The man behind the mask

He had never thought that a kiss would feel this way; he had to admit he was not the best judge on how a kiss should feel he had received so very few after all. He had shared a kiss with only three women that he could remember. None of them had felt so emotionally shattering as this one. He was in a tailspin of heated emotion that robbed him of all thought. His lips stung with its pressure but they begged form more of the torture fast growing addicted to its intensity.

Wake up! This is Lucius your enemy remember you owe your friends and allies the benefit of the doubt, until Albus accounts for his actions you have no business betraying them! And it is a betrayal even if Albus turns out to be as honor less as Lucius paints him you at least have some honor now act like it!

The funny thing about a conscience is it can be so easily ignored even when it is perfectly right, Remus knew his was. He knew he should feel disgusted to be touched by this man, he knew he should push away. He was a man with honor even if it proved that his friends had none, he would not be a toy to be used by any man. Especially Lucius.

But even the best fall down sometimes. Remus had always been starved for love and affection and that hadn’t changed. The heat of this kiss was like a balm to a long festering wound and he found he was reluctant to give it up.

But give it up he must. He pushed hard against Lucius forcing the kiss to break, his arms shook a little but he steeled himself.

“I said I wanted to be alone Lucius! Not to be ravished, I’m not yours to touch so don’t touch me!” He warned him, pushing him away. Lucius would most likely be angry that his perverted pleasures had been denied but he was prepared to deal with that.

Surprisingly Lucius just smiled at him, and said. “That’s where you’re wrong, you are mine to touch. Your like a lost puppy, always begging to be loved. Until now everyone has kicked you away. I’m willing to take you home with me so to speak, so you are indeed mine to touch. As for your anger I would expect nothing less from you in truth I would be disappointed if you gave in so easily. This little journey of ours shall be fun pet.” He smirked giving Remus’s head a pat as if he were indeed the lost puppy he had named him.

Remus felt some of his calm fading away, “I’m not anyone’s dog!” He defended himself his voice rather harsh. Lucius was moving away a grin on his perfect lips.

“Oh really? When Dumbledore calls do you come? If he tells you to jump don’t you ask how high? You never even question his judgment do you?” Lucius pointed out knowing the answer to each of those questions.

“And I suppose when your master asks you to do something you’re the first to question his authority?” Remus scoffed.

Lucius chuckled, “You do indeed have claws don’t you Remus. Do you realize I intend to hone you into the perfect weapon for my master’s use? For your own use as well, life really isn’t any fun if you don’t get what you want in it.” To Remus question he nodded, “Your right I am not really one to talk, but which of us is wiser the one who serves a master who cares not if he is in pain and prolongs that pain or the one who serves a master who keeps him healthy and happy.”

Remus thought this over, “You might be right that does seem foolish, but seeing as death and debauchery don’t make me happy I suppose I’ll be miserable with either master.”

Lucius laughed walking over to him and unchaining him, “You have never killed anyone and you have never practiced debauchery so how can you know? You don’t have to like killing, you just have to do it. You might like the debauchery part though; it has its interesting moments.”

“Sleeping with everything in a skirt doesn’t appeal to me thanks, I’m not like you Lucius” Remus quipped rubbing the spot where the chains had been, the skin was slightly chaffed.

Lucius chuckled again eyeing him up and down in a languor’s gaze that made Remus slightly flushed. “Not a problem Remus, I don’t wear skirts. And for your information I have never particularly enjoyed sleeping with women. I did my duty to my father and my house by marrying Narcissa and producing an heir, after that was done I sought my pleasures elsewhere.”

With this pronouncement Remus halted rubbing at his skin to stare at Lucius, it wasn’t the fact that the man’s taste ran towards men that shocked him. That had been evident in the kiss they had shared and all his comments about sharing Remus’s bed. However he had thought that was just Death Eater depravity. It had not accorded to him that Lucius would prefer one thing over the other. In his mind Lucius was strait but with enough cruelty and depravity to use sex to torture, even a person of the same sex. The fact that he did not make a habit of sleeping with women at all spoke of…he didn’t know what exactly but it defied the image of an out of control sexual monster. It made him look like any other person.

“You can stand here and gap at me Remus or you can come with me. Although kissing you was enjoyable never doubt that. However after days of being chained you are beginning to reek, I thought you might enjoy a wash.” Lucius smirked at him.

Remus was wary at first, although he would almost sell his soul to be clean and wash off the mud and dried blood from his clothing; he was not too keen on striping and washing himself if Lucius was going to be watching him.

