got a good look at Phelan’s physique. He was only a teenager, but his torso was well-defined. His forearms were muscular, and covered with a generous dusting of silvery grey hair. His shirt was slightly too small, and was pulled tight over his chest, which was also nicely defined. He had a narrow waist, with a nice-

“Pardon me, madam….but I am not a piece of meat to be ogled. You’re supposed to be finding me clothes, not having sex with your eyes.” Phelan said, though he was quite flattered. He’d never been checked out like that before.
Perhaps this ‘clothing acquisition trip’ wasn’t going to be such a bust after all…
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Aww....Phelan feels awkward and sexy at the same time. *Pinches cheeks* Who's a weirdly colored little teenage werewolf? You are! You are!

*clears throat* Anyway...you've read the chapter, now rate/review....or better yet.....do BOTH!!!