Lucius must have read the wariness in his eyes because the insufferable man smirked at him again and said, “I won’t watch you I’ll stand outside the door, to spare your maidenly modesty.”
Remus ignored the jibe; he was tempted to cry with relief. He wasn’t a slob and neither had he ever been obsessively neat; but anyone would kill to wash if they were in his state. Even if they had to do it in the hearing distance of Lucius Malfoy.
~~~~**~~~~*** Next afternoon~~~***~~~~***~~~~

Sirius was just leaving a state of absolute surprise when he surprised yet again. The first surprise had been yesterday when Severus had swept into the room and demanded he follow him to bathe. Saying he smelled so bad it was getting hard for him to ignore. If he were Severus he would have let himself rot. Sirius did not consider him self evil but he had dealt Severus a severely unfair hand, life had thrown him an even worse one. No wonder he had turned out the way he had.

Sirius had helped make his school days a living hell when school should have been a respite from the hell he received at home. Yet he had so far not attempted any sort of revenge even offered him a bath, something that would make him more comfortable. Something Sirius would never have done.

Sirius had come to the decision he was going to do everything in his power to not only atone for his own behavior but to start the friendship he had wanted to start in his youth. With any luck Severus might see the error of his ways and come over to the light side. Not to serve Dumbledore Sirius was not such a fool as to do that. Albus’s actions were striding far to close to the line for Sirius to ignore anymore. However not everyone had their own agendas. Sirius sure didn’t, he truly believed in his cause, Voldemort was an evil bastard who needed taking down.

The second surprise had come this morning when Snape had swept in yet again and Sirius had made his apology to the man, he had fully expected to have to prove he was serious. If it were him he would have thrown it back in his face. Snape had only nodded at him, it was a rather chilly nod and true he had accompanied it with a sneered “Not easy finding out you were a fool is it Sirius?” Nevertheless Snape had let him off light.

The third surprise was his finally surprise, in truth he should have seen it coming. Snape had been all to forgiving. He was tempted to bite off the man’s hand as he put a leash around his collar. Sirius growled at him barring tiny and rather dull fangs.

“Don’t growl at me Black, you made a rather beautiful apology to me did you mean none of it.” Snape chastised him a glint of glee in his coal black eyes.

Sirius yipped at him the only response he could make his small body wriggling with fury. The bastard had tricked him, they had been walking the grounds when Severus had asked him to change into his dog form, saying he was practicing mettamorphing himself and wanted a first hand look at how it was done. Severus had thought it an odd request but he had been eager to please. No sooner had he become a big wolf sized black dog then Severus had whipped out his wand and muttered a spell Sirius had never heard of.

His body had been wracked in a burning pain and he had felt himself changing, a cool sensation had washed over him and the pain was gone. He was no longer a big black dog but a small black puppy. A helpless wriggling little thing with no fangs to speak of and nothing that could be called a claw, he had instantly tried to revert to being a man. Nothing at all had happened. He was stuck in the form, and Severus had done it on purpose.

“I accept your apology Sirius but you and I have a long way to go. I have decided that you can indeed be taught a few things. I have decided to take a leaf from Dumbledore’s book and mold the young. Since I can’t revert you to a child, I reverted you to a puppy instead. You will grow at a faster rate then most Dogs. An adult dog may take a year you shall reach adult hood in a third of that time. In the mean time we are going to learn together.” Severus explained as he clipped the leash on the collar.

Sirius nipped at his fingers hoping his dull puppy gums could at least break the skin. He was lucky he had not tried to trap him in his Adult dog form. Sirius would have bit his arm off. He wanted out and he wanted out now! He barked at him growling and nipping at his fingers.

Severus shot him a scolding glance, “I wouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you Sirius. Lesson number one, if we are going to get through the next four months.”

The insufferable git! That slimy greasy no good scheming bastard, he was not going to be a puppy! Sirius lunged at his leg as the man stood gnawing on the pants of his leg pulling back and forth growling out his ire.

“Sirius NO!” Snape suddenly shouted giving his backside a sound spank, “No dinner it is then.” Severus was grinning.

Sirius yelped at the stinging sensation and to his surprise he was sprawling away from Severus his backside still stinging. A low whine escaped him even as his stomach rumbled. He stared at Snape with wide eyes, he had just been spanked. He had never been spanked before in his life.

Severus began to stride quickly away. Sirius toddled after him, these legs were so darn short and stubby it was hard to get anywhere fast. He didn’t know his way around and Snape was fast moving to far ahead. This couldn’t be happening, he needed Snape, the man had made sure of it.

He stopped trying to catch up to him and barked in his own doggish way pleading for Severus to come get him. Snape turned, a sly smile on his face.

“That wasn’t so hard was it Black. Come on lets go get some food.” Severus soothed picking him up. Sirius had fully intended to bite him in the arm for doing this to him and making him so helpless but there was something so pleasant about being his entire body being wrapped in somebody else’s heat. He found himself wriggling deeper into Snape’s embrace.

“I did it for both our goods; the teaching is going to be hard. Besides this way you learn not only to trust me but I don’t have to listen to your snide comments all the time or look at your ugly mug.” Snape sneered. The cruel words however were diminished in Sirius min. Snape was unconsciously rubbing his belly. The feeling it gave him bordered on ecstasy, to the point that had he been a cat he would have purred. Sirius last thought as Snape carried him back into Riddle Manor was that if Snape could bring that kind of feeling being a dog for a few months might not be so terrible.

____******_____******___*****____******____**

Harry had to admit he would have licked the clothing Voldemort had picked out for him had it not been Voldemort who had done so. He had clothes that not only fit him but looked good on him; they highlighted his best features and displayed his form to their natural best advantage without being revealing or tacky. A sense of style was the last thing he expected the Dark Lord to have.

He was gazing at himself in the mirror with a mix of disdain and secrete pleasure when said Dark lord entered his room.

“Do you ever think of knocking?” Harry snapped not liking being caught enjoying anything the man might have given him.

Voldemort smirked at him a knowing glint in his eyes, “It is my home Harry. You are still my prisoner here so why knock.”

“Common courtesy.” Harry shrugged, “Then again it really isn’t something I should expect you too have, common courtesy says you don’t murder innocent people.”

Voldemort’s eyes narrowed at this pronouncement, “If you speak of your parents Harry it is funny you should mention them. It brings me to the topic of our lesson today.” He said he reached into his cloak and pulled out a slip of parchment which he handed to Harry.

On it was written caries. Harry glanced up at him. “What is this exactly?” Harry asked.

“It is a spell; I want you to figure out just what it is and what it does. I will allow you the use of the Manor Library, and even the aide of your friends. I also let you know that your father used this spell on many occasions. Once you know its nature and what it does I will tell you on just whom he used it on and the instance.”

Harry stared at the slip of parchment; he could only assume that the spell was not something good, that Voldemort expected it would alter his view on his father. Harry was sure any spell his father used even if a bit shady would have been used for the greater good.

He couldn’t help a slight feeling of dread.
~~***~~~***~~~~**~~~

“Good news today pet, master is going to let you out of your cage.” Lucius smirked striding into the room where Remus was no longer chained but standing by the window. The bath of yesterday had done him a world of good; he looked quite young and almost scholarly as he stood by the window. The clothing Lucius had tailored for him fit perfectly as he had known they would.

Nothing flashy or tacky for Remus, he wore slacks of a deep brown with a tapered cut to emphasis the leanness and strength of his legs. His shirt was made of silk but was not overly shiny, it did cling a little to the muscle in his chest when he moved, but it was not overly done. His cloak was the same color as his pants and its rich deep color highlighted the lighter portions of his chestnut hair.

Lucius breath hitched a little when Remus turned to glance at him with annoyance. He was instantly reminded of their kiss yesterday when he noticed Remus’s lips move into a slight scowl. He didn’t know what he was doing to Lucius body at all did he? Well he would know soon enough.

“If you’re going to keep referring to me as your pet, I’m not going to step one foot outside of this room. I told you Lucius I don’t belong to you or any other man!” Remus rebuked turning back towards the window he had been staring out of.

“You did manage to get one part right, you don’t belong to any other man.” Lucius eyes narrowed at the image that had popped into his head, Remus was stunning when he was healthy and it wouldn’t be the only one who noticed. The thought of Remus with somebody else made him dangerously furious. “And don’t you ever forget that or I will be seriously displeased!” He warned direly.

From the window Remus sighed, and said almost bored “are you under the delusion that I live to please you or even care about your pleasure Lucius. You certainly do not care to please me or care about mine.”

“Oh on the contrary I have every intention of pleasuring you Remus; it is your Gryffindor pride standing in our way. For instance I came to tell you that you will be allowed exclusive access to the Dark Lords personal Library and a chance to see Harry again. I thought this might please you but since you insist you won’t leave your room…” Lucius made a tsking sound and eyed Remus with mocking blue eyes.

He saw the instant Remus’s eyes lit up, he was unable to veil his excitement at that prospect. He knew Remus practically itched to gather new knowledge just as much as he itched for acceptance. It had not failed the Dark lord or Lucius notice for that matter that Remus was a much more powerful wizard then he let on to anyone.(1) He had once been seen to produce a handful of flames in his hand without a wand, wandless magic was a feat that very few wizards could manage. In the battle at the ministry during Potters first year he had been the only wizard besides Dumbledore to come through completely unscathed.

When a pack of Werewolves loyal to Voldemort had attacked him he had come through that remarkably well, not only had he survived but said werewolves had not been quite as lucky. Many of them even to this day bore the sting of the fight between them. Oddly enough no one had as of yet to enter a battle with Remus and win with their wits completely intact, so it was hard to judge just how strong he actually was being as most eye witnesses could not thereafter be completely trusted.

Gathering more knowledge however was just the icing on the cake however, seeing Harry and judging for himself, if he was ok was something he wouldn’t pass up for the world. Lucius fought back a particularly evil smirk enjoying holding such leverage over his head. It would do Remus no harm to break that pride of his a little.

“I changed my mind I want to go.” Remus spoke warily already sensing Lucius was not going to let it go at that.

Lucius shook his head, “No a Gryffindor does not go back on his word. You said as long as I called you Pet you would not leave this Room. I might be persuaded to let you out of that particular oath, Pet, if you did something for me.”

“What?” Remus demanded sharply clearly not liking being backed up in a corner and wary of the favor itself.

Lucius let the grin wanting to break out on his face break free, “Kiss me, like your life depends on it. It’s all I ask. What is a little kiss after all.”

Remus cringed and Lucius could hear him swear under his breath, he laughed. Remus had so much pride, he liked that about him but it did hinder their progress a little. Remus would not admit to himself that he had enjoyed their lass kiss and therefore would not on his own at least, willingly attempt another.

Lucius knew he was not going to pass up the chance to assure Harry was alive and well, even If it meant sacrificing his pride a little. Remus advanced on him anger radiating off him in waves. Lucius fought back a shiver, the fury alight in his amber eyes

“Fine, but I’ll have you know everything about you disgusts me.”

He had to give him one thing, when Remus made up his mind he didn’t waist time dithering about it. After that heated remark Remus grabbed him rather roughly by the shirt and pulled him into a kiss. He knew Remus had meant it to be nothing more then a touch of lips, but the moment their lips touched a flame of passion ignited between them.
Lucius groaned low in his throat as their lips ravished each other in a tangled matting. He pressed, deepening the kiss his tongue seeking entrance into his the tightly closed mouth. On a moan Remus lips parted and Lucius world began to spin erotically out of control.

Lucius forced Remus back against the wall nearest the window, pressing their bodies together. The friction as Remus thrashed against him was exquisite and he shuddered. He ignored the hands pushing at his hest, they were pushing half heartedly, and beginning to slightly caress. He was drowning in a state of ecstasy and had every intention of taking him here against the wall when he felt a stab of pain in his back.

He swore breaking free of the heated kiss to see who had so if mildly, then rudely hexed him. To his surprise there was no one there, while his attention was away from him Remus had slipped past him to dart to the other side of the room, a safe enough distance away. Lucius eyes narrowed, but he did not let the suspicion show on his face. His mind raced, had Remus just hexed him without a wand? He had to hide his delight at that, maybe the Dark Lords theories about Remus were not so far off the mark.

Remus was panting a little looking somewhat angry, who he was angrier with Lucius or himself was debatable. Evidently he decided to blame what had just happened between them on Lucius. “You need to learn to keep your word! You said one kiss, not…whatever that was” he snapped.

“I got a little carried away Pet, It does happen when two people desire each other.” Lucius shrugged.

He saw Remus’s eyes narrow, “I don’t desire you at all Lucius!” he insisted heatedly.

Lucius had to bite back a snort, “If it sooths your pride to thinks so, but come Harry and the Library await.

~~~~~~****~~~~***~~~~~~****~~~~~***

Just what was that! What were you playing at back there, trading kisses for favors! Do you know what that makes you? If he intends to break you by making you into some sort of whore it could very well work! You would never respect yourself again if you stooped so low. And don’t lie to yourself you were just as caught up in all of that as he was. You need to get your perspective back, Dumbledore may not have turned out to be the man you thought he was but that does not mean you have to be less! Remus reprimanded himself, barely noticing the hallways and doors Lucius lead him through.

He was livid, with both his circumstances and himself. The man he had thought a mentor and a friend was turning out to be anything but. Another man who he had seen in only the best of light was slowly beginning to look no better then the ones he had stood against. Remus knew full well his foundation was crumbling. But he would not crumble with it!

He knew the difference between right and wrong, he knew the line between good and evil! He may not always be able to recognize it when he saw it, that was becoming clearer, but he knew it was a line that he himself was never going to cross.

Whoreing for Lucius was a state of being he would not accept in himself, he would rather die first. Doing so might just kill whatever pride and honor he had left in himself.

“Here we are pet go strait through these doors.” Lucius remark broke Remus from his adamant thoughts. They stood in front of giant oak doors which with a wave of his wand and a whispered incantation swished inward to reveal a vast room. Remus couldn’t help the way his eyes widened the fascinated shock on his face.

Even Hogwarts did not have a library like this, he could swear truthfully that he had read every book in Hogwarts depths. He knew far more about magic and the way it worked then any man had a right to know. Something Dumbledore had encouraged but with a warning.

Power is something that if you have the natural ability can be strengthened by Knowledge. The more you learn Remus the stronger I suspect you will get, this is why I must warn you. In your condition if you grow too powerful and allow it to show people will fear you, a fear beyond anything they show you know. They see your kind as feral and mad, they would consider it their duty to protect themselves against a beast with too much power. The words Dumbledore had spoken to him when he had tested Remus and invited him to enroll at Hogwarts echoed in his mind.

He had taken that warning to heart, acquiring knowledge as was his joy. Never letting the extent of what he knew, of what he was capable of doing show. He no longer even knew the extent of what he was capable. That had always been ok with him, for it was the truth. If he were them and he thought all werewolves were dangerous and mindless he would not want any of them too be too strong. Humans tended to get rid of things they saw as a threat.

Now he looked back on that warning with a seed of doubt. Dumbledore had shown little care for his welfare when he had decided to let Remus suffer needlessly. So he now doubted he had warned Remus away from developing power for his own good. He glanced at the rows and rows of book shelves with something close to yearning on his face.

Books were partially an escape and partially pure enjoyment. Something in him always longed to know more, to be more. He always had to restrain himself in the past. Will you restrain yourself today? His thoughts whispered inside his head.

“Remus?” The shout sounded more like a question then a statement. Remus turned to a row near a set of windows; Harry was standing with a book in his hands eyeing him with something close to shock on his face.

“Yes, Harry it really is me I didn’t really believe it either.” Remus assured him with a smile.

Harry’s face broke into a relived grin at seeing him whole and healthy, he was striding quickly forward. The two met in a fierce hug, Remus could have cried he felt so relieved. Harry didn’t appear the worse for wear at all, his visions of Harry being beaten and tortured eased.

He felt a pair of eyes burning into him with malice, he glanced up. Voldemort was standing not too far away and there was such a burning look of possession in his eyes that Remus was tempted to fling Harry away. Apparently Voldemort did not like his holding Harry. Well it was about time somebody defied the man, Harry was James only son and he loved him like his own. He was not going to stop hugging him just because that bastard had issues about it.

Glaring pointedly at him, Remus hugged Harry tighter and asked, “I’m glad to see you’re alright Harry. He hasn’t hurt you in anyway has he?”

Harry shook his head, “Not Physically anyway. And oddly enough he has offered me his life.” He then related to Remus exactly what Voldemort had vowed.

Remus didn’t know what to make of that, it was an either an extremely stupid move or a brilliant move. Voldemort was not stupid; he would not put his life in Harry’s hands if he was not sure of the outcome. Remus was becoming more and more certain that everything he thought he knew would turn out to be nothing at all.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Poor Sirius, but he did kind of deserve it and that image of the two of them together like that is just too perfect too pass up. As for darling Harry he is about to learn some ugly truths about his father. As for Remus, Suprisingly enough I didn’t even have to make up that whole power thing for the sake of the story…

(1)This is an actual discussion among many Harry Potter fans just how powerful Lupin is. Remus actually does do wandless magic in Prisoner of Azkaban summoning a handful of flames in his bare hands. He also puts out the flame in candles with his bare hands a feat only seen done by Dumbledore. It’s so subtle that you hardly notice what you’re reading When someone pointed it out I had to go back and read it again for myself. In Order of The Phoenix he and Dumbledore are the only ones without any harm to leave the ministry even though he was in the thick of the fighting just like everybody else. He is similarly unharmed in the battle at Hogwarts in the six book even claming to have dodged a death curse. Spells can be blocked but it is very hard too out run one it would be like dodging a bullet.

...I did however for the sake of the story invent a reason for his extensive power and his hiding of it. You know why he hides it but where does it come from…hee hee find out later. Tell me what you think.